Leona to switch on Christmas lights - Oct 29 2007
Singer Leona Lewis will light up London's Oxford Street this year when she performs the task of turning on its world-famous Christmas lights next month, it has been announced.

The X Factor winner, who has just rocketed to No 1 in the charts with her new single Bleeding Love, will turn on the lights in a special ceremony on November 7.

Thousands are expected to come to see the star at the event on the capital's most famous shopping street, where she is also due to perform her latest track for the crowds.

This year's lights and decorations also mark the release of Disney's family film Enchanted and will see the street transformed into a "dazzling canopy of magic", organisers say.

The film is about a princess who emerges straight from a Disney classic into the modern day reality of New York.

Irish crooners Westlife and the West End cast of Mary Poppins are also set to perform at the ceremony.

The New West End Company, which aims to ensure the area retains its place as a top shopping destination, is behind the event and organises the street decorations.

Jace Tyrell, from the company, said: "For nine weeks the dazzling canopy of chandeliers will stretch suspended above the heads of shoppers as they zip in and out of the 300 shops lining Oxford Street."

All the lights used are LED bulbs, which use 75% less energy, and are also carbon offset to ensure they do not damage the environment.


Leona soars to top of music charts - Oct 29 - 2007
X-Factor winner Leona Lewis has gone straight to top of the UK singles charts with the biggest week one sale this year.

The 22-year-old made number one as her song Bleeding Love - the first from her debut album - outsold the rest of the top five put together with 218,000 copies shifted.

Simon Cowell, an X-Factor judge, said: "The sales are incredible. I’m absolutely thrilled for Leona, she thoroughly deserves it."

Sugababes, who had last week’s top spot with About You Now, slipped to fourth, with Take That’s Rule The World second and McFly’s The Heart Never Lies third.

Valerie, by Mark Ronson, featuring Amy Winehouse, was at fifth spot, ahead of Britney Spears’ Gimme More single, Timbaland’s Aplogize and the Freemasons’ Uninvited.

Goodbye Mr A, by the Hoosiers, and Lord Don’t Slow Me Down, by Oasis, were ninth and tenth.

In the album chart, Van Morrison scored his highest ever position - 40 years after the release of his first solo single Brown Eyed Girl - with a number two spot.

The Trick to Life, by the Hoosiers, went straight in at number one, with Mark Ronson’s Version at three, the Sugababes’ Change at four and Back to Black, by Amy Winehouse, at five.

Pull The Pin, by Stereophonics; Complete, by Eric Clapton; Hits, by Phil Collins; Echoes Silence Patience and Grace, by the Foo Fighters and Katie Melua’s Pictures completed the top ten albums.



Leona vows to stay in UK? - Sept 27 2007
Leona Lewis has reportedly promised to stay in the UK - apparently after being inspired by Kate Nash.

The songstress - who has been busy in the US writing her debut album - says she has not forgotten her roots, reports the Daily Star.

Leona apparently told the paper: "My album has an American sound but London is my home.

"I really like Kate Nash. I’m so proud to be from London and it’s wonderful to see her doing so well.

"My album is coming out in the UK first, then we’ll go to Europe, then do America. I’m not turning my back on home.