It’s one of those heartbreaking situations where grief, inheritance, and family expectations all crash into each other—and no one comes out unscathed.
Former Hear’Say singer and Emmerdale star Suzanne Shaw recently opened up on national TV about feeling “slapped in the face” after being left out of her late father’s will.
But now, her former stepmother has come forward to share a very different side of the story.
Suzanne Says She Was Left With Nothing After Her Father’s Death
During a candid interview on Vanessa on Channel 5, Suzanne, now 43, spoke about the pain of losing her father, Vincent Crowshaw, and the emotional aftermath that followed.
She claimed all of his assets went to his then-wife, Irene—leaving her with nothing.
Suzanne said her brother inherited their dad’s business, but beyond that, everything else went to Irene, who has since remarried.
The singer admitted the situation caused such a deep divide that she no longer speaks to that side of the family.
“It’s like a slap in the face,” she said. “It makes you feel like you weren’t valued.”
Irene Breaks Her Silence From Cyprus
Now 68 and living in Cyprus with her fifth husband, Irene Marshall decided to speak out.
Reaching out to MailOnline, she said she was “shocked and hurt” by Suzanne’s claims.
“It’s just not true,” she insisted.
Irene explained that she and Vincent had been married for 10 years before his death from a brain tumour in 2012. They were together for 15 years total.
According to her, the inheritance was never meant to be unfair.
“I Put My Own Money Into That House”
One of Irene’s main points was that she had invested financially in her life with Vincent.
“When we bought our house, I sold mine and brought £50,000 to the table,” she explained.
“We had a mortgage, debts, and even credit cards. When he died, we still owed £62,000.”
She added that Vincent had even booked a family holiday to Disneyland Paris before he passed, and she chose to go ahead with the trip for everyone, costing her another £12,000.
The Mirrored Will: Shared Plans, Different Outcomes
Irene said she and Vincent had drawn up what’s known as a “mirrored will” around 2005.
“If I died first, everything would go to him. If he died first, it would go to me.
And if we both died together, everything would be split between my two children and his, including Suzanne.”
She also said that Vincent’s business went to Suzanne’s brother, Paul.
“There was nothing secretive about it,” she insisted.
“Suzanne could’ve contested the will if she felt strongly, but she didn’t.”
Still in Touch—Or Not?
Despite Suzanne’s comments about being estranged, Irene claims they remained in touch after Vincent’s death.
“She messaged me to congratulate me when I got married in 2020. She even sent condolences when my sister passed away three years ago.”
Irene said Suzanne also maintains contact with her daughter.
“So I don’t understand her saying she’s not in touch with us.”
A Complicated Family History, Not a Simple Story
Family members close to Irene are also upset, saying Suzanne’s comments unfairly paint them as greedy.
“We’re not gold-diggers, like she implied,” one source said.
“This story is more complex than she’s making it out to be.”
Before marrying Vincent, Irene worked as a secretary at the Alliance and Leicester building society.
Later, she joined Vincent’s video production company, which filmed dance shows and festivals across the UK.
“When he died, I didn’t have a job anymore either,” she added.
What Sparked the TV Discussion?
Suzanne’s emotional remarks came during a conversation about inheritance and family breakdowns on Vanessa.
Fellow guest Carrie Grant even admitted she’d just talked to her own husband about how inheritance can spark conflict among siblings.
“Honestly, you’re setting your children up for war,” she said.
TV parenting expert Jo Frost, aka Supernanny, also weighed in on Instagram, saying both women’s responses were “sad but common.”
She urged families to have open conversations before things turn ugly.
“None of us are entitled to someone else’s money,” she said.
The Pain of Losing Her Dad Still Lingers
Aside from the money, Suzanne has spoken in the past about how hard it was to watch her father deteriorate.
Vincent was diagnosed in 2012 with a grade four glioblastoma tumour and given just over a year to live. Sadly, no treatment worked.
“I always thought my dad was invincible,” Suzanne once said.
“You keep hoping for a miracle, but it never comes.”
No Easy Answers in This Family Dispute
In the end, this is a story about something far more painful than money—it’s about loss, legacy, and fractured relationships.
Whether misunderstandings or deeper resentments are at play, the emotional toll seems to have lasted long after Vincent’s death.
And with both sides now speaking out, it’s clear the pain didn’t end with the funeral.