February 2010

28/02/2010 - Sport Relief challenge begins tomorrow

The team of cyclists begin their gruelling challenge on Monday morning. 'Heavy snow fall in Scotland creates road havoc', so a tough journey awaits, but best of luck to the team.

Ex-partner of Matt Lucas leaves £1m in will

The former partner of Matt Lucas left an estate worth £1million. Kevin McGee, 32, was found hanged at his Edinburgh flat in October. The TV producer is thought to have been depressed after his break-up with Lucas. His apparent suicide note on Facebook read: ‘Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life.’ Friends say his drug use had grown out of control. McGee left £1,010,719, reduced after liabilities to £993,610. The fortune is thought to be what was left of a settlement of £1.8million from Lucas. He died intestate so the money will be split between relatives after tax.

27/02/2010 - David and Lara Stone set for Mayfair wedding

David Walliams is planning to wed his fiance Lara Stone in a swish Mayfair hotel at Claridge's in May. The Sun reports the champagne and flowers have been taken care of, while Stone has a designer dress on order. A source said: 'They have been to the hotel for meetings and are well on their way with it. They seem pretty excited.' Stone is said to be set to move into Walliams's residence in Brighton and talking of quitting cigarettes for good once the wedding is over.

25/02/2010 - Matt wants to move to LA because the food portions are bigger

Matt currently lives in London but admitted he has been looking around for a new home in the States. The comic has recently been in the US to promote his new movie Alice In Wonderland, in which he plays the roles of Tweedledum and Tweedledee. He told UK newspaper The Sun: 'I like it very much in London but I do love it here in LA - so I've been looking around at a few places. 'It's all so nice. LA is great and the food portions are bigger - which makes me feel at home. I'm easily pleased.'

Walliams` fiancee Lara Stone will wear Italian-designed wedding dress

David Walliams' fiancee Lara Stone has revealed her wedding dress will be made by Italian designer Riccardo Tisci. Stone, 25, recently got engaged to the Little Britain star but told Interview magazine that she hasn't been organising much yet. She said: 'Not so much because I haven't been home at all since we got engaged.' Talking about her famous fiance, she said: 'He's wonderful. He's amazing. He makes me laugh. He's a proper gentleman.' Stone admitted that it was the 'Treat them mean keep them keen' technique that won her affections. She added: 'He's a bit mean but in a good way.'

24/02/2010 - Matt is a Littler Briton as he slims down on doctor's orders

Eight months after he was ordered by doctors to go on a drastic diet, comedian Matt Lucas is cutting a dramatically thinner figure these days. Spotted leaving the BBC Radio 1 studios today, the 35-year-old comedian looked slimmed down and dapper in his tailored suit. The Little Britain funnyman was told to reduce his daily calorie intake to 1,500 last Spring over fears he may develop diabetes.
The London-born star took the doctor's warning serious after tragically losing his own father John to a heart attack in 1996.
When he started his diet last Spring, the 5ft 6 comedian weighed around 14 stones and had already lost two stones by last September. And given his svelte appearance today, it looks like he has lost even more weight. Lucas revealed he was going on a diet last May after admitting he had a lack of self-discipline when it came to food.
Hopefully Lucas was assisted in his diet by someone more encouraging than his cruel Little Britain character Majorie Dawes.

Walliams' team of night riders

In preparation for their forthcoming cycle challenge, David Walliams and his team of famous friends embarked on a late bike ride yesterday to test whether they could stay on-track and keep a good pace in the pitch dark.
Davina McCall, Fearne Cotton, Miranda Hart, Patrick Kielty and Russell Howard joined David Walliams before they set off at 9pm, bracing freezing-cold temperatures as they cycled along remote country lanes in Berkshire. It wasn’t all plain sailing by any stretch, especially for Davina McCall who, despite hours of preparation in previous days and weeks, managed to fall off her bike before the training session even began. The group finally got underway and, on completing the difficult stretch of road, an elated Fearne Cotton commented on Twitter: ‘Just done 20 miles on the bike out in the dark with the gang! and you know what...I enjoyed it! I don’t even know why I enjoyed it as it was cold and tough but it felt like we were the only people awake on a secret mission.’

23/02/2010 - Walliams tells it like it is

Watch as Sport Relief superstar David Walliams explains why a man who’s already swum the Channel would want to cycle with a team of celebs for 1,000 miles across the UK.

Matt will be on tomorrow's BBC One Show

The BBC programme The One Show have just announced Matt will be the guest during the show at 7pm.

Jimmy Carr expects 'intimate massage' from Walliams

As one of the seven brave celebrities gearing up to take on The BT Sport Relief Million Pound Bike Ride, Jimmy Carr has revealed how he’s planning to cope with the challenge that lies ahead. Speaking on camera, the comedian said his gruelling cycle from John O’Groats to Land's End will be ‘not pleasant in any way shape or form’ but that he’ll survive the saddle sores thanks to ‘intimate massages’ from the team’s leader, David Walliams.
He also admitted  that he’s not as physically prepared as he should be, since the training bike that’s been set up in his front room is ‘more like a clothes horse…very handy if you’re doing the ironing to put the shirts on’ which doesn’t bode well for the mammoth feat he’s got in store. As one of the seven brave celebrities gearing up to take on The BT Sport Relief Million Pound Bike Ride, Jimmy Carr has revealed how he’s planning to cope with the challenge that lies ahead. Speaking on camera, the comedian said his gruelling cycle from John O’Groats to Land's End will be ‘not pleasant in any way shape or form’ but that he’ll survive the saddle sores thanks to ‘intimate massages’ from the team’s leader, David Walliams. He also admitted  that he’s not as physically prepared as he should be, since the training bike that’s been set up in his front room is ‘more like a clothes horse…very handy if you’re doing the ironing to put the shirts on’ which doesn’t bode well for the mammoth feat he’s got in store.

20/02/2010 - Walliams and James Corden 'kiss' at Haiti fund-raiser

Hosted by Trudie Styler, the show, which featured a tribute to the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, was organised by supermodel Naomi Campbell through her pop contacts in the fashion, music, film and TV worlds. Celebrities including Kate Moss, Dame Shirley Bassey, Linda Evangelista, Geri Halliwell and Girls Aloud's Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh took to the catwalk wearing outfits by McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana. A fund-raising auction followed the fashion show, where a signed painting by Damien Hirst sold for £300,000. A McQueen dress, specially designed for and worn by Moss, went for £100,000. David Walliams and James Corden kissed on the catwalk. They walked hand in hand up the stage before Little Britain legend Walliams planted a smacker on Gavin And Stacey star Corden's lips at the star-studded charity bash. The Fashion For Relief show, organised by supermodel Naomi Campbell, raised more than £1million.

14/02/2010 - Walliams and fiancée snuggle up on a love boat ride round Venice

Being in one of the world's most romantic cities gives most couple a licence to engage in plenty of public displays of affection. And that's certainly true of David Walliams and his model fiancee Laura Stone who have not been able to keep their hands off each other as they enjoyed a romantic break in Venice. After being snapped arm-in-arm, cheek-to-cheek and never far from each others lips over the last couple of days, the newly-engaged couple snuggled up once more as they took a boat ride round the Italian city. Laura, 26, even kept her cigarettes firmly in her bag as they cruised around, not giving David, 38, a whiff of smoke or nicotine breath that he endured yesterday.

13/02/2010 - Latest on David's marathon...

David, speaking on a bike ride around London's Richmond Park, recently said: "I was once out with Vernon Kay and we were talking to Prince Harry. "We were in a nightclub together and he was very friendly. Some guy came up and was like, 'Oh my god! Vernon Kay and David Walliams! Can I have a picture with you guys?' "He then gave the camera to Prince Harry and just said, 'Oi, you take this'. "Harry just took the picture. It was a couple of years ago now. "He's very humble and didn't mind at all. "I would have loved him to join us on the cycle but the thing with William and Harry is they are in this full-on military training. "Harry is with his regiment and William is in training to fly these helicopters. "Harry is a real laugh. It's a shame he couldn't do it but we've got a great team taking part."

David then revealed (about the challenge): "At one stage I wanted to do a tandem bike ride and do the whole distance, but unfortunately I've had a knee problem. So the idea came up of doing it in a team, which is more fun with the camaraderie. "I didn't want to have obvious sporty people, because I think with the Channel swim people were interested in whether I was going to finish it or not. "It wasn't a sure-fire thing, and when people saw this flabby man all greased up they thought, 'He's not going to do it'. "So I think it's a good-cross section of people we've got on board. I didn't want people to be Olympic gold medallists, because I thought I can't see the public getting that excited about that."

And David's greatest concerns for the journey? "I suppose injury is a big fear. That and my penis looking really small in my cycling shorts if it's cold", reports The Sun.

12/02/2010 - David gets a mouth full of nicotine breath as fiancée Lara Stone leans in

As a newlywed engaged couple still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, David Walliams and Lara Stone can't keep their hands off each other. And it must definitely be true love for the non-smoking comedian who moved in to kiss his fianceé right after she'd taken a drag on her cigarette. Dutch beauty Stone, 26, had no intention of stubbing it out as she gave Walliams a mouth full of nicotine breath. The couple arrived in Italy (Venice) today for a romantic Valentine's Day weekend. Wrapped up in jumpers and coats for the chilly winter's day, the couple were seen enjoying the sights of the ancient canal city.

09/02/2010 - David sponsors Natalie Imbruglia

David sponsored Natalie Imbruglia £500 to run the London Marathon, followed by a message: "Dearest Natalie, I know you are distraught that I am marrying another woman, but please not to focus on that when you run. David W x". The question is, is this something David would write?...

Edgware synagogue calls in Matt to entertain at supper quiz

Matt Lucas helped an Edgware synagogue raise £8,000 to kick start its 75th anniversary year. The Little Britain star entertained diners at a supper quiz on Sunday evening for the Edgware and District Reform Synagogue, where he also worships. He had the audience of 260 people, including his mother Dianna Lobatto and stepmother Andrea Lucas, rolling in the aisles during the quiz itself, and played the role of auctioneer. Afterwards he was presented with a leatherbound prayer book as a token of thanks for his support.

05/02/2010 - Walliams to do a Jordan?

David Walliams has hinted he might have a Las Vegas wedding with his fiancé Lara Stone - just like Jordan and Alex Reid. The Little Britain comic, 38, announced last month he is to tie the knot with model, 25, who he has been dating since last year. And in a frank admission on 8 Out of 10 Cats tonight, he reveals the American gambling mecca - famous for its tacky weddings - could be the setting for the upcoming nuptuals. Tonight's panel, including Fern Britton, Inbetweeners star Greg Davies and comedienne Holly Walsh, are talking about Jordan and Alex's wedding when the conversation turns to David. When Jimmy Carr asks the comedian if he'd marry in Vegas, he replies: "I'd consider it." - 10pm on Channel 4 tonight.

David 'enjoys charity drama'

David Walliams has unveiled his latest charity challenge after enlisting the help of celebrities like Davina McCall and Jimmy Carr.

04/02/2010 - In pictures: Walliams's Sport Relief bike ride

The BBC have some great photographs of all the cycling team for this year's Sport Relief.

Walliams And Celeb Pals Cycle Little Britain

David and his showbiz pals are attempting to raise £1m for Sport Relief by cycling through day and night from John O'Groats to Land's End. Walliams ran through his recruits saying: "Fearne Cotton - she's actually very fit, very good at running, very pretty. "Davina McCall - we've all done her fitness videos, she is a very, very fit woman. "Jimmy Carr - not my favourite comedian, he's making up the numbers. He's lost weight but I don't think he does any exercise. "Patrick Kielty - he's Irish but don't hold that against him. "Russell Howard - very exciting young comedian and Miranda Hart - a natural athlete, she's in a way the wild card!" All the ups and downs of their journey will be captured for a documentary.
The group will live on a tour bus during their four-day challenge and will be ready to take over from each other when needed.
"Me and Jimmy have already decided which bunk we are having," Walliams revealed. "It is going to be strange, we are all on this bus together. People assume that like all famous people we must all know each other. "I haven't met Russell Howard yet, but Matt Lucas says he is very nice. "Jimmy I am properly close friends with but the rest I have met in passing. That'll be interesting, how are we going to get on - who is going to do the washing up?"
Training has been resumed but Walliams has cause to be concerned. "I was cycling with Fearne at the weekend and she actually fell off four times in the space of about 10 seconds," he divulged.

Fearne Cotton's training gets off to a bad start as she crashes her bike into a van

With only six weeks to go before she cycles across the country in aid of Sport Relief, it appears Fearne Cotton's training isn't going quite to plan. Cycling with comedian David Walliams, the Radio 1 DJ got a shock when she fell off her bike and crashed into a parked van. Fortunately, the 28-year-old was wearing a cycle helmet and managed to avoid serious injury, merely a dent to her confidence on two wheels.

Walliams heartbroken by charity trip to India

David Walliams was left "heartbroken" on a recent charity trip to India, after seeing first-hand the squalid conditions the country's children are forced to live in. The Little Britain star is a longtime supporter of Britain's Sport Relief and recently visited Delhi to see how the organisation is helping the country. But he was horrified to see orphaned youngsters living rough on the streets and forced to fend for themselves. He tells The Sun, "It's weird to see homelessness on such a scale. There are 2,000 in this area of Delhi - and they are the ones accounted for. There is a shelter the Indian government has put up but it was only a tarpaulin tent. They have nowhere to go. It's really distressing to see. "The kids are filthy. Babies are lying on the ground with no nappies on. Disease is rife, there are no toilets. There is no running water. People born into the streets, little children running around. It is unimaginable suffering. It's really heart-breaking." Walliams will take part in a 875-mile (1,408 kilometre) cycle in March to raise funds for the charity - and he's hopeful he can make a difference.

03/02/2010 - Matt's the wonder of Alice

See the magic behind Alice in Wonderland courtesy of our amazing pics of Matt Lucas transforming into Tweedledum and Tweedledee.