Latest news with #Essex-born
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Megan McKenna reveals shocking call from Simon Cowell and what he told her
Megan McKenna says becoming a mum has brought her confidence and joy as she builds a new life with husband Oliver Burke and their baby son Megan McKenna says motherhood has given her a new sense of freedom and confidence as she enjoys life with husband Oliver Burke and their nine-month-old son Landon. The 32-year-old, who rose to fame through reality TV shows like The Only Way Is Essex and Ex on the Beach, is now better known for her powerful vocals and popular recipe videos, Mirror reports. Having tied the knot with footballer Oliver, 28, in June, the Essex-born star now divides her time between the UK and Berlin, where her husband plays for German Bundesliga club Union Berlin. 'Motherhood has definitely made me more free,' Megan said during an exclusive interview with OK! at The Shard in London. 'I don't worry about the little things any more. As a mum, you have the most amazing gift already, so everything else is fine.' The visit to London marked her first performance since becoming a mother, as she joined Grammy-winning songwriter Toby Gad, best known for Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry, for a live show that also featured Paloma Faith. Megan performed alongside Toby, singing the iconic ballad, while her proud parents watched from the front row. 'I took a break from music for obvious reasons and I moved to Berlin, so I've had a lot on my plate,' she said. 'But to be honest, I took a break because I don't like doing things half-heartedly. I'm very passionate about what I do, so I want to do it properly.' Megan has been building a music career since winning The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019. Her original song This went straight to number one on iTunes and entered the UK Official Charts. The heartfelt ballad is now widely used in social media videos for engagement and pregnancy announcements, including Megan's own announcement in April last year, which followed fertility struggles. 'I hear my song all the time and get tagged in so many videos using it. It's really lovely,' she said. 'I would say definitely The X Factor helped with people realising that I've grown up a lot. "People realised that I can actually write music. I'm not just a singer who sings karaoke. I actually write from the heart and I think that's why I won The X Factor because all my songs are inspired by my own stories.' Her music journey has not been without challenges. Megan revealed that after her win, Simon Cowell's label, which was supposed to support her next steps, closed down. 'The label shut down after I won, so it was pretty hard. It was tough because I'd worked so, so hard,' she said. 'But Simon and I had a nice relationship. "He actually rang me, which was crazy, because it's not every day Simon Cowell rings you, to say that the label was closing down. He was really nice about it and said, 'I'm sorry, but you need to find a new home.' But it's not an easy thing to do.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Still, Megan is optimistic about returning to the music scene, now that her son is a little older. 'Thankfully, times are changing and you don't need a record label to release music, so hopefully it will be easier.' Beyond music, Megan has also carved out a niche as a cook, with millions of fans watching her prepare recipes online. Her cookbook, which became a Sunday Times bestseller, has cemented her status as a culinary talent. 'I love cooking. It's so natural to me. I just prop my phone up and film while I'm doing it,' she said. 'Most of the time, I look horrendous! "I always think afterwards, 'Gosh, maybe I should try and put on some lipstick,' but then it gets to the end of the day and I'm like, 'Nah, that's impossible!'' She laughed, adding: 'I love cooking, I love singing, I love Landon and I love Ollie. That's all I need, really.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Megan McKenna's shock phonecall amid 'tough' setback
Former reality star, turned singer and now bestselling food author Megan McKenna talks motherhood, her experience on The X Factor and the song which means so much to her Megan McKenna is feeling more confident and settled since becoming a mum, she tells us. The Essex-born star may have made a name for herself on reality TV, but these days she's better known for her stunning singing voice and delicious cooking, in what appears to be a complete career change. Now living in Germany with her footballer husband Oliver Burke, 28, and their nine-month-old son, Landon, it's clear that 32-year-old Megan – who tied the knot with Oliver in June – is feeling at ease in her new life, as she sits down with OK! for an exclusive interview. 'Motherhood has definitely made me more free. I don't worry about the little things any more. As a mum, you have the most amazing gift already, so everything else is fine,' says Megan, as we chatted at London landmark The Shard, before she took to the stage to perform with acclaimed songwriter, Toby Gad. The former Ex On The Beach star has been carving out a career in music since winning The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019. In the show, fronted by Simon Cowell, Megan debuted her original song This, which later went to No.1 on the iTunes charts, and made it into the UK Official Charts. And after taking a time out from the industry to spend quality time with Landon and Oliver, she's ready to get stuck in again. 'I took a break from music for obvious reasons and I moved to Berlin, so I've had a lot on my plate,' she says. 'But, to be honest, I took a break because I don't like doing things half-heartedly. I'm very passionate about what I do, so I want to do it properly.' She adds, 'This performance is my first since becoming a mother, so it's exciting.' Megan joined a host of other famous guests, including Paloma Faith, in performing alongside Grammy winner Toby. She adds, 'I would say definitely The X Factor helped with people realising that I've grown up a lot,' she says of the talent contest, which came after her drama-filled stints on Celebrity Big Brother and TOWIE. 'People realised that I can actually write music, I'm not just a singer who sings karaoke. I actually write from the heart and I think that's why I won The X Factor because all my songs are inspired by my own stories.' Megan's song, This, is often used on social media for engagement and pregnancy announcements, including her own special pregnancy announcement with Oliver in April last year, which came after various fertility struggles for the couple. 'I hear my song all the time and get tagged in so many videos using it. It's really lovely,' she says. Of course, not only is she embracing the brave new world of motherhood, Megan is also embracing a different culture, as the family-of-three made the move to the German capital to be close to Oliver's football team, German Bundesliga club Union Berlin. 'I'm not in Germany full-time, though,' stresses Megan, when we ask how life abroad is going. 'We have moved there, but I'm back and forth – I'm flying a lot!' Smiling at her parents across the room, it's clear that family is everything to her. 'My mum has always been so supportive of me,' she confirms. 'She's my best friend. You need family close, because I travel a lot and to have that closeness is everything. In the in-between bits, thank God for FaceTime! Even just social media keeps me close to UK friends and family, if I didn't have that I think I'd find it really difficult to stay involved.' Megan's proud parents had front row seats for her performance at The Shard, which saw her sing Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry alongside Toby, who wrote the hit song. But they've also seen her go through the tougher sides on her musical journey, confesses Megan. Winning The X Factor: Celebrity meant that the Barking native was awarded a record deal by music mogul Simon Cowell, but she admits that things didn't quite go to plan. 'The label shut down after I won, so it was pretty hard. It was tough because I'd worked so, so hard. But Simon and I had a nice relationship. He actually rang me – which was crazy, because it's not every day Simon Cowell rings you – to say that the label was closing down. He was really nice about it and said, 'I'm sorry, but you need to find a new home.' But it's not an easy thing to do.' Despite what could have felt like a huge setback, Megan says she's ready to take on the industry again, now Landon is a little older. 'Thankfully, times are changing and you don't need a record label to release music, so hopefully it will be easier.' Meanwhile, she's being kept very busy with plenty of other ventures, including her blossoming culinary career. With a Sunday Times bestseller cookbook (and autobiography) already and millions tuning into her mouthwatering recipe videos on social media – in which she whips up everything from comfort food classics to gluten-free dishes – Megan has made quite a name for herself as a cook. 'I love cooking. It's so natural to me. I just prop my phone up and film while I'm doing it, so it's normal to share my recipes. Most of the time, I look horrendous! I always think afterwards, 'Gosh, maybe I should try and put on some lipstick on,' but then it gets to the end of the day and I'm like, 'Nah, that's impossible!'' she laughs, before adding, 'I love cooking, I love singing, I love Landon and I love Ollie. That's all I need, really!'
Leader Live
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens to make stage debut at London's Young Vic
The 33-year-old will star as Mr Sloane alongside Auf Wiedersehen, Pet's Christopher Fairbank as Dada, Abigail's Party and EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite as Kath, and Daniel Cerqueira as Ed in the queer comedy, which will run from September 15 to November 8. Stephens said: 'I love the Young Vic and feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity. I'm terrified and excited. 'I couldn't have imagined my stage debut arriving in this way, with such an iconic, wicked play and under the certified guidance of Nadia Fall as well as stage veterans in Tamzin, Daniel and Chris. What an honour.' The play follows the story of Mr Sloane, who is rented a room by the lonely Kath. Her businessman brother Ed does not approve at first, however, he quickly becomes taken by the young man, as their convenient living arrangement descends into a dangerous game of desire and deceit. Director and Young Vic chief executive Nadia Fall said: 'Jordan Stephens is an artistic polymath, from writing and screen to music and his campaigning. I'm incredibly excited to be directing his stage debut. 'He has the ear of a new generation who will be discovering (Joe) Orton for the first time through Jordan's Sloane; the thought of that is simply thrilling. 'Together with the rest of the brilliant cast, I cannot wait to channel the downright audacity of this play.' As one half of Rizzle Kicks with Harley Alexander-Sule, Stephens has had five UK top 10 singles, including one number one in Heart Skips A Beat, which featured Essex-born singer Olly Murs, and two UK top 10 albums. The duo recently performed at this year's Glastonbury Festival, and released their first studio album for more than a decade, Competition Is For Losers, in February.
Rhyl Journal
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens to make stage debut at London's Young Vic
The 33-year-old will star as Mr Sloane alongside Auf Wiedersehen, Pet's Christopher Fairbank as Dada, Abigail's Party and EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite as Kath, and Daniel Cerqueira as Ed in the queer comedy, which will run from September 15 to November 8. Stephens said: 'I love the Young Vic and feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity. I'm terrified and excited. 'I couldn't have imagined my stage debut arriving in this way, with such an iconic, wicked play and under the certified guidance of Nadia Fall as well as stage veterans in Tamzin, Daniel and Chris. What an honour.' The play follows the story of Mr Sloane, who is rented a room by the lonely Kath. Her businessman brother Ed does not approve at first, however, he quickly becomes taken by the young man, as their convenient living arrangement descends into a dangerous game of desire and deceit. Director and Young Vic chief executive Nadia Fall said: 'Jordan Stephens is an artistic polymath, from writing and screen to music and his campaigning. I'm incredibly excited to be directing his stage debut. 'He has the ear of a new generation who will be discovering (Joe) Orton for the first time through Jordan's Sloane; the thought of that is simply thrilling. 'Together with the rest of the brilliant cast, I cannot wait to channel the downright audacity of this play.' As one half of Rizzle Kicks with Harley Alexander-Sule, Stephens has had five UK top 10 singles, including one number one in Heart Skips A Beat, which featured Essex-born singer Olly Murs, and two UK top 10 albums. The duo recently performed at this year's Glastonbury Festival, and released their first studio album for more than a decade, Competition Is For Losers, in February.
South Wales Guardian
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens to make stage debut at London's Young Vic
The 33-year-old will star as Mr Sloane alongside Auf Wiedersehen, Pet's Christopher Fairbank as Dada, Abigail's Party and EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite as Kath, and Daniel Cerqueira as Ed in the queer comedy, which will run from September 15 to November 8. Stephens said: 'I love the Young Vic and feel incredibly grateful to have this opportunity. I'm terrified and excited. 'I couldn't have imagined my stage debut arriving in this way, with such an iconic, wicked play and under the certified guidance of Nadia Fall as well as stage veterans in Tamzin, Daniel and Chris. What an honour.' The play follows the story of Mr Sloane, who is rented a room by the lonely Kath. Her businessman brother Ed does not approve at first, however, he quickly becomes taken by the young man, as their convenient living arrangement descends into a dangerous game of desire and deceit. Director and Young Vic chief executive Nadia Fall said: 'Jordan Stephens is an artistic polymath, from writing and screen to music and his campaigning. I'm incredibly excited to be directing his stage debut. 'He has the ear of a new generation who will be discovering (Joe) Orton for the first time through Jordan's Sloane; the thought of that is simply thrilling. 'Together with the rest of the brilliant cast, I cannot wait to channel the downright audacity of this play.' As one half of Rizzle Kicks with Harley Alexander-Sule, Stephens has had five UK top 10 singles, including one number one in Heart Skips A Beat, which featured Essex-born singer Olly Murs, and two UK top 10 albums. The duo recently performed at this year's Glastonbury Festival, and released their first studio album for more than a decade, Competition Is For Losers, in February.
