Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's No Heroics
An ITV sitcom about superheroes who bitch and moan.
In a London not too dissimilar to our own, Electroclash (superhero power: controlling machines with her voice) and She-Force (the third strongest woman in the world, albeit incredibly needy) are standing outside a superhero convention. "Stop sulking," She-Force urges Electroclash. "Meeting the fans is part of our job." "Violence is our job," Electroclash replies scornfully, drawing on a fag. "Equipping is our job. Hanging out with a bunch of sweaty knuckle. . . " but her abusive lips switch quickly to a charming smile as two geeks from the Brentwood Powerfan Society open the door with lascivious glee. "Here's your appearance money," leers one. "Do you want to count it? Like a prostitute?"
No Heroics is ITV2's debut sitcom and possibly the first genuinely amusing sitcom on any ITV outlet since, well -- any suggestions? It pictures a London where superheroes are the norm, but, unlike in mainstream cinema or previous spoofs such as the overplayed Tick or Adam West's ludicrously camp Batman, the caped crusaders are miserable, sulking, petty, excessively competitive narcissists who hang out in their secret pub, whining about their powers, reviews and fame. There's even a board in the Fortress, named after Superman's icy hideaway, keeping tabs on their television appearances, with the overbearing bully Excelsor leading the pack at a solid 90 news reports and his own cereal brand.
No Heroics, a six-part series, begins on ITV2 on September 18 at 10.30pm
See the trailor here.
James Bond Theme Gets First Play
Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley debuted Another Way To Die on her morning show. The track will feature in Quantum of Solace which is out on 31 October.
The song, which is the 22nd Bond theme, is driven by White's trademark fuzzy guitar riffs and thunderous drum rolls.
The pair were announced to score the track in July despite Amy Winehouse being hotly tipped for the role.
The track sees the singer trading vocals with Keys over a horn section with White singing: "Another blinger with the slick trigger finger for Her Majesty."
Keys responds with: "Another one with the golden tongue poisoning your fantasy."
Listen to it with the bbc here.
Haunted Ship Wreck Found
Two British divers yesterday claimed to have found the wreck of a ship that sank more than two centuries ago carrying a famous opera singer and her vast fortune. Todd Stevens and Ed Cumming say they have discovered the remains of the Nancy, which was lost off Cornwall in 1784. Amongst the 49 passengers and crew who died was Ann Cargill, an opera singer celebrated for her voice but who caused scandal because of a string of affairs.
Legend has it that Cargill's spirit still haunts the spot where she died, singing a lullaby to her child as the ship sank.
Read more about Cargill here.
First Chinese Man To Walk In Space After 10 Year Wait
A 42-year-old fighter pilot whose mother sold sunflower seeds on the street to pay for his education is to become China's first man to walk in space.
Zhai Zhigang, who holds the rank of colonel in the People's Liberation Army, will join two other astronauts on board the Shenzhou VII for China's third manned space mission when it blasts off on September 25 for a 68-hour flight.
Read more at times online here.
Is this really a UFO?
It seems we might not be alone after what is claimed to be a UFO darting across the sky was filmed on a mobile phone camera.
Andrew Baskeyfield spotted the unexplained ball of light circling above his home in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, at about 7:30pm Monday night.
The bright white dot, which was still visible in daylight against the blue cloudy sky, is simultaneously seen dancing around the screen of three separate mobile phones belonging to the 23-year-old, his father and older brother.
Read the Metro's interview with Andrew here. have we really found a UFO?
