Latest news with #GreatBritishPhoneSwap
Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Celebs Go Dating's Anna Williamson praises 'brave' Christine McGuinness amid update
Celebs Go Dating's Anna Williamson spoke to the Mirror about Christine McGuinness' involvement with the new series of the E4 show, which is set to launch later this year Anna Williamson has paid tribute to Christine McGuinness following her departure from the new series of Celebs Go Dating. She's also given an insight into how much the reality TV star will feature after quitting during its production. Christine, 37, was announced as part of the line-up for the E4 show's upcoming return in April. The cast were then understood to have jetted off to Ibiza for a trip but, days into filming, it was revealed that she had quit the show. The reality TV star, who was previously married to Paddy McGuinness, said that it was "too soon" for her to be dating in the public eye. It was later confirmed that Christine had returned for the finale of the series, which is yet to launch. Dating coach Anna, 43, has now praised former co-star Christine over her decision to leave. Speaking to the Mirror about having reunited at the finale, Anna said: "Christine is so wonderful. I've really enjoyed getting to know her. "I do believe that she is very much still part of our ... the early few episodes of this series, which is lovely. Viewers will be really keen to hear some of Christine's story which she very much shares with us in the first two episodes." Anna continued by saying that Christine then made the "brave" decision to step back from the show. She told us recently: "[Christine] made the very brave decision that perhaps, actually, now wasn't the right time for her." Further sharing her thoughts ahead of the launch, Anna said in our interview: "But yeah, she's a great lady and the door is very much open for her to return. And I believe she would like to if the circumstances are right in the future." Christine was in the line-up for the new series, which was described by Anna as "such a fun series," alongside Kerry Katona, Olivia Hawkins, Louis Russell and Jon Lee. Mark Labbett, Donna Preston and Sam Prince will feature too. Announcing her departure, Christine said in her statement that was released back in May: "I joined Celebs Go Dating with great intentions but have realised that dating on a public platform and the attention that brings is just too soon for me. They've said the door is always open for me which I'm so grateful but for now I'm returning home to my family." A spokesperson for Celebs Go Dating said at the time that the door is "always open" for her. They said: "We have loved having Christine on the show and completely respect her feelings and decision to return home and have told her that the door is always open for her in the future at the agency." Anna's comments come after she spoke to the Mirror about her approach to parenting recently. She opened up about her life whilst discussing the Great British Phone Swap. The Channel 4 show, in partnership with Tesco Mobile, saw parents temporarily swap phone habits with their children. The experiment, fronted by Anna and clinical psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado, explored topics such as online safety. Participants left the experience with goals for their family, such as scheduled time off their devices at home. Asked her takeaways from hosting the five-part project, she told us earlier this month: "I think the main thing is boundaries and having very healthy, open communication. Boundaries being time when you are not on your phone and I think we found that was really beneficial for all families." Anna said she doesn't support banning technology from kids though, sharing: "You need to teach your children how to navigate it." She also said: "I think as we portray in the Great British Phone Switch phones aren't a bad thing. Tech isn't a bad thing. But it's about consuming the right things on it and that's the important thing here." All five episodes of the Great British Phone Swap are available through Channel 4. Celebs Go Dating is set to return for its new series on E4 later this year.
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Anna Williamson refuses to ban technology from her kids despite 'fights'
Celebs Go Dating coach Anna Williamson spoke to the Mirror about parenting amid concerns over technology and social media after hosting the Great British Phone Switch Anna Williamson has opened up her approach to parenting, including revealing some of the rules that are in place within her home. The Celebs Go Dating coach offered advice to other parents whilst discussing her own experience. The life coach and presenter, 43, has two children with her husband Alex Di Pasquale, 36. The couple, who have now been together for more than a decade, are parents to an eight-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter together. Anna spoke to the Mirror about her family earlier this week whilst reflecting on the Great British Phone Swap. The Channel 4 show, in partnership with Tesco Mobile, sees parents swap phone habits with their children for 48 hours. Fronted by Anna and clinical psychologist Dr Martha Deiros Collado, the experiment explores topics including online safety and the use of AI. Each parent and child duo left the experience with a set of goals for their family, such as scheduled time away from devices and weekly check-ins. Asked her main takeaway, Anna said it was "boundaries" and having "healthy, open communication". "Boundaries being time when you are not on your phone and I think we found that was really beneficial for all families," she added. The show also saw parents introduced to their kids' lives on platforms like TikTok. Anna said: "When [they] lent into the teenager's worlds, they were actually less fearful about what was happening because they understood it better." Although her own kids aren't on social media, Anna revealed that her eldest child is now starting to ask when he will be allowed a phone. She shared that even though he doesn't have one yet, she's already using parental control on games and apps that he's interested in on another device. Concerns over screen time were raised on the Great British Phone Swap and Anna teased that she can relate to the other parents. Asked what the dynamic is like in her family, she told us: "We're always fighting against screen time in my house but very much we try and lead from example." Anna said it's "very difficult" as a parent because "a lot of our work nowadays is online". She said that can be tough to convey to kids, who may interpret their parents being on devices as them playing a game or browsing social media. Although that may sometimes be the case, Anna encourages leading by example. She said in our interview: "The approach of 'just do it because I said,' it doesn't really wash because you're typically gonna get a child that will rebel. They won't trust you, they won't lean in to you, they won't talk to you and they will just do it anyway." Anna said that she tries to make sure that her own devices are away as much as possible between the time that she picks her kids up from school and their bedtime. She then explained: "I might jump on later on and reply to emails and do a lot of my messaging after that." She said that as a result when she's trying to get her kids off their devices they know that she's "boundaried" with her own. Anna revealed that her kids get an hour of screen time each per day, which they can use when they want. Anna said their allowance could be used before or after school, through "approved apps" or "things they wanna watch". She said that her son may choose to use his hour altogether on completing a video game level, for example, rather than taking it in scattered periods over the day. "It's teaching your children that they do have a choice but they have a choice within your boundaries," Anna said. Summarising her approach, she added: "So we try and keep reduced screen time. We do have parental controls. I do keep a very close eye on what my children are watching." Anna went on to discuss one participant in the show having suggested that their generation spent time outside, rather than playing on devices, as children. The podcast host however said that it's the "reality" of the world we live in now. She said: "I do think that we have to accept where we are. We always evolve, we have to evolve. [...] I think as we portray in the Great British Phone Switch phones aren't a bad thing. Tech isn't a bad thing. But it's about consuming the right things on it and that's the important thing here." Anna, who said that parents are "always grappling" with issues like screen time and whether to let their children have a phone, told us that she doesn't support banning technology at home. She said: "What I always say is that banning it completely I don't believe is a particularly useful or helpful idea in the long run." She explained: "Because what you ban, you're not teaching someone to use it sensibly. The analogy being; you wouldn't just stick a 17 year old out in a car without giving them driving lessons to teach them how to drive it safely." Anna suggested that the same benefits apply to technology. She said: "It's exactly the same with tech - you need to teach your children how to navigate it. Where the pitfalls are, where the hazards are, where the safe spaces are." She added that banning it completely doesn't give kids the "skills" and the "tools" that they need in the modern world. Anna however suggested that it doesn't mean children should have no restrictions when it comes to using devices. "The heavy caveat is to not be consumed by it and to make sure there are other things going on in your life that are face-to-face," she said. "Making sure that those interpersonal skills are just as acute as their digital skills." Anna also shared that she isn't letting her kids on social media at the moment and opened up about no longer showing their faces on her own Instagram. She recalled making the decision a few years ago when she "became increasingly aware around consent". She said that although her job in the public eye is a choice that she has made, the same can't be said for her kids. "I didn't want my children to be in a position where they thought I'd made the wrong decision for them," she said. Anna went on to say: "I'm not shading anyone that does choose to share their children or their families online. I think everyone makes the right choice for them and their family." All five episodes of the Great British Phone Swap are available now through Channel 4.
