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Former Coronation Street actor Philip Middlemiss – famous for playing Des Barnes in the ITV soap – has reportedly been declared bankrupt after being unable to pay taxes

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Coronation Street star Philip Middlemiss has been declared bankrupt, a report has claimed. It would make the second time the 62-year-old actor has faced bankruptcy.

The TV star is best known for playing Des Barnes in ITV’s Coronation Street between 1990 and 1998 – during which time his character was married to Denise Welch’s Natalie Horrocks and heroically died after defending his step-son, Tony Horrocks, from a drugs gang.

Middlemiss has suffered financial woes since leaving Weatherfield – losing his life savings when he attempted to make a movie in the early 2010s. And now it has been reported he has gone bankrupt a second time after failing to keep up with tax payments.

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According to The Sun, the star was taken to court by HMRC and declared bankrupt after being found to owe “a hefty five figure sum” in unpaid tax bills. The Mirror has contacted a representative of Middlemiss for comment.

His bad luck comes 13 years after he declared himself bankrupt in 2012 after plans to make a movie ended in disaster. He had been self-financing the project, but his funds ran dry before rolling was completed.

He told the Manchester Evening News previously: “It was partly-funded by myself but I didn’t have the money to fund the rest of the film.

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“Filming came to a grinding halt. It was nearly three-quarters of the way along the line. It has been a difficult time. Three-and-a-half years is a long time to fund myself without any income. I have had to get money from family and friends.”

Away from Corrie, Middlemiss’s TV roles have included playing David Buckley in the ITV drama Where the Heart Is, from 2000 to 2006. He had a 10 year hiatus from on-screen acting which was broken last year when he played DI Travis Lennox on Doctors.

He is the proud father of two sons – including actor and boxer Alfie. The 22-year-old has been competing in matches in the UK – with his proud dad at the ringside cheering him on.

After watching his son win a match in December last year, the soap star wrote in an Instagram post: “So so proud, great team and phenomenal support! The journey begins.”

Earlier this year, the actor’s 48-year-old wife Leanne Davis shared a glowing birthday wish to the TV star. Sharing a string of loved up snaps of them together on Instagram – including one where Middlemiss was dressed in drag – she posted a gushing tribute.

Leanne wrote: “Happy birthday to my favourite person on the whole planet Have the best day darling. Thank you for making this journey of life so much fun – a little nerve wracking at times but always a laugh to be had and no one else I would rather do it all with.”

The life coach added: “Wishing you the best year of your life ahead. Love you beyond words can say.”

Former Lostprophets paedo singer Ian Watkins has reportedly been killed behind bars after being stabbed by another inmate at Wakefield Prison, dubbed the ‘Monster Mansion’

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The disgraced former singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, Ian Watkins, has been stabbed to death in prison. It has been reported he was murdered in jail in a knife attack by another inmate.

He is said to have had his throat slashed after inmates at Wakefield Prison were released from their cells yesterday. A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning.

“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.” A statement from West Yorkshire Police added: “At 9.39am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner.

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“Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.”

Watkins suffered severe but non-life threatening injuries after being taken hostage in 2023. He was beaten and stabbed by three inmates at Wakefield, dubbed the “Monster Mansion”. In 2013, the Welsh native, 48, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to 13 child sex offences. He also admitted to the rape and sexual assault of a child who was under the age of 13.

Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.

Sentencing Mr Justice Royce said the case broke ‘new ground’ and ‘plunged into new depths of depravity’. He said Watkins had a ‘corrupting influence’ and had shown a ‘complete lack of remorse’. He added Watkins posed a significant risk to the public in particular to women with young children.

The musician was later handed an extra 10 months after he was discovered to have a mobile phone in his possession while behind bars. Initially, he denied having a three-inch GSTAR phone in his cell. As the verdict was read out, Watkins claimed that “known murderers” in his prison told him to keep an eye on the phone after chucking it on his bed.

During the hearing, Judge Rodney Jameson QC said: “I am very conscious of the fact you are serving a very long time and you will be well into middle age by the time you are released.

“The fact of the matter is if there is not an appreciable penalty for having had a mobile phone in these circumstances then of course you would draw from that the lesson you could have another one and that is not a position I would want to encourage.”

Speaking about possible repercussions, he said: “Chances are someone would sneak up behind me and cut my throat. It’s not like one-on-one. Stuff like that, you don’t see it coming.”

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He was said to be sharing his wing with murderers, killers, rapists and paedophiles, who he described as “the worst of the worst”. Asked to describe his music career during an earlier appearance, Watkins told the court his band had sold between five and ten million records across the world between 1999 and 2012.

Watkins said the Lostprophets had toured all over the world, headlining at Wembley Arena and the MEN Arena in Manchester.

Last year, it was reported Watkins was paying for protection in prison after being stabbed with a “sharpened toilet brush”. Jonathan Levi and Emma French explained in their book, Inside Wakefield Prison: Life Behind Bars in the Monster Mansion, that rough justice is “particularly likely” to be “meted out” to paedophiles in prison.

The convicted sex offender reportedly had “access to money” and “spent his time” buying both protection and friendships after the attack in 2023, which was reportedly over a £900 drugs debt.

A prisoner revealed to the authors: “He is hated by many, but as HMP W is mixed, i.e. VPs and high-level gangsters, drug importers and organised crime, they just take money off him (Watkins) for his safety.”

They continued: “He has spent thousands on protection. The recent stabbing was a reminder that he needs to pay. He took an amount of spice off a prisoner with a prison value of £150.

“Because it was Watkins, he was told he owed £900. He was high and refused to pay; therefore, he was stabbed in the side using a sharpened toilet brush.”

In July, Watkins former bandmate Lee Gaze broke his years of silence as he said it was “painful” to reflect on the past. The guitarist opened up about the band’s legacy on X, revealing the deep impact Watkins’ crimes had on him and the devastation of how the band’s journey ended.

He wrote: “It’s been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it’s still painful to think about. Things could’ve been so different.

“I don’t talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should’ve lasted a lifetime. I never really wronged anyone my whole life so it seemed like the ultimate punishment.”

Gaze has since joined forces with No Devotion, sharing the stage with American singer Geoff Rickly from Thursday and fellow ex-Lostprophets mate Stu Richardson. Former bandmates Mike Lewis, Luke Johnson and Jamie Oliver were once part of the band before their departure.

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

The reality star, who was on I’m A Celeb at the same time as Rebekah Vardy in 2017, admitted to being ‘terrified’ before asking his girlfriend Katherine to marry him

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Former I’m A Celebrity contestant Iain Lee has shared the exciting news that he is engaged to his long-term girlfriend, broadcaster and producer Katherine Boyle, after a romantic proposal in Italy.

The comedian and radio star, 52, took to Instagram to reveal that he popped the question to Katherine on August 12 while the pair were holidaying at Lake Como.

He posted a photo of the couple beaming moments after the proposal, writing: “In case you’re wondering, as l’m sure everyone is, I proposed to @katherine_e_boyle on August 12th on Lake Como and for some strange reason she said yes.”

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He added: “This is seconds after it happened. We received a tepid round of applause from the person you can see faintly in the background.”

The former talkRADIO host also shared a second image of himself looking wide-eyed, joking: “That’s the face of terror of a man about to propose.” He also shared a heartfelt message with his fiancée, saying: “I love you and can’t wait to be your husband.”

Fans were delighted for the happy couple, and one congratulated them saying: “A piece of news that genuinely made me smile from ear to ear — there’s never enough joy in the world and I love that you’ve both found your person.”

Another wrote: “Wow! Jaw off the floor moment. Soo right but still a surprise. Lovely, congrats.” Even EastEnders star Shane Richie joined in, commenting: “Big congratulations to you both.”

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Iain and Katherine have been together since they met at BBC Three Counties Radio in 2012, and Iain has credited his partner with helping him through a mental breakdown, telling The Guardian : “She’s a remarkable human being and I am blessed that she’s my fiancée. I’ve put her through so much.”

Iain also shares two sons with his ex-wife, journalist Helena Wilkinson. Over two decades after he first rose to fame as the host of The 11 O’Clock Show — the late-night comedy that introduced audiences to Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais — Iain has hinted at plans to revive the cult Channel 4 series.

According to The Sun, he revealed that he’s already been in touch with former colleagues from the original production, and has hopes of bringing it back by 2026.

After coming in third place on I’m A Celeb in 2017, where Iain spoke openly about his mental health struggles and later addressed tensions with campmates including Rebekah Vardy, the radio personality decided to step away from mainstream media.

In 2023, he announced his plans to retire from broadcasting and pursue his newfound passion for counselling. He told fans that after 30 years in radio, he had grown “really tired” of the industry and wanted to dedicate himself to helping others through therapy.

After qualifying as a counsellor in late 2022, he launched Iain Lee Counselling, where he now works with clients privately. Before stepping away from his position at Jack FM, he told fans: “It’s been 30 years in the industry and I’m really tired. So, onto new and better adventures.”

Gemma Atkinson, who shares two children, Mia and Thiago, with her partner, Gorka Marquez, revealed insights into her personal life with the Strictly Come Dancing professional

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Gemma Atkinson has opened up on changes in her relationship with Gorka Marquez. In an episode of the Owning Your Menopause podcast, the former Hollyoaks actress was quizzed about her own Women’s Health podcast, Just As Well, which she hosts alongside Claire Sanderson.

Gemma, who met her Strictly pro fiancé when she took part in the BBC show in 2017, spoke about some of the guests they’ve had on the show so far, including nutritionists, gut health doctors and even a sex expert.

She dubbed the latter “brilliant”, revealing that the expert’s advice elicited the most messages from female listeners. Gemma (who recently made a huge announcement) then added that sex lives change, regardless of “whether we like it or not”.

It prompted her to share a personal anecdote about Gorka, whose dancing career means he has to work away for long periods and with whom she shares two children, Mia and Thiago.

Gemma said they are now at a “stage” where Gorka, having been away for weeks, is like “can’t wait to have sex” when he returns home. Yet, it seems Gemma feels slightly different, noting how she would prefer to relax and have a bath, while handing childcare duties over to her partner.

She added: “I’m like, ‘Kids, there you go; go to your dad. I want a bath’. And she [the expert] said to me, she said, ‘Over the course of, you know, if you’re with a partner for ten years and you have children, things change’.”

The expert pointed out that people’s jobs, homes, health and finances may have all changed, and questioned why people would “never expect” their sex lives to change as well.

Gemma went on to say: “And she said, ‘The main thing in her clinic is women saying, ‘we’re not doing it as much as we used to. Is that normal?’ And she said, ‘And there’s a list of everything that’s changed in their life.

“Why would that not be on there?’ And I…it really hit home to me of like, ‘Of course it would’.”

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It wouldn’t be the first time that Gemma has publicly shared details about her private life. Speaking earlier this year on the Parenting Hell podcast, Gemma conceded that the distance between her and Gorka had been “tougher” to deal with of late.

Despite this, she also noted they’re “lucky” as a couple, and theorised that the reason why they “work so well” is because they’re “not together 24/7”, confessing that, after all these years, she still misses Gorka when he’s gone.

Gemma revealed: “You know, I’m fortunate in that my mum’s ten minutes away. My sister lives half an hour away. So, it does take a village, and it is tougher now Mia’s a bit older because she understands that he has to go, so she gets a bit upset when he’s leaving.”