Gove's future revealed: Overindulgence and impulsiveness
Editors' dispute
There was little love lost between newspaper grandees Alan Rusbridger and James Harding when Harding defended his purchase of The Observer against criticism from Rusbridger on his Media Confidential podcast. 'You had looked at closing it,' Harding said to Rusbridger, an ex-editor in chief of The Guardian. 'Ooh – this is getting interesting,' chipped in podcast co-host and ex-FT editor Lionel Barber.
The conversation moved on. But a clearly stung Rusbridger admitted he had looked at replacing the 233-year-old Sunday paper with a Guardian on Sunday in 2009. Rusbridger later got his revenge, accusing Harding of nearly quitting his Tortoise website for CNN, saying: 'You were down to the last three.' Harding replied: 'I picked up the phone.'
Gentlemen, please!
Unpopular Nigel
Veteran actor Nigel Havers hates his first name and says no baby has been called it for at least five years.
Havers, 73, star of Chariots of Fire and Empire of the Sun, says: 'I hate the name Nigel. I think it's a silly name. And it's often parodied isn't it? Often in sketches the foolish sort of hooray is called Nigel.' He adds: 'More people were christened Lucifer than they were Nigel in the past few years. That's a fact.'
Is there a more unpopular Christian name?
Sex Pistol's wheelchair riot
An evening speaking engagement with former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon – aka 'Johnny Rotten' – in Leicester 'ended up with two women in wheelchairs fighting', the 69-year old says.
'Their husbands had their walking sticks and they were waving them about. It was bizarre. I thought 'How do you handle this one?' It was like a bingo riot. I found out it was all over their wheelchair space. I thought 'Life is full of surprises? Should I use that as a sign to give up and retire?' Then I thought 'No. I want the front row to be full of iron lungs next time.''
Wes 4 PM
Downing St photographers have found a novel way of getting Wes Streeting's attention when he comes out of the famous black door. 'Morning Prime Minister,' shouted one last week. The Health Secretary gave them a winning smile. I wonder why?
Ringo's memorabilia
Ringo Starr's son Zak – who turns 60 this year – never asks his 85-year-old father about what it was like to drum in The Beatles.
'The only information I get about The Beatles is when my dad volunteers it. I never ask. I have not seen [Peter Jackson's film] Get Back and I would like to watch it with him,' he tells me. 'I was saving up to watch it with him and he says: 'One, I was there. Two, I have seen it, and three, it is six hours long'.'
Ringo's common sense has never left him.
No Anglican Conclave
Following papal thriller Conclave's Bafta film success, Robert Harris, author of the original 2016 novel, rules out a book based on the present controversies engulfing the Church of England. 'It's not quite got the 'oomph', has it, of the Vatican?' Harris says. 'Lambeth Palace – very pleasant place. But it's not exactly like St Peter's Basilica.'
The closet Yodeller
After I reported how the Rev Richard Coles said his ambition was to be a yodeller, Lynne Nash, who is working on a new book called The Closet Yodeller, gets in touch with some tips. 'If you can find a break in your voice then it's a start. Yodelling involves repeated and rapid changes of pitch between the chest voice and the head voice,' she advises.
Nash – who yodels as Yodellynne – was a closet yodeller until she 'came out' in 2007 whilst gigging at an event where every one was very drunk. 'It went down well and I've been yodelling ever since,' she says. This could catch on.
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
EastEnders cancelled TONIGHT as sports schedule chaos hits the soaps again
Scroll down to find out how the schedule has changed schedule shake-up EastEnders cancelled TONIGHT as sports schedule chaos hits the soaps again Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASTENDERS is cancelled tonight due to a schedule shake-up with sports fixtures. Fans of the BBC soap usually tune in to watch at 7.30pm on Monday through Thursday. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 EastEnders will be off viewers' screens for tonight Credit: BBC 4 The BBC soap's schedule has been disrupted by sports fixtures Credit: BBC 4 Recent episodes have seen Karen Henthorn return as Julie Bates Credit: BBC However, tonight viewers will not able to check in on the residents of Albert Square. BBC One is showing coverage of the Germany vs Spain Women's UEFA Euro semi-final. Match of the Day begins at 7.30pm and will be airing until 10.10pm tonight. It will be followed by the BBC News at 10 bulletin. Four episodes a week of the long-running soap opera are shown on terrestrial TV. However, extended sports coverage has meant that bosses were forced to make sweeping changes to the schedule. Previously, EastEnders episodes were shown to viewers early on iPlayer due to coverage of the 2025 Wimbledon tennis tournament. On Monday, dedicated fans instead received a double bill of EastEnders. These instalments saw much-loved Nigel Bates return to Walford - after he previously left in emotional scenes. Played by Paul Bradley, the 90s favourite returned to the square last year after a 26-year absence. EastEnders legend makes a shock return just days after quitting Walford It was soon revealed Nigel is battling early onset dementia - with childhood friend Phil Mitchell taking care of him over the next few months. A concerned Jay Brown contacted Nigel's wife, Julie (Karen Henthorn) - who'd had no idea where he was. Karen reprised her role following more than two decades away - and a brief voice cameo earlier this year. After an emotional farewell, Julie took Nigel from Walford, intending to return to their home in Scotland. Darkest soap storylines Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock... EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) - Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca's adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police. Emmerdale: Holly's drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) - In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale's first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose. Hollyoaks: Luke's rape (2000) - Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap's first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs - who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance. Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) - Just a mere mention of 'Richard Hillman' is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it's not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn't. However, things took a frightening turn when he ran off during the journey. With the couple back in Albert Square, Phil proposed that all three live together - to help Nigel. But will they all be able to co-exist under one roof? EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ozzy Osbourne's 'short, sharp' prison stint that saved him from life of crime
Following the sad news of the death of Ozzy Osbourne, the Mirror takes a look at the 'short, sharp' prison stint that would ultimately change the course of the rock god's life Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne led a famously eventful life, with plenty of ups and downs along the way - including a spell behind bars that changed the course of his life. Although he would one day live in a sprawling LA mansion, Ozzy came from humble origins and endured a troubled childhood. He was badly bullied at school, where his then-undiagnosed dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) made learning a chore. However, the self-professed class clown harboured dreams far beyond the gates of his secondary modern in Aston, Birmingham. At the age of 14, he became drawn to the idea of breaking into the music industry, and would later credit The Beatles' 1963 hit She Loves You as providing a ray of inspiration. In a 2008 interview with Esquire, the Prince of Darkness recalled: "When I heard 'She Loves You', my world went up like a shooting star. It was a divine experience. The planets changed. I used to fantasise that Paul McCartney would marry my sister." Mere weeks before his death aged 76, the legendary Black Sabbath frontman, who lived with Parkinson's Disease in his final years, came full circle when he headlined a huge show in Birmingham's Villa Park, titled Back To The Beginning. But its a triumphant end he never could have imagined back when he was locked behind bars... READ MORE: Good Morning Britain hosts 'send love' to Ozzy Osbourne's family after shock death After dropping out of school at the age of 15, the future felt far from certain for the young Brummie, who cycled through various ill-suited jobs from construction site labourer to apprentice toolmaker. At the age of 17, Ozzy worked in a slaughterhouse before turning to crime and burgling a clothes shop. Although he'd shown no aptitude for manual labour, Ozzy's skills as a crook were even less impressive. As well as stealing baby clothes and shirts, Ozzy also tried to take a TV, but it fell on him. Although he'd made sure to wear gloves, these didn't cover his thumbs, meaning the would-be criminal had left prints everywhere. It wasn't long before police officers came knocking, sarcastically telling the youngster: "Not exactly Einstein, are we?" Jobless Ozzy was unable to pay the £40 fine, and his toolmaker father, John, refused, hoping this brush with the law would teach his wayward son an important lesson. Ozzy went on to spend six weeks behind the walls of HM Prison Birmingham, a Category B men's facility formerly known as Winson Green Prison. Although his sentence wasn't lengthy, it was enough to prompt the youth to rethink his life. In a 2014 interview with The Big Issue, Ozzy shared: "I tried to find things I was good at. I tried a bit of burglary, but I was no good at that. F****** useless. I didn't do any major burglary jobs. It was less than three weeks before I got caught. My dad said to me, that was very stupid. And I did feel very stupid. I didn't pay my fine, and I got put in jail for a few weeks. That was a short, sharp lesson. It certainly curbed my career in burglary." His release proved to be a turning point. Dad John, known affectionately as 'Jack', took out a loan to buy Ozzy a PA, a gift that ultimately proved to be the making of the talented musician. According to Ozzy: "Someone recently asked me what the best gift I ever got was, and it suddenly dawned on me that if my father hadn't bought me a microphone when I was 18, I definitely wouldn't be here now. He saw that I was really interested in popular music. My bedroom wall was covered in pictures of The Beatles. Anything with the word 'Beatles' on it was on my wall. "So he bought me a microphone, and it was shortly after that that I met the guys who would become Sabbath. It was the fact that I had my own microphone and PA system that got me in the band. If I hadn't had them, I would never have got the gig."
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ozzy Osbourne's poignant funeral plans revealed after the rock legend's death aged 76
revealed his plans for his funeral before his death aged 76. The metal legend died on Tuesday just weeks after he took to the stage for his final show with Black Sabbath, with his family confirming the sad news in a statement. The music world have been grieving his death and now, Ozzy's past comments discussing his requests for his funeral have reemerged. His funeral plans have not yet been made public by his family, but Ozzy previously revealed he didn't want it to be a sad occasion but a time to say 'thanks'. 'There'll be no harping on the bad times,' he told The Times back in 2011. 'It's worth remembering that a lot of people see nothing but misery their whole lives, so by any measure, most of us in this country — especially rock stars like me — are very lucky. 'That's why I don't want my funeral to be sad, I want it to be a time to say ''thanks''.' Ozzy insisted he wanted it to be a celebration rather than a 'mope-fest' and that he didn't care what music was played as long as it made his loved ones happy. 'I honestly don't care what they play at my funeral; they can put on a medley of Justin Bieber, Susan Boyle and We Are the Diddymen if it makes 'em happy,' he quipped. Known for his humour, Ozzy joked he'd like to play a prank to make people smile, such as a playing a video of him asking a doctor for a second opinion on his death. However, in another interview a few years later, Ozzy narrowed down his song choice to A Day In The Life by The Beatles. Ozzy has previously credited The Beatles for inspiring him to become a musician himself, revealing he became an avid fan after hearing their 1964 hit She Loves You. When asked about his funeral song, Ozzy insisted he would want a Beatles number being played rather than any of his own music on the day. 'I really need a few more years to think this over, but probably something from 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or Revolver,' he told NME in 2016. 'I definitely don't want my f**king greatest hits album - I never ever play that thing, I'm f**king embarrassed about it. And I definitely don't want a f**king happy song - I'm dead.' The rock star died on Tuesday morning with his family confirming the news in a statement. 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning,' they shared. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' He is survived by his wife Sharon and his six children. He shares three kids - Aimee, 41, Kelly, 41, and Jack, 40, with Sharon. Ozzy also welcomed two children - Jessica and Louis - from his first marriage to Thelma Riley, while he also adopted her son Elliot from her previous relationship. The musician had undergone seven surgeries in the past five years, including a fourth spinal operation in 2023, and had been battling Parkinson's disease since 2003. Ozzy took to the stage for his farewell concert at Villa Park Stadium in his native Birmingham less than three weeks before his death. The rocker reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005 to bid an emotional farewell to his decades of performing live on stage. After selling out in minutes, over 42,000 fans packed into Villa Park for the aptly-titled Back to the Beginning show, which saw Ozzy and Black Sabbath return to their hometown - 56 years after they formed there. The final photograph of him before his death was taken on stage as he sat on a black throne aptly decorated with a bat to perform his best-known hits for his loyal fans. His final words on stage were: 'It's the last song ever. Your support has enabled us to live an amazing lifestyle, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.' A message on screen then read: 'Thank you for everything, you guys are f***ing amazing. Birmingham Forever,' before the sky lit up with fireworks. Before his final show, Ozzy said he hoped to continue recording music after retiring from live performing, but he heartbreakingly died before he was able to do so. He told Metal Hammer magazine: 'I still enjoy doing my own work, I also enjoy singing on other people's work. 'For the foreseeable future, I will keep on recording if the projects interest me, it's very important.' Ozzy's last solo album, 2022's Patient Number 9, featured a long list of guest artists, including hid Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde, and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, among others. Black Sabbath pioneered heavy metal music in the early 1970s with hits such as War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man. Ozzy grew up in Aston, Birmingham, and Black Sabbath - though they were known as Earth at the time - held their first ever gig at The Crown pub in Birmingham in 1968. They renamed the band in 1969 in tribute to their favourite horror film, and the move set them on the path to heavy metal royalty. Black Sabbath's impact on music was enormous and they brought a heavy metal genre that had been in its infancy when they began to the attention of millions of fans. His wife Sharon later came up with the idea for the fly-on-the-wall documentary about her family that was filmed at their Beverly Hills home. It proved a major hit for US network MTV, running between 2002 and 2005. Aimee however refused to take part and criticised her parents for their antics, despite the fact that the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Programme. It covered major events including Sharon's 2002 colon cancer diagnosis and Osbourne's quad bike crash in 2003. Sharon survived the cancer battle despite a poor prognosis. Ozzy admitted that he 'fell apart' during his wife's treatment, whilst Jack tried to take his own life due to the impact of his mother's condition on his mental health. Sharon forged her own career as a TV star, most famously as a judge on hit talent show The X Factor. She now also hosts chat show The Talk on Talk TV. In recent years, Ozzy struggled with his health and he had to cancel shows in 2019 after a fall left him needing surgery on his neck. He began to experience numbness which he thought was connected to his 2003 accident but in January 2020, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The star underwent major spinal surgery in June 2022, which Sharon later said had been a success. To help him recover, the family lodged plans for a rehab wing at their Buckinghamshire mansion. The extension was to feature a self-contained nurse's flat as well as 'discreet grab rails and aids' and 'an abundance of stopping and sitting spaces'. The plans also included a 'health and exercise studio' as well as a 'pool house orangery' and 'garden room'. In September 2023, he had yet another operation, this time on his neck once again. He said afterwards that it was his 'last procedure'.
