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After their 50 year romance, Virgin boss Richard Branson revealed how a strange twist of fate permitted him to spend his wife Joan by her side during her final days.

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Sir Richard Branson announced earlier this week that he had tragically lost his beloved wife Joan, 80, his partner for almost 50 years. In a heartbreaking Instagram post, Richard, 75, revealed how an extraordinary twist of fate allowed him to be at her side in her final hours.

He claimed that he had fallen off his bike while attending an Indian charity event and that his shoulder had been injured, leaving Joan, who was recovering from a back injury in an English hospital, unaware of the incident. After announcing her death, he wrote in a recent Instagram post that Fate had an odd way of working. I’d jumped off my bike in India, and as many people know, my shoulder hurt.

3 images to be seen

3 images to be seen

“Joan was in a hospital in England recovering from her own back injury. I was moved to a room just down the corridor from her, just like life occasionally surprises you.

We laughed as a group about how common it was for us to end up together, like teenagers who were delighted to find each other again. The billionaire claimed Joan had been in “positive spirits” shortly before she passed away and that the couple had a “lovely lunch.”

She was suddenly gone, quickly and painlessly, he continued. And thankfully, I was right there for her. Knowing that we were together makes us all feel great peace, he said. He also compared our collectively incredible final year to “an incredible one.”

When Richard first described it as “love at first sight,” the couple first met in 1976. He said, “I frequently make up my mind about a person within 30 seconds of meeting them, and I was almost instantly drawn to Joan.” I quickly realized Joan wouldn’t be impressed by my typical antics because she was a down-to-earth Scottish woman.

Richard said he would visit Joan frequently to purchase vintage signs from her, many of which decorated the houseboat he lived on, because she at the time worked in an antiques store in Notting Hill. Before getting married on Necker Island in 1989, they had two children, Holly, 44, and Sam, 40.

Richard attributed Joan to some of his biggest business victories, calling her his “constant rock” and a “steady source of wisdom.” Now That’s What I Call Music! is a slogan that they all came up with. which eventually became the best-selling album series in history.

Announcing her death on Tuesday, Richard wrote on social media: “Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away. She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for. She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever Joan x.”

Ziggy Litchman, who appeared in Big Brother when he was 26, has since kept out of the spotlight – on Wednesday, he was photographed working as a doorman at a restaurant in London

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Former Big Brother star Ziggy Litchman has been spotted working as a doorman – and helping Sharon Osbourne walk down the steps as she left a high-end London restaurant. Ozzy Osbourne’s wife, 73, and their daughter, Kelly, 41, attended a glitzy event in the capital, hosted by Rebecca Vallance, on Wednesday. It was the first time Sharon had been seen in public after her beloved husband passed away at the age of 76 in July.

Sharon got glammed up to step out alongside her daughter at the event at Aki London and was seen wearing a a long sequinned dress with full-length sleeves and shoulder pads. Kelly wore a pink and silver sequinned halter-neck gown. Photos of the event showed that Big Brother star Ziggy Litchman, 44, was working at the high-end venue. The former TV star appeared on the show, which then aired on Channel 4, when he was 26 years old.

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READ MORE: Sharon Osbourne holds onto daughter Kelly in first public appearance since Ozzy’s death

During his appearance, he famously entered in an on and off relationship with his co-star Chanelle Hayes. Their relationship, however, ended after a series of rows. Since leaving Big Brother, he has kept out of the spotlight, with previous reports claiming he was working as a doorman.

At the event last night, Sharon and Kelly rubbed shoulders with Holly Valance, Amber Le Bon and Zara Tindall. The glamorous celebrity outing came as Sharon’s son Jack Osbourne braves the grizzly Australian jungle in this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Sharon and Kelly have been watching Jack in the jungle, with Kelly revealing Sharon’s concern over his actions on the ITV show earlier this week as Jack took on his first solo Bushtucker Trial. As she sat beside his sister Kelly to take in the latest events, Sharon appeared to be concerned by his lack of breathing in the underwater activity.

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Kelly remarked, “Watching I’m A Celebrity and they cut to commercials at the most poignant bit. I was holding my breath when the first commercial revealed that I was still holding my breath. Come on, he’s in a chamber of water with only two minutes left.

Then Sharon says, “With lobsters and toads.” Come on, we need to know what’s happening, Kelly continued.

As the trial wore on, Kelly praised her brother for passing each section while Sharon’s mother, Sharon, was a witness to her daughter’s nervous tapping as she struggled to watch him complete it. Both were pleased that he had finished the trial, with Sharon celebrating by punching the air.

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Jack cried out loud as he discussed his father’s passing in the jungle. He declared, “It was undoubtedly a shock.” He continued, “We knew he was going to be sick for a while, but it was definitely a shock, because we didn’t know it would pass that quickly.” It was the biggest mic drop, he performed a massive big show and was like, “Alright, I’m done.”

James Morrison has revealed he won’t be performing for his fans in London as the 41-year-old music star issued a sad statement on his Instagram page this week

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A major British pop favourite has been forced to pull out of a live appearance only hours before he was due to step on stage. The singer, 41, told fans he was “incredibly sorry” as he announced the last-minute change of plan. James Morrison had been scheduled to perform at record store Rough Trade East, but the show was abruptly cancelled when he revealed his voice had given out.

Posting to Instagram, he explained: “Hello everyone. I have some bad news. I’m devastated to say I am having to reschedule my two in store performances today at Rough Trade East.” He went on: “Its been such a pleasure speaking to you all after the shows so far and performing each night but my voice is strained and I am unable to sing tonight.”

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Apologising again, he added: “I am so incredibly sorry to have to do this again. We promise to reschedule as soon as possible. Thank you for all your patience and understanding. James.”

Fans immediately flooded his comments with messages of support. “Your wellbeing is more important! Look after yourself,” one loyal follower wrote. Another added: “Get well soon! you were incredible at Resident music—grateful to have heard you live and thank you for signing a record for my baby girl!”

A third person wrote: “I’m not even going to be there and feel terrible for the fans who were going. Please rest that beautiful voice & heal well!” while another simply pleaded: “Get well soon James!!!!” A fifth fan said: “Hola James!, I have read this, ohh, let’s have a good recovery!!…rest at home, relax…”

Just last month, the singer appeared on James Martin’s Saturday Morning as he made a devastating voice admission. On the show, the star opened up on how he was born premature and caught whooping cough.

The past few months have been especially difficult for James, following the death of his former partner, Gill Catchpole – the mother of his two children – who was found dead in January 2024.

The cancelled London performance comes on the heels of a wave of cancellations affected events in Bristol, London, Nottingham and Liverpool.

His Fight Another Day world tour kicked off in the UK in September, coinciding with the release of the new album on October 3. Many of the postponed dates are now expected to take place in May 2026.

The Rough Trade show had been billed as a “unique event” designed to “celebrate the release of his new album Fight Another Day released via Cooking Vinyl”.

Morrison, who first burst onto the scene in 2006 with his triple-platinum debut Undiscovered and later scooped the 2007 Brit Award for Best British Male Solo Artist, has sold millions of records over the past two decades.