Latest news with #TheScheme
Daily Record
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
The Scheme's Marvin says it's a miracle he's alive - after hundreds of last chances
Marvin Baird has been through umpteen jail sentences probation and overdoses, all down to drugs. But he now vows to get drug free and qualify as an addiction counsellor The Scheme star Marvin Baird claims that his very survival is a miracle after 'hundreds of last chances'. The chaotic and drug-addled life has been documented in technicolour the 15 years since the Ayrshire-based documentary first aired in 2010. But despite suffering overdoses and enduring several prison terms for drugs offences, Marvin claims he is now on the brink of a drug free life. He has set himself four 'achievable' objectives that all lead to him gaining a qualification to be a drugs support worker. And Marvin is now offering support to members of the recovery community in Kilmarnock. He said: 'I am as straight as I've been for years and I have laid down four objectives that I really think are achievable. 'I want to pass my driving test, get my house done up, get clean of all drugs, including methadone, and get qualified to be a drugs counsellor. 'I'm now miles ahead of anywhere I've been in a long time and I'm determined to make it all come together. 'I know better than anyone that it's a miracle that I'm still alive after what I've been through and I've seen scores of people die in Kilmarnock from overdoses. 'I've had so many last chances - hundreds of them probably - but I'm going to take this one.' Marvin, 45, became a star after he and partner Dayna McLaughlin allowed a fly-on-the-wall film crew to record their lives as drug addicts in the tough Onthank scheme in Kilmarnock. Since then he has been preyed upon by gangsters and spent a large proportion of his life in jail or on probation for drugs offences. Marvin said he is aware that the hard drugs scene has changed dramatically in recent years - and is now more deadly than ever after a wave of new super-strong opiates hit the streets. The Daily Record has revealed this week how drug deaths are spiralling again due to the spread of these new Nitazene drugs. Marvin said: 'I'd be scared to touch heroin these days because every day it seems someone has had an overdose and so many people are dying. 'I know people who watched The Scheme or read the papers might think I'm a bit of a waster but I come from a good family and I had a good upbringing. I'm now determined to show them that I can turn my life around. 'I'm 46 in September and by the time I'm 50 I want to be drug free and working as a counsellor." Marvin said his communication skills and traumatic life make him a perfect ear to listen to. He said: 'I know that I'm a good communicator and I definitely know what I'm talking about when it comes to drug addiction because I've lived it. 'I think I can make a connection with people and help them turn their own lives around.' In March last year Marvin dodged prison for heroin possession after a sheriff heard his 'life is looking up.' Looking visibly healthier and sporting new implant teeth, Marvin admitted at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court to being caught with three wraps of the drug at his home in 2023. He escaped with a £600 fine after lawyer Callum Armour told the court: 'It's been a lifelong battle for him. He's had a long period of abstinence. 'It tells me that his life is looking up at the moment.' Those claims were quashed when Marvin was later caught smoking heroin, which led to a Drug Treatment and Testing Order being applied to him, which he claims has helped him stop taking heroin. Annie Brown, founder of the Patchwork Recovery Community in Kilmarnock, said Marvin has been an active participant in group discussions and has helped people with the benefit of his own experience. She said: 'Marvin is very well known in Kilmarnock and elsewhere but here he is just part of the group. 'It might surprise a few people to know that he is a very good communicator and he has a lot of empathy. 'We are wishing him all the best with his recovery.' Marvin's turnaround is in contrast to some other reality stars from The Scheme. Marvin, his partner Dayna and his dog Bullet became household names when the show became a surprise hit. The first episode of The Scheme attracted more than 300,000 viewers while more than 500,000 watched subsequent episodes. Marvin's 'Happy as Larry' catchphrase made him the biggest star in the show. But it was dropped after MSPs expressed concern about the BBC 'exploiting' poor people for entertainment. In 2011, ex-Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson branded The Scheme 'poverty pornography'. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scottish Sun
18-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Scots gym ‘raided by yobs who defecated' on floor
The "disgusting" incident was reported to the police on the morning of July 1 'ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING' Scots gym 'raided by yobs who defecated' on floor Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GROUP of youths have been accused of raiding a Scots gym and allegedly defecating on the floor. Staff at Anytime Fitness in Bathgate, West Lothian, were left stunned when they discovered the state of the premises. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Staff at Anytime Fitness in Bathgate claim youths raided the premises Credit: Anytime Fitness Bathgate The "disgusting" incident was reported to the police on the morning of July 1. Bosses claim four youths "ransacked" the premises on the town's Menzies Road. They said that the first aid kit was looted, coffee was splashed throughout the gym, and shared pictures of what appeared to be faeces on the floor. Bosses of the 24-hour facility branded the alleged acts as "disturbing". In a post on social media, staff wrote: "On Tuesday, 1st July 2025, our gym was ransacked by four youths who caused significant damage - raiding the first aid kit, pouring coffee throughout the space, and defecating on the floor. "This disturbing behaviour has been reported to the authorities. If you have any information that could help identify those responsible, please contact us or the police." Members of the public voiced their outrage following the alleged incident. One person said: "Shocking! Hope they are found and dealt with." Another wrote: "How heartbreaking, it's just unbelievable. Hope they get caught soon." A third commented: "Omg this is absolutely disgusting and shocking." Former star of The Scheme caught on CCTV raiding shop for money and cigarettes A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 11am on Tuesday, 1 July, 2025, we received a report of a housebreaking at a premises on Menzies Road, Bathgate. 'Enquiries are ongoing.'
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Moment bungling Scheme star is caught with fingers in the till before ransacking shop for cigarettes in botched robbery
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the jaw-dropping moment a former star of The Scheme turned to crime once again — caught on camera looting his local corner shop. Christopher Cunningham, once known for his wild antics as a teenage tearaway on the BBC's fly-on-the-wall docu-series, was snared on CCTV as he tried to dip into the till before helping himself to a mountain of cigarettes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Chris Cunningham desperately tries to force open the till but fails 4 The hapless thief drops his loot on the way to escape the store 4 Videograbs of cctv showing Chris Cunningham, who featured in BBC show The Scheme, robbing a local Spar store, See Lisa Hodge story 4 "Scheme" star Chris Cunningham arrives at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court for a previous hearing The 36-year-old thug had aggressively demanded a terrified shop worker open the til before fleeing from the Spar store in the notorious Onthank estate in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. The shocking footage, captured on June 8 last year, shows the Scheme star wearing his hood up and jacket zipped up over the bottom-half of his face, frantically trying to claw open the till before bundling up cigarettes in his arms. He then tries to flee the shop but drops some of his loot on the way out and has to stop to pick them up. He is then seen escaping, walking down the street away from the store. While some of his telly co-stars have turned their lives around, Cunningham seems to have spiralled into a life of crime. Cunningham was found guilty of the Spar raid plus a string of other crimes, including shoplifting booze from Tesco on the same day last year. He was also convicted at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court of stealing clothing from JD Sports on June 9 this year and cosmetics from Boots on June 10. Cunningham was jailed for a total of 28 months for all of the offences. The Scheme burst on to TV screens 15 years ago in May 2010 and quickly became the Scots telly sensation of the decade. The unlikely cult hit followed the lives of the residents of the Onthank and Knickinlaw estates in Kilmarnock. errifying CCTV captures moment MMA world champ is shot five times Fans couldn't get enough of the stars like Chris Cunninham and his pals Marvin Baird, and his girlfriend Dayna McLaughlan. Cunningham's mother Annie Caddis, also starred in the show but later had both legs and her right arm amputated after contracting blood poisoning. The mum was fitted with false limbs following her triple amputation in 2018. Millions tuned into the Scottish Bafta award-winning show every week to see the exploits of the show's real-life characters as they navigated hardships. However the show was branded "poverty porn" by critics who felt the stars of the show were being exploited.
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scots kiltmaker that produced designs for Celtic and Scotland national football team goes bust
But administrators were appointed to take over the company's affairs on June 30 JOBS BLOW Scots kiltmaker that produced designs for Celtic and Scotland national football team goes bust Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR Edinburgh kiltmaker has gone into administration amid financial struggles. Gordon Nicolson operated from the Canongate on the iconic Royal Mile and the capital's St Mary's Street. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Popular Edinburgh kiltmaker Gordon Nicolson has entered administration Credit: Getty But administrators were appointed to take over the company's affairs on June 30. The family-run firm had been selling and hiring out Highland wear since 2009. The independent kiltmakers employed around 10 people, according to the company's LinkedIn profile. The popular outlet designed tartan for the University of Edinburgh. It also created patterns for Scotland's national football team and Celtic for the club's 130th anniversary. Documents show that Andrew Ryder from JT Maxwell has been appointed as administrator. Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers and JT Maxwell have been contacted for comment. Earlier this week, we told how a leading tech company had also gone to the wall. Cybersecurity firm Adarma, headquartered in the capital, specialised in threat detection and engineering support for organisations in "high-risk sectors". It employed 176 people from its hubs in Edinburgh and London. Former star of The Scheme caught on CCTV raiding shop for money and cigarettes But amid financial difficulties, bosses filed a notice of intent and afterwards declared that the business had gone under. Will Wright and Alistair McAlinden from Interpath were appointed as joint administrators on Monday.
Scottish Sun
28-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Suspect arrested after man dies in Scots street
Paul Wright was found unresponsive in the street in Kilmarnock last week Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SUSPECT has been arrested after a man died in a Scots street. Paul Wright was found unresponsive in Orchard Street in Kilmarnock on Tuesday, April 22 after having been "acting erratically". Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Paul Wright was found dead in Orchard Street in Kilmarnock last Tuesday Credit: John Kirkby 2 Marvin Baird revealed he had known Mr Wright for years and was shocked to find out the man who died outside his flat was his pal Credit: John Kirkby Despite efforts to save him, the 56-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Police now say they have arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with Mr Wright's death. We told the victim had collapsed and died outside the home of former star of TV show The Scheme, Marvin Baird revealed he had known Mr Wright for years and was shocked to find out the man who died outside his flat was his pal. Marvin said: 'I'd known Paul for years. He collapsed right outside my flat window. I saw all the fuss but I didn't realise it was him. 'I couldn't believe it when I heard it was Paul. It's not nice news. 'He had his troubles but it's a shame to hear of anyone passing away. I'm sad for him and his family.' The death of Mr Wright - who is understood to have recently been released from prison - left neighbours reeling as police and forensic crews descended on their quiet street as they combed for clues. Locals say they raised the alarm with some reportedly battling to revive Mr Wright before paramedics arrived. Police cordoned off three separate areas of the Longpark area of the town as they carried out enquiries and fingertip searches. Detectives from CID gathered CCTV from neighbouring businesses as they tried to piece together Mr Wright's final movements after he was described as 'behaving erratically' in the lead-up to his death. Everyone thinks fentanyl killer who murdered mum & dad is nice bloke & I'm real killer - even my relatives accused me One woman said: 'He was apparently running around the street and then someone said he just collapsed. 'People started shouting for help and tried to resuscitate him but it was too late. It's quite shocking really.' A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Around 5.25pm on Tuesday, 22 April, 2025, emergency services were called to reports of an unresponsive man on Orchard Street in Kilmarnock. "He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 49-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death. Enquiries are ongoing. "
