legends

Before Pam Ferris picked up a religious habit as Sister Evangelina, she won the hearts of sitcom fans in another historical drama

Call the Midwife icon Pam Ferris is a world away from Sister Evangelina in this 90s classic television show.

The 78-year-old actress is famed for playing tough-talking nun Sister Evangelina on the BBC series, who dedicated her life not only to her religion but also to serving the poorest communities in London as a senior midwife.

Sister Evangelina is an original character introduced during the first episode, which aired in 2012. But only four years later, the beloved nun died suddenly in her sleep after suffering a stroke, leaving Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) to find her lifeless body in her chair.

Earlier this year, during the series 15 finale, Pam Ferris reprised her role as Sister Evangelina to guide her dear friend Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) into the afterlife in a very emotional scene.

However, before Ferris ever picked up her wimple and adopted constant words of wisdom, she was known by sitcom fans for her role in another cosy period drama, The Darling Buds of May.

The much-loved ITV series debuted in April 1991 and is an adaptation of the H. E. Bates novel of the same name.

The show told the story of the Larkin family and their lives in rural Kent during the 1950s, and was led by a small cast, including Sir David Jason as Pop Larkin, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mariette, and Philip Franks as Cedric.

It quickly became a feel-good ratings success and will surely always be seen as a ‘90s classic – despite only running for 20 episodes.

The Darling Buds of May is currently streaming for free on ITVX and has been hailed as a must-watch by fans who have enjoyed the show for decades.

On IMDb, one person dubbed the show “So endearing, funny and perfect!”, while a second added, “If only there was more.”

A third stated: “It doesn’t get much better! I purchased the whole series a few years ago and then watched the whole series within a few days.”

“One of the most beloved British comedy-dramas of the 1990s, The Darling Buds of May remains a comforting television classic — full of warmth, countryside charm, and unforgettable performances”, wrote one person on Facebook.

“Loved it…. easy watching….like All Creatures Great and Small”, commented one viewer while another confessed: “I absolutely love this programme and always watch when it’s on the television no matter how many times I watch.”

Over the years, Ferris has gained more fame on the big screen as the wicked Miss Trunchball in Matilda, floating Aunt Marge in the Harry Potter franchise, and kind-hearted headteacher, Mrs Bevan, in Nativity!

She went on to feature in a number of costume dramas, such as Middlemarch, Jane Eyre, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, and popular crime serials, such as Marple, Rosemary & Thyme, and Luther, and even appeared as Cath in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey.

Call the Midwife is available on BBC iPlayer

Two new stars will be joining the latest Celebrity Gogglebox line-up as they showcase their TV opinions on the popular Channel 4 show

Rock stars and longtime friends are joining the Celebrity Gogglebox sofa this week.

Making their debut on the show, Jake Shears and Josh Homme will give their opinions on the week’s biggest TV moments, combining their close friendship with their signature wit.

Best known for fronting Scissor Sisters and Queens of the Stone Age, Jake and Josh have spent years performing to huge crowds around the world and building careers that have sold millions of records.

This time, they’ll be watching from the comfort of the sofa, sharing their candid, entertaining reactions to the programmes that have everyone talking.

Talking about his appearance, Jake said: “Josh and I have spent years making noise for a living, so sitting on a sofa and talking over the television felt surprisingly natural. We laughed far more than we probably should have and somehow got away with calling it work. It was a longtime dream to be part of Celebrity Gogglebox.”

Meanwhile, Josh said: “You’ve never watched anyone watch TV until you’ve watched Josh and Jake watching TV. And then you know you’ve watched it. So set your watch for 9pm on Friday. We are breaking ground that should largely have gone unbroken.”

It’s a busy week for Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh, as the band has unveiled plans for their new album, Everything Under The Sun.

The upcoming release marks the American rock group’s first studio album in three years. They also dropped the lead single, Easy Street, on Tuesday, featuring guest vocals from Nikki Lane.

Fans may already recognise the song after it made its live debut during the band’s Catacombs tour last year.

Elsewhere in the new series of Celebrity Gogglebox, singer Mollie King will be joined on the sofa by her partner, former England cricketer Stuart Broad.

Olivia Attwood has been taking part in the latest series alongside her mum, while her partner Pete Wicks has been appearing separately with his close friend Vicky Pattison.

The new season has also welcomed back a host of familiar faces, including Vernon Kay and Paddy McGuinness, Bez and Shaun, Roman and Martin Kemp, Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely, Nick Grimshaw with his niece Liv, the Mangans, and Rylan, who once again joins his mum Linda on the sofa.

Celebrity Gogglebox airs this Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

From being homeless to becoming one of Emmerdale’s most adored stars, one cast member has an incredible backstory

An Emmerdale icon has an off-screen story even more remarkable than some of the soap’s biggest storylines.

Over the years, viewers have been introduced to several stars who have joined the long-running programme. And while plenty have left, several have remained in the Dales, including Bob Hope actor Tony Audenshaw.

Tony shot to fame playing Bob Hope on the ITV soap back in 2000. Since then, he’s become a firm favourite and has been involved in a ton of memorable soap moments.

And in Wednesday’s episode (July 15) episode, the Woolpack Batman was seen spilling the beans to newcomer Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) about her newfound family.

However, for actor Tony, life hasn’t always been plain sailing as he has endured tough times trying to make ends meet while chasing his dream of acting.

Tony’s real-life homeless experience

In 2019, Tony opened up about being homeless back in the day, before having his big break in the TV world. The actor revealed he could not afford to stay in a BnB when he worked in Thorpe Park back in the 1980s, so was forced to sleep in his car in order to make ends meet.

“There were occasions where I didn’t have enough for a B&B, so I just parked up and tried to get some kip. It wasn’t easy, but you do what you have to do,” he said on Loose Women.

“I used to work at Thorpe Park, the theme park, I used to be the Thorpe Park rangers and do the voices. Up North things are much cheaper. I came down here in the 80s, and it was £70 for a BNB.

“If I was down for five nights I would sleep in the car, because I didn’t have much money coming in. I’d never do it two nights on the trot because you couldn’t really function well. It was Monday in a B&B, Tuesday in the car – the things you saw in those car parks, torches in the window.”

Tony’s reported soap earnings

Bob’s perseverance paid off as after an early stint in Brookside in the mid-90s, he was first seen on Emmerdale in 1996 in a minor role before landing the part of Bob Hope four years later.

Since then, he has clocked up more than 2,500 episodes, making him one of the soap’s longest-serving cast members.

Due to his status on the show, it’s believed Tony. could be earning thousands. Cast members earn between £400 and £2,000 per episode, which translates to annual salaries ranging from roughly £12,000 for newer cast members to over £200,000 for top, long-standing stars, like Tony.

Tony’s world record

Away from the Yorkshire set, Tony is renowned for his love of running; a hobby that has taken him all around the world, from London to Amsterdam and New York.

In 2010, he entered the London Marathon in a giant baby outfit — and crossed the line in just 3 hours and 13 minutes. The remarkable time earned him a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a baby, but the record has since been broken.

Running was also a hobby he shared with his late wife Ruth, who died from cancer in April 2017, when she was 43 years old, after a 16-month battle with the disease. Tony and Ruth had been married since 1996 and had two children together, a son George and a daughter Emily.

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Casualty fans have been left divided over Stevie Nash’s future on the BBC medical drama

It’s been a turbulent period in Casualty for beloved character Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) as BBC audiences discovered her role at Holby ED hangs in the balance.

After her colleague and mate Dylan Keogh (William Beck) uncovered she’d been conducting a clandestine romance with his son and junior medic Matty Linlaker, he informed Clinical Lead Flynn Byron (Olly Rix).

Explaining that the accusations levelled against her ‘amount to sexual coercion’, Matty, Dylan and Stevie were all required to attend hearings with HR panel members during Saturday’s instalment (June 20).

Throughout the medical drama, the three clashed yet again as Stevie subsequently apologised to Matty for the entire situation.

Nevertheless, Matty responded: “You’re not sorry, Stevie. You’ve realised I’ve got the power to end your career and you’re worried what I’m going to say, right?”

When she questioned what he intended to tell the HR panel, he remained silent, while Stevie was subsequently shown in floods of tears confiding in Flynn, confessing she didn’t wish to lose her position, reports the Daily Star.

As the episode drew to a close, audiences witnessed Stevie facing the panel members as she declared: “Look, before we get started. I just wanted to apologise unreservedly for my behaviour.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that I’ve made mistakes. But, I’m a bl**dy good doctor. I deserve to be here, and I’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure I stay.”

Can Stevie preserve her position at the hospital? Or will Matty destroy her career for spurning him?

It didn’t take long for viewers to react to the episode, with many divided over Stevie and her future on the long-running medical drama. One viewer wrote: “WE CAN’T LOSE STEVIE.”

While another urged: “Fight for your job, Stevie.” A third chimed in: “THE WAY STEVIE ENDED THE EPISODE. I’m so happy.”

With one fan commenting: “Stevie is going to fight for her job. Hopefully, she isn’t leaving now.”

Yet not everybody shared the same excitement about Stevie’s decision to fight for her position, with a number of viewers keen to see her go.

One wrote: “Don’t like this storyline. Add in real life, Stevie would be on suspension, I would’ve thought.” While another simply declared: “So tired of Stevie.”

Casualty is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Kyle Busch‘s family has dealt with a lot since the NASCAR legend’s sudden death at age 41 last month.

On Friday, however, his wife Samantha and their two children — son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4 — “wanted to take a moment to say thank you” for all the support they have received.

“The prayers, messages, flowers, meals, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most heartbreaking days of our lives,” they said in a note posted Friday on Samantha’s Instagram page. “While our hearts are absolutely shattered, we have felt God’s presence and arms wrapped tightly around us through each and every one of you.”

Busch, a two-time champion of the NASCAR Cup Series and the winningest driver in the association’s history, became unresponsive while in a racing simulator on May 20 in Concord, N.C., and was transported to a Charlotte hospital. He died the next day.

According to his death certificate, Busch died from hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation after complications from bacterial pneumonia led to sepsis. He had been experiencing symptoms of bacterial pneumonia for “days to weeks” before sepsis set in, the certificate states.

The Busch family released a joint statement with NASCAR and his team, Richard Childress Racing, honoring Busch on the day he died. Friday’s social media post marks the first public comment directly from Samantha and her children since then.

“The love that has surrounded our family during this unimaginable time has brought comfort in the middle of so much pain,” they said in the post.

“Knowing the impact Kyle had on others and seeing how they are honoring him through each unique act of generosity is a true testament to how special Kyle is to so many people. There are moments when the weight of this loss feels impossible to carry, yet time and time again God, through you all, has shown us we are not alone.”

Kyle and Samantha Busch were married on Dec. 31, 2010. She and their children were among those who appeared at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24 to honor Busch’s memory.

“From family and friends to fans and complete strangers, thank you for showing up for us. Thank you for loving our family so well,” their post concluded. “Thank you for loving Kyle. Thank you for honoring him. We may never find the words to fully express what your support has meant to us, but please know that we are deeply grateful.

“❤️ Samantha, Brexton & Lennix”

A Death in Paradise icon hasn’t strayed too far from the world of crime and mystery.

Death in Paradise fans need to watch this “incredible” drama, especially after this important update.

Death in Paradise legend DS Florence Cassell (played by Josephine Jobert) originally debuted in the BBC cosy crime back in season four before leaving in series eight.

She thankfully returned to Saint Marie and her story ended in season 13 when she happily sailed away with former boss DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little).

For those who are missing watching Jobert on their screens, Death in Paradise fans can now catch her in the Canadian detective drama Saint-Pierre.

The first season has only recently become available on U&Alibi, as well as Sky and NOW, in the UK, after first airing in Canada in January 2025, followed by series two in January 2026.

Now it’s been confirmed that Saint-Pierre will be back for a season three with UK fans expecting the latest two series to soon be made available to them.

Filming for this 12-episode third season will reportedly begin in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Newfoundland, Canada, in July.

As of yet though, there has been no confirmation as to when UK fans will be treated to the second season.

Jobert portrays mysterious Parisian Deputy Chief Genevieve “Arch” Archambault who is forced to work alongside disgraced officer Donny “Fitz” Fitzpatrick (Allan Hawco) after he’s exiled to the small French collectivity.

While the pair initially clash because of their different styles of investigation, they soon realise that they make a great team, delving into a new case every episode.

Scoring an impressive 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s no wonder fans have been praising Saint-Pierre on IMdB.

“Obsessed! Seriously, I’m hooked. Every week, they leave you hanging with a cliffhanger, and I’m just dying!”, a fan commented.

Another described it as a “must watch”, while a third echoed: “The cast are excellent – they have great chemistry.

“Also Saint-Pierre is STUNNING! It’s a character all on its own and the scenery makes me want to visit someday – I didn’t even know it existed!”

Someone else said it was an “incredible series” as another added: “Just love this show! It’s so much more than a police procedural. The chemistry between Fitz and Arch has me hooked!”

Saint-Pierre is available to watch on U&Alibi, Sky and NOW.