Colin Berry: Ex-Radio 2 newsreader and presenter dies at 79
Former BBC Radio 2 newsreader and presenter Colin Berry has died at the age of 79.Berry was a fixture on Radio 2 from the early 1970s to the early 90s, hosting the early slot and late-night shows including Night Ride and You and the Night and the Music.He stood in for daytime presenters including Sir Terry Wogan, and was a host on BBC Three Counties Radio from 2004 to 2019.He was also familiar to Eurovision viewers, reading out the UK jury's results between 1978 and 2002.
Paying tribute, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: "All of us at Radio 2 were saddened to hear of the passing of Colin Berry, who was part of our on air family for many years. We send our condolences to his family and friends."Berry started his career on pirate station Radio Caroline in 1965, before moving to BBC Radio Medway (now Kent), HTV in Cardiff and Radio 1 before settling at Radio 2.He was the station's first overnight host when it started 24-hour broadcasts in 1979, with a programme that included a what's on guide and a cookery slot "for those of our listeners who get home late and feel like a snack".He also made appearances on TV shows including Top of The Pops, Blankety Blank and Going Live.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Fans stunned by Celine Dion appearance at Coldplay concert amid stiff-person syndrome battle
Celine Dion sent fans into a frenzy as she made a surprise appearance at Coldplay 's Las Vegas concert over the weekend amid her ongoing health battle with stiff-person syndrome. The Grammy winner, 57 - who recently shared a moving message amid Eurovision's semi-finals - was spotted in the stands at Allegiant Stadium and received a sweet serenade from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. In a TikTok video taken by one of the concertgoers, a camera panned to the songstress at one point during the evening - causing the crowd to break out into loud cheers and applause. Dion became emotional as she took in the warm reception and stood up to send a friendly wave before placing a hand over her heart. The Fix You hitmaker then began to give a special shoutout to the star as he sang, 'Oh Celine, my beautiful sister. You make my heart go on and on. 'Near. Far. You're a total superstar. Let's hear it for the legendary Celine Dion!' Martin concluded. She also appeared to be accompanied by her three sons Rene-Charles, 24, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 14 - whom she welcomed with late husband Rene Angelil. Another snippet showed Celine dancing on her feet as the band performed one of their hit tracks. Dion wore a pair of blue glasses as she grooved to the upbeat song and was also filmed making a heart symbol with her hands towards nearby fans. The Power Of Love songstress also shared photos from her time at the concert to both her Instagram and X accounts. In the caption, she penned to her followers: 'What an unforgettable evening with @Coldplay at @AllegiantStadium…My heart is still singing! 'A heartfelt thanks to the band and their amazing team for welcoming my family with warmth and kindness. It was all…fantastique❤️.' Social media users flocked to the comment section of the posts to share their excitement over seeing Dion at the concert with her children. One penned, 'What a special night! Thank you for gracing us Queen Celine!' while another typed, 'Wow Two musical giants in one space!' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion) In a TikTok video taken by one of the concertgoers, a camera panned to the songstress at one point during the evening - causing the crowd to break out into loud cheers and applause Social media users flocked to the comment sections of the posts to share their excitement over seeing Dion at the concert with her children 'You look so beautiful so happy to see you!!!!!' a fan wrote, and one shared, 'Couldn't be more happy for seeing you having fun with your sons' Another added, 'So glad to see you having fun and looking so good,' while one commented, 'This is so precious. you look so beautiful and full of joy! You deserve it all. Love you xx' 'You look so beautiful so happy to see you!!!!!' a fan wrote, and one shared, 'Couldn't be more happy for seeing you having fun with your sons.' Another added, 'So glad to see you having fun and looking so good,' while one commented, 'This is so precious. you look so beautiful and full of joy! You deserve it all. Love you xx.' 'She is the most humble and beloved artist in the music industry,' a fan penned, and one shared, 'It's so good to see Celine out and about enjoying herself with her boys and looking fabulous.' Over on X, others also gushed about the singer's rare appearance as one expressed their wish for a Celine and Coldplay collaboration: 'Please perform a song together with Coldplay.' 'Just two of the biggest music inspirations of my entire life together nbd,' another typed, and one added, 'I'm glad you had an amazing time Celine.' A fan wrote, 'The humblest music legend on earth. Long live the Queen of Vegas. We miss you!!' 'This is how you respect legends,' another penned as they referenced to the standing ovation Dion received as well as Chris Martin's tribute. During the concert, Dion put on a stylish display wearing a chic gray suit while her locks were pulled back into a sleek bun. Back in 2022, Celine revealed her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis and canceled her remaining tour dates at the time. Stiff-person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder which 'causes muscle stiffness and painful spasms that come and go and can worsen over time,' per John Hopkins Medicine. In a video uploaded to her Instagram page, the singer had emotionally explained, 'Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life. 'Sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to sing the way I'm used to.' Dion added, 'I'm working hard with my sports medicine therapist every day to build back my strength and my ability to perform again, but I have to admit it's been a struggle. 'All I know is singing. It's what I've done all my life, and it's what I love to do the most,' the mom-of-three continued. Last year in May, Celine gave a health update during an interview with Vogue and expressed that her 'happiness has come back.' She continued, 'It has been a big burden on my shoulders, and a lot of that weight's now I can just focus on reality. That's wonderful.' And during an appearance on Today also last year, the performer stated, 'I believe in myself, in my bravery' while adding that she will not let the disorder 'control my life'; seen above at 2024 Grammy Awards in L.A. And during an appearance on Today also last year, the performer stated, 'I believe in myself, in my bravery' while adding that she will not let the disorder 'control my life.' 'I'm going to come onstage because I'm ready. And my vocal cords will not scare me because I'm going to be ready, and I'm going to hit those notes.' Celine - whose experience with the disease was shown in her documentary I Am: Celine Dion - gave a moving performance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics as she belted out L'Hymne à L'Amour by Edith Piaf. She also presented the Album of the Year award to Taylor Swift at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Daisy May Cooper shares her 'real name' in sweet social media post
In a post marking her son Benji's first birthday this week, Daisy May Cooper seemingly revealed that her legal surname is still the same as her ex-husband, Will Weston Daisy May Cooper has seemingly shared her real legal name as she posted a sweet throwback photo on social media. The actress and writer, who won the 2018 BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for playing Kerry Mucklowe in the BBC Three series This Country, has always been known by the surname Cooper since rising to fame. However, in a post shared this week, she revealed that her surname is actually Weston. The photo, shared by Daisy on her Instagram Stories on Friday, is an image of her hospital visit on June 6, 2024, when she gave birth to her son Benji. She wrote: "1 year ago today at 03.04am we welcomed our baby boy into the world." In the snap, her full name is written as Daisy May Weston - the surname of her ex-husband, Will Weston. The pair married in The Cotswolds in September 2019 and they share to children to whom they are "both devoted parents". However, they decided to part ways in 2021 after the Covid-19 lockdown "shone a spotlight" on their marital difficulties. Daisy, 38, is now in a relationship with her new partner, Anthony Huggins, who is Benji's father. The couple met on dating app Hinge in December 2021 and welcomed their child a year ago. When her youngest son was born, Daisy announced the news via Instagram and detailed how the little one arrived earlier than planned, penning: "You came a bit earlier than we expected and gave me the worst post op constipation that I nearly had to phone the Samaritans but my god you are perfect. "I cannot thank @deliverysuitegrh enough. The way you looked after us through such a scary time was above and beyond." Daisy's pregnancy was announced in March last year when she and Anthony packed on PDA while shopping for baby clothes in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The couple held hands when they stepped out for a spot of shopping, with the actress' bump on full display in a figure-hugging all-black look. The pair could barely keep their hands off one another while making the most of the sunny weather, and Daisy was seen heartily laughing as they went about their day. At the time, a source said: "Daisy is pregnant and is really excited to become a mum for the third time with her new partner. The pair have been going strong, so the addition of a baby will only bring them closer together." Then earlier this year, the couple sparked engagement rumours after Daisy was spotted wearing a diamond rock on her ring finger. Speculation that Anthony had popped the question began in February when Daisy was promoting her BBC series Am I Being Unreasonable? on her Instagram Stories and referred to Anthony as her "fiancé" for the first time. In a clip, she jested that her "fit fiancé and baby daddy" would make an appearance on screen. It was reported at the beginning of the year that Daisy and Anthony were happily engaged and "over the moon" with the news after a secret proposal. A source told The Sun at the time: "Daisy and Anthony are madly in love with each other and are a success story for dating apps. Their relationship has gone from strength to strength and already have a baby boy together." In addition to son Benji, Daisy shares children Pip, five, and Jack, three, with her ex Will. After their break-up, Daisy admitted to The Times: "Will is amazing, an incredible, incredible dad - but fundamentally, there wasn't real love there, I don't think there ever was, really." She went on to reveal that the lockdown "shone a spotlight" on their marital difficulties" and that she needed to be by herself after the strains of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Billie Piper 'let slip' she was returning to Doctor Who weeks ago
Billie Piper will be the next Doctor after it was revealed in the finale episode of the latest series last weekend - but she accidentally 'shared' the news weeks before Actress Billie Piper appeared to let slip she was returning to Doctor Who weeks before it was revealed. The 42-year-old will become the second female Doctor in the next series. So far, Jodie Whittaker is the only female to take on the iconic role. It comes after Ncuti Gatwa's shock exit during the finale of the latest series when his character regenerated into Billie in his final episode, which aired on the BBC on Saturday, May 31. Speaking in BBC Three's Doctor Who: Unleashed to mark the 20 years since the show was revived, Billie dropped a huge hint she was returning to the show for the third time, following her original appearance as Rose Tyler from 2005 to 2006 and a cameo in 2010. Asked if she would ever make a comeback in the interview filmed weeks before the news was officially announced, she said: "Yeah I would… I would come back. What's funny is that I never feel like I've left Doctor Who, because there is this huge Doctor Who afterlife." She continued: "Obviously people still really want to talk about it, it's a massive fandom, so we do conventions and we meet lots of the fans, and there's always features. It's always on the TV on some channel, and a new generation pick it up, so it never feels like it's over, like it does with all the other jobs I've done." Billie then accidentally blurted out: "So coming back is really good fun." Quickly correcting herself, she added: "So I would do it, but I still feel like I'm in it. Just a lot older." Now cat is out the bag, Billie has since said it was too good of an opportunity to turn down. In a statement, she shared: "It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse, as I have some of my best memories there. So to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn't refuse." Now it is rumoured that the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant, could also return to the show alongside Billie 20 years after they first appeared on screen together. Though if Billie is the new Doctor, it's unclear what role David would take on. A source told The Sun: "The BBC brought Doctor Who back in 2005 and there is talk about a possible one-off project to celebrate the 20th anniversary. David and Billie were a hugely popular partnership and he brought in a golden age of Doctor Who. "With the anniversary of the reboot this year there have been some ideas floated about, with the thought of maybe bringing David and Billie back together for one last hurrah. When David's Doctor bi-generated in the 60th anniversary special, his 'half' went on to live a normal life in an alternative universe while Ncuti Gatwa's carried on as the Time Lord. 'It wouldn't be beyond the realms of imagination for him to return with Billie as Rose for a one-off special to celebrate not only their partnership, but the anniversary of BBC bringing back Doctor Who." David, 54, played the 10th Doctor from 2005 to 2010 and appeared in three specials returning as the 14th Doctor before handing the role over to 32-year-old Sex Education star Ncuti. Speaking about his exit from the show after just one season, Ncuti told fans: "You know when you get cast, at some point, you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget and a role that will be part of me forever. "I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor." Explaining his reasons for leaving, he added: "It's a role that demands a lot of you physically and emotionally and mentally. The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals. I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time." However, die-hard fans think there may be another reason behind his exit. Taking to X, a fan named Mr Tardis wrote: "In October 2024, Ncuti Gatwa was on 'The Graham Norton Show' saying he was going to be filming another series of DW next year. In June 2025, he officially leaves the show and regenerates. This was never the plan. What a shame. He deserved so much better." But the BBC were quick to shut down those claims. A spokesperson said: "Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been 'axed' is pure fiction."
