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Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Popular crime writer calls on Goodreads to 'protect authors from online abuse'
Authors have called out Goodreads for failing to remove negative reviews of their novels before they've been released yet - with claims that it constitutes "online abuse" Don't judge a book by a cover – or before it even has a cover. Writers are being reportedly bombarded with negative reviews on Goodreads before proof copies have even been circulated yet. Worse still, the site is allegedly failing to remove them. Crime author Jo Furniss recently called out Goodreads for not doing more to prevent this kind of negative 'review bombing' before their novels have even been released. As a popular book review site, Goodreads, which is owned by Amazon, is a go-to for many deciding on their next read. But Jo claims they aren't doing enough to "protect authors from online abuse '. Jo told The Bookseller: 'A lot of authors share the soul-destroying experience of seeing their books trashed before they are even available to genuine readers. Worse, like me, they feel they are given no protection by one of the biggest platforms in the industry.' In a comment piece written for The Bookseller, Jo claimed that her upcoming thriller, Guilt Trip, had a two-star rating on Goodreads – despite not being published yet. She added that no advance copies had been sent out either. After feeling compelled to respond to the anonymous reviewer, Jo claimed that they then complained about the comment. This prompted an email from Goodreads advising authors to "refrain from confronting users who give their books a low rating". Her own comment was subsequently removed. While she emphasised that she 'doesn't care about one petty review', she expressed frustration over the fact that a 'troll' was being given more protection by Goodreads, and claimed their actions constituted a form of 'online abuse'. Jo told The Mirror that she attempted to follow up her complaint over their behaviour. In her email, she informed Goodreads: "I replied to this rating because I believe the reviewer to be fraudulent — this particular book (Guilt Trip) is not yet published or available to be read. It is not possible that this is a genuine review." She claimed that the user had targeted all of her novels with poor reviews, while posting no other reviews of works by other authors. She received a reply from Goodreads saying that they would investigate the issue, but claimed that no further action was taken. However, the review has since been removed after The Bookseller contacted Goodreads, as reported by The Bookseller. For more stories like this visit The Gulp or subscribe to our weekly newsletter for a curated roundup of top stories, interviews, and lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Romance author Milly Johnson also revealed to The Bookseller that she had a one-star rating for a book that hadn't even been looked over by her copy editor yet. But when she complained to Goodreads, they allegedly responded saying that the reviewer had 'a perfect right to predict if they'd enjoy it or not.' The Mirror reached out to Milly for comment. Goodreads has been associated with the phenomenon of 'review bombing' in the past. In 2023, The Guardian reported that some authors were avoiding using the site due to "mean-spirited" reviews. One of the most notable scandals emerged when writer Cait Corrain was dropped by her publisher after admitting to writing negative reviews about rival authors with a fake account, as reported by The Guardian. That same year, Goodreads pledged to counteract issues like review bombing, such as the ability to 'temporarily limit submission of ratings and reviews on a book during times of unusual activity' that go against their guidelines. The Mirror has reached out to Goodreads for comment. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC Beyond Paradise's Felicity Montagu's life off-screen from famous daughter to family tragedy
Away from the cameras, the actress boasts a very famous family, including her talented daughter Felicity Montagu, who plays the business-minded Margo Martins in the hit BBC drama Beyond Paradise, hails from an exceptional family with a rich heritage. She comes from a brood of five siblings and is a scion of notable predecessors. Her dad, Lieutenant-Colonel John Drogo Montagu, is the son of Admiral George Montagu, a well-regarded figure in the Royal Navy. This prestigious background can be traced back even further to James Montagu, an ally of Oliver Cromwell who sat as MP for Huntingdon in 1628. He himself was born into the lineage of Henry Montagu, the 1st Earl of Manchester—a significant historical figure known for sentencing Sir Walter Raleigh to death. But it's not just Felicity's ancestors who are of good stock. Within her immediate family, Felicity has fostered another acting talent, her daughter Olivia. Together they created a compelling mother-daughter narrative on the BBC Radio 4 series Guilt Trip, inspired by their unforgettable trip to Fuerteventura, as reported by the Mirror. Reflecting on their special relationship, Felicity shared: 'We've always had a rough and tumble relationship. Forever catching up with each other because I was grieving when I gave birth and then I got very ill and was in hospital for weeks." Felicity candidly discussed the difficult times she faced around the birth of her daughter Olivia, which came just three months following the death of her mother from cancer. Renowned childcare expert Gina Ford was Olivia's baby nurse at the initial stages. "She was whisked away and taken home because I couldn't breastfeed her. It was an odd start," Felicity shared. She then drew comparisons between these challenges and her own more fortunate childhood, where her parents backed her acting dreams despite their reservations. Felicity has two children, Olivia and Luke, with her ex-husband, TV and radio producer Alan Nixon, whom she married in 1984. Although they split in 2006, she admitted: "We're still a team," and elaborated that her kids are a great source of humour for her. On the topic of the new series of Beyond Paradise, Felicity - who is also known for playing Lynn Benfield, the long-suffering assistant of Alan Partridge - revealed that Margo becomes sort of a maternal figure to the novice online dater Kelby. She said: "Margo is still at the helm, running the Shipton Abbott police office. She tolerates Humphrey - she's fond of him but finds him unpredictable. "She really admires him, his skill set and his eccentricity but she still can't get over the fact that he relies on scraps of paper to solve crimes. "Margo likes to be in control, she prefers the steamship to just puff along steadily and get to its destination in the end. Her relationship with Esther is interesting. "They're becoming closer. Margo always wants Esther's daughter Zoe to be independent and fly free but Esther, understandably, is very protective of her." Adding insight into the onscreen dynamics, she also said: "Of course, Margo feels very motherly towards Kelby and their relationship grows a lot this series. "There's this wonderful mix of bewilderment and fondness between them - they're very fond of each other but they don't always understand one another."
Edinburgh Live
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC Beyond Paradise's Margo star has very famous actress daughter - and fans are just realising
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Beyond Paradise star Felicity Montagu plays Margo Martins, the sharp-tongued yet endearing office manager who keeps DI Humphrey Goodman and Shipton Abbott's police station in line. However, Felicity boasts an illustrious family history away from her on-screen persona. The actress is one of five siblings, and her father, Lieutenant-Colonel John Drogo Montagu, has a notable ancestry linked to Admiral George Montagu. This naval officer's roots stretch back to James Montagu, who shared a parliamentary term with Oliver Cromwell, and further to Henry Montagu, the judge and politician responsible for Sir Walter Raleigh's infamous sentence. Felicity has acting roots within her own family as well; her daughter Olivia has also taken to the stage. The pair even collaborated on the BBC Radio 4 series Guilt Trip, where they portrayed a mother and daughter. Their roles drew inspiration from a shared holiday to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. (Image: (Image: BBC)) Their complex and dynamic relationship has been marked by challenges, including Felicity's illness following childbirth, as she explained: "We've always had a rough and tumble relationship. Forever catching up with each other because I was grieving when I gave birth and then I got very ill and was in hospital for weeks," reports the Express. Felicity opened up about the tough times she faced during the arrival of her daughter Olivia, just three months after the death of her own mother to cancer. At that critical juncture, Gina Ford was there as Olivia's baby nurse, later to become well-known as a childcare expert. (Image: (Image: BBC)) "She was whipped away and taken home because I couldn't breastfeed her. It was a strange beginning," Felicity recounted. She further reflected on the stark contrast between these early struggles and the more supportive and privileged environment of her own upbringing, where her parents encouraged her acting career, despite holding some concerns. Her children Olivia and Luke are shared with former spouse, Alan Nixon, a TV and radio producer whom she married in 1984 but separated from in 2006. Despite the split, she confessed: "We're still a team," and beamed, "My children make me laugh a lot." Beyond Paradise airs on Friday at 8pm on BBC One.
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beyond Paradise Margo Martins star has famous daughter who's worked with BBC
Felicity Montagu has appeared in Beyond Paradise from the start as Margo Martins and has a very famous daughter who is also an actress and has appeared in a BBC show with her Margo Martins is a key part of hit BBC drama Beyond Paradise. While her on-screen persona is all about business and their police work, the actress who brings her to life, Felicity Montagu, boasts a special family history. Born into a large family of five siblings, Montagu is descended from a long line of distinguished ancestors. Her father, Lieutenant-Colonel John Drogo Montagu, is the son of Admiral George Montagu, a respected Royal Navy officer. This illustrious lineage stretches back further still to James Montagu, who served as MP for Huntingdon alongside Oliver Cromwell in the English House of Commons in 1628. James, in turn, was a descendant of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester, a prominent judge, politician, and peer infamous for condemning Sir Walter Raleigh to death. Felicity's own family has produced another talented actress, her daughter Olivia, with whom she has shared the airwaves in the BBC Radio 4 series Guilt Trip, where they portrayed a mother-daughter duo. This collaboration was inspired by a memorable joint holiday to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, reports the Express. Their unique bond is something that Felicity has spoken candidly about, revealing: "We've always had a rough and tumble relationship. Forever catching up with each other because I was grieving when I gave birth and then I got very ill and was in hospital for weeks." Felicity opened up about the tough period surrounding the birth of her daughter, Olivia, which occurred just three months after the death of her own mother from cancer. Gina Ford, who would later become a renowned childcare expert, was Olivia's baby nurse at the time. "She was whisked away and taken home because I couldn't breastfeed her. It was an odd start," Felicity reflected. She then compared these early hardships with her more privileged upbringing, recalling how her parents supported her acting ambitions despite their concerns. Felicity shares Olivia and Luke with her former husband, TV and radio producer Alan Nixon, whom she wed in 1984. Despite parting ways in 2006, she confessed: "We're still a team," and added, "My children make me laugh a lot." Speaking about the new series, Margo becomes like a mother figure to young Kelby, who is trying out online dating for the first time. "Margo is still at the helm, running the Shipton Abbott police office. She tolerates Humphrey - she's fond of him but finds him unpredictable. She really admires him, his skill set and his eccentricity but she still can't get over the fact that he relies on scraps of paper to solve crimes," Felicity said of her character. "Margo likes to be in control, she prefers the steamship to just puff along steadily and get to its destination in the end. Her relationship with Esther is interesting. They're becoming closer. Margo always wants Esther's daughter Zoe to be independent and fly free but Esther, understandably, is very protective of her." She added: "Of course, Margo feels very motherly towards Kelby and their relationship grows a lot this series. There's this wonderful mix of bewilderment and fondness between them - they're very fond of each other but they don't always understand one another."
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC Beyond Paradise star has famous daughter and fans have only just realised
Felicity Montagu has taken on the role of Margo Martins in the hit BBC series Beyond Paradise and while her character's personal life is a closely guarded secret, her own family background is quite fascinating. Margo Martins, a character from the hit BBC series Beyond Paradise, has quickly won over viewers. The character, played by Felicity Montagu, provides invaluable support to DI Humphrey Goodman at Shipton Abbott's police station. While Margo's personal life remains largely a mystery, Felicity's own background is quite extraordinary. She hails from a large family with five siblings and boasts an impressive lineage; her father, Lieutenant-Colonel John Drogo Montagu, is a descendant of the esteemed Royal Navy officer Admiral George Montagu. The historical ties don't stop there. Admiral George was a direct descendant of James Montagu, who traced his lineage back to Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester. Henry Montagu was a judge, politician, and peer notorious for sentencing Sir Walter Raleigh to death. James also served as an MP for Huntingdon in the English House of Commons, where he sat alongside Oliver Cromwell in 1628, reports Leicestershire Live. Besides her distinguished ancestry, Felicity Montagu has a daughter, Olivia, who is also an actress. The mother-daughter pair shared the microphone in the BBC Radio 4 series Guilt Trip, playing characters that mirrored their real-life relationship. Their performance was inspired by a package holiday they took together to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. Reflecting on the close yet complex bond she shares with her offspring, Felicity divulged: "We've always had a rough and tumble relationship. Forever catching up with each other because I was grieving when I gave birth and then I got very ill and was in hospital for weeks." Felicity opened up about the turbulent time she experienced surrounding the arrival of her daughter, Olivia, which happened only three months following her own mother's passing due to cancer. She recounted how childcare guru Gina Ford was employed as Olivia's baby nurse at that juncture. "She was whisked away and taken home because I couldn't breastfeed her. It was an unusual start," Felicity commented, contrasting these early difficulties with the more favourable conditions of her youth and remembering how her parents backed her desire to act despite reservations. Parent to Olivia and Luke with ex-husband Alan Nixon, whom she wedded back in 1984, Felicity has navigated through their split in 2006 while maintaining a positive rapport, asserting: "We're still a team," and admitting: "My children make me laugh a lot." This comes following the news that Barbara Flynn's husband died of pancreatic cancer, just six weeks following his diagnosis. Barbara, a passionate advocate for Pancreatic Cancer UK, aims to cast light on the devastating illness that claimed her life partner. Barbara and Jeremy's paths crossed in North London, finding each other at a Camden Town party, and subsequently exchanged vows in 1982, welcoming their son Linus eight years later. Jeremy's startling demise came in July 2017, a mere month and a half after discovering his condition. Sharing her motivation for supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK, Barbara revealed: "A lot of people who are involved with pancreatic cancer have had a personal experience with this dreaded disease, and that's how I became involved." Her husband's illness was caught alarmingly late in 2017, and he showed few symptoms early on. "My husband was diagnosed in 2017 very late, and the symptoms are quite asymptomatic. That's the trouble. He always had bad indigestion, but actually, that was how we discovered where he was, and he was very, very far along with the disease." Highlighting a grim reality, she stated: "This is the main problem that people do not survive, and the research is limited because of that, and in a way, it is a death sentence." Echoing the difficulties faced by those nearing the end of their lives, Barbara added, "You know, people don't necessarily want to spend their remaining time helping, do you know what I mean? It is a difficult situation. "He [Jeremy] would have, but he only had six weeks, unfortunately, which was very, very cruel. He didn't know an awful lot about the disease because he was a science writer and had made very, very many horizons and was scientifically pretty adept.
