The National Television Awards 2012.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. The sky hasn't shown a glimpse of sunshine for what seems like months, and my winter teddy-bear pyjamas have most definitely come out to embarrass the post-man.

But, it's not all bad, because alongside the dreary weather, always comes brilliant TV, and this year is no different.

Many award shows have started appearing on my TV guide, including my favourite, The NTA's, formerly known as The National Television Awards, so undoubtedly, the pyjamas came out, and so did the chocolate.

The NTA’s showcase the past year’s most successful programmes on the small screen, as voted for by the British Public. The awards featured on ITV1 on January 25th 2012, and got off to a good start with an opening musical duet from the one and only Sir Bruce Forsythe, and comedy and presenting duo, Ant and Dec. The quirky duet related to not only NTA nominees, but also to each other’s careers, including lyrics  such as "I've been in showbiz longer than you!" and "Bruce, you've been in showbix longer than the whole O2!"

http://www.nationaltvawards.com/home - view Ant and Dec singing with Bruce Forsythe here.

The first award, presented by X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos, was The Entertainment Award, which was handed to a very grateful and deserving Michael Mcintyre for his programme entitled Michael Mcintyre's Comedy Roadshow.

Karen Gillan from the latest series of Doctor Who, won the award for Drama Performance Female, competing against nominees such as Waterloo Road's Jaye Jacobs, Torchwoods' Eve Myles and Scott and Bailey's Suranne Jones.

In the words of Dermot, "The incredible hairstyle that is Russell Kane" presented the award for Comedy Panel Show. The winner became quite clear before it was even announced, as the audience went wild for my personal favourite Panel Show, Celebrity Juice, which went up against programmes including QI, Have I got News for You, and Mock the Week. The cast of Celebrity Juice, including Keith Lemon, Fearne Cotton (nostrils) and Holly Willoughby, also known as Holly Willoughbooby appeared on stage to thank everyone who made their win possible, and their humorous speeches reiterated the reason why they achieved the award.

TOWIE's Mark Wright made the girls in the audience faint, as he presented the award for Newcomer, which included nominees from Soap's including Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. The award went to a highly deserving Jacqueline Jossa, who plays Lauren Branning in Eastenders, who described the Soap as "The best thing that's ever happened to me."

I felt slightly proud as The Landmark Award was presented to David Walliams, who swam the 140 Mile River Thames back in 2011. The hero, who raised over a million pounds for charity, was praised by the audience, and seemed overwhelmed to be receiving the award he so very much deserved.

The Graham Norton Show, Alan Carr: Chatty Man, and The Jonathan Ross Show were the nominees for Talk Show. Between these three, I found it difficult to choose my favourite, and I imagine it was a close call, but Alan Carr: Chatty Man obtained the award.

It wasn't an award, but a Female Music Performance by X Factor's first girl group winner's Little Mix was very impressive, keeping up the energetic pace and entertaining nature of the NTA's.

The new Doctor Who, also known as Matt Smith won the award for Drama Performance: Male, competing against David Threlfall from Shameless, Martin Clunes, from Doc Martin, and finally Torchwood's John Barrowman, who I thought was far more eligible for the award.

Entertainment Presenter was of course won by the infamous Ant and Dec. Although they were up against great contenders, including Keith Lemon, Dermot O'Leary and Michael Mcintyre, the unstoppable duo succeeded in securing the award for another year.

The award for Serial Drama Performance was a toss-up between some brilliant actresses, including one of my all-time favourite soap actress, Jessie Wallace from Eastenders. She competed against two actresses from Coronation Street, Katherine Kelly and Alison King, and also Danny Miller from (the Soap I've never seen) Emmerdale. Katherine Kelly won the award, but sadly couldn't be there to accept the award, but wrote a moving speech which was read out by a Corrie star. Although I haven't kept up to date with Coronation Street lately, the clip shown of Katherine Kelly, A.K.A Becky, showed off her undoubtedly phenomenal acting.

The Military Wives, who reached Christmas Number 1 in 2011, performed exclusively for the NTA’s to sing their beautiful rendition of ‘Make you feel my love.’ Two members of the choir also presented the award for Drama, which was won by no other than Downton Abbey, which was no surprise to me. With the phenomenal storylines and acting within the programme, it is no wonder that the British viewing public have picked up their phone to vote for Downton Abbey.

The glamorous Elle Macpherson awarded most popular Talent Show to The X Factor, who secured their place for the award, beating Dancing on Ice, Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing, and the crowd went wild for outstandingly funny Outnumbered, which beat comedies such as Miranda and Benidorm in the battle to win the Situation Comedy award.

The Special Recognition Award was presented by Sir Bruce Forsyth to the legendary Jonathon Ross, who Forsyth described as “a very, very naughty boy, but I still love him.” A montage of Ross’ best moments truly reminded us all that he really is the king of chat shows.

All of the well-known Soaps competed for the award for Serial Drama, presented by the lovely Paul O’Grady, but the winner of the award was Coronation Street, which has been the concentration of much controversy lately, concerning the storyline between rivals Tracey and Becky. The cast of the programme thoughtfully dedicated the award to the late Betty Driver, a fantastic actress from Coronation Street, who sadly died in October 2011.

So, the National Television Awards have finished for yet another year, with the best programmes of 2011 congratulated and praised for their brilliant storylines and unforgettably, the ability to always keep us entertained.

21st Celebrations.

Yes, the celebrations are all over, and I feel, well.. gutted! I just want to take some time to say a big thank you to everyone who made my 21st Birthday so special. I had the time of my life, with the people who mean the world to me!
On the 28th January, I had a party at the Penarth Conservative Club. The night was fabulous, and so were the band that we hired to play. I can honestly say I had the best night ever, and was so happy to see faces I hadn't seen for years. I was spoilt with the most amazing presents, which will always be with me, so that I can look back and remember such an amazing time in my life.

My Birthday was followed up by my Birthday present from my lovely Boyfriend, a trip to Paris - my favourite City in the world. Although it was freezing, the weather made it seem just that bit more beautiful.We visited the Eiffel Tower, The Arc De Triomphe, The Louvre, and many other beautiful landmarks. My favourite part of the trip, however had to be going to visit the Eiffel Tower at night..

I had the time of my life, and all of this happened in the space of a week! 

As of tomorrow, I will be back to reality, but this time, with memories of such a wonderful 21st Birthday, that would have only been possible with the people who I love.

Thoughts, anticipations, and prospects.

Hello, I haven't spoken to you lot for a while! I have had a good month's break from blogging, and in fact, a break from my social life altogether!
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year, I know I did! Although the never ending essay's I had slightly spoiled my fun!
That's all over now anyway, and instead of crying with stress, I am bursting with excitement, as I have a few things coming up to really look forward to!
On the top of the agenda is my 21st Birthday, which, I hope, is going to be amazing. Being surrounded with close family and friends.. what more could I possibly ask for?
People ask me if I feel any older since my last big Birthday (18th) and to be honest, I have to say I do. Every other Birthday since I can remember has been about the presents, the parties, the fun.  This year, however,  is definitely about spending time with those people who I love, those people who care about me, and those people who I want to spend the rest of my life with, and am so lucky to have. My cousin Andrew and his lovely Wife, Debbie are two of those people, but the birth of their new baby Eleanor means that they will just have to be there in spirit, which I know they will be!
Being (almost 21) has made me realise that I'm no longer a girl, but a woman, (as cheesy as that sounds) and I feel as though I'm ready to take on the world, and any challenges that may face me can be handled with confidence, stamina, and more ability than I've ever had before.
What does still scare me is not knowing what's around the corner, the fact that I am approaching the end of my degree, but still don't know what's next for me, and what path my life is going to take.
All I do know is, whatever life throws at me, I can safely say I'll be able to take it, with  the help of all the support and I could possibly need!

Little Mix and their race for Christmas Number 1!

Just a week ago, Little Mix triumphed in the competitive talent show, The X Factor, beating singing favourites such as Janet Devlin, Misha B, and finalist, Marcus Collins.

They successfully landed their place at the top of the charts this week, with  their cover release of Damien Rice's Cannonball. 

Now however, the question is, are Little Mix able to handle the fierce competition for Christmas number 1?

Other condenders for the number 1 spot include a group of soldiers' wives, who are predicted to steal the limelight away from Little Mix, and knock The X Factor off their tracks!

The group of women, who were formed by Choir Master Gareth Malone, are called the Military Wives Choir, and are becoming increasingly popular with the British public.

Bookies have been betting away, and have predicted that Little Mix might miss out on the one Christmas present they have asked for this year, to be number 1 in the charts, and it looks like their prediction might be correct, with the Anti-X Factor group reforming to make sure Little Mix stay well away from that number 1 position, that they made sure Rage Against the Machine claimed two years ago. 

The news of whether Little Mix reach number 1 will finally be revealed on the Top of the Pops Christmas Special, which will be aired on December 21st at 7.30 pm.

Do you think Little Mix are going to prove everyone wrong? I have a slight feeling they will pull through, but only time will tell! 

X Factor, X Factor, and more X Factor...

I have to say, this is probably the first year out of many, that I haven't really enjoyed the X Factor. It's not just me either! From what I've heard from people I've spoken to lately, everyone seems to be thinking the same thing... Why isn't the X Factor as good as usual?

I won't deny that I am a weekly viewer, as I have been a fan of the show for years, and I will catch-up if I have missed a week, but I just don't think this year's series is anywhere near as good as the previous years, and I just can't seem to pin-point why that is!
Obviously, this year we are missing Simon Cowell, which, to me, is a massive let down. But I don't think it's the judges that are necessarily the problem, after all, Mr Cowell (my hero) has been replaced with a pretty good panel of celebrity judges, and I have to say, (apart from Tulisa) I think they have all done a pretty good job, at not only judging this year's contestants, but also bringing that element of comedy to the show.
Kelly Rowland has been a God send this year, with her brilliant humour and witty attitude making me want to watch the show every week. Gary Barlow has also filled Simon's role well, by being the judge who tells the truth about every performance, and isnt't scared to tell someone they are simply awful.
However, I hope it's not just me who thinks that this years contestants are very talented, but my God, aren't they boring!?
Don't get me wrong, I loved Janet Devlin (aka Diana Vickers) right up till a few weeks ago, when I realised that every song she sang started to sound the same, and her personality i.e. sob story had that monotonous drone...

Misha B basically had no personality whatsoever.. and this was pretty darn obvious, yet the show constantly played on the fact that she was a 'fun' person to be around, even though from what I've heard, this doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe she's a nice person, but her attitude definitely wasn't my cup of tea, or anyone else's for that matter!
I guess I ust have simply got bored of the fact that behind every act, there now has to be some sort of story behind why they're such a nice person, and why they should win this year's X Factor because they love their fans and winning would mean the world to them, blah blah blah! We all know they are going to put on a sweet smile when they're signing autographs and greeting their fans, but why do we need to sing their praises week after week, after week? It seems as though the reason is to convince us that we should vote for them because they are not only talented, but that we would be able to enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit with them!?
Maybe I'm being too cynical? But this year, the X Factor has been a bit of a let down for me. Not only do I not really like the contestants, they annoy me so much, that sometimes, I get the feeling that the show has become more about money than entertainment. Oh well, let's just hope that Marcus Collins wins, as in my eyes, he is the only deserving contestant left, who hasn't started to get on my nerves!                                                           
                                                                           Go Marcus!

Breaking Dawn film review.. Contains spoilers!

So, I'm guessing that many Twilight fans will now have seen Breaking Dawn part 1, which was released in Cinemas on November 18th. If you haven't, this is a warning, because this film review contains spoilers!
I went to see Breaking Dawn Part 1 last week, and since then, have not been able to stop talking about it. I don't know about you, but in my opinion, it was the best Twilight film so far.
The tagline for the film boasts that it contains the 'Wedding of the year,' and I'm sure you will all agree, every aspect of it was truly spectacular.. especially the dress!

After their fairytale wedding, Edward and Bella head off to a beautiful secluded retreat in Brazil, to consumate their marriage and show their undying love for one another. (much to the disapproval of Jacob.)

However, this is all short-lived, when Bella experiences morning sickness, and realises that she is somehow pregnant with Edwards baby.

When Bella starts to become thin and weak, it becomes clear that she is unable to accommodate the baby that is growing inside her at a rapid speed, and she soon realises that this baby doesn't want food.. it wants blood.

Near the end of the film, we think all is going to be ok, as Bella falls into a dramatic and not to mention traumatic labour! She seems to have pulled through, and smiles at the sight of her gorgeous baby girl. But in true Twilight style, something goes terribly wrong, and we are left in a state of shock, when we are led to believe Bella has died. Edward desperately tried to resuscitate her, and eventually pumps vampire venom into her failing heart, but has no luck, as Bella doesn't react to his numerous attempts at bringing her back to life. However, as the camera draws closer to Bella's face, we realise that human Bella is no more, and her wish to be changed into a vampire has finally been granted, but will this have disastrous consequences? We will have to wait and see, and trust me, it's a long wait! I think I'll be reaching for the Breaking Dawn book before my Twilight withdrawal symptoms get any worse!

Children in Need.

Last night, 'Children in Need Rocks Manchester' was broadcast live on BBC 1 and Radio 1, to raise money for Children in Need in the UK. Their website states 'Thanks to the support of the public, we're able to make a real difference to the lives of children all across the UK.' So with that in mind, I turned BBC 1 on at 8pm.

I was happy to see that, not only was the programme set up for such a good cause, but they had really made the effort to raise money for the charity, by providing the public with some of the biggest and best musicians around.

My paws were up for Lady Gaga, who, as always, stormed the stage with her outstanding peformance of 'The Edge of Glory,' 'Born this Way,' and her new single 'Marry the Night,' which she also performed on the X Factor on Sunday night.

She was then followed by many other acts, including Elbow, Ed Sheeran and JLS. But the one act who stood out for me was Coldplay, who sang their new single 'Paradise' and who, along with Lady Gaga, stole the show.

Did you enjoy the Chilren in Need Rocks programme? If you did, or if you just want to donate to a very important cause, and haven't already done so, please spare a minute of your time and donate to Children in Need here at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/donate/

Your kind donation will be much appreciated. Thank you.

Less than 24 hours to go....Breaking Dawn Part 1!

Last night saw the Breaking Dawn Premiere hit London, and of course the audience were ready and waiting to see what their favourite star Kristen Stewart was wearing. Of course, she impressed, but what else would we expect? She is always looking beautiful, and last night was no exception. I think my favourite thing about Miss Stewart is her laid-back manner, and the fact that she really doesn't seem to care what people think or say about her. When I think of a London film premiere, I think of the gorgeous dresses, jewellery, and of course, shoes. But I wasn't in the least bit surprised to see Kristen in a pair of... Nike Trainers.
Yes, thats right. Trainers. At least they're a label, right? To be honest, I can't say I blame her for teaming her Roberto Cavalli dress with the more... comfortable option. This isn't the first time she has worn trainers on the red carpet, though, and her reason for choosing the trainers is not just for comfort, but simply because she will be able to greet as many of her fans as possible. How cute can this girl possibly get?
However, when she posed for pictures with co-stars, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, she quickly threw on some heels, to complete her stunning look.

Anyway, as you know, there is less than 24 hours to go 'till the release of Breaking Dawn Part 1! I'm so excited, I think I'm going to burst! Have you booked your tickets yet? I know I have! All I have to decide now is, what shoes am I going to wear?!

Ttyl, Glitter x

The Towie attacks continue!

The recent news that sisters Sam and Billie Faiers were beaten and robbed came as quite a shock, not only to the cast of The Only Way is Essex, but to the public, too. The sweet and innocent sisters were attacked on the same night, and are still recovering their cuts and bruises since the incident.

Today, however, news has arisen that Towie's newcomer, Kurt Evans, 18, has been violently attacked on his doorstep in Croydon. Kurt entered the series just last week, appearing as Harry Derbidge's new love interest, and has already felt the reality of being in such a popular TV series. Kurt tweeted, 'I just want to say thank you for all the beautiful messages after being attacked! I just got home and all I want is cuddles!!! :'(,'

The 18-year-old was beaten up by five men, who left him in agony and barely able to walk when he turned up to filming for the show the next day, where he was told to go home because of the state he was in.
The incidents seem to be building up for this unfortunate cast, but with the current series finishing on Wednesday, will this mean the end of the voilent attacks?

Breaking Dawn Trailer...(Goosebumps!)

It has to be said, Breaking Dawn looks.... incredible!
The Twilight Saga has been an obsession of mine for a few years now, and since I watched the first film, I have bought all the DVD's, t-shirts, mugs (Yes, mugs!) and anything else they possibly sell with Edward's gorgeous face on it!
The Twilight Saga is, however, coming to an end, (wipe tears) but luckily, the last instalment of the films is split into two parts, just like Harry Potter and the Deatlhy Hallows (another one of my favourites!) So, for us lucky fans, Twilight isn't quite over yet, and the splitting up of Breaking Dawn into two parts will make it last just that little tiny bit longer! The only negative? We have to wait to see Part 2! (As if we haven't been waiting long enough for this film?!)
Enough of my complaining, as you can tell, I am a dedicated Twilight fan, and even if you aren't, watching the trailer above may just convert you!
I was convinced that Eclipse was the best Twilight film, but am I going to be proven wrong? We will have to wait and see, but not for long! Breaking Dawn Part 1 is out in cinemas on the 18th November.
If the tickets are sold out, it's probably because I bought them all!