amy winehouse

Plus, Fearne Cotton announces she’s pregnant, and Martin Kemp going into CBB house!

It’s been reported this morning that Amy Winehouse’s ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is on life-support after collapsing following “a cocktail of drink and drugs” which he took while on a binge.

The Sun reports that 30 year old Blake was found choking in bed after a booze and drugs session, in which it’s alleged he also took heroin. He was rushed to hospital in Dewsbury, West Yorks, where he was diagnosed with multiple organ failure.

Blake’s partner, Sarah Aspin – who has a 15 month old son by the singer – told of her anguish last night as he lay in a coma.

She said, “The doctors say they don’t know the prognosis. They said they put him in a coma to help him and due to infection.

“I’m praying he’ll survive, but I’m having to prepare myself that he may never wake up.”

Blake was rushed to intensive care days after the first anniversary of Amy’s death. He’d been on an afternoon boozing session with a friend after meeting with probation officials following his release from a jail term… Continue reading »

Now magazine reports today that Amy Winehouse’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil is not only planning a tell-all book about his marriage to Amy, he’s also preparing to contest her will after learning he’s been cut out of it.

Here’s the story…

Blake, 29, who’s serving a 32-month sentence for robbery and possessing an imitation firearm, married Amy in 2007 but they divorced two years later.

‘He’ll claim that her family and record executives forced Amy to freeze him out of her £10 million fortune against her wishes,’ his pal tells us.

‘He’s not going to let this go because he says that in her last phone calls to him in jail Amy professed her love and hoped for a reunion.

‘He also claims that he’s in possession 
of letters that prove the pair weren’t estranged.

‘Although Blake’s devastated by Amy’s death, that hasn’t stopped him from seeing an opportunity to cash in.

‘He believes Amy wouldn’t have wanted to leave him destitute, so in a perverse way he sees it as his duty to see make sure her real wishes are fulfilled.’

Read the full story about Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil in Now magazine dated 8 August 2011 – out now!

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The Daily Star reports today that Lady GaGa is in secret talks to play Amy Winehouse in a film about the singer’s tragic life.

Here’s the paper’s article…

Hollywood movie moguls want to capitalise on the global outpouring of grief following her death on July 23.

LA producers think outrageous pop phenomenon GaGa would be perfect in the starring role.

A Hollywood insider said: “Lady GaGa worshipped Amy and would love nothing more than to transform herself into her idol on the big screen.

“She’d be spot on performing Amy’s songs and has got the right look and bolshy attitude.

“GaGa’s been itching to make the transition from music into movies and sees this as the ideal role to launch her film career.”

It has been reported that after completing her nearly two-year long Monster Ball world tour, the Poker Face singer, 25, was inundated with film scripts.

However, she has been waiting for the perfect part.

Our insider said: “GaGa’s management team had been discussing possible film ventures before Amy’s untimely death.

“But there’s only ever been one role she wants and that’s to play Amy.”

Talking about the death of Amy, GaGa said: “I am just so devast-ated and so sad. I really could not speak for 48 hours straight, I was in such shock.

“She was the most lovely and nice and kind woman.”

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The police investigating Amy Winehouse’s death are reportedly analyzing CCTV footage near the singer’s home to establish her movements the night before her death.

Here’s the story from the Daily Mirror…

Detectives want to know whether she left her house in her final hours.

It comes as they quizzed Tony Azzopardi yesterday after he claimed the singer begged him to help her buy crack and heroin the night before she died.

A source said: “There are enough cameras in the area to get a picture of her movements. “It’s a painstaking operation which involves going through tens of hours of footage.”

Amy’s family believe the star stayed in all night. They say her bodyguard told her to keep the noise down because she was up late playing drums in Camden, North London.

Police spoke to Azzopardi, 56, at Holborn station at 12.30pm yesterday, where he was questioned for 30 minutes about 27-year-old Amy’s death.

He is due to meet detectives again today for another interview. Scotland Yard said there had been no arrests linked to Amy’s death.

Azzopardi, who has drink and drug convictions, claimed to have been introduced to the star by her jailed ex-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil. He said he told the Mirror about the drug deal with Amy because he wanted her family to “know the truth”.

Azzopardi claims the Back to Black singer asked him to buy drugs for her hours before she died and handed over £1,200 for crack cocaine and heroin.

Her family believe she died of a seizure or heart attack because her body could not handle the cold turkey of quitting booze.

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The Daily Star today reports that Amy Winehouse died broken-hearted after realising she and her “true love” would never be together again.

Here’s the story…

Before she launched into the “death wish” drug and booze marathon believed to have claimed her life, she begged ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil to let her visit him in jail.

But for the first time in their five-year relationship he said “No’’, fearing it would upset new love Sarah Aspin who had only given birth to his son Jack two months earlier.

Hours later the jazz diva, 27, spectacularly fell off the wagon sinking gin and Red Bull mixes at London’s iTunes festival.

Three days later she was dead after reportedly splashing out £1,200 on heroin and crack cocaine.

Police are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine what caused her death.

But speaking exclusively to the Daily Star about Amy’s final days, Blake’s new partner Sarah, 33, said she feared the singer was driven to a fatal binge out of despair.

She said: “I can’t help but feel it was the moment her heart may have broken. Blake had never said no to her before.

“It’s an awful thought, but I fear that may have been the moment she realised he and her would never be.

“I’d hate to think that somehow caused her to fall but it is possible.Blake and I have spoken about it and we know there is nothing to feel guilty about. You can’t go on giving in to someone with an addiction.

“Everyone who knows him knows the last thing he would ever do would be something that harmed or upset Amy. All he ever wanted her to be was happy and well.

“But he’d realised she probably wouldn’t achieve that happiness with him as a partner. They were two addicts. There was a lot of co-dependency and little way out. I’m not so convinced that Amy thought the same way.”

Mum-of-three Sarah, who met Blake, 29, while they were both in rehab two years ago, said she had never stood in the way of his relationship with the singer and accepted they would always have a “connection”.

In the weeks leading up to her death Amy, who was seeing film director Reg Traviss, 32, shared long phone conversations with Blake while he was banged up in Armley Prison, Leeds, for burglary and possessing an imitation firearm.

He had never hidden the conversations from Sarah and even talked to her about his concerns for his ex-wife’s well-being.

“I think she was addicted to Blake and couldn’t let go,’’ Sarah explained.

“Blake and I had been together for two years but, just like with Princess Di, there were always three of us in the relationship.

“She may have had another boyfriend and Blake had me but Amy was a constant fixture. When we met he’d told me that she would always be there and I was so in love with him I accepted it. They would fall out, not speak, she even once changed her number. But they would be back in touch.

“He told me that Amy had desperately wanted to have his child. She’d even have sacrificed her career for it.”

Despite her demons, Amy was desperate to be just a “typically Jewish mum” with a husband and family. “But it didn’t happen for them,” said former drug addict Sarah.

“When Blake broke the news he was having a baby with someone else she was devastated. She checked herself into rehab the day Jack was born.

“I loved Amy, too. I knew what she’d been through because I’ve had the same lack of confidence and battle with bulimia and addictions.

“Perhaps because of this I never once stood in their way. There would be arguments when she was constantly on the phone for hours at a time. I would say to Blake how could I possibly compete with someone with such talent? He would say that I had qualities she didn’t possess.

“When baby Jack arrived I think Blake’s outlook changed.

“In the past he’d always really put Amy first and I think his priorities changed. They spoke for the last time a few days before she died.

“She told him she was doing really well, doing yoga and going to the gym. Then she asked if she could come and visit him. Blake told me afterwards that he’d said ‘No’. He told her he didn’t think it was a good idea with all the press about but really he said he didn’t want to upset me or Amy’s boyfriend.”

But when Sarah saw the news of Amy’s death on TV she collapsed in tears. “I just couldn’t take it in,’’ she said.

“Like most people I was overwhelmed by someone with such talent dying so young. I almost died from septicaemia when I was 27 and lost my brother to drink last year when he was 30. I know all the dangers of addiction.

“I also knew what the news would mean to Blake. I thought: ‘The one time he really needs me and baby Jack and we can’t be there for him.’ He phoned me from prison an hour later and asked: ‘Is it true?’ I was in tears and told him: ‘Yes it is, I’m so sorry, baby.’

“He was in shock. He couldn’t really speak.

“I just felt for him on his own in there with his thoughts and no-one to talk to. I just prayed he’d be strong.

“He told me he just wants some normality. He dreams of TV, pizza and the kids. No fame, no fortune, and no drugs.’’

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TMZ report today that tragic singer Amy Winehouse was preparing to adopt a 10-year-old girl from the island of St. Lucia, the girl and her grandmother told a British paper today.

Here’s the story…

The girl — Dannika Augustine (seen above with Amy) — says she met the singer during one of Amy’s visits to the island over the past few years. She says she was living in poverty with her single mom when Amy took an interest in her.

Dannika tells The Sunday Mirror, “Amy was already my mother. I would call her mum and she would call me her daughter.

“She took care of me and we had fun together. I loved her and she loved me …

“She was the most amazing person and I was looking forward to living with her here or in London. I cannot believe she is gone.

“This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

Dannika’s grandmother Marjorie says she spoke to Amy a few weeks ago and that Amy planned to return to St. Lucia next month.

She told the paper, “Amy wanted to have a child so bad. If she had not died, there is no doubt she would be here in St Lucia completing the adoption process.

”There is no way she would have done what she did to herself if Dannika was with her.”

Both of Dannika’s parents had signed off on the adoption.

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The Daily Mail today reports that a London drug fixer claims he helped Amy Winehouse buy £1,200 of crack cocaine and heroin the night before she died.

Here’s what the paper has to say…

Tony Azzopardi, who is due to be re-interviewed by police today, alleged he helped the late singer buy the Class A narcotics in the early hours of July 23rd – the same day she was found dead in her London home.

The 56-year-old, who was introduced to the tragic star by her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, claimed he wanted her family to ‘know the truth about what happened’.

Azzopardi told the Daily Mirror he bumped into the singer in a black cab near The Eagle pub around 11:30pm on July 22nd.

Several people had previously claimed to have seen Amy outisde the Good Mixer bar in Camden that night.

Azzopardi claims Amy asked him to help her buy some drugs and they rode together in the taxi to West Hampstead, where he made a phonecall to a local dealer.

A short time later, he alleges the singer handed over £1,200 for half an ounce each of crack and heroin.

He claims he last saw her when she dropped him off in Archway, North London before heading back to her Camden home.

Hours later, Amy’s lifeless body was found by her bodyguard around 4pm.

Despite Azzopardi’s claims, police said they found no drug paraphenalia at the singer’s house.

However, the Winehouse family say Azzopardi’s story does not match up with Amy’s movements.

Winehouse’s father Mitch told mourners at Amy’s funeral last week how she had quit drinking recently after giving up drugs several years previously.

The family have confirmed they believe Amy quitting booze may have contributed to her untimely death, with her body going into shock or a seizure from alcohol withdrawal.

Mitch said Amy was happy with her boyfriend Reg Traviss and was looking forward to the future in the days leading up to her death.

It could be several weeks before the cause of Amy’s death is discovered as her family await a toxicology report.

An initial post-mortem proved inconclusive.

Tim Bittlestone, of solicitors Leslie Franks, confirmed to the Mirror: ‘Myself and Azzopardi attended Kentish Town police station. We will speak to them again on Monday.’

A police spokesperson refused to comment.

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Former Big Brother contestant Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has told The People that it was Amy Winehouse’s “last dream” to marry her boyfriend and have children.

Here’s the story…

The tragic star had wanted nothing more than to settle down and be a housewife to her film-maker boyfriend Reg Traviss, 35, says Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace.

And the Back to Black singer was happier than ever before, according to ex Big Brother contestant Aisleyne.

In stark contrast to the star’s public hell-raising drink-and-drugs image, Aisleyne revealed how Amy…

LOVED watching Channel 4’s teatime word game Countdown.

LIKED to pop round to her local takeaway for a spicy kebab and chips.

ENJOYED having a cosy cup of tea with her mates and a nap in the afternoon.

LAVISHED her love on up to five kittens.

SANG like an angel while she did the housework.

In an exclusive interview with The People, Aisleyne said Amy was a completely different girl to the one who married drug addict Blake Fielder-Civil, 32, in Miami back in 2007.

Aisleyne, 32, who was pals with Amy for three years until her devastating death last week, said: “She would always tell me that she wanted nothing more than to be a housewife.

“She wanted to have children and stay at home and look after them.

“The fame didn’t bother her, she didn’t crave that, she was about the love of music.

“Whether it was in front of millions or it was just in a local pub, she was just happy performing and what she really wanted was to have a family.

“She loved Reg and hoped she would spend the rest of her life with him. Reg was great for her, he was a positive in her life, we all thought so – her friends, family and record company bosses.

“It is so awful she died just when she had sorted things out and was in the happiest place I had ever seen her.”

Recounting the last time she saw the five-times Grammy-winning star, Aisleyne said: “I went to her flat and drank tea and she told me how happy she was with Reg. I can’t believe she has gone. It is so heartbreaking because Amy had done the impossible, she had dealt with her addiction, admitted she had a problem and I believe she was clean before she died.

“She has got a great support network of family and friends.

“It was so hard for her. There is no definitive answer to her illness, there isn’t a pill you can take to fix it.”

Aisleyne and Amy bonded when both their partners were in prison. Fielder-Civil, Amy’s ex-husband, was jailed for 27 months in July 2008 for his part in an assault on a bar owner and subsequent attempt to cover up the crime with a bribe. He is currently serving 32 months for burglary.

Aisleyne said: “I don’t have a very high opinion of Blake at all. I do blame him for introducing Amy to a path that was very painful for her, a path that made her very unhappy.

“But I think her death will have broken him.”

The girls spent nights out together, mostly going to house parties close to Amy’s north London home.

“We would always laugh a lot when we went out,” remembers Aisleyne. “Amy had the best sense of humour, she was very witty and on point.”

Revealing for the first time some of Amy’s quirky habits, Aisleyne told how her favourite TV programme was Countdown.

Aisleyne said: “She would watch it every afternoon she was at home and often would beat the clock. She was so bright and clever. I don’t think people always knew that but she was amazing in that way.

“She wasn’t really into television, she was a typical musician like that.

“It wasn’t that she looked down at it but she had better things to do. That said, she did like EastEnders too, she’d watch that in the evenings.

“Amy enjoyed being at home. She had a wonderful new home, she’d worked hard for it.”

Typical of an artist, Amy didn’t have a set routine but would get up when she felt like it and write reams of music. Aisleyne said: “She would get up when she was ready, have a bit of breakfast and then start writing.

“She might have a nap in the afternoon. She just did what she wanted.

“She would listen to a lot of music, I would take my R ’n’ B and chart music round but Amy would listen to real music, like 50s and 60s songs.

“I remember once I was in another room and I heard this beautiful singing. I went to see and it was Amy. She sounded angelic and she wasn’t even trying. That was the real Amy, the girl who wasn’t bothered by the fame but just wanted to get on with music.”

Aisleyne says Amy liked spicy food and would get a doner kebab and chips from her local takeaway if she didn’t feel like cooking.

And although she was seen looking worse for wear on far too many occasions, she was someone who had so much love to give. Aisleyne says Amy adored her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield who has a music career of her own despite being just 15. There were numerous pictures of her dotted around Amy’s flat.

Aisleyne said: “She was so supportive of her, she thought she was so talented. Amy would always smile when she talked about Dionne. It was lovely to watch.”

Amy’s warmth extended to animals, particularly kittens.

At one time she had five of them staying with her. Aisleyne said: “I remember going round to see Amy and I had three of them sitting in my lap and one on each shoulder.

“Amy loved them so much, but that is what Amy was about – love. She would always be nice to everyone.

“She loved her fans so much too. She would sit there reading the letters they had sent her and looking at the gifts she had received from them. That always brought a smile to her face.

“Amy would also make a huge effort to talk to neighbours, local shop keepers, or anyone she knew from the area. She would always be nice. I never saw her be horrible to anyone.

“One of her pet hates was when people were bullying others. I never, ever heard her say a bad word about anyone.”

Aisylene, who arrived at Amy’s home last Saturday minutes after paramedics and police arrived, now hopes that her close friend will never be forgotten.

But the reality TV star, a finalist in the 2006 Big Brother, is devastated that she has come under fire over reports that she was out partying with Amy in the days before her death.

As a result she has received threats and hate messages and says she wasn’t allowed to attend Tuesday’s funeral.

Aisleyne said: “I am now saying goodbye to Amy in my own way.

“I was told there wasn’t enough space at the funeral but then her parents thought I was out partying with her in the days before she died.

“I wasn’t. I hadn’t seen Amy for a good few weeks before she died.

“I am doing this interview so people remember Amy the way I do.

“I want to grieve for my friend, who had a huge heart and is the best artist of my lifetime.”

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The Sun today reports that Amy Winehouse’s family and friends celebrated her life at her favourite jazz club last night.

Here’s the article in full…

The late singer’s parents Mitch and Janis were joined by her boyfriend Reg Traviss and friends including Kelly Osbourne, Mark Ronson and Eliza Doolittle at Jazz After Dark in central London’s Soho district.

The group raised a drink to Amy and shared memories of the singer and her eventful life.

Earlier in the day, Mitch, Janis and Amy’s brother Alex had visited the star’s North London home as part of the Jewish tradition, Shiva, which requires the family of the deceased to mourn their passing for a week.

Grieving fans were stunned as Mitch, 60, handed out his daughter’s clothes to those waiting outside.

He told them: “These are Amy’s T-shirts. This is what she would have wanted – for her fans to have her clothes.

“Please keep listening to her music. God bless Amy Winehouse.”

Fan Brigitte Pividal – who was given a red vest – said: “I have been coming here every day since she died and I didn’t expect this. I will cherish this for the rest of my life.”

Flowers left outside the house where Amy died aged 27 on Saturday included a big bunch from Kasabian.

Frontman Tom Meighan said bandmate Sergio Pizzorno broke the news of her death to him by telephone at the weekend.

He said: “I was really shocked. My body went cold. Before Back To Black came out we had a sing song around hers,… it was great, lovely memories, I was singing one of my songs and then she just sang and I was like ‘wow what a lovely voice!’ – just nice.

“I was in shock. My body went cold. I sent over some flowers today to her shrine from Kasabian – where all those people are putting all flowers – a big bunch of flowers from us. I think that’s respectful. She was lovely wasn’t she?”

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The Daily Star today reports that singer Amy Winehouse might still be alive if she had not met junkie Blake Fielder-Civil. So says his father, Larry Fielder.

Here’s the story…

That is the claim of Blake’s father Larry Fielder, who believes Amy Winehouse’s romance with his son could have led to the singer’s death.

Larry said yesterday: “Do I regret him ever meeting her? If it would have saved her life, yes I do.”

But he says jailbird Blake Fielder-Civil, 32, who is blamed by many for getting Amy hooked on hard drugs, could not keep away from her because they shared a special bond.

And he reckons the Back To Black singer might still have become a drug addict because of the pals she had in trendy Camden, north London.

“Living in Camden, who’s to say she wouldn’t have gone down that rocky road herself,” said Larry.

Tragic Amy’s family and friends, including her dad Mitch, 60, ex-boyfriend Reg Traviss, 32, and celeb pal Kelly Osbourne, 26, headed to her favourite club Jazz After Dark on Thursday night to celebrate her life.

But while they have banded together, ex-husband Blake has been left devastated behind bars.

He is serving time in Armley, Leeds, for burglary and Larry says he has hardly eaten since learning about Amy’s death.

He was devastated when prison authorities refused him compassionate leave to attend her funeral.

Larry continued: “When he asked for leave to see her for the last time they would not allow it because he is divorced.

“He wanted to go to the funeral. He felt trapped. He couldn’t leave and there was nothing he could do.”

Despite their divorce in 2009, Larry says Amy stayed in touch with Blake and had been supporting him during his prison term.

He added: “I’m not allowed to call him, no-one is. Amy would email him and wait for him to call her.”

Music bosses are now trying to decide whether to release material Amy had recorded. If they do release the unheard tracks, Amy’s family have decided the money will go towards the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

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