Latest news with #LindaDavidson
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders Mary ‘The Punk' Smith looks unrecognisable 40 years after joining BBC soap
THE actress behind EastEnders' Mary 'The Punk' Smith has revealed a huge new image transformation. The BBC screen star looks completely unrecognisable from her time on Albert Square in a snap that marks four decades since she stepped foot in Walford. 6 6 Mary, played by 61-year-old Linda Davidson, was one of 26 EastEnders characters when the soap launched in 1985. Her single mum character first appeared in episodes three, with viewers getting to know her controversial ways over the following three years. Yet her time on the long running series came to a close in 1988. Linda then stunned fans as Mary and fellow EastEnders OG character George 'Lofty' Harrison reunited for an image with Dot Cotton, played by the late June Brown. It teased their comeback for a storyline in 2018 that saw another of the soap's original characters, Dr Harold Legg, get killed off The pair were also seen together in 2015 at celebrations for the 30th anniversary of EastEnders. Yet away from the soap set, Canadian born Linda looks completely different. She has traded in her character's dark, wild locks and backcombed style for a neat blonde pixie cut. Gone are the leather jackets and pale-faced make-up with heavy eyeliner combinations, with smart suits and red lippie her current uniform. Linda gave up acting - after stints on Casualty and an appearance on the Lorraine show - to work in web design and now runs a social media agency. EastEnders' Mary the Punk and Lofty to return to Albert Square in 2019 after 30 years away She often gives keynote speeches in media and has previously addressed the issue of social mobility in a speech at the House of Commons. SOAP STAR A soap source previously told The Sun how well-regarded her character was. They told us: "Lofty and Mary The Punk are two of the most memorable characters of the original set of stars. Speaking of her own time on the soap, Linda previously said: "EastEnders was my first proper family. "It gave me stability and a fantastic foundation from which to build an incredible life." Mary was seen as one of EastEnders' most controversial characters at its launch — a former punk rock groupie and drug user whose wild lifestyle put her baby at risk. Barely able to write, she couldn't look after her child without her neighbours' help and earned her living as a prostitute. She returned to Walford for two separate stints, in 2019 and 2022. Off screen, Linda previously dated co-star Nejdet Salih, who played cafe owner and minicab driver Ali Osman. 6 6 6
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
South Wichita restaurant is closed ‘until further notice' after a Monday-night fire
An electrical fire that broke out in the attic of the Jimmie's Diner at 1419 George Washington Drive on Monday evening could have been much worse, the owners say. But they're not sure how long it will take to clean up the damage left behind and are closing the restaurant until further notice. 'We are blessed no one was injured, and that's the main thing,' said Linda Davidson, who owns the restaurant — and the original Jimmie's Diner at 3111 N. Rock Road — with her husband, Jack, and son, Joe. Joe Davidson said that he got a call from the alarm company at 9:05 p.m. on Monday. A motorist passing by the restaurant had noticed heavy smoke coming out of the vents and called 911. The restaurant had closed at 8 p.m., and workers had locked the building up and left around 8:05 p.m., he said. Fire crews got to the scene quickly and were able to extinguish the fire, which did not spread beyond the attic and appears to have been sparked by an electrical fire in one of the furnaces. But the restaurant now has water and smoke damage, and the dining room smells strongly of burned wire, Joe Davidson said. On Tuesday morning, restoration crews were at the restaurant assessing the damage. The Davidsons don't know how long the restaurant will be closed, but they definitely plan to reopen it as soon as they can, they said. The Davidson family opened the south location of their Jimmie's Diner in the former Toc's Coffee House space in 2012. Until its reopen, customers who frequent the south-side Jimmie's Diner can visit the Rock Road restaurant, which is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Duo will open a third Wichita location of this eatery on the east side — but with a twist Wichita mom of 10 opens gluten-free cafe and bakery using her family's favorite recipes Here's the 2025 list of Valentine's Day specials being offered at Wichita restaurants
