30 years old

With its bootstrap feminism (Towie girls are fond of referring to themselves as Strong Women, though only Gemma Collins looks like she could actually do damage), there is an air around these Essex kids of having known what was going on all along, even when derided as ‘sluts’, mocked as wide-boys and dismissed as chavs. … [Read more...] about Wowie, I love 10 years of TOWIE: It’s spawned its own language, made tans trendy and millionaires of working-class women – snobs may sneer, but JULIE BURCHILL is unabashed in celebrating the show’s anniversary

That’s when government ­leaders and health officials knew something dangerous was on the horizon but failed to have a plan and faffed about for too long, blithely telling us they were “following the science”. … [Read more...] about Anne Diamond: ‘Winter preparedness’ in a Covid-19 year is going to take on a whole new urgency

It's official! Reece Hawkins (left), who is believed not to have attended Saskia's birthday bash, announced his engagement to new girlfriend London Goheen (right) on Saturday … [Read more...] about Tammy Hembrow throws a lavish fourth birthday party for daughter Saskia – complete with pink teepees, mountains of balloons and personalised cakes for every guest

Taking viewers from the beginning right through to the present day, the series will remember the golden couples, the epic fall outs, the holiday high jinks, and the many turns of phrase and wardrobe choices that have become synonymous with the BAFTA award winning show.  … [Read more...] about ‘I’m at a completely different stage in my life now’: Samantha Faiers reveals she WON’T return for TOWIE’s 10th anniversary reunion… despite making a staggering ‘£9million fortune’ from show

Well whoop-di-doo - what a fantastic line-up! It's been 30 years since housewives' favourite Noel and super-cool trio Keith Chegwin, Maggie Philbin and John Craven changed the face of children's television with their ground-breaking live phone-in show. Swap Shop became the blueprint for such illustrious successors as Saturday Superstore and Going Live. All very innovative, I'm sure. But the way Edmonds was going on throughout a marathon 140 minutes of ceaseless self-congratulation you'd think he'd invented the wheel. … [Read more...] about NOEL’S SWAP SHOP OF HORRORS