Sophie Mei

After a few weeks of broken wrists and wisdom teeth out – I’ve found myself – sat in, with the family and watching LOTS of TV. So I thought (as I do a radio entertainment “showbiz girls” slot) I may as well blog my notes…

This week was the finale of the last ever Celebrity Big Brother, which saw presenter Davina McCall enter the house plus a double eviction. Desperate Housewives and Mad Men are back on our screens.

Recently, there’s been a huge theme of ‘bodies’ on our screens with Gok Wan’s ‘How to look good naked with a difference’ and ‘too fat too young’ alongside good ole Corrie – and Rosie wanting a boob job.

I’m also loving Mark Dolan’s documentaries ‘The worlds…smallest man.. and me’

1)   TV

Reality TV Over Load…

-       Dancing On Ice

Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield present as a range of celebs battle it out to dance and skate on ice in a bid to become this year’s champion. So far Jeremy Sheffield, Bobby Davro and Sinita have been knocked out of the show.

-       Popstar to Opera Star

Katherine Jenkin’s new ITV Show that transforms the most well-known Popstars to Operastars. Starring the like’s of Bernie Nolan, Meatloaf as judge and Kym Marsh.

-       Final of Celebrity Big Brother

Davina poignantly entered the house as a chicken and evicted Nicola in the process. Alex Reid, Jordan’s new man also surprisingly clinched the title of Celebrity Big Brother 2010 with 65% of the final vote.

-       Monday Channel 4: Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam

A true look at the history behind one of Hollywood’s most notorious madam’s.

-       Tuesday, Channel 4, How To Look Good Naked – with a difference.

Gok Wan yet agin boost’s the nation’s confidence by transforming the life and style of a person with low self-esteem. (featuring a woman who had lost a limb and next week a blind magistrate)

-       Thursday, Channel 4, Gok Wan – Too Fat too young

Gok explores the problem of teenage obesity in the UK, with a special interview with Dawn French and a visit to his home town of Leicester.

Soaps: CORONATION ST

-       Becky  feuds with Steve after her mum passes away

-       Rosie’s wanting a boob job whilst Sally has been diagnosed with Cancer.  (e.g. Channel 4’s series ‘The World’s biggest…and me”

Factual Entertainment:

-       BBC 2’s Muslim Driving School

An insight into the world of British Muslim women learner drivers and their instructors, exploring the women’s lives, family, religion and culture, and the freedom and status that driving can confer

2)   SHOWBIZ GOSSIP

-       One-time smash hit Ugly Betty has been cancelled by its American broadcaster. The show, starring America Ferrera, has seen hit by a decline in ratings.

- Simon Cowell’s Charity Single for Haiti

At the National Television Awards last week ,Simon Cowell revealed that he will record a charity single for Haiti after being asked to  do so my Gordon Brown and the Sun. Simon Cowell’s Single for Haiti: “Everybody Hurts” to Feature Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Jon Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Miley Cyrus and Others

- Cheryl Cole is to judge on the X Factor Stateside

- Eastender’s Hannah Waterman takes on Natalie Cassidy on the ‘slim figure’ stakes with new fitness DVD’s

- 23 year-old reality star Heidi Montag undergoes £30,000 of plastic surgery

- Judge drops gagging order on John Terry’s Alleged affair with former team mate’ girlfriend (Wayne Bridge)

- The GOLDEN GLOBES last week were hosted by British comedian Ricky Gervais, who managed to upset a few celebrities… there was also a lot of gossip after the show as Jennifer Aniston was caught flirting with a few of her exes and Brad and Angelina didn’t even show up!

- ‘Bling Ring’ gang were in a US – the gang that court who stole from some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities may now become celebrities themselves

3)   WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

- TONIGHT – ‘Take Me Out’ and ‘All Star Mr & Mrs’ give us some tongue-in-cheek weekend entertainment.

- SUNDAY, 9 PM Channel 4, Julie Walter stars as Mo Mowlam – the Labour MP who died in 2005.

She had a significant role in the signing of the Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland whilst privately battling with a brain tumour.

- Sunday, 6.15pm  ITV, Dancing on Ice (Jeremy Sheffield, Bobby Davro and Sinita have already been knocked out

- Australian Open on Sunday Final Andy Murray will take on Roger Federer’s 22^nd Grand Slam Final. It has been 74 years since we won.

- WEDNESDAY, Channel 4, 9pm – Embarrassing Bodies – a new series into our weird and wonderful bodies. The show travels the nation to help cure the public of ‘embarassing illnesses.

- THURSDAY, Channel 4 FILM Sliding Doors

The film follows Helen Quilley (Gwyneth Paltrow), fired from her public relations job. The plot splits into two parallel universes. In one, Helen catches a London Underground train home on time, and in the other she misses it.

COMING UP FOR ME -SOPHIE MEI – Coming up…

-       Next week launch of 10k Yorkshire run with Alzheimer’s Society – Nina Hossein from ITN news and me will be running the race next September

-       Raqs Britannia in June at Sheffield City Hall

Running Blog

Week 1: December 2nd – Facing the Fear

Right it’s the first official day of the new year (the 1st doesn’t count as it is a day of recovery) when the resolutions have to begin!
I am so determined to make 2010 a greater success than the year before as I have y career on track but I need my health too. SO no more alcohol this year and here’s to healthy thinking and more sports.

My sport challenge at the end of 2009 was to play touch rugby on Sky Sports – and I did it, not without breaking bones though but we won the game which was the main thing!

This year it’s running. And no matter what my fitness level has or hasn’t been in the past running has never been a skill of mine. It brings back memories of cross-country at school which I either avoided due to “illness” (always happened on PE days) or we stopped off for sweets at the shop during our long run.
So my hips and I are going to try our best to run the Sheffield half marathon this April 25th in aid of Mind charity.
Mind charity is the main charity I support as I think it is critical that we combat the stigma surrounding mental health issues (that affect 1 in 4 of us) and also promotes physical activity as a good way to boosting mental wellbeing.
It will be amazing if I managed to do accomplish my goal in April as it marks my 22nd birthday and also is the 1st birthday of my business in PR and entertainment which is now called ‘MEI International’ and is co-directed by Louise Wilcockson.
It’d be so fab to achieve the half marathon as the rest of my resolutions will seem a doddle in comparison!

OK, so the positive thinking, motivation and goal setting is complete – and now it’s time to hit the gym.

The treadmill – love it (you must be unique) or hate it (standard) but I’m determined not to avoid it when Im in the gym. And today Katy (Serendipity Photography) and I, managed 4k! I was watching beyonce on tele all the way – such a good motivation!

I just hope I can keep it up.

Week 2: January 9th

I’m feeling slimmer already – well at least happier in myself after all this treadmill stuff! Can’t wait to run outside though as a lot less tedious! It’s just hard to find the motivation with all this ice!

As much as the running is coming on steadily I haven’t managed to pass 4k yet without stopping – I blame it on the cast on my arm as it makes me hotter and therefore interferes with my running. Excuses Excuses!

Week 3: January 16th

I’m a little disappointed with myself this week as I’ve been working away most days in snowy Manchester so only managed to run once at the weekend – and that was a pathetic excuse for a run too. However, I do walk most places and will continue to do so until my running is in better form.

I think I need some new motivation – so Katy and me have signed ourselves up to the Hillborough Park 6mile run in March for Sports Relief. I also have started to join forces with my runner friends like Ruth – and we’re attempting the Huddersfield 10k in February.

Why are the days flying away but my running isn’t?!

Let’s get Loved up…
February 14th marks St.Valentine’s Day – a day traditionally associated with sending love messages, buying flowers and schmoozing your loved ones. If that is your cup of Yorkshire Tea then why not cosy up together and watch Most Haunted Live at the Lyceum on V-day itself? Or rebel and attend an anti-Valentines party like Cupids in Nooses at The Rude Shipyard on Abbeydale Rd. Or if you’re like me, hide yourself away in work and attend The BIG Valentines fair. You can even get active (no I don’t mean like that) but Aviva’s World Championship takes place from 13th-14th February at English Institute of Sport.
If you’re fed up of all this romantic stuff and you’re a singleton trying to avoid the card shops… Then take a breather from the romantic run and hit the theatre for some spectacular shows and Stomp you way to the Lyceum Theatre from 9th – 13th February – also don’t miss Whistle Down the Wind at the Lyceum Theatre and Sheffield’s unique production of ‘Enemy of the People.’
I am also very excited to announce the Serendipity Photography Competition of the year! The reason for this competition is firstly because my good friend Katy Thompson is celebrating 2 years in the wonderful world of professional photography. The second reason is that Valentine’s Day is not far away and is the most romantic day of the year (for some!!!)
The competition is open to couples of all ages and shapes and sizes who are based in Sheffield or the South Yorkshire region. (You don’t need to be newly engaged or getting married to enter.)
In order to enter couples must give Katy their names, address, email address & phone number and tell Katy what they think is the most romantic location in Sheffield/South Yorkshire and why.
Send your entries to katythomson@serendipityphotography.co.uk.
The winning couple will then win a photo shoot with Katy in that location and get a framed print and coffee table book with a collection of photos in it for them to cherish for ever.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/serendipityphotography/2360462771/

http://www.serendipityphotography.co.uk/

http://www.serendipityphotography.co.uk/blog/

#mce_temp_url#We’re now into our centenary year of the Milennium. And what a century the Noughthies have been! Can you think of your highlights of the Century?

I think mine are – passing 13 GCSE’s and 4 A-Levels plus reaching the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent and presenting a programme for ITV Yorkshire on ‘Bellydancing in Egypt.’

2009 has also been a memorable year– with the Credit Crunch reaching a climax, Ryan Giggs winning the title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Michael Jackson dying at the young age of 51.

For me personally it has been quite an incredible year. I returned from Italy to set up a business in Entertainment and Media Relations – it is now known as ‘MEI International Ltd’.  I then modelled for a few fashion shows such as, ProSheffield’s event at Sheffield City Hall, a Liverpool show with Gail Porter and I ended up playing the bride in a wedding photoshoot at Wortley Hall.

Amongst walking down catwalks and dancing – Lots of students and I, broke the World Record for the most people simultaneously bellydancing in aid of Comic Relief.  I also held my website launch/21^st Birthday at The Showroom Cinema which saw hundreds of people, including a few local celebrities wine and dine in The Showroom Bar and then watch the documentary I presented on ‘Bellydancing in Egypt.’

The Summer of 2009 was not quiet either as Miles Copeland (Former manager of Sting and Police) and me, judged an international bellydance contest in June. I then travelled to Dubai – I tried out the facilities at the new Atlantis hotel in Palm Jumeirah – I managed to have a dance too!

July was an exciting month for Sheffield too as it played host to the City’s first ‘Music City’ Festival that was curated by famous Sheffield-born Musicians such as, Matt Helders and John McClure. My Social Events company and I, organized the launch night of the Music City called ‘Egyptian Elegance’ that showcased some of the best drummers and Arabic dancers in the city.

August was busy as my agent and I, travelled to Liverpool to film at Lime Studios for  Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. It was fabulous to meet most of the cast whom, to my surprise, were not trained actors.

However, September was a highlight as MIND asked me to launch the very first ‘Get Moving and Dance’ week in regent’s Park, London. I performed with some amazing Salsa, Street and Capoeira dancers and the opera boyband Blake. Plus, the lovely Dave Benson-Philips hosted the event whilst trying out a bit of bellydancing with me.

November then became a month of business. I won a Future 100 Social Entrepreneur Award and was shortlisted for Sheffield Chamber’s ‘Young Businessperson of the Year’ Award.

And finally, December came and I found myself playing Touch Rugby on Sky Sports in aid of the Wooden Spoon Charity at the English Institute of Sport as part of the ‘Legends of Rugby’ event.

WOW! So what a year it has been! I feel very lucky and honoured to have had all the opportunities that has made 2009 a hard-working but great success.

So lets make 2010 and the coming century even better!