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'Great British Bake Off' Final Gets Record Ratings, BBC Bosses Delighted With Move To BBC1

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There was more than one winner in the tent this week, when Nancy Birtwhistle pulled off a surprise finish round to be crowned this year's Great British Baker, beating hot favourite Richard Burr and longshot Luis Troyano to take the title.

The dramatic finale to the series attracted a peak audience of 13.3million viewers, an increase of almost four million on the same show last year.

REVIEW: Did The Right Baker Win The Title?
The 18 Greatest Innuendos From This Year's Series
The 5 Main Reasons Why We Love This Show Sooo Much!

This audience makes 'Bake Off's finale the most watched non-sporting event of the year so far, and more popular than both of last year's 'X Factor' and 'Strictly Come Dancing' final shows.

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More than 13 million viewers saw Nancy Birtwhistle take this year's title


Such a triumph vindicates BBC bosses' decision to move the baking show from BBC2 to the main channel.

BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore says, "It was absolutely right for one of the nation's most talked-about programmes to move to the nation's favourite channel, and I'm more than thrilled BBC1 viewers have taken it to their hearts."

This appeal has been reflected on the number of mentions of the show across social media, with each episode of the show over the past five weeks stirring up a whopping 50,000 mentions across the various main platforms.

All TV trends data referred to in this article has been supplied by Virgin Media, which provides access to up to 260+ channels including Freeview channels, Virgin Movies, Sky Movies and Netflix.



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Matt Smith And Daisy Lowe's Nude Photos Leak Online: Former 'Doctor Who' Star Appears With Ex-Girlfriend In Leaked Naked Selfies

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Leaked nude photos of Matt Smith and Daisy Lowe from when they were still a couple are currently doing the rounds online.

Around 20 intimate pictures of Daisy and the ‘Doctor Who’ actor in various poses, taken on their mobile phones before they ended their on-off relationship in 2013, have now been shared online, making them the latest victims of a photo hack.

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Matt and Daisy in 2011


However, it’s not yet known if their leaked nude photos are part of the same a mass celebrity hack that occurred last month, which has so far seen Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Brook's stolen naked pictures.

While Jennifer did not speak out initially about the photo hacking personally, she finally addresses the subject in an interview in the latest issue Vanity Fair, lambasting the “sex crime” and hitting out at those who viewed the stolen images, saying: “Anybody who looked at those pictures, you’re perpetuating a sexual offence. You should cower with shame.”

Although the mass celebrity hack, one of the biggest of its kind, was initially thought to have just affected female stars, it had its first male victim earlier this week, when private photos of Hulk Hogan’s son Nick Hogan were leaked onto the Internet.

Meanwhile, it was reported last week that Marty Singer, a lawyer who represents a number of the victims was reportedly planning to sue Google, claiming that they had “made millions from the victimisation of women” and not done enough to prevent the stolen photos from being accessed.



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'Damn Yankees' Hit it Out of the Park

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If you go down to Clapham North today, you're sure of a big surprise: in the form of multi Tony award winning musical, Damn Yankees. A show packed full of certifiable Broadway classics including "Whatever Lola Wants", "Heart" and "Six Months Out of Every Year".

The story begins with middle-aged baseball fanatic, Joe Boyd, watching another painful season where the 'Damn Yankees' once again beat his favourite team, the Washington Senators. In an attempt to rectify the situation, he strikes a deal with a devilish character to transform him into Joe Hardy, so he can join the team and give them a win. As you can imagine, making a deal with the Devil is never plain sailing, so will Joe reach the end of the show with is soul intact? I guess you'll have to see it to find out.

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The Landor is a perfect fringe venue, with a well-stocked pub below and fully equipped theatre above. Damn Yankees was a big hit on Broadway, West End and in it's 1958 movie incarnation - so I'm guessing the Landor is certainly one of it's more intimate stadiums. Having produced musicals in the Edinburgh Fringe myself, I know this comes with its fair share of issues, however this production certainly never loses its game. The set merges into the room perfectly, giving you a taste of 1950s America in the housing of a Traditional London pub.

The show is fast paced, going between songs in rapid fire, however with such a songbook - why not. The opening number of "Six Months Out of Every Year", sees the entire company take to the stage and is one of my favourite numbers. It's a rather dance-heavy show and choreographer, Robbie O'Reilly, certainly utilises every skill of the cast and every inch of the stage. The winning moments of this production are to be found in the big group numbers, particularly those involving the whole Washington Senators team. "Heart", lead expertly by Tony Stansfield, is a real highlight that showcases the boys' impressive singing and personalities. Equally fun were the Sister and Doris characters, played by Sophie May Whitfeild and Leah Pinney. They are captivating in every scene they featured in, serving up some hilarious moments with their larger than life personalities.

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Jonathan D Ellis and Poppy Tierney made a wonderfully devilish duo of Mr Applegate and Lola. Ellis finds his spotlight, along with many laughs, in the crowd-pleasing "Those Were The Good Old Days". And Tierney expertly tempts Joe Hardy down the wrong path in "Whatever Lola Wants" and shows her dancing skills in the Fosse classic, "Who's Got the Pain?"

This is a great musical that draws many similarities between, The Pajama Game, another hit-musical from writing duo Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The 60-seat theatre gives an exciting opportunity to see the show up-close and feel the enthusiasm from the cast with every note and high kick. If you're looking for a feel-good musical, these guys hit it out of the park.


Damn Yankees, The Landor, run ends 8th November

What's YOUR Favourite Break-Up Song? 23% Of Women In This Poll Have Chosen The Same One...

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We all know the feeling.

The phone's just rung (or not rung), the gingham shirt's been collected from the wardrobe, the word 'Goodbye' has been said.

On such occasions, there's only one thing to be done, and it involves some sounds. Some solitary, solace-bringing sounds, more accurately. Some pulsating, life-brimming, break-up anthems to be precise.

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Miley's tears made her millions with 'Wrecking Ball'


But which song is the best soundtrack for such a time? Well, a survey by gaming site mobileslots.com asked a group of women to name the song they felt would be most help to get over a painful break-up.

And a surprising 23% opted for the same one. Can you guess it? And is it yours? Let us know if your favourite hasn't made the cut in our top ten below...



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Who You Gonna Call? - Nine 'Hilarious Women' Perfect for Ghostbusters 3

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The untimely death of Harold Ramis ended the hopes of a reunion with Bull Murray and Dan Aykroyd to make a third chapter to the classic Ghostbusters series. However, rumours of a reboot, starring an all-female team, were confirmed on Wednesday when director Paul Feig tweeted: "It's official. I'm making a new Ghostbusters" with screenwriter Katie Leppold. Feig added: "It will star hilarious women. That's who I'm gonna call."

But who should he call? Here's a quick list of some of the best candidates.

Linda Cardellini

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Best known for her time as one of the key players in the later series of ER, Cardellini's spent time on Mad Men, New Girl and a number of other US TV comedies, which give her the versatility to play a lead role in a project like Ghostbusters. She's yet to firmly break into film but working again with Feig, whose cult hit creation Freaks and Geeks she starred in (seriously, check out the alumni of that show), would give her a great opportunity. Plus, she has Bill Murray's endorsement, so what else does she need?


Aisha Tyler

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Strong, blunt and capable of being an excellent 'straight man', Aisha Tyler is another actor who has earned a chance at a starring role on the big screen. Familiar for her turn in Friends as the sexy, smart but thoroughly unlikeable Charlie, Tyler would be excellent in a pseudo-Egon role as the sensible, scientific base of the group. Tyler's lately been starring in animated spy comedy Archer - one of the most under-appreciated comedies around.


Kristen Wiig

kristen wiig


An easy choice - Wiig brings recognised star power and talent, easily fits the tone and themes of Ghostbusters. Add in that she's worked with director Paul Feig on her breakout film, 2011's Bridesmaids, you'd expect her to be at the top of Feig, and the casting team's, wish list. It's easy to imagine her as a disillusioned veteran, whose faith in the cause is waning.


Emma Stone

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Simply put, one of the most talented actresses of this generation. Stone has been fantastic in all kinds of role, from Superbad to Easy A to The Help to her ongoing role as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man series. Would she work best as a new era Winston Zeddemore type, recruited to help a struggling team back on its feet?


Sandra Bullock

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Another actor who has worked with Feig and writer Katie Leppold, on 2013 buddy cop caper The Heat, Bullock would bring heavyweight credibility and fits the mould as a group leader sort of character.


Amy Poehler

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Poehler's a top tier comic, a staple of US TV comedy, and worthy of a place on the list. She's a formidable lead in the hugely successful Parks and Rec, and thoroughly deserves a role which firmly thrusts her into the global limelight (Golden Globes hosting jobs excepted). Combine all that with her likeability, timing, and sarcastic charm, and you have all the makings of a heroic overall-covered parapsychologist.


Maya Rudolph

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Like Wiig, Maya Rudolph is best known to the world for her role in Bridesmaids, in which she played fraught bride-to-be Lillian. She's had a supporting role in a number of popular films, including Grown Ups, but the bulk of her best work was on her seven-year run on Saturday Night Live. The question is: would you package Rudolph and Wiig together, again, or would it just look like a bizarro world apocalyptic Bridesmaids sequel?


Sarah Silverman

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A tad more coarse than the other options on the list, Silverman would bring with her scathing humour and boundless energy a massive industry respect and a loyal following. Silverman was one of the bright spots in Take This Waltz, as Seth Rogen's troubled alcoholic sister, Geraldine, but else has had precious little cinematic roles. Silverman would definitely be a wildcard choice - but sometimes those are the best choices...


Mayim Bialik

mayim bialik


An emerging star from the acclaimed Big Bang Theory as Sheldon Cooper's dorky, weirdly raunchy, girlfriend Amy Farrah Fowler, Bialik would be another candidate for whom a major film role would be a significant leap. It wouldn't be above her, provided she was teamed with other talents to play off.

All-Female Henry IV Takes Over at Donmar Warehouse

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Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts I &II have been compressed and transformed into a two-hour prison drama with an all-female cast in this bold production at the Donmar Warehouse.

Prison Officers guard the entrance to the Donmar and they usher us in to a theatre space transformed into the stark, sterile interior of a women-only prison. Brutal and unforgiving overhead lighting glares over harsh metal landings and staircases. Even the audience benches in the stalls have been taken out and replaced with rows of utilitarian plastic chairs.

The prison bell buzzes loudly over the auditorium, the lights darken and our large cast of prisoners are paraded into this grim and worryingly truthful setting.

Given its themes of power rivalries, competing cliques and dynastic succession, Shakespeare's work is an interesting starting point to analyse life inside. And certainly the power politics of life in prison is superbly demonstrated in this radical production from Director Phyllida Lloyd, the second instalment in what will be a trilogy of works at the Donmar.

Harriet Walter shines as Henry IV, the reigning King frustrated as much by subterfuge and betrayal in her ranks as she is by the immaturity of her appointed successor Hal (played with real grit by Claire Dunne).

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Harriet Walter is incredible. Effortlessly cool in her demeanour and ruthless in her decisions, power rests so easily on her shoulder and she is a commanding presence on the stage.

As Henry, she battles to defeat the enemies that lie within and crush any rebellion with little support from Hal who has absconded his responsibilities for a life of revelry with the questionable companionship of charismatic prison clown Falstaff (Ashley McGuire giving a great comedic performance).

Some may (sadly) see the all-female cast as gimmicky but after the first few moments, it barely registered with me, so convincing were the performances. However, one thing I will say is that though the cast is excellent at the dramatic and exciting scenes, there is awkwardness across the board where emotional, even physical intimacy is required.

I think it's important that productions are prepared to challenge Shakespeare, re-interpreting it and making it relevant and exciting for modern audiences. With that in mind, I love the decision to transport this play to a prison. The setting is certainly evocative but the challenge with transporting Shakespeare to a profoundly different setting is always that, away from its more usual location, the text can seem nonsensical.

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For example, Hal's ambush of Falstaff's attempted robbery in a forest makes no sense in a prison as obviously, none of them can leave the building. Likewise, the carve-up of Britain between the competing clans seems odd. The adaptation requires a real suspension of disbelief but if you go with it, the production pays dividends.

For me, the greater challenge is in following the plot, especially if you are unfamiliar with the text. Two very long plays have been condensed into a sharp, energetic two hours. The pace is quick and rarely lets up. If you are unable to follow what's going on, you can get left behind very quickly.

And though compressed versions of this play have been around for a while, the unique location, the large cast (there are 14 actors in this production) and the very quick pace means that it's hard to place who everyone is in the context of the story and appreciate exactly the importance of everything taking place in front of you.

If you really know the text, this production of Henry IV fascinates. Its commentary on the challenges and concerns of life inside are necessary and relevant. But sadly if you're not completely au fait with the text, you might get a little lost.

Donmar Warehouse, London to November 29, 2014

Image Credits:

1. Ann Ogbomo (Worcester) and Harriet Walter (King Henry) - photo credit Helen Maybanks

2. Clare Dunne (Hal) - photo credit Helen Maybanks

3. Elizabeth Chan (Peto) Sharon Rooney (Gadshill) Ashley McGuire (Falstaff) Karen Dunbar (Bardolph) and Cynthia Erivo (The Earl of Douglas) - Helen May

'X Factor' Contestants Are Being Kept In Check By A Former Royal Marines Commando

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This year's 'X Factor' contestants aren't exactly going to be living a rock n roll lifestyle whilst in the competition after show bosses hired a former Royal Marine to stop them misbehaving.

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In fact, the finalists - who are currently holed up together in a North London mansion - have to be in their own rooms by 9pm, aren't allowed downstairs after midnight and are banned from binging on junk food.

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'X Factor' contestant Jake Quickenden outside the house he shares with the other singing hopefuls


The former commando, known only as Gary, has been recruited by Simon Cowell to make sure the singing hopefuls stay fresh and focused ahead of this weekend's first live shows.

James Graham, from the show's new unnamed boyband, told The Mirror: “Gary goes round with a really bright torch. He scares the hell out of us.”

And Parisa Tarjomani from Only The Young added: “We’re not allowed downstairs after 12 and not allowed in each others’ rooms after 9pm.”

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The 'X Factor' house


A show source said: “We have a duty of care and in previous years there has been too much junk food and too many late nights.

“Our security team will stop all that. Hopefully performances will improve too.”

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Chloe Jasmine


Earlier this week, this year's secret wild card acts were leaked.

Stevi Ritchie, Lola Saunders, Jack Walton and Overload will reportedly return to perform on the live shows after each judge was given the opportunity to save one act each.



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Ricky Tomlinson, a Northern Soul

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This is a very English film. The cast is English, the subject is English, the very audience to which it is aimed is English. As a return to the kitchen sink drama of yesteryear - which, in and of itself, is an astute production move - it's a tale of the industrial north that looks back not in anger but, instead, through the prism of English social history to rediscover the soul of a country.

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Set in 1974 and shot on location in Burnley, Blackburn, Bury and Bolton, Northern Soul is Elaine Constantine's directorial film debut and comprises a British cast who share her fond remembrance.

Starring Steve Coogan, Lisa Stansfield, John Thomson, James Lance, Antonia Thomas, Elliot James Langridge (above, left) and veteran actor Ricky Tomlinson (above, right), the film utilises a cast which proved sympathetic to the northern soul music scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s which, like British youth movements and subcultures throughout the post-war decades, grew out of a dissatisfaction with class stasis.

"The North West has a very distinguished place in the pantheon of world music," said Coogan at the film's Soho premiere.

And Ricky Tomlinson concurs. "I knew the scene well," says the Liverpudlian actor, famed for his roles in Boys From The Blackstuff, Brookside, The Royle Family, Mike Bassett: England Manager and The 51st State. "I was a teddy boy with the old drainpipe trousers, but the fellas on the northern soul scene wore flares which swept the floor when they walked."

As it had done throughout the post-war period, the vacuum of English society allowed American popular culture to rush in, transforming the youth of enervated English towns of the industrialised North West into those who sought thrilling existential release through American soul music on the club scene (the epicentre of the scene being the Wigan Casino circa the mid-1960s until 1981).

For Constantine - who also helped put the soundtrack together - the film has been a labour of love and more than 10 years in the making. "I think all actors should do their share of low budget movies," says Tomlinson. "I don't believe that actors, once they reach that stage when they're only doing blockbusters, should do only that. We owe it to people on the way up, and who are trying to make films, to put in our five cents worth. So I was delighted to get the call."

Now 75, Tomlinson has lived a life of evolution which has not been without its travails. "I'm a plasterer, lad. A time-served City & Guilds plasterer. I became an actor when I left jail." He says that England has changed in a lot of ways, but "in various pockets of England nothing has changed. Change comes slowly".

In 1973, Tomlinson was sentenced to two years in prison for his role as one of the Shrewsbury Two, taking up acting on his release. "Years ago, when I began as a plasterer, I had a little band on the working men's club circuit. I was called Hobo Rick and played with the City Slickers. I was so called because I was turning up directly from the building site where I was working as an apprentice plasterer covered in lime and plaster. That was 60 years ago, but to this day when I'm out in Liverpool people still call out 'Alright Hobo!'"

In an age of artifice and makeover, Tomlinson represents the kind of Englishman who has not reneged on his ties to the soil of home: he's Liverpool to the core.

"I think all the natural, raw talent lies in independent films," he says. "I was very lucky to star in two Ken Loach movies [Riff-Raff and Raining Stones], which in itself is amazing because Ken isn't known for using actors more than once.

"In Northern Soul I play the grandad, a nice, cushy little role but nothing too energetic. I didn't do any dancing. But in my youth I was a jiver, kid. Me and Rita [his wife] still do a little bit of ballroom dancing, but I can't really do it anymore because I've got arthritis in both bloody heels."

It has been proved that with young talent a director is able to get his or her message across with greater clarity and Tomlinson agrees. "The kids in it had a great time making the film, but if I'm not mistaken lads used to dance with lads in the Wigan Casino days. But we're not that advanced up here in Liverpool!" 

He's also just completed a new film with Sacha Baron Cohen and has entered into discussions with comedian Mark Thomas to make a documentary that will cover his ongoing quest to clear his name after 42 years, a chapter of his life that has kept the flame in the heart of this septuagenarian burning brightly. "There's a young Liverpool actor called Stephen Martin Walters who plays me in Ragged, which covers the period I spent in solitary confinement, and he's an absolutely amazing actor.

"There's plenty of talent up north, and to be honest," he says finally and with a wink, "it's positively snowing with it up here."

Northern Soul is released in cinemas on 17 October
Film still courtesy of Munrow Films/Northern Soul

Jennifer Lawrence Nude Photos: Actress's Ex Nicholas Hoult Breaks Silence On The Hacking Scandal (VIDEO)

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Jennifer Lawrence's former boyfriend Nicholas Hoult has spoken for the first time about the nude photo scandal, following J-Law’s statement.

Jennifer’s comments on the incident appear to indicate that the naked snaps were sent to Nicholas and now, the former ‘Skins’ star has shared his thoughts on the matter.

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Jennifer and Nicholas in 2012


“It's shocking that things like that happen in the world,” he said during an appearance on ‘Good Day New York’. “It's a shame.”

After weeks of silence, Jennifer spoke out in a recent Vanity Fair interview, labelling the attack, which is presumed to have been the work of hackers who stole passwords to iCloud accounts, a “sex crime”.

“Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this,” she told the magazine. “It does not mean that it comes with the territory.

“It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world.”

“Every single thing that I tried to write [in response to the hacking] made me cry or get angry.

“I started to write an apology, but I don’t have anything to say I’m sorry for. I was in a loving, healthy, great relationship for four years."

jennifer lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence


A number of other celebrities were also targeted in the attack and hackers even posted a list of 100 stars on the internet, claiming to have successfully stolen photos from each of them.

After the initial release of Jennifer’s photos, there have been a number of other leaks, including the recent online publication of Kelly Brook’s nude photos.

Matt Smith and his former girlfriend Daisy Lowe have also been targeted, along with others including Kate Upton and ‘Downton Abbey’ star Jessica Brown Findlay.

Recent reports have suggested that the celebrities targeted could be preparing to sue Google for over £61 million, in relation to the incident.



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‘Big Brother' Facing The Axe? Viacom Boss States ‘No Show Is Popular Forever' (VOTE)

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‘Big Brother’ could be facing the axe after 15 years on TV, according to Viacom TV boss Philippe Dauman.

Viacom - who recently acquired Channel 5 - have questioned whether the show has a future, reports The Guardian.

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Helen won the most recent series of 'BB'


Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild event earlier this week, the company’s Chief Executive Philippe stated: “Maybe we continue with ‘Big Brother’, maybe if for some reason that didn't work out, we have the ability to put out other great programming.

"You can go too far with one genre even when it's successful. No show is hugely popular forever so you have to keep your fingers in different pots.

"‘Big Brother‘ has been a big performer. We will leave it to the programming team to see where we go."

‘Big Brother’ was first screened on Channel 4, however in 2011, the show moved to Channel 5.



Channel 5 have had a huge success with the format, and the January 2014 series of ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ was extended following higher than expected viewing figures.

The most recent series of ‘CBB’ was won by Hollywood actor Gary Busey, while the controversial Helen Wood scooped the cash in the regular ‘Big Brother’ weeks before.



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Katie Hopkins And Luisa Zissman Hit Back At Lord Alan Sugar, After He Pans Them In An Interview For Going 'To The Opening Of An Envelope'

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Luisa Zissman and Katie Hopkins have each fired back at Lord Alan Sugar, after he publicly slated them in an interview.

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The pair both first found fame in previous series of ‘The Apprentice’, though it seems Lord Sugar is less than impressed with his former candidates, claiming that they “would go to the opening of an envelope if they got an invitation”.

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Lord Sugar


However, Luisa doesn’t seem too put out by his comments, telling OK!: “I'm not hurt because the only press he's got for his show this year is off the back of Katie and I, so good luck with that Alan.”

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Luisa Zissman


She had previously defended herself on Twitter earlier in the week, claiming that Lord Sugar’s “ego” was to blame for his harsh assessment of herself and Katie.




Considering that Katie Hopkins will give her opinions on any subject going at the drop of a hat - whether anyone asks for it or not - it’s hardly surprising that she’s also said her piece in response to his comments in her latest column for The Sun.

She writes: “Some of us have done all right for ourselves after appearing on his programme and this makes Lord Sugar very angry indeed.

luisa zissman
Katie Hopkins


“Please be reminded the only people allowed to be successful after The Apprentice are the ones who have gone into business with him. You know, that beautician woman called erm... and the inventor guy, what’s his face, and the other one... there was another one wasn’t there?”


The new series of ‘The Apprentice’ kicks off on BBC One this Tuesday night - get to know the 20 candidates hoping to bag a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar below...



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John Cleese Once Jokingly Offered To Have His Mother Killed To Stop Her Feeling Depressed

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John Cleese has revealed he once jokingly offered to have his mother killed to help her stop feeling down after years of suffering from depression.

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The 'Fawlty Towers' star reveals the tale on Friday night's 'Graham Norton Show' during a chat about his new autobiography, 'So, Anyway...'.

john cleese
John Cleese


“She had the most extraordinary sense of humour,” he said.

“She was a depressed woman and I would ring her up and say, ‘Hello Mum, how are you,’ and she would say, with a little bit of surprise, ‘I’m a little bit down this week.’

“I don’t know why she was surprised because she’d been ‘A little bit down’ for 50 years!”

He continued: “I did say to her when she was really depressed one day, ‘If you’re still feeling this way next week I know a little man in Fulham and if you would like I could give him a call and he could come down to Weston Super Mare and kill you.’

“There was a long silence and then she cackled with laughter. So from then on, whenever she said she was depressed I would say, ‘So shall I call the man in Fulham?’ and she would say, ‘Oh no dear, I’ve got a sherry party on Thursday.’”

john cleese
The 'Monty Python' star appears on Friday's 'Graham Norton Show' with Taylor Swift and Kevin Pietersen


The 74-year-old also chatted about the recent Monty Python reunion show, but confirmed that it would be the last time the cast would perform together.

"That’s it," he said. "We all felt it had been very satisfactory and great fun and now we move on. There was no sense of regret at all.”

“It worked so well because Eric Idle put it all together and took it over and did an absolutely marvelous job producing a show that was probably quite different to a show that any of the other Pythons would have made,” he added.

The Graham Norton Show is on BBC One tonight (Friday 10 October) at 10.30pm.



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MTV's Jason 'Mayhem' Miller Live -Tweets His Standoff With Police

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A former professional mixed martial arts fighter and MTV host live-tweeted a standoff with police after barricading himself in his house in California.

An armed SWAT team was called in after Jason Miller, better known as 'Mayhem', blocked the entrances to his house when police from Orange County Sheriff's Department tried to arrest him.

Miller, a retired MMA fighter, was wanted on charges including stalking and domestic violence. He hosted the MTV show Bully Beatdown from 2009 to 2012, where he challenged bullies to fight professional martial artists.

jason mayhem miller
Miller fighting in Las Vegas before he retired


Police officers arrived at his house to try and serve an arrest warrant with $200,000 bail. When Miller didn’t cooperate, they established a perimeter and called out a SWAT team.

Miller live-tweeted the event to his 222,000 followers, saying: “i need to tell everyone about the absolute waste of resources going on outside my house right now. I am counting no less than 5 officers.”

He later added: “I WISH YOU NO HARM. I respect the police, but this is overkill.”










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Miller on his MTV show


A news helicopter overhead filmed the scene unfolding.

Miller was eventually taken into custody Thursday afternoon, and no-one was hurt in the standoff.

He has had other brushes with the law and was previously arrested after he was found naked on a sofa inside a church nearby.

Brian May Interview: 'Queen Forever' Album, Michael Jackson Duet, Freddie Mercury Song Unearthed, Red Special Guitar Book...

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Brian May reveals he was surprised by what he heard when he dug out some long-abandoned tracks for the ‘Queen Forever’ album, which will give fans three completely new songs featuring their lost frontman Freddie Mercury.

The band have released a trailer (see above) for the album, which contains three brand new tracks - a song they recorded with Michael Jackson, ‘There Must Be More to Life Than This’, a pared down version of Freddie’s solo hit ‘Love Kills’ and a song that Brian reveals has never been heard before, because he only came upon it by chance.

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The new album will be "Queen - but pared down, not the pop and rock side," says Brian. "I like it"


“It’s called ‘Let Me in Your Heart Again’ and it just happened to be there,” he tells HuffPostUK. “It was abandoned at the time for various technical reasons, but I was able to transfer it off the analogue multi-tracks and do some repairs, so it worked from beginning to end.

“But basically you’re hearing the four of us together as a band from 1984 or so, playing a song that nobody’s ever heard, so that’s a thrill.”

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Freddie with Michael Jackson, who recorded a song with the band which will only now be heard


Brian tells me he was moved by how well the four original members – himself, Freddie Mercury, John Deacon and Roger Taylor – sounded, even back at the beginning of their decades of performing together.

“It’s still surprising to hear how well the four of us played together,” he marvels. “There were no clicks in those days, no fixing stuff with ProTools.

“It’s absolutely naked, four musicians playing together and it really does hang together like glue. I feel quite proud of us in those days.”

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Brian May and his Red Special - still loving it, four decades on


These songs, as all of Queen’s ridiculously deep well of an archive, will feature the distinctive sounds of Brian’s homemade guitar, the Red Special, and we’re chatting ahead of the launch of a brand new book all about the long journey he and his guitar have been on, beginning with the day he and his father got together to build it. Its nickname 'the Fireplace' comes from the fact that the wood on the neck came from an 18th century fireplace, just one of many idiosyncrasies lending the instrument its renown.

“I was 16 at the time, and we made it because we couldn’t come close to affording a guitar,” Brian remembers.

Telecasters and Stratocasters were way in off in the stratosphere, and English copies were still beyond my budget. So we decided to make it better than anyone else’s.

“Everything I’ve ever done, with the exception of ‘Crazy Little Thing’. Every track and every concert, I’ve used it.”



Brian points to some of the unique aspects of the guitar in his hand. “I hacked these bits out myself, as we couldn’t afford any kind of power tools in our house.”

This could be a moment straight out of ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ but, if anyone’s allowed to channel Nigel Tuffnell, it’s probably Brian, whose tireless enthusiasm for music and performing will be tested when the band take to the road once again in January – “physically and mentally it’s all-consuming once you’re on tour, that’s your life, you’ve said goodbye to the home shores. You have to love it, otherwise you couldn’t do it.”

It’s the presence of Adam Lambert on vocal duties which has undoubtedly given Queen this fresh shot in the arm, something Brian is all too happy about.

“Adam is just very natural, very real, with an incredible voice,” is how he describes it. “That’s a voice in a billion, it’s extraordinary.”



After more than four decades spent writing, touring, performing guitar duties on everything from Buckingham Palace roof (the Queen’s Golden Jubilee) to the recent ‘God Only Knows’ BBC Music collaborative, and with a bundle of other projects to keep him entertained, Brian could be forgiven for downing tools and picking up his telescope, except he still blatantly enjoys the whole thing. As he puts it, “Music is the first love, and has given me the power to do everything else.”

This is clearly evident as he takes me on another tour of the guitar, teaching me something about tremolos, a roller bridge, the strings coming through at a shallow angle – it’s all in the book, musicoes – and finally, the HQ of that Queen sound, the frets – all 24 of them – down at the twangy end, where solos happen.

“Well, you want these little bits,” explains this enduring Bohemian. “They come in handy.”

Brian May's Red Special, by Brian May with Simon Bradley, Carlton, £19.99, Out now
'Queen Forever' goes on sale from 10 November. Tour info here.



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Jacqueline Jossa Pregnant: 'EastEnders' Actress Shows Off Baby Bump In Instagram Selfie (PIC)

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Jacqueline Jossa has given her fans a glimpse of her ever-growing baby bump.

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The ‘EastEnders’ actress posted a picture wearing a patterned onesie on her Instagram page on Thursday, cradling her stomach for her followers.

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Jacqueline Jossa


Conveniently, she also captioned the photo “baby bump”, just in case anybody got the wrong end of the stick and thought she’d splurged at Nando’s for a end-of-week treat or something.

The actress - who scooped the Sexiest Female prize at the Inside Soap Awards last month - announced back in August that she and her boyfriend, ‘TOWIE’ hunk Dan Osborne, were expecting their first child together.

Since then, the happy couple have been spotted out together on a number of occasions, including at the launch of Dan’s show with the male stripping troupe, The Dreamboys, where she was spotted cheering enthusiastically in the crowd (as were we, we can assure you).

The couple revealed earlier this month that they’d found out the sex of their unborn baby, with Jacqueline teasing her Twitter followers with a scan picture, although she’s still keeping us all guessing about whether she’s having a boy or a girl.

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Jacqueline and Dan


Dan is already a father to a nine-month-old son, Teddy, and admitted recently that he felt he was caught "in the middle” between Jacqueline and Teddy’s mum, claiming: “It’s a difficult situation.”

Meanwhile, it’s not just in her personal life that Jacqueline has a lot going on, as she’s currently embroiled in one of the biggest storylines ‘EastEnders’ has ever seen, after her character, Lauren Branning’s friend Lucy Beale was sensationally killed earlier this year - with no one having any idea who is behind the murder.



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FIRST LOOK: Will Smith, Margot Robbie Co-Star In Con-Artist Story 'Focus' (TRAILER)

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Today we get our first look at 'Focus', the film co-starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie that was the subject of so much speculation around the pair when it was filmed earlier in the year.

Above is the first trailer for the film, which is a slick tale of con-artist Nicky, played by Will, instructing his young protegee Jess (Margot) in the art of pulling a fast one. As her skills dazzle and entertain him, so their ambitions escalate, until it looks as though they could have reached a bit too far, poking their fingers in the wrong cage.

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Margot plays Jess, a young protegee instructed in the ways of the con by master trickster Nicky (Will Smith)


Margot Robbie has had a stellar couple of years, with her role in Richard Curtis's 'About Time' followed by a lead role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Wolf of Wall Street'. Not bad for an Aussie lady who only left the set of 'Neighbours' in Melbourne three short years ago.

Margot told HuffPostUK of her surprise when she got the call from Will Smith. "It really is one of those joke stories, where the phone rang really early in the morning, and this voice said, 'It's Will Smith,' and I said, 'Haha, you're funny…' thinking it was one of my friends, but on this occasion only, it was actually him."

Unlike the likes of Melissa George who wants to leave her training days on Aussie soap well behind her, Margot has only good things to say about her Ramsay Street acting education.

"I will never work that hard again," she says now. "Whatever I end up doing, it won't be as tough as the filming schedule for Neighbours - five shows a week, 10 hours a day. And I'm glad of it."

'Focus' is released nationwide on 27 February 2015.



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Angelina Jolie Presented With Honorary Damehood At Buckingham Palace (PICS)

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It’s official - Angelina Jolie is an Honorary Dame.

In a ceremony at Buckingham Palace, the Queen presented Angelina with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross, of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, and with that, the Hollywood star became Dame Angelina.

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The Queen and Angelina Jolie


While Angelina’s on-screen efforts have scooped her plenty of awards, the Honourary Damehood recognises her humanitarian efforts.

Angelina has worked as an Ambassador for the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees since 2001 and has carried out over 40 field missions.

In June, she co-chaired the End Sexual Violence In Conflict (ESVC) global summit in London, alongside William Hague.

It was during the week of the ESVC that Angelina’s damehood was announced and the star shared her delight, stating: “Working on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative and with survivors of rape is an honour in itself.

“I know that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime and I am dedicated to it for all of mine.”

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Introducing... Dame Angelina


Angelina isn’t the only Hollywood star to focus their efforts on charity work and it was recently announced that Emma Watson will act as the United Nation’s Women’s Goodwill Ambassador.

Leonardo DiCaprio also holds a post with the UN, acting as a Messenger Of Peace, raising awareness of climate change.



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'X Factor' Live Shows: What Songs Are The Finalists Performing? Andrea Faustini And Chloe Jasmine's Track Choices Revealed

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It’s ‘Number Ones’ week over on ‘The X Factor’ this weekend, which means the 12 hopefuls will be performing a range of chart-topping hits from a wide variety of artists.

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The song choices for the first week of live shows vary from the predictable to the totally bewildering, with Chloe Jasmine hitting the stage for what will no doubt be a unique ake on Britney Spears’ hit ‘Toxic’.

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Chloe Jasmine


Given how well ‘EastEnders’ actor Jake Wood did when he danced to the same song on ‘Strictly’ last month, let’s hope 'Toxic' can be just as lucky for Chloe.

Some of the other tracks are slightly less inspired, however, with the obligatory performance of Ella Henderson’s ‘Ghost’ (oh, is she signed to Simon Cowell’s record label? Quelle coincidence!) falling on Paul Akister’s lovely broad shoulders, while Jake Quickenden’s rendition of ‘She’s The One’ look sure to be… well, exactly like every other version of ‘She’s The One’ we’ve ever heard on ‘The X Factor’.

The song we’re most surprised at, though, is Andrea Faustini, who has been given the fairly bizarre job of performing Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’.

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Andrea Faustini


Fingers crossed he can somehow squeeze the line “what about pugs?” into his performance.

Andrea has been named the favourite to win the competition overall, after being given odds of 15-8 by Coral.

A spokesperson for the bookies said: “We think Andrea Faustini is the one they all have to beat in this year’s X Factor this year and it’s been all one-way traffic for Mel B’s singer ever since his performance which got him into the live shows.”

The four wildcard acts are also due to be revealed this week, with one report claiming that one of the chosen performers didn’t even make it to Judges’ Houses.

Read the full list of who will be performing what on Saturday night below…

  • Andrea Faustini - Earth Song

  • Ben Haenow - Bridge Over Troubled Water

  • Blonde Electra - Kids in America

  • Chloe Jasmine - Toxic

  • Fleur East - All About That Bass

  • Jake Quickenden - She’s The One

  • Jay James - Changing

  • Lauren Platt - Happy

  • New Boyband - Roar

  • Only The Young - Jailhouse Rock/Twist and Shout

  • Paul Akister - Ghost

  • Stephanie Nala - Everything I Own




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Bradley Cooper's Girlfriend Suki Waterhouse Makes Big Screen Outing In 'Love, Rosie'

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Bradley Cooper's not going to be the only screen star in his house, by the looks of things.

His girlfriend, model-turned-actress Suki Waterhouse will be appearing in 'Love, Rosie', alongside co-stars Sam Claflin ('The Hunger Games') and Lily Collins.

In our Exclusive Featurette above, the film's stars talk about their roles.

'Love, Rosie' centres on Rosie and her best friend Alex who take a leap of faith, both on life and on each other, when they decide to go to the US together to attend university.

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And Bethany makes three - Suki Waterhouse (right) stars with Lily Collins and Sam Claflin in 'Love, Rosie'


But fate has other plans for Rosie. Over the next 12 years their lives change dramatically but the connection remains despite challenges in the form of distance, work and other people... including Rosie's best friend Bethany, played by Suki Waterhouse, who meets Alex at Rosie's instruction and ends up getting together with him.

Love, Rosie opens nationwide across the UK on Wednesday 22 October. Watch the trailer below.



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Edward Snowden Tells His Story For First Time In 'CITIZENFOUR' Documentary By Laura Poitras (EXCLUSIVE TRAILER)

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Edward Snowden will be telling HIS side of the story that governed the headlines on both sides of the Atlantic last year, in a new film set to premiere at the London Film Festival next week.

'Citizen Four' has been made by Laura Poitras, the journalist first contacted by Edward Snowden when he decided to reveal the extent of the US Government's surveillance, before he departed his home nation, to where he has yet to return.

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Edward Snowden's story will be told directly for the first time in 'CITIZENFOUR'


In January 2013, filmmaker Laura Poitras was several years into the making of a film about abuses of national security in post­-9/11 America when she started receiving encrypted e­mail messages from someone identifying himself as “citizen four,” someone who claimed he was ready to blow the whistle on the massive covert surveillance programs run by the NSA and other intelligence agencies.

In June 2013, she and reporter Glenn Greenwald flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with the man who turned out to be Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her.

This film is the result of those tense encounters - a real-life thriller unfolding minute by minute as Edward Snowden calculates the high stakes of any of the options left open to him, once he has made the decision to follow his conscience.

'CITIZENFOUR' will be premiering at the London Film Festival, and screened to 70+ cinemas across the UK on Friday 17 October. The evening will include a live satellite Q&A with filmmaker Laura Poitras. Click here for venue and ticket information.

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