Hello you,
Or should that be -
Dear Darlings and Lovies.
You see, this evening we have got more of the great and gorgeous from the sparkly world of stage and screen than you or anyone could shake a stick at. Why you'd want to shake a stick at them is another matter. Anyway, tonight we report on not one but TWO showbiz bashes.
First up there's the 10th Anniversary of 'Chicago' here in London. In the decade since the current production of the raunchy musical first opened at the Adelphi, it's starred the likes of Tony Hadley, Ruthie Henshall, Gaby Roslin, Nigel Planer, Ute Lemper, Duncan James, David Hasselhoff. The list goes on and a good number of them are gathering at the Cambridge Theatre tonight for a rather special performance. Jasmine's been hanging around the rehearsals.
And, as if THAT weren't enough, we'll also be reporting on another night of stars at the Wilton Music Hall in the East End. The place has been entertaining audiences since the 19th Century and it looks like it. It desperately needs some repair work but the problem is paying for it. So, to that end, Dame Helen Mirren and Hugh Grant are on the guest list for a little soiree. Oh, and Robin McCallum will be there, with his little face up against the window, seeing how the other half live.
The programme will start though on a more controversial note. ALLEGATIONS that Lee Jasper - Ken Livingstone's 'Director of Equalities & Policing' - is being investigated by the GLA after it was ALLEGED that public money has been awarded to organisations to which he or his mates are closely connected. We should point out the Mayor says nothing's been done wrong and this is simply a smear campaign. Now, we have to be very careful what's said here, but it certainly seems right to be asking:
1. Does Mr Jasper have any influence over the allocation of grants of public money?
2. IF so... to which organisations have those grants been awarded?
3. DO Mr Jasper or his mates have connections with any such companies or organisations?
4. IF so... is that right?
5. How has the public money been spent?
(I think our lawyers should be happy with that).
One more story we should flag up for you...and, frankly, it's the sort of story that makes everything above pale into insignificance. At first look, it's about an exhibition of children's paintings and pictures being shown at the Bankside Gallery. But all the children involved have one thing in common. They're not expected to make it into adulthood. What we have then is an exhibition of skill, truth and innocence that humbles us all.
See you at SIX.
Ben & Katie
