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DAME Maggie Smith’s family have issued a heartbreaking statement after her death, aged 89.
The legendary Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star passed away this morning after an incredible 70-year career on stage and screen.
Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens confirmed she died in hospital early this morning.
In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
The actress leaves behind her two sons, who she shared with her late ex-husband Robert Stephens.
They followed in their mother’s footsteps and are both successful actors.
Chris, 57, is known for his role as Richard Brown, on the hit show Outlander.
He previously revealed why he chose to drop “Stephens” from his stage name to avoid the connection to his father.
“There are lots of people whose parents are in the business who might be able to say, ‘Yes, I got my big break because of who my parents are.’ Great. The challenge is to sustain it,” he told The Times.
“And if you’re not good, you’ll be found out. The job is fairly brutal like that,” he added.
He shares two children with his wife Victoria ‘Suki’ Steadman.
Meanwhile, Toby, 55, is widely recognised for his portrayal of John Robinson on the Netflix series Lost In Space.
Toby previously told The Guardian: “My parents didn’t particularly encourage me initially. They knew how hard the profession is: just because they’d been successful didn’t mean I would.
“They said, ‘You’re on your own.’ I’m really grateful: It made me get out there and hone my taste.”
The actor and his wife, Anna-Louise Plowman, share three children, son Eli Alistair and daughters Tallulah and Kura.
Maggie married Chris and Toby’s father, actor Robert Stephens, in June 1967 but they divorced eight years later.
Maggie later went on to wed playwright Beverley Cross in 1975 before his death in 1998.
She previously opened up about her health battles, including treatment for Graves’ disease in 1988.
In 2007, it emerged Maggie had been diagnosed with breast cancer but she went on to make a full recovery.
The actress was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 and was named a Companion of Honour (CH) in 2014.
Speaking about her glittering career previously, Maggie said: “Honest to God, I have no idea where the urge [to act] came from. It was such a ghastly time and we didn’t go to the theatre.
“I got into terrible trouble once because the neighbours took me to the cinema on a Sunday, but I had a wonderful teacher, Dorothy Bartholomew, who also taught Miriam Margolyes, and who encouraged me.”
THE iconic actress was born Margaret Natalie Smith in December 1934 in Ilford, east London, to a Scottish secretary mum and pathologist dad.
The star moved to Oxford when she was four after her father got a job at the university and later left school to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse.
Aged just 17, Maggie got her first role as Viola in Twelfth Night before appearing in Cinderella, Rookery Nook and The Government Inspector.
In 1957, she landed a role opposite Kenneth Williams in the musical comedy Share My Lettuce.
This led to regular appearances in a string of plays at the Old Vic theatre, including The Rehearsal and Mary, Mary.
While starring in The Double Dealer, Maggie caught the eye of Laurence Olivier who invited her to become part of his National Theatre Company.
Maggie went on to appear opposite the actor in Othello, with the pair famed for their professional rivalry.
In 1958, the actress made her screen debut in Nowhere to Go but it wasn’t until her Oscar-winning performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 11 years later that she gained international fame.
Maggie continued to appear on stage in a number of plays – winning a Tony Award for her role in Broadway comedy Private Lives.
During this time, she won her second Academy Award for best supporting actress in California Suite alongside Michael Caine.
Maggie received further nominations for roles in A Room with a View and Gosford Park.
She appeared in a number of comedies, including Sister Act, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet.
In 2001, Maggie took the role as Hogwarts deputy headmistress Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series of films.
She played the Transfiguration teacher in seven of the eight films until 2011.
Maggie won three Emmys for her portrayal of as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey.
The actress became a firm fan favourite for her acerbic put-downs during the five-year series and two subsequent films.
LEGENDARY racing family the Twiston-Davies have been left ‘devastated’ after the death of Grand National winner Bindaree at the grand old age of 30.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained runner won the 2002 Aintree feature under Jim Culloty, the uncle of three-time Flat champion jockey Oisin Murphy.
Bindaree was sent off 20-1 for the world’s most famous race and looked to be beaten early on in the run-in.
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But he found a new lease of life in the closing stages to rally and beat 10-1 What’s Up Boys by just under two lengths.
The thrilling ding-dong went down as an instant classic, with third-placed Blowing Wind, the 8-1 favourite under AP McCoy, a further 27 lengths behind.
Bindaree put Twiston-Davies back on the map as a trainer and his jockey son Sam broke the news of the horse’s death on X on Friday morning.
He said: “Bindaree sadly passed away this morning , all at Grange Hill Farm devastated, all owe him so much as wouldn’t be here with out him. An amazing horse.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us , may you Rest In Peace.”
Bindaree was owned by the late multi-millionaire businessman Harold Raymond Mould, who died in September 2015.
The horse won just shy of £500,000 in a 40-race career that included nine wins, five seconds and four thirds.
Hugely popular trainer Twiston-Davies said he was on the brink of quitting before Bindaree’s miraculous win.
He told the Racing Post: ““It’s not just me who owes Bindaree so much.
“We were on the verge of quitting. If we had done, there’s a real chance that my sons Sam and Willy wouldn’t have had the opportunities to achieve what they have done.
“He was a character, but not the sort who wanted to cuddle you. I remember watching the Grand National with Philip Hobbs, who trained What’s Up Boys.
“Bindaree was headed at the last by What’s Up Boys but fought back. It was a great race.
“We shall all miss him.”
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MAGGIE Smith spent the last two decades of her life missing her husband Beverley Cross after their love story was torn apart.
The couple were married for 23 years before Beverley tragically passed away in 1998.
Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said she died in hospital early this morning.
In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end.
“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
She was born Margaret Natalie Smith in December 1934 in Ilford, east London, to a Scottish secretary mum and pathologist dad.
The star moved to Oxford when she was four after her father got a job at the university and later left school to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse.
Aged just 17, Maggie got her first role as Viola in Twelfth Night before appearing in Cinderella, Rookery Nook and The Government Inspector.
In 1957, she landed a role opposite Kenneth Williams in the musical comedy Share My Lettuce.
This led to regular appearances in a string of plays at the Old Vic theatre, including The Rehearsal and Mary, Mary.
While starring in The Double Dealer, Maggie caught the eye of Laurence Olivier who invited her to become part of his National Theatre Company.
Maggie went on to appear opposite the actor in Othello, with the pair famed for their professional rivalry.
In 1958, the actress made her screen debut in Nowhere to Go but it wasn’t until her Oscar-winning performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 11 years later that she gained international fame.
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end.
“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Maggie continued to appear on stage in a number of plays – winning a Tony Award for her role in Broadway comedy Private Lives.
During this time, she won her second Academy Award for best supporting actress in California Suite alongside Michael Caine.
Maggie received further nominations for roles in A Room with a View and Gosford Park.
She appeared in a number of comedies, including Sister Act, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet.
In 2001, Maggie took the role as Hogwarts deputy headmistress Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series of films.
She played the Transfiguration teacher in seven of the eight films until 2011.
Maggie won three Emmys for her portrayal of as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in Downton Abbey.
The actress became a firm fan favourite for her acerbic put-downs during the five-year series and two subsequent films.
Away from the screen, Maggie married actor Robert Stephens in June 1967.
The couple shared two sons, actors Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, before they divorced eight years later,
Maggie later went on to wed playwright Beverley Cross in 1975 before his death in 1998.
She previously opened up about her health battles, including treatment for Graves’ disease in 1988.
In 2007, it emerged Maggie had been diagnosed with breast cancer but she went on to make a full recovery.
The actress was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 and was named a Companion of Honour (CH) in 2014.
Speaking about her glittering career previously, Maggie said: “Honest to God, I have no idea where the urge [to act] came from. It was such a ghastly time and we didn’t go to the theatre.
“I got into terrible trouble once because the neighbours took me to the cinema on a Sunday, but I had a wonderful teacher, Dorothy Bartholomew, who also taught Miriam Margolyes, and who encouraged me.”
LUKE LITTLER is set to face a 53-year-old construction worker at the Swiss Darts Trophy.
Bruno Stockli even has a connection to tennis legend Roger Federer.
The Swiss darts ace is one of four host nation qualifiers competing at this weekend’s European Tour event in Basel.
He entered in the first round on Friday, taking on Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski.
Stockli pulled off 6-3 victory to set up a clash with Littler in the next round on Saturday.
The man known as “Beast” is understood to be from the same town as the 20-time Grand Slam winner.
Federer was born and raised in Basel but now resides in the Swiss town of Valbella.
Despite not being on the PDC Tour, Stockli previously caught the eye live on Sky Sports earlier this year.
He reeled in the big fish with a 170 checkout against Northern Ireland in the group stage of the World Cup of Darts back in June.
Alongside partner Stefan Bellmont, though, the Swiss duo lost both their matches as they crashed out in the opening round.
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Stockli has already gone one better at St. Jakobshalle this weekend, however.
He will now face 14th seed Littler next as the top 16 players enter in the second round.
THE BIG SWISS FISH!
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Bruno Stöckli hit a 170 out of nowhere!
His opponents can only stand and applaud!https://t.co/nh8y246ePn#WorldCupofDarts | Group B pic.twitter.com/dC8GbJV4AH
The winner could potentially face world number one Luke Humphries in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Littler is aiming to win his third EuroTour title of the year after withdrawing from last weekend’s Hungarian Darts Trophy.
The Nuke has already lifted the Belgian Darts Open and Austrian Darts Open in 2024.
He heads into the event after a break from the oche, having also missed this week’s Players Championship events in Leicester.
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age – smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title – which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he’s even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
A TURKISH football pundit was SHOT in the foot after covering the Europa League on Thursday night.
Former Turkey international Serhat Akin had been working on coverage of Fenerbahce‘s clash with Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in an Istanbul studio.
After finishing up his evening’s work for Turkish broadcaster Sports Digitale, Akin was attacked outside the studio, in the Beykov region of the city.
In shocking security footage, a masked figure could be seen approaching Akin.
He subsequently fired one shot from his gun, before crossing the street and being escorted away on a motorbike.
Passersby then rushed to check on Akin, who had taken cover behind a car.
It later emerged that the 16-cap star had sustained a gunshot wound to his right foot.
He was subsequently rushed to a private hospital for treatment.
His condition is not believed to be life threatening, although he will have to undergo an operation.
The former Fenerbahce star later posted a picture of his injury to Instagram Story.
He captioned it: “They shot my foot, our last word is Fenerbahce.”
Local cops have launched a probe into the shooting.
Akin has been visited in hospital by his pal, former Middlesbrough and Stoke star, Tuncay Sanli.
The ex-forward said of his friend’s condition: “He is currently very well, his morale is low. There is not much to say. He will undergo surgery tomorrow.
“I was with my brother because of the situation. He is my brother, we have experienced great things together. We have also experienced sadness.
“I came to him as soon as I heard. There is nothing very serious about his condition. He will most likely undergo surgery tomorrow.
“I am both sad and angry. Right now, his condition is very good. He is not in a good mood and his morale is low. I hope he regains his health as soon as possible.”
In an official statement, Fenerbahce wrote: “We condemn the armed attack on our former football player Serhat Akin.
“We wish him a speedy recovery. We expect the perpetrators to be held accountable before justice as soon as possible.”
The Turkish Football Federation added: “We have learned with regret that former national team player Serhat Akin was injured in his foot as a result of an armed attack.
“We strongly condemn the heinous attack and wish Serhat Akin a speedy recovery.”
Jose Mourinho‘s side had beaten Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 on the night.
Ex-Leicester star Caglar Soyuncu gave them the lead on 26 minutes, before it was doubled by a Christian Burgess own goal.
Accrington Stanley old boy Ross Sykes then pulled one back for the visitors in stoppage time.
