Legend

IRON Maiden rocker Bruce Dickinson says he took up fencing to help him fend off sex-hungry groupies. 

The heavy metal star, 67, turned to the sword-fighting sport to keep a clear mind — but ended up as one of Britain’s best competitors. 

Run to the Hills singer Bruce — worth about £100million – was at one point ranked No7 in the UK and an outside contender for the Olympics. 

He tried fencing as a teenager and then took it up as a hobby in 1983 to distract himself from the temptations of sex, booze and drugs after finding fame. 

He spent months training with Team GB and represented a semi-pro club.  

Asked why he picked up the blade, he told Classic Rock mag: “I was busy sh*****g everything that moved and none of it was healthy.  

concerts axed

Fans fear for huge Brit star as he pulls gigs over ‘extreme exhaustion’

LAST DANCE

Iconic rock band announce final ever gig in UK bringing six-decade career to end

“I remember something that (The Who guitarist) Pete Townshend once said about groupies — ‘The moment you realise you can click your finger and manipulate people into having sex with you, that’s the moment you’re going down the slippery slope’. 

“You can’t believe women are throwing themselves at you. You think, ‘Well this is nice’. And it is. It’s f*****g great. But there’s a dark side to this.  

“Where do you stop? When does it become a prop, like alcohol or cocaine?

“So that’s when I started doing extracurricular activities like fencing.  

“I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to do something to keep my brain clean’.”  

Bruce, also a qualified pilot who flies Iron Maiden’s private 747 on tour, still takes part in fencing competitions for his age group.  

The band has sold more than 130million albums since forming in London in 1975. 

ROCK legend Jon Bon Jovi is the next big name star to join CBeebies Bedtime Story slot.

And he uses his stint to share a loving message about his new granddaughter.

Jon has gushed about his new family role since his son Jake Bongiovi and wife Millie Bobby Brown adopted a baby girl.

The Bon Jovi singer said: “Some of my favourite things in life are music and being a grandad – or as I like to say,‘papa’ – and going on adventures.

“When my grandchildren are a little older, I can’t wait to take them on amazing adventures.

“Music has played a part in all of my kids’ childhoods and I’m looking forward to watching my children become parents and seeing our grandchildren become part of our lives.

Read more on Jon Bon Jovi

TOT THROUGH THE HEART

Bon Jovi opens up about son & Millie Bobby Brown’s baby & 2026 tour

HELPING HERO

Incredible moment Jon Bon Jovi talks woman out of jumping off bridge

 “It’s not about what I’m going to teach my grandchildren, but what they’re going to teach me!”

The TV storytelling gig has welcomed everyone from Harry Styles to Idris Elba to the bedtime armchair.

Jon has chosen to read his friend Paul McCartney’s book Hey Grandude! tomorrow night (Friday 7 November) at 6.50pm on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.

He added: “I picked Hey Grandude! because it’s written by the great Paul McCartney, singer, songwriter, storyteller.

“He’s someone I’ve always admired and looked up to, not just for his music but for his parenting and grandparenting skills. He’s a dear friend and someone we all admire.”

Jon will also feature in an episode of the CBeebies Parenting Helpline podcast, out November 27 on the CBeebies Parenting website and BBC Sounds.

He will pose a question about when (and when not) to give parenting advice to your own children.

Michelle Gayle played Hattie Tavernier in the BBC One soap and also had a pop career – and, unbelievably, she hardly seems to have changed more than 30 years later

EastEnders’ Michelle Gayle appears to have defied the ageing process, looking as youthful as ever despite her stint on the BBC One soap being more than three decades ago. The London-born actress, now 54 years old, was part of the groundbreaking Tavernier family – the first Black family to join the soap.

Her character, Hattie, was a waitress and then Ian Beale’s PA at his catering company, The Meal Machine. She was a hit with EastEnders viewers, navigating through intense storylines involving miscarriage and sexual harassment – famously kneeing Ian in the groin. She also frequently clashed with Cindy, Ian’s wife, who was jealous of their close working relationship.

But the star left Albert Square in 1993 to pursue a music career, enjoying seven top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart, including hits like Sweetness, Looking Up and Do You Know. She also released two top 40 albums before parting ways with her record company in 1997.

Michelle stepped out at a charity ball last year, looking super-glamorous as she sported a black satin dress paired with a chic black bag, red lipstick and gold earrings, posing against a beautiful floral backdrop.

Previously, Michelle had set X, formerly Twitter, buzzing with her age-defying photos, prompting comments such as: “I’ve literally just had to google how old you are……as you look about 20! ! You look amazing! ! X,” and, “There is no way you’re in the 50+ bracket! ! My goodness.”

She went on to appear on stage at Mighty Hoopla 2024 at London’s Brockwell Park, singing a few of her biggest hits.

After EastEnders, Michelle made a return to television, making guest appearances on Doctors and Holby City, before landing a role in Channel 5’s short-lived soap Family Affairs in 2005. She’s also been a familiar face on various reality TV shows, such as ITV’s Reborn In The USA, where she competed against 80s popstars Sonia and Tony Hadley, and Channel 4’s The Games.

In 2007, she became a guest panellist for ITV’s Loose Women and ventured into writing in 2011, releasing her debut novel titled Pride and Premiership.

In 2019, she went on to play the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. At the time, Michelle revealed the hardest part of her job was her unusual working hours, saying: “My ‘weekend’ is Monday and Tuesday and all my friends outside of the show are working.”

She was married to ex-professional footballer Mark Bright for 13 years, and they have a son, Isaiah, together. Michelle also has another son, Luke.

ON Christmas Eve, 1956, a 15-year-old boy heads due south on a five-hour Greyhound Bus journey from his home in Hibbing, Minnesota.

Arriving in the state capital, Saint Paul, he meets up with two summer camp friends and they go to a shop on Fort Road called Terlinde Music.

Styling themselves as The Jokers, the fledgling trio record a rowdy, rudimentary 36-second rendition of R&B party hit Let The Good Times Roll and a handful of other covers.

The boy, with his chubby cheeks and hint of a rock and roller’s quiff, leads the way on vocals and piano.

Already enthralled by popular sounds of the day from Elvis Presley to Little Richard and the rest, he is now in proud possession of a DIY acetate — his first precious recording.

His name is Robert Allen Zimmerman, Bobby to his family and friends.

LEGEND GONE

Bob Dylan bandmate dies aged 83 after blues musician backed star to go electric

DULCIE PEARCE

Bob Dylan’s story is brought to life in star-studded A Complete Unknown

Less than seven years later, on October 26, 1963, as Bob Dylan, he takes to the stage in the manner of his folk hero Woody Guthrie, now adopting an altogether more lean and hungry look.

Acoustic guitar and harmonica are his only props as he holds an audience at New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall in the palms of his hands.

He performs his rallying cries that resonate to this day — Blowin’ In The Wind, The Times They Are A-Changin’, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.

He calls out the perpetrators of race-motivated killings with The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll and Only A Pawn In Their Game.

He dwells on matters of the heart by singing Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right and Boots Of Spanish Leather.

His 1956 schoolboy shindig and the Carnegie Hall concert, presented in full for the first time, bookend the latest instalment in Dylan’s endlessly captivating Bootleg Series.

Titled Through The Open Window, it showcases an artist in a hurry as he sets out on his epic career.

“I did everything fast,” he wrote in his memoir, Chronicles Vol.1, about his rapid transformation. “Thought fast, ate fast, talked fast and walked fast. I even sang my songs fast.”

But, as he continued: “I needed to slow my mind down if I was going to be a composer with anything to say.”

Among the myriad ways he achieved his stated aim, and then some, was by heading to the quiet surroundings of New York Public Library and avidly scouring newspapers on microfilm from the mid-1800s such as the Chicago Tribune and Memphis Daily Eagle, “intrigued by the language and the rhetoric of the times”.

He’d fallen under the spell of country music’s first superstar Hank Williams — “the sound of his voice went through me like an electric rod”.

Dylan affirmed that without hearing the “raw intensity” of songs by German anti-fascist poet-playwright Kurt Weill, most notably Pirate Jenny, he might not have written songs like The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll.

Then there was Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson, who Dylan likened to “the scorched earth”. “There’s nothing clownish about him or his lyrics,” he said. “I wanted to be like that, too.”

‘Did everything fast’

We’ll hear more later about the man considered to be his primary early influence, Woody Guthrie, the “Dust Bowl Balladeer” who wielded a guitar emblazoned with the slogan “This machine kills fascists”.

And about leading Greenwich Village folkie Dave Van Ronk, known as the “Mayor Of MacDougal Street”, who had Dylan’s back from the moment he first saw him sing.

On two occasions in recent years, I’ve had the privilege of talking to Joan Baez, the unofficial “Queen” to Dylan’s “King” of the American folk scene in the early Sixties.

She championed him as he made his way, frequently bringing him on stage, their duets on his compositions like With God On Our Side revealing rare chemistry.

They also became lovers as Bob’s relationship with Suze Rotolo, the girl on the cover of the Freewheelin’ album, crumbled.

“He was a phenomenon,” Baez told me in typically forthright fashion. “I guess somebody said, ‘There’s this guy you gotta hear, he’s writing these incredible songs.’

“And he was. His talent was so constant that I was in awe.”

A leading figure in the civil rights movement, who marched with Martin Luther King, Baez added: “It was a piece of good luck that his music came along when it did. The songs said the things I wanted to say.”

But she finished that reflection by saying, tellingly: “And then he moved on.”

For Dylan, now 84, has forever been a restless soul, “moving on” to numerous incarnations — rock star, country singer, Born Again evangelist, Sinatra-style crooner, old-time bluesman, you name it.

In the closing paragraph of Chronicles, he admitted: “The folk music scene had been like a paradise that I had to leave, like Adam had to leave the garden.”

But it is that initial whirlwind period, 1956 to 1963, centred on bohemian Greenwich Village and the coffee shops where young performers got their breaks which forms Volume 18 of the Bootleg Series.

Through The Open Window is available in various formats including an eight-CD, 139-track version, and has been painstakingly pieced together by co-producers Sean Wilentz and Steve Berkowitz.

And it is from Wilentz, professor of American history at Princeton University and author of the liner notes accompanying this labour of love, that I have gleaned illuminating insights.

I can’t think of too many modern artists of his stature, if any, who developed that rapidly

Sean Wilentz

He begins with the arc of Dylan’s development, first as a performer, then as a songwriter, during his early years.

Wilentz says: “He came to Greenwich Village in 1961 with infinite ambition and mediocre skills. By the end of that year, he had learned how to enter a song, make it his own, and put it over, brilliantly.

“By the end of 1962, he had written songs that became immortal, above all Blowin’ In The Wind and A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.

“By the time of the Carnegie Hall concert in 1963, the capstone to Through The Open Window, his songwriting had reached the level we can recognise, that would eventually lead to the Nobel Prize.

“And his performance style, for the thousands in that hall, was mesmeric. I can’t think of too many modern artists of his stature, if any, who developed that rapidly.”

One of the show’s striking aspects is the lively, often comical, between-song banter. (Yes, Dylan did talk effusively to his audiences back then. Not so much these days.)

In order to assemble Through The Open Window, Wilentz and Berkowitz had “more than 100 hours of material to draw on, maybe two or even three hundred”.

Their chief aim was to find a way to best illuminate “Bob Dylan’s development, mainly in Greenwich Village, as a performer and songwriter”.

But, adds Wilentz: “Several factors came into play — historical significance, rarity, immediacy and, of course, quality of performance.

‘Good taste in R&B’

“We hope, above all, that the collection succeeds at capturing the many overlapping levels — personal, artistic, political and more.”

Though noting Dylan’s inspirations, Woody, Elvis and the rest, Wilentz draws my attention to “a bit of free verse” written by Bob in 1962 called My Life In A Stolen Moment, which suggests nothing was off limits.

“Open up yer eyes an’ ears an’ yer influenced/an’ there’s nothing you can do about it.”

This is our cue to take a deep dive into the mix of unheard home recordings, coffeehouse and nightclub shows as well as studio outtakes from Dylan’s first three albums for Columbia Records — his self-titled debut, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan and The Times They Are A-Changin’.

Of the first track, that primitive take on Let The Good Times Roll, Wilentz says: “Dylan and the other two were obviously enthusiastic, and they had good taste in doo-wop and R&B.

“But if you listen closely, you can hear Dylan, on piano, calling things to order and pushing things along, the catalyst, the guy we know from other accounts who was willing to take more risks onstage.”

I ask Wilentz what he considers the most significant previously unreleased discoveries and he replies: “Most obviously Liverpool Gal from 1963, as it’s a song even the most obsessive Dylan aficionados have known existed but had never heard.

“He only recorded it once, at a friend’s party, and it’s stayed locked away on that tape until now.

Dylan was producing so much strong material that some of it was inevitably laid aside

Sean Wilentz

“While not Dylan at his peak, it’s a fine song. It’s significant lyrically, not least as testimony to his stay in London at the end of 1962 and the start of 1963. That stay had a profound effect on his songwriting, and one gets a glimpse of it here.”

Also included is near mythical Dylan song The Ballad Of The Gliding Swan, which he performed as “Bobby” in BBC drama Madhouse On Castle Street during his trip to Britain.

The only copy of the play set in a boarding house was junked by the Beeb in 1968 but this 63-second audio fragment survives.

Of even earlier recordings, Wilentz says: “I’m drawn to Ramblin’ Round.

“Although known (in his own words) as a Woody Guthrie jukebox, Dylan has never released a recording of himself performing a Guthrie song.

“Here he is, in an outtake from his first studio album, handling a Guthrie classic, and with a depth of feeling that shows why his earliest admirers found him so compelling.”

Wilentz considers other treasures: “There’s an entire 20-minute live set from Gerdes Folk City from April, 1962, concluding with Dylan’s first public performance of Blowin’ In The Wind.

“Then there are two tracks of singular historic importance, the first known recordings, both in informal settings, of two masterpieces, The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll and The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

If these versions shed fresh light on classics, let’s not forget the great Dylan songs that didn’t make it on to his albums, so great was the speed he was moving.

Does Wilentz find it staggering that songs like Let Me Die In My Footsteps and Lay Down Your Weary Tune were discarded?

“Yes and no,” he answers. “Yes, because these are powerful songs that were left largely unknown for years.

“No, because Dylan was producing so much strong material that some of it was inevitably laid aside.

‘Literary genius’

“Sometimes intervening factors kicked in. Take the four songs that, for business and censorship reasons, got cut from Freewheelin’ and replaced with four others.

“The album was actually better in its altered form, including songs like Girl From The North Country.

“But that’s how Let Me Die In My Footsteps was lost, along with a lesser-known song I love that we’re happy to include, Gamblin’ Willie’s Dead Man’s Hand, as well as an amazing performance of Rocks And Gravel.”

So, we’ve heard about songs but who were the key figures surrounding Dylan during his formative years?

Wilentz says: “Among the folk singers, Van Ronk most of all, and Mike Seeger, about whom he writes with a kind of awe in Chronicles.

“There was the crowd around Woody Guthrie, including Pete Seeger (‘Mike Seeger’s older brother,’ he calls him at one point) and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.”

He singles out producer John Hammond, “for signing him to Columbia Records and affirming his talent.

“But most important of all there was Suze Rotolo, who was a whole lot more, to Dylan and the rest of the world, than the girl on the cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.”

Finally, I ask Wilentz why the singer felt uncomfortable at being labelled king of the folk movement, “the voice of a generation” if you like.

“People misread Dylan from all sides,” he argues. “Never a protest singer in the mould of Guthrie or Seeger, even though he worshipped Guthrie and admired the left-wing old guard by the time he turned up.

“But Dylan wasn’t one of them, though he sympathised, in a humane way, with victims of injustice.”

Dylan’s work springs from a matrix that is emotional, filtered through his literary genius

Sean Wilentz

Wilentz believes the recent biopic A Complete Unknown, with Timothee Chalamet making a decent fist of portraying the young Dylan, “is a little misleading”.

He says: “It wasn’t Dylan’s ‘going electric’ that pissed off the old guard and their younger equivalent as much as his moving beyond left-wing political pieties.

“Hence the song My Back Pages, from 1964: ‘Ah but I was so much older then/I’m younger than that now.’”

Wilentz concludes: “Dylan’s work springs from a matrix that is emotional, filtered through his literary genius.

“It was impossible for someone like him, living through those two years (1962-63), not to respond to the politics in an artistic way.

“How, if you were Bob Dylan, could you not respond to the civil rights struggle, the killing of Medgar Evers (Only A Pawn In Their Game) or Hattie Carroll, as well as the spectre of nuclear annihilation?

“Dylan had a lot to say, but he was never going to be the voice of anyone but himself.”

Maybe he’d already explained himself on Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright:

“When your rooster crows at the break of dawn

STRICTLY NEWBIES

All the stars in line to replace Tess and Claudia on Strictly

TUM HELP

The 30g diet hack that ‘PREVENTS deadly bowel cancer’… as cases surge in under-50s

Look out your window and I’ll be gone.”

BOB DYLAN

Through The Open Window
The Bootleg Series Vol.18

★★★★★

Hollyoaks fans were left floored at a cameo in the soap’s Brookside crossover episode

Hollyoaks delivered a spectacular crossover episode with Brookside, leaving viewers spotting a truly remarkable cameo appearance.

E4 broadcast a special one-off Brookside episode on October 22, marking the legendary soap’s return to television after a 22-year absence to commemorate Hollyoaks‘ milestone 30th anniversary.

Soap enthusiasts were delighted with a nostalgic journey as iconic characters made their comeback to Brookside Close, featuring Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Paul Usher, Philip Olivier, Suzanne Collins, Michael Starke, Louis Emerick and John McArdle.

Both cherished Channel 4 series were the brainchild of Grange Hill genius Sir Philip Redmond, with Brookside later serving as inspiration for the Chester-based Hollyoaks.

In a masterstroke, Sir Philip himself appeared in the Channel 4 drama on Wednesday, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The scene unfolded when Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick) made his return to Brookside Close following a lift from Chester courtesy of Thomas Sweeney, better known as Sinbad, portrayed by Michael Starke.

Whilst taxi driver Sinbad reconnected with former neighbours Nikki Shadwick (Suzanne Collins) and Tinhead (Philip Olivier), an enigmatic figure strolled down the street.

Nikki questioned Sinbad: “Is that your fare?”, to which he swiftly replied: “I think so, yeah.”

Sir Philip then enquired: “You going to Chester, mate?”, prompting Sinbad to ask: “You’re not from around here, are you?”.

In a touching tribute to bygone days, Sir Philip responded: “Used to be, but you know. Do you know the Dog In The Pond pub?”. “There’s been a big to-do there today”, Sinbad chimed in as Sir Philip, cheekily replied: “Story of my life, mate. From one drama to another.”

Fans of Hollyoaks and Brookside were quick to express their delight at seeing the soap’s creator, Sir Philip, make an appearance on screen.

One fan took to X to share their thoughts, writing: “Had to watch the #Hollyoaks #Brookside mashup. Phil Redmond’s cameo is genius especially the “… one drama to another” line. I join the call to bring back #Brookie!”.

Another viewer exclaimed: “Phil Redmond cameo! #Brookside #Hollyoaks #Hollyoaks30.”

A third added: “Omg Phil Redmond making a cameo too, omg, i cannot cope! So proud to be scouse right now #hollyoaks #brookside.

“This is just too good. Mick, Sinbad, Sheila, Tinhead, Nikki, Bobby, actual Phil Redmond! #Hollyoaks #Brookside”, one fan gushed.

“Phil Redmond saying “from one drama to another”.. see what he did there! Brilliant! ! #Hollyoaks #Brookside”, another fan pointed out.

The Hollyoaks and Brookside Crossover is available to stream on Channel 4.com

SAM Rivers, bassist for rock-rap group Limp Bizkit, has died aged 48, according to an emotional statement from the band.

His fellow band members paid tribute to their “brother” on social media after he passed away on Saturday evening.

Announcing the news to fans on Instagram, the band wrote: “In Loving Memory of Our Brother, Sam Rivers. Today we lost our brother.

“Our bandmate. Our heartbeat. Sam Rivers wasn’t just our bass player — he was pure magic.

“The pulse beneath every song, the calm in the chaos, the soul in the sound.”

They added: “From the first note we ever played together, Sam brought a light and a rhythm that could never be replaced.

“His talent was effortless, his presence unforgettable, his heart enormous. We shared so many moments — wild ones, quiet ones, beautiful ones — and every one of them meant more because Sam was there.”

“He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of human. A true legend of legends,” the statement continued.

“And his spirit will live forever in every groove, every stage, every memory.”

The band concluded: “We love you, Sam. We’ll carry you with us, always. Rest easy, brother. Your music never ends. — Fred, Wes, John & DJ Lethal.”

The 48-year-old’s cause of death is yet to be revealed.

In 2015, Rivers left the band after being diagnosed with liver disease due to excessive drinking.

He revealed that he had undergone a liver transplant before rejoining the band in 2018.

Rivers was a founding member of Limp Bizkit, having formed the band with Fred Durst and John Otto in 1994.

The band then added guitarist Wes Borland and DJ Lethal in 1996.

The group dropped six albums, including critically-acclaimed “Significant Other” and “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water”.

Rivers has played on all six albums, four of which have been certified platinum or multi-platinum.

Limp Bizkit are best known for songs including “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Take a Look Around.”

Diane Keaton, the actress who starred in some of the biggest movies of the last half-century, including the “Godfather” and “Annie Hall,” while serving as a style trend-setter and a champion of Los Angeles’ past, has died. She was 79.

Her death was first reported by People and confirmed by The New York Times.

In an extraordinary run during the 1970s when she was dominant, her career spanned the high points of American cinema: Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia saga and several of Woody Allen’s urbane comedies, climaxing in an Oscar win for her culture-changing turn as the title character in 1977’s “Annie Hall.” Keaton’s catchphrase, “Well, la-di-dah,” became iconic.

Over her career, she received four Oscar nominations for lead actress, winning for “Annie Hall.”

Born in Southern California, Keaton achieved fame in the 1970s through her frequent collaborations with Woody Allen and Francis Ford Coppola. She appeared in three “Godfather” movies as well as eight Allen films. Her star turn as Annie Hall earned her critical raves and made her a fashion icon of the era with Annie’s fedora hats, vests, ties and baggy pants. The Times once called her look “fluttery, vulnerable, almost unbearably adorable.”

“Annie’s style was Diane’s style — very eclectic,” designer Ralph Lauren said in a 1978 story in Vogue, soon after the movie came out. “She had a style that was all her own. Annie Hall was pure Diane Keaton.”

She was often asked if she got tired of the notoriety “Annie Hall” brought her, including the magazine covers, think pieces and fashion homages.

“No, I’m not. Everything is because of ‘Annie Hall’ with Woody. He has a great ear for women’s voices. I’m so grateful to him; he really gave me an opportunity that changed my life,” she told The Times in 2012. “I’m never disappointed about people talking to me about ‘Annie Hall.’ But I will say, a lot of people don’t know ‘Annie Hall’ exists, and that’s just the way it goes — goodbye! It’s bittersweet.”

She managed to capture the cultural zeitgeist in later films. In 1987, she played a successful businesswoman who upends her life to care for a relative’s baby in “Baby Boom.” In 2003, she won acclaim in “Something’s Gotta Give” for playing a successful writer navigating with romance in her 50s.

Keaton also got Oscar nominations for “Reds” (1982), “Marvin’s Room” (1996) and “Something’s Gotta Give.”

Keaton was a patron of the L.A. arts scene and also gained note as a champion of architecture preservation, remaking grand homes across the region. In collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library, she edited a book of tabloid photos called “Local News” that ran in the Los Angeles Herald-Express.

In a 2018 interview with The Times, she said she felt privileged to still be working.

“I know what I am by now,” she said. “I know how old I am. I know what my limitations are and what I can and can’t do. So if something appeals to me, I’m definitely going to go for it.”

Later in life, Keaton became a major voice in architecture preservation.

She grew up Santa Ana during the post World War II housing boom in the 1950s and told The Times in an interviews she loved going to open houses with her father

“My father took me to see model homes, which I thought were palaces,” Keaton said.

She began buying and fixing up landmark homes around L.A., especially those of the Spanish colonial style.

“You have to get to know a house and try to keep its integrity. I try to honor the architect,” she said. “I love to go into an empty house. You look at the house and start to feel what it might need.”

“There are so many house treasures, unsung gems, all over Los Angeles,” she said.

Explaining how she came to edit the book of L.A. tabloid photos, Keaton told The Times the L.A. city library came up to her at a swap meet.

The librarian said, ‘There’s these files in the basement of the Central Library’ — the most beautiful building. I took a look. There are books and books to be made out of those images. This is a brilliant archive.”

In recent years, Keaton had become a hit on Instagram, posting photos of architecture, fashion and more. In an interview in 2019, she said she was still very active, eager to work and try new things but was also thinking more about her mortality.

“Of course, you think about it. How can you not?” she said. “I mean, I’m 73. How long do you live? It’s really important what those years are like.”

Keaton death brought tribute across Hollywood and beyond.

“She was a very special person and an incredibly gifted actor, who made each of her roles unforgettable. Her light will continue to shine through the art she leaves behind. Godspeed,” said Nancy Sinatra.

DIEGO COSTA may be retired, but he hasn’t lost any of the fire he showed in his playing days, KICKING OUT at ex-Liverpool right-back Martin Kelly in the Chelsea vs Liverpool legends match.

The ex-Brazil and Spain forward, 37, was running onto a through ball from Eden Hazard, when Kelly came through from behind to win the ball from the physical striker, leaving him furious.

2

2

Costa, still on the floor, decided to lash out at Kelly with his studs, planting a foot into the right-back’s upper leg.

Kelly – who only officially retired from football YESTERDAY – was left furious, and we saw a familiar scene as Costa got to his feet and squared up to the 35-year-old.

Things looked to be diffused, only for Costa to carry on playing before choosing Martin Skrtel as his next target.

The Slovakian defender challenged Costa just minutes later, with the striker still clearly unhappy, and then getting booked for squaring up to Skrtel.

And fans were left less-than-shocked on social media.

Taking to X, one wrote: “Diego Costa being aggressive in a Legends match is the most Diego Costa thing ever.”

Another said: “People don’t really change, and Diego Costa reminding us why.”

A third added: “Diego Costa will always be Diego Costa.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Even Eden Hazard weighed in at half-time, saying: “”This guy is still the same, you know. We just saw it.”

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.

BBC RADIO legend ‘Diddy’ David Dickinson has opened up about an affair he had with a sex worker behind his wife’s back, and said that “having children spoils a marriage”.

The well known broadcaster, 87, confessed all as he opened up about his astonishing personal life.

5

5

5

David, who joined Radio 1 in the early seventies alongside other veteran DJs such as Tony Blackburn and Noel Edmunds, is a huge name at the BBC.

Today the former Top Of The Pops legend has talked about the affair he had behind his first wife’s back.

David wed make-up artist Sheila Moore in 1962, when he was just 24.

The couple went on to have two children, Jane and David Jr, before splitting up in 1970.

However, David, who is known as ‘Diddy’ thanks to a nickname given to him by the late Ken Dodd, has revealed all about an affair he had when he was wed to Shelia.

Speaking to this week’s Best magazine, he confessed: “I was happily married. Until I fell in love with someone else.

“I went to meet her at Liverpool Street station. She was sitting on her suitcase wearing a fur coat, which she told me later she’d borrowed.

“I just looked at her and thought, wow. I think if anything spoils a marriage, it’s children. Suddenly, the man is taking a back seat.

“Then he meets someone young free and single and thinks, ‘Crikey, I could go back to that happy state I was in before.'”

Continuing his story, David said: “My wife found out because I talked about Roz a lot. I was head over heels. I left my wife and children, and we lived together for four years.”

Speaking about his relationship with an escort David said: “She asked if I would open her new shop, and how much I’d charge. I said ‘£500’.

“She told me she charged £100 for her services, so ‘If you give me five I’ll give you one.’

“That sounded fair, so I collected the first one that evening.

“I thought that would be it. But we’d become very fond of each other.

5

“She was still working at the club and I was getting in too deep.”

David is now married to second wife Dreena, an aerobics teacher, who he was set up with on a blind date.

They were wed in 1993, and have been together ever since.

Reflecting on the early years of their relationship, Dreena told the Mail: “There was quite a brouhaha when we got together.

“My friends did say, ‘You can’t marry him. He is a womaniser’, but we’ve been together for 40 years now, married for 30.

“And there are no regrets there.”

While David told Best magazine: “Dreena is the wind beneath my wings. One of the reasons it works is she doesn’t take any c**p from me!”

5

Natalie Cassidy portrayed the role of Sonia Fowler in EastEnders across several stints since 1993, ending in April when the popular character departed Albert Square with her daughters

Natalie Cassidy has had two of her new shows axed within six months of leaving EastEnders.

The actress, who played Sonia Fowler in the soap, told fans her consumer series What’s The Big Deal? is unlikely to be renewed after failing to impress on Channel 4. Her BBC podcast co-hosted with Gavin & Stacey’s Joanna Page has also come to an abrupt end.

Speaking in relation to the future of What’s The Big Deal?, Natalie, 42, said: “I don’t think it went down very well, if I’m honest. I don’t think it will come back. At the moment there is no talk of it. But I loved it and it was a great experience for me to do.”

The Channel 4 programme saw Natalie, a mother of two, test popular products to see if they lived up to the hype, in what was her first big job away from acting. On the podcast, called Off The Telly, Natalie discussed all things TV with Joanna, famed for playing Stacey in the popular sitcom.

READ MORE: Jackiey hits back at Freddy Brazier’s drug claims with scathing rebukeREAD MORE: Ex-EastEnders star Ben Hardy spotted kissing Utopia actress at Hyde Park gig

Natalie had tried the new projects after playing Sonia on and off for 32 years in EastEnders. The iconic character departed in April with her two daughters following dramatic storylines, including the grief of Martin Fowler, father to her daughter Bex, who died in the tragic 40th anniversary Queen Vic explosion.

But the new avenues have presented challenges for Natalie, who told fans a literary festival in Somerset the BBC had second thoughts about the podcast. She said: “We had a laugh doing it and it is a shame the pod ended. I don’t think it will be back.

“With the BBC sometimes, what happens is, through no fault of their own, they love exploring new stuff and they do chop and change. If something isn’t massively, massively popular, then they will just get rid and try new material. That is kind of what the BBC is for. The money is from you guys, so they do need to change things and make things new.”

ARSENAL under-19s midfielder Louie Copley was handed a straight red card in his team’s Uefa Youth League match against Olympiacos today.

The team skipper was sent off for a crunching tackle on Argyrios Liatsikouras just 15 minutes into the game at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park.

1

Copley, 18, who signed a professional deal with the club in July, could have few complaints with Italian referee Matteo Marcenaro and it certainly changed the game.

Fellow midfielder Harrison Dudziak took the captain’s armband but Arsenal struggled and conceded twice in the first half to trail 2-0.

Ethan Cortes and Christos Filis were on target for the Greeks.

Olympiacos seemed a lot more pumped-up for the game but Arsenal did improve in the second half despite only having 10 men.

And with seven minutes left, Arsenal sub Josh Ogunnaike pulled one back.

The 17-year-old almost got an equaliser with just seconds left to play, but his effort was saved.

The attempted fightback proved to be unsuccessful for the hosts as they went on to lose 2-1 at Meadow Park.

Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has previously worked in the youth set-up, was watching from the terraces.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Arsenal lost their first Uefa Youth League game 3-1, away to Athletic Bilbao.

The Gunners currently sit 28th in the UEFA Youth League table with no points from two games.

Coronation Street star Denise Black, whose character is best remembered for her relationship with Ken Barlow, has joined Waterloo Road, more than 30 years on from her cobbles debut

Coronation Street legend Denise Black has joined the cast of Waterloo Road. The actress, 67, is best known for starring as hairdresser Denise Osbourne on ITV’s flagship soap, who is best known for her relationship with Ken Barlow (William Roache) in the 1990s.

The actress initially appeared on Coronation Street from 1992 until 1997. Her relationship with Ken resulted in the birth of their son Daniel Osbourne, but it all ended in tears when it emerged she had been having an affair with Brian Dunkley (Benny Young), and she was not heard from for a decade.

In 2007, Denise made a brief appearance to reintroduce Ken to Daniel after his adoptive daughter Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) was sent to prison for the murder of Charlie Stubbs. She tried to make a pass as him but he opted to return to Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), and it would almost another 10 years before she was seen again. In 2016, Daniel, now played by Rob Mallard, arrived back on the scene after his father suffered a stroke and has been a fixture on the programme ever since. But Denise made a return with him and was last seen offering her condolences to Ken over the death of Deirdre.

READ MORE: Blue Lights star reveals Coronation Street legend’s secret role in new seriesREAD MORE: Coronation Street’s William Roache reveals two-year feud with legendary co-star

She followed her various stints on the cobbles with a role on fellow ITV show Emmerdale, and played Joanie Dingle, the adoptive grandmother of Amy Wyatt’s on-screen son Kyle from 2013 until 2017. Her character had an affair with Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) and they later married but it all ended in tragedy when Joanie died of a heart attack in January 2017.

But now, Denise has swapped soap for drama and she has joined the cast of the BBC’s flagship school drama, which was revived in 2023 after nearly a decade off air. In the sixth episode of the latest series, Denise plays the grandmother of Liam Scholes’ character Noel McManus. In explosive scenes, Denise’s new character, Mo McManus, gets caught up in a confrontation for the police.

Waterloo Road first aired on the BBC in 2007, and launched the TV careers of Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey, former Strictly Come Dancing star Adam Thomas, and Katie McGlynn amongst a host of others. Stars like Louis Tomlinson, Jodie Comer and Jack O’Connell also began their careers as students of the troubled Manchester comprehensive school before going on to global success.

Over the course of its first nine series, the programme dealt with tough issues like teenage pregnancy, murder and addiction and featured a stellar cast of TV favourites, with ex-EastEnders star Jill Halfpenny as drama teacher Izzie Redpath, Loose Women favourite Denise Welch as hapless French teacher Steph Haydock and Silent Witness actress Amanda Burton as headmistress Karen Fisher.

It was revived in 2023 after streaming of the original series proved popular, but bosses recently admitted that the reboot has surpassed all of their expectations.

The show’s executive producer, Cameron Roach, said: “When the BBC commissioned the reboot of we had hoped it might run for a few seasons.

“To be commissioned for further series, bringing the total episodes since relaunch to seventy hours, is a huge achievement and a reflection of the incredible creative teams in front of and behind the camera.

“As well as continuing to celebrate emerging talent, the show is fast gaining a reputation for working with the best comedy talent, as Jon Richardson joins the cast this season.

“As a team we’re incredibly proud that a very British show can be such an enduring success for the BBC and continue to bring in new generations of viewers.”

Waterloo Road is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.

JEFF STELLING has been torn apart by former Southampton and Wolves boss Dave Jones over an infamous Sky Sports tirade.

The long-serving ex-Soccer Saturday host let rip at Jones and demanded his resignation during a live TV broadcast in 2017.

2

Jones had just led Stelling’s beloved Hartlepool United to a 2-0 defeat at home to Barnet which plunged them further into relegation danger.

A furious Stelling ranted: “This is not personal but Dave Jones, for god’s sake, for the good of the club, walk now.

“Go now. This is not your level of football. If he won’t walk, sack him.

“If it means me resigning as president, I’ll do so happily. Do it now, do it today.”

Jones was dismissed shortly afterwards but Hartlepool still dropped out of the Football League weeks later.

The 69-year-old, who also had spells with Stockport, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, kept quiet about Stelling‘s outburst for years.

But he has now broken his silence in spectacular fashion.

Jones told Under The Cosh: “I wouldn’t p*** on him if he was on fire. I’d just walk away from him. Got no time for him.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“I think it was totally wrong, what he did. I don’t think there was one person who agreed with him. They just thought it was a disgrace.

“He doesn’t mean anything to me. He’s got a show but to do what? Not to criticise other people.

“We can all criticise him when he was mumbling or didn’t do this or do that but what’s the point? I’m bigger than that.

“Put it this way, if we were in the desert and I drove past him, I wouldn’t pick him up.”

Stelling, who left Sky Sports in 2023, admitted that he may have ‘gone too far’ in berating Jones.

He told The Times: “I should have stopped when I said, ‘Please walk away Dave’, and not gone any further.”

2

Mention Aaron Donald and nearly everyone thinks Rams, the team he spent his entire 10-year NFL career with and led to a Super Bowl championship in 2022. Donald was a three-time NFL defensive player of the year, nine-time All-Pro and is regarded as one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time.

But before Los Angeles there was Pittsburgh, where Donald grew up and where he went to college. And it is the University of Pittsburgh where Donald became an unstoppable force from 2010 to 2013, setting an NCAA record with tackles for loss by an interior lineman before the Rams plucked him as their first-round draft pick.

So it is Pitt that will retire Donald’s No. 97 on Nov. 15 during a home game against Notre Dame, Panthers athletic director Allen Greene announced Monday. Donald also will be enshrined in the Pitt Hall of Fame this weekend, joining other iconic alumni names Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka and Larry Fitzgerald.

“Born and raised in Pittsburgh, I’m grateful to the University of Pittsburgh for taking a chance on me when so many others wouldn’t,” Donald said in a statement. “I accomplished more in my career than I ever dreamed of, and for that I’m truly blessed.

“To soon see my number hanging alongside other Pitt greats is an honor beyond measure. I will always love this University. Hail to Pitt!”

Donald starred at Penn Hills High, east of Pittsburgh. As a Pitt senior in 2013, Donald led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss and added 11 sacks and four forced fumbles. He was a unanimous first-team All-American and won every award that exists for a lineman: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award.

“Aaron Donald is a proud Pittsburgher who embodies the very best of what it means to be a Pitt Panther,” Greene said. “His humility, determination, and work ethic reflect the character of this community. Retiring his jersey honors not only an extraordinary athlete, but a leader whose relentless pursuit of excellence has defined his legacy.”

The first floor of Pitt’s Duratz Athletic Complex was renamed the Aaron Donald Football Performance Center in 2019, after Donald made a seven-figure gift to the program. He also set a high bar for workouts, as Rams teammate Jared Verse learned when he joined Donald for a punishing series of full-body circuit training in July — months after Donald retired.

“His wife came in laughing at me — I told her to call the police,” Verse joked, adding, “I tried to lie and say my mom was at my house and I had to go let her in. He told me to give my keys to his management or assistant and that they would go let my mom in. So I wasn’t leaving.

“Finished the workout. I’m dead tired, I’m exhausted. I had a plan to go jump in the sauna afterwards, didn’t happen. I had plans to watch film, didn’t happen. Went home and I didn’t work out for another day and a half because I couldn’t move my body.”

Donald also founded the AD99 Solutions Foundation, which provides Pittsburgh’s underprivileged youth access to education, nutrition and community involvement.

Accolades for his Rams career will be forthcoming. Donald will be eligible for the NFL Hall of Fame in 2029 and is considered a lock for first-ballot induction. The Rams have retired eight players’ jersey numbers and Donald’s No. 99 likely will be the ninth.

“I had the privilege — and sometimes the misfortune — of facing Aaron 14 times in his first seven years, and every snap was a reminder of his complete domination,” said Fitzgerald, an NFL Hall of Famer who spent 17 years with the Arizona Cardinals. “As a Pitt man, I was filled with pride watching him redefine what it meant to play defense, but as an [NFL] opponent, I knew he was carving his name into history at our expense.

“He wasn’t just disruptive. He was destructive, bending entire offenses to his will and still making plays no one else could make. Retiring his number is the perfect tribute because there will never be another Aaron Donald, and there will never again be another 97 at Pitt.”

Uniform numbers retired by the Rams

• #7: Bob Waterfield
• #28: Marshall Faulk
• #29: Eric Dickerson
• #74: Merlin Olsen
• #75: Deacon Jones
• #78: Jackie Slater
• #80: Isaac Bruce
• #85: Jack Youngblood

TV legend Johnny Ball has revealed he has been secretly fighting prostate cancer.

The 87-year-old, who first found fame presenting Play School in 1967, was diagnosed in August 2022. 

1

He then underwent three months of daily radiation treatment and is now in recovery.

He told The Mirror: “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2022 and, thankfully, after three months of daily radiation treatment, starting in the September, I’m through it, I’m fine.”

Johnny, who has regular annual checks, says he knows how fortunate he has been to survive.

He said: “My friend Harry Secombe didn’t survive it, Bob Monkhouse didn’t survive it. I’m 20 years younger than them and I am lucky, because now we can cure it.”

Paramount+’s hit Sylvester Stallone drama Tulsa King is finally back for season three and a new addition to the cast has everyone excited

Tulsa King fans are ecstatic as another action movie legend has joined the cast as a powerful new enemy for crime boss Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi (played by Sylvester Stallone).

Season three premiered last Sunday night (21st September), taking fans back to the night Dwight was kidnapped by Special Agent Musso (Kevin Pollak).

Thankfully, he’s soon released, albeit as Musso’s new informant on an unknown target, and reunites with Margaret (Dana Delany), apologising for her ranch being ransacked by gunmen the night before.

After a quick visit to his family in Little Italy, Dwight discovers Cleo Montague’s (Bella Heathcote) family distillery is due to be sold to the powerful Dunmire family after her father Theodore (Brett Rice) made a handshake deal.

However, Dwight sees the distillery as a valuable asset to his own empire and promises a better deal for the Montagues.

Cue the introduction of Tulsa King season three’s terrifying new villain, Jeremiah Dunmire, portrayed by none other than Hollywood star Robert Patrick.

Patrick is best known for portraying the unstoppable T-1000 in James Cameron’s hit action movie sequel Terminator 2: Judgement Day and has more recently landed roles in Yellowstone prequel 1923 and HBO’s Peacemaker.

Jeremiah is naturally furious to discover Theo has reneged on their deal, and sets a group of thugs on his mansion who beat him to a pulp and burn his home to the ground.

Viewers were on the edge of their seats during this nail-biting premiere, which raises the stakes for Dwight and his crew to a whole new level. Fans were also already impressed with Patrick’s performance as this season’s sadistic antagonist.

One ecstatic viewer took to X to reply to Patrick’s recent post in which he warned Dwight not to “cross” him.

Using plenty of fire emojis they exclaimed in the comments: “Yoooo, I just watched the new episode and O M G… and this is just the 1st episode and yall WENT TF OFFF… WOW!! ..

“You ARE GONNA BE A PROBLEMA FOR Dwight. Your character already starting off EVIL AF. Dude, I WAS YELLING AT THE TV AT THE END LIKE NOOO WAY! 10/10 show!!

“I can’t wait for next week.. man oh man.. GANGSTA A*** S***!! Awesome job yall!!!”

Someone else replied: “you’re awesome dude, great career, enjoy your success!!”

Paramount+ half price sale

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£7.99

£3.99

Paramount+

Get Paramount+ here

Paramount+ is offering 50% off its Standard and Premium subscriptions until July 10.

Discussion continued over on Reddit, where one user wrote: “Good to see Robert Patrick get consistent acting work.” To which another viewer replied: “He killed it and he was only on screen for a few mins.”

Another said: “Robert Patrick Is [a] great bad guy character.”

While other fans praised the episode in general for starting off the new season strong, with one sharing: “It’s already looking great, way better than season 2’s premiere for sure.”

And a final fan predicted: “Sly’s gonna rip Terminator’s nuts off for killing that old guy!”

Are you excited to see Stallone going head-to-head with one of Hollywood’s greatest villains?

Tulsa King season 3 continues Sundays on Paramount+.

LA VOIX has made history by becoming the first drag artist to sign up for the main series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Here’s everything you need to know about the trailblazing performer, whom The Sun exclusively revealed would be part of the Strictly 2025 line-up.  

2

2

Who is La Voix?

La Voix, born Christopher Dennis, is a dynamic performer, presenter and vocalist.

She first rose to prominence in the entertainment world as a semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2014.

La Voix later gained international acclaim through appearances on shows including Queen of the Universe and Queens For The Night.

In 2024, La Voix was a fan favourite and runner-up on the sixth series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, earning four RuPeter Badges for winning multiple challenges, including the Snatch Game and a musical Rusical performance.

Growing up in Stockton-on-Tees, La Voix moved to London aged 18 to study drama at Brunel University before training in musical theatre at the Urdang Academy.

Her career spans decades and includes performances worldwide on over 80 cruise ships and regular pantomime roles.

This is on top of La Voix’s live shows combining powerful vocals, comedy and celebrity impressions — she has the ability to channel legendary divas like Tina Turner, Cher and Judy Garland.

La Voix interviewed iconic personalities such as Dawn French and Joanna Lumley, and even performed for the Royal Family at its exclusive New Year’s Eve ball for two consecutive years.

The entertainer has also been involved in film, including a role in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.

La Voix’s participation in Strictly Come Dancing is historic as she is the first drag queen to compete in the main series of the show.

While drag performers have appeared in the program’s Christmas specials before, La Voix is breaking new ground by joining the main line-up.

Speaking with the BBC, La Voix said: “I’ve performed for royalty, RuPaul and Simon Cowell, but nothing fills me with more excitement, and quite a bit of terror, than the thought of dancing in front of millions on live Saturday night TV.

“Strictly is a national institution, and I can’t wait to get started.

“All that’s left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here’s hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.”

La Voix also told Radio 2’s Scott Mills: “I can’t dance, I’ve always said it’s not my thing.

“I’ve managed to get through 20 years of being on stage by standing in the centre and having dancers choreographed around me, now I can’t hide behind that any more.”

Who else is on Strictly this year?

The 2025 Strictly Come Dancing line-up includes a stacked cast of celebrities alongside La Voix:

• Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (Olympian and Gladiator)
• Dani Dyer (TV personality)
• Alex Kingston (Doctor Who actress)
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (former footballer)
• Balvinder Sopal (actress from EastEnders)
• Ellie Goldstein (model and the first contestant with Down syndrome on the full show)
• Karen Carney (Lioness legend)
• Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones actor)
• Vicky Pattison (TV personality)
• Stefan Dennis (actor from Neighbours)
• Tom Skinner (former Apprentice star)
• Chris Robshaw (former Rugby Union star)
• Ross King (TV presenter)
• George Clarke (YouTube star)

BRYAN ROBSON has told Manchester United chiefs to back Ruben Amorim for the long haul and slammed the club’s recent history of signing flops.

The United legend says the revolving door of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 has wrecked any chance of stability, and insists under-fire former Sporting Lisbon boss must be given at least THREE years to fix the mess.

4

4

4

Speaking to The Telegraph, Robson said: “We’ve changed managers that many times since 2013.

“I feel you have to stick and say, ‘No, we are not sacking the manager. We are not blaming.’

“When you have a little bit of money and the club are going to allow you to change your squad, you need three years to get the team right.

“For me, three years at Manchester United should be enough.”

Amorim, 40, has had a disastrous start to life as United boss, winning just eight of his first 31 games.

But Robson is urging the board to give him more time, despite fans on social media calling for his sacking.

Robson didn’t hold back when reflecting on the transfer blunders of the Ed Woodward era, suggesting too many signings simply weren’t up to scratch.

He fumed: “Look at the money we spend. It’s up to you to go around the world and get top players who are going to improve you.”

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

“I think five years ago some of the players we bought were just not good enough to be Manchester United players. It’s an accumulation of that.”

And Robbo, who captained United through some of their most hard-fought years, believes the club lost its way by ignoring experienced Premier League stars in favour of flashy foreign names.

“The other thing I think we went away from is getting good, experienced Premier League players.

“So when they get to 28, you bring them on board if you can. There have been loads of players who have left clubs.”

And his message to United’s decision-makers couldn’t be clearer.

He added: “When I was in management, I believed that if you bought average players, you got an average team.”

United will get a chance to bounce back from their derby defeat to Manchester City last weekend when they host Chelsea in Saturday’s late Premier League kick-off at Old Trafford.

4

EXCLUSIVE: Hollyoaks and Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson says older television viewers are being treated like “coffin dodgers” and more older people need to be seen on screen

Sherrie Hewson says TV bosses need to make more shows with older people in them.

The former Loose Women star, 75, believes mature telly fans are being treated like “coffin dodgers” and broadcasters are “chasing the young and forgetting the old”.

According to a new report called The Upper Third, commissioned by Freeview broadcaster Great! TV, more than a quarter of viewers feel forgotten by today’s TV producers, despite watching more television than any other age group.

The Great! network – including Great! TV, Great! Action, Great! Mystery, and Great! Romance – is relaunching for the very audiences who feel left behind by normal TV, prioritising much-loved and classic, high-quality TV series and movies.

Speaking about the campaign, Sherrie said: “This is a brilliant campaign and long overdue. If you lived in my world, you’d know this is exactly what people want.

“Today’s TV so often chases the young and forgets the rest but for many of us, the joy of great television has always been simple – you just watch a show and you laugh, or you don’t. Funny is funny.

“Look at the adverts on television, you never see older people in adverts unless they’re in a funeral parlour or a cremation or life insurance. It’s like we’re being treated like coffin dodgers or something.”

She continued: “I did the remake of Are You Being Served? and I played Mrs Slocombe and we got something like eight million viewers for that one episode and every character in that is older. Everybody loved it.

“You don’t have to remake these shows but just make the older shows more accessible so people can see them.”

Sherrie thinks entertainment shows such as Naked Attraction are taking too greater priority over the dramas and sitcoms she grew up loving.

She added: “Somebody’s paid to have these commissioned and I don’t get it. Maybe it’s because I’m the age I am but my daughter who’s 40 thinks its awful to so it’s not just me.”

Sherrie is currently playing Martha Blake in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, the mother of serial killer Jeremy Blake (Jeremy Sheffield).

She is also known for playing Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street, Lesley Meredith in Emmerdale, Joyce Temple-Savage in Benidorm and for her stint as Loose Women panellist.