The Diary

TONIGHT, reality show singing star Abi Finley will get to perform before musical impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber once again – but this time there’s no need to worry about viewer votes and live sing-offs.
For Abi, a finalist in hit BBC show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, makes her professional theatre debut in London, with Lord Webber among the esteemed guests to watch her sing.
Abi, 24, from Prestwich, plays feisty Fiona in the revival of Lord Webber’s sometime co-writer Sir Tim Rice’s historical musical, Blondel, at the Pleasance Theatre, Islington.
And she tells me she’s looking forward to catching up with maestro Webber at the after-party.
Abi says: “Andrew was the one who had faith in me and gave me this opportunity in the first place.
“I feel like I never want to let him down. But my main mission is still to get Andrew to cast me in Funny Girl.
“I’m going to have to make him laugh continually, until he says, ‘Oh, you funny girl’, and realises he has to cast me.
“I might even go in full-on Barbara Streisand garb just to prove the point.”
Abi lost out on the role of Maria Von Trapp in Webber’s West End Sound Of Music to Connie Fisher, but gamely admits that the best woman won, after watching Connie as the singing trainee nun last week.
Abi said: “It was absolutely fantastic.
“I cried my eyes out, but then I am pretty soppy. I got so emotional as soon as I saw Connie on the mountain.”
But did she have the tiniest bit of envy that it wasn’t her in the habit?
“Absolutely not,” she laughs.
“The whole experience on the TV show was so wonderful that there shouldn’t be any negativity attached.
“And, if I’d won, I wouldn’t be starring in this wonderful production of Blondel, so it’s all worked out perfectly.”
Connie, of course, is having her first taste of the down side of fame after allegations about her private life have been splashed across the national newspapers.
Abi says: “I think it’s such a shame for Connie. It’s really, really mean.
“I texted her to see if she was OK, and she seemed quite down about it, but she’s such a professional, she’ll bounce back.”
Abi, meanwhile, will go straight from Blondel after Christmas into rehearsals for a new touring production of hit musical Fame.
It will bring her back to perform in Manchester – and she can’t wait.
“It will be wonderful to perform at the Opera House, and I’ll be able to pop home to Prestwich for a bit of TLC while I’m there!”’Maria’ contest girl makes stage debutLloyd Webber to be in audience at show

CELEBRITY singing show Soapstar Superstar will return for a spectacular second run in Manchester in January.
The star karaoke contest – the biggest ever live entertainment show to take place in the city – was last year won by ex-Corrie heart-throb Richard Fleeshman who beat off competition from the likes of Corrie colleague Andy Whyment and Emmerdale’s Roxanne Pallett.
Pictured here is last year’s line-up.
Now, a new raft of actors and actresses from Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Eastenders is being signed up to take part in the new series, with an announcement expected in a fortnight’s time.
The show won Best Network Entertainment Programme at the RTS awards at the weekend, and executive producer Rachel Graham told me: “I can’t name names yet, but we’re very excited about the second show, there are going to be a few surprises along the way.”
It’s set our mind puzzling as to who might be in the frame for the new series. The Diary will never cease to be amazed by the vocal talents of our Manchester soap stars – they’re always popping up at charity events and launches to belt out a show-stopping number.
I’d love to see Hollyoaks’ Carley Stenson in the running for the show – she’s got an amazing singing voice, and sings with her own girl band, Diamond, in her spare time. Her Hollyoaks co-star Chris Fountain has already showed off his vocal strength on the BBC’s Just The Two of Us – but that may mean he’s exempt from appearing on the ITV show.
Meanwhile, Corrie star, and MEN columnist, Tupele Dorgu is a fantastic singer and a real glamourpuss away from her street character Kelly Crabtree so I’m sure would do well if picked for the show.
The series will be back again for the first two weeks in January – which will be sure to brighten up the usual post-chrimbo lull in the city centre at least!!

IT was a night for Manchester’s flourishing TV industry to bask in glory at the Royal Television Society North West Awards – but it started with guests unceremoniously shivering outside.
A fire alarm at the new Hilton Hotel – the fourth such false alarm since it opened last month – meant all the celebrities, industry bigwigs and VIPs attending the glittering awards bash had to be evacuated onto wind-battered Deansgate on Saturday night.
It was so cold that foil blankets had to be handed out to keep guests warm – including the likes of Coronation Street’s Kate Ford and award presenters, ex-Corrie star Sally Lindsay and comedian Dave Spikey.

But even the most scantily-clad of guests stayed in good humour about it all. And when the awards ceremony proper started, Dave and Sally clambered on stage complete with foil blankets, quipping: “You could have told us, how long have you all been here?”
Honours were evenly split on the night between rivals ITV and BBC, with Granada Reports’ Elaine Willcox scooping the coveted Best Reporter On A Regional Programme gong, while BBC North West Tonight stalwart Gordon Burns took the Best Presenter award for the second year running.

Meanwhile Channel M, the M.E.N.’s partner station, scooped two gongs – for Achievement In Technology Or Online for its website channelm.co.uk and Best Regional Programme for Reel North – Overcoming Adversity, produced by the University of Salford.
Maxine Peake won Best Female Performance In A Comedy Or Drama for her portrayal of Myra Hindley in ITV’s Moors Murders docudrama, See No Evil – which also won the gong for Best Drama.
She was unable to attend, but sent a video message, saying: “I’m stuck in that there London working, but thank you so much, it’s a great honour to receive this award.”
Film and TV star Alun Armstrong won the Best Male Performance, for his role in ITV’s The Girls Who Came To Stay. Collecting the award, he said: “I feel like a bit of an imposter because I’m not from the north west, I’m from the north east, but I’ve been coming to Manchester for the last 40 years and I’ve always had a wonderful time, and this job was no exception.”

An emotional special tribute was paid to Granada TV legend David Plowright who died in August, aged 75.
Coronation Street’s Bradley Walsh beat off competition from his Corrie colleague Kate Ford and Hollyoaks stalwart Nick Pickard to win Best Performance In A Continuing Drama.
Audenshaw youngster Kirsty Leigh Porter won the Best Newcomer Award for her role in the BBC’s Becky’s Story, along with dubbing mixer Lindsey Green.
Meanwhile, comedian Johnny Vegas got the biggest laughs of the night when he accepted the Best Comedy Award for Ideal – and encouraged anarchy among the guests.

He said: “Don’t just laugh and clap, do something dangerous. The best thing we could do tonight is recreate the Poseidon Adventure. Let’s try to turn the hotel upside down. All of you, don’t leave without stealing something, take some cutlery. Let’s make the RTS North West awards need more funding than London next year because we’ll be paying out £15,000 in losses.”
Hotel manager Bernadette Gilligan looked on aghast, although she told me afterwards: “I was more concerned about Johnny telling people to go and dance on the stairs – I’m not sure they could take the weight!”
It was down to cartoon kings Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall to bring back some gentilityto the occasion, when they won the RTS Judges’ Award for Cosgrove Hall’s outstanding contribution to the industry.
Brian said: “I’ve had 30 odd years of having a really marvellous time and it still feels slightly surreal that they give you awards for it.”
Mark added: “I’d just like to thank you nice people for clapping us.” Bless.
HERE’S THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS:-
1. Best Regional News Programme
North West Tonight
“Gee Walker”
BBC North West
2. Best Regional Current Affairs Prog.
Morecambe Bay Cockling Programme
ITV Granada
3. Best Reporter on a Regional Programme
Elaine Willcox
Granada Reports
ITV Granada
4. Best Presenter on a Regional Programme
Gordon Burns
North West Tonight
BBC North West
5. Best Regional Programme
Overcoming Adversity
Reel North / Salford University for Channel M
6. Best Sports Programme (Network or Regional)
Rugby League Raw
Paul Doherty International/Beaumont Productions
7. Best Newcomer Award (Network or Regional)
Lindsey Green
Sumners
AND
Kirsty Leigh Porter
(Becky’s Story)
BBC News and Current Affairs
8. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Craft
49 Up
Photography/George Jesse Turner
ITV Granada
9. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technology or Online
channelm.co.uk
Channel M
10. Best Network Current Affairs Programme
Real Story: When Satan Came to Town
BBC Manchester News and Current Affairs
BBC One
11. Best Network Documentary or Series
49 Up (Parts 1 and 2)
ITV Granada
ITV1
12. Best Children’s Programmes
Little Robots – “Sporty the Hero”
Cosgrove Hall Films for
Create TV and Film Limited
BBC One
13. Best Network Factual Entertainment Programme
Manchester Passion
Classical Music TV
BBC Three
14. Best Network Entertainment Programme
Soapstar Superstar
ITV Productions
ITV1
15. Best Performance in a Continuing Drama
Bradley Walsh
Coronation Street
ITV Productions
ITV1
16. Best Comedy Programme
Ideal
BBC Comedy North and Baby Cow
BBC Three
17. Best Male Performance in a Comedy or Drama
Alun Armstrong
The Girls Who Came to Stay
ITV Productions
ITV1
18. Best Female Performance in a Comedy or Drama
Maxine PeakeSee No Evil: The Moors Murders
ITV Productions
ITV1
19. Best Drama
See No Evil: The Moors Murders
ITV Productions
ITV1
20. Judges Award
Cosgrove Hall

WHILE Comedy may very well be the new rock ‘n’ roll, it certainly doesn’t attract the same patronage for its stars from admiring groupies – at least not in Paddy McGuinness’s experience.
The Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy star bemoans the lack of female attention for a craft so, apparently, “attractive” to the opposite sex.
And while he’s known as something of a heart-throb, he tells me he’s still on the lookout for love.
He says: “Yeah, comedians are supposed to be the new rock stars – but without the women it seems. I would love to know where all these supposed groupies are. I wish someone would show me.”
He’s already been romantically linked to notorious party girl Abi Titmuss by certain gossips but laughs off the prospect with the deadpan derision only a Boltonian could muster.
“You’ve only got to be in the same room with someone and all of a sudden you are an ‘item’. That story about me and Abi Titmuss was rubbish. She came to one of my live shows with some friends and that was it.”
It’s something Paddy – whose live DVD, captured on his 120-date stand-up UK tour, is released today – could get advice on from his new best pal Robbie Williams. As The Diary revealed earlier this year, Paddy and the Robster and now bosom buddies after the ex-Take Thatter called him out of the blue and invited him to a football match.
Paddy tells me: “We speak all the time now, and I even appeared live at one of his recent European gigs playing maracas on one song.
“He’s a lovely bloke and, despite his superstar status, really is just one of the lads.
“I did have to pinch myself when I found myself lying in a dinghy in his swimming pool with a beer in my hand overlooking the most incredible view of Hollywood, though.”
Paddy is adding strings to his bow every week it now seems. Not content with his stand-up success and starring roles alongside fellow Boltonian Peter Kay, his previous DVD Max and Paddy’s The Power of Two – a spoof fitness video – became the best selling keep fit release ever.
He’s also presenting the E4 spin-off show from Channel 4’s new game show Unanimous.
But what of the future with his sparring partner Peter Kay?
“We’re both so busy at the moment that we haven’t got time to work together,” he says.
“But we will definitely do something together again – it’s just a matter of when we can fit it in.”
Paddy McGuinness Live! The Dark Side’ is out on DVD now.

THERE’S good news for fashionistas desperate to get the look of some of the best-dressed stars at this week’s National TV Awards.
For the exclusive designer behind some of the most glamorous gowns at the glittering event, including this black frock worn by Corrie’s Kym Ryder and the sensational red number worn by her co-star Tina O’Brien, tells me he is to set up shop in Alderley Edge.
Philip Armstrong has been designing couture gowns for the rich, famous and glamorous for the past 18 years in his home town of Liverpool.
But he tells me he’s now planning a move to Alderley Edge to cope with the demand from his well-heeled clients in the Cheshire and Manchesterarea.
He says: “Ninety five per cent of our clients are based in Cheshire and South Manchester so it made sense to cater to that demand and open a boutique in Alderley Edge.
“We’re planning a fabulous launch party and hope that many of our clients, who include soap stars and footballers’ wives, will be able to join us in January for the grand opening.”
Philip and his partner Tony Burke will be splitting their time between the Cheshire boutique and their established Liverpool studio. Philip says: “We’re very lucky to get to work with such nice people.”

SOAP star Gemma Atkinson has hit out at fakers on global website phenomenon myspace who are using her identity in cyberspace.
Gemma, from Bury, is the latest celebrity victim of the hugely popular website, where any internet user can set up an entry and web page.
Hollyoaks star Gemma has now rubbished the site set up in her name – and urged her fans not to be fooled by it.
She tells me: “Someone is pretending to be me on myspace and I’m pretty annoyed about it.
“I’m hoping to set up my own myspace page just to let people know that this one is a fake.
“To be honest I’d never even heard of the website until a few weeks ago, I’m not that into computers. But there are loads of people on the site who think they are talking to me, when they’re not.
“They’ve even put on there that I’m planning to have a boob job to make me an F cup, and I just want people to know that it’s not me talking, and I’ve got no plans to do any such thing.”
The fake site in Gemma’s name includes pictures of her at glitzy awards bashes, out socialising and images of her in her hugely popular role as Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks. The main entry, pretending to be her, says: “I don’t really know why I decided to join myspace I guess it’s because I have a bit more spare time on my hands than I used to.
It adds: “If anyone fancy’s a chat or wants to ask me anything then don’t be shy, Gemma xx”
The myspace site has become a worldwide web phenomenon, allowing computer users to link up and socialise with other members, who number around 40million across the world.
But some users have been setting up sites and inventing huge web entries in the names of celebrities, fooling other users in the process.
The Diary revealed earlier this year how many of Coronation Street’s most famous stars had been set up fake myspace accounts, and most recently pop star Peter Andre has had to set up his own official account after a number of fake ones were set up in his name.
Users of the site are also aware of the fakers, and many now ask for celebrities to provide a “salute” where they post a picture of themselves holding their real myspace web address in front of them to prove it is genuine.
The people who run myspace say it would be impossible to check all sites, but that any offensive sites are dealt with accordingly, and that any complaints against particular sites are investigated.

NOT content with opening his new restaurant Earle in Hale, celebrity chef Simon Rimmer is planning to become the Earl of Hale for real.
Simon, who also runs Greens – the famous Didsbury veggie eaterie – found out he could claim the title while he was negotiating the deal to open the plush new restaurant in Cheshire’s stockbroker belt.
And he’s 100 per cent serious about becoming the real Earl of Hale.
Simon, pictured here with wife Ali, tells me: “While we were buying the building and converting it to Earle my solicitor told me there was every likelihood that we could actually buy the title Earl of Hale too. I thought it was a great idea.
“So, now, I am seriously going to go for it. Imagine how good that will be. Simon Rimmer, Earl of Hale, who owns a restaurant in Hale called Earle.”
Simon made his name on the back of his Greens vegetarian restaurant in Didsbury, which opened its doors for the first time 16 years ago. But he’s no veggie himself and so Earle reflects that fact by offering meat and fish options as well as a few veggie dishes which have been transferred from Greens’ hugely successful menu.
So why Earle? Simon says: “I love Earl jeans, the My Name is Earl TV show and Earl Grey tea. The name sounded cool too and I put on ‘e’ on the end to make it look different. So when I get the Earl of Hale title it will be just perfect.”
Old and ancient titles from the aristocracy and nobility are widely available to buy through the internet and are hugely popular, especially in America.
You can buy the title of Earl from as little as £200, but some titles, especially “seated titles” which come with land attached, to the name – can cost up to £40,000.
Simon’s solicitors are checking the costs included in the purchase of the Earl of Hale title and finding out what benefits he will be entitled to as a member of the aristocracy.
One website dedicated to selling titles boasts that “with a title to your name you are guaranteed the best seats in restaurants around the world” – can’t see that being a problem for Simon though eh?