Coronation Street and Shameless star Rebecca Ryan has shared the news that she’s welcomed a “beautiful baby girl” into the world.
The actress – who has most-recently starred as Lydia Chambers on Manchester-based soap Coronation Street, and is also known for playing Debbie Gallagher on cult-classic Channel 4 sitcom Shameless – announced back in December 2022 that she was expecting her first child with her husband Dan Acraman.
The 31-year-old, who is also known for her roles on BBC drama series’ Waterloo Road and Casualty throughout her career, shared the news of her daughter’s birth on Instagram yesterday.
She has also revealed her daughter’s name publicly for the first time.
Taking to Instagram to share the birth announcement with her over 73,000 followers, Rebecca simply wrote: “Welcome to the world my beautiful baby girl Aurora.”
In just less that 24 hours since sharing the news, Rebecca has been met with tens of thousands of likes and interactions, as well as hundreds of comments from famous faces, celebrity friends, and fans passing on their well-wishes to the new mum.
Coronation Street stars Elle Mulvaney, Mollie Gallagher, Julia Goulding, and Harriet Bibby are among some of the famous names to send their congratulations, while fellow actors Chelsea Halfpenny, Michael Stevenson, and Kimberley Hart-Simpson have also passed publicly passed on their congratulations.
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“Omg, the cutest. So so happy for you,” Elle Mulvaney wrote.
“Massive congratulations,” Mollie Gallagher wrote, while Julia Goulding added: “Huge Congratulations, she’s beautiful,” and Harriet Bibby said: “Congratulations Rebecca! She is absolutely beautiful.”
Rebecca and her husband Dan Acraman / Credit: Rebecca Ryan (via Instagram)
Rebecca’s younger brother and fellow Coronation Street actor, Jack James Ryan, also commented to call his newborn niece his “new best mate”.
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Ahead of the birth, Rebecca also took to social media a couple of weeks ago to share how excited she was for her daughter’s arrival.
She wrote on Instagram: “3 weeks till we meet you little one. I am so in love with you already. Hurry up baby, I can’t wait to see your little face and spend the rest of my life protecting and loving you with all my heart.”
More adult virgins needed for next series of Channel 4’s hit reality show Virgin Island
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
You may remember that early last year, we brought you the breaking highly-important news that Channel 4 was currently in the process of producing a new reality TV series that, at the time, had the working title of ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ and was looking for a group of adult virgins to apply to take part, if they were brave enough.
But now, well over a year on, we all know that show turned out to be the hit show Virgin Island – which has just finished airing its first series this week.
Channel 4 needs more adult virgins for the potential next series of its hit reality TV show Virgin Island / Credit: Channel 4
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before, as it follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
Virgin Island aims to help young people overcome their insecurities around intimacy and sex / Credit: Channel 4
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Featured Image – Channel 4
TV & Showbiz
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
One of the most iconic literary and film sagas of the 21st century is celebrating 20 years since the first book was published next year.
And to celebrate this milestone moment, you’ll be able to watch the first film live in dozens of cities across the UK surrounded by the beauty of more than a thousand candles while a live orchestra plays the soundtrack to accompany.
That’s right, Twilight in Concert is coming to Manchester.
Undeniably one of the most successful young adult film franchises of all time, with five films (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2) to its name, The Twilight Saga has impressively grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office.
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester / Credit: Supplied
The films were adapted from author Stephenie Meyer’s acclaimed literary series that won multiple awards over its time, sold more than 160 million copies worldwide, and was translated into 49 different languages.
But no matter whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob, Twilight In Concert promises to be an unforgettable event for fans of the belovedfranchise, two decades on.
Set in an enchanting candlelit setting, TwilightIn Concert offers fans a unique opportunity to re-live the film that started it all, while musicians take the stage to perform the beloved score in perfect synchronisation with the original movie presented in its entirety on a cinema-size screen.
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians / Credit: Supplied
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians to transport you on a journey deep into the heart of Forks.
Twilight in Concert will be stopping off at 12 other major UK cities on its tour, including other northern hubs such as Sheffield, York, and Liverpool, as well as arriving at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 6 February 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd May 2023 
