Coronation Street star dead: Tributes pour in for Barbara Ferris following death aged 85
She reflected: ''It was a huge decision and a very painful one for all of us. Luckily the move to London worked out well for me. I got an agent and enough work to afford somewhere to live. Long before series like The Darling Buds Of May and the Matilda and Harry Potter films I was cast in wonderful TV dramas like The Rag Trade.
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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Little UK town named most 'boring' place to live but not everyone agrees
One South West London town has been named one of the UK's most boring places to live - but its great transport and activity offerings have some begging to differ London, known for its vibrant life offers endless activities day and night. Yet, surprisingly, a South West London town has been dubbed one of the UK's " most boring" places to live. Surbiton received the title from The Telegraph, alongside five other UK towns. The criteria used by the publication is not entirely clear, but it appears to have selected locations that people "collectively consider boring", despite each having its own unique charm. Surbiton indeed has much to offer those seeking a tranquil experience on the outskirts of London, reports MyLondon. Nestled on the edge of London and Surrey, the leafy and peaceful Surbiton was once described by The Telegraph as "neither London nor Surrey, neither ultra-middle class nor confusedly 'gritty.' It also notes that the area is close to Home Park and Hampton Court, as well as Surrey Hills and Kingston. The paper notes that the area's top tourist attraction is its station which is perhaps why it made it to the list in the first place. However, what some might not know is that the hit sitcom series The Good Life was set in Surbiton, although it was actually filmed in the Middlesex borough of Northwood. So while it might have just won the title of being one of the UK's most boring towns, Surbiton has actually got plenty to offer for those looking for a more relaxed outskirts of London experience. Transport and housing The town is well-connected to the city, despite falling within Travelcard Zone 6. Journeys between Surbiton station and London Waterloo takes on average 27 minutes - making it a great option for commuters. Its train station has a beautiful art-deco front which has featured in its fair share of TV shows and films including Harry Potter and Poirot. The area has also been home to celebrities like Spiderman star Tom Holland, and authors Enid Blyton and Jacqueline Wilson. Things to do Surbiton may have been branded one of the UK's "most boring" places, but it surprisingly offers a fair bit more activity-wise. It's nestled near several verdant areas, including Claremont Gardens and Berrylands Nature Reserve. One TripAdvisor review that is a self-proclaimed "regular" at Claremont Gardens confirmed the area is beautiful year-round. "The colours of the trees and landscape are beautiful in different ways through the year. It's definitely worth a visit for a little exploration and calm wander around the grounds." The reviewer also suggested heading out onto the water for some added fun. "I've enjoyed hiring a boat to head out on the pond too, with the quizzical looks of interest from the ducks and birds floating around. The obligatory visit to a National Trust cafe for a scone also helps!" Come the weekend, the locals revel in the "great atmosphere and true sense of community" found at the bustling Surbiton Farmers Market. Another TripAdvisor reviewer emphasises the friendliness of locals: "This farmers' market is great to visit with such a variety of food and drinks plus plants and flowers. All the stall holders are so friendly and cheerful, whatever the weather." Connoisseurs of fine architecture can also admire the historic clock tower, a John Johnson creation commemorating the coronation of HRH King Edward VII in 1902.
Metro
8 hours ago
- Metro
Emma Watson's dad on why new Harry Potter child stars' parents should be 'scared
Emma Watson's father, Chris, has shared stark words about the pressures of childhood fame as HBO announces the leads of the Harry Potter TV remake. The reboot of the franchise (this time in TV format) is on everyone's lips after a slew of casting announcements culminated in the literary Golden Trio. Formerly played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma over the course of eight movies in the 2000s, the fresh cast will star Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, and Alastair Stout as Ron. The three child actors – who beat out 30,000 other children for the coveted spots – have been flung into a whole new level of stardom last experienced by Emma, Rupert and Daniel, who are all now in their 30s. In an era of social media, and with more eyes than ever on the franchise and how this controversial remake will fare, Chris reflected on how tough it was to handle the pressure during Emma's rise to fame. He told Times Radio: 'As a parent, you have to be scared. This can be a very difficult thing for a parent and child to handle, or not. While there are many upsides, nothing is perfect. 'If [parents of the new Harry Potter cast] want to talk to someone who's been through this extraordinary experience, I would be more than happy to talk to them.'Emma Watson's father, Chris Watson, knew his daughter was a star when she came on stage in a school musical. — Times Radio (@TimesRadio) May 30, 2025 'You have to recognise there are going to be a whole load of downsides, some of them you couldn't have imagined. He added that 'normal life continued as far as possible' for a way to protect her and 'it certainly helped that I don't actually watch movies. It's not a big thing in the house, and so it was easier for us to keep her feet on the ground.' Before concluding: 'If [parents of the new Harry Potter cast] want to talk to someone who's been through this extraordinary experience, I would be more than happy to talk to them.' It's no secret that becoming the most recognised young actors in the world took its toll on the original three actors with the Little Women star previously speaking about her desire to exit the franchise halfway through. During one interview, she recalled the experience as 'very foggy'. Meanwhile, Daniel has been candid about his journey with sobriety after he started drinking during the filming of the movies. The actors who have signed up for the HBO series – including Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Professor Snape – are already under immense scrutiny. I'm truly concerned about what will happen to the new Harry, Ron, and Hermione, plucked from childhood and obscurity and flung into stardom. Not only will this trio of unknown actors star in what will surely become one of the most heavily scrutinised TV shows this decade, but all under the creative jurisdiction of someone who has, in my view, opposed the rights of a marginalised community. We have already seen the dangers this level of fame can create, even before the author of the series descended into Twitter troll status There are all the elements for disaster waiting to happen – and while, for me, schadenfreude is tempting given Rowling's behaviour – I'm worried that these innocent children will be the collateral damage. Not least because the author behind Harry Potter, JK Rowling, has been slammed by many for her critical views of the transgender community, prompting calls to boycott the show. In an interview with The Times, Lithgow said: 'I thought, why is this a factor at all? I wonder how JK Rowling has absorbed it. I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her and I'm curious to talk to her.' Meanwhile, Nick is remaining optimistic as he spoke about his excitement to step into the role in a recent chat. 'I've gone in to do head sculpts and have your hand stand and stuff, and they say, 'Oh, have a look at this.' And you're like, 'Wow. That's the coolest thing.' 'I love films. I've loved cinema my whole life, so to be part of that universe now and that they're showing me, like, a dancing mushroom, it's like, 'That is so cool!' he said. More Trending After the announcement of Harry, Ron and Hermione's casting, Rowling tweeted: 'All three are wonderful. I couldn't be happier.' In a statement, executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod said: 'After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. 'The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. 'We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It's been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: British acting legend new frontrunner to play Voldemort after Harry Potter casting updates MORE: Harry Potter fans annoyed about casting detail no one's got right in 25 years MORE: Here's why fans think Arabella Stanton as new Hermione is 'perfect casting'
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Harry Potter-obsessed teen given magical surprise of her life at Warner Bros
Saffron Crickley from Blackpool was whisked on a magical trip to London for her first ever holiday A Harry Potter-obsessed teenager who lives with a rare genetic condition got the surprise of her life when she was whisked to the Warner Bros Studios in Watford to see how her beloved films were made. Saffron Crickley, who was born with the incredibly rare chromosomal disorder Mosaic Turner Syndrome, lives with hearing and vision loss, scoliosis and ADHD. Despite her challenges, the 14-year-old from Blackpool remains upbeat and full of life, says mum Lianne. 'She's a miracle baby,' says Lianne. 'Everything she goes through she faces with a smile. She just wants to be part of the world, to belong, to laugh, to experience everything.' Saffron was taken on a once-in-a-lifetime trip by charity Dreams Come True, which organised for her to travel with her family to London for a three-day holiday - the first time Saffron had ever left her home town. She and her family - brothers Kyron, 15, and Greyson, 11; dad Lee, grandma Gail, 18-month-old foster brother Noah and mum Lianne - were treated to a slap-up meal at Frankie & Benny's, where they feasted on Saffron's favourite: burgers, without the bun! The next morning they were taken to the world-famous toy store Hamley's in central London, which pulled out all the stops with entertainers, high tea and a private tour of the seven floors of toys, games and fun. And that wasn't the only surprise in store for the youngster, who has loved Harry Potter since watching the very first film when she was four. Saffron found herself standing outside The Making of Harry Potter, home to hundreds of thousands of props, sets and costumes that were all used during the filming of every Potter film. And just to top it all off, two of her heroes - David Ricardo-Pearce and Thomas Aldridge, who are currently playing Harry and Ron Weasley in the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - had recorded a special video message just for her. 'She's absolutely Harry Potter obsessed, this is something she's talked about for years,' says Lianne. 'To finally go to London, and not only visit The Making of Harry Potter but also to receive a personalised message from the stars of the stage, Harry and Ron themselves, is beyond anything we could have imagined. It's truly magical.' Her favourite film is The Chamber of Secrets, and her favourite character is Harry's best friend Hermione, 'because she's brave and bossy - just like me with my brothers,' laughs Saffron. Her mum agrees. 'Hermione keeps the boys in line and under her thumb, and so does Saffron,' smiles Lianne. One of her highlights of the trip was trying Butterbeer, which in JK Rowling's magical universe is a slightly alcoholic butterscotch-tasting drink. In Muggle land, however, it's not boozy at all. 'I had it all over my face,' Saffron laughs. 'It was like a moustache!' But the ultimate highlight was walking into the room containing the 50-foot model of Hogwarts Castle, which was painstakingly built and painted by the art department for the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. 'It took Saffron's breath away,' says Lianne. 'She couldn't believe her eyes. It was the real Hogwarts, right in front of us.' The one scary moment came when Saffron found herself face-to-face with a roaring dragon, which in the Harry Potter series lives deep underground the wizarding bank Gringotts - until it is freed by Harry, Ron and Hermione. 'It was so loud I had to turn off my hearing aids,' says Saffron. But she left happily in possession of Hermione's very own wand, all the better for keeping her brothers in line. It comes as research finds more than half of families with children who have disabilities live beneath the poverty line. Dreams Come True is a wish-granting charity focused exclusively on children living in the highest areas of deprivation with serious medical needs or disabilities, and chief exec Lisa King OBE says: 'This is what it's all about: creating unforgettable experiences for children who deserve the world. For Saffron and her family, this is more than a holiday. It's hope, joy, and magic brought to life.'
