7 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Strictly stars forced to slash prices of tour tickets by 60% in attempt to fill seats hours before they go onstage
TWO Strictly Come Dancing stars have suffered a blow after being forced to slash prices for tickets to their tour in an effort to fill seats.
The Strictly professional dancers recently kicked off their Reborn gigs, which will see them play up and down the country.
Strictly’s Amy has headed on the road for her very own tourBBCShe and fellow professional Carlos are currently starring in the Reborn tourBBCLast month Amy was honoured with an MBEPA Wire
But Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu appear to have taken drastic measures after failing to pack out some venues.
Ahead of their latest shows in Birmingham, tickets were listed on seat filling websit Show Film First at just £12.50 – 60% cheaper than the original price of £45.
Amy, 34, and Carlos, 32, previously revealed they decided to name their tour Reborn after her battle with cancer.
In 2023 she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer but in November last year Amy revealed she had successfully completed her treatment.
Speaking to Glasgow Theatre Blog, Amy said: “I’ve become a better version of myself, a warrior version of Amy, so I definitely feel reborn and I look at life differently now.
“I take advantage of every opportunity, every beat, every moment on stage.”
Carlos said of his close friend and tour co-star: “When I look at her she’s the perfect example of the reborn theme.
“She went through the worst period of her life and she never give up. She fought back.”
And Amy’s inspirational journey was recently recognised by King Charles when he honoured her with an MBE.
She later described the experience with the monarch as an “out-of-body experience”.
Amy said: “It’s really surreal, it’s been like an out-of-body experience but it is a true honour to get an MBE
“We spoke about my recovery from chemotherapy and the impact of chemotherapy on my body.”
7 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Sky Q customers warned of six channel changes coming to all TV boxes this week – check yours now
SKY customers will notice a number of changes to the channels available on their boxes this week.
And it not only applies to Sky Q owners, but also Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
SkyChanges will appear on all Sky devices including Sky Q[/caption]
Channel 5There will be some changes to Channel 5 in the mix[/caption]
Three changes have already started.
But another three will be coming later in the week as part of a huge overhaul for one major UK network.
The first three shake-up affects Sky Cinema subscribers only.
Sky Cinema regularly switches up its offering depending on special events.
For example, a special Sky Cinema Kids Books channel was launched for World Book Day.
Now that the annual event is over, the channel has sadly disappeared.
However, it was only ever a temporary move, meaning the original name, Sky Cinema Family, is back.
The channel remains on 306 for all Sky platforms .
Elsewhere, Sky Cinema Martial Arts has also disappearing and switched back to Sky Cinema Action at channel number 307.
Sky Cinema Women In Film has gone too, reverting back to Sky Cinema Classics on channel number 304.
Away from Sky Cinema, there’s a big change you may notice to one of the UK’s public service broadcasters.
Channel 5 is undergoing a big revamp this week which will affect its three main channels: Channel 5, Channel 5 HD and Channel 5 + 1.
From Thursday, the broadcaster is using the simple name of 5 across its channels and streaming app.
As such, Channel 5 will be 5, Channel 5 HD will be 5 HD and Channel 5 + 1 will be 5 + 1.
These will remain in their current TV guide slots of 105, 105 and 205 respectively.
What to expect from the new 5 streaming service
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
Channel 5 is owned by US media giant Paramount, which also owns free streaming service Pluto TV.
And I believe Pluto TV offers some hints of what we can expect from the new 5 app.
Given Paramount’s extensive family of brands, there’s a lot of good quality archive content to use.
My5 already does this with some shows like Geordie Shore but not others like Catfish, 16 and Pregnant, South Park and many more.
So I’m sure we can expect more of this.
And let’s not forget Paramount’s extensive back catalogue of movies, some of which may well make an appearance – though the lion’s share will no doubt remain paid on Paramount+.
7 days agoNew York StateComments Off on ‘Healthy’ mum of 2 sets of twin boys, 31, lives in fear that she could die instantly at any moment from ‘brain rupture’
A MUM who blamed her headaches on the “stress and chaos” of parenting two sets of toddler twins was shocked when she found out the true cause.
Elizabeth Presson went to visit her doctor in December after her “abnormally bad headache” failed to respond to pain relief medication.
Kennedy NewsElizabeth Presson went to see her doctor when her “abnormally bad headache” wasn’t responding to pain relief medication[/caption]
Kennedy NewsElizabeth is mum to two sets of twin boys[/caption]
The 31-year-old says she thought the headache was caused by parenting three-year-olds Ashton Presson and Jacob Presson and two-year-olds Matthew Presson and Christian Presson.
But five days later when the mum-of-four’s headache worsened and she started experiencing a stiff and sore neck she went to hospital.
There, doctors ran tests and a CT scan and revealed to the stunned tech company worker that she had a brain aneurysm.
Elizabeth says she lives in a “constant state of anxiety” that the aneurysm could rupture at any moment and cause her death “instantly”.
Now, doctors are monitoring Elizabeth and if the aneurysm grows a stent will be fitted.
Elizabeth from Jacksonville, Florida, US, said: “One morning I woke up and I had a really bad headache.
“The pain started in the back left side of my head and over time it took over my whole head, I was barely able to function.
“I would be trying to cook dinner and I would get a sudden shooting pain that would stop me in my tracks.
“I took pretty much every medicine you could take but it wasn’t getting better.
“I gave it a couple of days but then I started getting really bad neck pain on one side of my neck. It became really stiff and I couldn’t turn my head.
“I made an appointment with my doctor and he gave me a migraine shot. I thought it was caused by the stress and chaos of parenting two sets of twins.
“They’re all boys, one set is about to be two and the other set is three. They’re the most difficult ages.”
The headache started on December 9th but failed to respond to medication.
So on December 13th Elizabeth went to the emergency department at the hospital where doctors sent her for a CT scan.
Elizabeth said: “The doctor said it was probably a migraine but that they’d run the CT just in case due to the neck pain.
“That’s when they found the brain aneurysm. I called my parents, my husband, and my best friend and they all started freaking out.
I’d never considered the possibility that something like that could happen to me
Elizabeth Presson
“I was in so much pain. My head hurt so bad that I couldn’t even look at my phone.
“I was terrified at that point because I’ve always considered myself to be very healthy. I’m only 31 and I’m very health conscious.
“We eat all the right things, do all the right things. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I’d never considered the possibility that something like that could happen to me.”
Elizabeth, who’s married to 35-year-old Robert Presson, was sent for a lumbar puncture, which confirmed that the brain aneurysm wasn’t bleeding.
She was kept in hospital for two nights before she was discharged and sent home – but the pain was still so severe she couldn’t bear to be around her children.
Elizabeth said: “It was awful. I couldn’t even bear to be around my kids, I had to lay flat.
Kennedy NewsA CT scan revealed Elizabeth had a brain aneurysm[/caption]
Kennedy NewsWhile she waits for an appointment, she says she is still experiencing the sudden, severe headaches a couple of times a week[/caption]
“My headache was unbearable. I felt so guilty that I couldn’t be my normal self with them and they were confused as to why I couldn’t be with them.
“I was just in my room for days at a time.”
Elizabeth says she is still experiencing the sudden, severe headaches a couple of times a week and is waiting for an appointment with her neurologist at the end March.
She will also be meeting with her neurosurgeon again in July to check if the aneurysm has grown.
Elizabeth said: “I meet with my neurosurgeon again in July.
“If it’s grown they consider it an active aneurysm, which is at greater risk of rupturing so I’ll have to get a stent placed in my brain.
My doctor told me if it ruptures and it doesn’t clot within two seconds then I will just die instantly
Elizabeth Presson
“If it hasn’t grown then they want to continue to monitor it on an annual basis, but it’s something that I have to be aware of for the rest of my life.
“I can’t smoke, I can’t do anything to raise my blood pressure too high and obviously I won’t be riding any rollercoasters or doing anything like that anytime soon.
“I think the hardest part is the anxiety of knowing that it could rupture at any moment.
“My doctor told me if it ruptures and it doesn’t clot within two seconds then I will just die instantly.
“At this point I just really wish we could be proactive and place the stent now because I don’t know if I can have this looming over my head for the rest of my life.
“I’m in a constant state of anxiety.”
Kennedy NewsElizabeth says the hardest part is the anxiety of knowing that it could rupture at any moment, but it’s changed her perspective on life[/caption]
Since the diagnosis, Elizabeth says it’s changed her perspective on life and encouraged her to have more fun with her children.
Elizabeth said: “It’s changed everything for me. I definitely find myself not putting off having fun anymore.
“I used to think it was so much work to take all of the kids to go and do stuff but now I think we just can’t wait for life to get easier because tomorrow’s not promised.
“Now I’m like ‘let’s pack up the kids, let’s go have fun and do what we can because in a moment it could all change’.
“It’s really changed my perspective and I’m trying to be more intentional and not take a second for granted with my children.”
Signs of a brain aneurysm
A BRAIN aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel in your brain. It can be very serious if it bursts.
The frightening thing is it rarely causes any symptoms unless it ruptures.
Unruptured brain aneurysms occasionally cause symptoms if they’re particularly large or press against tissues or nerves inside the brain.
Symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm can include:
visual disturbances, such as loss of vision or double vision
pain above or around your eye
numbness or weakness on one side of your face
difficulty speaking
headaches
loss of balance
difficulty concentrating or problems with short-term memory
You should see a GP as soon as possible if you experience symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm.
Although most aneurysms will not rupture, it’s important to get it checked in case treatment is necessary.
7 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Channel 5 launching brand new show starring Maya Jama, KSI and a Brit-nominated star – and it is just days away
A brand new show starring Maya Jama and hosted by Julie Adenuga is launching on My5 and YouTube within days.
CHANNEL 5Starring Maya Jama and hosted by Julie Adenuga the 4 part series is launching on My5 and YouTube within days[/caption]
GettyFans may recognise Julie from the hit MTV series Catfish UK[/caption]
In the four-part interview series, Now You Know, Julie will be sitting down with four of the UK’s most prominent stars for some candid conversations bringing a fresh twist to the traditional interview format.
The host is also a DJ, broadcaster and creator of interview platform Don’t Trust The Internet.
Julie is also notably the younger sister of grime legends Skepta and JME.
Now Julie will be sitting down to talk all things food, love and give an insight into just how tough the music and entertainment industry can really be.
First up will be acclaimed presenter Maya Jama who will sit down to discuss an intimate conversation about her journey to becoming one of the UK’s most celebrated TV personalities.
The Bristol-born beauty will reflect on her pursuit of success as she opens up about how she navigates life as the ‘successful friend,’ and the unique power of her ability to connect with others.
The star will reveal how she thrives under the intense glare of the media spotlight, offering a rare glimpse the highs and lows of her incredible rise.
BGT star and Internet icon JJ Olatunji better known as KSI will also delve into his extraordinary journey.
From his rise to fame in 2009 as a YouTuber to building a multimillion-pound business empire, KSI opens up about his work ethic and the sacrifices that have shaped his career.
Big Zuu will also be sharing with Julie how he transitioned from a promising rapper to now becoming an award-winning TV chef.
Julie and Zuu will open up about romance as they dive into his love for beautiful women, complete with tips for the perfect date.
Zuu shares his passion for advocating for young people and social injustice and his mission to revolutionise British television, one ground-breaking production at a time.
Lastly Julie chats with singer-songwriter Mahalia following her journey from a young star to a leading voice in British R&B.
The Leicester-born R&B singer who has been nominated for multiple Brit Awards, including Best New Artist and Best R&B Artis will also reveal the challenges of navigating a tough music industry.
Speaking about her excitement ahead of the new show, Julie said: “I’m incredibly excited to be able to put my own twist on interviewing with this new show.
“It’s something I’ve been doing for over a decade but thanks to GroupM Motion Entertainment and BET UK I’ve been given the opportunity to not just host it, but also executive produce the show with Pangaea and bring my vision of giving audiences a peek behind the curtain of what goes into a great conversation.
“I’m looking forward to people seeing my guests in a new way and seeing me stress about being good at my job.”
Episodes will air weekly from 1st April from 12.00 and are available onMy5 and YouTube
Channel 5BGT star and Internet icon JJ Olatunji better known as KSI will also delve into his extraordinary journey[/caption]
CHANNEL 5Julie and Zuu will open up about romance as they dive into his love for beautiful women[/caption]
Julie will also chat with singer-songwriter Mahalia following her journey to becoming leading voice in British R&BCHANNEL 5
7 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Brit rock star rushed to hospital for emergency surgery – and now faces race against time to make UK festival gigs
SNOW Patrol frontman Johnny McDaid was rushed to hospital for surgery on Sunday after sustaining a nasty injury.
The Irish singer, 48, is now in a race against time to recover ahead of the band’s huge run of summer festival gigs which begin in June.
InstagramA member of Snow Patrol was rushed to hospital[/caption]
GettyJohnny McDaid hurt his hand whilst touring[/caption]
Johnny’s Snow Patrol bandmate Gary Lightbody revealed he had undergone treatment.
Gary, 48, said: “Johnny had hurt his hand at the start of the tour, we were going from Switzerland to Frankfurt on a train.
“We did the whole European tour on the train, it was really fun – except for this thing which happened, where Johnny got his hand caught in a door.
“And it wrecked his hand. He ended up getting surgery on his hand. Never missed a show.
“And then the Thursday night in Belfast, at midnight or so, he fell and wrecked his other hand – smashed his knuckles on his other hand.”
Speaking to RTE, Gary added: “When we came in for sound check on Friday, he couldn’t move the fingers on his right hand. And he still played the show on Friday night.
“He has just today (Sunday) gone to get surgery on his hand. It’s insane. He had two broken on Friday’s show – and he played the gig.
“Unbelievable – he’s made of different stuff from the rest of us.”
It comes six years after Gary had to undergo surgery on his neck – which saw the band forced to pull out of performing at Glastonbury.
At the time, Gary updated the band’s fans on Johnny’s condition and said: “Our dear brother, piano and guitar player Johnny McDaid has a serious problem with his neck and after consulting with some top neurosurgeons they are all in agreement that the only course of action is immediate surgery.
“Johnny has been incredible in the wake of this news and has remained calm at a time when a lot of people might freak out.”
Johnny went on to make a full recovery and the band have been playing all over the world since.
They will return to live music this summer with a huge run of gigs across the UK, kicking off in Plymouth on 12 June.
7 days agoNew York StateComments Off on ‘I stole everything!’ Paddy McGuinness on holidays with Peter Kay & a crippling travel fear that sent him to The Priory
PADDY McGuinness the face of Saturday night TV, a father of three and now a travel expert in his own right.
Since 2018, Paddy has been an experienced jet-setter off to the likes of Sweden, Greece, Ethiopia and for new show Tempting Fortune, Malaysia – but he confessed that back in the early days of travelling with his childhood pal Peter Kay, he didn’t follow hotel etiquette.
Channel 4Paddy McGuinness returns to present Tempting Fortune[/caption]
Paddy and Peter have been great friends since childhoodAlamy
Paddy, whose new show Tempting Fortune is on Channel 4 on Sunday nights from 16 March, has had a close friendship with Bolton-born comedian Peter, since meeting at school.
So when the chance arose to go on a trip together, they took it.
Paddy revealed, “This was before I was ever on telly, Peter at the time was a jobbing comedian and booked a gig in Geneva and asked if I wanted to go.
“Of course I did! So we went over there together to this huge hotel that was five-star. I thought ‘if only our teachers could see us now’.”
Paddy continued, “So when I was young and started going into hotels, I thought it was completely fine to take the towels – and in Geneva, they were more like duvets.
“They were so fluffy and I thought ‘I’m getting them in my case’, so we literally emptied the room – I even took home an ashtray.
“In my nativity and innocence, I thought that was what you get when you book a hotel, and it was a perk of being there.”
Even more surprisingly, than his towel theft, Paddy confessed that before he landed his job on Top Gear seven years ago, he struggled to even step foot on a plane.
Paddy explained, “I was a really nervous flyer. I wasn’t quite at the stage where you had to give me sleeping tablets and a glass of milk, but I had to have a few pints for Dutch courage.
“Day one on any trip and I’d be hungover because I’d have to be drunk to even get on the flight.”
Paddy’s stint on Top Gear encouraged him to conquer his fear of flyingBBCIn his younger years, Paddy and his mum would holiday in MorecambeMy Lifey
Paddy continued, “So I saw a doctor at the Priory, they can help with everything and I needed to get over my fear of flying.”
A couple of months later and Paddy became someone who could easily manage a flight.
He revealed that now, he even looks forward to having a glance through the in-flight menu.
“I’d advise anyone to get a bit of help, if you’ve got a phobia and want to get over it, you have to do it. It completely changed my life.
“Now I enjoy the whole flight and I can’t stop doing that now. Once I started Top Gear, I started seeing parts of the world I would have never imagined I’d see.
“I’ve been fortunate to see some of these places and go off the beaten track, and that gave me the travel bug.”
Going back to Paddy’s very early holidays, he and his mum, Patricia, wouldn’t stray far from their hometown of Bolton.
Paddy said, “I was from a single-parent family, and we didn’t have a lot in the bank. What I remember of my first holiday is that it wasn’t until I was about 13 and it was a caravan in Morecambe.
“I remember going with my mum to the caravan park, going to a show in the evening, and a disco and thinking ‘this is brilliant!'”.
Channel 4Paddy has been all over the world since combating his fear of flying[/caption]
Since welcoming his three children, Leo, Penelope and Felicity, with his now ex-wife Christine McGuinness, Paddy has entered the world of all-inclusive resorts and holiday parks.
As much as Paddy loves a family holiday with his kids, he admitted it can be tough.
He added, “Anyone with more than one kid knows how stressful it is coming through an airport.
“Our holidays, at the beginning were trips to Centre Parcs, but now, the kids really like going to Spain and it’s only a two hour flight – it’s just about doable.
“The older they get, I wouldn’t use the word easy, but it’s more manageable, especially if they can entertain themselves.”
Paddy still goes on holiday with his ex-wife and their three childrenInstagram
One of Paddy’s most memorable flights was actually before he had children.
He said, “I’m going back 11 years ago now, but I remember when Christine was pregnant with the twins and we thought we’d have one more special holiday just the two of us.
“We went to Dubai, it wasn’t as it well-known as it is now, but it was a place where it seemed like people were going, and we thought we’d give it a whirl.
“So, we went to town bought expensive plane tickets and we went first class. Now I’d never done first class in my life, but I thought my wife’s pregnant and we might never get a chance to do this again, so we did it.
“Well, it might be expensive, but I can see the appeal of having a bed and a shower on the plane.
“I’m sure I had a shower over Baghdad at one point, I looked on the map and thought, ‘this is mad'”.
Paddy said family holidays are easier now his children are olderInstagram/@mrscmcguinness
For his future travels, Paddy asked, “have you heard of dark tourism?”
The term coined for travel to places historically associated with tragedy. Paddy referenced Chernobyl and Pompeii, but there’s another location on his list.
“I remember seeing Michael Palin go to North Korea. It’s completely random, and obviously we know what goes on there, but it’s almost morbid curiosity.
“That’s a barometer I set my life by, Michael Palin. If he can do it, you can do it.”
For his latest project, Tempting Fortune, Paddy travelled to the much safer destination of Langkawi.
He explained, “I’ve been over to Malaysia, before but I’ve never been to Langkawi – the island is absolutely stunning.
“It takes a bit of acclimatising though with the heat and the humidity. It hit me like a ton of bricks, it’s that kind of heat where you’re sweating sat down and when you breathe, you can feel warmth going into your lungs.
“I found myself in Craghoppers shirts and boots in the jungle, it felt a little bit at home actually, rather than sitting around the pool in a luxury resort.”
Tempting Fortune is on Channel 4 on Sunday nights from 16 March.
Channel 4Paddy said he feels more at home in the jungle[/caption]
