Celebcity: Holly Willoughby turns to writing
Holly Willoughby turns to writing, Conor Maynard comes home & James McCartney makes music
Ex-Burgess Hill School for Girls’ pupils Kelly Willoughby and her slightly more famous sister Holly, have turned their school days into a new novel for children. The TV presenter and her sibling have mixed their own history with a healthy dose of imagination to create the new book series, ‘School For Stars’, for Orion publishers.
We were shocked to hear that the weighty new tome was almost completely constructed during one cab ride. Talking to the Mail recently, Holly explained: “By the time we got home in a cab – which took an hour and a half because there was so much traffic – we’d pretty much written the first book in terms of character and plot. You can’t physically write a book together, so Kelly does the writing and sends me bits by email and phones me up; we discuss what we want to happen next, then we meet up and develop it.”
Without wishing to detract from Holly’s talent, we can’t help but feel Kelly – described by the ever tactful Daily Mail as ‘a curvaceous brunette in an ultra-feminine polka dot dress’ – somewhat took the brunt of the workload here. However, we’re sure even Kafka would have struggled to write a novel around Holly’s busy celeb lifestyle – which includes presenting for seconds-at-a-time on each episode of BBC’s The Voice and having the second most requested hairstyle in Britain.
Incorporating what they call their ‘twee’ upbringing in Brighton, the first co-written novel of the series School For Stars: First Term At L’Etoile, ultimately explores ‘one of the most important things in the world – friendship’. Perhaps not quite War And Peace, but we predict the book will be a hit with the tween generation. Willoughby’s talents are endless…
Conor’s quiff
Brighton boy Conor Maynard has just returned to the UK after building his profile over the pond. Following the trip Conor took to Twitter to tell his fans, known endearingly as ‘Mayniacs’, that he desperately needed a new ‘do’. After minutes of anticipation, we were finally treated to a selfie (that’s a self-taken photograph to people who don’t call themselves ‘Mayniacs’ or ‘Beliebers’) and a comment explaining ‘The quiff has been tamed’. You can be assured that we will be keeping a close eye on all progress in this situation and updating when and where necessary.
Hot property
Fancy a new home in Hove? Australian actor, television presenter and comedian Mark Little is selling his detached, chalet-style home through Sawyer & Co. View it now by calling the Hove office on 01273 774488.
Mccartney’s music
After forging a career waiting tables in Brighton, Paul McCartney’s son James has finally taken to the stage with his own musical talents. His 20s saw The Beatles’ star’s son fight drink and drugs while trying to make ends meet in the city, but now, at 35 James is finally performing songs he’s been writing since he was 17 years old. Now reconciled with his father, James McCartney’s career seems to be on the up. Although it’s unlikely James will reach the popularity of the Fab Four we imagine it’s a whole lot better than living off tips from waiting tables.
Stars spread the love
After phenomenal successes in London and in Paris, Fishlove – the photographic project founded by Brighton Japanese restaurant Moshimo, continues its European journey next week as we launch the photographs in Rome. The one night ‘pop up’ event at the Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto takes place 2 July.
The photographs of celebrities with fish in their naked arms have brought the impending catastrophe of over-fishing to the world media’s attention. Taken by renowned photographers such as Rankin and Alan Gelati, the Fishlove series has featured Greta Scacchi, Jerry Hall, Lizzy Jagger, and French actress Melanie Laurent. Now, a list of illustrious Italian celebrities have joined the campaign to save the marine environment from collapse.
“The striking photographs are acting as a wake-up call to the world: end over-fishing, or our seas will be without fish within a generation,” says Nicholas Röhl, co-owner of Moshimo restaurant in Brighton, who founded the project with actress Greta Scacchi in 2009 in response to the crisis of collapsing fish stocks in our seas.
In one week alone, the Fishlove website, www.fishlove.co.uk, attracted 1.6 million hits. See next week’s column for some great party pics!
