Pop Buzz UK

Michael Parkinson has been simultaneously interviewing the biggest celebrities, and delighting audiences around the world for over 30 years now, but every career has to come to an end, and Parkinson is no exception.

Earlier this year he announced, via his Radio 2 show, that he would be making this latest ITV1 series of his chat show, the last ever. So to commemorate the occasion there will be three specials to end his reign as the king of chat show hosts.

The second of the specials, to be shown on ITV1 on December 15th is the big one, as it comprises Michael Parkinson’s wish list of guests. He hand picked every person who would appear, a mixture from his many years, and people he looked up to, enjoyed interviewing, and counted as personal friends.

While filming the show, he is reported to have had to fight back tears, no surprise seeing as this seems to be Parky’s final bow in broadcasting, with him also quitting his radio show to write an autobiography and do some travelling.

(more…)

I’ve already written quite extensively on Pop Buzz UK about this series of The X Factor, and my view that its becoming more of a pantomime than a singing talent show.

We’ve already had Louis Walsh’ supposed firing and then being welcomed back in to the fold, and then Sharon Osbourne’s dramatic announcement that she’d be quitting the show, before being back on the show the following week. The judges truly are ruining this year’s series, by making it more about them than the contestants.

And now it has got worse, with more in the same vein. On Saturday evening, we saw Alisha Bennett get eliminated from the show after all the contestants sang disco type songs. Alisha herself sang ‘Young Hearts Run Free’, a performance which caused an argument between Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne over the inclusion of rollerskaters in to the performance.

Basically Simon hated the skaters, and thought they were crap, and insisted Sharon should have removed them from the show. Sharon countered that it was his show, not hers, and that she is just merely a paid hand with no jurisdiction over decisions like that.

(more…)

British supermodel Sophie Anderton has been exposed by a British newspaper as a high class prostitute and coke dealer. The News of the World set up a rendezvous with the former ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here‘ reality television star, where she offered to spend the night with one of it’s reporters for £10,000, and also tried to sell them cocaine.

30 year old Anderton came to the public’s attention as a lingerie model for Gossard, and more recently, as a contestant on 2004’s I’m A Celebrity. She has since made a habit of appearing on reality TV shows, having been on ‘Celebrity Love Island’, ‘Fear Factor’, and ‘Cirque De Celebrite’.

This isn’t the first time she has been featured in the tabloid press, with multiple appearances, normally for the wrong reasons. She actually admitted to spending the night as a high class hooker once, but it seems she may now be making a habit of it.

She is also a well known cocaine addict, but as thought to have kicked the habit before entering the jungle on I’m A Celebrity last year. Clearly, from what she told the News of the World, and from the pictures they secured, she is back doing it.

(more…)

Amy Winehouse had a bit of a difficult day yesterday. First of all she went to visit her husband Blake Fielder-Civil in Pentonville prison, where he is currently remanded in custody awaiting trial on charges of perverting the course of justice.

I wrote the full story up on Brit Music Scene, but in a nutshell, he is accused of allegedly trying to fix a trial in which he was accused of assaulting a pub landlord.

While visiting hubby, also a drug addict like Amy herself, The Sun claim she had her famous beehive haircut searched for drugs. Now this could be bullshit, but it made me giggle none the less, so I thought I’d run with it. I’ve never thought of Amy’s beehive being useful for storing things in, but thinking about it, it’s the perfect place!

I can just imagine her having her own pharmacy stored up there, and if she actually combed it, a whole barrage of drug paraphernalia would tumble out on to the ground.

(more…)

The Spice Girls comeback is going very well so far, with almost all venues on their huge world tour, which I detailed here on Pop Buzz UK when it was announced at the end of June, sold out already. But they’re not getting it all their own way by any means.

The girls have recorded a new song, their comeback single, which is called ‘Headlines: Friendship Never Ends’ which is being released as part of the ‘Children In Need’ charity fund-raising event for the BBC.

It’s received mixed reviews so far, with most agreeing it isn’t exactly up to par on the girls older material, which love them or loathe them, was always ultra catchy pop. This song is more like take it or leave it pap. I reviewed it on Brit Music Scene… and was quite cutting about the video.

Now the Radio 1 playlist team have also put the boot in, deciding that the song is only good enough to be categorized as C List. This means that the song will only receive one play per day on the national BBC station.

(more…)

Robbie Williams, already one of the best paid British singers, has added another £32 million to his vast fortune, due last year’s recent world tour.

Mr Williams has been in the news a lot recently, first for upsetting American television viewers with his jokes about anal sex and drugs, and then by calling Courtney Love fugly. But this time, he’s being written about for the stupendous amount of cash he earned from last year’s massive world tour.

Williams performed 44 gigs in 14 countries over a nine month period, earning a cool £32,200,163. The profits from last year almost equalled the total he earned from the last four years.

An industry insider told The Mirror:

“People often say that Robbie is on the way out, especially after his last album Rudebox was panned by the critics. But this just proves that he’s still got what it takes to earn big money.”

But what is the true cost of performing like a monkey on stage every night for months at a time without a break? Money is obviously great, but the extensive touring and the pressures of fame have lead to Robbie suffering from a whole range of problems.

From a downward spiral in to depression, and long spells in rehab for drink and drugs abuse, it hasn’t exactly been a fun time for the former Take That singer.

(more…)

Pete Doherty has had a video clip of him injecting heroin into a vein in his right arm published by a British tabloid newspaper. As sick as that is, it’s made even worse by the fact that he;s spent the last week claiming to be completely drug free after attending the court ordered rehabilitation sessions.

Yesterday, two stories about the Babyshambles, and former Libertines front man appeared at virtually the same time. The first was an interview which Pete had given to NME, in which he claimed to be “in mourning” for drugs. He said:

“It’s hard work. I think I miss it [drugs] a bit. After years of entrenched drug abuse, you have a mourning period. I know it’s a bit sad, but I’m in mourning. I’m in mourning for an armful.”

“”It’s quite a lengthy probation requirement and drug-testing order. It might have been better to do a couple of months and have it done with, to be honest. But that’s a bit defeatist - it’s pessimistic.

“I don’t want to go to jail, I’ve had enough of all that. But the chances of me not getting arrested once in the next 18 months are quite slim really - the way the Old Bill are.”

That’s quite sad to be in mourning for drugs isn’t it, although there was me at least thinking good on you for sticking with it, and just focussing on your music. And then The Sun newspaper published a video on their website, with stills in the newspaper itself, showing Doherty allegedly injecting a needle full of heroin in to his arm. What an idiot.

The footage was supposedly shot at his home on Friday, after he arrived back from the MTV EMAs. At the awards ceremony everyone was surprised at how genuinely nice Pete was, though now the reasoning becomes clear, he was probably chilled knowing he was a day away from getting a fix.

After the video was published, fans of Doherty slammed message boards and forums on the web claiming that the footage was old, and that he was still free of drugs. But they have been roundly shut up by Pete admitting it was him, and it was shot on Friday.

(more…)

I’ve made no secret of the fact I’m not a big Jeremy Kyle fan, as I find him one of the most obnoxious people on television. I’ll stand by my appraisal of him as Jerry Springer without the humour or class.

For those outside of the UK, or not a member of the underclass, Jeremy Kyle has a chat show, come agony aunt type programme, which wholly exists to grab the dregs of society off the streets and place them on our televisions for everyone to laugh at. Here’s a spoof clip on YouTube which should help you realise what the show is like.

Jeremy’s role in all this is as the ringmaster and master of ceremonies who conducts his prey as they admit to being a druggie, or of cheating on their partner, or if Jeremy had his way, of being the worst human being ever to have lived on Earth. He pretends he cares, but you can see in his eyes he’s just in it to provide some cheap entertainment for the masses and give himself a nice pay packet.

So I’m overjoyed this fine Monday morning to learn that his ex wife Kirsty Rowley has spoken to a Sunday newspaper and dished all the dirt on him. And it turns out our friendly Jezza is no angel himself, and is actually a “hypocritical liar”.

(more…)

The Sunday tabloids have brought another round of the Paul McCartney versus Heather Mills to the attention of the public.

After Heather Mills McCartney (oh how she must hate us still calling her that) went on television to berate McCartney over his behaviour in the divorce settlement row, he is reportedly fighting back by seeking full custody of their Beatrice.

According to the News of the World Paul has already contacted lawyers and instructed them to apply for full custody. He fears Heather is poisoning Bea’s mind against him and his family, especially his fashion designer daughter Stella.

A friend told the News of the World:

“Paul’s main concern is Bea’s safety and well-being. Going for full custody is a last resort but he’s really scared for his child. He doesn’t feel he’s got a choice now.

“And if Heather’s life is at risk, then so is Bea’s. Paul feels he just can’t take the risk any more and wants to know that his daughter is safe and well—and that means being with him.”

“Paul did plead with Heather to consider Bea before she went on these TV shows, but she ignored him. Now he’s deeply concerned their daughter is growing more aware of the public war between them.”

Paul is said to believe that Heather now needs professional help for her obviously perilous mental state. And Heather demonstrated further proof that she may indeed be finding the strain too much when she appeared on yet another television show, and again made claims against the McCartney clan.

(more…)

I can hardly believe it but Richard and Judy, those ever presents of daytime TV have announced they are quitting their daily chat show on Channel 4 to pursue other projects.

Now obviously I don’t watch the show, at least regularly (I’m not retired, a student or a bored teenager), but it’s still a bit sad to hear of the demise of a show which has held a bit of a place in the nation’s hearts for so long.

The pair will give up their show, which shares a timeslot with Paul O’Grady, teatime show, when their contract comes to an end next year.

The husband and wife team of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnegan have been on telly together for over 20 years, and have become as much a part of the furniture in the UK as the Queen and warm beer.

Richard Madeley said of the decision:

“The programme is still full of life, but we have taken the difficult decision to leave it on a high,”

“After seven consecutive years we both feel we have achieved everything we wanted with the show.”

“We want the chance to launch other projects in broadcasting and writing while we are still young enough.”

The pair have agreed to stay on to present a Book Club special this Christmas, and then two more series of the Richard & Judy show next year before finally hanging up their boots, or clip on mics or whatever they use.

(more…)

Pop Buzz UK is now over a year old, and in that first month last October I wrote an interesting article about Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills divorce proceedings turning nasty. In a Nostradamus style premonition I titled it ‘Paul Vs Heather Round 1′… and how right I was because it’s still going on.

After last month’s supposedly friendly secret meeting to discuss and hopefully figure out a compromise deal, the gloves are back off and Heather is playing hard ball again. Last month’s meeting ended with both parties walking away claiming the other was unfair and asking for too much, and now Heather has given two TV interviews where she has been quite vicious on a number of the claims.

First of all she told America’s Today show that she had offered Sir Paul (more commonly known as Macca) a “very gentle and quick divorce” but was turned down.

“All I can say is when we first split, I said to Paul: ’I’m going to be crucified. You know why we split. You know the truth. They don’t need to know the details, but you need to stand up and say: “I’m responsible for the breakdown of this marriage.”

’If you say that, I’ll walk away with nothing, and we’ll do a very gentle and quick divorce.’ And he promised he’d do that. I have evidence of that. And he did nothing.�

She then went on to claim that she has so far spent £1.5 million on legal fees. Further justifying her claims on such a huge portion of Macca’s fortune (which she must admit had nothing to do with her influence) she says she put her life on hold for the seven and a half years that the marriage lasted.

She then claimed to have received death threats and without naming names, almost fingered Paul McCartney himself saying:

“Well, I can’t say who I think it is because it will affect our family, but I know a lot of information and, you know, certain people don’t want certain things coming out because of their image.�

Yeah whatever love.

(more…)

The father of British R’n'B singer and renowned druggie Amy Winehouse has been talking about his fears for his daughter’s health and his insistence that Amy had never touched hard drugs until she met her husband Blake Fielder-Civil.

Mitch Winehouse told the ITV1 daytime show This Morning his fears over her drug problems, health problems and the fact that she has lost so much weight over the last six months.

“It’s apparent in her music that she’s smoked dope for quite a while, probably from the age of 16 or 17, perhaps even earlier.”

“She was a complete opponent of hard drugs - in fact, she got up and said she couldn’t understand why people in the music industry took hard drugs and that changed about six months ago when she got married to Blake.”

“And I’m not saying it’s Blake’s fault, what I’m saying is Amy’s responsible for her own actions. However, it’s a fact that the hard drugs coincided with their marriage.�

I have to agree, her mental well-being, and struggles with hard drugs did seem to get a lot worse once she married Blake Fielder-Civil. He claims her battle with weight is down to bulimia, but again, I would suggest the drugs have got something major to do with that too.

If you look at pictures of her 2 years ago and now, it’s quite shocking how much weight she has lost. She has gone from being an attractive and vuluptuous woman to a skinny, almost skeletal train wreck.

(more…)

Robbie Williams seems determined to upset all and sundry. Following hot on the heels of last week’s bum sex outburst, he has now called Courtney Love fugly.

Apparently Courtney expressed a desire to sleep with the British pop star and had high hopes of getting him in to bed. Unfortunately Robbie wasn’t interested because “of the ugly thing”.

(more…)

Sharon Osbourne supposedly quit her role as an X Factor judge on Saturday night’s live show after two of her three acts were voted in to the bottom duo and had to battle for survival.

At the time it made good TV, with Sharon storming off and seeming to decide she’d rather have nothing to do with the show than be responsible for getting rid of one of her own acts in the Under 25s Girls category.

But now it has become one big soap opera with multiple appearances on chat shows and a whole host of publicity for the show.

Kimberley Southwick and Alisha Bennett received the least amount of votes out of all twelve X Factor finalists on Saturday’s first live final show.

This meant they had to perform again, and then the four judges Sharon, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh would have to decide individually which contestant they’d rather see come back and which would go home.

Sharon then had a hissy fit and declared to show presenter Dermot O’Leary “I’m out… gone!”

(more…)

Wow, you don’t hear anything about Doctor Who for weeks, and then all of a sudden there’s an influx of stories on the cult British Sci-fi show.

So here is a round up of all the latest news and gossip from the world of Who.

Doctor Who chief writer and series reviver Russell T Davies has claimed that the show is set up so it can be around for 20-30 years.

He explained:

“I don’t have any big ambitions except to carry on writing stories for telly. We’ve set [Doctor Who] up in such a way that it should be around for 20-30 years yet.”

“Within that time frame there will be year-long hiatuses to give it a chance to get its momentum back.”

This is such brilliant news, especially coming from the head honcho. There have been constant rumours either of the show ending after one more series, or Davies and his team leaving the show.

These now look to have been shown to be completely erroneous, and it should please Who fans to know their favourite show has a good future, so long as the BBC don’t decide to can it of course.

(more…)