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Faces of the year - the men Faces of the year - the men
(about 2 hours later)
Some of the men who have made the headlines in 2007.Some of the men who have made the headlines in 2007.
James McAvoyNicolas SarkozyMark ZuckerbergJohn DarwinStephen Clarkson Gordon BrownDavid AbrahamsPhil SpectorBob WoolmerMikaAlan Johnston Lewis HamiltonLord BrowneAlex SalmondChris LanghamBrian AshtonJames McAvoyNicolas SarkozyMark ZuckerbergJohn DarwinStephen Clarkson Gordon BrownDavid AbrahamsPhil SpectorBob WoolmerMikaAlan Johnston Lewis HamiltonLord BrowneAlex SalmondChris LanghamBrian Ashton
JAMES MCAVOYThe year saw Scottish actor James McAvoy become hot property in Hollywood. He won a Bafta Best Actor award for his role in The Last King of Scotland, drew plaudits for his leading parts in Atonement and Becoming Jane, and has just completed the blockbuster Wanted with Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. Not bad for a working-class Glaswegian who was brought up by his grandparents on one of the city's most deprived council estates. Click to return to top JAMES MCAVOYThe year saw Scottish actor James McAvoy become hot property in Hollywood. He won a Bafta Best Actor award for his role in The Last King of Scotland, drew plaudits for his leading parts in Atonement and Becoming Jane, and has just completed the blockbuster Wanted with Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. Not bad for a working-class Glaswegian who was brought up by his grandparents on one of the city's most deprived council estates. Click to return to top
NICOLAS SARKOZYAfter a bitter battle against his Socialist rival Segolene Royal, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of France in May after a record turnout of 85 per cent. His platform was to effect a "moral renaissance" for France by cutting down on welfare and restoring the work ethic. By the end of the year he had unveiled nearly 100 measures to streamline France's cumbersome public administration. He has also developed a playboy image after divorcing his wife, Cecilia. Click to return to top NICOLAS SARKOZYAfter a bitter battle against his Socialist rival Segolene Royal, Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of France in May after a record turnout of 85 per cent. His platform was to effect a "moral renaissance" for France by cutting down on welfare and restoring the work ethic. By the end of the year he had unveiled nearly 100 measures to streamline France's cumbersome public administration. He has also developed a playboy image after divorcing his wife, Cecilia. Click to return to top
MARK ZUCKERBERGAt the start of 2007, the social networking website Facebook was visited by a relative handful of students wanting to hook up with old friends and acquaintances. By October, when Microsoft bought into it, the site had mushroomed into a $15bn concern with more than 50 million users. Even some social scientists are using it for gleaning data for their research. Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is now a multi-millionaire at 23. Click to return to top MARK ZUCKERBERGAt the start of 2007, the social networking website Facebook was visited by a relative handful of students wanting to hook up with old friends and acquaintances. By October, when Microsoft bought into it, the site had mushroomed into a $15bn concern with more than 50 million users. Even some social scientists are using it for gleaning data for their research. Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is now a multi-millionaire at 23. Click to return to top
JOHN DARWINJohn Darwin, 57, walked into a London police station at the start of December after being presumed dead for five years. He had disappeared in an apparent canoeing accident after leaving his home near Hartlepool in 2002 and was thought to have drowned. He and his wife, Anne, have been charged with dishonestly obtaining insurance money. Mr Darwin is also charged with making an untrue statement to procure a passport. They have been remanded in custody until 11 January.Click to return to top JOHN DARWINJohn Darwin, 57, walked into a London police station at the start of December after being presumed dead for five years. He had disappeared in an apparent canoeing accident after leaving his home near Hartlepool in 2002 and was thought to have drowned. He and his wife, Anne, have been charged with dishonestly obtaining insurance money. Mr Darwin is also charged with making an untrue statement to procure a passport. They have been remanded in custody until 11 January.Click to return to top
STEPHEN CLARKSONHolidaymaker Stephen Clarkson was awaiting a flight in Glasgow in the summer when a terrorist crashed a burning jeep through the terminal doors and set himself on fire. As police grappled with him, Mr Clarkson waded in and elbowed the still-smouldering man down, enabling the police to arrest him. Mr Clarkson, who received a bravery award, commented, "He was disorientated when I knocked him down otherwise I don't think I would have been able. He was a big fellow." Click to return to top STEPHEN CLARKSONHolidaymaker Stephen Clarkson was awaiting a flight in Glasgow in the summer when a terrorist crashed a burning jeep through the terminal doors and set himself on fire. As police grappled with him, Mr Clarkson waded in and elbowed the still-smouldering man down, enabling the police to arrest him. Mr Clarkson, who received a bravery award, commented, "He was disorientated when I knocked him down otherwise I don't think I would have been able. He was a big fellow." Click to return to top
GORDON BROWNHaving successfully coped with an early onslaught of foot-and-mouth disease and widespread flooding Gordon Brown's premiership was plunged into a series of crises over party funding scandals, his dithering over whether to call a general election, his government's alleged timidity over Northern Rock's financial plight and a succession of disappearances of discs containing confidential personal information on millions of Britons. Restoring his and his party's reputation will be top of his 2008 agenda.Click to return to top GORDON BROWNHaving successfully coped with an early onslaught of foot-and-mouth disease and widespread flooding Gordon Brown's premiership was plunged into a series of crises over party funding scandals, his dithering over whether to call a general election, his government's alleged timidity over Northern Rock's financial plight and a succession of disappearances of discs containing confidential personal information on millions of Britons. Restoring his and his party's reputation will be top of his 2008 agenda.Click to return to top
DAVID ABRAHAMSOnce looked upon as a saviour of a cash-strapped political party, David Abrahams was to haunt Labour in 2007. Having changed the laws over party funding following the Blair government's "cash for honours" inquiry, Labour proceeded to break them, most spectacularly by allowing Abrahams to make donations through proxies in order to protect his anonymity. Abrahams achieved anything but, and, as the affair turned nasty, threatened "dirty turns" if Labour started "hammering" him. Click to return to top DAVID ABRAHAMSOnce looked upon as a saviour of a cash-strapped political party, David Abrahams was to haunt Labour in 2007. Having changed the laws over party funding following the Blair government's "cash for honours" inquiry, Labour proceeded to break them, most spectacularly by allowing Abrahams to make donations through proxies in order to protect his anonymity. Abrahams achieved anything but, and, as the affair turned nasty, threatened "dirty turns" if Labour started "hammering" him. Click to return to top
PHIL SPECTORThe jury in the trial of legendary music producer Phil Spector, was unable to reach a verdict as to whether or not he murdered actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. Clarkson was shot at point blank range at Spector's Los Angeles home hours after meeting him at the cocktail bar at which she was a waitress. Spector claimed she accidentally killed herself. He was released on bail, and now faces either a retrial or a plea-bargain settlement.Click to return to top PHIL SPECTORThe jury in the trial of legendary music producer Phil Spector, was unable to reach a verdict as to whether or not he murdered actress Lana Clarkson in 2003. Clarkson was shot at point blank range at Spector's Los Angeles home hours after meeting him at the cocktail bar at which she was a waitress. Spector claimed she accidentally killed herself. He was released on bail, and now faces either a retrial or a plea-bargain settlement.Click to return to top
BOB WOOLMERThe death of Bob Woolmer in a hotel room in Jamaica during this year's World Cup was a sad loss to cricket. But when the police claimed it was murder, Woolmer's death became a worldwide sensation. Speculation was rife that organised crime surrounding betting rings may have been involved. Fingers were even pointed at members of the Pakistan team that Woolmer coached. In the end, though, the Jamaican police had to admit that new evidence ruled out foul play. Click to return to top BOB WOOLMERThe death of Bob Woolmer in a hotel room in Jamaica during this year's World Cup was a sad loss to cricket. But when the police claimed it was murder, Woolmer's death became a worldwide sensation. Speculation was rife that organised crime surrounding betting rings may have been involved. Fingers were even pointed at members of the Pakistan team that Woolmer coached. In the end, though, the Jamaican police had to admit that new evidence ruled out foul play. Click to return to top
MIKAWith his January single, Grace Kelly, flamboyant singer Mika reached the number one in the singles chart by download alone. His popularity increased with the album Life in Cartoon Motion, which has sold more than four million copies worldwide. The 23-year-old, real name Michael Holbrook Penniman, was born in Beirut but moved to London when he was nine. He went to Westminster School and turned to pop music after dropping out of the Royal College of Music.Click to return to top MIKAWith his January single, Grace Kelly, flamboyant singer Mika reached the number one in the singles chart by download alone. His popularity increased with the album Life in Cartoon Motion, which has sold more than four million copies worldwide. The 23-year-old, real name Michael Holbrook Penniman, was born in Beirut but moved to London when he was nine. He went to Westminster School and turned to pop music after dropping out of the Royal College of Music.Click to return to top
ALAN JOHNSTONA little-known BBC correspondent in Gaza, Alan Johnston became the focus of worldwide attention in 2007. A campaign calling for his release was launched after members of a group called The Army of Islam kidnapped him. He was held hostage for nearly four months during which time he was threatened with execution but not tortured. After his release, he spoke movingly about pacing in his room for mile after mile and how his ordeal provided him with a "dark education". Click to return to top ALAN JOHNSTONThe only Western journalist based in Gaza, BBC correspondent Alan Johnston became the focus of worldwide attention in 2007. A campaign calling for his release was launched after members of a group called The Army of Islam kidnapped him. He was held hostage for nearly four months during which time he was threatened with execution but not tortured. After his release, he spoke movingly about pacing in his room for mile after mile and how his ordeal provided him with a "dark education". Click to return to top
LEWIS HAMILTONLewis Hamilton took Formula One motor racing by storm in this his debut year by coming within a point of being the first rookie ever to win the drivers' championship. He proved he could drive fastest in all conditions, and only a couple of errors in the last two races cost him the title. The 22-year-old from a modest background in Stevenage is now a pin-up, touted as a black role model and a millionaire. He has moved to Switzerland for privacy and to ease his tax bill. Click to return to top LEWIS HAMILTONLewis Hamilton took Formula One motor racing by storm in this his debut year by coming within a point of being the first rookie ever to win the drivers' championship. He proved he could drive fastest in all conditions, and only a couple of errors in the last two races cost him the title. The 22-year-old from a modest background in Stevenage is now a pin-up, touted as a black role model and a millionaire. He has moved to Switzerland for privacy and to ease his tax bill. Click to return to top
LORD BROWNEThis year saw the premature end of Lord Browne of Madingley's reign at the helm of Britain's biggest company, BP. Known in business circles as the Sun King, and one of Britain's most respected corporate leaders, John Browne was forced to retire early after it emerged he had lied to a judge while trying to block a kiss-and-tell story by his former lover, Jeff Chevalier. The scandal capped a series of disasters for BP including an explosion at a Texas refinery which killed 15 people and an oil spill in Alaska.Click to return to top LORD BROWNEThis year saw the premature end of Lord Browne of Madingley's reign at the helm of Britain's biggest company, BP. Known in business circles as the Sun King, and one of Britain's most respected corporate leaders, John Browne was forced to retire early after it emerged he had lied to a judge while trying to block a kiss-and-tell story by his former lover, Jeff Chevalier. The scandal capped a series of disasters for BP including an explosion at a Texas refinery which killed 15 people and an oil spill in Alaska.Click to return to top
ALEX SALMONDAlex Salmond made political history in May this year by becoming the first Scottish Nationalist head of the Scottish Parliament. The first minister immediately made it clear to the government that he would be seeking increased powers for the parliament. Mr Salmond has promised a referendum at some future date as to whether Scotland should break its ties with the rest of Britain and believes Scotland will achieve its independence within 10 years.Click to return to top ALEX SALMONDAlex Salmond made political history in May this year by becoming the first Scottish Nationalist head of the Scottish Parliament. The first minister immediately made it clear to the government that he would be seeking increased powers for the parliament. Mr Salmond has promised a referendum at some future date as to whether Scotland should break its ties with the rest of Britain and believes Scotland will achieve its independence within 10 years.Click to return to top
CHRIS LANGHAMIt should have been a good year for actor Chris Langham thanks to his lead role in the award-winning BBC TV comedy The Thick of It. Instead, he wound up serving a jail sentence for downloading child pornography. He said during his trial that he had been sexually abused as a boy, and claims that he only downloaded the images to assist with the research for a paedophile character he played in a TV comedy.Click to return to top CHRIS LANGHAMIt should have been a good year for actor Chris Langham thanks to his lead role in the award-winning BBC TV comedy The Thick of It. Instead, he wound up serving a jail sentence for downloading child pornography. He said during his trial that he had been sexually abused as a boy, and claims that he only downloaded the images to assist with the research for a paedophile character he played in a TV comedy.Click to return to top
BRIAN ASHTONAfter an unconvincing win over the United States in the their opening game of the Rugby World Cup, which they followed with a thrashing by South Africa, it looked as if England and their coach Brian Ashton were heading for oblivion. But in a sensational turnaround, the team defeated both Australia and hosts France to reach the final. The Springboks only narrowly beat them there but Brian Ashton had done enough to earn an extension to his contract. Click to return to top BRIAN ASHTONAfter an unconvincing win over the United States in the their opening game of the Rugby World Cup, which they followed with a thrashing by South Africa, it looked as if England and their coach Brian Ashton were heading for oblivion. But in a sensational turnaround, the team defeated both Australia and hosts France to reach the final. The Springboks only narrowly beat them there but Brian Ashton had done enough to earn an extension to his contract. Click to return to top
Compiled by Bob Chaundy. Profiles of the women of 2007 will be published on Saturday 29 December.Compiled by Bob Chaundy. Profiles of the women of 2007 will be published on Saturday 29 December.