WILLY WONKA STARS OVERCOME COVID CHAOS IN EDINBURGH

Beverley Lyons 
An Edinburgh Willy Wonka production starring viral Oompa Loompa Kirsty Paterson and original Veruca Salt Julie Dawn Cole is back on track - after almost half the cast were hit by covid. 
And now the two global stars have met for the first time after four of the cast were left bed bound at the start of the production run at the Fringe. 
Willy’s Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody had its premiere at Edinburgh Fringe after US producer Richard Kraft decided to make a musical about the story of Glasgow born Kirsty and the mammoth failure of Glasgow’s Willy Wonka experience.
Actor Julie, who was just 13 when she starred in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, flew in to join Kirsty as narrator of the fun show at the Pleasance King Dome.
However disaster struck when Covid meant the production, which even has scratch and sniff cards,  had to rely on stand ins 
after Kirsty and some of the other actors were unable to perform as a result of catching Covid. 
Julie, now 65, and a grandmother who came out of retirement to join in the fun at the Fringe show explained: “The first one who went down with Covid was Cassie, then Shelley then Kirsty then one of our directors. 
The show relies on singers and without it, if you’ve got Covid you can’t do this show.”
Kirsty added: “Two of our main singers got it and I got it. It was going around but we are all recovered now thank goodness.”
Julie who has taken Kirsty under her wing since initially Zoom calling her from the States said: “I’m teaching her everything I know. I’ve had a very lucky career and to anyone - if a door opens go through it -and hope it’s not a toilet.”
And Kirsty added: “I didn’t think my life would end up like this five months ago so I’m just rolling with it. I get to narrate with Julie Dawn Cole which is amazing. She’s showing me the ropes. I genuinely couldn’t have done this without Julie. She was so great before we met, zooming from Los Angeles.”
Kirsty also said she couldn’t believe she has a variety of actors playing her on stage. 
She laughed: “When Richard asked me to do this I thought I’d get a line or two but when I found it was all based on me with characters called Kirsty Paterson one and Kirsty Paterson two, I thought it was amazing. We are praying it does go to bigger places but we don’t know what is going to happen. It’s been a rollercoaster and I feel like I’m having an out of body experience. There’s so much more to this show. They could make a film out of this too.”
Julie added: “Richard is a persuasive man. I thought ‘This will be easy. I’ll be reading off cue cards and going to see other shows at the Fringe but I do a bit more than that. I’ve had an absolute ball doing it. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done with my life since Willy Wonka,  seeing everybody smile and being part of this and the joy, the music is wonderful, the buzz. Who knows what happens next? There’s no earthly way of knowing which direction we are going.”

SHEENA EASTON FEELS WELCOME IN SCOTLAND

SHEENA Easton had revealed she feels welcome in Scotland despite being booed at a Glasgow festival three decades ago.
The Morning Train (9to 5) singer vowed to never perform in Scotland again after being pelted with bottles, some containing urine when she sang at Glasgow’s Big Day in 1990.
However, Sheena, who was spotted on a chocolate shop in Durness with two female friends just this week now appears to be more comfortable with her homeland. 
She explained: “Well, I haven't performed back in Scotland for a long time, but I was just back in the West End in London doing 42nd Street for the entirety of 2017. That wasn't that long ago. And I had tons of people coming from all over and lots of people from Scotland coming down on the train to London to see the show.
So I felt like I was welcomed back home to work. People were very kind to me and that meant a lot to me.”
The singer, who still remains sprightly at the age of 65, admitted the run of shows in London’s West end was exhausting and that it took her a while to recover. 
She said: “ The first role that I did on Broadway was Man of La Mancha with Ralph Julia. And then I did Greece. And then actually for all of 2017, I was over in London and I was in the West End doing 42nd Street.
She admitted: “I have to say, doing eight shows a week and the rigor of that is probably the hardest thing that I've ever done. And I have a great deal of admiration for people that go out there and do that year after year after year, because I don't know how they have the energy to do it.
A year of that at a time and I was wasted. I was tired. I had to take like a few months off after every time I did that, just because it absorbs your entire life and your entire being.” 
Sheena who has had success with a whole host of songs over the years including 
She Says she is now very much at one with herself and said: “My life is well balanced with having a good home life and then still out there working all the time, seeing the fans, doing the shows. And we get to go all over. I mean, we've been, this year we were in Switzerland doing a show, we were out in the Caribbean doing a show, we were up in Canada, we've been to different states all over.
So yeah, we get to see fans from all across the globe and it's wonderful because, you know, I haven't recorded in a long time, so the fans coming to see the shows, they know they're coming to see those legacy hits and they keep supporting me and they keep giving me a reason to go out and do gigs and I'm forever grateful for that.”
Looking. back Sheena says she owes it all to the documentary she starred in when she was at drama school. 
She said: “ I'll be honest, I didn't have to struggle. I mean, I was lucky that when I was at drama school, I get the chance to do this documentary.I guess nowadays they call it a reality show. But back then, reality shows didn't exist. And reality shows now are kind of scripted and set up.
There's not a lot of real about reality. This was real. This was six different documentaries.
And when I did that and it was shown on British television, my music got attention because I had television exposure and I was lucky that I had hits early on. So I won't claim that I had a long struggle. But I will say that yes, my dreams have come true.
I got to do everything that I wanted to do and again and again. So I have no complaints. I have had a great life and music has brought so much to me and so many wonderful people into my world.So yeah, I really feel blessed.”
These days she’s keen to have other artists cover her songs and laughs: “ Lover on me
You know, I think that would translate as a country song. I think it's something that, you know, some of these young artists out there should check out this old lady's portfolio and gassy them up. Well, gassy them up, give them a new treatment and get them out there
She also says she knew pretty early on that not everyone in her audience would be appreciative of her talents. 
She said: a”I decided that pretty soon I would audition for my first gig and went on from there. I think I didn't let it faze me because I knew that I would get a lot of people telling me, yeah, you've got no talent, you can't sing. You just know it's gonna happen.
Not everyone's gonna like you. I don't like everyone that I hear. I don't care how successful they are.”
Sheena who also has worn a variety of sparkling and revealing stage outfits in her time also admits that not everyone was appreciative of her style. 
Now a self confessed ‘Fao girl’ who is not a dresser upper,l and no binder gets fancy. she recalls the Royal verity performance  “.I felt like I was a sort of dress up doll. And I think that when you step up on stage, you have to be a slightly different character anyway. And so when you dress up in all these crazy outfits and all the crazy hairstyles, it's like a little kid again. So it was fun then. It was fun for the young me, but the old tired me, I'm like, uh-uh.
“I got in trouble, though, doing that. Did you hear about that?
I got in trouble because I was wearing a sassy little outfit with long black leather gloves. And apparently, that was not the thing to wear when you were meeting the royal family. And back then, that kind of thing counted.
So I got told off by some people in the media that I wasn't appropriately dressed. So there you go.
She still has a mountain of stories form her times with Prince. Jenny Rodger’s and bring a bond Girl singing the theme for your eyes only, but says she has no interest in writing a memoir. She added: “Not at all.No, I'm private. You know, that's why I don't do social media and document every thought that I have on a daily basis. No, no, I really, really value my privacy.”

SCOTS AUTHOR SOPHIE GRAVIA GETS TV DEAL

Scottish author Sophie Gravia has revealed she is about to have her first book A Glasgow Kiss made into a major TV series. 
Single mum of two Sophie,32, who is a renal failure nurse, turned her raunchy blog into a self published novel over lockdown and secured a four book deal with major publisher Orion Books.
She became an instant bestseller with latest Hot Girl Summer currently at number one in the Amazon book charts. 
Labelled Scotlands sexiest author, she has now sold in excess of 500,000 copies, with her last book Meet Me In Milan even outselling Harry Potter in Waterstones Glasgow stores. 
Speaking at an author event for 250 women in Glasgow’s Wunderbar she has now revealed: “A Glasgow Kiss has been optioned by BBC Studios. We’ve signed a contract  and I’m buzzing it’s now been optioned by the BBC. It’s still early days but I feel like this is made for the screen and can’t wait to see what happens next.”
Sophie continued: “When you write a book I suppose the goal is to see it on screen and it’s always been in the back of my mind how amazing it would be.
It’s too early to talk cast but Sophie is really excited.  She joked: “If I had someone like Michelle Keegan or Matthew McConaughey we’d obviously we’d need a sizeable budget. Finding the right people to play my characters will be a fun process.”
Sophie, born Sophie Grant, who has also penned What Happens in Dubai, is mother to Olivia, 14, and Grace, 12, - and their names make up her pen name Sophie Gravia.
Hot Girl Summer sees Sophie’s characters go to a school reunion where they realise their lives are not quite on track.
As a result they do their utmost  to ensure they have a Hot Girl Summer.
Sophie’s own life has changed dramatically since she lived in an ex council house, living on tick and constantly tapping her dad to get through the week.
She said: “The success of my three books so far has been incredible. It’s changed my life and my children’s lives. They love it because I’ve cut down my nursing shifts to two days a week now and we get to spend more time together and I don’t have to constantly worry to save up and take them to nice places and we can enjoy life together comfortably.”

TRAVIS STAR FRAN HEALY TURNED THE AIR BLUE

TRNSMT surprise act Fran Healy said he swore more on his new single than he’s ever done before - so much so that his bandmates were shocked. 
“We just gave birth to a baby album. Our tenth child just came out LA Times.
LA times is the last song on our album and it’s got more swearing in thirty seconds than any song that’s ever been written has. I didn’t meant to swear. I remember saying to Andy and the guys and Andy wrote back after hearing it  ‘This is quite a lot of swearing Fran.’ 
It just came out. I was getting frustrated. It brought out the Possil in me.
Fran who spends most of the time in LA these days after relocating there from Berlin and originally Glasgow said he is homesick: 
“I miss us. We all talk to one another. When you’re away, I didn’t miss home as much when I was in Berlin, and they speak German there, another language, but in LA, it’s like no one talks to anybody.
And here, you are standing for two minutes anywhere and you’ll strike up a chat with someone.”
Of their appearance at TRNSMT yesterday playing under their original name of Glass Onion he added: “We weren’t playing the festival this year but we thought we’d gatecrash it. We climbed over the droopy by the side of the thing with the neds and we got in and we got chased by a guy with a visibility thing. 
We managed to get onstage just before he got to us. We played a set and we loved it. 
In 1988 we all came here for the Big Day 
It was here and I was always thinking when it was  in the park why didn’t they have f in the park here. Why was it in Strathclyde park. Glasgow were like no we’re not doing it again.
This is the spiritual home of the festival. The big day was the first ever festival in Scotland ever.”

CAROL VORDERMAN COMES TO EDINBURGH FOR TV FEST

By K Monroe 

BROADCASTER, writer and campaigner, Carol Vorderman MBE, is heading to Scotland to talk about her life in telly and her views on where it is going. 

Carol will be the Alternative MacTaggart speaker at the 2024 Edinburgh TV Festival supported by Screen Scotland, and will speak to a room full of TV delegates at the annual fest.

Carol, who the showbizlion.com has met on various occasions, is one of the UK’s most popular and successful presenters and, more recently, political commentator and campaigner. With a passion for everything mathematical and a skill with numbers, Vorderman made a name for herself when she started her TV career in 1982 as the maths genius on Countdown, working with the late Richard Whitely for 22 years and then with Des Lynam and Des O’Connor until she left in 2008. 

Awarded an MBE in 2000 for her services to broadcasting and having appeared on and presented a raft of the nation’s favourite TV shows, Vorderman currently hosts a weekly radio show on LBC, a daily quiz podcast ‘Perfect 10’, the Pride of Britain Awards and is now also known for her political activism.  

Vorderman grew up in a single parent family in poverty in North Wales with her sister, brother and her beloved mum. As a free school meals child in a comprehensive, she became the first from North Wales to go to the University of Cambridge when she was just 17 years old. Now with an extensive broadcasting career under her belt, Vorderman has become a significant voice in the political landscape with a passionate determination to hold those in power to account. September this year will see the publication of her new book, ‘Now What? On a Mission to Fix Broken Britain’.  

For the Alternative MacTaggart, Vorderman will bring her extensive experience in TV and frontline of social media campaigning to her address at this year’s Festival. She will then be interviewed in more detail to discuss the themes of her speech.   

On giving the Alternative MacTaggart, Vorderman said:  

”I feel honoured to have been asked to be this year’s Alternative MacTaggart speaker.  As our industry transitions, there is much to discuss. 42 years on the box, hosting shows for all channels, it’s been an interesting life! I choose to live a life outside of the media thrall of London and I live without apology. Beware the post-menopausal woman who doesn’t give a damn! I’ll see you in Edinburgh.” 

The TV Festival Creative Director, Rowan Woods and Advisory Chair, Harj Chhokar, commented:  

“This year’s Alternative MacTaggart will be delivered by a true TV legend. Since making her debut on Countdown, the first ever programme on Channel 4, Carol Vorderman MBE has been part of the DNA of the UK television industry and a mainstay of our screens. She is also a funny, fearless and ferocious commentator on everything from politics to social mobility, sexism and education. We know her Alternative MacTaggart is going to be one of the must-see events of this year’s festival.” 

Other speakers already confirmed for the Festival include multi-platinum music artist and tech entrepreneur will.i.am, multi-award-winning producer, Warren Littlefield,BAFTA winning writer Sarah Phelps, celebrated actors Julie Hesmondhalghand Rakhee Thakrar and The Grand Tourand Clarkson’s Farm executive producer, Andy Wilman, as well as renowned playwright and dramatist James Grahamwho will be giving the prestigious MacTaggart lecture. 

The hugely popular Spotlight On… sessions return with the decision makers from across the mainstream, digital and streamer broadcasters revealing what’s hot and what’s not on their content strategy for the year ahead. 

Further sessions will be announced soon.Passes on sale now. 

SCOTS BOYBAND JUST THE BRAVE GET SEAL OF APPROVAL FROM TOP POP STARS

Scots boyband Just The Brave’s debut single has been given the seal of approval by songwriters Naughty Boy, Nina Nesbitt, MNEK, Eg White, Cathy Dennis and more after reaching the top ten so far in a global Song Academy Young Songwriter songwriting competition. 

It’s a dream come true for 15-18 year olds Seany, Kaiden, Arin, Danny, and Fin from Glasgow and Edinburgh who began making music last year. 

As a band the lads have battled various issues from Tourette’s and Autism to ADHD, and Bullying. 

They have been going around schools in Scotland talking about mental health, bullying, self esteem and more and have already played live gigs in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, St Luke’s, Dundee’s Caird Hall, and London’s 02 Academy, as well as appearing on CBBC. 

The boys, who got chatting and banded together after seeing one another sing online and in the flesh across various platforms, are set for big things this summer with festival announcements and gigs including Pride events across Scotland in their diaries. 

Their new single Summer Feelings, which they wrote following a school visit earlier in the year, was a bid to bring  something positive to their fans and listeners. 

Fin said: “There is nothing better than looking up at a clear blue sky and being full of hope for the summer.

Danny added: “It can really help you to feel so positive, and in Scotland where it rains a lot it’s awesome for everyone to celebrate the Summer.”

Kaiden said: “Our debut song Summer Feelings is a catchy feel good layered summer pop anthem with Kygo inspired EDM instrumentals.”

  The lads have already amassed a mass of followers on TikTok and Instagram and have been picked up for promo by companies including Stagecoach, and Toxic Waste. 

Their ‘celebrity‘ followers online including Helen Flanagan, Neil Jones, Forest Blakk, Emeli Sande, Emily Shak, and Nicola Sturgeon!

Seany said: “We have achieved a lot on a budget - our video was shot at Scotland’s scenic Ayr Beach, doubling for Ibiza.”

Arin laughed: “We even got stung by a jellyfish making it.

Summer Feelings by Just The Brave is released across all platforms on July 5 with presave available now

Pre save now on https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/justthebrave/summer-feelings-2 

THE TRAITORS, MR BATES VS THE POST OFFICE AND MORE AT EDINBURGH TV FEST

By K Monroe 

THE Traitors, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and Late Night Lovett are just some of the shows up for an award at Screen Scotland’s The Edinburgh TV Festival (ETF), the UK’s leading television industry event. 

The annual event in August which brings a host of big names from behind the scenes and front of camera to Edinburgh has announced the shortlist for its prestigious TV Awards, which are supported by Cast & Crew.  

Despite an unbelievably challenging year for many, the television industry has proven to be an impactful force for good for both viewers and society at large, setting the news agenda with the likes of Mr Bates vs The Post Office, creating water-cooler moments with entertainment series like The Traitors, and providing escapism and laughs with programmes like Late Night Lycett. The TV Awards list of nominees reflects the creativity, innovation, passion and resilience of this community, with the UK’s traditional broadcasters dominating the shortlist.  

Double BAFTA Award winning British television personality, chef and musician Zuhair Hassan, otherwise known as Big Zuu, will take the helm as 2024 Jury President, overseeing the voting via juries made up of industry names. Since Big Zuu’s Big Eats launched on UKTV in 2020, he has become a household name and has gone on to host Big Zuu’s Breakfast Show on ITV and Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes in 12 Hours on ITV. Most recently Zuu fronted BBC Two documentary Big Zuu Goes to Mecca, he has also acted in UKTV’s Sneakerhead, hosted the 1Xtra Residency, released a cookbook and launched his own podcast, Feast is Feast. Zuu is a co-founder of Big Productions, an entertainment label specialising in factual and music content with the goal of nurturing and developing diverse talent in the industry.  

Big Zuu said: “It is an honour to be asked to chair the Jury for this year’s TV Awards. Between the pandemic, the strikes and the recession, it has been a really challenging couple of years for our industry. The talent on display in this shortlist is a timely reminder of how valuable our sector is, so I am really excited to be a part of this year’s process.” 

The shortlist for this year’s Awards is packed full of the best acting and producing talent in the television industry from across the UK and internationally. With a broad range of broadcasters and streamers nominated, the BBC leads the shortlist with 23 nominations across the broadcaster and individual talent categories. Channel 4amassed 19 nominations and ITV 10, with global streamers Apple TV+ and Disney+ securing 6 nominations each.

The Edinburgh TV Awards will be held at the EICC on Thursday 22nd August