Latest news with #Everybody'sTalkingAboutJamie
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Steps stars now - from heartbreak, reality TV and unusual career move
Steps, the beloved British pop group, have come a long way since their split over 20 years ago - from switching fame to become a teacher and reality TV stints British pop group Steps rose to fame during the 90s with their hits, Tragedy, Chain Reaction, and 5, 6, 7, 8. But a lot has happened since the beloved band split in 2001, with many seeking fresh starts away from the spotlight and others going through their fair share of heartbreak. Just this week, it emerged that singer Faye Tozer has reportedly moved out of the family home she shared with husband Michael Smith and their teenage son in South Tyneside. Rumours about the state of her 16-year marriage began swirling after Michael, 43, took to social media last year to post a cryptic message about heartbreak. One post read: 'I met you when I was not looking for you and lost when I loved you the most.' Not long afterwards, he shared an image of the iconic Banksy artwork showing a broken heart patched up with a plaster, captioned 'closed for repairs.' When contacted by MailOnline for comment on the status of their relationship, Michael offered only a vague explanation, saying: 'We're going through some things and trying to work some stuff out. That's all I will say.' Faye, 48, is best known for being one-fifth of '90s pop group Steps with fellow popstars Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, and Ian 'H' Watkins. Together, they sold over 20 million records worldwide and reunited three times over the years - but what are they up to now... Faye Tozer Following the original Steps split, Faye made waves in musical theatre with roles in Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Me and My Girl, and Tell Me on a Sunday. She also appeared on The Celebrity Chase. Though currently facing a rocky patch in her marriage, Faye has previously described husband Michael as 'the best thing that ever happened to me', but it seems the spark has gone out for the former lovebirds. The pair share a teenage son, Benjamin. In 2018, she was a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing, dancing alongside Giovanni Pernice. The connection between the pair sparked a flurry of speculation but was dismissed by Faye and her husband. Faye herself later hinted that Strictly had spiced up things at home, revealing: 'It's really exciting now. My husband couldn't make it to the live show on the first week but when I got home, he couldn't wait to see me. Let's just say that.' Before tying the knot with Michael, Faye was married to Danish drummer Jesper Irn. The pair were together for nearly a decade and wed in 2002, but their relationship ended after five years. Lee Latchford-Evans Since Steps first disbanded, Lee has made a name for himself on stage, starring in Grease in the West End and winning the military-style reality show Commando VIP. At 49, he's also a qualified personal trainer and last year launched The 5,6,7,8 Method, a workout based on the group's hits. He's been married to actress and dancer Kerry-Lucy for 12 years, and the couple share a two-year-old son, Leo. 'We've wanted a baby for so long,' Lee said following the birth. Lisa Scott-Lee Lisa, now 48, lives in Dubai where she runs a performing arts school. She shares two teenage children, Jaden and Lily, with husband Johnny Shentall, formerly of Hear'Say. 'Steps has been my life for the last 24 years but being the principal of the school is my day job,' she explained. 'I'm mainly office-based now but still teach the kids singing and dance sometimes. I'm really proud to be able to tell people I'm a teacher.' Lisa has also dabbled in solo music and reality TV, starring in Totally Scott-Lee, Dancing On Ice, and CelebAir. Claire Richards After the band broke up, Claire paired up with H to form H & Claire before stepping back from the spotlight to raise children Charlie and Daisy with husband Reece Hill, who also happens to be Steps' former publicist. Claire, 46, later reappeared on Celebrity Big Brother and as a guest on Loose Women. She has since released her second solo album, Euphoria. Ian 'H' Watkins Known for his high energy, H went into musical theatre post-Steps, starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and countless pantos. He shares twin boys Macsen and Cybi Ryder-Watkins with ex-partner Craig Ryder. In 2020, he broke boundaries by being one-half of the first same-sex duo on Dancing On Ice with skating partner Matt Evers. They made it to week five.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Crewe teen makes emotional stage return after nine surgeries
A teenager who had to learn to walk and talk again after a rare operation is celebrating her return to the stage and 16, from Crewe, Cheshire, sang in front of an audience for the first time following surgery last year that involved having part of her skull stored in her had nine surgeries over the space of 13 weeks and at one point feared she might never leave said she felt "overwhelmed with love" after the performance on Sunday, which was part of a fundraising event at the Coppenhall Club in Crewe. WARNING: This story contains a photo showing the aftermath of hospital surgery"It was the best feeling in the world," she said, although admitted she had begun feeling nervous."The second I started, all the nerves just went away and I felt like I did before – back to normal."The teenager has been performing since the age of three and previously appeared in Emmerdale and trod the boards in the West End. Her mum Joanne said she had found it difficult to imagine her daughter getting back on stage so soon after her surgery."I wasn't sure I'd ever get back there," Ellie said."I was hopeful that I would as soon as possible but with something like what happened, you just never know how possible [it might be]."Ellie was taken to hospital in May 2024 after a week of suffering from persistent headaches and nausea and becoming sensitive to light, as well as vomiting up to 16 times a day. Following blood tests and an MRI scan, it was discovered Ellie had a bleed on her brain caused by a cavernoma - a group of abnormal blood vessels resembling a condition does not always cause symptoms and, according to the NHS, about one in every 600 people in the UK is living with a cavernoma without any underwent surgery at Alder Hey Children's Hospital that involved removing part of her skull to relieve pressure and it was then stored in her stomach to keep it sterile before it could be put back in her surgery, the 16-year-old could only communicate by wiggling her thumb and it took about seven weeks for movement to start returning to her legs. Speaking about the illness, mum Joanne said: "She was a healthy, 15-year-old child at the time, never been ill in her life, always so busy and energetic with dance and rehearsals every night."It was just a massive shock, a massive blow to be honest."Ellie – who is currently taking her GCSE exams – has now started preparing for her next performance in July, as part of an ensemble in Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Crewe Lyceum."She's not full out dancing like she'd like to be, we're still working on that side of things with physio and rehab," Joanne said. Read more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amanda Abbington insists her son Joe, 19, is not a nepo baby and that the aspiring actor she shares with Martin Freeman 'did not use her name' for role in new Stephen King series
Amanda Abbington has doubled down on her defiant claims that her son Joe is not a nepo baby. Joe, 19, who she shares with ex husband Martin Freeman, landed his acting debut in a new MGM+ show called The Institute, an adaption of Stephen King's hit novel, set for release later this year. But his mother, 51, has insisted neither she nor Martin had any involvement in the surprise role and that the teenager got the job on merit. She told White Wine Question Time: 'Whilst he was doing his A-Levels, he got an agent to come and see his A-Level production of Guys and Dolls, and she put him up for The Institute where he was filming for four months in Nova Scotia. 'I didn't need to help him with his tape, I just read with him and he got the job. 'He didn't use my name, he didn't use Martin's name, [the directors] didn't know who he was and they offered him the job.' Amanda also reflected on how the breakthrough role turned him into a different person, and that Joe did some growing up on the other side of the Atlantic. 'After five months in Canada, he just came back very changed, he went as a boy and came back a man,' she added. 'It was so lovely to see him.' It comes after the actress strongly defended her son and claimed he hasn't had a helping hand in showbiz last month. Amanda told the Mail's Richard Eden: 'He's just done a massive Stephen King show called The Institute, which comes out next year. 'He spent four months in Canada playing the lead in that. He got it all on his own, without anyone's help - there was no nepotism there, which was good. None at all.' And yet, while his mother insists that his famous surname didn't help him land his latest TV role, Joe's profile on his agent's website makes no secret of his background. 'Growing up with well known acting parents, Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington, Joe has spent much of his life backstage or on a studio set,' Scott Cole management declares. 'He has inherited the natural and engaging talents of both his parents and is well versed in dealing with the publicity that has followed his family.' While his mother insists that his famous surname didn't help him land his latest TV role, Joe's profile on his agent's website makes no secret of his background In 2023, Joe was a cast member in the production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie in Tunbridge Wells. He's also appeared in an episode of Doctors and starred in a Paul Weller music video. However, the teenager, who has a sister Grace, 16, decided to 'finish his studies' before embarking on an acting career full time. Martin and Amanda met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000 and went on to play formidable duo John and Mary Watson in Sherlock. They got married in 2000 and divorced in 2016, leaving them to co-parent their rwo children. He has since gone on to date French actress Rachel Mariam, who has featured in many roles including BBC's smash hit Normal People. Meanwhile Amanda is now in a relationship with former daredevil Jonathan Goodwin. The couple were friends for years before they began dating. However they were only together two months before Jonathan became permanently paralysed when he was crushed during a stunt - leaving him in a wheelchair. Amanda's last 18 months have been dominated by the fallout over her time with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing, which saw her leave the show after just six weeks, citing 'personal reasons'. The actress then accused him of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' in July last year. Giovanni rejected the claims immediately and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld. Complaints of verbal bullying and harassment meant the corporation issued an apology but the dancer said he was 'pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour'. In the chat with White Wine Question Time, Amanda doubled down on the claims, saying: 'I just felt I wasn't being treated fairly in that room.' In the wake of her accusations, she faced heavy backlash from the public, with the Sherlock star noting that she was subjected to '20 to 30 death threats a day'.
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Amanda Abbington declares 'my son is no nepo baby' as he lands huge new role
The Sherlock star's former partner Amanda Abbington has insisted their son Joe is 'not a nepo baby' as the 19-year-old has landed a massive new role on the small screen Amanda Abbington and her ex-husband Martin Freeman have firmly stated that their son Joe is 'not a nepo baby', with the Strictly star asserting 'he got it all on his own'. The 51 year old actress and the 53 year old Sherlock actor, who ended their 16-year relationship in 2016, are parents to 19 year old Joe and 16 year old Grace. Despite the high-profile acting careers of his parents, Amanda has staunchly defended her son, insisting he hasn't received any unfair advantages in the entertainment industry. Joe is poised to make his acting debut in a new series titled The Institute, based on Stephen King's novel. Speaking to Richard Eden of the Daily Mail, Amanda revealed: "He's just done a massive Stephen King show called The Institute, which comes out next year. He spent four months in Canada playing the lead in that. He got it all on his own, without anyone's help - there was no nepotism there, which was good. None at all." In 2023, Joe joined the cast of Everybody's Talking About Jamie in Tunbridge Wells. He has also made an appearance in an episode of Doctors and featured in a Paul Weller music video. While Martin may be pleased that his son is following in his footsteps, he has previously confessed to finding it difficult to come to terms with his children leaving home. The actor admitted that while it's 'totally natural' for teenagers to want their independence, it's hard not to feel emotional about it. When asked about his children leaving home, he told Radio Times: "Me and their mum [Amanda] don't live together so there are times where they're inevitably going to not be with you, or when they say, "Maybe not this weekend." It's hard not to feel hurt when they start doing things that don't involve you, even though you understand it and welcome it because it's totally natural." Martin and Amanda's doppelganger kids recently gave us a sneak peek into their family life at home. Last year, Grace took to TikTok to share a bit about her and Joe's Christmas celebrations with dad Martin at his house, where he lives with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa and their two sausage dogs. The funny video showed the family lip-syncing to the boyband song from Martin's famous Christmas film Nativity, titled 'She's The Brightest Star'. It offered fans a small look into the actor's luxurious home, as he and daughter Grace danced in front of an impressive fireplace and large patterned rug. In another part of the clip, Martin was seen lounging on a plush blue velvet sofa, petting one of his dachshunds and lip-syncing to the song. A particularly amusing moment in the video saw Grace standing in front of a sparkling Christmas tree lip-syncing, before her brother Joe and dad Martin jumped into the frame to be her backup singers. Martin's French actress girlfriend Rachel, 31, was seen fully participating as she sang and danced with his son Joe, both cuddling the dogs. Martin and Amanda first met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000 and later portrayed the formidable duo John and Mary Watson in Sherlock. He has since started dating French actress Rachel. She has starred in numerous roles, including the BBC's critically acclaimed series Normal People. Amanda is currently dating former stuntman Jonathan Goodwin, a long-time friend before they became romantically involved. Tragically, just two months into their relationship, Jonathan was left permanently paralysed following a stunt gone wrong, which resulted in him being wheelchair-bound.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Don't call my Joe a nepo baby, says Amanda Abbington - as son, 19, she shares with Martin Freeman lands major role in new Stephen King series 'all on his own'
Amanda Abbington and ex husband Martin Freeman have insisted their son Joe is 'not a nepo baby ', as the Strictly star demanded 'he got it all on his own'. The actress, 51, and the Sherlock star, 53, who split in 2016 after a 16-year relationship, share son Joe, 19, and daughter Grace, 16. Despite his very famous parent's successful acting career, Amanda has strongly defended her son and claimed he hasn't had a helping hand in showbiz. Joe is set to make his acting debut in a new show called The Institute, an adaption of Stephen King's novel. Amanda told Daily Mail's Richard Eden: He's just done a massive Stephen King show called The Institute, which comes out next year. 'He spent four months in Canada playing the lead in that. He got it all on his own, without anyone's help - there was no nepotism there, which was good. None at all.' In 2023, Joe was a cast member in the production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie in Tunbridge Wells. While Martin may be happy his son is taking after him, he previously admitted to struggling with the prospect of his children flying the nest. The star acknowledged it is 'totally natural' for the teenagers to want to spend time without him but it's difficult not to get upset about it. Asked about his kids flying the nest, he told the Radio Times: 'Me and their mum [Amanda] don't live together so there are times where they're inevitably going to not be with you, or when they say, "Maybe not this weekend." 'It's hard not to feel hurt when they start doing things that don't involve you, even though you understand it and welcome it because it's totally natural.' Martin and Amanda's lookalike children recently shared a glimpse into the family's life at home. Last year, Grace took to TikTok to share some insight into her and Joe's festivities with dad Martin at the home he shares with girlfriend Rachel Benaissa and their two sausage dogs. The hilarious clip showed the family lip-syncing to the boyband song from Martin's iconic Christmas film Nativity, called She's The Brightest Star. It gave fans a small glimpse into the actor's lavish home, as he and daughter Grace danced in front of a grand fireplace and huge patterned rug. In another part of the video, Martin was seen relaxing on an expensive-looking blue quilted velvet couch as he petted one of his dachshunds and lip-synced along to the track. A particularly funny part of the video saw Grace standing in front of a glittering Christmas tree as she lip-synced, before her brother Joe and dad Martin popped into frame to be her backing singers. Martin's French actress partner Rachel, 31, was seen getting fully involved as she sang and danced with his son Joe as they both cuddled the dogs. Martin and Amanda met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000 and went on to play formidable duo John and Mary Watson in Sherlock. He has since gone on to date French actress Rachel, who has featured in many roles including BBC 's smash hit Normal People. Meanwhile Amanda is now in a relationship with former daredevil Jonathan Goodwin. The couple were friends for years before they began dating. However they were only together two months before Jonathan became permanently paralysed when he was crushed during a stunt - leaving him in a wheelchair.
