Netflix’s latest smash-hit original series Bridgerton has captured the attentions of millions across the globe over the last two weeks.
The eight-part series set in the competitive world of Regency London high society’s ton during the season when debutantes are presented at court has no doubt become one of the most talked-about shows on TV, with an estimated 63 million households tuning in since its Christmas Day release date.
The new period drama has held the number one slot on the Top 10 list in a total of 76 countries and has made the fifth biggest original series debut on the streaming platform to date.
But now fans have uncovered a little-known fact about the show’s lead, and it’s blown our minds.
Phoebe Dynevor – who plays one of the main characters Daphne, the youngest sibling in the Bridgerton family – is actually the daughter of none other than Middleton-born Sally Dynevor, aka Sally Webster from Coronation Street.
Loving the fact that "Daphne" from #Bridgerton (aka Phoebe Dynevor) is the real life daughter of "Sally" from #CoronationStreet (Sally Dynevor)! Also, this makes me feel very, very, very old!
With a mother known for playing an iconic television character, and a screenwriter father, perhaps it was clear Phoebe was destined for acting success all along
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As the eldest daughter of Sally and Tim Dynevor, Phoebe was born in Trafford and attended the prestigious Cheadle Hulme School in Stockport before she decided to follow in her mum’s acting footsteps. She landed her first role in the popular BBC series Waterloo Road over 10 years ago, and has been earning herself a number of major acting gigs ever since.
Sally Dynevor has been playing cobbles-regular Sally Webster on the ITV soap since 1986, and just last week was awarded an MBE for her services to drama in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list.
From Sally’s Instagram, it’s clear to see she is a very proud mother of Phoebe’s role in Bridgerton, having been sharing lots of promotional clips from the Netflix show, and by looking at both Sally and Phoebe’s social media platforms, they also appear to have a very close relationship and often post pictures together.
And if that wasn’t enough to shock you as it is, fans have made yet another revelation.
The Bridgerton mum-related news just keeps on coming and has seen viewers also freaking out after realising that Phoebe’s on-screen mum – played by Ruth Gemmell – is actually Tracy Beaker’s mum from the 2004 movie spin-off Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me.
A now-viral tweet revealing the fact has blown the minds of over 50K people.
Boyzone to reunite for exclusive New Year’s Eve special on the BBC
Danny Jones
2025 has very much been the year of the comeback – be it Oasis, Britpop fashion in general, or short bobs and pixie cuts – so it’s only fitting that we round off the calendar with one last reunion, as throwback boyband Boyzone are set to feature on a TV special on the BBC this New Year’s Eve.
Turns out ‘All That I Need’ to make a year memorable is a load of 1990s nostalgia.
Now, obviously, despite plenty of other music names enjoying a second renaissance over the past 12 months or so, nothing is ever going to be quite as big as the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour.
However, if you asked us to guess which group from the era were also going to reunite this year back in January, there’s not a chance we would’ve said Boyzone.
Boyzone are telling us about coming back together for one final run in their most unforgettable concerts yet 🎤
After news first began circulating earlier this week, it has now been confirmed that musician turned presenter Ronan Keating will be getting back together with two of his former bandmates.
Joining the 48-year-old for ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’, ex-Boyzone members Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch are part of an exciting live music lineup.
Other names include actor and singer, Shona McGarty, who recently starred on season 25 of I’m A Celeb, as well as fellow 90s pop artist Louise Redknapp and singer-songwriter Calum Scott.
The exclusive reunion comes after the success of the recently aired Boyzone: No Matter What documentary show.
Spread across three parts on Sky, the docuseries (named after their hit song from 1998) looks back on the career and journey up the charts back in their heyday, all the way up to the present. After seemingly striking a chord with fans and the lads themselves, it looks like they’re not done after all…
Yes, not only is the festive TV special going to see three of the original members performing alongside each other again, but
Here’s hoping that turns into a springboard for something even bigger, and we get a Manchester arena show sometime soon.
As for the programme itself, ‘Ronan & Friends: A New Year’s Eve Party’ will be broadcast on BBC One and made available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, 31 December 2025.
One in 10 Brits are fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party, new survey finds
Emily Sergeant
We’re in peak office Christmas party season right now.
With just a week to go until the big day itself is here, many businesses across the UK are treating their staff to night out to celebrate both the festive season and all of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the year… and as you can expect, these are usually quite eventful gatherings, shall we say.
But now, a survey by has shed light on just how ‘eventful’ they actually are, as a new survey has revealed that, apparently, one in ten Brits face some sort of disciplinary action or dismissal due to their behaviour at Christmas parties.
The study was conducted by After Drink, and included more than 2,000 participants.
During the research, it was highlighted that 89% of employees admitted to drinking alcohol at these events, Lad Bible reports – with 65% of these confessing that they drank “excessively”.
One in 10 Brits get fired or disciplined after their work’s Christmas party / Credit: Kraken Images | Mimi Thian (via Unsplash)
There are a multitude of incidents which could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace nowadays, but according to the survey, some of the common reasons following festive celebrations with colleagues included inappropriate comments (23%) and even getting into fights (21%).
16% of these incidents were because of drug use during the event, while inappropriate interactions with colleagues accounted for 14%.
Some of the legal reasons you can be fired from your place of work after a Christmas party include gross misconduct, drunken behaviour, and fighting of any kind.
Despite all these risks, however, Christmas parties still remain as popular as always, and a whopping 79% of respondents said they are planning to attend theirs this year.