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Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Cherry Healey's shock feud with her best friend revealed: BBC presenter's joint project turned sour after the TV star 'backed out over other commitments'
BBC presenter Cherry Healey has said her belief in the power of 'manifestation' has enabled her to attract her dream life, including her job and 'the specific man' she wanted. Yet the TV star, 44, who competed in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, probably wasn't intending on manifesting a bitter fall-out with her best friend over a joint book deal. I hear that Healey's decision to pull out of a lucrative project has left her co-author, Alexis Lee, fuming and struggling financially. The pair have previously run workshops together called Manifest That Sh** and were approached by a publisher to write a book about it. Manifestation refers to the process of bringing desires or goals into reality through focused thoughts, beliefs, and actions. The topics that were due to feature in the book included journaling, intention setting, alignment and finding stillness. Sadly, according to Lee, the work will never see the light of day. 'There was a lot of excitement about the book and a bidding war among the publishers and a brilliant advance and we were incredibly happy,' says the London-born author. 'Since the book deal in 2022, and after writing at least 70/80 per cent of the book, my co-author Cherry Healey pulled out. It coincided with her TV work increasing at the time, so I can only assume this was the real reason.' She alleges that Cherry, who is Paddy McGuinness's co-presenter on Inside the Factory, made damaging comments about her personality including that she was 'difficult' and 'intimidating' to work with. 'When she told me she wanted out, the book was almost finished,' she claims online. 'I explained I couldn't afford to pull out as I was banking on the income, and I wouldn't be able to pay back the advance as well as all the work we'd both put into the project. 'Initially, she said she'd pay the whole advance back herself since it was her decision, but she later retracted this. It's taken me a long time to recover emotionally, and I've still not recovered financially.' The divorced mother-of-two who runs the Style Me Sunday blog, says the loss of their friendship has 'rocked her world'. She says: 'It's the betrayal and lack of care from someone who I viewed as one of my closest friends, that hurts most. Showing Alexis support in the comment section, and referring to her fallout with Billie Shepherd, Ferne McCann wrote: 'Hope you're ok. I hear you friendship breakups are totally underestimated. So tough. Sending love' Ashley James added: 'Hope you're ok lovely, friendship breakups are so tough. I hope one day you'll get to write the book you wanted to' 'I wanted to seek legal justice, but I just didn't have the funds to do so.'A spokesman for Cherry, who attended Cheltenham Ladies' College before completing a drama degree at the Central School of Speech and Drama, could not be reached for comment. Showing Alexis support in the comment section, and referring to her fallout with Billie Shepherd, Ferne McCann wrote: 'Hope you're ok. I hear you friendship breakups are totally underestimated. So tough. Sending love' Ashley James added: 'Hope you're ok lovely, friendship breakups are so tough. I hope one day you'll get to write the book you wanted to' It comes after Paddy squashed the rumours that he and and Cherry had struck up a romance together. The comedian, 51, sent his Instagram followers into a frenzy after he shared an album of snaps with Cherry on the BBC show and dubbed her a 'diamond'. Among the photos, Paddy, whose divorce with wife Christine was finalised in October last year, shared an insight of the two them enjoying a meal out and visiting a book shop. While in the caption he gushed: 'The whole crew on Inside The Factory have been a joy to work with. A small but perfectly formed team. 'Also I'd never met @cherryhealey before but we hit it off straight away. Absolutely love working with her, she's an absolute diamond!' This sparked speculation from fans that the co-stars were dating, with many commenting that the pair 'looked very comfortable together'. Followers flocked to the comments to ask if they were an item, writing: 'Is this a soft launch of the new Mrs?'; 'Is this your new love? If so all the very best (you look very comfortable together)'; 'I suspect your soulmate.' But despite excitement from their fans, Paddy broke his silence to deny the rumours, replying: 'Not at all. She's just a great person.' Paddy made his Inside The Factory debut alongside Cherry last month during the Christmas special, after Gregg Wallace stepped down from the show last year due to the allegations in regard to female factory workers at Nestle, where he was filming at the time. Previously, Paddy gushed about working with co-host Cherry in an interview with The Sun. Admitted he had been nervous at the start, he said: 'That's always the tricky bit, you hope you get on. 'But I'm telling you now, me and Cherry do so much laughing. As soon as I met her, we had the biggest talk and we just got on like that. 'This is testament to her - when I did my Children in Need challenge, she turned up in Kendal to surprise me - she even brought me up a lasagne she'd made!'
Edinburgh Live
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Inside Andrew Garfield's love life as he moves on with 'quiet' new romance
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Andrew Garfield, the renowned actor, will be appearing on BBC One's Who Do You Think You Are? tonight at 9pm. This follows rumours that the actor is discreetly enjoying a new relationship with a high-profile actress. The 41-year-old actor was born in Los Angeles, California and resided there until he was three years old when he relocated to the UK. He spent his childhood in the charming town of Epsom, Surrey with his parents, Lynn, Richard and his older sibling. Before turning 16, Andrew had initially intended to study business at university. However, a friend suggested he should consider A-Level acting after their class found themselves one person short. To further his acting ambitions, he studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London while working his first job at Starbucks, reports Surrey Live. In 2005, his career began to gain momentum with his television debut in the popular Channel 4 teen drama Sugar Rush. Two years later, he featured in series three of the BBC's Doctor Who, starring in the episodes Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks. Acting breakthrough (Image:) His big break arrived in 2007 when his performance in Boy A garnered significant attention. He played a notorious killer attempting to start anew after prison, a role that earned him a 2008 BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Since catapulting to international fame with his iconic portrayal of Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man, the multi-award-winning actor has garnered a staggering 39 accolades for his acting prowess, including prestigious trophies like the Golden Globe, Satellite Award, and Tony Award. He has even scored an Academy Award nomination. As Andrew once again captures our attention on the small screen, it's hard not to take a glimpse into his romantic history, which has certainly piqued curiosity through the years. Emma Stone (Image:) Andrew's most talked-about romance was with none other than Emma Stone, his co-star from The Amazing Spider-Man. What initially began as fictional chemistry between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy blossomed into a real-world love affair, thrilling their fans. Emerging publicly with unrestrained displays of affection, Andrew expressed his joy to MTV News in 2012 upon discovering Emma would be playing Gwen. He passionately remarked: "She keeps you on your toes and that wakes you up. That was the beginning." He nostalgically continued: "Those are the days I'd look forward to, you know? For [my character] Peter as well, because Peter goes through some horrible stuff in the movie. There's some joy to be had when experiencing his first love." Their relationship lasted four years, enduring even through their return as co-stars in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. However, by 2015, news broke that the couple had decided to go their separate ways. Emma has since found love with Saturday Night Live Director Dave McCary, and the couple now share a daughter named Louise Jean. Despite Emma and her former Spider-Man co-star parting ways years ago, it's reported that they "still have a lot of love for one another". A source shared with Us Weekly: "They still have a lot of love for one another and they are on good terms with each other and remain close. It just wasn't working." Their amicable split was evident when Andrew gave Emma a standing ovation as she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in La La Land, showcasing there were no hard feelings. Rita Ora Towards the end of 2018, Rita and Andrew sparked romance rumours when they were seen walking hand-in-hand in London. A source told The Sun newspaper that Rita was overjoyed with how their relationship was progressing, saying: "Things have started to heat up, and she says what they have is the real deal. It is still very early days, but they like each other and are seeing what happens." However, just a few months later, the Take Me Anywhere singer reportedly suffered heartbreak when Andrew ended the relationship due to the intensity of her public lifestyle. Another source disclosed to The Sun: "Rita is cut up about the whole situation. Andrew split up with her recently and it's been hard going as they had spent a lot of time together. "They spent Christmas together and she thought things were going well between them. Rita had tried to do that and had kept their romance off social media but things didn't work out." The same source added: "She is currently on tour in Australia and is using it to distract herself from the whole situation." Monica Barbaro Meanwhile, heartthrob Andrew has been linked with rising star Monica Barbaro, celebrated for her Oscar-nominated performance as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, where she shone alongside Timothée Chalamet. The new couple reportedly turned heads while shopping hand-in-hand, dressed in coordinated outfits in Kyoto, Japan, and were later seen at the post-celebration of the prestigious 97th Academy Awards. Despite these appearances, they've yet to officially confirm their relationship. Still, a source claimed to People! that Andrew and Monica are indeed an item, albeit discreetly. The source stated: "They've been really lowkey and have been spending time together quietly." Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC One tonight at 9pm.
The Guardian
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bardy Thomas obituary
My wife, Bardy Thomas, who has died aged 77, was a voice coach at the Central School of Speech and Drama, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Rada. Among those she worked with over the years were Hugh Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, Anthony Perkins, Terence Stamp and Lenny Henry, the last of whom she helped when he was playing Othello with no previous Shakespeare experience. Many others, including Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Rayne, Matthew Rhys and Katy Cavanagh, have written about the importance of her teaching to their careers. Bardy was born in Wheelock, Cheshire, to Kathleen (nee Black), a housewife, and Albert Henshall, an accountant who was chairman and president of Stoke City football club. Growing up in the nearby small town of Alsager, she went to St Dominic's high School in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where she discovered a love of literature, especially poetry. From 1965 to 1968 she trained as a drama teacher at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and then stayed on to join the staff as a voice teacher, working in that role for 11 years. In 1979 she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford, also as a voice teacher, until in 1981 she went freelance so that she could balance her theatrical work with the demands of raising a young family. Thereafter she worked on a number of shows at the National Theatre, including John Wood's Richard III, and directed various plays for Art Depot, a theatre company she and I set up, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece at the Almeida theatre in London in 1988 and Sweet As a Nut at the Warehouse theatre in Croydon in 1990, which won the Charrington's London Fringe award. In 1994 Bardy took up a full-time voice coach job again, at Rada, where she eventually became dean of studies and also directed student performances of As You Like It, Cymbeline, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Rivals and Juno and the Paycock, before retiring in 2007. Between 2016 and 2019 Bardy ran a series of evenings called Shakespeare Out Loud, in Halstock, Dorset, which were designed to give people with no previous experience of acting a taste of how professionals approach Shakespeare's texts. She also wrote two published novels, Into the Hill (2013) and A Good Man (2017), as well as a play, A Passing Star, that was intended for radio but was never taken up. A beautiful, intelligent and warm woman, she loved her dogs and her kitchen garden. Her first two marriages, to the actor Tony Robinson and to Jem Thomas, both ended in divorce. She is survived by me, our two children, Jack and Bea, a son, Olly, from her second marriage, and three grandchildren, Lucien, Robyn and Margot.
Telegraph
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
White Lotus star Jason Isaacs: A woman asked me to sign her breasts at Harry Potter World
Jason Isaacs, born in 1963 and raised in Liverpool, is a television, film and stage actor who has become a cult icon thanks to roles as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise and Captain Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery, as well as memorable film roles in The Death of Stalin and Operation Mincemeat. Initially studying for a law degree at Bristol University in 1982, he became involved in the theatre club, later training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama in 1985. He has been with wife Emma since 1989 and together they have two daughters, Lily and Ruby. He stars in season three of The White Lotus on Sky Atlantic. Best travel experience? It's always when I'm closest to death. Usually whenever I've jumped off or slid into something, or whatever gets your heart pounding the most. In Oman, we went sand surfing, and I face-planted, came down an entire dune on my nose. I'm a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I've been lucky enough to have two daughters. Ruby, when she was younger, liked to go away with me alone. One time we went to Seville, and it was Semana Santa, when people parade through the streets in these big, pointy-coloured hats, which was fascinating. Then she said, 'Dad, can we just watch Derry Girls?' And we lay on the bed in the hotel room and watched a season of Derry Girls. That's one of my favourite days I've ever spent on holiday. Best lesson you've learnt since being a parent? I don't think I understood, and can't pretend I fully understand now, what the world is like for women. I come from a family of four boys. I don't think my mum was given a loud enough voice in the house, or that we listened to her. The second my daughters were born, it was like the world became a Magic Eye picture, and what it's like to be a girl in the world came into focus for me. I'm embarrassed it took so long to realise. Now I'm aghast at what most of the world is like for 50 per cent of the people. Best job you've ever had? Being a dad. It's the only one I felt like I've ever earned, and the only one I keep trying to get better at. The best acting jobs I ever get are when I get the best scripts, when someone like Mike White [ The White Lotus creator] writes it. Best moment of your career so far? On stage, it was Angels in America. At the time, Aids was killing a lot of people, the establishment was turning against gay men, the Reagan administration in the White House was very Right wing. The play addressed those things to an audience that often thought they were coming to see a musical. Sometimes you do plays about 'important subjects', but there's a pointless attempt at theatrical activism going on. In that instance, people changed their attitudes to what was going on around them, and where their compassion was directed. That still remains the artistic highlight of my life. I'm sure it will be until the day I'm buried. Best fan interaction? Harry Potter is the job where the pleasure came afterwards. People come up all the time to tell me how they were in a dark or lonely place, and how profoundly they've been affected by these stories of inclusion and feeling they belong somewhere. I'm always slightly intrigued when they say Lucius Malfoy is important to them, because I feel like they haven't had quite enough therapy… but then, it might be the hair. I'm not sure. Another great interaction was when I did a play, The Dumb Waiter, with Lee Evans in the West End. Stage door called and said, 'Barbara Windsor's here to see you.' I went, 'She must be here to see Lee. I don't know her.' They went, 'No, definitely to see you.' She came in, 'Hello darling!', big hug and kiss. I thought, 'I must have met her somewhere.' I hadn't, she just presumed – correctly – I would love her on sight. Best thing about getting older? Things feeling less hysterically important. Finding nuance everywhere, even in gigantic political shifts, like the way we feel the world tilting at the moment. The general movement of the earth, and the human beings on it, has been towards progress and compassion. Bumps are all right along the way. That, and watching my kids grow into really remarkable people. Worst holiday or travel experience? I've been robbed a bunch of times, but I got through it. We rented a house in the south of France once, took all my family out there. I'd been away filming for a long time, so I was heavily invested in it being a great time, but it was plagued by the worst biting insects I've ever encountered. We were terrorised by these things. We tried to pretend it didn't ruin the holiday, but it totally ruined it for me. They didn't seem to bite my wife; she opened the windows and it didn't bother her. I don't know what's in my genes, but I'm a five-course banquet to anything that bites. Me and most of my family left looking like a Domino's pizza. Worst fan interaction? I remember being in Harry Potter World in Orlando [The Wizarding World of Harry Potter], and the whole cast had gone. We'd been in blazing heat, signing autographs and taking selfies, and right at the end a woman standing there goes, 'Will you sign my breasts?' and shot open her shirt. I go, 'Madam, please stop. There's kids everywhere.' She goes, 'I have eight kids.' I said, 'Well, what would they say?' They were standing alongside her going, 'Sign them, sign them!' That's the amusing worst. The actual worst I've had is stalkers. Proper stalkers. Court cases and people dragged away outside my house by police and dogs. When I saw Baby Reindeer, I thought 'I should have written it first.' Worst job you've ever had? When I was 15 or 16 I'd work on mates' market stalls. People would say, 'Have you got that T-shirt in large?' I'd go, 'I've got one left', take it in the back, stretch it over a pole and rip the label out. The very worst job I've ever had was being on 'the smudge'. It involved going to council estates when I was underage, knocking on doors saying, 'You got any children? There's a photographer opening a studio taking free photographs.' I'd be the photographer, with a camera and backdrop, and a week later, I'd turn up with six photographs and say, 'Don't feel obliged to buy them, but if you want to, you can buy one for a fiver, three for a tenner, or six for 20.' If they only bought one, you'd start ripping the others up. No one ever wants to see pictures of their kids ripped up. I got beaten up for the camera equipment more than once – at which point I decided it might be safer to go back to the market. Worst memory from being on set? On Civvies, my first big lead, I was a parachute regiment soldier and Carl Francis, the director, decided what I needed to make me sexy was a chest wig. We put it on on set and I said, 'It looks like a dead cat. It's ridiculous.' Carl replied, 'That's what women love, isn't it? They run your fingers through your chest. They'll think it's sexy.' In the end, he made me wear it. We shot in a real prison, where I was meant to be doing press-ups, and the prisoners, who could do 1,000, saw this puny actor with a chest wig on, collapsing after 10. That might well be the lowest moment in my career.
