The band Soft Cell confirmed that Dave Ball, the guitarist behind the hit band, passed away at the age of 66.
Electronic musician, a well-known member of the pop duo Soft Cell, passed away on Wednesday after just one day of recording his final album with Soft Cell. Marc Almond, Dave’s bandmate, paid tribute to Tainted Love, Say Hello, and Wave Goodbye.
Almond, 68, said: “Dave was in such a great place emotionally, so it’s difficult to write this, let alone process it.” We literally completed the album a few days ago, and he was so focused and delighted with it.
It’s so sad that he had hoped that his year would be so positive, and I take comfort in knowing that he had heard the finished record and thought it was a fantastic piece of work. The music by Dave is now better than ever.
“His tunes and hooks are still unmistakably Soft Cell, but he always elevated it.” He had a fantastic musical genius, and we have been traveling together for almost 50 years.
We were two belligerent art students who wanted to do things our way, even if it was the wrong way in the beginning. Although we never really understood mistakes as they were, we were naive and made them.
“The adventure was just part of it,” he said. Dave and I used to be a little chalk and cheese, but maybe that’s why our chemistry worked so well.
Almond continued, “There was always that warmth and chemistry whenever we came back together after a long break.” Our combined songwriting had a strong voice because of a deep bond of mutual respect.
We shared a love of music, movies, and humor, and we laughed a lot. Dave had a wealth of wonderful and unexpected musical references and shelves full of books.
I’m very proud of our legacy because he was Soft Cell’s heart and soul.
Almond added that “His music and memory will always be beloved by Soft Cell fans,” and that Almond will always be remembered. Someone will enjoy a Soft Cell song at any given time in the world.
“Thank you, Dave, for making music that you gave me and for being a huge part of my life. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.
Dave and Marc performed their final live performance just weeks before his passing, and it is now his final one. At the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames, the duo performed.
After the pair met at Leeds Polytechnic, where Dave had been studying art, Dave and Marc met and formed Soft Cell. The duo began in the 1970s and lasted until 1984. They were most well-known for hits like Gloria Jones’ Tainted Love, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, and Torch.
A number of pop synth duos, including Pet Shop Boys, Yazoo, and Eurythmics, were born out of their music.
In Strict Tempo, Dave’s solo album, was released while with the band. Additionally, Ball collaborated with artists like Pet Shop Boys, David Bowie, and Kylie Minogue as a producer, songwriter, and remixer.
Premiership Women’s Rugby – Harlequins v Loughborough Lightning
Twickenham Stoop Date: Friday, October 10th Kick-off: 19:00 BST
The Red Roses were last spotted looking tired, emotional, happy and glorious.
After winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup final against Canada on September 27, they celebrated long into the night at Twickenham’s Cabbage Patch pub before waking up bleary-eyed for a news conference and a public celebration at Battersea Power Station.
Nearly a month later, fly-half Holly Aitchison said, “I don’t think I have taken it all in yet. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind.”
A week of media duties followed as the squad surfed between breakfast TV sofas, radio studios and podcast appearances, while also sneaking in some more celebrating. Vocal cords strained after attending Lady Gaga’s O2 performance.
All Red Roses squad members traveled to various grassroots clubs over the weekend to participate in Rugby Fest, a national open day designed to encourage more women’s players.
Second row Lilli Ives Campion went to Macclesfield, with team-mate Morwenna Talling.
“Irrational, actually insane” was the number of people who showed up. She continued, “There were girls coming over from rugby league teams and from everywhere.”
Then, four months after their first Rugby World Cup training camp, three weeks before the start of the season, there was a brief window for players to get away.
Before making a 10-strong Red Roses’ trip to Ibiza, Captain Zoe Aldcroft squeezed in two vacations, visiting Malaga with her husband Luke and spending time in the Spanish city.
“Both different, and enjoyable”! she said.
The Red Roses on the White Isle included Hannah Botterman, Emily Scarratt, Natasha Hunt, Tatiana Heard, MacKenzie Carson, Campion, and Abbie Ward (a latecomer after missing her flight out), among others.
“We had a great time, we did all the traditional things in Ibiza, and we went to O Beach,” Botterman said.
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Not everyone’s celebrations were as exotic.
Prop Sarah Bern, prop, said, “I would say my celebrations have been long, but not as intense as the Ibiza crew.”
“I needed some downtime to recharge myself and just to drink some water for a start!”
” And I actually did a bit of DIY. “
Campion says the interactions and invitations have demonstrated how profoundly the team’s victory in the Rugby World Cup resonated with the general public.
The guy seated next to me tweeted that it was incredible to be a part of a World Cup winner after watching Northampton beat Leicester in the Prem.
” I have also been to my first film premiere – it was for Christy, a film about a female boxer – and it was pretty exciting.
“You could not have foresee how anything would have happened, but it’s amazing to do it with these incredible girls.”
The celebrations begin a brand-new Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season with the stars on display for their club sides, but only four weeks after Twickenham’s glory.
“PWR-powered” Canada’s World Cup run
Images courtesy of Getty
After the World Cup final, Saracens’ Sophie de Goede, Canada’s World Player of the Year, traveled to Portugal with three other international team-mates.
“We just kind of tuned out of everything, but when I got back to London and turned my phone back on, there was this big flood of messages, showing the excitement about the whole of the World Cup”, she said.
So, I experience a mix of emotions: pride in how the tournament turned out, devastation, disappointment, and frustration with our performance in the final. Holding both of those emotions simultaneously is funny.
” We have four more years of fuel now though, so lots to look forward to. “
De Goede claims that PWR helped Canada achieve its ultimate goals and objectives.
In addition to the five Saracens players who appeared in the English top flight on day 23, six of their matchday 23 were also Saracens players who played in the English top flight.
Saracens coach Alex Austerberry was part of Canada’s backroom staff during their World Cup campaign as well.
De Goede stated that the PWR is a strong league worldwide and that we want to continue to improve and develop our winning strategies.
When there are many fans in the stadium, “we needed to learn how to win big, tight games.”
De Goede says the level of fan interest has been” helpful “in upping the quality of rugby, both individually for players and as a team.
“Hopefully we’ve helped the PWR keep growing, strengthen as a league, and produce a better product on the field,” she continued.
After winning the World Cup, England coach John Mitchell reaffirmed that the league should provide a pipeline of talent for the Red Roses.
” I love seeing 100 English girls playing in PWR, I would love to see more play because then I can have the opportunity to select more, “he said.
The league is a great match because we play against other elite players, but we must keep in mind that our English players are still developing.
In their 23-strong matchday squads, clubs are required to have an average of 13 players who are English-qualified.
However, De Goede has been joined by other global superstars in the league this summer, with Ireland back row Aoife Wafer moving to Harlequins, Canada’s Laetitia Royer coming to Saracens, Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd signing for Sale and New Zealand duo Alana Borland and Georgia Ponsonby linking up with Trailfinders.
Daisy Hibbert-Jones, the England back row for the Loughborough Lightning, made her PWR debut for Firwood Waterloo as a teenager.
She thinks that international stars have raised the standard of the league and raised the average age of the English prospects who sign up.
” The international players make our league really exciting, they bring a different brand of rugby and new faces, “she said.
I believe that if a team has English-qualified players, it must invest in both its future and its players otherwise a team won’t survive.
‘ Maybe R360 should invest in PWR instead ‘
Images courtesy of Getty
Another organization wants to recruit the biggest names in women’s rugby.
The planned global series R360, which features all-star franchises sides, has the goal of having four women’s teams compete in its event, which is scheduled to launch in October 2026.
It has been reported by the Daily Telegraph that R360 has made approaches to a number of Red Roses.
Aldcroft claimed that “I have heard very little about it.”
What are your thoughts on it? I am not really sure, at the moment I am just full-on Gloucester Hartpury and happy to be in the PWR.
“Over the past few years, we have grown the PWR in an incredible amount.
Who has a sense of what this league will bring? Maybe they could invest in our PWR, that would be good”.
Genevieve Shore, the league’s manager, said she would understand if any PWR stars signed a bigger contract in R360, but that a four-team competition lacked the breadth and variety on offer and wouldn’t produce the stars of tomorrow.
Joash Amupitan has been appointed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Bola Tinubu.  ,
Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.
Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.
The professor of law was given the task of President Tinubu to enhance INEC’s institutional capacity and ensure the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process.
Your appointment to the crucial position and the Senate’s confirmation as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission are testament to your capacity and the trust you have in the executive and legislative branches of the government.
I firmly believe that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest degree of integrity, dedication, and patriotism. “The significant achievement marked the beginning of a challenging but rewarding journey.
“Our democracy has advanced significantly.” Through innovation and reforms, we have strengthened and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system, over the past 25 years. Along the way, we have gained a lot and made significant improvements over what we had before.
We must now continue to adhere to the principles that govern democracy in a complex, multifaceted society.
Beyond Reproach: Integrity
Following a screening session on October 16, Amupitan’s swearing in by the president took place a week after the Senate approved his appointment.
The integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system must be beyond reproach, according to Tinubu, in order for it to continue to prosper.
The people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and determine their future are protected by the electoral process, which is a crucial component of democracy. Our electoral system must be unwaveringly trustworthy in order for our democracy to continue to flourish. Our elections need to be fair, credible, and free.
We must constantly improve the electoral process by addressing the issues of yesterday and creating new possibilities for the present and future. Election integrity must be maintained in order to keep the public informed about elections.
“All facets of the process, from registration to campaigning, to voting and counting, must be transparent, non-violent, and credible.
No electoral system is perfect, but since elections are crucial for a country’s future, it is crucial to constantly strengthen electoral institutions, making sure they are strong, resilient, and protected from official setbacks.
The President reaffirmed that “I therefore charge you, Professor, as you take on this crucial assignment to advance the integrity of our elections and electoral process and strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity.”
Amupitan met with onlookers at the State House on Thursday morning, clad in a white “agbada” and sporting a gold cap, and greeted them as he officially assumed the position of head of the nation’s electoral umpire.
Some presidential advisers accompanied the professor.
Read more about Amupitan’s confirmation as INEC Chairman in the Senate.
He resuming his duties as the new chairman shortly after taking the oath of office.
Restoring Election Credibility
Senators questioned the 58-year-old don about his plans to bring about positive changes in the commission and restore credibility to the electoral process during his screening last week at the Senate.
Amupitan succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose term as INEC Chairman officially ended recently and was nominated by President Tinubu and supported by the National Council of State.
Following his screening on Thursday, October 16, 2025, professor of law Joash Amupitan (fourth-right) received his confirmation by the upper chamber.
Since its founding, he is the electoral body’s sixth substantive head.
Amupitan had promised to prioritize electoral reforms that would boost voter confidence and ensure transparent polls while speaking to the Senate during his screening.
The professor stated that his main goals would be to strengthen the Electoral Act’s provisions to address irregularities in election dates and increase legitimacy.
“We must conduct elections where even the loser can congratulate the winner and declare, “You won fairly and well. When that occurs, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored, he said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria clarified that he had never represented the President or represented any of the opposition candidates in the statement that he had also refuted reports that he had spoken to President Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Court.
He reiterated his impartiality to lawmakers by saying, “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties.”
Profile
The 58-year-old Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967, and is from Kogi State’s Ijumu Local Government Area known as Ayetoro Gbede.
He is Plateau State University of Jos’ Professor of Law. He graduated from the university as well.
He has a particular area of expertise in corporate law, law of evidence, corporate governance, and privatization law. In September 2014, he was appointed to the Nigerian Senior Advocate.
He attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987 after earning his primary and secondary education. In 1988, he was referred to the bar.
Amupitan completed his academic career in 1989 with a 1988-89 National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation, earning both an LLM and a PhD in 2007.
Professor Joash Ojo Amputan
Prior to his appointment, he served as the University of Jos’ deputy vice-chancellor (administration), as well as the Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s governor and chairman.
He is currently the head of public law at UNIJOS, along with the committee of directors and deans from 2012 to 2014.
In addition to his academic duties, Amupitan also serves on the boards of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and the Council of Legal Education, among other positions.
He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja (1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of numerous legal books, including an introduction to the law of trust in Nigeria (2014), Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008), Evidence Law: Theory and Practice (2013), and Principles of Company Law (2013).
As another contestant calls the celebs the “worst faithfuls ever,” Ruth Codd has criticised the informal “hierarchy” she encountered on Celebrity Traitors and shared off-camera issues.
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Ruth Codd opens up about Traitors hierarchy(Image: BBC)
Celebrity Traitors star Ruth Codd has hit out at the “hierarchy” between the celebs who appeared on the hit BBC show. Opening up about the issues she faced off-camera, Ruth shared an insight into what it was like to be on the show and how being a “strong woman” made her feel “lonely”.
Ruth was a fan favourite on the show. Her no-nonsense attitude was beloved by fans but ultimately led to her being killed after she raised suspicions about Jonathan Ross.
The actress has spoken out about what it was like to work on the show and the “hierarchy” that she believes played a role in her exit since leaving.
READ MORE: Where Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid is on TV for free as Champions League game not on TNT SportsREAD MORE: Celebrity Traitors star Celia Imrie makes cheeky confession about rival contestant
According to her, “there was probably an unspoken hierarchy in there, and that put some people at a disadvantage because I haven’t worked in the industry for a very long,” she told The Times.
Being a strong woman can sometimes be lonely because you come across as aggressive and difficult. I don’t believe I’m one of those. I’ll just say what I want to.
Her comments sparked a huge debate online as to whether there was a divide behind the scenes on the Celebrity Traitors. Some argued that Paloma Faith, Tom Daley and Clare Balding were all killed off as well, so being a household name wasn’t necessarily protection on the show.
One person said, “Paloma, Tom, and Clare were taken out so that makes no sense. Other people also claimed that her actions on the program were to blame, saying she “made herself a threat” by attacking Jonathan Ross.
However, others pointed out that this itself may be a sign of the hierarchy. “She’s spitting tbf,” one fan wrote. “No one would dare look at Stephen Fry or Jonathan Ross.”
Others noted that, of all the contestants on the show, only three were in their 20s and comparatively at the start of their careers – Ruth, Niko Omilana and Cat Burns. Of those three, Ruth was the third to be murdered and Niko was the first to be banished, leaving just Cat in the game.
Cat continues to exist, but it could be that the hierarchy is keeping her since she appears to be “flying under the radar.” One fan responded, “I thought the same. It’s the reason why people didn’t listen to The Two Joes and Ruth when she was there. And perhaps that’s why Cat is flitting under the radar. Another once remarked, “She’s spot on. Niko experienced the same fate.
Niko, one of the show’s “worst faithfuls ever,” said he had his own opinions on the program. Niko said in a statement on his Instagram accounts, “Oh, it’s Niko, you are a YouTuber, you are gone, you untrustworthy scum.”
That roundtable is the most intense thing I’ve ever seen in my life, according to one of the things you guys didn’t notice. And they must cut it down for TV and cut it shorter, of course, but there were some people who were “mad about me.”
Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have been married for almost 20 years and have two daughters together – here’s a look inside the Strictly Come Dancing host’s life in Buckinghamshire
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Tess Daly will enjoy her quiet countryside life with husband Vernon Kay even more now she and Claudia Winkleman have stepped away from Strictly(Image: Lia Toby, Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Tess Daly has spent 21 years on our screens as the co-host of Strictly Come Dancing — but the star leads a life many dream of in the leafy British countryside.
Tess announced her departure from BBC’s flagship show with an emotional video and statement, which she shared on her social media accounts. She said she was “proud to have played a small part in something that continues to mean so much to so many” after 21 “unforgettable” years.
The TV personality, who is married to fellow presenter Vernon Kay, leads a more low-key life in her Buckinghamshire hometown. The couple are the proud owners of a lavish six-bedroom property in Beaconsfield, a town often labelled one of the most desirable to live in the UK.
They frequently give fans glimpses into their luxurious abode via social media, and have been spotted by locals enjoying strolls and shopping trips around the town.
Tess and Vernon are in good company, with a host of other celebrities calling Buckinghamshire home. The pair swapped the hustle and bustle of London for the tranquillity of country life more than two decades ago, seeking a lifestyle closer to their Northern roots.
They have even been known to visit local attractions such as Bekonscot Model Village and Railway. And who can blame them for indulging in a bit of retail therapy, given Beaconsfield’s impressive shopping offerings?
Their sprawling residence boasts grounds large enough to keep horses, including paddocks for Tess ‘ two Shetland ponies, Honey and Willow. The property also features a spacious conservatory kitchen, a private swimming pool, and a home gym.
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The couple are clearly nature lovers, frequently making the most of their expansive gardens. Whether it’s a romantic summer evening on garden furniture or tending to their own vegetable patch, Tess often showcases their impressive outdoor space on Instagram.
It would be a shame not to utilise their portable dining dome adorned with fairy lights, after all. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty when the British weather turns out to be unimpressive.
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Tess and Vernon have shared photos of themselves and their two daughters renovating their home in a bit of DIY. Another favorite pastime is curling up on the couch for some TV time. Being a well-known presenter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a good TV show.
A bill to formally annex the Palestinian territory and impose Israeli rule over the occupied West Bank has received preliminary approval from Israel’s parliament. It was described as a “stupid” political stunt by US Vice-President JD Vance while he was in Israel.
