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Singer Lewis Capaldi has announced he will be taking a break from touring “for the foreseeable future”, saying he is “still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s.”

It comes after the star struggled during his set at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend, with fans in the crowd singing for him as he stopped on stage during his hit song Someone You Loved.

Sharing an update on social media, Capaldi said it had been “the most difficult decision of my life”, but his performance on the Pyramid Stage had made it “obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order” to be able to keep doing “everything I love for a long time to come”.

The 26-year-old singer had previously cancelled three weeks of shows to rest and recover ahead of the festival.

On stage, he repeatedly apologised for losing his voice, and told fans they probably would not “see much of me for the rest of the year”.

In a statement posted on Tuesday, he thanked “Glastonbury for having me, for singing along when I needed it and for all the amazing messages afterwards”, adding: “It really does mean the world.”

“The fact that this probably won’t come as a surprise probably doesn’t make it any easier to write, but I’m very sorry to let you know I’m going to be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future,” Capaldi said.

“I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I’d hoped 3 weeks away would sort me out. But the truth is I’m still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come.”

‘Incredibly sorry’

The star went on to acknowledge being “incredibly fortunate” to be able to take time out “when others can’t”, and said he wanted to thank his “amazing” family, friends, team, medical professionals “and all of you who’ve been so supportive every step of the way through the good times and even more so during this past year when I’ve needed it more than ever”.

Capaldi had gigs and festival appearances in Australia, Asia and Europe planned throughout the year, including a performance in Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

He apologised to those with tickets to all his shows, saying he was “incredibly sorry” but needs “to feel well to perform at the standard you all deserve”.

Lewis Capaldi’s planned shows for 2023

The singer had sold-out gigs and festival appearances planned from now until October, including a performance at Zurich’s Hallenstadion on Wednesday.
His statement has been shared by the venue, which says tickets will be refunded.
He was also due to play at Chepstow Racecourse in Wales on Saturday before travelling to Australia.

Australia and New Zealand

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – 7 and 8 July;
RAC Arena, Perth – 11 July;
Adelaide Entertainment Centre – 13 July;
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne – 14 and 15 July;
Spark Arena, Auckland – 18 July;
TSB Arena, Wellington – 19 July

Southeast and East Asia

Star City, Singapore – 25 July;
New Frontier Theatre, Manila, Philippines – 27 July
KSB;
KBS Arena, Seoul, South Korea – 29 July

Europe

Laugardalsholl, Reykjavik, Iceland – 11 August;
Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, UK – 25 August;
Reading and Leeds Festival, UK – 26 and 27 August;
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, UK – 30 August and 1 September;
Vital, Belfast, UK – 3 September;
Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain – 8 September;
Olympiahalle, Munich, Germany – 12 September;
Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany – 13 September;
Terra Vibe Park, Athens – 16 September

Middle East

Al Dana Amphitheatre, Zallaq, Bahrain – 6 October;
Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai, UAE – 7 October

Capaldi finished by saying: “Playing for you every night is all I’ve ever dreamed of so this has been the most difficult decision of my life. I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. All my love, always, Lewis.”

The singer recently admitted on an Apple Music show that his mental health issues were a “direct symptom” of his work, and shared his struggle with Tourette’s in the Netflix documentary, Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now.

He said “a few panic attacks” and his Tourette’s diagnosis were worth the trade-off for a pop star’s life, but admitted he could give up music if his mental health worsened.

Read more:
Understanding Tourette’s
Elton John closes Glastonbury with history-making goodbye
The Glastonbury moments you might have missed

Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now. Pic: Netflix
Image:
Capaldi recently shared his story in the How I’m Feeling Now documentary. Pic: Netflix

On stage at Glastonbury on Saturday, the Scottish star admitted he was having voice issues in the run-up to performing his chart-topping ballad Someone You Loved.

“I’m going to be honest everybody, but I’m starting to lose my voice up here, but we’re going to keep going and we’re going to go until the end,” he told the crowd. “I just need you all to sing with me as loud as you can if that’s okay?”

As he struggled to hit the notes, the huge audience roused to help him by singing back as he watched on, clearly emotional.

Artists who have cancelled events due to health issues

Capaldi joins a growing list of stars prioritising their mental and physical health over shows and performances. Earlier this year, Justin Bieber cancelled the remainder of his world tour following ongoing health issues, and also called off shows in 2017 to focus on his mental health.

Last year, Shawn Mendes axed shows in the UK, North America and Europe, telling fans he had been advised by health professionals, and Demi Lovato is another star who has put off shows and spoken about her mental health struggles.

Selena Gomez cancelled shows in 2016 due to anxiety and depression, while at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, star US gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of the team event due to concerns for her mental health.

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Rapper Ghetts charged after man killed in hit-and-run

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Rapper Ghetts charged after man killed in hit-and-run

The rapper Ghetts has been charged after a man was killed in a hit-and-run in northeast London.

The musician, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He allegedly failed to stop after hitting a 20-year-old man in Ilford last Saturday, the Met Police said.

The 41-year-old appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Monday – the same day the man died in hospital.

The indictment is expected to change from causing serious injury to causing death by dangerous driving at the next hearing.

Ghetts was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 27 October.

The police are appealing for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

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Ghetts is a grime rapper who played at Glastonbury last year and has collaborated with Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Skepta.

He also had a role in the Netflix drama Supacell.

Last year, he received the Mobo Pioneer Award for his significant contribution to British black culture.

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‘People want you to stay in your lane’: Reese Witherspoon on her ‘deeply personal’ decision to write a novel

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'People want you to stay in your lane': Reese Witherspoon on her 'deeply personal' decision to write a novel

It is “pretty surreal”, Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon admits, finding herself at the top of The New York Times bestsellers list.

When I meet the actress alongside her co-writer, best-selling author Harlan Coben, overnight the pair have learned that their thriller is now at number one.

He jokes: “I was texting her last night and saying you’ll now have to call yourself number one bestselling novelist, forget about Oscar winner!”

Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben told Katie Spencer about their novel Gone Before Goodbye
Image:
Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben told Katie Spencer about their novel Gone Before Goodbye

As one of the most successful authors in the world, Coben has sold over 80 million books to date, while for Witherspoon this is new ground.

Not content with running a hugely successful production company responsible for a string of hits, as well as one of the most successful book clubs in the world, she explains she felt compelled to give writing a try.

“People want you to stay in your lane… as a creative person I think it’s impossible to just choose one kind of life.

“Creativity is infinite and who I was as a creative person when I was 20 is very different from the person I am now at 49.”

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Gone Before Goodbye, a thriller about a talented surgeon who finds herself caught up in a deadly conspiracy, is the result of Witherspoon daring to put her head above the parapet.

Witherspoon says she felt compelled to give writing a try
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Witherspoon says she felt compelled to give writing a try

Coben admits he was “a little wary” at first.

“I don’t co-write novels but when she made the pitch and started talking about it, I was like ‘dang that’s good, we can do something with that’.”

While countless celebrities work with ghostwriters, Coben says: “I said to her from day one ‘it’s only going to be you and me in here… no third person in here, I don’t do that’. So every word you [read] comes from Reese and me.”

Coben has sold over 80 million books to date, while for Witherspoon this is new ground
Image:
Coben has sold over 80 million books to date, while for Witherspoon this is new ground

Witherspoon explains: “He was like ‘if we’re going to do this, it’s going to have to be at a really high level because people going to expect a lot, so our bar was really high.”

“I said to her, in the beginning, novels are like a sausage,” Coben laughs. “You might like the final taste, but you don’t want to see how it was made and Reese got to see the full sausage getting made here.”

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When it came to writing, Coben says they “fell into a rhythm right away”, working together in three-hour stints, “back and forth with a yellow legal pad – what about this? What about that?”

Coben says they 'fell into a rhythm right away'
Image:
Coben says they ‘fell into a rhythm right away’

Witherspoon says it “feels really deeply personal” to have their work now in print.

“Usually, as an actor, I walk into other people’s worlds and it’s already set up… but this was creating the whole world with Harlan and just from beginning to end feels very personal.”

While the story seems an obvious fit for being adapted to the screen, perhaps with a certain blonde actress in the leading role, Coben says that was never their intention.

“The biggest, biggest mistake novelists make when you write a book is to say ‘this would make a really great movie’. A book is a book, a movie is a movie, and we both focused on wanting this to be just a great reading experience.”

Given that their collaboration is already selling in big numbers, will the pair team up again to write a second?

Witherspoon says: “Let’s just see what people think of this one first.”

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Kim Kardashian diagnosed with brain aneurysm

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Kim Kardashian diagnosed with brain aneurysm

Kim Kardashian has revealed that she has been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.

  • Footage from the latest season of The Kardashians shows the reality TV star going for an imaging scan.

The 45-year-old appears to suggest her small aneurysm may have stemmed from stress.

Brain aneurysms are relatively common, with data suggesting they affect about one in every 50 people.

In many cases, patients may be unaware that they have one – as they tend to cause few symptoms when unruptured.

Brain aneurysms are common but often go undiagnosed. iStock file pic
Image:
Brain aneurysms are common but often go undiagnosed. iStock file pic

Should an unruptured aneurysm grow to a larger size, it can cause headaches, balance problems and speech issues.

Those that burst are extremely dangerous and can prove fatal in some circumstances.

While aneurysms can emerge throughout the body, they are most typically found in the aorta, which carries blood out of the heart.

More on Kim Kardashian

Research suggests brain aneurysms are most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60 – with women disproportionately affected.

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Associate professor of neurology Dr Laura Stein told Sky’s US partner NBC News: ” The most well-described risk factors include a predisposition [family history of aneurysm], high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and inflammation.”

She went on to explain that most fatal ruptured aneurysms are in the brain, killing about one in three patients.

“When it’s a blood vessel that’s in the head and it bleeds, there’s a much higher risk of having a very bad problem just because the brain is enclosed in a fixed space,” Dr Stein added.

Low-risk aneurysms are monitored by doctors for growth or abnormalities, and there are a series of potential treatment options for those considered dangerous.

Elsewhere in The Kardashians clip, Kim admitted that her ex-husband Kanye West will be in her life “no matter what” because of the four kids they share together.

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