Fans of the legendary musician Garth Hudson have shared a video of his final performance and say he “never lost the spark”.
The Band’s last-surviving member died yesterday (January 21) at the age of 87. Hudson, best-known for his multi-instrumental skills and keyboard work, was called “the greatest organist in rock history” by fans. He had worked with Bob Dylan on his legendary 1974 comeback tour, and also had success releasing studio work with The Band.
But fans are turning to a video of what is believed to be Hudson’s final public performance back in 2023. A house concert hosted by musician Sarah Power saw Hudson, then 85, play piano in a video which has since gone viral.
X user @HarryHew wrote: “Garth Hudson’s final public performance, in April 2023, at a house concert hosted by musician Sarah Power in Kingston, NY. He never lost the spark. “
Fans of The Band thanked the X user for posting the performance, which saw Hudson hammer away on the piano and cover Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady. It appears as if Hudson did not forget his other bandmates either, with one user saying they spoke to him at a nursing home he was residing in.
Pictures of fellow members of The Band, including Robbie Robertson, were seen in the room, according to one user. They wrote: “Got to meet him in Lake Katrine last year, spoke to him a bit in the nursing home. I’ll never forget it.
“He told me about Distelfinks, Pennsylvania Dutch good luck charms and how his mom used to make him. His caregiver, Rona, called him Eric. Photos of Richard were everywhere. “
Tributes poured in for Hudson after his passing yesterday, with music journalist Steven Hyden saying it was “hard to believe” no members of The Band were alive. He wrote: “RIP Garth Hudson. The greatest organist in rock history? The greatest organist in rock history. Hard to believe that there are no longer any living members of The Band. Gonna go stare into space for a while. “
Hudson was a member of The Band, which formed in 1957, and were responsible for hit songs like The Weight, Up On Cripple Creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. They also feature in The Last Waltz, a Martin Scorsese-directed documentary on their final performance together.
Special guests were frequent at the show billed as The Band’s “farewell concert appearance”. Legendary musicians appearing at the show to perform with the band included Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, The Beatles’ Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones.
Though the performance was filmed, certain artists like Dylan suddenly backed out of being on camera. Reflecting on the performance, Robertson said: “Thank God we got through it. “
Katie Price has revealed that she is due to undergo a health check after her mum recently had to have a lung transplant.
Speaking on the Rob Moore podcast, the reality TV star revealed how her mum’s health problems have prompted her to make sure that her own health is in check. Katie said: “I’m getting my lungs checked next month, where my mum went. Not because I think there’s something wrong with my lungs, but because of what mum had, (it’s) just to check. “
Earlier in the podcast, the former I’m A Celeb star shared how she has recently taken up smoking vapes after one thing had initially attracted her to them last year: “My mum’s had her lung transplant and she’s never smoked. I’ve never smoked, I’m not a smoker, (but) a year ago smelling all these (vapes) what people do and I got the taste (for them)”.
Katie was speaking on a recent episode of the Rob Moore podcast (Getty Images)
Katie said she has already been warned of the dangers of vaping by a medical professional as she shared their conversation: “When he was on the phone to me, because they have to do a Zoom (call) before they see you, he said if anyone was going to start anything, smoking or vaping, even though he advises none, he said smoke not vape, he said these (vapes) are so bad for you. “
Katie’s mum Amy was first diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2017, which people are expected to live with for two to five years after diagnosis.
While there are treatments for Amy’s condition, such as oxygen support and medicinal options, in some cases such as hers, it may be advised that a lung transplant is the best course of action.
According to the NHS, IPF is a condition in which those suffering from the illness will experience scarring on the lungs and difficulty breathing.
While it’s still not entirely known why someone develops the condition, it is believed that it is more prevalent in those aged between 70 and 75, while it is uncommon in the under 50s.
Having initially made her name after her work as a glamour model, Katie became a household name after appearing on I’m A Celebrity in 2004, where she would go on to meet her ex-husband Peter Andre. Since then, she has made several appearances in some of the biggest TV shows including Loose Women, where she appeared as a regular panellist between 2015 and 2018, as well as winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.
The finale episode of The Traitors might be drawing nearer, but our love for Claudia Winkleman’s outfits will last long after the show’s latest season ends. Although Claudia and her stylist Sinead McKeefry have been responsible for putting together some incredible country-ready looks, This Morning has also joined in on the styling fun.
In one recent fashion section, host Lisa Snowdon showed how to put together some more affordable Traitors-inspired outfits on a budget. Included in her choices was Cotton Traders’ Check Blazer, which you can pick up for £65.
READ MORE: Claudia Winkleman’s Traitors grey coat hails from Kate Middleton’s go-to brand
READ MORE: These £32 boots are the best alternative to Claudia Winkleman’s Traitors £1k Bottega pair
The brown tweed blazer has a classic countryside look, with an all-over check pattern and an elegant silhouette. The shoulders have soft shoulder pads in to create a more dynamic, flattering silhouette, whilst the button fastening allows you to wear it open and loose or fastened to accentuate your waist.
A blazer is one of the most hard working pieces in your wardrobe, and you can wear it anywhere for any occasion. Layer with jeans and a jumper for a cosy lunch date, or pair with wide leg trousers and loafers for the office.
The Cotton Traders brown check blazer nails Claudia’s cool country style (Cotton Traders)
To show how you can create your own Claudia-worthy look with the Cotton Traders’ Check Blazer, Lisa paired it with the Fluid Shirt With Contrasting Panel from Mango, which costs £55. 99, and a pair of New Look’s Brown Cotton Corduroy Wide Leg Trousers. She completed the look with a pair of Primark loafers, although we found a similar pair at Schuh, with the Wide Fit Lumina Snaffle Loafer Flat Shoes in Black costing £38.
The overall look was reminiscent of some of Claudia’s best looks, which combine country staples (like tweed and corduroy) with oversized silhouettes and tailoring. The Cotton Traders’ Check Blazer is available in sizes 8-22, although some sizes are beginning to sell out thanks to its This Morning feature.
We have spotted some other great alternatives, however, like this Bershka Wool Look Oversized Jacket In Brown, £60, or the Hackmore Check Relaxed Fit Wool Blend Tweed Blazer which is £149 from Joules.
With just three more episodes of The Traitors left before the finale, we’ll be soaking up as much of Claudia’s outfit inspiration as possible!
TV presenter Stephen Mulhern appears to have received some good news after having a tough time last year.
Stephen, 47, returned to our screens earlier this month with co-host Holly Willoughby for the new series of Dancing on Ice. It’s among the several shows that he fronts for ITV at the moment, with the others including Deal or No Deal.
It’s now been reported that he’s set to host more episodes of Celebrity Catchphrase too. Stephen has presented the revival of Catchphrase since it returned in 2013 and has been joined by a host of celebrities over the years since.
There will now be a new run of celebrity specials as part of an eleventh series, according TV Zone. The outlet adds that it understands there are still episodes from its tenth series that are set to air too. A post by the show’s account on X in October last year had teased: “Another brilliant series of Celebrity #Catchphrase comes to and end, but don’t worry, Mr Chips and Mr @StephenMulhern will be back soon! “
The news comes following a difficult few months for Stephen, whose late father Christopher Mulhern died last year. He paid tribute to his father at the Royal Variety Performance last month, where he performed a magic act for the audience. He dedicated the routine to him, saying at the end of it: “That was for you dad. “
Celebrity Catchphrase, hosted by Stephen Mulhern, will reportedly return for a new series (ITV / STV)
Stephen also paid tribute to his grandfather. Discussing one trick during his set, he told the audience: “I don’t want to bring the atmosphere down but my grandad, he taught me how to do this trick when I was just 11 years old. ” He added: “Sadly, my grandad passed away two weeks ago. “
Weeks prior, it was reported in November that Stephen had collapsed at a restaurant. He was believed to have experienced a bad reaction to some medication after having a few drinks with his meal, with him said to have undergone a procedure earlier in the day which involved anaesthetic.
A source told the Mirror that Stephen had been going through an “incredibly tough time” and was “recovering” at home following the situation. They said at the time: “Stephen has had an incredibly tough time over the past few weeks. His beloved father recently passed away which has hit him hard and has been understandably very stressful. ” They added: “In addition he had a procedure which took place yesterday. Following the anaesthetic that was administered, he had a few drinks which made him unwell and he was taken in to hospital as a precaution. He is now back home recovering. “
An upcoming zombie horror film set in the UK has been “inspired by” a real event, according to its writer.
The long-awaited follow-up to Danny Boyle’s hit film 28 Days Later will be released later this year. Now, its writer, Alex Garland, has confirmed recent political events influenced the film.
Fans initially suspected coronavirus may have inspired 28 Years Later, but Garland, who has previously directed Civil War and Ex Machina, denied the upcoming horror film was inspired by global lockdowns.
Instead, Garland turned to Brexit for inspiration and says much of the film has been inspired by the decision to leave the EU, made by British voters back in 2016. Fans are split on what this may mean for the upcoming horror, which is set to be the first in a trio of new films.
As the name might suggest, the film will pick up 28 years after the events of the Cillian Murphy-led original. Writer Garland says Covid was “too recent and too present” to have affected the film’s script.
Fans are split on the decision to use the vote as a source of inspiration. One person on X wrote: “The abandonment of the UK following Brexit served as the inspiration behind the latest British zombie apocalypse film, a writer has revealed.
“Alex Garland, the co-creator of the upcoming horror movie, 28 Years Later, alongside Danny Boyle, the director, said he was influenced to write the script after the rest of the world seemed to ‘turn their backs’ on Britain.
“The referendum that led to Britain’s exit from the EU in 2016 served as a greater inspiration for the film’s apocalyptic material than Covid did. “
Garland, who spoke to Empire about the script and its influences, said: “Covid was not on my mind because it was too recent and too present, but Brexit was. ” He added that there was a “sense of the globe just sort of shifting its position” and “not really looking in this direction. “
Other movie-lovers have claimed the comparisons of Brexit and 28 Years Later, a film set 28 years after the breakout of a ‘Rage’ virus and a country-wide pandemic, is hilarious.
One wrote: “28 Years Later is influenced by Brexit, and everyone turning against the UK? ? ? ! Oh, I’m so ready for this film. “
28 Years Later, which is set for release on June 20 this year, follows on from the cult classic horror film directed by Danny Boyle. The Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire director will return for 28 Years Later. The Academy Award winner serves as the film’s director and producer.
Chris Packham, the well-known face of BBC’s nature programmes including Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, has been in the spotlight for over a decade.
In addition to his TV work, Chris is also an accomplished author and has appeared on other television shows such as The Really Wild Show, Birdwatch and Blue Planet Live.
Wales Online reports he is presenting Winterwatch from RSPB Arne on the shores of Poole Harbour, joined by Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams.
His stepdaughter Megan McCubbin, who is also a zoologist and nature presenter, often appears alongside him on shows like Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer as well as Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
However, less is known about his personal life and his Royal connections through his famous sister.
Early life and career breakthrough of Chris Packham
Presenters Chris Packham and Kate Humble (BBC)
Born on May 4, 1961, Chris Packham was raised in Southampton. After attending Bitterne Park Secondary School and Taunton’s College, he went on to study Zoology at the University of Southampton.
He initially worked as a wildlife cameraman before transitioning into presenting in the 80s. His first major role was as presenter on the new children’s wildlife show The Really Wild Show in 1986.
Chris Packham joined the BBC as a regular presenter in 2009, initially co-hosting Springwatch. Since then, he has presented numerous documentaries, such as Chris Packham: Is It Time to Break the Law? , Dogs in the Wild: Meet the Family, and Chris Packham: A Walk That Made Me.
Chris Packham’s famous sister who works with royal family
Chris Packham may be famous to many for his nature programmes and campaigning, but his sister Jenny Packham is also famous.
She is a prominent British designer, having run her own label for over three decades. Her designs have appeared in James Bond films like Die Another Day and Casino Royale, and in TV shows like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl.
Jenny Packham has also created at least eight dresses for the Duchess of Cambridge, including the gold gown she wore to the No Time to Die premiere. Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Aniston, and Keira Knightley are among other celebrities to wear her designs.
Chris Packham’s autism diagnosis and how he helped others
Chris Packham was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when he was 44 years old (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis)
Chris Packham was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2005 at the age of 44, after consulting a therapist. His personal diaries showed he was aware of his autistic traits, but the formal diagnosis had a significant impact on his life.
In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he commented: “I grew up in the Sixties and Seventies when the condition wasn’t widely known, certainly by my parents and teachers.
“So by the time I’d got to the beginning of my teens, and certainly into the early part of my 20s, my mental health issues were quite considerable.
“I loathed myself, I thought that I was broken. Clearly, I was in a lesser cohort than most other people, so I blamed myself for everything that was going wrong. “
Chris Packham opened up about his struggles with mental health in the revealing documentary Aspergers And Me back in 2017. The wildlife expert went on to present a powerful BBC series titled ‘Inside Our Autistic Minds’, where he assisted a group of autistic individuals in creating short films.
These films were a window for their loved ones to see how they truly feel and understand the workings of their autistic minds.
Chris Packham’s partner and home life
Chris Packham with his long-term partner Charlotte Corney (PA)
Chris Packham is currently in a loving relationship with Charlotte Corney, the owner of Wildheart Animal Sanctuary on Isle of Wright. The couple has been open about their decision not to marry or live together.
On The Different Minds podcast, Chris was asked if they would ever marry and he responded: “I would say no. It’s all about animals at the moment, we have to concentrate on them.
“Her tigers are old, my dog Scratchy is old. It’s not about us, we have to get through this period basically of aged animals. “
In an intimate chat with The Guardian, Chris reflected on how being diagnosed with autism in his 40s has shaped his relationship with Charlotte, making it ‘different’ from past romances that tended to end after five to seven years.
He explained: “They all reached their full term because, as much as I was dealing socially with my neurodiversity, I wasn’t dealing with it at home. I couldn’t let my guard down and that was always very challenging for my partners.
“I have slightly better control of my obsessive personality now.
Chris and Meg’s Summer Road Trip saw the pair travel together (BBC NHU/Megan McCubbin)
“That means I don’t totally expose Charlotte to my obsessions and force her to be part of them, which is what I did in past relationships while at the same time being pretty unforgiving when partners wanted me to do anything they valued and I didn’t. “
Chris Packham was previously married to NHS nurse Jo McCubbin, who had Megan McCubbin from another relationship. The pair divorced in 2008, but Chris and Megan are still close together.
It is not known where Chris Packham lives in the New Forest, however he is believed to live in a cottage with his two dogs Sid and Nancy.
In October 2021, the presenter revealed that hate campaigners blew up a Land Rover outside the front gate of his Hampshire property. He has also previously received death threats and has had human excrement sent to his residence and dead crows tied to the fence of his New Forest property.
