Geri Lands X Factor Judge Role

Could Geri Halliwell be the new permanent judge on X Factor this year? The former Spice Girl is joining the panel at the first auditions in Liverpool as a guest. But rumours are saying she is on a trial run to see how popular she is before she lands the role from the boot camp rounds.

Geri has appeared as a guest judge before but was not well received the first time round due to some catty comments. However she is older and wiser this time around and was very popular in her judge role on Popstars: The Rivals where she helped hand pick Girls Aloud back in the day.

Total Biz World are very excited about a Spice Girl becoming a permanent judge, as Gary Barlow is officially back on the panel this year. So two members from the biggest girl band and boy band of the 90's will be a force on the show this year. Added with the annoying Louis Walsh and there is Tulisa of course.....

After Dannii turned down a million pound deal to spend time with her family, we feel the X Factor bosses wanted an older figure head to fit the bill last year. As two young cubs last year causes conflict between Tulisa and Kelly Rowland.

Murs and Flackers returning to Xtra Factor

Caroline Flack and Olly Murs have been confirmed to be coming back the ITV2 Xtra Factor this year after massive ratings last year.

Geri may have some tough competition though, as Mel B is set to join the panel as a guest judge at the Manchester auditions. Mel is a judge on the Australian X Factor and had huge success there.

Harsh judge - Mel B

All X Factor needs this year is a little bit of Spice.....

Cheryl Pops in at Shrek The Musical

Cheryl Cole jetted into London from France yesterday to support here Girls Aloud bandmate.

Cheryl was in Cannes but flew in to visit her pal Kimberley Walsh in her final performance in the West End where she has been starring as Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical.

She has been playing the role since last September and was delighted three of her Girls Aloud co-stars were able to watch her bow out.

 Joining Cheryl in the theatre were Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding, and as usual Nadine Coyle was absent from the mini reuniuon. Which still makes us wonder if an anniversary get together will actually happen.

Kimberley tweeted: "Today is a very exciting day. Cannot thank you all enough for your UNBELIEVABLE support over the past 8 months. Very overwhelmed! #1showtogo."

And ever the true superstar Cheryl only arrived during the interval.... the girls looked happy to see each other as they posed for pics.

With a new single from Miss Cole due to drop on 18th June she will be keen to appear in the papers at any given opportunity until then.

Stenson Takes Over.....

Carly Stenson (from Hollyoaks) will be taking over the role that Kimberly Walsh has played so brilliantly. With a glorious stint in Legally Blonde, Carly has done the leg work to land this lead role and audiences are very excited to see her take on this mighty female lead. Good Luck Carly!!

Jodie Harsh X Melanie C

Melanie C is teaming up with the hottest DJ around Jodie Harsh. After working together last year they came up with three dance tracks. Their collaboration has now come to light after the announcement of their 3 track EP entitled 'The Night'.

Fans of Melanie will be delighted to hear three dance tracks, not since the Ibiza sound of 'I Turn To You' have we heard Melanie's vocals rocking the clubs. She teased us with the upbeat and playful single 'Think About It'.

The tracks featuring on the 'The Night' EP are called 'Set You Free', 'Sunrise' and 'Walkaway'.

'The Bit About Jodie'

Jodie Harsh, is the most striking DJ in London she is an icon in hot-pink lipstick and is fast becoming the reigning Queen of international nightlife.

Over the last few years, Jodie has become established as a prominent guest DJ who has been found spinning records at Fashion Week parties, showbiz bashes and clubs around the UK, America and Europe.

Jodie's house and electro sets have taken the DJ to New York, Milan, Russia and Ibiza, and she is now a resident DJ for Manumission after embarking on a world tour this summer. Ibiza welcomes Jodie with open arms as she has played with The Swedish House Mafia at Pacha.

Melanie C's website describes the tracks:

Set You Free
The lead track introduces the EP with light dub-set moments and thrusts into full-on hands in the air synths and a tight kick drum. Through big anthemic vocals Melanie sings about the freedom you feel in that perfect dance floor moment - blinded by lights, drowning in the music, feeling the love from your friends.

Sunrise
It's immediately apparent this song is inspired by nights out in Ibiza. The track boasts a big room sound with a killer beat and chopped up vocals. Girl meets boy, dances the night away, boy looks just as great in the sunlight the following day. A holiday romance and a real peak-time dance floor moment.

Walkaway
Taking things a little slower, the final song narrates the organic end to a relationship and the weight it brings off your shoulders... a sigh of relief and a 'change of atmosphere'. Mid-tempo and orchestral, it's a dramatic ending to the EP with it's big hip hop drum and an epic build.

The Night is released on iTunes Sunday 13th May as a 3-track download plus digital booklet featuring song lyrics and exclusive images of Melanie shot by world renowned fashion photographer Tim Bret-Day.

SMASH is a new American musical drama based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. It is based around the creation of a new Broadway production and is being dubbed the adult version of Glee.

The new production loosely named Marilyn later evolves into the new musical being named Bombshell after the workshop process. As the production takes shape everyone involved has to balance their chaotic personal lives with the demands of musical theatre. It shows a real insight into the hard work that goes on behind the scenes on Broadway.

Series one has just 15 episodes, and the show has already been signed up to make a second series. It has had huge success in America and is being well received in the UK.

With a amazing cast featuring in Smash its sure to be a global success. Debra Messing, from Will & Grace fame plays Julia Houston. A successful lyricist and Bombshell's co-writer. 

Also Anjelica Huston stars as Eileen Rand, the musical's producer, she is dealing with divorce proceedings from her husband which adds drama to the programme and her conflicts with him could threaten the future of Bombshell.

Stealing the show though are the amazing talents of Katharine McPhee as Karen Cartwright and Megan Hilty as Ive Lynn. Both competing to play the lead role of Marilyn. They both bring different elements of the character to their performances and throughout the running of Smash they each play the role in various workshops leaving us to decide which girl we like.

Adding to the mix Smash features cameo roles from huge stars such as Uma Thurman, Nick Jonas and Bernadette Peters.

The music of Smash is fantastic, using current songs to coincide with the story adding more depth to the drama. Songs that feature include Adele's Rolling In The Deep, and Red Neck Woman, also listen out for the brilliant episode where Karen and Ivy sing Rihanna's  Drink To That in Times Square.

Also the amazing songs written especially for the show about Marilyn Monroe are superb. Our favourites are 'Let Me Be Your Star' and 'Mr & Mrs Smith'.

Catch Smash on Sky Atlantic, Saturdays 10pm

Meet The Canadian Idol Storming The Global Charts

Canadian Carly Rae Jepson has stormed the UK charts with her smash hit 'Call Me Maybe' but where has this talent come from? Total Biz World decided we should find out more!

The 26 year old star was discovered on Canadian Idol, after finishing third back in 2007 she then toured Canada with the Idol top three contestants.

Carly recorded her debut album Tug of War and released her first single on June 16, 2008. It was a cover of John Denver's song 'Sunshine On My Shoulders'. It is the only cover on her album which shows she is also a brilliant song writer.

2nd Album - Curiosity

Using the power of Myspace, Jepson later added two new songs to her profile page, 'Bucket' and 'Heavy Lifting'. This created a buzz for her next single release.

Finishing in third place meant that sheer hard work and determination was needed for Carly to succeed, so she quickly realised the Internet was the best way to publicise herself. Releasing her videos and album previews online to her Myspace.

So three years after Canadian Idol, Jepson is now signed to a new record label and has bagged herself a new manager, Scooter Braun. He also managed fellow canadian star Justin Bierber.

2012 saw the release of second album 'Curiosity'. This album features the massive hit 'Call Me Maybe'. This song became the first by a Canadian artist to hit the top of the digital charts since Justin Bierber's 'Baby' in January 2010.

'Call Me Maybe' is her biggest hit to date, and after reaching number one on her home ground, she has also reached the top of the charts here in the UK, Ireland and Australia. 

Carly on Canadian Idol