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Diane Parkes

Diane Parkes

Bonnie still has a spring in her step

IF you are standing in a shopping queue this Christmas and think the woman in front of you looks familiar it just may be Bonnie Langford as the actress and singer admits she is leaving all of her present buying until she reaches Birmingham. Read

Shobna's on song

FORMER Coronation Street favourite Shobna Gulati is hoping she won't need a magic wand to bewitch Birmingham audiences with her singing this Christmas. Read

Show's dedicated to followers of fashion

THOUSANDS of fashion fans will be descending on Birmingham's NEC this week for the return of the design extravaganza Clothes Show Live. Read

Dream comes true for dancer

THERE will be hundreds of excited youngsters watching the magic of Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker when it opens tonight - but how many will be back on stage 15 years later appearing in the show? Read

Follow your nose to a classic tale

THE classic tale of the toy who became a boy comes to the stage this Christmas in a family show. Read

Real adventure down at the Rep

BIRMINGHAM Repertory Theatre audiences will take to the canals for a new adventure story for all the family. Read

Duo revved up to raise fundschallenge

DRIVING duo Paul Russell and John Kiely burned the rubber on a 2,597-mile car rally to raise nearly £1,500 for charity. Read

A boyhood dream comes true for fan

WHEN Birmingham Stage Company actor manager Neal Foster was invited into the writing den of Roald Dahl it was fulfilling a childhood dream. Read

The Icicle Works @ Carling Academy Birmingham

IT must be a bit depressing to embark on a 25th anniversary tour and see your gig moved from the main Academy to the smaller Academy 2. Read

Keane @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall

IF anyone was in any doubt about the future of Keane after the recent Priory stop for lead singer Tom Chaplin, those fears were blown out of the water by this concert. Read

Show's a thing of beauty

THE fairy tale Beauty and the Beast returns to Birmingham during half term with a Disney extravaganza musical. Read

Cricket star winds up for Sahara slog

WARWICKSHIRE cricketer Dougie Brown is leaving his bat and ball behind and picking up his walking boots to trek across the Sahara. Read

Writer breaks down barriers

BIRMINGHAM dramatist Amber Lone may have set her new play amid an Asian family in the city but she is keen not to be pigeonholed as an 'Asian writer'. Read

Lyn's thrown in at the deep end

LYN Paul was busy boxing up her home in Cheshire to move down South where she is about to take over managing a pub with her family. Then the phone rang. Read

Hungary for cash!

TWO friends are getting behind the wheel to take part in a three-day international driving challenge. Read

Panic! At The Disco @ Civic Hall, Wolverhampton

PANIC! give new meaning to the word frenetic. Read

Gary is back in the driving seat

BIRMINGHAM audiences have double the treat this summer as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang swops its lead driver from Brian Conley to Gary Wilmot. Read

Call to bring TB jabs back to schools

WORRIED parents were calling on 10 Downing Street today to demand the return of TB jabs in Birmingham schools. Read

How I turned my back on crack

ADOPTED as a youngster, Ashanti Webb had a troubled upbringing. Read

Oh, what a night..!

NEARLY 200 Birmingham Mail readers enjoyed the first ever Ladies Night organised by their favourite newspaper. Read

Author Profile

Diane Parkes has worked in journalism for 14 years and has been with the Birmingham Mail for ten. She is Women's Editor covering health, fitness, education, fashion and beauty features. As Dance and Theatre Editor she is also responsible for professional arts coverage across the region.

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