Latest news with #WestLothian
The Sun
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Modest life of BGT's biggest star Susan Boyle revealed including £5 scampi & chips meals despite being worth £22m
SHE'S sold 25million records and is about to launch a musical comeback, but little else has changed for Britain's Got Talent legend Susan Boyle. Despite having an estimated £22million in the bank, the singer follows the same routine she fell into long before she became world-famous 16 years ago. 4 Susan, 64, often hops on the bus before carrying bags of shopping back to her four-bed council house. Lunch is her favourite scampi and chips that costs £5.05 at a local cafe in her hometown in West Lothian, Scotland. Karen McClure runs a cafe that was Subo's favourite karaoke pub until it was converted into a restaurant eight years ago. She said: 'Susan still pops in now and again for a roll and square (a square sausage and bun) and a cup of tea. She always sits in the same chair at the back and she's happy to chat with me and the other customers. 'A few years back, she ended up joining a French man on his table and she was speaking fluent French. Global phenomenon 'I couldn't believe it. She can speak five languages. She told me that she was learning Mandarin at that time. 'She also did a degree a few years back, after she rose to fame. It's just incredible. 'She goes down to the local music shop and sifts through the records. She seems happy in her life.' The daughter of a miner and a shorthand typist, Susan shot to fame aged 47 on the 2009 season of BGT. 'I'm back' cries Scots superstar as she announces major music return Revealing that she lived alone with her cat and had never been kissed, no one could have predicted the global phenomenon she would become when she took to the stage in Glasgow while wearing a gold dress. But her rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables became a social media sensation and led to BGT being named the world's most successful reality TV format by Guinness World Records. Judge Simon Cowell said: 'No one knew who this lady was. "She was from Scotland, a little village, and she goes on the show and within 48 hours the clip had 500million views. We sold the format to more than 30 countries after that. It was unbelievable.' This year and next are going to be massive for her as she releases new songs and shows off another side to her. Susan's debut album, I Dreamed A Dream, became the UK's best-selling record of all time following its release in 2009. The unlikely star made eight albums in total and performed for Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2019, but her parents never got to toast her success. Her mum Bridget died aged 91 in 2007 and her dad Patrick passed away in the 1990s. Last month, Subo announced she has returned to the recording studio for the first time in six years to work on new material. 4 The comeback, which she has been teasing to her 144,000 followers on Instagram, is remarkable given that she suffered a stroke in 2022 which reportedly affected her speech. One industry source told The Sun on Sunday: 'This year and next are going to be massive for her as she releases new songs and shows off another side to her. 'She's always wanted to do a documentary and let people into her world and she's so excited for what's to come. "She's told everyone she knows that she's ready for a biggie.' However, while the star is thriving, the place she calls home, once a bustling mining town, has fallen into decline. A number of shops have closed and her favourite Jolly Roger pub is no more, meaning she has to travel to the next-biggest town outside Edinburgh to sing karaoke. This could pose a problem for Subo, who still has not passed her driving test despite recently buying a new VW car, according to one source. And her modest lifestyle is well documented. After winning BGT, she paid £65,000 to buy the semi-detached, pebble dash council house she grew up in. In 2010, she also splashed out on a £300,000 five-bed new-build on the other side of town, but she never settled and soon returned to her old family pad. Four years later, she bought the house next door for £110,000, later combining the two properties to create her dream home. Besotted fans still travel miles to turn up at her front door. But locals believe she has still yet to receive her first kiss because — they say — she has never had a boyfriend. 4
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian man jailed after 14-year campaign of 'abhorrent' sexual and violent offences
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian man has been jailed after a campaign of serious sexual and violent offences against two women spanning 14 years. John Clark, 30, was sentenced to 10 years at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, May 29 after he was convicted of offences against two women, including rape, abduction and assault at the High Court in Livingston on April 30. He was also made the subject of a lifetime non-harassment order for these offences which were carried out over a period of 14 years, between 2008 and 2022 in the West Lothian area. Detective Constable Calum Skene said: "Clark's abhorrent actions took place over a prolonged period and caused significant harm. He will now have to face the consequences of his behaviour. 'I would like to acknowledge the women involved for their support throughout the investigation and court proceedings. We hope this outcome offers them some reassurance and allows them to begin to move forward. "Police Scotland is committed to supporting victims of sexual crime and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice, regardless of when the offences took place." Anyone affected by sexual crime is encouraged to contact Police Scotland on 101.
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian dad diagnosed with cancer after 'skin turned yellow on holiday'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian man received a shock diagnosis last year after his skin turned yellow while on holiday with his wife. Richard Bennett, 63, started noticing things weren't right with his body before they left for Portugal - including a difference in the colour of his urine. The dad from Whitburn was told his skin was yellow after his daughter picked them up from the airport. After a visit to the hospital, he was told he had stage four melanoma and said the diagnosis came as a 'complete shock'. He is now undergoing treatment every four weeks which is understood to be shrinking the tumour. Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Richard said: "I noticed things weren't right before we left for a short holiday. I hadn't told my wife at that point because I was desperate to get away because I had been working so hard. "Two days in, I wasn't feeling well - I had no energy and appetite. When my daughter picked us up from the airport she said I looked yellow. "I had a scan and they found a mass on my pancreas. I had skin cancer but it formed on my pancreas. "When I found out I was distraught because I felt like it was the end for me. I didn't have a lot of clear symptoms so it was a big shock when I found out. "The treatment has quietened everything down and stabilised the tumour. They told me I can have the treatment for two years and after that the therapy will stay in the body and continue to fight it. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "At the start of it all, I was really sad and angry and every time I felt like that I lost a day when I could have been happy and positive." The 63-year-old is now raising funds for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres by taking part in the Tour de 4 cycling challenge — all while living with the stage four diagnosis and undergoing immunotherapy treatment. The event is taking place on September 7 with Richard squeezing in gym sessions twice a week while continuing to work as a swim coach — a role he's passionate about. He added: "When I read Chris Hoy's book, it mentioned he was going to do a fundraiser for people that have stage 4 cancer and to raise awareness. I realised this was something I could do. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "I am doing it because I realised I could and I wanted to - it felt like a lightbulb moment for me." You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
West Lothian mum-of-two shares hysterectomy experience in short book published in two languages
Giovanna Surleti documented her own story on a subject that some still consider taboo A West Lothian woman who had surgery to remove her womb last year has written a book on her experience to help other women who undergo a hysterectomy. Mum-of-two Giovanna Surleti, who lives in Fauldhouse, has released the short book, Not a Country for Wombs Diary of a Whole Woman: Living without a uterus in a society that demands it. The book is available in both English and Italian language versions. Although she has only lived in West Lothian since 2019, 35-year-old Giovanna is an Italian national from Reggio Calabria, situated on the southern coast of the mainland overlooking Sicily. Giovanna said: 'I had been bleeding really really heavily and after a couple of other things were tried it seemed the only way. I'd been on blood transfusions and other stuff. So it was my last chance. 'The surgery was in March last year. I've been good since then, I'm a new woman and now have to rediscover myself again. 'There are a lot of woman who are ashamed after the surgery, who ask themselves, 'What am I now?'. 'It can be a devastating surgery whether you have children or not. I have two teenage daughters, aged 16 and 14. 'The book is only 45 pages but it tells my personal story of undergoing a hysterectomy at the age of 35. It's like a kind of before, during and after diary starting before surgery. 'It is not a medical essay, nor do I consider myself a professional writer. English is not my first language, and I wrote the book in Italian at first but I felt deeply that I wanted to honour the country that welcomed me, by sharing my voice in both Italian and English. 'The book is intimate and honest, born not from ambition, but from the need to break the silence around a topic that is still too often considered taboo. My only goal is to raise awareness, May was Hysterectomy Awareness Month.' The cover of the book, which is available in both paperback and digital formats, features a photograph of Giovanna's leg sporting a tattoo of a 'bull flower' which carries special meaning to her, as it represents a uterus, but not just the physical organ. 'It's not just a design choice, it visually reflects some of the deeper themes within the story, a kind of symbolic doorway into the world I've written about. 'The tattoo I wear is intimately connected to the narrative. I actually write about it in the book, it's more than ink, it's part of my personal journey, a reminder of what led me to write my story in the first place.' As Giovanna's book explains, the tattoo represents 'the power to create, to transform, even without the ability to bear children'. Giovanna works as a civil servant but is also studying psychology at university. 'I was doing sessions with a psychotherapist before my surgery and it became really important during the whole process. I feel the need to be able to help other women. But it's a long way.' The paperback and Kindle versions of the book are available via Amazon, search for its title or author: Surleti, Giovanna Rita.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Channel 4 fans all have the same complaint just MINUTES into Britain's Most Expensive Houses
Channel 4 fans have all made the same complaint just minutes into the latest episode of Britain's Most Expensive Houses. The property show takes viewers behind the scenes of some of the most incredible houses on the market, as top estate agents try to find them high-end buyers. Last night's instalment, the second episode of the third series, focussed on Ormiston Castle in the Scottish village of Kirknewton, West Lothian. The 19th-century estate - which boasts six bedrooms, 15 acres of land, a pub, tennis court, cinema room and equestrian centre - had just undergone an eye-watering £3.7million renovation. But viewers were ultimately unimpressed by the property's new ultra-modern look, taking to X to blast the historic building's jarring makeover, the Express reports. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. One said: 'The interior of that Scottish castle is awful. Completely wrong for the style of house.' Another agreed: 'Complete disaster. Architecturally and financially.' Owner Juliette Bentley bought the castle, built in 1851, for £1.65million, setting herself a budget of £350,000 to renovate it - though she ended up spending more than ten times this. On the programme, Juliette, along with estate agent Mark Coulter, invited top property journalist Kirsty McLuckie to spend the night at the house and write about her experience - such was their confidence in the property. But like sceptical Channel 4 viewers who blasted the property online, Kirsty was left dumbstruck by her stay there, calling Juliette's overspend 'eye-watering'. Examples of her lavish spending included some Venetian Murano glass chandeliers, costing a whopping £100,000 each. Kirsty commented on the light fixtures: 'It probably would look great in a hotel but not sure it looks great in a castle.' The property also boasted a secret panic room, concealed behind what looks like a bookcase but is actually a heavy duty door. Viewers took to X to blast the historic building's jarring makeover Behind it is a secret staircase, leading to another military-grade door - offering a kind of refuge if any trouble ever arises. Estate agent Mark explained: 'Behind you is an iPad and you're completely secure. You can phone the police and control the whole house.' These kinds of rooms are sometimes used by celebrities or those who require an extra layer of security. But the high-end security feature failed to impress Kirsty: 'I was slightly confused by the stairs and the sort of panic room. 'It's kind of panic stairs rather than a panic room.' She added: 'I think I prefer the idea of escaping from boring guests, rather than masked intruders!' Owner Juliette has previously admitted to The Times she is 'making no money out of it': 'But it's mega inside. 'It's like a brand new house but with all original features and it operates really smart. 'My bills are actually less than my friend's house down the road because we made it so energy efficient.' And there were parts of the interior that did appeal to Kirsty, such as the 'principal suite', which spanned an entire wing of the house and included a marble bathroom, dressing room and private living room. She was also impressed by the after-dinner entertainment space, which includes a bar and cinema room, dubbing it 'bonkers'. Ormiston Castle, just a half an hour drive from Edinburgh, is billed on its listing as offering buyers the chance to purchase their 'very own Balmoral Castle '. The property was previously listed in November 2023 and came on the market again in April 2025. It comes after another popular property show also took us inside an impressive mansion - where the renovation work similarly did not go exactly to plan. A couple who bought a Bulgarian mansion revealed on A New Life In The Sun: Where Are They Now they realised soon after they had made a huge mistake. Ellie and Gary, from Nottingham, featured on a recent episode of the Channel 4 show that catches up with buyers who have previously appeared on A New Life In The Sun. The pair had purchased a ten-bedroom home for £13,000 with the intention to run it as a bed and breakfast. Though they quickly attracted bookings, Ellie and Gary were hit with problems relating to the plot of land next door they had bought for Linda, Ellie's mother. The couple wanted to build a prefab bungalow on the plot but had to work their way through lots of red tape before they could begin. Ellie explained: 'We started the mum's house process a year ago in January. We got the wrong type of planning permission, which we didn't know.' 'Bulgaria has a lot of bureaucracy and everything has got to be stamped,' Gary added. Ellie explained: 'First we had to get documents from the electric company saying they'll supply electric, then we had to get another document saying they would do the work, and then another one when it's signed off.' Gary, frustrated, added: 'Look at it! Everything gets stamped, signed, stamped. There must be 50 different things.' But luckily, the flat pack nature of the property meant it could be constructed relatively quickly once the paperwork was sorted. Soon, Linda was ready to move in, after a year of living with her daughter and son-in-law.
