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Andy<br />
Mansell’s<br />
Stars In My<br />
Eyes<br />
GARETH’S AND BEN’S<br />
HEARTACHE<br />
There are times that us writers feel ashamed<br />
of our fellow journalists, who cross unwritten<br />
boundaries to uncover apparent dirt on<br />
celebrities. Two stories this week, made me<br />
feel exactly that …… sick to my stomach at the<br />
depths they sink to. Firstly, openly gay, ex rugby<br />
star, Gareth Thomas, who was forced to reveal<br />
his HIV status by a journalist, described how the<br />
reporter, approached his parents and told them<br />
his diagnosis, before he had a chance to tell<br />
them himself.<br />
‘I can never have that time back, I can never have<br />
that moment back to sit down with them and be<br />
able to explain to them why their son is going to<br />
be okay and he’s going to be able to live through<br />
this and live a healthy, normal life,’ the 45-yearold<br />
explained on BBC Radio 5 Live.<br />
With Brexit uncertainty a part of<br />
everyday life in the UK and beyond,<br />
it appears that the BBC don’t trust<br />
the country enough to allow them<br />
to choose our Eurovision song for<br />
next year competition in Rotterdam<br />
in May.<br />
The corporation, has scrapped the<br />
You Decide programme, where the<br />
public vote on various songs.<br />
Instead, next year’s act will be<br />
decided by the BBC in collaboration<br />
with record label and publisher<br />
BMG.<br />
Word is that veteran rocker Sir Rod<br />
Stewart is set to pair up with slightly<br />
younger crooner Robbie Williams for<br />
a track on his new album.<br />
The 74-year-old singer asked Robbie,<br />
45, to collaborate for a track on<br />
his latest release, a collection<br />
of his greatest hits which have<br />
been re-recorded with the Royal<br />
Philharmonic Orchestra.<br />
A source told The Sun’s Bizarre<br />
column: “Rod and Robbie have long<br />
been fans of each other’s work and<br />
Robbie sees Rod as an inspirational<br />
mentor.<br />
“They have been waiting for this<br />
moment for a long time. Robbie and<br />
Rod have finally managed to fit in<br />
BBC Studios approached several<br />
labels, but finally decided to go<br />
with BMG, who have a strong record<br />
of creating successful popstars,<br />
including Lewis Capaldi, George<br />
Ezra, and Jess Glyne, as it shared<br />
a ‘vision of selecting a song with<br />
broad international appeal and<br />
securing an artist who embodies<br />
the spirit and values of the<br />
Eurovision song contest’<br />
Well, let’s face it, they can’t do any<br />
worse than last year’s dismal effort<br />
of finishing last with 11 points.<br />
Sir Worzel?<br />
Gareth Thomas<br />
was forced to reveal<br />
his HIV status<br />
In the other story, a Sun journalist, flew to New<br />
Zealand to uncover details of a family tragedy<br />
involving the mother of England cricket star, Ben<br />
Stokes, leaving the sportsman angry and upset.<br />
“It is hard to find words that adequately describe<br />
such low and despicable behaviour, disguised<br />
as journalism. I cannot conceive of anything<br />
more immoral, heartless or contemptuous to the<br />
feelings and circumstances of my family,” he<br />
wrote on his twitter account. I rest my case.<br />
THE ROD AND ROB SHOW<br />
studio time to lay down vocals for<br />
the song, which they are hoping<br />
to release later this year on Rod’s<br />
upcoming album.<br />
Not sure what the song is likely to be,<br />
but looking at Rod’s latest hairstyle,<br />
something by Worzel Gummidge<br />
might be appropriate.<br />
Halfway through watching season two<br />
of the enthralling POSE, set in the 1990’s<br />
World of New York drag balls, I watched a<br />
trailer for the upcoming season of another<br />
of producer Ryan Murphy’s mega series,<br />
American Horror Story:1984.<br />
In the clip, a group of teens can be seen<br />
travelling to Camp Redwood while a killer<br />
in a balaclava clings to the bottom of their<br />
car. It’s very clearly inspired by the Friday<br />
The 13th series, with the footage later<br />
paying an homage to Jason Voorhees by<br />
replicating his death-from-beneath-thelake<br />
routine. It’s unclear if the new series<br />
will be entirely based in Camp Redwood,<br />
or if this will just be one of the locations<br />
featured in 1984. I’m hooked already,<br />
especially as one of the transgender stars<br />
ANNIE REMAINS TROUSERLESS<br />
Autumn’s almost here, so it’ll<br />
be no surprise to learn that<br />
Strictly Come Dancing returns<br />
to our screens this coming<br />
Saturday. Anneka Rice has<br />
revealed she has pleaded with<br />
Strictly Come Dancing bosses<br />
to let her wear trousers as she<br />
is uncomfortable in the short<br />
skirts provided. The Challenger<br />
Anneka presenter rose to fame<br />
in the 80s running around in<br />
jumpsuits, and the 60-year-old<br />
star admitted she does not like<br />
the skimpy costumes worn on<br />
the show. Rice told the Radio<br />
Times: “The first time I turned<br />
up for a fitting, I asked to wear<br />
trousers, but this tiny dress<br />
appeared. And it seems to have<br />
gotten shorter and shorter.<br />
I know how you feel dear, I’m<br />
Head Candy<br />
Anneka’s<br />
skirts get<br />
shorter<br />
EUROVISION TO DITCH PUBLIC<br />
the same age as you and I<br />
wouldn’t be seen dead in a<br />
short skirt on a Saturday night<br />
……. Well, apart from during<br />
Benidorm Pride, that is.<br />
Pose to Horror<br />
Rice the<br />
loser<br />
of POSE, Angelica Ross, is joining the cast.<br />
Ross, who plays Candy Abundance Ferocity<br />
in POSE, apparently has an ‘explosive’ role<br />
in American Horror Story ….. I can’t wait.
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