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Former Everton Prodigy George Green Has A New Life In Football

2022-12-21T22:25:35Z

CarriHoag9005: ページの作成:「A couple of months ago, I went to watch a National League North match at Edgeley Park. I was there as a Stockport County fan but the evening was hijacked by a midfield…」

A couple of months ago, I went to watch a National League North match at Edgeley Park. I was there as a Stockport County fan but the evening was hijacked by a midfield playmaker from Nuneaton Town. He was the only player on either side wearing gloves but that was not the reason he stood out. I found out later his name was George Green. George was way too good for Stockport that Tuesday night. He was way too good for the league, too. Even I could see within a few minutes that he was meant for a bigger stage than this. I wondered what on earth he was doing here. It was like spotting something glistening in the mud. It was like seeing a diamond in the dirt. George ran the game for Nuneaton. Technically gifted, his touch was superb. His control under pressure was flawless. The weight of his passes was always just right, even on a difficult surface. He knew when to keep hold of the ball and when to release it. When Nuneaton scored the only goal of the game just before half-time, George set it up. George Green has opened up to Sportsmail about his battle with depression and addiction RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 447 shares I got home and looked up George's statistics. It was obvious straight away that something was wrong. George had been highly rated as a teenager and had represented England at Under-16, U17 and U18 level. He had played in the same teams as Dele Alli and Ross Barkley. When Everton signed him from Bradford City as a 15-year-old in 2011 for a fee that was projected to rise to £2million, he was inviting comparisons with Paul Gascoigne. But it didn't work out for him at Everton. It didn't work out for him at Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Burnley, Kilmarnock, Salford City or Viking Stavanger, either. His career looked like a railway timetable and he never stayed in the station long. He is still only 22 but the career of the lad I'd seen dancing through the gloom looked as if it was heading south fast. I wondered if he had suffered a bad injury that had impeded his progress. I read a bit more. There were recurring hints of issues with George's temperament. There were mentions of ‘off-the-field problems'. Contracts were either not renewed or terminated ahead of time. I met George last week. He strode into a hotel lobby not far from his home in Mirfield, near Dewsbury. He had a rough beard and a ready smile and he wanted to talk about what happened to him. He asked for a cup of coffee and began to tell his story. ‘I want people to see that George is right now,' he said. ‘I want people to know George is the George that he can be.' While a youth player at Everton, Green was compared to former England icon Paul Gascoigne In a way, George has indeed been injured. It's just that they're not the kind of injuries you treat with bandages. You don't take the weight off them with crutches. They're the kind of problems that Stan Collymore did so much to draw attention to when he began to stimulate awareness of mental health issues within football 20 years ago but our attitudes to them still differ from the way we look at physical problems. Would we call a player with a snapped cruciate ligament ‘unreliable' if he failed to turn up to training the day after he was hurt? No. Would we call a player with a broken leg ‘flaky' if he said he couldn't play on Saturday? No. And yet, for the past five years, those are the labels George has been struggling with. ‘I have had problems with mental health,' said George. ‘I've suffered from depression and addiction. I was on a downward spiral. From the age of 17 or 18, I knew there was something wrong. People around me knew, but I didn't want to admit it. ‘While I was at Salford City, I tried to take my own life. That was an overdose. I went on an outrage and decided that was the best idea. Green has a two-year-old daughter Daisy with his partner Charli ‘I took a lot of paracetamol, anti-depressants and strong pain killers. It was probably a massive cry for attention that I needed help. People knew I needed the help but I knew something serious needed to happen for me to get it. ‘Things weren't going well at home. I wasn't sleeping right. I was drinking too much. I'd seen crisis teams in hospital and they had turned me away. I had cut myself countless times and they turned me away, too, so I thought: "What have I got to do to get the proper help?" I was taken into hospital after the overdose. They put me on a drip and flushed it all out of me. ‘It has taken a lot of therapy sessions and going to see psychologists to get me to a better place. One said I was bipolar. In the past year, I have been diagnosed with ADHD and I have been on medication since then and it has been calm. Things have been going well. Home life's going well, which plays a really important part. Things are on the up now. The medication I'm on keeps me to a level where I can be George Green and go and perform on the pitch and do what I do best. I'm fit again, I'm doing well at Nuneaton, I'm playing games, I have got into Jamie Vardy's V9 Academy for the summer and I'm attracting interest from clubs in the Football League. I feel a million times better than I have done for a long while.' George has a troubled back-story. His father died of throat cancer when he was eight. His mother often had to work away to make ends meet. ‘I never felt there was a family unit,' he said. He has his dad's date of birth tattooed on his arm next to a poem about cherishing his memory. He didn't deal properly with the loss as a child and it hit him harder as he grew up. He didn't deal well with the label of being the next Gazza, either. ‘If I didn't make it, I was always going to be the lost boy or the one that got away,' he said. ‘That played on my mind.' He developed a talent for falling into bad company. And for going out at the wrong time. The Nuneaton player says the things like the smile on Daisy's face is what he gets a buzz off His partner, Charli, with whom he has a two-year old daughter, [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] Daisy, wondered why he was throwing it all away but, through all his troubles, she stood by him. ‘I feel blessed because of her,' he said. He is adamant that the cycle of self-destruction has run its course. He and Charli are happy and settled. He is playing a full part in Daisy's upbringing. And he has had invaluable and ongoing support from Gary Charles, the former Nottingham Forest full-back, who battled alcoholism and now runs a help service called GCSportsCare. ‘I'm lucky to have a person like that round me,' said George. ‘Without him, I wouldn't be playing football now. I'd be one of the down and outs. But now I feel a million per cent better. Now I really don't go out at all. I've got my family to look after. ‘It has taken me a long time to realise that those are the things that are important. It's little things like the smile on Daisy's face, how happy my partner is when she's watching me with Daisy. That's what I get a buzz off now.' It is difficult to know what the years ahead will bring. George wants it back now, that future that slipped away from him in instalments. He will need to be nurtured carefully by anyone who signs him, but football is getting smarter at doing that. If it sends players to Colorado to get their knees looked at, it can still do more to help those affected by mental health problems, too. ‘The way back in football is going to be gradual,' said George. ‘People aren't going to be worried about my talent but they need to know I'm in it for the long haul. I believe now if someone were to offer me a longer deal, I'd see it out. Not like the old George Green. I'll need support. I know that. That's a lifelong process. But I still believe in myself. ‘I'm well. I know now I can go on to do good things in football.' Green says on his future: 'I believe now if someone were to offer me a longer deal, I'd see it out' RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 447 shares adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

Nevada Quick Trip 2022

2022-12-21T22:25:23Z

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What's Nevada famous for? From canyons to entertainment, [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/] it’s a sure thing A spirit of discovery runs deep in Nevada. Across the state's adventure-packed northwest, to the metropolitan desert of Las Vegas, unlimited experiences are waiting for you to discover, explore and conquer. Whether it’s traversing vast expanses of wide-open spaces or joining in something a little more communal like music and art festivals, Nevada’s landscape and culture are tailor-made for cowboys, visionaries, dreamers and doers. Nevada was made famous by the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, the richest known U.S. silver deposit. Nevada is the largest gold-producing state in the nation. It is second in the world behind South Africa. Nevada is the gambling and entertainment capital of the United States.

Jamaal Lascelles On Newcastle apos;s Tactics Against Manchester City

2022-12-21T22:25:11Z

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In the spotlight of the , sometimes it pays to show a little restraint off the field as well as on. Talking this week to captain Jamaal Lascelles, he told of the Christmas spat that never was. Irked by criticism of Newcastle's defensive tactics by pundits including Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher after his team's 1-0 home defeat by , Lascelles briefly considered laying the matter out in the open. Neville labelled Newcastle's first-half efforts 'embarrassing' and Carragher suggested the Premier League was becoming a 'joke'. Jamaal Lascelles was angered by criticism of Newcastle's defensive tactics against Man City Lascelles admits he nearly got into a Twitter spat with Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher Lascelles told Sportsmail: 'I really was close to tweeting because their comments didn't make sense. 'Our tactics were spot on. We were playing a team that had just beaten Tottenham 4-1! So for people to say it was a shambles and embarrassing got to me. 'I was close to going for it on Twitter. I asked a few people what they thought but ultimately I thought it would have caused a scene — it would have got messy — and that would have been bad. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 2.1k shares 'I really respect them both but to hear pundits saying we were accepting defeat was not right. As ex-players I thought they would understand our approach. Maybe they just wanted something to talk about, because they had nothing else to say.' Newcastle play City again a week on Saturday and Lascelles has his own history with the Manchester club. He made his debut for Newcastle as a substitute as Steve McClaren's team lost 6-1 at the Etihad in their relegation year of 2015-16. 'He sent me on as left back against City away,' winced Lascelles. 'I had never played that position before and was marking Jesus Navas. So thanks for that, Steve...' Lascelles insists that Newcastle's 'tactics were spot on' against the Premier League leaders The Newcastle captain sat down for an exclusive interview with Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman This time round Lascelles believes the Premier League is seeing a different Newcastle. If they beat Swansea at home on Saturday, it will take Rafael Benitez's team to 25 points. Two seasons ago, the Newcastle dressing room Lascelles walked into was a shambles. On one occasion when McClaren asked his players to get off the team bus for a walk, [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] they simply said no. After a heavy defeat at Crystal Palace, Lascelles took his team-mates to task and accused them of not caring. He was 21 and yet to start a single league game for the club. 'The players' heads were all over the place back then,' he recalled. 'Yes, it (dissent) was there. Completely. It was bad. Steve is obviously a well-respected manager but there is only so much you can do when you have 20 players refusing to do things and not taking anything seriously. 'That's how it was but the minute this manager came in it changed. Because of the respect he has, players wouldn't dream of going against what he says. I wouldn't let them do it either. This is totally different now. No cliques. All together. I don't think for one minute we will go down this time.' The 24-year-old admits there was dissent when Steve McClaren was in charge of Newcastle Lascelles is confident that Newcastle will stay up: 'I don't think for one minute we will go down' Dressing rooms are intriguing places. Nobody really knows what they are like except those inside and, more often than not, they don't tell you the truth. Lascelles is a little different, a little more open. I ask if he was surprised by what he found at his first Premier League club after a move from Nottingham Forest. Shouldn't dressing rooms be more professional the higher up the ladder you climb? 'I would say the opposite,' he ventured. 'The higher you get you will find more egos and dressing rooms won't be as tight. It's just my opinion. Lower down the league — maybe because there are more English players — it will be tighter. 'I am not talking about this club. We are tight and we make sure we are. But if you look at your Man Citys and everybody else, I can't imagine they are all good friends off the pitch. 'I would imagine they come in training and then, after, off you go. They are world-class players and because we are not we need to make sure we are doing the right things and working extra hard and going for team meals and sticking together. 'There is a saying that there are no friends in football. I don't believe that. I have good friends here. But obviously you like certain players more than others. That's just life and people. Lascelles has a reputation in the North East for intelligence but also for a competitive streak Lascelles fought with Mo Diame at training as he felt the Senegalese wasn't pulling his weight 'Once you train or cross the white line then friendships or not liking someone goes out of the window. 'I will treat everybody the same and I expect the same back.' Lascelles has a reputation in the North East — and increasingly beyond — for intelligence but also for a competitive streak. This season, he fought with team-mate Mo Diame at training because he felt the Senegalese wasn't pulling his weight. Jonjo Shelvey stepped between them and ended up with a broken finger. 'It's my job to tell people,' Lascelles shrugged. 'If I didn't I wouldn't be wearing the armband. If I wasn't pulling my weight I would expect to be told. So I am not worried about upsetting anybody. Afterwards you shake hands and what happens on the training pitch stays there. We are both men. If something needs to be said I am not going to bite my tongue just because I may upset someone. 'I don't want to fight with my team-mates but I will do what is best for the team. I want to win. We actually have a great group of lads here now. They give everything.' Lascelles puts his openness and competitiveness down to his upbringing in Derby and sibling rivalry with his brother Rema, a year older. He has Rema's face tattooed on his arm and will be in the crowd when the 6ft 6in guard plays basketball for Leicester Riders at Newcastle Eagles on Friday night. Magpies defender puts his openness and competitiveness down to his upbringing in Derby The 24-year-old English defender came through Nottingham Forest's academy Lascelles could have played that sport professionally too — he had England trials — but it was the relationship with Rema that the central defender believes left an imprint needed for him to get to the top in football. 'Eventually my parents wouldn't let us play anything at all as we would be trying to rip each other's heads off,' he laughed. 'Card games, dominoes, Play-Station. It was everything. I was probably even more competitive then as academy football takes that rawness out of you.' Lascelles came through Forest's youth system but has mixed views on academies and is not alone. He believes his best football education came while on loan at Stevenage in League One as an 18-year-old. 'That was the biggest learning curve and I tell every kid who wants to be a player to get out on loan,' he said. 'The players there were proper men, big dudes who knew it was all about winning or losing. 'Bottles would be thrown across the dressing room. I couldn't believe it. I was used to nicey-nicey academy football where you are wrapped in bubble wrap. Academies are about being technical and being nice to the staff and being fair on the pitch. Lascelles and his Newcastle team-mates face Swansea at home on Saturday afternoon 'Coaches say you are 10 out of 10 so you think you are going be a player. That's fine but you only find out about reality further down the leagues. We lack that in the Premier League because of people's wages. In the Premier League you can have a bad game and still get paid a whole heap of money. That creeps into it, definitely. Though not in our team at Newcastle now, I have to say. 'Lower down it's about getting a win bonus for your mortgage. So it's intense. I have seen hundreds of academy kids come and go. Of my Forest lot only three of us came through. Anyone in an academy can pass a football but standing up for yourself and having a good character will help you out more. You need to go a step further and get kicked around the pitch a bit.' Steve Cotterill gave Lascelles his Forest debut six years ago this month but it was the irascible Scot Billy Davies who left the greatest impression. 'He was worse even than he looked even from the outside, shouting and screaming in your face all day,' Lascelles said. 'He would try to fight you! He was a good manager and well respected but some players would cower and go in to their shell. I was 16 and it was intimidating. 'It's about finding the character to deal with it. A lot of it was empty threats I think, just to test you. One time I couldn't do this passing drill in the wind. He was like, "If you do that again, I will send you to the Under 16s for the rest of the season". Lascelles described Rafa Benitez as 'world class', saying it would be a 'massive loss' if he left 'He admitted afterwards that he wouldn't have done it really. I can imagine some players would shy away from that.' Made captain at Newcastle by Benitez at the start of last season — Lascelles has described it as a 'gulp' moment — the 24-year-old very much sees himself as his manager's voice on the field and his respect for the Spaniard is clear. Newcastle's players have been told not to discuss the ongoing takeover wrangle in public but footballers can read and can hear. As such the Newcastle team are aware that Benitez may not see his future at St James' Park as a long one if he loses another battle for transfer spending with owner Mike Ashley this month. 'I can see why other people would want him as he is world class,' said Lascelles. 'It would be a massive loss for us. Since he came in everything has been positive, from the reaction of the fans, the respect of the players and what he gets from the players and how we are playing. If he had arrived earlier last time round he would have kept us up. I have come on leaps and bounds since he has been here. He was made captain by Benitez last term - Lascelles has described it as a 'gulp' moment 'So I think we should do our best to make sure he is comfortable and for me they should be giving him what he wants because they won't find anyone any better than him.' Wins at West Ham and Stoke over Christmas and New Year have steadied a Newcastle season that had hitherto appeared to be heading just one way. A look at their fixtures reveals opportunities to pick up more points. Survival would be impressive for a side not greatly changed since last season's promotion from the Championship. 'We need to carry on like we are going,' said Lascelles. 'We have a good manager who knows what he is doing, a good set of lads who are organised and together and the best fans in the country. If we stick together this club can really take off.' RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 2.1k shares adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

Musicians And Actors Steal The Honours Limelight

2022-12-21T22:24:57Z

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He's been tipped to be the first black Bond. But for now London-born Hollywood star Idris Elba is serving Her Majesty in another way after being awarded an OBE for services to drama. The 43-year-old, who has impressed audiences with his award-winning role in the hit BBC drama Luther and for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in 2013's Long Walk to Freedom, said he was 'beyond proud' to gain the award. He is one of a host of showbiz stars recognised in the New Year's honours list, which includes a damehood for Carry On and EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor, 78, and an MBE for drum and bass DJ Goldie. Meanwhile Blur frontman Damon Albarn has been awarded an OBE for services to music. Actress Sian Phillips, 82, will also be made a dame, while choreographer Matthew Bourne, 55, and former BBC news anchorman Martyn Lewis, 70, will both receive knighthoods. Others to receive an OBE include 39-year-old David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King Jr in 2014's hit Selma, and Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt, 50. West End star Imelda Staunton, 59, will be upgraded from an OBE to a CBE. IDRIS ELBA Idris Elba: The actor has received two Golden Globe nominations for his roles in the hit BBC drama Luther (above) and Netflix's Beasts of No Nation Luther star Idris Elba has described his OBE for services to drama as 'beyond special'. The actor said: 'Awards and honours come in all shapes and sizes and all as significant as the other. But this is beyond special as it comes from Queen and country, and I couldn't be more proud for receiving this right now. What a year. On me head son!' The OBE caps a memorable year for the 43-year-old Londoner, which has seen him receive two Golden Globe nominations for his roles in the hit BBC drama Luther and Netflix's Beasts of No Nation. Elba has also been the subject of speculation that he is next in line to play James Bond. Anthony Horowitz, who wrote the latest 007 novel, Trigger Mortis, was quoted in the Daily Mail as describing Elba as 'too street' for Bond. The author later apologised, writing on Twitter: 'I'm really sorry my comments about Idris Elba have caused offence. That wasn't my intention.' Elba posted a screen grab of the corresponding article on his Instagram page, writing: 'Always Keep Smiling!! It takes no energy and never hurts! Learned that from the Street!! #septemberstillloveyou' Elba rose to fame for his role as Russell 'Stringer' Bell in HBO's gritty series The Wire. He received praise for his portrayal of former South African president Nelson Mandela in the 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom. Elba - along with David Oyelowo, David Harewood, Lenny Henry and Meera Syal - has spoken out about the representation of ethnic minorities on television. Big hit: Elba received praise for his portrayal of former South African president Nelson Mandela in the 2013 film Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom He told the Press Association earlier this year the UK was 'moving in the right direction' regarding diversity in TV roles, but said there is still a lot of work to do. 'People are aware of the issues that are faced. It's one of these problems that won't get fixed overnight but I think it's progressively getting better.' RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 191 shares He went on to add: 'The BBC and Luther are very supportive of diversity, especially behind and in front of the camera. It's important to keep trying.' The star spoke recently about becoming a dad for the second time to his son, Winston, who is 20 months old. Many talents: Elba owns his own production company, and in 2015 launched a clothing range with Superdry He told The Jonathan Ross Show: 'He's a good boy with me, [but] a really bad boy with his mum because she spoils him. I don't. 'I am the tough guy... I am actually a doting father, I like pick him up a bit but for some reason he just takes the [mickey] with his mum. That was the same relationship with my dad and my mum, actually.' Acting aside, Elba has a successful music career and is a well-respected DJ. He opened for Madonna on her Rebel Heart tour in Germany this year and has performed at the Glastonbury festival. He also owns his own production company, and in 2015 launched a clothing range with Superdry. GOLDIE DJ: Goldie has said that being awarded an MBE is the beginning, not the end of achievement for him Musician Goldie has said that being awarded an MBE is the beginning, not the end of achievement for him. 'I turned 50 in September and I've always felt there's more work to do,' he said. Goldie, whose real name is Clifford Price and also goes by the professional name of The Alchemist, was honoured for his contribution to the music, TV and film industries and his work with a number of charities. He said: 'From where I've come from, I look back at everything, all these people that influenced my life as a kid growing up in a really bad environment, it just makes it all worthwhile in terms of the recognition. 'We have choices in life when we're young and I think a lot of things were stacked against me.' Goldie was raised in the care system and grew up around the West Midlands, spending a large part of his youth in the Heath Town neighbourhood of Wolverhampton. During a BBC Radio 4 programme in 2014, he explained that as a young boy he always carried a suitcase around with him. 'I'd go to one children's home and they'd go 'Ok, you need to leave now'. So you'd always keep your life in a suitcase.' He made his name with his record Timeless, which is often described as one of most iconic British albums of the 90s. Hit track Inner City Life is regarded as a seminal dance song of that era. Inspired initially by a DJ named Kemistry, he is often credited with having introduced new techniques into drum and bass music, and with popularising the genre. Royal appointment: Goldie, whose real name is Clifford Price and also goes by the professional name of The Alchemist, met Prince Harry at Clarence House in London in 2010 for a BBC interview Political meeting: Goldie spent a large part of his youth in Wolverhampton, where he is pictured with David Cameron three years before the latter became Prime Minister, during an election walkabout in April 2007 'I've always been a big champion of saying what we do today creates tomorrow. When you're young, you don't realise all of this stuff, and from an early age I was very conscious of what was going on in my environment,' he said. 'I ran to the arts, because the arts are the one thing that would never abandon me.' Music aside, he tried his hand at graffiti and went on to exhibit his art at a London gallery. He has appeared in several TV shows and movies, including roles in James Bond's The World Is Not Enough, as well as having a recurring role in EastEnders as Angel Hudson. He appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Mastermind, and in 2011 he was on screen in Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment, which saw him meeting Prince Harry. BARBARA WINDSOR Dame: Barbara Windsor, pictured with her husband Scott Mitchell in September, was 'very honoured, proud and extremely humbled' to receive her award Actress Barbara Windsor described the journey from East End to Damehood in the New Year's honours as 'truly like a dream'. Joining the ranks of Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren, Windsor said she was 'very honoured, proud and extremely humbled' to receive her award for services to charity and entertainment. Famous for her roles as the buxom blonde in the Carry On! Films and as brassy pub landlady Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, Windsor is an ambassador for Age UK, patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, a lifelong supporter of the NHS, and the face of the British Legion's annual Poppy Appeal. 'I am so very honoured, proud and extremely humbled by this honour,' she said. 'I feel so lucky to live in a country I love, a job I have always adored which has allowed me to be in a position where I am able to help others. 'For a girl from the East End born into a working-class family and an evacuee during World War Two, this is truly like a dream. I am so happy and blessed to say it's real. God bless you all,' she added. Windsor stirred up controversy in October when she told those who refused to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day to 'sod off' on live television. The Shoreditch-born star was awarded an MBE in the 2000 New Year's honours and a spot on the 'cultural icons' float in the Queen's Golden Jubilee parade in 2002. Born in 1937 as Barbara Ann Deeks, Babs - as she's affectionately known - has been no stranger to the limelight since she made her stage debut at 13 and her West End debut in the chorus of Love From Judy in 1952. Her real breakthrough came when she starred as Agent Daphne Honeybutt in Carry On Spying, her first of nine films in the comedy franchise that would secure Babs' status as a household name and put her on the path to national treasure. Meeting the Queen: Windsor and Steve McFadden (who played Phil Mitchell) in the Queen Vic pub during a royal visit to the EastEnders set at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire in 2001 Playing to full effect her busty 4ft 10in figure, few fans will forget the risque moment in Carry On Camping in 1969 when her bra pings off into the face of Kenneth Williams during a strenuous outdoor aerobics session. She was nominated for a best British film actress Bafta for Sparrers Can't Sing in 1963 and a Tony award for best featured actress in 1965 during a Broadway stint in Oh! What A Lovely War. But it was the role of battleaxe Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, which she played from 1994 to 2010, that cemented her place in the nation's heart. Soap favourite: It was the role of battleaxe Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, which she played from 1994 to 2010, that cemented her place in the nation's heart Peggy's storylines saw her survive breast cancer and instigate a hate campaign against HIV positive Mark Fowler, played by Todd Carty. She started an affair with Frank Butcher, engaged in cat-fights with his ex-wife Pat, escaped two failed marriages, and lost and regained ownership of the Queen Vic pub countless times. Her famous line 'Get outta my pub!' rang in the ears of viewers long after her troublesome punters had been turfed out. Windsor's personal life is as colourful as the characters she played with three marriages, five abortions, flings with Reggie Kray, George Best and Bee Gee Maurice Gibb, and a high-profile affair with co-star Sid James among the tabloid-worthy moments in a headline-filled life. Damon Albarn: The singer-songwriter who was born in London and raised in Essex has been awarded an OBE for services to music DAMON ALBARN Blur frontman Damon Albarn has been awarded an OBE for services to music. The singer-songwriter, composer and musician rose to fame when he formed a band in 1988 with his friends Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree. The band was renamed Blur in 1990 after signing to a record label. With hits including Song 2, Beetlebum and Parklife, Blur helped create the Britpop genre, fiercely competing with rival band Oasis in the charts. In 1998, despite continuing to write, record and perform music with Blur, the 47-year-old founded virtual band Gorillaz with illustrator and designer Jamie Hewlett. Together they created animated band-members Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, 2D and Russel Hobbs, who went on to rival Blur's success - with best-selling albums Gorillaz and Demon Days notching up millions of sales. Their single DARE reached the top of the charts, while Feel Good Inc made the top two. In December Albarn, who was born in London and raised in Essex, opened his musical, wonder.land, at the National Theatre in London - reworking Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland into a story about the digital age. It has received mixed reviews, gaining only two stars in the Daily Mail, the Guardian, the Express and the Evening Standard - although the Telegraph called Albarn's score 'often richly suggestive'. Britpop: Singer-songwriter Albarn (centre left) rose to fame when he formed a band in 1988 with his friends Graham Coxon (left), Dave Rowntree (centre right) and Alex James (right). The band was renamed Blur in 1990 This is his second collaboration with theatre director Rufus Norris, who also worked with him on the opera Doctor Dee in 2011, based on the life of Elizabethan scientist Doctor Dee. This followed his 2007 production Monkey: Journey To The West, in which he and Hewlett adapted the Wu Cheng'en novel for the stage. But Blur fans could rest easy as the band was not sidelined, and in April this year they released their first studio album in 12 years, The Magic Whip, which became their sixth consecutive album since 1994's Parklife to top the British charts. Trailblazers: In 1998, despite continuing to write, record and perform music with Blur, Albarn founded virtual band Gorillaz with illustrator and designer Jamie Hewlett Starting in June, the band played gigs from Portugal to China to Australia, as well as headlining at Hyde Park, where they played a career-spanning set including 23 songs. During the performance, Albarn handed out ice creams to the crowd. He has also been working on the fifth Gorillaz album, which is expected in 2016. In an interview with Rolling Stone in October, he said: 'So far, it's really fast, and it's got quite a lot of energy. 'I've been stuck on piano, somewhere off Broadway, for years now. I want to go somewhere completely opposite of that.' JAMES NESBITT Actor: James Nesbitt received an OBE for services to Northern Ireland and to acting, after years of work helping families affected by the conflict James Nesbitt has said receiving an OBE will 'give credence' to the cause of those left searching for loved ones following the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Missing star was awarded the honour in the New Year's list for services to Northern Ireland and to acting, after years of work helping families affected by the conflict. Originally from Coleraine, Nesbitt is a patron of Wave Trauma Centre, which supports people bereaved, injured or traumatised during the years of violence. The 50-year-old also appeared in several films about the unrest, including Bloody Sunday and Five Minutes of Heaven. He told the Press Association: 'I've been very blessed with my work and very blessed to come from Northern Ireland, and for those two things to be on the citation was really rather gratifying. 'To be associated with the Wave Trauma success story - a success story tarnished by the loss and the years of not having the remains - it really means an awful lot to me.' After 30 years of violence, many were left searching for the resting places of friends and relatives who disappeared. 'They're the people who have gone through the pain, the real hard work, the searching,' Nesbitt added. 'This gives credence to their cause, a cause which they have been fighting now for so long, to try and find the remains of loved ones so they can have some kind of closure.' He added that appearing in films about Northern Ireland and the bloodiest chapter in its history came with a weight of responsibility. 'You cannot help the feeling the responsibility is a wee bit heavier,' he said. 'It's where I come from and it's affected so many lives and that has been a great privilege. That is what you go into the job for - the opportunity to exercise your craft, but also say something about where you come from, to maybe have an impact.' He will next be seen playing killer dentist Colin Howell in three-part ITV drama The Secret, based on the true crime book by the Press Association's former Ireland editor, Deric Henderson. Hit BBC drama: The Missing star (right) is a patron of Wave Trauma Centre, which supports people bereaved, injured or traumatised during the years of violence He said: 'It's an extraordinary story. If you invented it and took it to various commissioners in television drama, they would have found a lot of holes in it - they would've said 'no-one would believe that'.' He will also be hosting Fifa's Ballon d'Or ceremony on January 11, when the world's best footballer is crowned. The long-time Manchester United fan, who has also helped support his local team, Coleraine, when they faced financial difficulties, said he hoped the occasion would remind fans about the 'purity of the game' in the wake of Fifa's scandals. He said: 'I'm a football fan and I think what it should be, during difficult times for that organisation, is a reminder of the purity of football - why grown-up men get paid an awful lot of money to play football and why they still play with the same passion they played with when they were boys kicking it around in a park. 'Whatever has happened inside football, I'm still a football fan. My three big loves outside of my family are Northern Ireland, Manchester United and Coleraine, and I still follow them with the same passion as when I was a child.' Asked whether his support for United would have him rooting for Cristiano Ronaldo for the award, he joked that he hoped to persuade him to rejoin the club, which is under pressure due to some poor recent results. 'I'm taking a shirt with Ronaldo's name and number on it, and hopefully he'll put it on and get on the plane back with me.' Upcoming projects: Nesbitt, pictured at home in South London before his OBE was announced, will next be seen playing killer dentist Colin Howell in three-part ITV drama The Secret Next year will also mark the return of TV hit Cold Feet after 12 years, with Nesbitt reprising his role as Adam. He said: 'It's quite daunting. There is a bit of you which thinks 'will this be OK?', because it will be compared to something that happened before, but, you know, why not? 'I read the first couple of scripts and it was fun to see those characters again, how much they have changed. 'I mean, Adam still seems to be a bit of an idiot, so I'm going to have to try and cast my eyes back to the days of eejitry, shall we say.' The chief executive of the Wave Trauma Centre, Sandra Peake, said Nesbitt's award was 'thoroughly deserved recognition'. 'Since Jimmy became a patron of Wave in 2000 he has been a constant source of support for our work with victims and survivors,' she said. 'He has raised funds without which Wave simply could not have delivered the range of services that are essential to those who need them most. 'He also de-stigmatised talking about the Troubles by highlighting the impact on those bereaved and injured. 'But more than that he does so much that is below the radar particularly with the families of the Disappeared. 'Everyone in Wave is delighted that his compassionate and caring support for [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] those who have suffered during the Troubles is recognised.' IMELDA STAUNTON Hard graft: Stage and screen actress Imelda Staunton is getting a promotion from OBE to CBE After years of hard graft on the West End stage and on film sets across the world, Imelda Staunton is getting a promotion from OBE to CBE. The actress, 59, was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2006, but will now be upgraded to Commander as she is honoured for services to drama. In an interview earlier this year, she said of the OBE: 'I just wish my mum had been alive to see it. She would have been so thrilled.' Born in North London to a hairdresser and a labourer, Staunton joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) at the age of 18. Her classmates included actors Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Juliet Stevenson. After six years in repertory theatre, she moved on to roles at the National Theatre - where she started gaining attention, earning Laurence Olivier Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical and Most Promising Newcomer of the Year in Theatre for her performance in The Beggar's Opera in 1982. Over the following years, Staunton has picked up 10 Laurence Olivier Award nominations and won two - the gong for Best Actress in a Musical for Into the Woods (1991) and Sweeney Todd (2011). It was during a production of Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre in 1982 that she met her husband Jim Carter, who is best known for playing butler Mr Carson in Downton Abbey. This year Staunton stayed close to her West End beginnings as she trod the boards at the Savoy Theatre in London. She plays the part of Momma Rose in the revived musical Gypsy - playing the pushy mother of burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. Dame Angela Lansbury, 89, who is the only other person to have played the character on the London stage when it originally opened in 1973, gave her seal of approval - saying: 'She's a consummate actress and extraordinarily well able to carry the vocals.' Treading the boards: Staunton plays the part of Momma Rose in the revived musical Gypsy - playing the pushy mother of burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee The show received rave reviews, with the Guardian and Telegraph giving it five stars. Theatre critic Dominic Cavendish called it an 'unrepeatable chance to witness Imelda Staunton give one of the performances of her career'. But despite a penchant for the stage, Staunton has not shied away from film roles. Many will know the actress from the Harry Potter films, where she played the evil Dolores Umbridge who temporarily took over as headmistress of wizarding school Hogwarts. She also drew critical acclaim for starring in the 2004 film Vera Drake, which earned her a number of nominations and awards - including the Bafta Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. SIAN PHILLIPS 'Honoured': Sian Phillip was awarded a damehood in the New Year's honours for services to drama Sian Phillips is 'deeply honoured' to find herself in the same company as dames she has admired all her life. The actress, who stole the show in The Archers' version of Calendar Girls this Christmas, was awarded a damehood in the New Year's honours for services to drama. She said: 'It is a totally unexpected honour and something I could never have imagined when I decided to be an actress at the age of six. 'I idolised all the dames like Peggy Ashcroft and Edith Evans and couldn't quite believe then that we inhabited the same planet. I feel the same way now - though I also feel deeply honoured and very grateful.' The 82-year-old, who has said she has no plans for retirement, is one of Wales's most successful stage and screen actresses. She first wowed critics with her London debut as the lead in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler in 1957. Two years later she wed fellow actor Peter O'Toole, a tempestuous union that would last 20 years. She took a break to raise the couple's two children, Kate and Patricia, appearing mainly in regional theatre and occasionally alongside her husband in films such as Under Milk Wood and Goodbye, Mr Chips. But her career was ignited as Emmeline Pankhurst in suffragette drama Shoulder to Shoulder, before her most memorable role, the Machiavellian Livia, mother to the emperor Tiberius, in the BBC mini-series I, Claudius. Her power-hungry empress was described as 'magnificent; chilling' by critics and won her a Best Actress Bafta in 1977. Couple: She wed fellow actor Peter O'Toole (pictured in 1961) in a tempestuous union that would last 20 years Phillips played Smiley's cold and unfaithful wife in John Le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People opposite Alec Guinness. Demonstrating the famous Welsh talent for singing, she was nominated for a best actress Olivier for Pal Joey in 1980, and continued her Olivier winning streak in A Little Night Music, as Dietrich in musical Marlene, and mostly recently in Cabaret. Barely a popular TV drama has included an appearance from her, including parts in Midsomer Murders, Ballykissangel, New Tricks, Lewis and Agatha Christie's Poirot. Since 2005, Bafta Cymru has presented the Tlws Sian Phillips Award in her honour to a Welsh actor who has made a significant contribution to film and TV. Now the indefatigable Phillips spends most of her time on stage, from the original Calendar Girls production in 2008, to an aged Juliet in a care home-set adaptation of Shakespeare's famous love story two years later, to Lady Bracknell in Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest opposite Martin Jarvis and Nigel Havers last year. DAVID OYELOWO Selma actor: David Oyelowo said receiving an OBE for services to drama feels like a 'full-circle moment' Selma actor David Oyelowo said receiving an OBE for services to drama feels like a 'full-circle moment'. The Oxford-born actor, who has received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the acclaimed HBO drama Nightingale, recalled how at 18, the Prince's Trust gave him a grant of £325 so he could join a youth theatre production that his parents could not afford. He said: 'That production set me on the path to becoming an actor. To be honoured by the Queen in this way having been aided by her son's charity feels like a beautiful full-circle moment.' In a review of Nightingale, the New York Times described his performance as 'nothing less than amazing.' In the race for the 2015 Academy Awards, many felt Oyelowo had been snubbed after he failed to receive a nomination for his role as Martin Luther King Jr in Selma. Oyelowo revealed in an interview with The Independent that Hollywood star Brad Pitt had been equally unimpressed that he had not been nominated. He told The Independent: 'We'd filmed Nightingale by this point but it's an unusual piece and we were struggling to get film festival distribution. 'It had been sent to Brad Pitt's production company Plan B but, as you know, he's a very busy man so he hadn't found time to watch it. 'Then the Oscar nominations were read and Brad was so unhappy about the snub to Selma that he decided to watch Nightingale that day, and he then took it to HBO and said "you have to believe in this film".' The 39-year-old may be one of Hollywood's leading talents but he began in the UK, performing in theatre before landing a part in TV spy drama, Spooks. He played MI5 officer Danny Hunter from 2002 to 2004, and took supporting roles in films such as Lincoln, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, The Paperboy, Jack Reacher and The Butler. In an interview with the Radio Times in August this year, he spoke passionately about diversity on UK screens. He said: 'It's time for a change, but the question is: What needs to change in order for the frustrating regression of diversity on British television to cease?' Overlooked? In the race for the 2015 Academy Awards, many felt Oyelowo had been snubbed after he failed to receive a nomination for his role as Martin Luther King Jr in Selma The actor is a patron of the TriForce Creative Network, which supports and empowers people from diverse backgrounds. Later in his Radio Times interview, he commented: 'There are fantastic British film producers who are white and who feel passionate about the issue of diversity. 'But the point remains that no-one is going to be as passionate about telling your stories and your history as you are.' August also saw the announcement that he would narrate the new James Bond novel, Trigger Mortis, by Anthony Horowitz. He followed in the footsteps of other actors who have narrated Bond novels, including Kenneth Branagh, Hugh Bonneville, Tom Hiddleston and Rosamund Pike. He said: 'Anthony Horowitz has crafted a taut thriller with a fascinating cast of characters and stunning action sequences that I am relishing bringing to life. 'It is an acting challenge as exciting to me as any I have faced on stage or screen. I get to play James Bond! It doesn't get much better than that.' The 2016 Golden Globes will see him go head-to-head with fellow Brit and Luther star Idris Elba in the best performance by an actor in a limited series or motion picture made for television category. BERYL VERTUE Sherlock producer: Beryl Vertue was 'chuffed to bits' to be awarded a CBE in the honours list Sherlock executive producer Beryl Vertue said she was 'chuffed to bits' to be awarded a CBE in the New Year's honours list. She has been instrumental in bringing to screens hits including the modern-day sleuthing drama, comedies Men Behaving Badly and Coupling, and the BBC's latest adaptation of Lady Chatterley's Lover, and has been aptly honoured for services to television drama. It was a family victory for Vertue, who said the CBE was 'a great honour and one I would not have received were it not for the support of the many talented people I have worked with over the years, particularly my two daughters, Sue and Debbie.' Vertue received an OBE in the 2000 New Year's honours list for services to independent production television after founding Hartswood Films in 1988, where daughter Sue is a producer and Debbie is director of operations. 'Hartswood Films was one of the very first independent production companies when I launched it, and I'm proud to say we're still independent today,' she said. Vertue has played a hand in some of Britain's most defining TV comedies and dramas, beginning as an agent for renowned writers such as Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes and comedy stars Tony Hancock and Frankie Howerd, before moving into production. She worked with many of the talent at her production company Associated Films London to produce feature film versions of Up Pompeii, Till Death Us Do Part, and Steptoe And Son. Those in the USA have Vertue to thank for years of laughter too as she took the formats of the latter two across the pond, as well as making American adaptations of Upstairs Downstairs and It's A Knockout. Popular drama: Many Benedict Cumberbatch fans will likely view Sherlock - which is written by her son-in-law Steven Moffat - as her greatest achievement She said one career highlight was as executive producer on 1975 film Tommy, bringing together a star-studded cast of Jack Nicholson, The Who, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner in pinball-mania. Many Benedict Cumberbatch fans, however, will likely view Sherlock - which is written by her son-in-law Steven Moffat - as her greatest achievement. Vertue has executive produced all three seasons of the acclaimed series and returns for the New Year's Day special which will transport Cumberbatch's Holmes and Martin Freeman's Watson into the Victorian period to solve The Case of the Abominable Bride. The honour will be one on a heaving shelf-full that includes the Bafta Alan Clarke award for Outstanding Creative Contribution to Television and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. MATTHEW BOURNE Choreographer Matthew Bourne said receiving a knighthood came as a 'great surprise' and he believes himself to be the 'first dance knight' outside of the National Ballet companies. His list of accolades is as long as his list of productions, such is his success at making every musical, opera, film or play he is involved in a massive hit. Now he can add a knighthood to the formidable line-up. Choreographer: Matthew Bourne, who is recognised for services to dance, said receiving a knighthood came as a 'great surprise' Bourne, who is recognised for services to dance, said: 'This news has come as a great surprise to me, but I couldn't be more thrilled and honoured to be recognised in this way. 'As artistic director of an independent contemporary dance company that started as a group of friends in the late 80s this comes as a very significant recognition of what that company has achieved in the last 28 years. 'I am particularly proud to be, I believe, the first dance knight outside of the National Ballet companies and would like to thank all of my colleagues in New Adventures and Re:Bourne, my friends in the wider dance and theatre communities and the loyal audiences throughout the UK, without whom, I would not still be here.' Bourne can be credited with bringing a contemporary twist to every production he touches, whether it be choreographing classic musicals such as My Fair Lady, Oliver! and South Pacific, productions of William Shakespeare's As You Like It, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream, or coordinating the movements of female comedians for French and Saunders Live in 2000. He founded his own company, Adventures in Motion Pictures, in 1987 and enjoyed huge success with productions such as Edward Scissorhands, Cinderella and Nutcracker!, but it was his ground-breaking all-male Swan Lake in 1995 that really made his name, and led to him becoming known as one of the greatest choreographers in the world. Knighthood: Bourne can be credited with bringing a contemporary twist to every production he touches Swan Lake has gone on to become the world's longest-running ballet production, winning scores of accolades, including three Tony Awards. Born in east London in 1960, Bourne attributes his love of musicals and theatre to his 'ordinary East End working class' parents. But he has previously said he did not discover ballet or modern dance until he was in his early 20s, and did not start his own dance training until the relatively late age of 22. Bourne remains the only Briton to have won the Tony Award for both Best Choreographer and Best Director of a Musical. He has also won five Olivier Awards, and in 2014 was awarded the prestigious De Valois Award for Outstanding Achievement at the National Dance Awards. In 2015 he became the first dance figure to be given The Stage Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Theatre presented by the UK Theatre Awards, and he also helps young people to be given the opportunity to dance, establishing his charity Re:Bourne in 2008. He was awarded the OBE in 2001. MARTYN LEWIS Veteran broadcaster: Martyn Lewis, who hosted the ITN news before moving to the BBC in 1986, has become a prolific charity campaigner Veteran broadcaster Martyn Lewis dedicated his knighthood to the 'thousands of inspirational people in the voluntary sector'. Mr Lewis, who hosted the ITN news before moving to the BBC in 1986, has become a prolific charity campaigner since retiring from the nation's TV screens in 1999. He is chairman of the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, and receives his knighthood for services to the voluntary and charitable sectors, particularly the hospice movement. Mr Lewis said: 'I would like to share this honour with the thousands of inspirational people in the voluntary sector whom I've had the privilege of working with over the last three decades. 'This is a tribute to them and the difference they make to our society every single day.' Born in Swansea, south Wales, in 1945, he began his journalistic career working for BBC Northern Ireland in the late 60s, before going on to join HTV and ITN. He became the first presenter of the BBC's One O'Clock News in 1986 and went on to present other bulletins including the Six O'Clock News and Nine O'Clock News. He will perhaps be forever known for letting his emotions get the better of him as he choked back tears announcing the death of Diana, Princess of Wales on the BBC in 1997. He later said he was 'ashamed' that he had been so overcome. He also made the headlines himself when he was quoted in an interview in 1993 as saying that he wished he could see more good news reported. In 1995, he founded the youth charity YouthNet, which provides online advice, information and support for young people. He is also chairman of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which represents charities, and president of United Response, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to live in the community. He is vice-president of Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, Hospice UK, East Anglia Children's Hospices (EACH) and Demelza Children's Hospice. He is also deputy chair of the Lord Mayor of London's Dragon Awards, patron of Dementia UK, The Patchwork Foundation, which aims to empower minority communities, and the social enterprise Positive News. He was awarded a CBE in 1997. PETER MORGAN Screenwriter and playwright: Peter Morgan first thought the envelope in which his CBE arrived contained a speeding ticket Screenwriter and playwright Peter Morgan said he was 'delighted and proud' to receive a CBE - particularly as he thought the envelope was a speeding ticket. The man behind Helen Mirren's portrayal of Elizabeth II in 2006's The Queen and in 2013's award-winning play The Audience has accepted the honour for services to drama. He said: 'I'm surprised, delighted and proud. Even a little embarrassed. Especially since I opened the brown envelope expecting it to be a speeding ticket.' Speed was a key theme of his most recent hit Rush, the biographical drama based on the lives of Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl. His career success took off with the first of his Blair trilogy, television film The Deal, which saw Michael Sheen and David Morrissey as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown make a pact that would allow Blair a clear run in the 1994 Labour leadership campaign. Sheen reprised his role in The Queen, for which Mirren won her first Oscar and for which Morgan was Oscar-nominated for best original screenplay. Renowned US critic Roger Ebert called The Queen 'a spellbinding story' and praised Morgan's writing as 'intense, focused, literate, observant', making the audience privy to the intimate, behind the scenes working of the UK's most powerful families. His triptych was completed by 2009's The Special Relationship, where Sheen starred opposite Dennis Quaid's Bill Clinton. Sheen also collaborated on Morgan's first play Frost/Nixon, opening to rave reviews at the Donmar Warehouse in 2006, and that was turned into a film with the same cast in 2008. Morgan's knack for turning history into box-office gold is evident in his other hits The Last King Of Scotland, The Other Boleyn Girl and The Damned United. The story of Bristol landlord Christopher Jefferies, ravaged by the media when he was arrested by police investigating the murder of his 25-year-old tenant, Joanna Yeates, became one of Morgan's biggest successes in 2014. The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies won two British Academy Television Awards - for best mini series and for best actor for Jason Watkins's portrayal of Jefferies - with Morgan lauded for his sensitive handling of the case. adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

James Corden Says Kay Mellor apos;changed His Life apos; As He Leads Tributes

2022-12-21T22:24:44Z

CarriHoag9005:

today said that Kay Mellor 'changed his life' when she cast him in Fat Friends - as he and Ruth Jones led tributes to the TV writer following her sudden death aged 71. Yorkshire-born 'luminary' Mellor, one of Britain's finest TV writers and a trailblazer for British working class drama over the past three decades, passed away on Sunday, having written hit series after hit series including Band of Gold, Playing the Field, Fat Friends and The Syndicate. She earned an OBE in 2009 and was awarded the Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Contribution to Writing in 2014. Her work helped transformed the careers of many young British stars including James Corden, Jude Law, Samantha Morton and Ruth Jones, who said today: 'British television has lost one of its greats'. The cause of her death, just days after her 71st birthday, has not been revealed by her family, but her production company described it as an 'untimely and sudden passing'. James Corden today wrote on Instagram: 'Kay Mellor sadly passed away today. She was the most generous, kind and loving person. An exceptionally gifted writer. 'She changed my life when she cast me in Fat Friends on ITV. She saw something in me that no one had before that point. She gave so many people their first chances. 'I have the fondest memories of being on set with her. She will be missed by so many. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time x.' Ms Mellor's gritty and often hilariously funny northern dramas mirrored her own extraordinary life, which began in poverty in Leeds. She had her daughter Yvonne aged 16 and then Gaynor at 19. It was only in her late 20s that she went to night school, doing an A-Level in theatre studies that would inspire her to write. Her tutor saw her talent and encouraged her to go to university, where she would forge ideas that would become much loved TV hits watched by millions each week, after stints paying the bills by acting in commercials and writing scenes for Coronation Street. Her own daughter Gaynor Faye, a celebrated actress in her own right and star of Corrie and Emmerdale, appeared in her mother's drama The Syndicate and recently helped bring Band of Gold to the stage. Kay Mellor, who wrote hit series including ITV 's Girlfriends, Band of Gold and The Syndicate, has died aged 71. She was awarded an OBE in 2009 (right) James Corden (pictured left with Ruth Jones) wrote on Instagram: 'Kay Mellor sadly passed away today. She was the most generous, kind and loving person. An exceptionally gifted writer. She changed my life when she cast me in Fat Friends on ITV. She saw something in me that no one had before that point. She gave so many people their first chances' Gaynor Faye and her mother Kay Mellor at the premiere of the film, 'Ravenous', at The Odeon West End cinema, London Gaynor Faye with her mother Kay and father Anthony, together on holiday in 2020 more videos DM.later('bundle', function() DM.molFeCarousel.init('#p-29', 'channelCarousel', "activeClass" : "wocc", "pageCount" : "3.0", "pageSize" : 1, "onPos": 0, "updateStyleOnHover": true ); ); Fiction Jury members Moritz Polter, Mans Marlind, Anders Tangen, Kay Mellor, Joeystarr and Arnaud Ducret at the 60th Monte-Carlo TV Festival last year RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 195 shares A spokesman for her TV production company, Rollem Productions, said: 'It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely and sudden passing of our beloved friend, mentor and colleague Kay Mellor on Sunday May 15. We have lost a phenomenal talent and a true luminary. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family and friends at this time.' Mrs Mellor is survived by her husband Anthony, who she married in 1968. They have always lived in Leeds, where many of her TV shows were set. They have two daughters, actress Gaynor, and television producer Yvonne Francas. She also leaves behind her beloved dog Happy, a shih tzu she recently admitted she and her husband are 'obsessed with him'. She said last year: 'I think we talk about him more than we did our kids'. Happy even inspired her owner to write the fourth series of The Syndicate - a show where friends or colleagues win the lottery - all about a team of exploited kennel-workers. Kay, pictured here in her 20s with her two daughters, went to university after a recommendation from her tutor Mellor began her career writing plays, worked on Coronation Street and created the award-winning children's drama Children's Ward. Her big breakthrough came in 1995 when ITV made Band of Gold, a drama about a group of prostitutes with Barbara Dickson, Geraldine James and Cathy Tyson. Playing The Field, Fat Friends, The Chase, In The Club and Girlfriends followed in a prolific 27 year TV career. The Syndicate had a long run on the BBC, with the most recent series going out last year. Band of Gold, which ran from 1995 to 1997 was a ground-breaking drama and a huge hit, with critics hailing it as one of the first major drama written by a woman, for women. Millions watched as Ms Mellor brought to life the often grim, and sometimes darkly funny life of a group of sex workers in Bradford. One of its breakthrough stars was Nottingham-born actress Samantha Morton, who would soon star alongside Tom Cruise in Minority Report and she also played Alpha in The Walking Dead. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2017, she hinted that Fat Friends was perhaps her favourite show. She chose The Beautiful South's Perfect 10, the Fat Friends theme tune, as one of her sound tracks, admitting: 'Every time I heard that I used to get excited and get butterflies'. She added: 'It was such a lovely time of my life, it was a drama that was really important to me because I thought I had something to say about weight and body image.' Speaking last year, Kay described her own personal journey - and how she would give the money away if she won the lottery. She told the Sunday Express: 'I had nothing at all. We didn't even have enough money to buy a pushchair, but we were lucky because we both came from working class families that were there for us. I worry for young people out there who don't have a family to support them. There are more mental health issues today. 'In my day and age, if somebody wanted to be cruel to you, they'd do it to your face and you'd call them a bully, but nowadays, these trolls can do it under a cloak of anonymity and I think that's so harmful for young people'. She added: 'In the late 1970s when I was in my 20s. My husband and I were living in a council flat with our two little children and we scrimped and saved to buy a tiny terrace house for £3,000. We could afford the mortgage but the first month the rates bill came in - the then equivalent of council tax - it was a surprise and we couldn't pay it. It was around that time that my father came back into the picture. I remember crying and being upset because I couldn't see a way out. I thought we were going to lose the house. It was a bill for something like £37. But my father gave me £50 and said: 'Keep the change, go out for a meal and I'll look after the kids'. And so my father, who had been remiss and not been a part of my life, suddenly came good'. Despite becoming a millionaire in later life, she shunned a new life away from Leeds, staying in the family home with their dog and driving around in a Mini. She said: 'All I want to do is tell stories, entertain and absorb people and I'm passionate about helping new writers get their voices heard. I drive a Mini and live in a detached house in Leeds. My main luxury in life is my imagination'. She went on: 'What would I do if I won £27 million? I'd give it away. I'd pay off my family and friends' mortgages, give money to the NSPCC, animal welfare and care for the elderly. I'd make sure my family was all right. I'd want my grandchildren to be set up for life. I do worry about them. 'I'm so fearful when my granddaughter Lily goes on social media. I'm forever saying things like, 'Don't put anything like that on Twitter.' I'm also forever telling them how lovely they are to try and counteract some of the negative things on social media'. Describing lockdown she said on the Zoom call: 'I haven't had time to be bored. This table I'm sat at now is my editing suite. We've had to get this series out fast, so I've been sat here editing'. She added: 'One thing I've thought about, but haven't done, is some sort of big community show and I like the idea of setting up a writing/ acting academy for young people. Every time I drive past the right kind of property I think 'That would be a great place for it to happen'.' Kay Mellor with her daughter Faye and actor and singer Shayne Ward as they launched the Band of Gold theatre show last year The stars of ITV's Band of Gold: Geraldine James, Barbara Dickson, Cathy Tyson and Samantha Morton. The drama made Kay Mellor's name Fat Friends helped make a star of James Corden (pictured with Janet Dibley on the show). He also met Ruth Jones there, before they wrote Gavin and Stacey. Jude Law appeared on Families, which ran between 1990 and 1993 Fay's hit Fat Friends launched many careers, including Ruth Jones (bottom right) and James Corden (top left) Kay Mellor also wrote and directed the film Fanny and Elvis, starring Ray Winstone and Kerry Fox Tributes have poured in from the world of showbiz, including from Ruth Jones, who said 'British television has lost one of its greats'. The Welsh actress and comedian, who starred as Kelly Chadwick alongside James Corden in her series Fat Friends between 2000 and 2005, said: 'I am completely shocked to hear the news of Kay's untimely death. 'Her contribution to British television was outstanding and I feel privileged to have worked with her. Such a down-to-earth, funny, big-hearted person whose brilliance lay in seeing the extraordinary in the day to day. 'She was a great mentor to me when I first started writing - and always hugely encouraging of new writers - a real testament to the idea of paying it forward. Her series Fat Friends was a massive turning point in my career and I will be eternally grateful to her for what she did for me. British television has lost one of its greats. Thank you Kay for all that you gave us. I cannot believe you've gone.' Sir Lenny Henry, who starred in Kay Mellor's hit TV series The Syndicate, based on a group of lotto winners, tweeted: 'I was saddened to hear that Kay Mellor has died. 'I was lucky to work with her on the Syndicate and found her to be incredibly creative , funny and instinctive. 'She knew what she wanted and knew how to get the best from us as actors. She will be missed. Condolences to her family.' Corrie star Antony Cotton tweeted : 'I'm totally shocked to hear that Kay Mellor has died. I can't imagine how her family feel. Devastating. She was a real trailblazer for women in this industry. Rest In Power, Kay x'. It's A Sin and Queer As Folk writer Russell T Davies described Mellor's 'unshakeable belief in story, story, story', adding: 'I think of her always when I'm writing.' In an Instagram post, he wrote: 'Kay Mellor has died. Creator of Band Of Gold, Fat Friends, Children's Ward, The Syndicate, and so much more. I adored her. She taught me so much. And she was hilarious! 'I was invited on her This Is Your Life, she walked through the double doors, saw me and said 'What are you doing here?' ??. 'She mentored so many. She had an unshakeable belief in story, story, story, I think of her always when I'm writing. I went to Fat Friends The Musical last year; sold out, an audience laughing and roaring and sobbing, an audience that gets left behind by everyone else. 'I once saw A Passionate Woman in the West End. There's a line where the mum says that now her son's leaving home, she doesn't know how much milk to order. And a sigh went round the auditorium. 'I've never heard anything like it; 800 people recognising that thought. What a talent. What a power. What a joy. Christ, she was funny. I love you Kay'. West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin paid tribute to the Leeds-born writer on Twitter, saying: 'Just dreadful news & difficult to take in. Sending all our love from everyone in £westyorkshire to Kay's family, friends & colleagues. 'Our voice of the North, she put working class characters at the centre of her brilliant compassionate, moving & funny stories. Such a loss.' Mellor, who was awarded the Bafta Dennis Potter award in 1998 for outstanding writing for television, was also remembered by the independent arts charity who tweeted: 'We're saddened to hear that Kay Mellor, the hugely influential BAFTA-winning writer, actor and director whose hit TV series include Fat Friends, Band Of Gold and Playing The Field, has died. 'Our thoughts are with her family and friends'. Actress Katherine Rose Morley, who led the cast of series four of The Syndicate, the drama series from Mellor about different betting syndicates that win the lottery, said she was 'heartbroken' by news of the scriptwriter's death. She said on Twitter: 'I am in complete shock and utterly heartbroken to hear about Kay Mellor. 'She showed me so much kindness from the moment we met and she made everyone's lives that bit brighter. 'I'm honoured to have known her and even more grateful for the opportunity she gave me. Always in my (heart).' Lisa Riley, who played Rebecca Patterson in Fat Friends in series two to four, described Mellor as 'the best boss'. She said on Twitter: 'DEAREST KAY REST IN PEACE........what a massive shock to hear this news, you have been taken far far far to young. You were the best boss to work for, you embraced all that is good about our industry, believing in talent.' Actor Kenny Doughty, who starred in Mellor's 2003 film Gifted, tweeted: 'Absolutely shocked & saddened to hear that Kay Mellor has passed away. 'Such an inspiration & force of nature & wonderful soul. Will miss her dearly. Sending love & prayers to her family.' Emmerdale actor and I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! winner Danny Miller also paid tribute to Mellor, tweeting that she was: 'An incredible talent in the TV world and someone who always had a warming smile on offer with open arms. 'Sending all of my love to Gaynor and the rest of the beautiful family during this difficult time.' Kay Mellor was also an actress herself, pictured here in 'A Good Thief' with Angel Coulby (left) and Liz Smith (right) She also wrote BBC One's women's football series Playing The Field and in 2010 received an OBE. The BBC's chief content officer, Charlotte Moore, paid tribute to Kay Mellor following her death. In a statement, Moore said: 'I'm shocked and deeply saddened to hear that Kay Mellor has suddenly passed away. 'Kay was an outstanding writer and the creative force behind many of the nation's best-loved television dramas. 'She wrote with such heart, humanity, humour and passion with strong female characters often taking centre stage. 'She will be missed and our thoughts are with her friends and family at this difficult time.' West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin paid tribute to Leeds-born screenwriter Kay Mellor on Twitter. She said: 'Just dreadful news & difficult to take in. Sending all our love from everyone in £westyorkshire to Kay's family, friends & colleagues. 'Our voice of the North, she put working class characters at the centre of her brilliant compassionate, moving & funny stories. Such a loss.' Shameless and Emmerdale actress Hayley Tamaddon tweeted: 'Such sad sad news about the wonderful kay mellor.. She was always so lovely and kind to me.. a truly brilliant lady. 'My thoughts and love and strength to @MsGfaye and all her family at this difficult time.' From council estate to darling of the small screen: How Kay Mellor couldn't afford a pram when she had her daughter aged 16 but put herself through night school before becoming TV writer famed for working class dramas who launched James Corden's careerKay Mellor's art imitated her life after she built an extraordinary career from the humblest of beginnings. The Band of Gold creator's gritty and often hilariously funny northern dramas mirrored her own extraordinary life, which began in poverty in Leeds. Born on May 11 1951, her father George ran off when she was young and left her Jewish mother Dinah to bring up Kay and her two brothers. Kay had her first daughter Yvonne aged 16, and married the little girl's father, Anthony, then 17, and the couple enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage until her 'sudden and untimely' death on Sunday. When Mrs Mellor was 19, their second daughter Gaynor arrived - and under her stage name Gaynor Faye, she would go on to be an actress herself and star in some of her mother's biggest TV hits. Speaking last year, Kay described her own personal journey and said: 'I had nothing at all. We didn't even have enough money to buy a pushchair, but we were lucky because we both came from working class families that were there for us. I worry for young people out there who don't have a family to support them'. It was only in her late 20s that Kay went to night school, doing an A-Level in theatre studies that would inspire her to write, although she said at the time she feared she was already 'too old' to be a success. But her tutor saw her talent and encouraged her to go to university, where she would forge ideas that would become much loved TV hits watched by millions each week, after stints paying the bills by acting in commercials and writing scenes for Coronation Street. The rest was history. Writer Kay Mellor pictured in 1995 on the set of Some Kind of Life, one of her first big hits after working writing scenes for Corrie Gaynor Faye with her celebrated writer mother Kay, who died on Sunday aged 71, and father Anthony, together on holiday in 2020 Kay, pictured here in her 20s with her two daughters, went to university after a recommendation from her tutor. First she did an A-level at night school Kay Mellor, after being crowned Yorkshire woman of the year, with daughters Yvonne and Gaynor RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 195 shares Her lack of money inspired many of her stories. She told the Express: 'In the late 1970s when I was in my 20s. My husband and I were living in a council flat with our two little children and we scrimped and saved to buy a tiny terrace house for £3,000. Kay Mellor revealed that going into education again at the age of 27 is what transformed her career path 'We could afford the mortgage but the first month the rates bill came in - the then equivalent of council tax - it was a surprise and we couldn't pay it. It was around that time that my father came back into the picture. I remember crying and being upset because I couldn't see a way out. I thought we were going to lose the house. It was a bill for something like £37. 'But my father gave me £50 and said: 'Keep the change, go out for a meal and I'll look after the kids'. And so my father, who had been remiss and not been a part of my life, suddenly came good. Despite becoming a millionaire in later life, she shunned a new life away from Leeds, staying in the family home with their dog and driving around in a Mini. She said: 'All I want to do is tell stories, entertain and absorb people and I'm passionate about helping new writers get their voices heard. I drive a Mini and live in a detached house in Leeds. My main luxury in life is my imagination'. She went on: 'What would I do if I won £27 million? I'd give it away. I'd pay off my family and friends' mortgages, give money to the NSPCC, animal welfare and care for the elderly. I'd make sure my family was all right. I'd want my grandchildren to be set up for life. I do worry about them. 'I'm so fearful when my granddaughter Lily goes on social media. I'm forever saying things like, 'Don't put anything like that on Twitter.' I'm also forever telling them how lovely they are to try and counteract some of the negative things on social media'. Describing lockdown she said on the Zoom call: 'I haven't had time to be bored. This table I'm sat at now is my editing suite'. She added: 'One thing I've thought about, but haven't done, is some sort of big community show and I like the idea of setting up a writing/ acting academy for young people. Every time I drive past the right kind of property I think 'That would be a great place for it to happen'.' Kay Mellor in 2001, when her career had really taken off in TV. She also acted as well as wrote The stars and writer of Fanny and Elvis at its premiere at the Leeds Film Festival (left to right) actress Gaynor Faye , writer Kay Mellor, and actors Kerry Fox and Ben Daniels in 1999 Mellor began her career writing plays, worked on Coronation Street and created the award-winning children's drama Children's Ward. Her big breakthrough came in 1995 when ITV made Band of Gold, a drama about a group of prostitutes with Barbara Dickson, Geraldine James and Cathy Tyson. Playing The Field, Fat Friends, The Chase, In The Club and Girlfriends followed in a prolific 27 year TV career. The Syndicate had a long run on the BBC, with the most recent series going out last year. Band of Gold, which ran from 1995 to 1997 was a ground-breaking drama and a huge hit, with critics hailing it as one of the first major drama written by a woman, for women. Millions watched as Ms Mellor brought to life the often grim, and sometimes darkly funny life of a group of sex workers in Bradford. One of its breakthrough stars was Nottingham-born actress Samantha Morton, who would soon star alongside Tom Cruise in Minority Report and she also played Alpha in The Walking Dead. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2017, she hinted that Fat Friends was perhaps her favourite show. She chose The Beautiful South's Perfect 10, the Fat Friends theme tune, as one of her sound tracks, admittingL 'Every time I heard that I used to get excited and get butterflies'. She added: 'It was such a lovely time of my life, it was a drama that was really important to me because I thought I had something to say about weight and body image.' Bafta-nominated series Fat Friends focused on the members of a slimming group in Leeds, and starred James Corden, Ruth Jones, Alison Steadman and Mellor's youngest daughter, Gaynor Faye. Faye has also starred in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Chase on BBC One, a series which she co-wrote with her mother. Kay Mellor, the star maker! How late screenwriter's shows helped launch the careers of some of Britain's biggest names - from Stephen Graham's first TV role to giving Suranne Jones a post-Corrie breakKay Mellor wrote many of loved TV dramas of the past 30 years for BBC and ITV She helped to launch the careers of many A-list stars including James Corden Jude Law and Theo James also landed big break after starring in her showsOther stars including Stephen Graham and Suranne Jones were cast by writerDoctor Who writer Russell T Davies got early career break on Children's Ward From A-listers to Hollywood heartthrobs, celebrated screenwriter Kay Mellor, who has died suddenly aged 71, had a hand in launching the careers of some of Britain's biggest stars. The Yorkshire-born TV heavyweight wrote hit series after hit series including Band of Gold, Playing the Field, Fat Friends and The Syndicate, many of which gave big breaks to rising stars - both on screen and behind the camera. Her work helped transformed the careers of household names including , Jude Law, Samantha Morton and Ruth Jones, who said today: 'British television has lost one of its greats.' Some stars, like winner Stephen Graham, landed their first ever TV roles in a Mellor drama. He appeared as a teenager in popular children's drama Children's Ward, which was created by Mellor in the early 1990s while she was working as a staff writer at Granada. Leading light: From A-listers to Hollywood heartthrobs, celebrated screenwriter Kay Mellor, who has died suddenly aged 71, had a hand in launching the careers of some of Britain's biggest stars. Pictured, Mellor on receiving her OBE at Buckingham Palace in 2010 Big break: Mellor wrote hit series after hit series including Band of Gold, Playing the Field, Fat Friends and The Syndicate, many of which gave big breaks to rising stars - both on screen and behind the camera. Pictured, the cast of Fat Friends including James Corden and Ruth Jones Doctor Foster and Gentleman Jack star Suranne Jones was given a chance to prove herself as something other than a popular soap star when she was cast in Mellor's series Strictly Confidential shortly after quitting Corrie. Mellow was also a mentor for aspiring writers, with Russell T. Davies recalling the support she gave when he was taken on as a writer on Children's Ward early on in his career. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at the stars who have Mellor to thank for helping to launch their glittering careers... STEPHEN GRAHAM First role: Children's Ward, 1991 (ITV children's drama conceived by Mellor) Starting young: Stephen Graham's named TV role came in Kay Mellor's children's drama series Children's Ward, which followed the staff and patients of the fictitious South Park Hospital Breakthrough role: After appearing in Snatch and Gangs Of New York, Graham landed what he describes as his 'breakthrough role' as skinhead Andrew 'Combo' Gascoigne in Shane Meadows's critically-acclaimed This Is England (pictured) From The Irishman to This Is England; Broadwalk Empire to Line Of Duty, Stephen Graham's résumé glitters with blockbuster roles in some of the biggest film and TV hits of recent decades. But the 48-year-old's first named TV role came in Kay Mellor's children's drama series Children's Ward, which followed the staff and patients of the fictitious South Park Hospital. Graham was just a teenager when he appeared in two episodes in series three as Mickey Bell, a young man admitted to the hospital. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 195 shares Following a string of smaller roles - including one on Coronation Street - Graham was given his big break when he was cast in Guy Ritchie's Snatch (2000). Graham had gone along with another friend who was auditioning for the film when he was spotted by Ritchie and asked to audition - then given a role on the spot. After a small part in Gangs Of New York (he continues to work with director Martin Scorsese), Graham landed what he describes as his 'breakthrough role' as skinhead Andrew 'Combo' Gascoigne in Shane Meadows's critically-acclaimed This Is England. Hollywood star: Graham, right, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Gangs Of New York (2002) He reprised the role in three subsequent TV miniseries: This Is England '86, This Is England '88 and This Is England '90. Graham has appeared as Al Capone in Broadwalk Empire, a rogue undercover officer in Line Of Duty and as a Machiavellian pirate in the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise. Most recently Graham appeared opposite Jodie Comer in the Bafta-nominated miniseries Help and Sean Bean in the critically-acclaimed prison drama Time. In 2022 he was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as a chef on the brink of a breakdown in Boiling Point. Line Of Duty: Graham played renegade undercover officer John Corbett in Line Of Duty (pictured right, opposite star Martin Compston as Steve Arnott) Critically-acclaimed: Graham starred alongside Sean Bean in 2021 miniseries Time Award nominee: Graham won widespread praise for his performance as a chef in Boiling Point SURANNE JONES Post-soap big break: Strictly Confidential, 2006 (miniseries written by Mellor) Post-soap break: Suranne Jones was cast in Mellor's TV series Strictly Confidential, about a sex therapist (left) after quitting Coronation Street. Right, the actress on the BAFTA red carpet Getting serious after soaps: Suranne spent four years as Karen McDonald on Coronation Street When Suranne Jones left Coronation Street in 2004 after four years as the mouthy, scene-stealing Karen McDonald, twice married to - and divorced from - bad boy Steve McDonald, there was surely trepidation as to whether she would find success after so long on a soap. But Jones landed back-to-back roles after quitting the cobbles: first, as private investigator Beth in Ray Winstone-helmed TV series Vincent, and then as sex therapist Linda Nelson in Kay Mellor's Strictly Confidential, which ran for a single season in 2006. Three years later she won a Bafta nomination, for her performance in ITV's Unforgiven as a teenage murderer released from prison after 15 years, confirming that she wasn't about to go the way of many ex-soap stars. Building her career: After appearing in Strictly Confidential, Jones landed a number of well regarded television roles, including as DC Rachel Bailey in ITV's Scott & Bailey Instead she opted for serious work: another well-received role was in BBC1's consecutive-night drama Five Days (2010), in which she played a stressed police officer trying to tackle a terrorist threat against a background of family problems, alongside anensemble cast that included Anne Reid (as her mother) and David Morrissey. Then came the role of hotheaded DC Rachel Bailey in hit show Scott & Bailey, which ran for five series from 2011 to 2016. In the last 10 years she has established herself as one of the nation's most renowned television actresses, winning nominations for her performances in smash hit Doctor Foster and period drama Gentleman Jack. The actress, 43, who prefers to keep her private life out of the spotlight, recently appeared in BBC submarine drama Vigil, alongside Line Of Duty star Martin Compston and Game Of Thrones' Rose Leslie. A woman on the brink: Suranne Jones wowed audiences in domestic thriller Doctor Foster Getting gritty: Suranne appeared in hotly anticipated submarine miniseries Vigil Awards darling: The actress has won nominations for her role in BBC One's Gentleman Jack JUDE LAW Early role: Families, 1991-93 (ITV daytime drama written by Mellor) Schoolboy star: Academy Award nominee Jude Law, 49, was in his teens and breaking into the industry when he was cast in Families, Kay Mellor's daytime ITV soap opera about the relationship of two families, the Thompsons (in England) and the Stevens (in Australia) Academy Award nominee Jude Law, 49, was in his teens and breaking into the industry when he was cast in Families, Kay Mellor's daytime ITV soap opera about the relationship of two families, the Thompsons (in England) and the Stevens (in Australia). The main storyline concentrated on Mike Thompson leaving his family to move in with Diane Stevens and the complications that ensued. Law was cast as Nathan Thompson, a good looking schoolboy caught up in his family drama. A few years after Families wrapped, Law appeared in his first major leading film role with the British crime drama Shopping, which also featured his future wife, Sadie Frost. Young star: A few years after Families wrapped, Law appeared in his first major leading film role with the British crime drama Shopping, which also featured his future wife, Sadie Frost A-lister: He won his first Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley. This was followed in 2003 with a Best Actor nomination for Cold Mountain (pictured) Charming: Jude Law took on Michael Caine's iconic role in the 2004 adaptation of Alfie In 1999 he won his first Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley. This was followed in 2003 with a Best Actor nomination for Cold Mountain. Yet for many years Law made more headlines with his scandalous personal life. After splitting with Frost, with whom he shares three children, Jude appeared to get his life back on track when he found love with his Alfie co-star Sienna Miller. For a time, the beautiful actress and the heart-throb actor were London's golden couple. They were happy to show off just how in love they were in public and within months the pair were engaged. But the romance came crashing down when it emerged that Jude was sleeping with his children's nanny behind Sienna's back. The actor also has daughter, Sophia, with model Samantha Burke, and another daughter called Ada, with singer-songwriter Catherine Harding. He shares his sixth child with wife Phillipa Coan. Law stars in a number of big budget franchises, including the Harry Potter Fantastic Beasts series and the Sherlock Holmes film adaptations, with a third installment slated for release next year. Big names: Law stars in a number of big budget franchises, including the Harry Potter Fantastic Beasts series (pictured) and the Sherlock Holmes film adaptations THEO JAMES First role: A Passionate Woman, 2010 (BBC miniseries written by Mellor) Setting pulses racing: Theo James was given his first role in Mellor's miniseries A Passionate Woman, starring opposite Billie Piper as a married man who falls in love with a neighbour He is currently on screens in The Time Traveler's Wife and had young audiences swooning in The Divergent film trilogy, but English heartthrob Theo James got his start in Kay Mellor mini series A Passionate Woman, which aired on BBC One in 2010. The series starred Billie Piper as Betty Stevenson, a married mother-of-one living in Yorkshire in the 1950s who falls in love with her Polish neighbour, Alex Crazenovski, played by James. The pair embark on a passionate affair that ends in tragedy when Crazenovski's pregnant wife shoots him dead after discovering his infidelity. Teenage pin-up: Following his screen debut, the actor, now 37, landed a role in Downton Abbey and Sky Living HD drama Bedlam, opposite fellow up-and-coming star Gemma Chan. He is best known for the Divergent film series (pictured) The show, written and directed by Mellor, had just two episodes was enough to put James on the map. Following his screen debut, the actor, now 37, landed a role in Downton Abbey and [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] Sky Living HD drama Bedlam, opposite fellow up-and-coming star Gemma Chan. He has since appeared in ITV period drama Sanditon and in Hollywood blockbusters alongside Shailene Woodley and Naomi Watts. Next, he is set to appear in the second series of critically-acclaimed US TV series White Lotus, a sure sign that his star is firmly on the rise. On screen: James is currently starring opposite Game Of Thrones star Rose Leslie in the new Steven Moffat adaptation of beloved novel The Time Traveler's Wife JAMES CORDEN Breakthrough role: Fat Friends (written by Mellor) Turning point: James Corden was cast in Fat Friends (left) after being spotted in a Tango advert by Mellor Connections: It was on the set of Fat Friends that Corden (right) met his Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones (left) and future cast member Alison Steadman He became a household name as Essex lad Smithy in British sitcom Gavin and Stacey, but it was Mellor's ITV drama Fat Friends that launched James Corden's Career. The presenter, who had roles in Hollyoaks and comedy drama Teachers early in his career, was still making a name for himself when he was cast in Mellor's hit series about a slimming club. The screenwriter had spotted Corden - now best known for Gavin & Stacey and his Late Late Show in the US - in an advert for Tango and asked her casting director to track him down, believing his was perfect for the part of Jamie Rymer. It was on the set of Fat Friends that Corden met his Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones and future cast member Alison Steadman. Strength to strength: When Gavin & Stacey finished, Corden landed a role in the West End production of The History Boys and went on to star in the 2006 film adaptation. Here comes Hollywood! Corden starred alongside Emily Blunt in a film version of Into The Woods When the show finished, Corden landed a role in the West End production of The History Boys and went on to star in the 2006 film adaptation. The Gavin And Stacey star first cracked America when his stage show One Man Two Guvnors transferred to Broadway in 2012 after a successful stint in the West End. He was then catapulted to worldwide fame after he made his debut as the presenter of The Late, Late Show in 2015, taking over the role from Craig Ferguson. Talk show host: Now Corden is best known as the host of The Late Late Show in Los Angeles. He announced earlier this year that he is quitting the show to return home to the UK Royal friends: James has been close friends with the Duke of Sussex, 39, for a decade, with the presenter previously revealing they met 'out and about' in London With the immense popularity of segments like Carpool Karaoke, James has become one of America's most beloved late night presenters. And thanks to his success on The Late, Late Show, James has landed a number of roles in Hollywood films like Into The Woods and The Prom, and he has also hosted the Tony Awards. Thanks to his Stateside success, Corden and his interior designer wife Julia, have a roll-call of Hollywood royalty - and actual royalty - on speed-dial after carefully cultivating connections with the industry's biggest movers and shakers. RUTH JONES Career 'turning point': Fat Friends Paying tribute: Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones has said Fat Friends was a 'massive turning point in her career', setting her on the path to stardom Gavin & Stacey co-creator Ruth Jones has said Fat Friends was a 'massive turning point in her career', setting her on the path to stardom. Her character, Kelly Chadwick, suffered setbacks on her weight loss journey because she worked in a fish and chip shop. Together with co-star Corden, Ruth write Gavin & Stacey and went on to star as Nessa. The Welsh actress and comedian paid tribute to Mellor, who she described as a 'mentor' and an influential force on her early career. Comedy queen: Ruth Jones with Matt Lucas on the set of Little Britain. She thanked Mellor for the support she gave when she was establishing herself in her career TV powerhouse: More recently, she wrote and starred in TV comedy Stella about a single mother living in South Wales. Pictured, in Stella with co-star Patrick Baladi 'She was a great mentor to me when I first started writing - and always hugely encouraging of new writers - a real testament to the idea of paying it forward,' Jones said in a statement today. 'Her series Fat Friends was a massive turning point in my career and I will be eternally grateful to her for what she did for me. British television has lost one of its greats. 'Thank you Kay for all that you gave us. I cannot believe you've gone.' As well as Gavin & Stacey, Ruth has appeared in Little Britain and Saxondale. More recently, she wrote and starred in TV comedy Stella about a single mother living in South Wales. LUKE THOMPSON Big TV break: In The Club, 2014-16 (created by Mellor) From pregnancy to Regency! In 2014, Luke Thompson was cast as Simon in Mellor's series In The Club (left, with Hermione Norris), about a group of expectant parents who bond at pre-natal classes and the lives of the couples leading up to the births. Right, this year Bridgerton babe: Thompson's big break came in the Netflix Regency romp Bridgerton, in which he plays Benedict, the second eldest of the Bridgerton siblings Bridgerton heartthrob Luke Thompson, 33, has Mellor to thank for his break into the competitive TV industry so early on in his career. The Southampton-born star made his professional debut in 2013 as Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre, which earned him Evening Standard and Ian Charleson Award nominations. This was followed by a turn as Mark Antony in Julius Cesar, in a production of the Shakespeare play that was filmed for the Globe On Screen series. In 2014, Thompson was cast as Simon in Mellor's series In The Club, about a group of expectant parents who bond at pre-natal classes and the lives of the couples leading up to the births. Co-stars included Katherine Parkinson and Hermione Norris. In 2017, he appeared in Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk. Thompson's big break came in the Netflix Regency romp Bridgerton, in which he plays Benedict, the second eldest of the Bridgerton siblings. There was fan outrage this week after it was revealed that the next installment of the hit series will not focus on Benedict, as was planned, but will instead focus on his younger brother, Colin. SAMANTHA MORTON Breakout role: Band Of Gold Into the spotlight: One of the breakout stars of Mellor's hit series Band Of Gold was Nottingham-born actress Samantha Morton, who at the time was just a few years into her acting career One of the breakout stars of Mellor's hit series Band Of Gold was Nottingham-born actress Samantha Morton, who at the time was just a few years into her acting career. The hit series told the story of a group of sex workers making a living on the streets of Bradford and made stars of its leading ladies. Samantha played Tracy, a teenage runaway who spiraled into drug addiction and killed two former punters, an ex pimp and her father before taking her own life. After Band Of Gold, Morton appeared in period dramas Emma and Jane Eyre before appearing opposite Tom Cruise in Minority Report. Hollywood blockbuster: After Band Of Gold, Morton appeared in period dramas Emma and Jane Eyre before appearing opposite Tom Cruise in Minority Report (pictured) She has been nominated for two Oscars - Sweet and Lowdown (1999) and In America (2003) - and has played real-life characters from serial killer Myra Hindley to Mary, Queen Of Scots. The 45-year-old has also appeared in some of the biggest shows on TV on both sides of the Atlantic, from Rillington Place to Harlots and The Walking Dead. In 2008, Samantha suffered a stroke when a piece of plaster fell on her head. She spent 18 months out of the spotlight while she re-learned how to walk. TV star: Samantha Morton as Alpha in hit zombie series The Walking Dead RUSSELL T. DAVIES Early career break: Children's Ward Learning his craft: In the early 1990s, while a staff writer at Granada on Coronation Street, Mellor branched out into children's TV, creating Bafta-winning drama Children's Ward (pictured). Writers included Russell T. Davies, who has gone on to have a successful career Pioneering: Davies, who credited Mellor as a 'mentor', later wrote Queer As Folk Groundbreaking: More recently Davies has penned Years And Years and It's A Sin, pictured In the early 1990s, while a staff writer at Granada on Coronation Street, Mellor branched out into children's TV, creating Bafta-winning drama Children's Ward. TV heavyweight: Screenwriter Russell T. Davies The show, set in the children's ward of the fictitious South Park Hospital (known as Sparky's) was co-written with Paul Abbott and gave an early career break to a number or writers including Russell T. Davies, who wrote and produced a number of episodes. Then less than 10 years into his career, Russell was cutting his teeth on shows like Corrie, Dark Season and Century Falls. He credited Mellor with supporting him and other young writers coming up in the industry. 'I adored her. She taught me so much. And she was hilarious!,' Davies wrote in an Instagram post today. 'She mentored so many. She had an unshakeable belief in story, story, story, I think of her always when I'm writing … What a talent. What a power. What a joy. Christ, she was funny. I love you Kay.' Five years later, Davies penned the groundbreaking Queer As Folk. In addition to reviving Doctor Who, the screenwriter has also produced hits including dystopian miniseries Years And Years and the awards darling It's A Sin. From council estate to darling of the small screen: How Kay Mellor couldn't afford a pram when she had her daughter aged 16 but put herself through night school before becoming TV writer famed for working class dramas who launched James Corden's careerKay Mellor wrote many of the most loved TV dramas of the past three decades for the BBC and ITV Band of Gold, Playing the Field, Fat Friends and The Syndicate launched the careers of many TV stars Survived by her husband Anthony and two daughters, actress Gaynor Faye and TV producer Yvonne Francas Couple had two children by the age of 20 and were living in a council flat with little cash for rent or a buggy Kay went to night school and then university in late 20s and early 30s, before writing for Coronation Street By the mid-1990s she was one of the most influential working class voices in TV shows watched by millions Kay Mellor's art imitated her life after she built an extraordinary career from the humblest of beginnings. The Band of Gold creator's gritty and often hilariously funny northern dramas mirrored her own experiences and early years, which began in poverty in Leeds. Born on May 11 1951, her father George ran off when she was young and left her Jewish mother Dinah to bring up the little girl and her two brothers. Kay had her first daughter Yvonne aged 16, and married the father, Anthony, then 17, and the couple enjoyed more than 50 years of marriage until her 'sudden and untimely' death on Sunday. When Mrs Mellor was 19, their second daughter Gaynor arrived - and under her stage name Gaynor Faye, she would go on to be an actress herself and star in some of her mother's biggest TV hits. Speaking last year, Kay described her own personal journey and said: 'I had nothing at all. We didn't even have enough money to buy a pushchair, but we were lucky because we both came from working class families that were there for us. I worry for young people out there who don't have a family to support them'. It was only in her late 20s that Kay went to night school, doing an A-Level in theatre studies that would inspire her to write, although she said at the time she feared she was already 'too old' to be a success. But her tutor saw her talent and encouraged her to go to university, where she would forge ideas that would become much loved TV hits watched by millions each week, after stints paying the bills by acting in commercials and writing scenes for Coronation Street. The rest was history. Writer Kay Mellor pictured in 1995 on the set of Some Kind of Life, one of her first big hits after working writing scenes for Corrie Gaynor Faye with her celebrated writer mother Kay, who died on Sunday aged 71, and father Anthony, together on holiday in 2020 Kay, pictured here in her 20s with her two daughters, went to university after a recommendation from her tutor. First she did an A-level at night school Kay Mellor, after being crowned Yorkshire woman of the year, with daughters Yvonne and Gaynor RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 195 shares Her lack of money inspired many of her stories. She told the Express: 'In the late 1970s when I was in my 20s. My husband and I were living in a council flat with our two little children and we scrimped and saved to buy a tiny terrace house for £3,000. Kay Mellor revealed that going into education again at the age of 27 is what transformed her career path 'We could afford the mortgage but the first month the rates bill came in - the then equivalent of council tax - it was a surprise and we couldn't pay it. It was around that time that my father came back into the picture. I remember crying and being upset because I couldn't see a way out. I thought we were going to lose the house. It was a bill for something like £37. 'But my father gave me £50 and said: 'Keep the change, go out for a meal and I'll look after the kids'. And so my father, who had been remiss and not been a part of my life, suddenly came good. Despite becoming a millionaire in later life, she shunned a new life away from Leeds, staying in the family home with their dog and driving around in a Mini. She said: 'All I want to do is tell stories, entertain and absorb people and I'm passionate about helping new writers get their voices heard. I drive a Mini and live in a detached house in Leeds. My main luxury in life is my imagination'. She went on: 'What would I do if I won £27 million? I'd give it away. I'd pay off my family and friends' mortgages, give money to the NSPCC, animal welfare and care for the elderly. I'd make sure my family was all right. I'd want my grandchildren to be set up for life. I do worry about them. 'I'm so fearful when my granddaughter Lily goes on social media. I'm forever saying things like, 'Don't put anything like that on Twitter.' I'm also forever telling them how lovely they are to try and counteract some of the negative things on social media'. Describing lockdown she said on the Zoom call: 'I haven't had time to be bored. This table I'm sat at now is my editing suite'. She added: 'One thing I've thought about, but haven't done, is some sort of big community show and I like the idea of setting up a writing/ acting academy for young people. Every time I drive past the right kind of property I think 'That would be a great place for it to happen'.' Kay Mellor in 2001, when her career had really taken off in TV. She also acted as well as wrote The stars and writer of Fanny and Elvis at its premiere at the Leeds Film Festival (left to right) actress Gaynor Faye , writer Kay Mellor, and actors Kerry Fox and Ben Daniels in 1999 Mellor began her career writing plays, worked on Coronation Street and created the award-winning children's drama Children's Ward. Her big breakthrough came in 1995 when ITV made Band of Gold, a drama about a group of prostitutes with Barbara Dickson, Geraldine James and Cathy Tyson. Playing The Field, Fat Friends, The Chase, In The Club and Girlfriends followed in a prolific 27 year TV career. The Syndicate had a long run on the BBC, with the most recent series going out last year. Band of Gold, which ran from 1995 to 1997 was a ground-breaking drama and a huge hit, with critics hailing it as one of the first major drama written by a woman, for women. Millions watched as Ms Mellor brought to life the often grim, and sometimes darkly funny life of a group of sex workers in Bradford. One of its breakthrough stars was Nottingham-born actress Samantha Morton, who would soon star alongside Tom Cruise in Minority Report and she also played Alpha in The Walking Dead. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2017, she hinted that Fat Friends was perhaps her favourite show. She chose The Beautiful South's Perfect 10, the Fat Friends theme tune, as one of her sound tracks, admittingL 'Every time I heard that I used to get excited and get butterflies'. She added: 'It was such a lovely time of my life, it was a drama that was really important to me because I thought I had something to say about weight and body image.' Bafta-nominated series Fat Friends focused on the members of a slimming group in Leeds, and starred James Corden, Ruth Jones, Alison Steadman and Mellor's youngest daughter, Gaynor Faye. Faye has also starred in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and The Chase on BBC One, a series which she co-wrote with her mother. adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

Jean De Villiers Opens Up To Jamie Roberts On The Lions Tour

2022-12-21T22:24:31Z

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Jean de Villiers is a former South African captain, World Cup winner and was Jamie Roberts' opposite number during the Lions series of 2009 - the perfect man to chat to before the Tests begin in 2021. The pair played many times against each other, and Roberts joined de Villiers' Cape Town club the Stormers for a brief stint last year. So ahead of this Lions series it was time for the duo to chew the fat. Sportsmail's Will Kelleher listened in. Jamie Roberts (left) has spoken to Jean de Villiers (right) before the Lions series in South Africa RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share JDV: Hiya Jamie! It seems like for [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/] a change it's warmer where you are than I am! JR: I've just been for a walk in Cardiff, and I'm dripping! How are you mate? Are you in your office, or your massive living room? JDV: It's my living room, but I've got the virtual Zoom background on! I'm in Paarl, about an hour from Cape Town. JR: My biggest disappointment about not going to South Africa this summer is not being able to join you for a glass of wine! Roberts joined de Villiers' club the Stormers for a stint and was his opposite number in 2009 JDV: It's in short supply at the moment because all alcohol sales are banned - even the wine farms can't trade. We're in lockdown week five, but it's not that hectic apart from the 9pm curfews. Luckily restaurants are back open. JR: Berserk. Are you surprised the tour is going ahead amid all this? JDV: I feel like applauding everyone each time a game goes ahead. It's so difficult to balance the safety of human beings and what the Lions tour brings. Surprised in way, but glad, perhaps selfishly, that it's happening. I just hope nothing bad happens to anyone on the tour because of Covid. JR: Do you think this tour is a huge boost for the whole community, not just the rugby? JDV: Yeah. So many people I've spoken to who've contracted the virus say it helps having the rugby on. It takes you away from Covid dominating every conversation. Live sport, and the magnitude of the Lions tour gives us a bit of a break I suppose, to feel normal. Whatever that is. The whole political situation too gives you a high level of anxiety, so the rugby can take us away from all that. Hopefully we can forget for a while about the problems in our country. De Villiers says that it is difficult to balance public safety and what the Lions' tour will provide JR: Let's go back to the 2009 tour - then you were in Damian de Allende's shoes now, the starting No 12. You've seen the Lions play good games, average games. Take us back to your emotions before the first Test. JDV: I remember watching the 1997 tour as a school-boy, watching that Matt Dawson dummy at Newlands, scoring the try in the first Test, and then Jerry Guscott kicking the winning drop-goal in the first Test. It stayed with me. I knew what the Lions were about. As the Lions had not toured South Africa since 1980 everything built up to 1997, and then we lost, so it was huge. Fast-forward 12 years, I still carried the scars of 1997. We wanted the opportunity to rectify that in 2009. JR: Did you feel the weight of history then? Former South Africa captain de Villiers (left) also admits that the team felt the weight of history JDV: 100 per cent. That, added to being world champions. It was an incentive too, though, as it pushed us wanting to achieve something new. What makes playing against the Lions difficult - and maybe this year more so - is that you never know who's going to be selected. You can have theories, but you don't know. In 2009 we knew it was going to be you and Brian O'Driscoll which helped a little bit. I knew your qualities, and as a combination you fitted perfectly. JR: With me was it, 'go low, round the ankles!'? JDV: Close my eyes and go low, yeah! Roberts says he struck up a 'good partnership' with Brian O'Driscoll during the 2009 Lions tour JR: The Tuesday before the first Test in 2009 we played the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth and they split the group. After the Western Province game the Saturday before they flew 15 lads to Durban, including me, for the first Test, with the rest left in Cape Town. So I had an inkling I'd be in the Test side. You're right Brian and I struck up a good partnership in just two games together - sometimes it just clicks. He made my job so much easier. There weren't many one-on-one collisions from what I remember, it was more a game of chess. You had Fourie du Preez at No 9, and Ruan Pienaar at 10, so we knew kicking would be important. This series is going to be the same - we've seen it with what Faf de Klerk and Morne Steyn brought last Wednesday. I thought the first Test would be uber-physical in midfield in 2009, but it didn't really transpire that way. It felt a bit more open - all the hard work was done in the set-piece! I remember us losing scrums and our maul going in reverse and thinking 'jeez what's going on?!' JDV: It felt we got a jump-start on you. The intensity of the forwards, the physicality, it felt we were better prepared and the Lions pack didn't know what was going to happen. We might have seen that last Wednesday with the A team playing the Lions. I think the Springboks missed a trick - the Lions now know what they're facing. JR: I agree. The first Test in Durban we knew what was coming - set piece, big men carrying round the corner - except we hadn't faced anything like that in the warm-ups. We prepared for it in the week with defence coach Shaun Edwards, flying off the line. But minutes into the first Test it happened. O'Driscoll (left) is credited with making Roberts' job 'so much easier' as they clicked together Round the corner, round the corner, round the corner and John Smit scores under the sticks. You're bang on - the Lions now know what's coming. That game will have benefited them more than the Boks. Saying that, South Africa 'A' were immense. JDV: Was the first Test easier than raising a child? JR: Oh mate, I've got my five-month old boy Tomos here with me now, look at me! JDV: I'm so glad I'm through that stage! JR: Going back to the rugby, Jean, was the Lions tour like a World Cup to you having ruptured your bicep and missed most of that tournament you won in 2007? JDV: Yeah. It was the pinnacle for me. I have the 2007 winners' medal at home, but it doesn't really feel I deserve it having played once. 2009 was the biggest year of my career. In the first Test we started well, had it in the bag then the Lions came back and could have easily won. De Villiers says 2009 was the biggest year of his career with the Lions and the Boks battling Then the roles reversed. Schalk Burger was yellow-carded for his eye-gouge, the Lions scored, we came back… the ebb and flow of those two games and the series as a whole was mind-blowing. It so easily could have been 2-0 to the Lions. The whole series was amazing, and captivating. JR: I'd echo that. It was the best tour I've ever been on, regardless of the result. The group of lads we had, the fans, the competitive nature of the fixtures, the Test series - it was the best series ever, although I was crying after the second Test loss! JDV: I understand that Jamie. We played the All Blacks in 2013 at Ellis Park and lost, but it was one of the best Test matches I've ever been involved in. Sometimes it's good to sit where we're sitting, reflecting on a special spectacle. I'm glad you feel the same about 2009. JR: Will it be that tight this time? JDV: Mate, it's so difficult to base your decision on facts as there are so few. The Boks have hardly played, and the Lions have an extremely strong squad but I don't know what the starting XV will be. It's so competitive in so many positions, and no one saying 'I'm so much better than the rest'. The Lions have an 'extremely strong squad', says de Villiers, who is stumped over his selection JR: Is that a strength or a weakness? JDV: A weakness to be honest. It makes selecting the team extremely difficult. JR: I find that fascinating. The lads would not have known until late they were going to start the Tests, whereas we had a fair idea a several days out in 2009. JDV: Tadhg Furlong will start at tight-head, Wyn Jones at loosehead, but then I give up! Look at the midfield… JR: What's your 10-12-13 axis? I've gone for Dan Biggar, Robbie Henshaw, Chris Harris, but can't really work it out! Owen Farrell has not impressed De Villiers enough at 12 to play - and he wants combinations JDV: Go with combinations - I would pick Conor Murray and Biggar, then Bundee Aki and Henshaw. Owen Farrell hasn't impressed me enough at 12 to throw him in there. And I would go for a guy like you in the midfield who can give momentum. JR: Duhan van der Merwe has to play - he's the best ball-carrier behind the pack. JDV: The forwards might get into him as a South African! They'll be some banter, but he looks like a guy to stand up to the challenge. He's not a small lad! JR: What about Alun Wyn Jones - does he start? JDV: Another good question! Who's captain? Does Conor give it away? The Lions need clarity - sometimes it helps when there is a gap between your best and your second best. Alun Wyn Jones could play in the first Test with the Lions posed with a captaincy headache JR: Will the Boks enjoy the pressure - knowing what it means to the country in troubled times? JDV: It almost makes the team more dangerous. South Africans have this ability that when our backs are against the walls and no one gives us a chance we stand up and perform. It's not just about the rugby, but everything going on in the country, people uniting behind the team as the one ray of light in a dark environment. The guys will understand that responsibility, which is unfair sometimes, but they showed at the World Cup they can thrive under it. I would use it if I were still captain as motivation. JR: Which way is it going then? JDV: I will go with a 2-1 South African victory again. I can't see it being a clean sweep either side, but with all three Tests in Cape Town it might be the other way around. De Villiers has tipped South Africa to claim a 2-1 series victory and cannot see a clean sweep JR: Not many people are talking about it, playing at sea-level is a leveller for the Lions. It's huge. JDV: I agree. The Boks can't play like they did last Wednesday for three weeks and expect to win. With the South African way of playing it will be difficult to outplay the Lions three weeks in a row in Cape Town. JR: 3-0 Lions, then! JDV: If we can see three Test matches, I don't care where it's played, whether people are there, or about the results, it'll just be amazing to see a Lions series in South Africa. JR: Have we got to get rid of the Covid excuses, which will come from either side if they lose? Roberts has reflected on how the Lions (above) changed both his career and his life after 2009 JDV: Those are coming, no doubt! But five years down the line, who cares? I want the series to be fulfilled as I love the Lions - I know how special it is play against them. They're relevant in world rugby. It's a massive part of the sport. I liken it to the Haka - it's special and to not have it would leave a huge gap in rugby. I've never spoken to a South African who says the Lions shouldn't exist - it's more up north where you have those challenges. JR: I'm a traditionalist and love the Lions too. It didn't just change my career, but my life after 2009. It's career-defining, life-changing, and connects you to 133 years of history. If anything it needs more resources and support. Mate, Jean thanks so much for you time, I've loved reminiscing. JDV: Pleasure. Have a lekker week, Jamie! RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

Concerned by The Impact Of Weight Gain On Our Health The Mail s New Columnist Dr MICHAEL MOSLEY Has Devised A Shape Up Britain Series To Reduce Our Waistlines And Improve Our Wellbeing

2022-12-21T22:24:19Z

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Concerned by the impact of weight gain on our health, the Mail's new columnist Dr MICHAEL MOSLEY has devised a Shape Up Britain series to reduce our waistlines and improve our wellbeing. Continuing today and all this week, we follow the progress of 30 volunteers who've road-tested the plan and reveal the delicious recipes that worked for them — and can work for you, too. When Kieron Bateman, one of our 30 Shape Up Britain volunteers, realised his new food limit was just 800 calories a day, he admits feeling panicked. ‘There are more calories in a family size bag of nuts, so I wondered what on earth I would be eating,' says the HGV mechanic, 32, from Chudleigh, Devon. ‘My job is pretty physical — I'm lifting heavy equipment and probably do around 14,000 steps a day, so I worried I would be hungry. I also prefer plain food. The idea of, [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] say, banana pancakes for breakfast was anathema. But I surprised myself by what I was eating.' By limiting yourself to eating this amount a day for a short time, you get all the nutrients you need but will see impressive early weight loss Eight weeks on he has a new love of cooking. He's now making Mediterranean-style meals with fresh ingredients, rather than relying on chicken burgers and oven chips. He also has fresh veg such as kale and spinach with every meal. Even better, Kieron has already lost 1st 10lb (11kg) He also has more energy, not less, showing that the Fast 800 programme, where you start on just over 800 calories a day, is not only effective, but doable. Kieron is typical of many people with expanding waistlines. And now is the time to take action. If you catch Covid, being overweight puts you at greater risk of hospitalisation — and death. That's why I teamed up with the Daily Mail for the Shape Up Britain challenge — which I hope will encourage you to scrutinise your weight, diet and lifestyle and commit, like Kieron and other volunteers, to transforming your health. On Saturday, we told how two communities at different ends of the country were asked to try a weight-loss programme based on my Fast 800 diet for eight weeks. In total, 30 men and women from all walks of life — with different body types, ages and health problems — followed the plan, devised with the help of my GP wife Dr Clare Bailey. Their successes exceeded our hopes. They lost 39st 8lb between them — with most (23 of the 30) losing a stone or more and our star slimmer losing over two. All this week, I will be sharing their stories and bringing you the delicious recipes they enjoyed. I know the Fast 800 works as it has been tested by Oxford University researchers and thousands of people, including me. In my mid-50s (I'm now 63), I hit 13½st and developed type 2 diabetes — which killed my father. But I lost 1½ st and reversed the diagnosis through my 5:2 diet, which limited my calorie intake to 800 for two days a week and eating healthily on the others. In response to scientific studies, I've adapted the plan so, if you're suitable, you start a rapid weight-loss phase while on about 800 calories a day (this lasts for two to 12 weeks, depending on how much weight you want to lose). <div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS femail" data-version="2" id="mol-0c555a70-f623-11ea-a491-eb8ae96d3f21" website MICHAEL MOSLEY's guide to cutting the calories

General Wellbeing: Why The Small Things Really Do Matter

2022-12-21T22:24:06Z

CarriHoag9005:

Drop three dress sizes, write that novel, find your dream partner… If you feel daunted by the unrealistic New Year goals you have set yourself, try making small changes instead - you'll be amazed how they 'll add up to big differences Humour doesn't just boost your mood, it's good for the body, too. Laughing stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and releases endorphins in your brain. So make sure you enjoy a good laugh today It's time to take action - micro-action A micro-action is a small, simple change that is achievable in a normal day. Your life is the sum of the small actions you do every day, and every choice you make is significant. These will empower you to make change happen, one micro-action at a time. Because the small things matter. 1 + 1 + 1 + … = A LOT. Each micro-action comes under one of four categories: FOOD Small, simple changes can add years to your life. Food micro-actions are not only about what you eat but how, when, how much and with whom. ‘Eliminate refined sugar' is not a micro-action. ‘Eat a piece of fruit' is. MIND The mind determines who you are and how you act. But it isn't set in stone - it can be trained. Mind micro-actions tackle mindfulness, productivity and organisation. ‘Meditate for 20 minutes' is not a micro-action. ‘Sit quietly for two minutes' is. MOVE micro-actions are about everyday movement - small, easy actions that you can incorporate into your daily routine. ‘Run a marathon' is not a micro-action. ‘Take the stairs today' is. LOVE micro-actions are about your relationship with yourself and others. Treating someone well triggers a positive reaction in that person, which triggers a positive reaction in you, too. ‘Make a new friend' is not a micro-action. ‘Reach out to someone' is. The micro-actions that will max out your health and happiness HUMBLE H2O Being hydrated is super important as it means everything in our bodies works better - especially our brains, which are more than 70 per cent water. Try swapping juice and fizzy drinks for water. Get creative: add zingy citrus slices, cucumber ribbons or fresh ginger A QUICK FIX Fix something in ten minutes or less. Change a lightbulb, sew a button on a shirt, install fresh batteries in a device. Repair just one thing. These tasks may not be critical, but completing one will make you feel back on top of things. TWO-MINUTE WORKOUT: STEP IT UP There are endless possibilities to add a bit of extra movement to the day, we just need to notice them. For example, use the stairs around you. Two minutes spent walking up and down those will work up a real sweat. MAKE YOURSELF LAUGH Humour doesn't just boost your mood, it's good for the body, too. Laughing stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and releases endorphins in your brain. So make sure you enjoy a good laugh today. FILL YOUR FRUIT BOWL Think of fruit as nature's sweet shop - it's delicious, pretty much the simplest snack there is, and packed with wonderful vitamins, minerals and nutrients UNSUBSCRIBE Is your inbox inundated with promotions and newsletters? Unsubscribe from unnecessary emails. See how many mailing lists you can remove yourself from in five minutes. GIVE SOMEONE A GIFT Have you ever received a small gift unexpectedly? How did that feel? There's no need to wait for birthdays or Christmas, the best time to give a gift is today. It doesn't need to be big - send a postcard, pick up some flowers, or simply do something you know will make another person happy. TRY SOMETHING NEW Get adventurous and eat an ingredient you've never tried before. Most of us buy the same stuff week in, week out. So it's time to mix things up. Choose something - fruit, veg, cheese, fish, meat, grain or spice - you've never picked up previously. DO A TASK YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF Select one thing languishing on your to-do list. Pick up that extension lead at the DIY shop, mend the broken hinge on that cupboard door, make an appointment to get your teeth checked. Just pick one thing from your nagging to-do list and get it done today. STAND UP Standing for three hours a day, five days a week, for one year uses the same amount of energy as running ten marathons! ACTIVATE YOUR ABS If you don't use it, you lose it. While you are making breakfast or on the bus, pull your belly button in. This action is amazing for your lower back as it activates the deep abdominal muscles that are usually asleep but help provide support. DROP SOME EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE Give up a long-held grudge, forgive a friend or colleague, stop dwelling on a past regret. Unfinished emotional business weighs you down - it's not called ‘baggage' for nothing. Target some old business and forgive, forget and move forward. A CULTURAL MICRO-EXPERIENCE Did you know that cultural activities improve the bond between the two halves of your brain? Anything counts, from reading a novel or going to the theatre, to writing a poem - even doodling. WALK AN EXTRA MILE One mile is approximately 1.6 kilometres, or about 2,000 steps. Could you get off the bus a stop or two earlier or [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] take your phone calls while pacing around? Small changes really do add up over time. FIND AN OLD PICTURE OF YOUR FAMILY Do you have a box of photos from the days when they were still printed on paper? Take a trip down memory lane and sort through your old family pictures. Pick your favourite and let it remind you of days gone by. FISH MISSION Try a fish you've never had before. There are so many species out there, yet we tend to stick to cod, haddock, salmon and tuna. Choosing a different fish not only means we can help relieve over-fished species, but also that we discover new flavours to fall in love with. Speak to your fishmonger and see what they recommend A MEAL TO SHARE Share some food with a loved one. Whether it's a romantic proposition or quality time with a friend, we know that the way to someone's heart is often through their stomach. Make the time to cook a delicious meal that you can enjoy together. LEARN A PLACE ON THE MAP Knowing where places are not only improves your worldly wisdom but learning keeps your brain active. Take a few minutes to study a map. Learn at least one new place. Can you pinpoint Ljubljana? Or the capital of Tibet? TAKE A WALK Try taking short walks during the day to shake it up. Research shows that a two-minute walk in the office every 20 minutes can be more beneficial for your health than an hour at the gym! So get up and get out. For an added challenge, do not take your phone. A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS Kindness makes us feel good, but did you know that it is also linked to happiness and health on a biochemical level? Kindness causes the release of oxytocin and dopamine in the brain, which contribute to reducing inflammation in the body and can slow the ageing process. Who could you show a random act of kindness to today? BEAUTIFUL FRESH HERBS Use some fresh herbs in a dish. They are a complete joy and are key to taking any meal to the next level. Woody herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage, are brilliant with meat, and softer herbs, such as mint, basil, parsley and coriander, are great in salads, pastas, for sprinkling over dishes or even for making your own pesto. LISTEN TO CLASSICAL MUSIC Classical music has been shown to reduce blood pressure, stress and anxiety, and improve sleep quality. Put on some tunes and unwind TWO-MINUTE WORKOUT: EVENING STRETCH Take two minutes to stand in silence and listen to your breathing, then start with some light stretches to get your muscles moving and your blood flowing. Our seated or standing positions throughout the day can stiffen up our muscles, and those tensions need to be released. VOLUNTEER FOR SOMETHING ‘Only a life lived for others is the life worthwhile.' Albert Einstein was on to something here. You'll feel great for doing something that really matters. So help out a friend, offer to carry your neighbour's shopping or do some research into volunteering opportunities close to you. COOK FROM SCRATCH Cooking from scratch and using lovely fresh ingredients puts your health in your own hands. A few simple recipes up your sleeve will serve you well for a lifetime, so get your cookbooks out or go online and find a recipe that inspires you to get in the kitchen. IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT Better sleep is connected to weight loss, stress reduction and fitness. So buy a new pillow, make your bedroom darker or cool down the room - whatever will get you to snooze better. LEARN ONE THING ABOUT HOW YOUR BODY WORKS Knowing how the body functions is key to making it work better for you. So open a book or browse websites and read something about the human body. What interesting fact can you find that helps you treat yours better? CREATE A DREAM PAGE Dream boards are a great way to visualise your aspirations and may just give you that little extra nudge you need to pursue what you wish for. PREP A MEAL Prepare something for a meal for tomorrow. Whether it's making an extra portion of your evening dish ready for lunch or soaking some oats for a bircher muesli in the morning, a little bit of planning can save you time, stress and money. GIVE A BOOK TO A FRIEND Good books are like magic and we often have very personal relationships with our favourites. Pick one to give to a friend who you think might enjoy it. Discussing it will deepen your bond and provide new dimensions to the book that you have never thought about before. MOVE TOGETHER This keeps you more accountable and makes it more fun! Team up with a friend for a light jog in the park or join a group class. If you have children, make your joint time active - go walking, skating, surfing or cycling COMPLIMENT A STRANGER Have you ever had a stranger compliment your outfit or looks? Did you get an endorphin rush that lasted for the rest of the day? Make it your mission to compliment a stranger. It may be someone on the bus for something they're wearing, or that stylish man living next door. There's guaranteed good feeling for you, too. COOK DON'T CHUCK Save an ingredient from being thrown away and use it in a meal. Got a few sad carrots nudging towards softness? Make a soup. There's a really geeky satisfaction that comes with using up food that would have otherwise been chucked, and you're helping the planet too. PLAN THE YEAR AHEAD Take a moment and write down your plans and objectives for the next year. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to learn? What do you want to improve in yourself? Make a short list and a plan for how you'll do it. TWO-MINUTE WORKOUT: HEEL KICKS To elevate your heart rate, kick your heels up to your bottom. Go hard at it for 30 seconds then rest for ten seconds. Do this three times for a quick cardio session. CELEBRATE COLOUR We've all heard that blue makes you calm, yellow is the colour of happiness, etc. Wear something colourful or add a splash of colour to your home or office. You could choose one that reflects your mood or, for best brain stimulus, try one you wouldn't normally choose and see how it makes you feel. This is an edited extract from The Book of YOU: Daily Micro-Actions for a Healthier Happier You by Nora Rosendahl, Nelli Lähteenmäki and Aleksi Hoffman, founders of the successful wellbeing You-app, published by Penguin, price £8.99. Contributors include Jamie Oliver, productivity expert Caroline Arnold, fitness gurus Jamie Sawyer and Dani Stevens, and neuroscientists Dr Tara Swart and Dr Darya Rose To order a copy for £7.19 (a 20 per cent discount) until 17 January visit

A Painfully Honest Confession By Mum Of An Overweight 10-year-old Boy

2022-12-21T22:19:44Z

CarriHoag9005: ページの作成:「Yo-yo dieter: Worried mum Ursula Hirschkorn Exercise, it's safe to say, is not my idea of fun. But I reluctantly force myself out for a half-hour run on the streets of…」

Yo-yo dieter: Worried mum Ursula Hirschkorn Exercise, it's safe to say, is not my idea of fun. But I reluctantly force myself out for a half-hour run on the streets of North London three times a week in my ongoing battle with the bulge. I've even attempted a cross-country race in an attempt to get fit. Suffice to say, the other runners were home, dry and admiring their medals by the time I puffed my way over the finish line. So imagine my surprise when last month I went out for a jog with my new running partner, only for him to find that I had set the pace too high. Within minutes he had ground to a halt, panting and out of breath. Tears spilling over his scarlet cheeks, he wheezed: ‘I... can't... do... it.' Did I feel secretly smug? Far from it: this wasn't a flabby friend with whom I was pounding the pavements but my ten-year-old son, Max. And I was horrified — not to mention consumed with guilt. You see, Max weighs just under 8st — 3st over his ideal weight — and is clinically obese with a BMI over 25. He wears clothes for a 14-year-old and, as this run proved, is incredibly unfit. Yes, I know, you think me a bad mother. I, too, used to view parents of fat children with scorn, assuming they were too stupid to see the harm they were doing their offspring. Now, though, I hang my head in shame. The only pitiful excuse I can offer is that if you think it's hard to lose weight yourself, it's even harder to help your child shed the pounds. Sometimes it feels as though all Max and I ever do is row about his weight. I've lost count of the times he's dissolved into tears about a ‘friend' calling him fat. I know only too well it's my fault and I can't forgive myself. It's cold comfort that Max is far from alone: one fifth of five-year-olds are classed as overweight or obese. By the time they finish primary school at 11, this has risen to 34 per cent. What of those infamous fat-shaming letters the Government sends out to parents like me? You know, the ones saying the school has checked your child's Body Mass Index and it's time you chucked out the biscuits and bought more salad. Yes, I've had one and I'm afraid it made me feel so guilty I just put it in the bin. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Last week, public health experts called for ‘fat letters' to be scrapped because they don't work. And Max and I are a case in point. The Royal Society for Public Health said parents of obese children should be ‘contacted by telephone prior to receipt of the letter'. And it called for other forms of support, such as healthy food vouchers or better access to after-school activity clubs. At least some practical help would be better than a letter that is too easy to ignore. ‘Just stop him from eating!' I can almost hear people screaming at me. Alarming statistics: One fifth of five-year-olds are classed as overweight or obese (file picture) But it really isn't that straightforward. I have four sons: Jacob, 12, Max, ten, and my six-year-old twins Jonah and Zachary. All our boys eat with my husband and me every night and do the same amount of exercise. Three of our sons are slim — Zachary could even be classed as skinny — so my parenting skills can't be that bad. This is what makes helping Max slim down so hard. While the other boys eat what they like and stay slender, I have to single him out to deny him food. You can imagine how bad that makes us both feel. There's no doubt my own struggle with weight loss has an impact on my children — they've witnessed my yo-yoing figure over the years. But the real trouble is, Max has almost been raised in reaction to his older brother, Jacob, who struggled to eat from birth. Max weighs just under 8st — 3st over his ideal weight — and is clinically obese with a BMI over 25. He wears clothes for a 14-year-old and is incredibly unfit When Jacob came home from hospital, he lost so much weight that the health visitor said he would have to go into intensive care if I didn't get him fed. I reluctantly gave him a bottle and felt as though I had failed in one of the most basic tasks as a mother. When he moved onto solids, I spent exhausting hours forcing organic sweet potatoes through a sieve to tempt his infant tastebuds, only to have them splattered over the floor within seconds. It seemed he spent a whole year eating nothing but yoghurt. As a sleep-deprived, first-time mum this left me consumed with worry. So when Max was born two years later, and immediately started nuzzling for milk the moment he was placed on my stomach, I cried tears of joy and relief. When he began to eat solids, he proved to have the palate of a gourmet. He would try absolutely anything and loved almost all of it. Where his brother was tricky, Max was easy. As a toddler he once picked up an olive, I tried to take it away telling him he wouldn't like it, but he gobbled it up and started grabbing at the bowl for more. As cajoling Jacob into consuming a mere spoonful was a battle of wills, when Max asked for seconds I would only too gladly dole them out. Mother: Ursula has four sons: Jacob, 12, Max, ten, and six-year-old twins Jonah and Zachary I must admit Max also suffered from second-child syndrome. With Jacob I was vigilant about the type of food he ate. Only organic, no sugar, no crisps, sweets or chocolate for my precious firstborn. But with my second child it was more a case of needs must and I would often give him a biscuit as a means of pacifying him while I attempted to do my daily chores. I still remember — with shame — steadily feeding him an entire bag of biscuits during a particularly trying trip to buy a dress for a wedding. It was the only way to keep him quiet while I tried on outfit after outfit. But when children are little, all the attention is on them gaining weight, not losing it. As babies, they are weighed monthly and health visitors keep a chart, showing how their weight compares to the average. But although Max was a big baby, no one thought it concerning. He was a sweetly rounded toddler, rather than fat. I think his active life running around and playing kept him from tipping into chubby. His healthy appetite continued and I was loath to discourage him. I was proud of his sophisticated palate and didn't see it as a problem that he enjoyed his food. But when Max started primary school things changed. Despite the fact that children should be at their most active between the ages of five and 11, these days this is when they're at their most sedentary — spending most of the day sitting on the mat in class. Overweight: Ursula's son weighs just under 8st — 3st over his ideal weight — and is clinically obese with a BMI over 25 (picture posed by model) When I was Max's age I walked to school every day and spent my evenings roaming with my friends in the fields surrounding our village. Max, like 44 per cent of children in the UK, is driven to school as we live too far away for him to walk. Once he gets there, he sits in one classroom almost all day long. PE is a once-a-week activity and, since the beginning of this term, his school no longer has a dedicated PE teacher. Instead it is left to class teachers who have no training and, in some cases, no aptitude, to get the children moving. It is shocking that in light of a growing crisis with childhood obesity that so little emphasis is put on exercise at primary school. Particularly when there is compelling evidence this could be a vital tool to help children slim. A friend with an equally chubby, exercise-shy child recently moved to Scotland. She told me her son now runs a mile a day every day, come rain or shine, as a result of the school's timetable. He has lost weight and has become fit enough to enjoy his daily runs. Don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to pass the buck. I know it's my responsibility to get Max moving out of school hours, but it would be far easier were there a culture of activity engendered by teachers. As it is, when I signed Max up for football classes, he stood in goal during every game. He joined a street dance club; I was overjoyed until the teacher told me he spent every session sitting in the corner refusing to join in. He did judo, but found it too rough. He tried tennis but spent more time mucking about than hitting a ball. That's why I hit upon the idea of running with him. I could combine a bit of mummy-and-son bonding time with some much-needed exercise. How wrong could I be? As usual, it ended in tears. I know I should have stuck with it, but we haven't been running since. It is hard enough to find the time to train myself, without having to go back to square one with Max. I know, I'm being selfish, but me-time is in short supply when you are a mum of four. As for [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/] food, I know I should be cruel to be kind and deny Max all the treats he craves, but it is so hard to put that into practice. Take Halloween, for example. Max and his twin brothers went out trick-or-treating and came home with buckets of sweets. They all dug in with enthusiasm and I didn't have the heart to wrench Max's tub of treats away from him. I don't want him to be the odd one out who can't join in, partly because I know how miserable that is. There have been many times when friends have enjoyed cakes or chips and I have had to say no for the sake of my waistline, while inwardly drooling. It is a horrible feeling and one I hate to inflict on my son. One particularly tough conversation sticks in my mind. It was about a month ago, soon after our ill-fated run. I still remember — with shame — steadily feeding him an entire bag of biscuits during a particularly trying trip to buy a dress for a wedding. It was the only way to keep him quiet while I tried on outfit after outfit I pulled my boy into a cuddle and said: ‘Maxy, you know when I say you can't have sweets or a biscuit it's not because I am being mean, don't you? I love you so much I just want you to be healthier.' ‘I do, Mummy,' he replied, ‘but I am just always so hungry.' How that pulled at my heartstrings. Every mother is programmed to ensure her children don't go hungry. You might think my own experience of being fat should make me better at tackling Max's burgeoning size, but I find it makes it even harder. I know how tough it is to cut back and to deny yourself treats — if I can't do it for myself, then how can I do it for him? The whole family are aware of Max's weight issues, but sometimes I encounter a bit of a schizophrenic attitude. In one breath his doting grandparents will point out how chubby he is — and then hand him a chocolate bar. We all find it so hard to say no to his gorgeous brown eyes, even though we know we should. He is such a bright, funny and happy boy, all of us hate the way it makes us feel to point out his flaws. His father and I try, but we struggle to find the right way to tackle the problem without undermining his already low body confidence. I try to give Max smaller portions and stop him from raiding the fridge for puddings, but it does cause friction in the family, as he resents the fact that his brothers are under no such restrictions. And despite the work of celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver, who tried to tackle the problem of unhealthy school dinners, the playground is as littered with crisp packets and sweet wrappers as it ever was. Yesterday, as I went to pick Max up from school, I was surrounded by hordes of children eagerly ripping into bags of crisps and sweeties. One boy was even munching from a Tupperware box that contained a portion of chips in ketchup. There was not a carrot stick in sight. But I am determined. We have cut out unhealthy snacks, I park further from the school to make him walk and I try to get him outside more often. Max doesn't thank me for it, of course. But one day I hope he will. Do you find it hard to help your children lose weight - or are mums like Ursula misguided? Email femailreaders@dailymail.co.uk. adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

For Someone Who Has Sold Three Million Healthy Eating Books And Built A Beautiful Body And An Enviable Reputation On Exercise And Primarily Plant-based Diets Joe Wicks Doesn t Half Talk A Lot Of Burger

2022-12-21T22:19:32Z

CarriHoag9005:

For someone who has sold three million healthy eating books, and built a beautiful body and an enviable reputation on exercise and primarily plant-based diets, Joe Wicks doesn't half talk a lot of burger. ‘Oh, I love a good burger, I really do,' he says. ‘With chips and a beer and ice cream afterwards.' What? This isn't what I expected from the man known as the Body Coach, [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] a ripped and fit 32-year-old whose doe-eyed good looks and boyband curls have launched him into keep-fit superstardom. To his 2.6 million Instagram followers and the 700,000 YouTube fans who follow his Lean In 15 recipes and Body Coach workouts, Joe is all about the sweet potato, the cacao nib, the ‘banging' low-carb chicken bowl and the endless grim ways with broccoli, which he calls ‘midget trees' because he's that kind of guy. Joe Wicks (pictured), 32, who lives in Richmond, Surrey, revealed how he became known as The Body Coach, selling three million books on healthy eating He urges 15-minute high-intensity workouts, followed by meals made in 15 minutes which feature lots of veg, grains and lean proteins. Where do the burgers fit in to this admirable crusade? They don't, but Joe loves 'em anyway. He had ‘about four' over a recent Bank Holiday weekend and, when he gets married this summer to his page-three glamour model fiancée Rosie Jones, he is going to have burger trucks supplying the wedding feast. Listen. There are limits. He hasn't had a kebab for ‘at least ten years', but finds the lure of the meat patty irresistible. ‘You can always work it off the next day,' he says. But can you, Joe? Can you? RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Yes, he can. Joe Wicks has become the go-to fitness guru for the Instagram age; a millennial-friendly dude whose bish-bash-bosh approach, high-pitched mockney accent and devotion to midget-tree nirvana make him an unholy muscled melange of Jamie Oliver and Russell Brand. His grooming routine, he says, is practically non-existent. He uses ‘just a bit of coconut oil' on his face and body and has never spent more than £20 on a haircut. ‘My curls just happen,' he shrugs. Yet, like whey powder and multiple hip flexors, he is an acquired taste. When he launched his Channel 4 television series, The Body Coach, in 2016, viewers seemed to be enchanted and irritated in equal measure as he tossed vegetables into his blender yelling ‘Naughtyyy!' and ‘Cheeeeky!' Joe (pictured with fiancee Rosie Jones and baby Indie) believes one 15-minute exercise session each day is all that is needed to keep fit Joe is a ‘seductive, sincere smoothie' who looks ‘like Jesus in activewear' according to one reviewer, while another dismissed him as ‘Britain's most insanely irritating celebrity'. Across his social platforms, where he appears like a high-octane cult leader, Joe is relentlessly cheery and approachable, never critical or judgemental. He does burpees in his man bun; he exercises with his nine-month-old baby girl Indie strapped to his chest; and he tries to make it all fun, yeah? ‘I'm not a military-style guy. I'm very, like, relatable,' is how he puts it. ‘People love the realness of my workouts.' He is not into extremes, such as veganism, clean eating or the brutality of the raw diet and the 5am workout. He says that one 15‑minute session per day is all you need to keep fit. <div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS femail" data-version="2" id="mol-ca3b11c0-7a72-11e9-ad6a-db23e06c7bbb" website Wicks bares all! In his most candid interview yet

Gregg Wallace And Wife Arrive At John Torode And Lisa Faulkner Wedding

2022-12-21T22:19:19Z

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Dressed in their finery, and wife Anne-Marie led the guests for the wedding of Gregg's MasterChef co-star and his actress fiancée Lisa Faulkner on Thursday. Appearing without their baby son Sid, five months, Gregg, 54, and Anne-Marie, 32, looked smart as they held hands and headed into Aynhoe Park in Banbury for the nuptials of Gregg's best pal. They were joined by the likes of fellow guests Amanda Holden (seen for the first time since breaking her leg) and Angela Griffin. Arrival: Dressed in their finery, Gregg Wallace and wife Anne-Marie led the guests for the wedding of Gregg's MasterChef co-star John Torode and his actress fiancée Lisa Faulkner on Thursday Gregg - who has recently boasted a three-stone weight loss transformation - looked slick in a beige pinstripe suit, offset with a midnight blue wasitcoat, accessorised with a jaunty chain. He added a bright blue tie to the look, worn over a crisp white shirt and completed the outfit with chocolate brogues. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 18 shares Anne-Marie kept her ensemble under wraps, hiding what appeared to be a deep indigo dress under a camel trench. She wore her brunette tresses straight around her shoulders and clutched a black leather purse. Smart: Gregg - who has recently boasted a three-stone weight loss transformation - looked slick in a beige pinstripe suit, offset with a midnight blue wasitcoat, accessorised with a jaunty chain Big day: Appearing without their baby son Sid, five months, Gregg, 54, and Anne-Marie, 32, looked smart as they held hands and headed into Aynhoe Park in Banbury for the nuptials of Gregg's best pal Looking sharp: He added a bright blue tie to the look, worn over a crisp white shirt and completed the outfit with chocolate brogues New mum and dad: Anne-Marie kept her ensemble under wraps, hiding what appeared to be a deep indigo dress under a camel trench Leading the way: She wore her brunette tresses straight around her shoulders and clutched a black leather purse. She wore a wash of foundation and a red pop of colour to her lips She wore a wash of foundation and a red pop of colour to her lips. Bride Lisa - who has been engaged to her Masterchef star fiance since Day last year - excitedly shared an Instagram snap on Thursday morning as she prepared to finally tie the knot. Dressed in her nightwear, the TV star, 47, beamed broadly to the camera moments before she began getting ready for her big day. Alongside the lovely snap, she gushed: 'Good Morning! Very exciting day today'. Sitting on a lavish chair amid her luxurious surroundings, the bride-to-be looked glowing in the make-up free image as she prepared to get dolled up for her nuptials to the TV judge, [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] 54. Excited: Gregg shared a snap of himself en route to the big day Bride-to-be: Lisa excitedly shared an Instagram snap on Thursday morning as she prepared to finally tie the knot Happy couple: The pair, who have been dating since 2015, announced the proposal in an Instagram post earlier this year The pair, who have been dating since 2015, announced the proposal in an Instagram post earlier this year. Lisa wrote: 'My gorgeous John completely surprised me on Christmas Day and asked me to marry him! 'After waiting to tell our family when we got home we then had a few days just grinning at each other!! I'm so very happy to share our lovely news with you. 'Happy 2019 it's going to be quite a year and I'm going to embrace every minute of it. All you need is love. Love is all you need.' Earlier this month, the former EastEnders actress enjoyed a fun hen do at Soho Farmhouse with her pals - including Amanda, Angela and Tamzin Outhwaite. The Holby City actress was feeling cheeky as she slipped into underwear to lark around in a bath before indulging in some cocktails and food at the upmarket venue. Larking around: Earlier this month, the ex EastEnders star enjoyed a hen do at Soho Farmhouse with her gals pals - including Amanda Holden, Tamzin Outhwaite and Angela Griffin A vision: While she herself shared a shot from inside a bath while donning black lingerie, she later changed into a stunning pink dress with a statement bride hat window.FFF = window.FFF || {}; window.FFF.currency = '{"gbpToAud":1.8394}'; window.FFF = window.FFF || {}; window.FFF.ad = window.FFF.ad || inline: adAdded: false, overlay: celebNames: ''; window.FFF.ad.overlay.celebNames = 'Lisa_Faulkner'; //add celebnames to be used by the overlay window.FFF.ad.inline.adCallback = function (content, infix) var inline, back; if (!infix) inline = document.getElementById('fff-inline'); infix = ''; else infix = '_' + infix.replace(/^_/g, ''); inline = document.getElementById('fff' + infix) && document.getElementById('fff' + infix).firstChild; back = getBackElementById(); if (isAsyncMode() && inline) setAdInCompatibilityMode(); if (back && !infix) back.appendChild(inline); //delay the call because AdImpression.registerThirdPartyImpression has a timeout setTimeout(function () DM.onDocReady(function () AdImpression.registerImpression(document.getElementById('fff'), function () DM.Log.log('ad impression registered'); ); ); , 50); function isAsyncMode() return content && (typeof content === 'string') && !back; function setAdInCompatibilityMode() var container = document.createElement('div'), i = 0, element, children; container.innerHTML = content; children = container.childNodes; // Going in reverse order as it is prepending the elements for (i = children.length; i--;) element = children[i]; if (element && element.tagName === 'DIV') inline.parentNode.insertBefore(element, inline.nextSibling); if (isElementIdEqualsToBackElementId(element.id)) back = element; if (children.length && !infix) function isElementIdEqualsToBackElementId(elementId) return elementId === 'fff' + infix + '_back' function getBackElementById() document.getElementById('fff' + infix + '_back_wide'); ; class="fff-inline" data-fff_url="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/24/18/19741426-7610371-A_vision_While_she_herself_shared_a_shot_from_inside_a_bath_whil-a-2_1571937680706.jpg" data-fff_person_name="Lisa Faulkner" data-fff_product_id="860195" data-fff_product_types="dresses,midi" data-fff_trends="fuchsia,keyhole,midi length,pink,satin,silk" data-fff_article_id="7610371" data-fff_main_title="Get Lisa's look in Fenn Wright Manson X Amanda Holden" website data-fff_capped_bodys_first_paragraph="Bride to be Lisa Faulkner had a very stylish hen party with her BFF's recentl..." data-fff_share_url="" data-fff_preview_title="Get Lisa's look in Fenn Wright Manson X Amanda Holden" data-fff_open_main_overlay_on_hover="false"> Share Follow Bride to be Lisa Faulkner had a very stylish hen party with her BFF's recently. On the guest list was Amanda Holden and Tamzin Outhwaite, but no one could out do the bride and her bold dress… and that hen party hat! The presenter opted to wear a silk satin number from Amanda's stunning party collection with Fenn Wright Manson. The ‘Angela' dress is perfect for a sophisticated girls night out thanks to the loose cuffed sleeves, keyhole neckline and flattering gathered waist. All you need to make the skirt swoosh in style is a pair of towering heels. Fancy copying Lisa? Then you're in luck because her dress is available to buy via the link (right). However, if you want to check out the competition, then peruse our picks below which include Alexander McQueen, Pretty Lavish and Closet London. ...NOW GET ONE LIKE IT </a> adverts.addToArray(id: 'fff-inline-accessorise-ad', type: '632x132', pos: 'native_fff_accessorise', FFFtype: 'inline', fff: true); //only pick one inline ad if (!window.FFF.ad.inline.added) window.FFF.ad.inline.added = true; var dfpType = '840x114'; if (false) dfpType = '964x85'; adverts.addToArray(id: 'fff', type: dfpType, pos: 'fff', extraZoneOptions: FFFname: 'Lisa_Faulkner', FFFtype: 'inline', fff: true); While she shared a shot from inside a bath while donning black lingerie, she later changed into a stunning pink dress with a statement bride hat. Joining her was Amanda, who nabbed the dazzling hat for a picture, with an added caption reading: '@lisafaulknercooks hat which I pinched for this photo! #hennight #subtle #boughtandpaidfor' The ladies later changed into personalised pyjamas adorned with the words 'Lisa's Hen' and paired with tartan bottoms. She added a caption reading: 'Thank you my lovely friends for giving me the best hen ever!!! I love you all and my heart is bursting with happiness.' Happy days: The ladies later changed into personalised pyjamas adorned with the words: 'Lisa's Hen' and paired with tartan bottoms Brave: Amanda was seen for the first time since breaking her leg in two places as she attended the wedding Angela also shared a shot with the note: 'Hens in Pen Yen Very, very funny night celebrating this ones impending nuptials. Enough Picante De La Casa's to sink a ship, All the Way Jay entertained and we danced our socks off. Happy Hen.' Prior to her hen do, Lisa appeared on Loose Women, where she told the panel about John's romantic moment, as she said: 'It was a very romantic proposal. 'He asked me on Christmas Day when we were in India and he said we can only have one present each and I gave him pair of yoga pants and he gave me a ring. I had no idea, the box was bigger than the ring and I had no idea.' John added: ‘Months before she tried a ring on and I said ‘'yeah whatever'' and she didn't know I went back and got it.' Injury: The Britain's Got Talent judge, 48, broke her fibula 'while showing off' on an inflatable assault course on a family holiday recently First sighting: Amanda looked effortlessly chic in a pale pink high-necked dress as she arrived with her producer husband Chris Hughes by her side Amanda was also seen arriving on Thursday - seen for the first time since breaking her leg in two places as she attended the wedding. The judge, 48, who broke her fibula on an inflatable assault course on a family holiday, looked deep in thought as she pulled up to the wedding venue in a 4X4. Amanda looked effortlessly chic in a pale pink high-necked dress as she arrived with her producer husband Chris Hughes by her side. The star wore her caramel locks in loose waves while a radiant palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features. Sighting: The star wore her caramel locks in loose waves while a radiant palette of make-up enhanced her pretty features Recovery: Amanda took in the scenic surroundings of the venue while Chris took care of the driving as the star continues to recover from her shock injury Also seen was fellow Cutting It star Angela, 43, who looked stunning in a flowing floral number. She walked along, looking giddy ahead of the nuptials, laughing happily as she went. Amanda took in the scenic surroundings of the venue while Chris took care of the driving as the star continues to recover from her shock injury. Amanda said on her radio show - which today was named the most-listened to commercial show according to new figures: 'I've broken my fibula in two places and I was rushed to hospital. I've got a metal plate and screws in my leg which currently is the fastest and easiest way for it to heal.' Love is in the air: Also seen was fellow Cutting It star Angela, 43, who looked stunning in a flowing floral number Wedding: The star was attending the star-studded wedding with her husband by her side The host had to undergo emergency surgery and have a metal plate fitted, phoning up her co-host Jamie Theakston, 48, and telling him: 'I just can't believe what's happened... on the first day here as well so I'm just totally gutted. 'Basically I was trying to be a good mother… and I said to Hollie "Mummy can come on that with you" and there's this like, you remember [Total] Wipeout, that TV thing? 'There's like a children's Total Wipeout thing in the middle of the sea... I walked around it and then crawled across like an old person, like across the difficult bits. In we go: Amanda kept a low profile as Chris drove into the venue Heartbroken: Amanda wrote this in the comments section of her Instagram post when she announced her shock injury 'And then there were these three inflatable stepping stones in the middle of the sea and everyone else was running across it and I thought "oh I could do that, if kids can do it I can do it" and I did it and I made it.' Holding her hands up, she said: 'I was showing off Jamie - I made it across to the other side and then my leg slipped coz obviously its wet and it went the other way and I felt it break. 'I was rushed to hospital and I've got a metal plate and screws in my leg which currently is the fastest and easiest way for it to heal. I haven't got a cast I've got like metal in my leg and a splint and it's all wrapped up and it's got a heartbeat in it.' Jamie asked her if she is mobile and she said: 'I am on crutches and I am in a wheelchair and Chris bless him has pushed me to dinner every night in a wheelchair.' adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

SIX NATIONS VERDICT: Wayne Pivac Is Right To Be Increasingly Concerned

2022-12-21T22:19:06Z

CarriHoag9005:

After each weekend, Sportsmail rugby correspondent Chris Foy will round up the biggest talking points and name his Team of the Weekend. Wayne is looking weary The outlook is grim for Wales after their heavy loss to Ireland — as was quite apparent from head coach 's body language during the game. Wayne Pivac is right to look concerned following Wales's 29-7 defeat by Ireland in Dublin There is something about his demeanour which conveys a sense of impending doom, in contrast to predecessor Warren Gatland who mastered the art of remaining impassive. Pivac looks concerned and, in truth, he probably should be. Murrayfield's outdated If the Six Nations wants to remain a closed shop to protect commercial interests, perhaps it is time to introduce ‘Minimum Standards Criteria' for venues. The 51,000 capacity at the Aviva Stadium is too limited and Murrayfield urgently needs investment. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Facilities are outdated, with lines of portable loos for spectators using the soulless, gravel-covered ‘fan zone', cramped seating and shaky WiFi — although the tram service is efficient. Farrell packing the power Ireland's recent progress under Andy Farrell has been hailed as a tactical liberation but it is founded on phenomenal clout — exemplified by the thunderous props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong. James Ryan has powered-up after a career dip and Tadhg Beirne is a remarkable athlete, while Jack Conan punches above his weight. The clash with France's giants on Saturday will be seismic. Ireland continue to impress under Andy Farrell, who has moulded a strong, high energy side Manu's message of hope The despondency in the England camp will have been alleviated slightly by the sight of Manu Tuilagi back in vintage mode on Sunday. Seconds into his latest comeback, the Sale centre dumped Harlequins' previously unstoppable Andre Esterhuizen on his backside. His trademark grin was still apparent as he posed for photos with fans of both clubs after the game at The Stoop. He is still a box-office weapon of mass destruction. That's the wonder of Woki France eventually put Italy away yesterday but it was a laboured effort from the title favourites. Some of them evidently needed game-time after recent Covid disruption, even the great Antoine Dupont. France's Cameron Woki (centre) could become the world's best forward in the next few years However, the contest in Paris provided more evidence that Bordeaux's Cameron Woki can become the world's best forward and showed that Italy have renewed fighting spirit again, after years of surrenders. Team of the Weekend Hugo Keenan (Ire), Damian Penaud (Fra), Garry Ringrose (Ire), Bundee Aki (Ire), Gabin Villiere (Fra), [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/] Finn Russell (Sco), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire); Andrew Porter (Ire), Julien Marchand (Fra), Tadhg Furlong (Ire), Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Cameron Woki (Fra), Jamie Ritchie (Sco), Gregory Alldritt (Fra), Taine Basham (Wal). RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

Premier League Reports - Part Two Of Our Early Season Grading

2022-12-21T22:14:32Z

CarriHoag9005: ページの作成:「Even just seven games into the Premier League season it has been a fast start at both ends of the table heading into the international break. Some familiar big hitters…」

Even just seven games into the Premier League season it has been a fast start at both ends of the table heading into the international break. Some familiar big hitters have shown indifferent form, while there are a notable few so-called smaller teams punching above their weight to leave the top flight with plenty of questions to ponder. Sportsmail has assessed every Premier League's side form in the early stages, from free scoring to crisis club Leicester and graded how they have fared so far. on Tuesday - now read the second part that features the likes of , and Tottenham here. Manchester City have shown excellent form at the start of this Premier League season RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 4.1k shares LEICESTER CITYPosition: 20th Points: 1 The vibes coming out of Leicester were not positive going into the season but there could not have been many who would have imagined a start to the campaign as bad as this. Rock bottom and having suffered six consecutive defeats - including a 6-2 hammering at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday - the Foxes have opened with their worst set of results since 1983. It has been chaotic for Brendan Rodgers' side, who having already conceded 22 goals are letting in around three per game, a recipe for relegation if ever there was one. Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is under pressure following a poor start to the season As well as being thrashed by Spurs they have also conceded four at Arsenal and five at Brighton following a turbulent summer that saw key defender Wesley Fofana leave to join Chelsea for £70million. Perhaps key to Leicester's collapse is that, with another key player in Kasper Schmeichel also leaving for Nice, there is a void that has needed to be filled, yet there has hardly been any new signings of note at the King Power Stadium. Is there any hope for [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] the Foxes? Bizarrely yes. Goals don't seem to be a huge problem, even with the ageing Jamie Vardy understandably no longer at his peak - at least over a consistent basis. They have scored 10 goals so far this term, and no side in the bottom half has eclipsed that. If Rodgers can sort the defence out and cut some ridiculous errors from open play and set-pieces, a quick fix may not be far away. But will Rodgers get a chance to turn things round? The Northern Irishman is under big pressure heading into the international break, with early reports suggesting Brentford boss Thomas Frank is being monitored as a potential replacement. Either way it could be a long season for the Foxes, but to end on a positive - even the team from 1983 managed to avoid relegation... Grade: F The Foxes have yet to win a Premier League game this term and only have one point LIVERPOOLPosition: 8th Points: 9 It has been a stuttering start from Liverpool, who after missing out on the Premier League and Champions League titles last term appear to be carrying a slight hangover. The Reds took four matches to find their first win following disappointing draws with Fulham and Crystal Palace, as well as a bitter defeat at rivals Manchester United. Pent-up anger was taken out on Bournemouth with a 9-0 thrashing and a follow up win over Newcastle but they then dropped points again in the Merseyside derby draw at Everton. Champions League performances have also been suspect, with an opening night 4-1 hammering by Napoli followed by a win over Ajax that required a last-gasp Joel Matip effort. Liverpool have stuttered out of the blocks at the start of the Premier League season Jurgen Klopp's side have had summer issues and it was never going to be easy to replace Sadio Mane with anyone following the Senegal star's move to Bayern Munich. Yet it appears Klopp is still unsure of his best front three now, with only Mohamed Salah certain to start among Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. Summer arrival Nunez joined for £85million and it's still early days to judge his overall form - especially having sat out half of Liverpool's opening fixtures through suspension - but he still has a long way to go to replace the incredibly high standards set by Mane. The Reds also appear to have questions in midfield as they lack depth, especially with the likes of stand-ins including James Milner now approaching the latter stages of their careers. This could prove one of Klopp's toughest seasons yet at Anfield but even so, it is still far too soon to write them off in the Premier League title battle. Grade: C- Darwin Nunez still needs to settle in the starting XI following his £85m summer move MANCHESTER CITYPosition: 2nd Points: 17 points It seems odd that Manchester City went into the summer in desperate need of a new striker, especially after storming to another league title last season despite a strong Liverpool challenge. Yet their success came despite not having a No 1 striker to call upon, so there was not much surprise to see their summer business triggering the release clause in Erling Haaland's Borussia Dortmund contract to bring him to the Etihad Stadium. It's a move that left their rivals plenty to fear and it's only taken seven games to see why following the Norwegian's explosive start to his career in England. Already he has 11 goals, nearly double more than his next nearest Golden Boot challengers in Harry Kane and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Erling Haaland has already struck 11 Premier League goals for Manchester City this season But it's not just attack City are dominating; they just about top every chart apart from the Premier League table and they are only one point off the top there. Kevin De Bruyne has the most assists with six, Rodri, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker are the top passers in the league, while goalkeeper Ederson has the most clean sheets with four. They are not quite perfect - draws away at Newcastle United and Aston Villa attest to that - but they are not far from it so far, although the real tests are coming up. Following the international break, Guardiola's men host Manchester United in what looks set to be a huge clash concerning the title race, with a trip to Liverpool to follow a fortnight later. Only then will we find out if City are this season's flat-track bullies or whether Haaland and Co really are their new and (somehow) improved dominating force in the top-flight. Grade: A City have proven devastating in attack, boasting the most goals this season with 23 MANCHESTER UNITEDPosition: 5th Points: 12 You are not going to find more teams with a more classic rollercoaster start to the season than Manchester United. Coming into the new campaign, no one knew what to expect from yet another new era at Old Trafford, with some old faces like Paul Pogba departing over the summer and new arrivals coming in, including boss Erik ten Hag. But United soon hit a new post-Sir Alex Ferguson low when after losing the opening game of the season against Brighton at Old Trafford they found themselves 4-0 down at half-time at Brentford. It wasn't just the scoreline that humbled the Red Devils - it was the chaos of the game at the Gtech Community Stadium that appeared to be casting a reflection of public perceptions of the Old Trafford outfit at the time. Manchester United started poorly under manager Erik ten Hag but have improved recently Star man Cristiano Ronaldo was anonymous amid his desperations to seal an exit, new centre-back signing Lisandro Martinez was subbed at half-time, club captain Harry Maguire still looked shot of confidence in the defence and the whole team's shape led to TV pundit and former United star Gary Neville describing Ten Hag's outfit as 'looking like an Under 9s' side. But what a response since. Ten Hag made some brave calls including dropping Ronaldo after the Brentford humiliation but it has helped produce a desired turnaround to beat rivals Liverpool 2-1 - a huge morale boost for the Dutchman to chalk up and win over his stars. Narrow wins at Southampton and Leicester City have followed, while another impressive Old Trafford display saw United make an in-form Arsenal look ordinary in a 3-1 victory. It seems within the space of a few weeks, United have gone from a complete laughing stock to starting to show elements of a team who could be shaping up to lead a title battle. It will be wise not to read too much into a four-game winning run and there are still cracks in the side Ten Hag will need to address. The team appears to lack depth, demonstrated by the rather meek 1-0 defeat suffered at home by Real Sociedad in the Europa League with a much changed line-up that included Ronaldo. There is though plenty of optimism for United heading into the Manchester derby. Grade: B+ United beat arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford in one of their early highlights in the new season NEWCASTLE UNITEDPosition: 10th Points: 8 The team everyone has a 'third eye' on have rather gone under the radar following a rather curious opening seven games. Optimism surrounds St James' Park these days with a top-down desire from the Saudi-backed owners to keep improving the club, and boss Eddie Howe enjoyed a summer in the transfer market where he was supported financially. Perhaps sensibly, the Magpies have not gone out and just signed big names. Logical transfers have been made to gradually improve the squad, which over time is likely to lead to them emerging into an elite Premier League side. That conversation is for another day though - here is about how the summer business has affected their start to the season and, well, the jury is out. New signing Alexander Isak appears to be settling well at Newcastle with two goals already Howe's side have not won since the opening day of the season against new boys Nottingham Forest, yet they are proving notoriously difficult to beat - only losing once in a last-gasp defeat at Liverpool. Five draws make up the rest of the results, including a 3-3 thriller against title favourites Manchester City. The tough tests have come and gone and what we can conclude early on is that there certainly won't be a relegation battle this season and that Howe's men look like being a match for any team in the top flight. The £63million signing Alexander Isak already has two goals from three games in attack and while Newcastle perhaps sit in a slightly disappointing mid-table spot at this stage, the expectation is that they will continue to look up the table rather than over their shoulder going forward this term. Grade: B- Eddie Howe's team need to transform more draws into victories to trouble top half sides NOTTINGHAM FORESTPosition: 19th Points: 4 This was always going to be a tricky season for Nottingham Forest, no matter what way they approached the campaign. With star players returning to parent clubs following loan spells, goalkeeper Brice Samba securing a move to France and more players departing, there was only one way Forest could tackle their transfer business. Standing still and trusting a squad made weaker following promotion through the play-offs was never the safe option and a large summer recruitment was always going to be needed. But to this scale? Nottingham Forest signed 23 players - and were still going at it after the transfer window closed having announced this week that they have landed keeper Adnan Kanuric as a free agent. It's worth remembering at this point that even though Under 21 players are exempt, a team can only register 25 players for a Premier League squad. Nottingham Forest are still yet to click having signed 23 players during the summer It is no surprise to see there are teething problems in Steve Cooper's outfit, who have gone into the international break second from bottom with just one victory over West Ham United at the City Ground. Morale is also at a low, having lost their last four games in bitter fashion, one consisting of a 6-0 battering at the hands of free-scoring Manchester City, but perhaps even worse was throwing away leads to suffer 3-2 home defeats at the hands of fellow promoted sides Bournemouth and Fulham. It seems it is going to take time to get the team working as a defensive unit once the dressing room ice-breakers have been concluded and the backlog of team initiation karaoke performances have reached a glorious silence. Hope can be taken from the four most recent goals, indicating that there is an attacking quality that can be built upon, but will boss Steve Cooper stick around to try and gel his new-look side amid fears he will not sign a new deal at the City Ground amid interest from other clubs? Grade: D+ Boss Steve Cooper's future is uncertain at Nottingham Forest as he weighs up his options SOUTHAMPTONPosition: 14th Points: 7 It's difficult to really know just what is going on at Southampton, who appear to be an early contender for being this season's 'box of chocolates', to borrow a much used reference from the film Forrest Gump. After an opening day 4-2 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, news soon circulated of discontent in the Saints camp suggesting players were unhappy under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl staying over the summer having only won one of their last 13 games of the previous season. Coming back to draw 2-2 with Leeds before winning at Leicester soon quietened that narrative. A home loss by Manchester United followed but even that led to the Saints responding three days later with a 2-1 win over Chelsea. Yet form has deserted them again. Che Adams' awful finishing cost them in a 1-0 defeat at Wolves, while they also lost by the same scoreline at Aston Villa last time out. Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has seen off early season pressure after a poor start The Saints have produced just two shots on target across those three hours of football and it hasn't really left much for supporters to be excited about once again. That's not to say there isn't a plan at St Mary's. Judging by the club's summer transfers, it's focused on signing youth players, albeit Manchester City's youth players at a rather premium price and hoping it will pay off. Keeper Gavin Bazunu, defensive midfielder Romeo Lavia and left-back Juan Larios have all arrived at a nearly combined £30m and clearly their best is yet to come. Only time will tell what that best looks like. Hasenhuttl has been in charge of the club for four years now, but he has only finished higher than 15th once. Even at this early stage of the season it is perhaps worth debating whether he can get more out of the Saints - or is he doing a competent job of keeping his side away from a relegation fight? Grade D+ A 2-1 victory over Chelsea has shown encouraging potential among a young Southampton side TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Position: 3rd Points: 17 Tottenham have been on a roll in 2022 following the inspired appointment (eventually) to land Antonio Conte in the wake of the disastrous tenure under his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo last season. The popular Italian has since turned around the club's fortunes to guide them back into the Champions League and one of their best recent starts to a Premier League season. Along with Manchester City they are the only unbeaten side in the top flight and have shown a resilience to scrap for points when not at their best. For instance they were largely outplayed in their 2-2 draw at Chelsea, and while referee decisions fell their way they made the most of them to grab a credible point at a venue where they are notoriously weak. Son Heung-min returned to form for Tottenham with a hat-trick against Leicester City Form also goes out of the window when playing West Ham, with the fiery London derby seeing them leave the London Stadium with another point. This has been added to with wins over Southampton, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and most recently a 6-2 demolition of Leicester City. Yet there still seems to be a fragility to them this term. In many games Spurs have toiled in possession creating few chances - even if credit is due for how clinical they have been in taking what they do produce. Son Heung-min also looks like coming back up to speed with his hat-trick against the Foxes ending his goal drought from the start of the campaign. Other signs of their labouring performances have come in the late win over 10-man Marseille in the Champions League, which was followed by a 2-0 humbling at Sporting Lisbon. It is why, despite sitting level on points with Manchester City, no-one really considers Spurs as title contenders, at least not yet. Fans will be hoping summer signings such as Richarlison and Yves Bissouma can settle quickly but the real test of Conte's men this term is coming up next month. It doesn't really get much bigger than their next match at Arsenal in a north London derb, while a visit to Manchester United will be an excellent metric to see just how much progress they are really making under Conte. Are they finally the real deal, or is it another season of trophy dodging? Grade: A Spurs boss Antonio Conte has overseen a positive turnaround in fortunes at the club WEST HAM UNITEDPosition: 18th Points: 4 It's all gone wrong down at West Ham United, who after a couple of seasons of leading highly credible challenges for European football have started the season poorly at best despite not much change in personnel or management. David Moyes is still leading his side and they have kept hold of star midfielder Declan Rice. Exits have been kept low key, and while club legend Mark Noble's departure leaves a leadership void in the dressing room, his advancing years meant he wasn't as key to the starting XI. So how can the Hammers be heading into the international break inside the relegation zone? While it cannot take the full wrap, having already had to play four matches in the Europa Conference League cannot have aided any preparation for Premier League games. Continued appearances in Europe's tertiary competition is not going to aid the Hammers in the future either. West Ham United have held on to key man Declan Rice but have still started the season poorly Yet this is the same West Ham side who for long periods last season challenged for a top-four place alongside a fine run to the Europa League semi-finals - so there are clearly problems elsewhere. The trouble is that it's difficult to pinpoint where those are. There appears little sign of Moyes 'losing the dressing room' and in addition there is no real drive from supporters calling for his head. Perhaps West Ham's main concern is that, while they look like a reasonably organised side, goals are proving incredibly tough to come by. Jarrod Bowen's goalless start to the season reflects his poor from and connected with Michail Antonio also being goal shy, and summer arrival Gianluca Scamacca still trying to settle in London, it's led to just three goals being scored in the first seven games. Brazil international Lucas Paqueta is also trying to find his feet and while it is not time to hit the panic button at West Ham just yet, there are already concerns that this could prove to be a tough campaign. Grade: D Jarrod Bowen has been unable to score outside of European appearances this season WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERSPosition: 17th Points: 6 Positions in the table cannot be taken too seriously at this early sage of the season, especially when three points for Wolverhampton Wanderers would take them level with Liverpool in the table. But there is plenty of alarm already down at Molineux and it's not difficult to see where the problems lie. Goals. It's not a recently found issue either. Wolves have struggled in attacking areas since losing Diogo Jota to Liverpool two years ago. It's a problem they can't seem to find a solution for, whether it's Nuno Espirito Santo in charge or Bruno Lage. No side has scored fewer than their three this season and it's not a healthy situation to be in no matter how well they otherwise play. Wolves' season has been a frustrating one due to their lack of goals and just one victory Wolves' defence - while not the best in the division - is certainly top-flight worthy and there is enough quality in the midfield to build competent attacks, but once they hit the final third it's almost as if all the ideas disappear. Take the matches at Tottenham and at home to Manchester City. Lage's side attacked and passed the ball around with measured confidence yet couldn't force a breakthrough on their way to defeats in both. So desperate is the search for some attacking answers, Diego Costa has been brought in as a free agent to try and add a new dimension to their goal-shy attack. It seems odd to pin Wolves' season on the former Chelsea star, but if they can get him fit and firing the 33-year-old really could be the difference maker. If he too fails to solve Wolves' attacking puzzle, then it could be a season of battling to avoid relegation as fan pressure ramps up on Lage to improve their struggling side. Grade: D Diego Costa has been brought in to try and solves Wolves' goal scoring crisis RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 4.1k shares adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

The World Of

2022-12-21T22:09:08Z

CarriHoag9005: ページの作成:「The world of has paid tribute to former defender Ugo Ehiogu following news of his death this morning, after he suffered a heart attack at Tottenham's training ground.<b…」

The world of has paid tribute to former defender Ugo Ehiogu following news of his death this morning, after he suffered a heart attack at Tottenham's training ground. The Spurs Under 23s coach collapsed on the club's academy training pitches on Thursday and received immediate attention from the medical staff, but after paramedics rushed him it hospital he passed away in the early hours of this morning at the age of just 44. He leaves behind his wife Gemma, whom he married in 2005, and a son, Obi Jackson. Ehiogu also had a daughter, Jodie. Former Tottenham striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker led the tributes as he described the former defender as 'such a lovely guy' while former Aston Villa team-mate Paul Merson broke down while remembering his friend on television this morning. Scroll down for video Former Tottenham Under 23 coach Ugo Ehiogu has died after suffering a heart attack The former centre back passed away at the age of just 44 after collapsing on the training pitch Ehiogu won four caps for England, scoring against Spain in a friendly in 2001 The former Aston Villa star is survived by wife Gemma as well as a son and a daughter Paul Merson fought back the tears as he gave an emotional tribute to his former team-mate Ehiogu celebrates his goal against Leicester in 1998 with former team-mate Merson Ehiogu holds the League Cup trophy after victory with Aston Villa at Wembley in 1996 RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 9k shares Merson, was fighting back tears while on Sky Sports News, as he remembered a 'top bloke, a man mountain and a good friend'. 'He was such a top bloke, it's unbelievable,' he said. 'He was a man mountain. Billy Joel has a song - Only the Good Die Young - and that is him. He was a top player, a top bloke and a good friend.' His former club Aston Villa devoted the electronic displays outside Villa Park to the player as a mark of respect. Both Tottenham and Chelsea will wear black armbands during their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday. Aston Villa displayed a tribute to their former player on the billboard outside their stadium Ehiogu was at the heart of the defence at Villa Park during his nine-year stint at the club Tottenham announced the news of Ehiogu's passing this morning, issuing a statement: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu, our Under-23 coach'. 'Ugo received immediate treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest at the training centre yesterday before being transferred to hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of this morning. 'The club sends its deepest condolences to Ugo's family. Gemma has specifically asked that the family are given privacy at this difficult time.' Tottenham's head of coaching and player development John McDermott said: 'Words cannot express the shock and sadness that we all feel at the club. Ugo's immense presence will be irreplaceable. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Gemma and his family.' It is with immense s Ehiogu and wife Gemma, pictured on the beach in Barbados during a family holiday in 2015 His wife Gemma has asked for the family to be given privacy as they deal with their loss Following news of Ehiogu's death, Tottenham's planned Premier League 2 game against Manchester United on Monday has been postponed while Spurs have also cancelled all of their academy matches this weekend. The club's manager Mauricio Pochettino paid his respects to Ehiogu, saying: 'Ugo was a lovely man and we had a very good relationship from the first day we arrived at the club. 'He was always a person who helped us a lot and we will miss him greatly. I send all my love to his family and friends at such a difficult time. 'It's a huge loss both personally and for all the Tottenham Hotspur family.' Spurs striker Harry Kane added: 'He was a big part of our development team at Spurs and a great character around the place, full of life, always laughing and [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] joking, always in good spirits. 'He was a great coach and an inspiration to the younger players, he'd been there and done it at the very highest level and played for England. Stan Collymore posted this picture of him alongside Ehiogu at a bar in San Francisco Ehiogu, pictured on England duty with former Liverpool and West Ham defender Neil Ruddock 'All our thoughts from myself and the players go out to his family and friends. It's a sad moment for everyone at the club. As tributes began to pour in, the official account of the England football team sent their condolences to Ehiogu's family. A tweet said: 'We're devastated to hear the news that Ugo Ehiogu has passed away. Our thoughts and sympathies are with all lucky enough to know him.' Another former Villa team-mate, Lee Hendrie, said: 'Ugo was such a character. He has always been that bubbly character. He was just a great guy to have around.' Stan Collymore shared how Ehiogu had been the one to welcome him to the club following his transfer from Liverpool in 1997, insisting his mountainous stature yet calm demeanor meant he was a man who commanded respect. Collymore posted: 'A true man mountain but someone who never used his size or stature to intimidate, far from it, he was the opposite, always calming, always the one who eased any tensions between big names and a man who commanded respect not by what he said but very much by what he did. Ehiogu pictured marking George Weah during the 2000 FA Cup final, which Chelsea won 'Proud to have known you Brother, find a happy place up there and i know i will see you again someday soon.' Collymore also posted an image of the two together in San Francisco in 1997, with the caption: 'One of the good guys. Truly broken'. Villa, for whom Ehiogu played more than 300 games, will hold a minute's silence prior to their clash with rivals Birmingham at the weekend and will wear black armbands as a mark of respect. Villa manager Steve Bruce said: 'Everyone here is devastated by the news, especially of someone so young who very quietly was making his way as a talented coach. 'When you consider he came here under Big Ron for £45,000, what a bargain that is. Being a fellow centre half, he was uncompromising and quick and all of the football world will be shocked and saddened.' Following his spell at Villa he moved on to Middlesbrough in 2000 for a fee of £8million, with chairman Steve Gibson paying tribute to his side's former defender, who he described as a 'great man'. In his final tweet on March 29, Ehiogu revealed he had given a homeless girl money in London and discussed how the impulsive act left him feeling good The defender, pictured tackling Ian Wright in 1997, was a stalwart for Villa for nearly a decade 'Ugo and Gareth Southgate were the rock on which Steve McClaren brought the club its best period in its history. He wasn't just a good footballer, he was a great man.' Andy Townsend played with Ehiogu at Villa and saw his former team-mate just six weeks ago, after which he was left impressed by how he had kept in shape despite being eight years removed from his football career. 'I last saw Ugo maybe six weeks ago and he was an absolute picture of health,' Townsend said. 'He's on the training field at Spurs and very active. 'He was always a magnificent physical specimen. He was in fantastic shape post playing career. He had hardly changed at all from when he was playing. He had not put an ounce of weight on. He looked incredibly fit. Which makes it all the more shocking.' Ehiogu tweeted for the final time on March 29, where he revealed he had given £10 to a homeless girl in Dalston, London and how it left him feeling good. Former team-mates and opponents took to social media to pay their own tributes to the former defender, with the likes of ex-Villa team-mate Paul McGrath, Rio Ferdinand and one of his young players at Tottenham all speaking of their shock at his death. Shayon Harrison was one of Ehiogu's young players at Tottenham and is currently at Yeovil Ferdinand, wrote on Instagram: 'Honestly can't believe I just woke to the news that one of my former England teammates Ugo Ehiogu has passed away. 'My heart goes out to his family and those closest to him. Always a calm & warming vibe when ever in his company. RIP Ugo x' 'Devestated (sic) for Ugo, a great friend,' tweeted McGrath, who was Ehiogu's first real defensive partner at Villa. 'Heart goes out to his family and friends. RIP #villahero'. Former Tottenham and England defender Sol Campbell tweeted: 'One of my East London mates of old. Ugo Ehiogu true defender my heart goes out to his family. I just can't believe it!' Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who also played for Tottenham, was another to share his feelings after the death of a man he described as 'a lovely guy.' Past and present Tottenham players including Erik Lamela, Josh Onomah and Ryan Mason also tweeted following the news, with Onomah vowing to make his former coach proud. Ehiogu scored this stunning goal against bitter rivals Celtic, during his short spell with Rangers Andros Townsend, now at Crystal Palace, worked with Ehiogu when he was at Spurs Rangers, another of Ehiogu's former clubs, said in a statement: 'Rangers Football Club is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of former defender Ugo Ehiogu. 'The 44-year-old Englishman joined the Light Blues when Walter Smith returned as manager in 2007 and made a huge impact in his short time in Glasgow - notably his winning goal at Celtic Park in the derby. 'He died after suffering a heart attack at Tottenham's training ground and everyone associated with the club sends their sincere condolences to Ugo's family and friends at this difficult time.' Stoke manager Mark Hughes played against Ehiogu and remembered what it was like to face the defender on the pitch. Hughes said: 'He was a big strong guy, a big athlete, and you knew when you went up against him it was always going to be a difficult game. That is why, when these things happen, it is even more shocking, because you remember them in their prime. It is a real shame.' Ehiogu played long spells of his career alongside current England boss Gareth Southgate <div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS news" data-version="2" id="mol-611ef4d0-2674-11e7-ae81-eb62df0ede62" website Ehiogu dies after suffering heart attack at Tottenham base

SIX NATIONS VERDICT: Wayne Pivac Is Right To Be Increasingly Concerned

2022-12-21T22:04:51Z

CarriHoag9005:

After each weekend, Sportsmail rugby correspondent Chris Foy will round up the biggest talking points and name his Team of the Weekend. Wayne is looking weary The outlook is grim for Wales after their heavy loss to Ireland — as was quite apparent from head coach 's body language during the game. Wayne Pivac is right to look concerned following Wales's 29-7 defeat by Ireland in Dublin There is something about his demeanour which conveys a sense of impending doom, in contrast to predecessor Warren Gatland who mastered the art of remaining impassive. Pivac looks concerned and, in truth, he probably should be. Murrayfield's outdated If the Six Nations wants to remain a closed shop to protect commercial interests, perhaps it is time to introduce ‘Minimum Standards Criteria' for venues. The 51,000 capacity at the Aviva Stadium is too limited and Murrayfield urgently needs investment. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Facilities are outdated, with lines of portable loos for spectators using the soulless, gravel-covered ‘fan zone', cramped seating and shaky WiFi — although the tram service is efficient. Farrell packing the power Ireland's recent progress under Andy Farrell has been hailed as a tactical liberation but it is founded on phenomenal clout — exemplified by the thunderous props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong. James Ryan has powered-up after a career dip and Tadhg Beirne is a remarkable athlete, while Jack Conan punches above his weight. The clash with France's giants on Saturday will be seismic. Ireland continue to impress under Andy Farrell, who has moulded a strong, high energy side Manu's message of hope The despondency in the England camp will have been alleviated slightly by the sight of Manu Tuilagi back in vintage mode on Sunday. Seconds into his latest comeback, the Sale centre dumped Harlequins' previously unstoppable Andre Esterhuizen on his backside. His trademark grin was still apparent as he posed for photos with fans of both clubs after the game at The Stoop. He is still a box-office weapon of mass destruction. That's the wonder of Woki France eventually put Italy away yesterday but it was a laboured effort from the title favourites. Some of them evidently needed game-time after recent Covid disruption, even the great Antoine Dupont. France's Cameron Woki (centre) could become the world's best forward in the next few years However, the contest in Paris provided more evidence that Bordeaux's Cameron Woki can become the world's best forward and showed that Italy have renewed fighting spirit again, after years of surrenders. Team of the Weekend Hugo Keenan (Ire), Damian Penaud (Fra), Garry Ringrose (Ire), Bundee Aki (Ire), Gabin Villiere (Fra), Finn Russell (Sco), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ire); Andrew Porter (Ire), Julien Marchand (Fra), Tadhg Furlong (Ire), Tadhg Beirne (Ire), Cameron Woki (Fra), Jamie Ritchie (Sco), [https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ pinfaves.com] Gregory Alldritt (Fra), Taine Basham (Wal). RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement

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2022-12-21T22:04:41Z

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