Eleanor Tomlinson, Matthew Lewis and Callum Woodhouse star in Channel 5 series The Fortune
Viewers have shared their thoughts on The Fortune(Image: CHANNEL 5)
Viewers of The Fortune were left disappointed as the new psychological drama made its debut on Channel 5.
The series centres on waitress Amanda Blakefield, portrayed by Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson, whose world is thrown into chaos when a solicitor arrives at her workplace to inform her she stands to inherit a vast estate from a complete stranger.
She continues to dodge the solicitor yet pays a visit to the deceased man’s widow Fiona (Rebecca Front) and son Anthony, played by All Creatures Great and Small’s Callum Woodhouse, who are outraged and make abundantly clear their intention to contest it.
Meanwhile, Amanda’s husband Jimmy (Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis) appears to be embroiled in a mystery of his own, repeatedly receiving suspicious phone calls.
As the opening episode aired on Tuesday night (June 2), numerous viewers took to X to voice their scepticism, with some calling the storyline into question, reports Wales Online.
“Wouldn’t they phone her and ask her into their office instead of just barging into her workplace?” wondered one viewer.
Another posted on the platform, formerly known as Twitter: “How to sort out an unexpected inheritance: (a) consult a solicitor, and get it sorted out; or: (b) throw away the solicitor’s letter and barge in uninvited to a grieving family.”
One viewer branded the show “a dud” while another confessed: “Oh I really want to like this but so far I’m struggling.”
“This is absolute s***e,” insisted another viewer, as one posted: “Mrs Poldark the only thing saving this so far…”
“Channel 5 either do b****y brilliant dramas or shockingly bad am/dram… #thefortune is tipping ever so slowly to the latter… ludicrous,” remarked another viewer, while one complained about the “exaggerated sighs” and “pauses”.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph awarded it merely one star out of five in its review, branding it “rubbish”.
Yet others felt the series – shot on location across Hartlepool, Northumberland, Newcastle and north Yorkshire last year – showed potential.
“So far looking good,” observed one viewer. Another highlighted the impressive ensemble, which also features Denis Lawson, Stephen Tompkinson, Paula Wilcox, Danielle Walters and Nina Wadia.
“It’s got a really good cast too,” they wrote. “Well known faves.”
The Fortune sees a woman mysteriously inherit £2 million and a country estate from a stranger.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
21:15, 02 Jun 2026Updated 21:16, 02 Jun 2026
The Fortune – Channel 5 trailer
The Fortune has landed on Channel 5, with audiences eager to discover everything about the drama.
Following the unexpected inheritance of a substantial fortune from a stranger, mother and wife Amanda (portrayed by Eleanor Tomlinson) finds herself in conflict with the deceased man’s relatives.
She simultaneously starts uncovering the truth regarding her own family’s sinister history, which may shed light on why she’s been selected as the beneficiary of the enigmatic man’s estate.
Where was The Fortune on Channel 5 filmed?
Filming for Channel 5’s The Fortune occurred during autumn 2025 across Hartlepool, Northumberland, Newcastle and North Yorkshire.
The bulk of shooting took place in Hartlepool, with the historic Headland district serving as a crucial location.
Another significant filming venue was Hartlepool Marina, where the exterior alongside local establishments and eateries were utilised to depict Amanda’s everyday existence.
The programme’s principal production headquarters was also situated in Hartlepool at The Northern Studios on Lynn Street.
Certain scenes were additionally captured in Newcastle, with the drama produced by Newcastle-based Lonesome Pine Productions.
The cast and crew travelled to Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, where the mid-Victorian country residence Cleveland Lodge served as the Worrall family estate in the Channel 5 series.
The Grade II listed building was constructed between 1848 and 1851 and sits within approximately 35 acres of private parkland, featuring paddocks and a tennis court. Meanwhile, the more rural and coastal scenes were shot in and around the Northumberland region.
All Creatures Great and Small star Callum Woodhouse, who plays vengeful son Anthony Worrall in the series, hails originally from Stockton in the North East.
The Hartlepool Mail reported Woodhouse describing the experience of filming The Fortune as something of “a homecoming”.
He said: “Obviously, staying with my parents and filming in places I grew up visiting was a huge draw, but also being able to do something set in the modern day was really exciting.
“We were filming just over the road from where my mum works, so we’d meet up for lunch sometimes.”
Laura Bayston has revealed a certain scene felt like a ‘punch in the gut’ as she portrays Kate McCann in a new drama surrounding the case of missing girl, Madeleine McCann
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A brand new drama following the interrogation of Kate McCann over her missing daughter, Madeleine, in 2007 is to air on 5, and actress Laura Bayston has revealed the toughness of a particular scene.
The star portrays Kate in factual drama, Under Suspicion. The story begins three months into the search to find Madeleine. With Portuguese police showing no substantial leads, no real evidence, and having made no arrests in the hunt for the missing tot, Madeleine’s mother, Kate, is summoned for a meeting. And it’s soon apparent that she is now the one being accused.
And Laura admits that a certain scene was tough to digest. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Laura said it left her with a feeling like a “punch in the guts”.
She explained: “It’s the scene when Kate is presented with an offer by the police, which is to confess. As an actor having to respond to the dialog, it was very affecting, you know? In the way that it was a very claustrophobic environment.”
Laura said that while it felt very safe for her as an actor, it was “a very claustrophobic environment in terms of where we were at in the story and what was actually happening”. “And the enormity of it,” she went on.
“It was just a real, absolute, I can’t describe it any other way, it just felt like a massive punch in the guts when that was offered to Kate. It really even today it gets to me It was really shocking.”
While Laura says she was just doing a job and has taken on challenging roles previously, she admits this part will stick with her. “It’s been hard to switch off from this one,” she confessed.
“I will be honest with you, I think it sits just below the surface of my skin, and it always will. And yeah, leaves me with goose bumps thinking about it, you know. I just I think, because I was so invested in the case when it happened, because of my children.”
But she admits her decision to take on the role was not one she took lightly. She says she only did so after knowing the production was being made for the “right reasons”. “I mean it’s a big role…,” she said.
“It was emotionally challenging, but I’ve played emotionally challenging roles before.” She went on: “I think, as an actor, physicality and emotions, it all kind of becomes one thing, but to play a role like this, you have to remember that at the heart of it this is a real life case.
“This is a real woman who is still alive, who’s still with us. It’s still a story, and [you have] to be mindful of that throughout. The entirety was really important to me, and to be as respectful as possible.”
And in an emotional message to viewers, Laura wants those watching to remember “there’s always another side to the story”. She added: “You don’t always react and respond how you think you’re going to react and respond, and it seems to me there’s been a lot of knee-jerk reactions to this from day one, and people will make their opinions public, and whether we want them or not, but no one truly knows, and ultimately, you know, Madeline is still missing, and, and that’s it.
“This happened, and this is based on evidence and it’s based on the transcripts, and it was thoroughly researched, so people can take from it what they like, really, because what we’ve done is present a script as honestly as possible, as truthfully as possible.”
The drama looks at official statements and recorded testimony and depicts Kate’s interrogation, as Portuguese investigators face mounting pressure to deliver answers.
Madeleine vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal in May 2007. Kate and husband Gerry McCann were cleared of any wrongdoing in 2008 after they found themselves wrongly accused of a cover up.
Kate found herself trapped between co-operation and self-preservation as she was confronted by detectives facing hours and hours of questioning.
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann, airs Wednesday 20th May, 9pm on 5
Two of the stars of All Creatures Great and Small are among the cast of a new Channel 5 psychological drama
22:15, 20 May 2026Updated 22:48, 20 May 2026
The Fortune starts on Channel 5 in June(Image: Channel 5 screengrab)
Channel 5 has confirmed the release date of a“gripping” new drama with two stars from All Creatures Great and Small.
The Fortune – which stars Callum Woodhouse and Matthew Lewis alongside Poldark‘s Eleanor Tomlinson – will be released on June 2.
The broadcaster shared a snap on Instagram showing cast members around a coffin with the tagline: “When there’s a will, there’s a war.” The caption said: “An inheritance from a stranger… sounds like a dream come true. But luck like this? Always comes at a cost.”
When The Fortune was announced, Channel 5 described it as “a gripping, psychological drama that asks: what if your past isn’t what you think it is?”
Eleanor stars as Amanda Blakefield, whose life is a happy one with her husband Jimmy, played by Matthew (who is best known as Hugh Hulton in All Creatures), and their son Luke (James Younger).
A synopsis said: “Amanda has her world shattered after she is left an enormous inheritance by a man she has neither met nor heard of before.
“Her life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of The Worrall Family.
“The patriarch Martin Worrall (Denis Lawson), is head of a family which is bound in past secrets. As Amanda’s story leads her further and further into the Northumbrian countryside, she begins to unravel the past. And all of their lives are turned upside down.”
Rebecca Front will play Martin’s wife Fiona, and Callum Woodhouse, who stars as Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great and Small, will play his son Anthony. Other cast members include Stephen Tompkinson, Paula Wilcox, Danielle Walters and Nina Wadia.
When the series was announced last year, Paul Testar, commissioning editor at 5, said the series “explores the fragility of family and the ripple effects of long-buried truths, all anchored by a brilliant cast led by Eleanor Tomlinson”.
He added that it was a drama “that promises to keep audiences hooked from the very first minute”.
Viewers have said they “can’t wait” for the drama, with one posting on Instagram: “I love this cast!”
“Will be amazing,” said someone else, as another commented: “Can’t wait for this. Looks brilliant from the trailers. And what a stellar cast.”
Laura Bayston plays the emotional role of Kate McCann in a new Channel 5 drama looking at how the mum of Madeleine McCann was interrogated by Portuguese police
22:23, 20 May 2026Updated 22:24, 20 May 2026
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann will air on Channel 5(Image: CHANNEL 5)
The latest drama portrayal of the interrogation of Madeleine McCann’s mum by Portuguese police is sure to divide viewers, but there was one detail that really stuck with me. Under Suspicion: Kate McCann follows the efforts of police to claim Kate McCann had something to do with the disappearance of her daughter in 2007.
The heartbreaking case remains unsolved 19 years later and now 5 has released a factual drama looking at the treatment of Kate in Portugal. The story begins three months into the search to find Madeleine, who vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, Portugal in May 2007.
Kate and husband Gerry McCann were cleared of any wrongdoing in 2008 after they found themselves wrongly accused of a cover up. And now, as 5’s drama looks at official statements and recorded testimony, there is one brief moment in the drama that really hit me.
And it’s not just me that was taken by a simple but effective and moving scene. When I spoke with actress Laura Bayston, who played the part of Kate in the production, she told me she had the same thought process.
The scene saw Kate snap back at her daughter being referred to as Maddie, insisting she is called by her correct full name, Madeleine.
Laura told me before the drama aired: “It’s something that I took away from it as well. I’ll give you that. Yeah. If they can’t respect that simplicity of a name, then that’s it.”
Laura brilliantly played the part of Kate – a decision she admitted she didn’t take lightly. And viewers will watch as brash Portuguese police interrogate the mother of a missing child.
In a shocking moment, she is even told to take a deal. “Just admit you killed Madeleine,” Kate is told, insisting if she does, her sentence won’t be too bad. And her lawyer tells her that it may only make things worse if she attempts to properly answer the police’s queries.
This leads to her reluctantly answering “no comment” to every question.
Throughout the 90-minute drama, I was reminded of particular lines of questioning and events from the hugely publicised case that gripped myself and many others at the time and still does to this day. But it also threw up a lot of surprising incidents which brings with it more questions.
Sadly, it’s perhaps likely that this drama, which Laura says is clearly made for the right reasons, will bring out conspiracy theorists who plague the case once again. With the focus on the police’s handling of Kate, a number of accusations and allegations are seen to be thrown at Kate in the production – including her actions and moves on the tragic night in question.
While Kate and husband Gerry were cleared of any wrongdoing, the intense scrutiny on their actions continues to lead to false allegations that continue to rear their head.
Despite this, the drama comes with a very important message for all to take away rather than criticise or scrutinise. At the heart of this whole thing, a girl remains still missing almost two decades on. And a family is seeking answers.
Under Suspicion: Kate McCann, airs Wednesday 20th May, 9pm on 5.
The award winning series will air another intense episode tonight that is not to be missed
999: Critical Condition is an award winning Channel 5 series(Image: Channel 5)
A fly on the wall medical series that is not for the faint of heart returns with another brutal episode.
Titled 999: Critical Condition, the medical series has returned for its sixth run, this time filmed in the Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Airing on Channel 5, the show follows patients and staff at a major trauma hospital as cameras are given unprecedent access to film what most people do not see.
Viewers witness an intense and unfiltered look at what doctors and nurses do to save lives. Having returned to screens last week, tonight (May 19), Channel 5 will air yet another brutal instalment at 9pm.
Tonight’s episode (Tuesday, May 19) will take viewers into another high stakes environment as one farmer is airlifted to hospital after crashing head first into a tree. Elsewhere, one woman is rushed to hospital with life threatening stab wounds as medical teams fight to save lives.
A Channel 5 synopsis reads: “A farmer faces potentially life-changing injuries after an accident shatters his skull.”
999: Critical Condition was previously filmed in Stoke for the first five instalments as it has become a firm favourite for those who enjoy medical TV programmes, especially 24 Hours in Police Custody.
The Channel 5 show does not shy away from the realities faced by staff in the hospital and the life saving work they do for patients.
Spanning across one hour, new episodes will be released weekly, with instalments then being made available to stream online.
Previously, one viewer praised: “Watching 999: Critical Condition. Very fascinating.” Another said: “#999CriticalCondition about to start on C5, this is a brilliant TV show.”
A third added: “Watching last night’s #999CriticalCondition, not for the squeemish (sic) but the operation to rebuild the guys head & face after his quad bike crash is fascinating, proper ‘face off’ shit to reveal his damaged skull. The 3d printed skull showing the extent of his fractures was amazing.”
A fourth echoed: “Watching #999CriticalCondition and this guy has landed on his face and his eyeball is hanging out of the socket. HIS ENTIRE EYEBALL. I’ve never been squeamish with programs like this, but I actually felt sick.”
In a previous article, the Guardian confirmed it was a “hardcore” documentary series in which every case “will stick with you”.
999: Critical Condition airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.
Steph recently appeared on Rich House, Poor House and was offered a job but she had no choice but to refuse the offer due to a family issue and unable to take on the long commute.
Alongside her mother Gail and her daughters – 12-year-old Amelia and seven-year-old Darcey, they swapped lives with wealthy Mr Whippy owner Joe Sealey on the Channel 5 series and their worlds couldn’t be more different.
At the time, Joe traded his six-bedroom estate – complete with cinema room, gym and indoor pool – for seven days in Steph’s three bedroom council house with a damaged ground floor and mould spreading through Amelia’s room.
Despite working six days a week from home in telesales, Steph struggles to cover essential costs. Once fundamental household expenses are paid, they’re left with just £98 per week for all other needs.
At the end of the swap, she was given a life-changing opportunity as Joe offered her a position on his sales team with a starting salary of £60,000 a year.
However Steph has revealed that she’s had to make the heartbreaking decision and turn down the job offer after the office moved to a different location.
Giving viewers an update, she took to her TikTok and explained that the relocation means she would have had to do a four hour round commute, which she says wouldn’t work due to being a single mum and her mum’s health deteriorating.
She said: “In relation to the job, I agree with all of you that it’s an amazing opportunity. Sadly due to the main office relocation it would mean a four hour round trip commuting for me, to be able to go there and take that job offer up.”
During the swap, Steph had no choice but to send her mum home after she became too unwell to continue with the programme and it seems her health is still a concern for Steph.
Steph explained: “As you all know I’m a single mum, I’ve got two beautiful girls. My amazing mum, whose health is not great, it’s not massively improved since the show, so it’s not viable for me to be able to travel a four hour round trip.
“I need to be closer to my girls and my mum but again it was an amazing opportunity that was put forward. Sadly the location did change in between and it’s just not viable for me to do that
“But I just again wanted to say a huge thank you to Joe, my production team, Channel 5 and most importantly every single one of you. It’s not easy to put yourself out there.”
Following a successful business meeting on the show, Steth was promised £20,000 from the initial sales proceeds but unfortunately the sale still hasn’t gone thorough.
Steph added: “Since filming last year, Joe has been tirelessly working with Kaspas trying to get the deal across the line, that obviously you would have seen me go and do the sales pitch for. At the moment, that hasn’t been completed but I know Joe is still working in the background trying to get that over the line for us.”
You can stream Rich House, Poor Holiday on Channel 5
Claire, from Canada, was 24 years old when she was killed on 11 February 2024.
She was found with a number of serious injuries in a hot tub at a property in the Sandness area, and though emergency services arrived at the scene, she was pronounced dead a short while later.
A new documentary is now revealing the murder trial that followed, as well as sharing the perspective of her grieving family.
The Channel 5 synopsis teases: “Inside the courtroom as a grieving family and an accused partner collide in a murder trial.”
Sharing a clip on social media, Channel 5 warned viewers: “Warning: Some viewers may find the following video distressing.”
They added: “Claire Leveque’s final months reveal a harrowing story of control and abuse. Now, her family cross continents in search of answers, and justice.”
The trailer heard clippings from the trial, with Claire’s family and friends in tears in court.
It also sees testimonies from experts brought in to prove the case, as a person warns: “This is a horror story from the beginning.”
“This was horrific,” one viewer commented to the clip.
Another said: “Horrendous case – can’t imagine how her family & friends coped with that trial.”
Someone else called it “very chilling”, and said “it wasn’t an easy watch”.
“A hard watch,” another agreed, while someone else said: “#MurderinShetland is remarkable television. Do watch it if you can, although it is quite harrowing.”
Ahead of the documentary airing, Gary Davies, consultant editor for commissioning at 5, said: “This thoughtful series gives a deeply human account of an unimaginable tragedy. It shines a light on the justice process and honours the courage of Claire’s family as they seek truth and remembrance.”
Mark Procter, executive producer for Big Little Fish, echoed the sentiment, saying: “We are profoundly grateful to the Judicial Office for Scotland and to everyone who enabled our access to the trial.
“Above all, we are honoured that the Leveque family have entrusted us to document what happened to Claire. We hope this series serves as a respectful tribute – giving her the voice that was so cruelly taken from her.”
Murder in Shetland: Trial by Jury is available to watch on Channel 5.
Tonight’s instalment (May 17) saw three 18 year olds, who have given up on education, as they were taken to one of Britain’s most elite and traditional private boarding schools – Christ College in Brecon.
A synopsis teased: “Three 18-year-olds who’ve given up on education bed down in one of Britain’s most elite and traditional private boarding schools, where excellent results and respect count for everything.”
Following Shadiya from Bristol, Molly from Essex and Danny from London, the synopsis continued: “For the next week, these three reluctant sixth formers will be bedding down in Christ College, a prestigious private boarding school in Brecon.
“Established by King Henry VIII, it’s one of the oldest schools in Wales and believes in getting results ‘the Brecon Way’. The strict rules and fierce competition will be a real test for its newest pupils.”
The students were forced out of their comfort zone as they re-entered a classroom for the first time in a while, but for Molly, things soon became a struggle.
Molly, a part time retailer from Essex, was distraught on GCSE results day when she found out she had only passed three subjects, leaving her with a very negative view of education. A post showing the moment she opened her results was viewed by more than 20 million people online.
On the show, Molly was recruited in the school’s chapel choir due to her musical background, but was soon seen struggling to read the sheet music and sing in French, leaving her deflated.
During practice, the 18-year-old was stunned as she admitted she struggled to keep up. Speaking to producers, she added: “When I heard I had choir practise, I was so happy, and then wow that is something different. I couldn’t sing in French and I just felt so awkward the whole time.”
She later said: “Music is literally the most important thing ever to me and that made music miserable.”
In a further revelation, Molly said on her diary cam: “Everyone is really polite which feels slightly odd. I feel like I haven’t really seen anyone express themselves properly.
“They’ve all kind of got the same humour, same kind of mannerisms, same attitude, it kind of feels like a cult.”
The next day, when it came to the performance, Molly continued to feel the nerves as she admitted: “Yesterday I was thinking about just walking out of the choir, I was like no I cannot do this.”
Getting dressed in a striking red robe, Molly could be heard telling the group: “I really don’t want to do this guys.”
However, despite her nerves, Molly performed in the chapel choir and was proud of her achievements. She told producers: “Being judged is something that really does scare me and concern me.
“I got bullied in Year 7 to 8 and that really did just ruin my time at school. I just felt really uncomfortable around everyone in a classroom watching me.”
Trading Places is available to watch on Channel 5.
The show takes a fresh group of young people each week, plucking them from their comfort zones and dropping them headfirst into a completely different way of life.
On Sunday night (May 10), viewers watched as self-confessed shopaholics Saffron, Umar, and Bridie swapped their lavish lifestyles for a 1960s-inspired, off-grid existence in Cornwall.
Things quickly became overwhelming for Saffron, however, when the reality of her new surroundings hit home upon arrival.
The moment she stepped into their accommodation with her suitcase in tow, the 26-year-old broke down in tears, reports Wales Online.
She commented: “I can’t do this, I don’t like any of it. I don’t want to do this anymore. No, I really don’t want to do this anymore. It’s too much, I can’t.”
Farm resident Babu stepped in to comfort a distressed Saffron, who struggled to articulate just how overwhelming she found the whole experience. She added: “The bees, the walking, the climbing. I’m not used to quiet at all.”
With some gentle encouragement from Babu, Saffron ultimately decided to stick it out and embrace farm life. Throughout the episode, viewers also gained a fascinating insight into her life back home.
Speaking candidly to the camera, she revealed: “I am a sugar baby. A sugar baby is basically a companion. When I have a long-term sugar daddy, then the items per month would be a few Chanel handbags or a few Christian Louboutins.
“The men that I’ve dated, they’ve always looked after me, I’m just a 24/7 princess, so I don’t know what life is without that.”
Saffron explained to the group at the farm that their relationships remain platonic, focusing primarily on conversation rather than anything physical.
After a difficult beginning, Channel 5 audiences witnessed a transformation in Saffron as she threw herself into producing fresh organic apple juice for sale at a farmers’ market.
The 26 year old became emotional later in the programme when discussing the bullying she endured in her younger years, though the experience appeared largely beneficial for her overall.
Reflecting as the episode concluded, she admitted: “The biggest challenge of this week has been the whole bl***y week! I know that everyone thought I was going to leave day one, myself included, but no, I stayed the week! I’m not proud of myself this week, no.”
She continued candidly: “I’m going to be real, I think there’s a lot more I could’ve tried, but there was so much emotion that kept coming over me every time in every single activity, I was finding bits of myself that I’d hidden for so long.”
Trading Places is available to watch on Channel 5.
Two couples from opposite sides of the wealth divide swapped wedding budgets
Rich Wedding, Poor Wedding bride couldn’t believe the price of her wedding(Image: Channel 5)
A Rich Wedding, Poor Wedding bride couldn’t believe the “extravagant” price of her big day.
During the first episode of the new Channel 5 series, which aired on Sunday (May 3), two couples from opposite sides of the wealth divide swap budgets for their weddings.
One duo, who are used to the finer things in life, had to plan a wedding on a small budget, meanwhile the other pair had a lot of money to burn.
Taking part in the experiment was millionaire couple Col and Raz, who gave up their unlimited budget to Janet and Gary, who have spent years scraping and saving and even a modest wedding felt out of reach.
Gary and Janet, who live in Salford, have been madly in love since meeting at a health care call centre 11-years-ago. Gary popped the big question while on a romantic holiday two-years-ago.
Since then, they have been excited to walk down the aisle however the pair’s low paid jobs in customer services make it a struggle to make ends meet.
To bring in extra money Gary works as a wedding singer but even with the second job their combined disposable income is just £157 a week, so their big day dreams have been put on hold.
It was a completely different story for Essex couple Col, 37 and Raz, 34, who are used to champagne lifestyles and money is no issue to them.
The couple have only been together for two years but Col, who owns multiple businesses, revealed that it was love at first sight after meeting at an event.
Ever since Col proposed, Raz has been planning her big day and it hasn’t included cutting down on anything. The bride had dreams of an elegant princess wedding and Col wanted a big party with free flowing drinks.
The couple wanted to swap budgets because they both revealed that they hadn’t always had the finer things in life and grew up without a lot of money.
Getting stuck into their wedding planning, Col and Raz were left speechless after finding out that they had just £3,500 to cover everything, meanwhile Gary and Janet couldn’t believe their eyes after getting an unlimited budget.
At first, Col and Raz struggled to get everything they needed with their small budget especially after bride Raz went over budget with her dress. After a few bumps in the road and some help from family members they managed to pull through and overall enjoyed their special day.
Meanwhile Janet and Gary felt like they’d won the lottery and made the most of their unlimited budget. The couple splashed out on a £17,000 venue and £5,000 enchanted forest. Janet spent £3,000 on her dream wedding dress and even had a singer for their reception celebration. The couple enjoyed their lavish wedding surrounded by their friends and family.
Things took an emotional turn after both couples reunited following their wedding swap as Janet broke down in tears after finding out how much she spent on her wedding.
After opening an envelope revealing the price of the wedding, Gary gasped as he revealed: £50,118.60.” He then joked: “What was the 60p on?”
Janet was visibly moved as she said: “There are so many people in the world that have got nothing that..” The bride broke down as she admitted: “It upsets me actually, to spend that kind of money on one day. It’s extravagant, it’s too much.” Gary comforted his wife as he said: “Do you know what though, you work hard all your life and it’s nice to get something back.”
You can catch up on Rich Wedding, Poor Wedding on Channel 5
He’s been in work since leaving drama school a decade ago but Callum Woodhouse has had enough of ‘posh’ – and is ready to play a villain
There are no smiles from Callum in his new role a bad guy, in 5’s The Fortune(Image: Lonesome Pine Productions
Channel 5)
He’s known for his roles as witty and warm-hearted Leslie Durrell in The Durrells and happy-go-lucky Tristan Farnham in All Creatures Great and Small.
But actor Callum Woodhouse is now delighted to have landed a “wildly different” role in new psychological drama The Fortune, in which he can “show a bit of versatility” as a baddie for the first time.
Callum, 32, told the Mirror: “The Durrells and All Creatures are two shows I am incredibly proud of and two characters I am incredibly proud of – but there is not much villainy, and in both I am playing posh characters.”
Having grown-up in Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, he relished the chance to use his own voice to play dark and brooding Anthony Worrall. “In The Fortune, I’m speaking in my own northern accent for the first time, and I am essentially playing a villain,” he explained, adding that playing Tristan had become “a little routine” after doing it for so long.
“I’ve done seven years as Tristan and you find the character again immediately. Whereas coming up with Anthony, a nasty character from the north, I almost had to re-learn how to act in my own accent. Getting to flex those nasty muscles for acting, which I haven’t really done since drama school – it was a lot of fun playing someone so wildly different.”
Callum, whose dad was boss of an oil firm and mother a nurse, went to Stockton Sixth Form before completing a three-year drama course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He landed the role in ITV’s The Durrells, in which Keeley Hawes played his mother, before he graduated in 2015. “It was a lovely feeling to be leaving knowing this amazing job was there,” he said afterwards. Believing acting to be a hard world to break into, his parents had encouraged him to keep his options open. “It was a bit of a losing battle, though,” he once admitted. “I’ve really honestly never had a Plan B. They have always wanted me to have as many ‘strings to my bow’ just in case it didn’t work out – but it was all or nothing, so thank God it’s worked out so far.”
The Fortune, expected to start on 5 next month, boasts a wealth of top talent including Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson and Harry Potter’s Matthew Lewis – who has also appeared in All Creatures Great and Small. They play a couple, Amanda and Jimmy, whose world is blown apart when she inherits a fortune from a man she’s neither met nor heard of before. The gripping series, due to air this summer, explores the notion of a person’s past not being what they think it is.
New Tricks favourite Denis Lawson plays Martin Worrall, the head of a family which is bound in past secrets – and Callum is his son, Anthony, often to be seen clutching a rifle (not unlike Leslie Durrell). Amanda’s life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of the Worrall Family.
Other cast include The Thick of It’s Rebecca Front as Martin’s wife Fiona, Wild at Heart’s Stephen Hopkinson as farm worker Boots Maddison and Upstart Crow’s Paula Wilcox as Amanda’s mother Linda.
After playing Leslie Durrell for four series, it ended up being a role Callum found “quite upsetting” because, in real life, Lesie never achieved the success of his siblings. “It’s quite upsetting, because I grew really attached to Leslie, and I wanted him to succeed, and I wanted him to have good things happen to him.”
But he didn’t have the same problem as cheerful vet Tristan. “He always ended up managing to turn a negative into a positive – he was just so perpetually upbeat and happy. It was a very uplifting experience to play Tristan.”
The hit Channel 5 series sees two families from opposite ends of the wealth divide swap homes, budgets, and lives for a week.
They both experience a dramatic shift in perspective as they step into each other’s worlds but one family appeared to break a rule as they left the property halfway through the swap.
During Sunday’s (April 19) episode, millionaire hotel owners Gez and Rosy Chetal swapped their luxury life with the Bloor family.
In Norfolk, John and wife Ann, live with their three children in a three-bedroom rented terrace house. After basic household bills they have just £79 a week to spend on everything else from food and travel to fun.
Mum Ann works as a cook in a mental health care home, meanwhile husband John works long hours as a bus driver, but they both have a passion for cooking.
Despite both grafting hard, the couple struggle to make ends meet and have previously gone bankrupt for £36k, but they dream of running a music café of their own one day.
Experiencing how the wealthiest 1% live, they exchanged homes for a week with hotel owners Gez and Rosy Chetal, who lived in their luxurious £1.7m 11-bedroom bespoke hotel with their 19-year-old daughter Saanchi.
Given his demanding lifestyle as an entrepreneur, the couple wanted to use the swap as a way for them to spend some quality time together and have a break from their business.
They swapped their hotel— complete with a wine cellar, a large dining room and private chef for a week-long stay in the Bloor family’s house.
While Gez and Rosy were forced to manage on a weekly budget of £79, John, wife Ann and their children got a taste of luxury living with £1,800 to spend.
However, not long into the swap it was clear that the Bloor family struggled to adjust to their new environment living in a hotel as Ann admitted: “My kids are not comfortable.”
After a restless night, Ann was visibly moved as she told husband John: “The children are really uncomfortable. They can’t be in their pyjamas because it’s a hotel, they can’t just go and get a drink, they can’t just go and get a sandwich.” John jumped in and added: “It’s not a home is it?”
Turning to John, Ann explained: “It’s nothing about the hotel. If it was just me and you.. I’d absolutely love it but actually to me we can’t really stay in the hotel.”
The couple then made a big decision and decided to abandon the hotel and use the remaining budget to book a luxury Airbnb, that cost a whopping £1,200.
When the two families finally reunited at the end of their swap, Ann went on to say: “We loved the hotel, unfortunately the children didn’t. They felt very separated from us.” Gez added: “It’s just a big house really, with 11 rooms.”
Rich House, Poor House airs Sunday night from 9pm on Channel 5
JACK Fincham was spotted leaving casting for a new reality TV show just days after opening up about his rebab and homelessness.
The former Love Island star, 34, flashed a big smile as he emerged from a studio in Soho wearing a retro tracksuit.
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Jack Fincham was spotted leaving casting for a new reality TV showCredit: w8mediaThe Love Island star opened up about being homeless and his stint in rehabCredit: w8mediaJack relapsed into drinking and drugs and had just £20 to his nameCredit: w8media
Jack looked pleased with himself after he met with producers for a big project for a Channel 5 show.
He sported a retro look in an 1980s Sergio Tacchini tracksuit which caught the attention of a few passer by who stopped to take selfies with Jack.
Jack added a pair of aviator sunglasses to his look and black trainers.
He looked in a high spirits after spending the afternoon with bosses for a secret new telly appearance, which is yet to be announced.
Jack opened up on life post rehab as he took to Instagram.
He admitted that he’s currently homeless and is not sure where to go moving forward as there’s nothing “much left” for him in England.
He said: “In case anyone is wondering where I am, I’m staying a hotel with the dog. I’m just gonna reset and work out what to do and where I wanna live.
“Got my beautiful dog Elvis, without him I probably wouldn’t even be here to be honest.”
Jack has owned his black Cane Corso dog, named Elvis, since at least September 2022, when the dog was involved in a biting incident.
Despite legal trouble regarding the dog being “dangerously out of control” in 2022 and June 2024, Jack has expressed his attachment to the pet.
He then spent two months receiving £32k of treatment at Rainford Hall, MerseysideCredit: Louis WoodJack credited his pet dog Elvis for helping him get through his darkest timesCredit: Louis Wood
The second incident that occurred in June 2024 led to a suspended sentence for Jack in 2025.
Meanwhile, Jack’s relationship with his family hasn’t been the same since he returned home.
Jack added: “One thing they told me in rehab and it’s true, you’re not gonna walk out of rehab to a red carpet rolled out for you because it’s stuff you should have been doing anyway.”
He also thanked the staff from his rehab, saying “that level of kindness I wasn’t used to for a while, I found it quite alien.”
Jack remains optimistic and hopes to get back into TV, saying: “I’m gonna do my acting and get back into TV work, I’m gonna do all the things I said I was gonna do.”
Jack previously did a stint in rehab back in 2021, but relapsed before Christmas last year.
He spoke of the spiral back in January, he explained: “Since then I have done drugs, I have done laughing gas.
“I have been so drunk that I’ve kissed a woman over Christmas and don’t even remember doing it. I’m embarrassed, mortified. I feel like an idiot.
“I am a 33-year-old man. I should be settled down, married. Instead I need help.”
Jack first shot to fame on Love Island, where he won over the nation with his charm and went on to win the series.
