Latest news with #PaddyKirk
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Seasoned BBC soap star joins Emmerdale with explosive entrance - hospitalising beloved character in brutal attack
A BBC soap star is set to join Emmerdale with an explosive entrance - and will hospitalise a beloved character in a brutal attack. Actress Jaye Griffiths, 61, will take on the role of farmer Celia on the ITV show in the coming months. Her alter-ego, who is renting a neighbouring farm from Kim Tate, is introduced when she enquires about renting two of Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) fields - but Moira isn't interested. Moira is later glad she didn't give in when Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) is viciously attacked by Celia's guard dogs under suspicious circumstances. Speaking about her upcoming role, Jaye said: 'I was delighted to get this role - without giving the game away she is very different to anyone I have played before and I can't wait to really get into the heart of her storyline.' Producer Laura Shaw added: 'We are absolutely delighted to have Jaye Griffiths joining us to play the role of Celia. 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. 'Having recently taken over a nearby farm, not much is known about mysterious Celia's past before arriving on the outskirts of the village. 'While Celia has a tough edge with an air of respectability, the audience, and our villagers, will soon start to see what this woman is truly capable of.' Jaye is no stranger to the industry and has appeared in various TV shows over the years. The star played Sally Johnson in The Bill between 1993 and 2003, Sheena Whitehead in Casualty and Lilly Morton in Holby City. She's also landed the role as Professor Janet Mander in Silent Witness between 2008 and 2012. Jay has also played Helen Marlowe in Criminal Justice and Nicola Taybarn QC in Coronation Street. More recently, she played Jac in Doctober Who in 2015, as well as Helen Stritch in EastEnders, and Hannah Ware in Holby City the same year. The telly favourite also played Ella Gardner in Casualty between 2016 and 2019. More recently she played DI Karen Flitcroft in Death In Paradise, Ms Eira in Vikingskool and Marti Kapp in Vera. Jaye keeps her private life out of the public eye, however she is married to Paul Bezodis. The pair share two dogs. This isn't the first bit of exciting news in regards to the ITV soap. Earlier this month it was revealed Coronation Street and Emmerdale are set to make soap history with a landmark crossover episode. Fans of the ITV soaps will be over the moon to know that characters from Weatherfield and The Dales will be teaming up for a dramatic stunt that will change their lives forever. The crossover, which will be a one-off special hour-long episode, is to mark the channel's new power hour of soap - which starts in January next year. So Coronation Street and Emmerdale joining forces is set to launch the new ITV1 and STV scheduling pattern. ITV's press release explains: 'The distinctive worlds of Emmerdale and Coronation Street will merge for one night only in a 'mash-up' of our two favourite communities. 'The producers, scriptwriters and production teams have conceived an ingenious way of linking the two universes, but with characters then returning to the soaps they are renowned for inhabiting in Manchester and Yorkshire. 'The episode will be self-contained, but the consequences of the high-stakes drama will have repercussions for both communities and see them linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps.' Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Emmerdale legend makes plea to be in Coronation Street crossover
So exciting! (Picture: ITV) Emmerdale's Dominic Brunt has expressed his thoughts on the latest news in soapland, which has confirmed the ITV soap and Coronation Street will crossover in an episode next year. It was announced earlier this year that both serial dramas will air in what has been dubbed as a 'power hour' from 8pm, Monday to Friday. Ultimately it means that both shows will lose a half an hour episode per week. This event is the first time that soap worlds have collided in an official capacity – though we have seen small crossovers for Children in Need and to highlight climate change in the past. Producers have confirmed that the episode will be marked in 'spectacular style', with production teams from Leeds and Trafford working together to achieve an 'ambitious' stunt' that will have 'everlasting consequences' for the communities of Weatherfield and Emmerdale. Characters will crossover for the first time ever (Picture: ITV) An 'ingenious' way of merging the two has been devised by those behind the scenes, although it's understood that the characters will then return to their respective environments after the ep. Forever linked together, familiar faces will depart while some fresh new faces will arrive in both soaps. The high-stakes drama will subsequently have huge repercussions for everyone involved in the time following. The episode will air in 2026 (Picture: ITV) Among the soap stars sharing their excitement for what's ahead was Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale. Taking to X, the star expressed his hope for being part of the episode. 'Lord. Please please please let me be in this story', he wrote. 'If not, I'll be popcorn at the ready anyway. Imagine the potential slanging matches, the affairs, the fights, the comedy, the tragedy. Even just for that episode!! As a viewer I can't wait, as a cast member I await the script.' Follow Metro Soaps on WhatsApp and get all the latest spoilers first! Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! The likes of Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) and Jane Danson (Leanne Battersby in Corrie) have also reacted to the news, with Jane saying how she hopes Leanne will have a scene with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley). Imagine! It was also revealed yesterday that the audience will have a chance to determine a key part of the episode – which two characters get to meet and interact in a scene. Arrow MORE: EastEnders legend unveils new look leaving fans stunned Arrow MORE: Popular TV series that has fans 'screaming' set to return for another season Arrow MORE: EastEnders legend Lacey Turner set to exit after 21 years in dramatic story
The Irish Sun
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I played for Bohemians over 100 times but I'm not missing football as I've found my second calling
THERE are few full-time footballers who feature in almost 90 per cent of top-flight matches over the previous three seasons who simply stop playing at 26. There are fewer still who do so with no real regrets. 3 Lifting the Dr Tony O'Neill perpetual trophy as captain in 2017 after the SSE Airtricity National Under 19 League Final match between Bohs and St Patrick's Athletic Credit: Sportsfile 3 Paddy Kirk is working in a whole other world these days 3 He's very content with what he's achieved in the game Credit: Sportsfile But, then, we had already been supplied with evidence which suggested Paddy Kirk was not your average player. Five years ago, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kirk posted a video of him But lockdown also saw him, under the radar, pursue other interests and one which, ultimately, made hanging up his boots easier. Kirk lives in Stoneybatter but, these days, the distance to Dalymount Park is more likely to be measured by a camera lens than a full-back's clearance. Read More On Irish Football And, ultimately, whether he left football or football left him does not really matter. Perhaps, for once, 'by mutual consent' might be accurate. Kirk's second spell at Bohemians was cut short at the end of last season in which he missed just three Premier Division matches, one through injury and a second via suspension. Two years earlier, Most read in Football But this time around was a little different. He explained: 'There wasn't a lot at all. Nothing from the Premier Division and very little then from the First Division. Incredible footage shows 7ft 3in NBA star Victor Wembanyama playing football as Peter Crouch posts one-word verdict 'I was going into the off-season with an open mind about not playing for the sake of it. The lack of offers kind of made up my mind. 'Probably if it was five years ago a handful of clubs would have said, 'He's been around the league, he's played games, we'll take him'. 'I would have thought there might be something but I'm not in any way bitter or angry. 'I wanted to really take ownership of it and not shy away from that, to say, 'Oh, I was injured, I'm going to come back next year'. 'I've been open about it when people ask to say that there weren't any offers. 'I'm secure enough in what I'm doing rather than trying to come up with reasons as to why I haven't had a club.' SMOOTH TRANSITION There has been the odd time when he has felt like he is missing out, such as Bohs playing their opening league game But the football itself? Not so much, especially as his old side continues to flatter to deceive, with the Easter victories over Cork City and Shamrock Rovers their first back-to-back league wins in a year — and then His biggest concern is trying to wrap his head around the fact it is OK for him to have a pint. A shoot for him now is an honest day's work, not an instruction hollered from the stand by a fan fuming at a sideways pass. The photographer specialises in men's fashion and independent coffee shops, and, in conjunction with Lilliput Press, he is bringing out a book on the latter in October. The absolute nature of his career change came as a surprise to some former team-mates. Kirk said: 'It's fair enough because it's all we've ever done and all we've ever wanted to do so it probably seems a bit mad to step away. 'But they always had an interest in what I was doing outside football. 'Obviously they were slating me for it in the dressing room but there was an interest.' WEAR IT'S AT What he was doing was establishing He said: 'I bought my first camera in lockdown and I was going out, buying a pair of shoes, I'd bring it to some cool background, take photos and share it. 'There was a bit of interest in the menswear because everyone was shopping online. 'I was kind of growing that anonymously because of football. Now, more comes in from people having a face to put on stuff. 'My first paid gig was with Diffney Menswear. 'I was doing a bit of marketing work for them when coming out of lockdown. 'I actually organised the Shels-Diffney partnership with Keith McDarby. 'I was still playing and Luke Byrne was getting suits fitted for the FAI Cup final and I was taking photos of him thinking, 'This is just weird'. 'But I found that it was an amazing way to switch off from football. It was something that I was really enjoying.' PERFORMANCE ANXIETY In tandem, his enjoyment from football was diminishing, having returned to Bohs after spending a year each with Longford Town and Sligo Rovers. Last May, he told SunSport about seeing a sports psychologist At the time, things were — relatively speaking — going OK, including being handed the captain's armband for some games by new Gypsies boss Alan Reynolds. But the season petered out with patience wearing thin among fans, who had seen results deteriorate rather than improve despite an increased playing budget and a switch to full-time. For Kirk, whose first Bohs contract saw him paid €50 a week as part of a much-loved part-time team punching above its weight, it was tough to deal with. He said: 'It wasn't a case of, 'Oh why are they shouting at us?', because we weren't winning games. 'My idea of coming back, what I would have wanted it to look like, was obviously very different to how it played out. 'Looking back, it's not really what I think of because I'm able to disconnect from that and say that I had an amazing time playing for Bohs, some great nights. 'I never, ever would have thought that I'd be able to play the games that I did. I was playing for Raheny United until I was 16. 'I remember seeing all the lads like Conor Masterson, who was in my year, going away to Liverpool. That was a million miles from me. 'Playing 100 games for Bohs, if you'd asked me that six years ago, even when I was around the 19s, I'd have said 'not a chance'. 'That's something I can stand over, whatever happens, it's 100 more than I thought I'd be able to play. 'That for me made it a little bit easier because I'd done that. 'But in the last game of the season, there was a moment where I thought, 'This is all I ever wanted', without trying to sound like I'm trying to get a headline. 'Even when I went to Longford, it was like, 'I have to get back to Bohs eventually'. 'But this wasn't what playing for Bohs in my head was going to be.' LIFESTYLE TRADE-OFF Kirk is, he believes, not alone in that regard. He said: 'It's obviously easy for me to say now with me not playing football. "I don't want to throw anyone under the bus but it's such a talking point among players, as much as staff try, in team meetings, to disconnect from it. 'If you're going home and you're on your own and you don't have the lads . . . 'I always found after a match on Friday you'd be in the depths of it. 'You'd go in on a Saturday morning and even being with the lads, speaking about it among the players you realise, 'We are all finding this difficult, it's not just me'. 'This is something you'd speak about, even Championship players, it's easier to disconnect from that when you're on €20,000 a week. 'That's kind of a trade-off for the lifestyle you're able to have. "But you're coming off some nights and you see the faces, you see who they're with, sometimes they could be standing next to your mates. 'It's so close, it's not a 50,000-seater stadium. 'Even from being at games, you get into a mindset, 'we're just fans', and fans shout at players. 'You make mental notes, 'I remember meeting him when I was out for a pint or a coffee but that's what he's like on a Friday'.' FOOTBALL FOCUS He knows that is not specific to Bohs but, unprompted, he addresses the charge — both from within and outside the fanbase — that not meeting expectations on the pitch is somehow linked to the club's involvement in social issues. Kirk said: 'That would drive you mad, because you see the day to day. You never see anyone from that side of the club. 'It's not like we're on a PowerPoint before training going through what the club is doing! 'The club's more focused on football than it's ever been, it's never been a better set-up for a footballer, that whole thing, 'Are they focused on football?'. 'I don't even like bringing it up because it's such an irrelevance. It's not even an argument. 'What I miss is being able to stand over playing for Bohs and doing what they were doing, no matter how bad of a week we had. 'I had so many people who weren't that interested in football who I'd meet and they would not know where we were in the league. 'But they just thought it was amazing that I was playing for a club like Bohs and what they were doing. That's definitely part of what I miss.' Not to the extent that — despite encountering the same difficulty as everyone else in encountering tickets for League of Ireland games these days — he would be tempted, yet at least, to apply for a pitchside photographer's pass. Kirk said: 'Probably because I was so involved in it, I've never had the opportunity to shoot it. 'I would love to shoot a League of Ireland game and everything around it, rather than the game itself. 'I'll see, maybe it's a bit too soon to be on the sidelines taking photos of Rennie.'
