Anyone who is a fan of Taylor Swift will be familiar with her parents Scott and Andrea, but the two have faced their own health battles in recent years
Taylor Swift’s parents have faced their own health battles over the years as their daughter’s success continues to soar.
Today (December 12), Disney Plus has dropped Taylor Swift’s brand new projects giving fans an insight into her Eras tour including behind the scenes access.
The End of an Era documentary will see two episodes being released weekly, with six in total, and will explore the development, impact, and inner-workings of the huge phenomenon that was the Eras Tour, which spanned from 2023 to 2024.
Disney Plus teases: “The End of an Era” is an illuminating docuseries on Disney+ that gives an intimate look at Taylor’s life as her tour made headlines and thrilled fans around the world.”
As well as the documentary, the Final Show concert film is also released which was captured during the star’s final show of the tour, which features for the first time, the entire set of The Tortured Poets Department album.
But away from her growing success, Taylor Swift has been quite open about her struggles over the years from her own mental health, to her parents’ health battles. Anyone that is a fan of Taylor, will also be familiar with her parents Scott and Andrea, who are often seen showing their support.
What some fans may not know is that both Scott and Andrea have battled cancer in their lives. Back in 2015, the singer told her fans her mum had an “important battle to fight” and so would be seen less frequently.
A few years later in 2019, Taylor wrote for Elle that she has “had to learn how to handle serious illness in my family.” She continued that both of her parents have had cancer, adding: “And my mom is now fighting her battle with it again.”
Back in 2020, the Brain Tumour Charity wrote: “Everyone whose life has been touched by a brain tumour diagnosis will know instinctively just how difficult this is for Taylor Swift and her family.”
Taylor and the family have remained relatively quiet regarding Andrea’s health but from her past album Lover, the 2019 song titled Soon You’ll Get Better reference her own pain. Fans remain positive though following appearances at concerts.
Taking to social media, one person said: “I think about this often. I hope she’s doing well.”
When it comes to Taylor’s dad Scott, he too has faced his own health battles. Just this year, Taylor revealed on the New Heights Podcast her dad had quintuple bypass surgery.
She said: “My dad had an interesting summer. He actually had a quintuple bypass surgery and that’s a really intense surgery. It all happened really quick.”
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Despite perfect EKG results, the blockages were soon found during a resting stress test as Taylor opened up on the intense period, even helping to care for him.
The Strictly Come Dancing star is back on screens tonight for a very different, important role, alongside television presenter Davina McCall
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Vicky Pattison pictured with Strictly host Tess Daly and her dance partner Kai Widdrington(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)
Vicky Pattison is stepping into a new presenting role this evening, following her recent appearance on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. The 38 -year-old will join forces with Adam Hills, Hannah Fry and Davina McCall to host Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer.
The show makes its return with a renewed campaign, launched by Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK, aimed at promoting NHS cancer screening programmes and generating funds for pioneering cancer research.
Discussing her involvement, she commented: “I’m so proud to be part of Stand Up To Cancer, live on Channel 4 on 12th December.
“I’ve supported cancer-related causes for many years, taking part in major fundraising treks and awareness campaigns for breast cancer, and it means a great deal to continue championing such important work.
“Early diagnosis is key to better survival and outcomes, and I’d encourage everyone to use the screening checker to see what screening they’re eligible for.”
Vicky’s new presenting gig comes after her recent appearance on Strictly, where she became the seventh celebrity to be eliminated from the competition.
The former Geordie Shore personality was paired with professional dancer Kai Widdrington for the series, and the duo are set to reunite on the dance floor next month for the nationwide tour.
Looking back on her departure from the show, she admitted to feeling sad when the judges opted to save Balvinder Sopal instead of her.
However, during an appearance on Pete Wicks’ Staying Relevant podcast, she made sure to dismiss any notion of animosity between herself and Balvinder.
Speaking about her preferred winner, she revealed: “Kaz [Karen Carney] and George [Clarke] I love, I love them so much. And like they’re the ones I speak to the most.
“And it’s hard because everybody I love so much. And also, everyone thinks I would feel a certain way about Balvinder, like she smashed that dance off.”
Vicky continued to champion the EastEnders actress as being “mentally resilient” and a “wonderful woman”, who improves each week.
“So, I just want to go on record and say that I love her,” she added. “But I will say George or Kaz [to win].”
During the podcast, Vicky also opened up about the Jive routine that led to her departure.
Reflecting on the performance, the reality star said she will “forever hate” it and insisted she wished she hadn’t done it.
“I am actually quite a bouncy person, so I think people would assume I really had the Jive in me like that, but I don’t think anyone anticipated me as being like a dignified ballroom girl, but I really took to ballroom and loved it,” she added.
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Vicky revealed she felt down “for about a week” following her exit, but shared her appreciation for the “lovely support structure” she received from family and fellow Strictly contestants.
Comic actor Stanley Baxter in character as James Bond circa 1974.(Image: TV Times/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
For decades he was one of the biggest stars on television. And no wonder. A gifted mimic, comedian and actor, Stanley Baxter, who has died at the age of 99, commanded audiences of 20 million with his shows for both ITV and the BBC during the 1970s and 80s.
In the end, TV executives pulled the plug on them – in a changing world they simply became too expensive to produce.
But those standalone extravaganzas, which saw Stanley spoof everything from Dallas and Upstairs, Downstairs to the Queen’s Christmas message, stand as a reminder of a different age when the nation sat down together to be entertained.
Yesterday, as tributes poured in for the Glasgow-born star, who died on Thursday at a London care home for entertainment figures, his friend and biographer Brian Beacom described him as “one of the most entertaining people I’ve ever met”.
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“He was funny, he was mischievous, he was always incredibly clever and able to come up with comedy in a way that few people could even consider. But just as importantly, he was a terrific friend. He had an incredible warmth and consideration for other people and it’s no surprise that he was an entertainer from the 1930s onwards and he never upset a single soul.”
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney called him ‘a giant of Scottish entertainment.’ “He brought incredible joy to generations,” he added. Meanwhile Scottish radio and TV broadcaster Robin Galloway said his death was a loss of ‘a true original’ and a ‘comic visionary’ while BAFTA said it was ‘saddened’ to hear of his death.
Stanley Baxter was born on May 24, 1926. He inherited a love of the theatre and performing from his mum, Bessie, who encouraged his talent for mimicry. At just six and dressed in a sailor suit, he would bring the house down with impersonations of Laurel and Hardy, and Mae West.
He made his professional debut at the age of 14 on the Scottish edition of the BBCs Children’s Hour, but world events intervened and during World War Two he was conscripted to work in the Lanarkshire coal mines as a ‘Bevan Boy’.
By 1945 he had his call up papers for National Service and joined the Combined Services Entertainment Unit, honing his skills by entertaining the troops. It was there he met Carry On Star Kenneth Williams – who became a lifelong friend. By the late 1940s he was back in Glasgow, enjoying success in variety theatre, in particular as a panto dame and on radio.
He made his TV debut in the BBC’s variety show Shop Window in 1952, but his major screen break came with the satirical On The Bright Side in 1959. It was here he performed his famous ‘Parliamo Glasgow’ sketch – a spoof language programme where, as a supposed scholar, he endeavours to teach the world how to speak like a Glaswegian.
With his star on the rise, films offers also came in, including Very Important Person (1961), in which he played a fiercely nationalistic Scot, as well as Geordie (1955), The Fast Lady (1962) and And Father Came Too! (1963). In 1963 his hard work was finally rewarded – and his reputation as an entertainer cemented – with the arrival on our screens of The Stanley Baxter Show. It ran for eight years and catapulted him to stardom.
But while his professional life was taking off, his private life was in turmoil. Having known as a teenager he was gay, Stanley Baxter struggled with his sexuality for most of his life and battled to repress his feelings. He married his wife Moira, a fellow actor, in 1951. They lived apart from the 1970s onwards.
Meanwhile, his career went from strength to strength. A number of TV spectaculars followed, including Stanley Baxter’s Christmas Box. One of his – and his audiences’ – favourite conceits was to recreate scenes from well known big budget Hollywood movies for comic effect, with Stanley playing multiple roles.
He was also bold enough to mimic the Pope and even the Queen – a move which left the nation breathless with both shock and laughter. His shows were hugely popular, won him awards and attracted audiences of millions, thrilled by his comedic skill and attention to detail – he would frequently spend an entire year working on the programmes. The cost in time, sets and staffing was enormous, though, and led to his contracts being terminated early both by the BBC and by London Weekend Television.
Undaunted by the setbacks, he branched out and away from sketch shows and impressions, to perform in Joe Orton’s controversial farce, What The Butler Saw, in the West End alongside Sir Ralph Richardson. He guest-starred in one of the episodes of The Goodies and later appeared in the lead role of Mr Majeika, a children’s show about a magic teacher expelled from Walpurgis, the wizard land, for failing his wizarding exams.
After his retirement, he appeared in 2004 in a series of three half-hour radio sitcoms for BBC Radio 4, entitled Stanley Baxter And Friends. He also lent his voice to the animated children’s film Arabian Knight and the TV series Meeow. Later Channel 4 also screened two specials combining old highlights with new material and from 2006 he went on to record a number of plays, The Stanley Baxter Playhouse, for Radio 4.
He received several awards during his career, including a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards and two TV tribute programmes. Bafta Scotland also presented Baxter with their Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award in December 2020. A well read and private man, Stanley Baxter remained married to Moira until her death in 1997, despite them both knowing he was gay. They never divorced and had lunch together daily.
In 2020 he released a co-written biography, The Real Stanley Baxter, in which revealed he was gay and had told his wife before they married. In the book he recalls: “I never wanted to be gay. I still don’t.” Stanley Baxter leaves a younger sister, Alice Warwick, along with her son Tony and daughter Zoe. His long-term partner Louis died in 2017. At his own request, his funeral will be a small private ceremony in the company of family and close friends, and there will be no memorial service or memorial plaques.
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Oasis guitarist Gem Archer has revealed that there may be more tour dates from the legendary Britpop band after Noel Gallagher dropped a huge clue about what could come in the future
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
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Could Oasis be planning more dates in the future?(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Noel Gallagher has dropped a huge clue about the future of Oasis. The legendary Britpop band fronted by Noel and his younger brother, Liam Gallagher, sent the world into a frenzy when they finally returned to the stage in July, 16 years after the once-warring brothers fell out.
Performing across the globe in cities such as Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, New York, Los Angeles and ending their tour in São Paulo, Brazil, last month, millions of fans were treated to the concert they never thought they would see.
However, as the euphoric tour drew to a close, speculation had arisen that the band might continue and possibly secure dates at either their beloved Manchester City stadium, the Etihad, or Knebworth. Now, guitarist Gem Archer has given a fresh insight into the future of Oasis and Noel’s very cryptic comment.
Gem admits that the past few months have been a “blur” for the group, but they will take some time next year to sit and properly go over the buzz they experienced. “Anything could happen, which could include nothing,” he said of the future of the band. Speaking to NME, Gem continued: “But this was quite a thing… if stuff was happening, I think I might already know about it, if you know what I mean? It’s not something you just flick on.”
But, he went on to reveal that Noel gave a cryptic insight, explaining: “Noel has said, ‘No rest for the immensely talented,’ so take that how you want.” Meanwhile, Liam recently stated that there would be no new dates for Oasis next year.
However, he did imply that there could be news for 2027 after the band takes a well-deserved break. When denying that they will play Knebworth, Liam said: “I don’t [have] snizzle to do until 2027 I mean happy Christmas.”
He had previously hinted that the band had been planning on adding extra dates in the future. When a fan asked whether he was “sad that the tour is ending soon,” the Mancunian icon replied: “I’m not actually as I know things you don’t.”
Before teasing news on social media, Liam also hinted that the band had a future while performing at London’s Wembley Stadium in September. He told fans: “See you next year,” before he jokingly slapped himself on the wrist for revealing the news.
Just last month, the band informed fans that following the success of the tour, there would be a “pause for a period of reflection”. In a statement shared online, the group said: “And so it came to pass. The most damaging pop cultural force in recent British history found its way into the hearts and minds of a new generation. From Gallagher Hill to the River Plate, from Croke Park on the banks of the Royal Canal to the City Of Angels, the love, joy, tears and euphoria will never be forgotten.
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“There will now be a pause for a period of reflection.” However, sources close to the band have said that the Oasis Live ’25 tour would be the only chance to see the band perform.
It’s estimated that the tour generated around £1 billion for the UK economy alone, and was projected to earn the group around £400 million from ticket sales and merchandise alone, according to Dr Charles Nimoh, macroeconomic expert at the University of Salford.
Amy Winehouse’s friends have claimed that the late singer would have been ok with them selling personal items relating to the late musician, the High Court has heard
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
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Amy’s father, Mitch, has accused her two close friends of ‘profiting from the singer’s personal items’(Image: Getty Images)
Amy Winehouse “would have been happy” with her pals selling personal items. The High Court heard that the late singer would “not have wanted” Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay to “struggle financially”.
Naomi and Catriona, two of Amy’s closest friends, are facing legal action from the singer’s dad, Mitch, who is acting as administrator of the Back to Black singer’s estate. Lawyers for Mitch, a former cab driver, previously told a trial in London that Naomi and Catriona profited from selling dozens of the singer’s items at auctions in the US in 2021 and 2023, which he was not informed about and that they did not have the right to sell.
The women are defending the claim and their barristers say the items were either gifts from Ms Winehouse or were already owned by them. Today, Catriona gave evidence at the High Court in London.
In her written witness statement, Ms Gourlay said that Mr Winehouse was giving out his daughter’s clothes to fans outside her flat in Camden, north London, in the days after her funeral. She claimed he was quoted in the press as saying “it was what she would have wanted”.
She said: “On that day, Naomi and I were shocked at how many of Amy’s possessions were being taken by family members. Mitch asked me if I wanted to have anything, but I refused as I told him that I already had plenty of things Amy had given me.
“Mitch is therefore aware that Amy had gifted me many items.” Amy, who tragically died aged 27 from alcohol poisoning in 2011, became a star across the globe following the release of her second album, Back To Black, in 2006.
Before her death, Amy would frequently swap clothes with Catriona, she said in her witness statement. The court previously heard that the 2021 auction catalogue contained 834 items and that the sale raised 1.4 million dollars (£1.05m) for Ms Winehouse’s estate, 30 per cent of which went to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.
One item sold by Ms Parry included a silk mini-dress worn by Ms Winehouse in her final performance in Belgrade, Serbia, which was auctioned for 243,200 dollars (£182,656).
Henry Legge KC, for Mr Winehouse, previously told the court that the singer’s father believed the women had “deliberately concealed” the fact that they were auctioning items.
He said Mr Winehouse believed that all the 834 items in the 2021 auction catalogue were owned by the estate but that the two women were “asserting ownership of over 150”.
The barrister also said that Ms Parry was “instrumental in persuading Mr Winehouse to auction the estate’s items”, but did not tell him that she “stood to gain from his agreeing to do so”.
Giving evidence on Monday, Mr Winehouse said: “I assume that, being so close, Amy would have given them some things, but 150 items, I just cannot believe it.”
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Mr Winehouse also denied a suggestion by Ms Parry’s barrister, Beth Grossman, that he was bringing proceedings against the pair out of “petty jealousy”.
The trial before Sarah Clarke KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, is due to continue on January 27.
Amanda Holden wowed fans this week in her Christmas party outfit, which she described as the perfect ‘Christmas bauble’ mini dress – and what’s more, you can still shop it in nearly all sizes
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Amanda Holden wows at Christmas party in ‘golden bauble’ mini dress you can shop (Image: Amanda Holden/Instagram)
The festive party season is upon us, and Amanda Holden may have found the perfect Christmas party dress for adding a sparkle to your holiday occasionwear. Taking to social media to show off her festive look, Amanda looked glamorous in a structured gold mini dress she described as a “Christmas bauble dress”.
Coming from Nadine Merabi, Amanda stunned in this Elysia Gold Dress, which comes in the Christmas-ready gold, as well as white and black colourway options for those seeking a more versatile look. But you’ll need to act fast to secure Amanda’s exact piece, as some sizes have already sold out.
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The Elysia Gold Dress is said to be crafted from decadent gold bouclé-tweed fabrication and is cut in the brand’s signature MERABI tulip silhouette, creating a structured, feminine shape. Boasting a high neckline and cap sleeves that bring refined modesty to the look, this dress is decorated with statement 3D pearl buttons and non-functional front pockets to add sculptural detail.
If you were hoping for pockets, don’t worry – this number comes equipped with discreet side pockets that offer functionality without compromising the flattering form of the piece. Plus, Amanda noted that this piece doesn’t feel scratchy on the inside, from the boucle-tweed matieral, as it comes fully lined in champagne satin and is finished with a concealed back zip for a smooth fit.
Normally available in sizes XS to 3XL, Amanda’s golden bauble dress is currently out of stock in size M, meaning you’ll need to act fast to secure yours before other sizes sell out too. Amanda’s dress retails for £375.
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For a mini dress in the same gold boucle style, with smaller price tags, check out this Self-Portrait Off-shoulder bouclé minidress, which is now on sale for £304. Meanwhile, over at Next, you can find this Forever New Gold Charlie Tweed Strapless Mini Dress in nearly all sizes for £115.
