Latest news with #FayRipley
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
‘I'd rather you became a prostitute': The startling life advice from Fay Ripley's father
You might not recall the names of the characters played by Hermione Norris and Fay Ripley in Cold Feet, but you'll remember them as The Posh One and The Northern One. The twist in DNA Journey (ITV1) is that this gets turned on its head. It is Norris who discovers that she hails from humble County Durham mining stock, and Ripley whose background is London and well-to-do. Norris describes Ripley as 'much posher than me in real life'. Of course, every real northerner could have told you that Ripley's Cold Feet accent was made up and sounded like someone chewing a dry stone wall – she's actually a southerner – but still. The fun of DNA Journey is in the revelations and the way they are delivered. It's a jollier version of Who Do You Think You Are? with fewer tears, miserable tales of penury or hand-wringing over Empire, but with an equally impressive research team. It helps when the subjects get on like a house on fire and that seems to be the case with these two, who have known each other for more than 25 years. Ripley is very droll. Both approached the programme with some trepidation. 'There's that man, isn't there, that arrives on this programme. The Grim Reaper. He finds criminals and things. So if I see him we know we're in trouble,' says Norris, shortly before that man – his name is Paul – pops up to explain that Norris's great-great-grandmother worked in Soho in the 1870s. 'There were two main occupations that a young woman on her own could have in Soho. One was a seamstress, the other was a prostitute,' Paul explains cheerily, because cheeriness is the show's default setting. Being ITV1, there are commercial breaks, which allow the producers to throw in cliffhangers such as these. To her great relief, Norris heard that her ancestor was a dressmaker who eventually made it to the more salubrious environs of Regent's Park. Prostitution came into the conversation elsewhere: Ripley confided that, when she told her father she wanted to be an actress, he replied: 'I'd rather you be a prostitute, the going rate's better.' Ripley's history was a series of success stories. Her forebears, the Hardys, ran a company producing playing cards for customers including George IV. Her great-great-great-grandfather founded Deacon's Music Hall in London in the mid-19th century and later ran Sadler's Wells, which delighted Ripley because she had known nothing about her family's links to the performing arts. There was also a West End performer in her more recent history. Things were less triumphant for Norris, but even the revelation that another relative killed his best friend by accident didn't remain a sob story, ending with him providing for the widow and devoting himself to good works. The programme ended on a happy note, and I think I prefer it to Who Do You Think You Are?
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fay Ripley gasps 'I've become faint' as her 'mind is blown' by 'insane' family history unearthed on ITV's DNA Journey
Fay Ripley gasped as her 'mind was blown' by some 'insane' family history unearthed on the most recent episode of ITV 's DNA Journey. Thursday's instalment of the programme saw the actress, 59 and her Cold Feet co-star Hermione Norris, 58, entail on a journey of finding out about their ancestry. The pair headed off to St Paul's Cathedral and Fay was told that she was related to a man called James Hardy, who was her four times great grand father. Fay was left lost for words when she found out that the Hardys - who were known as 'elite printers' - produced playing cards for where King George. Their printing building - which was part of St Paul's Cathedral - allowed them to watch over funerals of people such as the Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson. The expert said: 'This is their building. This is where we are right now.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Fay replied: 'This is insane.' He added: 'From their window, they would watched the state funerals of Nelson. They would have watched the state funeral of Wellington. These things were happening in their front garden.' 'This is amazing,' Fay said. The expert then showed a drawing of their building, which had 'playing cards' printed on it and he told her: 'They didn't just make any cards, one of the premium prints of playing cards in the country. 'They were so good, their cards are still highly prized by collectors.' The voice over explained: 'Hardy and Sons playing cards were in such high demand, even King George owned his own deck. 'Playing cards was so popular it became one of the most taxed products of the time.' The Suspects star couldn't believe her ears as she explained a spooky link with the information that she had just learned - that her son tends to skateboard in that exact area. 'My son has been coming to there, there because kids come and skateboard, we don't even live that near anymore. 'He gets on a tube age 11 and says I'm going to go and skateboard at St Paul's Cathedral. 'It's so odd.' She added: 'This is brilliant, it blows my mind.' Later on in the episode the pair met up with another historian at Sadler's Wells theatre. She asked her: 'Does the name Deacon mean anything to you?' And Fay confessed that her brother is called Deacon because it's her dad's middle name. The historian explained: 'We are looking at your three times great grand father. 'This is James William Deacon. He was the son of James Deacon who was a publican. Fay replied: 'Deacon was only a middle name that I always really liked, I didn't realise, I thought it was a first name, not a surname! Unbelievable. ' She was told that James Deacon ran a pub across the road and in the 19th century, they decided to supercharge their business by building a music hall. 'Unreal, amazing, I would have never had dreamed of this,' Fay confessed. The expert revealed: 'So for decades the Deacon name was emblazoned across the building right here on Roseberry Avenue.' A shocked Fay then confessed that is where she got married. The historian explained that her family were very involved in the entertainment industry because of the pub, and her three times great grand father came to own the theatre. 'I've become slightly faint,' Fay confessed.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
TV tonight: Who has the poshest ancestors? Cold Feet stars Fay Ripley and Hermione Norris find out
9pm, ITV1 It's a nostalgia-fest for Cold Feet fans, as Fay Ripley and Hermione Norris are the lively pair tracing their genealogy for this fascinating series. While Norris was one half of the hit 00s show's posh couple on screen, in reality it's Ripley who has the more high-class background, with her journey starting at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Norris, on the other hand, begins hers in the Butchers Arms in Durham, where a relative who was a miner died in shocking circumstances. Hollie Richardson 9pm, BBC One Expect more affecting and life-affirming emergencies in the latest instalment of the acclaimed documentary series. Despite a severe and possibly dangerous headache, Ronald is enviably sharp at 93, while Rebecca suffers an agonising injury on the London underground during a day trip. Hannah J Davies 9pm, BBC Two The constant background gasping, tutting and gossiping of Versailles that keeps this drama alive moves to the court this week, as Cardinal Rohan's trial begins. The queen secretly watches as the cardinal makes shocking claims about her. Will Marie try to take matters into her own hands? HR 9pm, Channel 5 It was London's first luxury hotel when it was built 136 years ago – and it changed the hospitality industry. This documentary tells the story of the Savoy, from the theatre impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte's controversial plans for it to the many famous faces it has hosted. HR 9pm, Sky Max Usually, Charlie Cale's race from her past keeps her on the side of the angels. But not this week. In an episode guest-starring Melanie Lynskey and John Cho, Charlie meets a group of con artists and becomes implicated in a job gone wrong. It's still big‑hearted fun, but Poker Face has an edge, too. Phil Harrison 10.05pm, Channel 4 The five comedians battle on in their quest to win a bust of Greg Davies. While Fatiha El-Ghorri reveals her seductive scent, Stevie Martin auditions for Downton Abbey, Rosie Ramsey displays her trotting skills, Jason Mantzoukas attempts to reel in a fisher and Mathew Baynton generally sacrifices what remains of his dignity. Meanwhile, Little Alex Horne's shoes meet a dairy-based demise. Ali Catterall
