Blog

Coleen Rooney’s mum Colette has opened up about her TV reunion with her daughter and her two grandsons Kit, eight, and Cass, six, who visited her in the jungle

Coleen asked her mum if she was coming across as boring (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Coleen Rooney’s mum, Colette, has shared her heart-wrenching reunion with her daughter on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. The touching moment when Coleen met her two boys, Kit, eight, and Cass, six, aired on Friday 6 December. “As I held her, one of the things she said to me was ‘mum, have I been boring?’” Colette revealed. “It broke my heart hearing that but I told her, ‘no, you’ve been yourself and that’s all that matters.’”

In a candid chat with the Mirror, Colette praised her daughter’s humble attitude. “She is obviously thinking about what people are thinking, but she needn’t worry,” she says. “If she went in shouting and being loud, that wouldn’t be her. We’ve seen the true Coleen.”

Coleen was reunited with her mum and two of her sons on Friday (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
After a long separation, Colette was keen to find out how Coleen was coping in the jungle during her camp visit, reports the Mirror. However, she quickly realised just how challenging the experience had been for her daughter. “She said that she didn’t want me to go, and I said ‘come home now, come home.’” Colette explains.

“But then she calmed down, and I asked her: ‘how is it?’ She said that she had a headache for the first few days because she was getting no sugar, and must have been detoxing, but then she said how hard it had been.”

Coleen was able to show her family the I’m A Celeb camp (Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

As viewers witnessed, the arrival of her boys significantly boosted Coleen’s spirits. And in the minutes before seeing their mum, they were practically bubbling over with excitement. “They keep asking: ‘Is she here, really?’ They kept thinking she was going to jump out from behind a bush any minute,” Colette shares. “We kept saying to them ‘five more minutes and you’ll see your mum again’. They just couldn’t wait. It was so lovely.”

When the long-awaited reunion occurred, it was deeply moving for Colette. “I heard almost a squeal of a cry from her, and my heart just lifted when I saw her,” she recalls fondly. “It was wonderful seeing the boys in her arms, and they were so excited.”

She also told of how eagerly the children took to exploring their mum’s temporary home: “They really wanted to see the dunny and the beds, and were asking endless questions,” Colette chuckles, remembering their sheer curiosity. “They were obsessed. Coming away was hard but we told them it won’t be long before you see your mum again, and they accepted that, although Cass got quite emotional at the end.”

Coleen and Danny were the final two

Viewers of I’m A Celebrity have voted Danny Jones from McFly as the King of the Jungle. He has won I’m A Celebrity 2024.

Over 10 million people voted to crown Danny King after it came down to him and Coleen Rooney. Coleen was gracious in defeat and said she was just happy to have shared the journey with everyone.

Danny was in tears as he was crowned King and Sam Thompson was there to hand over the crown.

Fans were utterly thrilled for Danny, declaring him a worthy winner.

“No one has ever deserved the win more than Danny, not afraid to show his emotions and have opened up a whole new outlook on men having feelings. Big love always,” said one on X.

Another agreed: “Danny so deserved that crown. Himself and Barry were showing that men’s mental health is to never be shamed/ignored and I reckon it’s helped a lot of people.”

“I said from the start and stuck with it, supported him consistently and couldn’t be prouder that Danny Jones is the king of the jungle and won tonight’s I’m A Celeb. He has been such a worthy winner and a pleasure to watch for three weeks,” said a third.

Danny Jones beamed as he was crowned I’m a Celebrity winner (Credit: ITV)

Coleen and Danny on I’m A Celebrity 2024

Danny and Coleen were interviewed before the winner was announced. Danny revealed how much harder it had been than he thought – even though former king of the jungle bandmate Dougie Poynter had warned him.

Coleen explained “everyone was their genuine selves” and that made them the closest campmates ever. She also added: “It was very emotional in there.”

Meanwhile, Danny apologised for his emotions and said he didn’t expect to be like that, but it had “been like therapy”. He also said: “What this jungle does is give you perspective on your life.”

Danny added “it would be incredible” to be voted King of the Jungle.

Coleen also said she had “learned that she can be patient” and that “it’s okay to think about yourself”.

Rev Richard has finished in third placed on I’m A Celebrity (Credit: ITV)

Third placed contestant

Earlier in the evening Reverend Richard Coles finished in third place. Richard did not seem disappointed by the result – however some fans were.

“Third place? What a scam!” said one on social media. Another added: “Who the [bleep] has been voting for Coleen. Richard has been robbed.”

“Gutted for Richard Coles,” agreed one more.

Coleen, Danny, Richard after finishing their final trial (Credit: ITV)

What else happened in I’m A Celebrity tonight?

The final three had to take part in the final Bushtucker trial The Towers of Terror. Instead of doing a trial each to win starters, main course and desserts for their final feast, they had to work together across two trials.

In the first trial, all three of them were placed in position in the first tower, lying on their backs with Coleen in the top section, Danny in the middle and Richard at the bottom. They then had to guide the stars one by one down to one another to the very bottom of the tower, into the yellow win zone. And of course, they weren’t alone, as they were joined by snakes.

They successfully completed the first part of the trial before heading to the final stage. They had 10 minutes and were again tiered on different levels they had to get stars down to Danny at the bottom to finish a puzzle. This time they were joined by fish guts, spiders and cockroaches.

The celebs cheered as they won all the stars and were going to get their final feast.

The food

Each one of them got to pick their favourite meal, with Danny choosing mozzarella sticks and sweet chilli sauce, a buttermilk chicken burger and chips and fresh cream profiteroles with warm Nutella sauce. He also had a cold glass of beer for his drink.

Coleen had a starter of bruschetta, Spaghetti Bolognese with flaky parmesan cheese and garlic bread for her main course, and also went for fresh cream profiteroles with warm Nutella sauce for dessert. She had a glass of French pale Provence rose for her drink.

Richard went for a starter of king prawn cocktail with salad, followed by cottage pie with peas, carrots and gravy for his main course and fruit cake for dessert. He had Chablis Grand Cru for his drink.

Phillip Schofield’s mum had a very straightforward response when the This Morning presenter came out as gay in 2020. Phillip then laughed about it during an emotional interview on ITV

For Phillip Schofield, February 7 2020 was a momentous day for it was when he sat down with Holly Willoughby to talk about his recent announcement.

Just moments earlier, the former This Morning presenter had released a heartfelt message on social media in which he came out as gay. During his emotional appearance on the ITV show, Phillip broke down at the time after admitting that he could not have done it without the support of Holly, his wife Steph and their two daughters.

While he said he was proud of coming out, he was also “conscious of the hurt” he may have caused. It was also during the interview that Phillip explained to the presenters that he had broken the news to his mum, Pat.

Phillip announced Pat’s death on Instagram ( 
Image:
Instagram/schofe)

The TV star has said his final goodbye’s to his beloved mum ( 
Image:
Instagram/schofe)
Her straightforward response was to the point, but also touching in its own way. The dad-of-two had actually travelled down to Cornwall to tell his mum in person. “My mum has been on the phone all morning,” Phillip told Holly Willoughby during his emotional interview back in 2020. “I went down to see her in Cornwall. Phillip then broke the news to his mum, revealing “She said: ‘Oh ok, well I don’t care.’”

The presenter laughed as he recalled his mum’s simple yet loving response to his announcement. At the time, Phillip also praised his wife and daughters as they supported him through the difficult time.

In his statement, Phillip added: “Steph has been incredible – I love her so very much. She is the kindest soul I have ever met. My girls have been astonishing in their love, hugs and encouraging words of comfort. Both mine and Steph’s entire families have stunned me with their love, instant acceptance and support. Of course they are worried about Steph, but I know they will scoop us both up. My friends are the best, especially Holly, who has been so kind and wise – and who has hugged me as I sobbed on her shoulder.

Phillip Schofield said they specifically choose the 7th February as the date for the interview ( 
Image:
S Meddle/ITV/REX)Phillip has sadly announced that his beloved mum Pat has passed away. The former This Morning star, 62, took to Instagram to announce the sad news this evening.

Alongside a selection of photos of himself and his mum Pat, Phillip wrote: “Today, at 3pm and after a heartbreaking weekend, my magnificent mum decided it was time to go to her beloved Brian.

“Over three days, we held her, loved her, hugged her and said everything that needed to be said. She was calm, peaceful, beautiful and dignified. I will forever be proud and privileged that she was my mum.”

Phillip added: “Our eternal thanks to the paramedics, Treliske A&E and Critical Care team who have been, in the past and this weekend, my mum’s and our angels. Your love and care has been our saviour.”

A Place in the Sun presenter Jean Johansson, who took part in MasterChef in 2018, slammed ‘arrogant’ and ‘self-important’ Gregg Wallace and claims he was ‘constantly inappropriate’ with her

A Place in the Sun presenter Jean Johansson has claimed Gregg Wallace was ‘constantly inappropriate’ to her when she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef.

She took part in the show in 2018 alongside the likes of John Partridge, AJ Pritchard, Spencer Matthews, Frankie Bridge and more. She revealed she was shocked by his behaviour during filming and said it was obvious that the crew, producers and directors were used to Wallace’s behaviour.

“I remember quite a few moments in our interactions when I was thinking they’ll never use this (on TV) because the things he was saying were so off colour,” she claimed. “I consider myself someone who loves to laugh, I’m adaptable to new working environments and I can handle different personalities but I was shocked by some of Gregg’s ‘banter’. He’s arrogant, loud and self important, the type of guy who cracks up at his own one-liners.

“He wasn’t at all what I expected as I’ve always found his on-screen persona likeable and fun but in real life he was dismissive, rude and knew exactly when to turn it on for the cameras. It was also obvious to me that that the crew and directors and producers were used to it.”

Jean Johansson took part in the show in 2018 ( 
Image:
BBC/Shine TV Ltd)

The star continued, according to The Sunday Mail: “They know the star of their show so they acted like it was completely normal. And therein lies a big part the problem.” She revealed she was speaking out about what allegedly happened after he claimed the women who made complaints about him were “middle class and of a certain age”.

“I’m working class and younger than the women who have taken issue with his conduct yet I can concur he was massively unprofessional and was constantly inappropriate,” she said. “I don’t like what he’s implying about the people who have spoken up. He’s trying to bunch them all into a group bizarrely suggesting class and age has something to do with taking offence but the one thing they all have in common is that they’re extremely bright and successful women who could see through the TV’s nice guy act within seconds.”

She also called Gregg Wallace ‘arrogant’ and ‘self-important’ ( 
Image:
handout)
Jean stated that people in the industry who enable this behaviour must be held accountable. She added: “The BBC should be on top of making sure the set on Celebrity Masterchef is ­professional and pleasant at all times.”

Meanwhile, a BBC spokesperson said: “In recent days there has been concerning allegations made via the media about the alleged conduct of Gregg Wallace, many of which relate to shows made for the BBC. These media stories are running alongside an independent investigation, which was instigated after formal complaints were made direct to the BBC and were referred to Banijay UK for further investigation. We would like to thank those who have had the courage to speak out. We have always been clear that should people want to raise issues with the BBC, they will be taken very seriously.”

A BBC spokesperson stated: “In recent days there has been concerning allegations made via the media about the alleged conduct of Gregg Wallace, many of which relate to shows made for the BBC. These media stories are running alongside an independent investigation, which was instigated after formal complaints were made direct to the BBC and were referred to Banijay UK for further investigation.

“We would like to thank those who have had the courage to speak out. We have always been clear that should people want to raise issues with the BBC, they will be taken very seriously.” The Mirror have reached out to Wallace’s reps for comment.

Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill both bagged full points in their most recent dances – leaving the Strictly Come Dancing fan favourites lagging behind

On Saturday night Strictly Come Dancing lost its last contestant before the final – and fans have been left reeling at the dance off news.

Fans took to social media after the news was leaked on social media to slam the ‘disappointing’ bottom two. Others were left fearing the ‘right couple’ won’t win the BBC series now after viewing the update.

“People need to remember it’s a dance show,” fumed one fan on X. “I hope people can put their energy towards supporting their favourite couple in the final,” added another.

“NOOOO THAT SPOILER!” cried a third.

Amy Dowden ‘heartbroken’ as injury forces her out of Strictly

Before the tense vote off, bookies had Chris McCausland as the favourite to win the show, followed by Miranda star Sarah Hadland, with Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill and Pete Wicks straggling behind.

Saturday’s show could have turned the odds completely, with Chris and Sarah falling flat. While Tasha and JB both nailed their routines, and both managed to snag super rare full marks on their second routines. Love Island alum Tasha, 26, performed a flawless waltz with her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec, delivering a stunning routine to an Aretha Franklin hit.

Judges Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas both took to their feet after the dance, giving Tasha a standing ovation. If that weren’t enough praise, she got perfect 10s from the full judging panel, with Craig Revel Horwood – usually impossible to please – saying that her performance was “sick,” while Motsi gushed that it was “absolutely out of this world sensational.”

Chris McCausland was judged most likely to win Strictly, but didn’t live up to others in the semi-finals ( 
Image:
PA)

Tasha Ghouri and JB Gill both got perfect 40 scores, with Pete Wicks falling flat ( 
Image:
PA)
Tasha’s rare 40 out of 40 might have seemed impossible to reach, if not for JLS star JB Gill, 38 – real name Jonathan Benjamain. The former X Factor hopeful danced the salsa with his partner Lauren Oakley for their second innings, set to the upbeat track Red Alert by Basement Jaxx. JB performed so well that Craig gave him a handshake – with the judge playfully mocking Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood in the audience. The musician got another perfect score, putting him and Tasha leagues ahead of their competition. JB even managed to get 39 points in his first dance, tipping him ahead of Tasha who got 35 for her salsa.

While Tasha and JB were stunning the judges, fan favourite Chris came up short in his scoring. The footwork pro performed a Charleston for his first dance, and only managed 33 points. His second dance, a Viennese waltz set to Metallica, bagged a high 36 – but was overshadowed by perfect scores from Tasha and JB.Meanwhile, Sarah – who was pipped to be second in running for the trophy – came up trumps against Chris but didn’t manage a full 40. The actress got 36 in her tango, with her following jive to the Scissor Sisters getting the same score. At the other end of the leaderboard, The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks performed a foxtrot with his partner Jowita Przystal, with Craig bashing his moves as “robotic.” Pete only managed 32 points for the dance, with his second performance not good enough to save him at 33 points. The bookies say Pete has the highest odds to be booted off the show tomorrow, with only four celebs moving on to the next stage.

Strictly Come Dancing revealed the four couples in the hit BBC One show’s final as one duo were sadly eliminated on Sunday night’s semi-finals results show

Strictly Come Dancing bid farewell to one couple on Sunday night ahead of the show’s 2024 final.

During the latest instalment, Pete Wicks and his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal found themselves in the dreaded dance-off for the first time against Tasha Ghouri and her pro partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

Both couples each performed one of their routines again where Tasha and Aljaz performed their Waltz to (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin.

Meanwhile, Pete and Jowita performed their Argentine Tango to Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve. After both couples had danced a second time, the judges delivered their verdicts where Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke all chose to save Tasha and Aljaz.

With three votes in favour, it sadly meant that Pete and Jowita were eliminated from the competition and failed to secure a spot in next week’s final. Giving her feedback, head judge Shirley Ballas also agreed and said she would have decided to save Tasha and Aljaz.

Strictly Come Dancing bid farewell to one couple on Sunday night ahead of the show’s 2024 final ( 
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)
When asked about his time on the show, Pete said in an emotional three-word response: “It’s been beautiful!” He continued: “It’s been wild. I’ve been quite honest about the fact that I didn’t necessarily want to do this [Strictly] in the first place, but everyone else wanted me to do it, and I am so, so glad that I did it!

“You don’t always have to be the best, but if you enjoy something then why shouldn’t you have a go at it? I’ve tried my best from day one, I said I was in for a penny, in for a pound and I’ve done it, it’s been beautiful.”

Talking about his dance partner Jowita, he added: “There’s a lot of things I’m going to take away from this, but one of the most special things is you [to Jowita] and I mean that, because you’re one of the most incredible people – not just as a dancer – but as a person.

“You’ve been a ray of sunshine for me. You’ve helped me through things in the past three months that I didn’t think I could do and you made me believe in myself and that means more to me than anything.”

Meanwhile, Jowita said: “I just want to say thank you, thank you for the trust you have given me since day one. I know it wasn’t easy, but with your hard work, your commitment and your heart, which is the most amazing thing, you were winning every week!

During the latest instalment, Pete Wicks and his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal found themselves in the dreaded dance-off ( 
Image:
BBC/Guy Levy)
“For me, every dance was special… even the Cha Cha in Blackpool! Remember on day one you said ‘I’m not going to stay long in this competition because I cannot dance’ but now I can say to you, yes you can.”

This now means that the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 finalists are Tasha and Aljaz, Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, and JB Gill and Lauren Oakley.

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were left ‘gutted’ to see Pete go after his incredible journey and also argued that it was the ‘wrong’ choice to have Tasha and Aljaz in the bottom two, especially after they scored 35 and 40 on Saturday night landing them second on the leaderboard.

One person said: “I’m gutted! Pete has done so extremely well”, a different account wrote: “Tasha being in the dance off is wrong!”, another put: “So pleased for Chris and Diane though, gutted for Pete” while another added: “Tasha shouldn’t have been any where near the dance off!”

The Strictly Come Dancing Grand Final returns live on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 14 December at 6pm.

Homes Under The Hammer host Martin Roberts has made over 700 episodes of the hit BBC property auction show – but one house stands out in his memory for a startling discovery

Martin Roberts has recalled the heart stopping moment a member of the Homes Under The Hammer crew announced they had discovered a dead body in a house they were filming inside.

The 61-year-old has been a presenter on the BBC property auction series since 2003 and has appeared in over 700 episodes so far. Having explored hundreds of houses through the BBC show alone, if would be forgivable to allow the host to not remember every property he has surveyed as part of the show.

However, there was one home in particular that Martin and the film crew may remember for the rest of their days as they were left fearing they had a dead body on their hands. In a new interview, Martin has cast his mind back to the moment a crew member returned from exploring the upstairs area of a property where they feared they had made an alarming discovery.

He explained: “We went to this one house, which had clearly been lived in until very recently. Almost like the kettle was still hot kind of thing and we went in and then the director went and had a look around. And she came out absolutely ashen in the face. And she said, ‘There is a dead body! There’s a dead body in the bed’.”

Martin has hosted the BBC show since 2003 ( 
Image:
BBC)

Continuing his tale to the Daily Mail, Martin went on to reveal that the team went up to the room together where they saw the shape of a body under the covers. They all breathed a sigh of relief as they heard that the body was snoring – however, there was a further tragic element to the tale as it turned out the body was an old man who had been left behind by his family.

Martin recalled: “And then this old man sat bolt upright, no teeth and said, ‘Where’s my family?’ and the people had left in such a rush that they forgot grandad. Grandad was still sleeping in the bed. The family had left. The house had been sold. He’s suddenly faced with film crew from homes under.”

The BBC host explained that they were able to track down the family to a nearby home and the grandfather was soon reunited with them. The Mirror has contacted the BBC for further comment on the alleged incident.In a recent interview with WalesOnline, Martin shared his top piece of advice for prospective home owners looking around properties. He said: “The one Homes Under the Hammer tip, outside the legal pack and always visiting beforehand, is never open the fridge. If there’s ever a fridge in a property… don’t open it, don’t even go there. A freezer? Even worse! Don’t even think about opening that door, we’re opening Pandora’s box of obnoxiousness.”

And in the same conversation, Martin spilled the beans on the most common question he gets from fans. He disclosed: “The big question that a lot of people have is ‘Do we only show the ones that are successful’ and the reality is no, there’s no fudging on Homes Under the Hammer, it’s completely what you see is what you get.”

Sunday night will see the winner of the 2024 season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! get crowned – but betting experts have already called the winner and slashed their odds

There may still be a few hours to go before the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2024 final – but a winner has effectively already been declared.

The bookies have been reviewing episodes and readjusting their predictions and have new odds that have seen one star take a lead in the run up to the finale. Viewers have the choice of McFly singer Danny Jones, The Communards’s Reverend Richard Coles, and Coleen Rooney, the wife of footballer Wayne Rooney, to be voted for as the winner of the show.

After three weeks of bushtucker trials, near relentless rain, and sleeping under the stars in the I’m A Celeb jungle camp, fans have been able to form opinions about the three celebrities. And it seems pop star Danny is the one to beat as he now has such good odds it appears unlikely anyone else will defeat him on his campaign to scoop the jungle crown.

Major betting company Ladbrokes has reduced Danny’s odd to 4/9 to win – while Coleen trails behind with 9/4 and Richard is limping further behind with odds of just 12/1. The Star Girl singer has been a show favourite to win since the 2024 season began and he looks set to be announced as the winner on Sunday night.

Danny is the one to beat, according to the Bookies ( 
Image:
ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Danny couldn’t be in a better position, as far as the odds are concerned… with just three names still standing, punters are convinced he’s done enough to see off the chasing pack for this year’s jungle crown.” Danny will follow in the footsteps of two bandmates if he does actually become crowned winner of the show.

Back in 2011, McFly bassist Dougie Poynter was crowned winner of the show as he saw off opposition from Towie star Mark Wright and Olympic legend Fatima Whitbread. And in 2006, Busted guitarist Matt Willis won the show after defeating presenter Myleene Klass and Neighbours icon Jason Donovan.

Danny and Matt performed together in the mash-up band McBusted – which saw Matt and his bandmate James Bourne team up with Danny, Dougie and their bandmates Harry Judd and Tom Fletcher unite as a megaband. The group released a top 10 album and hit the road for two tours.

Following his 2011 win, Dougie reflected on his time in the jungle – and his shock at winning the crown. He told DigitalSpy: “It feels amazing. I think there was some kind of typo or something. I’ve got no idea how I won. Did I really win? It’s crazy.” And when asked how he thought he won the title, he innocently replied: “I honestly don’t know. If I analyse it too much I think I’ll go a bit mad.”

Tulisa Contostavlos, who was in I’m a Celeb, has opened up about claims she had a massive falling out with best friend Michelle while out in Australia in a new post on Instagram

Singer Tulisa Contostavlos has broken her silence about the alleged row between her and her best friend.

The singer hit back saying she had “no issue” with best pal Michelle McKenna, or Daniel Johnson, who came to Australia to support her. She said on Instagram: “Absolutely no issue with my sis’s posts…haven’t argued with my best mate in over 10 years. We literally don’t have arguments, they don’t exist in our world. Only love. Same with my bro. That’s what makes us so strong & my soul fam so special to me. Say what u want about me, but leave my Shelly & Dan alone pls x.”

According to a report in the Daily Mail, Tulisa had a blazing row with Michelle over her social media posts, which her friend had access to while she was in the jungle.

The paper’s source claimed she took offence to some of the posts including one where they were seen having a slap-up meal. The pair were guests of ITV while she was in the jungle.

Tulisa greets her best friend on the bridge

Tulisa’s denial of this version of events comes amid a mystery as to her whereabouts. She has not been seen at the JW Marriott Hotel where all the friends and family are staying since Monday.

She later spoke out after missing the I’m a Celeb spin-off show and a reunion with campmate Melvin Odoom. The N-Dubz singer and former X Factor judge, 36, told how she feels “overwhelmed” by her jungle stint.

She said: “I’ve been out of the spotlight for a long time and I’m still trying to overcome those things, I’ve got my demons. I need a little time to process it and get right with my thoughts. I’ve just felt overwhelmed.

“I’m an introvert. I’ve been in the jungle with people I’d only just met for two-and-a-half weeks straight and then I’ve come out and I’ve received loads and loads of attention.

Tulisa all smiles in the jungle ( 
Image:
James Gourley/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“Thank you to ITV and I’m a Celeb for being understanding. Mental health is really important and I’m grateful for the love and support I’ve had.”

Tulisa – the third celeb to leave the jungle – was absent as Melvin, 44, returned to the JW Marriott Hotel on the Gold Coast. Both Jane Moore and Dean McCullough were there to greet him. Tulisa also archived all references to the show on her social media so she could order the posts differently.

Coronation Street’s David Platt actor Jack P Shepherd shared his tears over Helen Worth’s final day on set as Gail Platt, and how he made writers re-write her last scene

There were tears on set, last-minute alterations and a sweet gesture for Coronation Street icon Helen Worth, as she filmed her final scenes as Gail Platt recently.

The ITV soap legend bowed out to quite a crowd, as her co-stars had one final surprise for their beloved onscreen matriarch. After bosses vowed not to let Helen or Gail go quietly after 50 years in the role, Helen didn’t get the chance to sneak out like she’d planned.

Ahead of her Christmas Day exit, with a big wedding and lots of bombshells teased, Helen faced all kinds of drama, the good kind, as she headed to the famous studios one last time. Most of this was down to her onscreen son Jack P Shepherd, who plays David Platt.

The pair have shared the screen for more than 20 years, making it difficult for the actor to say goodbye both onscreen and off it. Speaking to The Mirror, Jack revealed he sparked a last-minute change to Helen’s final ever filmed scene as Gail. With the show filming out of chronological order, Helen’s last moments filming in the role were not her actual exit scenes.

So when Jack realised what had been written for her, he knew he had to change it. He demanded a rewrite, needing a scene with the entire Platt family after realising just he and Julia Goulding (Shona Platt) would feature in Helen’s final take.

Soon enough the writers took action, and with a slight change to the filming schedule all of the cast were able to be there. Jack explained: “Her last scene filming was a scene with me and Julia. It was in the Platts.

There were tears on set, last-minute alterations and a sweet gesture for Coronation Street icon Helen Worth ( 
Image:
ITV)
“That was her last scene, and I went, no, no, her last scene has to be all of us. We all have to be there. They said there wasn’t one where you’re all together, and so I went, ‘well f***ing write it! Write it! You know, you can.’

“So they went, yeah, we can, and they did. They wrote one. [I just wanted to] make sure we’re all together in the Platts when she finally goes. Don’t just have someone random with her or whatever. So they did. And luckily, they were able to do it and schedule it.”

That wasn’t the only surprise for Helen though, as ITV cast and crew working on the show made sure they were able to be there for when they called ‘cut’. Jack explained: “There were people on other units and other blocks and everything who were watching all the monitors and were saying it was really nice.

“[The studio] was full. So there was about 400 or 500 people in the studio. They all came down. And Lee, the first Assistant Director, came up to me and he went, ‘What do you want to do? Because I’ve got every unit saying that they want to break and they all want to come in and say goodbye’.

Jack and co-star Julia Goulding filming for Gail’s wedding ( 
Image:
ITV)
“And he went, ‘If I ask her she’ll say no so what should we do?’. I said, ‘Ah, just f***ing do it. Just do it’. She’ll cry. She’ll be emotional. But you’re meant to. It’s 50 years.” On Helen hoping to leave without a fuss, Jack told us: “She wanted to do the back door. Didn’t want to create a fuss for people. I said, it’s not so much for you, it’s for the building. It’s for everyone.”

Jack also spoke about his own final scenes with Helen, just him, with each Platt child getting their own moment with Gail before she leaves in her final ever episode. But Jack struggled to film the “emotional” moment, even telling the director he would have to do it in one take as he found it difficult to say goodbye to his beloved co-star after 25 years.

He revealed: “We all had our own emotional scenes with her, separately. I think there’s this thing where she comes to each of us separately and basically gives us a goodbye. Even in the rehearsals, I couldn’t really run it. I couldn’t really do it.

“I’ve only got one go at it. I’ve only got one take. I knew there’d be tears and there wouldn’t be anything else left. I told the director John Anderson, ‘I can’t do it.’

The ITV soap legend bowed out to quite a crowd ( 
Image:
ITV)

Jack and Helen have worked together for more than 20 years ( 
Image:
ITV)“I went, ‘Are you doing the close shots first?’ and he said we’d do the close shots. I said, ‘I’ll do the close ones. Get Helen and me, and then we can do wides and everything. But if we’re gonna do it, because it’s me saying goodbye to Helen, it’s Helen saying goodbye to me after 25 years, I’m only probably going to have one in me’.

“Helen was worried about getting the lines right. And I said it doesn’t matter, does it? Just say whatever you want. She’s saying goodbye, you know. So, yeah, we did it and it’s really good.”

As for Helen’s leaving do, Jack shared how her husband Trevor Dawson was there as the cast celebrated – with a speech that made everyone cry. Jack told: “It was really nice. We had the thing in the bistro, champagne, a few drinks on her last day. It was really lovely. They did a really nice montage.

“It was great. Everybody was very happy. Me, Ben [Price] and Tina [O’Brien], we gave a little speech. It really was [lovely].”