Hype Magazine West Mids April May 2014

HYPE

THE

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WEST MIDLANDS

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

FREE SPRING EDITION LEISURE FASHION ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS STYLE FOOD & DRINK HEALTH BEAUTY

GARY BARLOW WHAT’S ON

24 - NEW SEASON LITTLE MIX

FILM RELEASES

LOCAL FEATURES

Mecca Bingo New Advert_Full Page Bleed New 15/01/2014 10:12 Page 1

£5 off with this leaflet Open Every day from 12pm 2 Meals for £6.99 from our fantastic menu Play from Just £5 on a Wednesday Evening and for FREE on a Sunday Afternoon Win up to £10,000 on the Richest Link every day at 1:30pm & 7:30pm Over £5000 paid out on Sunday evenings

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www.hypemagazine.co.uk THE HYPE MAGAZINE CELEBRATES IT’S 1st BIRTHDAY!!

CONTENTS 4 6 20 22 24 30

What’s On

Entertainment Guide - West Midlands

32

Zizzi Review -Harborne

We review Zizzi in Harborne, after a recent refurbishment! Mmm...Yum!

24 - New Series!

Eileen x

26

HYPE The gorgeous Sophie Ellis-Bextor drops by to chat to us about her new tour!

THE

With Easter eggs on the menu, and a couple of the main holidays approaching, it’s time to look at whats on in West Midlands! We have loads to keep the whole family happy, from the latest offerings at the cinema to loads of live tours and a fab ‘whats on’ guide for WEST MIDS! Plus we Interview Sophie Ellis-Bextor! Enjoy!!

Sophie Ellis-Bextor Interview

FOR ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Please contact the Hype on:

01952 787 786

Jack Bauer is BACK, with a new series!

Film Releases - Rio 2

Check out the latest blockbuster movies to hit the big screens!

Gary Barlow - Solo Tour

Gary Barlow gets down to the LG!

Mitchell’s Journey

10 year old Mitchell Dee Jones lost his brave battle with DMD. His inspirational father writes about his experiences, helping raise awareness of this terrible illness.

Fashion Fix

Check out Spring Fashion with the latest hot trends.

www.hypemagazine.co.uk

The Hype Magazine is proud to support local businesses, although we do not accept responsibility for loss, damage or ommision by error in the printing of an advert. All artwork and editorial is accepted on condition that permission has been given for use of publication.

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GARY BARLOW LG Arena Birmingham 08 APR & 19 APR Since I Saw You Last Tour - Following the announcement of the details of his first studio album in 14 years ‘Since I Saw You Last’, Gary Barlow has confirmed that he will be bringing his solo tour to the LG Arena for 2 dates in April.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE LG Arena Birmingham 11 & 12 APR The 20/20 Experience World Tour - The President of Pop, Justin Timberlake, has announced that The 20/20 Experience World Tour will continue through UK/ Europe, hitting Birmingham’s LG Arena on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April.

April/May 2014

BIKE4LIFE 2014 RAF Cosford Sunday 27th April 11am - 4pm In addition to the Ride Out, the Festival attracts bikers, the local community and families alike and in 2014 will include arena displays, stalls, exhibitions, live music courtesy of Planet Rock, tutorials promoting biker safety, refreshments and more. Website www.bike4lifefest.com DERREN BROWN The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre 5th May – 10th May

Direct from the West End, the acknowledged master of psychological illusion returns to the stage with his latest show, DERREN BROWN: INFAMOUS, demonstrating once again why Derren is one of the world’s most renowned live performers; a dark manipulator of magic and mind control. For Infamous, a more ‘personal’ show, Derren Brown is re-united with his close collaborator and friend, actor/writer Andy Nyman. Derren says 'Now we’ve joined forces again, we’re very eager to make this show feel different. There was something of a template we followed with all the shows, which worked very well. It’s rather exciting and scary leaving that behind.

This one should certainly have a different tone, and will mix things up a bit for those who have seen the others on TV or live'.

KATY PERRY -PRISMATIC TOUR LG Arena Birmingham 13 & 14 MAY Katy Perry ROARS into Birmingham with Special Guest icona pop! Bringing the fantastic PRISMATIC tour to the Midlands!

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LITTLE MIX LG Arena Birmingham 16 MAY Global pop sensations Little Mix will be embarking on their biggest UK tour to date in May 2014, with their opening show at Birmingham’s LG Arena.

DESI PEO The Drum – Birmingham 31 May 2014 Tickets: £10.00 A brand new season of Punjabiwood comedy plays from Matribhoomi Theatre Traditional and modern family life clash together in this modern Punjabi comedy play set in London, where father and husband Joginder Singh lives with his wife and son. The production will be performed in Punjabi.

KRAZY KAT THEATRE COMPANY PRESENT A DREAM Arena Theatre Wolverhampton Thursday 15th May at 11am & 1pm Friday 16th May at 11am & 1pm Saturday 17th May at 1pm & 3pm

A newly re-worked Dream, with puppets, music, actors and sign language, featuring a mixed cast of deaf and hearing performers, writers and makers.A timeless story of mysticism, love and forgiveness that resonates and soars. Krazy Kat rework the story with the loving attention to detail which characterise this popular company. Adapted from the Shakespeare comedy by Kinny Gardner.

Tickets: £5 Features fully-integrated sign language, signed by actors, throughout the show. *Please note: There is an additional transaction fee of £1.00 when booking online.

To advertise call 01952 787786

AD GRID X 2 Vertical_- 21/03/2014 10:20 Page 1

zizzi top1_Layout 1 20/03/2014 17:36 Page 1

183 High Street, Harborne Birmingham B17 9QE

0121 428 4228

Having had the pleasure of dining at Zizzi Ristorante in Shrewsbury, and with it being one of the best dining experiences to date, I was very much looking forward to the VIP night that we were invited to, at the newly refurbished Zizzis in Harborne. My colleague and I ventured into Harborne on a wet & windy evening.

Upon entrance we were immediately stunned by the decor. It had a very modern contemporary feel to it, with fabulous artwork on the walls, and stunning chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. From the colours on the walls, to the stunning spiral staircase, to the accompaniments on each table – you could tell that the refurbishment was carefully thought out – it looked great and immediately put us both at ease.

We were greeted by Chris, and escorted to the table and handed the VIP menus – Chris was great, and explained the options on the menu thoroughly. The restaurant manager, Claire then introduced herself to us – and I must say Claire was a breath of fresh air! It was so good to meet someone who had the same passion about what they did as me. You could tell Claire was all about putting the customer first, and the same ethos was embedded in to the rest of the team – they were very proud of what they had achieved, and why not! If this was a sign of things to come, then the food should be first class!

We ordered drinks, and checked out what was on offer on the menu.

Eileen opted for a Pinot Grigio Blush,

ZIZZI TOP!

and I chose the fresh orange juice. On to the VIP menu - this was created for one night only to give the diners an idea of what’s in store on the main menu.

For starters there was a selection of Antipasti to share, which consisted of Calamari rings, garlic bread with mozzarella, and caramelised balsamic onions. There was also mixed olives, tomato bread with pesto and Italian cured meats. For our mains, Eileen decided on the Skinny Pizza Rustica Pollo Picante (spicy chicken, roquito chillies & mozzarella, served with a mixed leaf salad).

I opted for Rustica Mare E Monti (one half king prawn, courgettes, mozzarella and crème fraiche, and the other half fiery sausage, tomato sauce, chilli and rocket).

We had ordered, and thought I would take a look around – at the back of the restaurant was the kitchen with the highlight being a roaring wood fired oven. Upstairs – there was more seating and room for bigger parties – the décor was very well thought out.

Back downstairs our food had arrived and we didn’t waste time – we dived straight in. The selection of Antipasti had so much variety. The meats were very succulent, the calamari had so

much flavour and the breads were fresh - My personal favourite, being the garlic bread with mozzarella and caramelised onions – a great combination of flavours.

The starters setup the mains perfectly and we didn’t have to wait too long – they looked superb!

Eileen’s Skinny Pizza was spiced just right, with the chicken oozing flavour, and the accompaniment of the mixed leaf salad went down well – fresh and tangy. My ‘half and half’ pizza looked like it was created by Michelangelo himself. The prawns tasted fresh, the base was thin and crispy and the courgettes and crème fraiche were very flavoursome – it went down a treat!

We were full to the brim, but we still had a delicious trio of desserts to devour – Tartufo al Cioccolato, Torta Limone and Tiramisu. The chocolate truffle was elegant, the lemon cake was tangy and the tiramisu had a lovely kick to it.

To summarise – the food as expected was superb, the ambience was friendly and warm and the service was second to none. Italian food created and served with passion – highly recommended to all the Hype readers.

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P! ZIZZI HARBORNE Starter

Selection of Antipasti; Calamari rings, garlic bread with mozzarella & caramelised balsamic onions, mixed olives, tomato bread with pesto and Italian cured meats.

Main

Skinny Pizza Rustica Pollo Piccante & Rustica Mare E Monti

Dessert

Tartufo al cioccolato, Torta limone & Tiramisu

Henry Tudor House New_Double Page Editorial 24/03/2014 10:58 Page 1

Comedy Nights at Shrewsbury’s Henry Tudor House The club nights are hosted in the top floor room at Henry Tudor House, which has a purpose-built stage, excellent lighting and acoustics and can seat up to 100 people.

Have you heard the one about the great place in Shrewsbury which is now hosting some top comedy acts?

The increasingly popular town restaurant and music venue Henry Tudor House, situated off Wyle Cop, launched its new comedy club venture in February 2014, booking several high profile comedians for its first two monthly events.

Both evenings sold out weeks in advance so I was lucky to secure tickets to see these high profile acts.

It is a superb location for intimate comedy nights with a great atmosphere and the packed audiences were shouting for more after being entertained non-stop for nearly 2 hours.

“Both evenings were extremely popular, proving that there is a big demand for high quality stand-up comedy in Shropshire and we are very excited about our forthcoming events,” said Henry Tudor House proprietor Graham Jenkins.

“Big crowds turned out for the first comedy club shows, with each night featuring four comedians, and everyone really enjoyed themselves, so we are expecting tickets to be snapped up for our next event in April and I’m sure it will be equally as successful,” he said.

The winner of a top entertainment award is the headline act for the next live comedy evening at Henry Tudor House on April 9. Rob Rouse, a former recipient of Channel Four's prestigious 'So You Think You're Funny' competition, will also be joined by MC Tom Olver. Tom is acknowledged as one of the best MCs in the business and his TV warm-up credits include Vicar of Dibley, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg, 10 O'Clock Live, The Jonathon Ross Show, Stand Up for the Week, Have I Got News for You and Deal or No Deal.

Rob and Tom are both regular performers at major venues on both the London and national circuits and they will be joined on stage in Shrewsbury by fellow comedians Chris Turner and Wes Zaharuk.

Tickets cost £12 each and are available from Henry Tudor House or online at www.henrytudorhouse.com/live. Don’t miss it - I guarantee you a great night out.

By Imran Ahmed

Dan Nightingale

Sol Bernstein

Rob Deering

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Brindleyplace_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 17:39 Page 1

BRINDLEYPLACE...

Brindleyplace offers an abundance of things to do in Birmingham city centre for visitors of all ages.

This vibrant area is packed with exciting attractions from the National SEA LIFE Centre to IKON art gallery, a theatre and the neighbouring ICC and NIA exhibition and music venues.

There is also a lively events calendar throughout the year from a local produce market to live entertainment and music providing the perfect day out in Birmingham.

Brindleyplace has a diverse café and bar scene including elegant interiors, stylish terraces, canal side views and regular free live entertainment and if you are after great restaurants in Birmingham, then you need look no further than Brindleyplace. There is such a huge range of venues, from all around the world, Brindleyplace offers one of the most fantastic choices of indoor and alfresco dining experiences in Birmingham.

Venues range from award winning fine dining restaurants, to relaxed family friendly eateries and plenty of places to grab a quick snack or lunch on the go.

With restaurants to match every occasion from the tres chic Café Rouge, to the delightful Carluccio’s, there really is something to suit every taste. Next time you are planning a day out, take a look at Brindleyplace!

The Place To Visit Brunswick Square City Café Nuvo The Crescent Theatre Hilton Garden Inn SACO@Birmingham

Central Square

Bank Restaurant Edmunds Bank Bar Caffe Nero - coming early 2014 Costa Baguette du Monde EAT Ethos Bannatyne's Health Club The National SEA LIFE Centre

Oozells Square Café Opus at Ikon Cielo Piccolino Thai Edge Ikon Gallery

The Water's Edge

Café Rouge Carluccio's Chilacas Gourmet Burger Kitchen handmade burger Co. Le Monde - opening early 2014 PizzaExpress Tin Tin wagamama All Bar One Pitcher & Piano The Slug and Lettuce

Broad Street Coast to Coast

For more ideas go to:

www.visitbirmingham.com

LOCAL FEATURE

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22-25th May LG ARENA, BIRMINGHAM

DRALION, THE GROUNDBREAKING SHOW FROM CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Fusing the 3000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion (pronounced “Dra-lee-on”) draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show’s name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West. In Dralion, the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the world of Dralion, cultures blend, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved. Tickets are available from www.livenation.co.uk or call 0844 856 0202. Tickets are all priced at £50.

Projects

The 25 Paintings

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Eastside

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Digbeth based gallery Eastside Projects launches Bill Drummond's 12 year 'World Tour' with the exhibition 'The 25 Paintings’.

On 13 March legendary musician and artist Bill Drummond will begin a twelve year ‘World Tour’ under Spaghetti Junction marking this momentous event with an exhibition at Eastside Projects in Digbeth from 15 March to 14 June.

The exhibition focuses on ‘The 25 Paintings’, a series of artworks that signpost actions Drummond will perform across Birmingham during his three month stay in the city including, but by no means limited to, giving away bunches of daffodils, discovering Dead Oak Rings, building rafts, hiding in cafes, making beds, sweeping the streets clean and brewing tea.

Also on show will be The SIXTY Posters, The 25 Sixty Second Films, an evolving selection of photographs, a globe of the world and a large map of the city.

Chiltern Railways will be sponsoring

Photograph by Tracey Moberly.

Drummond’s travel from Marylebone to Moor Street each week as he writes scripts for his Sixty Second Films.

The ‘World Tour’, which is being curated

by Eastside Projects, will end back at Spaghetti Junction on 28th April 2025 after travelling to twelve different cities in twelve different countries from Birmingham to Berlin, Guangzhou to Memphis, Kolkata to Port-au-Prince and beyond.

Drummond will also be taking on the challenge of raising £1,074,300 for Eastside Projects, £1 for every person living in Birmingham at the 2011 census.

If you’d like to contribute to the fund contact info@eastsideprojects.org From March – June Eastside Projects will be the hub of the project where the artist

will be working in the gallery from 12–5pm on Friday’s and Saturday’s.

Director of Eastside Projects and co-curator of the tour Gavin Wade said “Bill Drummond is one of THE British artists of the last four decades. It is an honour and a pleasure that Eastside Projects is able to support Bill’s practice and present The 25 Paintings as our 25th main gallery exhibition.”

For Bill Drummond’s full events schedule visit www.eastsideprojects.org Eastside Projects is a free public space located at 86 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham, B9 4AR and can be contacted via 0121 771 1778 or info@eastsideprojects.org Gallery open: Wednesday–Saturday, 12–5pm.

AD GRID X 2_- 24/03/2014 16:00 Page 1

Theatre On The Steps

t: 01746 763257 www.theatreonthesteps.co.uk 8th and 9th APRIL

AN AUDIENCE WITH DOREEN

TICKETS £12 (£10 conc) ONLY AVAILABLE FROM www.doreen.+cketsource.co.uk BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

SAT 12th APRIL 7:30pm DAVID COPPERFIELD

Hotbuckle produc+ons present David Copperfield a new play by Adrian Preater based on the novel by Charles Dickens.

David Copperfield - the beloved story of Dickens' favourite child.

Ticket Prices: £12.00 in advance

FRI 18th APRIL 10:00am CHILDREN'S CHARITY SHOW

Join us for a magical start to Easter, it's the funniest place to be and great fun for all the family! All monies raised for Cameron's fund at asthma UK .Adults £6 Child £4

Stoneway Steps Bridgnorth Shropshire WV16 4BD

SAT 3rd MAY 8:00 pm GENESIS TRIBUTE

Mama are dedicated to reproducing the sights and sounds of a Genesis rock concert. Classic material from the band. Tickets £13

SAT 17th MAY 8:00pm VIVA LA COLD PLAY

Formerly known as Square One, Viva La Coldplay are the most defini+ve sounding tribute to Coldplay to date. Tickets £11

SAT 14th JUNE 8:00pm STRICTLY ABBA

Following a fabulous sell out show in November Strictly Abba return again to delight audiences with one of the most authen+c and accurate tributes to Abba.

Tickets £12

BCM Edit Wolves_Full Page Bleed New 23/01/2014 22:01 Page 1

AD GRID X 4_- 21/03/2014 10:28 Page 1

Bringing your TARGET market to your door!

To Advertise your business Call 01952 787786 and speak to one of the team...

A JAR IS BORN

Jamjar lights edit1_Double Page Editorial 24/03/2014 11:33 Page 1

Follow/ Like us on FB and Twitter too It’s true to say that over the last few years many of us have put off moving house and instead taken a hand to renovating or rejuvenating rooms in order to give them a new lease of life.

The increased number of TV shows such as ‘Kirsty’s Handmade Britain’ and ‘The Great Interior Design Challenge’ have helped to make this even more popular, by offering nifty ideas that can completely transform the way that you feel about parts of your house.

We (Katie, Shah and I,) apart from being completely addicted to these types of programmes, as I’m sure you

COME AND SEE US Spring Market – 12th April 2014, Birmingham. Or one of our Commercial fit outs with an industrial finish/feel at Boo Boo Coffee Company, Harborne High Street.

may be too, took a real interest in hand making items that we could use to improve our homes, especially lighting. Our first product was made in Shah’s living room one night, over pizza and a few beers. This was when our JamJar Lamp was born.

The JamJar Lamp is now our flagship product and what we’re probably known most for. It’s made out of a 1 litre Kilner jar, 2 metres of any colour fabric cable and a few other bits and pieces. It gives a great glow to a room and is obviously a unique item to have in your home.

Since that day it’s been non-stop, we’ve set up a business ‘JamJar

The JamJar Lights Team

Lights’ and it’s been growing strongly for just over 6 months, although for us product innovation is what we enjoy best, the boring back office ‘accounts’ side of things has certainly taken a bit of getting used to. So far we have over 200 products on our website with 1,000’s of variations available, with more added almost every day.

When we started out researching lighting, the thing that stood out was that access to unique and handmade products across the UK is very limited - unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for an interior design company or something like that. With that in mind, being able to make affordable, unique and handmade lighting more accessible to people has been really rewarding, as we’re essentially just three very down to earth individuals that never really had any expectations of the scale of interest that we would receive. We’re just happy to be able to help people enhance their homes and be proud of the things in it that make it special.

Thanks for reading; we’d love you to take a look at the website!

Sarah Barton, Head of Jars. www.jamjarlights.com or if you’d like to speak to us about a bespoke design, email: info@jamjarlights.com

AD GRID X 2_- 25/03/2014 11:47 Page 1

Battlebox2_Double Page Editorial 21/03/2014 10:31 Page 1

BATTLEBOX FOR BUDDING BEAR GRYLLS EXPLORERS! Bear Grylls is a big supporter of this toy brand which is designed to get young children outdoors, unlocking their imagination and exploring – his own children love it!

Many of us have forgotten how exciting the most simple things in life can be.

There's nothing more thrilling than sleeping under canvas, with only the stars and the wild beasts of the forest for company. The flicker of the flames casting long shadows while reading tales of derring-do and toasting marshmallows over the camp fire will have even the most boisterous Adventurers in silent rapture.

Adventure is lacking in so many children’s lives. Far too many have never fished, started a camp fire, walked the hills, used a compass, swum in natural water or marvelled at the night sky above.

BattleBox is about educating and inspiring

BATTLEBOX FEATURE

Create Your Own Kit

children to explore the world around them. To encourage them to get off their computers and televisions and see that the real world is a far more exciting place to be! To show them that even in the most unexpected and unremarkable places there are still many adventures to be had. Even a back yard is capable of transformation to base camp and a pile of stones a secret den - all that's needed is a little imagination and some BattleBox kit!

Ultimate Expedition Kit

This top of the range kit provides the young adventurer in your life the chance to explore the great outdoors – Bear Grylls style. Tried and tested by the great man himself, these kits are tough and built to last. Whether used for traversing crevasses, swinging off trees or setting up an epic ambush, the expedition essentials contained in this exciting BattleBox kit will provide hours of exploration and adventure. Available from www.battleboxcompany.co.uk for £85.

This is the way to find those special little extras for your little soldiers. Perfect for children aged 6 to 13, with products ranging from catapults to Ghillie suits, this exciting collection will inspire imaginations, adventures and much, much more. With individual items starting from only 80 pence, BattleBox has insured that all budgets are catered for, providing a selection of yummy energy treats, outdoor adventure gadgets and exciting games, books and toys.

Kit For Heroes

With a range of seven different kits available, there is sure to be the perfect present for your intrepid adventurer, stoic soldier or soulful stargazer among the exciting BattleBox collection designed to get kids back outdoors! With kits between £14 and £30 ideal for children aged between 6 and 13, these are Christmas presents with a difference. Exciting games, tasty treats and cool gadgets will ensure that your budding Bear Grylls learns everything there is to know about the great outdoors, all in the comfort of a back garden, park or playground, inspiring the imagination for years to come.

NKOTB_Double Page Editorial 05/02/2014 12:26 Page 1

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

WHAT’S ON

GETTING INTIMATE AT THE NIA BIRMINGHAM!

NKOTB

Get Intimate with New Kids on the Block!

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK recently announce details of their upcoming European tour, comprising a series of special live dates. Coming to Birmingham’s NIA on 31 May 2014, the show will give fans a rare opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with one of the biggest music bands of all time.

With their last European dates being the incredibly successful ‘NKOTBSB’ arena tour in 2012, ranking high on both Pollstar's ‘Top 50 Worldwide Tours (Mid-Year)’ and Billboard's annual ‘Top 25 Tours’, the award-winning international pop sensations are poised to make a spectacular return to wow their fans in their most intimate tour in 20 years.

Audiences will be treated to performances of some of the band’s most iconic hits such as ‘You Got It (The Right Stuff)’, ‘Hangin Tough’ and ‘Please Don’t Go Girl’, taking them on a trip down memory lane, as well as current hits ‘Single’ and ‘Remix (I Like The)’ whilst getting the chance to be closer to the boys than ever before.

Tickets are available from www.theticketfactory.com or 0844 338 8000.

Comprised of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood, New Kids on

the Block have sold 80 million albums worldwide and dominated airwaves with a bevy of hits such as "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", "Cover Girl", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Hangin' Tough", "I'll Be Loving You", "Step By Step", and "Tonight". After 15 years out of the spotlight, the 21st century saw the boys from Boston stage one of the biggest and most anticipated reunions of all time. In 2008, they officially revealed their return on The Today Show. Their long-awaited and hotly anticipated return album, The Block, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and the supporting tour reached a cumulative audience of over one million people. In 2013, the release of their sixth studio album ‘10’ debuted at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200, and to mark their continuing success, New Kids on the Block will receive a coveted start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August 2014.

Announcing the European dates, the band said:

“"We've played arenas, and stadiums, all over the world in the last 6 years. Yet, some of our best concerts have been in the most intimate of venues, where we are closer to our amazing fans. This tour gives us a chance to have that intimacy with our fans again. To get up close and intimate with the best fans in the world".

24 live another day_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 10:05 Page 1

24: 24: LIVE LIVE ANOTHER ANOTHER DAY DAY

JACK IS BACK! Being a huge fan of 24 personally, I have been eagerly awaiting it’s return. So, I was thrilled to see that Jack Bauer is coming back in May 2014, with the latest offering from the hit show; 24: Live Another Day! 24: Live Another Day, a thrilling new series set to restart the clock on the groundbreaking and Emmy Awardwinning drama franchise starring Kiefer Sutherland. Produced by 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and Howard Gordon's Teakwood Lane Productions, "24: Live Another Day" will make its historic debut in the summer of 2014 on Fox!

The high-octane saga will reunite showrunner Howard Gordon with Sutherland and retain the real-time, pulse-pounding, fast-paced format with split screens and complex interweaving storylines, with 12 episodes representing 24 hours. The suspense filled series once again follows the exploits of heroic agent Jack Bauer (Sutherland), who will resume his story several years following the events of the final, season 8.

"The response to '24' is unlike anything I have ever experienced as an actor before," noted Sutherland. "To have the

HYPE TV SHOWS

chance to reunite with the character, Jack Bauer, is like finding a lost friend.

The story ideas from Howard Gordon are exciting and fresh, and will not disappoint. Great thanks to 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and the FOX network for this opportunity.

Make no mistake, my goal is to knock your socks off. See you soon."

"Jack Bauer has always been an exciting, thrilling character, and I confess that I've missed him. I think the audience has too," said executive producer Howard Gordon who served as showrunner for most of the series' run and won multiple Emmy Awards for his work. "The character has evolved through the years, and this new and exciting event series format is perfect to tell the next chapter of his story and continue to reflect how the world is changing. Fans can rest assured that the Jack they know and love will be back."

The clock is due to start ticking on 24: Live Another Day on 5th May 2014 on Fox. As usual it will be a roller coaster ride, that is assured to get the adrenaline flowing. Can Jack stop a terrorist attack so bad that it could change the world?? Well, this is Jack Bauer, we are talking about...

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Films_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 10:09 Page 1

EDGE OF TOMORROW

RELEASE DATE 30 May 2014 The epic action of Edge of Tomorrow movie unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Tom Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to little more than a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again… and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Lara Pulver

XMEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

RELEASE DATE 22 May 2014 The X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class in a battle that must change the past – to save their future.

Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Michael Fassbender

RIO 2

2

Films_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 10:09 Page 2

LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY'S RETURN RELEASE DATE 9 May 2014 In the latest chapter in the Oz legacy, Dorothy returns to Kansas only to find it devastated by the tornado that had whisked her away to Oz. The home she has been so desperate to return to is severely damaged and the townspeople are packing up and moving out. But shortly after arriving, she is magically transported back to Oz. She finds out that Oz is in trouble and the people there need her help. Dorothy's old friends have disappeared and Oz is in a state of decay. As she journeys to find her friends, she encounters a number of new companions.

With: Hugh Dancy, Lea Michele, Patrick Stewart

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 RELEASE DATE 18 April 2014 We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing SpiderMan 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead. It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx

It's a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids in RIO 2, after they're hurtled from that magical city to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all his father-in-law!

Release Date: 4 April 2014 Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Will i Am, Jamie Foxx, Jake T. Austin, Rodrigo Santoro, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, George Lopez, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracy Morgan, Andy Garcia and John Leguizamo

HYPE FILM RELEASES

GARY

BARLOW

Gary Barlow_Double Page Editorial 24/02/2014 19:14 Page 1

Brings His Tour To Birmingham!

Gary Barlow is one of our national treasures. From his days with Take That, through to his dry witted humour as a judge on X Factor, he really is a top guy.

The Since I Saw You Last Tour 2014 will see Gary play some of the biggest venues he has ever played as a solo artist, including The O2 in London, Birmingham LG Arena, Glasgow SSE Hydro and Manchester Phones 4U Arena.

Gary also confirmed a show for Nordoff Robbins at London’s Royal Albert Hall which will take place on Tuesday 22nd April, a very special intimate show for the music charity, following his headline arena tour. The concert is an opportunity to raise much needed funds for Nordoff Robbins, to support the music therapy work the charity carries out around the UK.

Gary Barlow’s second single ‘Face To Face’, is a massive duet with his longtime friend and inspiration Sir Elton John,which was released on January 20th. This followed the release of his first single ‘Let Me Go’, which reached No.2 in the singles charts.

Gary recently released his new studio

album ‘Since I Saw you Last’ (his first in 14 years!) which reached No. 2 in the official charts and is still in the Top 5. Gary wrote all the songs for his new album in London and recorded them mainly between his own Future Studios and producer Steve Power’s TOP Studios, with the strings arrangements captured at Abbey Road Studios. Gary’s last solo album ‘Twelve Months, Eleven Days’ was released in 1999, with his debut solo record ‘Open Road’ hitting the No.1 spot in May 1997.

With Take That Gary Barlow can count eight Number One albums, selling more than 30 million copies, to his name. He has also been party to fifteen No.1 singles, sold seven million concert tickets as well as being the proud recipient of six Ivor Novello Awards. He was awarded an OBE for his contribution to British music last year following the work he has done with BBC Children In Need and the hugely successful Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert.

Gary Barlow’s headline arena tour, his biggest solo shows ever, which will kick off in Belfast on March 29th and finish in Sheffield on April 20th.

Full list of tour dates:

......................

April 2014

2/4/14 - Glasgow The SSE Hydro

3/4/14 - Leeds First Direct Arena 5/4/14 - London The O2 6/4/14 - London The O2

8/4/14 - Birmingham LG Arena

9/4/14 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 11/4/14 - Liverpool Echo Arena

12/4/14 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena 14/4/14 - Manchester Phones 4u Arena 15/4/14 - Liverpool Echo Arena

17/4/14 - Nottingham Capital FM Arena 19/4/14 - Birmingham LG Arena

20/4/14 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

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Gary Barlow_Double Page Editorial 24/02/2014 19:14 Page 2

HYPE GARY BARLOW

Sophie Ellis-Bextor_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 10:41 Page 1

Sophie Ellis-Bextor DROPS BY TO CHAT ABOUT HER TOUR IN APRIL

Sophie Ellis-Bextor announced a 10-date UK tour, which kicks off in Birmingham on the 7th April, which follows the release of her new album ‘Wanderlust’ earlier this year.

We were excited to catch up with Sophie to find out more about what she has been up to, her album and the tour.

Imran: Hi Sophie!

Sophie: Hello, hi there Imran, how are you doing?

Imran: Very well thanks how are you?

Sophie: Good thanks!

Imran: Thank you for taking the time to speak to me, it’s a little bit overwhelming, it’s not every day I get to speak to my celebrity crush.

Sophie: (Laughs…a lot!) you charmer you!

Imran: I don’t want to scare you off, but I am a big fan.

Sophie: Ah thank you!

Imran: Have you got over your zero gravity experience?

Sophie: Yeah, it was really fun that.

Basically, I knew I liked crisps and I like trying weird and wonderful things but that was really fun and quite addictive actually.

Imran: Yeah I bet. It was for Walkers Pops wasn’t it. Would you recommend it to others?

Sophie: Definitely, it was really unique; you are literally floating around like a bubble!

we are probably one of the most informed generations there has been for a while, in terms of food and thinking about what we are eating, I think it’s just a case of being sensible really overall. I mean I love chips, but I know that you shouldn’t eat chips every day and you’ve got to be pretty active too, so yeah it’s just about being sensible.

Imran: Good, coming back to your recent ventures, how did you find the Strictly Come Dancing experience, was it ‘murder on the dance floor’? (Chuckles to himself!)

Sophie: Oh, good one! I have actually heard that twice now (laughing).

Imran: I know, I couldn’t resist! I thought to myself last night ‘do I ask that’ and then I just thought I had to!

Sophie: Why not! It was very intense but I loved it.

Imran: How did that come about?

Sophie: I have been really busy touring after the last album, not so much around the UK but around the world. I was actually having quite a nice life! So when I was approached I had to take some time to think about whether I was comfortable with all that Strictly would entail. But I thought you know what I’m quite a strong person, I’m pretty fearless, I had already made the album so I thought why not, what have I got to lose. I felt ready to take a bit of a risk really and I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much.

Imran: When will that air?

Sophie: It wasn’t for TV it was for print, so mainly photos. I went to Houston for the weekend did some zero gravity and ate some crisps.

Imran: Do you want to swap jobs??

Sophie: Well I felt a bit strange saying to my kids that I was off to work for the weekend, yet it’s a bit of a loose interpretation of the word work.

Imran: I’m the same; I love my job, so I don’t like calling it work. I suppose there is a health side to it also; do you think it’s important for people to make healthier choices?

Sophie: Well I love my food as much as the next person actually, I think the thing is that

Imran: That’s great. And now coming back to music how does it feel coming back to what you are best known for.

Sophie: Well I have been making music for a decade now and that’s been my day job for a while so for me it’s not back to music.

It’s more just a case of things continuing, and evolving really. It’s really lovely for it to be doing well in the UK but for me every

album I make, for me the goal is just to make music and I will always travel to where people want to hear me sing, so I have a very impressive range of stamps in my passport as a result of that.

Imran: It’s a great job! Your album ‘Wanderlust’ is out at the moment, what’s the response been like?

Sophie: Pretty overwhelming actually, it’s a very different kind of record, it’s not dance music and it’s not disco, so I didn’t know what people would make of it. It’s actually done really well for itself and I’m very proud of it and I’m very proud for all the people that were involved in it. It was definitely a work that came out of a love project rather than a big commercial work project.

Imran: What was the inspiration behind the album?

Sophie: Well I suppose the basic came from wanting to do something that I had never done before, that’s why some of the songs are about weird and wonderful things like fairy tales, witches and scary dolls and that kind of stuff and then it was also inspired by some eastern European trips that I have done recently, as I’ve been spending a lot of my time there and I suppose it’s about where I’m from and a bit of a love letter home as well.

Imran: I read something about it being very family and friends orientated?

Sophie: Yeah, my husband played bass.

I wrote the album with a guy called Ed Harcourt, his wife Eve and a friend Seaton was on guitar and it was just pulling in favours and all my favourite people basically.

Imran: I have just had a question put in front of me by one of the team who is a massive Armin Van Buuren fan; they just wanted to ask you what it was like working with him?

Sophie: Oh yeah, very cool! It’s quite funny that my last single release was a dance track with Armin Van Buuren called ‘Not Giving Up’ and then the next release ‘Young Blood’ is a ballad, folk type song. It shows you how diverse a career can be (laughs).

Imran: You are going on tour in April; we will be coming to see you in Birmingham.

What can we expect?

Sophie: Cool! Well I have the same

Sophie Ellis-Bextor_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 10:41 Page 2

musicians that recorded with me, doing the tour and we do the album but we also do a lot of the other songs too, ‘Murder On The Dance Floor’ ‘Groove jet’ so it’s going to be a quirky, eclectic but charming night out.

Imran: Fab, in terms of touring is that something you enjoy?

Sophie: Well I do a lot of touring! But touring this album will feel very special; it’s something of a departure, so we are really excited to get on the road.

Imran: In terms of balancing your work life and home life, how do you manage that?

Sophie: Well I have had kids for longer now than I was a singer without kids, so it’s kind of all we know. Family life is quite chaotic anyway so, you know, my oldest is nearly ten now, I just get on with it really. I am just used to it and my kids are used to it. My husband and I, we love being with the family but we love what we do so, you just have to do what makes you happy really haven’t you.

Imran: Absolutely! Finally Sophie, what can we look forward to next from you?

Sophie: Well we have this tour and then I have got loads of festivals, and then another tour in the autumn. I’m just basically following on from the album and seeing where it takes me.

“The tour is going to be a quirky, eclectic but hopefully a charming night out” HYPE INTERVIEW

Little Mix Tour_Double Page Editorial 26/02/2014 14:09 Page 1

Little Mixing It Up In T

Global pop sensations Little Mix will be embarking on their biggest UK tour to date in May-June 2014, with their opening show at Birmingham’s LG Arena.

Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall recently returned with their outstanding second album, ‘Salute' which follows their hugely successful debut album 'DNA'. Having already spent weeks in the Top 10 of the UK Album Charts, ‘Salute’ presents Little Mix at their exuberant best and is infused with the electrifying energy the quartet bring to every live performance. Hit single ‘Move’ took the UK by storm in September, and sold over 130,000 copies within the first three weeks of its release in November. Showcasing the girls’ unrivalled ability to create fun and powerful pop music, ‘Move’ is a guaranteed dance floor filler.

Across the 12 tracks that make up ‘Salute’, Little Mix boldly expand their contemporary pop and rnb influences with forward-looking production from the UK’s finest up-and-coming talent.

Either writing or co-writing nine tracks themselves, collaborators across the album include up-and-comer Duvall, who adds sampled beat boxing and vocal flourishes to ‘Move’, whilst MNEK lends his hand to the explosive euphoria of ‘Nothing Feels Like You’.

TMS, the team behind smash hits ‘Wings’ and ‘DNA’, once again combine with the band for the inspirational, powerful single ‘Little Me’ which impacted in December.

Still maintaining elements of the sound that made their debut such a standout,

www.little-mix.com

Little Mix Tour_Double Page Editorial 26/02/2014 14:09 Page 2

e Mix n The Midlands

Little Mix also re-team with several other familiar collaborators namely Nicola Roberts, Shaznay Lewis and Futurecut. The result is an album that cements their place as a bold, truly brilliant UK pop act.

Since Little Mix formed in 2011, they’ve had two No.1 singles and a platinum selling debut album in the UK. They’ve also flown the flag for British pop music abroad, with 'DNA’ certified gold in Australia, and Top 5 in Japan. In the US they broke the Spice Girls’ record for the highest ever US chart debut by a British girl group, entering the charts at No.4. 2014 will kick off with the girls touring the US with Demi Lovato. ‘Salute’ also saw them once again achieve a second top 5 album in the UK. In anticipation of the tour, Little Mix have added, “We’re so excited to be preparing for our first arena tour! It’s incredible to think we’ll be playing for so many people every night. We are going to be pulling out all the stops to make sure it’s as unforgettable for our Mixers as it will be for us.”

Little Mix’s new tour follows their hugely successful sold out headline tour in the UK and Ireland.

Friday 16th May 2014 Birmingham LG Arena LG ARENA TICKET PRICES ARE £37.89 / £26.79 (INC. ADMIN FEE & £0.70 RENOVATION LEVY) + £2.50 FULFILMENT FEE. AVAILABLE FROM www.theticketfactory.com or 0844 338 8000.

HYPE FEATURE

Mitchell's Journey - DMD_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 11:04 Page 1

“My son was a beautiful soul who left my world profoundly empty, yet strangely full.”

A Broken Heart In July of 2005 Mitchell Dee Jones from Herriman, Utah was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a catastrophic muscle wasting disease which results in progressive muscle deterioration and is fatal by late teens/early twenties.

By the age of 10 Mitchell's heart function had deteriorated much sooner than expected. In less than a year he passed away from acute heart failure.

Originally Mitchell’s parents established a Facebook Page, ‘Mitchell’s Journey’ to chronicle their son's journey, believing he had many years ahead of him. Now that he's passed they use the page to post photos and videos of Mitch along with personal reflections on life, love and loss.

Their experience with Mitchell and his Journey has been an incredibly painful one ... but his father Chris and his mother Natalie wouldn't have traded this experience for anything.

‘Our son, whose broken heart ended up taking his life, has given us new life as we've learned to reflect on the deeper meaning of family, god and love.’

Lifting Heavy Hearts...

I first became aware of ‘Mitchell’s Journey’ whilst browsing posts on Facebook. I read one of the posts that Chris had written, with tears streaming down my face. I found myself reading for quite some time that day, and many days since.

My day is often touched by this amazing family, whose strength and love shines

through from the depths of sorrow, lifting my spirits but also teaching me how to embrace things that we sometimes simply let pass us by, without even noticing.

I felt that it was important to try to raise awareness of this cruel condition, and the experiences that Mitchell and his family shared on their journey together.

DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, affecting around 1 in 3,600 boys, which results in muscle degeneration and eventual death.

While both sexes can carry the mutation, females rarely exhibit signs of the disease. Symptoms usually present before age 6 and may be visible in early infancy.

Early signs may include enlargement of calf and deltoid muscles, low endurance, and difficulties in standing unaided or inability to ascend staircases. By age 10, braces may be required to aid in walking but most patients are wheelchair dependent by age 12. The average life expectancy for patients afflicted with DMD is around 25.

Mitchell’s illness progressed much more quickly than expected, cutting his journey short by a long way. After a routine echocardiogram discovered Mitchell's heart was showing signs of heart weakness not typically seen in kids with DMD until the later stages of the disease. The significance of this.... breathing complications and heart failure - the most common cause of death in young men with DMD. I got in touch with Chris, and he kindly allowed me to share one of his posts with you, and even though the pain of losing his precious son is ever present, Chris, with his writing helps others to lift heavy hearts, with the most amazing clarity, even through the densest fog of his own sorrow. It is titled ‘My Wilderness’.

My Wilderness

As a young boy I used to get lost in the back woods of Edina, Minnesota. The wilderness was thick with all manner of vegetation, rocks and hills – and because of the very nature of nature you couldn't see very far. And when fog settled, you could see almost nothing.

Being lost as a young child reminds me of the landscapes of my life. Sometimes I sit upon a vista with clear skies and can see far into the horizon. Other times I am scaling my Everest – afraid I might fall.

Still, other times I am traveling through a wilderness of hardship where the fog of the unknown makes seeing what’s ahead almost impossible.

Regardless of the landscape upon which I journey, I have learned to travel by faith.

That doesn't mean to travel blind or dumb, but to learn to see with my other eyes and hear with my other ears. There is a difference, and it is significant.

As Mitch started to slip away, I found myself descending into a dark wilderness wherein I could see very little. The further we traveled into this wilderness of grief and sorrow the more difficult the terrain and the thicker the fog. I would hold my son’s face and tell him how much he meant to me. I would kiss and hug him and try to assure him – but inside I was terrified of losing him. I love him so very much. With each minute, each day, the wilderness became ever dark and perplexing. I have never known a wilderness such as this.

My wife came into my office today with tears in her eyes and said, “I know it’s officially tomorrow night (the morning of March 2nd) that Mitch passed away, but the day was on a Friday last year. Today is Friday.” Tears filled my eyes, too. I realized then I am still navigating the wilderness of grief. And what a wilderness it is…

Et th

Mitchell's Journey - DMD_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 11:04 Page 2

Tender moments with Mom - Natalie Mitchell with his special key from the ‘Make A Wish’ team

Ethan, Laura-Ashley & Wyatt with a special portrait of their brother Mitch.

Mitchell Dee Jones April 29, 2002 ~ March 2, 2013

The other day I stumbled upon a journal entry I wrote when I was 19 years old. I had all but forgotten about the dream – but somehow I had the presence of mind to write it down over 20 years ago. In my dream I was travelling in a forest heading to some place important, but I couldn't put my finger on where. I also had a wife and children but I couldn't see their faces and I didn't know their numbers, yet I knew they belonged to me and me them.

Each of them was carrying picture frames.

As we made our journey through the thick forest, at some point I realized someone was missing and I began to desperately search for my child. I was in a panic, and then my dream ended.

As I read my journal entry I lost my breath. I am now beginning to understand the meaning of that dream so many years later - and I can’t help but contemplate what God was trying to tell me about my future. He spoke to me, and I listened … and I wrote it down… but I didn't understand it. If there is one thing I've learned in my own journey; it is one thing to receive a personal revelation (or answer, or warning) but quite another to understand it. I have discovered that while navigating my wilderness I must

learn to rely on my spiritual hearing, not just spiritual sight. And learning to hear is a delicate and personal thing – borne of personal acquaintance.

Suppose I told you outside there were 2,000 mothers – one of which was mine.

And say I blindfold you and told you to find her. I could describe her to you; I might say she’s 5.5, blonde short hair, a beautiful smile and kind voice. If I sent you out there to find her ---- you couldn't do it. Yet if you were to blindfold me I could find her in minutes. Why? Because I know her voice. So it is with God.

I am still navigating the wilderness of grief - almost as if blindfolded. But I have ears

to hear. And while I may stumble and fall to my bruised knees in sorrow, I will get up and follow that voice that whispers ever so gently. A voice that is so quiet that if I’m preoccupied, I may not hear it at all.

One day, at the end of my wilderness, when I have learned what I must, I know I will see my son again. Only this time I will hold Mitchell’s face not in sorrow but in deep relief … for I will have closed the loop on that dream I had so many years ago; I will have found my son who was lost from my sight. And I will thank my wilderness for teaching me to hear my Father’s voice … a voice that is leading me home. I hear Him. (Christopher M Jones)

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Pace Edit_Full Page Bleed New 25/03/2014 09:41 Page 1

Perton GolF Advert_Double Page Editorial 13/11/2013 10:24 Page 1

John Biddle Edit_Double Page Editorial 21/03/2014 12:09 Page 1

Don’t be short-sighted.

Most people would agree that getting a regular eye test is important, but how many realise that a check up is vital not just for assessing your sight, but in flagging up a number of potentially serious health problems which may otherwise go undetected? Imran, from The Hype Magazine, went to have an eye test at John Biddle Optitians in Shrewsbury to find out more.

Diabetes affects almost 2 million people in the UK and it is estimated that 1 million more people have the condition but don’t even realise it.

Often the first indication that someone is suffering with diabetes is a sight problem.

Figures from Brain Tumour UK indicate that an estimated 16,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumours in Britain each year – and as many as 30 per cent of these could be spotted with an routine eye test, often at an early, and life-saving stage.

High blood cholesterol, which leads to coronary heart disease, stroke and heart attack, can also be detected, as well as high blood pressure.

Complex neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease and even cancer can also be revealed during an eye test.

Imran’s Eye Test Experience: It was that time again – my 2 yearly eye test and I decided to use John Biddle opticians in Shrewsbury.

Having worn glasses for the majority of my life, I had gone through this process every two years primarily through multinational chains.

However I always felt that I wasn’t

being offered the service that me and my eyes deserved. JBOpticians is a family run business, with 4 branches across Shropshire.

The business was setup by John Biddle, a fully qualified dispensing optician in 1972, and now currently employs in the region of 16 staff.

I walked into the Shrewsbury branch for my eye test, and was greeted by friendly faces at the front desk, who asked me to take a seat whilst they notified the optometrist. After a short wait, I was taken into have my eye test. I was asked about the history of my eyes, and what issues I have had previously, as well as the current state of play with my vision.

Whilst the eye test was being done, I felt at ease and wasn’t rushed. It was the end of the day, and the optometrist had probably gone through the same process many times that day, but great care and attention was shown to make sure that my eyes were getting a thorough checking over – I even had a picture taken of the back of my eyes to see if there were any complications.

The test done, it was onto the frames and lenses. There was a vast array of frames to choose from, and I tried

most of them on! When choosing frames, you have to get the right combination of design and comfort, as you will be using them on a daily basis for the next couple of years.

The frames chosen, it was now time to find the right type of lens.

There are a number of options available when it comes to lenses from uncoated plastic to extra thin, anti scratch and anti reflection. I normally go for the thinnest, with the most coatings – so that’s what I opted for. I could have chosen Polarised lenses, they eliminate glare reflected off surfaces such as a road or water, making it easier to drive, fish or ski.

The demonstration of how they work is worth asking about – I was extremely impressed!

To sum up - the experience from start to finish was very professional and relaxing. The service was second to none and the team were very friendly.

I would highly recommend John Biddle Opticians for all.

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Bikini Bods_Full Page Bleed New 21/03/2014 10:39 Page 1

In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads, hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body. Squats are considered a vital exercise for increasing the strength and size of the legs and buttocks, as well as developing core strength. Isometrically, the lower back, the upper back, the abdominals, the trunk muscles, the costal muscles, and the shoulders and arms are all essential to the exercise and thus are trained when squatting with the proper form.

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NEARLY NAKED! It’s nearly time for us to get the shorts and bikinis out for summer and you never know, the sun might even make an appearance! Here are a couple of the latest crazes that people are turning to get in shape. Whatever your goals are, just remember to do things at your own pace, always stay safe and most importantly - ENJOY IT!!

Just For Fun: The best advice I have seen for getting a Bikini Body was on Facebook recently which simply said: Get a bikini & put it on your body - hey presto you have a bikini body!

HYPE FITNESS

Jogging makes you burn fat and thereby helps to lose weight. In addition to increasing metabolism, jogging is an effective way to burn more calories, which helps you lose weight. If calories consumed in food are less than calories spent during exercise and other daily activities, you will lose weight. It is impossible not to!

Many people have learned how to lose belly fat by starting a running program.

JOG ON!

30 DAY SQUAT

CHALLENGE

The 30 Day Squat Challenge is a simple 30-day exercise plan, where you do a set number of squats each day with a rest day thrown in every 3rd day. You start by completing 50 squats on Day 1, and slowly increase by 5 squats each day up to a maximum of 250 by Day 30.

Jogging helps to reduce stubborn belly fat.

Stubborn fat can be very hard to shift, but a running program can help to cut down on the last of your stubborn fat. The key is to think long-term and always work on your fitness.

Change can take a long time to come but the end result it much improved fitness and strength which makes maintaining a healthy weight so much easier.

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Wolves College Edit_Double Page Editorial 27/02/2014 14:43 Page 1

With a focus on careers, not just courses, City of Wolverhampton College is passionate about helping the people of Wolverhampton and surrounding areas to develop the skills and knowledge they need for great jobs and future prospects.

With full-time and part-time courses in a range of subjects - from beauty, catering, early years education, engineering, hair, health and social care, motor vehicle, performing arts, sport, and travel and tourism, to qualifications in trades such as bricklaying, carpentry, electrical installation and plumbing; as well as higher education qualifications including HNCs, HNDs and foundation degrees, and a highly successful apprenticeship scheme supporting over 800 people to earn while they learn - there’s something for everyone, whatever their ambition.

With three campuses across the city, the college boasts impressive

engineering and motor vehicle workshops, a state-of-the-art construction innovation centre, commercial hair and beauty salons, and a fully-operational bakery, restaurant and sports centre – ensuring all students receive industrystandard training and are inspired to learn, achieve and succeed.

Mark Robertson, principal of the college, said: “The college is committed to providing an outstanding learning experience for everyone who studies here and is developing strong links with local employers to ensure the workforce of the future is equipped with the skills required to meet the demands of their business and enable our students to progress to great jobs and exciting careers in the future.”

To find out more about careers, not just courses, visit one of City of Wolverhampton College’s open events or visit www.wolvcoll.ac.uk/opendays

CAREERS NOT JUST COURSES AT COLLEGE

Wolves College Advert_Full Page Bleed New 21/03/2014 10:50 Page 1

St Edmunds Edit_Double Page Editorial 18/03/2014 11:36 Page 1

Compton Park, Compton Road West, Wolverhampton WV3 9DU.

Trip of a lifetime, for St Edmund’s Catholic Academy Sixth-Formers!

Two sixth form students from St. Edmund’s Catholic Academy at Compton Park, Wolverhampton, departed on the trip of a lifetime in February.

Tom Corrigan and Roshan Paul, who both intend to study medicine at university, approached GAP Medics last year, about the opportunity of possiby carrying out work experience in Tanzania.

They were both very fortunate to secure a one week placement, in the Morogoro region of Tanzania and worked in a hospital there, gaining valuable insight into tropical medicine and diseases, as well as experiencing what life is like on the other side of the world.

This amazing experience has enabled

them to contribute, in a small way, to the work of the staff in the hospital in Morogoro and will of course be an impressive addition to their CV’s and also their university applications.

Tom and Roshan both hope to pass their experiences on to some of the other students at the academy, as well as encouraging others to try to take part in such wonderful ventures.

Pupils looking for opportunities such as this, should consider joining St Edmund’s Catholic Academy Sixth Form. This, and many other opportunitites and activities become available as students move forward with their education.

Why not get in touch with Head of Sixth Form, Ms Richards on 01902 558888.

Email any questions to: rrichards@stedmunds.org or visit our website at:

www.stedmunds.org

AD GRID X 2_- 21/03/2014 11:06 Page 1

WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS!!!

Why not consider joining St Edmund’s Catholic Academy Sixth Form at Compton Park? We have many fantastic opportunities/activities available to you as you move forward with your education.

Why not give us a call?

Contact: Ms Richards (Head of Sixth) on 01902 558888 or email: rrichards@stedmunds.org

See our website: www.stedmunds.org St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, Compton Park, Compton Road West, Wolverhampton, WV3 9DU.

Oven Blitz Edit_Double Page Editorial 19/03/2014 11:53 Page 1

Spring cleaning is here, do not neglect your oven!!

The nights are drawing out, the temperatures are creeping up and the first lawn cuts of the year are being undertaken. So for many of us thoughts now turn to spring cleaning the house – but how many of us have little or no consideration for our ovens? It is after all one of the jobs we love to hate as it is just the metal box in the corner of the kitchen that cooks our food, right? Take a look inside your oven though and you may be surprised as to how dirty it actually is. You may consider having a go yourself, using oven bags you can buy that contain harsh chemicals. They never really work properly though do they?

Warren Roberts, 46, from Ovenblitz Midlands, has the answer. ‘To be cleaned properly, the door needs to be taken off and separated so that the glass can be cleaned in between. The racks, backplate and fan need to be removed and left to soak in the van mounted dip tank. The remainder of the oven can then be cleaned using paste and a scourer before everything is put back together and buffed up. All this needs to be done as grease and fat can get into these places that can have a detrimental effect on the

oven’s performance. We use cleaning products that are non-toxic and non-caustic and we have a state of the art dip tank installed in the van that can accommodate racks, grill pans, backplates, fans, extractor filters, hob stands and gas rings.’

So what about the cost? For example a single oven costs £40 whilst a double range costs £70, with package deals available that includes hob and extractor.

To put that into context, a £10 per month window clean is £120 a year whilst a £5 monthly car wash costs £60 a year.

‘People happily pay for these services so when I explain the costs this way, there is no argument’ says Warren.

It is Warren’s mission to make the ovens of the Midlands sparkle after his recent career change. He explains ‘I had been in supervisory and management positions for the best part of 20 years and I felt it was a good time to address the work/home balance, especially with my wife in a busy quality/compliance role for a training company, and a lively six year old son, with all the demands that family life brings. With my own business I can be

a lot more flexible, not just with regard to family life, but with client appointments as well. It works really well.’

Ovenblitz Midlands can be contacted for free on 0800 773 4870 or you can go to www.ovenblitzmidlands.co.uk for more details.

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Spring Gardens1_Full Page Bleed New 20/03/2014 17:51 Page 1

Planning Your Perfect Garden...

Designing Your Garden

When creating your perfect garden space, it is important to plan carefully.

While flowers, shrubs and grass lawn give a natural elegance to your garden, designing your garden with artificial items bring sensory illusion. They give that extra edge to the exquisiteness of your garden space.

There is a wide range of artificial designing items available on the market, from patios, to pathways, to fountains and other water features. The look you want to give to your garden, will influence the choices you make, so plan it, according to your choice, but make sure it gels with the overall look of your house.

Ideas For Designing Your Garden

Patios Patios are generally constructed with flagstone, it is actually an entertaining spot, so plan its position in the garden well. Think about where the sun hits and at what time, then consider when you are most likely to utilise the space.

The other options are brick pavers, decking, concrete pavers with timber borders or even patterned concrete.

Up The Garden Path Garden paths and steps, can add a whole new dimension to your space. It gives a flow, which can help to draw the eye to other features. You can make garden paths with flagstone, especially of Chilton Stone, but you can also use brick, wood chips, Class 5 gravel, evenly grinded limestone or granite. Steps should be of 1¾ inch to 2 inches thick, 18" to 22" in breadth.

Fountains & Sundials You can use various features for beautifying the garden. While fountains give your garden a relaxed and chilled look, sundials add elegance to your garden.

Overhead Structures Gazebos and pergolas can be beautiful additions to any garden space. These are the shades that keep you cool in the summer (Fingers crossed!). The structures can be given an attractive look, by making it with cedar wood. For the upper part, you can go for latticework, as it will allow sunlight to enter.

HYPE GARDENING FEATURE

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Keepmoat Edit_Double Page Editorial 24/01/2014 12:17 Page 1

to take advantage of a loan covering 20% of the value of the property for up to twenty-five years, with the first five years being interest free. The remaining 75% of the property’s value will be funded through a mortgage, with Keepmoat referring customers to a nominated mortgage advisor who will arrange the finance needed.

Eammon McInerney, Group Sales and Marketing Director for Keepmoat, said: “Royal Gardens has proven to be a phenomenally popular development as people snap up homes through Help to Buy.

Dream homes up for grabs in Wolverhampton Looking for your dream home in Wolverhampton? Look no further, Keepmoat has a number of stunning properties available at its flagship Royal Gardens development in the heart of the city.

The phenomenally popular development, part of the transformation of the All Saints area of the city, will eventually include a new supermarket, shops, offices, parking and open public spaces.

on the market from only £129,995.

And with Help to Buy, the latest Government finance scheme, this property is even more affordable at just £103,996.

The Help to Buy scheme offers buyers who have saved a 5% deposit the chance

“This is an exciting and vibrant area of Wolverhampton that is undergoing a significant transformation, allowing buyers to benefit from a host of new amenities on their doorstep.”

The show home is located at All Saints, Raby Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 1DT. Viewings are available by appointment by calling 01902 351 568.

For more information and to view the range of Keepmoat homes that are available at Royal Gardens, please call our sales office on 01902 212 848, visit www.keepmoat.com or visit our sales office at Royal Gardens, Wolverhampton, WV2 1AS.

Offering sleek and stylish living just a mile from Wolverhampton city centre, it is easy to see why the development is proving popular with house hunters looking for their dream home.

All house types are beautifully finished with spacious bedrooms, living areas, and stylish kitchen/diners.

Popular with first time buyers, the Kelmscott is a well-proportioned three bedroom home. The house boasts a luxurious lounge and spacious kitchen diner, offering access to the rear garden through double doors. Upstairs you’ll discover two good sized bedrooms, a master bedroom with ensuite and a spacious family bathroom. This home is

Photograph shows an upgraded kitchen with additional costs of up to £2,500. This price includes upgraded lighting, wall tiling, worktops, kitchen units and appliances.

Keepmoat Wolves Ad New_Full Page Bleed New 24/01/2014 13:01 Page 1

Krunch Fitness Edit_Double Page Editorial 20/03/2014 17:24 Page 1

Get In Touch 07970 332321 hello@krunch-fitness.com I have played football since an early age and still do today with a highlight of mine being scoring at the new Wembley in the 2010 FA Umbro fives final.

My interest in gym work, body conditioning and different forms of training stemmed from my love of football as i started attending the gym and trying new things out to try and improve my overall game.

Get motivated, achieve results and feel the difference...

Hi I am James Wareham and welcome to Krunch Health and Fitness.

We are a mobile personal training business who cater for everyone looking to reach their specific goals faster.

I’m a level 3 qualified personal trainer.

I have experience within the gym industry helping members reach their specific goals where I have been extremely successful. I have always had a love for sports, fitness and keeping fit.

This fascination soon became my number 1 priority and after leaving secondary school I enrolled on a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Studies at Halesowen college. After expanding my knowledge and passing the course I wanted to further expand my understanding of all things health and fitness by enrolling on a Sports Studies and Physical Education degree at Newman University College.

After passing my degree I worked within a private Occupational health company where I worked as a health advisor. My duties within this role were to perform health screening and surveillance on employees from many companies across the UK such as Ford, National Grid, Sainbury’s and Unison to name a few.

This role allowed me to use the skills I had picked up throughout my days in education and team them up with my passion for helping people.

My clients are wide and varied, ranging

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from children, the elderly, people who dislike going to the gym, or don’t have access to a gym through to those who feel conscious about training in public.

I felt very restricted working within the gym setting as this was limiting the number of people i could be helping.

I am really motivated to help my clients achieve their dreams.

Services I provide a wide range of personal training and health support.

Personal training

Home Visits Outdoor Activity Improved Cardiovascular Fitness Hypertrophy – Increase in Muscle Size Muscular Strength & Endurance Fat/Weight Loss Body Tone & Definition

Health & well being

Health Assessment Nutritional Advice Guidance & Support Motivation Inspiration Confidence

I also do some work for the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham as thier exclusive personal trainer.

Whatever your goals, Krunch Health and Fitness are with you every step of the way, helping you to acheive them!

NIA Liesure Centre Advert_Double Page Editorial 14/11/2013 09:23 Page 1

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