Michael Jackson honoured at MOBO Awards whilst JLS pick up 2 gongs

October 1, 2009 By Kate Owen
JLS pick up 2 MOBO's
JLS pick up 2 MOBO's

JLS pick up 2 MOBO's

This time last year JLS were just another bunch of hopefuls battling it out on our screens as part of the X-Factor talent search, now they’re winning up awards for their music. The boy band picked up not one, but now less than two awards at last night’s MOBO (Music of Black Origin) ceremony in Glasgow.

The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson was also honoured with a posthumous award. His siblings, La Toya and Jermaine collected the trophy whilst Jermaine went on to perform Michael’s favourite song, Smile, by Charlie Chaplin for the brother he describe as being “everything to me. He was a wonderful artist and a wonderful human being.” Jermaine dedicated his performance to Michael saying he felt it was his duty to “continue his legacy” through singing.

New kids on the block JLS were one of the big winners of the night. They collected the award for best song for their smash hit, number one selling track, Beat Again. JLS also beat of fierce competition from the eventual X-Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, to pick up the coveted Best Newcomer gong.

A shock loser of the night was Dizzee Rascal who despite riding high in the charts of late, failed to win a single gong although he was nominated in 3 categories.

Reality show success stories were everywhere at the glittering event last night. As well as JLS and Alexandra Burke, Britain’s Got Talent singer, Shaheen Jafargholi, performed a Jackson 5 song, I’ll be there. The show’s winners, dance troupe Diversity also took to the stage to wow the crowds.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch, Music and Gigs, UK Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Robbie Williams set to perform on the X-Factor

September 18, 2009 By Trudi Johnson
Robbie Williams will not perform at the Europe Music Awards on Thursday
Robbie Williams will perform on the X-Factor

Robbie Williams will perform on the X-Factor

Former Take That star Robbie Williams plans to make a massive comeback as he debuts his brand new single for the first time in front of an audience on the X-Factor. The Rock DJ singer will perform his latest track, Bodies, on the popular Saturday night show in October so as to coincide with the single’s release date.

The performance will be the first time the singer has performed the song live in the U.K, and what a way to do it. With an audience of millions of music loving fans and a panel of high profile judges, Robbie couldn’t have asked for a better platform on which to showcase his new work.

The 32-year-old singer has confessed to being fan of the hit ITV show and said he’ll “be watching every week, just like everyone else.” An insider at the X-Factor said they were very excited to have secured Robbie’s performance on one of the live finals. They also said they were looking into the possibility of having the singer from Stoke conduct a master class with some of the finalists or even work as a mentor with one or two.

Last year Mariah Carey, Britney Spears and Beyonce all performed on the show and it seems this year they’re not exactly begging for performers with a starry line-up already being talked about. One of X-Factor’s own judges, Cheryl Cole is due to perform her debut single on the show too and rumours are circulating as regards to a few other top musical names.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch, Music and Gigs, TV News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The search is on for Britain’s worst car parking space

August 29, 2009 By Kate Owen
Nominate the worst car parking spot you've come across in the U.K.
Nominate the worst car parking spot you've come across in the U.K.

Nominate your worst car parking space now

While Simon Cowell launches his new search to find the next world-conquering singing superstar, Insurance company Aviva has launched its very own nationwide search; to find the U.K’s worst parking spot. Yes, it may lack the glamour of the X-Factor but the beauty of this competition is, everyone can get involved!

Millions of Britons get behind the wheel everyday and parking issues are one of motorists’ most aggravating bugbears. Bad parking is responsible for thousands of bumps and scrapes afflicting our cars every year. Now drivers have the chance to vent their anger and put themselves in the running to win a driving day at Rockingham in Northamptonshire.

Stuntman Terry Grant has filmed a series of extreme parking video clips to illustrate the point. Grant is highly regarded to be one of Europe’s top stuntmen and is rumoured to be the mystery figure, The Stig, in BBC’s Top Gear. Watch a master at work as he deftly manoeuvres his vehicle in a display of parallel parking that will make your hair stand on end.

So if there’s a particularly pointless parking space which drives you potty, or an impossible spot which sends you into a spin, nominate it now and put yourself straight into the prize draw. Plus you’ll have the satisfaction of naming and shaming your most hated parking space, it’s payback time!

Filed Under: All News, Car Hire News, Transport News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cheryl Cole signs lucrative deal to be the new face of L’Oreal Paris

August 27, 2009 By Kate Owen
Cheryl thanked her dentist during her acceptance speech at the Glamour Awards
Cheryl Cole is the new face of L'Oreal Paris

Cheryl Cole is the new face of L'Oreal Paris

Cheryl Cole has long been lauded as a style icon. These days, you’d be hard pressed to open a magazine and not find a picture of the Girls Aloud singer. Global beauty brand L’Oreal now hopes to bottle some of that Cheryl charm by launching her as the face of the iconic company in the U.K.

L’Oreal has wasted no time in lining up the X-Factor judge’s first assignment. From next month, Cheryl will be seen in adverts promoting the latest addition to the brand’s hair product range, Elvive Full Restore 5.

The adventurous singer recently dabbled with her hair colour opting for red-tinted locks. The look earned her the nick-name Cherry Cole in the tabloids but the 26 year-old saw the error of her ways and has since reverted back to her normal brunette colour, just in time to promote the new hair product.

Cheryl is out of the country at the moment as she is filming the section where the contestants visit the judges’ houses as part of the X-Factor. She has released a statement in which says “I have always loved the brand and have always wanted to say the iconic phrase ‘because you’re worth it’ so to be given that opportunity is absolutely amazing.” The Geordie singer is said to earn a reported £500,000 from her one year contract.

Previous famous faces for L’Oreal include Jennifer Anniston, Jane Fonda and Beyonce. Cheryl Cole is the first British female to front the brand since Kate Moss was signed up in 1998.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Simon Cowell advises X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke to lay off Twitter

August 25, 2009 By Kate Owen
X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke reveals Simon Cowell isn't a fan of Twitter
X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke reveals Simon Cowell isn't a fan of <a href=Twitter” width=”215″ height=”300″ />

X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke

Alexandra Burke shot to fame last year as she became the winner of the X-Factor 2008 and today she was in London to unveil her brand new single. However the down to earth star revealed in an interview to Chris Moles that her boss, Simon Cowell, doesn’t share her passion for micro blogging site Twitter, and has advised her to lay off it.

The singer from Islington was on the Chris Moyles radio show this morning to hear the first airing of her forthcoming single. The track, entitled Bad Boys, also features guest vocals from U.S rapper Flo Rida. The new single is a definite departure from her debut release which was a cover of Hallelujah. This upbeat floor filler is guaranteed to get fans up and dancing, plus many pundits are tipping it to hit the number one spot.

During the interview on the Radio one breakfast show Alexandra admitted to being “addicted” to Twitter and revealed she even followed the show’s host, Chris Moyles. Other celebs followed by the X-factor winner via the social networking site include Lady GaGa and Tyra Banks. Alexandra puts Simon Cowell’s dislike of Twitter down to the fact that he doesn’t “really get it.”

Maybe Simon, whose record label Syco signed the star, is right to advise a Twitter boycott as the 21 year old revealed she hasn’t finished her album yet. One of the biggest problems in finalising the album is choosing which songs to keep and which to ditch. Alexandra said she pushed Simon to let her have a double sided album but his response was “no way.” The new single is released on October 12th with her debut album to follow, um…sometime.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Simon Cowell calls in authorities after Leona’s new single is leaked

August 20, 2009 By Trudi Johnson
Leona Lewis was hit by a fan yesterday afternoon
Leona Lewis whose new single has been leaked on the internet

Leona Lewis whose new single has been leaked on the internet

An investigation has been launched by anti-piracy body IFPI after a hotly anticipated single from Leona Lewis’s forthcoming album was leaked over the internet. The yet to be released single was said to feature a collaboration with global superstar, Justin Timberlake. Entitled “Don’t let me down” the track was expected to be the first release from the X-Factor winner’s new album due out this November.

The record industry body is probing computers from Syco, Cowell’s record label, which are believed to have been hacked into. It is thought the leak was caused by an online hacker and not by an employee of the label passing the single on.

Head of anti-piracy at IFPI Jeremy Banks said he and his team were “actively monitoring and removing illegal copies of this track from the internet to minimise the disruption caused by the leak.” Simon Cowell fully intends to take the matter further as this kind of attack can be “highly damaging” for his business and artiste. A spokesperson for his record label said “We will certainly look to bring charges against those who are responsible.”

Leona Lewis isn’t the only X-Factor star to suffer at the hands of the hacker. Only two weeks ago last year’s winner of the hit ITV show, Alexandra Burke, revealed that several unfinished tracks from her debut album had been leaked across the internet.

Fans of the London singer will have to wait patiently till November when her new album is officially revealed. It’s hoped her latest offering will follow in the success of her debut album, Spirit, which was the number one album of 2007.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cheryl Cole’s nerves at solo X-Factor performance

August 19, 2009 By Kate Owen
Cheryl Cole will debut her first solo single on the X-Factor
Cheryl Cole will debut her first solo single on the X-Factor

Cheryl Cole will debut her first solo single on the X-Factor

Cheryl Cole will be putting herself directly in the firing line during the next series of X-Factor as she makes her first solo performance on the live Saturday night show. Fellow judge, Simon Cowell, has agreed to let the Girls Aloud singer debut her first solo single on the hit ITV show.

Reports suggest that the rest of the judging panel, made up of Simon, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue, are all right behind the 26 year old singer. However a source did add “there is always the fear that Simon will say something a bit catty.” Although this is unlikely as Cheryl is a big hit with the music mogul.

Whether Cheryl can rely on Louis Walsh’s support is another matter entirely. The Irish manager recently moaned in a national newspaper that his female colleagues, Dannii and Cheryl, were turning the programme into a fashion show. During his long whinge he said “Cheryl has different hair all the time – new hair, high hair, different clothes. They come in like little peacocks in their high heels every day.”

Despite the fact Cheryl performed on the last series of X-Factor with Girls Aloud, this performance will be a whole new experience for the Geordie singer as she won’t have her band mates around to support her. Although the circumstances are not completely alien to the Cheryl as she won her place in the chart-topping girl band through her performance on the talent show Pop Stars, The Rivals in 2002.

Cheryl only joined the X-Factor last year but managed to successfully mentor the winning act, Alexandra Burke, who is also scheduled to perform on this year’s show. In a twist of fate the two female singers will battle it out in the charts as their two solo albums are released next month. The coming months are sure to bring plenty of drama and excitement as the X-Factor machine swings into action, bring it on!

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch, Music and Gigs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Madonna and Robbie Williams to appear on X Factor

August 14, 2009 By Trudi Johnson

madonnaLast night it was leaked that Madonna and Robbie Williams are planned guests for the X Factor live show this year. Brian Freidman, the shows lead choreographer, let slip that the two superstars were set to mentor contestants and perform live during the final stage of the competition.

X Factor is set to be bigger than ever this year as V-necked Simon Cowell pulls no punches in the fight against rival BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. The rivalry between the two shows in recent years has been one of the strongest on television, with X Factor winning last years battle with a 14 million viewership for its final as opposed to Strictly’s 12.6 million.

It is believed that these big-name stars, in addition to a strong rumour regarding a possible appearance by Whitney Houston and Rihanna, are a response to Strictly’s recent scrapping of their Sunday show. This change brings the BBC show in more direct competition with the ITV show because the extended show will be longer, with a similar duration to its rival.

The X Factor have recently completed filming of its second stage, the bootcamp, and the four judges are currently choosing which of their hopefuls will make it to the third and final live stage. During filming, the X Factor have made use of several of Limo Broker’s vehicles, including the classic Lincoln Towncar and, Simon’s favourite,  the 8-wheel Hummer H2. The public will have to wait a while to see these in action because the X Factor starts again on August 22 with Strictly Come Dancing starting later, in early September.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch, Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Dannii Minogue reveals she almost quit X Factor

August 14, 2009 By Carl Wheeler
Dannii wins Ultimate TV Personality Award
dannii-minogue-300x300

Dannii Minogue

The X Factor Judge Dannii Minogue revealed in an exclusive newspaper interview that she almost quit the hit ITV show after an on-air row left her shaken. Dannii and fellow judge Louis Walsh argued during a live Saturday night show as millions of viewers watched events unfold.

The spat was sparked by a fight over a song; Dannii chose a Take That number for her act Rachel Hylton which Louis had ear marked for his boy band JLS. The bust-up left the 37-year -old singer in tears but was forced to carry on through her emotions and introduce her act to the stage.

Dannii, the sister of pop princess Kylie Minogue, described how the argument bubbled over off set too, putting pay to any rumours suggesting it was a publicity stunt. She said “It was absolutely horrible. I would never want to go through that again or see anyone else through it.”

This wasn’t the first time the judges made the headlines instead of the acts. Sharon Osborne famously threw a glass of water over Louis Walsh after the pair had words. You’d have thought the Irish Judge would have learnt his lesson after receiving a soaking from Mrs Osborne but it seems he just can’t help himself.

Despite her ordeal Dannii is back on the judging panel and looking forward to the new season of the X Factor which is due to hit our screens at the end of this month.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Simon Cowell in search for another X Factor superstar

August 14, 2009 By TJ Harris

After rumours about simon-cowellSimon Cowell to quit the X Factor last month the music mogul has promised to find another X Factor winner who can achieve success on an international level.

In a recent interview with the ITV website recently, Simon predicted that unique talent will have the best chance of winning the competition this year which returns to ITV1 on August 22.

When Simon Cowell was asked to name the qualities he is looking for, he replied: “The X Factor this year is relevance. You know, you should be able to find somebody who there is a genuine gap in the market for.

“And we’ve proven through this process that you can find someone who’s going to sell records all over the world. So not to make that your benchmark is a huge, huge mistake.”

Other judges like Louis Walsh are looking for other strong points in individuals such as stamina and determination.

He explained: “You have to have everything to do well in The X Factor. It’s hard work for these people.

“They don’t realise how much it’s going to take out of them to go out and do the live show. The live show is very stressful, it’s very draining, it’s a lot of hard work [and] you have to be totally into your craft.”

Although The X Factor is usually a good show this year is set to be something more special.

Filed Under: All News, Celebrity Watch, Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »