Will Sir Richard Branson's pregnant daughter Holly become the first woman to give birth in space?

Sir Richard Branson has been labelled many things - entrepreneur, adventurer, risk-taker - but there is one accolade he has long coveted: grandfather.
Happily, the Virgin tycoon’s eldest child, Holly, has granted Branson his wish - twice over - confirming yesterday that she is pregnant with twins.
‘Freddie and I are delighted,’ says Holly, who wed Virgin investment manager Freddie Andrewes in 2011.

New adventures: Sir Richard Branson's eldest child, Holly confirmed yesterday that she is expecting twins, but has not yet revealed if her pregnancy will affect her plans to blast into outer space on Virgin Galactic's first commercial space flight, scheduled for the end of the year

Branson, 64, has harboured a desire to become a grandfather ever since he walked his daughter down the aisle, when he said: ‘I can’t wait - and with luck I’ll be one soon.’
Holly, 32, hasn’t yet revealed, however, whether her pregnancy will affect her plans to
blast into outer space. She is booked to fly alongside her father on Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flight, scheduled for the end of the year.
Will she board the flight and risk being the first woman to give birth in space? No doubt Branson, famous for his PR stunts, would relish the publicity. 

Richard Branson talks about how he empowered daughter Holly

Happy announcement: Holly confirmed yesterday that she and her Virgin investment manager husband Freddie Andrewes will be welcoming their babies in the new year

 

So much for education, education, education. Shadow Schools Minister Kevin Brennan accepted two free tickets to Glastonbury in late June, courtesy of the BBC — but has still not registered the gift, breaching parliamentary rules.

As every MP knows, any gift that relates to their membership of the Commons must be registered within 28 days of receipt.

The Cardiff West MP  was the only non-BBC employee to receive tickets from the Corporation and was offered the passes because he is engaged in an Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) fellowship, focusing on the creative industries.

Moneypenny says Pierce was the best Bond kisser

Actress Samantha Bond, aka Miss Moneypenny in four of the James Bond movies, has given her personal verdict on the kissability of actors who have played opposite her.
‘Pierce Brosnan was the best kisser,’ insists 52-year-old Samantha. ‘Mainly because it was being filmed, rather than on a stage, so the whole process took about five hours. 
‘There were lots of kisses and retakes. The whole of Pinewood stopped filming and came to watch.’
Her early breakthrough as a stage actress came in 1986 when she and Kenneth Brannah took the title roles in Romeo And Juliet. Inevitably, it involved a kiss.
‘In terms of television work, I’ve been lucky, but it’s not like I’m turning offers down all the time,’ says Samantha. ‘There’s very little work for middle-aged ladies.
‘I look at my girlfriends and we’re all of an age — and what those women are dealing with is absolutely phenomenal.
‘You’re dealing with teenagers and drugs, you’re dealing with parental loss, you’re dealing with girlfriends with breast cancer, you’re dealing with divorce, you’re dealing with new love, you’re dealing with loneliness.
‘And none of that, apparently, is interesting. For some reason, I don’t think people are interested in telling those stories — but they bloody well should be.’

Shaken and stirred: Actress Samantha Bond, aka Miss Moneypenny in four of the James Bond movies, has rated Pierce Brosnan (pictured with her in 007 film Die Another Day) as the best kisser out of all the actors who have played opposite her

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