David Morrissey and Anneka Rice on Costa panel

For the 2010 Costa Book of the Year,Actor David Morrissey, presenter Anneka Rice and poet Ruth Padel are on the final judging panel.

The panel will be chair by broadcaster and publisher Andrew Neil,which also comprises "Downton Abbey" actress Elizabeth McGovern and broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky. Authors Adele Parks, Tim Bowler and Juliet Nicolson complete the list.

On 25th January 2011 judges will meet to select the winner of the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year, which will be announced at an awards ceremony later that evening. Each of the category award-winning authors receives £5,000.

The ceremony, hosted by presenter and broadcaster Penny Smith, will take place at Quaglino's in central London.

In conversation with David Morrissey

Liverpool-born film and TV actor, director and producer DAVID MORRISSEY was in spotlight with Club Geek Chic with the latest of their In Conversation evenings.

The 'State of Play', 'Blackpool' and 'Sense & Sensibility' star will talk about his upbringing in Kensington in Liverpool, his time at RADA and his experiences of the UK and international TV and film industry.

The Creative Arts Schools Trust which was recently launched charity Morrissey will also discuss his more recent foray into directing and producing.

David Morrissey is been busy in Mrs Mandela' and 'Five Days' for the BBC were followed by the release of the John Lennon biopic 'Nowhere Boy', his own feature film directorial debut 'Don't Worry About Me' and true story stalker drama 'U B Dead' on ITV back in September.

Morrissey is the latest in an impressive list of guests that the girls have bagged and that list looks set to grow with actor and impersonator Peter Serafinowicz, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra's chief conductor Vasily Petrenko and Liverpool acting legend Sue Johnston tipped to take part early next year.

'In Conversation With David Morrissey' takes place on Wednesday 24th November in St George's Hall Concert Room from 7pm. Tickets are £15 and available on the Club Geek Chic website -

'In Conversation with David Morrisey'

For the winter season for the Club Geek Chic’s Conversation’ series returns to St George’s Hall and will be welcoming actor, director and producer David Morrissey to the stage.

On Wednesday 24 November in the Concert Room of St George’s Hall,the event will take place in which amazing live musical performances are included.

You can find more about David Morrisey starting from the Everyman Youth Theatre and his time at RADA, his critically acclaimed TV roles in dramas including ‘State of Play’, ‘The Deal’, ‘Blackpool’ and ‘Thorne’ (currently screening on Sky1), his feature film directing debut and the recent launch of his charity C.A.S.T.

The interview will be interspersed with live, acoustic versions of David’s five favourite songs performed by an impressive line-up of Liverpool artistes including Ian Prowse (Amsterdam) and Sparkwood & 21. Audience members will also have the chance to take part in a Q&A section at the end of the event.

David Morrissey Discuss at St George's Hall About His Life And Work

Singer David Morrissey while attending an event at St George’s Hall this month expressed about his own life and work.

on November 24,in the small concert room The award-winning Liverpool-born star will be the subject of an In Conversation evening

In this conversation he will going to share all the ups and downs of his life,about his upbringing in Kensington, his time at RADA and his experiences of the UK and international TV and film industry.

He will also spotlight about his new international charity,The Creative Arts Schools Trust, which was launched in September and the 46-year-old will also discuss his more recent move into directing and producing

David’s five favourite songs performed by established and emerging Liverpool talent will be feature in the event,organised by Club Geek Chic, also has a Desert Island Discs feel

They include Amsterdam front man Ian Prowse, up-and -coming indie band Sparkwood & 21 and emerging singer/songwriter Poppy L’Amour.

David Morrisey said that "I always love returning to my home town, but to be able to combine a visit and the opportunity to talk about my life and career in such a magnificent setting with incredible musicians playing my favourite songs is a real treat.”

He loves To Play With.....

David Morrissey, why he loves to play with invalid characters

Stellar acting credentials alone should be enough weight to put David Morrissey onto television and film directors are bound to get listings.

But Liverpool actor views the origin of his latest prominent role in the typical self-effacement.

It was, he explained jokingly, down a bit "geeky".

Dark thriller Thorne, Sky 1 HD, not just feature his name headed by an impressive cast, it's his script to display the project.

"I was filming in New Zealand in the winter and there was not a lot of extra curricular stuff to do," he recalls. "It was a green-screen work, and we had a lot of time trailers, so I did a lot of reading and one of the things I read was Lifeless - one of Mark Billingham's Thorne's books - and I really liked it.

"I was doing, as always, geeky way, some research and read that Mark had said that he would like me to play Thorne, if it ever came to the screen.

"I read a couple of other books and really liked them so when I came back to England I search him out.

Top 13 Albums to Morrissey of All Time

Top 13 albums to Morrissey has revealed of all time to celebrate.

Though there's no surprise that his beloved New York Dolls make No. 1 with their self titled 1973 release, in his selection there are some curiosities but sadly no Smiths.

The Velvet Underground and Nico meanwhile account for a whopping three entries. The singer published his selection on UK music website The Quietus.

One of Morrissey's more obscure choices is at No. 13 choice the proto disco glam rock debut album of Seventies oddball Jobriath. You can look the full list after the jump.

Late Smiths fan Jeff Buckley is in at No. 12 with 'Grace' and of his No. 11, the Smoking Popes' 1995 LP 'Born to Quit,' Morrissey told the Quietus, 'I thought that album was extraordinary, the most lovable thing I'd heard in years.'

Elsewhere, Ramones, Patti Smith, Damien Dempsey, Roxy Music, Sparks and Iggy and the Stooges get a look in.

Morrissey is to re-release his classic single 'Everyday Is Like Sunday' its also been confirmed.

The former Smiths frontman has remastered the 1988 track from his debut solo album 'Viva Hate' and will release it on Sept. 26.

The previously announced 20th anniversary special Edition of 1990 compilation 'Bona Drag', the single's release precedes. It comes out on Sept. 27.

Top 13 album to Morrissey of all time is:

1. New York Dolls - New York Dolls (Mercury, 1973)
2. Ramones - Ramones (Sire, 1976)
3. Patti Smith - Horses (Arista, 1976)
4. Nico - Chelsea Girl (MGM, 1967)
5. Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power (Columbia, 1973)
6. Sparks - Kimono My House (Island, 1974)
7. Velvet Underground - 'White Light/White Heat' (Verve, 1968)
8. The Velvet Underground - 'The Velvet Underground & Nico' (Verve, 1967)
9. Roxy Music - 'For Your Pleasure' (Island, 1972)
10. Damien Dempsey - 'Seize the Day' (Attack, 2004)
11. Smoking Popes - 'Born to Quit' (Capitol, 1995)
12. Jeff Buckley - 'Grace' (Columbia, 1995)
13. Jobriath - 'Jobriath' (Elektra 1973

Not to Marry Brand, Morrissey tells Perry

By Morrissey Katy Perry has been warmed. Currently, the story warned the young pop singer against marrying her recent fiancé Russell Brand. The former Smiths frontman Perry was having tea. The two were talking about Perry’s relationship with Brand. “Oh, left hand, third finger, don’t do it,” was what Morrissey apparently told Perry. “It was just so eloquent and poetic and like one of his songs,” Perry told the Sun. Perry and Brand plan on getting married this fall in India, and have invited Morrissey, even though he may be a downer. He is, after all, the king of all that is sad and broken hearted.