Latest news with #Glasgow-born
The National
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Michelle McManus joins Robbie Williams for duet at Murrayfield show
The Glasgow-born singer joined her longtime friend on stage at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium, treating the 70,000-strong crowd to an electrifying duet of Relight My Fire. The performance brought Scots to their feet as they could be heard cheering loudly while the pair performed. The setlist included a string of Robbie's biggest hits, such as Angels, Rock DJ, and Let Me Entertain You, creating an unforgettable night for fans. Ahead of the performance, Michelle admitted she was more nervous singing in front of Robbie than she had been when performing for the Pope. She said: 'My happy place is when I sing, so the singing part is not the problem. The nervous part is singing to Robbie Williams in front of 70,000 people. READ MORE: Scottish minister hits back at Defence Secretary 'student union politics' jibe 'When we did the Pope's visit in Bellahouston, it was 80,000—but singing for a bunch of cardinals and a Pope was slightly different from singing for Robbie Williams.' The Glasgow Times reported that back in March, Robbie surprised Michelle with the invitation during an interview on her BBC Scotland radio show. As the interview wrapped up, Robbie asked unexpectedly: 'Would you like to come and sing with me in Edinburgh?' A clearly shocked Michelle responded: 'Sorry… What? What was that?' before emotionally accepting: 'Yes, I'm saying yes—I would love that. You are amazing. And you are an incredible human being. I meant every word I said before this even came up.' (Image: Michell McManus Instagram) Following the performance, Michelle shared a photo of the moment on her Instagram Stories, showing her and Robbie singing together on stage. She captioned it simply: 'This diva though.' Robbie also shared post on social media sharing his love for Scotland. Sharing a striking photo from the concert, he captioned the post: 'Scotland – I love you. "That was an incredible opening night. Until next time. Rob x' The comments section quickly filled with love from fans who were blown away by the show. One wrote: 'Rob is the best.' Another added: 'You were on fire. Absolutely incredible show.' A third fan declared: 'What a night. THE KING OF ENTERTAINMENT!' The surprise duet marked a memorable highlight of the tour's kickoff and a heartwarming moment for fans of both artists.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of Robbie Williams fans flock to Murrayfield on opening night of superstar's major tour
Even some rain showers ahead of the show could not put a dampener on fans' spirits HE'S THE ONE Thousands of Robbie Williams fans flock to Murrayfield on opening night of superstar's major tour Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TENS of thousands of Robbie Williams fans turned out to see their hero perform live at Murrayfield tonight. Many supporters of the former Take That idol wore Stetson hats for the gig in Edinburgh. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Maxine McCallum and Nikki Johnston are buzzing to see Robbie Williams live at Murrayfield Credit: Duncan McGlynn 3 Nurse Stacey Sutherland and pal Sarah Barker have been Robbie fans for years Credit: Duncan McGlynn 3 Rhiannon Smith and her mum Fran Connor are going to see the superstar as part of a birthday treat Credit: Duncan McGlynn And even some rain showers ahead of the show could not put a dampener on fans' spirits. Nurse Stacey Sutherland, 42, from Leven, Fife, said: 'I have been a fan of Robbie since the nineties. He's ageing like a fine wine, so he is.' And her pal, nail technician Sarah Baker, 36, who is also from Leven, added: 'He's just amazing. I've loved him since he was in Take That. I've always been team Robbie through and through.' Carer Rhiannon Smith, 25, from Kikintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, bought tickets to the gig for her mum Fran Connor, 48. Rhiannon said: 'I absolutely love Robbie and I bought my mum tickets for her birthday.' Fran added: 'I went to see Take That a few times - but Robbie was never there.' Auxiliary nurse Maxine McCallum, 25, from Bo'ness, Falkirk, said: 'I've been a fan of Robbie since I was ten.' Her pal Nikki Johnston, 32, a catering assistant, who is also from Bo'ness, added: 'I'm so excited. I only know his older songs. I'm only here for a good day.' We told previously how Scots singer Michelle McManus will take to the stage with the Angels hitmaker tonight. The Pop Idol winner, 45, revealed how she was more nervous to perform with Robbie than when she sang in front of the Pope. Robbie Williams records new music video in central London Glasgow-born Michelle was interviewing the She's The One singer on her BBC Radio Scotland show when he proposed the shock duet. The pair have known each other since the early 2000s when he offered her advice on coping with fame and the media. Robbie later agreed to be part of her 2023 documentary about talent show winners and even brought her to the London premiere of his acclaimed biopic last December.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I'm more nervous for duet with Robbie Williams than my gig in front of Pope, says Scots Pop Idol star
She also revealed new details about the gig STAGE FRIGHT I'm more nervous for duet with Robbie Williams than my gig in front of Pope, says Scots Pop Idol star MICHELLE McManus has revealed how she's more nervous to perform with Robbie Williams than she was when she sang in front of the Pope. The Scots Pop Idol winner, 45, will take to the stage with former Take That star on Saturday night at Murrayfield as part of his five-month UK tour. 3 Michelle shot to fame in 2003 when she won the second series of Pop Idol Credit: BBC 3 She and Robbie Williams have been pals since the early 2000s Credit: Reuters 3 The pair will take to the stage at Murrayfield tomorrow in front of 70,000 folk Credit: Alamy We told previously how Glasgow-born Michelle was interviewing the Angels hitmaker on her BBC Radio Scotland show when he proposed the shock duet. McManus was stunned to learn she will join huge stars like Kylie and Taylor Swift who have also shared the stage with the Rock DJ chartopper. But she admitted that the thought of singing to such a large crowd brings on the nerves - more so than her performance for the Pope. She said: "My happy place is when I sing, so the singing part is not the problem, the nervous part is singing to Robbie Williams in front of 70,000 people. "When we did the Pope's visit in Bellahouston, it was 80,000 - but singing for a bunch of cardinals and a Pope was slightly different than singing for Robbie Williams." Michelle rose to fame after winning the second series of the popular talent show back in 2003. Since then, she has performed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and during Pope Benedict's visit to Glasgow in 2010. She said: "I'm at a stage in my life now, I'm 45, I've got my two kids, I'm so lucky to be here at BBC Radio Scotland. "Everything is in place and then comes this big gig at Murrayfield, which was not on my bingo card for this year. "It's really emotional to be asked by somebody who is your friend to join them on stage, it is a lovely thing." Robbie Williams discusses film about his life on Graham Norton McManus and Williams have known each other since the early 2000s when he offered her advice on coping with fame and the media. Robbie later agreed to be part of her 2023 documentary about talent show winners and even brought her to the London premiere of his acclaimed biopic last December. While it's still a mystery what they will perform together, Michelle did reveal that her outfit is adorned with 40,000 Swarovski crystals. Robbie later agreed to be interviewed for her Talent Show Winners TV documentary in 2023 and whisked her to the London screening of his acclaimed biopic in December. It's not known what the pair will perform tomorrow night, but Michelle did reveal her outfit features 40,000 Swarovski crystals. She said: "I'm never going to take it off. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever had on my body. "You will not need to worry about seeing me from the stage, from the colour of my hair and the amount of crystals."
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Why Rangers fans owe ex-Ibrox chairman Dave King a debt of gratitude
The improbable coming together of the two parties came, to pour further fuel onto an already combustible concoction, just two days before the bitter rivals met at Ibrox in the opening Old Firm game of the season. What could possibly go wrong? Quick, somebody call security! Mercifully, things passed off without incident. The Parkhead supporters, still elated in the wake of an emphatic 4-1 win over AIK which had secured their qualification for the group stages, were tickled by the unexpected encounter. King, meanwhile, appeared delighted by the attention. He happily posed for photographs, signed autographs, shook hands and chatted about the weekend fixture. Relations between the South Africa-based financier and Rangers fans have not always been quite so convivial. The scathing criticism which he has regularly aimed at his erstwhile associates on the board from afar since standing down as chairman five years ago have not gone down well in the Govan stands. Read more: There has not been a lot of love for Douglas Park, John Bennett and their fellow directors of late as Celtic have continued to dominate the Scottish game. Still, the very public potshots which their old ally has taken at them have not met with widespread approval. Quite the opposite. The general feeling is that his constant sniping has done nothing to help their cause and has even made them something of a laughing stock. He has tarnished his reputation. John Gilligan stated what many were thinking when he chatted to the media after being appointed interim chairman back in September. 'I just say to Dave, 'Please take it below the radar, behave like a proper shareholder, don't do what you are doing',' he said. 'It's just a shame because he is a great character and he had a massive influence on the club.' The narrative which King has consistently aired - that all was going swimmingly on the good ship Rangers when he, his work at his boyhood heroes complete, had sailed off into the sunset and his successors had shamefully taken their hands off the tiller and lost their bearings in his absence – was flawed. Those who came after him would argue they were left in the lurch, that they were forced to sort out the almighty mess they inherited, that he had high tailed it to the Highveld in their hour of need. Park and Bennett have certainly stumped up millions, tens of millions in fact, to keep them afloat since his sudden exit. (Image: SNS Group Craig Williamson) That came after he was 'cold-shouldered' – a punishment which meant that no company or individual authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority was allowed to act on his behalf - by the Takeover Panel for four years for acting in concert with Park, George Letham and George Taylor when he seized power in 2015. Would the majority shareholder have been able to continue in his role? Everything about the Glasgow-born, Castlemilk-raised businessman, it sometimes seemed, was shrouded in uncertainty. He was an enigmatic as well as an egotistical operator and then some. His tenure was beset by off-field legal wrangles, petty squabbles and internal strife. He was more mercurial than the flakiest winger who arrived on his watch. All of that said, there is a great deal that he can look back on and be immensely proud of. That day we bumped into each other in Frankfurt, for instance, he spoke stridently about ridding Rangers of the scourge of sectarianism. They had just been ordered by UEFA to close off 3,000 seats in the second leg of their Europa League play-off match against Legia Warsaw for the 'racist' behaviour of their fans in the qualifier against St Joseph's the previous month. The 'please stay away' statement which had been released sent out a very strong message to the 'FTP brigade' indeed. Chants about 'Fenian b*******' persist on match days. Still, King did not, despite the risk of angering a sizeable portion of the fanbase, shy away from the thorny issue. On top of that, he invested considerable sums of his own personal fortune, offset heavy annual losses, in an attempt to make Rangers a major force again domestically and in Europe. Read more: Bringing in Steven Gerrard as manager proved to be nothing short a masterstroke. The former Liverpool and England captain proved to be a huge personality who was unfazed by the scrutiny he was under, lifted everyone around him and drove up standards. The former Champions League winner enjoyed success on the continent and ultimately delivered the Scottish title. But most importantly Dave King, with a little help from Gilligan, Letham, Paul Murray, Park, Taylor and others, stepped up when Rangers needed him to and wrested control of the Ibrox club away from a despised and distrusted regime at a time when they were hurtling head first towards another cataclysmic financial implosion. The Scot has sold up his stake to a consortium of investors that comprises American billionaire Andrew Cavenagh and the San Francisco 49ers and severed his ties completely. But he will forever be owed a debt of gratitude for the important part he played in ensuring their survival. If he ever boards a flight to Glasgow to take in a game, he should be greeted as warmly as he was by those stunned Celtic fans in Germany.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Frankie Boyle's net worth revealed as wealth soars
Although he made the bold claim that he thinks money is "pretty pointles s" despite his fortune IN THE MONEY Frankie Boyle's net worth revealed as wealth soars COMEDIAN Frankie Boyle boosted the value of his personal company to more than £4.2 million last year. The stand-up's firm has just posted a healthy set of financial figures. 2 Frankie Boyle's wealth has soared in the last year Credit: PA:Press Association 2 The comedian's earnings have skyrocketed since 2005 The Glasgow-born comic's earnings have rocketed since he shot to fame on the BBC panel show Mock the Week in 2005. Boyle, 52, has earned a fortune from television appearances, documentaries and sell-out tours. Latest accounts for his company McShane Karate show the firm has total assets of £4,953,846. That is made up of £2,340,357 held in an account, £964,980 owed by debtors, tangible assets of £1,386,957 and a £261,552 investment portfolio. The company owes £734,023 to creditors within a year leaving it with shareholder funds of £4,219,823 - almost double the previous year's figure of £2,233,288. Boyle set up the London-based firm in 2014 and the accounts cover the period up until August 31 last year. Despite his earnings, Boyle has previously described money as 'pointless' and said he did not enjoy splashing out on so-called luxuries. In an interview with fellow comedian Frank Skinner, he said: 'I think ultimately money is pretty pointless. 'When you get to the point that you have money you realise that luxury and that whole idea you were sold of 'Oh it would be nice to go on a cruise', well it really isn't. "It's like being at a China Buffet King on roller skates for two weeks. Frankie Boyle leaves fans in stitches over outfit on Taskmaster 'And these meals that they sell, a romantic meal on the beach and then there's sand on your food and that table moves in the sand and the waiter is smoking a fag. 'None of it is any good. It's like trying to eat the picture of a burger off a menu, it's all just a sales pitch.' Boyle won a Bafta Scotland award in 2023 for his Channel 4 documentary Frankie Boyle's Farewell To the Monarchy. His debut novel, which is called Meantime and is set in Glasgow, was published in 2022 and he completed a UK stand-up tour last year. Last year, he revealed he is considering quitting stand-up to write 'cosy crime' novels.
