Latest news with #2012OlympicGames
South Wales Argus
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Only Men Aloud announce Monmouth and Cwmbran tour dates
The Welsh vocal group, who gained national fame after winning the BBC One competition Last Choir Standing in 2008, will perform at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran on November 26 and the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth on November 29. The extended tour celebrates a quarter-century of performances that have taken the group from BBC's Songs of Praise to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games and two Royal Variety Performances. Craig Yates, an original member of Only Men Aloud and now creative director of the Aloud Charity, said: "This is a celebration tour. "We've had a wonderful time with OMA, which has really evolved over the last 25 years." The group was founded in 2000 by Tim Rhys-Evans, who is now director of music at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Originally a 25-member male voice choir, Only Men Aloud now performs as an eight-piece ensemble, with members balancing the group alongside careers in pharmacy, teaching, gardening, music, and musical theatre. Their breakthrough came in 2008 when they won Last Choir Standing, catapulting them to national recognition and a series of high-profile performances, including supporting Diana Ross at Cardiff Castle. Mr Yates said: "We're all adults now, with the range of family responsibilities which come with that. "We've all got jobs and OMA is a hobby – but what a hobby to have." Fans can expect an evening of stories, choral arrangements, and energetic adaptations during the anniversary tour. The tour will begin in Cardiff on September 27 at the New Theatre, where Only Boys Aloud will join them on stage. Other tour dates include Aberystwyth, Swansea, Llandudno, Llandrindod Wells, and Newtown. The group last performed an intimate five-date show last Christmas, but Mr Yates said this run is about more than just returning to the stage. He said: "It's been amazing and we are thankful that people still really enjoy listening to and seeing us. "It's lovely to be back." Tickets are available now through the Only Men Aloud website.
Scottish Sun
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rare 50p coin sells for £262 after huge bidding war – exact details to spot
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS should check their homes for a rare 50p coin after one sold at auction for 500 times its value. If you have a stash of loose change lying around, it's worth checking to see if any of these rare coins are lurking in your collection. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The Blue Peter 50p is one of the most sought after coins from the Olympics Credit: The Britannia Coin Company Fifty pence pieces are often some of the most sought-after coins with collectors. Among them is a 2009 Blue Peter 50p that was minted to mark the London 2012 Olympic Games. Just 19,722 Blue Peter branded coins were issued, making them one of the most rare coins minted to mark the Olympics. As a result, they can fetch hundreds of pounds at auction. One of these coins sold on secondhand platform eBay for £262 last month after a furious bidding war. The starting price was just £5 but six bidders fought it out, with one eventually submitting the winning bid on June 30. Dated 2009, the design was the first of 29 officially licenced London 2012 Olympic coins to be released by The Royal Mint. The coin is the same size and weight as a 50p coin found in your change and measures 8g by 27g in diameter. But as it never entered circulation it has a shiny surface. The coin's design was created by eight-year-old Florence Jackson from Bristol. She entered her high jump themed drawing into the Blue Peter competition and her design was chosen over 17,000 entries. She remains the youngest Brit to have her design used on official UK coins. Meanwhile, regular circulated Olympic coins were issued in 2011. Around 2,224,000 coins to celebrate the athletics heats were issued. Most rare and valuable 50p coins WE reveal the Royal Mint's most rare and valuable 50p coins in circulation. Triathlon Minted in 2011, the Triathlon 50p depicts the same sport which featured in the 2012 Olympics. There are more than 1,160,000 of the coins in circulation. With over 200million 50ps circulating in the UK, that makes this coin quite a rare find. The highest recent sale we've found on eBay recently was £30 on June 21. Judo Judo is a popular sport that involves grappling with your opponent. But despite the design, it's not so easy to get a hold of this coin, of which there are just 1,161,500 in circulation. The piece was designed by David Cornell after he won a national competition. It was minted in 2011 and the highest bid we've seen on eBay was for £17.95 on June 21. Wrestling Wrestling was one of the first Olympic sports so it's not surprising that it features on one of the 50p pieces. The 2011 coin was designed by Roderick Enriquez, a graphic designer from Hammersmith, London. We've seen it sell for as much as £15 online so is worth digging around for. In recent months, one was sold on eBay for £11.95 on June 18. Football Of all the coins created to commemorate the 2012 Olympic Games, the 50p Football is among the rarest. It features an explanation of the controversial offside rule on it, with 1,125,000 produced. One sold for £20 on eBay on June 11, although it has been known to go for as much as £75 in the past. Kew Gardens The Kew Gardens 50p is the rarest of all the 50p pieces, with only 210,000 in circulation. They have been known to sell for as much as £895 on eBay before. The design was created by Christopher Le Brun RA and features the famous Chinese Pagoda with a leafy chamber that twists around the tower. The coin often sparks the interest of new coin collectors due to its rarity. The highest sale we found in recent weeks was £142 on June 22 with 23 bids. How to sell a rare coin If you are lucky to find a rare coin among your spare change or have one at home, you can sell it through online marketplaces such as eBay. Simply take pictures of the coin, any certificates of authenticity you have and any packaging. You can also sell coins via auction, through the Royal Mint's Collector's Service. If you choose this option a team of experts will authenticate and value your coin. You will also receive advice on how to sell it. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Perth Now
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Danny Boyle reveals biggest regret about Olympics opening ceremony
Danny Boyle has one big regret about the way he handed the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony. The 28 Days Later director was put in charge of the spectacular event in the British capital and it included references to UK culture including nods to music, fashion, movies and the NHS (National Health Service), but Danny regrets failing to include a segment dedicated to the BBC to recognise the national broadcaster's work over the last 100 years. He told The Sunday Times newspaper: "Well, there was a lot of advice and warnings we ignored, but the one that we listened to that I regret deeply [meant] that we didn't feature the BBC enough. Because I look now at news values and who to trust, and think, 'F*** me - we should look after that'. "It doesn't matter whether you approve of it or not. It is just the idea of this national broadcaster with some kind of values you can rely on. "These technology internationalists will have you believe that they don't matter, that there's something global much more important. "But they do matter. They define us. But we were told we couldn't feature them by the IOC [International Olympic Committee]." Danny's opening ceremony included a memorable sketch featuring the late Queen Elizabeth teaming up with James Bond star Daniel Craig which seemingly ended with the monarch parachuting into the London Stadium. Lord Sebastian Coe, who served as London Organising Committee for the Olympics, previously said of the stunt: "There isn't a day that goes by without somebody somewhere in the world asking me about this. A whole heap of people still believe that she genuinely jumped from the helicopter. "It was an extraordinary moment because Danny Boyle, who was our director, it was the only day during the seven-year period of preparation of the games that I felt the globe wobble. "He came in and said: 'I've done some market research and it shows that the Queen and James Bond, in that order, are the global iconic figures' and I was fine until that moment when he said: 'Wouldn't it be great if we could get them to jump out of a helicopter?' "And in fairness, it was Danny who got it across the line. There are lots of things that are said about it but it was actually Danny who persuaded her." Lord Coe went on to explain he initially showed potential ideas for the skit to Anne, Princess Royal - the daughter of Queen Elizabeth - and was only asked one question when she saw the plans. He told BBC News "My first role was to take the Princess Royal through the creative thoughts and I remember these sort of hammed up drawings and the only question I got was: 'What kind of helicopter?'"
The Star
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Cycling-Britain's Wiggins says he owes recovery from addiction to Armstrong's support
FILE PHOTO: Olympics - London 2012 Olympic Games - London - 1/8/12 Cycling - Road - Men's Individual Time Trial - Britain's Bradley Wiggins celebrates by kissing his gold medal after the race. Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul Childs Livepic (Reuters) - Five-time Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins said that disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has played a key role in his recovery from cocaine addiction, saying he feels "indebted" to the American. Last month former Tour de France winner Wiggins said he became addicted to cocaine after his retirement from the sport in 2016 and was "lucky" after getting sober a year ago. The 45-year-old described Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping, as a "great strength and inspiration" after receiving his support since ending his career. "Lance has been very, very good to me. That's not something everyone wants to hear because people only like to hear the bad stuff," Wiggins said in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday. "It's on a human level. You can only take someone how they treat you. "Lance has been a source of inspiration to me and a constant source of help towards me and is one of the main factors why I'm in this position I am today mentally and physically, so, I'm indebted to him for that." Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012 and collected a then-British record eight Olympic medals, including gold in the time trial at the 2012 London Games. He is now collaborating on Armstrong's podcast The Move, where they will be covering this summer's Tour de France, and said their relationship has been grounded in mutual understanding beyond cycling. In December last year, Wiggins said Armstrong had offered to fund his therapy for mental health issues. (Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Metro
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
14 most groundbreaking lesbian couples, storylines and moments in soap history
Lesbian characters and relationships have been at the forefront of numerous high-profile soap storylines over the years, and what better time to reflect on some of our favourites than Lesbian Visibility Week? From Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence's (Nicola Stephenson) first kiss in Brookside, to Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) and Eve Unwin's (Heather Peace) dramatic love affair in EastEnders, soaps have often paved the way for lesbian representation in the media. Having said that, there is still much more that can be done. Too often lesbian characters fall victim to the 'bury your gays' trope – where one person in the couple falls victim to an untimely death. However, with Lesbian Visibility Week well underway, we thought it was about time to shine a light on some of the most groundbreaking, game-changing and popular WLW moments in soap. Back in 1994, Brookside aired television's first pre-watershed lesbian kiss between Beth and Margaret. The scenes were watched by over 6 million viewers and have been hailed as one of the most famous LGBTQ+ moments in soap history. What's more, the short clip was later included in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and broadcast to billions of viewers across the world, including in 76 countries where same-sex relationships were still illegal, making it the first same-sex kiss to ever air in those countries. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Zoe Tate (Leah Bracknell) was Emmerdale's first lesbian character. She came out in emotional scenes in 1993 to mixed responses from her loved ones, and went on to have romances with a number of characters, including Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins). In 1996, Zoe's girlfriend Emma Nightingale asked her to marry her, and the pair later had a blessing ceremony to recognise their relationship. Unfortunately, things didn't last long, as Zoe decided to leave Emma for Susie Wilde. Suki Panesar's coming out story has been hailed by fans as one of the greatest pieces of representation on television. Over several years, Suki struggled to come to terms with her sexuality, and projected her internalised homophobia onto bisexual daughter Ash. Suki's journey to self-acceptance was a long and difficult road, and something that many members of the LGBTQ+ community could relate to. Ultimately, with support from her loved ones and girlfriend Eve Unwin, Suki has reached a point where she is proud of who she is, and isn't afraid to show affection to Eve in public – a huge step forward for the character, and an important journey to represent. In 2022, Emmerdale aired a storyline which saw Mary Goskirk (Louise Jameson) come out as a lesbian later in life. This was a subject that hadn't been tackled on the soap before, and was well received by viewers. Mary came out to good friend Kim Tate (Claire King) in emotional scenes, where she expressed her relief at having unburdened herself of this huge secret. While she hasn't been completely lucky in love since then, we're hopeful that things will work out for Mary, and she'll get her happy ever after in the end. Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) and Sian Powers (Sacha Parkinson) captured the nation's hearts with their love story, and were on track to have Corrie's first lesbian wedding. Unfortunately, things didn't work out the way we all hoped they would, when Sophie ran away from the church and admitted her guilt for kissing someone else, which ultimately resulted in the end of their relationship and heartbreak for fans everywhere. In 2025, soap fans finally saw EastEnders' first lesbian wedding, and one of the first successful lesbian weddings in soap. After a difficult journey, Suki and Eve made it down the aisle and, defying all odds, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony that represented their different cultures. Of course, this is a soap, so the day wasn't totally drama free, with Suki's ex-husband Nish Panesar poisoning Eve, before plummeting to his death from a balcony, taking Suki over the edge with him. Thankfully, both Suki and Eve survived, and have been happily married ever since. Every so often, soap couples will send fans into a frenzy and garner huge followings on social media. One such pairing was Emmerdale's Charity Dingle and Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) – affectionately dubbed Vanity. In October 2017 – on my 18th birthday, no less – Vanessa and Charity found themselves locked in the Woolpack cellar, and what followed came as a complete surprise to absolutely everyone. Following their night of passion, and months of asking 'Will they? Won't they?', Vanity finally made things official, much to the joy of their loyal supporters. Even now, fans are still hopeful that they may rekindle their relationship one day, but whether or not they will remains to be seen. Another couple that received heaps of support on social media was Kate Connor (Faye Brookes) and Rana Habeeb (Bhavna Limbachia). Rana's coming out story highlighted the difficulties faced by lesbians from religious communities, with Rana having grown up with strict Muslim parents. Just as it seemed that she would finally get her happy ending with Kate, Rana was left fighting for her life when the factory roof collapsed on top of her, and she ended up dying on their wedding day. The most recent sapphic couple to send fans into a frenzy has been Corrie's Carla Connor (Alison King) and DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers). The definition of a slow burn, fans first spotted the chemistry between the two characters over a year before they actually got together on screen. Since then, they have faced plenty of hurdles, from Carla's sepsis and being held hostage to Lisa's discovery of her wife's killers and shooting her own daughter – casual stuff, you know? Thankfully, it seems that, despite their challenges, Swarla are in it for the long haul, with producer Kate Brooks confirming that they will come out of it stronger than ever. Another WLW couple to capture viewers' hearts was Peri Lomax (Ruby O'Donnell) and Juliet Nightingale (Niamh Blackshaw). Throughout their relationship, they had a lot of ups and downs, though they finally reunited in 2022. Tragically, their happiness would be ripped away when Juliet sadly died of Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2023. As an Evanescence obsessed lesbian, this storyline will forever be engrained in my psyche, so it had to be included on this list. In a completely shocking turn of events, New Year's Day 2020 saw Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) wake up in bed next to none other than lesbian lawyer Paula Martin (Stirling Gallacher). After being stood up by husband Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), who wasn't keen on their plans to see an Evanescence tribute band (I have often questioned Steve's judgement, but refusing to see something Evanescence related is the icing on the cake), Tracy instead spent her New Year with Paula, and one thing led to another… It didn't take long for the truth to come out, though Tracy's marriage remained largely unaffected by her infidelity. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In what can only be described as the greatest lesbian joke on television, Eve Unwin left EastEnders viewers in tears after a misunderstanding. When Suki and Eve moved in together, Eve worried that Suki had become overwhelmed, and scolded Priya Nandra- Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) for mocking her. Later, when Eve walked in on a conversation about London's ultra low emissions zone and Priya revealed to Suki that they were talking about 'ULEZ', she was quick to berate Priya for 'talking about Suki like that'. Thankfully, Suki saw the funny side, and viewers took to social media to express their joy at the hilarious scene. I have absolutely nothing thought-provoking to say about this, it was just iconic. On a more personal note, I couldn't write this list and not include Nina and Asha (Mollie Gallagher and Tanisha Gorey). Back in 2021, their first on-screen kiss was the catalyst to my own coming out journey. More Trending Though the soaps were still filming under Covid measures, with social distancing on set, Corrie didn't shy away from this special moment between the two characters. What was refreshing about this storyline was the fact that Nina and Asha didn't feel like they needed to hide their relationship, with Asha immediately opening up the conversation with her family and explaining how she didn't feel the need to label herself. While it is important to show the struggle that coming out can sometimes be, it is equally as important to represent the occasions when that isn't the case, as well as show LGBTQ+ people that coming out doesn't have to be something to be afraid of. View More » This article was first published on April 24, 2024. MORE: 'I was threatened with electroshock as a child for wearing a dress – now I'm proudly trans' MORE: Vanessa and Charity 'unite' to stop Sarah's wild plan in Emmerdale MORE: Trans rights groups descend on London for mass protest
