Happy Honeymoon!

Congratulations again to Rachel and Guy on a fantastic wedding and what I'm sure will be a fantastic honeymoon in Thailand.

The blog recieved over 1000 hits in three days! We'll continue to bring you all the news on Rachel and her career. In the meantime you can watch the third episode of 'Find Me The Funny' featuring Rachel (see link below).

Find Me The Funny Part 3

Click on the link below.

Find Me The Funny Part 3

Rachel's Wedding

This is today's Belfast Telegraph article -- I've included a couple of my own photos as well.

In Pictures: I’d Do Anything star Rachel Tucker gets married

By Maureen Coleman (Belfast Telegraph)
Friday, 25 September 2009

Rachel Tucker was married at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast

As wedding entrances goes it was pretty theatrical.

But when the star of the show has showbiz in her blood it was never going to be conventional.

Blushing bride Rachel Tucker — who rose to fame on the BBC show I’d Do Anything — arrived at St Anne’s Cathedral yesterday half-an-hour late for her marriage to theatre producer Guy Retallack.

Well-wishers outside the cathedral heard them before they saw them. Rachel’s father Tommy, a well-known entertainer on the cabaret circuit, stood up in the open-top Rolls Royce to bang a tambourine and sing I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl).



The crowd clapped and cheered as Rachel, helped by her father, stepped from the car. Dressed in an ivory beaded halterneck dress with a long train, the West End star looked radiant as she stopped to pose for photographers.

As Tommy disappeared to shake hands with onlookers Rachel called him back again to walk her up the aisle.

“I’m already half-an-hour late, let’s go,” she told him.





The bridesmaids, sister Margaret Kelly and sister-in-law Christine Kelly, wore full-length coral gowns while Rachel’s little niece Kellyann O’Kane was dressed in an ivory beaded dress. Margaret, who runs a hair salon called Cabaret, is also a singer and performed with Rachel several years ago on Michael Barrymore’s My Kind Of Music.

After summonsing her father to her side Rachel walked into St Anne’s and down the aisle towards Londoner Guy.

His best man was his brother John Retallack while the ushers were Guy’s friends Jonathan Silver and Rachel’s brothers John and Tommy. Rachel’s nephew Ryan Kelly was the page boy.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph outside the cathedral an emotional Guy said he couldn’t wait to get married.

“A lot of my friends and family have come over from London today,” he said.

“I’m not nervous, just really excited.

“I absolutely love the venue. The wedding was always going to be in Belfast and we couldn’t have found a more perfect place.

“I can’t wait to see Rachel. I know she’s going to look beautiful.”



Among the 130 guests who attended the afternoon wedding were four of the ‘Nancy’ finalists from I’d Do Anything — Ashley Russell from Scotland, Samantha Barks from the Isle of Man, Kerry girl Jessie Buckley and Niamh Perry from Co Down.



Also there were celebrity wedding planners Ant and Dick, who helped organise the big day. Niamh and Jessie both sang Ave Maria at the ceremony while the choir from Little Flower — Rachel’s old school in north Belfast — performed On Eagles’ Wings.

Rev Timothy Close officiated at the wedding.

Samantha Barks, dressed in a long purple gown and matching shrug, said she was delighted to be back in Belfast.

Samantha, who came third in the television talent show, was in the city recently to star in Cabaret and was back over again to celebrate Niamh Perry’s 18th birthday.

“We were all doing the show when Rachel got engaged to Guy so we feel like we’ve been on this journey with her.

“I know she is going to look amazing and we’re all thrilled to be here for her today.”

Ashley added: “We came over for her big day simply because she’s our good friend.”

Following the ceremony the bridal party and guests headed to the Dunadry Hotel for the reception.

Rachel's Wedding

Rachel and Guy were married today in the beautiful St Annes Cathedral in Belfast. I was lucky enough to be at the service.

Everything went perfectly, including the weather and needless to say Rachel looked fantastic. It was a real privilege to be present on their special day.

Highlights included Jessie and Niamh singing 'Ave Maria' and the release of white doves on the church steps afterwards.

Karen went to the reception and hopefully we'll be able to feature more details and photos very shortly.

In the meantime I just want to say huge congratulations to Rachel and Guy and wish them a very happy life together.

Rachel and Guy

Rachel and Guy feature on page two of today's Belfast Telegraph, pictured alongside their private jet.

Click on the image to enlarge.

The Big Day Approaches

As most of you know, Rachel and Guy will be getting married this Thursday in Belfast and all of us at the blog want to wish them a fantastic day and an even more fantastic life together.

And just in case Rachel thought she wasn't going to be missed at WWRY, here's a wee comment which popped up on a forum a few days ago -- don't know who wrote it (their forum name is kitkat1990) but I thought it was worth mentioning:

''While I was waiting and watching her sign people's stuff at the stage door and she was talking to people I actually almost died on the spot she was THAT cute. Her accent makes her even more adorable.
She needs to come back right now! I miss her :( ''

Have a great day Rachel!!!!

Find Me The Funny Episode Two

Courtesy of the BBC Iplayer, here is episode two of the BBC NI show 'Find Me The Funny', featuring Rachel on the judging panel.

Just click on the link to watch.

FIND ME THE FUNNY EPISODE TWO

Happy Birthday Andy!!!!

Birthday time again -- this time for Andy, without whom this blog wouldn't even exist. Happy Birthday Andy!!!

Thanks and Happy Birthday

First of all I want to say a huge thanks to everyone who contributed pictures, audios and accounts of Rachel's last WWRY night, particularly Rosie, Julz, Victoria, Luke, Kirsty and Bex.

Saturday was a huge milestone in Rachel's career and I'm so glad that so many were there to support her and mark the occasion with so many great photos and audios.

Needless to say we'll be continuing to update you on the next phase of Rachel's career which already includes TV appearances.

I also want to wish Katie who runs Jessie's blog a very very happy birthday today.

Both blogs started within a month of each other last year and have continued to feature anything and everything on Jessie and Rachel's incredible journeys since IDA.
Katie does a fantastic job and it's a real privilege to know and work alongside her.

Happy Birthday Katie!!!!

WWRY Cast Change 2009

I'm sure everyone is aware that Rachel played Meat in the West End production of We Will Rock You for the last time on Saturday night - and she sure went out in style! I was lucky enough to be there with a group of amazing friends to witness an incredible, awe-inspiring, emotional, funny, wonderful, and generally fantastic show with the whole cast giving it their absolute all. And one very special visitor! (Mr Bri-Ann!) My friend Juls and I were sitting in Row D of the stalls, and her incredible camera managed to capture these photos for you all (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!). I've managed to get my paws on some other photos too that will hopefully be up here soon.

There were only a few alterations to the show in the evening (unlike the 'muck-up' matinee that afternoon), but there was just a totally different atmosphere to a normal show. Instead of kicking off with 'Innuendo' as usual, Queen's 'It's A Beautiful Day' started playing instead and really got the audience going - everyone was clapping and singing along, and the show hadn't even started!

The first half was incredible as always. Some of the performers were obviously finding it hard to hide their emotions - Sabrina spent most of 'Somebody To Love' with tears streaming down her face! Ricardo (who also left the cast on Saturday) was absolutely outstanding. I've seen his Galileo.. errrm.. a fair few times lets say, but nothing could have prepared me for how amazing he was on Saturday night. He gave 200% to every little thing he did. His voice had never sounded better, and he was clearly loving every single second of it. He and Sabrina were just a dream-team. Mazz Murray and Alex Bourne were amazing as always - when Mazz starts singing most of the audience just sit there gawping up at her - incredible!!!

And then there's Rachel and Ian who pop up through the trapdoor to finish off Act I. Rachel came up onto the stage to a massive cheer and her and Ian's 'I Want It All' was simply fantastic. It was like they were both determined to make the most of every moment of their last performance together and their energy transmitted to the audience wonderfully.

'Headlong' with Sabrina and Ricardo was also brilliant - with a few added dance moves from both Rachel and Sabrina!

Rachel's last ever 'No-One But You' was something I was looking forward to, but also slightly dreading..just because I knew I'd never want it to end. As usual it was totally flawless, but the emotion in her performance made it absolutely captivating for everyone. The emotion of the evening and of the song in general meant that she (and many members of the audience - not mentioning any names!!!) were in tears throughout it. Many of the bohemians standing in the Heartbreak Hotel behind her also found it hard to compose themselves during such a beautiful final performance!

Ian then lead the cast in 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' which was, as usual, a perfect end to the act. Everyone was having so much fun - Rachel added in a couple of shouts of "I LOVE YOU BRITNEY!" which was lovely!

Act II and everyone knows theres nowhere near enough Rachel. However, ample amounts of Ricardo (which is never gonna be a bad thing really is it?!). It was amazing but quite sad watching him for the last time. He and Sabrina always work so incredibly well together and their 'Who Wants To Live Forever' and 'Hammer To Fall' were the highlights for me - two amazing performances from them both.

Anyone whose seen the show knows that it ends with the whole cast (lead by Ricardo) singing 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are The Champions', the latter of which Ricardo occasionally ends with this crazy long note that just goes on forever and ever. The last few time I'd seen him he hadn't done it - then for Rachel's last Scaramouche on the 4th September he did it and it was completely amazing as usual. Everyone kind of assumed he'd obviously do it for his last show as well, and he did not disappoint - but the most moving moment for me was, as soon as he started, everyone in the audience just rose to their feet and gave him the massive standing ovation he deserved (which left Sabrina in bits on stage again!). It was a great moment.

The cast then all return for 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. And you can imagine just how wild the audience went when, for the guitar solo, Brian May comes up through a trapdoor in the centre of the stage, surrounded by smoke. It was epic!

Brian then stayed on stage and said goodbye to all the cast who were leaving, finishing with Rachel and Ricardo. I see there's a video of the speeches below this, so you can all hear for yourselves, the touching things he said about Rachel and what she'd bought to the part of Meat. He said that everyone was really going to miss her - too right we will!

Ricardo got a similarly moving goodbye - he's been in the cast for over three years and, as Brian May said, practically recreated the part of Galileo - taking him to places that no-one else had done.

This fantastic evening ended with Ricardo and Brian May leading the cast in a moving performance of 'The Show Must Go On'. My words probably can't do it justice so I won't try and sum it up, but it was simply breathtaking!

So that's that! Rachel has officially left WWRY and we await with baited breath to see what she'll do next (back to the West End please!).

All that's left to say is congratulations Rachel, on a fantastic year in London (Hampton Court, So Jest End, West End Eurovision aaaaaaand a West End debut!) and have an amazing wedding and a wonderful time in Thailand. But come back soon please!

WWRY Cast Change pictures

Massive thanks to Luke for these amazing pictures from Saturday night:

Rachel's Final 'No-One But You' and more Brian

Two more videos courtesy of Victoria -- the first is an audio of Rachel's final 'No-one But You' -- you'll need to turn your volume up a bit -- this is history right here!



And this is Brian paying tribute to Jon and Rachel. Emotional stuff.

Cast Change Night -- Brian May's Speech

Oh yeah! Check out the appreciation for Rachel on one minute 30 -- thanks for sending this link Victoria!

Rachel's Final Night in WWRY

It sounds like Rachel's final performance in WWRY was both a fantastic and hugely emotional one.

Rosie was there and will be giving us a full account of the night so I don't want to say too much, but as you can see from the pictures and video below, Brian May himself was there and performed an incredible rendition of 'The Show Must Go On' with Ricardo (who is also leaving the cast). It's only my favourite Queen song -- really wish I could have been there.

These pictures are courtesy of Kirsty who went to the show with her friend Bex.

Thanks a lot for these and remember if anyone has any other photos or videos of the night or indeed any Rachel related ones, do let us know. We're always happy to publish them.

'The Show Must Go On'

Rachel in 'Find Me The Funny'

Rachel is on the judging panel for new BBC NI show 'Find Me The Funny.' The series is a search for a stand-up comedian worthy of an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is broadcast on Friday nights on BBC Northern Ireland.

You can watch the first show right now via the BBC IPlayer. As one of only three judges, Rachel features heavily in the show and there's even a little snippet of IDA around the ten minute mark.

Just click on the link below.

FIND ME THE FUNNY SHOW ONE

Cast Change Night

It's the end of an era tonight as Rachel performs in WWRY for the final time.

We want to wish her, Ricardo, Jon and the rest of the cast all the very best and look forward to Rachel's next project.

Rosie will be there tonight amongst others and if you're lucky enough to be going, remember that your reviews, comments and photos are all very welcome.