Two ABBA stars worth a combined £413million used furlough cash to pay staff of Mamma Mia! the musical and other shows, according to reports. Björn Ulvaeus, 75, and Benny Andersson, 74, are co-founders of production firm Littlestar Services - the company behind the stage musical version of Mamma Mia!. Superstar pair Björn and Benny, who set up the company in 1996, have personal fortunes of £233million and £180million respectively. But their London-based firm, which boasts on its website about being a 'successful global producer of theatre, film, television, publishing and music', received £100,000 of tax-payer's cash, according to the Sun . The paper says that, according to official HMRC documents, Littlestar Services and Littlestar Services (Europe) were given up to £50,000 each to pay staff in December. Björn Ulvaeus, 75, and Benny Andersson, 74, (pictured together in 2019) are co-founders of production firm Littlestar Services - the company behind the stage … [Read more...] about ABBA stars worth a combined £413million ‘used furlough cash to pay staff of Mamma Mia! Musical and other shows’
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Paul Gascoigne will use two-month I’m A Celeb stay to overcome fear of snakes
Paul Gascoigne will use his Italian I'm A Celeb stint to finally overcome his lifelong fear of snakes. He is jetting off to Hondouras to take part in their version of the show, which involved a two month show on a desert island. The football legend, 53, has a great relationship with the public in Italy after playing in Serie A for Lazio. He can't to show them what he can do but accepts he has one problem – snakes. He told The Sun : “What is really going to scare me is the snakes. “Anything else I can put up with, lack of food, the trials, but what I’m really scared of is the snakes. “I think I will either be out in 24 hours or win it — there won’t be any half measures." His I'm A Celebrity spell comes as the 53-year-old admitted he was now drinking again, after his long battle with alcoholism. But Gazza insists he's now able to control how much he has, revealing he can limit himself to "a couple of glasses of wine or a few glasses of beer." He explained that … [Read more...] about Paul Gascoigne will use two-month I’m A Celeb stay to overcome fear of snakes
Covid UK news – Rishi Sunak hints at furlough extension as Chancellor plans stealth rise in income tax
RISHI Sunak has hinted at an extension to England's furlough scheme, promising “a Budget that provides support for people" as Covid lockdown rules are eased. Ahead of Wednesday's budget, the chancellor insisted he would continue to do whatever it takes to support people and businesses in the UK through the pandemic. At the earliest restrictions in England are set to be fully lifted by 21 June. Mr Sunak said he would provide help during that period but added that he wanted to "level with people" about the "shock to the economy". It comes comes as the government announced £5-billion to help high street businesses following the Covid-19 crisis. Follow our live blog below for the very latest on the UK 's path out of lockdown ... Niamh Cavanagh 24 minutes ago CONTINUED The Eat Out to Help Out scheme was introduced last year after the first lockdown was lifted to get Brits eating out again. Influential think-tank The Resolution Foundation … [Read more...] about Covid UK news – Rishi Sunak hints at furlough extension as Chancellor plans stealth rise in income tax
The coronavirus jab’s most tantalising side effects? It may help fight cancer, chronic pain… and even Alzheimer’s
Joan Wakefield has barely been able to walk for the best part of six months. The 72-year-old from Stockport had a knee replacement in October and has since suffered infections in the scar tissue, causing agonising pain. Then at the beginning of this month she received the first dose of AstraZeneca 's Covid-19 vaccine. 'I woke up the next morning and the leg pain and stiffness was gone,' she says. 'I couldn't believe it. I joked with my partner about whether the vaccine had anything to do with it. Previously, I couldn't even bend my leg. Now I can extend it fully, and even put my shoes and socks on. I'm optimistic I'll be able to return to work sooner, rather than later, now.' It seems ludicrous – a vaccine designed to protect against one virus can, somehow, improve other totally unrelated elements of health. But Joan Wakefield is far from alone. A man receives his Covid-19 vaccinations at Lichfield Cathedral, Staffordshire earlier this week RELATED … [Read more...] about The coronavirus jab’s most tantalising side effects? It may help fight cancer, chronic pain… and even Alzheimer’s
COVID-19: Sunshine brings crowds out – but SAGE expert warns we could blow chances of ending lockdown
Britons are being warned making the most of warmer weather and sunshine could jeopardise our chances of sticking to the prime minister's reopening road map. Yesterday's warmer temperatures and bright sunshine brought out crowds across the country, with pictures showing packed parks and waterfronts. But professor Calum Semple, an expert in "outbreak" medicine, warned the public to continue sticking to the lockdown rules or we could "blow it". Asked whether crowds could cause case numbers to rise again, professor Semple, who sits on the government's SAGE advisory board, admitted to Sky News: "This is a big worry to us." He added: "Really, we do urge people to take care. Advertisement "We're just not quite there on the road map - we can't take a short cut with people's health." He said the public should remember that 10% of hospital COVID beds are still taken by people aged under 50 with no underlying health problems. The same group takes up … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Sunshine brings crowds out – but SAGE expert warns we could blow chances of ending lockdown