Shirley Ballas: ‘I have decided to embrace every wrinkle’
The queen of Strictly talks to Peter Stanford about turning 60, removing her breast implants, her online classes and her mother’s cancer
26 January 2021 • 6:00am
Shirley Ballas was targeted by online trolls but says it was water off a duck’s back
Credit: Trevor Leighton/Camera Press
Turning 60 when you are a woman in the public eye can be tough, as Shirley Ballas knows all too well. She passed that milestone in September, just before the launch of the latest series of
Strictly Coming Dancing, during which one online troll remarked that her chest was looking “like a Seville orange that has been eaten by a thousand slugs”.
How technology has offered a route to safety for domestic violence victims
With lockdown intensifying the abuse many are facing on a daily basis, Refuge has worked hard to offer 21st century solutions
“We’re sorry this is happening to you. Do you have somewhere to go? And is there anything that we can do for you?”
Last spring, Diana (not her real name) decided it was time to leave her emotionally abusive relationship of two years. She really wanted to talk about her next steps with someone impartial – but not on the phone.
“I’d made the leap in my head, but I couldn’t face anyone at that point,” Diana says. “I didn’t want to be the one doing any of the talking. So I logged on to the Refuge website to use their live chat service and get help while I basically hid behind my phone screen. I will never forget their first words to me.”
Dr Nicola O Leary: why I made my life’s work ‘intimate terrorism’
The criminologist and sister of TV presenter Dermot O Leary explains why domestic abuse should be considered a liberty crime
8 January 2021 • 12:00pm
Dr Nicola O Leary is working with Refuge, a charity supported in the Telegraph s Christmas appeal
Credit: Guzelian
To fans of morning television, Dermot O’Leary, the new Friday presenter on ITV s
This Morning, is a benign host, always ready to set his guests at ease. But to his sister Nicola, he’s the kid brother that she’s always felt responsible for. And yet, she says, she never had to help extricate Dermot, who is three years younger than her, from scrapes.
Our readers have raised over £700,000 for our Christmas appeal – and there s still time to donate
2021 looks like it will be another tough year for carers, cancer patients and survivors of domestic abuse. Please help us to help them
7 January 2021 • 11:30am
Richard Madeley was among the Telegraph editors and columnists who took part in our annual phone-in day last month
Credit: Jeff Gilbert
This far outstrips even the £598,000 that was raised by last year’s appeal.
At a time of crisis, the four charities asked for help, and you, our readers, answered. Our annual phone-in in mid December raised more than £124,000 – a 25 per cent increase on the previous year’s phone-in.