News Snippetts

[cynthiaagain]

Here's an article from "Salford Advertiser" 7 December 2006

Why Monton’s at the heart of A-list style

IT might be a far cry from Alderley Edge but a Salford boutique is pulling in A-list celebrities from far afield.

Wayne Rooney’s fiancee Coleen McLoughlin, Liverpool FC footballer Harry Kewell’s wife Sheree Murphy and Coronation Street and Hollyoaks babes have all paid visits to Monton’s Fabric store.

Owner Leigh James-Dyson has become quite accustomed to mingling with the stars and was recently asked to style Girls Aloud for a special Most Haunted programme they were filming with Yvette Fielding.

AdvertisementBefore opening Fabric six years ago, Leigh worked as a stylist on pop videos and movies and has lived in Athens, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and Italy.

With her parents Thomas and Elaine Greeley back in her childhood home in Kensington Drive, Weaste, the former St Patrick’s RC High student, finally decided to settle back in Salford and open up her own boutique.

The Monton Road store has since become a roaring success and is making a name for itself among the fashion world’s biggest followers.

Customers have included Coronation Street actresses Tina O’Brien and Samia Smith, Hollyoaks stars Gemma Atkinson and Kelly Greenwood, Casualty’s Angela Lonsdale and Trisha Penrose from Heartbeat.

Leigh, of Dales Brow, Swinton, said: "Coleen came in before going away for the World Cup. She came in very discreetly. It was about 5pm and she parked her Range Rover around the corner.

"She bought quite a few bits and spent quite a lot but it wasn’t as much as Wayne earns in a week. She’s got good manners and didn’t ask for discount. She was so sweet."

Having famous people in the shop has proved quite an attraction to some customers.

The 41-year-old and her colleague Phillipa Pearson styled Girls Aloud and Yvette Fielding for a show that will be aired on ITV2 on December 12. That encounter created problems of its own.

Leigh said: "It wasn’t easy. The one with the red hair was the most awkward. She was saying ‘I’m not doing this, not doing that’. She was happy with the clothes but was just letting us know that she was a star."

One person who’s had to get used to her career path is husband Allan, 45, who owns Saxon Building Contractors.

Leigh said: "I have to go to lots of show abroad in places like Italy and I drag my husband along to those. He’s a builder so it’s all a bit strange for him but I think he’s getting used to it now."

Emma Fitzgerald

First published by the Salford Advertiser

[Flick]

That's fascinating. Now i know where Tricia likes to shop!!!

[cynthiaagain]

And a bit on Geoffrey Hughes' new film "Expresso":

From Bromsgove Advertiser:

Film return is the height of wisdom
By Dan Harrison

COMEDY legend Sir Norman Wisdom made his on-screen return to stardom in a short film shot near Bromsgrove.

Sir Norman, who is now aged 91, came out of retirement to appear in the ten-minute short film Expresso, which was filmed at Waseley Hills Country Park.

The movie tells the story of a day in a cafe, with Sir Norman taking up the role of a vicar who is attacked by a fly.

It was filmed in four days in the cafeteria at the popular countryside location near Rubery. The film also featured Geoffrey Hughes, from Heartbeat and the Royle Family, Don Warrington, from Rising Damp, Hong Kong film star Richard Ng and comedian Don Maclean.

When asked by the Advertiser/Messenger how it felt to be back on a film set, the eccentric Sir Norman replied: "How do I feel?

"With me hands, that's how I feel."

The funnyman, famous for films such as A Stitch In Time and The Square Peg, was also asked to tell a joke for our readers.

"I was walking down the street...and I missed the bloody bus," he said.

Expresso is a joint venture written and produced by Birmingham actor Martin Nigel Davey and directed by Halesowen-based Kevin Powis from The Last Independent Film Company.

It has also received the backing of the UK Film Council and Screen West Midlands.

Martin Nigel Davey said he knew the role of the vicar would be ideal for Sir Norman.

"I asked him to play an elderly vicar as I knew this part would suit Norman's comic timing," he said.

"Also Lucy Mans, the actress and daughter of Norman's manager Johnny Mans, will be appearing in the film.

"To add an international theme we have also landed some actors who are well known in their own country.

"We are delighted that everyone is supporting this film, not only all the actors but many Midlands firms have helped.

"It will be a long week, but good fun."

For the latest information on the film visit www.expressofilm.com.

5:00pm Tuesday 16th January 2007

[Angharad]

Sounds like an interesting film. I'm suprised it only took four days to film.

[cynthiaagain]

Well, it is only a 10-minute short and from the description, there's only one set.

[Angharad]

Ah well, that makes sense then. Thanks.

[Angharad]

There's a tiny bit in TV Quick, and it says that Charlie Brooks (Jeanne in Eastenders), is going to play a lead role in Heartbeat. Apparently, she's a big Heartbeat fan and turned down an offer of returning to Eastenders in favour of Heartbeat. I don't know, but to me that sounds like she's going to in it for along time, not just a one off.

[Flick]

She turned down EASTENDERS for HEARTBEAT!!!!!!!! See - we're on the map!! Go Charlie!

[cynthiaagain]

:)Duncan Bell has a role in an upcoming (2007) episode of "Foyle's War". MMMMMMmmmm!! I hope he's in uniform again.

[Flick]

Oooohhhhh!!!! Me too!! I'll look forward to that. Thanks for the information.

[cynthiaagain]

Apparently, the producers of Heartbeat wanted Nick Berry to do a one-time return to the show for Phil Bellamy's last episode, but he declined.

Here's the story from "The Press Association" 21 October 2007:

Nick too busy for Heartbeat return
2 days ago

Nick Berry proved there was life after EastEnders when he helped make Heartbeat a TV favourite in the 1990s.

However, he recently claimed he's too busy with personal projects to make a one-off appearance in the new series.

"We tried to persuade Nick to return for Bellamy's exit, but he declined," an insider told The Sun.

The duo became two of the show's most popular characters when Heartbeat launched in 1992.

Berry left the series six years later to star in the series Harbour Lights.

[Angharad]

Thanks Cynthia.
It's going to be a sad few episodes.

[Flick]

Thanks. It would have been nice to see him return, but if he doesn't want to, then i'm happy to respect that.