‘It will change the way I act, because it's changed me personally': Blue Lights star Richard Dormer on experience with SOS NI
Blue Lights star Richard Dormer has recalled how working with healthcare charity SOS NI has altered his life and subsequently will change the way he acts.
The Co Armagh actor, who has starred in Game of Thrones and gritty crime thriller Gangs of London, played the role of PC Gerard 'Gerry' Cliff in the Belfast-based BBC police drama.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Coronation Street and Emmerdale humiliated at British Soap Awards as rival soap wins EIGHT gongs
CORONATION Street were brutally snubbed at the 2025 British Soap Awards as they failed to pick up any of the previously announced awards at this year's ceremony. The annual soap event made a return this year after ITV mysteriously axed the contest in 2024 as Jane McDonald returned for her second year as host of the event. 5 5 5 But it was bad news for Coronation Street as the programme suffered a devastating loss after managing to bag just the specially curated Outstanding Achievement Award which went to Roy Cropper star David Neilson. The show failed to secure wins in any of the main panel or viewer-voted categories amid ITV's ongoing cash crisis and the mass cast exodus at the soap over the past six months. Its ITV counterpart Emmerdale also faced a crushing blow ahead of the impending ITV schedule changes which will see 30 minutes worth of each programme cut a week from January 2026. BBC rival EastEnders swept the board after collecting a total of eight gongs in its 40th anniversary year - more than double its nearest rival, Channel 4's Hollyoaks who got three awards. EastEnders was awarded Best Soap after its huge live episode and anniversary week which saw Anita Dobson return as Angie Watts and Martin Fowler killed off in the arms of his love, Stacey. It was certainly not the only award that they picked up with actress Lacey Turner receiving the trophy for Best Leading Performer ahead of her impending exit from the show. The 40th anniversary also managed to clutch the Scene of the Year thanks to Angie's shock return. Steve McFadden a won a trophy for Best Dramatic Performance as Phil Mitchell but did not attend the ceremony with Angela Wynter and Rudolph Walker also receiving prizes as Patrick and Yolande - beating Corrie fan favourites Lisa Swain and Carla Connor, affectionately known as Swarla, to the Best On-Screen Partnership award. The Walford based soap also collected the Comedy Performance gongs and Villain of the Year. In a major blow to Coronation Street, only David Neilson picked up the Outstanding Achievement Award as Roy Cropper which was presented to him by by his on-screen wife Julie Hesmondhalgh. Emmerdale shock return as Aaron's wedding to serial killer is gatecrashed by ex Hollyoaks managed to win three awards with Isabelle Smith winning as Best Newcomer with The Osbourne family taking home Best Family and the sibling sexual abuse storyline being named Best Storyline. Emmerdale managed just two awards with Amelia Flanagan beating her Corrie star brother Will to the Best Young Performer prize. Mike Plant, one of the show's camera operators, picked up the prestigious off-screen Tony Warren Award accolade for his contributions to the soap behind the scenes. ITV's crushing defeats come amid a period of unrest backstage at the shows. Both Corrie and Emmerdale have lost a number of stars over the past 12 months amid cuts at the channel. In particular, Coronation Street has faced increasing criticism of its far-fetched storylines and dwindling viewer interest in many of its plots. Fans will be able to see all the reaction from the ceremony held at the Hackney Empire during the broadcast of the ceremony this Thursday evening on ITV. 5 5
Wales Online
38 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa breaks silence on 'heartbreaking' exit after two series
Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa breaks silence on 'heartbreaking' exit after two series Doctor Who viewers saw Ncuti Gatwa's final scenes as the Time Lord on Saturday night Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa has spoken out about his decision to step down as the Doctor, having concluded his two-series stint on the BBC show. Ncuti's final scenes as the Doctor aired during the two-part season finale, which wrapped up on Saturday night (May 31). In the episode, the Doctor faced off against the villainous Rani (Archie Panjabi) in an epic battle to save the world, and made the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of a young girl. Addressing his departure, Ncuti stated: "You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. "This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe." Ncuti Gatwa has left Doctor Who after two series Ncuti continued: "The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can't thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience," reports Belfast Live. "I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have." He concluded: "I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor." The Sex Education star's tenure as the Time Lord began during the show's 60th anniversary celebrations in November 2023, marking a milestone with a unique bi-generation storyline. Throughout his adventures, Ncuti was joined by companions Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) as he travelled through time and space. Ncuti's Doctor regenerated on Saturday night His performance earned him numerous accolades, including a Best Actor award at the 2024 BAFTA Cymru Awards. He also received nominations for a BAFTA Scotland Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen, and Best Actor in a Drama Series at the 2025 Critics Choice Television Awards in the US. At the end of tonight's instalment, Ncuti's Doctor regenerated into Billie Piper, who first appeared in the Whoniverse as much-loved companion Rose Tyler back in 2005. Commenting on Billie's return, showrunner Russell T Davies stated: "Billie once changed the whole of television, back in 2005, and now she's done it again! "It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told. After 62 years, the Doctor's adventures are only just beginning!" Billie added: "It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn't refuse, but who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see." Billie Piper has returned to the Whoniverse After the finale aired, Doctor Who enthusiasts swiftly took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their sadness over Ncuti's departure, but were thrilled by Billie's comeback. A fan commented, "In 18 episodes, 15 has become one of my all time favourite Doctors and I can't even begin to put into words how heartbroken I am that he's gone. I'm genuinely so devastated by it, I've not stopped crying for about 45 minutes." Another shared, "I was beyond captivated by Ncuti and it meant the world to me for him to be The Doctor and so unapologetically himself. I'll miss him." Article continues below Regarding Billie's return, a third viewer exclaimed, "I'm actually here for this. I'm sorry to anyone who's not.. but this is MAD.. and I'm here for it, genuinely am here." Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
Telegraph
44 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Doctor Who finale review: Goodbye Ncuti Gatwa, hello Billie Piper – assuming the show survives
Amid mounting speculation about actor Ncuti Gatwa's future on Doctor Who (BBC One), an overwrought mess of a finale saw him regenerate into the show's next star – played, in a head-swivelling plot twist, by ex-companion Billie Piper. As the BBC continuity announcer said: 'What? What? ' The credits rolled on a whopping great cliffhanger – but one more about the show's future than the identity of the next Time Lord. With ratings in freefall, scripts slammed for 'wokery' and Gatwa's portrayal of the 15th Doctor misfiring, his short-lived Tardis tenure came to a creaky, confusing close. Thankfully, it saved some surprises for the final few minutes, due to the brief return of the 13th Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and the shock reveal of the 16th Doctor. It could only have been more surprising if Gary Lineker had been seconded from Match of the Day or Gregg Wallace from MasterChef. Time travel doesn't get tougher than this. Piper previously played much-loved companion Rose Tyler who, in 2010, was left behind in a parallel universe with a part-human David Tennant clone (I know, I know). How she has now turned into a Time Lord will take some explaining. Showrunner Russell T Davies is desperately raiding his address book to help rescue the cult show. Tennant and Catherine Tate returned two years ago. Now he paid the Piper. Well, if all else fails, play your greatest hits. A patchy – and, for the franchise, potentially fatal – series meandered to its climax with an extended 70-minute episode titled 'The Reality War'. If you could keep track of what the heck was happening, you're a better man than I am and perhaps should apply for Davies's position forthwith. We last saw the Doctor tumbling from a tower in the sky. A perplexing penultimate episode had seen The Rani, a rogue Time Lord who'd split herself into two, snatch a baby who was actually Desiderium, the God of Wishes. She used the stolen infant to build a fake Stepford-style reality, with online conspiracy theorist Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King) installed as its Big Brother figure. Into this authoritarian dystopia, she dropped the brainwashed Doctor so his doubts could crack open reality, enabling the Rani to see into the 'underverse' and unleash Omega, another renegade Time Lord. Are we paying attention at the back? It wasn't what you'd call a straightforward plan. Davies threw a cast of dozens at the noggin-scratching narrative. By my count, we had not one but five villains versus the Doctor, plus countless companions. Talk about overstuffed and overpopulated. A stop-start finale found the Doctor risking everything to save one innocent life: Poppy, his daughter from the fabricated reality. It was never satisfactorily explained how the toddler came into being, but the Doctor and her 'mother', companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), moved heaven and earth to save her. Poppy was wiped from existence, then she wasn't. By the end, it was hard to care, no matter how cute she was. As for Omega, he bore no resemblance to the iron-masked monster who last appeared on screen 42 years prior. Instead he'd become a sort of giant zombie, swiftly zapped back to whence he came. Underwhelming doesn't cover it. At least leather-clad villainess The Rani (Archie Panjabi) got some good lines. She called the Doctor a 'strutting little pompadour' who spouted 'mimosa-scented platitudes about the power of love'. You'll find no arguments here. The first half hour mainly comprised characters standing around, spouting exposition at one another. What happened to 'show not tell'? Davies plotted his way into corners, before making his characters talk him out of them. Proceedings ended not on a big bang but a timey-wimey whimper. Reality was repeatedly 'reset', resulting in several endings rather than one. All the meddling caused a 'time schism', hence the brief return of Gatwa's predecessor Whittaker. Their scene together in the Tardis was poignant, if gratuitous. A homecoming for the Doctor's granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford) had been teased but didn't materialise. At least with Whittaker and Piper parachuted back in, the future of the franchise looks female. Eventually, if viewers were still awake, the regeneration came. 'It's been an honour, a nightmare and a triumph,' said Gatwa. Not inaccurate, except perhaps the triumph part. As ethereal music swelled and more CGI was deployed, he morphed into Piper. 'Oh hello,' she grinned with a devilish twinkle. But was it too little, too late? All in all, Gatwa's premature departure – he lasted a mere 18 episodes and never even got to face the Daleks – felt hastily cobbled together and his regeneration fudged. It's now rumoured that Disney could cut off the cash that has been helping fund this latest iteration of the BBC stalwart, and Doctor Who will be 'rested' for only the second time in its 62-year history. This chaotic, compromised climax leaves it in a perilous position. This might have been the last episode for a long time, making it an even greater shame that it was such a sprawling stinker.
