JAMIENAMIKIM

‘I’m so sorry about your cancer diagnosis. You must’ve had an awful year,’ I say to political comedian and Spitting Image impressionist Matt Forde in a chat ahead of his Edinburgh Fringe 2024 show – The End of an Era.

‘You know, I see it as a brilliant year,’ he says.

Over the next half an hour it becomes clear this optimism is inherent in Matt – an unusual trait for a political comedian, a species of comic known for drowning in their own cynicism.

The 41-year-old was performing at the Fringe last year when he experienced terrible back pain, which he assumed was a slipped disc. He never guessed it would be cancer.

‘When I was told it was cancer, I thought: “I don’t feel like I’ve got cancer. I’m not emaciated, and I’m not, apart from the pain, unwell.”

‘You quickly have to come to terms with it and I think when you’re having those conversations, you’re really not sure how long you’ve got left.’

The Spitting Image star – who voices Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and Donald Trump – counted himself lucky, even if he lost the ability to walk when he was operated on after the discovery of a spine tumour. (Quite the problem when you’re a stand-up comedian…)

‘I hopefully won’t have my life shortened by it, and my quality of life hasn’t significantly diminished,’ he says.

‘I’ve got a stoma and I have to self-catheterise in order to pee, and I still need walking sticks to get about, but my walking is improving and I don’t think I’ll need them forever.

‘Really, these things are quite small, I think, compared to the sacrifices that other people make.’

To have missed the asteroid, as Matt puts it, really brings things into perspective.

‘It was actually one of the greatest experiences of my life,’ he says. ‘It really enriched my experience of and perspective on life.

‘I feel like I got something extra out of life for having gone through this, rather than having lost anything.’

Having cancer reaffirmed Matt’s political beliefs about the incredible work done in the NHS.

‘During the night shift when I was incapable of changing my own colostomy bag – inevitably, as anyone else with a stoma will tell you, you often have accidents, and it’s not pleasant if you can’t help yourself.

‘So when you’re covered in s**t, if there’s a nurse there who spends the time with you and takes that embarrassment away…

‘When I knew particular nurses were going to be on it, I would feel better. It helped me with my pain. If I was more anxious, I was in more pain. And I just think that is an amazing thing. You know, just their personality alone was medicine.’

Another experience that has taught Matt a lot was attempting to interview all 650 candidates head of the recent general election. (He didn’t succeed – but 150 is no small feat.)

‘Their ability to withstand pressure and defeat and rejection is stuff that I think most of us couldn’t handle,’ he reckons of the political hopefuls, the majority of whom he said were ‘well-meaning and interesting’ people.

‘I spoke to so many candidates who basically knew they were going to lose, but that wasn’t the point: they believed that people should be given the option to vote with their hearts and with their heads for values that they truly believe in, regardless of what was likely to happen.

‘I find that really impressive, that people care so much about their values, that they will risk personal defeat so other people can kind of coalesce around it.’

That sounds an awful lot like stand-up comedy.

‘Oh yes,’ Matt agrees. ‘In a superficial way, they even take place in similar arenas – on stages, often with hostile audiences – so, there absolutely are parallels.’

As a political comedian, Matt has been working with a treasure trove of material over the past few years – with Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss, to name a few – who provided all those glorious moments of incompetence.

But now, since Sir Keir Starmer was elected on July 4, for the first time in his comedy career, Matt is joking under a Labour government.

The Absolute Radio host had to completely rewrite his set, which, weeks before the Edinburgh Festival was a bit of a nightmare – but one he revels in.

‘I’ve only existed as a political comedian under a Tory government, so to have a new government take the piss out of and to analyse and to write jokes about is a great creative challenge,’ he says.

‘I wanted Labour to win for national reasons, but I am relishing getting stuck into taking the mick out of Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner and everyone else, rather than just constantly have to go back to the Tory well and figure out something new to say about them.

‘Of course, it’s a challenge. Because if you’re more sympathetic to one side…’ he trails off.

‘I’ve always taken the piss out of the Labour Party as much as I have the Tories. But it’s kind of interesting when you’ve got a government that’s going to do probably more of what I want.

‘Obviously people make mistakes. There’s still incompetence, all the rest of the stuff that is great for political comedy, and there’s new voices to master.

‘So there will always be plenty of material.’

Material aside, while at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Matt doesn’t have back pain to contend with, having had the base of his spine removed in October he’s still using walking sticks.

‘I try to do it with one walking stick instead of two, otherwise I can’t hold the microphone,’ he says, explaining how it’s particularly hard during work in progress shows, which require him to hold notes.

‘I’ve had a few wobbles, and have almost fallen over a couple of times,’ he admits.

But it’s also been joyous.

‘It’s just been so magical getting back to work,’ Matt beams. ‘Because there’s a period in your life where you do have to be a patient and solely focus on that, and your physical and emotional recovery.

‘But you don’t want to become defined by it after a while. You want to get back to your interests, and to be back on stage. I’ve always loved it as a job – but I love it even more now.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for COVID and is in hospital with double pneumonia, his representatives have announced.

The disgraced music mogul, 72, is awaiting retrial for sexual assault charges in New York from the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward, as he is being treated for a ‘myriad of health conditions’.

In April Weinstein’s rape conviction – which saw him handed a 23-year prison sentence – was overturned sending shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry.

He was initially put behind bars in March 2020 after he was found guilty of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sexual act, but in April it was determined that the judge in the trial had prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings.

However, Weinstein is still effectively serving a life sentence for his second rape and sexual assault conviction in Los Angeles, which will see him behind bars for 16 years.

Now, his representative Craig Rothfeld has told The Wrap the former producer is in hospital ‘so that he can be treated for the myriad of health conditions that he is still afflicted with on a daily basis, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, fluid on his heart and lungs and various other conditions.’

Rothfeld added: ‘In addition, Mr Weinstein tested positive for COVID and contracted double pneumonia in his lungs.’

Days after the ruling was overturned in April, Weinstein was taken to hospital withWeinstein’s attorney Arthur Aidala describing his health as a ‘train wreck’.

On what the news of Weinstein’s retrial means, leading criminal defence lawyer Richard Cannon, partner at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, explained to Metro.co.uk: ‘Weinstein will not be released as a result of this decision because he is also serving a sentence of 16 years imposed by a Court in California.’

On whether he will seek retrial for his Los Angeles ruling, Cannon noted that while it is not certain, groups like the Silence Breakers are likely to put pressure on.

‘The decision to seek a retrial will be down to the Manhattan District Attorney, there is likely to be a lot of pressure from victim groups to do so,’ he said.

‘Now he has won this appeal, it is possible he will seek to appeal the Californian 2023 conviction on the basis of the prejudicial effect the 2020 New York conviction had on those proceedings.’

Speaking after the ruling, Weinstein spokesperson Juda Engelmayer told Deadline: ‘We’re cautiously excited.

‘He still has a long road ahead of him because of the Los Angeles case.

‘We are studying the ramifications of the appeal right now.’

During a press conference, Weinstein’s lawyer Arthur Aidala also called the Court of Appeal’s ruling ‘a great day for America’.

‘It may sound like an exaggeration but it’s not, today’s legal ruling is a great day for America because it instils in us the faith that there is a justice system,’ he said.

A spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office told the PA news agency: ‘We will do everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Daisy Edgar-Jones has revealed that she has a celebrity doppelganger – and it’s a beloved Netflix star.

Daisy, 26, is starring in Twisters opposite Glen Powell and has been promoting this thriller film on a jam-packed press tour with her co-stars.

The star has made some pretty hilarious confessions as she revealed she ‘wet herself’ and called an ambulance after smoking weed and she called into BBC Radio 1 at age 14 to confess she loves yodelling.

In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz and Glen Powell on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the star revealed her celebrity doppelganger – who is a huge Netflix star.

When asked if fans ever confuse her with anyone Daisy replied: ‘I get Anne Hathaway a lot, and Joe Quinn.’

‘I haven’t been mistaken for Joe Quinn but people do tell me I look like a female Joe Quinn.’ She then added, ‘I see it.’

Glen and Josh thoroughly disagreed and said she didn’t at all look like the A Quiet Place: Day One star.

Her co-star said Joe was a ‘handsome dude’ but: ‘I just don’t think you guys look the same.’

In an interview with Elle in 2022, the star again said that fans had told her she looked like like the Stranger Things star who played Eddie Munson in the series and is set to star in Gladiator 2.

‘Apparently, I’m really great in the most recent season of Stranger Things,’ she told ELLE UK during a recent game of Ask Me Anything.

‘Everyone is saying I look like Joe [Joseph] Quinn, who is brilliant in that series. I do see the likeness.

She then added that she thinks this could be a great chance for them to play relatives: ‘I think we could play brother or sister. That was quite funny. Everyone is like “Oh my God, you’re in Stranger Things”.’

The Normal People star’s fans were divided and while some could see the similarities, many felt that she looked more like Anne than Joe.

‘They need to make a film about clones and put these two! They look a lot alike! 🥂,’ said brandonlee902.

‘She looks like Anne Hathaway more than anything,’ said Kristinachestnut.

‘I don’t see Ann Hathaway, but I can see the female version of Joe Quinn,’ said yet another on Instagram sngoldman_87.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Jennifer Aniston has expressed her disgust after Senator J.D. Vance, who is vying to become the next Vice President of the United States, made an offensive comment about women without children.

The Friends star was particularly disturbed by Vance’s resurfaced 2021 comments, where he described childless women like Vice President Kamala Harris as ‘childless cat ladies.’

On Wednesday, July 24, Aniston, 55, took to Instagram to slam the politician for his comments.

She wrote: ‘I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of The United States.’

‘All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day,’ she continued, referencing her own struggles with IVF.

‘I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option,’ Aniston continued, ‘because you are trying to take that away from her, too.’

Aniston’s post featured a screenshot of a tweet that brought Vance’s July 2021 interview with then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson back into the spotlight.

In the interview, the Ohio Republican criticized Democratic U.S. leadership, saying it was dominated by ‘a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.’

He specifically named Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

He continues in the clip: ‘It’s just a basic fact- you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC – the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children. And how does it make any sense that we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?’

Harris is a stepmother to her husband Doug Emhoff’s two children, Cole, 29, and Ella, 25. Vance and his wife Usha have three children, Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

Vance’s remarks have become even more contentious in light of recently being named as former President Donald Trump’s running mate for the 2024 presidential election, after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek re-election, paving the way for Harris to run for the presidency.

Aniston’s reaction is almost certainly rooted in her well-known personal experiences with fertility issues.

In an interview with Allure in November 2022, she discussed the pain caused by years of speculation about her potential pregnancies.

‘All the years and years and years of speculation… It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it. I would have given anything if someone had said to me, “Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favor.” You just don’t think it.’

Although she didn’t go into detail about her IVF journey, she revealed, ‘Here I am today. The ship has sailed… I actually feel a little relief now because there is no more, “Can I?” I don’t have to think about that anymore.’

In a 2016 Huffington Post essay, Aniston tackled the false pregnancy reports head-on, criticizing the societal pressures placed on women.

She wrote: ‘Here’s where I come out on this topic: We are complete with or without a mate, with or without a child. We get to decide for ourselves what is beautiful when it comes to our bodies. That decision is ours and ours alone.’

The Morning Show actress continued: ‘Let’s make that decision for ourselves and for the young women in this world who look to us as examples. Let’s make that decision consciously, outside of the tabloid noise. We don’t need to be married or mothers to be complete. We get to determine our own “happily ever after” for ourselves.’

Aniston’s reaction comes amid increased scrutiny into Vance’s stances on women’s health issues.

Notably, Vance is not only anti-abortion (even in cases of rape and incest) but was one of only 28 members of Congress who opposed a new rule that would limit law enforcement’s access to women’s medical records. The rule was an attempt to limit the possibility of women being prosecuted for abortions and other reproductive health measures.

Even more extreme was his promotion of Viktor Orban’s pro-natalist policies in Hungary, which were intended to encourage couples to have more children.

As the US Presidential election grows more and more wild, stars like Jennifer Aniston are becoming more and more vocal about their political stances.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Country singer and Miley Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, has spoken out about the expletive-filled rant he directed at his wife, Australian singer Firerose. 

The audio, which Billy Ray confirmed was authentic, reveals the singer berating Firerose, 37 – calling her an assortment of nasty names. 

In a statement posted to his Instagram story, Billy Ray wrote: ‘Hell yeah I was at my wit’s end. As every day went by, I started realizing something was wrong. And that’s before I knew she was a fraud.’

The message continues, with Billy Ray repeatedly blaming his estranged wife for his behaviour. 

‘I just knew something wasn’t right. That was before I knew she was David Hodges ex-wife. That’s before I knew her parents last name. I had no idea she was arrested for felony residential burglary. 

‘I saw before my very own eyes, everything I thought I knew about her, was a lie. She was trying to take over my career, my life and usurp the Cyrus name for her own gain. 

He finished the post ominously: ‘See you in court.’

Firerose, for her part, has claimed that she was subject to ‘extreme verbal, emotional and psychological abuse’ throughout her seven-month marriage to Billy Ray. 

The audio of Billy Ray’s rant, obtained by the Daily Mail, is reportedly about a situation in which the singer missed a stage performance, something he evidently blamed on Firerose: ‘If you had just left it the f**k alone, now I’m really f**king p***ed, once again showing you will not listen. 

‘I don’t know who the f**k you think you are, but you will not listen…this ain’t about nothing this is about you being a selfish f**king b***h.’

He continues, shockingly: ‘I don’ think you’re real smart, I’ve changed my mind on that s**t. What I think you are is a selfish f**king b***h. That’s what you are.’

Firerose can then be heard asking him to please stop shouting, to which he responde: ‘This would not be happening if you had just shut your f**king mouth. Look what a f**king mess you’ve made. 

‘What a dumb ass [you are] …’cos you have to know I will not tolerate that s**t. You just f**ked up…f**k you. You know better than that. F**king idiot.’

The Daily Mail also reports that additional audio reveals Billy Ray going after his famous daughter, Miley, saying: ‘Everyone knows that devil’s a skank.’

A feud between Miley and Billy Ray has been rumoured since last year when the Grammy-winning Flowers singer, 31, appeared to skip her dad’s wedding for Firerose. 

Billy Ray and Miley’s mother Tish Cyrus were married since 1993 but officially divorced in 2022 – with Billy Ray marrying Firerose just four months later. 

Miley also did not thank her father in her winning speech at the Grammy Awards in February.

An insider claimed to Us Weekly: ‘He’s tried reaching out to Miley many times and congratulated her on her Grammys.’

Tish and Billy Ray announced their divorce in April 2022, after Tish filed for divorce, claiming that she had not lived with her ex-husband since February 2020.

‘It is after 30 years, five amazing children and a lifetime of memories, we have decided to go our separate ways—not with sadness, but with love in our hearts,’ they told People Magazine in a message.

‘We have grown up together, raised a family we can be so proud of, and it is now time to create our own paths.

‘We will always be family and look forward to a continued and loving shared experience as friends and parents.’

But according to a text exchange obtained by DailyMail.com, Billy Ray said of Tish to his publicist Scott Adkins: ‘She is a liar…a w***e…and a cheat. Complete skank. Scum of the earth. A fraud.’

Comparing her to Lindsay Lohan’s mother, Dina, 61, he continued: ‘Makes Deanna [sic] Lohan look like Mother Theresa.’ 

These leaked messages and audio clips come after reports that Billy Ray filed for  divorce Firerose – and kicked her out of their home – the day before she was set to get a double mastectomy.

Firerose reportedly discovered she was a carrier of BRCA1 gene in 2020 and was ‘highly recommended’ to have both breasts removed and reconstructed in order to avoid developing breast cancer.

Court documents seen by People read: ‘On the day Wife was set to get her surgery, she was instead searching for a place to live and under a significant amount of emotional distress.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Former James Bond actor George Lazenby has announced his retirement at the age of 84.

The Australian actor followed Sean Connery’s Bond, taking up the 007 mantle in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. He was the second actor ever cast in the role.

While he only appeared as Bond in one film, it remains beloved among fans, and he is well-known for his portrayal of the suave spy – even if he had the shortest Bond tenure in the franchise’s history.

Now, George has announced in an emotional statement that he is officially retiring and won’t be making anymore public appearances, as ‘getting older is no fun’.

Taking to X, George wrote: ‘This hasn’t been an easy decision but it’s time to announce my retirement from work.

‘Therefore, I won’t be doing any more acting or making public appearances, doing any more interviews or signing any more autographs as of today. It’s been a fun ride but getting older is no fun.

‘I would like to thank my manager and friend, Anders Frejdh, for helping me since 2013 – the best representative I ever had.

‘I can now concentrate on spending more time with my family. My sincere gratitude to everyone out there for your love and support over the years. It has meant a lot to me. George xx.’

The statement comes after George had a fall in December which caused a head injury and left him hospitalised.

Last year he kept a low profile ahead of his health update after he was axed from his own live theatre show Down Under for allegedly making inappropriate comments.

George was touring his Aussie homeland with The Music of James Bond in concert venues, being interviewed alongside live singing and full orchestra performance.

However, he was reportedly heard boasting about his sexual conquests, swearing, and making homophobic remarks during an interview.

He is said to have upset the audience in Perth and was later dropped from all future gigs.

In September last year, organiser Concertworks shared a statement to announce his Melbourne show would not be going ahead.

‘Concertworks is extremely saddened and disappointed by George Lazenby’s language, comments and recollections during The Music of James Bond concert at the Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 10 September,’ the message read.

‘These were his personal views and there is no excuse for this in today’s society. They do not reflect the views of Concertworks.

‘On behalf of Concertworks, we sincerely apologise to the audience, performers, conductor, WASO and the Perth Concert Hall.

‘Concertworks denounces Mr Lazenby’s conduct and the final Music of James Bond concert in Melbourne will proceed without Mr Lazenby in attendance.’

George later took to X himself with an apology, saying he was ‘saddened to hear’ some of his stories ‘might have offended’ people.

‘It was never my intention to make homophobic comments and I am truly sorry if my stories that I have shared many times were taken that way,’ he said.

Born on September 5 1939 in New South Wales, Australia, George moved to London in 1964 after serving in the Australian army.

He worked as an auto mechanic, car salesman and as a male model, before becoming an actor.

Four years after moving to the UK, George was cast as Bond despite his only acting experience being in commercials.

George bought a tailor-made suit from Sean Connery’s tailor for the audition and was said to have bluffed his way into the role.

Despite the lengths he went to bag the Bond gig, George quit the role after just the one film.

Talking to The Guardian in 2017, he explained: ‘I had advice that James Bond was over anyway. It was Sean Connery’s gig and, being in the 60s, it was love, not war. You know, hippy time. And I bought into that.

‘They also said there’s a guy called Clint Eastwood doing movies in Italy, getting 500 grand for a month, for doing a western. They said, you could do that. So I didn’t feel like I was losing the million dollars.’

Afterwards, George said he was blacklisted from the industry and never fully recovered as ‘word got around that I was difficult to handle’.

‘They said that was the reason I didn’t do another Bond, but that wasn’t the truth,’ he said.

George went on to star in The Man from Hong Kong in 1975, Gettysburg in 1993, and Star of Jaipur in 1998, but is best known for his short Bond stint. His most recent role was in film Mundije, released this year.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.