Strictly ban Princess Diana's butler from show to avoid 'upsetting Camilla'
Strictly bosses have vetoed Paul Burrell appearing on Strictly Come Dancing - as they're worried about upsetting Queen Camilla. Sources claim the former Royal butler has been mooted as a possible contestant over the last few years.
But execs fear it would land badly with the Palace and have dismissed the idea. A source told us: 'They know how much Queen Camilla loves the show and would love for her to appear in the audience.....but they fear that Paul's involvement would scupper that relationship.'
Burrell has previously faced accusations that he has cashed in on his relationship with the late Princess of Wales, which he has denied. But the BBC show does have strong links with the Palace.
Queen Camilla, who attends Silver Swans - classes for elderly ballet dancers run by the Royal Academy of Dance - has described herself as one of the show's 'greatest fans'.
Sabrina Carpenter in incredible duet with music legends at London Hyde Park show
She once told Strictly professional dancer Johannes Radebe 'we all watch it'. Host Tess Daly's husband Vernon Kay has previously talked of the 'real friendship' that has formed between his wife and Her Majesty, with the Queen even keen to know what goes on behind-the-scenes.
Kay, 51, said: "Camilla and Tess have a real friendship through it now. They don't text, but we have mutual friends and messages come through. When they see each other, the Queen is always asking: 'Who is your favourite?' She wants to know the backstage gossip.
"It's crazy to think of the King and Queen sat on the sofa with a brew watching your wife present Strictly."
Camilla also hosted a palace tea party for Strictly where she danced with former professional Brendan Cole and also filmed a video message for the 2020 final, which was won by Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.
Many pointed to the fact that Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Daly were this month recognised in the King's Birthday Honours. Winkleman, 53, and 56-year-old Daly have co-hosted the series since 2014.
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Daily Mirror
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
King Charles accused of 'slap in the face' by Princess Diana's personal aide
King Charles, monarch of the United Kingdom for nearly three years, welcomed French president Emmanuel Macron for a state visit this week, during which they had a banquet King Charles was accused of giving "a huge slap in the face" to the Buckingham Palace royal chefs - by enlisting French icon Raymond Blanc to help prepare this week's state banquet. The monarch is said to have wanted to honour French president Emmanuel Macron by inviting Mr Blanc to assist the palace's own team in preparing food for the function. The first element of Mr Macron's state visit included the lavish meal at Windsor Castle's impressive St George's Hall, which Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and showbiz stars also attended. But Darren McGrady, personal chef to the late Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana and Princes William and Harry, said Charles' call to use Mr Blanc's support for the bash was unwise. He said: "I get that Raymond Blanc is one of the best chefs in the world, and I get that he is a King's Foundation ambassador, and I get that 'the collaboration is in the spirit of Entente Cordiale (a cordial agreement)' but it's a huge slap in the face to the palace royal chefs." When Buckingham Palace announced Mr Blanc's involvement in the state banquet, a spokesman said he was invited to help "create the first course and dessert". He has a long friendship with the monarch and has been guest speaker at several royal events over the years, including horticulrural festivals at Highgrove. But it is understood while Mr Blanc, who runs Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, was asked to help with the main course, the celebrity cook left that part of the meal to Mark Flanagan, the Royal Household's head chef. Yet, speaking to Mail Online, furious Mr McGrady, 63, added: "For sure, Macron will not be bringing in British chefs for a King Charles state visit to France." Mr McGrady, who worked as the personal chef to Princess Diana and her children until her death in 1997, hit back at the praise Charles has received for the move. Some fans said it was a mark of respect to Mr Macron that King Charles called on Mr Blanc, born near Besançon, east France, to help with the culinary spectacular. It is believed dishes served on Tuesday had French inspiration or French twists. Dad-of-two Mr Blanc, who has restaurants in central London, Portsmouth, Bath, Leeds and other British places, said he wanted to include the Royal Household's head chef as mark of respect to the monarch. He told Mail Online: "He's a royal chef who's cooked for the King for many years, plus he's a great friend – it's all part of respect. "I could have done everything if I'd insisted, but Mark did a beautiful course – Rhug Estate chicken with British produce, with a beautiful tarragon sauce, a French way. It was a splendid occasion." Of McGrady's gripes, Mr Blanc added: "We all have an opinion – and I've got a different one. I like to bring people together." Despite the criticism from Mr McGrady, King Charles also received a great deal of praise for inviting his friend Mr Blanc to help with the glitzy function at Windsor Castle.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Gregg Wallace faces another blow as 'entire final MasterChef series could be scrapped' as sacked BBC presenter faces 50 new misconduct claims
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Editing him out is not an option. 'Either way it's a major headache for the BBC, and would be a final crushing blow for Gregg.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for the BBC and Gregg Wallace for comment. It comes as the BBC received 50 new claims over the TV presenter, including allegations he pulled his trousers down in front of one worker on the show and groped another. Sources are also claiming that Gregg is considering taking the BBC, or Masterchef's production company Banijay to a tribunal, and is ready to declare 'war' on bosses over his sacking. Gregg has also reportedly taken on the 'rottweiler' lawyer Dan Morrison, who represented Nigel Farage in the NatWest/Coutts bank account closure scandal. It's thought that Gregg's lawyers could push for the release of the report's executive summary, which might jeopardise senior MasterChef executives and talent. During the misconduct probe, in two categories — 'demeaning' nicknames for staff and Wallace being 'direct' with contestants — investigators said Gregg's actions were unintentional. Gregg's autism diagnosis was also reportedly used to explain some behaviour, and some allegations in the probe have been upheld. These include the star opening his dressing room door with a sock over his manhood, before shouting: 'Hooray.' Due to the BBC's cost-cutting measures, it's been deemed unlikely that Gregg will receive any or redundancy package, but he could land a six-figure payout from a tribunal in his favour. On Tuesday, Gregg released a statement ahead of the investigation into his misconduct allegations being published later this week. Wallace denies the claims and has condemned the corporation in a scathing social media post saying he had been cleared of 'the most serious and sensational accusations'. 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One woman says that at an industry ball in 2014 he groped her under her dress, while a junior worker says in 2012 he dropped his trousers without wearing underwear in front of her. Several men claim they witnessed Wallace making inappropriate sexual comments. Among the recent claims, a 19-year-old MasterChef worker said in 2022 she tried to raise concerns to the BBC about Wallace's comments about her body. A former policeman said that in 2023 he also tried to complain about Wallace's sexually inappropriate language. The BBC reports that most of the women who have come forward are young freelancers who felt they were unable to complain without negative career repercussions. Writing on Instagram, Wallace said he had taken the decision to go public before the Silkins report was published as 'I cannot sit in silence while my reputation is further damaged to protect others'. The former greengrocer had stepped down from MasterChef while complaints from 13 women about historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. Wallace, who has worked for the BBC for 21 years, said 'the most damaging claims (including allegations from public figures which have not been upheld) were found to be baseless'. He said he had recognised 'that some of my humour and language, at times, was inappropriate'. 'I was hired by the BBC and MasterChef as the cheeky greengrocer. A real person with warmth, character, rough edges and all,' Wallace said. 'For over two decades, that authenticity was part of the brand. Now, in a sanitised world, that same personality is seen as a problem.' A source reportedly said Wallace had been cleared of the most high profile allegations that had been brought by Penny Lancaster and Kirsty Wark. 'But the BBC has made it clear there is no way back for him. He is devastated,' they said. The former greengrocer, who was recently diagnosed with autism, accused the BBC of doing nothing to 'investigate my disability or protect me from what I now realise was a dangerous environment for over twenty years'. And he vowed 'I will not go quietly' as he said the full 200 page report will not be published with the BBC instead going to release an executive summary. 'What really concerns me about the short summary is others who have been found guilty of serious allegations have been erased from the published version of events. I, and I'm sure the public, would like to know why?,' he said. A source told The Sun that Wallace was 'both furious and devastated' by the BBC's decision to axe him. The report is to be officially published on Thursday, but Wallace's legal team have claimed to have seen the report. A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Banijay UK instructed the law firm Lewis Silkin to run an investigation into allegations against Gregg Wallace. 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I've been under a huge amount of stress, a lot of emotion.' He told the Mail in April had he how he stopped socialising with young people after first being disciplined by the BBC in 2018, because he was 'scared they would complain about him.' He was disciplined for inappropriate behaviour while working on a quiz show when he told a young runner on the final day of filming that he'd 'really enjoyed working with her, she was brilliantly clever, strikingly attractive and was going to do well'. Talking about the aftermath in a new interview, he explained: 'My behaviours completely and utterly changed from 2018 and that's why there are no complaints in this big investigation after 2018. It changed me completely and I never got into trouble again. 'But the way I did it was to become a social recluse. I refused to do anything social at work, wouldn't go to the pub with anyone, to the point where when we went out on location everybody else would go out for dinner and I would stay in my hotel room. 'I wouldn't socialise. I stopped any social conversations with younger people that I didn't know very well.' Wallace recalled: 'There's some really good young people at work and they'd say 'Gregg we're all going for a drink are you gonna come?' 'And I'd say no I won't come. You guys make me nervous. The sensibilities of a sixty year old man are different to 25-year-olds and you live in a complaint culture that never existed. 'If I go out with you and I drink and offer an opinion, political or social, I'm scared you're going to complain about me. The anxiety levels were just extraordinary.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
EastEnders fans spot major Nugget 'blunder' and tell soap to 'sort out' issue
EastEnders viewers reacted to a scene that aired this week which saw characters Nugget Gulati and Avani Nandra-Hart approach their dad Ravi Gulati about a birthday party Fans of EastEnders have shared confusion over a scene that aired this week, suggesting that it included a blunder. It featured some of the Panesar family and comes ahead of a special occasion set to take place this month. The scene in tonight's episode of the BBC show saw Ravi Gulati (played by Aaron Thiara) approached about organising a 'sweet sixteen' party for his daughter Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James). She's set to celebrate her 16th birthday later this month with some of her friends on Albert Square. She was joined by her older brother Davinder 'Nugget' Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) whilst asking their father about planning a party. Nugget suggested in the scene that the siblings start inviting friends ahead of the event. Encouraging Ravi to let them go ahead with their plans, Avani told him: "Dad, I'm only 16 once y'know?" Nugget then suggested that he will instead be turning 18 soon, saying: "And my 18th ain't far away. I've got to celebrate that too." Following the episode's early release on BBC iPlayer on Monday, some fans on X have raised questions about the ages referenced in the scene. It's been suggested by viewers that Nugget is thought to be 16 at the moment. It would mean that he turns 17 on his next birthday, with his 18th then not until next year. His pal Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega), who is thought to be in the same school year, is himself turning 17 "soon", as mentioned just last month. One viewer wrote: "So confused about the age gap between Nugget & Avani? He's meant to be born in Sept 2008 & her in July 2009 (making them Irish twins, born 10 months apart). But he reckons he's 18 soon & yet is in the same class as Denzel who said he was 17 soon (October)? Help!" They added in a second post: "Also why are they in uniform if they've both just finished their GCSE exams last month? They'd be off school for the summer by now. Sort out your continuity fails #EastEnders, pedants are watching!" The post prompted reaction following the release of the episode earlier this week. Some other viewers shared their thoughts in replies. Someone responded: "I think they've given up on continuity with the ages of these 2." Another said: "Apparently Nugget is 16 and is going to be 17 in September but he's saying that he's turning 18 so I'm confused about that too." One person wrote on the platform this week: "He would be 17 in September 18 next year, my son was born Jan 09 and he is now 16 1/2. I hate when tv programs and films don't follow through with continuity, it's just messy and lazy!" Others suggested that it wouldn't be the first time that a character's age has been altered. One fan said: "It's just tradition. Sharon was 13 in 1985 and 17 in 1986." Whilst another wrote: "They also upped Ian's age too I believe." EastEnders continues tomorrow from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The next episode is already available through the streaming platform.
