News from Virgin Media

Korma Blimey!
Virgin Media creates ‘world’s hottest’ curry

With a range of different chillies, a sprinkling of some of the world’s spiciest seeds and a world record-breaking pepper, a dish believed to be the world’s hottest curry has been unveiled in London today by Virgin Media. The ‘Bollywood Burner’, for which diners must sign a disclaimer before eating, was commissioned to mark the launch of Virgin Media’s new Bollywood Movies On Demand service, enabling film fans to watch top Bollywood flicks at the touch of a button and is sure to set diner’s hearts – or Tikkas – racing.

The dish’s hottest ingredient is the Naga pepper, which has previously held the record for the world’s hottest pepper and measures over 855,000 on the Scoville scale – the official measure of piquancy of peppers. A jalapeno pepper, ordinarily considered hot by most diners, is a paltry 8,000 on the scale by comparison.

Virgin Media commissioned the 'Bollywood Burner' to celebrate the launch of its Bollywood Movies On Demand service giving Bollywood fans access to over 30 movies to watch whenever they choose. Starting at £2 per film, the selection will include a mixture of the latest Bollywood blockbusters such as Jodhaa Akbar and Race alongside popular classics such as Life In a .... Metro starring Shilpa Shetty.

The ‘Bollywood Burner’, a lamb-based dish, was created by Vivek Singh, executive chef of The Cinnamon Club restaurant and the recipe will be submitted to the Guinness Book of Records for verification as the world’s hottest curry. Inspired by Hyderabadi cooking, it’s anything but Daal, with the dish containing:

- A series of hot Deccan chillies
- Dorset Naga (the hottest Naga pepper) seeds (over 855,000 on the Scoville scale)
- Kashmiri chilli powder
- Sesame tamarind sauce
- Naga peppers
- Scotch Bonnet peppers (around 300,000 on the Scoville scale)

James Kydd, Virgin Media’s managing director of brand and marketing said: “We are delighted to be bringing the hottest film genre to our customers with Bollywood Movies On Demand, so what better way to celebrate than with the world’s hottest curry. Bollywood is set to really take off this year and we’re hoping to encourage people to try something new – be it a Bollywood movie or an extra hot curry!”

Vivek Singh said “We were happy to take on the challenge from Virgin Media to create this dish and in my opinion it is certainly the world’s hottest curry. Whilst extremely hot, we wanted to make sure this was a spectacular dish that would set diner’s hearts racing. Although we have only created it as a one-off, we are considering including it on the menu later this year. As one would expect this is a dish for people with steel-lined stomachs. ”


For more information on Virgin Media’s Bollywood On Demand, go to www.virginmedia.com/ondemand

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News from Bennetts

Bennetts Backs Babe in Miss England Final
Bennetts Babe Amy Dargan, 19, will next week compete against 49 other beauties in the final of Miss England and the bike insurance provider is doing everything it can to support the popular grid girl. Representing her home town, the current Miss Warwick & Leamington Spa will attend the glittering finals in London next Friday 18th July, with the hope of being crowned Miss England 2008.

As a Bennetts Babe, Amy is one of the most popular grid girls at this year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championships and the title sponsor is urging all superbikes fans to pick up the phone and vote for the blonde bombshell. Having endured snow on the grid at Brands Hatch in April, rain on the podium at Alton Park and bright sunshine back at Brands over the May Bank holiday weekend, Amy has kept a smile on her face throughout and Bennetts wants to reward the babe by helping her go all the way to the top.

Amy says; “I love being a Bennetts Babe as it’s allowed me to travel across the country to different rounds of the Bennetts British Superbike and World Superbike events and I’ve got a real passion for bikes and bikers! I’d love to add Miss England 2008 to my accolades and I’m pleading for all biking fans to vote for Miss Warwick & Leamington Spa next week!”

Bennetts, the UK’s number one for bike insurance*, scoured the country for new Bennetts Babes earlier this year and Amy, a Nottingham Trent university student, was a clear favourite to join the 2008 line up. Having proved a massive hit with bike fans up and down the UK, this is the chance for supporters to give something back to the glamour girl. To encourage all fans to back Amy, the insurance provider is also offering a free wallpaper of her in her gorgeous grid gear at bennetts.co.uk, to ensure Amy is never far from biker’s thoughts.

Bennetts’ Marketing Director, Mark Fells said; “We’re really pleased that Amy has got through to the final of this year’s Miss England competition. The Babes provide a lot of fun and excitement at all Bennetts Superbike events, and it would be great to have Miss England in our squad for the remainder of the season!”

To vote for Amy, text “Miss Warwick and Leamington Spa” to 81118 or call 09012 935 935 and key in “18”. For more information on the Babes and to receive your exclusive free wallpaper of Amy Dargan go to www.bennetts.co.uk/babes.
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News from Virgin Media

Four Weddings Beats Life of Brian in British Film Poll

Four Weddings and a Funeral named best British movie of all time in Virgin Media Shorts Survey

Richard Curtis’ 1994 blockbuster Four Weddings and a Funeral has been named the greatest British film of all time in a survey for Virgin Media Shorts. Beating Monty Python’s classic Life of Brian by just one per cent, rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral, starring Hugh Grant as hapless romantic Charles, topped the poll with 22 per cent of votes, making it the public’s favourite British film ever.

The Virgin Media Shorts survey, which today (30th June) marks the last day film makers can submit their short films to the competition, sees an eclectic mix of films make up the top ten. The top five is completed with Danny Boyle’s cult classic Trainspotting (15 per cent), the latest James Bond Casino Royale (10 per cent) and gangster flick Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (eight per cent). The remaining top ten includes a mixture of old and new including the 1962 classic Lawrence of Arabia (eight per cent) together with last year’s war romance Atonement (four per cent).

With almost one third of the votes, the poll revealed that Dame Judi Dench is the best British actress of all time followed by fellow Dame, Helen Mirren (14 per cent) and Julie Walters (14 per cent). The best British actor was a closely fought contest with former Bond Sir Sean Connery and Hannibal hell-raiser Sir Anthony Hopkins receiving 22 per cent of votes each. Hugh Grant, who became a household name after starring in Four Weddings and a Funeral, was in fourth place with 11 per cent of nominations behind Get Carter star Sir Michael Caine (12 per cent).

James Kydd, managing director of brand and marketing at Virgin Media said, “The debate around the best British film of all time is always a great talking point and our top ten is no exception. Seeing so many fantastic films in the list is testament to British film talent and that’s exactly why Virgin Media has set up the Shorts competition to champion undiscovered British film makers.”

Virgin Media Shorts is the first ever short film competition to run across four screens (TV, cinema, mobile and the internet) and has already seen over 1,000 entries for the £30,000 prize since its launch on 1st May. To mark the final day for submissions, today also sees the announcement of the judging panel who will be presiding over the competition. The confirmed line-up includes:

• Oscar-winning stage and film actor, Kevin Spacey
• Founder and chairman of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson
• Bend It Like Beckham director, Gurinder Chadha
• Confetti and Green Wing actor, Stephen Mangan
• Oscar-nominated short film director, Daniel Barber
• Film critic, James King
• Total Film editor, Nev Pierce
• Head of the New Cinema Fund of the UK Film Council, Lenny Crooks
• Chairman of the panel and Virgin Media’s CEO of Content, Malcolm Wall

To submit a short film for Virgin Media Shorts, or to simply watch and rate the films, visit www.virginmediashorts.co.uk

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News from Alton Towers

Rent-A-Mum scheme allows the nation’s mums to avoid their Nemesis this summer
Nell McAndrew launches the UK's first rent-a-mum scheme at the Alton Towers Resort

In theme parks across the world, the sight of mums sitting on the sidelines holding onto the groups' bags, coats and drinks whilst kids argue about who sits next to dad and who sits next to the stranger, is a common one. Research released today by the Alton Towers Resort has found that 56% of all those surveyed admitted that a combination of looking after younger siblings or being made responsible for belongings meant that that it was sometimes difficult to join their children on-board attractions, plus two thirds of mums (65%) who did go on the big thrill-seeking rides admitted to being encouraged to do so by their young children desperate to experience the ride. As a result of mum being put in charge of the parental duties, it often means that the rest of the family are missing a maternal figure to scream along with on thrill-seeking rides, but now with the help of celebrity mum Nell McAndrew, the Alton Towers Resort aims to redress some of the balance with the launch of its Rent-A-Mum scheme - the first of its kind in the UK.

As a direct response to the findings, the Alton Towers Resort will be piloting the Rent-A-Mum scheme during the summer holidays to encourage groups to hire a friendly figure who will take on the mothers’ role on the ride - allowing those real mums who are busy looking after younger siblings to relax and enjoy watching the rest of the family have fun.

Nell McAndrew will launch the ingenious scheme at the Alton Towers Resort on Monday 23rd June with a bevvy of motherly-minders to help give families the opportunity to enjoy every minute of their day at the Resort. Guests staying at either the Alton Towers Hotel or Splash landings Hotel will have the chance to try out the pilot scheme by registering their interest at www.altontowers.com/pages/rent-a-mum - and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis during the school holidays*.

Morwenna Angove, Sales and Marketing Director for the Alton Towers Resort explains: “We offer the ultimate short break location where every member of the family can unwind and have fun – mums included. In recent years we have invested in a fantastic variety of rides and attractions that enable all ages to participate in together – for example our new Battle Galleons attraction allows guests to interact without even stepping foot aboard - great for those mums who’d rather stay on dry land! The Rent-A-Mum scheme will ensure everyone can have a great time, safe in the knowledge that their ‘rent-a-mum’ recruit will be on standby to provide a stand-in whenever she’s needed.”
The Alton Towers Resort, part of the Merlin Entertainments Group, is home to the UK's best loved theme park with 2 hotels, a waterpark, a spa, an extraordinary golf course, and nineteenth century gothic towers. It is located in 500 acres of Staffordshire countryside and offers a unique combination of rides and attractions for all ages, from soft play areas for tiny toddlers to ground-breaking, world-first adrenalin inducing rollercoaster rides.
* The pilot scheme will run between 25th and 29th August, and is dependent upon demand. Terms and conditions apply.
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News from Doritos

DORITOS MAKES HISTORY WITH WORLD’S FIRST EXTRA TERRESTRIAL ADVERT

Today Doritos makes history, taking the UK’s first step in communicating with aliens as they broadcast the first ever advert directed towards potential extra terrestrial life.

The transmission is being undertaken as part of the Doritos Broadcast Project, which invited the UK public to create a 30 second video clip that could be beamed out to the universe offering a snap shot of life on earth to anyone ‘out there’. 61% of the UK public believe this is just the start of communication with ET life and that we will enter into regular communication with an alien species at some stage in the future*.

The winning space-ad entitled ‘Tribe’ was voted for by the British public and directed by 25-year-old Matt Bowron. It will officially be entered into the Guinness Book of Records and will be aired on the more conventional medium of television on Sunday 15th June on ITV at 7.44pm in the ad break of the final Group B game of Euro 2008.

The message is being pulsed out over a six-hour period from high-powered radars at the EISCAT European space station in the Arctic Circle.

EISCAT Director, Professor Tony van Eyken who will oversee the transmission said: “The signal is directed at a solar system just 42 light years away from Earth, in the ‘Ursa Major’ or Great Bear Constellation. Its star is very similar to our Sun and hosts a habitable zone that could harbour small life supporting planets similar to ours.”

Peter Charles, Head of the Doritos Broadcast Project said: “We are constantly looking to push the boundaries of advertising and this will go further than any brand has gone before. By broadcasting the winning ad to the Universe, Doritos is delivering a world first and Matt Bowron, the winner, will go down in advertising folklore. We also shouldn’t be too surprised if the first aliens start arriving on planet Earth immediately demanding a bag of Doritos.”

The broadcast received praise from Nick Pope, former Head of the MoD’s UFO project. Nick, a leading authority on UFO sightings and alien abductions commented: “I support this bold new venture in space communication. As humanity reaches out to the stars, this broadcast could lead to us finding the real ET. This is a historic day in our continuing search for alien life.”
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Notes to Editors:

• The cleverly created advert features a tribe of Doritos escaping from the pack and sacrificing one of their own to the God of Salsa, as soon as there are no humans around. It can be viewed online from today at www.doritos.co.uk and will premier on ITV during the final Euro 2008 Group B game on Sunday 15th June @ 7.44pm
• *The research for the Doritos Broadcast Research was carried out online by Opinion Matters / Tickbox.net between 16.05.08 and 22.05.08 amongst a nationally representative sample of 2356 UK adults aged 16+.

News from Alton Towers

PDA’s BANISHED TO OBLIVION THIS HALF TERM AT THE ALTON TOWERS RESORT


The Alton Towers Resort is banning parents from using PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistant) this May half term in a bid to increase quality family time.

It would appear from research revealed today that kids are fed up with their parents spending more time reading their emails than having fun with them. Brits work the longest hours in Europe*, meaning that parents are work obsessed and unable to switch off from their jobs for even a day! Over half of parent’s questioned – 56% - feel that they can not disconnect from work, as they are constantly accessible by the office, and 40% head off with bags packed full of work items including documents to read, PDAs and laptops.

Dr Pat Spungin child psychologist and founder of RaisingKids.co.uk said; “We all need to use weekend breaks as a time to reconnect and invest in our most important relationships in order to restore our work/life balance and put the fun back into going away. While lots of people take a break, many are not actually taking a holiday. It is vital we learn how to reprioritise and put work into a healthy perspective.”

As a direct response, the Alton Towers Resort will be piloting a “PDA Free Zone” during May Half Term (May 25th – June 1st inclusive), to encourage parents to disconnect from the office and reconnect fully with their families. PDA police will be onsite to enforce the ban and any adult caught using a PDA whilst at the Resort will be asked to report to one of five “PDA Drop Off Zones” where they can safely leave their PDA’s for the day. If the scheme is successful, it will be introduced full time.

Russell Barnes, Divisional Director for the Alton Towers Resort explains; “What we have here is the ultimate short break location where every member of the family can unwind and have fun. We feel it’s so important for parents and kids to focus on nothing more than having the best possible time, we are prepared to take drastic action to ensure that parents really leave their work behind!”

The Alton Towers Resort, part of the Merlin Entertainments Group, is home to the UK's best loved theme park with 2 hotels, a waterpark, a spa, an extraordinary golf course, and nineteenth century gothic towers. It is located upon 500 acres of Staffordshire countryside and offers a unique combination of rides and attractions for all ages, from soft play areas for tiny toddlers to ground-breaking, world-first adrenalin inducing rollercoaster rides.
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News from Premier Inn

One small step for man, one giant leap for hotel chain
Premier Inn plans to open the first hotel on the moon


Premier Inn, the UK’s largest and fastest growing hotel brand, today unveiled its plans for its most ambitious hotel development ever: the first ever hotel on the moon.

A 43,500 square feet site has been purchased and designers and engineers have been working on the blueprints and design for the first lunar hotel that Premier Inn estimates could be constructed and opened within 25 years.

Patrick Dempsey, MD of Premier Inn said: “Given the pace of space exploration and transportation possibilities beyond earth’s atmosphere, we feel that it is now more feasible than ever to expect travel to and from the moon to become a common occurrence within the next 20-30 years. Given that, we wanted to steal a march on our rivals and be the first hotel chain to offer people the chance to have very comfortable and affordable lunar accommodation and get the same experience of the Premier Inn brand on the moon as they do on earth. We recently became the first budget hotel chain to open in Dubai and whereas the moon is obviously a considerable step further, it does show our commitment to offer customers a choice of Premier Inn wherever the location.”

Alex Flach, Premier Inn’s Construction Director, has been heading up a special team working in conjunction with Dr John Griffiths, freelance lecturer of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, to address the many issues of building on the moon’s surface and providing customers with a comfortable stay. Flach added: “The challenges are unique and no doubt as we learn more about the moon from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaisance Orbitor mission* scheduled to launch in October 2008, we will adapt and improve our designs further.”

Whether it be for business or leisure travel, Premier Inn is offering potential visitors to the moon the chance to register their interest in its lunar hotel from Thursday 22nd May 2008 via its website at www.premierinn.com/moon.

* The Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter is the first mission of NASA’S Robotic Lunar Exploration Program, designed to map the surface of the moon and characterize future landing sites in terms of terrain roughness, usable resources, and radiation environment with the ultimate goal of facilitating the return of humans to the moon.

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