It appears the world’s appetite for anything related to Princess Diana has not abated. Plans are afoot to make a film about her affair with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.

Naomi Watts is tipped to play the title role.

From the BBC:

British-born actress Naomi Watts is to portray Princess Diana in a new film believed to explore her relationship with the heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.

The pair had a discreet romantic affair that began in 1995 and ended a few months before her death in August 1997.

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, Caught in Flight is described as “a compelling portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales during the last two years of her life”.

Watts, 43, said it was “such an honour to be able to play this iconic role”.

“Princess Diana was loved across the world, and I look forward to rising to the challenge of playing her on screen,” she continued.

Produced by Ecosse Films, whose previous features include John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, the movie will begin shooting in the UK later this year.

Source.

Could be interesting! What do you think?

Naomi Watts to Play Princess Diana in Upcoming Biopic is a post from: Anglotopia.net

By Larry Jaffee, Editor & Publisher, Walford Gazette (www.wgazette.com)

Recently watching Georgy Girl for the first time since I was a wee lad in the late 1960s, it occurred to me that the time has come for a remake of this Swingin’ London drama, on the heels of Alfie and The Italian Job getting made over for the big screen in recent years.

Okay, I’m going to stick out my neck here and nominate former EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy (EE’s Sonia Jackson) for the title role, for which Lynn Redgrave earned an Oscar nomination in the 1966 original. Separated at birth by an even 40 years, their physical resemblance is uncanny.

Both publicly struggled with their weight: Redgrave was a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers, while Cassidy starred in a workout video, only to have the tabloids report on every-pound she has gained since then.

True, Redgrave, who died in 2010, was born into an aristocratic acting dynasty, while Cassidy overcame her working-class trappings as a child actor plucked out of obscurity by EastEnders talent scouts at Anna Scher’s influential drama school in North Islington for the less advantaged at the mere age of 10.

In 1966 Georgy Girl was among the biggest-grossing British import films in the U.S., no doubt helped along by a No. 1 pop hit single in the title song by The Seekers during the opening credits. Hell, I can already hear Adele’s inevitable cover version for the soundtrack.

In Georgy Girl, Redgrave plays a recent college graduate daughter of a working-class butler; she makes ends meet by teaching music to underprivileged children. In one of Sonia’s earliest EastEnders scenes that made an impression she was seen tooting on a trumpet, busking outside the Walford East Tube stop.

A second epiphany of ‘Cassidy as Redgrave’ hit me this past week while watching an EastEnders episode on US public TV – 7-1/2 years behind the U.K. – when the former’s alter ego, Sonia Jackson, became engaged to Martin Fowler. What a ride they’ve had! He knocked her up when she was still a teenager; Sonia didn’t even know she was preggers, reluctantly giving up Chloe for adoption.

A few years later, the ugly ducking (not unlike Georgy) finally finds love with a cute boy seemingly way out of her league, Jamie Mitchell, only for her fiancé to meet the carwheels of the reckless DWI Martin. A few years later, Sonia and Martin are drawn together. It sort of made sense considering the roller coaster they had shared.

Cassidy’s final scenes as Sonia as a regular EastEnders character were screened in February 2007, although she’s made two appearances since then, the latest being about a year ago to attend Ricky and Bianca’s second wedding.

If Alfie (1967) told Swingin’ London from Michael Caine’s male perspective, Georgy Girl tells it from a female, borne out by Redgrave’s pathos as a lonely 20-something looking for true love.

Redgrave went onto a solid acting career, albeit overshadowed by her more controversial sister Vanessa. Lynn followed Georgy Girl, which won her an Oscar nomination, with Smashing Time (1967), which presented fun Swingin’ London, in contrast to Georgy Girl’s relatively dark themes of unwanted pregnancy and adultery.

Jos, played by young and handsome Alan Bates, is chauvinistic and aimless but knows how to have a good time with or without protection. Tired of waiting for Georgy’s glamorous roommate Meredith (played by then-‘It Girl’ Charlotte Rampling) back at the flat, her boyfriend Jos finds he has more in common with Georgy than Meredith. What emerges is an uneasy threesome, sans any further sex.

Meanwhile, nearly 30 years her elder, James Mason plays married lawyer James Leamington, who makes Georgy an indecent proposal, in a legal contract, for her to become his mistress. Georgy’s father is unfazed way that his employer is looking to soil his only daughter, who from his perspective, looks ahead to spinsterhood.

Obviously my 10-year-old self missed all the heady subtext when I caught the movie on television after school one afternoon in 1968 on Channel 9’s ‘Million Dollar Movie’.

Mason’s lech recalls his role in Lolita. Georgy reluctantly marries Leamington after his wife unexpectedly dies, and she falls in love not with him but with Meredith’s baby, in a plot development that could have easily ended up on EastEnders with Sonia as the protagonist.

About 10 years ago Cassidy and I briefly met at EastEnders’ Elstree studio, and we discussed among other things our mutual love of Frank Sinatra’s music. The Walford Gazette’s Tim Wilson interviewed her the previous year.

Come on, Pinewood, Hollywood, anyone? Save this fine actress from another round of Celebrity Big Brother!

A few weeks ago, Larry Jaffee hosted with the New York British Film & Telly Meet-Up Group a Georgy Girl screening as a promotion for his forthcoming magazine, UK:Cue.

Guest Post: How About a Georgy Girl Remake Starring Natalie Cassidy? is a post from: Anglotopia.net

So, did you go to Time Lord Fest in Tampa, FL? If so, did you say Hi to Scott and Debbie? Don’t worry if you didn’t make it. Scott was kind enough to record most of it for you. Rather than post one podcast of three hours and thirty-three minutes in length (seriously), we’re breaking it into several bits. This podcast covers the first event of the evening – Welcome to Time Lord Fest Tampa/Season 6 in Review, featuring Scott & Debbie Viguié, Ken Spivey, Jeffrey Breslauer, and John Reid Adams. We hope that you enjoy the discussion!

Download this podcast from Itunes or Subscribe to our RSS Feed.

Article 35

Shadow Proclamation Podcast: Article 35 – Welcome to Time Lord Fest is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Londonist Out Loud a podcast for London news, views, and oddities from London, UK. Presented by N Quentin Woolf. (free on iTunes/www.londonist.com)

Welcome to the latest episode of Londonist Out Loud, a podcast about London.

News and Views
Londonist Out Loud is presented and produced by N Quentin Woolf. This week’s show comes from the unusual environment of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park near Mile End tube station.

His guests this week are:

Londonist Out Loud: A Podcast For London, 31 January 2012 is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The retailer Journeys is running a Woman in Black themed sweepstakes offering a free trip to Britain as a prize. If you’re a Harry Potter or Daniel Radcliffe fan – then this is the contest for you! Act fast though, you have until February 10th to enter.

Here are the prize details:

Enter for a chance to win a trip for two to London, England, including:

- round-trip coach airfare for two (2) from winner’s nearest major airport
- double occupancy hotel accommodations for four (4) days and three (3) nights
- round trip airport transfers in London.

Entrants must be a legal resident of the contiguous 48 United States and the District of Columbia (U.S.), age 18 or older at time of entry. Void outside the U.S., in AK, HI, Puerto Rico.

You have to enter by February 10th – so act quickly!

Anglotopia Contest Disclaimer – PLEASE READ – before you email us and complain about the contest please understand that we are NOT running this contest NOR are we affiliated with it in anyway. We are merely providing the information that this contest exists.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ENTER.

Anglophile Alert: Win a Woman in Black Themed Trip to Britain – Enter by February 10th! is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Londonist Out Loud a podcast for London news, views, and oddities from London, UK. Presented by N Quentin Woolf. (free on iTunes/www.londonist.com)

Welcome to the latest episode of Londonist Out Loud, a podcast about London.

News and Views
Londonist Out Loud is presented and produced by N Quentin Woolf. This week’s show comes from The Star cafe in Soho.

His guests this week are:

• Peter Berthoud, Westminster tour guide and blogger at Discovering London
• Jo Moncrieff, Westminster tour guide
• Julia Forte, proprietor of The Star, and owner of the London Peculiar website

The guests discuss recent London news and features including Crossrail developments, the noses of Soho, London’s worst Tube stations, police spending on the Speaking Clock, the ‘Boris Island’ Thames airport proposals, new libraries for London, trouble with the English Defence League, as well as far more London trivia than is probably good for you.

What’s On In London
NQW rounds up the best new exhibitions and shows opening over the coming week.

Remember, you can subscribe to Londonist Out Loud via iTunes or RSS.

Sponsored by Open Pen. Interested in sponsoring this podcast? Contact us on hello@londonist.com for more details.

Londonist Out Loud: A Podcast For London, 23 January 2012 is a post from: Anglotopia.net

We found this audio recording of the BBC reporting that the King had died and that Britain now had a new Queen.

Very sad and moving.

Diamond Jubilee: The Moment She Became Queen is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Saturday Night Live has taken on Downton Abbey by spoofing it as if it were a TV show on the American cable network Spike (a network known for it’s lowbrow male centered TV).

It’s hilarious!

Check it out below:

Downton Abbey: Saturday Night Live Takes on Downton Abbey is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This week’s Top Gear takes us to America and China. There isn’t one grand journey for our crew this week. Instead, Richard goes to America to explore the strange American tradition of NASCAR and James and Jeremy go to China to find out if we’ll all be driving Chinese cars one day.

Richard’s exploration of NASCAR was actually very interesting. I’m not a NASCAR fan so it was nice to see someone explain it. Even as an American it explained some things I didn’t understand about it.

My favorite part of the episode was then all the hosts agreed that: ‘Americans are unbelievably easily amused.’ This is not a statement I disagree with.

There was nothing of great interest in the News section as they mostly only talked about cars that will be sold in Europe.

Jeremy reviewed the Mercedes SLS. It’s an impressive car and goes around the track at an impressive clip. However, I found the review rather Charmless.

The Star in a Reasonably Priced Car this week was Matt LeBlanc. He was a great guest and interviewed well. They mostly talked about his show Episodes which is due to back to TV soon. He ends up with the fastest turn around the track and is now at the new top of the standings. Knocked Rowan Atkinson off the top!

After that Jeremy and James go off to Beijing to answer the question of whether or not we’ll all be driving Chinese cars in the future. They go an amusing journey looking at the types of cars available in China. They expound on the fact that the Chinese like to copy things.

It’s an interesting exploration of the current state of the Chinese Auto industry and the Chinese auto consumer. They also get to meet The Stig’s Chinese cousin whose favorite is hobby is to attack people.

All in all it’s pretty interesting episode of Top Gear and I enjoyed watching them explore America as well as China. As always, looking forward to next week.

What did you think of Top Gear Series 18, Episode 2? Let us know in the comments!

Top Gear: Series 18 Episode 2 Review – Richard Goes NASCAR, James and Jeremy go to China is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Like it or not the Harry Potter movies are over, and actor Daniel Radcliffe – despite having  enough in the bank to walk away forever – is trying to move onto the next stage of his career. He’s already performed on stage to some acclaim, but his next movie project was always going to be highly-anticipated, and doubtless the knives were out when it was announced he’d be donning sideburns for a Victorian horror story.

Radcliffe plays Arthur Kipps, a widow and single father following the death of his wife in childbirth.  But money still has to be made, and his law firm boss sends him off on a last-chance assignment to sort out the will of Alice Drablow, the last resident of Eel Marsh House. As soon as he arrives in the small village nearby, things seem wrong. The locals don’t want him to stay, children are hurried indoors when he passes by, and only local landlord Daily (Hinds) offers the hand of friendship.

Eel Marsh House is on at island at the end of a causeway that gets cut off by the tide twice a day, and en route Arthur sees a cross in the boggy marshland. On arrival at the spooky, dusty house he gets to work exploring and working – but then he begins to hear noises upstairs, and then sees a mysterious Woman in Black in the grounds.

Soon Arthur learns that all the locals have lost children in unexplained accidents, and though Daily dismisses it all as superstition (despite his wife (McTeer) and her obsession with their own dead child), Arthur realizes that his own son’s imminent arrival could be a journey to death.

Establishing a frightening tone immediately (three small girls calmly jump from a building together), this is classic, haunted house, jump-out-of-your-seat stuff. There’s minimal dialogue and almost no music, with the sounds of creaking wood, footsteps and unexplained noises doing all the work instead of lots of blood, over-the-top CGI and an obvious soundtrack.

That may explain its short running time – it’s really only the last 10 minutes or so before there’s any real pace to the story – and as ever with horror movies it’s always hard to understand why people ignore warning signs and go into the cellar or out into the dark.

Adapted from the book by Susan Hill (and with a stage version that’s been running in London since 1989 – the second longest-running play ever next to Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” – this movie is from raised-from-the-dead British studio Hammer and, despite Radcliffe’s struggle to convey fear or surprise very well, solid performances, stunning scenery and tight direction make for a surprisingly good shocker. Hopefully “Harry” fans will give it a try!

THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Director: James Watkins  

Duration: 95 mins

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer

Score: 4 out of 5

Review by JAMES BARTLETT

Brit Movie Reviews: The Woman in Black Review – Daniel Radcliffe post-Harry Potter is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Fall is a gripping psychological thriller that forensically examines the lives of two hunters. One is a serial killer who stalks his victims at random in and around Belfast and the other is a talented female Detective Superintendent on secondment from the MET who is brought in to catch him.

Gillian Anderson confirmed in lead role of Allan Cubitt’s new BBC Two drama series The Fall is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Many Doctor Who and David Tennant fans have been waiting for The Decoy Bride for some time. It’s had a strange release schedule (being released in Italy months ago for some reason). But it’s finally opened in the USA on the IFC On Demand service. It will open in US theaters in march.

This is David Tennant’s first turn at becoming the next Hugh Grant – i.e. star of British romantic comedies. The question is – does he succeed? We’ll get to that.

The movie starts with a hoax as movie star Lara tries to throw off the paparazzi to keep her wedding to David Tennant’s character secret. It doesn’t work.

David plays a famous, unassuming author named James Arber, who’s engaged to marry the American mega-celebrity. In spirit it could be a sequal to something like Notting Hill. David expertly dons his English accent which is a nice change as he’s mostly used his native Scottish accent in his recent roles.

The main setting is a charming little Scottish Isle called Hegg (it’s not a real place, it was filmed on the Isle of Man). It’s portrayed as the most remote place in the UK – which makes it the perfect place to stage a celebrity wedding. Until the media finds out their grand plan.

Kelly McDonald stars as a romantically inept islander returning home with her tail between her legs. It’s really nice to see Kelly McDonald is a non-serious role and taking a turn at comedy. She’s mostly known in America for her dower and dramatic role in Boardwalk Empire but here she signs as the awkward islander who gets swept up in the celebrity wedding as the decoy bride to throw off the paparazzi.

The movie is charming in the way that only an independent movie about some far off place in Britain can be. The American characters are probably the worst part of the movie and it really could have done without them. They’re so unnecessary that their plot thread is not even resolved at the end of the movie.

There’s a lot in the movie that doesn’t make much sense but that doesn’t make it not fun and charming. I guess just don’t think about the plot too deeply. It has kind of a strange ending but it works. David Tennant could certainly continue playing romantic roles – he gets the comedy timing right and he’s of course charming as always.

Overall it’s a fun little movie and we recommend it.

You can rent it now on IFC On Demand for $9.99 or you can wait until it’s released in theaters in a few weeks time.

If you’re curious – here’s the trailer:

Brit Movie Reviews: The Decoy Bride Review Starring David Tennant and Kelly MacDonald is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Free Events

1. Olympic and Paralympic Cycling Road Races
July 28 – August 1, 2012
There are lots of ways to enjoy the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games without a ticket. Some of the most iconic events will be able to be viewed from great vantage points at no cost. The men’s and women’s Road Races will begin on The Mall, a popular backdrop for formal ceremonies and major sporting events throughout the year. From The Mall, the riders will head southwest through London, cross the famous River Thames at Putney Bridge and continue out through Richmond Park past Hampton Court Palace. Before the riders make it back to The Mall for a dramatic finish, they will head to Surrey, travel north through Leatherhead, Esher and Kingston.
(www.london2012.com/cycling-road) And LOCOG have just announced that they are increasing the capacity for spectators at one of the best viewpoint – Box Hill – from 3,500 to up to 15,000 http://www.london2012.com/news/2012/01/more-spectators-will-enjoy-best-views-of-olympic-cycling-road-race.php

2. Olympic Marathons
July 5 and 12, 2012
The Olympic and Paralympic marathons will start and finish at The Mall, an iconic location in central London most recently famous as part of the wedding route for the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Each race will have around 80 athletes taking part, making it a heart-pumping spectacle worth watching.
(www.london2012.com/athletics)

3. Olympic Sailing
July 29 – August 11, 2012
The deep sapphire blue waters of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour will play host to 10 sailing events over the course of 14 days during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These free events will offer fans excitement and drama as they watch teams race in the beautiful but testing waters on the southern coast of England.
(www.london2012.com/sailing)

4. Olympic Race Walks
August 4 and 11, 2012
Known for its regal beauty and nature, visitors can watch the Race Walks which begin and finish at The Mall in St James’s Park. Along the 2 kilometre race loop, visitors can take in the sites of Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, and the Commonwealth Memorial Gates.
(www.royalparks.org.uk/London2012.cfm)

5. Olympic Live Sites
With large screens carrying live broadcasts of the Olympic events, visitors in at least 20 locations around the UK will have the best seat in the house to watch their favourite event. Screens will feature a broad range of UK-wide and local content in partnership with community, arts and media organizations.
(www.london2012.com/get-involved/live-sites/index.php)

Affordable Attractions

6. Museum of London Docklands
Occupying a Georgian warehouse on the banks of the West India Quay in trendy East London, home to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Museum of London Docklands is a great place to take the kids and entry is free. Visitors can explore 12 galleries of artefacts, paintings, engravings and photographs that chart the history of the area from the Romans to present day.
(www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands)

7. Mudchute Farm and Park
Europe’s largest urban farm is overlooked by Canary Wharf’s skyscrapers in East London. With 34 acres of open parkland, in the heart of the Isle of Dogs, visitors can easily be in the British
countryside just miles away from central London. The farm and park offers visitors the experience to ride horses and pet sheep, pigs, ducks, geese and llamas. Picnics are welcomed and entry is free.
(http://mudchute.org)

8. The London Pass
The London Pass is a great way to experience London like never before. Travellers who purchase this pass at VisitBritain’s online shop prior to going overseas can save on the retail price. The pass allows visitors free entry into over 50 top attractions in London, which can save those on a budget up to £500 on entrance fees. Top attractions include Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, London Zoo, St Paul’s Cathedral, Wembley Stadium and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
(www.visitbritainshop.com/usa)

Affordable Accommodation

9. 3 star accommodation is available during the Games at St Giles Hotel in the heart of the West End / Bloomsbury for only £199 per room per night including breakfast and VAT for up to two persons sharing, while studio accommodation is available atCitadines Barbican from just £150 per night on a self catering basis.
http://www.stgiles.com/
http://www.citadines.com/uk/london/barbican.html

10. citizenM, Glasgow, Scotland
Recently opened in 2010, citizenM offers travellers on a budget an affordable luxury hotel in the heart of Glasgow’s city centre. This high-technology accommodation allows guests self check-in on touch screen terminals and has a food and beverage outlet, canteenM, that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Guestrooms are outfitted with a light and sound system that can be controlled with the touch of a button.
(www.citizenmglasgow.com)

11. Cambridge Colleges – Bed and Breakfast, Cambridge, England
Cambridge, a city of all seasons, may be a small city but it still packs a punch and offers
affordable accommodations just 45 minutes from London via rail. Trace the footsteps of college
graduates such as Newton and Darwin and stay in a room at one of the Cambridge colleges.
Staying in an historic Cambridge college accommodation during the London 2012 Games is a
unique opportunity that offers bed and breakfast service.
(http://www.cambridgerooms.co.uk/

12. Camping
There are lots of camp sites being set up in and around London specially for the Olympic Games. For example Camp In London, set in a lovely, 19-hectare green field in Walthamstow, East London is being transformed into one of the largest campsites that London has seen. It is just 4 miles from the heart of the city of London and less than a 10 minute free shuttle bus ride from the Olympic Park. It has great facilities and its own international festival running throughout the duration of the Games. You can stay in a pre-erected tent for just £40 pppn or pitch your own tent for just £15 pppn.
(http://www.campinlondon.com/)

For other great ways to experience the magic of the Olympic Games on a budget go to www.visitbritain.com

12 winning ways to enjoy the Olympic Games on a budget is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Musician Ally Rhodes has written a lovely song dedicated to Doctor Who’s River Song. She describes it as a song about the triumph of love over predetermined destiny.

Check it out below! It’s lovely!

You can buy the song on iTunes!

http://allyrhodes.net
http://twitter.com/allyrhodesmusic
http://facebook.com/allyrhodesmusic
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ally-rhodes/id429975858

Doctor Who: The Ballad for River Song by Ally Rhodes is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Breaking news for Downton Abbey Fans – Shirley MacLaine has been cast in Downton Abbey series 3 as Lady Grandtham’s Mother (Elizabeth McGovern).

Downton Abbey Season three begins filming next month and will air in the UK this fall and in the USA in 2013.

This is great casting and should add some interesting characters to the cast. This means that either someone pays a visit to America or America comes to Downton (one would hope for a certain special event that I can’t talk about until it finishes airing on PBS).

Source.

Downton Abbey: Shirley MacLaine Cast as Lady Grantham’s Mother is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This video is making the rounds on the web and we thought it was fun and worth sharing. A German Doctor Who fan set out to build her own TARDIS and documented the entire process in excruciating detail.

The result is a fun and whimsical journey down the time vortex.

Check it out!

Doctor Who: German Anglophile Builds a TARDIS in her House is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The producers of Top Gear promised to blow up a caravan and film it if they reached 10,000,000 fans on Facebook.

This is the result:

Brilliant!

Top Gear Hits 10 Million Fans on Facebook – Blow up a Caravan in Celebration is a post from: Anglotopia.net

One of our favorite yearly British Sporting events is the 6 Nations Rugby Cup and this year it will be airing in the USA again on BBC America.

Here are the airdates:

Scotland vs. England
Murrayfield in Edinburgh
Saturday, February 4, 12 pm ET

France vs. Ireland
Stade de France in Paris
Saturday, February 11, 3 pm ET

England vs. Wales
Twickenham in London
Saturday, February 25, 11 am ET

Wales vs. Italy
Millennium Stadium in Cardiff
Saturday, March 10, 9:30 am ET

England vs. Ireland
Twickenham in London
Saturday, March 17, 1 pm ET

All the matches will be airing live. It’s a lot of fun!

6 Nations Rugby Cup Coming Live to BBC America is a post from: Anglotopia.net

There’s a fun website called How it Should Have Ended that takes gaping plot holes from popular movies and re-imagines their endings based on fixing them.

In this video they present how Harry Potter should have ended and it really makes a lot of sense!

Source.

Hilarious Video: How Harry Potter Should Have Ended is a post from: Anglotopia.net

HBO has released the first proper trailer of the second season of Game of Thrones which premieres on HBO on April 1st, 2012.

Check it out below:

We can’t wait!

Game of Thrones Season 2 Trailer Preview Video Released – Watch Now! is a post from: Anglotopia.net

The Top Gear Christmas India Special elicited much negative responses – but Britain’s newspapers and the commenters on this site itself. So, in Top Gear fashion, they sought to address that at the beginning of series 18. By starting with a joke and proving that they really don’t care what any of us have to say.

With the first episode of series 18, Top Gear is back in form as we expect and is definitely stronger than the previously mentioned Christmas special.

We get a tantalizing preview of what’s to come in series 18 and it looks exciting – the most surprising bit of information was that there’s going to be 7 total episodes – not 6 as has been standard lately.

The big feature of this episode was an Italian Supercar road trip across Italy. I don’t really care nor am I impressed by supercars. But it was still a fun adventure, especially as they each deal with the quirks of their cars and the quirks of Italy in general. I think the most amazing bit of information was that when Richard’s car breaks down, the manufacturer drove a new one all the way from England to Italy overnight.

The most controversial line of the episode is probably this one when Jeremy says “Tahiti is terrible. It’s full of Americans looking at Dolphins.” Eagle eyed will need to watch it when it airs on BBC America to see if that’s edited out.

The news segment was surprisingly uncontroversial but they covered a few interesting topics.

The star in the reasonably priced care was Will.I.Am and he was an interesting interview. He’s starting his own car company making strange-looking hybrid cars putting economically disadvantaged people to work – which impressed Jeremy.

Overall is was a strong start to series 18 and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

What did you think of Top Gear Series 18 – Episode one? Let us know in the comments!

Top Gear: Series 18 Episode 1 Review – Italian Supercar Race Across Italy is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Liverpool is famous for many things – the Mersey ferry, the unique ‘scouse’ dialect and for being awarded the prestigious title of ‘European Capital of Culture’ in 2008. More famous than all these factors combined though, is the fact that Liverpool is the birthplace of one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in rock and roll history – The Beatles.

For all die hard Beatles fans a pilgrimage to Merseyside is a must – and with Liverpool hotels available at great prices if you book early, plus the great selection of transport links to the city, there is no better weekend away for a Beatles die-hard than a couple of days in the ‘pool.’

For the true Beatles experience, check out these great places of interest.

The Casbah Coffee Club – 8 Hayman’s Green Liverpool L12 7JG

The Casbah Coffee Club is where it all began for the Beatles and you can now visit the unique basement club where they played some of there very first gigs. John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, at the time part of ‘The Quarrymen’, helped the proprietor paint the club in its early days. The clubs’ underground room, an ex-coal cellar, is now Grade II listed as recommended by English Heritage.

The Beatles’ Childhood Homes – Woolton and Allerton, Liverpool

In an excursion run by the National Trust, you can experience the childhood homes of both John Lennon and Paul McCartney in a tour of Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road. Investigate the area and landmarks that inspired many of The Beatles most famous hits and the houses where the Beatles met, rehearsed and composed some of the most iconic rock and roll songs of a generation.

The Beatles Story – Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AD

To get a real education on just how four lads from Liverpool went on to become one of the greatest bands of all time, visit The Beatles Story. The Beatles Story is an award winning one-of-a-kind attraction which takes you through the life, music and culture of The Beatles, through a series of fun and interactive features.

The Cavern Club – 10 Mathew St Liverpool L2 6RE

If the Casbah was where the Beatles were born, it is Cavern where they really began to blossom into the band we know and love today, playing the now famous club almost 300 times in the 1960’s. First opened as a jazz club in 1957, the Cavern is still one of Liverpool’s top music venues.

Guest Post: Visit Liverpool for the True Beatles Experience – Top Beatles Attractions in Liverpool England is a post from: Anglotopia.net

YouTuber BabelColour has taken a clip from every Doctor Who story (minus the lost ones) from 1963 to the modern day and combined them into one video.

Awesome.

From the video description:

An updated and expanded version of my 2008 video, detailing every Doctor Who adventure from ‘An Unearthly Child’ in 1963 right up to ‘The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe’ Christmas Special. But remember, there are still 106 episodes missing from the BBC archives.

The re-coloured clip of ‘The Mind of Evil’ is one of several from the UNIT documentary on the ‘Day of the Daleks’ DVD. Clips from other missing serials have come from a variety of different sources. I have hand-colourised the ‘Ambassadors of Death’ trailer clip especially for this video tribute.

The numbering is a personal issue. I consulted with Wikipedia when compiling the tribute but I disagreed with some of the decisions made by the people who contributed to the page. ‘A Good Man Goes To War’ is not, in my opinion, part of a two-episode story with ‘Let’s Kill Hitler’. The storyline, locations, guest artists and directors are all different. Similarly, I consider ‘Utopia’ to be a single episode, with a suffiently different plot (an a different director) to the 2-part ‘Sound of Drums’/'Last of the Time Lords’. Other fans are bound to be in uproar, but it all comes down to personal opinion. All I can suggest to those who disagree is… go make your own tribute!

Doctor Who: Every Doctor Who Story from 1963 to 2011 in one Video is a post from: Anglotopia.net

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was on the red carpet for the first movie in which he plays an adult role as The Woman in Black held its world premiere at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Daniel Radcliffe sheds Harry Potter image in new film The Woman in Black is a post from: Anglotopia.net

This. Is. Awesome.

CNET Looks at the TARDIS safe that is unlocked with your smart phone – Coming Late 2012!

Doctor Who: Company to Release TARDIS Safe that Opens with Your Mobile is a post from: Anglotopia.net