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'Fifty Shades Of Grey' New Teaser Trailer Revealed, Starring Jamie Dornan As Christian Grey

November 6, 2014, 9:28 am
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The anticipation for 'Fifty Shades of Grey' is bubbling away, and the film's not even in cinemas until next February.

In the meantime, here's the latest teaser trailer for the big screen adaptation of the first of E.L. James' literary phenomenon.

Jamie Dornan stars as Christian Grey, the employer, mentor and all-round sexual guru for the ingenue Anastasia Steele, played by Dakota Johnson.

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Jamie Dornan looks sexy - even from behind - in the new trailer


As excitement starts to heat, Dakota Johnson has already made it clear she's hoping her famous parents - Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson - won't be seeing her tied up, abused and generally educated in the film, directed by artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson.

As for Jamie Dornan, back playing psychopath killer Paul Spector in BBC thriller 'The Fall' next week, he's just relieved audiences "won't get to see his todger".

Joining them in the cast are Luke Grimes as Christian’s brother, Elliot; Victor Rasuk as Anastasia’s close friend, José, and former 'Pride and Prejudice' favourite Jennifer Ehle as Anastasia’s mother, Carla.

'Fifty Shades of Grey' will be in UK cinemas from 13 February 2015. More pictures below...



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Star Wars 7: Disney Confirms 'The Force Awakens' As Title Of 'Episode VII', Scheduled For Release In December 2015

November 6, 2014, 9:49 am
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It’s the news ‘Star Wars’ fans the world over have been waiting for - Disney have confirmed the title of the upcoming seventh instalment in the franchise.

It has now been officially announced that the forthcoming film will have the full title ‘Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens’.

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Harrison Ford as Han Solo in the original 'Star Wars' films


Disney, who controversially announced that they would be producing three new ‘Star Wars’ films last year, broke the news on their official Twitter page on Thursday, with a post that shared the series’ iconic logo along with the latest title.

They also revealed that the film, due to hit cinemas in a galaxy not too far away at all (this one, in fact) in December 2015, has now “completed principal photography”.




Filming on the forthcoming release was reportedly disrupted earlier this year, when Harrison Ford - who is returning to the franchise to reprise his iconic role of Han Solo, alongside fellow ‘Star Wars’ veterans Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill - suffered a broken ankle while on set at London’s Pinewood Studios.

As well as its returning stars, ‘The Force Awakens’ will also feature ‘Girls’ actor Adam Driver and Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o in unspecified roles.

The new film will mark the first ‘Star Wars’ film since ‘Revenge of the Sith’ in 2005, which starred Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman.

Recently, Ewan admitted that there were some areas of the ‘Star Wars’ fan community who he wasn’t such a fan of, branding those who only want to profit from his autograph as “parasitical lowlifes and f***ing w***ers”.



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Disney Reveals New Star Wars Film Is Called 'The Force Awakens' - Twitter Strikes Back

November 6, 2014, 10:51 am
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Disney has announced the name of the new Star Wars film – The Force Awakens. Naturally, Twitter struck back.

Here are the best responses from the network...








































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'Toy Story 4' Confirmed By Disney, With Jon Lasseter Ready For Another Chapter Of Buzz Lightyear And Friends

November 6, 2014, 3:33 pm
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Nearly two decades after Pixar Animation Studios created the world’s first computer-animated feature film with 'Toy Story', it has revealed plans for 'Toy Story 4'.

John Lasseter, director of the original 'Toy Story' and 'Toy Story 2', will direct the film, which opens a new chapter in the lives of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the 'Toy Story' gang.

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Woody and Buzz are coming back for more!


The story was dreamt up by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter and Lee Unkrich, the storytellers who have been the driving force behind all three previous films in the record-breaking franchise.

“We love these characters so much; they are like family to us,” says Lasseter. “We don’t want to do anything with them unless it lives up to or surpasses what’s gone before. 'Toy Story 3' ended Woody and Buzz’s story with Andy so perfectly that for a long time, we never even talked about doing another 'Toy Story' movie.

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John Lasseter will direct again


"But when Andrew, Pete, Lee and I came up with this new idea, I just could not stop thinking about it. It was so exciting to me, I knew we had to make this movie—and I wanted to direct it myself.”

The existing trilogy is considered one of the best series on the big screen, not just in animation, and has made just $25million short of a staggering @2billion at the box office in total.

Disney will be happy to green light this project after their big-budget adventure 'John Carter' lost them two hundred million dollars two years ago. That project was directed by Andrew Stanton, who's evidently been forgiven, and is back working with the rest of his 'Toy Story' fellow alumnae.

The film is slated for release on 16 June 2017.



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'Airwolf' Star Jan-Michael Vincent Says He's Broke And Lucky To Be Alive After Having Leg Amputated And Battle With Alcohol Addiction (PICS)

November 7, 2014, 4:22 am
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He was once paid $200,000 for every episode of 'Airwolf' he starred in and was a heartthrob to millions, but these days Jan-Michael Vincent says he's lucky to even be alive.

The 80s TV show, in which he starred as helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke, was watched by millions around the globe but when the series ended, the acting roles dried up.

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Jan-Michael Vincent pictured at his home in Vicksburg, Mississippi


The actor has now admitted he is an alcoholic, telling the National Enquirer: "I'm an alcoholic. I’m me. I got my personality. I don’t behave like an alcoholic.”

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The 70-year-old experienced a run of bad luck ever since 'Airwolf' was axed in 1986.

In 1996, he suffered multiple injuries in a serious car accident, which left him with broken vertebrae in his neck and damage to his vocal chords, leaving him with a permanent raspy voice.

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Jan-Michael Vincent as Stringfellow Hawke in 'Airwolf'


Twelve years later he was in another car accident and then contracted a leg infection as a result of complications from peripheral artery disease.

The infection became so bad that doctors had no choice but to amputate the lower half of his right leg, an op that almost killed him.

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He has since been fitted with a prosthetic limb but says he still has much to be thankful for.

“I look at this now and think I have nothing to be upset about when I think about what our U.S. military go through,” he told the National Enquirer. “They’re the real heroes.”

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As well as his numerous health issues, his wife Anna has also revealed that the couple are in financial difficulties, owing $70,000 in taxes.

She told The Enquirer: "I’m praying for a solution."

Watch Jan-Michael in action as Stringfellow Hawke in 'Airwolf' below...



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'The Fall' Star Jamie Dornan Conscious About Typecasting, 'Doesn't Want To Be A One-Trick Pony' (INTERVIEW)

November 7, 2014, 5:00 am
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Jamie Dornan reveals that, after a couple of very high-profile roles which see him playing dark, dominating troubles characters, he is conscious of being typecast.

Jamie, star of BBC thriller ‘The Fall’ and the forthcoming ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, tells HuffPostUK:

“It does make you slightly conscious. No actor wants to be typecast, you want to be clever and pick things that show you’re not a one-trick pony, and that’s my plan.”

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Jamie Dornan stars as serial killer Paul Spector in 'The Fall'


Jamie is just off a flight from LA - I mean, literally, still wearing ear plugs from the aeroplane – when I sit down with him in London, yet surprisingly fresh, sharp and happy to joke about being typecast as a sexy sociopath.

With his return next week in ‘The Fall’ where he plays family man Paul Spector, who just happens to be a serial killer when night falls, and the forthcoming ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ film, where he will be the dominating but irresistible Christian Grey, it seems that Jamie has quickly cornered the market in these troubled, tantalising types… is he worried he’ll never get offered anything else?

“I just don’t know how many sexy sociopath roles there are available to be typecast,” he wonders with a brush of the beard, “so I’m not too worried about that.

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Gillian Anderson's DI Stella Gibson is back on the trail of Spector in 'The Fall' Series 2


Prior to the first series of ‘The Fall’, Jamie’s acting CV barely went into double figures. But, with record audiences for BBC2, and Jamie happily holding his own against cool veteran Gillian Anderson, producers came calling, and his profile has now swung into orbit, with ‘Fifty Shades’ many book fans champing at the bit for his appearance on screen with Dakota Johnson.

Despite this, the actor remains committed to ‘The Fall’, whose second series finds Paul Spector having to return from his Scottish hideout to tie up some loose ends, and Gillian’s DI Stella Gibson continuing to hunt him down. Despite his star in the ascendant, it sounds as though he’d be happy for a third outing, should that come calling…

He says, “We’re all immensely proud of the first series, and the scripts are so good for the second. When you’re onto something as good as that, you want to complete it, honour it, see it through to the end, whenever that may be.”

How easy is it to put on the solitary armour of Paul Spector for this jokey, amiable man, I wonder?

“I found it almost worrying easy,” he smiles, with a suitable glint in his eye, before giving all the credit to his co-stars and crew for being “like one big family, that make it easier to slip back in”.

“Oddly enough, considering the content and the severity, it’s a pretty fun set,” he adds. “You work and when the camera’s rolling it’s very serious, but you have to have moments of fun, light relief.

“I think almost specially because of the content. It’s not healthy to stay in that mindset. I can get very silly. I like to have fun and make jokes that aren’t funny to anyone but me.”

'The Fall' returns to BBC2 next Thursday 13 November. Watch the trailer below...





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Forgotten Stories From Spain: 1984 and the Spanish Civil War by Paul Read, a Review

November 7, 2014, 5:07 am
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2014-11-06-ForgottenSpain.jpgPhotograph by Paul Read

Where does a free society end and a police state begin? It's a question which vexed one of the world's finest political commentators, George Orwell, during his six months' service in the Spanish Civil War. And a question which remains just as relevant today, a whole millennium later.

1984 And The Spanish Civil War's the second in Paul Read's Forgotten Stories from Spain series. In terms of what's happening now in the Iberian political landscape, it's essential reading. Especially considering the parallels between a reactionary fascist force, Franco's Falange, and a reactionary quasi-fascist Partido Popular government.

We make a fine trio: George Orwell, Paul Read, and me. Unashamedly Republican as we all are. After all, the very first article I wrote for The Huffington Post compared one dogmatic dictator from Galicia, Francisco Franco, with another, Mariano Rajoy. Both intent on reversing the democratic advances made by their political predecessors.

2014-11-06-EveryoneisEqual.jpgPhotograph by Paul Read

An impeccably well-read Read's quick to acknowledge the debt we all owe to Orwell: "His work serves as a warning to not only critically look at the messages our governments issue about what is happening in the world, but what happened in the past as well." "This was Orwell's legacy to us, and it all began in Spain." The author of Homage to Catalonia's then heroes were the anarchists; these days he'd no doubt champion the cause of those looking to give power to the people, Podemos.

George Orwell was no armchair journalist. Sent to cover the Spanish Civil War as a reporter, he decided not only to observe but to participate. The resulting copy he filed was from a freedom fighter's perspective rather than journo on a jolly.

2014-11-06-WiganPier.jpgPhotograph by Paul Read

Many assume that Orwell fought, like many of his volunteer countrymen, for the International Brigades. But no, he attached himself to a minute Marxist militia, operating under the umbrella of the CNT (Confederacion National de Trabajordores). An experience which coloured his courageous convictions.

Orwell found himself drawn to the anarchists who organized themselves horizontally rather than vertically, mindful perhaps of the old saying "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely". He admired their puritanism, shutting down Barcelona brothels and gambling houses with bookshops springing up in their place. One imagines a Catalan capital with a Sempere & Sons popping up on every corner.

2014-11-06-sooner.jpgPhotograph by Paul Read

The Barcelona Orwell lovingly wrote about in Homage to Catalonia was a city under siege. Not just from Francoist forces but from the enemy within the left's resistance: the Communists. Read writes of "the re-defining of the POUM militia from a revolutionary Trotskyist organisation fighting for the defence of Spain, into a Fascist organisation fighting for the overthrow of Spain."

For Stalin was already the great dictator Franco would become. And just as mainstream left-wingers have labelled Podemos as fascist wolves in socialist sheep's clothing, the Soviets tarred "the non-communist left in Spain - and in particular in Catalonia - as fascists or semi-fascists." A lie perpetuated by Western journalists who feared that if the Soviet Union pulled out, Franco's victory was assured.

Orwell's own publisher, Victor Gollancz, decided not to release Homage to Catalonia because he felt it might harm the war effort. It was this betrayal which made the writer later switch to a more poetic portrait of his point of view in Animal Farm and 1984. With allegory replacing cold, hard fact.

Another enemy of Orwell was his 6´2¨ height, with the author dwarfing his fellow soldiers. This made him an easy target in the trenches and, indeed, he was shot through the throat. And his literary refusal to remove his head from the parapet would leave him open to attack after his involvement in the Spanish Civil War too; from an increasing army of critics.

For the purposes of writing this review, I received a free copy of Forgotten Stories From Spain: 1984 And The Spanish Civil War.
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An Open Letter to Rob Kardashian

November 7, 2014, 5:11 am
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Dear Rob,

I, like you, gain weight when I'm depressed. I comfort eat. I comfort drink (alcohol). I crave carbs. I loathe exercise.

I spent more time in the dark than outside in the light in 2014.

But, one thing I've learnt from two or three 'down days' in my life. While your instinct may be telling you to batten down the hatches, take to bed, and ignore all calls, that's not going to make anything better. To get better, you have to get up, be brave, and honest.

That means admitting what you've done on those down days, and asking for help.

It's hard, I'm not going to lie. Admitting to your friends and family that you are not coping well, that you ARE struggling, is hideous. But once you admit it, it is a weight off your shoulders, pun intended. And how can you expect people to help you if you can't be 100% truthful with them? It's hard for you, but it's hard for them too.

Full disclosure is the only way.

Giving up drink gave me a week-long hangover that was the most hideous thing of my life. I was shaking, throwing up, hallucinating, having nightmares... I was also having flashbacks to all the silly things I've done while drinking over the past couple of years. I was drenched in cold sweat and shame.

But I got through it, downed several pints of water, laced up my trainers and started walking.

I also kept up the full disclosure honesty ... First to my parents, then my best friends, then my ex-boyfriend ... And I learnt to forgive myself because I found that people have in their hearts the potential to forgive me too. Not everyone, of course, but the people who matter.

They say that demons disintegrate in the light of day... in my experience, that is true.

Rob Kardashian's sisters have rounded on Adrienne Bailon for speaking out about his cheating ways; but (and I am a Kardashian expert) I'm 99% sure he admitted that himself on the episode where Kim weds Kris Humphries.

I get family loyalty but don't pretend someone is infallible when they are not. Owning your mistakes is one of the most powerful things you can do in life. He cheated; she left. Action, reaction. It's the past but before you move on, learn from it.

My friends have given me a lot of tough love lately and I'm all the better for it. I've cried a lot but I've learnt to work through my feelings, rather than mask them with alcohol or food or lies. I've recognised certain 'triggers' within myself and stopped myself before I've gone too far with frustration, boredom and stress. I've also done a lot of baking - it's very therapeutic

"My anger, a lot of it stems from the working environment, because they all put this cloud on me like I'm a loser," Rob said once. "I blow up later because when there's a business opportunity, all my mom obviously cares about is the three girls."

I understand his frustration but there will always be frustration, boredom and stress in your life; how are you going to manage it? I don't have the answer I'm afraid. But for the sake of all that love you, at least try and find something that works for you.

Love, Suzi x
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Mel B Admits She's Experimented Sexually With Women But Insists She's Not A Lesbian

November 7, 2014, 5:13 am
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Mel B has admitted that she had sexual relationships with women over a number of years but insists she's not a lesbian.

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The 'X Factor' judge made the revelation during a chat with Alan Carr on his 'Chatty Man' talk show, due to air tonight (Friday 7 November).

When asked about straight women who had become lesbians, the 39-year-old star said: "Yeah. I was one of those for a few years."

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Mel B


But when Alan asked the the former Spice Girl if she was a lesbian, Mel added: "I would not call it that. I was just one of those ladies. Now I'm happily married."

The mum-of-three also revealed her naughty side during the interview, admitting she wasn't wearing any underwear and likes to doodle rude pictures while filming 'The X Factor'.

"I do drawings of stuff that get me into trouble a lot," she said. "I show it off to Cheryl and she laughs and I show it to Louis and he goes, 'Wow, yeah.'

"I will have to ban myself from having paper now as you now all bloody know."

Mel also recalled the time she found herself having a conversation with a half-naked Simon Cowell in his dressing room.

"His dressing room is stunning. It is like what Liberace would have. He has got a bath, it is gorgeous," she said.

"I was sitting there with a cup of tea and he walked out of his bathroom with his towel on and he said, 'Oh, hello darling, I have just come out of the bath'.

"I said, 'Can we talk about the show please?' He just sat there in his towel."

Watch the full interview with Mel on 'Alan Carr's Chatty Man' tonight at 10pm on Channel 4



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Sharon Osbourne Confirms New Episodes Of 'The Osbournes' Are Coming Next Year... Because Ozzy Was 'Too Drunk' To Remember Old Series

November 7, 2014, 5:35 am
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Sharon Osbourne has confirmed that we can look forward to seeing new episodes of ‘The Osbournes’ in 2015.

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Sharon has revealed that her husband, rocker Ozzy Osbourne, has given the go-ahead to film new episodes of the reality series, because he was so drunk for the show’s initial run that he can’t remember any of it.

Speaking on ‘Loose Women’ on Friday afternoon, the former ‘X Factor’ judge said: “Ozzy has decided that he wants to do another few episodes, not a whole season, about eight episodes, of 'The Osbournes'.

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The Osbournes in 2003


“He said that for the whole three years that we did it he was drunk the whole time. But he would like to do one where he's completely sober, as he is now.”

‘The Osbournes’ was initially intended as a light-hearted look behind the scenes at one of the biggest families in rock music, but ended up touching on some serious subjects, such as Kelly Osbourne’s troubles with addiction, and Sharon’s battle with colon cancer.

She added: “It's been 13 years and our lives have changed so much that it's a kind of catch-up, like, 'What are they doing now?'”

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The Osbourne family in January 2014


Since the show’s first run, when Kelly and Jack Osbourne were still teenagers, Jack has had his own struggles with substance abuse, but is now sober.

After fronting his own reality series, ‘Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie’, he defied the odds by finishing in third place on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ last year, having been recently diagnosed with muscular sclerosis.

Kelly, meanwhile, enjoyed a brief stint as a popstar, but is now best known for her work on ‘Fashion Police’, where she dishes out her opinion on the week’s best and worst dressed.

In an interview with Joan Rivers last year, Kelly admitted that she had mixed feelings towards her time on ‘The Osbournes’, saying: “The first season I couldn’t believe that I was going to be on MTV… second season, I couldn’t believe that I was famous… and third season, I wanted to kill myself. I hated it.”

Ozzy and Sharon have a third child together, Aimee, who opted not to appear in the show, and has been critical of her family’s behaviour in the series since it first aired.



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The Week In 50 Funny Tweets: Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Bonfire Night And The John Lewis Christmas Advert

November 7, 2014, 5:44 am
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It was the week that a million women's hearts were shattered...




...and a million 'Star Wars' fans got very excited:




It was the week of Bonfire Night, aka Burns Night, aka:




But striding high above all this, like some sort of Twitter colossus, was Monty the penguin, star of the new John Lewis Christmas advert:




Fortunately, a few tweeters were on hand to explain penguins for us:







Starting with Benedict Cumberbatch and his significant otter other, and ending with Twitter's best ideas for #FutureJohnLewisAds, here were some of the tweets about this week's news that made us giggle this week...

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Danniella Westbrook And Fiancé Tom Richards Split: Former 'EastEnders' Actress Says She's Enjoying 'Single Life' On Twitter

November 7, 2014, 5:53 am
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After a turbulent 2014, Danniella Westbrook has announced on Twitter that she’s called off her forthcoming wedding to her toyboy fiancé, Tom Richards.

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Daniella and Tom made the headlines earlier this year when they announced that they were planning to tie the knot, just months after she split from her husband of 12 years.

However, it seems the former ‘EastEnders’ actress has now chosen to call time on their relationship, tweeting - in a post that has since been deleted - on Sunday night that she was enjoying the “single life”.

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Danniella and Tom during happier times


While it sounds like Danniella is determined not to let the split get her down, the same can’t be said for Tom, who has vowed to win his ex back on his Twitter page.




After confirming the news of their split, he has been posting a string of emotional messages on Twitter, begging for “something good” to happen and asking: “When will all this end?”

The couple’s short relationship was blighted with troubles, particularly after it was reported that Danniella had relapsed and begun using cocaine again after 12 years clean, following a difficult few months that saw her suffer a miscarriage and have her house burgled.

Tom later admitted to the press that he had taken the class-A drug with Danniella, after her announcement that she was once again seeking professional help to tackle her addiction demons.



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Tina Malone Feels 'Depressed' By Her Body Ahead Of Plastic Surgery To Remove Excess Skin Left By Gastric Band

November 7, 2014, 7:00 am
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Tina Malone has spoken about her plans to go under the knife for a new TV project in 2015, insisting she’s not doing it to keep her younger husband interested.

SEE MORE:
Why Is Tina Malone 'Furious' With Jamelia?
Tina Malone: 'I Want Another Baby At 51'

It was revealed last month that Tina was undergoing £50,000 worth of plastic surgery to remove the excess skin that remained when she lost 11 stone after having a gastric band fitted.

Speaking about her dramatic weight loss on Friday’s ‘This Morning’, Tina joked: “I don’t have body fat anywhere, just skin now… and I have got the longest boobs in the world now, seriously. I could tie mine around my waist like a belt!”

tina malone
Tina Malone


However, she did speak seriously about how her new body made her feel, explaining: “It depresses me. What depresses me most is that I’m left with this turkey neck.

“I’m a size 10, but I would be about a six or an eight [without the excess skin].”

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Tina says her body 'depresses' her


Tina also took the opportunity to fire back at critics who thought she was only having the surgery to keep her husband - Paul, who is 19 years her junior - interested.

She told presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford: “You had some women on a few days ago talking about getting plastic surgery to stop your man cheating - it isn’t about me keeping my young husband, it’s about me.

“I’m not trying to look young, or recapture my youth… I just want to look the best I can be. I’ve never worn a bikini before in my entire life! I’ve been a fat bird for twenty years.”

Tina was told three years ago that she would need to lose weight if she wanted to undergo IVF treatment so that she and Paul could have a baby.

After announcing they were expecting a child together in May last year, the couple welcomed their baby girl, Flame, into the world four months later.



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The Key Challenge of Self Publishing: How One Author Learnt That 'She Who Plays With a Cat Must Bear Its Scratches'

November 7, 2014, 7:18 am
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Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...


2014-11-06-ASIp48PDSASimonshipscataboardHMSAmethystwhoreceivedthePDSADickinMedal.jpg

Once upon a time there was a cat called Simon, who won numerous awards for bravery thanks to the part he played on board HMS Amethyst during its epic escape from the Chinese Communists many years ago. He became the world's first celebrity cat.

Author Jacky Donovan, despite her complete and utter zoophobia, was smitten by his unique story and quickly penned a 75,000 word memoir, posing as Able Seacat Simon himself. Purrfect! Or so she thought... Little did she understand the 'cat'-astrophic perils that lay ahead to make Simon's book available for people to actually read.

For weeks she battled with ideas for a suitable title, grateful for the enthusiasm of facebook group We Love Memoirs who bandied thoughts around like a cat batting at a rat. Having written 75,000 words in less than three months, who would've thought it could take six weeks to come up with an eight word title?

Imagine her delight when people then suggested that memoirs with photographs or illustrations were a particular hit. Off she went in search of an illustrator who could - for a small fee - translate her ideas onto paper. Perhaps it was the fact she chose a non-English speaking artist in Russia that resulted in entirely different imagery from the pictures in her head but, nevertheless, she thought the images were wonderfurl.

2014-11-06-ASISimonShipsOutjpg.jpg

Enticed by the offer from one of HMS Amethyst's few crew still alive today to see his memorabilia - no, that's not a euphemism! - she jumped on a plane to London and spent an intriguing afternoon, overwhelmed by the number of photos, newspaper clippings and other information that Lieutenant Commander Stewart Hett had collected in relation to Simon the Amethyst cat. After taking hordes of photos of his exhibits - like memorabilia, that is not a euphemism - she enthusiastically headed home.

Having spent 20 years in IT, what could be easier than inserting a few images into a Microsoft Word document and uploading it to the Amazon kindle platform?! Well, here are a few suggestions for a start:

• Become a brain surgeon
• Tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon. Backwards.
• Ride a unicycle blindfold. With hands in the air

It seemed that MS Word and the human brain live in parallel universes where ne'er the twain shall meet. She huffed and she puffed but, instead of blowing MS Word's house down, only succeeded in blowing a fuse and raising her blood pressure. Oh, and becoming as porky as one of the three little pigs from spending so much time at her desk every day.

But, like all good stories, along came a techy prince, riding into town on his trusty pushbike, laptop with go-faster stripes clutched to his chest. Thinking he was the cat's whiskers, he was sure he would rescue the damsel in distress with his techy know-how in no time at all. Or would he? Several days later and much ranting and raving and quaffing of beer he conceded defeat and skulked back to his house to lick his not-so-techy-after-all wounds.

But fear not, like buses, intrepid techy princes arrived, each positive that he could fix the dumb blonde's problems. After all, how hard could it be to insert a few pictures and add a few footnotes? Many, many, many, many - in fact too many manys to be able to count - man hours later and having searched every available forum, downloaded every available kindle user guide and tried every available suggestion known to kindle-kind... ta-dah!! The heroic husband of a We Love Memoirs author finally struck internet gold and solved the problem. Goodness knows how. Jacky was too tired but elated to ask.

Thanks to him, Simon Ships Out: A heroic cat at sea can come to a kindle near you now. As Jacky pawses for a meowment to reflect, she wishes all new authors the furry best and hopes they all have an amewsing time with their publishing journey. She is hopeful that, like the pain of giving birth, the memory of self-publishing will eventually become a distant memory and she will once again puts paws - or fingers - to keyboard and pen another book.

The moral of the story - writing the memoir is child's play; publishing it is a dog's life!

Miaow x

Simon Ships Out: A heroic cat at sea is available from Amazon in paperback and kindle and is suitable for adults and children > 11.

UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OWKJWKS

US: www.amazon.com/dp/B00OWKJWKS

Watch Able Seacat Simon on youtube
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Walking Down The Political Line with Keith Haring

November 7, 2014, 7:22 am
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Keith Haring is a figure that hardly needs an introduction. Eye-catching recognisable style, murals, sculptures, drawings in public spaces - all this intense artistic presence settled firmly into the public consciousness in the early and mid 80s, turning Haring into one of the most celebrated and popularised artists we know.

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Untitled (Self-Portrait), February 2, 1985 Acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 in. (121.9 x 121.9 cm)
Private collection © 2014, Keith Haring Foundation.

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Keith Haring (1958-1990) Andy Mouse, 1985 Acrylic and oil on canvas, 60 x 60 in. (152.4 x 152.4 cm) Private collection © 2014, Keith Haring Foundation

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Keith Haring (1958 -1900) 'Crack is Wack' Mural, 120th St. and FDR Drive, New York, October 6, 1986. Polaroid. Collection of the Keith Haring Foundation. © Keith Haring Foundation.

What goes beyond his skyrocketing fame and glorified celebrity status, however, is his vision for bringing people together through art.

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Mural Commission, St. Patrick's Daycare Center, San Francisco, December 1985. Polaroid. Collection of the Keith Haring Foundation. © Keith Haring Foundation.

Not only Haring understood that art was for everybody but he also fought for the individual and against dictatorship, racism and capitalism , points out Dieter Buchhart - guest curator of 'Keith Haring : The Political Line' show at the de Young Fine Arts Museum, San Francisco. Opening this Saturday, the exhibit sets the bar high, aiming to be the 'first American exhibition to assess the political dimension and scope of Keith Haring's artistic concerns' as stated in the press release.
More than 130 works - sculptures, large-scale paintings, examples of the artist's subway drawings will unravel Haring's devotion and personal creative responses to causes, he felt deeply for - racial inequality, AIDS, excesses of capitalism.

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Untitled, 1982 Vinyl paint on vinyl tarpaulin, 72 x 72 in. (182.9 x 182.9 cm). Collection of Sloan and Roger Barnett © 2014, Keith Haring Foundation.

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Untitled, 1981 Acrylic on canvas, 50 x 50 in. (127 x 127 cm). Private collection © 2014, Keith Haring Foundation.

San Francisco's current visual identity owns a lot to Haring's active political stance and enduring vision. So it is only fair that the city is now honouring the artist 's life mission to raise awareness and fight social injustice.

Keith Haring : The Political Line , Nov. 8-Feb. 16, 2015. San Francisco's de Young Museum of Fine Arts. All images are courtesy of Keith Haring Foundation.
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Poppies for the Fallen: Art Reflects Upon Remembrance Day

November 7, 2014, 7:25 am
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This Armistice Day marks the centenary of Britain's participation in the Great War, a moment which turned the tide of history for all nations. 11 November is a time of reverence and honour, a commemoration of the heroic souls who were willing to give up all for the land and the people they cherished. We are called to reflect upon those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and to show our gratitude to those who battled and survived.

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Image Credit: Oli Scarff, Getty Images

In memory of the fallen, artist Paul Cummins and stage designer Tom Piper have created an awe-inspiring art piece to surround the Tower of London: "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" brings 888,246 ceramic poppies to the foot of the landmark, filling the encircling moat with arresting colour. Each of these poppies symbolises the life of a British soldier extinguished by the scourge of the First World War. Like a frozen moment from "In Flanders Fields," the installation is a reminder to the living that we must never let a lost soul be forgotten, and that no selfless offering has been made in vain.

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Image credit: PA, The Telegraph

Countless visitors to the Tower have walked among the petals of this humbling piece, including Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Each of the ceramic poppies of "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" can be purchased, with all proceeds donated to charities that provide support to servicemen and women in the UK.

As an artist whose life took root during the tumult of the Second World War, the echoes of conflict mould my work. As a child, I witnessed the horrors of war ravage my homeland and take the lives of family members, friends, and neighbors. These heartbreaking losses were what led to the formation of Love & Peace, an ongoing sculpture exhibition bringing fiberglass poppies and flowers of goodwill to cities worldwide. I envision these sculptures as beacons in the darkness of strife, symbols of the persistence of beauty and resilience of hope even amid tragedy - they reflect the turbulence of the past but, even stronger still, the aim for a brighter future.

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Ana Tzarev's Love poppy sculpture at Canary Wharf, London.

In the 100 years that have passed since that fateful day, humanity has seen such struggle and loss. But the glimmers of hope for a time of peace have never been subdued. In our actions and in our words - on Remembrance Day and all other days - may we always choose the path of understanding.
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TV Trends: James Spader Proves His Emmy Awards Weren't Flukes With Another Success, 'The Blacklist'

November 7, 2014, 7:32 am
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When 'The Blacklist' was first conceived, screenwriter Jon Bokencamp had two actors in mind, either Gary Oldman or Kevin Spacey, to play the role of criminal mastermind Raymond 'Red' Reddington. But it is James Spader who inhabits him on the NBC hit, which goes out on Friday evenings, and now Bokencamp admits, "Now I can't see anyone else in this role."

In contrast with many recent US hit dramas, this show doesn't even pretend to be an ensemble offering, with the show flying or failing on the appeal of its central character.

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James Spader wasn't the first choice for 'The Blacklist' bosses, but he's made the role of Red his own


When the show launched last year, Robert Bianco of USA Today said, "The Blacklist is a solid weekly crime show built around a genuine TV star. That's the kind of series the networks have to be able to pull off to survive. And with Spader in command, odds are NBC will."

And, two series in, it looks like it has. In fact, each time the show airs on either side of the Atlantic, it is Reddington who inspires an impressive 80%-plus of all mentions, comments and compliments on social media. Spader is a previous Emmy Award winner for his roles in 'The Practice' and 'Boston Legal', and critical acclaim has poured in again for his role in this NBC hit.

It all seemed to go a bit quiet for James Spader back there for a while, following the phenomenal success of 'Boston Legal', due in no small part to his exquisitely awkward on-screen bromance with William Shatner. His sleeping talents were awakened with a walk-on in the US 'The Office', which soon became a regular role as the strikingly named Robert California. And then, Kevin Spacey and Gary Oldman didn't pick up.

So, what is it about Red, or rather Spader, that has caught the imagination of audiences, and secured this crime drama huge audiences in the US, a primetime post-Superbowl slot on NBC, and sale to Netflix for a staggering $2million an episode?

It seems they can't get enough of his savoir fare, his sinister undertone of suggested violence, and the way he has with a bon mot - apologising to his victim's wife as he locks her in a cupboard, and sounding as though he's making his excuses for leaving a bottle of Pimms in the car. It's all very civil, and extremely sinister. "It can never, ever, ever get weird enough for me," James Spader recently told Rolling Stone magazine.

But is Red good pretending to be bad, or the other way round? Former government agent turned underworld mastermind, this self-professed "concierge of crime" has voiced a strange wish to turn informer for the FBI, and help one of their number in hunting down his associates from the criminal world. What on earth is going on? And is Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), the only FBI agent he'll deal with, or is she not, related to him?

No less importantly, what hat will he be wearing? James Spader himself owns 30, and many of them have made it onto Reddington's cropped head. This, and other enquiries, looks like keeping happy audiences guessing …

Watch James Spader as Raymond Reddington in 'The Blacklist' below, and let us know - what shows haven't we mentioned on our pages that you think we should be watching?



'The Blacklist' continues on Sky Living at 9pm, on Friday evenings. 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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'X Factor': Song Choices Revealed, With Stevi Ritchie Tackling 'Bohemian Rhapsody' In 'Queen vs. Michael Jackson' Theme

November 7, 2014, 7:51 am
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The ‘X Factor’ song choices for this weekend’s Queen vs. Michael Jackson theme have been announced... and to say they’re unimaginative would be quite the understatement.

MORE 'X FACTOR' NEWS:


Indeed, just for fun, take a piece of paper and write down the nine most overplayed songs from Queen and Michael Jackson that you can think of, and see how many of them have made the cut.

Seriously, considering that both acts have some of the most varied back catalogues in music, we don’t understand why the best the Mel B could come up with for Paul Akister is ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

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Paul Akister's song this week is not exactly an inspired choice


Similarly, Ben Haenow is taking on MJ’s ‘Man In The Mirror’, a song we’ve only heard pretty much every year on ‘The X Factor’ since it started. We can only imagine the valuable seconds that Simon Cowell spent picking that one.

And as for Stevi Ritchie tackling ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’... we’ll not even go there.

Sigh.

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Lauren Platt


Cheryl Fernandez-Versini decided to give Lauren Platt a break from last week’s ‘extensive choreography’ with her song choice, ‘I’ll Be There’, while Only The Young’s rendition of ‘Blame It On The Boogie’ is sure to be laden with their trademark pep.

Of course, this could all have been avoided if producers had stuck with the ‘Disco Fever’ theme that Dermot O’Leary had previously announced at the end of last weekend’s show.

Instead, rather than bringing a bit of Studio 54 to our Saturday nights, we’re getting all of the songs we could have heard if we actually bothered to go to a karaoke night, instead of sitting in our onesie eating a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, wondering if it’s too late for them to bring back Chloe Jasmine.

Check out the full list of songs below…

  • Andrea Faustini - Somebody To Love

  • Ben Haenow - Man In The Mirror

  • Fleur East - Will You Be There

  • Jay James - The Show Must Go On

  • Lauren Platt - I’ll Be There

  • Only The Young - Blame It On The Boogie

  • Paul Akister - Don’t Stop Me Now

  • Stereo Kicks - You Are Not Alone

  • Stevi Ritchie - Bohemian Rhapsody




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Tina Arena, Undoubtedly the Best Gig I've Been To

November 7, 2014, 9:19 am
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Seeing an act live has the ability to turn you from impartial listener to major fan. It's happened to me only a couple of times. Seeing Muse at Australia's Big Day Out Festival. Bombay Bicycle Club at this years Glastonbury and Little Dragon at Somerset House. All amazing acts to see live and absolute headliners. Last night though, I walked away from a gig with Tina Arena far more impressed than I've ever been.

And I really didn't expect to be.

I grew up listening to Tina Arena with my sisters. Bellowing out "I'm in chains!" and "I want you to burn!" (You really need to hear the songs for that NOT to sound a bit creepy, especially when thinking of three little girls singing in their backyard), so anytime I think of Tina Arena, I kind of just associate her with those childhood memories. My music tastes have changed considerably.

But last night Tina had her first gig in the UK after a decade away. A comeback set in East London's St John at Hackney Church, it was an intimate setting and one I imagined would have a performance to match.

This woman though, my god, she is the essence of an entertainer. When Tina took the stage, the power behind her voice immediately hit me. This was sheer talent here. Not one sign of lip-synching, or interference with her voice. You could see her mouth move purposefully in order to physically push out the lyrics in her songs. She puts strength behind each word.

She wasn't interested in just standing and delivering her music to the audience. Something that disappoints me about so many acts. Whether legends or new on the scene, this stand-and-deliver approach is just too common and puts me off going to gigs. What's the point of hearing someone deliver their album to you, when most of the time, you can hear it better off iTunes at home? It confuses me how bands don't see the appeal in engaging with their audience. It's quite insulting.

And this difference in her performance, is where I really warmed to Tina. She embodied confidence when performing, with her voice, her dancing and the poses she'd strike at the end of each song. A total diva on stage. But between songs she revealed herself to be a completely relatable woman, a down-to-earth Aussie girl from the suburbs. She was humbled and had a wicked sense of humour.

Her set was well-balanced between the old and the new. I'd forgotten just how many of Tina's songs were so much apart my memories with my sisters. Wasn't It Good, Sorrento Moon and I Need Your Body. I wished for them to be there so much in those moments. Music really is at it's best when it does that to you.

Her new stuff is equally as powerful as the songs that have made her Australia's most successful female artists of all time. Still Running and Don't Look Back are really worth a listen.

In fact, I genuinely do implore you to see Tina Arena live. Acts like this are few and far between. She is pure talent. It's worth supporting the real deal.

One of Tina's best...


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Foo Fighters' Latest Album - Listen To 'Sonic Highways' Here On Our Live Stream

November 7, 2014, 10:25 pm
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Foo Fighters are back with their eighth album, 'Sonic Highways', and we have the exclusive UK premiere of the album in its entirety above.

EXCLUSIVE: LISTEN to Foo Fighters' 'Sonic Highways' above

This is the long-awaited follow-up to their Grammy award-winning 'Wasting Light', and will be released worldwide on Monday 10 November.

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'Sonic Highways' is Foo Fighters' eighth album


'Sonic Highways' shares its title with the Dave Grohl-directed eight-episode HBO series described by Grohl as a love letter to the history of American music currently airing on BBC4.

For the album and series, Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear wrote and recorded one song in each of these eight cities, delving into the local musical currents - how each region shaped these musicians in their formative years, and in turn the impact those people had on the cultural fabric of their hometowns. All songs feature local legends sitting in, with every lyric written in an unprecedented experimental style. And Dave Grohl held off on putting down words until the last day of each session, so as to be inspired by the experiences.

'Sonic Highways' runs just over 44 minutes and is made up of the following tracks:

1. Something From Nothing
2. The Feast and The Famine
3. Congregation
4. What Did I Do?/God As My Witness
5. Outside
6. In The Clear
7. Subterranean
8. I Am A River

Foo Fighters' 'Sonic Highways' is available from Monday. The vinyl album comes in an assortment of nine different covers including eight variants each themed for one of the cities in which the album was recorded: Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.. Customers will receive one of the 9 covers at random. Click here for info, and to order.



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