unrecognisable

A FORMER Hollyoaks star is unrecognisable after quitting fame and launching an international property career.

The star will be back in people’s minds as his on-screen sister has announced she is making a return to the Channel 4 soap.

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Zoe Lister is making a shock return to the Channel 4 soap – eight years after her last appearance.

The actress – who played Zoe Carpenter in the long-running soap – spent four years between 2006 and 2010 on the show.

She went on to make a brief return in 2017 before bowing out for good.

And more recently she’s found worldwide viral fame as the voice of the Jet2 Holidays advert that’s become an internet sensation.

But now The Sun has revealed that Zoe will be going back to the job that made her famous.

A source said: “Zoe will be returning to Hollyoaks for a brief stint soon.

“She’s really excited and it’ll be a huge treat for fans as the show celebrates its 30th anniversary.”

However it will spark theories on where her former on-screen brother Stephen Beard is these days.

His character Archie was involved in some huge storylines, including drug addiction and being kidnapped by gangsters,  throughout his two years on the soap.

Viewers last saw Archie on screen in 2010 when the character exited after falling out with his friends due to his continuing drug habit.

And now the former actor has given up a life of fame and reinvented himself as a property expert in Dubai.

It’s world’s away from Hollyoaks!

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RENAULT’S beloved Clio has been reinvented for its sixth generation – and drivers in France have been left “dumbstruck” by its surprising new look. 

The new Renault Clio 6, unveiled this week in Munich, has sparked outrage in France, with some claiming the car is unrecognisable.

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One critic said it looked like Ford, another likened it to a Nissan and a third claimed it assembled a seat. 

Several compared it to a Mazda, while others thought they spotted hints of Alfa Romeo or Peugeot. 

Yet they all seemed to agree the Clio 6 does not look like a Renault and in a country with a 126-year attachment to the brand, the absence of its typical features has gone down badly. 

“The discovery of this new Renault has left us dumbstruck,” said Caradisac, the car website. 

“Unrecognisable,” said Capital, the financial magazine. “You can detect a bit of Peugeot, a pinch of Ford, a touch of Mazda and a hint of Seat.” It warned the design “risks disappointing” car-loving readers.

“You don’t change a winning team,” said Les Echos, the financial daily. “However, that is what Renault has done with its new Clio.”

Social media erupted with debate, especially over comparisons to Mazda. One Mazda owner joked: “The new Renault 6 does remind me … of a Mazda 3. This can’t be a bad thing, right?”

The row highlights Renault’s cultural and economic significance in France.

The Clio may not match the legendary Renault 4L or Citroën 2CV, but it has been a modern industrial success story and a familiar sight on French roads.

Over 17 million Clios have been sold since its 1989 launch. 

It was Europe’s second best-selling car last year, behind the Dacia Sandero, another Renault group vehicle, and the top-selling model in France in the first half of 2025. 

“It’s an old love story,” said Challenges, the financial website.

The Clio has even inspired clubs, online forums, and, controversially, a survey in 2023 found 25% of respondents had had sex in their car at least once – the Clio topping the list ahead of the BMW 3 and Audi A4.

The new Clio 6 advertising slogan, “Love redesigned,” hints at the “more spacious and generous” interior Capital mentioned.

Politics and economics also loom large. Renault is France’s only remaining national carmaker, with the state holding 15% to ward off takeover attempts. 

Meanwhile, rivals Peugeot and Citroën are now part of Stellantis, headquartered in the Netherlands.

Conservative voices have criticised Renault’s decision to make the Clio 6 in Turkey, while environmentalists are unimpressed by the hybrid, rather than fully electric, engine option.

Renault insists the car is aimed at a fast-changing market. CEO François Provost said his aim was to rival Chinese carmakers, whom he described as “the best.”

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The duo met more than 20 years ago when she interviewed his band Busted on MTV’s TRL

Love Is Blind UK’s Emma and Matt Willis briefly followed the same path before they met with the celebrities both taking on roles in EastEnders.

The second season of Love Is Blind UK has gone down a storm with more instant connections and fiery personalities keeping Netflix subscribers hooked.

At the heart of it all are real-life married presenters Emma and Matt Willis who met back in 2004 when Emma, then 29, interviewed Busted on MTV’s TRL, including 22-year-old Matt.

Four years later, the pair got married at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire and welcomed their three children in 2009, 2011 and then their youngest five years later.

But years before meeting, both Emma and Matt experienced what life is like in BBC ’s iconic Albert Square.

In November 1999, The Voice presenter had a guest role in an episode of EastEnders as a youngster called Jodie. She starred alongside Jodie’s mum, played by actress Joanna Hole, although there is little information on what her involvement in the episode was.

In a still image from the episode, Emma looks a lot younger and has longer hair, in comparison to her famous short haircut.

Meanwhile, Busted star Matt made a couple of trips to Walford, the first being an unnamed teenager on a skateboard in 1998.

The second of the two was a far larger role in 2014 when Matt was already well known for being part of the noughties pop band.

He was behind Luke Riley, Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) long-term boyfriend who she was living with in London after she killed Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).

Stacey had been pretending that her name was Jenny Smith but when he found out the truth, she headed back to Walford to live with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace).

Luke still loved Stacey though and was willing to make another go of things, however, upon discovering she was a killer, he left for good this time, leaving her heartbroken.

Love Is Blind UK is available to watch on Netflix.

SPORTING’S stadium underwent an incredible transformation during the summer.. but they’re STILL working on it with the 2025-26 season underway.

The iconic Portuguese ground – which was only built in 2003 for a cost of £150million – was given a bit of a facelift during the offseason.

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And it left the arena looking utterly unrecognisable – particularly after the entire pitch was ripped up and left looking like a building site.

Following the end of the 2024-25 season – in which Cristiano Ronaldo‘s old club won the league in no small part down to Arsenal new-boy Viktor Gyokeres‘ goals – Sporting got to work on the makeover.

Most-notably, the pitch was ripped up and replaced by a hybrid surface.

And it passed the first test with flying colours, as Primeira Liga officials gave it a 10/10 for the club’s 6-0 win over Arouca in their first home game of the season.

But it wasn’t just re-laying the pitch – the entire playing surface was LOWERED to allow the club to add 2,000 more seats around the base of the stadium.

That boosted the capacity from 50,095 to 52,095.

And that new feature – not ready for the Arouca battering – WILL be ready for the massive derby game against Porto on August 30 with seats now being installed.

The dugout area has been completely renovated, too – with the bench now boasted a capacity of 28 players and coaches.

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On top of that, Sporting have opened a new “Emerald Lounge” for corporate ticket holders.

Club chiefs also splashed out £15m on repurchasing the adjacent Alvalaxia entertainment complex earlier this month.

Their plan is to re-home their club museum – which features their most important trophies, including replicas of individual Ballon d’Or gongs won by former players, Ronaldo and Luis Figo.

For now, the exhibition has been moved inside the stadium and is open to the public until the permanent residence is completed.

There is more work to be done inside the stadium, still – with the big screens currently being installed.

For now, supporters have a tiny scoreboard displayed on advertising hoardings on the side of the pitch.

But in time, the plan is to install multiple big screens.

Their plan moving forward is to cash-in on their corporate lounges – renting them out on non-matchdays for private events.

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TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW

Handy Andy – real name Andy Kane – was a hugely popular member of the Changing Rooms team with viewers. But what has he been up to since he left the show in 2004?

Popular 90s DIY show Changing Rooms was a firm favourite on our screens, but the cast look very different to nowadays.

Viewers of the BBC show tuned in weekly to see the team take on some major home transformations, making the stars of the show household names in the process.

Hosted by Carol Smillie, Changing Rooms drew in a whopping 10 million viewers at its peak on BBC One and created some iconic moments – who can forget when a £6,000 teapot collection was destroyed in one fell swoop by a floating shelf in series 8?

Designers Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Linda Barker, and Anna Ryder Richardson were the ones tasked with helping members of the public transform a room in someone else’s house – be it a friend, family member or neighbour. And then to help them make it a reality, the show’s handyman, Handy Andy (Andy Kane) swooped in.

READ MORE: Where is Heartbeat’s Nick Berry and the rest of the cast now? From tragic deaths to co-star romance

DIY expert Andy appeared on the show from 1996-2004 and was a key player in the transformation process. But what has he been up to in the years since?

After the show ended, Andy landed a role on the American version of the programme, named Trading Spaces, and he also presented three shows for UK Style, Room Rival , Garden Rivals and Streetcombers.

READ MORE: Dancing on Ice’s biggest scandals – from headbanger horror to bullying allegations

One of his biggest programmes was Increase Your House Price By Ten Grand, which saw Andy work with a team to increase a house’s value by £10,000 in just three days with a £1,000 budget.

Andy has also appeared on I’m Famous And Frightened, Cirque de Celebrite and The Adam And Joe Show, and he has hosted a number of BBC Primary Geography programmes since 2008. He is happily married to his wife Geraldine and together they have four children.

Andy was a popular member of the team and the chatty Cockney proved to be a big hit with viewers too. While he frequently impressed with his DIY, it didn’t always go to plan, and he later spoke about his most major mishap – when the teapot collection was destroyed.

Designer Linda had commissioned a floating shelf to house them but weighed it down with heavy books, causing the shelf to collapse overnight.

Andy told the Metro: “It went wrong because they put too much weight on it. The shelf was obviously just for show and just the teapots on it would have been fine, but then they started loading up with books at the bottom.

“I did say at the time that books are very heavy but they carried on and you know, it’s one of them things. When it happened, it was really, really awful, everyone felt really bad, but now you just laugh about it. But it was good entertainment, wasn’t it?

“In other episodes of the show they’d mount chairs on the wall or hang chairs from ceilings and as a builder, you’re like ‘really?!’, but that’s interior design for you.”

AN iconic 70s actress has been spotted looking completely unrecognisable, 47 years after playing a celebrated role that has stood the test of time.

The star, 74, was pictured in New York yesterday running errands while dressed in a pink polo shirt and white shorts, which could be considered an ode to her legendary character.

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She got her big break in Hollywood back in 1978 in a musical romantic comedy film which ended up becoming the highest grossing musical film at the time.

Four years later, she reprised her role for the stand-alone sequel and was the only character to return from the first film.

That’s right, it’s Grease icon Didi Conn! She played Frenchy Facciano as part of the Pink Ladies in the movie and it’s sequel.

The film’s soundtrack album ended 1978 as the second-best-selling album  of the year in the United States, only behind 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever.

It was nominated for several accolades including a nomination for Best Original Song at the Oscars and five nominations at the Golden Globe Awards.

Not only that, but in 2020, Grease was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Didi previously spoke exclusively to The Sun about her experience of shooting the film and shared some behind the scenes insights.

In one memorable scene of the movie, there’s a dance contest where the cast go wild, dancing the Hand Jive and doing some rather dirty dancing.

While it looked like it would have been fun to film, Didi revealed it was anything but fun.

She expressed: “That actually took a whole week of shooting. And what was really tough about it was that it was the height of summer – my birthday was that week, and the cake they got for me totally melted.

“We were in a real high school in downtown Los Angeles, with no air conditioning, and we had to keep the windows closed because right next door was a pork plant, so you can imagine the smell!”

But it was Summer Nights, the opening number of Grease, that Didi remembered most fondly.

She explained: “I think that’s where we all bonded, and it was so much fun to sing that song and jump all around the table.

“We’d been rehearsing it for weeks beforehand, so the energy was so high when we performed it for real.”

Grease stars remembered

IT has been over 45 years since the release of hit musical film Grease, which began its decades-long tenure of dazzling fans in 1978.

Sadly, including Susan Buckner, five of the much-loved cast have passed away.

On August 8, 2022 it was announced that Olivia Newton-John had passed away aged 73, following a 30 year battle with breast cancer.

After falling ill with pneumonia, Jeff Conaway – Danny’s best pal Kenickie in the movie – sadly passed away in 2011.

The same year, Annette Charles, who played Cha Cha, lost her battle with cancer.

In 1993, Dennis C. Stewart, who played rebel Leo, was diagnosed with HIV and passed away from AIDS in 1994.

After Grease, Didi went on to star in comedy film Almost Summer, fantasy adventure film Thomas and the Magic Railroad and biographical film Frida, based on the life of Frida Kahlo.

In 2019, she flew across the pond to make her debut on British tv screens on the eleventh series of Dancing on Ice.

She was partnered with professional Łukasz Różycki and at the age of 67, was the oldest person to ever compete on the show.

However, she was eliminated in the fourth week after the judges decided to save Saara Aalto and Hamish Gaman after following the skate-off.

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BBC’s powerful new drama Unforgivable has one renowned Shameless star among its leading star-studded cast but fans will simply not recognise him

Shameless actor David Threlfall couldn’t look further away from his former alter-ego Frank Gallagher even if he tried, in BBC‘s new drama feature, Unforgivable.

The dark story plot follows a harrowing tale that centres around child grooming and sexual abuse and shines a light on how a heinous crime can ripple through an entire family, with the Mitchells at the heart of the 90-minute long feature.

David, 71, who is best known for his alcoholic, chain-smoking days as Frank on the popular working-class comedy sitcom, has ditched his iconic long dark locks to star in the role of Anna Mitchell’s father.

Anna, is a mother of two children and her brother Joe is the perpetrator – who had been behind bars serving a two year prison sentence for his despicable crimes.

Joe is now to be released from jail and undertake rehabilitation which takes further toll on Anna, who is played by award-winning actress, Anna Friel, as she attempts to deal with the aftermath and emotional strain.

David plays the angry dad of Anna, after learning she’d been to visit her brother Joe, despite his chilling crimes. His character in Unforgivable appears to be worlds away from his former head-of-the-clan character Frank on Shameless.

In the brand new production, the esteemed actor is totally unrecognisable, boasting short gray hair and a neatly trimmed matching beard.

Another distinctive observation that’ll no doubt throw fans off of his Frank Gallagher scent, is that he is also presented as a well kept man, sporting a black tie and blazer with a crisp white shirt – nothing like his oversized green parka-style coat from a past on-screen life.

Previously, David’s appearance and accent have also proved to be a talking point among baffled fans with the actor bearing no real-life resemblance to his character at all.

He played Frank so well, that viewers were unable to get past that he may not be anything like him off-screen.

Shameless aired on Channel 4 for eleven series and 139 episodes from 2004 until 2013 and was adapted in the US, where it ran between 2011 and 2021.

Speaking about his pursuits away from television, David previously shared with the Mirror that he is a family man at heart, sharing two children with his accomplished actor wife, Brana Bajic.

Underscoring the disparity between himself and his fictional counterpart, he told the publication 2010: “I can’t imagine getting up in the morning and taking a drink. My body doesn’t take more than four pints. I was doing a scene yesterday where he was drinking cough medicine. He’s lost.”

Unforgivable will air on BBC Two at 9pm this Thursday and will be available on BBC iPlayer from the same day.

A must-watch romantic comedy has just landed on BBC iPlayer.

An Academy Award-winning period drama starring an unrecognisable A-lister is now streaming for free.

BBC iPlayer has just added Shakespeare in Love to its library, ready for theatre and romcom lovers to devour.

Released in 1998, the star-studded film features Oscar winners Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth and Ben Affleck. It also stars Dame Judi Dench in a role that almost completely disguises the acclaimed actress.

For those who missed the hit romantic drama, it follows young playwright William Shakespeare (played by Joseph Fiennes) as he is battling writer’s block.

While looking for a new muse, William meets his ideal woman, Viola (Paltrow), and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays, Romeo and Juliet.

Dame Dench plays Queen Elizabeth I, donning the hair, makeup and 16th century garments to fit the royal part. Despite being on screen for around eight minutes, Dench’s performance earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

The drama’s accolades didn’t stop there, as Shakespeare in Love also took home the Best Picture prize, alongside the Best Costume; Best Original Music; Best Screenplay, and Best Art Direction awards. Paltrow also bagged the Best Leading Actress gong, which remains her only Oscar win to date.

Directed by John Madden, the period drama has an impressive 92% Rotten Tomatoes score. The critics’ consensus reads: “Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level.”

Casual moviegoers similarly rave about the nineties hit, with one viewer writing: “Incredibly heart-warming and wildly entertaining, this movie has something for everybody, and it is so much fun to watch. I definitely recommend it for romance and comedy fans!”

A second said: “I absolutely love this movie, it’s a timeless classic and an absolute must see. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll fall in love with the characters.

“It’s quoted almost daily in my household, and rightfully so! If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend this movie!”

Meanwhile, a third penned: “Simply put, this is a fun film that never lacks for comedy. Everyone in this film portrays their parts with elegance. And as if to top the entire film off, Dame Judi Dench plays a rather fantastically entertaining Queen Elizabeth I.”

Shakespeare in Love is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.

TV presenter Andy Crane rose to fame when he first appeared on CBBC children’s show The Broom Cupboard in 1986. Despite leaving TV, he is still enjoying a sucessful career in the public eye

Popular presenter Andy Crane is best known for his debut on children’s TV programme The Broom Cupboard which is 39 years old – but what is the TV personality doing now?

Andy, now 61, has been brightening up people’s days on Greatest Hits Radio since 2019 and he looks very different from his Broom Cupboard days.

He first appeared on TV in 1986, taking over from Phillip Schofield on BBC’s Broom. The show, which helped launch the careers of Andi Peters, Toby Anstis and Zoe Ball, featured stars in a control desk room as the presenters introduced the programs.

The 61-year-old, who was one of the most memorable presenters on show, was just 29 at the time and worked alongside puppet Gordon, who went on to join him on Going Live! the next year.

He continued with Broom until 1990 and then featured on major music show Top of the Pops. He was also the face of Bad Influence! and Violet Berlin in the 90s.

READ MORE: This Morning star Lisa Snowdon’s shock facelift confession – ‘I love tweakments!’

But his impressive career didn’t stop there. Andy also presented children’s show, Motormouth, for ITV on Saturdays. He also featured on What’s Up Doc? and Challenge TV.

The star was also a news presenter for Channel M in Manchester. He is now residing in the picturesque location of Lake District, reports Rayo.

Before joining Greatest Hits Radio in 2019, Andy presented for Radio Manchester where he started off as a tea boy.

Speaking about how he got the role, he said: “I wrote to Piccadilly Radio in Manchester when I was living in the USA – they wrote back! Started there as a tea boy in 1981 and did my first show in 1983 which means I’ve now been doing this for 35 years.”

Andy, who was born in the seaside town of Morecambe, Lancashire, presents three hours of the best songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio, including The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon.

Luckily for his fans, he also appears on radiowaves on weekday afternoons – featuring the most groovy disco tunes for Greatest Hits Radio 70s. He says his listeners will hear: “Great music naturally and plenty of laughing.”

Earlier this year, the presenter revealed what he loves about his job the most: “Being invited into people’s homes, cars, bedrooms and bathrooms.”

The Map That Leads to You will hit Prime Video UK this summer and has already sent fans of the novel into a frenzy over the tearjerker trailer

KJ Apa, famed for his role as Archie Andrews in Riverdale, is unrecognisable in the newly released trailer for a captivating romance film set to premiere on Prime Video next month.

Adapted from JP Monninger’s novel, the film introduces us to Heather Mulgrew, portrayed by Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline, a young traveller whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Apa’s enigmatic character, Jack, during her European holiday.

Heather, who’s on a quest for self-discovery before embarking on her career in New York City, finds herself swept up in a whirlwind romance with Jack, a man tracing his grandfather’s footsteps through a journal.

Their journey ignites a passionate affair as they traverse the picturesque landscapes of Spain, Portugal, and Italy, hinting that their connection might be more than a fleeting summer romance.

Yet, as they delve deeper into their relationship, complexities arise, forcing Heather to choose between her ambitions and what could be the love of her life, reports the Express.

The official synopsis teases: “This chance encounter sparks an unexpected journey of self-discovery.

“As their connection deepens, secrets, life choices, and hidden truths will test their bond-and change Heather’s life in ways she never imagined.”

Riverdale enthusiasts who’ve lost touch with Apa’s breakthrough series may do a double-take upon seeing the Kiwi actor in this new persona.

Ditching Archie’s iconic red locks for a tousled darker mane and sporting some stubble, Apa also sheds the American accent, fully immersing himself in this fresh character.

The forthcoming drama flick, helmed by the director of What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Lasse Hallström, will feature Sofia Wylie from The School for Good and Evil and Ozark’s Madison Thompson as Heather’s closest friends.

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Orlando Norman and Josh Lucas are also set to appear, with the latter known to Yellowstone enthusiasts for his portrayal of a young John Dutton, originally played by Kevin Costner.

With the trailer dropping this Tuesday (15th July), The Map That Leads to You is already stirring excitement among fans, who are bracing themselves for an emotional journey when it hits screens in just over a month.

One eager YouTube user responded: “I’m so beyond excited to finally be able to watch this movie.”

Another fan gushed: “The movie looks so beautiful, I can’t wait to see this!!!!!”

A third person shared their enthusiasm: “I’ve missed movies with this vibe, literally so excited.”

Meanwhile, a devotee of the source material confessed on X (formerly Twitter): “Guys who haven’t read the map that leads to you don’t get why we’re already sobbing.”

An additional comment came with a caution: “Iv read the book and so I tried to prepare myself but as soon as I saw the trailer and that single tear falling down heathers face I fear I will NEVERR be fully prepared.”

They continued: “I’ll prob be sobbing in a fetal position for days on end after watching it.”

Prime Video might just have one of the biggest tear-jerkers of the year lined up for viewers this summer, promising a poignant European adventure with Heather and Jack.

The Map That Leads to You premieres Wednesday, 20th August on Prime Video.

Sunday Brunch host Tim Lovejoy is known for his clean-shaved look but the presenter once stunned viewers after revealing that wasn’t always the case.

Sunday Brunch host Tim Lovejoy once left viewers gobsmacked when he revealed that he used to sport a full head of dreadlocks, a far cry from his current clean-cut image.

The revelation came during an episode of the Channel 4 show in 2017, where Tim even shared a throwback photo showcasing his abundant dreadlocks.

Hair became the hot topic while Tim was conversing with that day’s guest, Louisa Johnson, who won the X Factor in 2015. It was then that Tim dropped the bombshell about his past hairdo.

“I did used to have dreadlocks,” he admitted. The confession drew a surprised response from fashion expert Gok Wan, who couldn’t contain his disbelief: “Did you really? Shut up!”

Despite Gok’s playful command for silence, Tim promised to dig out a photograph to prove his former look, as reported by the Mirror.

Gok was visibly taken aback and delighted when he saw the old picture of Tim’s dreadlocks on display.

He commented: “I love it! Honestly! I really like it. I love it. You’ve got a good bone structure for it. We need to get you a wig. We need to get you a weave!”

Tim jokingly agreed with Gok’s excitement, quipping: “When I have my showbiz hair transplant I’ll get it done again.”

Previously, Tim has been candid about his thinning hair and even went bald to support Macmillan’s Brave The Shave campaign, which encourages people to shave their heads to raise funds.

During a candid chat with Lloyd Griffith last year, Tim opened up about his attempts to make his hair appear fuller.

He admitted: “I saw someone use it in makeup one time, I started using that powder, the powder to just thicken it up a bit. But then it’s like ‘What am I doing?'”

The presenter has been quite forthcoming about discussing his hair thinning over time.

A viewer once questioned on X: “Tim, when did you start losing your hair? My son is 21 and distraught as he is losing fast. Did you investigate any of the procedures available? I feel for him as it’s denting his confidence.”

To which Tim responded empathetically, “Whether we like it or not, it’s tough. The problem with procedures is that once you’re in, you have to keep going. This is why I didn’t go through with the transplant. The only real advice is to go short and own it. It took me a while.”

Sunday Brunch is available to watch on My4.

Stuart Miles is barely-recognisable as the fresh-faced Blue Peter icon of the 90s, when he starred alongside names including Tim Vincent and Konnie Huq – and now has a new career

Stuart Miles famously quit Blue Peter after slamming the TV series for being “out of touch” with its young BBC viewers. It had been just three months since his friend and co-star Richard Bacon had been sacked for taking cocaine, and Stuart was arguing that children were no longer interested in sticky back plastic and pets.

“With the year 2000 nearly here we’ve got to make Blue Peter more relevant to modern-thinking children,” he said. “Less twee, more hard-hitting. I know it’s like a comfort blanket for a lot of people, a programme that will never shock or offend you, but we err on the side of caution.”

READ MORE: Forgotten Blue Peter and kids’ TV star Katy Hill looks unrecognisable after unusual career move

Then 27 years old, Stuart was, at the time, Blue Peter’s longest-serving presenter, with his exit coming as a huge blow to the corporation, who had been wrestling with the drug-taking expose of Richard Bacon and his replacement on the show.

But, 26 years later, what has become of Stuart?

He went on to guest-present shows including This Morning and Holiday and also became a regular on Sky Vegas, an interactive TV gambling channel. He went on to present a breakfast show for Heart FM alongside his former co-star, Katy Hill.

And in 2008, he launched a drag show at Edinburgh Fringe, The Adventures of Pink Peter, dressing up as Vera Singleton who was portrayed as sister of Valerie Singleton, one of the show’s early presenters.

A decade later, Stuart spoke about his regret over not coming out as gay during his time on Blue Peter. Speaking to Metro, he said: “I only have one regret and that is I spent a lot of my time on the show feeling conflicted about my sexuality. I was frightened of the reaction I may get both in the press and from the parents of children who watched the show if I came out as a gay man.

This may seem daft to someone growing up gay in 2018 but it’s easy to forget how, as little as 20 years ago, we were in a very different place.”

In fact, Blue Peter had sacked one of its presenters in 1985, Michael Sundin, with many claiming it was because of his sexuality. This was refuted by the show’s then-Editor, Biddy Baxter, who said it was simply that Michael was unpopular with viewers. He sadly died of an Aids-related illness in 1989.

Now aged 56, Stuart is barely recognisable from his Blue Peter days and also has a new career, as a professional speaker for Great British Speakers.

Just months ago, 66 year old Blue Peter itself received a huge shake-up, as its legendary live broadcasts were axed to make way for pre-recorded shows. Last year, former presenters Anthea Turner and Janet Ellis launched a bid to save the show when it was put out to tender.

READ MORE: Cat Deeley’s This Morning linen dress that ‘fits like a glove’ discounted with special code

The 79-year-old actress will debut her new film, Dragonfly, at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August, after it was met with glowing reviews at Tribeca

Brenda Blethyn is set to star in the gripping new thriller Dragonfly, a far cry from her iconic role as DCI Vera Stanhope, with the film set to premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August.

The movie follows the story of Colleen, played by Andrea Riseborough, who takes it upon herself to care for her elderly neighbour Elise, portrayed by Blethyn, amidst concerns that the professionals are not doing an adequate job.

However, it remains to be seen whether Colleen has ulterior motives or if those around her are simply making unfounded judgments.

The film boasts an all-star cast, including Jason Watkins as John, Sandra Huggett as Mary, and Lolly Jones as Jane.

Having garnered widespread critical acclaim at Tribeca, Dragonfly has already achieved an impressive 92% approval rating, reports the Express.

Since her departure from the hit series Vera, the 79 year old actress has gone on to take on a string of exciting new projects, including the highly anticipated historical comedy Fools.

Directed by Paul Andrew Williams, Blethyn’s latest venture has been hailed as a “stark, fierce and wonderfully acted film” by The Guardian.

The Film Stage praised the film, saying: “Williams and his brilliant cast create a film that is equal-parts tender and shocking, turning horror tropes on their head.”

NYC Movie Guru lauded Blethyn’s performance as award-worthy, adding: “What begins as a slow-burning and tender drama with shades of Mike Leigh turns into a dark and gripping Hitchcockian thriller.

“Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough give powerful and Oscar-worthy performances that ground the film in raw authenticity.”

Brenda’s latest role comes almost a year after she was spotted filming her final scenes for Vera in Newcastle.

ITV left fans heartbroken when they announced in spring 2024 that the beloved detective drama would conclude this year, following a triumphant 14-year run.

The plot summary for Dragonfly is as follows: “Disgusted with the state of care that her elderly neighbour Elsie is receiving, Colleen offers to help for free.

“Over tea and through trying moments, the pair become trusted confidants despite their differences. But Colleen’s intentions may not be exactly as they seem. As suspicions grow, a shocking act triggers a violent chain reaction that threatens to irreparably alter the lives of both women.”

Dragonfly will premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August.

Bubbly presenter Katy Hill hosted many popular TV shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s and even had her own Capital FM radio show – these days she works in an entirely different profession and looks very different

Blue Peter legend Katy Hill is now working in a totally different career and has set up her own business after rising to fame in the late 90s on some of the biggest TV and radio shows there were.

She hosted the much-loved kids’ show CBBC from 1995 to 2000, before moving to BBC One’s Live and Kicking until 2001. During her time on Blue Peter she was known for taking on daring stunts and even became the first civilian to fly with the Red Arrows. After her success on the show and thanks to her popularity she went on to host Top of the Pops, Football Fever, BBC’s Holiday and her own weekend show on Capital FM.

Katy, who is now 54, also regularly contributed to glossy mags like Cosmopolitan Hair and Beauty, Hello! and Closer, and it was in 2004 that she bagged second place on Channel 4’s The Games. Later in her career, she hosted radio shows for Heart Radio, penned weekly blogs and stepped in as a relief presenter on ITV’s Daybreak, reports OK!.

However, these days, Katy is less of a fixture on our telly boxes. as she’s now a life coach, having launched her own business. Describing herself as an ‘Internationally Certified Success and Confidence Coach’, she frequently posts motivational content on social media. Katy also runs her own newsletter, The Limitless List, which offers inspiring quotes and messages.

In addition to her TV career, she also offers programmes, live groups and one-on-one coaching to support her members. Katy’s Instagram bio states: “The shy kid who refused to play small and spent 30 years on TV! Now empowering women like YOU to UNLOCK your CONFIDENCE and CLAIM the SUCCESS you deserve!”

Katy is happily married to Trey Farley, her former co-host on Live and Kicking. The pair have been happily married for more than two decades and are parents to two children, Kaya and Akira. In July 2023, Katy and Trey marked their 20th wedding anniversary, with the former TV presenter posting a heartfelt tribute to her spouse on social media.

She uploaded pictures from their wedding day and wrote: “20 Years of US! 20 Years of Mr and Mrs Farley! What a ride we’re on @rocaflix … nobody else I’d rather be doing LIFE with! Happy 20 babe! Let’s make more amazing memories! X (Ours was the Hans Zimmer version – obvs! )”.

Before tying the knot with Trey, Katy was previously married to her childhood love, Andrew Frampton. They got hitched in 1999 but parted ways in 2001.

In 2005, the first series of Celebrity Love Island aired and it was an ex-Westlife bodyguard and a popular TV host who went on to win

Fran Cosgrave, the inaugural winner of Love Island, is almost unrecognisable in a recent social media snap, sporting a full beard two decades after his stint on the show.

The debut series of Celebrity Love Island graced our screens back in 2005, boasting a star-studded line-up including Atomic Kitten’s Liz McClarnon and EastEnders‘ Michael Greco.

However, it was former Westlife bodyguard Fran and telly presenter Jayne Middlemiss who clinched the title.

Before his Love Island adventure, Fran was romantically linked to Natasha Hamilton from 2001 to 2002, with whom he has a son, Josh, now 21.

Fast forward twenty years, and 47 year old Fran looks strikingly different from his time in the luxurious Fiji villa, having swapped his clean-shaven look for a thick, dark beard, reports OK!.

These days, Fran keeps a low profile, trading TV fame for a career in music. He’s currently a producer and DJ for house music trio, the Futuristic Polar Bears, which he founded.

With hit tracks like Running Wild and Damaged under his belt, and a whopping 90 million Spotify streams according to his Instagram bio, Fran has certainly made his mark in the music industry.

The group has toured extensively, lighting up nightclubs around the globe. In a chat with Jennifer Zamparelli on RTE 2FM, Fran reflected on his brush with fame.

He mused: “You can’t take it [fame] too seriously because it’s gone as quick as it comes.

“As it came towards 2009, things just started to spin out of control a bit, as it does. I was kind of finished with the whole celebrity thing.

“I started saying, ‘no’ to loads of programmes and I just wasn’t interested in it. My manager, rightly so, was like, ‘Mate why won’t you do any of these things?’ I was just like, ‘I’m not there anymore.'”

The ex-nightclub proprietor has left his wild nights behind, and now when he’s touring, he maintains a strict ‘no drinking, no partying’ rule.

He’s also channelled his energy into entrepreneurship, launching RUUD Coffee this year and previously introducing his own bespoke coffee blends and brand, Concrete Coffee, in 2024.

Celebrity Love Island made a comeback for its second season in 2006, featuring stars like Eternal singer and Loose Women panellist Kelle Bryan and Boyzone member Shane Lynch.

Yet, it was models Bianca Gascoigne and Calum Best who emerged victorious in the show’s final series before it was axed.

Love Island airs weekdays and Sunday nights from 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

In the 1990s, the stars of Renault Clio’s TV adverts were more famous than the Prime Minister, and their names might not mean much, but their catchphrase definitely will

Back in the day, they were household names. It seems unbelievable now, but the stars of the 1990s Renault Clio adverts were once more familiar to Brits than then-Prime Minister John Major and the legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Evans. And even if the actors Estelle Skornik and Max Douchin aren’t instantly recognisable by name, their iconic catchphrase certainly is.

Their on-screen father-daughter relationship struck a chord across the nation. “Nicole?” the debonair Frenchman would enquire, full of anticipation. “Papa!” she’d respond, with a simplicity that captured hearts.

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In the debut advert, Nicole would slip away while her father seemed to nap in the garden of their chateau, dashing off to secretly meet with her dashing beau in her trusty Clio. But, unbeknown to Nicole, her dad was also on a clandestine mission, whizzing off in his car to surprise a mysterious lady with flowers.

Upon Nicole’s return, she’d discover her father seemingly-still snoozing in the garden, culminating in their trademark two-word dialogue.

The charming ads aired for seven years starting in 1991, playing a part in the whopping sales of 300,000 Renault Clios. But what became of the duo?

Estelle, who brought Nicole to life, has since graced other TV projects, including From Hell, The Days That Made History and Les Lyonnais.

Now 53, she starred opposite Ioan Gruffudd, portraying a romantic interest for his character Horatio Hornblower in the epic naval drama set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

But Estelle has reportedly taken a step back from the limelight, favouring family life over fame. Tying the knot with Laurent Bismuth in 1996, the couple have since had three children. Her final acting gig on record was back in 2011.

Reflecting on her character in a 1998 interview with the Independent, she reminisced: “Nicole is very spontanee and I’m very spontanee. She’s open to life, she’s French. Nicole is part of me.”

Max Douchin, fondly remembered as ‘Papa’ and now aged 87, found his acting niche later in life. He featured in an episode of the French-Italian TV show Les Héritiers De Patmos in 2017 and graced the Paris premiere.

Currently enjoying retirement in Burgundy, France, surrounded by his partner and family, he hasn’t given up performing entirely – he participates in a local choir. Chatting with Mail Online, he recalled the iconic Clio adverts with a sense of nostalgia.

“When I meet English people, who happen to be in Burgundy, and I speak with them, every English person I meet remembers Papa,” he shared.

“I have a lot of good souvenirs from that programme for the Renault Clios.”

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She was once known as Violet Harmon in the first season of American Horror Story. Now, Taissa Farmiga has traded Violet’s whimsical streak for Gladys Russell’s socialite status.

George and Bertha Russell’s marriage is hanging by a fragile thread in the third season of The Gilded Age – but one of the show’s stars originally shot to fame with several appearances in American Horror Story.

Taissa Farmiga portrays socialite Gladys Russell in The Gilded Age, originally aired on HBO. In its third series, due on Sky, Gladys has to face the aftermath of her parents’ choice to promise her hand in marriage to the Duke of Buckingham. But will she go through with the nuptials?

This remains to be seen. But, back in 2011, shortly after debuting her acting career in High Ground, Taissa starred in the first season of American Horror Story as Violet Harmon, the daughter of Vivien (Connie Britton) and Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott).

Violet’s story ended in tragedy as she committed suicide, joining her killer boyfriend Tate Langdon (Evan Peters) in the afterlife – but Taissa still reprised the role in the eighth season of American Horror Story. She even appeared in the anthology series as two different characters – Sophie Green and Zoe Benson.

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Now starring in The Gilded Age, Taissa admitted that she had to delve deep into the Downton Abbey universe to nail Gladys’ role. “I started watching Downton Abbey because I thought ‘I have to brush up,'” she told producer Joshua Horowitz in 2023 on his podcast Happy Sad Confused.

But when she first auditioned for Gladys, Taissa was honest – she wasn’t a fan of period dramas. “During my audition, they asked me if I was passionate about period pieces,” she remembered, joking later: “I told them, ‘I don’t know. I’m a stoner, I watch Rick and Morty.'”

Growing up, Taissa was the youngest in a family of six children and watched her older sister Vera Farmiga rise to fame through her roles in The Conjuring franchise, Orphan and even Bates Motel. But she had no intentions of following in her footsteps.

Instead, Taissa dreamed of being an accountant – until Vera convinced her to appear in her directorial debut drama, Higher Ground. “I was thrown into this world,” Taissa once told Yahoo Movies in 2015.

The experience was enough for her to change trajectory completely. “After Higher Ground about six months went by and I went back to my normal life,” Taissa said.

“I was looking at community college classes for accounting. I wasn’t jumping right into it, thinking, ‘I have to be an actress.'” And the rest was history.

Since then, Taissa has bagged a multitude of roles in feature films and series alike. She was notably seen in The Bling Ring with Emma Watson, The Nun franchise as Sister Irene Palmer and even in The Twilight Zone.

Taissa is also very active on social media, particularly on Instagram, where she’s followed diligently by 1.9 million admirers. The 30-year-old shares everything – from snaps on set and on the red carpet, to her trips with producer husband Hadley Klein.

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Newquay in Cornwall was once known as the go-to place for hen and stag parties, but is now unrecognisable since the council cracked down on the drunken antics including the wearing of makinis

The seaside resort once dubbed ‘Britain’s Magaluf‘ has transformed beyond recognition after ditching its raucous image – and outlawing mankinis, according to local residents.

Shopkeepers and residents of Newquay in Cornwall hardly know the town anymore since it made a determined effort to lose its ‘wild west’ tag. Famed for its unruly atmosphere due to stag dos, boys’ holidays, and boisterous teen celebrations, the coastal spot has seen dramatic change.

In response to growing concerns, the council imposed a “mankini ban” in 2009. As part of the lauded Newquay Safe initiative, this rule prohibited mankinis and other “inappropriate clothing” like fancy dress in public areas.

This action was spurred by the tragic deaths of two teens during night outs in the area. The initiative proved successful, with Devon and Cornwall Police reporting a reduction in crime by one-fifth when comparing 2012 to 2009 figures.

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Incidents of anti-social behaviour also plummeted from 685 to 286 during these specific years. Locals, long wearied by incessant partying, say that today’s Newquay is in stark contrast to its boisterous past. Where the notorious Bertie’s nightclub used to stand, now quaint independent coffee shops adorn the main thoroughfare – the club shuttered last year.

Nowadays, families enjoy peaceful strolls along the shore and engage in surfing lessons, while the elderly can be seen playing bowls with the scenic beach as their backdrop. Vintage boutiques, skate shops, and surf gear outlets now intersperse with charming pasty sellers.

The amusement arcades nestled in the town centre remain as the sole remnants of a bygone era. Arcade employee Maddie Grover, 25, has observed a shift in her hometown’s atmosphere, noting that while stag dos still exist, they’re “not as bad as they were at the time”.

She recalled how the nightlife quietened notably after the closure of Bertie’s. Now, according to Maddie, certain clubs bar entry to costumed stag groups. Maddie described the change: “The high street is a little bit rowdy in the central area. It’s better now, it’s more calm, there aren’t as many fights. We see lots of families because we work in an arcade but we see a lot more families in general.”

Local shop worker Andy, 40, is relieved that the town is shaking off its old notoriety. He believes the transformation has bred a new mutual respect and eliminated the dread locals used to feel: “Silly season, we expect, but it’s not something you’re dreading anymore. You’re not dodging vomit on the high street.”

His daily skateboard commute is more pleasant now, without having to navigate around hazardous remnants of nocturnal activities: “I skateboard from the top of the hill to the shop and there’s no longer passed-out people, people who have vomited everywhere and broken glass. It’s cleaned up quite a lot since then. I just see hungry happy high people wandering around in the mornings looking for a good breakfast.”

And it’s not just the early risers who have changed; the town’s allure for families has spiked: “There are families coming down, and the families that come down have that mentality of: ‘I’d love to live here because of how it is.'”.

Andy also doesn’t miss the once-common sight of scantily clad tourists: “Compared to before when you would walk down the high street and see six dudes in mankinis and none of them have seen a gym before and you’re like: ‘Great’. Everyone likes to see a bollock at 11 in the morning.

“You still get stag and hen dos but they’ve been reined in. There are certain rules and regulations, like the mankini ban. You’re not allowed fancy dress in certain bars over a certain time in the evenings. In the day, if you want to come out and have a stag do and everyone dresses up and has fun, that’s absolutely fine, but once it gets past a certain time of night, it tends to knock that on the head.”

Andy, who enjoys donning spandex and cowboy boots, lamented that the stringent rules had resulted in him being denied entry to venues. “There’s a difference between fancy dress and dressing fancy”, he remarked. Overall, he conceded that Newquay has “cleaned up its act”.

“Fights are fights, it’s always going to happen. It’s the nature of mixing alcohol with idiots. You might not get it to such a grand scale now but it’s still going to happen. People will smash bottles on the beach,” Andy added.

“I don’t care what you do but my mates walk down here barefoot, my friend’s kids play on the beach. The beach is for everyone, not just for you to have fun. There is a bit of that and locals will bark at people. We want you to have a good time but also we want to have a good time, so don’t knock the bins over at 3am and wake everybody up. It’s just goofy stuff and not stuff the police can be running round and dealing with.”

But he mentioned concerns regarding second homes – an issue rife across Cornwall. Residents lament over being unable to afford homes in their scenic towns due to outsiders snapping up properties and driving up prices.

Peron Wills, a climbing instructor from nearby St Dennis, reflected on how nightlife has changed since his younger days. At 38, he remarked: “It’s not as good a night out as it used to be.

“I have been on stag dos here and they were pretty crazy. They have New Year’s and Christmas parties still but I think it used to be crazier. I don’t go out anymore so I just assume nobody does.

“There were always moans in the local papers that Newquay needs cleaning up. I don’t think it’s just Newquay; every town has the old versus young. Everyone moves away to go and find money. You grow up here and can’t afford to live here for a while so you go away and come back when you retire. There’s a big age gap. There are still clubs around but not as many as there used to be.”