{"id":278647,"date":"2025-07-21T00:31:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T00:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/278647\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T00:31:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T00:31:16","slug":"handsome-soap-star-signs-up-to-celebrity-dating-app-raya-and-returns-to-uk-to-find-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/278647\/","title":{"rendered":"Handsome soap star signs up to celebrity dating app Raya and returns to UK to find love"},"content":{"rendered":"

RICKY WHITTLE has come back to London to look for love.<\/p>\n

The ex-Hollyoaks actor, who moved to Los Angeles<\/a> to work in Hollywood<\/a>, has signed up to celebrity<\/a> dating<\/a> app Raya.<\/p>\n

\"Phone<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

One of Ricky’s pictures shows him running down the street toplessCredit: Supplied\"Phone<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Another picture shows him cuddling a quokkaCredit: Supplied<\/p>\n

One of my pals spotted his profile on the app, with one picture showing him cuddling a quokka and another of him running shirtless through a street.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like he\u2019s saying I\u2019m cuddly, hot and very available,\u201d my mate said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis profile popped up a couple of weeks ago. It says he\u2019s an actor who lives in LA but was visiting London<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven how good he looks, I bet he had loads of people swiping on his profile.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE ON RICKY WHITTLE<\/p>\n

And judging by how well Raya is working for some in the capital, I\u2019m not surprised Ricky is trying his luck back on home ground.<\/p>\n

Last month I revealed Lily Allen<\/a> and James Norton<\/a> had started hooking up, and they\u2019re both big fans of the app.<\/p>\n

Ricky is best known over here for playing Calvin Valentine on Hollyoaks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After his character was killed off in 2010, Ricky moved abroad and has starred in shows including The 100 and American Gods.<\/p>\n

He previously thanked Hollyoaks for giving him the best start in acting, saying: \u201cIt\u2019s an education.<\/p>\n

“My character went from being the good guy, to the bad guy to the club owner, to the policeman, to your sister\u2019s on drugs<\/a>, to you\u2019d killed someone and then he\u2019s back to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

I hope Ricky\u2019s experience on Raya is less of a rollercoaster than his on-screen Hollyoaks life.<\/p>\n

Ricky Whittle looks unrecognisable xx years after starring in Hollyoaks\"Calvin<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Carmel (Gemma Merna) and Calvin (Ricky Whittle) get married on HollyoaksCredit: HandoutREUNION FOR JACKSON THREE\"Janet<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Jackie and Marlon briefly introduced sister Janet Jackson to the stage at their Heritage Live Festivals showCredit: Heritage Live Festivals\"Promotional<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

The Jacksons are one of the most famous musical families of all timeCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

THERE was an impromptu reunion for one of the most famous musical families of all time when Janet Jackson<\/a> joined The Jacksons on stage on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The group, now touring as brothers Jackie and Marlon, briefly introduced their chart-topping sister to the stage at their Heritage Live Festivals show at Englefield Estate near Reading.<\/p>\n

All For You singer Janet, who lives in London<\/a>, hasn\u2019t been on stage in the UK since her critically acclaimed tour here last autumn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But with The Jacksons still going \u2013 they have another show in Audley End in Essex<\/a> on July 31 \u2013 I\u2019m hoping they can persuade her to entertain us again soon.<\/p>\n

DO NOT BELIEVE ALL YOU SIA\"Sia<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Sia was snapped hand in hand with fellow Aussie Harry JowseyCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

SIA<\/a> has seemingly wasted no time moving from her husband Daniel Bernad after filing for divorce<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n

The singer was snapped hand in hand with fellow Aussie Harry Jowsey, a reality star two decades her junior, who found fame on Netflix<\/a> dating show Too Hot To Handle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I use the word \u201cseemingly\u201d because they are both notorious jokers, and this cosy snap of them heading out to dinner in LA looks like a hoax to me.<\/p>\n

It certainly isn\u2019t a \u2018romance\u2019 I saw coming.<\/p>\n

RACY J-LO SHOW IS A GIFT\"Jennifer<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Jennifer Lopez pulls off racy moves on stageCredit: EPA\"Jennifer<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

She was thrown about by hunky dancers during a particularly steamy routineCredit: TNI Press\"Jennifer<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Jennifer, who is currently on tour, played Tenerife at the weekendCredit: TNI Press<\/p>\n

JENNIFER LOPEZ<\/a> turns 56 on Thursday but you wouldn\u2019t know it by the racy moves she has been pulling on stage.<\/p>\n

Currently on a tour of some of the most random locations around Europe<\/a>, she played Tenerife at the weekend, where it looked like she was recreating positions from The Joy Of Sex.<\/p>\n

The Jenny From The Block singer got on all fours and was thrown about by hunky dancers during a particularly steamy routine.<\/p>\n

I can only hope I\u2019m still that flexible when I\u2019m in my fifties \u2013 and I\u2019m sure my fella does too.<\/p>\n

As well as the tour, J-Lo is giving fans a gift for her own big day by announcing a single called Birthday.<\/p>\n

Encouraging fans to pre-save it online, she wrote: \u201cIt\u2019s my birthday and you\u2019re all invited. Party details on Thursday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something tells me she won\u2019t be gorging on mountains of cake like the rest of us.<\/p>\n

RICK: I’M GUNNA TEAM UP\"Rick<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Rick Astley reveals whether work has begun on his tenth albumCredit: Getty\"Blossoms<\/a><\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

He wants to work with Blossoms on original musicCredit: Alamy<\/p>\n

RICK ASTLEY<\/a> wants to work with Blossoms on original music after playing a handful of shows where they covered songs by The Smiths.<\/p>\n

The gigs with the indie band went down a storm and now the Never Gonna Give You Up singer has admitted he doesn\u2019t want to, er, give them up.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive chat with Bizarre, he said: \u201cObviously Blossoms are amazing players, great musicians, and great writers. And I kind of think, yeah, it would be great to do something.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have talked occasionally about doing something, but I don\u2019t know what that would be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always a bit nervous of it, because one of the weird things is, I want to keep my friends as friends, and I don\u2019t want to go through a recording process and fall out with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

But fans have a wait on their hands for a follow-up to 2023\u2019s Are We There Yet?.<\/p>\n

Asked if he\u2019d begun work on his tenth album, Rick said: \u201cNo, we\u2019re having a quiet one this year, but I was in my studio this morning. I like tinkering. Who knows, we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever stop making music, I just don\u2019t know whether anyone\u2019s going to listen to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

BILLIE EILISH<\/a> has teased she is working on \u201csomething very special\u201d with Titanic director James Cameron<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the first of her four Hit Me Hard And Soft tour dates at Manchester\u2019s Co-op<\/a> Live on Saturday, the singer said the performance would form the basis of their new project, which fans have assumed will be a state-of-the-art live film<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She told the crowd: \u201cI can\u2019t say much about it but I\u2019m working on something very, very special with James Cameron and it\u2019s going to be in 3D.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese four shows here in Manchester<\/a>, you and me are part of a thing that I am making with him. He\u2019s in this audience somewhere, just saying.\u201d<\/p>\n

YOU couldn\u2019t blame Liam Gallagher<\/a> for wanting to put his feet up in front of the telly during rare nights off from the Oasis<\/a> tour.<\/p>\n

But the frontman, known for his wild nights out, has been enjoying high-brow evenings \u2013 at the theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

One of my mates spotted him in the audience at Sadler\u2019s Wells in London this week watching a ballet of Quadrophenia.<\/p>\n

Somehow, I doubt Liam will be pulling on a tutu any time soon.<\/p>\n

LEIGH-ANNE has hinted she almost packed in her solo career amid her split from Warner Records.<\/p>\n

I told in May how the former Little Mix<\/a> star had parted ways with the label and she\u2019s just released her new single Been A Minute as an independent artist.<\/p>\n

She said in her newsletter: \u201cSo much has changed this past year \u2013 new chapter, new energy, new team\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009There were moments I wasn\u2019t sure this would even happen\u2009.\u2009.\u2009.\u2009I had to back myself again.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE WEEK IN BIZNESS<\/p>\n

TUESDAY<\/strong>: Christina Aguilera and Cher are tipped to attend the gala night performance of the new musical remake of their movie Burlesque, at London\u2019s Savoy Theatre, starring breakout performer Jess Folley.<\/p>\n

THURS<\/strong>: Latitude Festival gets underway in Suffolk with Sting, Snow Patrol, Fatboy Slim, Alison Moyet, MIKA and Clean Bandit among acts on the line-up.<\/p>\n

FRIDAY<\/strong>: Adam Sandler digs out his golf clubs to star in Happy Gilmore 2, which will hit Netflix 29 years after he originally played the frustrated sportsman.<\/p>\n

SATURDAY<\/strong>: Coronation Street\u2019s Jack P Shepherd, better known on the cobbles as David Platt, ties the knot to his partner Hanni Treweek in a ceremony in Manchester.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"RICKY WHITTLE has come back to London to look for love. The ex-Hollyoaks actor, who moved to Los…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":278648,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3940],"tags":[2062,557,4080,115,411,17605,104963,77,560,1983,257,556,25915,430,118,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-278647","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-apps","9":"tag-california","10":"tag-celebrities","11":"tag-celebrity-relationships-and-break-ups","12":"tag-channel-4","13":"tag-dating","14":"tag-dating-app","15":"tag-entertainment","16":"tag-exclusives","17":"tag-hollyoaks","18":"tag-london","19":"tag-los-angeles","20":"tag-section-showbizbizarre","21":"tag-soap-stars","22":"tag-the-sun-newspaper","23":"tag-uk","24":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114888408739620210","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}