Author: bang5

Graham Norton has put his luxurious London home up for sale for a cool £4.5million after admitting he wanted a change and said he was ‘finally feeling brave enough’ to make that step

Graham said he wanted a change(Image: Matt Crossick/PA Wire/PA Images)

Graham Norton has put his luxury London home on sale for nearly £5million. The Eurovision host has reportedly decided to put the four-bedroom home up for sale and it is being listed for a huge £4.95million.

The sprawling property is on the banks of the River Thames and he has been living there for two decades but Graham is believed to fancy a change. The incredible property is four storeys tall and has a stunning view of the river as well as a riverside garden.

The property features no less than two reception rooms and five bathrooms and it has some stunning double height ceilings as well a rather unique feature; an internal patio courtyard garden, the Mail Online reports.

Speaking about making the decision, he told The Sunday Times recently: “We’ve been thinking about it for a couple of years and I finally feel brave enough to make a huge change to my life.

Eurovision favourite Graham Norton is selling his home(Image: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

“My favourite times have definitely been enjoying a drink sitting by the river on a summer’s evening. My least favourite memory in the house was that time one of the dogs got stuck in a neighbour’s shrub.”

The stunning property is described by estate agents Knight and Frank as a “beautifully presented and unique home” which is “in a prime and central Wapping setting” and is “incredibly rare” to the market.

The property has the charm and character of a period Georgian town house whilst there is also lots of open space – mainly thanks to the additional detached former warehouse, which gives it a loft-like space.

Describing the property, they write: “This Georgian home offers versatile space over four floors, comprising eight main rooms and currently features a welcoming and generously sized entrance lobby, two reception rooms, a principal suite with a vast ensuite bathroom that occupies the entire top floor, there are two double bedrooms both with ensuite shower rooms, a further double bedroom, a guest W/C, and a well-planned kitchen.

“The rear adjoining building incorporates extensive space over two floors, offering double heights ceilings, lots of natural light and plenty of charm. There is large open plan living accommodation dominating the upper floor which has vaulted ceilings, views of the river and direct access to the rear garden. The lower part features a shower room, a useful large storage room and a lounge.The generously sized riverside garden is owned and well-maintained by the residents’ management company.”

Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson has opened up about going on his first date with a mystery woman since splitting from longtime girlfriend Zara McDermott

Sam Thompson details first date with ‘beautiful’ woman after Zara split(Image: Instagram)

Four months after his high-profile breakup from Zara McDermott, Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson is stepping back into the dating world – and he’s doing it with newfound self-confidence and some help from his best friend Pete Wicks.

Appearing on their popular podcast Staying Relevant, Sam, 32, opened up about his romantic reawakening, revealing he had recently enjoyed his first date since his split from Zara, 28, and despite feeling ‘absolutely terrified’, he’s slowly finding his groove again.

“I feel like I’m ready to get out there,” Sam admitted, reflecting on the emotional toll of his breakup. “I’ve been through a pretty tough time, but I’m finally at a point where I feel good, really good, and comfortable in my own skin.”

Sam spoke about his first date on his podcast with best friend Pete Wicks(Image: Staying Relevant/Youtube)

Fans of the duo’s podcast were treated to a behind-the-scenes peek at Sam’s return to dating, complete with a hilarious play-by-play of the pre-date panic. “I went on a date recently,” he began. “I was so nervous I actually messaged Pete. He sent me this adorable list of advice.”

From where to stand to what to order, Pete served as Sam’s unofficial dating coach. “I called him and said, ‘Do I wait inside or outside?’ and he goes, ‘You’re overthinking it, mate.

“Go in, order a drink, chill, and don’t be the weirdo loitering on the pavement.’” Pete even suggested texting the mystery woman to ask what drink she would like so it could be waiting when she arrived.

Pete helped Sam through his first date nerves(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)

Laughing, Sam recalled: “I said, ‘That’s such a good idea!’ Pete replied, ‘When she walks in, say she looks stunning. Do a cheers to a good date. Eye contact but not in a serial killer way.’”

After the date, Pete received a debrief phone call. “I could tell you nailed it,” he said proudly, before asking Sam if he was nervous about dating again. Sam replied honestly: “Absolutely. But once you get over that first hurdle, when you realise she hasn’t recoiled in horror, it actually becomes fun.”

He also confessed to a few hectic thoughts including whether he should open her taxi door or wait outside. “I was going to hug her right away. I had no clue what I was doing,” he laughed. “But Pete gave me a solid game plan.”

Sam and Zara split in January after five years together(Image: Instagram)

Sam shared one especially awkward moment: “Right before she walked in, I was on the phone to our producer saying how nervous I was… then she appeared, looking beautiful, and I accidentally blurted that out while still on the call and she heard me.”

Pete, ever the supportive wingman, joked: “F***ing hell. Still, I bet she liked it. Sam’s in his dating era now. No wonder he’s been dressing so well.”

Elsewhere, speaking about his appearance, Sam got candid about the self-esteem dip he experienced post-breakup. “I’m fully aware I looked like s**t,” he said bluntly. “I’ve seen the videos. I’d tell myself, ‘Mate, you’ve really let yourself go.’” But the tide has turned. “Now, I’m back in a place where I feel genuinely happy and confident again.”

Sam was spotted out and about with Love Island star Samie(Image: samieelishi/Instagram)

That newfound confidence may have something to do with Love Island alum Samie Elishi. Over the Easter weekend, Sam was spotted enjoying the sunshine and some quality time with Samie at the King’s Road Fine Food Market. According to sources, sparks are flying between the pair and it’s likely that Sam’s first date was with the brunette beauty who appeared on Love Island All Stars earlier this year.

The pair reportedly started chatting via Instagram after Sam’s split from Zara, and their connection deepened quickly. “They really like each other,” a source close to the couple shared. “Sam wasn’t trying to hide it and introduced Samie to Chelsea – that says a lot.”

Their romantic outing comes as Zara continues to make headlines for moving on with former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.

David Beckham was once good friends with Prince Harry but the pair’s relationship is believed to have soured soon after Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle

David and Harry used to be firm friends(Image: PA)

David Beckham was once good friends with Prince Harry – but things soon soured between them. The pair had been friends for some time, it seemed, but things went wrong after one incident.

It was claimed in Tom Bower’s book that David Beckham and Prince Harry had fallen out when Meghan Markle made an “exclusion order” at the Invictus Games. David and his wife Victoria attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding alongside a string of famous faces including Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and George Clooney.

It had been suggested by royal commentator Tom Bower that Meghan had given the Beckhams an “exclusion order” from the 2018 Games, just five months after they married, and that the snub had led him to exact “revenge” against Prince Harry.

David and Victoria attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding(Image: Getty Images)

In his book House of Beckham, Tom Bower alleged: “Photographs of the two together were forbidden. David Beckham was said to be puzzled as to why Harry wouldn’t meet him. The exclusion order, it later transpired, was issued by Meghan. She did not want any competition in the media from Beckham, and especially not from his wife Victoria.”

However, David has a good friendship with Prince Harry’s brother Prince William. He was invited to Boston for the Earthshot Prize amid the 2022 World Cup. He travelled half way across the world to be there for the special event, which supports raising awareness and combatting climate change and was David’s way of “getting his revenge for the Sydney snub”.

“Whenever the Prince of Wales sends me a message and says ‘I need you to do this’ or ‘be there’, it’s always a ‘yes,’” he had said, “Over the years, I’ve done a lot with the Prince of Wales, and I’ve always been there whenever he’s asked me to get involved with things.”

David describes himself as a royalist and has been supportive of the Royal Family his whole life.

David and William are firm friends(Image: Getty Images)

He said in a recent interview: “I always get emotional talking about anything that I do with our Royal Family. I was brought up in a household that adored and loved everything that came with the Royal Family.”

When he was asked to represent the King’s foundation, David admitted his mother cried.

“She knows my grandparents would have been proud that I have played such an important role in the Royal Family and the charities that they have. Our King is an incredible man,” he added.

David was also there when Prince William attended the end of the London Air Ambulance Charity’s ‘Up Against Time’ appeal to celebrate the two new helicopters. David attended in his role as ambassador of the London Air Ambulance Charity. He said: “As soon as I was asked to be involved by Prince William it was something I was very honoured to do in all honesty.”

He praised the “incredible work that the pilots and the medics do and the millions of lives they’ve saved” and he had also said it was something he had been “very proud to be invited to be part of”.

David Beckham’s former publicist Alan Edwards writes for the Mirror to mark David Beckham’s milestone 50th birthday as he remembers bonding over chinese takeaways, his love of Usher and the star’s acts of generosity

David Beckham, and Alan Edwards behind him

As Becks turns 50 on Friday, his former publicist Alan Edwards – the man who helped invent Brand Beckham – opens up about his memories working with the footballer and watching him evolve into the global superstar he is today. Writing for the Mirror, he remembers meeting a 19-year-old David, who had just returned to Manchester United from being on loan at Preston North End. And he was by his side as his profile soared including meeting now-wife Victoria Beckham and his infamous World Cup sending off.

“The first time I remember meeting David it was in Manchester, and I went back to his digs afterwards. It was a one up – one down house, nothing flash at all. I wasn’t sure what we were going to talk about, I’d met a few footballers before, and they always seemed to talk about which car they wanted or what nightclub they wanted to get into.

I immediately sensed David was different, he started to talk about his vision for football. He went on to say how much he hated racism and then talked about how he thought football would develop in America and the development of Women’s soccer. It was quite mesmerising really. It was as if he could see into the future, I was absolutely astonished and started scribbling notes on a bit of paper.

As I got the train back from Piccadilly station to Euston, I reflected on how I instinctively knew I had been in the presence of greatness. It’s not something that happens often, but he was clearly destined for incredible things.

Alan Edwards oversaw Posh and Becks’ wedding (Image: Daily Mirror)

Behind the scenes, David was always very friendly and he was absolutely devoted to his family but there were no airs and graces about him. I remember having Chinese takeaways around David and Victoria’s house and we’d have impromptu meetings sometimes on a Friday night. Contrary to myth there was no carefully crafted and designed at a marketing company. It really was all very natural and organic.

David could also be very generous, once I was down with him at the BBC studios and he was trying on some jackets and he asked me to try on one of them just to see if the size would fit. I didn’t really think anything of it but about a week later he turned up in the office with a lovely pinstripe suit that he’d had made for me. It was typical of David and not only had he surprised me with a lovely gift, he’d actually hand delivered it himself.

I’m not going to claim credit for being the person behind brand Beckham but I was certainly there in the beginning and it was so exciting to be around David and Victoria. Really it was a hoot, we had great fun.

But both of them were extraordinarily hardworking and in their own way were very ambitious. David and Victoria were so big at the time, Victoria was part of the Spice Girls which was the biggest thing since the Beatles and David was fast becoming a global superstar. The combination made them the hottest thing on the planet.

We were once contacted by Buckingham Palace who had a problem with the amount of letters they were getting for David and Victoria. [The couple lived in a mansion dubbed Beckingham Palace]. They were already global royalty. New opportunities and adventures were opening up on a daily basis.

I didn’t really have any preconceptions about David as he was still very early in his career and had just broken into the Man United team. I had by that point seen his incredible goal from the half way line against Wimbledon and so I knew he was quite a special talent.

Alan Edwards with his new memoir(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Alan Edwards)

Victoria was clearly an integral part of everything that happened with David, she was there encouraging and supporting him and of course at that point initially Victoria was a bigger star than he was.

After the whole World Cup saga, in which David was treated so unfairly I remember going out to see the Spice Girls in New York they were playing the legendary Madison Square Gardens and as I was walking down 42nd Street, I bumped into David who was looking for a ticket to get into the show, incredibly! Of course we whisked him straight in. But people there didn’t give him a second look, obviously all that changed afterwards.

I think the sending off of the World Cup was the most terrible thing, it wouldn’t happen now, but he was absolutely pillorised for an innocuous flick of the foot which wouldn’t normally have got a player sent off. Somehow he carried the can of everything that was happening with England and some of the reporting was disgraceful. The attacks on him were way beyond the pale. His first game of the new football season after the world cup was away at West Ham and he had to endure all kinds of taunts and abuse but he came through it with flying colours as he always did.

I think the secret of his success is that he’s kept his feet on the ground. Underneath it all he’s a very natural, normal person but his work ethic is unbelievable, he never takes his foot off the gas, always looking to create new opportunities and is very entrepreneurial.

There were so many highlights working with David, my enduring memory really of it all was it was such a fun ride. I remember when it all came to an end and I ceased to represent David I was very upset. Two or three weeks later the phone rang in the middle of the night. It was David calling from Japan just to ask me if I was okay and how I was doing. I was so touched by that, it was very classy and said a lot about him as a human being.

Becks turns 50 on Friday(Image: Courtesy of BOSS/Mega)

I’m not surprised to see that David is still relevant, pushing new boundaries. I remember with music he wasn’t going to be listening to Westlife or something safe like a lot of footballers at the time, he always wanted to know about new stuff coming out of America. For instance I remember he knew all of Tupac’s lyrics by heart. I introduced him to an unknown teenage singer called Usher and they hit it off straight away and saw in each other that they were both special talents. David knew everything that was happening in music. So he’s always kept one step ahead, and of course he’s still a super handsome guy which helps! I’m sure there’ll be many more interesting chapters in his future.”

Alan is the founder of the Outside Organisation

Football icon David Beckham has started his 50th birthday celebrations in style as he treated his family to a lavish do at his Cotwolds home that turned into a wild night

David and Victoria Beckham welcomed their family into their lavish home for the bash(Image: PA)

David Beckham has kicked off his 50th birthday celebrations in the UK as he invited his family to a lavish bash at his £10m Cotswolds home. The football icon, who marks the milestone on Friday, has made sure he goes all out for the occasion.

He is making the most of his time with his nearest and dearest, having thrown a wild party at his country home. The Beckhams donned their best black-tie looks for the evening as they were treated to rides in supercars including a Porsche Penske. They made sure to party into the night, which ended up with guests jumping into the swimming pool while in their gowns and tuxedos. David and wife Victoria have been quiet on the night’s antics, yet their youngest son Cruz, 20, offered fans a glimpse into the do.

Cruz and girlfriend Jackie wore matching outfits(Image: Instagram/jackie.apostel)

He shared a sweet snap with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 29, in matching outfits as they got ready to let loose. The aspiring musician looked smart in a tux with red braces while Jackie rocked a strappy red satin dress.

Victoria’s lookalike younger sister Louise Adams was also in attendance and shared family snaps from the exclusive party. She proudly posed with three of her four children – Liberty, Tallulah and Finlay.

She looked stunning as she rocked a draped black dress designed by her famous sister. Finlay, meanwhile, showed off the wild antics from the do as he climbed out of a pool of water while carrying a paddle.

It is believed David and Victoria’s other children were also in attendance as they kicked off the celebrations, yet were not photographed.

The family event comes after their eldest child Brooklyn confirmed he was back in the UK with his wife Nicola Peltz. There had been rumours he may not attend David’s celebrations amid a reported fallout with brother Romeo.

Victoria’s lookalike sister Louise attended with three of her kids

Brooklyn and Nicola had skipped his dad’s party in Miami last month as he decided to mark his huge birthday with pals in the US. David is expected to bring his sons together at triple-Michelin starred restaurant Core in west London.

It will be the first time the family have been together in public following the multiple reported snubs. Things all reportedly came to blows for the Beckham clan when Romeo introduced his new girlfriend Kim Turnbull to the family.

Unfortunately for Romeo, older brother Brooklyn has a past with Kim as they used to be super close when she dated pal Rocco Ritchie. Brooklyn and Nicola are said to not be keen on Kim and have shown their feelings by snubbing family events.

Speculation mounted once again when neither Brooklyn or Nicola publicly wished Victoria a happy 51st birthday. In another twist, neither Victoria or David, commented on Brooklyn and Nicola’s third wedding anniversary.

“David is going all out for his 50th,” a source told the Sun. “Brooklyn and Nicola are on the list, as well as Romeo, Cruz and Harper, and his and Victoria’s parents – it’s a proper family affair.”

Another added to Daily Mail: “While the location will be perfect and stunning, what he wants most is for his family to be around him, happily getting along. Right now, though, things aren’t great. All everyone around them hopes is that they can mend any issues in time for the big day – for David.”

George Clooney was named in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his Broadway debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’

George Clooney has received his first ever nomination at the Tony Awards.

The nominees for the 78th annual Tonys were announced on Thursday (01.05.25) by previous award winners Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce and Clooney was named in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play category for his Broadway debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’.

The 63-year-old actor is up against Cole Escola (‘Oh, Mary!’), Jon Michael Hill (‘Purpose’), Daniel Dae Kim (‘Yellow Face’), Harry Lennix (‘Purpose’) and Louis McCartney (‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’).

‘Succession’ star Sarah Snook also got her first Tony Award nomination in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her acting in ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.

Sarah Paulson and Wendell Pierce announced the nominations ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro)

The other nominees in the category are Laura Donnelly (‘The Hills of California’), Mia Farrow (‘The Roommate’), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (‘Purpose’) and Sadie Sink (‘John Proctor is the Villain’)

‘Death Becomes Her’ – the musical based on Robert Zemeckis’ 1992 film of the same name – ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ and ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ all received the most nominations getting 10 nods a piece.

The three shows will compete against ‘Dead Outlaw’ and ‘Operation Mincemeat’ for the Best Musical prize.

‘John Proctor Is the Villain’ – a modern, feminist retelling of ‘The Crucible’ – and ‘The Hills of California’ were the plays with the most nominations, each being named in seven categories.

Wesley Wray with the Broadway company of Buena Vista Social Club ( 
Image:
AP)
Singer-and-actress Audra McDonald has become the most nominated performer in the history of the Tony Awards after receiving her 11th nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical in ‘Gypsy’.

Audra, 54, is up against Megan Hilty (‘Death Becomes Her’), Jasmine Amy Rogers (‘Boop! The Musical’), Jennifer Simard (‘Death Becomes Her’) and former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger (‘Sunset Boulevard’).

The 78th annual Tony Awards will take place on June 8 at Radio City Music Hall in new York City and will be hosted by ‘Wicked’ actress Cynthia Erivo, who previously won a Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Tony for her starring role as Celie in the musical revival of ‘The Color Purple’.

The Tony Awards will stream on Paramount+ and air live on CBS.

The 78th annual Tony Awards full list of nominees:

Best Musical:

Buena Vista Social Club
Dead Outlaw
Death Becomes Her
Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical

Best Play:

English
The Hills of California
John Proctor is the Villain
Oh, Mary!
Purpose

Best Revival of a Musical:

Floyd Collins
Gypsy
Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Sunset Boulevard

Best Revival of a Play:

Eureka Day
Romeo + Juliet
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
Yellow Face

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical:

Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:

Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis, Sunset Sunset Boulevard
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play:

Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Sadie Sink, John Proctor is the Villain
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play:

George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
Harry Lennix, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:

Brooks Ashmanskas, Smash
Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:

Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods, Gypsy

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play:

Glenn Davis, Purpose
Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor is the Villain
Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play:

Tala Ashe, English
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat, English
Fina Strazza, John Proctor is the Villain
Kara Young, Purpose

Best Book of a Musical:

Buena Vista Social Club, Marco Ramirez
Dead Outlaw, Itamar Moses
Death Becomes Her, Marco Pennette
Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:

Dead Outlaw, Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her, Music and Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey
Maybe Happy Ending, Music: Will Aronson; Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Music and Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, Music and Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez

Best Scenic Design of a Play:

Marsha Ginsberg, English
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:

Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending
Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane, Just in Time

Best Costume Design of a Play:

Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck
Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Best Costume Design of a Musical:

Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes, Boop! The Musical
Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending
Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her
Catherine Zuber, Just in Time

Best Lighting Design of a Play:

Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor is the Villain
Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:

Jack Knowles, Sunset Boulevard
Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her

Best Sound Design of a Play:

Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor is the Villain
Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck
Nick Powell, The Hills of California
Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Sound Design of a Musical:

Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club
Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard
Peter Hylenski, Just in Time
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins

Best Direction of a Play:

Knud Adams, English
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!
Danya Taymor, John Proctor is the Villain
Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray

Best Direction of a Musical:

Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club
Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset BoulevardBest Choreography:

Joshua Bergasse, Smash
Camille A. Brown, Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell, Boop! The Musical
Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club

Best Orchestrations:

Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins
Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Boulevard

The property that Amanda Holden and Alan Carr bought on their hit BBC series has gone under offer for a six-figure sum – just one month after going on the market

Amanda and Alan have turned into successful property developers thanks to their BBC series(Image: BBC/Voltage TV)

Amanda Holden and Alan Carr are one step closer to selling their Spanish telly renovation for a massive profit. The presenting duo bought a rundown townhouse in Granada and overhauled it for their BBC series Amanda and Alan’s Spanish job.

Buying the shabby building for €65,000 (£55,000), it was on the market for £208,355. Up for sale for just over a month, it looks to have been snapped up by one lucky buyer. The house is now ‘under offer’ on Rightmove. A source said: “Their bold decorating has pulled in a sale very fast and people love their DIY style!” All proceeds are going to Comic Relief and Children in Need.

Amanda and Alan have turned to property and interiors for their BBC show – and have found their pretty good at (Image: BBC/Voltage TV)

They transformed it from a derelict shell which hadn’t been lived in for 35 years into a stylish and elegant three-bedroom house in the main square of the historic village of Moclín, a 90-minute drive from Malaga airport. Whilst carefully retaining some of the original features and integrity of the building, Amanda, 54, and Alan, 48, have sensitively brought the house back to life.

Boasting a Mediterranean-style terrace with the option to add a small plunge pool, it has two bathrooms. It’s double-fronted and set across three floors. The restoration of the property included a new roof.

Amanda and Alan were inspired by the art and culture of Andalucia and the bathrooms and kitchen use hand-crafted tiles sourced from the Bert & May factory in nearby Cabra. Viewers had followed the pair on their journey to give the house a new lease of life.

Amanda and Alan reimagined this townhouse in Spain that had been uninhabited for decades, giving it a new lease of life

“I’ve found the most amazing house,” Amanda said joyfully in episode one. “It’s big, I think a third project needs to be a real ‘WOW’. Really ambitious. This is going to be biblical.”

But they hit some problems along the way as they discovered what a bad state it was in. “It’s the same as when you first meet someone, you don’t see any flaws in them,” explained Amanda. “It’s the same with a house. You go round going, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing, I love this, I love this…’ Then gradually it becomes like a nightmare.”

“Amanda has chosen the house this year,” explained Alan. “She’s got a great eye, but she loves a challenge, it’s in her DNA. Every time you open the door there is another mess. A courtyard, an overgrown tree, some stairs that probably go up to heaven?” When they discover the ruined roof, they think they’ve seen the worst of it. But Alan finds an unwelcome mess in the bath and jokes, “It’s weird because a lot of the decor is dated, but the turd is fresh!”

Similar programmes on the BBC have previously seen the Britain’s Got Talent judge and comedian renovate homes in Sicily and Tuscany, after finding the properties for just 1 euro. They’ve announced a fourth series, this time in Greece.

Holly Willoughby’s kidnap and murder plotter Gavin Plumb made an appearance on TV before his wicked plan came to light as he was handed a life sentence last year

Gavin Plumb appeared on TV before his sick Holly Willoughby plot

The man who plotted to rape and murder Holly Willoughby had made an appearance on TV before targeting the This Morning presenter. Gavin Plumb, 37, had been planning the terrifying attack since 2021, after becoming obsessed with the star over a number of years.

Last year, Chelmsford Crown Court ultimately handed Plumb a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years in jail. He amassed tens of thousands of images, tracked her movements, researched her home and security arrangements and had recruited other like-minded men to help turn his sick sexual fantasies into reality.

Last year, jurors heard how Plumb had been planning the terrifying attack since 2021(Image: Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images)

Their plan was to invade Holly’s London home – subdue her husband with chloroform and use the couple’s young children as leverage.

They intended to kidnap Holly, drive her to a remote location where she would be viciously sexually assaulted and ultimately, murdered.

Now, his plot is set to be explored in a new Channel 5 documentary, The Plot To Kill Holly Willoughby. The documentary examines the details of this crime and the horrific plan by the Essex security guard.

However, it isn’t the first time Plumb has appeared on TV screens. Back in 2018, Plumb, who at that point tipped the scales at 35 and a half stone, appeared in a BBC documentary about weight loss.

He revealed his determination to make a change after his junk food diet left him practically housebound. Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live’s Afternoon Edition programme in August 2017, Plumb, admitted to slurping 36 pints of Coke a week.

He said: “The last time I went out unaided was 2014 – it was my parents’ wedding vow renewal. I only really go out my front door to put out a bin bag, in the bin just outside the flat, and that’s every few days. Other than that, I don’t leave my doorstep.

“I hate sitting indoors. I hate looking at the same four walls 24/7. I hate being the size I am. I’m pretty much in pain everywhere. I get chest pains and I’ve just been told it’s because of my weight.

“I’m scared that if I have something to eat or if I get up and I do too much, that’s it, I’m done.”

Plumb appeared on the show about weight

In a press release issued last year, Essex Police described how Plumb spoke online about his intentions to restrain his victim and even bought chloroform, cable ties and ropes.

Thankfully, an undercover police officer from the US reported Plumb to the FBI and UK police. As Plumb continued to talk about his sick plot online, he attempted to include the undercover cop in his plans, who then reported him.

Plumb, who was arrested at his home in 2023, will serve at least 15 years and 85 days in prison, due to the time he spent on remand prior to his trial.

Essex Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said: “He tried to claim throughout the trial that he was an obsessive fan and a fantasist – that is simply not true.

“He planned this attack on Ms Willoughby over a two-year period, scoping her movements, seeking to elicit help from others to carry out his wicked plan, buying chloroform and other items to incapacitate, restrain and inflict violence upon her.

“He is no fantasist – he’s a calculated, violent, sexual predator who has spent his adult life inflicting or plotting to inflict harm on women.”

BBC Look North newsreader Peter Levy found himself having to quickly stop mid-speech as he was left red-faced after a viewer sent in a cheeky email about weatherman Paul Hudson

A BBC presenter was left blushing after reading out a cheeky letter from a viewer. The mistake happened on air as BBC Look North weatherman Paul Hudson admitted he was “lost for words” with the risque email.

The awkward incident took place during a regular morning segment of Leave It To Levy on the show. With presenter Peter Levy and Paul having banter following a forecast, Paul joked about his co-star’s outfit.

He mocked the look, saying viewers had been in touch about his pale suit. He jibed a viewer had asked: “Can you ask Peter if he’s umpiring a cricket match straight after Look North.”

Paul Hudson took aim at Peter’s outfit ( 
Image:
BBC)
He laughed as he added: “There we are. I could go on Peter.” At that point, Peter jumped in to admit: “”Yeah you can go on, that’s the problem. I have nothing to say, just get it out of your system.”

Peter then took it upon himself to fire back with a user email of his own, but was left stunned as he had to stop himself from finishing the letter.

Pulling out a cue card, Peter said: “Ann Yates says ‘I would love to have Paul face upwards’ …” However, he quickly halted his efforts as he burst into laughter.

With a beaming red face, he blurted: “Hang on, hang on,” before struggling to contain his laughter.

Peter couldn’t contain his laughter ( 
Image:
BBC)
Paul claimed he was “lost for words” as he told his colleague to carry on. However, Peter had to refuse the request due to the risky content it contained. “No I’ve just read the next line, I can’t do it,” he confessed.

Fans online were loving the awkward interaction and quickly took to Twitter/X to share their delight at the clip. “That was so funny,” gushed one.

Another added: “So funny. Nothing too untoward in it. That’s what makes Peter and Paul great.”

However others were desperate to find out what made Peter stop in his tracks. “What was the next line though,” pleaded a third user.

Last year, the newsreader asked listeners to be vigilant after finding himself the victim of scammers. He admitted he had been scammed out of half his life savings.

“It is the most horrific, horrific feeling,” he said at the time. “It’s absolutely awful, you feel stupid, you feel thick, you feel… It happened in February and it is still being sorted out.

“Just this lunchtime I’ve been to a bank. It’s awful, so when people talk about the scams it is dreadful, it’s awful.”

Peter then discussed how many people are going through the same thing. He added: “It is so traumatising and upsetting It’s dreadful. You can’t sleep, you can’t do anything. You feel helpless and I fell for something.”

Channel 5’s new documentary The Plot to Kill Holly Willoughby looks into the horrific plot to kidnap, rape and murder the ITV presenter by security guard Gavin Plumb

The Plot to Kill Holly Willoughby airs tonight on Channel 5(Image: ITV)

Holly Willoughby’s horrific murder plot ordeal is being explored in Channel 5’s new documentary, The Plot to Kill Holly Willoughby, with the one-off film looking at how security guard Gavin Plumb was convicted of planning to rape and kill the TV presenter.

Gavin Plumb, a shopping centre security officer, was found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder the former This Morning host last July. He was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison as a result. The mum-of-three was preparing to present This Morning at ITV studios on 5th October 2023, a day that started as any other Thursday, when she was informed of the chilling plot and taken off-air.

Shopping centre security officer Gavin Plumb has been remanded in custody since October over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder Holly

Alison Hammond stepped up at the last minute to fill in for Holly, presenting the show with Josie Gibson as police relayed the horrifying details of the plot to her co-star.

Essex Police released a statement at the time, stating: “A 36-year-old man from Harlow has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap as part of an ongoing investigation. The arrest was made on Wednesday 4th October. He is currently in custody.”

In the aftermath, Holly was under constant police protection, with officers seen outside her London home, which she shares with husband Dan Baldwin and their three children.

The TV star didn’t publicly comment on the alleged plot or the suspect’s arrest and stayed off our screens for over a week, before then confirming her permanent departure from This Morning.

On 10th October, the beloved presenter Holly Willoughby took to Instagram to share her heartfelt departure from This Morning after a remarkable 14-year stint. She expressed to her fans: “I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. It’s been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has so many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.”

Holly Willoughby left This Morning as a result of the ordeal(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

She continued with a touching message: “This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I will forever be proud of what we have done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You have been so supportive and the very best company every day.”

In a stark contrast to the warmth of her farewell, the following month saw a chilling development in court. On 3rd November, Gavin Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for a pre-trial and plea hearing concerning alarming charges against him.

Accused of plotting a grave crime, he faced allegations of conspiring to murder Willoughby and was charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to kidnap.

Plumb, hailing from Potters Field, Harlow, firmly denied the accusations, pleading not guilty. However, in July last year, the court heard how Plumb had planned a “home invasion” at the TV presenter’s property, plotting to tie her up and rape her before murdering her.

The 36-year-old had amassed over 10,000 images of the This Morning star on his phone, including deepfake pornography. His plan was foiled by undercover American police officer David Nelson who infiltrated his online group Abduct Lovers. The pair then began exchanging messages offline, with Plumb detailing his plan.

Plumb and Nelson exchanged 300 messages privately with the officer having monitored a public group called Abduct Lovers on the Kik app where the defendant had tried to recruit others to help attack Holly Willoughby.

The detective told Chelmsford Crown Court that he was sure Plumb “fully intended to carry out his plans”. Essex Police officers who raided Plumb’s flat in Harlow found bottles of chloroform and an “abduction kit” complete with cable ties.

After being found guilty, Plumb was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years and 85 days. Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The sentence handed down to Gavin Plumb ensures he will remain in prison, where he can no longer threaten or harm women.

“There is no doubt Gavin Plumb posed a real danger and the CPS proved that his plans to kidnap, rape and murder Holly Willoughby were more than mere fantasy and he had every intention of encouraging others to help him.

“I hope today’s sentence brings some comfort to the victim, as well as the victims of his previous offences and sends a clear message that the CPS will always bring the strongest possible case against those who plan violence against women.“