JOHNNY DEPP SPEAKS ABOUT BEING IN SCOTLAND AFTER WINNING LIBEL CASE

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JOHNNY Depp talked about how he was feeling in  Scotland after he was asked how it felt to be a free man here. 

Footage has emerged from the Hollywood star’s trip to Glasgow to perform on stage with his musician friend Jeff Beck and the star looked thrilled as he spoke exclusively to theshowbizlion.com . 

Johnny had greeted fans after exiting through the back door of the Dakota hotel in Glasgow and spent time autographing pictures and waving to the awaiting crowd. 

The 58-year-old who was in the hotel’s car park had arrived the previous morning around 3am by tour bus with his Scots bodyguard Malcolm before heading inside the hotel. 

At the time he was unable to stop after the tiring journey from down south but he promised to speak the next day.

Johnny mania hit Glasgow as fans tried to get a glimpse of the Pirates of The Caribbean star ahead of Jeff’s sold out gig at the Royal concert hall. 

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Bev asked Johnny: “Johnny Depp, how does it feel to be a free man in Scotland?”

A smiling Johnny responded: “Oh it feels good to be in Scotland, it feels good.”

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He didn’t say if he was planning to party but later that night had a small gathering with friends including Shane MacGowan’s wife Victoria Mary Clarke backstage at the Royal Concert hall. 

Johnny arrived in Glasgow just days after he won his libel case against his ex-wife Amber Heard this month.

Johnny was awarded compensatory damages of $10million (£8 million) and a further $5 million (£4 million) in punitive damages by a jury.

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The actor sued the Aquaman star Amber over an article  titled: “I spoke up against sexual violence - and face our culture’s wrath. That has to change.” 

His victory has divided opinion but raised conversations about the role of social media, women’s rights, men’s rights and the power of PR. 

From Scotland with love - theshowbizlion.com 

SIR BILLY CONNOLLY IS READY TO ANSWE YOUR QUESTIONS

Sir Billy Connolly will be holding a Question and Answer sessions with his fans around the world as part of his new book promotion.

The Scots comedy legend recently wrote his bestselling autobiography, Windswept & Interesting which sold more than 230,000 copies within its first month of sale.

And to celebrate, next week he plans to give fans some of his precious time to talk about his life.

Billy will chat with writer and broadcaster Damian Barr across his own Facebook and Waterstones Facebook on December 8 at 7:30pm.

The event is FREE and fans can put in their questions via the hashtag #AskBilly on social media from now.

Waterstones’ audience development manager Will Rycroft said: "After the joy of sharing Billy's brilliant autobiography with readers we’re thrilled to be able to bring them together with the man himself for this unique event.

"That word unique is often overused but feels entirely fitting here, and we’re already intrigued to hear what answers we might get on the night."

Billy who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013 turned 79 last week and fans will be keen to see him after he received birthday greetings from around the globe.

Billy has always been a favourite of theshowbizlion.com and we’ve met him in numerous occasions throughout the years. 

His candour and sincerity shine through and the Q and A promises to be fun for all fans.

BODYGUARD STAR RICHARD MADDEN INSISTS IN PAYING TO WATCH HIMSELF IN GLASGOW

 Beverley Lyons
RICHARD Madden ended up paying for his own ticket to see a film he narrated at the Glasgow Film Festival.
The Bodyguard and Game of Thrones star turned up unannounced at the Glasgow Film Theatre for the world premiere of Harry Birrell: Films of Love And War and surprised punters in the audience.
Richard, who told filmgoers in the audience he was in town for some work, had narrated the documentary about amateur camera man Harry Birrell who was born in Paisley in the 1920s.
The documentary was put together from hundreds of hours of amateur footage and is one man’s view of the twentieth century.
Instead of taking a complimentary ticket which was available at the film office, he insisted on paying his £11 for the pleasure of listening to himself.
Richard then sat with films producer and Harry’s granddaughter Corina Birrell and met up with co producer John Archer and Director Matt Pinder at the end.
A GFT film goer said: “We couldn’t believe it when we saw Richard queue for a ticket and then take a seat in the cinema. It was really bizarre. He looked so handsome in his black too and jacket.  He was keen to be pretty low key and he seemed to have a great rapport with Carina Birrell and the crew. It was around three thirty pm and most people didn’t realise they had a real award winning star in their midst.”
Golden Globe and NTA award winner Richard is currently being tipped as the new James Bond as previews of his new movie project Rocketman are released.
The actor plays John Reid Elton Johns former lover and manager in the movie which is due for release at the end of May. Allison Gardner Co-director Glasgow Film Festival, said:  “We are delighted that Richard made the effort to support the film at its debut screenings at Glasgow Film Festival. Richard leant his voice to wonderful documentary and it was a joy to have him the audience'



From Scotland with Love Theshowbizlion.com

HOW LAUREL AND HARDY HELPED ALEX FERGUSON AND HIS SCOTTISH TEAM

Scotland boss Alex McLeish reckons Laurel and Hardy have a lot to do with the success of the old Aberdeen team managed by Sir Alex Ferguson. 

Radio Clyde’s Ewen Cameron who was at the premiere with me earlier this week at the Showcase cinema in Baillieston revealed that Alex got a part in the film as an extra after he bumped into director Jon S Baird at an airport.

Now Eck, as he’s affectionately known, has revealed he has a supporting role in the film (in the background reading a paper as seen here) and added: “Ronald Villiers eat your heart out. I was in the Laurel and Hardy fab club for many years when I was younger. In fact going back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s days we’d meet for pre match meals before the team talk and watch a twenty minute Laurel and Hardy film before it. The whole squad was glued to it. Going back maybe it was the secret of our success.”

Alex joined the club with Andy Gray of City Lights and panto game and got a Sons of The Desert monthly magazine every month.”

The film is a real corker and I’d recommend it highly to anyone young or old,  whether you’re an avid fan of the duo or not. 

Stan and Ollies story is a Brokeback Mountain style narrative where the relationship between the two men is told through their adventure. 

Scots will be delighted to see the Hollywood legends on their tour of the U.K. including the old Empire Theatre in Glasgow. The film is in full colour and it’s incredible to see how much of the clever comedy has lasted through the years. 

Special mention must go to Scottish born Ross Owen who advised on the film and helped to make Steve Coogan and John C Reillys characters come to life. It’s really one of those films you need to watch more than once. 

Meantime ... Stan Laurel’s mother’s grave is about to become the centre of attention in 2019 - and his great granddaughter is planning a visit to Scotland to ensure his memory is kept alive.

Ross Owen who advised on the film told me at the Showcase in Baillieston that he’s  been in regular touch with Cassidy Cook - Stan’s great granddaughter.

He told me: “Stans first ever stage performance was in Glasgow at the Panoptican and he used to live here when he was fifteen or sixteen. His mother Madge died when he was in Scotland and she’s buried in Cathcart cemetery and been there for years but they don’t have a headstone and it’s a bit unkempt. I was telling Cassidy this two weeks ago and she’s going to come over and we are going to put a headstone up and she’s going to do this properly. She’s coming to visit the Panopticon this year.”

And...STILL Game’s Jane McCarrie, Sanjeev Kohli and Gavin Mitchell turned out to the Scottish premiere of Stan and Ollie - and ended up crying.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the end of the brilliant movie about the comedy legends.
It’s really a must watch and the physical comedy is timeless.
All three of the actors were huge fans of the talents. Jane who used to be a drama teacher said she has always loved the duo and even used to teach her students about them in secondary. She said: “In first year the first thing I would make the kids do would be to watch Laurel and Hardy. Most of them had never heard of them and would go ‘Oh no black and white films’. By the end of term they were all converted to big Laurel and Hardy Films.”