OHMYGOSSIP — ‘Open All Hours’ star Stephanie Cole has retired from acting “more or less”, actor Geoff Leesley has claimed.
The 82-year-old actress is a legend of British television having appeared in the ’80s sitcom opposite the late Ronnie Barker and Sir David Jason, as well as shows such as ‘Tenko’, ‘A Bit of a Do’, ‘Waiting for God’ and ‘Doc Martin’ among many others.
Stephanie reprised her role as Mrs Featherstone in ‘Still Open Hours’, which was a continuation of the original comedy with Sir David’s character Granville now running his late uncle Albert Arkwright’s corner shop.
The sitcom ran for six series after the 2013 special which brought the characters back to the small screen before being cancelled by the BBC.
Geoff – who had a cameo in ‘Still Open All Hours’ and is the husband of actress Maggie Ollerenshaw who played main character Mavis – has now spilled that Stephanie has decided to end her career after six decades and focus on enjoying her retirement.
Speaking about the programme during an appearance on the ‘Only Fools And Horses’ podcast, he said: “They were good, fun episodes. People have retired, Steph Cole has retired, really, more or less now.”
In her latter years, Stephanie became a firm favourite in ‘Coronation Street’ playing Roy Cropper’s overbearing mother Sylvia Goodwin. She portrayed the Weatherfield battle-axe from 2011 to 2013 eventually leaving the ITV soap as part of Hayley Cropper’s pancreatic cancer storyline.
In February 2023, the BBC confirmed that there would be no new episodes of ‘Still Open All Hours’.
The statement read: “There are currently no plans for new episodes of ‘Still Open All Hours’.
“We’d like to thank the cast and crew for six wonderful series, which are all available to view on BBC iPlayer.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Joanna Page auditioned for Sian Brooke’s role in ‘House of the Dragon’.
The ‘Gavin and Stacey’ star read for the part of Queen Aemma Arryn, the wife of Paddy Considine’s King Viserys, in the ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel created by HBO.
However, her try-out did not go well and she admits watching Sian in the role made her realise that she just wasn’t suited to the role.
Speaking on her ‘Off The Telly’ podcast, she said: “Season 2 is out now and I know people are loving it and people are talking about it. So I hadn’t seen any of it and so I started with Episode 1, Season 1.
“I auditioned years ago for the part that Sian Brooke got. I auditioned for her part; she’s married to Paddy Considine in it. I had to read this scene where she’s lying in the bath. It’s really funny when you’ve read the scene and you’ve auditioned and then you see the actress whose been cast playing it. I can remember taping and reading it and just not being able to commit, not being very good and obviously not getting the part. Then watching Sian Brooke doing it I thought she was brilliant.”
Joanna – who will be reprising her most famous role as Stacey Shipman in the upcoming ‘Gavin and Stacey’ Christmas special – admits she detests the audition process.
She added: “I’ve had to audition loads, I’ve had to audition for 30 bloody years! It’s not nice taping, it’s s***!”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘Emmerdale’ will take a “horrifying” turn tonight (16.08.24) when vet Tom King uses his pet dog Piper to exert control over Belle Dingle.
Tom (James Chase) will be seen “deliberately revving his car in the direction of the beloved animal” and using the “desperate act” of animal cruelty to get “close” to Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) again.
The actor said: “Tom is well aware of the control he can exert by using his dog in his abuse of Belle.
“This deliberate act, although horrifying, is Tom’s way of getting back in Belle’s life. He knows her reaction to Piper being injured will mean he can then be the one to comfort her and get close to her again. It’s a desperate act, but Tom is clutching at anything at this time.”
The long-running ITV soap has teamed up with animal charities Refuge and The Dogs Trust regarding the sensitive storyline that is more common than people think.
It was found that pets are harmed or, in some cases, killed by the “perpetrator of domestic abuse in order to control and coerce”.
Emmerdale Producer Laura Shaw said: “Working with the charities and hearing first hand stories from domestic abuse survivors it’s clearly all too common that domestic abusers will use the family pet as a weapon. In upcoming scenes Viewers will see Tom go to desperate measures to try and keep control of his imploding marriage to Belle, which puts Piper in great jeopardy. Could this terrible act be the motivation that finally urges Belle to report her husband as an abuser?”
Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, added: “The recent storyline involving Belle, Tom and Piper is incredibly distressing, but sadly it is reflective of what we too often see through our work.
“Those we support share their stories of the many ways that perpetrators use pets to coerce, control, physically harm and threaten within abusive relationships. We’ve heard of perpetrators not letting survivors walk their dogs alone, stopping them from accessing vet care for their dogs or being able to spend money on dog food, and even repeatedly threatening to harm or kill their dogs. This is incredibly frightening, and leaves people feeling very isolated.
“Sometimes, perpetrators will even buy their partner a pet with the purpose of using it as a means by which to control and entrap them, preying on the strong bonds people have with their beloved pets.
“We know that people often delay fleeing abusive situations as they are fearful of what may happen to their pets if left behind, and unfortunately, many refuges are unable to accept pets. This is where our Freedom team steps in to provides a vital lifeline, offering a safe and secure foster home for dogs until their owners have found somewhere safe to live. Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in demand for our service, so it’s more important than ever that we are there to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse who needs to flee to safety with their pet.”
You can access free and confidential support from Refuge’s 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and digital support via live chat Monday-Friday 3-10pm via www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.
No dog was harmed in the making of these scenes and viewers can watch a behind the scenes of all these scenes next Monday (19.08.24) on the ‘Emmerdale’ socials.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Liam Payne is among the judging panel of Netflix’s new talent show ‘Building The Band’.
The former One Direction star, 30, will be joined by Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls, 46, and Destiny Child’s Kelly Rowland, 43, as the coaches.
Backstreet Boy AJ McLean, 46, is the host.
It will see 50 talented singers form their own bands, but in the same vein as reality show ‘Love Is Blind’, they will not be able to see each other.
Cat Lawson, Executive Producer, said: “Building the Band is a brave and bold undertaking for all involved as we hand over power to the singers themselves to form their own band based on chemistry first..
“With looks out of the equation, can they create a deeper connection with their bandmates? With limited bands, there are difficult decisions and heart-stopping moments along the way, but ultimately the outcome is truly amazing, with bands forming who in my opinion are worthy of the very biggest stage!”
Netflix is also set to air the documentary ‘The Midas Touch’, which follows entertainment mogul Simon Cowell’s search for the next One Direction.
However, he was left disappointed with the less-than-stellar turnout of contestants.
Reflecting on the state of the music industry, the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge hit out at social media for allowing wannabe artists to by-pass traditional records labels and make it big.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: “The reality is that every day something like 200,000 songs are uploaded [to social media] so weirdly less people are getting signed, and less people are breaking worldwide.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever known it since I’ve been in the music business.”
Simon – who formed One Direction in 2010 after the five aspiring singers, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne appeared on ‘The X Factor’ – emphasised there was still a hunger for boy bands, and argued the group would have “the biggest ticket sale in history” if they ever reformed.
He explained: “Those records have really stood the test of time they still really, really sound great.
“Imagine if they did reform and their tickets went on sale? They would have the biggest ticket sale in history, I genuinely believe that.
“I don’t know whether that’s going to happen or not so I’m going to find the next generation.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Sean Wilson has quit ‘Coronation Street’.
The 59-year-old actor was expected to reprise his role as Martin Platt as the cobbles bid farewell to soap legend Gail Platt (Helen Worth) after 50 years on the show, but now ITV has confirmed Sean is not returning.
A spokesperson said: “Sean Wilson has stepped down from filming for personal reasons.”
Just last month, Sean said he was excited to return to the famous street after six years.
He said in a statement: “It was great to be invited back to [‘Coronation Street’] again, to contribute to Helen’s exit story.
“We’ll have a few months to catch up with Martin and Gail again, following the ebbs and flows of the unfolding storyline.
“Playing Martin has been a joy since day one and in a way, I’ll be slipping back to where I left off, which no doubt will throw a spanner into the heart of the Platt family.
“It’s just like slipping on an old and comfortable jumper from the back of the wardrobe… I’m looking forward to reuniting with my TV family.”
Sean first played Martin for 20 years from 1985 to 2005, while his character emigrated to New Zealand with his family in 2018.
He returned to Weatherfield for one final visit to make his piece with son David (Jack P Shepherd).
The storyline, which has seemingly changed, would have seen David shocked to find his dad at the house, and immediately suspicious about his father’s reasons for suddenly coming back into their lives.
Helen confirmed in June that she had signed her final contract and would be leaving the soap at the end of the year.
She said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.
“I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.
“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors, and a brilliant crew.
“The past 50 years have flown by, and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”
At the time, soap bosses teased that Gail will “bid farewell to Weatherfield in a major storyline for the Platt family”.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ is returning to screens.
The jaw-dropping BBC series, which first aired back in 1999, used CGI and animatronics to bring the extinct creatures back to life with mind-blowing results.
A new six-part series, which is currently in production, is slated to hit screens in 2025.
Viewers can expect episodes on a T. Rex discovered in North America, a Spinosaurus from Morocco, and a Lusotitan from Portugal.
BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, Jack Bootle, said: “A whole new generation of viewers is about to fall in love with Walking With Dinosaurs. The original series was one of the most exciting factual shows of all time, and this reinvention builds on that amazing legacy. Each episode is underpinned by the very latest science but is also filled with drama – making this a series for both dino lovers and people who just want to be told a great story.”
Andrew Cohen, Head of BBC Studios Science Unit, added: “There is no bigger science series than Walking with Dinosaurs and we are incredibly excited to be bringing this much-loved brand to a whole new generation of audiences around the world. It’s the ultimate dinosaur show, where you’ll be hiding behind the sofa one moment and having your mind blown the next. The prehistoric world meets premium documentary production, like never before.”
The first episode of the BAFTA and Emmy winning series was narrated by Sir Kenneth Branagh and attracted a whopping 15 million viewers.

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Helen Flanagan wants to date older men.
The 34-year-old actress split from sports star Scott Sinclair, 35, – with whom she has Matilda, eight, Delilah, five, and three-year-old Charlie – in 2022 after 13 years together and admitted ahead of her appearance on the E4 reality show ‘Celebs Go Dating’ that she would rather meet someone “sensitive” who has some life experience.
She told the Sunday People newspaper: “I like an older man because I feel like they are more emotionally mature, a bit more sensitive. When I go on a date I like it to be with someone who’s maybe been through divorce and who has kids because I feel like they ­understand me a bit better. I love funny guys, I feel like a good energy is important. The milf needs a dilf!”
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star – who played Rosie Webster on the ITV soap opera from 2000 until 2012 and then again from 2017 until 2018 – admitted that she could “never” put herself through a relationship that was filled with arguments again as she insisted she did “work hard” to try to make things work between herself and the father of her children.
She said: “I could never ever have another ­relationship where I was bickering, I haven’t got an argument left in me. “It needs to be easy. I feel as well, and a lot of single mums will relate to this, you work hard to make it work with the father of your children, and I really did. I haven’t got it in me, I did all that with the father of my kids, I don’t have the energy!”
The former ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here’ contestant will appear on the dating reality show alongside the likes of singer Jamelia, ‘Googlebox’ star Stpehen Webb and Chris Taylor of ‘Love Island’ fame and explained that she just needed a “bit of help” with her “disastrous” quest for love.
She said: “I’ve been single for about two years and I think I need a bit of help, to be honest with you. “It’s been a bit of a disaster, it’s probably just one long cringe! Being single is an eye opener, there are some awful men out there. “I did go on a few dates from an app and it was hilarious. I don’t really get nervous dating, I probably should have been but I just thought it’s been fun. And also, I’m a single mum of three, so to have a night off has been fun. I am feeling confident right now. ”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Fred Sirieix worried doctors when he was on ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’
The 52-year-old TV star – who is best known for appearing on Channel 4 reality show ‘First Dates’ – competed on the 2023 edition of the ITV1 reality jungle survival show and revealed that he is such an avid exerciser, medics in the jungle were “concerned” that he would lose too much weight.
He told the Sunday Express’ Sunday magazine: “I’ve done sports since I was a boy, and I train every day. I can’t go a day without some sort of physical activity, I like to sweat and I enjoy it.
“Plus, it puts me in a positive mindset. In the jungle, I had my routine of at least 20 minutes of exercise. There’s a doctor on site and at one point he said to me, ‘Fred, you need to slow down. You’re not eating enough to be doing this and we’re concerned’.
“But I reassured him I was fine and when I had my medical after leaving the jungle, I had lost just over 5kg, which was less than they expected. I kept my strength up and my muscles active.”
Fred – whose daughter is Olympic medal-winning diver Andrea Spendolini – was then asked if he would sign up for another reality show and admitted that while the Ant and Dec-fronted series was his “ultimate” goal, he would “never say never” to doing something different in the future.
He said: “‘I’m A Celeb’ is like the ultimate one, you’re put under extreme pressures like eating animal anus and sharing a camp with strangers. But my motto is, ‘Never say never.’ I like a challenge.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

OHMYGOSSIP — Paul Elliott still feels the presence of his brother Barry.
The 76-year-old comedian was part of the famous ‘Chuckle Brothers’ comedy act with his older sibling – who died in 2018 at the age of 73 following a battle with cancer – and explained that while he is still “sorely missed”, he is sure that his brother is “still hanging around” to this day.
Speaking on the ‘Secure the Insecure’ podcast, he said: “After six years, he’s still hanging around. He’s obviously sorely missed by everybody and what I miss most is working with him.”
“I still feel he’s with me all the time. I sort of can talk to him. Whatever I’m doing, Barry is with me, you know?”
The former ‘ChuckleVision’ star reflected that when his own time comes, he hopes that his memorial turns into a celebration of sorts and wants to have his funeral held in a nightclub.
He said: “When I go, I want everybody dressed up as if they’re going out for the night and have the funeral in a nightclub, with the DJ wearing a mask of me so I’m up there doing one of my sets.
“Let people enjoy the day and talk about me in a nice way, hopefully!”
Paul previously dropped a huge hint that he had been in talks for this year’s ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ series, which was won by ‘Ibiza Weekender’ star David Potts.
He said: “They decided against it for some reason, but I’m still hoping for next year.
“You know, I do like these types of shows.
“Barry and I won the first ‘Celebrity Coach Trip’. We were on that, I think, 2012, something like that, we did it. And we won that.
“That was real good fun. Really enjoyed that. So any of these kinds of shows, yeah, I love them.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online