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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fun House's Pat Sharp's life now after getting the sack from one joke
Pat Sharp, best known as being the host of the 90s children's show Fun House was dramatically axed from his radio show after making a crude joke to a woman live on stage Radio DJ and Fun House host Pat Sharp was axed from his radio show after making a 'humiliating' joke that saw him lose his job. The TV legend, best known for being the face of the 90's childrens show fun house, presented his segment on Greatest Hits Radio from 2019. However the 63-year-old had made a joke to a woman live on stage at an awards show where he reportedly jibed about 'getting on your t**ts' and handed her a T-shirt with his face on it, according to Daily Mail. The T-shirt had an old photo of Pat with his classic mullet hairdo and the caption: 'Pat Sharp - AS SEEN ON FUN HOUSE - LOOKING SHARP SINCE 1982'. But the joke backfired after she took to social media afterwards in 2023, and said she fel "violated" in front of around 400 colleagues and friends. She noted: 'I was in complete shock and hadn't really processed what happened. Today I am struggling with it - I feel sad, dirty and, frankly, violated." This led to the radio DJ being dramatically taken off air as Greatest Hits Radio announced that his contract was due to expire at the end of the month and they had made the decision not to renew. They added that he would not return to the show with 'immediate effect'. A spokesperson for Bauer, which owns Greatest Hits Radio, said: "Due to the introduction of new weekend programming, a decision had already been made not to renew Pat's contract which comes to an end later this month. However with this issue now having been brought to our attention, we have agreed with Pat that he will not return to the station with immediate effect." In a statement issued to The Sun, Pat said: "I made a joke on stage which was not well received. I upset one individual in particular and for that I am truly sorry. I apologised at the event to anyone who was offended and I have apologised to the individual personally too." Other than Greatest Hits, Pat has previously hosted programmes on Radio 1, Capital FM, Smooth Radio and Heart, as well as presented some episodes of music TV show Top Of The Pops in the 1980s. Since the incident, Pat has stayed under the radar but has been keeping fans updated with his life on Instagram. He posts snapshots of him with his grandchildren and some throwback pictures of him in his heyday. In one Instagram video, the grandad shared dozens of images of his grandchildren having fun in the pool, playing games and roaming the park in a post captioned 'Grandkids galore'. When he wasn't spending time with the grandkids, Pat appeared to be taking some time away at Windermere in the Lake District in July and enjoying trips to the beach in Watergate Bay in Cornwall with his wife Monica. Earlier this month Pat was advertising an 80s tribute gig Ultimate 80's Reloaded in Torquay with himself alongside another DJ Max Corderoy. Sharing tickets to book on his Facebook page, the event described itself as "non-stop nostalgia" with "a pulsating mix of 80's hits". Earlier this year, Pat took part in a handful of other gigs - including Music in the Park in Leyland, Lancashire, in May, and at Butlin's Big Weekenders and Lets Rock Leeds retro festival, both in May. An earlier version of this story was published in September 2023.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gail Porter: 'I lost everything including all my hair but now I've fallen in love'
Presenter and campaigner Gail Porter reveals how she has come out the other side of depression, alopecia and homelessness to find a whole new purpose and love for life Gail Porter is having a moment. At 54, the TV presenter and mental health campaigner sounds almost overwhelmed as she reflects on how far she's come, as she chats exclusively to the Mirror. 'I'm 100% happy,' she says. 'I've got my cat. My daughte r's doing brilliantly — she's 22 now, finished uni and is working. I'm working, too, mostly charity stuff, and often for free, but I still worry about the next paid job. After being sectioned and homeless, I feel very lucky. I have great friends.' But Gail's smile falters as she remembers hitting rock bottom. In April 2011, aged 40, she was sectioned under a 28‑day order at a North London psychiatric unit near Hampstead. 'It was terrifying,' she admits. 'I was drugged up to my eyeballs, sharing a ward with men convinced they were Jesus, and violent patients. It felt like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.' In 2014, she found herself truly alone — sofa‑surfing for half a year, then sleeping rough on a bench in Hampstead Heath. 'I'd applied for library jobs and charity shop shifts. People said, 'You can't do that — you're Gail Porter!' I just wanted someone to give me a chance. Instead, I ended up on a bench thinking I'd had enough.' It was a close call. A worried boyfriend alerted the police, fearing Gail might harm herself. 'Four officers walked up and said, 'Someone's very concerned for your safety. We're taking you to the hospital.' I kicked off. I was furious, but I was desperate,' she says. Before these darkest days, Gail had known other tough losses. She was 30 when she married Toploader guitarist Dan Hipgrave in August 2001, and their daughter, Honey, arrived in September 2002. The marriage ended in separatio n by late 2004, and divorce followed in 2007. 'I've been married once,' she sighs. 'That was enough.' Before that, Gail had a whirlwind fling with the late Keith Flint of The Prodigy. 'He was intense and exciting, but it wasn't meant to be,' she says. Her career was soaring in the late 90s, hosting Top Of The Pops and The Big Breakfast, and appearing on magazine covers. Then, in 2005, her hair began to fall out in clumps. Diagnosed with alopecia, she refused to wear wigs. 'Friends said, 'You're beautiful bald,' and for a while, I felt invincible, but work dried up. I got asked to do interviews about being bald — unpaid, because you're talking about an 'illness'. I thought, 'This is going to be a bit s***.'' The hair loss coincided with anorexia and depression, and her once‑busy diary was blank. 'I lost everything — my house, my career, my confidence,' she admits. In her memoir‑in‑progress, Gail describes crying alone in Soho doorways, terrified that the next gig would be her last. Yet today, she believes she has the best of both worlds. After climbing back from bankruptcy in 2017, and making a Bafta‑winning BBC documentary, Being Gail Porter, in 2020, Gail is finally steady. She's renting again in North London, but still mindful of bills. 'It's awful out there. I work with Fair For You [a not-for-profit online lending company] to help people pay back loans without crippling interest, and with the Samaritans over the winter, because I know that darkness. Everyone's one missed payday from disaster,' she says. When it comes to romance, Gail is unequivocal. 'I don't date. In the 90s, you'd go out, have a few drinks, maybe meet someone. Now, it's all apps and swipes — I can't be bothered. I go to Soho, meet friends, maybe sneak off to a gig, and that's enough.' Her tone hardens at the memory of intrusive remarks. 'I've had dodgy comments — 'Where's your hair? Why no wig?' Sometimes I reply, 'Why didn't you wear better deodorant?' But 95% of people are kind. I love hugs — I get so many lovely hugs.' Gail's laugh breaks as she jokes about her frail eyelashes, fingers tracing her brow. 'I look like a massive baby with boobs. My lashes have grown back recently, and I save a fortune on mascara. I even microbladed my brows — they were too dark, so I bleached them at home. Complete chaos!' She's protective of her looks. 'I had my boobs reduced years ago because they were massive and my back hurt, but that's all the surgery I've ever had. I don't want anyone touching my face. I want to grow old my way.' She reflects on the n otorious February 1999 FHM photo shoot. 'They airbrushed me to within an inch of my life. Young girls looked at that and thought, 'Wish I had a body like that.' They probably took off a stone. They didn't pay me, made a fortune, projected it on to the side of the Houses of Parliament, and left me to deal with it. I don't even have a copy!' Fortunately, not all photo shoots she has taken part in have had such an infamous impact. Recently, Gail shot a campaign for Amber Jean Rowan's conscious‑sourcing wig brand. "Amber's brilliant — she gets alopecia. People say, 'Gail, you said you'd never wear a wig,' and I went 20 years without one, but now there's a choice. The first time I put on The Gail, my custom wig, I fell in love. 'It felt odd at first, but it's so similar to my old hair that it felt exhilarating. It's not about covering anything up — it's self‑expression. I now have the freedom to change my look whenever I fancy. I have the best of both worlds!' The Gail launches just ahead of Hair Loss Awareness Month in August. 'It became the best seller in the Amber Jean collection. I'm still proud of embracing baldness, but now I can also play with style.' Gail's journey is a testament to what she calls 'the brutal beauty of starting over'. She's hosting Q&As on Princess Cruises, touring her stand‑up, and raising awareness of homelessness with Prince William 's Homewards campaign. She's even planning a second memoir, already optioned for film. 'I've been at rock bottom, from sleeping on a bench to standing on a cruise stage, it's proof we get through,' she says. 'You don't need therapy if you find your therapy. Mine is a spin class. When I was at my worst, I paid £100 for unlimited classes for two weeks and did two rides a day. My friends say I look so fit and happy. It's my lifeline.' Her story is not one of bravery, Gail insists, but of survival. 'I hate it when people say, 'Poor Gail,' or 'Gail, you're so brave.' I'm not brave. I wake up, put one foot in front of the other, and here I am. That's all anyone can do.'
CBC
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
This Peaches performance was too racy to air on TV
Did you know this Peaches performance was deemed too racy to air on TV? In 2000, she released her album, The Teaches of Peaches and she was scheduled to be on the show Top of the Pops. But the performance was apparently too racy for British TV and never made it to air.
Glasgow Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Music fans recall watching Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium 40 years on
The London venue has collated stories from stars of the show, staff and fans in a online retrospective titled Live Aid 40 Memories. The concerts, held in London and Philadelphia, took place on July 13 1985 and were organised by musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the Ethiopian famine. The late Diana, Princess of Wales and the King, then Prince of Wales, attended the gig in London, which included performances from Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, Sir Mick Jagger and Tina Turner. LIVE AID AT 40 🎸 'So Bowie came over and said roll over and I will give you a massage.' Bob Geldof explains what went on behind the scenes at Live Aid 🏟️ — Wembley Stadium (@wembleystadium) July 10, 2025 Lucy Swanson, daughter of the late BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, was 17 when she went to the gig with her friend Kate Wolfe. 'I was 17. It was a time in our lives where everyone listened to the same radio stations, the same bands,' she said. 'Everyone watched Top Of The Pops. We had to go to Live Aid. As soon as it was announced it was the must-have ticket. 'Thankfully my mum was Annie Nightingale, a DJ on Radio 1 and out presenting Live Aid in Philadelphia on the same day. 'She bought us tickets to go – because everyone had to buy them. There were no freebies. 'There was a sense that every band was all singing for the same purpose. 'The crowd was amazing and everyone was present, no mobile phones, no selfies, no photos, it was better, just living in the moment of looking at the stage, wondering who was next.' Vivien Harvey, who was a special constable on the day, only found out when she arrived that she would be given the task of looking after performers as they came on to the stage. 'We were on the coach on the way to the stadium when we were told where we would be situated for Live Aid,' she said. 'Some were told they'd be outside the stadium and some would be inside. I got the long straw, and got allocated to stand on the stage door. 'The crescendo, atmosphere, the buzz – very special. I saw lots of stars coming through the stage door including George Michael. But Freddie Mercury was the star of the show.' Vivien Harvey was a special constable on the day (Wembley Stadium/PA) Also recalling the event were Debbie Baxter, Henry Munro and Ann Sargeant, all of whom worked at the concert. Ms Baxter, who was on the hospitality reception desk, said: 'I have so much pride knowing I was part of such an iconic event. I don't think it really resonated with me until years later. 'It wasn't until the film premiere of Bohemian Rhapsody took place in 2018 that I noticed younger staff members saying 'I wished I worked on Live Aid.' 'When I said that I had, they were amazed and were so excited to know what it was like. I realise now how lucky I was to have been part of such a historic event.' Live Aid 40 Memories also features a video interview with Geldof, who recalls getting a back massage from Bowie just moments before he went on stage.
North Wales Chronicle
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Music fans recall watching Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium 40 years on
The London venue has collated stories from stars of the show, staff and fans in a online retrospective titled Live Aid 40 Memories. The concerts, held in London and Philadelphia, took place on July 13 1985 and were organised by musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the Ethiopian famine. The late Diana, Princess of Wales and the King, then Prince of Wales, attended the gig in London, which included performances from Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Queen, Sir Mick Jagger and Tina Turner. LIVE AID AT 40 🎸 'So Bowie came over and said roll over and I will give you a massage.' Bob Geldof explains what went on behind the scenes at Live Aid 🏟️ — Wembley Stadium (@wembleystadium) July 10, 2025 Lucy Swanson, daughter of the late BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, was 17 when she went to the gig with her friend Kate Wolfe. 'I was 17. It was a time in our lives where everyone listened to the same radio stations, the same bands,' she said. 'Everyone watched Top Of The Pops. We had to go to Live Aid. As soon as it was announced it was the must-have ticket. 'Thankfully my mum was Annie Nightingale, a DJ on Radio 1 and out presenting Live Aid in Philadelphia on the same day. 'She bought us tickets to go – because everyone had to buy them. There were no freebies. 'There was a sense that every band was all singing for the same purpose. 'The crowd was amazing and everyone was present, no mobile phones, no selfies, no photos, it was better, just living in the moment of looking at the stage, wondering who was next.' Vivien Harvey, who was a special constable on the day, only found out when she arrived that she would be given the task of looking after performers as they came on to the stage. 'We were on the coach on the way to the stadium when we were told where we would be situated for Live Aid,' she said. 'Some were told they'd be outside the stadium and some would be inside. I got the long straw, and got allocated to stand on the stage door. 'The crescendo, atmosphere, the buzz – very special. I saw lots of stars coming through the stage door including George Michael. But Freddie Mercury was the star of the show.' Also recalling the event were Debbie Baxter, Henry Munro and Ann Sargeant, all of whom worked at the concert. Ms Baxter, who was on the hospitality reception desk, said: 'I have so much pride knowing I was part of such an iconic event. I don't think it really resonated with me until years later. 'It wasn't until the film premiere of Bohemian Rhapsody took place in 2018 that I noticed younger staff members saying 'I wished I worked on Live Aid.' 'When I said that I had, they were amazed and were so excited to know what it was like. I realise now how lucky I was to have been part of such a historic event.' Live Aid 40 Memories also features a video interview with Geldof, who recalls getting a back massage from Bowie just moments before he went on stage.
