S Club 7 reunion at Jersey Boys press night

They were the squeaky clean, seemingly perpetual, youngsters at the height of their fame – but S Club Seven showed that time waits for no man – or manufactured pop act – last night.

The band caught up with each other for the first time since their 2003 split to celebrate former member Jon Lee taking over the starring role of Frankie Valli in the smash hit West End musical Jersey Boys.

For the first time in eight years, all seven originals reunited to try their best popstar poses again - but it was new mother Rachel, 32, who dazzled in a sparkly sequin dinner jacket and satin heels.

However, the attention was almost stolen from her by Paul Cattermole, 34, as the former teeny boppers lined up.

He certainly showed he was more of a man nowadays when he got back together with his former bandmates after watching Jon perform onstage at the Prince Edward theatre.

Paul – who before S Club had various jobs including postman, butcher, theatre doorman, dustman and toilet cleaner – was actually first to leave the band when he quit in 2002 to join heavy metal band Skua.

However, they failed to have much attention and in 2008, Paul together with bandmates Jo O’Meara, 31, of Celebrity Big Brother racism row notoriety and Bradley McIntosh, 29, got back together as S Club 3.

Paul also dated fellow bandmate Hannah for six years, but they split in 2006.

She is now engaged to her boyfriend of four years and Primeval co-star Andrew-Lee Potts.

(more…)

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Posted: March 30th, 2011

‘Primeval’ return date confirmed by Watch

Watch has confirmed that the fifth series of Primeval will premiere on May 24.

The sci-fi drama was originally recommissioned for two series in 2009 under a new co-production deal between ITV and Watch’s parent company UKTV.

The seven-episode fourth series premiered on ITV1 earlier this year, while Watch has the exclusive first-air rights to the fifth run.

New episodes will air on the digital channel throughout May and June, while ITV will air the series in early 2012.

The fourth series of Primeval will be repeated on Watch in the weeks leading up to the premiere, airing from April 3 at 7pm.

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Posted: March 29th, 2011

S Club 3 at Walk in the Park 2011

Organisers of Northamptonshire’s biggest open air family festival promise this year’s extravaganza will be the biggest and best yet – with star names being lined up to appeal to all visitors.

Headlining on Friday will be The Real Thing ( You to me are everything), with Curiosity Killed the Cat and also Diva Fever. These groups have now been joined by the pop sensations S Club. With three of the original S Club 7 members Jo O’Meara, Bradley McIntosh and Paul Cattermole singing the hit singles Bring It All Back and Don’t Stop Moving

This year’s ‘Walk In The Park’ takes place over two nights: the Big Family Night Out is on Friday, July 1, and the community festival on Saturday, July 2, when local bands get the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a big audience.

The event attracts thousands of people every year to the Wootton recreation ground, and is regarded as one of the big family nights out of the year. Over 15-thousand people flocked to Wootton last year, and organisers are delighted that it is now attracting visitors from all over the town, and the county

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Posted: March 9th, 2011

Jon Lee talks about his role in Jersey Boys

“It is such a great role, I saw the show and I loved it. I knew I just wanted to be in it!” Jon Lee is bubbling with excitement. Alternating with Ryan Molloy, Lee begins his starring role as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys this month.

Remembered by many teens and twentysomethings as part of pop band S Club 7, Jon starred in four television series, a film and won two Brit awards and Record of The Year as part of the band, with record sales spanning over 13 million!

With a long list of achievements behind him as well as his singing career, you may think that Jon Lee is no longer affected by nerves, but this is not the case. “Sometimes I think what am I doing, why am I doing this to myself?” he admits, revealing that he still gets nervous before a performance.

Stepping into the limelight at the age of 12 as the lead in Oliver! at the London Palladium, after training at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, it was evident that he was a natural performer. It seems the West End is growing into a new home for Jon since playing Marius in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre and more recently at the Queen’s.

Since your roles as the lead in Oliver!, Marius in Les Misérables and now as Frankie Valli, do you think the West End is where you want to remain?

This is what I have always wanted to do, musical theatre was my first love and now I’m on my third West End show. I do really love doing it, I love the lifestyle, there’s just something amazing about walking into a theatre, you walk out there and you get a buzz – I’m really lucky. (more…)

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Posted: March 9th, 2011

S Club Jon’s going flat out

Jon Lee in Jersey Boys

Former S Club 7 singer Jon Lee is renting a flat in Woking, Surrey, with a view to buying a property in the area.

“I did panto here in 2009 and really liked it. If the market picks up, I plan to buy,” he says.

Since the pop group split in 2003, Jon, 28, has carved out a career for himself in musicals and will join the cast of West End hit Jersey Boys next month.

He invested his earnings from his pop career in property and owns four flats – two in Bromley and one in Beckenham, both in Kent, and one in Croydon – which he lets out.

Rachel talks about hosting BAFTAs red-carpet coverage

The BAFTAs 2011 is this weekend and while we’re itching to know who wins what, we also can’t wait to see the outfits hitting the red carpet – and neither can the lovely Rachel Stevens.

New mummy Rachel Stevens is hosting the red carpet coverage at this year’s Orange BAFTAs ceremony and OK have just chatted exclusively to her about nominations, dream interviews and of course – glam dresses.

The 32-year-old beauty, who we’ve decided could be the nicest person in showbiz, was more than happy to indulge our Colin Firth fantasies (as well as sharing her own) and even had the same fascination we had with Black Swan (we’re best friends already).

“I’m so excited,” she gushed. “I’ve brushed up on all my movies which is hard, as babies and movies don’t really go hand in hand! I haven’t had the chance to go to the cinema or anything.

“I’m really nervous [though]. I’ve never interviewed anyone before, I’ve always been one the other side of it.

“I just wanna make sure that I’m really prepared and that I’ve done my homework…It’s an honour to be asked.”

The gorgeous presenter, who is embracing her role as mum to baby Amelie, also revealed her predictions for the night.

“I think Colin Firth for Best Actor definitely and I’d love to see Geoffrey Rush win Supporting Actor. I’m sure Best Actress will be Natalie Portman. She was so incredible. It was a very dark, massive role to take on.

“I think Black Swan and The King’s Speech are going to be the leaders, but there’s just so many amazing movies.

“I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Colin Firth – I just wanna give him a big squeeze – and Geoffrey Rush as well.

(more…)

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Posted: February 11th, 2011

Rachel Stevens re-creates one of the most iconic film images of 2011

Rachel Stevens, who has recently given birth to her first child, was today pictured recreating Natalie Portman’s iconic look from the critically acclaimed film, Black Swan as it is announced that she will be hosting the Orange Wednesdays red carpet coverage from the 2011 Orange BAFTAs.

Rachel will be anchoring the Orange Wednesdays red carpet coverage at the ceremony, conducting interviews and analysis with the leading lights of the movie industry; from the huge array of home-grown talent as well as many famous faces flying in from around the globe. The glittering awards ceremony will take place on Sunday 13 February at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London.

Rachel commented “It was a real honour to pay homage to Natalie’s fantastic look as the Black Swan. Unfortunately the tutu and make-up isn’t quite right for the red carpet so I’ll be swapping the ballet pumps for heels and a glamorous dress on the night!

I can’t wait to present the Orange Wednesdays red carpet show at this years BAFTAs and chatting with some the world’s leading movie stars will be a fantastic experience. I’m thrilled Orange has asked me to get involved.”

The Orange Wednesdays red carpet coverage from the BAFTAs will be filmed and edited overnight and made available through orange.co.uk/bafta on Monday 14 February.

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Posted: February 8th, 2011

Primeval’s ratings rise again

Ratings for ITV’s time travelling drama Primeval rose again on Saturday evening and saw a big boost thanks to ITV’s new time-shift channel.

Primeval’s fourth season hasn’t rated brilliantly so far for ITV but since its big drop (to 3.2 million) for its second episode ratings have been rising week-on-week all be it slightly.

Saturday evening’s fifth episode of the new season saw ratings rise once again as 3.9 million viewers tuned in compared to 3.8 million for last week.

However, ratings for Primeval are given a significant boost when ITV1’s new time-shift channel is taken into account. According to SFX ITV1 +1 added further 700, 000 viewers watched the episode. That gives a combined audience of roughly 4.6 million viewers – higher than the 4.4 million who watched the season premier.

So the combined rating makes Saturday’s episode the highest of the season so far – some good news for Primeval fans at least!

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Posted: January 24th, 2011