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Whether it’s a brush fire, a mass shooting, a car chase or the aftermath of a major storm, viewers in Los Angeles are used to getting the news from above.

Television news helicopter coverage has become one of the most important elements of any local newscast, with the high-flying helicopters roaring overhead a common fixture of breaking news scenes.

These images are so ubiquitous, it’s easy to take them for granted, until Tuesday, when an NBC4 helicopter carrying reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw crashed while covering breaking news in Chatsworth. Both died, along with a bystander on the ground.

The tragedy has prompted soul-searching in the world of TV news helicopter pilots and focused attention on safety issues.

Pilots describe a high-stakes race in the skies of Los Angeles, with the TV stations battling to get breaking news on the air first. The air space easily becomes crowded and in the case of moving stories like car chases, a bit unpredictable and chaotic. The crews who take to the air in Los Angeles must not only navigate each other, but air traffic to three regional airports and smaller, local air strips across the Southland when doing their job.

They say safety is always the top priority and that everyone in the air works together to avoid problems.

The NBC4 crash marks the most serious incident involving an L.A. news chopper crew since 2000, when a Fox 11 helicopter covering the Academy Awards crashed and burst into flames at Van Nuys Airport.

Nationally, National Transportation Safety Board data show that 16 people have died in eight fatal crashes involving news helicopters in the United States since 2000. A cause of Tuesday’s crash has not been determined, but some experts have said they believe mechanical failure might be the cause.

“It crushed us all,” said Tim Lynn, a now-retired helicopter pilot and reporter who flew for 16 years for KTLA-TV. Lynn worked with Moreno and knew how much she cherished her job.

“She loved the job so much that she put her all into it,” he said.

Camaraderie, competition in the air

For all the camaraderie in the air, there is also some competition.

Stations want to be first to get to the scene of breaking news.

Kurt Deetz, a former news helicopter pilot who retired five years ago, said it’s a difficult business to be in.

“It’s very competitive, and at what cost?” Deetz said.

News pilots tend to have plenty of experience, former pilots said, and dangerous incidents are rare. But Deetz said pilots are pushed to be out in the air first, get to the scene, and remain on scene for extended periods of time.

“If you can be the first on the scene, you’re a hero,” Deetz said. “I think about that now and think, that is so dumb.”

Deetz started his career with KMEX in 1995, and worked for nearly every station in the area while working with Helinet, he said.

In the sky, reporters and pilots keep an eye out for one another, warning when one is drifting too close to another or if there is something else to keep an eye on.

“We all know each other,” Lynn said. “Maybe we never met, but we’ve all talked on the radio and know the names.”

There are unspoken rules that news helicopter pilots learn once they join, Lynn said.

During a police chase, for example, the first helicopter on the scene immediately takes the front position left of the fleeing vehicle, he said. The next helicopter takes a position behind that helicopter. The third helicopter takes a spot in the front right side of the chase, and the fourth sits behind it. All four maintain those spots throughout the chase, regardless of the turns and twists throughout the area.

And when the pursued begins to circle a residential area — a common occurrence during police pursuits — all news helicopters are expected to stop and hover in place, even if their shots are temporarily blocked by trees and buildings.

That’s because the tight turns and circles could result in a crash if all helicopters remain in pursuit.

“You never move unless you say something,” Lynn said. “It’s a well-coordinated operation.”

Lynn remembers at least once when a new pilot joined in a pursuit.

“We were all stopped and he’s just chasing the guy like he’s the police,” Lynn said.

Lynn got on the radio and, as the other three choppers kept their position, Lynn asked him to stick to “one of the corners.”

“That was a learning curve for that guy,” Lynn said.

But Lynn said there’s respect for new staff and veterans in the field. Regardless of what station they work for, reporters and pilots are constantly helping each other, abiding by unspoken rules to keep each other safe.

‘A dangerous place to be’

There is one maneuver that pilots say brings them particular anxiety.

Jack Cress, a former helicopter pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps and a helicopter accident investigation instructor for USC’s Aviation Safety and Security Program, said news helicopters will often spend time hovering over an incident, sometimes at a low altitude.

“That is a dangerous place to be,” Cress said.

For Deetz, he said he’d often say that he wouldn’t hover low for extended periods of time, especially if he didn’t see a place he could land in case of an emergency.

“You set up, get your shot, and then you move on,” he said. “I made a point of saying, ‘I’m not going to hover here for hours.’ ”

He knows the practice is still popular among current pilots, which he thinks needs to be rethought.

“In this day and age, there’s no need to hover,” he said. “Those cameras are so powerful. There’s no need to be so low.”

Helicopter pilots are trained to stay away from those conditions because, in case of trouble like engine failure, the lack of altitude and forward momentum gives the pilot little recourse. If the engine were to fail, for example, a pilot can sometimes perform an “autorotation” procedure to use altitude and forward momentum to force the rotors to turn, easing their descent.

The procedure is one that Lynn is familiar with. In 2012, Lynn was covering an incident in Hollywood for KTLA when his helicopter started to smoke heavily. He had no idea until one of the other choppers radioed him to tell him.

“As soon as I turn it, he said, ‘You need to put it on the ground now,’ ” Lynn said.

Lynn headed down and started getting the helicopter ready for an autorotation, as heavy smoke started to shoot from the engine. Lynn looked toward the ground and was eyeing Highland or Los Feliz for a makeshift landing spot. He gripped the controls and expected the engine to give out at any second, until he spotted a parking lot. He watched for the wires, watched for the trees and set it down. The motor never gave out.

Pilots will constantly eye one another in the formation.

News helicopter pilots will normally stay around 1,200 to 1,500 feet above the ground, Lynn said. That is to stay above police helicopters, under commercial flights, and still have enough space in case they need to perform an emergency autorotation procedure.

Although news helicopters are touted as a cornerstone of local news broadcasts, the aircraft are owned and operated by third-party companies. KTLA and NBC4’s helicopters, for example, are owned and operated by Angel City Air, part of Welk Aviation. ABC 7’s helicopter is operated by Helinet, and KCAL’s helicopter is owned by Helicopters Inc.

Many of them are flying the same kind of helicopter that crashed Tuesday, the AS350 B2, which aviation experts said is a popular helicopter for news stations and police departments.

Deetz said he flew that helicopter for his entire career in news, and never once had a dangerous mechanical issue.

‘We all know each other’

It took minutes for word of the NBC4 crash to spread across the world of Los Angeles news chopper pilots and journalists.

“I immediately wondered who. We all know each other,” Lynn said.

One of Lynn’s former colleagues told him they saw a tail rotor on the ground, and Lynn quickly learned it was Moreno and Marciniw who were onboard.

A former police pilot for Huntington Beach and a retired news helicopter pilot after 16 years, Lynn said pilots have established rules in the air to keep each other safe.

He and others have shared several of those rules for new pilots and reporters who joined the business over the years, including Moreno, whom Lynn said he helped train when she first joined Angel City Air as a reporter.

Lynn remembers when she joined the company, he said. She picked up quickly on the equipment she had to use and eagerly sought advice to get better at the job.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash, is expected to release a preliminary report on the incident in the coming days. A complete report on the incident is expected to take up to 18 months to be completed.

Wayne Rooney is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ to enter the I’m A Celebrity jungle later this year, with sources claiming the former Manchester United legend will be the biggest signing in the show’s history

Wayne Rooney is set to embark on a reality TV career on I’m A Celeb. It comes almost two years after his wife, Coleen, entered the Australian jungle following years of speculation.

And it’s claimed that the Manchester United legend is already in “advanced talks” with show bosses and could be flying Down Under in the coming months. Sources claim that Wayne is super keen to impress his four sons, Kai, 16, Klay, 13, Kit, 10, and Cass, eight, by taking on the gruesome Bushtucker Trials.

A source claimed: “Wayne is in advanced talks for I’m A Celebrity and if they secure him, he’ll be their biggest signing in the show’s history.”

Would you tune in to watch Wayne in the jungle? Let us know in the comment section below, by clicking here.

They added to The Sun on Sunday: “Coleen proved to be hugely popular when she took part two years ago, and bosses think Wayne is going to match her success.

“ITV have been in negotiations with him for some time and are thrilled that they’ve reached this stage.” The publication goes on to claim that Wayne’s wife, Coleen, is expected to join him in Australia, alongside their three youngest sons, to offer support to the former footballer.

An ITV spokesperson told the Mirror: “Any names suggested for I’m A Celebrity are just speculation.” It wouldn’t be the first time that the Liverpudlian had shown his love for the programme. When Coleen entered the camp two years ago, he said he was “proud” of her and encouraged the public to vote for her to take on a trial.

While Wayne enjoyed seeing Coleen show a different side of herself in the camp, the couple later joked that he would take part in the show one day. Now, he wants to give his wife of almost two decades a run for her money.

Last year, Wayne said he was “gutted” that he wasn’t part of the line-up, which consisted of the likes of Aitch, Lisa Riley, Ruby Wax, Alex Scott, Jack Osbourne, Martin Kemp and winner Angry Ginge.

After hearing that Mancunian rapper Aitch and streamer Ginge were entering the camp, Wayne said: “I spoke to him last night, and he was still in England, so I don’t know if he is…

“No, Ginge is a great lad, and I’ve seen who’s linked as well, so if he is in there, I’m sure he’ll be really entertaining. If he’s in it and Aitch is in it as well, I’m gutted that I didn’t go in because I think the three of us could have been real fun in there.

“I’d be all right with the food situation, but I get bored, and some of the challenges, you know, the snakes and there was one a few years ago with the big ostrich. I wouldn’t like that.”

He went on to add: “I love the show and obviously Coleen was in it last year and maybe at some point but not this year, unfortunately.”

The news comes just hours after Wayne revealed he’d made a major change in his life. The pundit explained that he had given up booze, and rather than reaching for the bottle, he now opens up to Coleen about any issues he’s facing.

The Mirror has approached Wayne’s spokesperson for comment.

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TV host Jeff Brazier admits he has made too many mistakes bringing up sons Bobby and Freddy.

He became a single dad after his ex, Big Brother star Jade Goody, died from cervical cancer in 2009 aged just 27.

Jeff — who has since had years of therapy — believes that if model Bobby, 23, and Race Across The World star Freddy, 21, had been raised by the man he is today, they may have escaped some of the trauma, turmoil and family fallouts.

He told the Sun on Sunday: “You always look back with hindsight and feel like, ‘If only I was the version of myself I am today 20 years ago, how much of a better experience of me they would have had’.

“Maybe that might have eliminated some of the bumps in the road we’ve had . . .  you look at the things you could have done better.”

Those “bumps” have at times proved particularly painful for Freddy, with much of the family tension centred around his close bond with his maternal grandmother Jackiey Budden, 69.

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Jeff has always considered Jade’s mum to be a bad influence on the boys.

And Freddy, who has been to rehab, been sectioned and suffered manic episodes, has previously claimed Jackiey got him “hooked” on cannabis.

Things got so bad that last year, a concerned Jeff started legal proceedings in a bid to keep Jackiey away from his son.

Yet despite their clashes, Jeff and Freddy have always found their way back to each other — most recently in March following the arrival of Freddy’s daughter Isla with his on-off girlfriend Holly Swinburn.

Jeff, 47, says: “Thanks to all the mistakes and all the lessons and the learnings along the way, I get to love Isla with a sense of confidence.

“The strength of connection you can have with a grandchild is really special.

“With Isla, it just feels ­natural, effortless and easy, and there’s no ­complications around it.”

Jeff can often be seen on This Morning, has worked with The One Show and TNT Sports and now fronts the Let’s Save Water campaign, urging families to make small changes to help tackle Britain’s shortage after the hot summer.

But the TV star admits he has struggled since his sons moved out of the family home in Essex.

“When they left, I went through nine months of what felt like ­absolute grief,” he admits.

“It’s not just the absence of your children. It’s more the grieving of the role that you played, that you got really comfortable playing.

“It felt like a slow relinquishing of control and responsibility, to the point where you feel redundant.

“Life is a lot quieter right now — the peace can be deafening — but there’s also part of you that’s, like, ‘Shouldn’t I be doing something for someone somewhere?’ ”

Jeff’s home is also quieter following the end of his seven-year ­marriage to PR executive Kate Dwyer last year.

Yet Jeff, who first found fame on reality show Shipwrecked in 2001, is learning to embrace this new chapter and finally put himself first.

He is also discovering how to play again so that he can be the best grandfather possible.

It was Freddy, who suffers from ADHD, who first told him he needed to loosen up, while they filmed Celebrity Race Across The World in 2024.

Jeff, who spent much of his ­childhood in foster care, said: “He ­basically hit the nail on the head.

“As a child, I probably didn’t play that much, or feel safe to play. I’m trying to undo that.”

In a bid to become more playful, Jeff has even signed up to wrestle strangers after discovering the ­unusual kind of therapy at a ­spiritual festival.

“The more you do it, the more you free something up and heal something,” he says.

“Obviously, no one’s allowed to hurt anyone. But to go and enjoy retreats like that, you’re basically taking your inner child with you.

“That’s where I hope I will be in ten years — running a retreat on a renovated farm in the countryside.

“I would still be exercising and showing up for people, and I’d be looking after numerous grand- children and feel all the love.”

Could that future also include finding love again?

“I hope so,” he says. “Yeah, I believe that will happen to me.”

Aussie queen Delta has been working in the music industry for over 25 years, as she was just 15 when she signed her first record deal!

Since then, she’s toured with Celine Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Andrea Bocelli and more. She even competed for Australia at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and in typical Australian fashion, has had a recurring role on Neighbours.

Now, she’s head to the Strictly ballroom. “I feel very much ready to grab my dancing shoes, hit the ballroom, find as much glitter as possible to put on my shoes,” she said. “I am approaching it with a total open heart, and I am just wanting to learn the new skill set!”

Delta will be cheered on at home by her husband Matthew Copley, whom she married in 2025 and has been in a relationship with since 2016. Delta has previously been in relationships with Brian McFadden and Nick Jonas.

In another push to revitalize California’s film and TV industry, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed the state’s first standalone post-production tax incentive.

The new incentive is aimed at bringing back jobs for the industry’s editors, sound mixers, composers and visual effects artists. It will allow a 35% to 50% credit on qualified expenses related specifically to post-production work done in California, and unlike the state’s existing film and TV credit, it doesn’t require productions to shoot here.

“This legislation protects the extraordinary people who make this industry possible and makes it unmistakably clear: California is still the future of film and television,” said Gov. Newsom in a statement. “We have the talent. We have the infrastructure.”

The bill, AB 2319, was authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank) and introduced earlier this year. It cleared the state Senate 33 to 5 on Aug. 30, and the Assembly approved the final version 72 to 2 the same day. Schultz originally sought $100 million for the program. It is expected to start in January with $10 million, according to the Assemblymember Schulz’s office.

“It’s a historic moment for California’s post-production community. But it’s also just the beginning of what we really need to do to to fight for our industry,” said Marielle Abaunza, president of the California Post Alliance, a group advocating for the bill. She said the group is readying its strategy to get more funding for the program next year.

As Hollywood productions continue chase tax credits to other states and countries, much of the post-production work is going with them. California’s share of U.S. post-production employment has fallen from 53% to 42% over the last 13 years, according to CVL Economics, an economic consulting firm tied to California Post Alliance. The state had about 12,000 post-production jobs last year, per CVL Economics.

Ben Urquhart, 51, spent 18 years as a post-production executive at NBCUniversal. The Culver City resident hasn’t been able to find work in the two and a half years since he was laid off.

“It’s grim and it’s hard. There are jobs, but we have a large amount of extremely qualified people competing for every level of job,” Urquhart said. “When I was a kid, I was a [production assistant] in the 90s, and you could get a job within a couple of weeks. But when I got laid off a couple of years ago, I realized that is certainly not the case at all anymore. It’s been a large-scale transformation.”

Urquhart said the new incentive would help California compete with jurisdictions that already offer these credits and “level the playing field.”

Last year, California expanded its film and TV tax credit program, more than doubling the old $330-million cap to $750 million through June 30, 2030. The existing program already covers post-production, but only if 75% of filming or the overall budget is spent in the state.

Newsom also signed a bill that would strengthen the current tax incentive program overall. In June he revealed a state budget measure that capped how much in tax credits a business can claim each year, a limit industry groups warned would undercut the expanded program. But the new Senate Bill 186 enhances refundability for the industry and exempts independent productions from the credit limits, starting next year.

There’s also been a recent push for a federal film and TV tax incentive. President Trump has previously voiced his support for the effort, and Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) are leading a bipartisan effort to draft one.

CRUZ Beckham and girlfriend Jackie Apostel appear to be firmly in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, judging by a cheeky selfie shared online.

The 21-year-old couldn’t keep his hands to himself as the couple posed for a bathroom mirror selfie, with Jackie smiling for the camera.

Cruz shared the snap to his Instagram as the pair got ready for a glam night out at London Fashion Week.

The son of David and Victoria Beckham has been dating German-Brazilian singer-songwriter and producer Jackie, 30, since 2024.

Jackie previously revealed they met when their managers put them in a studio to write songs together.

The model said their work turned into a friendship before it became anything romantic and that she was Cruz’s “biggest fan forever”.

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The loved-up snap comes after Cruz released his debut EP, Wear & Tear, last month.

He also performed with his band The Breakers at Reading Festival, with parents David and Victoria watching from the side of the stage.

The EP features a track called Wannabe, the same title as the song that launched mum Victoria, 52, and the Spice Girls to fame three decades ago.

But it is another track, Loneliest Boy, that has got fans talking amid the Beckhams’ rift with Cruz’s older brother Brooklyn.

In the song, Cruz candidly sings about a boy whose distance from his family is “breaking Mama’s heart”.

Brooklyn became estranged from his family following tensions that escalated around the time of his wedding to Nicola Peltz in 2022.

Since the Strictly Come Dancing launched on the BBC in 2004 a host of famous faces have tried on a pair of dancing shoes and kept viewers entertained for weeks, but the show has not been without its fair share of tragedy

Strictly Come Dancing has graced our screens for over 20 years now – and sadly, we’ve bid farewell to some of its stars along the way.

The dancing is, undoubtedly, a crucial part of the show, but the charm of the BBC programme also lies in delving into the personal lives and relationships of those participating.

Each week, fans gain an insight into their daily routines and the show casts a new light on both well-known and lesser-known celebrities. Heartbreakingly, over the two decades the programme has been on air, some of its celebrity competitors, staff and even presenters are no longer with us.

Ann Widdecombe

Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, in July. More than 100 friends, family and colleagues attended her funeral the following month.

After making a name for herself in the world of politics, Ann had been a surprise entry to the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 where she was partnered with Anton Du Beke. Despite their low scores, the duo became fan favourites making it all the way to quarter-finals.

Speaking to the Mirror ahead of the Strictly launch this weekend, her old sparring partner Craig Revel Horwood praised her courage.

“She was an amazing human being, and she was brave; brave enough to come on Strictly and give me what for.

“And then we ended up working together really closely for three years after and became good friends, and we’re still in contact, to this day. Well, we were in contact to this very day. It’s such a terrible thing that happened.”

Len Goodman

Just as much a legend as Sir Bruce Forsyth, Len Goodman was a cherished member of the BBC show and head judge from the show’s start until 2016. Len left fans heartbroken after stepping down from the show after 12 years, stating at the time that he didn’t want people to tire of him.

“In 2004, I was asked to take part in a brand new BBC Saturday night show and who would have thought me, old Len Goodman, would still be part of this amazing series more than 10 years on, he said at the time, ” he said at the time, “This adventure began when I was 60 and now that I’ve reached my 70s, I’ve decided after this year it’s time to hand the role of Head Judge to someone else.

“It is an honour being part of the wonderful Strictly Come Dancing family and I’m looking forward to my last series very much and to whatever comes next.”

In April 2023, his family confirmed that he had died following a bone cancer diagnosis. He had been living in a hospice in Tunbridge Wells in Kent prior to his death. Tributes flooded in for Len, with his Strictly colleagues sharing their love of his brilliant humour and kindness. Claudia Winkleman tweeted: “I’m so sad about Len. He was one of a kind, a brilliant and kind man. Full of twinkle, warmth and wit. Sending all love to his family and friends.”

Meanwhile, Craig Revel Horwood wrote: “I’ve just woken up to the sad news that my gorgeous colleague and dear friend Len Goodman has passed away. My heart and love go out to his lovely Sue and family. Len Goody Goodman is what I always called him and “It’s a ten from Len & seveeeeern”will live with me forever. RIP Len.”

Robin Windsor

Professional dancer Robin Windsor’s death in February 2024 left the dancing world devastated and in mourning, with his former co-stars and celebrity partners “broken”.

The performer featured on the programme from 2010 until 2013, but was compelled to withdraw from the show due to a back injury and was replaced by Trent Whiddon. He later revealed he had “no choice” in the matter.

After speaking openly about his battles with mental health and finances, he established his own company offering corporate motivational speaking services and corporate team building.

Robin reflected back in 2022: “Leaving Strictly wasn’t my choice. I had a horrible back operation and they decided that they didn’t want to ask me back the next year. It was probably for health and safety reasons, in case something happened, but I was physically fit.”

Sadly, two years later in 2024, Robin’s death was announced. When the news of his passing first broke, details such as the date or the cause of his death were not known. However, it has since been reported that the popular star was found dead inside a London hotel, after previously confiding in a friend about a “troubling incident” that took place over New Year.

Vincent Simone, who had known Robin since he was 17, revealed that a close friend of the dancer started frantically calling his mates when he went missing. But tragically, they were too late, and Robin, 44, was found dead in a London hotel room.

Vincent, who had plans to collaborate with Robin, shared how his friend’s loss has left him devastated. He told The Mirror: “The first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes this morning was Robin. He was the best man I ever met.

“Robin has had these moments in the past – it was an ongoing problem. He would detach himself from people for two or three days. Then he would come back to the world, to reality. But this time, he didn’t come back.”

Caroline Flack

As soon as Love Island host Caroline Flack stepped onto the dance floor, she dazzled everyone. Paired with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev, she triumphed in 2014 by impressing viewers with a series of stunning performances.

But it’s her beautiful Rhumba-inspired showdance to Robbie Williams’ Angels that is forever etched into fans’ memories. Caroline, attached to flowing pieces of fabric, performed a balletic routine with Pasha Kovalev that led them to victory on the show.

Tragically, Caroline took her own life at the age of 40 in 2020.

Lynda Bellingham

Initially known for her comforting ‘Oxo mum’ voice, Lynda became a household name after starring in All Creatures Great and Small, Doctor Who and Second Thoughts, among others.

In 2007, she joined the Loose Women panel and in 2009, she participated in Strictly with Darren Bennett. The duo were eliminated in week four after their Foxtrot to Calendar Girl failed to impress.

Sadly, Lynda was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and passed away just over a year later at the age of 66.

Paul Daniels

Paul, the late husband of Debbie McGee, competed in Strictly seven years before her, in 2010. The magician was partnered with Ola Jordan, but they were unfortunately the second couple to be eliminated from the competition.

He passed away in 2016 at the age of 77. Debbie, who appeared on Strictly a year later, revealed to Hello magazine that performing on the show helped her rebuild her life after the loss of Paul.

“I had the best partner in Giovanni, and I was back in show business again,” she said, “People knew who I was before, but I was still the magician’s assistant. Since Strictly I’ve been Debbie McGee in my own right.

Neale Pirie

The Strictly family was left heartbroken in 2015 following the sudden death of hair stylist Neale Pirie. Neale, 42, had contacted a family member about chest pains, but medics who raced to his Leicester residence were unable to save him

Strictly’s head makeup artist Lisa Armstrong tweeted at the time: “Utterly devastated and heartbroken over the loss of my sidekick and dear friend.” Meanwhile, Karen Hauer, whose hair Neale had styled for her wedding to Kevin Clifton, posted: “Absolutely heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful friend @Nealepirie. I can’t believe your gone. RIP.

Gary Rhodes

TV chef Gary Rhodes left his kitchen behind to take on the ballroom back in 2008, where he was paired with professional dancer Karen Hardy. The duo became the third couple to leave the competition, following Phil Daniels and Gillian Taylforth

.Gary, who received an OBE in 2006, was a renowned restaurateur who had featured on numerous television programmes including MasterChef and Hell’s Kitchen. His passing at 59 sent shockwaves through the culinary community in November 2019.

The chef had fallen ill suddenly at his Dubai residence during downtime whilst recording a new television programme. His family later revealed that his death resulted from a fatal brain haemorrhage after he collapsed.

Gary’s wife of three decades, Jennie Rhodes, was by his side in his final moments as he succumbed to a subdural haematoma following his emergency hospital admission.

Dave Myers

Dave Myers was a fan favourite on Strictly during his time on the show in 2013. The Hairy Bikers star was partnered with Karen Hauer on the show and they made it all the way to week seven.

Sadly, Dave died in February 2024 after a battle with cancer. In a heartbreaking tribute, his co-star Si King wrote: “I’m afraid I bear some sad news. Most of you will know Dave has been fighting cancer for the past couple of years.

“All who knew Dave are devastated at his passing. His beloved wife brought him such happiness as did her children, Iza and Sergiu who Dave loved like his own. Personally, I am not sure I can put into words on how I feel at the moment.

“My best friend is on a journey that for now, I can’t follow. I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime. I wish you God’s speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world. See you on the other side. Love ya.”

Jason Wood

Comedian Jason Wood holds the dubious honour of being the first contestant to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing back in 2004. The funnyman was partnered with professional dancer Kylie Jones, but their performances failed to win over the judges and they were sent packing in the first week.

The inaugural series had nearly half the number of celebrities compared to the current format, with the show running for a mere seven weeks from May to July. Following its massive popularity among viewers, the show returned for a second series just three months later.

Sadly, Jason passed away in his sleep six years after his Strictly stint, at the tender age of 38.

Willie Thorne

Snooker ace Willie Thorne discovered that dancing wasn’t as natural to him as his beloved sport when he took part in the 2007 series alongside Erin Boag. The duo were the third couple to be eliminated, following Brian Capron and Stephanie Beacham, after their Tango to Lisandro Adrover’s Obertura.

Willie was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June 2015 following routine blood tests ordered by a psychiatrist and underwent treatment. In March 2020, he announced that he had been diagnosed with leukaemia and in June 2020, he was placed in an induced coma after suffering respiratory failure in a Spanish hospital.

A day later, his carer confirmed that he had gone into septic shock and was not responding to treatment. He passed away aged 66 after his life support was withdrawn.

Bill Turnbull

After becoming part of the BBC Breakfast team in 2001 alongside Sian Williams, Sarah Montague, Mishal Husain and Susanna Reid, he stunned viewers by entering the third series of Strictly in 2005.

Teamed up with professional dancer Karen Hardy, the duo became the seventh couple to be eliminated despite impressing both judges and the public. After the programme, Bill went on to enjoy a thriving television career.

But in March 2018, he disclosed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer the year before.He passed away at his Suffolk home on August 31 2022, at just 66 years old. Bill’s devastated wife Sarah, known as Sesi, had issued a statement that was read aloud on BBC Breakfast.

Sir Bruce Forsyth

Recognised as Mr Strictly himself, Sir Bruce Forsyth served as the soul of the BBC dance competition, with much of its initial triumph credited to his role as an extraordinary, affectionate presenter.

The cherished British entertainer enjoyed an enormous career stretching over more than 70 years, during which he fronted numerous game shows including The Generation Game, The Price Is Right and Play Your Cards Right. Guinness World Records also acknowledged him in 2012 as holding the longest television career for a male entertainer.

Co-hosting Strictly alongside Tess Daly from 2004 to 2012, he became famous for his exceptional improvisation skills and informing some of the competition’s weaker dancers that they were his “favourite”.

Following his departure from the programme, he remained at home with spouse Wilnelia Merced, who looked after him whilst he battled poor health during his final years.

His final television appearance came in 2015 on Strictly Children in Need Special, and he subsequently had an operation for his abdominal aortic aneurysm, forcing him to withdraw from presenting the Christmas special. He was hospitalised several more occasions throughout the years with chest infections and passed away from bronchial pneumonia at his Wentworth Estate residence on August 18 2017.

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Born into an African American family with a grim history of enslavement, Marian Anderson was determined from an early age to master the art of singing for the concert hall. A contralto of great range and warmth, Anderson’s abundant gifts as a performer of spirituals, arias and German Leider brought her global fame even as she endured the indignities of racial discrimination at home. Her Easter Sunday performance at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 in front of 75,000 spectators remains a touchstone of defiance in an age of racial violence.

Anthony Tommasini’s excellent biography of Anderson, “Voice of A Century,” reclaims the singer as a great artist who only embraced her power as a symbol of racial equality much later in life. I spoke with Tommasini about Anderson, Franz Schubert and Albert Einstein.

✍️ Author Chat

Anthony Tommasini’s biography reclaims Anderson as a great artist who embraced her power as a symbol of racial equality later in life.

(Ahna Tessler Photography)

I feel like people know Marian Anderson in the abstract, but they regard her as a symbol rather than an artist. And among the virtues of your book is that you reestablish Anderson’s legacy as a great singer and performer.

She was a contralto, which is the lowest female vocal register. But that register had such resonance, and she had complete control over it. She also had enormous range; the uncanny, beautiful thing about Anderson’s voice is that when she started ascending even into the soprano sphere, she held those notes so beautifully. They were emanating from below, grounded in that low voice. It made for a mesmerizing sound. I’ve made a playlist to accompany the book.

She embodied this kind of fierce dignity and grace in the face of racial discrimination. But as you point out, she was reluctant to make herself a symbol of the civil rights movement, preferring to let audiences focus on her artistry.

In 1939, she was banned from performing in Washington’s Constitution Hall because of her race, and her manager, with help from Eleanor Roosevelt, arranged a performance in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday. Yet, the night before the performance, she was trying to get out of it. She felt the whole affair had turned into a civil rights demonstration. When it came time to write her memoirs in 1956, she wanted to excise the event from the book. She felt that what she could do is be an example of excellence and possibility for aspiring black artists.

She did play to segregated audiences, even long after she had become a national star.

[This type of segregated performance featured what] was called vertical seating. But she refused to forsake her career, which she had worked so hard to attain, and so she played these segregated shows. Eventually, there was a performance in Virginia which was boycotted, and that sort of broke the trend. She then performed in front of an integrated audience in Florida.

There is an encounter with Albert Einstein, of all people, who counsels her to take a stand against these racist booking policies.

In 1937, she showed up for a concert in Princeton, New Jersey, only to discover she was being refused a room at the Nassau Inn. As it turns out, she had a friend in Princeton who had seen her at Carnegie Hall and had meekly gone backstage to meet her. This was Albert Einstein, who was teaching at Princeton University at the time, and who offered to put Anderson up for the night at his house. He really pressed her on being more outspoken on racial equality.

Anderson played Europe multiple times in the 1930s, right before the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich. As you write, German audiences were blown away by Anderson’s mastery of their music, specifically Franz Schubert’s Lieder, or art songs, which were among Anderson’s most beloved repertoire.

So extraordinary, right? She also made two tours of the Soviet Union during that time. They went crazy for her in the Scandinavian countries, as well. But for the German audiences who are so nationalistic about their Leider, it was confusing. They couldn’t imagine how a Black American woman could sing their music so beautifully.

Anderson was the first Black soloist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in Verdi’s opera Un ballo in maschera.

That was really a huge risk and a huge leap for her. She wasn’t a trained opera singer, and she had to dig deep into that material. She was already 58 by that time. There is a radio recording of the performance. There’s this dignity, like she’s calling upon this power. It’s exhausting and it’s draining, but it’s also exhilarating.

This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.

📰 The Week(s) in Books

Book jacket for “Body Language” by Meg Howrey

(Los Angeles Times illustration; jacket from Doubleday)

Marlon James has published his highly anticipated new novel “The Disappearers,” a sprawling story about gay culture in ’80s Jamaica, and Mark Athitakis is quite taken with it. “James is … determined to unwind the cliches of gay fiction: the tragic victim, the heartwarming gestures of solidarity, the blunt porniness,” he writes. “Mere survival will have to be enough for most of these characters; the sense of fear is pervasive, but so is a determination to work through it.”

What’s it like to be the primary dissenting liberal voice on Fox News? Stephen Battaglio found out when he talked to Jesssica Tarlov about her hybrid memoir and self-help book “I Disagree.” “I have a good amount of shyness to me,” she tells Battaglio. “I have a lot of imposter syndrome. I’m constantly in wonder that I ended up getting to do this and that hopefully, am the right person to do it.”

Meg Howrey’s fifth novel, “Body Language,” a twisted family saga, is “smart, sardonic and powerful,” according to Meredith Maran.

Finally, Emily Wilson, the classicist who has been a lightning rod of controversy over her disparaging remarks in regard to the film version of “The Odyssey,” is going to translate Homer’s epic for a second time, reports Emily St. Martin.

📖 Bookstore Faves

The Hammer Museum’s gift shop is one of the best art book shops in L.A.

(Eric Petschek)

Sure, the Hammer Museum’s gift shop stocks the requisite art-themed mugs, tea towels and tchotchkes, but it’s also one of the best art book shops in L.A. Inside the sleekly designed Hammer Store is a vast inventory of monographs, children’s books and critical texts about modern and contemporary art. In an email exchange, store managers Sara Beattie and Brooke Berlin tell us what museumgoers are buying right now.

Hammer’s store is really the best museum bookshop in L.A. How do you decide what to put on the shelves?

We’re an eclectic bunch of book nerds and love the written word. We start by looking at upcoming programming, exhibitions and the season, and we buy accordingly. And we have a great team that gives us suggestions. We’ve learned to trust our instincts. The Hammer is an experimental institution, and we approach our buying in that spirit.

Do you have patrons that are not necessarily there to check out museum exhibits?

Of course! We’re not only a museum, but a cultural center, which means there’s always something happening — like mindful meditation on Thursdays, or family programming on weekends, or people coming in just to enjoy a meal at Lulu.

What kinds of books tend to do well for you?

Art monographs, especially on contemporary or Los Angeles artists; books about living more conscientiously; and everyone loves a children’s book (even if it’s just to heal your inner child). We love finding unique books that can’t be found elsewhere. Whenever we can, we work with small presses and book distributors. They often make books that can only fully be enjoyed or understood by seeing them in person.

Is there any particular title that is presently selling well?

“Mindfulness in the Garden: Zen Tools for Digging in the Dirt” by Zachiah Murray; Sanzu Wada’s “Vol. 1 Dictionary for Color Combinations”; “The Hippest Trip in America: By Land, Air and Sea” by Alake Shilling.

Why do we still enjoy art books, when we can look at millions of paintings and sculptures on the internet?

Why go outside if you can look through a window? There is a lot of talk of people returning to the analog or physical media, and that includes renewed interest in physical books. BookTok is huge. People love talking about books and showing off their special deluxe book editions on TikTok. Art books by their very nature are deluxe, image filled and thoughtfully designed. A well-produced book is an art object in itself. Nothing beats the experience of paging through a beautiful book. That experience can’t be replicated on a screen.

The Hammer Museum store is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

AN 80s rock icon, who was once in a love triangle with Hollywood A-listers Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate, looked unrecognisable as he strolled through an airport.

This famous singer, now 58, passed by fellow travellers unnoticed – but can you guess who it is?

The rock star in question is none other than Sebastian Bach, known for the heavy metal band, Skid Row.

The group shot to fame almost four decades ago with hits like Youth Gone Wild and 18 and Life.

With his trademark long locks tied back in a ponytail, Sebastian strutted through LAX Airport with his haul of luggage in tow.

The rocker is currently on tour with Skid Row and fellow heavy metal band Twisted Sister, and was jetting into Los Angeles after playing in Oklahoma.

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Sebastian was dressed down for his flight and was wearing a black t-shirt and matching jogging bottoms.

The singer went unnoticed in the airport as he got ready to head home, before his next gig in Washington at the end of the month.

During his heyday, the rock legend was famously caught up in a love triangle with two of Hollywood’s now-elite stars.

The twice- married singer, who is currently wed to wife Suzanne Le, got in the middle of Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate‘s romance.

Known for his heartthrob status, back in 1989 Sebastian, who was 21 at the time, caught the eye of a 17-year-old Christina – who was dating rising star Brad Pitt, who was 25.

Things kicked off when the young couple attended the MTV Video Music Awards together that year.

However, despite having hunky Brad on her arm, Married With Children star Christina found her head had turned in the direction of Sebastian – and she ditched her date for the rocker.

Speaking in her memoir earlier this year, the actress told fans exactly what happened.

“I had spent all night staring at Bach, who was then a long-haired hunk fronting the band Skid Row,” she penned in her book, You With The Sad Eyes.

“I hate to put it like this, but Brad back then was still making his way as an actor, and he wasn’t yet THE Brad Pitt, the man of so many people’s dreams.”

Continuing, Christina wrote: “And it gets worse: Brad was left to sullenly drive my mom … home.

“Apparently, at a gas station on the way, Brad almost got into a fight with a bunch of gang members, and, not surprisingly, was subsequently very mad at me.”

The Dead To Me star also revealed that Brad didn’t speak to her after the incident for many years. – but added that they are “friends again” now.

“Eventually, we agreed that I’d been a kid, and though he deserved much better, it was time to forgive the child who dumped him for the lead singer of Skid Row,” Christina said.

“Of course, Brad is now THE Brad Pitt, and Sebastian Bach … well, he still has long hair, I guess.”

Sebastian also reflected on him stealing Christina, now 54, from Brad, now 63, and told Billboard earlier this year: “I was a single guy on tour, in a band, and I met a lot of girls and Iapologisee if I hurt her…If I hurt anybod,”.

“When you’re young you get thrown into the whirlwind of rock ‘n’ roll, meeting a lot of people and you’d better hold on tight.

“It’s like being on a roller coaster.

“It was a long time ago. If I hurt anybody, I apologise for it.”

KIM Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton swapped luxury cars for humble Lime bikes as they enjoyed a casual day out in London.

The couple, who are estimated to be worth a combined $2.5bn, looked happy to keep it low-key as they pedalled around the capital.

Lewis, 41, might have swapped Ferrari red for lime green but he still set the pace and maintained his eye for fashion in a leopard print jacket.

While glam Kim, 45, who owns the leisurewear brand SKIMS, kept it simple in a white vest top and black leggings.

He might be a seven-time F1 world champ on four wheels, but Lewis was in no rush and swapped smiles with Kim as they cruised along.

The duo were joined by a minder who hung back and let the couple soak up the sights uninterrupted.

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Last night, Kim was more glamorous as she turned out for a SKIMS event in Regent Street in a nude figure-hugging dress.

The reality star and businesswoman was in her element waving to fans and taking pictures, before having a costume change and heading to exclusive members club Maison Estelle for the afterparty.

It followed a shock diagnosis Kim received in the latest episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Viewers watched her learn she has esophagitis, which is a condition characterised by the inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus, and is the same condition that led to her father’s death.

Robert, a top lawyer who represented O.J. Simpson, died from esophageal cancer in 2003 at the age of 59.

The revelation about her health made both Kim and her mum, Kris, tearful.