Latest news with #LouSanders
Times
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Richard Osman and Ingrid Oliver: ‘I had an inkling we'd get together'
I've always been convinced that the right person was out there for me. I have two twentysomething children from a previous relationship, but before I met Ingrid I'd never been married. I'd spent years in therapy dealing with food addiction, feeling too tall, feeling like I couldn't see anything and feeling shame that in Brian Wilson's words, 'I wasn't made for these times.' I got to a point where I was happy in myself and my work but my therapist said, 'You won't finish your journey until you're in a relationship.' He was right. I've always wanted to be part of a team. I was aware of Ingrid from social media and thought she was very funny, but beyond a single tweet we'd never communicated. I asked our mutual friend, the comedian Lou Sanders, to check if Ingrid was available. She wasn't. Twelve months later, in 2021, Ingrid was a guest on my quiz show House of Games. This time Lou told me Ingrid was available, so I spent a long day in front of the cameras desperately trying not to flirt. I made eye contact less with her than any other guest ever. Unlike most couples, though, I do have a record of the first thing I ever said to my soulmate: 'I'm looking for two rhyming answers. A musical instrument filled with rice played by shaking, and the capital of Venezuela.' Ingrid buzzed in. 'Maracas and Caracas.' I was instantly smitten. She was beautiful, funny and clever. I got her phone number that night and we've been in each other's pockets ever since. I was writing my third novel then, The Bullet That Missed, and I dedicated it to Ingrid with the words 'I was waiting for you'. My dad walked out when I was nine, and Ingrid has a complex family history. I felt as though we'd both been through the mire and earned the right to be happy. We're both very sensitive people who grew up without a sense of emotional stability, which is why we're perfect for each other. People talk about compatibility and chemistry but it's also important to need the same thing and understand each other's foibles. You like someone because of their strengths but you fall in love with them because of their weaknesses, and if you can help with each other's, you've got it made. Ingrid moved in with me a few months after we met and we got married the following year. It was the best day of my life. I knew that the bride walking down the aisle is traditionally the big moment but I thought, that's wasting a bit of bang for your buck, so I walked in first with my children to Lose Yourself by Eminem: 'You only get one shot; do not miss your chance to blow.' Ingrid followed to the Beatles' Long and Winding Road and everyone was in floods of tears. (Ingrid and I are regularly in tears ourselves, whether it's over West Side Story, Top Gun: Maverick or Interior Design Masters.) • Richard Osman: 'I'm genuinely, proudly middlebrow' It's been joyous to see how our families have blended. Ingrid had some really bad examples of what step-parents can be and has been wary. My daughter and her boyfriend joined us in Italy recently with Ingrid's brother and they all get along really well, and now I've got incredible nieces and nephews too. My supercool brother, Mat, is the bass guitarist from Suede and the real talent of the family; they had all those No 1s in the Nineties. The Thursday Murder Club is the first thing I've created that has topped the charts, and I'm really proud of that. Ingrid has totally nailed the character of Joanna in the film of the book. I'm in awe of her acting ability. And her quizzing skills, her writing prowess and her ability to speak other languages. I've lived most of my life on the back foot but because of Ingrid I no longer have to. My parents got married eight times in total between them — including once to each other — so like Richard I experienced a lot of uncertainty growing up. I'd seen marriages not working, so I never wanted to make that commitment unless I knew for sure. When Richard first asked Lou if I was single, I was. I was aware of him from Twitter and the telly, and I thought he was a lovely, kind, clever man, but I'd decided to try IVF and thought, I can't do this if I'm dating. But even then — and I don't want to sound stalkerish — I had an inkling we'd get together later. I tried IVF three times (it was brutal) before accepting defeat. When Richard got back in touch, I'd made my peace with that process and was ready to move on. I love House of Games, so I was excited to appear on the show. We knew we liked each other by that point so it was sort of, 'Oh my God, this is actually happening.' I remember feeling slightly sick and trying not to flirt; no one wants to see that. I was trying to impress him with my quizzing, and because he's such a pro I couldn't tell if he was making eyes at me or not, but we swapped numbers after the show. I just knew immediately. We were both beyond game-playing, and simply started a conversation that has never stopped. Our wedding was amazing. His son did a quiz, and what's happened with our families since has been wonderful. Before we met, I'd discussed not being able to have children with my therapist; they said, 'Families can come in many forms.' Now I feel so lucky. There are moments when our families are together I could weep. I love Richard's height, his humour and that we can talk about anything. He's incredibly relaxed, whereas I'm a catastrophiser and still think, this won't last — maybe he'll get hit by a car or I'll get cancer. I'm trying to manage it and he's helping me with it, bless him. • Richard Osman and his pop star brother: Mum is finally proud Working on The Thursday Murder Club film was surreal. He had no idea I'd been cast — there was certainly no phone call to get me the part. It's been such fun and when I got home after filming with Chris Columbus, who wrote the screenplay for one of my favourite movies of all time, The Goonies, I just cried. I came up with the title The Bullet That Missed but otherwise Richard gets on with his writing. Often he wakes up at 5am with ideas whirring round his head. I wake up thinking, he's still here. Not that I'm worried he'll leave, I'm just genuinely excited to see him every morning — I know that's so lame. I've always been very independent and happy to eat out or holiday alone, but my life is 100 per cent more fulfilling now with Richard. I've no idea what the future holds. We're always looking at Rightmove — maybe we'll move to Italy in the middle of nowhere. It doesn't matter what happens as long as we're Thursday Murder Club is out on August 22. Oliver is a judge of the Comedy Women in Print prize ( Richard on IngridHer go-to karaoke song, Rock Me Amadeus, in full German, is an absolute barnstormer Ingrid on RichardBecause of his eye condition, nystagmus, I drive. I use the satnav but he'll spend the whole journey checking the route on his phone
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Spice Girls star Mel B enjoys riotous three day hen do in Tunisia as bride to be, 50, finds her happy ever after at last
DRESSED in her trademark leopard-print, bikini-clad Mel B donned a white veil and garter as she partied with her hen do revellers in the sizzling African sun. The Spice Girl, 50, who will marry fiance Rory McPhee, 37, in London next month, flew to Tunisia with 36 of her nearest and dearest last weekend for what she called The Spicy Bride Tour. 11 11 11 Daughter Phoenix, 26, Mel's sister Danielle, her mum and future mother-in-law — plus friends including comedian Lou Sanders and charity workers from Women's Aid — joined the singer to celebrate. The group, who also fittingly wore leopard print for the occasion, stayed in a massive house in the town of Raf Raf, with free-for-all booze, food and dancing. Scary Spice Mel will finally get the happy ever after she deserves when she and Rory say 'I do' at St Paul's Cathedral. It gives a sturdy two-fingered salute to her two failed marriages and all the emotional, physical and financial turmoil that followed. One insider revealed the hen group of 35 women and one man — her old friend, Ryan Lock — partied non stop during the four-day trip in honour of all that Mel has overcome. 'Started a conga' Our source explained: 'It was an absolute riot from start to finish — Mel was on brilliant form and bursting with energy. 'They all stayed in a massive villa and spent most of the time hanging out doing yoga and meditating during the day, and then drinking and dancing til 4am. 'Tunisia is a very conservative country and it's dry, so they couldn't really get a drink in many places. 'They went next door to some apartments where they had a bar, but they would only serve MEN. 'Girl Power didn't get them very far that day!' Mel B stuns fans as she strips completely NAKED for sizzling sauna snap before taking plunge in freezing ice bath Our source told how revellers at a local beach bar got the shock of their lives when Mel walked in with her gang, all wearing matching animal print swimsuits. They said: 'They ended up becoming quite the centre of attention. It was there that they did a hen do dance, which they'd all spent ages practicing. "All the punters were taking pics and laughing. The bar recognised who they were with and played Spice Girls songs in Mel's honour — 2 Become 1 and Wannabe. 'They started a conga and loads of the locals joined in.' Mel also enjoyed paddle-boarding and jet skiing during the trip, which was organised by her sister Danielle and soon-to-be sister-in-law. All the hens were given a Spicy Bride Tour T-shirt to wear. Our source added that the only low point was the journey home. They revealed: 'They were supposed to fly back on Sunday night and land back in England at 8pm, but they didn't leave Tunisia until midnight. 'They'd been in the airport since 2pm, so everyone was absolutely knackered.' At least Mel has time to recharge her batteries before she becomes the blushing bride. The ceremony is set to be a 'regal' occasion and Mel has revealed all the Spice Girls will be involved, though it is not clear if they will attend. 11 She has previously said Posh Spice Victoria Beckham was designing one of several dresses she plans to wear on her big day. Mel and Rory will wed at St Paul's Cathedral — a privilege earned by her MBE status. They are also planning a second, 'sexy and informal' wedding abroad later down the line. But the star — who is currently a judge on America's Got Talent — has no intention of slowing down. Next year marks three decades since the Spice Girls' debut hit, Wannabe, was released. And while some of her former bandmates have shown hesitation, Mel remains committed to reuniting all five on stage. In the meantime, she can revel in that sense of love and security she has always longed for. Paying tribute to her husband-to-be, Mel has said: 'Rory's given me the ability to understand what honest, true love looks like and what trust looks like with boundaries. I fell in love with a woman for five years. An experiment doesn't last five years. Mel B 'It's very nurturing and very giving. We understand each other. I never thought I'd know how to love again.' Rory is said to have a close relationship with Mel's kids and it is understood her family and friends love him. But the singer's personal life has been a rollercoaster. Having found astronomical fame with the Spice Girls in the mid-Nineties, she fell for backing dancer Jimmy Gulzar in 1998. Things developed quickly and, within weeks, she was pregnant and he had proposed. They married that September. For a brief moment, Mel B lived blissfully as Mrs Mel G. However, as quickly as it started, reports claimed the relationship was 'stormy' and Mel filed for divorce in 2000. In a subsequent, acrimonious battle, she won custody of their daughter Phoenix, and was reportedly forced to pay her ex £1.25million. He was convicted of assaulting Mel's sister, Danielle, but a court later overturned the ruling. Whatever happened, the relationship seemed toxic: Mel later spoke of Jimmy's anger issues, while he said he contemplated suicide amid the fallout from their failed marriage. Soon after, the singer coupled up with British actor Max Beesley. They dated for two years in the early Noughties, before Mel shacked up with film producer Christine Crokos. The pair were an item for five years, and even lived together in Los Angeles. It seems to have been one of Mel's healthiest relationships to date. Blind passion Speaking in 2016, she reflected: 'I fell in love with a woman for five years. An experiment doesn't last five years.' Unfortunately, the romances that followed weren't so rosy. Shortly after splitting from Christine, Mel had a whirlwind romance with actor Eddie Murphy. The pair were pictured looking very cosy on nights out in Hollywood and Mel described their connection as 'poetry'. But once she became pregnant, things took a turn and Eddie went on to question paternity. As Mel later explained, it hurt all the more as, according to her, they had planned to have a baby together. A DNA test later confirmed he was in fact the father, but the damage was done. A bitter child support battle ensued, and Eddie was initially ordered to pay around £18,000 a month, which was later increased. He rarely saw their daughter, Angel, but has since formed a better relationship with the now 18-year-old. Mel later called Eddie the 'great love' of her life, recognising that the pain he caused had left her vulnerable. And then Stephen Belafonte entered the scene. The pair met in 2007, while she was still pregnant with Angel. True to form, she and Stephen embarked on a whirlwind romance — secretly marrying in Las Vegas in June that year. Their daughter, Madison, was born in 2011. It is only in hindsight — after the marriage ended in 2016 — that we heard the extent of the turmoil she suffered. After their divorce was finalised, Mel found herself in financial ruin, forced to pay her ex £3,600 a month in child support for Madison, who stayed living with him, and £260,000 in legal fees. In the aftermath, she moved back to her mum's home in Leeds, left with 'nothing' in the wake of the split. Emotionally and financially devastated, and suffering from PTSD, Mel found meaning and a purpose in seeking justice for others. She started working passionately for Women's Aid, and released her memoir, Brutally Honest, in 2018, which spoke about her 'abusive relationship' with ex-husband Stephen. He has denied her claims. Last year, Stephen fought back, suing Mel for £3.6million in damages and accusing her of a 'malicious and vindictive global smear campaign'. The case continues. Mel remains undeterred in her pursuit to seek justice for women — delivering on the 'girl power' message that she first championed all those years ago. She was rewarded for her efforts in 2022, when Prince William presented her with an MBE. In the meantime, something unexpected happened — she reconnected with her old family friend Rory, a hairstylist, who she had known before she even joined the Spice Girls. Friendship turned to love and the pair started dating in 2019. In 2022, he proposed with a £100,000 ring. Unlike so many of her former romances — which happened in a whirlwind of toxic love and blind passion — this one was a slow-burner. And that is how 2 Become 1 . . . LOVE LIFE UPS AND DOWNS MEL B has often spoken of her rollercoaster love life. Here we look back at some of her old flames… JIMMY GULZAR (1998-2000) MAX BEESLEY (2000-2002) CHRISTINE CROKOS (2002-2006) 11 EDDIE MURPHY (2006) 11 STEPHEN BELAFONTE (2007-2016)
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Last One Laughing star 'had to choose' between alcohol and her career
Lou Sanders took part in Prime Video smash hit Last One Laughing after her debut on Dancing On Ice back in 2024, where she was the fifth celebrity to be eliminated Last One Laughing star Lou Sanders has admitted that she "had to choose" between alcohol and her career amid her addiction troubles. The comedienne has explained that she decided to choose her career when one moment in particular gave her a wake up call. She said she realised that she "can't have a career and be an alcoholic" which is what led her to give up drinking. The Dancing On Ice star noticed that during one gig in particular that it would be better for her to not drink and has now noticed that there's "quite a bit of distance" between her now and who she was when she drank. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lou said: "I was too obstreperous when I drank and I had to choose my career or drinking. I chose my career." However, she then revealed what her hangover dish was when she did drink, adding: "But when I did drink, and was veggie, eggy bread covered in salt was my hangover dish." Lou has opened up about the moment she decided to give up drinking. She explained that it was during a gig that she realised she couldn't carry on anymore. Lou wrote about her journey in her memoir What's That Lady Doing? False Starts And Happy Endings where she said she had a heavy drinking habit in her teens. She carried on binge drinking for decades before giving up altogether. The 45-year-old wrote: "I threw an empty bottle of wine at the audience and called Ed Gamble some horrible stuff that is so far from the truth. He's the nicest, nicest guy ever. And then I pulled Arthur Smith's trousers down. When I threw that bottle, I could have seriously damaged someone. "The last [gig where I drank] was a snowboarding trip and I was with loads of people that love a drink, yet I was the biggest problem. I got so drunk and started heckling the other acts – the worst thing you could do ever. I don't understand how that's even in me to do that when I'm drunk. So then I did stop drinking because I thought, 'I can't have a career and be an alcoholic.' Some people manage, but it's increasingly going out of fashion." Despite this, Lou has said she has now moved on from who she was back then, adding: "I've got quite a bit of distance between me now and me when I was drinking. So it's good to draw a line under all of that and just think, 'Oh, I'm not that person now.'"
Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Lou Sanders: ‘We spent £20,000 on the cats, including a pet psychic'
Lou Sanders is a stand-up comic who has appeared on 8 out of 10 Cats, QI and Radio 4's The Unbelievable Truth. She won the eighth series of the comedy game show Taskmaster and most recently has tried to keep a straight face on LOL: Last One Laughing UK. She is a vegan and shares her Margate home with two cats, which she nurtures with the help of a pet psychic and a spiritual healer and describes as 'the loves of my life'. Baby and Bobert are ragdoll cats. They are brothers, three years old in July. They're bloody gorgeous and I love them, but if I had my time again I would get bin cats [rescues]. I say that because you're
The Guardian
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Comic Lou Sanders: ‘I went around the houses trying to find my onstage persona. Turns out, it's just me'
Born in Devon in 1978, comedian Lou Sanders was brought up in Broadstairs, Kent. In 2018, her show Shame Pig was the joint winner of the Comedians' Choice award for best show at the Edinburgh festival fringe. She has appeared on QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Taskmaster, which she won in 2019. Her memoir, What's That Lady Doing?, was published in 2023. Sanders performs her new show, No Kissing in the Bingo Hall, throughout 2025. This is me aged six, having a game of cricket in a park in Thanet. It would have been me and my brother plus my stepdad's eldest son, who was lovely, but very different from us. He was in the brass band and super smart, while we were feral, very free – the type of kids who would scoop the cream off a cake with our fingers. The outfit in the photo isn't particularly outlandish, but I loved clothes when I was growing up. Mum says I would change three times a day to suit my mood. I felt as if I lost myself entirely every time I put on my school uniform, especially when I got to secondary school. We had to wear a three-quarter-length blue and green tartan kilt with a big safety pin. I was quite big-boned and didn't fit in my body. I thought: 'I can't thrive in this outfit!' I wouldn't say I was funny as a kid. I was too busy being a people pleaser – emotionally checking in, making sure everyone was all right. I was, however, wildly confident and delusional. Mum gave us a lot of independence and I happily took the reins, which, on reflection, is a bad idea for a six-year-old. If a wall was too high or looked unsafe, my brother would send me up to try it out first as a guinea pig, and I'd always oblige. Once I fancied a boy at school and organised myself a party so he would come. When everyone arrived, they were asking: 'Why is this party in Lou's bedroom, and where's the food?' It turns out a party in a bedroom with no food is quite the turn off. I was the type of teenager who wore Dr Martens and had 'Meat is murder' stickers. That sounds quite cool, but I was mainly doing it for attention, and the actual cool girls at school were the over-feminised ones. They would go on about strawberry lip balm – I couldn't believe how long they could drag out a conversation about that stuff. School reports would say I was talkative and a silly goose, and probably in the top five, intelligence-wise. Doesn't matter that the class only had 10 people in it. I was such a dick when I was 15. I was hell-bent on doing whatever I wanted, which was exclusively kissing boys and getting drunk. Nothing would stand in my way of achieving my goals. I felt like my town wasn't big enough for me, and I was desperate to go to London. I didn't know what I wanted to do but I wanted to do something. The problem was, I wasn't good at anything. For a while I thought I could be an actor, but then I realised I wasn't great at being someone else. Then I decided I could be a TV presenter. I went to a talent search for presenters – me and a few thousand other young hopefuls turned up and had to show a panel of TV executives how extroverted we were. It was extremely cringey. I was quite big and had acne, and of course the skinny blond girl who was very animated got the job. My 20s were turbulent and revolved mainly round drinking and drugs. I didn't have the self-esteem or belief I could do anything. Subconsciously I knew I wanted to try comedy – when I got drunk I would tell my then boyfriend that standup was my ambition. The real turning point happened in my mid-20s when me and my beautiful friend Sally went to a festival. Everyone kept coming up to me and telling me Sally was beautiful. Eventually I thought: 'I'm not her bouncer – why don't you tell her?' One of those people was a guy who worked for a media company and he also said: 'You're really funny, you should do comedy.' I clutched on to that – 'Finally someone has told me I should do comedy. Plus it's a middle-aged man, and they know everything!' After that I did a standup course in London, one day a week for six weeks. Then I was on my way. The early gigs were painful. My jokes were very smutty – so not much has changed there. But I didn't feel free to be myself. I quit loads of times because I didn't feel confident. I went around the houses trying to find my onstage persona and it turns out, it's just me. Now I find it impossible to not be myself, which can be a problem when I'm having a bad day. There was one Edinburgh fringe where I was having a breakdown, and as a result I'd go on stage acting quite raw and vulnerable. Years ago I was engaged, and the night we split up I went straight out to do a gig. I was a shell of a person and the audience could pick up on it. In the end I told them I'd just split up with my fiance. It pierced the atmosphere and I went on to have a good gig. But a horrible private life. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion In my 30s I was embarrassed by my age. But not any more. The prevalent message is still that women get their power from being fuckable, and while I do sometimes panic and think maybe I'll get a face and neck lift, I then think: Why? I don't want to look like a baby. I had a kinesiologist once, she had this long white hair and was so elegant. Only wore a scrap of moisturiser, a flick of mascara if it was a big day. She had this innate peace to her and I thought: 'That's the kind of beauty you can't get injected into you.' That being said, I was on Sunday Brunch recently talking about this, and when I saw a clip of it online afterwards I thought: 'Fucking hell, I look old.' I should really take some of my own medicine, but it's not easy. I'd like to think I am ageing joyfully. I own two trampolines. I took up roller skating, gymnastics. But mostly it's about mindset. I feel so lucky to do comedy for a job. I had a breakthrough recently, after 16 years in the biz, that I'm just going to enjoy everything. For a long time I'd get caught up in what my contemporaries were doing. I'd watch James Acaster and think: 'Wow, I love this. His writing is so good. Every single line of mine needs to be that good.' But that's not the comedian I am. I am never going to do a show that is word perfect. Still, sometimes it's hard to stay positive. There are times when I think: 'My mum has dementia. My cat has had his leg amputated. I wish I had a partner.' It's as if, the older you get, the easier it is to feel negative, as if the world is getting harder and smaller. When that happens I have to stop myself from spiralling. Life doesn't have to be so serious. Go and look at that amazing sunset, or go and get a whoopie cushion. A third trampoline. Whatever it takes.
