Celebrities Category

The Spice Girls Tour Again…

Spice Girls
Spice Girls Photo Credit – Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

If you have picked up a newspaper in recent weeks, and in looking for some light relief in between Brexit coverage, you have probably seen that the Spice Girls are touring once more.

Their Success

If you are of a certain generation, then you will be well-versed in the phenomenon that was the Spice Girls. They burst on to the music scene with their debut single – Wannabe in 1996. Yes, it really was 23 years ago! The single released by Virgin Records, was number one in 37 countries. The album, titled ‘Spice’ followed and sold 31 million copies.

Their continued success cemented them as the best-selling female group in history of all time, rivalling the success of other British band The Beatles.

(more…)

Wild Rose played by Jessie Buckley

Jessie Buckley

Wild Rose

If you cast your mind back a bit over 10 years, then you might remember Jessie Buckley’s appearance on the BBC TV show I’d Do Anything. She actually took second place, but not being the winner hasn’t held her back in any way. She has had success in West End productions, TV shows including three series for the BBC and in film. But every singer/actor has a break out project, and the film ‘Wild Rose’, might just be the vehicle for showing just what a born star Jessie is.

(more…)

Three Good Reads

Nine Perfect Strangers Book

We’ve got three good books to explore, a thriller, an inspiring year-long journey and possibly the last self-help book you’ll ever need!

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

You probably recognise Liane Moriarty’s name, as she is the best-selling author behind the hit HBO TV series – Big Little Lies.

Her latest book is set at Tranquillum House, a health & wellness retreat that sells itself on the basis of total transformation.

So, nine city folk that want to escape for a while from their stressful lives, dropping their mental and physical baggage as they go, via meditation, massage and more, go to the house. They are without cars, phones and all the entrapments of a modern existence that would allow them access to the outside world.

It should be a time of just getting to know each other, and getting more in touch with themselves.

The retreat is watched over by the Resort’s director, a woman who can be described as ‘on a mission’, but perhaps her mission is at odds with what the guests are imagining or expecting…

Maybe, just maybe behind the glamorous facade – a dark agenda lies! (more…)

Halloween – Movie

Halloween Movie FranchiseFilm franchises, perhaps especially horror franchises are not necessarily known for their quality, often they just become a commercial enterprise, full of a lot of cliché’s and in the case of slasher movies, just a fresh approach on characters to kill off!

But the latest ‘Halloween’ film, is trying to sidestep that issue, by becoming a direct sequel to the original John Carpenter film of 1978. In doing so they are not chained by continuity issues of the franchise series of films that came after. This has given them the leeway to create a narrative that actually has a story, with an underlying theme of looking at the consequences that are far-reaching and long-lasting for the victims of trauma and violence.

Whilst a serious theme is addressed, don’t be mistaken for thinking that this horror movie moves away from its ‘slasher’ origins, because it doesn’t. There is plenty of violence and scenes of gore, but at the same time there is much humour, and a clever nod here and there to the previous films. (more…)

Book Club

Book Club MovieThe Book Club film is released in the UK on the 1st June by Paramount Pictures and has an all-star cast featuring Jane Fonda (our cover star this month), Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen.

As you might imagine from the film title ‘Book Club’ the four stars play friends that meet regularly for a book club, where they bond over literature. That is until one day when Vivian played by Fonda suggests they mix things up a bit by reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’!

Whatever you might think about the premise of the Fifty Shade trilogy, in terms of the writing quality or the films. There is no doubt that few things have created quite such a phenomenon in popularity for adults in modern times. So, I suppose it is natural a film has been created about the phenomena itself. (more…)

Home Again

Home Again - Reese WitherspoonIn Home Again Reese Witherspoon plays the part of a recently separated mother, whose friends encourage her to start dating. The trailer shows that at 5 months she thinks it is too early, but encouraged by her birthday (where she always goes a little bit wild), she falls for a much younger man. So young that he is carded at the bar!

Alice Kinney (Reese) is 40 years old, and is separated but not yet legally divorced, starting over in Los Angeles she is pushed by her Mother who is played by Candice Bergen to let out her guest house to three aspiring and young filmmakers, one of whom just happens to be the guy from her birthday…

Of course no Rom-Com would be complete without a twist, and in this film that is in the form of her estranged husband (played by Michael Sheen) re-entering the picture.

The film is released on the 8th September and you can see the trailer here: http://homeagain-movie.com/ (more…)

The Strike Series

Holliday GraingerThe Books

J.K. Rowling wrote a series of detective books, under a pseudonym – Robert Galbraith, but of course in this day and age it’s difficult to keep a secret and it wasn’t long before people realised the identity of the true author. The books went on to critical acclaim, making the best-sellers lists.

The debut book is called Cuckoo’s Calling, followed by The Silkworm and then Career Of Evil. Rowling has recently been teasing her fans over the name of her fourth book in the series, with one person guessing the name correctly as Lethal White. It is believed that she is planning at least six more books in the series.

On her website for the books she explains why she wanted to write under a pseudonym: “To begin with I was yearning to go back to the beginning of a writing career in this new genre, to work without hype or expectation and to receive totally unvarnished feedback. It was a fantastic experience and I only wish it could have gone on a little longer than it did. I was grateful at the time for all the feedback from publishers and readers, and for some great reviews. Being Robert Galbraith was all about the work, which is my favourite part of being a writer. Now my cover has been blown, I plan to continue to write as Robert to keep the distinction from other writing and because I rather enjoy having another persona.” (more…)

Wimbledon

Serena Williams Photo credit: Jimmie48 Photography / Shutterstock.comSerena Williams

Photo credit: Jimmie48 Photography / Shutterstock.com

Serena has dominated women’s tennis for quite some time, she is the world’s number 1 ranking player, having taken her 23rd Grand Slam title in January 2017 at the Australian Open.

In fact, keen fans worked out that it is likely she was pregnant when she got that 23rd title, having announced that she is pregnant and expecting an autumn baby.

Serena is 35 years old and is expecting her first child with her fiancé Alexis Ohanian who is a Reddit Tech Entrepreneur. Apparently, they have said that they would like to not know the baby’s gender until the birth.

Of course, her pregnancy has put a halt to her playing tennis for the rest of 2017, but she is said to already be making plans for her come back. Whilst many might have expected her to retire from professional tennis following the baby’s arrival, she is said to be keen to continue competing as long as she believes that she can challenge and ultimately win Grand Slams. (more…)

Collateral Beauty

Collateral Beauty Movie PosterUnusually for a big film with a star-studded cast there hasn’t been a huge amount of information released about the movie – Collateral Beauty, which is out in the UK on the 26th December, but from what I have read I think it is set to be a poignant tear-jerker.

Will Smith plays a once-successful businessman, having suffered a terribly personal tragedy; he falls into a deep depression. His friends played by Edward Norton, Kate Winslet and Michael Peña  rally around him, but even with their support and a passing of time he is unable to move forward. At this point with no clue as to what to do, he begins to write things down. He writes letters, but they are not too anybody, but are written in the abstract to things like ‘time’, ‘love’ and ‘death’.

The surprising twist in the film without giving too much away is that they write back! Helen Mirren plays death, Jacob Latimore is time and Keira Knightley stands for love… (more…)

Autumn Albums

Melanie C (Spice Girls)Greetings pop-pickers!

If you are of a certain age, you could be forgiven for thinking we have gone back in time when you look at some of the top album releases this autumn. Of course, we have to use the word ‘Album’ as some people under that age may not necessarily know what an ‘L.P’ is, nor may they understand queuing to buy the latest ‘record’ at a Virgin Megastore or even Woolworths!

Here’s our pick of the pops:

Our cover star – Melanie C puts out her new album titled ‘Version of Me’ on the 21st October 2016. This is actually her seventh album and contains the single ‘Anymore’ that was released in September. “I wanted to make an album that I would listen to now,” says Melanie. “I’m not a leftfield artist, I never will be. I write pop songs, but my aim this time was to approach every aspect of them differently, to be more creative with structure and sounds. Whatever felt right, I went with.” (more…)

Premium Rate 0906 111 3030

Calls Cost £1.50 per minute plus your phone company's access charge. Calls are recorded and for entertainment, 18+ only.Readings paid for via your phone bill are restricted to 26 minutes each call. Customer Care Line: 0113 732 0620. View full terms & conditions.

US & Canada Toll-Free 1-800 765 192

The service is only for credit card readings. Calls cost £32.95 for the first 20 minutes, £1.50 per minute thereafter – tax included. Charged in sterling (GBP). Maximum 90 minutes. View full terms & conditions.

International +44 113 732 062

The service is only for credit card readings. Calls cost £32.95 for the first 20 minutes, £1.50 per minute thereafter – tax included. Charged in sterling (GBP). Maximum 90 minutes. View full terms & conditions.