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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Alex and Holly get the Strictly boot

Alex Jones and Holly Valance bid an emotional farewell to the Strictly dancefloor last night, just missing out on a place in the final.

Both shed a few tears as they said their goodbyes - Alex calling it an "an incredible time", and Holly thanking the British public for their support before adding, "I'm just proud that we've been part of the most successful Strictly."


The semi-final weekend saw each couple dance twice and, as you might expect, there were high scores galore.


Both Holly, who danced the Argentine Tango and the Charleston, and Alex, dancing the Waltz and the Salsa, impressed - Bruno described Holly's Tango as "beautiful, bad and dangerous", while Alex got a "Hip Hip Hooray" from Len for her Salsa - but there was tough competition from their rivals.


Chelsee Healey, who continues to improve, was left "speechless" after scoring maximum points (the first of the series) for her Paso Doble, having earlier scored 36 for the American Smooth.


And Jason Donovan, whose "daddy dancing" Samba didn't go down well with Craig, also got full marks for an "incredible" Tango.


Topping the leaderboard though was Harry Judd. The McFly star kicked off Saturday night's show, scoring 39 for the Charleston, and repeated the feat with his classy and elegant Viennese Waltz.


Now the pressure is really on as Jason, Chelsee and Harry head to Blackpool for the glittering finale.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Caroline Flack to meet Harry Styles' mum

We'd like to be the fly on the wall when Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack meets the mother of her young boyfriend Harry Styles over Christmas.

The 32-year-old hooked up with 17-year-old Harry a while ago - and has since been defending their age-gap relationship in the media.


So it'd be interesting to hear if she'll use the same lines on Harry's mum Anne Cox - who we suspect will be considerably closer to her age than she is Harry's.


The Mirror quoted a source as saying: "Harry has asked Caroline to meet his family this Christmas. And, after some persuasion she has agreed.


"Like any mother, Anne is concerned over the age gap but, if Harry can get his mother to see that Caroline makes him happy, that's all he wants."


Caroline defended her involvement with Harry earlier this week, saying she didn't think it was fair to call it "disgusting".

Gary 'issues X Factor ultimatum': 'It's me or Louis' (VOTE)

The X Factor sniping, rowing and backstage bickering seem to have reached new levels this year but, if the rumours are to be believed, next year's show will be a less bitchy affair.

According to The Sunday Mirror, self-appointed 'head judge' Gary Barlow has issued Simon Cowell with an ultimatum with regards to onscreen rival Louis Walsh, saying, "It's him or me."


There has always been a certain amount of panto in-fighting on The X Factor but tension between Louis and the Take That singer has been looking increasingly real as the series has progressed.


And it's led Gary to force Cowell into a decision.


An insider told the Mirror, "Gary and Louis have completely different ideas of what this show is all about. Gary wants it to be a credible singing contest and Louis sees it as entertainment.


"Although he's been outspoken defending his acts and criticising other people's, Gary hates all the pantomime rowing and thinks Louis is behind most of it."


That's not all. Mr Barlow reportedly lays the blame for Misha B's departure squarely at Louis' door after the whole bullying debacle.


The source added, "Gary is unsure about his future on the show... The thought of another year with Louis is just too much for him to bear. He says he will only consider coming back if Louis leaves."

Would you prefer to see Gary or Louis on next year's panel?Gary, we want him back for goodLouis, he's got the likeability factorNeither, ditch the lot and start again

Given Simon Cowell's fondness for the Irishman, it's a dangerous game to play.


A gossip described as close to Gary, insisted the pair had been friends for years and said, "They'll always be mates whatever happens."


Wonder if that will still be true should Gary get the boot.

Heather Mills chauffeur copied disabled permit

A former chauffeur for Heather Mills has admitting making a copy of her disabled parking permit - and claimed he had her consent when he photocopied it.

Stewart Simonson was pleaded guilty to using the badge illegally when he appeared at Enfield Magistrates Court, having been caught by traffic wardens six months after leaving Ms Mills' employ.


He claimed that she often forgot to carry her permit with her when he was driving her, so he made a copy of it with her approval.


Unfortunately for him, traffic wardens noticed that the picture on the reverse of the permit was of a woman they "recognised from the TV".


In a statement to the court, Simonson wrote: "I was employed as a chauffeur by a lady who was awarded a disabled badge. On occasion she would forget to bring the badge, therefore I made a copy.


"I suffer from arthritis which forced me to retire. Six weeks before this I had been discharged from hospital and am in constant pain and unable to walk any distance and applied for a badge myself."


Simonson was ordered to pay £660 in fines and costs.


There was no suggestion that Ms Mills knew Simonson was continuing to use the permit.

Jennifer Aniston voted sexiest woman in the world... EVER

She's no stranger to Hollywood hottie lists but now A-list lovely Jennifer Aniston has been voted the Sexiest Woman of All Time.

Why did the readers of Men's Health magazine put Jen at the top of the list? The publication speculated that it's because "funny is sexy" and her "down-to-earth persona makes her seem attainable".


The fact that she's got a rockin' hot body is just an added bonus.


The 43-year-old can afford herself a little smile though because Angelina Jolie, the woman who nicked her hubby Brad Pitt, only came in 10th.


Pipped at the post by Ms Aniston were Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Britney Spears and Madonna, while Ursula Andress, Bettie Page, Pamela Anderson and Jane Fonda also made the top 10.


Neither of Jen's own choices made the top 10, however.


She told the mag, "It's a tie between Brigitte Bardot and Gloria Steinem. But if I had to choose one, I'd say Gloria because, well, she's the full package. That's sexy."

Kelly denies X Factor tipsy rumours

The X Factor judge Kelly Rowland has taken to Twitter to deny that she had been at the sherry before last night's live final, in response to speculation about her over-excited behaviour.

The 30-year-old seemed a little out of character as she wished Little Mix a "merry frickin' Christmas" and asked presenter Dermot O'Leary to repeat a question because: "I have no idea what you just said!"


And her over-enthusiasm prompted viewers to start speculating that she may have been enjoying the hospitality in the show's green room.


One fan tweeted: "Kelly Rowland IS DRUNK! what was that exchange Dermot?! not very professional. not very Kelly Rowland we've seen so far."


Kelly's repeated use of the phrase "y'all" also raised eyebrows among viewers.


But Kels hit back on her own Twitter feed, saying: "Nice try, but I wasn't under the influence, in ANY way..........just overwelmed by the crowds cheers!"


Hmmm, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt this time then Kelly.

Kerry calls police over lesbian stalker

Reality TV personality Kerry Katona has resorted to getting the police involved over the unwanted attentions of a female stalker.

Kerry and her manager Max Clifford decided to call the five-O after the woman, an American lesbian named Stella, told Clifford's office that she had been watching Kerry get changed at her home.


Kerry told The Mirror newspaper: "'I was getting dressed and there was a phone call to Max's company from this lady saying she'd been watching me getting changed.


"So I panicked and called the police. But this woman has been annoying us all for weeks now. At the end of the day I've got four kids, live in a big house and have to take this sort of thing seriously."


And Clifford told MailOnline that the woman had been calling his office constantly.


He said: "She's just a very sad lady. She's been phoning my office about two months now, sometimes 20 times a day.


"She's a lesbian who claims that she and Kerry are destined to be together, she wants to meet her, she thinks she can help her.


"Sometimes she calls and just plays Atomic Kitten down the phone or gets her mother to call us pretending to be her agent.


"We won't put her through to Kerry, obviously, but if she is watching her, then you get a bit worried about people like this. We have told the police, they are aware of her."


Kerry has been stalked by a woman before, when somebody she had befriended on Facebook kept coming to the house she used to share with former hubby Mark Croft.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Little Mix claim victory in X Factor final

Girl group Little Mix have triumphed in this year's The X Factor, beating Marcus Collins in the live final at Wembley Arena.

The foursome, who were put together from the solo entrants at the audition stage, have become the first group ever to win the ITV1 talent show.


They were jubilant on hearing the news, only able to screech and say "oh my god!" for a couple of minutes.


Then Jesy managed to just about get a sentence out, saying: "This is never gonna sink in, we cannot thank the public enough."


The girls had emerged as the favourites over the last week, also seeing off the previous favourite Amelia Lily in the Saturday night show.


There were no hard feelings from Marcus though, and he said: "These girls really deserved it."


The "Little Muffins", as mentor Tulisa rather embarrassingly referred to them, performed a memorable version of Silent Night - prompting some wild praise from judge Louis Walsh.


He said: "I'm going to predict this time next year this is going to be the biggest girl band in the UK by a mile."


You want our predictions? OK then: Kelly won't be back next year (y'all). Tulisa will guest on several Little Mix tracks and then join them when her solo career falters, Marcus will be in Chicago on the West End stage inside 18 months.


Oh, and Tulisa's sideways arm gesture will still look rubbish next year.

Little Mix surprise favourites to win X Factor (VOTE)

Never before had a girl group made it beyond about week three of the live shows on The X Factor, but it's now starting to look as though Little Mix could go all the way.

The foursome are now the bookies' favourites to win the TV talent show tomorrow night, as well as topping viewer polls.


William Hill and Paddy Power have them on very poor odds of 5/4, while Ladbrokes and Coral have them on 11/8.


In contrast it's easy to get a wager on Marcus Collins at 2/1 - while the previous favourite Amelia Lily is languishing in third place in the odds at around 5/2.


Meanwhile The Sun has reported that show supremo Simon Cowell wants the girls to become "the new Spice Girls" and send them out on a joint tour with One Direction.


More than half of users of entertainment websites Digital Spy and Unreality TV wanted Little Mix to win in its poll - and you can have your own say in our poll right here...

Who do you want to win?

Louis Walsh admits to hair transplant

It used to be Simon Cowell or Dannii Minogue's faces that got the most attention in terms of cosmetic work on The X Factor judging panel, but it their absence this year Louis Walsh has had to step manfully into the breach.

And the twinkly Irishman has not disappointed - admitting that the lustrous grey thatch we admire every week on the gogglebox is partly the result of a hair transplant.


Louis, 59, insists that it was Simon Cowell who prompted him to get his barnet boosted, despite his initial reservations.


He said: "I could have just left it and got on with things, but with TV today, everything is in high definition, and people notice every little thing.


"And if you're getting on, and you're on TV with a lot of young people, you have to look after yourself. So I thought 'I don't want a bald spot! I'm going to get this sorted."


The procedure would have cost up to £30k normally, but Louis got the work done for free in exchange for plugging the Dublin clinic that did the thatching.


If you want the gory details, the process is called Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Transplantation (URFUT) and sees strips of skin taken from the back of the head and grafted into places where hair has stopped growing.


And we have to admit, the results are pretty impressive.

Miranda leading in comedy gong nominations

Miranda Hart could be on track to repeat last year's huge haul at the British Comedy Awards, which are being handed out this Friday.

In 2010 she scooped three awards selected by the judging panel and also the people's choice award, and this year she is up for best female TV comic, best TV comedy actress, best sitcom and the people's choice award again.


But she will be up against David Mitchell, Graham Norton, Jack Whitehall, Jo Brand and Sarah Millican for the people's choice one.


TV Burp funnyman Harry Hill is also up for three awards, while hilarious student comedy Fresh Meat is nominated for two - or four if you count star Jack Whitehall's two nominations.


The ceremony will be screened live on C4 at 9pm on Friday, with Jonathan Ross on hosting detail.

Peaches Geldof, 22, to wed for the second time

Peaches Geldof is set to marry for a second time after boyfriend Thomas Cohen popped the question.

The 22-year-old confirmed that the S.C.U.M. rocker would be her second husband, telling the Sunday Mirror, "Yes, I'm engaged!"


But don't expect a big socialite wedding any time soon.


Peaches added, "We don't want to get married for a couple of years yet though so don't expect me in a dress yet. I'm so happy!"


It's a good thing they're not rushing into it (though they've only been dating for a year and apparently kept the engagement secret for six months), given Peaches last foray into married life.


At the tender age of 19, the Geldof girl got hitched to another rocker, Max Drummey, but the union lasted only six months.


In the wake of their split, Peaches revealed, "I didn't go into it with Max thinking, 'This is going to last forever'. But I did go into it thinking, 'I love him right now and I know that I will continue to love him for a long while'."


We're sure it's different this time.


After all, you wouldn't want to go through a big Jewish wedding just to grab column inches, would you Peaches?

Sacha Baron Cohen lands Les Mis movie role

Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen will be starring in the Hollywood adaptation of classic musical Les Miserables.

The comic actor will be taking the role of Monsieur Thénardier, which was played by fellow Brit funnyman Matt Lucas on the stage in London's West End.


Sacha will reportedly star alongside Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Helena Bonham Carter in the big screen adaptation of the musical adaption of Victor Hugo's famous French novel.


Things must already be well under way because the movie is scheduled to hit cinemas next year, as will his next movie The Dictator - which has already finished filming.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

SPOILER: X Factor USA teen breaks down on stage (VIDEO)

A 13-year-old hopeful in American version of The X Factor has collapsed sobbing on stage after being knocked out of the contest, prompting concerns about exploitation of the young hopefuls.

Rachel Crow was sent home after judge Nicole Scherzinger refused to choose between her and Marcus Canty, deliberately sending the vote to deadlock - which revealed that the teenager had the fewest votes.


On hearing the bad news, the youngster slumped to the ground and dissolved into tears - prompting her mother to run on stage to comfort her.


Show host Steve Jones moved to comfort her but was beaten to the punch by head judge Simon Cowell, who shielded her from the cameras as he gave her a hug.


Rachel's was quickly on the stage reassuring her that everything was going to be okay, and between sobs Rachel could be heard replying: "Mommy you promise me?... Promise me?"


The lower age limit for the show in the US is 13, whereas in the UK it is 16.


See the unhappy moment for yourself...

Sugababe Heidi and fiancé split

Sugababes star Heidi Range and her TV and Radio personality fiancé Dave Berry have announced that they have parted company after eight years together.

The couple, who got engaged on New Year's Eve in 2009, actually split up in the autumn, but have kept the news under wraps until now.


Heidi, 28, posted on Twitter: "Very sadly, after eight years together, myself and Dave decided to separate a few months ago.


"I wish him nothing but the best in life x."


And a spokesperson for Dave, 33, said: "Dave Berry announced today that his engagement to partner Heidi Range has been broken off.


"Mr Berry announced the news today although the couple agreed to separate in the Autumn.


"The split is amicable and no third parties are involved and he will make no further statement on the issue."

Sarah Harding: 'I was such a mess before rehab'

Sarah Harding has opened for the first time about her messy pre-rehab life.

The Girls Aloud singer has for some time been known for her love of the party lifestyle but revealed the boozing got out of hand after the break-up of her relationship with then-fiancé Tom Crane.


Amidst rumours of rowing about her partying, Sarah and Tom called off their engagement in September.


Soon afterwards, Harding checked into rehab in search of treatment for depression and alcohol addiction.


Speaking to Hello! magazine, Sarah explained, "I was so down but I just tried to keep busy and, to numb myself, I was drinking more. It was my way of escaping.


"One minute I was deliriously happy, to the point of hysteria, and totally in denial about my problems saying, 'I'm fine, I'm fine'. The next it hit me - and when it did, it hit me hard."


The tipping point came when Sarah's Girls Aloud pals Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts invited her for dinner the day after a heavy fashion night out.


"I wasn't in a good state at all," Harding told the mag. "I was very hungover. But the first thing I wanted to do was open a bottle of wine. I know they were really worried about me."


She went on, "The day I left for rehab, I was such a mess... I was crying hysterically. I felt ashamed, embarrassed, terrified - my emotions were all over the place."


With a stint in rehab under her belt, Sarah hopes to make a fresh start, and added, "I've turned 30 now and, although there will always be a bit of the rock chick in me, I'm trying to embrace my softer and more feminine side."


We wish her all the best.

X Factor voting revealed: Janet was early fave

She was tipped as a potential winner way back in the audition stages of this year's The X Factor, but it is only now that the strength of early support for Janet Devlin has been revealed.

The 17-year-old from County Tyrone topped the voting for the first FOUR WEEKS that the public were allowed to have their say, only slipping to second spot the following week on Amelia Lily's triumphant return.


Unfortunately her fall from grace was then quite rapid, and she was sent home by the judges two weeks later when she found herself in the sing-off with Misha B - having forgotten her words the previous night.


Interestingly, the voting figures also reveal that only three acts took the top spot in the voting over the entire series.


Janet was up there for four weeks, Amelia Lily for two and Little Mix for three - including the last week when it counted the most.


Although runner-up Marcus Collins never topped the voting, he did have the most second places - being number two for three weeks.

Cher brushes off Chelsea boy Spencer

Cher Lloyd has rebuffed the advances of Made in Chelsea reality star Spencer Matthews, declining his offer of a snog under the mistletoe.

The former X Factor contestant - who is dating hairdresser Craig Monk - was unimpressed when informed by a TV reporter that self-styled playboy Spence had been sniffing around her.


She said: "Really? Oh lovely. I don't really have much to say to that. I couldn't say I'm thrilled."


And she then apparently did her best hooray Henry impersonation.


Spencer had professed his admiration for the Swagger Jagger singer whiel appearing on T4, saying: "I'm a big Cher Lloyd fan. I like Cher Lloyd."


And asked if he fancied a sneaky snog under the mistletoe with her, he replied: "Yes I would."


Sorry Spence, doesn't look like it's going to happen old chap.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Alex and Holly get the Strictly boot

Alex Jones and Holly Valance bid an emotional farewell to the Strictly dancefloor last night, just missing out on a place in the final.

Both shed a few tears as they said their goodbyes - Alex calling it an "an incredible time", and Holly thanking the British public for their support before adding, "I'm just proud that we've been part of the most successful Strictly."


The semi-final weekend saw each couple dance twice and, as you might expect, there were high scores galore.


Both Holly, who danced the Argentine Tango and the Charleston, and Alex, dancing the Waltz and the Salsa, impressed - Bruno described Holly's Tango as "beautiful, bad and dangerous", while Alex got a "Hip Hip Hooray" from Len for her Salsa - but there was tough competition from their rivals.


Chelsee Healey, who continues to improve, was left "speechless" after scoring maximum points (the first of the series) for her Paso Doble, having earlier scored 36 for the American Smooth.


And Jason Donovan, whose "daddy dancing" Samba didn't go down well with Craig, also got full marks for an "incredible" Tango.


Topping the leaderboard though was Harry Judd. The McFly star kicked off Saturday night's show, scoring 39 for the Charleston, and repeated the feat with his classy and elegant Viennese Waltz.


Now the pressure is really on as Jason, Chelsee and Harry head to Blackpool for the glittering finale.

Caroline Flack to meet Harry Styles' mum

We'd like to be the fly on the wall when Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack meets the mother of her young boyfriend Harry Styles over Christmas.

The 32-year-old hooked up with 17-year-old Harry a while ago - and has since been defending their age-gap relationship in the media.


So it'd be interesting to hear if she'll use the same lines on Harry's mum Anne Cox - who we suspect will be considerably closer to her age than she is Harry's.


The Mirror quoted a source as saying: "Harry has asked Caroline to meet his family this Christmas. And, after some persuasion she has agreed.


"Like any mother, Anne is concerned over the age gap but, if Harry can get his mother to see that Caroline makes him happy, that's all he wants."


Caroline defended her involvement with Harry earlier this week, saying she didn't think it was fair to call it "disgusting".

Cher brushes off Chelsea boy Spencer

Cher Lloyd has rebuffed the advances of Made in Chelsea reality star Spencer Matthews, declining his offer of a snog under the mistletoe.

The former X Factor contestant - who is dating hairdresser Craig Monk - was unimpressed when informed by a TV reporter that self-styled playboy Spence had been sniffing around her.


She said: "Really? Oh lovely. I don't really have much to say to that. I couldn't say I'm thrilled."


And she then apparently did her best hooray Henry impersonation.


Spencer had professed his admiration for the Swagger Jagger singer whiel appearing on T4, saying: "I'm a big Cher Lloyd fan. I like Cher Lloyd."


And asked if he fancied a sneaky snog under the mistletoe with her, he replied: "Yes I would."


Sorry Spence, doesn't look like it's going to happen old chap.

Gary 'issues X Factor ultimatum': 'It's me or Louis' (VOTE)

The X Factor sniping, rowing and backstage bickering seem to have reached new levels this year but, if the rumours are to be believed, next year's show will be a less bitchy affair.

According to The Sunday Mirror, self-appointed 'head judge' Gary Barlow has issued Simon Cowell with an ultimatum with regards to onscreen rival Louis Walsh, saying, "It's him or me."


There has always been a certain amount of panto in-fighting on The X Factor but tension between Louis and the Take That singer has been looking increasingly real as the series has progressed.


And it's led Gary to force Cowell into a decision.


An insider told the Mirror, "Gary and Louis have completely different ideas of what this show is all about. Gary wants it to be a credible singing contest and Louis sees it as entertainment.


"Although he's been outspoken defending his acts and criticising other people's, Gary hates all the pantomime rowing and thinks Louis is behind most of it."


That's not all. Mr Barlow reportedly lays the blame for Misha B's departure squarely at Louis' door after the whole bullying debacle.


The source added, "Gary is unsure about his future on the show... The thought of another year with Louis is just too much for him to bear. He says he will only consider coming back if Louis leaves."


Given Simon Cowell's fondness for the Irishman, it's a dangerous game to play.


A gossip described as close to Gary, insisted the pair had been friends for years and said, "They'll always be mates whatever happens."


Wonder if that will still be true should Gary get the boot.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Hello Batman, this is Commissioner Jordan calling

Katie Price definitely gets her fair share of the blame for the problems in modern British society, but it seems as though the glamour model-turned-businesswoman may have decided it's time to put something back.

The 33-year-old is reported to have registered an interest in taking on one of the elected police commissioner roles being created by the government - and has even suggested that she moved to Hampshire expressly for that purpose.


And yes, we have checked our calendar. And no, it definitely isn't April 1 today - so we're going to have to assume that this story is real and not the obvious hoax it would be if published on April Fool's Day.


The surprising news appears to have been leaked to The Guardian newspaper by a concerned party in "the job" - and it seems she's not the only famous name considering throwing her hat into the ring.


Former Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross has also expressed an interest, as has Iraq veteran Colonel Tim Collins.


The posts would see a publicly elected official appointing chief constables and managing the police budget - an idea which many within the force are uncomfortable with.


But maybe that's just because they haven't seen the picture of KP above yet? OK, it is 10 years old but how could we resist breaking it out again?

Jennifer Aniston voted sexiest woman in the world... EVER

She's no stranger to Hollywood hottie lists but now A-list lovely Jennifer Aniston has been voted the Sexiest Woman of All Time.

Why did the readers of Men's Health magazine put Jen at the top of the list? The publication speculated that it's because "funny is sexy" and her "down-to-earth persona makes her seem attainable".


The fact that she's got a rockin' hot body is just an added bonus.


The 43-year-old can afford herself a little smile though because Angelina Jolie, the woman who nicked her hubby Brad Pitt, only came in 10th.


Pipped at the post by Ms Aniston were Raquel Welch, Marilyn Monroe, Britney Spears and Madonna, while Ursula Andress, Bettie Page, Pamela Anderson and Jane Fonda also made the top 10.


Neither of Jen's own choices made the top 10, however.


She told the mag, "It's a tie between Brigitte Bardot and Gloria Steinem. But if I had to choose one, I'd say Gloria because, well, she's the full package. That's sexy."

Kelly Brook's BF: 'My mum won't let me propose'

There are very few genuinely unexplained mysteries left in the world now: the Mary Celeste, the Nazca Lines, the popularity of Justin Bieber - and of course the fact that the delightful Kelly Brook is still unmarried at 32.

We're only joking of course, but it seems her current beau Thom Evans has been warned off of popping the question to Kels by none other than his own mum.


Speaking to the Daily Mail, the 26-year-old former rugby player said: "My mother says I have still got plenty of time to settle down and has advised me not to get married yet.


"The thing is Kelly is six years older than me. I don't mind her being older. It's not a bad idea to have an older woman, because, as my mother says, women live a lot longer than men, so it makes sense.


"So contrary to popular belief, we are not getting engaged or married."


Psst Thom, a word to the wise, you might want to stop using the word "older" so much when talking about Kelly in future.

Kelly denies X Factor tipsy rumours

The X Factor judge Kelly Rowland has taken to Twitter to deny that she had been at the sherry before last night's live final, in response to speculation about her over-excited behaviour.

The 30-year-old seemed a little out of character as she wished Little Mix a "merry frickin' Christmas" and asked presenter Dermot O'Leary to repeat a question because: "I have no idea what you just said!"


And her over-enthusiasm prompted viewers to start speculating that she may have been enjoying the hospitality in the show's green room.


One fan tweeted: "Kelly Rowland IS DRUNK! what was that exchange Dermot?! not very professional. not very Kelly Rowland we've seen so far."


Kelly's repeated use of the phrase "y'all" also raised eyebrows among viewers.


But Kels hit back on her own Twitter feed, saying: "Nice try, but I wasn't under the influence, in ANY way..........just overwelmed by the crowds cheers!"


Hmmm, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt this time then Kelly.

Little Mix claim victory in X Factor final

Girl group Little Mix have triumphed in this year's The X Factor, beating Marcus Collins in the live final at Wembley Arena.

The foursome, who were put together from the solo entrants at the audition stage, have become the first group ever to win the ITV1 talent show.


They were jubilant on hearing the news, only able to screech and say "oh my god!" for a couple of minutes.


Then Jesy managed to just about get a sentence out, saying: "This is never gonna sink in, we cannot thank the public enough."


The girls had emerged as the favourites over the last week, also seeing off the previous favourite Amelia Lily in the Saturday night show.


There were no hard feelings from Marcus though, and he said: "These girls really deserved it."


The "Little Muffins", as mentor Tulisa rather embarrassingly referred to them, performed a memorable version of Silent Night - prompting some wild praise from judge Louis Walsh.


He said: "I'm going to predict this time next year this is going to be the biggest girl band in the UK by a mile."


You want our predictions? OK then: Kelly won't be back next year (y'all). Tulisa will guest on several Little Mix tracks and then join them when her solo career falters, Marcus will be in Chicago on the West End stage inside 18 months.


Oh, and Tulisa's sideways arm gesture will still look rubbish next year.

Little Mix surprise favourites to win X Factor (VOTE)

Never before had a girl group made it beyond about week three of the live shows on The X Factor, but it's now starting to look as though Little Mix could go all the way.

The foursome are now the bookies' favourites to win the TV talent show tomorrow night, as well as topping viewer polls.


William Hill and Paddy Power have them on very poor odds of 5/4, while Ladbrokes and Coral have them on 11/8.


In contrast it's easy to get a wager on Marcus Collins at 2/1 - while the previous favourite Amelia Lily is languishing in third place in the odds at around 5/2.


Meanwhile The Sun has reported that show supremo Simon Cowell wants the girls to become "the new Spice Girls" and send them out on a joint tour with One Direction.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Louis Walsh admits to hair transplant

It used to be Simon Cowell or Dannii Minogue's faces that got the most attention in terms of cosmetic work on The X Factor judging panel, but it their absence this year Louis Walsh has had to step manfully into the breach.

And the twinkly Irishman has not disappointed - admitting that the lustrous grey thatch we admire every week on the gogglebox is partly the result of a hair transplant.


Louis, 59, insists that it was Simon Cowell who prompted him to get his barnet boosted, despite his initial reservations.


He said: "I could have just left it and got on with things, but with TV today, everything is in high definition, and people notice every little thing.


"And if you're getting on, and you're on TV with a lot of young people, you have to look after yourself. So I thought 'I don't want a bald spot! I'm going to get this sorted."


The procedure would have cost up to £30k normally, but Louis got the work done for free in exchange for plugging the Dublin clinic that did the thatching.


If you want the gory details, the process is called Ultra Refined Follicular Unit Transplantation (URFUT) and sees strips of skin taken from the back of the head and grafted into places where hair has stopped growing.


And we have to admit, the results are pretty impressive.

Louis: 'I don't think Kate behaved well'

Up until now the worst thing that Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet had ever been accused of was hamming it up a bit in her acceptance speeches.

But it seems the 36-year-old may have a bit of a mean streak, if her ex-boyfriend Louis Dowler is to be believed anyway.


The couple famously parted company during a holiday on Sir Richard Branson's private Caribbean island Necker earlier this year, which ended with Kate leaving with the tycoon's nephew Ned Rocknroll (after rescuing his mum from a fire of course).


Speaking to the Daily Mail, 35-year-old model Louis said: "I don't think Kate behaved well and it is still very raw for me. I was in love with her and you can't switch that off overnight.


"I'm not sure Kate treated me well. I thought we were inseparable. I certainly haven't found anyone else since.


"I don't want to go into details but it wasn't a straightforward break-up. I'm a laid-back guy, so I am not walking around with a long face - but I do still hold a torch for her."

Miranda leading in comedy gong nominations

Miranda Hart could be on track to repeat last year's huge haul at the British Comedy Awards, which are being handed out this Friday.

In 2010 she scooped three awards selected by the judging panel and also the people's choice award, and this year she is up for best female TV comic, best TV comedy actress, best sitcom and the people's choice award again.


But she will be up against David Mitchell, Graham Norton, Jack Whitehall, Jo Brand and Sarah Millican for the people's choice one.


TV Burp funnyman Harry Hill is also up for three awards, while hilarious student comedy Fresh Meat is nominated for two - or four if you count star Jack Whitehall's two nominations.


The ceremony will be screened live on C4 at 9pm on Friday, with Jonathan Ross on hosting detail.

Peaches Geldof, 22, to wed for the second time

Peaches Geldof is set to marry for a second time after boyfriend Thomas Cohen popped the question.

The 22-year-old confirmed that the S.C.U.M. rocker would be her second husband, telling the Sunday Mirror, "Yes, I'm engaged!"


But don't expect a big socialite wedding any time soon.


Peaches added, "We don't want to get married for a couple of years yet though so don't expect me in a dress yet. I'm so happy!"


It's a good thing they're not rushing into it (though they've only been dating for a year and apparently kept the engagement secret for six months), given Peaches last foray into married life.


At the tender age of 19, the Geldof girl got hitched to another rocker, Max Drummey, but the union lasted only six months.


In the wake of their split, Peaches revealed, "I didn't go into it with Max thinking, 'This is going to last forever'. But I did go into it thinking, 'I love him right now and I know that I will continue to love him for a long while'."


We're sure it's different this time.


After all, you wouldn't want to go through a big Jewish wedding just to grab column inches, would you Peaches?

Sacha Baron Cohen lands Les Mis movie role

Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen will be starring in the Hollywood adaptation of classic musical Les Miserables.

The comic actor will be taking the role of Monsieur Thénardier, which was played by fellow Brit funnyman Matt Lucas on the stage in London's West End.


Sacha will reportedly star alongside Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Helena Bonham Carter in the big screen adaptation of the musical adaption of Victor Hugo's famous French novel.


Things must already be well under way because the movie is scheduled to hit cinemas next year, as will his next movie The Dictator - which has already finished filming.

Sarah Harding: 'I was such a mess before rehab'

Sarah Harding has opened for the first time about her messy pre-rehab life.

The Girls Aloud singer has for some time been known for her love of the party lifestyle but revealed the boozing got out of hand after the break-up of her relationship with then-fiancé Tom Crane.


Amidst rumours of rowing about her partying, Sarah and Tom called off their engagement in September.


Soon afterwards, Harding checked into rehab in search of treatment for depression and alcohol addiction.


Speaking to Hello! magazine, Sarah explained, "I was so down but I just tried to keep busy and, to numb myself, I was drinking more. It was my way of escaping.


"One minute I was deliriously happy, to the point of hysteria, and totally in denial about my problems saying, 'I'm fine, I'm fine'. The next it hit me - and when it did, it hit me hard."


The tipping point came when Sarah's Girls Aloud pals Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts invited her for dinner the day after a heavy fashion night out.


"I wasn't in a good state at all," Harding told the mag. "I was very hungover. But the first thing I wanted to do was open a bottle of wine. I know they were really worried about me."


She went on, "The day I left for rehab, I was such a mess... I was crying hysterically. I felt ashamed, embarrassed, terrified - my emotions were all over the place."


With a stint in rehab under her belt, Sarah hopes to make a fresh start, and added, "I've turned 30 now and, although there will always be a bit of the rock chick in me, I'm trying to embrace my softer and more feminine side."


We wish her all the best.


When you see how the celebs celebrate, it's not difficult to see why they become party addicts...
Never one to make a quiet entrance, Elton John reached new heights of flamboyance (literally) in 1997 with a show-stopping outfit for his 50th birthday party. The singer, who dressed as Louis XIV for the occasion, wore a wig that was so big that he reportedly had to arrange special transport to fit the headpiece. More than 500 friends of the star partied at the lavish event. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sugababe Heidi and fiancé split

Sugababes star Heidi Range and her TV and Radio personality fiancé Dave Berry have announced that they have parted company after eight years together.

The couple, who got engaged on New Year's Eve in 2009, actually split up in the autumn, but have kept the news under wraps until now.


Heidi, 28, posted on Twitter: "Very sadly, after eight years together, myself and Dave decided to separate a few months ago.


"I wish him nothing but the best in life x."


And a spokesperson for Dave, 33, said: "Dave Berry announced today that his engagement to partner Heidi Range has been broken off.


"Mr Berry announced the news today although the couple agreed to separate in the Autumn.


"The split is amicable and no third parties are involved and he will make no further statement on the issue."

How long were they together?


Only about four or five months, but it seemed like longer because they did so much press about how happy they were together.


Who dumped who?


Rav claimed he had to "draw a line under it" after discovering that the relationship "wasn't the genuine thing I thought it was".


Were there tears?


The big guy was reported to be devastated and even had to take time off work. Chantelle was remarkably quiet about the whole business.

X Factor: Amelia Lily voted off as Little Mix and Marcus go head to head

Comeback queen Amelia Lily fell at the final hurdle last night as she was voted off The X Factor after the first stage of the final.

In front of a Wembley Arena crowd of 10,000 screaming fans, Amelia belted out Christina Aguilera's Ain't No Other Man, before taking to the stage with mentor Kelly Rowland for an impressive rendition of River Deep, Mountain High.


Gary Barlow admitted that he was concerned about how the 17-year-old would make the transition from the TV studios to Wembley but said, "You did it beautifully."


Louis Walsh was also impressed, telling Amelia, "The public voted you back and I see something raw and something amazing - it's all about the potential with you."


Hmm... makes a change from, 'it's all about the voice', at least.


There were no tears from Amelia as Dermot announced that she would be leaving the show.


She thanked fans for giving her a second chance on the show and added, "My ambition was to get to the final and I did it.


"And this isn't the last of Amelia Lily! Tonight was the best night of my life and the best moment was performing with Kelly Rowland herself."


Kelly declared she now had an "incredibly bright" future.


Last night's "biggest X Factor final ever", kicked off with Dermot's longest dance sequence ever - an on-location, Austin Powers-inspired journey through London featuring oddball Goldie Cheung.


Marcus Collins opened with his first song, Outkast's Hey Ya, aboard a giant jumbo jet surrounded by air hostesses. He got a standing ovation from the judges for his efforts too, with Louis declaring him a "born pop star" and Tulisa saying, "The hard work and the determination paid off!"


His second performance ditched the big production in favour of Gary Barlow, a piano and Billy Joel's She's Always a Woman (dedicated to his mum... awww).

Current favourites Little Mix began their final with Candi Staton's You Got The Love. The judges were impressed - Kelly called the girls "incredibly special", Gary pointed out that it's hard to believe they didn't even know each other three months ago and Louis is absolutely determined to get "Girl Power back in the charts".


Then it was time for Tulisa to join her 'little muffins' on stage... and their combined mash-up of Alicia Keys songs If I Ain't Got You and Empire State of Mind sent the audience into a frenzy.


As Gary Barlow said, "It's anybody's final".

Marcus and Little Mix will do battle again tonight.

X Factor voting revealed: Janet was early fave

She was tipped as a potential winner way back in the audition stages of this year's The X Factor, but it is only now that the strength of early support for Janet Devlin has been revealed.

The 17-year-old from County Tyrone topped the voting for the first FOUR WEEKS that the public were allowed to have their say, only slipping to second spot the following week on Amelia Lily's triumphant return.


Unfortunately her fall from grace was then quite rapid, and she was sent home by the judges two weeks later when she found herself in the sing-off with Misha B - having forgotten her words the previous night.


Interestingly, the voting figures also reveal that only three acts took the top spot in the voting over the entire series.


Janet was up there for four weeks, Amelia Lily for two and Little Mix for three - including the last week when it counted the most.


Although runner-up Marcus Collins never topped the voting, he did have the most second places - being number two for three weeks.

X Factor voting revealed: Janet was early fave

She was tipped as a potential winner way back in the audition stages of this year's The X Factor, but it is only now that the strength of early support for Janet Devlin has been revealed.

The 17-year-old from County Tyrone topped the voting for the first FOUR WEEKS that the public were allowed to have their say, only slipping to second spot the following week on Amelia Lily's triumphant return.


Unfortunately her fall from grace was then quite rapid, and she was sent home by the judges two weeks later when she found herself in the sing-off with Misha B - having forgotten her words the previous night.


Interestingly, the voting figures also reveal that only three acts took the top spot in the voting over the entire series.


Janet was up there for four weeks, Amelia Lily for two and Little Mix for three - including the last week when it counted the most.


Although runner-up Marcus Collins never topped the voting, he did have the most second places - being number two for three weeks.

Tulisa 'set for £450k pay rise' (VOTE)

The X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos is in line for a bumper £450k pay rise if she signs up for another year on the TV talent show, it has been reported.

The 23-year-old N-Dubz singer was already paid £450k for her debut stint on the show this year, but The Sun claims that she will get "just shy of a million" if she returns next year.


Apparently boss Simon Cowell has been impressed with the way the Londoner has handled herself and guided her group Little Mix to victory.


A source on the show was quoted as saying: "She's stuck by Louis and learnt a few tricks of the trade from him.


"Plus, she sticks to her views. Weaker people might have retracted what she said about Misha B hassling Little Mix to keep things upbeat but she didn't. The producers love her."

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Alec Baldwin thrown off flight after iPhone game rage

Alec Baldwin was booted off an American Airlines flight yesterday, allegedly for playing an iPhone game.

The 53-year-old actor was politely asked to leave the aircraft when he refused to end an important game of Words With Friends while the plane was at the gate.


At least, that's what he claims.


After the incident, Baldwin tweeted, "Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt."


However, other passengers have reportedly come forward claiming a severe case of door-slamming was the straw that broke the captain's back.


TMZ report that Alec was enraged by the flight attendant's request to turn off his iPhone and slammed the toilet door so loudly that the captain called to find out what was occurring.


And it's rumoured the 30 Rock star's removal was prompted by the captain himself.


Baldwin boarded a later flight but couldn't resist tweeting, "#theresalwaysunited Last flight w American. Where retired Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950's find jobs as flight attendants."

Alesha apologises over 'pickled' TV appearance (VIDEO)

Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon has (sort-of) said sorry for a tipsy TV appearance during which she made some rather indiscreet comments about the contestants on the show getting "horny".

The former show winner was appearing on Alan Carr's Chatty Man with fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood when she went off script and glugged wine straight from the bottle.


Asked about the steamy dancing, the 33-year-old said: "Everyone is really frisky on the show, everybody is horny. The year I was a contestant, everyone just was really gagging for it.


"As I was saying... you spend eight to ten hours a day rubbing up next to each other. Of course you're going to get a bit frisky."


Bruno tried to shut her up by taking her glass and declaring "no more drink for Alesha!, but she foiled him by grabbing the bottle and tipping the vino straight down her throat.


Alesha also stoked the show's rivalry with The X Factor by doing a victory dance to celebrate beating it in the ratings when Alan Carr raised the subject, but then backtracked with a more diplomatic answer.


She said: "I don't understand what all the fuss is about, why can't we just enjoy both shows?


"I actually don't think the public give a s***. The public will just Sky Plus one and watch it later, they don't care."


And her subsequent apology on Twitter was half-hearted to say the least. She tweeted: "Apologies for being pickled on Alan Carr! I did have fun though!"

Caroline Flack: 'I don't think it's disgusting'

Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack has spoken out about her dalliance with young Harry Styles of One Direction, defending herself against charges of cradle-snatching.

The 32-year-old famously snogged 17-year-old Harry at a party and subsequently got death threats from nutty fans on Twitter.


She broke her silence in an interview with Now magazine, saying: "I feel like I shouldn't have to worry about what I do. But it's a social thing that people aren't accepting of big age gaps.


"I keep thinking, 'What have I done wrong?' But I haven't done anything wrong. What's hard for me to get my head around is people saying it's disgusting. I don't think it is.


"Some people tend to see the negative immediately and that's what I find strange. If two people like each other and get on, why does anyone else find a negative in it?


"I know it's human nature for everyone to gossip. But why say it's bad? No one's being hurt."


Maybe she should get together with Katie Price for a bit of mutual support after the report about KP's alleged latest conquest yesterday.

Chezza: 'I've got my boobs and bum back'

Cheryl Cole has opened up about her weight and said that she's happy to have put on seven pounds and got more curvy.

Speaking in an interview with Grazia magazine, Girls Aloud star Chezza said that her current time off has been good for her and hinted at a problematic relationship with her weight.


She said: "When I'm really thin is normally when I am working nonstop. I don't put any emphasis on thinking, 'Oh, I'm thin at the moment. Right now I've got my curves back because I've had time off, I'm at home cooking, I'm more relaxed.


"I'm not defined by being seven pounds heavier than I was two months ago – I think it is really unhealthy to go there.


"I've got my boobs and bum back and, yeah, I like it. I think it's sexy."


But the 28-year-old hasn't just been sitting round stuffing her face and watching Cash In The Attic during her downtime, because she's launching her own range of shoes via website Stylistpick.com.


She said: "I absolutely love it. The whole idea was like a breath of fresh air, something totally different but still creative. I love learning, I love creating. There was nothing scary about it. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.


"My absolute aim is killer shoes that don't kill your feet. I can walk in heels of any height and I can dance in them because I've just been doing this for so long.


"As a kid I was a ballet dancer and I always had really sore toes. I had to have them broken and re-straightened, which sorted them out, but because I'm quite small, to me, getting dressed is all about the heels."

Chiles and Bleakley in subdued Daybreak farewell

They were heralded as the saviours of ITV just a year and a bit ago, but today Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley shuffled off the set of Daybreak for the last time with barely a whimper.

The duo, who were poached by the commercial broadcaster from the BBC for millions of pounds, have done their last shift on the early morning show a month earlier than expected.


And their mood seemed a little sombre (although it's hard to tell with him) as they prepared to get up off the sofa for the last time - with just a quick one-minute farewell before the credits rolled at the end of the show.


Chiles said: "As you may or may not know, this is our last show. As a leaving present, I'm taking my funny animal clips clipboard with me!


"We'd just like to say thanks a million to the rest of the on-air team. Dan, Kate, Dr Hilary, Sue, Cordelia, Gav, Richard, showbiz Steve, Phil, Lucy, Tasmin, all of you."


And C-Bleakley added: "And especially to all of our production staff who work far harder than any of us here as well. That is just about it from us, good luck and have a great Christmas. Bye bye."


The official line is that Chiles is to concentrate on his footy-presenting duties while Bleakley is "being put on ice" in her co-host's words - limbering up to present Dancing On Ice.


Their replacements have yet to be announced, but Natasha Kaplinsky and Eamonn Holmes are both apparently in the frame.

Chris Martin: 'X Factor is really important'

We're well used to hearing pop stars bemoan the damage they think The X Factor is doing to the recording industry, so it's actually quite shocking to hear somebody singing (pun intended) its praises.

And the superfan in question is none other than Chris Martin, who just happens to be performing on the show with his band Coldplay this weekend.


Speaking on Absolute Radio, he said: "We really feel grateful for it because they don't often have bands on and we get to play what we want to play and play songs that we wrote, and no-one's asking us to change anything. It's amazing.


"There's no other TV show, really, except for Jools Holland, that gives you that. So we were like, 'Thank you, we'd love to'.


"I understand that there are people who are musically not into it, but I don't agree with them and I say that with all respect. I really love it and I think the music's great."


Asked why he thought the show is important, he responded: "It always has great songs on it every week."


Well, you can't argue with that, can you?

Friday, December 9, 2011

Danielle Lloyd's baby rushed to hospital

Danielle Lloyd and Jamie O'Hara's son Harry has been kept in hospital overnight after he began suffering breathing problems yesterday.

Model Danielle, 27, called an ambulance to the home she shares with footballer boyfriend Jamie in the Midlands when five-month-old Harry - who was born 10 weeks prematurely - had trouble breathing.


A spokesperson for the couple said: "Harry was taken to hospital this afternoon after suffering breathing problems at home.


"Danielle was alone with Harry and Archie, as Jamie was at football training. She called an ambulance and Harry was taken straight to hospital where he is undergoing tests and will stay in to be under observation over night."


And former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Danielle shared her fears with her followers on Twitter as she waited in the hospital with Harry.


She tweeted: "My poor little baby back in hospital never been so frightened in all my life my kids are my life."


Harry had to spend five weeks in a neonatal unit after his premature birth, being allowed home to join mum, dad and brother Archie (pictured above) in August.


Harry has been bulking up well and his mum recently posted a picture on Twitter showing that he was now 8lbs - double his birth weight.


What do you reckon? Has Danielle had a run of bad luck or what? Comment below...

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As he’s not a judge on Britain’s Got Talent anymore, The Hoff has got to find a way of paying the ‘leccy bill. He’s being paid £125,000 to star as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Bristol Hippodrome.

David Beckham cheers up poorly children

As if his army of female fans needed more proof he was sent from God, David Beckham shows just what a nice guy he is by taking time out of his football tour to visit sick children in hospital.

The footy ace is currently in Australia after jetting in from LA Galaxy's tour of south-east Asia, and spent some of his down time at the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital.


Becks certainly used his charm to put smiles on faces as he chatted with patients and their parents, posing for photos and signing autographs.


He took a particular shine to five year-old Amelia Ahlsrom (pictured above) who is recovering from a tracheotomy operation, signing her tracheotomy kit box.


But it wasn't just the children who were excited to see Becks – one surgeon in particular turned up wearing a 90s England shirt, getting their hero to sign it.


The visit marks another kind deed for the star, as only last week he visited a centre for homeless children in the Philippines.


Looks like his heart is as big as his talent.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Stacey Solomon announces engagement

There's more good news for former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon as she's announced she's set to wed boyfriend Aaron Barnham.

The painter popped the question to Stacey while on a romantic break in New York together – a month after they revealed they were expecting their first child together.


It happened while the pair took a horse and carriage ride around Central Park at the weekend, and Stacey was keen to tell the world of her big news, breaking it on Twitter.


"I can't believe he's finally asked me... :D" she said.


Stacey and Aaron have been dating for three years and are expecting their new arrival in April. Stacey is already a mum to three year-old Zachary, who she had when she was 19.


The couple are yet to set a date for the nuptials but they needn't worry about catering for the reception – sure Iceland will have that one covered.

Ri-Ri goes diva with demand for FOUR dressing rooms

When you're as big a star as Rihanna you can generally get exactly what you want, when you want it - and it seems Ri-Ri has been flexing her diva muscles while here in the UK.

She is reported to have demanded four dressing rooms for herself and her entourage at the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball - apparently leaving UK stars like Olly Murs and Pixie Lott getting changed in broom cupboards (or something like that).


The Sun quoted a source as saying: "Rihanna brought a huge entourage with her and asked for them all to be looked after with food and drinks.


"And backstage she needed one room for her bags, one for clothes and two for her team to use."


Rihanna may have topped the bill, but the show also featured a host of homegrown talent, including Jessie J dressed as a Christmas cracker, Olly Murs wearing another bloody trilby, JLS and One Direction.


We told you recently how Rihanna turned to her pal Beyoncé when it was all getting a bit too much for her.

Russell's Strictly Blog: Quarter Final

Although I am no longer part of the Saturday night fun and games this has still been a very busy week for me and all the competitors, past and present in the Strictly line up.

It was wonderful to be invited back for the Strictly Christmas special and for Flavia and me to be announced as 'special guest stars' was just so amazing. It is going to be an essential 'don't miss' in the festive Christmas TV schedule. There is so much skill and dexterity to admire mingled with a few laughs along the way. So don't miss it – you'll love it.


Once again I cannot write the blog without mentioning all the drawings that are flooding in from the four corners of the country. I am surprised and touched by all the youngsters who are taking the time to draw pictures of Flavia and me and then send them to the BBC.


I don't know if this sneezy, chill and coldy-fluey thing is down your way, but I think I might have picked up something nasty while I was down in London. I got home to Wales in the middle of the week, headed for the Lemsip, lit the fire and put the telly on.


One thing is certain the cool, clear, mountain air of Snowdonia will do me a power of good.


Now, what did you think of Saturday's show? It was full of surprises and, of course, the expected. I think many people could have predicted that Harry and Aliona's Paso Doble would be top of the leader board after that sizzling, sexy performance, but maybe quite a few folk were surprised that Jason and Kristina came so far down the board after they produced such a special moment to entrance and enchant us.


Chelsee continues to go from strength to strength, although I much prefer Pasha without the green tinge.


With so few couples left in the contest the scoreboard gets shorter and shorter each week so even the very best that any couple can produce means it has to find its place on the board.


And so Robbie and Ola's bow out of Strictly after having reached such a high standard of energetic, entertaining performance and winning so many new friends and fans. Of course we shall all be meeting up for the final on December 17th in Blackpool and there's the Strictly Christmas special to look forward too.


I don't know about you, but I think the standard of dancing and performance is getting stratospheric. I know firsthand just how much time, effort, energy, concentration and stamina goes into each of the week's training and performance. I take my hat off to everyone who is pulling all the stops out to make our Saturday night's viewing complete.


And so the dance goes on....


Thanks for being there & keep dancing!

Sarah Harding's bagged herself a new bloke

The will-they-won't-they? between Sarah Harding and ex Tom Crane looks like it may finally be over as the Girls Aloud star has been pictured cosying up to a new fella.

She may only just have left rehab, but it seems Sarah has made the decision not the reunite with her former fiancé.


Sarah was pictured cuddling up to a mystery man as she took a stroll near her house in Surrey at the weekend.


The singer was rumoured to be getting back together with DJ Tom, after it was reported they had shared 'heart-to-heart chats' during her time in rehab.


A pal had told The Mirror at the time: "She still loves Tommy... she's just not sure if things can get back to where they were."


But Sarah looks like she's moved on once and for all as she shared a laugh and held hands with her new bloke, sporting a longer blonde 'do again after previously dying her short hair ginger.


It was revealed last month that she has spent her 30th birthday alone in a hotel room, so at least now she's got some company.

Misha gets a boost from fan Missy Elliott

She was booted off The X Factor one week before the final but Misha B already has friends in high showbiz places.

It turns out Misha's fans had sent links of her performances to US rapper Missy Elliott and after her Sunday night exit the up-and-coming singer decided to tweet her musical heroine.


And just hours after leaving the show, Misha got a reply from the superstar rapper who wrote, "Congratulations to all the SUCCESS that will be coming 2 u! U R talented:)."


Not one to waste an opportunity, Misha tweeted, "WOW!!! Words Can't Describe How Much It Means To Have Ur Support! Got Me Thinkin... IMAGINE Missy E && Misha B *MUSICALMADNESS* (sic)."


Okay, so it's not yet a done deal but Missy did reply to say, "Looking 4ward 2 meeting ya."


Misha told The Sun, "I totally didn't expect to get a reply but she replied and we got chatting - and hopefully, you know, with music we can work together."


No wonder Misha's so philosophical about her X Factor departure.


Of the bullying row, the 19-year-old told the paper, "I think it did have an effect. But I'm not going to fully blame Tulisa because everything happens for a reason.


"That chapter of my life is closed now - closed for good - and I'm very grateful for the experience it gave me."

Mark Wright: 'I got upset over TOWIE image'

Before he went into the jungle and became 'the new Peter Andre', Mark Wright was famed for using his Essex boy charm and fit body to woo the ladies.

But the former TOWIE star has revealed he hated his womanising image and regularly "got upset" over the way he was portrayed.


"I am so grateful to TOWIE for putting me where I am today," he told The Sun. "But I did get upset a lot over the way I was portrayed.


"My family and friends, and my sister Jessica, would get upset too. I had several discussions with producers about it."


And there was us thinking it was all about the money.


Mark pointed out The Only Way Is Essex "exaggerated people's personalities" and said, "My storyline was to be a bit of a ladies' man. But that is just one side of me, an exaggerated version of me."


That's all behind him now though because Mark's become the hottest ticket in TV town and he's setting his sights high... very high in fact.


"Acting is the path I want go down," he revealed. "I have a motto, 'Reach for the stars,' so I'll say it. Laugh all you want, but I want to be the next James Bond."


Since James Bond is also a bit of a ladies' man, Mark's already half way there.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Guess who's playing footy in high heels?

Just what kind of lunatic would turn up for a kickabout wearing a skintight minidress and a pair of killer heels?

Well, the keen footballer pictured here is actually a bona fide pop megastar with a reasonably successful sideline in the movies.


And we'll give you another clue for nothing: It's not Wayne Rooney.


Still stumped? How about if we let slip that the picture was taken during the filming of a TV show in Peru - where the lady in question is rather popular?


Did you guess it was none other than J.Lo, AKA Jennifer Lopez?


The 42-year-old was filming a segment for a Peruvian TV talent show called ¡Q'Viva! The Chosen, on which she is to appear alongside estranged hubby Marc Anthony.


We hope they show it on ITV2.

Marcus banned from singing at Gary's gig

The X Factor finalist Marcus Collins was ordered by doctors not to perform at his mentor Gary Barlow's gig at the Royal Albert Hall last night.

The 23-year-old hairdresser was hoping to boost his chances of winning the contest this weekend by appearing at the prestigious gig, but a throat infection has put him out of action.


The Mirror quoted a source as saying: "Marcus's throat is really bad and although he wanted to try to sing in the soundcheck he was told to forget it.


"He has been banned from singing for 24 hours by the doctors. They are going to assess him again on Tuesday to see if there is an improvement.


"Gary has another gig that night so he could still try to appear then but it would be a risk."


Marcus will be going head-to-head with Amelia Lily and Little Mix in the final of the ITV1 talent show - which has had its closest-fought series for years.


Get well soon from everyone at Eleven Marcus!


We told you this morning how Misha B, who got booted from the show on Sunday, has made ANOTHER famous contact in the form of Missy Elliot.

More Fix Factor claims as Amelia Lily's 'winner's single' hits HMV

X Factor finalist Amelia Lily is once again at the centre of the controversy as her 'winner's single' mysteriously became available on HMV's website yesterday.


The technical hitch, in which only Amelia's 'winning song' was available for pre-order, prompted furious fans to cry 'Fix Factor' on social networking sites.


It was all a mistake, of course.


An HMV spokesperson told the Daily Mail, "All three are uploaded to the site, but whoever was loading them only did one so far and hadn't done the other two and not realised what a frenzy it would cause. There's no conspiracy and no insider knowledge."


Funny... STV made a similar mistake when Amelia Lily was voted back into the show.


"Technical issues" aside, Amelia Lily's winning chances have reportedly been blighted by illness and exhaustion this week.


According to The Sun, the 17-year-old is suffering with strained vocal cords and laryngitis. A source close to the singer told the paper, "She's been under the most amount of pressure out of anyone and she's just 17.


"... Her voice is her biggest weapon but this week singing has started to hurt and she's worried. It's stress on top of stress."


Let's hope she's on song come Saturday night.

Lauren: 'I'll win Mark back by Christmas'

Mark Wright's appearance on I'm A Celebrity... might have endeared him to the British public in general, but it seems one viewer has taken a particular shine to the newly likeable Esssex chap.

His ex-GF Lauren Goodger - with whom he parted ways back in August - has apparently vowed to win him back by Christmas.


But the 25-year-old Essex girl will face competition from an army of new female fans after Mark ditched the cad image he had been given in TOWIE and showed his more sensitive side in the jungle.


Speaking to Heat magazine, Lauren said: "Of course it was painful watching Mark and Emily on TV. And watching Mark talking to Peter was emotional for me."


Mark had told Peter Andre - who made a brief visit to the camp - that his "heart won't move on" from Lauren.


Lauren continued: "The whole time he's been in Australia I've tried to be strong, but I miss him. I want to see him as soon as he's back so we can talk. I know he'll come back to me."


Mark, 24, has already said he doesn't see any romance developing with jungle campmate Emily Scott, so who knows...

Duchess Kate legs it to Gary Barlow gig

One of the first things they teach you at Royal School is how to get in and out of cars without disgracing yourself, and it looks like the Duchess of Cambridge has been a model pupil.

Kate and hubby Prince William joined Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall for a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall last night.


And despite the cold weather Kate rocked up in an uncharacteristically short dress and navigated the precarious "getting out of the car moment" with ease - the secret is in keeping one's knees together, in case you were wondering.


The gig was organised by X Factor head judge Gary Barlow and saw him belting out a selection of Take That hits, plus there were also appearances from Lulu, Jason Donovan and the ubiquitous Olly Murs.


And fashion fans may wish to note that Kate was apparently wearing a dress from Zara, the high street clothing chain.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Andrea McLean: I suffered from post-natal depression in secret for three years


To millions of viewers, and even the people closest to her, Andrea McLean looked the picture of happiness. She’d just had a daughter and was back on GMTV, presenting the weather with as wide a smile and as bubbly a personality as ever.


But between TV slots, and in the rare moments the busy mum-of-two got to herself, she secretly broke into sobs, overcome by devastating feelings of worthlessness.


“I felt rubbish as a mother and useless as a wife,” recalls the Loose Women presenter, who is married to builder Steve Toms.


“It was a dark time for me. I felt completely down and miserable, but I didn’t want to burden anyone with what was going on.


“So in breaks on the show I would run to the loos and cry my eyes out.


“I’d cry and cry, then take a deep breath and sort myself out and go back out with a smile on my face.


“No-one knew what was happening. I managed to hide it very well, for a long time.”


Andrea, 42, was suffering from post-natal depression and is only now able to talk about those dark days.


It started when her daughter Amy, now five, was a few months old and she lived with the burden for almost three years before seeking help.



“I put up with it for far too long,” she admits. “Of course I thought it was insane, I wasn’t myself at all, and I knew it wasn’t right. But I kept thinking: ‘This will pass, it’s only a phase, I’ll be fine’.


“Steve was sort of the same. He thought I’d be fine if I could just pull myself together. So it went on and on.”


Eventually, Andrea, who launches her own jewellery range on QVC this week, realised she couldn’t carry on that way. “I didn’t tell anyone,” she recalls.


“Not even Steve. I went to my doctor and explained how I had been feeling for such a long time.


“She explained that it sounded like post-natal depression. It was a relief to hear, because I knew then I could do something about it. She told me not to worry, not to be embarrassed and she reassured me instantly that it could be fixed.”


And within a month, Andrea, who also has a son Finlay, 10, from a previous relationship, was getting better.


She says: “My doctor put me on medication and after about four weeks it was as if a switch had been flicked and I was coming back to myself.


“Of course, I couldn’t come off the medication straight away just because I was feeling better, I had to do it properly. But I realised I had kept quiet for far too long.”


Looking back, Andrea realises what she went though might partly have been down to the fact she returned to work so soon after Amy was born.


“I went back after three months,” she says.


“So it’s no surprise I felt so exhausted and anxious all the time.


“I was getting up at the crack of dawn and looking after a tiny baby at the same time.


“But I’m realistic too. If I hadn’t gone back, I wouldn’t have got paid.


“In the business I’m in, if you don’t work, you can’t pay the mortgage, it’s as simple as that. They’d have found someone else. It was always going to be tough, but I really felt I had no choice.


“People still don’t know how difficult it was, or the details of what I was going through. Steve knows of course, and I’ve given my parents an idea of it.


“But most people close to me don’t realise I actually had post-natal depression all that time.


“I think a lot of women who’ve been through it were probably the same.


“It’s not something you want to tell everyone about, especially not when you’re in the middle of it.”


Two years on, and fully removed from the exhausting hours of breakfast TV since moving to Loose Women in 2008, Andrea has left the trauma behind her.


And yet just months ago, she was fighting for her life after having an unexpected reaction to anaesthetic used in an operation to remove a huge umbilical hernia that had also been plaguing her since Amy’s birth.


But since recovering from the surgery, Andrea has lost a stone in weight and found a new lease of life now the constant stomach discomfort is gone.


“After all that, the most important thing that’s happened is that I just worry less,” says Andrea.


“I’ve always worried what people thought, that people would think badly of me if I said this or did that, but now, I can honestly say I don’t really care.” And a set of stunning naked photos taken for a magazine are proof of that.


“Even two years ago, there’s not a hope in hell I’d have posed for pictures like these,” laughs Andrea.


“I’d have been mortified. Even if I had done it, I’d have been cringing about what people were saying. Now though, I’m happy to do it. I’m in a lucky enough position that I can have a great photographer capture how I look at a particular point in my life.


“And sorry, but I think they’re nice, and it will be nice for me to take them out of a drawer when I’m 84 and remind myself what I was able to scrub up and look like when I was 42.”


Having achieved a perfect 10 figure over the past few months and putting the trials of early motherhood behind her, Andrea has resolved not to have any more children.


“I got incredibly broody two years ago,” she recalls.


“I was 40 and it was as if my biological clock was going absolutely bonkers – I was smelling babies everywhere and was desperate for another.


“But it wasn’t the right thing to do, and I’m completely over it now. Of course, part of it is the fear of things in the past happening again, the post-natal depression, the sickness from the hernia.


“But part of it is just down to the stage I’m at in life.


“Now Amy has gone to big school, I’ve got the day to myself.


“I’ve been blessed with two lovely children, and gone through very difficult births with both.


“So I’ve decided not to push my luck. I’ve been through enough with it all, and I realise how lucky I am.”


Andrea is also loving work at the moment. And who wouldn’t? Last week she got to meet man of the moment Gary Barlow on Loose Women. “I was so excited!” she laughs. “I was determined to be really grown-up and professional about it, because I’m supposed to be – it’s my job!


“All was going well until we were walking off the set after the interview, and he said: ‘Do you remember we met a few years ago?’


“I had to calmly say: ‘Oh yes, I remember now that you mention it,’ when inside I was actually screaming ‘Of course I bloody remember! You’re Gary Barlow! It’s been seared in my memory forever!’


“And after that, I was even less cool and got four autographs – one for my best friend, my sister, my sister’s best friend, and of course one for myself.


“I always loved Gary, even in the early days. I thought he was quite like me – not the mouthy one, always a bit subtle.


“Of course we’re not exactly alike.


“I haven’t sold millions of albums or won millions of awards for my amazing pop songs. But apart from that, I think we’re pretty similar.”


As well as her TV work, for the first time Andrea has also launched her own jewellery collection Diamonique for QVC.


“I love all the pieces,” she says. “I brought along all my own jewellery and pictures of stuff I really like from magazines, and we designed this gorgeous, really feminine collection.”


Moving on from the problems she’s faced, Andrea is determined to be more fearless in the future.


And she is pouring her energy into supporting her close friend Angela Gregg, 46, who is battling an inoperable brain tumour.


Andrea says: “Watching what Angela is going through, I realise there’s no point wasting my time worrying like I’ve done for most of my life.


“I’ve signed up to run a marathon to raise money for Brain Tumour UK, we’ve already raised £30,000 with a charity ball, so we’re really pleased.


“The thought of a marathon is terrifying, but I think I’ll half jog, half power walk and get round eventually.


“I’ve realised you’ve got to make the most of what you’ve got in life.


“Angela is such an inspiration and all the rubbish I’ve been through in the past couple of years has made me stronger and more confident than ever.”

Christine Bleakley says Daybreak was ruining her looks and her friends are surprised she stuck it so long


Christine Bleakley has spoken for the first time about being dumped from Daybreak – and claimed she can’t wait to get her life back.


She revealed that she had been existing on just three hours’ sleep a night and the early starts were ruining her looks.


The TV star, who is engaged to Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard, is now looking forward to some lie-ins after being axed with co-host Adrian Chiles.


Speaking at the Women in Film and TV awards yesterday, she said: “I feel good – I’m looking forward to having my life back again.


"It’s difficult to explain – anyone who does night shifts or those kind of hours will understand it does start to take its toll on you, so I certainly won’t miss 3am starts.


"I’m naturally a night owl and my mates are surprised I made it this long on Daybreak – it’s been over a year of getting up at 3am and you start to go doolally.”



She revealed that even when she was exhausted she’d go to bed at 9pm and still be unable to sleep. She said: “I was living on three hours’ kip a night, so my skin and everything just deteriorated.”


Christine – set to host ITV’s Dancing On Ice alongside Phillip Schofield – claimed that her failure to excite the viewing public alongside Daybreak co-host Adrian was something she had accepted.


“I understand telly,” declared the 32-year-old. “I’ve been doing it since I was 17 and things change and evolve. If they didn’t I wouldn’t be doing Dancing On Ice for a start.”


Christine and Adrian make their final appearance on Daybreak on Monday.

Frankie Sandford's a sexy Santa on comeback gig for Saturdays


FRANKIE Sandford made her Saturdays comeback on the first night of the girls’ UK tour yesterday, with boyfriend Wayne Bridge (right) sending her flowers.


Frankie, 22, who has been battling a mystery illness, joined yummy mummy-to-be Una Healey on stage for a sexy Santa-themed evening in Bournemouth.


Flaunting their risque take on Father Christmas, the quintet were on fine form, working through their hits with a particularly energetic performance of Ego.



But ex-boyfriend Dougie Poynter nearly spoiled her triumphant return when he lifted the lid on how their traumatic break-up had hit him really hard.


While in the jungle, the McFly and I’m A Celebrity star, 24, told TOWIE’s Mark Wright he had been hitting the bottle when he and Frankie were together. He said he loved drinking “just a bit too much” and felt like an “empty shell” before booking himself in for treatment.


Dougie added: “I felt sad all the time for, like, years of my life if I really think about it. I loved being by myself and getting battered.”


And Dougie admitted his problems got even worse when he split with Frankie after two years together.


He said: “That’s when it escalated. I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin any more. So I went and saw this bloke and he sent me off to rehab.


“It was hard. It was really hard, in fact. But it was also one of the best things I ever did.”

I'm A Celebrity: Mark Wright's chat-up lines work on every girl - Arg reveals all on his best mate


I’m A Celebrity fans may have groaned in disbelief at the cheesy chat-up lines Mark Wright used to charm glamour model Emily Scott – but one viewer knew line for line what was coming next.


Best friend James “Arg” Argent has been the 24-year-old Essex lothario’s wingman since the pair met in their teens.


And Mark, who shot to fame on ITV2 reality show The Only Way Is Essex, sticks to such a rigid chat-up script that, watching back home in the UK, Arg was able mouth his best mate’s words as he delivered them.


Wedding singer Arg, 23, says: “I knew the second Emily walked in he’d try and charm her.


“I could see it in his eyes. He had this grin which comes out when he’s about to start flirting.


“From the minute I met him he’s always been the same – cocky, confident, good-looking and a major hit with the ladies.


“He just never fails, he’s never been turned down. His routine would be exactly the same with any girl he wanted to charm – he’s never intimidated.


“It wouldn’t matter whether it was Eva Mendes who had walked into the jungle, Mark doesn’t get intimidated. If Kate Middleton walked into a room, he’d try to pull her from Prince William.”


Arg continues: “Mark’s really superstitious – he’s got a bit of a routine whenever he needs to gather some courage together before making his move.


“He makes a weird symbol with his hands where he makes a cross sign with his fingers and then licks his thumbs. I don’t know where it came from but he’s done it whenever he’s nervous for as long as I can remember.


“Then he goes up to the girl, introduces himself, compliments her and flashes a smile. From the age of 15, when he met his first girlfriend, he has never, ever been knocked back by a woman.”



Mark’s growing fondness for Aussie star Emily, 28, has been the big talking point of this series.


The hit ITV1 show has had 11 million viewers on the edge of their seats waiting to see how the big romance would pan out after Mark bombarded the blonde with compliments and chat-up lines.


Mark has donated the red gilet from his I'm A Celebrity promo shoot to our Christmas appeal charity auction for Age UK on eBay. Click here to find out more and consider making a bid


Arg says: “When he first started chatting to Emily I knew where things were going.


“I can tell how much he likes her from the way he was talking to her and from his body language.”



Fortunately for the self-confessed mummy’s boy, his jungle romance has the seal of approval back in Essex.


Arg says: “Carol, Mark’s mum, would love him to bring Emily home after the show finishes.


“They are a close family and Carol really wants him to meet a nice girl. She’s the kind of mum where as long as Mark’s happy, she’s happy, too.


“It means a lot to Mark that his friends and family like his partner. I’m not sure whether he could be with someone they disapproved of. Fortunately, I’ve heard Carol likes Emily already from what she’s seen.


"When she visits I know they’ll all do everything they can to get to know her and make her feel at home.”



Nightclub promoter Mark insisted that he hadn’t gone into the jungle looking for love but he was instantly smitten by Emily. He will get his chance to woo her properly when she heads over to England in a couple of weeks.


“He’s secretly a big romantic,” insists Arg. “People misjudge him a bit – he genuinely tries his best to treat a woman right. On a first date he almost always goes for the same routine – a three-course meal and wine at a posh restaurant, a drink at a classy bar afterwards.


“He’ll probably wear his blue suit with a white shirt, arrange for a car to pick the girl up, and make sure she’s dropped off home afterwards.


“Believe it or not he never tries his luck too much on a first date, although the next date could be a different story.


“But Emily doesn’t need to worry, Mark is always a perfect gentleman on a date. He doesn’t have a little black book that he’s trying to fill. I’d love to meet Emily and I know if Mark brings her over he’ll want to introduce us. She’ll have a great time in Essex, Mark will make sure of that.”


But if Emily wants to keep the former Tottenham Hotspur apprentice’s attention, Arg warns that she’ll need to play a little hard to get.


He says: “Mark was always the best looking lad in school, great at football, he always got all the girls and a lot of the other lads wanted to be more like him.


“From the beginning he’s been popular and confident. But there is one way to get under Mark’s skin – ignore him.


“It happened with Lucy Mecklenburgh. He was texting her and she didn’t reply for days on end. It drove him mad.


“He’d be saying, ‘I don’t understand, what’s going on?’. He was totally hooked because he couldn’t quite work her out.


“If Emily doesn’t reply to his texts for a few days he’ll get so into her I can see him jumping in his car, going round to see her and asking her to marry him.”


Mark’s undeniable charm catapulted him to fame in TOWIE, which he recently quit amid rumours he has landed his own reality show. And that same combination of cheek and wit has also made him the bookies’ favourite to be crowned King of the Jungle tonight.


Emily got booted off the show four days ago and Mark may be shocked to learn she is already thinking about a long-term relationship – and starting a family.


She told I’m A Celebrity hosts Ant and Dec: “I like the intimacy of a relationship and the stability. I’m looking forward to kids.


“I was thinking about not being with someone at Christmas, too, but I’m looking forward to flying somewhere... like England.”


Arg says: “It probably wasn’t his plan but you never know. You can fall for someone overnight.”


And it wouldn’t be the first time that Mark had taken a spontaneous big step. He shocked TOWIE fans earlier this year when he unexpectedly popped the question to his on/off girlfriend Lauren Goodger.

Mark and Lauren's engagement party


Arg says: “He hadn’t told a single person he was planning to do it.


“It was an amazing shock but he’s secretly a romantic, spontaneous, passionate person.”


Sadly, the engagement ended almost as quickly as it began and controversy followed after Lauren claimed to have had an abortion.



The round-the-clock flirting between Mark and Emily obviously irritated ex- fiancee Lauren, who brushed off the romance this week, saying: “Mark gets bored easily. It will be another one next week.”


But Arg hopes his pal’s stint on I’m A Celebrity has shown a different side to his personality. He says: “Sometimes Mark feels he has to be a tough guy but I know him – he is a very sensitive person. The jungle has shown that.


“He screamed like a little girl during one trial – people love that. I’m confident he’ll be the King of the Jungle.”


Then Arg can look forward to a reunion with his best mate - and a return to their favourite boys' nights, a hugely embarrassing secret he keeps from all ladyfriends.


Best mate Arg reveals: “Mark’s big secret is his lads’ sleepovers – he’ll be so embarrassed now his girlfriends have found out. We’ve always done them and the last was about a month ago. 


“We share a bed and watch a movie – last time we saw the Disney film The Mighty Ducks on DVD.”

Jason Derulo racks up £44,000 bar bill


BEING Jason Derulo is thirsty work.


Hence he and his entourage clocking up an impressive bar bill of £44k on a fairly average Wednesday night out.


The 22-year-old singer’s table generously bought 210 shots for clubbers at London’s Aura nightclub, and a few thousand personalised bottles of champers during a single night in the capital.


Which all adds up to one helluva hangover.


And it is not the first time Jason has enjoyed a big (spending) night out in London.


In July we told how the Don’t Wanna Go Home singer racked up a £38,000 bar bill at London nightspot Merah.


The lengthy receipt included a a £28,000 bottle of bubbly and 40 Red Bulls.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Jason Gardiner insists Dancing On Ice froze him out with Louie Spence audition


JASON Gardiner has quit Dancing On Ice.


The Aussie judge walked out after ITV bosses secretly auditioned Louie Spence for a place on the panel.


After being dropped, furious Jason last night told pals: “I’ve been stitched up.”


The acid-tongued judge’s shock exit comes after he was slammed last year for “bullying” former judge Karen Barber, telling her live on air: “If your opinion still mattered, you’d be on the panel.”


The Aussie choreographer, 40 – who had a hair transplant last series – was outraged that Louie Spence had secretly been auditioned and told a pal: “They were just trying to get rid of me, so I walked.”


A source close to Jason denied that ITV had dumped him – insisting he quit after discovering a planned shake-up.


The friend said: “Negotiations were ongoing. They did initially try to reach agreement, but there were stumbling blocks on pay and the producers’ lack of commitment to him.


“Jason was annoyed they didn’t immediately give him their backing for another series, after courting possible replacements, so he pulled the plug. He didn’t need the grief.


“But he’s worried that viewers will think he’s been dropped over the row with Karen last year – that’s absolutely not the case.”



Eccentric dance arranger Louie, 42, will now provide the “light relief” on the panel.


Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, 35, will also be leaving in a major re-shuffle.


Her spot will be filled by German figure skating world champion Katarina Witt, 45, a double Olympic gold medallist and one of the best female skaters in history.


The clear-out leaves ex-Olympian Robin Cousins, 54, as the only original panellist to survive.


An insider said: “There have been criticisms that Jason had got too harsh, with many viewers questioning whether he was qualified to criticise ice skating, but nobody will be able to say that about Katarina.


“She is an international superstar in the skating world, and the producers have approached her several times over the years so it’s great to finally get her. Viewers don’t mind fair criticism, but there is a real feeling that last year things went too far. It’s likely to leave Jason feeling a bit red-faced after what he said to Karen last year.”


Apart from his row with Karen, Jason was also involved in an ugly on-air confrontation with actor Tim Healy after blasting his wife Denise Welch’s skating routine.



Jason’s departure is part of a shake-up, with axed Daybreak host Christine Bleakley joining Phillip Schofield to front the show.


Coaches Karen Barber, Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean all remain, while former host Holly Willoughby is off to the BBC.


New judge Katarina said: “I can’t wait to join the panel. As well as offering constructive advice to this year’s celebrity skaters, I’m also looking forward to working alongside my friends Torvill and Dean.”


ITV entertainment boss Layla Smith added: “We are thrilled to welcome Louie and Katarina.


“The pair have a wealth of experience which they will be bringing to the series. Their flare and passion for their professions will make for some interesting debates.


“We’d like to thank Emma and Jason for their valued contribution and wish them all the best.”

Jazz musician Al Vega dies aged 90

A long-time US musician who played with some of the country's finest jazz talents during a 70-year career has died at the age of 90.


Hospital spokeswoman Kory Dodd said Al Vega died at Massachusetts General Hospital. No cause of death was given.


Boston radio personality Ron Della Chiesa said Vega, born Aram Vagramian, was the house pianist at the Hi-Hat jazz club in the late 1930s, 40s and 50s, and played with jazz greats including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Count Basie and Duke Ellington.


He later led his own trio.


Della Chiesa called Vega a legendary musician and teacher. He said Vega was also a Second World War veteran.

Jeff Hordley, who plays Emmerdale bad-boy Cain Dingle, on his perfect weekend..


What does your typical Saturday involve?


Family time is really precious to me so I like spending the day with my wife Zoe (who plays Emmerdale vet Rhona Goskirk) and my children Violet, six, and Stan, three.


We usually do something related to the outdoors then eat a nice meal together.


We’ve got an allotment so we might spend some time down there or give our dog Rita – a five-month-old ­spaniel-poodle mix – a good walk in the countryside, then all come home and watch a film together.


Are you an early bird or the king of ­lie-ins? What are lie-ins?! I’ve got two children so lie-ins are out of the question. Remember the times when you used to stay in bed late and sleep off a hangover? Well, those are long gone for me.


To be honest, I’m not really one for sleeping late. I enjoy getting up and making the most of the day.


What’s been your best party weekend?


Graeme Hawley, who played Corrie murderer John Snape, had a great stag weekend. It was a brilliant laugh and one of those great times where everything comes together. A group of us went to the Green Man Festival, so we were in a great place with good company.


There were only 13,000 people there so it had a really nice feel and the music was really good.


There were loads of like-minded people there and lots of things to do. ­Unlike a lot of festivals, there wasn’t loads of mess. I sound like a right old man by saying this, don’t I? But I am these days!


At my age, you want a festival with good food and where people clear up after themselves.


Saturday night – out on the tiles or cosy evening in? I don’t do many big nights out these days. I’ve done my share of partying and I’m more of a homebody now. I’m nothing like Cain, put it that way!


If I do go out, I like going to gigs to see live music. My favourite venues are smaller places, such as The Brudenell Social Club in Leeds or The Deaf Institute in Manchester.


Where’s your favourite place to nip for a pint? I don’t have a local as such but I do know some nice pubs near where we live in North Yorkshire. I’ve started to get into real ale as I’ve got older so I’m always searching for places where they serve good beer.


What would be your ideal weekend away?


If it was a weekend away without children, I’d love to take my wife back to Italy, where we’ve had a really special time in the past, on the Amalfi coast.


It’s extremely beautiful and the food is out of this world. There are places built into the hills and it’s very cool, it’s got a real 1950s/1960s feel.


Who does the cooking at the weekend? We tend to take it in turns at the weekend. We both love big roasts that everyone can share and cooking for the family is a real pleasure.


What’s your idea of weekend hell?


Shopping. I don’t hate it but let’s say I’d rather not spend my free time standing about in shops. Isn’t that what the internet was invented for?

Jeremy Clarkson was ordered to apologise by BBC chief to avoid Jonathan Ross-style fiasco


BBC boss Mark Thompson personally ordered Jeremy Clarkson to apologise for his vile TV rant about executing strikers – or face the boot.


The director general feared another Sachsgate-style fiasco as 21,335 complaints flooded in about the Top Gear presenter’s tirade on The One Show.


Despite earlier bragging that he had no intention of saying sorry for his crass comments about public sector workers striking over pension cuts, Clarkson caved in after Mr Thompson’s intervention.


A BBC insider revealed: “Chats were had and Jeremy was persuaded that it was the right thing to do. Now that he has apologised, that is the end of it. There will be no ­disciplinary action and he will not be fired.


“You can’t force Jeremy to do anything he doesn’t want to do so he must have agreed that this was the best way forward.”



Clarkson, who once went on strike himself, told one reporter that One Show producers knew in advance the jokes he would make on air.


But the BBC dismissed the claim. A spokeswoman said: “There was a briefing meeting with producers beforehand to discuss the options of what he might say. They came away from that thinking that Jeremy had an understanding of where the line was. Clearly, he didn’t.”


Clarkson’s tough line on strikers is clearly a far cry from when he was a cub reporter. It emerged yesterday he went on a strike as an 18-year-old on his first day with the Rotherham Advertiser in 1978.


He said: “I didn’t really know why. I still don’t actually.”


The 51-year-old, now in China with Top Gear, sparked outcry on Wednesday when he told One Show hosts Matt Baker and Alex Jones those who walked out this week should be “executed in front of their families”.


Clarkson initially refused to apologise and insisted he had been poking fun at the BBC’s impartiality rather than the strikers.


But there were calls for him to be axed and Unison threatened legal action against him.


Mr Thompson moved to avoid a repeat of the furore sparked by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand who, in 2008, left a string of foul-mouthed messages on actor Andrew Sachs’ answer machine during a BBC 6 Music radio show. More than 27,000 listeners complained.

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