Noel Edmonds' new life rocked by earthquakes, landslides and money problems
Noel Edmonds has revealed he and wife Liz were forced to "grab their dogs and run" after a terrifying earthquake shook their New Zealand estate.
The former Deal or No Deal host, 76, has swapped the small screen for the scenic countryside, living on an 800-acre estate complete with a vineyard, pub, wellness centre and restaurant but despite the tranquil surroundings, life in New Zealand hasn't always been smooth sailing.
'During the first one, we were sitting outside with a glass of wine, and I noticed the surface of the wine rippling. That was a mild one,' Noel recalled. 'The biggest one really shook the house - the cutlery drawer rattled, and Liz and I each grabbed a dog and ran outside.'
Luckily, there was no structural damage 'But, yes, earthquakes and a dormant volcano just up the way. At least, we hope that it's dormant.'
Noel also described the unpredictable climate in their new hometown. He's had to deal with strong winds knocking down trees, 'tropical rain' and dangerous landslips, saying the weather has a serious 'attitude'.
The candid moments feature in his new ITV documentary Noel Edmonds' Kiwi Adventure, which follows the couple's new life abroad after they left the UK in 2018. In the opening episode, Noel opens up about some of the darkest moments in his life including suicidal thoughts and the collapse of his company in 2005.
'There's a description of my story here, for guests to understand why I had Guardian created,' Noel said, introducing viewers to a sculpture he commissioned after years of emotional struggle.
'My Unique group of companies was deliberately collapsed by some corrupt bankers. And I'm safe in saying that because my bank manager went to prison, along with four others, for 50 years,' he said, 'what they were doing was pushing businesses over the edge and then taking asset, that's basically what it was about.'
He reflected on how it impacted his mental health at the time. 'When the companies went into administration in 2006, I thought I was a crap businessman. I thought it was my fault. 70 people lost their jobs,' he said.
'And I said to Liz, who was a fantastic support, 'When,' not if, 'When I win my battle to get my losses back, I'm gonna get the great Weta Studios, Lord of the Rings, Avatar, the real creative powerhouse here in New Zealand, I'm gonna ask them to build me a statue'.'
'Liz designed the shield, because it is our story of the fight to get our losses back,' he added.
The statue, named Guardian, features a knight kneeling in prayer. As Noel explained: 'He's praying before he gets up and defeats the dark force, the enemy.'
Getting emotional, he admitted: 'I'll tell you, when you go to that dark space… I used to, like many people, kind of look down my nose and think, why would anybody want to take their own life? Why would they want to do that?
'I'll tell you, if you've ever been in that dark space, you'll never be critical, because it is a space where there is no reason.'
Noel also admits the move hasn't been easy on their bank balance. 'New Zealand's a great place to come to. It's not the easiest place to set up a business,' he says in the series trailer. 'We're haemorrhaging money at the moment.'
Despite the ups and downs, the couple are pushing on with their hospitality business in the rural riverside town of Ngatimoti and documenting it all along the way.
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Spectator
2 hours ago
- Spectator
Oasis nostalgia is a form of mass delusion
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Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
Oasis in Cardiff travel guide with road closures, parking, train information and more for Principality Stadium gig
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If you are one of the lucky ones that managed to bag yourself a ticket, then there's a lot of things you'll need to know ahead of the gigs happening in the Welsh capital. For a full rundown of Oasis in Cardiff information, including stage times, venue maps, banned items and more, click here. READ MORE: Full list of Oasis merchandise and prices at Cardiff's new pop-up store LATEST: Noel Gallagher's daughter Anais spotted in Cardiff ahead of Oasis gig at Principality Stadium With that in mind, we've brought together a travel guide for when Oasis lands in Cardiff - everything you'll need to know from road closures to parking, public transport and access. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . Road closures For the Oasis gigs the roads will close from 12 noon in the city centre and reopen at midnight. Scroll down for the full road closure list. Earlier in June, a spokesperson for Cardiff Council said: "The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy for these concerts - so please plan ahead - and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park and ride at the car park by the Vindico Arena on International Drive in the Sports Village - CF11 0JS. "For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook. "Anyone attending these concerts are strongly advised to plan their journey in advance and get into Cardiff early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city." From 7am, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed because of the need to prepare gate five and protect queuing fans. The following roads will be closed on July 4 and 5 as part of the full city centre road closure which will take place at 12noon until midnight. Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street . from its junction with to its junction with . Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street . from its junction with to its junction with . Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhamon Embankment ). from its junction with to its junction with (access for residents and traders will be permitted via ). Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted). and from their junctions with to their junctions with (access for residents and traders will be permitted). The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street , Castle St , High Street , St Mary Street , Caroline Street , Wood Street , Central Square , Westgate Street , Quay Street , Guildhall Place , Golate , Park Street , Havelock Street and Scott Road . , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Station Terrace and Guildford Street from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way. and from the junction with to the junction with will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way. Additionally, Penarth Road will be closed 30 minutes before the concerts finish and for up to an hour after they finish, on safety grounds - for train passengers arriving and departing from the train station. Parking Access to part of Cardiff's Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day, with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and access to private car parks. Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road. If you're looking for parking in Cardiff information, please click here. Trains With an increase in train passengers expected in the months of June and July due to a series of gigs taking place in Cardiff, Transport for Wales (TfW) and Great Western Railway (GWR) will operate additional services with trains that have more carriages than usual to get customers to and from the events smoothly. The start of Oasis's sell-out tour will see GWR operate six extra trains to get people home again, providing almost 4,000 additional seats, for each of the two nights. Transport for Wales (TfW) and Great Western Railway (GWR) will operate additional services with trains that have more carriages than usual to get customers to and from the events smoothly Those looking to travel by train are warned to check the time of their last train home and to allow plenty of time. A queuing system will begin from 10pm and the queuing for mainline rail services will be on Central Square with the Valley queues at the rear of the station. Important changes to station operations on event days include that Cardiff Bus Interchange will close at 12pm for the Oasis concerts and 3pm for the other gigs and Cardiff Queen Street Station will close at 10pm, unless customers have accessible requirements or are travelling to Cardiff Bay. Revenue Protection inspectors will conduct ticket checks both before and after the events. Passengers are urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey, taking into consideration any potential engineering work having an impact on TfW or GWR services, as well as limited availability and price increase for tickets. Here's the map for Cardiff Central Station on the day of the gigs B us During the busy period around the gigs, Cardiff Bus have confirmed they will be adding extra capacity in the evening and have buses on standby to serve the thousands heading home after the gig. Cardiff Bus said: "Our friendly team of supervisors will be in the city centre to assist customers and support our colleagues." "Due to road closures, buses will turn around at the edge of the city centre, so we recommend checking the Cardiff Bus website and app for the latest updates closer to the time. "To provide extra capacity in the evening, our largest double-decker buses will remain in service later in the day. "We'll also have additional standby buses ready to help manage busy journeys." Oasis competition: Win tickets to see Oasis at Wembley For last-minute tickets for Oasis Live '25 in Cardiff Ticketmaster is offering verified resale tickets for the opening night, available here. Tickets for the second night are up for grab here. You can also check official resale partner, Twickets for resale, too. There are several options available, too, and they include Viagogo, Vividseats, See Tickets, StubHub, Seat Unique. You'll find Viagogo's selection of tickets, here. And VividSeat's are here. Viagogo and resale tickets Sites such as viagogo, Stubhub, and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans. However, it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase. Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs. Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions, to confirm whether resale is prohibited, before they buy. Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller, such as Ticketmaster or Live Nation. If resale is prohibited, tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused. Article continues below However, fans should always bear in mind that many official sites, such as Ticketmaster and Live Nation, discourage the purchase of resale tickets.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Major Oasis reunion tour setlist clue as string of iconic tracks heard during soundcheck ahead of first gig in Cardiff
On Monday, the city could hear a soundcheck where a string of songs were blasted out through the open roof, giving clues of what will be on the setlist CARDIFF WILL BE SOUND Major Oasis reunion tour setlist clue as string of iconic tracks heard during soundcheck ahead of first gig in Cardiff THE countdown is well and truly on for the grand return of Oasis after 16 years. But locals in Cardiff may well get to hear the group before their comeback gig on Friday. Advertisement The set-up at the Welsh capital's Principality Stadium is well under way. On Monday, the city could hear a soundcheck where a string of songs were blasted out through the open roof, giving clues of what will be on the setlist. Live versions of their 1995 No1 Some Might Say, 1994's Cigarettes & Alcohol and Fn' In The Bushes, from 2000 album Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants, were all played. Noel and Liam Gallagher are not thought to have been there for the soundcheck, with Liam posting on X that 'nobody rehearses on a Monday'. Advertisement But they are likely to take to the stage to practise before doors officially open on Friday afternoon. A source said: 'The stage is being set up in the stadium and everything is being tested to make sure the opening show goes off without a hitch. 'The band and their team are very much aware that the world will be watching, so they want it to be the best show possible. 'They will be doing a soundcheck in the lead-up to the first concert so the locals are likely to hear them performing before ticket holders will get to see them. Advertisement 'It's very exciting.' In more good news for fans, the group have announced a deluxe 30th anniversary edition of their second album (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, which will be out on October 3. Liam Gallagher reveals new details about Oasis tour – before quickly deleting post It will feature five new unplugged versions of classic recordings Cast No Shadow, Morning Glory, Wonderwall, Acquiesce and Champagne Supernova, and is available to pre-order now. Meanwhile, Liam has been mouthing off on X in the run-up to the shows. Advertisement Asked if he's 'seriously not nervous' about it, he said: 'No, coz I've prepared like a CHAMPION.' To another, he added: 'We wouldn't be doing it if we sounded s**t.' And he couldn't help but have a playful dig at his big brother. After one fan posted a dream setlist ending with Don't Look Back In Anger, on which Noel sings lead vocals, another commented: 'Not a chance Liam isn't closing the gig.' Advertisement Liam replied: 'Exactly . . . He is the boss but he's not f***ing stupid.' Clearly he still sees himself as the main attraction, even after all this time.
