Category Entertainment News

Junior Giscombe, whose real name is Norman, has revealed a revealing medical situation that led to the major operation to save his voice.

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A legendary soul singer who was a big hit in the 1980s has revealed the details of his lifelong illness that prevented him from speaking or singing.

Junior Giscombe, who is best known for his 1982 hit Mama Used To Say and winning a Grammy for his song Do You Really Want My Love? that featured on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, told how his vocal chords collapsed suddenly, leaving him with a raspy, hoarse voice and barely able to speak following a performance in 2023.

He had a “voice-saving operation” at St George’s Hospital in London, followed by months of speech therapy, which enabled him to reclaim his voice and perform live.

Junior praised the “amazing” doctors who treated him, saying: “I’m incredibly grateful to the team at George’s because without them, I would have lost my voice and be forced to give up the job I’ve loved for almost 50 years. They have been incredible, and I have never felt the same way about any of the care I have received. I can’t stop yelling their praises.

READ MORE: Sarah Ferguson ‘abandons’ Andrew as she prepares to make her next move

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3 images to be seen

Junior recalled the moment he lost his voice on stage when the song “just disappeared.”

I initially believed I had a cold, but I soon realized something was wrong when it started to get worse and I couldn’t talk. There was no sound coming out of my mouth when I tried to speak with my wife; I needed assistance.

Junior realized that his 50-year career was over when he realized that. He continued, “It was incredibly terrifying to not be able to use my voice.”

“Over the years, I’ve done shows without getting warm up my voice.” I assumed that my voice would always be there because I never experienced any issues with it. I was afraid because having no voice means having no job.

Junior met with Elissa Finn and her team, a speech-language pathologist, as part of his treatment. He was instructed to use his voice in a manner that minimizes the vocal chord damage during these sessions.

This was a first for me because I’ve never had vocal training before,” Junior said. Working with Elissa and her team gave me the confidence I needed as I pondered, “Am I able to do this? ” after I ceased speaking. Thanks to the wonderful St George’s team, my voice has been saved and I can continue to sing, and I’m back doing what I love.

However, Junior cautioned people to look after their voices, whether or not they were singers. He continued, “Please don’t take my voice for granted as I did.” Look after it.

Speech therapist Elissa Finn explained: “There are a lot of reasons why a patient can lose their voice. It could be with overuse, age, or it could be caused by a health condition – so our sessions are always tailored to the patient’s needs.” If you notice a change in your speech or consistent soreness when speaking, the NHS recommends you see a doctor.

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One of the biggest music festivals in the world has announced a one-off performance by Sir Elton John, who claims he can’t wait to show that he and his band are sounding “as good as we ever have.”

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Three months after his final Farewell Yellow Brick Road concert, Sir Elton John declares that he “can’t wait” to headline a significant summer festival the following year. The 78-year-old Candle in the Wind megastar, who was awarded the title of Queen Elizabeth II in 1997, will perform at the city’s Palco Mundo (World Stage) stadium, which can accommodate around 80 000 people and has hosted other legendary artists like Queen, Metallica, and Beyoncé.

Since Elton’s final performance on his Farwell Yellow Brick Road tour in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8, 2023, will be played at the concert on September 7. It will be just over three years old.

The Rocket Man singer stated on his return to the big stage that he had planned to deliver something special and that he could not wait to be back in South America.

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Every time we play in Brazil, he said, “I’ve always had a fantastic time.” When Rock In Rio asked me to play during the farewell tour because I couldn’t make it to South America, I said “yes” right away. Brazilian fans are so special to me and are so special to me.

Since I stopped touring, I haven’t been able to stop enjoying the energy these big one-off shows have. We’re still really enjoying playing together, and we’re sounding as good as we’ve always been. I’m so excited to travel back to Brazil next summer.

Rod Stewart, AC/DC, Queen, George Benson, and Yes were the headliners for the first Rock in Rio event held in 1985. It has since grown to be one of the biggest festivals on the global musical calendar, and it also hosts a spin-off festival, Rock in Rio Lisboa, which takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, in the same year.

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Roberto Medina, the festival’s president and creator, claims that Sir Elton’s performance in September will “write a new chapter in the history of the festival.”

He stated this week, “Rock in Rio was born with the idea of making unforgettable memories.” We’re bringing a living legend, not just Elton John, “into the world.”

It’s a privilege to have him appear on our global stage. His life, legacy, and musical genius perfectly exemplify Rock in Rio’s themes of transformation, connection, and emotion.

After revealing his retirement from his 2023 tour, Elton joins us to reinforce Rock in Rio’s commitment to music and demonstrates the strength of this brand, which bears the name of Rio.

We’re thrilled to welcome one of the greatest artists of all time, and 2026 will be an emblematic year.

On December 9, Rock in Rio Card 2026 tickets will only be available for purchase through Ticketmaster Brasil.

Mirror Associate Editor Tom Bryant was at Brisbane Airport for every campmate arrival – and reveals if they’re different to their jungle persona

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After a gruelling 20 hour plus flight, it’s probably the last thing anyone would want to contend with. But the media greeting all the campmates at Brisbane Airport before their three-week stint in the jungle is now very much part of I’m a Celebrity tradition. For us journalists, it’s a fascinating early indicator of who the characters on the show are going to be – and who will resonate most with the public. So after meeting all of the celebs again this year, these are my predictions for who might do well, and what they were really like…

Kelly Brook – Glammed up in the plane loo

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There are entrances, and there are Kelly Brook entrances. At Heathrow, she was pictured in a brown tracksuit – but here in Brisbane she emerged resplendent in a yellow and tangerine dress, having clearly glammed up in the airplane loos. She was on great form: funny, unfiltered and showing no signs of a 20-hour plane journey. She’d also devised a hilarious cover story for her trip Down Under: a trip to see her long-lost Auntie Sheila (regardless of the fact she was being ushered into a car laid on by ITV!). You can see why she is popular in camp.

Lisa Riley – a rare thing in showbiz: someone who is normal

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Despite the gruelling flight, Lisa emerged in arrivals just like she is in the jungle – with a huge smile and a sense of fun. Again, despite the ITV chaperone beside her she was sticking to what sounded like a well-rehearsed story – she was in Australia to film a new version of Emmerdale spin-off, Dingles Down Under. We even saw that motherly nature that is so well-known in camp. As we chatted to her going down the escalator, she was worried about us falling over at the end of the ramp. She is the rare thing in showbiz: someone who is normal. It’s something her campmates clearly like about her too.

Shona McGarty – a little shy to begin with but up for a laugh

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“This is the weirdest thing,” Shona laughed as she was greeted by a sea of cameras in the arrivals hall. “I got on the wrong flight, it said Austria.” It’s fair to say that Shona seemed a little bemused by all the fuss as she walked through the arrivals hall. But she was sweet, maybe a little shy (to begin with), but clearly up for a laugh. Like Lisa, she seemed completely normal and untouched by the fake, showbiz world. Let’s hope that viewers get to see more of this side of her.

Aitch – a tad suspicious but warmed up

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Dressed in a black Adidas hoodie with shades, we wouldn’t have recognised Aitch if it weren’t for the fact he was greeted by ITV. My first thought was that perhaps he might have preferred it this way, as he seemed a little bewildered by the attention, and maybe a tad suspicious of us all. But he soon warmed up and his deadpan humour that viewers have come to love was on full display. “I don’t mind snakes…snakes on toast,” he said when asked how he was with any potential critters. Quizzed who he would miss, he replied: “I am going to miss my sister, even though she is a little s***.”

Angry Ginge – down to earth and well-prepared

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The 24-year-old had clearly done his homework ahead of his first encounter with the media. Straight away, it occurred to us he must have got wifi on his flight, as he’d been watching our videos of other campmates arriving in Brisbane. Hilariously, he told us that he’d heard Kelly Brook was off to meet her Auntie and that Lisa Riley was doing Dingles Down Under….and both had rung him up to ask for him to join them. He was funny and down-to-earth. In what was also an airport arrivals first, it wasn’t just the assorted press pack waiting to meet Ginge….he had fans come to greet him too. The jungle favourite tag might be justified…

Ruby Wax – genuinely bemused but charming

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Ruby was everything you wanted her to be. Unlike the other celebs, there was no cover story about why she was in Australia….she was open from the get-go. She said she wouldn’t miss anything bar her cats, and that this was the “weirdest thing she had ever done.” She seemed genuinely bemused by all the attention, and couldn’t grasp at first why we were interested in her. “Thanks for showing up…see you on the other side,” she laughed. As Donald Trump found out, she can be a spiky interviewer…but when the tables are turned, she is totally charming.

Eddie Kadi – friendly but a bit quieter

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Eddie arrived after the full-line up had been officially announced – but he was determined to plead ignorance as to the reason he was in Australia. Asked if he was excited about the Jungle, he replied: “I’m looking for Mowgli.” Pressed further, he added: “Are there jungles here?” Although he didn’t have the energy he often displays in camp – perhaps understandable after a 20 hour flight – he was warm, friendly, and happy to chat. Albeit not about potential camplife!

Alex Scott – emotional about jungle life

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We all came away from chatting to Alex saying exactly the same thing….just how nice she was. In fact, it’s fair to say we weren’t expecting her to be as chatty as she was, particularly about how much she would miss her girlfriend Jess Glynne. Instead she was refreshingly candid about the prospect of life without her popstar partner. “This is the longest we are going to be apart…it’s going to be hard,” she said. “ You are making me emotional now ..I have been trying not to think about how long we are going to be separated.” If viewers get to see more of this side of her, she could do really well in the Jungle….

Jack Osbourne – didn’t get into the jungle spirit

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Perhaps it was the fact his flight was cancelled and he had to get a later one. Or the fact he has had a pretty rough few months after his dad passed away. So it’s perhaps understandable that Jack didn’t get into the jungle spirit quite as much as the other celebs landing at Brisbane airport. I asked if he was looking forward to spending the night under the stars – a pretty innocuous question – and he teased: “You clearly haven’t done your research.” In the jungle, Jack opened up about how he hated the “huge amount of attention” that came with filming the Osbournes at a young age. Maybe that extends to the fanfare around I’m a Celebrity too. Or maybe he just didn’t appreciate being asked questions after a long flight. Either way, watching him drop his guard in camp, you sense the jungle might be a better place to meet the real Jack than a harshly-lit arrivals hall.

Martin Kemp – suave and charming

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It was reported that Jeff Brazier’s son Freddy has also split from his girlfriend, who is currently expecting, just hours after being revealed that the couple is once more single.

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Freddy Brazier is said to have broken up with his pregnant girlfriend Holly Swinburn. This comes just hours after his father was reported to be single again as well.

The 21-year-old will soon be a father and has admitted in an interview that he “always knew” he would have children at a young age. He added that he was excited about the birth, shortly after he and Holly made their red carpet debut at the Pride of Britain awards.

The source told the Mail: “The pair have been arguing a lot recently. Having a baby so young is a lot to deal with.” The news comes less than a day after his father Jeff Brazier was reported to have split from his wife Kate after seven years of marriage and twelve years of an on-and-off relationship.

READ MORE: Freddy Brazier says he ‘tried to end it all’ and spent 18th birthday ‘in a psychiatric ward’READ MORE: Jeff Brazier ‘splits from wife Kate Dwyer after seven years amid tough times’

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5 images to be viewed

Jeff has yet to publicly confirm the status of his marriage, but fans noticed that he ditched his wedding ring when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on 25 November. The pair are thought to have split after a difficult year, and Freddy hinted at trouble in June. In a video posted to TikTok, he said one of the things he hated was “step parents” and “my family issues”.

Kate and Jeff’s relationship strained as a result of Freddy’s recent struggles, according to The Sun. The 21-year-old recently stung the media by confessing to trying to “end it all” in 2023.

He admitted to crashing his car during a “manic episode” and claimed to have spent his 18th birthday in a “psychiatric ward” after sharing how he has grown since then and is trying to take better care of himself on TikTok.

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5 images to be viewed

He remained positive and claimed that his dog had helped him. He said, “Eating better, listening to what helped him. A break from London is. a lot of training a tiny circle My doggo . Self-love and skin care.

Freddy continued, “not knowing that Jackiey Budden has been lying to me for years,” that he had given his relationship to his maternal grandmother. Freddy and his father have been at odds with Jackiey.

Jeff filed a lawsuit in March of this year to prevent Freddy from seeing his grandmother. In August, he resisted filing a lawsuit, which was claimed to have strained the relationship between the father and son.

The Mirror has contacted Freddy’s reps for comment.

It was reported that Jeff Brazier’s son Freddy has also split from his girlfriend, who is currently expecting, just hours after being revealed that the couple is once more single.

5 images to be viewed

Freddy Brazier is said to have broken up with his pregnant girlfriend Holly Swinburn. This comes just hours after his father was reported to be single again as well.

The 21-year-old will soon be a father and has admitted in an interview that he “always knew” he would have children at a young age. He added that he was excited about the birth, shortly after he and Holly made their red carpet debut at the Pride of Britain awards.

The source told the Mail: “The pair have been arguing a lot recently. Having a baby so young is a lot to deal with.” The news comes less than a day after his father Jeff Brazier was reported to have split from his wife Kate after seven years of marriage and twelve years of an on-and-off relationship.

READ MORE: Freddy Brazier says he ‘tried to end it all’ and spent 18th birthday ‘in a psychiatric ward’READ MORE: Jeff Brazier ‘splits from wife Kate Dwyer after seven years amid tough times’

5 images to be viewed

5 images to be viewed

Jeff has yet to publicly confirm the status of his marriage, but fans noticed that he ditched his wedding ring when he appeared on Good Morning Britain on 25 November. The pair are thought to have split after a difficult year, and Freddy hinted at trouble in June. In a video posted to TikTok, he said one of the things he hated was “step parents” and “my family issues”.

Kate and Jeff’s relationship strained as a result of Freddy’s recent struggles, according to The Sun. The 21-year-old recently stung the media by confessing to trying to “end it all” in 2023.

He admitted to crashing his car during a “manic episode” and claimed to have spent his 18th birthday in a “psychiatric ward” after sharing how he has grown since then and is trying to take better care of himself on TikTok.

5 images to be viewed

5 images to be viewed

He remained positive and claimed that his dog had helped him. He said, “Eating better, listening to what helped him. A break from London is. a lot of training a tiny circle My doggo . Self-love and skin care.

Freddy continued, “not knowing that Jackiey Budden has been lying to me for years,” that he had given his relationship to his maternal grandmother. Freddy and his father have been at odds with Jackiey.

Jeff filed a lawsuit in March of this year to prevent Freddy from seeing his grandmother. In August, he resisted filing a lawsuit, which was claimed to have strained the relationship between the father and son.

The Mirror has contacted Freddy’s reps for comment.

Zoe Ball and co-host Jo Whiley replied to to a health-related query from a listener named Alison on their podcast, with the former noting that she used to “really struggle” with the same condition

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Zoe Ball has opened up about her struggle with a worrying health condition, revealing she discovered a solution that “really helped”. During a recent episode of the Dig It podcast, the BBC Radio 2 presenter and co-host Jo Whiley addressed a question from listener Alison, who revealed she tuned into the show at 3am as she endured sleepless nights.

Alison shared that her sleep quality had “deteriorated” with age. Despite attempting various remedies including medication, sleeping separately, maintaining good sleep hygiene and using meditation apps, nothing had provided relief from her struggle at night. She concluded by asking whether Zoe and Jo had any suggestions.

The broadcaster, who shared a love life insight over the summer, responded: “Alison, darling girl, I feel your pain; that is so frustrating. I used to really struggle to sleep, and yeah, I used to take a lot of sleeping tablets. And again, you shouldn’t really take those for a long period of time because, you know, they can add to your risk of dementia, but then, the worry of not being able to sleep makes you not be able to sleep.

“So, Alison, from me, something which you possibly have tried because it does sound like you might have exhausted all the avenues, once I started taking magnesium at night, I found that really helped.”

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Zoe also mentioned that she’d been advised to take baths in magnesium salts, although she confessed that she was unsure how the mineral aids sleep, but it “definitely has made a difference” to her.

Insomnia is a condition characterised by regular sleep issues, with symptoms not only including difficulty falling asleep, but also waking up during the night, lying awake, waking early and struggling to fall back asleep, and finding it hard to nap during the day despite feeling tired, according to the NHS.

The NHS also explains that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, unlike children, toddlers and babies who require more. Some of the causes of insomnia include depression, anxiety or stress, shift work, temperatures, nicotine, caffeine and alcohol, but it also emphasises that the condition can improve if you address your sleeping habits.

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Some of the recommendations included sticking to the same routine when heading to bed and rising in the morning, unwinding roughly an hour before sleep (suggesting reading or having a bath), regular physical activity and ensuring your bedroom remains both dark and quiet. Healthline writes that magnesium could address sleep by alleviating anxiety and depression and helping people calm down.

It notes that magnesium is a common mineral that is vital for our health. Indeed, it is utilised in more than 600 “cellular reactions” in the human body, and, among its reported health benefits, helps with bone health and the function of the brain, heart and muscles. Regarding sleep, magnesium could assist your brain and body in relaxing, it continues.

One of the ways it can do this is by “activating the parasympathetic nervous system”, which the publication notes is in charge of making you relaxed. Magnesium also regulates melatonin (a naturally occurring hormone that has a role in the sleep-wake cycle) – in fact, people with insomnia sometimes take a synthetic version of melatonin to aid sleep.

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It could also help in quieting down the nervous system. Meanwhile, insufficient magnesium levels could even lead to issues with sleep, with research indicating that both elevated and depleted levels could create sleep issues.

In other news, Zoe has reportedly welcomed a mystery man into her home, addressing the topic on another episode of her and Jo’s podcast. Zoe, who split from her ex-partner, Michael Reed, two years ago, revealed this while discussing a product she purchased online that she uses to “whack” her legs and underarms.

She claimed it aids circulation and is “quite good” for lymphatic drainage. Apparently, the mystery man, whom she refers to as “the lodger”, spotted her using it

She recalled: “I remember the first time the lodger walked in and saw me doing it, and just sort of turned on his heels.”

Jo then asked the BBC Radio 2 icon if he was “still around”, to which Zoe confirmed that he indeed was. She cryptically mentioned that he was still there at present and “still lodging”, but she did not reveal his identity.