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The Beatles’ last song is on track to become their 18th number one single.

Now And Then was written and recorded by John Lennon in New York in the late 1970s, before being developed by the other band members, including George Harrison, in 1995.

Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono had given the recording to the remaining Beatles the previous year.

But technology at the time was more limited and the band were unhappy with the sound quality.

Beatles superfan, John Lennon, who changed his name by deed poll from Alan Williams in April 2022, holds the first copy of the newly released last Beatles song, Now And Then, following a special midnight launch event at HMV Liverpool, allowing fans in the home city of the four Beatles members to be the first to get their hands on the new music. Picture date: Friday November 3, 2023. Picture date: Friday November 3, 2023.
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Beatles superfan John Lennon, who changed his name by deed poll, was the first to buy a copy of Now And Then

Now, however, with the help of AI, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr have finished it, more than four decades after it was started.

Filmmaker Peter Jackson’s recent Beatles documentary used audio restoration technology. That allows music and vocals to be isolated, a technique that was used on Now And Then.

Jackson also directed the new music video for the song which was released on Friday.

In its opening weekend, the song has outsold the rest of the top five combined, according to the Official Chart Company.

It is the Fab Four’s first chart-topper in 54 years, the last being The Ballad Of John And Yoko in 1969.

Previous number ones include All You Need Is Love, Help!, and Hey Jude.

File photo dated 01/06/67 of The Beatles (left to right) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon, at a recording studio in London. Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr have spoken of their "emotional" feelings ahead of the release of what they are calling the last Beatles song. Now And Then, written and sung by John Lennon and later developed by the other band members including George Harrison, has been finished by Sir Paul and Sir Ringo decades after the original recordin
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The Beatles in June 1967

“I like the idea of not letting go of each other,” Sir Paul told The Sunday Times.

“You know, when you have somebody you love so much. In many cases it’s a relative, and even though they go, you don’t want to let go – that’s what people say when somebody dies.

“They’re in your memory, always in your heart. And, yes, that’s certainly true of me and the boys.”

Sir Ringo said he would like the group to be remembered “with love”.

The drummer added: “How many streams did we do last year? One billion? Three billion? It blows me away. The beat’s still going on, you know?”

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Snoop Dogg says he hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park

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Snoop Dogg says he hopes to open burger van at Celtic Park

Snoop Dogg says he hopes to set up a burger van at Celtic’s stadium and wants to serve fans himself.

The US rapper, 53, has described the football club’s supporters as “special” and the best fans in European football.

And Snoop, who played Glasgow‘s OVO Hydro arena in 2023, has also said he strongly identifies with the club’s mascot Hoopy the Hound.

He said a fast-food van at Celtic Park would become a foodie “Paradise” which is a nickname for the ground in the Parkhead area of the city.

Celtic Park. Pic: AP
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Celtic Park. Pic: AP

Snoop told the Sunday Mail: “I would love to bring a pop-up burger [van] to a sports stadium to show fans that food at stadiums can be good.

“It’s got to be Celtic Park, man. The secret to a good burger is the love in the preparation. The ground beef has got to be mixed with some secret spices, then add a good quality cheese and some maple-cured bacon.

“The Celtic fans are gonna love it, and to make sure they are just right, Snoop is going to be serving them himself.”

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But he said he would not be taking his culinary ventures to Rangers – Celtic’s Old Firm rivals at Ibrox.

The Drop It Like It’s Hot star told the paper: “Am I going to bring my burgers to Rangers as well? Nah, I think we will give that a miss.”

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The musician has previously spoken of investing in Celtic, similar to Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds’s involvement with Wrexham FC.

Snoop has already published a cookbook and claims to have spoken to chef Gordon Ramsay about a possible venture in Glasgow together.

The keen sports fan worked as a correspondent for NBC at the Paris Olympics last year, and has launched two youth football leagues, as well as being a vocal advocate for pay equality for female athletes.

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Dawn French apologises for ‘mocking tone’ in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

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Dawn French apologises for 'mocking tone' in video about Israel-Hamas conflict

Dawn French has apologised and taken down a video she posted about the war in Gaza after facing backlash.

The popular actress and comedian said she apologised “unreservedly” after posting a video in a “mocking tone”.

In the original 40-second clip, the Vicar of Dibley star said: “Complicated, no, but nuanced. But bottom line is no.”

Then, using a different tone, she went on: “Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no.

“But we want that land… and we have history… No.

“Those people aren’t really even people, are they really? No.”

On Saturday afternoon, she issued an apology, saying that in an effort to convey “an important message” she had “clumsily used a mocking tone”.

“My intention was NEVER to mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror of what happened on 7 October 2023,” she posted on X and Instagram.

She said her intention was to “point the finger of shame at the behaviour of the cruel leader on ALL sides of this atrocious war”.

French faced criticised after her initial post.

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman said she was “saddened” by it.

She said: “This mocking voice ‘bad thing’ of October 7 that Dawn (who I revere by the way) appears ro [sic] be mocking involved the most horrific terrorist attack.”

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MP Rosie Duffield responded to Oberman’s post, saying: “One can, and should hate what is happening in Gaza and also condemn the hideous events of October 7th.

“It is agonising to see events unfold, and requires extremely careful, measured and well-considered comments and actions. This is not that.”

Some social media users tried to pressure M&S, who French voices adverts for, over the incident.

In October 2023, Hamas led other militant groups in a cross-border attack, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 people hostage.

Since then, Israel has launched a number of large-scale campaigns in the region, including in Gaza where over 54,000 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the enclave.

Many of these are said to be women and children.

Israel claims to be targeting militants and blames collateral deaths on Hamas fighters positioning themselves in densely populated areas.

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Sir Rod Stewart ‘devastated’ after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu

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Sir Rod Stewart 'devastated' after cancelling more US concerts as he recovers from flu

Sir Rod Stewart says he is devastated to have to cancel a series of US concerts, blaming lingering flu for the decision.

It affects four shows in Nevada, along with a further two in California, which he plans to reschedule.

They were due to take place over the next eight days.

“So sorry my friends. I’m devastated and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I’ll be back on stage and will see you soon,” he wrote in a message on Instagram.

Sir Rod, 80, has been struggling to recover from flu and this week had already cancelled two concerts at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, he disclosed that his doctor had “ordered” him to take “a bit more rest”.

The star is in the midst of his epic One Last Time Tour.

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Sir Rod, who was recently put on vocal rest, is due to play the legends slot at Glastonbury later this month.

In May, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards (AMAs).

Rod Stewart performs during the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas
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Sir Rod performing at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas. Pic: Reuters

In a sign of how seriously the singer takes his health, last month he was also spotted in Italy attempting to avoid conversations to preserve his voice.

He wore a message attached to a lanyard which read: “Sorry. Cannot talk. Having vocal rest.”

In 2024, he promised he would not retire but confirmed his 2025 European and North American shows would bring an end to his “large-scale world tours”.

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The performer, best known for songs including Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?, Every Beat Of My Heart, and Maggie May, said he plans to focus on more intimate venues instead.

Sir Rod has faced other health challenges in the past.

In May 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery. In 2017, he underwent successful treatment for prostate cancer.

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