Bill Kenwright: Long-term Everton chairman and West End producer dies aged 78

Published

1 year ago

October 24, 2023

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Bill Kenwright – the West End producer and long-term chairman of Everton Football Club – has died at the age of 78.

A post by the club on X, formerly Twitter, said: “Everton Football Club is in mourning following the death of Chairman Bill Kenwright CBE, who passed away peacefully last night aged 78, surrounded by his family and loved ones.”

The Liverpool-born businessman made his name in the arts, at first as an actor with a breakthrough role in Coronation Street – playing the entrepreneurial Gordon Clegg.

But Kenwright’s own entrepreneurial talent would prove his true calling.

After swapping a role in front of the camera for backstage business, he became one of Britain’s most successful film and theatre producers.

During his career, he worked on a string of hits, including Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers, and Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

But in the streets of his home city, he was best known as the long-term chairman of his boyhood club, Everton.

Born in Liverpool’s Wavertree district – less than five miles from the club’s stadium – Kenwright was inspired as a child by his idol, Everton forward Dave Hickson.

In 1989, he was invited to join the board of directors at Goodison Park and rose to become deputy chairman before completing a £20m takeover in 1999.

He was appointed chairman in 2004 and a year later saw the club end a nearly 10-year wait for European football by qualifying for the Champions League under the guidance of then manager David Moyes.

In 2016, Kenwright sold half his stake in Everton to British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri – though he stayed on as chairman. Mr Moshiri continued to increase his own stake over the next six years.

However, in September, he agreed to sell his 94% stake to American investment fund 777 Partners – a deal which is currently awaiting approval by regulators.

‘Completely successful’ operation

Earlier this month, Everton announced Kenwright had undergone an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his liver.

In a statement released at the time, the club said the operation had been “completely successful” but Kenwright would undergo a “prolonged period in an intensive care unit”.

The club said Kenwright had “worked hard” alongside Mr Moshiri “right up until the day” of his operation to help facilitate the proposed takeover by 777 Partners.

Earlier this year, Mr Moshiri backed Kenwright amid protests from Everton fans directed at the long-term chairman and the club’s ownership.

Family ‘devastated to share the sad news’

Outside of football, Kenwright had two marriages – the first to New Zealand-born actress-turned-hotelier, Anouska Hempel, and the second to actress Jenny Seagrove.

He also had a daughter, Lucy Kenwright, from his relationship with the actress Virginia Stride.

In a statement, his family said they were “devastated to share the sad news of the loss of a beloved partner, father, grandfather and friend: Bill Kenwright CBE.

“Following a long battle with illness Bill passed away peacefully last night, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

“Bill was driven by his passions and devoted his life to them; his deep love of theatre, film, music and his beloved Everton, and the families they created.

“He impacted the lives of thousands, whether that be through the launching of careers or his unending loyalty, generosity and unfaltering friendship and support.”

They added: “In a multi-award-winning career spanning six decades, Bill produced over 500 West End, Broadway, UK touring and international theatre productions, films and music albums. His impact on the arts industry has been profound.”

Tributes to ‘friend and mentor’

Sir Ian McKellen paid tribute, writing on X: “Bill Kenwright (1945-2023) Like many grateful actors I am in debt to Bill Kenwright for employment.”

He added: “We were young together, when he was in Coronation Street and I was dipping a toe into Shaftesbury Avenue.

“Since then, I have admired the resilient way in which he encouraged theatre to thrive in London and in the regions.

“Whether it was yet another tour of that wonderful musical ‘Blood Brothers’ or sponsoring the Peter Hall Company in the classics.”

Singer Antony Costa paid tribute to his “friend and mentor”, tweeting: “Just heard the news my friend, and mentor and the person who gave me the chance to perform on stage Mr Bill Kenwright has passed away.

“You were one in a million Sir… we loved talking football R.I.P Bill xx”

Comedian Jason Manford said Kenwright will be “sadly missed”. He tweeted: “Saddened to hear Bill Kenwright has died.

“Met up with him several times over the years as we attempted to work together so very sad that will now never happen.

“Was always funny and honest and with a deep love for theatre and football. Will be sadly missed.”

Kenwright was awarded a CBE in the 2001 New Year’s Honours List, for services to film and theatre.

UK

Teenage girl killed on M5 in Somerset after getting out of police car named

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Teenage girl killed on M5 in Somerset after getting out of police car named

A teenage girl who was killed after getting out of a police car on the M5 in Somerset has been named.

Tamzin Hall, 17 and from Wellington, was hit by a vehicle that was travelling southbound between junction 24 for Bridgwater and junction 25 for Taunton shortly after 11pm on Monday.

She had exited a police vehicle that had stopped on the northbound side of the motorway while transporting her.

A mandatory referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is now carrying out its own investigation into what happened.

Avon and Somerset Police said: “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Tamzin’s family for their devastating loss.

“A specially-trained family liaison officer remains in contact with them to keep them updated and to provide support.

“The family have asked for privacy at this difficult time.”

The police watchdog, the IOPC, has been asked to investigate.

In a statement, director David Ford, said: “This was a truly tragic incident and my thoughts are with Tamzin’s family and friends and everyone affected by the events of that evening.

“We are contacting her family to express our sympathies, explain our role, and set out how our investigation will progress. We will keep them fully updated as our investigation continues.”

Paramedics attended the motorway within minutes of the girl being hit but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The motorway was closed in both directions while investigations took place. It was fully reopened shortly after 11am on Tuesday, Nationals Highways said.

UK

Mohamed al Fayed’s brother Salah also abused women, say female Harrods employees

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Mohamed al Fayed's brother Salah also abused women, say female Harrods employees

A survivors group advocating for women allegedly assaulted by Mohamed al Fayed has said it is “grateful another abuser has been unmasked”, after allegations his brother Salah also participated in the abuse.

Justice for Harrods Survivors says it has “credible evidence” suggesting the sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated at Harrods and the billionaire’s properties “was not limited to Mr al Fayed himself”.

The group’s statement comes after three women told BBC News they were sexually assaulted by al Fayed’s brother, Salah.

One woman said she was raped by Mohamed al Fayed while working at Harrods.

Helen, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she then took a job working for his brother as an escape. She alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted while working at Salah’s home on Park Lane, London.

Two other women have told the BBC they were taken to Monaco and the South of France, where Salah sexually abused them.

The Justice for Harrod Survivors representatives said: “We are proud to support the survivors of Salah Fayed’s abuse and are committed to achieving justice for them, no matter what it takes.”

The group added it “looks forward to the others on whom we have credible evidence – whether abusers themselves or enablers facilitating that abuse – being exposed in due course”.

Salah was one of the three Fayed brothers who co-owned Harrods.

The business, which was sold to Qatar Holdings when Mohamed al Fayed retired in 2010, has said it “supports the bravery of these women in coming forward”.

A statement issued by the famous store on Thursday evening continued: “We encourage these survivors to come forward and make their claims to the Harrods scheme, where they can apply for compensation, as well as support from a counselling perspective and through an independent survivor advocate.

“We also hope that they are looking at every appropriate avenue to them in their pursuit of justice, whether that be Harrods, the police or the Fayed family and estate.”

The Justice for Harrods Survivors group previously said more than 400 people had contacted them regarding accusations about Mohamed al Fayed, who died last year.

One of those alleged to have been abused is Bianca Gascoigne, the daughter of former England player Paul.

Speaking to Sky News in October, Gascoigne said she was groomed and sexually assaulted by al Fayed when she worked at Harrods as a teenager.

UK

Wes Streeting ‘crossed the line’ by opposing assisted dying in public, says Labour peer Harriet Harman

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2024

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Wes Streeting 'crossed the line' by opposing assisted dying in public, says Labour peer Harriet Harman

Wes Streeting “crossed the line” by opposing assisted dying in public and the argument shouldn’t “come down to resources”, a Labour peer has said.

Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harriet Harman criticised the health secretary for revealing how he is going to vote on the matter when it comes before parliament later this month.

MPs are being given a free vote, meaning they can side with their conscience and not party lines, so the government is supposed to be staying neutral.

But Mr Streeting has made clear he will vote against legalising assisted dying, citing concerns end-of-life care is not good enough for people to make an informed choice, and that some could feel pressured into the decision to save the NHS money.

He has also ordered a review into the potential costs of changing the law, warning it could come at the expense of other NHS services if implemented.

Baroness Harman said Mr Streeting has “crossed the line in two ways”.

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈

“He should not have said how he was going to vote, because that breaches neutrality and sends a signal,” she said.

“And secondly… he’s said the problem is that it will cost money to bring in an assisted dying measure, and therefore he will have to cut other services.

“But paradoxically, he also said it would be a slippery slope because people will be forced to bring about their own death in order to save the NHS money. Well, it can’t be doing both things.

“It can’t be both costing the NHS money and saving the NHS money.”

Baroness Harman said the argument “should not come down to resources” as it is a “huge moral issue” affecting “only a tiny number of people”.

She added that people should not mistake Mr Streeting for being “a kind of proxy for Keir Starmer”.

“The government is genuinely neutral and all of those backbenchers, they can vote whichever way they want,” she added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed support for assisted dying, but it is not clear how he intends to vote on the issue or if he will make his decision public ahead of time.

The cabinet has varying views on the topic, with the likes of Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood siding with Mr Streeting in her opposition but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband being for it.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being championed by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, who wants to give people with six months left to live the choice to end their lives.

Under her proposals, two independent doctors must confirm a patient is eligible for assisted dying and a High Court judge must give their approval.

The bill will also include punishments of up to 14 years in prison for those who break the law, including coercing someone into ending their own life.

MPs will debate and vote on the legislation on 29 November, in what will be the first Commons vote on assisted dying since 2015, when the proposal was defeated.