Recession-hit Brit workers quitting the rat race in favour of ‘funemployment’

October 9th, 2009 LONDON - Veteran British showman Bruce Forsyth has said that the 'Strictly Come Dancing' star Anton Du Beke's use of the offensive term 'Paki' for his show partner Laila Rouass was wrong. The 81-year-old said previously told Talksport radio that the race row was being taken too far.

September 13th, 2009 LONDON - Jo Wood is glad her cheating husband Ronnie is off her hands and has even thanked his 19-year-old girlfriend for setting her free of her duties. Jo, who raised four kids with the Rolling Stone rocker during their 31-year-old relationship, said Russian cocktail waitress Ekaterina Ivanova had actually done her a favour by taking the 61-year-old away from her.

September 2nd, 2009 LONDON - One third of Brit workers have no trust in their senior managers, and the trend is more visible among those working in large public sector companies, according to a new study. Conducted by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), the research has suggested that managers at larger companies trigger the least trust.

August 30th, 2009 LONDON - Naomi Campbell has slammed advertising companies for dropping black models from promoting their products on the pretext of recession. "This year, we have gone back all the way that we had advanced.

July 29th, 2009 David Alan Grier joins cast of Broadway's 'Race'NEW YORK — David Alan Grier is joining the cast of David Mamet's (MAM'-eht) Broadway-bound play "Race." The 53-year-old actor will star in the production along with the previously announced James Spader (SPAY'-dur), Richard Thomas and Kerry Washington. "Race" opens Dec.

July 13th, 2009 LONDON - Despite the recession, British women are splashing out an extraordinary 1.1 billion pounds on make-up every month, according to a new poll. The survey of more than 1,000 women by cosmetics firm Avon found that women carry an average of 57-pound-worth of cosmetics in their make-up bags, according to a new poll.

July 9th, 2009 Orchestra plays live soundtrack to horse raceLONDON — Fiery horses and a cloud of dust, but no hearty "Hi-Yo Silver." A British horse racing track said Thursday it asked the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to give a recital at its finishing post, hoping to wow spectators and spur the animals to quicken their pace. Kempton Park race course, just south of London, staged the unique event on Wednesday, as the orchestra played the "William Tell" Overture, the "Lone Ranger" theme song, during a horse race.

July 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Brit celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has revealed that he sees a better future for his global restaurant empire, even though the ongoing recession has hit him hard, and his profits have dropped down to 87 percent. Ramsay's debts have doubled from 4million pounds to 9.5million pounds, with interest payments rising to 545,563 pounds.

June 22nd, 2009 LONDON - Bangers and mash is Britons' most popular food for comfort eating as they battle the ongoing recession, according to a new survey. According to the survey commissioned by TV channel Good Food, the traditional dish emerged as the frontrunner with 16 per cent of the votes in its favour as compared to last year.

May 29th, 2009 LONDON - The pressure of global fame is taking a toll on Britain's Got Talent star Susan Boyle, according to judge Piers Morgan. Writing on his Internet blog Morgan said that the Scottish singing sensation has been in "floods of tears" this week and suffering from almost crippling nerves.

May 21st, 2009 LONDON - If your partner is a computer nerd, your sex life would certainly be rocking, for a survey has revealed that IT professionals make the best lovers. The anonymous study of 2,000 British men and women also found computer geeks to be the most selfless in the sack, the most adventurous and more likely to use love gadgets.

May 14th, 2009 LONDON - Lovesick Britons looking for low-cost ways to find potential partners have turned to the Internet. According to analysts Mintel, more than 40 percent of singletons have signed up to an online dating agency or are thinking of doing so - hoping they'll click with that special someone.

May 12th, 2009 James Spader set to star in 'Race' on BroadwayNEW YORK — James Spader is trading in Boston for Broadway. Producer Jeffrey Richards says the star of TV's "Boston Legal" as well as the film "sex, lies and videotape," will make his Broadway debut in the world premiere of David Mamet's "Race." The play, which Mamet will direct, has also found a New York home — the Ethel Barrymore Theater — and will go into rehearsal a week earlier than previously announced.

May 11th, 2009 Danny Glover joins tour supporting labor workersHAMTRAMCK, Mich. — Actor Danny Glover joined labor, political and civil-rights leaders on one of the first stops of a four-day, 11-state tour supporting U.S.

May 4th, 2009 LONDON - Brit pop singer Lily Allen is on the look out for a London property she can buy and then rent out. Allen, 24, who already owns a swanky 700,000 pounds three-bed house in Queen's Park, northwest London, wants to take advantage of the low prices offered at the moment, and she hopes to earn extra cash during the recession.