Melanie Sykes shares heartbreaking health battle amid losing ‘half her hair'
The 54-year-old took to Instagram to show a bald spot, sharing that she blamed it on 'PTSD, shock, mistreatment and malpractice.'
Writing: 'This is a pic of me I took last week whilst in London investigating some health issues.
'I am experiencing alopecia and heart issues due to all that has happened over the last few months.'
Sykes added that she was taken to YouTube to share more details of her recent health battle, explaining that she wanted to 'share what I have learned, observed and endured recently.'
The TV presenter said that she wants to share the experience she has 'encountered in the British medical system in the state and private sector for the last few weeks.'
Along with the impact that mainstream media has had on her and her life.
Sykes wrote: 'This country must do better, and get better. Our health services are utterly shocking bar a few and rare decent humans who listen without predudice and judgement.
'It is a lottery who you will encounter and how that experience can play out.'
The former Big Breakfast presenter added that despite health issues, she is still 'full of love, hope and happiness.'
Adding: 'My two weeks in London were magical, and being with my sons, my pooch and my tiny circle of close friends who have been there for in spades has been so fun.
'I love them and am grateful to them always, and for the new friends, generous souls and new contacts I made over that two weeks.'
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Sykes left the TV business a while ago and previously worked with TV chef Gino D'Acampo, who has recently been accused of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour over a 12-year period, which he denies.
Talking on her YouTube channel, Sykes said that the stories lead to irregular heartbeats and hair loss.
Sharing: 'I am experiencing alopecia in quite a significant way. I have lost inches off my hairline at the back. I have probably got half my hair at the moment.'
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Refinery29
31 minutes ago
- Refinery29
This Pedicure is Controversial, But I Wear It Every Summer
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Tom's Guide
an hour ago
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Netflix is about to lose 7 shows — stream them before they're gone
Netflix regularly loses shows from its deep content library. Granted, the streaming service is also adding new ones nearly every day, and adds far more in a month than it loses — just look at the list of everything new on Netflix this August. But you still need to keep an eye out for when a favorite show or that acclaimed series you've been meaning to watch might be leaving Netflix. This month, the time to start keeping an eye out for what's leaving Netflix is right now. Between Aug. 15 and Aug. 19, the streaming service is going to remove seven shows from its library, and these shows aren't slouches either. "Ballers" was a big hit for HBO, and I enjoyed its first season — it's gone on Aug. 15, so you'll want to start binge-watching its five seasons now. Love a British crime drama like "MobLand"? Then you'll want to check out the acclaimed first two seasons of "Gangs of London" before the show goes back to being just on AMC Plus. Here are all seven shows that Netflix is about to lose this month, and why each one is worth watching before it's gone. "Ballers" stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Spencer Strasmore, a former NFL player who has moved on to the world of financial management. Of course, the easiest clients for him to find are former NFL players, including mercurial wide receiver Ricky Jerret (John David Washington). This show is definitely more "Entourage" than "Any Given Sunday," and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't rather be watching either of those over this HBO series. By the end of season 5, I was officially hate-watching the show, committed to seeing it through to the end. That said, the first season of the show was genuinely good, especially ther performances of Washington as Jerret, Omar Miller as lineman Charles Greane and Rob Corddry as Spencer's partner in crime, Joe Krutel. If you just want a fun show with some sizzle, there are worse things to watch. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Watch "Ballers" on Netflix until August 15 "Unreal" stars Shiri Appleby as Rachel Goldberg, a young reality show producer. She was a producer on the reality dating show "Everlasting" until she had a meltdown during the filming of a season finale. Now, she's back, rehired by her boss, Quinn (Constance Zimmer), much to the surprise of everyone on the show. Now, Rachel has to balance rebuilding her reputation, keeping the show as salacious as ever, and working alongside a rival producer, Shia (Aline Elasmar), and Rachel's cameraman ex-boyfriend Jeremy (Josh Kelly), who already moved on to someone else. This show got rave reviews across its first three seasons, when it aired on Lifetime. Its fourth and final season moved to Hulu and admittedly seems to be a forgettable one based on its 46% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences still liked it. The best endorsement I've seen for "Unreal" came from Entertainment Weekly's Dalene Rovenstine after the series premiere aired. "If you love 'The Bachelor,'" she wrote, "you're going to like 'UnREAL.' If you hate 'The Bachelor,' you're going to like 'UnREAL.' So basically, Lifetime has done it: They've found the perfect show for everyone." Watch "Unreal" on Netflix until August 19 With a title like "Kevin Can F**k Himself," you'd assume this show might be about a guy named, well, Kevin. But you'd be wrong, because it's really about Kevin's wife Allison (Annie Murphy), who's had about enough of being in an unhappy marriage with Kevin. To be fair, she's right to be fed up. Kevin is the worst — an immature narcissist whose behavior borders on domestic abuse. But what causes her to snap is when she learns from Patty (Mary Hollis Inboden), the sister of Kevin's best friend and one of her and Kevin's neighbors, that Kevin had secretly drained their savings account. What really sets this show apart is how it treats its portrayal of Allisons's life. When she's with Kevin, the show presents itself as a multi-cam sitcom complete with canned laughter. But when she's away from her awful husband and on her path of self-discovery, the show transitions to a single-camera comedy-drama. "Kevin Can F**k Himself" is worth checking out for this masterful technique alone, and at just 16 episodes, it's a quick binge-watch. Watch "Kevin Can F**k Himself" on Netflix until August 19 If you liked the "MobLand" season finale and can't wait for "MobLand" season 2, let "Gangs of London" tide you over while you wait. This crime thriller series takes its name from the 2006 video game of the same name, which was a spin-off from The Getaway video game franchise. The series centers around the Wallace crime family, which had been led by Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney) until his shocking death at the beginning of the show. This throws the London criminal underworld into chaos, with Finn's son Sean (Joe Cole) and widow (Michelle Fairley) trying to keep the Wallace criminal enterprise intact. Like with "MobLand" and the British crime movies that "Gangs of London" draws inspiration from, there's no shortage of violence in this show, so much so that critics and audiences dinged the second season for being too violent. Which, given that "Havoc" director Gareth Evans created this show, maybe that shouldn't be a surprise. But season 1 received near universal acclaim, and is worth watching before it's gone from Netflix. Watch "Gangs of London on Netflix until August 19 In "The Walking Dead," Andrew Lincoln stars as Rick Grimes, a Georgia sheriff's deputy who leads a group of survivors during a zombie apocalypse. By the end of his time in the show, he became the leader of the Alexandria Safe-Zone, but in "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" he's been conscripted into the Civic Republic Military (CRM), potentially the most powerful military left on Earth. However, despite being ostensibly held captive by this powerful force, nothing is going to stop him from trying to reunite with his wife, Michonne (Danai Gurira), a katana-wielding killing machine who has been searching for Rick since season 10 of "The Walking Dead." As the old saying goes, "All's fair in love and war," and this six-episode miniseries has plenty of both. So whether you're a "Walking Dead" fanatic or just want a bingeable drama, "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" is a must-watch before it leaves Netflix this month. Watch "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" on Netflix until August 19 "The Boys" wasn't Seth Rogen's first foray into a comic book adaptation. Years before and his creative partner Evan Goldberg would serve as executive producers on the Prime Video superhero show based on the iconic Garth Ennis comic, they developed "Preacher" for AMC, based on another beloved Ennis comic series. For those who missed the show, "Preacher" stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, a Texas preacher with a penchant for hard-drinking and chain-smoking. During a crisis of faith, he becomes infused with an extraordinary power called Genesis, and it gives him some serious superpowers. It also convinces him to go find God (literally) and make God answer for all He's done wrong. Jesse won't be going alone though. He's bringing his violent ex-girlfriend, Tulip (Ruth Negga), and his new vampire friend from Ireland, Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). If you love an irreverent superhero show like "The Boys," then definitely check out "Preacher" before it leaves Netflix. Watch "Preacher" on Netflix until August 19 I'll freely admit, "Into the Badlands" is the one show on this list I had never even heard of before. But after watching the trailer and reading more about the martial arts drama, I'm bummed I missed it and will need to check it out before it leaves Netflix for good. "Into the Badlands" stars Daniel Wu as Sunny. He exists 500 years in the future, where war has turned Earth into a post-apocalyptic world. Sunny serves as a chief warrior to the Badlands' most powerful baron, Quinn (Marton Csokas). The world building in this show sounds incredible. "Into the Badlands" exists in a world largely, but not entirely, devoid of technology, where barons control vital resources and rule over a caste system that includes "cogs" (slaves), "dolls" (prostitutes) and "clippers" (warriors). If you're someone like me who loves a sci-fi or fantasy show with deep lore to explore, then "Into the Badlands" might be the show to prioritize binge-watching before it's gone. Watch "Into the Badlands" on Netflix until August 19 Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Terry Reid, Artists' Artist Who Nearly Became Led Zeppelin's Singer, Dead at 75
Terry Reid, the artists' artist who was revered by the likes of Aretha Franklin and Mick Jagger, and nearly became the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, has died, The Guardian reports. He was 75. A rep for the British musician confirmed his death. An exact cause of death was not given, though Reid had been battling cancer and other health issues. A recent GoFundMe said Reid had been 'in and out of the hospital, enduring rounds of treatment and uncertainty,' forcing him to cancel a six-week tour scheduled for the fall. More from Rolling Stone Loni Anderson, Emmy-Nominated Star of 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' Dies at 79 David Roach, Singer of Eighties Hard-Rock Band Junkyard, Dead at 59 Jeannie Seely, Razor-Sharp Country Singer Known as 'Miss Country Soul,' Dead at 85 With a reedy voice that could push to mighty and soulful heights, Reid earned the nickname 'Superlungs' (partly a nod, too, to his rendition of the Donovan song, 'Superlungs My Supergirl'). Between 1968 and 1978, Reid released five albums. And though he never scored a genuine chart hit, he garnered high praise from critics and esteem from his peers. During the late Sixties, Reid opened for the Rolling Stones and Cream, and in 1968 Franklin famously stated: 'There are only three things happening in England: the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Terry Reid.' Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant paid tribute on Instagram, writing that Reid's 'enthusiasm and encouragement were incredible,' and adding: 'Still teenagers, we crashed each others' gigs and crucified 'Season of the Witch' time and time again … So much fun. So on it. He was all of everything … such charisma.' Plant continued: 'His voice, his range … his songs capturing that carefree era … Superlungs indeed. He catapulted me into an intense new world he chose to decline … I listen now to his album River and shed a tear for my brother in arms.' Reid's 1973 album, River, stands out as the gem in his catalog for its mix of progressive folk tinged with elements of R&B, funk, pop, and samba. While it became a longtime cult favorite that received a proper reissue in 2016, it struggled to gain any traction upon its original release. 'I was just doing my thing, mixing blues and rock and other influences,' Reid told The Guardian last year. 'I love music, whether it's Brazilian samba or Bulgarian choirs, I'm listening to it all. But Atlantic didn't really get behind me. Now people tell me how much they love River — I think it's found its audience.' Reid's originals were also frequently recorded by other artists, especially 'Without Expression,' a song he wrote when he was 14. The track was covered (often under slightly different names) by the Hollies, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, REO Speedwagon, and John Mellencamp, who turned it into a minor hit in the late Nineties. Nash, in a tribute of his own, wrote, 'Finding it hard to put into words how sad I am about the passing of my dear friend Terry. How was it just a few short months ago we were smiling on my bus together? He was such a force. A talent beyond what I can express right now. It is still one of my proudest moments having produced his beautiful album Seed of Memory. That voice. That guitar playing. That wonderful person we will all miss so dearly.' Born and raised in Cambridgeshire, England, Reid started playing guitar and writing his own songs as a teenager. His first break came in 1965, when his band, the Redbeats, opened a show for Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers. Jay was so impressed, he asked Reid to join his band; soon he was gigging around London and touring alongside the Stones, Ike and Tina Turner, and the Yardbirds. By 1967, Reid was embarking on a solo career, spurred on by his friend, Jimi Hendrix, and under the auspices of producer/manager Mickie Most. Reid released his debut album, Bang, Bang You're Terry Reid, in 1968, when he was just 18. That same year, Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page asked him if he'd be interested in fronting his next band. Though Reid considered it, he declined, instead suggesting Page check out the singer and drummer from another group called Band of Joy: Robert Plant and John Bonham. Reid tended to brush aside this sliding doors moment, noting that he was frequently asked to join other peoples' bands (he rebuffed Ritchie Blackmore's offer to front Deep Purple the following year). 'I was intent on doing my own thing,' he said. 'I contributed half the band — that's enough on my part,' he added of Zeppelin. After Bang Bang and his 1969 self-titled album, Reid fell out with Most. It took him several years to settle a contractual dispute with his former manager and producer, before he was able to finally record River. He released two more albums, 1976's Seed of Memory, and 1978's Rogue Waves, before stepping back from his solo career. He moved to California and, in the Eighties, started working as a session musician for artists like Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne. In 1991, Reid partnered with Trevor Horn for a comeback album, The Driver, which contained a cover of the Spencer Davis Group's 'Gimme Some Lovin'' that appeared on the soundtrack for the Tom Cruise racing movie, Days of Thunder. But that failed to garner much attention, and even Reid was dissatisfied with the record, later calling it 'unlistenable.' While Reid did not release any more studio albums, he did drop several live albums and toured regularly. As his back catalog garnered renewed attention, he was enlisted for vocal work by artists like DJ Shadow and Alabama 3. And new covers of his songs emerged, like a rendition of 'Rich Kid Blues' by Jack White's band, the Raconteurs, and a version of 'To Be Treated Rite' by Chris Cornell that appeared on his posthumous collection, No One Sings Like You Anymore, Vol. 1. Reid even revealed that Dr. Dre was such a fan of Seed of Memory, that the hip-hop legend invited him into the studio where they 'reworked it alongside his rappers.' Reid called it a 'fascinating experience,' though the sessions still have not been released. 'I've never looked at making music as chasing fame and fortune,' Reid said. 'I'm part of a society of musicians and I love that I can go out there and sing — it's all I've ever wanted to do.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked Solve the daily Crossword
