Category Entertainment News

John Stapleton said he felt ‘duty bound’ to share his Parkinson’s diagnosis with others so they could be reminded that they weren’t the only ones who were affected.

John Stapleton has sadly died at the age of 79. The journalist and presenter had a stellar career in broadcasting stretching over 50 years that led him to the scene of global news events and fronting some of the nation’s best-loved TV shows.

His agent, Jackie Gill, stated in a statement today that John had pneumonia and Parkinson’s disease. His son Nick and daughter-in-law Lisa have always supported him, and John passed away peacefully this morning in the hospital. ”

In October of this year, John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He made fun of the comedian Billy Connolly’s decision to “come out,” as he joked. ‘

Speaking to podcast Movers and Shakers, John said he was diagnosed in April 2024 after friends noticed his famous voice had lost some of its resonance and that he was walking with what he called the ‘Joe Biden shuffle’. John’s son Nick, who presents the BBC’s Scam Interceptors, suggested he go public with his health diagnosis and John agreed in the hopes of letting others know they were ‘not alone.’

The father and son duo appeared on BBC show Morning Live together where they shared how the news had impacted them. John admitted that while the news was bleak but he was determined to stay as positive as possible as he adjusted to his new way of life. John’s story attracted huge public attention and the former Watchdog campaigner found himself appearing across news channels again as he raised awareness about the condition.

READ MORE: John Stapleton dead: GMTV and Watchdog legend dies at 79

John described his first symptoms as a tremor that occurred three years before he was officially diagnosed.

He explained: “About two or three years ago, I started with a tremor. I went to see a specialist, and he said he didn’t think it was Parkinson’s. He called it something else—a benign essential tremor. I asked, “How do you get that?” and he said, “We haven’t a clue.” “But the symptoms got worse, so I went back,” said John. “That was about two or three months ago. This time, he confirmed it—it was indeed Parkinson’s. I also started having other symptoms: difficulty swallowing, my handwriting becoming illegible because I’d write in tiny letters no one could decipher, and feeling fatigued a lot of the time.

Additionally, my voice has lost a lot of its resonance, of course. I must speak more clearly right now. I’m collaborating with a speech therapist, who is assisting me greatly by teaching me how to project my voice. That’s why I’m focusing on what I’m saying right now, he said.

Following news of his death, many of John’s peers and even his beloved Manchester City spoke out to pay tribute to the star who has been described as a ‘good man and a top presenter.’

Mark Austin, a television presenter, described John Stapleton’s passing as “incredibly sad.”

Austin responded to the news in a Facebook post, writing, “Unbelievable sad. A trustworthy and accomplished presenter who could do anything. His family extends his best wishes. ”

Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins said John Stapleton was a “brilliant broadcaster” and a “genuinely lovely man”.Responding to the news in a post on X, Ms Hawkins wrote: “So sad to hear John Stapleton – our ‘Stapes’ has died. He was such a brilliant broadcaster and I loved working with him on GMB. A genuinely lovely man, it was good to see him when he came in just a few months ago to talk about his Parkinson’s diagnosis. He’ll be much missed.”

Money Saving Expert mogul Martin Lewis said he was ‘greatly saddened’ to hear ‘the great John Stapleton has passed away.’ Martin said: “He and his late wife Lynn were brilliant pioneers of consumer journalism, laying the ground for people like me. Thank you both.

“I had the pleasure of working with John on various itv breakfast incarnations. You couldn’t stop him on the subject because he was always a gent and discovered that I am also from a Man City background. His main passion was the city. “

Manchester City announced on X: “Manchester City are saddened to learn that John Stapleton has passed away. John was a regular at the Etihad Stadium and a devoted City supporter. He will be missed. At this difficult time, John’s family and friends are in our thoughts. The club added a blue heart to the phrase “RIP John.”

Speaking to the Mirror last year, John spoke fondly of his varied TV career.

After Ruth Jones and James Corden revealed they were working on a new project, Gavin and Stacey legend Larry Lamb has opened up about his thoughts.

Larry Lamb has revealed he’s excited for Gavin and Stacey creators Ruth Jones and James Corden’s latest project. The legendary TV show pair reportedly had a significant agreement with streaming tycoon AppleTV+ earlier this month.

The pair had hoped to continue working together after the BBC sitcom’s triumphant end on Christmas Day last year. A new ten-part comedy series is reportedly in the works, and filming is believed to start next year. Despite the BBC, Netflix, and Amazon Prime’s interest, the pair are said to have ultimately decided to go with Apple TV+ due to Corden’s relationship with them.

Speaking backstage at the National Television Awards, Ruth told the Mirror and other press that she couldn’t confirm the news, hinting that the series would be happening. Now, Larry Lamb, who played Mick Shipman in Gavin and Stacey, has opened up about the possibility of him appearing in the show.

“I have to say, somebody phoned me up and told me what they’d read in the news. He claimed that he was in the dark because he had not heard anything about it. According to Larry, “It’ll be interesting to see what they’ve come up, very interesting. I’m probably one of their biggest fans in terms of what they write and the way they write”.

When asked if he would like to appear on the program, he responded, “Who knows? Watch this space, right”? Meanwhile, Larry’s son George also revealed to us that he would consider a return to TV for the “important” projects.

In 2018, George aired Celebs In Solidarity, his final major role on television. The presenter has been concentrating on Wildfarmed, a network of farmers who practice regenerative agriculture, since then, which included a brief appearance on Clarkson’s Farm.

“I’m up for making telly about stuff that’s important to me”, he said. “TV is a huge platform to share ideas, inspire people, and spread information,” he continued, adding, “There are many amazing things about it. So I believe it can be a wonderful tool, if used properly like most things in life.

If you can find a way to combine education and entertainment. In addition, Larry said that viewers want to see broadcasters they can trust in front of the camera. He said:” In the same way, they understand that the contributors make it obvious to the viewer that they know and trust and open up to you and talk to you. Finding out about how other people live in the same society is unendingly fascinating, which is why I enjoy participating in activities that involve people.

Watching George’s career take off will always be a highlight for Larry. The actor, who has also appeared in EastEnders, said: “He became so hot at it, so proficient at it, far better than I would have been able to do. It was with great admiration that I followed his career. And then, as I say, I followed his career off into another world, a world that I’m really interested in, and I’ve learned so much from him, and I have been able to help him.”

Meanwhile, George’s fondest memory of working with his dad was Britain by Bike, which aired on Channel 5″. He continued, “We met the most incredible people, we met sheepdogs, abseiling, landing planes on small beaches, and we got to explore this beautiful island of ours.

When we actually have a beautiful, beautiful country right on our doorstep, “we’re in such a rush to jump on a plane and go off some you know halfway around the world.” However, will there ever be a new series? Larry explained that if the call came in, the pair would jump at the chance.

According to Larry, “The thing about that show is always the contributors, or the people.” He continued, “It’s more about the two people who are introducing it.” It’s about the people you get to meet and what those people do. So you need to first determine the scope of your plan. What are your goals? Where do you wanna go? What topics do you want to discuss with others? How deep do you want to go, exactly? And is it all just about their job? Is it just their life’s purpose? There is a lot of planning involved in this, too. And then of course, you’ve got all the logistics”.

George told us about his break from the screen career, “I’ve spent the last ten years building a regenerative farming business, looking for small wins for people so that we can have significant effects on the environmental crisis that is currently occurring.”

He added: “Like a lot of people, it got to a critical point where I felt overloaded with negativity and the horror stories every day when you turn on the television about the world imploding, so I made an active decision to change the way I was living and try and figure out how we can actually do something about it.

There are many wonderful, brave activists who are willing to campaign day and night, but many people find that to be false. And how can we provide the majority of people with an outlet to address this issue? We’ve set up a regenerative food and farming business. The food we grow, the food we put in our mouths, and the plates we put on are what? How are they cleaned? You know, like we just, just, just making incremental little changes, all of us. can have a significant compound effect.

After George admitted, “I couldn’t be prouder of being perfectly honest.” he continued:” I can remember George talking about wanting to move on out of television and game shows and presenting and music and myself wondering, “What was he going to be doing? ‘ And gradually, he began a charity called Grow to teach children of all ages how to grow their own food in an urban setting where the chances of that happening were very slim. He eventually found his way into the world of growing things.

George explained that the campaign couldn’t be more appropriate for him because he had collaborated with Ecover, which is releasing the first dishwasher tablet that is plastic-free. Larry said he was a” recent convert “to using the dishwasher, but he had been using Ecover for over three decades.

He said, “I get refills for it because I just picked up on the fact that this was an ecologically sound product 30 years ago. It’s always been a part of my life.” I always saw the benefits of it, now I’ve learnt about using the dishwasher, that’s going to double the effectiveness of me standing there with my hands in hot water. “

However, George jokes that because of family disagreements over how to stack dishwashers, the “$64 million question” is still the same. He laughed before claiming that Larry is an architect “when it comes to stacking the family dishwasher, but there has been” tension “over the years. “I think half of people in the UK have had a fall-out and restacked after a fall-out.

The campaign, and the dishwasher itself, is a huge bonus for George. “It’s an all-round win, if you’re stacking it properly and using it economically. Most people are using plastic-based products, so this is a huge jump forward in technology, and I’m super excited! I’ve spent the last 10 years building a regenerative farming business, trying to figure out ways of finding small wins for people so that we can have big impacts on the environmental crisis that’s going on at the moment. And I think this is another brilliant invention from the Ecover team, so I’m delighted to be supporting it and shouting about it.”

We detest waste, according to a spokesperson for Ecover, which includes space, energy, and water. That’s why we’ve launched Tetris: Fully Loaded – to break the cycle of wasteful dishwashing habits and help households wash smarter. We as environmental activists who love doing things differently, so working with Tetris is a fun, unexpected way to make eco-awareness universal. It is wasteful if it isn’t fully utilized. So stack it like we pack it – plates facing in, heavy-duty stuff below, nothing blocking the spray arm. Better sanitation, less waste, and a revolutionary new method for washing your hands.

Spencer Hatcher, the country singer, thanked his fans for their “love and support” as he addressed Holly Hatcher’s brutal murder for the first time since it occurred.

Country music star Spencer Hatcher has spoken out after his mother was killed during a terrifying home invasion. The singer bravely shared a video to his Instagram where he called his mum, Holly Hatcher, his “biggest fan,” as he thanks his fans for their “love and support” after the heartbreaking ordeal.

In the video uploaded on September 9, Spencer, 28, described the time since his mother’s death as the “worst time of our lives.” He claimed that “my mother was everything I did that I was most devoted to.

She adored the music. She enjoyed the shows, and I’ve decided to keep going after talking to my label about continuing, you know, because I completely want to do so. I want to do that as well.

Holly, 62, died after Michael and Michael were attacked in Harrisonburg, Virginia, just before midnight on August 3. The 65-year-old Michael, who was also hurt in the attack, was able to retrieve his handgun from his car and shoot and kill the intruder, who was identified as 41-year-old Kevin Moses Walker, according to the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson, the attack was “extremely unusual and seemingly random,” and Walker had no prior history of violent behavior.

Two days prior to the attack, Walker had purchased a knife and sleeping bag from Walmart. The Hatcher’s family moved to Virginia’s Endless Caverns, which is located 20 miles north of their home.

When Endless Caverns was broken into by law enforcement the following day and his car was discovered abandoned by Virginia State Police, felony warrants were issued for Walker. policing . Before Michael called for assistance following the home invasion, investigators were unable to locate Walker.

Officers arrived at the scene and discovered Walker dead in the driveway after Michael had accidentally shot him in self-defense. After receiving stab wounds, Holly was discovered dead inside the residence.

Spencer claimed that his decision to continue on his tour was influenced by his mother’s passing, who had been a teacher in Virginia for almost 20 years. He said, “But I’m doing it a lot because I know that my mother would want me to do that.”

She’d want me to continue, and I know how much she enjoyed it and how much everyone else enjoys it, so I’m not going to give up. As I always have, I’m going to work as hard as I can, and I want you to join me on this journey as I resume it.

He continued, “We had a pretty big schedule, we were going to go on a radio tour, we had shows lined up, and we’re going to resume a lot of exciting things.”

We’re going to return to our previous schedule, and we’ll be reaching out to these radio stations. We’ll continue to play shows.

Checks are in the news, and we’ve found five of the most fashionable ways to wear them, including purchases from Nobody’s Child, Monsoon, and Mark &.

Checks are always in style, but this fall they’re back in bigger and better form, redefining them as a must-have. Checks are dominating our high street this season, from preppy plaids and tartans to oversized windowpane prints.

There are pieces to fit every taste and budget, whether you prefer a subtle nod to the trend with a checked scarf or bag or want to go all in with a statement coat.

The best aspect of checks is their versatility; they can be styled either way: polished and classic, edgy and fashion-forward, or both. We’ve rounded up the best check-style items available on the high street right now starting at £X to help you.

READ MORE: We reviewed M&amp, S’s newest fall collection, and we now foresee these five purchases.

READ MORE: Michelle Keegan’s stunning oversized coat, which “goes with everything,” is in demand.

SPENCER and MARKS

Marks & Spencer is back with their latest autumn collection and has managed to nail it again. Filled with stylish buys, chic accessories, and cosy knitwear, M&S’ drops keep getting better every season.

This short-collar jacket is the ideal piece for everyday wear because it gives a plain pair of jeans and a tee look instant polish. When the temperature drops, layer it over a knit or combine tailoring for a work environment.

SHOP THE LOOK: Checked Collared Short Jacket, £60 here; Premium Mid-Rise Bootflare Jeans, £48 here; and Polka Dot V-Neck Frill Detail Top, £36 here.

VERY

The Very Collection, a luxury-looking rebrand that features timeless products and trend-driven pieces, is the latest addition to the online retailer Very. And Very’s belted coat may be our favorite collection item.

This will be a great addition to your winter wardrobe because of its chic silhouette, and I’ll be layering it over double denim for a cool-girl look.

Check Coat With PU Trims, $90 here, $45 here, and $35 in Denim Wide Leg Heritage Co-Ord Jeans.

EVER NEW

Why not choose a set that matches for a head-to-toe check look? Forever New’s crop jacket and mini skirt combo is the ideal way to embrace the fad without putting too much effort into it. For a sophisticated and playful autumn outfit, team up with chunky loafers or boots and statement-making boots.

SHOP THE LOOK: Kaia Check Crop Jacket, £110 here and Kaia Check Mini Skirt, £55 here

NOBODY’S CHILDREN

Quilted jackets are already a winter staple, but with the addition of checks, it seems a little more fashion-forward. This Nobody’s Child style is ideal for the inbetween weather we’re currently experiencing because it’s both lightweight and warm.

This £129 Beige Check Frill Quilted Jacket SHOP THE LOOK.

MONSOON

The ultimate wardrobe staple this season is a check midi skirt. On the weekends, it can be dressed down with trainers and an oversized knit, which is smart enough for the office.

This checked Monsoon midi will look great with items you already have in your wardrobe, plus it has neutral tones.

Prince Harry and his father, the King, traveled to the UK for a long time before finally reuniting with them, but later made several explosive moves.

Prince Harry would have set “alarm bells ringing at the Palace” with a ‘naive’ move after this trip to the UK, an expert has claimed.

During his time in London, Harry reunited with his father the King for their first face-to-to face meeting for more than a year – with the Duke later describing the monarch as ‘great’.

After finishing engagements in London, Harry then travelled to war-torn Ukraine to meet wounded soldiers. While in Kyiv, he gave an explosive interview where he said his “conscience is clear” after speaking out against members of the royal family as he defended his controversial memoir Spare.

He claimed that he didn’t believe he had “aired my dirty laundry in public” and that his autobiography, which was published in 2023, was a “series of corrections to stories already out there.”

And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes Harry would have been “better to stay zipped about his meeting with his father”.

She told the Mirror : “His first comment was that his dad was ‘great’. And I don’t think the Palace would have any problem with that. But to have been drawn into commenting on whether he had any regrets about his book was naive.

He simply can’t seem to stop voicing his frustrations. He was blatantly responding to a specific query about whether or not he had aired his “dirty laundry” in public. He ought to have simply stated that he had no objections and instead shifted the interview’s focus to his visit to Ukraine.

It was just trouble to be drawn into the assertion that “there can’t be reconciliation before you have truth” and that his conscience was clear about everything he had said in his book.

He didn’t say anything that we hadn’t already heard, in my opinion, is serious trouble. However, it might have sounded the Palace’s alarm bells. Nothing seems to be guaranteed that Harry will keep everything private.

And while it might not ultimately harm any reconciliation with his father the King, Jennie believes the comments might not bode well for burying the hatchet with his estranged brother Prince William.

She continued, “William will hate that, especially.” A ring of steel protects both his and his family’s privacy.

Family relationships are at the heart of trust and discretion. And Harry still needs to do more to win back his brother’s trust.

Ella Thomas, a Love Island star, has opened up about her new relationship with Lloyd Jones, a football player for Charlton Athletic FC, who she has been dating for the past six months.

It’s been just over a year since Ella Thomas, the 24-year-old Scottish model and influencer who captivated viewers with her confidence, poise and energy, left the Love Island villa. But Ella reveals in an exclusive interview with new that her real love story has only just begun. In the villa, Ella coupled up with Tyrique Hyde, who is currently starring in Love Island games in Fiji, but the pair split just seven months later. Now, Ella tells us she has found a new man.

Ella, is dating 29-year-old Charlton Athletic FC footballer Lloyd Jones – and she is his number one supporter. With what she describes as a mix of “quiet confidence and old-school charm”, Lloyd has swept her off her feet – and the couple, she exclusively tells OK!, are already building a life together.

READ MORE: ‘Heavenly’ £27 heated blanket shoppers say ‘keeps your bills down’

The pair bumped into each other in a Mayfair club back in February, and since then the sparks have continued to fly, much to Ella’s delight. “I honestly wasn’t even planning to go out that night,” she recalls with a laugh, curled up on a cream sofa in the chic apartment she now shares with Lloyd. “My friend persuaded me to come to this event, and at first I was like, ‘No, I can’t be bothered.’ But then I thought, ‘Why not? I’ll come for a little bit.’”

From that moment, she and Lloyd were inseparable, and took the huge step of moving in together after just six months. “Honestly, from the day we met, we saw each other every single day. So moving in together just felt natural. If anything, it’s made us even closer. Now when I come home, I know I’m coming home to him,” she says.

The couple’s new London base is as stylish as you would expect from a footballer and an influencer. “We wanted something modern, with enough space for both of us – and for my closet!” Ella jokes. “We’re young, so we wanted city life, not a house in the suburbs just yet.”

But, she continues, furnishing the flat hasn’t all been smooth sailing. “Furniture takes so long to arrive!” she sighs. “But we’re making it ours, piece by piece. I’m such a beige girl – cream sofa, cream bed, everything neutral. Lloyd’s banned from my glam room though, that’s my space.”

That last-minute decision to go out clubbing earlier in the year changed everything for Ella. Recalling their first meeting, she says Lloyd spotted her first. “He thought I was staring at him,” she grins, shaking her head. “But I couldn’t even see him – he was behind a pillar! I only noticed him when I went to the bathroom, and that’s when he stopped me.”

She adds that the moment was characterized by his unwavering confidence. He immediately posed my name, kind of straight up, without a second thought. Then he said, “You’re spending the entire night with me.” I was like, “Please excuse me”? But he was so self-assured, which, to be honest, I admire. I stayed with him the entire time, therefore.”

The connection was instant, says Ella, and Lloyd didn’t waste any time in asking to see her again. “He literally said, ‘When am I taking you out? Tomorrow?’ And I thought, ‘OK, big talk!’ But the next day, he really did take me out.”

Their first encounter was merely a business dinner at Ella’s favorite steakhouse Flat Iron. It was “perfect,” even though it wasn’t fancy. We continue to go there year after year.

Despite their glamorous and busy careers, day-to-day life is surprisingly wholesome for the couple. “We love a date night, but we’ve been so busy lately,” Ella says. “So now we do Sunday roasts together, like a little married couple. It’s become our thing.”

She acknowledges, however, that the “message factor” was a factor when living together! However, she continues, “You know what, he’s such a clean freak. He’s so tidy, but I didn’t expect that from a boy. I believe I occasionally have the messy parts.

When we ask Ella if she’s easy to live with, she laughs. “Probably I annoy Lloyd when I make him help me pick Instagram pictures. I’m like, ‘Which one, babe?’ But he’s got a good eye.”

It didn’t take long before they dropped the L-bomb, she confesses. “We used to say it as a joke within two weeks, and my friends thought I was crazy. But then it just became real. I can’t even remember who said it first – it just happened.”

The couple is already contemplating their future together six months later. Ella thoughtfully observes, “We definitely see marriage and children, but not right now.” “Ella Jones sounds good, right?” We have even discussed names before, and we want three kids.

She adds that her family already has a big fan base for Lloyd after meeting up with him after watching him play football. They immediately fell in love with him, which made things so much simpler.

Between brand deals, events and travel, Ella’s work schedule is relentless, but Lloyd, she says, is her anchor. And how does he cope with the spotlight of dating a Love Island star? “He’s so chilled about it,” Ella says. “He knew about me before – and even admitted he’d had his eye on me for a while – but he didn’t approach me until that night. Playing it cool, clearly.”

Ella is confident in describing their relationship in three words when she describes it. She says, “Meant to be,” with a smile.