Tag: Celebrities

Cathryn Bradshaw Stars in BBC Blackpool TV Series

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Cathryn Bradshaw, born on 13 January 1964 in Blackpool and raised in Poulton-le-Fylde, attended Breck School before training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 1987 alongside Louise Plowright and Mark Strong. An accomplished English actress, she is widely known for her role as Melanie in the acclaimed BBC drama Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1990), opposite Charlotte Coleman. Bradshaw married actor Mark Strong in 1989 in Lancashire, though the marriage ended in divorce after a few years. Her first television role was in 1988, playing the Princess in an episode of The Storyteller. She followed this… Read more »

John Mahoney Wins Big in Frasier

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Charles John Mahoney (June 20, 1940 – February 4, 2018) was an English-American actor, born in Blackpool, known for playing retired police officer Martin Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier from 1993 to 2004, receiving nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was the seventh of eight children. His father, Reg, was a baker who played classical piano, and his mother, Margaret (née Watson), was a housewife who loved reading. His paternal grandfather was Irish. The family had been evacuated to Blackpool from their home city of Manchester when it was heavily bombed during World War… Read more »

Moya Brady’s Rise to Fame

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Moya Brady, born on 8 September 1962 in Manchester and raised in Blackpool, is a versatile actress known for her roles across film, television, and theatre. She is perhaps best recognized for playing Breda McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2018–2020). Brady’s acting career spans decades, beginning in 1986, and includes a wide array of memorable roles. On television, she played F.D.O. Roberta Cryer in the police drama The Bill, appeared in Harry Hill’s TV Burp, and starred as Bridget in the Doctor Who episode “Love & Monsters” (2006). In 2021, she portrayed Millie in Russell T Davies’… Read more »

Jacqueline Leonard Stars in Chaplin

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Jacqueline Leonard, born in 1967 in Blackpool, is an actress known for her extensive work in British television, film, and theatre. She has been married to Alex Mansfield since 2000, and the couple has one child. Leonard trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where she won the Michael Warre Award for Best Actress in 1988. Her career highlights include roles in several popular British soap operas: Lorraine Wicks in the BBC’s EastEnders (1996–1997), Caroline Powers in the BBC’s Doctors (2000), Lydia Murdoch in the Scottish soap River City, Linda Hancock in ITV’s Coronation Street, and appearances… Read more »

John Evan Meets Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

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John Evan, born John Spencer Evans on 28 March 1948, in Derby, Derbyshire, is a musician and composer best known as the keyboardist for Jethro Tull. While his birthplace is often cited as Derby, the official Jethro Tull website claims he was born in Blackpool. His father was a headmaster at a Derbyshire village school, and his mother was a concert pianist and piano teacher. The family relocated to Blackpool, Lancashire, in October 1949. Evan was educated at Blackpool Grammar School, where he met future Jethro Tull members Ian Anderson and Jeffrey Hammond. He later attended Chelsea College, now part… Read more »

John Sumner – From Blackpool to King Kong

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John Sumner, born on 14 October 1951 in Blackpool, England, moved with his family to New Zealand at the age of nine. He began his career in the entertainment industry at 19, performing live on Auckland’s nightclub circuit. His talent quickly earned him a following, and within months, he appeared on local variety television shows. Over the next few years, Sumner became a versatile performer, gaining both popular and critical acclaim. Notable early roles included playing “Charlie Brown” in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and the character “Emory” in The Boys in the Band, showcasing his range from light-hearted… Read more »

Robert Smith Co-Founds The Cure

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Robert James Smith, born on 21 April 1959 in Blackpool, is a renowned British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of The Cure, a pivotal band in the post-punk and gothic rock movements. Smith remains the band’s only continuous member, having shaped its sound since its formation in 1976. Raised in a musical household, Smith was the third of four children to Rita Mary (née Emmott) and James Alexander Smith. His father was a singer, and his mother played the piano, which likely influenced his early musical… Read more »

Ricky Tomlinson Becomes a Royle

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Eric ‘Ricky’ Tomlinson, born on 26 September 1939 in Burleigh House, Bispham, Blackpool, is an actor, comedian, and musician, best known for his television roles, including Bobby Grant in Brookside (1982–1988), DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker (1993–2006), and Jim Royle in the iconic sitcom The Royle Family (1998–2012). Despite his roots in Blackpool, he has lived in Liverpool for most of his life. Tomlinson’s early life saw him evacuated to Blackpool at the outbreak of World War II due to fears that Liverpool would be bombed. He attended Walton Technical College in Liverpool after passing an exam at the age… Read more »

Nick McCarthy Joins Franz Ferdinand

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Nicholas John McCarthy, born on 13 December 1974 in Blackpool, is a versatile musician known for his work as a rhythm guitarist, backing/lead vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter. Although born in England, McCarthy grew up in Vagen, near Munich, Bavaria, Germany. His younger sister is the artist Anna McCarthy. As a teenager, McCarthy earned the nickname “McCarThief” after an incident where he and friends stole a car. He completed his high school education in Bad Aibling, Germany, and was classically trained as both a pianist and a double bassist at the Munich Conservatory. Initially drawn to drumming, McCarthy later settled into… Read more »

Lytham and St Annes Town Crier

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Kila Redfearn was officially appointed by the Squire of Lytham, Lord of the Manor on Sunday, 12 March 2023 at Lytham Hall. She has made history by becoming Lytham’s first female town crier. As a town crier, she will often need to get loud, but the post requires other more important qualities, such as having a big personality, a caring heart, an engaging sense of fun, and a love of fancy dress. As a 54-year-old mother of four children and two grandchildren, she most certainly fits the bill. She is also the head of charity for Blue Skies, the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals... Read more »