Big Mother

The launch eleven




Yes, it's the all-female "Big Brother" we were warned about yesterday. We expect the first cock-drop (apparently neither "a geek or a gay") on Friday night, but I'd predict a low ratings figure for tonight's 'highlights' show.

It's a definite risk for the show - on balance I accept it, but it made for an anti-climax on launch night with no raging testesterone or male totty. I liked the principle (but not so far the practice) of the identical twins. On reflection I'd have to say the two oldest were the two that stood out for me last night. These are the oldest ever BB housemate at 60, Lesley (above) and Carole, 53 (below). I hope both stay a while over the usual 'Daily Star' fodder 'babes'.

More here and here

British Soap Awards - Final Nominations

30 May is gonna be a big TV night. Against the BB8 opening night, ITV1 screen this years "British Soap Awards" (though I think the event is on Saturday). One of the ones to watch is likely to be "Hollyoaks" which is nominated in all the categories - the only soap to do so. And this is the week 3 of the 'big' soaps lost out to "Casualty" in the BAFTAs on Sunday.

You may want to try and guess the assorted soapies pictured above with hosts Fern Britton and Philip Schofield or you may want to peruse the final nominations and choose who gets your vote here .

Big Brother 8 house revealed!

Digital Spy (and no doubt other places) have been given photos of the house that the 2007 housemates will be locked into from next Wednesday night (30 May).

First impressions are that it's very 'square' - quite a departure from most years. Though the inside-outside theme from BB7/CBB5 is gone there's still the bath in the lounge, a fridge in the garden and (allegedly) a cooker in the as-yet-unseen bedroom to deal with. And there are so obviously other hidden parts to this one - my best guess is one behind the 'wet' panel, which could possibly allow HMs to apparently 'disappear'.

And the possible clues in the rainbow/monochrome eye (complete with white keyhole) have not escaped me.

More pictures here .

Apologies again

Yes, still no new computer. My initial credit backer backed out.

Ironically, yesterday Apple announced they were bumping up the spec and bumping down the price on their MacBooks which has altered my target machine back to the middle of the range £829 MacBook rather than the £799 iMac.For the £30 difference I'm really swapping portability (and 2.36kg v 7kg) for screen size (13.3in v 17in) and dropping 40GB to a 'mere' 120BG on the bumped up MacBook. Both have an 8x Superdrive, iSight camera, FrontRow and Tiger, but the MacBook now beats the iMac with a 2.16Ghz speed.

Enough of the jargon though - basically a new buy is likely to be weeks away and so the service here continues to be below par. On the bright side, if I get my new Mac you'll notice a bumping up of content here.

Hollyoaks' Craig & John Paul tonight!

Thanks to Stuart for passing on these magazine scans (I can't do scans myself at the moment) which refer to scenes in tonight's Channel 4 episode of "Hollyoaks" in which 'str8' Craig returns the romantic lunge made by John Paul some weeks back. I watched it last night on E4 - you get to see Craig in tighty whities but be prepared for the further surprise of a nasty twist in the tail though ...

Set your timers for 6.30pm.

Doctor Who - Series 3 eps 7-13 trailer

This was the trailer aired as a consolation for not having an episode next weekend.

Dame Shirley Bassey - "The Living Tree"

This entered the charts at the weekend - an apt track ahead of the diva's appearance at Glastonbury this year.

Here's the video description from YouTube:

"Official video for Dame Shirley Bassey's new single, The Living Tree, released 23rd April 2007. Unique and visually exciting, the video is included on the enhanced single alongside seven fantastic mixes. Please visit www.dameshirleybassey.com where you can order the single and join the mailing list to be sure you don't miss any of the exciting things coming up.It's difficult to know where to begin when it comes to describing Dame Shirley's incredible career which has spanned over 50 years. Having just celebrated her 70th birthday The Living Tree single and album prove age is no barrier for creating incredible music.The original Welsh Diva and one of Wales' greatest musical exports, she stands tall alongside fellow Welsh singers Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins, Tom Jones, Cerys Matthews, Dorothy Squires, Bryn Terfel and Bonnie Tyler to name but a few.The Living Tree was written and produced by Catherine Feeney and Nikki Lamborn of band Never The Bride. DSB fell in love with it after a chance encounter in Monte Carlo, where she now lives. During her career Shirley has also collaborated with Swiss band Yello on The Rhythm Divine. She sang with Chris Rea on his Ferrari inspired film, La Passione, and probably most famously with The Propellerheads whose international club hit History Repeating propelled her into the spotlight. It featured on the soundtrack to the movie There's Something About Mary starring Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz and was the music behind a Jaguar car ad. Shirley is the only singer to have recorded more than one James Bond Theme. She recorded three! Applauded by John Barry, Sean Connery and David Arnold, her hit records Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever ranked as the two best Bond themes ever in a recent poll, where she comfortably beat fellow Bond singers such as Tina Turner, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Matt Monro, Gladys Knight, Sheryl Crow, Lulu and Sheena Easton to the top spots. Casino Royale star Daniel Craig recently suggested DSB should record the next theme - after hearing The Living Tree you can't help but see he's got a point! In recent years Shirley's recording of Diamonds Are Forever was sampled by hip-hop star Kanye West. DSB has performed duets with acts such as Neil Diamond, Andy Williams, Alain Delon, Michael Ball, Bryn Terfel, Charles Aznavour, Jack Jones, Robert Goulet and Eydie Gorme and shared a stage with Ray Charles and Liza Minnelli on a successful tour. Dame Shirley was the star of the M&S Christmas TV ad with her sparkling version of Pink's Get The Party Started. The ad, filmed in a spy movie style, featured models Twiggy, Lizzy Jagger, Erin O'Connor, Laura Bailey and Noemie Lenoir as undercover agents on a secret mission to attend an exclusive performance by DSB at a glamorous Christmas party. DSB premiered The Living Tree at the 2005 Royal Variety Performance, acknowledge d as the best in recent years. She topped the bill in her birth town of Cardiff closing the Welsh-flavoured show in spectacular style. Another highlight of the event was Catherine Tate asking the Queen "Is one bovvered?"

If you'd like to continue climbing The Living Tree join DSB at www.myspace.com/shirleybassey

Love to all Youtubers from Camp DSB"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dame_Shirley_Bassey

Business Affairs - Men at Play on the coffee table!

Those nice chaps at Men at Play are breaking out of cyberspace again. Having put on a themed show at Heaven last summer there now follows a coffee table book, which I think is released tomorrow. Entitled "Business Affairs" it retails at £19.95 but Amazon have it for £13.16 .