Linda Nolan's stepson dies of cancer months after singer
Linda Nolan's stepson has died months after the singer also lost her life to cancer.
The Nolans singer died aged 65 in January after a 20-year battle with the disease which spread around her body.
Lloyd Hudson, the son of Nolan's late husband, Brian Hudson, died on Tuesday following a much shorter battle with cancer.
He was diagnosed with throat cancer in September 2023.
However, due to its severity, it was deemed incurable and surgery was therefore ruled out.
A close family friend said: 'They were fighting side by side – Linda would finish her treatment and text him to check in.
'They joked about their meds, shared their side effects, cried together too. Linda really thought he'd outlive her. She needed that belief.'
'Cancer doesn't pick and choose'
Speaking on Good Morning Britain last August, Nolan said her family had been given a 'rough time' by cancer as she spoke of her stepson's diagnosis.
On the prevalence of the disease in her family, she said: 'I'm just like everybody else really – I just want it to go, or leave us alone for a little while at least.
'It doesn't pick and choose. You can't put your name down and say you're next in line. But we have had a rough time with it.'
Nolan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 but given the all-clear in 2011, before the cancer returned in 2017.
In 2020, it had spread, and by 2023 it was in her brain.
The Nolans comprised of sisters Linda, Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne. They had seven UK top 20 hits, including I'm in the Mood for Dancing in 1980, which peaked at number 3 during a 15-week chart run.
In August 2020, Nolan appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain to discuss how she and her sister, Anne, were both being treated for the illness at the same time.
When the Princess of Wales revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer in March last year, Linda told GMB she thought her video message to the nation was 'perfect'.
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Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
How DOES Elizabeth Hurley look so good at 60? Secrets behind the actress's eternal youth as she shows off her 'birthday suit' in sultry snap
In the 1990s, a new era of It Girl took the social scene by storm - with Elizabeth Hurley emerging as Queen Bee. With hunky star Hugh Grant on her arm at the hottest parties in town and starring in one of the biggest comedies of the decade, the Basingstoke-born brunette bombshell dazzled audiences with her beauty - and 30 years on, she's still stunning on every red carpet. Hurley has rarely been off screens since the nineties, racking up acting credits over the years including in teen drama Gossip Girl in 2012 - but despite three decades in the spotlight, she appears not to have aged at all. After 'hard launching' her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus in April, many fans were left gobsmacked at how young the actress looks - even after turning 60 on Tuesday and celebrating the milestone by posing completely nude outside in a meadow. Experts believe a cocktail of good skincare, well-maintained hair and a glamorous wardrobe has taken years off her appearance, as she exudes confidence and style prowess. One of the products that she swears by is moisturiser, previously admitting to Women & Home magazine that she applies it to her face and neck multiple times throughout the day. 'The one thing I swear by is moisturiser – and lots of it,' she told the outlet. 'I'll moisturise my face about six times a day and my neck about 10 times a day.' One of Hurley's favourite products is Estée Lauder's Advance Night Repair serum, £55, which she has been using for the past 30 years, ever since she became a spokesperson for the beauty brand in the 90s. However, despite Hurley not admitting to having any work done, the beauty experts suspect that the star may have had some minor tweakments to help elevate and preserve her strikingly good looks. Laura Kay, beauty expert and Founder of Laura Kay London told MailOnline: 'While she's certainly managed to keep a youthful appearance by staying active and paying attention to her diet and lifestyle, there are definitely hints that she's had a bit of 'tweakment' work done. 'Looking a bit closer, there are subtle signs she might have had light Botox treatments and a bit of filler, to restore some volume in her face. I'd also guess she's had some skin boosters or injectable hydrators to keep everything looking fresh and hydrated.' In an interview with the Sunday Times in 2021, Hurley was asked whether she was a fan of plastic surgery to which she said: 'No! I don't think it makes you look younger, I think it just makes you look like you've got filler. It's not my cup of tea.' Because of Hurley's dislike of unnatural cosmetic work, Dr Ellie Sateei says that Hurley would have likely gone for a low-key treatment. She said: 'Tweakments are all about subtle refinements, so think of tiny adjustments that enhance your features without making it obvious you've had anything done. 'For Liz, this likely means low-dose botulinum toxin to soften fine lines around her eyes and forehead, keeping her expressions natural and relaxed. She probably avoids over-relaxing the muscles, which helps her maintain that lively, approachable look.' Aesthetician Dr Ed Robinson suspects that Hurley may have had the 'occasional preventative Botox to reduce the formation of fine lines and lift the eyebrows'. Dr Barbara Kubicka of Clinicbe says that the actress' skin has 'shown signs of excellent collagen maintenance'. This could be down to remedies that stimulate the skin's own rejuvenation such as gentle radiofrequency, microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or even bioremodelling injectables like Profhilo. Dr Kubicka says Hurley's lifestyle choices, such as using sun protection, prioritising hydration and using a simple skincare routine rich in retinoids, vitamin C and peptides, will have helped her skin remain dewy just like that of a 25-year-old. But one of the best beauty tips that Hurley has learnt over the years is allowing the skin to breathe by getting lots of fresh air. She previously told Harper's Bazaar: 'My grandmother had beautiful skin and she believed that fresh air was imperative. I never sleep with the heating on in my room and always have the window wide open - even if it's snowing.' The former girlfriend of Hugh Grant is also rarely seen without her signature smoky eye makeup, which adds to her youthful aura. Black kohl liner, shimmery grey eye shadow, light pink lip gloss and pink blush are Hurley's look of choice, mixing old-school Hollywood glamour with a slight edge. Ms Kay believes this look can bring a touch of radiance and make you look fresh-faced - even at 60 years old. She said: 'Liz is definitely not shy of makeup which makes her look younger - her signature look focuses on her eyes, with a smoky, smouldering style that she's stuck with for years. Her hair is usually done in soft waves, which really completes the look. And she loves a glossy lip to finish everything off.' Hurley has previously told You Magazine that she always curls her lashes and will often carry a Bobbi Brown Blush and lip gloss in her handbag to touch up throughout the day when she's on the go. While it is generally thought that sleeping in your eye makeup is bad for your skin health, controversially, Hurley admits to doing it 'quite often'. She told the magazine: 'Quite often I'll leave some of my eye make-up on if I think my eyelashes can last another day. I'll clean my face and apply serum and moisturiser but leave the eyes. It looks fabulous the next day – and you're ready in five seconds.' Ever since rising to fame, Hurley has always maintained her wavy chocolate mane, often playing the mysterious brunette bombshell in her acting roles. Although, like many 60-year-olds, Liz may have more than a few grey hairs creeping through, she's not letting those silver strands flow freely quite yet. Instead, she has caramel blonde highlights intertwined with her darker strands, a technique used by hairdressers to help frame the face. Tina Farey, editorial director at RUSH Hair said: 'Her chocolate brown base has golden highlights blended throughout which adds to her youthful and ultra-elegant appearance. 'The placement of the lighter pieces is crucial to achieve a more voluminous look, with the focus being on the top of her hair and framing her face, which amps up the dimension and movement.' Ms Farey says that Hurley choosing to wear her hair in her signature 'bombshell' loose waves helps give the illusion of thicker hair. She added: 'With a triangular face shape, her sharp jawline and gorgeous high cheekbones are her most defining features - this pairs beautifully with her long, luscious locks.' In her late teens and early twenties Hurley sported bleach blonde hair and several piercings after the height of the punk era in the 70s (pictured in 1983) Liz Hurley, who would have been around 18 years old in this picture, also donned brown spiky tresses during her punk phase (pictured in 1983) This is a far cry from her late teens and early twenties in the 80s where Hurley sported bleach blonde spiky hair and several piercings after the height of the punk era in the 70s. 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Or, put another way, eat smaller meals, chew properly, ban snacking, and eat dinner earlier. This works for me.' Hurley also enjoys making a lot of her cupboard staples from scratch, rather than purchasing it ready-made from the shop. She told You Magazine: 'I eat lots of protein too, and I make my own bread. I found an old breadmaker that belonged to the previous owners of my house - it's straight out of the 1980s. I have a lot of bread - I love it. 'For years, I would buy wholemeal bread in the supermarket, not realising how much terrible stuff is in it. Like many, I'm obsessed with ultra-processed foods [UPF]. 'If you make a loaf of bread yourself and have a nice slice with butter and Marmite or honey, you're not hungry. And it's only one slice. Whereas with UPF bread you could have six slices and still go for another piece of toast.' 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I do them while waiting for the kettle to boil or cleaning my teeth. 'And when I'm in the country I do lots of walking and gardening. I'm always moving furniture, too. I'm pretty active. I don't really sit down until 6pm – I think it's quite good for you. Then you can flop!' She also admitted to the Telegraph that she does a lot of gardening and house work, adding that she doesn't like to sit still very much. Hurley is often showing off her toned washboard abs by stripping down to her bikini on Instagram, often to promote her swimwear brand, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, which she launched in 2005. She has sported some legendary dresses over the years, including her £3,000 black safety pin Versace gown often referred to as 'THAT dress' when she accompanied Hugh Grant to the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral in 1994. From Versace and Valentino to Gucci under the helm of Tom Ford, Hurley is anything but basic at red carpet events and often steals the show with some of the most figure-hugging, glitzy garments. She proved that age was just a number when she dug out her iridescent cowl-neck Versace gown that she famously wore to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) awards in 1999. Twenty years later, she put on the same glamorous frock and it fit her like a glove, indicating that she managed to maintain the toned physique she had when she was 34 at 55 years old - proving she is unafraid of a daring fashion statement. Mike Adler, who's been her stylist for red carpet events, tours and special projects since 2018, told the Telegraph: 'Her signature style always remains glamorous with ultra clean lines. A formal look centres around a brilliant cut, a bold, bright colour and a favourable neckline or deep plunge. 'She's always incredibly supportive of designers and their craft, and appreciative of being able to present with total confidence in the public eye.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The women who were too much for Jeremy Clarkson: The aunt-and-niece duo who sneered at his Farmer's Dog pub enjoy the high life in the Cotswolds after parting company with TV star over THOSE umbrellas
They faced a backlash from viewers after Jeremy Clarkson hired them to help him through the chaos of getting his Cotswolds pub the Farmer's Dog up and running. Loyal fans of the TV presenter were not impressed with the efforts of well-to-do entrepreneurs Sue and Rachel Hawkins who were branded 'snobby' and 'rude' after a series of clashes with the star. The pub transformer duo - who appeared in the final episodes of the latest series of Clarkson's Farm - ended up quitting the project just 48 hours after the grand opening of the country hostelry. That appeared to rattle viewers even more with accusations Sue and her niece Rachel had 'jumped ship' when 'the going got tough' while one went as far as accusing them of being an 'awful pair of individuals'. Rachel, 40, had pointed out the pub formerly known as The Windmill was 'not fit for purpose' with 'too many issues to run a successful business' that included 'failing water, no toilets, no gas, leaking roofs, and struggling staff'. While admitting he was battling to overcome 'massive, massive struggles, Clarkson's biggest bone of contention with the high spending pair seemed to be the cost of three massive umbrellas to cover his terrace which, along with lighting and heating, would set him back a staggering £40,000. Despite their sudden exit, Sue and Rachel are unlikely to be spending much time drowning their sorrows, MailOnline can reveal. The hospitality entrepreneurs are very familiar with the quaint Cotswolds pub scene and are well known in the area for revamping and bringing new life to struggling establishments. And while Sue, 58, prefers to stay out of the limelight, Rachel, 40, is happy to share insights into her lavish life amid the growing list of A-list celebrities settling in the area. Rachel is well-established within the Cotswolds horse racing fraternity along with her long-term partner former National Hunt jockey Will Kennedy, 43. She frequently uses social media to show off her array of glitzy outfits at leading high society events of 'the social season' including Royal Ascot, The Derby and the Cheltenham festival, her favourite race meeting. Such is her passion for the finer things in life, Rachel has also run a company hiring out 'exquisite' hand-crafted British hats for ladies attending events ranging from Henley Royal Regatta to Glorious Goodwood and Buckingham Palace garden parties. She is said to have started the business 'as an extension of her own personal hat collection'. One of her most recent social media posts shows she has also teamed up with ITV racing stylist Sarah Kate Byrne. The stylist hailed Rachel as her 'beautiful sidekick' as she announced she was to curate the Good Clothes Show at Chelsea Town Hall earlier this month. Sarah Kate - who has styled presenter Francesca Cumani's outfits since 2017 - has also described Rachel as an 'effervescent blonde'. Rachel's appearances at leading race meetings have certainly not gone unnoticed. In 2015 she landed a trip-of-a-lifetime for the dazzling blue and white outfit she was wearing at that year's Goodwood Festival. Rachel Hawkins featured among the supporting cast of the latest series of Clarkson's Farm after being hired by the TV star to provide expert advice Her prize for winning the 'best dressed' contest was a holiday for two in Cape Town with a VIP day out at the races. As Irish-born Will - who had more than 450 winners in a 25 years career before retiring in 2023 - was busy racing, Sue accompanied her on the trip. Rachel later told how she was 'so excited' by her experience after meeting up with England cricketer Jonny Bairstow who she said 'is a friend of mine' and was there with his mother and sister. She ended up 'a table behind' cricket legend Ian Botham while she also got to rub shoulders with the late sporting icons Eddie Jordan and Lester Piggott. She said afterwards: 'We were looked after like royalty.' Last week MailOnline told how Rachel is set to make a tidy profit after putting her detached period country home for £2.8 million country home up for sale in a raffle. She bought the property - which is nestled in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire - for £750,000 in November 2015. For as little as £10, entrants are being offered the chance to win the six bedroom house, which is crafted from classic Cotswold stone, and comes complete with stylish furniture. Organisers of the draw, Raffle House, promised the lucky winner of the competition would be able to have their own 'dream hom'e in an area where 'so many celebrities had chosen to live'. Alongside the original Chipping Norton set of the likes of Clarkson and David Cameron, more recent residents have included David Beckham, Ellen DeGeneres and superstar DJ Calvin Harris and his TV presenter wife Vick Hope. Kate Moss, Stella McCartney and Prue Leith also have homes in the Cotswolds while Beyonce and Jay-Z are also reportedly considering relocating to the area. Rachel and Irish-born Will lived there for a number of years with their five dogs. The purchase was made after Rachel and Sue bought a failing pub in the market town called the Bell Inn for just below its asking price of £350,000. They immediately began work on a £200,000 renovation and Sue once told how they were sprucing up the pub which needed 'new roofing, drainage, plumbing and electrics' by giving it 'the 'wow' factor' and turning it into 'a sea of caramel, leather, tweed and velvet'. The Bell became popular with jockeys and trainers who would entertain racehorse owners there and went on to scoop the prize of the nation's best turnaround pub at the Great British Pub Awards 2014. The pair went on to open up a bed and breakfast in the town and the following year they sold the properties with 13 'boutique style bedrooms' between them to brewing giants Young's for a 'seven figure sum'. The pair had previously transformed seven properties together including converting a 400-year-old building in Stratford-upon-Avon, which had previously been used as a dental practice, into a small hotel. Rachel has told how she was working as a 16-year-old bistro restaurant when she first teamed up with Sue who had began revamping businesses starting with a small fish restaurant in the 1990's. She first went to work for her aunt at the Fox & Goose pub in Armscote, Warwickshire, which Sue had turned into 'a stylish foodie venue' before selling it a year or so later. Sue once said she couldn't 'necessarily turn' businesses into 'a gold mine' but that she knew 'the takings and certainly the morale of the staff could be increased relatively simply and quickly'. As they got up and running they operated together on 'a 50-50' basis with Sue concentrating on 'design and set up' while Rachel 'took over operations'. Sue, whose father worked 'in the world of sales and marketing' says she was born in the inner-city area of Sparkhill in Birmingham, and once told how she started out selling timeshare apartments in Tenerife. But realising she wasn't going to make much money she quickly switched to selling her own t-shirts to fed-up tourists saying: 'Shove off - I don't want a timeshare!' In an interview with Warwickshire Life magazine she said: 'They sold like hotcakes. I took them round the swimming pools and bars and people were falling over themselves to buy them.' She was described in the article as 'an award-winning business woman whose motto could be 'no fun - no point'. Sue said that while she 'was very single-minded' she was 'always game for a laugh' adding: 'I couldn't see the point of something I didn't enjoy doing. 'I just enjoy life and I enjoy what I do. Admittedly I have had to be very determined at times but I never let that stop me from having a laugh, that's just the way I am.' Sue told how she 'travelled and worked her way around most parts of the globe over a six year spell' before returning to the UK and taking on jobs in London in pubs, bars. She began managing a restaurant in Stratford after the person the owners offered the job to pulled out the night before they were due to start. Sue told how she quickly settled into the role and it was not long before she was looking around for a place to run herself despite being short of money. She said she came up with a 'brilliant plan' - which may have also proved to be the inspiration for Rachel's raffle sale. Sue was selling a one bedroomed house in the medieval market town - and instead marketed it to buyers as 'a complete change of lifestyle.' She produced hundreds of flyers revealing along with the house she was 'throwing in' a soft top Volkswagen Golf and a crate of champagne'. Sue told how the property 'sold it in no time' and used the money to buy a Grade II-listed pub which, after a 'top-to-toe refurbishment' she reopened as Bar Humbug. After three years, the brewery made 'an offer she couldn't refuse' and once again Sue was on the lookout for new premises. She decided that her business strategy would be to overhaul a pub then put it up for sale once it was up and running - for the right price. She said: 'I love refurbishing the places, designing how they should look, working out what interior design fits with the structure of the place. 'It's what I do. I love doing it and can't imagine doing anything else.' And it appears, despite the disapproval of viewers, there's no hard feelings between Clarkson and his consultants over those umbrellas. On Tuesday, he posted a photo of the three huge umbrellas which now cover the decking at the back of the pub on Instagram saying: 'Turns out Sue and Rachel had a point. The Farmer's Dog did need big umbrellas after all!!' In response, Rachel shared Clarkson's photo on her own Instagram and replied: 'And behold... the exact 40k umbrellas that have been the topic of so much discussion. 'Not blocking the view and providing a year round weather solution with heating and lighting in order that 75 guests can dine comfortably on the terrace all year round … seems like 40k well spent?'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Bitter family rift at the heart of Ed Sheeran's Emerald Isle roots: How Suffolk- born singer's beloved grandparents were shunned by loved ones, as he cops backlash for 'identifying culturally' as Irish
The devastating family rift at the heart of Ed Sheeran 's roots is revealed after he sparked a backlash for claiming he 'identifies culturally' as Irish on the The Louis Theroux Podcast. While the singer, 34, was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, and famously raised in Suffolk, he has many family members in Ireland and fondly recalls childhood holidays spent there. His father John's family hails from Belfast, and is one of eight siblings born to Nancy Mulligan and William Sheeran. While Nancy was a Catholic from the Republic of Ireland, her husband was a Protestant from Northern Ireland, so when they fell in love during the Second World War it caused huge ructions on both sides of the family. It was this bitter fall out in Ed's paternal lineage that inspired his hit 2017 song Nancy Mulligan, named after his grandmother. The folk track tells the tale of his grandparents being shunned for marrying outside their religions. Reflecting on the romance, Ed said: 'They got engaged and no one turned up at their wedding. He stole all the gold teeth in his dental surgery and melted them down into a wedding ring, and they wore borrowed clothes to get married. 'And just basically have this kind of Romeo And Juliet romance, which is like the most romantic thing'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Despite the couple, who met in London during WWII before returning to their native Ireland years later, not being supported by their families they went on to start their own and welcomed a whopping eight children over their almost 70-year marriage. As well as Ed's father John they shared Jim, Bill, Peter, Chris, MaryAnne, Bridget and the late Sally as well as 23 grandchildren, with Ed spending many holidays wth his grandparents in County Wexford. William died in 2013, while Nancy passed away in 2023 aged 98, but Ed was forced to miss her funeral due to his ongoing and highly publicised copyright trial in New York - that he eventually won. Speaking at the service, Ed's father said the singer was 'so upset' to miss his beloved grandmother's funeral but he has to 'defend his integrity' across the pond. He then turned to the 'Romeo and Juliet' love story referenced in Ed's song: 'Mum met Dad, a dental student, at a Guy's nurses' home party'. 'Friendship turned into love, but the Northern Ireland Presbyterian side of dad's family did their utmost to end the relationship'. 'Their wedding was attended by only one family member – mum's twin sister Peggy. They lived above that dental surgery in South London with a growing family. Eventually five boys and three girls. Mum joked to us that she had originally wanted 11 children so she could feel the football or cricket team.' When Ed's song inspired by the romance was released in 2017, a sweet video emerged of his grandmother listening to it for the first time. The then 92-year-old told RTE News: 'I'll never think of him as being famous, I have to say. He's exactly the same as he always is when he visits. 'And it's very rare because he's always working and when you think he was working from the age of 14, you'd have to feel sorry for him, you know he's so tired but he loved it.' Following Nancy's death Ed revealed the loss inspired the song Supermarket Flowers on his album Divide. He said on social media: 'When my grandma passed away I wrote a song called Supermarket Flowers about the situation. The verse lyrics are about packing up her room at that hospital. The care she received was incredible; the people who worked there so lovely, compassionate, funny and caring. 'Me and my family became very close to the nurses who worked there and my mum is still in touch with them now. I just wanted to make a tribute to my gran, She was the musical one in my family. Hopefully I will pass that on to my kids'. Opening up on his heritage on the latest episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, Ed explained: 'I class my culture as Irish. I think that's what I grew up with. 'My dad's family is ... he's got seven brothers and sisters. We'd spend all of our holidays in Ireland. 'My first musical experiences were in Ireland, I grew up with trad music in the house. So I identify culturally as Irish, but I was obviously born and raised in Britain.' The Galway Girl hitmaker went on to say that he was 'really proud' of his Irish cultural roots, and that he didn't feel that he had to 'just be British', as it was down to 'how you feel'. Nancy passed away in 2023 aged 98, but Ed was forced to miss her funeral due to his ongoing and highly publicised copyright trial in New York (pictured) - that he eventually won He said: 'I don't overthink it but I do feel like my culture is something that I'm really proud of and grew up with and want to express. 'And I feel like just because I was born in Britain doesn't necessarily mean that I have to just be [British], there's loads of people I know that are half this or quarter this. 'I don't think there's any rules to it. It should be how you feel and how you were raised and what you lean into.' And when asked whether he gets 'a lot of love' in Ireland, the chart-topping star also praised the country as being 'my second home'. He said: 'I'd say it's basically my second home, musically. I'd say Ireland is the place that I am most successful musically.' 'I come from an Irish family, spent most of my childhood summers and birthdays and Christmases in Ireland listening to trad music bands,' Ed previously said in an interview. However Ed's comments sparked backlash as fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to hit back at his claims he is Irish as they claimed he was 'pretending'. They penned: 'Identifies just means to pretend'; 'does Ed Sheeran hold eligibility to start for the Irish national football team?'; 'They can have him'; 'It's not where you're born. It's your bloodline that determines what you are. Cliff Richard was born in India. Is he Indian? You can be born anywhere in the World. That doesn't automatically make you part of that culture.'; The Galway Girl hitmaker went on to say that he was 'really proud' of his Irish cultural roots, and that he didn't feel that he had to 'just be British', as it was down to 'how you feel' However Ed's comments sparked backlash as fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to hit back at his claims he is Irish 'Whilst he's of the Irish diaspora, he's English'; 'Why can't he just identify as himself'; 'That Galway Girl must've spun his head around'; 'Ed Sheeran tour posters for the top of the bonfire'; 'Grand so. Tell him he's now eligible to join the Gardai' 'His song Galway girl has to be up there with the worst songs of all rubbish with all the usual Irish cliché only thing he missed in the lyrics was shouting 'up the ra'..seems a nice lad but terrible music'. However others understood his point of view as they argued: 'Well his da is Irish so he's perfectly entitled to.'; 'You can be born and raised for some time anyway in England and still identify culturally as Irish. It's not unprecedented';
