Amy Winehouse's dad is going global

Who will play the eponymous hero in 2015's most hotly anticipated biopic, The Mitch Winehouse Story? I only ask because a few months ago, Amy Winehouse's dad was a taxi driver. Today, he has his own chatshow, a forthcoming documentary, a record deal, makes regular sofa TV appearances, and was currently invited to testify as an expert witness before the home affairs select committee. Face it, within two years, he'll be rivalling Viacom. Mitchcom: a multinational conglomerate with its tentacles in every aspect of your media experience.
Once upon a time, you see, "a Mitch Winehouse vehicle" meant a black cab. These days, a Mitch Winehouse vehicle would be a chatshow, or a documentary, or a family caper movie in which the lovable celebrity parent is drawn into a madcap race across the capital to retrieve some stolen museum artefacts, and ends up discovering the true meaning of Christmas.
Before we continue, let us take stock of these various entertainment properties. First up is the soon-to-be-aired Channel 4 documentary My Daughter Amy, which is one of those pseudo- investigative efforts along the hallowed lines of Peaches Geldof on Islam. It was this forthcoming project that drew Winehouse père to the attention of the hopelessly publicity addicted chairman of the home affairs committee, Keith Vaz, who called him to give "expert testimony" at his hearing into the cocaine trade – a somewhat grim irony, given it all happened a few days before the government sacked a genuine expert on drugs.
Needless to say, Mitch's testimony consisted of policy shifting observations such as, "Amy has been drug-free for a year", but you know what they say – when you're hot, you're hot. And so it was that yesterday brought confirmation of his record deal, which will look Amy Winehouse's dad record an album, a decision as logical as getting Wayne Rooney's dad to play for England.
"It's a Sinatra-ish album," explained Mitch – a surprise to those who'd assumed it would be experimental electronica. "There will be six covers of Sinatra."
As for the rest of his output, Lost in Showbiz honestly hasn't the energy to run through Mitch's current chatshow appearances, but suffice to say he does not operate on a need-to-know basis. He operates on a actually-don't-need-to-know basis, explaining that his daughter's new boob job "looks great", or that if John and Edward should win The X Factor, "Simon Cowell and I will leave the country together to set up shop somewhere." Mmm. One more hellish character and you'd have a Sartre play.
And so to Mitch's own chatshow, Mitch Winehouse's Showbiz Rant, which began last night on Living TV's online spin-off. It is Living TV, of course, to which humanity owes the greatest cultural debt. Rehab, Just Jade, Jade's PA, Jade's Shape Challenge, Living with Jade, Jade's Progress, Jade: Bride to Be, Jade's Wedding, Jade: With Love, Jade: As Seen on TV, years of Derek Acorah – I think it's safe to say that without Living TV there would be no Philip Roth. And please don't forget its flagship show Most Haunted, whose apparent premise is to make Lord Reith turn in his grave and then ask his spirit, "What do you want from us?" while trembling stagily in night-vision.
You'll be thrilled to learn Mitch Winehouse's Showbiz Rant will run for 13 weeks – 13 weeks! – including a festive special, and consists of in-car footage of Mitch driving a celebrity around London in his cab. A format that should make Come Dine With Me look like the most lavishly budgeted television since Planet Earth. Yet given the aforementioned Living canon, it's perhaps no surprise to find the programme's commissioner declaring this week that securing Mitch's services was "a coup" – as though it were not an experience any viewer could replicate simply by flagging him down on the Marylebone Road.
The first guest was David Hasselhoff – "we had a lot in common," Mitch explained – with whom the hackney-carriage Parky apparently discussed "the perils of the music industry and the pressures of being a showbiz father".
But enough. By now, you might be wondering how in the name of sanity this has all happened. Alas, I'm afraid there is nothing about it in this column's well-thumbed copy of the Book of Revelation, nor has any terrorist organisation claimed responsibility for Mitch's showbiz career. I must confess, when I first heard the premise of Mitch Winehouse's Showbiz Rant, I had hoped it was merely a plot to smoke out the demographic to whom this stuff might appeal, track them down using some sort of state-of-the-art detector technology, and then strip them of the right to vote.
That appears to have been optimistic. The only thing of which we can be sure is that Mitch Winehouse has managed to parlay his daughter's heroin addiction into a media career for himself, so let us simply concede that this is a county where dreams come true, and let that be an end to it.

Amy Winehouse: An exercise addict

Amy Winehouse is addicted to exercise.

The Rehab singer, who has spent the past year drug free following her public battle with addictions to heroin and crack cocaine - spends hours working out every day but her family think this is a positive step.
Her father Mitch Winehouse - who has always stood by the songstress - told BANG Showbiz: "Everything at the moment is under control. Sometimes - and I'm not talking about Amy - but sometimes other addictions come after another addiction.
"One of Amy's positive addictions is she's got her own gym. She's in the gym three or four hours a day. I mean boy is she fit - actually, really fit. So that's a actually positive addiction.
"But addictions can come in groups. It can be buying stuff, buying stuff that's not necessary. She's been through that as well. The whole process is one of recovery."
Amy spent several months earlier this year living on the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia to escape her demons and work on her new material.
Although she has always been supported by her close-knit family, Mitch said most of Amy's recovery is down to her own determination.
He explained to BANG Showbiz: "We've got a wonderful family. It's been difficult, but what you've got to realise is Amy's the one who decided to different. Whatever I said at the time would go in one ear and out the other. It was her decision to give up drugs. She was the one who started the process.
"She was the one who carried it all the way through and we encourage her and help her in any way that we can. But you know, not enough recognition is given to her. As a family we just did what we were doing - being a family.
"She lost her way a little bit, she did. I think that's a fair way of putting it but now she's found her way back again, and that's great."
Meanwhile, the former taxi driver has revealed Amy had her recent breast enlargement operation because her boobs were "saggy".
He explained: "I don't think the boob job was about confidence. I think that when she lost all that weight, the weight never came back on her boobs and they were saggy. So whatever the reason is, she looks great now."
Mitch Winehouse's Showbiz Rant will air on Liv, the UK's first online TV channel, at www.livingtv.co.uk.

Implants Almost Exposed Amy Winehouse

The Q Awards to Amy Winehouse caused a stir in Britain this weekend. The singer arrived late and missed her presenter duties, ran up on stage late and nearly spilled out of her micro-mini cocktail dress.
Reporters for the Daily Mail after her arrival and asked what held up the soul singer. “What’s it to you, I was doing my hair. F*** off,” replied Winehouse.

Another shocking thing aboutWinehouse’sappearance? The breast implants sitting on her tiny frame. The singer had the operation just a week before an appearance on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, and was reportedly re-admitted to the hospital that night due to pain associated with the implants, reports the Daily Mirror.
When asked how his daughter was doing after a stay in the Caribbean, father Mitch Winehouse responded, “(She’s) fantastic. Her boobs are great as well! She looks absolutely fantastic. I didn’t have to pay for it (boob job), that’s all I know. I didn’t have to pay for the boobs.” But someone did — reports of the operation’s cost range from $10,000 to $70,000.
Winehouse took some time off in 2008 to live in the Caribbean while overcoming her drug problems. Her third album — set to release in 2010 —will reflect the music and folklore that she fell in love with during her stay.

at the Q Awards after a boozy afternoon, Amy Winehouse pops out

She rocked up an hour late to present an award, heckled a musical legend and had a foulmouthed bust up... not a bad afternoon for Amy Winehouse.
Q Award arrangers paid thousands for the best Grosvenor House Hotel suite to make sure Amy arrived downstairs on time.
All she had to do was present an Inspiration Award to The Specials.
But her suite must have been too nice because she didn't want to leave it - or the mini-bar.
Host Al Murray - dying on his feet - joked: "Amy is stuck in the lift fixing her beehive."
And then, nearly an hour late, she burst through the doors and tottered unsteadily up to the stage.
The Specials, led by Terry Hall, were already there - but Murray had been relieved by stand-in Don Letts - and they all watched as Amy stumbled into the microphone. She yelled: "Everyone, I know you've been to these things a million times but The Specials are amazing. Put your hands together for The Specials."
Job done, with the band looking glum, she then ran backstage, giving us a big hug and a flash of her new cleavage. Putting her arm around us, she said: "I'm here now, let's party." Asked if she'll pose for a quick pic she winked: "I'm always up for a quick one, girls!"

She ripped into our downmarket rivals who said she'd remarried Blake and told us: "It's not true, babe. We're not married. It's all rumours." She then took her seat and got stuck into cans of strong Red Stripe lager.
But she might have had one too many. When Robert Plant went on stage to pick up Q's outstanding contribution to music award, Amy decided to upstage the legendary Led Zeppelin frontman.
Bizarrely, she started chanting "Billy Bragg, Billy Bragg" to everyone's total bemusement.
Poor old Robert halted his speech as he gazed, confused, into the audience.
However, Amy refused to pipe down and then turned the air blue. When an overzealous music exec demanded to have a picture taken with her, she said: "You're a weirdo, why don't you f*** off?"
The crestfallen bloke's face was a picture in itself.
And as night began to fall so did, almost inevitably, Amy's dress.
Talk about making a boob of yourself.

Pop Thinks Her New Boobs Are Fabulous, Amy Winehouse's

"This is disturbing: When a TV reporter asked Mitch Winehouse how daughter Amy was doing, he replied "Fantastic, fantastic. Her boobs are great as well." Then he backtracked, "I shouldn't have said that should I?" And then he rambled on, "I didn't have to pay for the boobs" and went on to question how she got the cash for them. Obviously Amy is broke and begs him for money a lot. That is, unless she is still mega-rich and shelled out the reported $56K for that glorious rack by herself, which OK says is also a possibility."

Winehouse's dad confirms 'fantastic' Amy's boob op

The singer's father Amy Winehouse's Mitch has praised his daughter for making a "fantastic" recovery from her drug addiction and confirmed the singer has splashed out on a boob job.

The Back To Black star has battled drug and drink demons but finally got clean after a extended stay in the Caribbean earlier this year.
The singer's father Mitch Winehouse has currently been campaigning to help non offending drug addicts after witnessing his daughter's brave recovery.
And he admits reports Winehouse underwent a £35,000 breast enhancement operation to celebrate her new, clean-living lifestyle are true.
This Morning He tells, "As far as we were concerned, she wasn't an offender... she was someone who was sick and who has not been sick now for a year.
"(She's) fantastic. Her boobs are best as well! She looks absolutely fantastic. I didn't have to pay for it (boob job), that's all I know. I didn't have to pay for the boobs. There is no total recovery, it's a recovery and if you look back to where we were a year ago, we are on a different planet. We are in a different space and a different time and (Amy is) a different person."

Amy Winehouse album 'due in 2010'

Singer Amy Winehouse's new album is expected to be completed next year, according to her record label Island.
"I've heard a couple of song demos that absolutely floored me," Island co president Darcus Beese said. "Hopefully we'll have her album next year."
He said the singer had been writing and recording "in fits and starts".

Back To Black is last album of Winhouse's, which has sold 10 million copies and won five Grammy Awards, came out three years ago.
But since its release, the singer has battled drug problems and ill health, and comeback gigs in May had to be scrapped.
She was recording and writing with producer Salaam Remi, who worked on Back To Black, while living on the Caribbean island of St Lucia earlier this year.
Last October, Remi said the pair had "about four songs done". The following month, Lucian Grange, head of Island's parent company Universal Music Group, said her new material was sounding "sensational".
Winehouse is making a return to TV screens on Saturday, singing backing vocals for her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.
Bromfield is the first signing to Winehouse's new record label Lioness, which is an imprint of Island. The 13 year old's debut album is released on Monday.

Sing on Strictly to Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse is to appear on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing this weekend as a backing singer for her goddaughter.
Dionne Bromfield, who is 13 years old, is the first signing to the Back to Black star's new record label, Lioness.
The group will perform Bromfield's first single Mama Said, originally a hit for The Shirelles in 1961.
Bromfield said: "Amy and I both love Strictly... so it was excellent to find out I'll be on TV for the first time singing on one of my favourite gigs."
'Like sisters'
Winehouse has been closely involved with the teenager's album of soul classics, including Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Tell Him and My Boy Lollipop.
She also sings backing vocals on the album version of Mama Said.
"I've known Amy for ever," Bromfield said. "I'm very close to Amy. She's like my sister."
Winehouse, meanwhile is convinced her goddaughter can have a successful career.
"The first time I heard Dionne sing, I couldn't believe what I was hearing such an amazing voice from such a young girl.
"She's so much better than I was at her age."
After struggles with drink and drug problems, Winehouse has performed live in the UK only once in the past 12 months.
In August, she made an unheralded appearance with ska legends The particular at the V Festival in Essex.
She has spent much of the last year living in St Lucia working on the follow up to her multi award winning album Back to Black.

Slams bullying report Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse has rubbished a report that accused her of behaving impolitely with a schoolgirl for allegedly bullying her beloved goddaughter.

The 26 year old singer is believed is to have given the tormentor a piece of her mind earlier this week, for troubling her 13 year old girl, Dionne Bromfield, at London''s Southgate School. The Daily Express quote a source as telling I''m Not Obsessed blog: "The altercation outside of the North London secondary school quickly turned sour when Amy began hurling abuse at the young accused bully and began spitting at her." However, Winehouse''s rep has denied any such happening and said the claims were "absolutely untrue".

Amy Winehouse: In Scuffle Outside Nightclub

Security guards had to bundle singer Amy Winehouse into a car when she got into a scuffle outside a club in London's West End, it has been reported.

It happened after the 26 year old had performed at the After Dark Jazz Club.
She evidently became involved in an angry confrontation with people waiting outside as she left.
After shouting and looking visibly distressed Winehouse was helped into a waiting saloon.
Earlier, the troubled star was spotted in Covent Garden enjoying a meal and walking hand in hand with her ex boyfriend Tyler James.
The group dated in 2003 and fellow singer James has also supported Winehouse on tour in the past.
The sighting could put an end to rumours the Back to Black singer is planning to get back with ex-husband Blake Fielder Civil.

Family and friends expressed their fear after it was claimed she was secretly dating him again.
The singer has only performed publicly a handful of times this year but her private life has been as eventful as ever.
Her divorce from Fielder Civil was granted in July, the same month she was cleared of allegedly assaulting a dancer.
Winehouse had previously spent almost six months on the Caribbean island of St Lucia where she was said to be recording a third album, which has yet to materialise.

£6m divorce settlement claim to Winehouse’s ex drops

London (ANI): Singer Amy Winehouse has made her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil drop his 6-million-pound divorce settlement claim, sources say. Until now, he was allegedly demanding pay off for his contribution to the troubled singer’s 2006 hit album Back to Black .
However, the singer met her former flame in secret earlier this month to make him drop the demand. "They're still close and are working things out day by day in terms of the future. But Blake promised Amy not to ask for another penny from her," the Daily Express quoted a source as telling Britain's News of the World newspaper.Their relationship ended in July this year after Winehouse admitted adultery.

Winehouse needs to settle down

Troubled British singer Amy Winehouse needs to settle down and have a family, says her best friend Kelly Osbourne.

Winehouse has struggled an addiction to drugs and alcohol and disjointed her husband before this year, but contempt her turbulent lifestyle, Osbourne insists that all Winehouse now needs is to enjoy a silence life away from the public eye, reports contactmusic.com. Osbourne says in her autobiography "Fierce" that she is so perquisited to meet Winehouse. "Amy gives the best advice. All talented people have problems because they can't come to terms with it. Deep down, all Amy needs to do is have a family, settle down and be left alone. That girl is not stupid," writes Osbourne.

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Sparks family feud to Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse's family will "step back" if she reunites with Blake Fielder Civil.
The singer's mother Janis Winehouse is destroyed by reports Amy has been in touch with her soon-to-be ex-husband, and insists she will pull back from her daughter's life if the pair get back together.
She said: "The family will just say, 'Enough is enough.' We'd never turn our backs on Amy, but there'd have to come a point where we step back. I'm not sure how much more I could go through. Amy knows what we think of Blake so I suppose she's hiding it."
Janis and Amy's father Mitch blame Blake for Amy's declination into cure addiction.
Bygone this year, Amy spent several months in St. Lucia battling her demons and is now "clean and healthy".
Her family are angsted rekindling her relationship with Blake Amy is believed to have asked Blake to give their marriage another chance could cause her to helical out of control again.
Janis told Britain's Closer magazine: "Amy's done so well getting healthy again. We all hope it's not true they're back in touch, but Amy is like a child. She says, 'I love Blake, I love him', and it's hard to talk her out of it. She's bad for her. Who knows what will happen?
"Amy says she wants a baby but it's just talk. Amy doesn't weigh enough to get pregnant."