Corrie stars’ anger after Emmerdale Roxanne & Ryan clash
Corrie stars rap Roxanne on Ryan violence claims
FRIGHT NIGHT
Roxanne has alleged Ryan punched her
RYAN Thomas’s Corrie pals have slammed Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett for branding him a “woman beater” after their CBB spat.
The actress, 35, claimed she was “punched repeatedly, unprovoked and deliberately” by the star as he appeared to shadow box with her in a fall-out over the washing.
Thursday’s incident sparked 11,215 complaints to Ofcom – most about Roxanne’s behaviour.
And the row escalated last night when she told housemate Ben Jardine that Ryan, 34, had punched her “five or six times”.
Ryan’s girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh, 27, joined fans in calling for Roxanne to be removed from the Channel 5 show. And Tracy Beaker actor Connor Byrne said watching the Celebrity Big Brother footage had been like a “carbon copy” of an experience he had with Roxanne last year.
Leaping to Ryan’s defence, Corrie star Kym Marsh, 42, who plays Michelle Connor, said: “I am horrified at what happened.
“How can someone get away with clearly manipulating a situation and attempting to tarnish someone’s name? Get her out.”
Samia Longchambon, 36, who plays Maria Connor, added: “Mind blown by Roxanne’s overreaction!”
And Georgia May Foote, 27, who was Katy Armstrong, added: “[Ryan] is a lovely guy. It makes me sick people make up things like that. It’s the reason people who really do go through it stay quiet.”
Ryan’s girlfriend Lucy said: “I don’t think she is mentally fit to be in the house.”
Ryan and Roxanne allegedly rowed previously, in the run-up to the British Soap Awards in 2008.
The latest spat exploded after Ryan – Corrie’s Jason Grimshaw from 2000 to 2016 – appeared to playfight with her. In the Diary Room, she wept and called for him to go, saying: “He punched me like a boxer would punch a bag.”
Big Brother gave Ryan a warning and claimed “while almost playfighting you punched Roxanne in the ribs”. She later asked to sleep in a separate bedroom. Beaker star
Connor, 55, said he was “falsely accused of violence” by Roxanne while they were in panto Jack and the Beanstalk at the Ipswich Regent theatre last year.
He said: “Carbon copy of my encounter. A horrible moment in my life. More, a horrible blow to those who need to be believed.”
Meanwhile, a domestic violence group suggested the incident may have brought back bad memories.
After her character Jo Sugden was in a violent relationship, Roxanne said in 2008: “I was in an abusive relationship. It’s hard for me because it’s so close to home.”
Sian Hawkins, of Women’s Aid, said: “Playfighting may not seem serious but if you have been in an abusive relationship it can seem frightening and trigger memories.”
Roxanne’s Twitter account has been deleted as has that of her fiance Lee Walton.
Even Emmerdale stars have also hit out at her. Samantha Winward, 32, who played Katie Sugden, said: “This makes my blood boil but I hate to say I am not surprised!”
And Debbie Dingle star Charley Webb, 30, added: “So, Roxanne’s social media deleted. Says a lot. It’s not normal behaviour, there needs to be consequences.”
Roxanne’s spokesman said: “Roxanne has worked with domestic violence charities due to being a victim herself. She would be upset to find out she may have caused offence to others.”