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The Herald Scotland
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Foxed by Eurovision and a shoe paradox
An opportunity for the continent of Europe to flush out of its system all the corniest and most deranged tunes written so far this year, as a cacophony of caterwaulers yelped and yodelled in Switzerland. Reader Sue Paxton watched the show on telly, along with her 10 year old daughter, plus Sue's mum, who happened to be visiting for the weekend. Just before the proceedings began, Sue mentioned that the shindig was taking place in Basel. 'Basil?' said her mum, perhaps not entirely focused on the topic of discussion. 'Isn't that the fox in the waistcoat?' Sue's daughter was shocked by this comment. 'Gran!' she scolded. 'Foxes don't wear waistcoats. You should know that.' Dry humour The hot and arid weather is making an impact, with Scottish Water urging people to use less of their liquidy stuff by taking brief showers and avoiding the use of hoses. However, the firm stopped short of calling for a full prohibition on hosepipes. Reader David Donaldson says it's not so much an outright ban as a… 'Gonnae no spray that.' What's the skinny? The Diary recently repeated the useful maxim 'never trust an electrician with no eyebrows', which reminds Jim Pairman from Scone of another sound slice of advice: 'Never trust a thin chef.' : Deedee Cuddihy spotted this number plate on Byres Road and concludes that even the motorcars are starting to wilt and wail about the weather (Image: Deedee Cuddihy) Child's play We mentioned above that one of our correspondents tuned into the Eurovision Song Contest. Imagine our surprise to discover that ANOTHER correspondent also watched the show. (Were all the pubs shut on Saturday evening?) After reader Jennifer Hobson's husband had endured the British entry, he gave a backhanded compliment to the song… 'Bet that would be popular in a primary school disco,' he said. Double trouble Sweet toothed reader Jeremy Hobson was in a café, enjoying a bun and cuppa. He likes to heap six teaspoons of sugar in his tea, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the eagle-eyed waitress, who watched him loading up, mouth agape, then cheekily asked: 'Dae ye want me to bring some sugar tae go with yer sugar?' Footering about The other day reader Stevie Campbell was chatting with a pal about the delights of footwear, and happened to say: "I feel as if I've owned my new shoes for a lifetime." "Is that not a paradox?" enquired his pal. 'No,' corrected Stevie, 'it's a pair of Docs." Size matters Excitable reader Gary Henderson tells us: 'I love hyperbole more than anybody else in the world does.'
The Herald Scotland
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
A police accordion and pray as you go
The barman was clearly concerned that his customer was rapidly becoming more pickled than your average supermarket gherkin. So he quietly suggested that the barfly might want to nibble on a sandwich, or perhaps nosh a bag of nuts, thus balancing out his intake of liquids with some solids. The beer-guzzling geezer dismissed this idea with a contemptuous shake of the head, then said: 'Dinnae hink so, pal. Ye ken wit they say. Never eat on an empty stomach.' Where you at? Glasgow author Deedee Cuddihy was visiting Edinburgh and overheard a brief exchange in Princes Street between a mum and her young daughter, who was about nine or ten years old. "It's Princes Street, not Princess Street," said mum. Daughter fought back doughtily, and proclaimed: "Well, Princess Street is much nicer, and I think it should be changed." David Donaldson spotted this car parked in Westbourne Gardens. 'I imagine it belongs to a family who are more than a little pro Scottish independence,' he muses. (Image: David Donaldson) At a stretch A Dundee-based friend of Bruce Walker is romancing a gal who is based in London, so our reader asked how the long-distance relationship was progressing. Unsurprisingly, Bruce's chum replied: 'So far, so good.' Pointed question The Diary is exceedingly knowledgeable when it comes to the theatrical scene, though we've still not figured out why Godot didn't just ping over a text to explain that he'd be arriving a wee bit late. Another artsy question we're struggling with is provided by classical dance fan, Nicola Munro, who asks: 'Does a skinny ballerina wear a one-one?' Mind your language Our readers are celebrating those bright sparks who are not content with commonplace dictionary definitions, and instead prefer to use the English lingo in fresh and exotic ways. Brian Collie recalls a pal of his dad who arrived late for work then breathlessly explained to his colleagues that Renfield Street was closed as 'the polis had thrown an accordion around the building.' Communication breakdown Since Donald Trump shockingly suggested he would make an excellent Pope the Diary has been examining faith in its many guises. Ian Barnett had difficulty getting a phone signal at church last Sunday and complained to the Minister. "I get a great signal" replied the man of the cloth. "I use pray as you go" Cold comfort Munchy musings from reader Andrea Howell: 'If we aren't supposed to eat midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge?'
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Liam Payne revealed guilt over spending money and determination to pay family debts as late star's fortune revealed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIAM Payne revealed his guilt over spending money on himself and his determination to help with family debts before his tragic death. One Direction star Liam tragically passed away in October last year at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. 7 Liam Payne revealed his guilt over spending money on himself and his determination to help with family debts before his tragic death Credit: PA Court documents released today show the singer died without writing a will - leaving behind £24.3million. Yet in a poignant appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast - now resurfacing in light of the court findings - Liam opened up about the lengths he went to in order to provide for his loved ones. He told host Steven Bartlett in 2021: 'Money is care and the ability to relax on certain things… Life's gonna kick you in the nuts sometimes, and you're gonna need something to help those around you.' Liam reflected on his upbringing and early views on money, recalling a formative childhood moment in church when someone explained the promise behind a five-pound note. 'She said, 'Have you ever read a five-pound note?'... 'It says I promise to pay the bearer.' I thought that was great.' The Strip That Down hitmaker admitted he was 'terrible' at treating himself and often abandoned online shopping baskets before checkout. He joked: 'I feel like I bought something. 'Now that's good.' At least I did something fun with what I'm working my ass off for.' However, he stressed that his earnings were never about personal luxury, but rather about providing security for his family - especially in the wake of past financial struggles. Liam said: 'In terms of things with my family and different things that have happened, like my dad's debt, for all those sorts of different reasons, I'd rather have it on hand." 'My family are the last people to ever ask me for anything, and I'm the first one to go, 'This is why we do what we do.'' Liam Payne's £24MILLION legacy revealed after 1D star died aged 31 without writing will… and Cheryl's key role emerges Court documents show Liam left £28,595,000, which after expenses and debts were paid saw the figure reduced to £24,280,000. The tragic singer died intestate, which means he didn't leave a will stating what should be done with his money. However, docs show the court has granted power of administration of his estate to Cheryl Tweedy, his former partner and mother of his eight-year-old son Bear. Also named as an administrator is top music lawyer Richard Bray, partner in a London-based legal firm. Under UK's rules of intestacy, it is likely that the money will be placed in trust for Liam's son, while his girlfriend at the time of his death, Kate Cassidy, will receive nothing as they were not married or in a civil partnership. 7 A poignant appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast has now resurfacing in light of the court findings Credit: Diary of a CEO 7 Kate broke down in tears in her first global interview since the tragedy with The Sun Credit: Dan Charity 7 On October 16, the day of his death, his hotel room was littered with drug paraphernalia and an opened champagne bottle Credit: Reuters 7 Liam, pictured left, with his One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan in 2011 Credit: Getty This comes after the singer's haunting final words were revealed by his girlfriend Katie - six months after his death. The influencer, 25, has been candidly documenting her grief since the tragic event in interviews and on social media. You can read Kate's full chat with The Sun here. She had been with him until two days before his passing. In an appearance on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast, heartbroken Kate shared the comfort she finds in their final exchange. Recalling the moment she left Buenos Aires to return to their home in Florida, Kate described the deeply emotional goodbye the couple shared. She said: 'I remember sitting there with him and I was going on and on and on about how much I love him. 'And he laughed and interrupted me and was like: 'Kate you're gonna miss your flight, your car is in the driveway.'' Liam then added: 'You're acting like this is the last time you are ever gonna see me again.' At the time, Kate said she laughed, unaware of what was to come. She said: 'But to look back in time and know that that was the last time I was ever gonna see him again is just so chilling. 'I am so blessed that it was that heartfelt goodbye. Our last goodbye - I wouldn't have wanted it to be any differently. I am so glad we had that beautiful time together and I wouldn't change that." In an interview with The Sun in March, she revealed his death "still doesn't feel fully real". She added: "Love is so optimistic, and you just hope that everything will work out at the end. "Obviously if I knew, if I could see into the future, I would never have left Argentina." Liam is survived by his son Bear, who he welcomed with singer Cheryl Tweedy in March 2017, after they had been dating for a year. When they split the following year, Liam wrote: 'We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world.' He was co-parenting with the former X Factor judge, whom he met on the hit ITV1 talent show, and said he saw his son up to two to three times a week. Liam walked hand-in-hand with his son in a final post with the lad he had once described as a 'mini me'. In the video, the singer ruffled his boy's hair and, alongside a bear and a teary-eyes emoji, he wrote: 'Bear is so tall.' In a separate video in August, he said: 'He's getting so big now. He's a big boy and he looks like a mini me. As if we needed any more me in the world.' Meanwhile, in and interview with People in 2022, Liam gushed: 'I make sure when I see him, he has 100 per cent of my time and I'm not d***ing around. 'I like to give him those moments and it's important. 'He needs his dad in his life and I'm happy he looks at me like a superhero. I'm hoping to keep it that way.' This comes as Liam's tragic finals hours before he fell to his death were released in court documents earlier this month. Rogelio "Roger" Nores and two staff members at the hotel had been charged with manslaughter but were cleared, it was revealed in February. Liam James Payne was born August 29, 1993, and was an English singer and songwriter. He shot to fame as a member of the global boyband phenomenon One Direction. Liam made his debut as a singer when he auditioned for The X Factor in 2008. After being eliminated as a solo artist he auditioned again in 2010 and was put into a group with four other contestants to form One Direction. The band went on to sell 70 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful boybands of all time. They group parted ways in 2015, when they went on a hiatus. Liam has amassed his fortune through being in One Direction, his solo career and touring. 7 The former One Direction star shares son Bear with ex-partner Cheryl Tweedy Credit: Instagram
Mint
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Michelle Obama shuts down divorce rumors yet again: ‘Everyone would know if ...'
Michelle Obama once again spoke out about the persistent rumors regarding her marriage to former President Barack Obama. She addressed speculation that their relationship might be facing difficulties, emphasising that if there were any issues, they wouldn't be kept secret. "If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it," Obama told host on The Diary of a CEO podcast. She added that her family, including her brother Craig Robinson, co-host of the IMO podcast, would also be aware if there were any marital problems. "I would be problem-solving in public," she noted, underscoring that she is not one to hide personal struggles. "I'm not a martyr," she clarified. Her brother, Robinson, who has appeared on several of her podcasts, jokingly said that if Michelle and Barack were having marital problems, he would be hosting a podcast with the former president (Barack Obama)." The lighthearted comment added a personal touch to the discussion. This isn't the first time Michelle Obama has addressed speculation about her marriage. The rumors resurfaced after she opted to skip President Donald Trump's second inauguration in January. In a previous episode of "IMO" with Robinson and actress Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Obama explained why she made that decision. "My decision to skip the inauguration – or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me – were met with such ridicule and criticism," she shared. Michelle Obama elaborated on how people assumed her marriage to Barack Obama was on the rocks due to her absence at the inauguration. "People couldn't believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart," she explained. Reflecting on her decision, Michelle Obama emphasised that it was a moment of personal growth. "I'm here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me," she said. "It took everything in my power to not do the thing that 'was right,' or was perceived as right, but do the things that were right for me." She also spoke about how she has changed her approach to meeting others' expectations. "You know, as a box-checking person who has been checking her whole life, doing the right thing, trying to always be an example, always going high … I think I just told myself, 'I think I've done enough of that,'" she reflected. "So let me start now." While discussing their relationship dynamics, Michelle Obama revealed that her and Barack's differences make them stronger as a couple. "When I met Barack Obama, he showed up in my life as the opposite of a box checker, but somebody that I describe in my book as an 'ultimate swerver.' He did nothing by the book," she said. "He was brilliant and interesting." She highlighted that their contrasting personalities actually contribute to their compatibility. The couple married in October 1992 and share two daughters, Malia (26) and Sasha (23). Despite public scrutiny over the years, Michelle and Barack Obama continue to demonstrate a strong partnership grounded in mutual respect and understanding. First Published: 4 May 2025, 01:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Michelle Obama defends decision to skip Trump's inauguration, ‘I just told myself…'
Michelle Obama is defending her decision to skip Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. On Thursday's episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast, the former first lady explained that it helped her learn the 'art of saying no.' 'You know, as a box-checking person who has been checking her whole life, doing the right thing, trying to always be an example, always going high … I think I just told myself, 'I think I've done enough of that,' and if I haven't, then I never will,' Michelle told Steven Bartlett. 'It'll never be enough. So let me start now,' she added, referencing her decision to snub Trump's inauguration in January. Also Read: Robert De Niro reacts after daughter Airyn comes out as transgender, 'I don't know…' However, the Becoming author admitted that she 'basically tricked' herself into skipping the event by making sure she had nothing 'to wear.' 'I was like, if I'm not going to do this thing, I've got to tell my team,' she recalled, adding, 'I don't even want to have a dress ready, right?' Michelle explained that if she actually had a dress picked out for the event, she would have ended up doing 'the right thing [by attending].' She further noted that her decision to skip the event allowed her to practice the 'art of saying no,' which she feels 'the young women out there' must learn. Also Read: Bill Gates' daughter Phoebe gets candid about past relationship with 'childhood sweetheart' 'After all that I've done in this world, if … I still have to show people that I love my country, that I'm doing the right thing, that I am … going high all the time, all I'm doing is keeping that crazy bar that our mothers and grandmothers set for us,' Michelle added.
