More showbiz gossip with Bev Lyons
STRICTLY’S Debbie McGee told me that she still has every one of late husband Paul Daniels’ possessions more than two years after his death.
The Strictly star and former magician’s assistant was guest of honour at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice lunch this week.
And during her visit she also revealed she fell in love with Joe McFadden on Strictly.
As we chatted in Glasgow’s Hilton hotel ahead of the bash she told me she still gets emotional talking about her late hubby who I once met in Starbucks on Sauchiehall Street of all places (The magical legend invited me in for a coffee and gab after I waved at him from the street).
She said: “I talk about Paul all the time and I am so lucky because everyone knew him so people talk to me about him.
“I haven’t got to the point yet where I can push to keep his memory alive because it still feels so new and raw and I get terribly emotional. I feel terribly blessed I had him in my life and every day I thank my lucky stars I had so many years with him.
“It just got better and better. I haven’t given anything away yet though.”
Debbie has recently been recording a new series of Pointless in Glasgow and revealed that she loves returning here.
She also admitted she thought fellow Strictly star Joe McFadden is cute.
She said: “I loved the Strictly tour and had the greatest time in Glasgow even though we didn’t win because you voted for the Scottish people. We all keep in touch and there isn’t a week goes by where we don’t say “Let’s go for coffee or let’s meet up.
“That Joe McFadden, I fell in love with him. He’s just such a cute guy. We hit it off from the start and I couldn’t hold it against him that he won.” Debbie said she was also thrilled to attend the hospice lunch because her late dad
benefited from care in a hospice and she hospice and she wanted to help.
Skinner returns
HIPSWAY singer Grahame Skinner might have given up his job at the Rio Cafe but he’s just started drinking coffee.
Honeythief hitmaker Grahame, who was at the hospice lunch in the Hilton Hotel, used to manage the cafe during his lean music-making years. Now Grahame is about to release the band’s first album in 30 years and the cafe is no more.
He told me: “I miss the regulars there but weirdly I never drank coffee when I worked there. It’s only now that I’ve begun to drink it. I like a nice Americano.”
He added: “We’re almost finished our new album which we hope to put out in autumn and tour this year.”
Grahame who loves to catch up with old pals The Bluebells, Del Amitri and Love And Money says Bobby Bluebell thought up the title of one of his new songs called Side Step. He added cheekily: “He doesn’t perform it but likes to come along and drink the rider.”
Making a splash
VIRAL outdoor swimmer Calum Maclean wishes he’d copyrighted the word baltic since it has now become his catchphrase.
I caught him on one of his rare appearances on dry land.
Callum, who was visiting STV HQ for Live At Five, told me he has just recorded a new series of Gaelic show Dhan Uisge aka Into The Water.
He said: “It was filmed in winter so every episode sees me breaking ice or swimming in freezing cold water.”
He says anyone wanting to go outdoor swimming like him needs to start with short swims of 90 seconds to accustomise themselves to the cold.