AN NHS audiologist who wrote between shifts, a police intelligence analyst and an investment manager are just three of the authors picked from thousands to lead the 2012 TV Book Club shortlist.

Ten books carefully chosen out of the thousands published each year are soon to become the titles everyone is talking about on TV’s best known literary discussion forum, when the series returns to More4 at 7.20pm on Sunday 29 January, with repeat episodes on Channel Four.

Funded by Specsavers, the ten-part series sees a celebrity panel that includes Caroline Quentin, Meera Syal, Dave Spikey, Laila Rouass and Rory McGrath, critiquing a new title each week. For the first time ever, viewers are invited to interact with the show, reading along with them and sending in their own reviews.

The series launches with international bestseller Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson, followed by The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, The Somnambulist by Essie Fox, Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes, Rules of Civility by Amor Towles, Girl Reading by Katie Ward, The Report by Jessica Francis Kane, The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson, Half of The Human Race by Anthony Quinn and You Deserve Nothing by Alexander Maksik.

S. J. Watson won a Crime Writers Association Dagger and Galaxy National Book Award for his debut novel, Before I Go To Sleep, which he wrote between shifts as an audiologist for the NHS. Patrick DeWitt’s The Sisters Brothers was shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize and Kevin Wilson’s The Family Fang was a New York Times Bestseller and included in the Top Ten Fiction Books of 2011 in Time Magazine. Jessica Francis Kane’s debut novel The Report was a finalist in the Indie Booksellers Choice Awards.

Also on the shortlist and making her literary debut with The Somnambulist is illustrator turned author Essie Fox, who writes the popular blog The Virtual Victorian. Police intelligence analyst Elizabeth Haynes, investment manager Amor Towles, former women’s refuge worker Katie Ward, and Iowa Writer’s Workshop graduate Alexander Maksik are all also shortlisted for their debut novels.

The tenth author is critic Anthony Quinn, who was a Man Booker Prize judge in 2006 and is currently the film critic for The Independent newspaper and wine correspondent for Esquire magazine.

The titles have been carefully chosen by a panel headed by Managing Director of Cactus TV Amanda Ross. Amanda revolutionised the idea of featuring books on television with the creation of Richard and Judy’s Book Club and now The Specsavers TV Book Club, Summer Read and the televising of the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards and the Galaxy British Book Awards.

She has an eye for a great read and David Nicholls, Kate Mosse, Cecilia Aherne, Emma Donoghue and Linwood Barclay are a handful of the literary stalwarts that Amanda has spotted since founding the Book Club’s original incarnation in 2004.

Such is her influence in the publishing industry that she was hailed ‘the most powerful person in publishing’ by The Observer Review and one of the ‘top 50 most influential Londoners’ by the Evening Standard. Amanda won a prestigious British Book Trade Award for inspiring wider reading in 2005 and The Bookseller Award for expanding the market in 2006 and 2007, plus an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2009.

Of the 2012 short list, Amanda says: ‘All the titles on this year’s list will scream “don’t put me down” at the reader. Although all my choices are, as always very different in style and content, their common factor is that they are all really great reads and the viewers will be torn when the time comes for them to vote for their favourite to win the accolade Best Read at the end of the series.’

Specsavers marketing director, Richard Holmes says: ‘Many people will find that the first time they notice a problem with their eyesight is when they’re reading. We are delighted to be supporting the Specsavers TV Book Club for the fifth season and will be encouraging more people, not only to get their eyesight checked but to pick up a book and enjoy a good read.’

This year, The TV Book Club, will ask viewers to send in their reviews of each week’s Best Read, and will play a selection of these reviews on the show for discussion by the presenters. Viewers can send their thoughts on the books to the show by video message, email, or letter. This new interactive element to the show reflects the nature of book review discussions happening online and in reading groups right now across the UK.  Written reviews and video reviews can be sent to bookreviews@cactustv.co.uk, and should include a contact telephone number.

The ten short listed books for the next series of the TV Book Club are listed below:

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR

LONDON, Tuesday 3rd January 2012: Weight Watchers and LA fitness have today announced a 12 month activity partnership.

This unique deal will see the leading fitness and weight loss companies working together throughout 2012 to offer their UK member base, totalling over 1.2 million people, complimentary support in activity and healthy eating advice.

This multi-facetted partnership sees Strictly Come Dancing star Alesha Dixon, who is currently Creative Director for LA fitness, working with both brands to support their members achieve and celebrate their weight loss and fitness goals.

Andrew Knight, Senior Vice President of Weight Watchers UK explained: “Exercise has always been a key pillar of the Weight Watchers approach, and by working with LA fitness we are reinforcing the importance of being active to all our members. With the Olympic Games ahead of us, there has never been a better time to be inspired to be more active.”

Martin Long, CEO, LA fitness says: “We are very excited about the opportunity to work in partnership with the UK’s leading weight loss and nutrition brand. We believe there are some real synergies with our businesses and moving forward we will be in an even stronger position to help more people lead a healthier lifestyle and achieve sustained weight loss.”

Alesha Dixon said, “I’m delighted to be working with two of the UK’s biggest health and lifestyle advocates. I’ve always been vocal about the fact that diet and exercise isn’t just about looking good, it’s first and foremost about being healthy, and both Weight Watchers and LA fitness share this philosophy. We’ve lots of innovative ideas in store to put health and fitness back at the forefront of people’s minds.”

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR +44 208 206 5151

LONDON, 7th DECEMBER 2011: Appetites will be satisfied as all new food quiz, A Question Of Taste is set to sort the gastro nerds from the foodie frauds on Monday nights.

Hosted by household favourite Kirsty Wark, this six episode series will see two teams of three friends, relatives or colleagues, all united by their love of food, go head to head over a series of 5 rounds in which they must demonstrate their knowledge of gastronomy, cooking techniques, recipes, ingredients, food history and science.

Food show fanatics of all ages who have become arm chair experts in their own right will love playing along at home as the show tests their food familiarity and teaches them some new and surprising gastronomic facts.  William Sitwell will also be stirring up a treat in Kitchen Corner, providing gems of information that viewers will soon be relaying at dinner parties across the country.

Will the contestants be able to sort their duck eggs from their chicken eggs or will they crack under the pressure?

Silver River’s executive producer Daisy Goodwin said: “Thirty years ago when Britain was in the culinary dark ages, you couldn’t have made this quiz.  Now that we have become a foodie paradise, the country is full of people who want to prove how well they know their Roscoff onions (a special type of onion grown in Brittany, just In case you didn’t know!).”

A Question Of Taste airs from Monday 2^nd January on BBC Two at 8.30pm.

PR Contact Taylor Herring PR +44 208 206 5151

]]> http://www.taylorherring.com/blog/index.php/2011/12/new-bbc-series-provides-food-for-thought/feed/ 0 http://www.taylorherring.com/blog/index.php/2011/12/channel-4-hire-taylor-herring-to-promote-christmas-live-event/ http://www.taylorherring.com/blog/index.php/2011/12/channel-4-hire-taylor-herring-to-promote-christmas-live-event/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:14:52 +0000 admin http://www.taylorherring.com/blog/?p=3765 LONDON, Wednesday 7th December 2011: One soon-to-be-married couple will for the first time, bring their two extended families together this Christmas in Channel 4′s brand new, live, entertainment event, Home for the Holidays. Can they survive their own family 24 hours a day for a week to win a potential half a million pounds? Hosted [...]]]>

LONDON, Wednesday 7th December 2011: One soon-to-be-married couple will for the first time, bring their two extended families together this Christmas in Channel 4′s brand new, live, entertainment event, Home for the Holidays.

Can they survive their own family 24 hours a day for a week to win a potential half a million pounds?

Hosted live each night by household favourite and family man, Vernon Kay, the week-long entertainment cracker will follow the families festive frolics as they face tinsel temptations and yuletide games in a bid to win a fantastic Christmas present – up to half a million pounds.

Just like households up and down the country, this family will need to live together, put up with each other and ultimately bond under one raucous roof in a magical Christmas country manor house which is not quite what it seems. With tantalising twists and unexpected turns, warm Christmas cheer and lots of wonderful festive surprises, treats and celebrity guests, the hilarious antics of this one family will be put to the ultimate test at the most magical time of year.

Can the young couple keep everyone together as they face a Festive family experience like nothing ever seen on television before?  If you think Christmas with your nearest and dearest is a challenge, wait till you see what’s waiting for this family in Home for the Holidays.

Vernon Kay said: “This is gonna be the perfect show to help build up the excitement of the festive season. It’s a whole lot of fun as we try and give away half a million pounds.
I’m also really pleased to be going back to Channel 4 where I had almost seven years of pure joy working on T4. I cannot wait!”

Commissioning editor for C4 entertainment, Syeda Irtizaali said: “We’re excited to broadcast a festive entertainment series that captures the true essence of Christmas for families up and down the country. We’re also delighted to bring back Vernon to Channel 4. He is the perfect host to bring this together with warmth, sparkle and good humour.”

Executive producer Will Macdonald said: “Christmas and family is never quite the Bing Crosby-inspired combination we all dream of.  Anyone, like Wizzard, who wishes “It Could Be Christmas Every Day” should watch this show – they may want to be careful what they wish for…

Home for the Holidays airs from Sunday 18^th December on Channel 4 and airs LIVE nightly until Christmas Eve, Saturday 24^th December.

Home For The Holidays is produced by Monkey, a division of NBCUniversal International Television Production, for Channel 4.

PR Contact: Taylor Herring PR +44 208 206 5151

LONDON, Tuesday 18th October 2011: Following the huge success of the first series Lord Sugar returns with his search for a Young Apprentice, on BBC One this autumn.

An avid supporter of young people in business, Lord Sugar will offer twelve of the UK’s most promising and ambitious teenagers the opportunity of a lifetime; a chance to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps by competing for the title of Young Apprentice.

For eight weeks from 9pm on Monday 24^th October, twelve young candidates will make the leap from classroom to boardroom and face an education like no other as they embark on a series of tough tasks, pushing their skills to the limit. The young candidates will face the same cut-throat competition as in the adult series – it’s survival of the fittest as the tasks become more challenging.

From all corners of the UK, each of the aspiring moguls have been selected for their academic flair and burning passion for business – Lord Sugar has spotted something in all of them, but only one can succeed in becoming the next Young Apprentice.

Aged across 16 and 17 years old, most of these tycoons of tomorrow are still in education and span a broad range of backgrounds from council estates to private schools; they include an award-winning fashion designer, a young farmer, a published author, a filmmaker, a keen horticulturalist, a photographer and a former head-girl.

Lord Sugar started in business at the same age and expects his prospects to be able to do the same.  They believe that they have the capability, passion and raw business talent to take on the challenge and be the one to win access to a fund worth £25,000. The fund will go towards kick-starting his or her business career, and will be tailored to their individual career prospects and development.

All think they have what it takes, but can they prove themselves when the pressure is on? Lord Sugar warns them: “You are young, don’t try and pretend like you know it all because believe me it’ll be embarrassing.” With tasks including making and selling ice cream, launching a new brand of deodorant and creating an online video game, the candidates will quickly learn that Lord Sugar doesn’t hang about when it comes to separating the wheat from the chaff.

Lord Sugar is, once again, aided by his no-nonsense advisers Nick Hewer and Karren Brady who will scrutinise the candidates’ every move during the weekly tasks.

They will live in a luxurious townhouse in St John’s Wood, North London, giving them a taste of the lavish lives they dream of. For some, it’s their first time away from home, but for all it’s the chance to experience what life could be like as a high flyer. When the winner is crowned they will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by Britain’s most famous boss.

Lord Sugar’s search for his next Young Apprentice is about to begin…

Young Apprentice is a talkbackTHAMES production for BBC ONE. Michele Kurland is the Executive Producer, Colm Martin is the Series Editor. Executive Producer for the BBC, Jo Wallace.

THE GIRLS

Elizabeth Magee (‘Lizzie’)
Age: 16
Education: Studying for A Levels in Economics, History, Politics and General Studies
Lives: Liverpool

Published author and rounders champion, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magee’s first job was collecting glasses in a pub. She now has her own business designing personalised guitar straps and also breeds Jack Russell Terriers. A gym fanatic, she describes herself as impatient and a “time freak.”

She says: “I’m very, very determined and if I know how to get something I will get it.”

Gbemi Okunlola
Age: 16
Education: Studying for a Fashion and Design Advanced BTEC and an A Level in Business Studies
Lives: London

Award winning fashion designer Gbemi has already started her own clothing line and is involved in both designing and making the clothes. Listing Louis Vuitton as her inspiration, Gbemi describes herself as a ‘diva’ and feels her strength is that she always works to her full potential.

She says: “if I believe that what I’m saying is right I will argue until my full voice and my full opinion is heard.”

Hannah Richards
Age: 16
Education: Studying for A Levels in Government and Politics, History Economics, Philosophy and Ethics.
Lives: Berkshire

Female footballer Hannah has made money re-selling vintage clothes and creating school leavers’ hoodies. She plays for two football teams and also enjoys architecture, hoping to get involved in property management in the future.

She says: “I want to show that you can succeed in the business field, without relying on numerous qualifications. The right mind and attitude is ultimately a much more important quality than 12 A*s”

Haya Al Dlame
Age: 17
Education: Studying for A Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Economics, Biology and an Extended Project
Lives: London

Born in Iraq, Haya moved to England with her family at the age of 6. A self-proclaimed bossy-boots who is determined to succeed in business, she is also a keen eBay trader and wishes she was the brains behind MAC cosmetics.

She says: “I have a big ego… I want to be known as Haya Al Dlame, the next deserving winner of Young Apprentice. “

Hayley Forrester
Age: 16
Education: Studying for A Levels in Biology, Maths, Business & Economics and ICT
Lives: Shrewsbury

Ambitious former Head Girl Hayley says her “life revolves around order.” A farmer’s daughter and member of Young Farmers herself, she passionately disagrees with people claiming benefits when they could be working. Inspired by drinks company Innocent, she sells free range, organic eggs from her own chickens.

She says: “I wear wellies, and I am not afraid to muck in”

Zara Brownless
Age: 16
Education: Studying for A Levels in English Literature, Maths, History and Theatre Studies
Lives: Hertfordshire

Film enthusiast Zara used to be a baby model and won a sock design competition when she was seven years old. She is inspired by Katherine Bigelow, the first female director to win an Oscar and currently produces films for charities. When she’s not making movies, Zara enjoys running and playing table tennis.

She says: “Dreamers dream; people who achieve wake up, get out there and start doing stuff to make their dreams happen.”

MEET THE BOYS

Ben Fowler
Age: 16
Education: Studying for Business Diploma
Lives: Birmingham

A keen horticulturalist, Ben started a gardening business in his local area in 2008. He is involved in social enterprise projects providing voluntary services to the allotment association, having taken on his own allotment at a young age. In the future he hopes to help those with learning and behavioural problems study horticulture and agriculture.

He says: “I am an ordinary lad who wants to do the best not just for myself but for everyone.”

Harry Hitchens
Age: 17
Education: Studying for the International Baccalaureate
Lives: Brighton

Keen rugby player and scuba diver Harry also has an artistic side, and runs his own photography business. He has been working since he was nine, with jobs including gardening, selling at car boot sales and magazine delivery. He wishes he had invented the Cat’s Eye road marker.

He says: “I aim high. I don’t aim low ever, what are you ever going to gain from that? I aim high and I get there because of that determination, because I’m pretty ruthless in how I get there.”

Harry Maxwell
Age: 16
Education: Studying for Pre-Us in Maths and Further Maths and A Levels in Geography and Economics and the Extended Project
Lives: Oxfordshire

School prefect Harry is a polo enthusiast and water-sports fanatic, as well as a talented singer and pianist. Inspired by Simon Cowell, entrepreneur Harry is a business veteran despite his young age. Starting his first business when he was ten, selling tickets on the internet, he has already started three successful businesses, encompassing travel, marketing, property and cosmetics.

He says: “In terms of my intellect, self-motivation, confidence, and business instinct for my age, I am unrivalled. I have a pure entrepreneurial gift waiting to be unleashed and harnessed”.

James McCullagh
Age: 17
Education: Studying for A Levels in English, Economics, Spanish and Biology
Lives: County Derry, Northern Ireland

Irishman James describes himself as a risk-taker and always follows his gut instinct. James got the joint highest score in GCSE Economics in Northern Ireland and feels he is a natural businessman. He is a massive football fan and lists his passion as economics.

He says: “I have integrity, but when winning gets in the way of integrity, integrity goes out the window.”

Lewis Roman
Age: 16
Education: Studying for A Levels in World Development, Psychology, Performing Arts, ICT
Lives: Merseyside

Describing himself as ‘confident, charismatic and clever’, Lewis Roman’s first foray into the business world was as an assistant stylist at a hair salon. A keen shopper and gym buff, Lewis now works in the food industry and hopes to change the world of business forever.

He says: “I’m not arrogant or backstabbing, I’m just a really great guy.”

Mahamed Awale
Age: 16
Education: Studying for A Levels in Politics, Law, Economics and Psychology
Lives: Greater London

A keen inventor and fundraiser who describes himself as “competitive and charismatic,” Mahamed who is the Youth Parliament Representative for his borough, has already made money buying and selling TV satellites. Inspired by the Microsoft and Facebook brands, he hopes to bring about “monumental change” using politics and youth outreach schemes.

He says: “I have so many abilities and so many talents. I want to prove what an entrepreneurial person I am.”

LONDON, Wednesday 14th September 2011: Join Dynamo on his magical journey this Autumn and bear witness to the incredible, headline-grabbing stunts and magic that saw over seven million viewers tune in to his debut TV series, as Dynamo: Magician Impossible is released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday 17th October.

Dynamo: Magician Impossible is the story of an ordinary boy from Bradford living an extraordinary life as one of the world’s most unique and critically acclaimed magicians.

The DVD sees the 28-year-old travelling the globe as the unassuming anti-hero who just happens to astound everyone he meets from international footballers to the Hollywood glitterati.

Featuring an explosive mix of close up magic and spectacular set piece stunts, Dynamo: Magician Impossible enchanted the UK critics; The Sunday Mirror, Celebs on Sunday said “you can’t help but be impressed,” Inside Soap described Dynamo as “one of the most feted magicians about” and the show left The Sun’s TV Editor “absolutely gobsmacked.”

In episode one, Dynamo performs his spectacular matrix style levitation, physically moves a girl’s tan line on the glamorous Miami Beach, performs magic with Manchester rock legend Ian Brown and pulls off a stunt that baffled people worldwide – walking across the River Thames.

Other highlights in this mind blowing DVD include; transporting a mobile phone into a glass beer bottle, magically transforming snow into diamonds in the Austrian mountains and bringing a flutter of butterflies to life in Hollywood’s famous Chateau Marmont. Plus 30 minutes of unseen extras.

Dynamo is also joined by a number of his celebrity fans, including Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia and boxing champion David Haye. Plus watch England footballer Rio Ferdinand’s amazement when Dynamo walks directly through a glass window.

Throughout the series, Dynamo takes viewers on his magical journey before stunning them with incredible, headline-grabbing stunts beyond the realms of possibility.

http://www.facebook.com/dynamomagician

http://twitter.com/#!/Dynamomagician

 ★ Ian Hislop celebrates 25 years at the helm

★ 50th book launch to mark historic milestone

★ V&A exhibition to celebrate landmark anniversary

LONDON, 8th September 2011: Private Eye is Britain’s first, most successful and indeed only fortnightly satirical magazine. Founded in 1961, it has somehow managed to survive for half a century during which it has consistently entertained, informed and irritated its readers.

Over five turbulent decades it has developed its unique mix of jokes and journalism, comedy and campaigning, gags and gossip, laughter and libel, to cover the public life of the nation.

From political plots to royal revelations, from City scandal to media manipulation, from legal lunacy to municipal madness. (That’s enough alliteration – Ed)

This year, Britain’s number one best-selling news and current affairs magazine marks its 50^th anniversary on 25^th October with a series of exciting events throughout the Autumn.

Ian Hislop comments: “I do not want anyone to think that this is all just a huge celebration of ourselves. Our 50^th year is a chance to look back and take a dispassionate view of how marvellous we are.”

Released on Tuesday 20^th September to kick off the anniversary year celebrations, Private Eye: The First 50 Years, an A-Z, is a lavishly illustrated, definitive history of the magazine, charting its rise from 300 copies of the first edition on 25^th October 1961, to a fortnightly readership of 700,000, steered at the helm by Editor of 25 years, Ian Hislop.

Written by Private Eye journalist Adam Macqueen, who has been with the magazine since 1997, Private Eye: The First 50 Years, an A-Z, is an unsurpassed, fascinating history of Private Eye over the past 50 years.

Forming an in-depth, witty and occasionally critical appraisal, Macqueen has created the long-awaited volume containing everything you ever wanted to know about the  nation’s favourite satirical organ. At last the origin of Ugandan discussions will be disclosed, along with the story behind that Andrew Neil photo, and the identity of Britain’s Biggest Pseud. Plus the inside story of the magazine’s many high-profile legal battles, scoops and staff bust-ups, told by those who were there.

In addition to a wealth of new material, the book features exclusive interviews with current editor, Ian Hislop, his predecessor Richard Ingrams and co-founder, Christopher Booker, plus a host of other key figures past and present.

The book also contains exclusive reminiscences and revelations about former contributors including Peter Cook, Auberon Waugh and Willie Rushton, in addition to rare archive material, unseen photographs and an abundance of cartoons from the likes of Nick Newman, Tony Husband and Michael Heath – many never before published.

Adam Macqueen comments: “I’ve been digging up stories for the Eye for fourteen years, but a lot of the stuff I found out about the mag surprised even me. When I discovered it surprised the editor too, I figured I must be doing something right.”

 With the phone hacking scandal, the superinjunction fiascos and the European financial meltdown it has been a quiet year for news. Luckily Private Eye was there to fill the gap.

Available from Wednesday 12^th October, the 2011 Private Eye Annual presents the very best of Private Eye’s unique blend of wit and humour,  jam-packed with pages of parody, the funniest spoofs, gags, cartoons, photo bubbles and topical humour.

Consistently found in the best seller chart and selling in excess of 78,000 copies last year alone, it is a must for every Christmas stocking.

Opening on Tuesday 18^th October and running for three months until 8^th January 2012, Private Eye at the V&A is on display in the V&A’s Studio Gallery in South Kensington, London.

Private Eye at the V&A is a free exhibition and will explore the wealth of artistic talent that the magazine has fostered by showcasing the original artwork for some of the finest and funniest Private Eye cartoons. Over its 50-year history, the Eye has published and promoted the work of more than 90 artists, many of whom started their careers at the magazine, including Gerald Scarfe, Ralph Steadman, Willie Rushton, Barry Fantoni, Nick Newman, Michael Heath, John Kent and Ed McLachlan. The illustrations will be shown in thematic sections on politics, royalty and social observation. They are richly varied in style and tone and take the form of single cartoons with captions, long-running strips and caricatures.

Ian Hislop has chosen 50 of the best trademark front covers, one from every year the magazine has been published. The front covers will be arranged in a timeline, offering a graphic satirical history of the news over five decades.

The exhibition will evoke the atmosphere of the magazine’s Soho office, with a recreation of the editor’s paper-strewn desk. There will also be seldom-seen ephemera from the magazine’s past campaigns and court cases, as well as a life-sized cutout of Tony Blair, a stuffed dog, a flying Robert Maxwell and a giant inflatable banana.

Notes to Editors:

Private Eye is the UK’s number one, best-selling news and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.

Richard Ingrams served as editor from the 10^th issue until 1986, and was then succeeded by Ian Hislop in 1986. It offers a unique blend of humour, social and political observations and investigative journalism. Published fortnightly, the magazine is read by over 700,000 readers.

Ian Hislop has edited Private Eye since 1986, and was absolutely thrilled to be voted the 97^th most powerful person in the media by the Guardian this year.

Commentating on “a stellar year for the man who celebrates 25 years in the editor’s chair in October – half the life of the magazine” The Guardian continued “The Private Eye editor has challenged privacy injunctions, led the way on important stories – and has also managed to boost sales.

Hislop’s work has put privacy injunctions firmly in the spotlight. But less glamorous campaigns have also succeeded at the magazine, where sales of more than 200,000 a fortnight are the best for nearly 20 years.

Even in recent months, the In the Back column has led the way on care homes, Southern Cross and the failings of the Care Quality Commission, and Rotten Boroughs broke an important story on South Tyneside council’s legal battle with Twitter. The magazine revealed problems at Doctor Who – and who would want to be a sleazy hack with Street of Shame on the lookout?

Hislop’s personal appearances on behalf of the magazine, whether on Radio 4′s Today programme or before Commons committees, have been impressive, which is perhaps not surprising given his lengthy TV career.

He continues to be a driving force of BBC1′s Have I Got News for You. And successes such as Ian Hislop’s Age of the Do-Gooders this year have also seen him identified as one of BBC2′s representative faces by controller Janice Hadlow.”

Ian has made countless television and radio appearances, as panellist, essayist and presenter. Credits range from Newsnight Review, Question Time and University Challenge (‘The Professionals’), to Radio 4 series on the history of tax, the Victorians and church architecture.

As a writer, Ian progressed from Spitting Image to write sketches for Harry Enfield and television plays for Maureen Lipman and Dawn French. Most recently he co-wrote the family sitcom, My Dad’s the Prime Minister.

Ian Hislop was honoured to receive the British Society of Magazine Editor’s highest award, The Editor’s Editor.

Adam Macqueen

Adam Macqueen joined the Eye on work experience in 1997, and has been there ever since, apart from two years when he ran away to become deputy editor of the Big Issue. He writes mostly for the Street of Shame and Media News pages, as well as compiling the Number Crunching Column.

He has also freelanced for a great many other newspapers and magazines, and had a weekly slot as co-presenter on the Sandi Toksvig show on LBC as well as regularly appearing on Sky News.

His previous book, The King of Sunlight: How William Lever Cleaned Up The World, was a chosen title on both Simon Mayo’s book club on Five Live and A Good Read on Radio 4.

www.private-eye.co.uk or via twitter – @PrivateEyeNews

LONDON, Tuesday 12th July 2011: Stand-up comedy is one of the toughest jobs in showbiz and ITV1’s new seven-part reality series, Show Me The Funny, is on the hunt for the next stand-up superstar in comedy.

Beginning at 9pm on Monday 18th July and hosted by award-winning comedian Jason Manford, Show Me The Funny features 10 comedians with varying levels of experience as they battle it out to win the ultimate prize in British comedy; £100,000, a nationwide multi-date UK tour throughout September and their very own DVD at Christmas.

Over six grueling weeks, the funnymen – and women – will be sent to all corners of the country and tasked with various challenges, with the winners deciding the running order of that week’s gig. The series will culminate in a live final where the remaining comedians will play to the biggest audience of their careers at London’s world-famous Hammersmith Apollo, in front of a 3,000 strong audience and millions of voting viewers at home.

Each week, the comedians aim is to find inspiration for five minutes of material to be performed at a gig in an unusual venue and to potentially raucous crowds, before facing the scrutiny of the judges. From a hospital and an army base to a secondary school and rugby club, the group will be followed as they complete their tasks and deal with the pressures of writing and performing fresh material.

The climax of each show will see the comedians come face-to-face with the judges; the much-loved comedian Alan Davies and the much-feared comedy critic Kate Copstick. They will decide who has made the cut for the next gig and who will find themselves on their way home. Each week, Alan and Kate will be joined by a revolving roster of some of the best known names in UK comedy including Jo Brand, Johnny Vegas, Bob Mortimer, Ross Noble, Cannon & Ball and Jimmy Tarbuck, to assist in their decision.

The 10 comedians, who all love making people laugh, but have yet to find their big break, feature fresh-faced newcomers to seasoned professionals, including a serving police officer, a former undertaker and an ex-professional model. One of the comedians has never been paid for a gig, another recently quit their job to do stand-up full time, and one is using annual leave from their regular job to compete in the show, whilst others have been making a full-time living out of the profession for years.

Jason Manford said: “Stand-up comedy has never been bigger and there has never been a better time to make this show. I’m excited to be involved in the series – it’s very rare to have the ability to make pretty much anyone laugh, and I hope Show Me The Funny will find that comic.”

Alan Davies commented: “After years on the circuit, I know exactly what it’s like to deal with the pressures of making an audience laugh and this is an extremely tough challenge.”

Kate Copstick commented: “People are calling it The X Factor for comics. But I think it’s more like Masterchef for comics. Which I suppose makes Alan John Torode, and me the irritating shouty one.”

Executive Producer and CEO of Big Talk Productions, Kenton Allen, said: “Stand-up comedy is the toughest job in show-business and the only job in the world where you are judged every 10 seconds by a paying audience expecting big laughs. Show Me The Funny is the real deal. There is no safety net. Expect to laugh your socks off, cry your eyes out, and some parts are best watched through your fingers.”

Making people laugh isn’t as easy as it sounds, and Show Me The Funny will reveal to the audience at home the pressures, creativity and nerve involved in pulling off the ultimate stand-up routine.

This is the ultimate search for comedies next big thing. It’s survival of the funniest.

The Show Me The Funny website –www.itv.com/funny – will feature clips from each episode, web chats with the judges, plus all the information you need on the show and the 10 competing comedians. You can also follow the series and join in the conversation on Twitter – @showmethefunny or by using the #smtf hashtag – and Facebook –
www.facebook/showmethefunny.

The Show Me The Funny Tour will be promoted by leading Comedy Promoter of Live Comedy in the UK, Phil McIntyre Entertainments (Peter Kay, John Cleese, Ed Byrne, John Bishop, Bill Bailey). The DVD of the tour will be released by 2Entertain, the number one DVD distributor for British Comedy (Lee Evans, Stewart Lee, Tim Vine, Harry Hill).

Show Me The Funny is a Big Talk Productions show for ITV1. Kenton Allen is Executive Producer, Martyn Smith is Series Editor. Claire Zolkwer is the Commissioning Editor, Comedy & Entertainment for ITV.

Show Me The Funny will air on ITV1, and ITV1 HD.

MEET THE COMEDIANS

From left to right: Stuart Goldsmith, Patrick Monahan, Cole Parker, Prince Abdi, Ellie Taylor, Jason Manford, Tiffany Stevenson, Rudi Lickwood, Ignacio Lopez, Dan Mitchell, Alfie Moore

Alfie Moore
Age: 47

By day, Alfie is a serving Police Sergeant; by night, he is a stand-up comedian. Comedy was firstly a hobby, ignited by Alfie 3 years ago, after a night out at a local comedy gig with his wife. He was very inspired by the acts and desperate to get up on stage and give it a go. Alfie is now performing regularly and over the past two and a half years has done over 250 comedy gigs and 50 after-dinner speeches.

Alfie Says: “The general perception is that cops take themselves too seriously and are too stuck-up and secretive. But if they see a copper who can laugh at himself and his organisation, that could do a lot of good.”

Cole Parker
Age: 37

Cole started his stand-up career at the age of six after entering a talent contest in Norfolk. Despite coming second, Cole was undeterred and a love of stand-up was born. Something of a bad-boy, Cole has a reputation for being a smart, solid act who can handle any audience. Popular on the comedy circuit, he regular plays all the big clubs country wide and internationally.

Cole says:“I’ve had this terrific passion for stand-up since a very young age. In the past, I have been maligned as an alpha male, but you should not judge people by appearances.”

Dan Mitchell
Age: 34

Charity worked Dan is a former Undertaker who sites “boredom” as the reason for his move into stand-up five years ago. Dan has since performed over 500 gigs after starting in small pubs in the rural Welsh countryside. He has performed at a variety of places from the Green Man Festival where he was critically acclaimed, to being booed off stage in a strip joint.

Dan says: “What do I love about stand-up? When it’s going well, the buzz is unlike anything else. When it fails, of course, you blame the audience!”

Ellie Taylor
Age: 27

After seeing a friend perform a five minute set, ex-model Ellie decided she should give it a go. A keen drama student at school, Ellie went on to study at York University and has recently given up her job in corporate events to concentrate on comedy full time. She has never been paid for a gig.

Ellie says: “I know I can perform, but I have never gigged outside London! Please don’t say I’m brave – that’s just a polite way of saying stupid!”

Ignacio Lopez
Age: 24

After University, Spanish barman, Ignacio got a job as an usher in a cinema, to get him closer to short films; another of his big passions. His colleagues at the cinema pushed him into comedy at the end of 2009 and he hasn’t looked back, despite being only paid for two gigs so far.

Ignacio says: “My goal is to play to as many people as possible. It will really help me progress and I see this as a way of jumping a few steps ahead.”

Patrick Monahan
Age: 35

Patrick may well be the only stand-up in the world of Irish-Iranian decent, but brought up on Teeside. He sees his background as a real bonus and credits talking about it as his breakthrough. Patrick has headlined the prestigious Comedy Store and performed around the world from the west of Ireland to Dubai.

Pat says: “There are no other Irish-Iranian comedians with a northern upbringing on the circuit – I’m all three rolled into one!”

Prince Abdi
Age: 28

A Somalian-born, former primary school teacher who was once on Millwall FC’s books, Prince Abdi won the Your Comedy Star competition at the Edinburgh Festival in 2007. Despite only just going full time, he has been on the circuit for four years and recently came second in the Barbican New Act of the Year competition.

Prince says: “I love doing stand-up. I could be a role model;I’m from a deprived area of London where opportunities are limited.”

Rudi Lickwood
Age: 47

Rudi has been on the circuit for the best part of two decades after first coming onto the comedy scene as an Eddie Murphy look-a-like in 1989 aged 26. Through this, he travelled all over the world, and when Beverley Hills Cop was released he was sent to Scandinavia, where he basically lived a celebrity lifestyle.

Rudi says: “Not everyone will like everything I do. I know I’m challenging the status quo in comedy. I’m not saying step over the line – I take my responsibilities very seriously, but my comedy is there to make you think.”

Stuart Goldsmith
Age: 33

When he was younger, Stuart ran away to join the circus, but upon discovering that the circus entailed more press-ups than he deemed reasonable, he fled! He moved on to street performance and acting, before settling on stand-up. He has gone on to perform all over the UK and Europe and he has supported sell-out comedians Mark Watson and Paul Sinha on their national tours.

Stuart says: “I’m used to having to claw an audience out of thin air! You walk onto a deserted street with just a suitcase and your wits, and you have to make things happen or you can’t pay the rent!”

Tiffany Stevenson
Age: 33

Tiff’s route to stand up has been quite diverse, but since taking the mic in 2006, where she initially performed as her WAG character ‘Savannah Dior’ she has been ahead of the curve. Tiffany also runs and co-hosts “Old Rope”, a weekly new material night with the award winning Phil Nichol at The Phoenix in London.

Tiffany says: “All comedians love trying out new material. There is nothing more satisfying than performing something and getting an instant response. I hope I can rise to the challenge.”

THE JUDGES

Jason Manford – Host

Jason Manford is a writer, comedian, actor, radio and television presenter. He was tipped to be a comedian from a very young age, but despite being a joker in his youth, Jason only got into comedy by chance. After leaving school at the age of 17, he began collecting glasses at the Buzz Comedy Club in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. One night a comedian didn’t turn up, so Jason filled in. Six gigs later, he was crowned The City Life North West Comedian of the Year.

His first major television appearance was as a guest on the Channel 4 panel show, 8 out of 10 cats, hosted by Jimmy Carr. He later went on to replace Dave Spikey as Team Captain in 2007 and continued for five series.

Jason has presented several TV shows including; Tonightly the topical comedy entertainment show for Channel 4 (2008) and the comedy entertainment show Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford for ITV1 (2010). He has just finished filming the second series of the ITV1 comedy game show Odd One In which is on air now. He is also currently on tour, which is running until November 2011, by which time he will have entertained over 300,000 people live with this show, sharing hilarious tales of shower mishaps, visiting “dangerous” animals and nappies. His first book – a hilarious yet warm memoir of growing up funny in a big working class Manchester family and his second DVD – Jason Manford Live; are both released in the autumn.

Jason cites Billy Connolly as the first comedian he saw when he was 9 years old, and as the very first inspiration for him to become a comedian. Peter Kay helped him at the beginning of his career offering Jason advice and sharing contacts.

Alan Davies –  Judge

Alan Davies began performing stand-up comedy in 1988 just five months after leaving university, with a three month stint in Canada performing at various Fringe Festivals and Comedy Clubs. Upon his return, he secured a TV spot within six months. In 1991, he was named Time Out’s Best Young Comic. He appeared on Tonight with Jonathan Ross in 1992 and continued touring and performing in the UK and Canada, winning the Edinburgh Festival Critics Award for Comedy in 1994.

In 1998, a DVD of his most successful stand-up tour, Urban Trauma was released following a sell-out season at the Duchess Theatre. It was later shown on BBC One.

Alan’s best known acting role is as the title character in the BAFTA-winning BBC drama, Jonathan Creek. He is also a permanent panelist on multi-award winning BBC quiz show, QI. His most recent acting role was the title character Roland White in the BBC Comedy Whites.

Kate Copstick – Judge

Kate Copstick has judged on numerous comedy awards including the Perrier, Amused Moose, SYTYF and Malcolm Hardee Awards. The first person to give Michael McIntyre a five star review, Kate Copstick has seen more live comedy, and spotted more new talent, than any other comedy critic in the UK.

For years she has been the most controversial critic at the Edinburgh Festival, with a fearsome reputation on the circuit as being the toughest of the tough, who can either make or break a career. Love her or hate her, her opinions are often stark, honest and occasionally brutal.

Her one woman show – Hardly Camp at All played New York, and at the 2001 and 2002 Edinburgh Festival she was described as “the future of Comedy”.

She appeared on On the Waterfront with Andrew O’Connor which gained cult status because of their parody “The Flashin Blade” created by Russell T Davies. She was a regular on Channel 4’s Biteback and After The News.

She has worked extensively with Jimmy Logan and has also shared stage, and/or screen time with, variously, Tom O’Connor, Bernard Manning, Nicholas Parsons, Fry and Laurie, Graham Norton, Richard O’Brien, The Chuckle Brothers, Basil Brush, John Inman and every major drag queen in London and Blackpool.

Kate Copstick has appeared on dozens of comedy panel shows and performed stand-up on many regional TV shows across the country.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Show Me The Funny Tour and DVD:

The winner will be voted for by the audience at home in a live final due to air in August. They will go on to headline their own stand up tour promoted by leading Comedy Promoter of Live Comedy in the UK, Phil McIntyre Entertainments, across the UK on the following dates*:

*Dates and venue subject to change and further dates may be added

The DVD of the tour will be released by 2Entertain, the number one DVD distributor for British Comedy.

About Big Talk Productions:

Big Talk is one of the UK’s leading film and television production companies. Launched by Nira Park in 1995, it has an impeccable track record in developing talent such as Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright whose cult television series Spaced paved the way for Big Talk’s first hit films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

In 2007 Matthew Justice (Hallam Foe, Blade) joined as Managing Director to help develop the company and in 2008 former BBC Creative Head Of Comedy Kenton Allen (That Mitchell and Webb Look, The Royle Family and the Oscar-winning Six Shooter) joined as Chief Executive together with a simultaneous strategic investment from BBC Worldwide. Big Talk now has a dynamic slate of original television with all the major UK broadcasters and continues to attract exceptional talent. Simon Curtis (Cranford, Five Days), Robert Popper (Peep Show, Look Around You, Friday Night Dinner) and Luke Alkin (Former Head of Channel 4 Drama) are all part of the core creative team.

In 2010 two new six-part comedies were broadcast to record audiences and huge critical acclaim: the BAFTA-winning Rev. (BBC Two), starring Tom Hollander, and Him & Her (BBC Three) starring Russell Tovey.

This year Channel 4 broadcast Big Talk’s first co-production with Popper Pictures, Friday Night Dinner starring Tamsin Grieg, Paul Ritter, Simon Bird & Tom Rosenthal, and commissioned a second series following its ratings and critical success. Current productions include second series of Rev. and Him & Her, and new commissions The Pranker starring Ross Lee (with Running Bare Films for BBC Three) and Chickens (Channel 4) written by and starring Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Jonny Sweet and directed by Steve Bendelack(The League of Gentlemen). Threesome (Comedy Central) is a brand new sitcom by Tom MacRae, starring Amy Huberman, Emun Elliot and Stephen Wight.

Big Talk is now also the home of entertainment formats Show Me The Funny (ITV) a nationwide death-by-comedy contest for stand-ups culminating in a live final, presented by Jason Manford, and King Of … (Channel 4) a comedy chat show hosted by Claudia Winkleman.

Big Talk Productions has also made its mark in America; NBC has commissioned a series based on their Channel 4 show Free Agents. Starring Hank Azaria, it will be broadcast in the US from September.

In film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, starring Michael Cera and directed by Edgar Wright, has been hailed as a ‘modern masterpiece’.Paul, written by and starring Simon Pegg& Nick Frost and directed by Greg Mottola has been a huge hit worldwide. Attack the Block, written and directed by Joe Cornish, has been released in the UK to stellar reviews and will open in the US this summer.

LONDON, Tuesday 5th July 2011, Chelsea and England star Ashley Cole has teamed-up with American rapper Jay-Z to open a new restaurant and bar in Central London next year.

NVA Entertainment Group (NVA) brokered a multi-million pound deal that will see Cole and Jay-Z work together on a number of new ventures. ‘The 40/40 London’ will be the first project of the partnership.

(L-R > Chris Nathaniel, Ashley Cole, Jay Z, Desiree Perez (Jay Z Partner), Paul Boadi and Simon Wright (Operations))

The management team will be appointing a top chef to deliver a modern American themed menu for the restaurant/bar that will feature top DJ’s and A-list artists. A short-list of three potential sites is now under consideration with a final decision on location expected in August.

The 40/40 London will give first option on jobs to talented, long-term unemployed young people. Each month a percentage of profits from the project will go to local youth charities for music and sport projects in deprived communities.

The grand opening party to be held next year will be similar to the 40/40 openings thrown by Jay Z in New York, Las Vegas and Atlantic City and will be attended by a host of stars from music, sport and entertainment. NVA are in talks with UK broadcasters over exclusive TV opportunities.

Alongside his thriving music business Roc Nation and Rocawear clothing range Jay-Z is a huge sports fan – he attended Wimbledon last week and co-owns NBA basketball team New Jersey Nets. He runs a chain of successful 40/40 clubs in five US cities.

NVA has a high profile track-record in sport and entertainment working with the likes of John Terry, Robinho, Usain Bolt and Antonio Valencia.

Jay-Z said; “London is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world and the perfect location for our new venue. I’m excited about working with Ashley and NVA Entertainment Group on a range of new projects and The 40/40 London is going to be the hottest place in town.”

Cole said; “I am delighted to be working with Jay Z I have grown up listening to his music and now to be doing business with him is amazing and the projects we do will be delivering much needed funds back into sport and music on a local community level as well as helping talented young people get back to work.”

40/40 Partner Juan Perez said; “The partnership of Ashley and Jay Z along with our entire 40/40 Club team is the ideal fit for bringing our brand to London.  The 40/40 Club is not only a brand, but a lifestyle that suits the nightlife and sports world and that makes it a perfect fit for London.”

NVA Holdings Executives Chris Nathaniel and Paul Boadi said “We have done some exciting deals and worked with some World class names but this collaboration of Ashley Cole and Jay Z has to be one of the most exciting and it makes the nine months of negotiations worth it and we look forward to an amazing launch for the first project and have started work on two other projects that the two will be collaborating on covering the film and fashion areas”

About NVA Entertainment Group

NVA Entertainment Group is part of the NVA Holdings group of companies and its a multi faceted Sports, Music, Film and Fashion management company looking after high profile and new emerging talent.

For more info www.nvaentgroup.com and follow on twitter @the4040London

About The 40/40 Club

The 40/40 Club, located at 6 West 25th Street, is an all American sports bar and nightclub owned by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and partners Desiree and Juan Perez.  The 40/40 Club is the premiere sports bar and lounge in New York City, hosting some of the most memorable events and parties over the past 9 years.

LONDON, Monday, 27th June 2011: The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival today confirm the addition of multi-award winning writer and comedian, Ricky Gervais to this year’s already stellar line-up.

Comedy treasure Ricky Gervais has been very busy in the USA – producing hit TV shows, making movies, hosting awards shows and making mischief with the Hollywood A-list. The comedian, actor, director and multi-award winning writer will be quizzed on his experiences of the television industry in America. The star will give a personal insight into his Sky 1 hit, An Idiot Abroad in conversation with broadcaster Richard Bacon and an audience Q&A opportunity.

Also confirmed today is Chloe Sladden, Director of Content & Programming at Twitter, who works with media, news and entertainment organizations to imagine and implement new approaches to content creation, audience engagement, and journalism. Chloe will be giving the keynote address for the MGEITF Futureview, discussing the power of Twitter to revolutionize the way TV viewers discover and interact with programming in real time. Sladden will provide a provocative view of what’s changed so far –and what happens next.

Sladden commented: “I’m excited to join the Edinburgh International Television Festival to share, debate and discuss how Twitter is changing the TV viewing experience. I look forward to conversations with colleagues and partners about what the future holds for interactive TV.”

Additionally joining the high-calibre list of contributors at MGEITF this year are comedian and actor Lee Mack, English journalist and television presenter Esther Rantzen, Irish television writer, actor and director Graham Linehan, and BBC Drama Commissioning Controller, Ben Stephenson.

Other industry luminaries already confirmed to appear include; Dr. Eric Schmidt (Executive Chairman of Google), Professor Brian Cox, the stars of The Only Way Is Essex and Downton Abbey, Miranda Hart and The Killing’s Sofie Gråbøl.

The Festival will take place from August 26 – 28 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. To find out more about the programme and to register, please visit www.mgeitf.co.uk.

Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR