Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Thomas Skinner has claimed the BBC rigged the vote that saw him leave the show.

The social media personality alleged in an online post that the night he left the competition he was sent an "anonymous email claiming to be from a BBC exec with stats" that showed he had "received far more votes than it appeared".

He went on to say the email also claimed the BBC was "angry" and "nervous" over his meeting the US Vice-President JD Vance.

It follows reports Skinner is suing the BBC over claims the vote was rigged against him. A BBC spokesperson rejected the allegation, saying Strictly's public vote was "independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy".

They added: "Any claims to the contrary are entirely without foundation."

PromoVeritas, the company which verifies the show's public vote, said all the votes it receives are "validated" and "independently and comprehensively verified by two auditors".

It is understood the BBC is not aware of any legal complaint over the matter.

Skinner was the first celebrity contestant to be voted out in this year's series.

Ahead of Saturday's final - which sees former contestants return - he announced he would not be attending.

"I spoke with my lovely dance partner, Amy Dowden to make sure she was okay with me not attending," he wrote in a lengthy post on X, explaining his post was "so people know the truth" regarding his absence.

"I don't want people thinking I am bitter when I ain't."

Skinner claimed he had the authenticity of the alleged email from a BBC executive "independently verified", though it is unclear how he did so.

He said he had asked to see the official voting tallies "to back up the ones I was sent in the email but was told they couldn't be shown to me" and "have never been shown in the history of the show".

He added that there were "smaller things" that added to the feeling of "how unfair it all was", such as his welcome gift to the show being the only one that "got stolen apparently".

The BBC spokesperson said Skinner had yet to share the email with anyone from the broadcaster "despite requests for it", and so they were unable to comment.

They added that the Strictly team "categorically did not supply 'welcome gifts' to any of the cast".

Skinner first hit TV screens on The Apprentice in 2019, and has since appeared on shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Good Morning Britain and Celebrity Masterchef. He is also due to appear on Celebrity Apprentice this Christmas.

He is also known for his social media videos encouraging people to think positively, which typically end with a trademark "bosh".

But he has attracted criticism in recent months for meeting Donald Trump's vice-president over the summer and being pictured wearing a Make America Great Again cap.

Skinner stressed in his post that he was "not a political bloke", adding: "I just love my country and am patriotic."

He said he had a "private" Zoom call with BBC executives on Wednesday about "going forward" that had been leaked and was "national news" by the following morning.

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The family of a 16-year-old have paid tribute to their "bright, beautiful" girl after she died following an incident on the London Underground.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers and paramedics were called to Loughton Underground station, Essex, with reports of a casualty on the tracks.

Daisy House died in hospital and her family said: "Our beautiful daughter Daisy lost her life. She was a bright, beautiful, clever, and funny girl who had just started sixth form and had her whole future ahead of her."

They also thanked the emergency services who tried to save her following the incident at about 14:30 GMT on Monday.

The statement continued: "We thank everyone who has sent best wishes, kind messages, and floral tributes.

"We would now ask for our privacy to be respected while we come to terms with the loss of our Daisy and what life will be like without our daughter."

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Anxious waits for arrivals are nothing new at Christmas as people track special deliveries.

But for one Shropshire woman, the package two years ago was more precious than something due in the post. It was the child she adopted - the sister of the boy she had made part of her family the year before.

"[We were] on tenterhooks as to whether she would be here for Christmas," remembered Sarah, 44.

She was not disappointed. In that December of 2023 she formally became a mum of two. Adopting siblings, she said, was "the best decision I ever made".

It was, then, the best of times and the busiest of times. Christmas, she recalled, "is carnage in the best possible way with small children".

And it was a journey to get there. It began when Sarah found out she would be unlikely to have a healthy pregnancy. Her story took a huge stride forward when she adopted her son in July 2022.

Sarah described how she had read the then 17-month-old's profile prior to adoption and "knew he was mine". She said she "got butterflies".

She then found out that her son's birth mother was pregnant, and decided to put herself forward as a potential parent for this new baby, should that be needed.

The girl, the half sister of Sarah's son, was born on Christmas Day 2022, and the family became a trio the following December.

They are about to celebrate their third Christmas together, but Sarah insists on trying to make "every day special".

She said: "If I see in a shop a toy or something that I think they'd like, I'll buy it, because it doesn't have to wait until one single day a year.

"Especially with adopted children, a lot of them have trauma in some way, shape or form.

"They can push you away because they feel unsafe. But if you can show them that you aren't going anywhere and you're there forever – if it means that once a month they get a treat – then so be it.

"And to be honest," she said, "as long as the children are happy and content and have got somewhere safe, especially at Christmas, that's what matters."

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A photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying on the laps of women is among the thousands of Epstein files which have been released by the US Department of Justice.

In the picture, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell hovers in the background smiling at the former prince. The photo appears to have been taken in the saloon room at Sandringham, the royal estate in Norfolk.

The emergence of the photo will add to scrutiny on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, after he was stripped of his remaining titles and honours over his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

Two of the photos also show Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, in the company of women whose faces are covered by black squares.

BBC News has approached Ms Ferguson's representatives for comment.

Simply appearing in the photos or documents is not evidence of wrongdoing.

The heavily-redacted tranche of some of the so-called Epstein files - the long-awaited documents relating to the US Department of Justice's investigations into Epstein - were released on Friday night.

The documents were highly anticipated after Congress passed a law mandating the files be released in their entirety by 19 December.

They contain photos of the interiors of Epstein's homes, his overseas travels and celebrities including US President Bill Clinton, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Michael Jackson. President Donald Trump was hardly mentioned in the files.

Many of those identified in other releases, including President Trump, have denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

In the undated picture of Andrew, the former prince - now 65 - looks much younger. He is smiling with his eyes closed.

The faces of the women, who are sitting in front of a grand fireplace, have been redacted with black squares. The photo appears to be at Sandringham, King Charles's private estate in Norfolk.

In another picture, he appears to be at Royal Ascot with Epstein and Maxwell.

Also among the files are undated photos of Maxwell standing outside the door of 10 Downing Street.

In the picture she is alone and no context was provided with the photo about why she is there or when the image was taken.

The issue over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein has continued to dog the royals.

The King stripped his younger brother of his prince title following weeks of intense pressure over his links to the paedophile financier.

He is also expected to shortly move out of his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge.

It came after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - as he is now known - gave up his other royal titles, including the Duke of York, after more questions and allegations about his private life.

At the start of this year, emails showed that he had stayed in contact with Epstein for longer than he had previously admitted.

In a posthumous memoir published in October, Virginia Giuffre - a prominent accuser of Epstein - repeated allegations that, as a teenager, she had sex with Andrew on three separate occasions. Andrew has always strenuously denied the claims.

Andrew has also faced calls from Democrat members of the US Congress to give evidence to a committee investigating Epstein's activities. He had not replied to the request by the end of their deadline last month.

Separately, two photos of Ms Ferguson - then the Duchess of York - have emerged in the document dump.

One shows her standing on a pavement next to an unidentified woman holding a shopping bag. In the other, she is sitting cross legged on a green sofa.

Ms Ferguson has also faced her own Epstein controversy earlier this year, after an email from 2011 revealed she called him her "supreme friend".

Multiple charities dropped the then-Duchess of York as a patron or ambassador after the emergence of that email, in which she also seemed to apologise for her public criticism of him.

The extensive redactions have been criticised by Democrats for violating the transparency law.

But the White House says the Trump administration is the "most transparent in history", as the DoJ says it has "erred on the side of redacting to protect victims".

The Prince of Wales has brought his 12-year-old son Prince George to help at a homeless shelter, so he can teach him about homelessness and show him the efforts of organisations trying to tackle it.

Prince William took his son to a charity with a deep personal connection - the Passage, in Westminster - where William had been brought as a child by his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

This handing on of the torch took place last week, with George helping to make lunch for people being supported by the Passage, which works with homeless people in central London.

Prince George signed a visitors' book using the same page signed by William and his grandmother Diana in December 1993.

Mick Clarke, chief executive of the Passage, said Prince George had come when they were preparing Christmas lunch for 150 people.

"So it was really about, 'Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in?' And he very much was," said Mr Clarke.

"Very much like his dad, actually - just wanted to get stuck in and help," said the charity chief.

"A lovely kid is how I would describe him, and he just really seemed very interested in the work that we do and particularly in talking to people who have used our services," said Mr Clarke.

There was some competition between father and son in getting the food ready.

"William was on the sprouts, getting his sprouts ready so they could go into the steamer, and Prince George was helping with the Yorkshire puddings," said Mr Clarke.

He described the signing of the book with Princess Diana's name as a "lovely, beautiful moment - I think particularly with Prince William pointing out to George, 'This is my mum's signature. This was the first time that she brought me here.'

"It kind of felt full circle, really - 1993 through to 2025, with William bringing George," said Mr Clarke.

The charity head said it seemed as though Prince George's family were trying to show their children life outside the palace and how it was important that "the most vulnerable in society are supported and looked after".

And in terms of contrasts, the visit to the homelessness charity came on the same day as the annual Royal Family Christmas lunch in Buckingham Palace.

Prince William has been a supporter of the Passage since he was brought as an 11 year old by his mother, who had made regular visits, both public and private.

William is running his own campaign to tackle homelessness, Homewards, and he has described his early experience of visiting the Passage as an inspiration.

He remembered being anxious about his first visit with Princess Diana, but finding an unexpected warmth and happiness.

"My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed, and having a laugh and joking with everyone," he said in an interview last year.

"I remember at the time, kind of thinking, well, if everyone's not got a home, they're all going to be really sad.

"But it was incredible how happy an environment it was," recalled Prince William.

The Passage, which takes its ethos from the social reformer St Vincent de Paul, has been working in Westminster since 1980, and last year helped more than 3,000 people who were facing homelessness.

The charity says poverty is one of the main causes and "many people are just one bill away from experiencing homelessness".

It also warns of risk factors such as addiction and substance abuse, mental health problems, domestic violence and traumatic events in families.

The Passage has also highlighted links between homelessness and people being exploited in human trafficking and modern slavery.

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The US justice department has released an initial tranche of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The documents, which include photos, videos and investigative documents, were highly anticipated after Congress passed a law mandating the files be released in their entirety by Friday. The Department of Justice (DOJ), however, acknowledged it would not be able to release all of the documents by the deadline.

A number of famous faces are included in the first batch of files - including former US President Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.

Being named or pictured in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing. Many of those identified in the files or in previous releases related to Epstein have denied any wrongdoing.

Several hundred thousand pages still have not been released

Among the documents released on Friday are many that are redacted, including police statements, investigative reports and photos.

More than 100 pages in one file related to a grand jury investigation are entirely blacked out.

Officials, as outlined in the law, were allowed to redact materials to protect the identity of victims, or anything related to an active criminal investigation, but they were required by law to explain such redactions, which has not yet been done.

The thousands of pages released on Friday are only a share of what is to come, according to the justice department.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department was releasing "several hundred thousand pages" on Friday and that he expected "several hundred thousand more" to be released over the coming weeks.

He told Fox & Friends that the department was heavily vetting each page of material to ensure "every victim - their name, their identity, their story, to the extent that it needs to be protected - is completely protected". That is a process, he argued, that takes time.

The timing of when additional materials will be released is unclear, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed frustration.

Democrats including Congressman Ro Khanna have threatened action against members of the justice department, including impeachment or possible prosecution over the delay.

Khanna led with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, defying US President Donald Trump who at first urged his party to vote against the measure.

"The DOJ's document dump of hundreds of thousands of pages failed to comply with the law," he said on social media, saying in a video that all options were on the table and being mulled over by him and Massie.

Bill Clinton pictured in pool and hot tub

Several of the images released include former US President Bill Clinton.

One picture shows him swimming in a pool, and another shows him lying on his back with his hands behind his head in what appears to be a hot tub.

Clinton was photographed with Epstein several times over the 1990s and early 2000s, before the disgraced financier was first arrested. He has never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein's abuse, and has denied knowledge of his sex offending.

A spokesperson for Clinton commented on the new photos, saying they were decades old.

"They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be," Angel Ureña wrote on social media.

"There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that," he continued.

"Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats."

Epstein allegedly introduced Trump to 14-year-old girl

In the tranche of files released by the justice department are court documents that mention the US president.

The court documents detail that Epstein allegedly introduced a 14-year-old girl to Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

During the alleged encounter in the 1990s, Epstein elbowed Trump and "playfully asked him", in reference to the girl, "This is a good one, right?", the document says.

Trump smiled and nodded in agreement, according to the lawsuit filed against Epstein's estate and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2020.

The document says that "they both chuckled" and she felt uncomfortable, but "at the time, was too young to understand why".

The victim alleges she was groomed and abused by Epstein over many years.

In the court filing she makes no accusations against Trump, and Epstein's victims have not made any allegations against him.

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.

The alleged episode is one of very few mentions of the president in the thousands of files released on Friday. He can be seen in several photos but his inclusion is minimal at best.

The Trump War Room, the official X account for the president's political operation, instead was posting photographs of Clinton. Trump's press secretary, too, re-posted images of Clinton, saying "Oh my!"

However, there are still pages to be released.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that "several hundred thousand" pages of documents are still being reviewed and have yet to be made public.

The US president has previously said he was a friend of Epstein's for years, but said they fell out in about 2004, years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

Photo appears to show Andrew laying across laps

A photo in the released files appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor laying across five people, whose faces are redacted. Epstein's convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is seen in the image standing behind them.

Andrew has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein, who does not appear in the photo.

He has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he did not "see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction".

Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker and Mick Jagger

The newly released documents include the widest assortment of celebrities we've seen in an Epstein file release so far.

The former financer was known for having connections across entertainment, politics and business. Some images released by the DOJ show him with stars that include Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.

It's unclear where or when any of the photos were taken or in what context. It's also unclear if Epstein was associated with all of these figures or whether he attended these events. Previously released photos from Epstein's estate have included photos that he did not take from events where he was not in attendence.

In one of the newly released photos, Epstein is photographed with Michael Jackson. The pop idol is wearing a suit and Epstein is seen in a zip-up hoodie.

Another image of Jackson shows him with former US President Bill Clinton and Diana Ross. They are posing together in a small area and multiple other faces are redacted from the image.

Another photo in the thousands of files shows Rolling Stones legend Jagger posing for a photo with Clinton and a woman whose face is redacted. They are all in cocktail attire.

Several photos include the actor Chris Tucker. One shows him posing and seated next to Clinton at a dining table. Another shows him on an airplane tarmac with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Epstein.

The BBC has contacted Jagger, Tucker and Ross for comment. Clinton has previously denied knowledge of Epstein's sex offending and a spokesperson on Friday said they were decades-old photos.

"This isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be," the spokesperson said.

Epstein threatened to burn down house, accuser says

One of the first people to report Epstein is included in the files. Maria Farmer, an artist who had been working for Epstein, told the FBI in a 1996 report that he had stolen personal photos she took of her 12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters.

She said in a complaint that she believed he sold the photos to potential buyers, and said he threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone about it. Her name is redacted in the files but Farmer confirmed the account was hers.

She notes in the report that Epstein had allegedly asked her to take pictures for him of young girls at swimming pools.

"Epstein is now threatening [redacted] that if she tells anyone about the photos he will burn her house down", the report states.

Farmer said she feels vindicated after nearly 30 years.

"I feel redeemed," she said.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to further jail terms following a fraud case involving state gifts.

They were convicted of breaking Pakistan's rules on gifts after Bibi was given a luxury jewellery set by Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman during a 2021 state visit.

The pair are already serving time in prison for earlier convictions, and the new sentences - 10 years for criminal breach of trust and seven years for criminal misconduct, and a fine - will reportedly run concurrently to their earlier terms.

Khan has described the charges as politically motivated and his lawyer told BBC News his team plan to challenge the verdict.

Speaking to the BBC after the sentencing, the former prime minister's lawyer, Salman Safdar, said Khan and his wife had not been present for the hearing.

Mr Safdar said their legal team had only been informed about the sentencing late on Friday night, after normal court hours.

They planned to mount a challenge to the verdict in the high court, Mr Safdar said.

This case is the latest in a series of charges laid against the cricket star-turned-politician, who has been detained since August 2023. In January, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison over a separate corruption case.

He has faced charges in more than 100 cases, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts. The BBC has been unable to confirm the exact number brought against him.

The jewellery case, referred to as Toshakhana 2 in Pakistan, concerns a Bulgari jewellery set given to Bushra Bibi by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a state visit in 2021, according to court documents.

Under Pakistan's rules on state gifts, these items go to Pakistan's Toshakana department (state treasury), but politicians are able to purchase the items back.

Khan is alleged to have asked a private firm to undervalue the jewellery set, before purchasing it back at a significantly reduced price.

In addition to their jail terms, the pair were handed a fine of over 16 million Pakistani rupees (£42,600).

Khan has previously been acquitted in a separate Toshakhana case.

The former leader still has other cases outstanding against him.

These include terrorism charges relating to violent protests that took place on 9 May 2023, when he was previously arrested.

Khan was Pakistan's prime minister until April 2022 when he was ousted in a vote of no confidence.

Although he has not been seen in public, his social media accounts have continued to operate with messages attributed to him on X often appearing after jail visits.

These have been highly critical of Pakistan's current government and its politically powerful army Chief Field Marshall Asim Munir, including posts calling him a tyrannical dictator.

In November, he was denied any visitors for nearly a month.

After campaigning by his family and party, his sister was allowed to visit in early December; a few hours after she saw him, his account posted a comment credited to Khan calling the Field Marshall Asim Munir a "mentally unstable person".

Khan has not been allowed any family visits since.

According to an official at the jail, Khan and his wife were present when the verdict was announced but no journalists were allowed to observe.

The judgement states the judge was lenient in sentencing because of Khan's "old age".

Additional reporting by Usman Zahid

The family of a 16-year-old have paid tribute to their "bright, beautiful" girl after she died following an incident on the London Underground.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers and paramedics were called to Loughton Underground station, Essex, with reports of a casualty on the tracks.

Daisy House died in hospital and her family said: "Our beautiful daughter Daisy lost her life. She was a bright, beautiful, clever, and funny girl who had just started sixth form and had her whole future ahead of her."

They also thanked the emergency services who tried to save her following the incident at about 14:30 GMT on Monday.

The statement continued: "We thank everyone who has sent best wishes, kind messages, and floral tributes.

"We would now ask for our privacy to be respected while we come to terms with the loss of our Daisy and what life will be like without our daughter."

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