Coronation Street have revealed a first look at Betsy Swain’s hospital dash that sees her given a life-changing diagnosis, and as her condition deteriorates, Dylan is blamed
21:08, 08 Jul 2026Updated 21:16, 08 Jul 2026
Coronation Street have revealed a first look at Betsy Swain’s hospital dash(Image: ITV)
A health battle will see Betsy Swain deteriorate on Coronation Street in upcoming episodes, resulting in a life-changing diagnosis.
The teenager will be rushed to hospital after collapsing at home. As she’s discovered, am ambulance is called and her mother Lisa Connor-Swain is left distraught.
As Lisa waits by her daughter’s bedside, she’s joined by her wife Carla Connor-Swain as they wait for news. There’s panic ahead, as Betsy’s condition worsens.
Soon, Betsy’s partner Dylan Wilson is blamed for what has happened to her. But what has he done, and why is Dylan facing accusations? All will be revealed when the scenes air, and Lisa wants answers.
A new trailer for the episodes released by the ITV soap has confirmed the moment Carla is told by Ryan about Betsy. She races to Betsy’s hospital room and finds a worried Lisa, but the trailer gives no extra information about what has happened.
It’s said that the scenes will see Betsy given a life-changing diagnosis, and accusations fly. As Betsy tries to come to terms with what has happened to her, her family will rally around her.
Spoilers released ahead of the trailer had teased the drama set to unfold. They revealed that Ryan Connor is the one who finds Betsy unconscious on the kitchen floor.
A nurse explains to a tearful Lisa that they are taking Betsy for an MRI Scan, and later, Dylan witness Betsy appearing to have a seizure. In the fallout, an upset Betsy begs Lisa not to blame Dylan for what has happened.
But Lisa soon confronts Dylan and blames him for Betsy’s collapse. After, Lisa calls at the station and tells the desk sergeant she’d like to report a crime.
As the week goes on, Betsy doesn’t want to see Dylan, and Lauren Bolton says her pal is in a bad way. Dylan is quickly arrested, and when he’s released, more than one resident make it clear they are against him.
Things take a turn when Dylan suggests Brody is responsible for what has happened to Betsy.
Coronation Street fans think Kevin Webster could be about to rekindle his longstanding romance Abi amid the family tragedy, almost a year after it emerged she had had an affair with the man he thought was his long-lost brother but then turned out to be his long-lost nephew
Kevin was the first to comfort Abi in hospital
Kevin Webster could be about to rekindle his romance with Abi – almost a year after they separated. The mechanic has been played by Michael Le Vell since 1983 and has been central to many of the soap’s biggest storylines, many of them involving his ex-wife Sally (Sally Dynevor), and their daughters,Rosie (Helen Flanagan) and Sophie (Brooke Vincent).
They called time on their marriage in 2010 after Kevin had an affair with Molly Dobbs and although they have been on relatively good terms since, Sally married Tim Metcalfe in the years that followed and Kevin later tied the knot with Abi Franklin in 2021.
On the latest episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap, Abi was faced with horror when she had to rush her young son Alfie, who is the product of her affair with the late Imran Habeeb, for treatmentand it became apparent that mould was causing him to suffer severe respiratory issues.
Abi has been living in one of the flats at Weatherfield Precinct, and her landlord is newcomer Idris Sharma, the cousin of established character Alya (Sair Khan). When Abi was delivered the bad news by the doctor in the hospital, she said through tears: “It means it’s not just an infection. There’s something really wrong. I’m going to lose him!” and instantly turned to Kevin for comfort.
While all this was going on, Idris had become aware of what was going on and recruited teenager Brody Michaelis, whom he has taken under his wing, to deal with the situation. Paying the teenager to bundle a man named Isaac into the back of his car, they pulled up at an unknown location and Idris told him: “You know why you’re here. You put a kid in hospital.
“I don’t let people live like animals. Thanks to you, I’m the bad guy. And for my loss of reputation, you pay. And if I have to come and find you, believe me, it’ll be ten times worse. Think on that.” With Brody still keeping tightly hold of him, Idris drove off and later paid the teenager for his help.
But unbeknownst to to Idris and Brody, Abi had watched the whole kidnap and informed Sally, who is currently acting as a foster mother towards Brody, about what she saw.
Brody, whose father is in prison for murder, told Idris that the whole thing wasn’t really for him but the dodgy landlord continued to pressure him into things.
Reacting to the dramatic scenes, viewers predicted that Abi, who lost her son Seb when he was murdered in an unprovoked attack and also has a few children in the care system, will get back together with Kevin however her latest melodrama turns out.
Taking to X, one fan said: “Honestly, with Kev and Abi being on good terms I’m surprised she hasn’t moved back in with him. Abi can’t lose another kid ffs!”
Another said: “The fact it’s has been 9 months and Abi still hasn’t changed her name back to Franklin, and now they are having her move back into number 13 with Kev and carl supporting her. I am praying they don’t do what I think they are going to do #corrie.”
“I’m surprised dopey Kev hasn’t taken Abbeh back already,” a follower commented, as a Twitter user added: “I wonder if this new storyline for Abi and Alfie will lead to Kevin and Abi getting back together.”
Coronation Street has welcomed real-life family members to the Cobbles over the years
Rosie’s brother Richard used Corrie as a springboard into his music and theatre career
Soap operas blur the line between drama and reality when family members land roles on the same show.
Coronation Street star Isabella Flanagan plays Weatherfield’s Hope Stape, daughter of Fiz Brown (played by Jennie McAlpine), on the ITV show alongside her brother William, who portrays Joseph Brown, son of Chesney (Sam Aston).
Cousins Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach have both enjoyed successful stints on the show, while Rick Neelan actor Greg Wood is actually the real-life brother of Tommy Orpington star Matt Milburn.
Last month, Rosie Fleeshman became the latest member to follow in the footsteps of her famous sibling, Richard Fleeshman, enjoying a guest stint on Corrie. Their mum has also starred on the show.
Richard first graced the soap as Craig Harris in 2002, with his family, including father Tommy Harris (Thomas Craig), mother Angela Harris (Kathryn Hunt), and sister Katy (Lucy-Jo Hudson).
The family arrived in Weatherfield as part of a witness protection scheme, and they quickly stirred up some drama. Moreover, young Craig was central to several dramatic storylines during his tenure.
In 2005, he lost his entire family when his sister Katy killed their father Tommy in a rage, and their mother Angela took the fall. Unable to cope with the guilt, Katy later took her own life.
The character also embarked on a romance with Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan), becoming her first boyfriend. Craig even plotted to flee to Berlin with Rosie.
However, in 2006, Craig departed alone and bid farewell to the cobbles. Since then, actor Richard has kept himself occupied, appearing in shows such as Call the Midwife and Death in Paradise, as well as stage productions.
Richard hails from a talented family, as his mum, Sue Jenkins, who joined the cast of Coronation Street as Gloria Todd in 1985, became a regular face at the Rovers Return pub. She worked alongside Julie Goodyear, who famously played landlady Bet Lynch.
Beyond her time on Corrie, Sue also portrayed Jackie Corkhill in Brookside from 1992 to 2001, and made a brief appearance in Emmerdale in 2008 as Bonnie Drinkwater.
In 2024, Richard appeared on Loose Women and spoke to panellists Kaye Adams, Kelle Bryan, Linda Robson, and Jane Moore about his role on sci-fi show, The Ark and paid tribute to his mum’s time on Brookside.
“She was amazing in that show”, he said. “I was allowed to watch certain episodes growing up. Some of them were a little bit past my bedtime. It was an amazing show and such a great following.”
The revelation of Sue and Richard’s roles on Corrie left fans astounded. On X, previously known as Twitter, one viewer posted about Sue’s stint on Corrie.
Another fan responded: “That’s Richard Fleeshman’s mum!” A third person commented: “Wow, all this time watching and I never knew that, I can see her son in that photo now.” Yet another added: “Her real-life son played Craig Harris, son of Psycho Tommy!”
Richard’s dad is David Fleeshman, who appeared in Boys from the Blackstuff, and he credited his parents for inspiring his successful career. He said, “I grew up with both of them being around the industry fully, so it was just everything I knew.”
Emmerdale fans have been left furious after Dr Caitlin Todd was killed off at the end of Wednesday night’s episode, meaning that Charity Dingle will now never get justice for the abuse she faced
Dr Todd has been murdered on Emmerdale – and some fans have made it quite clear they’ve had enough of these types of storylines (Image: ITV)
Emmerdale fans have been left furious after Dr Caitlin Todd was killed off at the end of Wednesday night’s episode. The medic, played by Caroline Harkin, had relentlessly bullied Sarah Sugden’s partner Jacob when she was in charge of him at the hospital, and things have only got worse since she retired.
Last year, Charity tried become a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah only to find out that she was naturally pregnant by Ross Barton. Still, she kept this all a secret and Sarah believed that all had gone to plan with the surrogacy. Todd found out the truth and used it to blackmail Charity into handing over money. This all culminated in harrowing scenes where she sexually assaulted a drunken Charity.
Earlier this week, Charity, who confessed all about to Mack, found the courage to go to the police but Mack, having had enough of the whole lie, stormed to the hospital to confront Todd. At the very end of Wednesday night’s episode, Charity vowed to get justice but then, Mack was seen with Todd as he said: “Would we call it winning if you stopped breathing? If you ever come near Charity again, I will bury you!”
A random flashforward, complete with the sound effects of a camera shutter to imply something had very suddenly become a crime scene investigation, showed Todd in the future lying dead, with blood coming out of her head. Todd is now the fourth person in the small Yorkshire village to be murdered this year – after John Sugden, Ray Walters and Celia Daniels.
This all seems to confirm that, despite her evil ways, Doctor Todd will never face justice for the way she abused Charity and fans were not impressed. Taking to X, one fan raged: “I just had a feeling that #Emmerdale was gonna kill Dr Todd off and here we are!
“Charity deserves justice , unfortunately now it’s not gonna happen And now this storyline has turned into a whodunit! I have no words. Soaps needs to do better instead off killing off the villain! This storyline is so important to raise awareness for and in my opinion they have gone and ruined it for a cheap plot!”
Another said: “It angers me that both Charity and Jacob will never get justice for what Dr. Todd did to them. Her abuse of both should have been dealt with not this cheap cop out.”
It all comes after fellow ITV soap Coronation Street made the decision to kill off domestic abuser Theo Silverton, and viewers will know that Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) was revealed as the killer when the whole story began as a plot to raise awareness on an issue rahter than a whodunnit.
Another said: “can soaps stop unaliving the abusers please! todd and charity deserved to get justice. #emmerdale #corrie.” Another said: “two brilliant actors & two brilliant villains. two storylines that brought attention to important topics, only for them to end unrealistically & for the sake of drama. im disappointed both soaps chose this, the characters deserved justice & so did the audience
One particular irate fan blasted the those in charge of the soaps, which have favoured an onslaught of constant crime stories above all else in recent years.
They wrote: “The fact [the soap bosses] are all stuck in this endless loop of stupid ridiculous outlandish who dunnit stories and killing abusers, health stories that aren’t even researched properly and toxic men. Also stupid pairings that are past their sell by date. Not to mention the never ending introduction of villains to these tiny places – just stop.”
Another wrote: “I don’t mind the copper stories I find some interesting, when they get it right but my gripe is the constant cycle of villains and murders! I would rather watch an episode of them all at the rovers for some sort of party with funny scenes not this abysmal year upon year of violence.”
Away from Coronation Street, Leanne Battersby star Jane Danson is married to a famous face
20:23, 01 Jul 2026Updated 20:25, 01 Jul 2026
Coronation Street Jane Danson’s romance with co-star she’s ‘fancied since she was 15’(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street’s Leanne Battersby has had her fair share of romances on the soap but in real life actress Jane Danson is loved-up with a fellow soap star.
And over the years, Leanne has played a part in several big storylines; from shock affairs and sex work to heartbreaking baby loss and drug abuse. And over in Weatherfield recently, she has struck up a romance with newcomer Idris Nazir (Junade Khan).
However, away from the soap, actress Jane is actually married to fellow soap star Robert Beck. Robert has appeared in the likes of Brookside, Emmerdale and Waterloo Road.
And he even appeared in Jane’s own soap Coronation Street back in 2008, playing criminal Jimmy Dockerson. For his Emmerdale stint, he played baddie Damon ‘Harry’ Harris in 1999.
The soap power couple Jane and Robert met in 1999 and tied the knot in 2005. The pair are also parents to Harry – born in July 2006 and Sam – born in February 2009.
Jane and Rob first met in May 1999, at the British Soap Awards. Recalling their first encounter Jane said: “I’m not the world’s most confident person but I’d had a crush on Rob since I was 15, so I thought, I have to speak to him, it’s fate.”
Appearing on Loose Women back in May 2025, Jane was asked about her other half, and whether she ‘manifested’ marrying him. “I have got to be careful here because I’m a little bit younger than him…” she admitted.
“When I was at school, I had a sticker of him on my pencil case and a poster of him. He was in Brookside at the time, another soap that’s no longer around, but he was very big in the soap at the time. I liked him a lot and some years later, when I was a little bit older, he was at the soap awards!”
In an intimate chat with OK! Magazine, Jane revealed the secret to her marriage with Robert, commenting: “Me and my husband have been together for 22 years, and we’re really good friends as well as loving each other lots.”
She also previously shared: “Rob’s absolutely my best friend in the world. We’ve only had about two rows in 20 years. I’m not saying we don’t get on each other’s nerves sometimes, but we’re a strong team and we’ve always allowed each other to be individuals.”
And in December last year, Jane shared a gushing tribute to Robert on their 20-year wedding anniversary. Sharing a beaming photo of them on their special day, Jane shared on Instagram: “Happy 20th wedding anniversary my love @robertbeck529.”
And her Corrie co-stars were quick to respond. On-screen sister Georgia Taylor said: “Absolute couple goals. Love you both so much.” Andy Whyment replied: “Ah Happy 20th wedding anniversary you lovely couple. Enjoy your day.” Samia Longchambon commented: ” Happy big Anniversary you two!” Catherine Tyldesley added: “Happy Anniversary loves.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
The Inside Soap Awards are back and they have announced a major change to this years’ event to mark the 30th anniversary
The Inside Soap Awards are back!(Image: PA)
The Inside Soap Awards are back – and are making the move up North for the first time ever.
This year’s event will take place in Manchester and will be the only soap awards ceremony held this year.
Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks will all go head to head whilst Australian soap Home and Away has also been nominated as well as dramas like Casualty and Waterloo Road.
Up for nomination this year is the epic Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover episode – Corriedale – as well as Nigel’s sad death in EastEnders, amongst other dramatic and heartbreaking scenes.
“The Inside Soap Awards are still going strong after 30 years, and we’re proud to be championing all the wonderful work the soaps produce day in, day out. Our readers are just as passionate and loyal now as they were back in 1996, with over 90,000 of them voting each year – and the Inside Soap Awards remain the only accolades of their kind to be voted for entirely by the true experts, the soap fans themselves,” Inside Soap magazine editor Sarah Ellis said.
To mark the awards’ 30th anniversary, there will be their very own Hall of Fame and the first inductee will be announced during the ceremony. She added: “The soap star who receives this prestigious accolade will be someone who’s been closely associated with the Inside Soap Awards since they began in 1996.
“In addition, fans will also be able to nominate their Soap Superstar of 2026, a person they feel has gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to providing entertainment.”
Voting opens midday on Tuesday 30 June, and the winners will be revealed in Manchester in September.
The full list of nominations are as follows:
Best Actress
Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster, Coronation Street )
Vicky Myers (Lisa Connor-Swain, Coronation Street )
Death in Paradise fans instantly recognised the star behind drug lord Miranda Priestly.
Hayley Anderson Screen Time TV Reporter
22:53, 28 Jun 2026Updated 00:03, 29 Jun 2026
Death in Paradise’s Miranda Priestly is played by actress Victoria Ekanoye. (Image: BBC)
Death in Paradise fans were swift to work out where they’d seen drug lord Miranda Priestly before.
Death in Paradise returned tonight, Sunday, June 28, on BBC One for a classic instalment of everyone’s beloved cosy crime drama.
This time round, DS Florence Cassell (portrayed by Josephine Jobert) assumes an undercover position as the nanny for Miranda Priestly (Victoria Ekanoye), a formidable drug lord.
It fell to Florence in this two-part special to penetrate Miranda’s drug operation, but BBC audiences couldn’t help being distracted by the star playing this week’s antagonist.
Who is Victoria Ekanoye?
Death in Paradise welcomed actress Victoria Ekanoye to play Miranda Priestly in the two-part special which originally broadcast three years ago.
Before her guest appearance in Death in Paradise, Ekanoye enjoyed a two-year spell in none other than ITV’s Coronation Street as Angie Appleton.
Internationally, Ekanoye is perhaps best recognised for portraying Rachel, the devoted confidante and aide to Elizabeth Hurley’s Queen Helena in The Royals.
Some of her other most prominent screen roles have included Girl Taken, The Turkish Detective, Doctors and The Worst Witch.
However, before she shifted her focus to television, Ekanoye launched her career in musical theatre, performing in the West End’s The Lion King as Queen Sarabi and Nala.
She has also tried her hand at singing, appearing in the 2019 series of The X Factor: Celebrity, where she competed in the “Over 31s” category.
The 44 year old was represented by judge Nicole Scherzinger and finished in 11th place.
Ekanoye has a number of exciting projects in the works, including the forthcoming BBC drama The Split Up, which serves as a spin-off of the hugely popular legal series The Split.
Furthermore, the actress is set to appear in a romantic drama called As Bad as Me, as well as An English Christmas Wish, which is anticipated to land later this year.
Death in Paradise is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Coronation Street’s Sarah Platt has confessed to Todd that she killed Theo but a short time later she was the one who had to deal with a shock truth that came her way
21:53, 25 Jun 2026Updated 21:54, 25 Jun 2026
Sarah Platt has told Todd Grimshaw that she killed Theo on Coronation Street
Sarah Platt confessed to Todd Grimshaw that she killed Theo on the latest episode of Coronation Street. The legendary Weatherfield resident, who has been played by Tina O’Brien since 1999, hit the evil scaffolder over the head with a pipe during a confrontation above the builder’s yard – seemingly sending him plunging to his death.
For months, viewers were left guessing as to who had killed Theo, who spent almost a year abusing partner Todd Grimshaw, but Sarah was never one of the official suspects and is yet to even be a person of interest to police, most likely thanks to the fact that on the night in question, she was knocked unconscious in the living room of number eight.
Sarah is currently dating, and looks set to get engaged to DC Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), so she felt it was unwise to involve him. Instead, she roped Gary Windass (Mikey North) into the whole sorry mess, who has been helping her keep the whole thing secret, much to the chagrin of his wife Maria (Samia Longchambon), who thought they had been having an affair.
To make matters even worse, DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers), who has a habit of putting innocent people in prison, charged Todd’s adoptive daughter Summer (Harriet Bibby) with murder and, although she was recently released, Sarah said nothing and allowed her to be put behind bars.
Having had enough of Todd constantly blaming Gary for the murder, Sarah finally confessed all to her best friend in Thursday night’s instalment of the world’s longest-running TV soap.
Through tears, Sarah said: “It was me. I knocked Theo off the scaffolding.” as he looked on in shock. “You’re wrong and I’m not even gonna let you think it. He is not corrupt – he wants to marry me!
“Afterwards. I was in shock and…Theo was…dead. And I couldn’t ring Kit, I couldn’t. I didn’t know who else to turn to. “
“He was talking like he’d killed you, and I believed him because why wouldn’t I? You thought he was capable. That’s why you ran.
“Don’t look down your nose at me, Theo ruined your life and then you brought him into mine. I didn’t have the option to run – not when I was 20ft up, on scaffolding on a plank that wide with a psycho waving a bottle in my face. A psycho who was ten times stronger than me and two times the size of me.
“He got in my face and I pushed him away and then he came back at me. All the time, he had this little white fleck in the corner of his mouth when he was ripping into me and I couldn’t take my eyes off it. That I was a sl*g, a w***e, three different kids to three different men and no wonder our baby died because it was an abomination.
“Those were the words he said about an innocent, newborn child. There was a pole. It was just instinct, I closed my eyes and swung and he crumpled.”
Later on, Sarah presumed Todd was going to go to the police but when she found him in the Rovers Return later on, he admitted he just couldn’t do it – even though he angrily told Sarah she had robbed him of the chance to make sure Theo got justice for all the abuse he had subjected him to.
He added: “The most annoying thing about all of it is the fact that I love you…so much. And I can’t see you go to prison.” Todd and Sarah were teenage sweethearts amid the programme’s first coming out story in 2004 and, even after Todd came out as gay, the pair have remained close.
Initially, Sarah threw her arms around Todd as she thanked him, but he then dealt the final blow as he vowed to cut her out for good.
He said: “Listen to me Sarah, this is it, for you and me. We’re done. I don’t want you in my life anymore,” leading Sarah to march back into the pub and continue to drink as she she stumbled round to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody before her family escorted her out.
But there was another twist in store back at number eight when Sarah, sat stroking David the dog, was having a conversation with Jodie. Without realising what she was saying, Jodie said: “It’s not easy to get over an attack like that – it takes time. Maybe this wasn’t the best place to bring you to, it must be triggering.”
As Jodie stroked the dog, she said: “At least you’re not barking your head off, this time, eh?” and Sarah immediately began to put two and two together as she said: “How did you know he was barking that night?”
Jodie tried to play the whole thing down but the cogs were already turning for Sarah, who has seemingly worked out that it was Shona’s mysterious long-lost sister all along.
Coronation Streetairs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am onITVX.
It was a big night for the cast of Clarkson’s Farm as they won big at the TRIC Awards, beating competition from Strictly Come Dancing and I’m A Celeb
Clarkson’s Farm won big at the TRIC Awards(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
The red carpet at the TRIC Awards was absolutely awash with chatter as TV and radio stars descended on London’s Grosvenor House hotel. While the trophies were a huge focus, it was clear the conversation was just as lively off-stage as it was on it.
With the World Cup in full swing, football fever had clearly followed the celebrities inside, with plenty of excitement ahead of England’s big match against Ghana.
Among those soaking up the atmosphere was Coronation Street star Gareth Pierce, who couldn’t resist teasing upcoming drama on the cobbles.
He hinted that things are about to take a very dark turn for Todd Grimshaw as he discovers the truth about Theo’s killer and promised fans that the storyline will “change everything”.
Elsewhere on the carpet, TRIC President Dan Walker was in high spirits as he reflected on both the awards and the wider political mood of the moment.
Speaking candidly, he said: “I think Sir Keir Starmer is a decent man, I’ve interviewed him over the years, but that doesn’t automatically make you a brilliant prime minister. It’s a really hard job.”
The comment sparked plenty of conversation among guests, many of whom admitted the current political climate is never far from industry talk.
Actress Kellie Shirley also weighed in on the day’s sporting focus, revealing that England fever has taken over at home. “It’s such an exciting time,” she said. “Everyone’s talking about the game, and we’ll definitely all be watching together. You can’t escape it at the moment – the World Cup is everywhere!”
The mix of sport, politics and soap drama set the tone for a typically lively TRIC atmosphere, but the biggest focus remained on the winners: LadBaby taking Content Creator (sponsored by Rayo), The Celebrity Traitors winning Game Show of the Year, and Clare Balding crowned Sports Presenter of the Year.
In entertainment, Clarkson’s Farm continued its winning momentum, taking top honours beating I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Strictly Come Dancing and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show in a category packed with long-running audience favourites.
Drama proved equally competitive, with Adolescence emerging as one of the key winners after trumping Call the Midwife, Death in Paradise and Slow Horses, highlighting another strong year for British scripted television.
Daytime programming also saw familiar names rewarded, with A Place in the Sun being recognised for its enduring appeal.
Factual honours went to 24 Hours in Police Custody, while food programming show Come Dine with Me took the gong.
The combination of sporting fever, political chat, soap spoilers and star-studded celebration ensured another unpredictable TRIC atmosphere – proving once again that when Britain’s broadcasters come together, the conversation off-stage is every bit as compelling as the awards themselves.
As Coronation Street revealed it was Sarah who killed Theo on Monday, actress Tina O’Brien addressed whether she could be leaving the ITV soap and her reaction to the twist
Coronation Street revealed it was Sarah who killed Theo on Monday(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street’s Sarah Platt has been exposed as Theo Silverton’s killer.
Now, actress Tina O’Brien, who has played the character since 1999, has addressed whether she’s about to bow out for good. Flashbacks during Monday’s episode confirmed what really happened to Theo, and who was to blame.
We saw Sarah accidentally killing Theo after he turned sinister. As he threatened her, she shoved him before hitting him over the head with a metal pole, leading to him plummeting off the scaffolding.
In the fallout, Sarah will be desperate to cover her tracks. But will she be caught out, and could it lead to a prison stint, or possibly a permanent exit from the ITV soap after after nearly 30 years in the role?
Tina shared: “It’s not just about her now, it’s about her family and her son, and there are times when she can’t cope with the pressure and you think she’s just going to hand herself in. And then she thinks about her son growing up without a mum, if she’s convicted and can’t prove she acted in self defence.
“And because of those things, she’s so desperate to do whatever it takes to be part of her family’s life.” It was her ex Gary that she frantically called for help, with him now keeping her secret.
With Gary’s rivalry with Sarah’s partner Kit Green now at boiling point, Tina explained why Sarah told Gary and not detective Kit. She said: “I think she absolutely went into panic mode, shocked, stunned and numb. She obviously didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know how to react and in that moment she thought, I can’t call Kit because of his job in the police.
“And so in that moment, she thought who can I call and it was Gary. There’s a lot of guilt there and I think also, selfishly, she feels like she’s ruined her chance with Kit, because if he knows what she’s done, he might not want her anymore and she so wanted him to be her future.”
This isn’t the first time Sarah has been caught up in a murder plot. Fans will recall that back in 2015, Sarah’s sister-in-law Kylie Platt murdered Sarah’s love interest Callum Logan. Callum had tried to attack Sarah, leading to Kylie killing him with a wrench.
Sarah and Kylie, with the help of Sarah’s brother David Platt, covered up the crime, and buried the body under their house. Sarah’s mental health spiralled in the fallout, and she was admitted to a psychiatric unit for treatment.
With Sarah caught up in another murder, Tina said this time her character could face prison. She teased: “If she’d have called the police straight away and explained what happened, she would have been in a much better situation, because it was clearly not pre-meditated, it was a situation where she felt she had no other choice.
“But to cover it up, to actively cover something up, she knows that she crossed a line that she can’t come back from.” She added on exit fears: “I genuinely didn’t worry, at the end of the day this job is incredible, but to be an actor is not necessarily a job for life. So, I just was really excited to be given the honour of being the murderer, and then hopefully, however it plays out, I’ll enjoy Sarah’s arc.”
So does this hint that Sarah will stick around? After keeping quiet for months, Tina shared: “I’ve literally been a big bag of nerves. It’s been so difficult, I told my mum and I just recently told my daughter Scarlett and my son Beau. You’re seeing all the chat on social media, everyone’s saying I think this, and I think that.
“Actually filming these scenes the weeks after have been the hardest thing I’ve ever filmed because I felt like my face looked guilty constantly and I thought everyone’s going to know it’s me instantly.”
It came as no surprise to Tina though that Sarah killed Theo. She explained: “I completely understand how it happened, why it happened. For me to get into her character and her head, I feel like in that moment, she didn’t feel like she had any other choice.”
Coronation Street fans were left gobsmacked after discovering that Ryan Connor star Ryan Prescott previously appeared on rival soap Emmerdale
Coronation Street fans were left gobsmacked after discovering that Ryan Connor star Ryan Prescott previously appeared on rival soap Emmerdale(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street viewers have been left stunned after only just discovering Ryan Connor actor Ryan Prescott previously featured in rival soap Emmerdale.
On Thursday, ITV’s Instagram account posted an entertaining soap crossover feature, highlighting all the Coronation Street and Emmerdale stars who’ve graced both programmes.
While fans recognised familiar soap-hopping actors including Claire King, who portrays Kim Tate on Emmerdale and played Erica Holroyd on Corrie, alongside Chris Bisson, who plays Jai Sharma in Emmerdale and portrayed Vikram Desai in Corrie, audiences were astonished to spot a ‘forgotten’ performer.
The post featured Corrie’s Ryan Connor actor Ryan Prescott, who played Flynn Buchanan in Emmerdale back in 2011.
Throughout Flynn’s stint in the village, he briefly romanced Aaron Dingle, portrayed by Danny Miller, though Aaron remained hung up on his former boyfriend Jackson Walsh, played by Marc Silcock, reports the Daily Star.
Reacting in the comments section, soap enthusiasts were left astounded by the revelation, with some having completely forgotten Ryan’s Emmerdale appearance while others were unaware of the soap crossover altogether.
One viewer exclaimed: “Omg I forgot Ryan was in emmerdale!” to which another account responded: “Such a throwback!”.
Meanwhile, another account posted: “Wow x” with a different fan contributing shocked emojis.
Another enthusiast wrote: “The only one I remember being in another soap is Jai!” while a separate viewer commented: “Wow that’s insane to look at in the Past and the Future.”
Coronation Street’s Ryan first appeared on the ITV soap back in 2006, with the character originally played by Ben Thompson – Ryan Prescott, 37, stepped into the role in 2018. As the son of Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh), it wasn’t long before Ryan became entangled in a host of dramatic storylines.
In forthcoming scenes, Ryan heads out on a date with fellow Weatherfield resident Jodie Ramsay (Olivia Frances Brown) – who has caused quite a stir since making her soap entrance earlier this year.
According to spoilers for next week, Jodie lets slip that she’s lined up a date. When David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) inadvertently mentions he’s due to meet Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) at the bistro, Jodie devises a cunning plan.
Jodie meets her date, Ryan, at the bistro, and when David arrives, Jodie turns on the charm in a bid to ignite David’s jealousy…
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
A synopsis for the upcoming six-part show teases: “The Hairdresser Mysteries is an original, homegrown drama and a nostalgic nod to the 70’s which sees a high-end hairdresser, Lily Petal (Sally Phillips), opt out of the competitive city scene to buy a small village hairdressers at the top of a cobbled street.
“Everyone tells their hairdresser everything and soon she becomes the hub of her new village’s secrets and revelations. Using her own brand of uncannily developed hairdressing intuitive, empathy and understanding, Lily begins to solve the mysteries of the village.”
Coronation Street legend Wendi Peters will play Gloria Crudd in the series, who is another newcomer to the village hoping to make a fresh start with her ice cream parlour but soon finds her old life catching up with her.
Wendi, 58, is best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street from 2003 to 2007, she returned to the cobbles once again in 2014.
In a first look of the new series, Wendi looks worlds away from Cilla as her character Gloria has a pastel pink copper coloured curly beehive hairdo adorned with jewellery pieces.
However, Wendi isn’t the only Coronation Street star in the new series as she is joined by fellow Weatherfield favourite Charlotte Jordan who is playing Clary Coombs – Lily’s ‘bright and analytical assistant and the Watson to her Shear-lock Holmes’.
Charlotte, 32, is best known for playing Daisy Midgeley on the cobbles from 2020 to 2025, where her character was involved in several huge storylines including the hard-hitting acid attack plot.
Joining the two Coronation Street favourites is Bridget Jones’ Diary legend Sally Phillips who plays the lead character, hairdresser Lily Petal, who opts out of the competitive city scene to buy a small village hairdressing salon at the top of a cobbled street.
You star Ben Castle-Gibb will play PC Adam Watson – an eager young copper in the local village who falls head-over-heels for salon assistant Clary.
Meanwhile, Ackley Bridge star Sunetra Sarker will play Wincey Evans – the village’s local chit-chatter with a reputation as a known gossip, while Clive Rowe plays Lonnie – the flamboyant manager of the local charity shop, and Holby City star Guy Henry plays Race Runard – the local village’s eccentric antiques dealer with a penchant for priceless teacup and saucer sets.
The Hairdresser Mysteries comes to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this July.
From a devastating cancer battle to her many failed romances on the street, Sally’s 40 years in Weatherfield have not been short of drama. Especially as her marriage to husband, Tim (Joe Duttine), hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
It’s fair to say Sally is a soap legend and has played a part in several big storylines, and is much-loved for her comedy appeal and status as a street busybody.
Away from the soap, actress Sally is loved up with her husband, Tim, whom she married in 1995. Tim is a successful screenwriter who has worked on the ITV soap Emmerdale, as well as on the TV series The Drowning and Desperate Measures. According to IMDb, Tim has written more than 2,000 episodes of Emmerdale between 1995 and 2016.
His last credited episode aired in January 2016 and followed Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) as she tried to sell her half of The Woolpack, while Adam Barton’s (Adam Thomas) emotional attachment to baby Johnny Woodfield became a problem.
Sally recently delighted fans after giving them a look into her private life with Tim. Taking to her Instagram, she shared several snaps from their recent trip to Iceland, where the happy couple was taking in the glorious sights.
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She captioned the post: “Well, that was an adventure. What a wonderful, beautiful country Iceland is”. As expected, fans and co-stars were left gushing over the post.
Jane Danson commented: “Pretty special I really want to go again. Glad you had a fab time Sal”. Sally Ann Matthews penned: “Oh wowzers”, while Jude Riordan added: “I’m going next week!”
Sally and Tim share three children together, including daughters Phoebe, 31, and Hattie, 22, and son Sam, 29 Both of the girls have followed in their footsteps and are enjoying careers in television.
Who are Sally Dynevor’s famous daughters?
Hattie Dynevor stars on the BBC drama Waterloo Road, playing Libby Guthrie, the daughter of history teacher Neil (Neil Fitzmaurice), and has so far appeared in series 13 – 17.
She also appeared in the recently released gripping Netflix series Legends as Arabella, which also stars Steve Coogan and Tom Burke.
Hattie’s older sister, Phoebe, also launched an acting career on Waterloo Road, playing Siobhan Mailey between 2009 and 2020.
Bridgerton fans will also recognise the actress as Daphne, the wife of Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, played by Regé-Jean Page, between 2020 and 2022. Speaking to Collider, Phoebe opened up about a possible return to the Netflix period drama.
She said, “When the first season came out, they didn’t know what they needed to put in play. We were the ones that got away, in a certain way.
“I can only speak for myself, I would always come back if I was asked. I have not received a call. When I get that call, I will be there if I can.”
She has since starred in a long list of popular television shows, including The Musketeers, Dickensian, Snatch, and Ten Percent. Away from the small screen, Pheobe has starred in the movies The Colour Room, Inheritance, and Thrash.
Emmerdale and Coronation Street are missing from the ITV schedules for two days this week, before returning to the channel amid the football coverage – while EastEnders is still on
Soap fans have found their Emmerdale and Coronation Street schedules all over the place(Image: ITV)
With football taking over on ITV1 once more, the soaps are not airing in their usual time slots, or even on their normal days. EastEnders is also being hit by a schedule shake-up this week.
But EastEnders still airs on it’s normal days for this week, while Corrie is not on at all this Wednesday or Thursday. So when are the soaps on next?
For EastEnders fans, you will still get your soap fix on both Wednesday and Thursday. It’s a bit later than normal on BBC One though, airing for 30 minutes at 8:30PM, instead of 7:30PM.
As for Corrie and Emmerdale, fans will not get their next episodes until Friday 19 June. For once, both soaps will be in their usual time slots too.
So Emmerdale fans, your next episode will air on ITV1 at 8PM on Friday, followed by Coronation Street’s next episode at 8:30PM on the same channel. The episodes will also be dropping on ITVX that morning.
Of course with no episodes on Wednesday or Thursday, there will be no ITVX episode to stream on these days. But rest assured for this week, your next soap action is Friday.
Of course next week, it’s chaos again. Friday’s episode teases big moments ahead. On Corrie, Debbie Webster is trapped in a nightmare after the gun drama at the garage.
While she clashes with Tracy Barlow, an incident with a balloon leaves her terrified as she mistakes the noise of it bursting for a gunshot. Betsy Swain has some news for Lisa and Carla, which could tease an exit.
Sam Blakeman’s family rally around him, while he asks to see Roy Cropper. Maria Connor is suspicious of Gary Windass when he reveals he’s booked a holiday for the whole family.
She’s still assuming Gary and Sarah Platt are having an affair. Meanwhile, Kit admires the engagement ring he’s bought for Sarah.
As for Emmerdale, Lewis Barton gets kidnapped after preparing for a holiday with his love interest Vinny Dingle. As Lewis packs a suitcase and goes to make his way to the airport, a van suddenly pulls up near him.
Masked men jump out and Lewis is taken, and next week we find out who is holding him hostage. It’s all part of Kev Townsend’s return storyline, with more to be revealed.
A new BBC crime and detective drama, created by Jim Cartwright, is the perfect watch for Beyond Paradise fans
A new BBC crime and detective drama, created by Jim Cartwright, is the perfect watch for Beyond Paradise fans(Image: BBC)
Beyond Paradise fans looking for their next fix need look no further as a new BBC detective drama is on its way.
The Hairdresser Mysteries, created by Jim Cartwright, sees a star-studded cast with Bridget Jones’s Diary legend Sally Phillips, Coronation Street favourite Charlotte Jordan, Game of Thrones star Charlotte Hope, Adrian Hood and Doctors star Elisabeth Dermot Walsh.
A synopsis for the upcoming six-part show teases: “The Hairdresser Mysteries is an original, homegrown drama and a nostalgic nod to the 70’s which sees a high-end hairdresser, Lily Petal (Sally Phillips), opt out of the competitive city scene to buy a small village hairdressers at the top of a cobbled street.
“Everyone tells their hairdresser everything and soon she becomes the hub of her new village’s secrets and revelations.
“Using her own brand of uncannily developed hairdressing intuitive, empathy and understanding, Lily begins to solve the mysteries of the village.”
At the time of the show’s announcement, Will Trotter and Oliver Kent, Executive Producers for Mill Bay Media said: “We are thrilled to be making The Hairdresser Mysteries and working with renowned writer, Jim Cartwright, who has created a joyful world packed with colourful characters.
“None more so than hairdresser, Lily Petal, and we are delighted to have much-loved actor, Sally Phillips bring her to life.”
Meanwhile, Herbert L. Kloiber, CEO Night Train Media and Eccho Rights said: “We are delighted to bring The Hairdresser Mysteries to the international stage. The unique world that Jim Cartwright has created – modern but joyfully retro – and Sally Philips’ irresistible charm, create a fun drama that is both clever and comforting.
“It is exactly the kind of premium yet accessible series that we are looking to develop, offering buyers a fresh spin on the cosy crime genre that they have been crying out for.”
After leaving Corrie, Charlotte joined the radio show as Amber Gordon that June but after landing the new BBC role, she had to leave The Archers. Olivia Bernstone has taken over the role of Amber in The Archers as a result of Charlotte leaving.
A spokesperson for the show told Metro at the time: “After a brilliant performance as Amber, Charlotte Jordan is taking time to pursue other projects and so we are delighted to be welcoming Olivia Bernstone to the cast, who will play the role of Amber going forward.”
The Hairdresser Mysteries comes to BBC One and BBC iPlayer soon.
Coronation Street legend Kevin Webster got into a huge showdown with nephew Carl on Tuesday night’s episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap and a shot was fired
Kevin Webster got involved in a shocking gun showdown on Tuesday night’s episode of Coronation Street
Kevin Webster got involved in a shocking gun showdown on Tuesday night’s episode of Coronation Street. The mechanic has been played by Michael Le Vell since 1983 and has been central to many of the soap’s biggest storylines, many of them involving his ex-wife Sally (Sally Dynevor), and their daughters,Rosie (Helen Flanagan) and Sophie (Brooke Vincent).
On top of all that, Carl was recently injured when working on a car on the garage when Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) let the vehicle collapse down on him, and, to keep himself in the clear, lied to the police about his whereabouts that night, thereby landing innocent Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) in prison over the murder of Theo Silverton.
Things came to a head in the latest episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap when Kevin and Carl came face-to-face in the garage as Ronnie Bailey, along with Tyrone, watched on in horror. Having obtained a gun from dodgy car dealer Fiona Morley (Sara Poyzer), it was lying on the floor between them – just after Kevin had tried to hit him with a wrench.
Carl told Kevin: ” Either we fix this… ..or you pick up that gun,” to which his brother-turned-nephew did, believing that it was fake and a violent tussle followed when Carl told him to pull the trigger. A gunshot was heard and it transpired that Kevin had pulled the trigger.
Tyrone got a hold of Kevin to make him see sense and, when he realised Carl had dodged the bullet, he said: “I’m sorry, Carl.” Later on, Carl called round to number 13 where he told Kevin: “Been a bit of a day, eh? Should never have agreed to do that job for Fiona. I don’t know what I was thinking, pulling that out on you. We’re a right pair, aren’t we, eh?
“So, is this us now? Putting everything behind us?” Kevin sighed as he said: “We’re never gonna be best mates, but yeah. We both love Debbie and if you’re serious about doing the right thing by her then we’ll move forward.
“Just one thing. Why did you do it? Abi, I mean. Like, I know I’ve gotta get past it, and it’s doing me no good dwelling on the past but I need to know. Please.” Carl said: “Because she was there, I was selfish, self-destructive. Jealous. Kev, whatever the reason, doing that to you, to both of you, it was wrong and I regret it. I regret it all. I don’t wanna be that person again and I don’t think I’m gonna be.” It was then that the warring relatives seemingly called a truce as they shook hands.
By the end of the episode, Ronnie and Debbie had found out about the whole thing and he claimed he had returned the gun, but now it was nowhere to be seen as Fiona hadn’t received it. Lamenting in the living room, Debbie said to Ronnie and Carl: “So, not only have we got God knows who coming after us, but there’s someone out there with a loaded gun!
“Right, first thing tomorrow, I want you both out there, and I want you to find it, because if you don’t, it won’t be Fiona you’ll have to worry about, it’ll be me! Now, get out of my sight… the pair of you,” and showed them the door. What none of them know, though, is Jodie Ramsey, the mysterious long-lost sister of Shona, had found the gun and taken it for herself.
Reacting to the tense episode, one fan wrote on X: “Carl bringing a gun to an argument.. yes only soft b******* do that!! #Corrie,” whilst another said: “So what’s Jodie planning on doing with the gun then?” Is she gonna use it on David if he doesn’t sleep with her?”
A third wrote: “Aw Carl and Kevin making up. Hope Carl sorts himself out for Debbie,” and a fourth said: “A near miss for Carl and Kevin. Oh s*** the gun has gone off!”
Coronation Streetairs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am onITVX.
Coronation Street fans are worried that actress Sydney Martin is about to leave her role as Betsy Swain on the ITV soap after two years of melodramatic twists and turns
Coronation Street fans are worried that Betsy Swain is about to leave the ITV soap
Coronation Street fans are worried that Betsy Swain is about to leave the ITV soap. The Speed Daal waitress, who has been played by Sydney Martin since 2024, has been through an awful lot during her two years in Weatherfield.
Just over a year ago, Betsy lost boyfriend Mason in a knife attack, was then shot by her own mother DS Lisa Swain, who faced no consequences for her actions, and was landed in a freak situation when her other mother Becky came back from the dead, having faked it as part of a corrupt police coverup.
Following on from all that drama , Betsy recently discovered a dead body that turned out to be that of Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) at the end of the much-hyped Murder Week.
In scenes set to air in the coming days, Betsy confides in best friend Laure (Cait Fitton) that she’s been offered a place at the London College of Fashion but she’s worried about leaving Dylan. It’s yet to be seen just how Dylan will react and, on top of that, Betsy explains that she is yet to inform her mother.
Fans of the world’s longest-running TV soap have instantly started to speculate that Sydney, who appeared in Assassin’s Guild before joining Coronation Street, is set to make a dramatic exit from the ITV soap.
Taking to X, one fan said: “betsy off to london? [sad face emoji],” whilst another posted a picture of Carla, Lisa and Betsy and said: “Don’t spilt them up please #corrie I think Lisa will take this hard and Carla will help both Betsy and Lisa to see it from each others perspective.
Another said: “You can just imagine Carla saying something like oh you’ll be fine Betsy in London I could tell you stories about what me and Michelle got up to, and Betsy saying something like and even to this day they involve the police.”
Another wondered if this meant some sort of spin-off was on the cards. In the past, the programme has done various spin-offs such as Just Rosie, which followed Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) on her quest for a modelling career, whilst a string of DVD releases like A Knight’s Tale and Out Of Africa were issued in the late 2000s.
Posing the theory, the fan wrote on X: “Is there any indication that Betsy going to London could be a limited summer off-shoot series like Hollyoaks Later where all the teens shared a summer house (obviously without the serial killer). But it will be Betsy’s adventures in the big city?”
It all comes after actress Sydney Martin, 24, was revealed to have been cast in a short film titled Favourite earlier this year. Filmmaker Georgia Leigh-Taylor said: “I’m so thrilled to announce the incredible Sydney Martin and the brilliant Isabelle Smith will be playing Mel and Ashley in my upcoming short film called Favourite.
“After graduating from the same acting school, Sydney and Izzy have both been working professionally in television since 2024, building exciting careers for themselves, taking on powerful storylines, and earning well-deserved recognition.
“Favourite is a dual-timeline drama exploring the lives of best friends Mel and Ashley both as teenagers, and as adults.”
Coronation Streetairs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
HELEN Flanagan has revealed her “dream” to be a foster parent when her kids with ex fiance Scott Sinclair have grown up.
The Coronation Street actress, 35, is a mum-of-three to Matilda, 10, and Delilah, seven, and five-year-old son Charlie.
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Helen Flanagan has revealed her ‘dream’ to be a foster carer when her kids grow upCredit: instagramThe Coronation Street alum shares three kids with ex Scott SinclairCredit: hjgflanagan/Instagram
She is proud parent to Matilda, 10, and Delilah, seven, and five-year-old son CharlieCredit: Instagram/hjgflanaganHelen said she believes fostering would be ‘something lovely to do’ and she has ‘adored kids’Credit: Instagram
“When I’m older, I think fostering could be something lovely to do.
“I’ve always adored kids”.
Foster carers temporarily or permanently welcome children into their homes who cannot live with their biological families, offering a safe and stable place to live.
Helen told how she ‘felt lost’ until becoming a mumCredit: InstagramShe parted ways with her long-term fiancé in 2022Credit: Instagram/Helen Flanagan
She then reinforced her point on ITV daytime show Loose Women and said: “I’m in my element being a mum.
“Before I was a bit lost and now I have got Matilda [eldest daughter] she has really completed me.“
“She just made me so much happier. It gives you so much perspective, I’m besotted with her.”
Helen previously told of her parenting approach and said of her brood: “I love them so much, they are my world.
“Sometimes I shout which makes me feel awful and I always say sorry if I do which I think is important.
“I tell them how much I love them, one thing a day they have done a day that makes me proud.”
She added: “Being a mum is amazing but just really hard. I suppose you can just do your best.”
Helen, who co-parents her brood with Scott, has previously spoken about suffering from mum guilt, and the raw emotional pull she feels while working away.
Speaking to the Sun on behalf of Paddy Power, she said: “I feel mum guilt all the time.
“It’s something I deal with constantly. But I try to remind myself that I’m working for my children, so it’s ultimately for them.
“When they’re with their dad, I also see that as encouraging their relationship, which is important.
“I do still feel guilty, but I try to reframe it and look at the bigger picture.”
Coronation Street legend Amanda Barrie, who starred as Alma Baldwin on the ITV soap, is convinced bosses would’ve sacked her had her sexuality been made public at the time
22:50, 06 Jun 2026Updated 22:50, 06 Jun 2026
Amanda Barrie is convinced that Coronation Street bosses would’ve sacked her if she came out as bisexual (Image: PA)
Amanda Barrie is convinced she would have been axed from Coronation Street had producers found out about her sexuality. The actress, 90, starred as Alma Halliwell on the ITV soap from 1988 until 2001 and the character became known for her marriage to Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) and ran the local café with Gail Tilsey (Helen Worth) before it was taken over by Roy Cropper.
In real life, Amanda was married to actor Robin Hunter from 1967 until the mid-1980s and she went on to tie the knot with crime novelist and former Mirror journalist Hilary Bonner in 2014, having chosen to come out as bisexual in her 2002 memoir It’s Not A Rehearsal, which she released shortly after quitting the soap.
Now, Amanda, has insisted that whilst the programme now has an influx of gay and lesbian characters, she had to keep her sexuality a secret and is now sure that, had she been open and honest about it, she would have been written out thanks to the attitudes that were in place in society at that time.
She said: “Not thought, I KNOW I would have been [fired], taking into account the climate at the time. Things are so different now. Corrie’s like Canal Street in Manchester these days.
“The people I was close to always knew about me and the relationships throughout my life. Being at the age I am, I still remember when gay men were absolutely crucified for being the way they were. “
Amanda, whose Corrie alter-ego Alma was memorably killed off following a battle with cancer, noted that these days it is “so much easier” for people like Christine McGuinness, who was rumoured to have been dating Nicola Adams after splitting from Paddy McGuinness, to discuss their sexuality publicly.
Now, the former Bad Girls star is just hopeful that eventually, society will arrive at a place where the announcement of one’s sexuality is not even necessary and it ends up being an “unimportant” factor in one’s personality.
Speaking to The Sun, she added: “I believe in the freedom to do and be exactly as you wish in life. To live in your own way. I dream of a day when people’s sexuality is regarded as so unimportant that no one even bothers to remark on whether somebody is gay or straight. “It’s probably a pipedream, but I still like to dream it.”
Amanda, whose stellar showbiz career also includes appearances in other TV favourites like Casualty, Amandaland, and Benidorm and has also seen her become a pantomime favourite, previously spoke of the surprise reaction she got from the public when she did eventually decide to go public about her sexuality.
During an appearance on Good Morning Britain towards the end of last year, she explained: “I expected to be stoned in the street, I got a lot of hugs. What was I in such a state about? Because it was just ‘Oh, I see, oh…'” before adding:
“You automatically revert to the way you’d always behave, lurking about with your head down editing your life is what you do. You change they, he, she, all that editing…”
Emmerdale will not air in its usual slot tonight, and isn’t on ITVX owing to the football, and fans of the long-running ITV soap have slammed the decision to take it off air
Emmerdale has been pulled from the schedules to make way for the football and soap fans are furious
Emmerdale will not air in its usual slot on Friday night, and isn’t on ITVX either.
The long-running ITV soap, which began in 1972, has been a weeknight staple for much of its time on air, and, earlier this year joined forces with fellow soap Coronation Street to launch the “power hour” amid budget cuts at ITV.
Whilst it normally airs Monday to Friday at 8pm, the Yorkshire-based serial has been pulled to make way for the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, which will from 7:30pm until 9pm and see Spain go head-to-head with England.
In recent years, ITV has made Emmerdale and Coronation Street available on ITVX from 7am on the day of linear broadcast, and, in this case, the new edition will be released on Sunday morning.
With numerous inevitable schedule changes set to take place over the forthcoming World Cup, soap fans flooded social media with complaints. One wrote on Reddit: “Can’t they just stick all the football on, oh I don’t know, the football channel?
“So silly that broadcasters just ignore loyal viewers, some of whom who have been with them for decades, just to shove a sport on – the results of which will be beamed across every platform in real life. TV bosses always treat soaps as bottom of the pile when it comes to these things.” Another said: “Four weeks of disruption nightmare,” and added a string of rolling eyes emojis.
A third raged: “Yes I love the football but as a soap opera fan it’s gonna piss off a lot of people especially who hate football and like Emmerdale and Coronation street and EastEnders and of course Hollyoaks who won’t be affected by this and yes I get it important for the whole world but don’t u think we should have a channel for the world cup not on BBC or ITV.”
Another wrote: “International football should remain on free to view channels and not hidden behind a pay wall like the Premier league and champions league has become,” and a third suggested: “The simple solution is they just air the episodes on streaming regardless if it goes out over the airwaves. It’s kinda defeating the point if streaming platforms follow a schedule where only one thing can be on at once.”
It comes as fans recently predicted something of a bombshell could crop up in the relationship between Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle, known as Robron, as little has been said since they got engaged in the Corriedale crossover. While viewers will likely have to wait to find out, Robert’s faced backlash from Aaron’s family and friends, and other villagers, due to the drama with Joe Tate and the farm.
One of those people currently against him is Aaron’s best friend Mackenzie Boyd. But in a bizarre turn of events, a new theory from a viewer has sparked much confusion.
A soap fan took to Reddit to ask when Robert and Mack’s affair was going to air. Naturally, the post that seemed so sure it was on the cards left fans confused, as it’s not something that has been remotely hinted at, let alone confirmed on the show. Fans ended up replying, with some needing answers as others questioned if a mix-up had occurred. The original post read: “When do Robert and Mack have their affair?
“Have been hearing about it for ages that it’s happening. Guess they’re waiting for things to blow up with the baby.” Again, as fans pointed out, there has been no suggestion on or offscreen that this is happening.
So where the “talked about” theory has come from, no one knows. This led to fans actually asking the poster what they had heard, to which there was no reply.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Tina O’Brian has shown off her stunning figure in new snaps from her holiday to ItalyCredit: InstagramThe actress is currently soaking up the sun a solo holidayCredit: Instagram
Taking to Instagram, Tina shared a slew of pictures from her solo trip to Italy this week as she soaked up the sun.
She donned a patterned pink bikini in one with a matching cover-up, showing off her slim physique while posing in the mirror.
Other snaps showed Tina sipping cocktails by the pool, enjoying lavish meals and exploring the area.
She captioned the post: “I had the most incredible solo travel experience exploring Ischia and Capri 🇮🇹 🛵 ❤️ Can’t wait to plan the next one 💫
It comes months after Tina’s split from Adam FableCredit: instagramThe actress described her trip as the ‘most incredible solo travel experience’Credit: InstagramShe sipped cocktails by the pool during the tripCredit: InstagramShe showed off her tan in the slew of snapsCredit: Instagram
‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’ – Mary Oliver”.
Tina’s co-stars such as Lucy Fallon, Samia Longchambon and Sally Carman all took to the comment section of the post to send their love to Tina.
The solo trip comes months after Tina split from her boyfriend Adam in November after four months together.
The Coronation Street star, 42, went official with the millionaire businessman in the summer last year and they both made their first public outing at her co-star Jack P. Shepherd’s wedding in July.
Insiders said that the Sarah Platt actress called time on the relationship after she felt it “wasn’t going anywhere” and she didn’t think it was “going to last”.
Tina’s outcome is said to have shocked Adam, 38, who believed they had a real future.
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.”
