Day: 5 April 2016
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Balans Restaurant Founder Found Dead, 59
The founder of Balans Restaurants has been found dead at his home in Miami.
The founder of the restaurant chain Balans, Prady Balan, has been found dead in his Miami home. The cause of death has been confirmed as a heart attack according to the Miami-Dade County medical examiner’s office He was just 59.
The restaurateur was found by his son, Jonathan, according to the Miami Herald.
The chain was started in Soho in 1993 and grew to 7 locations across London. In 1997 Mr. Balan opened his first Miami restaurant in 1997.
The chain is as famous for its food as it is for the celebrities who are known to visit. Louis Walsh has been spotted eating in the Miami branch.
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Last year the English branches were bought off Mr. Balan by his business partner David Taylor.
David Taylor said during his 2015 interview,
Having bought out my partner from the English Balans, I’m now more determined than ever to bring back some sparkle and excitement to the restaurants and invite the outsiders in.
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Ivan Massow Shares Cute Throwback Picture
Former London Mayoral candidate Ivan Massow has shared a cute throwback picture of him at his 21st birthday party.
Father of one and former London mayoral candidate Ivan Massow has shared a picture of himself looking very dishy at his 21st birthday party.
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The 48-year-old business man is best known for his business ventures during the 90s and 00s, specifically in the field of financial services including health and life insurance for gay and bisexual men at a time when many insurers wouldn’t insure gay men due to the HIV/AIDS crisis.
(C) Ivan Massow / TheGayUKIn 1990 he became the first major sponsor of London’s pride.
In 2015 he put himself forward as a London Mayoral candidate for which he eventually lost out to Conservative insider Zac Goldsmith.
Ivan was a cover star for THEGAYUK in 2015.
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Grace And Frankie Are Back Bitches
Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are back bitches….
Netflix Netflix has revealed that comedy series Grace and Frankie are back on May 6th…
We’re back, bitches. #GraceandFrankie returns May 6, only on @Netflix.https://t.co/oqSNI1fXM6
— Grace and Frankie (@GraceandFrankie) April 5, 2016
In Grace and Frankie, Jane Fonda (“Grace”) and Lily Tomlin (“Frankie”) star as two women whose lives are turned upside down when their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other. Both sparring partners and partners-in-crime, Grace and Frankie form an unlikely and unbreakable bond and face their uncertain futures head-on, hand-in-hand. Together with their ex-husbands and children, they discover the true definition of “family,” with laughter, tears and plenty of mood enhancers along the way.[iframe src=”http://giphy.com/embed/R3FSRO8Z9D0lO” width=”500″ height=”262″ frameBorder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen][/iframe]
#micdrop
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Cheryl Out Of X FACTOR, Jennifer Saunders In?
Collabro singer Jamie Lambert has said that he’d like to see Jennifer Saunders join the judging panel for this year’s X FACTOR after the shock exit of Cheryl.
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Which Gay Icon Has Katie Hopkins Likened Herself To?
Katie Hopkins is taking steps towards her goal of becoming a gay icon…
CREDIT: LBC Taking to Twitter Katie Hopkins who has said it is a dream of hers to become a gay icon has likened herself to none other than the legendary gay icon Julian Clary.
Showcasing her new pixie cut, Katie Hopkins has said the look is “spookily” like Julian Clary’s crop.
https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/717042444261580800
The columnist, who counts Donald Trump as a fan, is about to embark on a new weekly radio slot for talk radio station LBC.
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The brand new cropped look is a result of her husband’s efforts after the outspoken star had brain surgery, in a bid to cure her epilepsy.
https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/717036779895922690
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FIRST LOOK | Johnny Carter Is Back In EastEnders
Johnny Carter is back and here’s the first look.
CREDIT:(C) BBC – Photographer: Jack Barnes He’ll be singing karaoke in his first episode of EastEnders on the 12th April – but you may notice that he looks a little different from the last time he was in Albert Square.
Last time we saw Johnny Carter he had jumped on his Vespa and was riding his way to Italy to join his boyfriend Gianluca to live in Rome – and he was played by Sam Strike – well Johnny is back and this time is being played by the gorgeous Ted Reilly.
CREDIT:(C) BBC – Photographer: Jack Barnes
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CREDIT:(C) BBC – Photographer: Jack Barnes Speaking about landing the role Ted said,
“I’m truly delighted to be joining such an iconic show. The Carters are a fantastic family and I can’t wait to get started!”
Johnny’s return will see him coming to terms with lots of drama – as he knows nothing about his mum’s rape, baby brother’s brain trauma, that aunt Shirley is actually his grandmother. So expect lots of bomb shells over the next month as Johnny rejoins the Carters.
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THEATRE REVIEW | English Touring Opera’s Don Giovanni – Sheffield Theatres and National Tour
★★★ | English Touring Opera’s Don Giovanni – Sheffield Theatres and National Tour:
Lust, passion, revenge, deceit, drama and sex all combine in the gloom of the subterranean tunnels in Don Giovanni, the classic opera, performed by English Touring Opera.
Picture credit – Richard Hubert SmithOpening with him fleeing the scene of a murder, Don Giovanni is pursued by his past, including the bitter lover he jilted, the bride-to-be he seduces (along with her jealous husband-to-be), and also by the daughter of his latest victim who seeks to redress the balance of his wrongdoings. This opera is brimming with drama from the passionate opening bars of the overture to the supernatural denouement. Part thriller and part comedy, the opera is ambiguous enough for you to decide whether Don Giovanni is a murder, philanderer and criminal, or whether he is a hero of defiance who refuses to allow his behaviour to be governed by social convention and authority.
Mozart’s opera has shades of both light and dark in it, with delicate comic touches and some witty one liners buried in the brooding tale of lust, murder, insatiable sexual appetites, betrayal and revenge. Sung in English, this version is relatively accessible and is presented with subtitles to ensure that even an opera novice can get the most out of the story.
Out of the cast, George von Bergen was as charismatic as Don Giovanni himself in his portrayal of the titular character, with his booming baritone voice and cocksure swagger fleshing out the anti-hero of the piece, whilst Matthew Stiff provided much needed comic relief in his cheeky turn as Leporello, Giovanni’s servant.
The static set design worked well, with the oppressively tall structure and a metal staircase dominating the stage and to some extent, blurring the time frame of the piece, making the themes of the opera feel simultaneously traditional but still relevant. Equally, the themes of above and below ground level intimated by the catacombs remind the audience that this is an opera which also deals with the issue of class and Anna Fleischle’s design reflects that nicely. Guy Hoare’s lighting design is subtle and unobtrusive throughout, but yet explodes into dramatic and assertive visuals which not only accompany, but utterly enhance the culmination of the story in the closing scenes. Musically, Mozart’s score was beautifully played by the English Touring Opera’s orchestra and the addition of live music always enhances a piece such as this.
Opera is often shunned and thought of as being rather elitist, but the reality is very different. Don Giovanni pulls together the darker themes of opera, enhances it with some lighter moments, but which retains all of the passion, power and dramatics one would expect.
English Touring Opera is currently at Sheffield Theatres , before continuing on its extensive UK tour until the 10th June 2016 with a trio of operas – Don Giovanni, Iphigenie En Tauride and Pia De’ Tolomei. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.englishtouringopera.org.uk
