A charming UK market town has become the backdrop for a new Christmas movie starring Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson, and it’s not the first time the town has been used for a festive film
Knaresborough has a historic town centre(Image: Getty)
If you’ve ever watched a Christmas film and fantasised about strolling through a charming, festive village with a steaming hot chocolate in hand like one of the characters, this could be your opportunity.
Earlier this year, locals in the stunning Yorkshire town of Knaresborough delighted in celebrity spotting as film crews invaded the area. Sky Original Christmas film Tinsel Town is scheduled to debut on November 28 and will feature Hollywood A-listers Kiefer Sutherland and Rebel Wilson, alongside an outstanding supporting ensemble including Derek Jacobi and Danny Dyer.
According to YorkshireLive, the production process meant residents could savour their seasonal decorations throughout the town for an extended period, with local shopkeeper Di Watson, from Knitting Pretty, commenting: “The town is buzzing with excitement. Knaresborough is a unique, beautiful, friendly town and we’re delighted to be part of this.”
However, this isn’t the first occasion Knaresborough has been selected as the setting for a seasonal film. Television movie A Very British Christmas, which is available to hire on Amazon Prime, was also mainly filmed throughout the town.
Therefore, if you fancy having your own festive escapade, Knaresborough might be the ideal setting. An excellent starting point is the stone-paved Market Square, which is encircled by independent boutiques and welcoming pubs.
The regular market operates on Wednesdays, and on December 6 and 7, there will be a Christmas market featuring seasonal food vendors, handcrafted goods, and much more. Nearby, the Green Dragon Yard, a recent filming location, will be adorned with festive decorations.
This charming historic square boasts a vintage shop and an eccentric tearoom. The crew were also seen along Castlegate, a winding, narrow street brimming with independent shops, cafes, and other unique spots.
As its name implies, Castlegate leads to the entrance of Knaresborough Castle, once the residence of medieval kings and a courthouse and prison. Although the castle now lies in ruins, a keep still stands, housing a courthouse museum filled with original furniture pieces.
It’s also one of the prime locations to view the town’s most iconic sight, Knaresborough Viaduct, where trains can be seen chugging to and from Harrogate. The viaduct was initially slated for completion in 1848, but it collapsed just before it was finished.
Historical records recount that the sound of falling masonry lasted nearly five minutes.
The viaduct’s collapse sparked local outrage, blamed on substandard materials and workmanship, coupled with two months of heavy rainfall causing the river to swell. Thousands of fish perished due to the high limestone content in the water.
However, the resilient town decided to rebuild the viaduct, and the existing structure has stood since 1851, constructed from robust stone sourced from a nearby quarry.
If you’re on the hunt for a snug spot for a pre-Christmas weekend getaway, look no further than Knaresborough Inn. Perched above the River Nidd and surrounded by landscaped gardens, this inn offers a slightly quirky yet warm atmosphere.
With tastefully decorated rooms and a dining room serving hearty British classics, rooms start from £95 per night for two in November.
Just a stone’s throw away from the train station is The Mitre, a pub renowned for its craft beers and cocktails, and an intriguing menu inspired by Asian street food. It boasts four rooms, including an apartment that can accommodate up to four guests.
A stay in a double room starts at £110 per night in November.
So, if you’re yearning for a retreat that’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Christmas film, grab your cosiest scarf and make your way to Knaresborough this winter. Just a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from London, with a changeover in York, it promises to be the ideal festive setting.
However, we can’t promise you’ll fall head over heels for a charming local shop owner during your visit.
Got a travel story to share? Drop us an email at webtravel@reachplc. com.
Dani Dyer has opened up on how she feels watching fellow Love Island alumni Amber Davies join the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in her place following injury
Dani Dyer spoke about her Strictly exit(Image: YouTube)
Dani Dyer has admitted she found the first live Strictly Come Dancing show hard to watch at the weekend. The former Love Island star, 29, had been excited to be a part of the hit BBC contest, but injury forced her to quit in the week running up to the series starting.
Now, while chatting with her dad Danny Dyer on their Live and Let Dyers podcast, the reality TV star admitted she would love to go back next series. “My door is open,” she confessed. “If they want their door to be open then I’ll walk through their door.”
And talking about Amber Davies replacing her, she admitted she feels she will be amazing with Nikita Guzman. “Watching the launch show, they’re all so lovely,” she said before her dad asked how she felt.
“That was really hard,” she confessed. “Obviously seeing them, but obviously Amber’s come in and they’re going to be amazing together.
“I’m glad that Nikita’s actually got a partner because there was a chance he wouldn’t get a partner. It was just such a quick turnaround.”
She added: “Listen, I wish everyone the best, ” before confessing her love for Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison. “I’m so glad I met Vicky,” she gushed.
Dani also revealed during the chat that she felt she may have done something wrong in the world after injuring herself. It left her requiring the advice of her therapist for the first time since she met her husband Jarrod Bowen.
“He just put things into perspective for me,” she candidly revealed.
Speaking of how the injury occurred, dad Danny labelled it a “freak f***ing accident”. Dani then added: “Basically I fell and rolled my ankle and initially I heard a noise but I thought, ‘I think it’ll be fine’, but I came home on the weekend and iced it all, and they sent me for the MRI and it came back that there was a hairline fracture on my ankle, but it was my ligaments.”
“They said to me, the physio, if you have a grade one sprain, we can work with a grade one sprain, but one side of my ankle had a grade two sprain and the other side had a grade one.
“We went and got a second opinion, see the doctor, and I was like ‘What can we do? Physically do? Can you jab it, there’s got to be something’.”
But she admitted the Strictly bosses pulled the plug on her time, admitting they told her it wasn’t worth it. They explained she would be “in so much pain” if she was to continue.
Now, with Amber going in as one of the favourites, fans have been wondering if her call-up is fair due to her West End and dancing background.
VICKY Pattison and Dani Dyer’s dad Danny have rallied around her after she was forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing due to injury.
Strictly contestant Vicky and actor Danny led the stars sharing messages of support on Instagram last night after the Love Islander broke the news of her exit.
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Vicky Pattison has thrown her support behind pal Dani Dyer after her devastating early exit from Strictly Come DancingCredit: Instagram/vickypattison
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Vicky posted a string of photos from behind the scenes on the BBC showCredit: Instagram/vickypattison
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Danny also showed his support on his daughter’s postCredit: Instagram
Mum-of-three Dani was due to perform in her first live show on Saturday night with professional partner Nikita Kuzmin, but said: “I had a fall on Friday in rehearsals and landed funny.
“I thought I had rolled my foot but it swelled up badly over the weekend and after an MRI scan yesterday, it turns out I have fractured my ankle.”
Dani, 29, continued: “Apparently doing the Quickstep on a fracture is not advisable and the doctors have said I am not allowed to dance, so I’ve had to pull out of the show.
“To say I’m heartbroken is the biggest understatement.
“I am so going to miss dancing with Nikita but will of course be watching closely and cheering all the couples on.”
Her dad left a broken-heart emoji beneath her post, and Vicky replied, saying: “Absolutely devastated for you Dani.
“I’m going to miss you so much… Love you loads x”
The ex-Geordie Shore star added a string of photos of them together in a separate post on her Instagram grid.
She revealed they formed a close bond during their time together on the show.
Vicky said: “I am absolutely gutted for you!! I have loved every minute of our little @bbcstrictly journey together and I’m devastated this is the end..
Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood reveals his surprising ‘favourite’ star ahead of tomorrow’s launch
“But I know you’ll be back next year with your incredible energy, amazing dance skills and beautiful soul… AND YOU’LL SMASH IT!!!
“I’m already peanut butter and jealous of whatever lucky sod gets to be your dressing room buddy… because you’re the best roomie ever.
“Love you mate and wishing you a speedy recovery… this series won’t be the same without you…”
Dani replied: “Going to miss you, love you millions.”
Just days ago Dani shared her nerves ahead of the live shows.
She said last week: “I’m absolutely petrified about dancing live on Saturday nights.”
Speaking to The Sun about her upcoming Strictly adventure, she was asked if her famous dad Danny Dyer was going to watch – and if he would get emotional.
The mum-of-three revealed: “He’s going to. He will try and keep it together. Him and my mum are making a little date day of it.
“They’re coming on the launch show together. They’re really excited.”
Asked whether she could persuade The Football Factory star to do Strictly in the future, she said: “When it [Strictly] was announced, someone said Dani Dyer is doing it – they thought it was my dad. It’s not Danny Dyer – it’s the other one.
Love Island star Dani Dyer has confessed that some Strictly Come Dancing may be expecting to see her EastEnders star father taking part in the 2025 season rather than her
22:52, 14 Sep 2025Updated 22:52, 14 Sep 2025
Dani Dyer has admitted that some Strictly fans might be disappointed to see her on the show(Image: PA)
Dani Dyer has admitted fans may have been duped into thinking her father, Danny Dyer, is taking part in the upcoming new season of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 29-year-old reality star is most famous for being the daughter of EastEnders star Danny, 48, and his financial advisor wife Joanne Mas, 48, and for being a contestant on the 2018 season of Love Island. This winter, fans will see the mum-of-three take to the Strictly dance floor as one of the 2025 contestants.
However, the Love Island star – who married West Ham United footballer Jarrod Bowen, 28, in May – has admitted that some TV fans may be tuning in expecting to see her dad, rather than her, taking on the ambitious dance routines. She explained that this is down to the fact her name and her father’s are pronounced the same.
Her actor father, Danny Dyer, has been wowing fans in hit TV show – including Sky’s comedy series Mr Bigstuff(Image: Sky Max)
She told the Daily Mail: “A lot of people when they said Dani Dyer’s doing it, because it was on the radio they probably thought it was the other Danny Dyer.”
Speaking of her dad, she revealed there is one reality show she’d like to see him take part in – but she revealed he would refuse to do it, if asked. She said: “I would like to see him in the I’m A Celeb jungle but he says he never would go in the jungle.”
And she explained further: “He was like: ‘Dan, I’d be bored.’ He’d be snoring everyone to death.” Danny is known to many for playing Mick Carter in EastEnders – a role he held down from 2013–2022.
Since exiting the BBC soap, Danny has gone on to enjoy critical and commercial success playing Freddie Jones in the raunchy Disney+ series Rivals and for playing Lee in the hit Sky comedy series Mr. Bigstuff.
The 2025 season of Strictly Come Dancing has come under fire from some fans for having a lacklusture line-up stuffed full of reality star contestants. Alongside Love Island’s Dani is ex-Apprentice contestant Tom Skinner, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, and social media star George Clarke.
The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing line-up has been deemed underwhelming by some fans(Image: PA)
The Daily Mail has suggested that show bosses failed to attach bigger names to the 2025 season after Strictly was hit by string of scandals – including accusations professional dancers had abused their celebrity co-stars.
A source claimed: “Yes, the Beeb had to expand their roster as they were struggling to get talent to sign up for a variety of mitigating circumstances.”
But a Strictly spokesperson hit back at the report, telling the Mirror: “This is pure conjecture from the Daily Mail. There was absolutely no difference to the casting process this year, both in timescale and the great mix of names wanting to take part.”
The 2025 season is due to begin on Saturday night on BBC One at 6:40pm. The launch show will see the new contestants being matched with their celebrity partners.
While reigning champions Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell – who won the series in 2024 – will return to take to the floor again, and fans will hear music by Jessie J.
Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett join the cast as Emily Atack says she loved playing sexy Sarah Stratton: ‘I am her. I’m a flawed woman’
Two more big-name starts will join the cast for the next run(Image: DISNEY+)
When the adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster Rivals hit screens last year, it quickly became Disney’s best performing TV drama. Now Rupert Everett and Hayley Attwell are to join the cast for the much-anticipated second series, playing lead character Rupert Campbell Black’s former showjumping boss and his bitter ex-wife – who are now married to each other.
Atwell, best known for her roles in the Marvel and Mission Impossible films, will be playing Helen Gordon, mother of Rupert’s two children, Marcus and Tabitha – who will also appear this time around.
Everett, who starred alongside Julia Roberts in My Best Friend’s Wedding, takes on the role of her husband Malise Gordon, Campbell Black’s former show-jumping coach and mentor.
Hayley Attwell and Rupert Everett will play Rupert Campbell Black’s ex-wife and ex-boss – now married to each other
In Cooper’s original story Helen was treated badly by her ex-husband and remains very bitter towards him after their divorce. She is now married to the former chef d’équipe of the British showjumping team, Malise.
Speaking in a session at the Edinburgh TV Festival yesterday where the castings were announced, Emily Atack joked that her character Sarah Stratton, the regularly unfaithful wife of an MP, had not been much of a stretch. “I had to dig real deep,” she quipped.
But the actress, who found fame with hit series The Inbetweeners, said she had no qualms about playing a flawed temptress.. “I’ve been typecast my whole life and I’ve loved every minute,” she declared. ” I’ll carry on playing these sexy women for as long as I can.”
Rivals is based on Jilly Cooper’s 1988 novel and the all-star cast just got starrier(Image: Disney)
Emily said that shooting the infamous naked tennis scene alongside Alex Hassell as Rupert had been great fun. Alex said that many discussions had taken place over whether or not he should wear a prosthetic over his privates for the scene, but in the end he’d decided to go without.
Emily declared that she had had a bit of help for that particular scene. “I had a stick on muff,” she laughed. “A murkin, it’s called. A proper 80s bush – I felt like I had furry knickers on. It’s so jarring seeing yourself like that.”
But the actress said she’d soon got used to it. “I didn’t want to put my clothes back on! I did a couple of cartwheels.”
Emily, 35, said part of the appeal of playing Sarah, was that while she is flawed, she also also has vulnerabilities that were recognised. “These types of women are never written with nuance,” she said. “I am her, I am a flawed woman, I’ve made terrible decisions in my love life – so I wasn’t scared to identify with her. Her bad behaviour isn’t being celebrated, but it’s being understood.”
Alex Hassell as Rupert Cambell Black chose not to use a prosthetic penis, he has revealed
Bella McClean, whose character Taggie O’Hara found love with Rupert in the final episode of series one, revealed she was so pleased with her audition as Taggie – and chemistry with Alex – that she walked straight into a wall afterwards.
The actress she had enjoyed playing a character who was so wholesome and good, it had made her take a look at her own life and decisions. She loved the long, simmering build-up to the romance between Taggie and Rupert, saying: “They see though all the crap and just adore each other for who they are,” she explained. “It’s about their love.”
The show’s creator Dominic Treadwell-Collins said that Jilly Cooper had told him early on how she expected the male heroes of her 1980s books to behave. He said: “She told me ‘my men don’t cry’. My men are macho.”
Dominic added: “We are utterly thrilled to have Hayley and Rupert join us to play Jilly Cooper’s legendary characters Helen and Malise Gordon. Alongside our other new wonderful actors and truly brilliant returning cast, Rivals series two absolutely showcases the best of British and Irish talent. We can’t wait for everyone to see what’s next for the residents of Rutshire.”
Disney boss Lee Mason said he was also thrilled that Everett and Atwell were joining the cast. “They are a perfect match for the world of Rutshire, so lovingly created by Dame Jilly and the team at Happy Prince.”
Rivals is filming in the UK until February and is expected to return, for an extended season of twelve episodes, later in 2026.
Set against the backdrop of the Cotswolds countryside and the glamorous, high-stakes world of 1980s British television, the second run will see the return of the all-star cast including Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, Aidan Turner and David Tennant.
Next time around viewers will find that many careers, marriages and reputations hang in the balance as personal and professional lives collide in a world where secrets can’t stay hidden for long.
Dani Dyer was announced as the second celebrity to be taking part in this year’s Strictly Come DancingCredit: PA
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Dani won Love Island alongside Jack Fincham in 2018Credit: ITV
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Dani is the daughter of actor Danny DyerCredit: BBC
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Dani previously spoke about her dancing experience in her 2019 book
Dani, 29, shot to fame when she won Love Island in 2018 – with her new reality stint very different to the dating show.
The daughter of EastEnders actor Danny Dyer will waltz her way around the ballroom in September when she joins the cast of the hit series.
But now it has been revealed that in an unearthed passage from her autobiography, Dani boasted about being a “qualified dancer”.
She said in her 2019 book that she would put “qualified dancer” under the list of qualifications on her CV.
Writing in her book, which came out six years ago, Dani wrote about how she went to theatre school at weekends from the age of 2 to 14.
“It was called O’Farrell’s Stage School and I was a really good little dancer,” she said.
Dani added: “I’m not a bad singer but it was the dance stuff I loved more – jazz, tap, ballet, modern. I’d get home and prance around the house.”
Elsewhere in the book she writes up a mock CV where she states her qualifications include: “Qualified dancer and pretty good at singing (especially Dua Lipa or Ariana Grande at the top of her voice while cleaning the kitchen).”
‘I’D BE HAPPY TO BE WHISKED AROUND’
She also spoke about Strictly in her book, saying how she would jump at the chance of being asked to compete on the hit reality dancing competition.
“IfStrictly Come Dancingwant to give me a call I’d also be happy to be whisked around the dance floor,” she penned at the time.
Strictly reveals the next two celebrities joining the 2025 series on The Scott Mills BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show
At the time of her book coming out, Dani was all loved up with then-beau Jack Fincham, and she said of Strictly: “The only thing I’d be worried about would be the curse.”
In her book from several years ago, Dani also swooned about her bond with Shirley Ballas.
Bonding with her on a trek for Comic Relief, Dani said she was “just the most graceful, lovely person”.
But despite admitting her prior dance experience, fans are still excited to see Dani storm the ballroom.
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Fans are excited for Dani to waltz her way onto the dance floor next monthCredit: Instagram/danidyerxx
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Dani will star alongside big names like La Voix, George Clarke and Ellie Goldstein in this year’s series of StrictlyCredit: Mark Hayman – Commissioned by The Sun
Reacting to the news of Dani being confirmed for the series, one person on X said: “Woooo I love Dani!!!”
“Whoop I love Dani! She’ll be awesome,” penned a second.
The Sun has contacted Strictly for comment but they did not immediately respond.
SHOWBIZ BACKGROUND SCRUTINY
Dani is not the only star in Strictly history to have had their background in the world of showbiz scrutinised.
Tasha Ghouri, also from Love Island, had her background in dance.
The star who appeared on the series last year faced a backlash for being a trained dancer and branded the show a “fix” because they signed her up.
Actress Sarah Hadland and JLS’ JB Gill were also accused of having advantages on the show because of their backgrounds and prior careers.
But despite all of their experience, nor Tasha, Sarah or JB won the show.
Model Ellie Goldstein, who has Down syndrome, was then the seventh celebrity revealed to be waltzing their way onto the dance floor next month, in the groundbreaking signing.
RuPaul‘s Drag Race UK star La Voix was then the next confirmed star to be announced.
And former England rugby union player and captain Chris Robshaw has also been confirmed this week.
Strictly 2025 rumoured line-up
The following stars are rumoured to be taking part in Strictly – plus scroll to see who has been confirmed
Angellica Bell: A familiar face on British television, Angellica is a seasoned TV presenter known for her work on shows like CBBC and The One Show. She’s no stranger to reality TV, having recently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.
Paul C. Brunson: The charismatic relationship expert and matchmaker from Married At First Sight UK, Paul is known for his insightful advice and warm personality. Swapping the sofa for the samba, he’s tipped to bring a touch of class and intelligence to the competition.
Vicky Pattison: A reality TV stalwart who first found fame on Geordie Shore, Vicky has successfully transitioned into a presenter and author. Having supported her friend Pete Wicks on the show last year, it seems she’s ready to put on her own dancing shoes.
Ashley Cain: Former footballer and reality TV star from Ex on the Beach, Ashley has more recently become known for his incredible charity work and campaigning.
Stacey Solomon: Known for her down-to-earth charm and successful BBC shows like Sort Your Life Out, fans are eager to see if she can translate her infectious energy to the ballroom.
Georgia Toffolo: Best known as “Toff” from Made in Chelsea and for winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017, Georgia is a seasoned reality TV star.
Thomas Skinner: The lively entrepreneur who became a fan favourite on The Apprentice in 2019, Thomas is known for his larger-than-life personality and catchphrase “Bosh!”. Despite admitting to no dancing experience, he’s reportedly “up for giving it his best shot.”
Tom Parker Bowles: The renowned food writer and critic, and son of Queen Camilla, is a surprising but intriguing name on the rumour list. A regular on MasterChef, it remains to be seen if his culinary precision translates to ballroom finesse.
Sir Mo Farah: The legendary Olympic long-distance runner is considered a national treasure.
Balvinder Sopal: The talented actress known for her role as Suki Panesar in EastEnders, Balvinder would follow a long line of successful soap stars on Strictly.
Jake Brown: The winner of The Traitors series three, Jake’s name has emerged as a potential contestant.
Stefan Dennis: The actor, 66, has played six-times married Ramsay Street lothario Paul Robinson since the first episode in 1985 and now the soap is coming to an end, his schedule is clear.
Confirmed Strictly 2025 stars:
Ellie Goldstein – Vogue cover model Ellie is the first contestant with Down syndrome to take part in a full Strictly series. As well as her modelling work, she is known for CBBC.
George Clarke – Social media star George was the sixth person to be revealed. The influencer isn’t the first YouTube star to appear, and follows Saffron Barker and Joe Suggs,
Balvinder Sopal – The soap star is the latest EastEnders cast member to sign up to the show. The actress is known for playing Walford matriarch Suki Panesar.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink: The former Premier League football striker, famous for his time at Leeds and Chelsea, is another sporting name being linked.
Alex Kingston – Actress Alex has joined the line-up and his hoping to emulate the success of her friend Sarah Hadland last year. She is best known for shows like Doctor Who, EastEnders and ER.
Dani Dyer: Rising to fame as the winner of Love Island in 2018, Dani has remained in the public eye with various TV appearances. The daughter of actor Danny Dyer, she’s reportedly agreed to take part.
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey: Known as “Nitro” from the BBC’s Gladiators reboot and a former Team GB sprinter, Harry has already shown off some moves on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
He’s miles away from Albert Square and all the EastEnders drama, but Danny Dyer was still thrilled to be reunited with one of his former co-stars while filming for Mr Bigstuff.
Danny Dyer was reunited with several former EastEnders icon on the set of Mr Bigstuff – including a fan favourite
Nudity, fights and secret kisses – Danny Dyer doesn’t hold back in the second series of Mr Bigstuff. He even bumped into one of his former co-stars in EastEnders.
Danny Dyer‘s appearance in the first season has already earned him the 2025 TV Bafta for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme. Now, the show returns with Danny and creator Ryan Sampson as chalk-and-cheese brothers Lee and Glen – two blokes bound by blood but tested by secrets and deep-rooted dysfunction.
The emotions may be deep, but Mr Bigstuff doesn’t forget its slapstick roots. The stunts are back, and Danny has gone full throttle. “It’s very physical. It was a whole day of me having a tear-up,” he says, “I don’t mind that stuff, but it’s getting a bit more difficult as I get older.”
One brawl sees Lee square up to members of a working men’s club – and even Ryan couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Danny was very impressive, he’s like Errol Flynn when he gets going,” he says, “I’ve never seen anybody do that before. It’s really technical and knackering.”
Alongside the bruises and banter are a few familiar faces, with Taskmaster’s Fatiha El-Ghorri popping up again as Aysha, as well as EastEnders stars Alan Ford, who played Stevie Mitchell, and Linda Henry, aka Shirley Carter. “I love Linda,” says Danny, who starred as Shirley’s son Mick in the BBC soap. “I wanted more scenes with her.”
Danny Dyer is worlds away from The Queen Vic as he reprises his role in Mr Bigstuff, created by Ryan Sampson(Image: Mark Johnson)
Both actors were inspired by their own lives to nail the chaotic relationship. “They’re at each other’s throats, aren’t they?” says Ryan, 39. “I have siblings, and we sometimes tear strips off each other.”
Danny’s real-life brother Tony provided some inspiration for Glen and his character Lee. “We’re only 18 months apart but we’re so different, a little bit like Lee and Glen.
My brother hated football when he was a kid. His best friend was a girl and he loved playing with Barbies,” Danny, 47, recalls. “He was the bane of my life because being in an East London school, he was being bullied for it and I was fighting his battles a lot.
“He’s a straight man, but he wanted to play with dolls. There’s nothing wrong with that at all.” And then there were the games they played together.
“We used to play a game called Judo Mermaid. He was the mermaid so he would put my mum’s tights on his head and I was Judo. I’d turn up, a bit like Columbo, with a celery stick in my mouth, and solve crimes.”
But in Mr Bigstuff the laughs stop for Glen when his fiancée Kirsty – played by Harriet Webb – starts behaving strangely. She’s sitting on a secret that could destroy everything.
As fans will remember, Kirsty shared a stolen kiss with Lee at the end of series one. And she’s kept it to herself since. But in real life, Harriet admits she isn’t to be trusted with her own secrets.
“I’m very much an over-sharer,” she admits, “I once lied about how many sausages I’d eaten. Then immediately, after telling the lie, I revealed the truth.”
When a mystery blackmailer appears and threatens to spill the beans, silence becomes critical for her relationship with Glen. “Throughout series one, they told each other, ‘No more secrets,’” Harriet says.
The pair portray polar opposite brothers, Lee and Glen, torn apart by secrets – and Glen’s fiancee Kirsty, portrayed by Harriet Webb(Image: Sky / Mark Johnson)
“They made a pact, especially after he found out about Kirsty’s shoplifting. So to have another secret, although I’m not the only one, is a lot.”
Series two doesn’t just revolve around Kirsty’s moral dilemmas. Lee and Glen go digging into their father’s past, only for Lee to stumble on something that could shatter their sense of identity.
Not all scenes were fun for Harriet. She recalls one tough day of filming in Canvey Island, Essex. “There was one day dedicated to a scene in episode five and Ryan told me, ‘I can’t wait for this,’” Harriet says.
“And I was like, ‘It’s going to be hell, I’m going to have to be on the verge of tears for an entire day.’ That was my biggest challenge this season.”
For Ryan, the toughest scenes were the romantic ones. As a proud gay man, filming intimate moments with Harriet took some getting used to.
“I’ve written a lot of sex scenes and kissing,’” he says, “But actually doing it… There was one moment Kirsty was like, ‘I think you grab my boob now.’ That might only be the second boob I’ve grabbed.”
Still, the messy love triangle, the family drama and the emotional gut punches all come wrapped in the off-beat humour that made Mr Bigstuff a surprise hit. And its second series goes bigger and bolder.
As for a third? The cast are all on board, though Ryan says he hasn’t got it nailed down yet. “I’m waiting to see what the viewers think,” he says. “But season two ends on the biggest plot twist I could think of. That’s the jumping off point for series three. I already have a few ideas.”
Mr Bigstuff Series 2 launches on Sky and streaming service NOW on Thursday 24 July.
There’s plenty of dramas in store this week, with Lauren Lyle reprising her role as Karen Pirie on ITV and Keeley Hawes fronting a new show on Amazon Prime. Get the lowdown.
Drama is all the rage this week on the box, with a string of new shows guaranteed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
For starters, BBC2 is airing a gripping show, Unforgivable, set to explore the impact of abuse with a star-studded cast. On ITV, Outlander star Lauren Lyle returns to Karen Pirie, ready to face a new cold case on-screen.
And while there’s plenty more on streaming platforms, Sky viewers will soon wave goodbye to one of their all-time favourite series as Shemar Moore fronts SWAT for the last time.
Princess Kate and Prince William’s relationship has gone from strength to strength – but what do they really say when nobody’s watching?(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Lip Reading the Royals: The Secret Conversations
Saturday, 5
Ever wondered what Prince William whispers to his wife, Kate Middleton, during royal events? Lip Reading the Royals: The Secret Conversations reveals the monarchy’s most private exchanges, caught on camera at weddings, funerals and formal occasions.
With expert lip reading and royal insiders on hand, this eye-opening documentary decodes the hidden dialogue of the royal family – from knowing glances to tense exchanges – offering a rare glimpse behind palace walls. It’s the Crown, unfiltered.
Krays: London’s Gangsters
Saturday, Prime Video
Forget the movie mythos, this two-part documentary unpacks the real Reggie and Ronnie Kray. Featuring never-heard-before recordings from the brothers in prison, this film digs deep into the psychological bond that kept London’s East End crime lords together.
Through expert insights and interviews, this series explores their brutal reign, their unwavering loyalty and descent into popularity. Shedding the Hollywood sheen, this is the raw and unfiltered truth behind Britain’s most renowned gangsters.
SWAT
Sunday, Sky
Shemar Moore leads SWAT into its explosive eighth and final season as Hondo confronts his most personal mission yet. When a school bus carrying students and his former football coach disappears, the team races against the clock.
Meanwhile, tension mounts with new recruit Devin Gamble, whose criminal family ties raise serious red flags. Balancing action-packed sequences with emotional stakes, this season promises high-risk takedowns, moral dilemmas, and a powerful send-off for the elite unit that’s kept L.A safe for seven years.
The Veil
Sunday, C4
Elisabeth Moss trades Gilead for global espionage in this gripping thriller series. She stars as MI6 agent Imogen Salter, tasked with uncovering the truth behind Adilah El Idrissi (Yumna Marwan), a woman suspected of orchestrating a deadly terrorist plot.
As secrets mount and loyalties blur, both women engage in a psychological game of chess spanning Paris, Istanbul and London. It’s tense, atmospheric and rich in twists, exploring trust and the veil between fact and fabrication.
Another cold case haunts Karen Pirie in the second season of the ITV crime drama(Image: Brentwood Gazette)
Karen Pirie
Sunday, ITV
Lauren Lyle is back as cold case specialist DI Karen Pirie in this gripping adaptation of Val McDermid’s A Darker Domain. The second season tackles the 1984 kidnapping of heiress Catriona Grant and her toddler son Adam.
Their disappearance has rattled Scotland but when a body and Catriona’s car keys resurface in a remote quarry, Karen must untangle a web of secrets, betrayal and hidden romances. With its dual-timeline and Karen’s razor-sharp wit, there’s more deadpan banter, bold deductions and emotionally charged revelations.
Mandy Carter returns in a new season of Diane Morgan’s hit show(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Richard Harrison)
Mandy
Monday, BBC2
Diane Morgan dons the leopard print as Mandy Carter in the fourth season of the gloriously daft BBC comedy. This time, the loveable oddball finds herself in increasingly surreal misadventures and bizarre job trials. But don’t expect her to learn anything new – she’s still up to her old tricks.
Every episode is short and savage and packs absurdist laughs and deadpan brilliance, keeping the cult following firmly on board. There’s plenty of chaos in store for Mandy but in her world, disaster is always part of the plan.
Cold Case Forensics: The Cheesewire Killer
Monday, 5
George Murdoch’s brutal 1983 murder – committed with a cheesewire has haunted Aberdeen for decades. Now, this gripping forensic documentary reopens the chilling case with cutting-edge analysis and fresh leads.
Presented by Kirsty Ward and narrated by Unforgotten’s Nicola Walker, the film retraces the night of the crime, the botched early investigation and what new DNA technology might uncover. With emotional interviews, and detailed insights, this show explores whether justice for George is finally within reach.
Critical: Between Life and Death
Wednesday, Netflix
From the producers of 24 Hours in A&E, this Netflix docuseries offers unprecedented access to London’s Major Trauma System. Cameras follow paramedics, surgeons, nurses and patients across four hospitals – St George’s, Royal Londo, St Mary’s and King’s College – as they tackle life-and-death emergencies.
Shot in real time, Critical: Between Life and Death delivers raw and unfiltered moments from the frontline. Brace yourselves for harrowing injuries, emotional recoveries and the incredible teamwork that keeps Brits alive against the odds.
Acapulco
Wednesday, Apple TV
The sun-drenched dramedy Acapulco returns for its fourth and final season as Maximo Gallardo faces the past – and the future. In 1986, young Maximo (Enrique Arrizon) tries to reclaim the top hotel title after a shock defeat.
Meanwhile, present-day Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) works tirelessly to revive Las Colinas before its grand reopening. Acapulco’s final chapter wraps up loose ends with heart, humour and the show’s trademark neon charm. Expect generational reflections and heartfelt growth for this last dip in Acapulco’s glamorous poolside chaos.
Mr Bigstuff
Thursday, Sky
Danny Dyer is back as loudmouth Lee in Mr Bigstuff’s second season, fresh off a 2025 TV BAFTA win for his performance in the bonkers Sky comedy.
This time, family drama ramps up when Lee and younger brother Glen (Ryan Sampson) discover their supposedly dead father may still be alive.
But as tensions rise between them – and with Glen’s fiancee Kirsty (Harriet Webb) keeping huge secrets – old wounds reopen. Guest stars include Fatiha El-Ghorri and EastEnders icon Linda Henry. With brawls, breakdowns and belly laughs, season two dives deeper into dysfunction with twisted humour and heartfelt honesty.
Anna Friel fronts Unforgivable, due to air on BBC2(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / LA Productions / Kerry Spicer)
Unforgivable
Thursday, BBC2
Jimmy McGovern delivers a gripping new BBC Two drama with Unforgivable, where he delves deep into the emotional wreckage left by grooming and abuse within a working-class family.
Anna Friel leads the cast as Anna McKinney, a mother desperately trying to keep her family together, while Bobby Schofield plays Joe – a man sent to rehabilitation after his release from prison, seeking redemption with help from a former nun (Anna Maxwell Martin). It’s gut-punch storytelling at its finest.
Tom brings Spain to viewers with a deep dive into their biggest delicacies(Image: ITV)
Tom Kerridge swaps British classics for Iberian delights in this six-part travelogue series. Journeying through Spain’s most flavour-packed regions, Tom samples all kinds of delicacies – from sherry vinegar aged since 1896 in Andalusia to anchovies in Santoña and explores seafood culture in Valencia.
Made in partnership with M&S’ Farm to Foodhall campaign, this series offers rich local insight, culinary history and vibrant visuals. Expect a mouth-watering tour of tapas, tradition and technique, filled with Tom’s trademark warmth and love of food. You won’t want to miss a bite.
Marissa Anita commands the screen in this taut, psychological Indonesian drama where she plays Milla – a privileged housewife on the brink of madness after convincing herself she’s contracted a mysterious and incurable illness.
Her body feels alien, her family’s dismissive and, soon enough, reality starts to blur. As her seemingly perfect life teeters on the edge, Milla has to confront uncomfortable truths or cling on to delusion. Dark and unflinching, A Normal Woman explores identity, repression and the cost of being believed.
Keeley Hawes portrays a retired hitwoman thrown back into business in The Assassin(Image: PA)
The Assassin
Friday, Amazon Prime
Keeley Hawes stars as Julie, a retired hitwoman whose peaceful life in Greece is upended when her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore) arrives – unearthing secrets that put both of their lives at risk. When enemies from Julie’s shadowy past surface, the duo are forced to collaborate for survival.
Created by Harry and Jack Williams (The Tourist), this six-part thriller blends emotional depth, covert manipulations and sun-soaked suspense. Expect sharp twists, explosive action and a gripping exploration of legacy, family and redemption.
Kerry Godliman returns as Pearl Nolan, the food-loving, crime-solving seaside sleuth in Whitstable Pearl’s third season. In six new episodes, Pearl balances running her restaurant with investigating a string of mysterious deaths across Kent’s coastal community.
With DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles) complicating things both professionally and personally, Pearl finds herself in deeper waters than ever.
Get ready for local secrets and emotional tension as the amateur detective tackles love, loss and layered cases in this quietly compelling Brit drama.
The Jessops are back for another series of Here We Go – and things are more chaotic than ever(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Gary Moyes)
Here We Go
Friday, BBC2
The Jessops are back for the third season of Here We Go – and they’re just as chaotic as ever. This time, the lovable family faces everything from disastrous holidays to awkward jobs – even baby bombshells – all with their usual mix of mishaps and mayhem.
Created by Tom Basden and starring Jim Howick and Katherine Parkinson, the hit BBC comedy continues to capture the hilarious ups and downs of everyday life. Expect more laughs, heart and more family m havoc.
EastEnders legend Danny Dyer has revealed he’s planning on following in his ‘hero” Harold Pinter’s footsteps by turning down a knighthood if he’s ever offered the accolade
Former EastEnders star Danny Dyer has shared why he’d turn down a knighthood.
The 47-year-old actor says that he was too “anti-establishment” for the title which are given to individuals by the monarch for a significant contribution to society.
He told Radio Times that he’d follow in the footsteps of his “hero” Harold Pinter, who turned down a knighthood back in 1996.
Nobel-winning playwright Pinter declined the honour of a knighthood offered to him on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II by former prime minister John Major, but later accepted the award of Companion of Honour in 2002.
When asked if he’d ever been approached about appearing on the New Year’s Honours list, Danny explained: “Have I f! Harold was my hero and turned down a knighthood.
“He was anti-establishment as well, so I don’t think it’s for me.”
Danny Dyer has shared why he’d turn down a knighthood(Image: Getty Images)
Danny became a household name acting in EastEnders from 2013 to 2022 as fan favourite Mick Carter and has since gone on to star in Disney’s hit series Rivals, Sky comedy show Mr. Bigstuff, and an upcoming Irish film Three Quick Breaths.
It comes after Danny left his daughter Dani Dyer horrified with his honeymoon confession.
During a recent episode of their podcast Live And Let Dyers, the Love Island winner opened up about her romantic getaway with new husband and West Ham star Jarrod Bowen, while proud dad Danny managed to overshare in true Dyer fashion.
Playwright Harold Pinter declined the honour of a knighthood offered to him on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth II by former prime minister John Major(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Back from her sun-soaked trip to Lake Como, Dani revealed the newlyweds were hit with gloomy weather but still made the most of their honeymoon bubble.
“The weather was terrible, it rained for three days but we were very lucky, because it always stopped raining when we went for lunch and for dinners and stuff,” Dani told her dad on the pod.
While the couple had hoped for some sunbathing time, Dani admitted they swapped tanning for telly, champagne and baths.
Danny says that he was too “anti-establishment” for the title(Image: Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
She added: “We just could never sunbathe, and there’s not really much to do there so, we just binged the whole series of MobLand. We ate and I’d just drink champagne and have loads of baths.”
However, it wasn’t long before Danny spun the convo onto his honeymoon and things got very a little too honest.
He said: “To be fair, you shouldn’t really be getting out of bed a lot in your honeymoon because me and your mother ended up in Florence, and you know, we was appalling!
“I mean, honestly, I look back on it and I think, ‘f****** hell! How on Earth did I manage to get in those sorts of positions!.”
A shocked Dani responded saying: “Oh, you’re disgusting!” before he hit back with: “What do you mean disgusting? There was two people sharing their love. Them days are long gone now!”
Linda Henry, Shaun Williamson and Rula Lenska are just some famous faces set to make a guest appearance on Sky’s Mr Bigstuff alongside Danny Dyer, Ryan Sampson and Harriet Webb
Danny Dyer and Linda Henry will both appear in the second series of Sky’s Mr Bigstuff(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
Danny Dyer’s EastEnders mother Linda Henry is joining him for the second series of Mr Bigstuff.
Soap icon Danny, Brassic favourite and series creator Ryan Sampson and Big Boys star Harriet Webb return in series two of the comedy, premiering this July on Sky and NOW.
Series one earned Danny his first-ever BAFTA TV award for his performance as Lee Campbell, the estranged brother of Glen, played by Ryan.
Set in suburban Essex, the series was a huge hit with audiences, becoming Sky Max’s highest-rated new original comedy in three years.
Series two picks up two weeks after the shock news that the brothers’ dad’s not actually dead, and Lee and Glen are handling it very differently.
Series two picks up two weeks after the shock news that the brothers’ dad’s not actually dead
But, with chaos mounting and questions piling up, the brothers unite on a mission to track him down.
Meanwhile, Kirsty’s taking charge in the bedroom and the boardroom, but one badly timed kiss – and a mysterious blackmailer -threaten to bring it all crashing down.
With secrets spilling and tempers flaring, it’s only a matter of time before the family blows up – again.
The brothers aren’t the only ones bringing chaos – first-look images tease guest stars including Danny’s former EastEnders co-star Linda as Pam.
Linda plays Pam, a no-nonsense, hands-on mechanic at the family haulage firm(Image: Sky)
Known for her portrayal of Shirley Carter in EastEnders, Linda reunites with Danny to play Pam, a no-nonsense, hands-on mechanic at the family haulage firm.
Fellow EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson, who played Barry Evans, will also make a guest appearance as an angry clown in episode five.
Guest-starring in episode two, Rula Lensk, renowned for her roles in Coronation Street and her memorable appearance on Celebrity Big Brothe, delivers high comedy as Rita, an eccentric and flirtatious woman the brothers believe is connected to their missing dad, Don Campbell.
Rula Lenska delivers high comedy as Rita(Image: Sky)
Also joining series two are Ryan’s Brassic co-stars Tom Hanson and Parth Thakerar, as well as Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street) David Mumeni (Stath Lets Flats) and Alan Ford (Snatch).
Returning cast include Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey), Fatiha El-Ghorri (Taskmaster), Victoria Alcock (Bad Girls), Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders) and and Clive Russell (Ripper Street).
The new series of Mr Bigstuff starts this July on Sky and NOW
ITV have reportedly made a huge move to sign up two actors with great ‘charisma’ to present a brand new gameshow to be aired on Saturday nights
18:27, 29 Jun 2025Updated 18:27, 29 Jun 2025
ITV have reportedly signed two stars for a new Saturday show(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
TV fans are set for a real treat with ITV’s latest gameshow signings, according to reports. It’s suggested the channel is to welcome an “amazing duo on-screen” to front a new gameshow.
Claims suggest the top secret new Saturday evening show is set to air next year. And at the helm is said to be Rivals duo Danny Dyer and Emily Atack.
The former EastEnders man, 47, and star of The Inbetweeners, 35, will reportedly start filming to project later this year. It comes after their successful performance on Disney+’s Rivals.
The series, based on Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster books, was well received by fans and saw the duo roundly praised for their roles. Now, a source has claimed it’s this accoladed that had the ITV bosses clamouring to sign the duo.
Danny Dyer is reportedly set to host a gameshow on ITV(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
Speaking to the Sun, a source said: “Bosses have been impressed with Danny and Emily’s charisma on Rivals and thought they’d make an amazing duo on-screen to freshen up their entertainment talent.
“They’re an unlikely pair but have appeared on a few panel shows together and have plenty of fun energy that is perfect for the tone that ITV want to set. Producers are keen to trial new presenting partnerships to get people talking, and both Emily and Danny have huge appeal.”
And they added: “ITV is constantly trying to create the next big show and duo. It’s about getting the chemistry just right.”
It continues Danny’s huge life turnaround. The actor has been open about his previous struggles in recent years. He revealed the moment of clarity to make a change to his life after he was “slowly killing himself” as he was “off his head” after the National TV Awards.
Emily Atack is also reportedly lined up(Image: @emilyatack/Instagram)
Looking back at his plight with interviewer Louis Theroux, Danny said previously he knew he was “destroying himself” and his career. And he admitted that at the time he was on EastEnders playing Mick Carter, but he would head into rehab in Cape Town in 2016.
He said: “I had a moment of clarity where I had been on it all night after the NTAs. I think I’d won and that’s always on like a Tuesday or something and I had to go to work. There’s another thing with EastEnders, is that they go, yeah, come celebrate NTAs, but you are up at seven in the morning. So anyway, I’d just overdone it again and I just could not work out how to get my jeans on.
“I was just sitting on my ensuite toilet trying to work out what leg goes in what, and I don’t why. I’ve sort of had many of them moments over the years of me being completely off my head.
” But that one really resonated with me. It was more because I looked up, my wife was just watching me and she looked shattered and she looked ill.”
As he continued to open up about the moment, he then revealed he made the decision to go to rehab in Cape Town after this awards show after-party at his house.
Dad-of-three Danny also previously told the BBC receiving a letter from his daughter Dani while at a rehab facility in 2016 was what convinced him to continue his treatment.
Joining them is a cool crew of celebs including Paddy McGuinness, Sam Quek and Tom Grennan. While the World XI team includes Richard Gadd, Edwin van der Sar, Martin Compston and Tony Bellew.
Sam has got a dual role: as well as playing on the pitch, he’s also been running and cycling 260 miles to hand-deliver the ball to Old Trafford and raise more money in a challenge called Matchball Mission for Unicef.
“One of the most special things about Soccer Aid for UNICEF is the togetherness that it brings out,” says Sam, 32. “I’ll never forget being sat at that training dinner table watching the television screens of UNICEF’s great work. People were shedding tears – everyone’s in it together. When we realised we’d helped to raise a record milestone of over £100 million since the game first began, the cheer that went up was bigger than the cheer of winning the actual game, which I think is quite telling.”
Sam Thompson and Louis Thomlinson have more than just Zara McDermott in common – they will both play for England at Soccer Aid 2025(Image: UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures/REX/Shutterstock)
Tears also played a part when Sam crossed the finish line on Friday as he delivered the match ball to Old Trafford and got a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Kier Starmer.
He told the Mirror it’s “mad” that the Prime Minister said he was “inspiring”. “I can’t believe the prime minister knows my name,” Sam said. “I’m on double codeine and paracetamol… I am not going to lie, it hurts a lot,” Sam admitted as he walked to a nearby hotel.
The 32 year old, who has already raised over £1.5 million from the challenge, confessed: “I am totally broken – but so happy . The fact this challenge has grabbed everyone’s attention is just so incredible and I have just been blown away!”
And yesterday he was crying again on This Morning yesterday as he recalled the feat, telling Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: “I’ve gotto stop crying! You’re making me so emotional, so many tears man.”
Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott dated and talked about marriage before splitting late last year(Image: Instagram)
Soccer Aid host Dermot O’Leary is also returning and says half-time is his favourite part of the match because he gets to play pundit. “You have these special moments, it’s a laugh and you’re watching a game of football and you’re seeing goals,” says the 52-year-old.
Former One Direction star Louis lists playing with Ronaldinho as one of his greatest Soccer Aid memories, but for Jill, it’s buddying up with Football Factory star Danny Dyer that makes her day.
“He’s my type of player,” grins Jill, 38. “Strong tackles, probably swears a little bit too much, but I love that passion and football aggression!”
Avon and Somerset police are said to have turned up on set to arrest the bricklayer-turned-actor soon after filming scenes
10:36, 08 Jun 2025Updated 10:47, 08 Jun 2025
The actor was filming with Danny Dyer (pictured) when he was arrested on set(Image: Disney+)
An actor was arrested on the set of Disney’s Rivals in front of cast and crew just an hour after filming with Danny Dyer, it has been reported. Police are said to have arrived on set to arrest Nigel Adams who was working as an extra on the hit show.
The incident allegedly took place in front of shocked cast members and while Adams was still in costume due to filming scenes just moment beforehand. The 45-year-old was filming a polo scene alongside acting legend Danny Dyer for the second series of the programme.
However, it was reportedly just an hour later that police cars turned up and Adams was driven away before spending two nights in police custody. He then appeared in court on Friday as he was accused of assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
Adams was arrested on set(Image: Nigel Adams/Instagram)
The Sun reported that a source said: “It was very dramatic. Everyone was in their costumes and Danny was filming this polo scene when an hour later police suddenly turned up to arrest one of the extras. It was shocking.”
The assault is reported to have happened at a house in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Police were allegedly called to the address at 2am on May 31 of this year.
Adams was said to be questioned about the assault once he was arrested. Avon and Someset police are thought to have been tipped off that the bricklayer-turned-actor was working on the Rivals set at the time.
A friend said that he will be “gutted” as the arrest could mark the end of his acting career. They said: “He’ll be gutted because it could end his TV career, something he really loves doing.
“He’s a bricklayer by trade but he’s been doing more and more TV work, he’s been in loads of stuff. Whenever he’s in the background of a show he gets all his family and friends to watch it.”
Adams has quite a few acting roles under his belt already which include House of the Dragon, The Forsyte Saga and 2022 movie Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher. Adams appeared at Bristol magistrates’ court on Friday charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.
No plea was made by him and he was given conditional bail until he returns to the city’s crown court on July 7. Production company Happy Prince, which makes the drama Rivals, told The Sun: “On the 4th June, the police visited the set regarding an unrelated matter involving a supporting artist.
“Production co-operated with the police. We do not have any further information as it is not connected to Rivals or to our production.”
The Mirror have contacted Happy Prince, Disney and Avon and Someset police for comment.
The Pop Idol winner discovered on this week’s episode of BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? that he is related to King Edward I and William the Conquerer – so Mirror man Matt decided to dig into his ancestors too
Will Young discovered King Edward I is his 20-times great-grandfather(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC / Wall to Wall / Stephen Perry)
As if Will Young didn’t already have reason to be smug, the Pop Idol and two-time Brit Award winner now has something else he can boast about – he’s related to royalty.
Specifically, King Edward I, his 20-times great-grandfather. Oh, and William the Conquerer too.
The singer found out about his kingly lineage filming this week’s episode of BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? And he’s not the only celebrity who, besides being blessed with success, can also add royal blood to their claims to fame.
Josh Widdecombe is another, having learned he’s also directly descended from Edward I. Before him there was Danny Dyer, who discovered his ancestors include King Edward III, William the Conquerer and French king Louis IX.
Will Young discovered he is related to William the Conquerer
Then there’s Matthew Pinsent – four-time Olympic gold medallist and, it turns out, also related to Edward I, William the Conqueror and one of Henry VIII’s wives.
What is it about being a celebrity, I wondered, that makes you more likely to have royal relatives? Knowing Will was going to be the latest to fill me with jealousy, I set out to find out if mere mortals like me had any remotely interesting ancestors.
In my case, the chances of even finding anyone slightly aristocratic in my family tree seemed pretty bleak. Will was already born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a boarding school boy whose dad was a company director and whose grandad was an RAF flight lieutenant.
Matt’s grandfather Henry Roper, was a painter, and his great-great-grandfather Frederick was a coal miner
Most of the relatives I knew about, on the other hand, were proud yet poor Nottinghamshire coal miners and their wives.
Still, I set up an account on FindMyPast and added the names of the relatives I knew about over the last 150 years. As the site suggested potential matches based on birth, marriage, baptism and census records, I gradually worked my way back around 12 generations to the mid-1600s.
Alas, what I discovered only confirmed my suspicions. My family were paupers, not princes – grafters who toiled for centuries in coal mines, stables, forges and along canals.
My great-grandfather, I discovered, was a coal miner loader who had worked his way up to coal hewer – hacking coal from the mine bed by hand, hundreds of metres underground – just like his father and grandfather before him.
Matt was shocked to discover a connection to Queen Elizabeth I(Image: Daily Record)
Earlier still were nailmakers, boatmen, stonemasons and stablemen. Almost all lived and died in Derbyshire, Yorkshire or Lancashire. We were clearly the servants, not the masters. I had more in common with Baldrick than Blackadder.
But just as I was about to give up, I stumbled on something unexpected. In the late 1500s, Derbyshire man William Gilbert, my 13th great-grandfather, married Anne Clere – and into a well-known family.
The Cleres, it turned out, were an ancient family from Norfolk whose patriarch, Sir Robert Clere, was the High Sheriff of Norfolk and known for his great wealth.
Anne’s father, Sir Edward Clere, was an MP, but apparently not a very articulate one when speaking in the House of Commons. One diarist wrote how he made “”a staggering [stumbling] speech… I could not understand what reason he made.”
He was knighted in 1578 after having Queen Elizabeth I stay over at his home in Thetford, Norfolk, when he entertained her with a theatrical performance and jousting.
Josh Widdecombe found out he’s a direct descendent of King Edward III(Image: BBC/Wall to Wall Media Ltd/Stephen Perry)
Fascinated that my family was at least good friends with royalty, I kept digging. Edward’s father was Sir John Clere, an MP and naval commander who drowned in August 1557 when his fleet tried to conquer the Orkney Islands, but was beaten back to sea by 3,000 angry islanders.
But it was her mother, Alice Boleyn, my 14th great-grandmother, whose name jumped out at me. Sure enough, as I followed the tree, her niece was none other than Anne Boleyn, Queen of England until she was beheaded in 1533 by Henry VIII – and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I.
I was astounded – that makes me Elizabeth I’s first cousin, 16 times removed.
On the other side of the Clere family, however, things were taking a more sinister – but no less fascinating – turn.
Sir John Clere’s wife, Anne Tyrell, also had royal connections, it turned out, but ones that probably changed the line of succession forever.
On her father’s side, her grandfather was Sir James Tyrell, a trusted servant of Richard III, who allegedly confessed to the murders of the Princes in the Tower under Richard’s orders.
Sir James Tyrrell was depicted in Shakespeare’s William III
James is also portrayed in Shakespeare’s Richard III. I was astounded – I studied the play at school and had no idea I was reading about my 17th great-grandfather.
Treason and treachery, it seems, ran in the family. His father William was beheaded on Tower Hill in 1462 for plotting against King Edward IV.
William’s father, Sir John Tyrell of Heron, was High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire and knight of Essex, and three times Speaker of the House of Commons. That my 19th great-grandfather basically once ruled Essex is something I won’t be letting people forget in Stansted, where I now live.
But it was also through Anne Tyrell’s mother’s side that I found something even more astonishing. As I followed her line, the names began to get more and more aristocratic, through the Willoughbys, De Welles, Greystokes and Longsprees, until I found…. My 26th great-grandfather, King Henry II.
His father was Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou and his grandfather, King Henry I. And Henry’s father? No other than William the Conquerer – my 29th great-grandfather.
And perhaps even more bizarrely, that would make Will Young my 9th cousin, 9 times removed. I’ll be inviting him round for tea next week.
King Henry I is Matt’s 28th great-grandfather
Genealogists will tell me to calm down – apparently there are about five million people who are descended from William the Conquerer. Establishing myself as the true heir to the British throne could certainly be tricky.
But just being as special as Will, Danny Dyer and Matthew Pinsent is enough for me. And not bad for the son of Nottinghamshire nailmakers, stablemen and coal miners.
How to trace your family tree on Findmypast:
Register for a free Findmypast account and create your tree.
Add your own information, then details about your parents, grandparents and other relatives that you know. You don’t need every detail such as date or place of birth, but the more you have the better.
Findmypast then searches its records and provides hints about your ancestors, helping you expand your tree. To access the records you’ll need to pay a subscription.
Most of the records go back to the 1700s, but family trees created by other people can help you trace back even further.
Use the internet to search some of the key names – you might find more clues and other historical connections.
Danny Dyer left everyone speechless when he nabbed a prestigious Bafta Award on Sunday, May 11, with his typically colourful language adding some spice to the proceedings. Overcome with emotion, yet true to his EastEnders hardman persona, he didn’t hold back on the expletives during his acceptance speech.
The host for the evening, Alan Cumming, wasn’t caught off guard though, he quickly jumped in to apologise to viewers at home for the actor’s fruity on-air antics.
Celebrating his win for Best Male Performance in Sky Comedy’s ‘Mr Bigstuff’, Danny admitted with a cheeky grin: “The acting was so bad it was funny.”
He then set tongues wagging by dropping the F-bomb repeatedly, flouting the Bafta’s language guidelines, despite having faced a warning earlier on.
Despite the few choice words, the former soap star’s message resonated with the audience as he admitted to being “choked up” and sweetly referenced his two daughters during his heartfelt thanks at London’s Royal Festival Hall, reports Belfast Live.
Here, is an insight into Danny Dyer’s notorious speech, his nod to EastEnders, and where he’s heading in his career next.
The full speech
Lots of Danny acceptance speech was cut due to expletive language being used(Image: (Image: BBC))
A good chunk of the 47-year-old’s candid speech was edited out due to the risqué content, but his gratefulness couldn’t be clearer from the snippets that survived.
He kicked things off by expressing gratitude to Sky for taking a chance on their show, saying: “I want to thank Sky for giving our show a shot. F***ing hell, I’m choked up.” In particular, he highlighted Ryan Sampson, the writer he holds in high esteem.
Continuing with his thank yous, Danny quipped: “He’s one of the greatest people ever to come out of Rotherham – not saying much. You won this for me mate.”
Danny further heaped praise on Ryan who is also an actor, proclaiming: “One of the best actors this country’s ever produced, I’m telling you. Never done the same thing twice. Which is not something I can say.
“He wrote this part for me, so you know… I’m getting choked up again, f*** me. So you won this for me, mate, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.”
In an emotional moment, the star of The Rivals expressed his gratitude towards his daughters, Dani, 28, and Sunnie, 18, who were in the audience, beaming with pride as they witnessed their father’s triumph: “Girls, Sunnie and Dani… I’ve done it, girls, I’ve f***ing done it.”
Upon Danny’s departure from the stage, host Alan Cumming stepped in to express apologies for any offence caused by the “naughty language”.
What Danny Dyer said away from the cameras
Danny took a stab at EastEnders backstage
While backstage and still riding high from his award victory, Danny didn’t hold back during a chat with the Metro newspaper, he giggled: “Oh, there’ll be some people fuming!”, and assertively declared: “I don’t know, man. I’ve earned it. I only want one, I don’t need more than this. I’m happy.”
Reflecting on his previous recognitions and subtly jabbing at his time on EastEnders, he said: “I’ve lifted a couple of NTAs over the years, and I always like to win awards and lose them, do the moody clap [pretending] that you’re happy for someone else… I’ve done all that b******s, and I thought I’d be doing that tonight.”
Reflecting on his recent triumphs with both Mr Bigstuff and Rivals, he shared: “I’ve had a really good run this year. Rivals has been so well received. A bit odd, really. I’ve got Rivals sitting there, and I’ve got Mr Bigstuff there.”
On to big things
Danny is moving on to great things in the coming months
Fans are in for a treat as the critically acclaimed Mr Bigstuff makes its comeback with Danny at the helm in Sky Comedy’s spotlight, gearing up for its much-anticipated second season.
While we’re all on tenterhooks for the release date of series two on Sky and Now, the network has teased that the premiere is slated for “later in 2025”, with Danny set to dazzle audiences once again as the brash brother Lee.
Disney + Rivals fans will be ecstatic to hear that Danny is set to return to the role of businessman Freddie Jones once more, a role that snagged him the British Press Guild Award for Best Actor and the RTS Television Award for Supporting Actor.
The exact timing for the return of series two remains shrouded in mystery, with some media outlets speculating “later in 2025” or “early 2026”. Yet, an insider on ITV’s Lorraine hinted at a much sooner date, suggesting “July 2025”.
Chatting with Andi Peters, who was filling in on ITV’s Lorraine on Monday, May 12, Ria Hebden let slip: “Rivals, we now know it’ll back on screens this July.”
Rivals will return to Disney + at some time in the near future and Mr Bigstuff will return to Sky and Now, also at a near point in 2025.
The BAFTA TV Awards took place last night as the biggest stars and shows on screen were honoured – however, a few stars couldn’t help but let slip a few swear words
The BAFTA TV Awards descended into chaos as its stars couldn’t stop swearing
The BAFTA TV Awards was sent into chaos behind-the-scenes after its stars and winners kept swearing on stage. The award ceremony is televised an hour after it actually happens, giving producers time to cut a number of expletive moments from the broadcast.
The Mr Bigstuff star thanked Sky for “giving the show a shot” before adding: “F***ing hell, I’m choked up.”
Danny Dyer took home his first BAFTA for Mr Bigstuff last night – but accepted the award with a sweary rant(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
He later said: “I’m getting choked up again, f**k me!” before paying tribute to his daughters Dani and Sunnie Jo. “Girls, Sunnie and Dani. I’ve done it girls, I’ve f***ing done it!” he said.
Danny wasn’t the only star to drop the odd expletive, with even host Alan stumbling on his words wen speaking about the BAFTA Fellowship. He accidentally referred to it as the “b****d” Fellowship before exclaiming, “Oh f**k me!”
Meanwhile, Sophie Willan – who took home the gong for her comedy series Alma’s Not Normal – made a number of efforts not to swear, but couldn’t help letting one slip. “I’m not allowed to swear and all I want to do is Beep Beep, Bloody Beep!!” she said.
“I just want to say, these lot are flupping brilliant. Blimming fabulous!” Despite attempting to replace expletives with more TV-friendly words, she later let a few slip out. “It’s been s*** hot,” she said before realising her error and covering her mouth.
Sophie Willan(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
All three speeches were edited out of the programme before it made to broadcast, The Sun has reported.
Last night’s BAFTAs were a big night for the BBC, with Mr Loverman, Industry, Blue Lights, Gavin and Stacey and Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour taking home gongs alongside other shows.
While taking to the stage to accept the award, producer Patrick Spence said: “We’ve shown we cannot abide liars and bullies. And we’d like to put on record that being trusted by the sub post-masters to tell their story has been the greatest privilege of our lives.”
