Latest news with #SecureTheInsecure
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Hollyoaks legend's friends on show 'stopped talking to her' after she was axed
Former Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring has revealed a number of her co-stars cut contact following her departure. Steph, 47, appeared in the Channel 4 soap intermittently for almost three decades between 1996 and 2024. The actress part of a mass cast exodus ahead of a huge revamp in September, which saw a reduction of episodes and a game-changing time jump. Cindy and her little brother Tom (Ellis Hollins) made a quick escape after learning the truth behind Dave Williams' (Dominic Power) identity. As the notorious gangster 'Blue', he plagued Warren Fox's (Jamie Lomas) life for weeks over the summer, kidnapping his children and forcing him to confess to the murder of his mother. After Dave pulled a gun on the siblings, Cindy whacked her husband over the head with a stapler before they both fled. Desperate to depart before she found herself in more danger, she resolved to stay with older sister Jude in Spain – with Tom agreeing that it would be best for him to move on too. Now, almost a year on, she has told the Secure The Insecure podcast that she misses her friendships with her fellow 'Oaks actors. 'I did feel the quiet from the family that I once knew on the show,' she admitted. 'No one's picking up the phone. No one's checking in. Everyone's just getting on with their life.' She continued: 'When you're in that Hollyoaks bubble and they call it a family – I feel you're only family when you're in it. 'You pour your heart out to these people, and then you go, and it's like it never happened. 'Where did that friendship go? There's only a couple of people I'm in contact with.' In April, she addressed her 'vulnerability' upon starting a new venture away from the acting industry, working as a life coach. 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! 'That's all I've known for the last 30 years. When I lost my job last year, I knew that I would be in a place of vulnerability, because it wasn't guaranteed that I was just going to get another role, and you know, go onto the next project, it's really hard out there, it's not easy,' she said on Instagram. More Trending 'That's one of the reasons why I stayed in Hollyoaks for so long because it was security and I was doing what I loved every single day. 'I didn't even question it, so when I became vulnerable, I thought well what else can I do that would give me a purpose, and something that I was passionate about. View More » 'I've dealt with a lot of mental health in my life, and when I was decided to train as a life coach, I thought that this would help me in that respect. It did. I was my first client.' If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: Emmerdale's Beth Cordingly pays loving tribute to fellow TV legend partner MORE: Re-cast Coronation Street star breaks silence after taking over Lily Platt role MORE: BBC star carried on filming hit show hours after sister's death
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Heartbroken Hollyoaks star Steph Waring reveals co-stars ‘stopped speaking to her' after she was axed with no warning
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEARTBROKEN Hollyoaks star Steph Waring has revealed her co-stars have "stopped speaking to her" after she was axed with no warning. The actress - who played Cindy Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap - was let go last year, leaving her devastated. 5 Axed Hollyoaks star Steph Waring has revealed she has lost touch with her co-stars after she was fired Credit: Instagram 5 Steph played Cindy Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap off-and-on for 28 years Credit: Channel 4 5 Steph says her co-stars have stopped calling to check in on her Credit: Instagram The much-loved star, 47, was on Hollyoaks for 28 years and was even on the soap from day one. That's why fans were left shocked when she revealed that she had been given the chop by bosses. However, in a further blow, Steph has now admitted that she misses the friendships she once had with her fellow cast members. Speaking on the latest episode of the Secure The Insecure podcast, she said: "I did feel the quiet from the family that I once knew on the show. "No one's picking up the phone. No one's checking in. "Everyone's just getting on with their life. "When you're in that Hollyoaks bubble and they call it a family - I feel you're only family when you're in it." Steph - who didn't name any of co-stars in particular - added: "You pour your heart out to these people and then you go and it's like it never happened. "Where did that friendship go? There's only a couple of people I'm in contact with." Last month, Steph opened up about her heartbreaking reaction on the day bosses told her she would no longer be on Hollyoaks. 'I collapsed on the floor in tears and begged Hollyoaks bosses not to axe me' reveals 'distraught' Steph Waring as she admits co-stars had to 'pick her up' Writing in her book Breaking the Script, the actress said: 'I walked into the office. "There were two people there for the meeting: the newly appointed executive producer – a stalwart behind the scenes in various roles for years – and the long-standing head of production, who I'd known since I began on the show back in 1996. 'They asked me to sit. They explained that they'd be reading a scripted statement. As I listened, I could barely process what was being said. I was just waiting for the words I longed to hear: 'And therefore, we'd like Cindy to stay.' 'But as the statement neared its close, before the final words were even spoken, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I was shaking as I looked at the two of them. 5 Stephanie revealed her true reaction after being let go from Hollyoaks Credit: Instagram 5 The star was on Hollyoaks from the very first episode Credit: Channel 4 'Then it happened. 'And with that said, we will be losing Cindy from the show. I'm so sorry, Steph.' The world stopped for a second as I replayed those words in my head. Then… I lost my s***. ''What? No! You mean you're not taking me to the 30th?' I blurted out, referencing the upcoming anniversary of the show – a milestone that meant so much to the long-standing cast. ''I don't understand. No, I don't understand. I don't understand!' I was frantic. 'But I've been so loyal. Please, no. This is my life. I love my job – please, no!' 'Hysterically crying, I repeated myself, hoping one of them would see my distress and take it all back. Had they made a mistake? My world felt like it was imploding. Through my tears, I demanded to know, 'How am I on that list? Cindy is an original! I'm the longest-serving female character. I was the first person to give birth on the show.' 'I was clutching at anything, anything at all, to make them realise their mistake. How? Why was I the only original being cut? I couldn't understand. It felt so cold. I could see the distress I was causing them.' She fled the room and was found by her co-stars Jennifer Metcalfe and Kirsty Leigh Porter who supported her before she could go home to husband Tom. Stephanie also revealed how her agent had become determined to get soap bosses to reverse their decision - but in the end the actress herself decided she didn't want to stay. Since her Hollyoaks exit Steph has reinvented herself as a life coach.
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Forgotten This Morning star 'dumped' by ITV for wild conspiracy rant
Emma Kenny was a regular presenter on This Morning until she was 'cancelled' after sharing her controversial views on coronavirus lockdown rules, which left her almost losing her family home Former This Morning presenter Emma Kenny forged a new path after being 'cancelled' during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week she hit headlines after announcing the birth of her fourth child at the age of 52. Emma, a TV psychologist, is already a mum to two older children, Tyde, 22, and Evan, 20, as well as 23-month-old Etta Blue. She has welcomed her newborn with her 34-year-old husband, Pete. Sharing a string of sweet posts, Manchester-based Emma took to Instagram to announce the arrival of her baby daughter Ella-Grey, saying: "Say hi Ella-Grey And then we were six! "Say hello Ella-Grey! This morning she entered the world with a very loud cry. The Royal Bolton hospital have been fantastic and ensured that we have both been looked after brilliantly." The new arrival comes after a tough time for the presenter in both her professional and personal life. Just a few weeks before she gave birth, Emma lost her mum 'suddenly'. Explaining more about her loss, she said: "I lost my mum suddenly a couple of weeks back, and it's really strange knowing that neither of my babies will get to know their grandparents…..they would have loved them as older my boys did before them." A few years earlier, Emma claims to have lost her presenting gig on This Morning due to her controversial views on coronavirus. She revealed she was left skint and almost lost her home after work dried up during lockdown. The mum-of-four published a string of tweets sharing her anti-lockdown views on X, formerly Twitter. At the time, reports emerged that ITV bosses were unhappy with her conduct, which was denied at the time. Emma sparked controversy when she declared she would ignore government guidelines and advice about protecting against coronavirus in the run up to Christmas. She was slammed for tweeting: "I'm going to have parties, see my friends, invite EVERYONE around! "I'm going to visit elderly neighbours and take cake. I'm not wearing a mask and I'm going to do what as a human I was born to do… socialise.' While the tweets were subsequently deleted, the TV star was met with a furious backlash. A source told the Mail on Sunday: 'Those at the top put up with it for a few months but it got to the point where the backlash was too much.' Responding to rumours about her absence from the daytime show, Emma took to Twitter to reveal she has recently signed a new contract with ITV. She told her followers: "Just to make it clear I've just signed a new contract with This Morning and count the staff and many presenters as friends. Thanks for the messages of support. Xxxxxx. And a spokesperson for This Morning told the Mirror: "Emma Kenny is one of a host of expert contributors we continue to feature on the show." However in a later interview with Johnny Seifert on Secure The Insecure podcast, Emma admitted that she suffered financially after being dropped and even consulted a crisis manager. She said: "I was cancelled. So it wasn't a thing of, 'I might be.' It happened. And it's the reality of working in a field where there is a safe space that you are allowed to remain in. And if you step outside of that, there are consequences." The ordeal came at the worst time, as just days earlier, her father had died by suicide. As a freelancer, six days later she was back at work, but before long, her contracts were getting cancelled after she spoke out. She continued: "I was also managing some of my family's struggles because people in my family just couldn't go back to work. I was helping manage that on a financial level. So there were all these things that were happening around me. And then COVID hit. "When I started to speak out, it was really difficult because I started to get all my contracts cancelled. And then my husband, who is a very lovely man, he also knew that I was the person that really brings the income in. "He works with me and he's amazing. Without him, I couldn't do what I do, but the point is it was me challenging our economic standard and I challenged it to the point where we nearly lost our home." Emma was advised by a PR consultant to apologise for what she said, but she refused. Emma concluded: "I was told by a crisis manager to do things like take the vaccine live on TV. And I basically said that the consequence of that for me would be the end of my mental health. And also the end of my credibility as a human being for myself." Not all was lost as Emma pivoted to narrating true crime stories and set up her own YouTube channel, Emma Kenny True Crime. Opening up in her new post, Emma revealed that she didn't think she could find happiness again after the tragedy with her father. "When my dad took his life in 2019, I never thought I would be happy again, but in truth I couldn't have been more wrong, I've learnt we are more than simply built to withstand suffering, we are programmed to learn, and grow, and develop courage through it. I cannot change what happened but I can embrace the gifts that grief brought me," she wrote. To conclude her post, she thanked those who had stood by her in the dark times. She said: "Thank you to all of you who have spent years supporting me. You stood beside me in the dark times and you gave me so many new career directions that these days I don't need invites off the MSM! Thank you, all of you, for so much more than you could possibly know xxx." Emma had kept her fourth pregnancy underwraps until revealing the happy news just last week. Showing off her bump while filming herself stood in front of a mirror, Emma told her fans: "Last show before I give birth! 9 months pregnant, quite happy to go into labour on stage….so any of you with health care qualifications at my Killer Couples, Liverpool Empire show tonight please be prepared! Revealing her plans to return to work in just a few weeks, she continued: "Back on stage in September…..but for now it's time for baby, 2 year old, filming YouTube and Facebook and going on a road trip to Italy the minute this babies fast track passport arrives! X." For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@ visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards reveals he BEGGED soap bosses to let him be in 30th anniversary – but he's been ignored
Can he get himself back in the Chester village? Soap Snub Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards reveals he BEGGED soap bosses to let him be in 30th anniversary – but he's been ignored HOLLYOAKS legend Jeremy Edwards has revealed he begged soap bosses to let him return for the 30th anniversary - but claims he's been totally blanked. The 54-year-old actor, who played original heartthrob Kurt Benson, says he was desperate to be part of the soap's milestone celebrations - but never even got a call back. Advertisement 4 Jeremy has asked to go back to Hollyoaks - but hasn't had a reply Credit: Getty 4 The actor made a brief return to the soap in 2020 Credit: Channel 4 Jeremy, who was once dubbed 'Britain's Sexiest Man', is worlds away from his days as leather clad biker Kurt as he hosts demonstrations of fitness gear and homeware viewers can buy on a TV shopping channel. The one time soap star's unlikely career comes after he revealed that he had given up on showbiz and was working as a drama teacher after failing to land any TV work since his brief return to Hollyoaks in 2020. However, Jeremy revealed that he has been asking soap bosses if he could return for the 30th anniversary special episodes this Autumn. Speaking candidly on the Secure The Insecure podcast, Jeremy said: "I wrote to the casting and said I wanted to go back, because they brought me back, but unfortunately it was still COVID time. Advertisement "I know the script went awry and we had to change it, and it was supposed to be there for a lot longer, and I just ripped off Tony and left, which I was not happy about, and I was very vocal about not being happy about that. "So I asked to go back to the 30th, but I haven't had a reply, and they're doing a tour apparently. "Which Gary Lucy is taking around. There's a couple of dates for that later this year, in September I think it is. Right, yeah, and I'm not on that either. "I can't do anything about that. It's a shame, though, because I really thought for the 30th, I wanted to do something special because it will always be special to me. And I'll always be that guy everywhere I go and get it every day. Advertisement "Every day someone says the word Hollyoaks to me. Seriously. We'll do something. Look, I'll look after you, mate. We'll do something for the 30th together." Soap fans are in for a treat as Hollyoaks celebrates three decades of drama, scandal and shocks with a special live tour this autumn. Hollyoaks star unrecognisable 16 years after leaving E4 soap with bushy grey beard Luke Morgan legend Gary Lucy was the first big name confirmed for the 30th anniversary event, which will hit four cities - Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham and London - this October. The exclusive show promises fans a backstage pass like never before, with cast members spilling behind-the-scenes secrets, re-living jaw-dropping moments and sharing never-before-seen footage from the soap that's had the nation hooked since 1995. Advertisement Hollyoaks has pushed boundaries with groundbreaking storylines and unforgettable characters - becoming the go-to soap for gripping youth-led drama. And now, as it hits the big 3-0, fans can take a walk down memory lane with the stars who made it all happen. From Hollyoaks to Hollywood James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap. The former American TV host doesn't have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was "hell on earth." Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey. Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010. Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs. Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child. Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady. Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent. Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth. Hannah's eating disorder storyline was the first of it's kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away. Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry 'Newt' Newton. Nico's main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact. He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village. Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America. He played one of the soap's resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 - when he was killed off at his wedding. After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods. He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt. His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off. After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop. Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving. In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC's series, taking over from Ruby Rose. Jeremy joined the soap in 1995 as Kurt Benson - known for his charm, rebellious attitude, and passion for music and motorbikes. His main storylines in Hollyoaks involved his turbulent love life, particularly his relationships with Natasha Anderson, Ruth Osborne, and Kate Patrick, and his rivalry with Rob Hawthorne. Advertisement He also faced legal trouble after a confrontation with Spike that led to his being accused of attempted murder. After his exit in 1999, Jeremy joined the cast of Holby City, where he spent almost five years playing healthcare assistant Danny Shaughnessy. He did make a brief return to Hollyoaks in 2020 for the soap's 25th anniversary. Jeremy was once a regular on TV throughout the nineties and noughties. Advertisement The star appeared on series three of Celebrity Big Brother, where he finished in fourth place. He also appeared as a contestant on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity X Factor. His other acting roles include a regular on hugely popular CBBC series Millie Inbetween. But can he get himself back in the Chester village? Advertisement Hollyoaks airs Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on E4 or watch on the Channel 4 streaming service. 4 Jeremy joined the soap in 1995 as Kurt Benson - known for his charm, rebellious attitude, and passion for music and motorbikes Credit: Rex
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards reveals he BEGGED soap bosses to let him be in 30th anniversary – but he's been ignored
HOLLYOAKS legend Jeremy Edwards has revealed he begged soap bosses to let him return for the 30th anniversary - but claims he's been totally blanked. The 54-year-old actor, who played original heartthrob Kurt Benson, says he was desperate to be part of the soap's milestone celebrations - but never even got a call back. 4 4 Jeremy, who was once dubbed 'Britain's Sexiest Man', is worlds away from his days as leather clad biker Kurt as he hosts demonstrations of fitness gear and homeware viewers can buy on a TV shopping channel. The one time soap star's unlikely career comes after he revealed that he had given up on showbiz and was working as a drama teacher after failing to land any TV work since his brief return to Hollyoaks in 2020. However, Jeremy revealed that he has been asking soap bosses if he could return for the 30th anniversary special episodes this Autumn. Speaking candidly on the Secure The Insecure podcast, Jeremy said: "I wrote to the casting and said I wanted to go back, because they brought me back, but unfortunately it was still COVID time. "I know the script went awry and we had to change it, and it was supposed to be there for a lot longer, and I just ripped off Tony and left, which I was not happy about, and I was very vocal about not being happy about that. "So I asked to go back to the 30th, but I haven't had a reply, and they're doing a tour apparently. "Which Gary Lucy is taking around. There's a couple of dates for that later this year, in September I think it is. Right, yeah, and I'm not on that either. "I can't do anything about that. It's a shame, though, because I really thought for the 30th, I wanted to do something special because it will always be special to me. And I'll always be that guy everywhere I go and get it every day. "Every day someone says the word Hollyoaks to me. Seriously. We'll do something. Look, I'll look after you, mate. We'll do something for the 30th together." Soap fans are in for a treat as Hollyoaks celebrates three decades of drama, scandal and shocks with a special live tour this autumn. Hollyoaks star unrecognisable 16 years after leaving E4 soap with bushy grey beard Luke Morgan legend Gary Lucy was the first big name confirmed for the 30th anniversary event, which will hit four cities - Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham and London - this October. The exclusive show promises fans a backstage pass like never before, with cast members spilling behind-the-scenes secrets, re-living jaw-dropping moments and sharing never-before-seen footage from the soap that's had the nation hooked since 1995. Hollyoaks has pushed boundaries with groundbreaking storylines and unforgettable characters - becoming the go-to soap for gripping youth-led drama. And now, as it hits the big 3-0, fans can take a walk down memory lane with the stars who made it all happen. From Hollyoaks to Hollywood James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap. The former American TV host doesn't have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was "hell on earth." Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey. Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010. Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs. Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child. Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady. Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent. Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth. Hannah's eating disorder storyline was the first of it's kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away. Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry 'Newt' Newton. Nico's main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact. He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village. Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America. He played one of the soap's resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 - when he was killed off at his wedding. After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods. He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt. His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off. After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop. Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving. In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC's series, taking over from Ruby Rose. Jeremy joined the soap in 1995 as Kurt Benson - known for his charm, rebellious attitude, and passion for music and motorbikes. His main storylines in Hollyoaks involved his turbulent love life, particularly his relationships with Natasha Anderson, Ruth Osborne, and Kate Patrick, and his rivalry with Rob Hawthorne. He also faced legal trouble after a confrontation with Spike that led to his being accused of attempted murder. After his exit in 1999, Jeremy joined the cast of Holby City, where he spent almost five years playing healthcare assistant Danny Shaughnessy. He did make a brief return to Hollyoaks in 2020 for the soap's 25th anniversary. Jeremy was once a regular on TV throughout the nineties and noughties. The star appeared on series three of Celebrity Big Brother, where he finished in fourth place. He also appeared as a contestant on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity X Factor. His other acting roles include a regular on hugely popular CBBC series Millie Inbetween. But can he get himself back in the Chester village? Hollyoaks airs Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on E4 or watch on the Channel 4 streaming service. 4 4
