The Sun Newspaper

Lost decades

WE are now in a new cost of living crisis — or perhaps we never really escaped the first one.

A dismal report yesterday revealed family incomes are £20,000 less than they should have been had economic growth in the UK not flatlined after 2005.

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It means Brit households have effectively lived through two lost economic decades.

Covid, the credit crunch, war in Europe and energy price shocks were hammer blows.

But inflation is now firmly entrenched in the economy thanks to Rachel Reeves’s policies, which have directly driven up prices.

Her National Insurance rise has left hard-pushed customers facing bigger bills at the tills, as shops were forced to pass on huge extra costs.

Unnecessary Net Zero measures only add to the misery.

The irony is that yesterday’s report on living standards was by the Left-leaning Resolution Foundation.

Many of its former members are now sitting in Downing Street as key advisers to the Prime Minister and Treasury.

Yet most of their ideas to fix the economy are based on seizing ordinary people’s hard-earned savings, property taxes and taxing the rich so highly they flee the country.

Big business is already warning of the folly of this outdated 1970s-style approach.

Don’t do it, Chancellor.

Action, not talk

NEW Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says she will not allow migrants to avoid deportation through bogus last minute claims that they are the victims of modern slavery.

She insists these “vexatious” appeals make a mockery of our laws.

Of course, she is right that migrants are gaming a broken asylum system.

But for all her tough talk, how exactly does she plan to do it?

Successive Home Secretaries have promised to do “whatever it takes” to secure our borders.

All have foundered on the immovable rock that is European human rights laws.

Those same laws which are defended to the hilt by her cabinet colleague, Attorney General Lord Hermer.

We wish Ms Mahmood well. But it’s actions that count.

Hope & glory

FOR all the talk of trade deals and tariffs worth billions there is one British institution that remains priceless.

Our Royal Family — such a vital asset to this country — once again totally charmed the world’s most powerful man, Donald Trump.

Amid the doom and gloom it’s good to remember that no-one does pomp and pageantry quite like us Brits.

MILLIONS of Brits who rely solely on the state pension face having to pay income tax within the next two years.

Rises guaranteed under the triple-lock will push many dangerously close to the £12,570 tax threshold.

State pensions rise each year by the rate of either inflation, earnings growth, or 2.5 per cent — whichever is highest.

With wage growth at 4.7 per cent, the full new state pension will rise to £12,535 a year next April.

That is £35 short of the frozen income tax threshold, meaning OAPs in question are certain to be paying up by 2027.

Despite warnings, the Government has made no commitment to raising tax thresholds or making an exemption for Brits who have only the state pension.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to helping pensioners live their lives with dignity and respect, which is why millions will see their pension rise by up to £1,900 this Parliament.”

They also stated that people completely reliant on the state pension would not have to pay any income tax “this year”.

HMRC is expected to deduct tax directly through pension providers — or send pensioners a Simple Assessment tax bill that they have to work out.

Campaigners last night blasted the news, with ex-Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb calling it a “creeping injustice” due to “drag millions more into the tax net”.

Rachel Vahey, of pensions firm AJ Bell, said it would force many older Brits to fill out their first self-assessment, and warned that present financial woes made reforms on taxes and pensions unlikely.

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THE Hillsborough Law will leave a legacy for future generations, one of the campaigners at the heart of the battle for justice said after meeting the Prime Minister in Downing Street.

The new Public Office (Accountability) Bill is intended to make sure the authorities will face criminal sanctions if they attempt to cover up the facts behind disasters such as the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy or the Grenfell Tower fire.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously pledged to bring in the law by the 36th anniversary of the tragedy, which was on April 15, but Downing Street then said more time was needed to redraft it.

At a meeting with some of the families of those killed at Hillsborough, Sir Keir acknowledged it had been a battle, with “frank” discussions continuing as his deadline passed.

Margaret Aspinall, whose son James, 18, died at Hillsborough, said she is hopeful the new law “will mean no one will ever have to suffer like we did”.

Speaking alongside Sir Keir in No 10, she said: “I thought this is a day that was not going to happen.”

“This is not just about a legacy for the 97,” she said, in reference to the number of Liverpool fans who died in the tragedy.

“This is a legacy for the people of this country and I think that is the most important thing.”

Some campaigners raised fears the Bill’s contents had been diluted and would not include a legal duty of candour.

But the Government has confirmed a new professional and legal duty of candour will be part of the Bill, meaning public officials must act with honesty and integrity at all times and could face criminal sanctions if they breach it.

The Hillsborough disaster led to the deaths of 97 football fans during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the football ground in Sheffield.

The Government said the new legislation will “end the culture of cover-ups” and learn lessons from wider disasters including the Grenfell Tower fire and the Post Office Horizon and infected blood scandals.

Sir Keir said the new legislation can change “the balance of power in Britain” to ensure the state “can never hide from the people it is supposed to serve”.

He added: “Make no mistake, this a law for the 97, but it is also a law for the subpostmasters who suffered because of the Horizon scandal, the victims of infected blood, and those who died in the terrible Grenfell Tower fire. This is change only this Government can deliver.”

Sue Roberts, whose brother Graham was unlawfully killed at Hillsborough, described the Bill’s introduction as “a huge step in the right direction” but said the families will be “watching closely to ensure this Bill is passed in its entirety and enacted in full”.

She added: “The Government must resist any pressure from those who don’t believe the public deserves to know the truth about when the state fails.”

Among what the Government has described as the “seismic changes” as part of the Bill are the biggest expansion of legal aid in a decade for bereaved families, with non-means tested help and support for inquests.

There will also be a new offence for misleading the public, which the Government said will mean criminal sanctions for the most serious breaches.

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FORMER Sun journalist Tony Grassby died yesterday aged 69.

TG, as he was known to friends and colleagues, joined in 2000 and became a hugely talented and respected member of the production team.

He left The Sun in 2018 and retired to Croatia where he died in hospital after a brief illness.

TG was a dedicated supporter of Chelsea and Bristol City, and a huge heavy metal fan.

His career began in 1973 on a local paper in North Somerset

He also worked at Today, the Sunday ­Mirror and Daily Star.

Ex-colleagues paid ­tribute, describing TG as “one of life’s good guys”, “a joyful character who was never in a bad mood” and “a warm, caring fella who was also a brilliant journalist”.

He is survived by his five children, four grandchildren, ex-wife, three sisters and mother Mary.

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SINGER Dua Lipa looks all strung out in a black dress — but manages to hold it all together.

The 30-year-old showed off her fringe benefits in the stunning gown, which she wore to the Harper’s Bazaar Icons dinner in New York City.

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The Levitating singer is in the United States for her Radical Optimism world tour but took a break to party with stars including Benny Blanco and Sadie Sink.

Earlier, she posted pictures on Instagram of herself doing yoga in her hotel room.

We recently revealed how Dua and her fiance Callum Turner are on the look out for a place in the sun – after spending last month soaking up the rays on Ibiza.

The couple, who got engaged last Christmas, have called on a property expert to tap up a series of very posh holiday homes in Andalusia in southern Spain.

A source said: “Dua and Callum are looking for a sunny bolthole to enjoy with their families.

“Their preference has been pretty clear: nice weather and properties that have space.

“They have a man scouting for homes in Portugal and Andalusia, which have amazing weather all-year round.

“The house has to be able to comfortably fit Dua and Callum, as well as their family and friends.

“They also want peace and tranquility, that has been made very clear.

“Dua and Callum have a healthy budget too. They’ve been sent details on properties priced between £3million and £9million and are weighing them up.

HE was the golden boy of Hollywood.

Men envied his obvious friendship with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, and almost all his female co-stars adored him.

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In fact, Jane Fonda admitted she couldn’t keep her hands off him on set, while Meryl Streep said he was the “best kisser ever”.

Robert Redford, who yesterday died in his sleep aged 89 at his ranch in Utah, was rejected for 1967 movie The Graduate because no one would ever believe he was a loser with women.

But the handsome star was haunted by nerves and self-doubt that caused him to be endlessly late on set.

As the greatest names in showbiz paid tribute to the blond-haired icon, his representative revealed Redford was “surrounded by those he loved” when he passed away. She added: “He will be missed greatly.”

‘Love of pranks’

In blockbusters such as Barefoot In The Park, The Sting, All The President’s Men, The Great Gatsby, The Horse Whisperer, Indecent Proposal and Up Close And Personal, Redford was box office dynamite.

But the Oscar-winning actor was terrified stardom might turn him into a product for Hollywood studios to sell. He moaned: “Films to them are just like vacuum cleaners or refrigerators. The approach sickens me.”

The megastar even refused to make sequels to his biggest hits, Butch ­Cassidy and The Way We Were with Barbra Streisand.

He hated franchises, but appeared in Captain America: The Winter ­Soldier to please his grandkids.

And he became a champion of independent film-makers, founding the annual Sundance Film Festival to showcase their work.

Born Charles Robert Redford Jr in Santa Monica, California, on August 18, 1936, the actor’s mum was Martha and his dad Charles, a milkman.

His first taste of Hollywood was breaking into a studio as a teenager and trashing the place. He once said: “There was a strong dividing line with a railroad which ran near our house.

“Those who lived on the south side of the tracks, like us, helped to service the big houses on the north side as gardeners, cleaners, whatever.

“My dad would get up to go to work at 2.30 in the morning, come home late afternoon and go to sleep.

“It wasn’t his fault, but it was an inspiration [for me] to do something else with my life.”

Redford’s first plan was to be a baseball star, and he won a sports scholarship to Colorado University.

But he told showbiz writer Garth Pearce: “I was asked to leave because I was drinking too much.”

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His mother Martha had recently died and he turned to alcohol.

After being thrown out of college, he ­travelled to Europe. Redford recalled: “I became a pavement artist in ­Montmartre, Paris, and felt my life had begun at last. I had found my calling.

“Then I moved to Italy, where they openly laughed at my art. Eventually, I was told flatly that I would never make it or sell any paintings.”

So he moved back to New York and tried his hand at acting classes, enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

He said: “Suddenly, I was getting A-grade reports for the first time. I had failed at school, failed at university, failed as an artist. I thought, ‘There could be something in acting for me’. It was as simple as that, with no great calling.”

He couldn’t play a loser because of the way he looked

Director Mike Nichols

He began to get work, first on stage in New York and then in a succession of small-screen shows, such as ­Maverick, Perry Mason and Dr Kildare as TV boomed across America.

His movie breakthrough came opposite Jane Fonda in 1967’s Barefoot In The Park. She remembers: “I couldn’t keep my hands off him. I was ­constantly forcing myself on him.”

Redford auditioned for The ­Graduate, alongside Anne Bancroft as middle-aged Mrs Robinson.

But director Mike Nichols turned him down, recalling: “He couldn’t play a loser because of the way he looked.

“I told him so and he was dispirited. I said, ‘Look at it this way, ‘Have you ever been turned down by a woman?’. He replied, ‘What do you mean?’. I said, ‘My point precisely’.”

But his next part, The Sundance Kid, alongside Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy, would change Redford’s life forever. As they filmed the 1969 hit movie, he and Newman became best mates — bonding over Mexican beers and a love of pranks.

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Redford was a terrible time-keeper and, at the end of filming — during which he did his own stunts — ­Newman presented him with a tapestry cushion that read, “Punctuality is the courtesy of kings”.

For Newman’s 50th birthday, Redford sent him a wrecked Porsche wrapped in a bow. Newman had it crushed and sent back to his pal. Redford then had it turned into a garden sculpture and returned it.

Despite their 40-year friendship, Newman admitted he never really came to know Redford.

Even though Butch Cassidy was a huge success, Redford, a keen environmental campaigner, was still gripped with doubts about his ability.

He admitted: “I actually quit in the late Sixties, after appearing in some big films. It was not reported at the time but I took my family to a remote part of Spain. I attempted once again to make my living as an artist. But I was not good enough.”

By 1973, The Sting, in which he was reunited with Newman, gave him his only Best Actor Oscar nomination.

‘Not good enough’

His blond hair became his ­signature and he refused to have it cut in a 1940s style for 1977 war film A Bridge Too Far.

Director Sir Richard Attenborough asked him personally to get a short back and sides, but was forced to admit: “It’s no use. He just won’t have it touched.”

Redford once asked angrily: “What is it about my hair? I played Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby in 1974 and the director Jack Clayton wanted to dye my hair black.

“Even the studio wanted my hair black. I said, ‘Find me the part of the original book where it says that Gatsby’s hair is black. It’s not there’.”

Irritated by filmmakers, he decided to direct a movie of his own.

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Ordinary People, which came out in 1980, became one of the most acclaimed films of the decade and won him the only Oscar in his glittering career, for Best Director.

His hits dominated the Eighties and Nineties, with Out Of Africa alongside Meryl Streep winning seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

He directed A River Runs Through It starring a young Brad Pitt, Quiz Show and The Horse Whisperer, in which he also played the lead.

It was really hard . . . as a parent, you blame yourself. It creates a scar that never completely heals

Robert Redford

In between, he starred in Indecent Proposal as a millionaire who offered a married couple $1million if wife Demi Moore slept with him.

There was also romance in Up Close & Personal with Michelle Pfeiffer. But alongside great career success he suffered family tragedy.

His son Scott, who he had with first wife Lola, was a victim of cot death in 1959 at just two months.

The actor said: “It was really hard . . . as a parent, you blame yourself. It creates a scar that never completely heals.”

His second son, Jamie, who ­suffered constant ill health and underwent two liver transplants, died from cancer aged 58 in 2020.

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And eldest daughter Shauna ­witnessed the murder of her long-term boyfriend at university.

Redford told Garth Pearce: “All that personal stuff with my children meant some tough times. When you’re going through it, you lose part of yourself. I confess that I used work to prop me up.”

The Hollywood legend produced and directed films right into his 80s.

His final performance was an uncredited cameo earlier this year as a chess player in Dark Winds, a TV show he executive-produced. Redford officially retired from ­acting in 2018.

Redford is survived by second wife Sibylle, some 21 years his ­junior, who he married in 2009, and daughters Shauna, 64, and Amy, 54, from first wife Lola, who he divorced in 1985.

He said of his success: “The key to sanity in Hollywood is to have a life separate from movies and to never repeat yourself on film by doing a sequel.

“I lost my way and my focus ­several times. Having to deal with life, death, illness and catastrophe puts anyone to the test. Movies and acting was never my first love, but it was an enduring one.”

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column is being kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Venus and Mars add spice and sensual pleasure to your love and marriage chart.

So if you get the chance to drop everything and be together, this is a great day for it.

If you’re starting the day single, someone you assume is attached could be recently free, so make enquiries. Aries luck links to slot six.

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♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

You can be funnier and sunnier as the moon and Jupiter unite and make all you say and do extra impactful.

But it’s still important to do your research and only say what you know to be true.

Someone who never seems to play by the rules – yet you can’t seem to dislike – can be the home your heart longs for.

Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♊ GEMINI

May 22 to June 21

The moon and sun could signal a split in a family or close group – the key is to avoid taking sides and listen carefully to all points of view.

Someone you usually dismiss could be the one to speak most sense. In love? Try important words in a new order, or at a different time. Single?

A chatty Pisces could charm your heart.

Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

As Jupiter jumps in, you can be so great at selling yourself and your ideas – so even if you feel you’re not ready, this can be a great day to take a key meeting or call.

Hiccups in technology learning may be frustrating, but you can deal with them when you keep cool.

Three initials combined could be a prize finder.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

Mars has strong feelings today and Venus helps uphold them – so if you need to make a stand, you can.

However persuasive people may be, you know deep down what you think, and why.

This is what you should stick to.

Passion that answers secret questions in your heart is so close, and initial “F” can be a clue.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Maybe the faces around you feel too serious or stuck in their ways, but party planet Jupiter can introduce you to a more fun-loving group.

There may be a travel or study link but, best of all, you all share the same values.

A love intro you consider a hard no could still be the key to unlock your deepest emotions.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

Swapping out serious goals for lighthearted ones can be the theme of your day – and a meeting in a “J” month can be at the heart of this process.

So check back for missed messages or invitations.

Your career chart could feel stagnant due to Saturn’s retrograde, but the chances are there when you let yourself see them.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Yes, total truth is important, but how far are you willing to go for it?

It’s a day to weigh up a situation and calculate if you should stay or leave.

The answer can be simple when you switch off the stubborn part of your heart.

A stop-start creative or music project can get a boost from someone sharing your initial.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

Your spiritual self wants and needs to be heard – try limiting the action and giving yourself a chance to reconnect with the “true you”.

Then you can start to see exactly how to handle a challenging new friend or colleague.

A house with a lot of books can be part of your future – this is somewhere you can really relax.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

Serious Capricorn zooms in on the nuts and bolts of a contract or deal, and this can leave you stuck in neutral.

But as Jupiter adds optimism and enthusiasm to your approaches, you can start to see the bigger picture, including what, and who, you can let go.

Passion is deep, with a tantalising taste of the unknown.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

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♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

Finding ways to enjoy fitness may be out of your comfort zone, but it can be done.

Someone who has become a bigger influence in your life can open a door – and while your first response may be negative, it’s worth a chance.

In love, your marriage chart is Venus-led for two more days – don’t waste it!

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Blending business sense with creative ideas may not be your natural approach – but you have skills and support lining up for you.

Your next step could surprise everyone, yet make perfect sense in your mind.

In love? Tackling a health change together can be bonding.

Single? The One is a natural winner.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

“HE was the heart of Hyde.”

Emily Tunnicliff, 25, laid her simple arrangement of flowers outside Ricky Hatton’s home, called The Heartbreak, to join the hundreds already there.

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For many, the former boxer was the heart not only of Hyde but of Britain.

“I am from Hyde,” Emily added.

“He was proud of where he came from and we were proud of him.

“He has done so much for this city. He never forgot his roots.”

Her friend, boxer Tyler Dolby, 23, trains at Ricky’s brother Matthew’s gym nearby.

He agreed. He said: “He was an estate lad and you could never take that out of him. He was such an inspiration. He said to all the young lads here and in Britain you could all make it.”

In silence, a steady stream of mourners gathered at Ricky’s home to pay their respects.

Fans wearing Manchester United tops laid their tributes next to wreaths adorned with Ricky’s beloved Man City logo.

Charlie, 45, said: “I watched all his fights. I met him once and he was so nice and friendly. He was not a star, just Ricky.”

A grey rainy morning brought strong winds that blew over many of the tributes.

Kirsty Cartwright, 34, said: “I wanted to be here to show how much he was was loved.”

The boxer’s manager Paul Speak was there to look at the tributes.

He told The Sun: “It is just all too much to take in. All of it. I don’t have the words.”

The gates closed, with Ricky’s black Rolls-Royce on the drive.

But the mourners still came.

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THE NHS is chucking tens of millions of pounds down the drain by failing to stamp out health tourism.

At a time of sky-high taxes, it’s intolerable that money is being lavished on “free” care for foreign visitors.

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New figures show that hospitals are owed £252million for treatment given to patients from abroad — that’s enough to provide 5,000 extra nurses.

The NHS prides itself on providing medical attention free at the point of use to anyone who needs it, irrespective of their status or wealth.

But it is not a charity and trusts have a duty to safeguard taxpayers’ money.

With 7.4million on waiting lists for routine treatment in England, it is an outrage that bosses are writing off such huge sums.

Brits facing long delays for ops or forced to wait for hours on hospital trolleys will be appalled that this small fortune is not being spent on them and their families.

To make matters worse, one of the main reasons managers do not bother to chase outstanding fees is simply that it makes them feel “uncomfortable”.

Public satisfaction with the NHS — which also spent £1.8million on “staff networks” hosting “woke” events over the past two years — has sunk to a record low.

Three-quarters of hospitals are in debt.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned senior execs there is “nowhere to hide” on “wasteful spenders”.

They’re hiding in plain sight currently.

Petering out

PAINFULLY slowly, the truth about the Peter Mandelson debacle is being dragged out of Number Ten.

After going to ground at the end of last week, Sir Keir Starmer surfaced yesterday to admit he HAD known about emails from Mandelson to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein when he defended his US ambassador at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Specifically he knew the Foreign Office was investigating what would prove to be a huge scandal, but did not know — or did not ask — precisely what had been written.

This is a prime example of the PM blasting himself in both feet.

First by chaotically backing then sacking Mandelson — and then by taking an age to set out the facts.

Danny ploy

WHILE Labour rips itself apart, Nigel Farage is getting on with making Reform more professional.

MP Danny Kruger — the latest Tory defector to his party — is a serious thinker, with experience of No10.

Putting him in charge of Reform’s preparations for Government is another sign Farage isn’t messing around.

THE National Lottery Set For Life numbers are in and it’s time to find out if you’ve won the top prize of £10,000 every month for 30 years.

Could tonight’s jackpot see you start ticking off that bucket list every month or building your own start-up as a budding entrepreneur?

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You can find out by checking your ticket against tonight’s numbers below.

Good luck!

The winning Set For Life numbers are: 18, 38, 42, 45, 46 and the Life Ball is 02.

The first National Lottery draw was held on November 19 1994 when seven winners shared a jackpot of £5,874,778.

The largest amount ever to be won by a single ticket holder was £42million, won in 1996.

Gareth Bull, a 49-year-old builder, won £41million in November, 2020 and ended up knocking down his bungalow to make way for a luxury manor house with a pool.

1. £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history’s biggest lottery prize
2. £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline
3. £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin
4. £625.76 million (Powerball)  Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017
5. £575.53 million (Powerball)  A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018

Sue Davies, 64, bought a lottery ticket to celebrate ending five months of shielding during the pandemic — and won £500,000.

Sandra Devine, 36, accidentally won £300k – she intended to buy her usual £100 National Lottery Scratchcard, but came home with a much bigger prize.

The biggest jackpot ever to be up for grabs was £66million in January last year, which was won by two lucky ticket holders.

Another winner, Karl managed to bag £11million aged just 23 in 1996.

The odds of winning the lottery are estimated to be about one in 14million – BUT you’ve got to be in it to win it.

POP superstar Lady Gaga gets a bit emulsional in a photoshoot to promote her new makeup range.

The 39-year-old US singer completely doused herself in beige-tinted paint in the advertising campaign for her beauty brand Haus Labs.

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She launched the firm in 2019, and the range has 51 different shades of foundation — all vegan.

Her sold-out Mayhem Ball tour will reach the UK later this month. Let’s hope she’s brought an extra coat.

Earlier this month Gaga was forced to cancel a show and issue an emotional apology to gutted fans.

Barely an hour before she was due on stage in Miami, she shared a message on her Instagram Stories saying that she had no choice but to cancel the concert.

Gaga wrote: “Hi everyone, I am really so, so sorry but I need to postpone tonight’s show in Miami.

“During rehearsal last night and my vocal warmup tonight, my voice was extremely strained and both my doctor and vocal coach have advised me not to go on because of the risk it poses.

“I want to be hardcore and just push through this for you but I don’t want to risk long-term or permanent damage to my vocal cords.”

She continued: “There is a significant risk based on all our combined experience with a show like ours and as you know I sing live every night.

“And even though this was a hard and agonizing decision I would be more afraid of the long term implications on my voice.”

She then begged her fans to understand the position she was in, writing: “I hope you can forgive me and accept my sincerest apologies for any disappointment, let down, inconvenience.

“I am so, so sorry, I tried so hard to avoid this, I take serious care of myself to be able to put on this highly demanding show.”

Gaga concluded: “I love my fans so much, respect you and hope you can accept my sincere, regretful apology.”

The announcement was made at 8pm ET, 45 minutes before she is usually on stage.

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EX-I’m A Celebrity winner Vicky Pattison is finding Strictly rehearsals difficult and admits: “I’d take kangaroo balls over glitter balls any day. I’m really done in.”

The 2015 jungle queen added: “I’m not a dancer or an athlete at all.

“I’m struggling with that.

“But, more than anything, the nerves are just getting the better of me already.

“I’m getting frustrated and finding it hard to pick it up.

“I’m worried about being rubbish, going out first and falling over.

“When I went in the jungle I felt, ‘I can do this, I’m ready’.

“This is the opposite — I’m living on my nerves.”

Vicky says she understood why Pete Wicks smoked so much in the last series.

She said: “I swear to God now I don’t have enough fingers to hold all the fags I want. I am so nervous.”

Vicky credited her husband, TV presenter Ercan Ramadan, for being “supportive, kind and excited”.

She added: “I wish I could be more like him. Nothing fazes him.

“He takes things head on. That’s why we work so well. I am neurotic, I am nervous and a million miles per hour.”

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HEALTH Secretary Wes Streeting has told wasteful NHS bosses there is “nowhere to hide”.

It comes after league tables revealed three quarters of hospitals are in debt.

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Mr Streeting vowed a crackdown after rankings showed 99 out of 134 major NHS trusts in England are blowing budgets.

At least 38 fell to the sub-standard third or bottom fourth tier due to financial mismanagement.

They were relegated even if their medical care was good. In all 80 per cent of NHS hospitals were rated below standard.

Mr Streeting has refused to increase the £200billion health budget without tough reform.

Hospitals are estimated to have gone into the red by more than £600million last year.

That is while a record 2,600 bosses are paid over £110,000 a year, and some over £300,000.

Even chief executives at the ten worst-ranked hospitals are earning more than PM Sir Keir Starmer’s £172,000 salary.

Mr Streeting said: “Any football supporter will tell you the table doesn’t lie.

“Now there is nowhere for wasteful spenders to hide.”

He ordered hospitals to slash spending on agency staff and stop sending letters by post.

The NHS’s costly London HQ will close.

Bosses who cannot balance their books will also be denied pay rises and bonuses.

NHS England boss Sir Jim Mackey said tough measures are beginning to stem losses.

Think tank Policy Exchange said: “NHS bosses need to turn hospitals around, with their own jobs and bonuses on the line if they fail.”

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BLOKES taking sex pills including Viagra have complained of side effects including going deaf, blind and bald.

More than 900 people reported experiencing problems they believed were linked to the medications between 2000 and 2024.

Among them, six men reckoned Viagra-style pills caused them to lose their hearing — just like Hugh Hefner.

The Playboy boss claimed he went deaf from using too much Viagra before he died aged 91 in 2017.

There were also 41 sight problems reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, including two claims of blindness and another two of blurred vision.

Four men said they suffered cyanopsia — where everything appears to be covered in a blue sheen.

Another user linked the blue pills to getting the hair-loss condition alopecia.

Four people said they caused changes in their sweat glands and six said they caused rashes.

There were 926 reports of side-effects to the MHRA, with three fellas reporting they suffered priapism — a condition that leaves men standing to attention for four or more hours — while two reported suffering fractured manhoods.

One man said his lips started to swell, another complained of a swollen tongue.

Other reports included dizziness, confusion, anxiety and flatulence.

Reports of suspected side effects are recorded under the MHRA’s yellow card scheme which allows health professionals to monitor any potential dangers.

The watchdog logs cases but says not all were definitely caused by the drugs.

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HARRY Styles takes the next step in his romance with Zoe Kravitz. 

The Sun revealed last month the pop star, 31, and actress, 36, were dating and now insiders say they are inseparable. 

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As they left Newark airport in New Jersey this week, Harry wore jeans and Zoe was in all black.

Friends said they were invited to singer Charli XCX’s second wedding in Sicily today. 

The popstar first sparked romance rumours with Zoe last month when they were seen together in Rome.

The One Direction hitmaker, who was then spotted looking loved up with his partner in NYC last week, has now suggested they’re getting very serious very quickly.

Harry was seen enjoying a lunch date with Zoe where he met her music star father Lenny in New York‘s West Village.

They put on a united front, holding hands as they entered the Sant Ambroeus venue before Lenny, 61, arrived solo.

The Ain’t Over Til It’s Over hitmaker donned a red sleeveless top and skintight jeans, with a black back thrown across his body.

He pulled on a pair of sunglasses as he strode through the streets to the venue, ready to meet his daughter’s new love.

Meanwhile Caught Stealing star Zoe cut a chic figure in a black vest and matching silk skirt.

She left her hair in a natural style flowing over her shoulders while also opting for a pair of shades.

The Batman movie alum walked hand in hand with Night Changes vocalist Harry, who kept a serious expression ahead of the family get-together.

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OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in March 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

Even if you don’t feel ready to talk, there are things you need to say – so set up that meeting or call by tonight.

Giving yourself a timeline can take away any indecision that has lingered.

As the sun and Mercury bond, you feel energy flowing in many brilliant directions and straight towards an exciting creative opening.

Get all the latest Aries horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions.

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♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

Storing away cash, or other valuable things, in a safe place is a classic Taurus action – but today you have a chart that’s rich in risk-taking.

So you could decide to try a new way of saving or spending.

This could include cutting a line of support to encourage more independence.

Love looks through a round window.

Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♊ GEMINI

May 22 to June 21

You are very much a sign of the mind, but as the moon gets involved, today is a day for your heart.

All kinds of instincts are growing stronger and should be listened to and acted upon.

When you feel them, you will recognise them.

The key is not to let logic muscle in. Matching colours can indicate a love match.

Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Instead of fighting dreams, indulge them – allow yourself to see a fantasy future.

Because at least one aspect of it can start to appear by tonight.

Secrets may feel like safety but they can spell danger for love so do deal with them in your clever

Cancer way. Just one word is enough for your heart to sense a soulmate.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

Surrounding yourself with friends is natural for you – but this is a day to examine who really has your back, and who may just be presenting an appealing front.

This process is easier when you trust your own judgment over others’.

Because deep down, you do know who is good for you.

Luck calls at door number 91.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

The moon is instinct-rich while Uranus is rebellious and independent – both these chart elements focus on ambitions for you today.

So however unlikely a goal may first appear, there will be a way to make it work.

Do give this enough thought.

Passion may not be predictable but it’s so hot and thrilling.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

Making a fair travel decision is your task of today – because you have been leaving someone special waiting long enough.

Look through the facts and figures one more time, then make your decision and stick with it.

Pluto’s input may make learning something new harder, but this strengthens your resolve.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

The deepest spiritual levels of your chart are stirring – you may feel ready to question parts of your life previously taken for granted.

Change can be scary, but it is important for you to accept what your heart is telling you.

Friends who share a hobby could also share a prize when they pool knowledge or experience.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

Your natural ability to click with anyone gets an extra boost today.

So wherever you find yourself make your mark.

But don’t overlook someone quiet who has been waiting to tell you something for weeks.

The most natural musician you know can be a luck-link – maybe someone who loves to sing to themselves.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

There is more intensity in your chart today than you may be comfortable with – but get used to it, as this deep-feeling Capricorn can be here to stay.

Part of the process is accepting difficult feelings as generously as easy ones – and giving others second chances.

Pride is good but compassion is better.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

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♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

The new you that you have been thinking about can come so much closer today – as your chart of transformation gets a logic boost.

You see stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks and truly believe in your ability to succeed.

Love is about sharing, caring and pairing off – especially with “P”.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

No deal is too big, or too far along, for you to step in and improve it – a faculty you can flex all day.

Mercury’s clear sight is firmly on your side plus you have the power of the sun.

So contracts on every level benefit from your perceptive vision.

Offering love more space could close a communication gap.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

TV presenter Davina McCall has revealed she is to walk down the aisle — a month after declaring she’d never marry again.

The star, 57, and celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas, 52, secretly got engaged this summer after seven years.

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He has been a rock during her recovery from a life-saving brain op, and a friend said: “Everyone is so thrilled for them.”

The couple, together seven years, then flew to the Burning Man festival in Nevada, US, three weeks ago to celebrate.

They have revealed the happy news only to their innermost circle.

Davina is recovering from an op to remove a benign brain cyst last November and a friend said: “To say it has been a rollercoaster year for her is an understatement.

“Whilst surgery was, of course, traumatic, she made peace with a lot in the days and weeks leading up to it.

“Then, having survived, she had a new lease of life — as so many do who have been in similar situations.

“Michael was her absolute rock throughout her recovery.

“If you see them together, genuinely they are like lovesick teenagers.

“Their chemistry is insane.

“Basically Davina thought ‘f*** it, life is short’, and decided it was time to, as the kids say, lock in the love of her life.”

The pair met on Big Brother in the early 2000s when he styled her hair.

They stayed friends for years but only began dating after she finalised her divorce from Matthew Robertson in early 2018.

It is not known when Davina and Michael will but is unlikely to be until after May next year when Davina is expected to be fully recovered from her brain op.

The pal added: “She has a ring but is only wearing it in private.

“It is wonderful news and everyone who knows them is just so thrilled.

“They really do make the most gorgeous couple.”

Yesterday mum-of-three Davina detailed her post-op journey to Radio 2’s Scott Mills, and, without mentioning her engagement, said she had never been happier.

She said: “After my operation they said it will take a year to 18 months to get as good as you’re going to get.

“I keep thinking that next May I’m going to go out for dinner with Michael and say, ‘I hope this version of me is all right as this is what you’re going to get’.

“I don’t know if you think I see any difference but I am so happy.

“It is mad. I guess I am just super-grateful to be here, alive.

“I can’t believe the sliding doors that happened to get me here are magical.

“It’s been a massive journey and some has been incredibly hard.”

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Davina, currently hosting two shows — Long Lost Family and Stranded On Honeymoon Island — told last November how a colloid cyst was found that month during a check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work.

The star had the surgery in a London hospital with neurosurgeon Kevin O’Neill.

She was in intensive care after the craniotomy, which involved part of her skull being removed to reach the tumour.

She described the scare as the “hardest thing” she had been through, revealing she briefly lost all short-term memory.

Davina is one of Britain’s most successful broadcasters and was awarded an MBE in 2023.

She also received a special recognition award at last year’s National Television Awards.

Michael has styled her locks for years and created a glam beehive hairdo for her appearance at Wednesday night’s NTAs at the O2 in London.

He runs his own award-winning brand, MD London and co-hosts popular podcast Making The Cut.

Davina, who once hosted dating show Streetmate, last month insisted they’d never tie the knot.

She said: “We go on honeymoons all the time but without getting married.

“We’re in the honeymoon period even after all these years.

“I couldn’t be more happy. And sometimes there’s an idea of, why change anything?’”

But in another recent interview she praised Michael for his support.

She said: “I want to just big up Michael for a minute, because you and I have been through something mega, and I want to say out loud, just thank you.

“It’s been really difficult for both of us, and I love you with all of my heart.

“You are everything to me, you’re my soulmate.

“We are more than married!”

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Davina was married to TV adventurer Matthew Robertson for 17 years, and the couple have children Holly, Chester, and Tilly.

Davina wed then-shop manager Andrew Leggett in 1997.

But they fell out after a few months and the marriage ended in 1999.

After realising their feelings for one another, Davina and Michael went public with their relationship in 2018, and by January 2023 had moved in together.

Last autumn doctors discovered a 14mm tumour after Davina had a scan as part of a deal with One Welbeck, a private healthcare facility for whom she had given a talk on the menopause for.

The presenter explained: “In my head, I was literally the healthiest person in the world.

“I had this head-to-toe scan.

“And they came back and they went, ‘Okay, we’ve got your results. Um… we’d like to talk to you’.

“They said, ‘You’ve got a benign cyst in your brain.’

“The doctor explained it’s called a colloid cyst.

“And a colloid cyst is a three in a million thing, and it can also cause… very, very rarely, but it can also cause sudden death.”

Speaking to podcaster Steven Bartlett, Davina said she faced the diagnosis head on with Michael, with the pair discussing what might happen if something went wrong during the surgery.

She added: “I said, ‘Look, I’ve got to plan for it if it doesn’t go according to plan.’

“When I’d spoken to the doctors, they talked about things like stroke, epilepsy, these being risks.

“Nicking an artery or a blood vessel in the brain and having a bleed… so there were a lot of things that could be a risk.

“And obviously, because of my age, you know, I’m 57. That was another thing that mattered to me. I was thinking, you know.

“Would you rather have brain surgery now, or if it grew in eight years’ time, would you want to have it in your mid-to-late 60s?

“Would it not be better to get it done now while you’re fit and healthy in every other way?”

After speaking to her children and closest family, Davina said she immediately set about sorting her affairs — including updating her will.

Following the surgery, Michael updated Davina’s followers and said she was recovering well.

The brave star returned to TV on The Masked Singer and thrilled fans by wearing a peroxide blonde, pixie-cut wig.

A spokesman for Davina last night declined to comment.

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OUR wardrobes are stuffed with 1.6billion unworn clothes.

So it is best for the planet — and your bank balance — to stop buying new and instead swap your old stuff for other people’s cast-offs.

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During Second Hand September, Oxfam is encouraging people to hunt down a bargain and find unique pieces that will make you stand out from the crowd.

TREASURE HUNT: Trawling high street charity shops is a great way to spot a gem.

Abi Owen, online shop merchandiser for Oxfam, says: “Charity shops are full of wonderful, unique finds, so it’s worth having an open mind to see what might catch your eye.

“As autumn begins, timeless items such as cable-knit jumpers and checked shirts are the perfect pre-loved find.”

WONDERS ON THE WEB: If you can’t get to a second-hand shop, or you have something specific in mind, look online.

Lose yourself on Vinted or eBay and, to support a good cause, search for charity shops on the internet. Many also have their own online shops.

SEPTEMBER SURPRISES: At Oxfam’s online store (onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk) you can narrow your search by price, size or designer.

We found Ralph Lauren sunglasses for under £9.99, a Tommy Hilfiger jumpsuit for £12.99 and a wedding dress for £30.

During Second Hand September, there is also a range of offers, including free delivery until Tuesday and ten per cent off when signing up for Oxfam’s newsletter.

BEST BUYS: Make the most of your money and bag a second-hand bargain that you will wear lots of times.

Denim will never go out of fashion and is stacked up in charity shops.

Abi says: “Whether it is a pair of jeans or a classic jacket, they are perfect for styling up or down.

“Plus, they’re better when they’ve been worn in.

“Accessories are a brilliant second-hand item to shop for, too. A good belt or some gorgeous earrings can complete a look.

“Keep your eyes peeled for details like a tartan scarf to pull an outfit together.”

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• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

Deal of the day

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KIDS will go loopy for the Hot Wheels Track Creator Triple Loop Speed Kit, reduced from £40.98 to £30.98 at direct.asda.com.

SAVE: £10

Cheap treat

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ENJOY a cheeky nibble with Morrisons milk chocolate digestives, 300g, down from £1.25 to 89p.

SAVE: 36p

What’s new?

THRILL-SEEKING grannies and grandads can enjoy the rides at Drayton Manor for free this weekend.

The Staffordshire theme park is giving free entry to over-70s until Monday.

Top swap

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CHEESE Louise!

Snack on a six-pack of Quavers, £2.13 from Asda, working out at 36p for a 16g bag.

Or enjoy the store’s own Cheesy Curls six-pack, £1.25, or 21p for a 16g bag.

SAVE: 15p per bag

Little helper

COTE Brasserie is offering a different “icon” dish for £10 each week day when you say “I’m an Icon” to staff.

Save the most on Thursdays when the beef bourguignon, usually £21.95, is a tenner.

Shop & save

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GET tea sorted for less with Young’s Gastro two tempura battered fish fillets, down from £5.25 to £2.50, with a Tesco Clubcard.

SAVE: £2.75

Hot right now

IKEA Family members can get a small cooked breakfast for £1 or regular one for £1.50 on Saturdays until 11am. Save up to £2.35.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

THEY say that a cat has nine lives – and this particular one has used up several of his.

For the life of Cat Stevens, the singer-songwriter who became Yusuf after converting to Islam, has been shaped by his brushes with death.

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The first of them happened in his early teens when the teeming streets — and inviting rooftops — of London’s West End were his playground.

One night, while out gallivanting with his best friend Andy, he found himself clinging by his fingertips to a ledge, several storeys up, near Prince’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Fall and his short life would be over but, as “the dark abyss” beckoned, Andy stretched out, grabbed his arm and pulled him to safety in the nick of time.

“It was the moment I first faced up to mortality,” Yusuf tells me, casting his mind back to the early Sixties.

“I already considered myself as a thinker by then and, as such, you can’t help thinking that one day you won’t be here.

“Whether it’s through an accident or illness or by dying in your sleep, it’s all one thing. You leave this world.

“That to me was a problem. I just had to understand more about it.”

So began a spiritual quest that Yusuf has carried with him to this day.
Two more narrow escapes followed.

In 1969, he contracted a life-threatening bout of TB which required months of recuperation.

With time to ponder his existence, he underwent a rapid transformation from Carnaby Street-styled pop star to tousle-haired, guitar-toting troubadour.

His thoughtful but hook-laden songs began flowing freely — Father And Son, Wild World, Moonshadow and Peace Train among them — and they made him a global superstar and bedsit pin-up.

Then, in 1976, he nearly drowned while swimming    off the coast of Malibu, California.

As his life ebbed away, he looked up to the sky and prayed, “Oh God, if You save me, I’ll work for You!”

At that moment, a wave rose up and nudged him towards dry land. He sensed that, “God was right there”.

Not long afterwards, his brother David Gordon bought him a copy of the Qur’an for his birthday.

It had a dramatic effect, prompting Cat Stevens to embrace Islam, change his name to Yusuf (a variation on Joseph) and begin a lengthy retreat from music.

He says: “I was like, ‘This is actually it’.

“Everything I’d been writing in my songs was converging into this one new message. It overtook everything.”

And yet, as we know, there was a second coming.

For the past two decades, Yusuf has rekindled his passion for songcraft — releasing acclaimed albums and keeping his timeless Cat Stevens songs alive with gigs around the world, including the Glastonbury “legends” slot.

‘BLANK CANVAS’

Now he has documented his singular journey in a heartfelt, detailed, illuminating, funny, sad, often profound memoir, Cat: On The Road To Findout.

There’s also a hits album celebrating his various eras, and last weekend he embarked on a book tour of the UK and US, described as “an evening of tales, tunes and other mysteries”.

That means I’ve been given another chance to speak to Yusuf via video call.

With his neat grey/white hair and beard framing still handsome features, the 77-year-old greets me warmly before diving into subjects closest to his heart.

After our chat ends, I realise we’ve covered his faith, his family, his music, the impact of those near-death experiences — all the things which have moulded Yusuf/Cat Stevens.

If I had to pick his defining song, I know which one I’d go for and I think the man himself might agree.

It’s the fourth track on side two (I’m going vinyl here) of his classic 1970 album Tea For The Tillerman.

Called, as you might have guessed, On The Road To Find Out, it serves as his mission statement — an early acknowledgement of his spiritual journey.

Recalling its creation, Yusuf says: “I had scraped my way through a lot of life’s difficulties and challenges but they were the things which built me and prepared me.

“So I was already feeling like a receptacle for some kind of inspiration to be my guide.”

I watch as he recites the opening lines of the song he’s sung so many times, “Well I left my happy home to see what I could find out/I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out.”

He maintains that when he wrote On The Road To Find Out, not being tied to one religion proved “very, very useful”.

“I wanted a blank canvas,” he says. “I didn’t want to be influenced by my background or wherever I was situated in society.”

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Yusuf draws my attention to the end of the song and adds: “It’s incredible really. It says, ‘Pick up a good book’.

“I was absolutely determined to write ‘a’ good book, not ‘the’ good book. I didn’t want people to think it had to be The Bible.”

His thoughts turn towards his childhood, his first encounters with spirituality and the parents he writes so affectionately about in his memoir.

His “handsome, bold” Cypriot cafe owner father Stavros was Greek Orthodox and his “beautiful azure blue-eyed” Swedish mother Ingrid was a Baptist.

They sent their youngest of three children, Steven Demetre Georgiou, as he was known then, to St Joseph’s Roman Catholic elementary school and he also attended Mass.

Though this was the first time he came “close to God”, he still felt like an “outsider” as a non-Catholic.

“Sometimes, the church itself can be a barrier between you and your creator,” muses Yusuf.

“When Jesus was asked how to pray, he didn’t say go to church. He said, ‘Pray direct to God’.

Mum taught me how to love and dad taught me how to work

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

“I was fortunate not to be tied to a strict religion.

“That gave me flexibility — I achieved my observer status as far as spirituality was concerned.”

As a child, Yusuf was given a lively introduction to the world.

“Growing up in the West End had a big impact on me,” he says.

“It felt like the whole world was crammed into this little area of London where everything happened.

“You didn’t necessarily learn how to climb trees, but you did learn how to climb roofs,” he adds with a rueful smile about the time he nearly fell.

Next, I ask him to share memories of his parents.

“Mum taught me how to love and dad taught me how to work,” he replies.

Yusuf says that his mother Ingrid “had a massive impact on me”.

“Swedes have a characteristic which is beautiful in a way. It is called ‘lagom’ which means equality — you don’t need everything, you just need enough.

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“From that, you can develop your attitude towards charity and all sorts of things.”

He continues: “Mind you, Dad was also charitable. He used to give cups of tea to tramps.

“It was part of the culture of the family to appreciate having food on the table.”

Yusuf describes how his father Stavros “first went from Cyprus to settle in Egypt”.

“Then he went to America and, from there, he passed back through Greece to the UK — you know, to the Empire, because Cyprus was connected to Britain at that time.

“He gave me the traveller’s bug and also a work ethic. I certainly know how to wash dishes!”

Yusuf credits his parents to a certain extent for his love of music and performing.

He remembers writing a “sweet Swedish lullaby” with his “naturally musical” mother while they sat at the piano.

The final couplet translates as, “Come will you take my hand and lead me away/The way to my heart is so short.”

In the book, Yusuf describes Ingrid’s strength of character when she discovered her husband was having an affair with a waitress, leading to their separation.

She whisked her children to her hometown of Gavle for five months, where young Steven was the only “dark-eyed, black-haired lad in town”.

‘SO FORTUNATE’

Yusuf says his “extrovert” father probably gave him the characteristics to command a stage.

“He was extremely sociable to customers and an expert at Greek dancing with glasses of water balanced on his head.”

One of the most moving passages in the book arrives when Yusuf gets to 1978 and his dad has only days to live.

Stavros had called him “Stevie” from the day he was born but, as he lay on his deathbed, he whispered, “Where’s Yusuf?”

It was an act of acceptance for Yusuf’s Muslim faith for which he is eternally thankful.

He says: “You called your son one name all your life, and that’s the one you chose for him.

“Then, at the end, you accept his path and his identity. You don’t detach from it, you embrace it.

“My God, I was so fortunate. I was so lucky to have a dad like that.”

Now it’s time to turn our attention to music… after all, it’s what made Yusuf/Cat Stevens famous.

In the autobiography, he recalls buying his first single, Baby Face by Little Richard, how much he loved Buddy Holly and how later on he was blown away by John Lennon’s mighty holler on The Beatles’ cover of Twist And Shout.

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He tells me with a laugh: “You can just imagine the Queen at the Royal Variety Show watching The Beatles and wanting to pull off her pearls and diamonds and dance in the aisles.

“But I’m afraid she couldn’t.”

So what compelled him, already a gifted visual artist, to venture into the music business and adopt the “hip” stage name Cat Stevens?

“I felt I had something to offer,” he replies. “I felt that people should get it.

“It wasn’t just a career choice or business decision. It was more than that — it felt like a calling.

“I responded to it and it responded to me. My songs, everything, came so easily.

“I wrote The First Cut Is The Deepest when I was 17 [in 1965].

“My brother David also had a big hand in it because he was the business head of the family.

“He was instrumental in getting me contacts.”

After a run of hits including I Love My Dog, Matthew & Son and I’m Gonna Get Me A Gun, Cat Stevens went through his dramatic change of tack, prompted by him contracting TB.

“It was an opportunity to take another stab at life — from a new, inspired position,” says Yusuf.

As human beings, our way forward is to understand that we’re all the same in our dreams, our visions and our hopes

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

“By that time, I’d read a very interesting book dealing with metaphysical issues of the spirit, the soul, the beyond, the divine. It put me on another plateau.”

One of the songs written by the “new” Cat Stevens was Where Do The Children Play?, as relevant today as ever.

He says: “There’s a very poignant line pointing to what we are facing today, which is assisted dying.

“I say, ‘Will you tell us when to live/Will you tell us when to die?’.

“I mean, God Almighty, you’ve got a chance to live. You don’t want to lose that.

“When you look at the way the corporate world is moving, it really is designing life for the people of this planet.

“And it may not be the best life because we’re detached from nature so much of the time.

“Where Do The Children Play? is a song about nature and children are perfect examples of human nature.”

Before we go our separate ways, I ask Yusuf about the long hiatus from music after his conversion to Islam.

It was a time when he was dragged into various controversies.

One headline, which he repeats in the book, even read, “Cat Stevens Joins The Evil Ayatollah”.

“It’s just prejudice,” says Yusuf. “And that is something we have to be very careful about.

“As human beings, our way forward is to understand that we’re all the same in our dreams, our visions and our hopes.”

This comment reminds him of “what we’re seeing right now in Palestine”.

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“These are people, these are families,” he says. “They’re not from an alien planet.

“That’s why it’s good to see the response from ordinary grandparents and ordinary kids, responding to the devastation people are facing.

“You may argue about the term genocide, but you can’t argue about the term infanticide.”

Returning to his break from music, he says: “I have no regrets at all. I chose the name Cat Stevens and was content with that.

“That was my success but it was not the success I was yearning for overall in my life.

“The biggest thing for me was finding my identity — and that’s twice as difficult when you have a show name.”

It was Yusuf’s son Yoriyos, one of his five children with wife Fauzia (a sixth died in infancy), who encouraged him to make his comeback.

“He got what I was about and he said, ‘This cannot be buried’.

“It wasn’t a case of reinventing, more of reviving the spirit. He saw it as a pure, good thing — and it inspired me.”

Finally, I ask Yusuf if he’s still on the road to find out.

He answers: “There’s a saying in the Qur’an — ‘If all the seas were ink and all the trees were pens, you would never exhaust the words and the knowledge of God’.

“So, yeah, no fear about drying up here.”

THE last time I wore a pencil skirt, my brother affectionately told me I looked like Nessa Jenkins from Gavin & Stacey. 

Brotherly love ­— always there to keep your feet firmly on the ground. 

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But, sadly, he was right. 

My black, knee-length leather skirt and then short brown hair did make me look like the Welsh slot machine worker, minus the tattoos. 

Despite my affection for the show and actress Ruth Jones, who plays Nessa, the comment was enough to put me off that look for life. 

Nessa is not exactly known for her chic style. 

Now, as trends for autumn/winter start to appear, I’ve spotted that curve-clinging pencil skirts are back — from Gucci and Givenchy to high-street favourites Zara and Mango. 

And now I’m wondering, has the time come to give the style another whirl? 

There was a 12,000 per cent increase in searches on shopping site LTK for “pencil skirts” following the autumn/winter 2025 fashion weeks earlier this year. 

This thirst for a more slimline look tells us one thing, if nothing else — many of us, myself included, want to jump off the conveyor belt of loose midi and maxi styles. 

Five years on from lockdowns, we’re ready for a bit of wiggle. We want to get dressed up!. 

Now, I’m not for one minute suggesting we revert back to peak Noughties pencil skirt trends, when going “out out” was all about looking like a sexy businesswoman. 

Think peroxide blonde Victoria Beckham in her peak Wag era, complete with skintight skirt and peplum boob tube. Or reality stars like Towie original Amy Childs. 

But there was a time before this when the pencil skirt was stylish and classy. 

THE last time I wore a pencil skirt, my brother affectionately told me I looked like Nessa Jenkins from Gavin & Stacey. 

Clemmie Fieldsend, Fashion Editor

Starlets like Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe were big fans of the style, which became hugely popular in the late Fifties, with tucked in blouses and knits to show off their waist and bust. 

As Marilyn tottered along the train platform in Some Like It Hot, the tight-fitting style may well have played a part in her trademark wiggle walk. 

In the Eighties, pencil skirts were paired with shoulder-padded blazers. Women were making moves in boardrooms and this was power-dressing at its best. Think Melanie Griffith in Working Girl and Joan Collins in Dynasty. 

Over the next few decades, the pencil skirt became a workwear uniform. 

But recently, aside from wives of world leaders such as Melania Trump or contestants on The Apprentice, it has disappeared from our office attire. 

Especially since Covid, you are more likely to wear flats and comfy trousers than a restrictive, uncomfortable and somewhat dated knee-length skirt. 

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It seems, though, that we have now come full circle. As well as the designers’ offerings, we’ve seen a pregnant Rihanna wear a pencil skirt to a pre-Met Gala bash. 

Fashion darling Daisy Edgar-Jones wore one at Wimbledon and another to a recent event. 

Pamela Anderson has been channelling Marilyn Monroe with her retro looks, including her trademark wiggle skirt. 

Even Victoria Beckham has given into the revival and created her own design, with a matching blazer, to revamp power-dressing. 

I am convinced that there’s a way to wear this season’s wiggle skirts without looking like a string of sausages

Clemmie Fieldsend, Fashion Editor

We’ll also see the pencil return to screens this season as Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts and Niecy Nash-Betts star as outrageously fierce and successful lawyers in Disney’s legal drama All’s Fair later on this year. 

But after enjoying years of elastic waistbands and roomy skirts, are the rest of us now ready to squeeze into a tummy-sucking number? 

Personally, I’ll never get back into a black pleather version again. 

I can’t shake my Nessa past and rarely get dolled up enough to dust off my peplum and six-inch heels. 

But looking at the styles around on the high street, I am convinced that there’s a way to wear this season’s wiggle skirts without looking like a string of sausages. 

The faux-leather options out there are looser and more flattering, and they come in a range of colours. 

There are also cosy knitted versions or softer viscose numbers with bold patterns. 

I like the idea of wearing one with an oversized blazer and knee-high boots to the office in the autumn, to sharpen up my workwear. 

For drinks, I might even plump for a faux-leather number in sage or burgundy, with heels. 

But for the majority of the week, I will be sticking with my favourite flats. 

And I’m sorry, but you just can’t do a pencil skirt with ballet pumps or brogues without looking like a wally. 

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