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Becka am 21.05.2008 18:43
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Soccer star becomes Foxtel host
ELITE soccer player, Amy Taylor will co-host Foxtel's new series, Football Superstar alongside Brian McFadden.
A prominent member of the Australian Women’s Soccer team, The Matildas, for eight years until 2005, she has worked as a model and is currently a sports presenter on WIN TV’s evening news for the Illawarra, Riverina and Central West regions across New South Wales.
During her sporting career, Taylor represented Australia in a host of prestigious events including the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2005 Four Nations Tournament in China, as well as being a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic squads.
A passionate campaigner for women’s soccer in Australia, her work both on and off the field was recognised in 2006 when she was the youngest player to receive a Significant Contribution to Soccer Award from the ACT Women’s Soccer Association.
She has also received a host of other awards including 1997 Athlete of the Year from the ACT Academy of Sport.
Taylor will join McFadden in fronting the national hunt for Australia’s greatest undiscovered football talent in Football Superstar.
“I am thrilled to be combining my two careers, football and television presenting, in this new role,” says Taylor of being selected as co-host.
“This is truly an exciting time for football in Australia and I can’t wait to see what amazing talent we’re sure to uncover during the series.”
Premiering on June 19, Football Superstar is the only Australian TV program of its kind which will see the winner walking off the pitch with a season-long contract with Sydney FC youth team, alongside a scholarship with Macquarie University, as well as the chance to be one of the new faces of Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain, sponsor of the series.
Nationwide try outs ended yesterday with 50 hopefuls aged between 16 and 21 being chosen from a pool of incredible talent.
Of these, 15 will be selected to live in a state-of-the-art mansion and go on to face challenges both on and off the field.
Throughout the series, the finalists will be whittled down by an expert judging panel consisting of head judge, Sydney FC Manger John Kosmina, Steven O’Connor, technical director for Sydney FC and a guest judge each week.
Football Superstar, Thursday June 19, 5.30pm, FOX8 and 7.30pm, FOX8+2
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Becka am 21.05.2008 18:41
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Kerry Katona and Brian McFadden's custody war rages on in 'showbiz's bloodiest battle'
It's being billed as the bloodiest battle in showbiz, as Kerry Katona and ex-husband Brian McFadden's fight for custody of their two children becomes increasingly bitter.
Katona and McFadden, who were married for two years but split in 2004, have two daughters Molly, six, and Lilly-Sue, five.
In recent months the former Boyzone has upped his campaign against Katona, 27, first branding her "disgusting" and "an embarrassment".
He has said to be unhappy with the way the children are being brought up and is alleged by Heat magazine to have told a friend: "They [the kids] have got really terrible northern, Manchester accents. They're really common because of where they live and who they live with."
Last month McFadden, also 28, who lives with partner Delta Goodrem in Australia, told a Sunday newspaper:
"Kerry is a disgusting human being. She manipulates people and plays the sympathy card for every stupid mistake she makes. Me and my family have been put through hell by her stupid games.
She uses my two girls as a weapon in her childish games. She is an embarrassment to me, my family and my children."
The Atomic Kitten singer has now hit back. Her friend Sophie told the magazine: "Kerry is not scares, she's upset and disappointed because Brian seems to making a habit of attacking her and it is all one-way traffic.
The only way that Brian seems to be able to attract any sort of media interest or publicity is by attacking Kerry."
It is understood that McFadden is becoming increasingly frustrated by the custody situation, and has admitted he is worried his daughters will see Kerry's wild lifestyle, recently documented in her reality show Crazy in Love, as normal.
His mother Mairead has defended her son's public criticism of his former partner and is determined he will get custody of the girls.
However Katona's camp have dismissed this. Sophie said: "Social Services have been to see Kerry before and have told her they are happy and not to worry.
It's all nonsense. Kerry wants him to see the girls, so this whole thing doesn't make a lot of sense."
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Becka am 21.05.2008 18:40
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Like Only Brian McFadden Can
He’ll always be an Irish son, but in recent times, Brian McFadden has adopted Australia as home. And there’s no doubt his relationship with Delta Goodrem has played a pivotal role in his newfound love for all things Oz – so much so that his sophomore album, Set In Stone has been first released on our very shores.
Brian’s career took off with his involvement with Irish boy band, Westlife. The group have sold a mammoth 40 million albums worldwide and achieved 14 number one singles. They have earned numerous awards such as ‘Best Irish Pop Act’ and broken various record titles, including ‘Music artist with the most consecutive number 1’s in the UK’. As a solo artist, Brian always realised that such grand success would be inimitable. Rather than placing unnecessary pressure on himself to try and replicate previous accolades, he has simply established a new set of career goals.
“I always knew when I left Westlife that I was never going to reach those heights and levels of success again. I accepted that from the moment I left the band,” Brian recalls. “You set your own individual goals and levels of success. For me in Australia, my goal is to have a top ten single and it would be amazing to have a top ten album. If I could reach them then it’s just as good a feeling as getting number one with Westlife.” His new album, Set In Stone, entered the Australian charts at number five.
After leaving Westlife, Brian launched his solo career with the debut album Irish Son, and for the first time he was granted the opportunity to truly utilise his song writing skills. While the public scrutiny surrounding his bitter divorce from former Atomic Kitten band member, Kerry Katona and speculations surrounding the budding romance with Delta often overshadowed his work as an artist, Brian’s debut was very much about confronting his demons head on. Although there are no regrets in being so lyrically honest, he admits ultimately feeling somewhat vulnerable and overexposed.
“I’m not one of those guys who can just sit down and make up a song. If I’m going to sing it, it has to have some sort of personal meaning to me or I find it hard to perform. The words have to be coming from my heart while I’m singing.
"I do open myself up a lot when I write songs. Sometimes it’s difficult but I think on this album I’m happy enough and I don’t feel too exposed. You don’t think about these things when you’re making a record until afterwards when people start to comment in the press and your fans talk about it. I felt very naked and exposed after the first one,” he says. Which is why Brian aimed for Set In Stone to be less about what the songs mean to him personally and more about the personal interpretation of the listener. Although this may be the case, it’s not hard to realise how instrumental his relationship with Delta has been on his life and career path.
“I think you can hear from the songs, I’m at a much better place. There’s very little negativity on my album everything’s from the positive side of life and I think that’s because of how I am at the moment. I’m in the best place I’ve ever been. I’m happy. It’s completely reflected in the music.”
He adds: “[Delta and I] have made each other very happy. And it is reflecting in both of our careers now that we are making stuff that’s a little bit more upbeat and positive.”
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who the first single Like Only A Woman Can was written about, but while he agrees Delta was the muse, Brian again insists his songs are intended to be accessible across the board.
“She has been the big turn around in my life. She’s given me confidence. As I say in the song, she has actually changed my life for the good.
“I’m very romantic, obviously with Delta. But when it comes to songs, we’re still musicians, we’re still artists… so when we write a song, even though the lyrics are very personal to each other, we’re still writing it for other people to hear. Obviously I would have a different approach and romantic way of speaking to Delta. That is me giving away enough that I don’t feel invaded,” he reiterates.
Brian and Delta’s careers intertwine now more than ever. As a team they write, sing and perform. Brian was MC at the two intimate A Night With Delta concerts in Sydney earlier this year, proving that their chemistry extends to the stage – a chemistry that could possibly one day see something reminiscent of the Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour.
“We don’t just walk up on stage and put on a persona. We just act like ourselves and talk like we would at home. And it just seems to come across well… it’s a good chemistry.
“The number one priority for the both of us is our music career and getting our albums out across the world. We would like to have some kind of show together where we can just have some fun and sing. But right now it’s not a priority for us… it could be a possibility of taking out some time and trying our hand at something else just to keep us interested,” he contemplates.
For now, Brian continues to enjoy his growing relationship with the Australian public. He’s embracing the laid back Aussie way of life and enthusiastically celebrating our sporting culture.
“Definitely because Delta is Australian, it has made me want to get to know her country better and learn more about her. We know everything about each other but it’s nice to see what kind of environment and what kind of a place she grew up in. I can understand why she loves it here because it’s such a great place,” he says.
Brian appears to be grateful for this new chapter. He’s making meaningful music and sharing an industry with the woman he loves. Who could blame him for singing life‘s praises?
“There is more to music than just success. For me it’s more than just a job, it’s my way of life. Getting up to sing everyday is what I want to do. The success just keeps it going. I’m not sitting here to try and make millions of dollars. All I want to do is sell enough albums so that I have enough money to make another one. I’ll live that way for the rest of my life if I have to.”
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Becka am 21.05.2008 18:39
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Brian McFadden to write tell-all book?
Brian McFadden is reportedly planning to write a book that will shed light on his marriage to Kerry Katona.
According to New! magazine, the ex-Westlife star wants his autobiography to be a tell-all account of the couple's relationship.
McFadden claimed that he has resisted writing a book about their marriage in the past but is now eager to set the record straight with the help of a ghost writer.
"I am pushed into a corner really and I have taken years of personal attacks. I don't care what the public believe but all I ask is that they give me this one chance," he said.
The pair are currently fighting for custody over their daughters, Molly, six, and Lilly Sue, five.
Katona released a ghost-written autobiography, titled Too Much, Too Young, in 2006.
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Becka am 17.05.2008 15:54
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Search for pitch perfect
THEY'RE both football fanatics who have battled the stereotypes that came with former careers.
Now ex-football international Amy Taylor will join former Westlife singer Brian McFadden as the host of FOX8's new reality series Football Superstar.
The WIN TV sports newsreader, whose feminine looks have boosted the sales of lads' mags, said she copped a fair amount of teasing from her co-star.
"Brian has a bit of a dig about me playing football but he was in a boy band so that gave me a bit of ammunition to fire back with," she said. Taylor, 28, played with the Matildas for eight years.
This weekend, 50 men aged between 16 and 21 - plucked from auditions across the country - will be wittled down to 15 finalists who will share a house and compete for a one-year contract with A-League side Sydney FC and a Macquarie University scholarship.
The series will air next month.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:12
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Wedding Album will have to wait
SHOWBIZ or a showbiz wedding? What's a boy and girl to choose? Brian McFadden and Delta Goodrem seem to know what they want -- and have put their wedding plans on hold. The gorgeous couple were supposed to tie the knot later this summer in Australia, but have had to reschedule due to pressing work commitments. The boy band escapee Brian and his Antipodean chanteuse girlfriend Delta are too focused on respective new albums to have the time to walk down the aisle together.
A source extremely close to Brian told me that: "Brian is working 24/7 on his new songs. He really wants it to be an international success. He is just too busy at the moment for a big showbiz wedding." He absolutely adores Delta and wants their wedding day to be perfect in every way," said my mole in McFadden's camp. To any cynics out there, never forget that when once asked in an interview what was the best thing to ever happen to him, McFadden replied: "Delta."
Ms Goodrem, the mole added, is up to her neck with work commitments too. "Delta is very serious about what she does in the studio. She is a million miles away from Kerry Katona." Ouch.
Possibly, it was Katona's alleged admission that she never actually, er, sang on any of Atomic Kitten's, er, songs that motivated Brian to seek out a relationship with a serious pop star who could play an instrument and, er, sing.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:11
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Luck of the Irish
Plenty of singer-songwriters use the rollercoaster ups and down of their own lives as inspiration for songs but Brian McFadden's highs and lows are on a different scale to most.
In fact, if the 28-year-old Irishman's life was a movie it would be pretty hard to believe. A lucky break saw him go from performing arts school graduate and McDonald's security guard to international pop idol. "I was in the right place at the right time when I auditioned for Westlife," he says during a whistlestop visit to Auckland. "I didn't have time to have a back-up career because once we were signed we toured with Boyzone and then it took off."
During McFadden's seven years with the boy band, Westlife sold more than 30 million albums and had 12 number one singles. Seven of these were consecutive, earning them the record for the most number one singles in a row on the UK charts. Through it all he enjoyed all the first-class fun of a millionaire lifestyle including a celebrity marriage to Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona and the birth of daughters Molly (now 7) and Lily (5).
But from the highs of Westlife success came some low years of personal distress. He left the band in March 2004 to spend more time with his family and pursue a solo career. But six months later his marriage was over. For two years he traded tabloid insults with Katona before they finalised their divorce in 2006. The pair are now battling over custody of their daughters.
In all this turmoil he released his debut album Irish Son (2004) which was praised for its lyrical honesty and sold moderately well but not well enough for record label Sony BMG, which dropped him last year. This year McFadden is back on the up with Set in Stone, a self-funded album that is emotionally lighter and more musically diverse than his debut. "I have to use my own life as inspiration," he says. "The first album came from such a terrible place it was easy to write because it just spilled out. The second album was harder because I'm in such a different place. It is much harder to write happy love songs without being cliched."
The source of his happiness is Australian singer Delta Goodrem whom he describes as an "angel" who has made his life a better place to be. The pair sang a duet on his debut album and collaborated on songs for her third album. They plan to get married next year although McFadden, who has homes in Sydney, London and California, says it will be years before they have kids of their own. "She's too young at the moment," he says.
"She's only 23 and both of us are very focused on our careers at the moment. Perhaps when my two are teenagers it might be nice." If McFadden's extended family is anything to go by Goodrem had better be ready for a big family. While his only sibling is younger sister Susan (25), McFadden has 128 first cousins as both his parents have 10 siblings.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:09
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Living the life of Brian
On a whirlwind trip to New Zealand, singer Brian McFadden talked to Tracey Bond about touring, Westlife, Delta - and the strange experience of performing in a canteen.
Brian McFadden played an intimate lunchtime concert for a radio competition winner in Auckland yesterday. He called the experience "bizarre".
"It was weird playing in someone's workspace," he said.
"The smell was strange. It was the second time I've done it - yesterday I did it in a carpark, which was really bizarre."
He's just released his second album Set in Stone in Australia and New Zealand.
"It's much poppier than the first record (Irish Son). The first record was a quickly-made album, and the vocals were pessimistic - a bit darker and the sound was a bit darker and this one is just a pop album.
"This one I just had fun in the studio for three years making pop songs."
McFadden left boy-band Westlife in 2004 to pursue a solo career, and he said he might catch up with some of his former bandmates when they arrive in Sydney at the start of the Australasia leg of their tour in May.
But, sorry to disappoint Westlife fans, he won't be appearing on stage with them.
"There's as much chance of me going into the Backstreet Boys as there is of me going back into Westlife."
But he is planning on touring Australia later in May and is hoping to head back to New Zealand to perform here in June. He wants to fit in some sightseeing too.
"I wanna check out the place and go fishing - fishing by day, concerts by night. That'll be perfect."
He said he's excited about the prospect of touring again.
"I'm looking forward to the hour and a half show; I haven't done that in three years. I've done everything else - been in the studio, done the promo, done the photo shoots - so the next step is getting back on stage which is the best part."
McFadden is based in Sydney where he lives with his fiancée, Australian actress-singer Delta Goodrem. The two have collaborated on songs together.
"When we get home we have a normal life and keep the music at the studio, we keep the Brian and Delta artist life and home life separate. We don't want them mixing too much."
McFadden said it's easier to have a private life in Australia, where the lifestyle is more relaxed than in England, and the paparazzi aren't as persistent.
"When you go back to England you can't go into a shop without seeing the Amy Winehouses or the Jordans and all these people on magazines. I don't like that whole British tabloid, celebrity thing, it really gets on my nerves, so it's nice to not have that over here."
As well as promoting his new album he's also due to start filming a TV show in Australia called Football Superstar, which he describes as a cross between America's Next Top Model and American Idol, but with soccer.
"It's all about developing soccer in Australia and New Zealand but I think its gonna take a long time in New Zealand - soccer is definitely picking up in Australia, but its gonna be a long time to have a soccer culture here, it's always going to be union!"
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:07
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Don't look to Brian for any footy tips
THE search is on for Australia's next soccer superstar. Whoever is found is all but guaranteed to outperform the host of the new series Football Superstar on Fox8, Brian McFadden. The Irish singer didn't even manage to score 15 minutes of fame when he pulled on a jersey to play alongside a legend of the round ball, Diego Maradona, at a charity soccer match a few years ago.
"I only played for a few minutes [and] then I limped off … I reopened an old injury in a training game," McFadden said.
Surely he managed to learn some lessons from the big man?
"I tried to have a conversation with him but I didn't realise he didn't speak English, so he was just nodding at me."
The former Westlife singer and squeeze of Delta Goodrem met some of the Sydney FC players last night and said he would back Australia in any game except against Ireland.
The rookie host describes his new show as "football's version of Australia's Next Top Model".
The Sydney try-outs are on this Sunday at the Macquarie University sports fields on the corner of Talavera and Culloden roads in Marsfield and are open to young men aged between 16 and 21. Registration closes at 9.15am.
The eight-part reality series will air from June and first prize includes a contract with Sydney FC and a scholarship to Macquarie University.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:06
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Brian McFadden: I hate my daughters' skanky accents
Former Westlife star doesn't like Molly and Lilly-Sue sounding like their mum Kerry Katona
Brian McFadden has revealed he hates his children's northern accents.
The former Westlife star has 2 daughters with ex-wife Kerry Katona, 27 – Molly, 6, and Lilly-Sue, 5.
But Brian can't stand their Warrington twang.
'It's horrible the way they speak,' he tells the Daily Star. 'They have skanky northern English accents.
'It makes me want to scream.'
And Irishman Brian – who's engaged to 23-year-old Aussie singer Delta Goodrem – doesn't mince his words when talking about his ex, either, describing her as 'a disgusting human being'.
'Me and my family have been put through hell by her. She uses my two girls as a weapon in her childish games. She is an embarrassment to me, my family and my children.'
Brian, 28, is currently seeking custody of his daughters.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:05
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Nipples don't cripple Brian McFadden TV gig
NOT quite the casting couch, but Brian McFadden has confessed he flashed some flesh to get his new TV gig.
The cheeky Irish singer scored the hosting role on Foxtel's new reality series Football Superstar after submitting a raunchy screen test.
"At the end of the screen test you had to look down camera and say why you should get the show," he said.
"I pretty much said I have a job already, so I'd just do it for fun. Then I opened my shirt and said 'but the main reason is you are never going to see nipples like this on TV again'."
And that was that. Deal sealed.
The eight-part series, which begins production on May 11, will try to unearth Australia's next soccer star.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:04
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Brian McFadden doesn't like his children's accents
Oh dear, Kerry Katona is going to be ploughing through her packet of B&H and reaching for the nearest bottle of high percentage alcohol when she hears what Brian McFadden's been saying about their children. He has reportedly commented that his children's accents sound "skanky". What does he expect them to sound like, Princess Di?
The singer is apparently very upset that his daughters, Molly and Lilly-Sue (Lilly-Sue??), share their mother's Warrington twang.
He said:
"It's horrible the way they speak. They have skanky Northern English accents. It makes me want to scream."
Brian is currently seeking full custody of the children but, if that does ever happen, unfortunately it may be too late for him to change the way they speak.
In more Katona news, Kerry has just signed a new one-year contract with Iceland. A spokesperson said:
"She’s had her problems, but is great on our adverts."
They'll be living off prawn rings for years. We wonder what Brian would say about that...
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:03
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Click the link to read a long interview with Brian.
http://blacktown.yourguide.com.au/news/l ocal/news/general/the-second-coming-of-brian-mcfad den/766808.aspx
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:02
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Brian McFadden plays intimate cafe show
Pop singer Brian McFadden is used to performing for thousands of fans, but the singer showed he was just as comfortable playing in front of a crowd of 50.
McFadden, a former member of boy band Westlife, played an intimate lunchtime show for competition winner Lisa Graham and 50 of her work mates.
The singer is here on a two-day promotional visit, and played four songs in the cafe at Graham's office.
He performed the songs Joey, Get Away and Like Only A Woman Can, before ending with an audience request, Real To Me.
Graham said McFadden made a few mistakes but was having a good time.
"He was having a good laugh, and was really personable," she said.
"It was really professional and really intimate."
Graham won the competition after entering a radio station's online promotion.
Pics and Videos can be found on the source.
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Becka am 15.05.2008 14:01
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Brian sparks in Delta's abstence
WITH his fiancee Delta Goodrem overseas, Brian McFadden has been enjoying the bachelor life, which includes breakfasting on juice, coffee and a packet of fags.
How very, very '70s London pop star of him.
We're sure that Goodrem keeps him on the straight and narrow though.
He was snapped at Woolloomooloo's fabled troughing and quaffing spot.
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