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Richard Branson Thought He Was "Going To Die" In Bike Accident


Richard Branson

Richard Branson has revealed he thought he was “going to die” after he was involved in a horrific bicycle crash in the British Virgin Islands earlier this week.

The 66 year old businessman, the founder of Virgin Group who is said to worth over $5 billion, crashed head-first onto a road while on a training cycle run with his two adult children Holly and Sam on Monday (August 22nd).

Richard BransonRichard Branson was involved in a nasty bike accident earlier this week

Continue reading: Richard Branson Thought He Was "Going To Die" In Bike Accident

Is Virgin Radio Returning To The Airwaves?


Richard Branson

Richard Branson's brand Virgin Radio could be making a surprise return to the airwaves as part of a bid put forward by Sound Digital, a consortium of TalkSport owner UTV Media, Bauer and transmission business Arqiva.

Richard BransonRichard Branson's Virgin brand could be making a comeback on the radio

"It's been a long held wish of mine to see Virgin Radio re-launch in the UK after the success we had with Virgin Radio UK in the 1990s," said Branson. "The team at Virgin Radio International has worked tirelessly to accomplish this and I'm delighted that UTV Media invited us to join their exciting plans for digital radio in the UK. We wish UTV Media and its consortium success in its application to Ofcom."

Continue reading: Is Virgin Radio Returning To The Airwaves?

Richard Branson Has Recorded A Simpsons Cameo


Richard Branson The Simpsons Harry Shearer

They say you haven’t ‘made it’ – i.e., reached the peak of your career- until you’ve had your Simpsons cameo. And even though Richard Branson was depicted in a season 22 episode alongside fellow billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, his voice has never featured. 

The Simpsons

But now it has. The Virgin overlord will star as himself in an upcoming episode due to air early next year. “Richard Branson is the Flanders to Mr. Burns,” executive producer Al Jean told EW. “He’s Mr. Burns’ nosy neighbor.”

Continue reading: Richard Branson Has Recorded A Simpsons Cameo

Vivienne Westwood Unveils "Extremely Glamorous" Virgin Atlantic Aircrew Uniforms


Vivienne Westwood Richard Branson

Dame Vivienne Westwood has unveiled a range of new uniforms for Virgin Atlantic staff to wear to work. The British designer teamed up with the airline to design a range of practical yet stylish outfits for use across a range of roles.

At a special unveiling event this week in East London, Westwood introduced her new range for the Sir Richard Branson-owned airline in front of an audience of staff and stars, including Debbie Harry, Mark Ronson, Dominic Cooper, Matt Smith and Bond girl Naomi Harris.

The updated uniforms are being made using a polyester made from recycled plastic bottles and take inspiration from some of the punk designer's most iconic pieces as well as her interest in 1940s French fashion.

Continue reading: Vivienne Westwood Unveils "Extremely Glamorous" Virgin Atlantic Aircrew Uniforms

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia Trailer


Dyslexia is a disorder that renders sufferers unable to comprehend words easily or accurately and is probably the most common learning disability that affects only one area of their academic skill. However, despite common misconceptions, dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence; indeed, some of the biggest academic and creative geniuses in the world suffered from it including author Lewis Carroll, musician John Lennon, artist Leonardo da Vinci and scientist Albert Einstein. This documentary takes viewers into the lives of several dyslexics who don't let their struggles interfere with their high ambitions. They include Allison, a graduate from Columbia University; Skye, a young talented dancer; Sebastian, a ski racer; and Dylan, a high school senior with hopes of a higher education at a prestigious university.

Continue: The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia Trailer

Hawking Review


Good

Stephen Hawking proves to be an entertaining storyteller in this autobiographical documentary in which, with the help of two cowriters, he takes us on a trip through his life. It's a fascinating narrative, peppered with witty anecdotes and pithy observations. But it feels perhaps a bit too triumphant, and only rarely lets us see the man behind the famous public persona.

Hawking tells his own story, starting with his birth into an academic Oxford family and early fascination with the cosmos. He found school and university rather easy, and it wasn't until he started his PhD at Cambridge that he had his first eureka moment. It was also at this time, aged 21, when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given just three years to live. But the condition developed slower than expected, so he married his girlfriend Jane and continued his studies. And over the following 50 years he has completely changed the way we understand the universe.

There are several key recurring themes here, as Hawking reveals his thoughts about science, culture and sex with humour and insight. He also lets us see his ongoing desire for recognition in his field. This is what led him to battle through the writing of his international bestseller A Brief History of Time, and also why he took a memorable guest-starring role on The Simpsons. The film recounts both experiences, as well as a hilarious TV appearance with Carrey and his friendships with everyone from Steven Spielberg to Barack Obama.

Continue reading: Hawking Review

It's Only 'Rocknroll' But Kate Winslet Will Never Take Her Husband's Name


Kate Winslet Sam Mendes Richard Branson

Rather than do things the old fashioned way, Kate Winslet has decided that she will keep hold of her last name rather than go by her husband's surname from here on in. Probably a wise move, because not only is Winslet one of the most instantly recognisable names around Hollywood today, but changing her name to Kate Rocknroll? That might be cause enough to get her barred from winning another Oscar nomination.

Kate Winslet TIFF
Kate at the Toronto Film Festival screening of her new film, Labor Day

The Academy Award-winning actress was speaking with British newspaper The Telegraph recently, when she stated that she may be in love with her husband, Ned Rocknroll, and may be bearing their first child together at the moment, but that doesn't mean she feels any pressure to take his surname. The 37-year-old acting star has been married before, to people with normal last names too, so maybe her decision to keep hold of her maiden name isn't based on the fact that her husband has a silly last name. Well, it might have something to do with it still.

Continue reading: It's Only 'Rocknroll' But Kate Winslet Will Never Take Her Husband's Name

Stars Head For The Stars: Justin Bieber Joins The Virgin Galactic Party


Justin Bieber Tom Hanks Leonardo Dicaprio Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Ashton Kutcher Richard Branson Tom Cruise Paris Hilton Bryan Singer Stephen Hawking Jk Rowling

It is confirmed: pint-sized popstar Justin Bieber and manager Scooter Braun, are set to be blasted towards the real stars, out into space.

Tycoon Richard Branson, founder and chairman of travel, entertainment and lifestyle company, Virgin Group, was first to break the news on Twitter: "Great to hear @justinbieber & @scooterbraun are latest @virgingalactic future astronauts. Congrats, see you up there!" whilst a buzzing Bieber replied: "Let's shoot a music video in SPACE!!"

The 19-year old 'Baby' hitmaker could be fleeing planet Earth to escape from his growing list of shameful actions that have brought the wayward party-boy under media scrutiny, including leaving insensitive messages in the guestbook at Amsterdam's Anne Frank museum, abandoning his pet monkey, 'Mally', in Germany after she was confiscated at customs, arriving onstage two hours late at his concert in London, and threatening to "beat the f**k" out of a photographer. Space might just be the best place for the little reprobate then.

Continue reading: Stars Head For The Stars: Justin Bieber Joins The Virgin Galactic Party

Where Is Justin Bieber From? Mars, Venus Or Pluto?


Justin Bieber Richard Branson Tom Hanks Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Leonardo Dicaprio

America has finally lost patience with Justin Bieber and will blast him back to his homeland on the Virgin Galactic commercial space flight. But where is Justin Bieber from? Mars? Venus? The Moon? Well, actually he's from Ontario, Canada, and Mr Obama hasn't decided to exile the troublesome 19-year-old. Sorry.

Of course, the young scamp and his manager Scooter Braun have signed up for Sir Richard Branson's space flight which means he WILL be returning to earth, unless Tom Hanks throws him out of the window that is. "Great to hear @justinbieber & @scooterbraun are latest @virgingalactic future astronauts. Congrats, see you up there!" tweeted Branson this week. Bieber replied: "Let's shoot a music video in SPACE!!"

The space programme comes at a cost of $250,000 (deposit) though it wasn't enough to put off Bieber, or the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Leonardo Dicaprio, who have all reportedly paid the fee to be the first civilians in space. At last month's Cannes Film Festival, one guest at a charity auction paid $1.2 million to sit next to DiCaprio on the flight.

Continue reading: Where Is Justin Bieber From? Mars, Venus Or Pluto?

Justin Bieber Is The Latest Star To Fly Into Outer Space Thanks To Sir Richard Branson


Justin Bieber Richard Branson

Justin Bieber has all the money in the world, so it really doesn't come as too much surprise to learn that he's shelled out a fortune to become the next star to climb aboard one of the Virgin Galactic flights and head into space. We assume he is anyway, with Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson Tweeting Biebs a congrats message this week. So either Bieber is going to space, or Branson is going to prison for kicking him off the planet.

The loveable entrepreneur took to his Twitter on Wednesday (June 5) to send the singer and talent manager Scooter Braun a congratulatory message, before posing the idea of a music video shot in space (see this is why Branson is so rich). "Great to hear @justinbieber & @scooterbraun are latest @virgingalactic future astronauts. Congrats, see you up there!" wrote the Virgin boss, following up his initia message with, ".@justinbieber @scooterbraun @virgingalactic music video in space? Now that's what I call music!"

Justin now joins the likes of fellow wannabe astronauts Tom Hanks, Victoria Principal, Ashton Kutcher, Stephen Hawkings and Leonardo DiCaprio, had the set next to him auctioned off for $1.5 million at this year's Cannes Film Festival in May. This should fulfil the life-long ambition of the star too, who had previously Tweeted "I wanna do a concert in space," in February.

Continue reading: Justin Bieber Is The Latest Star To Fly Into Outer Space Thanks To Sir Richard Branson

Kate Winslet, 37, Pregnant With A Miniature Rocknroller


Kate Winslet Sam Mendes Shailene Woodley Jason Reitman Richard Branson

Oscar winning actress Kate Winslet is pregnant with her first child to husband Ned Rocknroll. The 37-year-old will become a mother for the third time - she is also a parent to 12-year-old Mia with her first ex-husband Jim Threapleton and 9-year-old Joe with her second, Sam Mendes.

Winslet tied the knot with the fantastically named Ned Rocknroll in December after a year and a half of dating. He is the nephew of billionaire Virgin mogul Richard Branson. The actress had never ruled out having more children and told InStyle back in 2006 that she was "hoping to have more kids...I don't know whether one or two. Oh, God, I would love to have more."

Incidentally, Winslet's recently wrapped up filming the Jason Reitman-directed drama Labor Day in which she plays a depressed single mother who offers a wounded escaped convict a ride. As police search the town, the mother and her young son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited. The movie also stars Tobey Maguire and Josh Brolin and hits theaters on January 31, 2014.

Continue reading: Kate Winslet, 37, Pregnant With A Miniature Rocknroller

A Seat Beside Leonardo DiCaprio On Space Journey Sells For Millions


Leonardo Dicaprio Harvey Weinstein Richard Branson

A trip to space with Leonardo Dicaprio has been auctioned off for a magnificent 1.2 million euros which will be donated to the charity amfAR Cinema Against AIDS.

The lucky bidder has landed the chance to be seated next to 'The Great Gatsby' star aboard Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic fleet on an unforgettable trip to the stars. The prize, which was advertised as 'a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space with a mystery guest', was sold at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes during a dinner/ auction organised by The Weinstein Company's Harvey Weinstein on Thursday night (May 23rd 2013) in benefit of the amfAR foundation. Two other seats on the same flight have been sold for a total of 1.8 million euros. After informing them of his star prize, Weinstein joked to the Hollywood Reporter that some wished he could be jetted off into the galaxy too. 'But only on a one-way ticket', he adds.

On Thursday, amfAR noted that the event brought in a spectacular $25 million; a stark contrast to their $11 million collection last year. But then, with prizes as enviable as a space holiday with the handsome DiCaprio, it's not surprising how much the event goers managed to cough up.

Continue reading: A Seat Beside Leonardo DiCaprio On Space Journey Sells For Millions

Kate Winslet Given A Flight Into Space As Wedding Gift


Kate Winslet Richard Branson

Kate Winslet tied the knot with her ridiculously named other-half Ned RocknRoll in a very private ceremony earlier this week, and it turns out she got one heck of a present from one of her new in-laws, Richard Branson, in the shape of a trip into space.

Today (Dec 30), The Sun reported that the newly-married couple were given two tickets for the planned Virgin Galactic space trips set to take flight in 2014 from the groom's uncle, the billionaire Virgin mogul Sir Richard Branson. Apparently, the gift is also a token of appreciation, as well as a wedding gift, to Winslet for her help last year when a fire broke out in his luxurious Necker Island retreat, threatening his family on the island and forcing Winslet to brave the flames and save Branson's grandmother.

Being a billionaire probably helps when it comes to giving out expensive gifts, but with single seat tickets for the scheduled journeys into space selling for around $200,000, this doesn't make the gift any less generous. As it stands, the still-under-construction intergalactic retreat has sold over 500 tickets so far, with Russell Brand and Ashton Kutcher among the first ticket buyers. Still, is anyone else thinking of inviting Branson to their wedding?

Kate Winslet Gets Married To Rock 'n' Roll: Not An Announcement For An Upcoming Album


Kate Winslet Richard Branson

Kate Winslet is married again and it’s to the man with the most… err… interesting name in showbiz, we might add.

The Titanic actress wed Ned Rock’nroll (see, we told you) in early December, according to People, and the pair wanted as few people as possible to find out. The ceremony was reportedly a very private one, with just a few close friends and family in attendance. "I can confirm that Kate Winslet married Ned Rock'nRoll in NY earlier this month in a private ceremony attended by her two children and a very few friends and family," Winslet’s rep has said. "The couple had been engaged since the summer."

The ceremony was kept under tight wraps, it would seem, and even the bride’s parents were not in attendance. Instead, Kate’s two-time co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio, was the one to give her away. Despite the air of elopement around the whole thing, the wedding wasn’t sudden at all. In fact, Winslet has been dating Rock’nroll since 2011. In the summer of 2011, the couple were vacationing on a private island, owned by Richard Branson (Ned’s uncle), when a fire broke out and Kate ended up rescuing Branson’s 90-year-old grandmother. And if that doesn’t spell out the beginning of a beautiful romance, what would?

Continue reading: Kate Winslet Gets Married To Rock 'n' Roll: Not An Announcement For An Upcoming Album

Richard Branson Gives Kate Winslet And New Hubby Space Trip, Best Wedding Gift Ever?


Kate Winslet Richard Branson

Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll got married in a very secret ceremony earlier in December, it was reported yesterday. While they may have worried that such secrecy would mean their gift pile would be short a few presents, Richard Branson - Ned's uncle - has given them a flight into space, worth £124,000, reports the Telegraph. 

Rocknroll works for Branson's Virgan Galactic branch of his Virgin empire- that's the part that deals with space travel and developing the ships to enter space. They're hoping to begin commercial flights next year, which will see travellers shoot 60 miles above the Earth's surface, experience weightlessness as well as being able to see the Earth's curve and all in a journey of just 2 hours. Sounds pretty amazing, but it does come at a price- £124,000. Plenty of celebs have already got their tickets, and Stephen Hawking was given a ticket for free.

Space travel tickets are probably the best wedding gift we've ever heard of, but there have been some very strange ones between celebrities. According to the DotComGiftShop Julia Roberts has offered free babysitting services for whenever Brad Pitt and Angelina get married, PETA gave Katy Perry and Russell Brand a bull, while Alex Reid gave his bride (and now ex wife) Katie Price a teacup pig. 

Skrillex And Jack White Lead The Festivities At Virgin Mobile FreeFest


Skrillex Jack White Alabama Shakes ZZ Top Santigold Richard Branson

Skrillex and Jack White were amongst the highlights of Saturday’s Virgin Mobile FreeFest (October 6, 2012). Over 50,000 people crowded into the Merriweather Post Pavilion to enjoy the three stages worth of music, from the likes of Alabama Shakes, ZZ Top and Santigold; an eclectic mix of old and new, sure to keep the punters satisfied. Tickets to the event were free and Virgin boss Richard Branson spoke to the Washington Post backstage, explaining the work that FreeFest does with homeless youths.

Skrillex was clearly a big draw for the event; one punter, Liz Carr, 27, told the Post that she and her friends had a goal for the evening and that was “to not be blacked out by the time Skrillex comes on.” Whether or not she achieved her aims, we may never know. But those that did manage to stay conscious until the US producer played his headline, 90 minute set, were treated to a “bombardment of riotous dubstep songs with sci-fi lasers, flames, smoke and sparks to match.” Jack White’s 50 minute set was deemed too brief by those in attendance, who called him back onstage for an encore, in a rather unusual manner – by “WHOA-OH-OH-ing the guitar riff from ‘Seven Nation Army.’

It was down to Jack White that the festival-goers at FreeFest were treated to a glimpse of ZZ Top, too. They may not be the hippest band on the planet but when you’re playing at the personal request of Jack White, you’ve instantly earned yourself a few extra nods of approval.


Yoshiki and Richard Branson Monday 26th October 2009 Sir Richard Branson and Eve Branson host 'Rock The Kasbah' held at Vibiana - Arrivals Los Angeles, California

Yoshiki and Richard Branson

Around The World In 80 Days Review


OK

Jules Verne might have a hard time recognizing his source material in the Jackie Chan action-comedy adaptation of "Around the World in 80 Days," but for non-purists, it's easy to forgive the many liberties taken in this funny, fleet-footed summer-matinee romp.

Although the ostensible main character is still screwball Victorian inventor Phileas Fogg (lanky Steve Coogan) -- who wagers against the stuffed shirts of the English scientific establishment that he can circumnavigate the globe in the titular time period -- this version of the story more literally revolves around Passepartout (Chan), Fogg's valet who has his own reasons for traipsing across continents.

Passepartout has stolen a jade Buddha from a Bank of London vault in order to return it to its rightful place: his native village in China. Fogg is his ticket to safe passage -- or so he thinks.

Continue reading: Around The World In 80 Days Review

Richard Branson

Richard Branson Quick Links

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Richard Branson

Date of birth

18th July, 1950

Occupation

Businessman

Sex

Male

Height

1.79




Richard Branson Movies

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia Trailer

The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia Trailer

Dyslexia is a disorder that renders sufferers unable to comprehend words easily or accurately and...

Hawking Movie Review

Hawking Movie Review

Stephen Hawking proves to be an entertaining storyteller in this autobiographical documentary in which, with...

Around The World In 80 Days Movie Review

Around The World In 80 Days Movie Review

Jules Verne might have a hard time recognizing his source material in the Jackie Chan...

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