SCOTS WRESTLER GRADO STRANDED IN NEW YORK

SCOTS Wrestler Grado is stranded in New York after being caught up in Storm Stella.
The professional wrestler and Scots Squad actor admitted he'd been enjoying some extra time in the US city after British Airways cancelled his flight home.
He said: "I don't know when I'm going to get home and to be honest I don't really care. I was walking in Central Park yesterday thinking 'This is rubbish. I've only got a day and a half left' and then I got a text saying 'Your flight tomorrow has been cancelled.'
Kerry, my girlfriend, knew there was a big storm coming. British Airways texted me "Your flights been cancelled' but I don't care. There's worse places to be stranded in. Do you know what I mean?"
He added: "I'm buzzing. They say this is the biggest storm for years, the storm of the century but the bagel shop was still mobbed. Don't worry about me. I'm going to be safe, I'm going to be in the pub drinking beer, and eating ribs."
Grado has been told he may be able to fly back home on Thursday.


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

RIVER CITY'S GARY LAMONT IS LEAVING

RIVER City actor Gary Lamont has announced he's leaving the series - and claims he wanted to go out on a high..
Producers claim the door will be left open but in an emotional announcement online Gary who plays much loved hairdresser Robbie Fraser said: "I am leaving Shieldinch. It's been hush hush and a secret. The first series I was booked for was eight weeks and I've managed to wring eight years out of them so I don't think I'm doing too badly. It's a good thing. It's a positive thing."
Admitting it made him a bit teary eyed he added: "It's weird getting upset about it because I've never actually said it. I think I'm just pretending that it's not happening. It's been marvellous and the best job I could ever wish to have. I always wanted to go when I was at the top and I feels as if I'm at the top. I couldn't ask for anything more. I'd rather go while it's good."
Gary who performed his own show at the Edinburgh festival recently appeared on 69 Shades of Gay at Oran Mor and has some more live theatre dates in the works.
Executive Producer Kieran said:
"Gary brings magic to every scene which has made him an audience favourite for the last eight years. We are so sorry to lose Gary but know that we have kept him to ourselves for long enough and now he needs to go and do other things.
Robbie has been at the heart of River City with gripping storylines including soap’s first ever domestic abuse storyline between a gay couple. We’re planning to make the most of Gary while we have him and will put Robbie through the wringer one last time with a fittingly dramatic and heroic finale.
Everyone at River City will miss Gary for who he is behind the scenes as well as the wonderful things he has done on screen. We wish him all the success in the world, but if Robbie ever wants to come back, the door is open."


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

RIVER CITY LEAH MACRAE LITERALLY BREAKS A LEG DURING GLASGOW SHOW

RIVER City and Gary Tank Commander actress Leah MacRae proved the show must go on - performing from a wheelchair after dramatically snapping her Achilles' tendon during her stage show.
The Scots actress was walking off from the first half of My Big Fat Fabulous Diary at Eastwood Park theatre when she heard a loud noise.
And despite the theatre's medical staff advising her to go straight to A and E, Leah proved to be the real trouper and insisted on performing the second half in a wheelchair before heading to hospital.
Leah said: "I heard a big bang, like a whiplash as I went off stage and the next thing I knew I couldn't walk properly. The audience and my crew didn't have a clue what happened and for a minute or two I was behind the stage feeling dazed and upset. They wanted me to go to hospital straight away but I just said I wanted to finish the show."


Leah went back on stage in a wheelchair after an announcement was made saying there had been an issue.
She said : "The show is a comedy and I think the audience thought it was all part of the act. There was something really weird about singing Defying Gravity in a wheelchair.'
Leah who has had now rescheduled the rest of her May performances was rushed from stage to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow.
She said: "I do a lot of exercise and thought I'd just sprained my tendon but the doctor told me it was ruptured and pretty serious and that I'd have to be plastered up for a number of months."
I've now got a lovely big cast on my left leg and had to tell the River City producers who were brilliant and said they'd work round it. Everyone had been lovely and the theatre and hospital were great with me so I'd like it thank everyone.
The rescheduled dates for the show are the Village Theatre East Kilbride:, Friday 4th August and Rutherglen Town Hall Sat 5th August.



- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

RIVER CITY'S JOHNNY BEATTIE AND HIS BIRTHDAY WISH

RIVER City star Johnny Beattie is hoping for the best birthday present ever for his ninetieth - for Donald Trump to fail in the US election.
Johnny, who was given a special luncheon by the Showbiz Benevolent Fund to celebrate his ninetieth and many years in Showbiz said: "I'm nearly ninety. I'm nearly as old as my gags and that's saying something. I turn ninety on November 9. It's the day after the big election between the two funny people over in America. He would have done well over here in our variety business - Donald Trump. By god what a turn he'd have been - Donald Chump. Is that going in cause he'll sue me. He's sued everybody else so he might as well sue me. Nice to sue you to sue you nice.
He added: "The best present for my ninetieth would be for Donald Trump to not be president of the United States because let's face it, we're all doomed if he is."


Johnny, who left River City last year, has been enjoying time away from our screens .
He said: "The reason I had to stop was I had had vertigo and it was a balance thing but quite honestly I'd have carried on - even now. I really miss it but I keep in touch with all the cast like Eileen McCallum and Una Maclean. I loved River City and was thirteen years in there.


He reminisced about Jack Milroy, Anne Fields who just passed away, Jimmy Logan and Peter Duranz.
He says he used to do a sketch that is like a Strictly take off - 'We did Wilson Keppel and Beattie.'..
He says his ears are not so good but in fine fettle apart from that. I've still got a jig or two in me - it's just my hearing."
He told stories and so did Maureen Beattie, Alasdair Gillies, Dean Park and Alastair Mcdonald -



Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Sunday Express and Sunday Post.

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

JOHNNY BEATTIE DOESN'T WANT TRUMP TO JUMP OUT HIS CAKE

RIVER City star Johnny Beattie is hoping for the best birthday present ever for his ninetieth - for Donald Trump to fail in the US election.
Johnny, who was given a special luncheon by the Scottish Showbiz Benevolent Fund to celebrate his 63 years in showbiz and ninetieth birthday said: "I turn ninety on November 9. It's the day after the big election between the two funny people over in America. He would have done well over here in our variety business - Donald Trump. By god what a turn he'd have been - Donald Chump. Is that going in cause he'll sue me? He's sued everybody else so he might as well sue me. Nice to sue
you to sue you nice.


He added: "The best present for my ninetieth would be for Donald Trump to not be president of the United States because let's face it, we're all doomed if he is."

Excerpts of this article appeared in the Sunday Express

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com