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Top DJ Joel Corry demands overhaul of ‘out of control’ music industry as he warns online abuse is taking toll on stars

AFTER years touring the globe at a relentless pace, DJ Joel Corry knows more than most how damaging the stresses and strains of pop can be.

And he says it is only getting tougher for stars, who are under greater pressure when set against the backdrop of social media, where musicians are getting abused more than ever.

a man in a black jacket stands on a red carpet
Getty
DJ Joel Corry knows more than most how damaging the stresses and strains of pop can be[/caption]

A petition has been launched for new legislation — dubbed Liam’s Law following Liam Payne’s sudden death — which would require artists to have access to mental health professionals and be given rest periods.

But Joel thinks there are even bigger problems in the industry.

In an exclusive chat, the Head & Heart hitmaker said: “Awareness of the pressure on artists is a good thing, because every year it’s getting tougher and tougher out there.

“It’s tough, man, because you’re constantly looking at negative stuff being said about you. It is out of control in a way. But I’m not sure how that would ever get reined in.”

Those pressures have inspired his new single, Be Alright, which came out on Friday.

And it is all the more poignant following a tough year.

Joel, who thankfully said he is now the happiest he has ever been, explained: “I got to a point where the touring was just so intense that you kind of do start to feel a bit of the burnout.

“I changed my management this year and I kind of made some changes.

“The music industry is a very high-pressure industry and I think now more than ever, especially with social media, the pressure on artists is really, really tough.

“I really struggle with the climate of today’s sort of music industry world.

“I was out in Australia when I heard the news about Liam.

“I was so shocked. I was with Liam at Soccer Aid in the summer 2023 and he was such a big part of the team.”

Joel certainly isn’t slowing down, having recently toured Australia, shot a video in Bali and then flown straight to the US for a tour, which won’t bring him back home until Christmas Eve.

But he is making the most of it — especially thanks to a newfound friendship with his biggest idol, Calvin Harris.

He excitedly told me: “I DJ’d at Scott Mills’ wedding. Calvin Harris is like one of my biggest idols and I’ve never met him before.

“I turned up at the wedding and Scott’s like, ‘Oh, by the way, Joel, Calvin’s going to be here’. And Scott had asked me to DJ.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God. So you’re just dropping this bombshell on me that I’m DJ-ing in front of Calvin Harris?’

“At the ceremony I sat down next to Calvin and we started chatting. And it was so nice to meet him and he gave me some really good advice.

“Later, he came to the DJ set. Calvin was on the dance floor, loving it.

“I was dropping all my bangers. He knew all the words. And then I had to obviously play one of his ones as well.

“We connected at the wedding and got chatting and then I went to see him in Ibiza a few weeks later.

“I ended up doing a remix for his single with Ellie Goulding called Free.”

Something tells me this could be the start of a very productive new duo.


SHE was the talk of the Paris Olympics with her questionable moves in the breaking event, but Raygun is clearly a star in Jack Whitehall’s house.

The comedian, who has grown a rather dashing tache, dressed up as the Aussie dancer for a Halloween party at the weekend and showed off his best moves before hitting the town.

a woman in a purple suit is standing next to a man in a green shirt
Jack Whitehall/Instagram
Jack Whitehall dressed up as Raygun for a Halloween party with Roxy Horner[/caption]
a man in a green shirt stands next to a man in a devil costume
Jack has grown a rather dashing tache
Jack Whitehall/Instagram

I suppose dressing up as Raygun, who he dubbed “Australia’s greatest ever sports star and my hero of 2024”, is the perfect excuse for any dodgy dancing, so perhaps he’s on to something.

Going in a completely different direction, his model girlfriend Roxy Horner got in costume as Heath Ledger’s Joker.

She may have made more effort, but Jack wins this fancy dress contest for pure silliness.


MIMI WEBB is showing her ex-boyfriend exactly what he is missing after taking aim at him on her new song.

The British singer posed for this snap for the cover to One Eye Open, which has just been released.

a woman is kneeling on a chair with her legs crossed
Supplied
Mimi Webb posed for this snap for the cover to One Eye Open, which has just been released[/caption]

The song is all about the hurt caused by her ex, who I revealed she had split from in February after a year together.

On the track, she sings: “You stole my innocence, ran with it. Was a mess, now I’m better for it.

“You were the death of me, but I learned to love it.

“Cause now I don’t give away trust like it’s nothing.

“Don’t fall so hard and not protect my emotions. Won’t let my heart get broken, I’ll sleep with one eye open.”

That is exactly how I feel about most of my brain-dead ex-lovers.


SHE’S DUA BREAK

THEY have been together for almost a year but Dua Lipa and Callum Turner still seem to be in the honeymoon period.

I can reveal they have jetted off on a romantic getaway to Barcelona together before she flies to Singapore next week to kick off her Radical Optimism tour.

a man and a woman are sitting on a bench with a trash can in the background
Dua Lipa and Callum Turner still seem to be in the honeymoon period
Supplied
a man wearing a t-shirt that says thunder on it walks with a woman
Getty
The pair at the Glastonbury Festival this summer[/caption]

A pal of mine saw the Dance The Night singer and her actor boyfriend taking a stroll through Placa de la Vila de Gracia in the Spanish city at the weekend, looking even more loved up than ever.

They haven’t been able to spend much time together lately, with Dua being in the US for almost a fortnight for two performances at the Austin City Limits festival, before returning for a one-off gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Then she flew back to the States to perform with Cher at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction.

I thought the last thing she would want to do is head off somewhere else, but given Dua has been learning Spanish for the past couple of years, her holiday will have been a chance to practise the lingo.

She will spend the next month touring Asia before returning home in early December.

All those air miles will earn her plenty more holidays in 2025.


FANS of bands including Stone Roses, Chemical Brothers, The Who, Madness and The Verve will be in with a chance to win signed memorabilia on November 5.

The White Label Auction, which raises money for The Brit Trust, includes hundreds of rare items including test pressings donated by major record labels.

a man in a white jacket is holding a tambourine
Fans of bands including Stone Roses will be in with a chance to win signed memorabilia on November 5
Rex

Last year the auction raised over £54,000 for the trust and organisers are hoping they can go one better.

Johnny Chandler, who founded the White Label Auction told me said: “What started out as a bit of a fun, albeit with serious intent, has now become a key fundraiser for our industry’s lmain charity – The Brit Trust.”


HYNDE AND SLEEK AT GIG

JUST like the name of their most recent album, The Pretenders were on Relentless form for their set at the Palladium.

Wearing thigh-high fake leather boots over skinny jeans – into which she tucked her black T-shirt – pop-rock icon Chrissie Hynde brought her sass and class to the evening’s performance as newer tunes Losing My Sense Of Taste and A Love popped the cork on a vintage performance.

a woman wearing a black shirt that says rock & roll on it
Getty
Chrissie Hynde brought her sass and class to her set at the Palladium[/caption]

Like an animated buzz saw, electrifying guitarist James Walbourne unleashed his highly charged riff energy on classic tunes Talk Of The Town, Back On The Chain Gang and Don’t Get Me Wrong, as Chrissie’s still impressive sultry, tremulous vocal skilfully narrated these big jukebox bangers, underpinned by Nick Wilkinson’s mesmerising bass.

Everybody was swaying on their feet as Hynde and her gang closed their 20-song set with The Kinks’ Stop Your Sobbing and final torch song I’ll Stand By You.


KEEP an eye out for rapidly rising Californian indie pop band Your Favorite Color, who completed their European tour on Sunday.

They released their debut album For You last month and have been getting rave reviews, so I am expecting big things as they prepare to release more music and tour again in 2025.

STONES STILL ROLLING IN IT

THE ROLLING STONES’ Hackney Diamonds tour has been confirmed as the most lucrative of their career.

The band, fronted by Sir Mick Jagger, played 18 shows across 15 cities in North America.

a man in a silver jacket is singing into a microphone
© 2023 Suzanne Cordeiro
The Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger[/caption]

They sold 848,000 tickets for the gigs which earned them £181million ($235m).

While The Stones have made more cash from longer tours, this is the first time ever that the rockers have made over £200m in a single season.

It’s not bad going given their ages.

Now it’s time for them to head back to our shores please.


HER shocking horror movie The Substance is all about a quest to stay young, but I’ve been left wondering whether Demi Moore has a special secret up her sleeve to keep her looking youthful.

She looked incredible in a black dress at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival in the US on Sunday evening, where she was joined by her co-star Margaret Qualley.

a woman stands in front of a savannah film festival sign
Getty
Demi Moore has a special secret up her sleeve to keep her looking youthful[/caption]

Remarkably, despite a career spanning more than four decades, Demi has never been nominated for an Oscar.

But she has had rave reviews for her latest flick and there’s now lots of buzz around her bagging a nod for next year’s ceremony.

Demi will have to wait until January to find out whether she has made the shortlist for the awards next March.

I’m sure she will receive a plaudit or two before then, though.

Read More »

Nigella Lawson revealed as the face of Greggs Christmas ads – but she won’t plug high-street bakery’s most famous item 

TV cook Nigella Lawson has signed up to star in Greggs’ Christmas ad campaign — but would not put her face to their famous sausage rolls.

The celebrity food writer, famed for her cheeky culinary commentary, recently filmed the advent adverts outside a London home, featuring fairy lights and fake snow.

a woman wearing a blue apron that says greggs
Nigella Lawson will be the face of the Greggs festive range – and as she may look in our mock-up
a woman carrying a bag that says greggs on it
Click News and Media
Nigella pictured in her new festive Greggs adverts[/caption]
a white plate with a pastry on it
Nigella is claimed to be not keen on putting her name to the brand’s famous sausage rolls
Steve Bell

Insiders said the 64-year-old star was putting her name to the high-street bakery chain’s festive flatbread and Christmas lunch baguette, but drew the line at its popular pastry porkers.

A source said: “Nigella is a huge name in the culinary world, so Greggs were thrilled when she agreed to front their festive campaign.

“She wasn’t keen on putting her face to their sausage rolls though, and agreed to take part just to push their festive fare.

“As well as their Christmas lunch baguette and their festive flatbread, Nigella is highlighting a special chocolate doughnut.

“Despite the sausage roll snub, Greggs couldn’t be happier to have such a haute cuisine heavyweight on board.”

The Nigella Effect has famously boosted sales of ingredients from goose fat to prunes when the star used them in her telly recipes.

But she is picky with her advertising deals.

In 2022, she teamed up with Ocado and launched a curated aisle of Nigella Loves products, as well as a range of recipes.

This year she launched the search for Britain’s best bee-keepers, with the winner’s honey to be stocked at Waitrose.

Read More »

Strictly’s Chris McCausland takes brutal swipe at judges and show bosses

STRICTLY Come Dancing star Chris McCausland took a brutal swipe at both the judges and the show bosses.

The comedian was welcomed onto the spin-off It Takes Two alongside his partner Dianne Buswell.

a man wearing a black sweater with a poppy on it
BBC Two
Chris McCausland made a huge swipe at the Strictly Come Dancing judges and show bosses[/caption]
a man and a woman are dancing on a stage
PA
He was the first star to take to the dancefloor on Halloween week[/caption]
a woman in a witch costume sits at a table with a bbc logo above her
BBC
Shirley Ballas was also very critical of his ‘bounce’ during his Samba routine[/caption]

Chris McCausland, 47, was the first celebrity to take to the dance floor on Halloween week.

Fleur East asked the star if it was “nerve wracking” opening the show with his Samba, to which appeared to be fuming.

Chris made a huge dig at show bosses as he warned them that he would be “having words” if he had to do it again.

“It was horrible.,” the comedian joked. “I didn’t like going on first and if they put me on first again, we’re gonna be having words.”

The star claimed that by being the first person to dance, he lost out on valuable rehearsal time with his partner Dianne Buswell.

Chris stated: “My routine went out the window.”

“If people realize at home, before you go on, you go and have a little run through your dance in the little training space. And then you go out and do the dance.

“When you’re on first [You] don’t get any of that. You have to just be in a queue.

“And when you’re in a queue, you think, and the more I thought, the more I realized I don’t know this dance, I had a panic and a mind blank,

The star also had harsh words for judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood who claimed his routine had too much “bounce.”

On Saturday night Shirley commented: “Now I never thought I would say in eight years about bounce, but you actually overcooked the bounce.

Anton said: “Your bounce was probably a little too much, it lacked a bit of fluidity.”

This was before Craig had his turn to speak, who explained: “There was a bit of hopping in that Samba which wasn’t great.”

But Chris hit out at the judges’ comments, saying he was just being ‘enthusiastic’ with his routine.

Strictly 2024 pairings

Here's who is matched with who this series...

“I overcompensated with enthusiasm. And basically, you’re not allowed to be enthusiastic doing a samba,” he sarcastically quipped.

Adding: “You’re not allowed to have fun. I had too much fun, and I got penalised for it.”

a picture of a man and a woman on a stage with a bbc logo in the background
BBC Two
Chris and Dianne were welcomed onto the spin-off, It Takes Two[/caption]
a woman in a purple suit has a poppy pin on her jacket
BBC Two
Fleur East asked the comedian if he was scared to be the first out the gate[/caption]
a man with a poppy on his shirt sits next to a woman with red hair
BBC Two
Chris said he lost out on valuable rehearsal time as he also hit out at the judges[/caption]

Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

Read More »

Ruth Langsford opens up about heartbreak and ‘having no plan B’ after split from Eamonn Holmes

RUTH Langsford has opened up about heartbreak and having “no plan B” following her split from Eamonn Holmes.

The former TV golden couple shocked fans when they cofirmed their split in May.

The Loose Women Ruth Langsford
Ruth has opened up about ‘heartbreak’ following her split from Eamonn
Instagram
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Ruth Langsford (L) and Eamonn Holmes attend the National Television Awards cocktail reception at The O2 Arena on January 25, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images )
The former couple confirmed their break-up in May
Getty
Ruth Langsford Instagram taken without permission , https://www.instagram.com/stories/ruthlangsford/3047660165960229798/?hl=en
They share 21-year-old son Jack
Instagram

Now Loose Women anchor Ruth, 64, admitted she hopes their 21-year-old son Jack never experiences heartbreak.

Speaking to woman&home, Ruth was asked what she wants most in life.

The presenter replied: “Happiness. Happiness for my son Jack.

“When you have children, you look at them starting out in life and you just want everything to be good for them, for them to be happy and to not have their hearts broken.

“You can’t guarantee any of that, but that’s what I want most for Jack.”

Ruth was also asked if she’d ever had a back-up plan, and said: “I don’t have a plan B because I never had a plan A. Ever!”

She said her “gorgeous son” Jack is her greatest love, adding: “[He] is the most delightful, caring and wonderful young man.”

Ruth recently took a savage swipe at Eamonn during an episode of Loose Women after Eamonn moved out of their £3.5m mansion.

Eamonn has already moved on with new girlfriend Katie Alexander.

In a discussion on the topic of antiques, the Loose ladies debated whether they should “hang onto old bits of tat” or chuck them out.

Ruth then cheekily remarked: “I’m throwing out a lot of stuff out at the moment”, which had the audience in hysterics.

Amused Coleen Nolan gave Ruth a clap over the hilarious dig.

Ruth and Eamonn first got together in 1996 before getting married in 2010.

Ruth and Eamonn's relationship timeline

Before the shock split announcement, Ruth and Eamonn seemed like one of the strongest couples on UK TV – even with their signature bickering style.

Here’s how their romance played out…

1997 – The couple first meet after being introduced by mutual friends, two years after Eamonn splits from his first wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children.

1997-2002 – To be respectful to Gabrielle, the couple kept their relationship out of the limelight. Ruth told Daily Mail: “I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less.”

2002 – Ruth and Eamonn welcome their son, Jack, to the family.

2005 – Eamonn finalises his divorce with Gabrielle.

2006 – The pair begin to host Friday episodes of This Morning together.

2010 – Eamonn proposes to Ruth while at the Cheltenham Races, after asking Ruth’s mother for her hand.

June 2010 – Eamonn and Ruth marry at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire.

2016 – Eamonn undergoes a double hip replacement in the first of many health battles.

June 2019 – On This Morning, Ruth and Eamonn say the secret to their happy marriage. Eamonn credits “compromise, consideration and lots of conjugal,” while Ruth said it was “laughter and an equal marriage”.

November 2020 – Ruth and Eamonn are replaced on their regular Friday slot by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary in a ‘show shake-up’.

December 2021 – After a year of being moved to the bank holiday presenting slot, both Eamonn and Ruth left This Morning.

January 2022 – Eamonn debuted on GB News, while Ruth stayed with ITV in her long-standing role on Loose Women.

September 2022 – Eamonn undergoes spinal surgery after years of back issues including a trapped sciatic nerve.

November 2022 – Eamonn falls down the stairs of his Surrey home with Ruth and breaks his shoulder, requiring a new operation.

September 2023 – Eamonn has a spine and neck stretching procedure as part of his year-long recovery.

May 2024 – Ruth and Eamonn announce they have split after 14 years of marriage and a 27-year relationship.

September 2024 – Eamonn was spotted on a luxury holiday in Barcelona with his new girlfriend Katie Alexander. Ruth calls in a ‘fierce’ divorce lawyer.

Read More »

I own Britain’s most haunted house where taps spit green foam & photos are slashed – I make guests sign waiver to enter

THE owner of Britain’s most haunted house where taps spit green foam and photos are slashed, revealed he makes guests sign a waiver before entering.

Bil Bungay is the owner of a spooky house located at 30 East Drive in Pontefract, known for its eerie and paranormal activities.

a red brick house with white windows and a white door
SWNS
The haunted house on 30 East Drive in Pontefract[/caption]
a man and woman are posing for a picture and the man has a name tag that says paul
SWNS
Bil Bungay, 60, said he was too scared to spend a night in the house[/caption]
a woman is holding a book by colin wilson
SWNS
Jean Pritchard moved in with her family in the 1960s where they claimed to have experienced paranormal activities[/caption]
a bedroom with a pink stroller and a mirror
SWNS
Dark shadows appear in a bedroom of the haunted house[/caption]

The 60-year-old believes a violent ghost haunts the property.

Despite being the proud owner, Bill admitted he was too scared to spend the night in the house.

“I’ve never spent the night out in the house, it terrifies me,” he added.

The paranormal activities allegedly began in the 1960s when Jean and Joe moved in with their two children.

The family reportedly endured years of eerie incidents, including lights mysteriously switching off, green foam seeping from the taps, and their photographs being slashed

The family also recalled plants leaping from their pots and claimed a ghostly presence slapped them and even pushed them down the stairs.

After the family moved out, the remains of a Tudor monk were discovered buried beneath the house, leading many to believe he’s the one haunting the property.

Bil decided to buy the house after he finished producing a horror movie shot at the property,

The filmmaker forked out a whopping £155,000 to purchase the house and charges guests around £75 a night to stay.

The 60-year-old claimed that horror film enthusiasts from across the UK come to stay at the haunted house,

However, he asks all guests to sign a waiver before entering.

Bil, from the Isle of Dogs in East London, added: “People have to sign a waiver to go into the house, because I don’t want to be responsible for anything that happens to them.”

The haunted house owner recalled hosting four young men who left visibly shaken after experiencing unsettling paranormal activities during their stay.

The group could be heard “screaming and banging all night” after the alleged ghost began moving objects around.

Despite avoiding the property at night, Bil claims he has seen his fair share of paranormal behaviour.

The horror film producer said he’d heard loud footsteps while alone in the house and had objects suddenly hurled in his direction.

Bil added: “I know that’s a bit of a cliché, but things happen all the time at 30 East Drive.”

The 60-year-old considers the haunted property a “Pontefract and West Yorkshire heirloom” and once attempted to give the house to the council – but they declined his offer.

Business is currently booming for Bill, with the haunted house booked up for the next two years.

The film producer also has released a book detailing the property’s spooky history and first-hand accounts from those who have lived there.

It comes after Britain’s scariest haunted house opened to the public where visitors are verbally abused, humiliated and even have their hair shaved or waxed off.

And locals have claimed a ghost for starting a fire which ripped through Britain’s “most haunted house”.

a man and a woman standing in front of a brick house
SWNS
Jason Churchill, 38, and partner Susan Preece, 48, have travelled from the midlands to view the haunted house[/caption]
a dark blue background with a white stripe in the middle
SWNS
A pic of a suspected ghost taken at the door of the upstairs bathroom[/caption]
a set of stairs with a rug on them
SWNS
Dark shadow anomaly on the stairs[/caption]
a fork rests on a green pillow on a couch
SWNS
Guests reported that a candle was thrown onto a sofa[/caption]

Read More »

‘There’s always going to be fireworks’ Emmerdale’s Mike Parr teases Ross Barton’s return and reuniting with former flame

MIKE Parr teased ‘fireworks’ with a former flame for his character, Ross Barton, amid his explosive return to Emmerdale.

Ross Barton (Mike Parr) returned in Monday night’s episode of Emmerdale during an unlicensed boxing match, where he was revealed as Billy Fletcher’s (Jay Kontzle) opponent.

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 2000hrs Monday 28th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 2000hrs - Tuesday 29th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Ross Barton (Mike Parr) returned in Monday night’s episode of Emmerdale
ITV
FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 2000hrs Monday 28th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 0001hrs - Tuesday 29th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
During an unlicensed boxing match, Ross was revealed as Billy’s opponent
ITV
FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 2000hrs Monday 28th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 0001hrs - Tuesday 29th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
The actor explained why Ross is back in the Dales
ITV

Ross was last seen in Emmerdale in 2018 when he decided to leave for a fresh start in Liverpool along with his girlfriend, Rebecca White and her baby son Seb.

Ross originally planned to take Moses with him, but Charity found out and threatened to take him on in court. He hasn’t been seen since.

Now, he’s back in the Dales to what the actor calls “home,” and shared that he returned because he couldn’t resist the great storyline.

Viewers first see him return ready to fight Billy, and it is revealed he is quite a prominent figure in the underground boxing world, but how did he get there?

Mike explained: “Ross is a very feckless character, and he’s always got an eye open for a quick buck, and there’s money to be made in this Bare Knuckle thing.

“And I also have to think about somebody with the psyche of Ross, somebody who’s lost his mum, lost his dad, lost his brother. What kind of mind frame are you in when you’ve lost all those people?”

With Ross also having a past connection to Billy’s wife Dawn, Mike teased: “There’s always going to be a rivalry if there’s a potential love interest in the middle of it all. He’s really met his match because Billy’s much younger and more athletic than Ross is.”

Ross and Charity have been co-parenting Moses all this time, but could the former flames rekindle their romance?

Mike said: “You really can’t hate somebody who’s doing a great job of raising your most beloved possession.

“But it’s Ross, and it’s Charity. There’s always going to be fireworks. They’ve got the history, but is there still a spark there?

“And does Ross want to rekindle? Or is he just doing it because there’s a stepfather role in Moses’ life now, and that is obviously not going to play well with Ross.”

He also teased tension with Mack as “they’re going to definitely clash and fight over the affections of Moses.”

Talking about training for his return scenes, Mike added: “I’m very lucky that I’ve done martial arts since I was 19. I’m a big UFC fan, that’s my favourite sport to watch. But yes, I think my martial arts training has come in handy for Ross’ scenes.”

However, this has resulted in “quite bad injuries over the years, I’ve broken hands, I’ve broken my ankle, I’ve damaged my sciatic nerve in my back.”

Best soap affair love triangles

LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic?

EASTENDERS

Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning’s dad Max in 2007.

Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year.

Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell.

Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler – not realising it was caught on tape – and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic.

Syed/Amira/Christian: Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day.

A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira.

CORONATION STREET

Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street – extending it to bigamy.

He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon.

But it didn’t stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him.

Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband’s nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later.

When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled.

Maria/Aidan/Eva: In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price’s best friend, Maria Connor.

Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day.

But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy.

EMMERDALE

Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale.

She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride’s betrayal via a recording played at the wedding.

Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well – until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle.

Robert’s ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair – but fell to her death before she had the chance.

However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair – after which she announced it to the whole pub.

Mike first joined Emmerdale in 2013, became a fan favourite for his portrayal of the complex-but-charismatic Ross

During his time on the show, Ross was also known for his tumultuous relationships with Donna Windsor and Debbie Dingle. 

His first relationship culminated sadly in Donna’s suicide, when she fell with dodgy criminal Gary North off the roof of a car park.

Having truly loved Donna, Ross was absolutely devastated by her death.

Ross later began a secret affair with Debbie Dingle, who was engaged to his brother Pete.

This ended when it was revealed that Ross had a one night stand with Debbie’s mother, Charity, conceiving baby Moses.

Ross also became involved in many dangerous schemes, including a plot to kill his brother Pete.

But, he is most notably remembered for the heart-wrenching storyline which saw him battle with depression during his recovery from a devastating acid attack.

With old wounds still to heal, his presence in the village is likely to stir up feelings and ignite some new rivalries.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 or watch from 7am on ITVX.

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 2000hrs Monday 28th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before 0001hrs - Tuesday 29th October 2024

Emmerdale

Tuesday 29th October 2024

Billy Fletcher’s [JAY KONTZLE] opponent is revealed as Ross Barton [MICHAEL PARR]. Ross immediately dominates in the ring and Mack and Aaron watch on in horror.

Picture contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Mark Bruce

This photograph is (C) ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
With Ross also having a past connection to Billy’s wife Dawn, Mike teased the tension
ITV
a man and a woman standing next to each other holding wine bottles
And promised ‘fireworks’ for Ross as he reunites with ex and co-parent Charity
Rex

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