Sunday, January 31, 2016

PRESS UPDATE : WHAT'S ON TV .. SATURDAY JANUARY 30TH 2016

Benidorm’s Sherrie Hewson: ‘I’m not sure Joyce will ever find love while she’s in charge at the Solana’



Solana manageress Joyce Temple-Savage has a new admirer in Monday's Benidorm (ITV, 9pm). The Spanish resort’s very dodgy businessman Monty makes a few attempts to woo her, even performing a song at Neptune’s.
Will Monty melt Joyce's lonely heart?
What’s On TV met Sherrie Hewson, who plays the unlucky-in-love hotel boss, on the Spanish set where she revealed her delight at once again working with Only Fools & Horses star John Challis, who's back as Monty.
“Joyce thinks Monty is lovely, but then he seems to prove to her that he’s not – she thinks there’s another character he rather likes! Sadly it all goes wrong. I’m not sure Joyce will ever find love while she’s still in charge at the Solana.
“I love working with John Challis. He’s been in Benidorm a few times now. We get on so well.”
At the end of the current series, Sherrie will be acting opposite another retuning guest star. Hollywood actress and Dynasty star Joan Collins is back in Benidorm as Joyce’s scary boss, Solana CEO Crystal Hennessy-Vass, who’ll be attending a glitzy awards ceremony held at her hotel.
“Crystal is always quite formidable with Joyce because she’s always trying to sack her or treating her really badly. She looks down on Joyce. I love it and I have great scenes with Joan. She’s so lovely to work with, she’s very funny. It’s like The Beatles have arrived in Benidorm when she’s in the resort. Fans are queuing down the road for her.”
Sherrie has a few ideas about why Benidorm attracts the best guest stars.
“Everybody is desperate to be in it because it’s simply the best sitcom on television. There are very poignant moments mixed with extremely funny scenes, which is a terrific mix. Everybody always says to me: ‘Is there any way you could suggest…’ Yes every actor says to me they want to be in two shows in this country and that’s Benidorm and Downton Abbey. Everybody loves our show. It’s a cult show, and it will be remembered for ever. It’s definitely the best of its type on television.”
Benidorm continues on ITV every Monday at 9pm

DVD ALERT : THE ROYALS SEASON 2 .. REGION 1 USA .. MARCH 22ND 2016

For those in the USA you can now pre-order Season 2 of 'The Royals' on dvd which will be released March 22nd .. Pre-order here!  THE ROYALS SEASON 2 PRE-ORDER ..

PHOTO UPDATE : IT MIGHT BE WINTER .. BUT JOAN HAS SPRING IN HER STEP!

Joan enjoyed a weekend spa break to ease those winter blues into impending Spring and her ever busy upcoming schedule...

Saturday, January 30, 2016

VIDEO UPDATE : TIMELESS BEAUTY AT CLARIDGES!



Joan's bestselling beauty range 'Timeless Beauty' goes from
strength to strength with an ever expanding line of sensational products, the most recent of which were launched last September at a fabulous afternoon event at Claridges.. Here is a super video from Alex Silver PR featuring Joan at the event, I also attended with my friend Ceri Dupree and you can glimpse us in the background .. 
Watch out for many more exciting additions to the 'Timeless' range throughout 2016 ... To view the current range check out.....
TIMELESS BEAUTY BY JOAN COLLINS 

ON THE COVER FLASHBACK : PICTUREGOER APRIL 1953 ..

This cover from 1953 features a classic shot of Joan...

Friday, January 29, 2016

FILM FLASHBACK : REVENGE .. 1971 .. RANK ..

This press sheet from 1971 is for the thriller 'Revenge' which is out next month on Blu-ray from Network...

ON THE COVER FLASHBACK : NEW ZEALAND WOMAN'S WEEKLY .. FEBRUARY 1985


This cover from 1985 is for 'New Zealands Woman's Weekly' and features Michael Nader & Catherine Oxenberg from the royal wedding season cliffhanger episode...

Thursday, January 28, 2016

TV ALERT : THE ROYALS SEASON 2 PREMIERE .. UK & IRELAND .. FEBRUARY 10TH 2016 9PM

For UK & Ireland viewers, you can catch Season 2 of 'The Royals' which premieres on E! Channel on February 10th at 9pm..

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : IT'S ALWAYS A STARRY NIGHT WHEN JOAN'S OUT AND ABOUT!

Joan looks as sparkling as ever in this shot from 1983 taken at a party to celebrate the spectacular benefit show 'Night of 100 Stars 2' at the Bel Air Hotel..

Monday, January 25, 2016

DVD ALERT : BENIDORM SEASON 8 .. FEBRUARY 29TH 2016 ..

Don't forget to pre-order Season 8 of 'Benidorm' out on DVD on February 29th 2016 which includes Joan's sensational episode ...
Order your copy here ....
BENIDORM SEASON 8 DVD PRE-ORDER 

FILM FLASHBACK : THE GREAT ADVENTURE ... 1975 PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL

For those who asked about 'The Great Adventure', here is a still featuring Joan as saloon owner Miss Sonia with Jack Palance as the baddie in this 1975 family adventure...

Saturday, January 23, 2016

ON STAGE FLASHBACK : LOVE LETTERS USA TOUR 2000..

Here is a cover shot for the programme for Joan's tour of 'Love Letters' in which she starred with Stacy Keach and in later runs, George Hamilton in 2000.. Below is a review from The Austin Chronicle..
 

Love Letters: Pen Pills

Paramount Theatre,
through May 14
Running Time: 1 hr, 30 min
Dear Melissa,
How fine to receive that ovation at the Paramount Theatre last night following the performance of A.R. Gurney's epistolary homage to our vanishing American upper class. It is so difficult to portray rich Republicans onstage with any depth, so it should come as no surprise that Mr. Gurney's play makes little honest effort to delve into our star-crossed, lifelong, on-again/ off-again love except to find melodrama in our fumblings, mistakes, and occasional connections. Goodness! It's as if most of the latter part of the 20th century had no effect on our lives, such is Mr. Gurney's focus on the letters we exchanged over the years. Oh, there was a World War, the ongoing Cold War, your bouts with alcohol and drug addiction, not to mention (or to mention only in passing) the crises within our respective families. Well, this well-made play, thankfully, puts all that reality aside in order to concentrate on our letters to each other. A soft-focus affair for those in the plush seats. We like Ike, and all that, right?
But I do tend to go on, don't I, darling? How did you feel about the play?
Much love,
Andy
Dearest Andy,
What is this "much love" stuff, Andy darling? We are so much more than that trifling sign-off, and if you don't come see me soon I will be by the Senate any day now to moon the whole bloody lot of you. (Oh my, isn't it hilarious when blue bloods talk about mooning?) As for the performance, yes, my dear, it was a hoot, though I am in constant awe that anyone can stand us, much less cheer, for we're so dreadfully insipid! Perhaps the audience delighted in the "consummate actors" who portrayed us? Because they are as endearingly haughty as we ourselves are? I, for example, found myself played to the amused, eye-rolling hilt by Joan Collins, she of the pointiest little shoes I have ever seen. And what latter part of the 20th century? Didn't you notice that half my letters came from Madame Betty Ford and her sisters? There was a war? You don't say. Anyway, all I had was you, which is a tragedy not just because you are such a drag and so damn proper (except for that brief fling with the Japanese woman, you sly devil!), but also because we never really connect with each other in all those years. Our WASP-y tedium ensures that we engage in this softball whinefest without ever really taking an ounce of solace in each other. Is it any wonder I drink myself to death?
Love,
Melissa
P.S. Did you kill the moth that landed on your podium in the middle of your most emotional scene? That showed class, sweetie, real class.
Dear Melissa,
Do give credit to Stacy Keach, who plays my rather better-written role -- sorry, darling, but Mr. Gurney just seems to have a knack for character dissection of the male WASP. He really looked like he was having a good time sitting there in those posh chairs behind that even posher desk. He especially seemed to enjoy reading letters from my early years, reveling in my preadolescent naïveté. And he seemed to be enjoying the performance of you by Ms. Collins, too -- at least for a while, anyway. That awkward, out-of-character moment when he snatched that moth off his lectern and crushed it (how I dislike stage microphones, amplifying that poor insect's death just before your big finale!) was, my dear, just a glitch in his usual, kindly portrayal of yours truly. I attribute it to Mr. Keach's deep connection with my frustration by play's end that my life choice to steer the straight and narrow, to serve the public as a politician, to maintain a (false) sense of decorum about my family life led me from my one true love, you.
Andrew Makepeace Ladd III
Dear Andy,
How adorable of you to justify Mr. Keach's moth-snuff scene in such an erudite fashion! My God, but you're a bore. I agree that, alas, Mr. Gurney is much better with the male WASP. However, you'll notice that only I -- the rich, bored, irreverent, alcoholic, insecure woman of your dreams -- get to curse. And how that brings the house down! Aren't rich people cute when they say words like "snatch"? It never fails! And you're right, Stacy did seem to be having something of a good time. Didn't everyone? Aside from a couple of whispered "amens" when I was in boarding school and Joan said my line, "Help! Get me the hell out of here!," I heard no complaint. Though is it my imagination or was the house a little less full after intermission?
Love,
Lissa

Friday, January 22, 2016

Thursday, January 21, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : JOAN'S GOT A PRESSING ENGAGEMENT!

Joan is no stranger to the press even as far back as the 50's when she was named Miss Press Clippings 1952 in this shot... She even modeled a skirt made up of news items to accept the crown!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

PHOTO UPDATE : JOAN'S READY FOR HER CLOSEUP!

Joan is ready for her closeup in this exclusive photo taken during a photo shoot at Claridges earlier today ....

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : JOAN'S A RUNAWAY GUEST!

For those who asked about the tv series 'Run For Your Life' which starred Ben Gazzara and on which Joan made a guest appearance in 1966.. Here is a still from the episode called 'The Borders of Barbarism'...

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Friday, January 15, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : THE ATTRACTION IS BLOOMING FOR THE STUD!

Joan shows Oliver Tobias her foilage in this scene from the 1978 his film 'The Stud' based on Jackie's bestseller..

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

PHOTO EXTRA : JOAN FINDS JERRY'S COMPANY ENGAGING!

Joan met up with good friend Jerry Hall recently for lunch who has just revealed she has become engaged to former News Corporation / 21st Century Fox CEO Rupert Murdoch.. I am sure Joan will be looking for another new hat in the near future!

Monday, January 11, 2016

PHOTO EXTRA : LEGENDS UNITE IN A FAMOUS HALL!

http://cf.juggle-images.com/matte/white/280x280/david-bowie-logo-primary.jpgI could not locate a photo of Joan with David Bowie who has just passed away, but this photo features Joan beside the Bowie exhibit while on a visit to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame' in Cleveland Ohio whilst she was appearing in 'Legends'.. also in the photo is Terry Stewart the museum's ceo..   
     DAVID BOWIE : 1947 - 2016 

PHOTO EXTRA : JOAN'S GOT THE HEELS FOR A GOOD NIGHT OUT!

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/files/Kinky_Boots_logo.jpgJoan enjoyed a night out to catch the hit musical 'Kinky Boot's' at The Adelphi Theatre in London.. Here is Joan backstage with star Matt Henry who plays Lola in the show...

Sunday, January 10, 2016

TV ALERT : BENIDORM .. MONDAY JANUARY 11TH ITV1 & UTV IRELAND .. 9PM ..


Don't forget to tune into ITV1 & UTV Ireland at 9pm on Monday 11th January for the return of 'Benidorm' .. Joan will appear later in the series for another unmissable episode...

PRESS UPDATE : SENIOR TIMES .. JANUARY 2016 ..




 An Audience With Joan Collins  
Lorna Hogg caught up with the Grande Dame when she opened a recent exhibition of her gowns at  the Newbridge Silverware’s Museum of Style
As the song goes, `there is nothing like a dame,’ and there is certainly nobody like this  one. Dame Joan Henrietta Collins is possibly best known for her 1980s role of Alexis Colby, in Dynasty. In which she proved with with style and glamour, that older women could be smart, sexy and sassy. Now she is pushing the accepted expectations and boundaries of age even further, exemplifying her philosophy that age isn’t important – how you look, feel and behave that counts.
Joan recently visited Newbridge Silverware’s Museum of  Style for the opening of a collection of of her gowns, which  were on display until November 8th when they went to sale in Beverley Hills. Neither they, nor she, disappointed. The gowns  – the epitome of glamour, including a couture halter neck, a white fox and mink cape, a beautiful  Nolan Miller, (the `Dynasty’ costume designer) creation and costume jewellery epitomised Joan.. So, we start by asking – just how does a style icon survive?
Joan can be feisty at interviews, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She is also warm, funny and a great raconteur – with a stock of pithy one liners. Elegant in a white suit of her own design, which she wore to receive her recent Damehood from Prince Charles, she is a believer in full on glamour. ‘I really believe that you’re as young as you look, feel and act’. This however, doesn’t happen without some effort. ‘A style icon’ needs discipline. ‘I walk, eat no junk food and exercise.’ A believer in ‘use it or lose it,’ she also has a regular trainer, swims and religiously protects her face from the sun. However, there’s no sense of deprivation or faddiness here. Everything, from exercise to chocolate, is enjoyed in moderation.
Joan is a firm believer in make up – she has been known to lean forward and ask if lightly made-up female writers are wearing any. ‘I love style and fashion. I was born into the wrong era. I would have loved to be in the Twenties and Thirties or the eighteenth century – I love the way women looked then. I always say – accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. Dress to accentuate your good points, but don’t follow fashion slavishly.’
Designers she loves include Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors, all of whom produce ageless style. Not a fan of skinny, she points out that there is a pressure on young women to look as thin as possible.  ‘I know from some of my actress friends who weigh maybe 8 stone who have been told to lose weight.’ She also feels that too many women look ‘as if they haven’t bothered’. That’s not Joan’s style. ‘Make up protects your skin’. She has revealed that a full face takes her about half an hour to apply – and it’s no secret that she loves wigs. She knows what she is talking about, and has even written the book. Several, in fact, and she clearly researches and practices what she preaches.
Joan was born into a comfortable North London lifestyle, elder sister to author Jackie, who recently died from breast cancer, and brother Bill. Her father was a successful theatrical agent, and her mother a glamorous supportive homemaker. ‘I grew up surrounded by elegant, glamorous women. I had eleven or twelve aunts who were always beautifully groomed and made-up.’ She admits however, that it was a slower, era, and that such a world has gone ‘it’s faster, more complicated now –  life is more difficult.’
So, which actresses does she particularly admire?  ‘Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Sian Philips.’ Judi Dench and Helen Mirren  are also on her list.   Any younger actresses? She pauses –  ‘Throw out a few names – you’re asking the questions – I can’t do all the work,’and grins. Does she admire any of to-day’s public figures? ‘Haa..‘ – a derisory snort answers that one.
Her own youth was a world in which female beauty faded quickly. Her father advised her to make a much money as she could before 23, when she would be  ‘all washed up.’ However, Joan’s natural glamour, helped by training at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, brought a contract with the Rank Company. She appeared in Land of the Pharaohs’ in 1955, and  Island in the Sun in 1957. She also appeared in the last of the famous `Road’  films with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope – The Road to Hong Kong. Hollywood brought work with actors such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Paul Newman and Kirk Douglas, and TV appearances ranged from Starsky and Hutch’ to The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Her personal life, various colourful love affairs, including one with a young Warren Beatty and especially her four previous marriages, were ever bit as dramatic and challenging. However, her second, with Anthony Newley produced Sacha and Tara and her marriage with Ron Kass brought Katy. Joan is now a proud granny of three  grandchildren,  whom she obviously and proudly adores. Love has finally triumphed all round. As she has said, ‘I’ve kissed a few frogs, but now I’ve found my Prince’.
In 2000, she met theatrical company manager Percy Gibson on an American tour. Friends at first, she now calls him ‘my soulmate, best friend and lover..’ They have been married thirteen years. He has acted as her theatrical director, looks after their four homes (in London, New York, St. Tropez and Los Angeles) travels with her, and is an all round  Prince Charming. Oh yes, and he is 32 years her junior. Joan’s best riposte to comments remains – ‘So if he dies, he dies.’
Absurd though it sounds to modern ears, in the 1970s, an agent advised Joan, whose career was stalling in her thirties, to ‘give up, go back home and look after her children’.  Her response?  Starring in a 1978 film The Stud, based on one of  sister Jackie’s books. The film  The Bitch followed, and  views of Joan sexily perched on a swing started to change producers’ views of the `older woman’ She was offered the role of Alexis Carrington to add some sparkle, to TV show Dynasty, network rival to Dallas. Joan played the character, not in the visualised demure tweeds and pearls, but as a sophisticated, well travelled and forthright woman of the world. Worldwide fans loved it.
‘Alexis was tough, and behaved exactly in business as men do. In fact I kind of based her – a lot of her on Donald Trump’. That toughness,  clad in sumptuous designer wear from Nolan Miller, brought Joan a Golden Globe in 1983 and later, an Emmy nomination. Interest in her personal style inspired a series of lifestyle books, and Joan honed her own skills as an astute negotiator of contracts and a business woman.
Never one to stay still for long, since Dynasty ended she has kept busy. From that stylish Cinzano advertisment, in which Leonard Rossiter invariably splashes her drink over her, to appearances in popular series such as Benidorm, Footballers’ Wives and The Royals, she has kept working. She has played in Noel Coward and Oscar Wilde theatre productions, in  Dick Whittington panto, in her own one woman show, and has a cameo role in the new  Absolutely Fabulous film. Then there are her books – Prime Time was her first novel. She has now written six of those, plus many lifestyle books, and  memoirs, achieving 50 million in worldwide readers. A regular correspondent for the upmarket London magazine,  The Spectator, and occasional guest columnist on some Fleet Street dailies, she also has her own make up line.
Her theatrical work brought her an Order of the British Empire decoration in 1997. However, it was her considerable charity work, ranging from the International Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities to Fight for Sight and The Shooting Star/Chase Charity, that brought recognition with the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire award earlier this year.
Joan has worked hard for her success, and now enjoys it with her children and grandchildren  It could not, however, protect her from the pain of losing her sister Jackie, whom she has described as her best friend. Until recently, Jackie kept her diagnosis of cancer a secret to protect her family. Joan steadfastly refused to discuss this in press interviews. However, the loss is still visible when the topic is mentioned, and Percy swiftly and protectively changes the subject.
Focusing on the future helps, and she brightens at the plan for a new film project in Ireland. It’s called  The Time of their Their Lives. It’s a buddy movie, based on older women and Pauline Collins and Franco Nero are involved’’ She has described it as a combination of  The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and  Thelma and Louise and looks forward to another visit to Ireland. She has come here since days of friendship with film director John Huston. It turns out that Irish actor Liam Neeson is ‘a good friend and very nice man too.’ So, not even Alexis Colby could fail to be enthused at the prospects ahea

PHOTO FLASHBACK : JOAN FINDS THE ACTION HOTTER IN ACAPULCO!

Joan is feeling the heat in Acapulco in this scene with Alejandro Rey in the 1979 action comedy 'Sunburn'...

Saturday, January 9, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED WITH JOAN!

It's cocktail hour for Joan in this photo from an 1979 episode of the classic suspense series 'Tales of the Unexpected' in which she starred as Lady Natalia who sticks her neck out more than she expected!!

Friday, January 8, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : MOTHERHOOD'S THE QUEST THAT JOAN LOVES!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V5SReiHuxbs/TAPohYSD5BI/AAAAAAAACZc/ihxuNRu3Z8k/s1600/QUEST+FOR+LOVE+5.jpg
Joan takes a break filming the 1971 sci-fi drama 'Quest For Love' to tend to son Sacha as daughter Tara and friend looks on..

Thursday, January 7, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : LIFE IS FULL OF SURPRISES FOR JOAN!

While in London for her dad Joe's birthday in 1982, Joan also was surprised by Eamonn Andrews for an edition of 'This Is Your Life' after which this super family shot was taken.. Among those gathered with Joan are Ron Kass, Dad Joe , Bill & Hazel, Tara, Sacha & Katy, Joan's half sister Natasha, aunt Pauline and others...

ON THE COVER FLASHBACK : TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE .. OCTOBER 1988 ..

Joan chats to John Mortimer on this cover for The Telegraph Magazine from October 1988 as her first novel 'Prime Time' was just published...

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK : JOAN'S A FAN OF THE BIGWIGS!

Joan looks like she is a fan of big hair in this promotional photo for the 1999 period drama 'The Clandestine Marriage'....

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

PHOTO FLASHBACK: JOAN FINDS DRESSING ROYALLY... TESTING!


These two rare photos features Joan in wardrobe tests for the classic 1955 epic 'The Virgin Queen' in which Joan starred with Bette Davis and Richard Todd.. Joan played a haindmaiden to Queen Elizabeth 1 (Bette)...

Sunday, January 3, 2016

TV ALERT : THE ROYALS .. E! CHANNEL USA.. SUNDAY 3RD JANUARY 2016 .. 10/9c

Don't forget to tune into 'The Royals' tonight on E! 10/9c as Joan turn up the heat at The Gran Dame of Duchess's!

Saturday, January 2, 2016

TV UPDATE : TIMELESS BEAUTY ON QVC UK .. SATURDAY JANUARY 2ND 2016..

Joan kicked of the new year with an appearance on QVC UK to present the latest bestselling products in her highly successful 'Timeless Beauty' range, earlier today.. Watch this space for many exciting developments with 'Timeless Beauty'!!