OK, you can see the photos here:

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I'm not sure how long I'll leave them online though.

Quote:


It was Leon's idea (and he actually kissed Joey on the cheek, as he does in the play) - but as it was totally unexpected, I wasn't totally prepared for the photo - it's pure luck that I got that one as I was snapping away.

They had a family photographer there (I don't recall whether he said that his wife just worked for the dance studio that Leon attends, or whether she owns it when I spoke to him), so Leon and his family where largely posing for him - however he was extremely generous and on several occassions moved out of the way so I could get a good shot - and Leon and Joey were more than happy to pose for photographs for the rest of us who had gathered at the stage door to congratulate them on their stunning performances

I walk past the theatre where Billy Elliot is playing in London every morning on my way to work (my office is two/three hundred yards away).  There is almost always a crowd waiting outside even at 8.30am, queuing for returns I suppose - they always look a good-natured sort of people.  I've started wondering if I might bump into quantum...I should stick a picture of George on my bowler hat 

michael enjoyed the show while in london.

video at link.

Monday, 10 October 2005, 08:30 GMT 09:30 UK 

Jackson mobbed in Tussauds visit 

Jackson's publicist has confirmed that the visit is his first public outing

Singer Michael Jackson was mobbed by fans at London waxworks museum Madame Tussauds during a stay in the capital.

Jackson, who is believed to be recording a single for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, had his children with him during the visit on Sunday.

He had previously attended West End musical Billy Elliot and been besieged by fans at a recording studio.

Jackson's visit to London is his first public appearance since being cleared of child abuse charges.

On arrival Jackson, 47, walked through a crowd of fans, shielding his eyes from camera flashes, and into the building.

The star's children - Prince Michael Jr, Prince Michael II and Paris-Michael - all had their faces covered in their usual fashion.

Large numbers of Madame Tussauds staff were waiting inside the attraction to greet the singer.

On Saturday, the singer arrived in a people carrier with his children 15 minutes late for the matinee performance of musical Billy Elliot.

Throughout the show, hundreds of his admirers waited outside brandishing posters of support and chanting his name.

On Friday Jackson signed autographs after being pursued by fans through an underground car park near a recording studio.

The star has also been spotted in the Dorchester Hotel, London, meeting fans and posing for photographs.

Jackson is believed to have arrived in the UK on Thursday to record Hurricane Katrina charity song From The Bottom Of My Heart.

The singer has been in Dubai since his trial in California.

It is not clear which recording studio is being used by the star or how fans knew where the singer would be appearing.

Footage of fans surrounding Jackson at the car park of the studio was released by 2 Seas Records, a joint venture between Bahrain's Southern Governor Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Jackson's brother Jermaine.

Jackson climbed onto a car roof in the car park to greet his fans, who took photos on cameras and mobile phones.

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michael is not as cunning as he thinks he is.

i can clearly discern paris's features - during jacko's visit to harrods!

from the london evening standard +  interpolations from the daily express and softpedia com.

photo from hello magazine.

Fans go wacko for Jacko
By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard
13 October 2005

Barely four months ago he faced virtual ruin - his career seemingly in tatters.

The astonishing furore that surrounds Jackson, 47, proves his fans are as devoted as ever. Crowds surge outside the Dorchester hotel, where he is staying in a £2,500-a-night suite.

Chanting his name and waving banners, the crowd - mostly in their twenties and thirties plus some children - hoped for a glimpse of Jackson. They were finally rewarded when he appeared at his suite window and waved. Minutes later, a bulk delivery of pizzas arrived outside, ordered by the singer for his fans.

Jackson, who is accompanied by his children Prince Michael Jr, eight, Prince Michael II, four, and Paris, seven, has enjoyed a tour of tourist attractions.

He sparked pandemonium at Madame Tussaud's. Minders carried the children from a people carrier with blacked-out windows, their faces masked by blankets.

Jackson, wearing a black suit, matching shirt and dark glasses, then walked through the crowds.

"They stayed for about an hour and had a whirlwind tour of all the waxworks," said an insider.

The fuss was repeated at a matinée of West End musical Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace theatre and he was knocked to the ground by crowds eager to touch their idol.

the jackson entourage were joined by former child star mark lester.

jackson and lester have been friends for more than 20 years and are godfather to each othere's children.

There were chaotic scenes inside and outside Harrods last night when Jackson and his three children-arrived (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

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He was mobbed by fans in the DVD department where he bought dozens of documentaries including the BBC's award-winning series Walking With Dinosaurs - (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links);

He met Harrods owner, Mohamed Fayed - (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) - and shopped in private for two hours. Sources said he was particularly interested in the plasma screen televisions.

Jackson, 47, who is making his first public appearances since the child molestation trial in June, has received, as a gift, a laminated scrapbook of baby photos from Mohamed Fayed.

The superstar spent more than $150,000 in a 30-minute shopping spree.

Michael, accompanied by his two boys, who had their faced hidden with head scarves, bought two watches worth $145,000 and then visited the toy department, where the kids chose life size teddy bears.

A source revealed: "He was only in the store for about 30 minutes. His kids had a fantastic time. They fell in love with this gigantic toy Hummer. After Jackson spent thousands of pounds of gifts for them he then signed autographs for fans.”

Jackson was also besieged by fans at a studio in Chiswick where he is said to have begun work on the charity song From The Bottom Of My Heart. It is being made by 2SeasRecords, a label co-owned by his brother Jermaine and Bahrain's Prince Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Jackson has said: "It pains me to watch the suffering taking place in the Gulf region."

He had been in hiding in Dubai since his California court case ended. He is expected to return to Bahrain to record this week.

by the writer of billy elliot.

Cooking With Elvis

Written by Lee Hall

Directed by Gareth Tudor Price

Jill is an overweight teenager who can't stop cooking. Mam is a 38 year-old anorexic who drinks too much and brings younger men home for sex.

They live an uneasy domestic calm with Dad, a former Elvis impersonator, who is now completely paralysed. Enter dim Stuart the cakeman, Mam's new lover, who finds himself at the centre of everyone's sexual frustrations - including Dad's.

While Jill cooks up a storm in the kitchen, emotions reach boiling point.

But can culinary pleasures bring happiness?
Experience decadence, taboo and hilarity in this award-winning black comedy.

'...goes down a storm.'
The Stage

'...glory, glory halleluiah'
The Yorkshire Post

Mon 24th Oct – Sat 29th Hackney Empire 020 8985 2424
Mon 31st Oct – Sat 5th Nov Swan Theatre, Worcester 01905 611427

November
Tue 8th – Sat 12th Lighthouse, Poole 08700 668701
Mon 14th – Sat 19th The Playhouse, Liverpool 0151 709 4776
Mon 21st Nov – Sat 10th Dec Hull Truck Theatre 01482 323638

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my six best books.

from the daily express - october 21. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

[i]leon cooke -  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) - who has been dancing since he was two chooses his six favourite books :
¬¬¬¬
Gary Glitter Story
 
by George Tremlett

"an action-packed biogaphy : the life and times of a great glam-rock entertainer."
*******
animal farm

by george orwell

"did mr orwell ever work in a zoo? it's uncanny the way he captures animal's quirky characteristics."
***
mein kampf

by adolf hitler

"personal inspiring memoir from one of germany's great statesmen.

did he play golf? a pal told me he died in a bunker."
***
death in venice

by thomas mann

"elton john gave me this book and said i'd enjoy it.

it's about an old man who seems to think a young boy he meets in venice is strangely related to him."
***
a shropshire lad

by a.e.Housman

"pastoral poems to calm me down amidst the noise and bustle of life back stage."
***
the world as will and representation

by artur schopenhauer

"thought-provoking philosophy to keep my brain cells functioning."
______________
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just kidding, folks

i made that list up.

here are his real-life choices:

noughts and crosses
by marjorie blackman
corgi children's
£6.99

"this book is about slavery. it deals with things that really happen, so you can relate to it. i liked the idea of using noughts and crosses to represent different classes in society"
***
his dark materials trilogy
by phillip pullman
scholastic point
£21

"the books describe lyra's quest through different worlds to find her friend rick, and her companion will's quest to find his father, both of whom have disappeared. this series lit up my imagination."
***
the tales of the otori trilogy
by lian hearn
macmillan children's books
£19.99

"set in medieval japan, the story follows takedo, through three books as his supernatural powers get him into lots of trouble. i found myself caught up in his world, the books give you a greater understanding of war and japanese culture."
***
stormbreaker
by anthony horowitz
walker books
£6.99

"alex rider is the coolest teen spy" the villain, harold sayles, is so believable you even begin to feel sorry for him. and the story has plenty of gadgets and action in it, which makes it better than pointy hats and wands - i can't wait for the film!"
***
a child called `it`
by dave pelzer
orion
£6.99

i found this horrifying and yet compelling. the mother in the story is a den mother to cub scouts which makes it even more unsettling that she refers to her own son as `it`. very detailed and full of emotion - especially as it is a true story.
***
artemis fowl: the eternity code
by eoin colfer
puffin books
£5.99

"this fairy-filled adventure continues with the boy genuis and the criminal artemis fowl once again plotting their perfect crime. artemis seeems to me to be a bit more gentle in this book - although this time his enemies are human. i can't wait to read the next one"

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