
Why Sarah Ferguson is all about the Woo Woo! From telling us that the Queen talks to her through her corgis to her string of spiritual advisors
She recently said the late Queen Elizabeth still 'talks to her' three years after her passing - through her beloved corgis.
Sarah Ferguson, better known as Fergie, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, is not a stranger to the spotlight - as well as her share of scandal.
There was her high-profile divorce, some poor financial decisions and the cash-for-access proposition, among many other very public incidents.
At the centre of this, the Duchess of York was struggling under the pressure of relentless media scrutiny and was desperate for reassurance.
In the early nineties, during her marriage problems with Andrew, the Duchess consulted Greek clairvoyant Madame Vasso and sat under a giant blue pyramid to become 'cleansed'.
Vasso later betrayed the Duchess of York with a book which aired the secrets of her extramarital affairs, the squalid state of her finances and her views on her in-laws.
The Duchess of York - Uncensored was based on tapes of confidential conversations over the six years that the Duchess sought her advice and counsel.
It presented her as an unhappy and foolish woman obsessed with sex, money and crystal balls.
Already obsessed with the paranormal, she was portrayed as dependent on her 'little Greek friend' - ringing at all hours of the day and night, begging her to get out the tarot cards and predict her future.
After this, in 2010, the Duchess put her faith in the predictions of Isle of Sheppey soothsayer Mia Dolan who won the paranormal edition of Celebrity Weakest Link, and promised the Duchess her financial problems would soon end.
Fergie was so certain of Dolan's powers that she stuck a notice in her Windsor home saying: 'I will rise like the phoenix from the ashes.'
An ex-aide said: 'The Duchess told us in a call from America she was devastated to lay us off, but she would soon be in a position to give us our jobs back.'
When Dolan, who charged £150 for every session, heard the news had got out that she had a royal client, she was horrified.
She said: 'I have a lot of A-list clients but I have never said a word in public about any of them.'
A ghostbuster on ITV's Haunted Homes show, Dolan wrote on her website that she discovered she was psychic when she was 22 and foresaw her brother's murder.
It was US talk show host Oprah Winfrey who introduced the Duchess to her next spiritual medium, who offered services including relaying messages from the dead.
Rebecca Rosen charged upwards of £650 for her sessions and guided the Duchess on her 2011 Oprah Network television show, Finding Sarah - and they have remained in close contact by phone ever since.
Rosen describes herself as 'an ambassador between the spirit world and our day-to-day world – relaying wisdom and insight from angels, guides and those who have passed on to people seeking answers in the here and now'.
She describes God as her 'publicist', saying: 'I told God, "If you want me to do this for a living, you bring all the right people and opportunities to me. I'm not going to go seek it out". And people have always found me.'
'Sarah's been raving about the accuracy of her new psychic,' a well-placed source has said.
'This woman gives her motivational sayings, which she writes down and repeats to herself.
'She credits Rebecca with helping her feel and look the best she ever has, despite money troubles and criticism over her TV appearances in the US.'
Most recently it was reported that the Duchess said she believed the late Queen has been communicating to her through her dogs' barking.
Sarah adopted the late Queen's corgis, Muick and Sandy, with ex-husband Prince Andrew in 2022, housing them at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
'I have her dogs, I have her corgis. Every morning they come in and go, "woof woof" and all that and I'm sure it's her talking to me', she said.
'I'm sure it's her, reminding me she's still around.'
It is not the first time the Duchess has noted the dogs' remarkable connection to the late monarch.
In 2023, Sarah described how one of the corgis, Muick, had grieved after the Queen's death.
Speaking with Graeme Hall, presenter of the Channel 5 show Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, Sarah said it took Muick about a year to come to terms with his owner's passing.
And it's not just the Duchess who has turned to the occult for guidance.
The late Princess Diana was first encouraged to speak with a spiritual advisor by her in-laws, Andrew and Sarah.
In 1986, the couple referred the Princess of Wales, tortured over her failing marriage to Prince Charles and the pressures of royal life, to astrologer Penny Thornton.
In 1986, the couple referred the Princess of Wales, tortured over her failing marriage to Prince Charles and the pressures of royal life, to astrologer Penny Thornton
'I just wanted to see,' she told Thornton, 'if there is light at the end of the tunnel.'
At the inquest into Diana's death it was noted that Diana's reliance on spiritual advisors offered companionship and a sense of comfort during a difficult time - but also fueled her paranoia.
The inquest heard Diana was obsessed with clairvoyants - including one she dubbed 'Fergie's witch woman'.
The identity of the 'witch woman' was not revealed in court.
But it is likely to be either psychic Rita Rogers, who also met Diana through the Duchess and told her the brake cables of her car would be cut, or Madame Vasso, the Greek mystic who later betrayed the Duchess of York.
And, in 2023 reports started circulating that King Charles refused to pay for a £32,000 annual bill for a Prince Andrew's Indian healer guru.
The Duke of York submitted the expense claim to the Privy Purse - the King's private income which is mostly from the Duchy of Lancaster - and it is said that he thought it would be signed off without challenge.
However the King has told his brother that he will have to pay for the guru's services out of his own pocket.
The corgis have lived with Sarah since the Queen's passing in 2022
Andrew had been a client of the Indian healer for a few years, sources told The Sun newspaper, who was reported to treat the Prince with chanting, massages and holistic therapy in Andrew's grace-and-favour mansion.
But for the Duchess of York, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, she was able to turn to spirituality to find peace in times of personal turmoil and ill health.
In post shared to mark World Cancer Day, the Duchess said she used a guided meditation app for 'stress relief, rejuvenation, and self-care' which she hailed as a healing 'balm to your mind.'
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Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Coronation Street's Jack P Shepherd reveals 'shock' over soap awards snub as he reflects on his reaction during ceremony
Coronation Street star Jack P. Shepherd was left gobsmacked after being snubbed at this year's British Soap Awards – and his stunned reaction said it all. The 37-year-old, who has played David Platt since he was 12, had high hopes of adding a third gong to his shelf during Saturday night's star-studded event. But despite being one of the longest-serving and most recognisable faces on the cobbles, Jack lost out to Patsy Palmer and her Eastender's character Bianca Jackson. While he congratulated the winner, Jack couldn't help but reveal how 'shocked' he was and felt the award should have been his, as he declared the was 'fuming'. Speaking on his podcast On The Sofa with co-stars Ben Price and Colson Smith, the star admitted he couldn't hide his reaction when the camera panned on him. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The 37-year-old, who has played David Platt since he was 12, had high hopes of adding a third gong to his shelf during Saturday night's star-studded event but lost out to Patsy Palmer and her Eastender's character Bianca Jackson Colson said: 'You worked so hard to receive this Best Comedy nomination...' to which Jack replied: 'I have. 'I've been trying for years to get a nod for comedy cos I've never been nominated for it before.' Colson then probed: 'And how are you feeling about the result? Your frenemy...' Jack admitted: 'It was a shock. It was a shock. If you watched it, you will notice that my reaction is genuine. 'I'm completely blown away. I didn't win. I couldn't hide it.' Bursting into fits of laughter, Ben, 53, who plays Jack's onscreen brother Nick Tilsey joked: 'I was sat behind you and I'd gone. 'I couldn't think of anything more funny then not winning the comedy and then Patsy winning it who'd been in Big Brother with you - and then name checking you saying "I thought Jack would win"' To which Jack exclaimed: 'And then I said "So did I!"' Ben then asked: 'Were you fuming? Was that your fuming face?' 'Yeah' said Jack. 'I was just blown away. I was as much blown away as winning Big Brother as I was losing that award.' Speaking on his podcast On The Sofa with co-stars Ben Price and Colson Smith (pictured) Jack admitted while he congratulated the winner, he was 'shocked' and felt the award should have been his, as he declared the was 'fuming' Meanwhile Patsy left both the crowd and viewers at home in stitches during the British Soap Awards, as she went off in a tangent about vaginas during her award acceptance speech It was the BBC 's EastEnders that cleaned up on the night with eight awards while Hollyoaks received three, Emmerdale two and Coronation Street only one. Meanwhile Patsy left both the crowd and viewers at home in stitches during the British Soap Awards, as she went off in a tangent about vaginas during her award acceptance speech. The actress, 53, won the prize for Best Comedic Performance at the annual ceremony, held on Saturday night at London 's Hackney Empire. As she took to the stage to accept the gong, Patsy got rather sidetracked, as she deliver an ode to vaginas, that had the audience breaking down into laughter. She made the X-rated remarks in reference to EastEnders' live 40th anniversary special, which saw Bianca having to help sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) give birth after they became trapped in the Queen Vic with cousin Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) following the explosion. The scene had viewers cracking up as Bianca and Lauren argued over who had to help, with both reluctant to get up close and personal with the birth. It culminated with Bianca taking a huge glug from a bottle of brandy for some liquid courage, before declaring the now-iconic line: 'It's only a noony Lauren!' Referencing the hilarious moment, Patsy began her speech: 'Listen I haven't prepared a speech, because I really thought Jack was gonna win. 'To be able to funny in all what of we've seen tonight is nothing short of miracle really. I'd like to thank Shona McGarty for leaving, because if she hadn't have left I wouldn't have come back. 'I wasn't expecting that and I'm so glad I did because then I stayed for the 40th and that was really where we celebrated the women's vagina!' However, Patsy didn't stop there, valiantly continuing on to add: 'I think vaginas have always been funny.' She then changed tone to express her thanks to show and even choked back her tears, as she gushed: 'All jokes aside, coming back to EastEnders after quite some time has been the most amazing experience for me and I'm so grateful. Beyond grateful. 'And I'm not going to cry, so I'm going to go, because it is a comedy award. But you really have no idea what a gift it's been for me to come back.' Viewer Voted Categories: Best British Soap: Coronation Street EastEnders - WINNER Emmerdale Hollyoaks Best Leading Performer: Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Villain of the Year: Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street) Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) - WINNER Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) Best Comedy Performance: Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street) Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) - WINNER Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks) Panel Voted Categories: Best Family: The Platts (Coronation Street) The Slaters (EastEnders) The Dingles (Emmerdale) The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Dramatic Performance: Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street) Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) - WINNER Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Single Episode: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Phil's psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) - WINNER April's life on the streets (Emmerdale) Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks) Best On-Screen Partnership: Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) - WINNER William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks) Best Newcomer: Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street) Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders) Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Storyline: Paul's battle with MND (Coronation Street) Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders) Belle and Tom - Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale) Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Young Performer: Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street) Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders) Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) - WINNER Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks) Scene of the Year: Amy's deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)


The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
Only in UK could we be forced to pay for BBC then have to cough up for best TV on streaming services – it's got to stop
TURN on your TV today and you'll find schedules filled with true crime thrillers and celebrity reality shows or, at the other extreme, indulgent tripe pandering to Gen Z snowflakes. But unless the Big Five channels stop making so much b****ks and grow some balls, they're going to kill British TV as we know it. 5 5 5 Because BBC One and BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 — whose listings increasingly read like a suicide note — are entering the final stages of a fight for their survival. They're up against Netflix, Sky, Prime Video and countless other corporations with deep pockets and big ambitions. Proof came this week in the unlikely form of Blind Date, a much-loved TV format that was once on ITV but has now been snapped up by Disney+. Yeah, that's right, Disney+. Paying through nose Years ago, the subscription services started out providing an alternative to traditional telly, then they began copying the traditional providers and, recently, they've started stealing their big-name talent — Jeremy Clarkson, Emma Willis, Amanda Holden, Holly Willoughby. Now the Blind Date deal shows that the super streamers are literally out to thrash the Big Five at their own game. The gloves have come off . . . but the increased competition won't stop us paying through the nose. Only in Britain could we be forced by law to shell out for a home-grown broadcasting service, only to find the best TV shows are increasingly made by largely foreign-owned streamers. Then — in the ultimate rip-off — we have to cough up even more money to watch them. That's the enraging situation we find ourselves in in the year 2025. Although there are some notable exceptions on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, the consensus is that subscription services are now making the most electrifying programmes on the planet. Brassic Bids Farewell: Michelle Keegan's Final Series Think about it. Dramas including Adolescence, Baby Reindeer, Rivals, The White Lotus, Slow Horses. And consider the shows that have given us the biggest laughs over the past few years — hits like Last One Laughing, Ted Lasso, Brassic, Clarkson's Farm. None of the above was delivered by the traditional Big Five terrestrials. So, why can't the channels we already pay for make more of the TV that gets us excited? The obvious response from the top UK channels would be that they are still giving us blockbusters — Strictly, I'm A Celebrity, Bake Off, The Traitors, Love Island and dramas like Happy Valley or Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. 5 They are all, to be fair, brilliant. But so much of it is old now. It's predictable. And the new hits are few and far between. Though the streamers obviously have pots of cash to spend, it's not just a money problem either. Look no further than the recent co-production between Disney+ and the BBC on Doctor Who. It's easy to understand why other shows that are laden with CGI and big Hollywood stars end up on the streamers, but why is it that comedies like Ted Lasso never seem to pop up on ITV? Rod It was, by most people's standards, an unmitigated disaster. The studio giant pumped millions into cutting-edge special effects, sets that dazzled rather than wobbled and genuinely monstrous monsters. And what did the BBC do? They squandered it by turning a sci-fi classic into a series of woke lectures that had viewers turning off in droves. Now the Disney+ deal is hanging in the balance and they're having to bring back David Tennant. It's easy to understand why other shows that are laden with CGI and big Hollywood stars end up on the streamers, but why is it that comedies like Ted Lasso never seem to pop up on ITV? ITV, by the way, recently spent millions launching The Genius Game, with David Tennant as host, only to end up with one of their most expensive flops in years. And the one thing I thought while watching the brilliant, gritty drama Adolescence was, this could easily have been done by Channel 4. Neither Adolescence nor Ted Lasso would have cost that much to produce, surely? It's not Star Wars or Bridgerton. Pure extortion Part of the problem, it seems, is that a lot of creatives and execs now don't just chase the money — they also chase trends and credibility. At last month's TV Baftas, around a third of the nominations went to streamers — a figure that's been growing rapidly over the past decade. That, too, could reach a tipping point in a couple of years. The solution is glaringly obvious, but not easy. If Disney+ steal Blind Date, come up with the next Blind Date. If they lose Clarkson to Prime Video, find the next Jeremy. If Netflix do Bridgerton, come up with another twist on the period drama. They need to stop the rot in terrestrial telly, because one day a cluster of these streamers will start offering a one-price-buys-all subscription deal that will make the licence fee look like pure extortion. Then public service broadcasting's days really will be numbered.


The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
I tested budget slushie makers against £350 Ninja gadget – a £10 high street dupe is just as good & the kids'll love it
WHEN the sun comes out, so do the pleas from kids for ice creams, slushies and sugary summer treats. With school holidays around the corner and temperatures finally set to climb, frozen drinks become a household essential. 9 But after concerns over shop-bought slushies, especially those containing glycerol, a sugar substitute linked to making young children unwell, more parents are looking for alternatives. Enter Ninja's Slushi. The sleek, high-end gadget went viral, with foodie influencers around the world showing off their bar-quality frozen cocktails and perfectly textured slushies. The hashtag #ninjaslushie has already racked up more than 15,000 TikTok videos. It has launched in the UK just in time for the sunshine. But at nearly £350, this machine is anything but cheap. So, is it worth the hype, or can budget-friendly versions deliver the chill for less? Lynsey Hope puts them to the test while Fabulous Food Editor Kirsty Spence has two great recipes. THE first thing that hits you is the price – and then the size. This is a huge appliance and even getting it out of the box was a mission. But it is very easy to use. Just add your ingredients to the plastic vessel and choose what type of drink you would like on the control panel. Mum shares genius hack to make slushies for your kids in seconds Unlike other slushie makers, this one doesn't need ice. The compressor in the machine cools the ingredients as it churns away. Once your drink is ready, it will keep it cold for up to 12 hours. You do have to keep it running, though, and it is not silent. I was very impressed with the drinks that came out. The texture of the frozen cocktail was restaurant or bar quality, although you do have to select the right temperature. Even simple tropical fruit juice and cola came out as a perfect slushy for kids. The recipe booklet was really helpful to get you started. Any drinks you add to the machine do need at least 5g of sugar per 100ml. If you want to make diet drinks you must add erythritol – a sweetener – which you can buy online or at supermarkets. It is £3.35 for 250g at Tesco. You also need lemon juice and salt but the instructions in the manual are easy to follow. I loved it. The only downside is the size. You need a decent bit of counter space if you want it out all the time and as it is so big, it is hard to store. The main drinks vessel was also quite hard to clean by hand but it can go in the dishwasher. Rating: 4/5 CHILLFACTOR SLUSHY MAKER, £9.99, IF you only need a single serving, this is a great option and especially fun for kids. But it does require a bit of prep. You have to put the cup in the freezer for eight to ten hours before you want to make your slushie. Then simply add a chilled drink of your choice until the cup becomes two-thirds full, screw the lid on and squeeze the cup. It was pretty easy to do, although my younger daughter did need a bit of help with this step as some of the liquid spilled over the top. But this simple process freezes your drink into a thick, slushie texture in about a minute. The children were amazed by how easy it was and loved that they could do it themselves. 9 They thought they were getting a cafe-quality slushy at home and yet I could make it healthier, with fruit options and less sugar. You cannot put the cup in the dishwasher, although it is easy to wash by hand. You really need to keep it in the freezer so it is always ready to go when you need it. I found it took up quite a lot of freezer space. The serving size is also limited. But if you don't want a bulky appliance and want something cheap, this is a fun and wallet-friendly alternative. Rating: 4/5 LIVIVO ELECTRIC ICE CRUSHER, £39.99, MARGARITAS came out watery and the cola slushies were flat after adding a can of it and some ice. The steel blades did a great job of chopping up the ice. But the ice and liquid didn't really blend properly when I poured it out of the machine. It only took a minute, but I'd rather wait a bit longer and get something drinkable. None of it can go in the dishwasher, either, and it was a right faff to wash by hand. While quick and relatively compact to store, it is also very noisy to use. It probably made around four small cups in one go. For nearly £40, I did not think much of it. Rating: 3/5 SLUSH PUPPIE SLUSHY MACHINE, £34.99, I ALWAYS wanted this as a child and now in my forties, I was still pretty excited to try it out. Sadly, my childhood dreams were crushed and I was left disappointed. All the slushies that came out of this were very watery and didn't have the blended, icy texture I had been hoping for. It was nothing like you would get from a machine in a cafe, or what I remember as a kid. And it was pretty noisy to use, although it only took a minute or two to prepare as the plastic mixer quickly ground through the ice. There are two settings so you can have the ice fine or coarse. Both were too runny, leaving large uneven chunks in the drinks. It was easy to clean and relatively compact to store, especially compared to the Ninja. Rating: 2/5 ANDREW JAMES ICE CRUSHER SLUSH MACHINE, £32.99, HERE is a super-quick and convenient way to make an icy drink. All you have to do is add ice to the compartment at the top and this is then crushed into the liquid in the main blending container at the simple press of a button. Quick and easy to do but the quality of the drink wasn't a patch on those from the Ninja. They were on the watery side and lacked the thick, slushie-like texture. I tried adding shaved ice afterwards but it didn't blend in very well and spoilt my enjoyment. The kids still liked it. Having a slushie at home was a real winner, even though it wasn't perfectly blended. Simple, wallet-friendly but very average. Rating: 3/5 LYNSEY'S VERDICT: IT'S A DRAW MOST of us don't have £350 to spend on a whopping great machine, or a place to store it. So while the Ninja was brilliant, the ChillFactor cup is fun for the kids and costs less than a tenner. It would make a great gift if you have lots of parties over the summer and it comes in a lovely range of colours. If the Ninja was cheaper it would definitely be a winner. But I had to knock a point off because it is so bulky and takes up so much room in my already jam-packed kitchen. The bonus is that it can also make cocktails and frappes for the grown-ups, which would be difficult with the ChillFactor cup. If you spend a lot on these overall, it might be a worthy investment. Two iced coffees a week at £4 a go would cost you £416, so it might save money if you spend a lot on iced drinks out and about. But if all you are after is a bit of fun on a hot day, the ChillFactor is a brilliant and affordable option. FROSE Serves 1 YOU NEED: 60ml Martini Sparkling Rosé 15ml Martini Fiero 30ml water 30ml sugar syrup 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice METHOD: Add the ingredients to the slushie machine until blended. Garnish the drink with a dried grapefruit slice. Pina colada Serves 1 YOU NEED: 50ml Bacardi coconut rum 37.5ml Coco Real 37.5ml pineapple juice METHOD: Combine all ingredients in the machine and blend. Serve in a highball glass, garnished with a pineapple wedge plus a 'cherry flag' – a cherry and orange slice on a cocktail stick.