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AS Bjorn Ulvaues turns 80 and celebrates the third anniversary of smash hit ABBA Voyage, he reveals new surprise

Not many people are seen as innovators when they hit 80. Fewer still can claim the title of musical genius – at any age.

But, after helping his band sell more than 400 million records, as he celebrates the third anniversary of the groundbreaking ABBA Voyage avatar show, 80-year-old Bjorn Ulvaeus is still seen as both.

For this irrepressible man, becoming an octogenarian simply means gathering more wisdom and experience.

Excitedly hinting at a new, secret ABBA project, Bjorn tells The Mirror: “There will be something. It is just not crystalised yet exactly what that is. Something new. Yes, I am 80 – but I wake up curious every morning.”

Bjorn spoke frankly about his life in music as two of his bandmates, Benny Andersson, 78, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 79, joined him in the UK to toast the continued success of ABBA Voyage, which has contributed more than £1billion to the UK economy since opening in May, 2022.

READ MORE: ABBA stars perform together again at incredible encore for ABBA Voyage anniversary

More than two million fans have enjoyed the 90-minute shows at the immersive ABBA Arena, which features the group – including Agnetha Faltskog, 75 – as lifelike holographic images, churning out hits including Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen and Take A Chance on Me.

And, like their 1976 smash hit Money, Money, Money, it is an absolute goldmine.

More thrilled by its creative success, Bjorn says: “When I first went to Voyage I saw myself as a young man on stage. But the strangest thing is how emotional it is.

“It is amazing how people so quickly forget that they are looking at screens. I was amazed and we had no idea that it would happen. It is almost a spiritual feeling. There is something strange in the room which is amazing.”

The digital avatar show is produced by Pophouse Entertainment, a music investment firm and production company founded by Bjorn and Swedish billionaire businessman Conni Jonsson.

The company is currently looking to use the same cutting edge Voyage technology to bring other avatar shows to life, including the work of US singer Cyndi Lauper and the flamboyant American rockers Kiss.

And Bjorn, who is close friends with Sir Elton John, says other musical avatar extravaganzas are on the horizon.

He says: “I like to work. Working is fun. Our company Pophouse Entertainment has happened out of curiosity and wanting to try new things.

“I like to create new things like the avatars. The ABBA-tars. It was like a playground and to be able to help other people. I see Pophouse as a creative hub with fun attached to it, so you can do fun things.

“We are working with Cyndi Lauper, she has a very diverse catalogue. We are also working with Kiss. We believe it could be a very interesting avatar experience in the trans Marvel universe.

“They wanted cartoons and now they have ascended into the digital world. So that is very exciting for what they stand for. Cyndi is something completely different.

“There are lots of things we could do, too. We could work on documentaries, but there is so much else to do like the gaming world – and who knows what happens around the corner? We are at the forefront. I am so grateful.”

Rumours are already circulating that David Bowie could be brought back to life as an avatar and that The Rolling Stones could soon be launching their own avatar shows.

But Bjorn won’t name any more names.

He says: “It is very exciting. We are looking for a story to tell. We have not seen anything yet…but it is coming. Our show Mamma Mia at the O2 in London took four or five years and Voyage the same, to opening night. These things take time. I want to help people’s legacies.”

Since winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their breakout hit Waterloo, ABBA have won countless awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2010.

Bjorn says the secret to the Swedish sensations’ success is having great songs.

“What advice can I give younger artists other than to write better songs?” he says. “It is still true. This industry starts with a song.

“Whatever it is, it is a song that does it. I say just write a song and record it. If it is good enough then it will work. But you have to be prepared to have people say no to you 10 times, then one will say yes. You have to be prepared to wait and not lose hope. I remember rejection.”

Growing up in Gothenburg, Sweden, Bjorn says it was The Beatles who inspired him to write, but admits he was always jealous of natural storytellers like The Bee Gees.

He says: “I used to listen to The Beatles and that is the reason why Benny and I started writing. Before then, the song writing had been very anonymous, like the people behind Elvis Presley.

“The Beatles were a big inspiration and The Beach Boys as well. But during the 1970s I used to envy people who could write commercial pop lyrics like The Bee Gees. I could not write commercial lyrics. Whatever you are doing you have to tell the story.”

Today, Bjorn says not enough emphasis is put on crafting a song which can go on and help sustain a career for generations.

He says: “Once we won Eurovision we could say no to things. During that process we learned. We only wrote like 14 songs a year.

“People now say they have written 200 songs a year, but I don’t think they have. I would keep 10%. We could go for weeks writing full time and had very little to show for it.

“We would spend a long time in the studio and there is a very special satisfaction when you can listen to something and you think ‘Yeah, this is just how it should be’ It happened many times with ABBA. That is very special. A lot of people walk away thinking it is good enough but it is not. You have to add a few more inches.”

Bjorn’s current project is a secret musical he is writing with the help of AI, which he says helps him to come up with ideas when he gets stuck.

And although working with the International Confederation of Songwriters and Composers, which seeks to protect songwriters from having their works copied by AI technology, Bjorn says AI is a tool that should be embraced for the future.

He says: “Pop music has always been very tech driven. I remember when Benny and I started writing together, we always wanted the latest thing. You would hear a sound and ask how that was done.

“Benny had the first Mini Moog, which was the first synth. When we built our own studio we had digital machines. Tech and music go hand in hand and that is how it continues.”

Laughing at how working with AI is faster than writing with human beings like his co-writer Benny, he adds: “It is quicker writing with a machine, as you get an instant reply and it does exactly what you tell it.

“AI is fantastic and such a great tool. It can give you ideas to go in various different directions.

“There are songwriters using it all around the world as we speak.

“The music industry will come to some sort of agreement with the tech industry to work together, as these AI bots would not exist without the song that we wrote.”

But Bjorn believes AI should not be feared, as when it comes to writing ABBA hits, he says: “When you prompt AI with ABBA it says ‘No, it can’t do that.’ There is a misconception that AI can write a whole song. It is lousy at that. Thank God it is very bad at lyrics as well, but it can give you ideas.”

So, ABBA looks set to be made-up of human members, merely enhanced by innovative technology, for the foreseeable future.

Looking back on his extensive back catalogue, he merely smiles and says: “What is the key to longevity? You have to have that curiosity that I talked about and something that drives you.

“Once you are a songwriter and have an experience of what it is like and see how people react to something you have written, that never goes away.

Mark Wright has apologised after sharing a post about a flight home from a holiday with Michelle Keegan on the same day as the news of the Air India plane crash

Mark Wright has apologised after sharing a post that was deemed insensitive in the wake of the Air India plane crash. He’s since deleted the post and said in a statement on his Instagram Stories that it had been a “horrendous coincidence”.

Mark, 38, and Michelle Keegan, also 38, have been sharing content on Instagram from a holiday to Spain lately. The couple, who were joined by some of his family on the trip, took their three-month-old baby Palma abroad for the first time. They are understood to have already returned to the UK and earlier today Mark is said to have shared a photo of the trio in front of a private jet at an airport. He reportedly teased over having limited leg room on standard flights in the post.

The Heart radio host is said to have been met with a backlash over the post amid the news of the Air India flight, which went down shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad. It had been bound for Gatwick Airport in London.

Mark has since apologised for the “mistake,” telling fans that he had scheduled the post, which has now been deleted, in advance. He shared a statement on his Instagram Story, in which he said it had been a “horrendous coincidence”.

He wrote: “I apologise for a post I just put up on my page after today’s heartbreaking events. I have posts from a holiday that are on the scheduled setting, which go out on future days I have set them for which was done last week.”

Mark continued the statement by saying that it was a “coincidence” that it had gone out on the same day as the Air India crash. He told fans that as soon as he realised what had happened, he “immediately” deleted the post.

He added in the message to his followers this evening: “It’s a horrendous coincidence that today’s post was on such a devastating day. Once I logged in to my Instagram and realised the post had gone out, I immediately deleted [it].”

The former TOWIE star concluded by expressing sympathy with anyone affected by the plane crash. He wrote: “My heart goes out to everyone who has been effected from today. I’m sorry for this mistake and any offence caused.”

According to the Sun, Mark had teased over not having extra leg room on the flight home from his holiday with Michelle and their daughter in the post. Seemingly teasing over them not travelling on a private plane, he’s said to have written: “1 day babe, for now we’ll take row 26 with no extra leg room.”

The outlet reports that some of his followers were quick to question the post given the news of the Air India flight. One person is said to have responded to him: “Not really appropriate to put this up after today’s plane crash.”

Another is quoted as having said: “Prob not the best day to post this when so many people lost their lives on a plane.” Whilst a third person reportedly responded to Mark’s now-deleted post at the time: “Poor taste given today’s event.”

A Japanese great-grandmother with 400,000 Instagram followers who shot to fame for her goofy self-portraits after taking up photography aged 72 has died, her son said on Thursday.

Kimiko Nishimoto, who died this week at the age of 97, told AFP in a 2018 interview that “you can take photos no matter how old you get”.

“Wherever it is, in your house, outside, or in your bed, you can do it. That is the nice thing about a camera,” she said.

Dubbed the “selfie queen” by Japanese media, Nishimoto’s posts showed her in various candid poses — from riding a broom like Harry Potter to imitating an off-duty sumo wrestler on their fifth beer of the night.

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“Our mother always created her work with a smile,” a post from her son Kazutami Nishimoto said on her Instagram account.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who visited her photography exhibitions held across the country, to those who shared warm words of encouragement through Instagram… and to all who supported her warmly throughout her journey.”

Nishimoto’s son teaches photography classes, which his mother started taking in retirement.

“Though she began photography at the age of 72, she was blessed with countless encounters, which enriched this third chapter of her life tremendously,” he said.

Nishimoto appeared on national television as her online following grew and was interviewed by major news outlets.

But her more out-there visual scenarios were also the cause of some confusion over the years.

One snap — showing her wrapped in a garbage bag, as if she had been discarded — drew criticism from people who didn’t know she was involved in its set-up.

The judge in the Harvey Weinstein sex crimes retrial declared a mistrial on the outstanding rape charge against the movie producer Thursday, after the jury foreperson refused to return to deliberate the case amid a jury room feud.

In front of packed press and public benches in the 13th-floor New York courtroom, Judge Curtis Farber dismissed jurors who had been unable to reach a verdict on the charge that Weinstein raped Jessica Mann.

“Deliberations became heated to such a degree I am obligated to declare a mistrial on the one count on which you didn’t reach a verdict,” Farber declared from the wood-paneled bench, wearing a robe and reading glasses.

READ ALSO: Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty Of Sexual Assault After Retrial

Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala had forcefully argued that a crime had been committed against one of the jurors, but the judge dismissed the claim.

On Wednesday, the jury convicted Weinstein for sexual assault on Miriam Haley, and acquitted the fallen movie mogul for allegedly sexually assaulting Kaja Sokola. The defense vowed to appeal.

The prosecutor brushed off the defense’s claim that a retrial on the charge of raping Mann would exert unfair pressure on the alleged victim. “We will proceed to trial and that is what justice would be in this case,” Nicole Blumberg said.

Outside court, Aidala alleged that two jurors had indicated to his team that the panel had considered the cases of rapper Sean “P Diddy” Combs and convicted child sex abuser R. Kelly in their discussions.

“(If) they say, ‘Well, look at R Kelly. Look what’s going on across the street with P Diddy’… That’s not what you can do, and that’s what we just heard happen,” said the sharp-suited attorney.

Combs is on trial at a nearby courthouse for alleged racketeering and other crimes, and the publicity of that case has largely eclipsed Weinstein’s retrial.

Weinstein, 73 and wheelchair-bound by ill-health, is already in jail for a 16-year term after he was convicted in a separate California case of raping a European actress more than a decade ago.

Proceedings in New York have been dogged by personal issues between jurors, two of whom have privately complained to the judge about fellow panelists.

The foreman had told judge Farber he could not continue after facing threats.

“One other juror made comments to the effect ‘I’ll meet you outside one day’,” the judge said Wednesday quoting the foreman, adding there was yelling between jurors.

After Weinstein’s lawyer demanded a mistrial over the jury rupture, Weinstein himself addressed the court Wednesday, deploying a commanding voice reminiscent of his Hollywood heyday.

‘Threats, violence, intimidation’

“We’ve heard threats, violence, intimidation — this is not right for me… the person who is on trial here,” he said.

The Oscar-winner’s conviction on the Haley charge is a vindication for Haley whose complaint in part led to the initial guilty verdict in 2020.

That landmark case helped spur the “MeToo” movement that saw an outpouring of allegations from prominent women who were abused by men.

Weinstein underwent a spectacular fall from his position at the top of the world of Hollywood and show business in 2017 when allegations against him exploded into public.

The movement upended the film industry, exposing systemic exploitation of young women seeking to work in entertainment, and provoking a reckoning on how to end the toxic culture.

More than 80 women accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct in the wake of the global backlash against men abusing positions of power.

Sam Thompson was pictured training for this Sunday’s Soccer Aid match with Louis Tomlinson – and both are playing on the England team for the charity game

Sam Thompson and his ex-girlfriend Zara McDermott’s new partner, Louis Tomlinson, were spotted together at a Soccer Aid training match this week. The former Made In Chelsea star and Love Island’s Zara dated for several years before she moved on with the One Direction singer.

Radio star Sam, Louis and a myriad of big celebrity names are set to enter the pitch on Sunday for the annual Soccer Aid charity match, which raises millions for UNICEF. The unfortunate coincidence of Zara moving on with Louis meant that Sam and the singer would have to cross paths all in the name of charity.

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In a new picture, the duo could be seen looking at each other on the pitch as the practised for the big day. Sam had his usual smile on his face as he stood by the side.

Louis’ face was obscured from the camera when they looked at each other. Both lads are playing for the same England team for Unicef – the charity for which Sam recently completed a gruelling 260-mile marathon over five days.

Despite former Made In Chelsea star Sam insisting there’s ‘no hard feelings’, Sunday’s game could be awkward given that he and Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing star Zara, 28, announced their split in January after being together for over five years.

Zara then swiftly moved on with singer Louis, 33, and the loved-up pair have been practically inseparable since their relationship came into the public eye in March.

It first emerged that they enjoyed a romantic dinner at a hotel before snaps of them holding hands emerged on the internet. Sam previously opened up about romance and swift transitions.

He remarked: “I suppose a lot of people look for validation in other people right? And they look for the next person instantly because it’s like ‘I need to find someone else to fill that hole and I need to find that excitement.'”.

But Sam seemed a little more level-headed during a podcast chat with buddy Pete Wicks. Sam revealed an interview question that drew attention to their looming interaction.

The star recounted: “At the end of the interview, he goes, ‘Look mate, I’ve got to ask the question that everyone wants to know. This is sort of the big question really, the elephant in the room, What’s it going to be like with you and Louis? Obviously he’s doing Soccer Aid too.'”.

Sam then recalled the tense moment with a laugh, adding: “Mate, you should have seen the room, everybody, it was silent then everyone goes ‘Woah, Woah Woah, end the call! End the call!’ and I have just gone ‘No, no guys, I’ve got this, I’ve got this.’ I held my hands up to say just relax.”

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Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague was pictured leaving her office in Cheshire this weekend after receiving another parking ticket

Molly-Mae Hague was hit with yet another parking ticket after leaving her Mercedes G-Wagon on a street by a Cheshire office this week. The Love Island star, 26, was pictured leaving a meeting at her office wearing a grey matching set from her very own clothing brand, Maebe.

She accessorised with a camel-coloured bag, black sunglasses, and sneakers. The star added a bit of shine to the casual look with a couple of rings. The TV personality, who is used to getting parking tickets, seemed unfazed as she texted on her phone while walking back to her £200,000 car. It marked her second ticket in a day and her fifth this year as she was slapped with tickets in January, February and March.

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Molly-Mae’s parking ticket comes after it was reported Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury’s recent reunion caused a rift between the families. Tyson and Paris Fury are said to be frustrated at Molly-Mae’s sister Zoe’s comments about Tommy’s drinking.

Zoe recently admitted in Molly-Mae’s Amazon Prime Video documentary that she was worried about her sister. She said: “I do worry for her and my relationship with her if they did get back together.

“I think she potentially needs to look into the future and think about what’s best for her and Bambi. She’s got a long, rocky road ahead, unfortunately.”

Later, Zoe admitted she was just worried for her sister more than anything. She said: “I’ve literally been there, through everything. Through the upset calls in the middle of the night because he’s out and you don’t hear from him.

“I mean, he’s proven me wrong so far, to be fair, but I do think at some point that it’s gonna happen again. If the drink hasn’t gone away forever, the problems could potentially arise again.”

Following her comments, it was claimed the Fury family weren’t “impressed” with Zoe’s “outspoken” comments about the Love Island star and boxer.

A source told The Sun: “The Fury family aren’t impressed that Zoe has been so outspoken about Tommy. They’re a fiercely loyal bunch and seeing Zoe’s comments broadcast to millions of people via Amazon absolutely got their hackles up.

“To them Tommy is a stand up guy, a good, hard working father. His drinking issues shouldn’t be used as a stick to beat him.”

Tommy previously admitted his drinking issues was the real reason behind his breakup with Molly-Mae – with who he shares a daughter named Bambi.

He said in an interview: “The reason why me and Molly broke up was because I got addicted to alcohol and I couldn’t be the partner that I wanted to be anymore.

“It kills me to say it, [but] it’s true, I couldn’t. I loved a pint of beer, loved to drink, and it is what it is. People go through different things in life and we all have our crosses to bear. I’ve got mine to bear.”

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