Holly Willoughby has paid tribute to This Morning’s medical expert Dr Uchenna Okoye who has tragically passed away after a ‘sudden illness’ aged 53.

The ‘kind and passionate’ Cosmetic Dentist made numerous appearances on the ITV show, offering advice to viewers at home. She was also a regular guest on 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, Daybreak, and BBC Breakfast.

A heartbreaking statement posted on Dr Uchenna’s Instagram said she had fallen ill at home on Friday September 15 and died shortly after. No cause of death has been provided by her family.

Willoughby, who worked with Dr Uchenna on This Morning, told her followers: ‘Unbelievably sad to hear of the passing of @druchennaokoye. We first worked together many moons ago with @oralb_uk and she was very kind to me… and then of course again, giving her advice on @thismorning. Sending all my love to her family.’

BBC radio presenter Jo Whiley wrote online: ‘Devastating news. Sending love to her daughter, family and London Smiling team. Strong, beautiful, funny Uchenna. Awful. Just awful.’

TV presenter Donna Air posted: ‘What?! No, I’m so confused. How, why… her daughter!! Shocked and saddened.’

Dr Uchenna, who qualified at the prestigious Guy’s Hospital in London, ran two dental practices and owned a line of specialist dental products. 

She was one of a small group of dentists to belong to both the British and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. 

Outside of directing the London Smiling Dental Group, she regularly appeared on television and radio to provide expert advice. She also was the official dentist of Channel 5‘s makeover programme 10 Years Younger. 

Presenter Cherry Healey of the Channel 5 programme also paid tribute to Dr Uchenna. 

‘There aren’t really the right words to say how much this absolute force of a human being will be missed and how sad this news is.

‘I was so fortunate to work with Dr Uchenna on @10yearsyounger for many happy years, and to then got to know her as a beautiful friend.

‘She spoke with such passion and love for the people she helped smile again – and she was the warmest, smartest, most fun woman you could wish to meet,’ she wrote on Instagram this evening.

Dr Uchenna’s husband Chidi Ngwaba is a doctor who specialises in lifestyle medicine, helping patients who suffer from diabetes, autoimmune diseases and obesity. 

He has also appeared on televisions, including ITV’s Good Morning Britain and the BBC’s Food: Truth or Scare.

The couple share a young daughter.  

Announcing Dr Uchenna’s tragic passing, her family wrote earlier this evening: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of the much loved and respected Cosmetic Dentist, Dr Uchenna Okoye, who passed away after falling ill at home on Friday 15th September 2023.

‘At this time, we ask for your prayers for her young daughter, her family, her team of staff at London Smiling Dental Group and her friends who are all struggling to come to terms with her loss.

‘We request that you respect Uchenna’s family’s wishes for privacy at this very difficult time.

‘The Uchenna sparkle touched the lives of everyone she met and drew her into stardom on 10 Years Younger makeover show, followed by 10 Years Younger in 10 Days where her passion and compassion leaps off the screen.

‘For the last twenty years, her deep knowledge of dentistry and her incredible chair-side manner made her the go-to spokeswoman for any dental issue and a popular contributor to radio, TV, and women’s consumer press,’ it continued.

Tributes from viewers have poured in for the TV regular with one fan writing: ‘That’s absolutely devastating… sending much love to her family.’

Another wrote: ‘Am absolutely heartbroken to read this. I adored Uchenna. I can’t really process this awful news.’ 

A third commented: ‘Beautiful Uchenna! An industry beacon who quickly became a friend to many of us. So warm, generous and funny. 

‘Sending condolences to her family and friends.’

Another follower wrote: ‘Devastating news. My love and prayers to her family. 

‘We will all miss your infectious energy and warmth.’

While someone else shared: ‘Absolutely shocked about this devastating news! I still can’t believe it. 

‘She was the kindest, loveliest person who I knew briefly. Rest in peace and my condolences to your family and your little girl.’

The news comes just days after Holly Willoughby and This Morning led the tributes to guest Matty Lock after he suddenly died aged 19. 

Holly and co-presenter Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to a ‘truly unique’ and ‘lovely’ member of the studio. 

The ‘delightful’ teenager regularly appeared on the show to review vacuum cleaners, which he had become obsessed with since the age of two when he received his first toy Henry hoover.

The popular youngster was also a member of the Labour Party and recently spoke of his pride at becoming councillor in his hometown of Maghull, Merseyside. 

Sharing the news at the start of Monday’s programme, Dermot said: ‘One of the This Morning family members Matty Lock – you might remember Matty – sadly passed away this weekend.’

Willoughby added: ‘He was a much-loved member of our team who never failed to bring joy and more to our studio with an infectious passion for gadgets and technology. He was truly unique.’

O’Leary continued: ‘Yeah, bless him. His love for vacuum cleaners started when he was just two years old when he received his first toy Henry. 

‘He then went on to become a politician, a campaigner and a much loved member of this show. He’s a lovely guy.’

‘Matthew will be missed by all of us here and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. It was incredibly sad, shocking news to get yesterday’, finished Willoughby.

Matty regularly appeared on This Morning from a young age, including at the age of 15 where he had a segment revealing the best hoovers to buy that summer. 

Private £4,569-a-term day school, Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, in Crosby, Liverpool, shared his appearance on the show on its website at the time. 

Matty last posted on his Facebook page in April where he spoke of how he had ‘hit the ground running in delivering for Maghull and residents’ concerns and priorities’ since he had been elected.

At the age of 13 Matty had amassed 150 vacuums as part of his collection.   

He became interested in vacuums aged two when he got his first toy Henry. By the age of five he was hoovering the family home.

Speaking at the time, he said he was cleaning up by fixing old machines and selling them while carrying out repairs on every cleaner on the market.

He said: ‘I remember in year four or five having a rough idea how to take them apart and looking into how to make them run, that’s when the collecting started. 

‘I started finding machines, getting parts and being able to put them together to make a new vacuum.

‘I became more and more interested in getting rarer machines.

‘I like the way they work and seeing how they can be improved. I like seeing how they’ve advanced over the years – different machines do different jobs.

‘I get them off eBay or on Facebook selling sites. I find them in skips and people have even started leaving them outside my back door.

‘Some of the Henrys I have are 40 years old. I like to fix them but if they’re beyond repair I will make a good one out of two hoovers.

‘My collection is mostly Henrys and Dysons. I’ve got original versions which are made out of metal and Bakelite. My collection is well into the hundreds now.

‘They are all in my workshop in my garden which is where I do all my vacuum repairs.’

He spent around ten hours a week fixing broken vacuums, and estimated he had fixed around 500 and sold 300 machines.

From the money he made out of selling on the fixed machines, he reinvested the cash into more broken vacuums.

He added: ‘I just find it so satisfying getting them from places like builder’s yards where they’re full of plaster – being able to clean them up, make them look nice and get them up to a really good standard.’

 Video of the Year

Doja Cat – ‘Attention’ 

Miley Cyrus – ‘Flowers’ 

Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Freaky Girl’

Olivia Rodrigo – ‘vampire’ 

Sam Smith, Kim Petras – ‘Unholy’

SZA – ‘Kill Bill’ 

Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’

 

Artist of the Year:

Beyoncé

Doja Cat

KAROL G 

Nicki Minaj

Shakira

Taylor Swift

 

Song of the Year:

Miley Cyrus – ‘Flowers’

Olivia Rodrigo – ‘vampire’ 

Rema + Selena Gomez – ‘Calm Down’ 

Sam Smith, Kim Petras – ‘Unholy’

Steve Lacy – ‘Bad Habit’

SZA – ‘Kill Bill’

Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’ (WINNER)

 

Best New Artist:

GloRilla

Ice Spice

Kaliii

Peso Pluma

PinkPantheress t

Reneé Rapp

 

Push Performance of the Year:

August 2022: Saucy Santana – ‘Booty’

September 2022: Stephen Sanchez – ‘Until I Found You’ 

October 2022: JVKE – ‘golden hour’

November 2022: Flo Milli – ‘Conceited’

December 2022: Reneé Rapp – ‘Colorado’

January 2023: Sam Ryder – ‘All The Way Over’

February 2023: Armani White – ‘GOATED’

March 2023: FLETCHER – ‘Becky’s So Hot’

April 2023: TOMORROW X TOGETHER – ‘Sugar Rush Ride’ (WINNER)

May 2023: Ice Spice – ‘Princess Diana’

June 2023: FLO – ‘Losing You’ 

July 2023: Lauren Spencer Smith – ‘That Part’

 

Best Collaboration:

David Guetta + Bebe Rexha – ‘I’m Good (Blue)’ 

Post Malone, Doja Cat – ‘I Like You (A Happier Song)’ 

Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – ‘Gotta Move On’ 

KAROL G, Shakira – ‘TQG’

Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – ‘Creepin’ (Remix)’

Rema + Selena Gomez – ‘Calm Down’ 

 

Best Pop:

Demi Lovato – ‘Swine’

Dua Lipa – ‘Dance The Night (From Barbie The Album)’ 

Ed Sheeran – ‘Eyes Closed’

Miley Cyrus – ‘Flowers’ 

Olivia Rodrigo – ‘vampire’ 

P!NK – ‘TRUSTFALL’ 

Taylor Swift – ‘Anti-Hero’ (WINNER)

 

Best Hip-Hop:

Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, Yung Miami – ‘Gotta Move On’

DJ Khaled ft. Drake + Lil Baby – ‘STAYING ALIVE’ 

GloRilla + Cardi B – ‘Tomorrow 2’

Lil Uzi Vert – ‘Just Wanna Rock’ 

Lil Wayne ft. Swizz Beatz + DMX – ‘Kant Nobody’

Metro Boomin ft Future – ‘Superhero (Heroes and Villains)’ 

Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Freaky Girl’ 

 

Best R+B:

Alicia Keys ft. Lucky Daye – ‘Stay’ 

Chlöe ft. Chris Brown – ‘How Does It Feel’

Metro Boomin with The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Diddy – ‘Creepin’ (Remix)’

SZA – ‘Shirt’

Toosii – ‘Favorite Song’

Yung Bleu + Nicki Minaj – ‘Love In The Way’

 

Best Alternative:

blink-182 – ‘EDGING’ 

boygenius – ‘the film’ 

Fall Out Boy – ‘Hold Me Like A Grudge’

Lana Del Rey ft. Jon Batiste – ‘Candy Necklace’

Paramore – ‘This Is Why’

Thirty Seconds To Mars – ‘Stuck’ 

 

Best Rock:

Foo Fighters – ‘The Teacher’

Linkin Park – ‘Lost (Original Version)’

Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Tippa My Tongue’

Måneskin – ‘THE LONELIEST’

Metallica – ‘Lux Æterna’

Muse – ‘You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween’

 

Best Latin:

Anitta – ‘Funk Rave’ (WINNER)

Bad Bunny – ‘WHERE SHE GOES’

Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma – ‘Ella Baila Sola’ 

KAROL G, Shakira – ‘TQG’ 

ROSALÍA – ‘DESPECHÁ’ 

Shakira – ‘Acróstico’

Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns has led tributes to a young Newcastle musician after he was tragically hit and killed by a train in May.

The famous singer took to Instagram on Sunday to share a special tribute to Sam Murphy, who was killed at Cardiff Station on a night out on May 21, aged 23. 

A fundraiser ‘Shred For Sam’ will be held on Sunday at The Newcastle Hotel to pay tribute to Sam’s love of rock music and serve as a fundraiser for his family. 

Daniel’s tribute began: ‘A talented and loving young man Sam Murphy was tragically hit by a train and killed.

‘Sam was a beautiful son to De, a supportive brother to Cheyenne, a loyal cousin to Lachlan, a respected bandmate and a friend to many.’ 

After reading a story about Sam and seeing a photo of the young man’s best friend Zane Fleming wearing a Silverchair T-shirt, Daniel decided to reached out to Sam’s family.

‘We spoke about honouring Sam and making sure his legacy and love of music was never forgotten,’ Daniel wrote. 

He went on to encourage fans to leave a loving message. 

‘Like me, most of you won’t have met Sam but it would mean a lot if you could leave a message of support for him here or elsewhere,’ he wrote. 

He confirmed that the show will be on Sunday, with Zane’s band Lost Plaza being in the line-up. 

The Shred For Sam line-up also includes Catpiss, Tyrants, Lamphead, Lost Plaza, Handsome Alice, Ryan Jack, Finnian Johnson, Charlii Ben, and G.A.G. 

‘To Sam’s family including De, Cheyenne and Lachlan, my heart goes out to you all. Please stay strong for each other and know that you are not alone in this.’ 

He added a special message to Sam. 

‘To Sam, your legacy and your life will be celebrated and one day when the time comes we will meet wherever we go next and jam together,’ he wrote. 

‘You might have to remind me how to play some of the old Silverchair songs again,’ he finished, with a love heart.

Sam had just completed a Bachelor’s degree of Communication at the University of Newcastle and intended to join the airforce. 

The festival organiser is Ben Hastings, who was Sam’s best friend from his school days at St Paul’s Catholic College at Booragul. 

Sam’s mother De Murphy told The Newcastle Herald that she would be at the concert, along with daughter Cheyenne, 22.  

‘I think it’s beautiful that Ben’s organised this, it really means a lot,’ De told the publication.

‘It’s a beautiful honour to him as he was obsessed with music.’

Other bands took the time to share a tribute to Sam, including friend Zane Flemming, who was previously in the band Mission: Banana, with Sam. 

Zane told The Newcastle Herald that Sam inspired him with guitar and was supportive of his musical ambitions. 

‘Sam definitely helped and inspired me with guitar because it’s not my first instrument,’ Zane said. 

‘It was really cool to have him there to help me make the transition.’ 

Organiser Ben paid tribute to Sam saying he was the ‘funniest dude’ and his laughter was ‘contagious’ to others. 

Where’s the ball?! Texas fielders totally lose Stanford’s hit in the sky as costly error leads to bizarre walk-off win to send rivals to the College World Series

• Texas fielders couldn’t track Drew Bowser’s pop fly and Stanford walked it off 
• Stanford is set to play Wake Forest, the top seed in the tournament 
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

By Associated Press and Jake Fenner For Dailymail.Com

Published: 08:47 EDT, 13 June 2023 | Updated: 08:47 EDT, 13 June 2023

London’s Leicester Square was given a touch of A-list glamour on Monday evening as Jennifer Lawrence attended the UK premiere of new film No Hard Feelings. 

With heavy rainstorms drawing a line under England’s recent heatwave the Oscar-winning actress could be forgiven for treading lightly after a series of high-profile red carpet stumbles. 

Indeed, Jennifer, 32, erred on the side of caution by ditching the heels in favour of flip-flops during a recent public appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May. 

But the heels were back on as she greeted fans outside Odeon Luxe, where she led the glamour on a night dedicated to her latest box-office offering – a coming-of-age comedy co-starring Matthew Broderick. 

Posing for waiting photographers, Jennifer looked stunning in a semi-sheer black evening gown with a cinched waist and distinctive patterned embellishments.  

She added to the look with a pair of elbow length evening gloves, while a black bra was visible beneath the sleeveless gown as she made her way into the central London venue. 

Jennifer also sported with a glamorous make-up palette, complete with smokey eye and slicked back her long blonde locks into a ponytail. 

She was joined at the star-studded event by co-star Andrew Barth Feldman and the film’s director Gene Stupnitsky.

Both men flanked the stunner in smart suits as they beamed for the cameras and shared a joke. 

Joining the American stars were a whole host of famous British faces including a string of reality stars.

Former Love Island contestant Chyna Mills, 24, showcased her growing baby bump on the red carpet alongside fiancé Neil Jones 40.

She looked gorgeous in a figure-hugging green frock as she loving cradled her belly and beamed alongside her Strictly Come Dancing beau. 

Chyna’s dress featured a one-shoulder detail and she slipped her feet into strappy black heels, before accessorising with dainty gold jewellery.   

MIC’s Kimberley Garner put on a very leggy display in a black skater dress as she arrived at premiere.

The swimwear designer, 32, dressed to impress for the evening as she went braless in a backless halter neck number. 

She turned up the heat by adding inches to her frame in a pair of towering matching pointed toe heels. 

The beauty styled her long blonde tresses in a neat updo leaving two strands to frame her face. 

She flashed her gorgeous smile as she posed on the red carpet with her hands in the pockets of her dress. 

Meanwhile former islander Ellie Spence, 25, sent pulses racing in a plunging sheer black gown with very racy thigh-high split.

The outfit hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure with a sheer boned corset leaving very little to the imagination.

Sweeping her blonde hair high into a stylish up do and added height to her frame with a pair of towering heels. 

Elsewhere on the red carpet Dancing On Ice’s Vanessa Bauer, 26, ensured all eyes were on her as she slipped into a plunging red gown for the screening.

Vanessa opted to go braless for the evening, and looked breathtaking as she posed for photographs in the floor-length frock.

As she worked her best angles, the skating pro’s footwear could not be seen, due to the extreme length of her silky dress.

Keeping things simple, Vanessa styled her raven tresses into a sleek low ponytail and went without jewellery save a pair of understated earrings. 

Sophie Hermann, 36, cut an elegant figure in a blue silk mini dress and looked incredible in the stunning number which boasted a dazzling bow on the front.

The Made In Chelsea star toted her belongings around in a miniature which bag which had a matching silver glittering boy on the front. 

Sophie turned up the heat by adding a pair of dazzling eye catching chandelier earrings and applied a flawless palette of makeup. 

The raunchy new comedy, sees Oscar winner Jennifer play a cash-strapped woman trying to seduce a 19-year-old boy for pay.

Her character Maddie finds herself in such dire financial straits that she is on the brink of losing her late mother’s house.

She throws herself on the mercy of a rich pair of New Age ‘helicopter parents’ played by Broadway stars Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick.

Percy (Andrew Feldman), their geeky teenage son, is about to go to college and has been cosseted his whole life, never breaking the rules.

The couple offers Maddie a car in exchange for a heavyweight favor – she must seduce Percy before he leaves for Princeton.

No Hard Feelings then launches into her increasingly desperate attempts to get Percy into bed, including a nighttime skinny dipping excursion, taking him out to drink underage and even playfully trying to kidnap him.

It comes after Jennifer  opened up about the ways becoming a mother has shifted her plans for the future as the star admitted she didn’t expect to pursue a career in directing any time soon.

The actress welcomed one-year-old son Cy in 2022 with husband Cooke Maroney, 38, and she made it clear that focusing on her family was her top priority in a new interview.

Speaking during an interview on Good Morning America on Monday, the Hunger Games actress explained how her hopes to direct a feature film had changed in recent years.

‘I used to think that [I would direct]. Now I’m just so tired and it just looks so hard,’ she stated.

However, the actress is still working hard in front of the camera and behind the scenes after starring and producing her upcoming comedy.

Reflecting on her experience as a producer, she told GMA host George Stephanopoulos: ‘It’s good. It’s busy but focused and streamlined. I don’t take on anything that I can’t personally read every draft of and give notes on.’

The actress admitted she hadn’t even been planning to get back into acting as soon as she did after giving birth, but the quality of the comedy’s script pushed her to make her Hollywood comeback.

‘I just had a baby and I wasn’t planning on working for a long time,’ she began. ‘But I read the script. It was the funniest thing I had ever read.’

The Prince of Wales has praised troops for doing a ‘really good job’ during the final rehearsal ahead of Trooping the Colour, ‘despite difficult conditions’, after two soldiers ‘fainted’ in the heat. 

During the practice session, known as the Colonel’s Review, a member of The Band collapsed; a photo showed the soldier lying on the ground with an instrument in hand. Another person was snapped being carried away on a stretcher.

The service at Horse Guards Parade in London – which saw Prince William inspect the Welsh Guards while on horseback – is effectively a final rehearsal for Trooping The Colour, which takes place next Saturday to mark King Charles III’s official birthday.

William, 40, who became Colonel of the Welsh Guards in December 2022, looked incredibly smart in his red military uniform, which he teamed with the traditional bearskin hat, while proudly displaying several medals on his chest.

Taking to Twitter after the service, the Prince of Wales wrote: ‘A big thank you to every solider who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job. Thank you. W.’

This year’s event is particularly significant because it is the first since Charles succeeded to the throne last September. But while the British Royal Family usually turn out in force for the occasion, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited, according to The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden. 

He wrote in his column today: ‘When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit royal duties three years ago, Queen Elizabeth said they would “always be much loved members of my family”. 

‘And Buckingham Palace officials were keen to stress that they would continue to be invited to family events. I hear that Prince Harry and Meghan have not, however, been invited to the King’s Birthday Parade next weekend.

‘It will be the first time in Harry’s life that he has not been welcome at the monarch’s official birthday celebrations.’

‘I’m afraid it’s a reflection of the state of relations at the moment,’ a source said.

Harry and Meghan travelled from California for last year’s Trooping the Colour, which became part of the late Queen’s platinum jubilee weekend.

The couple were invited by the late monarch to watch the ceremony with other members of the Royal Family from offices overlooking Horse Guards Parade.

They were not, however, asked to be on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the official flypast later in the day.

The official birthday of the Sovereign is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour. The troops participating in the parade are drawn of fully trained, operational troops from the Household Division.

The monarch’s colour of a battalion of Foot Guards is ‘trooped’ – carried along the ranks – each year before the Sovereign. 

Only one colour can be trooped at a time, and the five Household Regiments – Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards take their turn each year.

The ceremony derives from two old military ceremonies, Trooping the Colour and Mounting The Queen’s Guard.

The origin of the ceremony goes back to the early eighteenth century, and possibly even earlier, when the guards and sentries for the Royal Palaces and other important buildings in the capital were mounted daily on the parade ground by the Horse Guards building.

A feature of guard mounting was for the colours of the battalion to be carried (or ‘trooped’) slowly down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.

After the Trooping ceremony, the Royal Family will make their way back to Buckingham Palace where shortly after, several members will appear on the balcony.

The Royal Family usually travel to Horse Guards Parade in carriages and those members of the Royal Family who’re on parade as Colonels of the regiments of Foot Guards, ride on horses on parade.

Other members of the Royal Family watch the parade from the Horse Guards Parade building from the Duke of Wellington’s old office, overlooking the parade ground.

Tickets for the Trooping the Colour are available to the public, but are chosen by ballot early in the year.

For those who are unsuccessful in their application, securing a spot on The Mall is certainly the next best thing, as the march passes from St James’s down towards Buckingham Palace.

Victor Wembanyama leads Mets 92 to their first ever Pro A Finals in France… as 7-foot-4 NBA-bound talent has FIVE blocks in win over his old team ASVEL

• Wembanyama grabbed 15 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks in the victory 
• Mets 92 now face Monaco, led by Donatas Motiejunas, in the league finals 
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

By Jake Fenner For Dailymail.Com

Published: 14:10 EDT, 4 June 2023 | Updated: 14:14 EDT, 4 June 2023

Glamour was the name of the game on The British Soap Awards 2023 red carpet at The Lowry in Salford on Saturday evening.

And Coronation Street newcomer Claire Sweeney looked sensational as she led the way in a stunning off-the-shoulder floor-length red fishtail gown, while Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe gave a glimpse at her midriff in a chic low-cut black top with cut out detail and matching trousers.

The pair were joined by fellow Hollyoaks cast member Jorgie Porter, who looked sensational in a white mini dress, while Jane McDonald looked statuesque in a claret red dress as she replaced Phillip Schofield as the host of the ceremony.

Corrie actress Claire, 52, who announced she was joining the cast of the soap in April, confidently posed with her hand on her hip as she arrived at the star-studded bash, with the train of her dress extending out across the floor beside her.

Her garment featured shimmering gold decorative detail on the hip and neckline, with Claire carrying a sequinned clutch purse in the same colour to match.

She wore a pair of gold open-toed heels to add a few inches to her stature and accessorised with some pendulum earrings for the evening. 

Claire, who rose to fame on former soap Brookside, wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features, opting for a bold red lip.

She has already started filming for the ITV serial and her first scenes are set to air on Wednesday 28 June.

Hollyoaks star Jennifer Metcalfe, 39, who plays Mercedes McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, gave a glimpse at her midriff in a black ensemble as she posed on the red carpet.

The star’s top featured a low-cut sweetheart neckline while her stomach was left on show.

She wore a pair of matching black trousers and completed her look by opting for a pair of heels to match.

Meanwhile, Jorgie Porter, 35, who plays Theresa McQueen in Hollyoaks, put on a leggy display as she wore a white dress with tasseled detail.

The garment finished high above her knee, with the soap star sporting a healthy glow as she walked the red carpet.

She wore a pair of claret red platform heels to boost her height and looked every inch the dazzling star as she posed-up at the event.

Chelsee Healey, 34, who plays Goldie McQueen in Hollyoaks, left little to the imagination in a black lace floor-length grown, with a tulle skirt section.

The garment featured crossover strings at the side and she wore a pair of long matching gloves as she posed with her co-stars at the bash.

This year’s British Soap Awards is hosted by Jane McDonald, who was drafted in as a last minute replacement for long-time host Phillip Schofield.

Operatic singer and cruise ship favourite Jane, 60, was revealed as Phillip’s replacement on Thursday after he quit ITV and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an affair with a young male This Morning colleague.

He confessed to having the ‘unwise but not illegal’ relationship with a man during his marriage to Stephanie Lowe, and previously denied the affair when asked about it by his agent.

The presenter, 61, confirmed in a statement last week that he has stepped down from all his ITV jobs, including the ceremony. 

And amid news Jane was taking the helm, fans hailed the star as the ‘perfect choice’ to front the ceremony, which takes place at The Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Ahead of hosting the awards, Jane said: ‘Oh my god…..everyone knows how much I LOVE my soaps, this year I’ve been honoured to be mentioned in Corrie, EastEnders and Emmerdale, so this is just a dream come true. 

‘I can’t wait to see all our wonderful soap nominees and celebrate all their hard work with them – roll on the awards, I can’t wait!’

Meanwhile, Stephanie Waring posed up a storm as she walked the red carpet in a flowing pink gown with a plunging neckline.

The actress, who plays Cindy Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, struck a number of poses on the red carpet, flicking the skirt of her dress out around her as she twirled.

Her garment featured a thigh-high split and was cinched in at the waist to accentuate her hourglass figure.

Her bare back was on show  

Meanwhile, the five biggest soaps – Coronation Street, Doctors, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks – will be battling it out to win recognition for their work over the past year.

The great and good of the soap world will be hitting the red carpet for the most star-studded and glamorous event in the soap calendar, which airs on TV on Tuesday.

And after a sensational year of exhilarating drama, shocking scandals and action-packed stunts, it will be a closely fought contest as to who will walk away with a coveted gong.

Among the nominees this year are Charlotte Jordan (Coronation Street), Chris Walker (Doctors), Danielle Harold (EastEnders), Jeff Hordley (Emmerdale) and Nikki Sanderson (Hollyoaks) for Best Dramatic Performance.

While the likes of Todd Boyce (Coronation Street), Laura White (Doctors), Aaron Thiara (EastEnders), Michael Wildman (Emmerdale) and Angus Castle-Doughty (Hollyoaks) will fight it out for Villain of the Year.

Meanwhile, it’s been a stellar year for storylines in the soaps, with plots to tug at the heartstrings, get people talking and leave viewers yelling at their screens with both frustration and excitement.

Among the plots for Best Storyline are Loving And Losing Lola for EastEnders, Paddy’s Suicide Attempt for Emmerdale and Incel Eric Targets Mason And Maxine for Hollyoaks.

While Scene Of The Year contenders include Acid Attack for Coronation Street, Hell Is Empty for Doctors and Whitney and Zack Say Goodbye To Peach for EastEnders.

Best Single Episode is also up for grabs with the likes of EastEnders’ Goodbye Dot, Emmerdale’s All Male Man Club and Hollyoaks’ The Long Walk Home in contention.

Stars from the soaps will also face each other for prizes including Best Young Performer, Best Family, Best Comedy Performance, Best On-Screen Partnership and Best Newcomer. 

While all the top five soaps will most certainly be vying for the big prize – Best British Soap – which was last year won by Emmerdale. 

The winners of the Outstanding Achievement Prize and the Tony Warren Award will be announced on the night.

Jennifer Metcalfe was seen arriving with curlers in her hair ahead of the Soap Awards red carpet in Manchester on Saturday afternoon.

Former Celebrity Big Brother housemate and West End star Claire has taken on the role of Cassie in Corrie, the mother of Weatherfield mechanic Tyrone Dobbs. 

The Hollyoaks actress, 39, 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared victory and thanked his supporters in a speech as polls suggest it is likely the autocrat will cling onto power for a third decade. 

While the official result is yet to be declared, polls from pro and opposition agencies alike place the president in the lead against his secular opposition rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. 

Those across Turkey await the result of the close presidential runoff that will likely see Erdogan extend his dominant yet divisive rule into a third decade.

With three quarters of the votes in, Erdogan remains ahead at 52.4 per cent with Kilicdaroglu at 46.6 per cent of the vote share. 

In his first comments since the polls close, Erdogan thanked his supporters in Istanbul for entrusting him with the ‘responsibility to govern this country once again for the upcoming five years’.

He ridiculed his opposition for his loss shouting ‘bye bye bye, Kemal’ as his supporters booed and told the crowd ‘the only winner today is Turkey’. 

While the official vote is yet to be declared, world leaders, from Qatar, Libya and Azerbaijan, have already congratulated Erdogan on his ‘victory’.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has already congratulated Turkey’s president on winning the election – even though the result is yet to be announced. In a tweet, the Emir wished Erdogan success in his new term.

Erdogan, 69, defied opinion polls and came out comfortably ahead with an almost five-point lead over his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the first round on May 14. 

But he fell just short of the 50 per cent needed to avoid a runoff, in a race with profound consequences for Turkey itself and global geopolitics.

Speaking ahead of the election result announcement, Erdogan spoke to his supporters on a campaign bus outside his home in Istanbul. 

He preemptively thanked his supporters and told them ‘we are together until the grave’.

He said: ‘God willing, I will be worthy of your trust just like I have been for the last 21 years.

‘I had said before the election this love does not end here.’

His unexpectedly strong showing amid a deep cost of living crisis, and a win in parliamentary elections for a coalition of his conservative Islamist-rooted AK Party (AKP), the nationalist MHP and others, buoyed the veteran campaigner who says a vote for him is a vote for stability. 

Erdogan, who has been at Turkey’s helm for 20 years, is favoured to win a new five-year term.

The election will decide not only who leads Turkey, a NATO-member country of 85million, but also how it is governed, where its economy is headed after its currency plunged to one tenth of its value against the dollar in a decade, and the shape of its foreign policy, which has seen Turkey irk the West by cultivating ties with Russia and Gulf states.

More than 64 million people are eligible to cast ballots, with preliminary results expected within hours of the polls closing at 5pm local time today. The outcome could have implications far beyond Ankara with Turkey playing a key role in Nato.

The May 14 election – the first time Erdogan did not win outright – saw an 87 per cent turnout, and strong participation is expected again today.  

Kilicdaroglu cobbled together a powerful coalition of Erdogan’s disenchanted former allies with secular nationalists and religious conservatives.

Opposition supporters viewed it as a do-or-die chance to save Turkey from being turned into an autocracy by a leader whose consolidation of power rivals that of Ottoman sultans.

Kilicdaroglu said after casting his vote in the first round: ‘I invite all my citizens to cast their ballot in order to get rid of this authoritarian regime and bring true freedom and democracy to this country.’ 

But Erdogan still managed to come within a fraction of a percentage point of winning outright in the first round.

In the first round of voting on May 14, Erdogan got 49.5 per cent support. Kilicdaroglu received 44.9 oer cent support. Nationalist candidate Sinan Ogan came third with 5.2 per cent support and was eliminated. The outcome confounded the expectations of pollsters who had put Kilicdaroglu ahead.

Should he win today, Erdogan would remain in power until 2028, and is likely to push Turkey down an increasingly authoritarian path through his muscular foreign policy and unorthodox economic governance. 

After three stints as prime minister and two as president, the devout Muslim who heads the conservative and religious Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is already Turkey’s longest-serving leader. 

Erdogan’s success came in the face of one of the world’s worst cost-of-living crises, with almost every opinion poll predicting his defeat.

Waiting outside an Istanbul polling station on Sunday, 93-year-old Ozer Atayolu told AFP he always arrived first to vote ‘because I believe in democracy and my responsibility as a citizen’. 

‘I feel like a child having fun,’ the retired textile engineer said.

Some opposition supporters, however, sounded defeated as they emerged from the polls.

Bayram Ali Yuce said in one of Istanbul’s heavily anti-Erdogan neighbourhoods said: ‘Today is not like the last time. I was more excited then.

‘The outcome seems more obvious now. But I still voted.’

Kilicdaroglu tried his best to keep his disappointed supporters’ spirits up.

‘Do not despair,’ he said on Twitter after the vote. But he then vanished from view for four days before re-emerging a transformed man.

The former civil servant’s old message of social unity and democracy gave way to desk-thumping speeches about the need to immediately expel migrants and fight terrorism.

His right-wing turn was targeted at nationalists who emerged as the big winners of the parallel parliamentary elections.

The 74-year-old had always adhered to the firm nationalist principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the military commander who formed both Turkey and Kilicdaroglu’s secular CHP party.

But these had played a secondary role to his promotion of socially liberal values practised by younger voters and big-city residents.

Analysts question whether Kilicdaroglu’s gamble will work.

His informal alliance with a pro-Kurdish party left him exposed to charges from Erdogan of working with ‘terrorists’.

The government portrays the Kurdish party as the political wing of outlawed militants.

And Kilicdaroglu’s courtship of Turkey’s hard right was hampered by the endorsement Erdogan received from an ultra-nationalist who finished third two weeks ago.

The political battles are being watched closely across world capitals because of Turkey’s footprint in both Europe and the Middle East.

Erdogan’s warm ties with the West during his first decade in power were followed by a second in which he turned Turkey into NATO’s problem child.

He launched a series of military incursions into Syria that infuriated European powers and put Turkish soldiers on the opposite side of Kurdish forces supported by the United States.

His personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has also survived the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine despite Western sanctions against Moscow.

Turkey’s troubled economy is benefiting from a crucial deferment of payment on Russian energy imports, which helped Erdogan spend lavishly on campaign pledges this year.

Erdogan also delayed Finland’s membership of NATO and is still refusing to let Sweden join the US-led defence bloc.

The Eurasia Group consultancy said Erdogan was likely to continue trying to play world powers off each other should he win.

‘Turkey’s relations with the US and the EU will remain transactional and tense,’ it said.

Turkey’s unravelling economy will pose the most immediate test for whoever wins the vote.

Erdogan went through a series of central bankers until he found one who started enacting his wish to slash interest rates at all costs in 2021 – flouting the rules of conventional economics in the belief that lower rates can cure chronically high inflation.

Turkey’s currency soon entered a freefall and the annual inflation rate touched 85 percent last year.

Erdogan has promised to continue these policies, despite predictions of economic peril from analysts.

Turkey burned through tens of billions of dollars while trying to support the lira from politically sensitive falls ahead of the vote.

Many analysts say that Turkey must now either hike interest rates or abandon its attempts to support the lira – two solutions that would incur economic pain.

‘The day of reckoning for Turkey’s economy and financial markets may now just be around the corner,’ analysts at Capital Economics warned.

Kiwi model Georgia Fowler leads star-studded arrivals in $20k gown at the 2023 amfAR Gala in Cannes

By Ciara O’loughlin For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:53 EDT, 25 May 2023 | Updated: 19:56 EDT, 25 May 2023