worcester news leisure 18th february 2011

Friday, February 18, 2011

LeisureMusic

Leisure sponsored by MAJESTIC BINGO CLUB, your local value-for-money bingo. Tel: 01905 24863

Nightlife Theatre Food Television Staying inCinema

CHICKEN TONIGHTFlora Drury eats outFOOD & DRINK: PAGE 26

NERDS AND AN ALIENSpaceman is no ETCINEMA: PAGE 24

PLUSCLUBBING: PAGE 23

WHAT’S ON: PAGES 31-33

Inside

SCREEN PARTYThe Fury launch first EPMUSIC: PAGE 22

ON YOUR TOESSiberian ballet heads for hillsTHEATRE: PAGE 25

SCORES ONTHE DOORSKeeping up standards in cateringhygiene – Food and Drink specialTURN TO PAGES 28-30

worcesternews.co.uk 21

22 worcesternews.co.uk Friday, February 18, 2011

IT’S not every band that getsto launch its first EP at acinema – but a Worcestergroup has managed it. TheFury – a four-piece fronted by

lead singer Julian Jenkins – willbe organising a “listening party”at Vue in Friar Street, Worcester,to introduce family members andfriends to the five-track EP,followed by a gig at the Marr’sBar just a couple of days later.Jenkins, who has worked at the

cinema for a number of years,said: “The party at Vue is mainlyfor close friends and family. It’s alistening party but we have puttogether a little video to keep

people entertained, too. On March1 we’re at the Marr’s Bar. That’sthe launch gig and we’ll beplaying songs from the EP andsome others. We want to see asmany people as possible comealong and just rock out.”The band, which describes its

sound as thrash metal with a bitof new wave British heavy metalmixed in, has its own reason fortrying to get as much of a buzz aspossible around the launch of theself-titled CD.The Fury will be taking a short

break from performing livebecause drummer Alasdair Daviswill be undergoing an operation,

which will put him out of actionfor a few months.Jenkins said: “It’s the entire

reason we’re trying to get asmany people to the Marr’s Bar aspossible.“We are used to playing a few

times a month so this is a bit of along break for us. In themeantime we’re trying to plugour EP as much as possible.”There doesn’t seem to be any

resting on laurels for The Fury.The band has already got at leastone gig planned for the summerand is hoping to play theunsigned stage at Bloodstock, aheavy metal festival.

Long term, Jenkins hopes theband– which also has Joel Peterson lead guitar and Martin Trailon bass – will be successfulenough for its members to make aliving from it.Jenkins said: “It would be

fantastic to make a career out ofthe band. Later this year we planon making a full album.“As for long term aspirations, it

is just to be able to play music –and obviously play somewherelike Wembley. You’ve got todream big.”To find out more about The

Fury , visit the band’s Facebookpage.

MusicTHE BIG GIG

It’s our red carpet dateThe Fury have cut their first EP and will launch it at aWorcester cinema. FLORA DRURY reports

MUSICAL NOTES

QUEEN will rock the castle thissummer. The Music of Queen – A Rockand Symphonic Spectacular will becoming to Eastnor Castle, nearLedbury, on Saturday, July 2.The concert – which follows last

year’s hugely successful JoolsHolland concert in the grounds ofthe castle – will not only boast a fullrock band but also stars from the hitWest End musical We Will Rock You.Keith Louch, director of IML

Concerts, said: “We are delighted tohave secured this performance forEastnor and expect a sell-out night.“There is no doubt that, with the

success of We Will Rock You inLondon, the music of Queen is still aspopular today as 20 years ago. I urgeeveryone to experience thisextraordinary show, it is trulyspectacular.”Tickets, priced at £35 for adults, £15

for children aged five to 15 and freefor under-fives, are available fromimlconcerts.co.uk or by calling 01603660444.

SINGING THE BLUESA FULL, five-piece blues band willtake to the stage in Ledburytomorrow. The Big Blues Tribe will beperforming at the Master’s House,St Katharine’s car park, at 8pm.The band, fronted by Oliver

Carpenter – one of the Midlands mostexperienced blues singers – andfeaturing top musicians on everystand, promise to put on aninnovative and entertaining show.And, with a full five-piece brass

section and taking inspiration fromsome of the Blues greats – includingBB King and Ray Charles – the BigBlues Tribe shouldn’t disappoint.Tickets – which cost £10 – can be

purchased by calling 01531 636147 or07967 517125 out-of-hours.

SOLO PERFORMANCEONE of Worcestershire’s busiestmusicians will be appearing solo atthe Hand in Glove.Tyler Massey usually sings

alongsideVo Fletcher and trio ThePull, but next week he will be goingsolo when he performs his ownmaterial.The American-born songwriter and

musician will play at the bar, inCollege Street, Worcester, on Entrywill be free.

For more information about the Marr’s Bar, call 01905 613336 or go to marrsbar.co.uk

MUSIC PAGE SPONSORED BY THE MARR’S BAR.Tonight: Heroes of Hanoi. Saturday: Ozzie – Ozzy Osbournetribute.Wednesday: Marzy’s Jamming Night. Thursday: Atilla the Stockbrocker

REGAL: Enjoy the music of Queen.

EP LAUNCH: Thrash metal band The Fury, from left, Julian Jenkins, Martin Trail, Alasdair Davis and Joel Peters. Photograph by Laura Spiteri.

THE off-shoot of the hugelypopular George CowleyExperience will welcome back anold member when they performtonight.The Cowley Cowboys will be

playing at the Mount PleasantHotel, Belle Vue Terrace,Malvern, at 9pm – with SteveStrain back on drums after a

10-year absence. Strain – theoriginal drummer with theGeorge Cowley Experience – said:“It’s great to be back in thesaddle with the Cowley Cowboys.They are unique to play with andyou never quite know what’scoming next.“They might even let me take

lead vocals on the Kings of Leon

song Sex on Fire, which I performwith my own band, Silver Angel.”The country rock band will be

performing a range of coversalongside their own materialfrom the Cowley Cowboys firstalbum.To find out more, visit

myspace.com/cowleycowboys.Entry to the gig is free.

Your chance to experience Cowboys live on stage

COUNTRY: The Cowley Cowboys.

worcesternews.co.uk 23Friday, February 18, 2011

For more details, call 01905 20218 or go to night-clubber.com

PARTY PEOPLE VELVET,WORCESTER CLUB DIRECTORY

LEISURE CONTACTS

EDITORIALFlora Drury01905 [email protected]

ADVERTISINGBhavisha Panchal01905 [email protected]

Oliver Temperley01905 [email protected]

AMBER CAFE, High Street,Evesham. Tel: 01386 49123

BAR 12, Cornmarket,Worcester. Tel: 01905 28362

BUSHWACKERS, TrinityStreet, Worcester.Tel: 01905 26936

COURTYARD, St NicholasStreet, Worcester. Tel:01905 23050

DRUMMONDS, Friar Street,Worcester. Tel: 01905 28190

HEROES, New Street,Worcester.Web: heroesworcester.co.uk

KEYSTONES, CopenhagenStreet, Worcester.Tel: 01905 731437

MARILYN’S, Bridge Street,Evesham. Tel: 01386 760404

MARR’S BAR, PierpointStreet, Worcester.Tel: 01905 613336

MODE, Angel Row,Worcester.Tel: 01905 28010

REFLEX, Trinity Street,Worcester. Tel: 01905 21373

SIN, New Street,Worcester.Tel: 07919 363737

TRAMPS, Angel Place,Worcester. Tel: 01905 20218

VELVET, Angel Place,Worcester.Tel: 01905 619966

NightlifeNIGHTLIFE PAGE SPONSORED BY TRAMPS NIGHTCLUB,WORCESTER

PAULCert 15, 103mins

ACCORDING toThe X-Files, thetruth is outthere... but youwon’t find it inSimon Pegg andNick Frost’s

fantastical road movie.In the same way that Shaun Of

The Dead gleefully gnawed thefunny bone of the zombie horrorgenre, and Hot Fuzz took aim atthe countryside cop drama, Paulimpishly probes feelgood sci-fiadventure, ET: The Extra-Terrestrial.Spielberg’s earthbound alien was

a cute and cuddly creature, whojust wanted to phone home, but hebears little resemblance to Peggand Frost’s little grey man.Their otherworldly visitor

smokes pot, glugs beer andexposes his backside through thewindscreen of a Winnebago.He can turn himself invisible as

a camouflage defence mechanismand can magically re-animate thedead, providing the film with oneof its funniest sequences.Director Greg Mottola’s

adventure opens in 1947 Wyomingwith a spacecraft crash-landing ontop of a red setter called Paul.Flashing forward to present day

San Diego, best friends GraemeWilly (Simon Pegg) and CliveGollings (Nick Frost) meet famoussci-fi author, Adam Shadowchild(Jeffrey Tambor), beforeembarking on a road trip acrossAmerica, stopping at locationsassociated with alien contact.

En route, Graeme and Cliveencounter Paul (voiced by SethRogen), a potty-mouthed alienstranded on Earth, who is beinghunted by mysterious specialagent Zoil (Jason Bateman).The pals agree to help Paul

return home, abducting Ruth(Kristen Wiig), the one-eyeddaughter of Bible-bashing trailerpark owner Father Moses (JohnCarroll Lynch), along the way.Meanwhile, Zoil recruits two

bungling FBI agents, Haggard (BillHader) and O’Reilly (Joe LoTruglio), to apprehend Graemeand Clive.

British audiences love thedouble-act of Pegg and Frost,making Paul the obvious film ofthe week. Their natural chemistryand sharp comic timing compelsus to back Graeme and Clive asthey risk life, limb and anexpensive replica sword to delivertheir otherworldly buddy to hismothership.Wiig is adorable as the visually

impaired love interest and Rogenbrings a roguish charm to histitular hero, becoming mock-serious when he imparts the secretof the universe: “Be yourselves,speak from the heart– some

rubbish like that.” Next to ShaunOf The Dead and Hot Fuzz, Pauldoes feel flat but Pegg and Frostpaper over the cracks with nodsand winks to classic fantasy andsci-fi films.In-jokes abound referencing the

warehouse in Raiders Of The LostArk, Ripley’s battle cry fromAliens and an iconic mountainfrom another Spielberg favourite.Considering how many of the

laughs in Paul come from othersources, perhaps a more apt titlewould have been Close EncountersOf The Second-Hand Kind.

BIG MOMMAS: LIKEFATHER, LIKE SONCert PG, 107mins

JUST when youthought it was safeto go back into thecinema, MartinLawrence dons thefat suit of feistysouthern

matriarch Hattie Mae Pierce for asoulless third movie.Big Mommas: Like Father, Like

Son tries to justify its existence,beyond milking gullible audiencesdry, by embroiling a newgeneration in the cross-dressingmayhem. However, screenwriterMatthew Fogel doesn’t have asingle fresh idea and waddles overfamiliar ground, displacing fatherand son to an all-girls’ school forthe performing arts.FBI agent Malcolm Turner

(Martin Lawrence) clashes withhis son Trent (Brandon T Jackson)over the future. While Malcolmhopes the lad will attend DukeUniversity, Trent intends topursue a music career, providinghe can persuade the old man tosign a recording contract.In order to browbeat his father

into submission, Trentgatecrashes an undercover policeoperation and witnesses gangsterChirkoff (Tony Curran) murder aninformant. Now that his son ismarked for death, Malcolm decidesto hide Trent at Georgia Girls’School for the Arts by posing asBig Momma and her great nieceCharmaine.

CinemaNEW RELEASES

ALSO SHOWING

Close encounters of grey kindAn alien who smokes pot, glugs beer and moons through car windscreens is no ET. DAMON SMITH reports

THE TRUTH ISN’T OUT THERE: Nick Frost as Clive Gollings and Simon Pegg as Graeme Willy who star in Paul.

TRUE GRITCert 15MATTIE Ross (Hailee Steinfeld)says in her opening voiceover: “Iwas just 14 years of age when acoward by the name of TomChaney shot my father down androbbed him of his life. You mustpay for everything in this world,one way and another. There isnothing free, except the grace ofGod.” And so Mattie seeks outmarshal Rooster Cogburn (JeffBridges) and hires him to helpher track down Chaney (JoshBrolin), who has taken up withLucky Ned Pepper (Barry Pepper)and his gang. A tenacious TexasRanger called LeBoeuf (MattDamon) joins the hunting party.

NEVER LET ME GOCert 12ATHE film opens in 1978 atHailsham boarding school, where

classmates Kathy (Izzy Meikle-Small), Tommy (Charlie Rowe)and Ruth (Ella Purnell) followthe dictates of headmistressEmily (Charlotte Rampling). Newguardian Miss Lucy (SallyHawkins) eventually tells herwide-eyed students that they willbecome adults only briefly andwill donate their vital organs,completing their short lives withthe third or fourth harvest. Asthey grow up, Kathy (now playedby Carey Mulligan) keeps awatchful eye on Tommy (AndrewGarfield), but her affections arethwarted when Ruth (KeiraKnightley) pairs off with the lad.The trio move to the Cottages in1985, a residential complex whichallows contact with humans.Ruth, Tommy and Kathy’srelationship reaches itsconclusion in the mid-1990s whenKathy becomes a carer andwatches her fellow pupils atHailsham fulfil their design.

GNOMEO & JULIET 3DCert UGNOMEO (James McAvoy) is ablue, living on one side of thedrive with mischievous sidekickBenny (Matt Lucas) and his mutebest pal, Shroom. His mother,Lady Blueberry (Maggie Smith),keeps a close eye on the ceramicbunnies that festoon the lawnand on her rival Lord Redbrick(Michael Caine), who presidesover the garden next door. He isdetermined to protect feistydaughter Juliet (Emily Blunt) byconsigning her to the top of acastle-shaped garden feature,from where she rebuffs theadvances of unassuming Paris(Stephen Merchant). A chanceencounter between Gnomeo andJuliet sows the seeds of true lovebut her bully boy cousin, Tybalt(Jason Statham), would rathermow down a blue than see themunited in holy matrignomey.

YOGI BEAR 3DCert UYOGI Bear (voiced by DanAykroyd) and pal Boo Boo (JustinTimberlake) live in a cave inJellystone Park, from where theymastermind the ingenious theftsof food using spring-loadedpicnic tables. Ranger Smith (TomCavanagh) struggles to keep themin check and already has hishands full with assistant, RangerJones (TJ Miller). However, theseare mere distractions comparedwith the plans of Mayor Brown(Andrew Daly), who intends tosell off the park to the highestbidder. The only way to raise themoney and save the park is tothrow a party. Documentary film-maker Rachel (Anna Faris) offersher support but Mayor Brownand his snivelling chief of staff(Nathan Corddry) have found theperfect fall guy to sabotage partypreparations.


Theatre|artsCURTAIN UP CENTRE STAGE

with chief executiveof Worcester LiveCHRIS JAEGER

YOUTH drama is such apositive thing in youngpeople’s lives. We run eightdifferent groups at the SwanTheatre, four junior (five to

eight years), three intermediate (nineto 12 years) and one senior (13-19 years)and most of the groups are full.Apart from having a great time, the

young people acquire many life skillswhich will stand them in great steadfor adulthood. Confidence and theability to cope with many differentsituations are just part of the armourywhich is developed in drama classes.We often see very shy young people

come out of themselves and developstrong social skills over a period oftime. Also, all the children learn towork with each other to producepositive results. All this is good.I recently adjudicated a play festival

in Yorkshire, where a local primaryschool had staged a play that they andtheir drama teacher had devised.Before I saw it performed, I was warnedby the organiser that the school was ina very difficult area with many socialproblems and that my expectationsshould not be too high.The play was in fact superb. The

children showed great stage disciplineand huge pride in their work. Theirinspirational teacher had instilled thatquality into their work and the resultwas heart-warming.No one will convince me that drama is

not playing an important and positivepart of their lives. I think it is a greatshame that drama is often pushed asidein schools and not considered a ‘proper’subject. For many young people, theywill get much more out of drama thanmany of the so-called academicsubjects.

Russians are comingArtistic director Sergei Borov tells FLORA DRURY about his ballet company’s special tour

YOU could argue thatwhile the Russians areknown for many thingsthey are most famousfor their ballet.

Which is why the arrival of theRussian State Ballet of Siberia inMalvern sends a thrill down theback of every dance enthusiastfor miles around.But, perhaps surprisingly, they

are also excited to be here.Sergei Bobrov, artistic director,

said: “England is full of balletlovers and people whounderstand ballet and that’s whywe are very glad to show themour best performances.”It’s why, he explained, they

make sure they bring the best oftheir dancers on their annualtour of the UK. This time thecompany is performing two newproductions – Don Quixote andRomeo and Juliet – as well as themuch-loved classic TheNutcracker at Malvern Theatres.Choreographed under the

watchful eye of Bobrov – aformer principal dancer with theBolshoi Ballet – they are sure tobe every bit as beautiful as inprevious years.Bobrov said: “I would say to

anyone who has not been to theballet before that if they want tosee the beauty of relationshipsbetween men and women and ifthey want to listen to ultimately

wonderful music they shouldcome to see us. It will be a bigemotional event for them.“This is a special tour of the

UK – we try to bring very gooddancers. They all come fromSiberia and the average age isabout 25 yearsold.”One wonders whether Bobrov,

now aged 46 and off the stage for10 years, ever gets a little jealousof watching the dancers – but heis insistent this is not the case.He said: “Being an artistic

director is possibly even moreenjoyable.You know everythingis yours, you can create what youwant and have the power to

change what you want.”And it is this passion which

will make all of his performancesworth watching.Tickets are priced between

£22.50 and £30.For times, booking and more

visit malvern-theatres.co.uk orcall 01684 892277.

ADVERTISEON THISPAGECall OliverTemperleyon 01905742396

WARTIME EXPERIENCES

YOUNG people involved in awartime play have not onlyexpanded their theatrical skills butalso learnt something abouthistory.The youth section of PershoreAmateur Operatic and DramaticSociety (PODYS) will be performingVackees at Number 8, Pershore,later this month.And it has not only been a way toexpand their dramatic experiencebut also a chance to find out moreabout evacuees in the SecondWorld War.John Payne, who is producing theshow, said: “This has been theperfect opportunity for our

youngsters to learn a bit aboutwhat went on during the war yearsin England. Peter Wright, who wasan evacuee, came along and gavea talk to the cast of excitedyoungsters. They greeted him veryenthusiastically and had a lot ofquestions to ask him. Rob Watts isthe young director. We try toencourage young people in theatreskills including directing.”Tickets, which cost £10 or £5 forunder-16s, can be brought fromNumber 8 or by telephoning 01386555488. The show is on Friday,February 25, at 7.30pm andSaturday, February 26, at 2.30pmand 7.30pm.

BIT PARTSAWARD-winningcomic and grumpy oldwoman Jenny Eclairhopes to have theaudience rolling inthe aisles when shecomes to Worcestertomorrow.Her acclaimed tour

Old Dog, New Tricksis at the HuntingdonHall at 8pm.Following her stint

in the I’m a Celebrity,Get Me Out of Herecamp, Eclair is facingup to the prospect ofgetting older in herusual indomitable style.For more information, visit

worcesterlive.co.uk or call 01905 611427.

HUBBLE, BUBBLEA WORCESTERSHIRE high school is tacklingthe classic dramatisation of New England’sinfamous Salem witch trials.Prince Henry’s High School will be staging

three performances of Arthur Miller’s TheCrucible at Evesham Arts Centre at 7.15pmfrom Thursday, March 3, until Saturday, March5. For more information and tickets, priced at £8for adults and £6 for students, visiteveshamartscentre.co.uk.

FUNNY: Jenny Eclair.

MONTAGUES AND CAPULETS: Dancers from the Russian State Ballet of Siberia in Romeo and Juliet.

EVACUEES: The youngsters who are taking part in Vackees.


LIGHT BITES

SLICES of the Mediterranean arebeing produced on the outskirts ofWorcester.

Richard and Nicky Harper havelaunched Severn Spots from CastleFarm, Holt Heath, using meat fromtheir herd of Gloucester Old Spotpigs, and Worcester-based marketingagency Modus Creative have help thecouple with branding.Included in the Severn Spots range

is Tuscan salami (dry cured porksalami seasoned with red wine,fennel, pepper and garlic), chorizo(spicy dry cured pork sausageseasoned with paprika, chilli andgarlic) and sopressata salami (drycured pork salami spiced with chillipepper, white wine and garlic).

To try or buy the company’s rangevisit Top Barn Harvest Shop at HoltHeath or Mac ‘n’ Jac’s in Friar Street,Worcester. For more information,contact [email protected].

NAND0’S55-59 Friar Street,WorcesterTel: 01905 731797

NANDO’S straddles afunny line betweenfastfood chain andrestaurant. For thisreason, my entire

dining experience was dominatedby trying to figure out whichcategory the restaurant in FriarStreet, Worcester, slotted into.Smack-bang next to Vue

cinema, it is always busy and theSunday night that a friend and Iwandered in was no different.Greeted at the door and guided

to our seats, we perused the menu.A word of warning: if you don’t

like chicken as a main coursethen don’t come to Nando’s.My friend chose spicy mixed

olives (£3.06) while I hadhoumous with peri-peri drizzle(£3.17) to start.It has to be said, the choice for

starters is not huge and when wemade our way to the counter toplace our order we were toldthere was no peri-peri drizzle.I was not impressed. So I ended

up with houmous on its own. It’sa good thing I like houmous.Having said that, both starters

were, at best, uninspiring.For my main course I chose

chicken breast fillet pitta (£8.37)with medium spice andratatouille on the side. The pittawas excellent.The ratatouille I am unlikely to

ask for again.My friend had half a chicken –

cooked medium – with spicy riceand chips (£9.29). Again, the sides

were not great but the chicken,he assured me, was perfect.Dessert was choc-a-lot cake

(£4.03) for my friend and whitechocolate raspberry swirl (£4.03)for me. Both were hugelydecadent, tasty and worth havingagain – if you have the space thatis. I was very full.

Looking back at the meal bringsme back to my first point. IsNando’s fastfood or not?To be perfectly honest, apart

from the quality of its chickendishes I think it is.But I rather think if the

company worked a little harderon its starters and side dishes it

would be up there with the likesof Pizza Express – in spite of theordering at the counter element.

HOW IT RATEDFood:Service:Value for money:Ambience:

Food|drinkRESTAURANT REVIEW

Great if you like chickenFLORA DRURY and a friend decided to dine at a restaurant which always seems to be very busy

SPOT ON: Guy Marson of ModusCreative, left, and Richard Harper.

POPULAR PLACE: Nandos in Friar Street, Worcester, is the place to go if you like chicken. 02183101

IT appears we should all be eatingmore British-grown watercress.The salad and accompaniment to

many a main meal is seen as theoriginal superfood and now a numberof scientific studies have proven thatthe peppery little salad leaf is animportant player in the field of cancerprevention.The curative properties of

watercress have been revered downthe centuries.Hippocrates, the ‘father of

medicine’, is said to have located hisfirst hospital close to a spring toensure a supply of fresh watercress tohelp treat his patients; Greek soldierswere given it as a tonic before goinginto battle and the 16th centuryherbalist Nicholas Culpepper claimedit could cleanse the blood.In Britain, watercress is grown in

mineral-rich spring water, drawn fromdeep under the chalk downs ofHampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.Eating watercress daily can

significantly reduce DNA damage toblood cells, which is considered to bean important trigger in thedevelopment of cancer.

Last September new research

conducted by Professor Packham fromthe University of Southamptonrevealed that a plant compound inwatercress may have the ability tosuppress breast cancer celldevelopment by “turning off” a signalin the body and thereby starving thegrowing tumour of essential bloodand oxygen.Watercress packs a powerful

nutritional punch, gram for gramcontaining more iron than spinach,more vitamin C than oranges, morecalcium that milk, more vitamin Ethan broccoli and more folate thanbananas.It is brimming with vitamin A

(converted from beta carotene) with80g providing a whopping 42per centof the recommended daily allowance.There is a growing interest in

aggregate nutrient density indices(ANDI) that rank food as one to 1,000.Watercress scores 1,000, the best

score any food can attain in terms ofits overall nutritional value.

Add watercress to your shopping list

NUTRITIOUS: Food doesn’t get muchbetter than super-dooper watercress.


CABBAGE soup,Atkins, maple syrup,blood type, caveman:all bywords for dietswhich hope to solve

the mystery of weight loss.But as actress-turned-author

Jane Kennedy points out withtypical Aussie bluntness, therereally is no mystery to stayingslim. The Melbourne-basedmother-of-five, who is used tothe 10 pound-adding pressureof TV cameras, has become anexpert in developing recipeswhich are delicious but, in herown words, prevent the‘boombah’.In the introduction to her

new book OMG! I Can EatThat? Indulgent Food Minusthe Boombah (Hardie Grant,£14.99): “It’s the word I use todescribe food that makes yourbum look huge.”Emphasising taste rather

than fat, Kennedy offersrecipes for all those creamy,crispy, crunchy foods we like tothink we can’t live without.She said: “I love lasagne,

moussaka, pizza and fried rice,but they don’t love me. Afteryears of trying every fad dietout there, I finally realised thatrice, pasta, bread and potatoeswould all make a beeline formy stomach.

“So I went back to the lab.”Her kitchen is filled with

explosive pots of flavour, fromwasabi paste and sea salt tohorseradish and soy sauce,which help create excitingalternatives to highly calorificcomfort food.She tells readers: “Grow up.

It’s time to start cooking andtasting and enjoying all sorts offoods you’ve avoided. In a face-off between fragrant spicyroasted pumpkin and a bowl ofcrispy fried potatoes, it’s gameover. Get rid of the spuds, youknow they’re boombah.”Try Kennedy’s take on duck

and orange.

MEET THE CHEF

Give it flavourAustralian food writer Jane Kennedy tempts SARAH O’MEARA

Food|drink

RECIPE DUCK AND ORANGE

SERVES 4

Ingredients

For the duck:2 duck breasts, on the bone withskinPinch of five spiceSea salt and freshly ground pepperZest of 1 orange, pith removed,sliced into matchsticks4tbsps red wine vinegarJuice of 1 orange2 shallots, finely chopped250ml salt-reduced chicken stock1tsp butter

For the radicchio salad:1 whole radicchio1 red onion, finely sliced2tbsp olive oilJuice of ½ lemonSea salt and freshly ground pepper

MethodPreheat the oven to 220C. Line aroasting tray with baking paper.Season the duck breasts withthe five spice and some sea saltand pepper. Place on the tray.Roast for 10 minutes, thenreduce the heat to 170C androast for another 20 minutes.When cooked, set aside to restand cover with foil to keep warm.Meanwhile, to make the

radicchio salad, shred the saladleaves to a nice coleslaw--likeconsistency. Toss the onion withthe radicchio and drizzle over theolive oil and lemon juice andseason with sea salt and pepper.Bring some water to the boil in asaucepan and blanch the zestyorange matchsticks for about 5minutes. Remove and set aside.Tip out the water and add thevinegar, orange juice, shallots,and chicken stock and simmeruntil the sauce is reduced to alittle less than a cup. Add thebutter and the orange zest andstir through. To serve, slice theduck into three or four slices onthe diagonal. Drizzle over theorange sauce. Serve withradicchio salad and maybe a fewcooked, diced carrots.

GOOD FOR THEDIET: You won’tpile on poundswith this recipefor duck andorange fromAustralian foodieJane Kennedy.


LOCAL councils have a dutyunder food safetylegislation to inspect foodbusinesses in their areas toensure that food hygiene

standards are maintained.While the legislation is aimed at

protecting consumers it does allowpoor businesses to trade except inthe most exceptionalcircumstances, where there is animminent risk to health fromconsuming food produced at thepremises.The legislation has previously

prevented councils from releasinginformation about inspections tothe public.This allowed some businesses to

continue trading while consumerswere unaware of their poorhygiene practices.Assessment of the business by

consumers could only be based onthe front of house areas wherepoor businesses often spend theirmoney to attract customers.The Freedom of Information Act

2000 has introduced theopportunity for councils toprovide this information to thepublic.The overall aim of the Scores on

the Doors scheme in Worcester isto improve food safety and hygienestandards among businessesproviding food and drink toconsumers living or working in, or

visiting the city.The aims of the Scores on Doors

scheme are:To provide consumers with a

user-friendly way to access theinformation they need to makeinformed choices about where toeat in Worcester.

To ensure that those foodbusinesses achieving consistentlyhigh standards of food hygiene arepublicly recognised and rewarded.

To support and encourage foodbusinesses where deficiencies arefound, improve their standards offood hygiene leading to safer food.There are many potential

benefits in running a Scores onTURN TO PAGE 29

Scheme ensuresthat standards ofhygiene are highWorcester City Council takes its duty to protect consumers very seriously

CHECK: Helen Cameron, Worcester City Council’s senior environmentalhealth officer, on a Scores on the Doors visit to a food outlet. 42118301

Scores on the doors www.scoresonthedoors.org.ukIN ASSOCIATION WITH

FIVE-STAR PREMISES EXCELLENTFOUR-STAR PREMISES VERY GOOD


FROM PAGE 28the Doors system. These includepromoting a thriving local economy,reducing cases of foodborne illnessesfrom commercial premises andimproving standards and themaintenance of high standards offood hygiene.The scheme is good for business

because it is likely to generate morecustomers and greater profitability.Visitors and tourists should also

feel more confident about eating outin Worcester and fewer regulatoryinspections at good businesses meansa releasing of council resources forpreventative and advisory work inthe businesses that are considered ahigh risk.The scheme also offers a more open

and transparent food hygieneinspection system. Using a nationalcode of practice numerical scoresare given for three criteria:

How hygienically the food ishandled – safe food preparation,cooking, reheating, cooling andstorage.

The condition of the structure ofthe premises – cleanliness, layout,lighting, ventilation, pest preventionand other facilities.

How food safety is managed anddocumented.These are then converted to give a

food hygiene rating. Worcester’senvironmental health officers believeit’s in everyone’s interest to have foodoutlets for which the city can be dulyproud.

Schemehas to begood forbusiness

FRIDGE’S EYE VIEW: Helen Cameron checks the correcttemperature for food which is being stored in a refridgerator.She says there must be adequate refrigerated storage spaceand staff must wear suitable protective clothing with hairout of the way. Personal hygiene, food handling practicesand overall cleanliness are vital to providing safe food. As,of course, is an absence of pests like mice or rats whichcan carry salmonella. Picture by Jonathan Barry. 41114102






Our staff don’t takerisks or cut cornersRebecca Cole tells MIKE PRYCE how the Little Ginger Pig maintains its five stars

partner Rebecca Cole says:“We are meticulous aboutour methods.”Scores on the Doors is a

countywide assessment offood hygiene superintendedby WorcestershireRegulatory Services, whosejob it is to check foodoutlets from top notchrestaurants to a cateringcaravan in a layby and seehow they shape up. Five isthe top mark and the LittleGinger Pig has consistentlyhit the mark.Mrs Cole said: “All staff

have it in their contractsthat if they are found notadhering to our processesand we consequently lose astar, we consider it veryserious. We do not cutcorners and we do not takerisks.”She runs the Copenhagen

Street bistro with Anne andLeigh Perkins and togetherMrs Cole and Mrs Perkinsfirst came across the Scoreson the Doors programmewhen they set up their firstventure, the Balcony Cafeat the Art Gallery andMuseum in Foregate Streetin 2008.Mrs Cole said: “Six weeks

after opening anenvironmental health

officer came to inspect usfor Scores on the Doors,which was then the ‘newthing’. We were still findingour feet as we’d never donethat kind of thing beforeand they awarded us fourstars. We immediatelyimplemented the minorrecommendations andawaited their re-inspection.“Four stars wasn’t good

enough for us so when itdidn't happen Anneharassed them until theycame out, re-inspected usand awarded five starswhich we have maintained.“When we opened the

bistro in Copenhagen Streetwe knew what we weredoing. Anne made sureeverything was in order.“It’s little things like

routinely washing hands,not wearing an apron to thebathroom and loggingevery tiny event. We havediaries for front of houseand kitchen and followingthe systems we have set up.”The Ginger Pig Café Bar

and Bistro, which is fullylicensed with local brewsand a great wine list, hasrapidly built a reputationfor wholesome, home-madefood and Scores on theDoors proves it.

QUALITYdoesn’t happenby accident andthat’s whyWorcester’s

Little Ginger PigCompany’s cafés inCopenhagen Street and at

the City Art Gallery haveconsistently received topmarks in the Scores on theDoors hygiene ratingscheme for food outlets.There can be few, if any,

food businesses asconscientious as this and

SUCCESS: Rebecca Cole at the Little Ginger Pig Company’sbistro in Copenhagen Street. Picture by Nick Toogood. BUY

THIS PHOTO: worcesternews.co.uk/pictures/sales. 07202002


TODAYGhost Walks Of WorcesterDiscover the secrets to Worcester’shidden past as you tour one of themost historic and haunted cities inBritain. Starts 7.30pm at the ElgarStatue in High Street, Worcester.Tickets £8.50. Call 01905 611427.

Malvern Country MarketFood by local producers and crafts.8.30am. Lyttelton Rooms, ChurchStreet, Malvern. Telephone 01684891340 for details.

Battenhall WalkAn easy two-and-a-half miles withleader Connie of Sole Mates. Meet9.45am. Barnards Green, Malvern.Telephone 01684 562159/568162.

Worcester Philatelic AndPostcard SocietyJohn Hodges – Hotel Covers. Allwelcome. Starts 10am. PowickParish Hall, A449 Powick toWorcester Road, Worcester.

Tea DanceDance with Debbie. 2pm. Holy TrinityHall, Link Top, Malvern. Admission£3 to include tea. Telephone 07760763967 for details.

Ben Gannon Appeal Toy SaleRaising funds to take Ben to USA fora life-changing operation. 3.30pm.Rushwick Primary School, RushwickVillage, Worcester. Free admission.Telephone 07870 584382.

Country And Western EveningWith live music from Dean Austin. Allwelcome. 7pm. Coppertops, OldburyRoad, Worcester. Admission £6.Telephone 01905 427019.

Fun Evening: Indoor Games For EndPolio NowThe Rotary Club of WorcesterVigornia invite you to an evening ofentertainment raising money for theEnd Polio Now Campaign. 7pm.Sixways Stadium, Warriors Way,Worcester. £20 per person. CallJohn Gibson on 01905 20636.

OasishEurope’s leading tribute to Oasis.

7.30pm. Malvern Theatres, GrangeRoad, Malvern. £16.50. Telephone01684 892277 [email protected].

The Ultimate KaraokeWith DJ Porky. 8.30pm. The CrossKeys, Belmont Road, Malvern.

Woody And The StuntcocksThe Stuntcocks are one of the mostpopular bands in the three counties.Fronted by Mick Essex. 9pm.Drummonds, New Street, Worcester.

Live In The BunkerLive original music from Mudball,The Modern and Glamour Chase.9pm. Keystones, CopenhagenStreet, Worcester.

Love Worcester Heritage EventA self-guided tour allowing visitors toexplore the love stories and legendsof the cathedral and the peopleassociated with the building throughits architecture, monuments andstained-glass windows. 9am.Worcester Cathedral, College Yard,Worcester. Free. Telephone 01905732900 for details.

The Scent Of LightA photographic exhibition by DianeBarker, who will be revealing herpassion for roadside verges, ancientsunken lanes, dingles, spinneys andthe Knapp nature reserve.10.30am. Worcester City Art Galleryand Museum, Foregate Street,Worcester. Free admission.Telephone 01095 25371.

Lunch ClubAll welcome. 12.30pm. KGVCommunity Centre, KGV PlayingFields, Ash Avenue, Worcester. £3.Booking preferred. Telephone 01905745450 for details.

TOMORROWFree PlayJoin the play rangers from noon until3pm in Cripplegate Park. Sessionsare free, open to all. Activitiesinclude giant Jenga, hula hoopingand lots more. Tybridge Street,Worcester. Telephone 01905722233 for details.

On Tracks Of Iron And Salt: RomanWorcestershireThis exhibition presents some of themost spectacular Romanarchaeology that has beendiscovered across Worcestershire.There will be hands-on activities forfamilies. 10.30am. Worcester CityArt Gallery and Museum, ForegateStreet, Worcester. Free admission.Telephone 01905 25371.

Love SongsIf music be the food of love, play on.Enjoy the sounds of love in this mini-exhibition. 10am. The Commandery,Sidbury, Worcester. Adults £5.40,children £2.30. Telephone 01905361821 for details.

Commons, Lane And BrooksAround TenburyA nine-and-a-quarter mile moderatewalk over Oldwood Common,Cadmore, Cinders Lane, WildenFarm, Terrills Lane and Kyre Brookback to the cars. Meet 9am.Imperial Road, Malvern. Telephone01905 774313.

Cycling Jumble SaleOrganised by Worcester St John’sCycling Club. Admission £1.Refreshments available and freeparking. 10am. ChristopherWhitehead Language College,Malvern Road, Worcester. For furtherdetails contact David Walker on07799 592520.

Living History EventRe-enactors in the Cloister and onCollege Green. 10am. WorcesterCathedral, College Yard, Worcester.Free. Telephone 01905 732900 formore information.

Table Top SaleOrganised by Upton in Bloom as partof its fund-raising efforts for itsentries in Heart of England in Bloomand RHS Britain in Bloom 2011.10am. The Memorial Hall, OldStreet, Upton-upon-Severn. Free.Telephone 01684 593904.

Local WalkA leisurely five-mile walk to includeBlackmore, Hanley Swan andGuarlford. Leaders: Ike and

Margaret. Organised by Friends ofthe Malvern Hills. 10am. The GreenDragon, (Map ref 803453) B4211,Malvern. Telephone 01684 565025.

Cottage Garden SocietyWorcestershire Group MeetingA talk and slide show – A RoyalGreenhouse, a Fountain and aChateau. A weekend in Belgiumfeaturing the royal greenhouses, awater garden and a flower festival.

2.30pm. Powick village hall, Powick,Worcester. £1.50 members, £2.50non-members. Telephone 01684311297 for details.

The Amazing Dr MuffetA special short play performed byadults especially for children agedthree to 10. 2.30pm. The NorburyTheatre, Friar Street, Droitwich.£1.50. Telephone 01905 770154for more information.

What’s onYOUR LISTINGS Telephone Christine Meigh on 01905 742262, e-mail [email protected]

YOURGUIDETOSTAYINGIN:PAGE34



Take Two Social GroupSkittles EveningWith basket meal. New memberswelcome. 7pm. The Portobello,Bransford Road, St John’s,Worcester. £5. Telephone 01684572563 for details.

Worcester Male Voice Choir ConcertPerforming in aid of Worcester RoyalInfirmary Nurses League Windowappeal. The celebrity compere will

be Henry Sandon of Antiques RoadShow. 7.30pm. All Saints Church,Deansway, Worcester. £8. Telephone01905 821659.

Worcester Recorded Music SocietyNew chairman Dick Hill will introducemusic by Mendelssohn, Schumann,Vaughan Williams and Haydn.7.30pm. Worcester Baptist ChurchHall, Sansome Walk, Worcester.£2.50 on the door.

Sequence DanceDance with Brian’s Supersounds.Please bring your own refreshments.7.30pm. Powick Parish Hall, Powick,Worcester. Telephone 01905454338 for details.

Friends Of Community ActionCasino NightMalvern Hills Lions Club provide amost professional casino with playmoney. 7.30pm. Victoria Park Bowls

Club, Victoria Park Road,Malvern. Tickets are£12.50 from Susie on01684 594795.

Morning Jumble SaleIn aid of NSPCC. 9am. TheOld Library, OmbersleyStreet, Droitwich.

Ben Gannon Appeal80s NightDisco and karaoke. Buy aplate for food, fancy dress80s theme, quiz and raffle.8pm. Whitehall Inn,Bransford Road, Rushwick,Worcester. Free. Telephone01905 422660.

Live EntertainmentFeaturing Jon Grant. Non-members welcome. 8pm.Barbourne Ex-Servicemen’s Club, TheMoors, Worcester.Telephone 01905 25674for details.

Live EntertainmentWith vocalist Andy Faull. Non-members welcome. 8pm. RainbowHill Ex-Servicemen’s Club, MayfieldRoad, Worcester. Telephone 01905723199 for details.

Labour Of Love 2UB40 tribute band. 8pm. ThePunchbowl Inn, Lichfield Avenue,Ronkswood, Worcester. Tickets £5.Telephone 01905 863054.

End Of The Trail CountryMusic ClubMusic by Mac Bailey andDesperado. All welcome. 8pm. TheRoyal British Legion Club, SalwarpeRoad, Droitwich. Telephone 01886821873 for details.

Charity DancePaul and Enid invite you to a stricttempo ballroom and sequencedance. In aid of Midland AirAmbulance. 8pm. Dyson Perrins CEHigh School, Yates Hay Road,Malvern. £4. Telephone 01684574741 for details.

Live MusicWith Jessica and resident DJDamien. 8.30pm. Sketchley Bar,Weir Lane, Lower Wick, Worcester.Tickets £3.50 in advance or £4.50on door. Call 07522 695282.

Live MusicFeaturing Carol Lee Sampson. 9pm.The Great Malvern Hotel, Graham

Road, Malvern. Admission free.Telephone 01684 563411.

The ReflectionsPlaying covers from the 60s right upto today. 9pm. Keystones,Copenhagen Street, Worcester.

Sugar MamaClub debut from this high profileWorcester band playing blues andpsychedelic rock covers from thelikes of the Beatles, The Who, TheKinks, John Lee Hooker, LedZeppelin. 9pm. Callow End Club, 8Upton Road, Callow End, Worcester.

Live MusicWith Guilty Pleasure. 9.30pm. TheCross Keys, Belmont Road, Malvern.

Ghost Walks Of WorcesterDiscover the secrets to Worcester’shidden past as you take a tour ofone of the most historic andhaunted cities in Britain. Starting7.30pm at the Elgar Statue on theHigh Street. Tickets £8.50 can bebooked via Worcester Live Box Officeon 01905 611427.

The Scent of LightA photographic exhibition by DianeBarker, who will be revealing herpassion for roadside verges, ancientsunken lanes, dingles, spinneys andthe Knapp nature reserve.10.30am. Worcester City Art Galleryand Museum, Foregate Street,Worcester. Call 01095 25371.

What’s on or visit worcesternews.co.uk to place your event

32 worcesternews.co.uk


Variety Is The Spice Of LifeEclectic paintings by local artistPeter Wale. Open 10am to 5pm.Malvern Hills Gallery, 1 WorcesterRoad, Malvern. Admission free.Telephone 01684 566872.

Teddy Bear DisplayA small exhibition of selectedteddies from the Arden Bearscollection. 9am. Pershore Library,Church Street, Pershore. Free.

Journey’s EndBy R C Sherriff, directed by DavidGrindley. 2.30pm and 8pm. MalvernTheatres, Grange Road, Malvern.£16.50-£24.50. Telephone 01684892277 or [email protected].

Love Worcester Heritage EventA love-themed self-guided tourallowing visitors to explore the lovestories and legends of the cathedraland the people associated with thebuilding through its architecture,monuments and stained-glasswindows. 9am. Worcester Cathedral,College Yard, Worcester. Free.Telephone 01905 732900.

SUNDAYWorcester Farmers’ MarketSeasonal fruit and vegetables,cakes, pastries, traditionally-rearedmeats, cheeses, wine and lotsmore. 9am. CrownGate ShoppingCentre, Angel Place, Worcester.Telephone 07795 656148.

Worcester Ramblers WalkA leisurely five-mile walk with leaderAnn in the Castlemorton area. Routewill depend on conditions. Map Ref:SO794371. 10am. CastlemortonPrimary School, Church Road,Castlemorton, Malvern. Telephone01684 310231.

Leadon Vale RamblersA leisurely three-mile easy strollalong a path which follows the riverSevern in part, until it turns in landto reach the old village of HanleyCastle. Meet 10.30am in the carpark by the garage, B4211, Upton-upon-Severn. Telephone 01684574205 for details.

Take Two Social Group WalkWalk with Pete from Wyche Cuttingto British Camp. Followed by lunchat the Wyche Inn. 10.45am. WycheCutting car park, Malvern. Telephone01684 572563.

Gaza – A Humanitarian Crisis?Progress to Peace? CharlotteMarshall from Christian Aid hasvisited Gaza and the Middle Eastmany times Praying for Peace inPalestine. 3pm. The Friends MeetingHouse, Orchard Road, Malvern.Telephone 01684 574346.

Live EntertainmentFeaturing Poppa J. Non-memberswelcome. 8pm. Barbourne Ex-Servicemen’s Club, The Moors,Worcester. Call 01905 25674.

Jazz EveningFeaturing Jazz Express. Free. Allwelcome. 8.30pm. The Bakery Inn,Worcester Road, Malvern.

Adam JohnSinging live at Cap ‘n’ Gown, 45Upper Tything, Worcester. Free.Telephone 01905 28914 for details.

Sunday Club Quiz NightA fun night of entertainment with aprize to the winning team. 8pm. TheVine pub, Ombersley Road, Claines,Worcester. Entry £1 per person.

West Malvern SessionLive acoustic music session. Allmusical styles and abilitieswelcome. 9.30pm. West MalvernSocial Club, 145 West MalvernRoad, Malvern.

Love Worcester Heritage EventA love-themed self-guided tourallowing visitors to explore the lovestories and legends of the cathedraland the people associated with thebuilding through its architecture,monuments and stained-glasswindows. 9am. Worcester Cathedral,College Yard, Worcester. Free.Telephone 01905 732900.

MONDAYGondoliers RehearsalsRehearsals for GWOS society.Sopranos, tenors and backstageneeded. 7.45pm. St Mark’s ChurchHall, Orchard Street, off Bath Road,Worcester. Call 01905 353304.

The Scent Of LightA photographic exhibition by DianeBarker, who will be revealing herpassion for roadside verges, ancientsunken lanes, dingles, spinneys andthe Knapp nature reserve.10.30am. Worcester City Art Galleryand Museum, Foregate Street,Worcester. Free admission.Telephone 01095 25371.

Variety Is The Spice Of LifeEclectic paintings by local artist

Peter Wale. Open 10am to 5pm.Malvern Hills Gallery, 1 WorcesterRoad, Malvern. Admission free.Telephone 01684 566872.

Teddy Bear DisplayA small exhibition of selectedteddies from the Arden Bearscollection. 9am. Pershore Library,Church Street, Pershore.Free admission.

Loss Of Innocence:Children's Art Fom GazaThis exhibition wascollected by Rod Cox ofCAPE just after OperationCast Lead, the three-weekbombardment of Gaza byIsrael. It is intended toeducate and provide apsychological boost tothose involved inPalestine. Noon. BromyardRoad Methodist Church,Bromyard Road, Worcester.Free admission. Telephone07973 448827.

Worcester SocietyOf ArtistsA demonstration, Workingwith the Hake Brush, inWatercolour by PatrickGreenow. 7.30pm.Bromwich Road Mission,Bromwich Road, St John’s,Worcester. £1 at the door.Call 01905 355038.

The Chinese State CircusMulan featuring Theamazing Shaolin Warriors.8pm. Malvern Theatres,Grange Road, Malvern.£13-£28. Telephone

01684 892277 or [email protected].

TUESDAYOpen Mic Night8pm. The Great Malvern Hotel,Graham Road, Malvern. Free.Telephone 01684 563411.

Jazz EveningFeaturing the Perdido Jazz Band.Free. 9pm. The Fox and Hounds,Lulsley, near Alfrick, Worcester.

Crib DriveAll ages welcome. 8pm. FernhillHeath War Memorial Club, FernhillHeath, Worcester.

What’s on

Don’t beafraidto takechanceswithlovePage 36

YOUR LISTINGS Telephone Christine Meigh on 01905 742262, e-mail [email protected]

worcesternews.co.uk 33


DESPICABLE MECert U, 94 mins, DVD £19.99,Blu-ray and DVD combi-pack £25.99

CRIMINALmastermind Gru(voiced by SteveCarell) seetheswith envy afternew villain onthe block Vector

(Jason Segel) steals one of theancient pyramids. With hisreputation on the line, Gru plotsto steal the moon using a shrinkray gun from Vector’s laboratory.However, the lair is heavilyfortified so Gru adopts threeorphaned girls, Margo (MirandaCosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) andAgnes (Elsie Fisher), and cleverlyuses the children to breach thedefences.Gru’s elderly mentor, Dr Nefario

(Russell Brand), supplies niftygadgets for the mission. By thetime Gru has purloined the shrinkray, the curmudgeon has forged abond with the girls and he mustcontemplate giving up his life ofcrime to become a father or sendthem back to the orphanage.Despicable Me is a wickedly

entertaining animated tale of evilversus evil that delivers a frenetic94 minutes of laughter, edge ofseat thrills and heart-warmingsentiment. Directors Pierre Coffinand Chris Renaud create acolourful adventure that willcharm viewers of all ages.

CYRUSCert 15, 91 mins, DVD £15.99,Blu-ray £24.99

DIVORCED filmeditor John (JohnC Reilly) is stuckin a rut sevenyears after thebreak-up of hismarriage to

Jamie (Catherine Keener), who isjust about to marry her fiance,Tim (Matt Walsh).Forced to get out of his house

and attend a party, John meets

and flirts with Molly (MarisaTomei). He is smitten and after acouple of dates, John followsMolly home where he meets theother man in her life: grown-upson Cyrus (Jonah Hill).The 21-year-old musician makes

it clear that he would rathersabotage the fledgling romancethan lose his mother to John.Thus begins a war of attritionbetween suitor and scion. Cyrus isa humorous and sometimespainful dissection of modernfamily life. This charming filmquickly finds its bittersweetgroove, with a gentle soundtrackto match the stutteringconversations.Reilly is instantly likable as the

down-on-his-luck singleton drivento the brink of insanity by hisrival. Tomei is utterly adorable –it’s easy to see why John would

fall for Molly after just oneencounter – and Hill skilfullyretains our sympathy with hisobsessive and scheming mummy’sboy. None of the emotions feelforced and Cyrus finds a way tobring the characters emotionalclosure without cheapening theirturbulent journeys of self-discovery. Their pain serves apurpose beyond ourentertainment.

BURKE & HARECert 15, 87 mins, DVD £19.99, Blu-ray £24.99

IN 1820sEdinburgh, IrishscallywagsWilliam Burke(Simon Pegg) andWilliam Hare(Andy Serkis)

return home to learn that one oftheir elderly lodgers has died. Aconversation with grave robberFergus (David Schofield) revealsthat medical professor Dr Knox(Tom Wilkinson) will pay £3 for afresh cadaver to use in hisanatomical demonstrations.Demand far outstrips supply

and soon Burke and Hare arehelping the aged and the infirm tomeet their maker a tad earlierthan expected.Based loosely on a true story,

Burke & Hare is a ghoulish blackcomedy that wraps the grislyfacts in a shroud of slapstick,sickly romance and anachronisticsight gags.Pegg and Serkis share lukewarm

screen chemistry and the scriptdoesn't provide them with anydecent one-liners.

Staying inNEW DVDs

Tale of evil versus evilAnimated adventure is packed with thrills and at times it had DAMON SMITH on the edge of his seat

ON TV

IT’S one of life’s ironies that someof the greatest comedians are themost miserable souls when they’renot on screen or stage.Tamsin Greig is not one of them.

Anyone who’s seen her play booze-loving Fran in Black Books, clumsyDr Todd in Green Wing or lonelyheart Alice in Love Soup will knowthat she’s far more than an emptycipher for a good script.Instead, she’s a comic actress

able to inject an inherenthaplessness into each character, aswell as a shot of expert comedytiming.

Her latest comedy outing isFriday Night Dinner and after justseeing it on screen for the firsttime, Greig gets the ball rollingwith a joke. Not letting a smilecreep in to ruin her deadpandemeanour, she says: “It’s the firsttime I’ve seen it and I can’t believethat it’s going to be aired.”In fact, the 43-year-old actress –

who is also the voice of DebbieAldridge in The Archers – isimmensely proud of the newcomedy, which centres on a Jewishfamily meeting up every Fridaynight for dinner.She said: “I think it’s lovely. The

editing is beautiful. It’s as it’swritten on the page, very very fast,tightly shot, very funny and acredit to the people who put ittogether.”Greig plays Jackie Goodman, the

brassy, pushy mother of two boys –played by Inbetweeners star SimonBird and newcomer JackRosenthal, whose father is sportsbroadcaster Jim Rosenthal.She despairs of her eccentric

hard-of-hearing husband Martin,hopes her eldest son Adam willsoon find a girlfriend and has toignore the advances of her weird,dog-fearing neighbour Jim – MarkHeap, Greig’s co-star from GreenWing whose CV consists almostentirely of playing hilariouslyawkward outsiders.Greig’s big transatlantic comedy

Episodes – in which she stars withFriends actor Matt Le Blanc andanother Green Wing colleagueStephen Mangan – ends on BBC2on Monday.So Green Wing fans will have to

make the most of Friday NightDinner, as Greig confirms it’s notdue for a return. She says: “There'sno more Green Wing. No moreBlack Books and the reason there’sno more is because you want it.”

Friday Night Dinner begins onChannel 4, Friday, February 25,at 9pm.

NEW GAMES

TEST DRIVE UNLIMITED 2PS3, £49.99THIS promises gamers aMassively Open Online Racing(MOOR) experience and, on theislands of Ibiza and Oahu, Hawaii,it certainly delivers. So vast andvaried are the challenges acrossthese nuggets of paradise it’lltake you months to conquereverything in single andmultiplayer modes, with youronline XP gauge graduallyincreasing and encouraging you

all the while. From car wreckdiscoveries to traditionalcompetitive races, a thrivingonline community scene to thecountless properties, clothes andcars you can collect, a challengelies round every corner. It’s ashame that the core racing eventsaren’t particularly enthralling ordifficult, but this is a minor gripein an open world gamingexperience that offers so much.Free exploration is a joy, inwhatever cars you choose tocollect.You know it’s a beast of a

game that’s just crying out to beconquered.

4 ELEMENTSNintendo DS, £24.99

THE match-three sub genre of thepuzzle world has an incrediblepedigree, with the likes ofBejeweled captivating casualgamers and pushing your degreesof DS dexterity to all-new levels. 4Elements brings a striking fantasyworld to life, where the ancient

kingdom is in peril and it’s up toyou to unlock the four ancientbooks of magic, collecting 16cards along the way and restoringthe kingdom to its original glory.It’s a great mix of classic match-three gameplay with a host ofclever twists and turns. Hiddenobject and spot-the-differenceelements vary the gameplay. It alladds up to a cracking puzzle titlethat will set your DS fizzing assoon as the cartridge is in place.

CARTOON: You’ll find yourself laughing and near to tears when you sit down to watch Despicable Me.

JEWISH MUM: Tamsin Greig.

worcester news leisure 18th february 2011

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