I BLEW £300K GAMBLING ON THE FOOTBALL
SINGER SAYS APP BAN WAS A BLESSING X Factor star’s debt after losing big bets
Gambling once lef t X Factor singer James Arthur up to £300,000 in the red.
The 33-year- old, who won the ITV talent contest in 2012, said he “didn’t realise” he was getting into f inancial trouble af ter placing a few “big bets” on football matches.
James, who is a lifelong Rangers fan, insists he “didn’t have a gambl ing problem” but said he considered it “a blessing” when he was barred f rom using mobile bet t ing apps. His comments will fuel fears about the dangers of online gambling.
James, who has previously admitted battling drugs, anxiety and depression, said: “I was like £200… £ 300,000 in debt.”
When asked what caused his arrears, the singer – who is now thought to be wor th about £4million – added: “Just lifestyle… Bit of gambling, bit of betting on football and s***. There were a few big bets. I didn’t even realise I’d got myself in debt. It was my accountant saying, ‘ You’re kinda in the red here.’”
James, who released his third studio album You in 2019, has previously told how he was banned from a betting app after winning “crazy money”.
Last year the singer, from Middlesbrough, said: “I got a couple of massive wins on football accumulators on a couple of apps.
“I got banned because I won so much. It was kind of a blessing – it forced me not to gamble.”
Jennifer Hyland
Olympic medallist Eilidh Doyle has revealed she loved being pregnant because it meant she could exercise for fun.
The 400m hurdler said finding out she was expecting was a weight off her shoulders because she knew it ruled out preparing for competitions. Instead Eilidh, one of Scotland’s most decorated track and field athletes, said she followed a training regime without the pressure of hitting targets.
The 34-year-old, who gave birth to son Campbell last year, said: “When I found out I was pregnant, it was almost l ike a weight off my shoulders.
“I remember thinking, ‘ OK, I’m not going to be competing this summer or racing on the circuit. I ’ m going to be here training and there isn’t anything to train for. It’s just to keep in shape.’
“That was the nice thing about being pregnant. Those first few months, just to be able to do training that had no real purpose like how you would train for a competition or a race.
“I also stopped running early because there was no enjoyment from it.
“I was six months’ pregnant and I thought, ‘ There’s no enjoyment here. Why am I doing this? I’m not enjoying it so I’m not going to do it. I’m going to swim. So
I was able to swim and I was able to do sport and exercise for pure enjoyment and for no other reason.”
Perth-born Eilidh, who got married to Brian in 2015, revealed last year the first thing she did after being admitted to hospital was to let UK Anti-Doping know where she was.
After she gave birth, she was quick off her mark about advising dope testers they could find her in the labour ward.
She said athletes have no excuse when it comes to letting the agency
know where they
are, so they can carry out a random drugs test whenever they choose.
Eilidh, who was speaking on Jenni Falconer’s RunPod podcast, had planned to take part in the Tokyo Olympics, which were due to be held last July but were postponed until this summer because of Covid-19.
She is hoping to become just the third Scottish female track and field athlete to compete at three Olympics, having won 4x400m relay silver at Rio 2016, where she also reached the 400m hurdles final.
I was able to do sport and exercise for pure enjoyment
Most of music royalty will log out of tonight’s Grammy Awards without a coveted gold trophy.
And for many on the shortlist, the best keepsake they can have will be a souvenir programme. Mega-star nominees such as Beyonce, Billie Eilish and Post Malone can thank Dundee businessman Tony Cochrane for helping put together the official book for the v irtual awards extravaganza. The ceremony is usually staged annually at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. Tony, who owns nightclubs across Scotland including in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen, said: “This year’s awards are going to be different. It’s all virtual, so will lack some of the glamour.
“It usually sees music and film stars attend and I’ve been lucky to meet quite a few stars over the years in the US, including Lewis Capaldi last year.
“I ’ ve been going for eight years but last year was my first as a publisher of the off icial Grammy programme.”
Tony and his team have tried to keep one thing constant in the face of the pandemic — making sure all guests get a memento for t h e i r mu s i c a l achievement.
He said: “I think it’s impor t ant we keep traditions going despite what’s happening. It’s great for shortlisted artists and production staff to get something to look back on years later.
“My business partner Ken Rose came up with the idea of sending a physical copy to all the guests since they would be stuck at home.
“It has meant tracking down and sending out programmes to 18,000 people all around the world.”
Capaldi was one of two Scots stars nominated for the music gongs last year but missed out on Song of the Year for Someone Like You, which topped the charts in the US and UK.
Violinist Nicola Benedetti won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.