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Coleen Nolan and her lookalike daughter, Ciara Fensome, gave a glimpse at their stunning home for a special plant-based cooking segment on Wednesday’s Loose Women

Coleen Nolan has revealed that going vegan has been “life-changing” as she hosted a plant-based cooking segment with her lookalike daughter on Wednesday’s Loose Women.

In a pre-recorded segment, Coleen, 58, and Ciara Fensome, 22, shared a glimpse at their stunning family home and kitchen, where they rustled up some tasty vegan burgers.

Coleen revealed she had “opened up her home” to share the food that has “changed her life”, she said: “I went vegan three years ago, now, I know you’re all rolling your eyes… it’s not for everyone!

“But honestly, I feel so much healthier and my daughter Ciara has joined me on the journey.”

Coleen, who opened up about her skin cancer scare on Monday, added: “Welcome to my home and my kitchen, in fact, and standing next to me is my beautiful daughter Ciara.”

Coleen Nolan has revealed going vegan has been “life-changing” as she hosted a plant-based cooking segment ( 
Image:
ITV)
Talking about her decision to go vegan, Coleen continued: “We watched a documentary, which taught us about vegetarianism and the health benefits. A month later, we went vegan and I have to say, for us, it’s been life-changing.”

The mother and daughter then went on to rustle up some vegan burgers, showing viewers a demonstration of the recipe and how to cook the patties.

Coleen’s cooking segment gave Loose Women viewers a rare opportunity to glance inside her gorgeous family home, which featured a clean, white kitchen with dark grey worktops.

The kitchen had a mixture of cupboards and shelves – while a hanging rail with utensils on was placed on the wall above the lilac AGA stove.

Coleen’s worktops were filled with fruits and vegetables while a vase filled with bright yellow flowers was seen on the counter, too.

As she welcomed viewers into her home, Coleen and her daughter Ciara stood behind a stable door – which had the top open and the bottom closed and was surrounded by red brick, giving fans another view at her plush pad.

Back in the studio, Coleen handed her co-stars her vegan burgers, which had been prepared earlier, as they all commented on how tasty the meal was.

Coleen went on to discuss her plant-based lifestyle and diet, saying: “It has actually changed our lives, honestly.”

It comes after the star teased the cooking segment last month in a sweet photo with her lookalike daughter.

Coleen, 58, and daughter Ciara, 22, shared a glimpse at their stunning family home and kitchen ( 
Image:
ITV)
Coleen shares two sons – Jake and Shane – with her ex Shane Richie, who have both followed in their mum’s footsteps into the world of showbiz.

But the star also has daughter Ciara from her relationship with musician Ray Fensome.

Coleen shared a sweet photo with her youngest to Instagram last month, where the mum and daughter sweetly smiled in the sunshine.

In the caption, Coleen wrote: “Had a wonderful day yesterday doing some filming for something exciting with @ciarafensome.”

The two rustled up some tasty vegan burgers ( 
Image:
ITV)

Though she didn’t share any more details about the project at the time, fans loved the rare picture of the duo, with one follower writing: “Gorgeous pic!! You both look amazing”, while another added: “You look like sisters”.

A royal insider has made startling claims about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage and claimed the Duchess of Sussex is blocking her husband from reconciling with the monarchy.

Relations between the Sussexes and the royal family have progressively soured since Harry and Meghan opted to “step back” from royal duties and move to California in 2020.

Prince William reportedly cut his brother off for good following the release of Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare in 2023, which included claims Princess Catherine made Meghan cry.

Meanwhile, King Charles is understood to be more open to reconciling with his younger son, possibly in order to forge a closer relationship with his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet.

The commentator claimed Harry “does Meghan’s bidding”. Picture: Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation.
Royal commentator Dee Dee Dunleavy claimed Markle will never allow Prince Harry to apologise to the Royal Family for the betrayals in his memoir.

“(Harry) is not going to apologise, at least not while he is still with Meghan,” she told Sky News Australia host Rita Panahi on Wednesday.

“I really do believe he does her bidding and she is never going to allow him to apologise to the family.”

The insight comes after former butler to King Charles, Grant Harrold, told the New York Post any reconciliation between Harry and his family is contingent on the Duke of Sussex apologising for Spare.

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Harry opened up about royal secrets in his memoir Spare, including trashing William and Kate. Picture by SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images.
“The only way I see this happening is a public statement from Harry, where you come out and say that you were in a bad space and that (Spare) was a mistake,” Mr Harrold said on Tuesday.

In particular, Charles is believed to be seeking an apology for unkind remarks Harry made about his “wicked stepmother” Camilla in Spare.

“I have complex feelings about gaining a stepparent who I thought had recently sacrificed me on her personal P.R. altar,” the Prince wrote.

William cut his brother off for good after Spare hit shelves. Picture by Tim Rooke – Pool/Getty Images.
The California-based royal also described worrying Camilla would be a “wicked stepmother” after Charles married his former mistress in 2005 and labelled the future Queen the “other woman”.

Relations between Harry and Camilla are so frosty that the Duke of Sussex reportedly asked for his stepmother to leave the room when he briefly met with Charles in February after the King’s cancer diagnosis.

Lisa Maxwell: Battle with eating disorder, bad reaction to filler, why she needed weekly therapy, and why she quit Loose Women

The Weakest Link guest star Lisa Maxwell mostly keeps to herself these days, but she used to be on some of ITV’s biggest shows.

Once known for her long-running roles on both The Bill and later Loose Women, Lisa has been a TV star for (cough) nearly five decades, having started as a child. Apart from short stints on Hollyoaks and Celebrity MasterChef, however, she’s not been on our screens much in the last 10 years.

So why did she did Loose Women? And what has she said about her personal issues with eating disorders, and fillers. Here’s everything you need to know about Lisa Maxwell, including her career, personal life, and why she left her biggest roles…

Lisa Maxwell was a star of Loose Women and The Bill (Credit: INFphoto.com)

Was Lisa Maxwell in The Madame Blanc Mysteries?

Actress Lisa Maxwell guest starred in The Madame Blanc Mysteries in 2024. She played Nancy, a woman who was abducted at a surprise birthday party for a friend.

After excusing herself to a restroom, Nancy was snatched by a mystery gloved hand. Jeremy (Robin Askwith) then received a photo of a bound Nancy from her kidnapper. It became a race against time for Jean (Sally Lindsay) and Dom (Steve Edge) to rescue her.

The role marked Lisa’s return to the small screen after two years. In 2022, she’d popped up in one episode of Casualty as Alison Madbury, Before that, she’d portrayed Tracey Donovan in Hollyoaks from 2016 to 2017.

Who is Lisa Maxwell? What has she been in?

Lisa is an English actress, presenter and comedy star. Over a career spanning nearly five decades, her biggest roles were in The Bill and Hollyoaks. She was also a Loose Women panellist for five years.

A born entertainer, Lisa made her first TV appearance in 1976 aged just 12 years old. This was in the British sitcom The Many Wives of Patrick, starring Patrick Cargill.

She continued to have small roles as a child actor. By 1982, she beat off 3000 contenders to become a presenter of children’s music programme No Limits.

Her first adult acting role also came in 1982 with the Royal Navy film Remembrance. Timothy Spall and former EastEnders star John Altman were her co-stars.

She also proved to be quite the comedian, making a name for herself in sketch comedy shows including The Les Dennis Laughter Show (1987-1991) and The Russ Abbot Show (1990). By 1991, her efforts were rewarded with her own sketch comedy show, called The Lisa Maxwell Show. Disappointingly perhaps, this only lasted six episodes.

Lisa Maxwell looking fabulous in 2012 on the Nativity 2 red carpet, unaware she’s about to witness a car crash of a Christmas movie (Credit: INFphoto.com)

Was Lisa Maxwell on Loose Women?

By 2002, Lisa was best known as DI Samantha Nixon in ITV police drama The Bill. Sam was an easy-going police officer, whose biggest storylines included being kidnapped by a serial killer. Lisa left the role in 2009.

From March 2009, Lisa became a regular panellist on daytime show Loose Women. However, she left the role in 2014, telling The Sun it was “not the same show and it’s not as much fun as it was”.

She said: “It used to be about a group of women who all know each other really well and have lots of chemistry. It has become a lot more serious and less personal. I miss the laughs and I miss the show coming from the heart.

“Now it’s just about giving political opinions. But I can’t do that and I think people watching can tell if you’re faking it.”

Next, Lisa appeared in the regular role of Tracey Donovan on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks (2016-2017). Tracey was the former wife of gangster Fraser Black, and estranged mother to Clare and Grace. She was later found sleeping with the fishes by Grace in a shocking whodunnit.

She also appeared in Celebrity MasterChef in 2018, alongside Gemma Collins and Spencer Matthews.

Why did she leave The Bill?

Lisa explained on The Paul O’Grady Show in 2009 that she had suffered two miscarriages in 2008 while on The Bill. These contributed to her decision to leave the police drama.

She said: “It was a really sad time for me and now I don’t mind talking about it. It’s not like a secret. In some ways I feel the more I talk about it, the better it is – because I kept it a secret at the time.”

Lisa said that she returned to work after the first miscarriage in January. She continued: “In some ways I think it was easier to be Sam than be Lisa. [I was] facing up to a lot of stuff and I just ignored the first one; I thought it was my last chance to [have] a child again – and I was quite kinda down about it but I soldiered on.

“[I] ignored it, like I do everything, and then I was lucky enough to fall pregnant again four months later – and then the same thing happened.”

Her co-star Roberta Taylor eventually convinced Lisa to take time off from the show. It was time that Lisa realised she needed, and she announced her decision to leave the show permanently in January 2009. Her on-screen departure aired in September 2009.

Lisa Maxwell with her husband Paul Jessup and then six-year-old daughter Beau (Credit: Mike Lawn/Shutterstock)

Is Lisa Maxwell married?

Lisa married her long-term partner Paul Jessup in 2014 after 17 years of dating. She had popped the question to him two years earlier, the day before the leap year in February 2012.

Speaking on Loose Women, Lisa revealed: “I thought I’d say to him, once and for all, ‘Will you marry me?’ And he said, ‘Of course I will Nobby!’”

Paul is the former director of an events management company. He now owns the Great British Teddy Bear Company and Big Red Bus English, which offers language tuition to children in China.

The pair live together with their family in the Cotwolds. She also has three dogs – Pepper, a Miniature Schnauzer, Elvis and Priscilla Pugs-ley.

Where does Lisa Maxwell live?

Speaking to Great British Life, Lisa talked about her life in Edge.

She said: “We live in Edge because it’s beautiful. It’s not the ‘trendy’ part of the Cotswolds – but I didn’t move out of London to live somewhere trendy.

“When you do what I do for a living, you’re very aware of make-up and hair. I didn’t want to live somewhere where that mattered. Paul and I fell in love with our house the first time we saw it, even though most of the rooms were full of newspapers piled high against the walls. All the fireplaces were boarded up, and there were plants growing out of the hallway. But, even in its worst state, it felt kind and unscary. It was built by a wool merchant – the oldest part is 17th century.”

Lisa Maxwell on the Loose Women panel in 2014 (Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Does Lisa Maxwell have children?

Lisa and Paul have one daughter together, Beau Rose Jessup, who was born on October 11, 1999. Beau, now 24, has followed in the footsteps of her mum and made quite a name for herself – albeit in a completely different business!

The Sun reported in 2019 that Beau had made £260k from a business helping Chinese parents find a culturally appropriate English name for their children. Beau is a fluent Mandarin speaker.

She started the business in 2015 after her dad’s Chinese business colleague asked her to suggest an English name for her daughter.

Beau realised more parents could be in need of this service, as it is custom for parents to give their child an English name as well as Chinese – and some were choosing strange names such as Mint, Apple and Tree.

She said: “My mum and dad are proud of me and always believed in the idea, although no one anticipated the scale of the success.”

Lisa says that Beau used her profits to fund a social anthropology degree.

How old is Lisa Maxwell? Where is she from?

Lisa Maxwell was born in London, on November 24, 1963. At the time of writing, Lisa Maxwell is 60 years old.

She grew up on a council estate in Elephant and Castle, bagging her first television roles as an 11 year old.

Lisa’s mum Valerie Maxwell became pregnant to John Murphy, who was married to someone else at the time, who was also pregnant. Valeria, who was 22, returned to live with her parents. She raised Lisa with the help of her grandparents.

Lisa subsequently met her father for the first time when she was 45. She has three paternal half-siblings.

Lisa Maxwell and Scott Maslen as DS Samantha Nixon and DS Phil Hunter in The Bill in 2006 (Credit: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock)

Has Lisa Maxwell has filler?

Lisa Maxwell has had filler in the past, but had to have it removed due to a reaction that caused “lumps on her face”. She revealed that a nasty reaction to fillers led her to make the “difficult” to decision to dissolve all of her filler in her face.

Talking to Lorraine Kelly on Lorraine about the “tweakments” she’s had in the past, she admitted to having had Botox and filler. The TV star admitted that she had the treatments after feeling “pressure” to “maintain a youthful look”.

The British actress recounted the moment she decided to have the fillers dissolved. She said: “I definitely felt that I was under pressure to maintain a youthful look. And you do little things along the way that you think are helping.

“Then I think, as time goes on, you have these so called “tweakments” – bits of filler here and Botox and stuff like that and I had all of that. Then I had a reaction to some filler and I had some lumps come up on my face. I just took a long look at myself and thought what am I doing here?”

Lisa subsequently made the “difficult” decision to stop all beauty treatments that prevented signs of ageing in her face. Though she admitted it was “mentally” very challenging.

She disclosed: “So, I decided to have all of the filler dissolved, everything taken out of my face. It was difficult, you know, mentally to see yourself in the mirror.

“Things start to sort of sag the way they’re supposed to. But I’m glad I did because love acting and in order to play my age I think you’ve got to be as natural as you can really.”

Lisa Maxwell took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2018 (Credit: BBC One)

Did Lisa have an eating disorder?

Lisa Maxwell has been outspoken about the dangers of eating disorders, having spoken about her own personal battles in the past. The actress suffered from bulimia as a “lonely” young actress.

She revealed she saw food as the “enemy” when she was struggling to make it in Hollywood in the 80s and 90s. Therefore, she used food and diet to control her life.

Once again speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, she revealed how living in Hollywood as an aspiring actress made her feel “very lonely”. When she narrowly missed out on the role of Daphne in Frasier, she felt very defeated.

Lisa explained: “I was very lonely and I wanted to take some control of my life. But I wasn’t interested in food because I saw food as a bit of an enemy.

“I was a lot younger and I didn’t see the benefits of nutrition; you think you’re going to live forever. I didn’t put any importance on food, and I had no interest and a weird kind of ignorance, I pushed it away.”

Lisa admitted that, at her lowest point, she weighed just 6 stone 13 lbs and wore a size 4 to 6 dress.

She decided to abandon her pursuit of fame in the US, and moved back home to Britain. Lisa went on to achieve success in the West End before returning to TV.

She eventually recovered from the condition, and now says she finally has an appreciation for food. In fact, Lisa appeared on Celebrity Masterchef in 2018.

Lisa Maxwell as Nancy Ludovic in The Madame Blanc Mysteries (Credit: Channel 5/Twitter)

Why is Lisa in therapy?

In the past, TV personality Lisa Maxwell revealed she needed therapy on a weekly basis.

In 2019, she admitted she needed it due to using “heavy” prosthetic breasts for a theatrical run of Calendar Girls.

The former Loose Women panellist wore the artificial boobs because she wasn’t curvy enough to play a particular role in the hit play. Lisa later claimed the weight of the prosthetics left her with pulled muscles in her neck.

It is also believed the strain “put her back out”.

Lisa told The Sun: “The thing about my character is she’s incredibly well endowed, and I’m not. I’ve got the biggest pair of chicken fillets you’ve ever seen! They weigh a ton and I’ve actually pulled muscles in my neck. I have to have physiotherapy every week because of my boobies being too heavy.”

Cat Deeley’s warning to Ben Shephard after he shared rare insight into marriage

This Morning presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard often discuss a variety of topics, meaning their personal lives are rarely out of the question.

Especially after Ben Shephard took to social media and shared a rare glimpse into his marriage with wife Annie.

However, Cat couldn’t help but issue a stark warning about Tipping Point host Ben’s admission.

In fact, she did so in the comment section!

Ben Shephard was issued a warning from Cat Deeley (Credit: ITV)

Cat Deeley in warning Ben Shephard over marriage

Ben took to Instagram in May to share that he and Annie had enjoyed a sun-soaked day at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Alongside a snap of Annie – who is a garden and interior designer – beaming, he penned: “Mrs S in her element! Just spent the day @rhschelsea it was so amazing to see the amazing gardens supported by @project.giving.back loads of friends but especially @annieshepharddesign so inspired – only problem is I think she’s now planning a garden makeover.”

Consequently, Cat was quick to chime in in the comments. Issuing her warning, she said: “Now you’re in trouble…. the Reno [renovation] is imminent.”

Now you’re in trouble….the Reno is imminent.

Meanwhile, other fans of the star also shared their thoughts in the comment section. One said: “Think yourself lucky. Think of what it would cost if you hired somebody.”

Another quipped: “Uh oh!! She is very welcome to splash a bit of her inspo our way!! Looking fabulous…as always… bet you had a gorgeous day.”

A third praised: “It’s an excellent side effect! Looking very gorgeous Annie.”

Chef Marcus Bean stated: “Your garden is amazing, I need to pop over and doing some cooking in it with yourself and Annie.”

‘Proud husband’

It isn’t the first time Ben has praised interior designer Annie’s gardening skills. Last July, he wrote to social media alongside a snap of himself and his wife: “#Proud husband post!”

Ben then went on to praise Annie’s win of a prize for her garden designs. He gushed: Thanks to @gingerhorticulture for capturing this moment @annieshepharddesign being announced as the recipient of the Judges Prize from @londoncollegegardendesign thanks to @jothompsongarden.

This Morning presenter Ben Shephard has previously praised his wife online (Credit: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
“She has worked so hard over the last year, I couldn’t be more proud of her and excited for what comes next. She’s loved this course and all her fellow students.

“It’s been great to see her so inspired and motivated, not gonna lie the boys are delighted that they won’t have to rely on their old man for food, drinks and general logistics now mum has graduated- everyone is relieved about that!! Other than Deliveroo who’s profits will now slump significantly!!”

What the cast of Miranda are doing now: Bitter divorce, adultery, agoraphobia diagnosis, and tragic death

Miranda was one of the most popular sitcoms of the noughties and beyond, but it’s been nearly 10 years since the BBC One comedy last aired – so where are the cast now?

In the current comedy vacuum created by the Euro 2024 Championship, and Wimbledon, BBC Two is repeating old classics like The Royle Family, Keeping Up Appearances, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Citizen Khan, and Miranda.

So where is the cast of comedy sitcom Miranda now? And what has creator Miranda Hart said about the show ever returning for a series 4? Here’s everything you need to know.

The cast of Miranda – Patricia Hodge, Sarah Hadland, Miranda Hart and Tom Ellis – on the red carpet at the NTA’s in 2012 (Credit: Shutterstock)

Will there be a series 4 of Miranda?

Fans of Miranda Hart’s much-loved comedy show Miranda were left disappointed when she said they’d be no series 4.

Taking to her Facebook account in 2022, Miranda let excited fans down after reports claimed she would be back for a new series. At the time, Miranda wrote: “It’s so lovely when some people get excited that there might be more Miranda. Means a lot.

“But I’m afraid what was in the papers today [about a series 4] didn’t come from me. Nothing planned at this time.”

She rounded the post off with a heart emoji to soften the blow. But fans of the sitcom, which ran from 2009 to 2015, weren’t to be consoled.

One gutted fan wrote: “We can all hope for Miranda, the next stage of her life, to become a reality. They really are a breath of fresh air, and some much needed light relief, when the world these days is so dark.”

The BBC One sitcom last aired on New Year’s Day in 2015. At the time, Miranda told audiences: “I don’t know when and if I’ll see you again.”

Miranda Hart has subsequently moved on to other things, including film roles, writing children’s books, and merchandise.

Miranda Hart as the eponymous leading lady in the BBC sitcom, and as Miss Bates in the film Emma (Credit: BBC/Focus Features/Everett/Shutterstock)

Where is Miranda Hart now?

Comic actress Miranda Hart played the eponymous character in the comedy Miranda. Well, she had every right to cast herself in the leading role as she created the character, and wrote every episode of the sitcom. The idea was developed from her semi-autobiographical BBC Radio 2 comedy Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop in 2008.

Fans will know that the series revolved around socially-inept Miranda, who frequently found herself in awkward situations. After the show came to an end in 2015 with a special episode entitled The Final Curtain, Miranda has largely stepped away from acting roles.

Of course, she played the popular character of Chummy in Call the Midwife, but she choose to leave that role in 2015, too. Since then, she’s appeared in a smattering of film roles, including Nancy B. Artingstall in the Melissa McCarthy film Spy, Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and Miss Bates in Emma.

That’s not a lot of Miranda Hart. In January 2021, Miranda announced she would be “taking a break” from showbiz to grieve her beloved pet dog Peggy. She also revealed she suffered from anxiety and agoraphobia.

Away from the camera, Miranda has written a children’s book called The Girl with the Lost Smile, which was published in 2017. She is currently writing another. Miranda has also written an autobiography called Is It Just Me? and penned a book by her dog – yes, really – called Miranda and Me.

For those who really miss Miranda, now 51, she records videos for a fee on Cameo. She also sells products on her shop, and regularly updates her fans on her official Instagram page.

Sarah Hadland played Stevie in Miranda from 2009 to 2015 (Credit: BBC)

Miranda cast now: What is Sarah Hadland doing now?

Comedic actress Sarah Hadland, 53, portrayed Stevie Sutton, Miranda’s best friend, and the Assistant Manager of the joke shop.

Since the show came to an end, Sarah has popped in dozens of smaller roles. She played a pilates instructor in the comedy W1A, Linda in BBC Comedy Feels, Catherine in Galavant, and Fran in Inside No.9, among many others.

Bigger roles have included playing Kate Standen in Ballot Monkeys, opposite Ben Miller, Auntie Debbie in Brotherhood, and Trish Collingwood in The Job Lot.

Sarah also voiced numerous animated characters in Bob the Builder, as well as Tiniest Fluffiest Bunny in Love Monster, and Mitzy in The Queen’s Corgi. Film roles have included Irene the Iceni in Horrible Histories: The Movie, Alison McQueen in The Understudy, and DC Grey in Ratburger.

More recently, Sarah has played Rowena Walker in Queens of Mystery, Lucy in The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Monica in the Johnny Vegas comedy Murder, They Hope.

Tom Ellis played Gary Preston in Miranda, before going on to play Lucifer (Credit: BBC)

Where is Tom Ellis now?

Tom Ellis, 45, played Miranda’s love interest Gary Preston, a chef and old university friend of Miranda. In the final episode, the pair married.

After the show ended, Tom achieved success in the States, playing Lucifer in the long-running series of the same name. After popping up in a few US TV shows, including The Strain, and Queen America, Tom struck gold when he was cast as Lucifer Morningstar/Michael. And the role couldn’t have been more different from nice guy Gary!

He played the role from 2016 to 2021. Although the series first aired on FOX, it was cancelled after three seasons. Netflix picked it up for three additional seasons. The show subsequently came to an end in 2021.

Since then, Tom has voiced several characters in the animated series Robot Chicken, God Cat in Exploding Kittens, and the film The Great North. This year, he has played Nick in the Netflix film Players.

He is set to appear in three upcoming TV series – Washington Black, Second Wife, and Tell Me Lies.

Tom lives in Los Angeles with his second wife Meaghan Oppenheimer, a TV screenwriter. She created Tell Me Lies, which her husband plays Oliver. And, yes, she IS a distant relative to the very famous Robert Oppenheimer.

Last year, the couple welcomed a baby girl via surrogate. Tom, who was previously married to EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite, has daughters Florence, 16, and Marnie, 12 from his first marriage.

Tom is also dad to Nora, 19, from a previous relationship. For a while, his personal life threatened to overshadow his career, when Tamzin accused her ex-husband of infidelities and of not seeing their children.

Patricia Hodge in Miranda, and a later role in All Creatures Great and Small (Credit: BBC/Channel 5)

Miranda cast now: Patricia Hodge

Actress Patricia Hodge starred as Penny, Miranda’s upper-middle-class mother, a “lady who lunched”, and liked nothing more than to impress her friends and fellow W.I. members.

Her main mission in life was to find Miranda a man and a better job!

In real life, Patricia is a veteran actress who has been on our screens ever since 1973, when she appeared in the TV show Menace. Since leaving Miranda, she played Mrs. Pelham in one episode of Downton Abbey, Ursula Thorpe in A Very English Scandal, and Mrs. Thorpe-Blood in the TV adaptation of Four Weddings and a Funeral.

In 2020, Patricia portrayed Lady Roche in Roadkill. Basically, she was BORN to play aristocratic ladies! More recently, she’s played Florence Bonnet in Murder in Provence, and Mrs Pumphrey in All Creatures Great and Small. She replaced the late, great Diana Rigg in the role after her death.

Patricia is a mother to two grown-up children, and currently 77 years of age. Tragically, her husband of 40 years Peter Douglas Owen died in 2016. The cause of death was heart complications after being diagnosed with dementia.

Sally Phillips played annoying friend Tilly in Miranda (Credit: Shutterstock/BBC)

What is Sally Phillips in now?

Sally Phillips, now 54, portrayed Tilly, Miranda’s rather irritating old school friend, and the daughter of Penny’s never-seen best friend Belinda.

And she’s been very busy since she show ended in 2015. As well as multiple film roles in the likes of Set the Thames on Fire, Burn Burn Burn, and Bridget Jones’ Baby, she’s also been in SO many TV shows, it would be impossible to list them all here!

Her most significant roles since Miranda include Lou in Trollied, Slasher Morgan in Zapped, Minna Häkkinen in Veep, and Elaine in Tourist Trap. Like Sarah Hadland, she’s also appeared in Murder, They Hope.

More recently, she’s played Gina Hargadon in Queenie, and Gabby in Breeders. She’s currently portraying Ingrid Hartswood in Austin.

As well as acting on TV, she is also a director, and campaigns to raise awareness of Down Syndrome. Her son Olly has the extra chromosome.

The mum-of-three split from husband Andrew Bermejo in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. She later claimed it was partly due to their son’s diagnosis.

The cast of Miranda, with James Holmes on the far right, which sadly came to an end in 2015 (Credit: BBC One)

Miranda cast now: James Holmes

James Holmes starred as Clive Evans, the camp, vicious-tongued owner of the restaurant where Gary worked.

Since the show came to an end, James – now 58 – has not been on TV so much. Although he’s been acting since 1992, James has only popped up on our screens a few times since Miranda’s final episode in 2015.

That same year he played a ‘Liberal White Man’ in one episode of The Javone Prince Show. In 2017, he portrayed a plan passenger in an episode of Sherlock. The next year, he played Stevie in the short film Not Waving.

In 2019, he portrayed Thomas Snell in the TV movie Martin’s Close, written and directed by Mark Gatiss. His most recent TV role was in 2021 when he popped up as Twitcher 1 in the BBC’s family show Worzel Gummidge.

Bo Poraj played Miranda’s boyfriend in Miranda (Credit: BBC/Shutterstock)

What is Bo Poraj doing now?

Bo Poraj portrayed Michael Jackford from 2012 to 2014. He was, during that time, Miranda’s boyfriend who worked as a television reporter.

The actor left the show in 2014, and went on to play Bonacieux in The Musketeers opposite Tom Burke. As well as smaller roles in Lucky Man, MotherFatherSon, Doctors, and The Midwich Cuckoos, Bo also portrayed Dariusz in Newark, Newark.

In 2024, he portrayed Mr Nowak in one episode of the emotive WWII drama We Were the Lucky Ones. He’s also written some episodes of EastEnders, and Doctors.

The 51-year-old married to actress Dalgliesh actress Natasha Little, and they have two sons together.

My Mum Your Dad new series start date confirmed as ITV teases ‘new twists’ for Davina McCall-fronted dating show

The new series of My Mum Your Dad finally has a launch date – and we don’t have long to wait!

It’s been nearly 10 months since Roger, Janey and all their single pals headed into that gorgeous country house and tried their best to find love.

And, with Roger and Janey still going strong, ITV has shared an update on the new series of My Mum Your Dad.

Davina McCall’s dating show My Mum Your Dad is back for a new series (Credit: ITV)

My Mum Your Dad new series launches in September

During the adverts of England’s Euro 2024 game against Slovakia last night (June 30), the Wet Wet Wet classic Love Is All Around boomed out of TV screens across the nation.

But, instead of Marti Pellow and the gang, viewers were greeted by a teaser for the Davina McCall-fronted reality show.

And, while we don’t have an exact launch date, we know that the show will air in September 2024 on ITV.

Last year it started on Monday September 11. So we reckon ITV could introduce us to the new mums and dads looking to find love around September 9.

‘Back for a second series’

ITV confirmed the show would be returning soon in its listings for July to September, sent out earlier today.

It said: “The critically-acclaimed romance show is back for a second series. Produced by Lifted Entertainment – part of ITV Studios – the smash-hit series sees grown-up kids nominate their single parents to head into a luxury country retreat in the hope of finding love later in life.

“Dubbed ‘heartwarming’, ‘hilarious’ and with ‘cross-generational appeal’ by critics, the debut series was ITV’s biggest new peak-time entertainment format and attracted an average audience of more than two million viewers on all devices. Fronted by Davina McCall, the first series regularly trended as the number-one streamed programme on ITVX.”

The cast of My Mum Your Dad 2023 (Credit: ITV)

‘New twists’

The statement then shared new details about the upcoming series: “Once again the grown-up kids return to the surveillance room dubbed The Bunker, where they are entrusted with the fate of their single parents as they search for love in the retreat.

“Watching along, there will be some new twists along the way as they get a front-row seat to how their parents fare in their bid to make a romantic connection and ultimately decide if they give their blessing to any potential matches.”

Stephen Mulhern on why he’d ‘never’ do I’m A Celebrity: ‘I’d have to be more than bankrupt’

Catchphrase host Stephen Mulhern previously revealed you’ll “never” see him in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.

The popular presenter is pals with the show’s hosts, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, but speaking last year he ruled out ever signing up to appear on the popular show.

Stephen Mulhern will ‘never’ sign up as a contestant on I’m A Celebrity (Credit: Splash News)

‘I don’t know how celebrities do it’

Speaking to Woman in 2023, Stephen was asked who would be most useful if he was stuck on a desert island – Ant or Dec.

He responded: “This is the only time I’ve been asked a question about them that I’ve been able to answer, as it’s usually ‘who is your favourite’! The answer to this is, without question, Dec, as he is the most sensible. But if you want to fall into the river or have your boat sink, then ask Ant! Ant is there for the mistakes!”

He then added: “I’d be useless on a desert island, too. I’m often asked if I’d do I’m a Celeb but I never could. Not only because they would pick on me, but also because I don’t know how celebrities do it.

“I’d have to be more than bankrupt to do that show. I’m a shocking eater, and I can’t even deal with the tins that they eat from – the noise puts me off.”

Stephen Mulhern hosts shows including In For A Penny and Catchphrase (Credit: ITV)

Catchphrase host Stephen Mulhern on his ‘guilty pleasure’

He also quipped that there’s “no crumpets or toaster in the jungle” after revealing that crumpets with cheese on top were his “guilty pleasure”.

Replacing Ant

Stephen previously revealed why he ruled out hosting the show during Ant’s spell away from the spotlight.

He went to rehab after a drink-drive car accident and to battle his painkiller addiction.

Speaking about Holly Willoughby replacing Ant, Stephen said: “It was the best possible choice, you couldn’t have gone with another guy. It had to be a female host and Holly was perfect. Holly and Dec worked a treat.”

He also addressed taking over from Ant on Saturday Night Takeaway: “When we were in Florida for Takeaway last year there was talk about me doing a lot more stuff on the show. But you can’t replace Ant. I’m not going to step into a friend’s shoes. I couldn’t do as well as him and I’m just pleased he’s back.”

The Tower: ITV confirms series 3 of gripping crime thriller and Sarah has a tricky new case

It’s based on author Kate London’s third novel

The Tower will be back for a series 3, ITV has confirmed. And the channel has promised it’s a “gripping” season of the already popular crime thriller.

We haven’t seen Gemma Whelan‘s DS Sarah Collins since 2023, when series 2 saw her being pulled into a shocking cold case. Viewers saw her once again having to deal with PC Lizzie Adams, whose willingness to do things by the book was seriously tested.

The season of the ITV drama centred on crimes against women and explored the cold case of missing teenage girl Tania Mills. We also saw the murder of Georgina Teel at the hands of her abusive partner Mark Brannon in the present day.

Now, the characters will be returning in series 3. Here’s everything you need to know…

Tahirah Sharif was nominated for a BAFTA for her role as Lizzie in The Tower (Credit: ITV)

Will there be a The Tower series 3?

ITV has today (Monday, July 01, 2024) confirmed that The Tower will be back for a series 3. The upcoming series is based on author Kate London’s third novel, and is adapted by screenwriter Patrick Harbinson (Homeland, Fearless, 24).

The first episode is set two years after the previous series. As series 3 begins, DS Sarah Collins is called to investigate the stabbing of a teenage boy.

The case eventually brings her into contact with Lizzie, who is now balancing life as a detective and mother. Sarah also clashes once again with DI Kieran Shaw, who is running Operation Perseus.

Operation Perseus is an undercover police task force set up to bring down South London drug kingpin Shakiel Oliver. Kieran is working with DC Steve Bradshaw who has gone undercover to infiltrate Shakiel’s empire.

The focus of Sarah and Kieran’s conflict is 15-year-old Ryan Kennedy. Ryan witnessed the fatal stabbing of the teenager. But he is also a key part of Shakiel’s inner circle.

As Perseus heads to its shocking climax, Ryan will have a surprising role to play…

Who is in the cast?

The series stars Gemma Whelan as no-nonsense DS Sarah Collins. You probably wouldn’t want to go down the pub with her, but you’d definitely want her on side during a murder investigation.

Game of Thrones fans will know Gemma as Yara Greyjoy, but she’s also famous for playing DCI. Kerry Henderson in DI Ray, Marian Lister in Gentleman Jack, and Kate in Upstart Crow.

Tahirah Sharif – who was BAFTA-nominated for her role as PC Lizzie Adama for the first series – returns in series 3. She’s also played Rebecca Jessel in The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Carrie Norton in Waterloo Road.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Akingbola reprises his role as DC Steve Bradshaw. Viewers will probably know him best for his roles in Kate & Koji, In the Long Run, and Bel-Air.

Former Hollyoaks baddie Emmett J Scanlan will be back as DI Kieran Shaw, also a bit of a wrong’un. Most recently, Emmett played Shane Tessier in Fool Me Once, and Jimmy Kinsella in Kin.

The Tower will be returning with series 3 in 2024 (Credit: ITV)

When will The Tower series 3 start?

The Tower will return to ITV1 and ITVX between the months of July to September.

So we can expect it any day now. Each episode is one hour long, and is expected to air on a weeknight evening.

What other dramas start in the summer of 2024 on ITV?

Joan, a six-part series, will also be landing on ITV this summer. Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner will play Joan Hannington, a real life London jewel thief.

Renegade Nell’s Frank Dillane will star as Boisie.

Meanwhile, Grace fans will get a series 4, starring John Simm as Detective Superintendent Roy. Australian court drama The Twelve returns for series 2, too.

McDonald & Dodd will be back for a series 4. Each of the three feature-length episodes will follow a new murder mystery with the smart and ambitious DCI McDonald and the quietly brilliant DS Dodds.

Lingo host Adil Ray on ‘awkward’ living arrangement with his parents after divorce

Adil is also a beloved host on GMB

Lingo favourite Adil Ray usually keeps his personal life fairly private. The GMB host rarely shares an insight into his time away from our screens, especially when it comes to his loved ones.

Instead, he focuses on presenting the news, providing us with laughs or solving word puzzles. However, he has previously shared a glimpse into family life, including during a tough period for himself and his parents.

His story allows us to get to know the real Adil Ray and an awkward period he endured…

Adil Ray is the beloved host of Lingo (Credit: ITV)

Lingo host Adil Ray on ‘awkward’ time after parent’s divorce

In a candid chat with The Guardian back in 2016, Lingo star Adil explained how his parents split up when he was just 11 years old. However, they didn’t stop living together.

One of the reasons I haven’t committed myself to marriage is because I somehow think I’ve got to make it perfect.

The comedian explained how this was an “awkward” living arrangement which impacted his approach to marriage. He said: “My parents split up when I was 11. I couldn’t get my head around why they would do that. It made me very independent, suddenly. I realised I couldn’t rely on my parents … and that if they were not always going to be together, maybe I would be on my own one day.

Adil Ray usually keeps quiet about his personal life (Credit: ITV)
“They lived in the same house for six years after they separated. Dad lived in the front and Mum lived in the back. It was awkward. I was always being caught between the two of them, trying to work out who to sit with that day, because they had separate living rooms. And we’d all eat separately.”

Consequently, he went on to detail his view on marriage. He continued: “One of the reasons I haven’t committed myself to marriage is because I somehow think I’ve got to make it perfect. I’ve got to prove that you can have a perfect family. I have to constantly remind myself that that is ludicrous.”

In 2021, the presenter admitted he had dipped his toes into online dating after confirming he was “completely single”.

Dan Walker ‘uncomfortable’ over hefty BBC Breakfast salary getting published: ‘I hate talking about money’

Dan was on BBC Breakfast for six years

Dan Walker once shared how his hefty salary for BBC Breakfast made him feel “embarrassed” and “uncomfortable”.

The TV favourite was a regular on BBC Breakfast for six years as a presenter. However, in 2022, Dan moved to Channel 5 to present the evening news.

During his time on BBC Breakfast, it was reported that Dan was earning a huge amount which was published to the public – something Dan said was “awful”.

Dan was a firm favourite on BBC Breakfast (Credit: BBC)

Dan Walker earned a huge amount at BBC Breakfast

Working at BBC Breakfast, Dan was said to be raking in £295,000, making him the highest-paid member of the team.

That’s one of the nice things about leaving the BBC.

But now Dan is over at Channel 5, it’s not just the early morning starts he’s not missing. He’s also happy that people will no longer know how much he earns.

“That’s one of the nice things about leaving the BBC,” he told MailOnline in 2022.

Dan Walker on ‘awful’ moment BBC Breakfast salary was published

Dan then spoke out about having his salary splashed all over the papers – and he said it made him feel rather uneasy.

He said: “I hate talking about money. I feel uncomfortable that I get paid a lot to do a job I love. I remember the first day a national newspaper published what I earned on the front page. That was awful.”

Dan said it was ‘awful’ to have his salary revealed (Credit: ITV)

Dan Walker ’embarrassed’ by what he earns

And according to Dan, he was “embarrassed” by his salary getting revealed, at a time when people across the country are “struggling to put food on the table”.

He added to the publication: “I am embarrassed by the amount I earn. My parents had no money growing up. All my clothes were hand-me-downs. At a time when people are struggling to put food on the table, it’s horrible to have your salary on the front page.”

Dan Walker shuts down BBC Breakfast return

Earlier this year, Dan admitted that he misses his co-stars at BBC Breakfast but won’t be going back. The 47 year old made the confession during an Instagram Q&A earlier this year.

During the Q&A, Dan was asked: “Do you miss BBC Breakfast and would you ever go back?”. The star shared a snap of himself and Sally Nugent holding a glitterball trophy for his followers to see.

“I miss my friends…but no [laughing emoji],” he wrote.