Westlife star loses his girl to a dolphin
STUNNING Jodi Albert found herself with a not-so-secret admirer on her Hawaiian
holiday. The 21-year-old actress - who has just won Sexiest Female in the
British Soap Awards - jetted off to the sun-kissed island with her Westlife
boyfriend Kian Egan.
But poor Kian found he had a rival for Jodi's affections - in the shape of
Flipper the Dolphin. An onlooker said: "Kian and Jodi decided that they really
wanted to swim with the dolphins during their holiday.
"It's a magical experience and so many people travel to the island for that
reason. So Kian and Jodi decided to give it a go. Dolphins communicate with each
other using sound waves and bodily contact. If your heart is beating fast then
they can sense that you are excited. And Flipper was really taken with Jodi. He
came right up close to her and was larking about in the water with her. He got
so close that Jodi was able to touch his nose and give him a kiss. It was a
fantastic experience for both Kian and Jodi."
The pair looked very relaxed in their sandals and sarongs as they chilled out on
the Hawaiian sands. But there was still no sign of the rumoured engagement ring.
Earlier this week there was talk that Kian was going to pop the question during
their tropical break - in spite of the fact the pair have always insisted that
they are both too young to get hitched.
Since she left teen soap Hollyoaks Jodi has been concentrating on setting
herself up as a serious actress - so far without results. An insider said: "She
has tried for a role in EastEnders but didn't get it and also headed off to LA
to try and make it there.
"Unfortunately she was back after two weeks - but acting is pretty much like
that, you can be out of work for a long periods between jobs." At least that
leaves Jodi plenty of time to lie about on beaches with her boyfriend.
source - Irish Mirror
posted - 24th May 2005
Nicky swinging in Dublin
It's great to see popstars like Ronan Keating and Brian McFadden always on the
go supporting charitable causes but there's another Irish chart-topper who gives
much of his time to charity, Westlife's Nicky Byrne... If you were to ask anyone
in media who is the most down-to-earth person in Irish showbusiness, most would
reply straight away with the name Nicky Byrne.
ShowBiz Ireland has had many dealing's with the Westlife heartthrob since our
beginnings 5 years ago and amazingly the Dubliner seems unaffected by years of
celebrity status - in fact he seems more humble these days! We caught up with
Nicky last week as he stepped out to take part in the Nivea For Men Ronnie
Whelan Golf Classic which raises money for charities such as the Marie Keating
Foundation... And not one to be outdone by his former bandmate Brian McFadden's
Hummer, Nicky pulled-up to the event in a blacked-out Cadillac Escalade in true
Pimp style...
source - showbiz Ireland
posted - 24th May
Go for it Jodi
Don't reject Mr Pop's Big Offer
Jodi Albert has made a ludicrous blunder - she's turned down a pop career.
Clearly the sexiest soap star in the country needs her head examined. Pop
svengali and star-maker Louis Walsh has told the former Hollyoaks babe,21 he
could make her the new Kylie Minogue. Jodi told me" Louis is always pestering me
saying "whenever you are ready let me know" . "He wont shut up about it and says
he'd make me a pop star overnight"
But the foolhardy lass is determined he wont have his way. She has a ludicrous
notion that her future lies in serious acting and wants to leave the pop to her
fiancé, Westlife lad Kian Egan. Jodi said "Louis will have to wait - i dont want
to be following Kian and i was in a band, Girlthing, when I was 15. I don't want
to do it at the moment because i want to concentrate on acting as I still have a
hell of a lot to learn.
"I'm really enjoying soaking it all up. I love hip-hop and R n B so that is the
kind of stuff i like to sing - but for now it will just be at home."
So lets analyse this. Jodi left Hollyoaks last year, wasn't inundated with
offers, failed to get a part in Eastenders, went to L.A. to try for movies and
came back 2 weeks later. Clearly the offers aren't flooding in and its time for a
career change. But Jodi insisted "I'm doing loads of auditions and looking at
scripts"
No you're not love. Louis has made stars out of Girls Aloud Westlife Boyzone and
- damn him - G4. Let him do the same for you.
source - daily star
posted - 11th May
Westlife have failed in their bid to secure a trademark on the group's name.
In 2003 the EU's Trademark Office allowed the band to trademark the name,
preventing others from using it. The application was opposed by Reemark
Gesellschaft fur Markenkooperation mbH, a German company claiming that the
band's proposed trademark was too similar to its own established 'West.'
The band's mark was annulled by the Court of First Instance on Monday, holding
that the two marks were sufficiently similar to cause confusion to consumers,
reports CNN. Westlife are still able to appeal to the EU's higher court. The
judgement said: "The court finds that there is a likelihood of confusion between
the two trademarks.
"The contested (EU Community Trademark Office) decision must be annulled." The
effect of the ruling is that the band can continue to use the name
for merchandising purposes, but cannot prevent others from doing so.
source - Digital Spy
posted - 9th May
Irish boyband Westlife lost a five-year European court battle over the
group's name today.
Judges in Luxembourg ruled Westlife cannot be registered as an EU trademark -
because it is too similar to the word West.That has already been trademarked by
a German tobacco firm and judges said the fact Germans say "vest" and not "west"
did not lessen the confusion with the merchandise of a pop group many will know
as "Vestlife".
The decision does not stop the band using its name, or putting it on its
merchandise, but does mean the chart-toppers cannot protect it as an exclusive
trademark.The decision is a victory for the Hamburg-based firm - part of the
Imperial Tobacco group.
Its West brand cigarettes sponsor the motor racing team McLaren Mercedes in
Formula 1.The firm also uses the name for music festivals and markets other
goods and services, from T-shirts to recording equipment, under the West name.
source - Glasgow Evening Times
posted - 9th May
Westlife go up in a puff of imperial smoke
Due to a conflict of names, the Irish boyband Westlife has lost the right to use
the name. A European Union court ruled that because the name was so similar to
the West cigarette brand used by the McLaren Formula One team the band could no
longer be called Westlife.
The band registered the name in 2003 however, this was turned around yesterday
when the EU court ruled in favour of Reemark Gesellschaft fur Markenkooperation
GmbH and Imperial Tobacco that owns the West name. The court ruled that their
names were too similar and would cause confusion. Westlife who are signed to
Sony BMG will no doubt appeal the decision in the European Court of Justice.
source - www.gplasource.com
posted - 8th May
Irish boyband Westlife loses EU trademark fight
Irish boyband Westlife lost the right to hold onto a trademark on its name on
Wednesday when a European Union court ruled the name was too similar to another
trademark, West, which is owned by a German firm. While the four-member group,
which has had a string of chart-topping hits, can still use the name Westlife on
merchandise, it cannot stop other people from using it.
In 2003, the EU's Community Trademark Office allowed the band to register
Westlife as a trademark despite opposition from a German company, Reemark
Gesellschaft fur Markenkooperation mbH, which said it was too similar to its
trademark West. The EU's lower court, the Court of First Instance, found in
favour of the German firm on Wednesday and annulled the Westlife trademark,
saying the names were too alike and would confuse customers.
"The court finds that there is a likelihood of confusion between the two
trademarks," the court judgement said.
"The contested (EU Community Trademark Office) decision must be annulled."The
boyband, signed to Sony BMG, can appeal the decision to the EU's top court.
source - Reuters.uk
posted - 4th May 2005
Celebrity send-off for O'Neill - MONDAY 02/05/2005 08:29:37
The promising young winger, who retired from the game in November 2003 after a
string of injuries, will be joined in Dublin by stars such as Paul Gascoigne,
Michael Flatley, Brian McFadden, Jimmy White and Westlife's Nicky Byrne to wave
goodbye to the game. And with thousands of euro expected to be raised at the
special dinner O'Neill revealed the money will help pay for a close friend to
stay in London while his sick son is treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
"People might think that I'm making money out of this, but it cost a lot to put
on, and I`m looking after my friend when he travels to London to visit his son,"
he said.
The 13-year-old boy, who suffers from Aperts syndrome affecting the growth of
his bones, is only one of 24 people in Ireland with the disease and needs to
stay in Great Ormond Street for much-needed care.
O'Neill himself, who had a 10-year career at Norwich, Coventry and
Middlesbrough, is no stranger to illness. Suffering from a debilitating disease
in his spinal chord he was constantly sidelined with injuries. The crippling
disease also earned the 29-year-old the unwanted nickname of sicknote. So the
winger hung up his boots in 2003 and while coaching is the obvious future for
many ex-professionals O'Neill is looking forward to a lucrative media career.
And with stints as a roving reporter on Sky TV`s Soccer AM under his belt the
former international fancies himself as a full-time pundit.
"It's certainly an avenue that I`d like to explore, I'd say that I need a bit of
tuning and even a bit of fine tuning," he said. I've done a bit of reporting,
round the grounds with Sky, and did a bit of work with Irish television so it's
something for the future."
The black tie dinner this Thursday includes testimonials, special guest
appearances and an auction. The event will be hosted by Barry Murphy and
Risteard Cooper of Apres Match, with music by The James Peak Band and Brian
McFadden. But O'Neill has already warned guests that many of his friends, family
and former sports colleagues won't be slow to add to the entertainment.
"The group of people going are a ready made party, so whatever we laid on it
would be a great night," he said.
source - UTV.co.uk
posted 3rd May 2005
Rubbish Rumours About Westlife
In an exclusive chat with The Star, Westlife quashed rumours that the band is
splitting up and this would be their last tour. Gossip has been rife since
Bryan McFadden quit a year ago and their current outing, initially billed as The
Red Carpet Tour, was morphed into a Number One's Tour of greatest hits. Some
suggest it spells the end. But after 12 number ones, 34 million record sales and
almost seven years together - an eternity in boy band terms - they say it isn't
yet time to say goodbye.
Mark revealed they are making a new album. He said: "There's no truth at all in
the rumours. We've got a lot more to give."
source - barnsleytoday.co.uk
posted 3rd May
Brian's Westlife ban
Things are going from bad to worse for poor Brian McFadden. Under pressure from
his record company to ensure that his new single sells, I can reveal that Brian
24, has been told by former manager Louis Walsh that he won't be allowed to play
any Westlife songs on his forthcoming tour, which opens on may 22nd in Margate.
As you might expect, the news has left Brian reeling, he told my mole,
"They've still not forgiven me for leaving, the lads are ok - it's just Louis."
He added " I can still perform Bop Bop Baby, though as i wrote that one myself,
but fans won't be left disappointed I can assure them of that!" Really Bri?
source - new magazine
posted - 1st May