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"I don't think it would happen now."
Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan has criticised the soap for how it handled some of her scenes as Rosie Webster from back in the day. The actor, born in 1990, joined the cast in 2000 and initially left in 2012, before returning for another stint across 2017 and 2018.
In the mid-2000s, when she was 16 years old, Rosie was involved in a grooming storyline, with teacher and serial killer John Stape taking advantage of her.
Speaking to The Mirror as her memoir Head & Heart releases, Flanagan criticised the soap at the time for giving her such sexualised scenes to perform, and reflected on how the industry has changed for the better.
Was it morally right that I was expected to parade about in my knickers like some mad nymphomaniac when I was still just a teenager?" she said.
"Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, once kicked off in the green room, saying how disgusting it was that they were sexualising me when I was a young girl. I didn't fully comprehend what she was talking about at the time. I do now. I get it."
"I had to do kissing and bedroom scenes with a man a lot older than me. Obviously the actor [Graeme Hawley] was lovely, but I don't think it would happen now," she continued.
"When you're 16 you don’t really know what's going on and I was just happy to get the big storylines. But I had scenes as Rosie which didn't always sit comfortably with me. I felt minging post-shoot.
"Everything has changed now, which I'm glad about. They wouldn't write it in quite the same way all these years later and since the Me Too movement... Back then you just got on with it."
After sharing her experience, the actor went on to explain that she has no issue with sexualised content, stating: "I post sexy pictures. I work for different lingerie brands. I enjoy that.
"I like to feel sexy. I like to feel empowered — and in control. That's the difference."
As well as her memoir, Flanagan is currently starring in the play The Memory of Water in Bolton.
Smithy's true colours are revealed.
Hollyoaks has confirmed that police officer Smithy will be at the centre of a dark new story, as he targets Prince McQueen next week and gives him a terrifying ultimatum. We already know that Smithy has been blackmailed by Sully, who threatened to expose his own wrongdoing unless he released him from custody.
Meanwhile, Prince has recently decided to start buying illegal steroids, but next week he changes his mind and decides to give the drugs back. However, as he is doing so, he is mistaken for the dealer by the police and arrested.
Prince is taken to the station and questioned – but in new spoilers released by Hollyoaks, next week we find out that Smithy is a corrupt copper when he gets a call from Sully, who orders him to keep the steroid operation running now the supplier has been arrested.
Smithy has also grown closer to John Paul in recent weeks, with John Paul confused about the officer’s sexuality. When he hears about Prince’s plight from Myra, oblivious John Paul asks Smithy to help get Prince released.
Keen to keep up his gentlemanly façade and give a good impression, Smithy offers to walk Prince home. But once they are alone, Smithy gives Prince a set of keys to Hollyoaks High that he stole from teacher John Paul.
Smithy orders Prince to get them inside and set up the covert drugs operation inside the school. Prince finds himself forced to cook steroids in a very risky setting – but will he be caught and get into even more trouble?
Insiders have revealed the full cast line-up for the bizarre new reality TV series Shark!, set to be hosted by The Block star Scott Cam on Channel Nine this year.
A source tells Daily Mail some big hitters are slated for the new post-MAFS show, which sees celebrities face their fears by swimming in shark-infested waters.
Along with Tammy Hembrow, familiar faces set to appear on the series are Sam Thaiday, Matt Nable, Ariarne Titmus, and Home and Away's own Lynne McGranger.
Lynne, 73, who recently departed from her role as Irene Roberts on the long-running soap, is said to be the most surprising addition on the show.
Some have even raised eyebrows over her defection to Nine following a decades-long career at Seven, marking her first major role with a rival network since her exit.
'For someone so closely associated with Seven to jump straight to Nine is huge,' a television insider tells Daily Mail.
Insiders have revealed the full cast line-up for the bizarre new reality TV series Shark!, set to be hosted by The Block star Scott Cam, 63, on Channel Nine this year
It suggests things weren't left nearly as well as the public was led to believe.'
While Lynne publicly thanked Home and Away producers following Irene's emotional farewell, behind the scenes a different story is quietly circulating.
Multiple sources claim the decision to write out Irene was made by the network, not by Lynne herself.
'There's a growing belief she didn't choose to leave,' the insider revealed.
'Fans will hear more about it when Shark! airs. Lynne is expected to finally address what really happened.
'It seems unlikely McGranger left Home and Away to be a reality TV star.'
Irene's departure sparked outrage among long-time viewers, many of whom accused Channel Seven of discarding one of the show's most iconic characters.
The network heavily promoted her exit in dramatic storylines and special episodes - a move critics say cashed in on fan emotion.
They made it an event because they knew how loved Irene was,' the source says. 'But behind the scenes, it wasn't the happy farewell everyone thought.'
For many in television, Lynne's involvement with a rival network is being seen as a quiet statement.
'If she was completely happy with how Home and Away ended, you wouldn't expect her to jump ship so fast,' said the insider.
'This feels like someone moving on after being hurt.'
Fans have already taken to social media speculating that Irene's exit was driven by budget cuts and storyline reshuffles rather than actress choice.
And insiders claim Shark! may become the platform where Lynne finally sets the record straight.
'She's stayed classy so far,' the source said. 'But people close to her say she's ready to talk when the time is right.'
But it's not just Lynne's inclusion in the new reality TV series that has set tongues wagging, with many questioning why the show has been delayed to year end..
Sources say Nine has quietly pushed back the highly anticipated debut due to growing sensitivity following a string of devastating shark attacks across Australia.
The high-stakes program, which was tipped to become the network's next major hit, was originally slated to launch straight after Married At First Sight in 2026.
But industry insiders have confirmed the show has now been bumped from its prime slot as executives scramble to avoid public outrage.
The delay follows renewed national anxiety around shark encounters, including the recent fatal attack in Sydney that claimed the life of a young boy and reignited debate about ocean safety across the country.
With shark incidents dominating headlines, network bosses reportedly became increasingly uneasy about rolling out a program centred around celebrities swimming with sharks.
'The timing suddenly felt completely wrong,' a source close to production reveals.
'Here was Nine about to launch a show built around fear of sharks while families were grieving real tragedies. It just didn't sit right.'
Filmed in the Bahamas, Shark! follows famous faces confronting their biggest fears by entering shark-infested waters under the guidance of marine experts.
Retired Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, 25, and Mr Inbetween star Matt Nable, 53, are also set to star in the series..
The series was designed to be thrilling, emotional and empowering, but insiders say public mood quickly shifted as shark attacks became a daily news topic.
'What was once exciting suddenly felt insensitive,' the source said.
'Watching celebrities panic in the water while the country was mourning real victims was a terrible look.'
Behind closed doors, Channel Nine executives are understood to have made the call to quietly pull the show from its original launch window.
'They didn't want outrage before the first episode even aired,' the insider added.
The decision comes amid broader industry concern about the celebrity-meets-sharks concept, which has struggled overseas.
International versions in both the US and UK were quietly axed after just one season, failing to attract strong audiences despite heavy promotion.
'Those shows never really connected with viewers,' the source revealed. 'So Nine was already taking a gamble and the shark attacks only made that risk bigge
With public fear at heightened levels, insiders say executives worried the program could quickly become a ratings disaster rather than a hit.
'Rolling out a shark-fear show while the country is on edge was never going to end well,' the source says.
While the network has not publicly commented on the delay, those in television circles say the move is about far more than sensitivity.
'This was one of Nine's biggest new productions for 2026,' an industry insider explains.
'Huge budget, overseas filming, massive expectations. They can't afford for it to flop.'
Executives are now reportedly hoping that time will soften public reaction before revisiting the show's release.
But some within the industry are questioning whether audiences will ever feel comfortable embracing the concept.
'Sharks aren't just entertainment anymore,' the source says. 'They're a real fear for Australians right now.'
For the moment, Shark! remains shelved, though the series is said to be going into post-production in two weeks.
Daily Mail has reached out to Nine and Seven for comment.
Promo Player Below>>>
Episode 8648 Harper shuts Kerrie out. Sonny gets a reality check. Levi admits he needs a change.
Cash doubles down on his lie. Sonny snaps at Dana. Kerrie resorts to her old tricks.
Levi talks some sense into Remi. Lacey opens up to Holden. Cash is forced to lie to his wife.
Justin and Leah are at an impasse. Lacey is triggered. Abigail guns for an anniversary re-do.
Dozens of influencers have been parading around the Australian Open and snapping selfies in an array of designer outfits over the past couple of weeks.
But Pia Whitesell put all of them to shame as she attended the men's quarter final between Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night.
The former Home and Away star, 42, looked incredibly chic in an understated Miu Miu ensemble and over two million dollars worth of jewels, including her $1.9 million engagement ring and a Patek Philippe Nautilus gold and diamond watch, worth a whopping $250,000.
Pia donned a sheer black T-shirt that revealed a hint of her black bra paired with slim leg black trousers.
She accessorised with snakeskin Roger Vivier stilettos, a leather belt, and a black suede Celine bag.
The brunette beauty, who is married to multimillionaire Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, enhanced her natural beauty with minimal makeup and coiffed her chocolate locks in bouncy waves.
Pia attended the match with her best friend and interior designer Clint Nicholas, who helped design the $57 million Los Angeles mansion she shares with husband Patrick.
Patrick appears not to have joined the pair on the trip Down Under.
Pia recently introduced a new 'family member' to her followers - a gorgeous puppy.
She took to her Instagram stories with an adorable picture featuring the tiny blonde, long-haired dachshund.
Pia did not announce the dog's name or sex in the post, but added a paw print emoji.
Patrick shares two children – son Evan, 19, and daughter Ella, 17 – with Lauren Sanchez, who is now married to Amazon billionaire boss Jeff Bezos.
Pia also has sons Isaiah, 22, and Lennox, 19, from two previous relationships.
'For me, it's honestly the best, most heartwarming thing to see the blending of four teenagers who were strangers just a few years ago,' she told the latest issue of Marie Claire Australia.
We sit around the table every night, enjoying each other's company, having a laugh as we share our stories. We spent Thanksgiving together; how lucky are we to have all found each other?'
Pia also admitted she leans on her family during times of hardship, such as when they lost a house last year during the California wildfires.
'We lost a house, we'd taken it down to the studs and I'd redone the whole thing. It was shocking – we were glued to the TV in our main house, watching the fire move down the coast in real time,' Pia admitted.
'It broke our hearts. Thank God I was surrounded by Patrick, friends and family. Every single thing burned, but we still had our main home; we were blessed compared to those who lost childhood homes.
'It was so surreal. A whole stretch of those character-filled 1960s coastal shacks, just gone.'
Pia relocated to Los Angeles with her children and married Hollywood power agent and multimillionaire Patrick five years ago.
Since then, the glamorous star has seamlessly blended into LA life.
Influencer Hannah Dal Sasso got into the theme by wearing stilettos with tennis balls on the heels
Model Montana Cox posed in blue and white off-the-shoulder gown inside the Ralph Lauren hospitality suite..
She accepted Patrick's proposal in late 2020 after he presented her with a spectacular diamond ring.
The couple tied the knot in May 2021.
Last year, she gave fans a glimpse of her privileged life by showing off her astounding collection of designer goods inside her gigantic walk-in closet.
Featured in the photo was Pia's impressive collection of shoes, which filled six built-in shelves in her closet.
Also spied inside Pia's walk-in was the dark-haired beauty's mammoth collection of designer handbags.
Patrick is the boss of Hollywood talent and media agency Endeavor, formerly known as WME.
His client list includes the likes of Jude Law, Denzel Washington, Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jake Gyllenhaal, with whom he shares both professional and personal ties.
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