A performer of Britain’s Got Talent 2024 finalists Ssaulabi Performance Troupe has shared a picture of his catastrophic injury days after sustaining it during the BGT’s finale.
The performer suffered damage to his foot after landing badly following a collision with a co-star live on air.
Despite the accident, Ssaulabi Performance Troupe continued to wow judges and fans with their incredible performative Taekwondo.
The Ssaulabi Performance Troupe made it to the final of BGT (Credit: Thames/ITV)
Britain’s Got Talent 2024 finalists
An Instagram picture from the star reveals the extent of the injury. It shows his lower leg and ankle held in place with a metal brace, suggesting a break.
@chaw._.chaw_ posts a picture of his horror injury from BGT (Credit: Instagram/@chaw._.chaw_)
Nonetheless, he appeared in good spirits in a second shot posted by a fellow Ssaulabi Performance Troupe performer. The second image showed his co-stars visiting him in hospital.
The team (and Paddington Bear!) visiting their injured friend in hospital (Credit: Instagram/@woo___._)
He also seems to have acquired some very British gifts – including a Paddington Bear plushie.
ITV confirmed to The Sun after the final that the performer had been injured and taken to hospital.
A statement said: “He was quickly seen by our onsite medical team before going to hospital for further treatment. All at BGT wish him a speedy recovery.”
Ssaulabi Performance Troupe performed a similar jump sequence in their first BGT audition(Credit: Thames/ITV)
Who are Ssaulabi Performance Troupe?
The Ssaulabi Performance Troupe are a team of talented Taekwondo performers from South Korea, the home of said martial art.
The team’s impressive routines fused the martial art with phenomenal acrobatic skill. They performed high kicks, big jumps and somersaults to an amazed audience, all while smashing wooden planks into pieces.
Their Britain’s Got Talent 2024 audition was so memorable that it prompted backstage presenters Ant and Dec to press their Golden Buzzer, sending the act straight through to the semi-finals. Judge Bruno Tonioli said: “The power, the beauty, the artistry it blows everything else I’ve seen out of the water.”
The judges heaped further praise on the troupe during the semi-finals, as they won the judges’ vote and progressed to the final. Simon Cowell said their performance was “one of the best live show performances I’ve ever seen on this show”.
Despite the devastating injury, the group continued through to the end of their final performance. They eventually placed tenth in the series.
BGT viewers tonight (Monday May 27) had a very mixed reaction to Bikoon, leaving Simon Cowell bewildered.
The variety act had a memorable route to this week’s semi-finals, wowing fans during auditions with a magic bag routine.
But after the ‘secret’ behind the performance was revealed, some of those watching at home expressed concern – claiming the act was “creepy”.
Jokes were made about Bikoon being similar to Ant and Dec (Credit: ITV)
BGT tonight: Bikoon news
At the end of tonight’s performance, with Simon the only judge not to have buzzed Bikoon off, it was revealed a shorter person was in the bag.
Some users on social media had speculated a young child may have been inside – or even a dog.
But when the second performer stepped out of the bag, fans seemed disappointed. There were even online ponderings about whether the ‘trick’ had been dangerous.
Simon however, who looked crestfallen after the reveal, didn’t seem to understand why Bikoon had exposed how their bag act.
How viewers reacted
Amid complaints and speculation on social media about the safety implications of Bikoon’s performance, one person wrote on Instagram: “Uncomfortable watching this.”
Another claimed: “Gave me the creeps.”
Gave me the creeps.
And a third moaned: “He got far too much airtime and I think it was cruel and dangerous to have somebody in a bag like that.”
And while Bikoon proved divisive with viewers, some people didn’t know what to make of the unconventional act.
“I’m lost for words. This is unbridled chaos with this bag,” one observer tweeted.
“It was still entertaining and at one point I was actually happy the bag went through the hoop. It was a good effort Bikoon! But the cat’s out of the bag (or rather the man) @BGT #BGT.”
Someone else chuckled: “Everyone talking about it being dangerous and the judges being disappointed about the person in the bag but like… what did you guys think was in the bag?”
Separately, and not in response, another user wrote: “I thought it was a dog in the bag.”
Simon Cowell seemed flabbergasted (Credit: ITV)
Others, however, knew they weren’t impressed.
“This was dreadful. How they put him through to this stage, is beyond me. Utter Nonsense,” fumed one viewer.
And another said: “Criminal that they got a semi-final place!”
The semi-finals will be as far as Bikoon get in 2024 on BGT. Boos could be heard from the live audience as Ant and Dec confirmed they would not be progressing to the next stage. Innocent Masuku and Ssaulabi Performance Troupe were voted through to Sunday’s final.
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Professor T series 3 came to a heartbreaking cliffhanger ending this week, leaving fans desperate for news of a series 4.
The crime drama starring Ben Miller as criminologist Jasper Tempest ended with one of the show’s fan favourites lying lifeless on the floor. Episode 6 of series 3, entitled Attachment Issues, was full of emotional revelations.
While Professor T series 3 tied up a few loose ends – like what REALLY happened to Jasper’s dad – it also paved the way for a series 4. Here’s everything we know so far.
***Warning: spoilers from the Professor T series 3 finale ahead***
Dan Winters and Lisa Donckers shared a passionate kiss in the Professor T series 3 finale, but tragedy followed (Credit: ITV)
What happened in the Professor T series 3 finale?
In the final episode of Professor T series 3, a woman was found dead at the scene of a car crash. But when it was discovered it wasn’t the accident that killed her, the Professor investigated. He subsequently found out some uncomfortable resemblances to his own situation with his dad, causing him to have some triggering flashbacks.
Viewers will know that Jasper has long lived with the fear that he killed his own dad. His father’s death was labelled as a suicide, however his son remembered things differently, and struggled with the guilt.
After three series of flashbacks and surreal fantasy sequences, the ITV finally delivered a definitive answer. A flashback showed Jasper’s dad turning violent towards Jasper when he was child. Scared for this life, Jasper’s mum (Frances de la Tour) smashed him over the head. Killing him to save her own son, she then staged it to look like a suicide.
Is Lisa Donkers dead in Professor T?
Meanwhile, Lisa and Dan’s relationship progressed to the next level as she prepared to transfer to another force. But tragedy was just around the corner. In sickening scenes, Emma Naomi’s character Lisa was run over – twice! – and left for dead in the road.
Although Jasper called an ambulance, it appeared to come too late. As Dan (Barney White) wept over Lisa’s lifeless body, Jasper put on his latex gloves – perhaps a signal he thought she was dead, and was treating it as a crime scene.
ITV has not confirmed if Emma Naomi will return for a possible series 4 of Professor T.
Ben Miller’s character Professor T finally found out the truth from his mum Adelaide, played by Frances de la Tour (Credit: Eagle Eye Drama for ITV and ITVX)
Will there be a series 4 of Professor T?
While ITV has not revealed the fate of Professor T, entertainment magazine Variety HAS confirmed the show will be back for series 4. In fact, it made the announcement before its third season had even aired in the UK.
Variety confirmed that Ben Miller, Frances de la Tour, Juliet Stevenson and Barney White will all be returning to the cast. Sunetra Sarker, who debuted in season 3 as DI Maiya Goswami, also made the cut.
That doesn’t bode well for fans of Emma Naomi’s character Lisa, though!
The new six-part season reportedly takes place six months after series 3’s shocking finale. Variety also reported that Professor T will be taking on “a new musical pursuit”, that romance is in the air for his mother Adelaide, and that the lines between professional and personal become blurred for therapist Helena (Juliet Stevenson).
Ben Miller has previously said that he hopes to “investigate for many seasons to come!”
BGT viewers couldn’t believe what they were watching as judge Simon Cowell hit his Golden Buzzer button tonight (Saturday April 27).
Simon awarded the second bye to the final of the 2024 series so far, which is only three episodes in. Fellow judge Amanda Holden smashed her Buzzer last weekend to send singer Sydnie Christmas through to the last stage of the ITV talent show.
However, some social media users were peeved by the act Simon selected. Detractors claimed Japanese dance troupe CyberAgent Legit weren’t “worthy” of the Buzzer. And other fans of the programme felt another act should’ve been the recipients instead.
CyberAgent Legit are heading to the BGT 2024 final! (Credit: ITV)
BGT Golden Buzzer: Simon Cowell’s pick goes to CyberAgent Legit
“Wait how did this dance act get the Golden Buzzer over the choir?! #BGT poor choice,” one incredulous fan asked, referring to Northants Sings Out.
“The choir was way better than that to me. It was good but not quite Golden Buzzer worthy #BGT,” asserted someone else.
“They should have given the choir earlier the Golden Buzzer over these dancers #BGT,” somebody else insisted.
Sorry what? They got the Golden Buzzer but the choir didn’t?
And a fourth confused onlooker tweeted: “Sorry what? They got the Golden Buzzer but the choir didn’t? Not a huge fan of choirs on this show but they deserved it #BGT.”
Simon Cowell made his Golden Buzzer pick on the show tonight (Credit: ITV)
Meanwhile, some others watching at home weren’t happy that Simon had plumped for an act that wasn’t British.
One user raged: “#BGT Apparently Britain hasn’t got talent according to #SimonCowell giving the #GoldenBuzzer to a dance troupe from Japan #ITV jokers!”.
Cyberagent Legit were aiming for the golden buzzer & after such an energetic, slick & in-sync dance routine, they got their wish thanks to Simon Cowell. Off they go to the semi-finals!! #BGTpic.twitter.com/mnD6ZS4iQe
Another complained: “#BRITAIN’S got talent? Yet Golden Buzzer is from Japan that’s never been here before. It’s silly now.”
And a third chipped in: “#BGT #BritainsGotTalent, not watching this no more, it is more like Japan’s Got Talent. That dance group was good but we have seen it all before.”
Northants Sings Out also impressed… but didn’t get a Golden Buzzer (Credit: ITV)
‘So in sync with each other’
However, amid those slamming Simon’s decision, CyberAgent Legit won plenty of admiring comments from viewers who were impressed.
“This Japanese dance team rocked! They got Simon and the audiences to go crazy. The audiences begged for the GOLDEN BUZZER!!! #BGT #CyberAgentLegit,” one wowed observer wrote.
And another tweeted: “Congratulations to CyberAgent Legit for receiving Simon’s Golden Buzzer. So in sync with each other it was amazing #BGT.”
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Britain’s Got Talent is repeated on ITV2 tomorrow, Sunday April 28, from 12.30pm. BGT 2024 continues with a new episode next Saturday, May 4, at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.
Martin Clunes has made a name for himself on TV thanks to variety of shows – but away from the screens, he enjoys a rather private home life with his famous wife.
Tonight sees Martin back on our TV screens for his ITV show, Martin Clunes: Islands of the Pacific. It sees the actor explore the region, beginning with Papua New Guinea, before moving west across the Pacific to the Trobriand Islands.
But away from his career, what is Martin’s private life like including his relationships? Let’s take a look…
Martin Clunes is married to his TV producer wife, Philippa Braithwaite (Credit: SplashNews.com)
Martin Clunes wife
The Doc Martin star is married to his wife, TV producer Philippa Braithwaite. The couple married in 1997 and have one child together.
I call her ‘The Boss’, but, actually, it’s a very equal partnership.
Philippa is a known TV producer and has worked with Martin on a string of shows, including Doc Martin and ITV drama Manhunt.
In 2022, Martin opened up about his marriage and shared the secret to their long romance. He told SAGA: “At the end of the day, I suppose, everybody should marry my wife. But too late, I already did. And I’m not letting her go.
Martin and his wife have one daughter, called Emily (Credit: SplashNews.com)
“I can’t totally analyse why it works, although I suppose some things are obvious; we make each other laugh, for example, and I know I have to make my wife laugh to keep her because her dad was very funny, too, and she’s funny and so is our daughter, Emily.”
He added at the time: “It helps that we’ve always worked together, from the very beginning when we met, and we’re partners in our company, Buffalo, and yet we do totally different things. I call her ‘The Boss’, but, actually, it’s a very equal partnership. She’ll be in her office and I’ll be on set or in the studio and then, at some point in the day, she’ll turn up and, hand on heart, I still feel totally thrilled to see her, like it’s the first time. It never stops.”
Martin and Philippa welcomed their daughter, Emily, in 1999.
TV star Martin’s first marriage was to Lucy Aston (Credit: ITV)
Martin Clune on marriage
Before his marriage with Philippa, Martin was married to Lucy Aston. They tied the knot in 1990, but divorced in 1997.
According to reports, Martin once called the marriage “rotten” . In 1997, Lucy reportedly told the Mirror of their relationship: “He told me I was boring and different and I just thought: ‘No more.’ I stood up and said ‘thanks for dinner – this is the end’ and stormed out. I sat in the car shaking with rage.
“Later I went back and Martin was sitting there, surrounded by takeaway cartons filled with our meal. He just looked at me. I took off my gold wedding ring, slammed it on the table and walked out. We both knew it was over.”
Passenger on ITV1 isn’t your average TV drama, and there was a LOT to unravel in episode 1 – here’s our review.
A missing girl, a scary presence in the woods, and a ‘monster’ on the loose. They were just some of the mysteries packed into the new series. And after episode 1, we were left desperate for answers.
As the series kicked off, DI Riya Ajunwa (Wunmi Mosaku) was fed up with the usual petty crimes she had to investigate in Chadder Vale. Namely, missing ladders and bins, and a “cat with a cough”.
But when a deer was found torn to shreds beside an abandoned car, her job suddenly looked more complex. As well as a very sinister presence in the woods, there was a “monster’ released from jail, a mysterious lorry delivery, and a God-like character being tormented by eco protestors at the fracking site he protects.
So here are the questions we’ve got after watching the eerie episode 1 of Passenger on ITV.
***Warning: spoilers from Passenger episode 1 ahead***
Passenger is billed as a ‘darkly, comic horror’ (Credit: Sister Pictures/ITV)
Passenger episode 1 review: What is lurking in the woods?
Better and Broadchurch actor Andrew Buchan wrote Passenger, and he said: “I’ve always loved shows where the known collides with the unknown – where you see communities faced with something horrifying and inexplicable, where, as a viewer, you’ve nothing in your kit-bag to explain it.”
And he’s created something that does exactly that. At the beginning of the episode, we saw Nico Mirallegro‘s character Kane Jackson making a mysterious delivery. He looked afraid to be near the contents, and even tried to talk through the walls to whatever was inside. First thoughts of illegal migrants soon evaporated when he opened the truck to reveal… Well, we haven’t a Scooby Doo.
The only glimpse we got of its contents was at the end of the episode when we saw a mysterious black liquid at the bottom of a cage – the same black liquid found at the scene of the massacred deer in the woods.
We know that something dropped the deer from the sky… But, as Riya herself asked: “What’s bigger than a massive deer?”
Whatever it is it makes some seriously weird noises. And Daniel Ryan‘s character Derek Jackson seems to know what it is. Is it some kind of alien or creature? Time will tell!
What happened to Katie in the forest?
Twenty-one-year-old Katie Wells was the unfortunate person who was driving said car when the deer landed on the windscreen. But why did she just leave the car in the woods, along with her phone?
At first, we thought she’d been abducted or eaten by whatever destroyed the deer. But she later turned up unharmed – but where had she been all that time?
Unluckily for her, she returned just in time for a reunion with her criminal dad.
Barry Sloane as ex-convict Eddie Wells in Passenger (Credit: Sister Pictures/ITV)
Passenger episode 1 review: What is Eddie Wells guilty of?
Riya arrested Eddie Wells (Barry Sloane) for committing a violent crime five years ago. However, instead of serving 10 years, he was released from prison five years early.
All we know is that he has a “sick mind” and has been described as a “monster”. We also know that David Threlfall’s character Jim Bracknell “lost his family” because of him.
So what is Eddie guilty of? And is he a changed man, or out to cause more trouble? We’d guess the latter!
What’s Riya Ajunwa’s secret past?
Former Met Officer Rija isn’t exactly thrilled with the way her life has turned out… She used to live in Wandsworth, London, and dreamt of kids.
Then, her partner Nick persuaded her to leave London for Chadder Vale, to be closer to his mum. Nick is now nowhere to be seen, and Riya seems to be the mum’s carer.
So we can forgive her for feeling pretty peeved. But there’s something else… When she heard the weird noise in the woods, she appeared to have flashbacks of being a scared girl hiding under a bed. What’s her secret?
Former Hollyoaks actor Nico Mirallegro as Ken Jackson in Passenger (Credit: Sister Pictures/ITV)
Passenger episode 1 review: What happened to the missing Swedish girl?
Alongside all this is the historic case of a missing Swedish girl. We’ve seen the posters around the town, and witnessed Rija’s frustration that she wasn’t able to investigate it.
We have to assume the missing girl is linked to the sinister presence in the woods. Did the ‘creature’ use the poor girl for a toothpick, the same way it treated the deer?
Passenger is eerie, compelling, and different to anything else we’ve seen for a while. Think Twin Peaks, but in the North of England! We’re hooked!
The Strictly Come Dancing favourite delighted viewers as he made his CBB house debut last week, but it looks like he is following guidance whilst on the ITV show.
Nikita was warned about his behaviour by his girlfriend before entering the show (Credit: ITV / Celebrity Big Brother)
Nikita Kuzmin’s girlfriend gives him a warning
According to The Sun, before heading into the house, Nikita admitted that his girlfriend gave him some strict words of warning. Nikita said: “She just said behave! Yeah, she just said the same thing. She just said have fun. Obviously I’ll miss her. I’ll miss my girlfriend, I’ll miss my family. I’ll miss my cats, I’ll miss my friends.”
I’ll miss my girlfriend, I’ll miss my family. I’ll miss my cats, I’ll miss my friends.
Nikita then added: “It’s not the nicest of the things. We have a beautiful relationship so I’ll definitely miss her.”
When probed on whether sparks could fly whilst in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Nikita exclaimed “nah,” before insisting: “I have a beautiful relationship and there is no reason for me to be interested or anything else in anyone.”
Ekin-Su on Celebrity Big Brother
It comes after Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu was criticised by Nikita’s former Strictly partner recently. During one episode of CBB, Louis Walsh asked Ekin-Su whether she fancied Nikita.
However, Ekin-Su said: “I’m respectful, he’s in a relationship.. I will only fancy someone if they show me genuine… if they’re nice.”
She also recently gushed over Nikita in another episode. Ekin said: “What Sharon [Osbourne] said about you is spot on. I think she did the right thing. You’re a good person and you have good energy and I can trust you.”
Nikita simply replied: “Thank you Ekin-Su, that’s really sweet of you.”
Nikita got emotional during face-to-face nominations last night (Credit: ITV)
On Celebrity Big Brother: Late and Live, Nikita’s former dance partner Layton Williams had his say, admitting that the exchange between Louis and Ekin-Su was “awkward”.
Layton admitted: “That was really awkward to see honestly.”
ITV took a gamble when they snatched the U.K. broadcast rights to the Oscars away from Sky after two decades and it looks like the gamble paid off.
The three-hour plus show averaged 637,000 viewers on Sunday evening, according to Broadcast, equivalent to 14.9% of the audience. At its peak, around 10.30pm, 1.9 million were watching, (21%).
Last year’s show on Sky averaged 95,000 viewers while a highlights cut the following evening garnered 141,000.
ITV1 are set to air highlights of the show on Monday evening while the full simulcast is still available to watch on streaming platform ITVX.
The Oscars has always been a tricky proposition in the U.K., in large part due to the eight-hour time difference between L.A. and the U.K, meaning viewers who want to sit through the entire ceremony usually need to stay up until the early hours of Monday morning. This year’s show took place an hour earlier than usual and also benefited from the U.S. daylight savings time being out of sync with the U.K.’s (in the U.K. clocks will go forward on March 31), meaning the ceremony aired in a marginally more civilized 11 p.m.-2.30 a.m slot across the pond.
ITV went big in its inaugural Oscars year, offering viewers a wrap-around show starting at 10.15 p.m. and ending at 2.30 a.m, hosted by Jonathan Ross (who was joined by guests including “The Hobbit” star Richard Armitage and “Cold Feet” actor Faye Ripley) as well as behind-the-scenes content on its proprietary streaming platform ITVX. In the run-up to the ceremony the streamer also offered a host of Oscar-winning and -nominated movies from previous years as well as broadcasting the nominations ceremony in January.
Although ITV declined to confirm how much they paid Disney for the multi-year broadcast rights, ITVX managing editor Craig Morris told Variety before the show: “Increasingly, people don’t just want to know what money you’re prepared to pay — it’s part of the discussion, obviously — I think they want to know, “What are you going to do with this?” I’m sure what was attractive was we’ve got a big home for it across streaming and linear. They obviously wanted to know what we wanted to do, but we were full of ideas.”
ITV will be releasing their own audience numbers, including streaming figures, later this week.
ITV boss Carolyn McCall has detailed the potential for a post-strike “blip” as commissioning conversations are restarted with U.S. buyers, while the head of ITV Studios described generative AI as a “co-pilot for creatives.”
Speaking after the publication of ITV’s full-year results, which saw profits tumble by 32% amidst a tricky ad market, McCall said a factor “never really talked about” in relation to last year’s months-long U.S. labor strikes is that “commissioning conversations could not happen and we were not allowed to pitch ideas or discuss anything that would build a pipeline.”
“This is never really talked about but is also quite an important factor in the market,” she said, adding that the more obvious impact of the strike physically delaying productions had been prominent in discussions.
Pressed on whether this could lead to a surge in commissioning from U.S. buyers, McCall said “we are saying this is a blip and permanent conversations will start filtering through. I don’t know about a bump, but this is a blip.”
The writers and actors strikes debilitated commissioning around the world and U.S. buyers are only just returning to a semblance of normality, while many major media congloms are posing existential questions over their place in the market.
ITV has already said that the strikes will delay around £80M ($101M) of turnover from 2024 to 2025 but 2023 was a good year for its streamer shows. The proportion of revenue from SVoDs rose by 10 percentage points last year for production arm ITV Studios to 32%, which is already ahead of its five-year target to hit by 2026. Successes included Netflix drama Fool Me Once and Squid Game: The Challenge, although ITV is not increasing the target in response.
Studios boss Julian Bellamy acknowledged a “tougher market” with “some free-to-air clients slowing commissioning,” but he said the production arm is “optimistic” in the medium term.
He said ITV Studios is “outgrowing” the market on certain metrics such as content licensing and unscripted shows for streamers.
AI “co-pilots”
Bellamy spoke to the debate around generative AI and was bullish about how the growing tech can help rather than hinder ITV and its production arm.
He described generative AI as a “co-pilot for creatives” but stressed it won’t be “substitutional.” “It won’t write the next Succession. We see it as something that over time will be helpful but is much more embryonic.” McCall, meanwhile, talked up how AI is helping streamer ITVX with targeted ads.
The pair were speaking a few weeks after Slow Horses director James Hawes unveiled research showing that AI could write the entirety of a TV soap within three to five years, which comes after the BBC axed Doctors and Channel 4 parred back Hollyoaks.
Too early to talk layoffs
ITV’s profits tumbled by 32% last year due in the main to the tricky ad market. The broadcaster this morning revealed it is implementing a “strategic restructuring and efficiency programme across the group to reshape the cost base and enhance profitability.”
Responding to a question from Deadline, McCall said it is “too early to say specifically” whether the program will lead to layoffs but “we will keep the market updated as we go through.”
The program is designed to “de-risk” any “cyclical or structural” shocks that may occur in future, McCall said.
“You can’t do that completely but what we are doing is building ourselves headroom and future-proofing,” she added. “That is why we have accelerated what we are doing and it is across everything.”
By the end of 2024, ITV expects the program to have made savings of at least £50M per year. It said today it has more broadly delivered £130M of its £150M cost savings target by 2026 and will hit this figure a year early.
After the Flood fans will be missing their fix of drama tonight and have every reason to be miffed about it – so why isn’t it on?
The six-parter starring Sophie Rundle as a dogged cop was due to air its penultimate episode this Wednesday (February 07). But frustratingly for fans, the drama has been replaced in the schedules.
But why isn’t After the Flood on tonight? And when can you watch the all-important episode 5? Here’s everything you need to know about the missing episode…
Philip Glenister and Lorraine Ashbourne star in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
Why isn’t After the Flood on tonight?
After the Flood episode 5 – the all-important penultimate episode – was due to air on Wednesday, February 07, 2024 at 9pm on ITV1.
But viewers tuning in on Wednesday will be disappointed as the series has been replaced in the schedules. Instead of the dramatic crime drama, ITV are showing Live FA Cup Football: Aston Villa versus Chelsea – the fourth round replay at Villa Park.
It’s not the first time the football has wreaked havoc on our favourite TV shows. Silent Witness has also been bumped for the sport.
Episode 5 of After the Flood joins PC Joanna Marshall as she and Tasha discover an unexpected side to Daniel’s life… Meanwhile, Jo closes in on the killer.
When is After the Flood next on? When can I watch episode 5?
After the Flood episode 5 will air on Friday, February 09, 2024 instead. That’s if you haven’t already got bored of waiting and watched it on ITVX.
The final episode of the drama is due to air on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, or Valentine’s Day as some of you like to call it!
In the finale, Jo finally gets the answers that she has been searching for, but the truth will change everything.
Real life husband and wife duo Sophie Rundle and Matt Stokoe as Jo and Pat in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
Why isn’t After the Flood on tonight? Fans fed up of schedule changes
As well as After the Flood, and Silent Witness, the soaps have all been affected by the schedule changes as a result of football.
Fans have not been happy about the disruption. One fan tweeted: “So, ITV had it this week and last, cancelling Corrie and now it’s EastEnders turn to get the brunt. Sports events like to ruin us fans’ scheduling. Why can’t they just move it to BBC2 like they did during Wimbledon?”
Another simply said: “The FA cup can go rot.”
A third fuming over Silent Witness said: “Want it nooooooooow, Fuck all on tonight, not even part 2 of Silent Witness. Feckin football on instead.”
“I already couldn’t stand football but, when they move #SilentWitness around for it, that makes me so annoyed! Grrrrr Silent Witness is more important!”
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode got the gig of a lifetime when ITV agreed to let them travel the coast of Western Australia looking for yummy food – that’s just one of the perks of being in a relationship with a fellow foodie!
The husband and wife duo embark on a journey across 500 miles of beautiful Western Australia coastline in ITV‘s new series John & Lisa’s Food Trip Down Under.
On their travels, they search for the very best local food and wine as if having an all-expenses trip Down Under wasn’t cushy enough (ignore us, we’re only jealous).
John, an Aussie himself, takes his wife Lisa to the place where his passion for food and cooking began… Along the way, they meet chefs, winemakers, food fanatics and entrepreneurs creating incredible produce in new ways. Anybody else feeling hungry?
As John Torode and Lisa Faulkner launch their new five-part series, we look inside their relationship, including how they met, when they married, and their history of exes.
Lisa and John on the beach at Margaret River south of Perth in western Australia (Credit: MGM Productions/ITV)
How and when did Lisa Faulkner and John Torode meet?
TV chefs Lisa Faulkner and John Torode fell in love on the set of Celebrity MasterChef in 2010. Lisa took part in the series, which she went on to win, while John was the judge.
However, they had actually met before – and it certainly wasn’t love at first sight! The pair actually met for the first time way in 1996, 19 years before they started dating.
And Lisa once admitted that she thought the cook was a bit “arrogant” – something John has since been forced to defend! The couple first crossed paths on This Morning, where MasterChef star John was demonstrating his culinary skills and Lisa had just been chatting about her acting career.
According to the Mirror, Lisa was “very excited” to see John cook, but discovered that he was “really arrogant”. She said: “I told him ‘oh that looks really good’ and he just said ‘thanks’.”
John later said he was “completely distracted” by cooking, “rather than by the hottie who was on the sofa”. He also revealed it was his first day cooking live on television.
After meeting again in 2010 when Lisa was on Celebrity MasterChef, the pair started dating shortly after. In fact, John wrote Lisa a letter after she won the show.
Speaking to MailOnline, Lisa revealed that everything changed after John wrote her a letter and asked her out to dinner. She said: “John and I were friends. Neither of us thought of it as anything else until… […] I don’t know how things change, but something does. He asked me on a date. We went out for dinner. Then it was slightly different. I’m really, really happy.”
They were together for a few years before he popped the question to her on Christmas Day 2018. John and Lisa got hitched 10 months later.
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode take their relationship to the next level – Australia! (Credit: MGM Productions/ITV)
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode relationship timeline: When did they get married?
John and Lisa tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire in the autumn of 2019. Sharing a snap on Instagram of their big day, Lisa gushed: “The happiest day of my life!!! Cue the wedding spam for the next few weeks! Apologies in advance.”
She went on to add: “Yesterday I married the man of my dreams @johntorodecooks and we had the BEST Day EVER, filled with all our family and friends and such love.”
John followed suit, saying on Instagram that Lisa was the girl of his dreams.
Guests included Amanda Holden, Tamzin Outhwaite, Angela Griffin and Emmerdale star Nicola Stephenson. Of course, John’s MasterChef co-star Gregg Wallace was also in attendance.
Contrary to popular opinion, Lisa Faulkner and John Torode do NOT film their ITV series John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen in their own home.
In fact, the show is actually filmed in a studio location, at Television Centre studios in London. However, Lisa insists that’s the only thing that’s not quite real.
Talking to press ahead of the new series, she said: “Whenever we do television together we are just being us. How we are on Weekend Kitchen, for example, is just how we are.
“For this series we got to wear GoPro cameras when we were driving together and were told that that was some of the best material because it was just so natural – with the odd funny remark or a grab of some chocolate from the glovebox! It was just great fun and I hope it inspires others to jump on a plane and discover Western Australia like we did as well.”
Lisa Faulkner and John Torode relationship: Where do the couple live?
John and wife Lisa live in a huge home in Muswell Hill, North London. Anyone who follows them on Instagram will know they have a pizza oven and BBQ in their garden, while their kitchen has a breakfast bar and teal cabinets.
The kitchen and dining room are open plan, with a wooden dining table near to the glass patio doors that lead out to the garden.
They share their home with Lisa’s daughter and their pet dog Rory!
When are John and Lisa both back cooking together on TV?
John Torode has revealed the pair will be back cooking together very soon.
He said: “We are on ITV a lot in 2024 actually! After this series, we might have something across springtime and the new series of John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen will be back for 11 weeks this autumn.”
Lisa added: “We are so happy to be doing more Weekend Kitchen. We are filming at the moment and it’s set to be another brilliant batch of episodes!”
Lisa Faulkner and ex-husband Chris Coghill with adopted daughter Billie (Credit: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock)
Do Lisa and John have kids together?
Both Lisa Faulkner and John Torode were married previously, and had children with their former partners. Lisa has an adopted daughter Billie with her ex-husband Chris Coghill.
Aussie chef John, meanwhile, is a dad of four. John’s kids include grown-up sons Casper and Marselle, and teenagers from another relationship, Jonah, 17, and Lulu, 15.
Ex-Spooks star Lisa was once married to former EastEnders actor Chris Coghill. They got hitched in 2005 after co-starring in telly drama Burn It. They adopted daughter Billie, who is now 18, a year later after they wed in 2006.
However, they separated and divorced in 2011.
Chris regularly shares pictures of his daughter on his official Instagram, and the pair maintain a close relationship.
John Torode with his ex-wife Jessica and their shared children (Credit: Alan Davidson/Shutterstock)
Who is John Torode’s ex-wife?
John was previously married to his former wife Jessica. They married in 2000, and separated in 2011 after more than a decade together. They eventually divorced in 2014.
John and Jessica are parents to Jonah, 19, and 17-year-old Lulu. John also is father to his adult children Casper and Marselle from previous relationships.
What is the relationship age gap between John Torode and Lisa Faulker?
At the time of writing, John Torode is 58 years of age. He was born on July 23, 1965, in Melbourne Australia.
Meanwhile, Lisa Faulkner is aged 51, having been born on February 19, 1972, in London.
Coronation Street fave Ryan Thomas will be among the first six Dancing On Ice 2024 contestants to take to the ice this weekend.
Jason Grimshaw star Ryan, 39, has popped up in Neighbours, won Celebrity Big Brother, and participated in Celebrity MasterChef since departing the ITV soap that made him famous in 2016.
Here’s the essential info on Ryan Thomas you’ll need to know as the Mancunian celeb limbers up to perform on the ice!
Fancy Ryan Thomas for the Dancing On Ice 2024 win? (Credit: ITV)
Dancing On Ice 2024: Ryan Thomas profile
Is Ryan Thomas married? Does he have a wife, girlfriend, or partner?
Since 2017, Ryan has been linked to former TOWIE cast member Lucy Mecklenburgh. The celeb couple reportedly met while participating in Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls.
They became engaged in June 2019 and share two children together.
Previous to to this relationship, Ryan’s love life included him and fellow Corrie star Tina O’Brien being involved for six years between 2003 and 2009.
However, despite their relationship ending a decade ago, tabloid claims concerning them have continued to make headlines.
Furthermore, according to reports, they split a year after their child together was born.
Tina previously claimed to new! magazine: “He said he didn’t love me any more. That I didn’t do it for him any more. Those were his words. I was devastated.”
How many children does Ryan Thomas have?
Ryan is father to three kids. His eldest child, daughter Scarlett, is 15 and appears in BBC drama Waterloo Road.
Ryan shares his two younger children with fiancée Lucy. Son Roman was born in March 2020, and daughter Lilah was born in May 2022.
Ryan Thomas with his brothers, Adam and Scott (Credit: YouTube)
Is Adam Thomas related to Ryan Thomas? Is there another famous Thomas brother?
Emmerdale and Waterloo Road actor Adam – who danced with Luba Mushtuk in Strictly Come Dancing 2023 – is indeed the younger brother of Ryan. And their sibling Scott – Adam’s twin – is also a celeb, probably most familiar to Love Island viewers after he finished third in the second series of the ITV2 dating show in 2016.
The trio of brothers also starred in 2020 series Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai together. The programme saw the siblings look into their family history in India alongside their singer dad Dougie Thomas. Dougie later passed away in the November of the same year the show aired, aged 72.
Paying tribute, Ryan wrote on Instagram about his father: “I want you to know the best gift you ever gave me was my brothers. I couldn’t have done this without you both love you boys @adamthomas21 @scott.thomas.
“Shine bright wherever you are. We love you dad.”
What happened with Ryan Thomas and Roxanne Pallett?
A huge reality show controversy erupted during Ryan’s 2018 CBB stint as soap actress Roxanne Pallett alleged he ‘punched’ her.
The former Emmerdale star later quit the series, and publicly apologised to Ryan. She admitted she got it wrong as her accusation dominated the headlines.
She said: “I massively apologise to Ryan, his friends and fans and every single person who watched that … [It was] an overreaction to what wasn’t a malicious act.
“I was sensitive and emotional and mistook what was playful – I apologise for it, I shouldn’t have questioned his motivation.”
Relieved to discover CBB viewers were supportive of him over the furore as he left the series as winner, Ryan told fans: “Absolutely overwhelmed with the love and support I’ve received, you’ve no idea how much it means to me.”
Ryan also indicated he forgave Roxanne – but didn’t suggest he wished them to be pals.
“If she wants forgiveness and it makes her feel better, then I would rather give her that, because I think she’s been punished enough by the public and people around her,” he reflected.
Ryan Thomas in character on Coronation Street (Credit: YouTube)
Will Ryan Thomas ever return to Corrie?
Eight years on since Jason Grimshaw left Weatherfield for Thailand, and there’s no sign of Eileen’s son ending his excursion as yet. However, back in 2020, Eileen actress Sue Cleaver revealed she had been “badgering” Ryan “all the time” about returning to the cobbles.
“He’s become a social media influencer and he’s just had another baby, who I haven’t met yet because we are in lockdown,” Sue said at the time.
She added: “But I’ll be on his case for the rest of eternity, though.”
However, Ryan indicated in early 2021 that he has quit acting.
He said during a podcast interview: “It’s so hard for me. I started off acting, I started off in that game and I really lost the bug for it.
“I feel the reason for losing the bug is rejection and going to auditions and not getting them.”
What is Ryan Thomas’ net worth?
According to reports, Ryan Thomas is said to have a net worth of approximately £2.5 million. However, the Daily Star Online admits this figure should not be regarded as reliable or accurate as “the exact figures remain a well-guarded secret.” Additionally, it has previously been reported Ryan filed for bankruptcy in 2013 following an unpaid tax bill of £40,000.
Actress Julia Sawalha makes her TV comeback this Sunday, when she guest stars in series 13 of Vera on ITV1. While some viewers might know her best for playing Saffy in Absolutely Fabulous, she’s also famed for her very public feud with her sister Nadia.
Julia guest stars as Helen Rushden in the Vera episode entitled Tender (Sunday, January 14, 2023). And it’s her first screen role since 2016, when she reprised her role of the tortured daughter in the Ab Fab film.
So where has she been for eight years? And what’s her relationship like with her Loose Women sibling Nadia? Here’s everything you need to know…
Julia Sawalha guest stars in Vera series 13 episode 2 (Credit: Stuart Wood/ITV)
Who plays Helen Rushden in Vera?
Actress Julia Sawalha joins the cast of Vera in series 13, episode 2, entitled Tender. She played Helen Rushden in the Brenda Blethyn-led detective drama.
In the Sunday night drama, viewers will see DCI Stanhope investigating an intriguing and puzzling case after the body of a sickly young girl is found in a railway siding in the middle of nowhere.
The case soon turns up twists and turns that make Vera question who this girl actually was… Did her weakened state allow someone to take advantage of her?
Shaun Dooley, Fraser James, and Gillian Kearney also guest star alongside Julia.
What is Vera star Julia Sawalha famous for?
Of course, TV fans will know Julia best for playing Saffron ‘Saffy’ Monsoon in the BBC series Absolutely Fabulous, and subsequent film. She played the role on and off between 1992 and 2012. In 2016, she reprised the role for the film, opposite
She’s also famous for playing Lynda Day in Press Gang from 1989 to 1993. She also played Hannah Greyshott in Second Thoughts, and its sequel series, Faith in the Future.
Julia played Lydia Bennet in the television miniseries of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in 1995. Her other notable roles include Carla Borrego in Jonathan Creek, and Dorcas Lane in the BBC’s costume drama Lark Rise to Candleford.
Her film credits include Buddy’s Song, The Wind in the Willows, and Chicken Run.
Julia Sawalha and the cast of Absolutely Fabulous (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Where has Julia been for the past eight year?
Since the Absolutely Fabulous series ended in 2012, Julia slowed down her TV appearances… She popped up as Mrs. Cresswell in one episode of Marple, and played the same role in one instalment of Mystery! a year later. In 2014, she portrayed Jan Ward in Remember Me, and two years later Penny Henderson in Midsomer Murders. After the Ab Fab film in 2016, Julia has not appeared on screen – until now.
In 2016, the actress took a break to follow other pursuits. She has now returned to acting and has completed filming on Vera.
How old is Julia Sawalha? Where is she from?
Julia Sawalha was born September 9, 1968, in Wandsworth, London
She is currently 55 years of age. She was educated at the Theatre Arts School, a fee-paying independent school, which is part of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Julia Sawalha with her sister Nadia with dad Nadim pictured in 2010 (Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
Who are Julia Sawalha’s parents?
Julia Sawalha is the daughter of Roberta Lane and Jordan-born actor Nadim Sawalha. Nadim appeared in two Bond films: The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977, and The Living Daylights in 1987.
He’s currently 90 years of age. He had three daughters Julia Sawalha, Nadia Sawalha, and Dina Sawalha.
Nadim’s brother – Julia and Nadia’s uncle – is Jordanian comedian Nabil Sawalha.
Does Julia Sawalha speak to her sister Nadia?
Julia and her sister have admitted in the past that they have a ‘volatile’ relationship. Their feud has often spilled into the public domain.
Talking about her two sisters, Nadia said: “Well, me and my eldest sister Dina were very, very close growing up and then my mum got pregnant with Julia. She then had her and I was the classic sibling, wanting to stick bottles in her mouth and wanting to look after her.
“My mum freaked out and sent me away to my grandmother’s. I think because of that, my younger sister and I have always had a really stormy relationship.”
Nadia continued: “We’ve always had a really volatile relationship. We’ve always had periods of time in our lives where we don’t speak. I always say I have the worst time or the best time of my life with her. It’s the same with both of my sisters. [My dad] came with 50 quid in his pocket and he came here because he wanted to have six daughters that could be free.
“He said he wanted strong, independent, professional women that follow their dreams. And what he got was three really independent and difficult women and because of that, we have a very intense, on and off relationship.”
Nadia Sawalha and sister Julia attended the NTA Awards together in 2012 (Credit: Richard Young/Shutterstock)
Julia calls sister Nadia a liar
But Julia subsequently hit back and accused Nadia of telling “lies”, and called out her “fake tears” on the show. She wrote on Twitter: “So tired of #nadiasawalha talking about our ‘stormy’ relationship which she created.
“I’ve kept my privacy for six years to protect my family, whilst she talks lies and rubbish. You have destroyed our family so don’t sit on TV with your fake tears to gain sympathy and attention.”
The former Absolutely Fabulous star added in a separate tweet: “It’s very difficult when you only see the story from one side. I’m not actually fighting, she is, but paints a very different picture publicly and I’ve had enough.”
She later added: “Just watching six years of her lies finally got to me, which of course is just what she wants, more attention… I have allowed someone else to carry the narrative for six years… My pressure cooker blew today, I’m only human.”
In the past, Julia described their sibling relationship as “intense”. She told The Times in 2007: “Nadia and I have always had a very intense relationship, and there have been moments in my life when I’ve felt very close to her and I had the love I wanted from her. But there were also times when she’d keep me at a distance, which really confused me.”
History of Julia Sawalha and Nadia’s feud
Aside from the usual sibling rivalries of growing up, the sisters fell out when Nadia set up her own sandwich business after leaving school. Julia went to work for her, but became sick of Nadia “bossing me around”. On one occasion, Julia “slammed down her knife” and stormed out, starting a long period of estrangement.
The ice thawed in the mid-90s when Julia got Nadia signed by her agent and invited her to move into her flat in north London. But again, it ended in a “slamming-doors argument” about who would have which room and Julia refused to speak to her.
Although Nadia found work playing nightclub boss Annie Palmer on EastEnders, she admitted she felt “insecure” when everyone called her “Julia: as a result of their likeness.
In 2002, the siblings fell out again when pictures of Nadia’s wedding to TV executive Mark Adderley appeared in OK! magazine. The pictures also featured Julia with her boyfriend at the time, comedian Alan Davies, who did not want to appear in the mag. At the time, Alan said: “She sold these pictures of Julia and me without consulting us. I was furious.”
Julia insisted she “had no idea they were doing an OK! spread”, adding: “I wouldn’t speak to her.” The sisters didn’t speak for two years, eventually reconciling when Julia and Alan split up.
Nadia said: “Julia and I have gone through loads of not speaking to each other, but this last time, when we were very angry with each other, was really horrible.”
After the Flood follows ambitious copper Jo Marshall who, despite being heavily pregnant, must deal with the devastating floods that have hit her home town in Yorkshire – and episode 1 left us with a river of unanswered questions.
Although the series aims to raise awareness of climate change, at heart this is really like any other ITV drama. There’s a dead body, a murderer on the loose, and a dogged cop determined to get to the truth.
Admittedly, the six-part drama started with one of the most preposterous opening scenes on TV in a long time. A soggy Jonas Armstrong (playing Lee Ellison) rescued a baby from drowning in a very feisty river. Jo watched in horror as Lee managed to save the baby – despite dunking it underwater several times – before disappearing under the water himself.
The image of Lee sinking under the water then plagued Jo for the rest of the episode. But, of course, the clues are already there that Lee is not the hero he seemed…
Here are all the questions we want answered after watching episode 1 of After the Flood.
***Warning: spoilers from After the Flood episode 1 ahead***
Sophie Rundle as PC Joanna Marshall in After the Flood (Credit: ITV)
Who is the dead man in the lift?
PC Jo Marshall (Sophie Rundle) is determined to find out the identity of the dead man in the lift. He was found in an underground car park after the flood, but his death had nothing to do with the weather.
In fact, he had died several days before the floods. Cause of death was a blunt force trauma to the head, with multiple bruising to the body. So that’s murder. But who would want him dead?
Viewers later discovered that the man was believed to have died five years ago. So where’s he been all this time?
After the Flood episode 1: Who killed him?
Well, we’re jumping to a big conclusion here, but we suspect Lee Ellison (Jonas Armstrong) might be involved somehow.
Despite his heroic attempts to save the baby in the opening scenes, he later became very shifty when he heard police cars nearby. He also hasn’t announced his presence to the police or hospital… Perhaps he wants everyone to think he’s dead.
Watch this space!
Jonas Armstrong portrays Lee Ellison in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
Has Jo jeopardised her career?
Now, don’t get us wrong, we like Jo. If we were murdered, we’d want her on our side… But breaking the law when she’s a copper, and training to become a detective?
Determined to find out more about the unidentified dead man, Jo decided to send his DNA to an online heritage/family tree site. Even though she knew it was illegal to do so.
Rather stupidly, she then spoke to the dead man’s sister. “Hello, you don’t know me but your brother is dead but I’m not supposed to tell you!”
Will Jo’s actions get her in trouble?
After the Flood episode 1: What is Pat hiding?
Anybody else getting seriously controlling vibes from Jo’s husband Pat? He seems to be hiding something, but whether that’s being a gaslighter or something else, we’re yet to find out.
Jo lied to him about how many months pregnant she was so she could start the detective training. She told Pat she was six months, but she’s actually seven. They aren’t going to win couple of the year anytime soon, that’s for sure.
Also Pat… Next time your sister asks to stay over, just say no! You’re wife is pregnant FFS and needs her peace and quiet!
What happened to Jo’s dad?
During episode 1 of After the Flood, Jo’s health took a turn after standing in dirty water for hours… Her boss Sergeant Phil Mackie (Nicholas Gleaves) sent her to hospital for a check up.
Before she went, Phil said to Jo: “We lost your dad because he wouldn’t go to the hospital.” What happened to Jo’s dad? And will this have any impact on how the series plays out?
After the Flood is the latest high-profile drama from ITV which may be a little too close to home for some right now during this brutal winter – but the cast won’t disappoint.
The six-part mystery drama sees Gentleman Jack actress Sophie Rundle lead the cast, alongside other big names from the world of TV and film.
The series follows the residents and police force of a Yorkshire town, who are affected by a devastating flood. When an unidentified man is found dead in a lift in an underground car park, police assume he became trapped as the waters rose.
However, as the investigation unfolds, PC Joanna Marshall becomes obsessed with discovering what happened to him. How did he get in the lift and why does no one know who he is?
Here’s everything you need to know about the cast of After the Flood on ITV1…
Actress Sophie Rundle as PC Joanna Marshall in the cast of After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
After the Flood cast on ITV: Sophie Rundle stars as PC Joanna Marshall
Actress Sophie Rundle, 35, leads the cast of After the Flood on ITV. She plays pregnant PC Joanna Marshall, who must deal with the consequences of a flood that devastates a Yorkshire town.
Of course, Bucks-born Sophie is well known to TV viewers. After all, she’s starred in some of the biggest hits of recent years, including Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley, and Gentleman Jack.
Sophie played Ada Thorne, née Shelby, in all six series of drama Peaky Blinders. She starred alongside Cillian Murphy, who played her character’s brother, the crime boss Tommy Shelby.
Gentleman Jack fans will know Sophie as Ann Walker, the love interest (and later wife) of protagonist Anne Lister. She also played Vicky Budd in Jed Mercurio political thriller Bodyguard in 2018.
Then there was her significant role in Jamestown, Sky’s answer to a British Western, which told the story of settlers in the New World. The show ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2019. She played Alice Sharrow, and met her husband to be Matt Stokoe during filming (see below).
Her role in Happy Valley was short-lived but pivotal. She played Kirsten McAskill, who was murdered by Tommy Lee Royce when he repeatedly drove over her. The death crushed viewers and Sarah Lancashire’s character Catherine Cawood alike.
Sophie has also guest-starred in Call the Midwife, Episodes, Shetland, Merlin, Not Safe for Work, Brief Encounters, and The Bletchley Circle.
More recently, you might have seen Sophie in 2020 surrogacy drama The Nest, or as the titular role in political thriller The Diplomat. She also starred in the 2020 George Clooney film The Midnight Sky. Other film roles include Great Expectations, Elizabeth is Missing, The Face of an Angel, and Rose.
Nicholas Gleaves as Sergeant Phil Mackie in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
Nicholas Gleaves plays Sergeant Phil Mackie
Bolton-born actor Nicholas Gleaves, 55, stars as Jo’s boss and surrogate father figure, Sergent Phil Mackie. Also known as Nick, he’s been on our screens since 1992 when he first appeared as Carl in Boon.
Since then, he’s popped up in a multitude of TV series including Casualty, The Bill, Faith, and Soldier, Soldier. In 1997, he won the significant role of PC Rudy Whiteside in Wokenwell. Of course, he then landed the role of Rick Powell in the popular series Playing the Field, which ran from 1998 to 2002 – and also starred his now wife Lesley Sharp!
He went on to play Eddie in Being April, Duncan in The Queen’s Nose, and Ray Fairburn in Conviction. Other significant roles include DS Gary Tate in City Lights, Tom Bedford in The Chase, Oliver in Murderland, James Whitaker in Survivors, and Richard Whitman in Waterloo Road.
Between 2011 and 2012, Nicholas portrayed DS Andy Roper in Scott and Bailey, again alongside his real life wife! After minor roles in Cold Feet, Death in Paradise, The Split, and Midsomer Murders, the actor took on the role of Roger Penhaligon in Bodyguard.
Of course, Coronation Street fans will know Nicholas Gleaves as Duncan Radfield in the ITV soap, a role he played from 2018 to 2019.
More recently, Nicholas Gleaves has played Guterman in the film Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Bob Stratton in Silent Witness. He’s also played the Headmaster in The Demon Headmaster, William Wyatt in The Rising, and John Birt in The Crown.
Philip Glenister and Lorraine Ashbourne star in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
After the Flood cast on ITV: Philip Glenister portrays Jack Radcliffe
Well known actor Philip Glenister, 60, portrays property developer Jack Radcliffe in the cast of After the Flood on ITV1. TV viewers will know him from a career crammed with decades worth of great roles.
Philip is probably best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in BBC One’s Life on Mars, a role he played from 2006 to 2007. He also appeared in its sequel Ashes to Ashes from 2008 to 2010. The first series told the story of Sam Tyler (John Simm), a man who accidentally time travels to 1973 to discover he still has the same job, in the same place, now with chauvinistic boss.
The characters returned again in Ashes to Ashes, alongside Keeley Hawes as Alex Drake. Philip later reunited with John Simm for 2011 psychological thriller Mad Dogs, and 2014 mini-series Prey, which received a BAFTA nomination.
Philip has also starred in David Walliams‘ sitcom Big School in 2013, supernatural horror Outcast, and Belgravia. The 19th century-set historical drama by Downton Abbey‘s Julian Fellowes will soon return for a second series.
Most recently, Philip played DCI Paul Bethell in the Welsh drama Steeltown Murders. His film work includes 2003’s Calendar Girls, Bel Ami in 2012, and Kingdom of Heaven in 2005.
Lorraine Ashbourne as Jo’s mum Molly Marshall in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
Actress Lorraine Ashbourne is Molly Marshall
Acclaimed actress Lorraine Ashbourne, 63, portrays Jo’s worrying mother Molly in the cast of After the Flood. She’s well known to TV fans from her acting career which spans more than three decades.
We loved her as Mrs Varley in Bridgerton on Netflix. She has also starred as Barbara Castle in The Crown, DI Tessa Nixon in Unforgotten, and Lace Polly in Jericho.
Lorraine’s many other roles include Playing the Field, Clocking Off, The Syndicate, Cheat, Jericho, and Vera. In She played DI Rachel Klein in the Coup de Grace episodes in 2014.
More recently, she played Daphne Sparrow in the brilliant Sherwood, a role she’ll soon reprise in series 2. She’s also played Karen in I Hate Suzie, and Joan in comedy Alma’s Not Normal, and Michelle Lafferty in Silent Witness two-hander My Sister’s Keeper.
Her fans will know her husband and son are famous too! She’s married to Andy Serkis, and their son Louis Ashbourne Serkis starred in 2022 Sheridan Smith drama No Return.
Faye McKeever as Kelly in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
After the Flood cast on ITV: Faye McKeever stars as Kelly
Faye McKeever, 38, appears as Kelly in the cast of After the Flood on ITV. She recently portrayed Tanya Helsby in the cast of BBC One’s hard-hitting prison drama Time.
She’s perhaps best known for playing Linda in the comedy Trollied, but she’s no stranger to a gritty drama. In 2017, she played Petra Jamieson in the Shannon Matthews-inspired BBC drama The Moorside in 2017. Then three years later, she made an appearance in ITV’s harrowing series Des in 2020.
More recently, she portrayed Alison in BBC’s The Reckoning – which was about disgraced paedophile Jimmy Saville. She also played Jodie Sweeney in The Responder, Deborah Peach in A Confession, and Claire Olssen in Little Boy Blue.
Away from TV screens, she was also in a relationship with X Factor champ and Corrie hunk Shayne Ward. The pair struck up a romance in 2003, and got engaged in 2012. However two years later the pair called it quits.
Real life husband and wife duo Sophie Rundle and Matt Stokoe as Jo and Pat in After the Flood (Credit: ITV1)
Matt Stokoe plays Jo’s husband Pat Holman
Actor Matt Stokoe portrays Jo’s husband Pat Holman in the cast of After the Flood on ITV1. And it won’t be much of a stretch, as the couple are together in real life!
Matt’s breakout role was as Alex in the Channel 4 series Misfits. His special power enabled him to remove the powers of others. He went on to portray teacher Gerard Eyre in The Village, and Captain Marcheaux in series three of The Musketeers.
In 2018, he starred as Luke in Jed Mercurio’s Bodyguard, opposite his future wife. He and Sophie also appeared together in the Sky One series Jamestown, and the film Rose, which was written by Matt.
In 2020, Matt played Gawain in the Netflix original series Cursed. More recently, he played the controversial role of Raoul Moat in the series The Hunt for Raoul Moat, and suspect Mark B. Warden in Grace.
Jacqueline Boatswain stars as Sarah Mackie (Credit: ITV1)
After the Flood cast on ITV: Jacqueline Boatswain plays Sarah Mackie
Actress Jacqueline Boatswain portrays local politician Sarah Mackie in the cast of After the Flood on ITV1.
She’s well respected for her work across theatre, TV and film. On TV, viewers might recognise her for playing Mima Blodwen in Carnival Row, Victoria in Wolfblood, and Patreesha St Rose in Shameless.
Grange Hill fans will know her for playing headmistress Mrs Bassinger in the long-running BBC school drama from 2003 to 2006. In 2015, Jacqueline Boatswain joined the cast of C4 soap Hollyoaks as regular cast member Simone Loveday, a role she left in 2019.
Most recently, she popped up in an episode of The Good Ship Murder, and played Elaine Simms in The Diplomat opposite After the Flood co-star Sophie Rundle!
Jonas Armstrong portrays Lee Ellison
Actor Jonas Armstrong plays the seemingly heroic local man Lee Ellison in After the Flood, but all is not as it seems…
Jonas is probably most famous for playing Robin Hood in the BBC series of the same name between 2006 and 2009. He also played Anthony Millington in Teachers, Steve in Prisoners Wives, Ben in Hit & Miss, and Joe in Line of Duty.
Most recently, he portrayed Jason in The Drowning, and Sean Meredith in The Bay – a father whose child goes missing. He’s also played grieving dad Gareth in Hollington Drive, Saul Morris in Strike, and Finn Coleman in Ghost Seekers.
In 2022, he took on the role of paedophile Barry Bennell in the moving drama Floodlights. In 2023, the 43-year-old portrayed Arthur Lake in the madcap comedy drama Boat Story.
Who else stars in the cast of After the Flood on ITV1?
Elsewhere, actress Tripti Tripuraneni portrays Deepa Das. She’s a relative newcomer to our screens. In fact, her role in After the Flood is her fourth TV appearence. She previously played Carol in one episode of Temple in 2019, Leena Minhas in Casualty the same year, and Helaena’s Nurse in House of the Dragon in 2022.
George Bukhari plays Keith. He’s perhaps best known for portraying Jason in Ordinary Lies, or Terry in The A Word. Coronation Street fans might recognise him as Sammy Farr, a role he played on and off between 2019 and 2022. More recently, he starred as DC Darren Lakhan in Ridley.
Anita Adam Gabay stars as Tasha. She’s been on our screens ever since 2021 when she played Lucy in the short film Part of Me. She went on to portray Julia in Baptiste, Queen Margaret of Anjou in Royal Bastards: Rise of the Tudors, and Anna Tatar in We Were the Lucky Ones.
Last but not least, actor Daniel Betts is DCI Roy. Jobbing actor Daniel recently played Greg in Emmerdale. He’s also starred opposite Sophie Rundle before, when he played Hinscliffe in Gentleman Jack. The actor has also appeared in Chloe, Angela Black, Atlantic Crossing, Sex Education, and A Confession.
DCI Vera Stanhope returns tonight for the 13th season of the ITV detective series Vera. And the guest cast for the three feature-length episodes is sublime.
Brenda Blethyn will be reunited with David Leon, who returns as Joe Ashworth for the first time since 2014. In tonight’s episode, Vera and Joe are set to investigate a catastrophic car collision, where the victim was a popular market trader.
A whole host of new faces will join Vera in the first of three episodes, titled Fast Love. Here’s who they are, and where you’ve seen them before.
Rhiannon Clements in ITV’s Maryland (Credit: ITV)
Rhiannon Clements
English actress Rhiannon Clements, 29, will portray the newest member of Vera’s team: DC Steph Clements. Steph loves being at the heart of an investigation, and that isn’t sitting behind a desk doing paperwork. Her enthusiasm gets on Vera’s nerves, but there’s raw talent lurking beneath.
Rhiannon is best known for a stint on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks which saw her portray the villainous Summer Ranger. Summer arrived on the soap in November 2020, and viewers watched as she prepared to avenge her father Cormac. She left the role 12 months later, having bagged a Best Newcomer nomination at the National Television Awards. She later received a nomination for Villain of the Year at the British Soap Awards.
More recently, Rhiannon portrayed Izzy in the ITVX thriller Platform 7 (2023). She also starred as Bev in the Power of Parker, Lauren in Maryland and Fliss in Sister Boniface Mysteries (all 2023).
Her other TV appearances include Ridley (2022), Big Boys (2022), Death on the Nile (2022), The Other One (2020) and Doctor Who (2020).
Sarah Kameela Impey as Pathologist Dr. Paula Bennett in Vera (Credit: ITV)
Sarah Kameela Impey
Actress and musician Sarah Kameela Impey portrays pathologist Dr Paula Bennett, a keen and talented scientist. She is brilliant, working quickly to examine minor details and draw conclusions, but she can leave her fellow team members behind.
Sarah’s best known for her role as front woman Saira in Muslim punk band sitcom We Are Lady Parts (2021). The Channel 4 series was critically acclaimed, with a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well as winning multiple awards.
As well as We Are Lady Parts, Sarah has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company multiple times, notably in the 2017 version of The Tempest.
In 2023, she appeared in Maternal as well as an episode of radio soap The Archers. She also starred alongside future Vera co-star Amit Shah in the 2022 short film Legs.
Nimmy March on Lorraine(Credit: Steve Meddle/Shutterstock)
Nimmy March
English actress Nimmy March, also known as Lady Naomi Gordon-Lennox, plays Carol Sloane in Vera series 13.
Nimmy’s had an interesting life. After being abandoned by her birth mother, she was adopted by the Earl and Countess of March and Kinrara, who later became the Duke and Duchess of Richmond. She received a courtesy title in 2004 of Lady Naomi Gordon-Lennox.
The 61-year-old’s acting career goes back to the 1980s, when she appeared in TV series Albion Market (1986). She later played Claudette on ten episodes of The Lenny Henry Show (1987-1988), and Aretha in Split Ends (1989).
In the 1990s, Nimmy had roles in Rides (1992-1993), Coronation Street (1994), A Touch of Frost (1995), Goodnight Sweetheart (1995-1996), My Good Friend (1996) and Undercover Heart (1998). Most notably, she also played Denice Andrews in BAFTA-nominated BBC binman comedy Common as Muck (1994-1997).
She kicked off the new millennium with a role in firefighter drama London’s Burning (2000) as well as a role in Down to Earth (2000-2001). Over the next few years, she made appearances in plenty of big name TV series. These included: Holby City (2002), Doctors (2004 and 2017), Strictly Confidential (2006), Casualty (2006 and 2015), Waking the Dead (2008), Law & Order: UK (2009-2014), Emmerdale (2013), EastEnders (2014), Waterloo Road (2015) and Death in Paradise (2016).
Krupa Pattani (left) and Amit Shah (right) in Mr Bates vs the Post Office (Credit: ITV)
Amit Shah
British actor Amit Shah, 42, portrays Milan Shah in Vera series 13.
You might recognise Amit from another big January 2024 release: he portrayed Jasgun Singh in Mr Bates vs the Post Office. Jas was the husband of Saman Kaur (Krupa Pattani), an accused sub-postmistress who experienced severe depression following a lengthy trial.
Amit also had a lot of work last year, playing roles in Happy Valley and Death in Paradise as well as portraying Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in The Windsors.
He played the lead role of Kaan in short film Big Ears (2021). Amit also had roles in The Other One (2017-2022), The Long Call (2021), Angry Quiz Guy (2020), The Courier (2019), Final Score (2018), The Rebel (2016-2017) and Hospital People (2017).
In 2016, he was Fred Patini in Channel 4 property guardian comedy Crashing. He also played intelligence agent Brannigan in Jeckyll and Hyde (2015).
And before all that, he had roles in Whites (2010), Honest (2008) and The Palace (2008).
Stephen Lord playing drug dealer Taz on Coronation Street (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Stephen Lord
Salford-born English actor Stephen Lord will portray Tony Meddon.
Stephen has played lots of roles on British TV, particularly in soap. Most notably, he portrayed Jase Dyer, the father of Eastenders favourite Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) from 2007 to 2008. He then portrayed Warren Clements on Casualty (2010-2011) and, more recently, Tez Wyatt on Corrie (2021).
The 52-year-old has also had roles in The South Westerlies (2020), Safe House (2017), Marcella (2016) and Penny Dreadful (2014-2015). He played Dominic Meak in Shameless between 2012 and 2013.
In the 1990s, he had multiple recurring roles, including PC Steve Jackson in City Central (1998-1999). Between 1994 and 1997, he starred alongside future co-star Nimmy in Common as Muck, where he portrayed one of the leads – Jonno. He starred as Darwin Craven in Luv (1993-1994), as well as Luke in Wilderness Edge (1992).
Stephen’s also had some impressive film roles, including gigs in Raining Stones (1993), South West 9 (2001), Real Men (2003), Octane (2003), LD 50 Lethal Dose (2003) and Until Death (2007).
Andrew Dunn with the cast of Dinnerladies (Credit: Cover Images)
Andrew Dunn
Leeds-born actor Andrew Dunn, 67, portrays Ian Headley.
Andrew has had not one, but two, recurring roles on Coronation Street over the years. He first portrayed Laurie Dyson on the soap in 2003, before returning to play Roger Stiles from 2007 to 2008.
He’s also had multiple roles on Doctors (2005-2018), Heartbeat (1993-2004), The Bill (2002-2006) and Holby City (1992-2002).
Between 2005 and 2006, he starred in 55 Degrees North, alongside Don Gilet. He also played Tony on Dinnerladies (1998-2000) and Kevin in The Knock (1994-1999).
Most recently, Andrew appeared in 2021’s The Syndicate, playing Brian.
Kris Marshall and Bryan Dick in 2007’s Sold (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Bryan Dick
British actor Bryan Dick portrays Alun Barrie.
Bryan’s more recent roles include Jed in Ridley (2022), Cyrus in Midsomer Murders (2019) and Ramsey in The Split (2018).
Other appearances include Joe Orton Laid Bare (2017), Capital (2015), Wolf Hall (2015) and Ice Cream Girls (2013).
A huge role came in 2011 when Bryan portrayed Ernie Wise in the BBC’s BAFTA-winning Morecambe and Wise biopic Eric & Ernie.
The 45-year-old previously had roles in All the Small Things (2009), Sold (2007), Bleak House (2005) and Blackpool (2004).
Bryan’s film roles include Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) and Blood & Chocolate (2007).
Craig Charles and Samantha Seager in Coronation Street (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Samantha Seager
Wigan-born actress Samantha Seager plays Kathy Barrie.
Samantha’s biggest role to date was a 2007 stint in Coronation Street, where she played Jodie Morton. Jodie was the first of the Morton family to arrive on the soap, and enjoyed regular arguments with Cilla Battersby-Brown (Wendi Peters).
She’s also had roles on EastEnders (2023), Doctors (2005-2022), Casualty (2005-2018), Holby City (2013-2015), Silent Witness (2011) and Waterloo Road (2010).
Prior to that, she played roles on Little Britain (2004), The Lakes (1997-1999), The Hello Girls (1996-1998) and The Bill (1995-1996).
DCI Vera Stanhope and Joe Ashworth (Credit: ITV)
Who else is in Vera series 13
Patrick McNamee portrays Owen Duggan in Vera series 13.Our Girl fans will recognise Patrick as Private Jason Curry, also known as Ruby, in series 3 of the hit drama. Patrick also starred in an episode of Inspector George Gently in 2015, portraying Kit McDonald. He played John in 2021’s The Pebble and the Boy.
Beruce Khan will play Neil Rahim. Beruce appeared in 2023 sci-fi film Coyote. He has also had roles in War of the Worlds (2022), The Capture (2022), and The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe (2022).
Newcomers Travis Ross, Evie Hargreaves and Susan Jayne-Robinson are also set to make their television debuts in Vera series 13. They will play Danny Meddon, Leanne Barrie and Alison Rahim.
Vera series 13 premieres on ITV1 on Sunday, January 7 at 8pm.
ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office has gripped viewers across the country – but what happened to the real people portrayed in the drama?
Between 2000 and 2015, 736 sub-postmasters were prosecuted as a result of financial discrepancies caused by the faulty Horizon IT system. Hundreds more were held liable, losing homes, livelihoods and their lives in their attempts to repay the Post Office.
The shocking truth behind the Post Office Scandal has left viewers angry and numb. But what happened to the sub-postmasters featured in the show in real life? And what happened to those in charge of the Post Office cover up?
The real Alan Bates, campaigner for victims of the Post Office scandal (Credit: ITV)
Wronged sub-postmaster Alan Bates continues to fight for the victims of the Post Office Scandal
Alan Bates, played by Toby Jones in the drama, opened a Post Office counter in the shop he co-owned with partner Suzanne (played by Julie Hesmondhalgh) in May 1998. They believed it was a safe career choice that would allow them to pursue their hobbies.
They were wrong. By 2000, Alan had noticed discrepancies with the shop’s Horizon machine. He reported his concerns to the Post Office multiple times, and by 2003 the Post Office terminated his contract. He was never prosecuted for theft, despite the Post Office claiming a shortfall in takings at his branch.
Alan didn’t stop, however, reporting his concerns to journalists. By 2009, Computer Weekly released a report on the Horizon system’s flaws. That same year, he formed the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) featured in Mr Bates vs the Post Office.
Since then, Alan hasn’t stopped. He’s spent more than a decade campaigning for convictions to be quashed, sub-postmasters to receive compensation, and a greater understanding of the scandal. It took until 2019 for the Post Office to admit wrongdoing.
He said he won’t stop until everyone from the JFSA receives suitable compensation. “For me to try and draw a line under my involvement will be when the initial 555, the group that brought the court action, have received the financial redress due to them.
“You will never be able to repay people for what they’ve gone through and you will never be able to give them back all those years of suffering that they’ve had to endure. But hopefully, it might alleviate some of their problems going forward.”
In 2023, Alan declined the offer of a OBE, claiming he could not accept while former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells still held her CBE.
The real Jo Hamilton from the Post Office Scandal (Credit: ITV)
The real people behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office: Jo Hamilton
Jo Hamilton, played by Monica Dolan, was the sub-postmaster South Warnborough, Hampshire. Accepting the Post Office’s claims that she was the only person having problems, Jo believed she was at fault. She remortgaged her house twice to repay the Post Office, but it still wasn’t enough. She was fired from her position in 2006, and later charged with the theft of £36,000.
Jo pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of false accounting, and members of her community showed up to her trial in support.
In April 2021, Jo was one of 39 former convicted postmasters who had their convictions overturned. Sadly, three of those convicted postmasters did not live to see their names cleared.
In her witness statement after being cleared, Jo said: “18 years have been stolen from me, to say nothing of the money that was taken and the wider impact on those close to me. My parents went to their graves without knowing that I would ever be exonerated – that can never be rectified.
“The Post Office has blood on their hands.”
Jo continues to campaign for the full exoneration of wronged sub-postmasters and rightful compensation. In 2022, she shared her story in the Panorama special The Post Office Scandal.
Lee Castleton
Lee Castleton, played by Will Mellor, was the sub-postmaster at Bridlington, Yorkshire from 2003-2004. He ran the post office, while wife Lisa (Amy Nuttall) managed the attached newsagents.
Lee noticed that the figures weren’t adding up quickly. Knowing his accounting was right, he repeatedly rang the Post Office’s IT helpline for help.
Eventually, Lee asked for an audit to get to the bottom of the issue. The audit found Lee had a shortfall of £25,000. He was suspended immediately afterwards.
The Post Office took Lee to the High Court, where – with no money to spare – he was forced to represent himself. He believed he would be exonerated if he just told the truth, but he was not. The High Court ruled in favour of the Post Office and the Post Office began to chase for a legal bill totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. Lee and Lisa could not pay, and were forced to declare bankruptcy.
After meeting Alan Bates and joining the group litigation, the Post Office agreed to a settlement for the Castletons in 2017.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lee revealed he now works nightshifts in a local factory while Lisa works in a supermarket.
He said: “We haven’t got to the end of this; I’m still fighting, we’re still victims. But I look forward to the day when it is not the last thing I think about at night and the first thing I think about when I wake up.”
Real people behind Mr Bates Vs The Post Office: Michael and Susan Rudkin
Michael Rudkin, played by Shaun Dooley, and his wife Susan, were also victims of the Post Office Scandal. The pair ran the Stairfoot Post Office in Barnsley from 1995 before buying the Ibstock Post Office in Leicestershire in 2000. Michael ran the Ibstock branch, while Susan also worked there.
In 2006, Michael received a role on the Executive Board of the National Federation of sub-postmasters. This meant he spent more time working in London, while Susan ran the Ibstock branch in his place.
Susan noticed problems, and, like with Lee, it all came to a head after auditors confirmed she owed £44,000. She was quickly interviewed by Post Office investigators, who refused her legal representation. She was suspended that same day. Her and Michael both lost their jobs.
By 2009, Susan pleaded guilty to theft while under pressure to avoid a harsher sentence.
The pair were forced to turn their Ibstock home into a bed and breakfast in order to survive, which they still run to this day.
In 2021, Susan’s conviction was overturned alongside Jo’s. The government offered £600,000 compensation, minus profits made from the B&B business, but Michael argued it was not enough.
Michael told the BBC: “When you take into account that we have been out of the business for 15 years – that is 5,475 days. [£600,000] works out at just over £100 a day – which is absolutely obscene.
“We will not accept £600,000 – and that is £600,000 minus what my wife has earnt.”
The pair continue to seek alternative compensation.
Martin and Gina Griffiths
Martin and Gina Griffiths, played by Colin Tierney and Clare Calbraith, ran the Hope Farm Road Post Office in Great Sutton together for 14 years.
Shortfalls started appearing on their Horizon machine from 2009. The couple put their life savings into the machine to balance the books. By 2013, the Post Office gave Martin three months before they terminated his contract. Michael then took his own life.
Gina told Panorama: “They hounded him. They persecuted him. Didn’t seem to be any end to it at the time.
“He’s a proud man and I think he thought he was letting us all down; his children, his parents, me. To turn the machine off in the morning, and the worst, the worst thing for me was seeing my children.
“They had to see their dad die and it was purely down to the Post Office. Nobody else. So I blame them.”
Following the suicide, Gina applied for compensation in 2015. She was offered a payout that contained a gagging clause, preventing her from speaking publicly about the ordeal.
The real Noel Thomas, an accused sub-postmaster during the Post Office Scandal (Credit: ITV)
The real people behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office: Noel Thomas
Noel Thomas, played by Ifan Huw Dafydd, ran the Post Office in Gaerwan, Anglesey, Wales. He’d worked for the Post Office since the 1960s. In 2003, he began to notice discrepancies in his numbers. His world was turned upside down in October 2005, when auditors began to investigate a shortfall of £48,000. He lost his position as sub-postmaster, as well as his position as a county councillor.
Noel pleaded guilty to false accounting and was sentenced to nine months in prison. He spent his 60th birthday behind bars.
He told the Mirror: “They made me bankrupt and I had nothing. When I came home I didn’t like having the bedroom door shut. I have to get out and go for walks as much as possible. Even now I don’t like being shut up in the house or to be in one room too long.”
Noel and his wife were forced to move in with their daughter Sian after losing their home. By 2009, when the JCFA was formed, he was working for Yodel’s delivery service.
In April 2021, he too had his name cleared at the Court of Appeal. He has since received compensation from the Post Office.
Pam Stubbs
Pam, played by Lesley Nicol, was the sub-postmaster at Barkham Post Office in Wokingham. In 2009, due to building work on her branch, she and her Horizon terminal moved to a Portakabin in the branch’s car park. It was only after she moved her terminal that Pam began having issues with Horizon.
She called the helpline regularly, although – like the others – found it wasn’t much help. At one point, an auditor arrived and saw the Horizon system glitch in front of their eyes, suddenly displaying a shortfall of £300. Despite this, an investigation found no problems with the system.
Pam was suspended by the Post Office in 2010, after the Post Office said she had accrued losses of £25,000.
She continued to run the shop attached to her Post Office while the Post Office was run by agency staff. Pam eventually sold her Post Office, including the shop and her home.
Former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells received a CBE for her services in 2019
Paula Vennells, played by Lia Williams, was the CEO of the Post Office as they continued to persecute sub-postmasters despite evidence of Horizon’s faults. She joined the Post Office in 2007, before becoming CEO in 2012 – a position she held until 2019.
During Paula’s tenure, the Post Office went from making huge losses to turning a profit.
Away from the Post Office, Paula was also an ordained Church of England priest. She served as a Minister at Bronham, Bedfordshire and St Albans, Hertfordshire, though she was not paid for these duties.
Paula left the Post Office in 2019 and received a CBE for her services. She next became chair of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, but left this role in 2020.
In 2021, after Jo and 38 others had their convictions quashed, Paula stepped down from multiple roles. These included her duties as an Anglican priest, and directorships at Morrisons and Dunelm.
Angela Van den Bogerd
Angela Van den Bogerd, portrayed by Katherine Kelly, worked for the Post Office and was in charge of handling Horizon complaints in 2010.
She worked for the Post Office for more than 33 years, with positions including as Network Change Operations Manager, Head of Network Services, Head of Partnerships, Director of Support Services, People & Change Director and Business Improvement Director.
Her role in the Post Office Scandal became clear in 2019, when High Court Judge said she “did not give me frank evidence, and sought to obfuscate matters, and mislead me”.
Angela stepped down from her role at the Post Office and was later appointed Head of People at the Football Association of Wales in 2020. She left the role in 2021, following disquiet over her appointment.
James Arbuthnot, the MP who supported the sub-postmasters (Credit: ITV)
The real people behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office: James Arbuthnot MP
Conservative politician James Arbuthnot (Alex Jennings) joined the JFSA campaign in 2015 in support of his constituent Jo Hamilton.
He was the MP for North East Hampshire at the time, a position he’d held since 1997.
In 2015 an independent report found the Post Office did not make attempts to explain the shortfalls before prosecuting subpostmasters. In response, Arbuthnot called for a judge-led investigation into how the Post Office had handled the situation.
He said: “These are people who have been pillars of the community and have their reputations dragged through the mud.
“The way they have been treated is an utter disgrace.”
Former Prime Minister David Cameron nominated James as a peer in August 2015. He became Baron Arbuthnot of Edrom, of Edrom in the County of Berwick that October.
As of 2023, he continues to sit on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office concludes tonight (Thursday, January 4) on ITV1 at 9pm. You can stream the series now on ITVX.
The Post Office has issued an apology following the launch of new drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office on ITV.
The new drama tells the story of “one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history”.
The new drama launched last night (Credit: ITV)
Mr. Bates vs The Post Office launches on ITV
The new ITV drama depicts the British Post Office scandal. The scandal has since been dubbed one of the “greatest miscarriages of justice” in British legal history.
Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting. This was thanks to a defective IT system.
Due to that faulty IT system, 739 were prosecuted. Hundreds more lost livelihoods, homes, and life savings because they paid back the money the Post Office claimed was missing. Several even went to prison.
The new four-part drama tells the story of how in 2009, a group of subpostmasters across Britain decided enough was enough and formed the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance.
Post Office issues apology following launch of Mr Bates vs The Post Office
Now, the Post Office has issued an apology to those affected by the scandal.
The apology was shared by the official Post Office Twitter account for 64.5k followers to see.
“We sincerely apologise to victims for the devastating impact of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal on the lives of so many,” they said.
“We are doing all we can to provide redress and urge anyone affected who has not yet come forward to do so,” they then added.
In a video, the Post Office chief executive, Nick Read, said that his “commitment to address the consequences of the Horizon scandal, the victims, has been unwavering”.
Toby Jones’ performance has been praised (Credit: ITV)
Viewers react to new drama
The drama has proven to be a success with viewers already. Many took to Twitter to deliver their verdict last night (Monday, January 1).
“Very well done with the ever impressive Toby Jones,” one fan tweeted. “The first episode of Mr Bates vs the Post Office on @ITV was absolutely brilliant tonight, Toby Jones always delivers a great performance whatever he’s in,” another said.
“Mr Bates v The Post Office what a great drama, highlighting an unbelievable injustice to these poor people,” a third said.
Coronation Street star Alex Bain, who has played Simon Barlow for 15 years, has quit the ITV soap, it’s been reported.
The 22-year-old actor has been in the ITV soap since he was seven years old. However, he is expected to depart with an explosive storyline next summer.
Alex, who became a dad in real life in 2018 is said to be “very excited” about his big move.
Simon Barlow is leaving the Street, it’s claimed (Credit: YouTube)
Simon Barlow leaving the Coronation Street cobbles?
A source claimed to The Sun: “Alex is sad to be leaving Coronation Street because it really is like a family. But he realises that the time is right to move on.”
He realises that the time is right to move on.
They went on to add: “He’s very excited about the future and other opportunities.”
The telly star has been involved in a series of controversial storylines, and won the British Soap Award for Best Young Actor in 2011.
Alex’s real life is pretty dramatic, too!
Meanwhile, in real life, the child actor became a father himself at the age of 17. His then-girlfriend Levi Selby gave birth to their daughter Lydia-Rose just after her 16th birthday in December 2018.
However, the couple split, with a source claiming: “They were over the moon at the birth of their baby girl and were really happy together. But they’ve been through a lot together and they’re both still so young.”
The soap star then enjoyed a short-lived engagement to dancer Mollie Lockwood. Speaking to OK! magazine after getting down on one knee, Alex gushed: “I can’t spend my life with anyone else.”
However, earlier this year, it was reported that Alex had sadly split from his aspiring actress fiancée Mollie. An insider told The Sun: “They’re gutted the relationship didn’t work out, but they’re both so young it’s hard to make such a big commitment early on in their lives.”
Previously Alex revealed that his daughter and his role in the soap had saved him from “dark times”. He said: “If I didn’t stick at the job that I’m in now I would have been lost.
“Corrie has kept me going and especially having a daughter has kept me going – it gives me something to do,” he concluded.
Corrie spoilers
Reports claim that he’ll leave the role of Simon Barlow in Coronation Street this summer.
Alex’s on-screen dad, Peter Barlow, played by Chris Gascoigne, will be seen leaving the cobbles – and Carla – tonight (December 26).
TV presenter Stephen Mulhern has officially signed on as the new Dancing On Ice presenter for next year, it has been revealed. ITV bosses hope that Stephen will join current host Holly Willoughby, who has yet to confirm her return.
The Sun newspaper ‘confirmed’ that bosses have officially picked Stephen to replace disgraced former host Phillip Schofield.
ITV favourite Stephen Mulhern will host the next series of Dancing On Ice (Credit: ITV/YouTube)
Stephen Mulhern signs up to host Dancing On Ice
A TV insider told The Sun: “Stephen has been the frontrunner to take Phillip’s spot for months but ITV is thrilled to now have him signed and sealed and ready to roll. It means that, whatever happens, they have at least one host for the skate show.”
ITV bosses reportedly hope that Deal Or No Deal host Stephen’s presence will be what it takes for Holly to return to the show.
“Stephen is hugely loved by viewers, is a consummate professional and as an added bonus has worked with Holly for decades – they both started out in telly together,” the tabloid’s source continued.
“Knowing Stephen will be there beside her could be the comfort blanket Holly needs to say yes,” the insider said.
Stephen previously stood in for Phillip in 2022, when the then-Dancing On Ice presenter tested positive for COVID. Going back further, he and Holly both worked together on the children’s entertainment show Ministry Of Mayhem, where they quickly rose to fame as household names.
Holly has taken her leave of the spotlight since her sudden exit from This Morning earlier this year. Telly bosses and viewers alike have been on tenterhooks, wondering whether she would return to Dancing On Ice.
Holly left This Morning earlier this year (Credit: ITV/YouTube)
Holly Willoughby seen out and about for the first time following This Morning exit
Pictures obtained by MailOnline showed the presenter out for a walk in South West London.
Holly wore a red jumpsuit and gold heels, paired with a long camel coat. She then reportedly joined her family for a Christmas lunch.
It’s claimed mum Linda, husband Dan Baldwin and a group of friends joined in on the celebrations too. Holly was seen leaving the venue and later walked down the road to a waiting car.
