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Sue Cleaver reflects on '25 years of laughs' after Coronation Street exit

Sue Cleaver reflects on '25 years of laughs' after Coronation Street exit

Wales Online2 days ago

Sue Cleaver reflects on '25 years of laughs' after Coronation Street exit
Eileen Grimshaw had a special send-off during Friday's episode of the soap, where she was seen leaving for Thailand alongside her son Jason Grimshaw, played by Ryan Thomas
(Image: Coronation Street /Instagram )
Coronation Street actress Sue Cleaver has reflected on "25 years of laughs and tears" following her character's exit from the show.
Eileen Grimshaw had a special send-off during Friday's episode of the soap, where she was seen leaving for Thailand alongside her son Jason Grimshaw, played by Ryan Thomas.

Simon Gregson's character Steve McDonald, Tony Maudsley's George Shuttleworth, and Eileen's son Todd, played by Gareth Pierce, all said goodbye to the matriarch before drivers from the local taxi firm honked their horns as she was driven off.

In an Instagram post, Cleaver said: "Well... that's a wrap. 25 years of laughs, tears, costumes, chaos - and one unforgettable journey.
"I'll miss this character like crazy, but what a ride it's been. Thank you for every moment."
Cleaver has played the outspoken and uncomplicated Eileen in the ITV show since 2000.
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Eileen came to Weatherfield to work at the local taxi firm, Streetcars, to provide for her two tearaway teenage children, Jason and Todd.
She soon became friends with her boss Steve and came into conflict with Helen Worth's character Gail Rodwell (also known as Gail Platt).
Cleaver took part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022, where she opened up about reconciling with her birth mother, and was eliminated third.
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She also said her family is "bizarrely interconnected" to other Coronation Street stars, including Worth who is godmother to one of her half-sisters, while her other half-sister's husband, John Bowe, appeared on the cobbles as Duggie Ferguson.
In 2024, she released a book A Work In Progress in which she discusses how she feels she is not past her prime.
In recent years she has appeared as a panellist on ITV chat show Loose Women.

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EXCLUSIVE Little Britain - in a remote corner of Saudi Arabia! What life is like for expat women living in desert compounds while their husbands help build a futuristic $500 billion city
EXCLUSIVE Little Britain - in a remote corner of Saudi Arabia! What life is like for expat women living in desert compounds while their husbands help build a futuristic $500 billion city

Daily Mail​

time3 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Little Britain - in a remote corner of Saudi Arabia! What life is like for expat women living in desert compounds while their husbands help build a futuristic $500 billion city

In the remote, sun-scorched deserts of north-western Saudi Arabia, a curious and distinctly British enclave is quietly flourishing. Welcome to NEOM – a $500 billion mega-project the size of Belgium that, despite still being under construction, is already attracting a growing wave of expats from across the UK. Envisioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the centrepiece of his ambitious Vision 2030 plan, NEOM is billed as a revolutionary 'eco-city' promising a sustainable, tech-driven utopia. But for hundreds of British families now calling it home, it's not futuristic skyscrapers or hyperloops drawing them in – it's the simple comforts of community, convenience, and Starbucks in the middle of the desert. Among the first to settle in the compounds – temporary residential zones created for international workers – are a group of British influencers who have taken to TikTok and Instagram to document their lives in this improbable Middle Eastern haven. Samantha Barker, a mother-of-two from the UK, has become a digital ambassador of sorts for NEOM life. Her social media channels offer a curated look into her everyday routine: school runs, coffee outings, gym sessions, and salon appointments all set against a sunlit desert backdrop. In one vlog, Samantha shares a typical day – dropping the children off at school, heading to Starbucks with friends, hitting the gym, and later visiting the on-site salon for a massage and pedicure. 'Great' and 'amazing' are words that pepper her descriptions of life in the compound. She frequently praises the amenities available in what are supposed to be temporary accommodations: swimming pools, spa facilities, playgrounds, football pitches, and even a fully operational Starbucks – comforts that might seem unexpected in a region known for its harsh terrain and traditional conservatism. But not everything is cheaper under the Saudi sun. In another video, Samantha films herself comparing prices in the local supermarket. A large pumpkin, she notes, costs nearly 200SAR – around £40 – while punnet of blueberries or strawberries can run between £5 and £10. Still, she insists, 'considering where we are the prices are really really good.' To help soften the sticker shock, familiar British treats are stocked on the shelves: Celebrations and Roses chocolate boxes among them – small tokens of home for the thousands of UK nationals now living in this futuristic city-in-progress. And it's not just Samantha painting a glossy portrait of NEOM life. Another British influencer, Samara Abbott, also a mother-of-two, has lived in the camp for over two years. She describes her time there as 'incredible,' regularly showing off trips to new restaurants, coffee stops at Dunkin Donuts, and children's play areas. 'I can't believe I am saying this,' she admits in one video, 'but it has been nearly 2 years since I packed up my life in the UK and I got on an aeroplane with my then five-week-old baby to move to somewhere that I had never ever been before. 'It was absolutely madness if you ask me but honestly it was the best decision I have ever made in my life and it still is.' @ Can you believe this is 5 minutes from my doorstep! 🥲🥂🫶🏼💫📍🧿 #neom #neomsaudi #turkish #girlsnightout #datenight #mumsoftiktok @Aida McPherson @sarasid @Akdeniz Turkish Cuisine ♬ original sound - She continued: 'I absolutely love the community here, and I just wouldn't change it for the world.' The utopian lifestyle promoted online paints a rosy image of NEOM – one of safe playgrounds, virtually no traffic, and communal coffee mornings for stay-at-home mums. Families gather at a central food hall offering buffet-style meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In one clip, which since appears to have been deleted, South Africa-born Jessica Herman reveals a 'day in the life' in Neom after she and her husband moved there with their two sons in recent months. In one clip, which since appears to have been deleted, South Africa-born Jessica Herman reveals a 'day in the life' in Neom after she and her husband moved there with their two sons in recent months. Shots of Neom in its infancy, which is just a camp at present for staff working on the development and their families, show the purpose built homes, cafes and parks Neom (pictured) is set to cost $500 million and is funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, plus domestic and overseas investors In particular, she focuses on her evening as she gets the children ready to go to dinner, where she meets her husband who has just finished work. She shows herself walking on what appear to be largely empty roads as she heads to the food hall. After meeting her husband, Jessica reveals what the brightly-lit dining hall looks like as she surveys the wide selection of food on offer and boasts: 'We have the best fruit here.' When the family has finished dinner, Jessica shows her oldest son running around and says: 'Now it's time for [him] to run around and go crazy until he gets completely exhausted.' The 'day in the life' clips, many of which have been deleted since they went viral, show mothers spending their time going shopping and having lunch in the food hall Elsewhere, a vlogger named Aida McPherson, who describes herself as an 'expat' living in Saudi Arabia, has revealed her daily life in Neom which includes going to Starbucks in the morning for an iced coffee, before sitting with 'the girls' for a catch up. She also visits the communal food hall for breakfast, which runs for a certain time period in the morning. In one video, she describes her visit to the Tabuk Park Mall, one of her 'favourite places', via a coach. Aida films herself folding down her pram to put it in the coach, where she takes a seat with her friends as they travel to the mall. Once there, she visits a supermarket called Lulus where she buys dried fruit. A glimpse inside the mall reveals some well-known brands including Timberland and H&M have shops there. She visits McDonald's for lunch before doing some shopping for her children. As she heads home, the coach passes a sign which says: 'I [heart] Neom.' In a comment underneath her video, Aida explains that the city is currently a 'construction camp only for employees'. She explains: 'You need to work for Neom in order to stay in the camp.' Elsewhere she adds that her husband was offered a job in Neom, which was why she and the family decided to move there. In another clip, Aida shows herself visiting the supermarket after feeling 'bored', before later going to a friend's apartment block for a visit. She appears to travel to her friend's home on the back of a motorcycle-style taxi service, which drives through largely empty streets. Another expat, who goes by the TikTok handle GGNEOM, posts clips of herself living in the Saudi compound while also quizzing her friends on what they enjoy about living there. In one clip, she asks people to finish the sentence: 'If you live in Neom...' and shows different people's responses to the prompt. One woman says: 'You have a lot of support to self heal', while another says: 'You enjoy a lot of sports.' One of the women asked the question is Aida, who replies: 'You will have the best community and lots of food.' Elsewhere another mother Sara Sid, who appears to be friends with some of the other mumfluencers, showed followers what her average day looks like - including two visits to Starbucks. Sara Sid, who appears to be friends with other mothers who live in Neom, has also posted vlogs about living in the Saudi city It's a seemingly idyllic world, meticulously designed for comfort and cohesion. But scratch beneath the polished surface, and a different picture begins to emerge. Despite its sleek branding and glowing endorsements from TikTok stars, NEOM has been dogged by controversy. Human Rights Watch has reported serious concerns over labor abuses, particularly among the migrant workforce that is physically building the city. Some workers describe overcrowded, squalid housing 'packed like sheep,' plagued by leaking ceilings, bed bugs, and poor ventilation. Safety is another major concern. According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, there have been alarming incidents on-site, including gang rapes, suicides, attempted murders, and reckless driving, with inadequate emergency services compounding the issues. Even more troubling are claims that entire indigenous communities have been forcibly removed to make way for the mega-city. Former CIA agent Col Rabih Alenezi, now living in exile in the UK, told the BBC he was ordered to evict members of the Huwaitat tribe – a group with deep historical roots in the area. An artist's impression of what The Line will look like. While working on the construction site 21,000 workers have died in the last eight years He claims that one protester was shot and killed during the evictions. The Saudi government has refused to comment. Despite these revelations, construction surges ahead. NEOM's developers have secured $5.6 billion in housing deals to expand residential compounds to eventually accommodate more than 100,000 people. According to NEOM's website, the city's vision is to become a 'global hub for business' powered by sustainability and innovation, backed by the Kingdom's sovereign wealth fund and international investors. The centerpiece of the project, The Line, is a planned 170km linear city intended to house 9 million residents, where daily essentials are promised to be 'within a five-minute walk.' Renderings depict sleek, mirrored skyscrapers stretching across the desert – a stark contrast to the modest but modern compounds where expats like Samantha and Samara live today. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said: 'We cannot ignore the livability and environmental crises facing our world's cities, and NEOM is at the forefront of delivering new and imaginative solutions to address these issues.' Whether NEOM becomes the beacon of innovation it claims to be or a cautionary tale of overreach and erasure remains to be seen.

Beloved 80s sitcom star re-emerges as LA ICE protester clad in terrifying outfit
Beloved 80s sitcom star re-emerges as LA ICE protester clad in terrifying outfit

Daily Mail​

time10 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Beloved 80s sitcom star re-emerges as LA ICE protester clad in terrifying outfit

Eighties sitcom actress Jodie Sweetin has been seen among protesters at the Los Angeles riots as they spiraled out of control this week. The Full House star was spotted by fans despite wearing all-black with a baseball hat, ski goggles, and a Covid-style face covering over her mouth. One person excitedly filmed her walking among protesters with a megaphone before sharing the 13-second clip on TikTok. The fan shouted to get Sweetin's attention, and she said: 'Hey man, what's up?' and gave a thumbs-up before returning to the scene. Sweetin confirmed she was behind the terrifying mask 'on the front lines in LA' in response to a fan's Instagram post praising the former child star for using her 'platform to speak against these unlawful ICE kidnappings'. 'Thank youuuuuu!! Much love', Sweetin said. Self-described activist Sweetin, 43, is a regular face at progressive protests in California. She has marched for issues including trans rights and abortion access. The actress hit the headlines in June 2022 when a video surfaced showing LAPD officers throwing her to the ground during an abortion rights protest. Sweetin was among a large group of protesters marching on a freeway in response to the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade that summer. Video showed officers pushing Sweetin back toward the crowd, causing her to stumble over the curb and into the freeway where a group of protesters caught her. Sweetin has also been sharing content about the LA riots via her Instagram account, including a list of related social justice organizations looking for donations. Demonstrators are protesting against Trump's immigration policies, which they said are breaking migrant families apart. LA-born Sweetin is best known for starring as Stephanie Tanner in the ABC comedy show Full House, and its Netflix sequel series, Fuller House. The LA riots erupted on Friday, June 6, in response to sweeping immigration raids conducted by ICE agents in the city. Demonstrations were initially peaceful, but they escalated into lawlessness and violence when some protestors lit vehicles on fire and looted stores. The first day of protests began outside a manufacturing business where ICE agents appeared to be detaining two truckloads full of people. A crowd gathered at the scene to try to stop the trucks from leaving, but they did not succeed despite one person even laying in front of the vehicles. Later on Friday, a large group gathered outside the US Courthouse in downtown LA demanding an end to the immigration raids in the city. Video shows protesters vandalizing the building while launching projectiles at police officers, who used shields to defend themselves from flying objects. At 10pm on Friday, the LAPD called the protest an 'unlawful assembly' and asked people to leave the area. But the protests only swelled in size over the next few days, and turned increasingly violent. One man was seen waving a Mexican flag while riding a dirt bike in donuts around a burning vehicle, while cops fired tear gas into a crowd. The protests spilled over into nearby Compton and San Francisco, and by the evening of June 7 Donald Trump had sent 2,000 National Guard members to disperse the gatherings in LA. But demonstrators stayed on the streets throughout Saturday night into Sunday, with some launching what LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell described as deadly 'commercial grade fireworks' at officers. On Monday, 700 US Marines joined the fray. LA Mayor Karen Bass said 23 businesses were looted during that day alone. Local authorities imposed a curfew from 8pm until 6am in an effort to clear the streets, while California Democrats fought with the federal government about how to police the riots. Trump favored a heavy-handed approach and even said it would be 'great' if his border tsar Tom Homan arrested California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom hit back by challenging Homan to arrest him, while slamming Trump's decision to deploy troops in LA as fulfilling 'the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president'. The protests in LA are ongoing, and have inspired anti-ICE demonstrations other cities including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. Some demonstrations involved a few dozen people, while others attracted thousands.

Twins who played Ross and Rachel's baby daughter on Friends dish behind-the-scenes secrets
Twins who played Ross and Rachel's baby daughter on Friends dish behind-the-scenes secrets

Daily Mail​

time31 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Twins who played Ross and Rachel's baby daughter on Friends dish behind-the-scenes secrets

They had their first taste of Hollywood at only six months old - but over 22 years later Alexandra and Athena Conley have taken off in a different direction. The twin sisters, 23, were both cast to play Emma Geller-Greene in the ninth season of Friends, appearing in six episodes of the famous sitcom. The duo went viral last month after Alexandra posted a TikTok video, revealing their secret sitcom past as Ross Geller and Rachel Greene's daughter. The clip, which has now been viewed over 2.2 million times, began with a recent picture of Alexandra striking a pose, with overlaid text that read: 'Told him I was on TV as a baby.' The next slide was a picture of one of the girls in a coat with a pink bow in her hair, being held by David Schwimmer, with Jennifer Aniston standing nearby. A selfie followed which read, 'Oh so you did like Gerber commercials?' The post then ended with the photo of them from Friends which has the hashtag, '#holyairball.' While the girls, who grew up in Long Beach, California, were having fun looking back at their showbiz days, they admitted their video received 'a lot of mixed reviews.' 'Well, a lot of people thought that we weren't the actual twins, because we were only on it for a little bit,' Alexandra told The girls, who made their debut in the episode The One Where Rachel Goes Back To Work, explained they only appeared in a handful of episodes before their time on screen was cut short. 'Alexandra actually got us kicked off,' Athena exclaimed. 'We got it, and then she cried too much, and they couldn't use me the whole time because of child labor laws.' The girls were replaced by Noelle and Cali Sheldon who took over playing Emma from 2002 to 2003 - whom the girls are now quasi friends with. 'We follow each other on Instagram,' Alexandra quipped. 'We've followed each other for a really long time since you were younger.' Despite a short time on set, they still walked away from their experience with some good stories - or at least that's what their mom has told them. 'She just said that all the cast members were super friendly, and all of the guys were hilarious like they'd be cracking jokes the whole time,' Athena recalled. 'She's like, "Oh, yeah, they would just say lines on the spot, and half of it would get put in the show" which that was something to me where I was like, wow, that's awesome,' she continued, adding the cast was all 'super sweet and welcoming.' They also revealed their on-screen mom - Jennifer Anniston - had a hand in selecting them for the role. '[Our mom said] they had actually shown photos of us to Jennifer Aniston — that's how she ended up choosing us,' Alexandra shared. While they haven't met anyone from the cast yet as adults, they have been back to the set to see where it all began. 'We did do a Friends tour at Warner Brothers a while ago. We were hoping there'd be a cast member there, but it was really cool,' Athena explained. 'We got to see the set and everything, but we have not gotten to meet anybody.' Despite their early start in the TV show, neither one of the girls have pursued a career in showbiz. Alexandra now works as a marketing and social media coordinator for a beauty company. Athena became a cheerleader for the Denver Broncos last year and also works as an investment control reconciler for a financial services company. While neither one of the Conleys pursued a career in the limelight after their stint as baby actresses, they loved what the show has given them and are huge fans. 'I have been a fan ever since I watched it for the first time and, to this day, it is still my all time favorite show,' Athena gushed, with Alexandra agreeing. She added: 'Each character brings something so unique and hilarious to the group — I see a bit of myself in all of them, which is what makes this show so special. No matter how many times I've rewatched the series, it still makes me laugh like it's my first time seeing it. It always lifts my mood and will forever be my favorite show.'

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