On your weekly event guide, The Line-Up, Niamh Geaney satisfies your musical buds with concerts, musicals and gigs! We also take a look at a hip flea market in Bray and a fashion exhibition in Kilkenny. Check it out!
Join us back here tomorrow for Pic ’n’ Mix where we round up the hits and misses of the box office.
The ever-controversial actor and comedian, Russell Brand, has been in the headlines a lot lately. If he’s not claiming to have no idea who his ex-wife Katy Perry is, he’s going off on one with an Irish reporter who asked a bit too much and now he may be booted off Twitter!
The Get Him To The Greek star has come under fire for tweeting a Daily Mail reporter’s phone number this week after it had been claimed the reporter was hassling Russell’s mum, Barbara.
This might not have been the best idea Russell’s ever had, although some might claim his phone call to Andrew Sachs was even worse, because Twitter may be forced to ban the comedian for violating their privacy policies.
Upon seeing Russell's tweet, one follower said: "What a horrible thing for @rustyrockets to do. Expected better, if I’m honest."
Russell quickly admitted to his poor judgement after further public backlash and tweeted: “That was a bit nuts. He put it thru me door with ‘please call’ on it. They’re bothering me mum. Deleted it. I’m human.”
Unsurprisingly however, Russell is less than fazed by the speculation that he may no longer be part of the Twittersphere and even retweeted an article The Guardian covered on the matter.
Oh, the irony!
Harry Styles’ ex and Strictly Come Dancing star, Caroline Flack, has been doing what every girl does after a break-up and turned her attention elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t saddened by the end of her relationship.
Following her split from boyfriend of more than a year, Jack Street, the 35-year-old TV presenter has focussed much of her energy on her Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals and by the looks of things, it’s paid off!
Understandably, Caroline was seen to be quite upset behind the scenes of the hit Saturday night show, but soldiered on and impressed judges with her Argentine tango which earned her a place at the top of the leader board.
The star took to Twitter to thank people for their support and revealed that she will be performing a salsa at the semi-final.
Insiders have commented on the breakdown of the relationship between Caroline and the music manager, saying: “No one else is involved.” Apparently, the decision was mutual and the relationship had reached its natural end.
Let’s hope Caroline, a favourite to win the show, can stay focussed on her dance moves until she claims the title!
When someone says they “love to exercise,” it’s 100% natural to think they are either lying through their teeth or just a bit, well, weird. But the great thing about working out is, the more you do it and the fitter you get, the more enjoyable it becomes.
While it might take time to make a habit out of exercise, it’s worth it in the end. Not only does it become so much easier to motivate yourself to get off that couch, but you’ll really start seeing the long-term benefits, too.
Here are a few tips to get you on the road to being a proud convert!
1. Be prepared
During those first few weeks, you’re definitely going to be a bit all over the place when it comes to sussing out your routine. Do yourself a favour and plan ahead – lay out your exercise gear the night before, plan your running route or know what you’ll do at the gym, and decide on your meals. If your workout is generally in the morning, allow yourself an extra 15 – 20 minutes so that you’re not rushing to fit everything in.
2. Don’t give up just yet
They say three weeks is what it takes to make a habit out of something, but everyone is different. Try to keep your exercise routine up for at least a month before you decide it’s not for you. Setting a fitness goal such as a 10k race or a personal best is a great way to stay on track.
3. Try different things
So that Zumba class was going well, until you kicked the girl beside you in the face. Everyone has their fitness niche, and you may need to try a few different things before you discover what fits. Maybe team sports motivate you, or perhaps you prefer jogging because it give you time to clear your head. Find whatever works for you!
4. Don’t skip more than two days in a row
Ever notice that you’re super-motivated for the first few days of a new exercise routine, until life suddenly gets in the way? Make an exercise plan that is easy to stick to – if you’re often busy in the evenings then slot your workout in each morning or vice versa. Skipping one or two days is fine – everyone needs a rest – but try not to let it go any more than that.
5. Pace yourself
A surefire way to ruin your exercise plan is to tire yourself out or injure yourself at the first hurdle. Know your limits, especially if you’re new to exercise or haven’t had a fitness routine in a while. Map out a realistic routine with someone who knows their stuff, like a trainer or gym instructor.
So, it looks like veteran rapper P Diddy was far from pleased to learn that fellow rapper Drake had been nominated for two Grammy awards for track 0 To 100/ The Catch Up.
And how did J-Lo’s ex show his displeasure? He punched 28-year-old Drake during a brawl in a Miami nightclub earlier this week and landed the poor guy in hospital, that's how. Woah.
Diddy’s anger apparently stemmed from the fact that he had also been offered the hit track and to Drake’s irritation, he did nothing with it, so the Started From The Bottom singer went ahead and recorded it himself. Not the best move, apparently.
Diddy confronted Drake at Fontainbleau Hotel’s Live club, and according to insiders, said: “You’ll never disrespect me again.” and then punched the rapper.
The editor of Bullet Magazine, Ray LeMoine, who was also in attendance said Drake came out of the altercation a little worse for wear: “Drake definitely got the s**t kicked out of him. I heard they were taking him to hospital.”
While Rick Ross DJ, Sam Sneaker, who was also present and obviously shocked by the event, tweeted: "Y'all pray for Drake."
Drake was indeed brought to hospital and treated for a dislocated shoulder following the scuffle.
Come on boys, play nice!
Fans of The Only Way Is Essex will be well aware that Ferne McCann and Gemma Collins have not been getting on too well of late.
Now though, it appears the conflict between the two has worsened again. Despite planning to take a break from the show after her traumatic spell in the I'm A Celebrity... jungle, Gemma still chose to appear on the TOWIE Christmas special which airs tomorrow.
Speaking about the upcoming episode in her Star magazine column, Ferne said things had not gone smoothly during filming. "I hope you all enjoy the festive episode this week! I was hoping for a nice relaxed time but there was quite a bit of drama – as usual," she wrote.
In the show's series finale last month, Ferne and Gemma seemed to have put their differences behind them – even sharing a hug on camera.
But the truce didn't last long, according to Ferne. "You'll see why I've decided to wash my hands of Gemma Collins. After all we've been through, and the times I have supported her, I've finally had enough."
The conflict kicked off earlier in the series, when a minor argument about transport on a night out escalated into a shouting match, in which Gemma told Ferne that nobody liked her.
"You've pulled cheap stunts and you're a nasty person," said Ferne in retaliation.
We hope the two can work out their differences in time for Christmas!
Fans of Avril Lavigne are sending her good wishes via Twitter after the star reportedly revealed she was suffering from “health issues” that have prevented her from working.
The Girlfriend singer finished up a tour of Asia and North and South America in mid-August but seems to have been taking some downtime since then.
Fan site Avril Music Charts tweeted a screenshot of an exchange on Facebook which apparently took place with the star.
When asked if she had plans to record any new music, having not released an album for two years, Avril responded by saying, “I feel bad because I haven’t been able to say anything to the fans to let them no [sic] why I've been absent. I'm torn as I'm quite private… I'm not feeling well. I'm having some health issues. So please keep me in your prayers."
Although no official statement has been made, Avril did say “thank you” to the fan site via Twitter when they posted a message asking fans to send good wishes to the singer.
ET Canada reports that the singer has not been spotted in public since her 30th birthday party in September.
Avril celebrated the big 3-0 with a bash at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
We hope she is doing okay and is on the mend!
Go with your gut. Do what you feel. Be yourself. All sound pieces of advice, but ones that many of us ignore at key points in our lives.
When faced with a big decision, the logical way of dealing with it is to think through each path and its pros and cons. We allow ourselves to look further down the road and see where each choice might lead us. Will it cause problems? Will it be difficult? While this method of decision-making may point us to the most practical or the least hassle-free solution, that doesn’t mean it will take us to the right answer.
Of course, you can’t go through life just going with what feels “right,” every time. There is a certain level of thought needed in every decision, no matter how big or small. But at the same time, over-thinking things takes all the risk out of our choices.
Sure, Route A might be the one with the fewest obstacles down the road, with the least amount of stress and with the strongest feeling of security. But Route B could in turn be the one that leaves us feeling fulfilled, content and happier in the long run. Our head is always reluctant to take that leap. But our heart and our gut instinct will send us on Route B, every time.
Following your instinct can seem like quite a vague way to deal with all of the things life throws at us. “I just had a feeling,” isn’t exactly evidence that would stand up in court. Sometimes though, that feeling is more solid and logical than anything your brain could come up with.
Take relationships, for example. Everything might seem right on paper. You two love each other, you look out for one another, you have trust and security. But something just doesn’t feel right anymore. You can’t put your finger on it. Well, rather than ignoring that feeling simply because it’s not anything tangible, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to you both to actually listen to your gut and explore what the problem in your relationship could be?
The same goes for reaching your career potential. Ambition and determination are strongly linked to our ability to trust our instincts and take risks for the sake of our future. Success is never easy – it not only requires hard work but a lot of self-belief too. There will be times when you have no idea what to do next, and that's when being able to trust yourself comes in VERY handy.
You can do this. You will make it work and you are strong enough to get through it, whatever happens. These are all things we’d tell our friends in a heartbeat but that we rarely tell ourselves.
Next time you’re faced with a decision, be it a life-changing one or something minor, don’t just listen to your head. Listen to your heart to, and trust in it for once. Informed decisions are not always necessarily the best ones. Take the leap!
Those of you who tuned into Choose or Lose on RTÉ2 last night possibly went through a range of emotions. Mostly disbelief, embarrassment, anger, embarrassment (yes, again), shock and bemusement.
The game features two teams, including the hilarious Hilary Rose that battle it out over a series of 'would you rather' questions – potential we thought.
But, as these tweets prove, execution was, well butchered.
1. People across the country were learning things they never knew last night
'I wouldn't be with an animal cos I'm a human' – great insights curtesy of another RTE show 'Choose or Lose' #EpicFail
— molcullen (@MaryCullen13) December 8, 2014
2. Some people got a little sensitive about the whole debacle
#chooseorlose for the love if god @rte , tell NO ONE this was an Irish production. As an Irishman, I'll disown if you do.
— Owen Ball (@idlebones) December 8, 2014
3. We think he may be right there
I'm guessing @rte new "show", #chooseorlose is in for a gruelling by the @republicoftelly crew! And rightly so lol!! #cringe
— David Carroll (@3107Carroll) December 8, 2014
4. This tweet may have been when one of the quiz topics was 'Cunning Linguist'…d'ya geddit?
Iv watched bad programmes in my time, then I watched #chooseorlose.. Whoever made this should be quietly put in a taxi and sent far far away
— THE bless (@pblessing24) December 8, 2014
5. Drastic times call for *very* drastic measures
#chooseorlose thats it, im tuning into Vincent Browne #desperatetimes
— Declan Smith (@I_amDeclanSmith) December 8, 2014
6. Bet he's glad he didn't turn down the UPC gig now
@Larbas @RTE2 just waiting for Craig Doyle to turn up its that bad #chooseorlose
— South Kerry Caller (@TheSKerryCaller) December 8, 2014
7. Another mortified viewer
#chooseorlose This show needs to be put to sleep and buried in a deep deep hole and never spoken of again.
— Padraig Coughlan (@padraigco) December 8, 2014
8. Some people were willing to give the benefit of the doubt but an hour just wasn't long enough
Waiting for the moment where they redeem themselves but it's not happening #ChooseOrLose
— Kate Scott (@katehscott) December 8, 2014
9. Once again, drastic calls and all that
Would you rather watch #chooseorlose or go deaf? I think we're going to need more white hot needles. @RTE2
— darragh lucey (@DrHuxton) December 8, 2014
10. Ah now…that is HIGH bar to set. Yet…
My jaysus, I demand my TV License money back, #chooseorlose is quite possibly the worst thing @rte have EVER produced, dreadful
— Robert Gilligan (@GilliganRobert) December 8, 2014
Actor Joaquin Phoenix made quite a splash on live TV last night when he told Late Show host David Letterman that he was engaged.
The Her star told David a bizarre story about falling in love with his yoga instructor after attempting a particularly intimate position with her. "She says we are going to get in the first position — the 'harnessing of the hog,'" he began. "Before I can say, 'Who is the hog,' she grabs me…[and] it's a compromising and vulnerable position, and she gets a strap and puts it [around me]…and she's thrusting."
Joaquin then went on to tell David about how he had proposed to the unnamed lady and that she had said yes.
A bit confused? So are we! Turns out we were right to be though, as the actor admitted earlier today that he was in fact fibbing about the whole thing.
"I think my life's so boring, and it seemed like something exciting to talk about, and I wanted the audience to like me," he said on Good Morning America. "They really like people getting married… I can get engaged again, if you like."
He denied trying to fool David (and the world), saying, "I did not play a prank on him — he knew that I was joking around."
Watch him coming clean about the news here:
The star's publicist also denied the engagement news, saying it was nothing more than "a joke" and was a result of Joaquin's "extremely spontaneous sense of humour."
Hmmm… wonder how he's going to make everyone believe him when he really DOES get engaged!
There is super exciting news this morning as it has been reported that Rihanna is expecting her first child! Media Take Out have said that a song on the star’s new album features the lyric “baby growing inside me” leading to speculation she is pregnant.
Another source have claimed that Rihanna has banned the smoking of weed in her studio, an unusual move it is said.
Hmm, while reports have gone around before that the star is pregnant, the entertainment site have betted $10,000 to any other site who questions them –woah! That's a LOT of money to be betting on something that is just a rumour.
The site also reports that she is over the moon about the pregnancy, which she is only alleged to have found out about recently.
It sounds like a big congrats could be in order for the singer – watch this space!
Soooo… Taylor Swift is coming to Dublin! Next June that is, but we're already getting excited!
Here are some things we reckon Taylor might get up to in Ireland during her stay:
1. Walk around St. Stephen’s Green like it's Central Park looking totally immaculate and feed the ducks
2. Fall in love with the guy who served her a (half) pint of Guinness and then write a song about him
3. Have a meet and greet with a fan that goes a little something like this:
4. Visit George’s St. Arcade holding her handbag on her wrist
5. Randomly show up outside Ed Sheeran’s extended family’s home with baked goods
6. Buy the vintage dress you tried on last week and look perfect in it. It looked like a potato sack on you – how is this possible, is this magic?
7. Go to Penney’s and buy the most ridiculous dressing gown she can find
8. Take photos at the top of Killiney Hill – even though you can’t imagine her actually climbing it
9. Call into Bono’s for tea afterwards and bring baked goods (that she made, obvs)
10. Go to a gig in Whelans and have a bit of a boogie
Roll on June!
