We're Relying on Teens in Birmingham!
This is a brand new site designed for teens that want to be fit and healthy but can?t always be bothered - we'll try and make it a lot less hassle. As teens in Birmingham helped us create it and came up with some of the ideas you're also the first to be able to test it out. We've loads more stuff coming your way like an on-line instant personal nutritionist and a chance to see teen sports matches that you don?t get to see on TV. We're also creating free games with your own virtual character who will be as fit and healthy as you are (you've been warned!). How else can we help you through the site? Who would you like to see interviewed? Contact us and tell us what you think. The site will be available to teens outside Birmingham after September. We're relying on you to help us get this right for the rest of the country. No pressure there then...!
News
Elvis quiff voted number one style
A survey of the best hairstyles of all time has put Elvis Presley's iconic quiff in the top spot.
The legendary Blue Suede Shoes singer, who was born blonde, dyed his hair jet black when he was in his 20s and began shaping the front into the now well-known look.
More than 4,000 people were interviewed for the poll which saw glamorous actress Marilyn Monroe in second place.
Also considered one of the most iconic hairstyles of all time is Audry Hepburn's pinned-up locks made famous by the 1961 film Breakfast At Tiffany's.
The late Princess Diana came in at number four with her short, blond bob which was said to have cost her £4,000 a year to keep in tip-top condition. And reggae legend Bob Marley's trademark dreadlocks rounded off the top five.
Haircuts which have proved popular in recent years include that of ex-Friends star Jennifer Anniston, whose style was copied by thousands of girls across World.
Sports heroes including David Beckham and actors such as Hugh Grant have also proved influential when it comes to what people step out of the salon with.
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Mr and Mrs Becks head for the USA
David and Victoria Beckham are preparing to make a move to celebrity packed Los Angeles after the football star bagged himself a £128 million deal with Californian football club LA Galaxy.
The couple and their three sons will soon be jetting off to the trendy city after Becks reportedly rejected several other offers in the UK and the rest of Europe.
Rumours of a move first began circulating after Victoria was spotted house-hunting in LA where her pals Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have a home.
Speaking on a US TV show, David said: "It's the right time for us to do it. I don't want to go out to America when I'm 34 years old with people turning round and saying, 'Well he's only going there to get the money'."
It is thought that his ex-Spice Girl wife has been keen on the move to the US and that she has even met with a number of film and television producers out there to discuss various projects involving her husband.
The move will see midfielder Becks quadruple his current salary and he is likely to rake in even more cash through promotions and sponsorship deals.
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New rules could see Koopa hit the charts
New UK music chart rules could see an Essex rock group, who have never been signed by a record company, enter into the top 40.
Koopa, whose new single Blag, Steal and Borrow has been downloaded hundreds of times, would be the first unsigned band ever to hit the UK charts if they are successful.
The lads, who have played 500 gigs across the country since they formed seven years ago, have built up a massive fan base on the internet through websites such as MySpace.
Their success looks set to grow even further now a change in chart rules states that all digital single sales will be included when songs are entered, even if there is no CD version.
Koopa singer and bassist Joe Murphy told the BBC: "With the new rules, it does give hope for genuine talent. You don't need to be dictated to by the big boys, by the record labels.
"You can release a song and if you've got the fanbase and people buy it, you'll get into the charts - it's great."
He added: "I wouldn't be surprised if we see a few more [bands entered] but it would be great if we could be the first."
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Kaiser Chiefs inspired by a good old cuppa
It may not seem particularly rock 'n' roll but the Kaiser Chiefs have said drinking cups of tea played a major role in writing their latest album Yours Truly, Angry Mob.
The Leeds lads revealed that grabbing a cuppa worked wonders when it came to being inspired and was even better when accompanied by a sarnie!
"It was really important to recreate what was happening on the first album, because that was successful and we knew it was a good way to work," singer Ricky Wilson said.
"We went into the same rehearsal room, nothing special or anything. We kept the same hours, had a cup of tea, a sandwich, a bit of beer in. It's also nice to have your own bed, it puts you back in the frame of mind to do something great."
Their new album is set to hit the music stores on February 26th with their first single Ruby already tipped to be a big hit.
The lads are also planning a UK tour in February and March which will include two shows in each of London, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Newcastle and Cardiff.
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Teens get active with £9m
Teenagers across the UK look set to benefit from £9 million which is being put towards improving sports and activities for young people.
New rules which were announced yesterday mean local governments will have to provide fun learning and recreational activities for the 13 to 19 age group.
As part of the new scheme, clubs are being set up where young people can do their homework, start a new hobby, become involved in volunteer work or get on the sports pitch. Other activities which will be provided include performing arts and learning music.
Beverley Hughes, the government minister in charge of teenagers in the UK, said: "A significant minority of young people cannot or do not take part in positive activities.
"We want to make sure that every young person, whatever their background, has the chance and the means to do so."
She added that by giving teenagers access to these activities, it will help them to "enrich their lives", increase their skills and help them become confident adults.
When deciding what the money would go towards, the government asked loads of teenagers across the country what they thought most needed to change within their areas. It found that 60 per cent of the thought there was not enough to do in the city or town in which they live.
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Teens to get exam results online
Forget surfing the web for chat rooms or your favourite downloads, teenagers will now be scouring the internet for their exam results.
Nearly a million students will be able to find out their A-level and GCSE scores online this year, exam board Edexcel has announced.
The new rules mean that pupils who have sat one of the exams overseen by Edexcel will be able to get their grades wherever they are in the world on the morning of results day.
A-level students on gap years or on holiday look set to benefit from the scheme as it will allow them more time to rethink their university options if necessary.
Edexcel's managing director Jerry Jarvis said: "We believe that students should have access to information about their own performance and results on a day which is arguably one of the most important of their lives.
"Edexcel's online results service marks the start of a much more ambitious project of providing transparent analysis and diagnosis directly to students."
It seems that examiners are taking no chance with cheats either and are considering plans to 'bug' papers with radio transmitters linked to the board's headquarters.
The exams will then be sent to schools in special boxes with timed locks and temperature sensors which will sound an alarm if triggered!
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HMV changes singles chart
Music store HMV is changing the way it displays its singles for the first time in 40 years, claiming sticking with the UK chart system is no longer relevant to the way it sells CDs.
New rules introduced last week mean songs can now enter the official UK chart even if the single is not yet available in shops.
This includes tunes which have been downloaded and will allow a number of songs which topped the charts months before to re-enter.
Sunday's top 40 featured a host of tunes in this category including Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars which went in at nine and Crazy by Gnarls Barkley re-entering at number 30.
HMV says it is "not against the change" but will now use its own chart to avoid having gaps in its displays.
Spokesman for the store Genarro Castaldo said: "Whilst we signed up to a change it was always on the understanding that retailers would be free to do what was most practical in stores."
US singer JoJo was the first artist to benefit from the new chart rules with her single entering on Sunday, a week before it would have been previously allowed to.
Nelly Furtado and The Automatic also had re-entries with songs first released more than six months ago.
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Teens look up to Becks and Minogue
A study which looked into who teenagers see as role models has revealed that sports star David Beckham is one of the most admired people in the country.
Youngsters from across the UK were asked who they most looked up to and nearly all of them defied the stereotype of wanting to be like rock stars.
Instead, many chose sporting heroes such as Beckham and pop stars including Kylie Minogue as people they admire.
The study, carried out by the Scout Association, also found that the majority of young people see their mums and dads as the most important role models in their lives.
Paul Crolla, a Scout Network member, said: "This report dispels the myth that all teenagers are lazy lay abouts who see Asbos as badges of honour and have no respect for adults.
"It's clear boredom plays a huge part in life for young people and it is vital that we have the opportunity to participate in activities outside of school."
Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty was seen as the worst role model by teens across the UK.
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Fast food families put themselves at risk
Grabbing a bag of chips on the way home from school each day or getting a takeaway for dinner may seem like an easy option, but a new survey reveals it could be dangerous.
Families that tend to head to fast food restaurants are more likely to develop poor eating habits and are at risk of becoming obese, according to a new study.
Although this may seem obvious, researchers at the University of Minnesota medical school claim scoffing takeaways and burgers too frequently could lead to an unhealthy lifestyle overall.
They say families who consume fast food meals more than three times a week are also likely to have bad eating habits in the home environment, with limited access to fresh fruit and vegetables yet an increased intake of crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks.
A total of 51 per cent of those involved in the research reported eating fast food as a family meal at least once a week, while seven per cent admitted they have fast food three to four times a week.
Kerri Boutelle, who helped write up the study, said: "Fast food can be a convenient alternative to cooking for busy families but frequently making fast food a family meal can negatively affect food choices in the house and the overall health of the family."
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Fashionable Kylie hits the top spot
Pintsized pop princess Kylie Minogue has been named as the best dressed female celebrity of the year by fashion magazine Glamour.
The Australian singer has managed to climb 25 places from her slot last year to come top of list, beating off the likes of Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss.
She was praised by the magazine for her trendy look which people can copy whether they are a celebrity or not.
Kylie, who has recently returned to the music scene after spending a year recovering from breast cancer, has proved so popular with the British public that she is getting her very own exhibition.
Next month, London's Victoria and Albert Museum will display loads of Kylie memorabilia including performance costumes and photographs of the singer throughout her career.
Supermodel Kate Moss, who last year was named most fashionable woman, slipped into fourth place in the 2007 poll while her rocker boyfriend Pete Doherty was listed as one of the worst dressed males!
Also making it to the top ten most stylish ladies were Nicole Richie, Sienna Miller, Mischa Barton, Jennifer Aniston, Rachel Bilson, Kate Hudson and Gwen Stefani.
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Two leave BB house after just one week
It may still be only the first week of Celebrity Big Brother but already things are kicking off in the house.
Two famous faces have left our screens amid rows over the surprise entrance of former reality TV star Jade Goody.
The action all happened over the weekend when on Friday night eight of the housemates were sent to live in servants quarters while Shilpa Shetty, Jermaine Jackson and Ken Russell were left to welcome Jade, her mum Jacky and her boyfriend Jack Tweedy.
Towers of London rocker Donny Tourette was the first to go and decided to scale the walls of the Big Brother house to escape having to serve the Goodys. Meanwhile, Ken left after being shouted at for breaking task rules by helping himself to food, instead of waiting to be served.
Before leaving the house Ken told Big Brother: "There was a great deal to enjoy in the house. But I am a big old fuddy duddy and some of the surprises were a little too much to take."
Jade has also been causing trouble with the other housemates, managing to upset Jermaine Jackson by interrogating him about his brother Michael's plastic surgery.
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Teenagers just GO4IT
Summer may seem like a long way off but teenagers in Scotland are already preparing for another chance to be part of the biggest activity programme in the country.
Last year, more than 2,000 young people headed to Edinburgh to take part in the GO4IT scheme, which offered everything from abseiling to puppet making.
The sessions, which run during the summer and Easter holidays, have seen the number of people getting involved double since its launch four years ago.
Not only does it give teenagers something to do on those often boring summer nights, but it helps young people across the city stay fit and healthy.
Aimed at Edinburgh's 12 to 18 year-olds, the GO4IT team recruited around 2,300 youngsters who tried their hand at everything from gorge walking to rock climbing.
Hannah Fraser, 17, who took part last year, said: "It has just been amazing for me. It made such a difference to my school holidays and it is great that there is literally something for everyone so it is not just for really sporty people."
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Rooney sings 'like a strangled cat'
Wayne Rooney may be one of the biggest stars of the football pitch but it seems his talents don't stretch as far as his singing voice.
In fact, the 21-year-old sounds so bad that his fiancee Coleen McLoughin has banned him from singing to her as he sounds like "a cat being strangled".
Romantic Wayne apparently loves to serenade his wife-to-be, but she has been forced to shut the Manchester United player up because his warbling is giving her earache.
A friend of the pair told the Daily Star newspaper that she finds it impossible to relax in the bath because she can always hear him singing.
The pal added: "Wayne loves to sing and he will break into song whenever he can around the house. He always sings soppy love songs to Coleen when she's in the bath as a romantic gesture.
"But she's always on about how bad he is and she puts her head under the water to drown out the noise when he starts."
Shopping queen Coleen has also reportedly banned music fan Wayne from using his beloved karaoke machine.
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Eva gets sporty
Eva Longoria, best known for her role as Gabrielle Solis in hit TV show Desperate Housewives, is already well on the way to having a very sporty 2007.
Not only is the star planning to marry her long-term basketball player boyfriend Tony Parker, but she will also be promoting a new sportswear line by fashion label Bebe.
The US actress will be fronting the campaign and her face will feature in both magazines and on TV adverts. She admitted that the reason behind her willingness to promote the gear was because she used to love doing exercise.
She said: "In college I was an aerobics instructor and a cheerleader and I lived an active lifestyle."
Eva is no stranger to the fashion world and already holds modelling contracts with a number of well known brands including L'Oreal. She is regularly found at the top of Best Dressed lists has also recently opened the Harrods winter sale in London.
Longoria follows in the footsteps of The OC's Mischa Barton, who promoted Bebe's sporty range in 2006.
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Teenager vaults into 2007
A teenage athlete has jumped his way to success having managed to win five out of six major pole vault competitions last year.
Sports mad 16-year-old Callum Sharp managed to scoop gold medals in the Scottish Schools Indoor and Outdoor Championships, the West District Indoor and Outdoor Championships and the National Under-17 Outdoor Championships.
The athlete, whose highest jump was a whopping 3.8 metres, narrowly missed out on winning every competition he entered when he finished as runner-up in the National Under-17 Indoor Championships.
Callum has proved that you don't have to be born sporty to be a success, having only taken up serious athletics two years ago. In the under-17s category, he is currently ranked number one jumper in Scotland and in the UK's top 20.
He said: "I was quite happy with my consistency this year but a bit disappointed that I only set one personal best."
The young sports star has high hopes for 2007 and plans to start training for the World Youth Championships in the Czech Republic.
"I'll just have to start training as soon as possible. The standard is quite high but I know I can make it," he added.
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Lily's all Smiles when reunited with pooch
Bubbly pop star Lily Allen is celebrating more than just the start of the New Year this week after her dog which was stolen over Christmas was returned.
The LDN singer's pooch named Maggie May was snatched while the star was holidaying in Jamaica. She was taken from a flat in east London while being looked after by one of Lily's pals.
To make matters worse, the poor pet was due to undergo a stomach operation at the time of being dog-napped.
Desperate Lily offered a reward for the return of her beloved furry friend, insisting that "no one will be angry" and that "me and my family just want Maggie home".
Her prayers were answered yesterday as the much-loved pet was returned to her safe and sound.
Posting on her MySpace page, Lily wrote: "I have the best news ever. Maggie May is back at home safe and sound. She is riddled with fleas a bit sad and very thin, but that's not the point.
"I can't tell you how overjoyed I am to have her back. I now know there is definitely some sense of community and goodwill left in this country, contrary to what some people might say."
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Teri's Desperate to avoid gym germs
Desperate Housewife Teri Hatcher has said she refuses to go to the gym because she is scared she will catch germs from other people exercising.
The actress says she would much prefer to keep fit outside to avoid coming in contact with other sweaty sport lovers.
Speaking to New magazine, the star said: "I can't stand going to the gym. It's too formatted and it freaks me out with all the germs. I hike outside. I lift weights in my house, just not at a gym."
Hatcher also claims her daughter Emerson keeps her fit because she is constantly chasing round after her and that the pair often enjoy a kick-about in the garden together.
She explained: "I run around after my daughter a lot. I'm teaching her to play soccer at the moment."
Hatcher, who plays the unlucky in love Susan in the hit show, also said that she didn't believe in "nutty diets" and was happy to grab a pizza or a pie once in a while.
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Teenage students get sporty scholarships
Three teenagers from Doncaster have all been awarded scholarships at Leeds Metropolitan University for their outstanding sporting achievements.
Carla Cantrell, Helen Naylor and Andrew Rennison, all 19, will now be given help in developing their sporting performance alongside studying for an academic degree.
Footballer Carla plays for Doncaster Rovers Belles and has recently been capped by the England under 21s team.
Fitness fanatic Andrew not only plays rugby union for Leeds Tykes but also manages to fit in a spot of cricket for Derbyshire's second XI. Helen is also mad about running around, playing basketball for Sheffield Hatters and the Great Britain under 20s.
As well as being given loads of support and professional advice by the university, the trio have also been handed £1,000 each to help pay for their studies.
Carla has received the scholarship for the first time, while Andrew and Helen have both been awarded it for the second year in a row.
Helen said: "I am very pleased to have received a scholarship again. Last year it was very beneficial and helped towards the costs of playing basketball at university, club and international level.
"It will enable me to carry on playing at the highest level as well as with my preparation for the European Championships and the World Student Games next year."
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Teenager sails into record books
A British teenager has sailed into the record books as the youngest person to cross the Atlantic single handed on a sailing boat.
Michael Perham, 14, reached Antigua this afternoon having lived alone on his 28-foot yacht Cheeky Monkey since November 18th.
He set off on the 3,500-mile trip from Gibraltar and since then has sailed alongside dolphins, whales and sharks.
When he finally completed his journey, Michael was met by family and friends as well as a huge welcoming party of Antigua's sailing community and government.
Last night, his mum Heather said: "I have spoken with Michael by satellite phone today and he is really, really excited and really, really tired.
"He cannot wait to arrive and says the first thing he wants to do is eat some normal food. He's been living out of tins for weeks."
The teenager from Potters Bar in Hertfordshire took three weeks off school to complete the voyage. He is said to have encountered some exotic sea life including a flying fish on the deck of his boat which he said "must have flown the wrong way".
The last record for the youngest person to cross the Atlantic was set by 15-year-old Sebastian Clover in January 2003.
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Hair we go, hair we go, hair we go!
A 12-year-old football lover, who has avoided the hairdresser for ten years, has finally faced the salon scissors and got himself a David Beckham style cut.
James Marshall, who wore his beloved England footy shirt for the big event, finally decided to get his 27-inch locks cut after his mates started teasing him at school.
His stylist was given a helping hand when James brought a picture of midfielder Becks to show her what he wanted.
The Newcastle sports fan was two years old when he last visited a hair salon and has been terrified to return ever since.
Despite his mum and dad trying to convince him, he refused to let anyone to go near him with a pair of scissors until New Year's Day.
James decided to get it cut before returning to school for the new term and managed to raise loads of money for charity at the same time.
His long hair was plaited together and will now be sold at a charity auction to raise money for leukaemia.
After his 45-minute haircut James said he was pleased with the new style but added: "The back of my neck is a bit cold."
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