‘My worst-ever job was playing Bob the Builder at a corporate event — and being kicked by a kid'
Laura O'Mahony is a stand-up comedian, actor and director. The Cork native hosts the Red Raw podcast with former Olympic medallist Rob Heffernan, with whom she once co-presented a breakfast show on Red FM.
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
London's best lidos, ponds and outdoor pools to beat the heatwave
A searing heatwave is sweeping the UK, and all any of us Londoners can think of is where to go to cool off. It's so hot, in fact, that the previous record of 40°C, in July 2022, could be under threat. A health agency has issued an amber heat warning, meaning there's potential for it to be dangerously hot, and the Met Office has warned it's only going to get hotter. In London, we don't have the luxury of a coast. But along with dozens of parks and buzzing beer gardens, we do have plenty of lidos and spots for wild swimming. So, grab your towel, slap on some factor 50, and dive right in. After a £4 million revamp, Tooting Bec Lido is finally open to the public this summer. At 90 metres long, it's the UK's largest freshwater swimming pool, catering to 1,300 Londoners. The lido offers two sessions per day, alongside special swim times to kickstart the season. As well as installing a new pumphouse and UV filtration system to keep the water clean and safe, the surrounding area has also had a glow-up. The changing rooms have been given a sleek, modern update and there's fresh landscaping around the water's edge. According to Wandsworth Council, 130 free tickets for swimming sessions will be available for eligible residents under Wandsworth's Access for All scheme. Otherwise, it's £9.40 for adults and £5.20 for kids. If you want wild swimming without travelling to the countryside, make for Hampstead Heath Ponds. Split between mixed, and men's and women's areas, the ponds have a cult following and come July will be heaving with crowds. Who knows, you might even spot a celebrity. A-listers are known to frequent the Heath, with Harry Styles, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Woody Harrelson all swimming there in recent years. Tickets are £4.80 for adults and £2.90 for concessions for 60 minutes of swimming. Tucked in the corner of Brixton's Brockwell Park, this lido is a real sun trap on a warm day. The 50m Olympic-sized pool sits beside an art deco building, with a cute café where you can refuel after a swim. Lane swims cost £8 for up to 50 minutes, and must be booked in advance. Another South London gem, this Olympic-sized heated pool has a summer sun terrace, coffee bar, and outdoor gym equipment. If you're lucky, you'll see the local parakeets flying above while you backstroke. Adult swimming sessions cost £11.50, with prices starting at £5.50 for concessions. Opened in the 1930s, this unheated outdoor pool is open to the public 365 days a year. Located near Gospel Oak train station, it's ideal for those who don't feel ready to brave the ponds. Swimming sessions start at £4.80 for adults and £2.00 for concessions, with no need to book ahead (but you may need to queue if it's busy). At Green Lanes in Stoke Newington, you can go for an open-water swim or try your hand at kayaking at the West Reservoir. It's not for the faint-hearted – temperatures are low, but it's a great spot to get used to the cold water in a beautiful setting. Once you're done, warm up with a coffee at the waterside cafe. Open water swimming – which is available between 7am and 6pm – costs £13.15. Sessions are 30 minutes. Beckenham Place Park is the largest green space in Lewisham, and although you'll get the feel of wild swimming, lifeguards are on hand to ensure everything is safe, and you can hire kayaks or paddle boards at certain times too. Whichever water-based activity you choose, the lake offers a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle. One-hour sessions cost £7.40 for non-residents. Lewisham locals pay a little less, at £6.80. Fancy hitting up one of London's most iconic 'open water' swimming locations? Head to Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. Here you can swim surrounded by nature, before drying off in the Lido Cafe Bar with a fresh lunch and a glass of wine. If you don't want to swim, but fancy checking out the views,waterside tables are available. For a full day at the lido, it's just £7.50. According to the website, Serpentine Lido will reopen for the weekend on May 17, and then fully from 24 May. If you've got kids in tow, Hillingdon Lido is a great shout. The 1930s Grade II-listed, 50m open-air swimming pool oozes art deco charm, and is considered a 'hidden gem.' Not only are there stunning fountains to play around in, but there's also a new, heated shallow splash pool for little ones. It's close to Ruislip Lido, a sandy (man-made) beach with a lake beside it, though swimming is not permitted there. Also ideal for families, there's an ice-cream shop and play areas suited for kids. Worth the journey if you fancy a day in nature. Tickets cost £11 for non-residents. Let's be honest, this is the UK, and we're not always guaranteed good weather. More Trending And if the heavens open this weekend, Finchley Lido Leisure Centre has your back. This indoor complex combines a pool with slides, a wave machine and jets. There's also a cinema and a bowling alley for some post-swim fun. Outside, there is a 25-metre swimming pool open during the summer months. Swimming costs £8.30. MORE: Man 'carrying a gun' at Elm Park Underground station arrested during rush hour MORE: Does drinking alcohol in the sun really get you drunk faster? A doctor shares their verdict MORE: Defenceless' grandad, John Murray, 75, found beaten to death in his Chiswick home
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
I'm twice my daughter's age but everyone thinks we're sisters
At 36, Lisa Johnston is double her 18-year-old daughter's age — but people regularly mistake them for sisters, and the mother-of-two even still gets IDed by bouncers. The semi-permanent make-up artist from Glasgow was 17 when she had Alicia, and describes her as a 'built-in best friend'. The lookalike pair have a close relationship, sharing clothes, make-up, and even the same friends, to the point Lisa claims strangers are 'gobsmacked' when they hear beautician Alicia call her 'mum'. 'We've been out a couple of times together at pubs and no one can believe it,' she says. 'They're like, 'What? Are you friends or sisters?'.' Although they often get 'confused' looks while out together, Lisa takes this as a compliment, getting a 'confidence boost' if people question whether they're really mum and daughter. 'That's not your mummy she looks in her 20s,' wrote one user under a TikTok of them, while another said: 'Nah both look as young as each other. Sisters definitely.' 'Who's the mum I'm confused,' added a third. 'People say I look really young, it's quite nice actually,' Lisa adds. She enjoys the idea of having produced a 'mini me', with duo being told they're a 'copy and paste' of each other. 'The more Alicia is getting older I can now see the big resemblance especially when we're doing the videos and things together,' says the mum. 'It is kind of like who's who?' Alicia appreciates how alike they are too, commenting: 'My friends love coming over because my mum is like a friend. They'll just chat away to her. 'There will be times where I'm minding my own business and I'll get a phone call and they're like, 'I'm out with your mum right now'. 'She's part of the friendship group.' The teen isn't bothered by the comparisons — instead finding it 'funny'. More Trending 'As I got older and I looked more like my mum, people were like, 'oh my God, you actually look so similar',' says Alicia. 'We've basically got the same makeup routine and everything. So it's actually good.' Lisa credits her youthful looks to a healthy lifestyle, explaining: 'Fitness and healthy eating is a big part of my lifestyle – I go to the gym five times a week.' She also makes an effort to avoid unneccessary stress, which she believes is a 'big part' of staying so fresh-faced. 'We're all just living life – it should be fun,' she added. 'I don't get myself too riled up on anything.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I never gave up on my Olympic dream – even when fleeing my home MORE: The abortion pills-in-post system needs a serious overhaul MORE: Trolls came for my looks, business and parenting – I want Tattle Life's demise Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2025 celebrity line up rumours include a royal and WAG
Speculation around this year's Strictly Come Dancing lineup has been building for weeks, with several reality stars and even a Royal Family member rumoured to be taking part Strictly Come Dancing will be back on our screens before we know it. The BBC have already revealed the lineup of professional dancers for the 23rd season. Now speculation is mounting over which celebrities will be hot footing it onto the dance floor this year. Professional Dancers Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola will all take part once more - with two brand new professional dancers set to be announced in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, all four judges - Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke - are set to return to the panel, along with hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. After Dianne and comedian Chris McCausland won the hearts of the nation on last year's series, winning the coveted glitter ball trophy and taking home a BAFTA TV Award for Memorable Moment to boot, people are keen to see who will be in the spotlight this year. Rumours have been stirring that several reality stars, an Olympic athlete and a member of the Royal Family will be taking part in the BBC dance competition. Who are the rumoured celebrities? Mo Farah Sir Mo Farah is said to be in early talks to join the 2025 cast. The athlete, who is seen as a "genuine national treasure" by BBC bosses, is apparently a top choice due to his clean image and huge profile, which they think would help to draw in viewers and build trust after na raft of scandals last year. According to The Sun, a source stated: "His personality would provide the perfect tonic to the toxicity that's overshadowed Strictly. Bosses would love to sign him up but the talks are at a very early stage." Dani Dyer Another star rumoured to join the show is Dani Dyer, after she shot to fame as the champion of Love Island 2018. Since leaving the show she has remained in the spotlight, and recently tied the knot with West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen. If Dani signs up for the series, viewers can expect to see her father, Danny Dyer, in the studio most weeks. Tom Parker-Bowles Tom Parker-Bowles is another star tipped for the show. The famous chef, whose mother is Queen Camilla Parker-Bowles, is a regular judge on BBC's Masterchef. The stepson of Kings Charles will be swapping his chef uniform for the sparkly dance floor outfits, if he signs up for the show. Reports claim that Tom was "sounded out last year but never materialised" with show bosses now hoping they'll "have better luck this year". Georgia Toffolo Georgia Toffolo is no stranger to reality TV, having risen to fame on Made in Chelsea. Georgia appeared on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2017, where she was crowned the queen of jungle. Stacey Solomon Social media personality Stacey Solomon is also rumoured to be joining the lineup. Similar to Georgia, Stacey is no stranger to reality TV, having first appeared on our screens in 2009 when she was a contestant on The X Factor. Since then she has gone on to build a large following online, and has appeared in a raft of shows including as a long-running Loose Women panelist, as well as hosting BBC Sort Your Life Out. Most recently the mum of five and her husband Joe Swash had success with BBC reality series Stacey & Joe. The couple let cameras into their home at Pickle Cottage, with their children and plenty of family pets. Thomas Skinner The Apprentice fan favourite Thomas Skinner, who earned Lord Sugar's respect during the 2019 series of the BBC show, could be hitting the Strictly dancefloor this year. According to the Mail Online, Skinner - who's known for his catchphrase "bosh!" - is "up for giving the competition his best shot' even though he has "no dancing experience". A source stated: "Strictly bosses are hoping he'll get the dads watching. He has a massive following, especially with working-class blokes." Ashley Cain Reality star Ashley Cain, best known for his appearances on the first two seasons of Ex on the Beach, is reportedly in the running for this year's Strictly. Cain has transitioned into presenting, fronting the BBC documentary Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone. It's reported that his on-screen presence and hosting abilities have impressed Strictly producers, putting him in the running.
