Darren Jefferies played Sam “O.B.” O’Brien in Hollyoaks from 1997 to 2008, before returning to the soap in 2016
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Max and O.B were best pals during their time in Hollyoaks (Image: Mersey Television)
Hollyoaks star Darren Jefferies looks completely different from his beloved soap character after his final exit in 2017.
The 43-year-old performer joined the Channel 4 drama as Sam “O.B.” O’Brien in 1997, swiftly winning over viewers with his on-screen chemistry with Max Cunningham, portrayed by Matt Littler.
The Hollyoaks duo experienced plenty of highs and lows throughout the series, including a major falling-out over Clare Devine, portrayed by Gemma Bissix, before mending their relationship.
Yet when besotted Max discovered romance with Steph Dean (Carley Stenson), their joy was short-lived following a devastating mishap that left O. B devastated, reports the Manchester Evening News.
During July 2008, Max and Steph’s big day finally came, but catastrophe struck when the bridegroom shoved his younger sibling, Tom Cunningham (Ellis Hollins), away from an oncoming vehicle.
Max was struck by the motor driven by intoxicated rival Niall Rafferty (Barry Sloane), and despite Tom, Steph, and O.B’s desperate attempts to rescue him, he died.
O.B was shattered when his closest mate passed away in his embrace, prompting him to abandon the village permanently and seek a fresh start in London.
During 2016, Darren made a comeback as the cherished O.B to the programme, but departed once more in 2017.
Discussing his character’s temporary return at the time, Darren remarked: “Being back without Max will be strange for O.B.”
He continued: “But his death gave O.B a new perspective on life. I think he’s got more of a seize the day kind of attitude now.”
Since his departure from the soap, Darren has maintained his acting career, making a cameo in the BBC series Doctors in 2017 and returning six years later to portray a different character.
In 2022, the former soap star made a comeback on the telly in the comedy series Brassic. Darren also featured in the short films Lone Wolves (2024) and I Know A Place (2023).
Off the small screen, Darren is also a shining star on stage, having appeared in several productions such as: The Borrowers in Lancaster, Abigail’s Party at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, and For the Grace of You Go I at Theatr Clwyd in Wales.
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But Darren’s talents extend beyond acting, as he also works behind the scenes. He recently showcased his skills during a project for Everton Football Club.
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Darren is also happily married to Stephanie, owner of a Fashion House Agency, with the pair tying the knot in Manchester in 2016. The couple are proud parents to two children.
Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has revealed doctors have warned his twin daughters may face a life-changing diagnosis as he shared an update on their health
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Thomas Skinner has shared an update following his twin daughters’ recent hospital dash(Image: INSTAGRAM)
Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has shared an update on his twin daughters after they both suffered seizures and were taken to hospital this week.
The axed Strictly contestant, 34, revealed earlier this week on social media that his twin daughters Roma and Darla, two, were rushed to hospital for treatment after having two fits each.
Earlier this week, Thomas penned on X: “We are having a proper s**t time recently. My twins have spent all night in the hospital. Thank you to the wonderful NHS for looking after them. Back home with them now. They’ve both now had 2 fits each and it is so so scary.”
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Thomas, who became the first axed Strictly contestant this year, later tweeted: “I hope you all had a wonderful Thursday. My kids are tucked up in bed, me and Sinéad have stuck a film on and relaxing. Thank you all the lovely messages, The twins are a lot better tonight. It’s a very scary time when the little ones have seizures. Good night & God Bless. Bosh”.
Now, Thomas has revealed fears his daughters, who were born prematurely weighing 3lbs each, may face a life-changing diagnosis. Thomas and wife Sinead are awaiting test results.
He has explained his daughters were unwell with a cold before their temperature suddenly rose and they both had ‘febrile convulsions’, one in the morning and the other in the evening.
The NHS states febrile seizures can “sometimes happen when a child has a high temperature”. They are “not usually serious”, but the NHS advises parents to get medical help if their child has a seizure.
Thomas explained to The Sun: “They’re at risk because they were born prematurely weighing just 3lbs.
“A sudden rise in temperature can bring on fits in infants and they’re more susceptible.
“It can be linked to epilepsy so doctors have tested them and we’re waiting for the results, but we’re hopeful that’s not the case.”
Thomas added that his daughters are back home and “happy and playing” while also “getting lots of cuddles” but admitted the ordeal was “incredibly scary”.
After Thomas’ initial post, users on X were quick to share well-wishes in the comments. One wrote: “So sorry to hear that your beautiful girls have been unwell. I’m glad that the NHS were able to make them well enough to return home. Sending you all hugs xx”.
The scary new comes on the week his BBC Strictly adventure came to an abrupt end. He became the first contestant to be eliminated from the 2025 competition after landing in the bottom two with rugby player Chris Robshaw.
But he insists it’s not the end of his dancing adventure. On X, he said that he was “gutted” to be out of Strictly – having filmed his final interview on It Takes Two with Amy earlier in the week.
He said on Tuesday’s upload: “Happy Tuesday, you lovely people! Back where I belong, in my trusty Ford Transit van! Been up early, grafting away. Picked up a cracking parcel of men’s designer jumpers this morning, stopped by my local pub and sold a load already!
“Absolutely gutted not to still be on Strictly, but what an amazing experience it was. Met the incredible Amy Dowden and my whole family loves her. She’s an inspirational woman and a proper diamond.”
Princess Diana’s biographer, Andrew Morton, shared his feelings on Meghan Markle and what happened when she and Harry decided to give up their royal duties and titles
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(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Throughout her period as a working royal, Meghan Markle threw herself into numerous charitable endeavours and launched several crucial projects. She possessed a passion for promoting mental health awareness, fighting for women’s equality, and connecting communities – such as when she brought together Grenfell Tower fire survivors via the Together: Our Community Cookbook initiative.
Recognised for her charitable nature long before becoming Prince Harry’s wife took on important positions including serving as World Vision’s ambassador in 2016 and backing women in Mumbai’s slums to help them establish their own enterprises through the Myna Mahila Foundation. Considering her deep involvement in charitable work, it came as something of a surprise that she curtailed her royal duties so quickly.
And Princess Diana’s biographer, Andrew Morton, previously told The Mirror’s podcast, Pod Save the King, about Meghan and his thoughts on why she would have been a “natural royal” had she remained longer.
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Sharing his view, Andrew said: “The great tragedy, I think, is that Meghan and Harry didn’t give it long enough to see whether they could give it a go. They were on the out almost before the wedding music had finished.”
Reflecting on Meghan’s campaigning background, he added: “Meghan is a natural, I’ve got pictures of her when she was age 10 leading a march against the first Gulf War at her school. The local TV cameras turned up and she was there giving interviews.”
Andrew voiced his frustration, declaring: “She spoke at the United Nations with Hillary Clinton. She had the great possibility of using her talent and her position to make a genuine change to the world. I don’t think she’s going to make such a change living in Montecito.”
The writer also highlighted parallels between Prince Harry’s magnetism and that of his late mum, Diana, remarking: “Prince Harry was and is a natural, he and his wife have got charisma and there is no denying that.”
He continued: “People do respond to them in a very positive way when they meet him. There is obviously a lot of negativity surrounding their behaviour and their policies but Harry has always been someone who connects.”
Andrew also observed the resemblances in Prince Harry’s public engagements, commenting: “And when I see Harry kneeling down with his arm around some kid, I am just watching Diana. It transports you back 25, 30 years.”
He carried on: “Harry himself says that he never makes a decision without referring it to her in a spiritual sense.”
He also commended Diana’s influence on the Royal Family, explaining: “She marked a turning point in the way the Royal Family behaved and through her behaviour helped to modernise and make more human the Royal Family.”
He finished: “So it wasn’t big handbags, white gloves and standoffish. It was more touchy-feely than it had ever been in the past. So she made the Royal Family more relevant to modern times.”
Earlier this week, Meghan and Harry made a rare joint appearance at a glitzy charity ceremony where they were named ‘Humanitarians of the Year’. Meghan was also commended as ‘a mother, wife, entrepreneur, and philanthropist’ at the event. Meanwhile, the Duke’s work with mental health companies and his controversial tell-all memoir Spare were named among his achievements.
However, the couple were accused of stealing Kate Middleton’s thunder as their speech at the event was said to have clashed awkwardly with one of Kate’s projects. She championed the exact same plight in a passionate personal essay hours earlier, speaking about the “epidemic of disconnection”, warning others about the dangers of screen time and how it can impact a child’s development.
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The DJ, real name Norman Cook, will mark 40 years on the road with colourful coffee table book of his life
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Norman Cook ironing at home in a room filled with his music awards
Fatboy Slim is lifting the lid on some of the best nights out and the secrets of his career through the years.
The DJ, real name Norman Cook, is launching a photo book and telling some of the crazy and celeb-filled stories of his life on the road as a musician and DJ. “It’s 40 years this year that I quit my day job and joined the circus. I thought about having a big party but this seemed better,” he said.
Called It Ain’t Over Until the Fatboy Sings and out next week it celebrates Norman’s years in showbiz and is a vivid celebration of indie, house, acid, and remix culture.
He has been in five bands down the years, including The Housemartins and Freak Power, but is best known behind the decks and as a producer.
Speaking about the idea of a book, 62-year-old Norman said: “Now there comes a point in your life, in your career, when people say, do you want to write an autobiography? This ain’t going to happen because I can’t remember the juicy bits and the other juicy bits I always say I can’t have published while my children and my parents are still alive.
“So I am exploring visually my 40 years in showbiz, from The Housemartins through Beats International, Freak Power, and, of course, Fatboy Slim.“
Helpfully for the book, Norman is a natural born hoarder, so many mementos and memories from his long and checkered career remain in his Brighton home including every lanyard and backstage pass he’s got, VHS and DAT cassettes of all his demos and thousands of flyers and photos.
There is also his obsession with smileys which even extends to a guest bedroom in his come absolutely covered in them on the walls and bookcases. “Not everybody can deal with waking up in a room like this,” he admits.
Highlights go his rollercoaster ride include the first giant outdoor gig the Big Beach Boutique he played on Brighton Beach in 2001 to around 50,000 people.
He recalls: “I couldn’t believe that it was actually happening on the beach. I couldn’t believe that the sun was out. I couldn’t believe that the police allowed us to do it. And it was just the most beautiful thing.”
The second one in 2002 when he was one of the biggest DJs in the world, got out of hand as 250,000 people turned up. Looking back Norman said the safety officer warned him it could be “like two Hillsborough’s” if things went badly and any crowd surges caused people to be crushed.
The event passed with few arrests and a loved up and peaceful crowd, but one 40-year-old man died of a heart attack, and Australian nurse Karen Manders, 26, was fatally injured when she fell 25ft from the Kings Road promenade to the seafront below.
In the book Norman writes: “Eventually I managed to contact her mother and amazingly she tried to reassure me that it wasn’t my fault. She said her daughter had phoned her after the show to tell her ‘I’ve just had the best night of my life’, and thanked me for making her last night the happiest.
“But I still feel in some way I’m responsible because if it wasn’t for me she wouldn’t have been in Brighton that night. It is something that I will carry with me, always.”
Other random music highlights for him include meeting Madonna at The Hacienda after being invited up by a music and DJ crew he hung out with: “There was a breakdance crew and we became friends and one day they called up and they were going to be at the Hacienda and I went to see them. When we got there, we were sharing a dressing room with this singer from New York no one had heard of, who turned out to be Madonna. It was her first TV appearance in England. No photo of that sadly, would have been a great selfie.”
He also had a night out with Cher, but sadly doesn’t remember that one: “Basically someone said are you going to put the Cher story in the book and I said I have never met her.
“They said ‘I think you’ll find you have’. Then they showed me a picture and it turns out I did have a night out. It was in New York and a launch party for some record. Cher was guest of honour and we got very drunk apparently. This is not testament to Cher being forgettable but to my drinking. I am 16 years sober and this is one of the reasons why.”
Norman also taught Nicola Kidman to DJ at a Cannes film premiere of Moulin Rouge in 2001 and has the photo to prove it.
“It was quite a surreal moment, marred only by her being appalled how sweaty my headphones were,” he says.
And another interesting night was DJ-ing at footballer Ronaldo’s wedding in Paris with guests including the Beckhams: “I don’t do many wedding but this is Brazilian fat Ronaldo. When he phones and says will you DJ and the Beckhams are here you say yes. But it is like any wedding, people don’t really know each other but two hours later everyone is drunk, everyone is dancing on each other’s shoulders and Ronaldo is snogging my face and his dad has his tie round his head.”
Before being a superstar DJ there were times making music when things were not looking so rosy, particularly when he was young and struggling to make ends meet.
“I’ve been so close to bankruptcy that my accountant was saying ‘I think you should declare bankruptcy’. I’ve then got a ppl cheque(music royalties) which cleared off the thing and I lived to fight another day, and then Freak Power happened.”
Despite the ups and downs, father-of-two Norman says he wouldn’t change a thing and his son Woody is now following in his footsteps as a DJ.
And he also hopes youngsters will continue to go out and party hard, even if there are signs some young people prefer not to drink or hit the clubs.
“That is where you learn so much about life and have your first snog. I worried about that during the pandemic. A lot of people say kids are living online and not drinking as much or taking drugs. Both my kids seem to be taking to it quite well! Some people say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I blame the mother! It would be a shame because so much beauty happens in nightclubs and festivals and the dancefloor when you live outside the box. You fall in love and friendships are made.”
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* Fatboy Slim’s new book It Ain’t Over Until the Fatboy Sings is out on Thursday and available to buy at fatboyslimbook.com
Despite being one of the most recognisable women in the world, the Princess of Wales was once mixed up as a member of William’s staff – but she had a sassy response to the case of mistaken identity
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Kate had a brilliant comeback when she was mistake for her husband’s assistant during a trip to a care home(Image: (Image: GETTY))
The Princess of Wales is one of the most recognisable women in the world, but despite her royal status, she was once caught in a hilarious case of mistaken identity.
It came when Kate joined her husband, Prince William, for a visit to the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, Wales, in 2020, where they mingled with elderly residents including the outspoken Joan Drew-Smith, who made the hilarious quip to the royal couple.
Joan had previously made headlines the last time she encountered the royals, for her refreshingly honest critique of their royal bingo skills, which according to Joan, were severely lacking.
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Upon being reintroduced to Joan, Prince William said: “Hello Joan, do you remember we did the bingo with you? You said we weren’t very good!”
“Yes,” Joan replied bluntly. “You did a bloody s****y job.”
During their visit, both William and Kate wore face masks due to the early days of the Covid pandemic, making communication a little challenging.
“We have to wear masks because of the virus, but it’s difficult to hear sometimes when you can’t see someone’s mouth,” the Prince explained to Joan.
The unfazed OAP then pointed at Kate and asked William: “Is that your assistant?” But Kate handled the situation with a deft touch, laughing and saying to William: “Well, I am your assistant”. She added: “I have been for a long time!”
Later, Prince William fondly remarked to staff of the care home: “I love Joan, she’s brilliant. If only everyone was as honest as her.”
William and Kate have been stepping out on more and more royal outings together , as just last month they visited the National Federation of Women’s Institute (WI) on the three-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the engagement in Sunningdale to commemorate the extraordinary life of the late monarch, making the special trip to a place which holds a special connection to the late Queen.
The WI is the largest women’s organisation in the UK and is a safe place for women to come together and engage in a range of activities, share experiences and work together to influence positive change in their local, national and global communities.
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The organisation holds a special connection to Her Late Majesty as she was a member for 80 years, joining in 1943 and serving as President of the Sandringham WI from 2003 until her death in 2022.
Kavana was a huge pop star in the 90s, but the singer ended up battling a drink and drugs addiction and has been open about his battle to come back from the brink in a new book
Nineties pop sensation Kavana has told how he once drank AFTERSHAVE at the height of his drink and drugs addiction. The 47 year old star, has openly documented his battles in an autobiography that lifts the lid on his days of fame – and the horrors that followed.
The I Can Make You Feel Good singer, whose real name is Anthony Kavanagh, was just 20 years old when he stormed the charts with his Top 10 1997 smash hit, which was succeeded by MFEO (Made For Each Other) and Crazy Chance. He subsequently featured in E4’s Hollyoaks: In The City in 2006 and competed on the reality television programme Grease Is the Word in 2007, where he finished as runner-up.
In 2014 he tried out for ITV’s talent competition The Voice, but didn’t make it beyond the audition stage, with no judges turning for him in their chairs. He also secured seventh place in the 2015 series of Celebrity Big Brother.
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But few people knew of Kavana’s personal battles, which have been laid bare in his tell-all autobiography, Pop Scars. The singer’s self-deprecating book also relates how his nose bled in front of Boyzone’s Ronan Keating after snorting cocaine. And how he was slapped with a lifetime ban from ITV’s Loose Women after turning up drunk and quizzing one of the hosts on her sex life.
The singer, who revealed he was gay in 2014, also confesses to a secret romance with the late Boyzone vocalist, Stephen Gately.
And the tale of how he came to be drinking aftershave comes in a chapter about preparing to attend his first AA meeting but is craving alcohol. He remembers: “There’s a cabinet I haven’t checked yet, which I open to reveal quite the selection, from Tom Ford to Dior, but each one has a spray nozzle on top which is pointless. Then at the far back I see a half empty bottle of Joop, no spray attached and totally drinkable.”
He continues: “I wait for a second, imagining how this would look in a movie: the tragic alcoholic downing aftershave in a posh LA bathroom. I laugh at my reflection, what a joke, except the punchline is my life. The taste is beyond description, like someone’s melted a plastic Christmas tree with battery acid and marzipan. I immediately gag, my body repulsed against yet another foreign liquid, but I force it down.”
But despite Kavana’s troubles, he finally chose to transform his life during the summer of 2023. Posting images captured over an 18-month period, he appeared dramatically transformed from his lowest point and expressed gratitude for seeking assistance.
Now he looks a picture of heath, continuing to post on his Instagram page to his 13,000 followers. Alongside one recent image of him brushing his teeth, he said: “Just wanted to capture the miracle of me waking up fresh on a Sunday morning and doing a live radio interview at 8.30 a.m. Three years ago at this time I’d be on my way to the off license and I must remind myself of these things and be grateful.”
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Fans rushed to support him, with one saying: “Looking fresh, well done, you have done amazing.” Another commented: “You look great Kav, you are smashing this….keep going and enjoy every moment.” And a third added: “Wahooooo! Count all the wins.”
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