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I was fined £170 for staying in car park 65 seconds too long when QR code spooked me… I had to borrow money from a pal

A boarded-up building, formerly The Kingsway, is now a car park.  A woman is pictured beside a car.

A GRAN has slammed car park bosses after she was charged a whopping £170 for staying 65 seconds too long.

Angela Jones, 60, said that she was forced to ask a friend to help her pay the fine which left her feeling “humiliated”.

Woman fined for parking over time limit stands by her car.
SWNS
Angela Jones (pictured) from Alvechurch, was fined for parking in Kings Heath High Street Car Park for six minutes[/caption]
Kings Heath High Street car park with a partially demolished building and graffiti.
SWNS
She had been charged for overstaying the free parking period at a local car park[/caption]

The 60-year-old parked her Nissan Juke in Kings Heath High Street car park, Birmingham, but was unsure about how to pay for her spot. 

A fellow motorist told her that she needed to download an app to pay, but Angela quickly deleted it from her phone as she was concerned that it could be a scam. 

QR scams have become increasingly common in the UK, with crooks using fake codes to lead drivers to dodgy websites.

Once drivers enter their payment details, the criminals then drain their accounts

Angela left the car park at 15:29:50, believing that she was still within the free five minute parking period. 

However, unbeknownst to her, she had overstayed by 65 seconds, leading her to be slapped with a £100 fine. 

She appealed to Parking Charge Collections Ltd (PCC) but had her appeal rejected. 

That launched a legal battle which almost “finished” Angela “off”, as she was already struggling to pay her bills despite working three jobs. 

Sadly, her plea was rejected a second time after she did not correctly verify her email address with the IAS.

After receiving a letter from solicitors acting on behalf of PCC demanding payment, Angela said she felt “intimidated” to pay up.

Angela, who has five grown-up children and one granddaughter, said: “It affected my mental health greatly and left me in the position where I was so scared that I paid it before any legal action was taken.

“I was waking up in the night, terrified there would be bailiffs knocking at me door.

“I had to borrow the money from a friend which was humiliating.”

Eventually, Angela contacted her MP Bradley Thomas who contacted the trade association for private parking firms, the International Parking Community (IPC).

After several weeks of letters being exchanged, Angela’s fine was eventually cancelled but, weeks on, she is still waiting for a refund.

In light of the events, IPC said it is working to ensure private car parks do not hand out similar fines.

PCC has been approached for comment.

It comes as a woman revealed how she was scammed out of £100s at a car park after scanning a fake QR code.

In a video posted to social media, the duped car owner picked at a QR code sticker over the top of the real QR code.

Quishing: QR Code Scams

QR code scams are becoming increasingly common in the UK.

What are QR code scams?

QR scams are often referred to as as “quishing”.

They involve scammers placing fake codes on car park signs and in shops, which lead shoppers to fake websites.

Then, shoppers are encouraged to enter their payment details.

This allows the crooks to drain hundreds of pounds from your account.

One driver thought he was being charged 90p before noticing that he had been automatically subscribed to a recurring £39 payment.

AVOID SCAMS

If you see a QR code in a public place, there are some steps that you can take to avoid getting scammed.

  • Signs of tampering: Check to see if a code looks as though it has been placed over the original. The code stuck onto the sign is likely to be fake.
  • Checking the URL: If the URL that the QR code takes you to doesn’t match the one on the parking sign, it’s probably fake.
  • Use the official app: Using the official app for the car park or store will help you pay the company directly. This stops a scammer from intercepting your money.
Kings Heath High Street car park payment instructions: contactless payment via Visa, Mastercard, tap2park; location 1190.
Angela was confused by her local car park’s payment scheme
SWNS: South West News Service
Kings Heath High Street car park, formerly The Kingsway, boarded up and graffitied.
Angela left the car park (pictured) at 15:29:50, believing that she was still within the free five minute parking period
SWNS: South West News Service

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Гороскоп на 26 січня за картами Таро для всіх знаків Зодіаку

  26 січня – день, коли енергія карт Таро допоможе зрозуміти приховані аспекти життя, знайти відповіді на важливі питання та обрати правильний шлях. Таро розкривають таємниці майбутнього і надають підказки кожному знаку зодіаку. Цього дня особливу увагу слід приділити своїм відчуттям та інтуїції, адже карти вказують не лише на зовнішні події, а й на внутрішній […]

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Mrs Hinch shares first glimpse of finished nursery for baby number three, including charity shop buys she’s chuffed with

MRS Hinch knows how to make a picture-perfect home.

And despite being pregnant with her third child whose due date is near, she hasn’t stopped perfecting his new nursery.

Woman holding two toddlers in dinosaur pajamas.
Mrs Hinch - Instagram
Mrs Hinch gave fans an update on her finished nursery as she gets ready to welcome baby number three[/caption]
Nursery wall with framed children's illustrations and teal wainscoting.
instagram/mrshinchhome
The mum used charity shop buys to decorate[/caption]

Fans are thrilled as Sophie Hinchliffe, 34, showed off the finishing touches on Instagram last night.

The cleanfluencer headed to the nursery to show off the gorgeous gallery wall she and her husband put up.

“They are on the wall,” she said delighted by the finished results.

“The prints, my charity shop frames, which I’m actually over the moon with.”

The mum bought a selection of different gold photo frames for a vintage feel to the nursery to match her cottage core aesthetic in the rest of her £1.1 million farmhouse.

Inside the frames were adorable prints of Beatrix Potter’s most popular characters including Peter Rabbit, Jeremiah Puddle Duck and Mrs Tiggy Winkle.

The sketches were the perfect addition to the blue and brown themed room.

“I’m really pleased with them guys, chuffed to bits,” she added.

The feature wall had a gorgeous checkered wallpaper pasted to the top; the bottom half was panelled.

Making sure her dad, who passed last year, was still part of the process, she used his pencil and level to hang the photos.

In a previous video, Mrs Hinch shared hte exact paint she used – number 975, named Moon Shadow, from Wickes.

“I found the perfect shade of blue,” she gushed.

a person holding a measuring tape that says 975 moon shadow
She bought a wallpaper sample and found a “perfect shade of blue” paint in Wickes
Instagram/@mrshinchhome/

And given that the paint is just £15 for 2.5 litres from Wickes, and the wallpaper is £1.25 for a sample, the bedroom makeover isn’t likely to cost too much either.

“I love the idea of a traditional country check nursery in creams and dusty blues,” she wrote over a snap of the paint and wallpaper sample.

“When I opened this wallpaper sample, both me and Jamie really liked it.”

Interior Design expert advice

Family painting "Baby Boy #3" on a wall with blue handprints.
Instagram / @mrshinchhome
The pair announced their pregnancy late last year[/caption]

Mrs Hinch announced the news of her pregnancy in late October, just six months after her dad’s tragic passing.

In the short video announcement, Jamie was seen painting the words “Baby boy #3” on a wall inside their house, while their sons Ronnie, five, and Lennie, three, added their hand prints around the message.

As the clip went on, a black-and-white filter faded away, revealing blue paint on the wall to signify that another boy is on the way.

It then cut to Sophie cradling her bump in a black catsuit.

The cleaning guru paid tribute to her late dad Alan in her caption, writing: “Heaven was too far to visit, so you sent us a special gift from up above. 

“I have no doubt you sent him to us Dad, to fill our hearts with so much love.

“Ronnie and Lennie’s baby brother. Our baby boy no. 3. Joining us in 2025. The three musketeers.”

When did Mrs Hinch's dad pass away?

Her father actually died on April 25, 2024, but his grieving daughter waited until she was ready to share the sad news with her fans.

In April 2023, Sophie revealed how she was taking a break social media after her dad ended up in hospital.

She said at the time: “My dad is in hospital at the moment guys. My dad has never been blessed shall we say with fantastic health – from his chest, his lungs, his heart.

“He’s always struggled you know.”

She heartbreakingly added: “I just want him to be happy.”

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Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner shows off stunning new look as she prepares for life in Italy after AC Milan transfer

KYLE WALKER’S wife Annie Kilner showed off a stunning new look ahead of a major move for her and her family.

The mother-of-four is due to fly to Italy to join Kyle Walker following the 34-year-old’s loan transfer to AC Milan.

Woman with long braids taking a selfie in a silver sequined bikini top and jeans.
@annievkilner/Instagram
Annie Kilner showed off a stunning new look on Instagram[/caption]
Woman with long dark hair at a nightclub.
@annievkilner/Instagram
Annie sported the new look during a night out with friends[/caption]
A blurry photo of people at a crowded nightclub.
@annievkilner/Instagram
She was also seen in silver bikini top[/caption]
Woman taking a selfie in a black top.
Annie is a mother-of-four with Kyle Walker

Annie, who has more than 81,000 followers on Instagram, showed off eye-catching long and dark braided hair which fell down around her shoulders and to her waist.

She was also seen in a sparkly silver bikini top paired with light blue jeans.

The new look was present as the 33-year-old went out to party for a friend’s birthday as she captioned the post: “Shauna turns 40.”

She also reposted a video from a friend’s Instagram to her story as they enjoyed the night out.

It is understood Annie will by flying to join Walker in Italy after he completed a £4.2million loan from Manchester City to AC Milan that includes an option to buy on a permanent basis.

The Sun revealed how Annie scrapped £27m plans to divorce the defender after a cosy Christmas with the star and their children.

And Annie is now set to move to Milan with Walker, underlining efforts to turn over a new leaf amid their scandal-hit marriage.

The hope is to start afresh by moving away from the goldfish bowl of Cheshire and the constant noise ­surrounding him and Lauryn Goodman — mother of two of his children.

A source told The Sun: “Annie has made it clear to friends she is making the move to Italy for the sake of her family, telling them, ‘I’m doing it for the boys’.

“Getting away from the UK and the noise surrounding Kyle’s sex scandals and drama with Lauryn is what they desperately need. They feel smothered.

“It’s been a traumatic 12 months and they now just want to put it behind them and attempt to lead some sort of normal existence for a while.”

Annie and their four boys will fly to Italy by private jet from Manchester Airport ahead of Milan’s Serie A showdown against Parma tomorrow.

The insider added: “Annie is still intent on going through with the divorce, which Kyle won’t oppose, but the longer they remain together, the more chance they have of eventually reconciling against the odds.

“Kyle accepts that he is taking his problems with him and won’t ever escape what he has done.

“This is an opportunity for him to get some breathing space and for the couple to work out their next steps.”

Walker was spotted in the stands at the San Siro during the game alongside ex-Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Kyle Walker at a Serie A match.
Getty
Walker recently completed a transfer to AC Milan and is set to be joined by Annie[/caption]
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kyle Walker seated together.
Getty
The 34-year-old was seen next to Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of Milan’s game vs Parma[/caption]

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Michael Oliver should be DROPPED for sending off Arsenal’s Lewis-Skelly in ‘major error’, slams former referees’ chief

MICHAEL OLIVER should be DROPPED by the Premier League after his “major error” in sending off Myles Lewis-Skelly.

That’s the opinion of former head of the PGMOL Keith Hackett after Oliver’s card-happy performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wolves.

Soccer player receiving a red card.
Getty
Michael Oliver sent off Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly during the Gunners win at Wolves[/caption]
Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly fouling a Wolverhampton Wanderers player.
PA
The decision has been slammed by Mikel Arteta, pundits and ex-players[/caption]
Referee putting red and yellow cards in his pocket.
Getty
A former head of the PGMOL has now called for Oliver to be stood down[/caption]

Oliver controversially sent off Gunners’ teenager Lewis-Skelly during the first half at Molineux on Saturday.

The full-back, 18, was given his marching orders for a challenge made on Matt Doherty just before the break.

Lewis-Skelly brought down Doherty as Wolves tried to counter, resulting in Oliver dishing out a straight red.

VAR upheld the decision, leaving Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta “absolutely fuming.”

Hackett believes the decision was a “major error” by both Oliver and Darren England on the VAR.

And he called for the Premier League to stand down the experienced whistler.

Speaking on TalkSPORT’s Sunday Edition with Shaun Custis and Henry Winter, Hackett said: “I’d be admitting this morning that this is a major error, that you don’t expect the alleged number one referee to make.

“He’s on top of the incident. I think he’s too close and so I think he requires operational advice.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

“I’d be saying to Michael Oliver, I think you need a rest and I think you’re not going to see another game in the Premier League for a couple of weeks.”

Hackett called for more “accountability” following the incident.

And he was speechless that England had been allocated a spot on the VAR for Sunday’s clash between Crystal Palace and Brentford.

He continued: ” Darren England’s allocated a game this afternoon at Crystal Palace. 

“So as VAR, he would not be on that game.

“I’m quite clear that there needs to be seen to be a level of accountability.”

Hackett also recommended that the Premier League look at reforming the way VAR is run.

Portrait of Keith Hackett, a former football referee.
Getty
Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has called for the Prem to bench Oliver[/caption]

VAR: Imagine the future...

Martin Lipton’s pro VAR view

FAST forward 12 months to May 18, 2025.

After 89 minutes at Molineux, Wolves, needing to win their last game of the season to stay up, are beating Manchester United, who require a point for Champions League football.

A ball over the top sends Rasmus Hojlund racing away. The flag stays down. Hojlund scores. Wolves are relegated.

And on the way home, the dejected Wolves fans see the still image on their phones.

Hojlund was 2ft offside. No question. A shocker.
It means at least a year in the Championship, £100million income drop, a firesale of the squad. While United bank an extra £50m.

But it’s OK. Every  one of those fans, plus smiling boss Gary O’Neil and the  Wolves board, will line up to say: “No worries. It’s what we voted for. Rough with the smooth.”

Yes. And I’ve got a bridge to Ireland to sell you.

He added: “There is no doubt in my mind that the VAR panel should be independent.

“Not active referees, to be honest.

“I do believe that this is a problem that Oliver has with the VAR people and personnel.

“You want them to build a relationship up, you want them to be a team and tightly knitted, but there’s also got to be trust. 

“Last night, I’d have been on the phone to Darren England, if I was Michael Oliver, asking why he let him down.”

Arsenal player ratings: David Raya saves all three-points for Arsenal but Trossard’s woeful deliveries an issue again

ARSENAL finally won a match with ten-men after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off.

It was the Gunners’ fourth sending off this season and they had not won any of their matches without 11 players this term.

But Arsenal showed their character and battled past Wolves 1-0.

Here is how SunSport rated the players’ performances.

DAVID RAYA – 8/10

Very little to do until the 63rd minute when he brilliantly tipped a deflected Matheus Cunha effort wide. He then stopped Rayan Ait-Nouri in a one-on-one in the 84th minute.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 6

Was having another fine game before being the victim of one of most ludicrous red cards in Prem history. His cynical trip was worthy of a yellow and nothing more.

WILLIAM SALIBA – 7

Arsenal just look so solid with him in this backline. A welcome return from a minor hamstring injury. Kept Cunha at bay.

GABRIEL – 7

Led from the front and put his body on the line. Constantly headed away from danger.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 6

Hit with some nasty challenges that required treatment – including one that had Joao Gomes sent off – but carried on playing and was resolute.

DECLAN RICE – 7

More of a goal threat than in recent weeks and stood up when Arsenal needed him.

THOMAS PARTEY – 7

Steady Eddie for most parts back in his favoured midfield position after spells at right-back this season. Displayed his importance to this side once more.

ETHAN NWANERI – 6

Unfortunately made way at half-time as a sacrificial lamb following Lewis-Skelly’s sending off. Was a lively, creative spark in the first-half.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 5

In the absence of Bukayo Saka, the Belgian is on corner-taking duty, but his deliveries were woeful. A quiet afternoon that sums up why he is in and out of the team currently.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6

Was lacking that clinical edge in the first half, but came up with the cross after the break that led to Arsenal’s vital opener.

KAI HAVERTZ – 7

Missed two glorious first half chances with his head and another in the second half, but worked tirelessly on his own – especially with Arsenal down to ten.

SUBS:

RICCARDO CALAFIORI (NWANERI, 45) – 8

The sort of goal that keeps title dreams alive. Added real height and danger aerially, as well as a sweet volley from a tough angle.

KIERAN TIERNEY (MARTINELLI, 87) – N/A

Despite going down to the ten men, Arsenal ground out a priceless 1-0 victory to keep themselves in the title race.

Oliver had his cards out again in the second half at Molineux, sending off Wolves’ Joao Gomes for a second yellow card.

But it was Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal – and his subsequent three-game ban – that had the Gunners raging.

Arteta fumed to Sky Sports after the game: “I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you.

“Because it is that obvious, I don’t think my words are going to help.”

Gunners legend Ian Wright also slammed the decision and accused refs of attempting to be the “centre of attention.”

Wrighty said in a social media post: “It’s a joke.

“Anyone that has ever played the game, and I’m not even talking Premier League, I’m talking five-a-side, Sunday league, knows that it’s never a red.

“Yellow card, nobody says a word. Time and time again, this level of refereeing [and] the decisions in the Premier League… the inconsistency, the excuses, the apologies.

“All of them are just the centre of attention for me. We can’t criticise too hard because, where are the refs going to come from? Where are we going to get them?”

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Pretty European island with unique pink sand beach that once had just one resident

AN island in Italy that had just one person living there is home to a rare pink beach.

Part of the La Maddalena Archipelago, Spiaggia Rosa is found on Budelli Island in northern Sardinia.

Pink beach and turquoise water in Sardinia, Italy.
Getty
Budelli Island is home to Spiaggia Rosa – one of the world’s most famous beaches[/caption]
Man swimming in the clear turquoise water near Budelli Island.
Alamy
Tourists have been banned from stepping foot onto the island since the 1990s[/caption]

While tourists have been banned from stepping foot on the island since the early 1990s, one person was allowed to live on its shores.

Nicknamed ‘Robinson Crusoe’ by the Italian newspapers, Mauro Morandi acted as the island’s caretaker for more than 30 years.

Morandi found himself island after his catamaran broke down on the way to the South Pacific and soon took over as caretaker.

The real-life ‘Robinson Crusoe’ lived inside a shelter from the second world war and used a homemade solar system to power his lights, fridge and internet.

He was evicted by the island‘s national park authority in 2021 and passed away earlier this month.

Speaking to The Guardian he said that he planned to relocate to the nearby island of La Maddalena.

He added: “My life won’t change too much, I’ll still see the sea.”

Even though Morandi spent 30 years living on the island, tourists weren’t allowed to step foot on the famous pink sand beach.

The ban came into force to protect the pink sand, which was starting to lose its rose-tinted hue because of overtourism.

Over the last 30 years, the sand’s pink shade, which is caused by the crushed shells of a micro-organism mixing with the sand when it dies, has returned to the island.

Holidaymakers can book day trips around the Maddalena Archipelago.

While tours include stops in the waters surrounding the island, visitors will not be allowed to step on shore.

Despite the ban, a new wave of unauthorised daytrippers are threatening the pink shores.

In an article in the Times, Fabrizio Fonnesu, director of the Maddalena archipelago national park said: “The beach is again in danger as people arrive by boat, clamber up the beach, then post photos, which allow us to fine them up to €500 (£430).”

Tourists who’ve attempted to take Sardinia’s pink sand away as a souvenir can up fined up to €3,500 (£3,007).

And according to the Guardian, a couple were fined €1,000 (£860) in 2001 after they were caught filling a plastic bottle with sand.

Brits who want to visit the island will need to book themself onto a private boat tour or a ferry service to glimpse this secluded spot from afar.

But British holidaymakers don’t need to trek to Italy to see a pink sand beach, with a couple of little-known spots in the UK.

Located on the English Riviera, Paignton Beach has stretches of pink sand.

The pinky-red shade is caused by iron minerals in the sand oxidising with the air.

Other beaches in the area like Broadsands Beach and Goodrington Sands are also known for their unusual pinky-red shade of sand.

What is it like to visit a pink beach?

THE Sun’s Lizzie Parry visited Elafonissi Beach in Crete, one of the few pink beaches in the world, here’s what she thought…

Hidden away in a secluded corner of Greece’s biggest island lies a rose-tinted paradise worthy of a spot on your Instagram grid.

Elafonissi Beach is one of only a handful of pink beaches in the world — and with a flight time of just over four hours to Crete, it’s one of the closest to the UK.

The promise of pink sands was enough to entice me, and one of my oldest friends, when we were deciding where to escape to for a week in the sun.

In the 20 years we’ve known each other, we’ve put some effort into refining our holiday “wish list”.

Miles of sandy beaches, guaranteed sunshine, crystal clear waters, great food and wine, a little bit of (affordable) luxury, beautiful towns and villages to explore — plus a bit of history and adventure thrown in.

The Island of the Gods ticked every box and Elafonissi proved to be the pink icing on the cake.

I won’t lie, wandering down to the water it did just look like any other sandy beach. But the closer we got to the water’s edge it was clear to see what all the fuss was about.

Dipping my slightly sunburnt toes into the sea, my pink foot blended in perfectly with a stunning stretch of bright pink sand.

We arrived early morning, just in time for a coffee at one of the cafes nearby, and it meant we had the beach to ourselves, almost.

It’s a vast beach, but our guide for the day, Aris from Uncharted Escapes, warned it can fill up quickly — especially at the height of summer as it has been ranked one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Here are several other pink beaches holidaymakers can visit across Europe – and one’s in the UK.

And a beach in the Canary Islands even has sand that looks like popcorn, due to the shape of the coral.

Mauro Morandi, the sole inhabitant of Budelli island, facing eviction.
Mauro Morandi
Mauro Morandi acted as the island’s caretaker for more than 30 years[/caption]
Pink sand beach with turquoise water and red rocks.
Getty
Since the ban came into force three decades ago, the pink hue has returned to the island’s sand[/caption]

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Why bring Kathy Beale back from the dead to run the café in EastEnders? Here’s what BBC bosses need to do with soap icon

BRINGING Kathy Beale back from the dead to run the café in EastEnders seems a missed opportunity; here’s what BBC bosses should do with this iconic character.

Kathy Beale’s (played by Gillian Taylforth) return to EastEnders after her dramatic ‘death’ was one of the most jaw-dropping moments in the soap’s history.

A woman with blonde hair looks concerned.
BBC
Soap bosses brought back the legendary character shocking viewers[/caption]
Scene from EastEnders: Kathy Beale, Martin Fowler, and two other characters in a cafe.
BBC
Now, a decade on, Kathy has largely been a background figure[/caption]

Her reappearance opened up a wealth of potential for storylines for her.

However, to make the most of this iconic character, bosses need to ensure Kathy’s has an integral part of the ongoing drama.

WHERE DID THEY GO WRONG?

The actress, 69, reprised her role as Kathy Beale in 2015, after viewers believed her character had died in a car crash in South Africa in 2006.

Her surprise return was part of the BBC soap’s 30th anniversary celebrations, when they revealed that Kathy faked her death as part of an insurance scam.

Her return was one of the show’s biggest storylines that year, but what has she done since?

Viewers were excited to see how Kathy’s return was going to rock Albert Square.

However, despite the shocked reactions from the few residents who remembered her, her return caused only minor ripples, and the initial shock quickly faded.

Now, a decade on, Kathy has largely been a background figure.

She has played a supporting role in others’ storylines while working hard to keep Ian Beale’s businesses afloat.

Kathy’s backstory is anything but dull, as her father was a heavy drinker and she was raped at age fourteen by a music teacher.

These themes could have been revisited, but instead, she has remained a supporting character in the lives of her loved ones.

For example, she has been there for Linda Carter when she turned to alcohol, and her son Ben Mitchell when he was raped by his friend Lewis Butler.

But Kathy has not been in the spotlight or at the center of a major storyline.

Forgotten soap storylines

The nation's soaps have had many gripping storylines play out over the years. However, some plots proved to be far less memorable. Here are some forgotten stories from Weatherfield, Walford and more...

Coronation Street

  • Ken and Audrey’s romance (2015): After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like “Ross and Rachel”. In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals.
  • Beth’s bigamy (2016): Despite being happily married to Kirk (Andrew Whyment), a troubling secret came to light about Beth Tinker (Lisa George). It transpired that she had never divorced from her first husband, Darryl (Paul Loughran), father of her son Craig (Colson Smith). Although Craig and Kirk were shocked – and Beth was arrested – the storyline didn’t didn’t go much further.

EastEnders

  • Kat Slater’s secret son (2017): Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled ‘Redwater’, it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott’s not been mentioned since.
  • Alfie’s brain tumour (2015): Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline.
  • Kathy and Buster’s affair (2016): In 2016, Walford legend Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) fell into the arms of convict Buster Briggs, played by Karl Howman. Buster was the long-time lover of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and fathered both her sons – Mick (Danny Dyer) and Dean (Matt Di Angelo). When Buster left, he begged Kathy to join him, but she refused for the sake of her family. Meanwhile Buster didn’t even stop to say goodbye to Shirley before exiting with a broken heart. Fans expected a showdown between the two women, but this never came to pass.

Emmerdale

  • Jacob’s OCD (2016): After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob’s OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a “lucky coin” that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations – such as  being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla’s drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing – the condition doesn’t appear to have returned.
  • Marlon and Charity’s fling (2003): Few fans would likely remember few will remember the one-night stand between Charity (Emma Atkins) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) in 2003. The pair slept together when Charity was staying with Marlon while still under suspicion for husband Chris’s supposed “murder”.

Hollyoaks

  • Alex Browning’s revenge plot (2014): Fans expected a confrontation when Dr Browning’s son Alex (Ojan Genc) mer stepmum Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). After all, Mercedes, with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) had murdered Alex’s dad, double-murderer Dr Paul Browning, after he kidnapped and attacked his new wife. In fact, the soap teased Alex would seek revenge for his father’s death upon arriving. However, he instead gave Cindy’s son Hilton (his half-brother) a life-saving transplant, became his godfather, and leaving the village soon after.

I think the soap tends to recycle petty feuds among the same characters, like Cindy Beale and Sharon Watts, leading to a lack of character development or evolution.

And in terms of romantic relationships, she has had flings with Masood Ahmed, Buster Briggs, Rocky Cotton and Harvey Monroe.

Her romances have been devoid of the usual EastEnders drama, missing out on iconic weddings, explosive brawls or shocking revelations that the soap is known for delivering.

When Kathy was revealed part of the The Six storyline, there was hope she would finally be a integral part of a major story.

However, Kathy’s role in the storyline felt minimal, as she was merely there to help carry the body – something that likely could have been managed without her involvement.

Her relationship with Linda is not strong, so her presence at the murder scene seemed coincidental.

And she didn’t show much turmoil after experiencing such a traumatic event like the other matriarchs did.

HOW CAN SHE BE SAVED?

Kathy finally needs to take center stage in her own emotional storyline, that doesn’t involve a business, family member or romantic partner.

Being 75 years old, there are countless harrowing twists her character could experience, offering storylines that viewers of a similar age could deeply relate to and resonate with.

Kathy could face a common health problem such as arthritis, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke or the early stages of dementia.

A long-buried family secret could come to light, shaking Kathy’s world forever.

Whether it involves a past relationship, a hidden child, or a shocking revelation about her own parents, this would create plenty of drama.

Kathy could face mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety, particularly if she’s struggling with isolation or past trauma.

This storyline could open up important conversations about mental health in older generations.

Kathy could become a victim of an online scam or fraud, highlighting the dangers that many older people face in the digital age.

She might decide to pursue a new career or passion, showcasing that life doesn’t stop at retirement.

Whether it’s starting a new business, taking up a hobby that turns into a profession or volunteering.

Kathy could find herself embroiled in a legal dispute, perhaps over property, inheritance or a local issue.

She could experience a spiritual crisis, questioning her beliefs or turning to religion or spirituality in search of solace.

Kathy might face ageism, whether in the workplace or within her community, giving her an opportunity to stand up against discrimination.

She could reconnect with old friends or even past lovers, leading to nostalgia-fueled storylines that explore how people change over time and the power of enduring friendships.

Or Kathy could take on a mentorship role for a younger character, bridging generational gaps within the show.

These storylines would provide depth and complexity to Kathy’s character, while offering relatable, emotional narratives for older viewers.

Promotional image for Eastenders: The Six.
BBC
Kathy’s role in The Six storyline felt minimal, as she was merely there to help carry the body[/caption]
Kathy Beale and Rocky in a pub, talking.
BBC
And her romantic storylines have lacked lustre[/caption]
Kathy Beale, an EastEnders character, standing outside a cafe holding a black garbage bag.
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Can she do more than keep Ian’s businesses afloat?[/caption]

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