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Michelle Keegan could be set to make the move to Hollywood after coming on to the radar of movie bosses in South Africa where she’s been filming new BBC Drama ‘Our Girl 2’. Keegan rose to fame after playing Tina McIntyre in ‘Coronation Street’ but the 29-year-old left the soap in 2014 to pursue other roles.

Does Michelle Keegan have a future in Hollywood?

Speaking to the Sunday People, her stunt co-ordinator Paul Pieterse said her name had been buzzing around sets in Cape Town where they have also been filming movies Dark Tower with Idris Elba and Matthew McConnaughy and 24 Hours to Live with Ethan Hawke.

Continue reading: Will Michelle Keegan Be Going From The Cobbles Of 'Corrie' To Hollywood?

‘Coronation Street’ actor Les Dennis has announced that he’s quitting the long-running ITV soap, and promises that his character Michael Rodwell is being set up for a “very dramatic exit” later this year.

The 62 year old actor and former ‘Family Fortunes’ presenter joined the popular soap in 2014, playing the incompetent burglar, who won the heart of his victim Gail, whom he later married. With his character’s departure, fans are speculating whether his long-standing feud with Pat Phelan will end up in murder, or whether the door will be left open for a future return.

Les Dennis at the National TV Awards in 2016

Continue reading: Les Dennis Announces Departure From 'Coronation Street' After Two Years

Michael Le Vell, the former Coronation Street actor who is being tried for 12 child sex offences, could have been handed a life-line as the court statement from one of the accusing girls was deemed "inconsistent" by the actor's solicitor. Le Vell, who is on trial under his real name, Michael Turner, denies all charges of sexual abuse to the underage girls.

Le Vell prior to his three day trial

Although the accuser's lawyer stated that the allegedly abused girl had "no reason to lie," Le Vell's defence were steadfast in their claims that her stories struggled to make sense. The accusing girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons surrounding her age, claims that she was repeatedly abused by the Coronation Street actor, who plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in the show, from the age of six until she was fourteen.

Continue reading: Corrie Actor Michael Le Vell's Accuser Deemed "Inconsistent" In Statement

Despite legal threats from ITV, Channel 4 will go ahead and air its undercover sting that reportedly shows Coronation Street actresses promoting products on Twitter that, unbeknownst to the performers involved, were fakes set up by Dispatches to expose marketing rules being breached.

Brooke Vincent: Stung By Channel 4's Dispatches.

Celebs, Brands and Fake Fans, the hour long Dispatches programme features actors including Brooke Vincent and Catherine Tyldesley who are secretly filmed receiving beauty products from a bogus “new” cosmetics firm; some of which were later tweeted about. The documentary makers set up a fake cosmetics brand “Puttana Aziendale” which means – we kid you not – “corporate whore.”

Continue reading: Coronation Street Stars Stung By Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches’ Promoting Brands Illegally On Twitter

Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel - real name Andrew Watkinson - has been cleared of four counts of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy in the 1990s. The actor, 42, from Liverpool had been on trial at Liverpool Crown Court though a jury took just 29 minutes to make its decision and clear the star of all wrongdoing.

Lancel, who played the devious Frank Foster on Coronation Street, was charged in November with indecently assaulting a youngster in 1994 when the pair met at a theatre group. Judge Clement Goldstone QC directed the jury to find Mr Watkinson not guilty on two of six counts he originally faced because the complainant said he couldn't be sure the alleged abuse happened before he turned 15. 

Lancel, who appeared in Coronation Street in January 2011 and March 2012 denied any sexual contact ever took place between himself and the boy and maintained that he was simply a "sort of mentor" to the aspiring actor. His solicitor Stuart Nolan said in a statement, "Andrew would like to thank his family and friends and all parties for their support and prayers.He just wants to spend time with his family."

Continue reading: Coronation Street Star Andrew Lancel Cleared Off Indecent Assault (In Just 29 Minutes)

Coronation Street actor Bill Roache appeared at Preston Magistrates Court on Tuesday (May 14, 2013) accused of raping a 15-year-old girl. The 81-year-old, who has played Ken Barlow since the legendary soap's launch, is charged with two counts of rape dating back to 1967. Photographers and journalists jostled for position outside court today as Roache smiled and even signed a couple of autographs in the public waiting area before stepping into the courtroom.

Dressed in a navy suit with striped blue shirt and white tie, Roache appeared relaxed and yawned as he waited for proceedings to begin, reports The Sun. He was led to the witness box where he confirmed his full name, address and date of birth. The actor made no statement as he left the court and was driven back to his home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

After his arrest on May 1, Roache said he was "astounded and deeply horrified by the extraordinary events" of the accusations. "I strenuously deny the allegations and will now focus my full attention on fighting to preserve my innocence in the challenging times ahead," he said, adding, "I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all those people who have offered me their support and good wishes at this difficult time."

Continue reading: Coronation Street's Bill Roache Attends Court, Accused Of Raping Girl, 15

Coronation Street’s William Roache has made an official apology for some pretty abrasive comments he made recently. During an interview with New Zealand’s TVNZ, he made some admittedly vague statements about victims of abuse, which nevertheless managed to ruffle some feathers. While discussing the recent slew of sex abuse scandals, Roache had this to say: "If you accept that you are pure love, and if you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."

After the interviewer noted that that statement sounded an awful lot like victim blaming, Roache attempted to clarify, effectively making matters worse: "No, not quite.. and yet I am, because everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives or whatever."

Naturally, that wasn’t the answer everyone expected to hear. After considerable backlash however, Roache issued an official apology on Tuesday, or rather, an almost apology: "I would never say that victims of sexual offences are in any way responsible for the abuse they have suffered and I offer my deepest apologies if anything I have said has been misunderstood in this way.

Continue reading: William Roache Apologises For Controversial Comments On Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse scandals are, regrettably, becoming increasingly common in the British entertainment scene. The latest, Michael Le Vell – who plays Kevin Webster in the much-loved soap Coronation Street – has vowed to clear his name.

"I will now put all my efforts into clearing my name and proving my innocence. I thank my friends, family and fans for their continued support,” said Le Vell in a statement.” I would ask now for time to concentrate on preparing my defence with my legal team." In a statement released to the Press Association, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "A man has been charged with 19 child sex offences. Michael Turner,” Le Vell’s real name, “of Byrom Street, Hale, has been charged with 19 offences including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child. He is due to appear at Manchester magistrates (court) on Wednesday, Feb. 27."

Le Vell was actually arrested back in September 2011 but prosecutors ruled at the time that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a charge. He released a similar statement, thanking his friends and family for their support, and, at the time, was delighted to "completely exonerated". The Sun report that scandal lead to the break up of his relationship with his actress wife Janette Beverley.

Manchester actor Michael Le Vell has been dropped by Coronation Street after being charged with 19 child sex offences, including child rape and sexual activity with a child between 2001 and 2010, reports the BBC. Le Vell, 48, who played garage owner Kevin Webster in the ITV soap, is due to appear in court on February 27, 2013.

The father-of-two, who split with his wife last year, strenuously denies the charges. "I would like to make it quite clear that following the serious allegations that have been brought against me on Thursday 14th February 2013, I am innocent of these charges and intend to fight them vigorously," he said in a statement, "I will now put all my efforts into clearing my name and proving my innocence." The actor was initially arrested in connection with the offences in September, though Coronation Street producers have now taken the decision to axe Le Vell. A spokesman said, "Given the serious nature of these charges, Michael Le Vell will not be appearing in Coronation Street pending the outcome of legal proceedings. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time."

The initial investigation was dropped when authorities said there was not enough evidence to prosecute, though it's likely Greater Manchester Police has been building its case since. Alison Levitt, QC, principal legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, reviewed a new file of evidence and said in a statement, "I have very carefully reviewed the evidence in this case and I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Michael Robert Turner with a number of sexual offences."

Theatre actress Sophiya Haque, who also appeared in Coronation Street, has died at the age of 41 after losing her battle with cancer. Haque was diagnosed with cancer before Christmas, as she was performing in the West End production of Privates On Parade, reports BBC News.

She was suffering from pneumonia and is understood to have developed a clot on her lungs. Her Uncle Syed Haque told the Evening Standard that she was "a loveable person and very beautiful," adding, "She has always been in the musical business and used to do ballet in her younger days. A few years ago she was involved in Bollywood dramas in the West End. She invited me a few times to go to see her but unfortunately I didn't have time. I actually didn't know anything about her illness until her death yesterday." Physically striking, Sophia was a popular stage actress, though played barmaid Poppy Morales in Coronation Street in 2008-2009. ITV said in a statement, "She was a vibrant and beautiful actress who was a pleasure to have around during her time on Coronation Street. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very sad time." Born in Portsmouth, she moved to Mumbai in 1997 and starred in numerous movies. On her return to the UK in 2002, she starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bollywood-inspired musical Bombay Dreams. 

She lived in London with her partner, the musical director David White. The couple were in the process of building a houseboat when she fell ill over the festive period.

Continue reading: "Beautiful" Coronation Street Actress Sophiya Haque Dies, Aged 41

Sophiya Haque, from Coronation Street, had been performing on the West End in Privates on Parade, when she was diagnosed with cancer. She has now died, aged 41.

Before Christmas she was diagnosed with cancer, but since then, as the BBC reports, she had been suffering with pneumonia due to her compromised immune system. A blood clot had also formed in her lungs. All of these symptoms contributed to her death. Since it was made public her colleagues, friends and fans have taken to the internet to air their best memories of her, and their gried.

"She was a true force of nature and her glorious performance as Sylvia in Privates on Parade is one that will be remembered with great joy," said the Michael Grandage Company, who she was working with on Privates on Pirade. "A spirited lady, she lived life to the full, and her presence in the theatre will be sorely missed. The company would like to dedicate the remaining performances to her memory."

Continue reading: Coronation Street's Sophiya Haque Dies Age 41 After Cancer Diagnosis

Sad news for long-time fans of British soap Coronation Street as it’s emerged that the actress who played barmaid Poppy Morales, Sophiya Haque, has passed away aged just 41.

Continue reading: Coronation Street Actress Sophiya Haque Tragically Passes Away Aged 41

It seems as though real life is imitating art, as Coronation Street stars Samia Ghadia and Will Thorp have called time on their relationship, just as their characters did on the show last year.

Samia (who plays Maria Connor) and Will (who played Chris Gray before leaving last November) began dating each other in 2011 shortly after their own, real life, marriages broke down. The two have been an item ever since, that is until Samia began her training for the upcoming season of Dancing On Ice, when the actress decided enough was enough and it was time to call it quits. Earlier this week, it was revealed in the Sunday Mirror that the pair had split up, with a source revealing: "the relationship just fizzled out and ran its course."

However, things may not be as black and white as they seem, as Samia is reported to have been getting rather close to her skating instructor Sylvain Longchambon, who earlier this week split from his girlfriend of two years, Jennifer Metcalfe. Jennifer, who stars in the soap Hollyoakes, was Sylvian's partner in a previous series of the show, with the two striking a chord and beginning a relationship during the show's running. Now it looks like history is repeating itself to the expense of Metcalfe and Thorp, with Samia absolutely gushing about Sylvian in a recent interview with the Sunday Mirror. She said: “Sylvain is brilliant. He is so patient, kind and thoughtful. I can see how you’d end up in a relationship with your partner. You get to know each other intensely and there is a lot of trust.”

Continue reading: Coronation Street Couple Call It Quits

Actor Bill Tarmey, who won a place in the hearts of millions for his 30+ years-long role as Jack Duckworth, has passed away at the age of 71.

Tarmey appeared in Coronation Street from 1979 to 2010 as Jack, the long-suffering husband to Vera Duckworth, played by Liz Dawn. The constantly bickering pair won the adoration of millions across the UK as one of the country's best loved on-screen couples throughout their time on screen. It was also his character's love of beer, his pigeons, and the occasional bet (that Vera alway found out about) as well as his amicable personality that made him one of soaplands most revered characters.

Tarmy's family confirmed the news of his death at his home in Tenerife, Spain, today (Nov 9) asking the press and public for "privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother".

Continue reading: Bill Tarmey, Coronation Street's Jack Duckworth, Dies

Bill Tarmey, best known for playing Jack Duckworth in the long running British soap opera 'Coronation Street', has passed away due to ill health at the age of 71.

The star had been suffering from poor health for half his life having had a heart attack at the age of 35 and a stroke only a year later. He had two heart bypass operations in his life and smoked cigarettes until his death despite needing an oxygen mask to help him to breathe. His death comes only two years after he retired from Corrie; which, incidentally, was due to his rapidly failing health. He leaves behind his wife of 50 years Alma, his son Carl, 38, and his daughter Sara, 42, and members of his family have released this statement: 'The family of Bill Tarmey have confirmed that he sadly passed away this morning in Tenerife. They have respectfully asked the media for privacy as they grieve for a wonderful husband, father and brother.'

His Corrie castmates have left tribute messages for him on Twitter: Charlie Condou  who plays  Marcus Dent wrote, 'I am devastated to hear that the wonderful Bill Tarmey has died. He was a beautiful, funny and lovely man, and he will be missed by us all' and Antony Cotton who plays Sean Tully's message read, 'Goodnight Bill Tarmey. You were the best. We'll miss you so much x.'