robbienews

News 2002:

Januarury

Robbie from Stoke joins the Simpsons........8th of January
Robbie Williams has been approached to appear on the Simpsons. Producers of the Sky One cartoon series are said to be working on a script for the rehab romeo, who would join a long line of celebrities, including Sting, Michael Jackson and Elton John who have appeared with America's most famous dysfunctional family. A cameo on the show could certainly work to Robbie's advantage as he pursues success in the lucrative American market. A studio source comments, 'It would be a huge boost for Robbie's image in America. While he is a household name in the UK, he is not that well known in the States. The producers know how huge he is in Europe, which is an important market for them.' Watch out for Robbie and Bart cheekily mooning Principal Skinner together.

A stupid amount of cash........2nd of January
ROBBIE WILLIAMS is not the only person happy that he has got to No1 with Somethin� Stupid. The success means another bumper pay day for the song�s writer, CARSON PARKS. He penned it in 1966 and since FRANK SINATRA and his daughter NANCY had a hit with it in 1967 it has earned Carson around �180,000 a year in royalties, that�s more than �6million.

The song has been covered by more than 250 artists, including Coronation Street�s Mike and Alma Baldwin, alias JOHNNY BRIGGS and AMANDA BARRIE. American Carson gets 8.5 per cent of each record sale and a small fee each time the song is played on the radio. In 1999 alone it was broadcast three million times, earning him �100,000.It has paid for a mansion in Georgia, a yacht, a stretch limo and schooling for Carson�s five kids.

Robbie still dominates charts........30th of december
Pop superstar Robbie Williams dominated the music charts for a third week with his single Somethin' Stupid and album Swing When You're Winning retaining their British number one spots.

Williams, whose duet with Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman claimed the Christmas number one, was followed in at number two by Daniel Bedingfield who rose one place from third with Gotta Get Thru This.
Robbie Williams comic capers
He wuz Robbed
Generous Robbie

Comic Capers........29th of december
Pop sensation ROBBIE WILLIAMS is to be immortalised as a comic-book character. The SWING WHEN YOUR WINNING star has inspired the bosses of British children's comic THE BEANO to create a character based on him - called Robbie Rebel. And they are so sure he will be a big hit that they plan to make him a permanent fixture in the comic.

"Our stock-in-trade is loveable rogues," says editor EUAN KERR, "and he fitted
the bill perfectly. "There's plenty about Robbie that's great for our comic. It's all done in the name of fun and we'll be keeping the storylines cheerful
and innocent."

Robbie, who became the 2,000th member of the comic's fan club, will make his
first appearance next month (Jan02). Kerr adds, "He's introduced as a newborn baby and the nurse spanks his bottom to get him to cry. "But of course he doesn't cry. He's a rebel, so he just laughs at her cheekily." We tried a couple of things but after a few ideas decided that this was a winner. We only introduce one or two new characters each year so this is quite a privilege for him."

Williams will be the first star to appear regularly in the popular childrens
comic.

He wuz robbed........27th of december
ROBBIE WILLIAMS was THE top showman of 2001 � but you would hardly guess it from looking at the HMV sales polls. Robbie, who topped the UK�s Christmas singles AND albums charts, features in FIVE of the high street music giant�s own ratings and was their biggest-selling star. But he managed to top just ONE HMV chart � and that was only because he contributed to the soundtrack of the top video Bridget Jones�s Diary.

Robbie can justifiably feel �I wuz robbed� � but he still made more of a show than any other artist. His big-band album Swing When You�re Winning was the fastest seller of 2001, shifting 1.3m copies in just SIX WEEKS. His biography, Somebody Someday, came runner-up in the HMV book chart. His calendar was second choice in that category. Robbie�s songs Have You Met Mrs Jones? and Not Of This Earth both featured in the Bridget Jones movie. As well as being the biggest-selling video of the year, the film was No3 in the DVD poll.

Top-selling single of 2001 was SHAGGY�S It Wasn�t Me. His follow-up No1, Angel, also features in HMV�s singles chart while his Hot Shot album is the store�s sixth biggest seller. KYLIE MINOGUE proved once again that she is the nation�s favourite pin-up, topping both the calendar and poster lists.

Generous Robbie........26th of december
GENEROUS Robbie Williams bought his mum a �10,000 Smart car for Christmas. The singer � at No1 in both the single and album charts � splashed out on the top-of-the range model for Jan, 49. The 600cc two-seater convertible was delivered to his house in Notting Hill, West London, in a van. Then he drove the Mercedes-made model round the corner to her home as a surprise.

It is the latest big present Robbie, 27, has given his mum. He paid for her �500,000 two-bedroom apartment in Notting Hill in May. A source said: �Robbie�s always been very close to his mum and wanted to get her something special. �This will enable her to get about without relying on his driver.�