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Melanie Blake
Melanie Blake is an English author, columnist and talent agent. Blake began her career working as a camera assistant on ''Top of the Pops'' and eventually formed her own music agency. After representing music stars, she formed an acting and PR agency which primarily represented soap actresses from British and American soap operas. In 2018, Blake made the decision to lessen her client list to focus on her writing career. She has since released three bestselling novels: ''The Thunder Girls'' (2018), ''Ruthless Women'' (2021) and ''Guilty Women'' (2022), all of which were inspired by her experiences in both the music and soap industries. Blake is set to release the final instalment of the ''Ruthless'' trilogy, ''Vengeful Women'', in 2023. Early life Blake was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, to a mother who was a homemaker and a father who owned his own printing business. Blake described her early childhood as a normal working-class life until she was seven, when her father j ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stockport
Stockport is a town and borough in Greater Manchester, England, south-east of Manchester, south-west of Ashton-under-Lyne and north of Macclesfield. The River Goyt and Tame merge to create the River Mersey here. Most of the town is within the boundaries of the historic county of Cheshire, with the area north of the Mersey in the historic county of Lancashire. Stockport in the 16th century was a small town entirely on the south bank of the Mersey, known for the cultivation of hemp and manufacture of rope. In the 18th century, it had one of the first mechanised silk factories in the British Isles. Stockport's predominant industries of the 19th century were the cotton and allied industries. It was also at the centre of the country's hatting industry, which by 1884 was exporting more than six million hats a year; the last hat works in Stockport closed in 1997. Dominating the western approaches to the town is Stockport Viaduct. Built in 1840, its 27 brick arches carry the mai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gillian Taylforth
Gillian Taylforth (born 14 August 1955) is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Kathy Beale on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', and has also appeared as Jackie Pascoe/Webb on ITV's ''Footballers' Wives'' (2002–2006), and as Sgt. Nikki Wright in ITV's ''The Bill'' (2006–2008). She has also appeared in film during her early career, has presented on ITV's ''Loose Women'' and appeared as a celebrity contestant on ''Strictly Come Dancing'' in 2008. In January 2013, she was a contestant in ''Celebrity Big Brother''. From May 2013 she played Sandy Roscoe on Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', but left in Summer 2014, and returned in December to again leave with Joe Roscoe in January 2015. Despite her ''EastEnders'' character being presumed dead after being killed off-screen in 2006, Taylforth made a shock return to the show in February 2015 as part of the 30th anniversary episode. The BBC later confirmed that she would reprise the role of Kathy permanently later ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sherrie Hewson
Sherrie Lynn Hutchinson (born 17 September 1950) is an English actress, television personality and novelist. She is known for her roles as Maureen Holdsworth in ''Coronation Street'' (1993–1997, 2006), Virginia Raven in ''Crossroads'' (2001–2003), Lesley Meredith in ''Emmerdale'' (2004–2006) and Joyce Temple-Savage in ''Benidorm'' (2012–2018). Hewson was also a main panellist on lunchtime chat show ''Loose Women'' (2003–2017) and came sixth place in ''Celebrity Big Brother'' in 2015. She has also appeared as Doreen Nesbitt (1979-1980) and Mary Henshaw in '' In Loving Memory'' (1984–1986) and as Jean in '' Barbara'' (1999–2003) on television, and has starred in the films ''Carry On Behind'' (1975), ''The Slipper and the Rose'' (1976) and '' Hanover Street'' (1979). Hewson has also written three books including a fiction book and a cookery book. Early life Born in Beeston, near Nottingham, Hewson was brought up into a show-business family; her father Ronald was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michelle Collins
Michelle Danielle Collins (born 28 May 1962) is an English actress and TV presenter, best known for her roles in the British soap operas ''EastEnders'' and ''Coronation Street''. Collins played Cindy Beale in the BBC soap ''EastEnders'' from 1988 to 1998, with a two-year break between 1990 and 1992. She played Stella Price in the ITV soap ''Coronation Street'' from 2011 to 2014. Her other notable TV roles include the BBC dramas ''Real Women'' (1998–1999), ''Sunburn'' (1999–2000) and ''Two Thousand Acres of Sky'' (2001–2003). Early life and education Collins was born at Hackney South East Hospital in Hackney, east London, to a Welsh mother, Mary, and a father of English and Flemish heritage. Her Flemish grandfather was Belgian from Antwerp and had emigrated to the UK in 1915 when aged five. She and her elder sister Vicki were brought up by their mother Mary in Highbury, London. When Collins was 14, her mother went back to university to obtain a law degree. In the 1970 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham (born 28 February 1947) is an English television, film, radio and theatre actress. Although she has a wide number of credits to her name, Beacham is best known for for playing Sable Colby in the ABC soap operas ''The Colbys'' (1985–1987) and ''Dynasty'' (1985, 1988–1989) and Dr. Kristin Westphalen in Steven Spielberg's NBC science fiction series '' seaQuest DSV'' (1993–1994). Beacham began appearing on British television in 1967 and made her big screen debut in the 1970 film '' The Games'', before starring opposite Marlon Brando in the 1971 film ''The Nightcomers''. She was then given her own soap opera in '' Marked Personal'' (1973–1974) before having starring roles in '' Tenko'' (1981–1982), ''Connie'' (1985). By the mid-1970s, Beacham had become widely known as a "scream queen" for her roles in multiple horror films including ''Dracula A.D. 1972'' (1972), ''Schizo (1976 film), Schizo'' (1976) and ''Inseminoid'' (1981), however it was her role ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan (''née'' Moxon; previously Atkinson, Sowden and Callard; born 28 March 1957) is an English actress, known for her role as Liz McDonald in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' and Flo Henshaw in ''Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps''. Career At the age of seven, Callard made her acting debut as Darius the page boy. After leaving school in 1973, she took a job as a shorthand typist. She later turned to acting and appeared on stage as Jackie Coryton in Noël Coward's ''Hay Fever'', Liz and Rita in '' Billy Liar'' and The Wicked Queen in ''Snow White''. Callard made her television debut (as Beverley Sowden) in the Yorkshire Television soap ''Emmerdale Farm'' as Angie Richards in 1983. Other roles followed, including parts in ''Hinge & Bracket: Dear Ladies'', ''Hells Bells'', ''Will You Love Me Tomorrow'' and ''The Practice''. She has released books and exercise videos called ''Real Results'', ''Rapid Results'', ''Ultimate Results'' an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Nolans
The Nolans are an Anglo-Irish girl group who formed in Blackpool in 1974 as the Nolan Sisters, before changing their name in 1980. Often referred to as Ireland's ''First Family of Music'', they were the first Irish performing family to achieve international success, preceding the likes of the Corrs. Between 1979 and 1982, the group had seven international hits, including " I'm In the Mood for Dancing", "Gotta Pull Myself Together", "Who's Gonna Rock You", "Attention to Me" and "Chemistry". They are one of the world's biggest selling girl groups. They were particularly successful in Japan, becoming the first European act to win the Tokyo Music Festival with "Sexy Music" in 1981, and won a Japanese Grammy (Tokubetsu Kikaku Shō) in 1992. History 1962–1974: Early career Tommy (26 September 1925–1998) and Maureen Nolan (15 December 1926–30 December 2007) met at Clerys Ballroom in Dublin and raised their family in Raheny, Dublin. Tommy had a radio show on RTÉ. Due to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Claire Richards
Claire Anne Richards (born 17 August 1977) is an English singer who is best known for being in the pop group Steps. Richards was a contestant on the second series of ''Popstar to Operastar'' before being voted off in the semi finals. She possesses the vocal range of a soprano. On 3 January 2013, Richards entered ''Celebrity Big Brother'' and came in fourth place. From April to June 2014, she was a regular panellist on ''Loose Women''. Early life Richards began her career in the pop trio TSD. They had little success and were dropped by their record label Avex after the release of their second single "Baby I Love You". She went on to work as a receptionist for seven months, winning the temporary worker of the month award for May 1997. Career Steps Richards auditioned for the lineup that would become Steps. She was offered a place in the group on the condition that she lost weight. Steps were formed by Steve Crosby & Barry Upton (writers of " 5, 6, 7, 8") alongside Man ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hearst Magazines UK
Hearst Communications, Inc., often referred to simply as Hearst, is an American multinational mass media and business information conglomerate based in Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Hearst owns newspapers, magazines, television channels, and television stations, including the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', the ''Houston Chronicle'', ''Cosmopolitan'' and ''Esquire''. It owns 50% of the A&E Networks cable network group and 20% of the sports cable network group ESPN, both in partnership with The Walt Disney Company. The conglomerate also owns several business-information companies, including Fitch Ratings and First Databank. The company was founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, and the Hearst family remains involved in its ownership and management. History The formative years In 1880, George Hearst, mining entrepreneur and U.S. senator, bought the '' San Francisco Daily Examiner.'' In 1887, he turned the ''Examiner'' over to his son, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Digital Spy
Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, films, music and show business to a global audience. As well as breaking news, in-depth features, reviews and editorial explainers, the site also features the DS Forum. History digiNews (1999) In early January 1999, Iain Chapman launched the digiNEWS website, providing news, rumours and information on Sky's new digital satellite platform SkyDigital. At the same time, Chris Butcher launched the ONfaq website, offering similar news and information on the UK's new digital terrestrial platform ONdigital. Both sites proved to be popular, attracting a lot of attention from visitors eager for more news about these rapidly developing TV platforms. Very soon Chapman and Butcher discussed the idea of a merger of the two sites, to create the digiN ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Claire King
Jayne Claire King (born Jayne Claire Seed; 10 January 1962) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Kim Tate in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' and Karen Betts in '' Bad Girls''. She has appeared in the fourth series of ''Strictly Come Dancing'' in 2006, ''Safari School'' in 2007, and ''Celebrity Big Brother 14'' in 2014. She also played Erica Holroyd in ''Coronation Street'' from 2014 until 2017. Early life and early career King grew up in Harrogate with her brother and sister. King attended Harrogate Ladies College, and as a punk chose a career in the music business, as a disc jockey in a Leeds nightclub. She then managed, sang and played keyboards in the Alternative Pop group ''Fidei'' and later ''To Be Continued'' as lead singer. Career In 1987, King played a role in the film ''Eat the Rich''. In 1988, King appeared in an episode of ''Wish Me Luck'' as a cinema usherette. In 1989, she appeared in the film ''Cold Light of Day'' as a prostitute. Soon afterwards ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emmerdale
''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, ''Emmerdale Farm'' was first broadcast on 16 October 1972. Interior scenes have been filmed at the Leeds Studios since its inception. Exterior scenes were first filmed in Arncliffe in Littondale, and the series may have taken its name from Amerdale, an ancient name of Littondale. Exterior scenes were later shot at Esholt, but are now shot at a purpose-built set on the Harewood estate. The programme is broadcast in every ITV region. The series originally aired during the afternoon and was intended to be a three-month television series. However, more episodes were ordered and transmitted during the daytime until 1978, when it was moved to an early-evening prime time slot in most regions. In the late 1980s, the soap was met with a new produ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
