Will Cheryl Cole's assault conviction prevent her from getting a green card and becoming U.S. X Factor judge?

By Ben Todd


Cheryl Cole’s American dream may be scuppered – as a result of an assault conviction seven years ago.

The Daily Mail told yesterday how Mrs Cole had landed a place on the judging panel of the U.S. version of the X Factor in a deal worth up to £3million.

However, now Mrs Cole’s American dream may be jeopardised by her conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) in 2003.


Judge's problem: The fact that Cheryl Cole - seen here with Simon Cowell on last weekend's X Factor - has an assault conviction may prevent her being granted a U.S. visa


U.S. law states that all convictions - indeed, all arrests - have to be disclosed on visa application forms.
Some less serious offences may not affect work visas.

However, according to Susan McFadden - a partner with Gudeon and McFadden law firm who specialise in U.S. visa and immigration - in more serious cases an appeal to the U.S. authorities may be necessary.

‘If the conviction is for something that triggers ineligibility the person would have to appeal for a waive,' she said.

Miss McFadden added that her firm had been instructed by the U.S. embassy that with regards to more serious crimes it would depend on ‘facts regarding the conviction' before a decision is made.

However, she said this can lead to 'permanently ineligibility' from being allowed a U.S. work visa in certain cases.


Before she was the nation's sweetheart: Cheryl was found guilty of punching a woman at a nightclub in January 2003


Mrs Cole attacked Sophie Amogbokpa, a toilet attendant, at Drink nightclub in Guildford, Surrey in January 2003.

In October that year, Mrs Cole was found guilty as assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

At the time, Mrs Cole – who had been catapulted to stardom the previous December after her band Girls Aloud emerged from TV show Popstars: The Rivals - was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid community service.

She was also ordered to Miss Amogbokpa £500 compensation and prosecution costs of £3,000.

Mrs Cole – who was 19 at the time - punched Miss Amogbokpa after she tried to stop the singer taking some lollipops.

Despite the shame, Mrs Cole’s career has since gone from strength to strength.

As well as achieving huge success with Girls Aloud, last year she launched a solo music career. She has since secured two No1 albums on her own.

She has also been a hugely successful judge on the X Factor.

As we said yesterday, on Saturday night Mrs Cole was officially offered the job as a judge on the US edition of the talent show.

The singer had already been in discussions to launch her music career in the U.S. next spring.

A show source said: 'When Cheryl goes to America she will also launch her music career there too.


Snapped: Cheryl Tweedy, as she was then, arriving for sentencing at Kingston Crown court in October 2003


'It's the next part of her big plan, she's an incredibly hard worker and she will definitely get a boost by appearing on the X Factor, which is set to be a sure-fire hit.'

X Factor Svengali Simon Cowell, 51, has revealed he plans to officially announce the judges for the U.S. version later this month.

Mrs Cole, who has an estimated £10million fortune, will earn £1.5million for this series of the X Factor - but will make up to twice as much from her U.S. television deal, as the budget for the show is considerably larger.

She is already accustomed to the U.S. lifestyle, having spent weeks in Los Angeles working on her music and spending time with her close friend Derek Hough as she recovered from malaria.

She was in California as her divorce from her footballer husband Ashley Cole was finalised in October.



Source:Dailymail

Is Lembit engaged for the third time? Opik, 45, takes his 21-year-old girlfriend ring shopping at Tiffany & Co

By Jessica Satherley



Special shopping trip: Lembit Opik, 45, and 21-year-old Merily McGivern take a break from the beach in Queensland, Australia, to go ring shopping at Tiffany & Co


Lembit Opik must have been doing some serious thinking about his future while in the jungle, because he was spotted shopping for engagement rings with his girlfriend yesterday.

Since departing I’m A Celebrity, the 45-year-old has been romancing 21-year-old Merily McGivern in the Australian sun, before the pair head back to the UK.

And their most recent shopping trip has sparked speculation that Lembit has popped the question to his young girlfriend, who's 24 years his junior.


The couple was photographed shopping in Tiffany & Co in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, where Merily was seen trying on a diamond encrusted band on her wedding ring finger.

Merily then walked out of the store, arm in arm with her beau, holding onto a little blue Tiffany’s bag, but refused to tell photographers what they had bought.

The wide grins on their faces indicated the little bag was definitely holding onto something special though and the happy couple looked overjoyed with their purchase.

And after shopping for rings, the couple took a dip in the Versace Hotel swimming pool to celebrate, where they've been staying since Lembit left the show.

If the couple are planning a wedding, it wouldn’t be the former MPs first engagement, Lembit was once engaged to ITV weather presenter Sian Lloyd, followed by his engagement to Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia.


Engaged? Lembit and Merily check out were rings at Tiffany & Co


He has also dated lingerie model Katie Green, making him quite the ladies’ man, but perhaps he’s now ready to finally settle down.

Lembit was the second star to leave the I’m A Celeb camp, after spending 14 days in the jungle.

Since his release, he decided to spend some extra time in Australia to soak up the sun and enjoy a romantic holiday with Merily.

And Merily was definitely making the most of the summer Down Under by wearing a tiny black miniskirt, tight white T-Shirt and sky high heels while shopping for rings.


Happy couple: The love birds strolled out of the store arm in arm with a little blue Tiffany's bag - indicating that they definitely purchased something special


Celebratory swim: After shopping for rings, the couple took a dip in the Versace Hotel swimming pool, where they've been staying


During their stay in Surfers Paradise, the love birds have also been enjoying the beach and playfully frolicked in the waves on the weekend.

After leaving the jungle on Friday night, Lembit said: ‘The experience exceeded my expectations in a good way.

‘I know now I can survive the jungle. Secondly, I know I can survive in times of relative hardship and thirdly, I’ve never been bitten by a snake before.’


Romantic break: The couple had been enjoying the beach Down Under during the weekend, after Lembit left the I'm A Celeb jungle




Source:Dailymail

'Cheryl's always been there for me,' reveals Dannii Minogue as rival X Factor judges prepare for semi-final showdown

By Jessica Satherley



Yummy mummy: Dannii Minogue say she's bonded more with Cheryl Cole on the set of X Factor since having her son Ethan in July this year


Dannii Minogue might be about to face a battle in The X Factor semifinals against her fellow judge Cheryl Cole, but she’s admitted they’ve become close during the current series.

The Australian’s contestant Matt Cardle is up against the Geordie’s Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson in the semi-final, but that hasn’t deterred the judges’ friendship.

‘Cheryl’s always been there for me when I’ve had a hard time’, Dannii told Marie Claire in an interview appearing in their latest issue.


Although the women don’t hang out outside the show, saying ‘we’re all too busy’, Dannii said they’ve become closer during this series and since she gave birth to her son Ethan in July this year.

‘Cheryl said to me the other day, ‘I don’t know how you’re doing all this. I know how crazy it is when all the contestants are running in and out and I have no make-up on.

‘And then I think of you trying to fit in feeding the baby as well’’, she added.

Despite Cheryl dominating the headlines as the nation’s sweetheart since joining Dannii on The X Factor judging panel, Kylie Minogue’s little sister is happy with her popularity and body image now.


On-set bonding: Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole have bonded this year during the seventh series of X Factor, Dannii told Marie Claire


She has regularly spoken of being compared to her famous older sibling and used to think she was ‘the fat, ugly sister’, but those days are gone for Dannii.

‘Can you imagine for years being asked what it’s like to be Kylie’s sister? I guess it’s my turn now to enjoy what is going right’, she said.

Dannii has definitely become her own star away from Kylie now though and on top of her busy X Factor schedule and motherhood with partner Kris Smith, she also manages her own clothing range and perfume named Project D.

Despite the star launching the brand with business partner Tabitha Somerset Webb when she was six months pregnant, the collection has already been hailed a success and boasted celebrity clients such as Christine Bleakley and Amanda Holden.

But who she'd really like to see in one of her designs is Cheryl, and told Grazia magazine: 'I'd definitely like to see her in a Project D dress - I have a hummingbird one I think would look gorgeous on her and I'd love to see Rebecca [Ferguson] in one of our looks.'

And now her fan base has exploded, Cheryl isn’t Dannii’s only on-set X Factor supporter; Louis Walsh told Marie Claire: ‘Dannii is in it for real. She really cares.

‘I didn’t get her at first, but I do now. She’s a great girl; I really like her. She’s a fighter’, the Irish judge gushed.


Countdown to the finals: X Factor contestants Matt Cardle (left) and Cher Lloyd (right) will face each other and Rebecca Ferguson, Mary Byrne and One Direction in the semifinals this weekend


X Factor finalists: Mary Byrne (left) and Rebecca Ferguson (centre) pop to the pub for a break from their studio, where they've been rehearsing for this weekend's semifinal


And even though the 39-year-old mother-of-one has been on the ITV talent show since 2007, she admits she still gets nervous every time she walks out on stage.

‘I do find it nerve-racking. Every Saturday night at the beginning of the show when I step out onto the stage, I’m terrified.

‘Not about me, but how everyone’s going to get on – whether they’ll stuff it up. You just can’t help getting really involved with your people. It’s their life’, Dannii said.

Dannii has even more reason to be nervous over the next two weeks, as the show comes to end of its seventh series.

After Katie Waissel and Wagner were voted off the show last weekend, only five remaining acts will enter the semifinals this weekend.

Dannii’s last boy standing, Matt Cardle, will be joined on stage by Rebecca Ferguson, Cher Lloyd, Mary Byrne and boyband One Direction.

Although Cheryl Cole’s acts have won the last two series, with Alexandra Burke winning in 2008 and Joe McElderry in 2009, Dannii is confident that Matt Cardle has what it takes to be this year’s winner.


Confidence: Dannii Minogue thinks her last boy standing Matt Cardle has what it takes to be this year's X Factor winner



Source:Dailymail

Let it snow! Kate Garraway leads the celebrities taking advantage of the freezing temps in furry fashion

By Andrea Magrath



Winter wardrobe: Kate Garraway looks untroubled by the freezing temps in her fur coat


It was not just mere mortals who had to battle the elements when Londoners woke up to early winter snow this morning.

But while most of us dealt with delayed trains and buses, local celebrities appeared to have one thing on their minds - what to wear?

Kate Garraway led the way with an all-out winter wardrobe, spotted outside the ITV studios in a full-length fur coat.


Hats on! Fellow Daybreak news presenter Tasmin Lucia Khan left the London studios in a padded jacket and trendy trapper fur hat


Wrapped up in a sequinned beanie hat, a cozy jumper and heels, the Daybreak presenter looked untroubled by the chill as she left work this morning.

Other stars braving the elements were Elle Macpherson and Fearne Cotton, who both got caught in today's unseasonal snow.

Supermodel Elle managed to remain glamorous without a pair of Wellie boots or mittens in sight on this morning's school run.


Warm enough? Elle Macpherson makes the quick dash to her car in a fur-lined jacket and leather trousers on this morning's school run


Only having to make the short dash from her car to the school gate, the 47-year-old wore tight leather trousers, a knitted jumper and high heeled boots.

She added a cap, fur-lined jacket and sunglasses to the outfit, but looked like she might have been regretting leaving the gloves behind as she curled her cold hands up in her sleeves.

Fearne Cotton also took advantage of the opportunity for some winter fashion today, sporting a Russian-style fur hat.


Battling the elements: Fearne Cotton was caught in the snow as she left BBC Radio 1


The 29-year-old looked stylish as she left BBC's Radio 1 studios with an unmbrella in hand to avoid the snow flakes.

But her open coat, skirt and stockings ensemble may have left the radio DJ shivering as she made her way home.

One celebrity not too taken with the weather is Tina O'Brien.

The Coronation Street star was left stranded after her car broke down.


The 27-year-old was forced to wait in her freezing car with her two-year-old daughter Scarlett for three hours to be towed.

The actress kept herself entertained during the lengthy wait by chatting to fans on Twitter.

She wrote: 'Of all the days 4 the car 2 break down,and in rush hour traffic, getting some seriously filthy looks Jeeze I didn't do it on purpose people!'

She added: 'So cold :( come on mr breakdown Man please hurry up hypothermia is setting in.'

After a few hours, and uploading a photo of herself looking less than impressed, O'Brien gave up hope of being rescued by the AA and called on her father.

'Have abandoned all hope of ever getting rescued so dad is here to save me,' she tweeted.

While London celebrities only had to brave the cold temperatures and a light dusting of snow, those living in the countryside woke to find a blanket of white surrounding them.

Kerry Katona battled the slippery snow as she made her way to a waiting car outside her Surrey home this morning.

Also sporting the celebrity-winter uniform of fur, the reality star, currently filming her new series, stepped gingerly towards the vehicle with her minders in tow.

Do you have a story about a celebrity? Call the Daily Mail showbusiness desk on 0207 938 6364 or 0207 938 6683


Country scene: Kerry Katona's Surrey home received a good powdering



Source:Dailymail

Kanye's means prosperity and Cheryl's is a symbol of love: The Hindu charms the A-list love - and what their choices say about them

By Tamara Abraham



With the band: Cheryl Cole, arriving at the X Factor studios on Saturday, wearing her 'Heart' Chakra bracelet


With a slender red cotton band around his wrist, the uninitiated might think Kanye West was the latest celebrity devotee of Kabbalah.

But on closer examination, they might notice that it bears a gold disc with a flower motif on it. And that fellow A-listers including Sienna Miller and Cheryl Cole also wear similar bracelets in different colours, each bearing a different design.

Thankfully they have not all joined the latest religious cult - though these bracelets they are all sporting do take their lead from religion.


They are bracelets designed by London jewellery label Daisy, and each corresponds to one of seven Chakras - a Hindu concept relating to different kinds of energy.

Each colour has a different meaning, for example Cheryl's green 'Heart' Chakra band is supposed to remind the wearer that they are worthy of love. Telling, given that she has just been through a divorce.

Sienna has been photographed wearing the 'Brow' Chakra bracelet, which relates to 'intuition, perception and imagination' - all characteristics she might need to call upon in her work as an actress.

And Kanye West's 'Base' Chakra relates to 'stability, grounding and prosperity'.
Well, as long as something keeps him grounded.


Grounded: Kanye West wearing his 'Base' Chakra band at a party for Jade Jagger's Jezebel label last month


High brow: Sienna Miller arriving at LAX airport earlier this month, wearing her 'Brow' Chakra bracelet


The company, which began life as a Portobello Market stall, has also taken orders for the £75 wristbands from Katy Perry, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Alexa Chung, while Jude Law apparently 'wears his constantly'.

Of course the bracelets do not promise to 'protect' or 'guide' the wearer - rather, they are a reminder of affirmations associated with each Chakra. Sienna's comes with the phrase 'I am open to the wisdom within'; Kanye's with the line: 'I am here. I am real.'

Nor do you need to buy into the meaning behind the designs - they are pretty pieces to wear regardless, though given the price, they are likely to appeal more to people who have an understanding of the Chakra concept.


Joining the Daisy chain: Katy Perry, Alexa Chung and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley all own Chakra bracelets


Daisy's James Boyd, who designed the bracelets after an illness led him to discover yoga and the Indian healing system of Ayurveda, is delighted by the success of his design, and has expanded the collection to include chain necklaces as well.

'Since launching the Chakra Bracelets 3 weeks ago we've sold out 3 times over,' he told MailOnline.

'In Daisy's history we've never seen such an amazing amount of initial interest and sales in a new collection.

'People seem totally enchanted and enamoured by the bracelets and that makes me extremely happy and proud.'






Source:Dailymail

Tempted by laser eye surgery? It's not without risks

By Alison Smith Squire



Regret: Lois Roberts now suffers from painfully dry eyes


The TV advert for laser eye surgery made it sound so straightforward that Lois ­Roberts didn’t think twice.

‘The idea of just being able to see perfectly as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning seemed fantastic,’ says the law graduate.

She’d worn contacts and glasses for short-sightedness since she was 13-years-old and ‘really looked forward to being able to bin them’.


‘I also played a lot of sport such as hockey and found wearing glasses ­annoying,’ she says.

Her parents thought it was such a good idea that they helped pay for the £1,500 cost as a present for her 21st birthday.

Yet, instead of the simple pain-free experience Lois was led to expect, the surgery to correct her short-sightedness left her in agony for days.

Worse, three years on, she still has ­painfully dry eyes as a result of damage to the nerves that stimulate tears.

Lois has to apply eye drops daily - which in itself is a problem, as ­long-term use can raise the risk of chronic eye inflammation. Dry eyes can also lead to serious infections and, ultimately, even loss of vision.

As well as dry eyes, Lois suffers from constant floaters and poorer night vision.

‘The floaters are like clumps of black lines and dots,’ she says. ‘I’ve been reassured they’re harmless, but they are incredibly annoying.’

Floaters occur as a result of a popular form of laser surgery in which a flap is cut into the surface of the cornea — the clear, domed part of the eyeball.

The flap is lifted so that the laser can remove some of the corneal tissue underneath, to reshape it. But if the flap is folded back down with wrinkles in it or doesn’t adhere to the eye properly, it can result in speckles in vision. Poor night-time vision occurs because part of the cornea has been lasered incorrectly.

The good news is that the surgery did correct her short-sightedness ­(previously it was minus 4.5; now she has ‘perfect’ vision).

But I’m upset I wasn’t warned enough at my ­initial consultation that anything like this could happen,’ says Lois, from North Wales. ‘I would have thought much harder about it had I known the risks.’

This is far from a unique ­experience. Marketing manager Sarah Carter, 45, is taking legal action after treatment to correct severe short-sightedness (minus 6.5) left her with such dry eyes she needed further surgery.

Unfortunately, this operation also went wrong, and the laser damaged the rim of her eyelids.

As a result, Sarah, from Maidstone, Kent, ­suffers from painful ingrowing eyelashes, which must be plucked ­several times a month by an ­optician. She is about to undergo further eye surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital, but there is no ­guarantee of any cure.

Five years since she had the laser eye surgery, she says: ‘I regret ever having it done. It seemed incredibly straightforward and, at the time, I was just fed up of the inconvenience of contact lenses and glasses.

‘But that was nothing compared to the agony I’ve endured since.

‘I can’t wear eye make-up any more, and my days are full of drops, ointment and constant eye irritation.’


Every year, 100,000 Britons undergo laser eye surgery, which alters the shape of the cornea to correct long and short-sightedness.

First carried out in Britain in 1989, the technique was ­marketed as an end for the need to wear contact lenses and glasses.

Since then, a whole range of ­different types of laser surgery have become available.
However, some experts are ­concerned that the multi-­million-pound industry glosses over some unpleasant, and sometimes ­serious, side effects.

Last year, a Which? report claimed six out of ten ­opticians offering laser eye surgery — including branches of big chains such as ­Optical Express, Optimax and Ultralase — gave unsatisfactory advice and failed to point out the risks.

These include not only dry eyes, floaters and poor night vision, but also growths where the eye is cut, double vision, foggy vision, chronic eyelid inflammation and even loss of sight.

Shockingly, there is no law preventing any surgeon from ­operating as an ‘eye expert’ — though the Royal College of Ophthalmologists awards a ­Certificate of Competence after a surgeon has demonstrated ­expertise in laser eye surgery. It ­recommends patients choose a surgeon with a minimum of three months’ formal training in laser eye surgery who performs at least 500 eye laser operations a year.


Laser surgery can have permanent side effects such as dry eyes and poor night vision


The Royal College says at least 75 per cent of patients undergoing laser surgery
should end up with 20/20 vision. However, one in three still need glasses — and even when eyesight is successfully corrected, some will also be suffering from some sort of side-effect.

The ‘overall risk’ of something going wrong with laser surgery ­— including floaters and dry eyes — is ‘less than 5 per cent’, according to its report published this year.

The risk of serious complications — such as losing your eyesight — is less than 0.2 per cent. Worryingly, it admits the risk of complications at individual clinics can be as high as 40 per cent.

Retired optometrist Dominic Devlin was so concerned about the lack of information about potential risks, he set up a website to help consumers.

‘As part of my research, I’ve been to consultations and have been ­surprised how little is made of potential problems that might occur,’ he says. Mr Devlin is also concerned many patients believe laser surgery is a permanent cure and think they’ll never have to wear glasses again.

‘The truth is laser eye surgery is not a lifetime fix. Side-effects from surgery mean some people will still need glasses for night-time and, as eyesight changes as we grow older, the vast majority will eventually need glasses for reading.’

Furthermore, he says, surgery can be much more painful and the recovery time might take much longer than people are sometimes led to believe. As illustrator David Holroyd, 57, learned to his cost.


Eighteen months ago, he ­underwent laser eye surgery for short-sightedness, paying £2,600 for treatment at a private clinic near his Manchester home.

‘I’d seen a TV advert that made it look as if it was something you could have done in your lunch hour,’ he says. ‘I was ­struggling with several pairs of glasses — not only did I need bifocals generally, I also had a pair for reading.’

David says his consultation lasted 20 minutes, the ­surgery sounded straightforward and there was no mention of pain.

Yet he claims that within ­seconds of starting the surgery, he was writhing in agony.

My head was in a clamp so I couldn’t move, but I could feel every brush of the laser.

‘I’d had local anaesthetic drops put into my eyes, but the doctors could see from my face I was in excruciating pain.

‘I was in too much agony to even speak, let alone tell them to stop. Yet all the doctor said was: “We are aware. Try to keep still.”

‘The surgery lasted only minutes, but was terrifying. Had I known how painful it would be, I never would have had it done.’

‘Afterwards, I was in bed for three days, followed by two weeks when my sight wasn’t good enough to go out.’

As well as the pain, like Lois and Sarah he has also been left with dry eyes for which he will need drops for the rest of his life.

Now, though his sight is much better, he has been told his eyes will be permanently dry. ‘I just feel angry that I wasn’t warned about any of this,’ he says.

Mr Devlin is campaigning for a proper independent body where patients can seek advice and complain to if surgery goes wrong. He points out that contact lenses are much more sophisticated and cause fewer problems than they did 20 years ago and may be a safer option than laser surgery.

‘If you have a problem with ­contact lenses or glasses, you can pop back to the opticians where it can be easily rectified,’ he says.

‘But adverse side effects from laser surgery might be ­irreversible and permanent.’

Dominic Devlin’s website can be found at laser-eye-surgery-review.com



Source:Dailymail

As if by magic, Harry Potter stars lead Brit rich list... but Emma Watson only comes third

By Liz Thomas


She has earned more at the tender age of 20 than most of us can imagine making in a lifetime.

But despite having more than £20million to her name, Emma Watson has only made it to third place in a list charting the wealthiest British stars aged 30 and under – with her Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe beating her to the top spot.

Miss Watson’s fortune has come primarily from her role as Hermione Granger in the seven films, topped up by a contract as the face of Burberry and modelling work for Chanel.


Wealthy: Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson are collectively worth more than £65million


But Radcliffe, 21, is estimated to have made more than £45.6million from playing the boy wizard, as well as starring in West End and Broadway productions such as Equus.

Keira Knightley wins second place in the chart, with a £30.1million fortune from roles in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Atonement, as well as a modelling contract with Chanel.

But the Potter spell is cast again over fourth place – taken by actor Rupert Grint, who has made £19million from playing Harry’s sidekick Ron Weasley.

The success of teenage vampire films the Twilight Saga has seen 24-year-old Robert Pattinson become a multi-millionaire, earning £18.5million in just a few years.

Coleen Rooney, 24, also scrapes into the top ten, with £9million from deals with Littlewoods, Argos and Nike as well as her ITV2 series.

But Cheryl Cole, 27, only makes it to 14th place, with a relatively modest £7.9million income.

The list was compiled by industry experts for Heat magazine.

Editor Sam Delaney said: ‘The Heat rich list is proof that not all mega-rich people are corrupt, cigar-chomping fat cats.'





Source:Dailymail