Letitia Dean shows off huge weight loss ahead of Sharon Watts’ EastEnders return

Sharon Watts’ portrayal in EastEnders, portrayed by Letitia Dean, has shown off her impressive weight loss in a new EastEnders trailer ahead of the new episodes airing next week.

EastEnders star Letitia Dean has showed off her impressive weight loss in a new teaser episode for the BBC soap opera.

The 57-year-old actress, who portrays Sharon Watts, will be back in Walford tomorrow – months after she left following the death of Martin Fowler. But a teaser episode shows her reaction as she spots Zoe Slater (played by Michelle Ryan) for the first time since her return.

In the clip, Letitia can be seen wearing a pair of figure-hugging black leggings and a top, revealing her weight loss. After the clip was shared by the official EastEnders account on Instagram, many fans congratulated the actress on her new look.

READ MORE: EastEnders’ Letitia Dean’s weight loss plan after dropping four dress sizes

The actress has lost a lot of weight(Image: BBC)
Letitia Dean
She showed off her weight loss(Image: BBC)

One person praised “she looks incredible,” while another referred to “welcome home icon”! “Sharon is back,” a third person said. Letitia Dean returning to EastEnders is welcome. “The Queen returns” has one more addition.

Letitia, who has been a regular on and off the soap since the very first episode first aired in 1985, has openly discussed her battle with body image and yo-yo weight over the years, and has previously revealed how cruel trolls had targeted her. I received a lot of bad ole’ things for my character. On the spin-off series Secrets from the Square, she said, “She’s too fat, the other actors complain they can’t fit on the same set with her.”

She also revealed that constant criticism impairs her self-assurance and led to her having her breasts removed as a teenager. Letitia acknowledged that her decision was influenced by vile remarks, even though there were also medical reasons for her choice.

Backache was also a factor in that choice, she explained to Hello! in October 2001. However, I felt much less confident in myself and much more focused on my appearance. The attention to my appearance occasionally bothers me, just like it does to all women, doesn’t it? – but those things are still in perspective today.

Letitia Dean
She is making her EastEnders comeback tomorrow(Image: BBC)
Zoe Slater could also be seen in the trailer
Zoe Slater could also be seen in the trailer(Image: BBC)

After reprising her role as Sharon from 2001-2006, Letitia left the soap and appeared in Strictly Come Dancing a year later, helping her get fit. The BBC personality, who placed fourth in the competition alongside dancer partner Darren Bennett, claimed it was her new way of life.

She explained to Closer, “It all began with Strictly Come Dancing because I was feeling great by the end of the set and the live performance.” However, I wanted to change my figure because I was so sick of doing extreme dieting and losing weight.

“I only had enough when I woke up one morning.” My weight had yo-yoed up and down for years and years, as long as I can recall. I’d follow traditional diets like Atkins, or I’d stick to eggs. It wouldn’t be long until she “slipped back into my old ways and put it all on again,” according to Letitia, who claimed that while she could “drop a stone” in a few weeks “on the extreme diets, she would not be able to” lose a stone on her own.

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However, the actress dropped two stone when she appeared on High School Musical in 2008. By increasing her exercise and choosing healthier meals, she revealed that she had lost weight in the “good old fashioned way.”

I ever since changed my size from 14 to 10, and I never look back. She shared her first workout with me last year, and since then, I’ve fallen in love with it. Running and boxing are now my two favorite pastimes. I danced and exercised, not starving myself, or following some crazy fad diet, so I lost weight the good old-fashioned way.

Harry Styles completes major marathon in incredible time after signing up with false name

Harry Styles, 31, ran the Tokyo Marathon just months later, and under a false name, ran the Berlin Marathon on Sunday. His time had greatly improved.

Harry Styles has been praised by fans(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

Harry Styles left his fans stunned as he ran the Berlin Marathon and broke his personal best after entering the race under a false name.

The former One Direction star was among 50,000 runners who took to the streets of the German capital on Sunday – and completed the 26.2 mile race in just under three hours. But to keep a low profile, Harry, 31, signed up for the marathon with a different name – Sted Sarandos.

He ran back in March at the Tokyo Marathon in 3:24:07, which was a significant improvement over his time of 3:24:07, which he had previously crossed the finish line. To prevent his hair from falling out of his face, Harry wore a headband and sunglasses. The winner of the race finished in 2:02:16.

READ MORE: Harry Styles’ one reason for going public with Zoe Kravitz relationship

Harry Styles
He signed up for the marathon under a false name(Image: x.com)

The event’s organisers have confirmed Harry took part in the marathon – and fans have congratulated the Watermelon Sugar singer. “He ran past me,” said one on Reddit, while another praised the pop star saying, “Sub 3 hours is a brilliant time for an amateur runner.”

This is quick, according to another author. He is a very strong runner. One more phrased, “I’m all for celebrities having fun with their regular people’s hobbies.” That’s an amazing time, another fan said, “OMG! Way to go Harry, “”!

Another commentator said, “I don’t know the sport enough to make a comment about the time, but 25 minutes of improvement sounds impressive.” Another person added, “This is a very, very good time in 2 hours and 59 minutes.” In that short amount of time, only a small percentage of people can complete a marathon.

If you compare him to a professional or someone who works in the running industry, you’ll see that he’s a little slower than them, but those professionals consistently run 100 miles per week. I’m sure Harry doesn’t have as much free time for running as much as he would like, so kudos to him.

Harry Styles
The singer ran two marathons in six months(Image: Richard Whitehead MBE / Instagram )

It’s reported that this is the real deal after Harry and Zo Kravitz have been spotted in a public photo. It’s been speculated that the relationship might be used as a publicity stunt for the American actress to promote her most recent film and the British singer to promote his upcoming music. According to a source, the majority of people are unaware that they have known each other for years.

They continued, noting that their relationship doesn’t appear to be moving at all. Because of their friendship, they feel “super comfortable” with one another.

A source told The Sun that Harry is a very private man. He has dated many people, but it’s not always so public. Harry is a master at keeping things under wraps if he so desired. He has a long history in the field and is aware of how his loyal following reacts.

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“He doesn’t take introducing the world to a new girlfriend lightly. He has thought long and hard about it but he’s prepared for the backlash because he thinks Zoe is the real deal.” The source added that the romance isn’t a brief fling.

Big Brother’s Jordan Sangha admits ‘there’s a lot of love’ despite Henry Southan split

Big Brother winner Jordan Sangha has opened up about the tumultuous romance he and his roommate Henry Southan have had, admitting he wishes it had been a showmanship.

Jordan is reflecting on his time on Big Brother ahead of the new series(Image: Instagram/Jordan Sangha)

When Jordan Sangha walked into the Big Brother house last autumn, few expected the softly spoken barrister from Scunthorpe to leave as the winner – least of all Jordan himself.

But over six intense weeks on ITV’s revived reality juggernaut, Jordan not only won over the nation but also captured headlines for his blossoming romance with fellow housemate Henry Southan. Their “platonic with kisses” relationship became one of the defining storylines of the series, captivating fans with its warmth, awkwardness and unexpected tenderness.

Jordan recalls that harrowing time, saying, “I just think it was the first relationship, and yeah, I’m glad it happened,” almost a year later. Looking back on his romance with Henry, he says, “Life is too short for regrets.”

READ MORE: ITV Big Brother fans issue same demand days before 2025 series launch

Jordan and Henry
After spending 17 months together, Jordan and Henry split.
Henry Southan and Jordan Sangha
Henry and Jordan announced their shock split earlier this year(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

While their bond didn’t last outside the confines of the house, Jordan is philosophical about their eventual split. “It’s just about reflecting on the positives and not drawing too much from the negatives,” he explains. “There’s a lot of love there.”

The ending shocked fans who adored watching their slow-burning chemistry unfold on screen. Jordan insists, however, that it was real and not some elaborate camera-equipment stunt. Oh my goodness, I yearn for a show! He laughs, “but no, it was definitely not.” There is a lot of love there, they say. You never know what the future holds, don’t you? There is a learning curve to everything.

Jordan acknowledges that accepting a tendency to prioritize others before himself was a part of that learning curve. I believe I came to the realization that I should probably be a little more egotistical. Which sounds bad, but I’ve always given others more importance. I’ve learned that I also need to take my own path.

The romance with Henry may not have survived the transition from the surreal bubble of the Big Brother house to the glare of public life, but their connection was undeniable. The infamous hot tub kiss sealed the deal for many fans, though Jordan admits he was slow to recognise the spark himself. “For me, I’m quite slow when it comes to reading how people really feel. But it built up, and then one night it clicked—you’ve got the hot tub thing and, yeah. But I wish him all the best in life.”

While the romance was the heart of his storyline, Jordan’s unexpected popularity as a housemate propelled him to the £100,000 win. “I genuinely did not at all think I’d make it to the final,” he admits. “I thought I would be out week one. I thought everyone would have nominated me because I’m quite reserved. I don’t always want to go out there and say, ‘Oh hi, how are you?’ I can’t be a**ed. Honestly, I just can’t be bothered.”

Jordan’s dry wit, sharp one-liners, and refusal to play the game in a conventional manner were met with adulation from viewers despite his self-deprecation. He nods, “Maybe it was authenticity.” “I don’t have the wittiest thoughts. However, perhaps people liked me for who I am.

He claims that this authenticity was a natural outcome of his initial casting, as he never anticipated. Before entering the home, Jordan, a junior barrister, joked incessantly. As a joke, I literally filled out the application form. I responded with a question about TikTok, saying I can’t stand it. It’s a horrible, offensive app. You can profit from that, so I now have it.

Life after victory has been a dizzying adjustment. Jordan, who describes himself as introverted, suddenly found himself on red carpets and at showbiz events, including the premiere of Downton Abbey, the very series he credits with shaping his now-famous accent. “It was an absolute b***dy whirlwind, but no regrets,” he reflects. “I’m so happy that things have happened in the way they have happened. My life is totally different.”

However, fame has drawbacks. It was more difficult to read the hateful comments than the praise when I came out, which is quite odd, isn’t it? because I anticipated missing week one. I was surprised that I had received the call in the first place.

The grim fish guts challenge, in which he and Chanelle dunked their heads into barrels in exchange for crisps, is where Jordan recalls his proudest Big Brother moment. “I would say that because it just showed me that I can do anything with my best efforts.”

Jordan and Henry
Jordan says he has no regrets about his time on the show(Image: REX/Shutterstock for Big Brother)

However, eviction nights were the hardest times. For a few hours on Friday nights, he claims, you’re just walking around on edge because they infuse a lot of fake crowd noise into the house. You are obedient to other people, even if you’re not up. They advised us to just treat it like a pantomime, but they still could be yelling “Get ___ out!” and you’re constantly asking, “Do they chant my name?”

Despite the pressures, Jordan never once considered quitting. “I think I was one of the only people who never asked to leave. I thought it’s a unique experience—why would I want to walk out of it?”

After his successful career, Jordan may never be able to practice law again. “I don’t think I’ll be allowed to kiss you,” he said. He jokes that he is putting his experiences to writing and creating a sitcom as a result of his years of juggling his legal studies and working overnight at the supermarket. He claims that the idea of world divisions really interests him.

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Jordan’s advice to future housemates is succinct as Big Brother celebrates its 25th anniversary. “Probably just get started,” she said. Get out and do it. Don’t try to be someone other than you are; people will see through that, especially in the modern social media era.

Would he host a second reality show? “Yes, if they asked,” I don’t want to jump out of a plane, but I do believe I can handle the snakes and spiders. That would never be possible for me. But I don’t care if I shove anything in my mouth. He exclaims grin. The headline should read “That.”

Married At First Sight UK success stories – All the couples still going strong

Let’s take a look at the couples who have shown the show can really work by expressing gratitude to the experts. From being strangers to being married at first sight.

How many Married At First Sight UK couples are still together now that the cameras have stopped rolling? They walked down the aisle as strangers and took a huge leap of faith in the name of love.

The E4 reality hit has produced more tears than we can count, as well as explosive rows, jaw-dropping dinner parties, and surprisingly heartwarming love stories over the years. As the season draws nearer, we’re looking at which couples have defied the odds to survive and thrive in their relationship.

Pete Wicks spotted snogging mystery woman just days before debuting Jowita ‘romance’

Days before he kissed Strictly partner Jowita Przystal on stage, reality TV star Pete Wicks was caught snogging a mysterious blonde in a posh London restaurant.

Pete Wicks was spotted getting close to another woman(Image: @p_wicks01/Instagram)

TOWIE star Pete Wicks was caught locking lips with a mystery woman just days before he appeared to confirm his romance with Jowita Przystal. The TV personality long sparked romance rumours with Jowita after they were paired on Strictly Come Dancing last year.

While they both tried to play down the rumours, the pair shared many sizzling dance routines together and struck up a close bond away from the dancefloor. Pete, 36, soon became linked to Love Island’s Maura Higgins, however, until they split earlier this year.

He and Jowita, a 31-year-old dancer, have since rekindled their friendship, but they have remained firm on this. When Jowita and best friend Sam Thompson made an unexpected appearance at London’s O2 Arena for Pete’s Staying Relevant podcast show, things started to change this weekend.

READ MORE: Strictly told to ‘get on with it’ as fans hit out at BBC show almost immediatelyREAD MORE: Jowita Przystal admits her ‘dream comes true’ after confirming Pete Wicks romance

Pete and Jowita
Pete and Jowita shared three kisses as part of their dance(Image: p_wicks01/Instagram )
Pete and Jowita
The pair were partnered on last year’s Strictly(Image: p_wicks01/Instagram )

They attempted to dance the Strictly final but locked their lips three times throughout the performance. According to a source, Pete and Jowita have been dating for a while and are now a thing.

There was no crossover with Maura, but they kept things professional on Strictly. However, once Pete and Pete were single, they rekindled their friendship, and recently, the relationship has grown into more.

However, just before their steamy routine, Pete and a mystery blonde had an intimate evening at The Maine Mayfair in London. An onlooker described the pair as “very intimate and really giddy” after he was caught kissing the woman.

A diner said they saw the pair arrive at around 8:30pm and at one point during the evening, they disappeared for about 15 minutes. They told the Sun, who have seen the photos: “They didn’t really eat. It was more about intimacy than dinner – they just kept snogging.

They “thought they had it all to themselves,” I believe. They claimed that the waiters “kissed like teenagers” while they “left them to it.” By the time they left the posh restaurant at 11 p.m., the onlooker added that there were “a lot of leftovers.”

A glass of wine and a photo from the night’s episode of Pete’s Instagram account also contained the statement, “This week coming up may be the end of me.”

She sent a message to her fans that included a sweet nod to the reality star following Pete and Jowita’s routine on Friday night. She wrote, “I’m still buzzing after my performance last night, and to be honest, I feel absolutely speechless.”

“But just wanted to say thanks to @stayingrelevantpodcast for including me in your legendary one night only; you always make me feel like I’m a member of the family.”

She thanked @p_wicks01 for making my dream come true in a direct comment to Pete. the most enjoyable night ever. More to come, J.

On his podcast, Pete confessed to being “in love” just weeks before locking lips with Jowita. Sam asked him, “Are you in love with someone right now?,” while he was taking a lie detector test.

Pete said “no,” but it was later established that he was lying because the polygraph examiner found him telling the lies by downplaying his answer.

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Following Pete and Jowita’s very private dance last night, one fan yelled out, “Was that like a hard launch?” A second said, “You & jowita, jowita,” while a third wrote, “with a heart eye emoji,” which was a difficult launch for Pete and Jowita.

READ MORE: Parents hail natural eczema cream ‘miracle in a bottle’ after clearing flare-ups in days

BBC Radio 2’s Vernon Kay admits ‘it’s a nerve issue’ as he issues update on ‘pain’

After “doing some research” online, BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay has shared how he has been able to treat a painful health condition.

Vernon Kay shared details about his painful health issue(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Vernon Kay, a host of BBC Radio 2, revealed to the audience how he discovered a treatment for a less well-known medical condition that affects almost one in ten people.

The 51-year-old broadcaster revealed that he had purchased a new pair of shoe insoles to address a long-standing health issue. He had been presenting his regular morning program.

He explained how the problem presents itself on Wednesday’s show (September 17), saying, “I have Morton’s neuroma in my left foot, and it’s a nerve issue. So three or four of my toes are not able to feel.”

He went on to explain how he managed to ease the agonizing condition, saying, “So what I did was, I bought some proper insoles. I actually conducted some research. The pain has vanished since I purchased the elevated-arched insoles. Although it hasn’t completely cured it, the pain doesn’t return as frequently as it did in the past. I’m content, I’m good.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Vernon Kay attends the Heart Hero Awards 2023 at Glaziers Hall on December 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/WireImage)
Vernon shared the update on his BBC Radio 2 show(Image: Jo Hale, WireImagevia Getty Images)

Then he cleverly added, “Check your insoles if you’re going raving and misbehaving.”

The NHS characterises the ailment as: “Morton’s neuroma is where there’s a thickening of tissue around a nerve in your foot that’s been irritated or damaged. The symptoms can often be eased with treatments you can try yourself.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Vernon Kay attends a Red Carpet Premiere event to launch new ITV Series Champions Full Gallop on July 16, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/Getty Images for Great British Racing)
He revealed how a new remedy has significantly helped ease the condition(Image: Joe Maher, Getty Images for Great British Racing)

The NHS has also provided a number of additional suggestions to help ease the discomfort, including: “Rest and raise your foot whenever you can, take ibuprofen or paracetamol, try to lose weight if you’re overweight, and avoid or reduce impact activities like running and jumping.”

It comes after Vernon revealed that the death of Manchester boxing legend Ricky Hatton “hit” him hard.

Ricky’s passing, at the age of 46, caused a ferocious outpouring of grief. “Yes, I haven’t mentioned the passing of Ricky Hatton this morning because it’s a difficult one for many people,” Vernon said.

And from my personal encounter with him, Ricky was always, always, the one who had a conversation with you, he knew what you were up to. In both personal and professional settings, at parties and social gatherings, and other places.

SUTTON COLDFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Vernon Kay reacts on the ninth hole during a Pro-Am prior to the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry on August 28, 2024 in Sutton Coldfield, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
He is set to return to our screens this weekend(Image: Andrew Redington, Getty Images)

“It struck me when I saw the news because he was such a lovely bloke,” according to the tributes I’ve read all contained the same words.

Vernon’s career has flourished in recent years after taking over from broadcasting legend Ken Bruce on his BBC Radio 2 mid-morning programme in 2023.

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His breakthrough came when he started hosting All Star Family Fortunes from 2006 to 2000.

He’s due to return to ITV’s M&S Dress the Nation alongside co-presenter AJ Odudu, while Loose Women favourite Frankie Bridge will appear as a guest judge this weekend.