logo
Jo Bacon dead: EastEnders and Love Actually star dies aged 72 as tributes flood in for ‘brilliant' actor

Jo Bacon dead: EastEnders and Love Actually star dies aged 72 as tributes flood in for ‘brilliant' actor

The Sun16-07-2025
ACTOR Jo Bacon who featured in EastEnders and Love Actually has died at the age of 72.
The "brilliant" actor starred alongside Hugh Grant as she played Natalie's mum in the beloved 2003 classic.
An iconic scene shows Natalie, played by Martine McCutcheon, coming down the stairs to meet the Prime Minister - her love interest, played by Grant - as her family stand at the door in awe.
Bacon's funeral took place yesterday, following a cancer diagnosis in January.
Tributes have poured in for the star, and many actors were in attendance at the ceremony on Tuesday.
More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
1
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sky customers rush to claim FREE snacks from Sainsbury's with millions of treats up for grabs
Sky customers rush to claim FREE snacks from Sainsbury's with millions of treats up for grabs

The Sun

time22 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Sky customers rush to claim FREE snacks from Sainsbury's with millions of treats up for grabs

SKY customers are racing to claim free snacks from Sainsbury's with millions of treats currently up for grabs. The TV giant recently announced a range of new treats coming to Sky VIP and has pledged to make freebies available every week. This month, Sky teamed up with Sainsbury's for the first time ever to bring delicious rewards to Sky VIP members. There are almost 2 million treats to give away that have so far included Taste the Difference pizzas and ice lollies. And this week, you can claim a sharing bag of LOVE CORN, perfect for a night in with a movie this weekend. There are several flavours up for grabs, including: Sea Salt Smoked BBQ Salt & Vinegar Sour Cream & Chive Sweet & Salty How to claim In the Sky VIP app, simply claim an instant voucher which can be exchanged for a bag of LOVE CORN at Sainsbury's. The offer is only valid at Sainsbury's superstores - not Sainsbury's Local, petrol stations or online shopping. Coupons will only work for 30 minutes once redeemed so don't activate it until you're at a Sainsbury's checkout. But customers are urged to be quick as coupons are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. The promotion will remain live until 11.59pm next Monday or until all the coupons have been claimed for this week - whichever comes firsts. How to Unlock New Free Sky Sports Channels on Your TV Today Customers then have until Sainsbury's Superstores close next Tuesday to redeem their complimentary freebie. More freebies The broadcasting giant is also offering free movies every week on Sky Showcase as well as opportunities to bag free trials to some of the biggest streaming apps. But there's not just something for foodies and movie lover - sports fans get extra treats too. If you subscribe to Sky Sports, you can claim a number of perks such as almost 100,000 free tickets to sporting events. And what's more, Sky VIP is also offering experiences such as tickets to top UK attractions, exclusive cinema screenings and more. Helen Kloepfer, Director of Sky VIP said: "The new Sky VIP reward programme is our way of saying thank you to our customers by giving them more of what they love. "Whether you're new to Sky or a long-standing customer, there's always something exciting waiting in the My Sky app that makes every day a little better." The rewards can be found in the VIP tab on the MySky app. Sky relaunched its hugely popular VIP loyalty programme earlier this month with over 3 million rewards and experiences for customers across the UK this year. MORE SKY PERKS If you're paying for Sky Cinema, you'll get loads of top movies on your telly. But you may not have realised that you also get free tickets to an actual cinema too. Every single month, you can claim a pair of tickets to see a movie at Vue cinemas without paying a penny extra. You just need to go into the MySky app, head into Sky VIP, and then tap on Your Vue Tickets. You'll be able to claim two codes, which you can then redeem at Vue cinemas. The catch is that you can only use these tickets once a month, and only between Sunday and Thursday. You're also only able to use them for Regular, Saver, and Super Saver seat types – so no posh recliner chairs here. A ticket at Vue normally costs somewhere in the region of £6 to £8, so this is a great freebie.

Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy comes to ITV1 & ITVX
Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy comes to ITV1 & ITVX

ITV News

time23 minutes ago

  • ITV News

Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy comes to ITV1 & ITVX

ITV has acquired the fascinating documentary, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, arriving on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player, 9pm, on August 18th. Never seen before by a UK audience, the ITN Productions' documentary has been updated by the producers since it first aired on Peacock in the US to feature brand new developments in the trial of Dr Salvador Plascencia who has been charged with giving Matthew Perry ketamine. The one-off film examines the life of the Friends star, Matthew Perry, and the extraordinary circumstances around his tragic death and the impact he had on fans across the world. Matthew Perry's onscreen mother and Friends co-star, Morgan Fairchild, speaks candidly about Perry's drug addiction and working with the actor on Friends. The documentary includes unique and revealing interviews with Hollywood insiders, US Sun journalist Katy Forrester, medical professionals and Martin Estrada, the District Attorney at the Central District of California US Attorney's office at the time of Perry's death, among others. Sasha Breslau, ITV Head of Content Acquisitions, said: ' We're pleased to bring this in-depth and fascinating film to ITVX, documenting the life of one of television's best loved actors, Matthew Perry. The film hears first hand from those who knew Matthew, as well as telling the story of his untimely passing with updated developments not seen before.' Commissioned by Peacock/NBC, the documentary first aired on the US streamer Peacock in February this year, with Blue Ant Studios overseeing the global licensing and distribution for the film to a UK audience. Ian Russell, ITN Productions Head of International Programmes, said: 'Matthew Perry's story is known the world over. In making this documentary, our US and UK-based production team wanted to look beneath the headlines to tell a detailed story of this Hollywood star. Matthew Perry's story is truly a Hollywood tragedy. We set out to present the complexities around his life, the tragic circumstances around his death and his place in popular culture with sensitivity and insight.' Gerbrig Blanksma, SVP, International Sales & Partnerships, Blue Ant Studios, said: "This latest sale to ITV in the UK is testament to the timeliness of the project in addition to ITN's thorough examination of the tragic end of Matthew Perry's life. Sales have already been made in nearly 20 territories globally and we expect interest in the documentary to continue." -ENDS- Notes to Editors ITVX Launched in late 2022, ITVX is UK's freshest streaming service, letting viewers stream new programme exclusives, with adverts, for free; ranging from premium dramas, documentaries, US series, comedy and reality shows to blockbuster films and much, much more. ITVX is the first streaming service in the UK to offer viewers the flexibility to access free content with ads and ad-free paid subscription, all in one place. Paying subscribers also have access to BritBox UK. ITVX live streams must-watch events, from live sport to Love Island, as they are broadcast on ITV's channels. ITVX also offers an ever-changing host of exclusive themed channels in line with viewer preferences and popularity; these constantly evolving pop-up channels provide a scheduled experience through a streaming service. Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy was executive produced by Ian Russell, Head of International Programmes ITN Productions, Mike Griffiths and Robert Palumbo. It was directed by Robert Palumbo and the production manager was Nickie Hyde. It was commissioned by Cori Abraham, SVP NBCUniversal and is distributed worldwide by Blue Ant Studios. Produced by ITN Productions, post was in-house by ITN Post.

Enormous amount doctor husband of Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson left to his family in his will
Enormous amount doctor husband of Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson left to his family in his will

Daily Mail​

time24 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Enormous amount doctor husband of Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson left to his family in his will

The late husband of Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson left a £1.3million fortune to his family, it has been revealed. Dr Malcolm Donaldson was a paediatric consultant and senior lecturer in child health at the University of Glasgow until his retirement. He died at the age of 75 on September 22. Affectionately known as Dr Gruffalo by his young patients at the city's Royal Hospital for Children, Dr Donaldson was known for his 'kindness and dedication'. He was married to the notorious children's author, whose books The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child have been global best-sellers for 52 years. Following his death, probate documents revealed he left an estate valued at £1,322,528 and a will he prepared in 2020 instructed his fortune should be handed to his family. Dr Donaldson met the award-winning author and former Children's Laureate at Bristol University in 1968, when he was studying medicine and she was studying drama and French. The couple lived in the Glasgow suburb of Bearsden from 1987 until moving to Surrey in 2014. As a highly-respected academic, Dr Donaldson wrote or contributed to more than 180 publications, papers and books. But he was also an accomplished actor, singer and guitarist who accompanied his wife to perform her songs and stories at festivals, schools, libraries and bookshops around the world. Tributes were paid to Donaldson after his death. Axel Scheffler, who illustrated the Gruffalo books, said: 'I have known Malcolm for 30 years and always admired his enthusiasm for our books, Julia's work and children's books in general. 'All this beside being a paediatric consultant and giving lectures all over the world. 'His true passion was performing with Julia on stage, playing the guitar and acting - especially his legendary suave role of the Fox in*The Gruffalo. 'He will be deeply missed.' The British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (BSPED) said: 'His contributions will continue to resonate in the field of paediatric endocrinology and child health in the UK, Europe and beyond for many years to come. 'His warmth, wisdom and gentle spirit will be deeply missed but forever remembered by all you knew him.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store