Best Magazine UK: Suddenly Single

Doctor Who's Jo Grant – aka the fabulously funny Katy Manning – talks about why she has never married, her close friend Liza Minnelli, Liza’s mum Judy Garland and her biggest worry when eating éclairs with Noel Coward, plus why her bad eyesight makes the world so beautiful…oh yes, and posing naked with a Dalek!

Katy joins Siobhan Wykes to share stories from a life lived on her own terms. She explains why she’s fiercely independent, why she believes in being honest in relationships, and how she’s remained friends with every one of her former partners. She also talks about raising premature twins, her long relationship with Barry Crocker, who sang the theme tune for legendary Aussie soap Neighbours, and why she’s never been one for wedding vows.

Plus, Katy remembers growing up around Liza and Judy, the special connection she feels with Doctor Who fans, and the childhood moment when a chocolate éclair distracted her from meeting Noel Coward. She reflects on surviving a serious car crash, refusing to let a wheelchair define her, ageing in an industry focused on appearance, and why she tries to live in the present rather than worry about the future.

Chapters

00:00 Katy Manning on being “effervescent”

01:00 A fearless teenager in 1960s Soho 🎸

02:00 Growing up around Liza Minnelli and Judy Garland

03:00 The chocolate éclair that stole the show

04:00 Her grandfather, sports and Doctor Who

05:00 The lasting magic of Doctor Who ✨

07:00 Poor eyesight and seeing beauty everywhere

08:00 Raising twins and the many godparents 👶👶

10:00 Staying friends with former partners

11:00 Meeting Dean Harris—and “kidnapping” him

13:00 Why Katy never married 💍

15:00 Independence, relationships and keeping your own space

16:00 Barry Crocker, Australia and a very tall date 🇦🇺

18:00 Thick glasses, comedy and looking like a Muppet

19:00 The car crash that changed her life

20:00 Katy’s party trick: kiss everyone, then leave

21:00 Doing it her way, from zip wires to wheelchairs

22:00 Why she wants to live in the now

23:00 Ageing, appearance and playing older characters

26:00 Love, honesty and unconventional relationships ❤️

29:00 The story behind the Dalek photos

30:00 Katy’s advice to her younger self

32:00 The honesty box: heartbreak, brains and beauty

34:00 Clothes, self-expression and living lightly 👗

37:00 Dating, age gaps and knowing what suits you

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 22, Fun House legend Pat Sharp was already a familiar face when a DJ set in Norway changed his life. He fell for Monica, a former Miss Norway, at first sight. Her verdict? “He’s very pale” and “a bit scrawny”. Pat wrote hundreds of letters; Monica wrote none back. But two years later they were married — and 40 years on, he tells Siobhan Wykes the secret to making it last.

Pat also talks about his love of American DJs, his friendship with Tony Blackburn and Diddy David Hamilton, and his admiration for Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge. Plus, the outrageous stories in his spoof autobiography — and the truth about his relationship with his Fun House co-stars, the twins.

Chapters
00:00 Pat Sharp’s opening stories
01:30 Recording the radio and dreaming of becoming a DJ
02:15 How America shaped Pat’s radio style 🇺🇸
03:20 From Radio 1 to Fun House
05:20 Meeting Bananarama on Top of the Pops
06:30 Pat’s first date — and his best date
08:00 Meeting Monica in Norway 🇳🇴
11:30 The Fun House twins rumours
13:20 Pat’s advice for a lasting marriage ❤️
15:20 Smoking, drinking and the eighties
17:00 Interviewing Duran Duran and the stars of the eighties
18:00 The radio show Pat missed school to hear
19:00 Pat’s first impressions of I’m a Celebrity
20:00 Fatima Whitbread and the cockroach trial 🪳
21:30 Jungle friendships, Mark Wright and family
22:30 Would Pat ever go on a dating app?
23:30 The letters and calls that won Monica over
25:00 Monica, EastEnders and learning English
26:30 The Suddenly Single honesty box
27:00 Alan Partridge, Take On Me and wedding songs 🎶
30:30 Romance, flirting and life in Norway
33:00 Pat Sharp’s final stories and sign-off

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en
Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best magazine's columnist Carol McGiffin talks about Christmas, New Year’s Eve oysters, bubbles and wine, taking the Joan Collins approach of 'if he dies, he dies' to her 44-year-old husband, Mark, her mate Denise Welch; Jane McDonald’s fans, and her South of France neighbours Richard and Judy … as well as her guide to being a good wife.

Carol also explains why she prefers staying in with Mark, shares her thoughts on keeping a relationship on track, and talks about writing her second autobiography. Plus, she and Siobhan get into television opinions, celebrity crushes, slow mornings and the Suddenly Single honesty box.

Chapters

00:00 Carol’s opening thoughts on relationships

01:00 Catching up and the Best Heroes night

03:00 Holidays, Greece and Mark’s crush on Lizzie Cundy

06:00 Carol’s TV plans and why she left television

09:00 Relationship advice for Siobhan

11:00 How Carol and Mark make it work ❤️

13:00 Christmas plans and New Year’s Eve oysters 🦪

15:00 Champagne, rosé and romantic dates 🍾

17:00 Celebrity crushes and Denise Welch

19:00 Carol’s second autobiography 📚

22:00 Richard and Judy in the South of France

24:00 Joan Collins, slow mornings and being a good wife

26:00 Bordeaux, Frenchmen and the honesty box 🍷

32:00 Jane McDonald live and her devoted fans 🎤

33:00 Carol’s final relationship advice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He keeps Matthew Perry’s autobiography on his bookshelf, wishes Elvis Presley had “a little more happiness in his life” and admits that his five fiancées earned him the “Lord of the Rings” reputation. Here, Million Dollar Quartet star Darren Day concludes our interview with an honest account of his memories, including “going cold turkey in front of a whole country” and Piers Morgan’s infamous (and ridiculous) headline: “Even his own mum hates him.”

In part two of Darren’s chat, he talks about how Robbie Williams helped save his life, his recovery from addiction and the impact of Matthew Perry’s death. He also reflects on meeting his fiancée Sophie, the “I don’t do family” headline he says he never uttered, and the relationship regrets he still carries. Darren answers the Suddenly Single Honesty Box questions about dating, love and what he’d tell his younger self.

00:00 Robbie Williams’ offer of help 🤝

02:00 Rehab, recovery and how Robbie helped save his life

05:00 Relapse, sobriety and putting recovery first 🌱

06:00 Mental health, neurodivergence and creativity

07:00 What fame taught Darren about validation 🎭

08:00 How recovery changed what he looks for in a partner

09:00 Addiction, blackouts and psychotic episodes ⚠️

11:00 Darren’s memories of losing time

11:30 Matthew Perry’s story and the danger of relapse 🕊️

13:00 Going cold turkey on Celebrity Big Brother

14:00 Elvis Presley, fame and the headlines Darren feared 📰

15:30 Meeting Sophie after rehab

17:00 Sophie’s support and Darren’s “Lord of the Rings” reputation 💍

19:00 Darren’s best and worst dates

21:00 The Suddenly Single Honesty Box 🎤

23:00 The “I don’t do family” headline Darren says he never said

26:00 Regrets about past relationships 💔

27:30 What Darren would tell his younger self

29:00 Sophie, lasting love and Darren’s recovery ❤️

30:30 ADHD medication and life on stage

31:30 Thanks for watching 👋

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He didn’t find fame until 25, he hardly drank until he was 28 - but the night actor and singer Darren Day partied with the likes of Jonny Depp & Liam Gallager was the first time he took coke…and if it wasn’t for Robbie Williams intervention, the drugs would almost certainly have killed him…in fact, it bought him so low he tried to take his own life twice. Here’s Darren opens up about his Love Rat image, wine, women, songs, his endearing lack of confidence & constantly being mistaken for Jason Donovan…

In Part One of this extraordinary two-part conversation, Darren takes us from life on an Essex building site to becoming an overnight West End sensation after landing the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He reveals what it was really like to be thrust into fame, dating some of Britain’s biggest stars, partying with Hollywood royalty, and how one decision at a celebrity party changed the course of his life forever.

With remarkable honesty, Darren reflects on the media’s infamous “Love Rat” label, the pressure of fame, crippling self-doubt, addiction, and the moment Robbie Williams stepped in to help save his life. This is a candid, funny and often heartbreaking conversation about celebrity, mental health, recovery and resilience.

This is Part One of a two-part interview. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss Part Two.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Darren’s return to the West End 🎭

01:00 Why Million Dollar Quartet means so much to him 🎶

04:00 From building sites to starring in Joseph ⭐

08:00 Overnight fame changes everything 🤯

10:00 Dating Anna Friel and life in the spotlight ❤️

12:00 Johnny Depp, Liam Gallagher & the party that changed his life

20:00 The first line of cocaine and losing his confidence 💔

22:00 Becoming Britain’s most famous “Love Rat” 📰

25:00 How cocaine became a daily addiction

27:00 Robbie Williams’ advice about ignoring the critics 💬

29:00 Fame, relationships and why celebrity changes everything 💕

31:00 Meeting Robbie Williams and an unlikely friendship 🤝

34:00 Marriage breakdown, ADHD and mental health 🧠

36:00 The desperate phone call that saved Darren’s life

If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a comment. It really helps the channel grow and means we can keep bringing you honest conversations with fascinating guests.

Follow Suddenly Single for new episodes every week.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bestmagazine/?locale=en_GB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmagofficial/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/bestmagofficial?lang=en

BEST talks to smarter, sharper women. From financial tips and fashion advice to the latest celebrity stories, it’s a weekly date with your best mate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices