By Michael McCrory.

Much to my delight and surprise I learned that my weekly blog is being read by fellow Big Brother fans in the U S of A who start their run this month. They think that our version sounds a lot more exciting than theirs but they have high hopes for this series, so a big Northern Ireland, ‘Bout ye, to all of our American readers!

Now to business! As clouds moved over the Big Brother house all signs of Sunshine left. Yes, the gobby, Lady Ga Ga lookalike and Doctor-in-waiting wannabe got 42% of the public vote, making her the fourth person to be evicted from the most talked about house in Britiain.

I reckon her departure will have little effect on the house dynamic - she was a bit of a nobody whose only really interesting characteristics were her veganism and passing resemblance to Lady Ga Ga - I don't think she really brought anything to the ‘personality' mix to make her interesting or watchable. Ultimately she was a bit of a moaner with a chip on her shoulder - good riddance!

Belfast is the place to be for music fans this August with a second wave of UNBELIEVABLY MASSIVE names announced for Belsonic!

Due to the overwhelming response to the 2010 line-up and unprecedented sales so far, BELSONIC in association with ABSOLUT is set to expand, with the announcement of four additional shows, to comprise a total of eight nights at Belfast's Custom House Square this August. Significantly building on the massive success of the past 2 years, the 2010 line-up represents one of the largest Northern Irish outdoor music events to date.

Leading the charge on this second phase of announcements are English rock giants Kasabian, Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini, BRIT award winning indie outfit Florence & The Machine, and Welsh rock stalwarts Stereophonics.

Each act individually could be considered the highest profile in the history of the event, however combined with previously announced headliners (Paul Weller, David Guetta, Biffy Clyro, Lost Prophets and 2ManyDJs / Soulwax), Belsonic 2010 in Association with ABSOLUT is set to be a landmark cultural event for the city. Here are the key dates.

Kasabian - Tuesday August 17th 2010
Paolo Nutini - Wednesday August 18th
Florence & The Machine - Thursday 19th
Stereophonics-  Friday 20th

Tickets for the second wave of headline artists at BELSONIC in association with ABSOLUT go on-sale on Wednesday 7th July at 9am from The Kitten Bar, Ticketmaster Easons (Belfast City Centre), www.belsonic.com , all Ticketmaster outlets, and their 24 hr line 0870 243 4455. Day tickets are priced at £27.50 plus booking fees. A limited number of VIP tickets (including improved facilities for 2010) will also be available at £42.50 plus booking fees.

Tickets for the first phase of headline acts are still on-sale from the above outlets.

By Michael McCrory.

So Govan was the second housemate to bite the dust with 72% of the public vote! Good riddance I say he was a ‘wee bitch' as we say here in Northern Ireland.

Now, prepare yourselves, yes, unbelievably here it comes - I am going to discuss football.

I took untold delight from the knowledge that the housemates were going to watch England get thrashed by the ever efficient Germans as a ‘treat' for Steve's birthday. In the end it was a bit of an anticlimax - just like the match - reactions from the housemates were less than I'd hoped for - serves me right really.

Dave, Shabby and Sunshine received most nominations this week. This is the third time Shabby and Dave have been up for eviction a sure sign of the housemates dislike for the two very different personalities.

I must admit I can totally see what the housemates find so annoying about them.

There's Dave who proclaims to anyone who will listen that he's ‘drunk on God's love' and is constantly telling people how much he loves them ‘in God's name' followed by a cringe worthy hug. He even went so far as to say he was saved from eviction because of God - which Shabby, out of earshot of course, shot down by saying, "..as if God watches reality shows." Classic!

Personally, I would find it very hard to hold my tongue with someone like Dave. Ok, you believe in God, fine, glad for you - now just leave it.

None of the other housemates feel the need to tell us about their religious, or otherwise, beliefs so for him to keep banging on about it is totally uncalled for. Shut up Dave!

Shabby, as much as I like her, is really annoying. She has a flair for the dramatic and out of proportion reactions to problems or situations which could easily be dealt with by a roll of the eyes or heavy sigh.

And yet what is most irritating about Shabby is the very thing that makes her a great BB contestant. She is the only one prepared to say what she feels about people and situations, ergo, a great fight starter!!!

Dave however was able to save himself from the public vote and chose Caiomhe the Diva to replace him after winning the ‘Save and Replace' task. This means two ‘best friends', Shabby and Caiomhe, will go head to head with Sunshine to see who is the third person to be evicted.

Meanwhile - I'm really worried about Josie.

John James has been cuddling up to her in bed, whispering sweet little nothings in her ear laying the groundwork for a possible passionate clench. She even said there was ‘something special about him' this week which I can't help feeling are his ‘needs'.

Why am I worried? Cos I like her and she says things like, "When I'm feeling really down I just think to myself - I could have been that woman who had her face ripped off by a Chimpanzee." (seriously, she really did say that).

It is far too early to be starting anything romantic - there is a very long way to go and no one wants a Ziggy-v-Chanelle blow-up. Secondly, I don't trust him. He is a bit of a weird character for me but I wouldn't go so far as to say I dislike him - not yet anyway. And besides I get the feeling Nathan has a bit of a thing for her! Watch this space.

Ben and John James had a bit of a barney after Ben's bed was remotely raised up by Big Brother tipping him out, much to the delight of the bleary eyed housemates. John James enjoyed it a bit too much to Ben's disgust who let go with the most polite seriers of put downs I ever heard.

Shabby, who is a button for Milla Jocovich, proved that smoking really is bad for you as she had to give up her beloved bowler hat in return for two pouches of tobacco.

She threw a very impressive strop which only 3 year olds could top in its sheer childishness and stupidity and was quite uncomfortable to watch. She eventually relented and pouted her way through her first cigarette, playing martyr to the end!

Funny moment of the week has to be when Ben innocently proclaimed that he wished he wasn't so anal, to which Mario, quick as a whip replied, "... I wish you were into anal."

So who goes this week then? I have an unbeaten track record so far with my predictions but I find this one hard to call. I'm gonna go for Caiomhe.

Catch you next week.

Big Brother has been quite entertaining this week.

I loved the twist which saw bible basher Dave, go from the nominated, to the nominator, making Rachel the nominee! A move which saw, I think, the too early exit of an interesting character who had a bit more to her than resembling the bootylicious Beyonce. Alas, we shall never know. Well, unless you buy the Daily Star! In the end she got 37.5% of the public vote.

That's the thing with Big Brother, you never quite know where you stand, whether you're a housemate or a viewer! Hell, sometimes even Davina gets a surprise!

And what about the argument last week started by Aussie, John James with now evicted housemate, Rachel - what was that all about? His anger at overhearing some of the gals chatting about potential mag deals, with Nuts and Heat, over dinner was totally over the top and directed entirely at Rachel.

And as for any housemate cashing in on their 15 minutes?  I say "fair play to them!"

After national humiliation where people, and more importantly, YOUR FAMILY, hear about your sex life, watch you bitch and squeeze your blackheads to drunken rants, unrequited love declarations and fights over veg then a four figure deal for dishing the dirt on some gal/bloke or getting your baps out is very well deserved.

The Tree of Temptation gave Shabby, or 'Scabby' as he called her, a great task with hilarious results. It played on so many levels and made me laugh out loud and cringe behind my hands in equal measure.

She had to give Botox Ben (with whom she had fallen out) 20 compliments, a bear hug and stay within touching distance of him for an hour which fans will known was quite a feat for Shabby who has proclaimed her great dislike for him. If she succeeded she was to receive a special treat for her and one other housemate but more of that later!

Meanwhile, Botox Ben was totally sucked in by her and lapped up every minute of the attention lavished on him to the point where I began to feel a teensy, weensy bit sorry for him. It seems that Ben has now totally reviewed his opinion of her and counts her as one of his friends - silly Toff!!

The continuing one-sided love affair between Shabby and Caoimhe is really annoying me. It all came to a head after Shabby was awarded a meal for two after successfully completing her task. Of course she took her friend and love interest, Caoimhe, as no doubt Big Brother knew she would!

Once Shabby's feelings for Caoimhe, which were prematurely outed by their friend Ife, were revealed it seemed to me that she expected Caoimhe to forget about her boyfriend (for whom she declares her love regularly) and set up home with her.

Shabby complained in the diary room about 'Lesbians having feelings to' and some nonsense about straight girls leading Lesbians on - an unfair, sweeping generalisation if ever I heard one.

What she forgets is that this is all her - Caoimhe hasn't once given Shabby any reason to believe there is anything more than friendship on the table so for Shabby to act hurt or rejected is a bit much. I feel sorry for poor Caoimhe - this could blow up in both their faces if they don't get a lid on it.

My favourite housemates so far are Bristol lass, Josie, and Jordan lookalike (I don't see it myself), Corin.

Josie is cool, calm, collected and funny as hell and her handling of the 'oh so ready to be offended' John James this week told me that there is more to her than the thumb sucking, dippy blonde she allows people to think she is.

Corin is a loveable, sweet, straight talker and in my opinion she is the early front runner to win the series!

On the other side of the scale Dave is a bit of an idiot who I really can't take seriously. As much as I dislike his views and constant need to remind us that he's a Christian I don't want him to get the boot just yet - as the more he preaches the more ridiculous he sounds!

The nomination results were interesting - Govan, Ben, Shabby and Dave received most votes, however, like last weeks twist a task between all four saw Shabby win back her housemate status and replace herself with Mario. And boy did he take that badly!

However, Shabby's decision to choose Mario wasn't exactly her own with Govan putting his tuppence worth in using a rather lame code and with the news that Botox Ben was also discussing nominations by using a code tempers are running high.

As a result of the rule breaks all of the housemates food, save emergency rations, have been taken away and they have no hot water until further notice which I'm sure Ben will hardly notice - cos that's exactly what he's in!

Taking everything into consideration I think bitchy Govan might go this week. And as I'm in the mood for predictions I would imaging Lady Ga Ga lookalike (certainly not sound-a-like) Sunshine will throw down with Ben with explosive results. Here's hoping!

By Katrina Doran.

Kate Nash is coming to Belfast with a new album to promote after a year out. Kate was a MySpace phenomenon with her debut single, Caroline's a Victim, selling 2000 copies on release and her debut album, Made of Bricks, was released two months ahead of schedule due to public demand. The big single was 'Foundations' - a witty tune with biting lyrics that expressed the love/hate bitchery that can go on in some relationships.

You gotta love these lyrics:

You said I must eat so many lemons 'cause I am so bitter. I said, "I'd rather be with your friends mate 'cause they are much fitter."

Bitter and fitter pronounces ‘bittaa' and ‘fittaa' of course!

While Made of Brick was about wanting to be in love - Kate's second album - 'My best friend is you' reflects the fact that Kate, now in a serious relationship, feels less selfish and more grown-up. "I don't want to be gushy and weird about it, but I am in love! I don't worry about making myself too vulnerable: I always write with my heart on my sleeve. If you don't then you're not living."

Kate will play at the Mandela Hall, Belfast on Saturday 9th October.

Early show, doors 7pm, + 14s show, under 16s to be accompanied by parent / guardian.

Tickets £16.50 + booking fee, available from Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.ie and at Queens Student Union. 24 hr CC Hotline 0844 277 4455

For additional information on Kate Nash, go to:
www.katenash.co.uk
www.myspace.com/katenashmusic
www.youtube.com/user/KateNashVEVO

PR wonderboy and lifelong Big Brother fan, Michael McCrory, will be joining the Sugahfix Gals as our Sugah Guy, with a weekly blog on the final chapter of Big Brother.  Michael will bring his own insightful, witty and unique views on the latest batch of desperate wannabes.

He has been a fan since Craig (the builder) was crowned Big Brother champion in 2000 where he, and 10 million other fans, watched Craig take home the £70,000 prize.

Michael has even been known to dip his toe into the American version to satisfy his BB craving between UK series and his Big Brother final parties are legendary amongst his circle of friends. An Uber fan with an opinion on every housemate and not afraid to say it like it is. We love it!!

MARIO THE MOLE PLAYED A BLINDER

Finally it is here - the last ever series of Big Brother!!

I am imagining a lot of nodding heads agreeing with me, glad to see the back of the phenomenally successful reality show.

Wrong!! I couldn't be happier to see the return of the ultimate fly on the wall series and I love every slithery, slippery, rough and gruff second of it.

Whilst my World Cup obsessed mates drone on about football statistics, the off-side rule, history being made ... yada yada - I'm busy oohing and ahhing over the latest antics in the BB10 house.

The highlight of week one has been Mario the Mole and his underhanded antics. He played a blinder (pun intended) fooling his fellow housemates who at one stage believed there was a whole other house full of people carrying out his dirty deeds. In the end, the housemates voted Sunshine the mole ensuring Mario escaped eviction.

A lot less believable however are Mario's feelings for ‘token toff', Ben, who has so much Botox in his top lip he could be the secret love child of Lesley Ash. Love is blind, especially when you're a mole, but not that blind!

I can't help thinking Mario's romantic declarations are an attempt to keep him interesting enough to feature prominently in the first week and I wouldn't be surprised to see Mario lose a bit of interest after winning full housemate status.

Misunderstood Sunshine got a bit of a hard time because of her eating habits (she's a Vegan) and strong belief that Mario was the Mole but if she makes it past this week she could be quite a favourite with the public. A bit of a moaner? Yes, but a great housemate for starting fights!!!

Gorgeous Beyonce lookalike, Rachael, is carving out a nice little group of followers and she even mentioned in the diary room that she can notice divisions happening within the group. No wonder - she's at the forefront!

The best of the boys in the looks department is the Aussie, John James, who was, unconvincingly, flirting with Bristol lass, Josie, as they dangled their feel in the bath. I reckon that ‘Sheila' will soon discover her faux admirer is ‘a flaming mongrel!'.

Dumb, but loveable, Shabby got her first warning this week for discussing nominations (a la Jade Goody) and she could get her comeuppance on Friday with an eviction.

The Bitch of the group, so far, is the weasely, big ‘thingied' (so he says), Govan. He seems to have it in for Sunshine and will now no doubt ramp it up now that she is up for eviction.

So Shabby, Dave and Sunshine are your choices - who goes? You decide!

For all you Snow Patrol fans heading to Ward Park in Bangor for the day on Saturday - here are some travel details and times for the bands.

Gates open at 4pm with General Fiasco on stage at 4.30pm so get there early. There are bar and catering facilities are available inside the venue and it has been recommended to bring photo proof of age for the bar.

We're hoping Gary will give a shout out to Derry-Londonderry City of Culture 2013 bid when they play ‘Just Say Yes'  now that it is the official anthem of the bid. 

Gates 4.00pm

General Fiasco 4.30pm

Band Of Horses 5.45pm

Lisa Hannigan 7.15pm

Snow Patrol 9.00pm

(Please note that times are subject to change)

Park & Walk facilities have been identified throughout the town and they are:
• Upper Valentine Playing Fields entry via Abbey Hill Drive (weather permitting)
• Bloomfield Road Playing Fields entry via Bloomfield Road beside Lidl (weather permitting)

There will be a £5 parking charge per car at these sites. All funds will go to charity.

Special bus and rail services will be operating. Advance booking is essential for onward rail journeys from Belfast to Carrickfergus, Lisburn, Portadown and Coleraine. Check out www.translink.co.uk for further info.

For more information:

www.northdowntourism.com

www.translink.co.uk

www.psni.police.uk

www.snowpatrol.com

By Katrina Doran.

It's over the top, it's totally exaggerated and yes - it is completely and utterly fabulous!

The eagerly awaited Sex and the City 2 picks up two years later where the first film left off. The four main characters Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda now have everything they ever dreamed of during the SATC series and things should be pretty perfect. But the reality of even the most seemingly perfect situation is - it's not always all it's cracked up to be.

But our gals have an adventure up their sleeves and for fans of the fabulous foursome it is worth every second of the 156 minutes.

The back to the 80s sequence is pure Patricia Field genius. She sets the scene with the clothes - and the hair. It's laugh out loud funny - and totally brilliant.

By Katrina Doran.

The line up for BELSONIC in association with Absolut Vodka at Belfast's Custom House Square has been announced and the Sugahfix gals have no idea how we're going to choose which nights to go...so we're going to have to go to them all!

First to be announced include ‘The Modfather' Paul Weller, Grammy-award winning superstar DJ David Guetta, Scottish rock giants Biffy Clyro (we do love Simon Neil - the hottest bearded man on the planet!) and Belgian dance-crossover legends 2ManyDJs /Soulwax with more international names set to be announced in the coming weeks but here are the key dates with headline acts so start planning now!

Thursday 26th August 2ManyDJs/Soulwax

Friday 27th August Paul Weller

Saturday 28th August Biffy Clyro

Sunday 29th August David Guetta

Tickets for BELSONIC in association with Absolut Vodka go on sale on Friday 28th May at 9am from www.belsonic.com , The Kitten Bar, all Ticketmaster outlets, and their 24 hr line 0870 243 4455. Day tickets are priced at £27.50 plus booking fees. A limited number of VIP tickets (including improved facilities for 2010) will also be available at £42.50 plus booking fees.

With Derry~Londonderry submitting its final bid to the City of Culture panel tomorrow - Snow Patrol's message to the judges is clear. Just say yes to Derry~Londonderry's bid.

Snow Patrol's front man Gary Lightbody was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland and his family are from Derry. The band's backing has given an extra boost to the City's campaign which has already gathered support from of thousands of people throughout Northern Ireland and the UK.

Gary Lightbody said, "Derry~Londonderry is a vibrant, warm and creative city and its cultural life has always thrived. Being shortlisted for UK City of Culture in 2013 confirms what many of us have known all along; that culture is at Derry~Londonderry's heart. The city has an exciting future ahead and I can't think of anywhere that deserves to win this accolade more."

Describing Derry~Londonderry's lively cultural history, Gary added, "Derry has, a number of times, set the standard for the arts in Northern Ireland. The Undertones wrote apolitical anthems for the youth of Ireland at a time when we needed an escape from politics and religion the most. The Nerve Centre was in Derry and highly functional and creative long before we set up the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast. It was the inspiration for us when we were setting the centre up."

Gary added, "I think Derry~Londonderry's best characteristics are its people. They are funny and warm, and I'm not just saying that because I'm related to half of them. Good luck Derry~Londonderry. You should win."

Derry~Londonderry's bid already has the support of a number of film stars, artists, musicians and writers with cultural, ancestral or personal connections with the City, including the poets Seamus Heaney and Seamus Deane; actors James Nesbitt, Gabriel Byrne, Brendon Gleason and Bronagh Gallagher; TV presenter Anne Robinson; and Manchester United star Darron Gibson.

Derry~Londonderry was shortlisted for UK City of Culture in February 2010 along with three other cities - Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield. Each city will submit its final bid to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on May 21st. The winner will be announced in July 2010.

For more information or to register your support for the bid visit www.cityofculture2013.com or checkout Derry~Londonderry's ‘CityofCulture2013' Facebook page by clicking here.