Chelsee Healey, best known for playing Janeece Bryant in the BBC series Waterloo Road, has spoken candidly about the highs and lows of fame and her return to the show during the launch of a new live podcast series in Manchester city centre.
Think Deepa Live Debuts in Manchester
The actress, who has also appeared in Hollyoaks and Casualty, joined host Deepa Parekh for the inaugural Think Deepa Live event at The Dome, Manchester. The immersive series aims to transform the traditional podcast format by blending celebrity storytelling, personal development, and audience participation.
Hosted by broadcaster and producer Deepa Parekh, the launch event encouraged attendees to go beyond passive listening and become part of the experience. Throughout the evening, Healey spoke openly about growing up in the public eye, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the realities of a long career in entertainment.
Overcoming Abuse and Finding Self-Worth
Healey shared how difficult it has been to read “untruths” about her on social media and in press headlines over the years, but said she now feels happier and more settled as a mother to two young daughters, Coco and Cookie. “I’m finally secure in myself, that I am enough,” she said.
She recounted appalling abuse she has faced, including being called a “baby hippo” during her time on Strictly Come Dancing, but said she has risen above it to find her authentic self. “I used to get slated for how I look, I was called baby hippo when I was on Strictly. But I don’t care now, I feel like I’ve grown so much, and beauty is on the inside,” she stated.
Supporting Partner Through Public Scrutiny
Healey was supported at the event by her partner Eddie Rainford. She spoke about the difficulty of reading headlines concerning his prison term for Class B drug offences committed between 2022 and 2023. “He is the best person in the world, he is a good man. People just want to hear the bad stuff but that doesn’t define someone as a person if that makes sense,” she said.
She added: “There have been things that are in the press about my partner, I hope he doesn’t mind me saying he went to jail. But it [media reports] never said that he served 12 years in the Marines. I will never judge anyone and no one knew him or his background. He’s the best person, he’s the purest and the hardest worker and you know he fought 12 years for our country and he was very high up within the Marines. But the press just like to say what happened, what he was in [prison] for, and that kind of fell on me but I know the man that he is and I will support him ’til the end. He’s a good man and he’s an amazing dad.”
Return to Waterloo Road
On returning to Waterloo Road as Janeece Bryant, a role she first originated in 2006, Healey said: “It feels like home. Going back to Waterloo Road, I feel challenged. I feel like I haven’t acted in so long. I feel like the story lines and everything that they’ve given me is amazing and it’s given me something to focus on, get stuck into and challenge myself again. I feel like that fire has been relit.”
Additional Guests and Future Events
Earlier in the evening, host Deepa Parekh was joined by Bolton boxer Abdul Khan, whose unbeaten professional career has been shaped by resilience and discipline. Together, they explored the pressures and choices behind success, offering insight into the mindset required to perform at a high level.
Unlike a traditional live podcast, Think Deepa Live is designed to blur the line between guest and audience. Attendees embarked on a curated self-discovery journey featuring guided reflection, journaling, breathwork, and immersive experiences. The event aims to transform celebrity storytelling into a personal reflection on life lessons.
Deepa said: “What I’m creating with Think Deepa Live is not simply a wellness event series. At its core, it’s about helping people reconnect, with themselves, with others and with their health (both physical and mental), in a world where so much of our connection now exists through screens and technology. The live podcast series is designed to create meaningful conversations around mindset, performance, resilience and self-awareness, but importantly also the role preventative healthcare plays in allowing people to function at their best physically and mentally. I want people to leave each event feeling energised, empowered and clearer about what they may want to begin, change or carry forward in their own lives.”
Following its successful launch, Think Deepa Live will continue with an initial three-event monthly series hosted in venues across Manchester in July, September, and November. The next podcast will feature former footballer Fabrice Muamba at Soho House on July 9. Guest and ticket information is available at deepaparekh.com, and each event is filmed and live-streamed across digital platforms. Deepa’s previous podcasts have generated more than one million views across social media and platforms, with guests including Usain Bolt, Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Chelcee Grimes, and others.
