FRANZ FERDINAND TALK HOTELS , JANICE FORSYTH RAVES ABOUT RECORDS AND HELEN FLANAGAN GETS LOVED UP

FRANZ Ferdinand’s bass player Bob Hardy has just published a very personal account and unusual of his touring experiences.
Bob, who has always been an artist in addition to his musical talents, managed to take pictures of the hotel rooms he stayed in during his time with the Scots band.
He’s now got them published in the latest issue of Performance Research.
He said of the quirky project: “I provide a sample of a larger project termed World Tour. The images, in their accumulation, provide a record of the interior spaces – the hotel rooms – that I have moved through in my position as a bassist in the band Franz Ferdinand. The images detail, in their own unobtrusive way, my attempt to re-appropriate and dwell in spaces that are not my own.”



Greg Hemphill and Janice Forsyth were amongst the first in the queue for the newly reopened Fopp music store in Byres Road.
Both had campigned for its opening alongside Alex Kapranos and Tam Dean Burn.
Janice, who I last met at the Scottish Music Awards bought lots of goodies including DVD’s of Funny Life, Funny Girl,  The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and the Billy Wilder collection.
I love it when people put money where their mouth is.


Helen Flanagan was a special guest of Fake Bake at their latest hotel party.
The Corrie star took time out of being a busy mum to indulge in a host of goodies at the bash including a hot tub filled with balloons.
The event in aid of Galentines - Valentines for gal pals saw guests showered with bottles of tan eraser, tanning water and other glowing products.
Helen even managed to take home a gift for her wee one Matilda in the shape of a froggy balloon.
She said: “Matilda will be delighted. She’s princess and frog obsessed.”

SIMON COWELL AND SCOTS DREAMMAKER CHARITY HELP CANCER TEENS

Beverley Lyons
SIMON Cowell has invited two Scots cancer teens and their families as VIPs during the live finals of Britain’s Got Talent after they presented him with a teddy bear and Tunnocks Teacakes for his son Eric.
The music mogul and reality show judge was in Manchester and held up the show recording with Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Williams when he met Sara Miller, 15 and Molly Cuddihy, 16.
The two girls and their mums had been invited down to watch the auditions of the shows by the Les Hoey MBE Dreammaker Foundation.
Sara who has suffered from non Hodgkins lymphoma and has had five phases of chemotherapy since 2017 said: “It was amazing and everyone was lovely, especially Simon who couldn’t have been nicer. I took him a teddy bear and said he should give it to Eric and he said Eric would love that and he would give it to him that night. He was a wee bit smaller than I expected but was amazing and asked us to come to the live shows. David Walliams is so funny too, hysterical. Me and my dad and brother love him and he was interested to hear about our conditions.”
Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and David Williams also welcomed Sara and Molly.
Molly, 16 from Gourock who was diagnosed woth Ewings Sarcoma and finds it hard to walk now said: “It was incredible. Simon was so friendly and not the cold personality you see on TV. He was quite taken aback we thought of Eric and he loved the Teacakes too and kept them beside him for the auditions.  They were all really lovely and really interested to talk to us even though we met them during the actual show. They said they would restart after our meeting. Ant and Dec even gave me a high five on the way down.






















From Scotland with Love Theshowbizlion.com

WIN A VALENTINES DATE WITH CAITLYN VANBECK AND GREGOR HUNTER COLEMAN

SCOTS singers Caitlyn Vanbeck and Gregor Hunter Coleman have offered themselves up for a hot double date with lonely singletons this Valentines Day. 

The talented twosome who have performed on our screens through X Factor and beyond teamed up with Scots online beauty company Washmestyleme.com and Glasgow’s Dhabba restaurant to give two lucky winners a priceless night to remember. 

And two separate winners  will be treated to a bundle of K|Night, Betty Jo and Pain In The Sass perfume and aftershave gifts and toiletries alongside a full three course meal with drinks. 

As well as dining with the singing stars each winner will be given a love book about Indian Goddess of Love Kamadeva, and a bunker pack of pressies from the Washmestyleme.com website created by 22 year old Scots beauty entrepreneur Alana Taylor. 

Caitlyn from Edinburgh who has had hundreds of millions of hits online and once shared a flirty exchange with Justin Bieber said: “When it comes to dating I’ve not yet met Mr Right so this night could be perfect in every way. As well as smelling nice we’re all going to leave our dates with very full bellies.”

Glasgow’s Gregor Hunter Coleman, who counts Nicola Sturgeon amongst his admirers,  says he’s had a whole host of bad dates - including one where his ‘ex girlfriend ended up serving him and his date on a night out - leading to a very unfortable atmosphere’, can’t wait to play host with the most and wine and dine his winning date on Valentines week. 

He said: “It’ll be a fun night and I’m more than happy to serenade my date on the evening. I can’t wait to see what Lady Luck brings my way.”

Both Caitlyn and Gregor want to hear about peoples worst dating stories and two winners who impress with their tales of woe will be picked for a Valentines date with them. 

Entrants must be over 18, able to take their prize in Glasgow between February 13-17 and willing candidates should send their worst date story and name, age and address to alana@washmestyleme.co.uk by February 11.

As part of Valentines Day, toiletry company Washmestyleme.com have reduced the price of their aftershave and perfume box sets by up to a third. The Dhabba In Candleriggs is also offering the first thirty couples who book on Valentines Day a copy of the book of God of Desire Kamadeva. 

GERARD BUTLER, SAM HEUGHAN AND GARY BARLOW SHARE BURNS NIGHT IN LA

SCOTS heartthrobs Gerard Butler, and Sam Heughan put on their kilts for a real celebration of the Bard In LA. 
Even Take That’s Gary Barlow turned up to the tartan fuelled evening hosted by Sir Tom Hunter and his wife Marion at the swish bash in Fairmont Miramar co hosted by Bafta LA and The Kilt Walk charity. 
Outlander star Sam Heughan got laughs as he addressed the Haggis while Gerard Butler showed off his fine physique in true Scots style. Gary opted for a suit instead of a 21st Century kilt. 
Guests enjoyed Cock A Leekie Soup, Venison Stew, MacSweens Haggis and Steelhead Trout Saltimbocca, Mashed Neeps and Tatties and Cranachan with Fruit and Cheese and Shortbread.  
Balvenie Whisky and Lanson champagne was poured while red rose petals were stuck on crystal candelabras and tartan and thistles added some extra decor to the occasion. 
A piper welcomed guests and Ross King said: “The boys are back together. Thankyou Sam Heughan for the best haggis address ever.”


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GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL WITH SIR MICHAEL PALIN, CELTIC CONNECTIONS AND BOYZONE

BOYZONE’S Keith Duffy is hopping to catch up with his Scots rugby pals Thom and Max Evans when the lads play here at the weekend.
Boyzone will be playing their fairwell gig tomorrow night at the SSE Hydro and Keith told me last time we spoke that he and the Evans lads are the best of pals.
He said: “The Evans brothers come to all our gigs. They either stand side of stage of go out front - whatever they want.”
Keith and the lads says they won’t be going crazy after they Hydro gig.
He laughed: “Those days are gone now and we’ve all had our moment of glory. We don’t like hangovers anymore so play golf now and enjoy glass of wine parties.”
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HARRY Potter, Sense and Sensibility and Gosford Park composer Patrick Doyle got everyone sobbing as he made it a real family affair at his Glasgow concert. Not only did he bring his two daughters Nuala and Abigail  to accompany him on Sigh No More. He also managed to play a treasured sixty year old recording of his own father Patrick singing at a family gathering. He told the audience it had been his dads ambition to sing with  a live orchestra but he sadly passed away last year. His wish finally came true at Celtic Connections and it was a true homecoming. I definitely lost a few fake lashes on the night.
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Glasgow Film Festival goers are up for a real rough and ready night at this year’s event.
The 12 day long fest from February 20 to March 3 will see seven world premieres, 102 UK premieres and 49 Scottish premieres. Guests including Sir Michael Palin, Carol Morley, Matt Bomer, Carlos Acosta, Josh O’Connor, Alice Lowe, Simon Amstell and music video director Lance Bangs.
One of the highlights will be a showing of Fight Club in a mystery destination in North Glasgow featuring real fighting.
I’m told the battles will be coordinated by Scots fight expert Janet Lawson who was a member of the stunt team for Season 6 of the TV series Vikings and plays Mrs Hinzmann in the Scottish Christmas Zombie Musical Anna and the Apocalypse.
She knows her stuff and some locals might think it’s the real thing.

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RICHARD MADDEN RAVES ABOUT PAISLEY NIGHTSPOT VIENNAS

HOT Scot Richard Madden admitted he and his family were fans of Paisley’s Vienna’s nightclub on a night out in the States.
Bodyguard star Richard has been seen at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes in the last week where he picked up an award for Best Actor.
The Elderslie born talent met up with Scots club owner Tony Cochrane ahead of the event and even introduced Tony to his mum and dad to reminisce about Paisley.
Tony told me: “I met Richard along with his mum and dad who were both wearing a wee bit of tartan at Critics Choice Awards. We got chatting and I told him I had clubs in Paisley and around Scotland. When he found out I owned Vienna’s he called his mum and dad over and they talked about how well they knew it. Richard was so excited to talk about Scotland and his roots. ”
You can take the boy out of Elderslie but... you know the rest.
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David Tennant is so tickled pink by his brand new gadget at home, he thinks it’s better than a sonic screwdriver.
The Broadchurch and  Doctor Who star who is soon to star in Good Omens on the Beeb told fans at a US convention that he has just acquired a special hot water tap.
The tap allows David to make a cup of tea without boiling the kettle.
He said: “It is the best thing that has ever happened to us. That is a thing of great joy. You don’t have to boil a kettle ever again. The boiling water just comes out of the tap”
Simple things.
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I don’t now what I’ve let myself in for but I popped along to Fitness Frontier at Glasgow’s Clydeside for my first ever session with a personal trainer.
Chris Johnston has trained everyone from The Weakest Links Anne Robinson to River City’s Tom Urie and the Miss Scotland girls. Now he’s training me. He told me to take along a banana and bottle of water to the first session and I ended up needing them both. I thought I was semi fit but after one minute of skipping (which turned out to be twenty seconds of getting puffed out) I’ve realised I’m not exactly Rocky. Watch this space.

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GEORGE MICHAEL TRIBUTE ROB LAMBERTI IN SCOTTISH CHIPPY

DINERS at the newly opened Bertie’s fish and chippy in Edinburgh had to look twice when they saw George Michaelimpersonator Rob Lamberti singing his greatest hits on stage.
Rob, who comes to Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall in May along with members of George’s actual band and The Royal Philharmonic orchestra, performed everything from Faith to Last Christmas in a set that wowed not only the VIP diners but loads on social media.
Young Fathers Ally Massaquoi was boogieing away with me and Caitlyn Vanbeck as we joined Hearts and Hibs players to eat deep fried mars bars at the bash.
Rob, who was employed by Sony to be George’s double on a number of occasions, and also counted the real singer as a big fan, told me he actually always wanted to be a Marti Pellow soundalike, but was told by others he was more suited to George. He didn’t realise Wet Wet Wet were recently looking for a new singer until it was too late. Obviously he was wishing he was lucky...
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JUDY Murray ended up getting a hard time on line after her bag melted in the Australian heat.
The temperatures over in Oz are so hot at the moment that one man managed to cook a steak in his car in an online video that has now gone viral.
Judy too, suffered from the boiling conditions, as she showed off a picture of her bag disintegrating in the sun.
One fan commented: “Cheap gear Judy, buy nice or buy twice,” while another added: “You didn’t buy it at the Barras in Glasgow did you??
Judy laughed: “This would never happen in Dunblane.”
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Comedian and presenter Des Clarke believes in synchronicity after he helped to feed homeless people through a random act of kindness.
The Capital Scotland and BBC Breaking the News presenter had visited a pal at Morton’s rolls this week and had been given a crate of them to give out to his work colleagues back at the office.
Des said: “The guy kindly offered me some crispy rolls to take away. I expected half a dozen. He gave me 100 and told me to give them out at work, but 100 was too many to shift. So I called Glasgow City Mission. Before I could explain, I heard some chat in the background.
What’s that?
“It’s the chef. He’s doing the big lunch for the homeless. He’s supposed to be making bacon rolls. But he’s run out of rolls.”
Really? How many does he need?
“About 100.”
As Des says himself, Life really is amazing.

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