Celebrity Snakes and Ladders 2009
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comBy Charlotte Duck
Ladder: Madonna
2008 ended with the bitter after-taste of divorce for Madonna, but with the New Year came a new man in the shape of 22-year-old Brazilian model Jesus Luz. After a number of legal wrangles, the singer also managed to successfully adopt Mercy James from Malawi. But the happiness in her personal life didn’t detract from her career; her Sticky & Sweet gigs became the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist and Forbes named her the third-most-powerful celebrity of the year.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson’s appearance in the reprised Melrose Place was eagerly anticipated by fans, so it was disappointing when her character was cut after the murder mystery plot was resolved. 2010 looks to be brighter for the star as she’s set for a run as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Big Brother
After 10 years, 2009 was finally the death of Big Brother, the show everyone hates to love. After falling ratings and “that” racism row, Channel 4 announced that the final series in 2010 will be the last as the show comes to “a natural end point”.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Carey Mulligan
Up until this year, Carey Mulligan had only TV appearances to her name. That all changed when she pulled on a school uniform for the part of Jenny in An Education, the British hit film of the year. We weren’t the only ones impressed; the legendary Oliver Stone cast her in Wall Street 2 after watching the movie – and, while on set, she’s rumoured to have picked up an A-list boyfriend in the form of Shia LaBeouf. Nice work!
Big PicturesLadder: Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was very definitely a “Snake” in 2008 but what a difference a year makes. She’s divorced Blake Fielder-Civil and, thanks to a very long holiday in St Lucia and a few trips a London cosmetic surgeon, is looking much healthier and happier. 2010 is set to continue the trend as the music bosses who’ve heard her new album say it’s “floored” them.
Rex FeaturesSnake: Courtney Love
In May Courtney Love found herself in deep water with her credit card company, who claimed she owed them £220,000 but had “refused” to make any payments. She burned a few more bridges by posting a bizarre rant on Facebook that claimed Britney Spears had been molested by her father Jamie.
Rex FeaturesSnake: Kerry Katona
2009 has not been a good year for Kerry Katona. The former Atomic Kitten and ‘Queen of the Jungle’ was cautioned by police after being filmed snorting cocaine and, two days later, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting her accountant. As a result of these misdemeanours, Kerry was dropped as the face of Iceland.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Susan Boyle
When a West Lothian voluntary church worker stepped onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage and said she wanted to be “as successful as” Elaine Page, no one expected what would happen next. Susan Boyle’s first audition singing “I Dreamed A Dream” was watched 66m times in the first week, setting an online record. She also found some celebrity fans in the shape of Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah Winfrey and Kelly Clarkson. Susan missed out on winning the talent show but her album did become Amazon’s best-selling record in pre-sales so it wasn’t such a bad year. How Susan will deal with her sudden fame is yet to be seen however...
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Alesha Dixon
Alesha Dixon was the nation’s sweetheart after winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. But in September she proved to have backbone as well as a good pas de bra, when she (controversially) replaced Arlene Phillips and stuck to her guns as the ageism debate raged around her.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Chris Brown
The world reeled in shock when it emerged that Chris Brown had assaulted his girlfriend Rihanna in February. The singer pleaded guilty to all the charges and apologised. Speaking of the incident afterwards, Chris said: “I'm in shock, because, first of all, that's not who I am as a person, and that's not who I promise I want to be."
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: JLS
Boy band JLS may have lost out to Alexandra Burke in last year’s X Factor final but they won over the British public with their debut single “Beat Again”, which sold over 100,000 copies in the first week of release. They followed up with “Everybody In Love” and beat Robbie Williams to the No1 spot. No wonder they were awarded two MOBO Awards.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Drew Barrymore
2009 saw Drew make her directorial debut with the critically-acclaimed Whip It, and appear in one of the biggest films of the year, He’s Just Not That Into You. As well as her film work, Drew has emerged as a bit of a talent on the red carpet, wowing with some of her style choices.
Rex FeaturesLadder: Jedward
These Irish X Factor twins have had the country divided: Gordon Brown and Lily Allen don’t think they’re very good, while Calvin Harris, Peaches Geldof and Pixie Lott admit to being fans. Either way, their distinctive blonde quiffs and energetic performances have secured them ample column inches and, if the rumours are true, numerous TV contracts.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Lindsay Lohan
2008’s headlines were dominated by Lindsay Lohan’s relationship with Samantha Ronson, but this year it was all about their break up. The actress doesn’t seem to have taken the split very well and, according to her father, “is on death’s doorstep.” To add to her worries, LiLo’s home has been burgled twice and she’s been accused of stealing a fake tan formula for her cosmetics line.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Katie Price
Katie Price didn’t win many fans following her split from Peter Andre. When she returned to I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here, the public voted for Katie to take part in every Bush-Tucker trial. After being selected for the seventh time, Katie quit the show and dumped her boyfriend Alex Reid live on air afterwards. Nice.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Kate Winslet
After being nominated for an Oscar six times and the Golden Globes seven times, 2009 was the year Kate Winslet actually got something to take home and put on her mantle-piece. The actress won an Oscar and Golden Globe for The Reader and another Golden Globe for Revolutionary Road.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Leona Lewis
It was always going to be hard for Leona Lewis to top 2008 but somehow she managed it. 2009 saw her go from former X Factor winner to bona fide superstar as she cracked America, released an autobiography and announced a world tour - for which apparently “money is no object”.
Big Pictures/PA PhotosSnake: Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton has had a tough year: she was hospitalised in June with a “medical issue” and then her comeback show, My Beautiful Life, was cancelled after just two episodes. Hopefully 2010 will prove kinder to the OC actress.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Megan Fox
Megan Fox probably gets this year’s prize for outspokenness. The actress has compared her director to Hitler and described herself as “completely insane”; it certainly hasn’t done her career any harm, and her comments are as talked about as her films (this year that’s Transformers 2 and Jennifer’s Body).
Rex FeaturesSnake: Peaches Geldof
Peaches Geldof has had a particularly controversial year. She divorced Max Drummey, her husband of six months, before admitting that the marriage had been a publicity stunt. The partygirl then revealed to Fearne Cotton that she was a Scientologist and “really into quantum theories”, but the presenter wasn’t impressed: “She hasn’t got that base level of politeness and etiquette,” she said afterwards.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Liam and Noel Gallagher
The Oasis brothers have amused us with their arguments for over 15 years but, this summer, things weren’t funny anymore. After Liam Gallagher reportedly broke his brother’s guitar backstage at a gig, the pair announced that the band had broken up.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul was dropped from the hugely popular American Idol in August. Despite claiming that her departure was not about money but down to “principle”, The Times reported the singer was trying to negotiate a $20m salary (four times what she’d previously been paid) to return.
Big Pictures/PA PhotosLadder: Taylor Lautner
Taylor Lautner’s career was in the balance at the end of 2008 – would he be recast in the second Twilight film, we all asked? But in January he unveiled his 30lb-heavier, leaner physique and convinced film bosses that he was the only Jacob Black that could tempt Bella away from Edward.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson shocked the world of high fashion in February when modelled for Vivienne Westwood’s Paris Fashion Show. The former Baywatch star, true to form, “accidentally” bared a boob and no longer was the world shocked. Let’s hope her run in panto over the next few weeks is not as X-Rated - it’s rumoured to be paying off some of her $1.2m debts.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Peter Andre
The fairytale may have ended for Peter Andre and Katie Price this year but, in terms of which side we were batting for, there was no contest. Pete came out of it all with a hit album, a new job as Showbiz Reporter for This Morning and his dignity intact.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls announced that they were on hiatus in September but, if the reports are true, this break might become more permanent. Apparently tensions between the band’s most high-profile member’ Lewis Hamilton’s girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, and the rest of the group have reached boiling point.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Rihanna
Rihanna’s 2009 has been a roller-coaster year. After being assaulted by boyfriend Chris Brown before the Grammys in February, Rihanna’s personal life became the subject of public debate. The incident only made her stronger and she came back fighting with a “fierce” fashion look, new album and “Run This Town”, a collaboration with her mentor Jay-Z.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: Rachelle Lefevre
Twilight mania hit the world this year but there was one person who wasn’t impressed. Rachelle Lefevre reprised her role as evil vamp Victoria in New Moon, only to be told that she would be replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in Eclipse. Rachelle said that she was “stunned” by the decision, which the film studios claimed it was down to “scheduling conflicts”.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comSnake: The Sugababes
There’s always been tension between the Sugababes but in September it reached crisis point when Keisha Buchanan, the last original member, left the group. Fans and critics alike reacted badly and the negative publicity wasn’t helped by Amelle Berrabah’s three-week “break” in rehab and the postponement of their new album, Sweet 7.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Robert Pattinson
This time last year Robert Pattinson could wander through the streets of London virtually un-noticed (apart from being well-fit). Not so in 2009. Thanks to a certain vampire movie, virtually 99.9% of the female population has become Robsessed and the man himself is a prisoner in his own hotel room.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Robbie Williams
After two years hiding out in LA, Robbie finally made his comeback with Reality Killed The Video Star, which was only just pipped by JLS to the No1 spot. 2009 was also the year that a Take That reunion looked to be on the cards: Robbie was rumoured to be writing songs with his band-mates and even appeared on stage with them at the Children In Need concert - though we might have to wait till 2010 for the big event.
PA Photos/www.paphotos.comLadder: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has always been popular with the American public but 2009 saw her fame become global. Much of this was due to the way she kept her head after Kanye West stormed onto the stage at the MTV Music Video Awards. On a more positive note, Taylor got herself an A-list boyfriend in the shape of fellow “Ladder” Taylor Lautner.
