Man admits stalking Strictly judge Shirley Ballas in six-year campaign
Kyle Shaw pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to stalking Ballas, 64, between Aug 31 2017 and Nov 29 2023.
He also admitted possession of cannabis.
Shaw, from Birkenhead, Wirral, was given conditional bail ahead of his sentencing on April 1.
Born Shirley Rich in Wallasey, Merseyside, in 1960, Ballas started ballroom dancing at the age of seven, before competing professionally from the age of 15 to 36.
She then became a dance coach and judge for ballroom and Latin American dance competitions, and replaced Len Goodman as the head judge on Strictly in 2017.
She has also written a crime novel, Murder on the Dance Floor, published by Harper Collins.
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San Francisco Chronicle
9 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
With the Bayeux Tapestry that tells of their long rivalry, France and Britain are making nice
BAYEUX, France (AP) — For centuries, the storytelling masterpiece has been a source of wonder and fascination. In vivid and gruesome detail, the 70-meter (230-foot) embroidered cloth recounts how a fierce duke from France conquered England in 1066, reshaping British and European history. The Bayeux Tapestry, with its scenes of sword-wielding knights in ferocious combat and King Harold of England's famous death, pierced by an arrow to an eye, has since the 11th century served as a sobering parable of military might, vengeance, betrayal and the complexity of Anglo-French relations, long seeped with blood and rivalry but also affection and cooperation. Now, the medieval forerunner of today's comic strips, commissioned as propaganda for the Normandy duke William known as 'the Conqueror' after he took the English throne from Harold, is being readied for a new narrative mission. A homecoming for the tapestry Next year, the fragile artistic and historic treasure will be gingerly transported from its museum in Bayeux, Normandy, to star in a blockbuster exhibition in London's British Museum, from September 2026 to July 2027. Its first U.K. outing in almost 1,000 years will testify to the warming latest chapter in ties across the English Channel that chilled with the U.K.'s acrimonous departure from the European Union in 2020. The loan was announced in July when French President Emmanuel Macron became the first EU head of state to pay a state visit to the U.K. since Brexit. Bayeux Museum curator Antoine Verney says the cross-Channel trip will be a home-coming of sorts for the tapestry, because historians widely believe that it was embroidered in England, using woolen threads on linen canvas, and because William's victory at the Battle of Hastings was such a major juncture in English history, seared into the U.K.'s collective consciousness. 'For the British, the date — the only date — that all of them know is 1066,' Verney said in an interview with The Associated Press. A trip not without risks Moving an artwork so unwieldy — made from nine pieces of linen fabric stitched together and showing 626 characters, 37 buildings, 41 ships and 202 horses and mules in a total of 58 scenes — is further complicated by its great age and the wear-and-tear of time. 'There is always a risk. The goal is for those risks to be as carefully calculated as possible,' said Verney, the curator. Believed to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror's half-brother, to decorate a new cathedral in Bayeux in 1077, the treasure is thought to have remained there, mostly stored in a wooden chest and almost unknown, for seven centuries, surviving the French Revolution, fires and other perils. Since then, only twice is the embroidery known to have been exhibited outside of the Normandy city: Napoleon Bonaparte had it shown off in Paris' Louvre Museum from late 1803 to early 1804. During World War II, it was displayed again in the Louvre in late 1944, after Allied forces that had landed in Normandy on D-Day, June 6th, of that year had fought onward to Paris and liberated it. The work, seen by more than 15 million visitors in its Bayeux museum since 1983, 'has the unique characteristic of being both monumental and very fragile,' Verney said. 'The textile fibers are 900 years old. So they have naturally degraded simply due to age. But at the same time, this is a work that has already traveled extensively and been handled a great deal.' A renovated museum During the treasure's stay in the U.K., its museum in Bayeux will be getting a major facelift costing tens of millions of euros (dollars). The doors will close to visitors from Sept. 1 this year, with reopening planned for October 2027, when the embroidery will be re-housed in a new building, encased on an inclined 70-meter long table that Verney said will totally transform the viewing experience. How, exactly, the treasure will be transported to the U.K. isn't yet clear. 'The studies required to allow its transfer to London and its exhibition at the British Museum are not finished, are under discussion, and are being carried out between the two governments,' Verney said. But he expressed confidence that it will be in safe hands. 'How can one imagine, in my view, that the British Museum would risk damaging, through the exhibition, this work that is a major element of a shared heritage?' he asked. 'I don't believe that the British could take risks that would endanger this major element of art history and of world heritage.' ___ Leicester reported from Paris.
Cosmopolitan
40 minutes ago
- Cosmopolitan
Shannon Matthews' mum, Karen, is living a totally different life now after the fake kidnapping plot
It's been 17 years since Shannon Matthews went missing, and now a new Prime Video true crime documentary series is taking a look at the case that gripped the nation. In The Hunt for Shannon Matthews new details are uncovered about Shannon's disappearance – and her return home – through interviews with her childhood friends, locals in her community, and investigators from the case. Of course, a central figure in the documentary – while not appearing herself – is Karen Matthews, Shannon's mother. In the two-part series, we learn more about Karen, her life, and the events that led to her daughter's disappearance, as well as a few small details about where she is now. With some questions left unanswered by the documentary, we decided to do some digging ourselves to find out more about Karen Matthews and where she is now. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about Karen, starting with a recap of the case that unravelled in 2008.... Shannon Matthews, who was nine at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing on 19 February 2008. She was last seen outside her school – Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire – by her best friend, who appears in Prime Video's documentary series. After realising that Shannon had not returned home, her mother contacted police, prompting a large-scale search involving 250 officers and 60 detectives. The local community also rallied together, led by Karen's friend, Julie Bushby. Missing posters were plastered across the town and people came from all walks of life to search for the young girl. Sadly, as the days and weeks went by, many began to lose faith that Shannon would be found alive and well, but Karen and Julie remained hopeful. Read our full deep-dive into the Shannon Matthews case here. While Karen Matthews (alongside her then-partner, Craig Meehan) made several public appeals for the safe return of her daughter, there were a couple of people who were suspicious about the mother's occasionally questionable behaviour. The family liaison officer assigned to the case, Detective Constable Christine Freeman, was one such person. She appears in The Hunt for Shannon Matthews, but speaking to The Telegraph in 2017, Freeman recalled how she felt like something was a bit odd from the get-go. "When I got to the house Karen and her boyfriend, Craig Meehan, were playing on an X-Box. Karen hardly looked up," she said. "After a few minutes my phone rang. I had a pop song as my ringtone and Karen got up and started dancing to it. I remember thinking 'this is really odd'." Detective Constable Freeman wasn't the only one to suspect something unusual was at play; Karen's close friend, Natalie Brown, also began to doubt the authenticity of her friend's story. "Karen came to stay at my house and when the TV cameras weren't around I realised that it was as if she didn't care. She was back to her normal, happy self," The Mirror reports she said. On another occasion, referenced in Prime Video's docuseries, Karen was heard exclaiming that she should let her kids go missing more often, after a fellow customer offered to pay for her meal at a local fish and chips restaurant. As we explain here, the investigation into Shannon's whereabouts came to an end following a local tip-off. Thankfully, the missing girl was found alive, but for the duration of her abduction, Shannon had been kept – tethered and drugged – at the home of Michael Donovan, her stepfather's uncle. Upon his arrest, he indicated that Karen had been involved from the beginning, alleging that the pair planned to split the reward money. Following the suggestion that she had played a part in Shannon's abduction, Karen was brought in for questioning but struggled to keep her story straight. Initially, the mum-of-seven denied any involvement and claimed that Michael Donovan was lying. She later changed her statement, claiming that she asked him to look after Shannon as she intended to split up with her boyfriend, Craig Meehan, and needed support with the children while she did so. Across several interviews, Karen's story changed again and again, and it wasn't until she was confronted by her friends, Julie and Natalie, that she eventually came clean, resulting in her arrest. Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court which began in December 2008, both Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan were sentenced to eight years in prison, after being found guilty of kidnap and false imprisonment, as well as perverting the course of justice. Karen, who is now in her late forties, served only half of her sentence and changed her name upon her release, according to Prime Video's documentary. Little is known about her current whereabouts, but in a 2018 interview with The Mirror, Karen spoke out for the first time about life after several years in prison, telling the paper she was "scared [she'll] die lonely and alone." Maintaining her innocence and lack of involvement in the kidnap of her daughter – despite having been found guilty and serving a prison sentence for the crime – Karen went on: "I'm not Britain's worst mum. I didn't kill anybody... From the start I didn't know where she was. Others were involved. I didn't have a clue." "You can't kidnap your own child," Karen added. "I know the truth and I wasn't involved in it. I still have nightmares thinking that it's all going to happen again." As for what happened to her former boyfriend, Craig Meehan, although he was apparently not involved in the kidnap plot, he was later found to have been in possession of child pornography, for which he was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison. The child pornography was not thought to be related to the Shannon Matthews case, but he went into hiding following these charges, and was spotted out in public for the first time last year. He was reportedly seen buying beer and scratch cards, before retreating into a bookies. Julie Bushby – who played a major role in the community search for Shannon Matthews – stayed in contact with Karen for the duration of her imprisonment. According to prison letters written by Karen to Julie, the friend used to buy clothes and luxuries for the shamed mother, and recently she opened up about the experience. Speaking on This Morning on 12 August 2025, Julie recalled visiting Karen in prison and described how she was often unable to give her friend answers to the questions she so desperately sought. "I had so many questions. I used to go visit her at prison. I asked her the same questions," she said. "It was a different story each time I went." Following Karen's release from prison, and decision to change her identity, it's unclear if she and Julie are still in contact. The Hunt for Shannon Matthews, a two-part documentary series, is available to stream on Prime Video from Sunday 17 August.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
BBC calls in police to investigate Strictly Come Dancing
The BBC has asked the police to investigate Strictly Come Dancing amid fresh allegations, according to reports, after claims two of its stars used cocaine. The Sun On Sunday reported that the corporation has alerted the Metropolitan Police to new allegations about the hit dance competition show, the details of which it does not specify. A BBC spokesperson said on Saturday the corporation does not comment on police investigations. It comes after reports in The Sun earlier this month alleged two Strictly cast members' drug use was discussed on the BBC dancing show, and said that the corporation had appointed law firm Pinsent Masons to lead the investigation. The scandal-hit show was also the subject of a review in 2024, when the BBC looked into allegations of bullying and harassment against former professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, made by his former dance partner Amanda Abbington. The corporation upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made – and introduced a series of new measures aimed at improving welfare. READ MORE: DWP full list of 22 medical conditions qualifying for up to £200 a week READ MORE: Live Lotto results for Saturday, August 16: National Lottery winning numbers from tonight's draw This included the introduction of a chaperone who is present 'at all times' during training room rehearsals. EastEnders star James Borthwick was also suspended from the BBC after a video emerged of the actor using a disabled slur on the set of the dance programme. The cocaine use allegations were reportedly made in a legal submission by law firm Russells in March on behalf of former contestant Wynne Evans, who was dropped by the BBC after apologising for using 'inappropriate language' during the launch of the Strictly tour. It is understood that the BBC often appoints external law firms to help it lead investigations. The BBC spokesperson previously said: 'We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. 'We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.' The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.
