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pure imagination

Nothing compares to Cirque du Soleil. The European Premiere of their 38th production LUZIA opened last week at the Royal Albert Hall and it didn’t disappoint. This latest unique, brilliant and jaw-dropping extravaganza is called ‘A Walking Dream of Mexico’. From the native singing to the circle hooping and old fashion circus clown, it has you laughing one minute and gasping the next. Started up by a group of 20 street performers in 1984, the concept is showing no signs of middle age. To quote former Strictly star Brendan Cole, despite it being a cold rainy January night: ‘It’s the highlight of my year.’ For more details and tickets, visit cirquedusoleil.com • Please let me know your thoughts, siobhan.wykes@hearst.co.uk…

start your week with a smile

1 LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE SLOTHS! This little fella looks how most of us feel here in the best office – wanting to stay wrapped up snug and not move very much as the January blues bite! This adorable pic was posted by Drusillas Park zoo, in East Sussex, which is teaming up with the Costa Rica-based Sloth Conservation Foundation to help protect the decreasing numbers of these animals in the wild. Vanishing habitat and human impact have taken their toll on the species and are, they say, ‘a serious risk of pushing our sloth species to extinction.’ 2 Who wowed the crowd? Stunning, simple, streamlined dresses were the order of the day for these celebrities. Reese Witherspoon, 43, and Gillian Anderson, 51, stood out for all the right reasons in their…

linda’s ocd hell

Linda Robson made her much-anticipated return to Loose Women recently, opening up about her dramatic personal struggles. ‘Nanny Linda’, as her fellow presenters fondly call her, had been absent from the show for over a year. The star, 61 – who had a well-documented ‘meltdown’ over Christmas 2018, revealed that she has been battling severe OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) – as well as anxiety and depression. Thankfully, the popular mum-of-three is on the road to recovery. But she’s been to some dark places to get here. What began as binning booze as part of a sugar-free diet soon spiralled out of control, she admitted. She revealed that a pill to help her sleep had led to ‘a really bad reaction’ that ramped up her anxiety, depression and OCD, leading to ‘a proper meltdown’. Her condition became…

‘this is the craziest show i’ve ever done’

If you’ve already seen The Masked Singer, ITV’s bonkers new show, you’ll know it involves various mysterious celebrities dressed up in elaborate costumes, performing a song in front of a judging panel – who, with some clues, try to guess who that person is. And it’s already a hit – the very thought of a celebrity covered in head-to-toe unicorn gear, wearing a hedgehog suit or even a giant enchanted tree while singing their heart out is, evidently, just what was needed in dreary January! One big fan, at the very heart of the show as a judge, is TV presenter Davina McCall. Here, the 52–year–old mum–of–three – who, following her divorce from husband Matthew Robinson has found love again with her hairdresser, Michael Douglas – joins popstar Rita Ora,…

pick of the knits!

TOP TIP! Layer a long blouse under a knitted co-ord to embrace cropped styles without flashing flesh. TOP TIP! A long line cardigan is a versatile item. Pair with jeans and a shirt for a cosy look. TOP TIP! A pair of knitted sweat pants are comfortable and cosy! Perfect for lounging in at home. STYLIST: RACHEL GOLD PHOTOGRAPHY: NICKY JOHNSTON HAIR AND MAKE-UP: CARL STANLEY…

‘i think mom would be proud of me…’

Professional skater Matt Evers sounds overwhelmed at the reaction he’s had from fans since hitting the ice with his Dancing On Ice partner – Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins - marking his 12th series on the rink. It was a pivotal moment for telly, and for Matt – who came out as gay in a 2018 interview. A same-sex couple is something Strictly has often talked about, but never delivered on. Here, Matt, 43, talks about this special moment, the celeb contestants he’s pals with, and why he’s convinced his late mum Cheryl, who died of cancer when he was just 17, would be so proud if she could see him now. DOI star Matt Evers made history when he performed a same-sex skate with H from Steps. He talks about…