Latest news with #NicolaMitchell
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EastEnders star Laura Doddington reveals she nearly quit acting for a VERY different career path before landing her role on the soap
She's become one of the soap's breakout stars, with a nomination for Best Newcomer at this year's British Soap Awards. But EastEnders star Laura Doddington has revealed that she came close to quitting her 22-year acting career, before she landed her role on the soap. The actress, 44, has fast become a fan favourite as Nicola Mitchell in the BBC soap, with her character's historic affair causing huge fireworks in Albert Square this week. Speaking to The Mirror, Laura shared that she was considering changing her career before she landed her breakout soap part. She said: 'The industry is hard at the moment. Before this audition came through, I'd been looking at retraining to do something else, I've got a young kid. And that makes you think about their future and stability for them.' 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. Despite roles in Doctors, Holby City and Casualty, as well as work on the stage, Laura shared that she debated training as a hairdresser before the Walford role came along. Having previously starred in Doctors, Holby City and Casualty as well as on the stage - the lead role Laura had hoped for just wasn't coming. She added: 'I cut my son's hair and I'm sort of reasonably good at it, so I thought that might be an option. I was in Prime Suspect when I was in my 20s and The Midwich Cuckoos, but they weren't massive parts. I was beginning to think it might not be possible to have that lead role.' Laura landed her role as Nicola just nine months ago, and already she's made a huge splash and become a fan favourite. The actress added: 'Unfortunately in this industry when you get to over the age of about 35 and you haven't made a name for yourself, the interesting roles sort of start drying up. It's just the way that it is and the way the world is a little bit. 'That's why I love soaps and continuing dramas as they champion individuals of all ages and put characters at the heart of storytelling.' The new Mitchell clan made a dramatic arrival in Walford, with Teddy and his sons Harry and Barney revealed to be Stevie's secret family. Nicola then arrived in Walford later in the year, having been in prison for injecting unlicensed filler. In tense scenes earlier this month, Nicola confessed she'd killed Harry's girlfriend Shireen, in a bid to hide that Zack Hudson is actually Barney's real father. After the parternity bombshell came to light, Harry kidnapped Zack to prevent him from telling Barney, and they crashed into a lake. In Thursday's upcoming episode, Zack is still missing and feared dead. Laura is set to grace the red carpet for this year's Soap Awards, after landing a nomination for Best Newcomer opposite Jacob Roberts as Corrie's Kit Green, Emmerdale's Shebz Miah as Kammy Hadiq and Hollyoaks star Isabelle Smith as Frankie Osborne. The glitzy event will be returning to London to Hackney Empire, after previously taking place in Manchester, and will once again be hosted by Jane McDonald as it returns following a surprise hiatus last year. As always, the numerous accolades will be presented by an array of well-known faces from across the TV and showbiz world, with the TV event broadcasting a few days later in a primetime slot. The ceremony will celebrate a mammoth year in soaps looking back on 12 months of murder, mystery, make-ups, break ups, trials, tribulations and tears. Meanwhile Hollyoaks leapt a year into the future and in Emmerdale a dramatic limousine crash into a frozen lake left viewers stunned. The Viewer Voted Categories include Best British Soap, Best Leading Performer, Villain of the Year and Best Comedy Performance. The nominees for Best Leading Performer are Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders), Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) and Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale). And the public has a tough choice when it comes to Villain of the Year with Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street), Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders), Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) and Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) to choose from. The Best Comedy Performance category includes Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders), Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) and Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks). The ceremony, which first began in 1999, was rested in 2024 but is back with Jane hosting the ceremony which will air on ITV1 and ITVX in June. The Soap Awards will take place on Saturday at Hackney Empire, London and will broadcast at 8pm on June 5 on ITV1. British Soap Awards 2025: Full List of Nominations Viewer Voted Categories: Best British Soap: Coronation Street EastEnders Emmerdale Hollyoaks Best Leading Performer: Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders) Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Villain of the Year: Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street) Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) Best Comedy Performance: Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street) Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks) Panel Voted Categories: Best Family: The Platts (Coronation Street) The Slaters (EastEnders) The Dingles (Emmerdale) The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) Best Dramatic Performance: Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street) Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Single Episode: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Phil's psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) April's life on the streets (Emmerdale) Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks) Best On-Screen Partnership: Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks) Best Newcomer: Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street) Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders) Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Storyline: Paul's battle with MND (Coronation Street) Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders) Belle and Tom - Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale) Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks) Best Young Performer: Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street) Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders) Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks) Scene of the Year: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Angie Watts' shock return (EastEnders) Amy's deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Shock EastEnders death rocks Walford as major secret is revealed
EASTENDERS has been rocked by a shock death as a major secret has been revealed in today's episode. Viewers watching today saw the aftermath of the dramatic car crash after Teddy Mitchell and Zack Hudson drove into a lake. 3 Nicola Mitchell's lies have been exposed Credit: BBC 3 Vicki exposed Nicola's lies and the Mitchells' murderous actions Credit: BBC 3 Barney was shellshocked by the truth Credit: BBC The shock events came after Zack tried to save his biological son Barney from his murderer mother Nicola Mitchell and his gangster family. Teddy discovered the truth and took over his son's Harry's plan to get rid of Zack. However they were followed by Billy, Honey, Nigel and Harry who watched the car sink into the lake. And when Teddy emerged they simply accepted that Zack was dead, barely giving him a second's thought. Returning to the Square, they told Phil what had happened and with Sharon away, he went to break the news to Vicki who was being supported by Linda Carter. And it's safe to say Vicki didn't take it well. Storming around to the Mitchells, Vicki began hammering on the door as Barney asked what was happening. But despite Nicola telling the family to ignore the screaming and banging at their front door - Vicki got in. 'You evil witch!' screamed Vicki after kicking her way through the door, followed by Linda and Phil. Turning to Barney, Vicki told him: 'Your mum, she has been lying to you. Teddy ain't your dad - Zack is. EastEnders horror as as car plunges into a river in explosive trailer 'And they have all just had him killed.' But is Zack really dead?
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Winners Announced At Country Music Honours
23 May 2025 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song Award winner – Holly Arrowsmith MLT Songwriting Award winner – Nicola Mitchell, Em-Hayley Walker & Byllie-Jean Zeta Tami Neilson recipient of inaugural award Top country music artists from across Aotearoa gathered in Gore this evening for the prestigious Country Music Honours, celebrating finalists and winners with the presentation of the 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song Award, Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting award and the inaugural Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa. The glamorous red-carpet event marked the official opening of the Bayleys Tussock Country Music Festival — a 10-day celebration of all things Tussock Country. The audience was treated to performances by special guest Tami Neilson, alongside finalists Holly Arrowsmith, Mel Parsons, and Nicola Mitchell and more. APRA Best Country Music Song Award winner Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting Award Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa Tami Neilson South Island songwriter Holly Arrowsmith was presented as the winner of the 2025 APRA Best Country Music Song Award for the title track from the 2024 critically acclaimed album ' Blue Dreams '. Having won first in 2019 with ' Slow Train Creek', and most recently in 2024 with ' Desert Dove', the Aotearoa Music Award finalist & Taite Music Prize nominee, won with the moving song ' Blue Dreams ', that delves into life as a first-time parent, surviving those early days of chronic exhaustion while managing the huge burden of responsibility, bringing life into such a turbulent world. The prestigious Country Music Honour for the MLT Songwriting Award, which celebrates unreleased original songs from Aotearoa, was awarded to Nicola Mitchell, Byllie-Jean Zeta, and Em-Hayley Walker (Theia, Te Kaahu) for their waiata 'Wā/Time' performed by Nicola Mitchell. All three are wāhine Māori with distinctive musical styles. Their collaboration on 'Wā/Time' reflects a powerful fusion of their unique voices and a shared cultural vision. Lachie Hayes was named runner-up for his heartfelt song 'A Short Time', earning recognition for his songwriting talent in a highly competitive field. In a special addition to this year's awards, audiences witnessed the emotive debut of the Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa. The inaugural recipient of this award was the acclaimed Tami Neilson, recognised for her outstanding impact and unwavering dedication to the country music scene in Aotearoa New Zealand - with particular focus on the opportunities Tami has selflessly created for the emerging artists around her. As Neilson stood on stage to receive the surprise Honour, a video celebrating her career moved many in the theatre to tears — featuring audio tributes from Jesse Mulligan (RNZ), fellow New Zealand country artists, her Canada-based brother Todd Neilson, and Willie Nelson.
