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	ENTERTAINMENT ARCHIVE ENTERTAINMENT ARCHIVE **
	Welcome to the Entertainment Archive. To read archived stories click on the information below....don't forget to visit our current entertainment stories by choosing a menu option on the left or from the menu bar at the top of this page.

	INDIAN FILM SEASON ON CHANNEL 4, STARTS 2 SEP 2007
	Channel 4's Indian film season, which starts on Thursday 2nd September 2007, this year highlights the work of three industry figures; Saif Ali Khan, Nagesh Kukunoor and A R Rahman, as well as offering a mix of Bollywood films, and rounding off them season with the UK TV premiere of 'A Throw of Dice', the epic Indian silent recently restored by the BFI. read more

	MEET THE MAGOONS, STARTS 19 AUGUST ON C4
	'Meet the Magoons' is a brand new comedy written and directed by Hardeep Singh Kohli, and starring Hardeep Singh Kohli, his brother Sanjeev Kohli, Nitin Ganatra and Paul Sharma. It's the story of a group of mates for whom ketchup, chaos, country slices, tandooris, turbans and transvestites are all in a day's work. read more

	'REALITY TV' BREAKS ETHNIC STEREOTYPING
	‘Reality TV’ is the media phenomenon which has done more for racial and ethnic understanding than any other media creation in recent years, said Trevor Phillips, CRE Chair at the RIMA Awards 2005. "Until very recently most people’s idea of what a black or Asian or Chinese or Gypsy person is really like is almost entirely based on what they read, hear and see in the media and have been very stereotyped". read more

	BBC 'MASTERCHEF' SERIES SEEKS ASIAN COOKS
	After the success of the first series, the BBC programme 'Masterchef Goes Large' is again scouring the country for talented amateur chefs who want to make it big in the food industry. Hosted by John Torode - and Greg Wallace, the 'Masterchef' programme makers want people who are willing to embark on a culinary adventure. read more

	FIRST ASIAN FEMALE NOMINATED FOR BROADCAST AWARDS
	For the first time ever the Commercial Radio Companies Association NTL Broadcast Awards (CRCA) have nominated a British Asian presenter for the awards of 'Commercial Radio presenter of the year'. MisSyD of Club Asia Radio is not only the first Asian, but also the first Asian female nominee. read more

	UNTOLD LONDON: URBAN SHORTS FOR THE SMALL SCREEN
	The BBC is running a documentary shorts competition through the Roots project. It's aimed at people who are interested in documentary filmmaking but may not have had lots of experience or access to facilities. The program is particularly keen to attract diverse applicants and provides two weeks training and access to equipment, cameramen and editors. read more

	BLACK FARMER OFFERS RURAL SCHOLARSHIPS
	A remarkable new rural scholarship run by Britain's only black farmer is looking for interested candidates from ethnic minority communities. Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones aka The Black Farmer is determined to introduce the rural way of life to young people of black or Asian origin currently living in inner cities, through his unique rural scholarship. read more

	BEAUTIFUL BOYS BECOME BEASTLY AMBASSADORS
	Flamboyant presenters, Raj and Pablo, were today named honorary ambassadors for elephant family, the UK charity dedicated to saving the endangered Asian elephant. The duo will bring on board the glamour of Bollywood and spread their love of elephants to UK audiences. read more

	STAR PLUS LAUNCHES 'KOFFEE WITH KARAN' CHATSHOW
	Hitting Digital TV screens from February 13 2005 will be Star TV's new chat show 'Koffee with Karan', hosted by well-known Bollywood director Karan Johar. Most guests on the show are personal friends of Johar's and the show promises a blend of entertainment and a "celeb-combo" of two superstars. read more

	RADIO SPICES UP NORTH EAST ENGLAND
	The Devastasian Group are preparing to launch Spice FM, 87.9, the first-ever British Asian radio station to be based in North East England. Spice FM will initially air from January 15 to February 15th 2005, with talks in place for a six year contract. The station plans to reach homes across Newcastle, Durham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Hartlepool. read more

	CHILD OF OUR TIME ASKS 'ARE WE BORN RACIST'?
	The BBC ONE series 'Child Of Our Time' has commissioned new research to find out what four-year-old children understand about ethnicity. The research showed young children often associated positive characteristics with white colour and found that even though most four-year-olds know their skin colour, over half believe it will change with age. read more

	STRONG YEAR FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY SAY BROADCASTERS
	At the AGM of the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN), the UK's major broadcasters met to announce their achievements for 2004. The BBC also handed over its chairmanship to ITV for two years from January 2005. Peter Salmon, outgoing chair of the CDN said "since the CDN began in 2000, it has driven dramatic changes in the broadcasting industry." read more

	KISMAT RADIO TO BE LAUNCHED
	Avtar Lit, chairman and chief executive of Sunrise Group said that he was delighted with Ofcom's decision to approve the launch of a new London wide Asian radio station (KISMAT) aimed at the over 35 year olds. It will broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as a station principally for adults in the Asian communities around London. read more

	ASIAN GIRL WINS 'HARD SPELL' CONTEST
	Thirteen year old Gayathri Kumar from Ormskirk, near Liverpool, has been named the first Hard Spell Champion in a BBC Contest. Gayathri notched up an incredible list of correctly spelt words as diverse and difficult as apocalypse, mezzanine, troglodyte, claustrophobia, geisha and resuscitate to become Britain's best young speller. read more

	HINDU FORUM DEMANDS APOLOGY OVER 'CORRIE' EPISODE
	The Hindu Forum of Britain has demanded an apology from ITV for its insensitive portrayal of Lord Ganesh in an episode aired on 24 November 2004. In the episode, Maya, is shown grabbing a statue of Lord Ganesh and threatening to beat Sunita over the head with it. read more

	HARDEEP KALSI LEAVES ITV
	Hardeep Kalsi, former Director of Regional and Public Affairs at Carlton, has left ITV. During her twelve years with the broadcaster, Hardeep devised many high profile campaigns and projects including Carlton’s Restaurant Awards, the Multicultural Achievement Awards and the annual Parliamentary reception. read more

	ZARIN PATEL APPOINTED BBC GROUP FINANCE DIRECTOR
	The BBC has appointed Zarin Patel, currently Head of Revenue Management at the Corporation, as Group Finance Director. In her new role Zarin will lead the BBC's financial strategy, planning, control and corporate reporting activities, and will provide financial leadership to all of the BBC's divisions. She will also have responsibility for licence fee collection. read more

	BBC ASIAN NETWORK REMIT TO BE REDRAFTED
	Tim Gardam, has today published his review of 1Xtra, BBC6, BBC7, BBC Asian Network and Five Live Sports Extra, in particular examining their impact on the wider radio market. Although the report concludes that BBC has gone "above and beyond" the general conditions, one of Mr Gardam's suggestions is that the BBC Asian Network should have its remit redrafted to make it more "editorially ambitious"! read more

	MY LIFE AS A POPAT, NEW CHILDRENS DRAMA ON CITV
	My Life as a Popat is a new six-part kid's comedy drama, about a young Asian boy growing up in Harrow. It kicks off on CiTV this autumn.. You've never seen anything like them. And that's Anand Popat's problem. As if being 13 years old isn't hard enough, he also fights a daily battle with embarrassment, trapped in the middle of all his Asian relations. read more

	SKY RESEARCH SLAMS PORTRAYAL OF ASIANS TV
	Recent research carried out by Sky digital, into British Asian attitudes to mainstream and ethnic TV indicated that over 70% of respondents felt that the portrayal of Asian characters on mainstream TV was on the whole under-represented and stereotypical. Despite this, 82% still thought that BBC1 was essential to have and 64% thought ITV was key to their viewing needs. read more

	ZEE NETWORK TO DISTRIBUTE BOLLYWOOD FILMS
	Zee Network, the leading Asian television network in the UK ,today announced their decision to enter into the Bollywood films distribution market. With a reach of over 225 million viewers and 80 countries globally, Zee Network, has decided to take up the mantle of producing and distributing films globally. read more

	TV CULTURAL DIVERSITY NETWORK LAUNCHES ONLINE
	The Cultural Diversity Network has launched CDN-North, a northern branch to further its work to improve diversity in British television. The network brings together the major broadcasting companies – BBC, BSkyB, Channel Four, five, GMTV, ITN, ITV, Pact and SMG Television - to improve ethnic minority representation both on and off air. read more

	'JINNAH' - A HISTORICAL EPIC RELEASED ON DVD
	Starring Christopher Lee in the lead role, Jinnah is the much-anticipated story of the founder of Pakistan. Told in an absorbing fashion, the vast historical epic follows the life of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the hugely important but often-misrepresented world leader. The film opens shortly after partition in 1947 with a dying Jinnah being rushed to hospital. read more

	SKY REVEALS THE REAL KING AND QUEEN OF BOLLYWOOD
	New research by Sky Digital revealed that 'Sholay' is the UK's greatest Indian movie of all time with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol voted King and Queen of the Bollywood screen. The research uncovered some of the key attitudes of the UK's one million strong Indian community to the Hindi film industry. It showed that 76% of the UK's Indian community have watched Bollywood films at some time. read more

	‘SILVER STREET’- THE NATION’S FIRST ASIAN RADIO SOAP
	The U.K.’s first daily Asian radio drama starts on 24 May 2004 on the BBC Asian Network. Silver Street follows the lives of young Asians living in a Midlands city and offers a fresh, fast-moving and topical portrayal of modern Asian life. The ambitious project has drawn together some of the best British Asian talent in writing, production and performance, and formed a new team in BBC Radio Drama. read more

	BBC REPORTS ON DIGITAL SWITCHOVER PROGRESS
	Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today underlined the Government's commitment to digital switchover as she welcomed a new report into the issue. The BBC report, 'Progress towards achieving digital switchover' describes progress so far as "astonishing" and it says that, provided important challenges are met, the UK could switchover to digital TV by 2010. read more

	KHAKEE OUT ON DVD & VHS
	Eros International is proud to announce the release on DVD and VHS of Khakee, the latest film from the highly respected director of 'Lajja' and 'The Legend of Bhagat Singh', Rajkumar Santoshi. This dramatic police thriller boasts an all star cast including Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Tusshar Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai. read more

	BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD OUT ON DVD & VIDEO
	The smash hit film, Bollywood Hollywood, written and directed by Deepa Mehta will be available on VHS & DVD from 26 January 2004! Bollywood Hollywood is a romantic comedy about a mixed group of Indian Canadians. The characters range from a millionaire to a car mechanic, a high attitude escort girl, a conservative grandmother to a rebellious teenager. They all share a common passion - Bollywood! read more

	BBC APPOINTS ANDREA CALLENDER AS HEAD OF DIVERSITY
	The BBC announced today that it has appointed Andrea Callender as Head of Diversity. Andrea will co-ordinate the BBC's objective to reflect fully the diversity of the UK, both in its programmes, and in the make-up of the BBC staff. Andrea, currently National Director of Race for Opportunity, is renowned for her work across both the private and public sectors. read more

	STAR TV CHANNELS NOW BUNDLED FOR FREE BY BSKYB
	From 1st March 2004, over 7 million households who subscribe to Sky Digital's Family Pack or Lifestyle Pack will be able to watch Star Plus & Star News without paying an additional subscription fee. read more

	BAGHBAN- OUT ON DVD & VIDEO
	Eros International has announced the long awaited release of the huge family drama Baghban on DVD and VHS. The film saw the comeback of producer Dr. BR Chopra, the legendary movie mogul who is one of India's most respected filmmakers. Baghban has done well at the box office, taking nearly £750K and being the third highest grossing Bollywood film of 2003. read more

	SALAAM BOMBAY DREAMS…NOW ON DVD
	The newly released Bombay Dreams DVD entitled 'Salaam Bombay Dreams' features four hours of behind the scenes footage, exclusive interviews and background information about the biggest and only Asian musical to hit London’s West End! Labelled as the Capital's hottest most exotic musical, Bombay Dreams has been an outstanding success since first opening in June 2002. read more

	CARLTON MERGER - A "KISS OF DEATH" FOR DIVERSITY?
	The merger of Carlton TV & Granada to form a new, multi-million pound ITV company has grabbed many headlines of late. As two of the key nine members of the Cultural Diversity Network (CDN), the merger will have an impact on issues about how Britain's ethnic minorities will be represented on terrestrial television in the future. We asked Parminder, Producer and Diversity Advisor at Carlton TV for her views. read more

	UNION OPENS UP THE WORLD OF FILM & TV
	Several hundred black and Asian film and TV producers, writers, directors and film-makers today took part in a unique 'meet the industry' event organised by entertainment union BECTU. 'Move on up' aims to help ethnic minority workers make contacts with key players in the film and TV industry. read more

	ASIAN DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR THE BBC?
	Black and Asian viewers feel truly multicultural broadcasting will remain elusive until the media and advertising industries recruit more ethnic minority talent - and promote them into positions of power. One of the improvements viewers would like to see is the appointment of the first black or Asian Director General of the BBC. read more

	MAHABHARAT - DVD BOX SET, OUT NOW
	This 15-hour digitally re-mastered, abridged version of 'Mahabharat', the epic Indian television series (which originally ran for over 60 hours), is available in a five-disc digi-pack that includes an eight-page booklet containing a glossary of the many characters and an overview by Professor Fitzgerald of the University of Tennessee. The series originally aired in the UK on BBC TV from 1991-1993 and proved a major hit with both Indian and non-Indian audiences. read more

	BBC ASIAN NETWORK CELEBRATES FIRST BIRTHDAY
	BBC Asian Network, which marked its first birthday on 28 October, had good reason to celebrate. Latest RAJAR figures - the official joint industry research organisation - show that in the last three months the Asian Network has added 74,000 listeners, taking the total number of listeners across the country to 495,000.

	CARLTON'S MULTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2003
	Among the winners of this year's Carlton Multicultural Achievement Awards were Asian re-mix genius Rishi Rich and BBC Radio 4 presenter Zubeida Malik. The Awards give recognition to the talented & inspirational young people, aged between 16 & 35, who are shaping modern Britain - the role models of the future. read more

	DISH ASIA NETWORK LAUNCHES 6 CHANNELS IN THE UK
	An exciting mix of celebrities gathered on the 18th August 2003, to celebrate the launch of six new television channels by Dish Asia Network (DAN). Well-known faces added to the night's glitter, including South Indian stars Khushboo, Sharmilee, and Babloo who gave a delighted "thumbs up" to the idea. read more

	70% OF ASIANS SAY TERRESTRIAL TV DOES NOT SATISFY
	Sky today published the results of an exclusive piece of research that provides an insight into the viewing habits of the UK's two million strong South Asian community. The results show that 70% of the country's South Asian community feel under-served by the programmes on the terrestrial channels and that the multichannel TV penetration is significantly higher within Asian households. read more

	MEERA SYAL PICKS UP WOMEN IN FILM & TV AWARD
	Meera Syal picked up the Deluxe London Award for creative originality at the Women in Film & TV Awards (WFTV) 2002. Ms Syal is currently enjoying box office success with Anita & Me, the adaptation of her best selling novel of the same name. WFTV also revealed nine other winners of its coveted annual awards in a ceremony at London's Hilton Hotel. read more

	MULTICULTURAL BROADCASTING - CONCEPT OR REALITY?
	Audiences from the minority ethnic communities are calling for more realistic representation on television and radio, to ensure that they are seen as part of mainstream society according to the new research. Programmes such as Goodness Gracious Me and Ali G were considered to be moving in the right direction, but participants also wanted to see more representation in news and documentaries. read more

	BBC ASIAN NETWORK CREATES A NEW DIGITAL DIVIDE
	Launched with much fanfare on October 28th was the BBC's latest digital channel - BBC Asian Network. The new digital channel boasts a morning a programme presented from London by the vivacious Sonia Deol. But does the new channel fulfil a growing requirement or does it create a new digital divide among British Asians? read more

	CARLTON'S MULTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2002
	The youth shaping modern Britain were recognised for their talents at CARLTON'S MULTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS on Tuesday 22nd October. Asian winners included Asif Kapadia, Indhu Rubasingham, Dr Bela Arora and Mohammed Amran with special recognition for Sir Gulam Noon. June Sarpong hosted the awards, which saw established faces from entertainment to business join to celebrate the role models of the future. read more

	MUSLIMS DON’T TRUST BRITISH TV NEWS FOLLOWING 9/ 11
	Muslims in the UK have a deep mistrust of news reporting by British television following September 11, according to new research by the British Film Institute (bfi) and the Open University (OU), announced today (9 September 2002).The research found that more than 70% of those interviewed felt that news bulletins were selective in what they broadcast. read more

	GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME OUT ON VIDEO & DVD
	Now available is the complete series of hit TV show GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME on video or DVD. This hilarious BBC TV series was seminal in the emergence of Asian humour into mainstream British culture, immortalizing the expression "Kiss My Chuddies!". The DVDs contain a wealth of exclusive extras, including, hilarious outtakes and bloopers and a spoof "Making of GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME" documentary. read more

	SKY VIEWERS EAT VINDALOO TO WOO LOVERS!
	One fifth of men questioned for Sky digital and Star Plus' National Curry Week (17 - 24 October) survey, said they had eaten a vindaloo curry, to impress a lady or their friends! When it comes to impressing friends or members of the opposite sex Lancashire has the toughest taste buds with over 20% who have braved a vindaloo in the face of peer pressure. read more

	WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
	A whole forest of family trees is set to flourish throughout Britain, aimed at inspiring the nation to explore its roots. A new series on BBC 2 - Who Do You Think You Are? - delves into the family history of ten familiar faces, like Meera Syal, tracing their ancestry and revealing past secrets. read more

	HIMALAYA WITH MICHAEL PALIN, SUNDAYS FROM 3 OCT
	The most watchable programme on television this Autumn is 'Himalaya with Michael Palin' on Sundays at 9.00pm on BBC 1 starting from Sunday 3rd October 2004. So far, Michael has watched a real polo match, toured war-torn parts of Kashmir like Shrinagar and met the Dalai Lama! For many of us, this is the closest we'll get to the Himalayas. Unmissable! read more

	BBC WANTS TO MAKE YOUR FANTASY CAREER HAPPEN
	A new BBC series is looking for people who want to achieve their career and business dreams. According to one recent survey, as many as a third of us suffer from the 'back to work blues'. Reports suggest that more than half of the workforce would even change their career. But for most of us, our fantasy career is a childhood dream that fell by the wayside when real life stepped in. read more

	BRAND NEW YOU?
	A new Channel Five series 'Brand New You', offering ordinary men and women a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undergo a total transformation, is now seeking Asian participants willing to take the final step! read more

	BOLLYWOOD SEASON RETURNS TO CHANNEL 4
	Channel 4's annual season of Bollywood films, now in its 22nd year, sees 20 top class movies collected into five main 'seasons'. The first, starting in August, celebrates the work of Shah Rukh Khan, one of Asia's most successful actors. The season kicks off with a documentary, The Inner World of Shah Rukh Khan, which follows the daily life of the highest paid star in India. read more

	'JUGGLING' BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE, SUNDAY 12 SEPT 10.00AM
	Amardeep Bassey examines why so many of his educated, British-Asian contemporaries have opted for a life of crime. “Around half of the Asian guys I grew up with who went on to university have been involved in some kind of illegal, money-making scheme,” says Amardeep Bassey. read more

	HAMBURG CELL, CHANNEL 4 - 2 SEPTEMBER 2004
	'Hamburg Cell' is a drama that gets inside the minds of the students-turned-suicide bombers who changed the course of the 21st century. The film focuses on how and why the key members of the cell came to perpetrate an act that killed thousands of innocent victims, leading to a global conflict that is escalating out of control. read more

	SIKHS AND THE CITY, BBC 1 - 2 SEPTEMBER 2004 11.30PM
	There are enough Sikhs in Britain to fill the Royal Albert Hall one hundred times over. Narrated by Kulvinder Ghir, 'Sikhs and the City' offers a rare and entertaining day-in-the-life snapshot of one of Britain's biggest, but least understood, faith communities as they celebrate the 400th anniversary of their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. read more

	SKY RESEARCH SLAMS PORTRAYAL OF ASIANS TV
	Sahara India Pariwar has announced the first ever-international Indian Film Festival, which will reach 3 major cities and 7,000 people in just 9 days. India's most powerful business corporation, who will launch its Bollywood movies showcase on the 31 August in London. read more

	CELEBRITY CHEF UNVEILS HIS 'EURO VINDALOO'!
	India's top celebrity chef, Rakesh Sethi, was in the UK last week for a whistle-stop tour to launch his very own 'Euro Vindaloo'! Sethi, whose culinary skills have made him a household name in India has caught the football frenzy that is currently gripping the UK. Described as India's equivalent of Antony Worral Thomson, Sethi hosts Mirch Masala, a weekly cookery show on Sky Digital's Star Plus channel. read more

	SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SAI BABA RESURFACE
	In a documentary that is likely to anger millions of devotees the world over, the BBC's This World programme 'Secret Swami' (17 June, 9.00-10.00pm) unveils charges of serious sexual assault against one of India's most revered holy men, Sai Baba. The programme interviews several American men, former devotees, who allege that the Baba rubbed oil on their testicles and exposed himself to them. read more

	BOLLYWOOD STAR IS FINALLY REVEALED
	Inspired by the huge success of Bollywood movies, this four-part series follows Channel 4's search for the first British Bollywood star: an unknown who will go on to win the prize of a part in a Bollywood movie, directed by Mahesh Bhatt. Bollywood Star, that starts on Tuesday 1 June follows the lives of the contestants. read more

	WORLD WEDDINGS: LOVE CONVERTS, WEDNESDAY 26 MAY
	For nine years Ujjala and Asad have met in secret. Day after day, week after week, they have walked together in parks, sat in coffee shops, then parted and gone back to their families. Because she is a Hindu and he is a Muslim and, even in 21st Century Calcutta, their love is taboo. The 'World Weddings: Love Converts' film on BBC2 26 May follows Ujjala and Asad. read more

	PAKISTAN vs INDIA LIVE ON SKY DIGITAL
	SKY Digital viewers can enjoy live ball-by-ball coverage of India's tour of Pakistan on Sky Sports and Pakistani channel ARY Digital who will screen coverage of Test matches & ODI series with a commentary team including Ian Healy, Ian Chappell, Ramiz Raja and Sanjay Manjrekar. read more

	KISMET ROAD - HEALTH DRAMA FOR COMMUNITY CHANNEL
	Kismet Road, a ground-breaking new drama series, launches on The Community Channel from Sunday March 14th at 7.30pm. The 13-part series, funded mainly by the Department of Health, uses drama to deliver health promotion messages in an accessible way. read more

	MULTICULTURAL MELTING POT - REALITY TV SHOW FOR ITV
	London is the most diverse city in the world. Over eight million people from a kaleidoscope of different cultures, classes and faiths rub along together in the capital. But can they live harmoniously under one roof? ITV's 'Melting Pot' programme adapts the reality TV concept for this new show. read more

	AIDS: INDIA'S FORGOTTEN MILLIONS
	There are an estimated 4.6 million people living with HIV and AIDS in India, the country has the second highest number of cases after South Africa and the number of infections in South Asia will explode over the next decade. Rajesh Mirchandani travels to Mumbai, a city with one of the highest numbers of patients with HIV and AIDS in India for BBC Five Live. read more

	SLICK & FUGITIVE, MONDAY 8 MAR 2004, 11PM
	DJ Slick & MC Fugitive are part of a new generation of British Asians who have no time to be stuck between two cultures - they're too busy creating their own. From debut documentary director Rajesh Paul Thind, "Slick & Fugitive" is a warm, energetic and hard-hitting insight into the challenges faced by two young British Muslims from Luton - cousins Sunny & Tariq Shah - as they pursue their musical dreams. read more

	ISLAM'S MILITANT TENDENCY - SUNDAY 7 MAR, 10AM
	In this week’s Five Live Report, Navid Akthar goes past the stereotypes and into the heart of the British Muslim community. He talks to elders and young Muslims, about the growing gulf between immigrant parents and their British born children. He finds a community divided and young Muslims increasingly drawn to an Islamic creed known as Wahhabism or ‘pure Islam’. read more

	NEW PROGRAMME 'DESI DNA' FOR BBC 2
	A brand new series for BBC TWO featuring the best in British Asian arts, entertainment and culture, and showcasing new talent from British Asian communities across the UK is being launched for 2004. Desi DNA will be presented by Nihal Arthanyake, Anita Rani, and Adil Ray. Each week the presenters will bring their own unique take on the Asian scene. read more

	BHATT BECOMES "WHITE KNIGHT" FOR BOLLYWOOD STAR
	Bollywood Star, this summer's Channel 4 programme to find a new British Bollywood idol, has confirmed that renowned Indian Director Mahesh Bhatt is to offer the winner a part in his next film. The contest has attracted criticism for having judges who have no Bollywood experience. read more

	BOLLYIDOL - AUDITIONS FOR A NEW BOLLYWOOD MUSICAL.
	Samir and Leylah Bhamra, the husband and wife duo behind Phizzical, a design & entertainments company in Leicester, are giving talented young Asians the chance to star in a brand new musical. The 'BollyIdol' search is calling for all upcoming actors, dancers, singers, comedians, musicians, producers, and costume and jewellery designers to apply for the auditions which take place in March 2004 in Leicester. read more

	WANT TO BE THE NEXT BOLLYWOOD STAR?
	Bollywood films are huge, have enormous cultural crossover appeal and have never been more fashionable - but there has never been a British Bollywood superstar. Many Bollywood directors don't believe that Brits look the part - so now Channel 4 is turning its attention to finding the first British Bollywood superstar. read more

	RAJ TO RHONDDA - HOW INDIAN DOCTORS SAVED THE NHS
	Time Shift tells the story of a generation of doctors who came from the Indian Sub Continent to become the hidden heroes who have provided the backbone of the NHS for the last 40 years. Having arrived to answer Enoch Powell's pleas for help in the mid 1960's, they came over in their thousands, full of hope and ambition. read more

	MIND OF A MILLIONAIRE FORGES AHEAD
	'Mind of a Millionaire' (BBC2) has seen off the competition in the latest TV GEMS OF THE WEEK. 'Mind of A Millionaire' was praised for "the inclusion of the Black millionaire, looking distinctly like a wayward, bovver boy. It would have tested viewers' prejudices and stereotypes to the limit! Overall it was thought-provoking, informative and uplifting." read more

	'ONE LIFE' TRIUMPHS IN MOVING DOCUMENTARY
	ONE LIFE (BBC1) has landed the top spot in the latest TV GEMS OF THE WEEK. These are programmes which strive to portray minorities in a realistic, fair and dignified way each week in multicultural Britain. DES O'CONNOR'S entertaining interview with SANJEEV BHASKAR (ITV1) was a deserved second, while CHANNEL 4 NEWS is back into the list and up into third spot. read more

	ARENA TAKES DIVERSITY CROWN AS THE BBC DOMINATES
	The top place in this week's TV GEMS OF THE WEEK goes to ARENA (BBC2). Described as "Informative, moving, funny and simply superlative" the meandering tale was addictive to watch. CASUALTY (BBC1) slips to second place, but retaining its usual excellent content and approach, while 3 NON BLONDES (BBC1) makes its presence felt on the list for the first time. read more

	TELEVISION SHOWS ON DIVERSITY "NAME & SHAME" LIST
	What do 'The Crouches', 'The Kumars at No 42' and 'Parkinson' all have in common? Well apart from being BBC programmes, they are all mentioned on the newly published "Shameful Shirkers" list of television programmes that inadvertently reinforce monoculturism. read more

	ASIAN ASPIRATION & ACHIEVEMENT - BIG DREAMS ON BBC 2
	This Autumn BBC TWO's 'Big Dreams' season looks at Asian life in Britain and the crossover between the two cultures. Featuring the rags to riches fairy tales of first generation immigrants to the efforts their children are making to take their legacies forward, 'Seven Ways to Become an Asian Millionaire' examines their success. read more

	'SECOND GENERATION' - THE CONTROVERSIAL C4 DRAMA
	'Second Generation' is a major new, two-part drama currently in production for Channel 4. It is an explosive story about love, family and identity - set around the tangled relationships of two Indian families with a deep-rooted, shared history. A vivid romance set in a vibrant world; the drama travels from Southall to Calcutta, into the curry factories, clubs, bedrooms and kitchens of two very different generations. read more

	SUMMER OF BOLLYWOOD ON CHANNEL 4
	Channel 4's on-going celebration of Hindi cinema returns with a season of twenty hand picked films dedicated to Bollywood Celebrities, every Sunday & Monday from July 27. Each film in the season is introduced by its star, or director, as they recount personal memories from their filmic experiences. The series, coordinated by well-known Bollywood anthologist Nasreen Munni Kabir, features films with English subtitles. read more

	'THE GURU' - UK PREMIÈRE ON SKY DIGITAL
	Dance teacher Ramu (Jimi Mistry) arrives in New York seeking fame and fortune, but his first audition lands him the lead in a porn movie. He's no John Travolta and this proves that he's definitely no John Holmes, as an embarrassing attack of stage fright means that he's not up to his part. He finds sympathy from his co-star Sharonna (Heather Graham) who has an enlightened view of her work. Ramu decides to pass off her philosophy as his own at a society dinner hosted by rich spirituality freak Lexi (Marisa Tomei). read more

	MEET THE NEW BBC 'EASTENDERS' FAMILY - THE FERREIRAS.
	The BBC's leading soap 'EastEnders', welcomes a new family this summer, the Ferreiras, an Asian family of Goan descent. The father of the family is Dan Ferreira, played by Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil. Moving into the square with Dan will be his three sons, Ronnie, Ash and Adi and daughter, Kareena. Ronnie's friend Tariq is also becoming an EastEnder. read more

	'BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM' PREMIERES ON SKY DIGITAL
	If you missed the smash hit British-Asian film of last year,'Bend It Like Beckham', then here's your chance to see this hilarious movie as it premieres exclusively on Sky Digital's Box Office service this week. The story follows the fortunes of eighteen-year old Jess (Parminder Nagra) - whose parents want her to be a nice conventional Indian girl. But Jess is a teenager more interested in playing football like her hero David Beckham than cooking or fashion! read more

	EMMA TO LAUNCH TV SHOW
	The Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy (EMMA) founder of the annual NATWEST EMMA Awards is set to launch its first TV initiative, EMMA TV. From 5th May 2003 EMMA TV will be broadcasting on Sky digital EPG channel number 238 (BEN), from 9pm to 3am aimed at 16-35 year olds with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. read more

	BBC NEEDS TRAINEE RESEARCHERS & TECHNOLOGISTS
	BBC News is now open for applications to two trainee programmes - for Trainee Researchers in Current Affairs and for Broadcast Technology Assistant Trainees in News Resources. The aim of both schemes is to attract new and diverse talent into BBC News. Closing date is 16th May & 20th June. read more

	BBC LAUNCHES NEWS SPONSORSHIP SCHEME
	The BBC is launching its News Sponsorship Scheme for 2003. The scheme, now in its fourth year, awards around 14 students on Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) accredited courses full funding for their post-graduate diplomas in broadcast journalism, plus bursaries to help with living expenses during their course. read more

	BBC SEEKS NEW BROADCASTING TALENT
	If you have what it takes to work in television or radio, now is the time to act! The BBC is beginning its annual search for budding broadcast talent this month with seven new schemes offering people opportunities to work in different areas of the media. Asian presenter, Konnnie Huq who works on 'Blue Peter' will be spearheading the 'BBC Talent' campaign. read more

	NEW BBC FELLOWSHIP FOR BLACK & ASIAN ACTORS
	The BBC Radio Drama Company is offering a new training opportunity this year to people with a burning desire to act, or who are already actors. A new BBC Radio Drama fellowship named in honour of actor Norman Beaton is being launched, with a particular interest in attracting actors from minority ethnic backgrounds to auditions. read more

	BBC CELEBRATES MEGA MELA AWARDS 2002
	The fourth BBC Mega Mela Awards ceremony celebrating those who have made a contribution to British Asian culture and society is an extravaganza that takes place on Saturday 30th November at the NIA in Birmingham. Star performers this year include Akshay Kumar, Mahima Chaudhary, Pankaj Udhas, Junoon, Hans Raj Hans, Malkit Singh and Hadiqa Kiani. Read more

	HINDUS ANGRY ABOUT NAZI TV SHOW AT DIWALI
	A bizarre scheduling blunder means that UK television company Channel 4, will be screening a dispatches program entitled 'Young, Nazi and Proud' just aA millions of Hindus in the UK celebrate Diwali (Festival of Lights) on Monday 4th November. read more

	KYUNKI SAAS BHI KABHI BAHU THI
	August 2002 will see satellite channel STAR Plus, break new ground with a storyline that jumps 20 years into the future, introducing the 'next generation' of the Viranis in it's hit TV soap 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. read more

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