Latest news with #TVstars
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Clown around at Ottawa Fanaticcon!
Ottawa Watch You watched them when you were a kid and now you can catch them at Fanaticcon! The stars of Canadian kids TV classic The Big Comfy Couch join us.
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I worked in a shop by the Coronation Street set and met the cast – but there's a soap star we all fell in love with
A FAN that used to work in a shop near the Coronation Street set has revealed she met a lot of the cast - but there was one star who was her "favourite". The woman told the story on a Reddit forum about people who've met British TV stars. 4 4 She shared that she used to work in TK Maxx, a new store which had opened in Manchester, "20 ish years ago". Many of the soap stars would come into the store and she described them all to be "so lovely". But there was one in particular that was exceptionally nice and always went above and above, leaving a lasting impression on the fan. The fan said that Vera Duckworth star, Liz Dawn was her "favourite". She penned: "Liz Dawn was my favourite. She would stop and chat and sign autographs for every single person that approached her. She was lovely to all the staff." The user said that the legendary cobbles star would come into the store so often that she remembered the workers names and would always make sure she said hello to them. The fan added: "Other customers would say she could be served before them in the queue and she would say no, saying that she liked to queue and behave normally when she wasn't in work." Vera Duckworth was a much-loved fictional character on Coronation Street for over 30 years. Liz had starred in the popular long-running soap for 34 years - after first joining the cobbles in 1974. She had a recurring role as a factory worker until her husband, Jack Duckworth, (played by Bill Tarmey) first appeared in 1979. After three decades on the cobbles, Liz quit the soap in 2008. Liz passed away at the age of 77, in September 2017, following a long battle with the lung condition, emphysema. 4 4
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Who is the biggest Aussie TV personality of the 21st century?
Choosing the best Aussie TV stars from the past 25 years isn't an easy task — mostly because there aren't many. The days when the television landscape was dominated by household names who TV viewers genuinely loved have almost gone, replaced by a catalogue of reality drama queens, game show jesters and the odd newshound. And to make things more difficult, hardly anyone is watching. Anything. You only have to look at this year's Gold Logie nominations to get a view of how bleak things have become. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. The inclusion of the genuinely glittering Hamish Blake, Julia Morris and Sonia Kruger is countered by the eye-raising additions of P-plater A Current Affair host Ally Langdon and the ABC's Lisa Millar, who clearly got a guernsey because everyone loves the real stars in her fly-on-the-wall bush drama Muster Dogs. Surely there isn't enough people watching the ABC breakfast show to warrant a nod in the category of Australia's most popular TV personality, especially when the more established morning talent Karl Stefanovic and Nat Barr didn't get a look in. Then you throw in reality chef Poh Ling Yew (albeit undoubtedly a great cook) and Home and Away darling Lynne McGranger and you start to see what we mean. The evolution of Australian free-to-air TV is the root cause of the demise of the personalities. Talk shows are dead, expensive dramas are now almost the sole domain of the streamers and the audience in the mornings is now so small the Logies would struggle to raise a quorum. And when was the last time a free-to-air Aussie comedy got made, let alone found an audience? All that being said, the early 2000s did give rise to some genuine hitmakers, beloved characters and loungeroom favourites that deserve their place at the top of this list. Take your pick in the poll above. Rebecca Gibney When it comes to TV stars, Rebecca Gibney is a sure bet. Even in the fickle world of small screen drama, the model turned actor doesn't do duds. And when you consider television is an industry that generally courts youth, Gibney keeps getting work – and getting better. She may be a Kiwi by birth, but she is also an Aussie citizen and thanks to a raft of hit shows (did you see what we did there?) she is one of most bankable and popular stars. She was Australia's favourite TV mum as Julie Rafter on Packed to the Rafters, the smartest shrink on the planet in Halifax f.p. and a woman with a dark secret in the crime thriller Wanted. All quality, all hits and all added up to one Gold Logie and umpteen nominations. Rove McManus The last of the talk show kings whose career declined as Australian audiences fell out of love with the TV format. But at his peak he was a TV juggernaut. Rove Live was well watched and much-loved. His boyish charm and ability to get his guests to spill made him lots of money and won him three Gold Logies during a period when the competition was hot. So popular was he, he tried to transplant his Aussie-ified talk show into the tough US market, and although it ultimately failed, the brave attempt won the former stand-up guy much respect. He was also one half of one of Australia's much-loved romances, that with his late wife, Home and Away star Belinda Emmett, which only made audiences admire him more. Georgie Parker Before she rebooted the role of Alf's daughter Roo in the soap Home and Away, Georgie Parker was the most loved star on TV. Early on she built fans for her work on prime time drama A Country Practice but it was her spin as Sister Terri on the popular medical drama All Saints that carved her name into the Aussie TV record books. She won two Gold Logies, and many other Logie categories as well, and appeared as herself on dozens of other programs, including on stage at Carols by Candlelight and as a regular on Play School. She went quiet for a bit in the middle 2000s but returned to the screen in the Summer Bay soap in 2010, where she remains. Hamish Blake There is something irresistible about Hamish Blake. His easy charm and laconic sense of humour has made him a favourite among TV viewers of all ages. Whether he is appearing with his lanky sidekick Andy, or going it alone on his latest megahit Lego Masters, Blake can't help scoring a ratings bullseye. Like Rebecca Gibney, Blake is a TV hitmaker and he has earned two Gold Logies along the way (and it probably should have been more). He was also honoured with the Bert Newton Logie for TV presenter, which perfectly sums up his likability and his strike rate for making people laugh. A genuine star. Sonia Kruger One of the highest paid hosts on television, Sonia Kruger earned her stripe by working really hard. With her easy wit and megawatt smile, Kruger was so reliable she became the TV host of choice. Kruger had early success and then she built her following on the Mornings couch with David Campbell. She realised one way to attract attention was to ride the wave of reality television, taking on roles in Dancing With The Stars, Strictly Come Dancing, Big Brother Australia, The Voice Australia and she even survived the short-lived but truly horrible reality golf show, Holey Moley. Kruger made headlines for her misunderstood Gold Logie winning speech in 2023 (which you can watch in the player at the top of the page) but it didn't do her too much harm because she is back on the nominees list this year. John Wood Probably the most unlikely genuine star of Australian television through the 2000s, John Wood started getting noticed when he played the magistrate with a sharp mind and a heart of gold in the hit drama Rafferty's Rules. It won him awards and a loyal — and rather large — audience. It's an audience he brought with him when he signed for the blockbuster cop show Blue Heelers and, with co-star Lisa McCune, rode a wave of success that would last a decade. He was nominated for the Gold Logie every year for 10 years, before finally scoring the gong in 2006, the year the show was cancelled. We would have included McCune on this list but she left the show in 2000. Eddie McGuire Nicknamed Eddie Everywhere for his seemingly endless list of TV credits, sports-mad McGuire was once considered the most powerful face on television. Not content with ruling the world of AFL as a commentator and president of the polarising footy club Collingwood, McGuire was literally everywhere. He has been host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Millionaire Hot Seat, 1 vs 100, The Footy Show, Footy Classified, the Million Dollar Drop, Between The Lines and This Is Your Life. At one stage he was even CEO of the Nine Network and temporarily hosted A Current Affair, which was a bit of a disaster. If there was a telethon or natural disaster fundraiser, McGuire was on the mic, and although he never won a Gold Logie, he hosted the awards twice! Kate Ritchie Although now almost exclusively spending her time on radio, Ritchie is responsible for nurturing one of the most-loved characters on Australian TV – Home and Away's Sally Fletcher. For 20 years fans watched Sally grow up, surviving way too many scandals and traumas that could conceivably occur in one small town, especially one with the particularly sunny name of Summer Bay. She was rewarded with two Gold Logies and a loyal base that followed her to other TV projects, including crime hit Underbelly, and eventually onto radio. So popular is she, that media organisations reporting on her recent personal traumas cop bag-loads of hate mail from TV viewers warning to leave their Sally alone. Now that's superstardom. Carrie Bickmore Carrie Bickmore may have made her name as the foundation host of the now-defunct The Project, but she was never better than as the quick-witted journo sidekick to Rove McManus on the talk show Rove Live. The segment, Carrie @ The Newsdesk, was the precursor to the Project slogan, news done differently, and won the young West Australian a huge following, especially among young female viewers. She won a newcomer Logie for her work, as a warm up for the gold statue, which she won in 2015. It was during her acceptance speech that her stardom exploded when she accepted the award wearing a beanie to launch her now successful brain cancer charity. The beanie idea was a tribute to her late husband's own cancer struggles. Karl Stefanovic Alternately described as a TV buffoon and an undeniable chat show talent, it's hard to ignore the man affectionately known as Karlos. One of the highest paid stars on the small screen throughout the 2000s, Stefanovic had minor gigs before landing the seat on the Today Show, Nine's flagship brekkie offering. Famously starting the job on less money than his more famous co-host Lisa Wilkinson, Karl leveraged his talent and his blokey charms to eclipse Wilkinson in salary, and ultimately outlast her on the Today couch. Although the show struggles in the ratings, and breakfast audiences aren't as lucrative as they once were, Stefanovic remains one of the biggest names on the box.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dr Karl doesn't look like this anymore! Alan Fletcher is unrecognisable as he arrives for final week of filming on axed soap Neighbours
Alan Fletcher is one of the most beloved stars to ever appear on Aussie soap opera Neighbours. As the show nears its final episodes, the actor, who has played Karl Kennedy on the Australian soap since 1994, arrived for work this week looking rather different than he did in his heyday. The 68-year-old arrived on set on Tuesday for what is the last week of filming for the iconic series. Alan was sporting grey and white hair and appeared unshaven as he exited his vehicle. He opted for a striped dress shirt in tones of red, white and blue, along with a pair of grey trousers. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Alan Fletcher (pictured), who has played Karl Kennedy on the Australian soap since 1994, arrived for work this week looking rather different than he did in his heyday The veteran actor completed his ensemble with a pair of brown dress shoes. Alan previously revealed he once nearly died while filming Neighbours. He recounted a 'terrifying' incident which saw him nearly drown while filming scenes on a cruise. During an upcoming appearance on Saturday Night With Hayley Palmer, Alan told the presenter how his character had been attempting to rescue his fiancée Izzy Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte), when things went south. Alan claimed he only survived the near-death-experience after a speedboat came to his rescue. He went on to tell viewers he collapsed a week later due to 'delayed shock', but has lived on to tell the tale. The Perth native said: 'This was a terrifying incident, Karl proposed to Izzy... she got so excited she pitched into the water. 'After they fished her out, I had to dive in to try and rescue her, obviously in a fictional way, but I forgot to take my shoes off so they filled up with water and every time I went down I thought, "Gee, am I gonna come up again? 'The third time I went down, I thought, "I don't know if I am gonna come up," so I got a bit flustered, put my hand up in the air and the speedboat had to rush out and rescue me. 'A week later, I actually collapsed from a delayed shock to the body. It was very weird.' It comes after the long-running soap opera was abruptly axed in February. Amazon did not renew their contract with production company Fremantle Australia. In response to the shock announcement, an Amazon spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Neighbours has brought so much joy over the last 40 years to its fanbase globally. 'Forty years is an incredible milestone and we are proud that Amazon MGM Studios was able to have a small part of bringing further episodes to Freevee and Prime Video customers over the last two years.' In a heartwarming post, the crew assured fans that new episodes from the 40th anniversary season would continue to be broadcast on Prime Video and Ten, with 'all the big soapie twists and turns that our viewers love'. The show's Executive Producer Jason Herbison went on to celebrate the many years of Neighbours and the success it had experienced since its inception. 'Audiences all around the world have loved Neighbours for four decades,' he said. 'We are proud of the success over the last two years including often appearing as one of the Top 10 titles in the UK and the show's first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination. 'As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally.' He ended the post, saying: 'We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.' The final ever episodes will air at the end of 2025 with fans forced to say goodbye to Ramsay Street for a second time, after first being axed in February 2022.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Emmerdale actress reveals exactly how much soap stars are paid – and it's not as much as you think
A LONG running soap actress has lifted the lid on the reality of what some of the country's biggest TV stars earn. Kelli Hollis, who starred as Ali Spencer on Emmerdale was asked by a fan how salaries worked on TV soaps and if they were based on episode appearances. 3 The actress, who quit the UK and now runs a weed shop in Thailand, broke down the typical soap contracts and potential earnings for stars. "[On] Emmerdale I explained that you get an episode fee and you're guaranteed so many episodes a year... so if we're saying roughly £500 and up [per episode], and you were contracted to do 90 [episodes, that's 45k, it's obviously a good wage," Kelli began. "But it's not like the 'rich, rich' you'd think famous actors would be earning." Kelli added: "Now, that's that sort of middle of the road [salary]. I'm not going to lie when I was at Emmerdale to my knowledge, one of the highest paid actors was on a thousand pound episodes." She explained that you "never know for sure," what your co-stars earned because everybody was paid differently. Kelli also spoke about extra earnings actors made from soaps, but also all the hidden fees they pay that viewers might not know about. "So, yeah, it would only be 45, but then you get a buyout, which is pretty much the same as your wage, so I'll top that up to 90. Then, you've got the agent's commission, which is usually 12 and a half percent," she said. "And because you're self-employed, you have to put 40 [per cent] away for tax." Kelli added: "Obviously, there's a lot of tax rebates and things you can claim for as an act of things you probably won't normally be able to claim as a self-employed person, but there is a cap on a lot of those things." She told the fan that "people are under the assumption that actors get paid a s**t ton of money," but that wasn't always the case. I was an Emmerdale star but now I sell weed for a living - I've quit the soap and the UK and I'm never coming home Kelli, who also starred on the TV drama, Shameless, also explained that veteran soap actors such as, Coronation Street star, William Roache were on older ITV contracts that can't be broken and likely on higher salaries. "It's very, very different now, and to be honest, to my knowledge, you're not even guaranteed the 90 episode a year now," she said. "When I was leaving Emmerdale, it was almost like they were putting people on pay-as-you-go contracts or three months contracts which isn't going to work for many actors." The Sun has previously revealed that some soap actors were raking in the big salaries, and along with their six-figure acting earnings, some viewer favourites from Coronation Street and EastEnders to Emmerdale are worth millions thanks to lucrative deals and side hustles. But some of the biggest stars could be facing the axe in a huge cost-cutting drive as audiences dwindle. An insider said: 'There is about to be a bloodbath across Corrie, Emmerdale and EastEnders — and it won't be pretty. "All the big three have all been told they need to cut their wage bills by up to 25 per cent. Now there is panic in the green rooms about who could be facing the chop.' 3
