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.”
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.
Channel 4’s The Dog House is looking for people who want to adopt dogs in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
If you’ve always wanted to rescue a dog and provide a forever home to an animal in need, this might be your sign – Channel 4 is looking for Mancs to take part in the next series of The Dog House.
The programme is looking for local applicants who may be thinking of adopting a rescue dog, with rescue centres around Greater Manchester feeling the strain.
Rehoming charities have said they’re facing an unprecedented surge in demand.
So now the BAFTA-nominated show The Dog House is keen to hear from people in Manchester who are interested in rehoming a dog, particularly individuals and families with touching, heartfelt reasons for wanting to rehome.
Whether you’re a first-time dog owner, a family looking for a new companion, or looking for a new furry friend for your existing pets, The Dog House and its chosen rescue shelter can help.
The show launched in 2019 and is filmed at Woodgreen Pets Charity, shining a light and raising awareness for the joys and realities of rescuing dogs.
Channel 4’s The Dog House is looking for people to adopt dogs in Manchester
Around 90% of dog owners say their pet improves their life, 86% report being physically healthier, and 88% say it benefits their mental wellbeing, according to data shared by Channel 4.
Channel 4 has said that more than 47,000 people contacted Dogs Trust about giving up their dogs last year alone, with the RSPCA reporting that the number of dogs in their care has doubled since 2020.
The Dog House team is now seeking people in Manchester who may be thinking about adopting a rescue dog – whether for companionship, support, wellbeing, or simply the joy of bringing a four-legged friend into their life.
If you or someone you know is considering adopting a dog, you can apply HERE or email [email protected].
Emily Sergeant -
3rd May 2023 
