Emmerdale legend Glenda McKay has announced her new role as Dr Pearce in HollyoaksCredit: Instagram/@reddoormanagementThe star has landed herself a soap hat-trick having appeared on Emmerdale, Coronation Street and now Channel 4’s HollyoaksCredit: Rex Features
Channel 4 bosses have cast the 54-year-old actress with the intention to include her in a forthcoming storyline.
It’s been revealed Glenda is playing a new character named Dr Pearce, though it’s currently unclear how long the soap star will remain on the show for.
The soap star’s exciting new casting was confirmed in a post shared by the talent agency Red Door Management.
They said in a post on social media: “Tune into Hollyoaks at 7pm this evening on E4 to catch Red Door’s Glenda McKay as Dr Pearce.”
Glenda’s Hollyoaks role comes just months after she appeared in a guest stint on rival soap Coronation Street.
On the cobbles, Glenda played a social worker named Alison Hale who was dealing with street couple Tim and Sally Metcalfe as they fought to foster the Michealis’ children following their mum Lou’s imprisonment.
The actress left Emmerdale over 25 years ago when she was killed off in a memorable storyline which saw her brutally pushed off a cliff.
Glenda’s Emmerdale character, Rachel Hughes, was embroiled in a number of the show’s biggest storylines from affairs to having a secret childCredit: RexThe 54-year-old made her debut on Emmerdale back in 1988Credit: Alamy
She spent more than 11 years on the soap and appeared in almost 750 episodes.
Her character, Rachel Hughes, was embroiled in a number of the show’s biggest storylines from affairs to having a secret child.
Glenda’s final storyline saw her enter a toxic relationship with teacher Graham Clark. He coerced her into dressing differently and forced her to dye her hair in an attempt to mould her into his dead wife.
Twisted Graham then attempted to force himself on her as she tried to break up with him.
He later chased Rachel and cornered her on a clifftop, she confronted him, and Graham ultimately pushed her to her death.
The evil teacher then lead Rachel’s friends and fellow villagers to believe that she was missing.
Since leaving Emmerdale in 1999, Glenda has only landed a handful of TV roles including guest stints on Hollyoaks and Doctors.
In 2005, Glenda appeared in Coronation Street for one episode as a love interest of cabbie Lloyd Mulaney (Craig Charles).
But in recent years, the former soap star made a startling career change as she ditched acting to work as a primary school teacher.
Air Force Gen. Stephen Davis, head of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), talked about the future of Looking Glass and the E-4C during an exclusive interview with TWZ‘s Howard Altman. The U.S. Navy is separately working to retire its fleet of Boeing 707-based E-6B Mercury jets that currently serve in the Looking Glass role with joint crews that include Air Force personnel. The E-6Bs also perform the Navy’s Take Charge And Move Out (TACAMO) mission, which entails the ability to relay orders to Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarines, even if they are submerged. The Navy’s replacement E-130J Phoenix II aircraft will only be configured for the TACAMO mission.
An E-6B Mercury jet. USAFA rendering of the Navy’s future E-130J Phoenix II. Northrop Grumman
This is Davis’ first interview since taking up his current post last November. He also discussed ongoing work on the B-21 Raider and other areas of interest for his command.
“In terms of the Looking Glass platform, we did get recently assigned, the Air Force did, that mission [and] that will come to Global Strike,” Davis said. “We’re currently developing the capabilities documents, the requirements for that.”
“No decision has been made on if that will be a separate platform, or that might be collocated or brought into the SAOC program,” Davis added. “So, no decision on that at this point.”
The E-4Cs are set to supplant the Air Force’s current fleet of four E-4B Nightwatch aircraft, also known as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC). Three of those planes started their careers in the 1970s as E-4A Advanced Airborne Command Posts (AACP) before being upgraded to the E-4B standard. The fourth E-4B was acquired separately in the 1980s. The E-4Bs are all based on the older 747-200 models that have become steadily more difficult to operate and maintain. Boeing shuttered the 747 production line entirely in 2022. As such, the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is converting newer 747-8is acquired second-hand from Korean Air into E-4Cs.
A stock picture of an E-4B. DOD
The E-4Bs and future E-4Cs are both also described as ‘doomsday planes,’ but are also capable of acting as larger and more robust flying command centers than the E-6Bs.
For the Looking Glass mission, the current E-4Bs do lack a key feature: the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS). With the ALCS, the E-6Bs can directly command the launch of Minuteman III missiles while in flight. This creates an additional obstacle to any adversary that might seek to prevent the use of these silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles with a first strike targeting ground-based command and control links. It is worth noting here that the main purpose of the Minuteman III force is as a ‘warhead sponge’ that would require an opponent to expend substantial resources on trying to neutralize it in any nuclear exchange.
One E-4B was test-fitted with ALCS in the past, at a time when the Air Force envisioned those aircraft taking over the Looking Glass mission from EC-135Cs used in that role at the time. The service subsequently decided it was too expensive to use the NAOCs for that mission. Looking Glass passed to the Navy’s E-6s after the EC-135Cs were retired in the late 1990s.
The prospect now of using the E-4C in this role raises similar cost, as well as capacity questions. As noted, the SAOCs will be configured from the outset as more capable flying command centers for use by top U.S. officials, including the President of the United States. Looking Glass has somewhat similar, but different mission requirements, including when it comes to aircraft that have be available at all times.
All that being said, the SAOC fleet is set to be larger than the NAOC fleet. AFGSC’s Gen. Davis confirmed in the interview that the Air Force is looking to acquire six E-4Cs, at a minimum, and potentially up to eight of the jets. Previously released U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracting documents had already discussed plans for improvements at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to accommodate as many as eight SAOC jets. Offutt is currently home to the E-4B and E-6B fleets.
A slide from a US Army Corps of Engineers briefing on planned construction at Offutt Air Force Base to accommodate an E-4C fleet of between six and eight aircraft. US Army
The Air Force could still look to other platforms to perform the Looking Glass mission. Last year, Congress pushed to have the service report back on whether a C-130 Hercules-based design like the one the Navy is now pursuing for TACAMO could be another option. A business jet might be another starting place. It is even possible that part of the mission could migrate in another direction entirely with the help of space-based communications capabilities.
“The LG-N program is aimed at recapitalizing missions currently executed on the E-6B,” according to the notice. “The Government is seeking information on industry’s ability to deliver a complete weapon system to include aircraft, mission systems, training systems, system integration lab, training, and ground support systems.”
Whether or not the E-4Cs end up being part of the LG-N solution, and what other aircraft might serve in this role in the future, remains to be seen. Regardless, the Air Force is now well on its way to taking back control of the Looking Glass mission.
Ralph Fiennes may have revealed his successor for the iconic role of Voldemort on the Harry Potter TV series as he named a huge name as being a ‘very good choice’
15:19, 26 Jan 2026Updated 15:19, 26 Jan 2026
The next Voldemort actor may have been revealed(Image: WARNER BROS)
An accidental leak appears to have named a legendary actor as Voldemort in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. The HBO production is set to showcase JK Rowling’s book on the small screen after it had huge success in cinemas.
It will depict a new iteration of Harry’s story at Hogwarts and beyond, with fans of the franchise eager to find out more. And now, it appears as though one star from the movies has revealed who will be taking on his character’s role even though confirmation has largely been kept under wraps.
Ralph Fiennes‘ iconic performances as Voldemort are written in the history books and he opened up on a potential successor for the TV adaptation while on the red carpet for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
The Sun reports that the Hollywood star was asked: “Who do you think should fill your shoes for Voldemort in the upcoming HBO show?” Responding, he said: “I’m told they are already filled, aren’t they? I think Cillian Murphy is very good. A very good choice.”
In a video that was shared on TikTok, Ralph appeared slightly panicked. He added: “I’ve already said, I think Cillian Murphy is very good. I think they’ve cast it, haven’t they? You don’t know?”
Fans were buzzing with the apparent reveal. One user said on social media: “This is amazing news.” And another said: “Oh man this is a good casting actually.”
It’s unclear whether Ralph had just been commenting on speculation. It had previously been reported that the Tommy Shelby star was in line for the role, but the actor himself seemed to distance himself from the role.
He previously told Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast. “I don’t know anything about that,” he said when questioned about his apparent links.
“Also, it’s just really hard to follow anything Ralph Fiennes does,” he added. “The man is an absolute acting legend, so good luck to whoever’s gonna fill those shoes.”
The series is set to feature Dominic McLaughlin as Harry. Arabella Stanton has been cast for the part of Hermoine Grainger, while Alastair Stout will star as Ron Weasley.
Elsewhere, Paul Whitehouse has been revealed for a role in the reboot too, alongside the likes of Bertie Carvel, Johnny Flynn, Bel Powley, Daniel Rigby and Katherine Parkinson.
Only one star will return from the film franchise. Warwick Davis is set to reprise his role as Professor Filius Flitwick.
