Maggiemags

Ooo! That's awfully impressive! Go us!! I do hope they all join in.

Many of us have made firm friendships through ggates and have continued them on these boards, and we thought it would be a nice idea to offer you the opportunity to make a donation to Body and Soul - the HIV and Aids charity of which Gareth is patron - rather than sending cards to each other. If you would like to do this, email Maggiemags via this link: garethbodyandsoul@btinternet.com and she will send you details. If you already have her address through purchasing the CDs, just send the cheque! We will send off the donations in one cheque, on behalf of us all, and ensure that they are able to claim Gift Aid on our donation - currently 28p in the pound. A very merry Christmas, and a happy and peaceful New Year to you all, from the whole GPG team

OK. I've calmed down enough now to be able to think a little more clearly. Do you think this: ... means we won't get to see any of it until then???

Indeed. From Snowdrop's link: Also, watch the MTV Staying Alive Music Summit on December 31 - 8pm, A repeat telecast will be aired on January 2, 2005 – 8.05 pm, January 8 – 3 pm, January 13 – 11 pm, January 22 – 11.30 pm. How lucky are they???

OMG! I am proud to the extent that I can barely type! Thanks for the link Snowdrop - loving that he gets an exclamation mark at the end of the relevant sentence on the blurb : Oh, God I love him. Let's hope our Asian friends are all geared up and ready to help us enjoy this event

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Aww, really??? That makes it all worthwhile

From a very interesting article about Australian PI posted here. Industry pros might snipe at Idol, but the fact is, three of last year's contestants have had No.1 albums. The show has undeniably contributed to Australian artists' bigger cut of the CD market this year, up 9 per centage points to 27 per cent. The trickle-down benefits don't end there. Thirty-second ad slots for tomorrow night's final were auctioned by Ten for $62,500. The man who dreamed up the Idol formula, British music producer Simon Fuller, continues to rake in licensing fees from spin-offs around the world; London's Sunday Times has estimated his personal wealth at $215 million.

Probably recognises him as a fellow drummer Fabulous pics Rach! Thank you for posting them It looks like it was a wonderful evening

Doesn't it just? A one-off - how lucky we are to have been able to hear it. I must admit to being worried when he said he was going to sing something new - a fleeting moment of anxiety in case I didn't like it But I'm delighted to say I've yet to be disappointed by any of Mr Gates' self-penned stuff (or indeed anything he didn't write, once he sings it ) and I loved it.

How fabulous is it to read that? Does your heart good Thank you for typing all that up Heather - it's just brilliant. *Prays that Rachel can do the deed* Karen who?

And we're frozen in this moment, safe inside our paper walls Holding on to where we came from, not too far from here at all We can stay so close together, and there's strength in being one I feel life is so much better when it's Christmas and I'm home. And I wish you all you want, and I wish you love, I wish you Merry Christmas and I hope that it's enough If I could, I'd make you happy, give you something you don't have You could change if change is needed, make you happy when you're sad I feel life is so much better when it's Christmas and I'm home. And I wish you all you want, and I wish you love, and I wish you Merry Christmas and I hope that it's enough And I wish you all you want, and I wish you love, and I wish you Merry Christmas and I hope that it's enough I feel life is so much better when it's Christmas and I'm home by Gareth Gates and Judie Tzuke. Premiered at the Bradford lights Switch-on, 2004

Desperately. More than I realised. I've been in floods of tears, but I'm just so, so happy. That voice just does things to me. He's amazing.

Oh, those photos are beautiful! Thank you so much! *Drifts off in a daydream*

How bloody amazing was that? I am in awe. The British public will be bowled over when he gets back For those of you who weren't able to listen in, try Floz's link above, the links on YouSendIt expire after a while - when Floz's stops working, you'll find more here.

This is the whole thing, plus (probably) way too much of the rubbishy stuff at the end - I'm learning Enjoy

Those of us who have managed to record this evening's proceedings will put links up to our files on YouSendIt.com. Some will be the full thing, others are editing into individual tracks - they'll be along shortly Note: because these are YouSendIt files they will expire after a certain number of downloads. If the links don't work please let us know and we can replace them with more up to date ones.

Aww! What a lovely thought!

He used to be the 'BBC Drama Chief' Khelda. If you take a look at the last article in the second of the very long threads, his departure from the Beeb is written up there

A couple of articles about Mr. Fuller's latest venture: From Reuters: Fox planning U.S. version of "Eastenders" Wed 17 November, 2004 08:59, by Nellie Andreeva LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox Broadcasting has ordered six scripts for an American version of the BBC soap "EastEnders." The project will be shepherded by "American Idol" creator/executive producer Simon Fuller. The primetime soap genre is hotter than ever this season in America with the breakout success of ABC's "Desperate Housewives." "EastEnders" has run on BBC1 since 1985. The American version, said to chronicle the lives of blue-collar families in Chicago, hails from Fuller and "EastEnder's" head writer and story consultant Tony Jordan. Jordan, who has penned about 250 episodes of "EastEnders" in the past 15 years, is writing the scripts and is executive producing the Fox project with Fuller. This article seems to suggest that he's involved with Desperate Houswives, although I can't find any other evidence of it: From This is London: EastEnders is heading west with US version By Evening Standard, 17 November 2004 A new version of EastEnders is being specially created for American TV viewers. The scripts are being prepared by the BBC soap's creative consultant Tony Jordan with former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, who is on a winning streak in the US after the success of Desperate Housewives and American Idol. It was Fuller who proposed the idea to broadcasting giant Fox, which has commissioned the scripts. In the US version families like the Mitchells and Slaters will be replaced by blue-collar families in Chicago. Another bit from Scotsman.com: Walford-Based Soap Set for 'Windy City' Remake By Mark Sage, PA, in New York Albert Square could be re-locating to Chicago it emerged today, as plans are made for a US version of EastEnders’. Six scripts for an Americanised version of the popular programme have been ordered by TV producers, keen to cash in on a recent boom in the popularity of soaps. The project will be led by Simon Fuller, creator of the Spice Girls, S-Club 7 and Pop Idol, according to the LA-based Hollywood Reporter newspaper. EastEnders’ head writer and story consultant Tony Jordan is also reportedly on board. The show, which would be shown on US television network Fox, would feature families in a working class district of Chicago. But moving Walford to Chicago is far from guaranteed success. The original EastEnders’ was pulled from the BBC America cable channel in the US last year. A spokesman said at the time that the programme “continued to under-perform compared with the rest of our schedule”. The US version of Coupling, also set in Chicago with an American cast and a script nearly identical to the British original – lost its prime-time spot on NBC after disappointing ratings. Hollywood trade paper, Variety, said of the show: “The cast has no likeable characters, motivation for every act is sexual, and the theme of moronic men versus wily women has been played out.” It was a disappointing result for a show which producers hoped would be a replacement for Friends, which came to an end as Coupling began in the US. But other British entertainment has impressed US audiences. The Office, starring Ricky Gervais, became a cult classic, and Da Ali G Show has won good reviews after being shown on the HBO channel. And finally, this one explains why Mal Young left to the BBC to join 19TV: From Media Bulletin: Fox TV plans US version of EastEnders from UK talent Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 15:30 17-11-2004 LONDON – Fox TV is planning a US version of 'EastEnders' to be executive produced by 'Pop Idol' creator Simon Fuller and 'EastEnders' writer Tony Jordan, who will also pen the scripts. The as-yet-to-be named US version has been greenlighted by Fox, which has asked for six scripts from Fuller and Jordan. The show will centre on blue-collar workers in Chicago, familiar to UK viewers as the setting of 'ER'. As well as being the creator and executive producer of 'Pop Idol' and 'American Idol', Fuller owns 19 Management and has signed artists including the Spice Girls, Will Young and Rachel Stevens. Jordan has written more than 250 episodes of 'EastEnders' during his 15-year stint on the show. In June, Brand Republic reported that the BBC was planning to make a "working class drama" in what would be an 'EastEnders' style but with a distinctly American take. BBC drama chief Mal Young was understood to be working on the idea, which would recreate an Albert Square-type community in Denver, Colorado, the ex-gold mining town in the middle of the US known as the nation's baby boomer capital. The BBC abandoned its plan after the UK show took a ratings nosedive. Although 'EastEnders' has not proved to be massively popular in the US, BBC America ran into a storm last year when it dropped the show. In June this year, 'EastEnders' made a return to US screens following an outcry from fans. Primetime soap operas in the US are achieving huge audience ratings and demand for quality drama series is high. ABC's current drama series 'Desperate Housewives' has been a major hit this autumn while '24', 'The Sopranos' and 'Six Feet Under' were all hot property last year.

Only one more sleep!!! Soooo excited! To everyone who is lucky enough to be going - have a wonderful time, wrap up warm and keep your fingers toes and eyes crossed that he doesn't go anywhere near that bloody trampoline between now and then FULL report required from you all! Editing to say: Where are my manners??? Thanks to all involved in bringing us all this news

Thanks for that NicolaJayne - makes it all worthwhile. We'll be posting up a monthly statement of funds raised, beginning at the end of November, so keep an eye out for that I'll be sending off the first cheque to Body and Soul with a Christmas card from us all sometime in December

Thanks for your kind comments We aim to please! Thrilled too that you're all enjoying them

Received and replied. Thank you!!

Cat, worry not. The people going are all lovely Gareth fans - if a teeny bit mad Don't be shy to say hello - you'll have a ball