England TV viewers left in the dark as Gerrard nets

(Reuters) – British broadcaster ITV apologized to viewers after thousands of England fans missed Steven Gerrard’s opening World Cup goal on Saturday when a commercial was accidentally aired at the crucial moment.

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Fans watching ITV’s high definition channel at home and in pubs across the country were left in the dark as a car advert was screened at the moment Gerrard put England ahead against main group rivals, the United States.

The error did not affect ITV’s standard service.

An ITV spokesman apologized for the “interruption” which left fans frustrated and angry.

“A transmission problem temporarily affected ITV1′s HD service during the England/U.S. match. ITV standard definition service continued uninterrupted.

“We apologize for the interruption in transmission,” the spokesman said.

One pub owner described scenes of pandemonium as fans realized what had happened.

“We couldn’t believe it — this advert popped up and then it goes back to the game and England are 1-0 up,” Andy Quinn-Williams, landlord of the Three Tunnes in Stockport, was quoted as saying in the Sunday Telegraph.

“There was pandemonium in the pub — it is outrageous. We all started calling friends and those watching it without HD were seeing the game without the advert.”

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

Stephen Gately was ”real-life Peter Pan”, says his widower

London, May 13 (ANI): Boyzone star Stephen Gately was a real life ‘Peter Pan’, his widower has said.

In an interview with ITV’s This Morning, he said that his husband viewed the world through the eyes of a child and refused to grow up, reports The Mirror.

“Stephen was incredibly childlike, he loved Disney – every year we went to Disney [World] in Florida.

“I just think he never really grew up, he was like a child and children can maybe see more than the rest of us as well.

“They see the world in a different way and Stephen was like that. He was incredibly shy and private as well, but he liked to show off and be the centre of attention – but only in the way that a child does,” he said.

Gately spent four years penning his fantasy novel, The Tree of Seasons, which Cowles called his ‘legacy’.

The star had difficulty in getting the novel published while he was alive due to his lack of formal education.

“His education hadn’t been that great, so he didn’t use any grammar, any punctuation, any capitalisation, so it would be blocks of text that was quite tricky to read actually.

“Every few months, I would take chunks of it and send it to a proof reader and we’d get back a nicely formatted version that I could read!,” Cowles added.

“This is hard work, I’m quite private,” he said. “Stephen always kept me out of the limelight.

“I don’t want to be a celebrity, I don’t like cameras very much and I’m coping day to day, you know… I miss him terribly.

“The picture on the back of the book has been great comfort to me and I find myself kissing him goodnight sometimes because it’s a good size picture to kiss.

“Last night I was asking him for strength for today because I was fearful about coming on the telly but I’ve got to do it for him, because if he was around he’d be doing it himself. And this is his legacy in a way,” he said. (ANI)

I snorted cocaine while on Coronation Street, admits Denise Welch

London, April 27 (ANI): English actress and TV presenter Denise Welch has admitted that she snorted cocaine on the sets of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Welch revealed that she battled with the deadly drug habit during her time Coronation Street days.

She admitted that she snorted cocaine between takes and drove under drug”s influence.

The confession is mentioned in the 51-year-old actress” autobiography ”Pulling Myself Together”, reports The Daily Express.

Welch has blamed chronic depression for her drug habit.

“I”d reached a point where I felt taking cocaine was the only way I could survive. I was suffering crippling depression and I”d made myself believe coke was the only thing that could make me cope. In fact, I was locked in a vicious circle because the more I took, the worse the comedowns would be. I was sinking deeper and deeper,” Welch wrote in her autobiography.

The ”Loose Women” panellist said that her situation got so messed up that she used to leave her shooting set in Manchester to go and buy stuff.

“The risks I took were incredible. I was a total wreck,” said Welch. (ANI)

Cops arrest teen over Cheryl Cole rape threat

London, Apr 17 (ANI): Police probing into the rape threat against X Factor judge Cheryl Cole have arrested a teenager.

It is alleged that a menacing message was left on the mobile answer phone of show presenter Dermot O’Leary last month.

Police said that a youth from Tunbridge Wells, in Kent, had been arrested and bailed.

“A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communication and released on bail,” the Daily Express quoted a City of London Police spokesman as saying.

Girls Aloud star Cole, 26, joined ITV’s ratings winner in 2008, a year after O’Leary, 36, joined ‘The X Factor’.

The presenter was reportedly horrified.

“He thought at first it was a sick wind-up, but soon realised there was something more sinister going on,’ said a source.

The Geordie singer was alerted immediately. (ANI)

Jordan to replace Cowell as Britain’s Got Talent judge?

London, Apr 17 (ANI): Simon Cowell is planning to bid adieu to his seat on Britain’s Got Talent’s judging panel and has hinted Jordan a.k.a Katie Price could take his place.

The music mogul will take a more behind-the-scenes role next year because he has had enough of sitting through thousands of auditions.

Cowell claims the ITV show can easily continue without him on camera, reports The Daily Star.

Cowell said: “I am looking at whether I have a different role next year. I am considering coming just for the semi-finals. I like the show but it takes a hell of a lot of time.

“You sit there watching horrific acts and you think: ‘I genuinely can’t do this any more.’

“Can I see it working without me? Yes.”

When asked if reality star Jordan could join the show, he teased: “Well those are your words not mine. But Jordan is a friend. It’s too early to say what will happen.

“Whoever takes over has to really know what they are talking about. You have to spot a star, nurture them, mentor them.” (ANI)

Joan Collins once snorted cocaine

London, March 27 (ANI): English actress Joan Collins has confessed that she once snorted cocaine but found it horrible.

The ‘Dynasty’ star, 76, insisted she is totally against the use of drugs.

She also referred to her third husband Ron Kass, the former chief of Apple records, who fought against cocaine.

“It’s extremely sad, anybody that ruins their life by drugs,” the Daily Express quoted her as telling Piers Morgan on ITV’s Life Stories.

She added: “I am so anti-drugs. I have never taken… Well, once somebody forced me to take some coke and it was just so horrible.”

The incident apparently occurred in the late 1960s at a nightclub in St Tropez.

Collins mentioned that she has always taken care of her body.

She said: “I’d rather just grow old gracefully, while fighting all the way. I have always, always, always used make-up and kept my face out of the sun since I was 20.” (ANI)

Debt-ridden Duchess of York Fergie in line to join Loose Women

London, September 13 (ANI): Debt-ridden Duchess of York Sarah, 49, may soon bag a presenter’s job on the hit lunchtime chat show ‘Loose Women’.

After her guest appearance on the programme earlier this month, Sarah is now desperate to have a permanent seat at the table anongside motormouths like Carol McGiffin and Denise Welch.

Fergie, as she is popularly known, is even said to have begged ITV1 bosses for the job.

“Sarah loved it so much that afterwards she asked to be a panellist,” the News of the World quoted part-time anchor Andrea McLean, 39, as saying.

“We would all jump at the chance. She would be absolutely ideal. We’d love to have her,” McLean added.

Sued by three firms over nearly 25,000 pounds in unpaid bills, Sarah can make up to 50,000 pounds a year if she gets a regular spot on the show.

An ITV1 insider said: “Fergie has a lot of interesting things to say and would be great for Loose Women.” (ANI)

Helen Mirren-starrer ‘Prime Suspect’ set for remake in US

London, Sep 4 (ANI): British TV drama ‘Prime Suspect’, starring Dame Helen Mirren, is set for a remake in the US.

Seven series, written by Lynda La Plante and starring Oscar winner Mirren as police chief Jane Tennison, ran between 1991 and 2006.

“Our intention is to create another classic television show from this brilliant original format,” the BBC quoted NBC’s Angela Bromstad as saying.

Hank Steinberg will write the initial two-hour pilot show.

“Hank Steinberg was key in helping us secure this project, and we are incredibly excited about this modern vision for the show,” Bromstad said.

Prime Suspect, originally a co-production between ITV’s Granada and the Boston-based network WGBH, first aired in the US in 1992 as part of the Mystery series. (ANI)

Peter Andre clinches one of TV’s best showbiz jobs

London, Aug 27 (ANI): Aussie singer Peter Andre is said to have landed one of TV’s best showbiz jobs, with a six figure salary.

Andre, 36, has signed on as a roving reporter with ITV’s This Morning show, and he is being groomed to become a top telly anchorman.

“I’m delighted the way my career’s going. I love TV and I love my music, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel,” the Daily Star quoted Andre as saying on August 26.

TV bosses think his ratings gold and are shifting him from ITV2 onto their main channel, where he will film reports with the stars at music, film and TV events and next day give his views on the sofa.

He will be debuting on September 1, and he will be joining designers Linda Barker and Danielle Proud, gardener Diarmuid Gavin and chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

“Peter is seen as a future star and ITV executives are keen to nurture him on This Morning,” a TV source said.

“He is very natural in front of the cameras,” the source added. (ANI)

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The X Factor 2009 – Danyl Johnson’s – Auditions 1 Video Click Here

Danyl Johnson,27,teacher ,came for the audition of X Factor, and great performance by him won the heart of the audience and also from the celebrity judge Simon.

The sixth series of The X Factor is a British television music talent show contested by aspiring pop singers drawn from public auditions. The programme began airing on ITV on 22 August 2009.

The first episode, which aired on 22 August and showed the first set of auditions, attracted 9.9 million viewers; 47.9% of the viewing audience and the largest amount of viewers within its timeslot.

The X Factor 2009 – Danyl Johnson’s – Auditions 1 Video Click Here

Now, Katie Price ‘gets tired of Alex Reid’

London, August 9 (ANI): Katie Price a.k.a Jordan has become tired of cage fighter Alex Reid, whom she started seeing after parting ways with husband Peter Andre, it has emerged.

She reportedly told her friends: “He’s getting on my t**s. I’m sick of him acting like a lap dog. He’s been a distraction and he was fun while he lasted but he’s not good for me and now I feel ready to move on.”

A friend of the hottie has revealed that she is worried that her relationship with the small time actor and her estranged husband’s criticism for her insensible behaviour would harm her public image.

“She’s frightened about looking like a s***. She’s been stung by Peter’s criticism and wants to try to focus on being a mum and trying to protect her reputation from any more blows,” the News of the World quoted the pal as saying.

In fact, Jordan wanted to end her still young relationship with Reid, while they were in Spain.

“This has always been about companionship for her, not a serious relationship. But it quickly escalated. She wanted to end it in Marbella and is worried Alex has started to get stars – and pound signs – in his eyes,” the pal said.

Moreover, she reportedly banned her film crew from travelling with them to Spain because she did not want Alex to appear much in her hit ITV2 show.

And she has allegedly started making secret late night calls to her former holiday flame Anthony Lowther.

The insider added: “Jordan feels Alex has pretty much served his purpose and she is worried people are starting to think they are a long-term prospect. She has a real soft spot for Anthony. He is everything she is looking for – hunky, gentle, and loving.

“Funnily enough, these are the qualities she fell for in Pete. She still really fancies Anthony.

“He’s the one she really wants to be with – and I suspect it won’t be long before she is. Katie has started distancing herself from Alex in the last few days because of that.” (ANI)

Simon Cowell to sign £100M-a-year record deal for ‘American Idol’

London, July 15 (ANI): Simon Cowell is in talks to sign a 100million pounds-a-year ‘American Idol’ contract, which could make him the highest paid star in TV history.

By sealing the US deal with Fox, Cowell will quadruple his current 25million pounds a year, which means that he would rake in a whopping 2.2million pounds an hour on screen.

And his new business partner, Topshop mogul Sir Philip Green, is negotiating the agreement.

Cowell, 49, is seen vital to the survival of the ailing American network, which makes 450million pounds a year from advertising on the hit talent show.

The network signed up American Idol’s cheesy host Ryan Seacrest for a three-year deal worth 30million pounds and is now closing in on Cowell.

“The word went out from on high to pay Simon what he needs,” the Mirror quoted a Fox insider as saying.he source added: “Without him the show would be a shadow of itself. And without American Idol we’re in the dumper.”

Cowell will also soon be in renewal talks over his ITV contract, which is likely to be less than his current 20million pounds deal over three years. (ANI)

The Queen is devoted to her beloved horses

London, July 14 (ANI): Queen Elizabeth II is famous for her devotion towards her horses, and a new documentary is set to feature her hands-on approach to the animals.

Trainer Katie Jerram speaks of the Royal’s dedication towards her beloved equine charges in All The Queen’s Horses, to be soon screened on ITV1.

“When I go down to Windsor Castle the Queen is always there at the riding school with a little brown paper bag of freshly cut carrots, which she feeds each horse,” the Daily Express quoted Katie as saying.

Stud groom Terry Pendry, a close friend of Her Majesty, alleges that she would “ride every day if she could”.

He added: “She even rode on her 83rd birthday in the rain.” (ANI)

Jordan brands Peter Andre a ‘hypocrite’

Washington, July 13 (ANI): Katie Price a.k.a Jordan has reportedly branded her estranged husband Peter Andre a hypocrite.

The glamour model was said to be ‘incandescent’ over his reaction to her TV confession about miscarriage, reports the Mirror.

The ‘Mysterious Girl’ singer reportedly said that he was ‘deeply disappointed’ by Jordan’s decision to speak out to ITV’s Piers Morgan.

However, Price told a pal “Peter seems to be forgetting that he demanded a divorce just 12 days after I had a miscarriage.

“Those are the facts and for him to cast himself as innocent and upset in all of this is unbelievable and hypocritical in the extreme.

“He is not the good guy as everyone is making out – in fact, the opposite is true,” she added. (ANI)

Jordan to spill the beans on her broken marriage on ITV

London, July 2 (ANI): Katie Price a.k.a Jordan is set to spill the beans on her broken marriage Peter Andre on ITV.

This will be the first time that she has spoken officially in public since the split.

The glamour model is going to tell-all in an exclusive interview with her old pal Piers Morgan.

Jordan sealed the deal on Monday with the Britain’s Got Talent judge at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

Morgan will ask her about the reasons that led to the break-up of her four-year marriage.

Jordan would be asked about her antics during her now-famous meltdown holiday on Ibiza, when she cavorted near-naked in nightclubs with a clutch of hunky fellas.

The 31-year-old also faces awkward questions about her friendships with other men. She is expected to be asked about hunky riding instructor Andrew Gould, whom she raced to see when she got home from the wild island.

“Piers is over the moon to get the Jordan exclusive. Jonathan Ross will be green with envy that she turned him down and went with his biggest rival,” the Daily Star quoted an insider as saying. (ANI)

Duchess of York goes on radical diet for Fit At 50 TV show

London, June 28 (ANI): Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson has resorted to a radical diet for a TV show after she pledged to be “footballer fit” in time for her 50th birthday.

The former Royal, who vowed to drop pounds so that she could get into a racy black bikini by October, will also bag 50,000 pounds for the hour-long special entitled Fit At 50.

“I am going to run along the beach at 50 and be footballer fit, not just fit fit,” News of the World quoted her as saying.

She added: “I’ll be running down that beach in my small black bikini.”

The mum-of-two, who was left with food addiction after her marriage split with Prince Andrew, was also said to have roped in David Beckham’s personal trainer Neil Lewis to get back in shape for the occasion.

An ITV1 insider said: “There’s enormous excitement that Sarah’s agreed to get involved. Make no mistake, she’s facing a hard slog in the gym.

“There will be no where to hide on the beach. Viewers will see her looking like she has never done before.” (ANI)

‘Simon Cowell to quit X-factor’

London, June 25 (ANI): Simon Cowell has decided to quit X Factor to launch a billion-pound global TV and entertainment empire with Topshop tycoon Sir Philip Green, say reports.

According to sources, the 49-year-old music mogul has told his friends that the next series will be his last.

He plans to join hands with Green to create and sell TV formats across the world. One of their first targets could be ITV.

“Nothing is off limits,” the Mirror quoted an insider as saying.

However, the ITV bosses desperately want Cowell to stay.

But insiders say Cowell is reviewing his future.

“He has found X Factor increasingly draining and it leaves him little time for serious business,” said a close friend.

“Now he’s decided this will be his last series and he’s moving on. In future, he will have a more overseeing role,” the friend added.

It is said that Cowell is extremely excited about his collaboration with Greene.

They will also create shows, manage stars and exploit the rights to existing TV hits. (ANI)

Alesha Dixon set to become ‘Stricty Come Dancing’ judge

London, June 19 (ANI): Former ‘Stricty Come Dancing’ winner Alesha Dixon is reportedly all set to replace Arlene Phillips as a judge on the show to lure young audience.

Apparently, the show’s bosses are squeezing out Philips from the show, but the BBC has refused to confirm reports that it has ended its contract with the 66-year-old choreographer.

However, insiders have said that the bosses feel that 30-year-old Dixon is the right person to boost the show’s appeal to younger viewers.

Alesha, the pop star and former model, was dubbed the “British Beyonce” by 81-year-old host Bruce Forsyth

And sources are hoping that she can help the BBC win ratings from rival ITV show ‘The X Factor’, where Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole is a judge.

“There is always speculation. Two months ago they were reporting that I was going to take over from Brucie. But once you are part of Strictly Come Dancing you are part of the family and I do feel that about the show,” the Daily Express quoted Alesha as saying.

While a BBC spokeswoman said that reports about the singer taking over from Phillips were “purely speculation”, she did not deny the claims outright.

She said: “We can’t confirm anything about the new series of Strictly yet, but we are always looking at ways to maximise viewers’ enjoyment of our shows.”

Phillips, on the other hand, declined to comment on her future with the show.

Meanwhile, fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, 44, Bruno Tonioli, 53, and Len Goodman, 65, might stick with the show’s next series launches in September. (ANI)

Angry Susan Boyle rants four-letter words after strangers ‘wind her up’

London, May 28 (ANI): Britain’s Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle flared up before hundreds of hotel guests after two strangers set out to “wind her up”.

The singing sensation was said to have blew her temper with two four-letter outbursts in a day while staying at the Wembley Plaza Hotel in North London.

Cops were involved after the 48-year-old lost her cool in the lobby after being approached by two strangers, who a BGT spokesman said had been “trying to wind her up”.

“How f***ing dare you! You can’t f***ing talk to me like that,” the Sun quoted her as being heard.

And when one of two officers stationed at the hotel went up and asked: “Is there a problem?”

Susan raged: “Of course there’s a f***ing problem.”

The amateur singer then reportedly stormed out followed by her family, production staff and the cops, who later spoke to her for some time.

One officer allegedly said: “You are in the public eye, you must learn to expect this sort of thing.”

And a pal of Susan’s told her: “You can’t act like this.”

One onlooker added: “It took her a long time to calm down from whatever upset her. She was breathing heavily and in a terrible rage.

“The pressure is obviously getting to Susan. Perhaps all the fame is too much for her.”

Susan came one step closer to winning the title after reaching the finals with her stunning version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats song Memory.

A staggering 13.6million viewers had tuned into ITV1 to watch the songbird perform in the recent semi-finals while more than a million visited YouTube to see her latest performance.

The star since her jaw dropping audition has won fans all over the globe, including US President Barack Obama and Hollywood couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. (ANI)

Susan Boyle gives guests sleepless nights with day night rehearsals

London, May 26 (ANI): Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle has been practicing her singing day and night, leaving other guests at a hotel sleep deprived.

Susan, 48, who turned into an overnight celebrity with her jaw dropping performance of the song ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ on the talent show, was said to be barely taking any breaks between tuning her vocals at the Wembley Plaza hotel in West London.

“She is obviously desperate to win. She just sings all day and all night. It’s been keeping me up – it’s such a cacophony,” the Sun quoted one sleepless guest as saying.

The Scottish church volunteer came one step closer to winning the title after reaching the finals with her stunning version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats song Memory.

A staggering 13.6million viewers had tuned into ITV1 to watch the songbird perform in the recent semi-finals while more than a million visited YouTube to see her latest performance.

The amateur singer since her audition has won fans all over the globe, including US President Barack Obama and Hollywood couple Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher.

The red-hot favourite to win the show gathered a record 200million hits on YouTube, been interviewed by US chat queen Oprah Winfrey, had name checks on cartoon shows The Simpsons and South Park, been invited to meet Obama and has even had a doll modelled after her. (ANI)