December, 2009

Snooker ace Ronnie O’Sullivan has been named bookie Paddy Power’s 2/1 favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother when it returns to our screens in the New Year.

The world Number 1, dubbed ‘The Rocket’ for his speed around the snooker table will enter the house on the 3rd January and is already streets ahead of other celebrities rumoured to be taking part including Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson at 4/1, US rap legend MC Hammer at 6/1 and Boy George at 10/1.

Entering the house will mean Ronnie, also known as the “Mozart of snooker”, will miss the snooker Masters in January. And Paddy Power are already betting there’ll be fireworks, quoting just 4/1 that Ronnie quits the house early, 10/1 that he gets to grips with Pammy and 12/1 that he finds himself locking horns with a fellow housemate.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said, “Ronnie is a genius at the snooker table but more importantly he’s a colourful and unpredictable character off the table – the perfect recipe for Big Brother success! With the Rocket lined up it looks like the Head of Channel 4 Julian Bellamy was right – the last series of Celeb Big Brother will definitely “go out with a bang”!”

Who will win Celebrity Big Brother 2010? – Start Date 3rd January 2/1 Ronnie O’Sullivan 4/1 Pamela Anderson 6/1 MC Hammer 8/1 Paul Danan 10/1 Boy George 12/1 Richard Bacon 14/1 Alex Reid 18/1 Heidi Fleiss

Others on request

Rocket Specials 2/1 Big Brother to hold a snooker tournament in the house 4/1 Ronnie to quit the house early 8/1 Ronnie to become the 1st housemate evicted 9/1 Big Brother to warn Ronnie for excessive use of bad language 10/1 Ronnie to snog Pamela Anderson in the house 12/1 Ronnie to get into a physical fight with any other housemate

I can’t believe that the end is so close!! X Factor Final w/e is here!!! How are we going to manage without out weekly fix of Dermot O’Leary? Or Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole?? Not to mention the finalists?

Tonight was the first of the finals and we saw Stacey Solomon, Joe McElderry and Olly Murs. Each of them sang their first audition song, then they sang their duet with some of pops finest and lastly they sang what was credited as being their best song of the series.

So who sang what? Well Stacey sang ‘What a Wonderful World’ first.  She then sang the best duet of the night with Michael Buble, a cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’. Her final song was Queen’s ‘Who Wants to Live Forever. Olly’s sang ‘Superstition’ followed by a duet with Robbie Williams singing ‘Angels’ and finally ‘Feel Love’. Joe McElderry sang the schmaltzy ‘Dance with my Father’, followed by a duet with George Michael singing ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ and finally Elton John’s ‘Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word’.

Overall, Olly was in my opinion, the best overall performer on the night. His two upbeat numbers were just outstanding. Fantastic. He’s everything a popstar should be and more. Stacey has an amazing voice but lacks a star quality. Joe has an amazing voice, is sweet but is no popstar.

The public voted and Stacey came bottom of the three.  Gracious as ever in her defeat, and speaking as quickly as ever in her strong Essex accent, Stacey thanked her fans and said: “I’m really proud. I came third in the X Factor, that’s really good. I’m really proud.”  Her mentor Dannii Minogue said it had been an “incredible journey”.

Both Murs and McElderry paid tribute to Solomon and said any one of the trio could have gone out this evening.

So now its a head to head between Olly and Joe for the title, a recording contract and, in all likelihood, the Christmas number one tomorrow night.  I can’t help but feel that the judges are pushing for Joe to win. It smacks of a fix. I’m hoping against hope that Olly pulls it out of the bag tomorrow night. I don’t think I could handle Cheryl winning for a second year running.  COME ON OLLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Northsider Geraldine O’Callaghan was this evening at the receiving end of Bill Cullen’s wrath earlier tonight on ‘The Apprentice‘ when she heard ‘Geraldine, you’re fired’.

Geraldine, along with fellow candidates Stephen Higgins and Steve Raynor, was put through the most gruelling interviews of their lives. The interviews revealed some very interesting facts that we weren’t privvy to prior to tonight. Perhaps most revealing of all was the fact that Steve is a recovering alcoholic and reformed gambler. I know that these interviews have to be tough considering what’s at stake (a €100,000 pa job as Bill Cullen’s apprentice) but come on, in real life the kinds of questions and almost bullying that goes on in these interviews wouldn’t tolerated.

Like Bill, Geraldine hails from a family of street traders and has a sharp wit and charm about her. In fact, each of the 4 interviewers reported back to Bill that “this girl lights up a room” and how she was “full of charm“. One went as far as to say that “it’s not many meetings that you go into and having met someone you feel better leaving. This is how you feel after meeting Geraldine“. Great compliments indeed but her charm and warmth was not enough as Bill felt that she had some growing up to do before she could be his apprentice. He also felt that he wouldn’t have the time to train her up and that she wouldn’t be ready to hit the ground running, which is what he needs his apprentice to do.

Watching her on ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired‘ made me warm to her even more. She even got an apology from Brendan O’Connor who ‘misjudged’. This was referring to the sales task where she helped Breffny (Morgan) by giving him credit for a sale that she had closed because he had failed to close any of his own. Brendan felt that she was playing to the cameras and tonight was told in no uncertain terms by Geraldine that this was not the case. And no one leaves ‘You’re Fired’ without a gift; Geraldine’s was a certificate from the School of Hard Knocks where she graduated with Cop On and Moxy!! She seemed genuinely delighted with her gift.

She’s going to be a success at whatever she does. I wish her the best of luck and happiness!

Tonight was the last in the series of You’re Fired as next week is the final of The Apprentice meaning that the after show party is You’re Hired. The task that awaits next weeks finalists, Steve and Stephen, will see the return of some familiar faces – previous candidates who were fired. In a sneak peek of next weeks show, we saw Michelle Heaton taking a tumble amid ghasts from onlookers – quite literally!! So tune in next week to see what happens to her if nothing else, and of course to see who will become Bill Cullen’s next Apprentice.

Danyl Johnson became the latest casualty of the public vote on X Factor as he said goodbye on tonight’s semi final.  As I said yesterday, I figured he might well be in the bottom 2 after a rather lacklustre performance last night. It was between Danyl and Stacy Solomon who were the last two standing and Stacy looked clearly stunned when her name was called out for the last place in next week’s final.

Truly gracious in his defeat, Johnson said: ‘I might have gone out in the semi-final but I’ve gone out to some of the best people I’ve ever met.’

Joe McElderry is  1-3 favourite to win the series after tonight’s result.  He’s been the bookies hotly tipped favourite for several weeks now and his stoic performances of late show why. The other finalist is Olly Murs who broke down on stage tonight when he learned that he had made it to next weeks final.

Tonight’s show featured performances by Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson.  Gaga sang her current single Bad Romance in a typically outlandish 3D outfit.  Her set featured a giant bath, which she told host Dermot O’Leary was borrowed from Simon Cowell. When asked to give advice to the contestants she said ‘Be yourself. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams.’

Janet Jackson performed (or should I say mimed) her 2001 track ‘Its All for You’ before launching into ‘Make Me’, a more recent release. Strangely, she wasn’t interviewed.

In other X Factor news, the finalists charity single ‘You Are Not Alone‘ dropped down from two to five in this week’s UK chart, while Peter Kay’s Children in Need fundraiser stayed at number one.

Next weeks final promises to be one of the most tightly fought contests and for once, all 3 finalists are talented enough and worthy of their place in the final. So its Simon Cowell versus Dannii Minogue versus Cheryl Cole.  Louis Walsh is a non runner in this one.  Will Cheryl make it 2 years in a row? Only time will tell.  Good luck to all 3 finalists!!!

The stuff of nightmares is being made a reality by none other than our own Louis Walsh. He’s only gone and signed up X Factor rejects and his former mentees, John & Edward Grimes, aka Jedward… Why Louis, why?!

Just yesterday Louis announced that he will be overseeing every aspect of the terrible twins career himself.  Glutton for punishment. Walsh said: “Despite all the doubters, John and Edward proved themselves on The X Factor and I’ve always been convinced they have a great career ahead of them.  I’m delighted I’ll be able to continue to work with them. We’re looking into music as well as TV deals but it is too early to give exact details.”

The X Factor’s final 12 contestants are contracted to Modest Management but Louis has come to an “amicable agreement” with the company so they release the Grimes. I’m sure Simon Cowell was only delighted to be shot of the terrible twins! But Louis, you have a lot to answer for!

The end is so so near! It’s going to be a case of so close yet so far for one unlucky semi finalist tomorrow night… Wonder who it will be?

First up Olly Murs sang ‘Can You Feel It?‘ He boogied and sang his little heart out, albeit in a rather snug fitting white shirt and tight white trousers. I just love Olly   Next up was young Joe McElderry who sang ‘She’s out of my Life‘. The guy has such emotion in his voice which defies his tender years. But I really don’t think he’s a popstar, I think he’s a great recording artist who would be AMAZING on Broadway or the West End.  The last lady in the competition, Stacy Solomon, sang ‘The Way You Make Me Feel‘. It was a very sexy and provocative performance by the usually demure diva. Danyl Johnson closed the first half of the show with a cracking rendition of ‘Man in the Mirror‘. Bizarrely the VT that was playing behind him looked like it belonged to MJ’s ‘Earth Song‘…

For the second half of the show the songs were chosen by the contestants themselves.

Olly did an unusual version of The Beatles classic ‘We Can Work it Out‘. Not sure that I liked it to be honest. Great dancing as usual though but I just couldn’t get the original version out of my head and Olly’s didn’t fit in. Joe was up next and he sang Journey’s song ‘So Now I Come to You‘ and of course he belted it out flawlessly. Stacy sang ‘Somehow (A Place for Us)‘, a song from West Side Story for her second performance tonight and WHAT a performance it was. Definitely the vocal of the night. Outstanding. Cheryl Cole gave a standing ovation alongside Stacy’s mentor Dannii Minogue, claiming that she had goosebumps all over her body after hearing her sing.  Louis Walsh heaped praise on her and Simon Cowell told her she was back in the race. I wasn’t aware she’d ever left the race!!

The show finished with a somewhat lacklustre performance from Danyl singing Whitney Houston’s ‘I Have Nothing‘. He didn’t seem to put much effort into it until the final few seconds of the song. Very disappointed in him!

Based on tonight’s performances, I’d say that Olly and Danyl could be in the bottom two tomorrow… I’d hate to make a call on who’s going home though because I genuinely like them both. Olly is my winner though

Tune in again tomorrow night for the results show discussion!

I was right

Best man won. Kim’s a great queen though!

Delighted that Gino won.

I have a feeling we’ll not see Gino for a few days and when we do he’ll look tired and his wife will be walking funny Lucky lady!!!

OMG… I just shed a tear watching I’m a Celebrity. It was when Gino was reunited with his two boys!!! So sweet!!!

I don’t know who the winner is yet because I’m only watching it now. As per usual, Friday night tv is too crowded.

I’ve just seen Gino eat croc tongue, sea worms and loads of other gross stuff… I seriously think that the eating trials are the worst ones. Of course, as we sat here watching it we were laughing at poor Gino’s misfortune and gawking. He did all this in an effort to win 3 main courses for the camp tonight. And fair play to him, he did it

Kim had already completed her last trial and won 3 starters for the camps last supper together along with a couple of treats. She’s been subjected to being encased in a suit of cockroaches, yabbies, green ants and a host of other friendly bugs. She enjoyed their close company for 10minutes.

Jimmy White just won 4 out of his possible 5 stars for dessert. He was chained in a tank filled with water and had to unlock the padlocks under water bla bla bla. Worst trial tonight was definitely Gino’s…

Now just to see who’s been crowned winner. For me it has to Gino.

Third place just announced – Jimmy White. Good call.

And now the winner… Well, after a whole lot of cheesy talk.

Gino’s wife is going to get such a good seeing too when he gets out!!!

Love or hate them, musicals are making somewhat of a comeback in the movies.  I’ve always been a huge fan of musicals, from The Sound of Music to Grease to Chicago to Moulin Rouge. If there’s singing and dancing in a movie, chances are I’ll like it (mainly because I imagine myself in the lead role, singing like an angel with attitude, dancing and making it all look so easy, all the while looking fantastic…)

I heard about Nine some time back and what really got my attention was a promotional poster for it. What caught my eye was Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman among others, smiling, laughing together and what have you.  Let’s recall relations between these two ladies not a million years ago – Nicole married to Tom Cruise, Tom leaves Nicole and shacks up with Penelope. Fast forward a few years, Nicole’s moved on, married and has a beautiful baby with hubbie Keith Urban; Penelope seems happy with her lot, and why wouldn’t she be with her beau Javier Bardem; and then there’s Tom… But that’s a whole other post.

‘Nine’ is the story of famous film director Guido Contini and his struggle to find harmony in his professional and personal life, and the dramatic relationships he engages in with nine women, among them his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.  The movie is directed by Rob Marshall, the man who brought us the stomping musical ‘Chicago‘.

The movie is released in the UK on St Stephen’s day so it’s on my list of movies to see in the new year.  I’ve already been reliably informed by himself that he won’t be going…