Latest news with #Westlife
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Hollyoaks actor Paul Danan died by misadventure after taking drugs, coroner rules
Danan, 46, played bad boy Sol Patrick from 1997 to 2001 on the Channel 4 soap and was later known for his reality TV appearances, including on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island. An inquest into his death was held at Avon Coroner's Court in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, before Assistant Coroner Debbie Rookes on Wednesday morning. The hearing was told how Danan was found unresponsive sitting on the sofa in front of the television at his home in Brislington, Bristol, on January 15 this year. Emergency services attended the scene and confirmed that he had died. His body was identified there by his partner, Melissa Crooks. A postmortem examination concluded that his death was due to combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, cocaine and zopiclone, contributed to by benzodiazepine use. Ms Rookes reached a conclusion that Danan had died by misadventure after hearing written statements from emergency services, doctors, and his mother Beverley Danan. The statement from Mrs Danan said: 'Paul helped so many people from all walks of life but just couldn't help himself in the same way. 'His smiling face and love of life will always be remembered.' Ms Rookes concluded that Danan had died from the combined effects of prescribed and illicit drugs. She told the hearing there was no evidence that Danan, who suffered an accidental overdose in May 2024, had intended to take his own life. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more A previous hearing was told that no note was left by Danan. The coroner said: 'Paul Danan was clearly much loved and is very much missed. 'Mr Danan had a long history of drug misuse and struggles with his mental health. His death was caused by a combination of drugs, both prescription and illicit. 'Paul had struggled with his mental health for many years. He had taken an overdose in May 2024 but he was adamant that this was accidental and he didn't have any intention to end his life. 'Although he had occasional suicidal thoughts, he didn't have any active plans. I don't have any evidence before me that Paul intended to take his own life at this time. 'Therefore, the conclusion is misadventure.' Danan had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on January 16 after being charged with being in possession of cocaine and cannabis, according to court documents. He was also accused of driving whilst under the influence of drugs on October 2 last year, in Warrington, Cheshire. The actor had been open about his struggles with addiction, with entering rehab and trying to recover. Danan appeared on ITV's Celebrity Love Island as a contestant in 2005 and 2006 but did not win either series. He also featured in the 2006 ITV2 reality show Calum, Fran And Dangerous Danan in which he, former Westlife bodyguard and Celebrity Love Island winner Fran Cosgrave, and Calum Best travelled across the US. Best, the son of footballer George Best, took part in Celebrity Love Island and a reality travel programme with Danan, and described him as one of the 'funniest, kindest, and most authentic people I've known'. In an Instagram post after Danan's death, he said: 'Life wasn't always easy for him, but he faced it with such heart and courage, and that inspired so many of us. 'We shared many laughs, chats, and unforgettable moments. My heart goes out to his loved ones right now. Rest easy, brother.' EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney also paid tribute, saying on Instagram story that Danan 'had a heart of gold'. In 2017, Danan took part in Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother, when he was evicted early, and said at the time he hoped the series would give him a 'second chance' at his career. He regularly called for his return to Hollyoaks and later began the podcast The Morning After With Paul Danan, which lasted from 2019 until 2023. In 2020, he started a drama workshop, Morning After Drama, which grew from online sessions during the pandemic to workshops in London, Oxford and the South West. His other appearances included on E4's Celebrity Coach Trip and Channel 4 sketch comedy programme The Kevin Bishop Show. Danan discussed his substance abuse and recovery on ITV's The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019, which he said began when he was a teenager. He said he had to 'work hard at it every day to keep in recovery'. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to drugs and public order offences, and was fined £350 and referred to a drugs agency for support by Stevenage Magistrates' Court. A statement from Independent Creative Management said: 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan at just 46 years old. 'Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many. 'His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him.'
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Strictly's Karen Hauer admits 'we belonged together' in marriage to co-star Kevin Clifton
The Strictly Come Dancing star was reflecting on her two failed marriages during an appearance on this week's episode of We Need To Talk with Paul C Brunson. Strictly Come Dancing sensation Karen Hauer has candidly spoken about her past marriage to fellow dancer Kevin Clifton, confessing "we belonged together". Karen, who made her debut on the BBC dance floor in 2012 and was initially paired with Westlife's Nicky Byrnes, found herself bowing out in week 10. However, she tasted greater success reaching the finals in 2014 and 2020 alongside celebrities Mark Wright and Jamie Laing. Beyond the glitterball spotlight, Karen's personal life garnered attention due to her high-profile union with fellow Strictly pro Kevin Clifton. The pair tied the knot in 2015 but went their separate ways in 2018. During this week's instalment of the podcast We Need To Talk, hosted by Paul C Brunson of Married at First Sight and Celebs Go Dating fame, Karen opened up about the dissolution of her marriage, reports the Manchester Evening News. In conversation with Paul, Karen divulged: "This one hurt because we belonged together. Do you know what I mean? It was like you wouldn't say each other's names without following the other person's name." She continued: "It was one of these that we're like, 'What? What?' We built stuff together. I felt that he distanced himself from me, but I was probably doing the same because I felt if he didn't want me then, okay, I'll retreat. I'll give you your space. It was one of those that we're both not talking about it. So, I'm like, do you want a divorce? Do you want to split up? I don't know what I want to do. "What do you want to do? Do you know what you want? I don't know what I want. Okay. So, do we are broken up or? So, it took a while actually. It took about a year behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, everything was normal." She further explained: "We fell apart and I obviously didn't know what was happening in his mind whether he wanted to be with me or not. I knew that I would have worked on it. I would have stayed but at the same time I couldn't be with someone who wasn't sure of whether they wanted to be with me or not. I couldn't just wait. "I waited for a while and I was giving him his space to think and then funny (sic) enough I met someone and you know we weren't together but we were together in the public eye." The dancer went on to describe how she was unfairly labelled a "cheater" as the public weren't aware that she and Kevin had parted ways. She clarified: "It wasn't someone that I dated or something, it just happened to be someone that I just saw a couple of times and I got snapped up. "And then all of a sudden I was just walking with this person and then all of a sudden, you know, I'm portrayed as someone that has cheated on him and then obviously he saw the pictures and was like what? So there was a big misunderstanding in all of that because I wasn't, actually I was literally waiting to be loved." Karen concluded by saying: "He had to do the right thing for himself" when discussing their divorce. Even after parting ways, the couple continued working together on Strictly. Karen expressed: "We respected one another, you know. We never said a bad word about one another, you know. I think that's because we hold each other to such a high regard, you know. There will always be love there. "So, we still danced together on the show and we were still working around each other. We would still applaud each other, support each other. We never lost that and that was what was really sad, that we could and transfer that onto our relationship." When questioned by Paul about how she felt regarding her second divorce, Karen confessed: "I felt shame. I felt embarrassed. that I couldn't keep anyone around me. And I had said to myself, 'No, I'm not. No, I'm not going to get into a relationship.' Uh-uh. No. Spend some time on your own. But I don't know how to be on my own. And that's so dangerous." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Vogue Williams on turning 40: "I feel like I'm in a good spot"
Someone who seems to have the Midas touch in her life and career, Vogue Williams – podcaster, entrepreneur, presenter and now author – talks to Janice Butler about sharing her life story in her new book, Big Mouth, why she doesn't embarrass easily and being in a good place as she turns 40. The week before I chat with Vogue Williams, I was getting my Friday fix of her podcast with comedian Joanne McNally. During their chat, she confesses that she's anxious about the release of her new book, Big Mouth, a reflection on her life so far and the hilarious and sometimes sad twists and turns along the way. She says she is nervous about what the media will pick up on and the usual clickbait headlines that are part of being in the public eye. There's been many iterations of Vogue Williams over the years: the Howth native first came to people's attention as a model in the mid-Noughties and star of the ground-breaking reality TV show Fade Street. She then went on to be a successful TV presenter with her Vogue Williams Investigates documentaries. Her marriage and divorce from Westlife star Brian McFadden made perfect tabloid fodder. After that stressful time, she moved to London to recreate her life. That's exactly what she has done. Now, Vogue is a queen of podcasts (she currently has three!) and is happily married to former reality star, Spencer Matthews (whom she met on reality show The Jump) and the couple have three young children (Theodore, Gigi and Otto). She has a successful business too, with Bare by Vogue tanning products, clothing collections, a fitness app and of course, she is the voice and face of Fairy Non-Bio ('click-clack'). It's an impressive portfolio; I'm tired even thinking about it! Her podcasts brought her to a whole new audience, breaking down people's preconceptions of her and giving a "sense of the real" Vogue. "I think people thought I was very different to what I'm actually like and got a sense of the real me when I started doing the podcast with Spencer and my one with Joanne. When you're on social media, you only see a snippet of someone's life, but when I'm on the podcast, I'm very much myself," she remarks. Now, with Big Mouth, she's revealing more of herself with her trademark humour. While the book is packed with stories from her life, she's hesitant to call it an autobiography. How does she feel now about its release? "You can take any sentence out of context, and it doesn't really lend to what the book is, or the tone of it," she answers. "There's going to be things that are of more interest to people, and you'll get the clickbait headlines, but I think I'm kind of over those nerves now, although I was feeling that way for a while," she adds. "I wanted to write a book that's hopefully interesting to people; there's been a lot of things in my life that I could have done better, and maybe people will learn something from those that I didn't. I wanted to entertain people with this too, I want it to be a book that you take to the beach and enjoy reading." When we chat, she's sitting in a stylish room in her house (in another life, Vogue got a degree in construction design and management), which people may recognise from her social media. The room is as chic as the woman herself, with a sleek blonde bob and flawless make-up. Her youngest son, Otto, is calling through the door, keen to go scooting with her. It's hard to appease a three-year-old when they're on a mission. She promised him she won't be long, apologises and we continue our chat. While she's very open on her podcasts, the book covers parts of her life that she hasn't discussed publicly before. Yes, she does get Botox: "Everyone already knew from Joanne and I's chats. We'll still be gorgeous when we die," she laughs. More serious topics include her divorce from Brian McFadden and the impact of the death of her father, Freddie, when she was in her early 20s. Big Mouth charts her childhood in Howth, with her siblings Amber, Frederick (she's the youngest) and step-brother Alexander. She deals with her parents, Sandra and Freddie's divorce, when she was seven; her subsequent relationship with her mum Sandra and step-dad Neil, who she's very close to; and with her dad, who she describes in the book as 'fond of the drink." "I always said I'd never write an autobiography because I didn't know how to approach it. I didn't want to throw anyone under the bus, it's not really my style. But I realised there was a way to do it without calling out people," she explains. As someone who can't remember what happened last week, I tell her I was impressed by how much of her childhood and teenage years she could recall. "I remember snippets and, of course, the funnier parts," she laughs. "When my mum read it, she said 'There's a lot of drinking in this book' and I genuinely don't drink that much. "It's quite nostalgic and an Irish childhood is very different to any other," she continues. "We spent a lot of time in the pub with my dad, but even in terms of the freedom you had, you'd go off on your own for the day. I'd never do that with my kids now, they just won't have that life here in London." She refers to her mental health quite a bit in the book and her battle with anxiety, which she manages now through exercise and a healthy lifestyle. She's very open about the benefits she gets from seeing a therapist. Did she find digging back into the past and getting it down on paper therapeutic? "It was. It was one of the only times I've ever just been focused on doing one thing because I had such a short window to write the book. Writing it all down, I learned a lot about myself, about my anxiety and where it might have started, and that was really interesting. When you sit down and put it all out there, you think 'Oh that's why I'm like this'." Her father, who spent a lot of the latter part of his life in and out of hospital, passed away in 2010 when she was 24. She says it changed the trajectory of her life. She reveals in the book that she escaped the reality of it all by moving to Australia with her then-boyfriend, singer Brian McFadden. The pair quickly got engaged and married, but in the book, Vogue admits it all happened too fast, and she realised quite soon after their wedding in Italy that she'd made a mistake. They went on to divorce in 2017, and reflecting on it in Big Mouth, she admits she felt embarrassed at the time by how public the end of their relationship was. Looking back on her dad's passing, she says it took her a long time to process it, and it was hard to revisit the emotions when she was writing. "I don't think I grieved properly at the start; I was just going through the motions with everything, and that's when I ran away for a while. I didn't start to grieve until I would say two years after he died, and even now, I get sad when I'm doing things that I know he'd love to be doing," she says. "Grief is a funny thing. Even writing down the stories about my dad, I got to remember how fun he was. He was a really good dad to us. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be to put all that down. "It's just terrible that he can't be around for so many things; like he'll never meet my kids, and that's really sad because he loved kids and he'd have loved hanging out with them." She always had the itch to be on stage or screen, or "get attention", as she says in the book. While she's better known for her TV and modelling work, she also went to the Gaiety School of Acting and spent a month at the prestigious RADA in London when she was a teenager. She jokes now that she hadn't a clue what she was getting herself into with the latter. "I don't know if that trip was about RADA or me moving to London for a month," she laughs. "I didn't know it was a Shakespearean theatre of acting until I showed up and thought: 'What is this?' I got into it, though, sword fighting and all that. "I just loved the whole world of acting, and that hasn't changed. Sometimes when you're doing TV, you have to pretend to be a version of yourself, which is acting in a way. I loved drama and dance growing up; I loved everything about showing off," she laughs. Reflecting on her career to date, the good and the bad, she's happy with where it's led her. "I'm not embarrassed by anything I did back then. Even modelling, back in the day, it was such a ridiculous concept of having us all standing on a shopping street in a bikini to promote something. But I had such a fun time with all the girls, and everything has moved me on to the next stage in my career. I'm here now because of everything that's gone before," she says. Is she proud of herself? "I'm Irish, I don't think we're allowed to say we're proud of ourselves!" she laughs. At the moment, Vogue has three podcasts on the go: My Therapist Ghosted Me with Joanne McNally, her solo project, Never Live it Down; and Vogue & Amber, with her sister, who replaced her husband Spencer earlier this year. "I loved doing it with him, but not towards the end because I knew he wasn't enjoying it," she says of his reason for leaving their pod. "He has his own one now that he loves, whereas the things I like discussing with Joanne and Amber are not up his street," she laughs. While she now lives in London, her home town of Howth, where she's recently renovated a house, is where her heart lies. Would she ever move the family back permanently? "I love the idea of it, but I think so much of my work is over here now, so it would be really difficult for me to go back full-time. But I love going home so much and I want the kids to have friends there and to be friends with my friends' kids and have the same love for Ireland that I do," she replies. Without giving anything away, the last chapter of Big Mouth is titled 'Fantasy Future Plan' where she describes a fictional future life plan, but what's the real five-year plan, I wonder? "I'd like to focus on doing a bit more TV, and then I'm going to start writing my fiction novel," she reveals. "I've three ideas in my head and I'm meeting publishers next month. I have a feeling which one they'll go with. One is more of a TV show idea, so if I write the book, it's possible it could be made into a TV show, so it's just to wait and see which one they think will work better. "I'm giving myself a long time to write it, though. I've never written fiction, so I'm going to do a course in the summer and make sure I have a proper understanding of it," she adds. Vogue turns 40 in October, and in a way, this collection of stories feels like a bookend as she enters a new decade. "I feel like I'm in a good spot at the moment, and I'm looking forward to turning 40. I'm not dreading it at all," she says. "I think your 40s are meant to be a great decade. I've had a really good time in my 30s, especially my late 30s, and sure, aren't we all lucky to be ageing, 'cos we're still here?"
Dublin Live
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Vogue Williams knew she was making a mistake marrying Brian McFadden on wedding morning
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Vogue Williams has said she knew she was making a mistake marrying Brian McFadden on the morning of her wedding day. The Dubliner tied the knot to the former Westlife singer in Florence in Italy in 2012. They announced their split three years later. Writing in her new autobiography, Big Mouth, Williams said that McFadden wasn't "marriage material" despite him being "good fun to be around" the majority of the time. "The morning of the wedding I felt very stressed and so anxious because deep down I knew I had made a mistake," she explained. "After the wedding I tried to make things work." Williams added: "The relationship wasn't all terrible, we did have some great times too, and for the most part he was good fun to be around. But he was not husband material. It was me who called it in the end. I couldn't keep trying, it felt pointless... I'm not here to throw anyone under the bus but there are things that went on in our relationship that will never be forgiven." It comes after Williams told Bryony Gordon on her The Life of Bryony podcast earlier this week that she felt like her "life was over" after divorcing the Westlife singer. "I remember being divorced at 31 and thinking, I've ruined my life. I am never going to have kids, I am never going to do what I always wanted to do," she said. "Then you see how your life actually starts to unfold – that's why it feels exciting to move into your forties." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Sunday World
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Vogue ‘knew she was making mistake' on morning of Brian McFadden wedding
The TV star said her ex was not 'husband material.' Vogue Williams has said she knew she was 'making a mistake' on the morning of her wedding to Brian McFadden. The 39-year-old married the Westlife singer in 2012 during a lavish Italian ceremony. Opening up about their nuptials in her new autobiography, Big Mouth, she said her first husband 'wasn't marriage material'. 'The morning of the wedding I felt very stressed and so anxious because deep down I knew I had made a mistake,' she said. Brian McFadden and Vogue Williams News in 90 seconds - 21st May 'After the wedding, I tried to make things work. 'The relationship wasn't all terrible, we did have some great times too, and for the most part he was good fun to be around. But he was not husband material,' she added. The couple split three years later, with their divorce finalised in 2017. 'It was me who called it in the end,' she explained. 'I couldn't keep trying, it felt pointless… I'm not here to throw anyone under the bus but there are things that went on in our relationship that will never be forgiven.' Brian McFadden and Vogue Williams In 2017 she got engaged to Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, after meeting on reality TV show The Jump. The couple married in June 2018 and welcomed their first child Theodore in September. They have since had two more children, Gigi and Otto. Meanwhile, McFadden went on to meet Danielle Parkinson, whom he got engaged to in December 2019. The couple, who welcomed their first child together in 2021, are set to wed later this summer. He was previously married to Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona, with whom he shares two daughters, Molly (23) and Lilly-Sue (22).
