A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.

An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance. The archbishop may have metropolitan authority over any other (then 'suffragan') bishops and their dioceses within his ecclesiastical province.

This structure of church governance is known as episcopal polity.

A diocese also may be referred to as a ''bishopric'' or ''episcopal see'', though strictly the term ''episcopal see'' refers to the domain of ecclesiastical authority officially held by the bishop, and the term ''bishopric'' to the post of being bishop.

:The bishops, ''Greek: Episkopos, elders or overseers,'' of the long-established churches claim Apostolic succession, a direct historical lineage dating back to the original Twelve Apostles.

:The word ''diocese'' is from the Greek term ''διοίκησις'', meaning "administration".

Catholic Church

there are 630 Catholic archdioceses (including 13 patriarchates, two catholicates, 536 metropolitan archdioceses, 79 single archdioceses) and 2,167 dioceses in the world.

Eastern Catholic churches

In the Eastern Catholic Churches (which recognize papal authority and are a part of the larger Catholic Church), the equivalent unit is called an eparchy;

Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church calls dioceses metropoleis in the Greek tradition or eparchies in the Slavic tradition.

Church of England and Anglican Communion

After the Reformation, the Church of England retained the existing diocesan structure which remains throughout the Anglican Communion.

United Methodist Church of USA

In the United Methodist Church (USA) a bishop is given oversight over a geographical area called an Episcopal Area. Each episcopal area contains one or more annual conferences, which is how the churches and clergy under the bishop's supervision are organized. Thus, the use of the term "diocese" referring to geography is the most equivalent in the United Methodist Church, whereas each annual conference is part of one episcopal area (though that area may contain more than one conference). The African Methodist Episcopal Church has a similar structure to the United Methodist Church, also using the Episcopal Area.

Lutheranism

Poland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland

Certain Lutheran denominations such as the Church of Sweden do have individual dioceses similar to Roman Catholics. These dioceses and archdioceses are under the government of a bishop (see Archbishop of Uppsala). Other Lutheran bodies and synods that have dioceses and bishops include the Church of Denmark, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway.

Lutheranism in USA

Some American Lutheran synods such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America do have a bishop acting as the head of the synod, but the synod does not have dioceses and archdioceses as the churches listed above. Rather, it is divided into a middle judicatory.

Churches that have neither dioceses nor bishops

Methodism

In the Methodist Church (covering Great Britain and Ireland), churches are grouped together in sections. Sections are grouped together to form Circuits. Circuits are grouped together to form Districts. All of these, combined with the local membership of the Church, are referred to as the 'Connexion'. This 18th century term, endorsed by John Wesley who remained within the Church of England, describes how people serving in different geographical centres are 'connected' to each other. The Methodist Church has an annual president. Each District is headed by a 'Chair' who oversees its functioning. Each Circuit is governed by a superintendent minister. The geographical regions covered by circuits and dioceses rarely overlap.

Baptists

Most Baptists hold that no church or ecclesiastical organization has inherent authority over a Baptist church. Churches can properly relate to each other under this polity only through voluntary cooperation, never by any sort of coercion. Furthermore, this Baptist polity calls for freedom from governmental control. Most Baptists believe in "Two offices of the church"—pastor-elder and deacon—based on certain scriptures (; ).

Exceptions to this local form of local governance include a few churches that submit to the leadership of a body of elders, as well as the Episcopal Baptists that have an Episcopal system.

History

In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated in a larger unit, the diocese (Latin ''dioecesis'', from the Greek term ''διοίκησις'', meaning "administration").

With the adoption of Christianity as the Empire's official religion in the 4th century, the clergy assumed official positions of authority alongside the civil governors. A formal church hierarchy was set up, parallel to the civil administration, whose areas of responsibility often coincided.

With the collapse of the Western Empire in the 5th century, the bishops in Western Europe assumed a large part of the role of the former Roman governors. A similar, though less pronounced, development occurred in the East, where the Roman administrative apparatus was largely retained by the Byzantine Empire. In modern times, many diocese, though later subdivided, have preserved the boundaries of a long-vanished Roman administrative division. For Gaul, Bruce Eagles has observed that "it has long been an academic commonplace in France that the medieval dioceses, and their constituent ''pagi'', were the direct territorial successors of the Roman ''civitates''.

Modern usage of 'diocese' tends to refer to the sphere of a bishop's jurisdiction. This became commonplace during the self-conscious "classicizing" structural evolution of the Carolingian empire in the 9th century, but this usage had itself been evolving from the much earlier ''parochia'' ("parish"), dating from the increasingly formalised Christian authority structure in the 4th century (see ''EB'' 1911).

See also

List of Eastern Orthodox dioceses and archdioceses

List of Anglican dioceses

List of Anglican Church of Canada dioceses

List of Church of England dioceses

List of Church of Ireland dioceses

Dioceses of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America

List of Lutheran dioceses and archdioceses

List of the dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America

List of Roman Catholic archdioceses

List of Roman Catholic dioceses

List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States

Eparchy, a term in Eastern Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and the Assyrian Church of the East

List of Bishops

Notitia dignitatum

Particular Church

Ecclesiastical Latin

Catholic Church in Great Britain

Structure of the Church of England

Global organisation of the Roman Catholic Church

Notes

Sources and external links

Definition from 1911 Britannica

Complete list of Catholic dioceses worldwide by Giga-Catholic Information

Virtually complete list of current and historical Catholic dioceses worldwide

Another such list, in English and Norwegian

List of current Anglican/Episcopalian dioceses

Indian Orthodox Church Diocese Portal

Coats of Bishops and of Dioceses

Category:Christian group structuring Category:Episcopacy in Anglicanism Category:Episcopacy in Roman Catholicism Category:Christian terms

ar:أبرشية an:Diocesi be-x-old:Дыяцэзія br:Diosez bg:Диоцез ca:Diòcesi cs:Diecéze cy:Esgobaeth da:Stift de:Diözese es:Diócesis eo:Diocezo fr:Diocèse fy:Bisdom gl:Diocese ko:교구 (기독교) hr:Dijeceza io:Diocezo id:Keuskupan it:Diocesi he:דיוקסיה sw:Dayosisi la:Episcopatus lb:Diözes lt:Vyskupija lmo:Diocesi hu:Egyházmegye ml:രൂപത nl:Bisdom ja:教区 nap:Diocesi no:Bispedømme nn:Bispedømme oc:Diocèsi nds:Bisdom pl:Diecezja pt:Diocese ro:Dieceză ru:Диоцез (церковно-административная единица) sq:Dioqeza simple:Diocese sk:Diecéza (biskupstvo) sl:Škofija sr:Бискупија sh:Dijeceza fi:Hiippakunta sv:Stift (kyrkligt förvaltningsområde) th:เขตมิสซัง uk:Дієцезія vi:Giáo phận zh-yue:教區 zh:教區

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
name	Jagathy Sreekumar
birth name	Sreekumar Achary
birth date	January 05, 1951
birth place	Jagathy (near Thiruvananthapuram), India
othername	Ambili
occupation	Film actor, screenwriter
yearsactive	1975 - present
father	N. K. Achary
mother	Prasanna
spouse	Shoba
children	Rajkumar, Parvathi,
parents	Jagathy N. K. Achary
awards	}}

Sreekumar Achary, better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar, is an Indian film actor who has performed in more than 1,000 Malayalam films. He has also directed two films and has written screenplays for two films. His stage name derives from the town of Jagathy in southern Kerala, near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

Biography

Sreekumar was born on 5 January 1951 at Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram. He is the son of Malayalam dramatist and writer N. K. Achary (1917–1992) (also fondly known as Jagathy). N. K. Achary was an All India Radio employee. Even from childhood, Jagathy Sreekumar had the dream of becoming an actor.

Career

Sreekumar Achary was a Class V student at Model School in Thiruvananthapuram when he first got the opportunity to act in a play. By the time he joined Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, he had become an experienced theatre person. His first film was ''Chattambi Kalyani''. His role in the film earned him recognition. With 1,100-odd Malayalam films to his credit, he is reckoned as one of the most popular actors in the Malayalam film industry. He is a different person altogether in real life, where he is very serious in contrast to the jovial characters he often portrays. He considers acting a serious profession.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

1991 - Second Best Actor - ''Apoorvam Chilar'', ''Kilukkam''

2002 - Second Best Actor - ''Nizhalkuthu'', ''Meesa Madhavan''

2007 - Special Jury Award - ''Paradesi'', ''Veeraliupattu'', ''Arabikadha''

2009 - Special Jury Award - ''Raamanam''

Kerala Film Critics Award

2007 - Second Best Actor - ''Classmates'', ''Palungu'' and ''Vaastavam''

2009 - Chalachitra Ratna Award

Asianet Film Award

2002 - Best Supporting Actor - ''Meesa Madhavan''

2004 - Lifetime Achievement Award

2005 - Special Jury Award - ''Thanmathra''

2007 - Best Supporting Actor - ''Rock N' Roll'', ''Hallo''

Other awards

2003 - Bahadoor Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema 2005 - Prem Nazir Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema spanning three decades 2005 - Maiden Sathyan Memorial Award

2006 - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor - Vasthavam

Trivia

Jagathy has acted in over 1000 films. Jagathy has never acted in any language other than Malayalam.

Jagathy never carries a mobile phone; nor does he have any assistants or secretaries.

Jagathy defeated T. M. Jacob in a college election to become the Arts Club Secretary (Mar Ivanios College, Tiruvananthapuram). T. M. Jacob later become a full-time politician and Minister in the Government of Kerala.

Jagathy is an active supporter of the Indian National Congress.

Filmography

As actor

As director

As writer

References

External links

Jagathy Sreekumar Comedy Movie Clips

Jagathy Sreekumar at MSI

Category:Indian comedians Category:1949 births Category:Indian film actors Category:Kerala State Film Award winners Category:Living people Category:Malayali actors Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram

ml:ജഗതി ശ്രീകുമാര്‍

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
type	Bishop
name	Aboon Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom
title	Bishop of Pathanamthitta
church	Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
see	Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
term	2010 – Present
successor	Incumbent
ordination	5 May 1973 (Kashesho), 29 June 1998 (Bishop)
rank
birth date	May 19, 1944
birth place	Kadammanitta, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala
previous post	}}

His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom (born 19 May 1944) is the Metropolitan Bishop of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was the third son of Abraham and Achiyamma of the Kalloor family at Kadammanitta, in Pathanamthitta District. He completed his Secondary Education at Government High School, Kadammanitta. He joined St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum. After the completion of his minor seminary formation, he was sent to Trichy for doing philosophy and theology. He was ordained a priest by his Grace Benedict Mar Gregorios on 5 May 1973. He started his pastoral ministry as the assistant vicar in the parishes around Balaramapuram. Later he has become the vicar of parishes of Venniyoor, Mulloor, Chowara and Vizhinjam. Then he was appointed as the Director of St. Johns Leprosy and HIV Care Services at Pirappencode.

Then he was sent to do the mission work in North America. When the Malankara Catholic Mission in North America was officially inaugurated he was appointed as the co-ordinator. In 1997 he was raised to the status of a Chor-episcopo.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Rt. Rev. John Kalloor Cor-episcopo as the second bishop of the Eparchy of Marthandom on 16 April 1998. He was ordained a bishop with the name Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom by Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios at Mar Ivanios Stadium, Trivandrum, on 29 June 1998. He was installed as the bishop of Marthandom on 1 July 1998 at Marthandom Cathedral.

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos appointed Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom as the bishop of the newly created Eparchy of Pathanamthitta on January 25, 2010. The enthronement of Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom as the first bishop of Pathanamthitta took place on March 20, 2010.

Before being appointed a Bishop, Rev. John Kalloor served the Archdiocese of Washington for many years. Based at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian parish in Washington, DC, he was a chaplain for DC General Hospital and coordinated ministry for Syro-Malankara rite Catholics in the United States.

References

Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:Eastern Catholic bishops Category:Indian bishops Category:Syro-Malankara Catholics Category:People from Kerala Category:Indian Eastern Catholics

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
name	Ant & Dec
birth date	Anthony David McPartlin:November 18, 1975Newcastle upon Tyne, EnglandDeclan Joseph Oliver Donnelly:September 25, 1975Newcastle upon Tyne, England
nationality	English
occupation	TV presenters, actors
years active	1988–present }}

Anthony "Ant" McPartlin (born 18 November 1975) and Declan "Dec" Donnelly (born 25 September 1975), known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The duo first rose to fame as actors on the children's television show ''Byker Grove'', during which and in their subsequent pop career they were respectively known as PJ & Duncan - the names of the characters they played on the show. Since then, Ant & Dec have had a very successful career as TV presenters, presenting shows such as ''SMTV Live'', ''Friends Like These'', ''Pop Idol'', ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'', ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'', ''Push the Button'', ''PokerFace'' and ''Britain's Got Talent''. They have also returned to acting, starring in a 2002 ''Tribute to The Likely Lads'' and the 2006 film ''Alien Autopsy''.

Ant is the taller of the two at 5'8" (1.73 m) and Dec is two inches shorter at 5'6" (1.68 m). It is a running joke that many people do not know who is Ant and who is Dec, even though their appearances differ significantly. To assist with identification, they follow the 180 degree rule; all their TV appearances and publicity photos have Ant on the left and Dec on the right, but even this does not help everyone. This was started early in their stint on Byker Grove, and was carried through every video and performance of their musical career, and also affected the wedding structures of both Ant & Dec.

Background

Anthony McPartlin was born on 18 November 1975 and Declan Donnelly was born on 25 September 1975. They met each other while working on the BBC children's drama ''Byker Grove'' in 1989. After a shaky start, they soon became best friends. They have achieved such popularity as a duo that they are hardly ever seen apart on screen. Indeed, it is reported that they are each insured against the other's death, although the amount is unknown. Their inseparability has led to them receiving joint nominations for many awards.

Career

Acting

Although Ant had built some television experience with a brief stint on the children's television series ''Why Don't You?'', which was broadcast on the BBC, Dec was the first of the two to acquire his place on the BBC children's drama ''Byker Grove''. He joined in 1988, playing Duncan. A year later, Ant joined the cast playing PJ. Their friendship began when their storylines collided, creating a friendship off screen as well as on. Dec also played a stable boy in the adaptation of the novel ''The Cinder Path'' in his teenage years.

Music

Main Article: ''PJ & Duncan discography''

After leaving television, the duo turned their hand to pop music. Their first single was a song they performed while part of Byker Grove, entitled "Tonight I'm Free". The single had some success, and the duo went on to record two albums under their character names of PJ & Duncan. Later songs included "Why Me?", "If I Give You My Number", "Eternal Love" "Our Radio Rocks", "U Krazy Katz" and a cover of the The Monkees classic "Stepping Stone". Their most famous hit during this period was the BRIT Award nominated "Let's Get Ready To Rhumble", for which the video was choreographed by Mark Short, who had previously worked with Tina Turner and Peter Andre. For their third album, the duo reinvented themselves under their real names of Ant & Dec. The album featured their signature single "Shout". Their final single release was "Falling", which was the track that subsequently ended their musical career. The track was pulled from the British charts under the instruction of their record label, Telstar Records, after claims of copyright infringement were made, brought about by a pop duo, 'And all because...', who were also managed by Ant and Dec's management team. The duo claimed that Ant & Dec had stolen the song from them and released it without their consent. Subsequently, Telstar Records decided not to renew their existing contract, and they were dropped from the label. During their time, the pair released sixteen singles and three studio albums, however, none of their releases managed to reach number one, with their highest UK chart position being #3. The duo did, however, reach the top ten in Germany and Japan, and even had a number-one single in Germany, with their cover of the Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream". Success also struck in other European countries. The duo had a short lived revival in the music industry, releasing a song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, entitled "We're On The Ball". The track peaked at #3, being beaten by Will Young and Gareth Gates, who ironically where the winner and runner-up of ''Pop Idol'', a show which the duo presented.

Presenting

Children's television

Ant & Dec got their first presenting job in 1994, while they were still releasing music under the alias of PJ & Duncan. They co-presented a Saturday-morning children's show entitled ''Gimme 5'', which was broadcast on CITV. The show only lasted two series before being dropped from the airwaves. In 1995, the duo were once again offered a job on CBBC, this time presenting their own series, entitled ''The Ant & Dec Show''. The series was broadcast from 1995 to 1997, and in 1996, Ant & Dec two BAFTA Awards, one for 'Best Children's Show' and one for 'Best Sketch Comedy Show'. In 1997, a VHS release, entitled ''The Ant & Dec Show - Confidential'', was made available in shops, and featured an hour of the best bits from three years of the programme, as well as specially recorded sketches and music videos. In 1998, the duo switched to Channel 4, presenting a early-evening children's show entitled ''Ant & Dec Unzipped''. This show also won a BAFTA, but was dropped from the airwaves after just one series. ITV soon signed the duo in August 1998, and within weeks, were assigned to present ITV1's Saturday morning programmes ''SMTV Live'' and ''CD:UK'', alongside old friend Cat Deeley. The duo presented the shows alongside Deeley for three years, before making their permanent departure from children's television in 2001. Two VHS releases, compiling the best bits from both shows, were released in 2000 and 2001 respectively. The pair also starred in the children's TV series Engie Benjy during their time on ''SMTV''.

Primetime

The duo's first primetime presenting job came in the form of BBC Saturday-night game show ''Friends Like These'', which was first broadcast in 1999. The duo presented four series of the programme between 1999 and 2001. In 2001, the duo's contract with ITV was renewed for a further three years, following their appearances on SM:TV Live and CD:UK, and received their first primetime presenting job on the station, presenting brand new Saturday night reality series ''Pop Idol''. The series was broadcast for two series only, and was replaced in 2004 by ''The X Factor'', to which Kate Thornton was assigned presenting duties. In August of the same year, the duo were also assigned to their own game show, entitled ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway''. The show ran for nine series, broadcast between 2002 and 2009. During the fourth series, Dec broke his arm, thumb and suffered a concussion whilst completing a challenge for the 'Ant Vs. Dec' segment of the show. The incident involved learning how to ride a motorbike and jumping through a ring of fire. During the challenge, Dec failed to pull hard enough on the throttle of the bike, causing it to topple over and sending him flying through the air. The accident caused the pair to miss the ''Comic Relief'' charity telethon of 2005. In 2006, the first episode of series five saw the duo absail down the side of the 22-storey high London Studios, where the show was filmed. Two DVDs, a best-bits book and a board game of the series were released during 2004. In May 2002, the duo took the helm of a further reality series, entitled ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''. The series has been broadcasting on ITV1 since 2002, and ten series have been broadcast. The duo drew their highest viewing figures to date while presenting the series in February 2004, with nearly 15 million tuning in to watch the climax of the third series. In May 2006, the duo were assigned to present coverage of the charity football match ''Soccer Aid''. The duo were then invited back to present coverage of the second match in September 2007, and have since presented coverage of each yearly match. In June 2006, the duo announced they had created a new game-show format for ITV1, entitled ''PokerFace''. The show featured members of the public gambling high stakes of money in an attempt to win the ultimate prize. The first series began airing on 10 July 2006, and was aired for seven consecutive nights. The second series was broadcast in early 2007, and saw a move to a prime-time Saturday slot. Ratings for the series fell to below 3.5 million, and the series was subsequently axed in March 2007. A board game of the format was released in 2008. In April 2007, the duo signed a two-year golden handcuffs deal with ITV, reportedly worth £40 million, securing the duo's career at the station until the end of 2009. In June 2007, the duo were offered the job of presenters on new ITV reality platform ''Britain's Got Talent'' by Simon Cowell. The series features contestants aiming to win £100,000 and spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Show, while performing and being judged by Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan. The series was highly successful, drawing in nearly 12 million viewers. A second series was broadcast in May 2008, and drew in nearly 14.5 million viewers. The duo have since returned to present three further series of the show, and have also had a regular feature on the ITV2 spin-off show ''Britain's Got More Talent''. The pair filmed a series of six episodes for a new American game show, ''Wanna Bet?'', in November 2007. The episodes was broadcast in 2008, but failed to attract enough interest for a second series to be commissioned. ''What You Wrote'', another format created by the duo, was due to air in Autumn 2008 but was reportedly axed by ITV. In 2010, the duo debuted a replacement for their previous Saturday-night game show format, ''Saturday Night Takeaway'', entitled ''Ant & Dec's Push the Button''. The series was a success, and a second run of the programme was broadcast in 2011. A third series has been commissioned for 2012.

Other activities

In April 2008, it was reported that Ant & Dec's production company, Gallowgate Productions, had purchased the rights to ''Byker Grove'' and ''SMTV Live'', after the production companies that made them, Zenith Entertainment and Blaze Television, had both gone bankrupt in 2007. According to reports, the duo decided to purchase the rights to stop digital channels showing repeats of the programmes. On 28 September 2008, it was reported that the pair were attacked by the Taliban whilst in Afghanistan to present a Pride Of Britain Award. In December 2008, the duo starred in a seasonal advert, their first in seven years, for the supermarket chain Sainsbury's. The duo appeared alongside chef Jamie Oliver. In March 2009, the duo filmed a short film for inclusion on Comic Relief, which highlighted their story upon visiting a community centre for young carers in the North East. In September 2009, the duo released their official autobiography, entitled "Ooh! What a Lovely Pair. Our Story". In October 2010, the duo appeared in several Nintendo adverts playing both the Wii and Nintendo DS.

Scandals

In 1997, Welsh pop duo 'And all because...' successfully obtained legal aid and filed legal papers against Ant & Dec, along with their management team, record company and producers for copyright infringement over the song "Falling", and this was subsequently Ant & Dec's last single.

Law firm Olswang were commissioned to investigate the 2005 British Comedy Awards when the producers overturned the voting public's first choice, ''The Catherine Tate Show'' in favour of ''Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' for the People's Choice Award. The incident is also the subject of an investigation by media regulator Ofcom.

Following allegations of fraud in 2007, an investigation by auditors Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu discovered that two shows, ''Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon'' and ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'', had defrauded viewers participating in phone-ins. The programmes were subject to a further investigation by Ofcom which found that between January 2003 and October 2006 ''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' had:

selected competition finalists before the telephone lines were announced as closed

staggered the selection of competition finalists which meant that viewers entering the competition did not have a fair and equal chance of winning

selected finalists on the basis of their suitability to be on television and where they lived

selected an individual already known to the production team to be placed on the shortlist of potential winners and who went on to win the competition

and between September and October 2005, ''Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon'' had:

on six occasions in the Prize Mountain competition, selected winners based on their suitability to be on screen

failed to account for almost half of the competition entries

One episode of ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' was also found to be in breach of Ofcom rules.

The pair were ridiculed for their alleged participation in the fraud on the front cover of the satirical magazine ''Private Eye''.

On 10 September 2008, Ant & Dec announced that the frauds "will never happen again", insisting that a high-tech system and strict rules will ensure viewers cannot lose out with poorly monitored premium rate phone lines.

On 30 September 2008, it was reported that Ant & Dec were being sued for $30 million by Greek American stand-up comedian and actor ANT for using "his" name in the United States. The lawsuit, among other things, alleges trademark infringement and fraud.

In October 2009, Kelly Brook claimed that Ant & Dec had been the cause of her removal as the fourth judge on ''Britain's Got Talent''. She claimed that she was asked to leave the show after she upset the pair.

Acting

They have, albeit infrequently, returned to acting. They played themselves in the film ''Love Actually'' (in which Bill Nighy's character referred to Dec as "Ant or Dec"). They have returned to their Geordie roots in a one-off tribute to ''The Likely Lads'' and also by returning to ''Byker Grove'' for Geoff's funeral.

In 1998, the pair starred in the pantomime ''Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs'' at Sunderland's Empire Theatre alongside Donnelly's partner at the time Clare Buckfield. The show was financially unsuccessful, making £20,000 less than it cost to stage, with the duo footing a large share of the shortfall.

Al Burton, creator of the American gameshow ''Win Ben Stein's Money'', had approached Ant & Dec's talent agency with a proposal for a new reality television show entitled ''Ant & Dec Get Killed'' (after the film ''Penn & Teller Get Killed''), in which the two scheme to murder one another, framed with a lighthearted soundtrack and canned laughter. Burton received negative public reaction and narrowly escaped being charged with several accounts of premeditated murder in British courts, and Ant & Dec refused the offer from the talent agency.

Ant & Dec's most recent acting appearance was in the film ''Alien Autopsy'' released in April 2006. The film gained mixed reviews about the storyline but the pair received generally good reviews for their acting abilities.

Awards

In 2005, as part of the ITV Network's 50th birthday celebrations, they were back on television fronting ''Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon'', a celebration of some of ITV's most enduring gameshows from the past 50 years.

In 2006, a celebration to the show ''Spitting Image'' saw Ant and Dec having their own puppets made. They have also been made into cartoon characters on the comedy show ''2DTV'', and face masks in ''Avid Merrion'''s ''Bo Selecta''. Wax works of the duo can also be seen in London's ''Madame Tussauds''.

In September 2006, they were voted by the general public as number 7 in a poll of ''TV's 50 Greatest Stars''.

1994 Brit Award Nomination - Best Song: "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble"

2001

Most Popular Entertainment Presenter (SMTV Live)

2002

Most Popular Entertainment Presenter (Pop Idol)

National Television Awards: Special Recognition Award

2003 Most Popular Entertainment presenter (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

Most Popular Entertainment program (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

Most Popular Reality Programme (''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'')

2004

Most Popular Entertainment presenter (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

Most Popular Entertainment programme (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

2005

Most Popular Entertainment presenter (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

2006 Most Popular Quiz Programme (''Ant & Dec's Gameshow Marathon'')

Most Popular Entertainment presenter (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

British Comedy Awards: Best Comedy Entertainment Personality British Comedy Awards: Best Comedy Entertainment Programme

2007

Most Popular Entertainment presenter (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

Most Popular Entertainment program (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

Most Popular Reality Programme (''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'')

2008 TV Quick & TV Choice Awards: Best Entertainment Show (''Saturday Night Takeaway'') Nickelodeon UK Kids Choice Awards 2008: Favourite Funny Person, Best TV presenters and Best Family TV show (''Britain's Got Talent'') National Television Awards: Most Popular Entertainment Presenter

2009

TV Quick & TV Choice Awards: Best Entertainment Show (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

TV Quick & TV Choice Awards:Outstanding Contribution Award

2010

National Television Awards: Most Popular Entertainment Presenter

National Television Awards: Most Popular Entertainment Programme (''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'')

British Academy Television Awards: Entertainment Performance (''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'')

2011

National Television Awards: Most Popular Entertainment Presenter

National Television Awards: Most Popular Entertainment Programme (''I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!'')

List of television appearances

''Why Don't You?'' (1980s)

''Byker Grove'' (1989)

''Engie Benjy'' (1999)

As presenters

''The Ant & Dec Show'' (1995–1997)

''Ant & Dec Unzipped'' (1998)

''Friends Like These'' (1999–2001)

''SMTV Live'' (1999–2001)

''CD:UK'' (1999–2001)

''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003)

''Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' (2002–2008)

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Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Juan Bautista Alvarado
Order
Office	Governor of Alta California
Term start	1836
Term end	1837
Predecessor	Nicolas Gutierrez
Successor	Carlos Antonio Carrillo
Order2	Governor of Alta California
Term start2	1838
Term end2	1842
Predecessor2	Carlos Antonio Carrillo
Successor2	Manuel Micheltorena
Birth date	February 14, 1809
Birth place	Monterey, California
Death date	July 13, 1882
Death place	Rancho San Pablo, California
Spouse	Dona Martina Castro
Religion	}}

Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo (February 14, 1809 – July 13, 1882) was a Californio and twice Governor of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, and 1838 to 1842.

Early years

Alvarado was born in Monterey, Alta California, to Jose Francisco Alvarado and María Josefa Vallejo. His grandfather Juan Bautista Alvarado accompanied Gaspar de Portolà as an enlisted man in the Spanish Army in 1769. His father died a few months after his birth and his mother remarried three years later, leaving Juan Bautista in the care of his grandparents, the Vallejo family. He and Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo grew up together in the Vallejo household. They were both taught by William Edward Petty Hartnell, an English merchant living in Monterey.

In 1827 the eighteen-year-old Alvarado was hired as secretary to the territorial legislature. In 1829 he was briefly arrested along with Vallejo and another friend, José Castro, by soldiers involved in the military revolt led by Joaquín Solis. In 1831 he built a house in Monterey for his mistress, Juliana Francisca Ramona y Castillo, whom he called “Raymunda”, to live in. Over the years, the pair had a total of five illegitimate daughters, all of whom he recognized, but he never married their mother. During this period Alvarado began drinking heavily. One of his daughters claimed that Raymunda had refused to marry Alvarado because of his excessive drinking.

Alvarado was in favor of secularizing the missions and he was appointed to oversee the secularization of Mission San Miguel by José María de Echeandía, even though he had already been replaced as governor. The new governor, Manuel Victoria rescinded the order and wanted Alvarado and Castro arrested. The pair fled and were hidden by their old friend Vallejo, who was now adjutant at the Presidio of San Francisco. However, Victoria's rule proved to be unpopular and he was overthrown by Echeandía and replaced by Pío Pico at the end of 1831. Secularization of the missions resumed in 1833.

In 1834 Alvarado was elected to the legislature as a delegate and appointed customs inspector in Monterey. Rancho El Sur, south of Monterey, was granted to Alvarado by Governor José Figueroa on October 30, 1834.

After Figueroa's death in September 1835, Nicolás Gutiérrez was appointed as interim governor in January 1836, to be replaced by Mariano Chico in April, but he was very unpopular. Thinking a revolt was coming, Chico returned to Mexico to gather troops, but was reprimanded for leaving his post. Gutierrez, the military commandant, re-assumed the governorship, but he too was unpopular. Now a senior member of the legislature, Alvarado and Castro, with political support from Vallejo and assistance from a group of Americans led by Isaac Graham, staged a revolt and forced Gutierrez to relinquish power. The Americans wanted California independence, but Alvarado instead preferred staying a part of Mexico, albeit with greater autonomy.

Governor Alvarado

Alvarado, at age 27, was then appointed governor, but the city council of Los Angeles protested. Alvarado, Castro, and Graham went south and negotiated a compromise after three months, avoiding a civil war. However, the city council of San Diego then voiced its disagreement with Alvarado's revolt. This time, the Mexican government was involved and there were rumors that the Mexican Army was ready to step in. Alvarado was able to negotiate another compromise to keep the peace.

Mexico reneged on the agreement, however, and appointed Carlos Antonio Carrillo, who was very popular among the southerners, governor on December 6, 1837. This time, civil war broke out and after several battles, Carrillo was forced out. Mexico finally relented and recognized Alvarado as governor.

Alvarado married Doña Martina Castro on August 24, 1839 in Santa Clara, but didn't attend his own wedding having his half-brother, Jose Antonio Estrada, stand in for him. Though he claimed to be detained in Monterey on official business, it was rumored he was actually drunk and unable to function. After the wedding, Alvarado lived with his bride in Monterey, but continued on with mistress, Raymunda, who lived nearby.

The process of secularization of the missions was in its final stages, and it was at this time that Alvarado parceled out much of their land to prominent Californios via land grants. Though he took no land for himself, he did however, trade his Rancho El Sur to John B.R. Cooper in exchange for Rancho Bolsa del Potrero which he subsequently sold back to Cooper. He purchased Rancho El Alisal near Salinas in 1841 from his former tutor William Hartnell.

In April 1840 a report of a planned revolt against Alvarado by a group of foreigners, led by former ally Isaac Graham, caused the governor to order their arrest and deportation to Mexico City for trial. They were eventually, however, acquitted of all charges in June 1841. Also in 1841, political leaders in the United States were declaring their doctrine of Manifest Destiny, and Californios grew increasingly concerned over their intentions. Vallejo conferred with Castro and Alvarado recommending that Mexico send military reinforcements to enforce their military control of California.

Tensions between Northern and Southern California

In response, Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna sent Brigadier General Manuel Micheltorena and 300 men to California in January 1842. Micheltorena was to assume the governorship and the position of commandant general. In October, Before Micheltorena reached Monterey, American Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones mistakenly thought that war had broken out between the United States and Mexico. He sailed into Monterey Bay and demanded the surrender of the Presidio of Monterey. Micheltorena's force was still in the south and the Monterey presidio was undermanned. As such, Alvarado reluctantly surrendered, and retired to Rancho El Alisal. The next day Commodore Jones learned of his mistake, but Alvarado declined to return and instead referred the commodore to Micheltorena.

Micheltorena eventually made it to Monterey, but was unable to control his troops, a number of which were convicts. This fomented rumors of a revolt, and by 1844, Alvarado himself became associated with the malcontents and an order was made by Micheltorena for his arrest. His detention, however, was short-lived as, Micheltorena was under orders to organize a large contingent in preparation for war against the United States. All hands would be required for the task at hand.

This turned out to backfire on him, as on November 14, 1844, a group of Californios led by Manuel Castro revolted against Mexican authority. José Castro and Alvarado commanded the troops. There was no actual fighting, however; a truce was negotiated and Micheltorena agreed to dismiss his convict troops. However, Micheltorena reneged on the deal and fighting broke out this time. The rebels won the Battle of Providencia in February 1845 at the Los Angeles River and Micheltorena and his troops left California.

Pío Pico was installed as governor in Los Angeles and José Castro became commandant general. Later, Alvarado was elected to the Mexican Congress. He prepared to move to Mexico City, but Pico declined funding for the transfer, and relations between northern and southern California deteriorated further.

John C. Frémont arrived in Monterey at the beginning of 1846. Afraid of foreign aggression, Castro assembled his militia, with Alvarado second in command, but Frémont went north to Oregon instead. An unstable political situation in Mexico strained relations among the Californios and it seemed that civil war would break out between north and south.

An independent California

On June 14, 1846, a group of foreign settlers staged the Bear Flag Revolt, capturing the town of Sonoma and General Mariano Vallejo. On July 7, Commodore John D. Sloat occupied Monterey, declaring to the citizenry that the Mexican-American War had begun. Pico, Castro, and Alvarado set aside their differences to focus on the American threat, but by the end of August, Pico and Castro would flee to Mexico, and Alvarado would be captured. Following his release, Alvarado would spend the remainder of the war on his estate in Monterey.

After the war, he was offered the governorship, but he declined, instead retiring to his wife Martina's family estate at Rancho San Pablo in 1848. Alvarado did not participate in the California Gold Rush, instead concentrating his efforts at agriculture and business. He opened the Union Hotel on the rancho in 1860, but his businesses were mostly unsuccessful. After Martina's death in 1876, Alvarado wrote his ''Historia de California''. He died on his ranch in 1882 and is buried at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oakland.

Alvarado's adobe house, at the foot of Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey, survives as a California Historical Landmark. Alvarado Street in San Francisco's Noe Valley is named after him. Portions of the Rancho San Pablo adobe are incorporated into the current City of San Pablo government campus.

References

Category:Californios Category:California colonial people Category:Colonial governors of California Category:People from Monterey County, California Category:Writers from California Category:1809 births Category:1882 deaths Category:Mexican California Category:Mexican military personnel of the Mexican–American War Category:California Campaign