A mid-week offering as we rummage through the bins of showbiz trash to find a few sparkling gems, as Joanna Gumley pulls on the rubber gloves and gets stuck in…
We have had so much showbiz joys to look through in June that we’ve just not had enough space in all of the Showbiz Today’s on Daily Nightly from ATV Today (God a mouthful, and not the good kind) to fit them all in
So, as we venture into July let’s chuck the best of the rest into this newswrapped offering…
When Fame Meets Reality: Danny Glover’s Brave Announcement & Anna Richardson’s Heartbreak
Not every showbiz story comes wrapped in sequins. This week brought two deeply moving reminders of dementia’s devastating impact.
Following actor Danny Glover revealing he is living with Alzheimer’s disease, Alzheimer’s Society CEO Michelle Dyson praised his courage for speaking publicly, saying his honesty will help raise awareness and encourage others to seek support after diagnosis.
The charity also shared heartfelt condolences with presenter Anna Richardson following the death of her father Jim, who had vascular dementia. Anna has spent the past year using her own family’s experience to campaign for greater understanding of dementia, proving that sometimes the bravest celebrity stories aren’t about red carpets at all.
Sometimes the biggest headline is simply kindness.
Pamela Anderson Gives Hairdressers Something To Smile About
Happy 59th birthday to Pamela Anderson — and apparently, half the country’s salons.
Google searches for “Pamela Anderson hair” have jumped by 40%, thanks to her effortlessly chic textured blonde bob replacing the famous bombshell blowout we’ve known for decades.
Beauty experts at Fresha reckon the new look is striking a chord because it’s less about chasing youth and more about looking fabulous on your own terms.
Turns out confidence is the hottest accessory… and thankfully it doesn’t need weekly highlights.
The BBC’s Christmas Baddies Are Looking Rather Fabulous
Forget sugar and spice — this Christmas belongs to ghosts, witches and trolls.
The BBC’s latest adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s beloved picture book The Baddies arrives this festive season with a voice cast sparkling brighter than the tree topper.
Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman, Sheridan Smith and friends promise plenty of spooky silliness as three terrible troublemakers discover they’ve underestimated one very brave little girl.
Moral of the story? Never judge someone by their spotty hanky.
David Shrigley’s Giant Cockerel Is Cock-a-Doodle-Delightful
Artist David Shrigley has unveiled a giant cockerel mural on the outside of Cubitts’ new King’s Cross headquarters.
Alongside the enormous bird sits the wonderfully absurd message:
“It was me that was crowing at dawn. Now you know.”
No explanation. None required.
Art critics will analyse it for years. Everyone else will simply smile while walking past wearing their new glasses.
Elf Lyons Is Having A Breakdown… Professionally
Award-winning comedian Elf Lyons returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with perhaps her most personal show yet.
The Woman on the Edge explores heartbreak after her engagement ended during an Australian tour.
Naturally, instead of processing those emotions quietly, she’s handed the performance over to one of her clown characters.
Therapy? Expensive.
Turning emotional collapse into critically acclaimed comedy? Very Edinburgh.
Book Of The Mid-Week: Better Words, Better Love
If your relationship arguments usually end with someone dramatically announcing, “Fine!” before storming upstairs, this week’s recommendation may come in handy.
Psychotherapist Sam Opeche’s The 6 Emotionally Intelligent Languages for Couples explores six practical ways partners can communicate with greater empathy, clarity and understanding.
Think less shouting across the kitchen…
…more actually hearing each other.
Revolutionary stuff.
‘Simples!’ Just Became The Most Unexpected Club Anthem Of Summer
Somewhere, an animated meerkat is accidentally having the best comeback of 2026.
DJ Joel Corry has turned Compare the Market’s iconic “Simples!” catchphrase into a full-blown dancefloor banger with grime star Scrufizzer.
Festival crowds are chanting it. TikTok is dancing to it. The internet has collectively decided this somehow works.
Nobody asked for it.
Everybody’s playing it.
Simples.
Heaton Hall Has Had Quite The Glow-Up
While celebrities are busy getting cosmetic touch-ups, historic buildings are quietly doing the same.
Manchester’s magnificent Heaton Hall has completed a major restoration project including a full electrical overhaul, upgraded lighting and the careful refurbishment of its spectacular chandeliers.
It’s heritage preservation with a little extra sparkle.
Frankly, if your chandeliers don’t deserve their own comeback story, are you even a stately home?
Disney Delivers Pure Magic At Great Ormond Street
Some stories melt even Joanna’s rhinestone-covered heart.
Disney has unveiled a brand-new Moana and Lilo & Stitch-themed play space at Great Ormond Street Hospital, opened by Dwayne Johnson and rising star Catherine Laga’aia.
Among those attending was 10-year-old Bella, whose mother says singing Moana songs during recovery after brain surgery helped her regain her speech.
Sometimes a movie is entertainment.
Sometimes it’s something far more extraordinary.
BST Hyde Park Is Officially Festival Royalty
More than half a million music fans are heading for Hyde Park as festival season hits full volume.
New research by GoOutdoors ranks BST Hyde Park as Britain’s third-best music festival — and the country’s number one day festival.
With acts including Mumford & Sons, Maroon 5 and Pitbull, organisers are proving you don’t necessarily need muddy wellies and questionable camping showers to have a legendary weekend.
Although let’s be honest… the weather may still throw in the mud free of charge.
Joanna’s Final Thought
Showbiz is a funny old filing cabinet.
One drawer holds giant cockerels painted on buildings. Another contains ‘meerkat’ catchphrases. Somewhere underneath are Christmas ghosts, glamorous haircuts and comedians bravely turning heartbreak into laughter.
And tucked quietly between all the glitter are stories that really matter — families facing dementia, children finding joy in hospital, and people using their fame to make life a little easier for someone else.
That’s the thing about showbusiness. Behind every sparkle is a real person.
Still… we’ll absolutely be talking about that giant cockerel tomorrow. Priorities, darling.
