Inside Saira Khan’s intimate al fresco 51st birthday dinner

Ex-Loose Women star Saira Khan hosted an intimate dinner party for her 51st birthday in her back garden on Sunday.

The presenter documented the occasion on Instagram, forced to play hostess outdoors in the ever-changing spring weather, a day before Covid rules allowed up to six people to enter people’s homes.

She was sure to keep the guest list very minimal, inviting just a few special guests to the al fresco dinner. 

Intimate dinner:  Ex-Loose Women star Saira Khan hosted an intimate dinner party for her 51st birthday in her back garden on Sunday [pictured L-R Kieron Dyer, Andrea McLean, Saira, Ulrika Jonsson, and Nick Hewer]

The broadcaster hired an events company to erect an igloo-like ‘pod’ outside on the patio, where a table was set for dinner.

Chef Theo Michaels was on hand to whip up a feast, and a small group of celeb guests were invited for the intimate gathering. 

Saira shared images with the likes of guests Ulrika Jonsson, Andrea McLean, Nick Hewer, and Kieron Dyer. 

Stringent: Saira insisted in one post from the day that everyone was 'vaccinated, tested and ready to celebrate in small numbers' ahead of her 'little birthday celebration in [an] outdoor pod'

Stringent: Saira insisted in one post from the day that everyone was ‘vaccinated, tested and ready to celebrate in small numbers’ ahead of her ‘little birthday celebration in [an] outdoor pod’

Birthday girl: The presenter documented the occasion on Instagram

Birthday girl: The presenter documented the occasion on Instagram

Pals: She was sure to keep the guest list very minimal, inviting just a few special guests to the al fresco dinner

Pals: She was sure to keep the guest list very minimal, inviting just a few special guests to the al fresco dinner

In one snap shared by Saira, the birthday girl stood in an orange summer dress in front of a table lavishly laid out, in front of a giant 51 sign.

Saira insisted in one post from the day that everyone was ‘vaccinated, tested and ready to celebrate in small numbers’ ahead of her ‘little birthday celebration in [an] outdoor pod’. 

Saira also lives with her husband and two children, but they didn’t appear to be present. 

Podded out: The presenter documented the occasion on Instagram, forced to play hostess outdoors in the ever-changing spring weather, a day before Covid rules allowed up to six people to enter people's homes

Podded out: The presenter documented the occasion on Instagram, forced to play hostess outdoors in the ever-changing spring weather, a day before Covid rules allowed up to six people to enter people’s homes

Come dine with me: The broadcaster hired an events company to erect a 'pod' outside on the patio, where a table was set for dinner

Come dine with me: The broadcaster hired an events company to erect a ‘pod’ outside on the patio, where a table was set for dinner

Silver service: Chef Theo Michaels was on hand to whip up a feast

Sporty spice: Saira shared images with the likes of football star Kieron

Silver service: Chef Theo Michaels [L] was on hand to whip up a feast, and celeb guests were invited for the intimate gathering. Saira shared images with the likes of football star Kieron [R]

The birthday was a fancy affair with a custom-made white chocolate fruit cake, fish cooked in vine leaves, and loaves of sourdough bread.

Ulrika was seen in a post poking fun at her penchant for sportsmen as she cuddled up to football player Kieron Dyer.

‘I loves me a good footballer. I also like [Kieron Dyer],’ she playfully captioned the snap, which saw the pair pouting at the camera. 

Let them eat cake! The birthday was a fancy affair with a custom-made white chocolate fruit cake, fish cooked in vine leaves, and loaves of sourdough bread

Let them eat cake! The birthday was a fancy affair with a custom-made white chocolate fruit cake, fish cooked in vine leaves, and loaves of sourdough bread

Jokes: Ulrika was seen in a post poking fun at her penchant for sportsmen as she cuddled up to football player Kieron Dyer

Pals: 'I loves me a good footballer. I also like [Kieron Dyer],' she playfully captioned the snap, which saw the pair pouting at the camera

Jokes: Ulrika was seen in a post poking fun at her penchant for sportsmen as she cuddled up to football player Kieron Dyer. ‘I loves me a good footballer. I also like [Kieron Dyer],’ she playfully captioned the snap, which saw the pair pouting at the camera

Tasty! The BBQ was fired up for the occasion

Tasty! The BBQ was fired up for the occasion

Despite lockdown easing on Monday, a slew of Boris Johnson’s top scientists have warned against socialising indoors and the ‘high risk’ of hugging friends because of the rise in Indian variant cases despite Britons now being free to mix inside pubs, restaurants, museums, theatres and cinemas as well as stay with friends for the first time since Christmas.

The Prime Minister has urged families to adopt a ‘heavy dose of caution’ and a cabinet colleague encouraged revellers to avoid ‘excessive drinking’ with ministers at loggerheads over whether to extend lockdown beyond June 21 amid an eight per cent rise in infections in a week.

In Bolton, a hotspot for the Indian strain, thousands more people than usual are being jabbed every day, with queues snaking outside health centres again today, as officials try to suppress the virus in an area where vaccine hesitancy and a clash with religious festivals such as Ramadan and Eid may have hampered efforts to slow its spread.

Last night thousands of people queued across the UK to enjoy a drink with friends inside pubs and bars after midnight, while this morning around 20 flights took off for Portugal as holidays became legal again and people enjoyed a pint and a meal inside for the first time in almost six months. Theatres, cinemas, galleries, museums and other tourist attractions can also open their doors again.