Author: News Desk
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Tom Daley Returns In Splash! TonIght At 7:20
Get ready to make a Splash (see what we did there) with Tom Daley and his Speedos tonight as 6 more celebrities take to the diving board.
Splash! returns to ITV with Olympic Bronze medal and British and European Championship winner Tom Daley. Hosted by Gabby Logan and Vernon Kay another set of celebrities will be pitched against each other to prove what goes up must come down as they learn to dive.
The first show will see TV presenter Michaela Strachan, Diversity’s Perri Kiely, TOWIE’S Gemma Collins, actor and ex EastEnders star Ricky Groves and Hollyoaks actress Gemma Merna don their swimwear and take to the diving boards as they try to master one of sport’s most difficult disciplines.
Splash! sees the celebrities mix determination, drive and daredevil stunts after being trained by a team of professional coaches. As they push their limits and overcome their fears will they master the grace, skill, athleticism and accuracy needed, to perform dives from the high board?
The famous faces perform live each week in the electric atmosphere of a packed Olympic size pool – in front of a panel of expert judges as the public vote for their favourites. Back on the judging panel are Team GB’s Diving coach Andy Banks, comedienne, writer and actress Jo Brand and former Olympic diving medalist Leon Taylor.
At the end of each show, the contestant at the top of the leader board will go through to the semi-final whilst the next two contestants face a Splash!-off. The judges will then decide which diver was the most successful in the Splash!-off and they too will go through to the semi-final.
Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards was the 2013 winner but who will be crowned 2014 Splash! winner?
Splash is based on an Eyeworks format and will be produced by Twofour. It was commissioned by ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy Elaine Bedell and Commissioning Editor Asif Zubairy and will be executive produced by Claire Horton of Twofour.
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Celebrity Big Brother housemates revealed
Lookie look at the new celebrity housemates for this series of Celebrity Big Brother.
So there Casey Batchelor, Jim Davidson, Lee Ryan, Dappy, Evander Holyfield, Jasmine Waltz, Linda Nolan, Lionel Blair, Liz Jones, Luisa Zissman, Sam Faiers and openly bisexual Ollie Locke…
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Terrence Higgins Trust Appoints New CEO
Dr Rosemary Gillespie appointed as Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust.
HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Rosemary Gillespie as its new Chief Executive.
Dr Gillespie joins the charity from the role of Chief Executive of international HIV awareness charity AVERT. Her previous roles have included Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy and Research for Breast Cancer Care, and Chief Executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.Dr Gillespie said: ‘I am delighted to have been appointed as Chief Executive of this outstanding and iconic charity. I look forward to working with staff and volunteers in the next phase of development, growth and innovation, as we face new challenges in the fields of HIV and sexual health, and continuing attempts to eradicate prejudice and discrimination.’
Professor Chris Bones, Chair of Trustees at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The Trustees are delighted to have secured Dr Gillespie as the new CEO. She brings a remarkable combination of clinical practice, health management and charity leadership at a critical time for our development. No organisation can stay still in the current economic climate and Dr Gillespie’s track record of successful change and innovation across a number of sectors will help us meet the challenges ahead in both HIV and the wider area of sexual health.”
The recruitment process was provided by executive search firm The Talent Business, working on a pro bono basis. Kate Harrison, Partner at The Talent Business, said: ‘The Talent Business is used to leading ‘C Suite’ talent searches on a daily basis, but it has been a particular pleasure to partner Terrence Higgins Trust in the search for a new CEO. From the outset I believe we had real alignment in what was needed from the future leader of the charity, and both the process and outcome were designed innovatively as a result. I believe the organisation deserves an inspirational leader to help it grow to the next level, and this appointment should help secure a bright future from a bright past.’
Dr Gillespie will begin her role as Chief Executive on Tuesday 1st April. Paul Ward will remain in post as Acting Chief Executive until March.
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700 million now living with gay marriage
A new analysis undertaken by Melbourne-based LGBT rights activist, Tony Pitman, has revealed that there are now 700 million people worldwide living in jurisdictions with full marriage equality.
Pitman, a spokesman for Melbourne Ports Residents for Marriage Equality, first undertook this analysis in July 2013. At that time the figure was 607 million people. Now, six months later, the number has risen to 700 million.
“That’s an increase of 93 million in just six months. It’s quite extraordinary! It also means that marriage equality is now a reality for almost 10 per cent of the entire world’s population; another extraordinary figure!” said Tony.
“It makes you wonder how many more people will achieve marriage equality before Australians also attain this basic human right. 100 million? 300 million? It’s embarrassing that Australia is so far behind the rest of the world on this issue.”
Last month same-sex marriage law was overturned by the High Court in the only part of Austraila where it was legal in the Capital Territory.
Over the last six months the jurisdictions that achieved marriage equality were England and Wales, as well as five states of the USA; New Jersey, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico and Utah.
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EASTENDERS | Johnny Carter is coming out
BBC 1 will air an emotional scene tonight where Sam Strike’s character Johnny Carter comes out to his father.
After hiding the truth from his family for so long, Johnny finally breaks down in his father’s arms and admits that he is gay.
A touching moment this evening when Mick talks to his son Johnny about being gay.
EastEnders continues tonight at 8:00PM on BBC1
Earlier in the week we reported that numerous homophobic tweets had been sent after Gary Lucy and Sam Strike kissed for the first time on the Soap.
Pete Lawson who wrote the episode on Monday said on Twitter: “2014, and gay teens kissing on a soap still draws complaints. Makes me even prouder to have written that ep.”
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Nick Griffin Cares For The Gays?
Well this might be a turn up for the books… Newly bankrupt Nick Griffin has Tweeted his somewhat support of gay people, but only through warning people of the ‘Dangers of Islamism’
Openly gay showman Derren Brown tweeted the hashtag #PrayForNick after news of the BNP leader’s bankruptcy. However in a crude turn, Nick tweeted back:
‘@DerrenBrown @TheStaggers Don’t worry Derren, it doesn’t stop me being an MEP & warning of the danger Islamism poses to you & yours! X’
So it seems that Nick Griffin is on the side of gay people – as long as it’s against Islam? We’re not quite sure, but I’m pretty sure we’re ok without your support Nick – Thanks anyway.
In 2012 Nick Griffin called upon his legion of followers to make their ‘merry’ way to the house of Michael Black and John Morgan who won their discrimination case against a B&B owner who wouldn’t allow the couple to stay the night at her business, in what was seen as a incitement to abuse the couple.
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Nick Griffin Bankrupt, Plans To Write Pamphlet On Dealing With Debt
Yep, you couldn’t make it up. Nick Griffin who once called gay people ‘creepy’ has been declared bankrupt.
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Vigil For Trans Girl Leelah Alcorn In London Trafalgar Square
On the 28th of December 2014 Leelah Alcorn, a trans girl from Kings Mills, Ohio, was found dead on the Interstate 71, having killed herself.
In her widely publicised final words published on her Tumblr blog, she gave the cause of death as a lack of access to trans-related healthcare and the associated sense of helplessness in the face of systemic transmisogyny. In light of Leelah’s death, there has been an unprecedented outpouring of grief and anger by the trans community and its allies, with well known celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Laverne Cox voicing their anger across social media platforms. In addition to this a petition, which currently has around 200 000 signatures, has been produced that calls for an end to transgender conversion therapy, one of the direct causes of Leelah’s hopelessness. Finally there have been candlelit vigils across the world, the largest being the ‘Stand Up 4 Leelah Candle Vigil’ in Columbus, Ohio on January 2nd.
In response to aforementioned events, we the trans community of London and the surrounding areas stand in solidarity with the vigils occurring across the globe, and at 1pm on Saturday 3rd of January we too will come together to memorialise Leelah Alcorn.
This vigil will take place in Trafalgar square and serves four purposes. First it is there simply to remember a life cut so short by someone that shared our struggles, a girl killed by systemic transmisogyny. Second it is there to remind people that her death was a political death, that when a member of our community is brutalised at the hands of oppression we must all fight back. Third it is a reminder to other folks that we are more than just individuals in this struggle, that as a community we are stronger and that we can create positive change. It is deeply saddening that Leelah’s parents are still refusing to give her the basic respect she deserves, even in death, and so the fourth purpose of this vigil is to do what they will not and mourn a sister.
Facebook Event: www.facebook.com/events/743397569080952 -
Gay relationships can be more stable than straight ones
Study by Deborah Schurmnan-Kauflin Finds Gay Relations More Stable Than Straight Ones.
A new study reported in Psychology Today has found that same-sex relationships are more stable than straight ones – and that gay people can end up having better and longer relationships than their heterosexual counterparts.
200 people took part in the study, which found that 59% of the gay people interviewed had been in a ‘stable, loving relationship for three or more years’ while only 19% admitted to cheating on a loved one.
Meanwhile 47% of heterosexual respondents had been in a stable relationship – and even less found themselves in a long-term relationship (42%). Of those who had married 50% had divorces and almost half admitted to cheating on their spouse or loved one and two thirds said they were unhappy with their sex lives.
Gay people tended to work longer (over 5 years) within their companies, but were less likely to remain in contact with their parents – making siblings and friends the more important relationships in their lives.
Another study from Copenhagen in 2013 showed that men in same-sex marriages lived longer.
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TV: Benidorm Returns To ITV Tonight At 9pm
Benidorm series 6 kicks off tonight on ITV1 at 9pm. The Solana hotel may have been upgraded to four-stars but has the cliental?
Benidorm’s newly four-starred Solana is open for the Summer season, with manageress Joyce Temple-Savage (Sherrie Hewson) proud of the all-inclusive services on offer. It’s a star-studded new series, too: Joan Collins, Matthew Kelly, Philip Olivier, Nicholas Burns, The Krankies & Rustie Lee are all making VIP guest appearances, and the Solana itself has some fantastic new guests in residence.
Mick Garvey (Steve Pemberton) is currently stuck at the airport. He’s been detained by a customs officer who’s found something dodgy in Madge’s luggage, so Janice(Siobhan Finneran), Madge (Sheila Reid) and Michael(Ollie Stokes) go to the Solana without him. They’ve encountered a family from Watford who have also just arrived, but are already determined to leave. Clive andTonya Dyke (Perry Benson and Hannah Waddingham) were expecting a truly four star welcome for their holiday, but the state of the room ensures they have the first of their massive arguments, much to Madge’s amusement. Their 16 year old son Tiger (Danny Walters) soon spots Michael by the pool, and can tell that he’s the sort of fella who’ll make a useful partner in crime.
Meanwhile Joyce is hoping that Donald (Kenny Ireland) and Jacqueline (Janine Duvitski) will forget that she offered them a free holiday this year, but they stage an eye-catching protest, proving to the staff and guests that they’re as much a force to be reckoned with as ever.
Mateo (Jake Canuso), Lesley (Tim Healy) & Liam(Adam Gillen) know that despite its four star status, life at the Solana is as unpredictable as ever, especially where the constantly partying Kenneth (Tony Maudsley) is concerned. Kenneth is worried about mysterious and intimidating messages he’s been getting, which threaten to ruin the grand reopening of Blow n’ Go. Liam, who’s now working with Kenneth at the salon, reckons it’s time for Kenneth to make a new start, and wants to do whatever he can to help. Lesley, on the other hand, is ambitious to become the Solana’s assistant manager, so is more than willing to go the distance when it comes to staff discipline.
Mateo has problems all of his own – a new cocktail waiter is in town (Jason, played by Philip Olivier), who’s easy on the eye and far more motivated by work than Mateo will ever be. Mateo and Jason fight over Bianca Dyke (Bel Powney), who’s arrived at the hotel to be with her family. Liam swoons over her too, resulting in some hefty soul-searching between him, Lesley and Kenneth over whether he is ever going to find the right ’girl’.
Series 6 sees the welcome return of Martin Weedon (Nick Burns), who’s now single, and on the lookout for fun with a rowdy stag party. We welcome back Cyril Babcock (Matthew Kelly), too – and look forward to a grand finale in Episode 7, with VIP guests Rustie Lee, The Krankies and Joan Collins.
