Archive for the ‘Celebrities’ Category

Prince Charles to the rescue

We have been seeing less and less of our beautiful red squirrel recently as its existence is left threatened by our mistakes, as is the case with so many beautiful animals all around the world.  However, the red squirrel has got a good friend in high places – Prince Charles has been called in to come to the aid of the red squirrel, which the Prince himself warned could be extinct within 10 years.

The Prince has been communicating his personal worries for the red squirrel while speaking at the launch of a charity set up specifically to protect endangered native species.

Charles placed the blame for the disappearance of the little creatures on today’s “increasingly throwaway” society and has portrayed his concern for the way the future of small creatures is headed.

“I cannot think of a better mascot for our country than the red squirrel. Perhaps that might make people realise what it is that they are about to lose,” said Prince Charles.

“The terrifying reality is that, within a decade, if we cannot work together to bring in the necessary funding for the task which needs to be done, the red squirrel could be totally extinct across the UK,” Charles continued.

The grey is killing off the red

Prince Charles gave the speech in Cumbria at the official launch of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust.  The charity is aimed at protecting the red squirrel which has been having a hard time since the grey squirrel hopped onto our shores from America and started to bully the natives.

“The plight of the red squirrel and the honeybee too is yet another example of man’s short-sightedness in an increasingly throwaway society.  The future of both species is a crucial test of just how serious we are about sustainability,” said Charles.

The Prince also mentioned that he had often had the chance of spending time with the furry little squirrels, which he labelled “utterly charming creatures”, in Scotland at his Birkhall residence.

The Prince sees reds all the time

“Unlike many people in this country, I am lucky enough to see red squirrels at Birkhall where I have been indulging them with hazelnuts and they have become remarkably tame and are coming into the house.

“Sometimes sitting at my desk I hear the pitter patter of tiny feet and sometimes they do the wall of death around my office. They are very special creatures.

“I have been indulging them with hazelnuts and they have become remarkably tame and come into the house. Sometimes when I am sitting at my desk I hear the pitter patter of tiny feet, and sometimes they do a wall of death around my office,” Charles said.

The Prince met with supporters of the charity as well as local dignitaries at Levens Hall – unfortunately the grounds, located near Kendal, hasn’t seen a red squirrel in around 15 years.

What about you?

What do you think about the plight of the red squirrel here in Britain?  Do you want to do more for our native red squirrel?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you think…

On Saturday over 14 million viewers tuned in to watch Alexandra Burke destroy the competition in an X-Factor that had it all…again…

Burke is a phenomenal talent, showcased by going toe to toe with the legend that is Beyonce. As Cheryl Cole said, it was amazing that she could even utter a note.

So I have to admit to being massively impressed, as she blew away JLS and the Quiglett with one great performance after the other. She may have won, but does she have the “X-Factor”? Well bejewelled old grump Elton John has had a foul mouthed tirade at the shows credentials – even though he is due to duet with Alexandra on New Years Eve.

The ever colourful Elton was playing at a concert in the 2 Area on Saturday night – while the hit TV show was on TV. He thanked the 20,000 strong audience for coming to watch him rather than sitting at home watching the show, adding that  he would rather have his “c**k bitten off by an Alsatian” than watch the X Factor. Crumbs!

Brilliantly as the concert ended an announcement came over the tannoy in the area talking about Elton’s duet with Burke. Meanwhile, Elton presumably sat in his dressing room with his foot firmly in his mouth.

This is not the first time he’s had a go at the yearly TV show as two years ago, he said: “The X Factor is a cruise ship show. I’ve got nothing against the people who go on - good luck to them. But I hate how they’re treated.

“They’re given an awful sense of stardom and pressure straight away but they’re only successful until the next series.

“The record companies sell a lot of records and those people are gone. It’s f***ing cruel.”

He is right though. I can’t actually tell you who the winner was in the first series, or the second or the third. I know that a Scottish guy won last year, but I think I’ve seen him once on TV since his win. This show does give the contestants a taste of fame, but you’d have to be really groundbreaking to have any last-ability – the fact that they always release a cheesy cover right before Xmas pretty much grinds my gears.

They get shipped about in limos, and get to play god gigs, but do they pocket the cash? Not according to the leaked contract that was published a week or so ago. They only get a tiny portion of the cash, and have to pay all their expenses out of it. And the guy pocketing all the money? The Stupid haired, high-waisted trouser wearing Simon Cowell. And in all honesty, fair play to the man. He’s had a great idea for a show, and all he has to do is slag people off for 99 percent of the show, before turning in to Mr Nice Guy for the final.

Congratulations to Alexandra, and good luck with Elton John, and well done to those attending the new year celebration in London – looks like you’ll get some extra  fireworks.

So Russell brands been forced to quit his job as a radio 2 presenter all because he’s upset Manuel and a stripper. The British public should be ashamed of themselves. Again we’ve had to watch the media hype the stuffy middle-aged public into thinking that what Brand did was wrong. Us British used to be quite funny, but now were just a bunch of easily led, wrapped up in cotton wool, load of idiotic sycophant’s.

I totally disagree that they were wrong.  The pure FACT of the matter is this: After the show just 2 people from its 400,000 strong listener’s actually complained. By yesterday it was up to 27,000. The majority of these complaining fools have probably never heard of Russell Brand, and probably have too much time on their hands, and probably have very little human contact.

You see some pretty horrible people on the television these days. Does anyone complain that Loose Women is essentially 4 menopausal women ranting about how much they hate men, and why do they deserve to have cellulite, along with other inane chatter. Richard and Judy? More like Pervert and Prude(y). Jordan and Peter – pathetic. And a host of other celebs that talk about stuff that supposedly shouldn’t be mentioned.

Does anyone honestly think that Russell brand boasting that he diddled Manuel’s daughter is the worst thing you’ve heard this year? The fact is that he did diddle the daughter, so what’s her problem. And don’t worry about her, I’m sure she’ll make a small fortune from the no-doubt imminent kiss and tell story that’ll be plastered in the Sun next week.

But the problem is this: the UK loves to sit on its high horse and look down on other less educated nations with pure contempt (ask yourself this – have you ever heard anyone from the UK say they like the French?).

Brand was the fall guy, I don’t respect his decision to step don, but I suspect he was pushed before he could jump. Jonathan Ross is too funny to ban from his screens, and I don’t know any TV station that wouldn’t want him on their books if they did decide to fire him.

Anyway, I’m ranting. The public are the ones that should feel ashamed, not Brand or Ross. They’ve forced one guy out of his job, and want to do the same. This nation’s blood lust is insane.

The world it would seem, has in-fact gone mad.

Loud mouth, fame-clinging, racist boil on the backside of humanity, Jade Goody, is reportedly heading in to the celebrity Big Brother House…in India.

In a classic WTF!?111?11??!! moment, Goody, who as not a lot of people can forget went on a racist rant directed at Bollywood Star Shilpa Shetty, has agreed to enter the Indian BB (called Big Boss over there) which in another ?twist’ is presented by Shilpa Shetty.

Ever the money grabber, Jade doesn’t come cheap. The Sun newspaper reported that she’s getting paid ?100,000 to take part in the show.

“Jade wasn’t sure when she was first approached because she was worried about how the Indian housemates and public might react,” a source told the paper.

“She was really upset about everything that happened after the scandal last year. She really wants to clear her name and prove to everyone that she’s not a racist.”

But, she is a racist. The fact that a bit of time has past, does not stop someone’s views (that’s their actual - in her case probably inbred - views).

I hate Big Brother and everything it stands for, and I’m proud to say I’ve avoided the last few like the plague. But, what I don’t understand is how the woman who called Shilpa, “Shilpa Popadom” and slagged off the way she ate her food, is allowed a) to appear on television ever again, and b) makes more money than the majority of the UK’s residents.

Her original rant got 50,000 complaints to Ofcom and in India people were burning effigy’s of the loud mouth who once referred to her lady-parts as her “kebab”, yet this complete arse is allowed to make a fortune off the back of all this. How the hell does she deserve this, I’d love to put her on a desert island with just a gun and a single bullet, and a note saying ?it’s for the best’.

Smooth talking television and radio presenter Terry Wogan has cast even more doubt over whether he will present/narrate at next years Eurovision Song Contest.

The BBC legend, who is 70-years-old, said it was “doubtful” if he’ll ever want to present the world worst pop contest ever again, after Russia’s controversial ?victory’ in Belgrade last year.

After 37 years presenting the show, Sir Terry said he was tired of the “political voting”, and wanted to hand the reigns over to a younger host.

He said: “I’ve had so much fun, but I think it’s time for someone else. Days before the show, I knew Russia would win.” The Radio Two presenter made his comments in a Radio Times interview. He first threatened to quit Eurovision after the controversial result in May.

He said: “This is no longer a music contest.”

As if you didn’t know, Eurovision is just an excuse for you-scratch-my-back-I-won’t-bomb-your-country, type voting that is generally filled with sub-par pop-acts.

I don’t know anyone who watches the show now-a-days anyways, apart from old granny’s.

Terry was the only reason to continue watching the show for many Britons. But I for one understand why he wants to jack it in. His sarcastic comments which used to be biting have become lazy, it seems its difficult to be scathing, when the passion is gone.

Don’t annoy this guy.

A man from Milwaukee, in the US, is facing a fine and possibly prison after he took a sawn-off shotgun too his lawnmower after it wouldn’t start.

Local police decided that Keith Walendowski committed an illegal offence after he decided to mow his lawn in the early hours of the morning, whilst drunk.

Walendowski was having trouble starting the machine and became so infuriated he went to his basement and brought up a sawn-off shotgun, blowing two holes in to the machine.

It unsurprisingly that didn’t fix the problem and police were called and arrested him. Now Mr Walendowski is “flabbergasted” that he may face fines of up to ?6,000 and a possible six years in jail.

Everyone loves a good scare, and today in Hollywood the film and television community are bracing themselves for what could turn in to a horror.

At midnight tonight, actors could go on strike if talks breakdown over a new contract to replace the existing on between SAG (the Screen Actors Guild) and film studio owners.

Earlier this year, the writers strike caused Hollywood to come to a standstill. It cost Hollywood $2.5bn (?1.25bn) in lost wages and other revenues. A further shutdown from the actors will hit those in the non-acting trades such as scene-builders, stage managers, lighting engineers and make-up artists.

“If you’re a below-the-line worker, your blood is probably running cold. They’re the ones who took the biggest hit from the writers strike,” said Jack Kyser, the chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.

“Too many people would be put out of work,” said Alexandra Leighton, 28, a TV actress who opposes a strike. “It’s just not worth it. The economy is already iffy.”

SAG leaders are pushing the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, who represent the studio owners, for improved pay conditions, particularly for mid-ranking performers, to reflect new income from DVD residuals and replays on the internet.

But SAG has managed to stage its own mini soap opera within the negotiations, after a minority of its members who simultaneously belong to another smaller union, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said they were ready to accept the offer on the table from the studios. The division has set A-list actors against one another.

“Rather than pitting artist against artist, maybe we could find a way to get what both unions are looking for,” George Clooney declared last week in an attempt at playing mediator.

For big screen films, many of which are in the can long before they show up in cinemas, a strike may be a small problem if it doesn’t last too long. However, the stakes are higher for television producers who are getting into high gear to tape shows for the autumn schedules.

So it?s Big Brother Season again, time for another bunch of over-confident nit-wits to enter the house so the British public can dissect their every move, action and nuance.

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This year we have the biggest bunch of weird, self obsessed and egotistical ever so here is our guide to the biggest television car crash in history.

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The contestants

?ALEXANDRA DE-GALEAge: 23From: CroydonOccupation: Accounts ExecutiveAlexandra is a single mother, who had her daughter when she was 16 years old. She describes herself as quirky, outgoing and a go-getter, and hates to be bored. Appearance-wise, she gives herself 10/10 for looks, and says “love me or hate me ? you?ll be obsessed!”?DENNIS McHUGHAge: 23From: EdinburghOccupation: Dance student and teacher

Dennis describes himself as egotistical, flamboyant, and competitive - and he lives for getting attention. He thinks he?ll be an “agony aunt” for other housemates and thinks that people will remember him simply as “wow”.

?JENNIFER CLARK
Age: 22
From: Durham
Occupation: Part-time model, full-time mum

Jennifer describes herself as ambitious, ruthless and opinionated - and says she wouldn?t enter Big Brother if she didn?t think she could win. Jennifer says her motivation for doing Big Brother is to make her daughter and loved ones proud.

?DALE HOWARD
Age: 21
From: Liverpool
Occupation: PE Teaching student/part-time studentA part-time DJ, Dale is desperate to be rich and famous and have girls screaming his name. He rates himself 10/10 for looks and believes his peers are often jealous of him. Dale loves “fit” girls and has a thing about women with funny noses! His dream celebrity dates would be Mischa Barton and Abbie Clancey.?KATHREYA KASISOPA
Age: 30
From: Kent, originally from Thailand
Occupation: Thai massage therapist

Kathreya is Big Brother?s first Thai housemate. She came to the UK from Thailand seven years ago to study. She?s scared of the dark, heights and has a hatred of feet. She also doesn?t take drugs or drink alcohol, and says that she doesn?t really understand British humour.

?DARNELL SWALLOW
Age: 26
From: London
Occupation: Songwriter

Darnell is a 26 year-old housemate who was born in Ipswich, raised in St Louis (USA) and now lives in London. He gives himself three out of ten in physical attractiveness and says he is “way too skinny with a massive head”.

?LISA APPLETON
Age: 40
From: Warrington
Occupation: Sales rep for a beauty and tanning company

One half of the first ever summer Big Brother couple, Lisa is dating fellow new housemate Mario. Lisa says she?s often likened to Xena Warrior Princess, and says she?s “like a magnet exerting powerful attraction”.

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LUKE MARSDEN

Age: 20

From: Wigan

Occupation: Student, part-time pro-wrestling announcer

Luke is currently doing a Politics degree but his real love is wrestling. Since the age of 16, he?s been involved in the North West wrestling scene as a ring announcer and referee. Luke?s philosophy on life is “controversy creates cash” which he says is a theory he?s learned through wrestling.

?RACHEL RICEAge: 20From: Torfaen, WalesOccupation: English and Drama student, trainee teacher

Rachel is a former child actor, who featured alongside Hugh Grant in the film Night Train to Venice when she was eight years old. Filming in Rome, she says Grant even organised her eighth birthday party. She wants to be on Big Brother to represent “pretty, intelligent alpha females”.

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MARIO MARCONI

Age: 42

From: Warrington

Occupation: Former Tag Officer at the Home Office

The male half of the first ever summer series Big Brother couple, Mario takes as much pride in his appearance as girlfriend Lisa does, and regularly spends over two hours to get ready for a night out. His strangest job ever was as a stripping policeman on a myspace advertisement for hot tubs, and if he could be re-incarnated he would like to come back as racing driver Lewis Hamilton.?

REBECCA SHINER

Age: 21

From: Coventry

Occupation: Kindergarten nurse

Rebecca - who often refers to herself in the third person as “The Bex” - loves being the centre of attention. She says she wants to be famous, rich, and maybe a bit thinner. Her great love is going out, having a good time with friends and dancing on tables.?

MICHAEL HUGHES

Age: 33

From: Ayshire, Scotland

Occupation: Radio Producer

When Michael (Mikey) was 23 he lost his sight whilst undergoing an operation and has now been blind for 10 years. Mikey describes himself as wacky, zany and non-conformist and considers his best ability is to make others laugh. His favourite party trick is to do stand-up comedy whilst dressed up in girls? clothes.?

STEPHANIE McMICHAEL

Age: 19

From: Liverpool

Occupation: Maths and Economics Student

19-year-old Stephanie first appeared on television as a 13-year-old on Popstars: The Rivals. However after reaching the final 25 contestants, producers discovered she had lied about her age, after claiming she was 16. A confessed germophobe, she can?t touch door handles for fear of catching germs, and also has phobias of bats and moths. She says her life philosophy is “do what you want and don?t care”.

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MOHAMED MOHAMED

Age: 23

From: London

Occupation: Toy demonstrator at Hamleys

23 year-old Mohamed was born in Somalia and then moved to Kenya, Yeman, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Dubai before moving to the UK with his family. Mohamed describes himself as crazy, outgoing and fun and firmly believes that you don?t need money to have fun … but it helps!

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SYLVIA BARRIE

Age: 21

From: South London, originally Sierra Leone

Occupation: Student/Sales Assistant

Sylvia came to the UK with her family aged 11, when the war started in her native Sierra Leone. Sylvia gives herself 5/10 for intelligence and 8/10 for looks, but says the only thing she doesn?t like about herself are her wrists as they are too skinny.

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REX NEWMARK

Age: 24

From: London

Occupation: Executive Chef

Already a successful chef and businessman, London socialite Rex?s three favourite things in life are food, money and success. As a top chef at some of London?s most renowned restaurants Rex describes himself as “My job is to be a professional bully ? people always tell me to stop being aggressive”.

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And that is your horrible lot, a bunch of self-centred, arrogant morons with an ounce of self respect for themselves and their families. Will I watch this program? Yeah, I probably will but as ever, I?ll get so angry at the dreadful state of society and switch off half way through each episode.

Smug Saturday night takeaway presenters Ant and Dec are in a fit of rage after finding out they were presented with an award they didn?t win at the 2005 British Comedy Awards.

?The deception emerged as media watchdog Ofcom fined ITV ?5.68m over its use of premium rate phone lines. The rightful winner of the People?s Choice Award was The Catherine Tate Show.

?ITV used Independent law firm Olswang to conduct an investigation in to the matter after allegations of irregularities.

?Now the, loved by Grannies everywhere, duo have been told they must return their awards (of which they have three) and ITV could offer no explanation as to why Ant and Dec were picked to receive the prize.

?Failed crooner Robbie Williams was invited to present the award, but it is understood he would only do so if Ant and Dec were going to win ?. In order to ensure his attendance, this assurance was given.?

The report pointed out that the arrangement was made after the nights main winners had been decided by a jury and “the only award still to be decided was the People’s Choice award”.

?What is not certain is whether Williams influenced the decision. “There is no suggestion that Robbie Williams, Anthony McPartlin or Declan Donnelly were aware of any of these issues,” the report added. Ant and Dec are apparently “absolutely appalled” by the findings.

?Olswang also found out those viewers were further deceived because the final section of the 2005 ceremony was broadcast with a half-hour delay to fit around the main nightly news bulletin. This delayed segment continued to ask the audience to vote for the People’s Choice Award, even though votes had been counted and the trophy had already been handed out.

?ITV itself will not be subject to sanctions over the incident. This is because a different firm, Channel Television, was responsible for ensuring the British Comedy Awards complied with broadcasting regulations.

?Last year’s ceremony was not shown on TV, but production company Michael Hurll Television told the BBC that 2008’s show was already “in the schedule”. In a statement it said it was “embarrassed and deeply apologetic”, as well as “frustrated” that the Olswang report had added “nothing of material significance to our original internal inquiry”.

Proving that once again the legal system plays favorites with celebrities, troubled rock star Pete Doherty has been released early from his 14 week stay at Wormwood Scrubs prison.

??Leaving the prison at 7:10am this morning Doherty was looking forward to the quiet life after apparently beating his drug habit. ?Buzzing? after his release the Babyshambles frontman said, ?I feel great ? I?ve walked out and I don?t feel like I want to score?I feel like I want to go for a nice walk in the park instead.?

?The singer found the medical facilities difficult as he started his sentence. ?Well, I knew it was going to be a bit rough to start with?, he said, ?with the overcrowding and the medical facilities. Although the do their best ? they are god, they can?t really cater for the average junkie?.

?He added, when asked what the worst part of being in jail was he joked, ?Gangsters and Radio 4?.

?Doherty showed off his prison diary that he had kept, complete with letters from fans, drawings and written diary entries. Borrowing a phone from a reporter to call his managers he jumped in a car with popular music?s ?friend in a high place? NME magazine to get a lift home.

?So is this just another case of a celebrity getting away with murder? What?s it going to take to keep this guy in jail? The answer is sadly unknown. Maybe if Pete was unmasked, in a Scooby Doo style, to be Osama Bin Laden he might be incarcerated for good.

?In 2003-2004 it cost the UK ?27, 320 per prisoner per year. If you were to look at the case of Pete Doherty?s 29 day stint you?re looking at a total of ?2.170 not to mention the massive amount of time consumed by the courts, police and any one else involved in bringing him in. It?s nice to know your tax money?s well spent huh?

?All I can really say is ?hats off? to Pete?s Management Company. They really know how to get their special guy to the front of every newspaper each day thus keeping him in the public eye but come on people, do you really want to see some greasy haired, spotty mess of a human being whilst you have your breakfast.