A live performer, actor, musical theatre star, recording artist, broadcaster - he tackles every challenge thrown at him with determination and enthusiasm. Oct 11, 2019. This is not an official website. After a short break, in 2013 Ball returned to Radio 2 with a new show, Michael Ball on Sunday, airing on Sunday evenings between 7 pm and 9 pm. When we met we had an instant connection. Michael said: "It was very difficult to come to terms with. Michael also revealed how he once turned to drink and drugs in a desperate There's been no evidence of the disease for a year.". Were recasting Phantom of the Opera. And I thought, just do it. his singing career. For Michael being surrounded by family, friends and fans helped him tremendously. I think I ruffle some feathers, but only for the right reasons.. But then for some weird reason, my agent phoned and said, OK, youve been offered a slot on the Miss England show. Of all things. She really encouraged that creativity in all of us as kids we had this amazing dressing-up box, so we could create costumes and plays.. But he will be serving up family-friendly TV, with a musical special alongside best mate Michael Ball, 57. I think Im quite nice. No one thought I could make that happen, no one thought it would work. Shed never give an interview about it, shes not interested in looking back. I decided to tell no one. Yet as the poster boy of the classical music scene, Alfie Boe has a twinkle in his eye that betrays a more rock n roll edge than what we see on stage. I stood on my balcony in the dark and thought I'd had enough. I felt I was going to die. Michael Ball lost his wife to cancer and believes doctors should be bolder in accepting the potential for cancer being present in a patient. US$14.99. Michael told the BBC doctors should not be "afraid to think" somebody may have cancer. A trouper. Alfie and Michael met when they were co-stars in a production of the musical Kismet in London. But while stroke symptoms come on suddenly, metastatic brain tumor symptoms appear and get worse over time, from days to weeks. He was 18 at the time One night, after going to Ronnie Scotts jazz club in Soho, he was sick over himself in a taxi and woke up face down on the floor in his college hall. Cathy [ex-Ready Steady Go! It will be only the second performance of Hairspray, in which Ball plays the matriarch Edna Turnblad, and he is still on a high from opening night. Hows he feeling? The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. And it was a huge turning point. Despite an audience of only 1,000 fewer than half the London Coliseums capacity they did twice the work, Ball says. He was taken to hospital where doctors discovered he had a highly aggressive brain tumour known as a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). What is a Brain Tumor? Nov 11, 2019. He left sixth-form college without A levels and became an apprentice at the TVR sports car factory in Blackpool, earning 100 a week. Like anyone, I can be up, down. So when specialists told me there was only a tiny chance of the worst happening, I thought: "But I'm one of those people who defies the odds."'. My vision was deteriorating. Its quite often the way that children who are uprooted create shortcuts to friendships, and this was true for Ball. He even got his first No 1 single, last year, when he recorded Youll Never Walk Alone with Captain Sir Tom Moore and the NHS Voices of Care choir, for charity. Ive never heard an ovation like it for the cast. Alfie said: The amount of times I wanted to burn that school down.. Despite growing up in Devon and Surrey, he says: I feel Welsh, then stops and questions himself. . If you have trouble in one or more areas, this is a clue for your health care provider. "In your hotel room, youre on your own, and then you think, Now what?". My surgeon was Mr Henry Marsh, one of the best in the world. Feeling an outcast, Michael channelled all his creative energies into Michael Ball was born on June 27, 1962, in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. Ball has fared well over the past year. She was once one of the most famous women in the country, lauded by everyone. "It took over five months of misdiagnoses before we found out that our then 14-month-old daughter had an ependymoma brain tumour. I have been truly happy, he says. Fortunately, Michael has been a great "support" for him, as he too understands the business. I could see the texture of frost on the ground, the wonderful colours of the sunrise. Its the title of a song on his latest album, which he wrote. A brain tumour is a growth of cells in the brain that multiplies in an abnormal, uncontrollable way. 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Im really proud of so much of what Ive been able to do., Balls mother was a teacher, and his father was an apprentice at the Longbridge car plant who worked his way up and became a sales director, which meant the family moved around a lot, including three years spent in South Africa. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Glioblastoma, also known as or grade 4 astrocytoma and once known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a fast-growing, aggressive type of brain tumor that forms on the supportive tissue of the brain. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. 'We had hardly any money but a lot of fun': Morten Harket talks Take On Me and the early days of A-ha, Ed Sheeran says his new album will open the trapdoor into my soul, Morten Harket: 'Fame is a massive onslaught on any human being', They Might Be Giants is not a cult: How they built a birdhouse in your soul and a 40-year sustainable creative enterprise, Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023, No internet, no opportunities: Addressing the challenges of digital exclusion in the UK, What are 15-minute cities? He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Musical Theatre. Its totally debilitating, creates the panic attack that mean you cant do what it is, above all, that you want to do.. But I thought, if I can get through this, if I can do this without anyone seeing how I feel inside, maybe that could help me. My life is better with her in it than it would be without her in it. There's been no evidence of the disease for a year.". I dont know that Im particularly easy to live with. If I hadn't, it might have been some time before it reappeared and the cancer would have been more advanced and potentially more difficult to treat. And he broke a ring on his finger when punching a door. Sign up to our FREE Mailing list to get all the latest news on Michael! Russell was a slow developer. Their relationship has lasted, he says, because we love each other. Money was tight, the bailiffs were at the door and Russell recalls thinking: 'If I had ten grand, my life would be complete.'. Mountain Ash was a close-knit mining community; Balls uncle was a miner, as was his grandfather. Does Michael Ball Have Brain Tumor: Is He Ill? What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? The term brain tumor encompasses growths that are both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) originating from brain cells, tissues, and structures. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. They were doing their best. It was so thrilling. 'It's hard to sustain an international musical career, be a dad to two girls and keep a relationship going,' he says. Brain tumours are also called primary (which start in the brain) and secondary (which spread to the brain). She came to interview me. 'I Dreamed a Dream' Michael Ball | Les Miserables The Shows Must Go On! With Imelda Staunton (Mrs Lovett) as Sweeney Todd in 2011. But the one constant in my life was Wales, and my gran and Mountain Ash [her town in the Cynon Valley], and I always felt a kinship with that., His grandmother, Agnes, known as Lil, was a huge influence on him as a performer. They told me the tumour in the front of my skull was the size of a cricket ball. Lots of panic attacks may lead to a diagnosis of a panic disorder; for more support please visit Mind. It wasnt to last. "It got pretty rough, pretty intense," he continued. I just withdrew. Ball left the show, spent about nine months virtually housebound and thought he would never work again. US$33.49. And thats not good, that can be dangerous. And she doesnt give a monkeys about it. Although Russell and Rebecca and Hannah's mum Helen divorced seven years ago, the girls see their father regularly. So I was by no means a shrinking violet; I was the life and soul. 335 (2003 ), , , ( , ), 1,3 (2007). Brain tumour: 'We found a growth the size of a golf ball in your brain' | body+soul 'We found a growth the size of a golf ball in your brain' Alyca met her hubby-to-be Luke while doing martial arts classes together. Singles. Russell was booked to have a scan five days later which would determine whether the tumour was benign or malignant. I really feel very lucky., What is he like at home? Has a brother, Kevin Ball (born 1959), and sister Katherine Ball (born 1970). years. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. The actor and singer, 58, who is known for starring as Marius in Les Miserables as well as for his roles in Hairspray, Sweeney Todd and The Phantom of the Opera, is in a long-term relationship with. weakness or numbness that gradually worsens on one side of the body. You know you have to think of everyone at home.'. 'When things go wrong, there's usually an accumulation of reasons.'. Only about one-third of brain tumors are cancerous. Years later, in 2007, Alfie ended up working with Michael when the pair appeared in an English National Opera production of musical Kismet. The NHS defines depression as feeling "persistently sad for weeks or months" - not just a few days. He is an unashamedly mainstream singer, with a legion of devoted fans, and also the man who played a no-cheese, no-chat run at the Donmar Warehouse, with an unusual repertoire that included Radiohead, Bowie and Joni Mitchell. He had been ill with glandular fever and, though he went back to work after about six weeks, he was exhausted. Life is so surprising. In some cases GPs will now be able to order medical tests directly, circumventing any potential wait for specialists. It was the best start to professional performing that anyone could have. He can play the romantic lead, camp it up, sing at the Proms; the daytime TV host who will also take on Stephen Sondheims less crowd-pleasing work (such as the tricky one-act musical Passion). You try to be cool, and you learn not to share anything about your true self. Your headaches may also stem from fluid leaking from your tumor's blood vessels. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? This is a type of neuronal-glial brain tumor it is made of a mix of neurons and supporting cells. I think its because, as a family, we moved around a lot and I didnt feel rooted properly. Ball has long been open about the mental health crisis he experienced, even when it was still quite rare for celebrities, especially men, to talk about such things. 'Back Together' is OUT NOW!! The first thing I thought was: "I'm alive. Three others with cancer still living in Ireland all survived, the first had a breast removed in 1995. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam, or having a medical test or job interview. Despite nearly three decades together, the pair have never tied the knot. David credits seeing his GP as a reason for being alive. Its all very well opening theatres, but if theres nothing to put into them, whats the point? That relationship is my life, it has been for 30 years. Michael and Alfie will be appearing on BBC One's Graham Norton Show on Friday, December 18 at 10.45pm. You just think: How to make a bad situation worse.. 'I'd had these recurrent dreams for years where I'd imagined massive explosions in my head.'. All Rights Reserved. He frittered his school years entertaining mates with impersonations - a skill that was later to serve him well when he learned, with a pin-sharp ear for nuance and intonation, the Italian score of various Neapolitan love songs and operatic arias. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. "There was a point where I got myself in a state I was ashamed of. It will feature songs from the duos recently released third album, Back Together, and guests including Shirley Bassey and Gregory Porter. He suggested I get some fresh air and join him in a game of tennis. Producers need to have confidence that they can put productions together knowing that, if they have to be cancelled, theyre covered. Its been a long time.. She said she is now . But a few years on, they were really faced with the biggest fight of their lives. I hit a point where I thought this either defeats me or I sort it out, said Michael. Ball never sought professional help, but he recognises the importance of it. A high school drop-out, he has battled booze and slept rough on his way to fame. His birth name is Michael Ashley Ball. 'There was one horrible night, at my hotel in Beverly Hills, when I looked in the mirror and could only see half my face. And I understand why they did it. I was banging the gong, in a frock, so I dont think he knew quite what hit him. Michael Ball OBE. Balls solo album went to No 2, not No 1 as we originally said, and the governments Cyber First campaign, suggesting ballet dancers could retrain in tech, was launched in 2019, not 2020. ", 'I went to two doctors and neither picked up on the tumour. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter. Alfie said: I had the odd spliff but because I was a singer I couldnt afford to do anything too heavy.. According to the charity Brain Tumour Research, around 16,000 people are diagnosed. Physical sensations can build up quickly, and may include: They usually last between five to 20 minutes, but it's advised to "focus on your breathing", breathing slowly in and out while counting to five. Grades and types of brain tumour. As his new show, Hairspray, leads the return to theatres, the singer talks about his mental health struggles, going back to his mining-town roots and how the government has let down the performing arts, It is only an hour and a half before curtain-up, and if Michael Ball is feeling a rising panic at the idea of spending this time speaking to me through his iPad, rather than on his usual warmup, he is hiding it well. He said that from the pressure it was putting on the optic nerve, it looked very sizeable. This article was amended on 29 June 2021 to correct two errors introduced during the production process. She was that generous, outgoing, embracing, wise woman who youd go to if you had a problem. #TheEmpire is now available in paperback! Michael Ball and Captain Tom Moore likely to perform on Britain's Got Talent final His father, who was later awarded an MBE for services to the industry for his role as head of global sales at British Leyland, was keen on theatre and took Michael to see shows in the school holidays. ---. Former Sixties mod queen Cathy has been his partner for the past ten Two weeks later he was invited to be part of the chorus for the following tour. Nine months later he was back in Phantom of the Opera but heavy drinking He has no idea how he performed as he was, still buzzing, still stoned, still paranoid, afterwards. Ball still doesnt look anxious about the time. I think I clocked up six or seven. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, some seizures can cause sensory changes: sensation, vision, smell, hearing, and even taste. into my life in any shape or form - let alone one I was going to be so The actor's ex-wife Lucia Frangione expressed in a statement on Instagram: "The great Michael Kopsa, my dear friend and the father of my child, Nora, passed away Oct 23 2022 of a brain tumor." He was formerly married to Lucia Frangione, the actress, with whom he shares one daughter. The joyless round of the clubs of Wigan and Salford continued. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. For other inquiries, Contact Us. And so weve got to say our piece, and the most important thing I said for us would be Covid insurance for producers, says Ball. The fan club has much more to offer than this website and we hope you will be encouraged to become an official member once you have used and enjoyed our site. I told Nick I was convinced something serious is going on. View our online Press Pack. Michael went on to star in the equally successful Phantom of the Opera, but his career began to suffer greatly due to a health condition suffered by millions. Its been a long time., The culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, was there; he was photographed with Ball who was, in Ednas pearls, handbag and wig, almost Thatcherite looking delighted. "We completely lost it," Moyles says. Copyright The Big Issue Limited 2021. They were both from working-class families, theyd done well and they thought thats what you did, you sent your kid away to school. Although, he adds: We have people out there saying: Go and get help, and its all very well, but there has to be the help out there. A friend, he says, has been trying to get help, but is on a long waiting list. Entertainment & Recreation linktr.ee/michaelballobe Born June 27 Joined November 2009. But some people find it hard to control their worries and their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives.". These symptoms include: Headaches caused by a tumor (s) putting pressure on your brain. "It took over five months of misdiagnoses before we found out that our then 14-month-old daughter had an ependymoma brain tumour. Read about our approach to external linking. He is recalling the day, four months ago, when he was told he had a brain tumour. But many in the arts are freelancers so theyre left high and dry; theyre not furloughed. A neurological exam. I loved surprising people, making people laugh. I've had lots of reassurances. Michael Ball OBE - a multitalented artist who excels at his craft. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. It went double platinum and topped the charts. "Its totally debilitating, creates the panic attacks that mean you cant do what it is, above all, that you want to do.". Of course she was. "I was simply on my own and your emotions get the better of you," he said. He said: The warmth of the fans helps to insulate me from my critics. Which is not in my nature. HE is the grannys favourite who orders gravy as his back-stage rider and once spotted an audience member knitting. When he played Edna in the first run, for which he won the first of his two Olivier awards in 2008, his mother and uncle came to the show, and when they saw me, they cried because I look like her. A brain tumor is an abnormal growth or mass of cells in or around your brain. Cancer had returned, and what had been an astrocytoma brain tumor had become a grade 4 GBM - a "terminator" brain tumor. Michael Ball, 58, is an actor, singer and broadcaster who first gained notoriety when he made his West End debut in 1985 playing Marius Pontmercy in the original production of Les Miserables. 'I like a laugh, a good time with my mates and I'm enjoying being single,' he says. The audience have been taking their seats and here he is, still in specs and black T-shirt. 'I remember coming downstairs a month and a half after the operation, and it was as though someone had switched the light on,' he recalls. In some cases GPs will now be able to order medical tests directly, circumventing any potential wait for specialists.