Katherine Jenkins celebrates St David’s Day with celebrity friends and her Swansea-based gin brand

The annual celebration, which has become a highlight of the Welsh social calendar, was held at The Chancery Rosewood hotel in London on Monday evening — the eve of St David’s Day itself.

The guest list read like a who’s who of Welsh celebrity, with Carol Vorderman — who was awarded an honorary doctorate by Swansea University last year — among those raising a glass to Wales.

Strictly Come Dancing fan favourite Amy Dowden, Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins, TV presenter Alex Jones, former Wales rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones OBE, Wales football captain Ben Davies, bass baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, composer Sir Karl Jenkins, and singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti were also in attendance.

The evening was described as a blend of “warmth, music and genuine national pride”, with guests treated to Welsh-inspired cuisine and a traditional Welsh harp performance.

The night’s entertainment culminated in a surprise performance by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Catrin Feelings, who wowed the crowd in a traditional Welsh costume.

Katherine herself looked striking in a red Rebecca Vallance dress — a deliberate nod to the national colours of Wales.

At the heart of the evening was Cygnet Gin, the ultra-premium gin brand co-founded by Katherine and her husband, professor and film-maker Andrew Levitas. Guests enjoyed Cygnet 22 Martinis, Cygnet G&Ts and Cygnet 77 Old Fashioneds throughout the night.

Cygnet is distilled at the Cygnet Distillery in SA1, Swansea, and has rapidly established itself as one of the most decorated gin brands in the world. Earlier this year, it made its Hollywood debut as the official gin partner for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes — a milestone Katherine marked on the red carpet in Los Angeles.

The brand’s flagship expression, Cygnet 22, is crafted using 22 botanicals and Manuka honey, and is presented in a hand-blown, hand-constructed decanter called “Eirlys” — the Welsh word for snowdrop. It was named sole gin winner at The Spirits Business Luxury Masters 2024.

Cygnet’s newest launch, Cygnet Infinity — the brand’s first non-alcoholic expression — recently won a Gold Medal at The Spirits Business Low & No Masters 2026.

Speaking about the evening, Katherine said:

“St David’s Day creates a deep sense of pride in where I come from, in the language, the landscape, the music, the warmth of the people. Wales shaped me long before the world stage ever did. Saint David lived simply, preached kindness and said “Gwnewch y pethau bychain” — “do the little things”, I love that.

“Greatness doesn’t always arrive with noise; often it’s found in humility and small daily acts of goodness. That ethos feels very Welsh: hardworking, grounded, quietly strong.”

The evening also served as a platform for Katherine to announce her upcoming 25th anniversary tour, which will see her perform at venues across the UK later this year. Tickets are on sale now.

It is the latest in a string of high-profile events for the Neath-born singer, who has used her platform to champion Welsh talent and culture on the world stage. Last year, she hosted a midsummer celebration of Welsh excellence at Swansea’s copperworks distillery, bringing together some of the biggest names in Welsh public life.

Celebrity Big Brother star convinced he was being ‘watched’ in post-show spiral

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/06/celebrity-big-brother-star-convinced-watched-post-show-spiral-23037903/

Families warned to avoid bill ‘Tragedy’ by Welsh Steps star H in TikTok dance

Wales’ very own H from Steps is back with a brand-new routine—but this time, it’s not just about the dance moves. Teaming up with Tesco Mobile, H has launched 5, 6, 7, Freeze—a fun, easy-to-learn dance designed to help families across Wales and beyond keep their finances in check as we head into Awful April, a month notorious for bill hikes.

2025 is set to bring price hikes across essential utilities, with mid-contract network increases this month hitting half of Brits harder than ever before, so perhaps it’s no surprise that eight in ten (79 percent) Brits say they suffer from “bill rage” an average of 14 times a month.  

Wales is feeling the pressure of rising household costs, with Cardiff and Swansea emerging as hotspots for financial frustration. An overwhelming 95% of people in Cardiff and 100% in Swansea say they have resentment when their bills have gone up, with Swansea showing the highest bill resentment of any UK city.

Across Wales, 69% say they’re experiencing more ‘bill rage’ now than three years ago—and it’s hitting hard in the cities, with 82% of people in Cardiff and 75% in Swansea admitting to feeling bill rage in the past year. 

Council tax (58%) and TV licences (60%) top the list of resented charges, while Cardiff leads the UK in post-payday frustration—78% say they feel disheartened checking their bank account, only to find their wages swallowed up by bills. 

According to the 2,000 Brits polled by Tesco Mobile, almost half (46 percent) admit they feel frustrated when a supplier tells them that their bill is rising and admit that looking at their bills feels like a tragedy (23 percent).  Mobile phone price increases (37 percent), mystery broadband increases (34 percent) and energy standing charges going up (34 percent), are most likely to make our blood boil.    

So, who better to help than H from Steps—a man who knows how to turn tragedy into a memorable hit. Teaming up with Tesco Mobile to launch 5, 6, 7 Freeze, a fun, TikTok-style routine designed to make bill management as easy as learning your ABCs. As a father of two and pop icon, H understands life’s ups and downs and is helping families take control of their household expenses with moves they’ll actually remember.  

Emma Herridge, Marketing Director Tesco Mobile, said: “We know that rising costs are a big challenge for our customers, and whilst we can’t fix them all, our exclusive Clubcard Prices mean customers don’t need to worry about their bills increasing, as the monthly contract price is frozen throughout the minimum contract period. By offering Frozen Prices with our Clubcard Deals, we’re giving customers the reassurance that there are no hidden surprises for the duration of their contract.”  

Commenting on the issue of rising bills Ian H Watkins said, “As a busy parent, juggling bills alongside everything else life throws at you can feel overwhelming. The constant worry about rising costs only adds to the stress. That’s why it’s such a relief to know that families like mine can stay connected without the fear of unexpected price hikes, thanks to Tesco Mobile’s Frozen Prices on Clubcard Price deals. It means one less thing to think about giving us more time to enjoy the moments that matter, whether that’s learning the 5,6,7, Freeze dance with the kids so you won’t forget to get that contract sorted, or just having fun together”  

(Lead Image: Alistair Heap/PA Media Assignments)

#AD #bills #IanHWatkins #money #TescoMobile

#Steps #reject #Dubai #concert over #sexuality #clause in #contract and hit back against '#oppression'.

#IanHWatkins claimed he was left "jarred" to discover that a clause in his contract said 'no mention of sexuality', describing the situation as a "#horrendous" #humanrights #issue

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #Entertainment #Music #MiddleEast #Dubai #Hate #Bigotry #Homophobia #Transphobia

https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/steps-reject-dubai-concert-over-30304089