Monday 28 July 2008

Carol Vorderman quits Countdown over pay row

Carol Vorderman has announced she is quitting the Channel 4 gameshow Countdown after she was asked to take a per 90 cent pay cut

She has been the resident maths whiz on the show since it began in 1982 with original host Richard Whiteley.

However, Vorderman was reportedly "extremely sad" when current host Des O’ Connor announced last week that he is quitting in November.

The row over pay was apparently the final straw for Carol, with her agent John Miles confirming she was told the show could "easily survive without you" if she refused to accept the new deal.

"I was stunned that my client's 26 loyal years were discarded in such a cavalier manner," Mr Miles said.

She said in a statement: "I am devastated that my joyous time with one of the best programmes on TV has ended this way,"

Countdown was the first programme to air on Channel 4 in 1982.

Watch all your favourite shows on a new televison from Studio.

Thursday 24 July 2008

Des O' Connor to quit Countdown

Des O' Connor has announced he is to quit as the host of Channel 4 show Countdown in November.

The veteran TV star took over from Des Lynam in January last year, who left after hosting just one series of the show.

However, O Connor has said he misses the "thrill" of performing live TV shows and concerts.

Speaking about his stint on the long-running word game, he said: "It's been wonderful hosting a programme which is part of TV folklore. I have really enjoyed my two years with the show and I would like to thank all concerned at Channel 4.

"I've made a lot of new friends. Carol Vorderman has been a joy... it's been a giggle since day one. But I miss the thrill of stepping out on a live stage for the one-man concerts and the challenge of live TV entertainment-based shows."

Des, 76, is currently recording his 36th album Setting New Standards.

Listen to all Des' hits, on this Portable Record Player

Amy's new waxwork unveiled

A waxwork of singer Amy Winehouse has been unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London.

The model was constructed using photos and images taken from her live performances and sports the star's trademark beehive hairdo and old school tattoos.

Amy's parents, Mitch and Jan, were present when the waxwork was uncovered, describing it as an "incredible likeness", but Mitch added that "she's not that skinny anymore".

He even joked that the new version was less unlikely to display the notoriously erratic behaviour of his daughter.

"We're going to take this one home with us and take the real one back. This one does what she's told and doesn't move," he said.

He went on to say that Amy is currently undergoing a drug replacement programme and added that she is "doing really well".

Amy's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil has just been sentenced to 27 months in prison for assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Listen to all Amy's best tunes, on this mp3 Walkman

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Sienna is 'so in love'

Actress Sienna Miller has claimed she is head over heels in love with new billionaire boyfriend Balthazar Getty.

The Alfie star has been enjoying a romantic break with the married multi-millionaire after splitting from Welsh actor Rhys Ifans less than six weeks ago.

After the split, Ifans was regularly seen moping in London, while Miller has been spotted enjoying dates with Getty in Prague and Los Angeles, reports the Sun.

The couple are currently enjoying a romantic holiday on a private boat off the coast of Italy, with the 26-year-old actress having told friends she has "never been so in love".

"Sienna is totally besotted with Balthazar. Their relationship has gone from strength to strength over the past month and Sienna finds him utterly irresistible," said a source close to Miller.

"Balthazar arranged for the trip to one of the most beautiful and exclusive parts of the Med."

Notting Hill star Ifans recently insisted he was over his split from Miller.

Watch Sienna in all he movie roles, on this
DVD Player

Friday 11 July 2008

A big welcome to the new Studio website.

At long last it's arrived, your brand new Studio web site. A huge improvement on the old site, we hope you agree.

Our new tab based navigation system, designed to make your shopping experience less frustrating and a whole lot easier also ensures a clean fresh design with a lot less clutter. This said, we've kept all the things you like such as Quickshop where existing customers can use their printed catalogue to enter product codes directly in to the site and the ability to view your account details and to track your orders.

As you may know Studio offers a wide range of personalised gifts - where ever you see this symbol next to an item, it means that the item can be personalised for FREE. For example mugs, wallets, pens, gift sets and a lot more besides.

We've also an opportunity for you to enter a £15,000 prize draw - whilst being kept informed about new offers and money saving promotions. Why not have a look around the new site now.

Pat Mathews

Thursday 10 July 2008

Fearne Cotton 'addicted to tattoos'

TV presenter Fearne Cotton has been speaking of her fondness for body art, claiming to be addicted to tattoos.

The 26-year-old said she would like to have designs "all over my whole body" if she wasn't on TV, but joked that she has yet to tell her mother about how may she already has.

Speaking to Glamour magazine, the blonde presenter said: "I got a new one in Los Angeles, it covers most of my back at the bottom and it's a 50s pin-up mermaid, lovely boobs, beautiful.

"I love Amy Winehouse's tattoos but I can't do arms. I can't do 'Children In Need' with a naked chick on my arm, can I?"

She added that she has experienced pressure to be a little "more conservative" in the past, but that she prefers to stick to her "quirky look".

Ms Cotton recently claimed she looked "like an egg" when not wearing make-up, reports Digital Spy.

Egg Wild Card

Wednesday 9 July 2008

We won't give away music, says Gallagher

Noel Gallagher has said he has no intention of following Radiohead's lead by releasing Oasis music for free.

Oasis' new album Dig Out Your Soul is due to be release in October, but Noel told BBC 6 Music that he will not be adopting a similar strategy to Thom Yorke's band

"I wouldn't have thought so. That's not our bag," he said.

"I didn't spend a year in the most expensive studio in England, with the most expensive producer in America, and the most expensive graphic designer in London to then give it away. F*** that."

He went on to say that Radiohead's approach was a good way of getting free marketing, but praised them for being "rebels and outsiders".

The new Oasis single The Shock Of The Lightning is scheduled for release on 29th September.

Gallagher recently claimed to be a fan of Jay-Z, following the rapper's much publicised appearance at Glastonbury.

Listen to all Oasis' top tunes, on one of these
iPods from Studio.

The latest gaming Buzz!


Its here! The game that turns your living room into a game show! This is the first of the Buzz games that has been released for the Playstation 3. The game uses the PLAYSTATION Network to offer you the chance to quiz against people around the world, and even write your own quizzes.

The game comes with 5,000 questions on the disc and the option of downloading thousands more.

The questions are split into topics called channels. There are five channels: The Sports Channel, The Movies Channel, The Music Channel, The Lifestyle Channel and The Knowledge Channel. This means you can play the full quiz on a single channel or play in channel hopper mode and take questions from multiple channels.

Buzz! Quiz TV available now at Studio.