Glastonbury 2008: Friday Review

Friday - The Gossip / Fun Lovin Criminals / The Enemy / Pete Doherty

Glastonbury Pics: HERE

It was my first Glastonbury Festival and what a first night it was - the rain had fallen so setting up a tent in a tight spot was even more fun! Once we'd set up tent the sound of The Feeling blasting out from the Pyramid Stage feeding our desire for music, so off we set for a night of wet musical delight.

First up was Beth Ditto and The Gossip who wooed the crowds and even joined the throng as she left the stage to continue singing and mingling. Wearing a black hoodie, the colder evening prevented Beth from stripping off this year but still we saw a great introduction to Glastonbury 2008.

robmacca out supporting The Enemy

Nipping over to Jazz World we saw Fun Lovin Criminals churn out their hits then I left my friends and made my way to the Other Stage for the one band I'd come to see - The Enemy. Normally I'm in a safe spot filming but tonight I'd wormed my way towards the front and plonked myself about three rows from the front of the stage. With my Union Jack around my waist and my 'I Love Cov' t-shirt on, I was ready to sing my little heart out. I wasn't the only one, everyone around me was up for a anthem sing-a-long set.

The Enemy @ Glastonbury

From the moment The Enemy came on until the time they left - Tom Clarke, Liam Watts and Andy Hopkins kept the pace lively, fresh and loud with everyone joining in. Pride over took me (maybe the alcohol helped!), and my 'I love Cov' t-shirt was soon waving in the air. Despite some guy moaning behind me, I kept waving my t-shirt from time to time - after all these lads made me proud of my city so why shouldn't I express my feelings?

Crowds embrace the beardy robmacca

Final act of the night was Pete Doherty, turning up rather dazed and thinking he was playing Saturday night, he apologised for being late. This didn't stop the massive crowd that had come to the Park to listen to the ex Libertine singer put on a worthy solo set. Even past midnight and the hardcore Glastonbury faithful were listening avidly as Pete Doherty proved why he is a force to be reckoned with.

Sadly, this Glastonbury virgin could stand no more and the alcohol bore it's effects and my tent was calling me...............

The Enemy - Away From Here - Glastonbury 2008


Pete Doherty - Albion - Glastonbury 2008 (blurred - blame the alcohol)

visit: www.theenemy.eu - for the latest news on The Enemy

Happy Tree Friends: Snip Snip Hooray!

Here is a video of the Happy Tree Friends (Snip Snip Hooray) - you may have seen them on a mobile phone with their twisted humour (think of Itchy and Scratchy on The Simpsons and you get the idea). See what happens when a haircut goes wrong........

Pint Shot Riot: 'Start Digging' Video

Pint Shot Riot are a quality band from Coventry and will be releasing 'Start Digging' on July 7th, 2008. Watch the video below to get a taste of their music or check out their websites:

www.myspace.com/pintshotriot and www.pintshotriot.co.uk/

Pint Shot Riot will be performing on the main stage at Coventry's Godiva Festival on Saturday 5th July.

Pint Shot Riot - Start Digging

Funny Album Covers

Here are a selection of funny remakes from some classic album covers, where internet users added something to the original. More can be viewed at: www.b3ta.com

Blue "ParkLife"
Green Day "American Idiot"
Radiohead "The Bends"
Beatles "Please Please Me"
The Clash "London Calling"

robmacca @ Glastonbury

I'm away at the Glastonbury Festival for a few days and will be back to normal blogging when I get back. I've got a few surprise blog posts lined up so keep checking back for updates.

Kylie Back With Her Ex?

Kylie Minogue looks like she could be back with her ex Oliver Martinez, as the picture above shows. The couple were pictured together enjoying lunch at a Paris restaurant yesterday, alongside her parents Ron and Carol.

Kylie Minogue has denied rumours of a reconciliation with her former lover French actor, Olivier Martinez yet they shared plenty of smiles and hugs as Kylie took a break from her world tour. Oliver was also present recently for her Paris show and the couple maintain they have remained good friends since they split up in February 2007.

*Picture: REX

We Are Scientists: Kasbah Coventry

We Are Scientists played at the Kasbah, Coventry with Pint Shot Riot as support. Here are a couple of videos and pictures from the evening. The gig was part of the UK tour which see's the US group in Coventry, Preston, London, Leeds as well as Spain and America before returning to the UK again for the Leeds/Reading Festival later in August.

Pint Shot Riot were performing in front of the home crowd ahead of their single release on July 7th.



We Are Scientists Keith Murray gets into the Coventry crowds
We Are Scientists @ the Kasbah
Rocket from Pint Shot Riot
Pint Shot Riot @ the Kasbah

We Are Scientists - 'Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt' (Live @ Kasbah, Coventry)

Pint Shot Riot - 'Holes' (Live @ Kasbah, Coventry)

Amy Winehouse: Glastonbury And Mandela Gigs Back On

Amy Winehouse will be performing at Glastonbury and Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday bash, even though she is still in hospital allegedly suffering from the lung condition emphysema. The troubled singer has not been seen in public since being rushed to hospital last Monday.

According to press reports Winehouse is desperate not to let fans down and will be out of hospital by the weekend with medics on standby at both events just in case Amy collapses again.

Coldplay: Viva La Vida Tops Charts

Coldplay have gone straight to #1 with 'Viva La Vida' in the UK singles chart and the US singles chart, with the album also retaining it's #1 position in the UK.

In Ireland the album entered the charts on Friday at #1 and the single climbed one place higher at #3, having spent seven weeks on the charts.

Well done Coldplay on your first UK #1 single!

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs

Futurama 'The Beast with a Billion Bucks' comes out on DVD soon - watch the video clip below to preview the new movie. It is the second of four planned movies created by Matt Groening (The Simpsons) when Futurama was axed by Fox in 2003. Hopefully we'll see a return of Futurama to the small screen some time soon.

Sarah Harding and DJ Tom Crane Split Up

Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding has split up from DJ Tom Crane after he felt strains in the relationship due to her closeness to other men, according to the Mirror newspaper. The 26 year old singer was said to be "devastated" by the break-up but was "getting stronger by the day", according to friends.

Sarah Harding has been linked to her backing dancer Jackson Williams, with whom she was pictured two weeks ago on a jet ski in the Mediterranean but has maintained they are just friends.

The famous DJ had been finding the relationship hard during the recent Girls Aloud tour as the couple had to spend long periods apart. Both Tom and Sarah are hoping to remain friends, even though the relationship is now over.

David Beckham: Armani Pictures

Here are the pictures of David Beckham that caused a sensation in America with thousands of girls turning out at Macy's store in San Francisco as the footballer modelled the latest Armani underwear range.

David Beckham's Armani underwear pictures

The campaign is part of Beckham's three-year deal with Armani worth an estimated £10million with the UK getting billboards very soon.

Kate Moss Naked Dress In Turkey

Kate Moss 'naked' dress in Istanbul

Kate Moss caused a storm in Istanbul, Turkey as she stepped out wearing a see through dress - revealing she had no bra and virtually no knickers on. Kate Moss arrived for the opening of an exhibition of photographs by late fashion photographer Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, but all eyes were focused on Kate's 'naked' dress.

Coldplay: Viva La Vida Dominates UK/US Charts

Coldplay's Viva La Vida could make it to #1 in the US and UK this week. The single is currently topping the UK midweeks and over in America it has over taken Leona Lewis 'Bleeding Love' as Chris Martin and crew currently hold the #2 position on the Billboard Hot 100. The single has already been #1 in the Billboard Hot Digital Download.

Coldplay's album 'Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends' shot straight to #1 in the UK on Sunday and is expected to top the US chart. Looks like the world still love Coldplay, even after all these years!

Mojo Awards: Winners List 2008

Duffy arriving at Mojo Awards

The Mojo Awards 2008 took place in London and here are the list of winners:

It was the first major award for Welsh sensation Duffy, who won 'Song of the Year' with 'Mercy'. Duffy's debut album looks set to sell over 1 million and is seen as an alternative version of Amy Winehouse. She is being hailed as the new Dusty Springfield and the biggest act to come out of Wales in a long time.

The Last Shadow Puppets picked up 'Best Breakthrough Act' with Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turner at the helm, it was to be expected the LSP would get an award.

The Mojo Awards Full Winners List 2008:

Song of the Year Award: Mercy by Duffy

Best Breakthrough Act: The Last Shadow Puppets

Best Album Award: Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Hero Award: Motorhead

Icon Award: the Sex Pistols

Best Live Act Award: Led Zeppelin

Classic Songwriter Award: Neil Diamond

Hall of Fame: The Specials

Lifetime Achievement Award: Genesis

Special Award: Judy Collins

Legend Award: Irma Thomas

Classic Album Award: Loveless by My Bloody Valentine

Inspiration Award: John Fogerty

Outstanding Contribution to Music Award: Paul Weller

Roots Award: Toots Hibbert

Les Paul Award: John Martyn

Maverick Award: Mark E Smith

Vision Award: Julien Temple for The Future is Unwritten

Compilation of the Year Award: Juno Original Soundtrack

Catalogue Release of the Year: Pillows & Prayers Cherry Red Records 1981-1984

*Read more on The Specials Mojo Award: HERE

Amy Winehouse Rushed To Hospital

Amy Winehouse was taken to hospital after fainting this afternoon at home. The singer was about to sign autographs for some Canadian fans that had been waiting outside her London home when she fainted.

Amy was caught by her manager's assistant and then taken to London Clinic in Marylebone, accompanied by her father. She is expected to stay in for over night observations and tests. Amy Winehouse is still expected to turn up for Glastonbury Festival and for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday at Hyde Park, London on 27th June, but concerns over her health remain.

Victoria Beckham: Marc Jacobs Advert Pictures

Here are some more Victoria Beckham pictures for the Marc Jacobs advertising campaign. As already seen here on 'robmacca entertainment news', Posh is looking wilder than ever in these Juergen Teller photos. The pictures by Splash appear in such papers like the Daily Mail.

Posh shows off her legs!

Victoria Beckham poses for the Marc Jacobs promotion

The Forbes Celebrity Top 100 - Full List

The Forbes Celebrity Top 100 list is out, here is the complete list showing how much each celebrity got paid as well as their web/press and TV ranking. Brits did well as David Beckham climbed up to 5th place with The Police (8th) and J.K. Rowling (9th) making it inside the Top 10. Victoria Beckham was 50th with her fellow Spice Girls. Simon Cowell was 22nd, Kate Moss 83rd and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay made 95th.

Rank Name Pay ($mil) Web Rank Press Rank TV Rank :

1 Oprah Winfrey 275 2 5 1
2 Tiger Woods 115 12 1 3
3 Angelina Jolie 14 1 9 15
4 Beyonce Knowles 80 3 32 14
5 David Beckham 50 10 3 18
6 Johnny Depp 72 17 19 36
7 Jay-Z 82 6 43 41
8 The Police 115 15 20 51
9 J.K. Rowling 300 23 27 64
10 Brad Pitt 20 4 8 7
11 Will Smith 80 26 39 32
12 Justin Timberlake 44 5 24 17
13 Steven Spielberg 130 34 23 60
14 Cameron Diaz 50 13 50 45
15 David Letterman 45 42 34 10
16 LeBron James 38 32 13 13
17 Jennifer Aniston 27 21 67 49
18 Michael Jordan 45 38 45 29
19 Kobe Bryant 39 28 18 24
20 Phil Mickelson 45 87 12 23
21 Madonna 40 15 20 67
22 Simon Cowell 72 65 47 40
23 Roger Federer 35 40 2 26
24 Alex Rodriguez 34 51 7 6
25 Jerry Seinfeld 85 79 72 38
26 50 Cent 150 69 68 88
27 Kanye West 30 8 28 28
28 Celine Dion 40 27 44 54
29 Bruce Willis 41 45 41 47
30 Dr. Phil McGraw 40 82 55 2
31 Tom Cruise 13 7 10 9
32 Jay Leno 32 41 36 5
33 Sean "Diddy" Combs 35 19 59 30
34 Stephen King 45 33 54 86
35 Miley Cyrus 25 11 49 19
36 Kimi Raikkonen 44 53 14 90
37 Jeff Gordon 32 73 26 11
38 Ronaldinho 37 24 6 98
39 Shaquille O'Neal 32 36 29 34
40 Judge Judy Sheindlin 45 99 88 4
41 Howard Stern 70 52 90 68
42 Tyler Perry 125 94 83 80
43 Fernando Alonso 33 30 4 92
44 Leonardo DiCaprio 45 68 65 77
45 Donald Trump 30 48 40 12
46 George Lucas 50 66 74 85
47 Keira Knightley 32 37 42 82
48 Jerry Bruckheimer 145 96 94 96
49 Nicolas Cage 38 56 51 70
50 Spice Girls 21 14 37 25
51 Matt Damon 21 39 31 20
52 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 31 84 25 37
53 Bon Jovi 25 18 48 59
54 Jennifer Lopez 7 9 35 22
55 Ben Stiller 40 77 75 72
56 Kevin Garnett 29 67 30 55
57 Nicole Kidman 13 22 16 39
58 James Patterson 50 95 84 100
59 Rush Limbaugh 33 57 73 56
60 Reese Witherspoon 25 49 70 61
61 Maria Sharapova 26 61 15 69
62 Ryan Seacrest 31 72 79 33
63 Gwen Stefani 27 25 69 76
64 Daniel Radcliffe 25 62 52 74
65 Alicia Keys 15 20 53 46
66 Gisele Bundchen 35 74 99 94
67 Gwyneth Paltrow 25 50 62 78
68 Tyra Banks 23 47 81 53
69 Serena Williams 14 64 17 43
70 Eva Longoria Parker 9 31 58 21
71 Ellen DeGeneres 20 60 64 35
72 Sarah Jessica Parker 18 54 66 50
73 Katherine Heigl 13 63 61 31
74 Regis Philbin 21 91 71 8
75 Tom Clancy 35 78 96 99
76 Rachael Ray 18 80 80 16
77 Cate Blanchett 12 44 22 62
78 Heidi Klum 14 46 78 57
79 Carrie Underwood 9 35 63 44
80 Jon Stewart 14 58 60 51
81 Justine Henin 12.5 75 11 58
82 Judd Apatow 27 88 76 97
83 Kate Moss 7.5 29 33 81
84 Patrick Dempsey 13.5 83 77 66
85 Charlie Sheen 20 86 87 63
86 Drew Carey 12 90 89 27
87 Steve Carell 5 81 56 42
88 Lorena Ochoa 10 92 38 75
89 Jonas Brothers 12 55 86 84
90 Howie Mandel 14 100 98 65
91 Wolfgang Puck 16 98 91 83
92 Zac Efron 5.8 70 85 79
93 Annika Sorenstam 11 93 46 89
94 Ashley Tisdale 5.5 43 95 91
95 Gordon Ramsay 7.5 76 57 93
96 Jennifer Love Hewitt 5 59 93 71
97 Lauren Conrad 1.5 71 100 95
98 Vanessa Williams 4.5 89 92 48
99 Tina Fey 4.6 85 82 73
100 Paula Deen 4.5 97 97 87

Coventry Godiva Festival 2008: Line Up and Times

The Enemy headline Coventry's Godiva Festival and here is the line up for the Main Stage on Saturday 5th July 2008. The Ripps, Pint Shot Riot, Shadowplay (G Factor Winners) and Kombat Breakers will also be showing off the cream of talent on offer from Coventry's music scene.

12noon Dogfight Revolution

12.45pm Shadowplay - G Factor Winners

1.40pm Exit Calm

2.35pm The Ripps

3.30pm Pint Shot Riot

4.15pm Kombat Breakers

4.45pm Six. By Seven

5.55pm The Displacements

6.55pm Glasvegas

8.00pm Art Brut

9.30pm The Enemy

Full Godiva Line Up:

*Friday Godiva Programme: HERE
*Saturday Godiva Programme: HERE

*Sunday Godiva Programme: HERE

*Godiva Festival website: http://www.godivafestival.co.uk

*visit: www.theenemy.eu -for the latest news on The Enemy

Coldplay Top UK Album Chart

Coldplay will enter the UK album chart at #1 on Sunday 15th June with their long anticipated album, 'Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends'.

Released today (Thurs), the album has already out sold the rest of the Top 40 combined based on pre-sales at iTunes - which is a new record. Coldplay fans have waited since 2005's multi-selling 'X and Y' album.

Big Brother 9: Latest Updates

Here are the latest updates from the Big Brother 9 house, as posted on Big Brother Blog Squad, click links below to read full story:

BB9: Day 7 - Housemates Fail Task, Threaten To Strike

BB9: Day 7 - Kat To Win BB9?

BB9 - Day 7 - Jennifer and Stephanie Dress Sexy!

BB9: Day 6 - Dennis and Rachel Win Task

BB9: Day 6 - Persistence Task

BB9: Day 6 - Cleaning Meeting

BB9: Day 6 - Big Brother Romance

BB9: Day 5 - Food Wars

BB9: Day 5 - Lisa and Mario Discuss Housemates

BB9: Day 5 - Rebecca Goes Topless

The Apprentice: Lee McQueen Wins

Lee McQueen wins The Apprentice

The Apprentice final saw Lee McQueen win the coveted prize of working for Sir Alan Sugar. Lee McQueen and Claire Young went head to head against the other two finalists, Helene Speight and Alex Wotherspoon. With some familiar faces from previous weeks teaming up with the final four Apprentice hopefuls, it was a battle down to the wire as the two teams worked on the perfumery task.

Lee and Claire's were in trouble with the task because of their focus on gambling, while Alex and Helene were criticised and failed the task because of the cost of their perfume bottle. It was a battle to the end as Claire and Lee both putting up a good case for becoming The Apprentice, but Claire just proved too much for Sir Alan Sugar. Lee came through as the rough diamond that Sir Alan could shine in the board room.

The fourth series of The Apprentice has been the most successful yet for the BBC with millions tuning in each week, following the hopes and dreams of the 16 candidates over the eleven week period.

Kombat Breakers To Perform At Godiva Festival

Kombat Breakers set for home coming performance at Godiva Festival

Coventry's Kombat Breakers have been added to the line up for this year's Godiva Festival (4th - 6th July) at the Memorial Park and will be performing their new single and break dancing on the same stage that The Enemy will perform.

The 'Britain's Got Talent' finalists signed up to athlete Linford Christie's agency Nuff Respect after being praised by Simon Cowell on the ITV show, and are sponsored by international sports company Reebok. The six piece Coventry crew have recorded a single called 'Caramel' and will be performing it at the Godiva Festival during their 4pm slot on Saturday 5th July.

Leeroy Bailey, Simeon Henry, Tyrone Miller, Leon Lea, Ryan Stilwell and Darrian Stevenson Joseph make up Kombat Breakers and have enjoyed success since reaching the final of 'Britain's Got Talent'.

Leeroy Bailey told the Coventry Telegraph:

"We are really looking forward to appearing at the Godiva Festival. To be performing in front of 30,000 people on the same day as The Enemy is fantastic.

"We are going on tour around the country, but to play in Coventry - which is our home city - will be one of the highlights for us."

HMV To Sell Glastonbury Tickets

HMV are going to sell Glastonbury Festival tickets from a selection of stores across the country. Festival goers have to provide their name, pay across the counter and then make sure that they bring personal photographic ID to Glastonbury when they arrive.

The offer is exclusive to HMV and will made available from Wednesday 11th June at Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and London.

Big Brother 9 : Latest Updates

Big Brother 9 is keeping millions glued to the TV as things begin to get hot and sticky inside the BB house. Below are some of the updates from www.bigbrotherblogsquad.blogspot.com . Find out who will be up for the public vote and check out the topless picture of Dale - life must be fun for those lovely Big Brother contestants!

*BB9: Day 5 - Dale Topless Picture

BB9 Day 4 - Jennifer Confesses Crush

BB9: Day 4 - Mario and Lisa Kiss and Tell

First Eviction Names Announced

BB9: Day 4 - Wedding Goes Ahead

BB9: Day 3 - Big Brother 'Annoying Housemates' Poll...

Vinny McElvenny Fundraiser At Inspire Bar Coventry

It was a great night for Coventry music as bands and artists performed at Inspire Bar, Coventry in a fundraising event for Vinny McElvenny. Tom Clarke from The Enemy performed an acoustic set, despite feeling worse for wear with a sore throat. Just two weeks earlier Tom had been performing in Leeds in front of a 35,000 crowd but proved his feet are still firmly on the ground as he returned home to Coventry and belted out a set in front of around 200 guests.
He also performed a T-Rex classic 'Cosmic Dancer' along side The Enemy's 'You're Not Alone', 'Away From Here' and 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns'.

Pint Shot Riot, another quality Coventry band played a string of new tracks for the evening as well as the B-side 'Riot Act', from their forthcoming single that is released on July 7th 2008. With fans inside and outside the venue, Pint Shot Riot put on a superb acoustic performance and proved once again that Coventry has alot of talent.

Bands and artists converged at Inspire Bar to be part of the special fundraising event - they were all showing their support for a man named Vinny McElvenny, who is a legend among those on the Coventry music scene. A man who is passionate about Coventry music and who has worked hard promoting the music scene and supporting local bands. A recent fire at his home had caused devastation as Vinny lost everything, but as the event showed - Vinny had lost none of his friends and none of his zeal for Coventry music.

The event was organised by another Coventry legend, John Dawkins (the man who brought us The Enemy). He took time out of his busy schedule to arrange the fundraiser, once again supporting his home city and proving Coventry has talent. Working behind the scenes Mick Leape (Inspire Bar) helped pull off a great evening of acoustic music that rivals the bigger cities easily.

No Cassandra, MBE/Jesus Deluxe, Senses, Exit Calm and Jersey Budd all put on a grand show with many of the artists performing without their drummers, it was a different environment to perform. Yet each act, from the first to the last proved their flexibility as artists and gave Coventry an evening to remember. Vinny even joined Senses on stage to sing along to the James track, 'Sit Down' and later thanked everyone for their support during the difficult times.

Below are some pictures and videos taken during the course of the evening on my mobile phone, sadly my digital camera batteries were flat - so this was all I had left to use. I will be posting a blog at www.robmaccaextra.blogspot.com/ , sharing my personal story from the event.




Tom Clarke - Cosmic Dancer (T Rex)


Tom Clarke - Away From Here (acoustic)


Tom Clarke - We'll Live And Die In These Towns (acoustic)


Pint Shot Riot - Riot Act (acoustic)

Vinny McElvenny introduces Tom Clarke

Tom Clarke @ Inspire Bar, Coventry

Rob and Rocket from Pint Shot Riot

Rocket and Baby Dave play acoustic set for Vinny

Jersey Budd

Top: No Cassandra and Shackleton

Middle: mbe/Jesus Deluxe and Senses

Bottom: Exit Calm

Check out the bands/artists music:

Tom Clarke: http://www.myspace.com/theenemycoventry
Pint Shot Riot: http://www.myspace.com/pintshotriot
Jersey Budd: http://www.myspace.com/jerseybuddmusic
Exit Calm: http://www.myspace.com/exitcalm
Senses: http://www.myspace.com/sensesmusic
Jesus Deluxe:http://www.myspace.com/jesusdeluxe
Shackletons: http://www.myspace.com/sunzoomsparkmusic
No Cassandra: http://www.myspace.com/nocassandra



visit: www.theenemy.eu -for the latest news on The Enemy

Madonna: Give It 2 Me Video

Madonna - looking as raunchy as ever for her new video

Madonna's latest video 'Give It 2 Me' (see video below), has Madonna back at her best. In August the Queen of Pop will be 50 years old but she shows no sign of stopping, having more energy than those half her age. The iconic singer has teamed up with Pharrell Williams and gets raunchy, wearing thigh-high boots, skimpy underwear and a sheer top.

Pharrell Williams once made Madonna cry and said to her 'Oh my God, Madonna has a heart.' but the pair have pulled off a corker of a record with 'Give It 2 Me'. The track is a follow up to Madonna's previous collaboration with Justin Timberlake ('Four Minutes').

Her recent album, 'Hard Candy', has debuted at number one at 27 countries so far including the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia.



Madonna - Give It 2 Me

Sharon Osbourne Quits X Factor

Sharon Osbourne has quit the X Factor after 4 years on the ITV show, earlier press reports stated that she wanted a £500,000 pay rise.

ITV refused to comment about pay but did say: "Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The X Factor after four fantastic years. "ITV thanks her for her immense contribution to the show and for all her humour, compassion and energy."

Expect lots of hype to find a new replacement for the return of the X Factor in a few weeks.

BB9: Gossip and News

It's been a busy first night in the Big Brother house, and here are a few stories from the Big Brother Blog Squad:

* Rebecca's Drunken Video - Coventry housemate video from her student days.

* Sylvia Top Choice With The Men - Find out which men put Sylvia top of their list.

* Who Will Win BB9? - An early look at those in the running to win.

* Stephanie Confesses ' I Want To Get Rich' - We reveal the reason why.

* Dennis: I'm Not Raging! - Gay dancer thinks he is not camp.

* Mohamed and Luke Get Told Off - BB Auditions are out of bounds for the pair.

* Token's Divide Housemates - Looks like it could all kick off over cold showers.

* Mario Becomes the Big Daddy - Find out how Mario became a father figure to Michael.

* BB9 Lads Get Naked - Didn't take long for people to strip off!

Big Brother Blog Squad - website with gossip and news from the Big Brother house.

Big Brother 9: Coventry's First Housemate

Rebecca representing Coventry in the Big Brother house!

Big Brother has it's first Coventry housemate as Rebecca, a 21 year old nursery nurse entered the house tonight. It looks like Big Brother 9 is returning to it's familiar format of controversial housemates with a blind man named Darnell and an eccentric massage therapist named Kathreya - hotly tipped to entertain millions of Britons for the next few weeks.

Rebecca has taken an 'I Love Cov' t-shirt into the Big Brother house and confessed to housemates she wants to wear it every time there is an eviction, but was feeling nervous about doing so.

The complete set of contestant pictures and regular updates can be seen: HERE