TV & Showbiz

Coronation Street star Lucy Fallon announces birth of baby boy with adorable photo

It comes after a tragic miscarriage in 2022.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 6th February 2023

Coronation Street’s Lucy Fallon has welcomed a baby boy, announcing the news with an adorable photo.

The star, who played Bethany Platt in the soap between 2015 and 2020, shared the happy news on Instagram last night.

Lucy, 27, announced that their son had arrived on 30 January, captioning her photo “Our beautiful boy.”

She has been with her professional footballer boyfriend Ryan Ledson since 2020.

Her post on Instagram, which has been flooded with well-wishes, shows the pair with their tiny newborn.

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The couple had been expecting in 2022 but tragically suffered a miscarriage last March, which Lucy spoke candidly about.

The Corrie star told OK! Magazine in September: “It was a traumatising, horrendous time. We went for a scan and they couldn’t see anything, so then we went to the hospital and they thought they could see something, so it was very up and down.

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Lucy Fallon with boyfriend Ryan Ledson. Credit: Instagram, @lucyfallonx
Lucy Fallon with her baby boy and dog Sushi. Credit: Instagram, @lucyfallonx

“I had pregnancy symptoms and I was feeling really unwell and when they were doing all these scans my symptoms were getting worse and worse and there were no signs I had had a miscarriage, so that made it more of a shock.

“We just assumed everything was going to be fine. Then after a week when they’d done the blood tests and other tests I went back and they said that I had miscarried. It was a really strange feeling.”

Following the announcement of the arrival of Lucy and Ryan’s baby boy, several fellow Corrie stars have rushed to offer their congratulations.

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Samia Longchambon, who has played Maria since 2000, posted: “Congratulations both of you.. gorgeous news Lucy!”

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Helen Flanagan posted: “So happy for you my beautiful friend.”

And Catherine Tyldesley commented: “So thrilled for you guys!!! Huge congratulations”

Lucy has also posted more snippets on her Instagram stories, including a picture of the newborn with her dog, pomeranian Sushi.

She then shared a video of the child’s legs kicking in a babygrow, captioned: “Everything is too big.”

Featured image: Instagram, @Lucy Fallon

TV & Showbiz

85-year-old gran from Altrincham stars in new Adidas running advert

Danny Jones Danny Jones Altrincham gran new Adidas running advert

Everyone’s favourite gran, Barbara Thackray, is back in the headlines and this time she isn’t just jogging and raising money, she’s featuring in Adidas’ brand new running advert.

The Altrincham-born and bred grandmother, who has become a local legend and inspiration across the UK with her incredible fitness and fundraising feats in recent years, is no stranger to being interviewed following her amazing efforts, but now she’s popped up in the new Adidas running ad too.

Barbara stars alongside the likes of Liverpool footballer Mo Salah, Qatari hurdler Mariam Farid and Egyptian runner Khadija Hegazy in the new TV and YouTube ad spot.

In the genuinely moving minute-long commercial, Barbara’s lovely little face pops up right at the end. Always save your best till last.

Actually quite stirring and inspiring, right?

Maybe it’s just us going soft in our old age (we never used to well up and interviews, promise), or maybe it’s because we know all the truly wonderful things she’s been doing for charity and her local community of late.

The Alty nan, who turned 85 earlier this month — the same day she broke her own PB in the annual Trafford 10k — has raised over £20,000 for St Ann’s Hospice in just a few short years, having been a champion of the organisation for more than 10 years amongst her sister’s illness and eventual passing.

She only started running when she turned 77 but now she runs around 12 miles every week.

Babs, you are a legend.

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The organisation’s Fundraising Manager, Lucy Leeming, said: “The awareness Barbara has raised across Greater Manchester for the importance and vitality of St Ann’s Hospice has undeniably helped raise funds and awareness for our charity.

“Her passion and dedication to towards our charity shines through in everything she does for us, we’re so grateful to have her support.”

As for Barbara herself, she’s still encouraging people of all ages to get into running; her only advice is “to begin gently and listen to your body.” No wonder the global sports brand chose her: she embodies everything the campaign is about.

To show this Alty gran some love and help her continue her incredible efforts, you can donate HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Adidas

TV & Showbiz

Soccer AM cancelled after nearly 30 years on the air

Danny Jones Danny Jones Soccer AM cancelled after 30 years

Sky Sports have reportedly made the decision to cancel British TV and sporting institution Soccer AM after nearly three decades on the air.

The iconic football and comedy talk show which first aired in 1995 and enjoyed huge popularity throughout the 90s and early 2000s is set to end at the end of this season (its 28th) with just 10 episodes left, as per an exclusive report by The Sun.

According to a source who revealed details to the outlet, Soccer AM will be axed at the end of the 2022/23 season due to low ratings and viewing figures, which have both gradually decreased over time — as has the running time, which went from 240 minutes to just 90 in more recent years.

The insider went on to claim that the decision has come as “a complete bombshell” to those involved with the programme, with “morale at an all-time low”.

Staff on the show were reportedly told of the cancellation on Tuesday, with their last episode airing on Saturday, 27 May, the day before the end of the Premier League season, at which point they will be made redundant.

Issuing a response to the news, a Sky Sports spokesperson said: “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.

“We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people. We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”

As for current presenters John Fendley and former footballer Jimmy Bullard, who have been at the helm of the show since 2019, the two are said to have been left “fuming” by the decision. Figures from within Sky and around the footballing world have been paying tribute to the programme.

The show began with Russ Williams and long-time host Helen Chamberlain presenting back in 1995 before the latter was joined by veteran TV personality Tim Lovejoy just a couple of years later, with the two going on to become the most famous pairing in the show’s history.

As well as recurring comedic guest ‘Tubes’ (Peter Dale), some of the most famous guests you can think of made their way through Soccer AM‘s doors down the years, including the likes of Oasis, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Kevin Hart, Dave Bautista, umpteenth footballers and countless others — you name ’em.

However, the show was not without its controversies and reflected a very different time and admittedly outdated part of British culture, to say the least.

Perhaps the most infamous serial segment of the show was its ‘Soccerette’ feature, which saw attractive young women walk into the studio and asked how old they were as men cheered “great age!”

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The show obviously had to evolve over time but sadly its viewership continued to dwindle, no matter how much affection there was back in its heyday.

Speaking to Mirror Sport back in May 2022, leading figure Bullard admitted “it’s hard trying to refresh a show every single week with all the new material”, but that he still found it a privilege to be trusted with reinventing a show that is still “the start of a lot of people’s mornings on a Saturday.”

It was certainly far from perfect and pretty problematic at times, but it still played a huge role in the lives of many British people and young football fans’ formative years.

RIP.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Soccer AM/Sky Sports

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