» Here be dragons
Dragons’ stars have been making their presence felt across Sussex – be afraid! It’s Celebcity with Jo Brooks
Well it’s back and boy have we missed it – no I am not talking about the summer, but BBC2’s Dragons’ Den! One dragon in particular, straight-talking Scottish entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, is set to open a brand new spa in Sussex.
Duncan, entrepreneur and star of the hit BBC show, has recently announced plans to spend a cool £500,000 on building the state-of-the-art venue as part of the existing Bannatyne’s Health Club in Hastings. The spa, which is due to open in October this year, will have one of the first type of tiled and heated relaxation chairs/loungers.
Still on the subject of the stars of Dragons’ Den, the only female dragon, Deborah Meaden, visited Brighton last week. She was here as part of a short film that is being made about her life and successes. The tycoon dropped in to the Brighton Housing Trust project based in Oriental Place, which currently houses 52 formerly homeless men and women. The place is no stranger to Deborah, as she lived there when it was a YWCA and she was studying business at Brighton Polytechnic!
Celebrity break up
Yes we’ve heard rumours for some time, but finally showbiz’s oddest couple, Gabriella Cheeky Girl and Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik, have officially split. Only a few weeks ago Lembit was dunking his Transylvanian lovely into a giant cup of tea in George Street.
Now it seems that, like a biscuit, the relationship has crumbled. According to Gabriella’s mum, Magrit (who I once had probably the most bizarre telephone conversation with) “the couple had not spoken for three weeks but my daughter is still wearing her engagement ring”. None the wiser there then!
McFly back in town
Set at the top of the charts and coming back to Brighton are everyone’s favourite boy band, McFly. Last year the band took a brave step in the music biz and opted to leave the record company that launched them, and basically went it alone on their own label, Super Records.
Their new album, One For The Radio, is completely funded by the four members of the band – not bad for four lads under 22! McFly play the Brighton Centre on Tuesday 18 November as part of their UK tour, tickets are on sale now, call 0870 900 9100.
Celeb threads
Celebrity tailor Gresham Blake has had his Bond Street shop full of celebrities last week. Firstly, sharp dressed comic Jimmy Carr popped down from London to see his favourite outfitter. Also in store – and Gresham tells me that he had a funny feeling that he might come in – was top psychic Colin Fry. Ooh, spooky!
Spotted!
Seen shopping in FSDS jewellery shop in Rottingdean, was actor Timothy Spall – recently seen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Peter Pettigrew. The actor was accompanied by a tall female companion, they browsed for about ten minutes and then got on a bus!
Jo Brooks is director of Brighton-based PR company JBPR Ltd
01273 622555, www.jb-pr.com
