| Britain’s
Got Talent — The Live Tour... BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT — the UK's most popular family entertainment show — is back. And this time it's going live on tour! The winner and finalists from this year's ITV1 show will embark on a nationwide tour (starting at London's Hammersmith Apollo on Friday 6th June — see below) hosted by Stephen Mulhern. Last year Britain's Got Talent saw Paul Potts, a mobile phone salesman from Cardiff, become an international operatic sensation when an audience of 13 million tuned in to see Paul Potts crowned winner with his heart- wrenching performance of Nessun Dorma. Since winning the show, Paul's album 'One Chance' shot straight to the top of the charts in the UK followed by a further 15 countries worldwide and an incredible sell-out World Tour. Now you and your family have the chance to see this year's new winner and the amazing finalists perform live on tour. Stephen Mulhern, presenter of ITV2's behind-the-scenes show 'Britain's Got More Talent', will host the tour. Britain's Got Talent Live (sponsored by Domino's Pizza) will visit 13 cities including audition hotspots Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow. With acts varying from musicians, acrobats, dance troupes, magicians, comedians and even spectacular animal acts — as chosen by the British public. The Live Tour promises to be a great show for all the family and tickets are already in massive demand — an amazing 10.8 million tuned-in last week in watch the launch episode of this year's search for the best talent in Britain on ITV1. To book tickets, please call 08700 11 26 26 or log on to www.ticketzone.co.uk. Tickets are on sale now priced from £29.50 - £32.50. Britain's Got Talent — Live 2008 Friday 6th June - London Hammersmith Apollo 7.30pm Saturday 7th June - Bournemouth BIC 7.30pm Sunday 8th June - Liverpool Arena 7.30pm Monday 9th June - Brighton Centre 7.30pm Friday 13th June - Manchester Apollo 7.30pm Saturday 14th June - Sheffield Arena 7.30pm Sunday 15th June – Trent FM Arena Nottingham 7.30pm Monday 16th June - Birmingham NIA 7.30pm Tuesday 17th June - Cardiff CIA 7.30pm Thursday 19th June - Glasgow Clyde Auditorium 7.30pm Friday 20th June - Newcastle City Hall 7.30pm Saturday 21st June - Aberdeen ECC 7.30pm Sunday 22nd June - Edinburgh Playhouse 7.30pm. |
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British Steam Car Speed Record... THE PROJECT TO SECURE THE WORLD STEAM CAR SPEED RECORD is on track, with everything focused on the record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats, USA in August 2008. This will follow the unveiling of the British Steam Car at the 60th Bonneville Speed Week from 18 to 24 August. Having overcome numerous challenges and setbacks in the past eight years, the British Steam Car Team has demonstrated remarkable resolve and fortitude — in true British Bulldog fashion. This is by no means a lavishly funded project and most of the work developing and building the car has been undertaken in a modest wooden workshop at Lymington in the New Forest. Project manager, Frank Swanson, who sadly died in 2007, instigated much of the engineering groundwork. Since then, the British Steam Car Team has regrouped and was boosted by the recruitment of Don Wales as test driver. Wales is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell — who between them established more than 20 land and water speed records. Wales himself set an electric vehicle land speed record in Bluebird Electric in 2000. At Bonneville, the British Steam Car will be housed in the same hangar used by the Campbells for their record attempts. The British Steam Car Team was started when Lord Montagu of Beaulieu saw a project undertaken by students at Southampton University. His nephew, Charles Burnett III, was inspired by the proposed steam powered record car and assembled the British Steam Car Team. Charles Burnett III will be the principal driver of the steam car and has previously achieved several land and water world records. Before attempting the world steam car speed record, the British Steam Car Team expects to secure the British steam car record at Elvington, near York, during early July. It is 70 years ago (3 July, 1938) that the last famous British steam-powered vehicle secured a world record when the Mallard steam train reached 126mph. It is also 40 years since the end of mainline steam on British railways — an anniversary being celebrated by the National Railway Museum at York in May. The British Steam Car Team schedule During May, final testing at Thorney Island, Portsmouth with a media launch in early July | British steam car speed record attempts at Elvington, near York in mid-July | despatch of British Steam Car to the USA 18 to 24 August | official unveiling and preparatory testing at Bonneville Speed Week with test driver, Don Wales | From 25 August, world steam car speed record attempts at Bonneville Salt Flats by Charles Burnett III | September return of British Steam Car to UK and then on permanent display at National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu. Monthly updates are available at www.steamcar.co.uk (which includes profiles of team members and technical specifications for the British Steam Car). There is still plenty of time for members of the public to become involved with and support the British Steam Car Team. The official website (steamcar.co.uk) includes a link to a special 'Pound a Pixel' website. Here, individuals and companies can buy space on the site and will get their names on the car for just £1. The British Steam Car Team has support from Richard Noble (Thrust SCC), Squadron Leader Andy Green (holder of the first-ever — and only — supersonic World Land Speed Record of 763.035mph, set in 1997, and Donald Campbell's daughter, Gina Campbell, who has achieved numerous water-speed records. The last official steam powered record attempt took place in 1906, with Fred Marriott driving a Stanley Steamer built by the Stanley brothers. It achieved 127.659mph. The FIA, the sanctioning body for land speed records, recognises a record as the average speed of two passes made across a measured distance in opposing directions within 60 minutes of each other. While the most obvious goal of the project is to bring another land speed record to Britain, there is a deeper and longer term aspect to the project. The team hopes that the project will have a significant impact on the future of automobile technology. When the vehicle returns to the UK, it will retire to the National Motor Museum Trust at Beaulieu. The project will then have an ongoing purpose — to promote awareness of ecologically-responsible technologies to students across the country. |
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A Room with a View in the Norwegian town of Ålesund... FOR A REAL ROOM WITH A VIEW, spend the night in Ålesund's hottest new abode — Room 47, tucked away in an old lighthouse. The newest addition to the refurbished boutique Hotel Brosundet, Room 47 is sure to appeal to travellers looking for somewhere slightly quirky to stay. 
The lighthouse at the end of a small pier in the harbour is the perfect place to spend a romantic night listening to the sound of the lapping waves. Opening its doors at the beginning of September, Room 47 will cost approx 3,000 NOKS (£288) per night. Breakfast will be served in the main hotel, a stone's throw from the lighthouse. The chic Hotel Brosundet, owned by adventure company 62 Degrees North, was completely refurbished over the winter months ready for reopening at the beginning of this month. The enchanting Art Nouveau town on Norway's west coast has a lot to offer visitors. It is home to the fantastic Atlantic Sea Park, the stunning viewpoint at the top of Mount Aksla and the fascinating Art Nouveau Centre. Nearby are the popular Alnes Lighthouse (which serves guests with a range of freshly baked cakes) and the quaint Sunnmøre Museum, featuring a large collection of old wooden buildings and boats. Getting to Ålesund couldn't be simpler. Fly direct from London Gatwick with SAS every Monday and Friday. Fares cost from £43 one-way including tax. Alternatively, sail with niche cruise operator Hurtigruten. With daily departures from Bergen, cruise overnight and arrive in the charming coastal town of Ålesund the following day. Check out www.hurtigruten.co.uk for further details. For more information about the Brosundet Hotel and its special Room 47 see www.brosundet.no. More about Ålesund can be found at www.visitalesund.com. |
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Kind Rewind: out on DVD on 30 June... JACK BLACK AND MOS DEF STAR in the hilarious comedy Be Kind Rewind about two best friends, one electromagnetic field and every movie you've ever loved. From the wild imagination of Academy Award-winner Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Be Kind Rewind is released to buy and rent on DVD and Blu-ray on 30 June 2008 from Pathé Distribution Ltd. Sweding (sweed-ing) is the practice of re-creating something from scratch using commonly-available, everyday materials and technology. Items that are 'Sweded' look distinctively homemade, often bearing only the slightest resemblance to the original. While natively rendered, 'Sweded' items are usually charming and highly amusing. Jerry (Black: King Kong, School of Rock) and Mike (Mos Def: The Italian Job) are childhood friends living in Passaic, New Jersey, trying to make ends meet. Jerry is the neighbourhood mechanic and lives in a trailer near the power plant which he swears is slowly killing him with its microwaves. When Jerry becomes magnetised while trying to sabotage the power plant, he accidentally erases all the tapes in the old-fashioned video store 'Be Kind Rewind', where his best friend works. Already struggling to keep the ailing business financially afloat, Jerry and Mike decide to remake one of the erased movies in Jerry's junk-yard in order to keep their few customers happy. To their astonishment, their unique 'Sweded' version of the movie is a hit! Soon, Mike, Jerry and their friends from the neighbourhood are in full-time production, re-making movies, from Ghostbusters to King Kong, and in the end revitalise not only the business but the entire community. However, with Hollywood lawyers at their door and the imminent return of the store's owner, Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover: Lethal Weapon), Mike and Jerry must find a way to continue their creative endeavours and rally their community — and allow a tiny little store with huge aspirations to attempt to continue living. The disc is packed with fantastic special features, including an in-depth 'making of', the full Fats Waller film and a look at how the filming had a positive effect on the local community. Hilarious, eccentric and brilliantly inventive, Be Kind Rewind includes exclusive, never-before-seen footage, and is a must-own on DVD and Blu-ray. Released on Monday 30 June. |
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new car: VW Golf BlueMotion
cd: Russian superstar Sergey's new single = Girlfriend = due out in June
book: 100 Ways to Save the World