Television star Denise Van Outen has opened up about a tricky first few months on set when she joined the cast of much-loved soap EastEnders back in 2015.The actress and presenter, 47, reveals in her upcoming autobiography 'A Bit Of Me: From Basildon to Broadway, and Back' that landing her role as Albert Square's sharp-minded businesswoman Karin Smart "wasn't what I'd expected".Though her on-screen appearance may have only been a four-episode stint over a month long period, Denise claims to have instantly picked up on an ambience of tension between many of her co-stars. "I'd been used to working on shows with a happy, buzzy, atmosphere," the mother-of-one disclosed to readers. "And during my time on EastEnders, that wasn't really the case." Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.
EastEnders star Nitin Ganatra's family corner shop attacked by racist thugs
05.03.2022 - 13:17 / ok.co.uk
EastEnders favourite Nitin Ganatra has opened up about his family being targeted by thugs over the years at his family’s corner shop. The BBC soap star, 54, has recently spoken out about his family’s corner shop “being targeted a lot” when he was growing up.The actor played popular character Masood Ahmed for over ten years on EastEnders, from 2007 until he left the popular soap in 2019. Nitin chatted openly on the Made in the Midlands podcast.
He revealed: “Growing up was hard. We had a corner shop that was targeted a lot." In the chat he described his family as “taking it in their stride” as they thought: “’This is how people behave in this country.’” Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter. You can sign up at the top of the page.The attacks, the actor said, were not just years ago and that the family shop has even been in the target for thugs recently.
He said: “The windows were smashed and my brother was attacked last year." Nitin went on to reveal that in one incident the shop was attached by as many as 25 to 30 “skinheads”.This isn’t the first time Nitin has spoken out about abuse he has faced in the past. He revealed in an open chat on ITV’s Loose Women back in 2018 that he faced a lot of racial abuse as a child. Nitin openly discussed racist abuse as a child led to a weight battle after Masood Ahmed actor was beaten “on daily basis”.
Inside Holby City as it bows out after 23 years of heart-stopping drama
From 1999-2022, the hospital drama was one doc appointment we were happy to keep. It began as a spin-off to Casualty but immediately set itself apart with the soap star cast, scripts that had more witty one liners and less medical jargon, and stories that made viewers come back to the Holby General ward again and again. The last episode promises more of that winning combination, as we find out the fate of much-loved surgeon Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel).
EastEnders fans wowed as ‘pampered and polished’ Sharon Watts makes glam return
EastEnders viewers were left taken-aback when they caught sight of the newly "polished" Sharon Watts upon her return to Albert Square this week. Actress Letitia Dean, 54, came back for her latest scenes in Walford looking more glam than ever before, and it's not the only new thing of late as she made a recent comment about the soap's new set too. With her honey blonde locks styled into layers, the fan-favourite character strolled back into the soap showing off her fabulous tan and sun-kissed glow.
EastEnders' Heather Trott star Cheryl Fergison spotted busking decade on from soap exit
Cheryl Fergison has been spotted busking in Lancashire after taking up a new career.The actress, 56, starred as Heather Trott on EastEnders between the years of 2007 and 2012.Ten years on from leaving the popular BBC soap, Cheryl appears to have taken a break from acting to pursue her love of singing. In a bid to advertise a banquet and karaoke night she’s hosting at Great Fortune House in Cleveleys, she took to the streets to give a snippet of what people can expect from the night.The event is set to take place tomorrow, Friday 25 March, from 7pm onwards.
EastEnders fans notice new star as BBC soap recasts Stacey Slater’s son Arthur
EastEnders bosses have made the decision to recast the character of young Arthur Fowler amid Stacey and Jean Slater's current and ongoing feud storyline. Actor Rocco Brenner made his first appearance as Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner)'s son recently, with the character reportedly becoming increasingly important to the plot, which is set to develop in future episodes.The move comes after his on-screen predecessor Hunter Bell recently announced on Instagram that he'd be leaving the BBC soap in order to "try different things in life".The six-year-old soap star told his fans: "After 6 years of my 6 year old life I have been a character on #bbcone most popular Soap EastEnders." Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.
EastEnders star Tilly Keeper lands a role in upcoming season of Netflix hit 'You'
Tilly Keeper - otherwise known as EastEnders' Louise Mitchell - is reportedly set to join a whole host of British stars in the upcoming series of multi award-winning Netflix hit, You.The 24-year-old actress, who joined the popular London soap back in 2016, will feature in the fourth season of the immensely addictive psychological thriller, which is allegedly scheduled to be filmed in the UK as opposed to its usual location in the States. Along with Tilly, former Corrie star Dario Coates, 29 - known for playing Kym Marsh's on-screen son Alex on the Cobbles - is also set to join the line up, as is Eve Austin, who previously portrayed Tabitha Taylor-Rudd in Emmerdale.
EastEnders star Ricky Champ's pregnant wife Sammy rushed to hospital
EastEnders star Ricky Champ's pregnant wife Sammy Gilbert was taken to hospital yesterday after she reported feeling really unwell.The mum-of-one, who is expecting her second child in July, posted a snap from her hospital bed as she was recuperating from an unexplained illness. "Not where I planned spending today! Everything's ok with bub, just high blood pressure for me," the star's partner explained in an Instagram story. Going on to praise the medical professionals and pregnancy team, Sammy said: "Southend hospital midwives are amazing.
EastEnders' Brooke Kinsella pregnant with second child 18 months after welcoming daughter
Brooke Kinsella is pregnant with her second child, OK! can exclusively reveal. Announcing herself and her husband Simon Boardley’s special news, the former EastEnders star has shared an adorable snap of her daughter Elsie kissing her bare bump.The 38 year old’s news comes just 18 months after she and Simon welcomed Elsie into the world and Brooke exclusively introduced her to OK!. Brooke told us of baby number two being on the way: “It’s all kisses for now… Here we go again @Simonboardley”.
EastEnders' Steve McFadden slapped with five points and £580 fine after speeding on moped
EastEnders actor Steve McFadden has been hit with five points on his driving licence and forced to pay a £580 fine after being caught speeding. The actor, 63, best known for playing Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap, was pulled over by a police officer with a mobile speed gun in October last year. He was caught doing 35mph in a 20mph zone while on his moped near his home in North London.
EastEnders' Danny Walters looks worlds away from Keanu Taylor after soap exit
Former EastEnders actor Danny Walters looked worlds away from his character Keanu Taylor over the weekend as he showed off his new look in Amsterdam. The actor, 28, who left the BBC One soap in 2020 after almost three years on Albert Square, took to Instagram to post a collection of snaps from his getaway.
EastEnders spoiler picture sees exact moment pregnant Bernie goes into shock labour
EastEnders’ Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris) will soon make a dramatic return to the BBC soap when the heavily pregnant mum steps back into Albert Square and almost immediately goes into labour. In scenes that will air on the soap next week, surrogate Bernie, who left Walford at the end of last year, will be back as she prepares to hand over her newborn to parents Stuart (Ricky Champ) and Rainie Highway (Tanya Franks).
‘The Boys’ Star Karen Fukuhara Reveals She Was Attacked By A Man On The Street In Anti-Asian Hate Crime: ‘It Came Out Of Nowhere’
“The Boys” star Karen Fukuhara urged people to “Stop Asian hate” as she opened up about being attacked while going for coffee recently.
EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison embarks on new career 10 years after leaving soap
Former EastEnders icon Cheryl Fergison has swapped her acting career for a surprising new career. Cheryl was best known for playing fan favourite Heather Trott on the popular BBC soap from 2007 to 2012, where her character was involved in a number of dramatic storylines. However, following her departure from the show, acting gigs for the talented 56 year old, who is married to Yassine Al-Jermoni, unfortunately dried up.
EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith to become full-time dad after Gray Atkins soap exit
EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith is set to become a full-time dad after he departed the BBC soap as the villainous serial killer Gray Atkins. As viewers watched on in shock as the evil character was finally arrested and taken away by police, the actor has also revealed his reasons for choosing to bow out of the soap after three years. Toby, 31, welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Bonnie with his Emmerdale girlfriend Amy Walsh, 34, just after Christmas.
EastEnders star Kaur Garcha sobs over feeling ‘helpless’ on Africa trip after quitting soap
EastEnders star Gurlaine Kaur Garcha posted an emotional video to Instagram after visiting a hospital in Malawi.The star, 28, who’s best known for playing Ash Kaur in Albert Square, said she felt “helpless and emotionally drained” after her experience delivering relief to people living in poverty in the African country with charity Khalsa Aid.The actress has been taking a break from her work on EastEnders, which she joined in 2019, to carry out the charity work and has been updating her 40,000 followers on her journey. Posting a video of herself wiping away tears as she spoke to the camera, Gurlaine spoke about how she felt grateful of her privilege and thanked the NHS for their work. Captioning the video, the star wrote: "On day four in Malawi we visited a hospital.This was by far one of the toughest experiences of my life.
Who is EastEnders’ star Dean Gaffney’s Russian model girlfriend 19 years his junior
Ex-EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney has found a new love interest - and she’s the same age as his twin daughters Chloe and Charlotte.The 44-year-old soap star became a grandad last year and vowed to stop dating women in their twenties. But according to a close pal, he’s getting cosy with a fresh-faced Russian model.The friend told The Sun: “She is absolutely gorgeous so it’s no surprise she has caught Dean’s eye.