HSBC predict new business landscape
Old Boiler Scrappage scheme ends
Mortgages slumped in April because of the Bank Holiday
Monarch Airline drops fees for Debit Card users
Pinewood takeover deal to be
investigated by trading officers.
WEEKEND SPORT
Football – England vs Switzerland at 4:45 on Saturday
Tennis – French Open semi-final – Nadal vs Murray on Friday, with Federer vs Djokovic in the other semi. Women’s draw, Sharapova through to semi-final vs Li Na, and holder Francesca Schiavone vs home hope Marion Bartoli in the other semi. Next week is queen’s club.
Golf – Welsh Open from Celtic Manor, home of the Ryder Cup last year
Cricket – T20 tournament getting underway, Essex away to Sussex tonight at 7:10, and at home to Gloucestershire tomorrow night at Chelmsford. 2nd test England vs Sri Lanka gets underway at Lords at 11 on Friday too.
Rugby League – Harlequins at home to Bradford on Saturday at 3pm
Boxing – Super-middleweight champion Carl Froch vs Glen Johnson in Atlantic City, USA on Saturday
Moto GP – round 5 from Catalunya Sunday
Ice Hockey – Boston Bruins face Vancouver Canucks for the Stanley Cup, first game of 7 was last night and the last game is in 2 weeks time in Boston
Also, Shaq O’neal retires from basketball after 19 years playing in the NBA
Pete’s Predictions:
England 2-0 Switzterland
French Open – Nadal
T20 Essex to beat Sussex
Rugby Bradford to beat Harlequins
LOCAL NEWS
The first Essex Spectacular and Essex International Hot Air Balloon Festival will take place at Barleylands Farm, in Barley-lands Road, Billlericay. The show opens from 11am until 10pm on Saturday, August 6, and from 10am to 7pm, on Sunday, August 7
For tickets visit www.
essexspectacular.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on 01702 428888.
THEATRE LISTINGS
Aladdin & Puppet Parade: Presto Puppets at Kenneth More Theatre
A fast-paced adaptation of the famous Arabian tale told using puppets.
Today at 13:00 and 15:30
Tickets £6-8 Box Office 0208 553 4466
The Dust Man: Lyngo Theatre (Over 5s) at Mercury Theatre
A drama with live music about the other side of the mirror.
Until Saturday 4th June at 11am and 2pm
Tickets between £5.65 and £7.70 Box Office 01206 573948
Bugsy Malone at Palace Theatre
The junior members of Solomon Artistes present the light-hearted musical of child gangsters in depression-era New York.
Until 4th June at 2.30pm (Saturday Matinee) and 7.30pm
Tickets Between £12 and £15 Box Office 01702 351135
WEST END
The Stage Alistair Smith
Justin Lee Collins is to star in the West End transfer of Broadway musical Rock of Ages. He will take on the role of bar owner and ageing hippy, Dennis Dupree. Rock Of Ages begins performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre on August 31, 2011.
Natalie Woolman
High car insurance quotes are to be investigated by Equity following claims that people working in the entertainment sector are paying over the odds for cover.
Proposing the motion, Garth Jacobs said: “You have to have car insurance. This is something that affects all members with cars.”
He added that he feared the higher quotes showed that insurance companies thought of performers as “irresponsible drunks who are drugged up to the eyeballs”.
BROADWAY
Buzz.com
Rocky Balboa may be headed to Broadway in a new musical adaptation of the beloved Sylvester Stallone film. After a recent reading of the show, starring Andy Karl (Legally Blonde, Wicked) in the title role and Lisa Brescia (Mamma Mia!) as his true love Adrian, the show is eyeing a November 2012 premiere in Germany and a Broadway mounting in the spring of 2013, according to The New York Times.
Time flies when you’re having fun! On May 27 the entertaining new musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert completed its 100th performance since opening at Broadway’s Palace Theatre earlier this spring. To celebrate the milestone, the cast partied backstage after the show with some festive and fabulous desserts.
