REWIND: April 2020

For the final run this series, as Vivian Summers stays in lockdown with a large supply of Vodka and cola, a look back at the showbiz highlights of April 2020.

Happy News

I’m going to start with joyous news as I think that’s what we all need these days. So let’s celebrate with Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid are having a baby, as is F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone with Fabiana Flosi – his fourth child, Rochelle Humes is expecting baby number three with hubby Marvin.

Also PM Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds announced the birth of a baby boy, Geordie Shore’s Aaron Chalmers has had a baby boy with Talia Oatway and Harry Potter star Rupert Grint is expecting his first child with Georgia Groome.

Captain’s having a Ball

Pandemic fundraising hero Captain Tom Moore became the oldest person in history to get to the top of the UK Charts with his number 1 single You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Captain Tom topped the Top 40 with his Michael Ball duet, also featuring the Voices of Care choir, released to raise further funds for the NHS. The 99-year-old war veteran has raised nearly £30 million for the National Health Service to assist their battle against COVID-19 by walking 100 laps of his garden. Following coverage by ITV Anglia News and then later BBC Breakfast, ITV News and Good Morning Britain Captain Tom became a national inspiration.

In other NHS news former Countdown and Loose Women regular Carol Vorderman has donated her private plane for use to help NHS staff. The aircraft, named Mildred, has been delivering much-needed PPE to hospitals across the UK.

Rewind Newswrap

‘Ave a Word darlin’ It hasn’t all been great though, Dani Dyer was reported by the tabloids to have ‘flouted lockdown laws’ by visiting her parents house, that currently isn’t allowed as she’s ‘self isolating’ elsewhere with her boyfriend Sam Kimmence.

Jacqueline Wilson, the Children’s author, said that she has been living “very happily” with her partner Trish for the last 18 years. That is a lovely low-key way of coming out as gay. No fanfare, no fuss – fabulous!

Michael Bublé’s wife took to speaking out on USA Today following a social media backlash after he appeared to elbow her and pull her towards him during an Instagram Live video. Missus Luisana Lopilato said “We get together every day with my husband to stream live and bring a bit of joy, entertainment, and hope, and we have to deal with hearing and seeing from ill-intentioned people who come out saying things about our family without knowing anything about us.”

BBC News’ Huw Edwards revealed he was off work for three weeks recovering from suspected coronavirus, the Welsh anchor said he developed symptoms while walking in Kent last month.

Kerry Katona noted in April how she would be ‘devastated’ if son Max wanted to change his gender, but added how she ‘would stand by him’. Like any good mother would.

Take That stage musical is to be adapted for a TV audience. Greatest Days will be based on the stage musical of the Manchester founded band and how a group of women who get back together after 25 years to see their music performing pop lads in concert.

UK tours cancelled

Due to the current issues we’re probably all sick of, but have to live with, its seen a number of tours and gigs cancelled this summer.

Key events not taking place announced in the past month include Little Mix’s summer 2020 gigs, The Killers tour is off while Westlife have also had to pull out of their UK wide dates.

RIP April 2020

It was farewell to songwriter Adam Schlesinger, actor Brian Dennehy, comedian Tim Brook-Taylor, actor James Drury, actress Honor Blackman, racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, actor James Garbutt, former goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, Bollywood star Irrfan Khan, screenwriter Pip Baker and Leeds United icon Norman Hunter.

We also said goodbye to actress Jill Gascoine, actor BJ Hogg, songwriter John Prine, guitarist Scott Taylor, actor Sean Arnold, musician Hamilton Bohannon, actress Shirley Knight, campaigner and television presenter Lynn Faulds Wood and actress Ashley Ross.

Views in this feature are those of Vivian Summers and not those of ATV Today or ATV Network. This is the final edition in the current series.