John Standing Cares for Wife Facing Cancer for Third Time
Veteran actor John Standing, known for roles alongside Laurence Olivier and Peter O’Toole, and recently as Captain Imbert-Terry in Netflix’s The Crown, steps into his most vital role at age 91. Officially Sir John Leon, 4th baronet, he supports his wife Sarah, 66, through her third cancer diagnosis.
Sarah, daughter of actress Nanette Newman and director Bryan Forbes, and sister to TV presenter Emma Forbes, battles aggressive large B-cell lymphoma, a non-Hodgkin lymphoma variant. She received an all-clear in 2023, but the illness returned. Sarah authored memoir Dancing With The Red Devil about her initial fight.
“John has been amazing,” Sarah shares. “It’s a lot for him – he’s 91. I should be the one taking care of him. But life has a funny way of spinning on a sixpence. He’s been making me laugh and doing endless jigsaws with me and going on short walks.”
She remains positive, noting the treatable condition and support from TV presenter Trisha Goddard, fighting stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. “She’s my great cancer buddy,” Sarah says. “When you’re on steroids, the nights are long. So we speak to each other at least twice a week.” Her younger daughter Tilly attends every appointment. “I feel very fortunate,” Sarah adds.
Bruno Tonioli Urges Female Hosts for Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing undergoes changes after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s departure, with producers considering male co-hosts like Rylan Clark, Bradley Walsh, and Johannes Radebe. Former judge Bruno Tonioli, 70, advocates retaining female leads.
At a West End charity gala, Tonioli states: “I think it will be better for them to find two women to replace Tess and Claudia because what I liked is that you had these two women holding the show. It was empowering to watch and that’s what Strictly should be. Having Tess and Claudia together on the show made it quite special.”
Yasmin Le Bon Recalls Terrifying Fan Encounter
Model Yasmin Le Bon, 61, married to Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon for over 40 years, describes a frightening late-night incident in New York. In a 24-hour deli, she feared for her safety from an obsessive fan.
“There was one time in New York in a 24-hour deli late at night, there was a particular character, and I did think: ‘Oh no, this is it, this is going to be the end – in a Korean deli at midnight. I’m going to get macheted. She’s going to realise I’m the person that stands between her and her true love,'” she reveals.
Ex-MP Mike Amesbury’s Assault Scandal Ends Marriage
Former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, 56, lost his party whip, resigned from Runcorn and Helsby, and served brief jail time for common assault after punching a man in Cheshire. The incident destroyed his 18-year marriage to social worker Amanda Perraton, with whom he shares a son.
In his blog, Amesbury reflects: “I lost everything, my career, my good reputation, our family home. And just before Christmas, the end of an 18-year marriage.” He works to rebuild: “I’m trying to slowly gain more work. Trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t easily forgive.”
Alice Naylor-Leyland Celebrates 40th with Fiery Cake
Socialite Alice Naylor-Leyland marked her 40th birthday at London’s Harry’s private members’ club with a triple-tiered cake topped by blazing candles. Fire wardens stood ready amid the spectacle.
“This is 40,” Alice posted online. Guests included film director Emerald Fennell, model Poppy Delevingne, DJ Lady Mary Charteris, and husband Tom Naylor-Leyland, heir to the £176 million Fitzwilliam estate.
Nicola Coughlan’s Dance Moves Irk Bridgerton Co-Star
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan improvised dance moves on the set of The Magic Faraway Tree, drawing criticism from co-star and screenwriter Simon Farnaby, 53. At a BFI Southbank screening, she recounts: “Simon said: ‘Feel free to improvise.'”
However, Farnaby responded: “You know that dancing you’re doing… it’s really annoying. Don’t do that.”
Charles Dance Avoids Giving Acting Advice
Despite a 50-year career, including Game of Thrones, Charles Dance, 79, refrains from mentoring young actors. At Advertising Week Europe, he explains: “It’s a bit arrogant to think you know it all just because you’re ‘a senior’. But if they asked [for acting tips], then yes.”
