Latest news with #HOLLYOAKS
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
My memory blips and headaches were a tumour that deformed my skull over 15 years, says Hollyoaks actor
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLLYOAKS actor Craig Russell says he "nearly died" due to a lime-sized brain tumour that grew undetected for more than a decade and 'deformed' his skull. The 48-year-old first noticed he was experiencing memory loss, confusion, migraines and brain fog in September 2022. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Craig Russell, 48, began experiencing headaches and memory blips in 2022 10 They were caused by a benign brain tumour that had been growing for 15 years 10 Craig underwent surgery to remove the tumour and rebuild his 'deformed' skull By January 2023, Craig was "all over the place" and his wife Kate, 40, urged him to get his symptoms checked out by a GP. Tests showed the Welsh actor, writer and producer - known for his roles in TV shows such as Hollyoaks and Netflix's Queen Cleopatra - was going blind in his left eye. Meanwhile, a non-cancerous tumour the size of a squashed lime was found growing in his brain, so large it was 'deforming' his skull. 'It stopped me in my tracks, I never thought it would happen to me,' Craig - who lives in Falmouth, Cornwall with Kate and their two sons - said. Doctors reckoned it could have been growing slowly for 15 years. Craig underwent a risky operation to get rid of the mass and rebuild damaged parts of his skull in March 2023, which could have killed him or left him blind. 'There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it, or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke," the actor said. The actor suffered complications following the surgery but has since recovered fully and has been able to finish his latest film, Protein, that's been 10 years in the making. 'Someone asked me if I thought I'd ever see the film finished, which was a sobering idea as I nearly died before it came out,' Craig said. 'I'm so glad I was there to see it, so I just have a lot of pride for everyone involved. Beaming Davina McCall reveals she's got all clear from brain tumour after life-saving surgery 'I feel lucky to have had a brain tumour in a way because I've learnt so much about life, people and resilience.' In September 2022, Craig noticed he was experiencing out-of-character symptoms – such as memory loss, confusion, migraines and brain fog. He also heard a 'whooshing' sound emerge from the back of his head when producing a scream during filming for the movie Edge of Summer, which 'nearly caused [him] to collapse'. Craig was told by doctors that they'd "found something" in his brain after his GP visit in January 2023. 10 Craig was diagnosed with a meningioma 10 The actor was stunned at his diagnosis 10 He praised his wife Kate, 40, for her 'unwavering support' 10 Craig feared he'd die before seeing his new film Protein completed He was referred for further MRI scans towards the end of February and the actor was told he had a large, non-cancerous tumour growing in his brain, roughly the size of a squashed lime. Doctors suspected the tumour was a meningioma – a benign tumour that forms in the layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. This diagnosis was confirmed after his surgery. 'The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out, it deformed the back of my head,' Craig said. He was told the best course of action was to surgically remove the mass, but there could be risks. Symptoms of a benign brain tumour A benign brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows relatively slowly in the brain. Benign means it in not cancerous. Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place and do not spread. Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first. When symptoms occur, it's because the tumour is putting pressure on the brain and preventing a specific area of the brain from working properly. As the tumour grows and increases pressure in the skull, you might experience: New, persistent headaches that are sometimes worse in the morning or when bending over or coughing Feeling sick all the time Drowsiness Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision, loss of part of your visual field and temporary vision loss Epileptic seizures that may affect the whole body, or you may just have a twitch in one area See a GP if you develop any of these symptoms. They'll examine you and ask about your symptoms. If they suspect you may have a tumour or are not sure what's causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist for further investigation. Source: NHS 'My surgeon explained my tumour had been growing there for about 15 years, and it appeared to have enveloped all the important stuff I needed to survive,' the actor said. Craig's seven-hour operation on March 6 2023, at the Derriford Hospital in Plymouth involved cutting away a piece of his skull, which had become damaged by the tumour. From there, the tumour was removed and part of his skull was rebuilt from a plastic-concrete mix, held in place by bolts, before everything was sealed with '55 staples' into his scalp. Thankfully, the surgery was a success and the tumour was removed in its entirety. After suffering subsequent complications with swelling and excess fluid building up on his brain, Craig said he has since made a full recovery, finding weight-lifting helped the fluid to drain naturally. 'My head still hurts occasionally but I'm now back to full health,' Craig said. 'Listen to your body' In March 2024, Craig spoke in parliament to call on the UK Government to release more funding for research into the disease, and in September that year, he became an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research to champion for others impacted. New treatments for meningiomas, could be on the horizon, as researchers at the University of Plymouth have identified a protein that plays a significant role in their growth, according to Brain Tumour Research. By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow or halt tumour cell growth in laboratory settings, unlocking the potential for new treatments, which Craig said is 'a big step forward'. Craig's latest film, Protein, which is currently out in select cinemas, marked an emotional experience for the actor as there was a chance he may not have seen the film's release. Protein is in select cinemas now and will be released on digital platforms from July 14. The actor is urging others to pay attention to worrying symptoms. 'If I had truly listened to my body, this would have all been done and dusted years ago – so if you think you've got something wrong, please just go and see your doctor.' 10 Craig spoke in parliament to call for more funding into brain tumour research 10 Craig has made a full recovery despite some initial complications
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine in darkest ever plot as she gets shock new love interest
Clare is no stranger to scheming behaviour sick scheme Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine in darkest ever plot as she gets shock new love interest Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLLYOAKS is launching baddie Clare Devine's darkest ever plot - as she gets a shock new love interest. The soap villain - played by Gemma Bissix - returned earlier this year despite having been previously killed off. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Clare Devine is set for a dark Hollyoaks plot Credit: Lime Pictures 4 She forms an unlikely bond with Dodger Savage Credit: Lime Pictures 4 Dodger is unaware of Clare's deceit Credit: Lime Pictures In a shock scheme, Claire claims she is diagnosed with cancer - and her treatment is not working. It's a ploy to manipulate her way back into daughter Tori's (Harriet O'Shea) life. She hatched the plot following a hospital trip to visit sister Grace Black (Tamara Wall). After seeing patients receive treatment, Claire realised she could use this to her advantage. It comes as an unlikely spark seemingly forms between Clare and Dodger Savage (Danny Mac). Dodger has been firmly opposed to Clare due to her role in the exploitation scheme orchestrated by her ex-husband DI Banks (Drew Cain). However, he softens his stance upon learning of Clare's alleged cancer situation. With the undercover cop falling for her deceit, Clare moves on to the next stage of her plan. Namely, making Dodger feel guilty over taking Tori away from Clare - given her current "poor health". Hollyoaks star quits after nine years - and his final scenes have already aired After accomplishing this, the pair then share a heart-to-heart, as Clare says she'd believed her husband was having an affair, not leading an exploitation ring. The two continue to grow close - despite Dodger's sister Sienna (Anna Passey) warning him to steer clear from Clare. Later, the ever-resourceful Clare devises a sneaky plan to get Dodger to her flat - as he apologises for thinking she was involved with her husband's crimes. Feeling like he's falling for Clare, Dodger starts to worry if lines are becoming blurred. As their chemistry intensifies, will Dodger be able to see through her lies? A source said: "Clare's done some pretty bad things in her time but faking cancer is one of the worst. From Hollyoaks to Hollywood James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap. The former American TV host doesn't have much positive to say about his time on the soap, claiming it was "hell on earth." Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Gavin and Stacey. Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010. Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs. Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child. Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady. Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent. Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Gangs of London and even appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth. Hannah's eating disorder storyline was the first of it's kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away. Since leaving the soap in 2010 Emma has gone on to star in ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland as the Red Queen. Other roles include guest appearances in Death In Paradise, Ripper Street and Fresh Meat Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry 'Newt' Newton. Nico's main storyline in the soap was developing schizophrenia which culminated in a suicide pact. He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village. Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America. He played one of the soap's resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 - when he was killed off at his wedding. After leaving the soap Ricky cracked America starring in teen drama The 100 and America Gods. He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt. His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off. After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, The Responder, Homefront and Good Cop. Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving. In 2021 Wallis won the role of Batwoman in DC's series, taking over from Ruby Rose. "She uses it to get one over on Mercedes and get her daughter back. "She'll stop at nothing to get Tori home and away from the Blakes. "Dodger has no idea what he's dealing with even if he's not the sharpest tool in the box at the best of times." Hollyoaks airs on E4 and streaming.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine in darkest ever plot as she gets shock new love interest
HOLLYOAKS is launching baddie Clare Devine's darkest ever plot - as she gets a shock new love interest. The soap villain - played by Gemma Bissix - 4 Clare Devine is set for a dark Hollyoaks plot Credit: Lime Pictures 4 She forms an unlikely bond with Dodger Savage Credit: Lime Pictures Advertisement 4 Dodger is unaware of Clare's deceit Credit: Lime Pictures In a shock scheme, Claire claims she is diagnosed with cancer - and her treatment is not working. It's a ploy to manipulate her way back into daughter Tori's (Harriet O'Shea) life. She hatched the plot following a hospital trip to visit sister Grace Black (Tamara Wall). Advertisement After seeing patients receive treatment, Claire realised she could use this to her advantage. Read more on Hollyoaks It comes as an unlikely spark seemingly forms between Clare Dodger has been firmly opposed to Clare due to her role in However, he softens his stance upon learning of Clare's alleged cancer situation. Advertisement With the undercover cop falling for her deceit, Clare moves on to the next stage of her plan. Most read in Soaps Namely, making Dodger feel guilty over taking health ". Hollyoaks star quits after nine years - and his final scenes have already aired After accomplishing this, the pair then share a heart-to-heart, as Clare says she'd believed her husband was having an affair, not leading an exploitation ring. The two continue to grow close - despite Dodger's sister Sienna (Anna Passey) warning him to steer clear from Clare. Later, the ever-resourceful Clare devises a sneaky plan to get Dodger to her flat - as he apologises for thinking she was involved with her husband's crimes. Advertisement Feeling like he's falling for Clare, Dodger starts to worry if lines are becoming blurred. As their chemistry intensifies, will Dodger be able to see through her lies? A source said: "Clare's done some pretty bad things in her time but faking cancer is one of the worst. From Hollyoaks to Hollywood James Corden played a caretaker in the early days of the soap. The former Since his short-lived time on the show he has gone on to bigger things including smash hit comedy Rachel Shenton joined the soap as aspiring glamour model Mitzeee Minniver in 2010. Over two years her character was sent to prison, got pregnant and had a number of romantic affairs. Since leaving Hollyoaks she has won an Rachel has also starred in White Gold and All Creatures Great and Small Emmett J. Scanlan played gangster turned anti-hero Brendan Brady. Emmett played the love interest of Steve Hayes, with their romance delighting fans until it turned violent. Since his departure Emmett has appeared in Emma Rigby joined Hollyoaks when she was 15 as Hannah Ahsworth. Hannah's eating disorder storyline was the first of it's kind on TV while other plots included being caught in a fire, gangland drug dealing and running away. Since leaving the soap in 2010 Nico Mirallegro got his big break with Hollyoaks starring as emo Barry 'Newt' Newton. He left the soap in 2010 and went on to star in My Mad Fat Diary, Our Girl, Rillington Place, The Ark and Common, Penance, as well as the Mike Leigh movie Peterloo and was nominated for a Bafta for his role in period drama The Village. Ricky Whittle used Hollyoaks as a stepping stone to break America. He played one of the soap's resident hunks, Calvin Valentine, from 2006 to 2011 - when he was killed off at his wedding. He also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Warren Brown joined Hollyoaks in 2005 for a year as evil Andy Holt. His stint on the show consisted of date rape storylines and a crime spree, before eventually being killed off. After leaving Hollyoaks, Warren became a big hitter in TV playing DS Justin Ripley in Luther, as well as major roles in a number of dramas including Liar, Wallis Day played Holly Cunningham in the soap for years before leaving. In 2021 "She uses it to get one over on Mercedes and get her daughter back. "She'll stop at nothing to get Tori home and away from the Blakes. Advertisement "Dodger has no idea what he's dealing with even if he's not the sharpest tool in the box at the best of times." Hollyoaks airs on E4 and streaming. 4 Will Dodger realise he's being tricked? Credit: Lime Pictures
Scottish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Hollyoaks shock return for TWO stars – and ‘dangerous' comeback is bad news for Mercedes
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOLLYOAKS fans are in for a treat as two shock returns are on the cards - and their comeback spells big trouble for Mercedes McQueen. The duo are set to shake things up in upcoming episodes, with their reappearance teasing a dangerous new storyline that could leave Mercedes reeling. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Bobby escapes from the juvenile detention centre Credit: Lime pictures 4 Mercedes gets a text from her son Credit: Lime pictures Mercedes' serial killer son Bobby Costello will be coming back to the village. Bobby is currently in a juvenile detention centre for the murder of Silas Blissett, Verity Hutchinson and the attempted murder of DeMarcus Westwood. Meanwhile, his mum Mercedes has been battling cancer. But next week, the McQueens throw a 'screw you cancer' party as she finishes her chemotherapy treatment. In the midst of her celebrations, Mercedes gets distracted by a text message and she starts acting suspiciously. Police officer Donny Clark crashes the party and tells Mercedes and Myra that Bobby has escaped. Does Mercedes know where he is? Waterloo Road star Zak Sutcliffe will be taking over the role of Bobby from Jayden Fox. Speaking to Digital Spy, Zak said: "I'm having a lot of fun with my time on Hollyoaks so far. It's exciting to get into something gritty and complex." Goldie McQueen will also be making a dramatic return with actress Chelsee Healey rejoining the soap after her maternity leave. Hollyoaks star quits after nine years - and his final scenes have already aired Goldie's still out for justice after Bobby left her brother Sylver to die, and she's not stopping until he pays the price. But with Bobby secretly holed up in The Dog, things take a turn when Tony orders building work on the pub - putting the lad's hideout at serious risk. Mercedes is forced to act fast to save her killer son. She must get Bobby out of the village for good… with dodgy Donny watching her every move. Can she pull it off before it's too late? Hollyoaks airs on Monday to Wednesday at 7pm on E4. 4 Goldie wants to make sure Bobby finishes his punishment Credit: Lime pictures 4 Can Mercedes get to her son before the police? Credit: Channel 4
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian reveals heartbreaking moment she was cruelly mum-shamed by another actress while on a job
HOLLYOAKS actress Ali Bastian has opened up about the time she was cruelly mum-shamed by a fellow actress whilst at work. The star, who played Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap between 2001 and 2007, admitted a fellow mum made a thinly-veiled dig at her after she revealed she was still breastfeeding her child at 18 months old. Advertisement 4 Ali Bastian reveals she was mum-shamed by a co-star Credit: Getty 4 Ali took to Instagram to share her experience with mum-shaming Ali, 43, who has Speaking to the camera, the actress said: "I went on a job and it was the first time that I'd been away from Isla [her daughter]. "She was a really allergic baby - we'd had about seven blue light runs with her. "It had been a real nightmare. Advertisement Read More on Hollyoaks "I'd breast-fed her for about two and a half years but in the middle of that, I got a job for a couple of days of filming. "I decided to do it and I got talking to a slightly older actress and I said, 'it's the first time away from my baby'. "She asked how old was my baby and I think I said, 'oh 18 months', and she was like, 'oh...' "I said to her I'm still breastfeeding so I'm pumping and everything and she was like, 'oh, you are not going to be one of those mums, are you?'." Advertisement Most read in TV Exclusive Reacting with a shocked look, Ali continued: "Me being me, I just froze and I didn't say anything!" Ali did not name the actress that she was referring too. Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian shares emotional update as she recovers from her gruelling cancer treatment The popular star has had a difficult twleve months following her breast cancer battle. was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in June 2024, and underwent a mastectomy in January before getting the all clear two months later. Advertisement Now, the Strictly star - who has inspired fans with her candid and powerful updates about her treatment journey - has opened up about the next steps in her recovery and revealed she is still weighing up reconstruction surgery. In a new interview with Giovanna Fletcher on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, she explains how she is now turning her attention to removing a tumour the size of a " tennis ball" that developed after the birth of her daughter, Isla, five years ago. Ali has two daughters Isla, five, and Isabella, two, with husband David O'Mahony. She was diagnosed with cancer after discovering a lump she initially thought was a blocked milk duct while breastfeeding her youngest daughter. Advertisement 4 The star told of her shock at her co-star's comments Credit: Instagram 4 The actress has faced a cancer battle over the past year Credit: Supplied
