Cracking viewing for the first episode. Carol Thatcher dropping her pants and peeing next to her bed, the former EastEnders actress Elaine Lordan collapsing twice, and Ant and Dec in fine fettle. The bookies have Sid Owen and the permatanned Bargain Hunt presenter David Dickinson as the favourites. And if that wasn't enough, First Choice has improved the creative quality on its sponsorship idents. The annoying animated parakeets have finally been killed off.
Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
A group of people locked in a writer's retreat, which degenerates into a feast of blood, guts and self-mutilation, is the setting for Haunted, Chuck Palahniuk's latest book. The Fight Club author's latest is essentially a collection of grotesque short stories with a slickly written carrying plot. It has his usual hallmark twisted characters and the stories tap into many of the fears we face in a modern world. We think this is his best work since the brilliant Invisible Monsters.
Empire magazine's covers
Having produced a media first earlier this year with its "breathing" Darth Vader cover, Empire pulls it off again this month with its King Kong cover showing a rampaging Kong pulling apart the cover features. The Emap title is consistently one of the best-looking on the shelves and the content stands up to the test, too. Its review of 2005 is especially comprehensive.
Naked's recent "Madchester" party
Naked's "Naked Sessions" parties for friends and clients are usually lively events but its tenth session, an "our friends in the North" special celebrating the contribution of late 80s Manchester music, was probably the best yet. DJs included Clint Boon from the Inspiral Carpets and Peter Hook, the New Order bass player (who had hot-footed it straight from a gig at Brixton Academy to play at the party). It was good to see the Naked partners entering into the spirit with some inspired Madchester fancy dress. Cage dancing was scary but definitely an optional activity.
AND ONE THING WE DON'T ...
Cashing in on George Best
The front page of last Sunday's News of the World left a bitter taste in our mouths. The Sunday red-top proudly proclaimed that it was showing a picture of George Best dying in a hospital bed on the front cover as a warning to other people not to make the same mistakes as he had. While this sentiment is praiseworthy, you start to wonder how genuine it is when you discover half-way down the story that the picture was taken and sold by the former footballer's agent. Mind you, it was enough to make us eschew the vodka on the cornflakes and go for organic semi-skimmed instead.
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