Sheila Hancock admits she’s ‘overwhelmed’ with loneliness after ‘gaping loss’ of famous husband

Dame Sheila Hancock’s husband, John Thaw, died in 2002, but the ex EastEnders actress finds a sense of comfort in still ‘talking out loud’ to him

Sheila Hancock has opened up about feeling lonely(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Dame Sheila Hancock has revealed that she still chats to her late husband John Thaw, who died in 2002 at the age of 60. Inspector Morse star John, who passed away after he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, was married to The Rag Trade star Sheila for 28 years before his death.

In a recent admission, Dame Sheila discussed her loneliness and how it affects her. Her friends and family members have been a ‘great comfort’ for her but they ‘eventually go home’, leaving her on her own. “I am left with the gaping loss of the person who has left forever, with whom I could be totally honest and myself, warts and all,” she said.

“Who is there now to wipe my tears and make me laugh?”

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John Thaw and Sheila Hancock
John Thaw died in 2002(Image: Getty Images)

Writing in Prospect magazine, Dame Sheila added: “I still talk out loud to my long-departed husband, especially when I watch the news on Channel 4, but our imagined rant about politicians and human idiocy has grown fainter over the years.”

Her loneliness was ‘terribly difficult’ for her to handle, revealing how she can sometimes wake up feeling ‘overwhelmed by depression at the thought of a solitary day ahead.’

She continued: “The easiest thing is to turn over and stay in bed, but an effort must be made when one least feels like it, to get up and be active, or one descends even deeper into the Slough of Despond.”

The Laurence Olivier award winner thought about getting a cat but changed her mind after worrying about whether it would ‘outlive’ her.

Sheila Hancock and John Thaw
She still ‘talks out loud’ to him (Image: Mirrorpix)

Earlier this year, The Sixth Commandment star appeared on Katherine Ryan’s What’s My Age Again? podcast and discussed ageing.

“Strangely enough, reaching 90 was extraordinary because right up until then, I honestly had never thought I was old. I really hadn’t,” she said.

“I did a film where I climbed a mountain when I was 85 and I didn’t think anything of it. I went to the gym and did a bit of extra work, but I’ve never thought of it.”

Although she doesn’t feel old, she noticed how other people started treating her differently because of it.

“When I was 90, everybody started saying, ‘do you still drive? Let me help you up.’ They suddenly start treating you as old and you find you’re acting old if you’re not careful,” Dame Sheila explained.

“It’s quite useful because it means that you can, for instance if you’re bored or if I have had enough of this interview, I can actually say, ‘well, I’m very bored with this, I’m leaving,’ and everybody will say, ‘oh, poor old thing. She’s gone a bit senile’. It’s a wonderful excuse for bad behaviour.”

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Olivia Attwood calls out ‘dishonest’ celebs after backlash over cosy Pete Wicks snaps

Olivia Attwood has defended herself against criticism over her Ibiza trip and close friendship with Pete Wicks, calling out “dishonest celebrities” who she says wouldn’t be as honest about their personal lives

Olivia Attwood calls out ‘dishonest’ celebs after backlash over cosy Pete Wicks snaps(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Bvl)

Olivia Attwood has hit out at “dishonest celebrities” following criticism over her recent trip to Ibiza without her husband, footballer Bradley Dack, and her close friendship with TOWIE star Pete Wicks.

The 34-year-old TV personality admitted she did get a “telling off” from Bradley for her antics on the White Isle but insisted she stands out for being honest about her personal life – a trait she says many in the industry lack. Speaking ahead of the launch of the second series of her ITV2 show Bad Boyfriends, Olivia reflected on the media scrutiny surrounding her friendship with Pete, 36.

She said she was used to speculation but claimed it never deeply affected her: “It’s going to be expected. You know, I think when you’ve got, like, two straight people working together.

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“It happened when I first joined Towie and Pete and I became very close. We spent a lot of time together and there was a rumour mill spinning back then. I expect that.”

She explained how she handles press attention: “I honestly, the way I am, with the press, and this is like how I kind of survive in my career, is I just don’t really deep it that much.

“Like unless it was really something really bad that someone was saying about me, I just kind of like, I don’t get too invested in it.”

Olivia Attwood has opened up about her marriage to Bradley Dack
Olivia Attwood has opened up about her marriage to Bradley Dack(Image: oliviaatwood/instagram)
Olivia has slammed other celebrities as 'fake'
Olivia has slammed other celebrities as ‘fake’(Image: PA)

Olivia also took a swipe at other celebrities who avoid being upfront about their private lives: “I am wild and I do go to Ibiza every year and let my hair down and I do get told off by my husband and I’m honest about that.

“I’m not alone in that. The difference is that other people in our industry just wouldn’t be honest to say that. That is just what happens.”

Addressing her marriage, she admitted it isn’t perfect but said the couple works through their issues: “Like, I’m not perfect. Brad’s not perfect. Yeah, but we make it work.”

Olivia has consistently been candid about her life, balancing her social media presence with honesty about relationships, mistakes, and the realities of being in the public eye.

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Her upcoming ITV2 show, Bad Boyfriends, returns next week for its second series, with Olivia promising to pull back the curtain on dating and relationships with the same no-nonsense approach that has become her trademark.

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Vicky Pattison admits stealing toilet rolls as skint student before Geordie Shore fame

Strictly Come Dancing star Vicky Pattison has opened up about her struggle to find success and fame in a new chat

Vicky Pattison admits stealing toilet rolls as skint student before Geordie Shore fame(Image: Getty Images for BFC)

Strictly star Vicky Pattison has revealed she was so skint before her rise to fame that she resorted to stealing loo rolls. The reality TV queen, who is preparing for her upcoming stint on Strictly Come Dancing, faced financial hardship as a student in Liverpool before hitting the big time with Geordie Shore.

Vicky, 37, confessed: “All of that university life thing is amazing, but it is hard, too. I have memories of stealing toilet rolls from bars because I’d run out of money to buy my own. I used to live above a bar, and come the end of the week, I’d go there to buy a burger and a beer for a fiver (which apparently I did have money for) and go into the loo and steal the toilet tissue.

“And when you’ve done that for three years, it starts to take its toll on your soul.

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Geordie Shore stars
Vicky discussed being skint before appearing on Geordie Shore(Image: Getty Images for MTV)

“I didn’t come out of there in a good position to face the world. I was naïve, skint and starting to get scared,” reports the Daily Star. “Unsure of what to do next, I ran straight back home to Newcastle with my tail between my legs.”

Vicky shared that she moved back in with her family and took up a part-time job at a jeans shop called G-Star in an effort to regain her footing.

Vicky Pattison smiling
She said she used to steal toilet roll from bars(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)

She continued: “I remember thinking, I’m just coming home for a few months. I’ll save up enough money, and then I’ll move to London.”

It comes after Vicky shared her concerns about Strictly and confessed her fear that certain members of the audience weren’t ever going to take to her.

“I am still just trying to change the opinions of people who will never like me, who are convinced I’m nothing but that girl from Geordie Shore, that I’m never gonna be any better,” she wept. “I’m wasting my time trying to pander to these people.”

Speaking to her co-host Angela Scanlon on their podcast Get a Grip, Vicky cried: “All this can’t go on.

“I feel like I’ve just been walking around in this haze for so long pretending to be happy and all the rest of it and I’m not. I wanna prove to people that I can do it.”

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With just three weeks until the first live instalment of the BBC ballroom show, Vicky said she’d been having therapy sessions with This Morning’s resident counsellors the Speakmans, to help her come to terms with the challenge ahead.

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Megan McKenna slams MasterChef star for calling her a ‘bad mum’ in cruel swipe

TV star Megan McKenna has hit back at MasterChef star Bernice Marie on social media after being publicly criticised for her 11-month-old son Landon not crawling

Megan McKenna slams MasterChef star for calling her a ‘bad mum’ in cruel swipe(Image: Instagram/ @meganmckenna)

Megan McKenna has publicly confronted a BBC star who criticised her parenting on social media. The 32-year-old former TOWIE star reacted after MasterChef series 13 contestant Bernice Marie wrote a now-deleted comment claiming Megan was a “bad mum” because her 11-month-old son, Landon, has not yet started crawling.

The reality star, who shares Landon with footballer husband Oliver Burke, addressed the remark in detail on her Instagram Story on Sunday, describing it as “bizarre” and insisting she should not have to justify herself. Megan said: “Do you know what I never come on to just like out people but something these people need to be educated.

“So there is a lady that has just written something on my page about Landon saying that I’m clearly not a good mum because he doesn’t crawl yet and he’s nearly one.”

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She explained the natural variation in infant development: “Firstly, crawling can be from seven months to 13 months, some babies don’t even crawl, they just go straight to walking.

“Landon is literally on the verge. He is literally like on his knees and moving, he just hasn’t been able to do the actual moving with the knees. I don’t need to explain myself but he’s obviously 11 months [old].”

Megan McKenna, Oliver Burke, and their baby son, Landon
Megan shares her baby with footballer fiancé Oliver Burke(Image: Instagram/@meganmckenna)
Megan has hit back at cruel mum-shamers
Megan has hit back at cruel mum-shamers(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Megan also criticised the person making the comments, pointing out the irony of a fellow parent criticising her: “I just find it bizarre that another mum who is proudly stating she’s cabin crew, has kids, has been on TV, and I’m actually going to put her Instagram on my next post.

“I just think this mum-shaming needs to stop because it’s absolutely ridiculous,” she insisted.

Bernice, who left MasterChef in week one of series 13 in 2017, deleted her comment after Megan shared a screenshot.

This is not the first time Megan has faced online criticism since giving birth to Landon last year.

The former Celebrity Big Brother star has shared her parenting journey on Instagram, and trolls have often commented on mundane aspects of her day-to-day life.

Last month, she faced backlash over a video showing her cooking spaghetti with Landon by her side, with one critic writing: “Megan he’s sat in the direct sunlight in that position. Can you not tilt the blinds or something x”

Fans quickly defended her parenting. One follower responded directly to the troll: “Have a day off Trace.”

Megan’s message comes amid wider conversations around mum-shaming on social media, highlighting the pressure public figures face when sharing family life online.

She emphasised that such criticisms are both unwarranted and harmful, especially when they focus on natural differences in child development.

The reality star’s response has sparked support from her followers, who praised her for addressing the criticism firmly while educating others about the normal range of milestones for infants.

Megan remains vocal about defending her parenting choices and using her platform to challenge judgment from strangers online.

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Yungblud relieved to have avoided the ’27 club’ as he reflects on wild past

Yungblud, real name Dom, has opened up about his wild past and how he’s relieved to have avoided the 27 club after turning 28 this year

Yungblud relieved to have avoided the ’27 club’ as he reflects on wild past(Image: Getty Images)

Musician Yungblud is relieved he managed to dodge joining the deadly 27 Club and marked the milestone with Aerosmith whilst paying tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. The Doncaster lad, whose real name is Dom, raised eyebrows when he rocked up to the MTV VMAs on Sunday topless and looking rather manic.

Yet Dom – who celebrated his 28th birthday this year – put any worries about his wellbeing to rest and voiced his gratitude at avoiding the fate of tragic icons like Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain who died at 27. Dom said: “I made it through the 27 Club, thank f***!”

“Hitting 27, I was like ‘alright I’ve messed around with everything now, I think I just wanna make rock forever, I mean maybe I won’t, whatever the f***. But I went back to my fundamentals from like a two-year-old to 13.”

Yungblud
Dom celebrated his 28th birthday this year(Image: Billboard via Getty Images)

The performer teamed up with Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steve Tyler for an Ozzy tribute medley featuring Crazy Train, Mama, I’m Coming Home and Changes, a track that has transformed his existence permanently, reports the Daily Star.

“I just feel indebted and I’ve gotta sing that song for the rest of my life, every night, forever,” he pledged.

Honouring the Prince of Darkness by sporting a necklace he presented to him, Dom gushed about his idol: “You gave me something, let alone you have me hope through my f****** life and as a fan and as a music fan but you literally gave me a magic wand when you let me do that.

Yungblud and rocker Ozzy Osbourne
He also paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne – who died this year(Image: INSTAGRAM)

“And then you left us, it’s just mad. I just love him, and I am grateful to that family and her and him, especially her (Sharon), as she’s just the f****** boss.”

Dom recalled the heart-wrenching moment he learned of Ozzy’s death, saying: “I went to the Bahamas and I heard that he wasn’t well and so I texted him from the Bahamas, I was like ‘I hope you’re alright Oz’ and two days later I had 50 missed calls on my phone.

“I was like ‘what the f***’ and then he wasn’t here any more.”

The emotional tribute continued as Jack Osbourne and four of Ozzy’s grandkids paid their respects to the late rock legend.

Surrounded by Pearl Clementine, (13), Andy Rose, (10), Minnie Theodora (7), and Maple (3), Jack expressed his gratitude to MTV for honouring his dad’s life: “I know for sure it would make him incredibly happy to see these great musicians carry on his legacy and help inspire the next generation of rockers. We love you, dad.”

Echoing their grandfather’s words, the grandchildren chimed in: “In the words of our papa, ‘Let’s go crazy!'”.

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Oasis could release new album as Noel and Liam ‘forget why they are arguing’

Oasis have reunited for a series of massive gigs and the band’s photographer Kevin Cummins reckons the end of the tour is not the end for the iconic band

Oasis could release new album as Noel and Liam ‘forget why they are arguing’(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A fresh Oasis album is definitely maybe on the horizon following Noel and Liam Gallagher’s blockbuster reunion shows. The band’s photographer Kevin Cummins has disclosed that Noel has been penning tracks whilst on tour and Liam has dialled back his “frontman ego”.

He said: “I don’t see why they couldn’t get in the studio and record a new album. Noel is writing songs all the time, and Liam’s voice is well suited to what Noel writes. Liam’s voice is better than it was. It’s got more maturity, more depth to it. Noel is a great guitarist, and sometimes he’s just looking at Liam thinking ‘He’s fantastic’.

“He kind of forgets that he’s on stage with him. Liam’s matured a lot. He’s quite self-deprecating. There’s a lot of fondness on stage between them,” he added.

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Oasis' Liam and Noel Gallagher
A fresh Oasis album is definitely maybe on the horizon following Noel and Liam Gallagher’s blockbuster reunion shows(Image: undefined via Getty Images)

He also revealed there had been no sign of the “resentment” between the siblings on tour that led to a backstage row in Paris in 2009.

And he believes the conclusion of the tour in November was “not the end” for the group. The 72-year-old added: “Next year there’s a documentary about them getting back together. So while that’s showing and people have still got the bug of Oasis in them they could be in the studio.”

Should his forecasts prove accurate, it would mark the first Oasis studio album for 17 years. The snapper is championing his book Oasis: The Masterplan, showcasing his photographs of the band he has captured since the early 90s.

It comes as the Gallagher brothers are set for another reunion after their epic tour – at the comeback fight of boxing hero Ricky Hatton.

The ‘Hitman’ takes to the ring again against ‘Arabian Warrior’ Eisa Al Dah, 46, in December, 13 years after his last professional bout. Noel and Liam Gallagher are being lined up for a repeat of their appearance at Hatton’s 2008 fight in Las Vegas.

Ricky is boxing later this year
Ricky is boxing later this year(Image: PA)

The duo famously carried his world title belts into the ring before Hatton defeated Italian-American Paulie Malignaggi. The former light welterweight and welterweight world champion could yet have the rock duo by his side again.

“They are friends and he still sees Noel at Man City games,” said a source. “They would like to go and Oasis will have finished their tour by then. So it all depends on whether they do any more gigs.” The last date of the Oasis ’25 world tour is November 23 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The brothers accompanied their hero into the ring in Vegas 17 years ago. Hatton recalled: “You could see they were both a bit nervous, obviously they had never walked a fighter out before. They asked, ‘What do I do, Rick, what do we do?’. I said, ‘Get in the ring and hold it up and put it in Malignaggi’s face’.

“So Noel got in, I got in, then Liam. Liam then came straight past me, right past Noel, and went straight to Malignaggi and said something like: ‘What do you think about that d***head?’, shoving the belt in his face.

“I thought, ‘That’s not quite what I meant, Liam’.” Hatton’s comeback bout will be held over eight three-minute rounds.

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