Kate Ferdinand has announced she is pregnant with husband Rio Ferdinand, after a devastating miscarriage last year.
The 31-year-old announced the joyous news on Instagram yesterday, writing: “We’ve been praying for you.”
It will be Kate’s second child with her Manchester United legend husband Rio – the couple already share two-year-old son Cree Ferdinand.
Kate is also step-mother to Rio’s children Tate, 13, Lorenz, 15, and Tia, 11, whom he shared with his late wife, Rebecca Elison.
Kate and Rio adorably announced the news to their children over the festive season in their Christmas Eve boxes, she said.
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Last July, the former TOWIE star shared the heartbreaking news that she had suffered a miscarriage.
She wrote at the time: “The last time I was in this hospital I was having Cree, but this time it was because our baby had no heartbeat in our 12 week scan and I had to have surgery.
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Kate and Rio Ferdinand. Credit: Instagram, @xkateferdinand
“We were so excited & planning a space for our new baby in our family, we just couldn’t wait to share our news with you all, but unfortunately sometimes life just doesn’t go as we plan.
“So much to say, but somehow I can’t find the words. Absolutely devastated & heartbroken …but couldn’t be more grateful for the hugs I got from my big(er) babies coming through the door when we arrived home.”
Kate has given a more in-depth update about her pregnancy in a mini podcast episode, in which she spoke candidly about the anxiety and worry she has felt following last year’s tragic baby loss.
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She said: “It’s a bit of a worry after what happened last summer with the miscarriage…
Kate also said: “In my last pregnancy when I had a miscarriage, I moaned constantly. I had a bad back, I had all these things going wrong.
“And then when obviously the miscarriage happened, I felt terrible for moaning, and thinking ‘Oh I now feel really ungrateful that I moaned the whole time’.”
She said that her main symptom so far is hunger and said she ‘could not stop eating’ in her first trimester.
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After last year’s heartbreak, the announcement that she and Rio are now pregnant with their second baby has been met with joy by their fellow celebrities and Kate’s 1.4m Instagram followers.
Thousands of comments have flooded her post, which is a black-and-white video of her holding a growing baby bump.
Holly Willoughby posted: “Aww congratulations to you both… that’s lovely news.”
Former Love Island star Montana Brown commented: “Stop this is amazing! Congratulations.”
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Michelle Keegan wrote: “Congratulations darling.”
Kate later posted a further update, writing: “Good morning, Bump pictures incoming. Thank you so much for all of your lovely messages, we are all just so excited!
“So happy we’ve shared this with you, I’ve found it hard keeping this one quiet. So much to talk to you all about so I’ve recorded a short life update for you … the link is in my bio & insta stories.”
Featured image: Instagram, @xkateferdinand
TV & Showbiz
A full series of The Celebrity Apprentice is coming to UK screens for the first time ever
Danny Jones
Britain’s much-loved version of The Apprentice is getting its first-ever full celebrity season next year as the series is set to copy the spin-off format seen in the US.
The popular reality TV show competition, where game-show meets the world of business, has been running here in the UK since 2005.
Now coming up 20 seasons and already well over 200 episodes, including specials, the producers have just as much of a challenge coming up with fresh ideas as the contestants do.
With that in mind, the BBC has now ordered the first dedicated The Celebrity Apprentice series, separate from the mainline show and set to run longer than previous iterations.
The I'm a celebrity of the business world. Can't wait. Didn't watch the apprentice earlier this year for obvious reasons but really excited about this. Hope LS isn't soft on them because its charity. https://t.co/o7PK5e2N0w
As confirmed by multiple sources – including one of renowned businessman and host Alan Sugar’s own advisors, Andrew Bloch – the first proper Celebrity Apprentice season will air in 2026.
Bloch explains that it’ll come in the form of a six-episode series that “will see a new line-up of famous faces take on weekly business challenges set by Lord Sugar, competing to avoid the words ‘You’re fired’ and ultimately be crowned The Celebrity Apprentice winner.”
While previous instalments in the celebrity version have either been attached to Christmas specials or the likes of Comic Relief/Red Nose Day in March, this inaugural fully-fledged chapter is set to take place sometime early next year, though an official release date is yet to be announced.
Speaking of seasonal episodes, any viewers who’ve never seen the show or at least not with recognisable household names starring in it, the 2025 festive special will be airing across two parts later this month.
Speaking on the commission, BBC’s Head of Entertainment, Kalpna Patel-Knight, added: “The Apprentice is a much-loved part of the BBC’s entertainment offering, and we can’t wait to see how the celebrity candidates rise to the challenge when the series launches later in 2026.”
The lineup of special guests for next year’s series is yet to be confirmed, but the lineup for the upcoming Xmas episodes is as follows: AJ Odudu, Angela Scanlon, Charlie Hedges, Eddie Kadi, Jake Wood, JB Gill, Kadeena Cox, Matt Morsia, Rob Rinder, Sarah Hadland, Shazia Mirza and Tom Skinner.
Skinner actually took part in the regular show back in 2009, helping launch his public persona, before going on to get involved in social media, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and even politics.
Have you seen the celeb version of The Apprentice before, and/or will you be watching this one?
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via BBC Media Centre)
TV & Showbiz
BBC is back looking for more Mancs to test their music knowledge and win £10,000
Emily Sergeant
Consider yourself a music fan? Spend your days with tunes on in the background? Would you be able to identify a song within the first couple of seconds?
Well, this might be your chance to win £10,000 then.
Once again, the BBC is back casting for the next series of its smash-hit competition show The Hit List, where contestants get their music knowledge put to the ultimate test, and the broadcaster is now looking for people from across Greater Manchester to apply and be in with the chance of winning a massive pot of cash.
The Hit List, presented by popstar couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes, sees three pairs of music-lovers go up against each other.
Across three rounds, the contestants attempt to identify huge hits from across the years, and the three teams must prove their ability to recognise songs from across all genres of music, both artist and song title, if they want to take home the win.
A casting call for the next series of The Hit List on the BBC website reads: “Could your love of music win you a £10,000 cash prize? We are looking for lively pairs of contestants to take part.”
Any one can apply to take part in the show, but producers and casting directors say they would particularly love to hear from couples, grandparent and grandchild, siblings, best mates, and parent and offspring.
“Anything goes, as long as you love your music and know your hits,” the casting call concludes.
Anyone who applies to the show must be a legal UK resident, and be available for potential filming dates in early March 2026 up in Glasgow.
Daisy Jackson -
30th January 2023 
