STRICTLY star Toyah Willcox has revealed how she came close to ending her life at a notorious suicide spot. 

The actress and music legend, 66, was only saved by a passing policeman who was close to the bridge in North London. 

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The incident unfolded when Toyah was living in London in her early 20’s and was trying to make it on showbiz. 

Recalling what happened, Toyah wrote in her memoir, Living Out Loud, that she had become aware of the reputation of a bridge near her home in London for people taking their lives.

“I grew accustomed to the view from the bridge at dawn,” she wrote.

“In those days there was little traffic on the roads at 5am. The bridge mesmerised me. It was known locally as suicide bridge.

“I contemplated jumping every time I crossed it. Sometimes because I was drunk and bolshie, but most of the time because I was heartbroken.

“Back then loneliness and rejection were a big part of my life.”

In a heartbreaking admission, Toyah said these feelings eventually evolved into her trying to end her life one morning. 

She said: “It was, about 4.30am, the sun was rising on the bridge. I’d spent the night at a succession of parties.

“On the way home I stood watching the view from the bridge. It always made me cry. I thought to myself ‘what would it be like to jump?’.

“So, looking around to make sure the coast was clear, I dared myself to jump.”

“As I balanced, I thought of mum and dad, my brother and sister and how they would feel. It would destroy them.

“I thought of ending all possibilities, and decided I didn’t ever want to jump.  But by now it was too late.”

“Then, a hand grabbed my ankle. I almost fell forward,” Toyah explained.

“A voice came: ‘Don’t do it. Just don’t do it’. I turned and it was a policeman. He was white as a sheet.

“Where he appeared from I had no idea. There was no bicycle, no car, no footsteps. We talked for an hour…and parted friends.”

Toyah – born with a twisted spine, a clubbed right foot and one leg shorter than the other – recently spoke out about her health struggles and revealed she has suffered from crippling insomnia since she was just 14.

Thankfully, after the incident, Toyah has overcome her hardship and became known as one of the defining stars of the 1980s.

This year, she’s taken on the challenge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing – partnered up with pro Neil Jones for the season.

However, she has a fight on her hands to remain on the show, after falling to the bottom of the leaderboard after the first two weeks.

Toyah has been criticised for “stiff” dancing both weeks, earning only 30 out of the available 80 points across the two shows so far.

The first week saw fans slam the judges for giving her such a low score.

However, week two did see a vast improvement, jumping from scoring 12 to 18 points.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.

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Both of them failed to reach the top five on the leaderboard. One of them was told his fingers looked like bananas. And the other was called out for having zero technique. But Chris McCausland and Paul Merson were, without a doubt, the hilarious, heavy-footed heroes of Strictly week two.

Tensions were high as the glitziest competition on telly returned to BBC One for its second live episode of the season – with all 15 celebrities and their pro partners on edge ahead of the first public vote, and anxious not to go through the undignified experience of being eliminated straight off the bat. But former footballer Merson and comedian McCausland – the show’s first ever blind star – cut through any unease with their dad dancing, cracking one-liners and absolute commitment to the cause.

Merson’s return to the dancefloor was eagerly anticipated after his week one performance – an unhinged American Smooth to the football anthem “Vindaloo” by Fat Les, which was dubbed “very special and different” by the judges. And boy, did he deliver. Merson and his pro partner Karen Hauer did the Salsa to “Fireball” by Pitbull. Cue Merson in leopard print trousers, waving barbecue tongs in the air and doing a mad move where he sort of thrust-jumped his way over to Hauer, a baffled grin plastered on his face the entire time. Just stunning. The only problem? It was hard not to wince when Craig Revel Horwood joked that Merson’s drink prop at the start must have given him confidence, and Merson, who’s struggled with alcoholism, looked at the floor and said: “I don’t drink.”

But who brought the levity soon afterwards? Yes, it was McCausland backstage who, after Revel Horwood gave Merson a measly score of two, said: “By the sound of the way things are going, I think Craig’s blinder than I am.” Claudia Winkleman collapsed into laughter, and had to ask producers to give her a minute before she carried on presenting.

McCausland only brought more joy with his and Dianne Buswell’s Foxtrot to “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” by The Tams. The comedian, who lost his sight aged 22 due to a hereditary condition called retinitis pigmentosa, got a huge standing ovation from the teary-eyed crowd. “Everyone in this room is on their feet right now,” marvelled Tess Daly. “Oh my goodness. I think you’re a popular man.” “It’s a lot, innit,” came his understated response. Head judge Shirley Ballas gave a big shout-out to Buswell, saying her teaching is “off the wall, off the scale”. Not bad, given that when McCausland was doing press a couple of weeks ago, he said they were “winging it” and had no idea how his training was going to play out. The pair’s work together is staggering, and truly moving.

The laughs continued backstage, too, where the Liverpudlian said, “I’m not happy, because they’ve put me on 10 minutes before the Liverpool game ends. That is half of Liverpool watching the football. That is half of my core voter group!”

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So yes, former Love Island star Tasha Ghouri might be at the top of the combined leaderboard with 65, while McCausland is in sixth place with 52 and Merson’s down in 14th with 32. But here’s hoping the fans’ votes will save their places in the competition. They might not be bringing the most dazzling frames or the pointiest toes, but they are what Strictly is all about: laughter and, well, learning.

CORONATION Street star Bill Fellows may have said goodbye to the cobbles, but he’s already set up a new gig on our TVs.

The actor, who has played Stu Carpenter since October 2021 on the ITV soap, confirmed last month he will be leaving Weatherfield in upcoming scenes. 

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However, in a post on Instagram, Bill has shared that he will be taking on something far more terrifying – the Mastermind chair. 

Announcing his spot on the upcoming celebrity series, Bill was seen in the world-famous chair as he’s grilled by show host, Clive Myrie. 

He captioned the pic: “Nerve racking but great fun”

In the comments, he later confirmed he chose David Bowie album Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars as his specialist subject, and that the episodes will air next March. 

Fans were delighted that he will be back on our screens soon. 

“Will be a joy seeing you on Mastermind❤️ Well done,” wrote one fan. 

“This is brilliant Bill 🙌🙌” said a second, while a third wrote: “Wowzer !” 

Bill won the hearts of Corrie viewers as Stu, who we first met when he was homeless. 

A veteran from the Navy, the character has been involved in a number of huge plots during his time on the show, including one which saw him helping to bring down vile teen killer Corey Brent (Maximus Evans) following his brutal killing of Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni).

The actor confirmed his exit in August, noting that he had already filmed his final scenes by sharing a photograph of his parting gift – a painting of Stu in front of the Rovers. 

His fellow cast members had signed their around the frame.

Saying goodbye, Bill noted: “”Nice parting gift with a top quality bottle of champagne.”

He’s also known for his role on Apple TV+ smash-hit Ted Lasso, playing the foul-mouthed former AFC Richmond manager, George Cartrick.

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