Coventry Telegraph - Pass the Remote

Rod Stewart Out Of Tune With The X Factor

2009-11-20T20:33:24Z

ROD Stewart might have a host of No 1 records and sold millions worldwide, but he reckons he could have been rejected by The X Factor if he was starting out now.

The 64-year-old said that as a teenager he was still too raw for the TV talent show, reports The Sun.

"I may have done X Factor. But they probably wouldn't have liked me, I was too rough and ready. I don't know if I had the character or the personality at 16, 17," he said.

"I had a bit of an edge, I looked different - same haircut, mind."

Grey's Anatomy Heart-Throb Patrick Dempsey Is Dream Doc

2009-11-20T20:25:27Z

GREY'S Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey has admitted he's happy about being labelled 'Dr McDreamy.'

The actor was given the moniker after winning fans' hearts with his portrayal of Dr Derek Shepherd on the hit medical drama, and said he thinks "it's great."

"It's one of those things that came out accidentally and then just became this whole big thing, and it's kind of fun to be on this side of one of those happening names," he said.

"You know, I'll always be connected to the name, so it's fine with me."

Grey's Anatomy Season 4 is released on ABC Studios DVD on November 23.

Jim Carrey Is Proud Father Of The Bride

2009-11-20T20:16:54Z

JIM Carrey has tweeted his joy at giving away daughter Jane during her recent wedding.

Jane, aged 22, got hitched to musician Alex Santana, and her actor dad was as pleased as punch.

He posted a message on Twitter saying: "My Jane is a married woman. Days ago her and my new son-in-law Alex got hitched."

The 47-year-old added: "The day was simply perfect... lots of love there."

Jane is due to give birth to the couple's first child in March.

"I am very excited, Jane is going to make a great mom," Jim said in an interview earlier this year.

Paul O'Grady's Dog Buster Dies

2009-11-20T20:08:02Z

TV host Paul O'Grady is mourning the death of his faithful sidekick, Buster.

The pet, who was 14 and a half years old, had been a regular on O'Grady's Channel 4 show, perching on the desk throughout the programme.

Buster had been ill with cancer and was put to sleep yesterday.

A spokeswoman said: "Paul is absolutely devastated. It all happened suddenly. Buster had been suffering and in a lot of pain.

"Putting him down was the kind thing to do."

Buster, who had been honoured with the title of "best dog in TV" by TV Times, retired from the show last week.

O'Grady is expected to pay tribute to his pet on Monday's programme.

The shih tzu-bichon frise-cross had featured on a number of TV shows, appearing first on The Big Breakfast Show and later Lily Live.

A message on the Twitter feed created for another of O'Grady's dogs, Olga - who was affectionately known as Buster's sister - said late last night: "Hate to tell you this folks but Buster died tonight. A magnificent little dog who had one hell of a life. I'm beside myself. x"

Paul had pre-recorded his Radio 2 programme, to be broadcast on Sunday, before the death of his pet.

The station said it would point out to listeners that the show pre-dates Buster's death.

A spokeswoman said: "An announcement prior to Sunday's show will state that this week's programme was pre-recorded before the sad death of Buster, Paul's much-loved dog."

Lady Gaga ... By Royal Appointment

2009-11-20T19:59:03Z

ECCENTRIC American chart-topper Lady Gaga is to sing for the Queen at this year's Royal Variety Performance.

The Poker Face star is the latest act confirmed for this year's show, producers said today.

Lady Gaga, aged 23, is known for her dramatic stage performances, including sparking fireworks shooting from her bra and pretending to stab herself to death in a pool of fake blood.

She joins singers Bette Midler, Michael Buble, Miley Cyrus and comedian Whoopi Goldberg on the bill.

Urban dance troupe and Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity will also perform in front of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh as part of their prize for winning the TV talent show.

This year the Royal Variety Performance takes place at Blackpool's Opera House on December 7, the first time at the venue since 1955.

Comedian Peter Kay will host the royal event, which will be broadcast on ITV1 later in December.

The annual show is staged in aid of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, whose patron is the Queen.

Chat Show Queen Oprah Winfrey To End Her TV Reign

2009-11-20T19:43:25Z

A TEARFUL chat show queen announced her abdication in front of faithful subjects today, with Oprah Winfrey telling a live studio audience that after 25 years it was time to call it quits.

The emotional 55-year-old said the decision to end her flagship daytime show was made after "prayer and careful thought".

"I love this show, this show has been my life," she said, adding: "I love it enough to know when it is time to say goodbye".

It will end its run in 2011, a quarter of a century after Oprah first began her assault on the nation's media. In the intervening years she has built up a multi-billion dollar empire, becoming one of the most powerful woman in the US in the process.

What started as a local Chicago morning programme evolved into a top-rated talk show for over two decades. It currently airs in 145 countries and is watched by an estimated 42 million viewers in the US alone.

At the end of today's programme she announced to her audience what had already been released to the media.

"I wanted you to hear this directly from me," she said.

"These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measures. And you have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens and into your lives."

As to the timing of the decision, Oprah said: "Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and it feels right in my spirit. It is the perfect number, the exact right time."

In its quarter century, the show has brought to the screen many memorable moments. Flamboyant pianist Liberace gave his last interview to Oprah in 1986, while Michael Jackson used a 1993 special to reveal that he suffers from a condition that lightens his skin.

In 2005, Tom Cruise emphatically declared his love for Katie Holmes on the programme. The images of him jumping on the couch and acting like a smitten teenager were re-shown around the world and parodied by a slew of comedians.

Other highlights included a 2004 give-away in which a car went to everyone who showed up for a recording

"You get a car, you get a car, you get a car. Everybody gets a car," she declared excitedly as the audience whooped their delight.

The power of the show also extended to the literary world. Novels became best-sellers through mere mention on Oprah's Book club

Today's announcement will not mark the end of Oprah's TV reign. When production on the Oprah Winfrey Show wraps up in 18 months, the broadcasting mogul will concentrate on programming for the new 24-hour cable network OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

The joint project with Discovery Communications will launch in January 2011.

Fans attending today's recording supported the move.

Sandra Donaldson, 59, of Indianapolis said: "It's time to elevate to something new. Whatever she does is going to be a blessing. It's going to be rewarding and eye-opening. Her name alone opens doors."

Delia Smith Looks A Dish For Buckingham Palace Date

2009-11-20T15:28:23Z

TOP TV cook Delia Smith was awarded a CBE today and described it as a tribute to all home chefs.

Through her recipes and popular television programmes Delia, aged 68, has become a culinary institution, teaching the nation to cook and bake for 40 years.

Her books - including Delia Smith's Complete Cookery Course and How to Cheat at Cooking - have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

Her shows are avid viewing for foodies and kitchen novices alike and can influence the buying habits of shoppers if they feature personal recommendations.

Speaking after receiving the honour from the Prince of Wales at a Buckingham Palace investiture she said: "There are so many people who do so much but to be picked out amongst them is a great honour.

"I think the main thing is what my husband said, he said it's sort of a tribute to home cooks all over Britain.

"I still love cooking. I don't like it, like all of us, when you've done a hard day's work and got to rush home and get a meal on the table, then it's not much fun.

"But if I've got nothing to do and can lock myself in the kitchen for a couple of hours with the radio on then I love it."

Smith brought out her first recipe book, How to Cheat At Cooking, in 1971, and began her TV career two years later with a BBC series called Family Fare.

The first part of her Cookery Course was published in 1978 and was followed by two more instalments.

Smith has published many more cookbooks including volumes focusing on Christmas, summer and winter recipes, and the hugely popular How to Cook series.

The TV chef said she has made a one-hour Christmas special covering festive cooking which will be screened later in the year.

Delia was joined at the investiture by her husband, journalist and publisher Michael Wynn Jones, and mother, Etty Smith, 89.

The TV chef described how she first discovered her passion for cooking while working in a restaurant in Paddington, west London, in the late 1960s.

She said: "I worked as a washer-up really because I thought I really needed to learn to cook in life, so I went to wash up and have a look and got completely blown away by it - I thought 'Wow, this is something I really would love to do'."

One of Delia's early successes was being asked to make a cake for an advertising commission, only to discover it would have star billing on the front cover of the Rolling Stones' album Let it Bleed.

She said: "I was just a jobbing cook who did food photography for advertising. It was just a phone call saying 'Come to the studio, we need a very gaudy cake'. I didn't know what it was for.

"I arrived with the cake and I think Keith Richards was there and that was the first I knew it was going on the album."

Commenting on the popularity of her TV shows, Delia added: "The media of television is such a powerful way to teach people. It takes 800 words to tell someone how to make an omelette but takes one minute to show them.

"It's so much easier to learn and people need to learn. Somebody doesn't give you a bunch of keys and then say 'Go drive a car', but you land in a kitchen and you're supposed to cook."

She added jokingly: "I've spent 40 years doing what I do and people are still afraid to cook - I've failed in many ways."

Susan Boyle's New Album To Break Global Records

2009-11-20T13:17:21Z

SUSAN Boyle's upcoming album has become the largest global CD pre-order in the history of Amazon.

The singer's debut I Dreamed A Dream, named for the song from Les Miserables which catapulted her to stardom when she performed it on Britain's Got Talent, has smashed all previous records by the online retailer.

"Just eight months ago, no-one was aware of the talents of Susan Boyle," said Amazon head of music Julian Monaghan.

"Now, she has generated more Amazon pre-order CD sales globally than any other artist. That is an incredible achievement."

The album is out on Monday.

Mansion For Sale, Previous Owner ... Hip Hop Star 50 Cent

2009-11-20T11:46:15Z

50 CENT is hoping to offload his 19-bedroom mansion because it is too big even for a hip-hop star of his status.

The rapper bought the Connecticut estate off Mike Tyson in 2003 for five million dollars (£3m).

But because of its size, it is hard for him to call it home, 'Fiddy' said in an interview with Hollyscoop.com.

"It feels like I'm in a hotel. There's a nightclub. You know how people have like a focus group? I have that for my music, like, 1,500 people and play it (new songs)," he said.

"The neighbours are so far away they can't even hear us."

EastEnders Christmas Scripts Stolen

2009-11-20T11:38:07Z

SCRIPTS for EastEnders Christmas specials were stolen during a burglary at a writer's home, the BBC said today.

A BBC spokeswoman confirmed the soap's bosses are concerned the climactic plot details could be leaked on the internet after the writer's laptop was taken.

The festive special will see scheming Albert Square villain Archie Mitchell, played by Larry Lamb, murdered in the Queen Vic pub but the precise details of his death have been kept a secret.

The Christmas scenes have already been filmed and the actors and actresses destroyed their scripts after the shoot to prevent any leaks.

EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer said: "We're keen to get this laptop back as it contains all the twists and turns of our exciting EastEnders Christmas."

The festive double bill will be broadcast on Christmas Day and often accounts for the long-running soap's highest ratings of the year.

The 2007 EastEnders Christmas special, featuring the revelation of Stacey Slater's affair with father-in-law Max Branning, was the year's most-watched programme with 14.38 million viewers.

It is not the first time EastEnders scripts have been stolen. In 2004 a laptop was taken in a raid and in 2001 a computer was stolen during a burglary at the home of a script writer.

My Name Is Earl Star Is George Clooney's Leading Man

2009-11-20T09:53:20Z

JASON Lee will play the lead in George Clooney's TV pilot Delta Blues.

The My Name Is Earl star is returning to the small screen to play Dwight Hendricks, a Memphis police officer who moonlights as an Elvis impersonator, according to Hollywood Reporter.

Clooney will be executive producer on the show, which is being made by his company Smokehouse Pictures and Warner Horizon.

Jason is also due on cinema screens again in Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Stars Come Out To Play For Children In Need

2009-11-20T09:35:22Z

Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing and Casualty will be part of the spectacular party for tonight's BBC Children in Need, hosted by Sir Terry Wogan, Tess Daly and Alesha Dixon.

The seven hour marathon show will feature some of the UK's top names from the world of TV, music and theatre.

Highlights include a sneak preview of the Doctor Who Christmas episode and a special performance from the stars of Strictly Come Dancing.

An edition of Lark Rise to Candleford will also see Sir Terry make a guest appearance at the village Post Office.

The Dragons' Den team will don hard hats and overalls to help renovate a Children in Need community centre in London, while the cast of The One Show will recreate Fame.

Meanwhile Gary Barlow, who rocked the Royal Albert Hall in aid of Children in Need, promises to raise the roof and the total when he brings on a big cheque during the night.

The show will also see a musical extravaganza from Albert Square and the cast of EastEnders, with a Motown celebration.

Contributions will also come from the cast of Merlin, Casualty and top TV detective, Poirot, with live performances from the cast of The Bill performing a Rat Pack classic and Hollyoaks actors rocking fans with a medley of Queen's greatest hits.

Performances will also come from JLS, Pixie Lott, Dixon, Spandau Ballet, Little Boots, and the Nolans.

Another treat of the night will be the regular headline-grabbing performance by the BBC newsreaders.

Organisers will be hoping to emulate the success of last year's broadcast, which raised more than £21 million on the night, with the 2008 total appeal eventually topping £38 million.

Comedian Peter Kay, who had a smash hit with (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, has brought together almost 100 famous faces from around the world to create this year's official single.

:: BBC Children in Need airs from 7pm on BBC 1.

Fed-Up Katie Price Ready To Quit The Jungle

2009-11-20T09:18:12Z

Fed-up Katie Price was bracing herself today for more stomach-churning punishment on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - warning she could be ready to quit.

After being chosen for her fourth Bushtucker Trial last night, the tough glamour girl gasped: "I cannot do it. I've had enough." She later added: "Why do they keep picking me?"

Price - aka Jordan - had already said she was ready to go after showing her mettle by winning nine stars to collect meals.

Viewers have seen her retching as she battled to drink a glassful of crushed beetles in Wednesday night's show.

She said: "I'm absolutely ready to leave camp. I've had enough. I miss my children.

"I'm hungry. I want a nice bed and I don't want to have to put myself through these horrible challenges. I don't like it."

She has already had to face her fears on the ITV1 show, crawling through confined spaces and ducking underwater, despite her childhood fear of water.

Returning to camp after her most recent trial, she said: "I don't need it."

And she said she believes the public are deliberately trying to give her a "bad time".

Price divorced husband Peter Andre - whom she met on a previous I'm A Celebrity... appearance - earlier this year.

She said: "I think the public want to give me a bad time. You can't take it personally even though it's hard not to. They've seen me battered for the last three or four days. Let someone else have a go."

Meanwhile, Kim Woodburn has been involved in another row after previously giving Katie a tongue-lashing.

This time she upset designer Justin Ryan after suggesting he should get his facial moles cut off. The row then escalated when she overheard him telling other contestants following their conversation.

How Clean Is Your House? presenter Woodburn told Ryan: "Why don't you cut them off? Those lumps you have on your face."

But the outraged makeover guru - whose partner Colin McAllister is also in the Australian jungle - hit back: "Kim, that's quite rude to suggest that I should just cut myself up so I should look better for you."

But Kim was mortified when she overheard Ryan telling McAllister and Price about the incident later.

She thundered: "You're an old woman, do you know that? I turn around and say to you 'Why don't you get the mole off your face?' and you're so hurt. If you can't take it, don't dish it out."

She continued: "You are one of the most insulting people. You say things that I know you're only joking. What a pity you can't share the joke with me, darling."

However, Justin said the incident would blow over: "I don't hold a grudge against Kim and I really like her but I will perhaps be a bit more aware of what's said around about her and perhaps to her."

And Kim admitted she was in the wrong when she spoke about the incident in the Bush Telegraph.

"Actually I made a prize blunder. If I tell the truth I nearly disappeared up my own backside with embarrassment. Sorry folks. I did a boo boo. But I won't do it again," she said.

Kelly Brook's Movie Fantasy

2009-11-20T07:28:38Z

KELLY Brook became Kelly Golightly as she re-enacted a famous scene from Breakfast At Tiffany's.

Complete with pearls and cigarette holder, Kelly strikes a pose as Audrey Hepburn from the classic 60s rom-com, but she makes a slightly less convincing Harrison Ford as a whip-wielding Indiana Jones.

The 29-year-old model became a raider of the lost dressing-up box to become Dr Jones as she promoted Sky Movies' Christmas schedule, which is allowing viewers to choose their favourite festive flicks for the channel to screen this year.

And Kelly, who is currently starring in the West End production of Calendar Girls, proved she is no novice by donning a blonde bob and spinning on an Alpine meadow as Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

Film fans can vote for their ultimate Christmas Day line-up to watch in high-definition on the Sky Movies Christmas Channel HD including The Dark Knight, Shrek and Back to the Future.

Sky Movies is also screening a host of festive favourites on its Christmas Channel throughout December, including The Muppet Christmas Carol, Fred Claus, The Grinch and Home Alone.

Kelly said: "I'm voting for Breakfast at Tiffany's to be included in the Christmas Day line-up, as I'd get everyone round to watch it. Being transformed into the glamorous Holly Golightly was fabulous."

Viewers can vote for their Christmas movie by visiting www.sky.com/vote.

X Factor Date For Alicia Keys And Rihanna

2009-11-19T14:54:32Z

ALICIA Keys will be performing on The X Factor, it has been announced.

The singer will perform Doesn't Mean Anything from her new album, The Element Of Freedom, on Sunday November 29.

It has also been confirmed that Umbrella star Rihanna is on the bill for that night.

She will sing her new single Russian Roulette, taken from her new album Rated R.

Rihanna previously talked about her love of the reality singing competition.

"X Factor is a great show - there are, of course, a lot of viewers so I get to reach a lot of my fans while performing one time at The X Factor," she said.