Category Entertainment News

A veteran TV presenter who is renowned for hosting children’s programs called Play School passed away at the age of 86.

On Monday, Donald Macdonald lost his brief battle with cancer, which he referred to as “a showbiz great.” His acting career, which spanned more than 40 years, included roles in TV dramas he also wrote, as well as roles in stage productions like John McKellar’s A Cup of Tea, a Bex, and a Good Lie Down.

However, he is best remembered for entertaining families on the well-known BBC television program Play School, which Donald presented alongside other well-known faces like Trisha Goddard from 1966 to 1969. A journalist, Craig Bennett, said on his social media account yesterday, “One of our showbiz greats left today at 12:45am.

“Donald Macdonald was a stalwart of the screen,” according to legend. He was the author of smash-hit plays like Caravan, dazzled on London’s West End, and delighted millions of viewers over the years with his starring roles in TV shows like Play School, where he served as a presenter from 1966 to 1969. “

He appeared on television programs like Certain Women, The Box, Cop Shop, Skyways, the raunchy Alvin Purple, and Superman Returns, according to the journalist, who is based in Australia where Donald was born. Donald was a stylish delight and always a pleasure to be around. “

Before moving to the UK in the middle of the 1960s to advance his career, Donald enjoyed early success as an Australian stage actor. In addition to writing more theatre pieces, he was able to write comedic plays about three unhappy holiday couples, Caravan. He continued to act, and he had roles in Kenny and Superman Returns.

However, Donald died on Monday in Australia after a brief illness that affected his acting and presenting skills in recent years. In his final days, the performer spent time with Paula Duncan and Amelia Barrett, both of whom he was cousins.

In a post on Mr. Bennett’s social media page, Donald enjoyed some bubbly and lemon meringue pie, and his hospital room turned into a party. Even in a hospital gown, blue was always his color! He gave his permission to post his final photo, asking, “What the heck! “Vale to a genuine gentleman.” “

Users of Facebook shared their grief over the passing of the showbiz star in a response to the journalist’s post. “Honored to have appeared in two of his plays,” a fellow actor wrote. The ideal gentleman. No one else played the High Court Judge like Donald, either. RIP. “

Another person said, “We were VERY LUCKY to meet Donald through you two, get to know him, and be entertained by his lovely demeanor, sharp wit, and of course, his writing abilities. What a lovely, kind man. “

Judge Arun Subramanian had to remind jurors of his instructions on the law almost as soon as the proceedings in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial began on Monday.

Jury deliberations in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial quickly hit a snag yesterday – as two notes were handed to the judge.

A jury received a message that heightened concern that they were unable to follow the 61 pages of instructions the judge had just read to them before the hearings began. Judge Arun Subramanian insists that all jurors strictly adhere to his instructions, even if the proceedings take some time.

The second note, which was sent several hours later, requested clarification regarding the drug distribution instructions, an allegation that was included in Combs’ racketeering conspiracy charge. This was addressed, and discussions are still going on. There are some chances that a decision will be reached this afternoon (UK time).

Diddy, 55, has been accused of racketeering, two counts of prostitution, and two counts of sex trafficking. He denies any wrongdoing. If found guilty, the hip-hop mogul could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Before the jury, which consisted of eight men and four women, began deliberating, the defendant and his supporters bowed their heads in prayer in the courtroom. The musician, who has won three Grammy Awards, must now comb through his or her seven weeks of sometimes graphic and moving testimony.

The trial had been informed of Diddy’s propensity for violence and his sexual preferences, including drug-fueled “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.”

Combs bowed his head with his supporters as he sat facing them in the audience while wearing his customary sweater and khakis. They applauded as they were about to finish, along with the hip-hop legend.

The star, born in New York City, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking — relating to two of his ex-girlfriends — and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for allegedly arranging to fly his girlfriends and sex workers across state lines.

Federal prosecutors and Combs’ defense team made their final attempts to persuade jurors to convict or acquit the musician in final arguments last week.

The defendant used force, fear, and intimidation to obtain what he desired, according to Assistant US Attorney Christy Slavik. He believed that the law was being overturned by his fame, wealth, and status.

She claimed that he made it his “close inner circle and a small army of personal staff, who made it their mission to advance his position of power and safeguard his reputation at all costs.”

But Marc Agnifilo, the defense attorney, refrained. He asserted that crime is not the topic here. Money is the topic. He noted that Combs’ accusers in the criminal case brought civil lawsuits against him.

In 2024, artists like Sam Fender, Chappell Roan, and the Foo Fighters performed sold-out shows in Manchester, Liverpool, and the rest of the North West, aiding in the growth of music tourism.

A new report has highlighted the contributions of Sam Fender, Chappell Roan, and the Foo Fighters to the music scene in the North West, contributing to a staggering £1.2 billion increase in music tourism last year. 3.3 million music lovers, including fans from abroad, were drawn to live performances in Manchester, Liverpool, and other hotspots in 2024.

Sam Fender at Co-op Live, Chappell Roan rocking out at Manchester Academy, and the Foo Fighters’ thrilling crowds at Emirates Old Trafford made the region sing with tunes from various genres. Hordes of music lovers poured into the North West to attend events like Parklife, Creamfields, and Beat-Herder.

The commercial benefit was highlighted in the UK Music’s Tuesday report, which highlighted the sector’s support for roughly 9,250 full-time jobs. The significant economic boost from music tourists was fueled by ticket sales, food and beverage sales, merchandise, venue parking, camping fees, lodging, and travel costs.

With about 21.9 million Brits traveling far beyond their typical commute for a spot of live music escapism, the number of “music tourists” rose nationwide. According to the enlightening study, 1.6 million foreign visitors, drawn in by the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Burna Boy, also flew in.

The UK economy will experience a record-breaking £10 billion boost in 2024 thanks to 23.5 million music tourists visiting the country, ending a high note for the post-pandemic recovery of the sector.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy praised the country’s vibrant live music scene, saying that music brings people together and makes a big difference, whether it’s at a large stadium or a packed-out local venue. Our music industry is incredibly important to us. It’s one of our biggest exports, inspires young people all over, and is a reflection of who we are as a nation.

She also praised the government’s commitment to the arts, which included the recently announced $ 30 million “music growth package” intended to attract new talent and safeguard venues, keeping the music scene active and reaching new heights.

However, despite the industry’s economic successes, there are still significant financial obstacles to overcome, according to Tom Kiehl, CEO of UK Music.

“Music has a lot of positive effects for our local communities, but there are still some issues facing our industry, such as the rising cost of touring for artists and the threat of closure,” said Mr. Kiehl.

Every community has the potential for vibrant, diverse music sectors and has something special, according to “From Land’s End to John O’Groats.” It is crucial to empower local leaders to enable growth in a time when the government is pursuing growth and promoting the growth of our musicians, creators, venues, studios, and music industries.

The local music action charter, which UK Music claimed will “help councils and combined authorities create locally tailored music strategies that are in line with their specific priorities,” is presented in the report.

The Local Government Association’s culture, tourism, and sport board chairwoman, Liz Green, commented: “These record-breaking figures demonstrate how crucial live music is to the prosperity of our communities.”

The report serves as a reminder that supporting local music is more than just good sense and that reviving our high streets is a result. To ensure the continued growth of music in every region of the UK, we’re committed to working with local partners.

After snubbing his own dad’s party, David Beckham’s eldest son Brooklyn Beckham cosied up to his father-in-law Nelson Peltz for his birthday.

Brooklyn Beckham is sure to cause some upset with his latest move as he joined in the birthday celebrations for his wife Nicola Peltz’s billionaire dad Nelson. The eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham has been locked in a family feud ever since he snubbed the football icon’s 50th birthday.

Both Brooklyn and Nicola chose not to attend any of David’s celebrations in May, despite flying into London from their home in Los Angeles. The blows didn’t stop there, however, as he has failed to acknowledge David’s long awaited knighthood and Father’s Day.

Reports have claimed the 26-year-old has stopped responding to messages from his famous parents and siblings as the fallout intensified. He has continued to stick by wife Nicola, who faced the blame for tensions rising in the family.

However in yet another painful moment for Posh and Becks, Brooklyn has been seen cosying up with Nicola’s dad. The actress shared a string of photos showing Brooklyn beaming alongside her family at a 83rd birthday celebration for Nelson.

Brooklyn posed by Nicola’s dad in a number of snaps as she shared a gushing tribute to him. Nicola wrote: “happy birthday dad! i am so lucky to be your daughter, you’re the most loving and supportive father i could ever dream of.

You’re the wind beneath my wings, if you’re honest, because I love you more than I can express. I enjoyed your yesterday celebration! Thank you for always supporting us with our constant love and support.

Nicola then shared a family snap to her Instagram Story and captioned it: “My world.” It comes as Brooklyn’s mum, Victoria, 51, enjoyed her own bittersweet family time back in the UK.

Victoria avoided avoiding her family in the midst of the ongoing suffering. The businesswoman and her parents enjoyed relaxing in their home country as they enjoyed the resplendent weather.

When she sat in between her mother and father, Victoria grinned and said, “Family weekends make me happy! ” I adore you, Jackie. adams . “After David’s recent hospital stay, it’s unclear if Brooklyn reached out to me.

A source close to the former Manchester United star confirmed Sir David underwent secret surgery to repair a broken wrist that he sustained 22 years ago, during a friendly football match against South Africa in 2003.

However, things took a turn last week when Brooklyn reached out to his family for the first time on social media. He posted a moving message to his paternal grandma, Sandra and said: “Happy birthday nanny xx love you so much.”

Yet, insiders still believe there is no way he will bury the hatchet with his parents. Last month, the Mirror revealed how David and Victoria’s eldest son was in London at the same time as his dad, but kept his visit a secret.

Brooklyn had kept the visit to his siblings and extended family quiet, according to a friend. He was devastated that he had not engaged and had flown thousands of miles to London. It would have been simple to arrange a meeting.

Nicola’s family sources have refuted claims that she is responsible for the distance between the two families. She is not at all isolating him, they claimed. He has freedom to pursue his interests, loves his wife, and lives with her. They are the members of their families.

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One of John Lennon’s most well-known songs for the band was banned for a very different reason than the others, which included the Beatles’ and other songs that were banned by radio stations.

The Beatles, known for stirring the pot, certainly did so when John Lennon’s bold statement in 1966 that they were “more popular than Jesus” sparked outrage among American Christians, contributing to the band’s cessation of touring later that year.

Their knack for pushing boundaries also saw several of their songs slapped with bans by radio stations. The BBC censored ‘A Day in the Life’ over alleged drug references, while ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ faced bans from some US stations for its mention of Christ.

After John, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr started acting as solo artists after 1970, the controversy persisted. For instance, the ECHO examined how the BBC rejected Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Hi, Hi, Hi” due to alleged nods to sex and drugs.

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One particularly infamous song from John’s Beatles career, “Happyness Is a Warm Gun,” was written by him in 1968 and released under the Lennon-McCartney songwriting banner, just like the rest of the Beatles’ compositions.

The title, which kick-started the song, was lifted straight from the May 1968 issue of American Rifleman magazine, where an article by Warren W. Herlihy depicted his experience teaching his son shooting skills, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Regarding his initial impression of it, John said, “I just thought it was a fantastic, insane thing to say. You just shot something with a warm gun, right?

The Beatles’ infamous “White Album” was released in November 1968, a turbulent period for the band as creative disagreements started to develop. They worked together to create this complex track despite their differences.

The final piece, which dealt with various themes, was created by John after combining “three sections of different songs.”

Some of the lyrics in the song were interpreted as sex and drug references upon its release. The BBC and commercial radio stations banned the “warm gun” in the title because it represented John’s desire for Yoko Ono.

Some people also made the claim that “I need a fix” was a reference to heroin. John, however, refuted this, pointing out that “Happyness Is A Warm Gun” was another radio show that was prohibited because it involved drug shooting. However, they were selling guns, and I concocted a song out of it because I thought it was crazy. It was completely unrelated to “H” (heroin).

John’s longing for Yoko prompted the lyrics to “Mother Superior jumped the gun.” He was not overly concerned that censors would pick up on the song’s sexual undertones.

By the time that I’m into double meanings, John continued, “Oh, well, by then I’m into double meanings. The magazine cover served as the initial inspiration. However, that was when my relationship with Yoko began, and I had a strong sexual orientation at the time. We were in bed when we weren’t in the studio.

Although ‘The White Album’ garnered mixed reviews and radio stations boycotted ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’, critics commended the song, which all Beatles members proclaimed their favourite on the album. A Record Mirror magazine review described it as “a serene ballad, but is soon taken over in the true vein of this foremost stylist”.

Jacqueline Jossa, the star of EastEnders, criticized the fast-fashion label In The Style for allegedly not paying her for their allegedly five-figure collaborations.

Jacqueline Jossa has returned to her TikTok account, where she hit out at fashion company In The Style following reports she was considering legal action against them. The TV star, 32, gave an update on her ongoing issue with the brand that she used to work with.

She revealed her most recent purchases on her social media updates, which were uncommon. The mother-of-two revealed her glowing tan while wearing a buttery yellow halter neck top.

Jacqueline, who has rekindled her relationship with on-off husband Dan Osborne, added a pair of light blue jeans that hugged her figure and a white handbag. Filming the clip in her lavish kitchen, she went barefoot and admitted her nerves about creating the content.

She admitted, “I feel shy. I want to resume making videos, such as “get ready with me.” I want to visit Zara, River Island, New Look, Primark, and other high-street brands, pick a few pieces, and show you what I get. because I really, really miss making videos.

After that, Jacqueline made the decision to criticize In The Style by accusing them of not paying her the money she claims she owes for working with them. She told her fans, “I used to do my collections with ‘you know who’ that hasn’t yet received my money!”

However, I miss watching the videos. Because they had been going on for more than four years, it did get a little dry, so I feel like I’ve got my mojo back a little bit. “It’s nice to not have the collections,” I said.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the EastEnders star was considering suing the company, which was facing administration. She previously worked with the fast fashion brand on a string of collections, including a swimwear collection last year.

According to sources, the business has been allegedly denying its employees for some time. Some on social media made outrage over the brand’s once-huge $ 100 million valuation and vehemently opposed their association with it.

While others have previously threatened legal action against In The Style. A source told The Sun at the time that Jacqueline is owed tens of thousands of pounds, most likely a five-figure sum, so she is consulting lawyers about how to proceed.

“They’re still selling clothes online, including items from Jacqueline’s collection,” says one woman. Five years ago, Jacqueline joined the company as its face, and it is said that she will make a rumored £1 million deal.

Carys Whittaker, a social media influencer, claimed that the company had purposefully withheld money from her in February. She wrote, “In my 8 years online, I have never spoken out about a brand, but I can’t stay quiet about this,” in a statement shared with her followers.

“I’ve worked with InTheStyle for the past four years, and some of you were aware of my imminent collection launch.” I’m now aware that I’m no longer employed by InTheStyle because they resisted paying me money from the last year’s collections.

Other InTheStyle employees have positions in the same league as me, according to the statement I made. Revenues for In The Style decreased from £45.9 million to £30.4 million for the year to March 31, 2024.

After taking “significant steps to reduce operational overhead by investing in automation, clear strategic priorities, and the elimination of duplication of task,” they also took a “significant step to reduce operational overhead by investing in automation, clear strategic priorities, and the removal of duplication of task.

The board at the time approved a statement that read, “This fiscal year was a year of realignment and resetting operating practices for In the Style with a focus on developing robust unit economics to support the business, right-sizing the overhead, and developing efficiencies as a result of the wider group integration.

To provide the right sources of information for making sound trading decisions, we have invested a significant amount of time into our business intelligence and reporting suite. Despite a drop in toppling sales, the company has been able to significantly improve its margins as a result of the business shifting its focus from top line sales to a relentless obsession with net contribution margin.

The Mirror has contacted In The Style for comment.