Cheryl Cole ‘refusing to sign new £1mn X Factor contract’

London, May 20 (ANI): Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole is said to have refused to sign her new 1million pounds X Factor contract until she knows who will replace co-judge Dannii Minogue.

Cole, 26, also wants a promise that her pregnant pal Minogue will not be permanently replaced.

Minogue, 38, will miss out on the auditions stage when it starts next month, and producers plan to have guest judges to fill in for her alongside 50-year-old Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, 57.

“It’s getting very close to the start of The X Factor auditions and Cheryl has not yet signed on the dotted line,” the Daily Star quoted a show source as saying.

“It would ruin her X Factor experience not to have another ‘girly girl’ like Dannii to laugh and joke with and gang up with against the lads.

“There’s been talk about Mel B whom Cheryl is quite frightened of.

“She is also mindful of the fact any youngsters may try to upstage her in the fashion stakes,” the source added.

All the judges are set for a showdown meeting at Cowell’s London mansion next week, and Minogue, who is back in Australia and due to give birth in July, will join them via a conference call.

The new series of The X Factor is scheduled for August. (ANI)

Brit magician Paul Daniels claims to have bedded 300 women

London, May 13 (ANI): Brit magician Paul Daniels says he”s an “international sex symbol” and has had 300 lovers.

“Feel, feel,” Daniels said at an interview flexing his biceps. “That’s just from push ups, I’ll say no more. In-ter-national Sex Sym-bol.”

“I’ve had 300 lovers, but I didn’t necessarily make love to all of them,” the Mirror quoted 72-year-old as saying.

He explained: “The trick is making women laugh. I laughed all of them into bed…magic.”

Bragging about his sex life with wife Debbie McGee, 51, he said: “We have sexathons.

“That’s how we both keep fit.

“I’m still doing magic, every night,” he added. (ANI)

Elizabeth Taylor says she’s ””””falling apart”””” to Julie Andrews

London, May 10 (ANI): Elizabeth Taylor was one of the stars who turned up to see her fellow Dame Julie Andrews perform at the 02 Arena in London.

And in the interval, Taylor, 78, greeted ‘The Sound of Music’ star, 74, in her dressing room.

“Dame Julie, how lovely to see you,” the Telegraph quoted her as saying with mock formality as they kissed.

“The pleasure is all mine, Dame Liz. And may I say how marvellous you are looking,” replied Andrews.

Taylor retorted with a laugh, saying: “Marvellous? Look at me. I am falling apart.”

She later said that she got delayed for the show as a car accompanying hers had got a flat tyre.

However, she was determined to see her old friend performing for the first time in the capital since an operation on her vocal chords in 1997.

“Julie is a fighter – I love that,” she said.

Although in poor health, she hummed along cheerfully to Andrews singing songs from Rogers and Hammerstein.

She admitted that she felt “too tired and weak” to undergo any further operations after submitting to more than 100 in the last 25 years. (ANI)

Cheryl Cole’s mum gives will.i.am stamp of approval

London, May 7 (ANI): Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole has taken her friendship with Black Eyed Peas rapper will.i.am to another level – by introducing him to her mother who gave him her approval.

will.i.am, 35, met Joan, 50, on May 5 for drinks after Cheryl, 26, supported the Black Eyed Peas at London’s O2 Arena.

The meeting between the three went so well that the rapper promised Joan he will take care of Cheryl, and he also praised the way she has been brought up.

“Joan is a great lady. You can see why Cheryl is such a good girl, she gets it from her mum,” the Sun quoted him as saying.

“Cheryl’s mum is behind our friendship.

“I think anybody that will look after her little girl and protect her – after the last few months she has had – is only a good thing in her mum’s eyes.

“The most important thing for Cheryl at the moment is to have a man around her who she can trust and who makes her laugh. I promised mum that’s what I’m doing.

“We couldn’t ask for a better supporting act than Cheryl, the crowd absolutely love her and she really is a princess in the British peoples’ eyes.

“I am having a great time working with her, but I already knew that I would anyway. We are having a great time during the show, but also a great time after,” he added.

Will, who worked with Cheryl on her debut solo album 3 Words, has made no secret of his feelings for the Girls Aloud star.

“Cheryl turned up with her mum after Will had arrived,” an onlooker at the Bacardi VIP bar said.

“He spent some time talking to Joan, who came to watch her perform.

“She obviously got on with Will, so she seems to approve of the friendship,” the onlooker stated. (ANI)

Rooney coaches family parrot to speak his son’s name!

London, May 7 (ANI): Footballer Wayne Rooney has achieved a new ‘goal’ – he has taught a family parrot to speak his son’s name.
Wayne, 24, after getting the parrot to start talking, says he “won’t shut up”.

After befriending the pet during a visit to in-laws with family, he has been training the African Grey to increase its vocabulary for a “laugh”.

The bird after learning to speak his son, Kai’s name, however, won’t stop squawking words left, right and centre.

“It was funny at first but now it just won’t shut up,” The Daily Star quoted the footie as speaking with Match Of The Day magazine. (ANI)

Secret behind 100-year-old Mr Binge’s long life: a glass of whisky every day!

London, May 5 (ANI): Centenarian Ted Binge, a former railwayman who lives in Armana House Care Centre in York with wife Irene, 91, swears a tot of whisky everyday is the secret of his long life.

The great-great grandfather gets through half a bottle of whisky every week. He has a glass in the morning and another before bedtime.

Binge, who has been taking his daily nip for 82 years, celebrated his landmark birthday last week, reports The Daily Express.

Ted said: “It’s beautiful, wonderful stuff. I love it. It’s never done me any harm, maybe they should put it on prescription.

“I had my first taste of it as a young man, when I had a bit of a cold and my father gave me a nip of whisky saying, ‘that will make you feel better’.

“It did the trick and I liked it, so I started having a glass on a morning. I like it straight, as it should be. I always say work as long as you can because it’s good for you. I love to have a laugh and a joke, sometimes a bit of a sing, it keeps you going.”

His daughter June Ogden, 67, said: “He’s wonderful, the whole family love him to bits. He has had a hard life, he lifted heavy sleepers on the railways for 37 years. But you would never know it to look at him, he’s barely got any wrinkles.

“My parents have rooms next to each other, it’s lovely that they can be together. She always goes to bed earlier than him and in the morning she says ‘have you been out on the town drinking whisky again?’.

“She only lets him have a little tot in the morning, but when she goes to bed he sneaks in another quick glass.”

Ted’s favourite whisky is Bell’s but he is also partial to Glenfiddich or Glenmorangie. (ANI)

Dogs really can understand human emotions

Melbourne, Apr 27 (ANI): Dogs can tell the difference between a happy and an angry person and a laugh from a cry, a New Zealand study claims.

To reach the conclusion, researchers at the University of Otago, in the South Island, put 90 Dunedin dogs through their paces – showing some recorded images of babies laughing, crying and babbling and giving others verbal instructions from human”s displaying happy or stern expressions.

Associate Professor Ted Ruffman said the dogs” responses indicated that they could understand emotions, reports The Australian.

“We know dogs are very good at picking up human gestures,” Prof Ruffman told the Otago Daily Times.

“And it seems they are very good at picking up on human emotions, too.” (ANI)

Brit teacher cleared of seducing 16-year-old pupil

London, April 16 (ANI): A British schoolteacher has expressed her elation after being cleared of seducing a 16-year-old pupil.

A pupil had accused Hannah McIntyre, 25, of taking his virginity after a series of drunken games of dare at her flat where he had gone with two friends.

The incident was alleged to have happened after the sixth former, now an 18-year-old university student, visited McIntyre at her flat with two friends “for a laugh”.

He claimed they shared a passionate kiss after she bought them cider and joined in a game of dares as they chatted and watched TV one Friday night in January 2008.

He added that he later followed her to bed where they had sex. Yet he failed to report the incident for 11 months.

“It was the first time I had had sex. I was pretty down about it,” the Daily Express quoted him as telling the jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

But McIntyre gave a different account of that night and told of an evening of terror.

“They barged in. They were very loud and boisterous. They were invading my space – going through my possessions and mocking anything they could find,” she said.

“I asked them to leave but they did not take any notice. I was trying to be non-confrontational – not trying to provoke anything,” she revealed.

She said she told them she had to go to the shop in the hope that they would leave but they followed her and persuaded her to buy them cider.

Even then they did not leave her alone but followed her back to her flat. She claimed the boy then followed her to bed and made sexual grunting and sighing noises as a joke.

“The next thing I knew I was being kissed by him. I was not aware of any discussions. I was just stunned to start with and then pretty repulsed,” she stated.

After a four-day trial, a jury took just 75 minutes on April 15 to clear McIntyre, of Waterloo, Liverpool, of unlawful sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

Immediately after the verdict, Judge Robert Warnock told her she was free to leave the dock and she ran into the arms of her boyfriend Richard and parents Irene and Harry.

“I am ecstatic at the verdict. Right now I never want to be in the company of a school pupil for the entirety of my life. I need to have a large drink and sleep for a week,” she said outside court.

She was asked if she was angry to have been put through such an ordeal.

“I do not think anger is the first thing on my mind but he has, without any accountability, made this accusation. I would like him to realise what effect this has had on me,” she said. “I had a job that I loved, that I do not have. I had a reputation which was good, which I do not have,” she stated.

McIntyre taught her accuser at the 8,000 pounds-a-year Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School in Crosby, Merseyside, one of the best-performing independent schools in the country. (ANI)

Brit teacher cleared of seducing 16-year-old pupil

London, April 16 (ANI): A British schoolteacher has expressed her elation after being cleared of seducing a 16-year-old pupil.

A pupil had accused Hannah McIntyre, 25, of taking his virginity after a series of drunken games of dare at her flat where he had gone with two friends.

The incident was alleged to have happened after the sixth former, now an 18-year-old university student, visited McIntyre at her flat with two friends “for a laugh”.

He claimed they shared a passionate kiss after she bought them cider and joined in a game of dares as they chatted and watched TV one Friday night in January 2008.

He added that he later followed her to bed where they had sex. Yet he failed to report the incident for 11 months.

“It was the first time I had had sex. I was pretty down about it,” the Daily Express quoted him as telling the jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

But McIntyre gave a different account of that night and told of an evening of terror.

“They barged in. They were very loud and boisterous. They were invading my space – going through my possessions and mocking anything they could find,” she said.

“I asked them to leave but they did not take any notice. I was trying to be non-confrontational – not trying to provoke anything,” she revealed.

She said she told them she had to go to the shop in the hope that they would leave but they followed her and persuaded her to buy them cider.

Even then they did not leave her alone but followed her back to her flat. She claimed the boy then followed her to bed and made sexual grunting and sighing noises as a joke.

“The next thing I knew I was being kissed by him. I was not aware of any discussions. I was just stunned to start with and then pretty repulsed,” she stated.

After a four-day trial, a jury took just 75 minutes on April 15 to clear McIntyre, of Waterloo, Liverpool, of unlawful sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.

Immediately after the verdict, Judge Robert Warnock told her she was free to leave the dock and she ran into the arms of her boyfriend Richard and parents Irene and Harry.

“I am ecstatic at the verdict. Right now I never want to be in the company of a school pupil for the entirety of my life. I need to have a large drink and sleep for a week,” she said outside court.

She was asked if she was angry to have been put through such an ordeal.

“I do not think anger is the first thing on my mind but he has, without any accountability, made this accusation. I would like him to realise what effect this has had on me,” she said.

“I had a job that I loved, that I do not have. I had a reputation which was good, which I do not have,” she stated.

McIntyre taught her accuser at the 8,000 pounds-a-year Merchant Taylors” Boys” School in Crosby, Merseyside, one of the best-performing independent schools in the country. (ANI)

England football fans take swipe at Scotland

London, Apr 16(ANI): England football fans will take a swipe at Scotland’s failure to qualify for this summer’s World Cup with quote t-shirt ‘SNP: Scotland Not Playing’.

The SNP is England’s response to the ‘ABE: Anyone But England’ t-shirts, which was earlier probed over racism claims.

“When it comes to sour grapes we decided we weren’t going to be out-graped by our northern cousins,” The Sun quoted an England website, as saying.

“We thought we”d return the compliment with our own ‘SNP – Scotland Not Playing’ World Cup top. It also goes along nicely with their very own Scottish National Party so we”re hoping it might annoy them even more,” it added.

Meanwhile, Scotland fans insist they were relieved that their England rivals have finally quit moaning and are up for a laugh.

“After their initial outrage at the ABE shirts, it’s good to see the English getting a sense of humour,” said Harvey Robertson, of The Famous Tartan Army magazine. (ANI)

Amanda Seyfried’s ”minge” tattoo revealed

London, April 1 (ANI): Amanda Seyfried has a crude slang term for female genitalia tattooed on her left foot.

The actress showed off her tattoo of the word ”minge” at ‘Dear John’ premiere in London.

Seyfried revealed that she decided to get the naughty body-art after hearing her Brit co-star Colin Firth and real-life boyfriend Dominic Cooper use the term while they filmed Mamma Mia!

“It”s to make me laugh, and every time I look at it, I do,” the Daily Star quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Butler apologises to ex-school crush – after namechecking her on TV

London, March 30(ANI): Actor Gerard Butler called his teenage crush Julie Morrison and apologized, after naming her on US TV show.

The ‘300’ star had appeared in comedian Jimmy Kimmel”s late-night show, where he had revealed details of women who had dumped him.

He had said: “This girl, Julie Morrison… was the one you”d end up round the back of the bike sheds with… I”ll never forget her walking up the stairs… and I said something to her and then I gave her a long, lingering look… and she looked at me and gave me these come-to-bed eyes.”

However, Morrison has cleared that she is not offended by the actor’s remarks.

“I have known Gerry for 30 years and we are great pals. We will be great pals for another 30 years. What he said was typical Gerry – he is just a fun, mischievous, cheeky chappy kind of guy…” the Daily Express quoted her as telling Scotland”s Sunday Mail.

She added: “What he said has been misconstrued. He was making lighthearted comments to amuse an audience. None of it was meant to be taken seriously.

“I know Gerry has been shocked by how people have painted him out to be a bad guy and he got his lawyers involved. I keep in touch with him but I was surprised to get the call out of the blue. He just told me what I knew – that it was a bit of fun.

“I had never even heard of the show let alone seen it so I was really surprised by this. I have people phoning me up to see if I”m OK about it but it was just a good laugh. I am not in the least offended… It was hysterical and I”m not taking anything to heart.” (ANI)

Swann hopes to wake England pals from their one-day slumber

London, Sep.15 (ANI): Off-spinner Graeme Swann is hoping to give a wake up call to his England team-mates when they take on Australia in the fifth of the seven match NatWest series.

The day-night clash is to be played at Trent Bridge tonight.

The spin ace told SunSport: “I’m going to try to lift the camp. I find it easy to have a laugh while playing cricket – and it’s probably more important to do that when you are losing. I don’t target anyone in particular with the piss-taking. It is whoever walks in the dressing room at the wrong time. But you can’t kid anyone, we’ve played terrible cricket in the one-day series so far.”

England’s one-day form needs a sharp hand-brake turn if they are to stand any chance in the upcoming Champions Trophy in South Africa. Their mini-World Cup campaign starts on September 25 and once again you wouldn’t back them to bag the silverware.

Swann was meeting fans on the Ashes Urn Tour. (ANI)

Naked Katie Green wears bubbles in steamy tub shoot!

London, September 9 (ANI): Model Katie Green left little to imagination as she stripped off in a tub while posing for the camera.

The British beauty dropped her layers with some strategically placed bubbles to cover up her modesty.

Katie also dismissed being romantically involved with Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik, with whom she teamed up to launch her ‘Say No To Size Zero’ campaign.

“We went out a few times and had a great laugh – but are just good friends,” The Sun quoted her as saying.

“I would say to any single females looking for a perfect gentleman to date Lembit, as he’s one of a dying breed!

“And, although we’re not a couple, he is still very much part of my size zero campaign. In fact we have a few tricks up our sleeves for the next few weeks.

“I don’t want to give too much away but put it this way London Fashion Week starts soon..,” she added. (ANI)

Watson charms classmates with magic trick on first day of college

London, September 7 (ANI): ‘Harry Potter’ star Emma Watson had magic tricks up her sleeves to charm her classmates on the first day of her college.

She showed how from a sitting position to magically raise yourself to standing without putting your hands on the ground, reports the Sun.

The 19-year-old beauty’s friends apparently had a hearty laugh on seeing the trick.

Watson is pursuing a degree in Literature at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. (ANI)

Natalie Portman loves listening to ‘dirty rap’ music

Washington, Aug 28 (ANI): Israeli-American actress Natalie Portman has revealed that she loves listening to dirty rap music.

She revealed her choice of music during an exclusive interview with actor Jake Gyllenhaal for Interview magazine.

Gyllenhaal, 28, asked the actress what kind of music she likes listening to, and Portman, 28, replied that was into obscene hip-hop at the moment.

“I’ve mostly been listening to dirty rap lately. That’s sort of my scene,” People magazine quoted her as saying.

“Really, really obscene hip-hop. I love it so much. It makes me laugh and then it makes me want to dance,” she added, before reciting some X-rated lyrics from the Ying Yang Twins. (ANI)

Ant and Dec horrified that audience were paid to laugh at their jokes

London, Aug 25 (ANI): Brit comedy duo Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, better know as Ant and Dec, have revealed that they were horrified to find out that an audience in the US was paid to laugh at their jokes.

American TV chiefs were desperate for the British unknowns to become instant hits with their version of You Bet, known as Wanna Bet, and so they paid audience members each 15 dollars an hour to cheer and laugh.

“We were virtual unknowns but we walked out to thunderous applause on the first night,” the Daily Star quoted Dec, 33, as telling Q magazine.

“The show went unbelievably well and afterwards we said to the producer: ‘What an incredible audience.’

“And he said: ‘Yeah, it’s amazing what you can get for 15 dollars an hour.’ They paid the audience to be there for three hours,” he said.

Ant, also 33, added: “We saw them afterwards, queuing up for America’s Got Talent.” (ANI)

Laughter may be the ‘worst’ medicine for asthmatics

Melbourne, Aug 24 (ANI): A good laugh is considered to be the best medicine, but a new research suggests that it may trigger serious asthma attacks.

This makes laughter a serious matter for 40 percent per cent of Australia’s 2 million asthma sufferers, according to a new study.

The online poll of 200 sufferers, conducted by drug company AstraZeneca’s, has backed university research that revealed laughter can spark the chronic respiratory illness in up to half of asthmatics.

A more serious concern from this research is that three quarters of asthmatics believe their asthma is well managed but the majority put up with lifestyle restrictions because of their illness.

The survey reflected both a University of NSW 2004 study published in the Journal Of Asthma and a New York University 2005 study Laughter May Trigger Asthma Attacks.

Almost two thirds found themselves breathless when doing housework or shopping, while half struggled to do their favourite activities.

More than one third felt tired because of disturbed sleep.

A further one in five cancelled social engagements because of their asthma.

Concord Hospital thoracic physician Professor Christine Jenkins said well-managed asthma should not hamper the enjoyment of any of life’s pleasures.

“Worryingly, these findings show that while many believe they have their asthma under control, the asthma is actually controlling them and their lifestyles,” the Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Oz ‘Fanatics’ claim responsibility for fire prank on English team

Leeds (UK), Aug.9 (ANI): Australian cricket fans have claimed responsibility for a hotel fire alarm that roused the England team from their beds the morning of their batting collapse on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.

The Fanatics – Australian supporters who follow the Test team around the world – claim they set off the fire alarm at the Radisson Hotel in Leeds about 4.30 a.m. on Friday.

England’s Test team was evacuated with other guests and staff while two fire engines from West Yorkshire Fire Service searched the premises for the source of the alarm.

Players were left standing in the street in their pyjamas for more than 20 minutes until the all clear was given for them to return to their beds.

Warren Livingston, head of the Fanatics, told The Sunday Mail one of the 100-strong group had managed to set the alarm off with the intention of disrupting the English team’s sleep, saying it was “good old fashioned Aussie high jinks”.

“Yes it was one of our guys who did it as a bit of a prank. I got a text message after it happened. At first, I thought, ‘good onya’, we’re just doing our bit for Australia,” news.com.au quoted Livingston, as saying.

“But I can’t condone this sort of thing. I don’t want any trouble. We’ve all had a big laugh and it might have made a difference to the way they batted,” he added.

If the claim is found to be true, English cricket fans and authorities will not view the situation with any humor.

Earlier, British media reports said the alarm may have been set off by a guest who had rinsed her underwear in a bathroom sink and then left it close to a light bulb to dry.

When the underwear started to smoulder, the woman was reported to have thrown it back in the sink, but not before the room had filled with smoke and the fire alarm went off.

England’s wicket-keeper Matt Prior blamed the incident for his team’s batting collapse in the first innings of the Test. (ANI)

MJ seduced gay lovers saying King of Pop wants your lollipop, claims book

London, July 13 (ANI): A new book makes several shocking claims about Michael Jackson, including one that he had many gay lovers who he seduced by saying: “The King of Pop is going to lick your lollipop.”

Biographer Ian Halperin claims to have hunted down two of the star’s alleged male lovers, with one apparently making the allegation.

“The very first time he had sex with me he said, ‘The King of Pop’s going to lick your lollipop’. I still laugh thinking about that,” the Sun quoted Jackson’s one alleged lover as having told Halperin.

The author of ‘Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson’ also alleges that “virtually everybody” around the singer knew about his interests in the same sex.

He says: “Virtually everybody has told me. Even those who are his most ardent defenders, people who maintain he is innocent of the molestation charges, insist that he is homosexually inclined.” (ANI)