Talk of the Town: Wedding spin-off takes the biscuit

A CAPITAL hotspot is preparing for the impending nuptials of Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips - dubbed locally "Royal Wedding: The Sequel" - by offering free entry to couples of the same name while re-enacting bizarre 17th-century marriage rites.

On Saturday, The Real Mary King's Close will be performing highlights of what was a traditional marriage ceremony of the period, including a "hand-fasting".

One lucky couple will have their hands tied together and the ceremony will conclude with "bride cakes", thin, dry biscuits, being crumbled over the head of the newly betrothed, acting as a wish of good fortune and the hope the bride will be "fruitful".

How to model glam career from coffee-stained chaos

ASPIRING models, take note: word has reached Talk of the Town that model scouts are travelling on board east coast trains this summer as part of a competition run with Premier Model Management.

They're hoping to find the next big thing in the world of modelling, and will visit Waverley on August 5. If it's the "Squinting at the departures board while scrabbling in handbag for lost ticket and trying not to spill coffee down your front" look they're after, we think we might be in with a chance.

Musician trains new band

FULL credit to Edinburgh-based African musician Samba Sene, who provided an unexpected delight of a gig in a small tent at last weekend's Wickerman festival.

Samba Sene and Diwan are a seven-piece Senegalese band that play dance and ska tunes.

Unfortunately for Samba, quite a few of the band didn't make it along to the festival near Dumfries because they got on the wrong train.

Despite that blow - and the added complication of appearing to be somewhat inebriated - Samba successfully picked up a few band members along the way and delighted the crowd with a selection of songs, including an impromptu number based on his band's inability to catch a train.

His shows at the Edinburgh Fringe are not to be missed.

Over half just like Lenny

ADVERTS for budget hotel chain Premier Inn starring Lenny Henry have divided opinions - but according to research by the Edinburgh Airport branch, more than half of its customers like to act just like Lenny Henry.

That doesn't mean dashing around screeching but rather testing the comfort of the bed as soon as they enter a hotel room, as the comedian does in the adverts.