Strictly Come Dancing fans were loving the fact that a certain A-list celebrity could be seen in the studio audience during Saturday night’s show.
Dame Emma Thompson was among the Strictly audience during the first live show of the series, showing her support for her husband Greg Wise, who is among the 15 stars competing in the BBC dance show this year.
After Greg and his partner Karen Hauer’s first dance of the competition, Claudia Winkleman pointed out that “your wife and daughter are in the audience”.
The cameras then cut to Emma and the couple’s 21-year-old daughter Gaia, with the Cruella star jokingly mouthing: “She’s the wife, I’m the daughter.”
It wasn’t just during Greg’s time on camera that Emma could be spotted enjoying a night out in the Strictly studio, though.
Because of her eye-catching pink jacket (and the fact she was seated directly behind Craig Revel Horwood for most of the night), the much-loved star could be seen throughout the episode, and Strictly viewers were absolutely loving it:
Emma Thompson mouthing that she’s the daughter, and the daughter is the wife is the reason we love her, right?! #Strictly
Something absolutely wonderful about the fact Oscar winner Emma Thompson is currently sitting only a matter of metres away from Zainab Masood from Eastenders. #Strictly
Although he was about to sign up for a lucrative film contract, it was chatting to Emma that convinced him to say yes to Strictly, with the star of Sense & Sensibility and The Crown coming in joint fourth place for his first routine of the series.
David M. Benett via Getty ImagesGreg Wise and Emma Thompson
The Great British Bake Off winner and his professional partner are the first pairing made up of two male dancers to ever compete in the long-running BBC series.
During Saturday night’s live show, they delivered their first routine of the new season, performing an intense Tango to Blue Monday by New Order.
The two took to the floor in matching black tuxedos, and won over the judges, who gave them an impressive 30 points of a possible 40.
BBC/Guy LevyJohannes Radebe and John Whaite on the Strictly dance floor
John and Johannes’ score put them in joint second place on the leaderboard on the night, alongside Olympian Adam Peaty and his partner Katya Jones.
The pair also received glowing reviews from those watching along on social media:
Just stunning, chills
Obviously very glad and grateful this has happened now, but think of all the dances like this we’ve missed over the years, the show didn’t implode, hellfire did not rain down, it really was that simple https://t.co/E4fnYUGx0l
don’t mean to be dramatic but seeing john and johannes on strictly! is just! i remember watching it every year as a child never thinking i’d be allowed to join in because i’d want to dance with a man and to see this!!!! over the moon tbh #Strictly
In 2004, at the age of 14, I felt oddly represented by Julian Clary being openly out on strictly. Tonight I hope that same feeling is with someone else that age or younger and is more than heightened watching John & Johannes ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤 #Strictly#SCDpic.twitter.com/7NnJXwbG2j
The message John and Johannes are sending out to the world, the example they are setting, is so much bigger than #Strictly What they’re doing for the queer youth watching at home, particularly queer youth of colour, is just phenomenal. I’m just beaming 🥺🥰
Loved it! Johannes is 🔥 and so lovely to see the other celebrities being so supportive of the first male same-sex pairing with a standing ovation. Representation on prime time matters still. #Strictly
John and Johannes also got the seal of approval from celebrities including Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, who previously competed as part of Dancing On Ice’s first ever same-sex partnership.
The two landed not just the highest score of the night for their Jive routine, but the highest score for any week one performance since 2005.
At the end of Saturday night’s show, there was no public vote, with all 15 of the celebrities making it through to next week, after which viewers will help determine the two stars who end up in the first dance-off of the series.
Find out how the cast gets on when Strictly returns to our screens on Saturday night at 6.45pm.
While Dan said that a CT scan confirmed he was OK, he has been instructed to rest for a couple of days, meaning he risks falling behind his fellow Strictly competitors as they prepare for the first live show next Saturday.
Sharing photos on himself in hospital, Dan wrote on Instagram: “Bit of head-based drama today! After whacking my noggin on the big glass window yesterday I got sent to A & E today because I was feeling a little wobbly.
“A lovely nurse at Barnet Hospital called Karina checked my vitals and 6ft 9 Consultant Erik Witt gave me a CT scan to check for a bleed on the brain. Thankfully… all ok.”
He continued: “I’ve got to rest for a couple of days – so I’ll be a bit behind – but ready to dig in again next week.”
Dan also paid tribute to his as-yet-unannounced Strictly dance partner, revealing she “waited for hours in the car park to make sure I was ok”.
“Whatever happens on the telly… she has a friend for life,” he added.
Filming on this year’s pre-recorded Strictly launch show was completed last week, with the episode set to air on Saturday night.
It will see all 15 of this year’s celebrities find out who their dance partner is, while they will also perform in their first group number.
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturday at 7.45pm on BBC One.
Within minutes of his dancefloor debut, fans of ITV daytime show Judge Rinder got to see a whole new side of its star Robert Rinder when he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2016.
When taking to the floor with partner Oksana Platero for the first time, not only were viewers impressed with his surprisingly good moves, but he instantly had them talking when he revealed the rippling six pack he’d been hiding under his court robes all that time.
However, it turns out his first dance wasn’t originally meant to play out like that at all.
“It was a bit of a wardrobe malfunction, actually,” he says of his robe-ripping moment. “I wasn’t supposed to do that. They were supposed to sew me in, but I hadn’t spent all that time…
“I was up for a bit of fun. It was joyous,” he laughs.
BBCRobert served up a memorable moment when he tore off his court robes during his first routine
That was just one of the many fabulous memories TV’s favourite legal eagle shared with us to celebrate the return of Strictly to our screens for HuffPost UK’s new interview series Back To The Ballroom.
Each week throughout the BBC show’s 19th season, a Strictly All Star will be dishing on their dance floor experience, as we take a peek behind the show’s sequinned curtain.
First up, Judge Rinder reveals his ballroom bromance and shares why Strictly made him tell his first ever lie on TV.
Strictly changed some people’s perceptions of me
“Often people would come up tentatively in a mildly-intimidated, apprehensive way for a selfie thinking if they got it wrong thought they would end up in prison. But now they see that I’m capable of escapist, glittery joy, they see that I’m more gentle and inclusive.
“You get immersed in this overwhelming good will – people want to talk to you and always ask about dancing. And what a nice thing.”
The most surprising thing about Strictly was…
“How completely involved you become. You become so swept up in it.
“I used to work on cases that had real international consequence or cases involving issues of life and death from time to time, and if you told me 10 years ago that I would feel the same degree of intensity about not being able to get my jazz step in…
“It also has the power to feel really inauthentic. It’s the only time on television that I have ever said anything that I didn’t believe to be true. On the first day, I was so overwhelmed by it all and I was looking down the barrel lens of a glittery camera with this woman saying things that I was repeating back at her – which I would never normally do – saying that all I’ve wanted to do in my whole entire life is to get to Blackpool! Who says that?!”
Dave J Hogan via Getty ImagesJudge Robert Rinder took part in the 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing
But Blackpool was everything I hoped it would be and then some
“It also had the best party ever, ever.
“There was this hotel that is in the middle of a rollercoaster of some description and there was Rick Astley leading a conga singing Never Gonna Give You Up, doing karaoke to his own tune whilst I was delightedly drunk. It was glorious.”
I was mindful I was having a different experience from a number of the women on the show
“What I realised was something that was an important personal moment for me, is that the women on the show – all of the speculation, all of the noise – was on them. Were they having sex with their partner? What were they wearing? Commenting on their bodies in a wholly different way. They were forced into being infinitely more mindful and circumspect about the things that they said.
“Whereas if you were a bloke, you can say, ‘Yeah I want to win etc’, and you realise – at least back then in 2016 – the way in which the media, and especially social media, has a different standard towards the genders.”
BBCThe class of Strictly 2016
I know Russian, so I thought I’d be able to speak Russian with my partner
“Only Oksana didn’t want to talk it because she was worried the BBC would translate all the nasty words I was saying, especially the swearing.
“On the first day, I drove from Elstree to Islington past Highgate cemetery, and said, right this is my moment, because you know who is buried there? Karl Marx. So she looked at me and said, ‘He is a singer?’ That was the end of our discussion. I had thought at least if I’m shit at [dancing], we can discuss Pushkin, Dostoyevsky and it will be heaven. But not a fucking bit of it.
“Oksana was amazing. She was very dance focussed, but she didn’t find my humour as funny as I did. When I dropped her on her head, in that very British way, I said: ‘Don’t worry dear, you only need to count to eight.’ She wasn’t in the least bit amused by it… No, she loved me!”
BBCRobert with his dance partner Oksana Platero
If I could have danced with any other pro, it would have been…
“Oti Mabuse, girl wise. She and I kept a friendship going, in fact we had dinner not long ago. She’s just unbelievably creative. The quality of her artistry and the depth and range of her personality, and also her intelligence. People will be aware that she speaks three or four languages, she has a degree in chemical engineering, she’s just an extraordinary person. And she’s gorgeous. She’s brilliant, joyous and sort of like happiness in woman form.
“Boy wise, I also would have danced with Giovanni Pernice. Not because of the look actually, but he had the type of personality I could put up with, like a slightly angry Tigger. Or Kevin [Clifton], because he is a master choreographer.”
I made friendships that have lasted
“I love Greg Rutherford and still speak to him all the time, we had this bromance. And Will Young, the three of us are still friends. We’ve really kept up.
“Louise Redknapp and I are still super close. It’s been five years and we’ve made that friendship last. In fact, I’m going to do dance fitness today with Daisy Lowe.”
Peter Byrne – PA Images via Getty ImagesRobert with Greg Rutherford ahead of the Blackpool special
The biggest life lesson Strictly taught me is…
“We talk about the noise of people being in the moment, but remember this is a gift of an experience.
“Because of all the stress around it – and it is nerve wracking and they deliberately make it so on your behalf (‘How does it feel to go out in front of 10m people?’, ‘Splendid, now piss off’) – it’s difficult to delight in it because you’re so terrified.
“I’m thinking about it now and watching it back, which I have only done a couple of times, and I don’t remember being there at all, which is a pity.”
My favourite ever Strictly routines are…
Early days, Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett – if you watch their Jive to I’m Still Standing, she was so good, it still stands up.
In our series, Louise and Kevin’s Argentine Tango, which obviously I watched by the sides and was like ‘wow!’. Just the quality of the choreography was extraordinary. It was musical and beautiful, and I love that.
The celebrity I most want to see do Strictly is…
“My naughty side thinks about politicians I especially want to shame, but let’s not do that…
“Oh, Chris Moyles! He’d be marvellous. Also he’d really care about winning. We’ve been out for dinner a couple of times and he really does make me laugh a lot.
“If the headline of this whole article was ‘Rob Rinder says Chris Moyles should do Strictly’, I would be thrilled.”
John Phillips via Getty ImagesChris Moyles is Robert’s dream Strictly contestant
The strangest place I’ve busted out my Strictly moves is…
“I was teaching my friend Jilly the cha cha in a car park to the outdoor swimming pool lido in Gospel Oak the other day. The learning to dance doesn’t leave you!”
My advice for this year’s contestants is…
“If you go and delight in the moment and go and have the best fucking time you possibly can, it’s 90 seconds and no-one died. If you look like you’re having a good time and you mean it with all the enthusiasm you can conceivably muster, it rubs off.
“Conversely, if you look like you don’t acknowledge and recognise the privilege it is to be there – it’s free dance lessons! – then the public won’t respond to you and you won’t enjoy it. When else do you get free dance lessons? Heaven!”
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
After 21 years on our screens, A Place In The Sun is one of the UK’s longest running – and most loved – shows.
During the pandemic it has been the perfect escapist telly as the presenters hop around the world with house hunters on the lookout for the perfect home from home.
HuffPost UK caught up with three of its hosts – Jasmine Harman, Scarlette Douglas and Laura Hamilton – to find out if it really is as glamorous as it looks (it isn’t) and discovered lots of other behind-the-scenes goss too (we have a feeling Jasmine won’t be working with horses ever again).
There’s no such thing as a typical day of filming
Laura Hamilton: “We have a running joke that as soon as the cameras start rolling you’re guaranteed to have an angle grinder, someone will start hoovering their apartment, there’ll be a leaf blower or if we’re on a golf course they’ll start mowing the greens!”
Channel 4Laura Hamilton
Behind the scenes it’s not all that glamorous
Jasmine Harman: “People think it’s more like a holiday, which isn’t strictly true, because even though we’re travelling it is still work. I remember when I first got the job I was like ‘my god this is an absolute dream come true’, and I’m nearly 18 years in now and I still love it. But it is work.”
The show is recced the week before filming starts
Laura Hamilton: “There’s a team behind the scenes that work incredibly hard as well as the production team back home. They’re the ones who do a lot of research.”
Filming each property takes longer than people expect
Jasmine Harman: “It takes a couple of hours to film each property. We usually see one or sometimes two in a day. It’s great for the house hunters as they get to spend a good long time in the properties. If you were going round with an agent you’d be in and out in 15 minutes.”
BRIAN J RITCHIEJasmine Harman
The house hunters spend longer than a few minutes in the properties they view
Laura Hamilton: “It’s not just in and out in two minutes as you see on TV, which is fantastic for anyone that comes on the show because they really get to spend time in each property.”
There are back-up properties
Laura Hamilton: “Sometimes properties sell before we have a chance to show them so we have to go out and try and find another one.”
There isn’t a hair or make-up team
Jasmine Harman: “We do it all ourselves. As you’ve probably noticed Johnny (Irwin) and Ben (Hillman) and the guys are really good at doing their own make-up (laughs).”
Brexit hasn’t put people off buying abroad
Laura Hamilton: “Obviously there’s a change in how much time you can spend there, but predominantly the people that come on A Place In The Sun are looking to buy a holiday home, and being able to spend three months in six in your holiday home is quite a lot of time. “
It might not look it, but it really is hard work
Scarlette Douglas: “It’s 47 minutes of footage but to get all that footage it takes four and a half days to film standing in the sunshine. I know it sounds woe is me, but standing with no sunglasses, no hat, with the sun on you – it’s difficult. And I know that (fellow presenter) Jasmine has passed out once when she was pregnant because it’s not a joke, it’s very hard work.”
Filming back-to-back episodes can take its toll
Laura Hamilton: “There have been times when I’ve finished one episode and I’m interviewing the couple about their property search and you accidentally call them the names of the previous week’s house hunters. You’re like ‘I’m so sorry!’ That’s happened to me once or twice.”
The presenters often encounter some unexpected sights
Jasmine Harman: “Sometimes we’ve had to shoot around people (laughs). You’ll walk into a room and find an elderly relative in the bed! Things like that have happened on more than one occasion. There have been a lot of times when we go into a property and have to clean it. That’s always fun when you’re picking people’s dirty pants off the floor. Most people make the effort if they know we’re coming to film, but now and again we do get the odd one which is in a bit of a mess.”
The hosts become like a security blanket for the house hunters
Laura Hamilton: “Buying abroad is a big thing. It’s lovely for people to know that we’re there and we’ve got their back. At the same time, it sounds crazy, but it’s an amazing thing for me and the other hosts of the show as well. It is a huge thing in people’s lives and I’m such an emotional person… if I’m making an offer on a house I get goosebumps even when I’m in 36 degree heat!”
Channel 4Laura Hamilton
There are strict rules on what you can and can’t wear on the show
Jasmine Harman: “As we film over a period of a week we have to wear the same clothes. It’s pretty unpleasant if you’re somewhere really hot! You’re not allowed to black or white, or spots or stripes, or check or geometric patterns. A lot of people turn up with those glasses that go dark in the sun. You’re not allowed to wear them either because you can’t see what someone is thinking. It’s tricky if I’m trying to gauge if they like a property or not, but also because you can see reflections of the crew in the dark glasses.”
There have been some regretful outfit choices
Scarlette Douglas: “I’ve had quite a few embarrassing outfits. When I look back I think ‘what was I thinking!’ The one when I had my bright pink socks on and purple sandals and purple hair to match! I’m not gonna lie, at the time I loved it but looking back I don’t think I should’ve worn that outfit! But if I was to think about wearing it again I’d like to think someone around me would say something.”
Even the presenters are surprised at the prices some of the house hunters get their properties for
Laura Hamilton: “Sometimes I’m upfront with the house hunters and say ‘this is ridiculous’. But at the end of the day I’m representing them so I can offer my advice but it’s their money and I have to go with whatever they want me to offer.”
Yes, the presenters and house hunters have been locked out
Laura Hamilton: “There have been some funny times when we’ve been outside the property and the wind has blown the door shut and the keys have been in the property and we’re all locked outside with the cameras inside!”
The presenters have to wear the same outfit for a week
Laura Hamilton: “We don’t film the show in one day. We make it look like that so I’m always trying to pick an outfit that I can hand wash in my hotel room and will dry overnight.”
The crew and presenters are a close knit bunch
Jasmine Harman: “We’ve known each for so long. Both of my children have godparents that are soundmen from the show.”
Sometimes the hosts revisit places they have house-hunted before
Jasmine Harman: “Last week I was filming in the Costa Tropical in Spain and that brought back memories because I filmed one of my first shows there. That was where my husband and I had our very first date in a pizzeria. Last week he had some time off work and he came out and we went back to the restaurant, which was still there! When we walked in, there’s an Italian man who runs it, and he said ‘ahhh, you still want the diavola, extra spicy?’ He still remembered our order from all those years ago! It was like going back in time.”
The presenters have to do their own laundry
Scarlette Douglas: “I’ve got this big hand washing soap bar so I do all that and I’ve got a little fabric softener and I rinse it all out in the bath and because it’s usually so hot put it out to dry on the balcony. I know the house hunters are told to bring two of the same outfit.”
Channel 4Scarlette Douglas
Filming is often a family affair
Jasmine Harman: “During the school holidays I’ve been able to have my children with me which has been really nice as I wouldn’t want to go away and leave them for long stretches of time. So if they’re not at school then they can come along. After filming I’ll go and give the kids some dinner and put them to bed. They have a holiday while mummy goes out to work.”
There have been some creepy properties featured on the show
Laura Hamilton: “I was once in a house in France and the sound man was like ‘I’ve got bad vibes about this place, it’s haunted’. We didn’t see anything but when someone says that you’re just like ‘oh god, really?’. Nobody saw anything but places like that in the middle of France, you think, well they could be. I wouldn’t want to have been there late at night on my own!”
Things don’t always go to plan (especially when working with animals)
Jasmine Harman: “There was one really bad one where I was milking a cow. It was so bad. The house hunters wanted a farm or a small holding. Anyway, the cow had a dodgy tummy and while I was milking this poor cow it swished its tail and it hit me straight in the face so I had horrible cow poo on my face. That was pretty bad. That was a low (laughs).”
Channel 4Jasmine Harman
There have been some hairy moments too
Jasmine Harman: “I once vomited inside my helmet when I was filmed on a microlight. That was pretty gross. Honestly, the pilot was like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. He was so handsome. And I was so embarrassed. I get motion sickness and being on this microlight proved too much for me. I couldn’t get the helmet off! It was not a pleasant sight.”
Filming isn’t without its risks
Scarlette Douglas: “We were filming somewhere in Sicily and my Producer Director chose a place to do an opening chat on a beach but what he thought was a beach was actually dried seaweed. So we’re stood on this dried seaweed which doesn’t smell good either, and then he just starts sinking because it was over quicksand!
“So he starts going down and he has the camera, I start laughing and get my phone out to start filming and he’s like ‘someone help me’. So the camera guy manages to get the camera and he’s still just sinking! The camera guy and sound guy had to drag him out and he was just covered all the way up to his chest with dried seaweed and quicksand. I was just there laughing and filming him. I was absolutely cackling along with the house hunters. I bring that up all the time and he’s like ‘do you always have to mention the quicksand?’”
For the past two years on The Masked Singer (and spin-off series The Masked Dancer), the comedian has become known for his irreverent and unapologetically cheesy sense of humor, and that’s exactly what he brought to the NTAs stage.
True, his first time hosting the show probably won’t be winning him any awards for edgy or biting comedy in the near future, but for a night like the NTAs – which, let’s face it, has veered close to dull in previous years – Joel got the tone exactly right.
Here are 12 of our favourite silly moments from Joel during his first time hosting…
Scott Garfitt/ShutterstockJoel Dommett on stage at the 2021 NTAs
1. Setting the tone right off the bat during a pre-recorded introductory sketch
“Everything’s going to be NTA-OK. Don’t worry I won’t use that on the night.”
2. Introducing the show with a bit of help from the stars of Love Island
“We are here, live in a real room, with real people – how good does it feel? Welcome to the millions of viewers at home, the hundreds here tonight and my one mum… sat with the cast of Love Island. Toby, hands off.”
3. Giving us some very hard-hitting commentary on the pandemic
“It’s been a huge year for soaps… due to everyone washing their hands more. Sales have been through the roof, like Sally in Coronation Street.”
4. To Ricky Gervais in the audience
“I’m not going to make a joke about you because you’re my hero. And, frankly, I’m scared of you.”
5. Welcoming Sir Trevor McDonald to the stage
“His voice is like a fine wine, or for those who don’t drink, a strong squash.”
6 Playing it cool with JLS
“OMG IRL in front of AC-12, it’s only JLS… JLS will be back at The O2 when they’re performing here later in the year. And so will I, when I’m watching them.”
7. Highlighting some of the year’s more racy TV dramas
“After the break we’ll have best Nude Drama. Oh, New Drama. Stick around to see whether Bridgerton, Des, It’s A Sin or Normal People take home the NTA. Although, to be fair, most of those are nude dramas.”
8. Introducing Bear Grylls
“He’s a fearless daredevil… both his names are things I’m scared of.”
9. On the first ever Authored Documentary category
“Coming up, the inaugural award for Authored Documentary. And during the break, I’m going to Google what all those words mean.”
10. After having to hold up child actor Jude Riordan so he could deliver his acceptance speech
“At least that wasn’t the award Beat The Chasers won.”
11. Welcoming the cast of Love Island to the stage
“Four people who are fresh from the villa… I’ve got a text! Oh, it’s from the producer, it says turn your phone off.”
12 And finally…
“Announcing the winners is a very tall order so we ordered a very tall man. It’s Vernon Kay.”
If you didn’t already know that new BBC drama Vigil was made by the same people as Line Of Duty, you probably could have worked it out eight minutes into the first episode on Sunday night.
In the same way Jed Mercurio’s hit cop show has become famed for, a major Vigil character was unexpectedly killed off early on – and it was a face that Line Of Duty fans will have found very familiar, too.
Despite being a much-publicised casting, Martin Compston – better known as DS Steve Arnott – was killed off within the first 10 minutes, as his character Chief Petty Officer Craig Burke was found dead under suspicious circumstances aboard the HMS Vigil.
Enter Suranne Jones’ DCI Amy Silva, who was sent to investigate his death while staying aboard the submarine.
Mark Mainz/BBC/World ProductionsSuranne Jones takes the lead in Vigil
It quickly became apparent that there’s a lot to unpack following Burke’s death – not least his connections to a peace group campaigning against trident missiles – leaving us with many questions to be answered as the investigation began…
Why was Burke’s body not taken off the submarine?
Silva was told it was “too late” for Burke’s body to be taken off the boat as the hatch closed, despite it previously being agreed that it would be taken to be examined.
This now means a full post mortem cannot be carried out, and the fact there has been a clear operation to keep his body on board suggests that more than one person could be involved in his death.
Was Jade really Burke’s girlfriend?
BBC/World Productions
Following her arrest for attempting to break into Burke’s room in the accommodation block, she claimed that she’d obtained his keys as she was his girlfriend.
However, it felt rather convenient when she said no-one else knew about their relationship as they “wouldn’t have been happy”. She also didn’t seem particularly emotionally distraught that her supposed “boyfriend” had just died.
Could it be that she’d just met Burke through her campaigning as part of the Dunloch Peace Corp, and had been drilling for the information he clearly had?
What happened to Silva’s family?
Mark Mainz/BBC/World Productions
After experiencing claustrophobia in her bunk, a flashback appeared to suggest Silva’s partner Ian and their daughter were in a car accident that saw them plunged into water. Did they lose their lives? And does this suggest Silva isn’t perhaps the best person to be on board a literal submarine right now?
Why did Silva give up medical school?
She didn’t answer when Dr Doherty asked. Is this to do with the past trauma in her family?
Why did Hadlow go to see Burke before he died?
BBC/World Productions
Hadlow was one of the last people to see Burke alive and was also the person who found him dead in his bunk. However, questions were raised about exactly why Hadlow had gone to disturb Burke in the first place.
Were they in on some sort of conspiracy together? Or perhaps he was going to confront him about what Burke been up to in the bomb shop?
Which submarine pulled the Mairi Finnea down? And why?
It was claimed that the Mairi Finnea trawler was pulled down by an enemy submarine, something Vigil captain Paterson Joseph is keen to keep secret, as it would expose the fact they have “always been at war”.
Was Burke killed for risking exposing the truth? After all, we now know that he was about to expose corruption within the British Navy. Speaking of which…
What exactly was Burke’s plan?
Mark Mainz/BBC/World Productions
The USB that DS Longacre found in Burke’s room had a pre-recorded video message from Burke on it, which he made in case of his death, hinting he anticipated the possibility of being killed for exposing the corruption and fear within the Vigil crew.
In it, he speaks of “20 different ways to kill Vigil crew single handed” – was he actually going to kill someone before he met his own end?
If the Vigil’s mission is to “stay hidden”, how come Silva was allowed on board?
BBC/World Productions
The boat must have taken a serious security risk to come up to the surface to allow Silva aboard, so does that suggest Captain Joseph was lying about the crew’s mission to “stay hidden”?
Who killed Burke?
At this point in time, there looks to be a number of possible suspects in Burke’s murder – not least Hadlow, Glover, Prentice and even Captain Joesph.
But with this being a six-part series, something tells us we’re not about to get a definitive answer any time soon…
Matt Frost/ITV/ShutterstockMillie Court and Liam Reardon have won this year’s Love Island
After the result of the public vote was announced, Millie and Liam had to decide whether to stick or split the cash prize.
Millie received the envelope with the money but decided to split it with Liam. meaning they took home £25,000 each.
Speaking after their win, she said: “I cannot believe we have just been crowned the winners of Love Island. We have literally had the summer of our lives and we are going to leave here and now explore our future together.”
During an interview with host Laura Whitmore, Liam also asked Millie to officially be his girlfriend.
The couple had a rocky journey in the Love Island villa, with Millie previously calling things off with Liam when she discovered he had been unfaithful to her with Lillie Haynes during the Casa Amor twist.
Meanwhile, during their final interviews, Toby joked that describing his relationship with Chloe as a “massive journey” was an “understatement” after the pair also broke up and then got back together during the series.
Matt Frost/ITV/ShutterstockLove Island finalists Faye Winter and Teddy Soares, Chloe Burrows and Toby Aromolaran, Kaz Kamwi and Tyler Cruickshank and Millie Court and Liam Reardon
It’s official, the summer of love is nearly over as the sun sets on Love Island 2021.
After a somewhat slow start, this series finally lived up to its high expectations and provided us with some much-needed TV gold over the last few weeks.
From the iconic Casa Amor recoupling, to couples being on-and-off (and on again – we’re looking at you, Chloe and Toby), series seven has brought drama, an abundance of love and one very questionable talent show.
Ahead of Monday night’s grand finale – where one couple will walk away with the £50,000 prize fund – here’s a roundup of our favourite viral moments that we’re still *puts on Lucinda’s voice* reallllllyyyy obsessed with…
1. Hugo’s recoupling speech
One of the most fiery fire pit moments this year was undoubtedly Hugo’s speech after Toby coupled up with Abi instead of Chloe. It marked the turning point of the series, as we saw our first real glimpse of drama.
Throwing a number of shady comments at his fellow islander Toby, Hugo said of Chloe: “She doesn’t deserve to be treated how she has been this past 24 hours.”
His speech was obviously met with some iconic facial reactions from the Islanders, which were immediately turned into memes.
2. Mary and Millie’s talent show efforts
Picture this – it’s Christmas Day and your cousins are performing their talent show to your family… oh wait, you don’t have to imagine after this particular Love Island moment.
From a rendition of Grease’s You’re The One That I Want, to two semi-pro footballers showing their (lack of) tricks, the Love Island 2021 Talent Show scene was jam-packed with debatable ‘skills’.
However, the real stand-out acts for us were Millie and her keyboard take on Ed Sheeran’s Perfect, and Mary’s tap dancing, both of which left the fellow Islanders – and indeed viewers – speechless.
3. Faye trying her hardest to be unbothered at AJ’s arrival
All the other girls were peeking over the terrace to get a first look, but Faye remained the queen of reactions as she filed her nails and emphasised how unbothered she was: “I’m not bothered at all, AT ALL.”
We totally believed her…
4. Rachel slides head-first into a fence
A rare moment of silence fell in the Line of Booty challenge as Rachel was whisked off her feet, but sadly not by Brad.
Coming down the slide at speed, we saw Rachel going head first into the fence and later recalling the event as “tragic”.
— Stephanie Soteriou 🛸 (@StephanieRiou) July 8, 2021
Luckily, she was OK, but we can still feel the pain.
5. Toby’s unusual reaction to losing Sports Day
The internet was left confused when Toby’s immediate reaction to his team losing Sports Day was to start lifting weights.
However, we weren’t the only ones left baffled as many of his fellow islanders were also unsure as to what was going on.
6. Priya getting the ick from Brett over… Brie?!
Now we’ve heard of a lot of reasons for getting ‘the ick’ but being put off by thinking your partner’s favourite cheese was Brie? Well that is unheard of.
Cheese-lover Priya struggled to picture a future with Brett as she thought his choice of favourite cheese was quite boring. Maybe it’s a Gouda idea to start choosing our partner’s based on their favourite cheese from now on?
FYI, Brett later confirmed that he never said that and in fact he isn’t really a fan of cheese at all.
7. Hugo’s job being “done”
Many of us would probably love to hear some words of encouragement or affection after our first kiss with a new partner. However, Hugo took a slightly different approach after locking lips with Amy in Casa Amor… and we wouldn’t recommend it.
The PE teacher thought the statement “Job done” was the perfect way to win someone over. Spoiler: it didn’t turn out that way.
8. Lillie gets her moment
The nation’s jaws collectively dropped when Lillie entered the main villa to deliver some home truths about what Liam had been up to in Casa Amor.
Never before has an Islander made such an impact in such a short space of time. A Love Island legend.
9. The record-breaking amount of times Jake called Liberty his GIRLfriend
Some would say that Jake had an obsession with having a girlfriend after the amount of times he’s mentioned the G-word.
After a rocky few weeks of their relationship, it seemed as though Jake’s preferred method of reassurance was repeatedly stating Liberty was his “GIRLfriend”.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be for the couple, who ended up leaving the villa after splitting days before the final.
10. This culinary monstrosity
You know what they say, food is the way to the heart. However, we’re not sure that Aaron’s choice of a Halloween DIY-looking carrots in hummus is quite what is meant by that.
The carrots in question were unpeeled and wedged vertically into a bowl of the dip, leaving them looking like inedible witches fingers.
Rachel made us question our French GCSE after she described Coq au Vin as ‘duck with wine’ to Brad.
The mistake didn’t seem to go unnoticed with viewers, as social media flooded with the correct description for the dish, which is actually chicken braised in wine.
We have to give Rachel a A+ for confidence though.
12. Shannon’s brutal dumping
This year’s contestants were prepped for the summer of a lifetime, but for OG Islander Shannon this was not the case – in fact she was packing her case after just one day in the villa.
After the mandatory two-week quarantine before entering the villa, we can only imagine how it felt being dumped after day one.
13. Georgia. That’s it.
After Hugo was stuck on ‘Friend Island’ for the majority of his time in the villa, viewers were glad to finally see the arrival of Georgia, who had her sights firmly set on Hugo and Hugo only.
Despite being the third girl to make Hugo’s rejection list, Georgia’s short stint in the villa consisted of elocution lessons with Lucinda, bringing the sequins and the inspirational message “Never meet your heroes” – and to be honest, we’re not mad about it.
14. Millie’s comedy timing
You can always count on Millie to keep it 100% real, and let’s be honest her comedic inputs have been up there with the best of them during her time in the villa – case in point, this moment from Unseen Bits.
Is it a bug? No, Millie simply humbled her Chloe by calling her a mug for taking Toby back after their on-and-off romance. We have to say the timing was 10/10.
15. Hair horror
The Undercover Lover challenge wasn’t only very messy but it also left the girls in need of a trip to the hairdressers, as the vibrant slime and accidentally dyed their hair all the colours of the rainbow.
16. Chloe’s Beach Hut entries
Chloe has brought many iconic one-liners to the table this series, often from her Beach Hut entries.
ITV
She has offered hilarious commentary on the day-to-day twists and turns in the villa, and who could forget her “very muggy” speech that came after Toby’s head started to turn?
While she proved to be a slightly Marmite character at the beginning of the series, many of us can now agree that Chloe has carried the humour of the show and we love to see it.
Love Island continues on Sunday and Monday at 9pm on ITV2.
Rachel has now co-hosted 3000 episodes of Countdown since taking over from previous maths whizz Carol Vorderman in 2008.
To celebrate the occasion, she was visited by her partner, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Pasha Kovalev, and their daughter Maven in the studio and was also presented with flowers by the production team.
Rachel tweeted: “Loved my surprise visitors for my 3000th show today! One of them was particularly disappointed when it was time to go.”
She added: “I’ll always be the new girl but who can believe it’s been 3000 shows already!Thanks Countdown family.”
Loved my surprise visitors for my 3000th show today! One of them was particularly disappointed when it was time to go. Thanks for the gorgeous flowers @C4Countdown 😆☹️💐 pic.twitter.com/bWe0z3vR3F
