Latest news with #SimonDavidson
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Strictly's Karen Hauer looks smitten with boyfriend Simon Davidson as they relax on holiday
Karen Hauer looked smitten with her boyfriend Simon Davidson on holiday as they posed for a sweet Instagram snap on Thursday. The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 43, went makeup-free and showcased her enviable physique in a bright pink dress. Cuddling up to the former rugby player in the picture, the couple looked more than loved-up on their sunny getaway. She captioned her post: '3 days in… relaxation mode kicking in☀️' The pair sparked dating speculation in December 2023 when they were seen leaving the Strictly final together and later at a Birmingham hotel during the Strictly live tour. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. They then finally confirmed their romance in January 2024 by sharing a snap on Instagram of them cuddled up together during a countryside walk. Karen emotionally opened up about the breakdown of her second marriage to Kevin Clifton, as she insisted they 'belonged together'. The Venezuelan-American ballroom specialist married the dancer in 2015 - three years after joining Strictly 's team of professionals. They announced their divorce in 2018, but Karen has admitted the separation played out behind the scenes for months before she finally confirmed they were no longer together. Appearing on the latest edition of Paul C. Brunson's podcast, We Need To Talk, Karen insisted it was she who instigated the separation when it became clear that he had 'distanced himself' from the marriage. She said: 'This one hurt, because we belonged together. You wouldn't say each other's names without following the other person's name. 'I felt that he distanced himself from me, but I was probably doing the same. Because I felt that if you don't want me then OK, I'll retreat, I'll give you your space. It was one of those, where we're both not talking about it. 'I was like, "Do you want a divorce? Do you want to split up? I don't know what I want to do. What do you want to do? Do you know what you want? I don't know what I want. Are we broken up?"' 'So it took a while actually, it took about a year... behind the scenes. In front of the scenes everything was normal. 'We fell apart, and me not knowing... obviously, I didn't know what was happening in his mind and whether he wanted to be with me or not.' Despite calling time on the marriage after just three years, Karen claimed she would have worked at salvaging their relationship had he wanted to be with her. She said: 'I knew that I would've worked on it - I would've stayed. But at the same time, I couldn't be with someone who wasn't sure of whether they wanted to be with me or not. I couldn't wait. 'I waited for a while, and I was giving him his space to think, and then funnily enough I met someone. I was literally waiting to be loved. 'He just wanted a divorce, and I didn't fight it. Something had to happen in order for him to make a decision, because I wasn't going to make the decision. 'I wasn't going to pull the plug. So then I tripped and then the grenade went off. You know, I pulled the pin.' She added: 'It was tough for him, tough for me. It was tough for both of us at that moment. 'I could see he didn't want to let go. But that didn't give him any choice. He had to do the right thing for himself.' Despite their separation, Karen insisted she and Kevin maintained a mutual admiration for one another as trained professionals on Strictly Come Dancing. She said: 'The respect we had for each other in the workplace. We respected one another, you know. 'We never said a bad word about one another. I think that's because we hold each other to such a high regard, you know. 'There will always be love there. So, we still danced together on the show and we were still working around each other. We would still applaud each other, support each other. 'We never lost that and that was what was really sad, that we could and transfer that onto our relationship.' Kevin subsequently embarked on a new relationship with documentarian Stacey Dooley after the pair won Strictly together in 2018. The couple welcomed their daughter Minnie together in 2023. Meanwhile Karen went on to date opera singer David Webb before entering a new relationship with businessman Jordan Wyn-Jones, the man who would ultimately become her third husband. The dancer married Jordan in 2022 after they met online, but they divorced just 16 months later.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Family-friendly trail featuring painted trains to launch in Darlington
A family-friendly trail featuring painted trains is set to launch in Darlington. Darlington Mind has unveiled the 'Railways to Wellbeing' trail, which will run from Saturday, May 10 to June 1. The interactive trail will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway while raising awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week. It will feature a collection of painted trains displayed in businesses and shop windows across Darlington town centre. The trains have been designed by members of Darlington Mind's Art Group and artists, with each train themed on one of the Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. Simon Davidson, CEO of Darlington Mind, said: "This trail is more than just a celebration of Darlington's railway heritage – it's an opportunity for our community to engage with mental health in a creative and accessible way. "The painted trains each showcase the power of art to spark important conversations around mental wellbeing. "We hope this trail not only inspires people to take care of their own mental health but also to support one another. "It's a fun, interactive experience for all ages, designed to raise awareness and create lasting connections within our community." As visitors follow the trail, they can take part in a treasure hunt, collecting hidden letters to unscramble a secret phrase. Those who successfully decipher the phrase will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a wellbeing-themed hamper. Read more: 'What a helluva party it had been!': Durham man's memories of VE Day VE Day 80: Darlington comes together to remember with flag raising ceremony New British Steel jobs created on Teesside as Government step in This free event invites everyone to explore Darlington's town centre, enjoy the creative train designs, and support local businesses along the way. Darlington Mind has extended a special thank you to the partners and businesses that supported the project, including Community Rail Network, Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership, CrossCountry Trains Ltd, Darlington Borough Council, and The Viking Boat Company, which produced the trains. For more information about the trail or to access a map of the route, visit
