Ronni Ancona: "Overwhelming" Motherhood, Surviving 2000s Comedy & Late ADHD Diagnosis
No Parental GuidanceShow Notes
BAFTA-winning comedy icon and EastEnders star Ronni Ancona joins us on the sofa for an absolute rollercoaster of an episode! Fresh off a wild, tooth-losing "school mothers' night out" (and nursing a severe liver hangover), Ronni strips back the famous masks to give us the raw, chaotic truth about her life.
From the relentless exhaustion of raising children who didn't sleep for 12 years to her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis in her 40s, Ronni opens up about the crippling pressure of people-pleasing, masking, and feeling like she was "failing at everything" while navigating the peak of UK fame.
We take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to look at the casual sexism of 2000s television, what it was really like making a massive hit comedy show with her ex Alistair McGowan, and the hilarious moment Posh and Becks invited them to a party... just to have them coat-check the guests.
Plus, Ronni shares incredible, heartwarming stories from her pre-fame days as a teacher at a tough all-boys school, her current brilliant stint as Bea Pollard on Albert Square, and why she's a self-proclaimed, "over-loving" mother.
🍎 THANK A TEACHER WITH TESCO! 🍏 This episode is proudly sponsored by Tesco, who are supporting the National Thank a Teacher Day campaign! We all know how vital teachers are for providing security, guidance, and changing children's lives. Every teacher recommended will be entered into an exclusive draw to win up to £1,000 worth of fresh fruit and veg for their school!
You have until the 17th of June to say a huge thank you to an amazing teacher who inspired you and up to the 1st July to get your grant applications in.
👉 Say your thank you now at: https://thankateacher.co.uk
🔗 CONNECT WITH US: Instagram: @NoParentalGuidancePodcast TikTok: @NoParentalGuidance If you loved this trip down memory lane and Ronni's incredible honesty, make sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment below with your favorite Ronni Ancona impression! #RonniAncona #ADHD #EastEnders #ParentingChaos #PoshAndBecks #ThankATeacher #NoParentalGuidance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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🎙️ Baby Loss Awareness Special | Hope, Healing & Unfiltered Truths | Jorgie Porter, Alex Bowen, Danae MercerWelcome back to a very special, and deeply personal, episode of No Parental Guidance.This week, we are stepping away from our usual unhinged antics to hold space for an important conversation dedicated to Baby Loss Awareness. Baby loss and pregnancy trauma is something 1 in 2 of us experience, yet so few feel empowered to speak about openly. Louise and Hannah have both experienced the deep heartbreak of baby loss, and while this episode is close to our hearts, our aim is simple: to shine a gentle light into the dark days and help anyone listening feel a little less alone.If this episode feels like too much for you right now, please take care of yourself—our usual chaotic episodes are just a click away in - can I recommend Sara Pascoe’s recent episode for unhinged parenting hacks that work a treat!And if you’re joining us today, welcome, we are honored to share three incredibly honest, moving, and uplifting conversations with our wonderful guests:💖 Jorgie Porter opens up about her extraordinary journey of naturally conceiving quadruplets, the overwhelming shock of her diagnosis, navigating a silent/missed loss, and how going through extreme grief together brought her and her partner Ollie closer than ever.💙 Alex Bowen brings a vital father’s perspective to the table. He reflects on his journey from Love Island to fatherhood, and candidly shares what it felt like to navigate Vanishing Twin Syndrome with Olivia—reminding us why men’s mental health and emotional openness matter just as much during baby loss.✨ Danae Mercer joins us to discuss the heartbreak of missed miscarriages and chemical pregnancies, the silent obsession with early pregnancy tests, and why we need to strip away the stigma and talk about just how common early loss really is.Thank you for being part of our community. Together, let's break the silence. 🤍📍 Episode Chapters00:00 - Baby Loss Awareness Introduction01:57 - Jorgie Porter Quadruplet Pregnancy Scan07:00 - Jorgie Porter Quadruplet Miscarriage Grief11:55 - Men's Mental Health After Miscarriage13:09 - Alex Bowen Love Island Journey18:48 - Alex Bowen Vanishing Twin Loss28:15 - Danny Mercer Missed Miscarriage Diagnosis30:26 - Chemical Pregnancy and Fertility Testing33:38 - Baby Loss Certificates and Support 💙 Support & ResourcesIf you or someone you know has been affected by baby loss, pregnancy loss, or fertility struggles, please know that support is always available:Tommy's (Pregnancy & Baby Loss Charity): tommys.orgSands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Loss Charity): sands.org.ukMariposa International (Saying Goodbye) (Comprehensive Global bereavement support, remembrance services, and resources supporting miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal, and infant loss) sayinggoodbye.org4Louis (Baby Loss Charity providing support, memory boxes and in hospital care) 4Louis.co.ukThank you to Aldi and their Mamia Range for supporting this special episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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This week, we are joined by the absolutely iconic comedian, author, and mum of two, Sara Pascoe!
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