The Pejazzle, the male version of the Vajazzle can be seen in all its glory on tonight’s Body Fixers on Channel 4’s E4, as X Factor‘s Ottavio – yes one half of X Factor’s campest act ever Ottavio and Bradley (remember Chickengate?) has decided to get a full de-hairing and have crystals glued to his pubic area.
CHANNEL 4CHANNEL 4
Well apparently Ottavio’s body hair is holding him back and he wants it off – and a pejazzle to replace it.
Before stripping off for E4’s Body Fixers, Ottavio revealed “My body hair is out of control. It’s everywhere. And because I am Italian it is thick and dark and it’s too much hair for me.”
He then braved a full body wax and then opts for a bit of body embellishment in the form of a Pejazzle, where an artistic design, in crystals or other gems is glued to the pubic area of the body.
Before having his manly body rug waxed off, he said that he wanted to be so smooth that “men would slide off” him.
Speaking with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire, the Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe has voiced his concerns about gay actors’ ability to come out as gay in Hollywood.
When asked if Hollywood discriminated against people on the grounds of race, he said,”It’s pretty undeniable”, and then added that some actors were afraid to come out as gay because they could be typecast purely in gay roles.
Speaking to Victoria he said, “I suppose then people just want to cast you as gay”.
He said this was despite the fact that the industry considered itself “progressive”.
A number of actors have claimed that coming out as gay “ruined” their careers. Famously Rupert Everett claimed that after coming out as gay lead roles had dried up for him.
Daniel Radcliffe made headlines in 2013 when he played his first gay role in his awarding winning film, Kill Your Darlings.
★★★ | Brasserie Blanc- Southbank, great for Meat but leaves vegetarians out in the cold.
Brasserie Blanc – Southbank
Brasserie Blanc, belonging to Chef Raymond Blanc, have multiple locations across the country, their Southbank branch recently under going a refurb. The restaurant itself is easy on the eyes and feels airy thanks to the large floor space. But, both peckish and avid fans of french food, we are more interested in what’s on the menu!
The cocktail menu is rather enticing with drinks like the rose petal Martini (£8.50), coming out candy floss pink concocted out of Beefeater gin, lychee liquor, rose vermouth, fresh lemon and cranberry. Sounds good right? It was. My friend crowning it one of the best cocktails she has ever had. I went for a non-alcoholic apple & ginger fizz (£4)- generous ginger giving life to the sweet fizzy apple, so refreshing. If i had been drinking alcohol, I would have gone for the rhubarb & honey Martini. Check their website for details on £5 cocktails from 5pm.
The A la carte menu is very well put together with French classics, although i’m not entirely sure the menu is well equipped for vegetarian diners. To start, Potted Cromer Crab (£9.50), layered with avocado, guacamole, prawn butter and served with toasted pain de campagne. The texture was super smooth and creamy, herbs running through it like coriander make the dish light, and a strong taste of the sea made this a worthy start to the meal.
Also starting was Maman Blanc’s Salads (£7.50) – I do love a good legacy dish. Six different kind of salads arranged around the plate, with gorgeous bright colours. I’m not entirely sure the dish comes together as a whole but the individual elements were delicious; sharply dressed tomatoes, pickled veg much like a dry piccalilli, celeriac remoulade, cucumber & dill, potato & creme fraiche and a carrot ‘slaw. You could easily recreate this dish at home, which i may well do for a Summer soiree at some point. There was a dominant onion / garlic flavour and i could have done with a lot more seasoning.
Brasserie Blanc – Southbank
Our eyes nearly popped out of our heads, and my jealousy set in as my friends Steak Tartare ‘Maison’ (£21.50) arrived at the table, made with free-range Cornish beef too. Everything about this dish was on point, and the presentation was particularly stunning. The silky spicy beef is then adorned in delicious trinkets like cornichons, capers, shallots, herbs, and done so with such style.
All of which made my main course even more disappointing than it already was. I was having a vegetarian day and ordered the Chickpea & Coriander Cake (£12.50) – A huuuuuge portion, which would have been great if the dish were at all nice. Two big patties, just about holding their shape together. The dish was bland and I didn’t understand the incestuous idea of the chickpea patties lying on top of a bed of chickpeas. There’s only so many chickpeas you can handle, and now I’m saying the word chickpeas a lot. See the problem here? TOO MANY CHICKPEAS. It did not agree with the aubergine puree it was served with, it was sour and pungent, almost like it was stale. Poor show considering this is the only vegetarian option on the a la carte menu for main dishes.
We shared the Pistachio Souffle (£7.50) for dessert, and were glad that we did share, as this green wobbly atomic cloud gently lands at the table. I was a bit dubious about the idea of a pistachio souffle, but the hint of chocolate in it really bring it all together. Light as you’d like, extremely sweet but then the main aftertaste is pistachio nuts. I really liked the journey of flavours this dish takes you on.
Our personable and sweet server, Marchin, was lovely to chat with and looked after us very well, it was he that suggested the souffle and we were glad he did. The restaurants location meant a lovely stroll along the river after our meal. I would return to Brasserie Blanc, but definitely as a meat eater for that tartare, and most definitely as a drinker for that rose petal Martini.
Almost every other block in London has a chicken restaurant, whether it’s Nando’s (they’re all over the place, unfortunately), Clockjack Oven, Bird, or Chickenshop. However, another bird is making its debut in London – turkey.
Sauce PR
Strut & Cluck, which has free range turkey dishes on its menu, has thrown open its doors in trendy Shoreditch. It bills itself as a restaurant inspired by eastern Mediterranean home cooking, as well as dishes that come from the Israeli owners’ own family.
On a strip of Commercial Street that has Nando’s and Costa right across the street, and the posh Hawksmoor next door, Strut & Cluck is a warm and cozy restaurant that has a relaxed, cool ambiance and is easy on the eyes. The story behind the idea of the restaurant is based on mom and family chef, Limor, who started serving her family turkey as a healthy alternative to chicken. Thus the restaurant Strut & Cluck was hatched.
Giving it a try a week after its official opening, me and my dining companion were welcomed by the friendly staff to the back section of the restaurant – an indoor porch-like setting – with wooden tables and large bay windows. We were presented with a cup of Arak – a sweetened anise-flavored alcoholic drink. It was sweet and had a bit of a zing to it. We then ordered four starters and two main courses from a menu that categorises its food as Nibbles (light starters such as olives and popcorn), Roasted & Tossed (Mediterranean taster dishes), On the Bone (Turkey), and No Bones (pastrami, kofta, escalope and schnitzel). The star starter was definitely the Charred Cauliflower – cauliflower that’s been charcoaled, with lemon zest infused créme fraiche, nigella seeds, and pomegranate. I’ve not eaten anything like it before, it was stunning. We ordered the half portion and it was enormous! Also delivered to us was a dish called Far East-Middle East – lettuce cups filled with spicy hand pulled turkey, topped with roasted almonds, pomegranate and Labneh (Lebanese cream cheese). It was a bit spicy yet cool and delicious. We also had Spread of Labneh, which came with cherry tomatoes and sourdough dipping bread.
The mains were just as fabulous. We decided to share as it would’ve been a crime not too. Limor’s Classic Slow-Roast Thigh turkey was simply superb. It’s a large turkey thigh, served on a bed of caramelised red onions with sweet potatoes. The skin was crispy while the inside was very moist and tender. We also ordered the Hand-pulled Shawarma with dates and pine nuts, served on a bed of freekeh (wheat) and a dollop of Labneh. It was a true Mediterranean dish encompassing many regions. The table next to us, meanwhile, had ordered the Charcoal-Grilled Escalope, and it looked scrumptious.
After feeling absolutely stuffed and satisfied, we went for desert. The staff recommended a Baked Haroset (a small cake made of fruits and nuts which is usually served as a Passover dish), and Seasonal Fruit (charcoaled!). I was served plums over almond crumble with a scoop of ice cream (gelato if you want – I went for the passionfruit). The almond crumble that came with it was dry and flaky and hard to eat with the fruit – perhaps a syrup or cherry sauce would’ve given it more of a flavor? The Haroset, of Palestinian origin, which was nut and apple grated, is also served with either ice cream or gelato. While it did not wow us, it was nice, light, and not too large. There’s also a selection of excellent cool, refreshing cocktails, some with ingredients such as turkey bourbon, fruit jam, and jalapeños! Beers, wines and juices are also offered.
Why Strut & Cluck over those cloney chicken places? Turkeys are a super food, being one of the most nutrient-dense sources of protein. Turkey also contains essential amino acids as well as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and iron, and is also a great source of lean protein. It also contains all the B vitamins, and Strut & Clucks’ turkeys contain no growth promoters or artificial additives.
Our waiter Francesco was very friendly and explained the unique and unusual menu to us. With starters costing in the range of £5 and £8 and mains no higher than £12, Struck & Cluck is a very affordable, and excellent, lunch or dinner choice. It’s a journey of flavours that your taste buds will not have experienced before. In Israel, Turkey is eaten all the time, in America it’s pretty much eaten on Thanksgiving, however, in London, it’s practically unseen and unheard of. With Strut & Cluck, founded by husband and wife Amir and Limor, let’s hope that this will change, as Struck & Cluck fuses together turkey and Mediterranean flavors, with an emphasis on Israeli food. Strut & Cluck is a delicious, sensible, and much much better alternative to Nandos!
Strut and Cluck has seating for over 70 people, and there is also a ten-seater private dining room).
Reviewed by: Tim Baros
Address: 151-153 Commercial St, Shoreditch, London E1 6BJ
After recently spending time in Kerala, I have returned curry mad! This mildly spicy pilaf gets its vivid colour from the super anti-inflammatory and uber healing spice, turmeric. Channel all the beautiful colours of India by serving alongside bowls of freshly prepared tidbits like; grated carrot, diced onion and tomatoes, chopped cucumber, and lemon wedges. Not only a pretty addition but those tidbits really crank up the medicinal properties of this dish. Add a dollop of natural yoghurt for some tummy loving probiotics that support digestion.
Ingredients.
100g white basmati, soaked for at least 30 minutes
2 free-range chicken breasts (350-300g), cut into chunks
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp butter (just use another tbsp coconut oil if you avoid dairy)
2 small onions, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp mild curry powder
10g fresh ginger, grated
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 organic chicken stock cube, added to 200ml hot water
1 red chilli, in thin strips
1 spring onion, sliced diagonally
Method.
In a hob safe casserole dish or saute pan that has a lid, heat the coconut oil and butter and on a low heat, gently fry your onions and fennel for 8 mins to soften.
Add your garlic, ginger, and spices and cook out for a minute, stirring regularly.
Raise the heat to high and add your chicken to brown lightly for 4 minutes.
Drain the rice that has been soaking and add rice to the pan, stir regularly and continue to fry for one minute.
Add stock and once it reaches a simmer, place the lid on top and allow to simmer gently for the next 8-10 minutes. If you are having fresh vegetable tidbits, use this time to prepare them now.
Lift the lid and stir everything around, if its looking a little dry then add a splash of water, if its looking overly saucy then give it a couple more minutes. Check the rice is cooked and the chicken is tender and remove from the heat. You could stir in another tablespoon of butter at this point.
Season strongly with freshly cracked black pepper, scatter the spring onion and red chilli, and serve.
Sporting star Gus Kenworthy stripped down for a bracing dip in Colorado.
CREDIT: Gus Kenworthy / Instagram
Out sportsman Gus Kenworthy told his fans about his “shrinkage” after diving into the crystal waters of a Colorado spring. The sportsman stripped off completely naked for the bracing dip.
Joking he advised that “shrinkage” had ensued turning his ? into a ?.
1) Come out and get it over with right at the beginning – when I came out I expected thunder and lightening but no one acted surprised and were really supportive. – Grammie
2) Take a large bag so you can put all those freebees in. – Graham
3) Mature aged lesbians will change your life. Their wisdom knows no bounds – Andy
4) Get a Sugar Daddy I presume you already have an adoring older dude for a BF who will love you through this thing called undergrad?
5) The very first day I met the guy who would become my very first boyfriend. Literally within the first hour – I met the guy who would be my first kiss, take my virginity, show me what love felt like and eventually break my heart. It lasted 2 and half years – in a total whirlwind relationship that was all consuming. I was a complete clamp on. Although I don’t regret it, I wish perhaps that I had been a little more open with myself and with other around us – and perhaps let our relationship be a little more open. – Jake
6) Well, I think I knew how to be more gentle and aware of anyone around me. It was not too serious to be conscious all the time but some of them would have had noticed me if I had behaved different from them. – Neo Vi
7) Leave your door open when you’re unpacking. It’s a great way to check out the talent as they start bringing in their stuff. – Paul
8) Don’t fall for the straight cute guy. It will never work out.
9) Bring cakes… Cakes make friends – John
10) Let the others know what you’re into – I put loads of musical theatre posters on my wall – it became quite the talking point. – Chris
11) Get to know the popular girl in the dorm. She’ll be a hoot and she’ll stick up for you if you run into problems. – Sarah
12) Don’t forget about the gay scene. Don’t always go straight… Get your friends to go to the nearest gay bar! – Mike
13) Try not to have sex with the guys in your halls. It could get very awkward, very quickly. – Ben
14) Don’t forget the lube and condoms…
15) Join the LGBT+ society and get involved with student politics.
16) Look out for LGBT subjects. If you can do a module on Queer history or studies, it’s really worth it.
17) You will get FRESHERS’ COUGH. Stock up with medicines… – Pat
This week a reader is concerned about little whiteheads on his ball bag. We ask Medical Director Dr Nitin Shori from Pharmacy2U whether it’s something to be concerned about.
Dear TGUK
I noticed that I have a few little whiteheads on my ball bag. They are tiny – maybe a few millimetres big.
They don’t hurt and they’ve been there for as long as I can remember.
I know this is gross but you can squeeze the little whiteheads – and a little bit of stringy white stuff comes out of them, when you do that. The pus or whatever it is doesn’t smell. I pop a few now and then in the bath – and sometimes a couple more appear a week later.
Are they normal? Should I stop squeezing? Is it something to be worried about?
Ben, Somerset
Hi Ben
You can get rashes on your testicles as you can any other part of your skin that are caused by anything from blocked pores to allergies or heat irritation.
If anything, this area is a bit more sensitive so treat it with care. Shaving can often cause symptoms like yours. Could this be a factor? Have you had break outs anywhere else? Are you using a new body-wash or even a new washing powder that could be causing a reaction?
Also, the weather has been humid lately and this can cause rashes through sweating. You need to ensure you wash regularly and properly dry yourself before dressing as rashes love moist, damp places! If you shave you need to keep the area clean afterwards.
Rashes can be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease (STD) but from what you describe it doesn’t sound likely. However, if it doesn’t clear up, do go and see your GP or local GUM clinic just to make sure. The majority of STDs can be treated quickly and efficiently the earlier they are diagnosed, so even if it is that I wouldn’t worry unduly at this stage. You can also get an STD testing kit online if you just want to put your mind at rest and rule that out.
The advice listed above is not intended to replace or take the place of that of your own doctor, GP or medical professional who knows your full medical history. If in any doubt make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
Every job has its own level of stress attached to it. Even if you truly love your job, or think your job is too easy to be stressful, don’t be fooled! There is always a small level of pressure on an unconscious level. Being part of the LGBT usually brings it’s own level of stress: maybe you feel the need to be closeted or at-least hide parts of who you are. But even without the added pressure of being part of the LGBT family the little things can sometimes be a strain.
Having to get up at the same time each day to go to the same place.
There could be someone you do not really get on with but have to put up with on a daily basis.
The food may be off.
An unexpected request for overtime.
And so it goes on.
Those are minor annoyances that can disrupt us and may put pressure on us. That feeling of dread and pressure that just seems to follow us and keeps creeping into our bodies. You start to feel that you are not accomplishing anything, as the day drags on or goes too fast. You begin to feel disconnected and grumpy. Nagging thoughts creep up on you. You start to think that there is no way you can get anything done now, and do it all on automatic pilot.
That is a real bad day.
Now think; how often do you feel this way?
There are many people who have these feelings every day and this group just keeps growing.
When anxiety is stress related it is hard to “get rid of it” as some might say. Work means having to be there day after day. So many people facing work stress feel as if they are descending into the gates of hell the moment they get up to get ready for another day at work. Then, at the end of the day, when the doors of their job close behind them there is no joy. There is only the continuous monotonous voice that tells them that “tomorrow will be exactly the same and so will the day after that, and the day after that, and …”
These days the work floor is more competitive than ever. You have to work hard to stand out and be noticed. Overwork, trying to prove yourself, aiming for promotion and the fear of losing your job have made that many workers suffer extreme anxiety.
You might recognise the symptoms in you or in someone you know:
Mood Swings
Short temper
Highly Emotional
Hyperventilation
Heart Palpitations
Thoughts of death
Feeling of dread
Panic Attacks
Feeling out of control
This is not how work should make you feel. If you recognise this in yourself or see it in others, try to get them, or yourself, help.
The biggest problem is the fear of talking about it. You may be afraid that people will think the responsibility of your job is too much for you when admitting to feeling anxious. You may fear it might cost you your job. This is not likely, and in any event: if your symptoms get worse this could lead to making errors or a complete crash and burn and that is far more serious than just trying to get help.
The best thing to do is find an independent counsellor and ask him or her for advise. You might wonder; What can a counsellor do for me? They can’t do my job for me, can they? Sadly no, they are unable to do that. But there is a lot that they can do to improve the quality of your life: Research has shown that when it comes to treating anxiety disorders counselling and therapy are usually the most effective options. This is because the focus is placed not just on the symptoms, but on all the underlying problems. Your anxiety and stress did not just appear out of no-where, there was a build up to it that needs to be found. Counselling can also help you manage panic attacks, build your self esteem and endurance and help you return to a more normal way of life.
What if my problems are LGBT related? (Like being closeted, or semi hiding, as we mentioned earlier.) It is weird that in this day and age many counsellors are still not fully equipped to deal with LGBT related problems, but we are getting there. If you do an online search there are several counsellors that are either specialised in LGBT problems or sympathetic. Hopefully the number will grow and become a standard and not a bonus in the future.
If you are aware of anxiety building in your life or that of a loved one, don’t think “well, I’m not making any mistakes yet.” Or “Other people can handle this, why can’t I?” Many people have gone before you that thought the same. They just wanted to “finish this project”, felt that one more all-nighter wouldn’t matter, they could “do it” all, no problem. They were wrong and it often led to serious consequences that they regret to this day.
So why hold out on finding help until you have reached that wall, that point of no return? Why wait until you do have that accident or make that completely preventable screw up?
Understand that there is no harm in seeking help, no shame. We seek help and treatment for all other parts of our body when they are in pain. Your brain is a part of your body and could be suffering its own form of pain right now. If you cut yourself you put a band aid on it before the wound becomes infected. If you pull a muscle when jogging you stop running for the day. Your brain is like a muscle that has been working too hard. Give it the band aid or break it needs. Counselling is always there for you to help you do this.
The Queen’s cousin, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, 53, (pictured on the right) has revealed that he is gay and in a relationship with his boyfriend James Coyle (not in picture), who is an air steward.
He is the first member of the extended Royal Family to have come out as openly gay. He is the great-great-great- grandson of Queen Victoria.
“Now everyone in our family knows and could not be more supportive. Neither of us wanted to have relationships which were transitory; the stereotypical view of gay relationships is that they are too fleeting, too frequent”.
Lord Mountbatten, who had been previously married to a woman, although they separated in 2010, hasn’t ruled out marrying his partner, James, saying,
“If you’d raised that six months or even two weeks ago, I’d have said ‘No way’. But now it’s out there [he means the fact he’s gay], anything is possible”
Speaking about how his three daughters felt about him and his partner, Lord Mountbatten said,
“In an ideal world, I know the girls would like their mother and father still to be together, but they love their 21st Century family that we have built too. Their father has a boyfriend. It’s that complicated and that simple, but finding James means I will not have to lie to anyone or grow old on my own.”
