Fans flock to Sex & City film debut

Sex and the City fever has gripped Shropshire with thousands flocking to get their first glimpse of the blockbuster movie.

Cineworld in Shrewsbury and the Odeon in Telford reported queues stretching out of the door as the film was released in the county.

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Cinemagoers packed the Telford venue with more than 1,000 people, mostly women, passing through the doors.

Most of the 12 screenings held on four screens yesterday were sold-out by early evening with one at 8pm sold out a week ago.

General manager Stephen Hagon said the opening night had sold just 200 fewer tickets than for the opening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last year.

Mr Hagon said: “I have never seen so many women in my life. I know there was a big cheer when the opening theme tune came on at the 8pm showing. There were 250 people in that screening. I have never heard a bigger cheer for a film in my life.”

Lucie Poole, 26, who lives in Shrewsbury, said Cineworld was packed with women wanting to see the film.

And to celebrate its release in Shropshire last night four county women were given a glamorous Manhattan makeover for their own special screening of the film.

To celebrate the comeback of the comedy drama and its stars - Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis - the Shropshire Star joined forces with the county’s style experts to give four fans a red carpet-style makeover for their own screening of the film.The hotly anticipated screen debut is set to be a box office smash and Mary Clark, from Telford, Andrea Harrison, from Ford near Shrewsbury, Elaine Neczyporczuk, from Leegomery, and Nicki Longden, from Shifnal, were among the first in the county to see it.

With the help of Rizzo Hair and Beauty and Simply Brides, both based in Wellington, Mary, Andrea, Elaine and Nicki were transformed into Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha for a girly outing to remember.

Debbie Barrett and her daughter Jade Hinton, from Rizzo, created glamorous hair dos for our four Sex and the City look-alikes, while make-up artist Liz Bell added the finishing touches for the showbiz revamp.

“The Sex and the City girls have so many fabulous looks but we went for the style that stole the show at the London premiere,” said Debbie.

“We had such a giggle doing the makeover and all the girls looked so fabulous as the characters from the film. It just proves that’s what women love - a chance to have some time with the girls. That’s what Sex and the City is all about.”

Lynda Hollington provided fabulous frocks and a flirty fascinator worthy of any red carpet before the girls headed off to the Odeon Cinema in Telford where seats were reserved for them in true A-list style.

The film marks the return of the designer divas with a particular weakness for shoes after a four-year break from the small screen.

But does it live up to the hype? We asked Shropshire’s own Carrie and Co to give us their verdicts. Click on the numbers below to find out what they thought.