Rush Poppers, Gordon Ramsay and Why We Deserve Better

The red tops have recently been full of the latest Ramsay outrage; a tiresome spat between Gordon Ramsay and his father-in-law. The "hooligan chef" who parades his half baked ideas about gastronomy, and fully formed aggression, in telly land seems to court controversy. In 2008 The News of The World gave a insight into this enfant terrible's lifestyle and perhaps the seeds of this latest debacle:

The News reported on a tryst in an expensive hotel where Ramsay met Sarah Symonds and followed her as she made a rush for Soho: "She left and travelled to Soho where she spent ten minutes browsing a sex shop called Simply Pleasure. She spent £10 on three small yellow bottles of amyl nitrate, branded Rave and Rush. Amyl nitrates, also known as poppers, are not illegal". (James Weatherup & Carole Aye Maung, 23/11/2008)

Being a simple fellow I thought poppers were some kind of popcorn, apparently not. Rush is in fact a peculiar form of liquid incense used in certain intimate rituals it seems. Apart from his potty mouth and ability to enrage genuinely talented folks like Marco Pierre White, why is this individual so beloved by TV producers? The answer is there if Britain cares to look. It is the same reason why prime-time telly is dominated by trashy confrontational junk like The X Factor - a showcase for rows and discord. These programmes, like Ramsay, feed the red tops with salacious tittle tattle, which boosts viewing, and then allows TV companies to sell ever more expensive advertising. A cosy arrangement you might think, but does it have a cost? Yes, it does! The cost is that a condones a form of unruly behaviour - take a look at the vomit drenched high streets of a Friday night - removes any sense of individual decorum (Ramsay the role model!) and denies REAL TALENT a platform. If you are a great chef with something of value to say, but do not resort to expletives and intimidation, or poppers fueled indiscretion, then what good are you!

Telly land is dominated by crude and avaricious men. The reason for this is the unholy alliance with the tabloids and the independent production companies. These companies are in a downward spiral ever trying to catch the attention of the couch potato with a new outrage. Confrontation sells, that is the message. This permeates TV from from morning to night, ever more angry and divisive. We deserve better and perhaps some of the politicians who bemoan "Broken Britain" should take a look at modern "culture" as decided by the likes of Cowell, Ramsay, and the other cashing in on this demise. No doubt Simon Cowell sitting in a jacuzzi eating Angel Delight, or Gordon Ramsay blinking through the exotic haze of poppers, do not give a damn, you should!

Russell Grant on Celebrity Coach Trip & in Los Angeles

More revelations in the ongoing Russell Grant mystery. It appears that Russell is off to Los Angeles to star in his own show "Russell Grant & Friends" - this is what he claimed when he appeared on Loose Women some time ago. Russell even invited the gals over to the States to appear on HIS show! Strangely there is no trace of the show anywhere yet? I wonder what has happened?

I have never heard of Sean Neilson, but he has somehow managed to get an intreview with the great man. Sam tells that there was a Facebook campaign to get Russell onto Strictly Come Dancing:

We spoke about his fan following and how he loves the people around him who follow his work and life and this was recently confirmed with a facebook group which had been set up to get Russell Grant on “Strictly Come Dancing” on the BBC – although it did not happen

Oh, did not happen...heard that before. The really interesting news is that Russell

is now at the moment currently on “Celebrity Coach Trip” with his amazingly talented and much loved friend Brendan Sheerin

There it is in BLACK & WHITE. Where did Sean Neilson get this info? One must assume from Russell Grant himself:

"Russell popped into my show for a quick chat about what he had been up and my goodness does this man work hard"

So Russell is on Celebrity Coach Trip! Hooray! I have taken a copy of Sean's website just in case there are any revisions - this sometimes happens in Russell's mysterious world of wonder.

See the interview plus a video of Russell Grant talking about astrology and his new show in LA here:

http://seanneilson984.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/its-all-in-the-stars-especially-for-my-friend-russell-grant/

Paul Burling wows in Chippenham

According to a local paper in glamorous Chippenham "dozens" of fans turned out to see Britain's Got Talent celebrity, Paul Burling. Paul was there to open the local Curry's / PC World store in Bath Road - the biggest electrical shop in the Chippenham area!! The smartly turned out staff watch as Paul does his thing...the gentleman on the left sporting the new "half mast" tie - trouser-hip combo seen recently in Paris and Rome.

Celebrity Coach Trip

"Astrologer Russell Grant has been approached by Channel 4 bosses for the new show" claimed Peter Dyke & Katie Begley for The Daily Star on September 16th.

However, according to leaks from Celebrity Coach Trip there is still no sign of him! I wonder what happened and indeed how Peter and Katie got this information? Unfortunately Russell has planned to be on many reality shows "Big Brother"..."I'm A Celebrity" etc but it never seems to happen! I wonder why....I wonder who might be the source of these tabloid rumours? As we all know Russell is a huge star in the firmament of celebrity and perhaps he can't be tempted away from all his other appearances? We, the viewing public, are the ones that are loosing out!

David Van Day and Tony Blackburn have already been booted off and the ghastly Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister are on board somewhere on the continent. Celebrity Cockroach Trip airs in January 2011.

Dine With Debbie – A Magical Touch

Watch out Gordon, Hugh, and others there's a new star in the gastronomic heaven, Paul Daniels' wife.

“Cooking is something I’ve always been passionate about. I’d love to present a cookery show.” says Mrs Daniels.

The lovely Debbie McGee has reinvented herself again! This time it is not an opera company or a talent agency, she is now a "celebrity chef" ...apparently. Anyway her book is out for Christmas and someone is making a TV show as well.

What will Debs be cooking? Looks like Mr Daniels' frugal and "down-to-earth" attitude has rubbed off! It's "Pain avec fromage et pommes" If you want to be posh you should cut the toast into triangles. Bon apetit!

Celebrity Coach Trip

According to The Daily Star Russell Grant was due to appear on the tasteful "Celebrity Coach Trip". However, his name does not appear among the first five:

The Chuckle Brothers - fine fellows actually.

Bianca Gascoigne and Imogen Thomas - who?

Ricky Groves and Alex Ferns - ex Eastenders. The blurb comments: "both have left their characters behind and are now working on other projects" What might that be one wonders: "a stint in the panto Aladdin this Christmas where they'll both be playing the same role but at different theatres" How strange is that!

Friends Carol Harrison and Ingrid Tarrant - Carol is also ex Eastenders (Tiffany's mother) Ingrid is Chris Tarrant's wife. "Ingrid has been to 107 countries" is one of her many claims to "fame"

Raphael 'Raef' Bjayou and Benjamin Duncan - oh well, that's the bottom of the barrel well and truly scaped.

I wonder what happened to Russell, perhaps he will get picked up in a layby outside Stuttgart?

"Celebrity Coach Trip" promises to keep up the usual standard of Channel Four (i.e no standards whatsoever) Coach Trip is one long trite "Don't Drink The Water" 1970's style insult to the intelligence. Sausage making in Germany and other stereotypical nonsense with some old drama queen called Brendan. The usual trippers make Jeremy Kyle's guests look cultured and by the look of it Celebrity Coach Trip will be sticking to that rule.

Paul Daniels in Hollywood

Paul Daniels has been in Hollywood, California. Whilst there he has managed to insult Slovenia (a team from the Methodist Youth Club of a place called Slovenia) Accuse Andy Murray of being Gordon Brown's love child and even accuse the former Prime Minister himself of taking up residence with Al Qaeda:

Why doesn't wee Andy Murray take some elocution lessons to project his voice upwards from that miserable muttering? I listen and grow more and more convinced he is Gordon Brown's love child.

As for Gordon, where has he gone? I suspect that all along he has known where Osama Bin Laden lives, and has moved in with him...

Wee Andy Murray?

Here are some other titbits from his inane ramblings:

Because various negotiations fell through we were lucky to have more days of freedom than we expected.

A lot of our time has been spent wandering along the streets and malls here.

For 45 years I have closed my show with a really good mystery that I developed all those years ago, a vanished piece of paper money turns up inside a walnut that was inside an egg that was inside a lemon. The walnut, egg and lemon routine has always been a real baffler and wraps the show up nicely.

I wonder if they are connected? Walnuts, eggs and lemons may be the ingredients of a tasty salad, but not entertainment in 2010. Put you old walnuts away Paul, sadly nobody wants to see them anymore.

Source: http://thelifeandtimesofpauldaniels.blogspot.com/