TV & Showbiz

Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma is heading into the Love Island villa

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 30th May 2022

Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma will be among the contestants on this year’s Love Island.

ITV has announced this morning that Gemma Owen, 19, will be heading into the villa on the search for love – and possibly a few business deals.

The young beauty is an international dressage rider and also owns her own swimwear line, OG Beachwear, which we’ll no doubt see a lot of over the coming weeks.

Gemma is the oldest of four children from footballing legend Michael Owen, who has previously played for Manchester United.

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Revealing Gemma on the line-up for the hit reality dating show, ITV said that they ‘cannot wait to watch her smoulder in the villa!’.

Gemma Owen with famous dad Michael. Credit: Instagram, @themichaelowen

They wrote: “Gemma is used to the spotlight, having ‘travelled all across Europe, competing in big arenas in big competitions’. Plus her dad was a professional football player… That sporting spirit must run in the family!”

Gemma said: “I would say I’m very competitive. [When it comes to relationships] I will always go for what I want.”

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Read more: Manchester restaurant shares emotional ‘thank you’ after yet another burglary

The Chester-born contestant also detailed a previous date, where she was whisked away to Paris.

According to ITV, her family and friends describe her as ‘very honest and a bit stubborn, straight up and a bit fiery’.

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Other contestants announced so far include ‘Italian stallion’ Davide, who lives in Manchester; Irish microbiologist Dami; and model and dancer Tasha, from Thirsk in Yorkshire.

Love Island returns to screens on Monday 6 June.

Featured image: ITV

TV & Showbiz

Strangeways Here We Come – the controversial film that’s become a surprise Netflix hit

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A film that received terrible reviews when it was released several years ago has been doing surprisingly well on Netflix.

Strangeways Here We Come, set in Salford and starring Michelle Keegan, was initially slammed for its ‘vile stereotypes’ – something its creator has defended.

It follows a group of residents on a council state plotting revenge on a local loan shark, played by Stephen Lord.

Alongside Michelle Keegan in her first film role, the cast also includes Chanel Cresswell and Perry Fitzpatrick from This Is England and Misfits actor Lauren Socha.

Strangeways Here We Come was written and directed by Chris Green, from Lower Broughton, in 2018.

The film was absolutely slated by The Guardian on its release, who said in a one-star review that it was an ‘awful Salford-set Shameless ripoff’.

It’s named after a The Smiths album of the same name, but the paper noted it was ‘roughly as funny as Morrissey is nowadays’ – which is not very.

The Times went a step further, giving it exactly zero stars out of five. I didn’t even know that was a thing.

Strangeways Here We Come
Michelle Keegan stars in Strangeways Here We Come. Credit: Strangeways Here We Come

Chris defended his work in an interview with the Manchester Evening News, saying that the so-called stereotypes were based on his own experiences as a Salford postman.

He told the paper: “I think [the critics] had this idea that I was this middle-class filmmaker coming into the area to exploit the working class.

Read more: Horror film so scary it made people faint is finally available to stream in the UK

“This was made by someone who lived there. Growing up on Spike Island we saw a lot of violence. I can honestly say that 90 per cent of what you see in that film is true – its stuff I’ve seen, stuff I’ve experienced or know about. Apart from the murder, obviously.”

He added: “When [the film] came out, it was like putting Salford on the map. At the end of the day, all those unsavoury characters who are a bit brutal, are part of a community.

“When the chips are down, like the Salford communities I remember, they all come together to help each other out.”

But despite failing to wow the critics (understatement), the film has been quietly plucking away with Netflix audiences, and popped into the top 10 in the UK on its release week.

Green said: “I couldn’t get my head round the fact that Strangeways Here we Come had gone to number ten on Netflix films yesterday. But now it’s at NUMBER 9!!!

“I’m gonna have to go for a lie down.”

You can watch it on Netflix here.

Featured image: Publicity picture

TV & Showbiz

Manc queens dominate as RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner is crowned 

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The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season four was crowned last night, and Manchester queens completely dominated the final stages. 

Both Cheddar Gorgeous and Danny Beard, prolific and well-loved talents based in Manchester, made it to the final two, doing our city proud.

The pair beat out competition from other finalists Black Peppa and Jonbers Blonde and faced off in a lip-sync battle.

The 10-week-long competition has been fierce in all the right ways, but it was Danny Beard – the first bearded contestant in Drag Race UK history and originally from Liverpool – who was eventually crowned victorious.

Following their win, they said: “Thank you for believing in me. I’ve had the wildest dream here meeting the most amazing people.

Danny Beard after being crowned winner of Drag Race UK. Credit: BBC

“I never thought anyone who did drag like me could be a Ru girl, so this is for all the others out there. I can’t wait to let the world know what Danny Beard is all about.”

Guest judges this year have included Olly Alexander, Boy George, and Aisling Bea, with Michelle Visage stepping in as head judge for the first time.

Fellow judge Graham Norton told Danny: “My God, you are funny. But what I didn’t expect were all the looks.

“When you’re on stage eyes are drawn to you and that is something you can’t learn, it is something you learn how to use.”

Cheddar Gorgeous on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Credit: BBC
Danny Beard on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Credit: BBC

Both Danny and Cheddar are familiar faces on the Manchester nightlife scene, with Cheddar part of the Family Gorgeous troupe made up of some of our most talented queens.

And Mancs have been delighted to see the local queens get so far in the competition, which has often been dominated by Londoners.

Actress Annie Wallace tweeted: “Huge congrats to @thedannybeard for winning @dragraceukbbc, and commiserations to @CheddarGorgeous… we do things RIGHT in Manchester!!”

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Another person wrote: “What I love about Cheddar and Danny obliterating the season is they – along with Manchester queens in general – have largely been snubbed by the Drag Race brand in some shape or form, prior to Season 4. So glad producers are over their meth-like addiction to London queens.”

Another said: “I got so emosh seeing two iconic Manchester queens in the top two. @CheddarGorgeous and @thedannybeard were (and still are) staples in the Manchester drag scene when I was growing up gay. So so SO happy.”

Manchester Pride wrote: “We’re proud to have platformed some of this year’s #DragRaceUK finalists over the years, but we can’t help rooting for our MCR Queens this eve.

“@CheddarGorgeous & @thedannybeard, you’ve done Manchester so so proud.”

Someone else said: “Love to @CheddarGorgeous and congratulations to @thedannybeard. BOTH AMAZING ARTISTS. I’ve never thought the race could be so tight for me personally and they smashed it. Manchester smashed it.”

Featured image: BBC

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