November 5th 2005
Irish Film and Television Awards 2005 
Venue - Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland.


Photo © wireimages

November 23rd 2005

Following story courtesy of Torquay Herald Express

KEEDIE HOPES TO HIT THE TOP SPOT

South Devon singing star Keedie Babb has teamed up with the England cricket team in Pakistan and is set to top the charts again this winter with a charity recording of the hymn Jerusalem.

But the 23-year-old classical singer from Marldon has been struck down with a stomach bug and is now recovering at home.

The single will be released on December 12 - in time for Christmas.

All proceeds will go to good causes - split between the Asian Earthquake Appeal and two cricketing charities.

Keedie and her father met England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and the rest of the team at their hotel in Faisalabad - where Pakistani team were playing the second Test against England.

Their visit came in the wake of a 7.6 earthquake which hit the region on the October 8 this year, killing tens of thousands and leaving many children and families homeless - most of them are still suffering.

Keedie's father, Gary Babb, who accompanies her on her singing trips around the globe, said Pakistan had been a real "eye-opener".

He said: "We don't know how lucky we are in this country. You just can't put what you see out there into words - it's like a different world. It brought tears to my eyes.

"As soon as Keedie knew about this trip she said 'every penny is going straight to charity'."

Remembering their trip to the country, Gary said: "I think at first Keedie was a bit nervous. When we arrived at the hotel where they recorded the single we were surrounded by the Pakistani elite force carrying guns who escorted us into the hotel.

"There were armed police everywhere and a screen surrounding the hotel."

He said he and Keedie were both suffering with a stomach bug following the trip but added: "She is fine."

Jerusalem, ranking in the top 20 of Britain's favourite hymns, is synonymous with the team's Ashes victory this summer.

Considered to be one of England's most popular patriotic songs, it has traditionally accompanied the team on to the pitch since 2003 and helped to capture the emotion and glory of the Test match cricket in the summer.

The players all teamed up with Keedie to perform the hymn.

All proceeds from the sale of the single, based on a poem by William Blake with music written by C Hubert and H Parry in 1916, will go to good causes.

The idea to record the hymn as a Christmas single was spurred on by a number of celebrities and cricket fans, said Gary, including Michael Parkinson, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

When asked if he thought the single would top the Christmas charts, Gary said: "That's what we're hoping.

"Everyone we talk to seems to be optimistic that it'll reach number one. Let's hope we raise a lot of money to help all those who are suffering in Pakistan."

Keedie landed a seven figure deal last year, worth £1 million, with recording giants EMI. Five albums were included in the deal. Her first public appearance was at a talent show at Paignton's Palace Theatre.

Keedie with England cricket Captain

November 23rd 2005
Following story courtesy of Torquay Herald Express

SINGING STAR RECORDS CHARITY SINGLE WITH ENGLAND TEAM

Westcountry classical singing sensation Keedie Babb has joined forces with England's cricketing heroes to perform a charity Christmas single. Miss Keedie, 23, from Marldon, near Paignton, began recording the single with the cricket team the day after England lost the first test in their current tour of Pakistan. They met up at the team's Faisalabad hotel to record Jerusalem, the anthem of the cricket team's Ashes-winning series against Australia.

The single will be released on December 12, giving it a chance of making the Christmas number one.

Proceeds will be split evenly between the England and Wales Cricket Board's charity Chance To Shine, the Professional Cricket Association's charity that aids former players who have fallen on hard times, and the Pakistan earthquake appeal.

It is not the singer's first assault on the top spot of the UK charts. Her first single, I Believe My Heart, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel, entered the charts at number two, just days after its release.

Her first album, Keedie, I Believe My Heart, hit the shelves days after the single's success. She secured a six figure record deal with EMI Classics and has spent much of her recent time travelling around the world performing. For her latest single, the South Devon singer joined up with cricket stars including Andrew Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen to perform Jerusalem.

Captain Michael Vaughan said: "Jerusalem is a special song and is the reason why the crowd got behind us from half past ten every morning this summer.

"It was played from the beginning of play and it lifted the crowd to get behind us from ball one."

Marcus Trescothick added: "We have to keep making people aware. It's been five weeks since the quake happened."

December 14th 2005

Following story courtesy of Torquay Herald Express

KEEDIE  
HAS CHANCE OF CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONE WITH CHARITY SINGLE
 
England's cricketing heroes' charity single with Westcountry classical singing sensation Keedie Babb could be an outside bet for Christmas number one, experts believe. The single was released on Monday and sees Miss Babb joining up with members of the Ashes-winning squad, which won the Team of the Year award at the 2005 BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony at the weekend.

Miss Babb, 23, from Marldon, near Paignton, began recording the single with the cricket team earlier in their current tour of Pakistan.

They met up at the team's Faisalabad hotel to record Jerusalem, the anthem of the cricket team's Ashes-winning series against Australia.

The single has been released to raise funds for charity. Proceeds will be split evenly between the England and Wales Cricket Board's charity Chance To Shine, the Professional Cricket Association's charity that aids former players who have fallen on hard times, and the Pakistan earthquake appeal.

However, there has also been talk that it may be an outside bet for the prized Christmas number one.

Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV stores, said: "It helps that the England cricket team and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff (the latest BBC Sports Personality of the Year award winner) got such recognition at the weekend.

"It is promotion and awareness which all sells this to a wider audience."

He added that it was not the type of single which would receive a lot of radio airplay but if people were made aware of it, particularly the fact it is for charity, it would sell. "If it can get exposure I think it could be an outside bet," said Mr Castaldo.

If the single does do well, it would continue the rise of Keedie whose first single, I Believe My Heart, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel, entered the charts at number two, just days after its release.

Her first album, Keedie, I Believe My Heart, hit the shelves days after the single's success.

She secured a six-figure record deal with EMI Classics and has spent much of her recent time travelling around the world performing.

The current single sees the South Devon singer joining the likes of Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen to perform Jerusalem

December 15th 2005

This feature courtesy of Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain

ANDREW FLINTOFF has been named Sportsman of the Year by Britain's sports writers and photographers. The Ashes-winning all-rounder was clear winner of the annual poll of the 500 members of the Sports Journalists' Association. England's captain, Michael Vaughan, was second and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard third.

The England team, who beat Australia to regain the Ashes after 16 years, were voted Team of the Year. Paula Radcliffe was named Sportswoman of the Year after she overcame her Olympics disappointment to win the marathon at the world championships. In a close contest Paula polled more votes than round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur and European three-day event champion Zara Phillips.

The trophies were presented at a gala lunch, supported by UK Sport, in London's Portman Square.

The SJA made a special presentation to the successful London 2012 Olympic Bid team which was accepted by its leader, Lord Coe. And SJA President Michael Parkinson gave the President's award to Clare Connor and the England women's cricket team, who also regained the Ashes against Australia - in their case after an absence of 42 years. Tennis starlet Andrew Murray was named Best International Newcomer.

Other awards:

UK Sport Award: Ellen MacArthur

Outstanding Achievement: Zara Phillips

Special Contribution to Sport: GB cycling coach Dave Brailsford

Disabled Sports Personality: Wheelchair marathon athlete Shelly Woods

© 2006 Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain. All Rights Reserved

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