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Married At First Sight UK star claims 'they were sexually assaulted during filming'

Married At First Sight UK star claims 'they were sexually assaulted during filming'

Daily Mirror5 days ago
A Married At First Sight UK contestant has reportedly claimed they were sexually assaulted during the filming process of the show
A Married At First Sight UK contestant has reportedly claimed they were sexually assaulted by their new partner during filming for the E4 show. It is understood the police are currently probing the contestant's claims.

The popular reality series sees couples meet at the altar before spending their wedding night in a hotel. They then head on a honeymoon together. After returning, they live together and each week take part in a commitment ceremony, during which they can choose to stay or leave their marriage.

The series then concludes with one final commitment ceremony, during which the couples must make a lasting decision about the future of their marriage.

It has been reported by The Sun that the "non-recent" claim was reported on June 14. A spokesperson for Channel 4 told the Mirror that they are aware that a report has been made to police about an alleged sexual assault during filming.
They added: "We take any issues on the show incredibly seriously. Producers follow strict welfare protocols as the wellbeing of the cast is always the first priority. Support would be offered to anyone who wished to report a matter to the authorities, and naturally we would cooperate with any enquiries or investigations.'

A source told The Sun that the alleged assault "is a disastrous look for bosses" as the show has been criticised before.
According to the publication, police said: "We received a report of a non-recent sexual assault on June 14. Enquiries remain ongoing," with a show spokesman telling them they're "aware" of the report and adding they offer support to "anyone who wished to report a matter".
Filming for the UK version began in February. The series usually airs in the autumn. Experts for the series include Mel Schilling, Charlene Douglas and Paul C Brunson.
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Wife of Hollywood actor claims she's ‘always broke' and ‘lives pay cheque to pay cheque'
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Scottish Sun

time13 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Wife of Hollywood actor claims she's ‘always broke' and ‘lives pay cheque to pay cheque'

HER husband is one of Hollywood's biggest comedy actors, but despite this, Dawn O'Porter has revealed she is struggling to make ends meet financially. The television presenter, 46, who has been married to Bridesmaids actor Chris O'Dowd since 2012, has opened up about her money woes. PADawn O'Porter has opened up about her financial struggles[/caption] GettyDawn is married to Hollywood actor Chris O'Dowd[/caption] AlamyChris got his big break in Hollywood with a role in the comedy caper Bridesmaids[/caption] She expressed to MailOnline: 'I work pay cheque to pay cheque. I'm always broke. My card got declined last week. I'm like, what the f*** is happening? When will this end?' The Scottish writer and director has had a varied career, presenting several documentaries and shows including BBC's Super Slim Me and How To Look Good Naked on Channel 4. Meanwhile, Chris, 45, has starred in some of Hollywood's biggest productions, including This Is 40, Thor: The Dark World, Gulliver's Travels and St. Vincent. The couple have two children, sons Art, 11, and Valentine, who is eight years old. The family returned to London last Summer after living in Los Angeles for the past eight years. This isn't the first time Dawn has opened up about her financial woes as she previously alluded to living quite a humble lifestyle. While appearing on the White Wine Question Time podcast with Kate Thornton, she explained: 'I've never seen myself as a celebrity. 'Even though I'm married to Chris, who is quite a well-known actor, I don't think either of us have ever seen ourselves as celebrities. 'I guess if I was a celebrity, I'd get paid lots of money to do things that aren't necessarily my job or don't really feed what I do, but I don't. My job is writing, with the occasional little ad on Instagram to pay the rent.' After struggling to find her place in the bright lights of Hollywood, Dawn decided to return to the UK but it wasn't smooth sailing. She recounted: 'We were living in LA and I just said to Chris, I've got to go back to London to try and claw back my career. 'And we came back to London for a bit and I'd go for these meetings at TV production companies and I'd been successful. 'I had my own series on Channel 4… and they'd be like, 'What do you want to do?' and I was like, 'I want to do what I do'. But no one wanted to employ me.' The mum-of-two had a regular column with Stylist magazine which she was dropped by and that really affected her confidence. 'I was cool. I had my own show on Channel 4… then as my career just kind of… declined, I think they looked at me and were like, well she's just not that interesting anymore,' Dawn revealed, 'It was the final blow to my confidence. I was absolutely on the floor because I always felt that writing would be the thing that saved me. Dawn released her first novel in 2013, Paper Aeroplanes, which is a fictional story loosely inspired by her upbringing in Guernsey. She went on to release The Cows in 2016 which earned her a place on the Sunday Times Best Sellers List. GettyThe couple moved back to London after spending eight years living in Los Angeles[/caption]

I probe the minds of evil killers… infamous cat slayer signed his letters with sick moniker & lives in cloud cuckoo land
I probe the minds of evil killers… infamous cat slayer signed his letters with sick moniker & lives in cloud cuckoo land

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

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I probe the minds of evil killers… infamous cat slayer signed his letters with sick moniker & lives in cloud cuckoo land

True crime expert Teemu Saarenpää admits Magnotta was not the most evil person he became pen pals with BEHIND BARS I probe the minds of evil killers… infamous cat slayer signed his letters with sick moniker & lives in cloud cuckoo land HE'S the psychopathic killer who filmed himself feeding a live kitten to a python and suffocating another in a plastic bag in a chilling bid for internet notoriety. But the sickening videos were a prelude to monstrous Luka Magnotta's final act - stabbing a lover to death, chopping up his body and posting out the severed body parts to schools and politicians. Advertisement 13 Luka Magnotta, a model and porn actor, was dubbed the 'Canadian Psycho' Credit: AFP 13 Jun Lin was violently murdered by Luka Magnotta in 2012 Credit: Rex Features 13 Magnotta used a python and other cruel methods to kill kittens in videos he posted online Credit: Collect Yet the Canadian, now 42, who was jailed for 25 years in 2014 for murdering Chinese university student Jun Lin, 33, remains remorseless according to true crime expert Teemu Saarenpää. After exchanging letters with Magnotta, real name Eric Newman, he believes the 'extremely ego-centric' killer 'lives in la la land' and remains in denial that he committed any wrongdoing. Advertisement Teemu, 41, who runs blog Forenseek, tells The Sun: 'He lives in a totally upside-down, candy land world where he believes he's accused of something he didn't do. 'He's in denial, doesn't take responsibility for what he did and portrays himself as someone misunderstood by an evil society that set him up. 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Pathetic last days of Rose West revealed as serial killer monster can barely walk, has no friends & has new fake identity 13 Police say Magnotta had up to 80 aliases online Credit: Collect 13 Magnotta had aspirations of being a model Advertisement 13 A dead dog along with other incriminating things were found near to Magnotta's flat Credit: Splash News 13 The Canadian stabbed his lover Jun Lin to death with a screwdriver after tying him to a bed Credit: AP:Associated Press Among the incriminating clips was '1 Boy 2 Kittens', which showed him putting the animals into a plastic bag before using a vacuum to suffocate them. Yet Magnotta told Teemu: 'I never in my life harmed any animals – I actually adore them… I was falsely accused of willingly participating in some bizarre animal videos. I'm completely bewildered.' Chillingly, he also signed off his letter: 'Luka, aka cuddle cat'. 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'I find it so pathetic and have always ignored it. I never, I repeat NEVER had any fake accounts, nor did I ever pose as anyone other than myself.' Advertisement When Magnotta was snared for murdering Jun Lin, cops discovered an 11-minute snuff film titled '1 Lunatic 1 Icepick', which showed him repeatedly stabbing his victim with a screwdriver and dismembering him. Sickeningly they revealed the killer used one of Lin's body parts to perform a sex act, then carved up his body with a knife and fork and fed bits of it to a dog. Teemu considered Luka deluded, describing him as 'in his own munchkin world' - unlike his other killer pen pal Richard Ramirez, who 'was aware he was evil and didn't give a s***'. 'The most evil person I've written to' 13 Monster Richard Ramirez murdered at least 14 people in the 80s 13 Ramirez was known as 'The Night Stalker' killer Credit: Netflix Advertisement 13 Ramirez proudly flashed a pentagram he had drawn on his hand in court Credit: Getty - Contributor The monster, dubbed 'the Night Stalker', murdered at least 14 people and raped multiple women at knife-point, often in front of their partners and children. Teemu wrote to Ramirez, who plagued California during the Eighties, in a bid to understand how someone 'so tangibly evil' thought. 'He was definitely the most evil person I've written to,' Teemu says. 'Ramirez embraced being as depraved, as horrible, as deplorable as a human being could be. 'He was a Satanist. He embraced everything evil and spoke about worshipping the Devil, who he believed to be a real entity. 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It made me realise there is no 'killer gene' or anything categorically different in the brains of killers to the rest of the public, which I found really intriguing.' The revelation set him on a path to try to get inside the minds of famous killers, initially through reading books and watching documentaries, before deciding to write to them. 'I find the dark side of human life, full of stories so different from my lived reality, so fascinating,' Teemu says. 'I'm a normal, middle class dude, a bit like Milhouse from The Simpsons, so finding out about these people is like looking into the inverse mirror. Advertisement 'It makes me think how my life could have been if I was born in a warzone, watched people die, gone through a traumatic childhood or lived in an abusive family.' 'Violent psychopath' 13 Charles Bronson wasn't as intimidating in letters, as Teemu predicted 13 Bronson sent Teemu a painted postcard Credit: Supplied Teemu also exchanged letters with Charles Bronson, who he says came across like a 'jolly British bloke' and acted like 'someone you'd meet in a pub after an Arsenal match'. He wrote to the crook because he found his 'totally relentless one-man war against the authorities' fascinating. Advertisement 'If you told him, 'You can turn right to gold and chocolate and left to hell', he would turn to hell and refuse to obey, even if the decision did not help him,' Teemu says. Bronson sent Teemu a piece of artwork depicting himself topless on a beach musing about no longer being in prison. It featured the Latin phrase 'Candor dat viribus alas', which translates to 'Candour gives wings to strength', and the sketch of a book titled 'Freedom is Wonderful by Charles Bronson'. Additionally he sent a short letter quizzing Teemu about his life, and was 'charismatic, verbose and always making jokes'. 'You can see how he would have a certain magnetism and women would want to be with him,' he says of the lag, who has married twice while behind bars and had several girlfriends. Advertisement You can see how he would have a certain magnetism and women would want to be with him Teemu on Charles Bronson But beneath the surface, Teemu noted a darker side. Bronson made a distasteful joke in response to him disclosing he had worked with refugees from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. Bronson wrote: 'You mention that you work with folks from the Middle East. That's funny because you reminded me of a story where I took someone hostage – that person was Middle Eastern.' Teemu adds: 'He didn't elaborate but... he said it like someone would say, 'I went to Italy the other day,' but being Bronson he's like, 'Oh yeah, I took an Iranian guy hostage'.' He adds he would never meet the "violent psychopath" in person, admitting: 'I wouldn't want to be anywhere near him. If he was in a 10km radius, I'd get on a bus in the opposite direction.' Read more about Teemu's interviews with serial killers and murderers at Advertisement 13 Teemu's fascination with dark subject matter began after meeting a sweet old lady who he became friends with during his childhood - only to discover she was a murderer Credit: Supplied

First Dates' most tragic endings - from harrowing murder-suicide that tore family apart to pageant winner who died aged 32 just months after TV debut
First Dates' most tragic endings - from harrowing murder-suicide that tore family apart to pageant winner who died aged 32 just months after TV debut

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

First Dates' most tragic endings - from harrowing murder-suicide that tore family apart to pageant winner who died aged 32 just months after TV debut

Shining a spotlight on Britain's sweetest, quirkiest and sometimes strangest singletons, First Dates is one of the most heartwarming shows on the small screen. The Channel 4 reality programme, led by French maitre d' Fred Sireix, 53, sees Brits from across the country head on a blind date to the First Dates restaurant. Joined by kindly barman Merlin Griffiths and a loveable gang of wait staff, the charming host and his romantic eatery have been a hit since the show began in 2013. With nine successful series, it has spawned multiple spin-offs, including First Dates Hotel on the sun-soaked continent, as well as a version for teens. But while the programme's purpose is to create blossoming romance, its cast have, over the years, experienced their share of heartbreak and tragedy. From an untimely passing, to a horrifying murder-suicide, some of the most beloved First Dates guests have suffered the most heart-rending ordeals. But while the programme's purpose is to create blossoming romance, its cast have, over the years, experienced a disproportionate amount of heartbreak and tragedy. Pictured: Rachael Leader, left, with daughter Oria Henry and ex Ashley Henry, who died in a murder-suicide in June 2023 Judy Fitzgerald Judy Fitzgerald, 32, from Co Limerick, appeared on First Dates Ireland in March 2022. The former Miss Bikini Ireland, who was crowned in 2014, was a qualified fitness instructor pursuing a career in the fitness modelling industry. The international beauty pageant star was also regularly featured in national newspapers and graced the cover of multiple glossy magazines. Not only that, she was a qualified nurse and midwife, having served as a frontline worker during the Covid-19 pandemic. Highly successful Judy had her whole life ahead of her and, with her appearance on First Dates, had clearly been looking for someone to share it with. But it was revealed in May 2023 she had tragically passed away 'unexpectedly', with her cause of death not made public. A death notice at the time added she would be 'sadly missed by her heartbroken parents Liam and Imelda, sister Lucy, brother William, brother-in-law Pedro, extended members of the Fitzgerald and Martin families and a large circle of friends'. 'May she rest in peace', it concluded. Judy earned a nursing degree from University College Cork, before completing a postgraduate midwifery degree at the University of Limerick. She enjoyed considerable success throughout her varied career, representing Ireland in beauty pageants around the world and working as a model. Judy famously took to the catwalk in 2015 during New York Fashion Week. This also saw her invited by event organisers to interview participating designers about their collections, which she described as a 'dream come true'. As a fitness instructor, she helped others achieve their goals with personalised workout and diet plans via her website and app 'Judy FitZ Fitness, Get Fit with Fitz'. She said she wanted to 'empower' clients to 'change their lives for the better' and 'become the best version of themselves'. Inspiring people was a motivating factor for Judy, who said there is 'no better feeling' than helping people 'feel about good themselves both inside and out'. She was an advocate for positive mental attitude through exercise and a mental health ambassador. Competing as a fitness model, Judy was crowned overall European Fitness Model Champion 2019. She shared her successes with her thousands of social media followers on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Tributes poured in from fans, friends, and colleagues when she passed away in 2023. Venera Tabakin, a dress designer at the Cannes Film Festival, shared images of herself with Judy, writing: 'RIP Judy Fitzgerald, my little model and friend, Miss Bikini Ireland and Celebrity of Ireland.' Fellow pageant contestant Mary Mullally wrote: 'Judy Fitzgerald, our Miss Bikini Ireland 2014, has sadly gained her wings. 'She will be truly missed in the modeling and beauty industry and community.' Actor Jenny Dixon, who formerly appeared on long-running Irish soap opera Fair City, shared an online tribute to Judy. 'So, so sad to learn of Judy's passing', she wrote. 'She will be missed by all very much. Our sincerest sympathy to the Fitzgerald family and friends. May she Rest in Peace.' And friend Nicola Hoey described Judy as a 'bubbly, fun, smiley, kind, beautiful Polly Pocket friend'. She wrote: 'Sadly our beautiful friend flew to with her family and friends, a huge community are heartbroken, devastated and in utter shock.' Jordan Dunbar Just months before Judy sadly passed away, another First Dates Ireland contestant, Jordan Dunbar, 29, of Dublin, also tragically lost his life. He died in March 2023, five days after he was found unresponsive in his home in the Irish capital. Jordan quickly won viewers over when he appeared on the first series of the Irish spin-off from First Dates when it aired in 2016. Formerly a hairdresser, who worked in several Dublin salons, he was catapulted to showbiz success after his appearance on the reality programme. He went on to co-present Irish life makeover show My Yellow Brick Road when it launched in 2019 as one of four guides to guests at a crossroads in life. The show synopsis read: 'All [four guides] have each battled and dealt with often traumatic difficulties, from alopecia to depression, dyslexia to drug abuse, and have helped give others strength by talking openly about where they found the strength to do so.' But just a few years later, he attempted to take his own life, sadly passing away in hospital five days later. He died from a lack of oxygen to the brain and an autopsy revealed traces of cocaine and opiates in his body. It came after a man who Jordan said had sexually assaulted him several months prior had allegedly threatened to burn his house down, an inquest heard. One of his best friends Leeanne Nolan said she received a call from him at around 6.30am on the day he attempted to take his own life and tried to reassure him. She said Jordan had been sexually assaulted several months before during a casual encounter, which had turned violent. Leeanne added this person, whose identity she did not know, had threatened Jordan if he reported the assault. The friend said this seemed to be playing on his mind that morning - so she called the emergency services and also immediately drove to the house herself. She said Jordan had struggled with his mental health, having received calls like this from him before after he was bullied in school and had a history of self-harm and attempted suicide. Leeanne said: 'He was one in a million and you could never replace him. He struggled inside but masked it very well.' Jordan's father Albert Murphy had moved to be close to his son and keep him safe after his mother Sharon died in 2015. He said he knew his son was suicidal and was using cocaine - but Jordan never spoke to him about it as he was 'anti-drugs'. The father said of his son: 'He was a kind young fellow who would do anything for everyone.' Jordan's family said after his death: 'He is predeceased by his loving mam Sharon and uncle Michael. 'He will be sadly missed by his loving dad Albert and Albert's brother and sisters, aunt Michelle, cousin Craig, his second family Gerry, Leeanne and Maria Nolan, his close friends Geena and Megan, relatives and a large circle of friends. 'May Jordan Rest In Peace.' Ireland's state broadcaster RTE, who made My Yellow Brick Road, said at the time: 'We are very sad to hear of the death of Jordan Dunbar. 'Jordan featured on First Dates Ireland and was also a presenter on the series My Yellow Brick Road. 'A wonderful talent, gone far too young. Our deepest sympathies to his loved ones.' TV production company Coco Television, which produces First Dates Ireland, said: 'Our hearts our broken with the death of Jordan Dunbar, such a talented and beautiful person. 'We first met him on First Dates and he went on to present My Yellow Brick Road on RTE. 'He was a joy to work with and it was a privilege to know him. Deepest sympathy to all who loved him.' Rachael Leader Rachael Leader, who appeared on First Dates in 2020, suffered the devastating loss of her two-year-old daughter Oria Henry in 2023 in a horrifying murder-suicide. The young girl had been in the car with her father Ashley Henry, 35, after a weekend break with him in Skegness, Lincolnshire, when they crashed into an HGV lorry. The young girl (pictured) had been in the car with her father Ashley Henry, 35, after a weekend break with him in Skegness, Lincolnshire, when they crashed into an HGV lorry On their return to Oria's Leicestershire home, the car was seen pulling out directly into the path of the oncoming vehicle on the A153 on June 18 - Father's Day. It caused the lorry to jack knife while the father's rented Nissan Qashqai ended up on its roof in a ditch. There was no evidence he braked before hitting the moving van - and both father and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene. Oria, whose second birthday was just two months before her death, suffered 'unsurvivable injuries' including a fractured skull and external injuries. The tragedy was initially treated as an accident - but a murder investigation was eventually launched after 'careful consideration'. Coroner Jayne Wilkes, at the inquest at Lincolnshire Coroner's Court, ruled the child, who only saw her father at weekends, was already dead before the collision. It is unclear how she died, with 'no physical evidence of a fatal assault' and no 'natural or toxicological' evidence. But it was ruled it was likely 'an unlawful act' that was 'carried out with the intention of ending her life'. The coroner added grimly: 'It is possible, probable, that Ashley made sure Oria would not survive.' Home Office pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton said he thought but could not prove the child had been killed before the crash - possibly by suffocation with a pillow. Before this, Henry left a 'detailed' suicide note on a Word document saved to a laptop in his bedroom, entitled 'Bye'. It marked his 'intention to end both his own life and that of his daughter'. He told of deciding eight weeks earlier, saying 'there was a sense of relief and calm knowing the end of life was near' and he was 'going to be with my daughter'. The letter also saw him confess he feared being replaced as Oria's 'father figure' by her mother's new boyfriend and therefore losing access to the girl. Henry also described in his final letter how much 'fun' he and Oria had had at the seaside in Skegness that last weekend, at the South View Caravan Park. He wrote: 'We went to the beach, we ate ice cream and we ate fish and chips. 'That was my last day with her. Me and Oria are now at peace forever. We love you.' He described attending a family weekend the previous weekend: 'It was wonderful to be all at the wedding - the last time. 'It was enjoyable and I hope you have happy memories.' He had been known to have 'periods of anxiety and depression' and 'he was not taking the break up of the relationship well', the coroner added. Rachael and her ex's mother Lisa Henry sobbed in court as the coroner delivered her verdict. Ms Wilkes described Oria as a 'beautiful, bright, bubbly little girl who brought sunshine into the life of everyone who knew her'. Rachael paid a heart-rending tribute to her wonderful child: 'To my darling daughter, Oria. I love you so much. I'm so sorry your precious life was taken from you. 'You gave me so much light, sweetheart, so much love and so much happiness.' She has described her ex as 'evil' and 'psycho' in social media posts, documenting online her 'journey of grief'. Rachael wrote on Facebook: 'My poor baby. You were taken from me by an evil force. 'A sick man, a man that I trusted with your life only for it be taken away by him in such a horrific way. ''Oria, I am so sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you... I will cherish each and every moment we had together. 'You had the most beautiful smile and gorgeous curly hair. You touched the hearts of many Oria and I'm so incredibly proud to be your mummy.' The mother also said after her daughter's death: 'I don't understand how one could take their own child's life out of spite. And have planned it, weeks before. 'It's psychotic. He felt that was the only way and he wanted to hurt me that much.' The inquest was told Henry had not wanted a child but 'doted' on his daughter after her arrival. Ms Wilkes also called the killer a 'popular and talented' man with many friends and who was 'highly thought of' at his workplace. But she added: 'He was clearly suffering what he called a "dark torture" in his head.' Paul Danan Actor and TV personality Paul Danan sadly passed away aged 46 earlier this year, at his home in Bristol. The Hollyoaks star died from a cocktail of drugs, including heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, contributed to by benzodiazepine use, a later inquest found. Assistant Coroner Debbie Rookes also concluded in May he died by 'misadventure' and the combined effect of the prescribed and illicit drugs. There was no evidence, she said, he wanted to take his own life and he had not left a note. It followed a long-running battle with addiction and mental health difficulties, she noted, including an accidental overdose in May last year. But Paul, who had also starred in Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother, had much to look forward to before his tragic passing. It was later revealed the star was in secret talks to star in First Dates and had been feeling hopeful about his future. A source told The Sun: 'Paul was feeling so excited about the future again and optimistic about finding someone he could share the rest of his life with. 'He loved being on telly, and First Dates seemed like a great opportunity to get back onto the dating scene. 'Obviously, producers were really keen to sign him up knowing how popular he was and they were in discussions about him joining the next series. 'He would have been brilliant on a date in the famous restaurant - with a real chance of finding love.' The troubled actor was found dead on a sofa with the TV still on at his home on January 15 of this year. His girlfriend Melissa Crooks raised the alarm when she had not heard from him after they had been out together for a 'couple of drinks' in the early hours of January 14. A neighbour then used a ladder to gain entry to his first-floor flat where Paul was found. Emergency services attended the scene and he was pronounced dead at 5.20pm on January 15. His body was identified at the property by Melissa. His mother Beverley Danan said in a statement at the inquest: 'Paul helped so many people from all walks of life, but just couldn't help himself in the same way. 'His smiling face and love of life will always be remembered.' The coroner said that none of the drugs Paul had taken were found in high levels but their combined effect resulted in 'fatal respiratory depression'. Paul had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on January 16 after being charged with being found in possession of cocaine and cannabis, according to court documents. He was also accused of driving while under the influence of drugs on October 2, 2024, in Warrington, Cheshire. The actor had been open about his struggles with addiction, having admitted he has had enough stints in rehab as to enter double digits. He has also previously detailed nearly dying from a heroin overdose. His death came months after he revealed he had been rushed into the ICU with pneumonia after respiratory failure due to 'obsessive' vaping. Paul's family had been warned by medical staff he 'might not make it through the night'. After he pulled through, doctors warned him he would need an oxygen tank later in life if he did not stop smoking. The star had smoked cigarettes for years before moving to disposable vapes, which he even sometimes slept with, 'for comfort'. A statement from his agents, Independent Creative Management, said: 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old. 'Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many. 'His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him.' Merlin Griffiths Merlin Griffiths is a First Dates institution, with maitre d' Fred handing guests over to him, after welcoming them to the restaurant, for some much-needed Dutch courage. The bartender mixes up a drink of the singleton's choice while chatting to them about what they are looking for from the show and why they signed up. He is a crucial part of the heartwarming programme, providing an introduction to its quirky contestants - and helping to ease their nerves as the big night begins. But despite being a rock for the members of the public looking for love, he himself has been undergoing an incredibly challenging health battle in recent years. The TV star revealed in 2021 he had been diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, marking a dangerous spread of the disease beyond the original tumour. Merlin underwent a gruelling 18 months of treatment to try to beat cancer - and thankfully, he has now been declared to be in remission. The beloved bartender courageously shared every step of his journey with fans, keeping them up to date about each new intense treatment. And despite his relief at his recovery, the star has previously told The Mirror he was forever changed by his experience: 'My life will never be the same. The TV star (pictured) revealed in 2021 he had been diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer, marking a dangerous spread of the disease beyond the original tumour 'My life will never be quite the same and anyone that has gone through bowel cancer and the horrific treatment that it involves will understand.' In a terrifying admission, he revealed: 'I might look whole but I'm actually missing about 45 per cent of my insides. 'It's quite a major amputation internally that I have had.' He revealed to his more than 150,000 Instagram followers in April 2023 he was 'clear' of cancer as part of a one-year update. The star explained he had been for his one-year colonoscopy bowel cancer check-up and was given the positive results there was 'no cancer seen'. Merlin shared a snap of himself in his hospital gown and a photograph of his test results as he candidly spoke about the difficult preparation for the procedure. He also shared because he is clear of cancer, his next check-up will be in three years' time, followed by another in 2027. Announcing his health news, he wrote: 'Scroll across... 1-year colonoscopy check up for #bowelcancer; Prep was soo difficult this time. He revealed to his more than 150,000 Instagram followers in April 2023 he was 'clear' of cancer as part of a one-year update Despite his relief at his recovery, the star has previously said he was forever changed by his experience: 'My life will never be the same' 'Soiled the bed several times overnight, resorted to adult nappies, got about 2 hours kip. Felt like hell. 'First one with my newly connected arse too (sans rectum), so I was a little nervous. But along with my last blood tests (clear), at one year examination, we're clear! Phew. 'Next one at 3 years (2025). Last one at 5 years (2027). #bowelcancerawarenessmonth. 'Love to all you fellow bowel cancer peeps, keep on keeping on!' First Dates is available to watch and to stream on Channel 4. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit

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