Not Kristina genuinely thinking they were his teeth

According to reports previous drugs tests of his had been clear

SPORTS broadcaster Jeff Stelling has slammed pal Paul Merson’s Strictly Come Dancing exit as “unfair.”

The former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday anchor – who quit the show in May 2023 after 29 years – promptly took to social media after former footballer Paul, 56, was axed from Strictly in Week 5.

Sky Sports

Sports broadcaster Jeff Stelling has clapped back at Strictly Come Dancing after pal Paul Merson’s exit[/caption]

PA

Former footballer Paul was given the boot in the dance off[/caption]

PA

Jeff, 69, suggested his mate’s exit was ‘unfair’ and said the show had been ‘ruined’ by those with dance experience[/caption]

PA

Paul and professional partner Karen Hauer performed a lively Samba on Saturday’s live show[/caption]

The Arsenal legend was given the boot after battling it out against JLS singer JB Gill in Sunday’s shock Dance Off.

Jeff, 69, suggested Paul – who performed a Samba with partner Karen Hauer – came a cropper as some of his co-stars already have dance experience.

In his stark message after Sunday’s Results Show played out Jeff wrote: “Proud of you Merse.

“Shame they ruin the show by including people who are trained dancers or have musical theatre backgrounds.

Should be people who don’t have any dance training imo.”

Jeff – who quit Soccer Saturday after it was “making him ill” – then added: “But you were brilliant!”

The TV star’s support of his pal came after Paul’s eviction was leaked by an online mole on social media site X earlier in the day.

During the dance off with JB and Amy Dowden, who performed a lively Jive, all four judges revealed they were in agreement in choosing to keep the JLS star.

As Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all agreed to save JB, Shirley Ballas‘ vote was not required but she admitted to show host Tess Daly that she would have also chosen to save JB.

As the news began to settle on their exit, Paul told Tess: “It’s been really good.

“For anybody I talk to, I would say you’ve got to go on this show. It’s amazing – everybody.

“There’s a Tottenham fan over there called Lincoln and even he’s nice! It’s been amazing, honestly, amazing. I loved every minute of it, I’ve had a great teacher.”

He went onto add of his pro partner Karen: “She’s been amazing, absolutely amazing and I couldn’t wish for a better coach.

“I’ve loved every minute of it.

“I can dance now –  I’ve won because I can dance, I couldn’t dance before and I can half dance now. It’s a bonus, absolute bonus.” 

FAN FURY

Yet Paul’s legions of loyal fans were quick to brand the outcome a fix.

One fan took to social media to question the entire Strictly results process and said: “I think they just pick anyone to be in the dance off. The votes don’t mean anything at all.

“Waste of money. They have prob already decided who’s in the dance off. All fixed.”

A second added: “They always say it’s about the dance off but it can’t have been because Paul was the better dancer in it so it seems like a fix.”

And a third said: “They knew they’d save JB even though his jive was messy and boring.

“Paul has been brilliant to watch and should’ve been saved. What a fix.”

It came after his dance skills had vastly improved through the series.

Meanwhile, viewers have also called on the show to make a major change after the couple crashed out.

They fear plum professional Karen won’t stick around unless she is paired with more popular contestants.

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Jeff praised Paul’s dance progress as ‘brilliant’[/caption]

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Fans have also been quick to brand Paul’s elimination a ‘fix’[/caption]

AN iconic high street retailer will start selling vinyl records again after thirty years off the shelves.

WHSmith said it will begin restocking the vintage disc in response to growing demand from shoppers.

WH SMITH

WH Smith has not sold vinyl records at its store in over three decades.[/caption]

As part of the roll-out, music buffs will be able to snap up records from new talent such as Taylor Swift alongside 80’s icons like Queen.

Over 80 sites across Canterbury, Chester, Edinburgh Gyle and York will stock the records.

The newsagent, which has over 1,000 stores across the high street and travel locations, has not sold records at its sites in over three decades.

Collecting vinyl records has become trendy among consumers, as they seek tangible ways to connect with music amid a rise in streaming sites such as Spotify.

Records also come with larger packaging and can include freebies such as posters or clothing.

Sales for the product grew for the 16th year in a row in 2023, with nearly six million units sold, according to data from the British Phonographic Industry.

Demand for records also helped turn around the fortune of struggling high-street retailer HMV.

Last November, the music retailer reopened its site on Oxford Street after a four-year hiatus following investment from Canadian businessman Doug Puttman.

Emma Smyth, Commercial Director, WHSmith High Street said: “After thirty years vinyl is back at WHSmith,

“I’m sure there are many customers out there who remember spending hours in record shops browsing the latest vinyl LPs and the artistic record covers.”

She added: “It’s no surprise that vinyl is growing in popularity again, and we are very excited to be bringing back record selections to more than 80 different stores across the UK for both seasoned fans and new listeners alike.”

As for WHSmith, the introduction of records will be the latest move from the business to revamp its product line.

Since last year, shoppers have been able to purchase Toys ‘R’ Us products in a number of its stores.

The American toy retailer collapsed in 2018 and closed all of its 100 UK branches, but announced plans for a relaunch in October 2021.

A total of 76 WHSmith sites will have a Toys ‘R’ Us section by the end of the year.

The iconic British brand has struggled on the high street following the aftermath of the pandemic, but its travel arm has been booming.

In September it closed two stores in Sale and Bridgewater.

Despite this, WHSmith has announced plans to open 110 new shops this year in airports, railway stations and hospitals.

Retailers making a comeback

It has been a tough time for retailers since Covid and the last few years have seen many vanish from our high streets.

The rising cost of living and expensive rents have all been playing a part in the demise of some of our much-loved high street names.

Last year much-loved retailer Wilko fell into administration and closed all of its shops in September 2023, leaving Brits heartbroken.

However, a glimmer of hope was given when the brand name was scooped up by The Range, in a £5million deal – meaning that the name would live on.

Customers were overjoyed after learning the store was being relaunched online, and even more so when in a surprising turn of events, physical branches started to open up again.

Elsewhere, Paperchase is now available to purchase at Tesco stores following its collapse almost three years ago.

And there has been talk that Topshop could return to the high street after a nearly four-year hiatus.

Owners ASOS said last month it would sell a 75% stake in the brand to Bestseller, a Danish retail group that owns Jack & Jones.

José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, chief executive of ASOS, told reporters that the deal would make Topshop “more accessible”.

From soups to smoothies with ease!

Gusts of up to 82mph came after many areas were already dealing with flooding, some with their wettest months ever.

Mikel Arteta has issued an injury update on Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League fixture with Shakhtar Donetsk.

All three were unavailable at the weekend as the Gunners slipped to an untimely 2-0 away defeat against Bournemouth to drop four points off Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

Saka had hoped to play a part in Saturday’s clash, but Arteta eventually opted not to risk the winger who picked up a slight hamstring injury on international duty with England.

Odegaard has not featured since suffering an ankle injury with Norway last month, while Timber has missed the last two games having picked up a muscular injury during Arsenal’s last Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain.

The fixtures come thick and fast for Arteta’s side who must now turn their attention back to European football when they face Ukrainian side Shakhtar on Tuesday.

Arsenal have four points from their opening two games in the new eight-match league stage after a draw with Atalanta and an impressive home win against PSG.

Speaking on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s clash, Arteta provided the latest on the key trio’s fitness status.

‘They are closer. They are both progressing really well,’ Arteta told reporters when asked about Saka and Odegaard.

‘Martin is still not fit. Let’s see how Bukayo is after the training session later on.’

On Timber, Arteta added: ‘He’s going to be close. We have to see how he deals with training with the whole group. It was a muscular injury.’

Saturday’s defeat marked Arsenal’s first in a competitive fixture since their 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last April.

But Arteta is hopeful that the quick turnaround will benefit his side and allow them to get straight back to winning ways ahead of a huge clash with Liverpool next weekend.

‘We have to start tomorrow,’ the Spaniard said. ‘The desire is there. We are desperate play this kind of match.

‘The atmosphere will be terrific tomorrow night so let’s produce that and earn the right to win the game.’

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