Marvin was there (who I’ve known for about 10 years) with Aston and Arlene Phillips with James and Ola Jordan from Strictly.. My old friend Faye Tozer was there with her other half sat next to Vicki Michelle who I know from Masterchef too…

It was a funny night to say the least and a lot of money was raised for The Princes Trust…GREAT CAUSE!!

This weekend I headed off to Devon (South Brent to be exact) to my friends B&B … last year we’d offered an auction prize for two couples to come and spend the night and have their food cooked by myself and Helen Tillot ( a great old friend and my home economist ..She’s written books with the best of the celeb chefs out there…Gordon Ramsay for one.) It’s here B&B and it’s just so quiet and lovely. I’ve been a few times now and I just adore it!

WE made some cracking food, we started off with twice baked cheese soufflés and then for mains we had fried savoy cabbage with bacon, original beef wellington, dauphinoise potatoes and this crazy raw carrot in balsamic vinegar mix I do (which is an Italian thing my friend showed me) GOGREOUS!!!!

There wasn’t a thing left on the table! That what I like to see!!

Check out www.Garfiledhouse.co.uk

On the Friday I was lucky enough to be invited round to the Asburton Cookery School and see all their facilities. The place is just knock out and next month I’m going back to do an advanced Chef’s course which I’m absolutely twitching about…

There is a certain vibe there which makes you feel so comfortable and safe because I do know it can be so daunting going to a place like that.

The interesting thing for me though is the range of courses they have, Thai courses, Indian, Special courses for men who’ve never cooked before, dinner party courses and even ones for actual chefs, who just want to brush up on certain things.

I think the fact that it’s in such a tranquil area calms you down too!

Please go on the site and have a look… www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk But don’t chicken out if you think it looks a bit too professional for you, they are the kindest most understanding lot and they will take you through everything step by step.

One last thing, I have to mention how much charity work they do too. When I got there they’d just finished a week long course for young people who were being helped by the Princes Trust (and you know how closely I work with them so I was delighted to hear this)

Oh Hey, I bumped into Kerry the other day. She’s looking great and her boyf is hot and seems like a lovely guy so she’s happy! Ha!

Well all, I’ll speak to you next week…

Loves

xxxx

The only sad bit about this day is my mum is going home to Liverpool…:( ….she’s been here for a week and it’s been so so lovely to have her here. But she does have to go home (doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it though hey?!)

I was at Tash’s the other night having a few wines and a nice bit of take away while little Alfie ran around, his cute curls bopping around on the top of his head, laughing and dancing. Josh was singing (with an AMAZING little voice…someone takes after their mumma hey?!) and gorgeous little Harry, after dance for a good half an hour crashed, curled up into auntie Liz…..aww I swear, that is one happy house! Tash and Riad are phenomenal parents! They truly are!!

(Don’t know about that food we ordered in though Tash, my tummy was a bit dicky the next day! Ha!)

I got to catch up last week with a few of the Legally Blonde lot too….it was lovely, a spot of lunch with one friend…the pub with others….aww I miss them all so much!!

I’m hoping actually to get a friend from the show into the music industry…. Sinead Long…her voice will BLOW YOU AWAY!!! To cut a long (excuse the pun) story short…I’ve heard her sing in the show and yes her voice is knock out but one night our MD put on a band night for us all in the local Irish pub (Tremendous night….but that not the point…) and Sinead (along with our two lovely friends, Micha and Lori sang an En Vogue song…..Sweet jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus, it was so good! ……so there, now you know my plan….

I have a little secret for you too….(it’s not that interesting for you but it’s great for me) For over ten years now I’ve suffered with pretty bad thread veins on my legs and I’ve been so self conscious about them for years. Well, yesterday I had my first patch test for them to be removed at the Skin Health Spa Marylebone and I am so so excited to get it all under way. It’s just for me really, and I didn’t realise it could be so simple after being so conscious about them.

This weekend I’m off to Devon again to fulfil my part of charity auction and take some lovely auction winners to my friends B&B/Cooking school Garfield House and teach them some moves in the kitchen…we’re also off to the Ashburton cooking school too to have a look around which might not turn you on but I LOVE things like that….then I might get a spot of antique shopping in! Ha!

Right I’m off to attempt some kind of sexy up do for the ball…..See ye soon…..

MWAH!

Liz McClarnon is challenging the people of Southport to dust off their running shoes, don their scarves and gloves and take part in Wrap up and Run, a brand new 10k run through the heart of the town on Sunday 4^th March 2012, organised by Age UK.

With Christmas well and truly behind us and summer still a distant prospect, training for the run is a fantastic way to shake off the New Year blues and drop those excess festive pounds. And for those with resolutions to get fit, the event is a great incentive to get off the sofa and get started – whether you’d like to walk, run or participate with your whole family.

The route, which is equivalent to around six miles, will start at Victoria Gardens in Southport and will include the picturesque park, lake and seafront. Wrap up and Run only costs £14.95 to enter, with all of the proceeds going to Age UK to help make later life better for everyone.

Liz McClarnon, TV presenter and former Atomic Kitten from Liverpool, is backing the running event. She said: “We all know that January and February can be tough to tackle after all the fun of the holidays, so why not brighten it up by giving yourself the challenge of taking part in the Wrap up and Run event in Southport? The event is open to people of all abilities and the money raised will make a huge difference to people in later life.”

Money raised from the run will go towards the charity’s Spread the Warmth campaign, which aims to make winter warmer for 360,000 older people this winter by providing information, advice and practical services to help keep warm and well in the colder winter months, preventing many thousands from being left isolated and alone. Money will also go to Age UK Lancashire to help fund vital services such as information and advice, visiting and befriending, day care, housing support, help in the home as well as campaigning on behalf of older people about national and local issues which matter.

Age UK is also challenging every runner to raise at least £50 on 4^th March. Handy tips on how to meet the target include:

Fundraising tips

1 – Ask ten friends to sponsor you £5. Use an online fundraising site such as www.virginmoneygiving.com to set up your own page and email it to your friends, letting them know how their donation will help

2. Host a dinner for five friends asking them each to donate £10 each. Ask your local shops or supermarket to donate something for the meal like a bottle of wine or a dessert

3. Challenge 30 people to guess your finishing time at www.guess2give.com. They will have a chance to win as 50p from each donation goes into a prize pot

What can the money buy?

• £50 buys a heater to keep an older person warm through the winter months. £50 also buys hot meals at a day centre for 16 people
• £20 buys two thermal mugs for warm drinks; an emergency food pack and hats and gloves for four people
• £12 buys a home visit to check energy efficiency and insulation; a thick blanket and a sociable hot meal for four people at a lunch club
• £5 buys cosy bed socks or a hot-water bottle; emergency help in cold weather and a visit from a befriender.

To sign up to the race go to www.ageuk.org.uk/10k or for further information, contact the Age UK 10k team at 10k@ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 169 8787.

My good friend Jude and I went to the new club Playground in Liverpool. It was a wicked night and we got in rather, rather, rather late…he, he, he…I felt like I was 21 again….But not the next day…lol

Then a few days later we went to Australasia in Manchester for sushi and cocktails, that place has a great vibe and although it was a Monday it was jam packed.

When I got back to London I set straight off to the BBC with Ant Costa to record a special episode of Pointless the quiz show (and my absolute have show) …. my god, I was so so nervous…haha…I have to tell you we didn’t do too well at all but hey ho I still loved it…I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s on…

A few days later I was off to ITV for the Alan Titchmarsh show to talk about the film The Iron Lady AND talk from a Northern, working class point of view about The woman herself (noooooo not Meryl Streep…..who I LOOOOOVE btw…but Maggie T….) I was a tad worried (hmmmmm there’s a running theme here isn’t there…I get worried/nervous quite a bit…lol) because I was under the impression I’d be the only person not gushing about her…..and I was but it went quite well, I said my bit and got a lot of positive feedback (from the northerners of course)

Oooo, last night I got to see the Strictly come dancing tour at the O2… it was so very very good. I was really interested to see the dancing but I really didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I would… it was tremendous! I really recommend it!! I did send Jason Donovan a quick good luck text before the show too….he was so good too! I won’t spoil it for anyone who’s going to see it….so sssshhhhh…

Well I’ll be back soon with more info for you all….

Lots and lots of love,

Liz

xxx

How are we?

I’m not sure if you saw on Twitter recently but my good friend Michelle Heaton/Hanley has given birth to a lovely little girl that she and Hugh have decided to call Faith. She’s absolutely perfect. That was a lovely start to the new year for everyone. Congratulations to them!

I had an absolutely Great New years eve…. after a little upset at finishing Legally Blonde for good me and a few mates drove to North Yorkshire to our friends beautiful home/estate/farm (all of the above really) and welcomed in the New Year with lots of champagne, next to an open fire, surrounded by dogs and watching the fireworks! It was just tremendous.

I know there’s been a lot of talk on twitter recently after seeing pics of myself, Tash and Jen meeting up for drinks.
The thing is, is that we are all very close and do like to see each other, have a few wines, show recent pics of babies, dogs, decorating and new boyfs (that’s just me obviously as those two are married…lol… you thought you all had a bit of goss then didn’t you….nah…sorry….) We had a lovely few hours together. It’s just something we do.

Christmas was a blast in Newcastle with the North East family…..we went out for dinner which was so good not too wash up and then my best friends mum had her annual house party after…(wasn’t the best idea for me to enjoy it so much as we had a matinee the next day but everyone was feeling the same so it was funny actually) Boxing day brought the Legally Blonde Secret Santa and OUR own crimbo party which was absolutely brilliant!! (even better for me as I had Joe -the best brother ever – with me)

2012 – has already conjured up some VERY exciting offers….
More TV…
More stage…
More Music…
a new business…
and possibly a bit more acting…..
and if they all come to fruition, I am going to be one VERY happy, but busy girl!

Just on a final note….
Throughout 2011 I felt so completely supported by you all and met a lot more of you whilst being on tour and basically, I just wanted to say “THANK YOU” …. I get messages everyday saying such wonderful things, that when times get tough (and they do sometimes, even for a happy bunny like me) I read these messages and it’s YOU that gives me the energy to just go on! If YOU had what you gave me…..you’d feel this grateful too!

THANK YOU!!!!

Love you lots…..COME ON 2012……WHAT YE GOT THEN…..?!

Your Lil
xx

“Liz McClarnon was brilliant as down-on-her-luck Paulette, making the audience hold their sides as she delivered classic one-liners and stunning vocals.”

Sunderland Echo

“Liz McClarnon who plays Elle’s gal pal Paulette, has a killer pair of lungs on her.”

News Guardian

“The postie is the love-interest of hairdresser Paulette, played to perfection by former Atomic Kitten Liz McCLarnon. Her kooky character was a clear winner”

Newcasle Eveneing Chronicle

“Liz McClarnon was brilliant as down-on-her-luck Paulette, making the audience hold their sides as she delivered classic one-liners and stunning vocal”

Street North East

“Liz McCLarnon was a favourite performance of mine. Excellent characterisation and impecable comic timing had us howling (and I mean howling, the poor people next to us must have been terrified)”

107 Spark FM