The production of Made in Dagenham – The Musical will be staged by the New Garrett Theatre in Atherton and tells the true story of Ford sewing machinists who went on strike in 1968.
Their fight for equal pay changed history and it is their story that will be celebrated by the theatre group.
Leading lady Amy Gaskell, who plays Rita O’Grady, said: “It’s a show that everyone should see at least once in their lives, a true feel-good story with so much heart to it.
“It’ll stick with you forever.”
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Leading lady Amy Gaskell plays Rita O’Grady (Image: New Garrett Theatre)
Made in Dagenham tells the story of a group of women workers at a Ford plant in the Essex town who went on strike in 1968 in protest against discriminatory pay.
The strike they led gained national and worldwide attention and would ultimately help pave the way to the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
The act outlawed less favourable treatment between men and women in terms of pay, employment and conditions.
The theatre group say its production is packed with memorable songs, humour and “sheer girl power.”
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Some of the cast of Made in Dagenham – The Musical (Image: New Garrett Theatre)
They describe Made in Dagenham as “more than just a musical, it’s a celebration of the courage, determination and the power of ordinary women who achieved extraordinary things.”
The cast will be made up of talented people from across the local area with an age range spanning from 13 all the way to 80.
The New Garrett Theatre is a local community theatre group that has built a strong reputation for delivering award-winning, high-quality productions.
The theatre welcomes performers aged 11 and over from all backgrounds.
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They say they work hard to play a vital role in Atherton’s cultural life, providing its members with opportunities to flourish onstage and audiences with memorable experiences.
Made in Dagenham – The Musical will be staged at 7.15pm from Wednesday July 22 to Saturday July 25 at St Mary’s Catholic High School and Sixth Form College on Manchester Road Astley.
The Cross Keys, on Middlesbrough Road in Upsall, is an old coaching inn dating back to the 19th century, built from stone with a traditional tiled roof.
It sits on the A171, the main road between Scarborough and Middlesbrough, and is close to the North York Moors National Park.
Inside, there’s a bright-coloured bar and cosy restaurant with room for around 160 diners, along with a large kitchen and a beer cellar.
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Upstairs, the pub has 20 en-suite bedrooms, including doubles, twins, and family rooms, plus a flat for a manager to live in.
The whole site, which dates back over 100 years, covers just over six and a half acres.
It has parking for about 120 cars and a scenic outdoor seating area for another 120 people.
Altogether, the building measures nearly 15,000 sq ft.
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“The property occupies a countryside setting, surrounded by open farmland, woodland and scattered residential properties while remaining accessible to nearby towns and surrounding villages,” says Rightmove.
The pub is being sold outright. It is not a listed building and does not sit in a conservation area.
The sale is being handled by property agents Savills.
Anyone interested in buying it will need to book a viewing with Savills first.
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It is currently listed on Rightmove, with a rateable value of £82,000.
He promised to provide early “breathing space” for households struggling with the cost of living, vowed to end rough sleeping and set out a goal of “reindustrialising Britain”.
Speaking outside the door to No 10 Mr Burnham said he would deliver “a new political model and a new economic model” for Britain.
Rachel Reeves was axed as Chancellor, Sir Keir’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was sacked and Peter Kyle lost his job as Business Secretary as Mr Burnham cleared the way for his own allies to take key roles.
But both Angela Rayner, who was forced to resign over a tax scandal and Louise Haigh who quit as Transport Secretary when a previous fraud conviction came to light, are back in the Cabinet under Mr Burnham.
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Starmer loyalist Steve Reed, who lost his role overseeing the housing ministry, told Mr Burnham: “I hope those who did not show loyalty to Keir will now show it to you.”
Who’s in Andy Burnham’s Cabinet – and who’s been fired?
John Healey replaces Rachel Reeves as Chancellor
PA Wire
Chancellor of the Exchequer
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Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs
Yvette Cooper was replaced as Foreign Secretary by Ed Miliband. She becomes Health Secretary
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Secretary of State for the Home Department
Shabana Mahmood will remain Home Secretary.
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Secretary of State for Justice
David Lammy was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary
PA
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
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IN: Louise Haigh (she is also First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office)
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Pat McFadden will remain as Work and Pensions Secretary.
Secretary of State for Education
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OUT: Bridget Phillipson ( she remains in Cabinet as Minister for Women and Equalities)
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government
Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
CNN’s polling analyst Harry Enten warned that Democrats hoping their party will retake the House this fall have no reason to rest easy, even as their party leads in generic ballot polling.
In a Monday segment on CNN’s News Central, Enten warned that recent polling from The Washington Post and CNBC show Democrats with a much slimmer lead in generic ballot polling than the party saw in past cycles where it picked up enough seats to retake the House of Representatives.
“Yes, they’re ahead, but they’re ahead – I have to shrink down on the screen – by only four points, which is significantly less than what we saw in 2018 and 2006, when Democrats took back the house,” said Enten. “This is an ‘uh-oh,’ this is a warning sign.”
The last time Democrats dethroned a Republican majority was in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term. That majority persisted through the 2020 election into the first midterm cycle of Joe Biden’s presidency, four years later. Enten noted that Democrats enjoyed an average lead in generic ballot polling in 2018 of 10 points, far higher an advantage than the party currently holds.
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“Four isn’t 10. And it’s not 12,” joked CNN’s John Berman.
CNN’s Harry Enten noted that Democrats are ahead of Republicans on a generic ballot, but not as much as they have been for other recent midterms (CNN News Central)
Donald Trump’s approval rating is nearing record lows, driving down his party’s midterm election strength (AP)
“No, no, they taught me that back in pre-K, that four is not 10 or 12,” replied Enten.
He noted that with the advantage over a number of House seats in more than a half dozen GOP-held states that redrew their congressional maps at Donald Trump’s behest, Democrats’ current slim advantage on the generic ballot could put the party “right on the edge of even getting that majority.”
That analysis echoed warnings from another polling monitor, Decision Desk HQ, which predicted that a Democratic majority in such a generic ballot environment could be as slim as three seats, putting it at constant risk of failing due to absences and defections.
There’s one bright spot in the polling for Democrats, however. In the Washington Post/Ipsos poll mentioned by Enten on the show, the Democrats’ advantage on the generic ballot jumps to eight percentage points when the field of respondents is narrowed to voters who are “absolutely certain to vote.”
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Nancy Pelosi, pictured in December of 2018, went on to become speaker of the House for four years after Democrats seized control of the chamber in the 2018 midterms (Getty)
Enten’s analysis hits on a peculiar dynamic for Congress, however, where a reversal of fortunes has taken place over the past year. In 2025, as Trump’s initial honeymoon period faded and his approval ratings began to sag amid the onslaught of mass firings and program-slashing, political analysts in Washington generally understood that unseating a Republican House majority was a far more likely prospect for Democrats in the midterm election cycle than netting the four Senate seats required to regain their majority in the upper chamber, which is far less prone to massive election-year swings.
Instead, a series of calamities for Republican leadership unfolded in the Senate, beginning with the decision of Thom Tillis to stand down from re-election in deep purple North Carolina amid a spat with Trump.
That problem evolved with the recruitment of Mary Peltola, a popular former congresswoman and Democrat, to run in Alaska’s Senate race and Trump’s endorsement against John Cornyn, a Republican incumbent in the Senate — torpedoing any chance Cornyn had of winning a competitive GOP primary against a candidate Democrats believe they have a serious shot at beating in November.
Now, the Senate GOP majority is looking particularly vulnerable for Democrats even as the map in the House has become tougher and tougher, thanks to a series of GOP gerrymandering efforts.
The biggest disadvantage for Republicans remains Trump’s unpopularity, whose approval ratings have sunk to the mid-to-low 30s in most surveys as his war with Iran continues to drive up prices for fuel and other commodities, with seemingly no end in sight.
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In the Post/Ipsos poll published last week, the president’s overall approval rating was 37 percent, and 40 precent with registered voters, having changed little from previous surveys.
One man aged in his 30s, and two others aged in their 40s, remain in police custody
21:14, 20 Jul 2026Updated 21:14, 20 Jul 2026
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a serious assault in north Belfast this evening.
Police and colleagues from the emergency services are currently at the scene of the incident in the Duncairn Parade area.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Shortly before 6pm today, Monday 20th July, police received a report that a man had been assaulted inside a residential property.
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“Three men, one aged in his 30s, and two aged in their 40s, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They remain in police custody, assisting with enquiries.
“Anyone with any information which might assist police should contact us using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals quoting 1454 of 20/07/26 or call us on 101.
“Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
A family of seven who tucked into an expensive feast brazenly left an Orlando restaurant without paying, it has been claimed.
The group were caught on surveillance footage consuming a spread worth $300 before leaving @ The Diner, apparently without settling their hefty tab on Sunday.
The Florida restaurant is now seeking to identify the alleged dine-and-dashers, who are said to have taken off during its busiest shift of the day.
It wrote on Instagram that the family ordered multiple dishes and appeared to enjoy a leisurely meal before carrying out their premeditated escape in stages.
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The restaurant, which shared footage of the incident, alleged that staff only realized what had happened after the group had already left the premises, leaving servers scrambling to work out what had gone wrong.
In the clip, a man wearing a white vest is seen leading the group’s exit, handing another woman in the group car keys as she slips away before pulling up in the getaway car outside.
Moments later, he quickly follows behind with a young boy in tow.
The clip shows the rest of the group remaining at the table, eagerly helping themselves to the extensive spread before another woman and a young girl make their move towards the exit.
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A family of seven were apparently caught on surveillance footage eating $300 worth of food before leaving without paying at @ The Diner in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday
The restaurant alleged that the family of seven had piled the table high with food before slowly vanishing from the establishment one by one
The majority of the family up and left, leaving one woman at the table, which the restaurant claimed was intended to cover their tracks
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The restaurant alleges that one woman remained behind at the table in an apparent attempt to make it seem as though she intended to pay the bill.
After the rest of the group had reached the waiting vehicle, video shows her sitting at the table for a moment, staring pensively, before she too stood up and hurried out, breaking into a sprint as she reached the door.
Strangely, no waiter appeared to notice any suspicious behavior, as staff continued clearing tables seemingly unaware of what was happening.
The restaurant issued a warning to other local establishments in the post, urging them to remain vigilant and watch out for similar situations.
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‘Orlando beware!’ reads the caption on the video, accompanied by red exclamation marks.
It appears the restaurant has been unable to catch a break, as the post also notes that this was not the first time they had encountered such behavior, although seeing children involved was something they had never experienced before.
The post has since gone viral, attracting thousands of reactions, with many people expressing sympathy for the restaurant and calling for the family to be identified and held accountable.
Others suggested that the incident should be reported to police if it had not already been.
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After waiting a couple moments, one of the family headed out to greet the rest of the group, who had already fled
The restaurant revealed on social media that this wasn’t the first time the business had been targeted by theft operating in the same way
‘This is stealing, plain and simple,’ one user commented. ‘If you can’t afford to eat out, don’t.’
Another added, ‘Imagine teaching your kids that this is acceptable behavior.’
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Some social media users also questioned whether the family had intended to pay before leaving, or whether there could have been a misunderstanding leading up to their apparent dine-and-dash ordeal.
However, the original poster insisted the departure was deliberate and claimed surveillance footage supported their conclusion.
Other comments also urged restaurants to charge up front to avoid any chance of theft recurring.
Dine-and-dash incidents can have a significant financial impact on restaurants, particularly independently owned businesses operating on narrow profit margins.
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In some cases, servers fear they will be blamed for unpaid tabs, although labor laws in many jurisdictions restrict employers from deducting such losses from employee wages.
It is unclear whether the company has filed a police report.
The Daily Mail reached out to the restaurant for comment.
The White House says President Donald Trump will be returning to an older Air Force One plane for about a month as the new, Qatari-gifted jet undergoes “additional upgrades and enhancements.”
Trump’s use of the new red, white and navy blue aircraft has faced much scrutiny not only because it was gifted by a foreign government, but also because it appears to not be equipped with some of the same missile detection and countermeasure systems as the older jets.
But it came under deeper scrutiny this month when he left the NATO summit in Turkey on the older, baby blue Air Force One and made a previously unscheduled stop at a base in the United Kingdom. Trump then swapped back onto the new Qatari-gifted plane at Royal Air Force Mildenhall.
“The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. “During that time, the President will fly on the old Air Force One.”
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The statement from Leavitt elaborated on a comment from the president as he returned to Washington on Sunday night, when he told reporters that the new plane will be sent to be “maxed out.”
Trump claimed earlier this month that the stop in the United Kingdom was so U.S. troops at Mildenhall could look at the new plane. He denied to reporters that the jet switch was due to security concerns, although he also said that he has a threat against him “all the time” and is Iran’s “No. 1” target.
The Trafford Centre’s Emergency Services Day, held on car parks 10 and 11 outside The Great Hall, will run from 10am to 4pm and feature more than 50 organisations.
Confirmed attendees include Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, Greater Manchester Police, the British Army and the RNLI.
The emergency services event returns this summer to the Trafford Centre (Image: Trafford Centre)
Simon Layton, centre director at The Trafford Centre, said: “Our annual Emergency Services Day is a brilliant day out for all ages – and a great way to say thank you to our amazing emergency services and support our everyday heroes.
“We’re proud to host such an inspiring day here at Trafford Centre.”
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The event will be officially opened at 10.20am with a ceremony led by the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Kate Green.
The event will take place at the Trafford Centre (Image: Trafford Centre)
Guests will be able to enjoy live demonstrations, interactive displays, and over 50 vehicles will be on display, showcasing how the services have developed and operate today.
Families can look forward to meet-and-greet sessions at intervals with Fireman Sam, and Chase and Marshall throughout the day.
There will also be face painting and live performances from local choirs.
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Fireman Sam will be making a special appearance (Image: Trafford Centre)
The event is designed to be both fun and educational, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the vital work carried out daily by emergency service personnel from across the North West.
In addition to celebrating the work of emergency workers, the event supports The Trafford Centre’s wider commitment to community engagement.
Andy Burnham has told Donald Trump he wants to show him what Manchester has to offer in future.
In his first conversation with the US President, the Prime Minister talked up the city. It comes weeks after Trump described Mr Burnham as the “leader of a town” during an Oval Office briefing.
A readout sent by No10 also revealed the two had discussed the World Cup, which concluded last night.
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A Downing Street statement said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, shortly after taking office this afternoon.
“The Prime Minister began by congratulating the President on a successful World Cup and agreed that England had an excellent tournament.
“The Prime Minister also hoped that he would be able to show the President what Manchester had to offer during a visit in the future.
“Setting out his vision as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister said he would be focused on ensuring reindustrialisation up and down the country to ensure good growth in every postcode.
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“The Prime Minister also underlined his commitment to defence and security and said ensuring the security of the UK and its Allies was at the top of his agenda.”
The two leaders also discussed the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping route which has been effectively closed due to the conflict in Iran.
The statement concluded: “The President then updated on the situation in the Middle East, and the Prime Minister outlined the UK’s commitment to securing the movement of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to support global supply chains and drive down costs for businesses and families across the country.
They looked forward to speaking again soon.”
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Andy Burnham wants to deliver a new politics for Britain(Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
The adaptation of Erik Axl Sund’s book airs on Channel 5 this week
A detective series adapted from a Scandinavian bestseller starts on Channel 5 this week.
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The Crow Girl, starring Eve Myles as DCI Jeanette Kilburn and Charles Dale as he dad Brian Cole, starts on Monday, July 20. Other star-studded cast members include Katherine Kelly, Dougray Scott, Victoria Hamilton, Lee Boardman, Chloé Sweetlove, and Elliot Edusah.
The drama first aired on Paramount+ in January 2025, but will be brought to Channel 5 viewers for the very first time. In an unusual move, series one will air on Channel 5, which is owned by Paramount, at the same time season two starts on Paramount+.
But, if you’re new to The Crow Girl and watching along on Channel 5, this article will tell you everything you need to know about the first series and those who star in it.
A synopsis for season one reads: “When the bodies of unidentified young men start to show up around Bristol, beaten and full of the anaesthetic Lidocaine, police face mounting pressure and little evidence as they hunt the killer.
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“As more bodies surface – including a child missing for over 10 years – the killer edges closer to home, starting a race against time to untangle a web of secrets.” Here’s everything you need to know about the cast.
Eve Myles plays DCI Jeanette Kilburn
Eve Myles leads the cast as DCI Jeanette Kilburn. The Ystradgynlais-born actress is well known for her roles in dramas.
Eve is perhaps most recognised for portraying Ceri in BBC’s Belonging, her breakthrough screen role which she maintained for nine years after joining in 2000. She’s equally celebrated for her portrayal of Gwen Cooper in the enormously successful Torchwood, having initially appeared in a Doctor Who episode before becoming the protagonist in the spin-off series.
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From 2017, Eve took the leading role in crime drama Keeping Faith. She portrayed Faith Howells, a small-town Welsh solicitor compelled to return early from maternity leave following the disappearance of her husband and business partner, Evan, who was played by her real-life husband Bradley Freeguard.
Additional prominent performances include Claire Ripley in Broadchurch, Lauren Grey in You, Me and Them, Mrs Jenkins in Victoria, Caitlin Henderson in Cold Feet, DS Lola Franks in We Hunt Together and Alice Sinclair in Hijack.
Most recently, Fran Sharp in The Guest, Jacqui Hames in The Hack and Rebecca in Coldwater. She also starred opposite David Morrissey in ITV’s Gone as Detective Annie Cassidy.
Katherine Kelly plays Dr Sophia Craven
Katherine plays the prime suspect’s psychotherapist, Dr Sophia Craven, in The Crow Girl.
Most viewers will recognise Katherine for her role in the popular soap Coronation Street. The actress played Becky Granger on the ITV hit between 2006 and 2012, leaving fans gutted with her exit.
Since then, Katherine has starred in a number of dramas, including playing Maloney in The Fields of Blood, Claire Reid in The Guilty, Mrs Webb in The Secret River, Sally Wright in Innocent, Natalie Hobbs in Criminal: UK, DI Karen Renton in Liar, Jodie Shackleton in Happy Valley, Elizabeth Sutherland in Gentleman Jack, Leah in Cheat, and Lady Mae in Mr Selfridge.
She also starred as the Permanent Secretary in the 2016 BBC drama The Night Manager, and played Jane Lowry in Strike Back.
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More recently, Katherine has taken on more hard-hitting roles, playing Peter Sutcliffe’s second victim Emily Jackson in The Long Shadow, and Angela Van Den Bogerd in Mr Bates vs. The Post Office.
In 2025, she starred as Jo Conran in In Flight and Sheridan McCoid in The Hack.
Dougray Scott plays DI Lou Stanley
Dougray Scott portrays Jeanette’s partner DI Lou Stanley.
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The star is probably best known for playing DI Ray Lennox in Irvine Welsh’s Crime.
He is also known for playing Major Rory Taylor in Soldier Soldier, Mickey O’Neil in Heist, Norman Godfrey in Hemlock Grove, Vic Hill in Snatch, and Colonel Jacob Kane in Batwoman. He also starred opposite Suranne Jones in Vigil as Air Marshall Marcus Grainger.
Desperate Housewives fans might recognise him for his role as Ian Hainsworth, while film buffs will know him from Twin Town, Taken 3, Last Passenger, and Mission Impossible: II.
Most recently, Dougray starred in the Channel 4 hit Summerwater as David Campbell, Gordon Brown in The Hack, and as Professor Moriarty in Sherlock & Daughter.
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Victoria Hamilton plays Superintendent Verity Pound
Victoria Hamilton portrays Superintendent Verity Pound in The Crow Girl.
Victoria has graced our screens for more than 30 years, with one of her earliest television appearances being Mrs Forster in Pride and Prejudice in 1995. During that same year, she took on the role of Henrietta Musgrove in Persuasion.
Between 2016 and 2017, Victoria featured in the opening two series of Netflix sensation The Crown as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Though this wasn’t her debut royal portrayal, having previously depicted Queen Victoria in the 2001 television series Victoria and Albert.
That same year, she took on the role of Jessica in The Savages and Lucy in Babyfather. Among her most memorable performances was in Lark Rise to Candleford, where she brought Ruby Pratt to life from 2008 to 2011. Victoria is equally recognised for her portrayals as the long-suffering wife Anna Baker in the acclaimed BBC drama Doctor Foster and subsequently as Belle Stone in the programme’s spin-off Life.
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Her television credits also include Senator Meaghan Sullivan in Deep State, Anna Marshall in COBRA, Juliet Cooper in ITV’s hit drama Unforgotten and Dodie Gimball in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses.
Most recently, she played Helen Simpson in season three of Channel 5’s hit drama The Teacher.
Lee Boardman plays David White
Lee stars as David White in the cast of The Crow Girl.
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Soap fans will recognise him for playing villain Jez Quigley in Coronation Street from 1997 to 2000.
He’s also known for playing DI George Morris in Bancroft, Brian Daniels in The Trouble with Maggie Cole, Jay Newman in The Five, Hane in Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands and Xavier in The Interceptor.
Other shows Lee has starred in include Da Vinci’s Demons, Great Night Out, Ladies of Letters and Drop Dead Gorgeous. Lee portr
Following his stint in Coronation Street, he starred as Timon in the acclaimed Rome. More recently, Lee has played Craig in Frauds, and Vernon Bradley in The Madame Blanc Mysteries.
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Charles Dale plays Brian Cole
Welsh actor Charles is best known for playing MacKenzie ‘Big Mac’ Chalker in Casualty, a role he played from 2007 to 2016 – with a surprise return in 2021 for one episode.
Coronation Street fans will also recognise him for his role as Dennis Stringer between 2000 and 2002.
Other notable roles include Gary “Chef” Alcock in BBC’s The Lakes, and Clive Eustace in The Eustace Bros.
The star, who hails from Pembrokeshire, has also starred as Leonard Gibson in Sherwood, Chief Constable Robin in ITV’s Unforgotten, DS Gareth Rees in The Pembrokeshire Murders, Royce Evans in Requiem and Barney Scott in Rocket Man.
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More recently, he starred as Ian in Bergerac.
The Crow Girl also stars Chloé Sweetlove as Madeleine, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva as Amar, Clara Rugaard as Victoria Burkeman, and Elliot Edusah as DC Mike Dilliston.
The Crow Girl starts on Channel 5 at 9pm on Monday, July 20.
Samuel L Jackson was firmly backing Spain to win the World Cup (Picture: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock)
Samuel L Jackson’s feelings on the 2026 World Cup result are seemingly clear after he urged Black people ‘not to cheer’ for Argentina.
Last night, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad was defeated 1-0 in extra time, leaving Spain, managed by Luis de la Fuente, to lift the trophy (presented to them by Donald Trump) at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Anticipation was rife ahead of the game, with the likes of David Beckham and his family in attendance to see how the tournament would end.
And in his own social media post before kickoff, Jackson implored his fans to back Spain.
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The 77-year-old actor reshared a post from the SEC Black Alumni Network on his Instagram Story, which featured an AI-generated image of his character, Stephen, from the 2012 movie Django Unchained.
Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the Western/action movie follows a vengeful husband who joins forces with a German bounty hunter to rescue his wife from a Mississippi plantation.
The actor reposted an AI-generated image on his Instagram Story (Picture: Instagram/Samuel L Jackson)
In the image he shared, Jackson’s Stephen wears an Argentina football shirt, accompanied by the text: ‘Dear Black People… Please do not cheer or root for Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup.
‘Argentina has historically been one of, if not the most racist countries in the world.
‘”If you are a Black person cheering for Argentina, this is what you look like to me.”‘
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‘We hear you loud and clear,’ it ended.
Jackson’s repost soon circulated, with some Argentine fans calling it ‘outrageous’ and accusing him of falling for ‘anti-Argentina propaganda’ despite ‘evidently not knowing much about history’.
The American movie star and producer, whose films have collectively grossed more than $27billion (£20bn) worldwide, has long used his platform to speak out against racism.
Jackson attended the tournament, pictured here in Arlington, Texas, on July 3 (Picture: Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
In 2023, he told Rolling Stone: ‘When I grew up in segregation, I knew which white people didn’t want to be bothered with me, and I knew how they felt about me.’
He added that, when he ‘sees Trump’, he sees ‘the same rednecks’ who called him racist slurs when he was younger to ‘keep [him] in [his] place’.
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‘That’s what the Republican Party is to me. They’re doing it to young people, gay people. They don’t care who you are. If you’re not them, you’re the enemy.’
Argentina had a tumultuous journey to the World Cup final. Despite being the last Latin American team standing, many football fans across the region rooted against them, citing racism and arrogance.
Led by Lionel Messi in their blue and white stripes, the team faced particular resistance from audiences in Mexico, with whom Argentina has a layered rivalry, since they have not lost to Mexico since 2004. Cultural resentments also played a part.
In contrast, though, some Mexican fans expressed remorse about the wave of anti-Argentine opinions and how they’ve played out online, often in very unruly manners.
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Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina lost to Spain in the final over the weekend (Picture: Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
They lifted the trophy after scoring in extra time (Picture: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Brazilian journalist and columnist Julia Duailibi, who writes for leading Brazilian newspaper O Globo, penned after Argentina beat England in the semi-final: ‘I have always been an admirer of the hermanos [an affectionate term for Argentinians] and would have loved to cheer on a fellow South American team.
‘But I admit that the racist scenes involving a minority of the fans and the silence of the majority on the pitch turned my stomach.’
Indeed, racist actions from some fans were captured during the World Cup, with an investigation ultimately launched by FIFA into alleged racist abuse involving American social media influencer IShowSpeed and a supporter during Argentina’s win against Cape Verde.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr, 21, has over 100million followers across his platforms and live-streamed matches during the tournament. FIFA president Gianni Infantino and ex-Barcelona and AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimović featured in some.
The alleged incident took place on July 3 after the last-32 game, after which the governing body ‘immediately’ initiated a probe.
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Footage showed the internet personality wearing a Cape Verde kit and being confronted by an Argentina fan in the stands.
FIFA said in a subsequent statement: ‘The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity, and respect.
‘It brings together people, cultures, and communities from around the world, and anyone who acts in a manner that undermines these values is not welcome in our game.’
Reps for Samuel L Jackson have been contacted for comment.
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