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Blue Peter Winner
Was BBC Executive's Daughter
The winner of a Blue Peter competition to design a coin for
the 2012 Olympics is the daughter of a newly-appointed BBC executive, it has
emerged.
Florence Jackson, aged nine, beat 17,000 other entrants when
she submitted her sketch of a high-jump athlete to the BBC One children's
show.
Her prize was a trip to the Royal Mint, in the company of Olympic gold
medallist Denise Lewis and Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere, to see her
design made into a 50p coin.
However, it emerged that Florence's father is Andrew Jackson,
the new head of the corporation's Natural History Unit and a former BBC
reporter.
The BBC issued a statement denying that the competition was fixed. A
spokesman said: "We have no reason to believe Blue Peter knew before last
week. We strongly refute any allegations of wrong-doing.
''The judging panel was not given any indication of the name, sex or age of
any of the entrants. Their decision was based purely on the design of the
coin.
''Any suggestion that anyone at the BBC could have had undue influence on
the selection of the winning entry is totally wrong and without any
foundation whatsoever."
Only one member of the 11-strong judging panel was associated with the
corporation, the spokesman added.
Florence, from Bristol, submitted her design in March, was shortlisted in
May and was chosen as the winner in July - the same month that Jackson was
appointed to the Natural History Unit. He takes up the post later this
month.
A spokesman said the competition closed before Jackson entered talks with
the BBC. However, he is well-connected with the broadcaster, having begun
his career with BBC News.
17:40
October 15 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Louis Walsh
ITV has confirmed that Louis Walsh will not appear in the
Saturday or Sunday editions of The X Factor because of the funeral of Stephen
Gately.
The ceremony for the Boyzone singer will be held in Dublin on Saturday at
midday.
A statement issued by Talkback Thames said: "Due to
recent tragic events, Louis Walsh will not be appearing on either the
Saturday or Sunday live The X Factor shows this weekend as he is attending
Stephen Gately's funeral.
"Louis has been in close contact with his acts throughout the week, although
his opinions will not be represented in the show this weekend."
17:20
October 15 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Ant and Dec
ITV Christmas Show
ITV1 today announced that Ant and Dec will star in their own one-off
Christmas special as part of the broadcaster’s festive line up.
Filmed in front of a live studio audience, The Ant and Dec
Christmas Show will feature a mixture of sketches, performances and surprise
guests all served up with a seasonal flavour.
Elaine Bedell, ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Comedy said: “An ITV
Christmas wouldn't be complete with Ant and Dec - and this Special is packed
with Christmas treats for the whole family."
17:00
October 15 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Dannii Minogue
Complaints
Almost 4,000 complaints have been made to media watchdog
Ofcom over Dannii Minogue's comments about a contestant's sexuality during
Saturday's X Factor, according to a BBC report.
Ofcom said despite receiving 3,885 complaints from viewers, "they are not
currently investigating the matter".
In Sunday night's show, the judge apologised about the remarks.
Danyl Johnson changed a line of a song to refer to a woman instead of a man,
but Minogue joked he had not needed to change the gender.
Speaking after his performance on the first live show,
Minogue said: "If you're to believe everything you read in the papers, then
you didn't need to change the gender references in the song."
Fellow judge and Johnson's mentor Simon Cowell asked her to repeat her
comments, before he said: "You can forget playing any of those games with
him. I'm not having that. This guy sang his heart out. Give him some
credit."
Minogue has since offered her "sincere apologies to anyone who took
offence".
Minogue said she spoke to Danyl straight after the broadcast and reassured
everyone he was not offended or upset and "knew exactly what I was saying",
she added.
"I understand X Factor fans do not want the judges to get personal with
judging comments. During the course of the show all the judges become close
to the contestants and this is because we adore them and care about them."
Reader Comment
I loved Cowell's phoney look of concern when he first
heard the comment. That's the worst acting I've seen since- Well, actually
it's the worst acting I've seen.
What I don't get is why everyone's so surprised and concerned. Minogue
wasn't picked as a judge for her expert knowledge of the UK music scene or
her qualified insight into what actually constitutes an X-factor, she was
picked as a bimbo and, well, surprise surprise...
- Deke.
15:00
October 15 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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Coronation Street Actress Recovering
Coronation Street star Maggie Jones, who plays battleaxe
Blanche Hunt, has got a “cheeky grin” back on her face as she recovers from
emergency surgery, her co-star Michael Le Vell revealed today.
Le Vell, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster, said Jones’s sister made a visit
to the set in Manchester yesterday to reassure the cast.
The much-loved actress was rushed to Hope Hospital, Salford, Greater
Manchester, on Saturday for the major operation, but is now on the mend, he
said.
He said: “The good news is her sister said she has got a cheeky grin back on
her face.
“She told us Maggie has got all her naughtiness back.
“Things are looking up now and we are just hoping she makes a speedy
recovery.”
The actress does not want the nature of her illness disclosed, but it is
understood the operation was for a pre-existing condition.
14:45
October 15 2009 - waveguide.co.uk
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