Beverley Knight

British singer Beverley Knight has been announced as the next star to take on the iconic role of Grizabella in Cats, replacing Nicole Scherzinger on London’s West End this October. The 42 year old currently stars as the lead in fellow West End musical Memphis in a role which won her an Olivier nomination earlier this year.

Knight will replace Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella in ‘Cats’.

The singer broke the news on twitter sharing her delight at the casting, ”Yes! It's TRUE! #BlackCatOutOfTheBag xxxxxxxxx” she tweeted. Knight will lead the revival at the London Palladium from October 23rd when it returns for a limited 10 week run.

Continue reading: Beverley Knight Will Take Over From Nicole Scherzinger As Grizabella In 'Cats' On London West End

James McAvoy in Macbeth is causing quite a stir. Both the critics and the stars in the audience have lavished praise over the Scottish actor who has applied his trade in Hollywood, in X Men and The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. He is perhaps best known, though, for his roles in The Last King of Scotland and Atonement.

Stephen Merchant said he “loved it. I loved the bloodiness of it, the passion and the youthfulness of it, which was a nice take on the play.” Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville said of him, “James McAvoy is a brilliant actor, full stop,” while singer Beverley Knight had kind words for the plays writer. “Only Shakespeare himself could come up with the words to describe what I’ve just seen. I’m at a bit of a loss. It was so spellbinding, so intense, incredibly gripping. I thought I knew the play but now I’m seeing it with fresh eyes. It was absolutely unreal,” she said. The Director of the play, Jamie Lloyd, said of the play: “It's an apposite, urgent play for today, and that's why I don't want it to be set in period. I don't want the production to be a reflection of a time long past, I want it to resonate here and now."

Continue reading: James McAvoy Gets The Critics And Stars Excited With His Performance In Macbeth

Is The Justice Collective's 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' The Underdog In The Fight For Christmas Number One?

The Justice Collective have finally released their tribute single 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' in remembrance of the tragic disaster at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield.

Continue reading: Is The Justice Collective's 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' The Underdog In The Fight For Christmas Number One? [Video]

The Hillsborough single, released to raise money for the families of Liverpool fans who lost their life during the tragic Hillsborough disaster in 1989, where 96 football fans lost their lives during a FA Cup semi-final match at the Sheffield stadium, has had it's full line-up released, featuring a fair share of star power.

The single, a cover of the 1969 Hollies track 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,' will be released on December 17th and is already hotly tipped to take this year's Christmas Number One spot. The full line-up is to feature Liverpudlian Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Mick Jones, X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson, Spice Girl Mel C, Gerry Marsden, Paloma Faith, Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook, Beady Eye's Chris Sharrock, Hollie Cook, Jon McClure, Eliza Doolittle, Beverley Knight, Liverpool FC legend Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool MP Steve Rotheram, Liverpool-born comic John Bishop and members of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Lawson, the Farm, the Zutons, the Beautiful South and Cast.

Families of the victims have already been given a listen to the charity single, which will raise funds for the ongoing legal costs as the victim's families seek retribution from the Government and police, who had covered up the truth about the disaster until earlier this year. Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, commended McCartney for lending his name to the project and spoke of how her son, one of the 96, was listening to the song shortly before he passed on. She said, "I thought, maybe he's handing me this new version and saying 'listen to this'."