logo
With Nadine Dorries

With Nadine Dorries

Spectator5 days ago

Nadine Dorries is one of the most recognisable Conservative politicians from the past two decades. Elected as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire in 2005, she notably clashed with David Cameron and George Osborne (who she called 'two arrogant posh boys') and lost the whip in 2012 when she took part in the reality show I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here. Loyal to Boris Johnson, she served in his government and rose to be Culture Secretary. She stood down in 2023 and went on to write about politics in the bestselling books The Plot and Downfall.
On the podcast, Nadine tells the Spectator's executive editor Lara Prendergast about her memories of tinned burgers and Sunday lunches as a child, working long shifts as a nurse in Warrington and what it was like spending a year in Zambia. She also explains the 'relentless' but 'collegiate' atmosphere of Parliament and how she once saw a mouse at the Commons' salad bar. Nadine explains what it is like to have recently used the weight-loss jab Mounjaro and why, in her family, she is still the 'queen of the Sunday roast'.
Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gogglebox's Mary Killen, 67, addicted to vaping after 'never smoking cigarettes'
Gogglebox's Mary Killen, 67, addicted to vaping after 'never smoking cigarettes'

Metro

time35 minutes ago

  • Metro

Gogglebox's Mary Killen, 67, addicted to vaping after 'never smoking cigarettes'

Gogglebox star Mary Killen has revealed that she has become 'addicted' to vaping in her 60s as a lifelong non-smoker. The 67-year-old TV personality appears on the Channel 4 reality show with her husband Giles, with the pair amusing the nation with their upper class aesthetic and, occasionally, out-of-touch commentary on the hottest cultural topics. They've been dubbed everything from 'posh' to 'eccentric' with their unique brand of humour and have been a staple on the show for a decade, after joining in 2015. For the most part, casual viewers have pieced together an image of their cottage-dwelling life from snippets they've revealed on the show and Mary's past as an author, Spectator columnist and etiquette expert. Now, she has opened up about a vice that has haunted her in her later years – vaping, in a new column for Mail Online. The media star explained that she only picked up the habit 'a couple of years ago' after having a puff from a Juul offered by her 22-year-old son of a friend. Mary revealed that she had 'never been interested in normal cigarettes' and would even 'decline' smoking them during her younger years when all her peers were, somewhat influenced by the fact that her father was a doctor. She doesn't even 'drink alcohol'. As for the appeal of the vape (which her son's friend casually gifted to her), she explained: 'I loved inhaling the odourless air and blowing it out again. It just looked so chic and felt cooling in the palm of the hand.' Soon enough, she found herself buying 'replacement pods', reasoning that it would 'be good if I were to appear to have at least one addiction' and allow her most social acceptability in 'drinking circles'. There is currently no long-term research on the health effects of vaping, with the NHS cautioning against taking up the vice if you do not smoke, while Mary herself cited one UK health website which even advocated for the benefits of nicotine as a 'stimulant'. According to the NHS website, 'nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking' and is used as a tool for those looking to quit cigarettes. The website stipulates, however: 'Vaping is not completely harmless and we don't know yet what the long-term effects may be. Children and non-smokers should never vape.' She added, however: 'Nicotine is highly addictive and I now waste about £14 a week on four Juul replacement pods, each one delivering roughly the same amount of nicotine as 20 cigarettes.' 'And the addiction is a problem, because if I run out of replacement pods I become self-pitying and argumentative.' All this (as well as new studies on the impact on children's health) has prompted her to make a new resolve to quit vaping, although she joked she would 'probably kill or be killed' by family members is she went 'cold turkey'. Ultimately, she called the habit 'very enjoyable' with no especially scary health risks, and there was easy access to 'feed' her addiction. More Trending On the screen, Mary and her husband remain a controversial inclusion to the Gogglebox line-up. In February, they faced backlash from viewers after they commiserated about a by-election in which there had been a massive swing against the Conservative party with fans calling them 'insufferable' and 'utterly unbearable' View More » Then, in March, Mary got into hot water after calling Stephen Graham 'that actor who always plays short northerners' during the height of Adolescence's popularity. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Woman breaks down in tears at 'uncomfortable' sex party with boyfriend MORE: TV fans are only just discovering one of Channel 4's most 'hilarious' hidden gems MORE: Amazon Prime fans have just days left to binge 'riveting' period drama

Australian senator who heckled King makes rude gesture at Buckingham Palace
Australian senator who heckled King makes rude gesture at Buckingham Palace

Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Telegraph

Australian senator who heckled King makes rude gesture at Buckingham Palace

An Australian senator who heckled the King has courted controversy again by making a rude gesture outside Buckingham Palace. Lidia Thorpe made headlines around the world last October when she interrupted a reception for the King and Queen during their visit to parliament house in Canberra, yelling 'f--- the colony', 'this is not your land' and 'you are not our King'. In London this week to attend a conference, the indigenous senator wore a 'blak sovereign movement' T-shirt and held up an Aboriginal flag outside the gates of the Palace. She posed for a photograph making a rude gesture with her middle finger, which she shared on social media with the caption: 'Dropped by to collect all the stuff this lot stole, but Charlie wasn't in.' The post sparked division among her followers, with some asking whether the UK visit was being funded as a work trip. One responded: 'Do you know you don't speak for Australia. We actually can't stand you – I personally look forward to your term ending in the Senate.' Ms Thorpe was censured by the Australian parliament last November, with a motion passed by 46 votes to 12. It condemned her actions as 'disruptive and disrespectful', but there were no further constitutional ramifications. The Senate said it no longer regarded it 'appropriate' for her to be a member of any delegation 'during the life of this parliament'. Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, said Ms Thorpe's behaviour was not of the standard 'Australians rightly expect of parliamentarians'. But after the censure motion was passed, the senator said she did not 'give a damn' about it. She tore up the piece of paper while being interviewed by ABC TV, and said that she would use it 'as kindling'. She vowed to repeat her actions if the King and Queen ever returned to Australia, saying: 'If the colonising King were to come to my country again, our country, then I'll do it again. And I will keep doing it. I will resist colonisation in this country. 'I swear my allegiance to the real sovereigns of these lands: First Peoples are the real sovereigns,' she said. Moments before her protest, the King had delivered a speech in which he paid his 'respects to the traditional owners' of Australia. He was said to be 'unruffled' and determined not to let it spoil a 'wonderful day'.

Vicky Pattison says 'I'm not proud of it' as she opens up on 'turning point'
Vicky Pattison says 'I'm not proud of it' as she opens up on 'turning point'

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Vicky Pattison says 'I'm not proud of it' as she opens up on 'turning point'

Vicky Pattison has been open about her battle with vaping - admitting that she had been trying to quit the habit but 'it all unravelled' after she had a tough week Vicky Pattison, the ex-Geordie Shore star turned podcaster, has candidly shared an update on her struggle with vaping with her fans. On her Get A Grip podcast, the former queen of the jungle confessed to co-host Angela Scanlon that she's picked up the e-cigarette habit again. She explained: "Giving up things is really hard. I can't remember the specific turning point. Last week... it's always emotions with me. Like, I know I'm doing that... I'm craving relaxation. ‌ "In a world where I can't cultivate it naturally because my schedule's a bit unrelenting, I'm doing it synthetically. I think I will give it up at some point, I am really trying." ‌ She admitted to a setback in her efforts: "I was about five, six days in, but then it all unravelled. So I'm back vaping. I'm not proud of it, but it's who I am. I am a vapist!" At 37, Vicky isn't alone in her vaping woes; other celebs like Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway and musician Matt Willis have also opened up about their own struggles last year, according to Chronicle Live. Garraway revealed her own vaping journey, stating she had stopped before her stint on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! — only to find herself hooked once more. On Good Morning Britain, she shared: "The last thing I want to do is in any way sanction [vaping], because I don't now. But my experience was, after Billy was born, I did smoke before and I was craving going back to smoking [but] didn't want to. "I thought it was amazing, because it didn't smell, at that point you could do it anywhere, it must have been like smoking in the 70s — you didn't have to stand outside. Everybody said it was better for you, and I did feel much better. I got the nicotine hit." However, after her stint in the jungle, she confessed that she fell back into vaping — a habit reignited by a segment on Good Morning Britain. ‌ Kate said: "I think we had some props in here or something ridiculous, and I picked it up and I was instantly addicted — like, beyond anything! I couldn't believe it, and it made me realise how particularly those disposable ones are so addictive." In a similar struggle, Matt Willis opened up about his own issues with vaping during an appearance on the On The Mend podcast, where he recounted a telling-off he received from a pal during a round of golf for being covert about his habit — notably from his wife, Emma. Matt detailed the encounter, saying: "I try to live a very honest life. For instance, I was recently playing golf with a mate of mine, and he's in recovery, and I was vaping on the golf course, and he was like: 'Does your wife know you do that?'" ‌ He shared his response: "I was like, 'No, I only do it when I'm at golf and I do it when I'm with the band, so I don't do it at home or around the family.' So he was like, 'You lie about it.' I was like, 'I don't lie about it, I just don't talk about it.' He was like, 'So you're holding something from people, you're keeping a secret.'" Matt candidly opened up about his vaping habit, confessing that he'd often sneak in puffs both during the day and at peculiar hours of the night. He detailed: "Before I knew it, I was doing three to four a day of these disposable vapes. I was even doing it on stage. I was walking to the back of the stage and vaping, thinking no one could see me." He added: "I'd wake up in the middle of the night and go for a wee and vape in the toilet in my hotel room on my own and then go try and get back to sleep." Remember to tune into Channel 4's Sunday Brunch featuring Vicky Pattison, which kicks off at 10am today (June 22).

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store