Brit

THE dreary Coronation Street cobbles were left behind on Tuesday as soap star Ryan Prescott prepared for a new role in a Hollywood film.

The actor, best known for playing Ryan Connor in the long-running ITV show, has won a part in director Rocky Rodriguez Jr.’s forthcoming comedy drama, Waif.

Currently filming on location in London, Ryan, 37, shared a selfie with established co-stars Jason Flemyng and Dexter Fletcher during a break between scenes.

Sharing the photos with Instagram followers, he wrote: “We are rollllliiiing, first week in to the WAIF shoot and loving it, thank you all for the amazing energy on set!” [sic]

The Mancunian actor will play ‘a drifting art collector living life on his own terms amid the skateparks, guitar shops and art openings of east London.’

Actress Helen Foster has been cast as Prescott’s romantic interest in the new film, writer-director Rodriguez Jr.’s third feature.

READ MORE ABOUT RYAN HERE

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Commenting on the post, one enthusiastic follower wrote: “Love this!!!!!!”

A second added: “Love it .. smash it Ryan. Can’t wait to see it.”

While a third shared: “Top drawer actor my favourite on the cobbles at the moment.”

Ryan broke into acting with a short-lived role as Flynn Buchanan on ITV soap Emmerdale before winning a prominent role on Coronation Street in 2018.

Drafted in to play the returning Ryan Connor, a role previously played by Ben Thompson, and later, Sol Heras, the actor has tackled a series of turbulent storylines on the hit soap – among them a bitter feud with gangster Ronald Truman.

In 2023, Ryan was central to a harrowing new storyline that saw his character bear the brunt of a vicious acid attack.

Connor was left with horrific burns to his face and neck after protecting intended target Daisy Midgely from the attack, orchestrated by crazed stalker Justin Rutherford.

Discussing the storyline on This Morning shortly after the episode aired, Ryan said Coronation Street would be focusing on his character’s slow recovery long into the future.

“That’s one thing we wanted to include was to have some longevity within the parameters of soap, which obviously moves very quickly,” he confirmed.

“We wanted to have some kind of longevity in the aftermath.

“Acid attack survivors go through hundreds of operations, multiple skin grafts and quite often a lifetime of post-traumatic stress disorder.

“We want to show the different stages of his recovery.”

A NUMBER of major train services that head to the country’s biggest airport are currently suspended due to an incident.

Emergency services are dealing with an incident resulting in several rail lines that head to Heathrow Airport being closed.

The disruption is currently impacting the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, and Great Western Railway services, with all lines between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals and Reading closed.

Elizabeth Line customers are being advised to use bus connections between Hanwell and West Ealing, towards Ealing Broadway or Southall.

National Rail is also advising passengers that the disruptions could continue until at least 12pm.

It comes as a casualty was reported on the tracks shortly before 8am.

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Tickets are currently being accepted on London Underground, London Buses, Southwestern, Thameslink, DLR, South Western Railways and Chiltern Railway services.

If travelling from central London, the Piccadilly Line is still running so the London Underground is an option.

Though, to be on the safe side, travellers should allow extra time to get to the airport.

National Rail’s website currently states: “The emergency services are currently dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading.

“So that they can safely carry out their work, some lines have been closed.

“Trains operating between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised as a result.

“Major disruption is expected until 12:00.”

Meanwhile, there are also disruptions between Weybridge and Surbiton.

South Western Railway has stated on X: “A speed restriction over defective track is affecting the railway between Weybridge and Surbiton.

“Trains may be cancelled, delayed or revised because of this problem.”

GEORGE EZRA has been quiet since dropping his third album, Gold Rush Kid, four years ago.

But it turns out he’s busy behind the scenes helping other artists make music.

I’m told that after disappearing from public life following his last gig in 2023, the Green Green Grass singer is in no rush to jump back into the spotlight just yet.

Instead, he has started renting out his own recording studio so that it is not sitting empty.

I can reveal George, who has also stopped posting on social media, has set up a business at Hotel Quebec studios in Hertford.

He is advertising for artists and writers to come and work on their own music at the facility.

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In an advert, he says: “Hello, my name is George Ezra and I would like to introduce you to my personal recording studio, Hotel Quebec, a state-of-the-art recording facility in Hertford, just outside of London, that was designed and built for me — my musical projects, my writing and my recording.

“It gives me great pleasure to tell you that the studio is now available for you to book and for you to record in, whether it’s for a day, a week, a month: if you are looking for a uniquely beautiful and creatively safe environment to work in, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

“On behalf of myself and the small but dedicated team here at Hotel Quebec, we hope you are well and we look forward to hearing from you.”

Those close to George said he had been quietly beavering away on his own projects in the studio, but added: “He wants to share what he’s created and it’s a clever side hustle.

“George has no confirmed plans or dates for a return yet, but he has been using the studio for his own projects.

“By renting the studio out, George can help other artists — and he’d much rather have that than the place being empty when he’s not using it.”

I told at the end of 2024 how George had quietly become a father for the first time, so I’m sure a few extra quid from the venture will be welcome.

The Brit Award winner has had three No1 albums and topped the singles chart in 2018 with Shotgun.

However, on his 2023 tour, he was forced to cancel some live ­performances due to acute vertigo, and he has always made it clear he’s not particularly keen on fame.

With that in mind, I can’t blame him for wanting some time away from the spotlight.

But I’ll be gutted if we don’t get any more music from George soon.

So I’m keeping my fingers crossed he doesn’t wait too much longer before treating us again.

MADGE IS CRAZY FUR ROCCO’S ART

ROCCO RITCHIE has found his biggest fan – in his mum Madonna.

She has shared a load of snaps from the budding artist’s most recent exhibition, which includes a self-portrait in which Rocco is cos-playing the Incredible Hulk.

Madge slipped into a fur coat and silky shorts for the event and told her Instagram followers: “Everyone knows I love art.

“Can you imagine how much more I love it when it’s my son, Rocco’s?

“It’s been so exciting watching him grow as an artist, finding his groove, his style, struggling with the loneliness of being a painter, locking himself in his studio. Watching him turn nothing into something.

“I love that he is moving into sculpture now.”

LEDS NIGHT FOR PAUL

THERE was a meeting of legendary musical minds over the weekend as Sir Paul McCartney headed out on a double date with Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

Beatles maestro Paul was spotted arriving at the trendy West London restaurant Dorian with his wife Nancy Shevell, before being joined by Jimmy and his missus, poet Scarlett Sabet.

The foursome were snapped during the course of their dinner, with one onlooker telling me: “They talked music non-stop. People were doing double takes when they saw Paul and Jimmy together.”

As Paul was heading home he was overheard telling the waiting photographers to make sure they took pictures of his “good side”.

It all looks good from where I’m sitting.

A RAYE OF HOPE

RAYE is considering legal action against an unnamed artist after they seemingly released a song written by her grandad without any credit or money for him.

The Where Is My Husband! singer, who clearly has music in her veins, revealed grandpa Michael wrote and recorded a track when he was younger and sent it to a record label who, without his knowledge, gave it to an artist, who she hasn’t named.

Raye, who won the Mercury Prize on Thursday, said: “He [Michael] was burnt by the industry. He wanted to make it as a songwriter, so he would write songs on the piano, score them and record it.

“Then he’d put them in boxes and post them to record labels in London, hoping that someone would play his tapes, like it, contact him and bring him down to London to live his dream. Unfortunately – and it was the case back in the day – so many songwriters were just absolutely done so dirty.

“He sent one song, and it was released two years later with no credit, no contact, and it completely broke his heart.

“There was nothing he could do about it – he had no money.

“He couldn’t afford a lawyer so no one cared.”

On whether she might pursue the case now she is a big star herself, Raye told the And The Writer Is… podcast: “I have looked into it.

“It’s just, financially, I just don’t know if the evidence is substantial enough because the evidence was sent off.

“All he has is a songwriting book with things jotted down, and yeah, it would be a giant thing.”

I’d love to see justice done.

DRAKE’S BOYBAND BIRTHDAY

DRAKE got a huge 40th birthday surprise when Backstreet Boys helped him celebrate the milestone.

The Hotline Bling rapper got up on stage in New York to sing with the group at Casa Cipriani, where they performed I Want It That Way.

I revealed last month that the American lads were poised to announce a run of shows at London’s O2 Arena in the coming weeks, with the concerts scheduled to take place next year.

Backstreet Boys will return to the Sphere in Las Vegas in December and January as part of their Into The Millennium residency.

After a nice break in the early new year, coming back to the UK will be the perfect way to kick-start 2027.

KASABIAN front- man Serge Pizzorno was the secret guest at the 20th anniversary celebrations of This Feeling in London.

The club, which has helped launch some of the biggest names in indie, put on a huge night of performances on Saturday.

Little Bit Of Love singer Tom Grennan was also on hand to perform a set as revellers partied until 2am.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

@ Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre

★★★★☆

YOU’D be foolish to walk into a stage ­musical based on a Disney kids’ movie and expect an edgy take on youth culture.

But that’s exactly why the new stage ­version of High School Musical delivers – it doesn’t try to be anything it’s not.

Having opened in Manchester, clever staging at its new home in London takes you courtside as the East High gang juggle basketball, science class and drama club.

And you’re immediately made one of them as the cheer squad lead you in ­routines ahead of the Wildcats’ big game.

McFly’s Harry Judd stars as Coach Bolton while Tobias Turley and ­Leonor Correia play young lovers Troy and Gabriella, who meet on holiday then find themselves at the same school. But it’s Luke Bayer and Caitlin TIpping, as siblings Ryan and Sharpay, who steal the show.

The writers wisely reprise the banger, Bop To The Top, and the show ends with a frenetic all-cast montage. It’s unlikely to win any awards or challenge minds, but this extra helping of cheese went down a treat.

By Felicity Cross

TWO of Britain’s best-known comedians’ on-off romance appears to have come to an end — despite previously insisting they were together for good.

Shaparak Khorsandi, formerly known professionally as Shappi, has set tongues wagging after revealing she’s been trying her luck on dating apps, suggesting her relationship with fellow comic Mark Steel is over.

But it seems the world of online romance has been anything but a barrel of laughs for the stand-up star, who admitted she’d already thrown in the towel.

Sharing a candid Instagram video about her dating disasters, she wrote: “I have come off the site because I really didn’t like who I was on it. I never thought I would hate someone for wanting ‘travel tips for Japan’”

She added the hashtags #midlifedating, #onlinedatingfail and #datingapps — but it wasn’t long before eagle-eyed followers noticed something rather surprising.

One asked: “I thought you were already in a relationship, Shappi……” Another questioned: “I thought you were with Mark Steel?”

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The apparent split is particularly surprising given Mark’s declaration last year that the couple had finally cracked the secret to lasting love after years of breaking up and making up.

The former I’m A Celeb star, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2023, previously revealed his devastating health battle had brought them back together after a period apart.

Speaking to The Guardian in February 2025, Mark said: “We were no good not being together,” before insisting things were going “great” between them.

He added: “It’s lovely. You can never say with these things, but… I think it’s permanent now.”

Their rollercoaster romance also featured in his 2025 memoir, The Leopard in My House: One Man’s Adventures in Cancerland, which documented his gruelling cancer treatment and their reconciliation.

And things certainly appeared rosy in October 2024, when Shaparak shared an Instagram video showing Mark waiting at home as she returned from touring, giving fans a glimpse into their domestic bliss.

The pair had been romantically linked since at least 2022, with Shaparak previously referring to Mark as her boyfriend, but her latest dating-app confession suggests their happy ending may have been short-lived.

The Sun has approached representatives for both stars for comment.

A GROOVE Armada gig has sparked a surge in hearing checks. 

The Superstylin’ hitmakers headlined a one-off event exclusively for over-50s that saw music fans take action for their hearing health to be in with a chance of securing tickets. 

The initiative, from Specsavers, saw more than 50,000 people complete a free three-minute online hearing screener before being entered onto ‘The Testlist’ a club guestlist exclusively for the over-50s across the UK and Ireland. 

Among the over-50s who took the hearing screener, 75 per cent were told a check-up with a hearing expert could be worthwhile, while 25 per cent received results in the good-to-fair range. 

The exclusive gig took place at Phonox in Brixton, London, last night, marking the first time Groove Armada have played the venue. 

It followed further research of 2,000 adults which found 47 per cent of over-50s say some of their happiest memories revolve around the music they love. 

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While 21 per cent would attend more live music events if experiences were designed with their generation in mind.

Helping put that into practice was University of Derby’s associate professor of electroacoustics, Adam Hill, a live sound engineer and chair of the Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance (HELA) Initiative. 

He is also a supporter of the ‘Listen for Life’ campaign championed by the Night Time Industries Association and was enlisted to oversee safe listening measures. 

Working closely with the venue, Dr Hill assessed the sound system’s performance, identified a dedicated quiet zone and conducted staff training. 

During the event, sound levels were assessed and free hearing protection was provided to all attendees. 

All these measures ensured that the event aligned with the World Health Organization’s Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events. 

Andy Cato, one half of the dance music duo, said: “We’ve been making and playing music for decades. For most of that time, the attitude to volume was the louder the better. Loud is exciting after all. 

“As we approach our 30th birthday, still in DJ booths and still with lots of music to make, it would have been nice for there to have been greater awareness around enjoying the dancefloor experiences we all love whilst looking after your hearing. 

“It’s nice to see this collaboration with Specsavers spreading the word and making a check-up for your ears as normal as one for your eyes.” 

His bandmate, Tom Findlay, added: “When music’s been such a big part of your life, you don’t want to take your hearing for granted. It’s something I’ve come to appreciate more over the years, and I know what a difference taking care of it can make. 

“The great thing is, it doesn’t mean changing the way you enjoy music, just being a bit more aware of it. 

“And the fact that over 50,000 people took the online hearing screener to be part of this gig is fantastic. 

“It’s a brilliant way to get people thinking about their hearing, while bringing everyone together through music.” 

The poll of 2,000 adults also found 75 per cent of over-50s are still attending live music events, but 44 per cent have experienced ringing in their ears after a show. 

Another 22 per cent have walked away from a venue with muffled hearing after a performance. 

But 61 per cent added the availability of hearing protection would be important or essential when choosing where to go to enjoy live events. 

Jo Cammell, from Oxfordshire, was one of the fans who secured a place at the Groove Armada gig after completing the free online hearing screener. 

Now in her 50s, she returned to Brixton, where she last saw the dance music duo perform in 2004 while six months pregnant with her son Tom, alongside two lifelong friends. 

Jo said: “Music has always brought our friendship group together. We started going out dancing in the early 90s and we’ve not hung up our dancing shoes yet. Nothing beats hearing music live. 

“Superstylin’ has always been our tune, so coming back to Brixton to see Groove Armada more than 20 years after the last time feels incredibly special. It’s a reminder that dance music isn’t just for the young and that you’re never too old for a great night out. 

“Taking the Specsavers hearing screener was really interesting because it made me stop and think about how important my hearing health is for the first time, so I can continue enjoying live music for years to come.” 

Scott, from Cheshire, had visited Hurghada in Egypt twice before, but a taxi ride back from a nightclub on his last trip has put him off returning to the Red Sea destination for good

A Brit has vowed never to return to an Egyptian holiday hotspot after he was scammed.

Scott, from Cheshire, had visited Hurghada in Egypt twice before, but a taxi ride back from a nightclub on his last trip has put him off returning for good. Despite being warned by holiday reps to agree to a total fare before getting in, Scott and his friends ended up paying well over the odds by the end of the ride.

“The worst part is how it’s stuck with me. I’d been to Hurghada twice before and enjoyed it, but that one journey ruined the whole holiday. You forget all the good bits, and that’s the part that stays with you. It’s put me off going back for good,” Scott told the Mirror.

The incident unfolded after an evening out in the beach resort city, which sits on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.

“It was the strangest taxi journey I’ve ever experienced. We’d been told to always agree on a total price before getting in, so that’s what we did. But partway back, the driver pulled over and went off to get himself some food,” Scott explained.

When they got back to the hotel, the taxi driver announced a different, much higher price than they’d expected.

“When we finally got back to the hotel, he suddenly wanted us to pay per person. It felt like, these are tourists, we’re going to rinse them,” Scott said. The situation quickly escalated when the driver mentioned that they would call the police. Unable to speak the local language and unsure whose side the police would take, Scott focused on keeping things calm, and the group ended up paying more than they had agreed just to bring it to an end. “My friend was getting really anxious, and all I could think was, if the police turn up, who are they going to believe?” he explained .