Big Mac bosses in little “planet” blunder

By Michael MacLeod

FAST food clown Ronald McDonald has been slated by scientists for conning kids into believing Pluto is still a planet.
pluto
The tiny space rock was officially judged to be too small to qualify as a planet three years ago.

But space geeks have spotted a recent batch of McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes still stating: “There are nine planets in total.”

Now burger bosses admit they are “aware” of the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) ruling.

Members of the 10,000-strong IAU took over two years debating how many planets were in the solar system.
Continue reading

World’s most beautiful teenager is from Fife

Emma McInnes as she collects her crown

Emma McInnes as she collects her crown

By Cara Sulieman

A SEXY Scots gym instructor has been voted the world’s most beautiful teenager.

Emma McInnes, 17, scooped the Miss Teen Galaxy crown in Florida after wowing the judges in gruelling week-long contest.

The Fifer jetted home last night with her new title after a lavish ceremony on Saturday night.

Emma broke the news to her friends over Facebook with the message: “I am now Miss Teen International!”

Continue reading

BOUNCING ASTRONAUTS LAUNCH ASTRONOMY WEEK AT DYNAMIC EARTH

By Oliver Farrimond

ONE of Edinburgh’s star tourist attractions has kicked off a week-long festival of astronomy, the universe and everything.

Exploding marshmallows, an inflatable planetarium and a host of cosmic exhibitions will all feature at Our Dynamic Earth over the Easter weekend, until April 13.

The festival, dubbed the “Astronomical Astronomy Circus”, aims to capture the imaginations of stargazers both young and old.

Visitors will get the chance to build robots out of Lego, “terra-form” Mars and enjoy an intimate planetarium experience.

Continue reading

Scottish cartoon set to light up TV screens

Gray - the main character in One Star

Gray - the main character in One Star

By Michael MacLeodTHE stars behind the country’s most iconic kids TV shows are coming together for a new comedy cartoon for adults.

The masterminds who brought us Bob the Builder, Shaun the Sheep and even the voice behind Postman Pat are uniting for a raunchy and downright rude space-based animation.

Touted as “the Scottish Family Guy meets Fawlty Towers – in space,” One Star is set to screen on BBC2 on Wednesday.

If it proves a hit with viewers, it could soon become as familiar.

Set in the year 2050, the 3D animation features a Scottish Borders farmer running a B&B in the outer reaches of the Galaxy.

One of stand-up hero Frankie Boyle’s chums from the Scottish comedy circuit – Greg McHugh – does voices for the lead character, Gray, and music agent Twentypercentia.

The two-time Scottish BAFTA winner said: “I used to do a lot of stand up comedy so was pretty good at stopping myself laughing.

“But the script for One Star is so funny and has some really disgusting moments that I had to compose myself.

“It’s self-deprecating humour but we Scots love taking the mick out of ourselves and I think the rest of the country loves that about us too.”

The alien cast also features the voices of comedian Brendan Burns, Sarah Hadland of Mitchell and Webb fame, as well as Gavin Mitchell of Still Game.

The hotel receptionists, Jobriath Tudd

The hotel receptionists, Jobriath Tudd

Producer David Murdoch pointed out that comedy is important amid tough times.

He said: “In a depression you need escapist comedy, big characters, wild plots and not a banker in sight.

“We got inspiration from many places, including Fawlty Towers, Psycho and The Chipmunks.

“My favourite character is mother – the classic strict Calvinist granny with a very well stocked larder and a windy bottom.

“Like Family Guy, it’s edgy, irreverent, and has naked cartoon men doing stupid things.

“It’s still good to know we Scots can have a laugh about the future. We wanted to make it lovingly stupid with the occasional naughty bit.

“In the future you’ll have seven-star intergalactic hotel chains but you’ll also have places with squeaky beds and owners who reveal embarrassing information to their guests and One Star is that place.

“It is based on a real hotel in Scotland, but I couldn’t possibly reveal where.

“Space is big and cosmopolitan and we wanted an international cast to reflect that with a blend of different accents and body parts.”

The show was supported by the National Lottery Fund and airs on BBC2 on Wednesday March 4th at 10pm and repeated on Monday March 9th at 11.15pm on BBC 1.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started