Latest news with #Avril
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
BBC boss Avril MacRory dies ‘peacefully' aged 69 as heartbroken family pays tribute
A BBC legend has tragically passed away aged 69. Avril MacRory, who worked as the broadcaster's Head of Music Programmes, died peacefully at Royal Trinity Hospice in London earlier this month. Advertisement 2 Avril passed away peacefully earlier this month Tributes have flooded in for the broadcasting star, with family and friends leaving heartwarming messages. As well as her work at the BBC, she worked as executive producer for She regarded the ITV show - now available on Netflix - as one of her "proudest pieces of work". Posting about her tragic passing on social media, Avril's family said: "Avril passed away this morning , peacefully, at Royal Trinity Hospice. Advertisement Read more News "Funeral arrangements will be announced when we have them to share. "The funeral will be in London and so will be held in at least 10 days. "Avril MacRory, 05/04/1956 - 14/07/2025. With love Val and Sam." Writing on Facebook and sharing a photo, a friend hailed Avril's love for her family. Advertisement Most read in Uncategorized Exclusive They said: " From our first meeting as students, everywhere I went, socially and professionally, I met people who knew Avril MacRory, in RTE, the BBC and Channel 4 , mainly in music and the arts but could be anywhere. "She died peacefully early this morning , and was absolutely Avril to the end. "She will be missed by so many. "Photograph shows some of her greatest loves, her father, her husband Val Griffin, son Sam, and Sid the dog, when they borrowed my late mother's house in Dalkey one Christmas." Advertisement BBC Red Dwarf star Charles Augins dies aged 81 after finding fame on popular sci-fi sitcom as tributes pour in Another message said: "Sad to read of the death of Avril MacRory, who was well known for her charity work among the Irish in London. "She was only in her late sixties. Sympathy to her husband, children and extended family." Avril famously ran the Beeb's 28 hour coverage of the Millenium. The event - deemed the biggest ever global broadcast - united dozens of international broadcasters as the world crossed into the 21st century. Advertisement Speaking at the time, Avril said: "It was a moment when public television from around the world was able to come together. "I don't think that can happen again." Avril also served as co-executive producer of the Global Broadcaster Consortium. She worked as an executive producer on 2004 documentary Shadowing the Third Man. Advertisement It was awarded a Gold Medal at The Rome Film Festival in 2006 and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival a year earlier. Avril hailed her appearance at the famous French festival as a "night to remember". 2 Avril was the executive producer on popular ITV show Secret Diary of a Call Girl Credit: Rex More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Advertisement is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
BBC boss Avril MacRory dies ‘peacefully' aged 69 as heartbroken family pays tribute
Tributes have flooded in for the broadcasting legend Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BBC legend has tragically passed away aged 69. Avril MacRory, who worked as the broadcaster's Head of Music Programmes, died peacefully at Royal Trinity Hospice in London earlier this month. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Avril passed away peacefully earlier this month Tributes have flooded in for the broadcasting star, with family and friends leaving heartwarming messages. As well as her work at the BBC, she worked as executive producer for Billie Piper's Secret Diary of a Call Girl. She regarded the ITV show as one of her "proudest pieces of work". Posting about her tragic passing on social media, Avril's family said: "Avril passed away this morning, peacefully, at Royal Trinity Hospice. "Funeral arrangements will be announced when we have them to share. "The funeral will be in London and so will be held in at least 10 days. "Avril MacRory, 05/04/1956 - 14/07/2025. With love Val and Sam." Writing on Facebook, a friend hailed Avril's love for her family. They said: "From our first meeting as students, everywhere I went, socially and professionally, I met people who knew Avril MacRory, in RTE, the BBC and Channel 4, mainly in music and the arts but could be anywhere. ""She died peacefully early this morning, and was absolutely Avril to the end. "She will be missed by so many. "Photograph shows some of her greatest loves, her father, her husband Val Griffin, son Sam, and Sid the dog, when they borrowed my late mother's house in Dalkey one Christmas." Another fan added: "Sad to read of the death of Avril MacRory, who was well known for her charity work among the Irish in London. "She was only in her late sixties. Sympathy to her husband, children and extended family." Avril famously ran the Beeb's 28 hour coverage of the Millenium. The event united dozens of international broadcasters as the world crossed into the 21st century. Speaking at the time, Avril said: "It was a moment when public television from around the world was able to come together. "I don't think that can happen again." 2 Avril was the executive producer on popular ITV show Secret Diary of a Call Girl Credit: Rex More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
QRave's second edition to be held in Bengaluru
'This is a space that we have been craving for…a utopic space where we can be ourselves,' says multi-disciplinary artist Avril Stormy Unger, drag alter Chutney Mary, the co-founder of QRave, a club night revolving around queer and women DJs and music producers. QRave is a space, which is 'not just queer-friendly, but queer-affirming,' she says of the event, which has already had seven editions in Goa and will be hosting its second edition in Bengaluru on 11 July at The Burrow. QRave was launched back in December 2023 by Avril and her friend Aadhi, aka Mo'Homo, in Goa 'We used to run certain community-based queer events, and we just decided to launch QRave as something we could do in a recurring way,' she says, explaining that unlike many other queer events, which have 'drag, open mic, poetry and so on, this is specifically a club night in the mainstream music scene in India. Also, while our line-up are queer and women, this is open to everyone.' Highlights and more Some of the highlights of the event include Atita Verghese, also known as RattyAtty, a DJ and one of India's first female skateboarders; Disco Puppet, the moniker of Bengaluru-based producer and musician Shoumik Biswas; and, of course, Chutney Mary herself. 'We also have this Goa-based visual artist called Poyo,' says Avril, adding that these text-based visuals are 'very queer and creates the kind of atmosphere where being queer is normal, and we are not the outsider anymore.' After all, as Atita, who usually plays 'percussive, low-end wobblers with feel-good high-energy bounce,' says, representation still matters. 'People feel more welcome and safe when there are underrepresented identities behind the decks and on the floor,' she says, pointing out that seeing others like themselves in these spaces helps foster community because people can relate to and feel safe around each other. 'That's key in nightlife culture,' believes Atita. 'To foster a space where one can completely let loose and feel free enough to feel themselves and the shared energy of dancefloor dynamics.' QRave will be held at The Burrow, Seshadripuram, on July 11, starting at 8 pm. Tickets are available at
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
More pets being put down due to rising vet bills, BBC told
Pet owners are increasingly having their sick animals put down or they are delaying taking them for treatment to avoid spiralling vet bills, vets and animal charities have warned. Some animal lovers are giving up pets to rehoming centres, while others have decided not to own any more in the future due to high costs, the BBC has been told. Many veterinary surgeons and nurses say treatment prices have been pushed up after big corporations have bought up practices. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) said the cost of care had increased for a variety of reasons and fees reflected the prices businesses needed to charge to remain financially viable and open. Hundreds of pet owners have contacted Your Voice, Your BBC News, with concerns over vet bills. Avril told us about her dog Dougie after File on Four Investigates revealed the "constant pressure" some vets felt to generate income. The 12-year-old Cavachon has a heart condition, but Avril says she has had to cut back on vet appointments as prices have risen every year. Now Dougie has gone deaf and Avril worries his condition may have got worse because she cut back on follow-up appointments due to the cost. She said she's gone through "a lot of soul searching", adding that at times she worries not taking him is to blame. "At least I'm still hanging in there and get to keep him," she said, but added she felt "desperately sorry for those people who have given up their pet". Caroline also got in touch after paying more than £4,500 to treat her 19-year-old cat Ozzie when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The bill was so expensive she could not afford to cremate Ozzie after the cat died - so instead she brought her home and buried her in the back garden. She said the cost of treating Ozzie, who died in 2022, was so high it has put her off owning another pet. "I'm currently in my early 60s and I don't want to be 10 years down the line having to find £4,500," she said. "I don't want the emotional upset of possibly not being able to afford it and then having to ask for somebody to rehome the cat as well." Animal welfare charity Blue Cross warned increased treatment costs are a "ticking time bomb" for the welfare of pets. "Access to affordable vet care has reduced and we're seeing more animals not getting the treatment they need and even being relinquished because their owners can no longer afford to keep them," said Paul Manktelow, director of veterinary services for the charity. Blue Cross runs a fund for people who can't afford emergency care and it's seen a 264% increase in applications in the past year, going from 1,319 in 2023 to 4,807 in 2024. The BBC has spoken to 25 veterinary surgeons, nurses and industry insiders working for a range of companies and the majority blamed higher vet bills on big companies buying up practices. One said life became "hellish" when their practice was taken over. Another said a regional manager bought them a cake when they hit their financial targets, which "went down badly" with staff, who were busy and covered in animal blood and urine at the time. Only one person did speak to us publicly because others feared never working again. Locum vet Dr Callum Ladell, who has worked at more than 250 practices, says public trust in vets has been lost and he is seeing fewer clients bringing in their animals for treatment because they are expecting a big bill. "We're having cases come in, having been left for months and months, and normally, it ends up being euthanasia - putting an animal to sleep - because they can't afford the bill and because it works out cheaper than fixing them," he told the BBC. The British Veterinary Union in Unite (BVU) - which represents workers in the industry – says people are increasingly choosing to euthanise their pets due to cost pressures, even when there are other medical options available. A survey of 10,000 cat owners by the charity Cats Protection found 58% did not visit the vet as often as they would like, with cost described as the biggest barrier. Dr Ladell said he treated a friend's cat, called Elvis, who suffered a wound to his leg in May. He sedated the cat, cleaned out the wound and stitched it up at a cost of £93.19. This didn't include his clinical time, which he estimated would have added £300 to the bill. The cat later opened up the wound – making it larger - and this time, Dr Ladell took him to the practice at which Elvis was registered, which is owned by the corporate chain CVS. The case notes and final bill, which have been seen by the BBC, showed vets treated the cat under full anaesthetic, removed tissue, reopened the wound, flushed it out, put a drain in and stitched it up. The bill came to £1,074.54. Dr Ladell didn't criticise the quality of care received but said he feels more cost-effective treatment could have been done with an equally good outcome, particularly if the owner was not someone who could afford more than £1,000 for this "gold standard" service. CVS, which owns around 500 veterinary practices across the UK and Australia, said the two procedures were not comparable. A spokesperson said: "It would be incorrect for us to comment publicly on an individual case as we are bound by confidentiality rules. It would also be unprofessional for us to compare the high-quality treatment we offer with another member of the veterinary profession, particularly if the level of surgical intervention is very different." In 2013, only 10% of vet practices in the UK were owned by large corporate groups. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said six large corporate vet groups - IVC Evidensia, CVS, Medivet, Pets at Home, Linnaeus, and Vet Partners – now account for 60% of the market. Bills for pet owners have risen as corporate ownership has increased - by more than 60% - between 2015 and 2023, figures from the CMA show. This is almost double the rate of inflation or the increase in vet salaries over that time. The CMA is currently investigating whether a lack of competition in the veterinary sector has contributed to soaring prices. Seven vets at practices owned by IVC Evidensia told File on Four Investigates they were monitored and subject to targets set by the company. One said he and his colleagues were encouraged to compete against other practices owned by IVC over the number of certain procedures they carried out on animals, through what the company called "clinical challenge milestones". IVC said the health and welfare of animals was always its first priority and stressed these "clinical challenge" targets weren't financial but designed to improve the clinical care of pets. The selected procedures, it says, are all carefully chosen because they are essential to ensuring a prompt diagnosis and stabilisation of emergency patients. Corporate vet chains have said there are a variety of reasons why vet costs have increased – including advances in treatments, rising running costs and demands from pet owners for higher standards. The CMA has put forward suggestions of changes designed to make veterinary services more affordable – including price caps on medicines, prescriptions and other services like cremations. The British Veterinary Association (BVA), the vet union BVC and veterinary staff all agree regulation of the industry needs to be updated. However, the BVA said the CMA's proposed remedies may have the "unintentional consequence of reducing consumer choice and potentially increasing vet fees". "If owners are concerned about cost, speak to your vet because they will always prioritise the welfare of the animal in their care and work closely with owners to find treatment plans that work for their circumstances," said British Veterinary Association president Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux. The CMA was due to publish its final report towards the end of the year, but that's been delayed by three to six months due to the volume and complexity of feedback from vets on its proposed changes. Caroline says she can't bring herself to remove the cat flap she had for Ozzie, because that completely closes off ever having a pet. However, she insists that even though she loves having animals around, the cost of looking after one means she is going to "fight the urge to get another pet". Warning pet owners overpaying for medicine Vets say they are under pressure to bring in more money per pet Vets may face caps on cremations and other charges
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Vet bills: More pets being put down due to rising costs, BBC told
Pet owners are increasingly having their sick animals put down or they are delaying taking them for treatment to avoid spiralling vet bills, vets and animal charities have animal lovers are giving up pets to rehoming centres, while others have decided not to own any more in the future due to high costs, the BBC has been veterinary surgeons and nurses say treatment prices have been pushed up after big corporations have bought up British Veterinary Association (BVA) said the cost of care had increased for a variety of reasons and fees reflected the prices businesses needed to charge to remain financially viable and open. Hundreds of pet owners have contacted Your Voice, Your BBC News, with concerns over vet told us about her dog Dougie after File on Four Investigates revealed the "constant pressure" some vets felt to generate income. The 12-year-old Cavachon has a heart condition, but Avril says she has had to cut back on vet appointments as prices have risen every year. Now Dougie has gone deaf and Avril worries his condition may have got worse because she cut back on follow-up appointments due to the said she's gone through "a lot of soul searching", adding that at times she worries not taking him is to blame."At least I'm still hanging in there and get to keep him," she said, but added she felt "desperately sorry for those people who have given up their pet". Caroline also got in touch after paying more than £4,500 to treat her 19-year-old cat Ozzie when she was diagnosed with a brain bill was so expensive she could not afford to cremate Ozzie after the cat died - so instead she brought her home and buried her in the back garden. She said the cost of treating Ozzie, who died in 2022, was so high it has put her off owning another pet."I'm currently in my early 60s and I don't want to be 10 years down the line having to find £4,500," she said. "I don't want the emotional upset of possibly not being able to afford it and then having to ask for somebody to rehome the cat as well."Animal welfare charity Blue Cross warned increased treatment costs are a "ticking time bomb" for the welfare of pets."Access to affordable vet care has reduced and we're seeing more animals not getting the treatment they need and even being relinquished because their owners can no longer afford to keep them," said Paul Manktelow, director of veterinary services for the Cross runs a fund for people who can't afford emergency care and it's seen a 264% increase in applications in the past year, going from 1,319 in 2023 to 4,807 in 2024. The BBC has spoken to 25 veterinary surgeons, nurses and industry insiders working for a range of companies and the majority blamed higher vet bills on big companies buying up said life became "hellish" when their practice was taken over. Another said a regional manager bought them a cake when they hit their financial targets, which "went down badly" with staff, who were busy and covered in animal blood and urine at the time. Only one person did speak to us publicly because others feared never working again. Locum vet Dr Callum Ladell, who has worked at more than 250 practices, says public trust in vets has been lost and he is seeing fewer clients bringing in their animals for treatment because they are expecting a big bill."We're having cases come in, having been left for months and months, and normally, it ends up being euthanasia - putting an animal to sleep - because they can't afford the bill and because it works out cheaper than fixing them," he told the BBC. The British Veterinary Union in Unite (BVU) - which represents workers in the industry – says people are increasingly choosing to euthanise their pets due to cost pressures, even when there are other medical options available.A survey of 10,000 cat owners by the charity Cats Protection found 58% did not visit the vet as often as they would like, with cost described as the biggest barrier. Dr Ladell said he treated a friend's cat, called Elvis, who suffered a wound to his leg in sedated the cat, cleaned out the wound and stitched it up at a cost of £93.19. This didn't include his clinical time, which he estimated would have added £300 to the cat later opened up the wound – making it larger - and this time, Dr Ladell took him to the practice at which Elvis was registered, which is owned by the corporate chain CVS. The case notes and final bill, which have been seen by the BBC, showed vets treated the cat under full anaesthetic, removed tissue, reopened the wound, flushed it out, put a drain in and stitched it up. The bill came to £1, Ladell didn't criticise the quality of care received but said he feels more cost-effective treatment could have been done with an equally good outcome, particularly if the owner was not someone who could afford more than £1,000 for this "gold standard" service. CVS, which owns around 500 veterinary practices across the UK and Australia, said the two procedures were not comparable.A spokesperson said: "It would be incorrect for us to comment publicly on an individual case as we are bound by confidentiality rules. It would also be unprofessional for us to compare the high-quality treatment we offer with another member of the veterinary profession, particularly if the level of surgical intervention is very different."In 2013, only 10% of vet practices in the UK were owned by large corporate groups. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said six large corporate vet groups - IVC Evidensia, CVS, Medivet, Pets at Home, Linnaeus, and Vet Partners – now account for 60% of the for pet owners have risen as corporate ownership has increased - by more than 60% - between 2015 and 2023, figures from the CMA show. This is almost double the rate of inflation or the increase in vet salaries over that time. The CMA is currently investigating whether a lack of competition in the veterinary sector has contributed to soaring vets at practices owned by IVC Evidensia told File on Four Investigates they were monitored and subject to targets set by the said he and his colleagues were encouraged to compete against other practices owned by IVC over the number of certain procedures they carried out on animals, through what the company called "clinical challenge milestones".IVC said the health and welfare of animals was always its first priority and stressed these "clinical challenge" targets weren't financial but designed to improve the clinical care of pets. The selected procedures, it says, are all carefully chosen because they are essential to ensuring a prompt diagnosis and stabilisation of emergency patients. Corporate vet chains have said there are a variety of reasons why vet costs have increased – including advances in treatments, rising running costs and demands from pet owners for higher CMA has put forward suggestions of changes designed to make veterinary services more affordable – including price caps on medicines, prescriptions and other services like British Veterinary Association (BVA), the vet union BVC and veterinary staff all agree regulation of the industry needs to be updated. However, the BVA said the CMA's proposed remedies may have the "unintentional consequence of reducing consumer choice and potentially increasing vet fees"."If owners are concerned about cost, speak to your vet because they will always prioritise the welfare of the animal in their care and work closely with owners to find treatment plans that work for their circumstances," said British Veterinary Association president Dr Elizabeth CMA was due to publish its final report towards the end of the year, but that's been delayed by three to six months due to the volume and complexity of feedback from vets on its proposed changes. Caroline says she can't bring herself to remove the cat flap she had for Ozzie, because that completely closes off ever having a she insists that even though she loves having animals around, the cost of looking after one means she is going to "fight the urge to get another pet".
