Category Entertainment News

Handy Andy – real name Andy Kane – was a hugely popular member of the Changing Rooms team with viewers. But what has he been up to since he left the show in 2004?

Popular 90s DIY show Changing Rooms was a firm favourite on our screens, but the cast look very different to nowadays.

Viewers of the BBC show tuned in weekly to see the team take on some major home transformations, making the stars of the show household names in the process.

Hosted by Carol Smillie, Changing Rooms drew in a whopping 10 million viewers at its peak on BBC One and created some iconic moments – who can forget when a £6,000 teapot collection was destroyed in one fell swoop by a floating shelf in series 8?

Designers Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Linda Barker, and Anna Ryder Richardson were the ones tasked with helping members of the public transform a room in someone else’s house – be it a friend, family member or neighbour. And then to help them make it a reality, the show’s handyman, Handy Andy (Andy Kane) swooped in.

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DIY expert Andy appeared on the show from 1996-2004 and was a key player in the transformation process. But what has he been up to in the years since?

After the show ended, Andy landed a role on the American version of the programme, named Trading Spaces, and he also presented three shows for UK Style, Room Rival , Garden Rivals and Streetcombers.

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One of his biggest programmes was Increase Your House Price By Ten Grand, which saw Andy work with a team to increase a house’s value by £10,000 in just three days with a £1,000 budget.

Andy has also appeared on I’m Famous And Frightened, Cirque de Celebrite and The Adam And Joe Show, and he has hosted a number of BBC Primary Geography programmes since 2008. He is happily married to his wife Geraldine and together they have four children.

Andy was a popular member of the team and the chatty Cockney proved to be a big hit with viewers too. While he frequently impressed with his DIY, it didn’t always go to plan, and he later spoke about his most major mishap – when the teapot collection was destroyed.

Designer Linda had commissioned a floating shelf to house them but weighed it down with heavy books, causing the shelf to collapse overnight.

Andy told the Metro: “It went wrong because they put too much weight on it. The shelf was obviously just for show and just the teapots on it would have been fine, but then they started loading up with books at the bottom.

“I did say at the time that books are very heavy but they carried on and you know, it’s one of them things. When it happened, it was really, really awful, everyone felt really bad, but now you just laugh about it. But it was good entertainment, wasn’t it?

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were invited to a movie premiere in Jamaica, a seating mix-up led to a very awkward situation, which has now been decoded by a body language expert

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are used to receiving celebrity treatment, a seating mix up at a movie premiere prompted an awkward reaction from the Sussexes, with Harry’s “lack of experience” at Hollywood events making for a cringeworthy moment – according to an expert.

Back in January 2024, Harry and Meghan were invited to the premiere screening of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic, making a surprise appearance at the glitzy event at the Carib Theatre in Jamaica.

After posing for photos on the red carpet, Harry and Meghan mingled with fans and dignitaries alike, including anti-monarchist Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness, before making their way inside for the screening. It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Netflix deal could cause ‘concern’ for Royal Family.

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While the Sussexes made their way to the front row to sit with the other VIPs at the event, it appears they couldn’t conceal their shock when they were asked to move a few rows back, leaving them seated in the third row.

According to body language expert Judi James, it was Harry more than Meghan who was surprised at the request to sit further from the state.

She told the Daily Mail : “While [Meghan’s] smile suggests her expression of utter graciousness was unflinching, Harry clearly hangs back, performing several gestures of reluctance, discomfort and even indecision.”

Judi analysed the rest of Harry and Meghan’s appearance at the event, noting that Meghan appeared to see it as a “full-blown Hollywood” event as they both pulled moves “A-list celebrity couples perform”.

She explained: “Meghan seemed to treat this red carpet appearance as a full-blown Hollywood one. She looked regal and gracious in her elegant ballgown and pulled the kind of moves A-list celebrity couples perform, like the romantic gesture of ownership as she places a hand on Harry’s chest.”

Judi added: “Meghan was fully in charge of the steering on the night, gently nudging Harry around and at one point pulling his hand out of his trouser pocket so that she could hold hands with him to walk into the venue.”

“Harry was showing body language signs of anxiety as they posed for their red carpet photos, but these increased and peaked once the couple were inside the venue and being ushered to their seats.”

Judi further explained Harry’s discomfort at the event as she said: “For Harry, public functions in the Royal Family have always meant top billing, the best seats in the house and preferential treatment.”

“But here there is a more unilateral look, where they were expected to take their own seats and maybe even buy their own popcorn. Harry’s lack of experience in this kind of scenario seems to show through here.”

According to Ms James, this is not the first time that the couple have appeared to view themselves as “A-listers”, as she said at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf in September 2023, the pair presented themselves as a “celebrity power couple” during a rock star welcome.

Millie Mackintosh hailed her flared 70s-style jeans the ‘comfiest jeans ever’ and they hail from the same brand that Kate Middleton buys her favourite jeans from

Trying to find a pair of jeans that are comfortable, well-fitting and look great can be one of the biggest struggles when it comes to shopping. After countless hours spent sweating in changing rooms trying to find a pair that make you feel great, it’s no surprise many of us find shopping for denim one of our least favourite jobs.

However Millie Mackintosh might have cracked the code, as she posed in a pair of & Other Stories’ High-Waist Flared Jeans on Instagram last week. She praised them as “The comfiest jeans ever”, and it seems the brand might be a winner when it comes to denim as they’re also the go-to for Kate Middleton.

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Princess Kate is a known fan of & Other Stories’ Slim Jeans (formerly known as the Favourite Jeans), which are notoriously tricky to get your hands on. The closest style available on the website right now is the Cropped Slim Leg Jeans (£77) which have a similar slim fit that The Princess of Wales favours.

Millie’s pair, thankfully, are much easier to get your hands on. Her High-Waist Flared Jeans are currently available directly from the & Other Stories website, over at ASOS, and at H&M, where they’re priced at £87.

The jeans have a classic 70s-inspired fit, with a high waist and flared bootcut leg, and the addition of two patch pockets on the front seals the deal on the retro design. The high waist keeps them comfortable and helps elongate your legs, and the wider legs makes them perfect for wearing with anything from sandals to boots, so you can wear them in every season.

They’re also made with plenty of stretch, which is what makes them so comfortable that Millie can’t stop raving about them. You can pick them up in dark blue, as well as a light ecru colour, which is currently on sale at ASOS down from £87 to £69, and several other colours ways if you shop them at H&M.

Other brands have also launched their own version of the 70s-style jeans, with White Stuff’s Frankie Flare Jean now on sale for £52, down from £65 and available in sizes six to 24. Marks & Spencer also has the ultra-affordable Patch Pocket Flare High Waisted Jeans for £39.50, with a choice of three different colours and sizes six to 24.

For a slimmer fit that keeps the same shape and style, New Look’s Blue Patch Pocket Flared Denim Jeans are £39.99 and have a tighter fit around the hips and thighs, before flaring out from the knee. They come in sizes six to 18, with all sizes currently still in stock.

Ben Unwin played Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and then again from 2002 to 2005, with the role being written specifically for him – he sadly died six years ago

Australian soaps have undoubtedly churned out a host of international superstars over the years. Two of the most prominent being Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue, who portrayed Charlene and is the top-selling Australian recording artist of all time with over 80 million albums sold globally, and Margot Robbie, who played Donna and starred in the blockbuster film Barbie, which has smashed box office records.

Other stars who’ve transitioned from Aussie soapland to greater fame include Home and Away’s Ryan Kwanten (Vinnie), Isla Fisher (Shannon) and Chris Hemsworth (Kim), as well as Neighbours’ Jason Donovan (Scott), Guy Pearce (Mike) and Jesse Spencer (Billy). Some actors have continued to thrive in their original soap roles for years, such as Home and Away’s Ray Meagher (Alf), who holds the record for the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, and Lynne McGranger (Irene), along with Neighbours’ Ian Smith (Harold) and Stefan Dennis (Paul).

Stefan is now lined up to star in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, alongside names including Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison and TV presenter George Clarke. In other soap news, a Coronation Street and Mrs Brown’s Boys actor has died after a short illness.

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Regrettably, not all Aussie soap stars have been as fortunate, including actor Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005. The role was specifically written for Ben, earning him a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards.

After his acting career, he ventured into the music industry, directing videos for bands like Culture Club and Chumbawamba, including their massive hit, Tubthumping.

Later, he earned a law degree and became a solicitor in Newcastle, New South Wales. Tragically, six years ago Ben was found dead at the base of a ‘cursed’ waterfall – he was only 41 years old, reports OK!. Local Aboriginal tribes in Australia believe the secluded 300ft Minon Falls in Whian Whian are “cursed” and harbour “bad spirits”, having claimed numerous lives.

Upon hearing the heartbreaking news of his death on 14 August, 2019, co-star Ada Nicodemou, who portrays Leah, wrote: “I just woke up to the tragic news of Ben’s passing, my heart goes out to his family.”

Just two years later, another tragedy befell the Home and Away cast when Dieter Brummer, who played the soap’s heartthrob Shane Parrish in the early 1990s, was found dead at his parents’ Sydney home.

The actor had been excited to be starting a new job as an aerial window cleaner, but his life had been disrupted by the onset of Covid-19.

In a similar vein, Neighbours’ original Scott Robinson, portrayed by Darius Perkins before Jason Donovan took over the role, sadly passed away in 2019 following a battle with cancer.

Home and Away has now graced our TV screens for 37 years, while Neighbours ran for 40 years before being cancelled – final episodes will be on our screens this December.

X Factor finalist Olly Murs and his wife Amelia are expecting their second baby later this year and have revealed how they plan to welcome their new baby into the world

Singer Olly Murs and his pregnant wife Amelia are busy planning to welcome a new baby into their growing family – revealing it feels like a “very different pregnancy” this time around.

The former X Factor star, 41, and Amelia, 32, tied the knot two years ago and already have their hands full with toddler Madison. Amelia experienced a difficult time while giving birth to Madison and faced a “brutal recovery”.

Aside from daddy duties, singer Olly has just wrapped up his latest tour and he continues to present his Heart FM weekend radio show alongside fellow M&S ambassador Mark Wright.

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Ahead of becoming parents-of-two, the happy couple have become the new faces of The Parent Hood, M&S ’s club for mums and dads.

One of the fastest growing baby clubs in the UK, it is part of the high street chain’s loyalty scheme, Sparks, and encourages young parents to meet up in M&S cafés to swap experiences over a cuppa and free slice of cake.

Speaking about having an unplanned C-section with Madison during a chat to announce the new partnership, Amelia recalls: “We were planning a natural birth, but Madi was in a precarious position.

“She was transverse [sideways] so we didn’t have an option. The recovery was brutal and I wish people had been more honest about that. Maybe it’s because I’m active, but I didn’t realise how much I wouldn’t be able to do afterwards.”

Olly and Amelia have opted not to discover the sex of their second baby until they arrive. “It’s hard to tell, because I was convinced Madi was a boy. But I do think this one is a boy,” Amelia predicts.

“Obviously, that’d be cool, but I’m swaying more to thinking it’s a girl. I’d love that, I genuinely would,” Olly adds. “We’re reaching the point where we have to make decisions. But this feels like a different pregnancy.”

“We know that this baby’s not transverse, which is good,” Amelia states, as Olly gushes: “We’re very excited and announcing this thing with M&S has made it much more real. Two or three more weeks and we’re gonna be right back at it!”

Currently pregnant with another on the way, Amelia is currently riding a wave of emotions. “It changes week by week as I get closer to having the baby,” she admits.

“We can’t wait to meet who’s in there and see Madi with a sibling. But I get a bit overwhelmed when I think of having two under two.”

We can’t wait to meet the new baby Murs too!

M&S ambassadors Olly & Amelia Murs become the face of The Parent Hood, M&S’s first Baby Club. For more info and to sign up, visit marksandspencer.com/mysparks

If you struggle with dry, damaged hair then swapping your regular hairbrush for this £14 de-tangling one can help prevent breakage, keeping your hair shiny and healthy

If you’ve ever dyed, bleached, chemically treated or even just heat styled your hair, you’ll be familiar with how easily breakage can happen. The summer is also a notoriously tricky time for your hair, with sun exposure, heat and humidity all causing it to dry out, and that’s before you even consider the effects chlorine and salt water can have on it on holiday.

Whilst hydrating hair masks can help reverse some signs of breakage, it doesn’t fix the main root of the problem. If you do have dry or damaged hair, you’ll know that brushing it can be a major source of trouble for your locks, with the wrong brush actually ripping out knots and tangles, or causing too much friction on your delicate strands. That’s why we’ll be swapping our usual brush for Tangle Teezer’s The Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle, which promises to reduce breakage by 77%.

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The Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle has been carefully engineered to be as gentle on your hair as it can possibly be, whilst still being effective and working out knots and tangles. It has two-tiered teeth – a patented design from Tangle Teezer – which help the brush to glide through your hair, untangling tats without pulling.

It’s also more concentrated at the centre of the brush with fewer teeth at the edge, which minimises tension. The result is hair that’s stronger, smoother and visibly healthier, all without needing to add a single step to your usual routine.

You can currently pick up the Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle at LookFantastic for £14, and it comes in a huge range of colours (not to mention a £10.50 mini version). It’s also racked up an impressive full five star rating from shoppers, with one happy customer wrote: “I absolutely love this hair brush!! It’s so gentle on the hair.”

Whilst another agreed: “bought this instead of replacing my original tangle teezer and it’s fantastic, its really helped me prevent further breakage on my colour damaged hair.”

Another review wrote: “Love the original detangler tangle teezer but this brush is definitely more gentle on the hair! These brushes are always worth the money.”

With no negative reviews so far, it seems it’s a solid bet that the Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle is going to look after your locks, keeping them healthy and strong during the tricky summer weather. Elsewhere, we also love REHAB’s Vital Hair Brush (£16) which Stacey Solomon swears by for preventing breakage and damage to her own hair.

At Beauty Pie, the Super Healthy Hair Smoothing Paddle Brush is £29 (£17 if you’re a Beauty Pie member) and not only gently detangles hair, but helps boost shine and softness too. Made with boar bristles, it helps increase scalp circulation, smooth cuticles and gently tease out tangles and knots for a smooth, shiny finish.