Prince Harry has been on the hunt for a UK home for his family, but any potential move has been complicated by his desire for privacy and a lack of experience living in the UK, a royal expert has said.

It’s been reported Harry wants to be closer to his father (Image: Getty Images)

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Royal author and expert Tom Quinn has claimed that Prince Harry is on the hunt for a “secluded Georgian house” near his father’s Highgrove estate. This comes amid reports that King Charles III is keen to spend more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, leading to speculation about the Duke of Sussex’s UK living arrangements.

Quinn told the Mirror: “Harry has spent a lot of time trying to work out what sort of UK base he might have. He has no experience of living in anything other than well protected houses that are also well away from the public, so he has a huge problem. Every house he looks at has drawbacks.”.

However, finding a suitable property could prove challenging for the prince, who is said to be prioritising privacy. Quinn explained: “Apart from the security risks Harry has become increasingly obsessed with his privacy and wants to be well away from prying eyes that was the key reason he was so upset and angry when his father King Charles evicted him from Frogmore Cottage.

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“Frogmore is actually a substantial house deep in the grounds of the royal estate at Windsor it’s also very secure and it would have been perfect. It never occurred to Harry that giving up being a working royal meant giving up the house, but then Harry has always been nothing if not naive.”

A general view of the gardens at Highgrove House Tetbury, England (Image: Getty Images)

Quinn then revealed Harry’s aspirations to own a property similar to his father’s Highgrove residence. He stated: “With no chance of returning to any of the houses in the gift of his family, Harry has looked at buying the kind of secluded Georgian house in its own grounds that his father has at Highgrove in Gloucestershire.”

However, Tom suggested that the cost of security in the UK could be a significant obstacle for Harry, although the benefits for his children might make it worthwhile. He commented: “The fly in the ointment is the fact that Harry doesn’t want to pay for security and he is convinced that a great deal of security would be necessary even if the house was close to his father’s home. On the other hand, the idea of buying a house close to his father means he will be able to come to the UK for short periods with his children so they can have some kind of a relationship with their cousins and their grandfather.”

There is no denying that the media around the world has treated women in the British royal family as mere objects and even the monarchy has turned a blind eye towards this evident harassment.

Not A Fairy Tale: How Skewed Is The Media Coverage Of Women In British Royal Family?

Shot last month in California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with American host Oprah Winfrey stirred up the world. The couple in the interview spoke about the issue of racism in the British royal family. In 2020, the couple had officially given up their respective titles and cut off ties with the royal family. Watching the interview, one cannot help but empathise with their decision.

Ever since the couple announced their engagement, everything pertaining to Meghan Markle’s identity became a hot topic in UK’s tabloid press. Whether it is her being biracial, her being a divorcee, Harry being younger than her, or just her career as an actress, suddenly everything about her identity was wrong. If one really observes the media coverage of the women in the Royal family, Harry and Meghan’s decision would cease to seem so “sudden”.

A lot of people who might have closely analysed the situation have noticed that there is a stark similarity of Meghan’s interview with that of Princess Diana’s with BBC journalist Martin Bashir. It is quite unfortunate that nothing has changed over the years. The issues faced by Diana so many years back are very similar to those highlighted by Markle in her interview with Winfrey. One of the biggest issues faced by both the women was the mistreatment and misrepresentation by the media. Even Harry talked about the gravity of the issue in the interview, “Though this action may not be the safe one, it is the right one. Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

The editors running the tabloids during Diana’s time might have gone Scrooge McDucking in their lives because of how both, the press and the public were obsessed with Diana. Every move of Diana was not only unethically recorded by the media but was also carefully scrutinised and criticised.

On September 6, 1997, when Charles Spencer, Diana’s younger brother delivered a eulogy on the occasion of the funeral of the princess, he particularly had strong opinions about the way the press used to treat Diana. He spoke about how the “people’s princess” used to be upset about how the tabloids treated her after her divorce from Prince Charles. “She talked endlessly about leaving Britain mainly because of the treatment that she received at the hands of the newspapers. I don’t think she ever understood why her genuinely good intentions were sneered at by the media, why there appeared to be a permanent quest on their behalf to bring her down. It is baffling”.

Like Diana, Meghan Markle also has been an easy target of the British tabloids. However, what Diana, fortunately, did not experience was outright racism at the hands of the media, thanks to her being white. Although, it is absolutely no surprise that the media of a country that colonised half the world perpetuates racism to this extent. A lot of people hailed Markle joining the monarchy in 2016 as progressive. However, the same year when she got engaged to Harry, he released a statement and condemned the “wave of abuse and harassment” including “the racial undertones of comment pieces” and “the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments” that Markle had been made a victim of.

If one is to carefully compare the tabloid headlines pertaining to Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, it is not difficult to ignore the fact that the media has very shamelessly appreciated Middleton for the same things it has bashed Markle for. In an article published by Buzzfeed, certain British publications have been listed out to show the double standards of media organisations. The same publication which talked merrily about Kate for a certain action has outrightly condemned Markle for doing the exact same thing. If one is to still say that there is nothing racist about these remarks, then they simply do not wish to see it. Take this story headline for example, “Not long to go! Pregnant Kate tenderly cradles her baby bump while wrapping up her royal duties ahead of maternity leave”. Another article’s headline by the same publication read, “Why can’t Meghan Markle keep her hands off her bump? Experts tackle the question which has got the nation talking: Is it pride? Vanity? Acting – or a new age bonding technique?”.

Another article ahead of Kate Middleton’s wedding talked about how the Duchess wanted her favourite fragrances to be delivered to scent the Abbey. It read, “It was reported that new Duchess of Cambridge requested her favourite scented candles and toiletries from luxury fragrance brand Jo Malone be delivered to scent the Abbey. A selection of candles, hand washes and lotions was requested, specifically in citrus spring scents including Orange Blossom, Grapefruit and the ever-popular Lime, Basil & Mandarin”. When Meghan Markle wanted to do the same at her wedding, it was not taken very well by the same publication. In fact, the article addressing the same has its headline calling Meghan a “dictatorial bride” and the copy read, “Meghan wanted staff to go around with these atomizers, like spritzer guns, and spray the chapel with scent before anyone arrived. Royal Household staff stepped in and told her office politely, but firmly, that this was the queen’s chapel and it simply wasn’t appropriate. I don’t believe they said no because they thought it could affect the chapel in any way. It was simply the principle of the thing. This is a place that has held royal weddings, funerals and even contains the royal vault. I don’t believe a request of that nature had been made before”.

Ever since speculations around Harry’s and Meghan’s relationship grew, articles and videos titling “Harry girl’s on Pornhub” started emerging with clips of Markle from the legal drama series Suits appearing on adult websites. What is grievous is not just the obvious sexist undertones in all the articles addressing the women of the royal household but it is also that even after so many years, these women have similar experiences. What is even sad is that Meghan even had to bear the brunt for her biracial origins apart from just being a woman.

It is disappointing that in addition to being treated as objects by the monarchy, women in the royal family have been subjected to unrealistic expectations, almost overlooking the fact that they are humans who have actual feelings and actual personalities and are more than just someone “wearing the wrong colour of nail paint at an event”.

Looking at the larger picture, one cannot deny that the media around the world has treated women in the British royal family as mere objects and that even the monarchy has turned a blind eye towards the evident harassment.

Meghan Markle and Prince Charles are the subjects of two new artworks (Image: Getty Images)

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might have walked away from their Royal duties – but they have been immortalised in new artworks by an artist who also painted Queen Elizabeth II.

They depict the pair, who quit the UK for California four years ago this summer, as Royals from the past, complete with their own historic titles.

Meghan’s portrait is called Returning White Queen and sees her as Dame Elizabeth Grey, the politically influential wife of King Edward IV. Meanwhile Harry, 39, is Charles Edward Stuart – aka Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Young Pretender.

However, not everyone was impressed, with one referring to the King’s recent ‘red’ painting, saying: “Worse than Charles portrait and that’s saying something.” Another reckoned they looked like they’d been painted by a child.

Prince Harry is depicted in the Llywelyn-Hall paintings as Bonnie Prince Charlie (Image: PA)

Meghan is shown as the White Queen, Elizabeth Woodville (Image: PA)

Others said they burst out laughing on seeing the paintings, with one chuckling: “Those pics have made my day,on the floor laughing with the tears rolling down my back.”

Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall explained the decisions behind the portraits, saying: “In Harry’s case, I have entered the story before he met Meghan the young party-goer with his future very much in the balance, a bit like the Bonnie Prince I have likened him to.

“I thought putting Meghan in the role of the White Queen, who was a Queen Consort and possibly the most influential ‘outsider’ in Royal history, might have a fine irony to it and not necessarily beyond the realms of reality.”

The paintings bring the number of portraits artist Dan, who painted the Queen at a sitting at Windsor Castle when he was just 32, to ten.

Prince Harry is said to be secretly looking for a home in UK

Prince Harry has big plans for upcoming milestone birthday in the wake of his deepening rift with King Charles and the royal family.

The Duke of Sussex has frequently been reported to be missing his old life in the UK, and now an insider told Closer magazine that he is secretly looking for a home there.

And as his 40th birthday approaches, Harry is laying out the groundwork to spend it with his blood relatives, leaving wife Meghan Markle behind.

The source claimed, “He’s planning a trip over to the UK anyway to look for a new home and celebrate his 40th birthday, so it’ll be easy enough for him to drop by,” noting: “He’s fired up and vowing not to be kept away from his father forever.”

The Spare author previously traveled to his homeland last month for a whistle-stop trip to celebrate 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, during which he was completely iced out by his family.

According to the insider, Harry is deeply wounded by behaviour of the King and brother Prince William, and is willing to take all the chances he gets to make amends for his past actions.

“Harry is determined to find his own permanent home in the UK,” they suggested, “which is partly why he’s continuing his legal action to get the British taxpayer to pay for his security.”

Meanwhile, Meghan is not fully supportive of the idea over fears of the prince being humiliated by his loved ones.

“It’s frustrating for Meghan because he’s stretching himself so thin as it is, the last thing he needs is the distraction of this trip taking more of his time and attention away,” the source argued.

Prince Harry desperate to fix his feud with Prince William after years-long war

Prince Harry to throw himself at Prince William’s feet to end feud

Prince Harry is ready to throw himself at Prince William’s feet if he does not forgive him for his scathing attacks against the Royal family, especially Kate Middleton.

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is thinking of paying a surprise visit to the Royal family in coming days after realizing that it has been too long since they stopped talking.

Speaking with Closer Magazine, a source revealed that Harry believes “following protocol and waiting for their invite would be a much more advisable route to take.”

Hence, he has decided to fly to the UK uninvited. “Harry is tired of waiting and won’t be talked out of this plan,” the insider revealed.

They said Meghan Markle’s husband is “consumed with the idea that he can throw himself at his family’s feet and fix this feud.”

“He’s convinced that if he gives them a true and heartfelt apology, they won’t be able to stay angry with him,” they added. “But that doesn’t mean they’re going to welcome him with open arms.”

The main hurdle between him and the Royal family is Queen Camilla, who will not allow Harry to get any close with King Charles, and Prince William himself.

“Camilla is so protective of Charles; odds are Harry won’t get even a minute alone with his dad. And William is bound to be even colder. He’s pushing his luck by taking a bulldozer style approach to this.”

The portrait artist referenced ‘exiled princes and princesses of the past that lurk in the background’ as inspirations behind his Sussex paintings

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been portrayed as historical British royal figures in a series of new works by a Welsh portrait artist.

Dan Llywelyn Hall, from Barry in South Wales, had risen to fame when he was commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union to create a portrait of Elizabeth II – making him the youngest artist, at 32, to paint the late Queen – in 2012.

In the 12 years since, he’s painted actual subjects including Prince William, the Queen’s funeral, King Charles III’s Coronation procession and Nigel Farage.

But now, Llywelyn Hall has produced 10 new portraits inspired by royalty throughout history for the 150th anniversary of the Society of Antiquaries – which will go on display at an exhibition at Burlington House on Piccadilly in London.

Dan Llywelyn Hall painted the late Queen in 2012

PA

The painter’s two most cutting portraits focus on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – who are depicted respectively as Bonnie Prince Charlie and Dame Elizabeth Grey, Queen of England by marriage to King Edward IV.

He said: “The Royal Family is possibly the most enthralling longest-running drama in history, the inspiration of theatre, books and every art form.

“It seemed that these figures caught on the knife edge of public opinion were ideal for drawing comparisons from distant monarchs – like the exiled princes and princesses of the past that lurk in the background but are still irrevocably tied to the job.

“We can’t help ourselves and wonder whatever next?”

The painter drew inspiration from the “exiled princes and princesses of the past that lurk in the background”

Llywelyn Hall, talking about Meghan’s portrait, called Returning White Queen, said: “I thought putting Meghan in the role of the White Queen, who was a Queen Consort and possibly the most influential ‘outsider’ in royal history, might have a fine irony to it and not necessarily beyond the realms of reality.”

While on his Harry headshot, a piece entitled Spectre Of The Bonny Prince, he said: “I have entered the story before he met Meghan – the young party-goer with his future very much in the balance, a bit like the Bonnie Prince I have likened him to.”

More generally, and reflecting on his previous and latest pieces of royal art, the artist said said: “I see the subject of royalty [as] utterly irresistible and rich succour for art.

“The funeral piece and the subsequent King’s Coronation piece are part of that lineage and my part in interpreting our times.”

Nigel Farage had too posed for Dan Llywelyn Hall in 2020

PA

He’s also painted Barbara Windsor in a portrait called An East End Girl

He acknowledged there is now a large amount of photography of the Royal Family but said a painting can have “greater authenticity”.

Among his other subjects? One Nigel Farage, who sat for him some five years ago for his portrait, entitled Mr Brexit, and Dame Barbara Windsor, who featured in another work called An East End Girl.

While other works in his contributions to the Society of Antiquaries’s exhibition include portraits of Mary I, Mary of Austria, Henry VI, and Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan, who ruled from 927 until his death in 939.

He has also included Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, known as Llywelyn the Last, one of the most powerful princes of Gwynedd.

Llywelyn Hall said: “There are virtually zero depictions, painted or otherwise, of Welsh nobility – and this was as frustrating as liberating.”

 

Loose Women star Brenda Edwards has revealed the dramatic way in which she keeps her gas bill down to a minimum – as she hasn’t put her heating on in five years

While many people are toying with the idea of whether or not to put the heating on amid a drop in temperature – it seems Loose Women star Brenda Edward s doesn’t have to worry about that dilemma as she made that decision five years ago.

During Tuesday afternoon’s show, the TV star revealed that despite the cold weather, she does not put her heating on and hasn’t put her heating on in five years. The musical star, 54, told viewers on the iTV daytime show: “I’ve never turned my radiators on in five years and I’m not turning them on. You know what the best regulator for heat is – clothing. Put on your clothes, take them off, layers. I know about layers.”

Brenda Edwards told Loose Women viewers that she has not had the heating on five years ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Brenda’s revelation came after the panel – made up of Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan and Janet Street-Porter – were discussing thermostat spats, as many households argue over whether to put the heating on or not. Ruth then asked Brenda if she actually had heating in her home, to which the former X Factor singer replied saying: “I’ve got radiators I just don’t put them on. I pay the bills and I’m not paying.”

Brenda explained that before lockdown, when she was working in the theatre her heating would be on throughout the day and into the evening as he children were at home. She added: “And that would mean your heating is on 24 hours, I’m not having that. So I switch it off, a standard switch off, we’ve got hot water that’s all you need. What else do you need? If you need something else put on your clothes, put on your jumper, your cardigan.”

 

Last week, the TV personality announced she was set to start her debut directing role for Hairspray: The Musical. Beaming from ear to ear during last week’s show, she said: “I am excited because I’ve been offered by the producers of Hairspray my debut director role to direct Hairspray: The musical next year. I’ve played the role of Motormouth for like five years in this particular production and it was very overwhelming to be asked. At the time, when they asked me I thought about it and, at the end of the day, I am a product of an open audition so I suggested to them that I wanted to conduct open auditions to give opportunities and chances to people who might not necessarily have them.”

Brenda, who has previously played Motormouth Maybelle in three tours of Hairspray, will join the creative team alongside Paul Kerryson to direct a new production of Hairspray which will embark on a major national UK and Ireland tour in 2024. Speaking about her role, Brenda said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be invited by the producers to make my directorial debut on the show as a co-director with Paul Kerryson. Hairspray, and this production in particular, has been such a huge part of my life. The show’s story and themes are as relevant as ever and I cannot wait to hold the open auditions to discover a new cast and work together to present a vibrant new production of this timeless musical for everyone to enjoy.”

 

Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter has revealed she feels ‘super anxious’ about her skin after suffering with shingles which she first though was just mosquito bites

Working hard producing and presenting TV shows, Janet Street-Porter was used to running on empty.

A non-stop schedule meant rest was not an option and she certainly didn’t have time to be sick. So in her late 40s, at a busy point in her career, she put a painful rash that started to develop around her waist down to mosquitos. “I’ve got really sensitive skin and if anything bites me I’ll come out in a big, hard lump,” explains the 76 year old. “When the rash started I thought something had bitten me.”

But to her surprise, Janet was diagnosed with shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash. She was told to rest and was given a liquid to paint on the rash. “I couldn’t believe it was shingles at first,” she says. “I couldn’t even bear my knickers and clothes touching the area. I didn’t know what to do. I became very emotional because you can’t stop the pain.

“It’s tingling nerve pain and it does your head in. Then you get this scab and it takes weeks to go. The liquid they gave me stung and felt like acid – though this was 30 years ago. My doctor told me to do as little as possible, but I couldn’t stop work as I was contracted to present shows.”

Janet was told to rest, but she couldn’t stop working ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“Having shingles threw me because with other problems I’ve had, you can see a path to recovery. But you get shingles and you’re told to do nothing.” Unusually, Janet, who remembers having chickenpox as a child, went on to develop shingles again in 2012. “It was mild compared to the first time and it cleared up relatively quickly.”

There was also a false alarm between cases. Janet, by now “super anxious” about her skin, suspected she had shingles again. “But it turned out I had fleas!” laughs the presenter, who had been filming a television report in a London squat. The presenter, who has now had the shingles vaccination, is working with pharmaceutical company GSK to raise awareness of shingles and the expanded NHS Shingles National Immunisation Programme.

“I want to encourage people to find out if they can get vaccinated,” says Janet. “There is a lack of information about shingles, and a reluctance to have yet another jab. People think you can catch it from other people and that’s completely wrong – it’s dormant in your body after you’ve had chickenpox and can reactivate when your immune system is low.”

Janet believes it’s especially important that older women look after their health. “We were talking about this on Loose Women recently – women in their 60s and 70s are working harder than ever, looking after grandchildren and in full or part-time work. We’re using our bodies more, placing them under more stress. Consequently, our health is even more important.

“Both times I got shingles I was working really hard. It’s especially the case with working women, if there’s something slightly wrong with your body, you tend to put it on one side and say, ‘I’m too busy to deal with that’. But if you leave it to progress to the next stage, it’s too late.” Not that she entirely learned her lesson about slowing down.

After surgery in 2020 to remove a basal cell carcinoma, Janet took herself straight back to the studio. “I went on Loose Women ­immediately with the stitches all down my nose to show people – you can’t even see it now.” Still working hard in her mid-70s, Janet is finally prioritising her health and, perhaps surprisingly for someone who has built a career on being opinionated, says silence has become increasingly important to her.

“I was in the Loose Women WhatsApp group for two hours and left because I couldn’t cope with the chat,” she reveals. After she was added to a new group for the Loose Women Live tour this summer, Janet swiftly bailed on that too. “You might find it entertaining but actually, I like silence. I like walking by myself. I read every day. I still lead basically the same sort of life, but I’ve built more silence into it.”

A fan of playing computer Scrabble to stay mentally agile, Janet found herself becoming more addicted than she was comfortable with. “I’ve had to cut it down because it was getting totally obsessive,” she says. “I was playing six times a day.” As for her physical health, the presenter is determined to stay agile with the passing years. “As you get older, you don’t want to become a shuffler,” she says. “I see some of my friends are shuffling – every time they get up from the chair, they make the ‘uh!’ noise.

The thing is to keep moving and active – you don’t have to do any formal exercise. I’m not Wonder Woman. “I’ve been blessed with relatively good health. I’ve only ever broken one bone, I’ve had a knee replacement and two spinal operations, but none of it stopped me. You’ve got to look on your body like an expensive piece of machinery. It is the most valuable asset that you have, don’t deny it something that can protect it.”

‌Get Shingles Ready is a campaign by GSK supported by Janet Street-Porter. Find out if you are eligible for the vaccine here.

Coleen Nolan and her sisters were honoured with a blue plaque at the Cliffs Hotel in Blackpool on Monday as Loose Women viewers were told Linda was in fine form

Coleen Nolan offered fans a little update about her sister Linda after the pair reunited with the rest of their family this week.

She spoke on Loose Women on Tuesday after the gang got together to mark a big moment. Coleen told her fellow panelists Janet Street-Porter, Ruth Langsford and Brenda Edwards all about the family reunion – and clearly Linda wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

The Nolans appeared at the official unveiling of their blue plaque which has been installed at the Cliffs Hotel in Blackpool to celebrate 50 years of the ground. It’s a very special venue for the sisters after they were spotted by an industry figure back on Christmas Day in 1973.

Coleen spoke about the reunion on Loose Women ( 
Image:
ITV)
Coleen said: “I found out all our nieces and nephews clubbed together and paid for the whole thing. So it was really, really an emotional day, you know as well as to have Linda there, and she looked great as well.” She went on to reveal that she took a trip down memory lane after photos were laid out of the band from when they were younger.

She continued: “They’d done the room up and printed out about 300 photos of us, my kids, from when we were little and we were performing on stage, oh my goodness.” Linda accepted she will never be cancer-free, but is thrilled to have recently learned that the disease is at bay.

Coleen can’t get over her sister’s ability to get up and keep fighting cancer after she’s been diagnosed multiple times. She said: “She’s unbelievable, you know. Cancer just hits her again and again and again and she just keeps going.”

Linda has reveals how Angela Rippon has inspired her new look amid cancer treatment. She wrote in her Mirror column that the Strictly Come Dancing star has set the trend and says it’s so uplifting to watch people have such a great time with the show “perfect medicine”.

“I have Angela Rippon’s eyebrows. Naturally I wish I had her legs, too, but that’s another matter,” she told readers. “It’s absolutely true. Eyebrows are a frontline defence in the fight against Mr Potato Head when you lose your hair, and so I got mine tattooed for the first time in 2014, and yes, asked for Angela’s.

“Hers were the eyebrows of my dreams. I first noticed them when she used to read the news, and now here I am watching them glide and gallop across the Strictly ballroom as she performs gobsmackingly. She’s as glamorous as always. So I’d like to say thank you, Angela, your eyebrows mean more to me than ever today, but also thank you, Strictly.”

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has wowed fans with her latest appearance as she takes on a new role away from the ITV soap after 30 years of playing Eileen Grimshaw

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver looks almost unrecognisable in her new role away from the cobbles.

The actress, who has played Corrie favourite Eileen Grimshaw for over three decades, isn’t leaving the ITV soap but has been allowed some time off to pursue new projects – just like when she took a break from filming last year to appear in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

This time around 60-year-old Sue will be swapping jungle nasties for rosary beads as she takes on the role of Mother Superior in the UK and Ireland tour of the Olivier-nominated production of Sister Act The Musical.

Announcing the news in a video post on Instagram where she donned a nun’s habit, Sue told fans: “Hi I’m Sue Cleaver and I’m playing Mother Superior in Sister Act. Today we’re here to do a photoshoot for the launch of the new Sister Act tour. So getting to meet everybody, getting into costume, having those pictures done. So, we’ve got lights, we’ve got cameras – and we’ve got a nun!”

Speaking about why she is taking on the role, Sue confessed it’s been over 30 years since she’s been on stage, but said theatre has always been her first love. She added: “I’m a real fan of Sister Act the film and the musical. I mean what’s not to love?

“This is a great experience for all the family. It’s very accessible, it’s fun, it’s uplifting. Yeah, everyone needs a bit of Sister Act in their lives.” As fans went wild for Sue’s upcoming appearance her former onscreen son Ryan Thomas, who played Jason Grimshaw in the soap, commented: “Can I come?”

Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver told fans about her new role ( 
Image:
Instagram)

She revealed she will be swapping the Rovers for rosary beads while she stars in Sister Act ( 
Image:
Instagram)
And it’s not the first time Sue has wowed fans with her changing appearance. The TV star, who appeared in Band of Gold and Victoria Wood’s Dinnerladies before landing her Corrie role, revealed she has lost three stone recently.

She revealed she started to become more health conscious after collapsing on set and being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes back in 2011. Following the incident, Sue embarked on a health journey and transformed her diet – going from a size 16 to a 12 in 2019.

The soap star is said to favour a Mediterranean diet, which is high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish and unsaturated fats such as olive oil and usually includes a low intake of meat and dairy foods.

In addition to eating better, Sue has also given up drinking alcohol after revealing she had been drinking “loads of wine” during the pandemic. She now no longer drinks at all and although she is often spotted in the Rovers Return in Corrie, she says being a pub is now her idea of “hell”.

Sue has lost three stone in recent years ( 
Image:
Instagram/Getty)“I went on HRT about a year and a half ago and realised I should have done that about five years ago. I was walking around in a bit of a fog and then I literally made some massive changes,” she told The Sun. Sue confessed she put on “a lot of weight” by drinking wine in lockdown. She added: “Then I did dry January and I thought: ‘I wonder what life would be like if I stopped completely?’”

Despite her recent transformation Sue had a health scare earlier this year. Appearing on Loose Women as a guest panellist, she shared she underwent a hysterectomy and said if she looked as if she’d lost any weight, it was because she had been rushed to hospital due to a health problem. As a result of her hospital trip, she was given emergency surgery but insisted she is doing much better now.

She explained: “I had a really bad year. I had a hysterectomy in March. Then a few weeks ago, I ended up in A&E, I don’t need to go into details, but it was a scary, scary time. I had surgery and ended up in intensive care.”

Despite her health problems, the actress went on to gush over how her fifties have been the happiest ten years of her life, adding she’s happy with herself and where she is now.