During Monday’s Loose Women, presenter Christine Lampard spoke about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move back to the UK with their two children after spending six years in America. Recently, the Duchess of Sussex shared a glimpse of their new lives on social media in a compilation of videos.
Christine highlighted that Meghan and Harry have been accused of hypocrisy in the past, having stated they wanted a private life and then giving snippets into their lives online.
The ITV star shared that the Duchess of Sussex has turned the comments off on the post as she asked the panel, “Is it time to let the couple live in peace?”
Kelly Brook commented, “I think when you have to turn the comments off, I think you know that she’s already expecting a backlash. There’s nothing in that video that I wouldn’t share on social media after a lovely weekend in the countryside.”
Meanwhile, panellist Coleen Nolan didn’t hold back on sharing her thoughts as she remarked that people need to leave them alone. She said: “For me, your question on whether we should just leave them alone and let them enjoy life, from my point of view, yes, absolutely.
“For people that are out there constantly criticising, constantly sla****g off, don’t follow it, don’t look at it, block it. Get it off your timeline. If you don’t want to see them, don’t see them, but there are equally people who will love seeing that.”
The ITV star shared she thought it was nice to see and has ‘no issue’ with Harry and Meghan. She added that while there’s an argument to be had about people putting themselves out there, it doesn’t give people the right to slam anybody.
She added: “There are things that I don’t like on social media, I will unfollow it or I’ll block it, or I’ll have my say about someone or something, but it will be to my family around the kitchen table, I wouldn’t dream of doing that on social media.
“So, it really, really offends me, and certainly, they’ve had their fair share. Some say, ‘they deserve it’. Maybe they do, but have that conversation privately. They’ve got people out there that love them, family and all of that, I just think it’s awful, just leave them alone.”
In the sweet video shared online, people got to see their children, Archie and Lilibet, chasing a flock of deer in the countryside.
Another snippet showed the couple holding hands, whilst one clip showed Harry teaching his children how to catch a fish, and another showed Lilibet sitting by a roaring fire.
Loose Women is available to watch on ITV weekdays from 12:30pm.
The competition series fronted by Gary Lineker took an uncomfortable turn as lies told by one of the cast finally came to light
The Box stars were left unimpressed after one of their fellow contestants came clean about some ‘white lies’(Image: ITV)
ITV’s The Box cast were stunned after learning their co-star had lied to them.
The star-studded competition series sees celebrities taken to a series of locations where they are then given a challenging task to complete. As per ITV’s synopsis: “Plunged into the unknown while enclosed in a box, 10 celebrities emerge in mystery locations to face their fears in tricky challenges.”
While the line-up initially featured 10 famous faces, that has now been whittled down to just eight at the start of the third episode, which aired this evening (September 12). Remaining in the contest was YouTuber Danny Aarons; comedian Ellie Taylor; reality star Joey Essex; JLS star JB Gill; The Chase’s Jenny Ryan; former politician John Bercow; presenter Ranvir Singh and Love Island star Shakira Khan.
The opening challenge saw the cast thrust into a debate at the prestigious Oxford Union in front of a packed audience. Their debating partner was a fellow celebrity, with reality stars Joey and Shakira going head-to-head in an argument over whether cats or dogs made the better pet.
Just before the start of their debate, Shakira revealed that not only had she been Head Girl at her school, but that she had also been “head of the debate club”, leaving the audience erupting into gasps and Joey immediately doubting his chances at a win.
“I’ve no chance, have I?” he said, before show host Gary Lineker revealed that Joey had to argue for cats being better pets, while Shakira was assigned the counter-argument during which she claimed a scar on her face had been at the hands of a cat.
Despite his passion for the subject matter, Shakira was ultimately crowned the winner of their debate by the watching audience. However, when Gary brought the cast together later on, it emerged Shakira had not been entirely honest.
“Shakira, as head of the school debating society how relieved were you not to lose to Joey Essex?” Gary asked, prompting a sheepish admission from the Love Island star.
“That was actually a fib Gary,” she started, as a stunned Gary replied: “It was a fib was it? I didn’t think you had that in you.”
“The scar from my chin is also not from a cat,” Shakira added, leaving her co-stars open-mouthed. “So a few white lies don’t hurt in politics.”
Following the admission, her co-star Aaron fumed: “Shakira has shown her true colours today. She lied to the audience and I think that shows a snake.”
The Box continues tomorrow night at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Episodes 3 and 4 are also available to stream now on ITVX.
NHS GP Dr Amir Khan says a common method for dealing with nosebleeds is not correct
Dr Amir Khan has explained how a common method for treating nosebleeds is not right(Image: No Appointment Necessary)
Dr Amir Khan has offered guidance on how to properly treat a nosebleed, revealing that many people have been receiving incorrect advice. The well-known TV doctor and NHS GP, recognised for his regular slots on ITV’s This Morning and Lorraine, discussed the matter with his followers on the latest instalment of his podcast, No Appointment Necessary.
His explanation may come as a surprise to some who have been instructed to do something entirely different when dealing with a nosebleed. Co-host Cherry Healey appeared to be among them, as she questioned him about the advice people have given her for managing a nosebleed.
She said: “You know when someone gets a nosebleed, they always get told to put their head back. It’s so awful when you get a nosebleed and someone tells you that because it’s what you don’t want to do. Is that true?”
The doctor responded: “No. It used to be that, but it’s not head back. It’s head forward. Yeah, because if you go back, you could swallow the blood and then cause all sorts of issues.”
He then outlined what you should do instead, saying: “First of all, you want to pinch the soft bit of your nose just underneath the bone. I’m talking like this now because I’m doing it. So pinch that bit as tight, as tight as you can and then lean forward.
“So head between your knees or lean as far forward as you can for, you’ve guessed it, 15 minutes. 15 to 20 minutes is when anything is bleeding.
“That’s how long you need to put pressure on it.” Cherry then replied: “Because that’s how long it takes to clot.”
His advice is important because many people have been given incorrect advice. McGill University in Canada says the tilt-the-head-back method is a ‘common misconception’.
Its website states: “First aid standards have changed throughout the years, making it difficult to keep up with the right practice. Tilting your head backwards is common misconception. Currently, Red Cross standards and most clinicians inform us to sit neutral, tilt head slightly forward, pinch the bridge of the nose, and wait for 10-15 minutes.”
NHS advice on what to do if you have a nosebleed
The NHS website advises that if you experience a nosebleed, you should sit down and lean forward, with your head tilted forward and your mouth open; pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes; and breathe through your mouth. It adds: “Holding an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the top of the nose may help reduce the blood flow. But the evidence to show it works is not very strong.”
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It also provides guidance on what to do for the 24 hours following a nosebleed. To reduce the likelihood of another nosebleed, for 24 hours afterwards, it recommends you should try not to pick your nose, blow it, or pick any scabs.
It also suggests avoiding lying down flat, doing any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise, or consuming hot drinks or alcohol.
Dr Amir Khan tells patients what not to say in his practice
The doctor’s guidance comes a day after he shared with Instagram followers a list of things he does not want to hear from his patients. The reassuring post, which we reported about on Friday, stated people should not apologise for their weight, their toenails, or their hairy legs.
He said: “Please, you’re having a medical examination, I am not bothered about anything else. “He also said people should not apologise if they feel the need to cry, or if they cannot remember the name of their tablets. And he said: “Please don’t say things like I’m sorry to waste your time.
“If something is worrying you enough that you’ve come to make an appointment to come and see me, that’s what I’m here for.” He concluded by noting: “The only thing that I care about is that you feel able to tell me what’s really going on.
“Because the thing you might be embarrassed about might actually be really important, and I can’t help something you feel ashamed to tell me. So, come as you are, cry if you need to, don’t shave anything on my account, and please stop apologising for just being a patient. You’re not an inconvenience, you’re literally the reason why I’m here.”
Find episodes of the podcast on YouTube, Apple or other platforms.
The victory marks one of the biggest wins in the show’s 17-year history, leaving host Bradley Walsh beaming
Bradley congratulated the team following a huge win on The Chase (Image: ITV)
The Chase has delivered one of its most unforgettable episodes, with four contestants securing a jaw-dropping prize.
Earlier this week, The Chase returned to ITV with a brand-new series, with returning host Bradley Walsh at the helm, and it was Friday’s episode (September 11) that left viewers on the edge of their seats.
Paul, a seasoned quizzer with a background as both a doctor and comedian, gave the game his all but fell short in the final moments.
The contestants began with a 19-point lead after correctly answering a broad range of questions, including naming Laurel and Hardy as the subjects of the film Stan & Ollie, and identifying “running” as the sport associated with the Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers.
Paul was tasked with answering more than 19 questions in two minutes, with the team successfully gaining four out of five pushbacks. The Chaser was eliminated after answering 16 questions before the timer ran out.
As the buzzer sounded, Tom, Beth, Rohit, and Chloe were declared the winners of the £80,000 pot, with each contestant walking away with £20,000.
The team hugged one another as one player could be heard saying, “I can’t believe it,” as Bradley congratulated them. “Well played, £20,000 each, congratulations”, the host added.
Chloe shared her wishes to spend her winnings on equipment for dogs at her local park, while Beth wants to share her cash with her grandparents on “lots of trips”.
Other huge wins on The Chase
Tom, Beth, Rohit, and Chloe’s win now stands as one of the largest in the show’s history. Last year, contestants Karen and Ian won an equal split of £100,000 after Paul failed to catch the players in the final chase.
The Chase saw another record-breaking moment when three contestants split £120,000, each taking home £40,000 after defeating Mark Labbett, also known as The Beast.
In 2018, another memorable wins, including a £100,000 victory in 2018 shared by a team of four consisting of Gayna, Tim, Luca, and Diane.
Meanwhile, Eden, a 20-year-old contestant, holds the record for the largest single-player win, having taken home £75,000 in 2021.
ITV is set to broadcast a 24-hour live stream from the Big Brother house ahead of the new series
Big Brother is returning to our screens in just a few days(Image: Vianney Le Caer/Shutterstock for Big Brother)
Big Brother fans have been begging ITV to resurrect the show’s beloved round-the-clock live stream.
It appears show bosses have finally listened, but there’s a brutal catch that has left viewers fuming. Rather than giving fans unfiltered access to watch the Housemates in their new home, ITV is handing the keys over to content creator crew The Bov Boys.
The social media influencers will occupy the property for a full 24 hours before this year’s contestants walk through the door. The broadcaster confirmed the twist on Thursday (September 10), revealing that the Manchester lads will move in on Saturday (September 12) as producers apply the finishing touches ahead of Sunday’s official series launch.
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The stream will run continuously on Twitch and YouTube, giving viewers a preview of the brand-new house. The official synopsis promises plenty of entertainment, teasing: “Viewers can watch the takeover unfold live for the full 24 hours, with the action streaming continuously across Twitch and YouTube.
“From the moment they arrive until they’re finally sent packing, viewers will have an exclusive, around-the-clock look at all the drama, antics and action inside the House.”
ITV viewers will no doubt recognise The Bov Boys member Angry Ginge, real name Morgan Burtwistle, following his triumphant appearance on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! just last year. The rest of the crew consists of Tays, Jakey Davies, Heinz Baines and Chazza.
However, Heinz Baines will not be taking part in the stream due to a “family commitment,” reports OK! The popular social media group won’t be the only influencers getting a sneak peek at the iconic house, they have also extended invitations to fellow creators Adeola Patronne, Mariam Musa, Shauna Games, Scouse Mali and Pieface.
The announcement has been greeted with some excitement, with one Instagram fan gushing: “This feels like Christmas came early,” and a second agreeing: “THIS IS INCREDIBLE! “Let’s go lads this is huge”
Someone else raved: “OMG my 2 favourites together can’t wait BIG BROTHER BOV HOUSE.” However, other viewers have labelled the twist a “slap in the face”, given that fans have been pleading with producers to bring back the show’s much-loved 24-hour live stream feeds of the actual Housemates.
A furious fan posted: “Load of c**p. You can’t give us live feed for the main series but will stream the dry run,” with a second adding: “Sorry but are you actually trying to annoy your fans @bbuk?! You’ll do a 24/7 live stream for a bunch of randoms testing the house, but won’t do any live stream at all for the actual show?!”
Yet another viewer critiqued: “I find it really wild that the Big Brother producers promote a pre-series live stream with content creators going in, but can’t invest in a consistent series long live stream. It’s really sad. #BBUK.”
Big Brother x Bov Boys 24-Hour Takeover will be a live co-stream on The Bov Boys’ individual Twitch accounts, plus a live stream on BBUK and ITV YouTube accounts from Saturday 12th September at 12pm.
The series launches on Sunday (September 13) at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
A man from London was determined to find his sister, following the death of their mother
Michael was searching for his sister on Long Lost Family(Image: ITV)
A brother and sister have finally been reunited after they both applied to appear on the ITV show.
The latest episode of Long Lost Family, which aired on Thursday (September 10), followed Michael, 56, who was trying to find his older sister, whom he had never met. The retail worker from South East London was determined to fulfill his mother’s dying wish to track down his sister, who had been given up for adoption as a baby.
Mary had been in a Catholic mother and baby home when she took care of her daughter, Angela, for three months before she was placed for adoption. But Michael explained that his mother didn’t think she had a choice.
Their mother, Mary, died of cancer eight years ago at the age of 74, and she had asked Michael to find his sister, Angela, for her. “She said, could you please try and find Angela for me please?” Michael shared. Ever since then, he has been desperate to find her.
Two years ago, in an attempt to find his sister, Michael took a DNA test and got a match with a woman named Gemma. The DNA report suggested that she was his half-sister. He assumed that Gemma was Angela’s new adoptive name and messaged her, however, he never received a reply.
“It’s made me happy, but in another way, it’s made me sad because obviously she’s been looking. It makes me think, why is she not on here, she’s given up. I’m so close now,” he said.
Michael went on: “I’m so close. And it’s like just a brick wall is just there. But I want to knock this brick wall down, but it’s very difficult.” In a twist, the Long Lost Family team discovered that Gemma, who had been named Angela at birth, had also contacted the show in the past to find her biological family.
Gemma was told about her mother’s death off-screen before host Nicky Campbell informed her that she had a brother, and passed on an emotional message. “Your brother, Michael, wanted to tell you that she didn’t want to give you up for adoption. She thought about you every day. She always, always loved you, and she wanted to tell you that. She wanted to see you and tell you that”, Nicky told Gemma.
Later in the episode, Davina McCall informed Michael of the wonderful news that Gemma had been found. This left him feeling incredibly emotional to hear that his sister wanted to have contact with him.
Davina explained: “She has been looking for 30 years. She was really sad to hear that your mum had died, but she was so grateful that someone was looking for her. She applied for Long Lost Family, so it’s incredible.”
Michael couldn’t wait to meet her but wistfully said, “I just wish my mum was here. 30 years? Oh god, if only I had knew.” Gemma traveled from Manchester to London to meet her brother, and when they came face-to-face, they could not stop crying. “This has been the best day of my life. It’s like a dream come true, I finally met my sister,” Michael added.
The ITV show returned to screens this week following a lengthy break due to the changes made by the broadcaster this year.
Kaye Adams announced the show was going to take another break(Image: ITV)
Loose Women has been replaced in another schedule shake-up.
On Monday, the Loose Women panel members were thrilled when they returned to the ITV show after a lengthy break, due to the show being cut to 30 weeks of the year.
Presenter Ruth Langsford told viewers they were happy to be back, adding that they had ‘missed’ the show. However, after three days back, Loose Women has had another schedule change.
At the end of Wednesday’s show, Kaye Adams explained they weren’t going to be on for the rest of the week. She commented: “That is it for today and this week, we are off tomorrow and Friday for the racing.”
Although she told viewers that when the show returns, they’ll be joined by some familiar faces. Kaye continued: “We are back to normal, whatever that is, next week with two guest panellists joining us.
“Dragons’ Den star Emma Grede and Corrie’s Maria, Samia Longchambon. They’ll be here on the panel, we’ll see you at 12:30 on Monday.”
The show is taking a two-day hiatus as ITV covers the racing live from Doncaster, when viewers will see Ed Chamberlin and Francesca Cumani present coverage.
Before September, Loose Women was last on-air back in July as the presenters confirmed their lengthy break at the time, as Kaye told their fans: “We’re done for the summer.”
It comes after the Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, Kevin Lygo, confirmed the broadcaster will see major changes in 2026 to its daytime scheduling.
Lorraine Kelly’s programme was cut back to 30 minutes as opposed to a full hour, and was also reduced to airing for 30 weeks on a seasonal schedule, similar to Loose Women.
During the weeks Lorraine isn’t on, fans have seen Good Morning Britain extended for an extra 30 minutes.
Speaking about the changes at the time, Kevin commented: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savingswhich will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.
“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”
The National Television Awards are back for 2026 and every year, the biggest TV talent takes on one another to win the top prizes in the coveted categories
20:15, 08 Sep 2026Updated 20:44, 08 Sep 2026
Clarkson’s Farm won Reality Docuseries (Image: Getty Images for The NTA’s)
The big award ceremony is back, with Joel Dommett hosting for a sixth year in a row. Every year, he rubs shoulders with national treasures, such as Ian McKellen, and ahead of the ceremony, he told The Mirror that “just to be part of that is really cool”.
“There was a moment where I was still on stage with Ian McKellen for seven minutes, watching the VTs,” he told us, “I was just panting, because I was running around before, but then I was watching the VTs with Ian, who was presenting an award next. We had a nice little chat and I loved that moment because he’s someone you would never meet in real life.”
The NTAs are also celebrating their first all-female drama performance shortlist – with Gavin And Stacey star Ruth Jones to compete with Ella Bruccoleri, Judy Parfitt, Sheridan Smith and Vicky McClure for the prize.
This Morning viewers were less than impressed with the discussion of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the ITV show.
12:21, 08 Sep 2026Updated 12:21, 08 Sep 2026
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to return to the UK soon(Image: Getty Images)
After six years in America, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK.
As the pair left to live Stateside, they also officially relinquished their senior working royal duties. However, despite their anticipated return, their non-working royal status will remain.
Speaking about the recent revelation on This Morning, ITV presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley discussed the matter with Ashley James and Nick Ferrai.
The 39-year-old shared that despite what people think of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they were a ‘huge asset’ to the royal family due to their global reach, reports the Express.
Ashley went on to say it’s ‘a shame’ that the situation can’t be dealt with privately, sharing that Harry is a royal, albeit officially or unofficially.
The ITV personality pointed out that, regardless of their non-working status, Harry and his children would still require security protection due to ongoing credible threats against them.
Airing her hopes that, going forward, they could ‘come together’, Ashley stated that, personally, she thinks the monarchy would be ‘so much stronger’ with Harry and Meghan.
However, viewers watching shared their thoughts on the discussion, with opinions very mixed. While one person said they were ‘sick of hearing’ about the royals each time they turned on the TV, someone else stated the ITV show should ‘Leave them alone’.
According to reports, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan shared that they were ‘surprised’ by King Charles‘ letter, making clear that the couple will remain “private citizens” rather than working royals when they return.
It’s believed that the letter, which was issued on behalf of the King, was sent to over 100 “senior stakeholders” this week.
It stated that Harry and Meghan should not use their HRH styles and “do not represent the sovereign” when they’re out making public appearances.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess said: “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” adding that the publication of the letter had caught Harry and Meghan off guard.
Michelle Keegan has shared a rare snap of her daughter, PalmaCredit: Instagram/michkeeganMichelle recently dropped out of a new ITV drama that’s set to begin filming in NovemberCredit: Getty
The 39-year-old leftITVbosses baffled by her decision to turn her back on the lead role in a big budget production, focusing on a working-class barrister.
DJ Mark Wright and actress Michelle Keegan married in 2015Credit: GettyThe 39-year-old withdrew from the new drama as she wanted to ‘focus on her family’Credit: Getty
Sources said it was “a huge blow” as she had committed to the drama a few months ago and a filming start date had been decided.
Michelle, who decided not to go ahead with the series written bySherlockwriter Steve Thompson, has said she wanted to focus on family life.
A source said: “Michelle was really keen to take on the meaty role, but the heavy filming schedule would take her away from daughter Palma for too long.
“The hours were quite intense and the project was starting straight after her Netflix drama The Woods and she just couldn’t commit.
“She is dedicated to her acting career, but like all working mums has to prioritise being there for her family, juggling work, parenting and being present for Palma.”
Mark and Michelle, who married in 2015, live in a £3.5million mansion near his family in Essex.
The contestants included Victor, 50, a photographer from Great Yarmouth, Sadie, 26, a pharmacy assistant from Stockport, James, 41, a copywriter from Coventry, and Amy, 38, a barrister originally from Hereford.
As part of the show, the Cash Builder round saw Victor earn £7,000 and he managed to beat Chaser, Anne Hegerty, bringing the money back to his team.
Next up it was Sadie, who revealed she had previously got to the semi-final of Mastermind last year. Sadie had an incredible Cash Builder round, where she secured £9,000.
However, Sadie unfortunately didn’t manage to beat Anne, 68, and was subsequently eliminated. Host Bradley, 66, said: “Wow, gutted! You are seriously a good player and that is a big loss for the team, seat number two.
“Sadie, so sorry to see you go, good luck with the Lego, however, you have been caught and The Chase is over!”, adding she was a “massive loss” to the team.
Anne also said that Sadie was “very, very good” and admitted she had done herself a “huge favour” by eliminating her on the show.
Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were gutted to see Sadie go after an incredible Cash Builder round and complained that her questions seemed particularly hard.
One person said: “Sadie was robbed. #thechase”, a different account put: “Ahhhhh Sadie what a shaaame #TheChase” while another viewer added: “Tough questions Sadie #thechase”.
Elsewhere, a different viewer wrote: “Aww those questions were mean #thechase”, another wrote: “Tough questions to be fair #TheChase” while a different show watcher added: “Unlucky with those questions #thechase.”
Meanwhile, another fan wrote: “Wow. £9K is actually very good, Sadie. #TheChase” to which a different viewer added: “Sadie, good player. #thechase.”
However, it was bad news for the rest of the players too as later on the show, they were caught by Anne with just six seconds remaining.
The Chase continues on weeknights at 5pm on ITV and ITV X.
EXCLUSIVE: There were arguments aplenty and several walkouts – but Jackie Bassett and Peter Davies say they’d still do it all over again, given the choice
00:09, 07 Sep 2026Updated 07:30, 07 Sep 2026
The final emotional episodes go back over the lives of all of the contributors, since 1964(Image: Nick Wall)
In 1964, 14 children aged seven were plucked from obscurity to take part in the TV experiment Seven Up!, which would follow them every seven years to see how their different starts in life would affect them.
The nation has long been fascinated by these kids, who have now (mostly) reached the grand age of 70. Two of them have died, along with the show’s long-term director Michael Apted, who went on to have a career making films in Hollywood.
Two of the most outspoken were Jackie Bassett and Peter Davies – and both say that, despite everything they didn’t like over the decades, they’d do it all again.
Left-wing Peter, from Liverpool, was working as a teacher at a comprehensive in 1984 when 28 Up aired. He was vilified by the right-wing press for calling the Thatcher government “the most incompetent, uncaring bloody shower we’ve ever had” and pulled out for many years after that, not returning until 56 Up, when he realised it was a good way to promote the music he was releasing.
“I think for a long time I felt cynical about the programme and the way in which individual stories were shaped,” he says now. “I’m thinking particularly back to when I did 28 Up – I think one of the headlines was, ‘Would you let this man teach your children?’
“At the time I was quite shocked because I’d never experienced anything like that – the sheer level of vitriol involved in some of the comments. I was quite taken aback.”
He held Michael partly responsible for the way in which he was portrayed. “I actually spoke to Michael and said, ‘You know, you’ve really condensed me there almost to a caricature – the angry young man from the North of England.’”
But “on balance” he’d still do it all again, because of how it turned out. “It’s not a decision I’d have taken lightly because there has been a downside as well.” This downside, in turns out, is the fame that the show has inevitably brought the participants. “I’ve found that intrusion difficult at times,” he admits.
Jackie has now left Scotland, where she brought up her three sons, and moved to the Norfolk coast. “I love my children, I love my grandchildren, but it was time for me to have a life and that’s what I’m doing now,” she declares. “It only took me 65 years to get there, but I’m finally pleasing myself.” She agrees that sometimes the public’s reaction to the show can feel a bit much. “The thing is, they see you for 15 minutes on that screen and suddenly believe they know everything about you. And that’s ridiculous, as most normal people would understand.”
Peter feels the show’s aim of showing the class system evolved into “something much bigger” but still didn’t explore certain areas enough. “I think something they missed was the emergence of a new lower middle class perhaps – people like myself whose parents were working class, but who were able, by virtue of a properly resourced welfare state and state education system, to move out of that background, go to university, change our lives.”
Prior to film-maker Michael’s death in 2021, Jackie enjoyed sometimes putting him in his place, famously challenging him on camera in 2005 for asking the women about marriage and children rather than anything else.
Later, she would point blank refuse to speak about certain topics. “He never saw us, never had contact with us. So he’d come back from America to do a film with me, or Peter, or whoever, and he just sat down and started throwing questions at you. And sometimes he didn’t like the fact that we didn’t want to answer them. I was not going to talk about something that would affect my family, my children – so I basically just told him no. He didn’t like it, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.”
That said, she also had warm feelings for him, and knew he gave her opportunities she wouldn’t otherwise have had. “I probably would do it all over again yes,” she confesses. “Because Michael opened up a whole different world to me with the screenings of his films and things like that. Obviously there’s points on the programme that I’ve not enjoyed, usually because I sort of opened my mouth without engaging my brain, but I think I would do it.”
She thinks it was outrageous to only have four girls alongside ten boys – comprised of herself and two friends Lynn and Sue, all from the same primary school in working class East London, along with solo upper-class Suzy, who liked ballet and thought she’d probably hire a nanny one day.
“The quote wasn’t ‘show me the boy and I’ll give you the man,’ it just says ‘give me the child at seven’,” Jackie points out. “I think it was partly because at that time women were mostly at home looking after children. Women didn’t have careers – you may have had one or two, but they were few and far between. It was just, ‘well, we’ll keep it to a minimum because they’re not going to go very far and they’re not going to do very much.’ But they knew they made a mistake. They really did.”
Peter says Michael actually admitted he’d got that wrong. “It was outrageously sexist, but this was the early 60s and people behaved in outrageously sexist ways all the time.”
They have not yet seen the final films and know that watching themselves for a final time is going to feel emotional. “I’ve been told to take plenty of tissues. I have no idea what to expect, and it’s probably going to feel strange,” Jackie says. Peter believes it will be “momentous”, reasoning: “It’s just the culmination of so much, isn’t it?”
The pair of them enormously enjoyed making the double-bill 70Up finale, with new director Asif Kapadia. “I think it had become a little formulaic,” Peter says. “So having someone new on board was going to shake things up a bit. And I think he did. Some of the questions he asked were difficult to answer, but they were interesting and made me work a bit harder.”
Jackie concurs. “I’ll second that. I think it had got very staid and in its box, and Asif came in like a breath of fresh air. It was far more relaxed, nowhere near as formal. I think it actually should have worked pretty well, fingers crossed.”
They feel that now is the right time to pull the plug. “The last thing we want is us all walking in with Zimmer frames or in wheelchairs or whatever age does to us. I think it’s very appropriate to end on 70,” Jackie says., laughing: “I have no idea why it fascinates people, not really.”
“It can’t go on forever,” Peter agrees. “Two of the cast members have gone, Michael’s gone. So yeah, this feels like the right time to end it.”
Seven Up! launched in 1964 with 14 participants – 10 boys and four girls – picked to represent different elements of the UK’s class structure. They are:
Andrew Brackfield – Upper class schoolboy who read the Financial Times aged 7, went to Oxford and became a solicitor
Bruce Balden – Schoolteacher who attended a prestigious boarding school and wanted to be a missionary
Charles Furneaux – Kensington prep school boy who became a documentary producer and left after 21 Up, returns this time – but only in audio
Jackie Bassett – Working class schoolgirl from East London who moved to Scotland and had three sons
John Brisby – Upper class schoolboy whose father died when he was nine, he became a barrister and is angry over his portrayal
Lynn Johnson – Jackie and Sue’s friend Lynn died from a brain condition in 2013. She thought she would work in Woolworths but was a children’s librarian
Nick Hitchon – Yorkshire farm boy who became a nuclear scientist and moved to the US in 1982. He is featured despite his death, from throat cancer, in 2023
Paul Kligerman – A carehome resident who moved to Australia and settled in to family life
Peter Davies – A middle-class lawyer and musician from Liverpool who dropped out after 28 Up but returned for 56 Up
Neil Hughes – Peter’s classmate, wanted to be an astronaut but became a local politician and preacher and has experienced homelessness
Sue Davis – Jackie’s schoolfriend who was a single mum in 42 Up and became a university administrator who has remarried
Suzy Lusk– Upper class schoolgirl who dropped out of education at 16 and later became a bereavement counsellor
Symon Basterfield – Brought up in a Barnardo’s children’s home, he has fostered more than 120 children.
Tony Walker – Working class “cheeky chappie” from Essex who dreamed of being a jockey but became a London cabbie.
– 70 Up: The Final Chapter, 15 & 22 September, 9pm, ITV and ITVX
A second celebrity has been eliminated from ITV’s The Box, after losing a duel on Gary Lineker’s new celebrity game show.
Another contestant has been eliminated from The Box (Image: ITV)
A contestant on The Box has spoken out after their exit from the gameshow, as they became the second star to be eliminated.
The ITV series, which premiered on Saturday (September 5), sees 10 celebrities take part in a variety of challenges. Fronted by former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, the cast includes Danny Aarons, Ranvir Singh, Joey Essex, Ellie Taylor, JB Gill, Jenny Ryan, John Bercow, Sara Davies and Shakira Khan. During Saturday night’s debut episode, Graeme Souness became the first star to be eliminated, and now a second celebrity has been sent packing.
After losing out on The Duel, a head-to-head game after the main challenge, Sara Davies was confirmed to be going home. She shared how much she enjoyed her experience, adding that she was “dead proud” of putting herself through challenges, reports the Express.
She went on: “Where I’ve played this wrong is, I’ve shown my true colours a little bit. They’ve seen that actually, she’s playing this to win. And I think that’s what’s been my downfall.”
Sara continued by saying how much she’d enjoyed her time taking part in the show, adding: “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” Each episode of the show sees a celebrity get enclosed in a yellow box, before finding themselves in mystery locations across the country.
“They will never know where they are, or what challenge is facing them on the other side. The challenges could be physical, mental, logical, funny, a bit daunting, or all of those at once,” the synopsis adds. “With minimal or no instruction, they must decipher and work out what to do. At the end of each episode, two players will battle it out in The Duel, a high-stakes head-to-head game to avoid elimination.”
Just a day earlier, when The Box premiered, Sara shared a message about filming the programme on social media. She shared: “So around this time last year, I was asked to take part in a brand new and totally different show for ITV called ‘The Box’.
“I received a phone call asking if I would take part and, because the show had never been made before, I didn’t really fully understand what I was letting myself in for. I just knew I was going to be put into a big yellow shipping container, transported SOMEWHERE, and then I’d have to work out what the hell was going on and what I needed to do about it the split second the box doors opened!
“What they did promise was that it would be a challenge, it would be unexpected, I’d be pushed well out of my comfort zone, and I’d have to challenge myself in ways I could never have imagined. Well, they weren’t wrong and I can’t wait to hear what you all think of it!”
She went on to say that unfortunately she’d be missing the show airing as she was walking the Great Wall of China with breast cancer charity CoppaFeel, but she wanted to share the “truly memorable experience” with her followers with some behind-the-scenes pictures.
Sara was widely supported from fans after her post, with one writing: “Love this can’t wait to watch.” Another said: “Just watched 1 and 2 episodes big love from another Northern Gal.” Someone else wrote: “I’m watching the second episode now and it’s brill xx.”
Sara’s exit from The Box comes after she quit Dragons’ Den last year. She had become the youngest ever female Dragon when she joined in 2019.
She shared at the time: “Little update from me… As this last run of Dragons’ comes to an end I have to say l’ve loved every minute of this series so far and I’m so proud of the businesses l’ve invested in this year!
“As a lot of you will know, l’ve taken up my position again as CEO of Crafter’s Companion and my business is my big priority this year. And when I commit to a business, I really commit, which is why I find Dragons’ Den such a rewarding role.
“As well as filming an incredible show, being a Dragon requires so much dedication and time behind the scenes as you join the life of each business you invest in. It means seeing through your investment and committing to your part in that organisation. It’s so much more than a TV show.
“That’s why l’ve taken the decision to step away from the Den for now, to focus on my own business, which was my first baby! So I won’t be filming with the team this year for the next series.
“Sending so much love to my fellow Dragons and the amazing team behind it all. In the meantime, you can still catch me in the second half of this series of Dragons’ Den later in the year – it will not disappoint!”
Michelle Keegan has reportedly quit a drama just weeks before she was set to begin filming and now a former Doctor Who star has is said to have taken over the role
22:32, 05 Sep 2026Updated 22:44, 05 Sep 2026
Michelle Keegan is said to have quit her ‘meaty’ role in a new drama just weeks before she was set to begin filming (Image: Getty Images for L’Oreal)
The actress, 39, is said to have been gearing to take on the part of a working class barrister in a new series that has been penned by Sherlock creator Steve Thompson, with cameras set to roll from November.
But it’s now thought that Michelle, who has to Palma, 18 months, with husband Mark Wright, has pulled out of the project in what is being called a “huge blow” for the production.
A source said: “Michelle was really keen to take on the meaty role, but the heavy filming schedule would take her away from daughter Palma for too long.
According to reports, former Doctor Who actress Jodie Whittaker has been drafted into the role instead but fans of Michelle will soon be able to see her in in Netflix drama The Woods, which is based on the Harlan Coben thriller of the same name.
Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “The hours were quite intense and the project was starting straight after her Netflix drama The Woods and she just couldn’t commit. She is dedicated to her acting career, but like all working mums has to prioritise being there for her family, juggling work, parenting and being present for Palma.”
Michelle shot to fame when in 2008 when she was cast as Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street, and stayed with the soap for seven years before making a permanent exit when the much-loved Rovers barmaid was killed off as part of a whodunnit plot. Since then, she has Michelle has become one of the most famous actresses in Britain, starring in top-rated programmes like Brassic and Ten Pound Poms.
Michelle previously starred in Fool Me Once for Netflix, which was based on Coben’s 2016 thriller, but this time round, she will play Lucy Silverfield, who helps her former partner, played by Tom Bateman. In
When the latest adaptation of The Woods was first announced, Coben said in a statement: “The Woods is a haunting and very personal story. It has everything you expect from us – twisty, turning, gasp-inducing – but at the core is a story of old love and yearning.
“Working with a cast led by Tom Bateman, Michelle Keegan, Mandeep Dhillon, Pearce Quigley, James Buckley, Tom Allen – it’s an embarrassment of riches.”
Penned by Danny Brocklehurst, the upcoming eight-part thriller begins with a mysterious disappearance 20 years ago that leaves a family devastated.
When new evidence comes to light that convinces barrister Paul ‘Cope’ Copeland (played by Bateman) his missing sister could be alive after all, he begins a relentless investigation to unearth the truth.
The Mirror has contacted Michelle’s representatives for comment
A contestant on The Voice UK shared the inspirational support he’d received behind the scenes.
The Voice UK star was left emotional (Image: ITV)
A coach on The Voice UK was left in tears moments before Saturday’s episode came to an end.
The ITV competition has returned, with Kelly Rowland joining will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and duo Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones. During the third round of the blind auditions on Saturday (September 5), viewers saw a show-first, as a Scottish singer made history, becoming the first contestant to be given the Rewind. ITV had earlier teased the game-changing format, saying: “If a coach realises they have made a mistake, they can hit Rewind, bring the act back, and offer them a place on their team.
“However, with only one Rewind available to each coach, they must choose their moment wisely. For an act who thought their journey was over, it could change everything…”
Elsewhere during the show, an emotional final audition left Kelly wiping back tears. 24-year-old Aaren was the last performer that day, hoping to impress the coaches.
Before taking to the stage, the ambulance care assistant, from Warrington, opened up about the support he’d received behind-the-scenes. He shared: “I live with my nan, she means the absolute world to me, she’s like a second mum.”
He went on to reveal that his nan had been diagnosed with breast cancer, adding: “There was a level of uncertainty there, whether we would have to say goodbye, when that would be, so I moved over to look after her.”
Aaren’s nan went on to praise him as “such a lovely person, inside and out”. “This is all you’ve wanted to do,” she added, talking about his audition.
Aaren shared: “This is one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve done, and probably ever will do. But the amount of times my nan will say, I wish I’d have done this when I was younger. I don’t ever want to get older and have any regrets, I want to be able to say that I’ve tried.”
After his performance, both Kelly and Sir Tom turned around, hoping to win Aaren onto their team. Kelly shared: “I turned around because I love a male soulful voice, that wants to croon. Like nobody sings from their gut, heart and soul anymore… it’s a talent.”
As she heard about Aaren’s nan, she broke down in tears. She said: “That was sweet, to watch him love his grandmother like that, I love that.” She added: “You always want them to have this really sweet space for a woman who is a rock in their life.”
After the auditions came to an end, Kelly added: “Aaren had me moved to tears, he just makes me kind of putty. He’s so honest, he was a really special guy so I’m really excited.”
ITV are screening this war film based on one of the most significant battles of all time, with a huge historic figure at the centre of it all
ITV are screening this war film based on one of the most significant battles of all time tonight(Image: PA)
History was turned into a legendary piece of storytelling when this film made its way to the big screen in 1970, retelling the real life events of war and now its set to appear on TV’s tonight.
Regarded as one of the great original epic war films, this movie helps to maintain the legacy of the decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars, in the 1800s.
Waterloo is a sweeping historical movie which remains one of the most powerful entries in the genre, with acclaimed director Peter Jackson even crediting it as a key influence on his work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
It is a film that depicts the real-life Battle of Waterloo, focusing not solely on the conflict itself but also on the pivotal days leading up to the campaign, widely known as the Hundred Days.
It charts Napoleon Bonaparte’s downfall and his return from exile ahead of his crushing defeat at the 1815 battle. Following his comeback, the French military swiftly rallies to his cause, prompting alarmed European powers to forge a new coalition, and war inevitably follows.
Many have praised the film for its historical accuracy, with one viewer writing on Rotten Tomatoes that it is “the most accurate historical film ever”, which is enough to make history buffs want to watch it.
The grand-scale production was a joint venture between Italy and the Soviet Union, helmed by director Sergei Bondarchuk and featuring Rod Steiger in the role of the legendary Emperor Napoleon I.
Following a viewing of the film, one audience member posted a review on Rotten Tomatoes, saying: “This is a classic, and Rod Steiger is immense, making the new Napoleon movie look like an amateur nightmare.”
Another wrote: “remarkable film. One for the ages. A film like it will never be made again.”
It features a number of historical figures played by actors such as Jack Hawkins as General Sir Thomas Picton, Virginia McKenna as the Duchess of Richmond and Orson Welles as the famed Louis XVIII of France.
The film’s most striking element is undoubtedly the combat sequences, which deployed an astonishing 17,000 authentically costumed extras. The battle scenes were meticulously recreated to achieve maximum realism, using genuine numbers and eschewing special effects, establishing a record that remains unbroken for the largest number of costumed extras in any film.
This commitment helped secure multiple accolades, including two BAFTAs for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction. It’s the director’s unwavering dedication to crafting these teeming, lifelike scenes that continues to strike a chord with audiences.
One viewer wrote: “Easily one of the best movies ever made. Actual soldiers given a Napoleonic battle training playing the extras, one of the most historically accurate film ever made.
“It allows one to immerse oneself in the battle and provides excellent viewing. With brilliant casting this film remains one of my favourites of all time.”
Yet despite the film’s critical acclaim, it struggled to recoup the costs of these monumental scenes at the North American box office. Consequently, its disappointing financial performance triggered a significant industry-wide decline in backing for large-scale practical effects, driven by commercial anxieties.
You can catch the historical drama on ITV4 tonight at 7.40pm. Alternatively, the film is available to stream on ITVX at your convenience.
“It’s back to school for me on Monday. Loose Women is back on air and I’ve really missed it and can’t wait to see everyone,” she penned in her recent newsletter for the Mirror. “We’ll be missing two of our longest-serving Loose Women – Nadia and Denise – which I’m a bit devastated about.
“I love Nadia and she’ll be a big loss to the team. I’m so pleased for Denise, who left to focus on acting, which is her first love and she’s brilliant at it. At 66 she’s had a whole new lease of life and has never looked better.
“But it’ll be exciting to welcome new people in. One of the things I love most about the show is that it incorporates every age group, from women in their 20s to Gloria Hunniford, who’s 86. I think a show that offers that when women still have to battle ageism and having an opinion is something to be celebrated and cherished.”
Hitting back at scrutiny of a feud behind the scenes, she insisted: “I’m always reading stories about us not getting on, but it’s just not true – unless I’m missing something! I’ve never seen it and never felt it.
“So, thanks to those of you who’ve stuck by us through thick and thin for all these years, and hopefully we’ll be sticking around for years to come.”
There has been a shake-up on the panel in recent months, with Denise, 68, confirming her departure in a video in August, explaining that she would be focusing her attention on her acting career.
Nadia had been away from the show for a while before speaking out over her absence, telling the Mirror that she threatened legal action, claiming that ITV bullied her out of her job.
Discussing her exit, the 61-year-old previously said that she feared she was being targeted over speaking out for Palestinian rights.
It was recently claimed that singer Anastacia and entrepreneur Emma Grede – who recently stole the show on Dragons’ Den – were being lined up to join the panel, following the high-profile departures.
According to the Sun, they have been offered short two-month contracts with those behind the scenes hoping they will ‘bring in new perspectives’.
“If we are honest, Loose Women has become a bit of a train wreck. The past 12 months have seen scandal after scandal. Mix that with the cuts and it’s been a perfect storm,” a source told the Sun.
“ITV have offered both Emma and Anastacia contracts that will see them appear on the show as panellists. Both have been on as guests so they know the set up.”
The insider added: “Emma was a huge hit on Dragons’ Den and it’s hoped she would bring in a younger demographic to the show. Anastacia is a household name and brings in a new perspective and isn’t shy when it comes to speaking her mind.”
ITV bosses have wiped “uncomfortable” footage of Miriam Margolyes from the edition of This Morning that appears on its ITVX service.
Miriam Margolyes’ appearance on This Morning sparked huge backlash(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Miriam Margolyes has been met with a wave of fury after using a highly offensive term to describe Andi Peters’ skin colour during an ‘uncomfortable’ appearance on This Morning.
Viewers have branded the 85-year-old ‘disgraceful’ following her interview on the ITV show and bosses have scrubbed the remarks from the ITVX footage.
In the interview to promote her book, which aired on Thursday’s episode, she began dissecting Christine Lampard’s Northern Irish accent before turning her attention to her co-host.
“What accent would be normal for you? What are you?,” she asked the 56-year-old, leaving him baffled. The presenter responded: ”This is normal. What am I? I’m me!”
“You’re a mix, aren’t you? You’ve got a Black daddy and a white mummy,” she said. He explained that both of his parents are Black, jokingly questioning whether his make-up artist had used a “lighter shade than normal”.
“I think you’re high yella. That’s what they call it in America when someone isn’t deeply black,” she continued, with Andi quipping that he “didn’t even know there were shades”.
The presenter then pointed to his earpiece and revealed that bosses were intervening, explaining that they were “getting nervous”.
“There are shades and this is what we have to incorporate,” the Harry Potter actress added. “Don’t be nervous, we welcome everybody. That’s what I want to write about in my book, it’s about inclusion.”
The Merriam-Webster US dictionary defines the term – sometimes spelt high yaller – as a dated and often offensive piece of slang used to describe a black person with a light complexion.
ITV bosses have yet to issue a statement over the segment but the offensive footage has been removed from the episode on ITVX. However, the rest of her interview still remains.
Viewers were left reeling over the segment and quickly rushed to social media with one saying the term was “super racist” and many calling for further action to be taken.
One person wrote on social media: “That Miriam Margoyles clip is just about the cringiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like a scene out of The Office.” Another agreed: “I do not accept that it’s just her age or character. She uses words and phrases that are totally unacceptable. I hope #thismorning never brings her back on the show.”
One posted: “That Miriam Margolyes interview is the most uncomfortable thing to sit through what the hell was she thinking.”
Another said: “Just watched @thismorning interview from this morning Miriam Margolyes is disgrace what she said about Andi Peters is way out of line she should be banned from @ITV @SkyNews @BBCTheOneShow she was way out of order.” They added: “@andipeters i am standing with you [sic].”
The Mirror has approached ITV, This Morning, Andi and Miriam for a comment.
Long Lost Family is back with a new emotional episode on Thursday, where three brothers are reunited with a long-lost sister
Long Lost Family: Brother realises he’s already met his sister
A Long Lost Family guest makes an astonishing discovery on Thursday’s episode.
The emotional ITV series, hosted by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell, sees the hosts strive to reunite family members who have never met, including twins separated at birth and young mothers who had to give up their babies.
In an exclusive clip obtained by the Mirror of Thursday’s episode, it sees guest Marie looking for her birth father. Marie is a train conductor working for Greater Anglia railways. She lives in Norfolk where she has lived her whole life.
Marie grew up with her grandparents after her 17-year-old mother couldn’t look after her. She had a good childhood in a busy household as her grandparents had six children still living at home when they took on Marie.
The guest had some contact with her mother growing up but she was largely absent from her life. When Marie was 16, she wanted to know more about her birth father and confronted her mother. Marie recalls: “I just blurted it all out: ‘Where’s my dad?’, I wanted to know about my father!”
Marie was surprised to learn her birth father’s name and the fact he had visited her in hospital when she was born. In another shock, Marie discovered that her birth father had chosen her name. She admits: “That really touched me. Must have cared for me to do that.”
Over her life, Marie has often wondered about her birth father, wondering where he is and did he have more children, meaning she could have long-lost siblings. Marie emotional admits: “Even on the train, even at work, I’m constantly looking at people all the time wondering are they related to me.”
Sadly, Long Lost Family’s intermediaries are unable to find any trace of James in the UK but after uncovering his birth certificate they discover that before meeting Marie’s mother, James had been married and had three sons – Anthony, Paul and Ian.
The team manage to locate the brothers living in the same county as Marie, Norfolk. While Anthony wishes to meet Marie, he does not want to appear on camera, so Nicky goes to meet with Paul and Ian, who admit they didn’t really know their father or know where he is after years of trying to find him.
In an exclusive clip of the moment, it sees Nicky tell Paul and Ian about Marie, explaining that she works as a train conductor for Greater Anglia railways and lives in Norfolk too.
This discovery leaves the siblings floored especially as one of the brothers remarks: “I get the train to go to work in the mornings”, confirming it’s Greater Anglia railways. He adds: “So she could well be on that train taking my ticket, amazing.”
The brother is then shown a photograph of Marie, who he instantly recognises, as he exclaims: “Wow. I recognise her on the train. Yeah. Now I see the face, yeah. That’s amazing.”
He adds: “A couple of weeks ago, I actually had a slightly longer conversation with her. Yeah, talking about how they’re changing the timetables. I’ve always wanted to have a sister” to which Nicky sweetly replies: “Well you’ve got one and you never knew it!”
To which the guest admits: “No, 60 years I didn’t know. I live so close as well, all under our doorstep.”
The other sibling then reveals he recognises Marie from the train too, saying: “I think I may have done, I may have walked past, that’s uncanny! Looking forward to seeing her.”
Viewers will have to wait and see how Marie takes the news, and of course, the heartwarming and emotional reunion.
Long Lost Family returns at 9pm to ITV and ITVX on Thursday 3rd September
The star, who died aged 76, also presented the schools show Our World and pioneering deaf community shows Listening Eye and Insight.
17:25, 02 Sep 2026Updated 17:43, 02 Sep 2026
Peter Llewellyn-Jones was Mr Grimley in The Riddlers(Image: ITV)
One of the stars of Children’s ITV has died aged 76. Tributes are being paid to Peter Llewellyn-Jones, who played Mr Grimley in The Riddlers, which was a teatime fixture throughout the Nineties.
The Riddlers featured the adventures of Marjorie Dawe, played by Victoria Williams, her neighbour Montgomery Lancelot Grimley, played by Llewelyn-Jones, and two Riddlers – puppet creatures – called Mossop and Tiddler.
The show, which was produced by Yorkshire Television, was a huge success, running for 224 episodes on ITV from 1989 until 1998. Five videos, two DVDs and a series of Riddler books were also released.
Away from Riddleton End, Llewellyn-Jones also presented on Our World, an ITV schools series about how children approach life that ran during the Eighties and Nineties.
He was also a prominent British Sign Language (BSL) advocate and appeared in the children’s TV show Insight, which produced sketches and short stories for deaf and hard of hearing young people from 1980 to 1984.
Llewellyn-Jones also appeared on its successor, the BBC’s Listening Eye, a pioneering show for the deaf community which later became Sign On.
The British Deaf Association paid tribute in a signed video, saying: “Today the British Deaf Association is deeply saddened by the passing of Peter Llewellyn-Jones, a BSL champion and strong ally of the deaf community for over 50 years.
“Peter had a long and valued association with the BDA, supporting our work and contributing to BDA events over many decades.
“From the early BDA Summer Schools through to wider national Deaf community events, he played an important role in improving communication and access between Deaf and hearing people.
“Peter was a visionary leader and pioneering advocate for linguistic rights.”
One fan responded to the news, writing: “Sad to hear that Peter Llewellyn Jones has passed away, I love The Riddlers and I remember buying it on video, when I was a kid.”
The 30-year-old has played Dawn Fletcher in the long-running ITV programme for eight years, sharing the screen with Claire’s Kim Tate, her stepmother.
Fans were left shocked when her character was killed off in devastating scenes on her tragic wedding day, after prematurely giving birth to a baby boy with partner Joe Tate. In the emotional footage, she suffered internal bleeding and sadly died after giving birth.
Touching on the episode in a press roundtable, Claire described their final few moments together on set as “heartbreaking”.
“But we did have a good laugh that week because we were all outside this massive marquee where we were doing all the wedding stuff and car crash, and it’s all supposed to be tragic but we were all actually having a good life.
“We had some really nice people on set that day. Great crew, and it was just a bit of camaraderie.
“But I could see as the days went on to the final day she was getting more and more sort of angst and things.”
Dawn made a big impact when she arrived in the Dales almost a decade ago, and has been at the centre of huge storylines since then – including the moment she found her long lost son, and her on-off romance with ex-husband Billy.
Olivia was told of her character’s fate earlier this year, with bosses teasing the huge exit plot. However, despite the advanced warning, she admitted that she found it tough to bid farewell.
“It was the toughest storyline I’ve done during my time in the soap,” she told the Mirror.
“I was surprised by how emotional I found it and it was way more emotional than I was expecting. I did cry.
“It is very strange to kill off your character as an actor and in front of your colleagues. But that said, what a gift to be given. Often people leave and just slip off.”
She added: “Psychologically, now I have had time to reflect, I know it’s good for me, because I can say bye to my Emmerdale chapter. It’s been brilliant. I was originally only signed up for 12 episodes and I’ve stayed eight years!”
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, the mystery drama has a star-studded cast list with big Hollywood names such as Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarth.
Luke Evans, Christine Baranski, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Shannon, Annie Murphy and Mark Strong also star.
A synopsis reads: “Nine Perfect Strangers is set at a boutique resort which promises healing and transformation to nine stressed city dwellers.
“Watching over them during the ten-day retreat is resort director Masha (Nicole Kidman), a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. However, these nine perfect strangers have no idea what is about to hit them.”
Nine Perfect Strangers was directed by David E. Kelley, known for Big Little Lies, and has been described as a “suspense-filled drama” with lighter comedic moments. The series explores how far people will go to face their personal demons and get well, shining a light on the world of health and wellness and our constant quest for self-improvement.
And while the drama is new to ITV, those who watched it on Hulu back in 2021 have a lot to say about it.
One viewer wrote on IMDb: “This show is amazing I honestly could NOT stop watching, Great casting very thrilling and suspenseful it definitely had me hooked. Going into this show I honestly did not expect much but boy was I wrong, I’m not gonna spoil anything but trust me you should definitely give this show a watch it will not let you down. 100000 out of 10 perfection, thanks Hulu.”
While another added: “Modern masterpiece.Perfectly relevant. Wonderfully acted across the board. This is top tier production of story.
“Filled with character and drama and poignant climax each episode. There is direction and building and thorough relation with everything. No disappointment episode to episode and an overall positive outcome that closes with satisfaction and optimism. Fiction steeped with reality.The music, cinematography, acting, animation, and overall direction really sends this into the upper echelon. Brilliant.”
Overall, Nine Perfect Strangers has mixed reviews, with some calling the plot “confusing”. Reflecting on this, one fan of the book wrote: “The TV adaptation follows the novel very closely. If you read the book you’ll enjoy it on the screen. If you haven’t read the book, sit back, shut up, and get ready for a bumpy ride. THEN leave your review.”
Nine Perfect Strangers will land on ITVX on September 27.
