Susan Boyle

graysea · Published: Sat, November 30, 2013

Britton's got talent: Exclusive interview with This Morning presenter Fern Britton

Fern Britton promises more eye-opening revelations from guests in a new series of her BBC chat show

Published: Sat, November 30, 2013

Fern Britton promises revelations from guests in new series of BBC chat show [GETTY]

During her time on ITV’s This Morning, Fern Britton became one of the UK’s best-loved presenters.

Viewers warmed to her bubbly personality and her fits of giggles with co-presenter Phillip Schofield. More likely to give guests a hug than a grilling, she had a talent for making people feel at ease.

So it came as a shock when, in 2009, soon after her exit from This Morning, Fern made headlines by turning up the heat on former prime minister Tony Blair.

In a discussion in the first series of her faith-based chat show Fern Britton Meets…, she made him sweat with a number of questions.

Firstly, she asked him why he hadn’t become Roman Catholic while still in office [he converted after leaving Number 10], to which he replied he’d already dealt with enough controversy.

But most damning of all was the confession she managed to elicit from him that he would have invaded Iraq even without evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

In the space of an hour, Fern was credited with interrogating Tony Blair on Iraq more effectively than the Chilcot Inquiry and our perception of her had changed completely.

Beneath the friendly image was a tougher Fern Britton who clearly took no prisoners.

Talking to Saturday about the new series of Fern Britton Meets…, returning for a fifth run tomorrow, she cites the Tony Blair interview as one of her proudest achievements, but she’s hoping her new four-parter will raise a few eyebrows, too.

Fern Britton, ITV, This Morning, BBC, chat show, TV presenter

Fern Britton with Susan Boyle [PH]

There’s one revelation that the tabloids will be very interested in

Fern Britton

“There’s one revelation that the tabloids will be very interested in,” hints Fern. “It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s certainly an eye-opener.”

With a line-up including gold medal-winning Team GB runner Christine Ohuruogu, singer Susan Boyle, BBC correspondent John Simpson and entertainer Ken Dodd, we can only guess what revelations we can look forward to, though Fern admits her chat with Susan Boyle was enlightening.

“Susan is a wonderful woman and I was very fond of her,” she says.

“Afterwards, she told me it was the most relaxed she’d felt in any interview and that she had been more open and honest than she’d ever been before.

I admire her strength of mind and determination. She suffered a tough upbringing and managed to pull herself out of the bleakest of depressions due to the strength of her faith.”

Asked whether any guest made her particularly star-struck, Fern confesses to admiration for BBC world affairs correspondent John Simpson, who she recalls seeing in the newsroom when she started as a broadcaster in the early 1980s.

Fern Britton Meets… marks the end of a successful year for the 56 year old.

Having competed on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing, she reunited with dancing partner Artem Chigvintsev for Strictly’s 2013 tour.

Then in May, her second novel The Holiday Home was published. Her third, A Seaside Affair, is due out next spring.

A patron for charity Genesis Research Trust, she’s just returned from Sri Lanka where she cycled 450km in five days, helping to raise £400,000, and she’s filmed a BBC2 show which hits our screens early next year. Grow, Make, Eat: The Great Allotment Challenge, is, says Fern, “the gardener’s version of The Great British Bake Off”.

When she does have time off Fern loves spending time with her husband, celebrity chef Phil Vickery, and children Winnie, 11, Grace, 16, and twin sons Jack and Harry, 19.

This has been a rarity of late so she’s looking forward to making up for lost time at Christmas.

“Phil will cook the Christmas lunch and I’ll do the washing up, we’ll play games, watch lots of Christmas television and spend the whole day in our pyjamas,” she says. “It’ll be absolute heaven!”

http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/445640/Britton-s-got-talent-Exclusive-interview-with-one-of-the-UK-s-best-loved-presenters

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graysea · **Published: Thu, November 28, 2013**

Feeling Christmassy? Susan Boyle rides the carousel at Winter Wonderland

SCOTTISH singer Susan Boyle decided to get into the festive spirit last night as she enjoyed a night out at Winter Wonderland.

By: Kirsty McCormack

Published: Thu, November 28, 2013

Susan Boyle rides the carousel at Winter Wonderland this week [SPLASH]

The 52-year-old star was spotted having a great time at the popular attraction in London's Hyde Park on Tuesday, and even decided to go on some of the rides.

Wearing a dark purple fur-trimmed coat with black leggings and matching quilted boots, Susan smiled for the cameas as she went round on the carousel.

The Britain's Got Talent finalist was joined by a female friend as she made the most of what the park had to offer.

susan boyle, winter wonderland, hyde park, christmas, singer, britain's got talent, carousel

The singer looked chuffed as she enjoyed a go on the ride [SPLASH]

Susan tried her best to win a teddy bear at one of the stalls [SPLASH]

Following the release of her Christmas album on Monday, Susan was clearly in the mood for feeling festive ahead of December 25.

Yesterday, the dark-haired singer flew to Edinburgh as she continued to promote the record - which features a duet with Elvis.

Susan's festive outing comes as the singer recently revealed that fans send her letters asking her to pay off their debts.

The BGT finalist looked rather scared as she had a go on the bumper cars [SPLASH]

Susan, who is estimated to be worth more than £20 million, chooses to ignore the letters because she cannot give handouts to everybody.

"I get them (begging letters) all the time but you just have to ignore them because you can't give to everybody," she told OK! magazine.

"I sometimes get bank statements posted through my door asking me to pay off their debts! Some people have a heck of a cheek!"

Susan also took a ride on the swings with her female friend [SPLASH]

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Attenborough, Jamie Oliver, Susan Boyle for Christmas Jonathan Ross

Published Wednesday, Nov 27 2013, 12:32pm EST | By Alex Fletcher | Add comment

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Sir David Attenborough and Jamie Oliver will be among Jonathan Ross's guests on the festive edition of his chat show.

Attenborough will be promoting his new Sky 3D film, Natural History Museum Alive, which airs on New Year's Day.

David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive

Comedian John Bishop and actor Ray Winstone, who is currently promoting the Sky drama Moonfleet, will also be on the sofa.

Susan Boyle is the guest musical act.

Other upcoming guests in the latest series of Ross's chat show include a first post-retirement interview from David Beckham and an appearance from Will Ferrell, promoting Anchorman 2.

The Jonathan Ross Show currently airs on Saturdays after The X Factor on ITV.

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Thank you Tommy! Wonderful!

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I love Susan's version of this song "I'll Be Home For Christmas". Beautiful!

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'Christmas Candle' to Become New 'Holiday Classic'

By Efrem Graham

News Anchor & Reporter

Sunday, November 24, 2013

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"The Christmas Candle," an inspiring novel from international, best-selling author Max Lucado, is now on the big screen.

The all-star cast is getting rave reviews, and critics predict the film will become a new holiday classic.

John Stephenson is the director of the film, which is set in a simpler time in England.

"It's is all set in the Industrial Revolution, which is a really important part of the film because things are changing," Stephenson explained. "The old ways are giving way to the new."

Samantha Barks, best known for her work in the film "Les Miserables," plays opposite Hans Matheson from "Clash of the Titans" and "Sherlock Holmes."

"My character Emily lives in a village, a very religious village," Barks explained. "And they have their hopes wrapped up in the belief in this Christmas candle, miracle candle. And she doesn't believe in any of it."

Hans Matheson said, "I play David Richmond, and he is man with very mistaken ideas. This is due the fact that he lost his wife and his child. And there is a sort of hidden anger in him towards God and he has this unanswered question that God never answered his prayers."

Matheson's character is a minister, who has been called to lead a church in a tiny village.

Tom Newman, a producer on the film, described the Richmond character, saying "This reverend has a secret. he no longer believes in miracles."

"And he is thrust into a town of miracle believing folks," he continued. "And that is kind of the backdrop from which the story plays."

Newman and his fellow filmmakers say there were miracles in the very making of this movie. Those miracles include landing singing sensation Susan Boyle for her big screen debut. It is a role that was actually written with her in mind.

In describing the story and her attraction to the character of Eleanor Hopewell, Boyle said, "It is a story that inspires me in that you never give up on your dreams; you never stop believing in miracles. Because of what happened to me, I will always believe in miracles."

There is a message of hope throughout the film.

Newman says he wants audience to realize, "We are not in this alone. And we can better for one another. And when we are in need, God is there to help us as well."

To see video, click link below:

'Christmas Candle' to Become New 'Holiday Classic' - US - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com

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Poster by Canadian Bill. Congratulations, Susan!

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graysea · Published: Thu, November 21, 2013

Susan Boyle planning jazz album

Scottish singer SUSAN BOYLE is hoping to change her musical direction by recording a jazz album.

Published: Thu, November 21, 2013

The star has released five albums since she shot to fame on TV show Britain's Got Talent in 2009, and her recordings have mostly featured covers of popular songs and standards.

However, Boyle hopes her next record will feature a totally different style, according to Scotland's Deadline News.

She says, "I'd love to do a jazz album next time. It would be an entire break from what I'm use to doing. It's a challenging area and very specialised. Jazz is something I would really like to be involved in. Watch this space - anything can happen."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/444313/Susan-Boyle-planning-jazz-album

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'The Christmas Candle' opens in theaters Nov. 22

Posted: Nov 13, 2013 4:45 PM ESTUpdated: Nov 13, 2013 4:45 PM EST

Written by Rich Rogers, Meteorologist - email

AUGUSTA, Ga. -

Ready or not, it’s getting to be that time of year again! The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to get in the holiday mood than to see a Christmas movie? This week, there was a free screening of the upcoming movie “The Christmas Candle” attended by local church and community leaders and members of the media.

My wife and I went to see “The Christmas Candle,” not really knowing much about it other than it was based on best-selling author Max Lucado’s book by the same title.

The movie is one of the only Christmas-themed films being released in theaters this year. It takes place in 1890 England at the dawn of the electric age. The town of Gladbury welcomes a new minister, David Richmond, only to discover he’s not a big fan of their Christmas candles and the miracles the townspeople associate with them. He soon feels out of place in Gladbury, but decides to try and fill everyone's needs through service to them.

He even goes so far as to remove all the candles from the sanctuary and have electricity installed. The traditionalist townspeople didn’t like this too much, but in the end, they are the ones who guide the minister to rediscover his own faith.

It’s a reminder that even pastors struggle with faith issues sometimes. Not only do they usually have families to raise, but they must be on call nearly 24/7 for their church members and community. It’s hard, selfless work they do, having been called by God, and thank God for them!

“The Christmas Candle” reminds all of us to serve each other, even those that lead us in the faith, and that God uses us to to fulfill his desires in our lives.

The film has talented actors, including Susan Boyle in her first acting role (and of course, she sings beautifully, too). It’s well produced and has a perfect mix of faith, comedy, adventure and Christmas spirit.

“The Christmas Candle” opens in theaters on Friday, November 22 and is rated PG. It’s a great family movie, but young children may be frightened by a couple of scenes, including a fire and a dangerous rescue that takes place during a snowstorm.

My wife and I recommend you make a point of seeing this film, and we’re grateful to have gotten an early peek. Merry Christmas!

http://www.nbc26.tv/story/23960966/the-christmas-candle-opens-in-theaters-nov-22

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Paying It Forward...

Posted: 21/11/2013 17:19

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I have been incredibly blessed for almost five years, ever since I stumbled onto the stage with crazy hair, a white dress, black tights and thinking I was the height of sophistication.

The opportunities afforded to me since 2009 have been mind blowing. I've been lucky enough to tick many boxes off my bucket list, travel the world, meet my heroes and sing in places that were beyond even my wildest dreams. I could never have imagined that I would be releasing my fifth album 'Home For Christmas' in four years.

I have always said that I'm so grateful to Simon Cowell and his wonderful record label Syco Music that they afforded me this chance and that if I got the chance to give someone a helping hand along the way I would grasp the moment with both hands and pay it forward.

I love the concept of 'Pay It Forward'. The idea that you can pass on an opportunity and a good deed to someone deserving or help someone in life fulfil a dream is a wonderful concept, embraced not only in the USA but over 100 countries around the world and I strongly believe that we should make it more prevalent in the UK.

With life getting busier, more hectic and stressful for all of us it's easy to forget acts of kindness and helping others, even the smallest good deeds can make the biggest of differences. Sometimes it can be just a door being held open or a stranger smiling and it's important that we pass on that happiness that we felt at the exact moment to others.

My gift of paying it forward this year is to find a choir via YouTube, the very website that began my career and offer them the opportunity to perform with me by singing a version of'O Come, All Ye Faithful' and popping it onto my YouTube the winner will receive a visit from myself. I hope to help them gain an opportunity to have some exposure and hopefully raise the profile of their choir and fingers crossed be afforded some of the wonderful opportunities that I have been lucky to experience.

Hopefully I can help, I may not be the coolest, hippest singer out there but my intentions are genuine, pay it forward, help others achieve and obtain their wishes and then watch them pass the good deed on.

Since Christmas is the season for goodness and giving, I think this could be the perfect Christmas present for those who just need a small boost to help them achieve all they wish for in terms of singing and performing.

Take a look at my website for more information on how to enter. Good luck!

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