seX Factor

Sounds like 'X Factor' is going to be all about sex and scandal rather than singing and talent this year as numerous papers reveal the sex scandals of the talent search.

The Daily Mail and The Mirror have both reported sex romps at Judge Tulisa's  Greek Villa during the "judges houses" stages shot in the last few weeks. The 23-year-old X Factor judge took eight groups to the Greek Island of Mykonos, but enforced a strict policy of no drinking or romping.

But after just two days, "The Sex Factor" broke loose and Tulisa was informed that six of the singers had been caught locked in passion.

Producers found out that two of the girls from one band had slept with two of the boys from another band, while two others from a mixed group had also took part in a sex act.

The N-Dubz mentor was apparently furious over the discovery and said: ‘If they’re just mucking about, just for fun to have a sex when they should be rehearsing then I’m not into that at all.’

Tulisa continued: ‘My villa was purposely higher up so I could see their villa at night-time. 

'I could see who was awake and who wasn’t and I was also listening to see who was rehearsing and who was not’, the tabloid reported.

The judge had made her rules clear from the beginning, as soon as the bands landed on the Greek Island, but didn't seem to be taken seriously.

Despite Tulisa having a party girl reputation during her early days with N-Dubz, she says that she would never go out before a gig and thinks the X Factor contestants should follow the same discipline. The judge has reportedly kicked out contestants for breaking her rules- dont mess with hard candy Tulisa!

 It seems the new breed of X Factor judges are all laying the rules down as Kelly bans booze, sex, smoking and even talking loudly.

Speaking to The Sun, Kelly Rowland revealed she won't be standing for any diva antics (good luck with that one, Kel) and insists hard partying is strictly off limits. Kelly is determined that nothing will ruin her chances of winning, which means her X Factor girls won't be getting up to any of the groups kind of naughtiness.

But are all these rules a mere rouse to boost ratings? Some media sources are reporting a set-up where partying is encouraged by mogul, Si Cowell. Off-stage won't necessarily mean off-camera, as Simon Cowell has apparently decided to get cameras installed in the finalists' bedrooms at the 'X Factor' mansion!

A source said: "Producers want scandal, sex and break-ups" to "boost ratings".

The free alcohol plan is already reportedly in action, with champagne and cocktails flowing at the hotel where the 250 contestants checked in for bootcamp.

There you have it, gone are the days of talent search, this years all about sex, scandal and spirits. This is one journo saying just change the name to sex factor, because ultimately that is all the talentless, unethical and bias "talent search" has left.

-ZB 

Fashion Forward.

The fashion pack headed en masse to the tent this morning for the opening show of London Fashion Week, where the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and the chairman of the British Fashion Council, Harold Tillman CBE,  officially opened LFW's spring/summer 2012 shows. Johnson also revealed the British Fashion Council's plans for Fashion 2012 - Britain's fashion showcase during the year of the London Olympics.
British athletes, who were dressed to the nines in clothes by British designers, helped open the renowned London Fashion Week, showcasing the spring-summer 2012 collections. Amy Williams, skeleton medallist, said she was delighted to swap her tracksuit for a designer outfit for the day. She said: "It is amazing to have all these British designers and British athletes here trying to kick it off for London 2012. "I do love fashion. As an athlete you live in your tracksuits, and it is lovely to put on British designers. I am wearing Holly Fulton."

Heather Fell, modern pentathlete, who donned a brightly coloured Matthew Williamson dress, added: "It is great that British fashion is getting involved with London 2012. The connection between 2012 and fashion is very cool and it is another great sphere to the Olympics."


But to some designers who kicked off the fashion fest.

Ann-Sofie Back gave us sharp silhouettes in a largely monochrome colour palette this afternoon - although peppered with the odd pink look to give the collection a summer feel.

Sass & Bide placed spots into the limelight, teaming maxi skirts with silver, sleeveless tops for a real pop in bright colours and monochrome palettes. 

Emilia Wickstead brought a touch of her signature high society femininity to LFW this morning, with more of the season's emerging colour trend - sherbet pastels - taking to the catwalk interspersed with nostalgic Parisian prints.

And there’s a heart-warming story behind Bora Aksu’s spring/summer 2012 show that enables him to tell a tale through his collection. Inspired by four postcards found in Geneva, he creates the story of Rose and Charles – two French lovers in 1905 – and the course of their love through the clever use of colour: creams and fleshy pinks for romance, corals and turquoise for desire, midnight blues and blacks for sorrow. Curved lines in dresses reflect Rose’s Edwardian handwriting, while sweeping curves, larger by the dress, reference cinched waists of the decade. Decadent pleats, hand-sculpted leather roses, lace, crushed glass beading and draping appear adorned on delicate silk gazette dresses, and other, more extravagant versions – some full-circle-ruffle-skirted, others fishtail. For Bora Asku separates are key for spring, with silk blouses, tailored trousers and short summer jackets proving as wearable as they are layerable in silks, cottons and tulle.

Heres to hoping there'll be even more inspiring looks for the rest of this week.

-ZB

The Anti-Social reveal of the Social Network.

For those of you who live your lives under a rock, social networking is really what makes the world go round these days. The emo Myspace, the chavvy Bebo, the infamous Facebook; it is the ultimate way of contacting anyone from your friend across the world to your flat mate in the next room. A way of sharing photos from your latest drunken debacles to private messaging, group sharing, event organising- you know exactly who these people are, what they look like, where they are, who their with- everything. As Mark Zuckerberg says in the recent "Social Network" movie: "people want to go online and check out their friends, so why not build a website that offers that? Friends, pictures, profiles, whatever you can visit, browse around, maybe it's someone you just met at a party. I'm not talking about a dating site, I'm talking about taking the entire social experience of college and putting it online." And that readers is definitely what weve got, a social experience that lets us live our lives online, behind our computer screens, where anything can happen. Weve lived our lives in farms, and then cities, and now online- but for some that luxury life online is a way of hidding from the world, becoming capable of anything.

A Berkshire man has been jailed for posting abusive messages online about a schoolgirl after she committed suicide. Sean Duffy, 25, of Reading, was handed an 18-week sentence this week for posts on social networking sites about Worcestershire teenager Natasha MacBryde, among others. The internet troll posted videos of defaced teenagers post their deaths and messages mocking the  teenagers and their families. Among his victims was Natasha MacBryde, 15, who died instantly when hit by a passenger train near her home in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. The day after Natasha's death in February, Duffy posted comments including "I fell asleep on the track lolz" on the Facebook tribute page created by her brother James and a further four days later he created a YouTube video called "Tasha the Tank Engine" featuring her face superimposed on to the front of the fictional childhood engine.

Duffy, didn't know any of his victims but pleaded guilty to two counts of sending malicious communications relating to Natasha and was found guilty on 3 other counts of "trolling". These included Lauren Drew, 14, of Gloucestershire, who was found dead after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure, Hayley Bates, 16, of Staffordshire, who died in a car crash, and Jordan Cooper, 14, who was stabbed to death in Northumberland.

On Mother's Day Sean Duffy posted a message on an online memorial page to Lauren reading: "Help me mummy, it's hot in hell". Duffy also produced an image of Hayley with crosses on her eyes and red marks on her face and wrote explicit messages to Hayley's sister Heather.The family of stabbing victim Jordan had also seen abusive messages directed at the youngster on an online memorial and a YouTube video defacing an image of the teenager. Magistrates saw fit to give Duffy an Asbo, banning him from using social networking sites for five years.

Is this finally a sign that our beloved Social Networking has gone a stretch too far? Albeit malicious communication through social networking is a new phenomenon but unfortunately it shows how such  technology can be abused. Will offenders stay hidden behind their computer screens under the guise of  'User 1' or will the likes of Facebook clamp down on trolls of cyber bullying.

-ZB

Bridge is back!

Everyone's favourite spinster will be returning to the silver screens press have released. With diary in hand, pounds piled on and surrounded by the star studded cast Renee will to return as fun-loving, thirty-something bumbling Bridget in 'Bridget Jones' Diary 3'. 


According to Entertainment Weekly, Working Title Films " who made ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ in 2004 and sequel ‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’ in 2004" have agreed to make a third instalment after spending two years considering the project. Renee Zellweger will reprise her role as the hapless 'Bridget Jones' for a third instalment of the romantic-comedy that captured the nation.

Rumors began circulating in 2009 that Zellweger would return to her role as chubby-brit, Bridget,  this time as a woman in her 40s who’s trying to conceive with ultimate man, Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth in the first two films. That pregnancy arc would make sense, since that’s the idea behind author Helen Fielding’s upcoming third Diary novel, although exact details about her newest work of fiction have not been fully revealed at this time and the storyline of the film and book remain hazy, with the two possibly ending up being completely different texts.

But, in May, Fielding told Hollywood Crush that she would be penning the script for the third movie once the book was completed.

Speaking about the project Fielding said:

“It’s hard to pull these things together…There are so many people involved. I think they are sort of moving towards it now. It’s definitely taking shape, and it would be so much fun if they all came back and did it. You know, Colin has won an Oscar now. No pressure or anything.”  

Further details of the new movie are yet to be released, but it is understood that despite his Oscar success, Colin Firth will return to play the lovable Mark Darcy. He recently revealed plot details from the third script to Access Hollywood, look away if you don't like spoilers readers! he said:

 "I can tell you that Bridget and Mark can't have children, I think that's the way it goes on.So then she makes the huge mistake of going back to Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) for long enough to get pregnant. And I think he dumps her, and she's left stranded, and guess who comes back to rescue her?".

 The original movie, based on Helen Fielding's best-selling novel, took a reported $281 million at the box-office. The second film was savaged by critics, but still took an estimated $262 million worldwide. Fans of the film loved American Renee's take on brit-chick Bridge and Colin Firth and Hugh Grants on-screen man-offs to win the affections of the protagonist. With Zelwegger and Firth set to take the roles for the third, and dare I say final time, it just leaves Grant to confirm his role. If all the main characters don’t return the movie will be decidedly something different than what we have witnessed during the first two book adaptations, but maybe given the time between movies maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to witness a new cast? 

But with open arms and bated breath I wait for the newest instalment of Bridget Jones, Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleavers love triangle to unfold on the big screen. Bring on the chubby funsters penned parody of every Brits life.


-ZB

Jewellery Trends to Tie you into Autumn

CLUB TROPICANA.

Calling all Carmen Miranda fans! Jewellery has never looked so fruity with bug jewels and exotic flowers adorning animal prints and fiesta stripes in a lusty mix of bold golds, club tropicana and zesty orange. Snake charm with serpent cuffs and throw on fruit embellished accessories to complete this look.  Try River Islands Orange Fabric Wrapped Bangles, £12.99, or fruit jewelled gold chain necklace from Mango, £29.90.

OPTICAL ILLUSION.

Fantastic plastic takes the limelight this season in Monochrome tones, bold block colours and neon flashes. Black and white stripes and the colour block sensation team in chunky bangles and funky neon brights. Try ASOS's oversized triangle stud earrings with bright flashes for £8 or Miso's white Enamel Bangle from Republic, £6.99.

WHITEWASH.

Summer’s whites carry on through to the Autumn in stacked jewels and shiny white metals. Minimalism is the name of the game so try white cuffs and statement whitewash earrings. I love feathery treat for the ears Pearl and Asher's white feather and bead drop earrings, £9.50 or try this White Metal Lace Buff Bracelet from River Island, £12.99.

WIND YOUR NECK IN

Necks will have the familiar pressure of the old favourite, the choker, this Autumn. Short and wide necks should embrace Donna Karen styled pearly threads or single metal strands. Long necked beauties can embrace chunky chokers adorned with gems and one tone encrustation. Wear your chokers and collars over fur for a clever play on texture and forties chic or combine with your LBD for an instant upgrade. Try out Topshop's Enamel Section Collar Necklace in rust hues at £25 or M & S's Pearly Multi-Faceted Bead Collar necklace, £12.

70S SASS.

Get Saturday Night Fever with 70s jewel tones and oversize corsages. Incorporate brassy bronze into your metallic blends and sizzle in statement hoops and layered neckwear. Think semi precious stone and go for something like this statement blue Treasure Ring, £3.99, from New Look.

-ZB

Fans are going potty for Pottermore.

Harry Potter fans, hold onto your broomsticks, the Pottermore website has set off for flight and the new e-book has landed. So prepare yourself for the next phase in the Potter phenomenon. Step aside kindle for one spell-bounding site that’s set to be the ultimate interactive book experience and ecommerce store, Pottermore.com.

Fans have been flocking to the mysterious site since Sunday,  31st July, for more of the wizard boy that this summers cinemas say Goodbye too. The series may have ended but the ‘boy who lived’ carries on in the virtual sphere. Crucially, Pottermore.com will be used to sell e-book versions of the seven fantasy novels through a property platform (though- not quite 9 and three quaters) but in a bold move J. K. Rowling has written extensive material which will be revealed in the interactive experience Pottermore.com offers its users. Fans range from 8 to 80 and now Rowling seeks a digital generation. The unique online reading experience is set to put a spell on its users as fans will be allowed to share and participate in stories, read new material and showcase their own potter productions. 

On your very first visit to the interactive portal Rowling warmly greets you in a video to fans. Dressed in green wellies the author talks about giving back to her loyal readers and explains the eagerly anticipated project: “Pottermore is a unique online reading experience built around the Harry Potter books. You will be able to share and participate in the stories, showcase your own Potter-related creativity, and discover additional information about the world of Harry Potter. It’s called Pottermore. It’s the same story with a few crucial additions. The most important one is you” 
Rowling explains how registration for exclusive access to the Pottermore site will be set underway this week in a seven day quest. The week for registration began Sunday 31st July and fans in a Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory-esque style try daily to get through to the Pottermore site. Fans are challenged with one clue a day corresponding with the 7 books for the 7 day registration. The '7 Books, 7 Days, 7 Chances'  will run until Saturday the 6th of August. Each day the Pottermore homepage releases a Magical Quill clue. Each clue will relate to a different book in the Harry Potter series.

Day one's clue was based around the first book – 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' the site asked “How many Owls are on the Eeylops Owl Emporium sign? Multiply by 49” the site was taken by storm by hopeful wizarding fans and it took 2 hours before registration closed for the day. After guessing the clue correctly fans were directed to day ones challenge where fans had to show an air of Harry about them in a challenge that harkened back to the first book- but, instead of choosing a key to find your way to Professor Quirell users were asked to choose the magical quill floating amongst others to gain access to Pottermore’s privilege’s.  
Day two’s clue for the magical quill was taken from Rowlings second book in the series - ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ it stated “What is the number of the chapter in which Professor Mcgonagall cancels the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff? Multiply  this number by 42.” For those who were lucky enough (and quick enough, given the registration closed after 1.5hours) the challenge was to find the magical quill which had been hidden in a sea of Deathly Hallows-Part 2 images. 


On day three the book to be at hand was “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and the website clue read “In the Gryffindor versus Slytherin quidditch match in Harrys third year, how many points is Gryffindor leading by before Harry catches the golden snitch? Multiply this by 35.” Then in true “wingardium Leviosa” style the third day challenge was to levitate the quill out of an ad space using your magical mouse. 

Wednesdays clue appeared at 3pm and potter fans puzzled over the question: “How many students take part in the triwizard tournament during Harry’s fourth year? Multiply this number by 28.”Upon solving the clue on the inundated site, Pttermore.com, The Magical Quill challenge crashed and instead users were sent directly to the Pottermore early access registration page, to begin their magical account.


On Day 5, Pottermore released the fifth clue at 6pm: "What is the house number of the Headquarters for The Order of the Phoenix in Grimmauld Place? Multiply this number by 21." Users were redirected to Scholastic's Harry Potter page, where they had to capture the quill in an ad space. Registration on the fifth day closed 56 minutes after the post

Today Pottermore fans who got to the site at 2pm read the clue "How many chapters are there in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Multiply this number by 14." The number of chapters was 30, making the answer 420, those who answered correctly were redirected to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's official page, where users had to click on the quill in a magical map.

With 1 day left of pottermania flooding the virtual waves it seems everyone on Twitter wants the coveted “golden ticket” into Pottermore.com.  

Olivia Grimshaw: is it weird that i feel like i've got my letter from hogwarts because i got my email from pottermore saying i'm one of the lucky few.


TheWatsonator Legilimens:
I'm so happy for my Twitter friends who got in Pottermore today. We’re all magical now, yay! See you at Hogwarts! <3

Roonil Wazlib: 
I feel like my Pottermore username is my ID card.

worldlovesHP: 
No. I am not willing to wake up at 7:00am for school. Yes. I am willing to wake up at 6:30am for Pottermore.

And its not just Twitter users after the coveted VIP spots at Pottermore.com actors of the Harry Potter movies are casting their eyes on the webpage too.  Celebrity gossip tells me Tom Felton and Evannah Lynch, who play Draco and Luna, respectively, have both got Pottermore accounts. 
By clicking on anything from an animated sock users will be able to unveil new Rowling writing and the book meets the game as users will be given keys and wizard currency while they read about Gringotts bank and each budding witch and wizard will be issued their own wand along the journey. The sorting hat will appear to ask the user questions and to assign them to one of the four houses; Hufflepuff, Grffyndor, Slytherin or Ravenclaw. Doing everything from mixing potions to challenging duels and interacting with characters, pottermore guests will grow and progress interactively with the books that have bewitched the world. 

But fear not fans, if your more of an Eril than an early bird - public will be given access to the site in early October, but if you just can’t wait- poise your broomsticks Potter fans for tomorrows final challenge set to appear between Midnight and 3am at Pottermore.com.


-ZB