Monthly Archives: March 2011

Keith Allen to star with Tara Fitzgerald in BBC One’s new crime drama series The Body Farm

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Keith Allen has been cast to star alongside Tara Fitzgerald in BBC One’s new modern crime series The Body Farm. Keith plays Detective Inspector Hale who calls upon Waking the Dead’s pathologist Dr Eve Lockhart (Tara Fitzgerald) and her private forensics facility to help solve crimes and find justice for the victims.

Keith says: “I’m delighted that the BBC has given me the chance to delve into the murky world of The Body Farm”.

In the modern world, private forensics are being used by the law more and more. Eve’s brilliant and ambitious team of scientists turn to police work to pay the bills, but in this team, it’s only Eve who has had any previous experience of dealing with the aftermath of a horrific crime.

Eve’s team is made up of Rosa, Mike and Oggy. Wunmi Mosaku (Moses Jones, Father & Son, Silent Witness) plays Rosa, who is young and eager to put her research into practise, Mark Bazeley (The Queen, The Bourne Ultimatum) plays Mike, Eve’s right-hand man, and Finlay Robertson (How Not to Live Your Life) is Oggy, a hardcore science geek who has had his head buried in his studies so long that he has begun to fear the real world.

Kate Harwood, Controller, Drama Series and Serials, says: “We are tremendously excited to have such a wonderful cast line-up and be following the character of Eve Lockhart into a new job as she leads her pioneering forensic team out to fight crime; Eve will face her challenges in the same way that she did in Waking the Dead, with cool professionalism and quiet compassion.”

We see D.I. Hale introduced to Eve’s team in the opening 90-minute special episode. Viewers are led into their world within the Body Farm, a facility that is pushing back the boundaries of scientific research and solving crimes – it’s unchartered territory. Here no horror is taken for granted and murder is seen to be what it is – visceral and shocking.

Created by Declan Croghan, this is a new six-part series made by BBC Drama Production in association with Trevor Eve’s company Projector Pictures for BBC One (1×90′ and 5×60′). Produced by Simon Lewis, the executive producers are Sue Hogg from BBC Drama Production and Trevor Eve for Projector Pictures. Filming started this week

Transworld to publish Shaun Ryder autobiography

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Transworld Publishers are delighted to announce the publication of the autobiography of Shaun Ryder. As yet untitled, the book will be released in autumn 2011. It will tell the story of Ryder’s entire career, from the drug-fuelled days of The Happy Mondays and the Hacienda era, through his amazing come back with Black Grape to his recent reappearance in the Australian jungle and his new solo album. Editorial Director Sarah Emsley, who acquired the book for Transworld from Matthew Hamilton at Aitken Alexander Associates, said: ‘Shaun Ryder is a living legend and his is one of the great untold stories of a life lived through the highs and lows of rock ’n’ roll excess. We are absolutely thrilled to be publishing the raw, undiluted autobiography of one of the UK’s most beloved rock stars.’

Shaun Ryder says: ‘I’ve been mithered for years to write my autobiography, but I’ve always said no because the timing never felt right. Plenty of other people have had their say on Happy Mondays and Black Grape, and now just felt like the right time to tell it like it really happened.’

HIGH-FLYING FEMALES SHOULD NOT FEEL “GUILT” RETURNING TO WORK AFTER HAVING A BABY

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Successful women in business should not feel any guilt returning to work after having children.

They will have made the decision to return to work because it is in the best interests of their families and themselves.

Niamh O’Keeffe, MD of First100, a global company which aims to help senior women executives return to their roles after maternity leave.

Leadership performance acceleration company First100, which has offices in London, New York and Dublin, works with senior executives to put in place plans for their first 100 days in either a new role or the same role after returning from having a child.

First100 has issued a series of tips for maternity returners, including:

· Let go of the previous role as full-time mother
· Return to the work environment as a confident woman and leader
· Find the right balance between the roles of mother and senior business executive.
· Everything will have changed so prepare well in advance.

Niamh O’Keeffe said: “Once a woman has made the decision to return to work, they need to let go of their role as full-time mother and carry no guilt. Guilt is something brought on by the individual and no one else.

“The woman will have made this decision in the best interests of her and her family and they need to be pragmatic in making it work.

“Living in the moment is critical. When the woman is at home, they need to be fully at home and not juggling their laptop and BlackBerry while making the tea or reading a bedtime story. Equally, when they are at work, it is vital they are not constantly calling home to make sure everything is okay.”

Niamh added that finding the “right balance” was crucial in order to make a true success of combining being a successful woman in business with being a mother.

“The working mum needs to take time out regularly to check they have the balance right. Sometimes one area of your life can get very busy which makes it easy to lose focus in another part of your life. Taking time out to refuel and refocus is very important.

“It is also critical to set realistic expectations at work and at home as there are only so many hours in the day.”

The majority of First100’s clients are male, but the company is finding an increasing number of senior women executives asking it to help them navigate their vital first 100 days in a role or when returning from maternity leave.

First 100 days plans are becoming increasingly common-place within global organisations such as Vodafone, Accenture, Telefonica 02, BP, BT and Merck.

Niamh said: “From my own personal experience and the feedback I receive from our consultants working with clients in the UK, Ireland and United States, female business leaders often make far more willing clients.

“Women are often easier to coach than their male counterparts and more willing to listen and take on board new skills to help them succeed in challenging roles. Sometimes senior male executives are instinctively more defensive and cynical and need a little longer to be persuaded as to the merits of the coaching.

“Undoubtedly, one of the principal reasons why women are generally quicker to understand the benefits of working with companies such as First100 is that they face the added pressures of competing in a still male-dominated business world, many with the challenge of juggling huge responsibilities both at work and at home.

“Putting in place a sound strategic plan for your first 100 days whether you are taking on a new role or returning from having a baby can make all the difference between success and failure.”

The nation’s favourite meal

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A survey of favourite meals commissioned by The Fat Panel revealed that Sunday Roast with all the trimmings was the nation’s favourite, showing that traditional English fare is top choice.

Over 35 per cent of men and women in the UK enjoy tucking into a traditional Sunday roast more than any other meal and more than one in three polish off the meal with a helping a chocolate fudge cake and cream for dessert, a survey of favourite meals commissioned by The Fat Panel, can exclusively reveal.

Second place in the nation’s food hot-list is occupied by steak and chips with 11% of the vote. The British steak and kidney pie and toad in the hole came last. For desserts, apple pie and ice cream is the second favourite choice (20%).

The research also shows that cooking from scratch is not greatly popular, with only 20 per cent managing it every day. Nearly half of people say that the biggest obstacle to cooking more often is that it takes too long. Another reason given by 13 per cent of people is that buying ingredients for home cooking is too expensive.

Chinese food is the takeaway of choice for 30 per cent of people, followed by twenty nine per cent favouring an Indian.

Fat Panel expert and nutritionist, Sarah Schenker, says it comes as no surprise that the Sunday roast comes out on top and as for takeaways, it is the easier option that comes at a price.

“This research shows that takeaways are very popular, however we need to be careful not to eat meals high in saturated fat too often. It’s much easier to stay in control of what we are eating when we cook ourselves. Being aware of what’s in the food we buy, using sensible cooking methods, such as grilling, and opting for common sense swaps like using 1% milk instead of full-fat or margarine and spread instead of butter will all have a positive effect on the amount of saturated fat we eat.

The nation’s favourite main meals

1.Sunday Roast with all the trimmings
35.6.%

2.Steak and Chips
11.85%

3.Lasagne
11.75%

4.Fish & Chips
10.55%

5.Chicken Tikka Masala
7.4%

6.Spaghetti Bolognaise
6.15%

7.Shepherd’s/Cottage Pie
5.3%

8.Sausages and Mash
4.8%

9.Toad in the Hole
3.8%

10.Steak and Kidney Pie
2.8%

A NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION HITS BRITAIN – ‘WEEKENDVY’

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OVER A QUARTER OF BRITONS LIE ABOUT THEIR WEEKEND ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO IMPRESS OTHERS

One in four Britons is suffering from a new psychological condition – called ‘Weekendvy’, a new study out today has revealed. ‘Weekendvy’ means we are ‘economical with the truth’ when confronted by colleagues and friends at the start of the week – when asked “How was your weekend?”

The study commissioned by Travelodge surveyed 5,000 adults to investigate how Britons spend their weekend in today’s high technology world.

Findings revealed the pressure for Britons to have an action packed fun weekend is so high that over a quarter of (27%) of adults will lie, about what they got up to over the weekend – in order to sound cool and impress others.

Britons are hit the hardest by the psychological condition – ‘Weekendvy’ on Monday morning especially within the workplace and when updating their Facebook page.

The top five most popular activities Britons will pretend they did over the weekend when they didn’t are:

1. Paint the town red on Saturday night with their partner or friend

2. Visited friends

3. Went to a dinner party

4. Went out for a romantic meal

5. Took a short break – when really they just re-told of an old experience where they took a UK short break and made it sound like they went at the weekend

Top UK Psychologist, Corinne Sweet commented on the findings and said: “The Travelodge weekend study has exposed a new psychological condition we Brits are suffering from: ‘Weekendvy’. It’s to do with needing to feel like an ‘Alpha’ male or female, with high status. As we don’t want to admit that most of our weekend time is spent trying to catch up with housework, paperwork and lost sleep. It’s the horrible feeling that everyone else is having a better time than us, going away, partying or having fun. No-one likes to think of themselves as lonely, or boring, so we like to create a psychological ‘smoke-screen’ pretending, a bit like Bridget Jones, that we’re having a wonderful time, when we’re not.

‘Weekendvy’ means we pretend we’re having romantic weekend breaks, learning new skills, or having wonderful sex, when in fact most of us are trying to catch up on lost sleep and overwhelming household chores and paperwork.”

Listed below are the top seven regions where adults are hardest hit by ‘Weekendvy‘:

1. Wales

2. London

3. West Midlands / Scotland

4. North West / South East / North East

5. Yorkshire

6. Yorkshire

7. East Anglia

Further findings from the report revealed the stresses and pressures of living in a fast paced 24 / 7 culture is certainly taking its toll as one in three Britons reported their weekend is just becoming an extension of their working week due to work commitments.

Twenty nine per cent of adults stated they are so exhausted and tired by Friday evening that they regularly spend their weekend catching up on sleep.

Four out ten adults surveyed stated they wish they could have more fun at the weekends like they use to be able to due.

One in ten adults stated that they do not get any time for themselves during the weekend as their time is taken up with family commitments.

The report also revealed traditional weekend rituals such as the traditional Sunday lie-in and having a Sunday roast dinner are also on the decline. Just 23% of adults reported they have a regular lie in on a Sunday morning with the average lie-in being one hour and four minutes. Twenty one per cent of respondents reported they have a traditional roast dinner every Sunday, with chicken being the top choice followed by beef and pork. In addition only 12% of adults go to Church on a Sunday.

Other key findings from the report included:

· Forty four per cent of adults reported they wish they could have more fun at the weekend.

· Thirty four per cent of respondents stated they wish they could get out more at the weekends and explore the UK.

· Twenty one per cent of adults feel their friends and work colleagues have more fun than they do at the weekend.

· Twenty six per cent of respondents reported they wish they could be more spontaneous at the weekend.

· Eighteen per cent of Britons has never taken a UK short break.

The report also revealed that on average Britons spend 21 days a year (two a week) at work making weekend arrangements. With Monday morning, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon being the peak arrangement times to email and make calls.

Travelodge Spokeswoman, Shakila Ahmed said: “It’s time to reclaim our weekend. Who hasn’t sat down on Sunday evening and wondered where the weekend went? With more of us working longer hours, these two precious days designed for rest and recuperation are too often consumed by a whirl of duties and catching up with ourselves. You can cure ‘Weekendvy’, with a few tweaks to your routine, a little originality and ingenuity and you can make the world of difference to your lifestyle.

To help Britons reclaim their weekend, Travelodge is offering thousands of £19 rooms across the UK for a quick getaway. It’s amazing what’s on your doorstep within hours you could be at the seaside or exploring one of the UK’s great 66 cities.”

Listed below are some tips to help Britons reclaim their weekend:

1. Jot Down A Plan For The Weekend – By creating a plan you are more likely to make time for fun and stop shopping, cleaning, cooking, and chores dominating your weekend.

2. Shift The Chores To Weekdays – Do the supermarket run, house cleaning or laundry on Thursday or Friday night.

3. Get Out Of Bed At The Same Time As Weekdays – Don’t lose half the day under the duvet. In addition to freeing up more time for your weekend fun, you’ll also regulate your body clock better and avoid that Monday morning “hungover” feeling.

4. Make One Day A Fun Day – Don’t let errands and work spread to both Saturday and Sunday. Make one day for activities that makes you happy.

The table below highlights the different types of chores that take up Britons time over the weekend

Time Hrs

Activities

1:45

Food shopping

2.00

Running errands such as picking up dry-cleaning or shopping for a particular item

2.00

Gym or exercise

2.35

Catching up with work emails and work

2.00

Catching up with programmes recorded on Skyplus during the week

2.00

Visiting parents or other family members

2.45

Catching up on housework

1.00

Paying bills and catching up on paperwork

1.50

Laundry

1.00

Change and make the beds

1.16

Catch up on emails and update social network sites

3.00

Adults who have children – Taxi service taking kids to parties and their activities

4.25

Cooking meals over the weekend

2.00

Doing DIY or gardening jobs around the house

0.45

Reading the weekend papers

0.45

Preparing for the week ahead

Stars ‘give it up’ for Lent fundraiser

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The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) launches its annual Lent campaign, ‘give it up!’ today. With backing from X-Factor host Dermot O’Leary and Coronation Street’s Ben Price (Nick Tilsley) the charity is urging people to give something up and make a difference for those living in some of the poorest communities in the world.

Lent is embraced by many as an opportunity to re-ignite those failed new years resolutions, to kick start a new health regime or kick out an old bad habit.

The official start of Lent, Ash Wednesday will see CAFOD is calling on people in England and Wales to give something up and donate the money saved to support their work in over 50 countries fighting poverty and injustice.

Life-long supporter of the charity, Dermot O’Leary is going all out, giving up chocolate, crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks, he said:

“I have been supporting CAFOD’s Lent fundraising since my school days and it’s just such a great and simple way to raise money. You only have to give up one thing, one thing, and you can make a massive difference to someone else’s life.”

Fellow TV star Ben Price is also joining the effort, giving up his daily diet coke and encouraging others to get involved.
“Over the years I have heard of CAFOD supporters giving up all sorts for Lent, from chocolate and magazines to Facebook and beer, raising millions of pounds in the process. Anyone can get involved and all donations, big and small, really can help transform lives.’
If you already live vice free or on a tight budget, you could get sponsored to give up an activity instead, like playing computer games or tweeting. You could even hold your own fundraising event; for further hints, tips and support just visit the ‘give it up!’ website.

As well as raising vital funds this Lent supporters can take action by backing ‘Get down to business’, a campaign supporting small businesses in the poorest countries. This campaign calls on the UK Government to support millions of vulnerable people as they work to lift themselves out of poverty by ensuring that overseas aid and trade policies put them first.

Daniel Craig Dresses Up As a Women To Promote Equality

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It sees 007 star Daniel Craig undergo a dramatic makeover as he puts himself, quite literally, in a woman’s shoes. Directed by acclaimed ‘Nowhere Boy’ director/conceptual artist Sam Taylor-Wood, scripted by Jane Goldman (‘Kick Ass’) and featuring the voice of Dame Judi Dench reprising her role as ‘M’, the film will be screened in cinemas and streamed online in a bid to highlight the levels of inequality that persist between men and women in the UK and worldwide. It is the first film featuring Bond to be directed by a woman.

Weareequals.org

LONDONERS CASH IN ON THE ROYAL WEDDING

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  • Gumtree sees influx of Londoners renting their rooms and houses over the wedding weekend

With the sound of Royal Wedding bells almost in the air, Londoners living near the royal procession route can also hear the sound of cash jingling in their pockets.  Gumtree.com has seen an influx of ads from people renting out their London rooms or homes over the Royal Wedding period – often charging as much as £2,000 for the whole week.

Homes and rooms on or near the royal procession route, or within walking distance from Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace, are charging a hefty premium – with many ads on the online local notice board detailing the short walk that renters can take to catch a glimpse of the wedding action.

Rental prices per week range from £1,000 to £2,500 to rent the full property.  Others who are staying in London have advertised to sublet a single spare bedroom, with the note: “Willing to negotiate a price for the whole property (2 double bedrooms) for the entire weekend”.

Adverts currently on the site include:

·                  £850pw, Luxury 2 bed flat walking distance Royal Wedding Westminster Abbey London http://www.gumtree.com/london/52/73742252.html

Top Tips for subletting your home for the Royal Wedding weekend

  • Be honest when describing your home, include photos on the ad so that potential renters know exactly what to expect
  • Include details on how to get to the key sights over the wedding weekend, include tube stops, bus routes or approximate walking times
  • Remember to mention the facilities and mod-cons in your property – holidaymakers will be looking for a home-away-from-home rather than a hotel, so remember to mention your HD TV/cable package, blue ray player, dishwasher, state of the art cooking facilities, etc. in your ad – and why not leave out your DVD collection for the option of a quiet night in?
  • Get to know your renters by email or telephone before you commit and meet them beforehand if you can – this will help build trust and peace of mind while you’re away, and also help make local recommendations
  • Create a rule book for your renters that are clear and easy to understand e.g. no smoking indoors, or no pets allowed, don’t use the washing machine after 10pm or the neighbours will complain, etc.
  • Compile a folder with everything your renters might need: instructions on how to use the household appliances, restaurant recommendations, locations of nearby shops and pubs, telephone numbers for local services
  • Lock away any valuables or high-value items
  • Inform your friends and neighbours of your house rental plans

Sam Taylor from Gumtree.com said:  “Despite the building excitement about the Royal Wedding, Londoners have begun to realise that if they rent out their property over the wedding weekend, it can fund a holiday to more exotic climates.

Luxury hotels are charging in the region of £3,000 – £5,000 for the long weekend – so it’s easy to see why self-catering options are proving popular.

Those lucky enough to live in central London are sitting on very easy money so should consider cashing-in on their postcodes for a few days if they are planning on going away – or even renting out a spare bedroom if they are staying in the city for the celebrations.”

 

Gumtree.com anticipates a similar trend to take place this summer in south-west London for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2011, and the London Olympics 2012.