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Every recreational golfer of my generation has at least two things in common: We grew up revering Tiger Woods, and we know “Happy Gilmore,” the 1996 Adam Sandler golf comedy, like the back of our hands. Which millennial, while lining up a putt on the green, hasn’t told himself at some point to just “tap it in — give it a little tappy, a tap tap taparoo”? Who among us, before hitting a challenging tee shot, hasn’t at some point first closed his eyes and attempted to escape to his very own “happy place”? And above all, which of us hasn’t spent hours upon hours at the local driving range trying to master the craft that is protagonist Happy Gilmore’s signature running golf swing?

For all of us picking up the game once described by sports journalist John Feinstein as “a good walk spoiled,” Sandler’s character was a never-ending font of laughs and inspiration. Like so many others of my generation, then, I was very excited to watch “Happy Gilmore 2,” just released on Netflix on July 25. The sequel, 29 years in the making, didn’t have a script as instantly quotable as the original, nor was it as memorable. (Which film sequel, besides “The Godfather Part II” or “The Empire Strikes Back,” ever has been?) But “Happy Gilmore 2” still surpassed expectations: It was at times a bit silly, but it was still rollicking fun, replete with nostalgic flashbacks and a bevy of pro golfer cameos.

But it’s also more than that. It would be a mistake to dismiss the two movies as purely frivolous fare — good just for a few laughs. Rather, Sandler, long known for leading a private, low-key lifestyle that eschews the Hollywood limelight, has a specific message for Happy’s myriad fans: Family always comes first.

In the original film, Happy, a hockey fanatic whose weak skating skills inhibited his pro hockey aspirations, reluctantly takes up golf for one reason: to earn enough money to save his beloved grandmother’s home from a bank foreclosure and return her there from a hostile nursing home. Throughout the film, Happy emphasizes this as his sole motivation for biting his lips and suffering through what he calls “golf sissy crap.” Happy doesn’t particularly care about the game of golf. He’s just doing it for Grandma.

In the sequel, Happy, now considerably older and a father of five, has retired from golf and developed a bad drinking habit. A single father, he is struggling to make ends meet and provide for his daughter Vienna. Early in the film, Vienna’s dance instructor recommends that Happy enroll her in an advanced four-year ballet school in Paris, which would cost $75,000 annually. Happy senses that Vienna’s dream to dance ballet is similar to his old dream of playing hockey. With the encouragement of John Daly (one of many real-life pro golfers cast as themselves), he dusts off his old golf clubs and gives it a go again. Spoiler alert, without giving away too many of the specifics: The film has a happy ending for Happy’s family.

Clearly, this is not just about golf and laughs.

Sandler, a onetime registered and politically active Republican, is conveying to his audience a traditional conservative message: A life well lived is not a solipsistic one that exalts the self, but an altruistic one that places the interests of others above all else. These “others” are usually those closest to us — family members, older and younger generations alike, to whom we have obligations. You might notice that in both films, Happy plays golf only for others — not for himself.

Happy, who once fought to save the house his grandfather built, now finds himself trying to do right by the next generation. It is these relationships — with those who came before us and those who come after us — that give our lives meaning and purpose. And in “Happy Gilmore 2,” Sandler drives home that message in the most personal way possible: He casts his real-life wife and his two daughters — one as the aspiring ballerina.

The foul-mouthed, trash-talking rebel of golf, Happy Gilmore, is onto something important. Perhaps more of Sandler’s Hollywood colleagues ought to listen. They might learn something.

Josh Hammer’s latest book is “Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.” This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. @josh_hammer

The show based on a famous gothic novel was adapted for the BBC in a 2014 miniseries and it stars a familiar face from Downton Abbey.

BBC enthusiasts have been left gobsmacked by a period drama miniseries they’re calling a “masterpiece” – and it’s crafted from the pages of a novel by a “queen of the genre”. The gothic tale of Jamaica Inn, penned by Daphne Du Maurier in 1936, has been brought to life in a gripping 2014 adaptation.

Set against the backdrop of 1821, Jamaica Inn spins the story of Mary Yellan, who after the heartbreak of losing her mother, goes to live with her aunt at the eponymous coaching inn in Cornwall. However, Mary soon discovers the inn’s lack of guests hides a dark secret, as she stumbles upon a nest of criminal dealings and finds herself entangled in romance with a dashing petty thief.

The series features Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay portraying the intrepid Mary and Matthew McNulty as her roguish love interest Jem Merlyn, joined by Emmerdale‘s own Danny Miller and Andrew Scarborough.

Upon its initial release, Jamaica Inn faced a barrage of criticism over sound issues, with complaints about the cast’s “mumbling” – yet, those revisiting the series over a decade later are now singing its praises for its captivating allure, reports the Express.

One critique read: “This adaptation struck the right mood, it seemed to me – dark and subtly sinister.”

Another viewer was enchanted, describing it as “dark and beautiful”, and adding: “Very beautiful adaptation of the Du Maurier classic novel to a TV mini-series. There is a reason why Hitchcock directed this back in 1939. The atmosphere set is hypnotic at times.

“The music is well-chosen. It sets the right mood. When I first read the book, I imagined the setting to be similar but not quite as beautiful as shown here.”

The New York Times lauded the novel behind the adaptation, hailing it as a work by “the queen of the form”, and an ideal read for “readers of Gothic thrillers”.

Jamaica Inn is no stranger to screen adaptations; its most renowned version was Alfred Hitchcock’s 1939 film.

The story also graced television screens in an ITV miniseries back in 1983 with Jane Seymour taking the lead, and it even crossed over into French television with a TV movie in 1995.

Jamaica Inn is available to stream on ITV Premium.

Hulk Hogan, who died Thursday at 71, was a star in pro wrestling, perhaps the star, through its two biggest popularity booms in the mid 1980s and the late 1990s. But after being the biggest star in, there was a lot of controversy along the way and his career ended in a hail of boos.

Hogan burst onto the scene in the 1982 movie “Rocky III,” where he played a pro wrestler called Thunderlips, who was taking on Rocky Balboa in a match for charity. He appeared on “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” and caught the eye of Vince McMahon, who was planning on buying the then-World Wrestling Federation from his father and taking it nationwide, He was looking for a star to build the promotion around. Hogan was wrestling for the American Wrestling Assn. and was growing frustrated that they never gave him the promotion’s championship, which usually led to making more money.

McMahon bought the WWF and started poaching talent from around the country. Hogan signed in late 1983, breaking his AWA contract and no-showing several dates. McMahon quickly put the championship on Hogan, who came into the ring to the song “Real American,” tore off his T-shirt, told his fans to “train, say your prayers and take your vitamins,” and vowed to defeat the heel of the month because “Whatcha gonna do, King Kong Bundy or Paul Orndorff or Kamala or Roddy Piper, when Hulk Hogan and Hulkamania run wild on you.”

It was a formula for success for many years, lifting pro wrestling to the mainstream with appearances on MTV and NBC, where WWF filled in for “Saturday Night Live” every six weeks and drew better ratings, all with Hogan headlining.

In 1989, Hogan tried to branch off into movies, produced by McMahon. They all flopped. “No Holds Barred.” “Suburban Commando.” “Mr. Nanny.” The persona that worked so well in the ring did not translate onto the big screen like it later did for wrestling stars such as Dwayne Johnson and Dave Bautista.

In 1991, Dr. George Zahorian III was convicted of illegally supplying anabolic steroids. Zahorian also served as the ringside doctor for WWF matches in Pennsylvania. At his trial, it was revealed that Zahorian had supplied steroids to the WWF and its wrestlers. Hogan, hoping to end discussion that he was on steroids, appeared on “Arsenio Hall” in 1992 and said that he has only used steroids on three occasions, all under doctor’s care to rehabilitate muscle injuries.

The outcry was immediate, with wrestlers coming out to says Hogan was lying. Fans, who could see how well-built these stars were, were disillusioned that Hogan would lie. His popularity began to wane and he began to get booed at some appearances. Hogan took a leave of absence from the company.

A much-smaller Hogan returned in 1993 to team with his friend Brutus Beefcake to take on Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. Little did fans know that the plan was for Hogan to end the show as champion once again. When Hogan came out to aid Bret Hart, who had just lost his title to Yokozuna due to having salt thrown in his eyes, Yokozuna’s manager, Mr. Fuji, made an impromptu challenge to Hogan to wrestle him for the title “right now.” Hogan won the title in about one minute.

However, Hogan and McMahon has miscalculated the public’s desire to see Hogan again, especially in the top spot. The reaction was lukewarm at best and Hogan made sporadic appearances until losing the title to Yokozuna that summer. Hogan left WWF and started wrestling in Japan.

In 1994, Hogan signed with the now-World Wrestling Entertainment’s main rival, World Championship Wrestling. He lifted the profile of the company and drew several strong pay-per-view buy rates, but at live shows, fans seemed to be tiring of the trademark red and yellow gear and Hulkamania. WCW’s popularity was on the decline again when it was time for something no one thought they would ever see.

Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, two of WWE’s biggest stars, had signed with WCW and presented themselves as “invaders from a big wrestling company up north.” Fans had been dying to see a feud between WWE and WCW, and Nash and Hall, under the guidance of booker Eric Bischoff, were hinting that that was happening. They promised to unveil a mystery third man at the July 1996 “Bash at the Beach” show.

Nash and Hall came to the ring without the third man at that event, promising their ally would be along soon. They started wrestling Sting, Lex Luger and Randy Savage and cheated to get the upper hand, knocking Luger out and injuring Sting. They were about to destroy Savage, when Hogan walked out in the red and yellow gear. Here to save the day again.

Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman were briefly aligned after Hogan turned heel and started the New World Order.

(Paula Illingworth / Associated Press)

The crowd was shocked when Hogan turned on Savage and announced himself as the third man. He told the fans they could go to hell. Fans began pelting the ring with garbage as Hogan announced the formation of the New World Order.

The next week, Hogan, now wearing black and white, got pelted with garbage again. But the heel turn worked. WCW began beating WWE in the ratings for the first time. Pro wrestling was on another hot streak, being watched by more people each week (around 13 million) than at any time in history.

The hot streak lasted until 1998, when fans grew tied of the NWO. Hogan left WCW in 2000. He returned to WWE briefly and had a memorable WrestleMania match with The Rock, before leaving again in a money dispute.

Hogan made appearances with other wrestling companies after that, and even returned to WWE to be inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2005 and had what turned out to be his final match for WWE in 2007. He was signed by the TNA promotion after that to put them on the map, but never really gained any traction there.

In July 2015, many media outlets ran excerpt of racial slurs made by Hogan on a leaked sex tape recorded in 2007. In the recording, he is heard expressing disgust if his daughter ever dated a Black man, hoping that he would at least be a basketball player worth millions, dropped a racial slur toward Black people repeatedly and said he was “a racist, to a point.”

Once the recordings went public, the outrage was immediate. Hogan apologized, saying he used “language that is offensive and inconsistent with my own beliefs.” WWE removed him from its Hall of Fame and terminated the legends contract with him, though Hogan always maintained he resigned. Mattel stopped production of all toys featuring Hogan. His public appearances were few and far between and not well-received. Hogan gave an interview on ABC in which he asked for forgiveness, saying his racism was learned from his neighborhood while growing up in Tampa, Fla., and that racial slurs were commonly used there. Not many believed him.

Three years later, Hogan appeared backstage at a WWE event to give an apology to the wrestlers for his remarks. Afterward, several wrestlers expressed disappointment with Hogan, saying he didn’t apologize for the remarks but warned them instead to be careful what they say because someone could be taping them without their knowledge. The WWE reinstated him to the Hall of Fame.

Hogan began appearing on WWE shows again, but there were almost always pretaped appearances. He hosted WrestleMania 37 in 2021, and was booed. His final live appearance was Jan. 6 this year, when he appeared on the first “Monday Night Raw” on Netflix. It was at the Inuit Dome, and when Hogan came out, he was booed strongly by the crowd. Hogan seemed caught off guard, and after plugging his new beer, went backstage. He blamed the booing on his support for Donald Trump, even though others on the show who also support Trump weren’t booed when they appeared.

It was a sad ending for a man who make pro wrestling what it is today. What will Hulk Hogan be remembered for 50 years from now? It would be interesting to hop in a time machine and find out.

Soap fans were thrilled by the unexpected return of EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison to TV screens after she opened up on her financial struggles since leaving Walford

A fan-favourite EastEnders made an unexpected return to TV, leaving viewers thrilled. Cheryl Fergison, who played the iconic Heather Trott on the BBC soap, has been open about her lack of work in recent years.

The actress revealed her financial struggles after leaving the soap in 2012, and shared how she got help from a foodbank as well as EastEnders legend Dame Barbara Windsor. Following the challenging time, Cheryl has made a comeback to the small screen.

She shocked viewers when she rocked up in BBC Two’s comedy series Mandy. The actress made a guest appearance in the show, which is written by Diane Morgan.

It follows the goings on of permanently out-of-work Mandy Carter and her best friend Lola. Mandy was forced to attend a restart scheme at her local job centre, where she encountered an unimpressed Stella, played by Cheryl.

Stella only said one worked to Mandy, as she called her “dirty”. Cheryl’s fans were thrilled by her return to screens as one said: “Obsessed with Cheryl ‘two words’ Fergison. She did a cracking job.”

Another added: “Congrats Cheryl!” Someone else commented: “Can we talk about the amount of cameos in Mandy cuz what do u mean Cheryl Fergison and Martin Lewis casually popped up within the first ep of series 4?”

A fourth declared: “Ar Cheryl is in the new season of Mandy.” While on EastEnders, Cheryl racked up a huge fan following until her character was sensationally killed off.

Ben Mitchell smacked her over the head with a picture frame, causing her to hit her head on the way to the floor. Life after the soap hasn’t been quite so straightforward, with Cheryl opening up on her struggles earlier this year.

She revealed she had turned to a food bank for help and was relying on benefits. In order to try and make ends meet, Cheryl settled for far smaller jobs including opening a Chinese takeaway in Cleveleys earlier this year.

The actress told Casino.org: “My health is good, but my finances will take a long time to recover. Until I have steady work, I’m not rich or comfortable—I’m just surviving.

“I’ve been saying yes to everything for no money, but I need to start valuing my work and asking for fair pay. Even my agent insists on it.”

She added: “Still, I’ll never give in. I want to keep singing. If people criticise me for singing in small restaurants, so be it. At the end of the day, I’m an entertainer. Community has always been important to me, and I’ll perform no matter the crowd.”

Once at the top of her game as a primetime BBC star, Cheryl fell into dire straits after she was conned out of a ‘humungous’ amount of money. She said on This Morning: “There is a circumstance that started this, which I can’t talk about at this moment in time, but it started to spiral.

“The only way I can say it is I was conned out of a humongous amount of money. That led to the cancer thing and everything spiralled. I was robbing Peter to pay Paul. I ended up having to sell my house. Now I am living up north and renting.”

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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.

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.”

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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.

“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.

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Pelicot has been praised globally for her courage during trial, which forced changes to France’s rape law.

Gisele Pelicot, who has been internationally hailed after testifying against her husband and dozens of other men who raped her, has been awarded France’s top civic honour.

Pelicot, 72, was named knight of the Legion of Honour on a list announced before France’s July 14 national day, the AFP news agency reported on Sunday.

She was among 589 people named for the honour, which recognises merit-based national service.

Pelicot refused to remain anonymous and publicly testified at a trial in 2024 against her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged her and arranged for her to be raped by dozens of men over a decade.

His co-conspirators tried to claim they were unaware that the acts were not consensual and blamed the husband.

Gisele Pelicot at the time called it a “trial of cowardice” and asserted there was no excuse for abusing her when she was unconscious. Her testimony gripped the world and led to Dominique Pelicot and 50 co-defendants being found guilty in the mass-rape case.

Lauded for her courage in exposing the case, which forced a change in France’s rape law, she has since been named among the world’s most influential people in international lists.

Gisele Pelicot has not spoken further since the trial. She is focusing on writing a book, scheduled for release in 2026, that delves into her perspective of the ordeal, according to her lawyer.

Writers, artists and international figures are also on the Legion of Honour list.

Singer, music producer and clothing designer Pharrell Williams, writer Marc Levy, actor Lea Drucker, singer Sylvie Vartan, and Holocaust survivor and educator Yvette Levy are some of the other recipients.

X Factor icon Rowetta looks unrecognisable 19 years on as she stuns in a tartan miniskirt and thigh-high boots, proving her bold style is still going strong at 57

X Factor fans might do a double-take after seeing one of the show’s original stars looking completely different nearly two decades after finding fame.

Rowetta Satchell, or simply Rowetta, as she was known to millions, was one of the standout acts on the very first series of The X Factor back in 2004. The powerhouse soul singer wowed judges with her unforgettable take on Lady Marmalade, and her bold vocals and big personality quickly made her a fan favourite.

Already known from her days with legendary band Happy Mondays, Rowetta made it all the way to the quarter-finals of the ITV talent show, finishing fourth overall and becoming the last woman left standing, without ever facing the dreaded sing-off.

READ MORE: Happy Mondays icon Rowetta abruptly quits band after over three decades

Fast-forward 19 years, and the 57-year-old is still commanding attention. Rowetta recently turned heads as she posed in a tartan miniskirt and leopard-print thigh-high boots on her way to an Indie Reunion event. She paired the look with a statement tee reading, “The ravers united will never be defeated.” She told fans she was “on my way.”

Simon Cowell once famously described her as “amazing but barking bloody mad”, and it’s fair to say her bold style and fearless energy haven’t faded one bit.

In an interview with Metro.co.uk, the singer opened up about her journey on the ITV competition, her music career, and why she never returned to reality TV despite being flooded with offers.

According to Rowetta, after The X Factor propelled her to TV fame in 2004, she turned down shows like Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity, only making exceptions for Children in Need and BBC Music Day.

Rowetta’s journey began in Leeds when Kate Thornton introduced her to the judges before live auditions were part of the show’s format. Her renditions of Lady Marmalade and Circle of Life wowed Simon and Sharon from the get-go.

She said she was grateful not to win because she and Simon Cowell had a difference of opinion on the final single.

Adding: “I think it would have been a disaster to win it, and then have to bring out songs like that. I love funky stuff. I don’t want to be doing Somewhere Over The Rainbow for the rest of my life.”

Rowetta said her reason for doing the show was her grandma, who encouraged her to be on TV like the singers she watched. Her career since has included collaborations with the likes of Solardo, Todd Terry, Oliver Heldens and Shed Seven.

A proud Mancunian, Rowetta loves being a role model on her local music scene, often performing at Manchester Pride. She said that when she was growing up, “there was no one to look up to from Manchester that was Black and female.”

Last year, in December 2024, it was announced that Rowetta would be leaving the band. The announcement came amidst speculation about past feuds with band member Shaun Ryder. In February this year, MailOnline reported Rowetta sharing that she has allegedly been physically abused by Shaun.

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Emmerdale’s Natalie J Robb and Mike Parr teased some massive scenes on the way in the coming months, with cast on the ITV soap told to prepare for ‘a lot of night shoots’

There’s huge scenes guaranteed on Emmerdale in the coming months, with one star teasing multiple night shoots have been advised.

As the ITV soap prepares to film the big crossover with Coronation Street, set to air early 2026, cast members are about to find out who is involved and what happens. With filming and planning taking place months in advance, cast members on both soaps are soon to learn which characters will feature in the epic soap twist.

Plenty of stars from both soaps are desperate to be involved, all hoping their characters will be present in the milestone episodes. While only one episode will feature the crossover, the impact will be felt for the entire week and then some.

As the plans are finalised, cast members will soon prepare to film the big scenes and the storylines surrounding them. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Emmerdale’s Moira Dingle actress Natalie J Robb shared her hopes to take part.

Not only that, but she confirmed that huge episodes were guaranteed, as there were “a lot of night shoots” planned. With night shoots often come dramatic and blockbuster scenes.

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We do know there will be a massive stunt, so it’s likely this is why the night filming has been agreed. Cast members will have to prepare for the big scenes, with Natalie hinting at what’s ahead.

She told us: “It is really exciting. It is the first time it has ever been done I think the audience will like it. We have to trust the writers. There is gonna be a lot night shoots.”

Natalie went on: “We don’t know any of the stories or what characters are involved just yet, but I’m hoping to be part of it.” Ross Barton actor Mike Parr then pointed out that some Emmerdale and Corrie actors have done both soaps.

Referencing his co-star Oliver Farnworth who plays villain John Sugden, he joked about whether the Corrie characters would recognise him, or if John was still Oliver’s Corrie character Andy. He said: “Is he still that character in that one or did he die?

“There’s so much room for what could happen and the ways it can go. I am so glad it’s happening and everyone wants to be involved, but not everyone can be. It’s exciting times but nobody knows anything yet.”

It comes as the pair also teased “danger” on the way following next week’s arrival of new villain Ray. Mike said of actor Joe’s casting: “I grew up watching that guy. One of my friends were also up for the part and I wanted to support him, but when I found out Joe had got it I knew he would be good. It’s good, it’s exciting.”

Natalie also had her say, before hinting that Moira’s brother Mackenzie could be at risk. She told us: “He is good. It’s all in the eyes. He’s very menacing and very scary. There is going to be a lot of danger, but it’s good. It’s shaken it up a bit.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Emmerdale fans will see the arrivals of two new characters next week, both causing trouble on the ITV soap, with danger, betrayals, discoveries and secrets under threat

There’s plenty of carnage coming up on Emmerdale, with two new faces, secrets under wraps and a brutal attack.

One iconic character faces death after a violent attack, with him rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition. Someone is double crossed, and it could have serious repercussions.

A character is nervous over their recent near-kiss with someone else as he fears it could be exposed, while a feud rumbles on too. Kicking things off, there’s a horrifying twist for Paddy Kirk next week.

Paddy, who has been on the soap for decades, is brutally attacked and left lifeless, as his dad Bear races to save him. Amid a time of conflict between the father and son, Bear battles to save his son’s life when the vet is injured badly by a dog.

Paddy is trying to rescue a sheep caught in the fence on the land of new farmer Celia, only to be caught and bitten by an aggressive dog. Bear manages to save him, but he’s left traumatised by the incident. As Paddy’s loved ones gather at the hospital, he emerges from surgery.

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But he and wife Mandy Dingle are reeling when Bear launches a verbal attack on his son’s character. Taking the words to heart, a heartbroken Paddy sobs silently before struggling in the fallout. Soon he heads for Celia’s farm to confront her about the attack but it doesn’t go well.

He blames Bear for this and the pair are further apart than ever before. Telling his dad to move out, he’s clear he wants nothing to do with him but will this be it for them amid Bear’s own mystery worrying storyline?

Celia isn’t the only new arrival to the show next week, as newcomer Ray, a new villain, also makes his mark. As Ross Barton and his brother Lewis Barton’s secret weed hustle continues, Mack Boyd makes a horrifying decision amid his own involvement in the plot.

With Moira Dingle still facing financial issues and struggling to keep the farm, with Mack still thinking he’s to blame, they consider whether to sell the weed to a dealer for a huge sum of money. When Lewis refuses, Mack goes behind their backs and agrees to sell up to Ray.

Lewis assumes his brother Ross has betrayed him and their relationship falls apart as Mack feels guilty over what he’s done. Mack is left desperate though without the brothers on board, as he struggles to meet the dealer’s demands.

So when all the plants go missing from the barn, Ross accuses Mack of stealing it and selling it all to Ray but he protests his innocence. So who has taken the weed and where is it now?

Vinny Dingle also faces turmoil next week after he recently tried to kiss his pal Kammy Hadiq. While Kammy has said he won’t tell anyone including Vinny’s fiancée Gabby Thomas, Vinny can’t help but fear it will be exposed.

He’s avoiding his pal so when Gabby invites Kammy to their engagement party, Vinny is in turmoil. Finally next week Sarah Sugden supports her grieving grandfather Cain Dingle who’s upset when the whole family is barred from his son Nate Robinson’s funeral by Tracy.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

The Whoniverse is set to expand with an animated Doctor Who series on CBeebies in the future and Loose Women’s Denise Welch has addressed speculation that she could be involved

A former soap star has addressed speculation that she’s being considered to voice the title role in a Doctor Who spin-off. The upcoming project is in development at the moment but no casting has been unveiled for it yet.

It was announced recently that there are plans to launch a pre-school animation series about the Doctor on CBeebies. The BBC said that the Doctor Who spin-off for a younger audience will “run independently” from the main show.

There’s been speculation about the project, with a thread on Reddit last week naming actors who could voice the Doctor. It claimed that the broadcaster’s shortlist includes Justin Fletcher, Richard E. Grant and Denise Welch.

Denise, 67 – whose acting career has included roles on shows like Coronation Street and Waterloo Road – has since addressed the speculation. She reacted to being named in the thread in a post on Instagram this afternoon.

Alongside a photo showing part of the thread, she wrote in the post: “I definitely think this job should be mine.” Denise, who tagged Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies, 62, then used two thumbs up and the ‘flushed face’ emoji.

Although they don’t appear to have previously worked together, Denise and Russell are both patrons of the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. They both took on the role in 2019, joining Tracie Bennett, who became a patron in 2016.

Loose Women panelist Denise has appeared in numerous TV shows over the course of her career, including having played Natalie Barnes on Corrie. Her other credits include Waterloo Road, Benidorm and more recently Hollyoaks.

The BBC announced the CBeebies spin-off of Doctor Who on June 12. It shared that the animated show will see the Doctor travelling through time and space, solving mysteries and problems alongside companions and other friends.

In a statement issued at the time, Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s and Education, said: “Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor!” Patricia went on to describe the upcoming series as an “exciting opportunity”.

Patricia said: “This much-loved franchise entertains millions around the world, so it is only right that our younger audience get to experience the wonder and the magic of the Doctor in a brand new format. This is an extremely exciting opportunity, and we are looking forward to welcoming companies to pitch for this new project, as we continue our commitment and investment in the UK’s animation industry.”

The news comes just weeks after the latest series of Doctor Who concluded last month. The season finale, the Reality War, which aired on May 31, marked the departure of lead Ncuti Gatwa, who had played the Doctor since 2023.

At the end of the episode, viewers saw Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor regenerate – with Billie Piper then shown in his place – in a bid to save Poppy (played by Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps). In one reality, Poppy was the child of the Doctor and his companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu).

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