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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Adolescence star Ashley Walters says show changed the way he parents his children
The 42-year-old Top Boy actor played DI Luke Bascombe, who finds himself caught up in the case of 13-year-old boy Jamie Miller (newcomer Owen Cooper) accused of murder. The four-part series, co-created by and starring Stephen Graham, has received huge praise since its release in March, becoming one of Netflix's most-watched shows ever. It has sparked conversation about the influence of the internet on young boys, been discussed in UK Parliament and had calls for it to be included on school syllabuses. Walters said it has also had the inadvertent effect of making him realise he had been 'too liberal' with his own children. It comes after creator Graham also issued a warning to parents about the effects of the internet on young people. 'I guess none of us knew how much conversation it would create,' Walters told Fearne Cotton on the Happy Place podcast. 'The biggest thing I've taken from it is how it's affected me and my family. It's very rare that I will be in a show and then learn huge things about myself afterwards.' The actor has two children and a stepson with his current partner and Chewing Gum actor Danielle Walters, four children with an ex-partner, Natalie Williams, and two with another ex-partner. His children are aged between 21 and seven, and Walters became a grandfather at the age of 38 in 2023. Explaining how it had affected his parenting, Walters said: 'I realised I've been a bit too liberal as a parent. I've been a bit too easy-going with my kids, with devices, screen time, stuff like that. 'I don't think I understood how dangerous those things can be sometimes so there are a lot of changes that happened in my house, a lot of conversations between me and my wife just about where we're going with them and how much time they spend on screens and on their iPads. 'The stuff that they're doing on there as well that we maybe felt was like quite harmless, actually you look deeper into it and you're like, wow, that could lead to this and that could lead to that.' The conversations with his family were not easy but the star said that he has forced himself to have them and that this is part of the enduring appeal of the show. ADVERTISEMENT 'I feel like that is part of why it's become so big, because before that, I felt scared to have those conversations with my kids,' he continued. 'I didn't want to make them stand out. Their friends are doing it so it's fine, right? I feel like what Adolescence did was say to parents, okay, you can all have the conversation now, like here's evidence and proof of the extreme of where it can go if you're not going in their room and checking on them. 'Parents all around the world have gone 'Okay now we can discuss this openly without feeling like c****y parents'.' Graham told The UK Independent that he wanted to explore the wider influences affecting young boys from 'ordinary' backgrounds, when creating the show. 'It's just being mindful of the fact that not only we parent our children, and not only the school educates our children,' he said. 'But also there's influences that we have no idea of that are having profound effects on our young culture, profound effects, positive and extremely negative. So it's having a look at that and seeing that we're all accountable.' The Boiling Point actor went on to unpack the 'microcosm of the home' and 'the macrocosm of the world outside', explaining that the separation no longer existed. 'When we were kids, if you got sent to your room or if Kenny Everett was on the telly, and it got a bit racy, you'd be sent to your room and then you couldn't watch it,' he reflected. 'But today even within the context of that home, when lads and girls go to their bedrooms, they have the world at their fingertips.'
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Louise Redknapp gives rare insight into love life and boyfriend's bond with sons
Pop icon Louise Redknapp has opened up on her love life with Drew Michael, stating she is 'enjoying' having 'special times' following her divorce from Jamie Redknapp in 2017 Pop icon Louise Redknapp has given a rare update on her love life, after previously being labelled a 'cougar', as she opens up on her boyfriend's relationship with her two children. Louise, who looks as gorgeous as ever, revealed it is 'difficult' to have her personal life in the public eye, but that she is 'enjoying' having 'special times' with her partner of two years Drew Michael. After going through a high-profile divorce with her ex-husband Jamie Redknapp in 2017, Louise dated but didn't get involved in anything serious until she met Drew in October 2023. Louise opened up about her partner, who is 9 years younger, and revealed he has a 'brilliant friendship' with her two boys, Charley, 20, and Beau, 16. Louise told The Sun: 'It's hard putting your personal life out there, but I am very reactive and tend to write how I am feeling at that very moment.' Opening up on her relationship and family life, the former singer said: 'Drew's great. We're having a lovely time together. It took me a long time to get to that place and be open about anything. I was very guarded and scared. But I'm really enjoying having special times with someone. He's a great guy and super-kind.' Emphasising how important it is that her partner got along with her sons, Louise said: 'What's great is he's brilliant on a friendship level with the boys. They get on great with him. And that, for me, is super-important. There's just a real mutual respect there. Obviously Beau is still at school, but we spend a lot of time together.' When Louise started dating Drew, she received backlash about the 9-year age gap and was labelled a 'cougar', with Drew described as a 'toyboy'; however, Louise now says that is 'water off a duck's back'. Earlier this year, Louise appeared on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast where she explained her two boys saved her from reaching low points after her split from Jamie. Louise explained: "If I didn't have my kids, I just, I think I would have just given up. I really do. I think I just knew that my kids were my everything and they needed me." Jamie went on to marry Swedish model Frida Andersson, with the two welcoming a son named Raphael.
Edinburgh Live
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Louise Redknapp says 'I've been through a lot' as she opens up on life after Jamie
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 Louise Redknapp has opened up about her personal journey post-divorce, saying she's 'been through a lot' since parting ways with ex-husband Jamie Redknapp. The pair, parents to sons Charley and Beau, went separate paths in September 2017 and were legally divorced by December. Jamie moved on and tied the knot with Swedish beauty Frida Andersson, with whom he has a child named Raphael. Louise, on the other hand, found love with businessman Drew Michael, who is nine years her junior. Reflecting on her own growth, Louise confided in a recent interview that she's still embracing self-love. Chatting with The Sun, Louise expressed: "I've been through a lot. I'm working on it. It's not easy. But I'm learning every day that you need to love yourself." Further elaborating on her newfound self-acceptance, Louise added: "I've finally realised it's all right to fight for yourself and, if you don't love you, then you will be useless to everyone else," reports the Mirror. Discussing the dynamic with her younger beau Drew, Louise mentioned that their age difference doesn't faze her: "I don't feel a lot older than him and I don't behave older." In an earlier heart-to-heart on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Louise confessed that her children were her pillars of strength during tough times after her split from Jamie. Louise shared spoken insightfully: "If I didn't have my kids, I just, I think I would have just given up. I really do. I think I just knew that my kids were my everything and they needed me." In the interview, she laid bare the hurtful impact that the intense public dissection of her marriage breakdown had on her. "But I can honestly say, when you're going through something so personal in your own turmoil in your own way, but then to get the barrage of judgment and nastiness," she revealed. She was astounded by the cruelty of strangers remarking, "I never realised people could be so unkind and say such terrible things. It blew my mind. I was going through a lot as it was." Striving to maintain strength for her children, she emphasised the importance of privacy: "I was trying to be strong for my kids, whatever had gone on in our life was private - which I do believe that you're entitled to no matter what." The media painted her as a villain while she was experiencing immense personal pain: "And God, I was such a villain, and I was breaking like I was absolutely breaking. Beyond what I thought it was possible for a human to break and all along I'm still trying to be a mum." The struggle to keep up appearances took its toll, with every step seemingly scrutinised: "And it was just like every time I went out, and I was trying to put a brave face on and do things, like that was wrong if I didn't. I felt like everything I did was so wrong."
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Louise Redknapp admits 'I've been through a lot' as she finds love after divorce
Louise Redknapp and her ex-husband Jamie separated in September 2017, with the two being officially divorced a couple of months later Louise Redknapp revealed she's 'been through a lot' as she discussed her life following her split from Jamie Redknapp. The former couple, who share sons Charley and Beau, announced they had separated in September 2017, and by December that same year, they were divorced. Jamie went on to marry Swedish model Frida Andersson, with the two welcoming a so named Raphael. Meanwhile, Louise wasn't in any serious relationships until she met Drew Michael, who is a businessman nine years her junior. In a new interview, Louise admitted she's still 'learning everyday you need to love yourself' as she discussed her personal life. Speaking to The Sun, she said: "I've been through a lot. I'm working on it. It's not easy. But I'm learning every day that you need to love yourself. "I've finally realised it's all right to fight for yourself and, if you don't love you, then you will be useless to everyone else.' She also touched upon the age gap in her relationship with Drew, saying it's 'not that big of a gap', before adding: "I don't feel a lot older than him and I don't behave older." Earlier this year, Louise admitted her children saved her from reaching a low point following her split from football star Jamie. On Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Louise explained: "If I didn't have my kids, I just, I think I would have just given up. I really do. I think I just knew that my kids were my everything and they needed me." During the chat, she discussed how the public scrutiny of the breakdown of her marriage affected her. "But I can honestly say, when you're going through something so personal in your own turmoil in your own way, but then to get the barrage of judgment and nastiness," she continued. "I never realised people could be so unkind and say such terrible things. I blew my mind. I was going through a lot as it was. "I was trying to be strong for my kids, whatever had gone on in our life was private - which I do believe that you're entitled to no matter what. "And God, I was such a villain, and I was breaking like I was absolutely breaking. Beyond what I thought it was possible for a human to break and all along I'm still trying to be a mum. "And it was just like every time I went out, and I was trying to put a brave face on and do things, like that was wrong if I didn't. I felt like everything I did was so wrong."
Edinburgh Live
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Louise Redknapp admits 'it's a bit harder' as she opens up about age-gap 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 Louise Redknapp has confessed that one aspect of her age-gap romance is proving "harder" as she opens up about her relationship. The 50-year-old singer has been dating 41-year-old London businessman Drew Michael since 2023. Louise was previously married to former Liverpool and England star Jamie Redknapp. The Eternals singer shares sons Charley, 19, and Beau, 15, with Jamie. On Lisa Snowdon and Andy Goldstein's We're Not Getting Any Younger podcast, Louise says Drew is "great" with the teenagers However, Louise admits that Drew's central London location often makes it difficult for the couple to keep a low profile, with paparazzi frequently snapping them while out in public. She said: "She said: "I've got a boyfriend who is great and lovely, and you know, just having a really nice time. He lives central, he lives in Soho, so we go to the bagel shop and it's a thing. "Gone are the days of side ponytail and a dirty tracksuit to get a tuna bagel. Now I have to think, 'Damn, sunglasses, coat'." (Image: louiseredknapp/Instagram) Louise explained that she's made a conscious decision not to hide her relationship, saying: "We don't purposely try. It is being central, where he is in Soho, it's a bit harder. And I just made the decision that I didn't want to hide anything." "I'm just going about my daily business, if you get snapped, you get snapped. If we don't, then great." Noting the age difference between the couple, mum-of-two Louise added: "We live in a society where if it's the other way round it doesn't get talked about- but it does get brought up. Louise has spoken out about the scrutiny surrounding her marriage to Jamie, stating: "I think it's that thing that people like to bring it up. It's easy headline material, nine years, but you know what, it's been lovely having a lovely time." Louise has previously opened up about the difficulties she faced during her divorce from Jamie, who has since married Frida Andersson. She described the experience as "horrendous" and revealed that the negative reactions from others made it even harder for her to cope. When asked about how the criticism affected her mental health, Louise shared: "I think for me, the lowest, pretty much a person could get to, just horrendous. I could never see a way out from how bad and low I felt at the time." She credited her children with giving her the strength to carry on, saying: "If I didn't have my kids, I think I would've just given up, like I really do. I think I just knew that my kids were my everything and they needed me." Louise went on to say she "never realised [how] people could be so unkind and say such terrible things", adding on Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: "It blew my mind." She continued: "Whatever the situation, whatever the circumstance, the nastiness [that] would be said, even now when I think back, I can't even get the words out. I just don't understand how anyone can be so unkind and cruel to another human." Louise has since moved on and is now in a relationship with Drew Michael, whom she met at The Groucho Club in London during Jimmy Carr's 51st birthday celebrations. They went Instagram official two months later and made their red carpet debut in March 2024. Louise is set to feature on Sunday Brunch today (May 25), chatting with hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer. The programme broadcasts from 10am on ITV One.
