A SPARKLING NIGHT WITH OUTLANDER, STRICTLY, LOVE ISLAND AND MORE AT SCOTTISH BAFTAS

IT was a real night of sparklers as a host of stars turned out for the BAFTA Scotland Awards at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel - and T2 made record breaking history by winning three awards.

Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe joined Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi, Strictly’s Joe McFadden and Freya Mavor on the red carpet. 

Devoted dad and Olympic champ Sir Chris Hoy arrived with his wife Sarah, three year old son Callum and one and a half month old daughter Chloe. 

He said it was the first time the family had been on a night out since Chloe was born in September. 

Looking proud as punch, Chris who awarded Glasgow 1967: The Lisbon Lions for Single Documentary said: “It’s a real pleasure to be here tonight. The wee ones doing well. Callum and his sister Chloe are here tonight and they are here up in the room with the grandparents. It’s our first night out since Chloe was born so it should be nice. There is a real temptation to stay at home and hunker down with family or come to these things without my wife so it’s nice that everyone is here.”

Edith Bowman, Laura Fraser and Armando Iannucci who received the Outstanding Cotnribution for Film and Television Award also graced the stage making a point of sporting 50/50 rings as a silent protest for equality within the industry. 

The rings were provided by actress Deirdre Mullins who has sent them out to various stars before the bash. 

Edith said in her introductory speech: “BAFTA joined others in calling and end to this behaviour as utterly unacceptable.”

James Cosmo who has been filming the Outlaw King with Hollywood star Chris Pike was thrilled to hang out with his pal Peter Capaldi. 

He said: “Peter has joined me for the evening.”

Speaking of his new movie which comes twenty years on from Braveheart he said: “I’m having a wonderful time on it. I have high hopes for it. It’s great Scottish movie. It’s a very different take from Braveheart but I think it will have an equal impact. I play Robert The Bruce’s Dad who is quite a political animal and David Mackenzie is an extraordinary director. It’s stylistically very different and I do think it will have the impact of Braveheart. These movies are always romanticised but I think it is more accurate of that time. I’ve ridden horses all through my career and I don’t know who I felt most sorry for - myself or the horse. I was an awful lot lighter when I was doing Braveheart and I wasn’t wearing chain mail but he’s a good old horse. Having just turned seventy it’s great that I can still get on a horse.”

He said of Chris Pines accent: “It’s a lot better than my Californian accent anyway

James also said of Trainspotting T2: “It was such a huge ask and for Danny to create a sequel for such a huge piece of work and such a seminal piece of work and he was really cruising for the critics to destroy him as they sometimes do. I think he pulled it off in spades and did a wonderful job and I have so much admiration for him.

James also praised Netflix for helping young directors and writers.

Referring to the Harvey Weinstein debacle he said: “It’s become a lot more open and egalitarian and it’s great to have that power structure broken up. Let’s have more independent filmmakers getting in there.” 

A chilled Peter Capaldi claimed he was taking it easy by doing ‘nothing’ since he filmed the last episode of Doctor Who.

He laughed: “It’s very relaxing when you don’t have to find out if you’ve won or not. I’m just hanging out. The first thing I did was nothing. I’m just taking it easy.”

Asked if there was any prospect of Malcolm Tucker making a return he added: “I don’t know you’d have to ask Armando.”

I don’t have anything to report. I’m just really enjoying myself not doing anything. I’m very happy not to have to get up for anything.”

Ewan Macgregor and his costars May have been absent due to filming commitments but the night was anything but a damp squib - and theshowbizlion.com went wild at the after party. 

SCOTS X FACTOR TALENTS THE CUTKELVINS SAY THEIR FATHER IS ON STAGE WITH THEM

SCOTS X Factor stars the Cutkelvins have opened up about the secret heartache behind their success on X Factor.
The talented trio from Lanark admit they are still devastated at losing their beloved Dad Derek seven years ago this December when he died unexpectedly at home.
And the performers who have received support from their mum Lynda throughout the show, carry around a treasured piece of him as they perform during the weekly shows on X Factor.
As Shereen, 20, and her brothers Jay, 24, and Kyle, 22, prepare for another round of live shows this weekend on X Factor they have exclusively told the Scottish Sun of their biggest inspiration from the man they were proud to call their father.

Shereen said: “Dad was there on stage up with us at the weekend - he always is.”
“When we were younger he would always just be listening to our rehearsals and how our harmonies worked and showed us how to breathe properly. He trained me when I was younger and he taught us a lot. That is where our inspiration came from.”
Derek Cutkelvin, then 53,  whose stage name was also Lewis J Jackson was a seasoned performer who sang regularly with his own brothers and sisters in the seventies band Django.
He also performed in a Drifters tribute band The Driftars and occasionally appeared on TV.
Kyle said: “Dad did a six week tour with Ben E King and he was in his group at the time called Django. He was with his brothers and sisters and there were four in the group. It’s like history repeating. He did some TV too but the internet wasn’t as big then as it is now so it was harder. It’s a bit easier now to get exposure.”
Speaking of his father’s tragic death from a cardiac arrest in December 2011, Kyle continued: “He passed away suddenly seven years ago. He didn’t have an illness or anything. He had a heart attack. It was so unexpected. I was sixteen, Shereen was 14 and Jay was eighteen. We are still dealing with it now, everyday.”
Shereen who adored her daddy and once paid tribute to him in a touching YouTube video singing Dance with My Father Again, added: “We are a very close family and we’ve always got each other. Mum is like the glue that holds us all together. We’ve always had that very strong connection and that continues even after dad has passed.”
The band try to start off their days by spending time thinking about their daddy. Jay said: “He is still very much our inspiration now. We go back and look at his videos and watch the way he did it.”
Shereen said: ”Even just this morning we were listening to some of his own original songs and it set off our day right.”
Kyle added: ”If we do well we will perform his songs at some point, maybe not on the show but somewhere.”
The close family carry their father in their hearts but they also admit he brings them luck through some of his old possessions which they’ve been wearing onstage.
Shereen who used to perform in girl group Neon Jungle alongside artists like Taylor Swift in the US said: “I’ve got my dads rosary beads that were given to him by a nun. I keep them on me.”
Jay added: “I wear his bracelet every day and I have not taken it off since. It’s one of my dads that I wear on stage.”
And Kyle said: “I have a watch from my dad that I will wear as well. I was scared to bring it in case I lost it but I will wear it if we reach the final.”
The family can’t wait to catch up with Simon Cowell again this weekend and perform their latest track.
They are thrilled that Scotland is behind them and are keen to get to the final stages of the competition.
Jay added: “Mum is dead proud of us all and always keeps us grounded to make sure we don’t get too big for our boots.”
Excerpts of this article have since appeared exclusively in the Scottish Sun.
From Scotland With Love -  Theshowbizlion.com

SCOTS ODEON CINEMA GOES LUXE WITH LATEST GADGETS

WATCHING a film at home might seem like the ultimate in comfort but ODEON Cinemas have come up with something even better to rival your cosy couch. 

And Scottish film fans are amongst the very first to try the new ODEON Luxe venues with not one bit there opening at a complex near you in the next few weeks. 

Film fans in  in Edinburgh can now experience the ultimate in cinema luxury – as ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West has opened its doors today  following a glittering gala evening last night attended by hundreds of local dignitaries, media and business owners.

Theshowbizlion.com was there to check it out and relax in the very latest of reclining chairs whilst enjoying some of the incredible snacks in offer. 

The cinema, formerly known as ODEON Wester Hailes, is a brand-new ODEON Luxe cinema – making it only the second ODEON Luxe cinema and home to the largest fully-reclining iSense screen in Europe.

There is already one in East Kilbride and Glasgow city centre is next on the list.

Attendees at the event enjoyed a drinks reception in the cinema’s upgraded foyer, sampling some of the cinema’s new food & drink offerings – before being invited into the iSense screen to experience the cutting-edge technology whilst watching Murder on the Orient Express.

 Theshowbizlion.com was joined by X Factor singer Caitlyn Vanbeck and members of local boy band Monroe as well as talents from girl boy group GSide and upcoming Singer Saskia Eng.  

Edinburgh City Council Convener for Culture and Sport, Donald Wilson officially cut the ribbon to open the site alongside Carol Welch, Managing Director of ODEON UK & Ireland, and Isla Stilley, General Manager of ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West – who began her career with ODEON as a Cinema Host at the very same site.

 ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West joins ODEON Luxe East Kilbride, which launched in October, as part of the ODEON Luxe family of fully-reclining cinemas – with the two luxurious venues soon to be followed this month by ODEON Glasgow Quay and ODEON Leeds Bradford.

 As the newest ODEON Luxe cinema, ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West features 800 handmade reclining seats across eight upgraded screens, with triple the legroom and increased personal space for guests, as well as individual, retractable tray tables and a host of new food and drink options to ensure the ultimate cinema experience.

 The cinema’s technology has also been overhauled, including the installation of a cutting-edge 178-seat iSense screen - the largest fully-reclining iSense in Europe - delivering a truly immersive, ultra-high-definition cinema experience, with 4K projection and Dolby ATMOS sound.

 Film fans can enjoy breathtaking sound delivered by 160 brand new speakers across all auditoriums, with all standard screens now packing Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound and improved picture quality through enlarged screens throughout the cinema.

 A new in-screen lighting system will also help minimise distractions between guests, and any guests who are hard of hearing can also take advantage of a new Dolby Fidelio Audio Description system and Hearing-Impaired loops across all screens.

 The opening of the cinema comes ahead of an exciting release schedule of new films, including the release of the highly anticipated remake of Murder on The Orient Express (3rd November), and before upcoming family film, Paddington 2 (10th November) and superhero epic Justice League (17th November).

 Guests of the cinema can choose from an extensive new range of food options, including freshly-popped popcorn, hot dogs and nachos, as well as drink options including a Coca Cola Freestyle with over 100 different flavour combinations to enjoy. It really is something else. 

ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West also features an all-new Oscar’s Bar, which offers guests freshly-cooked pizza and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

 In addition to the range of retail options, guests can also enjoy a range of promotions and discounted screenings including ODEON Kids, ODEON Newbies, ODEON Silver Cinema & ODEON Screen Unseen – as well as being able to take advantage of ODEON’s Limitless cards and ODEON Première Club loyalty scheme.

 For more information on available offers and to book tickets for upcoming screenings, guests can visit the ODEON website: http://www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/edinburgh_west/140/  

Isla Stilley, General Manager at ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West said: “It’s incredibly exciting to open our doors and welcome local film fans into our luxurious new cinema. The experience we can now offer guests, with handmade recliners and a range of food & drink options, means our cinema is going to be at the forefront of entertainment for years to come.”

Donald Wilson, Edinburgh City Council Convener of Culture and Communities added: “This has always been a very popular cinema, but these refurbishments – including cutting-edge technology and fully-reclining seats – sees it become a state-of-the-art facility with benefits for the whole city. Edinburgh is a city with a rich history of arts and culture, and the new ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West will ensure guests can enjoy the best entertainment in truly luxurious settings.”

 Key features of the new ODEON Luxe Edinburgh West include:

 800 fully-reclining seats (reduced from 2,117) across eight fully-refurbished screens, with increased leg-room, improved comfort and handy tray tables

A new cutting-edge 178-seat iSense screen, delivering a truly immersive, ultra-high-definition cinema experience, with 4K projection and Dolby ATMOS sound

160 brand new speakers across all auditoriums, with all standard screens also upgrading to Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound and 63 multi-channel amplifiers

New enlarged screens across all auditoriums – with new in-screen lighting systems to minimise distractions and optimised viewing angles with better light uniformity on all screens

New Dolby Fidelio Audio Description system and Hearing-Impaired loops across all screens for guests who are hard of hearing

New food & drink offering, including freshly-popped popcorn, hot dogs and nachos, as well as the all-new Oscar’s Bar featuring freshly-cooked pizza and a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

New drinks options including a Coca Cola Freestyle machine with over 100 different flavours and freshly brewed coffee, served in the brand new stylish on-site Costa

Renovated and refreshed areas of the cinema including a new foyer, entrance area, ceilings, toilets and LED lighting

ODEON’s sub-brands including ODEON Kids, ODEON Newbies, ODEON Silver Cinema & ODEON Screen Unseen

BILLY CONNOLLY: WHAT THE BIG YIN WAS GOING TO SAY TO HER MAJ

A trendy looking Billy Connolly said he couldn’t  wait to be knighted on Tuesday - and he’d be an obedient servant.
Billy had been spending the last week in Scotland catching up with his daughter and family before the big event.
Asked what he was going to say to Her Majesty on the big day, the comedy legend said : “I’m just going to do what she tells me.”
During his time in Glasgow The Big Yin, who recently found out he has Indian blood, popped in for a South Indian meal at Dakhin and spoke to staff about his love of the traditional dishes.
He also went shopping at Wholefoods in Giffnock which coincidently used to be the old Tudor cinema - a fact that didn’t go unnoticed when he met a relative of the former owners.

During Halloween celebrations Billy posed with two Superhero superfan students Jonathan Walker, 18 and Ian McMaster, 18 who couldn’t believe they bumped into him.
Jonathan said: “This has made our night. We both love Billy.”

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Scottish Sun and Daily Record
From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com

GLASGOW TO NEW YORK IN MINUTES WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

GLASGOW has been transformed into New York City as Benedict Cumberbatch, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Lord of the Rings Star Hugo Weaving prepare to hit the city for a new TV series.
Melrose, a Sky Atlantic show will follow the character of Patrick Melrose, “an aristocratic and outrageously funny playboy” who turns to substance abuse to erase bad childhood memories of his abusive father and a mother who tacitly condoned the behaviour.
 The programme is set in the south of France in the 1960s, New York in the 1980s and London in the early 2000s.
As well as changing bank building signage in Bothwell Street over to popular New York names like The Drake Hotel, and covering up red post boxes with graffitied metal boxes, an array of yellow cabs and other US vehicles took over the streets of the city centre for pre production activity yesterday ( Saturday)
Yesterday cones were put around the streets to stop cars from obstructing the Film set and cars which were parked after 4pm were towed.
Roads around the city will be closed between October 29 and November 3 to accommodate the production including Bothwell Street, Bothwell Lane, St Vincent Street and Renfield Street.
In recent years Glasgow has been turned into various American destinations due to its grand architecture and grid system of streets.

GLASGOW’S MIDGE URE WANTS TO GO CLASSICAL - AT A COST

MIDGE Ure says he’d love to go on tour with a classical orchestra but being a true Scotsman is worried about the cost.
The Ultravox singer is currently touring with an electro band but says he’d love to involve strings and brass next time round.
He said: “It would be lovely to do but I am Scottish and I’ve still got that thing of ‘how much is it going to cost going out on tour with an orchestra?’. That’s lots of money. We are looking at the possibilities of doing it next year.”
He added: “I’ve got a very versatile electronic band for this tour but I’ve got an album orchestrated and I’ve been working on it for eighteen months now and it came about because I’ve done a few performances over the last couple of years with orchestras and of course it transpires with what I’ve written in the past with Ultravox really suits orchestral treatments. It’s very cinematic, poignant, grandiose, very sad and next year we will look at the possibilities of a live tour off the back of the album.”
From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com

ROD STEWART JOINS HOST OF FOOTBALL STARS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO GLASGOW MUM

ROD Stewart paid tribute to a very special member of Celtic Park - and serenaded her before telling her he loved her.
In an exclusive video to honour Glasgow's Angela Thomson who celebrated thirty years of working behind the scenes at Parkhead, Rod gave a tour of his Celtic themed home gym.
Standing by a Celtic flagpole, he welcomed her to his gym decked out with Hoops scarves and placques and said: "Angie its Rod. It's raining. Come into the gym. Come quickly. Come on in. This is my gym. Angie, I just wanted to thank you for your thirty years to the best football team - not always the best football team but certainly the best club in the world. You've been absolutely wonderful. What would we have done without you? I wish I could have been there for you but I'm away tonight to the south of France for a rest but I love you and I'll see you soon. I'm going to bring you up a present and I'm going to sing a song as well."
After singing the opening verse of 'Have I told you lately that I love you?' Rod added: "See you soon Angie. Take care darling. Love you"
The brilliant video and night was organised by Made In Scotland and Celtic Former Players Association with Spirit Aid and was one of the largest events in Celtic Park's function rooms with a whopping five hundred and fifty guests.
Rod wasn't the only celebrity to pay his respects to Angie who has kept the players strips clean and smart over the years.
It was like a Who's Who of the clubs history as over 100 past and present names and four ex managers turned up to honour Her.
John Hartson, Henrik Larson, Jackie McNamara, Neil Lennon, Frank McAvennie, Gordon Strachan and Martin O Neill were amongst those who paid tribute to Angie in the flesh alongside the current squad and Brendan Rodgers. Pierre van Hooijdonk, Peter Lawwell and Lubo Moravcik also sent special video messages to Angie as she is affectionately known.
The 59 year old started off in catering before moving to the clubs laundrette.
Angie's daughter said: "It was amazing for us to see how well respected Angela is and to see how many people love her. She is so special to us.
"She thought she was going to a Celine Dione tribute night and was in shock when she saw a big picture of herself on screen. I was blown away too. She's been with the club for 30 years and she started with catering and then went to work in laundry."
Ex player Joe Miller who heads up the Former Celtic Players Association said: "It was a great event and pretty touching as well. Angie started at the club the same time as I started at Celtic and used to help Neil Mochan who was kit manager at the time. She's a great character and has looked after everyone. She's an important part of the club and has played a huge part in the players lives and made an impression. You could rely on her if you needed anything signed - even once you left the club. A lot of people who work at the club are unsung heroes and Angie comes under that category. She is at the heart of the club.
Players flew in from around the world to be with her."
Jacqueline Doherty from Made In Scotland who put together the videos for the event said: "Getting Rod was the icing on the cake and we compiled a potted thirty year history for this lady. It was wonderful."
Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Scottish Sun
From Scotland with Love - The Showbiz Lion.