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Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I was looking at Eric Bristow's flat when he died and his demise hit me hard, says ex-BBC darts host Bobby George
'MY MATE' I was looking at Eric Bristow's flat when he died and his demise hit me hard, says ex-BBC darts host Bobby George Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BOBBY GEORGE says the sudden death of long-time drinking and darts pal Eric Bristow seven years ago 'hit me hard'. And his new book details the duo's many escapades. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Darts great Eric Bristow passed away seven years ago Credit: REX 4 The former world champion passed away aged 60 Credit: GETTY 4 Long-time pal Bobby George has opened up on the passing of the beloved Bristow Credit: GETTY They first met in the 1970s and became oche rivals — they contested the 1980 World Darts Championship final — but also 'very good friends'. According to George, the five-time world champion would be 'good as gold until about 10 or 10.30pm — then he'd become a complete a***hole once he had drunk too much'. The King of Bling, claimed Hackney-born Bristow would be 'rude, arrogant, leery and happy to pick a fight with anyone . . . I didn't like him when he was like that, no one did'. Yet the Crafty Cockney never wavered in his strong loyalty towards George, 11 years the senior man, whom he called Bo. Bristow — one of the sport's greatest throwers — died on April 5, 2018 from a heart attack before a Premier League event in Liverpool. He was 60. Writing in Still Here! The King of Bling, George, 79, said: 'Eric Bristow's death hit me hard. 'He was only 60 for f***'s sake. That's no age these days, is it? I had known him since he was a teenager — and he never changed. 'He could be a pain in the a*** and we had some right ding-dongs over the years. List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler 'But for most of the time, he was my mate and we had some great times together.' On the night Bristow died, George was on Merseyside, working at Shooters Bar and Diner. The pair had 'a little catch-up and I got him a Guinness'. 'One of the best things I've ever seen' - Frank Lampard stunned as Coventry star hits 180 with first-ever three darts That night, George stayed in a Stoke pub run by Barry Birch, Bristow's former driver. And he was even looking at 'Eric's flat' less than 200 yards away when he learned the tragic news. George said: 'I couldn't believe the suddenness of his passing. 'Nor could I take in the fact that I could see his flat — the same flat he'd have left just a few hours earlier — as I was trying to take in the tragic news. 'What were the odds of it? Me being with him, saying goodbye, going to Stoke and looking out of a window at his flat whilst stood alongside his former driver? 'We both needed a stiff drink that night. They reckon Eric's heart must have stopped before he hit the ground as there was no blood. 'In his diary, apparently, he'd written he had got bad chest pains. "Bloody hell, if that was the case, why didn't he go to the doctors or hospital and get it sorted? 'Knowing Eric, he probably thought, 'I'll put loads of Guinness down my neck, that'll get rid of the pain'. 'Anyone who knew him was aware that he didn't exactly lead a healthy lifestyle. I had known him since he was a teenager — and he never changed." Bobby George on Eric Bristow 'For as long as I'd known him, he was a heavy smoker, always rolling his own. 'And he would think nothing of getting through 15 or 16 pints of Guinness in a day, rounding it all off with a curry. Nobody's body can handle that day in, day out. 'Always on the go, working and travelling, meant he was always pushing it. "Although it wasn't work to him, just a chance to get on the p*** every day. 'I like a drink and a smoke but there are extremes and Eric pushed them to the limit. 'I'd say, 'You smoke and you drink too much'. He said, 'I know all about that, Bob. But put it this way, no one is going to be pushing me around in a wheelchair. When I go, I'll go like that. Bang'. And he f***ing did as well, bang.' George first encountered the 'mouthy so-and-so' while playing in a BDO event at Margate in Kent. 4 Bobby George knew the late Eric Bristow when he was a teenager Credit: GETTY He said: 'After that we became good mates and he would do anything for me, anything.' As they toured the country, they 'would share prize money', but there were times when George thought 'we're going to get our heads kicked in' due to Bristow's OTT antics. On a US tour in 1978, the first time George went on a plane, Bristow enraged locals by pretending 'to wipe his a***' with the American Stars and Stripes flag 'before chucking it on the floor'. George said: 'The atmosphere had turned really toxic and I was worried that someone was going to do something really stupid, like pull a gun out on him. ''Watch yourself, Eric,' I whispered in his ear. 'These guys aren't messing about and they have guns over here!' 'I'd like to say that was an isolated incident but it wasn't. 'That's how he was, always getting into trouble. But somehow always managing to get himself out of it.' Still Here! The King of Bling, published by Pitch Publishing, is out now, £25.
Edinburgh Live
6 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
Princess Charlotte 'marked end of centuries-old tradition' that Princess Anne suffered
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 "centuries-old" royal tradition that once affected Princess Anne's place in the line of succession was finally overturned with Princess Charlotte, thanks to a pivotal Act of Parliament. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, her eldest son Charles immediately ascended to the throne. His firstborn, William, stepped up as the next in line, with his offspring, Prince George, as his heir. This marked the first occasion in nearly a century that Britain saw both a male sovereign and his male heir. Historically, under a 1701 law, the throne would pass to the eldest male, sidelining any older sisters (a practice known as male primogeniture), but this outdated rule was rewritten in recent years, reports Gloucestershire Live. But with the introduction of the Succession to the Crown Act in 2013, the outdated "centuries-old, men-first tradition" was abolished. It ensured that Princess Charlotte wouldn't be bumped down the succession line by her younger brother, unlike Princess Anne who ranks below her younger brothers. (Image: undefined via Getty Images) Wesley Kerr OBE, an ex-BBC Royal correspondent, told Channel 5's Secrets of the Royal Traditions: "So, whereas Princess Anne, who's the second child of Elizabeth, is below all three of her brothers in the line of succession, Charlotte did not go down a place when Louis was born. "There's absolute equality between boys and girls. So, had Charlotte been the eldest, she would be the next monarch - a well-needed piece of modernisation." Royal historian Gareth Russell added that Queen Elizabeth believed there should be "no reason" why a female couldn't ascend to the throne, whilst BBC's Jennie Bond expressed that this alteration champions the cause for "striking out for the modern woman". Charlotte, who is the middle child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, follows her older brother Prince George and is followed by the youngest, Prince Louis. (Image: Getty Images) In recently celebrating her 10th birthday, a new image of Charlotte was released by her parents from her time in Cumbria. The royals' social media accounts featured this photograph with the caption: "Happy 10th Birthday Princess Charlotte." As reported by Sky News, William and Kate habitually engage their followers by sharing personal photos of their children, often captured by the Duchess herself. Following this, just over a week ago, another photo surfaced online—this time featuring young Prince Louis. This latest snapshot was taken by Josh Shinner and posted in celebration of the prince turning seven years old.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Dan Walker makes feelings clear on Gary Lineker's MOTD exit after BBC row
After Gary Lineker finally bid farewell to Match of the Day, ex-BBC Football Focus presenter Dan Walker offered his honest thoughts on his former colleague's departure Former BBC Football Focus presenter Dan Walker truly believes Match of the Day"won't be the same" without Gary Lineker. The former Tottenham Hotspur and England forward has finally left the flagship Premier League highlights programme after 26 years of presenting. Lineker made his goodbyes while holding back the tears in what was an emotional final episode for the 64-year-old. The former striker announced he was leaving the BBC altogether soon after he shared a social media video criticising Israel which featured an emoji of a rat. Not long after deleting the post, Lineker apologised and stated that he would be stepping down from the BBC permanently following the end of the 2024/25 season. The presenter paid an emotional farewell to his colleagues at the BBC during his final episode on Sunday night. And after watching the end-of-season show, Walker, who presented Football Focus for 12 years before moving across to Channel 5 in 2022, sent a post in support of his ex-BBC colleague. The broadcaster, who was once touted as a possible long-term replacement for Lineker on MOTD, took to X and said: "Match of the Day won't be the same without Gary Lineker. "It was always a pleasure to present the show, but it was always Gary's chair. Brilliant career on the pitch matched by a brilliant stint on the biggest football show on the TV.' At the end of the episode, Lineker said: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all the pundits I've worked with over the years, you've made my job a lot easier. Rather like my football career everyone else did all the hard work and I got all the plaudits.' Initially, Lineker was only going to step down from presenting weekly highlights of the Premier League on the show, but continue presenting live FA Cup coverage and the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, before stepping away after the latter. However, his social media post hastened his exit from the Beeb. Confirming his imminent departure last Monday, he said: "Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. "I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for. "However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.' BBC Director-General, Tim Davie, said: "Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season." Lineker presented the flagship BBC show for 26 years, initially taking over from Des Lynam in 1999. He was drafted into the Match of the Day hot seat after Lynam left the BBC to join ITV. Next season, the trio of Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan will share the hosting duties of Match of the Day.
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jeremy Clarkson's fans left baffled by 'extreme' rule at his Farmer's Dog pub
Jeremy Clarkson's fans left baffled by 'extreme' rule at his Farmer's Dog pub Fans of Jeremy Clarkson's hit Amazon Prime show, Clarkson's Farm, have been flocking to sample his pub Following his foray into farming, Jeremy Clarkson has now embraced the role of a publican with the opening of The Farmer's Dog. The move into pub ownership is captured in the latest series of Jeremy's hit Amazon Prime show, Clarkson's Farm, which sees the ex-BBC star embarking on "his most ambitious project yet." An official teaser for the show reveals: "Jeremy is taking on his most ambitious project yet, setting out to buy a pub that will reignite his Farm to Fork restaurant vision. But the road to becoming a landlord isn't exactly straightforward, and with new faces, new livestock and new machinery arriving at the farm, life at Diddly Squat is busier than ever." Season 4 premiered just yesterday (May 23), but curious fans have already been making beelines for his tavern since it opened in August last year. Get Prime Video free for 30 days This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £8.99 £0 Amazon Get Prime Video here Product Description TV lovers can get 30 days' free access to tantalising TV like The Boys, Reacher and Clarkson's Farm by signing up to Amazon Prime. Just remember to cancel at the end and you won't be charged. The Farmer's Dog is nestled in Asthall, close to Burford in Oxfordshire. Clarkson bagged the premises, previously called The Windmill, for a sum shy of £1m, reports Gloucestershire Live. Article continues below At the opening, Jeremy discussed his motivation: "We wanted to have that restaurant on the farm last year and we couldn't, and pubs, they are all for sale. "So, we thought instead of building a restaurant we would buy a pub." There is a strict policy enforced (Image: (Image: Neil Robinson/PA) ) However, his strict British goods only mandate has caused some confusion among patrons, who've noted the absence of staple items like ketchup and Coca-Cola. The decision was met with mixed reviews from patrons, with some criticising the restricted beverage options and others expressing discontent with the limited condiments available. One reviewer commented: "Drinks are limited, no cola, Pepsi, lemonade or coffee." Another customer was left unsatisfied after being refused a simple request, writing: "Asked for some pepper and was told 'Sorry no!'" Jeremy Clarkson's pub opened in August last year (Image: PA ) Acknowledging that this approach may not have been the most financially savvy, Clarkson confessed that the policy resulted in an estimated cost of about £10 per customer. He elaborated on the reasoning behind his choice in an article for The Times, stating: "Now, a business-minded person would look at these costs and realise that with British-only rules in place, a hotdog was going to be priced at about £45. Article continues below "But I'm not a business-minded person. So I just filled my heart with hope, asked an AI programme to work out what the average price of lunch in a Cotswolds pub is and just charged that." Clarkson's Farm Season 4 is now streaming on Amazon Prime
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry and Meghan's 'huge strain' after 'losing everything'
Seven years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot, royal biographer Tom Bower reveals how he thinks the 'turmoil' surrounding them has put pressure on the Sussexes' marriage Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the front pages all around the world with their kiss on the steps of St George's Chapel after being pronounced husband and wife. The romantic, picture-perfect moment was seen as the start of another joyous royal union – attracting the same levels of public adoration as Prince William and Kate Middleton before them. But, seven years on, royal biographer Tom Bower says the reality is proving to be very different. The ex-BBC journalist, who is midway through his second book on the couple, sums up the time since May 19, 2018 as an 'unpredictable, tumultuous rollercoaster'. Tom says: 'When the nation, and the world, saw them at St George's Chapel, they thought, 'This is bliss'. It was seen as a most wonderful image, something terrific for the royal family and terrific for Britain.' He goes on: 'Harry has always been besotted by Meghan, and of course they are now both devoted to their children.' Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, had announced their engagement around six months earlier, after a romantic proposal with a custom three-stone ring – made using diamonds owned by the Prince's late mother, Princess Diana. The wedding came just a few weeks after another joyous royal occasion, the birth of William and Kate's third child, Prince Louis. Even as the day approached, however, the couple found themselves embroiled in some rather unpleasant family dramas. Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr, admitted he had lied to his future son-in-law over claims h e had staged paparazzi photos in exchange for payment a few weeks before the ceremony. While there is no doubt the pair were, and still are, very much in love, ex- investigative journalist Tom believes the writing was already on the wall for the direction their marriage would take. He claims: 'The guest list showed where it was all going. It was full of Hollywood stars, and Meghan's family weren't there. Everything that was clear on that day has transpired – there has been a break-up of a family, and a move back to Hollywood.' The couple welcomed their first son, Prince Archie, on May 6, 2019, while they were very much working royals and relations with William and Kate were seemingly good. The couple congratulated Harry and Meghan on the birth with a funny message saying: 'Welcome to the sleep deprivation club.' Just a year later, it all changed. Harry and Meghan announced they were stepping back as senior members of the royal family to work to become independent, 'while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen'. It was explained that they would split their time between the UK and North America. Tom says: 'In the beginning, Harry found it terrific and Meghan clearly loved it. 'It was a great adventure. He had amazing freedom in the sunshine, paddling in the Pacific, embracing fatherhood and everything. So I think that at this stage, it was going well. But then their reality changed. The issue of their ties with the UK and Harry's family became apparent, and Harry found that very, very difficult.' The couple sat down with US presenter Oprah Winfrey to share their experiences in 2021. And Tom says the money they made from Harry's explosive memoir, Spare, and their Spotify and Netflix deals, has no doubt given them huge financial security. But it comes at a cost – the most significant being Harry's relationship with his brother and father. Add to that his recent High Court case over his security while in the UK, and his comments about the King no longer speaking to him, and they are essentially in a marriage surrounded by intense turmoil, Tom warns. He claims: 'It's been an unpredictable, tumultuous rollercoaster, which is not what they expected. 'Harry's lost relationships with his family in England, and I think he is now a very lonely prince. But what is brilliant about them is they conceal the turmoil that they go through, such as with the court case on security in London. Harry is troubled, but Meghan can't help with that in any way. She doesn't want to be involved in Harry's battle with his family. 'She's focused on their life in California with the children and building her brand. Everything that's happened since their wedding has put a huge strain on them – but Meghan's a consummate performer and knows how to ignore criticism and present herself looking immaculate and smiling.' Now that things are hopefully settling down they will, no doubt, be hoping for a smoother next seven years of marriage. Harry's priority, reckons Tom, should be on enjoying his time with Meghan, six-year-old Archie and daughter Lilibet, three – and finding his purpose. What that might be, he says, is impossible to predict – insisting: 'I've never for a moment thought they would end their marriage. 'Instinctively, I think the marriage is sound because they have a lot in common and clearly have endless intensive conversations about their fate, which binds them. 'The marriage was ideal because he wanted to be saved, he needed help. Meghan is a sort of mother and lover, and that was what he needed. They both want to be loved, and they both love their children. 'They have a big enough house to have their own space from each other, and Harry will go off and do his things – for example attending an event in New York without her – and vice versa. They don't feel that they have to be together all the time.' They have weathered a great many storms together in their first seven years of marriage. If history is to be an indicator of their future together, Harry and Meghan may face more bumps in the road – but they will do so united, for better or for worse. Tom adds: 'I'd be hugely surprised if she didn't stay loyal to Harry – it would be completely contrary to everything we've seen of her. It's impossible to predict exactly what the future holds. Other than Harry writing another book or Meghan writing about her experiences, they need to find their purpose. "The real problem for them is what does Harry do? He's 40, hasn't an official role and he has lots of enemies. Not being close to his family leaves a hole – his focus must be on filling that in California, with Meghan.'
