romance

Celebrity Big Brother stars JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes have had fans gripped with their unexpected romance as the pair are said to be in talks for their own reality show

JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes seem ready to take another step in their budding romance as they could open the doors to their private lives. The couple have had fans gripped with their unlikely relationship after meeting in the Celebrity Big Brother house earlier this year.

They struck up a surprise romance when JoJo broke up with her girlfriend Kath Ebbs at the show’s wrap party. Since then, JoJo, 22, and Chris, 32, have been getting to know each other on the outside world with them flying across the pond to be together.

Dance Moms star JoJo has been spending time with Chris at his home in the Cotswolds, having repeatedly shared her new love for the UK. As interest in their love life shows no sign of slowing down, it seems JoJo and Chris are considering revealing more of their lives.

The couple are said to be having talks with ITV about the potential of their own reality TV series as they navigate life together. Bosses are reportedly convinced the show would go global thanks to the love for Chris and JoJo.

“It’s still in the early stages but ITV really think they’d be amazing TV with their own show,” a source told the Sun. “Chris and JoJo are keen too, and while there is no deal signed yet, the talks have been really promising.”

They added: “ITV are eyeing up the show to air on ITV2, hopefully later this year once everything is signed on the dotted line.” If things were to fall into place, it wouldn’t be the first time Chris has starred in something like this.

After he shot to fame on Love Island in 2017, he left the villa with then-girlfriend Olivia Attwood. The pair landed their own ITVBe spin-off show Chris & Olivia: Crackin’ On, before their romance came to an end.

JoJo and Chris have been gushing over each other since they took their friendship to the next level after weeks of ‘are they aren’t they’ rumours. The dancer has even gone as far as saying she has found The One in Chris.

Speaking to Capital Breakfast presenter Jordan North earlier this week, JoJo got sentimental in her description of the pair’s newfound love as she compared it to a house. She said: “You know what’s interesting? As hectic as life is, and as much as that noise goes on, I feel like Christopher and I discovered this beautiful house together.

“And this house is earthquake proof, and it’s fireproof, and bulletproof. And you know, we discovered this house and found the keys, and we took the keys and locked ourselves in, and now it’s like… You know what I mean? I feel like that with myself, I feel like that with him.”

When Jordan probed further, he asked the singer if she felt Chris was her “happy place”. She immediately gushed back: “Oh my god, absolutely! We’re having the best time. He’s just the best!

“I was saying this to my parents the other day. Like, I’m decently nice; he makes me look like I’m mean! And I’m like known for being nice, that’s the thing. People say to me, ‘Oh, you’re so nice’.

“He makes me we want to be nicer, because he’s such a nice human. He’s the best egg in the batch! I could never get tired of speaking highly of him, he’s just the best.”

The Mirror has contacted ITV as well as Chris and JoJo’s representatives for comment.

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“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” is a catchy, provocative title for writer-director Laura Piani’s debut feature, but it is a bit of a misnomer. Her heroine, Agathe (Camille Rutherford), may harbor that fear deep inside, but it’s never one she speaks aloud. A lonely clerk working at the famed Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris, she gets lost in the love notes left on the store’s mirror and complains to her best friend and coworker Felix (Pablo Pauly) that she was born in the wrong century, unwilling to engage in casual “digital” connection. Highly imaginative, Agathe perhaps believes she’s alone because she won’t settle for anything less than a Darcy.

Good thing, then, that Felix, posing as her agent, sends off a few chapters of her fantasy-induced writing to the Jane Austen Residency. And who should pick up Agathe from the ferry but a handsome, prickly Englishman, Oliver (Charlie Anson), the great-great-great-great-grandnephew of Ms. Austen herself. She can’t stand him. It’s perfect.

“Jane Austen Wrecked My Life” is the kind of warm romance that will make any bookish dreamer swoon, as a thoroughly modern woman with old-fashioned ideas about love experiences her own Austenesque tumble. While Agathe initially identifies with the wilting old maid Anne from “Persuasion,” her shyly budding connection with Oliver is more Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice.” A pastoral English estate is the ideal setting for such a dilemma.

The casting and performances are excellent for this contemporary, meta update: Rutherford is elegant but often awkward and fumbling as Agathe, while Anson conveys Oliver’s passionate yearning behind his reserved, wounded exterior with just enough Hugh Grantian befuddlement. Pauly plays the impulsive charlatan with an irrepressible charm.

But it isn’t just the men that have Agathe in a tizzy. The film is equally as romantic about literature, writing and poetry as it is about such mundane issues as matters of the flesh. A lover of books, Agathe strives to be a writer but believes she isn’t one because of her pesky writer’s block. It’s actually a dam against the flow of feelings — past traumas and heartbreaks — that she attempts to keep at bay. It’s through writing that Agathe is able to crack her heart open, to share herself and to welcome in new opportunities.

“Writing is like ivy,” Oliver tells Agathe. “It needs ruins to exist.” It’s an assurance that her past hasn’t broken her but has given her the necessary structure to let the words grow. The way the characters talk about what literature means to them — and what it means to put words down — will seduce the writerly among the viewers, these discussions even more enchanting than any declarations of love or ardent admiration.

If you’ve read any Austen (or watched any of the films made from her novels), Piani’s movie will be pleasantly predictable in its outcome, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable journey. It’s our expectations, both met and upended, that give the film its appealing cadence. It never lingers too long and is just sweet enough in its displays to avoid any saccharine aftertaste or eye-rolling sentiment.

There’s a salve-like quality to “Jane Austen Wrecked My Life,” a balm for any battered romantic’s soul. It may be utter fantasy, but it’s the kind of escape you’ll want to revisit again and again, like a favorite Austen novel. And, as it turns out, our main character is wrong. Jane Austen didn’t wreck her life, rather, she opened it up to the possibilities that were right in front of her.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

Mexican corrido singer Gabito Ballesteros has always been a hopeless romantic. His newest album, “Ya No Se Llevan Serenatas,” or “They No Longer Perform Serenades,” tugs at those delicate heartstrings.

Released Thursday, the album pays tribute to romance in the digital era of smartphones and social media. Invoking modern-day references, like sending Instagram DMs and going to Disneyland, he puts his own spin on the traditional serenade, a ballad one typically sings below the windowsill of their lover. It’s the kind of profound romance that regional Mexican acts such as Joan Sebastian, Vicente Fernandez and Juan Gabriel honed for decades.

“I like to sing to women, bring them roses, be romantic, and I want to convey this to my audience,” said Ballesteros in a statement to The Times.

Sprinkled across the 21 tracks is a roster of star-studded Mexican homegrown talents, including longtime collaborator Natanael Cano, Tito Doble P, Christian Nodal, Neton Vega, Carín León, Oscar Maydon and Luis R Conriquez.

Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin is also featured in the Latin-EDM fusion track, “La Troka.”

Ahead of its release, the rising star teased his sophomore album on Instagram with a clip of him driving a classic Ford Mustang filled with dozens of red roses. Once parked, Ballesteros pulls out his guitar from the trunk as his joint song with Carín León, “Regalo de Dios,” begins to unfold in the background — a sign that Ballesteros is ready to pour his heart out to whoever that fortunate soul might be.

The song is one of the few pre-released tracks of the album, alongside poetic singles like “Cleopatra,” which compares a woman’s beauty to that of the famed Egyptian queen, and the agonizing track “Perdido,” which looks to fill the void of true love lost with vice.

The already popular, anxiety-riddled “7 Diás,” featuring Tito Double P, is also included in the track list; Ballesteros also performs an acoustic rendition of this heartbreak song on YouTube.

“This is a very important album because it tells a very different story than what [I] have been doing],” said Ballesteros. “The audience will get to learn more about my love and heartbreak.”

Ballesteros, who is originally from Sonora, Mexico, first gained recognition in 2020 with his breakthrough conjunto song “El Rompecabezas.” After obtaining his degree in industrial engineering in 2023, he joined his longtime friend Natanael Cano and Peso Pluma on the chart-topping hit “AMG,” which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 92, marking the trio’s first appearance on the chart. Ballesteros later appeared on the chart that same year with the megahit “Lady Gaga” with Peso Pluma and Junior H,” which remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 20 weeks, peaking at No. 35.

The release of “Ya No Se Llevan Serenatas” comes a year after Ballesteros launched his critically-acclaimed debut album, “The GB,” which landed at No. 65 on the Billboard 200. The 25-year-old singer— who is under Natanael Cano’s record label Los CT and Peso Pluma’s Double P Management— has quickly become a force in the new wave of corridos tumbados, amassing more than 50 million monthly Spotify listeners.

“If you’re in love, I would like for you to dedicate a song to your lover [from this album]. If you’re going through a breakup, listen to it and heal with the music,” Ballesteros said. “Everything is guided by love.”

CHRIS Hughes’ brother Ben has broken his silence on the star’s budding romance with JoJo Siwa after their cosy display.

The pair shared a series of intimate snaps with one another after reuniting in Mexico and Florida to celebrate JoJo turning 22 – three weeks on from their Celebrity Big Brother stint.

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They have continued to keep tongues wagging over the status of their VERY close friendship ever since leaving the house.

It appears that Chris’ brother Ben has also given them his seal of approval.

He left a very telling comment under Chris’ Instagram post all about JoJo.

Ben wrote to his brother: “Nice to see a smile on your face.”

He followed it up with two blue love heart emojis as he appeared to throw his full support behind the budding connection.

It comes as JoJo gave Chris a shoutout live on stage in another moment which continues to fuel romance rumours.

During her latest gig, JoJo was singing the famous song Bette Davis Eyes.

In a VERY telling moment, JoJo could be seen looking to the side of the stage where Chris, who had previously been spotted backstage, was believed to be standing.

Instead of singing, “she’s got Betty Davis eyes”, the YouTube star sang; “Chris Hughes‘ eyes”.

The crowd could be then be heard cheering their approval.

The smitten star posted the clip on Instagram, and her fans went wild.

Chris, 32, made the 12-hour trip from the UK on the weekend to support JoJo, 22, as she performed to screaming fans in Mexico City.

JoJo Siwa and Kath Ebbs’ relationship

We look back at JoJo Siwa’s romance with Kath Ebbs:

JoJo Siwa went public with hers and Kath Ebbs’ relationship in January 2025.

The Dance Moms star had been introduced to 27-year-old Australian content creator Kath by a mutual friend called G-Flip six months earlier.

JoJo had split with her girlfriend Dakayla Wilson in November 2024 and it is believed she hooked up romantically with Kath soon after.

Speaking in March at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, JoJo said of her relationship: “I am so happy. I am in a very mature relationship, and it’s beautiful. It’s taught me so much about life.

“It’s taught me so much about love and respect, and it’s a beautiful thing.

“It’s different in more ways than I can count. I wouldn’t even know what to say the biggest is ‘cause just everything is so different and special.”

Kath even claimed they had talked about marriage together.

However, JoJo’s romance with Kath abruptly hit the skids on April 25, 2025, at the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party.

JoJo dumped Kath at the bash after spending 19 days in the CBB house – where she had grown close to Love Island star Chris Hughes.

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Coronation Street’s Ryan Thomas has teased that his character Jason Grimshaw may look and seem a little different to how he was on the ITV soap prior to his 2016 exit

Jason Grimshaw is heading back to Coronation Street very soon, but actor Ryan Thomas has hinted he might seem a little different to how fans remember him.

Not only will he look a little different with it being clear he’s transformed his life, after starting afresh in Thailand, but Ryan teased his soap alter ego will be much more mature, “in a different phase of his life”. But fear not, as we will still see plenty of the old Jason we know and love.

Not only that, but actor Ryan has teased there could be a shocking romance in store for the character during his time on the cobbles. While he heads back to the show for his mother Eileen Grimshaw, ahead of her departure from the ITV soap, he wastes no time in getting familiar with a mystery lady.

Ryan has teased he’s causing trouble from the moment he arrives, and that there’s steamy scenes ahead – while he didn’t specify whether it was a known character or a guest role. He teased: “Jason is still that happy-go-lucky, lovable guy. He makes it up as he goes along, has a loving heart, and is all about family.

READ MORE: Ryan Thomas shares emotional reason he agreed to Coronation Street return after nine years

“And he certainly hasn’t changed when it comes to women, straight away he is taking someone back home with him and getting himself into hot water with his brother!” We will see a different side to the character though, as he bursts back onto screens nine years after his exit.

Jason headed off into the sunset back in 2016 after a troubling time and the loss of his father, who was framed for the murder of Callum Logan. Since then he’s grown up a lot, with Ryan hinting at the changes to the character.

He teased: “He’s embraced the Thai way of life. I really wanted to come back in the builder’s outfit, but it made sense that he’s in a different phase of his life now. He is all linen trousers and bracelets and beads. It gives you a feel of this older Jason whose life is now away from the cobbles.”

But changes or not, Weatherfield is still his home and during a tough time for Jason it’s still his mother Eileen he needs for support. Ryan said: “He’s struggling for money, his girlfriend left him, and he needs his mum. He says he’s come back for Eileen, but he really needs a cuddle and his safety net.”

Ryan agreed to return to the show after nearly 10 years away for one key reason. Eileen actress Sue Cleaver begged her onscreen son and close friend to come back for her final storyline and he agreed.

Explaining the decision he revealed: “It was a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for what the show has done for me.

“When they told me Eileen was leaving, it felt right to be a part of that storyline for her and revisit where it all started.”

He added: “I have no regrets. It’s been the perfect storyline and a real memory I can cherish. It felt like the old days, we’ve all been in the canteen, having lunch together and I had real fun.”

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

The beautiful Greek island of Ithaca is known as the home of Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey – and it’s the perfect spot for a romantic getaway

The enchanting Greek island of Ithaca is steeped in myth and legend, boasting charming villages, idyllic beaches, and verdant landscapes. As the second tiniest of the seven principal Ionian islands, reaching Ithaca involves a flight to Kefalonia followed by a swift 25-minute ferry crossing.

Famed as the homeland of Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer’s renowned epic ‘the Odyssey’, Ithaca symbolises steadfast love and yearning for home, as it was here that Penelope loyally awaited her husband’s return from the Trojan War for two decades. Ithaca’s allure lies not just in its literary ties but also as an ideal spot for romance, embodying the essence of homecoming and familial bonds.

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In a piece for The Telegraph back in 2016, children’s author Anthony Horowitz was captivated by its beauty, remarking, “My first impression was that it was far more beautiful than anywhere I’d been in Greece.”

He regretted his brief stay, saying, “I spent just two days there before moving on to Kefalonia but I wish I’d stayed longer.” TripAdvisor reviews echo this sentiment, with visitors hailing Ithaca as “Paradise on Earth” and praising it as “a perfect harbour village”.

One traveller’s experience at Gedaki Beach was glowing: “One of the most beautiful beaches of Ithaca. Great blue close to Vathi. You will fully enjoy it with a boat.”

Vathy, the capital since the 16th century, is a picturesque tapestry of cream, yellow, and pink buildings, reconstructed after the devastating 1953 earthquake that shook many Ionian islands.

Thanks to aid from Europe and the US, Ithaca saw a significant restoration, reports the Express.

The enchanting medieval village of Anogi and the storied Monastery of Kathara are must-sees. Nestled on the southeastern summit of the legendary Mount Nirito, facing the bay of Ithaca’s harbour, the monastery ensures its steeple can be spotted from all over the south side of the isle.

Sadly, the bell tower fell victim to earthquakes but has since been reconstructed. Ithaca boasts a serenity that outshines its larger neighbour Kefalonia, offering minimal nightlife with just a handful of tavernas and relaxed bars scattered about.

Described poetically by Discover Greece: “Symbolic of the promised land for which everyone is searching, magical Ithaca fills you with inspiration on a journey through rich history, majestic scenery and beautiful beaches.”

A BRIDGERTON star has cosied up to his glamorous girlfriend at the TV BAFTA Awards -just days after making their romance official.

The glittering star studded ceremony took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall and was hosted by US Traitors host Alan Cumming.

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Luke Newton looked smitten by his stunning girlfriend Antonia Roumelioti as the couple attended the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday.

The Bridgerton icon, 32, packed on the PDA with the gorgeous model, 24, making a loving public appearance just two days after going Instagram official reported The Mail.

Luke, who plays Colin Bridgerton on the show, opted for a classic black suit and an unbuttoned matching shirt.

Antonia shimmered beside him in a sculpted mono-shoulder purple long length gown. 

The Netflix icon appeared in very happy spirits as he was snapped and spoke to TV fans on his way inside the event.

Much like her famous boyfriend, Antonia is also in the entertainment industry.

The talented star is in fact a dancer, who has worked on some top TV shows, she has performed on both Dancing on Ice and Greece’s Got Talent.

Antonia is also an Influencer and boasts nearly 16K followers and she was first linked to Luke last year.

However, they went official with their romance when they turned up to the London premiere of Bridgerton season 3 holding hands.

During tonight’s awards ceremony, the Bafta reality prize went to Channel 4‘s The Jury: Murder Trial, beating the hit BBC psychological series The Traitors.

Ariyon Bakare has won the best supporting actor gong at the Bafta TV Awards for his role playing Morris De La Roux in BBC drama Mr Loverman.

The BBC also won the sport award for its coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics and an award in the live coverage category for Glastonbury Festival.

Best specialist factual went to BBC Two‘s Atomic People, which heard from those who witnessed the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The female performance in a comedy Bafta has been snapped up by Welsh comedian Ruth Jones for BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey: The Finale.

Bafta TV 2025 Winners List

Here’s everyone who has taken home an award at tonight’s ceremony

Drama Series: Blue Lights

Leading Actor: Lennie James, Mr Loverman

Leading Actress: Marisa Abela, Industry

Entertainment: Would I Lie To You?

Entertainment Performance: Joe Lycett – Late Night Lycett

Factual Series: To Catch a Copper 

Factual Entertainment: Rob & Rylan’s Grand Tour

International: Shogun

Supporting Actor: Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman 

Supporting Actress: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer 

Limited Drama: Mr Bates Vs The Post Office 

Male Performance in a Comedy: Danny Dyer, Mr Bigstuff 

Female Performance in a Comedy: Ruth Jones, Gavin and Stacey

Fellowship: Kirsty Wark

News Coverage: BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special

Reality: The Jury: Murder Trial

Scripted Comedy: Alma’s Not Normal 

Short Form: Quiet Life 

Single Documentary: Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods

Special Award: ITV – Mr Bates Vs The Post Office

Soap: EastEnders

Live Event Coverage: Glastonbury 2024

Specialist Factual: Atomic People 

Sports Coverage: Paris 2024 Olympics, BBC One

Children’s Non-Scripted: Disability and Me (FYI Investigates) 

Children’s Scripted: Cbeebies As You Like It At Shakespeare’s Globe 

Current Affairs: State of Rage

Daytime: Clive Myrie’s Caribbean Adventure

P&O Cruises Memorable Moment: Strictly Come Dancing – Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell dance to You’ll Never Walk Alone

“I’m not going to lie this is immense,” she said. “The person I would like to thank most his my dear, dear talented friend James Corden.”

While EastEnders won the TV BAFTA for best soap after their rival soap Emmerdale was forced to withdraw from the nominations.

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