Latest news with #TakeThat
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gary Barlow suddenly halts Scarborough concert after spotting something in the crowd
Gary Barlow drew his concert to a sudden halt on Wednesday evening after spotting something in the crowd. The singer, 54, brought his Songbook Tour to TK Maxx presents at Scarborough Open Air Theatre and was just about to sing Take That classic, A Million Love Songs, when someone in the audience surprised him. Gary exclaimed: 'Hang on, stop, stop stop. Stop everyone. What's going on down here at the front? Is that what we think it is?' In the audience attendee Chris Calpin pulled out an engagement ring and popped the question to his partner Kirsty Peake. The sweet moment didn't go unnoticed by Gary who confirmed: 'There we go. He's got the ring there everyone. 'Oh my goodness. I take it it's a yes, right? It's a yes. It's a yes!' he said with the venue erupting into applause. He joked: 'Now listen. It's all about timing. I'd started the bl**** song. This number is dedicated to you both.' Gary kicked off his 41-date run on April 17 with a show in Isle of Man and will conclude the run in Suffolk on June 21. His tour comes following the news that a probe into a raid at his £6 million mansion has been dropped by police. The Take That star's home was targeted by a gang of thieves in April 2024, while he performed with the band on Ant and Dec 's Saturday Night Takeaway. Thames Valley Police have said the case had been filed pending further information and renewed an appeal for witnesses. A source told The Sun that the gang involved in the raid may have fled abroad, saying: 'There's always the fear that the gangs flee the UK after raids, which makes the cops' job even harder.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Gary Barlow and Thames Valley Police for comment. Gary lives in the property with his wife Dawn, 35, and children Daniel, Emily, and Daisy, however it's unclear if they were at home at the time of the raid. According to The Sun, the thieves waited for nightfall before forcing the mansion's front gate to gain access, while it's still unconfirmed if anything was stolen in the raid. Gary is said to have been unaware of the break in until the following day when the police were informed, with investigators spotted by neighbours photographing the property in the days following. One onlooker told the publication: 'When I drove past I saw officers taking photos of the gates, which had been damaged. 'They were left half open. A few days later the gates had been fixed.' While a second said: 'The police have been round to ask me about what happened, but I wasn't aware of anything. I noticed the gates were flapping open. It's a rather secluded place. It's a warning to us all'.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gary Barlow halts concert midway through song as he spots concert-goer's stunt
Gary Barlow brought his jam-packed Scarborough show to a sudden halt after spotting something in the crowd as he began to sing a classic Take That song Gary Barlow stunned fans by dramatically halting a jam-packed concert in Scarborough. As the audience swayed and sang to his catalogue of huge hits, the Take That man abruptly paused after spotting something in the audience. Gary, 54, had been sitting at the piano and just started a rendition of A Million Love Songs when he told his band to stop. Waving his finger in the air, Gary said: "Hang on, stop, stop stop. Stop everyone." As he gazed down to the crowd he asked: "What's going on down here at the front? Is that what we think it is?" Spotting a man in the crowd holding up a ring, cameras panned onto the audience member, with screams of delight soon following. Gary went on: "There we go. He's got the ring there everyone." Gary's concert-goer, Chris Calpin from York, looked delighted to have caught the singer's attention and continued to ask partner Kirsty Peake if she will be his wife. "Wow," Gary exclaimed as he clapped his microphone before a stunned Kirsty wiped away a tear. "Oh my goodness," the star gasped. "It take it it's a yes, right? It's a yes. It's a yes," he gleefully revealed to the rest of the concert goers who roundly clapped the couple. However, Gary then joked: "Now listen. It's all about timing. I'd started the bloody song." He then told the duo to make a space for themselves and have a dance, telling them "this number is dedicated to you both". As he wished them a happy future and thanked them for attending, he got the hit tune back under way as the audience sang along while the happy couple embraced. The magical moment comes as Gary was continuing his UK tour at Scarborough's Open Air theatre. Will Smith is also due to wow the crowds at the venue later in the summer. Earlier in the year Gary also won the hearts of his crowd as he celebrated the momentous occasion as Liverpool FC won the Premier League. On the day the title was sealed, Gary kicked off the English leg of his Songbook Tour with a bang in Liverpool. The Cheshire-born singer took to the city's Empire Theatre on to perform hits from his three-decade long career, and couldn't help but celebrate the sporting win from his boyhood club. He was greeted by red and white confetti falling onto the crowd as he beamed and proudly displayed the scarf to the crowd. The joyous occasion came despite the star earlier promising not to talk sports during the show. 'We book these tours 15 months in advance or something so there's no way we could have known something like this could happen. But when we played Nafield in 2019, Liverpool had just won the Champions League. So it seems like every time I book a gig in Liverpool, we do really well!" Gary said before the gig.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Pair's engagement proves a show-stopper for Gary Barlow
A couple in the audience at a Gary Barlow concert experienced their Greatest Day so far, when the Take That star put his concert on pause as they got Calpin and Kirsty Peake attended Barlow's show on Friday at Scarborough Open Air Theatre and were standing close to the stage as Ms Peake's favourite number, A Million Love Songs, started to Mr Calpin popped the question and was met with cheers from the crowd, Barlow quickly realised what was going on and stopped the performance so he could dedicate his song to the Peake said: "The next morning we woke up and thought, 'did that actually happen?'" Mr Calpin said the proposal had been in his mind for some months before the day of the show."It was planned since Christmas when I got her the ticket to go see Gary Barlow," he explained."She's waited nine years for it, so I thought I'd best pop the question."Ms Peake said she had always joked about wanting Barlow to attend her wedding to sing that particular ballad. "Obviously Chris was listening, because he waited for that song," she said. Ms Peake explained she had been busy filming Barlow's performance when Mr Calpin tapped her on the shoulder and took her by surprise with his proposal. "There were a few choice words when I realised what was going on," she videos taken by other concertgoers, Ms Peake said it was clear the crowd appeared to point at them and got the singer's attention."That's when he realises what is going on and stops the show," she showed the singer walking over to the couple and asking Ms Peake if she had said yes to Mr Calpin's can be seen to say: "I want you guys to make a little space for yourselves and have a little dance, because this number is dedicated to you both. "Wishing you the best life together. Have a lovely future and thank you for being here tonight. Please dance this song away." The newly-engaged pair said they did not tell any family or friends that they said they were recognised as they walked around Scarborough and the show-stopping proposal had since gone viral online. Ms Peake said: "After speaking to a few people, they said it was all over TikTok."It was on Gary's Instagram and Facebook - and it just went from there really."The couple said their first dance at the wedding would be to the same song, adding that Barlow might even get an invite to the festivities. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Robbie Williams deserves a knighthood as much as David Beckham – his snub proves everything wrong with ‘corrupt' system
WHAT more does a man need to do, besides get down on one knee then beg and/or give the King some homemade honey? Robbie Williams co-created Soccer Aid — the most-watched thing on telly on Sunday night — and has raised more than £115million for Unicef in the process. 8 8 He is Britain's best-selling solo artist of all time, and recently embarked on a sell-out European tour, which has received five-star reviews across the board. As one fifth of Take That, he helped to redefine British pop culture and, more than two decades sober, he is also one of the nicest blokes in showbiz. Like, not a sober dullard. Much the same as David Beckham, whose much-craved knighthood was confirmed last week, Rob is a Unicef ambassador. And like David Beckham, he was caught up in the Ingenious tax avoidance scheme — meaning he was red-flagged by the Honours Committee. But unlike David, Rob hasn't had so much as an OBE, let alone a knighthood, although the pair were embroiled in the same year of Ingenious. Good causes So, why? Why has he been systematically overlooked by a nonsensical committee, which once upon a time made 'bully' Philip Green a Sir? Sure, he has spent much of the past 20 years Stateside, but Stoke-born Robbie has always had a family home over here and paid his due taxes. His parents still live in Stoke and he's a patron of the city's incredible Donna Louise Children's Hospice. He has raised money for more than 29 charities and, I'm told, quietly gives away millions to good causes without fuss or publicity. And those tax affairs — similar to which dozens of celebs were embroiled in — have long since been settled. Robbie, who perhaps hasn't played the royal honey card as well as his pal Dave, has 15 numbers one albums, more than anyone. Well, anyone besides The Beatles with whom he's tied in the album-selling stakes. Also like Goldenballs, he has a global Netflix documentary chart-topper to his name. On a football field, Robbie has an only fair-to-middling right foot on him but he does also boast a record-breaking 18 Brit awards. To be clear, both men deserve honours — and Becks' one was long overdue. But the bigger question is WHY Robbie hasn't been recognised — by an awards system that has long been seen as slightly corrupt and quite possibly biased? This, after all, was the year that Tess and Claudia were given MBEs, basically for services to Strictly. Why not, when his Take That bandmate Gary Barlow — who was caught up in an even more aggressive tax-avoidance scheme — was given an OBE in 2012 for services to entertainment and charity work? In 2017 — the year they, too, got collared — Prince's Trust ambassadors Ant and Dec were down the Palace collecting their OBEs from the then Prince Charles. Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, Britain's first celebrity tax exile, is also a Sir. Ditto, the late Sir Sean Connery, who was the Bahamas' most famous British resident. And let's not forget whippersnapper Sir Lewis Hamilton, who long ago buggered off out of Britain and, in 2017, was named in the BBC's Paradise Papers for avoiding £3.3million of VAT on his private jet. As a happily married man, and a devoted dad of four — Robbie missed Fathers' Day to drive four hours from on stage in Bath to Soccer Aid at Old Trafford — there hasn't been so much as a WHIFF of scandal about his private life. He is kind to fans, has raised awareness about mental health and gave the world Angels, as well as underrated banger Love My Life. Unlike Sir David — of whom I'm a huge fan, BTW — Robbie has never knowingly labelled the Honours Committee as ungrateful 'c****'. But he does refuse to kowtow to politicians or royals, and has never publicly asked for recognition. And therein lies the problem. Just give the man his gong. And a bee suit. ROSE N' SHINE, PEOPLE ROSÉ, the wine synonymous with summer and Jeremy Clarkson, has an official 'tipping point' as the weather warms up, found a poll conducted by Waitrose. Once temperatures hit 20C, sales apparently jump by 150 per cent. Us Brits have been blessed with an unusually wonderful start to summer – as my own 2025 rosé intake would testify. But, really, as my esteemed colleague Harry Cole swears, the pink season begins on Good Friday and ends the Sunday of the Labour conference in autumn. Cheers. HOUSE CALL MUCH discussion in the House of Commons about the possible banning of smartphones in schools. Whatever their political persuasion, most MPs agree mobile phone addiction in young people is bad. And only getting worse. So why, then, are we faced with politicians clutching their mobiles in Parliament, furtively texting and scrolling as their colleagues speak? Get your own house in order first, chaps. ADD A LITTLE SENSE 8 PUPILS need algebra rather than diversity, says a leading headteacher. Katharine Birbalsingh, famously dubbed Britain's strictest educator, is 50 per cent correct. Speaking as someone without a mathematical bone in her body – although, TBF, I was pretty solid at times tables – not once have I thought about linear equations, nor, indeed, a quadratic one, since the day I popped down my biro after my final GCSE maths paper. In this age of AI and pocket calculators – on your smartphone – traditional school subjects are starting to look increasingly outdated. What we do need, though, is the return of some common sense teaching. SHOE SIGHS NOW I'm not sure about you, but I really want our scientists undertaking some groundbreaking, revolutionary stuff that will change lives, and save lives. How refreshing to learn, then, that experts from Shandong Sport University in China have been testing a range of heel sizes on women to determine how their body movements were affected. And the results? 'The higher the heel, the more unstable the women became.' Well knock me down with a Louboutin. WANNABE POSH NOW A TRUE LADY 8 IN their 1996 breakthrough hit Wannabe, the Spice Girls sang this immortal line about Victoria Beckham: 'Easy V, she doesn't come for free; she's a real Lady.' Now, c/o Sir Dave, she really is. That, as spiritual bandmate Geri Halliwell might say, really is manifestation.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Culture That Made Me: Paula MacSweeney of Today FM picks her touchstones
Born in 1985, Paula MacSweeney grew up in Piltown, Co Kilkenny. In 2012, she started on air with Today FM, initially doing daily showbiz reports on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show and later presenting her own programmes, including the early breakfast show. In 2022, she began hosting the radio station's evening show, 7pm-10pm, Monday to Thursday. She also presents a Sunday night rock music show on Today FM. See: A Woman's Heart I remember my mam bought A Woman's Heart. Every household had a copy of it in 1992. As a family, we used to hop in the car – eight of us going on holiday with my granddad, so nine of us in a car; you wouldn't be allowed to do it now – and we used to drive to France, children literally hanging out the windows. We had that album on tape. I remember listening to it constantly. I knew every word from those holidays. Even though it wasn't meant for a six-year-old girl, it had a real impact on me. I loved it. I rediscovered it on Spotify a couple of years ago, and it's just beautiful. Take That I was a huge Take That fan. My first ever album was Take That & Party. Santy brought it for me – that's how young I was. I was about seven. I absolutely loved it, and I loved Take That throughout the Nineties. There was a Take That vs. Boyzone rivalry; I was always Take That. I loved the five-piece. Now that Robbie has left, and I think they're down to about three, I've kinda lost interest a little bit! Ricky Gervais Ricky Gervais. I'm a huge Ricky Gervais fan. I know he's not for everyone. Some people find him too much. People love to give out about him online. With his observations, sometimes I even find myself going, 'He's gone too far, he's gone too far,' but I still love it because dark humour is something I find very funny. Comedy's gone a bit dull, so I love when Ricky Gervais goes for it. I love the way he uses satire to critique societal norms, politics, celebrity culture. Nobody is safe. He's witty. He's clever. I love him. Britney Spears As I grew a bit older, into my teenage years, I loved Britney Spears. She came out when I was about 13 so throughout my whole teenage years – like a lot of girls who were into pop at that age – I was obsessed with Britney. Because we didn't have social media at the time – and she was being absolutely harassed by paparazzi – I was one of those buying the magazines to see what she was up to. I owned every album. I knew every word. I love her. Lily Allen I'm an enormous Lily Allen fan. I've loved her since 2004-2005 – when she was young and very new. She hasn't released music since 2018. It's been quite a while, and she only has four albums. I went to see her when she was on at Electric Picnic in 2014. I'll never forget it. She was on early in the day. It was Sunday, maybe about 6pm, so it was bright. I was waiting for her set all year. I was so excited to go and see her. She was promoting her album, Sheezus, which probably is her worst album. I'll never forget standing there with a cup of warm beer, in a field, it had been raining, and I felt the happiest I'd ever been. I'd finally got to see her live on stage, and it was magnificent. Gavin & Stacey Gavin & Stacey. I'm very passionate about Gavin & Stacey. The word play in it is clever. James Corden and Ruth Jones are phenomenal writers. The characters are so clever, so well-developed. I love the character arc as well from when they started 20 years ago to that amazing Christmas special finish. Their finale made my Christmas. Every line was perfect. It's like a warm hug on the TV. It's my go-to whenever I need a little pick-me-up. It's gorgeous TV. The Sopranos My favourite TV box set of all time is The Sopranos. It's perfect – the characters, the storylines are amazing. There are unexpected twists. Nobody was safe in that show. It explores the American dream, and what it takes to obtain that. There's nuanced exploration of stuff like identity, loyalty, the human condition. Tony Soprano is so multidimensional. He's flawed. He's brilliant. He's funny. I've probably watched it from start to finish at least 10 times in my life. Every time I watch it, I find something new that I hadn't seen or heard before. It's so entertaining. The Pillars of the Earth The best book I've read is Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth. He's an extraordinary writer. It's set in the twelfth century, in England during a time of political turmoil, religious strife, and the construction of a magnificent cathedral. He travelled around Europe years before writing his book to understand architecture and how these cathedrals were built. That side of the book is very detailed. Even though I didn't find that bit particularly interesting, it's so powerful. The drama is gripping. It has complex characters. It's a rich tapestry of human experience, with insight into human ambition, and the power of the church. It's brilliant historical fiction. The book had a profound effect on me. I remember finishing it thinking I want to restart it. Ian Dempsey Ian Dempsey. I loved Ian Dempsey on RTÉ 2fm. I remember, in my teens, the moment when Today FM announced, 'Look who we've poached for breakfast' and he moved to Today FM. It was such a big deal. It was huge news. Everybody was talking about it. I was a huge fan. All I ever wanted to do was work with Ian Dempsey. It was a life goal. It's funny because we've worked together now for, like, 13-14 years. He's the greatest of the greatest, and he's only getting better. There's no slowing down. Then She Was Gone I read seven Lisa Jewell books in a month about six months ago because of this book of hers, Then She Was Gone. Some of her books are better than others. Then She Was Gone is full of suspense and mystery. I couldn't put it down. It is sad, I have to say. It's a hard read at some points – because some of the best things are – but it's brilliant. The book has it all. It has amazing twists, a real page turner. The Baby Tribe I have three children aged six, four, and two. I've come out of my era of listening constantly to parenting podcasts, but The Baby Tribe is a podcast I listened to religiously for about two years. It's hosted by Professor Afif El-Khuffash, a neonatologist in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, and his wife, Dr Anne Doherty, who is an anaesthesiologist. It's evidence-based fun, and ways to learn about stuff. There's no opinion. It's all 'according to research', which is so reassuring. They have some good guests on it as well. It's very good.
