Strictly professional dancer Amy Dowden revealed on Instagram on Monday that she had been hospitalized last week.

The star, 33, revealed she was placed on a respiratory unit during her battle with breast cancer as she shared photos from her hospital bed.

Keeping her fans updated, she wrote: “So last week didn't exactly go to plan. I feel much better now and am still taking it easy.

'But I can't thank the NHS enough and the care I received in the respiratory unit. Also to my family and Ben of course. Always dropping everything and spending endless hours next to my bed while mostly sleeping.

'I feel a lot better and thank you for the many messages after the shutdown. Off to the oncology ward today for my monthly injection (missed last week because I was poorly).

'How is everybody doing? The sun is shining and I certainly can't wait until spring.'

Her latest posts come after Amy celebrated Valentine's Day early as she had a hospital appointment on February 14.

The Welsh-born star managed to enjoy a romantic day out at a spa with her husband Ben, where she was pampered like a queen.

Amy and Ben enjoyed the spa at the award-winning Hoar Cross Hall hotel in Staffordshire, which boasts one of the largest state-of-the-art spas in Europe.

fAmy told her online followers: 'After feeling really rough the last few days (nasty cough), thanks for a lovely spa day today Ben.'

She also shared photos from their relaxing day, including one of them smiling together in their fluffy bathrobes and another of herself sitting in a large bubble-shaped rattan chair.

She added: “An early Valentine's Day treat as Wednesday is a hospital day for me.”

Showing off the blue mood-lit pool, she wrote: “It was the perfect day, thanks Ben.”

Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May last year and underwent a mastectomy in July, leaving her free from the BBC ballroom dancing competition in 2023 while she underwent treatment.

Her friend, Dragon's Den star Sara Davies, who competed on Strictly in 2021, recently revealed that she had to convince Amy to go ahead with her treatment when it was offered because Amy was worried she would miss out on her Strictly career.

Businesswoman Sara said Amy was 'programmed' to dance from an early age and the thought of taking time off to focus on her health scared her.

Sara said on the Invitation Only podcast: 'I spent a lot of time with her at the beginning of her cancer diagnosis when she wasn't feeling positive. She had been dealt a bad hand and she was struggling with it.

“I knew then that I had to be the friend who filled her tank, but even if you just want someone to give you a hug and tell you it's going to be okay, I'm not the one to go to.

“I was the one who was like, 'What's the plan, Amy?' and pushing her to make tough decisions. She wasn't sure if she would get chemo, so we talked about that.”

She added, “What I have realized with the dancers is that they are determined to dance from an early age. And the biggest blow for her was: “If I don't go down that route, I can't do Strictly this year.”

“I had to look her in the eye and say, 'Amy, you have cancer. They literally cut off your breasts. They're telling you to get this chemo to get better. Don't worry.' dance and strict”.

'Her response was: “But maybe they won't want me back next year.” So I said, “Amy, you're great at what you do, of course they want you back. You're so loved. Please, it's very important. Get well soon.”

'And then she went to the show without a wig. What a phenomenal moment. When I saw her, I cried.”

By the 53rd year of her reign, Queen Victoria had gained 38 living grandchildren – and it became her hobby to marry them off in a series of dynastic alliances designed to cement Britain's place in the world.

Like a glorified puppeteer, she encouraged romance between her young associates. And if the romance didn't work out, let them get married anyway!

What Does Love Have to Do With It?

You could call it the most exclusive dating agency in the world, with the only condition being that you had to be royal.

But as with all such ventures, Victoria had more than its fair share of disasters.

Her main concern in the beginning was getting her grandson Eddy better. Eddy, the son and heir of Bertie, who would become King Edward VII, was formally known as Prince Albert Victor.

He was bisexual.

The royal family was so concerned about Eddy's disastrous involvement in the Cleveland Street Scandal – in which post office telegram messengers doubled as rent boys – that the future king was 'forced' to marry the staid Princess Mary of Teck.

He had already gotten into trouble over a scandal over the death of a chorus girl and another over his relationship with a blackmailer, Maude Richardson.

According to his own confession, he was a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease.

Eager to please, Mary was either unaware of this exotic lifestyle or was willing to ignore it and went to extremes when an arranged marriage was discussed.

Eddy did not want to get married, but under great pressure he reluctantly agreed to a proposal.

Only his sudden death at the age of 28 from pneumonia put an end to this subterfuge. Mary left and married his little brother George instead.

Then there was Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, daughter of Victoria's third child, Princess Alice.

It seemed like a great match when she got engaged to Grand Duke Sergei Romanoff of the Russian Imperial Family, but it was a disaster from the start.

Her supposedly devoted husband had affairs with non-commissioned officers in his regiment.

She bravely pretended to the family at home that everything was fine, but Victoria got the picture: “If people are very happy, they don't have to tell others.”

Elisabeth became a nun. So that was another failure.

Just as disastrous was the alleged love match between Victoria's granddaughter, Princess Marie of Edinburgh, and King Ferdinand of Romania.

Marie, better known as Missy, was a headstrong girl of great beauty who, at the age of 16, rejected the marriage proposal of her cousin George, who would later become King George V.

Queen Victoria had given her blessing to the romance, but later wrote: “George lost Missy by waiting and waiting.”

Yet before her seventeenth birthday she was engaged to the characterless Ferdinand.

It wasn't a love match, especially not in the bedroom – “A cruel trap of innocence,” Missy described it.

And to her husband she wrote: 'It is a pity that we had to waste so many years of our youth learning to live together.'

Nevertheless, the couple had children – although when she asked for chloroform to ease the pain of the first birth, this was denied by her Romanian doctors, who declared that 'women must pay in agony for the sins of Eve'.

Missy took revenge with a series of lovers, including the country's Prime Minister, a reckless Canadian adventurer named 'Klondike' Joe Boyle, and the owner of The Observer, Lord Astor.

She became a formidable spokesperson for her adopted country and, despite its remoteness, became world famous and was immortalized by the American humorist Dorothy Parker, who quipped:

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of songs, a medley of extemporanea; And love is something that can never go wrong; And I'm Marie from Romania.

Things didn't start well for Princess Victoria Eugenie and her wedding to King Alfonso of Spain in Madrid.

Someone threw a bomb disguised as a bridal bouquet into her open carriage and although she was unharmed, fifteen others died and many more were injured.

Her wedding dress was spattered with the blood of a mounted guard who rode alongside the carriage.

Introducing her bright royal future, 18-year-old Victoria Eugenie, better known as Ena, had enjoyed a three-day romance with Alfonso at a secret location on the Spanish border, if that's the word, before he took her away. home to meet his mother.

Things went well enough to announce an engagement, but only after Ena agreed to convert to Roman Catholicism.

That decision cost her her place in the order of succession to the British throne, but since she was about to become Queen Ena of Spain, it hardly mattered.

Unfortunately, things quickly went downhill in the marriage after she gave birth to her first child, who was discovered to have hemophilia.

This condition, also known as the royal disease, so terrified Alfonso that, although the couple had five more children, he became a serial philanderer.

And when General Franco declared Spain a republic in 1931, the couple fled the country – and parted forever.

Many more disasters – and some successes – would follow from Queen Victoria's exclusive marriage agency.

It took a while for Europe to recover.

Oti Mabuse has recalled how her 'very, very good friend' Steph McGovern came to her rescue after her daughter's 'traumatic' birth last year.

The Strictly star has spoken out for the first time about the birth of her daughter, revealing how her first child was left in a 'critical' condition and had to stay in hospital for six weeks after the premature birth.

Oti explained to the Happy mother, happy baby podcast that her good friend Steph let her and her husband Marius stay in her apartment for six weeks after the unexpectedly early birth last fall.

“My very, very good friend Steph McGovern had given us her flat to live in, she gave up her house and said 'you and Marius can use this place as long as you want,'” Oti revealed.

“So we could have a house and not be far from the hospital.”

Oti has previously spoken about her close bond with Steph after they worked together on Channel 4 show Steph's Packed Lunch.

After Channel 4 announced the show had been axed last year, Oti took to Instagram to praise her friend, calling her “a great light in my life, an impeccable leader, a female empowerer, a brilliant presenter and the kindest woman you'll ever meet.” you have seen'. 'will meet each other in show business one day.'

The new family was finally allowed to return home shortly before Christmas, announcing their daughter's arrival in a December 25 Instagram post.

Oti's parents “dropped everything” and flew from South Africa to support the couple and her sister. Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse also spent Christmas with them.

She remembers coming home with her daughter to find that Marius and her family had decorated the house with balloons and Christmas decorations and had cooked a feast.

“It just felt good, it felt like a celebration, it really felt like birth, it felt like it should have felt six weeks earlier,” she said.

In a recent Instagram post dedicated to her family, Oti wrote that “Mom and Dad have been so wonderful in helping me and @mariusiepure find our way. they were there for every feeding, every appointment, every cry and every important moment we needed them.”

“I see love when I see how much my parents and sisters love my little girl. We're a close family, but we've definitely grown closer since she's been here.”

'They dropped everything they were doing, @motsimabuse canceled their holiday plans to be by our side, non-stop calls from @phemelom. I'm so grateful to have my family.”

'Especially mother – I couldn't do this without her, we fight and laugh about it, but she cooks, cleans, washes, helps watch the little one when we work and forgets that it's our baby and not hers, but she is a super mother and I hope that one day she will be a fraction of the mother she is.'

Oti explained that her daughter was born 'very premature' and had to spend six weeks in hospital before finally being discharged just before Christmas.

The dancer detailed her 16-hour labor and said her daughter, whose name she has not revealed, was taken for tests immediately after birth.

Oti, whose husband is fellow dancer Marius Iepure, was diagnosed with sepsis during childbirth and as a result her daughter suffered infections, leading to a six-week stay in the NICU.

“The last 10 weeks have been difficult, but life-changing,” she said.

“I haven't really talked about it publicly because it was something we went through and as hard as it was, there were so many learning curves and things to be grateful for.”

Best American Roots Song

Allison Russell – The Returner

Billy Strings Featuring Willie Nelson – California Sober

Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Cast Iron Skillet – WINNER

The War and Treaty – Blank Page

 

Best American Roots Performance 

Allison Russell – Eve Was Black – WINNER

Blind Boys of Alabama – Heaven Help Us All

Jon Batiste – Butterfly

Madison Cunningham – Inventing the Wheel

Rhiannon Giddens – You Louisiana Man

 

 Best Americana Performance

Allison Russell – The Returner

Blind Boys of Alabama – Friendship

Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity – WINNER

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – King of Oklahoma

Tyler Childers – Help Me Make It Through the Night

 

Best Americana Album

Allison Russell – The Returner

Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes – WINNER

Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions

Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One

 

Best Bluegrass Album

Billy Strings – Me/And/Dad

Michael Cleveland – Lovin’ of the Game

Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – City of Gold – WINNER

Sam Bush – Radio John: Songs of John Hartford

Willie Nelson – Bluegrass

 

Best Traditional Blues Album

Bobby Rush – All My Love for You – WINNER

Eric Bibb – Ridin’

John Primer – Teardrops for Magic Slim Live at Rosa’s Lounge

Mr. Sipp – The Soul Side of Sipp

Tracy Nelson – Life Don’t Miss Nobody

 

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Bettye LaVette – LaVette!

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Live in London

Larkin Poe – Blood Harmony – WINNER

Ruthie Foster – Healing Time

Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton – Death Wish Blues

 

Best Folk Album

Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire

Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live) – WINNER

The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon

Nickel Creek – Celebrants

Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee

Paul Simon – Psalms

Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

 

Best Regional Roots Music Album

Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band – New Beginnings – WINNER (TIE)

Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers – Live At The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra – Live: Orpheum Theater Nola – WINNER (TIE)

New Breed Bass Band – Made in New Orleans

New Orleans Nightcrawlers – Too Much to Hold

The Rumble Feature Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. – Live at the Maple Leaf

 

Best Reggae Album

Buju Banton – Born for Greatness

Beenie Man – Simma

Burning Spear – No Destroyer

Collie Buddz – Cali Roots Riddim 2023

Julian Marley & Antaeus – Colors of Royal – WINNER

 

Best Global Music Performance

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily – Shadow Forces

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Pashto – WINNER

Burna Boy – Alone

Davido – Feel

Falu & Gaurav Shah (Featuring PM Narendra Modi) – Abundance in Millets

Ibrahim Maalouf Featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas – Todo Colores

Silvana Estrada – Milagro y Disastre

 

Best African Music Performance

Asake & Olamide – Amapiano

Ayra Starr – Rush

Burna Boy – City Boys

Davido Featuring Musa Keys – Unavailable

Tyla – Water – WINNER

 

Best Global Music Album

Bokanté – History

Burna Boy – I Told Them…

Davido – Timeless

Shakti – This Moment – WINNER

Susana Baca- Epifanías

 

Best Children’s Music Album

Andrew & Polly – Ahhhhh!

DJ Willy Wow! – Hip Hope for Kids!

Pierce Freelon & Nnenna Freelon – Ancestars

Uncle Jumbo – Taste the Sky

123 Andrés – We Grow Together Preschool Songs – WINNER

 

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

Meryl Streep – Big Tree

Michelle Obama – The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times – WINNER

Rick Rubin – The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Senator Bernie Sanders – It’s OK to Be Angry About Capitalism

William Shatner – Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder

 

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

Aja Monet – When the Poems Do What They Do

J. Ivy – The Light Inside – WINNER

Kevin Powell – Grocery Shopping With My Mother

Prentice Powell and Shawn William – For Your Consideration ’24

Queen Sheba – A-You’re Not Wrong B-They’re Not Either: The Fukc-It Pill Revisited

 

Best Comedy Album

Chris Rock – Selective Outrage

Dave Chappelle – What’s in a Name? -WINNER

Sarah Silverman – Someone You Love

Trevor Noah – I Wish You Would

Wanda Sykes – I’m An Entertainer

 

Best Musical Theater Album

Kimberly Akimbo

Parade

Shucked

Some Like It Hot – WINNER

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora

Various Artists – Barbie The Album – WINNER

Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By

Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3: Awesome Mix, Vol. 3

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

 

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)

John Williams – The Fabelmans

John Williams – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 

Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer – WINNER

Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt – Barbie

 

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök

Jess Serro, Tripod & Austin Wintory – Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

Peter Murray, J Scott Rakozy & Chuck E. Myers “Sea” – Hogwarts Legacy

Sarah Schachner – Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare II

Stephen Barton & Gordy Haab – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – WINNER

 

Best Song Written for Visual Media

Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”] – WINNER

Dua Lipa – Dance the Night (From Barbie the Album)

Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World [From Barbie the Album]

Rihanna – Lift Me Up (From Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By)

Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken [From “Barbie the Album”]

 

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

Hilario Duran and His Latin Jazz Big Band Featuring Paquito D’Rivera – I Remember Mingus

Just 6 – Angels We Have Heard on High

Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music

The String Revolution Featuring Tommy Emmanuel – Folsom Prison Blues – WINNER

Wednesday Addams – Paint It Black

 

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Cécile McLorin Salvant – Fenestra

Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Metropole Orkest – Com Que Voz (Live)

Patti Austin Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – April in Paris

Säje Featuring Jacob Collier – In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – WINNER

Samara Joy – Lush Life

 

Best Recording Package

The Arcs – Eletrophonic Chronic

Brad Breeck – Gravity Falls

Caroline Rose – The Art of Forgetting

Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork – WINNER

Ensemble Cadenza 21’ – Cadenza 21’

Leaf Yeh – Migration

 

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Bo Burnham – Inside: Deluxe Box Set

Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965 – Deluxe Edition

Neutral Milk Hotel – The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel

Ngọt – Gieo

Various Artists – For the Birds: The Birdsong Project – WINNER

 

Best Album Notes

Howdy Glenn – I Can Almost See Houston

Iftin Band – Mogadishu’s Finest: The Al Uruba Sessions

John Coltrane – Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy (Live)

Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958–1971

Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – WINNER

 

Best Historical Album

Bob Dylan – Fragments – Time Out Of Mind Sessions (1996-1997): The Bootleg Series, Vol. 17

Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965 – Deluxe Edition

Various Artists – The Moaninest Moan of Them All: The Jazz Saxophone of Loren McMurray, 1920-1922

Various Artists – Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack McCormick, 1958–1971

Various Artists – Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – WINNER

 

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Edgar Barrera

Jessie Jo Dillon

Justin Tranter

Shane McAnally

Theron Thomas – WINNER

 

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Bokanté – History

Boygenius – The Record

Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You

Feist – Multitudes

Victoria Monét – Jaguar II – WINNER

 

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Daniel Nigro

Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II

Hit-Boy

Jack Antonoff – WINNER

Metro Boomin

 

Best Remixed Recording

Depeche Mode – Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix) – WINNER

Gorillaz Featuring Tame Impala & Bootie Brown – New Gold (Dom Dolla Remix)

Lane 8 – Reviver (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix)

Mariah Carey – Workin’ Hard (Terry Hunter Remix)

Turnstile & BadBadNotGood Featuring Blood Orange – Alien Love Call

 

Best Immersive Audio Album

Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys – WINNER

Bear McCreary – God of War Ragnarök (Original Soundtrack)

George Strait – Blue Clear Sky

Madison Beer – Silence Between Songs

Ryan Ylyate – Act 3 (Immersive Edition)

 

Best Instrumental Composition

 Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia – Motion

John Williams – Helena’s Theme – WINNER

Lakecia Benjamin Feuringat Angela Davis – Amerikkan Skin

Ludwig Göransson – Can You Hear the Music

Quartet San Francisco Featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band – Cutey and the Dragon

 

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers, Gustavo Castillo & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Fandango

Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 & Schulhoff: Five Pieces

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, George Lernis & A Far Cry – Sanlikol: A Gentleman of Istanbul – Symphony for Strings, Percussion, Piano, Oud, Ney & Tenor

Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Contemporary American Composers – WINNER

Shara Nova & A Far Cry – The Blue Hour

 

Producer of the Year, Classical

Brian Pidgeon

David Frost

Dmitriy Lipay

Elaine Martone – WINNER

Morten Lindberg

 

Best Orchestral Performance

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – Scriabin: Symphony No. 2; The Poem of Ecstasy

Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante – WINNER

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Pieces

The Philadelphia Orchestra – Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony

San Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

 

Best Opera Recording

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus – Blanchard: Champion – WINNER

Boston Modern Orchestra Project & Odyssey Opera Chorus – Corigliano: The Lord of Cries

The Dime Museum; Isaura String Quartet – Little: Black Lodge

 

Best Choral Performance

The Clarion Choir – Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil

The Crossing – Carols After a Plague

Miró Quartet; Conspirare – The House of Belonging

San Francisco Symphony Chorus – Ligeti: Lux Aeterna

Uusinta Ensemble; Helsinki Chamber Choir – Saariaho: Reconnaissance – WINNER

 

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

Anthony McGill & Pacifica Quartet – American Stories

Catalyst Quartet – Uncovered, Vol. 3: Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still & George Walker

Roomful of Teeth – Rough Magic – WINNER

Third Coast Percussion – Between Breaths

Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax & Leonidas Kavakos – Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6, ‘Pastorale’ and Op. 1, No. 3

 

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

Andy Akiho – Akiho: Cylinders

Curtis Stewart – Of Love

Louisville Orchestra – The American Project – WINNER

Robert Black – Adams, John Luther: Darkness and Scattered Light

Seth Parker Woods – Difficult Grace

 

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

Reginald Mobley, soloist; Baptiste Trotignon, pianist – Because

Julia Bullock, soloist; Christian Reif, conductor (Philharmonia Orchestra) – Walking in the Dark – WINNER

Karim Sulayman, soloist; Sean Shibe, accompanist – Broken Branches

Laura Strickling, soloist; Daniel Schlosberg, pianist – 40@40

Lawrence Brownlee, soloist; Kevin J. Miller, pianist – Rising

 

Best Classical Compendium

Aaron Diehl & The Knights – Zodiac Suite

Andy Akiho, Omaha Symphony & Ankush Kumar Bahl – Sculptures

Chick Corea & Orchestra da Camera della Sardegna – Sardinia

Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Anne Akiko Meyers & Gustavo Castillo – Fandango

Peter Herresthal, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, James Gaffigan, Arctic Philharmonic & Tim Weiss – Missy Mazzoli: Dark With Excessive Bright

Various Artists – Passion for Bach and Coltrane – WINNER

Wild Up & Christopher Rountree – Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You’re so Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?

 

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

Andy Akiho, Ankush Kumar Bahl & Omaha Symphony – Akiho: In That Space, at That Time

Awadagin Pratt, A Far Cry & Roomful of Teeth – Montgomery: Rounds – WINNER

Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic – Adès: Dante

Peter Herresthal, James Gaffigan & Bergen Philharmonic – Mazzoli: Dark With Excessive Bright

Roomful of Teeth – Brittelle: Psychedelics

 

THE number of Covid patients in intensive care has fallen to just 20 a day, compared to 400 at the height of the second wave.

New figures show Omicron is failing to cause serious illness in most vaccinated Britons.

2

A report from the National Audit and Research Center on Intensive Care shows that there were only 19 admissions to intensive care on January 23. The Sunday times reports.

At the height of the second wave, in January last year, as many as 400 people were admitted per day.

Professor David Harrison, the centre's chief statistician, said that despite a delay in reporting, the number of patients will still only be between 20 and 30 by the end of January.

In a new glimmer of hope, 425 patients in England are in mechanically ventilated beds – the lowest level since July 11.

This is in stark contrast to January 23 last year, when there were more than 3,700.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a leading statistician, said: “The Omicron wave saw a huge increase in cases and a moderate increase in hospital admissions. And yet ICU admissions have not shown any increase and are now falling rapidly.

“Since more than half of ICU admissions have not been vaccinated, this indicates an intrinsically milder virus rather than just increased protection against vaccination.”

Omicron is currently the dominant strain in Britain, but most people who become infected with the disease show cold symptoms.

Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates

A series of hugely positive studies show that Omicron IS is milder than other types, with the first official UK report showing the risk of hospital admission is 50 to 70 per cent lower than Delta.

Covid booster shots protect against Omicron and offer the best chance of weathering the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping to get vital extra vaccines into Britons' arms to avert the need for new restrictions.

The report also shows that the average age for Omicron patients in intensive care is 63 – five years higher than Delta.

Figures also show that unvaccinated people over 70 are 58 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care than people with three injections.

Non-stimulated Britons also accounted for 61 percent of intensive care admissions in December.

2

Explorer Simon Reeve has labeled his trek across Congo for his new show Wilderness as his toughest experience yet, with viewers agreeing that the presenter and his crew are 'made of tough stuff' after a horrific start to the series.

In the first episode, which aired on BBC 2 last night, Simon, 51, treks through the Congo Basin, Africa's largest forest covering 2.2 million square kilometers, facing challenging weather conditions, biting insects and a dwindling water supply.

But perhaps the most stomach-churning scene occurs when the cinematographer, Jonathan Young, discovers that a jigger flea has tunneled into his ankle to lay its eggs.

With a toe-curling extraction, the doctor removes the flea and egg sac with a scalpel – in the middle of the night.

Wilderness with Simon Reeve follows the explorer as he travels through the Pacific Ocean's Coral Triangle, Africa's Congo Rainforest and Kalahari Desert, and South America's Patagonia.

Simon, a best-selling author and presenter, meets people who live in these natural environments to learn how we can preserve these areas for future generations.

He is accompanied by Congolese wildlife activist and conservationist Adams Cassinga, as well as his crew.

The explorer says the journey through Congo is his toughest experience yet.

However, his insect bites seem mild compared to the ordeal of his cameraman, Jonathan, who discovers that a jigger flea has tunneled into his ankle to lay its eggs.

The former Marine's ankle, which has turned dark purple, has to be cut open with a scalpel by the team medic to remove the flea and its eggs – in the middle of the night.

Simon praises Jonathan's “extraordinary heroism” as he watches with torches providing just enough light for the medic to perform the procedure.

Elsewhere, the group faces challenging conditions as they slowly make progress through the world's largest peat bog, estimated to be the size of England. Sometimes even Adams looks nervous.

Three days away from the nearest hotel or hospital, an exhausted Simon regularly shouts “Damn!” while wading through thigh-high, deep mud for extended periods of time. He estimates that the group is moving at a mile per hour because each step is so demanding.

Eventually they discover the nomadic Baka people, who live in the forest. The clan welcomes the crew and within minutes the women build a hut for Simon.

Adams explains that these people live in harmony with the forest – unlike people in the modern world, who are more materialistic.

Later the explorers arrive in Salonga, in search of bonobos, the great apes. The journey to find them is brutal, with Simon and his team hacking through dense undergrowth in sweltering heat and a fog of biting insects.

Ultimately, the team struck gold and even discovered baby bonobos who seem content with their laid-back lifestyle. Simon comments that you look like you're basking in the sun in Benidorm.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the African forest, covering an area of ​​2.3 million square kilometers, is one of the most important wild places on earth.

Many scientists believe that Congo is now of greater global importance than the deforested Amazon because the country has enough trees to absorb more carbon than it emits.

Georgia Harrison’s ex Joshua Ritchie was announced as Love Island All Stars’ latest bombshell during Wednesday’s episode.

Joshua, 29, was one of the original Islanders in 2015 and has since made a name for himself on reality TV shows including Ex on the Beach and Celebs Go Dating – and because of his highly publicised romances.

He dated fellow All Stars contestant Georgia Harrison, 29, who admitted she would be keen to couple up with him if he made an appearance, and Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, 33, for two years between 2017 and 2019.

Producers are hoping that Georgia will hit it off with Joshua after Chris Taylor, who she fancies, continues to pursue new arrival Molly Smith.

But many fans were left baffled at the end of Wednesday’s episode as they did not know who Joshua was.

One person asked on Twitter: ‘I didn’t watch season 1. How’s Josh like?’

While someone else posted: ‘Who TF is Josh.’

Another person wrote: ‘HOW do some of you not know who Josh is. Even from ex on the beach???’

And another person remarked: ‘Ya’ll fake stans asking WHO IS JOSH. GET OUT.’

Someone else shared: ‘Who’s Josh? I didn’t watch the first season.’

One other person posted: ‘People saying “who is Josh” are showing their age. Or am I showing mine.’

While someone else wrote: ‘ME NOT EVEN REMEMBERING JOSH.’

‘When you have to Google Josh and Luis from Season 1 because they both have changed so much,’ admitted another viewer.

Georgia was forced to deny speculation she was expecting her first baby with Joshua in 2022 after she was photographed at an event holding her stomach and joked on social media about becoming a mum.

A TV source told MailOnline: ‘Joshua is the latest bombshell signing.

‘He has come on board very much at the last minute, which is exactly how the show works, the producers are constantly reacting to what’s happening in the villa.

‘It’s clear from their past that Georgia and Joshua have a spark… the hope is now they’re able to explore their feelings for each other on the show.’

Speaking ahead of the All Stars series, Georgia called Joshua ‘good looking’ and admitted that he would pique her interest.

She said: ‘Joshua Ritchie… I’ve dated before, he’s good looking and my usual type.’

Joshua starred on the very first season of Love Island alongside All Star contestants Hannah Elizabeth and Luis Morrison-Derbyshire.

He came third on the series with Lauren Richardson, who was the ex-fling of One Direction star Zayn Malik.

Jessica Hayes and Max Morley were the first ever winners, but they didn’t stay in a relationship.

The All Stars series has already given fans the drama they have craved since the summer.

Viewers were shocked to discover that Jake Cornish had quit the show after just 72 hours.

MailOnline revealed that he would still earn £2,000 for his TV appearance after Islanders were promised the amount each week they remain in the villa.

He was left in an awkward position after the public decided to pair him with ex-girlfriend Liberty Poole, who he dated on the show in 2021.

Jake was met by criticism from the public for the way he treated Liberty throughout their romance but the exes made amends and agreed to put the past behind them.

Liberty even broke down in tears when Jake announced to the cast that he was leaving, and the pair parted ways with a huge hug.

Love Island All Stars continues at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX on Thursday 18 January. 

The Princess of Wales will spend up to two weeks in hospital after a successful abdominal operation, royal aides revealed today – as it was also announced that King Charles III will go to hospital next week to be treated for an enlarged prostate.

On an extraordinary afternoon of royal announcements, which saw the monarchy hit by a double health crisis within 90 minutes, William juggled being at Kate's side with caring for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princes Louis.

Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days.

The future queen will then return to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family, Kensington Palace said. It is not believed to be cancer.

The princess is likely to be advised to recover for two to three months, and her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.

Kate is not expected to return to public events until after Easter, and her husband Prince William will be by his wife and children's side throughout.

Separately, Buckingham Palace said today that King Charles III will go to hospital next week to be treated with a 'corrective procedure' for an enlarged prostate.

The two health updates on senior royals came within 90 minutes of each other, with Kensington Palace first at 2pm and Buckingham Palace at 3.30pm.

According to reports, she was not rushed to the hospital and her condition was not something that developed over the weekend.

The prince will also postpone a number of appointments to support his family, and will not take on any official duties while his wife is in hospital.

He will also not perform any official duties in the immediate period following Kate's return home. Royal aides will provide a revised schedule for William in due course.

Kate has a close bond with her family, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa Matthews and James Middleton will join her and help support her recovery at the Waleses' home in Windsor.

Neither William nor Kate will be traveling internationally in the coming months.

William and Kate were said to be planning a high-profile visit to Rome this spring as part of a European charm offensive, but that is now in doubt.

The princess celebrated her birthday just over a week ago, with the monarchy's official social media accounts sharing a new behind-the-scenes photo of the princess at the king's coronation.

Kate is generally in good health, but was hospitalized earlier in her pregnancy after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe morning sickness.

A palace spokesperson said at 2pm today: 'Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to the London Clinic yesterday for a planned abdominal operation.

'The operation was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on current medical advice, it is unlikely that she will resume her public duties until after Easter.

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normalcy as possible for her children; and her desire for her personal medical information to remain private.

'Kensington Palace will therefore only provide updates on Her Royal Highness's progress if there is important new information to share.

“The Princess of Wales would like to apologize to everyone involved for having to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many people as possible as soon as possible.”

Royal expert Phil Dampier said: 'I wish the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery after abdominal surgery. “We don't know the details but it was clear this was serious as she will be in hospital for 14 days and need up to three months to recover.”

And the Queen's former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said on X: 'I'm sure I speak for everyone in wishing HRH a speedy recovery.'

Like the rest of the royal family, Kate has had a busy, turbulent past few years, with the late Queen's platinum jubilee and death in 2022, and the coronation in 2023. She is also adjusting to her new role as princess of the royal family. Wales.

The Waleses also confronted the ongoing rift between William and his brother, the Duke of Sussex, with Harry making controversial claims about Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.

William's former university flatmate has carefully pursued her charity work since her marriage to the prince in 2011 and her appointment as HRH, with a focus on mental health and early childhood.

Kate is seen as the monarchy's safe pair of hands and with a 'keep calm and carry on' approach. Kate has been praised as someone who can channel the same traits of charm, politeness and toughness as the late Queen Mother, who was once described as 'a marshmallow'. made on a welding machine'.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to the Cambridges and the Duke of Sussex, and formerly worked for the Queen Mother, told The Times: 'She takes the time to talk to people. She's tough.

“She has the feeling of the Queen Mother in her, so that when things need to be done, she is there.”

The London Clinic, located on the corner of Devonshire Place and Marylebone Road in central London, is Britain's largest independent private hospital.

The clinic first opened in 1932 and previous patients have included Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, actress Elizabeth Taylor and US President John F Kennedy.