Author Archives: Frostie

Thanks For The Warm Up: The Paralympics on C4

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Wednesday August 29th – Sunday 9th September

After years of working and waiting, countless months of heady anticipation, weeks of building excitement, and a not-too-shabby test event, the Paralympics have finally arrived. For 12 days, viewers of Channel 4 will witness unfettered sporting brilliance, courage, talent, triumph and tragedy, as dreams are made and broken in the cauldron of top class competitive sport.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the biggest event in Channel 4’s history. Close to 500 hours of live coverage will be broadcast during the twelve days of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, marking the most extensive Paralympic Games coverage ever broadcast in the UK.

Multiple channels and platforms will broadcast live sport on Channel 4, More4 and online at Channel4.com. Three further live streams will feature uninterrupted live coverage of events from across the Paralympic Games, on-air from early morning through to late evening.

The Channel 4 presenting team for the Paralympic Games will be a ground-breaking line-up featuring top sports broadcasters, former Paralympians and new disabled talent. Half of the presenters and reporters covering the Games for Channel 4 will be disabled. Eight of the on-air team have come through our nationwide talent search carried out in 2010 to find the best new disabled presenters.

Viewers will also find their enjoyment of the sports on offer enhanced by Lexi, a graphic system that will explain the classification system involved in Paralympic sport. Lexi is made up of graphics which broadly illustrate disability types within sporting classes.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be the biggest, and hopefully the best, in history. Thousands of remarkable athletes will perform in some amazing venues in front of passionate and knowledgeable crowds. Watch it all on Channel 4, and enjoy an extraordinary swansong to this once-in-a-lifetime summer of sport.

Paralympic Games Breakfast Show

A surprising, inspiring and eclectic mix of the best of Paralympic sport served up daily from 7 until 9.15am.

Hosted by Kelly Cates and Rick Edwards the show covers the very best of all the great moments of the Games. There are live injects from the main venues, analysis of the triumphs and heartbreak and close-up features of the lives of the superhumans we’re all watching. The Breakfast Roadshow is trekking across the country every morning shining a light on the home-town unsung heroes who’ve helped the athletes achieve their dreams.

In the studio we’re investigating cybernetics, prosthetics and all manner of Paralympic paraphernalia. The audience is invited to join in via tweets, texts and all forms of social media and there’s a wide range of studio guests.

Morning
Jonathan Edwards and Daraine Mulvihill introduce an action-packed morning of sport from the Olympic Park. Among the sports regularly featured are Athletics, Swimming, Equestrian and Table Tennis. From the pressure of the heats, to the drama and excitement of the finals, we’ll be on hand to bring you closer to the competitors as they bid for Paralympic glory.

Afternoon
Comprehensive coverage of the afternoon action from the London Paralympics where Cycling and Equestrian take centre stage, alongside team sports like Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and 5-a-side and 7-a-side Football.

Arthur Williams and Georgie Bingham are your hosts for this inspiring sporting extravaganza, bringing you the personalities behind the athletes and getting under the skin of the Games.

Teatime
At 5.30pm every evening of the Paralympics make a date with the big finals at the Aquatics Centre. The world’s finest swimmers hold centre stage in this hour with as many as seven gold medals up for grabs before 6.30. Athletics kicks in soon afterwards as do the team sports such as Wheelchair Basketball and Sitting Volleyball. Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan present the best of the action.

7.30 Peak
The day’s action at the Paralympics reaches its climax through the evening with more gold medals on offer between now and 10.30 than at any other time of the day. The swimming finals continue in the Aquatics Centre; the track finals come thick and fast in the Olympic Stadium; and the team sports – Wheelchair Basketball and Rugby among them – are guaranteed to provide bone-crunching moments. The presenters are Clare Balding and Ade Adepitan.

THE LAST LEG with Adam Hills
Adam Hills presents an alternative review of each day at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, showing all the best gems of action and taking a sideways look at the intricacies of disability sport. Adam will be joined each night by his eagle-eyed sidekick Josh Widdicombe, as well as guests from the worlds of sport and entertainment, to pore over the golden moments, confront some of the widely held views associated with Paralympic sport, and answer the questions you were always afraid to ask.

Reporters, Commentators and Analysts
The presenting team will be joined by reporters discovered during Channel 4’s search for disabled talent in 2010; including former Paralympic swimmer Rachael Latham, sports reporter and wheelchair basketball player Jordan Jarret-Bryan, former carpenter Martin Dougan, researcher Liam Holt, sports journalist Alex Brooker, and para-equestrian rider Diana Man. The reporting team will also include renowned broadcasters such as Sonja McLaughlan, Ned Boulting and Adam Darke.

A hugely experienced commentary and analysis line-up will include John Rawling and Rob Walker as well as former Paralympic sprinter Danny Crates, former Paralympic wheelchair racer Jeff Adams and former British sprinter Katherine Merry on athletics; Bob Ballard and Paul Noble alongside former swimmers Giles Long and Karen Pickering at the aquatics centre; Phil Liggett and Jon Norfolk in cycling; Ronald McIntosh and Dan Johnson on basketball; Andrew Cotter and Justin Frishberg for wheelchair rugby; Don Parker on table tennis; Tony Jones for football; Simon Golding on volleyball, powerlifting and fencing; Neil Adams and Simon Jackson on judo; and Chris Dennis covering Tennis.

Live Streams:
Three further live streams, C4 Paralympics Extra 1, 2 and 3, will feature uninterrupted live coverage of events from across the Paralympic Games, on-air from early morning through to late evening. The three streams will be broadcast on Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media (numbers to follow)

Jon Snow’s Paralympic Show
In the run up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Jon Snow will present a nightly show, starting on Monday 20th August at 7:30pm.

Well-known celebrities and faces from the world of sport and entertainment join Jon Snow’s live nightly weekday countdown to the eagerly anticipated London 2012 Paralympic Games; the biggest event in Channel 4’s history. Jon invites viewers to join in the wave of enthusiasm and excitement, as over 4000 elite disabled athletes descend on London. During the week presenter Clare Balding, leaves the comfort of the TV studio to try her hand at equestrian dressage with the man who dominates the medals in this sport – Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson. Comedian Jimmy Carr visits Headley Court, the MOD’s rehabilitation centre, where rower Captain Nick Beighton and some of his Paralympics GB teammates spent time after returning with horrific injuries from Afghanistan. Martine Wiltshire, 7/7 London bombing victim, explains why the number seven has become a good omen as she gets ready to compete in the women’s sitting volleyball competition. Sue Kent, the only massage therapist in the UK qualified to ply her trade using only her feet, practises on Olympic champion and Channel 4 Paralympic sports presenter Jonathan Edwards, before heading into the Paralympic village to look after the athletes. And Ade Adepitan, checks out The Village, where over 4000 athletes are staying for the Paralympic Games. As a Paralympian himself, will he find the accommodation and surrounding areas accessible and up to scratch? Exec Prods: Michelle Fobler and Gareth Rees; Prod Co: Boomerang

Jon Snow’s Paralympic Show, week nights from Monday 20th – Tuesday 28th August at 7:30pm.

Justin Bieber’s Girlfriend sells every minute at The Perfume Shop

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The Perfume Shop has announced phenomenal sales of Justin Bieber’s second female scent, “Girlfriend”. Following an exclusive launch nationwide, The Perfume Shop recorded that it sold one bottle of Girlfriend every minute in the opening week, making it one of the business’ bestselling celebrity scents.

On top of the in-store success, The Perfume Shop saw a dramatic increase in online traffic with the launch producing an increase in sales of 132% compared to this time last year!

Die hard Beliebers camped outside The Perfume Shop stores nationwide and swarmed high streets across the country as they eagerly awaited the launch of the teen idols fab new fragrance! The Perfume Shop’s Facebook page has been overrun with ‘likes’ and comments and 75% of the business’ Twitter feed was dominated by Justin Bieber posts during the launch weekend, including a tweet to all UK fans from the heartthrob himself directing them to UK stores!

Michelle D’Vaz, National Advertising and PR Manager at The Perfume Shop comments: “With the remarkable success of JB’s debut scent Someday, we are thrilled to say all records have been broken with the launch of Girlfriend. The online traffic has been remarkable and with one bottle being sold every minute it is safe to say Bieber fever is still a phenomenon!

This weekend, The Perfume Shop will be continuing this success of the exclusive launch with Bieber fever celebrations at selected stores across the country. Girlfriend Justin Bieber is available in the following sizes, EDP Spray 30ml, 50ml and 100ml priced at £23.50, £28.50 and £38.50 respectively.

Lib Dems take major stand on low carbon growth

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Responding to a Lib Dem party conference motion from Danny Alexander supporting a legal commitment to a carbon-free power sector by 2030 as a means to support growth in the low-carbon sector, Joss Garman, senior campaigner for Greenpeace UK said:

“Danny Alexander deserves praise for standing up for our low-carbon sector, which generated a third of all growth in our economy last year. This issue goes to the heart of the coalition’s growth and infrastructure plans. A clear commitment to a carbon-free power sector by 2030 will boost clean industries, create jobs, get energy bills under control, and get us on track with reducing carbon emissions.”

Adams and Taylor Win Historic Golds in Women’s Boxing

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Great Britain’s Nicola Adams made history as she became the first ever women to win an Olympic gold boxing medal. Adams boxed superbly throughout the tournament. She defeated Indian legend and five time world champion Mary Kom in the semi finals.

Adams then crushed her Chinese opponent Ren Cancan in the final bout.  This despite Cancan having beaten Adams twice in previous contests. At one point Adams floored her opponent with a brilliant right hook and she went on to win comfortably by 16 points to 7.

The boxer from Leeds who’s idol is Muhammad Ali was ecstatic at the win and took team GBs to 24 gold medals.

Minutes later Katie Taylor followed Adams and became the second women to win a gold in boxing as she won a closely fought contest beating Sofya Ochigava 10 points to 8. Taylor had been behind by a point after the second round but battled back bravely and dominated thereafter. Taylor, a four time world champion, was carrying the hopes and dreams of Ireland who had yet to win a gold medal until the fight. Taylor had been the flag bearer for Ireland at the opening ceremony and the excel arena was packed with Irish fans.

Taylor delivered and sank to her knees in joy as the final result was read out.

MODEL EDIE CAMPBELL BACK TO DEFEND GOODWOOD LADIES’ RACE TITLE

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Celebrities and models will take centre-stage at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday when they line up in the second running of the Magnolia Cup on Ladies’ Day – in aid of charities Spinal Research and Winston’s Wish.

British model Edie Campbell, winner of the first running of the race last year, is back to defend her title aboard George Baker, however bookmakers William Hill have priced her at 7-2 second favourite – with top event rider Harriet Bond the 3-1 market-leader.

Channel 4 horse racing presenter and trainer’s daughter Emma Spencer is the ex-wife of champion jockey Jamie Spencer and one of the most experienced in the saddle, having several race victories already on her CV, and will she takes the ride aboard 9-2-shot Bellevue Beauty. Spencer was heavily gambled on last year before occupying the runner-up position.

11-2-shot Beat The Bell is the mount of Acclaimed jewellery designer Philippa Holland, while fashion model Rosemary Ferguson rides West Leake Hare (11-1 with William Hill).

Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: “Last year Edie showed she is more than just a pretty face with her prowess in the saddle proving a success. However she will have to be riding at the top of her game with accomplished event rider Harriet Bond in the mix, while Emma Spencer, who was subject to a huge gamble last year, will be gunning to make amends for her defeat”

Other famous names include Tricia Simonon – former wife of The Clash bassist Paul, Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox, AtTheRaces presenter Gina Bryce, CNN producer Alysen Miller and Talktalk head-honcho Dido Harding. They are joined by and trainer’s daughter Francesca Cumani.

Fashion with naturally will transfer to the saddle with all racing silks especially designed by famous names such as Kate Moss, Vivienne Westwood, Frost French, and Meg Matthews to name but a few.

Many accomplished horsewomen have taken part in the race, with Laura Bechtolsheimer – third in the race last year – competing for Great Britain in the Olympic dressage, starting tomorrow. Bechtolsheimer is 6-1 with William Hill to win the individual gold, with GB the 5-4 favourites to win the team competition.

The Magnolia Cup Glorious Goodwood Ladies’ Charity Race: 7-4 Bankroll (Photo Finish), 7-2 George Baker (George Baker), 9-2 Sunley Pride (Bellevue Beauty), 11-2 Beat The Bell (Beat The Bell), 11-1 West Leake Hare (West Leake Hare), 20-1 Dvinsky (Dvinsky), King Vahe (Watchesswitzerland), Monnoyer (Always Delivering), 25-1 Potentiale (Ridgeway Rocket), 33-1 Bengaline (Pancreatic Action), Rapid Water (Harrodian Hotshot) (EW 1/5 1,2,3)

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Women Worry That They Are Fat Three Times A day

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Women Worry That They Are Fat Three Times A day

 

  • 80 per cent of Britons  say they’re depressed by their appearance
  • Eight out of ten said their lives would improve considerably if they felt happy about their body
  • Cameron Diaz’s legs, Kim Kardashian’s bottom, Gisele Bundchen’s stomach and Jessica Simpson’s bust are considered to be ‘ideal’

 

As a celebrity-obsessed culture, there is immense pressure on women to look good and females are forced to compare themselves to stars with perfect bodies but it has now been revealed that seven in ten women are so anxious about the way they look they fret about their weight three times a day, with a staggering 80 per cent of Brits saying they’re depressed by the appearance of their own body.

 

The study found actress Cameron Diaz’s legs, reality star Kim Kardashian’s bottom, model Gisele Bundchen’s flat stomach and singer Jessica Simpson’s bust are considered to be ‘ideal’ and the desire to look the same appears to be having a serious impact on the way women look at themselves. It’s not just women who are concerned about piling on the pounds, 61% of men fret about their body three times a day too.

 

The ‘Dare to Bare’ study conducted by Travelodge surveyed 5,000 British adults to investigate the nation’s views on their bodies and their attitude to fitness; following customer feedback on incorporating keep fit facilities across the Company’s hotels.

 

Key research findings revealed tummies is the nation’s number one body worry with three quarters of British adults admitting they are carrying a two pound unwanted spare tyre around their midriff. An astonishing 80% of British adults and women reported the appearance of their body depressed them.

The fact that women have body-image issues is a familiar one; however Travelodge’s research revealed that 73% of women on average think about their weight and body size at least three times during the day. Eight out of ten women reported they lives would improve considerably if they felt happy about their body. Over a third of women reported their love lives would be so much better if they felt better about their body. For women, legs were second to bellies in the body-worry charts with bottoms coming in third place.

 

The report also revealed it’s not just women who obsess about their appearance, a whopping 78% of men hate their physique and 56% of men regularly discuss their bodies with friends with the main topics of conversations being around: beer bellies, measly muscles, baldness and “man boobs”. After their tummies, arms and shoulders were cited by men as ‘trouble spots’.

Listed below are the top five most hated body parts for men and women

MEN

WOMEN

Belly

Belly

Arms

Legs

Shoulders

Bottom

Legs

Arms

Bottom

Hips

 

 

 

 

Further findings from the survey revealed whilst women are usually preoccupied with losing weight and reducing their dress size for men it’s all about building muscle mass and looking “ripped”, with a toned “six pack”.

 

Research findings also revealed celebrity culture has a significant impact on body self-image among both British men and women. Listed below is the nation’s most desired celebrity body part:

Body Area

Male

Female

Legs

David Beckham

Cameron Diaz

Bottom

Channing Tatum

Kim Kardashian

Abs

Mark Wahlberg /

Matthew McConaughey

Gisele Bundchen

Chest / Bust

Tyson Beckford

Jessica Simpson

Shoulders

Taylor Lautner

Felicity Huffman

Arms

Bradley Cooper

Eva Longoria Parker

 

The research also revealed that 57% of adults find it hard to stick to a keep-fit regime whilst away from home due to lack of facilities. Forty cent of Britons said they find it very difficult to resume their keep fit regime after they have been away from home due to the lapse of not exercising and it can take them up to two weeks to get back on track. Eighty seven per cent of respondents surveyed thought it would be a good idea to have a simple-to-follow fitness video in hotel rooms to use when travelling for business or leisure.

 

In response to these findings, In a UK first, Travelodge has created a free bespoke room workout specifically targeting the body areas Britons hate the most which includes: legs, bums and tums. Designed by personal trainer Marco Mandic, the workout is a series of exercises that can be done without any equipment or special sports gear in any of Travelodge’s 510 hotels.

 

Customers can either download a free five minute work out video tape at: or a factsheet which details the exercises at:    

 

Travelodge spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed said, “We are living in a celebrity obsessed culture where image is everything. Our customer feedback and research findings has highlighted Britons want to maintain their fitness regime when away from home. As a low cost operator providing gyms in our hotels is not a viable option therefore we have produced a bespoke room workout which requires no equipment but gives optimum results that our customers can do in their room whilst staying with us and back at home free of charge. It is a win-win solution.”        

 

Marko Mandic, Personal Trainer and founder of MMworkout.com says, ‘The Travelodge Room Work Out targets large muscle groups which is great for overall strength and muscle toning. More lean muscle revs the metabolism, which in turn means more calories are being burnt. Perform these exercises properly, regularly and safely and you will see excellent results.”

Couch potatoes have had their chips

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More and more men are being cajoled into losing weight by their fed-up wives, a survey has revealed.

 

Twenty per cent of men have been told to shed the pounds by women who are no longer prepared to put up with husbands who blame middle-aged spread as a get-out to staying trim.

 

Yet only half as many women have slimmed down under pressure from their spouses.

 

The survey of 2,000 men and women conducted by weight management company LighterLife, also revealed that 64 per cent of women diet for their own self-esteem, while only 42 per cent of men slim for the same reason.

 

And flying in the face of accepted logic, men do not lose weight to lure their partners into bed more often. Only six per cent of men admitted to dieting to improve their performance between the sheets, while 16 per cent of women said they do see weight loss as an aphrodisiac.

 

Mandy Cassidy, Psychological Director of LighterLife, said: “What we are seeing here is further evidence that it is women who call the shots at home, in the bedroom and with their own self esteem. They are no longer the junior partner in the relationship. Women know what they want and they go out and get it, whatever their age.

 

“However, women must be careful not to over-pressurise their partners because our experience is that men will only truly weight if they want to, not because they have been pushed to do it. Many men wake up to the benefit of dieting when they see how their wives have grown in confidence after losing weight – they realise they need to follow suit to keep their marriage on an equal footing.”

 

90% of Brits saying being "Friends with Benefits" ruined Friendship.

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90% OF BRITONS IN THEIR EARLY TWENTIES WHO’VE HAD A ‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ RELATIONSHIP SAID IT RUINED THEIR FRIENDSHIP

The results of a recent survey, asking single people about their views on ‘friends with benefits’ relationships, have revealed that 90% of Britons in their early twenties who have had a relationship with a friend said it ended up ruining their friendship.

The poll of over 15,000 men and women was carried out by mysinglefriend in association with the DVD release of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS (out now on Blu-ray and DVD).

Overall results show that of those UK singletons who had embarked on a relationship with a friend, 58% now think it was never a good idea as it always ends in tears. Only 1 in 20 of those surveyed think a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement can work for men but not for women.

“It’s fascinating to find that so many people have at some point dated a friend, and in the vast majority of cases this hasn’t worked out. I’d say we’ve found that it’s best to avoid practising on your friends – most friendships won’t survive!” Said Sarah Beeney, founder of mysinglefriend.

75% of 31-40 year olds won’t admit to ever having had a relationship with a friend
Of the 38% of over 40’s who have had a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, 73% managed to remain friends after the relationship fizzled out

Despite 90% of those in their early twenties admitting they ruined their friendships, 60% still believe the arrangement can still work in some circumstances

Only 7% of resilient 20-30 year olds ended up getting hurt by having a relationship with a friend

In FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as two friends who decide to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, soon discovering that getting physical really does always lead to complications…

Directed by Will Gluck and starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS, out now on Blu-ray and DVD, also boasts hilarious performances by Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone.