Charice

Early last year I told you about the phenomenal talent and potential of Charice Pempengco. Well, she has made it . . from her front room Karaoke to Maddison Square Gardens ! True talent will out and she is now under the wing of the enigmatic David Foster. The world is her oyster and I expect she will now become the Philippines true International star. From humble beginnings . . . you heard it here first. http://www.charicepempengco.com

Judas Priest

Judas Priest are undoubtedly one of the best heavy metal bands in the world. I first saw them at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion in the early seventies and was knocked out by numbers like Genocide and The Ripper from the "Sad Wings Of Destiny" album.

Since then I have seen them on a number of occasions and found them to be brilliant but on Saturday last at Birmingham LG Arena . . Oh dear! Yes , they were brilliant in the way they delivered their outstanding set but the sound from where I was sitting was diabolical and so loud it made your ears hurt when Rob Halford, arguably the most outstanding heavy metal rock vocalist of the last thirty years, hit those high notes. It was so disappointing, high expectations from an outstanding set, but it was not to be realised. I should have gone home elated but instead I kept saying "what a shame".

I hope next time the sound engineers get it right cause despite the experience I still rate "The Priest" as one of the best live heavy metal bands there is.

Carol Thatcher and the BBC Sphincter Police

I like Carol Thatcher, she is full of life, humorous and yes a bit eccentric. She was born in an era like me where "political correctness" was not even a word in our vocabulary. I can remember as a child collecting my Robertson Jam labels and my mother sending off for my "golliwog badge". I knew loads of children with golliwog soft toys. One of my best friends was West Indian and we never thought it offensive to use the name golliwog nor did he. However, time does move on and what was acceptable then may not be acceptable today.
I am sure that Carol Thatcher made the comment in innocence but that apart, for the BBC to act so holier than though by not taking on board the difference between the Jonathan Ross / Russell Brand affair which was broadcast to millions of people and Carol Thatcher's comment made behind closed doors in the presence of a handful of people is to say the least breathtaking arrogance.
I listened to the pretty pathetic explanation on Radio 4's Today programme by the simpering Jay Hunt BBC 1 Controller (I could almost imagine her cargo pants and Doc Martins) and wondered how she could have the front to say that Jonathan Ross was o.k. because he admitted he was wrong to phone Andrew Sachs and scream obscenities at him in front of millions people but Carol Thatcher was not OK because her apology did not go far enough. If I was earning £6m per annum off the Beeb I think I would be rushing to apologise too, well wouldn't you.
I also understand that Adrian Chiles and comedienne Jo Brand were involved at the centre of this storm but both deny leaking the story to the press. Hmmmm !! I always thought Adrian Chiles was a football loving wanker at the best of times and even though occasionally The One Show just about passed as entertainment I for one wont be switching to it in future.
If the BBC handed out a rebuke to Carol I could understand it but to display such massive double standards is in my mind totally offensive.
Maybe the BBC should apologise to Carol Thatcher under the circumstances.