Category Archives: Culture

The Wright Wing Part 2

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Disclaimer: Ignore whatever he says. He knows nothing.

 

Warning: This week’s article might get a big heavy so I will punctuate it with jokes

 

This week was meant to be the 150th Anniversary of the London Underground but you know…delays.

 

While it’s not strictly political news BBC this week ran another series of stargazing and asked us all to help explore Mars. I’ve been exploring them for years but I have gallstones now so they’re a bit too fatty to eat now. While we’re on mars right “mars a day helps you work, rest and play” might be the biggest lie in all of advertising history.

 

I like to write my stand up material in the nude…yeah…bare jokes!

 

MP’s in an anonymous survey have stated that they believe they deserve a 32% pay rise. I can almost hear them justifying it by claiming it was less then a 3rd.of a pay rise. In this time of, as we are constantly reminded Mr Chancellor, austerity to suggest a 32% pay rise for yourself is a another blow to the public’s opinion of who you are what you do a MP’s. I don’t have anything funny to about this but it is most certainly a joke. Meanwhile starting salary for people in the police force will be cut £4,000. Wonder if those at the top of the police force will see similar pay cuts. I highly doubt it.

 

A lot of the time new hip hop music gets me annoyed, you know, makes me angry. Thankfully it’s only a Tinnie Tempah.

 

The first portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge has been unveiled. And I have to say that I wasn’t aware Karen Brady was the duchess of Cambridge. Take a look at it again yeah and see I’m right about this.

 

Lord Strathclyde has stood down from his position in the Cabinet. This ends his 25 year run as a part of the Conservative front bench. There are no jokes I can make here. Legally and from a liable point of view there are no jokes to be made here at all. Nothing to do with any sort of criminal investigation currently going on. I have no idea what you think I am a implying here. His friends have said there is no political reason for his departure. And why should I question that. I am sure there isn’t if they say there isn’t. SO obviously there is no joke to be made here. Let’s all move on because clearly, and I want to make this very clear, I am saying nothing about this or anything to do with hotels in north Wales. I do not review hotels in north Wales is what I mean. Clearly there is no connection here at all. Legally I want to make that clear.

 

I don’t know about you but I have an extensive disaster kit prepared at all times now because if even Labrinth is predicting an earthquake then I need to be prepared.

 

And yes that is an old joke but not as old as this one

 

Don’t go chasing waterfalls? Is there any need to chase them? Surely you just find them. Like they don’t move location. Yes they involve moving water but the waterfall itself doesn’t move so there is really no need to warm me no to chase them. Because why would I chase them? Yeah. Current.

 

David Cameron has accused UKIP of containing some pretty odd people. Because The Conservative party is a model or normality Mr Cameron? Pot. Kettle. Kettle. Pot. You get the idea.

 

HMV has gone into administration and I am feeling a little like I’ve lost a friend. I loved HMV and I spent plenty of money in their stores. HMV was like a second home I spent so much time in there. I will miss it. HMV will be a loss and now where do I physically buy DVD’s in the “high street”? Nowhere. Upset is an understatement.

 

Dear David Irvine, get your finger out and start putting an end to these “protests” over the flag. While I don’t agree with Belfast City councils decision to limit the days the flag is flown over Belfast City Council this is not the answer. Mr Irvine, along with other “political leaders” who are linked to organisations like the UVF need to call this off. They need to realise that this will solve nothing and actually makes the case the DUP are trying to make harder.

 

And Finally Nick Clegg has confirmed he will stand as a candidate and seek to be return to parliament at the 2015 General Election. This is apparently news. A man saying that he wishes to continue doing his job is news. A career politician saying he WILL stand for election is news. Surely it would be news if he wasn’t going to stand in 2015. That’s news. And to many Liberal Democrats that would be welcome news.

 

Thanks. Come back next week when I will be taking a look at the evolution of the teapot and how we stored tea before it was invented. (in case you hadn’t figured it out anything I tell you will come up next week never will)

Muhammad Ali’s Birthday – Rarely Before Seen Sonic Editions Images

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Today is Muhammad Ali’s Birthday. To celebrate here is some excellent images of the legendary boxer from Sonic Editions.

 

Available in four sizes, all prints can be purchased from www.soniceditions.com

Bring Back Fawlty Towers!

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Iconic British sitcom crowned most wanted comeback TV show

 

Comedy is still top of the box for Brits with legendary sitcom Fawlty Towers topping nationwide polls as the show Brits would most like to see back on TV screens.

 

Commissioned by Freeview, the brand new research polled over 2,000 TV fanatics nationwide to celebrate the year of comeback television, which has seen the re-launch of the hugely popular ‘Surprise, Surprise’ on ITV and a brand new series of super soap Dallas debut on Channel 5.

 

With 29% of the votes, Fawlty Towers emerged as the clear comeback favourite, followed closely by TV comedy gold One Foot in the Grave (22%), Jim Henson’s The Muppet Show (18%), timeless treasure The Good Life (17%) and retro action series The A-Team (9%).  Starring John Cleese and Prunella Scales as Basil and Sybil Fawlty and Andrew Sachs as the bumbling Manuel, Fawlty Towers ran for twelve unforgettable episodes and was broadcast on BBC2 from September 1975 to October 1979. With Freeview offering access to over 50 standard definition TV channels and four HD channels, there’s never been a better time to take a fresh look at the nation’s most treasured TV gems.

 

Top 10 most wanted TV comebacks:

1.       Fawlty Towers

2.       One Foot in the Grave

3.       The Muppet Show

4.       The Good Life

5.       The A-Team

6.       Birds of a Feather

7.       Dad’s Army

8.       The Bill

9.       The Office

10.   The Generation Game

 

 

Sara Jones, Head of Communications at Freeview said; “The results of this research highlight the nation’s love of timeless British comedy classics. As the cold nights draw in, Freeview customers can continue to enjoy their favourite TV shows, both old and new, subscription-free.”

 

A Woman of No Importance… Or Somewhat Little Importance Anyhow | Theatre Listing

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A new play by Katherine Rodden

Directed by Cat Robey

Unrestricted View

Hen & Chickens Theatre
109 St. Pauls Road
London
N1 2NA

5th – 23rd February 2013
Tues-Sat 7.00pm, Sat 3pm

A Comedy of Manners – Noel Coward Style!
A farcical, witty comedy that observes just how insane families really are behind closed doors – even ones that love each other to bits!

The Show
Lauren, an emotionally unstable actress in her late twenties is having a career crisis, a mental breakdown, an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and an even less healthy relationship with her parents! When her mother turns up at her door Lauren is forced to play middleman in her parents’ relationship. As an unlikely day of events unfold we see Lauren reach her breaking point.
The show is written by and stars Paradigm Artistic Associate Katherine Rodden, who most recently toured Europe and Japan playing Bianca in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. Press for Rodden’s work includes:
“Katherine Rodden showed great talent playing both the roles of Bianca and Grumio. Bianca was delightful and had the audience in laughter and the tough Grumio was urecognisable as the same actress.” (www.lokalkompass.de, ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, 2012)
“Leventon was of course excellent and Rodden had no trouble whatsoever in standing up to the challenge of shining opposite such an established pro.” (***** RemoteGoat, Paradigm Benefit Show, 2012)
The director, Cat Robey, is Paradigm’s Resident Director and has been working freelance since graduating from Goldsmith’s university eighteen months ago. Nominated Best Director by the Off West End Awards for ‘Ondine’ in early 2012, she most recently directed “Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon” with Paradigm at the Waterloo East Theatre. Press for Robey’s work includes:
“Cat Robey’s direction really flourishes here. The relationships and the connections were magnificent to watch.”(***** RemoteGoat, ‘Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon’, 2012)
“What was explored was done so with excellent wit and insight and director Cat Robey manoeuvred the cast of actors through this complex maze of emotions with a beautiful subtlety.” (Suite 101, ‘The Inappropriateness of Love’, 2012)

“A play is only as good as its director, and Cat Robey must take a large amount of credit for this magical piece of theatre.” (Frost Magazine, ‘Ondine’, 2012)

“Cat Robey’s direction encouraged high stakes, and a gradual build towards a thoroughly gripping climax.” (Frost Magazine, ‘As Fate Would Have It…’ 2011)

Cast & Crew

The cast includes Paradigm Artistic Associate Katherine Rodden. From outside of Paradigm, the cast includes Alan Booty, Rachel Dobell, Matt Houlihan, Patrick Neyman, and Keith Wallis.

The production team includes Paradigm Artistic Associates Adam Foley (Lighting, Sound & Projection), Hollie Perniskie (Costume Design), and Paradigm’s Artistic Director Sarah E. Pitard (Set Design). Resident Director Cat Robey directs.

The Company
Paradigm Theatre Company, created in January 2012, is the only fringe repertory company in London. Besides producing 4 shows per season, Paradigm pulls from the same body of actors, directors and writers (Artistic Associates) in order to produce each piece. Paradigm also holds yearly season auditions where we bring in cast members from outside of the company. The ethos behind this is that none of us in the company will ever go more than a year without any artistic work, something that has become quite common for artists in the current economy, whilst also providing a platform for other emerging talent.
Paradigm recently produced a benefit show, staring Sylvia Syms, Annabel Leventon, and Dudley Sutton:
“A brilliant evening of entertainment with acting, directing and writing that displayed absolute class. The honourable ethos of offering a creative platform is simply not ambitious enough. This isn’t just a platform, it is a new and exciting theatre company that offers an opportunity for audiences to be thoroughly entertained.” (***** Remote Goat, 2012)
Paradigm was founded by Artistic Director and Resident Playwright Sarah E. Pitard, who most recently wrote ‘The Inappropriateness of Love’ and ‘Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon’ for Paradigm. Press for Pitard’s work includes:
“Pitard’s dialogue has a remarkable ear for Wilde’s nuances… it is difficult to distinguish between repurposed text from the stories and Pitard’s work. It’s elegant, subtle and perfectly suited to the stories.” (Views From the Gods, ‘Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon’, 2012)
“Sarah E Pitard’s specialty is in her dialogue, which is heightened (as it ought to be in comedy) without sacrificing much in realism.” (The Londonist, ‘The Inappropriateness of Love’, 2012)
The company produces 4 shows a year: 1 classical and 3 new writing pieces (one of which is an adaptation). ‘A Woman of No Importance… Or Somewhat Little Importance Anyhow’ is the 3rd show of the current season. The theme of this season is ‘The Many Faces of Love’ exploring all different types of love, whether it’s love and attraction or love in its purest, most unconditional form. Each play will bring to the audience a glimpse of what it means to live for love, be deceived by love, be disgusted by love, and love with so mighty a heart that even death can’t destroy it.
The 1st production of the season, ‘The Inappropriateness of Love’ by Sarah E. Pitard, ran at the Hen & Chickens Theatre for the month of September 2012 and enjoyed rave reviews:
“The Inappropriateness of Love exposes the vulnerability of the heart through thoroughly convincing acting and scenes… It’s well worth seeing” (Frost Magazine)
“This theatre company could soon surprise and indeed come to occupy the stage of London’s Royal Court.”(PlaysToSee)
‘Freedom, Books, Flowers, and the Moon’, our 2nd show of the season by Sarah E. Pitard, played at the Waterloo East Theatre in November 2012, also to rave reviews:
“The performances were exceptional, Cat Robey’s direction once again excelled itself and Pitard’s writing never ceases to enthrall … deeply moving, very real and incredibly enjoyable.” (***** RemoteGoat)
“We are faced with the awful and disturbing question – how does one measure love – and are forced to question ourselves and our selfless gestures in this world.” (***** Last Minute Theatre Tickets)
 The Theatre 
The Hen & Chickens Theatre is a beautiful intimate venue with 54 individual raked seats in a black box end on space. It is upstairs in the cosy Victorian pub the Hen & Chickens Theatre Bar on Highbury corner.

This wonderful venue has been established for over 30 years and has an excellent reputation for new writing and comedy. Unrestricted View, the resident Production Company has been producing shows and programming visiting companies for the last thirteen years. Unrestricted View is run by actors for actors, to provide a supportive artistic environment to explore and create.

The Wright Wing

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Disclaimer: While this man has an A-Level in Government & Politics (and a degree but it’s in Film so no one really cares) his opinions should essentially be ignored. By everyone. Always. His views are his own and not the opinion of Frost Magazine who like to use logic and reason to form their conclusions. Richard has a natural logic and reason avoidance technique he’s cultivated over the years and now his opinions are largely not worth the air they use to come out of his mouth. Enjoy.

 

Hello. My name is Richard Wright and let’s take a walk with the news.

 

I was talking to a very middle class girl the other day who got a bit upset talking about the colour of the new paint on her bedroom walls….yeah it was totes emulsh!

 

Speaking of bad jokes the Government has announced plans that Obese people on Benefits will have them cut if they refuse exercise. Define exercise please because one of the best ways to lose weight is to walk. And you walk all the time. So are we talking serious exercise? Which isn’t walking while listening to the 1983 Labour Party manifesto. No. That’s very dull exercise. Under the scheme it would be Doctors telling them how to exercise, which I suppose is better then someone who works for the DSS but it’s still not great. The reason this has me quite wound up is I am “technically” obese. I say “technically” I am also obese in reality. I have in the past been obese while claiming benefits. My life right now is changing because i have gallstones so I am on a diet, I am losing weight, at what point could I claim benefits? Is that going to be a dietary goal now? Turn up to weightwatchers and they’ll tell you that you can now claim heating allowance but you’re still a half stone off help with your council tax? I knew there was benefits to working out but this might be taking that idea a little too literally. But hey I’ll take this idea as seriously as Eric Pickles does. Yeah. We all know what I mean by that without having to lower this to the point of Eric Pickles is a tubby tubby man jokes.

 

In other news David Cameron’s attempt to successfully re-boot the Thatcherite franchise of Government seems to be coming into full effect as we are once again at odds with Argentina over the Falklands. Now The Sun, and you know anything can be helped by the addition of the carefully thought out and reasoned approach of The Sun, have weighed in with a rather helpful advertisement in an Argentinean newspaper telling Argentina in a diplomatic and well thought out way to get their “hands off” the Falklands. One of the things Argentina is bringing up in their renewed panties in a twist over the Falklands is a UN Resolution from 1965 saying that we should resolve the dispute. I’m not a diplomatic expert but you might have wanted to have brought that up a bit sooner really. It’s almost as if it’s not really about the UN resolution. It’s almost as if that doesn’t really play a factor and is something to help legitimise their claim. Again, I’m not a diplomatic expert.

 

Just in case it looks like I am only kicking The Conservative Party I am always amazed whenever Nick Clegg decides to “take a stand” on something. It’s like a tiny voiced child shouting from the back of a crowded bar fight that surely fighting isn’t the answer but yet not leaving the bar but handing the people having the bar fight chairs to hit each other with. Being admonished by Nick Clegg is a like when you get told off by a toddler. It’s cute and amusing but you know you can pretty much just ignore it. Nick Clegg has the moral authority of a custard cream. No that’s not quite right. Of a rich tea biscuit. I like custard creams.

 

As for Labour they have said they would offer the long term unemployed, whatever that means, a guaranteed 6 month job if they were in power. That sounds like a great vote winning policy. But wait, don’t go screaming Ed Miliband’s name in passion quite yet. They have also said they could not commit to the scheme if they won the 2015 general election. So this is basically the opposition’s  New Year’s resolution. No one should pay any real notice to it as it would clearly never happen. Just like that gym membership you say you’ll get just in case you loose your job. Apparently this is Labour setting out their idea for what should happen. This is the drunk uncle style of policy making. You know the Uncle who knows exactly how your life should be run. It’s very difficult to take anything Labour do or say seriously as you always get the impression that Ed Miliband is like a temp leader. Like he’s never sure when his contract will be terminated and so therefore isn’t taking the job as seriously as he might do. He also kind of comes across as a work experience leader. As soon as Harriet Harman signs his letter for school he’ll be out of there. Overall I would say the leader of the opposition isn’t really much of a leader but that’s he’s perfect for the current political climate because Labour aren’t really much of an opposition

 

 

That’s it. See you next week when I will be laying out my thoughts for how the story of John Major could be turned into a serious motion picture with Peter Capaldi as John Major, Helena Bonham Carter as Edwina Currie, Rowan Atkinson as John Redwood, Benedict Cumberbatch as Peter Lilley and Stephen Fry as Ken Clarke. More cast details next week. Sadly I wouldn’t be able to use my working title for the John Major film of “Where’s wally?”

 

Disclaimer: He’s rubbish at sticking with these things so you never know you might see him real soon and you might not. Let’s find out.

Suits Season Two Preview

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Suits was a legal drama that lived up to the hype when it premiered last year. The tale of two lawyers, one experienced and one a drop out who blags his way into a firm that only takes Harvard graduates, was entertaining and smart. So there is no surprise that Suits is back for season two.

The Suits series 2 premiere (from Thursday 24th January, 9pm ) is a strong start into the new season.

Spoiler Alert.

Jessica finds out that Mike did not go to Harvard and lied to get into the firm. She tells Harvey to fire him but he can’t. Will his job be saved?

Elsewhere in the episode a women who has had her book idea stolen goes up against Mike, who decided to help her.

Their is a great relationship between Harvey and his secretary, Donna.

Rachel drunk dialed Mike after they kissed but he did not get the message because it was deleted. As Rachel tells Donna, it was a ‘kiss good enough to drunk dial’. Will they get together?

Some top quotes from the episode:

Are you mad at me? Good. If you are mad it means you are not panicking.

We are at a funeral and you are quoting Highlander? Yeah, a lot of people die in it. It seemed appropriate.

Brilliant college drop-out, Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) continues to live a lie in the highly-anticipated second series of the excellent legal drama. Guided by his cocky and confident boss, Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht), Mike continues to fool those around him that he is a fully-qualified lawyer.

Suits is still on form. Great entertainment.

Jessica knows about Mike. She lets Harvey know that she knows too and puts pressure on Harvey to get rid of him before he hurts the company. While Harvey must decide whether or not to keep Mike on staff, the firm’s co-founder, Daniel Hardman (recurring guest star, David Costabile) returns after a prolonged absence following the death of his wife. Despite claiming to be a changed man, it is clear there is no love lost between Daniel and Jessica and Harvey must choose sides.

Financial Support Experts Raise Concern For Festive Financial Struggles As Average Household Debt Stands At £9,000.

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As it’s revealed that the average household debt in the UK has reached £9,000, one financial support network has raised their concerns as we enter the festive season.

Typically the most financially demanding month of the year and with outstanding personal debt set at £1.451 trillion at the end of December last year, a correlation is expected between Christmas spending and financial concerns.

However with the average family spending between £530 and £682 on gifts, decorations, food and drink,  advisors in the finance industry have acknowledged this increased, short term demand for extra money at this time of year.

Financial advisor Kristjan Novitski from Peachy says, “At the end of the year spending is bound to rise a lot and people are in a need of extra cash.

“Although it is not sensible to borrow huge amounts of money with long term obligations or roll-overs, we acknowledge that for some, seeking support may seem like the only option.

“Whilst we would advise anyone taking out any loan to consider it carefully, choosing options where you decide at the beginning when exactly you pay the money back and in how many installments are always favourable. Peachy strives to implement this approach, and work alongside people to help them manage their finances flexibly and plan their future costs.”

So with almost a quarter of parents admitting they are planning to spend more on children’s presents this year than they did last, it is clear that tough economic times are not deterring British Christmas spirit.

And with this in mind, Peachy is encouraging people to follow suit and manage their finances over Christmas so as to avoid the headache of consolidating in the New Year.

 

What To Bet On In 2013

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FANCY A FLUTTER IN 2013? LOOK NO FURTHER  

 

Now that we know the world did not end and we are post the potential apocalypse, the prospect of a new year brings a satisfying dollop of uncertainty and mystery surrounding life’s important matters. Who will judge next year’s X-Factor? Will there even be an X-Factor next year? What colour hat will the queen wear at Ascot? What colour hair will the new royal be blessed with?

 

While 2013 is somewhat lacking in the trouser department compared to the major sporting, political and cultural events we’ve been spoilt with recently, there’s still plenty of going-on’s to get your knickers in a twist.

 

Whether you fancy a flutter, or just have lots of space to fill in between Christmas and New Year,  Paddy Power has given Frost a guide to nearly everything and anything that may or may not happen in 2013.

 

 

ROYAL BABY

Forget 2012 and the Olympics, Ryder Cup and Jubilee, 2013 is all about Kate, Wills and the little‘en. If you can think of it, we’ll take bets on it.  Victoria is the current joint 5/1 favourite name having started life at a lofty 20/1. George leads the way for boys ahead of 50/1 Paddy.

 

Royal Baby Name5/1 Elizabeth

5/1 Victoria

8/1 George

9/1 Diana

 

 10/1 Mary

16/1 David

50/1 Paddy

500/1 Britney

 

 Hair colour 13/8 Brown

2/1 Blond

2/1 Black

6/1 Ginger

 

 Multiple birth 6/1 Twins

50/1 Triplets

1000/1 Quads or more

 

 

 

OSCARS

The Oscars race is well and truly on. For about five minutes it looked like ‘Argo’ had Best Picture all sewn up, cruising to the finish on strong reviews and decent box office. However, with a lap still to go, Affleck’s thriller looks to have peaked too soon and run out of puff with ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Lincoln’ and ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ now looking unbeatable for Best Motion Picture. Meanwhile staying on planet movie, Paddy Power has tipped the Hobbit to be the highest grossing movie of 2013.

 

Best Picture 5/4 Lincoln

2/1 Les Miserables

3/1 Zero Dark Thirty

9/2 Argo

14/1 Silver Linings Playbook

 

 Best Actress4/9 Jennifer Lawrence

9/4 Jessica Chastain

12/1 Emmanuelle Riva

20/1 Helen Mirren

40/1 Judi Dench

 Best Actor 2/7 Daniel Day Lewis

6/1 Denzel Washington

7/1 Hugh Jackman

40/1 Anthony Hopkins

100/1 Daniel Craig

 Best Director13/10 Steven Spielberg

15/8 Argo

5/2 Kathryn Bigelow

8/1 Tom Hooper

33/1 Peter Jackson

 Top grossing Movie of 20132/5       The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

9/4       Man Of Steel

12/1      Iron Man 3

16/1      Jack The Giant Slayer

20/1      The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

 

SOLAR FLARE

Maybe the Mayans were onto something after all. Forget a plague of cancers, super volcanoes or dark comets laying waste to everything on earth, 2013 could be the year in which we’re paralysed by a catastrophic solar flare causing blackouts and global chaos. The once-in-a-century disaster could see power grids crash, communication systems collapse, planes grounded, food supplies hit and the internet shut down.

 

1/25 UK national grid to blackout for a day or more

5/6 UK citizens to see a bright red haze

5/1 cost of solar flare damage to exceed $1 trillion

16/1 that we will see the biggest solar flare / geomagnetic storm on record

33/1 World debt to be wiped out

 

 

UK POLITICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Cameron’s coalition looks to be weakening by the day. With a general election to start thinking about and the Lib Dems languishing behind UKIP in the polls, Paddy Power’s 4/1 for the coalition to split in 2013 could prove a juicy punt.  Meanwhile money continues to trickle in on whether 2013 will be the year for Julian Assange to have a change of scenery, 11/8 says he’ll still be holed up at the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2014 and it’s 100/1 for him to escape via jetpack.

 

UK Politics – 201310/3 Any of the main three leaders to leave their post

4/1 Coalition to break up

4/1 General Election to be held

8/1 UK Referendum on EU Membership

 Negative growth in Q1 or Q22/7 Yes

9/4 No

 

 EU – 20139/4 Any country to leave the Euro

9/4 Any country to leave the EU

16/1 Euro to cease to be a currency

 Julian Assange – Method to leave Embassy11/8 UK police car

4/1 helicopter

6/1 Diplomatic bag

25/1 Hot air balloon

 

US POLITICS

US politics poses two big questions for 2013. Will the economy suffer negative growth? Help yourself to odds of 2/1 for yes and a safer 1/3 for no. And will Wintour descend upon the UK in 2013? She is just edging behind favourite Matthew Barzun in the betting for the next US Ambassador to the UK.

 

Fiscal CliffWill there be a quarter of negative growth in 2013?

2/1       Yes

1/3       No

 

 Next US Ambassador to UK10/11    Matthew Barzun

3/2       Anna Wintour

6/1       Marc Lasry

 

 2014 Mid Term Elections: Control of House of Representatives

2/5       Republican

7/4       Democrat

 

  Control of Senate

5/6       Republican

5/6       Democrat

 

 

COMMODITIES

Given world events in 2012 – continued tensions across the Middle East, financial crisis in the Eurozone and economic stagnation in the West – you can bet your bottom dollar the price of gold will continue to rise as investors seek a safe haven for their hard earned cash. How high is anyone’s guess. Paddy Power is offering 5/6 the price of gold will exceed $1750 by the end of 2013. Meanwhile we’re offering 9/2 for the price of gold to hit the magic mark of $2000 any time throughout the year.

 

Price of gold at year end 5/6 Under $1750

5/6 Over $1750

 Golden Year 9/2 Price of gold to hit $2000 any time in 2013 Price of oil at year end 4/5 Under $105

10/11 $105 or over (Brent Crude)

 

 

HATCHES, MATCHES & DISPATCHES

Whilst England fight the Aussies to retain the Ashes urn next summer, another national treasure may be lost to the convicts as Liz Hurley and Shane Warne head up the betting for our ‘First to get married’ market at evens.

 

First to get married1/1       Liz Hurley & Shane Warne

7/4       Kate Winslet & Ned Rocknroll

6/1       Eva Mendes & Ryan Gosling

8/1       Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

10/1      Nicole Scherzinger & Lewis Hamilton

40/1      Taylor Swift & Harry Styles

 

 First to announce they are having a baby11/10    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall

7/1       Kate Moss & Jamie Hince

7/1       Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel

9/1       Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt

10/1      Frank Lampard & Christine Bleakley

10/1      Holly Willoughby & Dan Baldwin

 

 First to split3/1       Kim Kardashian & Kanye West

4/1       Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux

5/1       Liz Hurley & Shane Warne

6/1       Kate Winslet & Ned Rocknroll

6/1       Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

10/1      Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel

 

UK WEATHER

The UK is renowned for its unpredictable weather, and 2013 is set to be no different. Strangely, next summer is as likely to be the wettest on record as it is the driest, with both available to back at 6/1. Those dreaming of soaking up the rays on their local beach rather than the water on their kitchen floor can take 8/1 that next summer will be the hottest on record.

 

8/1       Hottest on record in UK

6/1       Driest on record in UK

6/1       Wettest on record in UK

9/1       Coldest on record in UK

 

FHM SEXIEST WOMAN

Having inexplicably voted for Tulisa Contostavlos in 2012, the FHM readers are once again being entrusted to choose the magazine’s Sexist Woman for 2013. Mila Kunis is the strong favourite at 5/2 whilst you can get 16/1 that Helen Flanagan’s ball-chewing jungle experience earns her the crown.

 

5/2       Mila Kunis

8/1       Kate Upton

8/1       Jennifer Lawrence

14/1      Nicole Scherzinger

 

 

ON THE BOX

In the fickle world of TV, Simon Cowell may bring himself back into the UK X Factor fold in 2013. The race to be the next host of Strictly Come Dancing appears to be a two-way battle between Anton Du Beke at 13/8 and Vernon Kay at 15/8.

 

Next Host Of Strictly Come Dancing13/8      Anton Du Beke

15/8      Vernon Kay

9/2       John Barrowman

7/1       Graham Norton

16/1      Ben Shepherd

 

 Who will be on the 2013 X-Factor judges’ panel?1/3       Louis Walsh

2/5       Tulisa Contostavlos

2/5       Nicole Scherzinger

2/3       Gary Barlow

8/11     Simon Cowell

8/1       Cheryl Cole