Latest news with #Noughties
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall's character Samantha Jones returns to spin-off show for brief exchange
Fan-favourite Kim Cattrall may have left the Sex and the City franchise years ago, but to the surprise of fans, her character Samantha Jones made an off-screen cameo for the third season of spin-off show, And Just Like That. Cattrall officially parted ways with the franchise in 2010, after filming wrapped on the second movie based on the popular Noughties series, which follows a group of single New York women as they undergo the trials and tribulations of dating. The departure came amid rumours of a feud with lead star Sarah Jessica Parker, however fans have missed her character's unapologetic sexuality and honesty. Viewers were treated to a little dose of Samantha on Thursday night's episode (26 June) of And Just Like That, as Carrie (Parker) reached out to Jones for some help. Asking for some information on her neighbour Duncan Reeves (Jonathan Cake), Carrie contacted Samantha via text. 'What do you know about Duncan Reeves?' she asked, as Samantha responded: 'They say he's a lot of fun. Why?' Carrie told her friend, 'He's living under me.' To which Samantha quipped: 'I wish he was under me.' Viewers had mixed reactions to the scene, as one person wrote: 'Damn I wish could at least get a lil Samantha Jones voice note or something instead of this weak ass text.' Another added: 'Not another Samantha texting scene UGH #AndJustLikeThat.' Some were left frustrated by the teasing, writing: 'Booooo! We don't want to see no damn text messages with Samantha!! It's either she comes on or leave her character be! This is lame!' 'CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS SHOW WE NEED A SAMANTHA JONES SPIN OFF SHOW' added another impatient fan. However, others were grateful for any reference at all, saying: 'Even just literal texts from Samantha make this show better.' One viewer posted that the character's role has taken something substantial from the show, saying: 'I miss Samantha. Even though I watch every new episode it's just not giving the same energy as the original show. I love the original even with how outdated, appalling, and annoying it can get. I just wish it had more to it.' In a three-star review of the third season for The Independent, chief TV critic Nick Hilton called the writing 'clunky' but said the show was beginning to 'find its groove' and would 'please hardcore fans'.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
What's your ‘biological age'? And here's how to lower it…
It's no secret that wellness fads come as quickly as they go. From the low-fat diets of the Noughties to the UPF-free food of today – society loves indulging in the newest health hack. The newest wellness trend to step onto the scene is 'biohacking'. You may have heard of it via Bryan Johnson's infamous anti-ageing quest, or simply by the numerous podcasts that now discuss cell health and biological age. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bryan Johnson (@bryanjohnson_) But what really is biohacking? How do you find out your biological age? And does it really determine how long you'll live for? Doctors specialising in stem cell and longevity research explain what biological age really means, how to lower it and why it's fast becoming the ultimate wellness metric in modern medicine. What is biological age? Biological age – a measurement of how well your body is functioning based on factors like lifestyle, stress and cellular health – is different to chronological age, as it isn't fixed, and (perhaps thankfully) you can reverse it. According to longevity experts, biological age provides a more accurate picture of health span than the candles on our birthday cake. And increasingly, it's being treated as something we can influence. Advertisement Chief executive of Cellcolabs, Dr Mattias Bernow, who provided the stem cells for biohacker Bryan Johnson, explains that this measurement is, 'a marker of how old your body seems based on your health, lifestyle and cellular function.' In other words, you might be 50 on paper, but living like someone 35 – or 65. 'Two people who are both 40 years old chronologically might have very different biological ages depending on how they live, their stress levels, their metabolic health and more,' says GP and founder of London's longevity clinic, HUM2N, Dr Mohammed Enayat. What accelerates biological ageing? The good news is that many of the biggest culprits behind accelerated ageing are changeable. Both Enayat and Bernow point to chronic stress, poor sleep, lack of exercise, ultra-processed foods and environmental toxins as major accelerants. Parenting itself doesn't inherently age the body, but, as Enayat points out, the chronic sleep deprivation and stress associated with caregiving certainly can. Advertisement Lack of sleep caused by parenting can increase your biological age Inflammation is another central player. 'These factors contribute to increasing low-grade inflammation,' Bernow explains, 'which plays a key role in age-related decline and the development of chronic disease.' But this process, he says, is not set in stone. 'While we can't control everything, small, consistent changes to reduce these stressors can make a meaningful difference in how we age.' Which lifestyle changes have the biggest scientific backing when it comes to reversing it? When it comes to slowing the clock, it turns out the best advice isn't ground-breaking – it's just often overlooked. Quality sleep, regular movement, a balanced whole-food diet, meaningful relationships and avoiding harmful substances all rank highly on the evidence-based list. Advertisement Enayat also points to practices like caloric moderation, intermittent fasting and resistance training for their 'strong results in slowing biological ageing at a cellular level.' However, these diets impact each sex differently, with intermittent fasting in particular causing more stress on women's bodies while being effective for men, meaning they will affect biological age differently. How big a part do genetics play? Though it's tempting to think of ageing as a genetic lottery, our DNA doesn't write the full script. 'Genes load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger,' Enayat says, noting that genetics may only account for 20 to 30 per cent of ageing outcomes. Bernow says that emerging research suggests as much as 80 per cent of ageing is governed by one's environment and behaviour. Advertisement Do supplements actually make a difference? Supplements claim everything from healthier skin to better energy to thicker hair – but it's fair to be sceptical of whether they really make a difference, or if it's all marketing. However, there are some supplements that have been proven to be helpful if taken correctly and absorbed properly. 'Protein is essential for preserving muscle mass,' says Enayat, while collagen 'may help with skin and joint health,' though its systemic anti-ageing benefits are modest. Some supplements can make a difference if taken and absorbed correctly Fish oil, magnesium, creatine and polyphenols all show promise too, but Enayat is keen to emphasise that supplement should support – not replace – healthy habits. Bernow cautions that while some supplements, like vitamin D, are well-supported (especially in sun-deprived regions), many products on the market are poorly regulated. 'Supplements are not a substitute for healthy habits,' he says, 'but in some cases, they can play a supportive role if used thoughtfully.' How to find out your biological age and what healthy habits the experts incorporate If this has sparked a curiosity to find out your own biological age, figuring it out requires a blood test. 'The most validated tests look at DNA methylation patterns,' says Enayat, and suggests well-known tests like the Horvath Clock, GlycanAge and TruAge. Bernow says that Bryan Johnson uses the DunedinPACE test, which claims to show he's ageing at just 0.66 years per year (66% of his chronological age). As for how these experts practise what they preach – they say it's all about balance and consistency. Moderate, low impact exercise can actually lower biological age Enayat's daily habits include either walking, strength training or stretching, prioritising plants and healthy fats, regular fasting, cold exposure and supplementing with omega-3, vitamin D, magnesium and creatine. 'The goal is consistency, not perfection,' he says. Lifestyle Paul Hollywood's sausage plait recipe Read More Bernow takes a similar approach, but with less exercise and more socialising, explaining he takes a short morning workout, has plenty of family time, eats balanced meals and drinks minimal alcohol. 'More than anything, I believe in consistency,' he says. 'Longevity isn't about extremes but about the things you do every day, for years.' So, while biohacking might conjure visions of futuristic and expensive tech, the real secret to ageing well is actually much simpler – by prioritising balance and relaxation – not difficult at all in today's world!
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Where is Jennifer Ellison now? Inside the soap sex symbol's life away from the public eye after living a 'double life' as a gangster's moll and nearly being killed by a machete gang
She was was one of the biggest stars of the Noughties, becoming a lads' mag favourite after soaring to fame in Brookside. Yet behind closed doors, Jennifer Ellison was living a 'double life', dating a feared gangster with whom she was in an abusive relationship. To the outside, it looked like she had it all, with the star enjoying high profile TV and theatre stints, yet Jennifer has since revealed the extent of the turmoil she faced. In recent years, she has retreated from the public eye and now leads a quiet family life with her husband and three sons. While she still enjoys the odd TV stint her days are filled by running a successful dance studio in Liverpool which has nurtured grassroots talent. Now MailOnline has taken a deep dive into Jennifer's troubled past, her personal battles and where she is now. Living a 'double life' Jennifer's youth was anything but peaceful, after she became involved with a Liverpool gangster named Anthony Richardson who was later jailed for a vicious sword attack. During her relationship with Tony, Jennifer feared for her life on more than one occasion, including one time when she was forced off the road by a rival gang. Jennifer, 42, explained how she was living 'parallel lives' during her early fame as a star of Liverpool-based Brookside, while also dating Tony, who was linked to criminal underworld figures. Years after being beaten and abused by her ex-boyfriend, Jennifer revealed she has finally come to terms with her violent past and is grateful that she managed to escape a life which saw her home shot at. The Liverpool native now typically stays out of the spotlight, but did make a TV appearance in 2022 where she appeared on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares wins. Jennifer described it as the ' best therapy ever' as she came to terms with her past relationship during her experience on the programme. The actress met Tony when she was 16, they got together a year later and within 12 months they were engaged. Back in the late 90's at the height of her fame - Jennifer was dragged into the criminal underworld in her hometown of Liverpool. She found herself witness to violent incidents from fire-bombings to drive-by shootings and confessed that her cheating fiancé battered her during their six-year relationship. Tony was later jailed for eight years in 2011 after being convicted of a sword attack in Liverpool. During an episode of the Channel 4 hit - Jennifer broke down to Commando Jason 'Foxy' Fox admitting her life with Tony left her feeling worthless. Reflecting on her traumatic past Jennifer told The Mirror: 'It was a volatile relationship and he was connected with this other world, this gangland world. 'For years and years I thought that life was normal and bad things like that happened to everyone because it happened in the world I was in. I was having nails in my letter box, going into hiding and fearing for your life walking down the street. That's not normal. 'I look back and think how it was so traumatic. It was so horrific what I was going through. I was such a young girl, I was a baby. 'I feel like opening up in the mirror room about that has put that part of my life to bed. It was like the best therapy session ever.' She described the experience as 'crazy' and it 'takes over your whole body.' She admitted she was left 'in awe' as she battled through the emotions and changed for the better while crediting the show for building her back up again. The relationship ended when Jennifer discovered Tony was cheating on her with John Terry's ex-girlfriend Shalimar Wimble, which she describes as her 'get out of jail free card'. She previously claimed she felt relieved after finding out that her gangster boyfriend had been cheating on her with John Terry's ex-girlfriend. Jennifer says Shalimar was her 'hero' for providing a reason to split with Tony. She told podcaster James English that she had been afraid of walking out on the former sunbed salesman, who had a dark history of gangland connections. She explained: 'I was always terrified to leave, but then he got caught cheating on the front of the News of the World, so it was my get out of jail free card. 'It meant that I wasn't going to get my face slashed like he always used to say and I could go without there being any repercussions.' She claimed Richardson also threatened to scar her face if she tried to leave him. 'I was terrified for my family as well,' Jennifer added. 'He was always saying 'I'm going to do stuff to your mum,' and stuff like that.' Speaking about Shalimar, she said: 'She's my hero.' Jennifer explains that Tony was stalked by paparazzi for days before being caught in a hotel tryst with her. And she's grateful that the tabloid exposé allowed her to make a clean exit from his criminal circle. She said she had nothing to do with Tony's gang activity 'but because I was on TV, so famous, I was a target'. She describes how, on one occasion, one of Richardson's enemies hacked at her car with a machete as she tried to drive away. Jennifer believes she has been left with PTSD after the traumatic seven years she spent with Tony, but is grateful for her life now. While Jennifer had settled down with Rob, Tony also dated Steven Gerrard's wife Alex Curran and Celebrity Big Brother star Chantelle Houghton. Tony was jailed after he was caught on camera battering Lee Siner with a car crook lock after chasing him up the stairs and throwing a chair at him. The two other attackers then hacked at the victim cutting his upper arms and legs in a fearsome revenge attack following a petty dispute. Mr Siner had been dining in the Mediterranean restaurant Kimos, near Toxteth, when he was ambushed by three masked men armed with a samurai sword and bat. Jennifer revealed Tony was abusive and used to beat her in an interview in 2008. Liverpool Crown Court was told victim Mr Siner refused to help Merseyside Police with their enquiries, such is the fearsome reputation of Tony and his fugitive accomplice James 'Pancake' Taylor. It is thought the revenge attack was carried out after Mr Siner 'knocked out' Pancake in a prison visiting room brawl at Garth prison in Preston. The whereabouts of Pancake, who is well known in the Liverpool underworld for random outbursts of terrifying violence, are unknown. Detective Chief Inspector Chris Green from Merseyside Police said: 'The sentence handed down to Anthony Richardson reflects the severity and vicious nature of this assault. 'Despite this, the investigation into this matter is still ongoing and we are not complacent. I'm anxious to speak to anyone who has information about James Taylor.' Nigel Power QC, defending, said his client only learned of the plot to attack Mr Siner while he was driving Pancake and another man to the restaurant. After hearing the police wanted to question him over the kebab shop attack in August, Tony handed himself in and admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Despite having previous convictions for public order and driving offences, Judge Nigel Gilmour QC said: 'There is nothing in your record to suggest you would do something so criminal and stupid. You are now paying the price for that stupidity.' Public body image struggles As well as her well-documented relationship with Tony, Jennifer also spoke publicly about her ongoing battle with her body image and weight. Jennifer revealed that appearing on the gruelling endurance show helped her come terms with the fact she needed to regain her body confidence. She said her 'horrific' experience on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins was the catalyst for her three stone weight loss. She was spurred on after losing a stone during her time in the desert, admitting the time cured her fear of the gym. Speaking to Closer magazine she explained: 'SAS was hell times a million. It was like giving birth! It's the most horrific experience as you're going through it, but then the reward at the end was life-changing.' She continued: 'I've since lost a stone doing it, I've lost more since then as it gave me a kick up the backside, because the gym is daunting to me. I was scared of the gym, but then after SAS I said if I can do that, I can do anything. 'I'm down to 10/5 stone now and I'm in the gym five times a week - doing a mixture of cardio and weights. I feel great.' The mother of three previously said her addiction to sugar-ridden snacks and fizzy drinks was so severe she suffered debilitating withdrawal symptoms after going cold turkey. Medics had to be called in when she took part in ITV show Sugar Free Farm in 2016, which saw her ditch sugar for two weeks while living and working in the country. The former Brookside star's bad diet and habit of drinking up to eight cans of Coke a day had seen her balloon to 14 stone. She reached breaking point as she toiled on the farm alongside singer Jane McDonald, comedian Rory McGrath, quiz mastermind Mark Labbett, actress Tupele Dorgu and TOWIE's James 'Arg' Argent. Speaking about her experience, she said: 'I got hit the hardest with withdrawal, as my sugar intake was the highest. 'I was picking carrots with Jane on the farm and every time I bent down I felt like someone was standing on my eyeballs. I felt physically sick. 'I had the worst headache I've ever, ever felt. If you've ever detoxed, take that feeling and times it by 10. We were detoxing from processed food, sugar, alcohol, everything. 'It was literally like someone had put my head in a vice and was just twisting it and twisting it. It felt like my eyes might pop out of my head. I went straight to bed when I got in and when I woke up the next morning I still felt a bit groggy, but I started to turn a corner and I felt a bit better.' She revealed her diet deteriorated after she opened her dance studio following the birth of her third son in 2014 - but lost one-and-a-half stone thanks to the experiment. She said: 'I really neglected myself and took no time for myself at all, and I didn't look after my fitness or my health. 'I consumed a lot of sugar with sweets and chocolate. It just kept me going through the day when I'm really busy. 'But the worst thing for me was cans of Coke. I'd have six to eight cans of Coke a day, which is terrible. You don't think about sugar in a drink. You think it's not that bad because it's liquid, but it's actually worse. 'It was just really shocking and quite disturbing when you're confronted with it and the consequences of it and what could happen. 'The thing was, I wasn't even really eating a lot. I was just snacking on rubbish. I wasn't actually sitting down and eating pizza or a big roast. It was just wasted calories. 'I'd wake up in the morning and not have time to have breakfast so I'd have a can of Coke to give me energy. 'Then I'd skip lunch and have another can of Coke and grab some jelly sweets or a Mars bar. People can say they are a drug addict or an alcoholic but if you say you're addicted to sugar you get laughed at. But it's actually causing a greater problem for people and the NHS. 'So Sugar Free Farm came along, and I just thought to myself I've actually got a really bad problem. My family and husband had been telling me for years and I suddenly thought that I really needed to do this for me. 'My sugar was the highest intake out of everyone taking part, which was really disturbing. It made me feel quite sick actually.' Turning their backs on the modern food industry, the celebrities lived and worked on Laverstoke Park Farm, in Hampshire, in return for their share of healthy, wholesome food - all under the watchful eye of nutritionist Angelique Panagos. Over the course of the two weeks their roles were split and rotated with four of them working on the farm during the day and two tasked with preparing and cooking the sugar-free meals. The workers were tasked with jobs including milking water buffalo, rounding up pigs and poultry and fertilising the crops, the dramas soon begin. Jennifer said her biggest fear on entering the show was not cheating and giving in to temptation to eat sugar. 'Obviously I went into the programme really wanting to do it properly but when you're stripped away of everything and living on a farm it's going to be really hard. Obviously being away from all my boys worried me. 'It was strange and scary. I burst into tears the first night at the dinner table because it was really daunting. Plus, I'd never had a day without sugar before. I was terrified of what was going to happen to my body and the withdrawal symptoms I'd have. 'Being a mum to three boys, you worry about your health. Diabetes really worries me and of course my weight. Those two things go hand in hand. 'I was really concerned about my weight and although I hadn't really had any health issues I knew that was the next step, especially with the amount of sugar I was consuming. But the weight thing was the worst. I was 14 stone when I started filming which is ridiculous for me.' Jennifer also learned how to cook sugar free alternatives so she could continue on a path back to health beyond her stint on the farm. 'I was really surprised. The pizza was lovely actually, and the chicken nuggets and chips. We made sweet potato fries and proper breaded chicken nuggets with organic chicken. And we made a tomato sauce with tomatoes and onions; it was absolutely gorgeous. 'It was great to know you can make healthy versions of things which are still tasty, especially being a mum.' And she says it's transformed the lives of her and her family for the better. In 2023, Jennifer revealed she's stopped dieting and is finally 'confident' with her body after her weight had gone up and down 'so much' over the years but she is 'happy' with her current weight of just over 10 stone. She told Closer Magazine: 'I'm not the smallest I've ever been, but am at a happy weight where I feel OK getting into a bikini or a costume in the swimming pool. I'm in a happy and confident place. 'I am about 10¾st at the moment. I don't feel I'm in that rat race anymore of having to look amazing. I've stopped trying to diet. 'When you do faddy diets they don't work, so I've given up. My weight has gone up and down so much over the years so I just try to eat healthily now.' Jennifer told the publication about losing her confidence after gradually gaining weight and going up to a size 18. She recalled: 'My agent would phone me up, and the thought of going for an audition... I would refuse. I'd say 'I can't do it'. I had lost my confidence. I had literally given up on myself'. Last year, Jennifer revealed she had 'given up' on herself before doing Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins last year. She said: 'I'd given up on myself. I never looked in the mirror. 'I didn't think I could ever go back on stage because no one would want me. I had gone from being this girl known for acting and men's mags to becoming this mum and teacher.' Early fame Jennifer soared to fame on Brookside in 1998, on which she played Emily Shadwick. During this stint she became a lads' mag favourite, as she would frequently pose in scanty ensembles and stunned the red carpet with her figure. She was propelled to fame as a teenager and became a household name in the UK in the late nineties and early noughties. Jennifer appeared in the soap opposite her on-screen husband Philip Olivier, who played Timothy 'Tinhead' O'Leary. After tearaway teen Emily was killed off in the soap after five years in 2003 following a series of explosive story lines, Jennifer was given a Hollywood role. She jetted off to LA to film Phantom of the Opera, starring Gerard Butler and recorded her debut album and became the youngest ever Roxy in Chicago on the West End. Jennifer also had a short lived singing career, releasing Baby I Don't Care in 2003, which peaked at number six in the UK. But while her career was going from strength to strength, Jennifer was experiencing a deeply traumatic time in her personal life. Speaking on the Anything Goes with James English podcast, she said: 'I had nothing to do with [any criminal activity]. But because I was on TV, so famous, I was a target.' The actress said she was living her best life in Hollywood, or so it seemed, when the news of her house being shot at with an AK-47 flooded the front pages. She said some people wanted to cut ties with her, but that Gerard Butler fought for her. Jennifer told James English she believes she has PTSD from what she has been through, but is grateful for her life now. Family life now The former soap star has now been married to her husband Rob Tickle for 15 years after tying the knot in October 2009. The couple share three sons. Jennifer and boxer Rob Tickle began dating in May 2008, and were engaged in October of that year while on holiday in the Maldives. The following year they were married, with the ceremony being performed in Mauritius on 10 October 2009. Ellison has three children. The couple, who live in Liverpool, share sons Bobby, 16, Harry, 12, and Charlie, 11. Jennifer also has two stepdaughters, Chloe and Sophie. Jennifer shared her sons' candid responses to her on-screen fight with Pete Wicks on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. Under orders from the show's instructors, TOWIE star Pete, 37, went up against the Jennifer while wearing helmets and landed a blow to her head, which he later said he regretted. After the exchange, the pair were left in tears and Pete swiftly apologised. Reflecting on the moment, Jennifer said that while she wasn't bothered by it, her sons struggled to watch the scene and wanted to go after Pete. She said: 'He [Pete] did [get emotional], he was so upset, and gutted but it's what we had to do, so, I wasn't bothered at all. When the kids watched they were like, 'right where is he? I'm going to get him',' she added, laughing. Gushing over her former co-star, Jennifer had nothing but praise for Pete, who has since returned to the new series. 'He is literally one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life, if you're going to get punched by someone, make it Pete Wicks.' After stepping away from TV work, Jennifer opened her dance school, Jelli Studios. The studios has launched the careers of BGT success stories Boogie Storm and The Greatest Dancer. The website claims 'Jelli Studios provides elite intense Dance and Musical Theatre training for those wanting a long successful career in the Professional Industry of Performing Arts.' Earlier this year, Jennifer revealed that her son has been rushed to A&E after an accident, just weeks after she also ended up in the emergency room. She took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to reveal she was back at the hospital again. Sharing a photo of her son being treated by a nurse, she revealed the accident had happened the night before she was due to go to London for work. She lamented that this latest A&E trip meant she'd had more hospital visits in 2025 alone than in the last five years. Captioning a snap from the waiting room, Jennifer wrote: 'Just what you need a day before you travel to London. Been here more times this year than in the last five years.' She then posted a photo of her son having his arm wrapped up into a cast, explaining he had been hurt 'the night before' she was going to be 'working away for five days'. It came less than a month after Jennifer had to be rushed to A&E herself with a mystery illness. Last month, she took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of a drip in her arm at the hospital. She penned in the caption: 'The gift that keeps on giving,' followed by a sad face and added: 'Need to feel well again', but didn't further explain what had happened.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ella Hooper doesn't look like this anymore! Killing Heidi vocalist shocks with transformation in rare television appearance
She was the deadlocked songstress who enjoyed massive chart success in the early noughties with her band Killing Heidi. And Ella Hooper cut a very different figure when she appeared alongside bandmate and brother Jesse on Today Extra this week The pair were chatting to hosts David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys about Killing Heidi returning to the stage to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album Reflector. Ella looked a far cry from the heady days of Weir and Mascara dominating the charts, with the singer now sporting a much more refined look. Gone were the colourful dreadlocks and striking make-up palates and piercings Ella was known for, in favour of a classic brown shoulder length do that was augmented by bleach blonde tips. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Brother Jesse had also swapped his once trademark bright red dreadlocks for a freshly shorn look which he kept hidden under a black fedora-style hat. Jesse admitted, however, that he's not yet ready to say goodbye to his former look just yet. 'I've got two dreadlocks left hidden away somewhere. It's not enough to make a whole wig,' he said. 'I could do one as a moustache and then the other one is a top knot.' Elsewhere in the interview, Ella admitted in the interview that working with her brother again still holds its charms. 'We love it,' she said. Jesse and I have got a creative connection and we're really good friends and I think we work really well together. 'We're a bit yin and yang - I'm the scruffy, unorganised one still, and Jesse is the organised timekeeper. It comes after Ella revealed the real meaning of her band's name during an appearance on The Project. '25 years on, who is Heidi and how is she still alive?' co-host Rove McManus asked. 'We don't talk about her!' Ella joked and then Jesse jumped in with: 'There was no particular Heidi we had in mind. We just loved that juxtaposition of words.' 'But poor old Heidi's out there. Nothing personal to Heidi, we love you all!' Ella added the band name had caused some conflict when she was at high school. There were some Heidi's who were like, "Are you talking about me?" No, no, no, it's just a name!' she said. The siblings added they would be embarking on an upcoming Australian tour in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their number one album Reflector. 'We are hitting the road to play the whole album and a few other fan favourites,' Jesse said. Ella added the tour would be very exciting because they would be performing the entire album in its track list order: 'We have never done that before!' The siblings will kick off their anniversary tour on Friday, June 20 at The Gov in Adelaide. They will then head to Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. In 1999, Killing Heidi - made up of Ella, her brother Jesse and their friends Aaron Hart on drums and Rowen Murphy on bass - stormed the Australian music charts with their hit song Mascara from their debut album Reflector. The band continued to rack up more hits with their follow up songs Superman/Supergirl and Weir, and won four ARIA Awards in 2000, including Album of the Year and Best Group.
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Kim Woodburn told fans 'I refuse to die' in hopeful health update before death
How Clean Is Your House star Kim Woodburn told fans she 'refused to die' in a health update three years before her death, after undergoing a major operation Kim Woodburn has died aged 83, her family has confirmed. The TV star, who shot to stardom for her no-nonsense attitude and witticisms on Channel 4's How Clean Is Your House with Aggie MacKenzie, died on Monday. Her beloved husband-of-46-years Peter, who she lived with in their Nantwich, Cheshire home, is "heartbroken" over the loss of his soulmate. Kim passed away after battling a brief illness. Renowned for not holding back, the Noughties icon never shied away from speaking about her health woes and before her death she shared a candid update with her fans following an operation. Kim reassured fans in April 2022 that she "refused to die" as she sported a huge plaster around her neck after having her 'throat cut' by doctors. The queen of clean worried fans as she shared a photo of herself in a hospital gown as she sat up in bed. After receiving hundreds of concerned messages, she took to Instagram to share what happened as she swigged some gin and ate a handful of grapes. She told fans: "Hello my loves. Thank you for all your good messages and I'll tell you what's gone on. "I had a disk behind the ear that was fractured or something was broken and the doctor - the specialist - had to go in, he cut a big hole in my throat here and somehow went in with his fingers. He took out the rotten disk and he put a titanium disk in. "I'm getting back the use in my fingers, because it was killing my fingers, and that was the reason he did it. Because of my legs, I wouldn't have been able to walk." Wiggling her fingers, she added: "I think it's quite good. I'm not dying, my lovies, I refuse to die, dear. Letters from all around the world have been coming in. Thanks my loves, I don't half appreciate them." Picking up a large glass, which she swigged from, she said: "Excuse me while I have my gin. Lovely!" At the time, her fans flocked to the comments to wish her well, with one writing: "icon, get well soon queen!" While another commented: "Love ya Kim you little b***." Following the news of her death, Kim was described as an "incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person" by her loved ones, who were "so proud" of what she achieved in her career. A representative for Kim shared in a statement: "It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness. "Kim was an incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person. Her husband Peter is heartbroken at the loss of his soulmate. "We are so proud of the amazing things Kim achieved in her life and career. We kindly ask that Kim's husband and close friends are given the time and privacy they need to grieve. We will not be releasing any further details."
