Tag Archives: Catherine Balavage

Britain's Next Top Model Live. {Fashion}

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If anything if going to bring out my girlie side it’s Britain’s Next Top Model. From the 22nd-24th of October. The hugely successful reality TV show comes to the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands.The Ultimate weekend shopping extravagance has everything a budding model or fashionista would ever need.

I start by walking around all of the stalls, and check out the fashion and beauty products on offer. I get a free Tia Maria cocktail, but, amusingly, only after being asked for ID. I pop by the powder room where they are giving free make overs, manicures and massages, but decide the queue is too long. So I head to the Kiss catwalk to catch Diana Vickers sing. Her voice is amazing and you can tell that the entire audience love her. Her clothes are rocking too. Despite the fact she can’t tell presenter Emma Willis where she got them because, endearingly, she can’t pronounce the designers name.

Later on Alesha Dixon comes on the stage to promote her jewellery line. Dressed in jeans and a top, she comes on stage with a cup of tea that has some chewing gum stuck to the bottom – she says she didn’t have anywhere else to put it, she confessed she is still feeling rough from the MOBO’s the night before and went to bed at 7am. Alesha comes across as incredibly down to earth and shakes a number of the audiences hand’s after they ask her.

There is no sign of Elle McPherson but Charley Speed is here and brilliant designer Melissa Odabash is on hand to give style advice.

Later on, Molly Smitten Downes and Joey Bevan do a fusion of music and fashion. Molly sings her heart out and Joey’s clothes are beautiful. Very enjoyable.

One of the most exciting things from Britain’s Next Top Model is Global Cool. ‘Turn up the style, turn down the heat.’ I interviewed Gemma Cairney about her involvement with the company that let’s you restyle jumpers they way you want and helps the environment.

Gemma says: “Global Cool have given me even more of an incentive to encourage, big, snuggly jumper wearing.. Perfect! I like my jumpers big, often primary coloured and with a motif that’ll make others smile, so I’m more than happy to put my gob behind a campaign that can eventually help this important thing called the Earth smile a bit too.”

Wannabe models could also attend casting couch sessions from Rebecca, Elle magazine, Becca Cosmetics, Tia Maria, Models 1 and Wonderbra. So if you want to be spotted, hurry down to Excel.

Also scheduled to sing is Eliza Doolittle, Eliza told Frost this: ‘I love Britain’s Next top model so I’m very excited to be involved in the live event – I’m looking forward to having a sneaky look at all of the cloths and products too.’

http://www.bntmlive.com/

Alesha Dixon: Don't hit my mum. Alesha tackles domestic abuse.

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It’s a little known fact that 2 women a week die form domestic violence on the UK. At Frost we will be tuning into Alesha Dixon;s new show and urge you to as well.

At least 75,000 children per year witness domestic violence at home. ALESHA DIXON witnessed her mother suffer domestic violence between the ages of eight and ten. She has never spoken about the experience until now, twenty-one years later.

In an intimate and unsettling 60-minute documentary from the producers of Alesha Dixon: Who’s Your Daddy?, ALESHA finds her voice in the hope that, through hearing what she and others have experienced as children, others may be encouraged to speak out too. The Department of Health states that children who experience domestic violence at home are more likely to go on to suffer behavioural problems and mental health difficulties of their own. We know the impact of witnessing abuse as a child can be profound, so how do we go about dealing with this and getting children to a point where they can talk about what’s going on at home?

The singer and Strictly Coming Dancing judge goes in search of answers by talking to victims and experts, examining the emotional and physical implications of witnessing domestic violence, and investigating how it hinders their development and takes away their right to be a child. On her journey, ALESHA meets several brave young girls and boys who talk about their experiences and hears a heartbreaking story from a mother who has been abused. She joins a patrol team from Avon and Somerset Constabulary who deal with domestic violence on a daily basis – their region covering both rural and urban environments offering a snapshot of the rest of the country. ALESHA also meets CAMILLA BATMAN-GHELIDJ, chief executive of charity Kids Company, who is currently working alongside some of Britain’s top neuroscientists, to examine why some abused children go on to abuse, and others do not. Finally, ALESHA meets a dad who has abused, but has now acknowledged his mistakes by joining a perpetrator programme.

ALESHA’S aim, along with all the film’s contributors, is to portray why the support system could be even stronger for children affected by domestic violence. The government recently launched a 2 million pound ad campaign designed to help teenagers recognise abuse within their own relationships. This followed a study by the NSPCC and Bristol University which suggested a quarter of girls aged thirteen to seventeen had experienced physical violence from a boyfriend, and a third had been pressured into sexual acts they didn’t want. ALESHA goes to a sixth-form college to see how a group of teenagers react to the ad campaign and get them talking. Should the government now perhaps reach out to even younger children who are affected by domestic abuse? Should schools be taking more steps to raise awareness and offer more support to children affected by domestic violence? And should awareness around the issue become part of the National Curriculum?

Don’t Hit My Mum will transmit on BBC ONE, 15th November at 10.35pm

Inside out back on the London scene. {Social Diary}

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INSIDE OUT FESTIVAL 2010

When: Monday 25 – Sunday 31 October 2010

www.insideoutfestival.org.uk

The Inside Out Festival is set to return this October in association with New Statesman with an even bigger and better programme of talks, debates, exhibitions and performances.

The popular annual event celebrates the exciting and often unexpected contribution made by London universities to the cultural life of the capital. This year festival-goers will be able to hear from some of the most inspiring and experimental thinkers, writers and artists of the day and get creative themselves.

Goldsmith’s, Birkbeck, Central St Martin’s, the London College of Fashion, the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama are amongst the nine university institutions throwing open their doors for the week of public events which will include film screenings, music and theatre performances, art and fashion exhibitions, and talks with well-known academics and high-profile commentators. The events will take place all over London at cultural venues such as the Barbican, the National Portrait Gallery and Somerset House, and in rarely-seen spaces in the universities.

Sally Taylor, Inside Out Festival Director, said: “There is certainly no shortage of festivals in London but this is an arts festival with a distinct twist. The sheer breadth of talent in the nine universities involved is staggering. We want as many people as possible to come and enjoy the fruits of this talent and passion in October. From the art of Cézanne to the art of war, from the abuses of contemporary history to the history of men’s underwear, this year’s Inside Out Festival will be a feast – a cultural ‘pick and mix’ – for bright thinkers and art lovers, young and old.”

Jason Cowley, Editor of New Statesman, said: “We are delighted to be associated with Inside Out. As a magazine, we like to look beyond the obvious and seek out the unusual, the witty, the irreverent and the thought-provoking. In this festival we have found all of these things and more.”

Festival highlights will include:

* A debate on New Labour Literature with author and academic Blake Morrison, comedy scriptwriter John O’Farrell and Robert Hampson, Professor of Modern Literature at Royal Holloway. Chaired by Jonathan Derbyshire, Culture Editor of New Statesman
* The Art of War – a panel discussion on war as entertainment led by Iain Burnside, Guildhall School academic, pianist and Sony-Award-winning radio presenter, drawing on his current theatre piece Lads in Their Hundreds. With human rights barrister Philippe Sands QC, veteran war reporter Kate Adie and official Iraq war artist Xavier Pick
* An exhibition of Japanese fashion at the Barbican Art Gallery including a talk with experts from the University of the Arts London
* A debate on the uses and abuses of contemporary history with historian and former journalist Peter Hennessy, Tessa Jowell MP, and Professor Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies at Oxford University

· The launch of a new history of men’s underwear by Shaun Cole, principal lecturer in history and culture at the London College of Fashion

· A Q&A with Harvey Cohen of King’s College London on his new book Duke Ellington’s America followed by music from the Guildhall Jazz Band

* Exclusive late viewing of the Courtauld Gallery’s landmark Autumn exhibition of portraits by Paul Cézanne
* Publishing a first novel – an opportunity to hear from recently published authors Penny Rudge and Kristan Hawkins, literary agents Judith Murray and Caroline Wood and tutors from City University’s highly successful Certificate in Novel Writing, as well as an opportunity to compete to have your work read by a literary agent
* A London film history walk led by expert Professor Ian Christie followed by an illustrated lecture at Birkbeck’s state-of-the-art cinema in Bloomsbury
* Creative writing workshops led by academics and writers from Birkbeck
* Minute Maestro – a conducting masterclass, following which participants have the opportunity to conduct a string quartet

The Festival will open on Monday 25 October with a high-profile panel debate – ‘Should the university survive in its current form?’ – at the University of London Senate House. Panellists will include David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science, May Chien Busch, former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe, Professor Geoffrey Crossick Vice-Chancellor of the University of London and Professor AC Grayling, Professor of Philosophy, Birkbeck University. The event will be chaired by political columnist Anne McElvoy.

Booking for the Inside Out Festival is now open at www.insideoutfestival.org.uk

Greening the Screen with BAFTA. {Social Diary}

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Where: BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, W1J 9LN
When: 18 October 2010

At an unseemly early time – 9am – I joined Alistair McGowan, Tim Bevan and a host of other filmmakers to discuss climate change. The film industry can be an incredibly wasteful place and time restraints make recycling hard. However, a number of companies are tackling this, Including Greenshoot. A company who managed to recycle 95% of the sets from Nanny McPhee 2.

The event was chaired by Alistair McGowan, who was on top form.

Other people who were there; Jonathon Porritt, founder director of Forum for the Future and former Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission; Paul Evans, CEO, Greenshoot; Andy Whittaker, CEO, Dogwoof; Fergus Rolfe, Low Carbon Innovation Centre; Tim Bevan, Working Title and Chair of the UK Film Council, but unfortunately Amanda Berry, Chief Executive, BAFTA; couldn’t make it due to illness.

Afterwards there was a educational free market where a list of companies gave free advice and help on reducing the carbon footprint of companies. AECom; BSI British Standards; Carbon Aware Productions; Cinema Exhibitors’ Association; Davis Langdon; Dogwoof Greenshoot; Julie’s Bicycle; Low Carbon Innovation Centre Magnificent Revolution; Nice and Serious; Red Redemption; South East Media Network; Wedlake Bell all made an appearance. I found the people form 10:10 particularly helpful.

Frost Magazine will be doing a series of article on the environment and how to reduce your carbon footprint soon.

Art of Giving at the Saatchi Gallery {Art Review}

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October is Art season in London, and I love it. It’s a wonderful way to spend an evening, drinking champagne and looking at art. One of the best of all of the exhibition’s I have been to this year was the Art of Giving at the Saatchi Gallery.

With works from Banksy, The Chelsea football team, Anthony Quinn, Derren Brown, Vic Reeves, Noel Fielding, Alexa Meade, Gavin Turk and Boyarde Messenger

Some of my favourites included; Boyarde Messenger’s painted models on plinths, wearing Charlotte Dellal shoes. The Models had to be painted at Chelsea photographer Simon Addinsell’s flat causing chaos when they walked down the King’s Road.

Stephen Walter’s The Island is beautiful and full of detail, Russelll Young’s I like you, I miss you, I love you, I killed you ,made me stop and stare for a good few minutes and Derek Cattani’s photography of Christian the Lion made me want to get my credit card out and buy the lot. Another amazingly talented artist is Drew Walker. His portraits of celebrities are rich in detail.

There was a wonderful performance from Tallulah Rendall and Lord Jeffrey Archer did the auction. Encouraging everyone to open their wallets to great success.

Famously reclusive Banksy also made an appearance, even taking his rat for a touch up before it was auctioned off. If only I knew what he looked like….

13 charities reaped the benefits of the auction, including: Crisis, British Red Cross, Stepping Stones Nigeria and Independent Age.

http://www.artofgiving.co.uk/index.html

The Inept Girl's guide to Cooking: Eggs Benedict.

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I haven’t updated this column in a long time. I have a good reason, I have been filming non-stop. One of the major benefits of being an actor is all of the free food you get. Excellent ( and sometimes not so excellent) catering three times a day. Saved me a lot on my shopping bill as well.

Anyway, I thought I should get back on the wagon, and came across this recipe from Ocado. It’s difficult for someone as inept as me, or so I though it would be. Let’s find out.

EGGS BENEDICT

Good with ham or crisp grilled bacon rashers on the side.

Instructions

Fill 2 large saucepans with boiling water to a depth of 5cm (2in). When tiny bubbles appear at the bottom of the pan, carefully crack 4 eggs into each pan.

Leave the pans on the heat for 1 minute, then remove and let the eggs sit in the hot water for exactly 6 minutes. Remove the eggs, using a slotted spoon, and drain on kitchen paper.

Meanwhile, preheat the grill on its highest setting, split each muffin in half, and toast both sides.

Butter each muffin half and place 2 on each serving plate. Top each half with a poached egg and spoon the Hollandaise over the top.

Ingredients

· 8 Eggs

· 4 English Muffins

· 50g Butter, for spreading

· 1 Hollandaise, warmed

Serves 4

Total time required Total cooking time:21 mins

* Preparation time: 10 mins
* Cooking time: 11 mins

I managed it! And it tasted amazing. Not as great as PJ’s Grill’s in Covent Garden, but practice will make perfect. Right, what to cook next?

What I'll be watching: The Event, October 2010, Channel 4

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The Event, October 2010, Channel 4. www.channel4.com/event

I have to admit. I am a sucker for a good American TV show. I am not saying us Brits can’t make good telly, Spooks, The Inbetweeners, Misfits, Downtown Abbey ring a bell, but sometimes no-one does it like the Americans. The Events is evidence of that. A brilliant thriller. Keep an eye out for it. It’s a must see.

THE EVENT

An emotional high-octane conspiracy thriller, this much anticipated new US series makes its UK premiere on Channel 4 this autumn.

Sean Walker (Jason Ritter) is an everyman who, while investigating the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée Leila (Sarah Roemer), unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history.

Sean’s quest sends ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including newly elected U.S. President Martinez (Blair Underwood), Sophia (Laura Innes), the leader of a mysterious group of detainees, and Sean’s shadowy father-in-law (Scott Patterson).

Their futures are set on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind.

On Channel 4 Fri 22 Oct, 9PM

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-event/articles/video-the-event-tv-trailer

Young People in Politics, Part 3: Young People Bite The Ballot.

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If you are a young person who is interested in politics you might want to join http://www.bitetheballot.co.uk/ I interviewed Michael Sani to find out more….

How did Bite the ballot come about?

Bite the Ballot started in a classroom at Wilmington Enterprise College when a group of sixth formers made it apparent they would not be taking up the opportunity to cast their vote in the General Election. Once they realised the power of their vote and the importance of having their say we set out engaging others and our campaign grew and grew.

Tell me about the campaign so far.

We have gone from a small group of young people sharing their opinions to a whole host of everyday young people helping our campaign reach out to inspire others across the UK. It really is inspiring to see as we demolish the stereotypical vision of young people not caring about what goes on around them. Our mission is to inspire more people to become involved and we set our sights on holding an event in parliament where everyday young people can come in and take part.

The aim of the day is for young people, MP’s and Lords to discuss together ways in which we can move forward and ensure more and more First Time Voters are voicing their vote.

The press has been amazing and this group of sixth formers have been on LBC Radio, BBC Radio Kent, had articles in many local newspapers and even a slot on The Politics Show on BBC1, where I was later told that show had a 25% increase in viewers.

We are delighted with the progress and are always working to increase our following by allowing the young people around us to design our plans of engaging others so it really is young people working to attract young people.

What kind of support have you had?

The support has been amazing, obviously the press but also from kep organizations and companies like Hansard and Apple who, are in fact, training the team on how to do podcasts so we can have updates available for people to listen too. You can see the different people involved now on our website.

We have had a variety of support from MP’s and Lord who are keen to ensure our campaign succeeds but without fail the most exciting thing to date was meeting The Deputy Prime Minister and telling him of our palms and hearing his belief and support in our campaign what we are trying to achieve.

Has it died down since the election?

Far from it, I did think things may of died down but with the Coalition and a “Changing politics” we have gone from strength to strength and witnessed the fact that many young people want to be involved, but do not feel as though they know enough about politics to have their say. It is clear that not enough is done within Schools to ensure young people are educated but more importantly engaged so we hope our documentary recording our journey from start to present day can be used within schools to inspire others.

Where next?

We embark on our new opportunities including our new association with the 2012 games to bring people the latest news on whats going on, what legacies young people can help promote and how they can get involved. We now have our debate in Parliament which is on Wednesday 17 November at 7pm, and we will offer a variety of people the chance to come along so remain up to date with our campaign on our website and social networking sites.

What can people do?

Send us your footage, share your thoughts and opinions on the Facebook site, register to vote and become part of our campaign and together we will make history. We have already seen many of tomorrows generation speak directly with today’s leaders and it is great to witness. With more support who know what we could achieve?

http://www.bitetheballot.co.uk