Latest news with #Louanne
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eurovision stars dealt major blow just hours before grand final kicks off
It's a two horse race for continental glory at tonight's Eurovision final, with previous frontrunners Sweden being snapped at by a pop opera singer from Austria Several Eurovision Song Contest stars have been dealt a huge blow just hours before the live final in Basel, Switzerland. Sweden has been the clear favourite since the end of February, with dance-pop trio KAJ hotly tipped to make it the Scandinavian nation's eighth win. Their song, 'Bara Bada Bastu', is the country's first entry to be sung in Swedish since 1998 and has already topped their native charts. But after a surge in bets placed on Austrian pop-opera soprano Johannes 'JJ' Pietsch, Austria has come in from 3/1 to 11/4, and Sweden's odds have drifted to 10/11. Austria limped in at 24th place last year, but fans seem to have been enchanted by the 24-year-old's entry, 'Wasted Love', praising its "beautiful vocals" and "captivating performance". Third favourites are France, with their pop-ballad chanteuse Louanne seeing her odds slashed from 10/1 to 9/1. Sadly, it doesn't look like the UK's entry - girl group trio Remember Monday - will recreate the success seen by Katrina and the Waves in 1997, who won the contest with their song 'Love Shine A Light'. Ladbrokes' Carl Gildart said: "It's looked like Sweden's contest to lose for a long time, but this odds shift is making people think again. Those who phone in to vote for Austria will be hoping their support isn't wasted love." At the moment Remember Monday's odds are hovering around 66/1, even worse than Israel's controversial entry which still has as 25/1 chance of winning. The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 final will feature Norway, Albania, Sweden, Iceland, the Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine, who all competed in the first semi-final. They will be up against Lithuania, Israel, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta and Greece, who all made it through from the second semi-final. The so-called 'Big Five' countries of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom - who qualify for the final automatically - will also compete in the grand final, alongside host nation Switzerland.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Puke Ariki's Dementia-Friendly Book Group Connecting People Through Literature
People in the early stages of dementia are connecting with their memories and experiences through an innovative reading group at NPDC's Puke Ariki Library. The group for people with early-onset dementia and other neurogenerative conditions uses an approach which sees librarians reading aloud selected passages, poems and short stories, followed by thoughtful discussion guided by librarians Louanne Rielly and Sarah Ede. 'It's loosely termed a book group,' says Puke Ariki Librarian Louanne Rielly. 'The essence of the group is about engaging with literature, no matter your capabilities.' 'We pick a topic and find mini short stories, poems, or articles off the internet or from magazines and put them together,' explains Louanne. 'The point is to connect members with stories from their lives or experiences they can share, to encourage participation and engagement with the group verbally.' Research published in the New Zealand Library & Information Management Journal in 2017 has found that reading offers significant benefits for people with neurological conditions. Dr. Sally Rimkeit's study revealed that reading "may improve the health and wellbeing for people with dementia. Not only did lone and shared reading evoke memories, but reading facilitated social connection, self-expression and feelings of personhood". The group has evolved since its inception in 2020, with librarians Louanne, Sarah, and Linley Wellington developing specialised materials around central themes like poetry, travel, gardens, food, and nostalgia. "Whatever it is that we're reading, we can stop after a few paragraphs and talk about something relative to what we've just read," says Louanne. "Everyone is different, and you don't have to read anything to be there. We are reading together, but there's no pressure." Alzheimer's Taranaki supported the creation of the group with community advisors encouraging members from their day respite programmes to attend. The collaboration is a great example of the benefits of community organisations working together to create inclusive spaces for people with a diverse variety of needs. The dementia-friendly book group is one of many book groups hosted at Puke Ariki and its community libraries each month, reflecting the library's commitment to making literature accessible to all members of the community. Sessions are held regularly in a comfortable, accessible space in the library on Ariki Street. No prior reading or participation is required to participate. If you have a family member experiencing early-onset dementia or Alzheimer's, who might benefit from joining this welcoming group, please contact Puke Ariki Library. Fast Facts Puke Ariki libraries service the region's readers from the central Puke Ariki location, community libraries in Bell Block, Inglewood, Ōākura, Waitara, Urenui; and the Mobile Library Te Waka Pukapuka. Opened in 2003, Puke Ariki is the world's first purpose-built, fully integrated museum, library and visitor information centre. Te Pua Wānanga O Taranaki/Taranaki Research Centre is also housed at the site.
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Eurovision 2025 odds and betting tips: Who will win this year's song contest?
WITH just a few short weeks to go until Eurovision 2025, anticipation for the event is hotter than ever, with the favourites for the event becoming clearer. The show has become increasingly popular with bettors in recent years, with punters turning to the best UK betting apps and sites to attempt to pick the eventual winners. In this guide to the Eurovision 2025 betting odds, we break down the biggest contenders and make our picks for who is most likely to be crowned Eurovision 2025 winner in Basel on May 17th. 🌟 The current Eurovision favourites 🎵 Sweden As rehearsals and semi-final staging take shape, Sweden's entry KAJ, with their song 'Bara Bada Bastu' has emerged as an early favourite, with talkSPORT BET currently pricing them at 11/10. The Swedes have historically performed well at the event, with their last win coming in 2023. Despite being wildly different from 2023's winner, 'Tattoo' by Lorren, 'Bara Bada Bastu' has captured the imagination of Eurovision fans and looks to be a hit with judges. The song will be the first time Swedish has been used in the contest since 1998. When KAJ won Melodifestivalen and were selected as the country's entry, many critics wrote off the country's chances, but the catchy, comedic tune has become a viral hit and looks set to help the country seal a historic eighth Eurovision win in Basel. 🎹 Bet on Sweden to win the Eurovision at 11/10 with talkSPORT BET 🎹 🎵 Austria Eleven years on from their iconic win with Conchita Wurst, Austria will be looking to secure a third Eurovision title with JJ and 'Wasted Love'. This powerful ballad is the polar opposite of KAJ's entry and could strike a chord with Eurovision voters who prefer a more rousing hit. They are currently priced at 4/1 with bet365. 🎵 France Well-known French singer Louanne, who was a semi-finalist in the country's version of The Voice is set to return to the limelight with her entry 'Maman'. The French are long overdue a Eurovision win, having not won the prize since 1977. They achieved their best result since 2001 last year when they finished fourth and will be hoping to finally end their poor run in Basel this year. Of course, the odds right now still assume that all of these entrants will qualify. Of these three, only France's place is assured as one of the 'Big Five', but it seems extremely unlikely that Sweden and Austria will struggle in the semi-finals. ⭐ The UK's Eurovision entry Long-time Eurovision fans will not be surprised to see the UK's entry 'What the Hell Just Happened?' by Remember Monday priced all the way out at 80/1 with bet365. The UK's poor performances in Eurovision have become something of an ongoing national joke. This was exemplified perfectly by last year's entry, 'Dizzy' by Olly Alexander, receiving zero votes from the public. It hasn't all been doom and gloom in recent years, though, with Sam Ryder's 'Spaceman' finishing runner-up in 2022, losing out to Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra with 'Stefania'. While it does not look like Remember Monday is likely to repeat Ryder's success, the band will make headlines as they are the first girl band to represent the country in the UK since Precious in 1999. They finished 12th that year, which, based on the odds, would be seen as somewhat of a success in Basel. 🌠 Eurovision underdogs It looks set to be a tough year for some of the bigger names in Eurovision this year. Outside of France, none of the Big Five are fancied by the bookies to have a good night. Spain and Germany are both out at 100/1 with talkSPORT BET, with neither of their songs appearing to resonate with audiences. Likewise, Italy, who have finished in the top ten for each of the last four years, are out at 66/1, with their entry 'Volevo essere un duro' from Lucio Corsi not striking a chord with viewers. Ireland, the joint-most successful act in the competition's history, is highly likely to continue its nearly three-decade run without a win. Their entry 'Laika Party' from Emmy has been announced as the third act in the second semi-final, which has raised concerns about them even reaching the final. Finally, host Switzerland is also anticipating a rough night. 'Voyage' by Zoë Më has been met with a tepid reception. The song, which feels fairly generic, has failed to recapture the magic of last year's entry 'The Code'. First semifinal countries and songs Country Odds Artist Song Albania 55/1 Shkodra Elektronike Zjerm Azerbaijan 200/1 Mamagama Run With U Belgium 25/1 Red Sebastian Strobe Lights Croatia 300/1 Marko Bosnjak Poison Cake Cyprus 60/1 The Evan with Shh Estonia 40/1 Tommy Cash Espresso Macchiato Iceland 300/1 VAEB Roa Italy 125/1 Lucio Corsi Volevo essere un duro Netherlands 16/1 Claude Kmb C'est la vie Norway 150/1 Kyle Alessandre Lighter Poland 200/1 Justyna Steczkowska GAJA Portugal 300/1 NAPA Deslocado San Marino 125/1 Gabry Ponte Tutta L'Italia Slovenia 250/1 Klemen How Much Time Do We Have Left Spain 100/1 Melody Esa Diva Sweden 10/11 KAJ Bara Bada Bastu Switzerland 100/1 Zoë Alina Kressler Voyage Ukraine 80/1 Ziferblat Bird of Pray Odds provided by bet365 are subject to change. Second semifinal countries and songs Country Odds Artist Song Armenia 300/1 PARG Survivor Australia 125/1 Go-Jo Milkshake Man Austria 4/1 JJ Wasted Love Czechia 22/1 Adonxs Kiss Kiss Goodbye Denmark 300/1 Sissal Hallucination Finland 28/1 Erika Vikman Ich Komme France 13/2 Louane Maman Georgia 300/1 Mariam Shengelia Freedom Germany 125/1 Abor & Tynna Baller Greece 125/1 Klavdia Asteromata Ireland 125/1 EMMY Laika Party Israel 16/1 Yuval Raphael New Day Will Rise Latvia 300/1 Tautumeitas Bur man laimi Lithuania 200/1 Katarsis Tavo Akys Luxembourg 300/1 Laura Thorn La Poupée Monte Le Son Malta 66/1 Miriana Conte Serving Montenegro 300/1 Nina Zizic Dobrodosli Serbia 300/1 Princ Mila United Kingdom 80/1 Remember Monday What The Hell Just Happened? Odds provided by bet365 are subject to change. Are the bookies often right about Eurovision? In short, yes. While the bookies may not always have the winner as favourite, it is rare that the winner is usually in the top three-five favourites. Heading into last year's event, for example, Croatia was the favourite with most bookies, being priced around evens, while Switzerland's Nemo, the eventual winner, was second or third, being available around 3/1 with most top UK bookmakers. However, the show's favourites will often offer decent value when compared to other entertainment events. It is highly unlikely, for example, that would you find the favourite priced around evens at an event like The Oscars or the Emmys, making it an attractive prospect for punters. In terms of surprises, Eurovisions are often defined by who doesn't deliver, as opposed to who does. There have been several occasions where a favourite has underperformed in a final, but a considerable outsider, that being anyone outside of the top five places, has not won for some time. You would need to go back to Israel in 2014 or Azerbaijan in 2011 to find the last truly surprising winners on the night. About Eurovision Eurovision is an annual singing competition held in Europe, with 26 countries competing in the grand final to be crowned winner. While all eyes will be on the final, the contest starts in the days leading up to it with the semi-finals. There are 37 entries in the contest overall. These consist of 36 European countries and Israel, which qualifies for the competition because its public broadcaster, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, is a member of the European Broadcasting Union. As per tradition, the winner of the contest hosts the following year. St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, will be the venue for this year's contest, thanks to Nemo's 'The Code' winning in 2024. The contest has become defined by its upbeat Euro-pop songs and powerful ballads, with winners tending to consist of high-energy pop songs or slow, moving ballads that allow singers to showcase their range. The winner of the contest is decided by two votes: one from the public and one from the judges. However, the involvement of so many countries often causes debate about the political nature of the event, with geopolitical events often appearing to have an influence on the outcome. When and where to watch Eurovision 2025 Eurovision 2025 will begin with the live semi-finals on Tuesday, May 13th, and will conclude with the final on Saturday, May 17th. The semis can be watched live on BBC iPlayer, and the final will be broadcast on iPlayer and live on BBC One. The event will be hosted by Hazel Brugger, Michelle Hunziker and Sandra Studer. You can keep up to speed with all of the latest shifts in the Eurovision odds, as well as monitor any bonus offers right here at The Sun.
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Louanne Tranchell obituary
My mother, Louanne Tranchell, who has died aged 87, was a passionate campaigner for community involvement in planning decisions. She recognised the importance of questioning authority and was committed to bringing people together to mark struggles and successes. Louanne's work in mobilising the community began in London in 1977, campaigning against Norman Foster's plan for Hammersmith Broadway and imagining an alternative vision for the site that won improvements for the area. In 1989 she set up Hammersmith Community Trust, which ran the Emerald Centre as a vibrant cultural social space. She always made connections, sharing local experiences with the Campaign for Homes in Central London and around the world with the International Network for Urban Research and Action. She became the first information officer for Coin Street Community Builders (1985-93), spreading details about their remarkable success building cooperative housing on the Thames South Bank. In 1984 she portrayed this story in Elementary My Dear, Homes, a play she wrote and produced that was performed at the Cottesloe (now Dorfman) auditorium of the National Theatre, London. Louanne was active in the Labour party, serving as a local councillor for the Broadway ward from 1994 to 1998. She opened the information centre as a hub for visitors and locals in the heart of Hammersmith, and was a member of the Labour Land Campaign, an early advocate for land value tax. Born in Glasgow, she was the only child of Elizabeth (nee Lygate), who worked in hospitality, and Thomas Harvey, an engineer. The family moved to west London in 1940 and Louanne attended Sacred Heart high school from 1948 before studying drama at Rose Bruford College in London (1955-58). In 1962, she joined the Margate Stage Company as an actor. There she met Chris Tranchell, a fellow actor, and they married in 1963. Over the next decade they toured repertory theatres across the country including Plymouth, Billingham and Worcester. It was during this time that she made the transition from acting to creating sets and costumes. Louanne always enjoyed a crowd – from pageants to protests. She travelled to Paris to protest at Cop21 and attended the Spirit of Mother Jones festival in Cork in 2023. She loved geography and in her final days had a map of the world beside her bed. When paramedics and care workers went to her home in Hammersmith, she would strike up conversations about the countries they knew and the places she had visited. Interested and interesting, making and doing, until the end. She is survived by Chris, her three children, Imogen, Benedick and me, and five grandchildren.
