Table of contents for Issue 1377 in Heat

If you’re already starting to feel the January blues, fear not – The Masked Singer is here to brighten up your Saturday nights. The hit ITV show is back with a brand-new series on 3 January and this year’s characters are even wackier than usual. Expect to see new costumes like Can of Worms, Gargoyle, Toastie and Arctic Fox on the stage, as judges Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Maya Jama and Jonathan Ross attempt to guess who is behind the mask. We can’t wait to chant ‘Take it off!’ at our TVs……

She’s been busy building a new luxe life in Dubai after relocating there in the summer, but heat has heard that behind the glitz and glam, Kate Ferdinand is struggling to adjust – and it seems she’s fearful of the impact her move might be having on her career. Back in November, the 34-year-old influencer announced she’d wrapped season four of her podcast Blended, assuring fans it would make a return in 2026. Now, an insider tells us Kate is scared it could be the end of the series following her big move abroad with husband Rio, 47, and three of their children. ‘While Kate did promise listeners Blended would be back, she’s now worried it’s all over,’ a source tells heat. ‘Since moving to Dubai, it’s harder for her…

If you think about it, Taylor Swift has spent most of her career fantasising about marrying the man of her dreams. Now, that dream is soon to be a reality with her upcoming wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce. So, it’s no surprise the billionaire singer is reportedly going all-out on her big day, which is already being tipped to be one of the most extravagant celebrity weddings ever – with a ma hoosive estimated £6.5million price tag. And heat has been told that Taylor, 36, is intent on kicking off the celebrations in style with a month-long ‘bachelorette blowout’ costing a cool £1m. An insider says, ‘Taylor wants this to be the most unforgettable girls’ trip of her life and while it’s usually the bridesmaids’ job to plan the…

Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is back for a sixth series on 4 January, with 14 famous faces leaving their lives of luxury for special forces training – expect lots of shouting, sweat and tears! heat favourite Dani Dyer, 29 – who’s mum to two-year-old twins Summer and Star with footballer husband Jarrod Bowen, plus son Santiago, four – tells us that taking part in the show helped her to find herself again… Why did you want to do Celeb SAS? After you have children, I feel that – especially at first – you lose yourself a little bit. It’s like, ‘Oh God, who am I?’ So, the show helped me realise my worth. It would have been lovely to have a little week in Ibiza – this wasn’t very…

It’s an utterly dreary afternoon when we catch up with Josh Widdicombe – but while we take solace with a cuppa, the comic and podcaster reveals he’s just braved the downpour to get his steps in. ‘I’ve been for a run in the rain,’ he says, sodden-haired from his new Devonshire home. ‘So, that’s why I look an absolute f **king state.’ It’s been go, go, go, for Josh, 42. As loyal listeners of Parenting Hell – the podcast he co-hosts with Rob Beckett – discovered in September via The Secret Moving Tapes, he and wife Rose Hanson left Hackney for Exeter over the summer with their son and daughter. And as if the 200-mile upheaval wasn’t enough to contend with, Josh has been here there and everywhere on his…

Paramount+, Thursday 8 January If you like your thrillers really dark and disturbing, then Girl Taken is for you. Based on the novel Baby Doll by Hollie Overton, the six-part psychological thriller follows the story of twin 17-year-old sisters Lily and Abby (Tallulah and Delphi Evans), whose lives are brought crashing down when Lily endures the intense trauma of getting abducted. And to add to the general sense of creepiness, the man who keeps her hidden away in his cellar is one of her teachers – a seemingly caring, sensitive chap called Rick Hansen (Alfie Allen, in one of his juiciest roles), who turns out to be a total psychopath. DISTURBING SCENES The story begins on the last day at college for Lily and Abby. Abby is encouraged by her…

BBC1, MONDAY 5 JANUARY, 8.30PM The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, adapted from the best-selling novels by Elizabeth George, ran for six series and 24 episodes from 2001 to 2008 on the BBC, when it was controversially axed. Now, it’s been rebooted into a sexier series of 90-minute episodes created by Sherlock writer Steve Thompson, starring Leo Suter (Vikings: Valhalla) as Tommy Lynley, a genius detective who’s considered an outsider because of his posh upbringing. In contrast, his partner is Barbara Havers (Sofia Barclay, Ted Lasso), an outspoken sergeant from a working-class background. They’re both under boss DCI Brian Nies, played by the great Daniel Mays. Oh, and Lynley has an unrequited love interest, Helen Clyde (Niamh Walsh), and their relationship develops when one of her employees goes missing. But the first…

BBC1, WEDNESDAY, 7 JANUARY, 9.30PM You can’t get a much better comedy acting duo that Dawn French and Mark Heap. Dawn is, of course, a national treasure and all-round TV comedy god, while Heap is known for his juicy roles in Friday Night Dinner and Green Wing. Now, in this new sitcom, written by Simon Mayhew-Archer (This Country), they play a married couple, Debbie and William Fendon, who are knee-deep in what they consider to be a cunning plan. They’re pretending that William is actually dead when, in fact, he was just mistakenly declared deceased. He’s now living in their loft in secret, so they can cash out his life insurance payment. But there’s the little matter of their son Harry (Craig Roberts), who thus far has been kept in…

EASTENDERS SWEET REVENGE Having been held hostage for what seems like months, it’s no surprise that Harry’s itching for revenge on Ravi. Nicola agrees he must pay and decides on a fitting retribution, but once she’s laced his drinks with drugs, events start to spiral and soon, disoriented and hallucinating, Ravi lashes out. Away from the Square, Linda runs into her old classmate Bea (played by Ronni Ancona) at a school reunion, and it soon becomes clear she may have some past sins of her own to atone for. CORRIE CRASH LANDING Worlds collide this week as ITV1 launch their new soap ‘power hour’ with the one-hour crossover Corriedale, in which various residents from the Street and Emmerdale village are involved in a catastrophic accident somewhere between Weatherfield and Hotten.…

HAYDAY If you dismissed the animated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Scarecrows’ Wedding (BBC1) as being for kids, you’re wrong. It’s such a heartwarming, beautiful animation. These short films are always a highlight of the Christmas offerings. A BEAR-Y GOOD TIME Without a doubt, the highlight of The Royal Variety Performance 2025 (ITV1) was the adorable appearance of Paddington Bear. Yes, the Paddington Bear. Naturally, we immediately booked tickets to go and see Paddington The Musical – another show we’ve decided isn’t just for kids. FINAL FAREWELLS With the cancellation of Dancing On Ice (ITV), and the release of Torvill And Dean: The Last Dance (ITV1), it seems like Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean really are hanging up their skates for good. We can’t quite believe it!…

CERT 12, 117 minutes, on Netflix 9 January STARRING: Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, Sarah Catherine Hook DIRECTOR: Brett Haley THE PLOT: Free-spirited Poppy (Bader) and routine-loving Alex (Blyth) form an unlikely platonic friendship, living separate lives but regularly holidaying together over the course of 10 years – trips that allow Alex to discover his adventurous side. They date other people, but will their true feelings for each other finally win the day? WHAT’S RIGHT/WRONG WITH IT? Adapted from a bestselling novel, this romantic drama throws in a bunch of scenic locations, while the trailer suggests some nice chemistry between the two lead actors. VERDICT: Netflix could hardly have timed this film better – as we battle through cold, wet January, we’re plenty ready to take this trip.…

Forget bikini-body diets and skinny jabs – if you’re after some solid gold motivation to get stronger, fitter and more fabulous in 2026, then look no further. Welcome to the Oscars of body positivity – heat’s annual celebration of the women who are stepping up and putting their health and happiness first. These badass babes are shouting proudly about everything, from their sweaty gym routines, cellulite, period cramps and off-days. They are waving the flag for feeling crap, but getting it done anyway, providing the perfect inspiration to help you to live your happiest and healthiest year yet. Our judging panel has examined their social media feeds, tried their workouts, pored over their podcasts, and fangirled over their love of their fellow ladies. So, we’re proud to present you with…

Claudia Wink leman can barely contain her excitement. She’s holding forth to our own Boyd Hilton at the official BBC launch event for the new, fourth series of The Traitors, where they’ve just screened the opening episode in full – and there’s a massive twist to the format. To say much more would be a huge spoiler, of course, but what we can say is it involves a new red cloak, and Claudia is giddy at the prospect. Apart from the big twist, she has some intriguing observations about the new batch of players and how their approach to the game is very different to that of the Celebrity Traitors… Were you taken aback by the success of The Celebrity Traitors? Yes, but I go into an absolute bubble when…

Olly Murs’ life has certainly been a bit of a whirlwind lately. Not only has the singer, 41, released brand-new music and celebrated 15 years in the industry ( yes, we feel old), but he’s also welcomed baby number two – son Albert, who arrived in September – with wife Amelia. Between night feeds, studio time and juggling two under two – his daughter Madison was born in 2023 – the former X Factor star is living his busiest and happiest era yet. We caught up with Olly to chat about sleepless nights, dad life with his good mate Mark Wright, and what’s up next for the busy star… This year has been major for you, with a baby and the release of your album Knees Up. How’s it all…

I’ll be on Graham Norton soon With her new movie Hamnet set to hit cinemas on 9 January, we can’t wait to be wowed by Jessie Buckley ’s talents once more. The actress, 36, plays Agnes Shakespeare opposite Paul Mescal as the Bard – and the movie has already been tipped to sweep the board at the 2026 Oscars. Hailing from Ireland, Jessie made a name for herself in the likes of the 2019 HBO miniseries Chernobyl, won an Olivier for her role as Sally Bowles in the West End revival of Cabaret, and earned a BA FTA nomination for the 2020 musical-drama Wild Rose. Her second BA FTA nod came a year later for the movie The Lost Daughter – for which she was also nominated for her first…

CHANNEL 4, WED 7 JANUARY, 9PM Series two of the crime drama adaptation sees the return of Ella Maisy Purvis as autistic Patience, who works in the police criminal records department of City of York Police, and whose analytical skills prove invaluable for solving serious crimes. Her mentor, detective Bea Metcalf (Laura Fraser), has relocated unexpectedly, causing Patience to spiral, not least because Bea’s replacement, DI Frankie Monroe (Jessica Hynes), rudely dismisses her attempt to help – though, she might come to regret it! The first case deals with a photographer found dead with a stake through his chest and fang marks on his neck. Blimey.…

BBC1, Thursday 8 January, 9.30pm We were huge fans of series one of the awardwinning buddy cop comedy, based in East London and centring on hapless police community support officers Dom (Gbemisola Ikumelo, who co-created it) and her God-fearing sidekick Kay (Hammed Animashaun). Against the odds, Dom and Kay managed to infiltrate and bring down the dangerous Brightmarsh gang, which surprised everyone and earned them a promotion. LIVE AND LET SPY As series two kicks off, Dom and Kay are settling into MI5 and while Kay diligently gets on with the task at hand (pointlessly translating drill lyrics), gobby Dom has alienated a lot of people. Despite her best efforts to ingratiate herself with the team – which backfires spectacularly in the opening scene – ambitious Dom is confined to…

ITV1, SUNDAY 4 JANUARY, 8PM Fresh from his hosting duties on BBC1’s reality competition show Destination X, Rob Brydon now presents this big new primetime shiny floor quiz show. The concept is that 81 quiz nerds face off in a series of trivia duels on a giant LED floor divided into 81 equal squares, each representing its own field of knowledge. The aim is for the contestants to conquer the entire floor by winning a series of quiz duels with opponents on adjoining squares, each of which has its own category. The winners progress to harder duels and higher stakes until one of them will nab £50,000.…

CHANNEL 4, SUNDAY 4 JANUARY, 9PM Forget the Ashes, there’s a new Brit-Aussie beef brewing and it’s stoked by the brutal SAS selection process set by chief instructor Billy Billingham and his crack team of experts. In the punishing heat of North Africa, 14 famous faces will get the Special Forces training treatment, but who will triumph: Team UK or Team Australia? TV personality Dani Dyer, former rugby player Ben Cohen and Gladiator Toby Olubi are among those waving the Union Jack flag, while the Aussie contingent are repped by Ryan Moloney (Toadfish from Neighbours), cricketer Brad Hodge and olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm. Strewth!…

CERT 12A, 132 minutes, in cinemas 2 January STARRING: Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Michael Imperioli, Jim Belushi DIRECTOR: Craig Brewer THE PLOT: In late-1980s Milwaukee, mechanic Mike (Jack man) and hairdresser Claire (Hudson) have a sideline performing as music tribute acts. But when they join forces as Lightning (him) & Thunder (her) – a Neil Diamond tribute band that somehow truly captures the essence of the Sweet Caroline star – they start to form a genuine connection with a growing audience. Romance between the pair, who are both single parents, seals the deal. WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT? Neil Diamond fans will be first in line for a film that throws in plenty of singing, and reminds everyone else that there’s a whole lot more to the performer than the song…

28 YEARS LATER SKY CINEMA PREMIERE/NOW, FROM 9 JAN Highly effective new entry in the zombie horror franchise co-created by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, and set nearly three decades after a virus escaped from a biological weapons lab in the original 28 Days Later. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Jamie, living in an uninfected island connected to the mainland by a heavily defended causeway. Then all hell breaks loose. I SWEAR DVD/BLU-RAY, OUT NOW Inspirational true story of how John Davidson, a Scottish lad, developed Tourette’s syndrome. But despite all-round ignorance of the condition, he eventually found employment, independence and a life of fulfilment. The story was originally told in the documentary John’s Not Mad, and here it’s skilfully dramatised, with a great lead performance by Robert Aramayo. ALL…

NOEL COWARD THEATRE, 4 FEBRUARY–30 MAY When it was announced that Wicked star Cynthia Erivo would be returning to the stage for the first time in nearly a decade to star in a new production of Bram Stoker’s legendary horror story Dracula, it felt like a hugely bold, surprising decision. Then it was revealed that the talented actress/ singer would be playing all 23 parts in the iconic tale – from Count Dracula and the innocent solicitor Jonathan Harker to his fiancée Mina Murray and her confidante Lucy Westenra, as well as famous vampire hunter Van Helsing. Acting challenges don’t come much tougher than that, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s the threetime Oscar nominee and Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner Erivo. Though we’re not sure there’ll be…

If you were to look up ‘fitness goals’ in the dictionary, you’d probably find a picture of Gemma Atkinson. The Hits Radio presenter and podcaster has gained a huge social media following for her no-BS approach to wellness – whether that’s crushing a workout before the kids wake up, or creating her own range of gemstone-infused skincare, Gem & Tonic. At 41 years old, the significance of winning heat’s Fit List isn’t lost on Gemma. ‘Just being considered on a list like this shows how far we’ve come as a society when it comes to women’s health and fitness,’ she tells us. ‘I think it’s something people assumed you can only have pre-children in your early twenties. Whereas now, whatever stage you’re at in life, it’s not too late to…

This year has been one of the most special of their lives after welcoming daughter Palma back in March. But as Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright prepare for 2026, sources say they’re clashing over baby number two – and she’s worried it could change things between them. ‘Michelle has always been clear from the off that family will happen, but her career is important to her. She’s not saying no to having another baby, she’s just saying not now,’ an insider tells heat. ‘But she’s worried it could change things with Mark. His lack of understanding is frustrating for her as he keeps asking when they can have another. She’s told him they have to give it a couple of years, but this has led to a few little tiffs.…

Win £100* SEND YOUR CELEBRITY SNAPS TO HEAT@HEATMAG.COM SPOTTED Superstar singer TAYLOR SWIFT and her fiance, NFL player TRAVIS KELCE, loading luggage into a people carrier outside a building near Central Park in New York City. Seen by Lucy SPOTTED US actress BLAKE LIVELY leaving a boutique on Perry Street in the West Village in Manhattan, New York City. Seen by Coco SPOTTED Emily In Paris star LILY COLLINS in Manhattan’s iconic Rockefeller Plaza, New York City. Seen by Lola SPOTTED Spice Girl MEL C, wearing a colourful varsity jacket and Nike trainers, walking near Bond Street, central London. Seen by Jo SPOTTED A-list couple RITA ORA and her husband, Holly wood director TAIKA WAITITI, with their hands all over each other at The Chancery Rosewood hotel in London’s May fair.…

Okinawa, Japan With a surge in searches for flights and accommodation, this island group in the southernmost part of Japan is enjoying a boom – and it’s easy to see why. It’s a subtropical paradise with stunning beaches, coral reefs and lush forests, all just a 90-minute flight from Osaka. Stay at Okinawa Prince Hotel Ocean View Ginowan, a four-star resort with stunning ocean-view accommodation and a host of amenities, including three pools, spa and cabanas. Just minutes away is the Ginowan Seaside Park, which is the perfect spot for a sunset stroll or relaxing on the beach. • Three nights in a Superior Double room at Okinawa Prince Hotel Ocean View Ginowan in June 2026 costs from £975pp, including flights from London Heathrow. Book at expedia.com Cagliari, Sardinia Move…

Disney+, Friday 9 January The acclaimed period drama from Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight returns. Viewers will now have another chance to hang out with the vividly drawn characters fighting to survive in East London in the 1880s, brought to colourful life from the history books. BLOWBY-BLOW Series one introduced us to the key figures living and working in Wapping’s criminal underbelly, including boxing legend and local kingpin Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham), who runs the last remaining bare-knuckle boxing pub with his younger brother Edward ‘Treacle’ Goodson (James Nelson-Joyce). Erin Doherty starred as ruthlessly ambitious Mary Carr, queen of The Forty Elephants, the biggest female gang of thieves who specialised in pickpocketing and spectacularly daring heists. Then, there was Malachi Kirby as Jamaican immigrant Hezekiah Moscow, who arrived in London…

ITV1, WED 7 / THU 8 JANUARY, 9PM With news that the next series of Grantchester would unfortunately be the last, it’s time to hunker down and relish every second of this 10th instalment. In episode one, forward-thinking Alphy decides to put on an Easter fete, but when Reg, a local bloke protesting the commercialisation of Easter, is found dead, Geordie doesn’t believe it was suicide. Meanwhile, Larry and Miss Scott can’t stop canoodling (awww), Cathy has to use a computer for the first time and, after the death of his father who didn’t love him, Leonard encourages Daniel to go and meet his parents. Tissues at the ready.…

APPLE TV, FRIDAY 9 JANUARY Here’s season three of the tense thriller starring Niv Sultan as agent Tamar Rabinyan, an Israeli secret service hacker and espionage operative who goes deep undercover in Iran’s capital city Tehran under a false identity. At the end of season two, she had gone rogue and lost her closest allies. Now, in this new season, Agent Rabinyan has to find a way to reinvent herself and win back the support of her bosses if she is to survive. But the big news is that Hugh Laurie (House) is joining the cast as a South African nuclear inspector. Bring it on!…

CHANNEL 4, SUNDAY 4 JANUARY, 7.30PM Siobhán McSweeney throws open the studio doors to a dozen new potters hoping to impress Rich Miller and make Keith Brymer Jones cry – in a good way, obvs. In series nine, the contestants will be asked to make a range of ceramic delights including bricks, bookends, puzzle jugs, animal sculptures, retro seaside souvenir sets, tagine pots and floral posies. Easier to type than make, no doubt. In this first episode, we’ll get to meet the potters, determine our favourites, and watch them get to grips with a soup set and galleried jars, which must survive the dreaded bucket of doom.…

CERT 12A, 76 minutes, in cinemas 2 January STARRING: Ben Whishaw, Rebecca Hall DIRECTOR: Ira Sachs THE PLOT: In December 1974, writer Linda Rosenkratz interviewed her photographer pal Peter Hujar about the events of his previous day for a planned book of similar interviews. This two-handed US indie drama recreates the exchange inside and on the rooftop of Peter’s apartment. WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT? Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall rise to the challenge of bringing these characters to life within the space of a single 78-minute conversation. WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT? Despite Peter having photographed Allen Ginsberg on the day in question, giving rise to fun gossip about the poet/activist, you might be less than riveted. VERDICT: A highwire act by Whishaw and Hall – for a niche audience.…

THEATRE AN EVENING WITH THE FAST SHOW The 30th anniversary tour of the iconic sketch show starring Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and Mark Williams continues in 2026. New, extra dates have been added, including the London Palladium on 21 and 22 January, plus Dublin (24th), Belfast (25th), Glasgow (27th), Sunderland (28th), York (29th) and Bournemouth (30th). For tickets, go to thefastshow.live. FILM THE HISTORY OF SOUND Brit acting hotties Paul Mescal (Normal People) and Josh O’Connor (Wake Up Dead Man) play lovers in this period drama mostly set in the 1920s. They meet as music students who undertake a journey across America recording folk songs from their fellow countrymen in small rural towns, while negotiating their forbidden relationship. In cinemas, 23 January. TV UNDER…