SUSAN BOYLE NEW YEAR SURPRISE IN DUNFERMLINE

SUSAN Boyle surprised revellers celebrating the turn of the year when she turned up for an unplanned duet with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
The Celtic rockers were playing their regular end of year show at the Alhambra when 
Susan arrived to watch her friend and vocal coach Chris Judge perform.  
The 62 year old who recently told that she had suffered a minor stroke last April was just there to watch the show but after speaking with Chris and the band backstage, she was asked if she might like to join them. 
Chris was about to sing his last song of the first half of the show with the pipers but paused to tell the large crowd they had a star in their midst. 
Chris teased: “The singer that we wanted was not available because our favourite singer comes from Blackburn in West Lothian. 
But tonight she’s not in Blackburn West Lothian. Dunfermline please welcome to the stage our friend Susan Boyle.”
Susan then duetted on the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah as the audience went wild. 
And after hitting the high notes with Chris she told the crowd to have a happy new year. 
Chris said of the magical moment: “Susan and I had never properly duetted on stage before and it was such a buzz, the smiles say it all. 
She surprised the audience and earned a worthy standing ovation and it was a moment I will cherish forever.”

The rest of the band added on their social media: “What an honour!!! Last night wasn’t only an incredible night with it being the last show of another amazing year for the band, it was also capped off by an extra special moment when the world famous and Scottish national treasure, Susan Boyle joined us on stage to sing a song with her good friend and our singer, Chris Judge. 
“Susan had came along to the gig, and we couldn’t believe that she was willing to give us the honour and privilege of allowing us to share the stage with her. It’s safe to say that the crowd gave her the reception she deserves, and what a memory it was for every single person in the auditorium last night.”
Happy New Year to all of you out there, much love from all of us wherever you are in the word.”
Susan’s impromptu appearance came after she was filmed stealing the show as she appeared on-stage for a singalong with Donny Osmond in Glasgow at the start of December.
The world talent who shot to fame with her rendition of the Les Mis smash hit I Dreamed A Dream on Britain's Got Talent in 2009, appeared alongside the American singer to preform 'This is the moment.' 

LOONY DOOK MAKES A SPLASH FOR 2023

THE annual Loony Dook saw hundreds of revellers make a splash in the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry to welcome in the New Year. 
Thousands watched on as daredevils as young as eleven years old and well into their sixties ran into the water to celebrate the start of 2023. 
The event has taken place on the record since 1986 when three locals felt it was an appropriate hangover cure, but some claim it began even before then.
Although not ‘officially’ part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme this year, that didn’t stop people from having a dunk, taking it right back to its roots and making it as busy as ever. 
With chill-inducing temperatures at four degrees (which felt like two), the local RNLI were on guard to ensure there were no casualties on the day. 
One of the volunteers from the twenty strong lifeboat crew said: “The waters are really cold so there is the possibility of cold water shock, so our advice to people is to walk in nice and slowly. Some people last five minutes but experienced swimmers can last for twenty minutes sometimes.”
“There’s always pretty spectacular costumes from a bathtub one year to someone dressed as a Forth Bridge.”
People dressed in pink tutus, rugby outfits, Santa hats, in kilts, as a penguin and even a bottle of gin as they took to the water, some even armed with a bottle of Buckfast. 
Siobhan Lees, who dooked in a bikini eleven years ago, said: “My eleven year old daughter Ava Seagroat is doing it with her friend Ella who is also eleven and goes to the local primary school. She is just crazy and loves it and I’ve got cups of herbal tea for her. She goes wild swimming all the time. It’s a great start to the year and fab for the community.”
All participants enjoyed free cake from local bakers.

DREAMMAKER CHARITY BOSS LES HOEY MBE SAYS I DO ON FEBRUARY 29

Exclusive 
Beverley Lyons 
DREAMMAKER charity boss Les Hoey MBE couldn’t believe it when his girlfriend of 38 years asked to marry him. 
Scots charity head Les, 58, who has helped to make thousands of dreams of critically ill children come true admits he was so shocked he burst out laughing when his girlfriend Mandy Cunningham proposed to him yesterday. 
Les, who was heartbroken when his son Darren Hoey was found dead in Edinburgh last year, admits he realised life was too short following the tragedy. 
He said: “It’s been thirty eight years Mandy and I have been going out and it’s just been one of those things we’ve left.”
Mandy, 57, a nurse, had returned home from night shift yesterday morning and decided to take advantage of the date - February 29 - a leap year when it is tradition for women to propose to their partners. 
Wishaw based Les said: “Mandy went to work last night and came in from the night shift with a What’s On Tv magazine which has the words ‘Marry Me’ on the front cover. It was in relation to a shock proposal from Coronation Street. Mandy waved the magazine in my face and said ‘Marry Me’ and I burst out laughing. O didn’t know what she was on about snd then it clicked. We’ve always thought about it with Darren dying because life is too short. I said yes and then Mandy went to bed because she’d been working all night. I’m really happy and can’t wait to celebrate with friends and family.”

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Daily Record. 

From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com 

PAOLO NUTINI BRINGING IN BELLS FOR HOGMANAY IN SCOTLAND

PAOLO Nutini will bring in the bells at Edinburgh's Hogmanay for his only festival performance this year.
The Paisley born multi platinum performer is celebrating the ten year anniversary of is album These Streets and can't wait to get the party started at the flagship Concert in The Gardens. He said: "When they offered us the gig, I was made up, as it was 10 years ago that we had shown up at the castle, lined up to play alongside the Pet Shop Boys and unfortunately it was a washout ... forcing the powers that be to cancel. We went back as a three piece in ‘08 to play a small set before legging it to Glasgow for George Square but this now gives us a chance to make up for lost gigs. We had no plans for any shows this year after Wales but this was the only one that over the years I hoped that we would get another shot at. Edinburgh is electric at that time of year and I'm glad we get a chance to be a part of it. Let's dance ladies and gentleman."
Paolo will join The Charlatans who play The Waverley Stage at the fest alongside another as yet unannounced special guest.
Tim Burgess said: "Nowhere in the world sees in the New Year like Scotland. I've been to Edinburgh before for Hogmanay and it's always brilliant. Looking forward to another big night.”
The Castle Stage at the fest features performances from leading Scottish Celtic crossover bands Salsa Celtica , Manran and Ross Ainslie, Ali Hutton & Friends while The Frederick Stage (Party) provides the soundtrack to the whole Street Party with a heart-thumping, show stopping, disco dancing set featuring DJ’s, dancers and performers from Guilty Pleasures.
VJ’s Buttercup and Pixels mix cutting-edge visuals to accompany the dance tunes which are relayed on seven screens along the length of Princes Street and throughout the Street Party arena.
The Mound Stage programmed in collaboration with the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival hosts James Brown is Annie, Brass Gumbo and Blues n Trouble.
The Candlelit Concert will take place in the magnificent setting of St Giles’ Cathedral.
Tickets for Concert in the Gardens, the world famous Street Party, The Old Town Ceilidh, pre-booked Torches and wristbands for the Torchlight Procession and registration for the Loony Dook, go on general sale on Friday 30 September through www.edinburghshogmanay.com, by calling Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Box Office on 0844 573 8455 or by calling into the Hogmanay Box Office at The Fringe Office, 180 High Street, Edinburgh. Limited pre-sale Concert in the Gardens tickets will be on sale to edinburghshogmanay.com registered users from 10.00am on Thursday 22 September.

Street Party tickets are priced at £25.00 (including booking fee). Early bird tickets for EH postcode residents priced at £20.00 (including booking fee) are available until 30 November. Old Town Ceilidh Tickets are priced at £47.50 (including Booking Fee). Torches for the Torchlight Procession can be pre-booked (priced at £12.00), price includes a wristband for access to the Torchlight Procession, additional wristbands for accompanying friends and family can be purchased at £3.00. Sale of Torches and Torchlight Procession wristbands include a donation to Unicef. Registration for the Stoats Loony Dook is also open (£10.00 including booking fee and 10% donation to the South Queensferry branch of the RNLI). Tickets for the Final Fling are priced at £6.50 (including Booking Fee) and £20.00 for a family ticket, (2 adults, 2 children) and for Candlelit Concert at £18.50 (including Booking Fee).

Limited Premium Three Day packages will be available for Concert in the Gardens and Old Town Ceilidh from Friday 30 September.

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com