Heather Mills : What Really Happened?
They held the front pages for over two years, their public spats becoming more and more personal, and then finally they thrashed out a deal which saw Heather Mills awarded somewhere in the region of £24 million from her husband Paul McCartney. However, if you thought that was the end of the story, think again as Heather Mills : What Really Happened? is sure to be the first in a series of shows about the celebrity couple and the controversy and mystery which has followed Heather in particular.
Tonight’s show sees journalist Jacques Peretti trying to get to the bottom of the mystery which is Heather Mills, with exerts from her father and Pamela Cockerill, the lady who ghost wrote her autobiography. There are many in the industry who are surprised to see this show make it to the screens when you consider that Ms Mills has threatened to sue anyone who makes even the slightest derogatory remark against her – and she now has the money to carry out those threats.
It will be interesting to finally speak to the people who you would guess should know Ms Mills the best, her father and the writer of her autobiography. However, she is rumoured to have been estranged from her father for over 20 years and the press comments attributed to him along the way have been anything but supportive.
Will we finally get to the truth about Ms Mills claims to be a substantial supporter of charities, even though her tax returns shown in court indicated otherwise, along with a number of claims she made about her treatment at the hands of Paul McCartney. It promises to be an interesting show and something which will no doubt create a barrage of new headlines in the newspapers later in the week.
Kanye West and Alexis Phifer Split
Kanye West and Alexis Phifer have officially split up.
They had been dating since 2002 and engaged for the last two years but Phifer told People magazine that their relationship was now officially over.
Friends say that things have been trouble for a while, but only when the cameras are off. Reports that trouble was brewing came to a head last week when Phifer was seen at a red carpet event without her engagement ring.
Some reports in US Weekly say that it is the result of Kanye’s work schedule and his dedication to touring and music.
Alexis said to People magazine: ‘It’s been hard, not been an easy time,’
‘I tried to keep things private but, yes, it’s sad when things end like this and we truly do remain friends.
‘I wish him the best in his future and all of his endeavours. He’s one of the most talented people I have ever met,’ she tells Us Weekly.
Kanye West has not commented on the break up.
Headcases - spitting image of a classic show?
ITV is hoping to corner the market for satire with its new offering Headcases, a modern version of award winning show Spitting Image - the latex puppet show which ran from 1984 to 1996 making fools of politicians and showbiz stars. So influential was Spitting Image that it actually contributed to the fall of some politicians. Many of the show’s caricatures making the lives of public figures very difficult.
Headcases takes a similar format with topical news stories and voice-overs from some great comedians. One of the reasons the show is predicted to be smash hit for ITV is that the program is produced later in the day so it catches the latest news.
So far episodes look to be centring on the Beckhams, Robert Mugabe, the Royals and Piers Morgan. It seems that in the world of showbiz you haven’t made it until you have someone impersonating you. Sunday nights have never quite been the same since Spitting Image was axed in 1996, with rumours that the show was sailing a too close to the wind with regard to libel and legal issues.
It will be interesting to see which well known faces appear over the coming weeks, and how much the public will actually relate to the “puppets”. They have already brought in Gordon Brown and David Cameron, with Brown cast as the miser and Cameron as the sound-bites man with no substance behind his policies.
Times may change, but very little alters in the world of politics and celebrity!
TV Triumphs - Bafta Television Awards 2008
Watching award ceremonies on the telly never quite cuts it, does it? You always kind of wish you were there drinking bucket loads of champagne so that the cringe-worthy/boring moments pass you by and the jokes seem all round funnier. Indeed, last night was that time of year again when the stars of the small screen strutted their stuff on the rosy carpet at the London Palladium for the Bafta Television Awards, hoping to get snapped looking respectable before the celebrations commenced. Hosted by Graham Norton, the ceremony paid homage to Britain’s finest crop of TV shows.
Among the hopefuls, Gavin and Stacey writer/actor James Corden found himself frequenting the stage second only to Graham, picking up Best Comedy Performance and Audience Award for the hit comedy series. The same was true for Harry Hill, whose popular Harry Hill’s TV Burp won him the best Entertainment Performance and Best Entertainment Programme. This came much to the relief of a massive following, who have long been expecting recognition for the comedian whilst his show has been shoved around ITV’s schedule in teatime and late night openings.
TV prodigy, eighty year old Bruce Forsyth was presented with the Academy Fellowship. Upon receiving the esteemed recognition he said, “Bafta, this is as good as it gets. Thank you so much for the wonderful, wonderful honour”.
Other winners included Peep Show for Best Situation Comedy and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares for Best Feature.
Another year of self-congratulating over, no doubt the celebs stumbled on to the after party, no-one leaving empty-handed – either eagerly clutching a shiny golden mask or self-pityingly swinging an abused champagne flute to continue the back-patting/bitching elsewhere.
Key Bafta winners:
The Fellowship Award: Bruce Forsyth
Best Actor: Andrew Garfield, Boy A
Best Actress: Eileen Atkins, Cranford
Best Entertainment Performance: Harry Hill, Harry Hill’s TV Burp
Best Comedy Performance: James Corden, Gavin & Stacey
Best Drama Series: The Street
Best Continuing Drama: Holby City
Best Entertainment Programme: Harry Hill’s TV Burp
Best Situation Comedy: Peep Show
Best Comedy Programme: Fonejacker
Audience award: Gavin & Stacey
Best Feature: Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
I’ve Still Got News For You
While it may have begun back in 1990, Have I Got News For You is still going strong today, with Paul Merton and Ian Hislop still at the helm to present the delights of the week’s news and reviews. Tonight’s guest host is the straight faced Jack Dee who has proven to be a major success in the past with his unique style of humour.
Have I Got News For You has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of UK libel law to the limit – something which Ian Hislop knows about with his Private Eye magazine. In fact, each show is carefully scrutinised by lawyers ahead of being aired. While Merton has been a team leader for some time now, Hislop is the only person to have appeared on every show.
Even though there is no doubt that the show has had another burst of life lately, many people have wondered how long the show can survive in the cut-throat world of TV satire. We have seen the emergence and disappearance of Spitting Image as well as the recent launch of Headcases and similar satire shows, but perhaps the fact that the BBC signed up to 38 series of the show can explain its longevity (with two series a year the contract runs out in 2009).
Have I Got News For You is loosely based on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz. While originally transmitted on BBC 2 for many years, it is now a firm fixture in the BBC 1 format and attracts significant viewing numbers. There have been many highlights over the years, but the merciless ridicule of Angus Deayton in light of his publically aired personal problems will stay with many viewers for quite some time. There were rumours that Merton and Deayton were not the best of friends off screen, with a number of quotes linked to Merton that were none too complimentary about his fellow star.
Despite scandal and infighting, Have I Got News For You is still a popular staple of BBC programming. Who knows, maybe the hue and cry has even contributed to its popularity.
Any more from Norton?
The Graham Norton Show is hosted by the man himself and includes some hilarious chat, music and weird and wonderful takes from the great British public. Tonight he chats with Hollywood legend Tony Curtis and movie bad boy Kevin Bacon, two actors who have had big hits in the past but seem to be dropping out of the limelight lately. Is the same happening to Graham Norton?
The show has been demoted to BBC 2 on a 9 o’clock schedule, due to the often adult nature of the show, and there are concerns that the great hope of the BBC is losing steam as well as his appeal to the UK public. However, there is no doubting that Norton has his very own unique style and take on everyday life, but have the viewing public moved on?
While he still has a very strong core of fans - and always will thanks to his days as a comedian and actor - the shock tactics which were so bright in the early days are now losing their bite. His frank and open discussions are becoming a little too predictable and stale for many people, but when you are locked into the BBC on a “golden handcuffs” agreement surely another show will come along?
Unknown to many, Graham Norton played Father Noel Furlong in the critically acclaimed Father Ted series which attracted large viewing figures. Not only is Norton an actor, a comedian and a TV presenter he is also the co-owner of the SO Television – the company which produces all of his shows. While the man has many talents on screen, he is also a very astute business man - something which has seen him increase his personal wealth enormously.
Will The Graham Norton Show ever make it back to prime time viewing? Will the BBC find another show for him to present? Time will tell, but there’s much more to Graham Norton than many people are aware of.
Scream Queen Hazel Court Dies
Famous horror actress Hazel Court has died at the age of 82.
Born in Sutton Coldfield in 1926, Court made her name starring across from some of the most famous horror actors in Hollywood including Boris Karloff and Vincent Price.
She passed away on Tuesday at her home in Lake Tahoe. Her daughter Sally Walsh yesterday confirmed that she died of a heart attack.
Her screen career was prolific and varied, but probably her most famous role is starring opposite Vince Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre in Roger Corman’s The Raven, a film adaptation of the famous Edgar Allen Poe poem.
Although she was a successful actress and pin up in the UK, Court really came to fame in the U.S. starring in the popular horror movies of the 1950’s and 60’s, including many from the famous low budget Hammer Film productions. A renowned ‘scream queen’, she made a name for herself as a horror star.
In the 1950’s she appeared with Patrick O’Neal in the British comedy series Dick and the Duchess and later went on to appear in the US on Alfred Hitchcock presents.
She married American actor/director Don Taylor and they remained married until his death in 1998.
Court had finished her autobiography: Hazel Court: Horror Queen which will be published in the UK.
Coronation Street Teaser
Tragedy strikes for poor Maria. She is furious with Liam, who stayed the night on Carla’s sofa. Maria leaves Liam to recover from his hangover and heads out to work. Marcus pops in for a trim; he can tell Maria is tired and assumes it is the baby keeping her awake. Maria puts him straight. Liam is the one causing her problems, the baby has been quiet for days… Events take a devastating turn when the midwife fails to find a heartbeat. Maria is numb with the news that her baby has died. Desperate to find Liam, she heads for the pub and finds him with Steve discussing fatherhood. In a state of shock she tries to get him to go home but as he starts to apologise and tell her how much she and the baby mean to him she can’t find the words to tell him what has happened.
Jack is feeling the stress of Paul’s confession about the arson and Molly and Tyrone are concerned about his health. Meanwhile, the repercussions of Paul’s visit to the police are felt over at the bookies when Leanne and Dan are taken away for questioning. The game could be up for Weatherfield’s very own Bonnie and Clyde. Should we feel sorry for Leanne? What’s in Leanne’s future - prison? Back on the game? Rich boyfriend to scam? It’s not easy being the Street’s bad girl.
Meanwhile Audrey is nervous at the thought of meeting Ted but the years soon melt away and they are chatting like the old days. But Audrey knows she has to tell Ted the truth about Gail. How will he react when he discovers he has a 50-year-old daughter? And how will Gail react when she finds out that Ted is around? Vernon is excited about the cruise trip but is gutted when Liz tells him that she can’t go and leave the pub. She later confides in Deirdre that she couldn’t bear the thought of spending 24 hours a day trapped on a ship with Vernon. Oh dear.
Neighbours Teaser
After a little prodding from Susan, Angus tells Rachel that he never loved her - prompting the deeply distraught young woman to run away from home. Alone on the streets, Rachel encounters a familiar face in Taylah, who convinces her to stay the night at her house. However, Rachel feels utterly betrayed when Taylah lets Zeke know of her whereabouts. Zeke turns up at the house and shocks his sister with some home truths before putting his foot in it by revealing that Susan prompted Angus to tell that her that he never really cared for her that much. Returning home raging, Rachel confronts Susan.
Viewers should have their hankies at the ready as a Ramsay Street favourite bids farewell. Janae realises that her actions are causing constant instability in Mickey and Ned’s lives. For Mickey’s sake she decides to leave for good. An angry Ned refuses to accept her decision, and Janae uses a fairy story to explain the situation to a broken-hearted Mickey. Ned and Janae share one last kiss at the airport before she bids farewell. Back at home, Ned and Mickey try to help each other get over Janae. Ned decides to build a go-kart with his son to take their minds off her departure. Sniff.
Libby returns to Shepparton to pack up her old life. As she and Steph head over to pick up her things, Libby does her best to avoid Darren, only to come face-to-face with his former illicit lover. In order to help her friend move on, Steph proposes a night on the town. Little does Libby know that Steph is also looking for a distraction from her own personal life. Her divorce from Max has become final but Steph decides to keep the news from Toadie. How long will it be before he finds out?
Hollyoaks Teaser
There are dramatic scenes aplenty as Louise is charged with ex-hubby Sean’s murder. Following the arrest, fiance Warren offers Zak ten grand to walk away - will he take the money and run? Louise, meanwhile, won’t let the true culprit Warren confess on her behalf. She tells him that he’ll have to sort something else out. Perhaps Justin can help out - for a price. Carmel starts her ‘Free Louise Summers’ campaign. And Warren is outraged when he finds out Mercedes has told a reporter that she thinks Louise is guilty.
After Sasha’s recent OD, Leo wants the whole family to help the juvenile junkie get off drugs. Sasha doesn’t make things easy for herself, though. Her snotty attitude causes aggro with her family, and Fletch tells her they’re over. This news pleases Michaela no end, while Justin manages to take Sasha’s mind off things with a kiss. But not so fast, Justin, because Fletch admits he wants to get back with Sasha and they’re soon scoring some drugs. They just can’t make their minds up…
Elsewhere Kieron heads to the McQueens’ to pick up a book he lent to Myra, but he seems more interested in seeing John Paul. When John Paul finds out Michaela has to go for an HIV test he tells her he’ll be with her the whole time. What will the result of Michaela’s test be? Mike is fuming when Sarah invites her lecherous older boyfriend Roger to stay over. Mike doesn’t have to worry too much though, because Sarah dumps the old geezer after Zoe tells her he made a pass. And Tony and Jacqui celebrate their first anniversary and feel the baby kick for the first time. Ahhh…
