Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning world no. 1, triumphed over Roger Federer and Rod Laver, who had the “pressure” of watching tennis legends Roger Federer and Rod Laver.
On Rod Laver Arena, a prone-to-error Sabalenka defeated French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah 6-4 6-1.
Federer, a six-time Australian Open champion, and Laver, a three-time champion, had seats in front of the crowd during the first-round contest, with Sabalenka joking about making an effort to not look at them.
After taking a selfie with the pair, Sabalenka, who has twice won the Melbourne title, took a selfie with them.
“I wanted to show you guys some great tennis,” he said. What a blessing, I really hope you guys only had a small amount of enjoyment from it,” said Belarus’ Sabalenka.
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Sabalenka has lost just one of her past 22 matches at the tournament, a surprise three-set defeat by American Madison Keys in the final of last year’s final, and has a strong record in Australia, dropping just one set in 2023 and 2024.
Her impressive form extends to Melbourne’s blue courts as well: five of her 22 career singles titles were won there, including winning the Brisbane International, which set her up for the major this year.
However, Sabalenka was able to overcome Rakotomanga Rajaonah, the world’s number 118, in a unique way.
In the opening set, Sabalenka had her serve broken, but 13 unforced errors in the match’s first game saw 16 winners and one break, 16 of which came after she had already broken the serve.
The match became increasingly one-sided after Sabalenka reeled off five games in a row to take control after salvaging a 4-4 break point.
“I didn’t start at my best,” he said. She came out swinging and playing great, Sabalenka, who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the fourth time in a row.
After the Syrian army pushed the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces out of the Aleppo Governorate’s eastern regions, Deir Hafer residents have been celebrating. Zein Basravi from Al Jazeera spoke with the locals.
As a new film looms, the Call the Midwife Doctor Truner star has opened up about living with his BBC drama co-star.
Angie Quinn is a time-reporter for the television.
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The upcoming Call the Midwife movie has been covered up by Stephen McGann (Image: BBC).
Stephen McGann has opened up about the forthcoming Call the Midwife movie and his private life with his co-star wife.
The beloved BBC period drama has made a triumphant comeback with a new series, and Stephen has once more taken on the role of Doctor Patrick Turner.
The 62-year-old actor has captivated audiences since he first arrived in Poplar as the heroic doctor during the inaugural episode in 2012.
A beacon of hope in the impoverished corner of London, Dr Turner has saved lives, assisted in childbirth, and consistently warmed viewers’ hearts with each episode.
The BBC show is now in its fifteenth series, which has transitioned to 1971, ushering in a new era for the plot.
The Women’s Liberation movement, premature births, cancer diagnoses, and other topics are the topics of the upcoming decade’s research.
A 16th series has been confirmed as the period drama enters the 1970s. A prequel series starring the first members of Nonnatus House and a film starring them will also be released in Poplar during World War II.
Stephen has opened up about the upcoming Call the Midwife movie and shared a cheeky relationship with Heidi Thomas, the show’s creator.
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**
Appearing on Thursday’s episode of The One Show (January 15), the actor joined hosts Lauren Laverne and Roman Kemp, and guests David Baddiel and EastEnders star Kim Medcalf, and opened up about the forthcoming Call the Midwife movie and gave a cheeky insight into his marriage with the show’s creator, Heidi Thomas.
Roman responded, “Stephen, your wife is one of the show’s creators.” The film being made needs to be discussed. Everyone is so excited. What can you say to us, exactly?
It’s so difficult to say anything, Stephen replied. She always tells me to leave right now because she is so busy. Although it is (the year) 72, I am aware that many of the characters will be present because of it.
Although there is a prequel, the actors are all “old hands,” with possible additions of even more.
He continued, “Asking people to come along and be in our episodes is a very different attitude from asking them to be in a movie is a great thing.”
The canvas is wide, but I’m a little hesitant to ask for anything because, last time, she asked me if she thought she was getting too big for my boots and she said, “How would you feel if Doctor Turner lost a lung?”
Then David Baddiel posed the question, “Will your wife give you a terrible storyline if you have a fight with her?” She actually suggested that entire plotline, Stephen joked. I did a row, and now I’m terrified! She will act in anger because it was at the breakfast table.”
Who is the wife of Stephen McGann?
After getting married to Heidi Thomas in 1988, the couple, both 27, had a honeymoon in Tuscany. They soon began a new life together in a cottage in rural Essex. Dominic is their son.
Continue reading the article.
After auditioning for Heidi’s new play at the Liverpool Playhouse, Stephen’s book, A History of My Family in Seven Maladies, was published.
Jo Brand, a psychiatric nurse, is as hilarious and outspoken as ever as she ever is when she talks comedy, motherhood, and a terrifying incident while working as a comedian and Bake Off favorite.
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The witty woman described a terrifying attack she underwent while working as a psychiatric nurse (Getty Images)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
She shook up the stand-up comedy circuit in the 80s with her no-holds-barred humour and since then Jo Brand has become one of Britain’s best-loved comics.
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice presenter, 68, is famous for her candid comments and self-deprecating jokes about her appearance – most notably, her weight. But the London-born mother-of-two doesn’t intend to resort to weight-loss drugs.
“I think weight-loss drugs are great, but I wouldn’t do it because I’ve heard lots of things about side effects and I’ve got enough wrong with me already,” she tells us. “Also, as soon as you stop them, the weight piles back on. They’re meant to stop the hunger pains and the ‘I want food noises’ and I get that a lot.”
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She continues, “It’s really difficult because fat people have to deal with it.” I recently read that a woman’s chances of getting a better job are higher if she loses a lot of weight. People believe you don’t care about yourself or that you’re lazy if you’re fat. You were subjected to all of those things. Which is why you must work for yourself and refrain from giving a damn about it like I do?
Before she became a household name, Jo worked as a psychiatric nurse. Speaking at a gig in London’s Greenwich, she told the audience her experience changed her perception of people who are mentally unwell, and revealed that some of the patients once rescued her from a terrifying assault.
This guy came up to me and said, “Looking at you, it’s like looking in a butcher’s window and seeing a piece of meat I can afford,” after which I worked nights for a while on a long shift.
He claimed that I was actually a nurse, and as soon as he said, he just jumped on top of me and pushed me onto a chair, yelling, “Help, help, get off.”
Two of the inpatients woke up and came to save me, would you believe it? Because I tell that story, I believe that the person responsible for it is not a staff member.
Jo used the stage name The Sea Monster when she first started a stand-up show because “I occasionally eat people while swimming.”
Before making her TV debut on Saturday Live, she was a headliner at many of the biggest comedy clubs in the UK. She claims that the men were the ones who defined what was funny because she is one of the few women on the circuit.
She says, “You hear people saying that women aren’t funny even now, but I realised I was funny early in my career when I made a table full of blokes laugh.” Such a ridiculous statement.
The men have spent too much time believing that. Although it is changing over time, it is taking a long time. It’s great to see how many excellent female comics are now.
Away from the public eye, Jo has been happily married to Bernie Bourke for almost 30 years and they have two kids. Although Bernie is also a qualified psychiatric nurse, they didn’t meet in the NHS, but at a comedy gig when Jo was 38.
She claims that she was 43 when my first child was born. Because I was getting on a little, I believed I should have them. My mother was elderly.
“I was overweight and smoked about 600 fags per day, but everything worked out just fine.” My daughters are two. They are currently 24 and 22 so they are also getting along!
It was delightful when they were younger. They were stunning, but they didn’t quite understand what I did. I recall Maisie saying, “Mom, are you Jo Brand? ” when she returned from school on her first day. “
Maisie, a musician with a sizable TikTok following, says Jo that using social media, her daughters keep her relevant.
“My daughters made me go on in Instagram and they examined with a fine-tooth comb how I was getting on. At the time, Normal People was a big show with Paul Mescal in it and apparently his neck chain had its own Instagram page. My daughter said to me, very smugly, ‘Mum, you have less followers than Paul Mescal’s neck chain.’”
Jo does less stand-up these days, but often appears as a panellist on Have I Got News For You and has been the main presenter of The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice since 2014.
She claims that because there are too many of us, being a comedian is now much harder. No, because I’ve been doing it for almost 40 years and haven’t had any ideas in a while, it’s much harder for me. However, I also feel that the general opinion is out of touch with me.
Your content must not be posted on social media because it will discourage users from leaving. Therefore, you must make special snippets of your talking to the audience that draw people in for the performance. But that’s not what I’m up for.
Continue reading the article.
Jo has also written a number of books, including Sheridan Smith’s role in the movie The More You Ignore Me. However, she won’t be pursuing acting on her own.
“I can’t act to save my life,” she says. “I once went for a Lynda La Plante drama about the comedy scene. The part was based on me and I still didn’t get it. I also auditioned for Harry Potter, but unfortunately Robbie Coltrane got the part.”
Ranvir Singh’s flattering, tailored jumpsuit is exactly where we can find it, thanks to GMB viewers’ praise of her “love as always” outfit.
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Ranvir Singh’s jumpsuit was adored by Good Morning Britain viewers (Photo: Instagram @ranvirtv)
After Ranvir Singh appeared on the program wearing a slim, waist-cinching jumpsuit that perfectly matched polish and everyday comfort, Good Morning Britain viewers couldn’t stop praising her.
Instagram users quickly flooded Ranvir’s page with compliments, calling her “gorgeous as always” and praising her effortless on-screen style.
With its structured fit, defined waist, and timeless silhouette, the outfit in question was a beautifully tailored brown jumpsuit from Ro &, Zo. It’s the kind of all-in-one outfit you’ll wear every morning that’s both smart and relaxed enough to keep you active all day.
We believe Ranvir’s exact Ro &, Zo jumpsuit is nearly out of stock on the website in all sizes, but we have a brand-embedded version that is almost identical. Even better, the jumpsuit is now priced at £74.50, making it a seriously attractive wardrobe investment.
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A flattering nipped-in waist detail completes the jumpsuit’s tailored look. Not to mention that one of the biggest trends of the year was the deep chocolate brown shade, which will continue into 2026.
When the weather starts to warm up, we advise wearing chunky sandals or slick trainers for a more casual look.
Continue reading the article.
With a variety of different jumpsuits, Ranvir has been rocking the style game recently. The TV presenter sported the Emily Burgundy Jumpsuit from Phase Eight just last week, which is currently available for £79 from £159.
We examine other bands that have lost due to money as The Police battle it out in a royalties dispute in the High Court.
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L-R: Destiny’s Child L-R LeToya Luckett, Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and LaTavia Roberson. Redferns is the image.
Performing to sell-out stadiums all over the world in their 1980s heyday, The Police were one of the biggest bands on the planet.
Offstage, however, there’s been disharmony between lead singer Sting and his former bandmates Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers – who have made it clear every pound you take matters when it comes to royalties.
Millions have been made from top hits like Message in a Bottle (1979), Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981), and Every Breath You Take (1983).
But frontman Sting is said to owe more than $2m (£1.5m) in ‘arranger’s fees’ to drummer Copeland and guitarist Summers, but has told the High Court in London he’s already paid more than £500K to them since they started legal proceedings.
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The issue is largely stemmed from how to interpret various agreements and how they apply to streaming, which was unaffected when The Police were founded but still generates significant income for the group, which underwent a successful global tour in 2007 after being publicly disbanded in 1984.
Later, drummer Copeland later revealed that the trio “beat the crap out of each other” while “very dark” recording sessions for Synchronicity, their penultimate album.
And their ruckus is not the only one to reach a dramatic crescendo in rock ‘n’ roll.
A similar case involving the estates of Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell is expected to result in a verdict next month. The case involves copyright, unpaid royalties, and performers’ rights to recordings from streaming revenues, including those from the likes of Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland.
Roger Waters and David Gilmour’s involvement in the fallout of Pink Floyd was also related to a dispute over royalties in the past. Waters, who authored the majority of the lyrics and concepts for albums like The Wall (1979) and The Final Cut (1983), claimed to be the main creative force behind Gilmour’s focus on musical arrangements and guitar solos. The Wall and other works’ conceptual rights were reclaimed by Gilmour and Nick Mason, while Waters and Gilmour and Nick Mason were granted the Pink Floyd name.
The Smiths, whose hits included 1984’s I’m Miserable Now, split in 1987 as a result of disagreements between Morrissey and Johnny Marr regarding musical direction. However, drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke filed lawsuits against their fellow bandmates in 1996 for unfair royalties distribution. Morrissey and Marr were only paid 40% of the band’s profits, while Mike and Andy only received 10%, and a judge eventually granted the rhythm section back royalties of £1 million and 25% going forward. According to Morrissey, “the court case was a potted history of the life of the Smiths,” denying any chance of a reunion.
Surfin USA may have been the song that later brought the Beach Boys to fame in 1963, but it cost Capitol Records over $2 million in unpaid royalties and production costs. The Beach Boys’ manager, Murry Wilson, gave Berry the rights to the song’s publishing royalties in exchange for the song’s melody, which was taken from Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen. And it did not end there. In the middle of the 2000s, Mike Love claimed that a free promotional CD had cost him millions in royalties after he sued his cousin Brian Wilson and Brother Records. Wilson’s wife, Melinda Wilson, said at the time that Wilson had told his cousin to “you better start writing a real big hit, because you’re going to have to write me a real big cheque.”
Tony Hadley, Steve Norman, and John Keeble filed a lawsuit against their former Spandau Ballet bandmate, Gary Kemp, for a share of publishing royalties in 1999, alleging they had contributed to the arrangement of the band’s songs. Gary Kemp described the case as “gold,” saying, “I view this as a victory for all songwriters.” It was a “serious lesson” for musicians to ensure they were hired, according to Loser Hadley. He remarked, “I don’t believe anyone can enjoy going to court to fight it out with their former best friends.”
LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, both from Destiny’s Child, allege their manager Matthew Knowles made money off of their work in 2000 and that they received hardly any compensation. Although the case was ultimately resolved in the absence of a judge, it sparked disagreements among the band’s members.
When the rest of the band reformed without bassist Peter Hook in 2011 after he unceremoniously announced that New Order would split in 2007, a massive legal battle erupted over the use of the band name and the distribution of royalties. Hook once said, “We’re a bunch of fat old men arguing.” We are all happy to keep going, despite how pitiful it is.
The Black Crowes’ split in 2015 was also the result of a royalty dispute. Chris and Rich Robinson were sued by Drummer Steve Gorman, and the case was settled in vain in 2022. Steve Gorman went into great detail about his long-standing feud with the band over unpaid royalties in his memoir, Hard to Handle, but Rich refrained from making such claims.
Mark Beaumont, who writes for NME (New Musical Express), says, at the end of the day, these rows over royalties are only rock ‘n’ roll. He tells The Mirror: “Once bands have put in a lot of the same hard groundwork as each other, in terms of touring and recording to build a successful group, and also developed their little niggles and annoyances with each other in the van, it’s usually money that eventually drives them apart.
When a singer and guitarist dedicate their lives to the band and put in just as much effort on tour, the other parties get upset because they see them getting a bigger cut for the extra time and talent they put in to write the songs. They frequently believe that their studio contributions to the chorus hook are less valuable but still have an even greater significance than their bass, drum, or keyboard contributions.
Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke are a prime example of this because they believed they were no better than session musicians despite making a significant contribution to the band’s music’s sound and style despite receiving a 10% performance and recording revenue from Morrissey and Marr.
Continue reading the article.
The songwriters now make the majority of the band’s income from syncs, streams, and radio play, which is what they call “. Within the same band, it can result in haves and have-nots. Why do bands like Coldplay, who also share their publishing rights, continue to work together for a long time while the gaps start to appear in many other bands as soon as the money starts to rise.
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