Category Entertainment News

EXCLUSIVE: Adam Collard has revealed why he and his fiancée Laura Woods have postponed their wedding date for one surprising reason, and confirms when they will tie the knot.

After making a name for himself as a Love Island lothario, Adam Collard has settled down with his sports presenter fiancée Laura Woods and is in his element as a dad to their son Leo, eight months. And after getting engaged last September, Adam tells Mirror that he and Laura are planning a 2026 wedding – which is delayed from their original plans.

The pair have recently moved house and are renovating their dream home, something which has contributed to the wedding delay, “We’d started to plan [the wedding] but now we’ve moved house we’re going to do it nearer our new place. It’s on the back burner at the moment, but it’s going to be a 2026 wedding.”

But revealing that he suspects their nine-year age-gap has something to do with Laura pushing the date back, Adam laughs, “I honestly think Laura is delaying it until I turn 30 so we’re both in our thirties for it!” It comes after fellow new dad Mark Wright shared his big ‘disappointment’ after holiday with baby Palma and Michelle Keegan.

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Adam says that becoming a dad to their son Leo has changed everything for him, as he shares, “I’ve got a purpose now, whereas for years I felt like I was in limbo,” says Adam of becoming a dad.

Describing Leo as “100 miles an hour”, the Celebrity SAS star continues, “He’s a handful but so funny and everything we’ve ever wanted. Being a dad is great, but it’s challenging, too, I’d never sugar-coat that. But it’s put everything into perspective. I’ve not got a lot of family members that I’m close to – unlike Laura. Both my mum and dad have been missing at different stages of my life. But I want to compensate for that and be the best I can possibly be for Leo.”

Describing TNT Sports presenter Laura as a natural mum, Adam says, “She was born to be a mum. Laura fell pregnant quite early on in our relationship and it feels like she was meant for it in every sense. I started my own businesses at 21 and went on Love Island at 22, but it always felt like I was working hard, going on holidays, doing all these material things, with no one to share it with.

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“Laura’s the same, we now realise why we work hard. We’ve just bought another house and it’s probably going to be the home where Leo grows up – we now realise what the point is. I’m one of two and Laura’s one of three, so we’re arguing over whether we want two or three kids. Hopefully the next one’s a girl and we can stop there.”

The couple have been together since October 2023 after meeting online, and welcomed Leo less than two years into their relationship. The pregnancy came after Laura suffered a miscarriage earlier that year, something Adam says was tough for him to process. “I blamed myself for the miscarriage – so much happened in the space of a few months, it was all too much to process.

First, a chandelier smashed on Laura’s face – we were in Newcastle and drove straight to London for help because we wanted the best plastic surgeons – so we were driving as she was bleeding and it was a do-or-die type situation.

Then we told friends and family that we were expecting at around 11 weeks – but the safe time to tell people is generally from 12 weeks – and four days later we found out we’d lost the baby,” recalls Adam.

“I think men are really bad at not speaking about miscarriages and just pretending we are okay – but it’s hard. If someone’s sick, I’ll try to get them to hospital, or if my family struggles, I can give them money. But with this, I had no control. It’s the only time when nothing in my power, no shame, no money, nothing could help.”

Adam also developed an addiction to painkillers around that time, which spun the business owner into a dark place mentally. The tough time is when he was approached to take part in the new series of Celebrity SAS, which was filmed last June, as Adam says he used the show as a way to get out of the rut, “I’ve spoken about my addiction to painkillers, which saw my mental health dip. I nearly pulled out of SAS because I didn’t feel my strongest, mentally.

“But, I spoke with Laura and realised that when anything bad happens, the best thing is to have something to focus on. People will see an emotional side of me, which they’ll be surprised about because it’s not the hard exterior I had the last seven years I’ve been on TV. The show was a bit of a saving grace.”

Adam describes the show, which is currently airing on Channel 4, as an “amazing” experience. “I like how it’s not ‘produced’, when we’re in there, it doesn’t feel like a TV show. It wasn’t easy, though. The final few days were tough – interrogation alone was harder than the full week before, they peel the layers off”.

This softer side of Adam is one he’s looking forward to the public seeing, and a far cry from his 2018 Love Island image.

“Everyone’s followed my relationships since I was 21 and they’ve been right about me – until they were wrong. Laura was the change. I always knew I had it in me but until I found that girl, I was always going to be ‘that’ guy. I was just a stupid, immature boy before. On SAS, people see the family man, the caring side, which has always been there deep down.”

And when it comes to doing more TV in the future, is there anything on Adam’s bucket list? “I was away for nine days on SAS, and Laura said, “There’s no way you’re going to do I’m A Celeb for 21 days,” because she knows I’d love to,” he laughs. “But I think she’d be fine as long as she’s not pregnant. I’d like to do the jungle. I’ve got two left feet, so Strictly or Dancing On Ice would be my worst nightmare – more scary than SAS!

Celebrity SAS is currently airing at 9pm on Sundays and Mondays on Channel 4.

Naked Attraction host Anna Richardson has revealed she’s ‘conflicted’ about whether to move in with her boyfriend or not as she admits: ‘I don’t want to get hurt again’

Anna Richardson may seem no-nonsense on-screen, but as we chat about her life away from telly, the presenter shows a more vulnerable side. Best known for high-profile romance with fellow presenter and comedian Sue Perkins for seven years before they split in 2020, it’s clear Anna is an open book when talking about taboos, as the conversation moves from dating to sex, psychology and everything in between.

Anna admits it hasn’t been the easiest few years for her, as she finds her feet in a new chapter of life. The 54-year-old had a high-profile romance with fellow presenter and comedian Sue Perkins for seven years before they split in 2020.

While the exes have managed to turn a romantic relationship into a strong friendship, Anna admits it has been a journey of self-discovery, with some bumps in the road. “I’ve always been in relationships, ever since I was 17, so I’m not very good at being on my own,” she admits. Anna’s revelation comes after Andy Carroll ‘split from Lou Teasdale due to her demands’ weeks after public row.

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“It was only after I split up from Sue that I spent a year on my own, and I was 50. That was a very, very difficult year for me because I’d never spent any significant time alone since being a teenager. I found it very challenging.”

Now, five years on, Anna and Sue, 55, remain close friends, having “repurposed” their love into a platonic relationship. And in 2022, Anna – who describes her sexuality as “fluid” – entered into a new relationship with her current partner, Simon Marks, after meeting through friends.

“I’m one of those people who is happier when I’m with my other half – and I literally call them ‘my other half’,” she says. “I feel complete and happier being with that person. I’m just no good at being alone. Some people are great at being alone, which is amazing, but it’s not me.”

Yet Anna also admits to being unsure about taking the next big step with charity boss Simon. Asked whether the couple have discussed moving in together, she gives a conflicted sigh.

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“We’ve been talking about it,” she says. “It’s interesting. When you’re in your mid-50s, you’re at a very different life stage. We’ve both been through breakups, we’re both more battle weary and scarred. I’m in a stable, happy and committed relationship, but you do think, ‘I don’t want to get hurt again.’ It’s hard.”

She adds, “I hope we do. But I can see why people also make the choice to stay living alone in separate properties and just continue long-term dating in that way. There’s a bit of me that thinks, ‘I’m 54. I like my flat, I like my pants on the floor and my morning routine. Do I really want my partner moving in and disrupting all that?’

“It’s something I’m still negotiating. But I recognise that ultimately, to have a successful relationship, living together is something I think you’ve got to try.”

Anna says that age has given her the confidence to take her time when it comes to those big decisions. “The younger me would have immediately hooked up with my boyfriend, moved in together and done everything together,” she says. “These days, I’m more cautious and I’m not doing things for the sake of it.”

With her wealth of experience fronting sex and relationships shows, and her own varied romantic history, it’s no surprise Anna often has people coming to her on social media for advice. And while some might feel pressured to say the right thing, Anna relishes the role of unofficial agony aunt.

“I consider it a privilege that people come to me for advice,” she says. “I’ve had a really interesting life. I was brought up in a vicarage – my dad’s a vicar and my mum’s an RE teacher. We were at the heart of our congregation and our community. The door was always open and I’ve seen people from every walk of life.

“I’ve done lots of shows about body acceptance, body positivity, acceptance in general. I’m a qualified cognitive hypnotherapist, so I find psychology and mental health fascinating. I’ve had relationships with men and women, and been through long-term relationships and breakups. So I think I’m uniquely qualified to offer people a listening ear and give them my opinion – and hopefully it’s helpful.”

It’s been quite the journey from growing up in the bosom of the church to hosting shows like Naked Attraction – where contestants choose their dates based on their naked bodies.

“I’m so open, I’m absolutely unafraid to challenge taboos and point out the elephant in the room,” explains Anna. “That has absolutely been informed by my childhood. We had an open door at our vicarage, so that’s where I found my curiosity about people and my acceptance of humanity. But there was also a strict moral code. We were held to higher standards than others, and that’s where my ability to challenge comes from, for better or for worse.”

As well as helping people find love on-screen, Anna is working with iD Mobile on its “data-a-roaming” campaign. It has found that Brits are looking for love abroad more than ever – but can be blocked by data roaming charges.

“I was intrigued to hear more people than ever are using dating apps to find love while abroad. We all love a holiday romance. In the UK, we have a ‘swipe, chat, ghost’ mentality with online dating, but abroad it can be different. You also get more of the culture if you’re meeting locals out there, so this campaign is great.”

Has Anna had any holiday romances herself? “When I was having holiday romances in the 80s, it was before the internet or mobiles, so I did it old-school,” she laughs. “I had a trip with mates from school. It was an all girls boarding school – so believe you me, I was ready for romance! It was in the South of France. I met a local boy named Julien and we had a great time.

“I’d have been all over the apps if they’d existed back then. If I could put myself in a time capsule and go back to 1987, I’d have terrorised the South of France!”

Naked Attraction ended last year, and Anna smiles at her memories of working on the Channel 4 show. “We were dealing with naked human bodies – what could go wrong?” she laughs. “There were situations, with the fellas especially, where we were dealing with the mechanics of biology. We’d have to say, ‘Do you need five minutes to cool off?’ There was always a fight in the studio about the air con – the girls wanted it cold so their boobs looked great, and the boys wanted it warm so it was more flattering for their parts!”

“We’ve had contortionists, wrestlers… but also people who were quite vulnerable. It could be a trans person who was still transitioning, or someone who wasn’t as confident in themselves. So, as much as it’s been fun, it’s also been a privilege.”

However, after 12 series of the show, Anna would like a change of speed for her next TV project. “I’d love to do The Traitors ,” she admits. “I’d 100% be a Traitor. It would completely mess with your head but, God, it would be fun!”

Millie Bobby Brown is the new face of Crocs fluffy slippers collection, with shoppers saying they’re ‘the best’ and the ‘most comfortable cosy slippers I’ve ever had’

With just a few weeks to go until autumn rolls around, we’re already pre-empting our cosy nights in, which is why Crocs’ new campaign couldn’t have come at a better time. The polarising footwear brand has partnered with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown to drop the new Cozy collection.

Millie is a known fan of Crocs, and has been wearing them ever since childhood whether she’s on set or at home with her animals, and the new campaign combines Millie’s playful and creative vibe with Crocs’ notorious comfy and practical designs. The standout piece in the new launch is the Unfurgettable Clog, which is priced at £59.99 and is made from cosy faux fur.

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The Unfurgettable Clogs are worn by Millie in her campaign, with the actor styling both the mushroom (a light grey) and the quartz (pale pink) pairs. The slippers also come in three other colours; milk chocolate (a light brown), vanilla (a cream shade) and black, with each featuring a different coloured rubber sole to complement the shade of the faux fur.

They’re lined both inside and out in the super soft faux fur material, and still feature the signature Crocs pivoting backstrap, which can be worn in place for added security or flipped to the front when you want to slip them on and off. They also feature plenty of Crocs’ other signature designs, including a soft footbed with a cradle design for added comfort and support, and a Croslite outsole so you can wear them outdoors.

You can also customise them however you want as the Unfurgettable Clogs still feature Jibbitz holes, with Millie opting for a large pearly brooch style accessory on hers. If you want something slightly more chic, Dune’s Gene Leather Faux Shearling-Lined Clogs have a black leather outer with cosy faux shearling lining, and are currently on sale down from £90 to £45.

You could also stick to the most classic clog design, with Fat Face’s Elsie Brown Outdoor Slippers which are now £25 down from £42.50 and come in a choice of three colours. Elsewhere Marks & Spencer’s Suede Faux Fur Lined Mule Clog Slippers are £29.50 and have a more secure fit that allows you to slip them on and off without being backless.

However, Millie’s Unfurgettable Clogs have already proven a hit with Crocs’ fans, with one reviewer writing: “Absolutely love these the most comfortable cosy slippers I’ve ever had and I will get another pair.”

Another agreed: “These slippers are great, love that they are warm and snuggly and can go outside in them due to solid Croc sole. I have them in pale pink, cream and green. Good product and good service would recommend.”

Some found the sizing a little tricky to get right, with one saying: “My daughter really wanted these but they run very small. I tried to order a bigger size but they are sold out.”

Someone else, on the other hand, wrote: “Bought these to replace my older fur lined Crocs which I wear to go to swimming daily. They feel like slippers,very comfy and soft BUT they do come up very large so wish I had sized down.”

Meanwhile another griped about the fluff, writing: “These are very comfy and warm in winter house shoes. I would recommend them. HOWEVER: They shed a ton. I have fuzz from them all over my floors, and my toes are fuzzy. I hate how much fuzz comes off them and goes everywhere. It’s super annoying.”

However, others could not stop praising the Unfurgettable Clogs, adding: “They are best ones I had so far love them can’t take them off. Need more lol.”

Whilst another joked: “These are the best slippers I have ever owned. All my family members keep taking them so I will be buying more in order to reclaim my pair.”

Former TOWIE star Billie Shepherd lifts the lid on Sister Act, her new reality show with sister Sam, their tight bond and the secret health battle that left her bed bound

With three beautiful children, a happy marriage and an exceptionally close bond with her sister, Billie Shepherd appears to live a charmed life. But behind the smiles, the former TOWIE star has been dealing with a diagnosis that has left her bedbound, which she describes as “horrendous”.

As Billie and her younger sister Samantha Faiers make their long-awaited return to our screens in their new ITV reality show, Sam And Billie: Sister Act, Billie sits down for an exclusive interview with the Mirror to reveal how she is slowly emerging from a battle with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection usually caused by the bite of an infected tick. Symptoms include extreme fatigue and joint pain which can last years.

“It’s been a really, really tough time,” Billie admits. “I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never been challenged with health issues, I’ve never had to face that. And people are dealing with things 10 times worse, but it has been awful.” Billie, 35, says she first started noticing symptoms in January. It comes after Mark Wright shares big ‘disappointment’ after holiday with baby Palma and Michelle Keegan.

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“One day I was fine, the next I woke up with really bad pains in my elbows and my arms,” she explains. “I thought I must have slept funny. I tried to ignore it but as the days went on, the pain went all over my body to the point where I couldn’t even get out of bed. It was horrendous.”

Billie says she went “back and forth to the doctors” and yet no one could work out what was wrong with her. But the symptoms only got worse. “I had hard, red lumps all over my legs, which were so painful, a horrible rash on my back and extreme fatigue,” she recalls.

“But worst was the reactive arthritis — the most intense, awful pain in my joints. It was agony. My immune system was attacking the healthy tissue in my joints. I had so many blood tests but no one could figure it out. One doctor said she’d never seen anything like it. It was frustrating. This went on for about two months before we learnt it was Lyme’s.”

Doctors believe Billie was bitten by an infected tick, possibly as long as three years ago. But the infection lay dormant until her immune system weakened, likely as a result of bouts of tonsillitis last year. As Billie’s discomfort increased, so did the prescriptions. Courses of antibiotics and steroids were offered in a bid to control her pain and reduce the inflammation.

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“My body wasn’t responding to antibiotics any more,” Billie says. “After the last course, I actually got worse. I was so unwell. It was only after Sam introduced me to a holistic doctor and I started taking natural medicines that I started to notice a difference and things slowly began to turn around.”

Billie had to rely on her husband Greg, Sam and their mum, Suzanne Wells, for daily help. “Some mornings I couldn’t even get out of bed. I would have to crawl,” she recalls. “Going to the toilet, I was in bits, I was hysterical, crying, because I was in so much pain. It was hard for me to sit on the toilet without Greg helping me. It was so scary.

“How could I have been fine one day and like that the next? Greg was so worried, but he’s been really good. And my mum, too. She could see I was in agony. She was round every day. Obviously I confided a lot in Samantha, too.” The big dilemma for Billie was how to explain it to her children, Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and Margot, two.

“Kids are adaptable, but I was so poorly there’s no way they wouldn’t notice,” Billie tells us. “I explained honestly why I wasn’t very well. Nelly understands, she’s on the ball and will ask if it’s Lyme disease that’s making me tired when I’m not feeling good. But equally I don’t want them to ever feel worried about me.”

Billie now wonders if the disease, which also affects Justin Timberlake, Avril Lavigne and Bella Hadid to name a few, was exacerbated by the fact she was stressed out by her children’s separate health issues. In the opening episode of Sister Act, which starts this week, Billie can be seen in tears as she tells Sam, 34, about the terrifying moment Margot was rushed to hospital by ambulance after suffering a seizure.

“That whole situation was really, really scary,” Billie says. “As a parent, you never think it’s going to happen to you — you wouldn’t even want to imagine it. And when it does happen you go into fight or flight mode. I was petrified.

“Margot hasn’t had a seizure since, and that was back in January. So I’m praying and hoping she’s grown out of them. But it was such a worrying time. As any parent who’s experienced their child having a febrile seizure will tell you, you’re on edge a lot of the time. It’s hard to deal with when it happens. It’s made me realise how much stress can affect your body.”

Billie continues, “It was a vicious circle. I think I was holding in a lot of worry and anxiety about the kids and not knowing at the time what was wrong with me. I think it all led to a massive immune system crash.” Arthur had health issues, too. Like his mum, he’d had tonsillitis for months and had been due to have them out — but Billie didn’t think it was a good idea.

“My gut feeling was that it was all bad timing and Arthur really didn’t want to go through that,” she says. “It’s not a nice operation — the aftermath is hard for children. So we spoke to a surgeon who suggested postponing it, especially as I was so ill at the time.

“I eventually got Arthur on natural medicine to try and clear his immune system. He’d had a lot of antibiotics for several bouts of tonsillitis, which isn’t ideal — it’s not great for your gut health — and the natural medicine really helped. Touch wood, he’s not had any problems since.”

While Billie says the holistic approach is working for her family, she is keen to stress that she’s not preaching or encouraging others to try it. “When I got ill I felt like my whole life had changed overnight. I worried about how I was going to get through it,” she says. “Things had been getting worse and worse by the day, but within two weeks of taking the holistic approach I was feeling better. I’m not saying that would be the case for everyone, of course. But it was right for me.”

Billie’s now feeling a lot better, though she stills suffers from fatigue, brain fog and occasional aches and pains. She’s hoping her story will raise awareness as there are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of Lyme disease a year in the UK. It plays out in Sister Act, which, although filled with drama, also focuses on plenty of positives, including a cameo from Amanda Holden and, of course, Sam and Billie’s unbreakable bond.

“We’ve absolutely loved filming together again,” Billie gushes. “It’s so easy, so natural. We’re so close anyway, so to do this together again has been brilliant. The timing was right for Samantha and I, so as soon as the opportunity came up we thought, ‘Why not?’” Billie admits she and Sam had plenty of fights while growing up — “usually about clothes, or shoes, that kind of stuff” — but now they’re best friends.

“We don’t argue or bicker at all,” she insists. “We just get each other. We know what the other one’s like. Now, when Sam comes over, we have big sleepovers with all the kids. Greg will make himself scarce and leave us to it. Me, Mum and Samantha have the best time when it’s the three of us together. We have other friends and family, but when it’s just us, it’s the best. We love being in each other’s company.”

But while Sam and Billie are enjoying a harmonious sibling relationship, the same currently can’t be said of Nelly and Arthur. “Oh my God, they fight a lot,” Billie says, half laughing, half sighing. “It’s actually very stressful in our household. They chase each other around the kitchen as I’m trying to make dinner. Margot just watches and takes it all in. But that said, there will be a day when I miss all the crazy carnage in the house, now they’re all getting older.”

Nelly starts secondary school next month and Billie has already seen big changes in her eldest. “I’m getting into the next phase of parenthood,” she says. “I’ve noticed Nelly has really grown up in the last six months. We got her a phone for her birthday, her first one, and she walks around the house FaceTiming her little friends. That’s all they do. It’s hilarious.”

Billie lights up when talking about her children. Given what she’s been through, it’s a wonder she’s able to stay smiling, but, as Sister Act will show, she’s nothing if not resilient. “People have it far worse than me,” she says. “But it’s important, being on reality TV, to be honest and real. We all go through things. Being open about what we’re going through is the only way to be.

“When you’re in the public eye it can be good to share things. It can be a comfort to other people who are going through similar situations. I’d never heard of Lyme disease before I got it. So now, if I can raise awareness and offer others comfort at the same time, I’ll be happy.”

Sam And Billie: Sister Act premieres on Tuesday 19 August at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX

Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Princess Diana grew up and is buried, will be passed down to another member of the Spencer family instead of her two sons, because of one centuries-old tradition

When Princess Diana tragically died in 1997, her two young sons, Princes William and Harry, inherited the majority of her £13million fortune, including her possessions, jewellery and money.

The money was both invested and placed in a trust until they reached legal age, with the fortune swelling to more than £20 million. Despite inheriting much of their late mother’s belongings, William and Harry will not inherit Diana’s childhood home due to one strict rule.

The Grade I listed Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, where Diana grew up and is buried, has been owned by the Spencer family for more than 500 years. The late Princess of Wales spent many holidays at the huge property before permanently moving in at the age of 14. It comes after Kate Middleton halts summer break to release new video with emotional statement.

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Despite Harry or William’s potential desire to inherit the property, it will instead go to their cousin, Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp: the son of Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer and his first wife, Victoria Lockwood.

Louis will inherit the £100 million estate and title, despite the fact that he has older siblings – Lady Kitty, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer – due to centuries-old tradition. The Spencers will follow the practice of male primogeniture, by which an aristocrat’s title and estate passes to the eldest son, rather than the eldest child.

In years past, various politicians have spoken out about male primogeniture and its sexist undertones. During his time as prime minister, David Cameron said: “The idea that a younger son should become monarch instead of an elder daughter, simply because he is a man, just isn’t acceptable any more.”

Boris Johnson echoed the sentiment several years later as he reportedly ordered the issue of male primogeniture be looked into as part of plans to make Parliament more welcoming to women.

Despite the demand to abandon the practice, Earl Spencer has previously said that he is not inclined to embrace the “changing attitudes” and said he will keep to tradition.

In 2015 he said: “If I chose Kitty [his eldest child] it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp. It’s just the way it is. I get the problems with it as a concept. I also get the strengths of it having worked to date. It is still intact. If you go around the chateaux of the Loire or whatever, they are empty.

“Everything gets split equally through the generations and you end up with a beautiful building with one nice tapestry in it. The whole idea of primogeniture was to keep it together.”

Kitty also previously discussed being overlooked in the order of inheritance in an interview with Town & Country magazine, as she said: “Primogeniture can be a tricky topic, because as times are changing, attitudes are as well. We’ve grown up understanding that it’s Louis to inherit, and Louis will do an incredible job.”

In the December 2015 issue of Tatler, Kitty reiterated: “I’m totally pro-gender equality. But I’m quite happy that that’s [going to be] my brother’s responsibility. I just think it’s the correct way. I like that the house stays within the same family, with the same surname. I wouldn’t want it any other way for the Spencers. And I just know my brother is going to do an impeccable job.”

The actor who played Tinky Winky in the beloved children’s TV show, Simon Shelton Barnes, died in heartbreaking circumstances back in 2018, aged only 52 years old

Ever since it first aired, children’s TV show Teletubbies has been a firm favourite with kids throughout the country.

The legacy of the characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa, and Po was so strong that the show was rebooted in 2014 by CBeebies, due to the popularity of the original first five seasons that ran from 1997 and 2001.

But the hit show was suddenly marred by heartbreak in 2018, when one of the actors who held the role of Tinky Winky in the first run of the show tragically died.

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Simon Shelton Barnes had just moved to the Wirral, nearly 200 miles away from his previous home in Bedfordshire, looking for a fresh start.

But within weeks, he was found dead on a street in Liverpool. The trained dancer and choreographer reportedly had struggles with alcohol and had hoped that this big move to the other side of the country would get him away from some of the distractions he had found rife living near London.

Close pal Jane Rees reportedly said that Simon had been struggling living away from his three kids, who were the centre of his life.

And Stephen’s flatmate Judith said at the time about his tragic death, “I’m very floored at losing him, he was just the best company.”

An inquest found that Stephen had died from hypothermia after going on a night out in January 2018.

He was found with a “high concentration of alcohol” and froze to death on the wintery streets on 17 January, with the coroner ruling it was likely a combination of the alcohol in his system and the 3C temperature that had caused him to tragically lose his life aged just 52 years old.

He was discovered “at the Port of Liverpool Building in a well between the building and street,” just after 7 am.

His former Teletubbies co-star, John Summit, paid tribute to him after the heartbreaking news broke, with the actor who played Dipsy writing on social media, “What a week! RIP Simon Shelton aka Tinky Winky: remembering the many good times. Rest easy.”

TV stars Emily Atak and Robert Dawes were family members of Stephen’s – who had a “medical history of alcohol dependence” and both of them made devastating tributes to the actor after his death.

Robert said, “It’s been a very tough week and we are all trying to look after the family as best we can.”

Emily movingly paid tribute to her “wonderful uncle” by saying he was “the kindest and most talented man you could ever wish to meet,” adding that he was “loved by all who knew him, and will be forever”.

Simon previously said about his major role as Tinky Winky, “We used to receive a lot of fan mail from kind and parents, I suppose we were a bit like The Beatles or Take That of children’s television.”