Latest news with #Kirstie
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Sport presenter bravely opens up on miscarriage heartbreak
BBC Sport presenter bravely opens up on miscarriage heartbreak The GAA Social Podcast with Oisin McConville and Thomas Niblock spoke to former Galway All-Ireland-winning hurler Johnny Glynn about his and his wife Serena's fertility issues Thomas Niblock opened up about the miscarriages his wife Kirstie has had to go through (Image: thomasniblock/Twitter ) BBC Sport presenter Thomas Niblock has opened up about the personal anguish of miscarriage and fertility complications following his revelation that his wife Kirstie tragically lost three pregnancies. In an emotive segment on the GAA Social Podcast, Niblock and fellow host Oisin McConville invited ex-Galway hurling champion Johnny Glynn to share his harrowing experiences. Living in New York with his wife Serena, Glynn faced similar sorrows in his journey to parenthood. Only recently, after steering New York to victory in the Lory Meagher Cup at Croke Park, Glynn learnt that their latest IVF attempt had failed. During the podcast, McConville described it as a "privilege" to hear such candid and heartfelt discussions about the struggles of fertility, pregnancy loss, and ectopic ruptures, reports Belfast Live. Niblock laid bare the trials he and his wife Kirstie have endured. "It is not an exaggeration in any way - my family and friends would know this - we were very close to losing Kirstie," he disclosed. "So that shapes you. You go from your fertility after that and I am thinking, it would be amazing and I'd love to have kids, like most people would. "Not all - but certainly most. But at the same time when you nearly lose your wife that's the game changer for me and that's the priority. That shapes you as well. Article continues below Johnny Glynn joined Oisin McConville and Thomas Niblock on the BBC's GAA Social podcast "Then time passes by and you definitely do want kids. So that's where we're at, at the minute. We haven't tried IVF. That may be coming down the pathway. My wife is very lucky. She has a great set of friends - been really supportive towards her. She's a very strong person. "She doesn't take things too seriously whereas everybody I would find would be quite different in this scenario. She has a good head on her shoulders. But it still is heavy stuff. I just feel it would be hypocritical if I didn't put myself out there, even though it's a bit weird to be talking about it." Glynn's experience echoed similar sentiments, as he disclosed: "Unfortunately we've had a few miscarriages. We've had an ectopic pregnancy. We've done a few rounds of IVF. "We are after finishing our fifth round of IVF transfers and they've all been unsuccessful so far. To be honest with you, where we are at I don't know exactly. I don't know how we are going to get there yet but we are going to get there. Thomas Niblock opened up about the fertility issues he and his wife Kirstie have endured (Image: thomasniblock/Twitter ) "When we do have kids and if they grow up to be healthy and fine, do you know what I'll take these two years. I'll take this tough time because it's only going to be for a little bit of time. We are going to get over it. We are going to be fine. "Not to sound soft or anything, but as long as myself and Serena have each other, we'll be okay. What upsets me is seeing her so upset. I firmly believe, I will be ok, if she is ok. It's not being able to fix this for her, it's the one thing that is out of my control, that I can't do for my wife. It's a f*****g killer." The pair opened up about their fertility journey, including sperm testing and confronting the discomfort caused by questions about starting a family. Niblock shared an anecdote of common enquiries he faces: 'No kids yet Tommy?' before adding: "I would have known, even not going through our experience, if someone is married a year or two and they are in their 30s and there's no kids, there might be a wee issue there. Don't maybe say something to them. "So I push back and say: 'To be honest, we've had three miscarriages' and the face just drops. But I feel that's important to say that. It's not me being guarded. It's just maybe more: 'you should have a wee think about that.' I am grand with it and it doesn't bother me, but I definitely know of other people it does. The BBC presenter revealed his wife had gone through three miscarriages (Image: thomasniblock/Twitter ) "I am always amazed by the response of so many people. Once you tell people you've had a miscarriage, they'll say: 'Tommy, know all about it, one or two myself.' "Now their stage is different. This is what I think, my whole thing is if you have two or three kids and you have two or three miscarriages before, I'd be 100 percent with that. "It's not mitigation against what happened in the past but your journey is a past tense one. But I think if you are in the midst of it and you don't have any kids and your story to tell is - in my case three miscarriages - you are in a very different place. Article continues below "Not in a mean way but because so many people have no history of talking about it. It is bit weird for me even talking about this. In my life I'd say this is the most I've ever put myself out there so I am at fault as much as anybody else, because it's not talked about. It's not normalised and people don't really know what way to deal about it. "We're still clinging on to hope and hope is a very powerful thing. If hope was gone, then you're realigning yourself - adoptions, fostering, no kids whatsoever. Me and Kirstie will have a brilliant life, no matter what way that goes, as long as she's there." The full podcast is available on BBC Sounds here.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
What does Kirstie Allsopp think of Scotland's offers-over system?
**** COME on, we've all been tempted. It's that moment at the end of Location when Kirstie asks if you would like help finding your next home. Like it? I'd bite your hand off, mate. Imagine: Kirstie and Phil, Allsopp and Spencer, swooping in like the fourth emergency service, putting in the hard yards and sourcing that dream home no one else has found. All you have to do is choose one, then rock up to the pub for the big phone call. Then again, what do southerners Kirstie and Phil know of the Scottish property market's mysterious ways? Rather a lot, as it goes. IWC Media, which makes the show (and Scotland's Home of the Year), has had offices in Glasgow for donkey's years. Plus Kirstie has a well-known pash for Victorian stone, some of which turned up in their search of Stirling and East Dunbartonshire. 'By UK standards, house prices are reasonable,' said Phil, quoting an average of £260,075 for places on the outskirts of Glasgow - 7% less than the UK average of £281,000. Phil was searching on behalf of Lorraine and Emma, a mother and her law student daughter, looking to downsize. Kirstie's duo were going the other way, hoping to swap their small flat for a family home. All life is there in Location, and it is always surprising - and central to the show's success - how much a home search reveals. Read more Lorraine acknowledged she might need a shove to get herself over the line between looking and buying. She hadn't found downsizing easy, then. The sales and marketing director also wanted Phil to find her "a mansion for the price of a tin shack." Don't we all? Kirstie's couple, business banking manager James and nurse Gwyneth, had been househunting for a year and made just two offers, both of which were second-to-last in the queue. 'That's where we need your help,' said Gwyneth, 'knowing how much to offer over.' Kirstie sympathised. 'It's a nightmare.' Phil's first pick was a three-bed terrace in the 'charming village' of Cambusbarron, offers over £234,000 with a home report valuation of £250,000. Nice but too small. Kirstie's Kirkintilloch choice was in an extended bungalow in turn-key condition. James liked it, Gwyneth wasn't feeling the love. James and Gwyneth check out an extended bungalow in Kirkintilloch (Image: IWC Media/C4) On they went: a period maisonette flat Kirstie thought 'beautiful' but was too much of a project for Lorraine and Emma; James and Gwyneth felt the same about a semi-detached in Lenzie. Kirkintilloch, Torbrex, Milton of Campsie - the hour and the properties flew by. Kirstie must have been feeling the pressure, and the effects of the Scottish sun, because she had taken her scarf off. Phil was worried. 'Are you okay?' he asked, only half-joking. Closing dates arrived. Not everyone got what they wanted at first, but things worked out in the end. Would the househunters have found the properties anyway? Perhaps, but the crash-course in househunting from Kirstie and Phil, 25 years-plus in the business, helped things along enormously. The pair had arrived in Stirling arm in arm like the old non-couple they are, and they had offered the same support to their househunters. The credits rolled. 'If you'd like help …' began Kirstie. Oh, I was tempted.
Press and Journal
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Scotland's Home of the Year: Our writers pick their 6 favourites from over the years, from Banchory to Skye
We've been glued to the screens on Monday nights for the past 7 weeks. Hilltop House in Aberdeenshire came out on top in the official Scotland's Home Of The Year (Shoty) final this year. But what are some of the best homes to have featured on the show of the years? Two of our writers, and top Shoty superfans, Kirstie Waterston and Sarah Bruce have gone through to pick their top three properties from the programme's history. Let's start off with Kirstie's top picks… Kirstie is a lover of all things vintage, a rabid Shoty afficionado, and runs the home renovation account on Instagram @ For me, successful entries on Scotland's Home of the Year are the memorable ones – not necessarily the series winners. Shoty enables us to pass judgement from the comfort of our own (probably less polished) living rooms. There's something endlessly fascinating about crossing the threshold of other people's homes, and you really appreciate the vulnerability of any homeowner who invites the nation inside. As someone slowly renovating a Victorian cottage, I'm always drawn to historic properties. While I can't resist an elegant Georgian mansion or Victorian villa, I find the cosy cottages and rural boltholes endearing and relatable. Naturally I root for the properties that represent the north and north-east, but there are some that always stick in my mind…. It goes without saying charming Quiney Cottage appealed to me – and clearly the judges too as it scored full marks on series six. Quiney Cottage is so typical of rural Aberdeenshire housing stock, but with the wee gate and path leading to a sage green door, it could be straight out of a Beatrix Potter illustration. Inside, the cottage is unapologetically cosy; a symphony of colour, pattern and curios are carefully curated by Rachel Dougherty to create a welcoming home. Traditional panelling makes an understated backdrop to showcase bold prints, wallpapers and thrifted finds, but elsewhere woodwork is painted in unexpected arsenic green and sky blue. Quiney Cottage is simply a treasure chest for interior magpies. Your eyes dance from delightful details like handcrafted textiles to mismatched charity shop frames, chipped furniture to vintage finds, yet it's not cluttered. It speaks volumes of Rachel's fun eye for design that the cottage exudes the warmth and soul of a home lived in for decades – not one that was renovated, herself, little over three years ago. Hot on the heels of Quiney Cottage in series six was Casa Barra, a self-build bursting with personality. If you could build a house anywhere in Aberdeenshire, you would want unspoilt views of Bennachie – and that's exactly what Craig and Maria Michie did. The barn-style house was built on land farmed by generations of Craig's family, but Casa Barra throws out the rulebook of what a farmhouse should look like. Here, the beauty and rural idyll of Aberdeenshire's landscape courts the colour and exoticism of Latin America. Instead of being dictated by tradition, self-building meant the Michies shaped a home around their family and lifestyle. The house is steeped in natural light and picture windows make the most of the views to the west. Stepping inside the bright yellow door, Maria's Columbian heritage and flair for interiors is woven throughout the home. Designed on open plan, the downstairs is a social space elegantly zoned with furniture, artwork and colour to create cosy corners. New builds can feel stark, but Casa Barra is a lesson in styling with playful prints and tactile textiles. Upstairs, there's a snug for hunkering down on winter nights by the fire. But in summer it opens onto a balcony overlooking Bennachie, realising Maria's dream to bring a piece of South American culture to her Aberdeenshire home. Harking back to series two, a once-derelict cottage in Stromness stole the show with its nautical nooks and old-world nicknacks. Ships' lamps at either side of the front door guide visitors to the tiny cottage, which is a welcoming refuge from the elements. Coming from a fourth-generation fishing family, trawlerman Liam Temple resurrected the old property, but ensured his heritage was embedded in the cottage by incorporating materials like driftwood. Along with partner Caro Stockan, he took the property back to stone, and the pair were able to start again, tailoring the layout to maximise the downstairs area. Mirroring life at sea where space on a boat is at a premium, Liam utilised any opportunity to create storage at the Wheelhouse where a bunk bed even doubles up as a wardrobe. But beyond the clever joinery, it's the loving little touches that made the Wheelhouse a home. Proud Orcadians, the pair dressed their home with local artwork and vintage finds to create a homely feel. Twinkling fairylights and the glow of old lanterns transport you back to a bygone era, with judge Anna Campbell-Jones describing it as a 'wonderland'. Although not the 2020 winner, the small but mighty cottage was a very worthy finalist. Sarah is our Schools and Families writer, and is based in Inverness. I love watching Scotland's Home of the Year – it's a killer combination of interior design inspiration, Banjo's often-hilarious comments and the important opportunity to judge other people's homes. I would never consider opening my front door to Banjo and his pals, but thankfully there are people out there who are less camera-shy. Over the years, I have lived in Aberdeen flats, Edinburgh tenements and a new build in leafy Milngavie. These days, I'm a Victorian family home with the obligatory high ceilings and cracks in the walls that you learn to ignore, so similar properties tend to speak to my soul. But sometimes, the opposite is true, and a brand spanking new house can be a novelty that I find myself rooting for. As a chippy Highlander, it needs to be north for the win in my mind. So here are my favourites from 'P&J land' in the current and past series of Shoty… Sometimes, the Shoty winner just gives you a warm feeling – and this humble croft from 2022 did just that. New Tolsta was owned by artist Tom Hickman, who had bought it in 2006 and painstakingly restored it. Before him, the 1930s croft had been uninhabited for 37 years. Tom took 15 years to renovate it, so it was no rushed job. By the time he had finished, it was part traditional croft and part art gallery – but it was also 100% a home. At the time of his win, Tom was very much of the philosophy that less is more. He said: 'To me, the art of restoring it is to make it so that it doesn't look as if anything has been done to it – don't lose the charm.' But he is also an artist – and as a result, Bakelite switches remained, but floorboards were painted. A four poster bed was a resounding yes, and art was everywhere. No wonder they handed Tom the title. This one is in because I loved the staircase and I can go and look at it from the outside any time I want because it's pretty much round the corner from me. I know, these are very narrow criteria. A long time ago in 2021, Gaelle and Simon Patton showed us the Colonel's House in Inverness. The couple were from the Loire Valley and Lancashire respectively and first moved to Scotland in 2002. This Victorian end-of-terrace had everything – traditional exterior, an interior injected with a touch of the exotic and a great history. It had originally been occupied by, you guessed it, the Colonel of the city's Cameron Barracks. But it had been turned into an eight-bedroom B&B and been stripped of many of its period features, so there was work to be done. Then end result was an eclectic and strong decor full of surprises. The Colonel's House went up for sale last month and is currently under offer. Skye has always punched above its weight on Shoty. This year alone, two of the three north finalists were from the Misty Isle. An Cala was lovely and a worthy episode winner, but I suspect Lena Vurma and Thor Klein's tin-clad cabin might be remembered too. The film-making couple, from Switzerland and Germany respectively, bought half a croft and took it from there. They harnessed the local community to help with their tiny build, and really took advantage of the surroundings. Lena said at the time: 'You look out of the window and see the horizon – we can even see the northern lights from our cabin. 'I just really love how the windows frame the landscape outside – even from the bed. One side we see the sunrise over the Cuillins, then the other side we have perfectly framed the sunset over Loch Harport.' The tiny footprint means whoever lives there really needs to get on with each other. But the views are to die for and the design is genius. Read more from Shoty:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What did we learn from Your Voice Your Vote events?
Voters have been quizzing election candidates on their views during a series of 'Your Voice Your Vote' events hosted by BBC Guernsey. The events have seen 10 candidates each night present themselves in a 90 second pitch, then answer three audience questions in 45 seconds each. Housing, taxation, education, healthcare and the third sector have all been on the agenda so far, as well as questions over toxicity in the States and candidates' ability to compromise. After the pitches, questions and mingling with candidates, these voters told us what they thought. The Austins are making voting a family affair, with Mum Kirstie, Dad Andre, Tanner and Bailey all keen to put their questions to candidates. Andre said: "What's most important is not leaving people behind. "Homelessness and inequality are really uncomfortable conversations that thankfully more people are starting to have, but I think if we want to get things done, people need to put their money where their mouth is. "If they don't, they'll hear about it this term as people will be on the streets." Tanner, who is at school, said his priority was creating a better education system. "I feel like certain schools give you a one-up in life and everyone should have the opportunity to access those." When asked if he thought the candidates would deliver what he wanted, he said: "I think you can get a sense of where people are coming from and how confident they are in what they can do. "So after tonight I'd have faith in a few people up there." Bailey, 19, asked the candidates a question about how they would support the third sector. She said: "The third sector literally carries Guernsey, it does work that the government should do, and it does it for free. "Some of them were very convincing, particularly the people who'd been involved in the third sector, others weren't because they spoke negatively about it." Kirstie said she was not passionate about one policy in particular, but wanted to see an Assembly that would "agree, and get stuff done". She said: "I was not convinced by the panel because some of them didn't even acknowledge the current toxicity within the States or more importantly, what they're going to do to hold themselves accountable so it doesn't happen in the next States." Ben Langlois has come to two Your Voice Your Vote events so far to help him decide who to vote for. He said: "My election priorities are affordable housing and a change in the tax system to make it more progressive and less flat-rate. "I thought it was really interesting. You come in and know certain candidates have got your vote and some don't, and it's the 'inbetweens' that you can ask questions to. My mind's been solidified. I've got three definites from tonight and a couple of maybes." Susan and Ian Souter said they wanted to vote for candidates who would look at the future realistically, and inspire islanders to do the same. Susan said: "The harbour is essential. It's going to take up most of any savings the States has, but it's crucial, and I don't think they've done any major work in it for a long time. "But imagine if our harbour gives way! No thanks." Ian said, "What people standing can't seem to do is paint a picture of what Guernsey will be like in 10 years, a wonderful place where we all want to live. "There will be some painful decisions to be made, and if we're going to have pain, we want to understand what's at the end of the rainbow." Further events are being held until 5 June. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to BBC Guernsey to host eight election events General Election: The booklet lands... Guernsey Election 2025
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Virgin Island doesn't shock me one bit - I get offered silly money to take people's virginities since starring on Open House: The Great Sex Experiment
An Open House: The Great Sex Experiment star has confessed that Channel 4 's new show Virgin Island doesn't shock her, because she gets offered vast sums of money to take people's virginities. Kirstie, 34, from Oxfordshire - who is an adult content creator - first took part in the second series of the experiment back in 2023 when she wanted to explore bringing a man into her relationship with partner Connor. The pair had an 'amazing' experience and when they were asked if they wanted to return for its most recent season as residents, rather than a couple, they agreed to. On the show, the couples stay in a separate room to the others, while the residents are in the pool of people that they can pick from if they get on well enough to open up their relationship with. While Open House has got people talking about its rather sexual nature, others have been discussing Virgin Island, and although it has received backlash about using sex surrogates, Kirstie thinks that the show is a great idea. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about her thoughts on the new programme, Kirstie said: 'I mean, doing the job I do, I get offered silly money to take virginities. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kirsie and her partner Connor (pictured) appeared on the most recent series of Open House: The Great Sex Experiment 'Sometimes... I wouldn't do it and I don't want to do it. 'I don't offer any kind of service offline, yeah, it stays to online. 'So it's not something I would ever do, but it's not a shocker for me because there is so many 40 year olds out there that want that experience. 'So I think it's great to be honest... 'So why not? If there's people out there willing to give take people's virginities, and there's people out there that want to lose their virginity. 'Why not?! Like it's great TV. 'I just think it's 2025, you've got to let people live. 'Why are people so shocked by everything?!' Virgin Island sees 12 adults, who have never had sex, go on a retreat to explore intimacy with help from experts. Dr Danielle Harel and Celeste Hirschmam, MA, are the sex experts in charge of the adults, while Kat Slade and Andre Lazarus are trained surrogate partners who could potentially go all the way with them. Kirstie is no stranger to sex as she works as a content creator. During our exclusive chat with Kirstie, she opened up about her and Connor's reason for going on Open House: The Great Sex Experiment the first time around. She said: 'We were on season two. So we initially went in to start our own non monogamy journey. We previously had added in women, so we tried that side of things. 'My partner felt that what was good for him, should be good for me. 'So he was keen, he's a straight man, but he was keen to sort of introduce a man in, so I could basically have the same experience I'd been giving him by bringing in a woman. 'But we didn't really know how to do it, because obviously, I think, where he's a straight man, it was really, really difficult for him to kind of accept another man coming into it, even though it was something that he wanted to try. 'So yeah, so we went on season two as a couple, and we went on there and explored by bringing another man in.' Kirstie described their first time on the show as an 'amazing, amazing experience' and they are still non monogamous to this day. But she confessed: 'We find it very hard to bring a man in still. As much as we had that experience on the show, it's not something that happens in our real lives. 'It's so, so hard, I think mainly because man are douche bags doesn't help... and like I've tried it, we got with another resident called Josh and we had a great time. But it wasn't really something that I felt, I think use bringing in for a threesome was more me experiencing my bisexual side. 'So for me, I've got my man, so I'm just not, just not really bothered by it. So we then continued to sort of like be non monogamous. 'A lot of that is through us, because we both do OnlyFans, and obviously a lot of it is like collabs or whatever as well. But we meet a lot of people within our world.' Kirstie explained that when they were first approached to come back to the show as residents, they felt 'hesitant' because they were still on their 'own journey' and felt as if they needed to be 'experts' to be able to do it. She said: 'But we spoke to them, and they were like, "But you guys will understand because you've been where we are". '"So actually, you can still be on your own journey. You've not got to come in an expert", because we also very much rely on connections. We like to really get to know people before it goes any further. 'So we were like, "do you know, probably them seeing a familiar face and thinking, well, these guys have survived this enough to come back on as a resident couple", might actually make them feel better. 'Because I think my biggest concern when we went on the first time was that we were going to break up after it happened, because it was like, "what if this actually ruins us completely? '"What if he sees me with another man and then he actually hates me?" 'But we thought, "You know what? We are living proof that we've done that. We've come out stronger the other side." 'You don't have to go on that show and then come out the biggest swingers in the world. We're not. We are monogamous, but we are so selective that it just doesn't happen that often for us, it's not that we're not open to it, but it's hard. 'It's not easy to find a couple where you're attracted to both of them. It's so difficult to do. And then if that man doesn't gel with my husband, then he's not getting a chance with me. 'Vice versa. If a girl doesn't gel with me, she's not joining us. So it's a lot harder than people think. 'I think you can look at non monogamy online and social media and think, "Oh, all these people are with all these people", and it's not easy. 'We haven't found it easy at all. We very much do enjoy it, and when we find that connection with a couple, which actually naturally has only ever happened once for us, it was amazing!' Half way through the most recent series, which is currently airing on Channel 4, Connor had to return home for other commitments, so Kirstie stayed on as a single girl for the remaining time. Kirstie also confessed that she did have some worries before going on the show the first time, but none the second time around. She told us: 'I think when we went on as a couple, it was the fact that we might ruin our relationship that, combined with nobody knew that we were curious about non monogamy, so that was also we knew, once it aired, that everyone would know. 'So I guess sort of thinking like, are we going to lose friends? Are family not going to speak to us? 'So I think that was the main thing we were worried about. 'And then go back on as a resident, to be honest, I think we were just, we knew how it kind of all worked, yeah, and we thought, no one's going to be shocked. 'We know we're solid. So we're not coming off this, not together. So to be honest, we just went in as residents with complete confidence that we just have a great time.'
