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TV & Showbiz

Ryan Thomas and Lucy Mecklenburgh announce birth of baby girl

Daisy Jackson - 31st May 2022

Former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas has welcomed his second child with fiancée Lucy Mecklenburgh.

Lucy, 30, a model and former TOWIE star, announced the news on Instagram today.

Alongside a black and white photo of their newborn baby, she posted a simple pink love heart caption.

Ryan Thomas and Lucy Mecklenburgh have welcomed a baby girl. Credit: Instagram, @lucymeck1

The post has already drawn thousands of messages of congratulations from famous faces and fans alike.

Lisa Snowden wished the new parents a ‘huge congratulations’ and fellow TOWIE star Billie Faiers wrote: “Awww congratulations darling. Lots of love to you all xxx.”

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The couple announced that they were expecting their second baby in November last year, writing ‘here we go again’.

Read more: TUI is cancelling hundreds of flights from Manchester in the next month

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They already have a son, Roman, together, who turned two in March.

Ryan also shares 13-year-old daughter Scarlett with ex Tina O’Brien.

Lucy’s due date was the 22 May, she wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of herself and Roman baking ‘snacks ready for those long nights ahead’.

Featured image: Instagram, @lucymeck1

TV & Showbiz

Channel 4 needs adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show

Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.

If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.

First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island 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.

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.

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You can find out more and register your interest here.

Featured Image – Channel 4

TV & Showbiz

Aitch wells up in trailer for inspiring Netflix documentary about Kilimanjaro charity climb

Aitch climbs Mount Kilimanjaro Netflix documentary

Mancunian musician Aitch has shared a brand-new trailer for his upcoming Netflix documentary charting his inspiring charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tissues at the ready.

In case you missed it, the Manchester rapper took on the incredible challenge of summiting the highest peak in Africa last year, all on behalf of the Down’s Syndrome Association.

Sharing the first true glimpse at his moving mountain voyage, the Moston-born artist looks to reveal all in this candid chronicling of his fundraising feat.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @aitch

Writing in the caption, the 26-year-old said: “Gracie, this is for you and the 40,000 other beautiful people just like you. Don’t Be Afraid!”

For anyone unaware of the context, a couple of years back, Aitch – Harrison James Armstrong, to give the Manc his full given name – announced that he would be embarking on the difficult journey that only 40-60% of trekkers ever successfully reach the top.

Raising not only awareness but huge funds for the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) UK, it was a testament of love for his sister, Gracie, 16.

Beloved by upwards of 3.1 million followers across his various social media platforms, Grace has become a bit of a community icon and hero all of her own.

Here he is video calling her before his most recent challenge:

They have such a lovely bond.

The inspiration for the 2022 track ‘My G’ with Ed Sheeran on his debut album, Close to Home, the song itself also ended up serving as a significant fundraiser, going on to complete a skydive over Old Sarum airfield with his dad, Mike.

A few clips have been shared on Aitch’s YouTube channel since he first confirmed he would be taking on ‘Kili’, such as his altitude training and other glimpses behind the scenes, but until now, we’ve seen very little footage from the infamous trail itself.

Set to drop later this month, Aitch’s Kilimanjaro doc, entitled Don’t Be Afraid, is releasing on Netflix on Sunday, 26 July – which also just so happens to be ‘Manchester Day‘; we’ll be making sure we don’t miss either of them.

He’s not the only local lad taking on huge obstacles for a good cause.

A local Manc musician is taking on a Three Peaks challenge whilst carrying a full drum kit

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Featured Images — Screenshots (via Netflix/Instagram)/Anthony Trivet (via Wikimedia Commons)