Costume fun for Uttoxeter ice skating competitors
The duo performed to the 2007 Eurovision song Flying the Flag (For You) by Scooch."The audience was cheering for us; it was brilliant, and we're really excited to perform the routine again in Milton Keynes," she said.Ms Kaur, who restarted skating 18 months ago, added: "I was inspired to learn figure skating after seeing Johnny Weir's appearance on Dancing on Ice. "He's always been my favourite figure skater, and although I'd always been able to skate, I decided to take the leap into learning properly after seeing him perform. I'm so glad I did."
Head judge, actress and comedienne, Karina Essery, said: "Everyone was of an incredible standard, and every skater brought their very best. "It was very hard to choose winners because all the ideas were so creative, and all the skaters should be so proud of themselves."What makes Uttoxeter ice rink special is the support everyone shows for each other; it's fantastic to see and be a part of. It's an ice rink with a big heart."
General manager of the ice rink, Liz Howe, said: "Everyone was fantastic and it's what skating here is all about - having fun, building friendships and enjoying new experiences. "It means a lot to us to watch our skaters' confidence grow - children and adults - and that's also thanks to our brilliant team of coaches."We know the finalists who will be representing the rink at Milton Keynes will make Team Uttoxeter proud."
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Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The Osbournes who were snubbed from the family tribute: Ozzy's little-known son who was included in touching statement breaks his silence alongside sister who was left out - as mystery adopted child stays quiet
Ozzy Osbourne is survived by his six children following his death aged 76 on Tuesday - despite only four being mentioned in the family statement. The Black Sabbath frontman passed away 'surrounded by love', with children Jack, Kelly, Aimee, and Louis, along with wife Sharon named in the statement. But it remains a mystery why his two other children, Jessica and Elliot, were snubbed from the family tribute. Hours after it was published to social media, Jessica reshared Mario Lopez's tribute to her own Instagram and penned, 'RIP Ozzy.' It is unclear if she will release her own public statement, along with Elliot. Jessica was the one who made Ozzy a grandparent for the first time, and despite never appearing in The Osbournes' TV show, she was mentioned in the episode 'Smells Like Teen Spirits,' when Ozzy learned that she had welcomed a daughter. Jessica, who is now a Broadway actress, has two daughters, Isabelle and Kitty, and one son called Harry. Meanwhile, not much is known about Elliot Kingsley as he tends to keep out of the spotlight with no public social media accounts. Louis was clearly devastated by his father's passing, as he changed his Facebook profile picture to an all-black screen. Ozzy had three children from his first marriage, and three from his marriage to Sharon, whom he remained married to until his death. Before tying the knot to Sharon, he married his first wife Thelma Riley in 1971 after meeting her in a Birmingham nightclub. Together, they welcomed children Jessica and Louis, although details surrounding their birthdays are unclear. Ozzy also adopted Thelma's five-year-old son Elliot from a previous relationship. Louis now works as a DJ and married actress Louise Lennon in 2004. The pair tied the knot in 2004, with Ozzy unable to attend after suffering major injuries after being injured in a quad bike accident. In the 2011 documentary film God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, produced by his son Jack, he revealed that he could not even remember when Louis and Jessica were born. Ozzy and Thelma Riley's son Louis, who was mentioned in the statement despite his siblings being left off, changed his Facebook profile picture to black following the news Louis also opened up about growing up with a drunk father. 'When he was around and he wasn't [drunk], he was a great father,' he said in the documentary. 'But that was kind of seldom, really. I just have a lot of memories of him being drunk, random s**t like driving cars across fields and crashing them in the middle of the night and stuff like that. 'It's not good for family life, really.' His older sister, Jessica added: 'I don't remember being put to bed or having a bath by dad or anything like that. 'I wouldn't say he was there for us, no, never on sports day, school trip, parents' evening. He wasn't like that, no.' After divorcing Thelma, Osbourne went on to marry Sharon in 1982. Their first child, daughter Aimee was born September 2, 1983. One year later, they welcomed daughter Kelly (born October 27, 1984), and on November 8, 1985, their son, Jack was born. Aimee - who is also a singer and performs under her initials ARO - was born in London and raised in California until the age of 16 but moved out of the family home as filming for The Osbournes began in the early 2000s. Reflecting on her decision to not appear on the show she said: 'Back then, I still felt I was trying to figure out who I was in the chaos of family life, so why on earth would I want that portrayed on television? 'I wanted to protect myself, my parents, my siblings, too. They were very young, very impressionable.' She later defended her decision in 2008 and told The Independent: 'I'm not some weirdo depressed daughter that's afraid of the world and locks herself in her room all day. 'I just didn't choose to do the show. I want to be a singer, and I felt if I'd stayed with the Osbournes and done the whole thing I would have been typecast right away. '[Sharon] was hurt, and we definitely had a tough time with disagreements. I'm more reserved and my private life is very important.' Aimee also has a strained relationship with younger sister Kelly, who confirmed in an interview four years ago that they are estranged. Appearing on the Dax Shepard podcast - Armchair Expert in 2021, Kelly revealed: 'We don't talk. We're just really different. 'She doesn't understand me and I don't understand her.' Back in 2015 Aimee admitted to The Independent that she and Kelly were not on close terms and said: 'I wouldn't say there is an ease between us, but there is an acceptance. Do we socialize? No.' However, Aimee and brother Jack's bond is much better, with the pair both running production company Osbourne Media together. The Osbourne family said in a statement on Tuesday: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' Ozzy revealed earlier this year that he could no longer walk amid his years-long battle with Parkinson's disease. However, he still managed to reunite with his bandmates Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward for their final gig earlier this month. Amid his ailing health, Ozzy admitted he was unsure whether to perform standing up or sitting down following a series of spinal operations. The singer was in strict training, which even sees his blood pressure being taken 15 times a day. He explained: 'I have got this trainer guy who helps people get back to normal. It's hard going, but he's convinced that he can pull it off for me. I'm giving it everything I've got. 'It's endurance. The first thing that goes when you're laid up is your stamina. 'I am having my blood pressure taken 15 times a day.. I've got this f***ing device on my finger. It's a monitor to say how my heart rate is.' Ozzy vowed to do the 'best he can' during his final show after his string of health concerns in recent years. The star was a titan of music who somehow survived controversies that would end the careers of many others, and weathered health problems that would leave most of us on our backs. The death of the man who invented headbanging ends the final chapter of a life that was marked by both dizzying success and fame but also scandal, abuse and even prison time. The singer, who sold more than 100 million records, will forever be synonymous with the heavy metal band he formed in his home city. With hits that included Iron Man, War Pigs and Paranoid, Black Sabbath's pushing of occult themes proved both hugely popular and controversial, with a future pope even condemning Osbourne for his 'subliminal satanic influence'. Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham in 1948, and dropped out of school at the age of 15. After serving two months in prison for burglary, he decided to pursue his love of music and by 1970 Black Sabbath had gained a huge following in the US and UK with the release of their first album. Ozzy quit the band in 1978 and divorced his first wife Thelma Mayfair, who he had two children with, four years later, amid his ongoing substance abuse problems. He went on to marry second wife Sharon Osbourne, who helped him transform into a successful solo artist and the couple had three children together. Ozzy gained a whole new audience of fans with the family's reality TV show The Osbournes in 2001. He is survived by his wife Sharon and his five children, Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack.
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Alice Cooper dedicates Cardiff show to 'legend' Ozzy Osbourne as he shares emotional tribute to one of rock n roll's 'giants' after his death aged 76
Alice Cooper dedicated his Cardiff show to 'legend' Ozzy Osbourne as shared an emotional tribute to one of rock n roll's 'giants'. The Black Sabbath musician passed away 'surrounded by love' on Tuesday morning at the age of 76, a statement from his family confirmed tonight. Fellow rocker Vincent Damon Furnier, known by his stage name Alice Cooper, dedicated his show to Ozzy as he took to the stage with his band in Wales on Tuesday. 'Well, we all know that time is going to take us rockers, but when the giants fall, it's really hard to accept,' he said on stage. 'Even though everybody saw it coming with Ozzy, it just took our breath away when it happened. 'So Ozzy and family - your records and your music and your legend and all that you brought - the humour to the rock business - will live on forever and we're gonna miss you man.' Elsewhere Alice and his band said: 'The whole world is mourning Ozzy tonight. Over his long career, he earned immense respect among his peers and from fans around the world as an unmatched showman and cultural icon. 'I always saw Ozzy as a cross between the prince of darkness, which is the persona his fans saw, and the court jester. That was the side that his family and friends saw. 'He was and will continue to be a rock n roll legend. Rock n Roll is a family and a fraternity. When we lose one of our own it bleeds. I wish I would have gotten to know my brother Ozzy better. 'Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and the rest of the Ozzy brood - our prayers are with you tonight. A titanic boulder has crashed, but rock will roll on.' Alice signed off an Instagram post with: 'Rest easy Ozzy and we'll see you on the other side! - Alice, Sheryl, Chuck, Ryan, Tommy, Nita, Glen and our entire crew.' Elsewhere Chris Martin also dedicated Coldplay's show at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, on Tuesday to Ozzy. He said: 'We'd like to dedicate this whole show to the incredible genius, talent, and character-full gift to the world who was Ozzy Osbourne. We send our love to his family.' Chris then sang a stripped down version of Black Sabbath's 1972 hit Changes, before saying: 'Ozzy, we love you, wherever you're going.' On Wednesday morning, keyboardist Rick Wakeman appeared on Radio 4 talking about his friendship with Ozzy, and admitted he didn't think The Osbournes star would have survived as long with Sharon. Talking about the rocker, he said: 'Ozzy hadn't been well. I met Sharon and Ozzy together when they got together in 1980, I went to a concert in upstate New York, one of Ozzy's very first solo shows. And that was when he was there with Sharon, who is lovely. At that time, everybody just thought Sharon was sort of acting on behalf of her father as the management. 'But Ozzy said to me, he said, "Things are going to change. Sharon and I are an item and will be forever. And she's going to take over my management." I remember saying to him, "Does her dad know? Because he's got quite a strong reputation", and he went "Not yet". I went right, "I don't want to be around when he does." 'He was very generous to Sharon and actually they fell out a lot- but Sharon was, I don't think Ozzy was… this might sound a bit awful, but I don't think Ozzy would have survived as long as he did had it not been for Sharon. Sharon in many ways saved Ozzy's life. For that she should be incredibly proud. 'Ozzy was cleverer than people think. When I did the Osmosis album with him in New York, I realised there was so much more to him musically than just being the front man in a heavy metal band. He knew what he wanted, he was very clever and he was also clever enough as far as the media were concerned to become a caricature of himself.' The Osbourne family announced Ozzy's death in a statement which read: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. 'He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.' Tributes flooded in last night, with musical legend Sir Elton saying Ozzy was a 'huge trailblazer' who 'secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods'. He posted on Instagram: 'So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away. He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. 'He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx.' After sharing the stage at Villa Park in Birmingham, Ronnie Wood said he is 'very sad' to learn of Ozzy's death. The Rolling Stone posted on X: 'I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham.' Ozzy's Black Sabbath bandmates declared 'Ozzy forever!' in a powerful tribute to the icon on X. American actor Jason Momoa, 45, who joined the the Black Sabbath frontman on stage at Villa Park in Birmingham less than three weeks ago, also paid tribute. Sharing an emotional message to his 'family', Jason shared a photo on Instagram with Sharon and Ozzy back stage at the concert. He wrote: 'Love you @ozzyosbourne All my aloha @sharonosbourne and ohana. So grateful. RIP'. The rocker was able to bid an emotional farewell to his fans on stage this month as he reunited with his original Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward for the first time since 2005. 'You've no idea how I feel - thank you from the bottom of my heart,' Osbourne told the crowd in his final speech. With 42,000 fans packed into Birmingham's Villa Park, heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath returned to the stage for Ozzy's farewell show - the band's first live performance since 2005. They were joined onstage by a host of celebrity friends, among them Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.
The Sun
10 minutes ago
- The Sun
Ozzy's tireless resolve to go out with a bang at last show took its toll – but Sharon never left his side in final days
THE last time I saw Ozzy Osbourne up close at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, he choked up as he admitted his devoted wife Sharon had 'saved his life'. And friends tell me Sharon was by his side until the very end, when Ozzy passed away peacefully at their home in Buckinghamshire on Tuesday morning. 9 9 9 By good fortune, their children had spent precious time with Ozzy in his final weeks - after coming to Birmingham to celebrate his triumphant final performance with Black Sabbath on July 5. Friends say Sharon had gone to great lengths to adapt their home to Ozzy's needs prior to his passing - ensuring his beloved Bucks home was a place of peace and sanctuary for him. It was there, they explain, that Ozzy underwent gruelling physiotherapy which helped him give the performance of a lifetime. And it was there that Ozzy said his final farewell. 'Ozzy's family were with him to the end,' a friend says. 'For a man whose life was the definition of chaotic, his final days in this world were incredibly peaceful. 'Sharon barely left his side. Kelly, Jack and Aimee also spent time with him. It was a very special time. 'Ozzy and Sharon had marked their 63rd wedding anniversary the day before his show in Birmingham and when they returned home Ozzy sadly went downhill. 'He had been unwell with his Parkinson's and that huge final show took its toll. 'No one foresaw how quickly he passed away. But although it was a shock, there is gratitude that they could all be together.' Another friend added: 'Ozzy was immensely proud of being able to put on that show and perform. "To be up in front of his fans performing was what drove him. Watch emotional moment Ozzy Osbourne speak about amazing life with Sharon in resurfaced moment from The Osbournes as rocker tragically dies 'He said it himself on stage, 'This is the best thing I have ever done.' 'Those words couldn't have been more true.' I was lucky enough to be among the 40,000 fans - and the 5.8million who tuned in live - to watch Ozzy take his final bow. Admittedly I was astonished at the form he was in. Just seven months before Back To The Beginning, I was flown out to Cleveland, Ohio, to watch Ozzy being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame for the second time. It was clear to me then he was struggling, with Ozzy sadly unable to perform at the Rocket Mortgage Field House arena despite his best efforts. We had been scheduled to meet backstage for a quick interview and to celebrate the incredible honour. But I wasn't surprised, not upset, when I was told not long before we were due to meet that Ozzy would be unable to speak to me. Seeing him on stage, clearly not feeling his best, was difficult to witness. But Ozzy made light of the pain he was in, paying tribute to his wife Sharon and enjoying the incredible musical tributes, with Jack Black hailing him as 'the greatest frontman in rock n roll history.' Speaking to the audience, Ozzy jokes: 'You know what, I can't believe I am here myself.' Sharon, as ever, was by his side and backstage helped tend to his every need. I was last with Sharon two years ago and we spoke at length, off the record, about Ozzy and how he was faring. His health, which has been well reported on, was not the best and Sharon spoke candidly about her concerns for him. She broke down as she told me he had been 'plagued medically' and touched my arm as she told me, 'I think, 'No more, please, God.' Once the interview was finished we hugged and I told her she was an amazing woman. 9 9 Sharon wiped away tears as we spoke about Ozzy. It was clear she worried about him regularly and would move heaven and earth to keep him on this earth. Her devotion to the man she married back in 1982 never faltered. Sharon was steadfast in her support of Ozzy. Yes he could be outrageous and outspoken, and I don't doubt he wasn't downright annoying at times, but Ozzy was the man Sharon loved with all of her heart. Ozzy as he grew older paid her devotion back in spades and friends said the pair had spoken about how they would spend their final years together at their home in Buckinghamshire. And it certainly didn't involved him putting his feet up. 'Ozzy was always like, 'This is not the f***ing end..I have got stuff to do,'' a friend tells me. 'He liked being busy and he liked projects. 'He had found chatting to a ghost writer about his last two decades for his book Last Rites therapeutic and fun and he was looking forward to promoting it. 'Ozzy was also talking about going back into the studio and recording new material. 'Retirement was never an option for him. He used to recall his dad John retiring after dedicating his life to 'the electric company' as he called it. 'Ozzy would say all his dad told the family about was doing some gardening. 'Well Ozzy said that he went out and dug up the garden for a few days and then dropped dead - just like that. 'Ozzy felt that as hard as his workload was, John kind of had that purpose of going to work to provide for his family and have a role - and when it was absent it kind of left him lost. 'Ozzy made it clear many many times that he did not want to have a path. 9 9 'He never wanted to simply retire and stop making music or feeling the love from live audiences.' Heading to Birmingham on July 5 to see Black Sabbath again, I spoke to the organisers of the event about Ozzy's health and how he was doing. Remembering how he was back in October, I admitted I was concerned about how he would be able to cope with getting up on stage to perform. Just minutes before he took to the stage, I messaged someone close to him who I knew had been backstage with Ozzy and his family all day and asked if he would be singing. I talked to other journalists around him, and we remarked on whether Black Sabbath fans would be shocked by how frail he had become. Seconds after he appeared through the floor of the stage at Villa Park, we were eating our words. Ozzy was brimming with life and his speech, which had been more laboured when I saw him in Cleveland, was clearer than ever. It was the most astonishing turnaround I have witnessed in a long time. I know from those close to Ozzy he had worked tirelessly with a physiotherapist to prepare for the shows - which would not doubt have been painful and tiring. But the effort he put in for his fans more than paid off. His voice was remarkable given his health and he was in the highest of spirits, laughing as he blasted fans with a water cannon. 'It's so good to be on this f***ing stage,' Ozzy said during his first performance - which saw him giving the most emotional version of Mama, I'm Coming Home, that I've ever seen. Ozzy continued: 'I've been laid up for six years. You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' I got shivers as 40,000 people chanted his name, which left Ozzy looking close to tears. As his set finished, he took a mere 25 minute break before returning with his Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler to play War Pigs, N.I.B., Iron Man and Paranoid. Fireworks went off as the show finished and I left on an absolute high, blasting Sabbath songs in the car as I drove home. 9 The following day I wrote a special edition of Bizarre dedication to Ozzy and his homecoming - which has gone down in history. In the days that followed, those close to Ozzy sent me excited messages about what he was planning next. One friend told me: 'That audience reaction was always his super power. "He loved fans responding to him at Villa Park and for so many years even cheering him on in the street, simply for his fame as a reality star. 'Ozzy hated the thought of just withering away and stopping altogether.' Yesterday afternoon when I first got the call about Ozzy's death, my initial reaction was shock. How could the man I watched on stage looking so alive just over two weeks ago have passed away? It was a few hours later that I got the call from his representative to say that it was true and that Ozzy had sadly passed away. We agreed that the next time we met we would raise a toast to this brilliant man. Over the coming days and weeks, Ozzy's legacy not only to music, but to charity, will become even more apparent. This was a Birmingham born boy, who did far more than just good. Ozzy was the pioneer of heavy metal and was one of the most famous men in the world. But he never forgot where he came from - hence why the £140 million he raised from his Back To The Beginning concert will be distributed between Birmingham's Acorns Children's Hospice, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Cure Parkinson's. There will never be another man, or musician, like him. There is only one Ozzy Osbourne.
