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NEWS DIGEST: Tuesday, April 22

11:15 AM GMT 22/04/2008

NEWS DIGEST: Tuesday, April 22

It's been kept secret for 50 years, but it's now been revealed that Elvis Presley did in fact set foot on British soil. According to Tommy Steele, Presley made a secret visit to London in 1958. Theatre producer and long-time friend of Steele, Bill Kenwright broke the news during an interview with Radio 2's Ken Bruce: “Shall I tell you a little story that I know and you don’t know and nobody knows?" teased the 62 year-old. "Elvis came to England. Nobody thinks he did and I hope Tommy doesn’t go mad when I tell you. Tommy got a phone call one night. It said: They tell me you’re good’ and Tommy replied, 'Who’s this?’ The caller said: 'It’s Elvis,’ and Tommy said: ’Get outta here.’ And Elvis said: 'Are you as good as me?’ “And they talked and they got a friendship. Elvis flew in for a day. Tommy showed him round London... showed him the Houses of Parliament and spent the day with him.”

Steele, now 71, has told the Daily Mail that he regrets his secret has finally been revealed: “What actually happened many years ago is something secret and memorable," he said. "It was an event shared by two young men sharing the same love of their music and the same thrill of achieving something unimaginable. I swore never to divulge publicly what took place and I regret that it has found some way of 'getting into the light’. I can only hope he can forgive me.”

The nominations for this year's Ivor Novello Awards have been announced and Amy Winehouse has picked up a hefty three nods. You can see the full list HERE.

And finally...Happy Birthday Jack Nitzche! The songwriting legend and studio-whiz would have been 72 today.

The Lonely Surfer - 1963

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 11:15 AM GMT 22/04/2008


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