British singer and actor with a 65-year career and 21st-century faith-based shift
The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer, Gaynor Hopkins, dies at age 75 in a Portuguese hospital. Tributes flow from peers; a funeral plan centers on a public procession through Swansea and Skewen, with a memorial at Swansea Minster. Family donations will support Noah’s Ark Wales and Cerebral Palsy Cymru. A celebration of life is scheduled for 17 August; the star’s coffin is to travel from Faro to her home before public tributes.
Burgas will stage Eurovision 2027 from May 11–15, with semifinals on May 11 and 13 and the final on May 15. The decision follows Bulgaria’s first Eurovision win this year and a competitive bid process that selected Burgas over Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv. Arena Burgas will host the event, marking Bulgaria’s first hosting and the contest’s first seaside venue.
The Welsh pop icon Bonnie Tyler has died aged 75 in Portugal. A funeral service is held at Swansea Minster with a private cortege through her hometown of Skewen, following public tributes in Mumbles. Family and friends celebrate her life, reflecting on a career that produced Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out For A Hero.
AVROTROS has announced it will not participate in Eurovision 2027, saying the contest can no longer be considered neutral because a participating country remains involved in a large-scale military conflict. The broadcaster has returned responsibility for Dutch participation to NPO, which could decide whether another Dutch channel will step in.
A slate of Edinburgh fringe reviews from The Guardian and The Scotsman highlights a blend of inventive theatre and stand-up, from clowning with political edge to dog-centric humor and workplace parodies. Reviews praise daring concepts, energetic performances, and social commentary, while noting uneven pacing in some pieces.
Princess Diana’s black Christina Stambolian evening dress, worn in 1994 as a public response to Charles’s affair, is returning to Sotheby’s for auction with a conservative estimate around $200,000. The item will tour displays in London, Hong Kong, Geneva and New York ahead of a December sale, with portions of proceeds benefiting NHS Lothian Charity.
Fans from New York to London recount cherished moments with Tim Curry, praising his warmth, humor and magnetic presence. The Guardian letters reflect a lasting impact of his work, with anecdotes about stage and screen performances that endear him to audiences worldwide.
RTÉ has confirmed it will not participate in or broadcast Eurovision 2027, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and loss of life in Gaza and restricted access for international journalists. The decision follows earlier boycotts by other European broadcasters and comes after the EBU barred countries in armed conflict from hosting.