FIERY RED TOP Rebekah Wade gets a dose of her own medicine
I ‘Bish! Bash! Bosh!“ sneered a jubilant Mirror as the editor of its arch rival delivered on a plate a fabulous circulation-boosting story in what Max Clifford described as ‘Christmas Day for other tabloid editors‘ (New York Times). But Rebekah Wade‘s little spat with her EastEnders hubbie Ross Kemp (AKA Grant Mitchell). prompted a bout of sniggering that certainly wasn‘t confined to the tabloids. ‘The day's events already had Fleet Street agog with lurid rumour.‘ sniggered the Independent. ‘then came news of a most bizarre twist.‘ That. of course. came with the revelation that Kemp‘s on-screen brother, Steve McFadden. had been subjected to an alleged assault by ‘HIS ex-Doris' (Mirror). Such an unusual coincidence. coming as it did on the back of what the Indie described as the ‘ratings-chasing return of the Mitchell brothers to the soap‘. led to an avalanche of conspiracy theories. The BBC‘s own media correspondent Torin Douglas even had to deny that the whole mess was a publicity stunt by the Beeb. although he did admit that 'you couldn‘t make it up'. Such a banker was the story that even Wade‘s own grubby organ opted to run it as a cover story (though its headline ‘EastEnders hardman beaten by lover' referred sneakin to McFadden. not Kemp). And sister Wapping title The Times. while playing down the story on its cover. let rip on page 5. with its headline ‘Hard man of EastEnders decked by the Ginger Ninja‘. Ouch.
THEATRE LUVVIE SHOCK
Air kissing is rife at National
Theatre launch
I ‘Ground breaking’, ‘cutting-edge’ and ‘a stroke of genius’. These were the bouquets being tossed by hacks in the direction of Vicky Featherstone and her National Theatre of Scotland team, to mark the long-awaited announcement of its programme for 2006. In The Scotsman, home of the Grande Dame of Scottish theatre criticism Joyce McMillan, an editorial opined that ‘there is a refreshing breadth to a menu that takes in everything from an affectionater recalled TV drama (Tutti Frutti) to true classics
10 THE LIST 1/ Nov 1 Her: 2005)
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TRAVEL MAGAZINES
It’s class war among holidaymakers
I Whether you’re a hippie or a Heat reader, exotic lands are hard to resist, and there are mainstream travel magazines to cater for every demographic. Taking the view that if celebs go there, it must be a holiday destination, Trip helpfully informs us that in Rome ‘even the policewomen are stylish'. The Edinburgh-based mag sees itself as the ‘blingingest’ contender, with shopping and celebrities topping the (diet-aware) menu. Claiming Paris Hilton as inspiration, Trip downplays cultural and spiritual fulfilment in favour of ‘the look‘ and natives falling for your ‘supermodel bod‘. Trip is pretty, with the occasional glimpse of something deeper. Just
like Paris.
I Moving distinctly upmarket, Condé Nast Traveller dives into deeper waters and native cultures. But consumerism is never far away. ‘Head to Wetnam, Cambodia and Laos for fine fabrics’, we’re told, and though the ‘where to shop’ guide may be handy, its breathtaking photos are marred by the difficulty of differentiating them from
adverts.
I Conversely, the only cost Wanderlust cares about is an environmental one. It is aimed at the independent traveller who cares less about Gucci wallets than the cows they’re made from. The 75th issue features the ‘75 wonders of the world’ as voted for by readers, and while its editor admits the ‘new, definitive list of the seven wonders . . . shouldn’t surprise you’, at least Paris Hilton’s hair isn’t one of them.
.i (The Crucible) . . .’ Over at The Herald, McMillan’s sparring partner Neil Cooper described the programme (and its launch) as
‘slick, glossy and thoroughly modern’, lauding in particular the presence of playwrights such as Anthony Neilson, Zinnie Harris and David Harrower. The breadth of ideas ‘should finally put paid to the heritage industry’s notion of a national theatre as an exercise in flag-waving parochialism’, he argued. Perhaps in such a small community, and with such a sense of history in the making, we should have expected that the critics would give the NTS an easy ride.
‘I find it really unnerving when I meet someone who says: “Oh, you’re so normal for a celebrity.” And I think: ‘Who have you met and what have they done to you?”
K T Tunsta/l on the vagaries of fame.
‘I’d much rather eat a half- pizza supper than a couple of cockles.’
Wonderful to see that Shar/een Spiteri won't he sucked into those hi- fa/utin' metropo/itan ways.
‘Edinburgh is one of the most romantic places in the world. I was there three years ago and I said I wouldn’t come back without a partner. I’m single just now, but I am keeping my eyes open.’
Gentlemen of Au/d Reek/e. he very afraid. Natasha Bedrngfie/d is out to get you.
‘It’s very courageous of MTV to start off the show with a transvestite.’ Cheeky Borat has a wee dig at Madonna current look.
‘I watched with my mouth open all the way through her performance. I can’t believe she’s 89 and looks like that.’
Robb/e Wi/l/ams [umps on the Madge- teasing bandwagon.
‘I think since my recovery I’ve become very spiritual because you have to have a spiritual awakening to get clean and sober.’
The very spiritual Daniel/a Westbrook.