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Shannen Doherty: Hollywood's Bad Girl, Her Feuds and Her Final Fight
She was the rebellious star of Beverly Hills, 90210, the unforgettable Prue Halliwell in Charmed, and one of the most talked-about actresses of the 1990s.
But behind the fame, fortune and Hollywood glamour, Shannen Doherty was fighting battles the public knew little about.
Branded difficult, hounded by the tabloids and surrounded by rumours of bitter feuds, Shannen became Hollywood's ultimate bad girl. Her explosive departure from Beverly Hills, 90210, her turbulent relationships and her controversial exit from Charmed threatened to overshadow her extraordinary talent.
But was Shannen really the nightmare the headlines made her out to be? Or was there another side to the woman Hollywood loved to hate?
In this week's Dead Famous, we uncover the remarkable life of Shannen Doherty, from teenage stardom and behind-the-scenes drama to heartbreak, betrayal and an extraordinary battle with breast cancer that would reveal a very different side of the actress.
This is a story of fame, feuds, resilience and a woman who refused to be silenced.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you or someone you love has been affected by breast cancer, the following UK organisations offer information, advice and support:
Breast Cancer Now: https://breastcancernow.org
Free helpline: 0808 800 6000
CoppaFeel!: https://coppafeel.org
Breast Cancer UK: https://www.breastcanceruk.org
Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk
Free support line: 0808 808 00 00
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Theme music arranged and composed by Holly-Jane Shears
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42:23|In October 2009, Boyzone star Stephen Gately is enjoying a holiday in Majorca with his husband. At just 33 years old, his career is thriving, his future looks bright, and there is little reason to suspect that anything is wrong.But after a night out, Stephen is found dead in their holiday apartment. Within hours, the shocking news makes headlines around the world, and questions begin to emerge about what really happened during his final hours.How could a seemingly healthy young man die so suddenly? And what would investigators uncover about the circumstances surrounding his death?This week on Dead Famous, we revisit the life, sudden death and heartbreaking aftermath of one of Britain's best-loved pop stars.
Laura Sadler: The BBC Actress Who Fell to Her Death
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Paula Yates: Fame, Scandal and a Tragic Death at Just 41
52:03|She was one of the most recognisable women on British television. Outspoken, outrageous and utterly captivating, Paula Yates had fame, fortune, four beautiful daughters and a love life that kept the tabloids in a permanent frenzy.But behind the provocative headlines and dazzling smile, Paula's world was beginning to unravel.A passionate love affair, a devastating loss and a series of deeply personal revelations would send her life spiralling in a direction few could have imagined.And then, on a September morning in 2000, just as Paula appeared to be finding her feet again, something happened that would shock the nation.What really happened behind the closed doors of her London home? How had one of Britain's brightest television personalities found herself in such a desperate situation? And was there more to Paula Yates than the scandalous headlines ever allowed us to see?This week on Dead Famous, we uncover the extraordinary life, heartbreaking decline and tragic final chapter of Paula Yates.
Karen Carpenter: The Superstar Who Was Dying in Plain Sight
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Olivia Newton-John: Behind the Famous Smile
52:16|Olivia Newton-John was one of the most beloved stars of her generation — the voice behind Physical, the unforgettable Sandy in Grease, and a woman whose warmth made her famous around the world.But behind that famous smile was a life marked by extraordinary highs, private battles, a disappearance that remains a mystery more than 20 years later, and a cancer diagnosis that would ultimately transform Olivia's life and legacy.This week on Dead Famous, I tell the remarkable story of Olivia Newton-John.This episode is released during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For information, awareness, advice and support:Breast Cancer Nowhttps://breastcancernow.orgCoppaFeel!https://coppafeel.orgBreast Cancer UKhttps://www.breastcanceruk.org.ukMacmillan Cancer Supporthttps://www.macmillan.org.uk
Judy Garland: The Tragic Life and Death of The Wizard of Oz Star
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David Bowie: The Man Who Fell to Earth
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Patrick Swayze: Nobody Puts Patrick in a Corner
49:13|On 14 September 2009, Patrick Swayze died at the age of just 57.Seventeen years later, on the anniversary of his death, Dead Famous looks back at the extraordinary life of one of Hollywood’s most enduring leading men.From a childhood shaped by dance and a formidable mother, to the roles that made him a global star in Dirty Dancing, Ghost and Point Break, Patrick’s journey was one of ambition, determination and, at times, extraordinary physical endurance.But behind the movie-star image was a man who battled injury, addiction, personal tragedy and the pressures of fame — while his marriage to childhood sweetheart Lisa Niemi endured for more than three decades.Then, in 2008, came the diagnosis that would change everything.This is the story of Patrick Swayze: dancer, actor, sex symbol and reluctant Hollywood heartthrob — remembered on the 17th anniversary of his death.