As thespian friends pay tribute to the late Alan Rickman, a further poignant detail emerges. The star, pictured, was planning to buy a new house, writes SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE.

The star died yesterday at a London hospital, surrounded by friends and relatives including his wife Rima, after waging a secret fight with the illness.

A clip featuring late stars David Bowie and Alan Rickman in an episode of The Simpsons has resurfaced and has been posted online as a tribute.

In a 2011 interview the actor, who died last week aged 69, said author Rowling had given him a 'tiny, little, left of field' detail to help his portrayal of antihero Professor Severus Snape.

It features the Harry Potter and Robin Hood actor alongside glam rock legend David Bowie and rock star Lemmy Kilmister - all of whom have passed away from cancer within the space of three weeks.

His last work was lending his trademark dulcet tones to the character of the Blue Caterpillar in the sequel to 2010's Alice In Wonderland.

The musician and actor, who both passed away aged 69, will be honoured with screenings of their iconic films, The Man Who Fell To Earth and Sense And Sensibility at the event, in February.

She's worked with a range of esteemed actors during her long and varied career. And Helen Mirren was able to star alongside the late Alan Rickman in her new film - one of the last he made - Eye in the Sky.

It has been revealed that the Alan Rickman left £4million in his will including legacies of £100,000 to charity.

He left £100,000 to charity when he passed away to cancer in January. 

Director Richard Curtis revealed that the upcoming Love Actually Comic Relief special will not pay tribute to the late Alan Rickman, after he tragically passed away last year.

The actor, who died in 2016 aged 69 from pancreatic cancer, reveals his misgivings in his archive of personal papers covering more than 40 years on stage and screen.

Richard Curtis who wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral said at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in Gloucestershire that he had wanted Alan Rickman but was outvoted.

In 2003's Love Actually, cheating husband Harry - played by the late Alan Rickman - gifts his wife Karen (Emma Thompson) Jon Mitchell's album Both Sides Now which fans say is a mistake.

The author, 54, made a touching tribute to the late star, who tragically died in 2016 of pancreatic cancer, when a Harry Potter fan gushed about his portrayal of Severus Snape in the film franchise.

The pair looked every inch the happy couple as they attended the Romeo and Juliet gala night in London on Sunday.

CHARLES SALE - SPORTS AGENDA: Kevin Pietersen was one of only four former England team-mates who did not participate in a video tribute to Alastair Cook this week.

Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams had a mini-Destiny's Child reunion at the Tyler Perry Studios grand opening gala in Atlanta on Saturday.

The husband of crooner Beyonce has sent his VIP guests a $40,000 Rolex Daytona watch and a $300 bottle of Ace Of Spades champagne to make sure they will attend.

Beyonce posed up with her husband Jay-Z at the second night of his Shawn Carter Foundation gala at a Florida casino on Saturday.

She is regularly responsible for breaking the internet with virtually all of her doings, and Saturday was no exception.   

Beyoncé sparkled in a rhinestone-studded gown at night two of Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Foundation gala. The celeb-friendly event raised funds to help underprivileged students attend college.

The Single Ladies star, 38, put on a busty display, while her rapper husband, 50, rocked a dapper white ensemble at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills, California on Saturday.

Adele put her marriage woes behind her as she attended the British Summer Time Hyde Park Festival in London on Friday with friends including Alan Carr's husband Paul Drayton.

Matthew Gallimore, 35, an air engineering technician in the Royal Navy, from Crewe in Cheshire, got down on one knee in the palace quadrangle after collecting the honour for his services to the military.

Alan Carr has revealed that he has taken inspiration from his best pal Adele's incredible seven stone weight loss and has kick started a diet of his own.

The couple beamed as they wandered the West End in London on Thursday night after watching the superstar perform at the London Palladium on the second night of her UK tour.

The Sitka spruce, on Campbell Island - 500 miles from New Zealand's South Island - has been recognised as the world's most remote tree by Guinness World Records.

Several European leagues have been suspended due to the coronavirus, but the Turkish Super League has so far refused to call off matches, with the country having six confirmed cases.

Bitter Turkish rivals Galatasaray and Besiktas pressed ahead with their Superlig fixture on Sunday, despite the vast majority of European football being cancelled at all levels due to the coronavirus spread.

MERSEY BEAT: Quietly they are making their presence felt, fired primarily by the feats of their flying front three. Goals are what transform sides in the Premier League.

What happens to my pension if the insurance company has serious financial problems or goes bump? Our agony uncle Steve Webb explains what happens to pensions that are bought out by insurers.

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Sports events could be restricted to crowds of just 500 people if the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate, under new emergency plans.

On September 5, I tried to buy Premium Bonds for my new granddaughter. I went online, filled out the forms and paid by debit card. I was then asked to upload documents relating to the child's birth.

The BBC are remaking Alan Bennett's monologue masterpieces, Talking Heads, recruiting the likes of Jodie Comer and Imelda Staunton.

Steve Coogan has revealed the second series of I'm Alan Partridge would have been funnier if he wasn't snorting so much cocaine.

A row was triggered after Lord Sugar posted a tweet suggesting followers buy a Stylsmile teeth whiteening toothbrush kit, which costs £149.99, as a Christmas present. He failed to note his ownership.

Ronaldo has been integral to Juve's Serie A charge this term as they were standing top of the table one point ahead of Lazio before the coronaviurs pandemic halted sport across the world.

Christian Vieri believes Erling Haaland is the best striker in the world, and will eventually go to a new team for a world record fee. The Norwegian has been linked with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid were all set to make their move for Erling Haaland this summer, but Mundo Deportivo now claim they will look elsewhere after being put off by the fees Mino Raiola would command.

Haaland, the Norwegian starlet who joined the Dortmund in the January transfer window, said he is amazed by Reyna's ability to play without fear and attack with intent.

Wayne Rooney is determined to remind his old England coach Roy Hodgson that he can still cut it at the top. The 34-year-old wants to play in Sunday's FA Cup tie away to Crystal Palace.

Serena Williams was seen flaunting koala-themed nail polish on the court on Monday as she took on Russian opponent Anastasia Potapova in Melbourne Park, on the first day of the Aus Open.

Tesco, Asda and Matalan have come under fire for already selling Christmas items, as UK shoppers deem September too early in the year to buy festive food and Santa-inspired decorations.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said households are saddled with £8,000 of non-mortgage debts, totalling £230 billion across the UK. And the coronavirus pandemic means incomes are falling.

With oil prices tumbling, investors will be glued to the first-quarter results due out from BP and Shell on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

ALVISE CAGNAZZO IN ITALY: Romelu Lukaku was one of the key players in bringing Alexis Sanchez to Milan this summer, after begging his former Manchester United team-mate to make the move.

Man United walked away from a summer deal for Juventus striker Dybala 'because Ed Woodward feared another Alexis Sanchez situation' over the Argentine's £18million-a-year wage demands.

The Red Devils failed to replace Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez during the summer transfer window as they failed to finalise deals for Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic.

Inter Milan had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank after surviving an 88th minute penalty to earn a point against fifth-placed Serie A side Atalanta with a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.