There was an all-star cast of musical talent roped in to last night’s Coronation Concert – but it was 13-year-old blind pianist Lucy Illingworth who provided the most touching moment of the show.
The young musician, who recently won Channel 4’s The Piano and won over the nation with her performance in the middle of Leeds train station, was part of the huge celebrations at the royal event at Windsor Castle.
Also on the billing was Katy Perry, Take That, and Lionel Richie, all singing in front of the newly-crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla, plus an audience of 10.1 million watching on the BBC from home.
William, the Prince of Wales, also took to the stage to pay tribute to his father and his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
For many of us though, Lucy’s stunning piano rendition of Bach’s Prelude in C was a clear highlight of the Coronation Concert.
Someone else said we need to see more diversity like this in performances, saying: “Don’t mind admitting I’m in absolute tears. Bog off Olly Murders and Gary Barlow. I want more sign language choirs, and more Lucy, to define the Carolean Era.”
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Another person echoed that, writing: “Can’t get over Lucy’s talent. Favourite part of the #coronationconcert so far plus the massed voices of the Coronation Choir and Higher Love including the virtual commonwealth choirs. Not interested in the celebrities!!”
Charity The Amber Trust wrote: “We are incredibly proud of Lucy and everything she has achieved!
“Lucy is a phenomenal musician and we are thrilled that she has had this opportunity to share her talent with the nation. Well done Lucy!”
We are incredibly proud of Lucy and everything she has achieved! You can learn more about her and how she learns a new piece by watching her story.
Lucy first shot to fame on Channel 4’s The Piano, where she delivered a spellbinding performance of Debussy’s Arabesque No.1 in the final.
Judge and pop star Mika spoke about her winning performance, “It was about just highlighting if something extraordinary was to happen. Something that no-one could forget… and that happened.”
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Fellow judge and pianist Lang Lang, who was captivated by Lucy described the young pianist as a ‘real genius’.
In a heartfelt twist which further underlined how different the programme was to other reality TV shows, all contestants were gifted a piano to take home.
The son of a famous British sports presenter has signed for Sale Sharks
Danny Jones
Sale Sharks have confirmed yet another new signing, and this one happens to come from a noteworthy sporting pedigree, as he’s actually the son of beloved British sports presenter and ex-athlete Gabby Logan.
And if you know your stuff, you’ll know that this also makes him the grandchild of Leeds footballer and Wales international Terry Yorath. Quite the professional little family tree, eh?
That’s right, the former rhythmic gymnast household name’s teenage son, Reuben Logan, is the latest acquisition by the local rubgy union side who have been busy lining things up for the next campaign.
Still just 19, he’ll join Sale Sharks at the start of next season.
𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀, 𝙍𝙀𝙐𝘽𝙀𝙉
We are delighted to announce Reuben Logan will be heading up North for the 25/26 season!
Confirmed on Tuesday, 8 April, Reuben Logan – still just 19 years old – joins from Northampton Saints after having already impressed as a union youngster and on the international front too.
While he has represented England at youth level, he has since switched allegiances and is currently considered one of the hottest prospects in the Scotland U20s.
Coming through the ranks of Midlands Central Academy, he enjoyed his junior minutes at Wasps RFC before they ultimately fell into administration back in 2022.
Now heading for Greater Manchester ahead of the 2025/26 Gallagher Premiership, he’s the latest to join the squad following the arrival of other talents like Raffi Quirke and more, including one rather large figure indeed.
His mum, Gabby – a recognisable face on BBC Sport for nearly two decades now – did kind of get ahead of herself and let the news slip in a recent interview.
We’ll let her off, though, as she had some lovely things to say about our region and spends plenty of time over in MediaCity already.
“Sale have a young squad and I know a lot of the lads from playing international rugby. I know they’re all getting chances to play in the first team and that’s really exciting for me.
“I’m a physical ball carrier with the ability to create space and get the team on the front foot, and I think my style suits the team really well.”
As for gaffer Alex Sanderson, he went on to recognise his undeniable physical attributes, adding: “He’s 120kg and he’s a physical specimen, but he used to be a winger so he’s got wicked feet too. He can add to our game in terms of our power, and we can help him develop his skills and his game.”
Featured Images — Sale Sharks/Gabby Logan/Northampton Saints (via Instagram)
TV & Showbiz
Trailer and first look images released of new TV drama series The Stolen Girl filmed in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The trailer and first look images of a new TV drama series filmed in parts of Manchester have been released.
The Stolen Girl tells the story of mother-of-two Elisa Blix, played by Denise Gough, who allows her nine-year-old daughter Lucia to stay over at her new best friend Josie’s house… but the next day, when she goes to collect her, everyone has gone, and Elisa and her husband Fred’s, played by Jim Sturgess, world is turned upside down.
The five-part psychological drama, which also stars Manchester-born actress Holliday Grainger as Josie’s mum Rebecca Walsh, and One Day‘s Ambika Mod, who plays chaotically persistent journalist Selma Desai, will be available to stream next week on Disney+.
The first full length trailer, and a series of images showing the cast at work, have been released before the show hits our screens from next Wednesday (16 April).
First look images of the new Disney+ series The Stolen Girl / Credit: Disney+ UK
The gripping trailer takes us to the heart of suburbia, where life is not quite as tranquil as it first seems, as when Elisa and Fred’s daughter, Lucia, goes missing after what appears to be a normal sleepover with a school friend, the couple’s mundane existence spirals into chaos.
Elisa is forced to embark on a high-stakes chase across Europe to discover the shocking truth about her daughter’s disappearance.
Exactly why did Rebecca Walsh take her daughter? Was Lucia a random target? What personal price will she have to pay to get her back? These are the questions Elisa grapples with as the series progresses, as the slowly unsettling truth emerges.
Eventually, audiences see that what started as a textbook abduction, quickly evolves into something much darker.
Bronagh Waugh, Layo-Christina Akinlude, and Michael Workéyè also form part of the supporting cast.
Waugh stars as DI Shona Sinclair, and Akinlude takes on the role of DS Lizzie Walker, who are both the lead investigators looking into Lucia’s disappearance, while Workéyè plays Kaleb Negasi, who is Selma’s exasperated editor that wishes she would focus on anything other than this case.
According to producers, much of The Stolen Girl has been filmed in and around Manchester, with additional scenes being filmed over in France.
Daisy Jackson -
8th May 2023 
