Category Entertainment News

Roland Manookin arrived in EastEnders 18 months ago to lead a new branch of the Mitchell family but is now being axed from the soap as BBC say ‘we wish him the best’

View 4 Images

An EastEnders actor is leaving Walford after just 18 months as he is axed by bosses in a shock move. Roland Manookin, who played Teddy Mitchell in the BBC soap, arrived alongside on-screen sons Elijah Holloway and Lewis Bridgeman but will now be leaving them.

He arrived to lead a new branch of the Mitchell family, but has now become the latest star to leave the show after new boss Ben Wadey took control earlier this year. A source said Rolans took a risk in the soap after a successful career in film and being known for roles in The Football Factory and Rise of the Footsoldier.

READ MORE: Huge I’m A Celebrity upset before final as underdog set to topple AngrygingeREAD MORE: I’m A Celeb’s Shona McGarty ‘to miss final two’ in devastating blow

View 4 Images

A source told The Sun: “Roland took a big risk agreeing to join EastEnders after his long and successful career in film. There was big hopes for the Mitchells being revitalised by the new family but things obviously changed for some reason and the material just wasn’t there for Teddy.”

They added: “Bosses made the decision that the character had run his course and that was that. It seems such a waste.”

A spokesperson from the soap also confirmed the news in a statement: “We can confirm Roland will be leaving EastEnders this year, and we wish him all the best for the future.”

The latest announcement follows a string of actors being axed from the show as Clair Norris, Matthew James Morrison and Micah Balfour were all also axed by bosses.

Bobby Brazier and Molly Rainford, who appeared on the latest Celebrity Race Across the World, also left the show after “mutual decisions after talks with bosses”, and Lacey Turner decided to leave the show on an extended break.

The BBC soap has also faced backlash after viewers criticised the return of Michelle Ryan as Zoe Slater after 20 years. Viewers said procedures ‘botched’ the return with a ‘dud’ storyline after it was long-awaited by fans.

View 4 Images

View 4 Images

The new changes to the soap also include an almighty flash-forward twist as an episode on New Year’s Day 2026 takes us a year into the future. We will see a glimpse of 2027, as well as major hints of all the big plots unfolding across the next 12 months from that day. Max Branning will take centre stage, as Jake Wood makes his comeback to the BBC soap.

Speaking about the big episode and what’s ahead, Executive Producer Ben Wadey teased the show first. He said: “For the first time in the show’s history, we’re going to be offering our viewers an entire flashforward episode set on New Year ’s Day 2027.

“2026 is going to be full of drama in Walford, especially for the Brannings, and the episode is sure to raise plenty of questions on how Max has got himself and his family into such predicaments, but all is not what it seems, so stay tuned for 2026 to find out how and why.”

Ben Ryan Davies rose to fame by playing the role of Nick Savage on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and now he has become a dad

View 3 Images

A Hollyoaks star has secretly welcomed his first child as he also shared their sweet name. Ben Ryan Davies has become a dad for the first time after welcoming a baby boy with his partner Lottie.

The actor is best known for playing the role of Nick Savage on the Channel 4 soap and he took to his Instagram this week to repost a snap from Lottie’s account of their new little baby. In the photo the couple can be seen smiling from ear to ear as they went on a festive day out. Another photo was also uploaded of Lottie holding the baby boy.

View 3 Images

View 3 Images

READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity’s highest paid stars – and those with lowest pay cheques everREAD MORE: Where ITV I’m A Celebrity winners are now – affairs, marriage and career U-turns

Lottie went on to reveal the name of the tot in the caption as she wrote: “And Jensen was asleep for the whole thing.” The couple announced in July of this year that they were expecting their first baby together after getting together in 2024.

Sharing the exciting news, they shared a picture of them holding a baby sonogram photo. They wrote over the top of the sweet photo: “Big news! Incoming October 2024!”

Ben and Lottie only revealed their relationship in April after getting together in October last year. Going Instagram official with their relationship, the actor shared photos as well as writing: “What an amazing 6 months.

“I’m so excited for our future together. You’ve changed my life and I’m so happy.” Ben first joined Hollyoaks back in 2016 as evil character Nick Savage.

He has been involved in several big storylines and was in one very shocking one in particular. His character raped Ellie Nightingale, after he slept with her when she was too drunk to give her consent.

This wasn’t his only sexual assault, as he raped his girlfriend Holly Cunningham, even though she stood by him after he attacked Ellie.

Nick didn’t get away with it as his crimes caught up to him and he went to prison. Ben then left the soap in 2017.

Ben was praised for his portrayal of evil Nick and was nominated for a British Soap Award for that role. Before he joined the Hollyoaks cast, Ben was on our screens in Waterloo Road.

He played the role of student Ronan Burley and stayed on the show for two years and 36 episodes in total. Since he left Hollyoaks, he has also taken on several other acting jobs.

He has made guest appearances in Casualty and Father Brown. Ben’s latest role will be on stage playing the titular character in The Further Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan, according to his Instagram page.

The star is is the middle of a month long schedule of shows where he is performing at the Forum Theatre in Billingham.

Former Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan has opened up about her overwhelming guilt after the death of her 19-year-old sister Darci from a drugs overdose

View 4 Images

Holly Hagan has said she feels “guilty” over the tragic death of her sister. The former Geordie Shore star recently lost her half-sister, Darci, who died in October at the age of 19 following an accidental drug overdose. The teenager passed away 48 hours after taking crystal MDMA.

Holly is expecting her second child with footballer husband Jacob Blyth, and has opened up about the devastation she feels at the loss. The reality TV star says she feels an overwhelming sense of guilt and regret that she did not warn her sister about the dangers of taking drugs the night she fatally overdosed at Warehouse Project in Manchester.

She told the Mail: “The grief I have for Darci is guilt. When good things are happening to me and the life I have been able to live, not that it hasn’t come with difficulties sometimes, but I have been so lucky overall.

View 4 Images

“I have the perfect man, I have a child, I am pregnant, I got married, and I have been on the holidays. My life hadn’t even started at 19 and she doesn’t even have the chance to see any of it. Every event that she was a part of was mine.

“The guilt that the only thing she had was her prom. It breaks my heart because it’s not fair. What is the purpose? What’s the lesson in all of this?”

Holly also said that Darci “had a lot to live for” and that her biggest regret was “not messaging her that night” to tell her to be careful with the substances she was consuming. Darci had done drugs in the past but had never consumed MDMA in its crystal form.

She added: “Darci had a lot to live for, she had just passed her theory test, she was looking to get a little car, she said all she wanted to do was go to Starbucks and get a matcha and listen to her music, she worked as a cocktail waitress, which she loved.”

View 4 Images

But Holly also admitted that she doesn’t know if there’s “anything she could have done to change anything.” She added: “She’s in a dark club and being naïve and not realising how much a quantity is because she’s never taken a version of this drug before, she has poured it into her drink.

“Her friend said there was still a lot left but if you have seen that drug before you know it comes in powder and there are rocks in there as well. What happened is possibly the bigger rocks had gone into her drink, and it still looked like there was a lot left in the bag, but it was enough for it to be an overdose.”

The two girls’ stepdad, John, had driven Darci and her best friend to Manchester for the night out. Holly and her son Alpha-Jax were planning to meet with John and Darci the next day.

View 4 Images

Holly also shared how she knew something was drastically wrong when she was woken by a light knock at her door and discovered she had 130 missed calls on her phone, as her heart sank.

She said: “The first message I saw was in capital letters, saying, ‘We are with your sister, you need to get to Manchester Royal Infirmary right now, please call us back’, and that was at 2am. My whole body was in fight mode; I sat on the toilet shaking.”

Holly then shared her praise for the “phenomenal” care that the medical staff at the Manchester Royal Infirmary provided. She said the support could not have been better and that although it was “traumatic”, it was “so comforting” knowing she was “in the best hands.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on

Angry Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, went against his family’s wishes and did the ‘one thing’ his family asked him not to do in camp as his sister speaks out

View 4 Images

I’m A Celeb’s Angry Ginge, who has made it into the final of the ITV show, has done the “one thing” his family asked him not to do in camp. Angry Ginge’s sister Tasha has made a big admission as her brother bids for the I’m A Celebrity crown.

The social media star from Manchester, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, is favourite to be crowned King of the Jungle as the ITV series comes to a close, and his sister has now spoken up on the iconic sweet-gate moment.

Ginge, Aitch and Kelly Brook had won 20 milk-bottle sweets for camp and sneakily decided to keep half for themselves, eating them before returning to base after winning a Dingo Dollar challenge.

READ MORE: Angry Ginge’s sister Tasha shares heartfelt statement ahead of I’m A Celeb finalREAD MORE: Amber Davies issues desperate plea to Strictly fans ‘I wasn’t even supposed to be on the show’

View 4 Images

His sister Tasha said on the action: “It was literally the one thing we told him not to do though! But I guess that’s what makes it even funnier.”

At the time Ginge tried to argue that it was “only fair” that they ate extra sweets as they won the challenge. He also tried to pin it on campmate Kelly as he told the camp: “But Kelly is the blame for it, I will say that. You’ll see when you get out!”

Ginge’s sister Tasha also opened up on how much the experience would mean to her brother, as it was on his ‘bucket list’. She said: “[It is] Something he never thought he’d actually get to do, so I was just really happy for him.”

Tasha had a brief taste of camp earlier this week as relatives surprised campmates and sinhe now gushed over her pride of her sibling’s achievement. She admitted she is thrilled with how far he has come in his career already, saying he is “smashing it”.

View 4 Images

Tasha admits watching her brother on TV has been “amazing and honestly hilarious,” claiming “he’s surprised me with all the things he’s done in there”. She gushed: “I couldn’t be any prouder of him.”

And when it comes to winning the show, Tasha reveals she knows how much it would mean to the star. “He’s gone in as ‘the streamer’ and look at him now!” she added after saying her brother wouldn’t have expected such success.

We will soon know who the winner is and will find out during a long final. Sunday’s main episode has a runtime of one hour and 40 minutes, airing from 9pm to 10:40pm on ITV1. Then, an extra-long episode of Unpacked will air for just over an hour on ITV 2 from 10:40 to 11:45.

View 4 Images

This totals two hours and 45 minutes of TV, which is 20 minutes longer than every other I’m A Celeb and Unpacked double bill. The episodes will crown one of the remaining celebs as King or Queen of the Jungle.

During the final episode, the three finalists will face one last Bushtucker trial each to win stars for a banquet in the evening. Reports claim that the final challenge will be the ‘worst’ as bosses saved the ‘worst for last’.

I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Strictly Come Dancing and Emmerdale star Lewis Cope dismissed claims about having an advantage on the show ahead of his surprise exit from the competition

View 3 Images

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Lewis Cope has hit back at claims he’s a professional dancer, insisting he “wasn’t good enough” to land the lead role in Billy Elliot. The 30-year-old has found himself repeatedly having to defend his place on the BBC dance competition after his musical theatre past came to light, with critics arguing he holds an unfair edge over his fellow contestants.

This type of controversy rears its head virtually every series, with some viewers calling for a blanket ban on anyone with performance experience.

Addressing the accusations in an interview with The i Paper last month, he said: “First of all, if you look at the contestants over the years, I don’t think that’s ever been a rule.

“But, also, I’ve done no training as a dancer. I’m definitely not a professional. I guess it’s a bit of a compliment that people are calling me one.”

Lewis previously appeared in Billy Elliot The Musical, which opened doors to acting gigs on Emmerdale and Vera. Despite his stage and screen credentials, the performer maintains he’s nowhere near “a professional” dancer.

View 3 Images

“I wasn’t good enough to play Billy, so I played his mate Michael – I did one tap dance on stage, that was it,” he explained.

“After that, I was in a hip-hop dance crew for a couple of years, but we were just six lads from Hartlepool in an amateur group.

“Then I went to train as an actor for three years, and that’s what I’ve been doing since.”

Last night, Lewis and his professional partner Katya Jones delivered a Salsa to Dance at the Gym from West Side Story during Musicals Week.

Whilst many viewers applauded their performance, the judging panel felt it fell short of a perfect 40, suggesting it wasn’t his strongest routine.

In a surprising turn of events, Lewis became the ninth celebrity eliminated from the competition after losing the dance-off to Amber Davies. Reflecting on his journey, he shared with presenter Tess Daly: “It’s been more than I could have ever wished for.

View 3 Images

“If someone would have said that I’d have done 11 weeks on the show at the beginning, I’d have been over the moon and snap their hand off.

“So, thank you to the full show, to everyone for having a space where people can be themselves, grow, learn, express themselves.

“It’s been incredible and a memory that I’ll have for the rest of my life, and [to Katya] I think it’s all down to you.

“You’ve literally given me absolutely everything I could wish for as a friend, as a teacher, and yeah, I couldn’t imagine it with anybody else. So, thank you very much.”

The four remaining pairs – Amber and Nikita, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, plus Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon – will battle it out next week for a place in the grand final.

Strictly Come Dancing faces a fresh row after a star of the Christmas special of the series wasrevealed to have undergone professional dance training as a child

View 3 Images

A Strictly fix row has emerged over ignited after it was revealed that Scarlett Moffat, who is set to star in the Christmas special, was trained by one of the judges in the past. Scarlett, 35, was the first celebrity to be announced for the festive special after years of being linked to the show.

The popular TV personality is a major signing – but show insiders are reportedly angry that she is on the line-up because she was trained by Anton Du Beke as a child. She has already emerged as the favourite to win the Christmas glitterball due to her strong dancing experience.

A Strictly insider said: “Scarlett is a trained dancer, she is so good at it and spent much of her childhood doing ballroom and Latin dancing. Anton even helped her and now he will be judging her against others. It all feels very unfair.”

They continued to the Mail: “She will surely be the runaway winner and then the BBC will be desperate to sign her for the 2026 series. How would you feel if you were one of the others?”

View 3 Images

Scarlett took part in national dance competitions as a child but stopped competing after going to university in York, where she replaced ballroom with drunken nights out. While she is already a favourite to win, Scarlett has insisted that she hasn’t picked up where she left off.

Speaking to The Sun this week, she explained: “It’s funny because I think in my brain, ‘oh yeah, that’s what I’m doing’. But then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I’m like, ‘oh, something’s not connected’.

“Because in my head I’m doing the moves that he’s saying. But then I look in the mirror and I’m like, ‘oh, that isn’t what I thought I would look like doing that’. I’m just having fun, and I think that’s the main thing, especially for the Strictly Christmas special. It’s the sheer joy of it.”

Scarlett returned to a competitive ballroom for the first time in 15 years at Blackpool‘s Winter Gardens in October 2024, achieving two 2nd places and two 3rd places with her dance partner Craig Andrew.

View 3 Images

Scarlett – who gave birth to her son Jude by C-section in 2023 – told fans she’d “never been so nervous but so proud of myself” after returning to her childhood hobby.

She will now continue her dance journey while coupled with Italian Strictly professional dancer Vito Coppola. Vito, 33, previously won the Glitterball alongside Ellie Leach, and made it to the Strictly final on two other occasions.

Vito also won the Italian version of the show in the sole season he took part in. Scarlett revealed that she was desperately hoping to be paired with him, and was delighted when she got her wish, admitting, “there’s something about the way that he dances and his energy“.

Scarlett is currently preparing for her Strictly stint while rehearsing for panto in Northwich as the Spirit of the Ring in Aladdin.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on