Ever wondered how presenters keep up their energy on set during the long long hours on a reality TV show?
CREDIT: Jonathan Bennett/ Instagram
The job of a reality TV presenter is to look excited and interested – constantly… So how do they keep their energy levels up? It appears they turn it off immediately the camera shuts off. Cake Wars star Jonathan Bennett shared a clip on social media showing how when they film a ‘to camera’ ident for their show they are able to turn off the smiles as the director calls cut!
Sharing a behind the scene clip with co-host Tamera Mowry, Jonathan Bennett demonstrates how they both turn the energy on the moment the camera starts rolling.
Also, not everything goes to plan! It also seems the Mean Girls actor is a bit of an ad-libber to boot, however, his co-star Tamera didn’t think his snow bake gag was up to scratch after jokingly called him a “fool”.
If you’ve not caught up with Cake Wars yet make sure you tune into ITV Be to catch up
A gay couple in Devon have had graffiti painted onto the side of their pub in Buckfastleigh.
CREDIT: Google Map 2016
A pub, owned by a gay couple in Buckfastleigh, South Devon, has had homophobic graffiti sprayed onto its wall. The word “puff” was sprayed in black onto the white wall of The Globe Inn pub, on Plymouth Road in Devon. Several of the pub’s windows were also daubed with the black spray.
Dan Simpson, who co-owns the pub with his partner Lee Boxall reported the graffiti to the police as a hate crime.
According to the Plymouth Herald, Dan said,
“It seems that one individual has used a spray can on the CCTV camera, before then targeting the windows and doors, before spraying the word ‘Puff’, not spelt properly, on the wall.
“There was some real community spirit shown and it is great that people did come out and support us.”
Taking to the pub’s official Facebook page, the owners thanked a team of volunteers for offering to help clean off the graffiti.
“Thank you to all the volunteers who offered help with cleaning the graffiti off the pub this morning… It’s really appreciated! Some festive pics to lighten the mood…”
If you are looking to get back into running after a break here is advice from Lewis Manning, Senior Sports Physiotherapist at BMI The London Independent Hospital
CREDIT: Maridav-bigstock
Gradual training
The most important thing you need to remember when getting back into running after a break, especially if you’re recovering from an injury, is to increase your training gradually. All other interventions are secondary to this and if you get this wrong, you are much more likely to get injured. This is because both your cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems take time to adapt to the new load that is being put on them.
Slow increases
The general rule when running is that you should only increase your training load by 10% a week (unless your longest run is less than 4 miles, then you can increase things a bit more quickly).
Have a good pair of running shoes that suit you.
Everyone is different and it doesn’t have to be the most expensive pair that are the best.
Be careful about starting to run if you are significantly overweight.
It may be helpful to begin with low-impact exercise such as walking or cross training to begin with.
Warming up
Warm up by running a bit slower for the first 5-10 minutes is important on the higher intensity (especially interval) runs. However, general static stretching before running has been shown to not reduce the chances of injury. It may be important to stretch specific muscles that are tight on you, but this should be done throughout the week, not just before a run.
Running on softer surfaces
Surfaces such as grass or a treadmill are a great way to get back into training as they put less force through your body. However, if you are competing in an event that requires road running, you will need to do some training on the road too.
Eat correctly
(again, this is another topic in itself) and drink when you need to. Don’t be obsessed by drinking, whether it be water or sports drinks, however. Your body will tell you when you need to drink and drinking too much can cause as many problems as not drinking enough.
Listen to your body.
Your body will generally ache a bit when returning to running. However, if niggles become persistent and are worsening, you should nip this in the bud early by getting advice from a physiotherapist.
So if you’re planning to book Milo Yiannopoulos for conservative chat you’d better be ready to go on a shopping expedition in order to get him in the mood to perform.
CREDIT: Milo Yiannopoulos / Instagram
The Tab revealed what’s on the journalist and the Internet’s super villain’s rider.
So it starts off pretty legit. Bottles of champagne, trainer approved snacks and fruit, a full-length mirror, cough drops and humidifier, WiFi and then it gets weird. Really weird.
He wants his peaches defuzzed, an 8×10 framed signed photo of himself, non-fair trade coffee, a bowl and a half of green M&Ms (approx 1400) and a fruit platter prepared to form an M shape. Oh and he also wants a snow cone machine.
But then things get a little outrageous…
He doesn’t want gingers – but he does want four topless Abercrombie models and his preference is black models. Anyone who identifies as lesbian must remain 100 feet away from him. They are not permitted to wear khakis, flannel, Birkenstocks, or plaid. All female staff are required to wear brassieres or other supportive undergarments.
And if you get things wrong expect huge fines.
He doesn’t want phone calls in his dressing room – any disturbance will find a venue being fined $5000 and he hears Adele playing the venue will be fined $7,500.
And for on stage? He requests a fog machine and bear spray.
Milo confirmed to The Tab that the rider was authentic.
Last week Milo had a scheduled talk at his old school, The Langton Grammar School for Boys, cancelled amid security concerns. Activists were planning a protest outside the school, which caused the Department for Education’s counter extremism unit to reach out to the school.
Read the full rider below:
1. DRESSING ROOM
6 x Bottles San Pellegrino, chilled
2 x Laurent-Perrier Brut NV Methuselah
3 dozen poppy bagels, seeds removed
5 x good quality Sancerre
6 packs Newport shorts
Trainer-approved snack, fruits
Fresh fruit platter, prepared in shape of capital ‘M’
4 x Japanese square watermelon
Snow cone machine
2 buckets KFC Extra Crispy thighs should be ready upon arrival; skin removed & set aside in third bucket
Bacon
Hot and cold meal options – Gordon Ramsay recipes.
Preferred meats: Veal, suckling pig
Use only French fleur-du-sel, Northwest coast preferred source
8 dozen double-stuff Oreos, halved & spliced together to make 4 dozen double-double stuff Oreos
Cave-aged Gruyere
A bowl and a half of green M&M’s (approx 1400)
2 x tin petrossian royal ossetra caviar
30 x peaches, defuzzed
Advil/Tylenol
Hot water (filtered), fresh honey and lemon
Coffee: Hawaiian, grown in volcanic foothills; or any non-fair-trade source/country
Cough drops
Humidifier
WiFi (2 dedicated networks, high-speed)
Central air-conditioning
Full-length mirror
Working outlets/ power strips, extension cords
2 dozen white roses, de-thorned, cut to 8-9 inches
3 pack x Scented markers
Framed,signed 8×10 photo of artist, next to roses;
NB: attendant rotate frame hourly to maintain sun aspect
Room with east & west views
Framed 8×10 portrait of Daddy; frame must be gilded/gold-leaf; placed adjacent to artist’s
Hand lotion; any South Korean brand containing horse oil banned in the USA & EU
On-call registered nurse for B-12 injections
3 Siberian Husky puppies
4 topless Abercrombie models, BLACK PREFERRED — NO gingers
Tahitian Vanilla candles, minimum 12 hour burning time
10 ‘torchiere-style’ floor lamps
Assorted ceramic tableware
Hot & cold towels (Ralph Lauren)
Framed 8×10 black-and-white photo of Princess Di, placed on windowsill
Tiara
Johnson’s baby oil (slightly heated)
Star Wars Top Trumps
Assistant to read my speech on repeat to artist
Selection of minimum 12 world capital major newspapers, ironed
20 x international phone lines
75 x $1 bills
Registered on-call acupuncturist
Strictly Non-Smoking Rooms
Carpet & upholstery deodorized
Framed 8×10 of Mariah Carey, always placed facing the doorway, set next to the white roses
Framed 5×7 photo of J.Lo (ideally Jenny From the Block era)
Check out some of the worst sins at the official Passenger Shaming Instagram. So are you guilty of a naked feet walk to the bathroom or a mid-flight fiddle with your tackle? Here’s some of the worst offenders.
This month’s issue was edited by our very own Christmas elf…
CREDIT: DotComGiftShop
My doesn’t 12 months fly by. It seems only yesterday I was unleashed from the tinsel box to edit last year’s festive issue, and now here I am again listening to Radio Christmas for 16 hours a day while it’s still 15 degrees outside, and wondering if I’ll ever see another Christmas in London, post-Brexit, when I’m deported back up north to the Wirral where it’s traditional on a Christmas Eve to get lashed in the local till “lasties” then head to church for the midnight carol service, because that’s the only place still serving sweet wine. I still ponder to this day where they buy it from as I’ve searched supermarkets and websites alike for ‘Blood O’ Christ’ Malbec with little success.
But panic not, we’re still part of the European Union (for two years), Obama is still President of the United States (for two months), and I’ve been sober whilst cobbling this rosie nosed Rudolph of an issue together (for two minutes). We took X Factor’s Danyl Johnson down to the woods for our winter shoot, which he totally sleighed… Michelle Visage popped in for a mince pie and to show off her Christmas Puddings… Gogglebox’s Chris Steed wrote us a letter to tell us he’s been a good boy this year and for Christmas, he wants to lick Theresa May. Oh, and we get deep into the stockings of Big Brother’s Sam Giffen to find his nuts but instead get a handful of Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and ten burgers.
If you’ve been wondering, “just what on Earth do I buy those lovely boys at THEGAYUK this Christmas, to thank them for all their hard work this year in providing such a fab mag and website that’s free to read (and doesn’t cost you the same as a Christmas Lunch, like some other publications do…)” Well, if you were thinking that, then the team have searched the nation’s high streets, sat on every Santa’s lap (in fact some didn’t come back for weeks) and called every elf hotline to bring you the biggest and brightest 2016 TGUK Gift Guide to suit every budget.
We’ve some winter treats from Jordan’s new book, Food For Friends, and a scrummy eggnog recipe from one of London’s hottest mixologists Alex Fakinos. As well as our usual favs the dilemma page – Am I good enough for my two boyfriends, sex health – Am I big enough? and Aunty’s in a rather festive mood… or pissed more likely!
So from myself and all the team at THEGAYUK including our fabulous contributors from all over the UK and Monty our photographer who gives so much… (If you believe his Growlr profile!) We wish you all a very fabulous festive season and may 2017 be positive, considerate, funny, enjoyable, emotional, warming… and not be the complete political and social f*** up being forecast!
Michelle Visage has hinted how long she reckons RuPaul’s Drag Race will continue for…
CREDIT: Mathu Anderson
In an exclusive interview with THEGAYUK.com RuPaul’s Drag Race judge, Michelle Visage revealed that there’s no end in sight for the ever popular show. Joking she revealed that she’d even go on to judge with a zimmer frame – as long as it’s covered in jewels and glitter.
Michelle, who will be in the UK next month for her tour, Christmas Queens, told us,
“Season 50… Sign Me Up!
“There’s no end in sight. There’s no reason I can’t be sitting there with a fabulous glittered walker. I could be 90-years-old and still judging drag queens. I’ll still be fierce and so will they. There’s just no end in sight.
She also revealed that the show’s last season was the most watched in its history and the highest rating show the Channel had ever received.
“The bigger the show gets, the more attention it gets… Season 8 and then All Stars, (was) the biggest season we’ve ever had. Drag Race was the highest rating local TV has ever had in the history of the channel.”
So would you be up for watching series 50 of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
You can read the full Michelle Visage interview in the latest issue of THEGAYUK, completely free by subscribing here.
Oh no Sweetie. Jennifer Saunders says Ab Fab has run its course…
CREDIT: bigstock
Say it isn’t so. Jennifer Saunders, 58, says she’s not planning to write any more of the hit comedy series that made her a gay icon to a legion of fans. The show, which has run for five seasons and enjoyed a box office hit, which racked up £30 million, this summer, will be laid to rest after Jennifer said that she wants to spend more time with her family. The star spoke about how she is done with the show and has no plans to do any more episodes. The first programme was broadcast on the BBC in 1992 and there have been numerous specials and feature-length episodes, including The Last Shout and Boyfriend, which starred Whoopi Goldberg.
She explained to Event Magazine,
“I’m not doing anything more with Ab Fab. That. Is. It. “I can’t see the point of doing anything else with [Ab Fab]
However fans of Jennifer may have a glimmer of hope as the comedian has said that there’s other things she’d like to try post AbFab. She said,
“‘It just takes so long. There’s lots of other stuff I’d like to do. Plus, I’d like to spend time with my grandchildren.”
Politics is Gay – Why Being Gay Makes Voting Impossible
As I have gotten older and educated myself, my politics has changed dramatically. When I was 19, I wrote an article arguing that gay marriages should not be allowed in churches because it wasn’t fair to the religious beliefs of others. I was, quite rightly, schooled by my peers on how ridiculous that was. I also received an email from a gay couple who, as Catholics, always felt marginalised by their faith and that they hoped to get married in a Church one day. So my viewpoint evolved.
The recent US Election has led to pro-Trump people arguing that Trump is better for LGBT people because he’s always been pro-marriage and correctly pointed out that President Obama and Secretary Clinton were against gay marriage for some time. That got me thinking about how my politics has changed and how it’s difficult to always get it right. I wondered then, is politics lose-lose for gay people?
I would describe my politics as ‘warped’. I don’t believe that immigration should be uncapped, I don’t believe in free movement of people and I believe the welfare state should be reformed. However, I also don’t believe in allowing people to suffer, I do believe in skilled workers emigrating to the UK and I also don’t believe that those in need should be left below the poverty line. A friend of mine annoyed at my viewpoint, told me that ‘liberalism isn’t pick and mix. You must pick a side’.
Many would agree with him, argue that I’m wishy-washy but it’s hard for me.
I wrote recently about my Diabetes diagnosis in March 2016. I was sick for six weeks prior to diagnosis and struggled to get a doctor’s appointment. I had a meeting with the lead GP who told me that the surgery was struggling due to an influx of Eastern European patients moving in the area. It was argued to me by some friends that the result of this influx should be more money into the NHS rather than blaming those who come here. However, I come from a small Cheshire town which is equal distance to Liverpool and Manchester that, due to a housing crisis in cities, has had most of its green belt land sold for housing to be build. There has been zero infrastructural investment in assisting with the influx of people to the town so now there are issues with traffic and public transport. For me, something has to give.
But then there’s the gay problem. LGBT people tend to be liberal and progressive. We have fought for years for equality, fairness and respect. We tend to align ourselves with other marginalised groups that are also currently facing prejudice, hate and violence. It is, therefore, for me, a strong consideration in my politics. I am not middle class yet I am not working class. According to the BBC Great British Class Calculator, I am part of the ‘Emergent Services Workers’ class. I do, however, do better financially under a Conservative Government’s policy than a Labour Government’s policy. I live from wage to wage with little savings, little hope of owning my own house and a high rent bill. Yet, I also know that the Conservative Party has a sketchy history with LGBT rights. They are known as the party that brought in Marriage Equality but, actually, it was the work of the Lib Dems that helped usher that in.
Interestingly, 126 Conservatives voted for marriage equality yet a total 134 voted against it.
There were 35 Conservatives including current Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond who didn’t vote at all. However, it was recently revealed Justine Greening, Education Secretary, may be considering teaching inclusive sex and relationship education in schools which would, of course, be a major step after the dark days of Section 28.
The Brexit vote was also difficult. As a gay man who was concerned about the economic implications of our future in the EU as well as the UK Sovereignty issue, I was also well aware of the EU’s role (especially in regards to Human Rights) in enshrining gay rights in the UK. So the real question here is how far do you let your gayness eschew your political view?
Should it be the leading factor in making your mind up?
I am not affiliated with any political party but, as I get older, I become increasingly political. The election of Donald Trump worries me less than the ascension of Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Pence is staunchly anti-Gay and believes in gay conversion therapy. He also thinks LGBT people should be allowed to be discriminated against based on people’s religions. So, you can imagine my horror when Boris Johnson recently doubled down on how much he’s looking forward to working with him.
The future of LGBT rights in the UK is also something little discussed as we head further to the March deadline for triggering Article 50. Whilst it’s comforting having an LGBT person as Equality Minister (Justine Greening, who is also Education Secretary as noted above) it is vitally important that the UK continues to ensure LGBT rights are protected and make a commitment to that prior to us leaving the EU.
I am a man divided. I am conservative (with a small ‘c’) when it comes to many things (I am even for the Buckingham Palace refurb!) but I’m also widely liberal. I am concerned by levels of immigration but even more concerned for those who are persecuted in their own countries to the point of violence.
I stare in abject horror of images of gay men being thrown from buildings. My heart breaks to hear of disabled people dying due to poverty caused by welfare cuts. I feel unrepresented by modern politics and every election seems to offer me a rock and a hard place.
Do I vote as a citizen or do I vote as a gay man? Either way, to me, it’s always lose-lose.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, it’s management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
Highlighting the problems of homophobia in sport has never been so clear, as today the Premier League used Rainbow Laces to show solidarity with the LGBT+ community – making some people very very very angry.
CREDIT: TheGayUK
A number of football clubs have decided to use rainbow laces to shed light on homophobia in sports. It is a Stonewall and Premier League collaboration and it’s seemingly triggered some fans spectacularly. Homophobic fans have been showing off their inability to be accepting left, right and centre.
One of the worst threads on social media was from Manchester United’s Twitter and Facebook feeds. The club, which is supporting the campaign, tweeted that they were proud to show their support of the rainbow laces campaign and said that sport was for everyone.
They also changed their Facebook profile picture to include the rainbow laces and it made over 8,600 people use the angry emoji. Thankfully 177,000 people managed to find their “like” button.
Some fans on Twitter and Facebook were having none of it with at least one suggesting that all gay should be killed.
Fans of the Loose Women show have blasted the programme after it asked its audience “Should every woman have a gay best friend”.
ITV
A question posed by the Loose Women on their Facebook page blew up into a full-on homophobia row after they asked whether women should have a gay best friend.
The post outlined that a new study had found that becoming friends with gay men may be a key part of women’s ‘mating strategies’ by making them less threatening to other women – and more appealing to straight men.
They then posed the question which some called “offensive”.
“Do you think every woman should have a male gay best friend? Why do you think a friendship between a woman and a gay man is so special?”
The post received a total of 887 comments and many on social media slammed the question as evidence of “casual homophobia”.
David from Birmingham wrote,
“Always love a good bit of casual homophobia from you lot. Belive it or not we are people and not just an “accessory” Absolute fools. How would you like it if it was “a menopausal best friend”Absolute jokes.”
Nigel replied,
“I’d love a gay best friend to add to my collection. Obviously I already have “man human friend” and “woman human friend”, but I’ve also got, and I don’t mean to show off, “black friend” and “disabled friend” and even a “foreign friend” would you believe?! I like to keep them on a shelf next to my Sylvanian families and thimbles I’ve collected from different counties.”
Steph added,
“Is this some kind of joke? Is a black friend an accessory too? You just collecting other minorities to use for your advantage. This is so offensive. And a new low. Disgusting.”
GayTime columnist and Pride In London show producer Tom Knight hit out at the show to say,
“Dear @loosewomen – Replace the word “gay” with any of following; Muslim, Jewish, Trans, Black… Then ask, how does that question sound?
What do you think? Homophobic or a sensible question – use the comments below
