SIR BILLY HAS NEW DOG FOR LOCKDOWN

SIR Billy Connolly has posed with a new dog he has adopted through lockdown - and his wife Pamela Stevenson says the pampered pooch’s favourite place to hide is inside his shirt. 
Pamela posted up the latest picture of Glasgow born comedian Billy on Twitter with his latest fur baby as she let fans know that he was safe and well despite Coronavirus hitting all over the world. 
Billy, 77, who is at his home in Australia looked relaxed and healthy as he wore a black T-shirt and shade and showed off his tattooed arms in the sunshine. 
He lovingly held Rascal who is said to be a toy poodle or chipoo with an injured leg. 
Pamela wrote: “Billy’s brave new pal. That broken leg is not stopping him for a second...“
The picture of cuteness attracted so many comments from fans of the funny man. Many asked after his health following his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2013.
Pamela followed up by telling them: “Thanks for all your questions! Replies: Yes Billy is doing well and staying safe thank you!
No idea on the breed. Toy Poodle maybe Chipoo? - name is Rascal. Likes resting inside Billy’s teeshirt.”
Rascal, who was compared to a teddy bear by Pamela's followers, is the latest furry addition to Billy’s home. In a similar post in November, Billy was seen with another pooch in his arms and Pamela told followers online: “Billy just adopted a rescue pal! The savage beast is called Lincoln.”
The picture of Billy and his new puppy is the first since coronavirus lockdown and comes after the comedian reportedly said in March that he wasn’t concerned over Covid 19. 
He said at the time: “It’s very weird. It seems like it’s not really happening. I’m not concerned. Maybe I would if there were screeching up the street or people were grabbed and hustled away. I don’t know what is going on. Everybody seems bewildered. Even the experts seem bewildered on the telly.”

TRNSMT COMES UP WITH COVID ALTERNATIVE

NOTHING beats a great music festival and theshowbizlion.con is gutted that TRNSMT Festival isn’t happening this year in its fully immersive form.  We are thrilled to say that the innovative peeps behind the fest have come up with something that is music to our ears,  On what should have been one of the biggest weekends in the UK’s festival calendar, TRNSMT Festival have announced a weekend of non-stop festival fun as fans mark the upcoming festival weekend. Determined to give TRNSMT fans a festival experience this weekend, ‘TRNSMT AT HOME’ will kick off on the TRNSMT Festival Facebook and YouTube pages at 5pm on Saturday 11th July featuring exclusively ‘made at home’ content from TRNSMT acts including Fontaines D.C, The LaFontaines, Joy Crookes, Dylan John Thomas, The Ninth Wave, Luke La Volpe,  Kawala, Charlotte, Spyres and more. Following this stream, BBC Scotland will air a TRNSMT Takeover on Saturday 11th July at 9pmfeaturing highlights from the festival’s star-studded history including Biffy Clyro, Lewis Capaldi andRadiohead.   After marking the 2020 festival weekend in style - whatever the weather! - fans can now look forward to TRNSMT 2021 with acts including Courteeners, Liam Gallagher, Lewis Capaldi, Ian Brown, Foals, Rita Ora, Sam Fender, Snow Patrol and more set to make sure the 2021 edition is worth waiting for.   TRNSMT 2021 tickets are on sale NOW via – WWW.TRNSMTFEST.COM   Fans can purchase via Tickmaster's payment plan deposit scheme, securing their 2021 ticket from just £33 (+fees) on their payment, followed by two more instalments. Visit Ticketmaster for more info.    TRNSMT will be premiering a ‘TRNSMT AT HOME’ stream, hosted by presenter Laura Boyd. The stream will feature exclusive content from some of the most exciting artists set to perform at TRNSMT 2021 plus some TRNSMT alumni. Streaming from 5pm on Saturday 11th July on Facebook and YouTube, fans can expect performances from the likes of Fontaines D.C, Vistas, The LaFontaines, Joy Crookes, Dylan John Thomas, The Ninth Wave, Luke La Volpe,  Kawala,  Rascalton, Aaron Smith, Another Sky, Voodoos, Tamzene,  Charlotte and Spyres. The chance to catch some of the best stars in the music scene, ‘TRNSMT AT HOME’ will feature some outstanding musical performances as a taster of the festival’s return to Glasgow Green in 2021.   The festival fun doesn’t stop there - TRNSMT Takeover on BBC Scotland, hosted by presenter and DJ Edith Bowman, will feature highlights from some of the most iconic performances from previous years, on what would have been Saturday night at TRNSMT 2020. Edith will present a three-hour long highlight show from TRNSMT’s star-studded history as fans tune in for performances from all three years of the festival, including Biffy Clyro, Lewis Capaldi and Radiohead. Keeping festival spirits high in the comfort of their very own home, fans can tune in from 9pm on Saturday 11th July to BBC Scotland and iPlayer for the very best of TRNSMT.   Entertaining the nation on what is normally one of the biggest weekends in the UK’s festival calendar, TRNSMT has something for everyone this weekend and fans should stay tuned to the festival’s social channels for even more activity #TRNSMTATHOME.

The full list of acts announced for TRNSMT 2021 are: Friday 9th July features Courteeners, Ian Brown, Sam Fender, Blossoms, Yxng Bane, Inhaler, House Gospel Choir and Sports Team on the Main Stage while Little Simz, Joy Crookes, The Lathums, The Regrettes, Red Rum Club andShambolics play the King Tut’s Stage. Playing the River Stage are The Ninth Wave, Voodoos, Gallus, Another Sky, The Mysterines, and One Nine. Taking to the Main Stage on Saturday 10th July is Liam Gallagher, Foals, Keane, AJ Tracey, Twin Atlantic, Beabadoobee, Picture This and Vistas, and on the King Tut’s Stage is Jimmy Eat World, Declan Welsh & The Decadent West, Dylan John Thomas, The Murder Capital, Georgia, Miraa May and Mike McKenzie. On the River Stage; Orla Gartland, Rascalton, Pip Blom, The Hara, Vukovi, Spyres, and St Martiins. Bringing the festival to a close on Sunday 11thJuly, the Main Stage line-up includes Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Rita Ora, Amy Macdonald, Declan McKenna, Jay1 and Sea Girls, while the King Tut’s Stage will feature Loyle Carner, Joesef, Ash, Ryan McMullan, Ms Banks, Kawala, Lyra and Tamzene. Playing the River Stage are Saint PHNX, Chloe Moriondo, Aaron Smith, Charlotte, David Keenan, Luke La Volpeand Sara ‘N’ Junbug.

Tickets for the 2021 festival are available to buy from WWW.TRNSMTFEST.COM.

JACKIE STEWART SUFFERED PAINFUL OP DURING LOCKDOWN

Beverley Lyons 
RACING legend Sir Jackie Stewart has suffered cracked ribs, broken wrists, shoulder injuries and skin cancer, yet he claims an operation he had during the early weeks of lockdown was the most painful experience he’d ever suffered. 
Three time Formula One champion Sir Jackie, 81, from Milton in Dunbartonshire has been spending isolation at his idyllic home in Switzerland with his dementia stricken wife Lady Helen and her two dedicated neuro nurses. 
Having won 99 Grand Prix as well as Formula 1 races in 1969, 1971 and 1973 he is nicknamed The Flying Scot and is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of motorsport. 
As the last surviving Formula 1 world champion from the 60s, he has encountered his fair share of accidents and had his knee and hip replaced through the passage of time, however an operation to his right foot just weeks before his birthday this month put him in need a pit stop. 
He said of the injury: “Well it’s sensitive, put it that way. My right foot did a lot of work in its day. When men were men, we had to wear very light shoes and then we had two pedals for the right foot and only one pedal for the left foot so the left foot is in great shape. The right foot has been abused and it’s amazing. If you look at my hands here you see that is the big toe. Let’s assume that’s these are the other four. The doctor cut them all in two pieces and put them all together in the right place. That was three weeks ago and they said it would take seven days before I could walk properly. It’s painful - The most painful thing I’ve had ever because your weight is all in your foot.”
He laughed: “I’m a married man. I’m used to pain.”
Jackie also took the opportunity during his In The Pink podcast interview to express his fears over Formula 1 taking place without a British Grand Prix. 
He said: “I hope that doesn't happen. That should not be allowed. That's why you've got to have quality and you've got to have integrity and you've got to remember history as well. It would be a mistake. In any case it would be said to have no spectators there. But not to have a British Grand Prix when you consider that Britain started Formula 1 grand prix racing, it was the first time ever there was a world championship Formula 1 race, and it's had such a strong history with tremendous attendances always, to lose that I think would be a disaster for motor sport. I think if they're not careful, that could be the beginning of not such a good time.”

LAURA ANDERSON INTRODUCES NEW FELLA TOM TO PARENTS IN SCOTLAND

Beverley Lyons
LOVE Island’s Laura Anderson has returned from London to Scotland with her new beau - and she introduced hunky Tom Brazier to her dad for the first time since they made their lockdown love public. 
The 32 year old former air hostess who has been living in London got together with fitness coach Tom Brazier during Covid 19 isolation and couldn’t wait to return to her home town of Stirling to introduce him to her dad David in time for Father’s Day. 
Laura revealed that the two lovers were off to Scotland and that her gym instructor man Tom insisted on taking a package full of his own food for the trip. 
She said in an Instagram story: “We’re actually going to Scotland, getting the train and this is what Tom is bringing. That’s his food. Little does he know my dads a feeder.”
Laura and Tom took an Uber from their neighbouring apartments in Chiswick  to London Euston among with Laura’s Pomeranian dog Buddy. 


The two wore face masks and Buddy was strapped to a dog carrier which was fixed at different points to Laura and Tom’s chest, and later lay on the table of the train whole Tom who also posted highlights from the journey on his Insta caught up with some emails. 
As Laura sat back and relaxed in the garden at her dads house in Stirling, she watched him and Tom have a table tennis tournament. Joking that Tom was sh** as he missed the ball, she said it was a ‘Scotland versus England’ match.


She joked: “I’m having a great time.Scotland v England, Tickets for the ping pong show £7.50 guys.”  
It is thought that Laura who said she intended to move back home for good will also visit her mum Barbara Turner, a carer from Glasgow while she is here over the next few days.   
She also managed to spend time with some friends for a birthday party. 
From Scotland with Love

KIRSTY GALLACHER REVEALS HORRID COVID SYMPTOMS

SHE might be a well known face of sport but Kirsty Gallacher said that having coronavirus caused her to have ‘horrific’ sickness and shortness of breath that left her ‘struggling to do anything‘.
The glamorous Edinburgh born former Sky Sports presenter and model claims she was struck down by Covid 19 during the early stages of lockdown and said she was hit by loneliness and major anxiety during it. 
Kirsty, 44, who has been spending lockdown in the middle of the countryside in her new £1.4 million home in Berkshire and has had her sons Oscar, 13 and Jude, 10 living with her for only part of it - after sharing time with their father - admitted she had been really unwell. 
The brunette beauty who now hosts a variety of sporting events including Soccer Aid said: “I actually had coronavirus quite badly just before lockdown. I had it over that period. I didn’t feel normal for about a month at the start of it.  I was very unwell. I completely empathise with people who have had all different strains of it and things go on. I had the whole lot. It was awful. I had the breathing thing which I thought was anxiety because of the lockdown situation. I was full on working the week before lockdown and at the time I didn’t know had it. All these symptoms were not actually really documented until weeks later - like loss of sense of smell and taste and sickness and all those nice pleasant things .”
Kirsty whose father is the former Ryder cup captain Bernard Gallacher split from her husband rugby star Paul Samson in 2014. She had visited Edinburgh in the days before lockdown for a promotion with Gavin Hastings. 

The presenter who takes her fitness and well being seriously, and packs in three personal training sessions a week plus running and swimming on top of sustaining a well-balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, lean meat and fish, admitted that she had suffered anxiety during her illness. 

She said: ”It’s been hard in many ways as well. I was on my own and that was when I felt the loneliness and was really unwell. I was not sure of what was going on and I had major anxiety. I had real trouble breathing. I didn’t go to hospital or anything. I controlled it. Coronavirus is a very strange virus is all I can say. Every day I had something different and  new. The cough actually came last for me which was weird. The shortness of breath, I struggled  just doing anything. having a walk was almost impossible, it really was. 

Kirsty who has tried to get her fitness levels back throughout lockdown with a variety of exercises and took part in Wheels For Heroes on Sky Sports this week said: “It was dreadful and the sickness was horrific. I’m trying to get back to  normal and it’s really hard.”

Now that she is feeling a bit better Kirsty claims she has been enjoying  wearing little to no make up during lockdown. 

She said: “I am low maintenance. One thing about lockdown I’ve been loving is having no make up. I was on Good Morning Britain and had to put on some and almost forgot how to do it.  I’ve been loving not having to do it and it’s been lovely having a rest from it. On TV you end up wearing so much and on TV with high definition you have to have it trowelled on.”

KT TUNSTALL, WET WET WET, LUKE LA VOLPE SAVE SCOTTISH VENUES

KT Tunstall, Wet Wet Wet, Luke La Volpe, Be Charlotte, Fatherson and Hunter and The Bear are just some of the musicians supporting grassroots music venues this week. 

The Xcerts, Hue & Cry, Honeyblood, Anchor Lane, Kerri Watt, Seil Lien, Declan Welsh, The Jellyman’s Daughter and Bow Anderson also join host Vic Galloway to perform across three virtual stages on Friday June 19. 

 Streamed on livefrom.events, the festival will be raising money to support Scotland's vital grassroots music venues facing closure due to Covid-19.

Luke La Volpe, who has already organised 2 successful fundraising events for Music Venue Trust’s #saveourvenues campaign said, “It’s an absolute surprise and honour to be invited to be a Patron for the Music Venue Trust. When I looked at who else they have as patrons I was in shock. The past few weeks have been difficult for absolutely everyone on the planet and I was thinking of ways I could do something positive and all I really have to do that with is music. When I came across the MVT and found out what they do for Grassroots venues it was a no brainer to put something together to help them and spread awareness. 

Every artist starts off in these grassroots venues, including all the other MVT patrons, however big they've got, and without them you have no music business. I’m glad to be part of such a great initiative and will do my bit to ensure that the venues survive and can have us all back playing in front of people before too long.”

 Stina Tweeddale aka. Honeyblood added, “I honestly don’t know where I would be without the grassroots venue touring circuit in the UK. Not only as an artist but as a music lover, these places are the building blocks of the musical community. A venue is so much more than a room where gigs take place - it’s walls soak up every show that goes on within it, creating a history of live music right before our eyes and ears.”

Save Our Scottish Venues kicks off at 8pm on Thursday 18 June with an exclusive set from Fran Healy (Travis) free to view at https://www.facebook.com/musicvenuetrust/. The main festival starts at 8pm on Friday 19 June with 3 stages of music and chat. Line-up and ticket details here: http://musicvenuetrust.com

    Tickets are on sale now from 

www.universe.com/events/save-our-scottish-venues-tickets-edinburgh-307Q9X

TORCHWOOD AND DOCTOR WHO STAR JOHN BARROWMAN RUSHED MUM TO HOSPITAL AFTER FALL

SCOTS actor John  Barrowman ended up having to go to hospital with his mum after she had a bad fall at home during isolation. 
The 53 year old Tochwood and Doctor Who actor from Mount Vernon now lives in Palm Springs with his actor husband Scott Gill.    
The two men ended up in accident and emergency after John’s mum Marion who also lives in Palm Springs at a £500,000 home gifted to her by John with her husband John senior had to be rushed there for treatment. 
John said of his mum who celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary two weeks ago: “My mother had a fall resulting in a fractured pelvis. We had to deal with it today so our social distancing went out the window but we wore masks and lots of sanitizer and alcohol spray. 


“We took her to the hospital. We got her x rayed and obviously we didn’t go in with her. My dad went in with her because only one person was allowed but the doctors who did her hip operation said she’s just going to need bed rest for a couple of weeks and then she is going to be able to get up again. She was in a lot of pain.
He added: “Mum is resting now and comfortable and my dad has put on his chef’s hat and his nurses outfit. It’s a sight to see but they are both doing well. We made sure of it.


He urged fans to send messages to her on his Instagram adding: “If you want to leave them a message go ahead and I will make sure they see it. It would really boost her spirits.”
After Trisha Goddard, Emily Attack and Keith Lemon sent their well wishes, John admitted: “I’m shattered.” And that he was going to have a really big cocktail.