Former music publisher Paul Bessell has become an online sensation at age 74 after gaining millions of views on TikTok alongside his daughter Daisy.
The sudden success follows the publication this year of his book Finding Dad, an account detailing the secret parallel lives of his late father, former Liberal Member of Parliament Peter Bessell.
Peter Bessell was later a star witness in the high-profile Trial of the Century when his best friend, former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe, was charged with attempted murder. Since his death in 1985, the elder Bessell has been described as an internationally successful businessman, a shameless fraudster, a serial womaniser, a Christian pacifist, and a pro-war Right-wing hawk, while also being accused of having been an agent for MI6, the CIA, or the FBI, or even the head of Stalin's secret police.
Growing up, Paul Bessell enjoyed an extravagant early life filled with gardeners, maids, Bentleys, and private jets. By the time he was 21, he had a flat in Chelsea and an apartment in Manhattan, flitting between London and New York almost weekly, before his father vanished leaving a hasty note and massive debts.
Now, Paul's quest to unearth the truth about his father has put him on the brink of reviving the family fortune in a manner beyond even Peter's imagination. Over the past few weeks, his TikTok videos have racked up more than three million views, amassing around 200,000 followers and attracting offers from corporations seeking to harness his success.
The viral breakthrough occurred accidentally while Paul was driving from New York down to Miami. He sent short daily video clips back to his 26-year-old daughter Daisy, who edited them into TikTok videos to help promote his book.
Upon returning to the UK, the pair pondered how to continue the series and devised a concept drawing on Paul's career as a music publisher, where Daisy plays songs he does not know and he decides whether he would sign or decline them.
During his career in music, Paul secured a global deal with singer Billy Ocean and had a hand in bagging the UK rights to Billy Joel's hit single Just The Way You Are. The first Sign or Decline video posted online quickly went crazy, prompting the duo to hire a management team to advise them. "Who would have believed it?" Paul said.
Doctor Who Podcast Suspended By Meta
Actors Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill experienced a real-life disappearance after social media platform Instagram deleted the page for their new podcast, The Pondcast, just days after its announcement.
Gillan, 38, and Darvill, 44, starred as companions Amy Pond and Rory Williams alongside Matt Smith's 11th Doctor in the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who, where their characters famously vanished after being attacked by Weeping Angels. Gillan has also starred in the Jumanji film series.
The account removal was caused by a misunderstanding at Instagram parent company Meta. Darvill shared a notification from Instagram explaining, "We just got suspended for impersonating ourselves," though the page has now been reinstated.
In The Pondcast, Gillan and Darvill look back at their time starring alongside Smith in the popular series.
Angela Rippon Serving Personalised New Zealand Wine
BBC veteran Angela Rippon, 81, revealed that guests frequently perform a double take when she pours wine at dinner parties due to a striking surname coincidence.
Speaking at a red-carpet event in Mayfair, London, Rippon explained that a vineyard named Rippon Vineyard operates in New Zealand, producing some of the best organic wine. "I want to go," she said. "When I serve it, people say, 'Ange, have you put your labels on that?'"
Lady Victoria Hervey Describes Donald Trump Encounter
Socialite Lady Victoria Hervey, the elder daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol, detailed a recent encounter with former US President Donald Trump at his golf club in Florida.
Speaking at the Thirsty Work Bar inside Smith & Wollensky's restaurant in London, Lady Victoria explained that Trump struck up a conversation with her during the visit. "He started chatting to me," she said. "He signed my hat and then handed me his pen. It has 'White House' on it and his signature."
James May Developing Independent Beer Brand
Former Top Gear presenter James May, 63, known as Captain Slow, is preparing to launch his own beer brand, following the commercial success of fellow television veteran Jeremy Clarkson's Hawkstone Lager.
Speaking online from his pub, The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire, May explained that his personal beer consumption inspired the venture. "I thought, 'Well, I drink a lot of beer. What about [making] a beer?'" he declared, adding: "People could walk up to a bar and say, 'Can I have two pints of James, please?'"
May, who already owns his own gin brand, stated that his new brew will focus on traditional industrial session beers rather than craft options. "I am a fan of what I call industrial beers," he explained. "I'm not a fan of fancy craft stuff. Not too strong, not too hoppy, flavoursome, a session beer that fuels intellectualism or, as it's sometimes known, b******t."
Blues Pianist Ladyva Warns Fans About AI Scams
Swiss blues pianist Ladyva, whose real name is Vanessa Gnaegi, issued a warning to music fans after fraudsters used artificial intelligence deepfakes on FaceTime to steal money from her followers.
The musician, known as The Queen of Boogie Woogie, frequently duets with Jools Holland and has performed alongside Bonnie Tyler and Jerry Lee Lewis. She revealed that fake social media profiles contacted fans directly, leading to one supporter losing around 6,000 Swiss francs (£5,500) to scammers pretending to be her. "He believed he was communicating with the real Ladyva," she said.
Ray Winstone Shares Life At Sicilian Olive Farm
Actor Ray Winstone, 69, best known for starring in The Gentlemen, revealed he now spends much of his time growing olives at his farmhouse in Sicily.
The proud Cockney star explained that the Italian island offers an earthy atmosphere reminiscent of London or the East End 40 years ago, saying: "There's a sort of earthiness, I kind of felt at home. Kids just run about." Speaking on the Dish podcast, Winstone added: "Maybe, as I've got older, you yearn for that community nostalgia."
He admitted that adjusting to his new home involved getting used to local residents staring as he drove through town, recalling: "When you first live there, you'll be driving through town and every one's staring at you, and you go, 'What the f*** are you looking at?'"
