Latest news with #ex-Strictly
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly Come Dancing's Oti Mabuse on challenge she faced returning to work after baby
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Oti Mabuse has candidly discussed her return to the dance floor after becoming a mum in 2023. The former Strictly Come Dancing star is set to embark on a new tour with her ex-Strictly colleague, Flavia Cacace. Starting from 12 June, the duo will be touring across the UK, performing in various towns and cities for what Oti describes as "one big party". During Tuesday's episode of Lorraine, stand-in host Ranvir Singh was eager to know how Oti is coping with it all. Ranvir queried: "Just briefly, how is your body coping with coming back? Is this the most intense dancing you would've done since you became a new mum?" Oti confirmed that was indeed the case, responding: "Yeah it is. I knew I was doing this tour a year ago. "So I've really been trying to lose the baby weight and get physically strong and have the stamina to actually be able to do a two-hour show. "The journey of getting back and being healthy for me has been really a learning curve. I've had to relearn and relive my relationship with my body and what I speak to myself and what I see in the mirror." However, Oti revealed that now she's returned to the world she was once "scared of" as a mum, it feels liberating. She added: "I feel stronger." Oti welcomed her daughter at the end of 2023, although her baby girl was born 10 weeks prematurely and spent six weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, reports Leicestershire Live. Reflecting on her traumatic birth experience during an interview on Loose Women, Oti recounted: "Once I gave birth to her, it became more traumatic. I had sepsis, and I didn't know. I had all these things, I had diabetes, I had pelvic pain, so turning and getting up and walking was very painful. (Image:) "Then I found out that I had sepsis. It was one thing over the other. We spent 10 minutes together and she was taken away with my husband and the doctors. "She was in the incubator, and that was the first time we saw her. She was covered up and she had all these machines and wires and everything covering her face. "This premature world only comes to light when you're going through it.... It was a really, really scary time." Lorraine is available to watch on ITV1 weekdays at 9am and ITVX.
Edinburgh Live
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Strictly icon says 'I thought I was going to die on stage every night'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Former Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan has confessed that he often questioned whether he was going to "die" during last year's sold-out show, Legends of the Dance Floor tour. Joined by fellow former BBC professionals Ian Waite, Pasha Kovalev, Brendan Cole, and Vincent Simone, the group dazzled audiences across the UK with their high-energy routines and entertaining behind-the-scenes stories. However, after being away from live performances for a while, James, who is married to ex-Strictly star Ola, found the intense demands of the tour especially challenging, particularly during a fast jive routine, when he genuinely feared he might not make it through in front of packed crowds. He told The Sun: "Every night I did that jive I thought 'is tonight the night that I'm going to die?'" Laughing, he added: "Pasha, you're the one every night that used to say 'if he dies he dies.'" (Image: Terry Blackburn) Thankfully, 46-year-old James is still going strong and gearing up for another theatre tour this September with The Return of the Legends. When the five dancers hit the road for last year's tour, they received high praise from Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas and this time, the whole team is throwing themselves into preparation. In addition to this, James and fellow dancer Ian Waite just got back from an intense fitness retreat overseas, joined by other former athletes, including Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington. (Image: Getty Images) Despite being the oldest of the group, 54-year-old Ian proudly showed off an impressive eight-pack. While James might not be quite as ripped, he's proven his dedication by shedding weight and pushing through several health challenges, including shoulder surgery and hernia repairs that required reconstruction of his inguinal canal. Getting back on tour has reignited his drive, and he's committed to being in peak shape for the upcoming shows. (Image: (Image: GETTY)) James said: "Ian is just an anomaly, he's a freak of nature. I've just been for a week with him on holiday actually a fitness week; he's 54 years old and he's as fit as anyone 20 years younger than him. "I'm trying to keep up but unfortunately, genetically, don't have the same joints and bones that Ian does. I've had shoulder surgery, I need shoulder surgery on this one, I've just had a hernia operation where they had to totally reconstruct my inguinal canal. "I've got bad knees, I suffer with my back, I've got tennis elbow. However, I'm one of these people, as Ian knows, I've got to get over myself and try and get through it, and this year will be no different," he confessed. The Return of the Legends will be on tour from September.
Wales Online
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
BBC Countryfile's Vick Hope 'collapsed' and 'unable to move' in candid health admission
BBC Countryfile's Vick Hope 'collapsed' and 'unable to move' in candid health admission Countryfile and BBC Radio 1 presenter Vick Hope has opened up about her health as she admitted she was "unable to move" after taking "every job under the sun" when she started her career BBC broadcaster Vick Hope has opened up about the tough lessons she learned early in her career after taking on "every job under the sun". The presenter, now 35 and co-host of BBC Radio 1's drivetime show Going Home with Vick, Katie and Jamie, alongside Katie Thistleton and Jamie Laing, joined Countryfile this March. In a frank discussion, she revealed that during her career's infancy, she likely faced burnout due to her inability to turn down work. Vick, who tied the knot with DJ Calvin Harris, shared how being "overwhelmed" led to her collapsing from exhaustion. "I didn't know the word 'no'. Vick Hope has opened up about the tough lessons she learned early in her career after taking on "every job under the sun" (Image: BBC ) "I think in 2018, I took three days off – including weekends – the whole year. I was getting up at 4am every day [for the Capital Breakfast show, alongside Roman Kemp]. Article continues below "I got to a point where I hadn't seen my family for so long," she disclosed to the Independent. She elaborated: "It was a matter of course that I cancelled family holidays, going up to Newcastle, missed weddings... because I had to work all the time." Reflecting on those times, the BBC presenter, who was around 27 then, acknowledged she had pushed herself too far, reports the Express. The Radio 1 star has recently joined the Countyfile presenting team (Image: (Image: BBC) ) She recounted: "I remember collapsing. I was with my mum and I was like, wow, I don't think I can move. I don't know what's wrong with me. She was like, you've exhausted yourself. She asked, 'What are you chasing?'". Vick is finding a better work-life balance these days, enjoying nature walks and regular therapy sessions. The Radio 1 DJ and ex-Strictly contestant has been confirmed as the latest addition to the Countryfile presenting team, joining the likes of John Craven and Matt Baker. Vick is finding a better work-life balance these days, (Image: (Image: Getty) ) "I am delighted to be joining the Countryfile team - spending time in nature has always been hugely important to me so the chance to learn ever more about the world around us from such beautifully diverse perspectives and such a passionate mix of people who live and breathe country life across the UK will be so special and enriching," she expressed. Article continues below Countryfile is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
ITV's Britain's Got Talent faces Ofcom complaints after 'horrific' act shocks viewers
ITV's Britain's Got Talent faces Ofcom complaints after 'horrific' act shocks viewers BGT has been hit with Ofcom complaints after viewers were left horrified by a 'horrific' act during the third semi-final of the ITV series Britain's Got Talent hit the screens on Saturday (May 10) live from London with its third semi-final, stirring up controversy among ITV viewers. The hour-long spectacle saw Ofcom inundated with grievances after Auzzy Blood's sword swallowing antics - yet another act from this week's episode has provoked a strong reaction for being "horrifying". Ofcom revealed today Wednesday (May 14) that it received 65 complaints following Bao Cuong's nail-biting routine. The show witnessed dance troupe Ping Pong Pang and drag queen opera vocalist Jasmine Rice clinching spots in the final, with Bao landing in seventh place. Both judges and fans found the strongman's death-defying act troubling to observe, prompting Amanda Holden to confess it was "horrific to watch". So far, 65 complaints have made to Ofcom following Bao Cuong's nail-biting routine on Saturday (Image: Dymond/TalkbackThames/Shutterstock ) The contestant made television gold by pulling presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly across the stage with his eyelids while aboard a motorbike in what was deemed the most shocking act to date. Article continues below A stunned Amanda shared her thoughts with fellow judge Bruno Tonioli: "I don;t know what to say. Horrific to watch. At the same time, you can't take your eyes off it", reports the Express. Bruno, the ex-Strictly judge, concurred: "I am exhausted. You may not like this kind of act, but you are a master of what you do. You are the best at what you do." Judge Amanda struggled to watch the act (Image: (Image: ITV) ) Stuntman Bao left the audience aghast with his eye-watering performance, as he executed stunts that had viewers screaming in horror. The contortionist's act of attaching chains to his eyelids and lifting objects was too much for some, with audible screams heard in the background. The judges were equally taken aback, with Alesha Dixon commenting: "It's such a difficult act to watch. My eyes were hurting watching your eyes. I'm exhausted." Even Simon Cowell, the head judge, found the act unsettling, remarking: "You look so normal and sweet then you do these terrible things to yourself. It's very difficult to watch you do these terrible things to you but at the same time I loved it." Article continues below Bruno, who had already awarded his Golden Buzzer to drag queen Jasmine Rice for her rendition of 'Never Enough' during the third live semi-final, told Ping Pong Pang: "If I had another Golden Buzzer, I would give it to you". Fortunately, the public heeded the judges' reactions, propelling the act to victory with the most votes on the night. Britain's Got Talent airs on Saturday from 7pm on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX.
