TABLOID TALES

What part did the tabloids play in Shane's rollercoaster ride along the celebrity highway?

Tabloid Tales was presented by Piers Morgan ( editor of the Daily Mirror). The programme comprised excerpts of Shane being interviewed by Piers, interspersed with comments from other journalists and experts with flashes of past newspaper headlines concerning Shane's life, professional and personal.

Shane admits he doesn't feel 'mistreated' by the press, but that at times they got it wrong

Beginning with the early days of Shane's TV contract with Granada, it had seemed that because Lucky Numbers was promoted by The Sun newspaper, all the other dailies at the time then proceeded to print negative articles about Shane and the show.

Surprisingly, as soon as The Mirror took over the promotion of Lucky Numbers, they had nothing but nice things to say about him! Piers referred to Shane as a commercial tool of the press. This struck home when the "Shane Richie Experience" was aired. So much so that Shane's then manager , Stan Dallas, says that an insider at LWT was feeding entirely false stories to the press saying that the show was to be axed, when in fact the show was doing well. Shane was looked on as a promising new talent, someone who would be big in TV. And LWT were resentful that Granada had got to him first and had grabbed the peak Saturday night viewing slot.

Shane's personal life hit the headlines shortly afterwards, and Stan Dallas admitted this was solely because a family member had sold the story to the News of the World. Shane states honestly that the only one that 'messed up' was himself. Granada were unhappy with the destructive press reports and did not renew his contract.

But there is nothing the press like more than for a star to crash and burn, then rise like a Phoenix from the ashes, as Shane has undoubtedy done

In fact, any tabloid editor worth his salt, can remember exactly where they were when they heard Shane had landed a part in Eastenders! You could hear the cheers ring round Fleet Street! Shane's past is so colourful, the press love him. Everyone assumed the part of Alfie Moon would be a replacement for Dirty Den Watts, but Shane was thankful that the character was totally different to this. As Shane says, there is something unconditional about someone who loves his Nan!

Professionally, Shane says he is on a journey. Who knows where it will lead.
Reach for the stars and you just might get the Moon!

Louise Berridge (BBC)

Sue Crawford (co-author, Rags to Richie)

Kevin O'Sullivan

Ian Hyland (Sunday Mirror)

Geoffrey Wansell (Daily Mail)

Andy Harries (Granada Television)

Phil Hall (News of The World)

Mark Borowitz (PR Consultant)