Latest 7 magazine

X Factor Frankie’s love links, axed Terry’s new single, Jordan’s identity stolen, and Chris Addison

FRANKIE’S ADMIRERS

So our Frankie continues to hang onto his X Factor place as well as his many female admirers. Rumours were rife that he had a soft spot for fellow contestant Amelia, who got the boot last week after Kelly Rowland had to get rid of one of her final four. Other reports have linked him to Geordie Shore’s busty babe Holly Hagan, famed for her ability to down shots from her cleavage, among other winning attributes. But apparently Frankie has no time for the girls at the moment, preferring to concentrate on more musical pursuits. We’re sure he’ll more than make up for it once the show’s finished though – he might even give One Direction’s Lothario Harry a run for his money!
Read the rest of this article »

Sugababes return

The Sugababes were in Brighton recently to promote their banging new single ‘Freedom’ as they put the finishing touches to their 8th studio album. The ’Babes popped in to Brighton’s own radio station – Juice FM – to talk music, marriage and mutts with Guy and Andrea. After enjoying a well deserved break the girls are feeling ready to take on the charts once again. Their free time was spent relaxing in their different ways; whilst Amelle enjoyed spending some quality time with her little pooch, Heidi indulged her domestic side by getting involved in some home cooking and Jade has become a budding painter – how sickeningly talented they all are! Of course Juice couldn’t resist asking the girls about their love lives and Heidi admitted that she was in the midst of preparing a winter wedding to her fiancée, none other than the cheeky cockney TV presenter Dave Berry. Guy made a pitch to be the official wedding DJ and as he promised to deliver ‘ratpack, swing type stuff’. Heidi agreed to consider negotiations; good luck Guy! The Sugababes anticipate that their new album will be released later this year, which will be followed by a UK tour, coming to Brighton in early 2012. Watch this space.
Read the rest of this article »

Samantha from The X Factor, Judge Jules set to sizzle and chart topper Jordan ‘Rizzle’ Stevens

It’s a big yes on The X Factor
The south east’s music talent continues to be showcased on this year’s X Factor. Last Saturday, we were thrilled to watch wannabe X Factor winner Samantha Hallam as she was proposed to by her boyfriend Paul Ricketts on stage in front of the 5,000 strong audience, not to mention the millions of Saturday night viewers.
Read the rest of this article »

A Brighton face on The X Factor, a Sussex girl stars with Jessie J, Jacob Plant gets set for Shakedown

Homegrown stars

It was a cheeky little surprise when I turned on The X Factor and saw local lad Frankie Cocozzas’s face staring back at me – and that wasn’t the end of it! Before wowing judges with his indie-rock version of ‘Valerie’, Frankie reminded the audience why Brighton is known as the naughty capital of England – by dropping his trousers for the camera. Frankie has always been a hit with ladies around town and by the look of things his appeal is about to go nationwide! I love to see a Brightonian do well and we’ll be backing Frankie (ooerr!) all the way to the finals.

Frankie Cocozza is not the only local young talent making it onto our TV screens lately. Nine-year-old Ysabel Hardy from Horsham was lucky enough to star in Jessie J’s latest video. The ‘Who’s Laughing Now’ video sees Jessie J back at school re-living her turbulent childhood alongside girls such as our own Ysabel, in a typically tongue-in-cheek way. Ysabel was thrilled to be picked to take part and I love the video. Let’s hear it for our homegrown young talent!

Everybody’s reading Andrea Levy
We’re avid readers at the JBPR office so we were delighted to hear that award-winning writer Andrea Levy is the chosen author for this year’s Brighton and Hove City Reads Festival. Levy’s latest work, The Long Song, a follow up to her Whitbread-awarded and Orange prize-winning novel Small Island, will form the central work of the festival, with events, discussions and debates around the work being held from 17 September–9 October. Tickets are available for all events from Brighton Dome’s box office; we’ll be rushing to see Andrea Levy herself in conversation on 9 October, and getting down at the Bob Marley And The Wailer’s evening with Colin Grant. Oh, and of course we’ll be hanging with the hipsters at dub-poet Linton Kwesi Johnson’s night on 8 October. who knew reading could be so trendy?

Wonderkid Jacob Plant
Shakedown Festival was already set to be the Brighton summer music event, with sets from Razorlight, Example, Ed Sheeran and Freemasons on the day. But the latest signing has got us particularly excited. Shakedown has just announced that Jacob Plant – the 19-year-old DJ/Producer – is the latest artist to be added to the bill. If, like us, you’re a bass-line addict then you’ve probably come across Plant’s tracks on Ministry of Sound’s latest compilations or Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show.

Jacob is fast becoming a major force on the dance scene, having worked with and remixed a whole load of the hottest artists including Tinie Tempah, Britney Spears, Ellie Goulding and Modestep. Music Week has hailed him as the latest “Wonderkid” and his eclectic mix of electro-pop and dirty dubstep is enough to get anyone going. Tickets for Shakedown Festival are still available online and in local record stores – check out www.shakedown.co.uk for more details. See you on 17 September!

Spotted!
We spotted Lawrence LLewelyn-Bowen tucked into a quiet corner of the Hilton Metropole recently. The design guru was engrossed in a book and couldn’t put it down. We can only assume he was getting involved for City Reads and was devouring Andrea Levy’s latest – the man has always had good taste!