Latest news with #WillMellor
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Where the Hollyoaks cast are now - famous fling and surprise career switch
Hollyoaks is now aimed at everyone, but back in the day it revolved around a core cast of seven teenage characters - and those teens are now all grown up and have very different lives Back when Hollyoaks first hit screens on Channel 4 in 1995, it made an instant impression on viewers. In contrast to other soaps, the show was aimed at teens and young adults - with all the drama that goes with the age group. Hollyoaks instantly dived into the world of its young cast, and was even criticised for the amount of drinking shown on screen as its college student crew unveiled a world of partying and love triangles in Chester. At the same time, the show was praised for tackling hard storylines, including drug addiction, murder, and mental health issues. In contrast to its huge cast now, Hollyoaks kicked off with just 15 faces to follow, seven of whom were teens leading the story. Many of the attractive bunch became household names as the soap racked up plenty of awards, but while some have risen in the world of showbiz, others have taken unbelievably different paths. Here's a look at what the original seven are doing today, 30 years after making history... Will Mellor Laid back Jack-the-Lad Jambo was one of the most popular original characters in the soap, which actor Will joined when he was 19. The star appeared in the show for three years before moving to Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps in 2001. Will is now 49, and remains a successful actor. The Yorkshire native has starred in major hits such as Broadchurch and Line of Duty - proving he can do drama just as well as soaps and sitcoms. In 2021, he also joined Coronation Street as drugs gangster Harvey Gaskell, spending nearly two years in the role. Most recently, he worked on the show Mr Bates vs The Post Office, and also snagged a role in The Teacher. Away from acting, Will switched things up with a stint on Strictly Come Dancing, finishing 11th in 2022. He's also the co-host of Will & Ralf Should Know Better, which sees him and his Two Pints of Lager co-star Ralf Little travelling around and undertaking hilarious new activities. Despite moving on, Will - who shares children Jayden and Renee with dancer Michelle McSween - made it clear that he still loves his past on the soap. Earlier this year, he admitted: "I am so grateful to Hollyoaks. I'll always be in debt to that show. It was the show that changed my life." Nick Pickard Nick has played Tony Hutchinson since Hollyoaks began, with his character experiencing testicular cancer and being stabbed and held hostage by serial killer Breda McQueen during that time. In 2017, the actor won the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. Nick, 49, originally only signed up for 26 episodes on the soap, but told Digital Spy he hopes it goes on for 'as long as it can'. "I love the show and love the people more than anything - they're like my family," he said. In 2023, the star joined the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, calling the opportunity to enter the jungle an 'opportunity of a lifetime'. He was the fourth campmate to be voted out, with the reality contest won by Made In Chelsea's Sam Thompson. Nick enjoyed a year long relationship with his former Hollyoaks co-star Joanna Taylor, who played Geri Hudson, back in 2001. He is now in a long term relationship with girlfriend Sarah Corrin with a grown up daughter, Ellie. Jeremy Edwards Like Will, Jeremy played his character Kurt Benson for three years, which saw the wannabe rock star experience a turbulent love life and a long-running feud with villain Rob Hawthorne. Later on, heartbroken viewers believed Kurt had been killed in a jet ski accident abroad, but the character had actually been on the run - and in 2020 he returned to the village on his motorbike, leaving his pal Tony reeling in shock. Actor Jeremy said the pandemic had made his show comeback after 21 years difficult. "I was supposed to be there for six months to a year but Covid impacted that massively," he said. "There was so many restrictions with filming that I couldn't go near anyone and I only had one storyline." After his original stint on the show, Jeremy played student nurse Danny Shaughnessy in Holby City and appeared on reality shows including The X Factor: Celebrity, and Celebrity Big Brother. The actor was engaged to S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens but married Lydia Metz in 2009, going onto have children Scarlett and Theodore. Acting jobs drying up in lockdown saw the 54-year-old parting ways with his agent and he is now working as a drama teacher, saying he 'never enjoyed being famous'. "There are so many reasons why you can be out of work and I thought, this is so unpredictable and I have a family," he told The Sun. "I thought I've got thirty years of experience here, what am I doing?" Lisa Williamson Dawn was the first member of the long-running Cunningham family to appear on Hollyoaks and was at the centre of many hard-hitting storylines, including an unwanted teenage pregnancy after sleeping with her best friend Ruth's dad Jack. Actress Lisa appeared on the show for two years and went onto star in Dream Team and Siren's Bay. After years on screen, the performer turned largely to voice acting on commercial adverts, and also started a career as a very successful published author too. Her debut novel The Art of Being Normal was a bestseller which won the 2017 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for best older fiction. Shebah Ronay Described as the Hollyoaks poster girl, Natasha Anderson was the first character to die in the show when her drink was spiked with an ecstasy pill. The storyline came a year after the real-life death of Leah Betts, who died after taking ecstasy on her 18th birthday. Shebah, 53, went onto appear in 1998 film Things We Do for Love before moving to a career in modelling, presenting, and journalism. She is married to artist Jonathan Yeo, with whom she shares two children, and often acts as muse for her husband's artworks. Yasmin Bannerman Restaurant owner Maddie Parker was a background character for two years before an intense storyline involving her stalker ex propelled her to the forefront. Yasmin left the show after two years, and has racked up plenty of other acting credits since then. The star's first role after leaving the soap was in Red Dwarf, followed by a recurring role as Jessica in the cult series Cold Feet, in which her character had an affair with married posh financier David. She also snagged a main role in Merseybeat. Since then, Jessica has appeared in episodes of several shows, including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Holby City, and Life on Mars. Her last role was in Casualty in 2009, suggesting she might now be done with acting for good. Brett O'Brien Free-loving Louise Taylor was Dawn and Natasha's best friend, claiming to see the latter's ghost after her passing. The short lived character left Hollyoaks after just eight months when she fell in love with hippy traveller Tree. Brett went onto star in shows such as Wire in the Blood, William and Mary and The Bill. Like Yasmin, Brett's acting career has gone quiet since 2009, with her last role being a nurse in one episode of Law And Order: UK.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Popular Death In Paradise star says he's 'buzzing to be back' as he returns to screens after shock show exit
Popular Death In Paradise star Ralf Little has said he's 'buzzing to be back' on our screens after his heartbreaking departure last year. Ralf, who played DI Neville Parker, left the Caribbean-set BBC crime drama in 2024, after four years heading up the show, making him its longest-serving police officer. But fans will be delighted to know he is now back on the small screen for the second series of his reality show Will & Ralf Should Know Better, with friend and fellow actor Will Mellor. The pair, who famously worked together on Noughties sitcom Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, launched their chatty Two Pints With Will and Ralf podcast in 2020. They then followed it up with the hugely successful first series of their TV show on U and U&Dave in October last year, exploring the challenges of midlife. And now a second series is to follow in two three-episode blocks, one coming later this year and another in 2026 - to Ralf's absolute delight. He said: 'Somehow, they've let us do this again! I'm buzzing to be back with Will for round two - more adventures, more questionable decisions and probably more moments where we ask, "What on Earth are we doing?" 'I'm incredibly grateful for the response to the first series and I can't wait to get started on the next!' The format sees Will, 49, and Ralf, 45, meet a range of fascinating new people and try out challenges to push them out of their comfort zone. This series will include everything from trying out stand-up comedy for the first time, to survive the country's most haunted pub, to cross-country orienteering with no mobile phones. But most importantly, it gives an insight into their years-long friendship, first forged more than 20 years ago when Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet of Crisps began, in 2001. Will - also known for his roles on Hollyoaks and EastEnders, as well as a turn on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, in which he finished fifth with partner Nancy Xu - said of this second series: 'We're back! 'I'm so happy to be making a second series of this show with Ralf - we had so much fun filming series one and it seems the public loved it just as much as us. 'The reaction to series one was overwhelming and I can't wait to dive back in.' Death In Paradise viewers were devastated last year when Ralf confirmed he was leaving the show, which centres on a different DI every couple of series. His character DI Parker sailed away from the show's setting on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie to travel with former Detective Sergeant Florence Cassell (Josephine Jobert), who he had a blossoming relationship with. The actor has since been replaced as the show's primary police officer by Don Gilet - known for 55 Degrees North, EastEnders and Holby City - as DI Mervin Wilson. Ralf said at the time, departing at the end of series 13: 'So, there you have it! The secret's out! My time on Saint Marie has come to an end. But, what an end! 'New adventures await Neville and he got to sail off into the sunset with his best friend, and, you know, who knows what happens for them next! 'I just want to say, just an enormous thank you to everyone who watched and supported the show. 'When I arrived, four-and-a-half years ago, I knew I had big shoes to fill. Coming into a series beloved by millions, including me, was a huge responsibility.' It comes after the BBC shared news about series 15 of Death In Paradise at the end of last month, with a first-look image. It comes after the BBC shared news about series 15 of Death In Paradise at the end of last month , with a first-look image Series 14 wrapped up in March with a dramatic finale and saw Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington), prepare to leave his role in the police department. But fans soon received an update on the next instalment from producers. The Death In Paradise social media account on X shared a photograph of a clapboard on a beach, which attracted thousands of likes and comments from eager viewers. The post confirmed filming for season 15 had already started. It was captioned: 'We're back in paradise! Filming has begun this week in Guadeloupe on the brand-new series of #DeathInParadise.' Will & Ralf Should Know Better will be available to watch on U.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Popular podcast hosts to bring comedy show to Carlisle
The Two Pints Podcast Live tour will be coming to Carlisle. Will Mellor and Ralf Little, the stars of the podcast, have added more dates to their previously sold-out tour due to high demand. The duo will bring their comedic show to The Sands Centre, Carlisle, on November 23. Tickets for the show go on sale at 10am on Friday and can be bought via Ticketmaster. The tour, titled November Nonsense, will see the pair perform in 17 venues across the UK. Speaking about the tour, Ralf said: "We're thrilled to be taking the Two Pints Podcast back on tour this November. "The response to the announcement has been incredible, so we've added five brand new dates." Will added: "We promise you a good laugh and a great night out – we can't wait to see you there, so grab your tickets now." The tour is being presented by Formidable and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. Will Mellor and Ralf Little are well known for their TV show Will and Ralf Should Know Better, and their Two Pints podcast. The show will be the third time the duo have taken their podcast on tour. Their previous two tours were both sell out events. You can keep up with the podcast online on The Two Pints Podcast website, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, and YouTube.
