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Columnist defends Gately comments….
Oct 23rd
Jan Moir has expressed regret over her Daily Mail column on late Boyzone star Stephen Gately, while maintaining that aspects of his death were “sleazy”.
But she insists that there was nothing homophobic in the column, published on the day before the singer’s funeral.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) received more than 21,000 complaints about the piece, which called Gately’s death “strange, lonely and troubling”.
“I regret any affront caused,” writes Moir in her latest Mail column.
She goes on to apologise to Gately’s family and friends for any distress caused by her column’s “insensitive timing”.
However, the writer stands by her earlier assertion that the circumstances surrounding his death were “more than a little sleazy”.
She also maintains there was “nothing natural” about his demise on 11 October, but claims her remarks have been “misinterpreted”.
“What I meant by ‘nothing natural’ was that the natural duration of his life had been tragically shortened in a way that was shocking and out of the ordinary.
‘Over-reaction’
“Absolutely none of this had anything to do with his sexuality.”
Moir faced particular censure for suggesting that Gately’s death had struck a blow to the “happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships”.
In her follow-up column, though, she insists there was “nothing in my article that could not be applied to a heterosexual couple as well as to a homosexual one”.
According to the PCC, Moir’s column provoked the most complaints ever made about a single newspaper article.
In Friday’s Daily Mail, however, the writer suggests that the “hysterical over-reaction” was part of “an orchestrated campaign”.
Her column, she continues, was “generally and gleefully accepted into folklore as a homophobic rant”.
According to Moir, though, she received “thousands of supportive emails” from readers who felt it “perfectly reasonable” for her to comment on Gately’s death.
Celebrities, friends and family gathered in Dublin last Saturday for the singer’s funeral.
Among them was X Factor judge Louis Walsh, who absented himself from the ITV1 show to attend the ceremony.
According to the show’s creative director, though, Walsh will be back this weekend to resume his duties.
“Louis is definitely going to be back,” said Brian Friedman. “We’ve been talking about his song choices and I think they’re really good.”
Robbie to get lifetime Brit award….
Oct 22nd
Pop star Robbie Williams will receive the outstanding contribution to music prize at next year’s Brit Awards.
The 35-year-old has already won 11 Brits as a solo artist – more than any other singer.
Ged Doherty of the Brits committee praised Williams, saying he was “one of the outstanding artists and performers of his generation”.
Williams won his first Brit award as a member of Take That, when Could It Be Magic was named best single in 1993.
‘Absolute thrill’
The group went on to scoop three more trophies before Williams quit in 1995.
The star then carved out a successful solo career with hit singles such as Angels, She’s The One and Rock DJ.
He has won four the best British male prize four times.
My Doherty said it will be “an absolute thrill” to have Williams at the 30th anniversary of the Brit award show.
The star has recently made a comeback, appearing on the X Factor last weekend, and playing his first UK concert for three years as part of the BBC Electric Proms on Wednesday.
His exuberant X Factor performance was heavily criticised in the press, but writing on his blog after the Proms show, Williams said: “I wasn’t aware until last night that the X Factor performance was given such an horrendous kicking.”
He went on to praise the “lovely audience” at Wednesday night’s concert.
“I know listening to new stuff can be a bit of a bore, but everyone was lovely and received it with kind hearts and consideration, so thank you very much,” he wrote.
The gig broke records when it was beamed live to more than 250 cinemas in 23 countries across Europe, from Latvia to Luxembourg – but Williams claimed to know nothing about the achievement.
“I kind of heard it being mentioned but I think selective hearing must have been in action at the time,” he said.
Previous recipients of the outstanding achievement award include The Pet Shop Boys, Paul McCartney, Oasis and The Who.
Bon Jovi and JLS to perform on The X Factor….
Oct 22nd
Proving The X Factor has something for everyone, classic rock will be meeting urban pop in a scintillating showdown of talent on next week’s Live Results Show (Sunday, 1st November)
Since making it to the finals in the last series JLS have had the kind of success that this year’s contestants dream of. Now, with a Number 1 single and two MOBO awards under their low-slung belts, the fab foursome are set to return to The X Factor stage to perform their latest potential chart topper Everybody in Love.
But that’s not all, oh no…fully fledged superstars Bon Jovi will also be gracing our screens on the very same night performing their new single We Weren’t Born to Follow. Having sold over 120 million albums world wide and survived the crazy days of the poodle perm these guys are close to legend status… and next week they’ll finally be back on British soil and ready to rock!
Boyzone tipped for ‘X Factor’ performance….
Oct 21st
X Factor producers want Boyzone to perform a special tribute to their late bandmate Stephen Gately on the show, according to a report.
The programme’s bosses are planning to suggest the idea once they get the green light from the group’s manager and show judge Louis Walsh, The Mirror claims.
A source said: “Stephen was a very close friend of the ITV show. During a production meeting they were discussing ideas for guest performers. Boyzone were mentioned as an obvious choice.
“Everyone is painfully aware they need to be sensitive, so they have held back on a formal approach until they speak to Louis.
“But the huge outpouring of grief is hard to ignore. There have been a lot of messages asking the boys to do some kind of tribute to his life.”
Gately was thought to be a “huge fan” of the talent contest and once expressed a desire to perform on the programme with Boyzone.
The singer passed away while on holiday in Majorca earlier this month. He was 33.
Robbie backs twins to win X Factor….
Oct 21st
Robbie Williams has performed his first full concert for three years and shocked fans by backing cocky X Factor contestants the Grimes twins to win the show.
Robbie Williams has performed his first full concert for three years and shocked fans by backing cocky X Factor contestants the Grimes twins to win the show.
The former Take That singer performed to a sell-out crowd to open this year’s BBC Electric Proms.
Williams opened the show at north London’s trendy Roundhouse venue with new single Bodies and said: “You nearly made me cry then, but then I realised it’s not The X Factor.”
Williams, who appeared on the ITV1 show earlier this month, revealed he was a fan of twins John and Edward Grimes.
“Go for the twins,” he told the crowd, who responded with deafening boos.
But he insisted: “John and Edward all the way.”
The gig was watched by celebrities including radio DJ Fearne Cotton and singer Will Young.
Later the cheeky singer appeared to hold back tears as he revealed his hit Feel was his auntie’s favourite song, saying: “I’m sure she’s looking down now.”
But he then deadpanned: “She’s not dead – she’s just condescending!”
Tuesday’s performance also set a world record for the most simultaneous cinematic screenings of a live concert. The show was screened in more than 250 cinemas across 23 countries, meaning ten s of thousands of the singer’s fans across Europe watched the show as it happened.
Gately’s last interview published…
Oct 20th
Stephen Gately patched up a decade-long rift with his mother in one of his final acts before his death, his final interview has revealed.
Stephen Gately patched up a decade-long rift with his mother in one of his final acts before his death, his final interview has revealed.
The pair had quarrelled since 1999 when his mother gave an interview to a tabloid newspaper on the day he came out as gay, with their relationship particularly strained over the last five years.
But in an interview with Reveal magazine, given two weeks before he died, the former Boyzone singer said he flew to Dublin to make peace with his mother.
Stephen told the magazine: “There were tears and I told her I loved her very much and I’d always be there for her.
“I told her I was wrong and I should never have let it get that far.”
Stephen said he was “ashamed” that he wasn’t getting on with his mother and the arguments had started over “the silliest thing”.
The Irish singer spoke candidly about coming to terms with depression after Boyzone split and how he rejected anti-depressants because they made him feel like a zombie.
But it was finding husband Andrew Cowles that eventually helped the singer get his life back on track and the pair had even discussed starting a family together.
Stephen died of a cardiogenic pulmonary oedema two weeks ago in the home he shared with Cowles on the Spanish island of Mallorca.
The full interview appears in this week’s edition of Reveal.
Cheryl set for record single sales…
Oct 20th
Cheryl Cole’s first solo effort is set to become the biggest selling single of the year, the Official Charts Company said.
Cheryl Cole’s first solo effort is set to become the biggest selling single of the year, the Official Charts Company said.
First day sales of the Girls Aloud and X Factor star’s first single – Fight For This Love – have already surpassed last week’s record-setting No 1 Bad Boys by Alexandra Burke, who Cheryl mentored on the TV talent show.
Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: “Her first day’s sales are just amazing and put her in pole position to top the Official Singles Chart on Sunday – she is likely to set the sales standard by which everyone will be judged for the rest of the year in the run-up to Christmas.”
Cheryl performed her new song on Sunday night’s X Factor results show with a sexy, Cold War-themed routine.
Supporting her from the audience was husband and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and her bandmates from Girls Aloud, along with a peak TV audience of 14.8 million viewers.
However, the Geordie star attracted criticism for miming some of her vocals and relying on a backing track.
Want to look like Cheryl Cole’s dancers?….
Oct 19th
If you didn’t see Cheryl Cole’s performance of ‘Fight for this love’ on the X Factor on Saturday then you missed out…BIG TIME! If you did then you maybe wondering how you could look as cool as her dancers. Well www.benhewis.com has the answer, follow the link below and you too could soon be cutting shapes like them guys:
Mutya plans to reform original ‘Sugababes’….
Oct 19th
Ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena is reportedly trying to persuade her old bandmates to reform the original line-up.
Along with Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy, she was part of the original group which formed back in 1998.
Siobhan was the first to drop out, replaced by Heidi Range in 2001. Mutya followed four years later with her place taken by Amelle Berrabah. Then last month, the final remaining original band member, Keisha Buchanan, got the boot and in stepped its most recent addition, Eurovision’s Jade Ewen.
In another twist to the ever-changing girl group, there are now reports Mutya Buena’s spent hours trying to persuade Keisha and Siobhan to give the band another go.
Despite the rows and accusations that followed their split, the original three are believed to friends again.
With yet another incarnation of the trio launching with a new album on November 23, Mutya’s reportedly hoping to cash in on success as a brand new outift with a new name and new hits.
Diversity at the Pride of Britain Awards 2009
Oct 13th
Diversity recently performed at The Pride of Britain Awards 2009, here is what they had to say on their facebook page:
Hi all…been a tough few days! Nobody said it was going to be easy though! Loving all your support on here though! Just to let you know that our official website will soon be ready! Probably another couple of weeks! We’re also working on our clothing line, so you will soon be able to buy Diversity t-shirts, hoodies etc! Little treat for you now, check out out Pride of Britain routine!
