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Vera and Aiden interview Dr Palmer

Vera star David Leon has reprised his role as Joe Ashworth and in exclusive pictures obtained by Express.co.uk, the actor was seen smiling on set as he returned to the ITV series.

David left the drama in 2014 and was promptly replaced by Aiden Healy (played by Kenny Doughty ).

However, earlier this year, Kenny confirmed he was leaving Vera after eight years and would be replaced by David.

In new pictures, David was spotted with his co-star, Riley Jones, who plays Mark Edwards in the Brenda Blethyn series.

The Joe Ashworth star was dressed in a blue stripey shirt with a matching tie and black trousers.

READ MORE: ITV News viewers react in disbelief as studio setting ousted as ‘fake’

Vera: First look pictures show Aiden Healy’s replacement on set (Image: Express/Paul Kelly)

The actor finished off his look with a dark grey trench coat.

David, who was glued to his phone, looked happy to be back on set as he chatted with Riley.

The Mark Edwards actor was also dressed as his character and was wearing a beige coat with brown trousers and shoes.

Speaking about making his return to the show, David said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to Vera.

“It’s fantastic to be back in the North East and reunited with Brenda and the crew for the new series.

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Vera: David reunited with his co-star Riley Jones (Image: Express/Paul Kelly)

“I’m looking forward to exploring the relationship between Joe and Vera as they make up for lost time.”

The first episode of Vera, titled Fast Love, will see the detective investigating the mysterious murder of a young man.

As the investigation gathers pace, Vera learns that this cheeky chappy was a complex character. Antagonistic, arrogant and able to get what he wanted but did all of this come at a price?

Adding to the complexity of the case, Vera is taken aback by Joe’s return and is unsure of his motives.

Vera: David Leon looked thrilled to be back on set (Image: Express/Paul Kelly)

Brenda added: “Stepping back into Vera’s shoes for the thirteenth series feels like coming home again.

“The support from the locals in the North East is truly heart-warming and reuniting with the talented David Leon and the rest of our exceptional team is an absolute delight.

“Together, we embark on this new chapter with a terrific script crafted by the brilliant Paul Matthew Thompson.”

Vera is expected to return to ITV next year.

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This Morning: Dermot acknowledges ‘we are in the news’

Since Phillip Schofield left This Morning , the long-running daytime show has been rocked by a series of dramas. ITV, he has now quit the channel with immediate effect after confessing to an affair.

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Some believe the show needs to be fully rebranded (Image: ITV)

Speaking about the controversy on GB News , presenter Stephen Dixon asked if This Morning as a brand could survive.

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Many fear what the future of This Morning will look like (Image: ITV)

“There’s no doubt in my mind that they’re going to have to rebrand because to be honest, people aren’t going to be focused on the show, they’re going to be focused on the controversy.” Instagram , he said: “Now I no longer work on @thismorning I am free to say this.

Phillip decided to leave the show after a rumoured fall out with Holly (Image: ITV)

“I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice. This Morning continues weekdays on ITV from 10am

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Three new Gladiators revealed on Steph’s Packed Lunch

In the ’90s, Gladiators was a staple show on Saturday nights as people tuned in to watch “superhumans” compete against a brave set of contenders.

Putting their speed, strength and stamina to the test, participants would go through a series of challenges and tasks including fan-favourite, The Eliminator.

Across the eight seasons, the pros competed under names such as Jet, Scorpio and Wolf.

However, now there’s a new generation of Gladiators being introduced to the world.

One of which includes female Olympian Montell Douglas, who will go by Fire when the show starts.

READ MORE: ITV News viewers react in disbelief as studio setting ousted as ‘fake’

Fire is one of the people joining Gladiators (Image: BBC)

Sharing a collection of images on her Instagram , Montell spoke about how it feels to be part of such an infamous show.

The sportswoman said: “Not me being a whole GLADIATOR!!!

“ @gladiatorstv was THAT show! 6-year-old me remembers seeing the iconic Glads in the arena squaring up to the contenders brave enough to take them on and putting on the biggest fight I’d ever seen on TV.

“Never would I have imagined I’d be one of them! [sic] Throughout my career as an Olympic Sprinter turned Bobsledder… I can now add GLADIATOR.

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Montell used to watch the original show as a child (Image: INSTAGRAM)

“About to embark on the biggest journey of my life and I can’t wait to take you all with me!

“See you in Sheffield Arena in June. FIRE is here!!! Where are all my Flames?” (sic)

Other Gladiator athletes joining Fire include Giant, Legend, Nitro, Diamond, Sabre, Apollo and Dynamite.

Although the original was hosted by Ulrika Jonsson and John Fashanu, the reboot will see Bradley Walsh and his son Barney front the show.

Bradley Walsh and Barney will be hosting the reboot together (Image: GETTY)

However, it’s not Bradley’s first time delving into the Gladiator world as his wife was the head choreographer for the Gladiator cheerleaders.

Speaking about becoming the presenter for the reboot, the 62-year-old said: “Wow! I can’t believe that I’ve been asked to be part of this iconic show.

“I used to sit backstage, or in the audience, every week watching my wife be part of this juggernaut and now I get to co-host a new version of GLADIATORS!!!

“Saturday night family entertainment at its best…ARE YOU READY?!“

Although there’s yet to be a confirmed start date, it’s believed the BBC series will air mid-late 2023.

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Wilma was left in tears after the botched tattoo job (Image: @wilmah10/TikTok)

A young woman was left in tears after her attempt to get a tattoo went horribly wrong, leaving her with a disfigured face. Wilma Hägglund, from Sweden , decided she wanted the word “meow” tattooed on the inside of her bottom lip. However, the tattoo artist completely botched the job, inking the word instead on the outside of her lip.

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Taking to TikTok she vented her anger, saying: “He tattooed on the wrong place in my f****** mouth.”

She then showed a photo of the original design she had wanted to replicate, before letting viewers see what had happened to her.

The clip has since gone viral, though many are wondering how on earth she didn’t realise that the tattoo artist had gone rogue.

Some asked whether she had been drunk at the time, while others blamed her for not making it clear what she wanted.

She then showed a photo of the original design she had wanted (Image: @wilmah10/TikTok)

One social media user commented: “Were you passed out during [it]?

“How do you not feel the placement difference?

“Didn’t you have to hold your lip open? HOW girl, how?”

Another said: “I’m literally mad that you just didn’t notice or say anything like this is on you.”

“Why… Did you not notice they were tattooing it outside?” a third asked.

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Wilma was reduced to tears (Image: @wilmah10/TikTok)

Wilma is not the only unfortunate person to have a bad experience while getting a tattoo.

A woman was left distraught last April when a tattoo artist made a mess of a Medusa design she had asked for.

Aleyna Renae provided a detailed picture of the mythical woman and her hair of snakes.

However, her Medussa bore little resemblance to the original with its wonky eyes and poor shading.

Posting a photo of the tattoo to social media, she wrote in an accompanying caption: “And the tattoo artist has been blowing up my phone and gaslighting me.”

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