Saturday, July 07, 2007

Victoria Beckham's company makes a 260,000-pound profit

London, July 7 (ANI): Victoria Beckham’s company, Moody Productions has recuperated with a 260,000-pound profit.

The new figures are a major turnaround for the company, which suffered a loss of 80,000 pounds last year, reports The Sun.

The accounts, however, do not disclose how much money Posh was paid as a director.

But she was paid back 234,751 pounds of a 567,599-pound loan that was invested in various business ventures.

And it is reported that her business is yet to be paid 477,021 pounds and has 249,104 cash in the bank. (ANI)

COLEEN VS SIZE ZERO

COLEEN McLoughlin will use her new TV show to wage war on the fashion world's obsession with size zero models.

In one episode of ITV series Coleen's Real Women, the 21-year-old will pitch size 16 amateurs against skinny professional models from agencies such as Storm and Elite in the chase for a contract with the Ultimo lingerie firm.

A source said: "Coleen is on a mission to challenge the image-obsessed society we live in and put real women into high profile advertising and modelling jobs.

"She's been inspired by the Dove ads and thinks it's time to turn the tables on size zero culture. With her profile there is no one better to do it."

The show will see Coleen, fiancee of England striker Wayne Rooney, get a new brief from an ad agency or brand every week.

A fashion producer and a booker will help her search for real women who are right for the job.

The team say they will hold castings and auditions "everywhere from Liverpool city centre to Henman Hill at Wimbledon".

The series, expected to screen next year, is part of a two-year deal ITV has with Coleen, who also has her own perfume out next month.

'Footie wives' conman jailed

A CONMAN who stole £500,000 from his bosses for a “Footballers’ Wives” lifestyle was jailed for four years yesterday.

Ian McQuisten, 37, wrote company cheques to pay for three cars — including an £84,000 Bentley, a luxury house and holidays abroad.

He and wife Clare mixed with the rich and famous at Royal Ascot and in his private box at Premiership club Reading.

They lived in a £750,000 house in Reading which McQuisten extended using stolen money.

He threw lavish parties and ran up a bill of £159,000 on his Barclaycard alone.

McQuisten also blew £150,000 in a year on internet gambling.

He diverted £131,000 into his wife’s estate agency business in Reading. She was unaware the money had been stolen.

McQuisten admitted fraud at Plymouth Crown Court.

After the case Det Con Andy Foster said: “When we arrested him at his home it was like something from Footballers’ Wives.”

He worked as financial controller of Exeter-based data firm Prodat and forged a fellow accountant’s counter signature.

Eto'o wants racism walk-off

SAMUEL ETO'O has called on players to walk off the pitch if they face racist abuse.

The Barcelona striker, 26, is furious with UEFA's lack of action on racism.

And he believes he must make a stand for football's authorities to take notice of the problem.

Eto'o said: “Promises have been made for change - for sanctions to be enforced - but the first move needs to be made and it needs to be made by those who are being subjected to racism.

"Part of me hopes that one day someone will manage to walk off the pitch in protest.”

A recent England Under-21 clash was marred by Serbian supporters chanting racist taunts at defender Nedum Onuoha.

But Eto'o believes racism is not just an issue in football.

He thinks the general public have a role to play in clamping down on the problem.

Eto'o added: “If we experience this in football it means our society is rotten and that means we're in a dangerous situation.

"That's what we need to be fighting against. I think that football is a small thing, but society - just imagine!

“I am treated first and foremost as a footballer, as Samuel Eto'o, but away from the cameras a black man is suffering from racism and nobody cares.

"That's the problem."

Eto’o tried to walk off the pitch when he received abuse in a match with Real Zaragoza in February last year.

He could be seen saying "no more" but he was convinced to stay on by other players and Barca boss Frank Rijkaard.

He added: “I think people tried to shoot me down as if I was making too much of it.

"But the whole time I was just expressing how I was feeling, something that no one at that time could have felt.

“I think that education is the problem. It’s just ignorance, that's what it is.”

You'll never Orc alone

SOCCER ace Fernando Torres loves Lord of the Rings so much he has had his first name tattooed on his arm in ELFISH.

Liverpool’s new £26million striker had the body art in the language created by JRR Tolkien after watching the Rings movies.

Spain star Torres, who moved from Atletico Madrid this week, at first puzzled fans who thought the word was Arabic.

Then Torres revealed it was Tengwar, the language of Tolkien’s elves, who fight evil Orcs.

A Spanish football insider said: “At first nobody had a clue what the tattoo was of. But then it was spotted by Lord of the Rings fans who realised it was actually the elfish.

“Fernando loved the films so much he decided to get his own name written in elfish on his arm.”

Fans of Liverpool — famed for their anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone — won’t see 23-year-old Torres out on the town too often.

The insider said: “He likes staying in and spending time with his girlfriend Olalla. His only extravagance is his wacky hairstyles.”

Torres also has a tattoo of Roman numerals VII VII MMI (07/07/2001), thought to be the day of his first date with his girlfriend and his shirt number — nine — on his wrist.

Steven Gerrard's breast man

STEVEN GERRARD’s best man scored an own goal with his wedding speech by joking about ALEX CURRAN’s BOOB JOB.

Jonathan “Boggo” Boggan praised the Liverpool ace’s successes, “none more so than when you got Alex’s jugs done”.

The gaffe stunned guests, especially the bride’s gran who did not know about the op.

But Boggo had Stevie, 27, and Alex, 24, in stitches on their big day at Cliveden House, Berks, by adding: “I wish you both the best in the world!”

Look out! It's David Bikeham

DAVID BECKHAM swaps football boots for a CYCLE helmet as he stages his very own Tour de France.

The England soccer idol took to the saddle to pedal through the countryside near his French holiday home.

Becks, 32 — who has just celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary with wife Victoria — looked fit and relaxed, sporting wrap-around shades and his new beard near the peaceful Provence village of Bargemon.

The superfit midfielder is quitting Europe to join America’s LA Galaxy this summer. Which is bad news for his old club — Wheels Madrid.

Who are you ... Lewis Hamilton?

A DRIVER told of his shock after he was shunted on the motorway — by Formula 1 hero Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis, 22, has wowed the motor racing world with podium finishes in his first eight outings.

But the whizzkid — who leads the F1 title chase ahead of tomorrow’s British Grand Prix — lost control when he piled his Mercedes Smart Car into the back of Matt Denton’s Alfa Romeo at just 20MPH.

Lewis was saved from injury by his airbag. But he wrote off his car and badly damaged Matt’s.

Last night, as Lewis prepared for his home debut before 150,000 Silverstone fans, Matt recalled the M25 prang near Watford, Herts.

He said: “I didn’t know who Lewis was then, but his reactions seem to have improved a lot now!

“The traffic was stop-go and we’d slowed to 20mph when I was hit from behind and both cars were shunted across the road.

“I was unhurt but I was concerned about the other driver because he was shaken up.”

Marketing director Matt, 36, of Princes Risborough, Bucks, said the impact damaged the front off-side of Lewis’s car and his own near-side rear and wheel.

He said: “We got both cars on the hard shoulder and called the police. As no one was hurt they just took details. Lewis and I waited by the roadside and shared the breakdown truck.

“He said he’d just been to training. I asked what he did and he said he was a racing driver. But he was very modest about it all.

“I like motor-racing and fast bikes, so we had a long chat about it. He was really apologetic. He admitted straight away it was his fault and that he hadn’t been paying attention.”

Matt said of the shunt in March last year: “It was a privilege to be involved in an accident with him. He’s a great bloke and I hope he goes from strength to strength.”

He's magic says Ron

HARRY Potter star Rupert Grint will be among the millions cheering on Lewis Hamilton in his British Grand Prix bid tomorrow.

T
he 18-year-old actor, who plays boy wizard Ron Weasley in the Potter movies, is a big Formula 1 fan.

He said yesterday: “I’ve followed the sport for as long as I can remember.

My dad raced in Formula Ford.
“Lewis has blown F1 totally open. He’s fun to watch as he’s aggressive and loves to win.

“I’d usually be watching at Silverstone, but I’m in LA. But I’ll get up early to watch the race.”