Celebrity Gossip

[Perdita]

Bob Holness has died, aged 83. I used to love watching Blockbusters. RIP Bob



Blockbusters presenter Bob Holness has died at the age of 83.

Holness passed away on Friday morning (January 6) peacefully in his sleep, according to his family.

The TV icon, who has previously suffered from a series of strokes, was living in a nursing home.

Born Robert Wentworth John Holness in Natal, South Africa, Holness moved to the UK with his family as a child, before briefly returning to South Africa to work for a printing company.

He began his distinguished broadcasting career in 1955, the same year he also married his wife Mary. Bob and Mary returned to the UK together in 1961, where his career blossomed.

Holness is survived by his wife Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.

[Siobhan]

RIP Bob... (use to love Blockbusters but my niece who at the time was 2 and just talking, use to call it black *******s )

[megan999]

I used to love Blockbusters too....I'll have a P please Bob....I used to have a card game based on the TV series. RIP Bob

[alan45]

Bob Holness, former host of daytime quiz show Blockbusters, has died at 83.

In a statement, his family said he had "died peacefully in his sleep" early on Friday morning.

Holness, who had suffered a series of strokes, had been in a nursing home. He is survived by his wife Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.

Holness "was also an accomplished theatre actor and his radio broadcasting career spanned over six decades", the family statement added.

South African-born Holness joined the BBC in the 1960s and hosted Late Night Extra on Radio 1 and Radio 2, alongside presenters including Terry Wogan.

The show continued to air on Radio 2's AM frequency only until 1975, before Holness moved to commercial station LBC, co-hosting the morning show with Douglas Cameron.

'Positive reception'
Early in his broadcasting career, he also became the second actor to portray James Bond, starring in a radio adaptation of Moonraker in 1956.

In 2008, he told the BBC that the opportunity "just came up through a hole in the floor".


Holness hosted Call My Bluff from 1996 until 2002
"I was doing lots of radio plays at the time but I wanted to do something a bit different, so when James Bond came up I ventured in and said yes."

He said he had never heard of the character but that it "became an amazing part to play and the response from listeners was terrific".

However he remains best known for hosting ITV gameshow Blockbusters, from 1983 to 1993, complete with its hexagonal board, gold runs and the classic double entendre contestant request: "Can I have a P please, Bob?"

"People say 'Don't you ever get fed up with it?' but I didn't," he once said.

"I loved everything to do with the show so it always got a very positive reception from me, however many times I heard it."


Douglas Cameron and Holness presented together on LBC
He continued to appear on the airwaves, hosting shows including a Tuesday night broadcast on Radio 2, presenting the BBC Radio Orchestra's selection of the best in popular music.

He also presented the BBC World Service request show Anything Goes - a show purported to be a favourite of Aung San Suu Kyi while under house arrest - bringing him a new legion of international fans.

From 1996 until 2002, he hosted the BBC's long-running panel game Call My Bluff on television.

But his health began to deteriorate in the 1990s after he suffered a mini-stroke; a more severe attack in 2002 led to temporary paralysis.

Those who have paid tribute to Holness include Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan who said he was "a talented and much-loved presenter who will be sadly missed".

BBC Radio 4 presenter Martha Kearney, meanwhile, said she had worked with him on the LBC AM Bob and Doug show and described him as a "real gent".



I'LL HAVE AN R I P PLEASE BOB (C)

[Chloe O'brien]

R.I.P Bob I remember Blockbusters well. It was supposed to be a game show for kids but it was amazing the amount of adults who used to tune in as well. We all loved a giggle with that catchphrase "I'lll have a P please Bob"

[Perdita]

Beyoncé welcomed her and husband Jay-Z's first daughter Ivy Blue Carter into the world yesterday (January 7).

The singer gave birth by Caesarean section at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York with Jay-Z present, according to reports.

The couple are said to have booked the entire fourth floor of the hospital, costing $1.3m (£840,000), while Beyoncé checked in under the name Ingrid Jackson.

Friends of the pair have taken to Twitter to send congratulatory messages since the news broke.

Rihanna tweeted: "Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih."

Russell Simmons added: "congrats to my good friends Beyoncé and Jay-Z."

A spokesperson for the couple is yet to confirm the news and security at the hospital has apparently been tightened.

Beyoncé announced her pregnancy on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards last August.

Congratulations to them.

[tammyy2j]

Heather Locklear is said to be in a conscious and stable condition after being rushed to hospital on Thursday (January 12).

The Melrose Place actress - who successfully completed an in-patient rehabilitation programme for a prescription drug dependency in 2010 after being involved in a hit-and-run accident - was examined by paramedics and taken for medical treatment in an ambulance.

It is thought that she may have mixed prescription drugs and alcohol.

A spokesperson for Los Robles Hospital told KNBC Los Angeles that Locklear will remain in hospital overnight, adding that she is conscious, stable and "resting comfortably".

According to TMZ, Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the fire service were the first to respond to Locklear's sister's call to the emergency services, which was placed at 2.05pm on Thursday afternoon.

Captain Mike Aranda from the Sheriff's Department later told People: "Emergency response personnel responded to a medical emergency call at Ms Locklear's residence. Once they arrived, it was determined that Ms Locklear needed to be transported to the hospital for further medical attention."

The star recently called off her engagement to The Bold and the Beautiful actor Jack Wagner. It has since been reported that they separated because planning their wedding put too much pressure on their relationship and living together was too hard for their children from previous relationships.

Wagner has insisted that he and Locklear "still love each other very much".

[Perdita]

Paul Weller and his wife Hannah Andrews have welcomed twin sons.

The 'Going Underground' singer revealed that Andrews gave birth to sons Bowie and John-Paul over the weekend.

A statement on Weller's website read: "Paul and his wife Hannah are happy to announce that their twins John-Paul and Bowie were born on Saturday (January 14).

"Both boys are healthy and doing well following the birth and Paul and Hannah are thrilled and over the moon. Paul would like to thank his fans for all their well wishes over the last few months. Congratulations to Paul and Hannah."

Weller began dating his former back-up singer Andrews in 2008 and tied the knot in Capri, Italy two years later.

The musician was previously married twice before to singer Dee C Lee and Samantha Stock.

Weller's 11th solo album Sonik Kicks will be released later this year.

[Perdita]

Henry Winkler has revealed that he has become a grandfather once again.

The Arrested Development actor tweeted the news that daughter Zoe Emily gave birth to son Ace on Saturday (January 14).

"Ok at 2:26 pm LA time ACE was born. A papa again!!!!!! 7lbs 6oz. GRAND DAD," Winkler posted on Twitter.

Winkler later thanked well-wishers for a wave of congratulatory messages, writing: "Thank you so much on [behalf] of our grandson ACE. very smart very handsome your good wishes are appreciated mother father son so fine."

Ace is Zoe Emily's first child.

Late last year, Winkler told Digital Spy that he would not rule out starring in a reality television series.

[Perdita]

Etta Jams has died at the age of 73.

The singer passed away in a hospital in Riverside, California after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2010, according to her longtime friend and manager Lupe De Leon.

James was with her husband Artis Mills and her sons when she died from complications with leukaemia, and would have turned 74 on Wednesday (January 25).

"This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world," De Leon said in statement.

"She was a true original who could sing it all - her music defied category. I worked with Etta for over 30 years. She was my friend and I will miss her always."

James first appeared on the music scene in 1955, but didn't release her debut album - titled At Last! - until 1961.

Throughout her career, she opened concerts for The Rolling Stones, won six Grammy Awards and was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame back in 1993.


RIP Etta