Latest news with #JeffWayne
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Max George gives health update after ‘rough' time since major heart surgery
MAX George gave fans an insight on how he is bouncing back from major heart surgery. The Wanted singer, 36, was admitted to A&E last December and had heart surgery and a pacemaker fitted after doctors discovered a heart block, which caused his heart to beat abnormally. 5 5 5 He then recently revealed he had to undergo a secret second heart operation after his pacemaker wires were inserted too deeply. Max revealed in March the road to recovery had been "rough," but now gave fans a peek on some of his rehabilitation. The singer took to his Instagram stories to show how he achieved 10,000 steps per day while using an indoor walking pad. He posted a video of him walking on the small treadmill as the steps ticked over on the machine's LED display. "10k getting stronger everyday," Max captioned the post. Walking 10,000 steps per day can many health benefits such as, a reduced risk of developing dementia, cancer and heart and circulatory diseases, as well as having mental health benefits, according to the British Heart Foundation. Max made his return to work in March playing a tortured priest in Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds, which is touring the UK and Europe. He opened up to The Sun on Sunday as he was getting set to make his debut: "I was trying to get back to good health but was still having a flickering sensation for weeks after I had my pacemaker fitted and it was gradually getting worse and worse." Max was told the procedure could cause a dangerous bleed on his heart, saying: "The night before I was really nervous. I didn't sleep much." He had to postpone The Wanted 2.0's Manchester Cathedral concert in February. But he looked fighting fight as he played Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne's version of HG Wells' classic book, The War of the Worlds. TERRIFIED popstar Max George has revealed he had to undergo a secret SECOND heart operation By Max's side was actress girlfriend Maisie Smith who delivered a surprise performance as the parson's wife, Beth. The award-winning EastEnders star, who played Tiffany Butcher on the BBC soap, met Max while they both competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, but they didn't start dating until the live tour two years later. Max said in March: "Getting to do this with Maisie is an experience I'm sure I'll never forget. "The last few months have been rough, but after a lot of hard work and rehabilitation, I'm back to my best and will be performing for the whole tour." 5 5
Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Steven Wilson review — a cosmic display of prog rock and comedy
For those of us who were children in the Seventies and Eighties, progressive rock was the closest music got to a proper, kid-friendly sci-fi adventure. Albums such as Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds and ELO's Out of the Blue promised all manner of thrills, even when the music went to places beyond our comprehension. Something of that spirit must have soaked into Steven Wilson, because at 57, the UK's reigning master of modern prog, currently at No 1 with his remix of Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii album, infused the first night of a run at the London Palladium with the same boyish energy. Wilson, appearing on stage barefoot, was not afraid of bludgeoning the audience into submission with a
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The £346million theme park that wanted to be 'England's Disneyland' - but was never built
If Brits want to go to Disneyland, they need to travel to Paris, at the very least – but the UK almost had a rival theme park built in the 1980s. Called WonderWorld, the park was granted planning permission in 1981 to be built on Priors Hall Park, a 1,000-acre disused quarry, around two miles from Corby, Northamptonshire. The ambitious £346 million project promised a British answer to Disney World's Epcot, which opened to the public in Orlando in 1982. Like Epcot, the attraction was to include 13 themed villages built around a central bowl, measuring 700m in diameter. Six of these areas were due to open in the summer of 1992, and were expected to welcome four million visitors a year. WonderWorld would also be home to high-tech rides, including one designed by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam, which would take riders on a canoe through the human body. If the park had opened, there would have been an open-air concert hall designed to look like one of the Martian tripods from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds and a 10,000-seat sports stadium. Meanwhile, botanist David Bellamy was helping to plan a mock safari and astronomer Sir Patrick Moore was involved in creating an observatory. There would also be educational centres, themed restaurants, a conservation area and lots of places to shop. The theme park was only going to be the start of the resort too, as seven hotels were due to be built, as well as an 18-hole golf course, and 100 villas. The overall ambition was to launch a new leisure industry built around 'British heritage, folklore, science and innovation'. In 1985, one of the architects, Derek Walker, told the BBC: 'The basic ingredients [for WonderWorld] are very simple: entertainment at the very highest level. It's participatory and it's incredibly educational. '[WonderWorld] will offer the best of British design.' The project was estimated to cost £346million in total and aimed for an initial opening in 1985. And Group Five, who were due to be the developers, even had support from the local area including county authorities and the Commission for New Towns. However, due to rising costs, planning delays and difficulty securing long-term funding, some of the backers pulled out. The plans eventually faded into obscurity and a large WonderWorld sign and a small wooden cabin were the only two parts of the entire resort that were built. There are now more than 1,000 houses where WonderWorld was meant to stand and there are plans to build around 5,000 more in the future. And, while WonderWorld didn't succeed, a huge new Universal theme park is officially set to open in Bedford in 2031 - after a deal was closed by the Government. The Bedfordshire attraction will be one of the largest and most advanced theme parks in Europe, with a 500-room hotel and a retail and entertainment complex planned along with the theme park.
Business Mayor
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
The £346milion theme park that wanted to be the ‘English Disneyland' in the 1980s… but was never built
A THEME park that wanted to be the UK's version of Disneyland was nearly built in the 1980s. The theme park, called WonderWorld, hoped to open in Corby in Northamptonshire. 6 The site of England's Disneyland was due to be in Corby, Northamptonshire Credit: 6 The park would have featured a stadium theme on one of the Martian tripods from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds Credit: BBC 6 In total, the park would have had 13 themed villages Credit: BBC In 1981, planning permission was granted for a the theme park to be built on a 1,000-acre site, around two miles from Corby. Located at Priors Hall, the park was to be built on a disused quarry which was once linked to the town's former steelworks. Group Five, who were due to be the developers, claimed that support from the local area including county authorities and the Commission for New Towns. The attraction was to be modelled on Walt Disney World's Epcot which opened in Orlando in 1982 and would include 13 themed villages built around a central bowl measuring 700 metres in diameter. Six of the worlds would open in 1992 and were expected to draw in four million visitors annually. The attraction would have featured high-tech rides, educational centres, themed restaurants, a conservation zone and several shopping areas. There would have also been an open air concert hall designed to look like one of the Martian tripods from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds and rides designed by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam. A brochure produced on the planned park suggested that it would be a 'unique resort set in beautifully landscaped surroundings'. Later in 1985, one of the architects, Derek Walker, said: 'The basic ingredients [for WonderWorld] are very simple: entertainment at the very highest level. It's participatory and it's incredibly educational. Paulton's Park reveals first look at new £3.5million ride opening next month '[WonderWorld] will offer the best of British design,' according to the BBC. In addition, botanist David Bellamy was involved in planning a mock safari and astronomer Sir Patrick Moore was set to contribute an observatory. There would also have been a 10,000-seat stadium for sports. A family resort with seven hotels initially, an 18-hole golf course and 100 holiday villas were due to be a part of the destination too. The overall ambition was to launch a new leisure industry built around 'British heritage, folklore, science and innovation', which was particular supported following the closure of the nearby steelworks in 1980. 6 The park was due to provide new jobs, following the closure of the steelworks in 1980 Credit: 6 If the park went ahead, it would have opened in 1985 Credit: The project was estimated to cost £346million in total and aimed for an initial opening in 1985. However, due to rising costs, planning delays and difficultly securing long-term funding meant that some of the backers pulled out. Eventually the plans faded into obscurity and the only parts of the attraction that were built were a large WonderWorld sign and a small wooden cabin. Today, the site is home to more than 1,000 houses and here are plans to build around 5,000 more in the future . A £2.5billion 'UK Disneyland' theme park was also announced in 2012, before being scrapped – and images were released of what it could have looked like. However, there is a Universal theme park coming to the UK in the next decade.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The £346milion theme park that wanted to be the ‘English Disneyland' in the 1980s… but was never built
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A THEME park that wanted to be the UK's version of Disneyland was nearly built in the 1980s. The theme park, called WonderWorld, hoped to open in Corby in Northamptonshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 The site of England's Disneyland was due to be in Corby, Northamptonshire Credit: 6 The park would have featured a stadium theme on one of the Martian tripods from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds Credit: BBC 6 In total, the park would have had 13 themed villages Credit: BBC In 1981, planning permission was granted for a the theme park to be built on a 1,000-acre site, around two miles from Corby. Located at Priors Hall, the park was to be built on a disused quarry which was once linked to the town's former steelworks. Group Five, who were due to be the developers, claimed that support from the local area including county authorities and the Commission for New Towns. The attraction was to be modelled on Walt Disney World's Epcot which opened in Orlando in 1982 and would include 13 themed villages built around a central bowl measuring 700 metres in diameter. Six of the worlds would open in 1992 and were expected to draw in four million visitors annually. The attraction would have featured high-tech rides, educational centres, themed restaurants, a conservation zone and several shopping areas. There would have also been an open air concert hall designed to look like one of the Martian tripods from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds and rides designed by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam. A brochure produced on the planned park suggested that it would be a "unique resort set in beautifully landscaped surroundings". Later in 1985, one of the architects, Derek Walker, said: "The basic ingredients [for WonderWorld] are very simple: entertainment at the very highest level. It's participatory and it's incredibly educational. Paulton's Park reveals first look at new £3.5million ride opening next month "[WonderWorld] will offer the best of British design," according to the BBC. In addition, botanist David Bellamy was involved in planning a mock safari and astronomer Sir Patrick Moore was set to contribute an observatory. There would also have been a 10,000-seat stadium for sports. A family resort with seven hotels initially, an 18-hole golf course and 100 holiday villas were due to be a part of the destination too. The overall ambition was to launch a new leisure industry built around "British heritage, folklore, science and innovation", which was particular supported following the closure of the nearby steelworks in 1980. 6 The park was due to provide new jobs, following the closure of the steelworks in 1980 Credit: 6 If the park went ahead, it would have opened in 1985 Credit: The project was estimated to cost £346million in total and aimed for an initial opening in 1985. However, due to rising costs, planning delays and difficultly securing long-term funding meant that some of the backers pulled out. Eventually the plans faded into obscurity and the only parts of the attraction that were built were a large WonderWorld sign and a small wooden cabin. Today, the site is home to more than 1,000 houses and here are plans to build around 5,000 more in the future. A £2.5billion 'UK Disneyland' theme park was also announced in 2012, before being scrapped - and images were released of what it could have looked like. However, there is a Universal theme park coming to the UK in the next decade.
