EMMERDALE actress Ursula Holden-Gill was last seen in the ITV soap nearly twenty years ago.

The soap actress, who played Emmerdale‘s Alice Dingle, first arrived in the Dales in 2004 and was a firm favourite with viewers.

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Married to Sam Dingle, played by James Hooton, she was a loving wife and a doting mum to son Samson.

Yet tragedy struck and ITV viewers and soap fans were left broken hearted when Alice tragically passed away in 2006 after being diagnosed with cancer whilst pregnant.

The heartbreaking storyline saw Alice push on and ignore doctor’s advice as she wanted to become a mother, and she gave birth to her and Sam’s son prematurely.

After trying chemotherapy treatment, Alice was ultimately given a terminal diagnosis with just months to live.

Not wanting to waste away, Alice planned her own death in a euthanasia plan with husband Sam and she died of a morphine overdose in 2006.

The tragic story saw Ursula win the Best Soap Actress Award, at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards in 2006.

After leaving Emmerdale, Ursula moved away from acting and focused on an entirely new career with a move into teaching.

She qualified from a teaching course but has now moved into therapy, and qualified as a Dramatherapist in 2022.

She’s also built out her career with other qualifications, including training to become a Celebrant with The Order Of Bards, Ovates and Druids.

Working as a Family Celebrant, Ursula conducts baby naming, Civil Partnership, funeral, memorial, wedding ceremonies and renewal of vows.

Her website explains: “All proceeds from Ursula’s work as a Celebrant are gifted to her chosen charity: Compassion in World Farming.”

Ursula’s last on screen role was in 2017 as a Clerk in the TV mini-series In the Dark.

The former actress also looks worlds away from her on-screen role as Alice Dingle, who was known for her short fiery red hair.

Now Ursula has light brown hair shaped into a bob, looking drastically different to her Emmerdale character.

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Phil McGraw, better known as popular television personality Dr Phil, has officially endorsed Donald Trump for president.

McGraw, who rose to fame in the 1990s thanks to his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, interviewed the former president earlier this year on his own show and promised to “ask [Trump] some hard questions and get some clear answers.”

The 74-year-old, who lost his licence to practice psychology in 2006, appeared on stage at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City and backed the Republican just days before the historic election.

Speaking to the crowd of Trump supporters, McGraw said that he was “not here just to stand up for Donald J Trump. Lord knows he doesn’t need me to stand up for him. He’s tough as an old army boot. He’s got lots of enemies, different groups that are scared, and between them, they have impeached him, indicted him, raided him, railroaded him, shot him and sued him. And where is he? He is still standing.”

McGraw said that he doesn’t “ like or agree with everything that Donald J. Trump does or says” but that “no human is perfect” and that rather than striving for “perfection,” we strive for “excellence”.

He used much of his speech to defend Trump supporters who he claimed are being “cancelled, intimidated, marginalised, excluded or even fired or boycotted” and then used his professional opinion to declare that Trump isn’t a “bully”.

He said that Trump couldn’t be a bully because “there has to be an imbalance of power, and when there’s not, it’s just called a debate, and he’s just better at it than anybody else”.

McGraw also attacked the likes of Beyonce, George Clooney, Robert De Niro and Lizzo, who he claimed hadn’t received any backlash from the media for endorsing Kamala Harris but said “watch what happens tomorrow morning when people find out I came here to talk to you”.

He also spread a conspiracy theory that CBS News show 60 Minutes edited their interview with Harris, which Trump had previously spread.

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Responding to the accusations, CBS News said that the claims were “false” and that: “60 Minutes gave an excerpt of our interview to Face the Nation that used a longer section of her answer than that on 60 Minutes. Same question. Same answer.”

The statement continued: “But a different portion of the response. When we edit any interview, whether a politician, an athlete, or movie star, we strive to be clear, accurate and on point. The portion of her answer on 60 Minutes was more succinct, which allows time for other subjects in a wide ranging 21-minute-long segment.”

CORONATION Street fans have been left stunned as the show’s iconic theme tune was halted – after Gail Platt’s fate was revealed.

The soap icon – who is leaving the cobbles after 50 years in Weatherfield – was left fighting for her life earlier this week.

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Her children David and Sarah kept sniping at her and boyfriend Jesse before she demanded they leave.

Gail then gripped her chest as she suffered a heart attack and was rushed to hospital as the episode ended.

But in tonight’s episode doctors told the Platt’s Gail had awoken as they gathered around her.

In a heart-to-heart with David, she told him: “You’re a good boy, man. We’ve had our ups and downs, you and me.

He replied: “I don’t think I’ve been anything but trouble.”

Gail added: “Not true. When I look at how you’ve turned out, a good dad, husband, I’m so proud of you.”

The episode came to an end as Jesse agreed to marry Gail after she proposed to him.

“I love you, and I would be thrilled if I could spend the rest of my life calling you my husband,” she said.

However, as the iconic theme tune and credits rolled fans were left shocked as they abruptly stopped.

They were replaced with heartbeat cardiogram lines on screen as a life support monitor could be heard flatlining in the background.

The move appears to support the British Heart Foundation, who Corrie consulted for Gail’s heart attack plot.

However, it’s left fans fearful Gail will be killed, with one writing: “The heart beat almost gave me a heart attack then, I thought Gail had been killed off through the credits.”

A second wrote: “I thought Gail flatlined and that was them telling us she won’t be in it again.”

Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.

Coronation Street’s 2024 shock exits

Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let’s break down who’s left the famous soap:

Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.

The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.

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Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.

After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.

Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.

Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.

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Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.

Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.

The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.

Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.

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Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.

It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.

Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.

Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.

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KATHERINE Ryan has been pictured taking her Halloween costume to the next level this year – dressing up as a scarily giant Monster Munch.

Photos show the 41-year-old comedian in a fluffy couture outfit inspired by the pickled onion-flavoured snacks.

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The look came complete with a matching bag, bodysuit, and earrings.

Katherine headed out of her hotel in Central London with husband Bobby in tow, leaving the doormen stunned by the giant get-up.

The bespoke fit measured 130cm from toe-to-toe, which caused more than a fair few issues when it came to transport.

The pair were seen struggling to get her in the back of a black cab with passersby and partygoers in awe of her epic outfit.

The look has become tradition for Katherine, who made headlines in 2023 dressed as a Giant Wotsit.

This latest head-turning costume was created by Walkers Snacks to continue the annual theme.

The move marks the return of the ‘Scarily Giant Costumes’, which launched last year and were a sell-out success, with fans taking to social media to beg for their return.

The limited-edition inflatable costumes are available in both ‘Giant Wotsit’ and ‘Giant Monster Munch’ varieties, including a sharing bag of the snack.

Wayne Newton from Walkers Snacks said: “After the incredible reaction to Katherine’s Giant Wotsit costume last year, she knew she wanted to take Halloween 2024 one step further.

“It’s been a lot of fun making this bespoke outfit a reality and it’s certainly one that’s turned heads.

“This bespoke piece was created especially for Katherine but those who want to dress up like their favourite snack and embrace their inner big kid can also get involved, with the return of our giant inflatable Halloween costumes.”

Katherine and Bobby’s day out comes after she was crowned Feminist Hero at this year’s Glamour Awards.

The star took the moment to savagely mock Russell Brand in light of the sexual abuse allegations made against him, as well as P Diddy.

Starring alongside Russell on Roast Battle back in 2018, Katherine admitted she nearly didn’t take the job knowing he was on the panel with her.

“Then after some soul searching, I thought, ‘Why should I stay home?’.

“He’ll be there in his unnecessarily tight jeans, wearing a hoodie and w***ing off to a Tibetan monk for views, or whatever he gets up to.

“Every time I got a chance to speak to him, I decided I would say stuff like, ‘I’m not getting paid enough to be here, especially considering how many times my face will be on the news when the victims come forward’.”

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Journalism is the lifeblood of democracy. Journalists are guardians of democratic values. These simple facts are so woven into the fabric of our society that we often take them for granted. This year, I fought tooth and nail for the honour of serving our country as prime minister. And at every step of the way, I was robustly held to account by determined, incisive and irrepressible members of the fourth estate. Neither myself nor the now leader of the opposition complained about this. Neither of us turned our partisan supporters against the media. We went about our business, just as all our predecessors have, accepting that this is democracy in action. It was ordinary and unremarkable.

And yet this is not a given. All around the world, journalists put themselves at risk in defence of those values. Journalists such as the Ukrainian Victoria Roshchyna, who brought us the horrific story of Mariupol – now dead in Russian custody. Or the more than a hundred journalists killed reporting the unimaginable suffering in Gaza. Or the BBC’s Gary O’Donoghue taking cover during the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, still broadcasting while lying face down on the ground behind his car. An extraordinary image that brought home the risks and the purpose of journalism: that, through the bravery of journalists, the world sees what it needs to see.

There are more than 900 local and national news titles in the UK. For all the prophecies of doom about the future of news, that represents an extraordinary strength. The British news industry reaches more than 80% of the population.

However, this vitality should not blind us to the challenges. And while thankfully there is no direct threat to press freedoms in our country, we must remain vigilant so that the growing power of digital technology does not begin to chip away at them. Particularly as artificial intelligence begins to transform our economy and way of life.

Both artificial intelligence and the creative industries – which include news media – are central to this government’s driving mission on economic growth. To strike balance in our industrial policy, we are working closely with these sectors. We recognise the basic principle that publishers should have control over and seek payment for their work, including when thinking about the role of AI. Not only is it essential for a vibrant media landscape, in which the sector’s provision of trustworthy information is more vital than ever, it is also relevant to our ongoing work to roll out the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act as swiftly as possible. This landmark legislation will help rebalance the relationship between online platforms and those, such as publishers, who rely on them.

We also stand with journalists who endure threats merely for doing their jobs. Just because journalists are brave does not mean they should ever suffer intimidation. This goes for intimidation on social media – the Online Safety Act will introduce new protections from abuse, as well respecting recognised news publisher content. It goes for journalists around the world, where we will continue to use British soft power and diplomacy to argue for journalistic freedoms. But it also goes for powerful people using strategic litigation against public participation, known as Slapps, to intimidate journalists away from their pursuit of the public interest. Such behaviour is intolerable and we will tackle the use of Slapps to protect investigative journalism, alongside access to justice.

Because this is a government that will always champion press freedoms. We believe in being held to account. I am determined to show that traditional democratic British values are the only way to deliver the change that working people need – that is my political project in a nutshell. And there can be nothing more traditional, democratic or British than a robust free press, fearlessly holding the powerful to account.