Latest news with #SophieWillan
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beloved Never Mind The Buzzcocks star QUITS show - and their replacement is already confirmed
Never Mind The Buzzcocks has lost a leading star ahead of its new series as bosses officially revealed their replacement on Wednesday. The music-themed quiz show was rebooted by Sky in 2021 after being axed by BBC bosses a decade ago. Comedian Greg Davies hosts the popular show, with Noel Fielding and Daisy May Cooper joining the funnyman as team captains. Stand-up star Jamali Maddix is also a regular fixture on the panel since its relaunch. However, in a major shakeup for its next series, it's now been revealed Daisy has quit the programme entirely. It comes after Daisy, 39, had taken a step back from the fourth series last year after welcoming her baby son Benji. In a major shakeup for its next series, it's now been revealed Daisy has quit the programme entirely after taking a step back last year Sophie Willan, who had been standing in for the star, will now permanently take her place on the panel. Teasing the new series, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment, Phil Edgar-Jones said: 'It's the starriest line-up you could hope for this year on Buzzcocks with something to satisfy every musical taste from the nineties through the noughties via boy and girl bands right to the present day. 'Throw in a healthy dose of unpredictability and mad comedy and you'd got the perfect fourth album.' This series' themes have also been revealed as The Nineties, The Noughties, Rock and Girl, and Boy Bands. Meanwhile, in June Daisy stunned fans by revealing her legal name while sharing a throwback snap to celebrate her son's first birthday. The actress, 38, welcomed her son Benji with her partner Anthony Huggins a year ago on Friday, when she posted a photo of her hospital chart from last year to mark the occasion. She wrote: '1 year ago today at 3.04am we welcomed our baby boy into the world'. But as well as listing the medical details, timings and staff, the photo revealed the comedian was legally called Daisy May Weston, not Cooper as fans know her. Never Mind the Buzzcocks first aired on the BBC between 1996 and 2015 and was first hosted by Mark Lamarr then by Simon Amstell Weston is the surname of her ex-husband Will. It appeared that Daisy has retained the legal name despite their split four years ago. Daisy and Will were married from September 2019 to July 2021 and share two children together, Pip, seven, and Jack, four. Never Mind the Buzzcocks first aired on the BBC between 1996 and 2015 and was first hosted by Mark Lamarr then by Simon Amstell. Following his departure, the show used a handful of guest presenters, with Rhod Gilbert hosting the final series on the broadcaster. Phill Jupitis and Bill Bailey were the original team captains but Fielding has also previously been a captain on the show.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Never Mind The Buzzcocks star quits show as replacement is revealed ahead of new series
NEVER Mind The Buzzcocks has been rocked by a shock exit — as one of its stars quits ahead of the new series, with a replacement already lined up. The music quiz show, known for its wild antics and cheeky banter, is shaking things up once again — and fans might be surprised by who's stepping in to fill the gap. 4 Daisy May Cooper is officially off the panel on Never Mind the Buzzcocks Credit: �Sky UK Ltd 4 Sophie Willan is taking the captain's chair full-time Credit: Sky Never Mind the Buzzcocks is back for Series 5 this autumn — but one familiar face is missing. Greg Davies returns as host, with Noel Fielding back as a team captain and Jamali Maddix returning as a regular panellist. Expect more chaos, music madness and celeb guest captains in a fresh round of themed specials. But the biggest shake-up? Daisy May Cooper is officially out. After Sophie Willan stepped in to cover during Daisy's maternity leave, it's now confirmed she's taking the captain's chair full-time — meaning Daisy won't be back this series. Never Mind the Buzzcocks first hit our screens back in 1996 and quickly became a cult classic, thanks to its savage one-liners, celeb takedowns and off-the-wall musical trivia. After being axed by the BBC in 2015, fans thought the music quiz was gone for good — but Sky brought it back with a bang in 2021, with a slick new look and Greg Davies in charge. The revival proved a hit, mixing classic chaos with fresh faces, and pulling in a new generation of fans who couldn't get enough of the panel show's wild energy and ruthless roasting. Now heading into its fifth season on Sky, the show is showing no signs of slowing down — even with a few shake-ups in the lineup. Four episodes in the latest series will have specific themes, Buzzcocks Does... The Nineties, Noughties, Rock and Girl & Boy Bands. Noughties pop star unrecognisable as she appears on Never Mind The Buzzcocks 21 years after chart hits Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment, Phil Edgar-Jones teased: "It's the starriest line-up you could hope for this year on Buzzcocks with something to satisfy every musical taste from the nineties through the noughties via boy and girl bands right to the present day. "Throw in a healthy dose of unpredictability and mad comedy and you'd got the perfect fourth album." Since stepping back from Buzzcocks, Daisy May Cooper's been keeping busy — both on and off screen. The This Country star recently welcomed her third child and has been focusing on family life, while also juggling a string of exciting new projects. She's been filming for the next series of Am I Being Unreasonable? and is rumoured to be working on a top-secret comedy script for a major streamer. Meanwhile, Sophie Willan, who won a writing BAFTA for the pilot episode of Alma's Not Normal, premiered the upcoming second series of the BBC Two sitcom in Manchester on Tuesday night. The stand-up, who also stars as titular aspiring actor Alma Nuthall, hosted a screening of the first two new episodes of the Bolton-set comedy at the Everyman Cinema, ahead of its return to television in the autumn. 4 The show first hit our screens back in 1996 - but was axed by the BBC in 2015 Credit: Andrea Southam for Sky UK Ltd
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Never Mind The Buzzcocks star quits show as replacement is revealed ahead of new series
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEVER Mind The Buzzcocks has been rocked by a shock exit — as one of its stars quits ahead of the new series, with a replacement already lined up. The music quiz show, known for its wild antics and cheeky banter, is shaking things up once again — and fans might be surprised by who's stepping in to fill the gap. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Daisy May Cooper is officially off the panel on Never Mind the Buzzcocks Credit: �Sky UK Ltd 4 Sophie Willan is taking the captain's chair full-time Credit: Sky Never Mind the Buzzcocks is back for Series 5 this autumn — but one familiar face is missing. Greg Davies returns as host, with Noel Fielding back as a team captain and Jamali Maddix returning as a regular panellist. Expect more chaos, music madness and celeb guest captains in a fresh round of themed specials. But the biggest shake-up? Daisy May Cooper is officially out. After Sophie Willan stepped in to cover during Daisy's maternity leave, it's now confirmed she's taking the captain's chair full-time — meaning Daisy won't be back this series. Never Mind the Buzzcocks first hit our screens back in 1996 and quickly became a cult classic, thanks to its savage one-liners, celeb takedowns and off-the-wall musical trivia. After being axed by the BBC in 2015, fans thought the music quiz was gone for good — but Sky brought it back with a bang in 2021, with a slick new look and Greg Davies in charge. The revival proved a hit, mixing classic chaos with fresh faces, and pulling in a new generation of fans who couldn't get enough of the panel show's wild energy and ruthless roasting. Now heading into its fifth season on Sky, the show is showing no signs of slowing down — even with a few shake-ups in the lineup. Four episodes in the latest series will have specific themes, Buzzcocks Does... The Nineties, Noughties, Rock and Girl & Boy Bands. Noughties pop star unrecognisable as she appears on Never Mind The Buzzcocks 21 years after chart hits Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment, Phil Edgar-Jones teased: "It's the starriest line-up you could hope for this year on Buzzcocks with something to satisfy every musical taste from the nineties through the noughties via boy and girl bands right to the present day. "Throw in a healthy dose of unpredictability and mad comedy and you'd got the perfect fourth album." Since stepping back from Buzzcocks, Daisy May Cooper's been keeping busy — both on and off screen. The This Country star recently welcomed her third child and has been focusing on family life, while also juggling a string of exciting new projects. She's been filming for the next series of Am I Being Unreasonable? and is rumoured to be working on a top-secret comedy script for a major streamer. Meanwhile, Sophie Willan, who won a writing BAFTA for the pilot episode of Alma's Not Normal, premiered the upcoming second series of the BBC Two sitcom in Manchester on Tuesday night. The stand-up, who also stars as titular aspiring actor Alma Nuthall, hosted a screening of the first two new episodes of the Bolton-set comedy at the Everyman Cinema, ahead of its return to television in the autumn. 4 The show first hit our screens back in 1996 - but was axed by the BBC in 2015 Credit: Andrea Southam for Sky UK Ltd
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Best comedy since Only Fools And Horses' is now streaming for free on BBC - leaving viewers 'sobbing and laughing at the same time'
The 'best comedy since Only Fools and Horses' has now been made available to stream for free on the BBC - leaving viewers 'sobbing and laughing at the same time'. Alma's Not Normal, which debuted on BBC Two in April 2020, comes from the mind of actress and comedian Sophie Willan, who wrote, created and stars in the sitcom. It follows Sophie as Alma Nuthall, a working-class aspiring actress in her thirties from Bolton, Greater Manchester, reeling from a break-up, while working as an escort. The three-time BAFTA-winning programme covers a range of topics, from addiction, to loss, to the inadequacy of public services. It also draws on some of Sophie's own experiences as a care leaver, with Alma having spent time in care and left school with no qualifications. Its two series, available to watch on BBC iPlayer, also boasts a star-studded lead cast, including comedian Jayde Adams and Grantchester actress Lorraine Asbourne. It follows Sophie as Alma Nuthall (centre, with Lorraine Ashbourne, left, as Joan and Jayde Adams, right, as Leanne), a working-class aspiring actress in her thirties from Bolton, Greater Manchester, reeling from a break-up, while working as an escort Jayde stars as Alma's best friend and confidant Leanne, while Lorraine plays her grandmother Joan, who raised her when her mother Lin was unable to. Downton Abbey's Siobhan Finneran plays Lin, whose heroin addiction and mental health issues left her with a fractious relationship with her daughter Alma. After the roaring success of the pilot in 2020, the full first series launched in September 2021, to widespread critical acclaim. It won Sophie the BAFTAs for Best Comedy Writer and Best Female Comedy Performance. A second series hit our screens in October last year, winning the BAFTA for Best Scripted Comedy. The programme has a lot of fans, who have taken to social media to encourage others to watch the show too. One said on Facebook: 'One of my favourites - so well written and acted beautifully.' Another commented: 'Watched all of this, highly recommend it. Best comedy since Only Fools. It's hilarious if in need of a good laugh.' Someone else chimed in: 'I sobbed and laughed at the same time... Nothing has ever done that to me before, brilliant.' One took it even further: 'I think this is possibly the best thing I have ever watched.' But despite the high praise, creator Sophie has confirmed the programme will not be returning for a third series. She told Deborah Frances-White's podcast The Guilty Feminist: 'Basically, they're not getting a series three. I'm done.' But it might not be quite the end of the story just yet: 'I want to do a Christmas special, they've commissioned the script. 'But I don't want to do another series. I want to wrap up the journey. She is no longer a situational comedy protagonist. 'They have to not learn, that's the point. She's Del Boy at the end when he gets boring and rich.' The semi-autobiographical element of the show continued into the second series, released last year. Like Alma, Sophie was brought up by her grandmother, called Denise, between stints in foster care. The second series sees Alma's grandmother Joan diagnosed with cancer - and similarly, Denise died from cancer during filming of the first series of the programme. Sophie later dedicated her BAFTA win in 2022 to her grandmother. Also like Alma, Sophie had at one point turned to sex work to make ends meet. She developed an interest in acting around the same time. Joining a theatre company in Manchester, she had been about to branch out to make her own when she won the BBC's Caroline Aherne bursary in 2017. The fund, named for the creator of sitcom The Royle Family, sees a budding comedy talent supported to develop a script - and it was how Alma's Not Normal was born. She has previously told the BBC: 'The second series was very hard to write because some of it was stuff that I was currently dealing with rather than stuff that I processed long ago.' It saw her take aim at cuts to the mental health and care systems: 'I wanted to take the state to task. I wanted to show the impact on vulnerable women. 'And what happens to my mum in [the show] is systematic failure.' It comes after another beloved BBC comedy also came to an end. Man Like Mobeen sees former drug dealer Mobeen try to lead an honest life in Small Heath Birmingham after years of an unlawful lifestyle. The show, which first aired back in 2017, was created by and stars actor and comedian Guz Khan. It was confirmed earlier this year the comedy would make a comeback for a fifth instalment, released on May 1 - but it would be the very last one. 'In the final series, Mobeen must save Aqsa but can he even get a passport or a plane ticket to the UAE? And will he convince his friends to join him?' the synopsis reads. Creator and star Guz previously revealed he had only written the series for fans and he would not be making another. He explained: 'I can't even shop at Aldi without someone popping out from behind the bread aisle and asking me when there's going to be more Man Like Mobeen. 'So, for you, and only for you, here's one, final, very last, never to be done again season of Man Like Mobeen.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BAFTA-winning Bolton star is all smiles as she announces 'plot twist'
A much-loved award-winning actress from Bolton has revealed her own real life 'plot twist' with her bombshell pregnancy announcement. The BBC Alma's Not Normal creator and actress left fans feeling overjoyed as she took to social media to announce the exciting news. Alma's Not Normal, starring and created by the actress, won best scripted comedy for the second season at last month's BAFTA awards. The sitcom is inspired by her experiences growing up in the town. It features familiar sights and businesses, including Tapaz on Bradshawgate. Sophie has often been spotted filming around Bolton, where she still lives, and is patron of charity Back-up North West. Taking to her Instagram account, Sophie posted a picture of herself and her partner, Carniel Francis Levy, along with a picture from her ultrasound scan, saying: 'Plot twist... We're having a baby boy! Sophie took to social media to announce her pregnancy. (Image: Sophie Willan)'Coming November 2025. 'Our lives are about to change forever, in the most chaotic, joyful and magical way…And yes, we're already arguing about baby names.' READ MORE: BAFTA TV awards for Sophie Willan and Clive Myrie Sophie Willan shares love for Bolton during filming Many fans took to social media to congratulate Sophie on her delightful news. The actress also shared images from her ultrasound. (Image: Sophie Willan) Actress Anna Maxwell Martin of ITV's TV drama Until I Kill You and BBC's TV Series Motherland and Line of Duty said: 'This is amazingggggg' Loose Women's Judi Love gushed: "Oh honey!!! Congratulations to you both. What joyful news." Joining on the praise, Waterloo Road's actor James Baxter shared: "Wow wow wow wow!!! Huge huge congrats to you both.' Singer Sophe Ellis Bextor also chimed in: 'Oh darlin!!! Woo hoo!!!'. Alma's Not Normal, starring and created by the actress, won best scripted comedy for the second season at the BAFTA TV awards.
