What we'll be talking about this year

by Olivia Foster

From designers, to must have products, to the shows that will have you glued to your televisions, these are our predictions for the who or what to watch over the coming 12 months.

Glee

Recently launched on E4, Glee is a new stateside television drama predicted to be the best thing since Desperate Housewives.

The title of the programme refers to “The Glee Club”, a small school choir of misfits inspired by their teacher to release their inner stars.

This oddball comedy follows the trials and tribulations of the group as they try to break past their geeky stereotypes to compete in a world-class singing competition.

Critics have praised the show and compared it to High School Musical, but for grown ups, and Arts London News has its own review available here.

The Karate Kid Remake

The Karate Kid is an 80’s cult classic. Loved by many it’s one of those  films everyone has to watch.

When the news came that it was being remade for release in 2010 critics were quick to voice their opinions and not many of them were good.

Moving slightly away from the original plot which saw a young boy being taught Karate in order to defend himself from playground bullies, the new film will be set in Bejing.

You know what they say when it comes to films,"‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it" but with Jackie Chan staring, this is one remake that will be scrutinised come it’s June release but if the trailer is anything to go by, it could just prove the critics wrong.

The XX

Hailing from South London, The XX a once four-piece now three-piece band are hotly tipped for big things in 2010, having played at last years Reading and Leads festival and gaining recognition after supporting 2009 darlings Florence and the Machine.

Pigeonholing this band to one genre isn’t easy and that’s the key to their huge success, they are no more indie than they are punk, no more electro than they are pop, but instead their memorable music brings together a quirky and eclectic mix of genres to create a sound that is truly unique.

Saoirse Ronan

Star of the long awaited film adaptation from the critically acclaimed novel The Lovely Bones is set to become the magazine industries lovie of 2010.

The Irish raised actress who was born in New York has everything we tend to love about a star, fresh faced good looks, an enviable wardrobe and if the scores of award nominations she has received are anything to go by, a shed load of talent.

Still at college in Ireland Saoirse hasn’t let her fame go to her head, with the film due out in February this year, she is set to become one of the most likeable and down to earth stars of 2010.

Henry Conway

Henry Conway, better known as the son of disgraced conservative MP Derek Conway is the designer to watch for 2010.

The self professed “Queen Sloane” who previously worked as a promoter for the notoriously toff loving clubs Mahiki and Whiskey Mist, has launched his own knitwear company, making fabulous creations that are much less wooly mammouth and much more sleek sheep.

Enviably flamboyant Conway is set to become a mainstream fashion icon for his classically eclectic taste and over-the-top personality.

The Google Phone

The google phone or Nexus One which has been spoken of as the “iPhone killer”, is the latest in a line of smartphones.

No longer content with making calls or sending text these days, we now want our handsets to include everything but the kitchen sink.

The Nexus One is no different.

Set to go up against Apple's hugely popular handset original sales have not yet set the world on fire but it is predicted that this new development for one of the most recognised brands in the world, is just the beginning to googles launch into the hardware market, using their software and technological intelligence to come up with products that will surely challenge Apple's market lead.

John and Edward

Yes, the X Factor rejects everyone loves to hate.

They make our list not necessarily because everyone will be hankering after them but because you just can’t help but be curious about what they will do next.

Having had a continuous stream of TV appearances since failing to make the (singing) grade on Cowell's infamous talent show, these boys are still very much in the limelight.

The gruesome twosome have just been signed to Sony and their first single will be Ice Ice Baby with Vanilla Ice.