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I'm lucky if this piece of shit allows me to upload one picture a day its fucked. I've decided to move the blog & i will let you know the new address as soon as i finish uploading. Cya later JEFF

Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler will undergo surgery this week for an undisclosed medical condition, forcing the band to cancel the remaining dates of its North American tour.

The band's publicist, Marcee Rondan, said Tuesday that Tyler was "doing fine" but declined to elaborate on his condition.

"Despite Aerosmith's desire to keep the tour going as long as possible, Tyler's doctors advised him not to continue performing to give his voice time to recover," Rondan said in a statement.

Tyler, who turns 58 on Sunday, can't perform for an extended period of time, Rondan said, adding the band was on hiatus.

Aerosmith canceled recent concerts in Manchester, N.H., Pensacola, Fla., and Lexington, Ky., because of illness, though the tour press director did not disclose who was sick or the nature of the illness.

WHICH scandalized sweetheart demands that her bedmates perform an ultra-raunchy sex act that would seem to belie her good-girl image?

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WHICH married former Olympic ski champ had a steamy tryst with another woman at the Torino olympics?

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WHICH socialite just had unprotected, coke-fueled sex in the bathroom of a Lower East Side hipster bar?

Socialite PARIS HILTON and her beau STAVROS NIARCHOS' reported split has been linked to language difficulties. The hotel heiress allegedly grew paranoid when her Greek shipping heir boyfriend conversed with a friend in his native language without including her, during a recent night out at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. An source tells gossip site The Scoop, "Stavros was with a Greek friend, and Paris was freaking out because she couldn't understand what they were saying. "She thought they were laughing at her." Hilton reportedly exploded with rage when Stavros subsequently failed to comfort her for looking upset. The insider adds, "Paris has never seemed so upset. She really thought that Stavros was the one."

A sequel to the 1993 hit comedy Mrs. Doubtfire is in the works at Fox 2000. Robin Williams is in early talks to reprise the role of Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire and resume producing duties with Marsha Williams, says The Hollywood Reporter. Bonnie Hunt is also in talks to write the film.

The original, directed by Chris Columbus (first two "Harry Potter" films), earned $219.2 million domestically and $222 million overseas for a massive worldwide total of $441.2 million, or the 53rd highest-grossing film ever. Mrs. Doubtfire received two Golden Globe awards in 1994, one for best picture (comedy/musical) and one for Williams as best actor in a comedy/musical. The film also won an Oscar for best makeup.

In Mrs. Doubtfire, Daniel Hillard learns his ex-wife needs a housekeeper, so he applies for and lands the job disguised as Mrs. Doubtfire, a devoted British nanny. The masquerading Daniel creates a whole new life with his entire family.

Natalie Portman is horrified she was considered a sex symbol aged just 12.

The stunning actress shot to fame playing a young, Lolita-esque orphan who befriends a hardened assassin in ‘Leon' in 1994.

Although she won universal acclaim for her stunning performance, the ‘Star Wars' beauty admits she found it disturbing that some men lusted after her - even though she was a child.

The brunette star, now 24, revealed to Britain's Independent newspaper: "I had a bad experience when ‘Leon' first came out.

"In hindsight, I'm really proud of that film, though at the time it was unnerving to find myself being suddenly looked upon as a sexual object when I was only 12."

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke says he turned down the chance to discuss climate change with Tony Blair because the British prime minister has "no environmental credentials."
The charity Friends of the Earth, for which the singer is an ambassador, asked him to meet Blair.

But Yorke said Blair had no record of championing the environment and added that dealing with the governing Labour Party's "spin doctors" made him feel ill.

"I got so stressed out and so freaked out about it. Initially when it came up I tried to be pragmatic," Yorke told New Music Express magazine in an issue out Tuesday. "But Blair has no environmental credentials as far as I'm concerned."

"It was like talking to Blair's spin doctors. It was all getting weird. It was just obvious there was no point in meeting him anyway, and I didn't want to," he said.

Yorke says the experience has soured him on political activism.

"I came out of that whole period just thinking, I don't want to get involved directly, it's poison. I'll just shout my mouth off from the sidelines."

Yorke is backing Friends of the Earth's Big Ask campaign, which is calling for international cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Radiohead will play a benefit concert for the campaign at London's Koko Club on May 1. The band recently announced a club tour in England.

They have been working on new material for the follow up to their politically-themed 2003 disc, "Hail to the Thief."

Star Jones has admitted to InTouch Weekly that she had a breast lift last week, but complications from the surgery put her in the hospital.

In Touch has learned that in addition to having a breast lift, the View host - who has lost 150 pounds over the past two-and-a half years - also had a tummy tuck to remove excess skin.
Her rep, Brad Zeifman, confirms that Star had the breast lift. "She is recovering wonderfully," he says.

In Touch is told Star is now recovering in a private clinic in LA. The View is in reruns all this week.

Last week we wrote how Britney Spears is now providing her husband Kevin Federline with an allowance for essential items. K-Fed is given a set amount of funds each month for his own personal use to spend in nightclubs and on "any day-to-day activities." But we were wondering what brought on this sudden sense of responsibility from our favorite Pop-Tart.
Maybe she had a long talk with Donald Trump. Jeannette Walls of the Scoop dishes: 'Donald Trump, who just became a father for the fifth time, says that Britney Spears' rumored second child might be a career goof. And it doesn't sound like the Donald is a fan of Spears' hubby, Kevin Federline.

"What has happened to Britney?" Trump asked. "She's put her very successful career on hold to get married and have a baby. Lots of women do that but there's something that just doesn't look right here. The husband? I don't know. I've just never been a big fan. I hope he's OK. He certainly seems to be spending lots of her money."'

Spears acknowledges that she has made a great deal of money. However, she is now trying to show Kevin, nicknamed 'Spenderline,' that he needs to be responsible and curb his out-of-control spending habits.

Movies (now in theaters): V for Vendetta, starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving; Thank You for Smoking, starring Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello and Katie Holmes; She's The Man, starring Amanda Bynes; Find Me Guilty, starring Vin Diesel

Music (in stores Tuesday): Prince, 3121; Ben Harper, Both Sides of the Gun; Kenny Rogers, Water & Bridges; Chicago, Chicago XXX; Teddy Geiger, Underage Thinking; My Chemical Romance, Life on the Murder Scene

DVDs (in stores Tuesday): Capote; Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story; The Squid and the Whale; Derailed; Paradise Now; Roseanne: Season 3; South Park: The Complete Seventh Season; Chicken Little

While Jessica Simpson was talking up the international charity Operation Smile in Washington, D.C., recently, dad Joe Simpson was still working close to home, playing manager to her and sister Ashlee. But Papa Joe is adding a new gal to his client roster: do-it-yourself guru and tool maker Barbara K. Simpson, 58, filled us in on his expansion, and dished on Jessica's new movie, her divorce and more.

How are things going with Jessica’s new film, Employee of the Month?
We could have another Wedding Crashers on our hands. It’s gonna be a big, big movie. Jessica’s having the time of her life. She loves making movies.

How are you putting up with the media coverage of her divorce?
We tried everything. We tried being vocal, we tried to give everybody the story, and it just keeps coming. So at this point, we just kind of go, "You know? The best comment is no comment." They’re gonna say what they’re gonna say.

And say it a lot!
You know, my poor child, she’s at a place where everybody she meets and talks to she’s linked with (romantically).

Does it drive her nuts?
It’s a joke around the set: “Don’t talk to Jessica because you’re gonna be with her in the magazines next week!”

I’m glad you can laugh at it a bit ...
Well, we’ve cried already, you know? I've told everybody in the press forever, "If we did it, you can print it." We’re big boys and girls. I just ask them not to print what I didn't do. That’s all. But that’s my soapbox.

Now you're working with Barbara K. Will it take any time away from managing your own daughters’ careers?
I run six companies at this point. I'm very diversified. I’m a vision guy and a big-picture guy and a dreamer, and then I hire people to do the details, the day-to-day stuff. And I think this is just another area of the dream, and they all work together.

So what are your dreams for Barbara K?
We’re going to do a TV show with her right off the top, and try to open her up to women. The great ideas are the most simple: Here’s a women that's designing tools for woman. Wow! What a concept! The old system is out and women are taking care of themselves.

Rebecca Loos "loves lesbians" - but doesn't class herself as one.

The brunette, who has openly admitted to being bisexual, says she doesn't find many women attractive and likes men too much to be a full time lady lover.

She said: "I love lesbians but I'm not one myself. I'm bisexual. I do fancy some women, but only very occasionally. I rarely walk into a room and am attracted to a girl. I'm very picky. But there is the potential for me to fancy women, definitely. In the past, I've gone for quite boyish types."

Rebecca, who shot to fame after claiming she'd had an affair with England football captain David Beckham, has revealed she is dating a man at the moment.

Sienna Miller has reportedly begged ex-fiance Jude Law to give their relationship one more chance - and has even promised to stop drinking if he takes her back.

The actress, who has been linked to 'Star Wars' actor Hayden Christensen, is said to have told Jude she will do anything to rekindle their turbulent romance.

Sienna's friend revealed to the Mail on Sunday: "She has started contacting Jude again, saying she can't live without him and will do anything to win him back.

"She has promised to stop drinking, which Jude hated because she becomes argumentative. She also says she will stop smoking, which is another of Jude's pet hates."

Sienna and Jude's romance first hit the rocks after he cheated on her with his children's nanny and despite many attempts to revive their relationship, the couple finally split earlier this year.

Charlotte Church is set to become the new face of Walkers crisps - after signing a £100,000 deal.

The singer will star in a new 1930s style advert with football legend Gary Lineker, after being won over by the humour of the proposed ad.

A source close to the 20-year-old said: "Charlotte turns down loads of ads and promotions but she loves crisps and likes the ads.

"Charlotte thinks the ads are really funny. They are sexy but with humour, which is just the type of woman Charlotte is. She can't wait for filming to begin."

The Welsh beauty is following in the footsteps of Helena Christensen, Victoria Beckham and Sarah Ferguson, who have all appeared in the adverts with 'Match of the Day' host Gary.

Kerry Katona loves her breasts.

The mum-of-two - who recently had a boob job - claims she has the perfect pair and would never change them again.

She said: "I wouldn't want them made any bigger or smaller now - I'm really happy with the way they are."

The former Atomic Kitten singer also revealed she'd like to get down and dirty with Hollywood actor Colin Farrell.

She revealed: "I've met Colin a couple of times and he has always been so polite. I wouldn't mind him being a gentleman with me. He can also be as rough as he wants with me. I wouldn't mind either way!"

Actor Colin Farrell did a naked ballet dance to help Salma Hayek relax before a sex scene.

Hayek said, "I finally came out of the dressing room, all covered up and Colin's completely naked, jumping around in the sand doing ballet dances,” she says. "I started laughing and it relaxed me."

Hayek added that her co-star was a perfect gentleman during filming.

Officials in the Italian town where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were reportedly to wed on Saturday were disappointed the couple failed to show. "We are at the end of our rope," said Giuseppe Salvioni, a spokesman for Cernobbio and its mayor.

"Let's say we are packing it in", he said as they left for the day.

Italian newspapers had said the US stars would marry in a ceremony at their friend George Clooney's villa, in the town of Laglio on Lake Como. There has been huge global press speculation as to whether Troy star Pitt and Tomb Raider actress Jolie would turn up this weekend. Cernobbio's Mayor Simona Saladini said she had been told on Saturday to remain on standby for possible official functions into the evening.

Police in the Lake Como area were on alert and a private security firm had increased security around Clooney's nearby villa, she added.

However Ms Saladini would not reveal who had told her to remain on standby for possible official duties, nor would she divulge which private security company had reportedly increased security around Clooney's villa.

"I have been mayor since 2003 and they would be the most famous couple to be married here," she said on Saturday morning.

But the only wedding she performed that day was for an older couple at city hall. And in Laglio, Mayor Giuseppe said long-term construction projects on Clooney's estate made any wedding there virtually impossible.

The nearest the crowds and media got to seeing much of interest was when two men dressed up as Pitt and Jolie and kissed each other by Cernobbio's lakeside.

People from nearby towns also turned up, including a Clooney lookalike who showed off a photo in his wallet of himself posing with the famous actor. "They were talking about it (on the news) this morning, so I came to take a look," said Giuseppe Gregorio, who said he stood in for Clooney for lighting tests during the filming of Ocean's 12 in nearby Villa Erba.

Cernobbio's hotels and restaurants benefited from the publicity, with Pietro Sacchi, owner of Harry's Bar, saying: "I doubled the number of clients this week." The press also gathered in Paris in front of an apartment where Jolie has stayed in the past, but there was no sign of her there either.

Despite sightings of them together, Pitt and Jolie remain very private and did not publicly acknowledge their relationship for months. They are expecting a child, and a court ruled in January that Jolie's adopted children could take on Pitt's surname as "adoptive father-to-be".

Pitt divorced actress Jennifer Aniston last October after four and a half years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. He denied Jolie, who is twice divorced, was involved in the split, which came after the couple starred in the film Mr and Mrs Smith.

Publicists for Clooney and Pitt have declined to comment on reports about any wedding plans.

PARIS Hilton's rocky romance with Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos has finally sunk - and the socialite has sailed back into the arms of former fiance (and namesake) Paris Latsis.

Paris H was spotted getting cosy with Paris L - also from Greece and due to inherit a shipping fortune - at LA nightclub Privilege last weekend.

And according to our disco detective, they looked decidedly friendly.

"The two Parises spent most of the evening together, head to head and laughing in the corner," says our Stateside snitch.

"It certainly looked like they had a lot of catching up to do - they were getting pretty close and personal."

But it doesn't seem Hilts is ready for a monogamous relationship just yet. Later in the week the 25- year-old Simple Life star loudly scoped for fit men at the launch of a video game - again at the Privilege club.

She reportedly asked if US Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom was attending.

When he didn't show, she was heard saying: "Are there any hot guys here? I need a hot guy." We trust Stavros, 19, has been updated on his relationship status. Although it will hardly be a surprise - he and his now-ex have been rowing publicly for weeks, most notably at various Oscars parties.

La Paris - who's album, featuring her first single Screwed, is out next month - met the other Paris at Jimmy'z in Monte Carlo when they were teenagers.

They got together in December 2004 and, five months later, Latsis proposed.

But by October 2005 it was over - and Paris H had swapped the 27-yearold for younger, richer Stavros.

Let's hope Paris L's mum has changed her mind about the hotel heiress.

During their whirlwind engagement, Mamma Latsis was said to disapprove of her son's American - ie, not posh enough - fiancee.

Stormy water ahead, we think...

If you’re a fan of the show Veronica Mars, you’re likely a passionate fan of the show’s star, Kristen Bell. Actually, forget passionate: You might be obsessive. But if you’ve never seen the mystery-drama, the lovely 25-year-old Michigan native will probably be less familiar to you. Her work on stage and in movies has leaned toward the quirkier side, with no room for the usual twentysomething romantic-comedy or summer blockbuster.

You see, despite her all-American good looks, Kristen likes edge. She can play sexy and damaged in a David Mamet movie, then do a musical comedy about pot, and, finally, go to Romania and shoot a remake of one of the most puzzling Asian horror films ever made (see sidebar). And, today, the former Tisch student is going to relive her college days, if only for a few hours out of her hectic Hollywood life.

CO-ED: You had an audition today; how’d that go?
KRISTEN BELL: It went really well. I get so few days off in Los Angeles that I get really excited when I get to try out for something cool. You really have to book your hiatus in advance. It’s usually April to July.

You’re coming from an audition this morning, you’re here and then you’re on Jimmy Kimmel tonight. Is this a normal day for you?
Actually, this is my day off.

I’m really sorry.
That’s okay.

Actually, I’m not sorry.
Yeah, it’s a hard life, right? (Laughs) It’s pretty normal. The thing is, while it’s about acting, it’s also about the business, you know? That’s why you do shoots like this: You keep getting yourself out there, you go to meetings ... even though you have a show, it doesn’t mean anything. My show, knock on wood, is excellent and looks like it’ll be around for awhile, but if it gets cancelled ... there’s a million other girls in my category, who are talented and fit my physical description. You have to stay on top of it. So that’s why, on my off-days, I try to meet with as many people as I can, show interest in other projects, read scripts and all that. It’s a business of selling yourself.

You ever have fun?
A lot of this is fun. I like working with my friends. I actually had a housewarming and party for my friend’s 30th b-day party ... but my second year of this series has been a lot easier; I’ve been able to relax a lot more. Everybody says the first year of a one-hour series is the most hellish thing you’ll ever experience. Especially with my being the title character, it was the worst thing ever. You’re demanded in every scene, and you’re demanded in every bit of publicity they’re doing for the show. It’s really draining, but the second year you get into a flow, you learn how to work together and you get in a groove. And we’re working with some awesome people this year....

Which reminds me, what’s [new Veronica Mars co-star] Steve Guttenberg really like?
“Gute” is hysterical. The first day I met him, we were talking all things Napoleon Dynamite. He quotes that movie like no one I’ve ever heard.

That’s … kind of scary. Your show, Veronica Mars, has a rabid fan base, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer has called it simply the “best show ever.” But is it hard being on a show that doesn’t have the same cultural impact of, say, Lost or Desperate Housewives?
I actually prefer it because, as an actor, you always want work. When you get into TV, you do a pilot you hope it goes for five years. There are two types of viewers ... wow, I’m making no sense here.

I’m an editor. I’ll make you make sense.
[Laughs] Okay. There are two types of viewers — the ones who are like “oh, what’s that show?” and the others who are obsessed. If you’ve seen it, you’re violent about it; our fans are crazy and awesome. I’d rather be on a show with a small audience that loves us than be on a huge network and just be a show that everybody watches because everybody else does. I know our fans LOVE us. That’s really cool. There’s something special about being a cult thing.

Does it ever get scary?
When we go to signings, we’ll have 65-year-olds come up to us as much as 8-year-olds do. Our creator, Rob Thomas, has a disturbingly good way of telling a 17-year-old narrative. He does it perfectly.

You’re 25. Is it harder to play someone who’s still in high school?
There’s so much that happens in a teenager’s life, when you’re between 17 and 18. You fall in love; you explore, sexually; you figure out who you are, your opinions; you rebel against your parents; and then decide whether that was the right decision. You’re creating who you are, and that’s always more interesting to play a character going through that.

At this point, I’d love to expand and play an older character, but why would I jinx myself? There aren’t a lot of people who are 25 who can still honestly look 18. And while I can, I’m going to do it (laughs). If I wake up one day and I’ve got a ton of wrinkles on my face, I’ll reconsider.

GOING TO COLLEGE

Why did you attend NYU/Tisch, an acting school?
I’d done a lot of community theater as a kid. Actually, I started out as a singer. I was trained operatically as a soprano and then I discovered musical theater. I spent my first few years at NYU studying in the musical-theater program. I still have such a place in my heart for cheesy musicals; I jam to Guys and Dolls in my car, you know? I’m not ashamed of that.

How far are you from graduating?
Eight credits, I think. NYU demands a Monday, Wednesday and Friday studio credit, and you have to be there. I’ve done everything else; I just need attendance! It’s a little frustrating. But I started getting work and ... actually, my dad, who is a news director, would like it if I finished. He always told me how important he thought an education was; I want it very badly. But I wasn’t going to turn down a Broadway show to finish school.

What’s the dumbest thing you did as a freshman?
I split my pants the first day of school. I had tried to dress up, and I wore my dress pants into music class and split my pants and totally mooned everyone and had to go home.

What was going to Catholic school like for high school?
It was fun. The church created a sense of community, which made me more involved in school than I maybe would have been. And there was a musical done at school that everyone did, even football players. So, everyone was involved, which was really cool.

CAREER

You must tell me a bit about your debut in the movie Pooty Tang.
(Sighs) My first film. My most memorable film. I played Andy Richter’s daughter. I think most of my stuff was cut.

You also starred in the marijuana comedy Reefer Madness, both on stage and on film.
That was the best time of my life. The play in New York was unlike anything I’ve ever done on stage. It’s a very smart show and a thrill to be involved with the movie. Those people are my family. They’re the reason I moved to Los Angeles. Reefer is responsible for my career. Spartan, the David Mamet film from last year, was different. You play a kidnapped daughter of the vice-president, and things looked … rough.
It was sort of surreal getting to work with David Mamet, especially so early in my career. My character was very damaged. I actually knew a lot about Mamet from studying him in school that I was able to pick up on the way he writes, his language. It’s odd, but he knows how to write on a whole. When you read the whole page and see the scene as a whole, he has an amazing style.

How was singing at the Emmys?
It was great. I wore red leg-warmers. It was a little funny, just a goofy competition singing a theme song. I came in second place.

Your new film Pulse is based off of a Japanese horror film, much like The Grudge and The Ring were. Have you seen the original?
Yes, it’s scary. The Japanese horror films aren’t like American movies. They don’t go for gore; they really go for thrill and mystery part of it. For our version, they did change it quite a bit. Basically, they had to condense the characters. They Americanized it a little bit. But, the story and point are still there.

I heard the filming was a little difficult.
Yeah, we filmed it in Romania, and I was allergic to the mosquitoes. The Romanian mosquitoes are, like, on steroids, and they would bite you and it would turn into this huge welt and eventually puss up. As you can see, I still have scars on my leg.

Besides Veronica Mars, do you have a favorite TV show?
I love Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I watch it every Sunday night and I bawl my face off. It makes me feel very grateful for where I am and, despite how dirty L.A. ends up making you feel, it lets you know that there are still good people in the world.

1. V for Vendetta $26,135,000
2. Failure to Launch $15,815,000
3. The Shaggy Dog $13,624,000
4. She's the Man $11,012,000
5. The Hills Have Eyes $8,050,000

Cate Blanchett plans to move back home to Australia so her eldest son can be schooled in Sydney.

The acclaimed actress told a News Limited newspaper she wanted her eldest son, Dash, to be taught Down Under.

"When Dash starts at 'big school' next year we will be making a more concerted move to be back in our Hunters Hill home in Sydney," she told the paper. "I love our life back home."

Blanchett, who already has two sons, also suggested she and her husband, scriptwriter Andrew Upton, may consider a third.

"We make pretty good babies so we'll just have to see about that," she said.

Tom Sizemore has revealed he enjoyed affairs with both Paris Hilton and Liz Hurley – dubbing them the best of his 2,000 conquests.

The Black Hawk Down actor – currently on probation on drugs charges - is releasing a new book detailing his multiple sexploits.

In it Sizemore, the former fiancé of Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, says he loved bedding Hilton – who has previously denied having “intimate relations” with him – but says his six month affair with British beauty Hurley was the best of his many lovers.

He writes, “Since losing my virginity to a hooker at 14 I’ve slept with almost 2,000 women. Paris and Liz topped them all - but I was in love with Liz so she just pips her.”

Who's in it? Ben Easter , Don Shanks , Brooke Nevin , Star LaPoint , Alessandra Toreson

What's it about? Four teens from a small Colorado town will be victimized by a phantom menace one year after a July Fourth prank gone awry kills one of their buddies. Against the protestation of one of them, the group agree to keep this secret, only to find their friendships torn apart from the strain. The next Independence Day, just before the town's annual carnival, the four receive intimidating communiques indicating someone is aware of what happened before. The group suspect the cousin of the dead friend, only to discover they are very much on the wrong track. Can the friends survive and figure out the identity of their tormentor before they end up dead themselves?

EX-Boyzone star Stephen Gately got hitched to his boyfriend yesterday.

The singer-turned-actor, 30, swapped diamond rings with businessman Andrew Cowles, 29, at a civil service in London.

The couple are thought to have been introduced by Sir Elton John in 2003.

Stephen said his former bandmates Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch were among guests at the reception at Goring Hotel, near Buckingham Palace.

He added: “This is the happiest day of my life.”

The Dublin-born heart-throb famously revealed he was gay in The Sun in 1999.

Douglas Urbanski, of the Douglas Management Group has told Dissendium that unless an offer is made by next week, Gary Oldman will not be reprising his role as Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. A deadline has been put in place for early next week, Mr. Urbanski told Dissendium. He said that the desire on Warner Brother's part has been low since the beginning, even though the money Oldman wants to reprise his role is little. He added that it is unfair for Oldman to wait, as other films have assumed he is apart of the next Potter film, and, like the rest of us, he needs work for the summer.

As of this moment, Gary Oldman is not a part of Order of the Phoenix, has never been, and unless anything changes next week, will not be a part of this.

According to reports, Buck (born David Brown) recently held a three-day birthday celebration, but is supposedly refusing to pay Irving Brown II, the personal chef that catered the event.

Approximately 300 guests attended Buck's party, including stars like R&B quartet Jagged Edge and Young Jeezy. The bash included Cristal, prime rib and seafood.

Word is Brown often works with celebs, but has never had problems until working for Buck.

The rapper's last birthday bash also turned wrong. Last year, 30 police officers had to restore order when roughly 700 people attempted to rush in Nashville, Tenn's Tap nightclub because tickets being sold out. This year's event was held at King of Clubs nightclub in Nashville.

"He called us at the last minute and wanted us to do this for three nights and then cancelled after the first night, saying he couldn't afford it," Dr. Katherine Brown, Irivng's wife told the Post Chronicle. "Meanwhile, he drives off in his Bentley and was walking around the party carrying a bottle of Cristal in each hand that costs $475 each."

MICHAEL JACKSON is reportedly planning to resurrect his music career by recording a duet with rapper 50 CENT.

The reclusive pop star approached an associate of the IN DA CLUB star at the Bahrain Grand Prix last week, where Jackson has been living since he acquitted of child molestation charges last summer (05).

A source says, "Michael was talking to 50's DJ WHOO KID who spoke to 50 there and then about it.

"The track would catapult Michael back into the limelight, which he is desperate for, and 50 has always been a fan."

Which singer has told friends she's worried the implants in her bottom will burst when she next flies to Britain? She's seriously considering having them removed. Naturally other green-eyed singers are delighted to hear her fears and aren't doing anything to help the harlot, whose pitful past with many men will soon catch up with her.

All Sheryl Crow wants to do is hit the road.

The 44-year-old rocker postponed tour dates set for March and April after having successful breast cancer surgery last month.

She will perform at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis on June 12, followed by shows in Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, it was announced Friday.

Jack Ingram will be the opening artist on the June shows.

Crow will play July 4-5 in Orillia, Ontario, and July 7-8, with the Dave Matthews Band, at Boston's Fenway Park.

In a statement, Crow has called the surgery "minimally invasive" and said she would have radiation treatment as a precaution.

Crow and cycling champion Lance Armstrong announced last month they were splitting up. It would have been her first marriage and the second for Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France cycling champion.

Celebs were busy marking St Patrick's Day in style yesterday. Former Boyzone star Shane Lynch held a small soiree at a pub in Surrey. Dancer Dita Von Teese and hubby Marilyn Manson had a huge house party in Los Angeles.

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Department stores in the US are said to be halving orders for Britney Spears' new limited edition perfume In Control because her other fragrances aren't selling.

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Is Colin Farrell the latest star to turn to the Kabbalah faith? the 29-year-old was seen leaving the Kabbalah centre in the US and an insider said: "Colin left holding a book. He is an admirer of keen disciple Madonna.

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Mike Skinner plays a plastic surgeon in his new video and Jodie Marsh is his less than glamorous assistant. The Streets frontman puts Professor Green under the knife in the promo to his mix of When You Wasn't Famous. After the first op Green looks like Kano then Jacko and after final surgery he's a carbon copy of Skinner.

from American girls his bouncers are having to ration them out.

The 20-year-old is currently at Austin, Texas’ South By Southwest Festival, and has found the mania surrounding his band has already swept Stateside – attracting a bevy of female admirers.

Whilst watching the Dirty Pretty Things play on Thursday night, following a Monkeys gig in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Turner was swamped by so many girls his minder had to step in and take Turner to a corner, before allowing the ladies to approach him in pairs.

Unsurprisingly, Turner is enjoying the Monkey’s first trip to America, “It’s real weird what’s going on. But it’s fantastic. We’re having a great time. They seem to like us a lot here.

“We’ve only played two gigs but we’re having fun. We’re just getting on with it. We just treat every day as another gig and get on with playing the music.”

Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake are planning starring in a new film together.

According to reports the couple are keen to appear in a film centred on ice skating…and they are now taking lessons to perfect the icy art.

A source said: “They came up with the idea during a stay in England last month when Cameron was there filming the movie ‘Holiday’ with Jude Law.

“They loved ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and saw what a hit it was. Then they came up with the idea for an ice skating movie. It’s not been done before and is perfect for a film together.

“Justin has been taking lessons. He’s already a great dancer and he’s progressing well. He is visiting a rink twice a week for intensive coaching. Cameron is signing up soon for her lessons.

“They have commissioned a screenwriter and are convinced it will be a massive hit.”

Robbie Williams’ tour next month will be also sustained by British band The Wire Daisies and platinum selling South African local band, Freshlyground, Big Concerts announced.

The four-piece Wire Daisies join their love of old-school singer-song writing with the energy of modern British rock.

The Wire Daisies debut album "Just another Day" went to number one on the French and British Tunes charts, with "Everyman".

"Tickets to the Cape Town and Pretoria legs of the tour were sold-out within five hours of going on sale, breaking all records imaginable," said spokeswoman Lara Cohen.

“Tickets in every country on Williams' upcoming world-tour had been sold-out within a few hours, earning him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records”, added Lara Cohen.

The andnetwork relates that newly ground’s seven musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe captured South African audiences with the catchy hit "Doo Be Doo". Sideways from performing in major music festivals they were also asked to play before President Thabo Mbeki at the opening of Parliament on the eve of the celebrations of 10 years of democracy.

Chester Bennington of the Grammy-winning music group Linkin Park is a new father.

Bennington's wife, Talinda, gave birth in Los Angeles on Thursday to a 9-pound, 3-ounce boy named Tyler Lee, according to a statement from their publicist.

Other details were not disclosed.

Bennington has two other sons: 10-year-old Jaime with Talinda and 4-year-old Draven from a previous marriage.

Last month, Linkin Park and rapper Jay-Z shared a Grammy Award for best rap/sung collaboration for "Numb/Encore."

The group has sold more than 36 million records worldwide.

A Mescalero Apache family in southern New Mexico has sued the producers of Steven Spielberg's television miniseries, "Into the West," claiming a set stylist cut an 8-year-old girl's hair without regard for tribal customs.

"It's part of our culture not to cut a girl's hair until her Coming of Age ceremony," the girl's father, Danny Ponce, said Friday in a telephone interview. "The only ones allowed to do that are the parents. Nobody asked for permission."

Ponce filed suit in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque on March 6, naming Turner Films Inc. and the unknown stylist as defendants. The lawsuit seeks $250,000 for emotional distress and $75,000 in damages.

A Turner Films spokeswoman said the company doesn't comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit says Ponce's daughter, Christina, responded through her parents last March to an open casting call for work on the TNT network miniseries, "Into the West," for a three-day shoot near Carrizozo, N.M.

The stylist cut the girl's hair, the lawsuit claims, "to make her look more 'Indian' and like a male Indian child because the movie casting call failed to produce sufficient young male extras of Indian heritage."

The Mescalero tradition forbids cutting a girl's hair as she approaches puberty. To prepare for womanhood, Mescalero girls participate in a sacred Coming of Age ceremony that requires their hair to reach the waist.

Before it was cut, Ponce said his daughter's hair fell midway down her back. It has since grown to her collar.

"This has to do with the culture of a tribal member," he said. "It was cut very short above her ears. She looked like a boy."

Gov. Bill Richardson in recent years has increased state efforts to attract the film industry to New Mexico. While Ponce welcomes those initiatives, he suggested filmmakers from outside the state should try to be more culturally sensitive.

Paris Hilton is allegedly looking for a new man.

The hotel heiress - who is dating Greek billionaire Stavros Niarchos - has been spotted hunk hunting at an Los Angeles party.

A source told America's New York Post newspaper: "She was overheard asking event staffers if Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom was coming to the bash because her 'friend' had a crush on him.

"When he didn't turn up she asked a friend, 'Are there any hot guys here? I need a hot guy'."

Meanwhile, Paris has admitted she has a crush on British singing sensation, James Blunt.

The socialite admits she has a soft spot for the singer and is turned on by the fact the he used to be a soldier.

She said: "I love James Blunt.

"I love the fact he used to be in the army. That's pretty hot."

The suave spy will only be seen in casual wear in the upcoming 'Casino Royale'.

New Bond Daniel Craig is quoted as saying: "The only time you'll see me wearing one is in the promo."

Fans are said to be furious 007 won't be in his classic outfit in the latest instalment of the classic franchise.

David Black, chair of the International James Bond fan club, stormed: "Bond without his tux is like Batman without his cape."

Earlier this month, it was revealed the dashing agent is swapping his traditional sports car for a family friendly vehicle in the film.

Filmmakers have decided to ditch Bond's Aston Martin for a Ford Mondeo - but insist it will still be packed with gadgets.

According to reports, manufacturers paid nearly

£14 million to get their car on screen.

An insider revealed: "It's a huge deal, worth far more than the

£2 million Daniel Craig is getting to play the spy.

"Moviegoers will see Bond using the car for chases and picking up girls."

David Bowie's first wife Angela insists her marriage to the rocker broke down because he struggled to show any affection towards her.

The model, actress and musician insists the Heroes hitmaker failed to give her the love she craved and often neglected her.

She says, "He was too much of an alley cat.

"I like people who are devoted to me, men who know I'm the most fabulous thing in the world and they just look at me with adoration.

"That's how my Dad looked at my mum and that's how I expect to be looked at." Bowie is now happily married to his second wife Iman.

Singer Anastacia has reportedly fallen in love with her bodyguard.

The sexy star is said to be smitten with hunky Wayne Newton, who is said to have ditched the mother of his two children to be with the pop babe, and

the pair are "very much in love".

The bodyguard apparently broke the news to his fiancee Lorraine Elston following the star's European tour.

He said: "The problem with Anastacia and me was that we went from a professional relationship to being friends. But I can't talk to you about my private life."

The actress doesn't think she's got a great figure -despite being one of Hollywood's most beautiful celebrities - because she isn't symmetrical.

She revealed: "I'm a little lopsided, which is totally fine."

The 'Sin City' star is also paranoid she doesn't have enough womanly curves.

She told Esquire magazine: "I have no hips. I'm the hipless wonder."

Meanwhile, Rosario recently revealed she grew up in a squat.

The star says her parents were so poor that at one point, they almost ended up living on the street.

She revealed: "My mum broke into a building when I was six and my brother was one.

"She thought it was better to move us into a squat with no running water, no electricity and no heat than to stay in the slum were in, with rats running through the room and the bath tub in the kitchen."

The 26-year-old added: "For me, as a child, living that life was all I knew."

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes thrilled baseball fans last night when they smooched on the big screen at Angels Stadium. The stadium's famous Kisscam fell on the lovestruck pair and red-faced Holmes giggled as Cruise gave her a lingering kiss on the lips. The smooch was then beamed onto the venue's huge screen, as thousands of baseball fans cheered the couple on. The loving moment comes amid contradicting reports the couple have split.

Assistant City Attorney Don Vincent revealed yesterday (March 16) that the Los Angeles Police Department has assigned a new team of detectives to take second look at the 1997 fatal shooting of Notorious B.I.G.

Voletta Wallace, B.I.G.'s mother, his sister and his widow, Faith Evans, sued the city and others four years ago, alleging wrongful death and accused convicted corrupt cops Rafael Perez and David Mack of conspiring to kill Biggie with Death Row CEO Marion "Suge" Knight.

Last July, U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper declared a mistrial in the family's suit after it was revealed that the LAPD were deliberately concealing evidence in the rapper's killing. She later ordered the LAPD to pay $1.1 million to the family's legal team in costs disbursed during the trial.

The LAPD has vehemently denied the accusations of purposely concealing information and on Thursday, Vincent added that no evidence has been found linking police to B.I.G's death.

Michael Jackson has closed the house on his Neverland Ranch and laid off some of the employees there but has not completely shuttered the sprawling estate, the pop star's spokesman said.

"It is public knowledge that Mr. Jackson currently resides in the Middle Eastern country of Bahrain," Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said late Thursday in a statement. "He therefore decided to close his house and reduce his work force."

The action came a day after state labor officials announced that Jackson had agreed to pay his Neverland Ranch employees hundreds of thousands of dollars in back wages, avoiding a lawsuit by the California Department of Industrial Relations.

Employees who received their back pay Thursday were told they were being laid off because the state had shut down the ranch, the syndicated television news magazine "Entertainment Tonight" reported on its Web site Thursday night.

But Bain indicated the ranch was still operating, at least on a limited basis.

"Reports indicating that Neverland has been closed or 'shut down' for good are inaccurate," she said in her statement. A call to the ranch's manager, Joe Marcus, was not immediately returned.

Bain's statement, which did not indicate what plans Jackson has for the estate's future, concluded: "There will be no further comments regarding this matter."

California labor officials issued a stop-work order for the ranch last week after learning that workers compensation insurance for the 2,600 acre estate's employees had been allowed to lapse.

The order concerned animal rights activists because it included keepers of Jackson's menagerie, which at times has included elephants and a giraffe.

However, employees were permitted to keep working if they were placed on the payroll of a third party that had workers compensation coverage, officials said, adding that was the case with the animals' caretakers.

"Security is being handled by members of the Jackson family and a local veterinarian has put the animal caregivers on his payroll," the state Department of Industrial Relations said in a statement issued earlier this week.

On the back pay issue, authorities told Jackson's representatives last week they had received complaints from at least 30 workers who had not been paid since Dec. 19 and were owed $306,000 in back wages. Jackson also was told he would have to pay about $100,000 in penalties.

A top secret Hollywood star performed a lewd sex act in front of a masseuse at one of Scotland's most prestigious hotels, it was claimed yesterday.

The A-list celebrity is alleged to have carried out the act while on holiday with his wife at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews.

An employment tribunal heard yesterday that the star, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was being given a massage in the hotel spa's by a member of staff when he allegedly took off his towel and exposed himself.

The spa worker claimed she was sacked after complaining to her bosses.

The American star was in Scotland to watch the DUnhill Links Championship pro-celebrity golf tournament.

The woman is claiming unfair dismissal, sexual discrimination and protective disclosure against her employers.

She told the Dundee tribunal she was 'mortified' when the star removed his massage towel before engaging in a sex act.

The 34-year-old woman said: "It was disgusting and, even though he was a Hollywood superstar, I can't believe he thought he could get away with it. He abused me and I considered that a criminal act."
"When I was giving his wife a massage afterwards I wanted to tell her everything."

She claimed that, during a previous massage, the star had touched her back.

The woman added: "The following day he came back and asked how I was. He asked if he made me uncomfortable by touching me the day before, but I said no, I was a professional and you have to learn who to deal with difficult clients. I asked him how he liked his massage and he said he liked it sweet. I thought it was a strange term to describe a massage. He asked me if I was comfortable with him everywhere and I said no. Throughout the massage he kept putting his hand underneath his towel but he never kept it there long enough for me to suspect anything. Then I moved to the top of his body to massage his head."

She told the tribunal the star grabbed her arm, whipped off his towel and performed a sex act.

The woman left the room but said a colleague went inside and saw what had happened.

She said her complaints against the star were not treated seriously enough and that he was even allowed to book another massage with one of her colleagues the day after the alleged incident in October 2004.

She claimed the hotel failed to provide proper counselling

After the Dunhill Link, the woman said she asked general manager Jonathan Stapleton if her job would be safe as new owner, the Kohlers, had taken over that very week and were reportedly close friends with the star. She added: "I as assured my job was safe".

She claims that in the following months she was held responsible for two small fires in the spa, even though she was not on duty at the time.

She said: "I was taken in and disciplined because the spa was supposed to be my responsibility. After the incident I was held responsible for everything and management undermined everything I did. Things became even more stained. While before I was seen as model worker, they were questioning everything I did. I was sent on a course to deal with difficult clients but it was pointless. It didn't help me mentally. I had to del with my trauma and it put a huge strain on my marriage."

The woman said she was finally fired in August last year added: "I went on holiday and when I got back there was a letter waiting from an attorney of the Kohlets stating they wanting to arrange counselling. But the day I got the letter I was called into a conference with Mrs Kohler and I was fired on the spot."

The tribunal continues.

Their songs should be so passionate. The frontmen for intertwined rock bands Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver — both struggling to complete albums for release later this year — have spent the past week or so spewing venom back and forth. Which can't be bad for business.

The feud began when top Gunner Axl Rose launched a countersuit against his former GNR bandmates Saul "Slash" Hudson and Michael "Duff" McKagan, who left GNR in the 1990s and have since formed Velvet Revolver. The two had filed suits in 2004 and 2005 seeking the rights to the old GNR songs, accusing Rose of killing deals that would have put their songs in a half-dozen movies, including "Old School," and "Black Hawk Down."

Rose's counterclaim asks a Federal Court to confirm his ownership of his "creative works" and defends his decision to choose when to license the music and to whom.

But Rose didn't leave it there.

He added a diatribe against his former lead guitarist, accusing Slash of making "negative and malicious statements" about him "in order to garner publicity for himself." He described Slash as a "consummate press, photo and media opportunist and manipulator" who was trying to "take credit for something that was not his."

But it was a bizarre addendum to the statement, totally unrelated to the suit, that drew the wrath of Velvet Revolver lead singer Scott Weiland. Rose recalled a day last October where Slash, whom he hadn't spoken to in almost a decade, showed up unannounced at his door at 5:30 one morning. Rose claimed that during their conversation Slash tore into his VR bandmates, calling Duff "spineless" and Weiland "a fraud," among other things. Despite Slash's hard-partying reputation, Rose insisted his former bandmate did not appear under the influence when he allegedly made these comments during this pre-dawn meeting.

The story raised hopes among die-hard GNR fans wishing for a reunion and disillusionment among dedicated VR fans, who worried this could spell the end.

Following the statement, the normally media-friendly Slash was uncharacteristically silent, making no comment on Rose's statement.

The deafening silence appeared to validate Rose's comments about the meeting and further fueled talk of a pending Velvet Revolver breakup.

On the third day, though, Weiland went ballistic, issuing his own statement in retaliation, he called Rose "fat," "Botox faced," "wig wearin'" plus other names that can't be printed here. He also attacked Rose's long-delayed album and ridiculed his aborted 2002 tour.

"What we're talking about here," Weiland said, "is a frightened little man who once thought he was king, but unfortunately this king without his court is nothing but a memory."

Which Hollywood movie director can't stop hitting on beautiful young boys - both on the casting couch or at parties? Recently he took his latest fancy with him to a dinner party in the Hollywood Hills, but on arrival decided he preferred the companion of another guest. So the two men simply swapped boy-toys between main course and dessert.

The winner of the Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in "Syriana" has donated his overflowing Oscar gift bag to the United Way, a spokeswoman for the organization said Wednesday.

The swag will be sold in an online auction to benefit the United Way Hurricane Response and Relief Recovery Fund, said spokeswoman Sheila Consaul. Clooney is a member of the charity's board of trustees, she said.

"This refocuses people back to the long-term nature of hurricane recovery efforts," she said.

The pricey gift bag given to presenters at the 78th Annual Academy Awards included a BlackBerry 8700c, a Kay Unger kimono and a cultured Tahitian-pearl necklace.

The entire collection will be sold to "one very, very lucky bidder," Consaul said.

The auction will begin March 21 on the United Way Web site.

The winning bidder will also receive a handwritten thank-you note from Clooney acknowledging the donation to hurricane relief, Consaul said.

Rapper Kanye West is bringing his music to the big screen.

The Grammy-winning West has joined with New Line Cinema and the production company Anonymous Content to develop a film inspired by his music, New Line announced Wednesday.

West will also appear in the film, a multi-perspective look at life in the U.S. through the eyes of West and various writers and directors.

The untitled project will "synthesize (West's) vision with a fantastic group of filmmakers to create what will be a one-of-a-kind film experience," said producer Richard Brown.

West has won six Grammy awards for his two multiplatinum albums, 2004's "The College Dropout" and last year's "Late Registration."

NBC has picked up the drama pilot "Kidnapped" to series, sources said.

Meanwhile, HBO has given the green light to "The Unsuccessful Thug," a single-camera comedy pilot starring Mike Epps.

On the pilot-casting front, Diedrich Bader will be ABC's "Mr. Nice Guy".

Leslie Hope has signed on to star in the CW's drama "Runaway".

Barry Bostwick has been cast in Fox's comedy pilot "The 12th Man".

Jere Burns have joined ABC's comedy pilot "Help Me Help You".

Jessy Schram has landed the lead in the CW's drama pilot "Split Decision." with Vanessa Lengies also cast in the project.

Jana Marie Hupp and Virginia Williams have been cast as the female leads in NBC's untitled Chris Sheridan comedy.

Rick Peters has come on board the CW's untitled Aquaman pilot.

Traffic Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro is set to play a classic movie monster in the big screen remake of The Wolf Man. The Sin City actor will star in and co-produce the new version of the horror film. Like the original film, which starred Lon Chaney Jr., the remake will be set in Victorian England. Se7en writer Andrew Kevin Walker has started working on the script for the film. Shooting is scheduled to begin early next year, once Del Toro completes work on the Che Guevara biopic Guerrilla. The film will be released in 2008.

Which married "Sopranos" actor has been having an affair with an actress who will appear in the series later this season?

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Which cute young Hollywood couple is kaput? The blond babe dumped her hunk after she found out he gave her herpes.

Lindsay Lohan would love to shock everyone with a quick Vegas wedding like pop star Britney Spears did with her first marriage.

The 19-year-old star would have no problem following in the singer's footsteps, because she would like to see what marriage feels like for a minute.

She explains, "Marriage is a big deal, but who's to say I'm not going to pull a 'Vegas' and get married just to get married and see what it's like for a minute?"

Lohan would be open to a spur-of-the-moment ceremony, because it's part of her impulsive nature.

Lohan adds, "Never say never. The things that you don't plan are the best.

"I'm a very spontaneous person."

The British rock star and his Swiss-born wife, who were married in 1999, announced in a joint statement Wednesday that they’ve separated.

They have two sons, Nicholas, 4, and Matthew, 1. Collins has three children from two previous marriage.

“They have been living separately since the beginning of the year and both cite the fact that they have been growing apart for some time now and this has put too much pressure on their relationship,” the statement said.

“Consequently, they have decided in the interests of their two children that it is better to separate. They are both very sad that it should come to this but have as their priority the welfare and happiness of their children and are determined to remain friends and be loving parents to them.”

The Grammy-winning former Genesis drummer and singer, 55, and Orianne, in her early 30s, met in 1994 on a tour supporting his solo record, “Both Sides.” At the time, he was going through a divorce from his second wife, Jill.

The couple lived in Switzerland, and Collins will continue to live in that country “to be near to the children,” the statement said.

Collins won an Oscar in 2000 for the hit single, “You’ll be in My Heart,” from the 1999 animated film, “Tarzan.” His score will also be featured in Disney’s stage version of “Tarzan” that is opening May 10.

Teri Hatcher had her first date with American Idol's Ryan Seacrest at a romantic Los Angeles restaurant. Teri and Ryan were spotted with a group of friends leaving an upscale French restaurant after Ryan reportedly picked up the $2,800 bill. "I think she's great," Ryan previously told Extra about the Desperate Housewives star.

- Charlie Simpson enjoyed making Fightstar's debut album so much he wanted to live in the studio.

- Mike Skinner's made a low budget video & got Jodie Marsh to star in it.

- Celebrity bitchfight: Sheree Murphy vs Victoria Beckham. Murphy, 27, says Posh gives soccer spouses a bad name.

- Wayne Rooney is to tell all about his romps with £45-a-time hookers.

- Kate Bosworth wasn't impressed with the £50 In-N-Out Burger gift voucher she got as a thank-you for attending a lavish party.

- Cat Deeley is getting over split from PR guru lover Mark Whelan by trying to make it big in the States.

- Jarvis Cocker is keen to team up again with singing legend Tony Christie.

- Be afraid, be very afraid. Former Boyzone star Shane Lynch has written a musical of his own - all about himself.

- Tobey Maguire's girlfriend has become a jewellery designer & her creations are set to sell for thousands.

- Joanna Krupa will be shooting the new PETA campaign in London next week with photographer Nigel Barker.

- Debbie Rowe has slapped Michael Jackson with a new lawsuit.

- Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders has been branded the new Phil Collins by Kanye West.

Girls Aloud have kicked off a war of words by bad mouthing Westlife. They labelled the lads "dull and boring" after apparently losing out on telly and radio time during both bands' promotional trips to Australia. The Westlife lads are seething at the girls' succinct summing up of their musical talents.

A spokesman for Westlife said: "The fact is Westlife are number one in the Australian album charts. "Girls Aloud are obviously a bit frustrated that they're not hitting the top spot and are taking it out on Westlife. "Better luck next time girls."

A source close to Westlife said the girls have lost out on a lot of promotional gigs in Australia to Westlife and that's what's prompted this out burst. "But they are annoyed because they've always had a soft spot for Girls Aloud. In the past, they've stood up for the girls when they've been called a second-rate Atomic Kitten."

Which well known star has been attending a sex therapist at a clinic in disguise as a cross-dresser? The woman in question has a fetish for filthy films and regularly hires gigolos when she's working but her raunchy reputation is doing the rounds and film bigwigs are far from impressed.

He's one of Hollywood's bad boys, a swaggering, foul-mouthed star whose bacchanalian appetite and poor judgement might have contributed to his current problem: trying to legally halt his ex, former Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain, from distributing a sex tape they made four years ago.

In spite of all his partying, a publicized penchant for prostitutes and a recent stint in a drug treatment center, Colin Farrell is not all that he seems, says Robert Towne, who directed the Irish actor in his new movie, "Ask the Dust." The film opens Friday.

"I don't know how he feels about me saying this," Towne said in an interview at a San Francisco hotel, "but what the hell, it's true: Colin is a mama's boy."

I spoke to Towne about his new movie, an adaptation of the John Fante novel, and we inevitable spoke about the film's star. Though the story in today's Mercury News is more about the film than it's lead, I couldn't not ask the legendary screenwriter-director about the young actor.

So much is written about Farrell that I asked Towne what journalists are missing about the star. Fans are aware of his passion for life, but what are they unaware of, I asked.

"Colin's a good boy,'' says Towne. "He has two sisters who are absolutely gorgeous and an older brother whose also gorgeous and very gay. He has a beautiful mother. And beautiful friends.

"And so I think the tattos, the language, the bravado is meant to say, 'Hey, I know where I
am from, but I'm a guy too.' And he is very much a guy."

"But there is a sensitivity there that is quite, quite extraordinary," he says.

Farrell and co-star Salma Hayek, who play a couple young people looking to reinvent themselves in Depression-era Los Angeles, grew close during the shooting of the film. They forged a bond, but tabloids needn't make anything of it, Towne says.

"There was an intimacy -- and I don't want you to misread that because they both had partners at the time-- but that truly made the certain scenes possible,'' he says. They shot nude "beach scenes or love scenes which are tough,
particularly in the freezing water. Really tough. They were so protective of one another and I think that their friendship translated on the screen as passion and real chemistry."

Keri Russell looked fantastic in a black trenchcoat and scarf, continued to film scenes for Kirsten Sheridan's August Rush this past Monday in Washington Square Park. The story of August Rush revolves around charismatic young Irish guitarist Louis Rush (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) and sheltered young cellist Lyla Rush (Keri Russell) who have a chance encounter one magical night above in New York's Washington Square Park, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush (Freddie Highmore), orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger / mentor / wizard (Robin Williams), August uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.

Stars of the sport and film world are poised to re-ignite football’s most bitter rivalry in a charity match at the Mad Stad.

Formula One king Michael Schumacher and Elizabethtown star Orlando Bloom will go head-to-head for England versus Germany – The Legends.

New James Bond Daniel Craig will be swapping 007 for a number seven shirt and is expected to join Noel Gallagher, Sean Bean and Paul Weller in a Brit line-up to send their German opponents packing like England did four decades ago.

The match has been organised to mark the 40th anniversary of the classic 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium and will also feature a host of ex-players.

It’s hoped a sell-out crowd will head to the stadium and help raise cash for the Bobby Moore Cancer Fund and Red Cross.

And the German side will be stocked with ex-internationals as well, with Lothar Matthäus, Rudi Völler, Jürgen Kohler along with Formula One’s Michael and brother Ralf Schumacher and tennis ace Boris Becker making up likely rivals.

The match will set the pitch alight on Wednesday, May 3, and is due to be televised. Kick-off will be at 8pm.

Reading FC season ticket holders and member card holders can get their hands on tickets for a special rate of £10 and £5 concessions.

Tickets are now on sale and there are four ways to book them. You can call 0870 999 1871, buy them in person at Madejski Stadium, buy online at www.readingfc.co.uk or by downloading a fax form and sending it to 0870 999 1001.

The Reading FC selling period ends on Sunday, March 26, after which seats will go on general sale.

Which blonde bombshell took two men home after her latest night out on the town and even boasted about her fetish involving whips and chains? The cheeky star was so drunk she felt other guests' buttocks before groping a doorman and falling flat on her face.

STING requires privacy when he ogles strippers. The soft-rocking singer was lapping up dances at the Penthouse Executive Club Saturday night when a bouncer approached a nearby table of men having a bachelor party. "A bouncer came over to my drunken crowd to preemptively tell us to stay away from him," reports one celebrant, "saying something to the effect of yes, that is Sting, but he wants to be left alone (except by the leggy blond stripper whom he disappeared with into the upstairs champagne room.)" Sting, who used to bring his wife Trudie Styler to Scores, is known for asking topless temptresses to keep their dresses on when they grind his lap.

Sharon Stone has revealed her desire to romance recent Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman as she is attracted to his prodigious talent.

Hoffman, who has long been playing Hollywood supporting roles, was finally rewarded for his amazing talent at this year's Oscars, picking up the Best Actor in a Leading Role gong for his performance in 'Capote'.

The accolade has, it seems, piqued Stone's interest in the actor as she confessed: "Philip Seymour Hoffman is my most kissable dude. If I could make out with anybody, it would be him."

American Idol' contestant Kellie Pickler got a message today -- from her dad, who is locked up in prison. Clyde "Bo" Pickler, Jr. wrote a letter to the Stanly News & Press.

Pickler, who has a long record, is scheduled to get out of prison on May 19 after serving 45 months for felony battery. He says he's proud of his daughter's recent accomplishment and admits, "I've not been the father that I should have been."

Kellie's dad says he's found God and wants to be a productive member of society when he's released, rather than the menace that he was.

With Garbage on a hiatus of undetermined length, frontwoman Shirley Manson has begun work on her first solo album. The artist tells Billboard she recently completed a track with U.K. film composer David Arnold, with whom she collaborated on the theme song for the 1999 James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough."

"I just went to London last week and we wrote a song together," she says. "It was really quick and fast and it was really good fun." Manson admits with a laugh that beginning to write with other people is "scary and really exciting and super-freaky. It feels really weird to talk about it!"

Manson says she has no timetable for completing the project and is more interested in enjoying herself. "I've got no timetable. I'm sort of sick of timetables, to be honest," she says. "I just want to live my life a little freely and not adhere to any schedule -- just make music and have fun."

The artist acknowledges Garbage fans were confused by the mixed messages surrounding the start of the band's hiatus last fall, but insists, "We're still together, absolutely. We all feel like we want to go off and do a variety of things. [Drummer] Butch [Vig] is going back into production and some other guys are working on film soundtracks."

"Being the chaotic bunch we are, we should have put a press release together but we didn't," she adds. "We were quite taken aback by how big a deal was made of it. But we love each other and we still want to work together. We're just taking a break. We've had a crazy decade."

The sexy actress, who played Carrie Bradshaw in the hit US series, insists she has no intention of reuniting with her co-stars - Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon - for a movie based on the show. Sarah claims a big-screen adaptation would be impossible to shoot because the production team destroyed the old sets.

She said: "I really don't think that will happen now. The sets were literally thrown away."
Meanwhile, Sarah has laughed off claims she didn't get on with 'Failure to Launch' co-star Matthew McConaughey. The beautiful star insists she found the hunky actor "a pleasure to work with" - despite movie insiders claiming he couldn't bear her.

Kylie Minogue hopped on top of an elephant during a surprise trip to Sri Lanka.

She showed her caring side by stopping off in the country to do a spot of charity work.

Kylie was on her way back to Australia when she stopped off on the island in the Indian Ocean. She had been to Paris spending time with her actor boyfriend Olivier Martinez.

The singer is the patron and sponsor of Children Of The Sea - a theatre group mainly made up of children who were orphaned in the Tsunami and civil war.

Star magazine thinks she's sperminated!

"Demi & Ashton's Miracle Baby," proclaims this week's latest issue.

According to the tab, on March 9, Demi made her third trip in one month to Petit Tresor, an upscale baby store in L.A.

The store locked its door so that Demi could shop in private.

She was particularly interested in changing tables and an armoire. "She was curious about delivery times for the furniture and about the colors and finishes," a source tells Bon Bon Fuller & Co.

Demi was overheard telling her shopping companion, a women in her 60's sporting a Kabbalah bracelet, "I like this for the baby," the source adds.

She also mentioned her hubby. She said, "I wonder if Ashton would like this." When Demi was told that it would take 8-12 weeks for the pieces to be delivered, "She said she wanted it sooner," says the source.

Kate Moss was spotted at La Petite Coquette, a NYC boudoir style lingerie boutique, buying a Jimmyjane "Little Something" vibrator in 24K gold for $350. After being a tabloid darling for most of the year for her highly publicized cocaine scandal and her relationship with junkie musician Pete Doherty, Kate Moss appears to be trying legal gratification.

Jennie Garth is expecting her third child with actor-husband Peter Facinelli, Us magazine reports.

"Peter and I feel very blessed with our children," the 33-year-old actress is quoted as telling the magazine in its latest issue, on newsstands Wednesday.

The couple have two daughters, Lola Ray, 3, and Luca Bella, 8.

"We didn't plan any one of them, but higher forces and recognizing priorities helped us along the way. We can't wait to meet this newest addition to our family!" Garth says.

The Associated Press left a phone message for her press representative Wednesday.

Garth, star of the WB sitcom "What I Like About You," and Facinelli, 32, were married in 2001.

"Marriages aren't easy, and we're just like any other couple," says Garth, who starred as Kelly Taylor on the '90s TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210."

"We have our roadblocks, but we get around them, and our family prevails. We are so happy we have a normal, grounded life to keep us centered."

According to a report in today's Page Six, Lindsay Lohan is looking for a little Colin Farrell action. Apparently, the teen queen attended an after party-party for the new Salma Hayek/ Farrell film "Ask the Dust."

Lindsay Lohan is at it again. After hanging out with Matthew McConaughey and George Clooney at Bungalow 8 on Wednesday night, the teen queen hit the Piaget-sponsored after-party for the new Salma Hayek/Colin Farrell romp, "Ask the Dust," at the SoHo Grand on Thursday. Double-L wasted no time asking about Farrell.

"She was intent on finding him," said one guest. Told that Farrell was filming, she pouted with her girlfriends, perking up only when British heartthrob Clive Owen chatted her up.'

Vin Diesel, 38, packed on 30 pounds of flab and underwent two hours of makeup a day to resemble the overweight DiNorscio. "Find Me Guilty protects the career 20 years from now. Which is why you say, 'No, I'm not going to do the big action film. I'm going to do this little thing which is all [director Sidney Lumet]. No money, just Sidney. Because what I can get learning-wise, experience-wise will allow me to be a working actor in my 60s and in my 70s.' ...It's been a passion project. The whole point of doing an epic auteur picture, directing an epic film, it's one thing to do the Woody Allen thing. It's another thing to do Braveheart." Above, Diesel poses at a photo call for Find Me Guilty opening in limited release this Friday, March 17, 2006.

Weighing a whopping 33 pounds, the nine-year-old cat, astonishingly, still enjoys good health. This feline monster from Qingdao, Shandong Province, has a waist measurement of 31.5 inches.

The cat is so heavy it needs the help of its owner to get onto a bed -- so expecting him to fulfill his cat duties, such as catching vermin, might be a bit much. It would seem catching a nap, using his own little blanket and pillow, is the extent of his skills.

The cat's owner maintains a healthy appetite is to blame for the state of his cat's belly.

The cat has, according to his owner, no interest in fish, preferring to eat six pounds of chicken and pork each day.

Madonna has drawn up a three point plan to improve her marriage, imposing a curfew on her husband Guy Ritchie.

She has apparently told the film director he has to stay in with her three nights a week, and when he goes out he cannot drink more than three pints and must be back in by 11pm.

A source told The Daily Mail that Madonna is fed up with rumours their marriage is in trouble. "Neither of them has any intention of splitting up - but they both know that marriage is something that has to be worked on," he said. "To this end, Madonna has imposed a strict curfew on Guy to ensure that they spend more quality time together."

"She has told him that he needs to spend a minimum of two to three nights a week in the family home, and that he should be back by 11pm, when the pubs close. Friday night, the Jewish Sabbath, is particularly sacred to her - she wants Guy to be at home on this night above any other," the insider continued. "Madonna has also asked him to limit his drinking to three pints a night.

"While clearly not enamoured with his wife's rules, Guy has agreed to go along with them because he knows that throughout their marriage Madonna has let him get away with plenty. It is only fair that he plays ball now."

Courtney Love has said she is preparing to sell a share of her rights to the Nirvana back catalogue.

Love has been in London over the last week. While in the UK she's had meetings about a new record deal, making a TV documentary, taking a theatre role in the West End, and been to various gigs.

"I have decided that I need some co-management and a strategic partner [to help me] as it's such a huge responsibility," Love told NME of her Nirvana plans. "This is the right thing to do for my family...whoever I do this deal with, I really have to like."

Love is also quoted as saying that she's thinking about selling "25 per cent of the catalogue for quite a lot of money."

Love was married to Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain prior to his suicide in 1994.

The Mail on Sunday discovered that the singer asked if he could buy a stately home in Berkshire where the Profumo sex scandal took place.

Jackson and his three children have been staying on and off at the mansion – currently a hotel – for the past month.

His official spokesman said the reclusive star was keen to remain in the UK. "It would surprise no one if Michael ended up staying in Britain," he confirmed. "Michael has been in the UK for several weeks now. It is very unlikely he will return to the US. Europe and Britain in particular feel like a safe haven to him at this time."

Jackson has been living in Bahrain since being cleared of child sex charges, but he is not thought to be keen on staying there permanently.

A source close to the singer told the newspaper: "Michael has a special affinity for Britain and can see himself living there."

Combs is teaming up with reality television producers Ben Silverman ( "Biggest Loster," "The Restaurant") and David A. Hurwitz ("Fear Factor") to create "Celebrity Cooking Showdown," a five-night reality miniseries that will pair professional chefs with celebrities for a three-course cook-off. Renowned chefs Wolfgang Puck, Cat Cora and Govind Armstrong have already signed on for the show.

"We've been desperate to do cooking in primetime," Silverman told Daily Variety. "And who's more primetime than Diddy?

"The sexiest trend going on right now is young men learning how to cook," Diddy added. "There's nothing more sensual than a man cooking for his woman. We wanted to do something that fit that trend in the marketplace."

"It gives the show an event status," said NBC's Craig Plestis. "It's must-see television when you have to be there for a week, with a lot of a noise, a lot of bang. And if it's successful, you can bring it back as a regular series."

The first three episodes of the series will feature each of the three chefs prepping their celebrity partner for competition. Then the celebrities will battle against each other in a timed competition to create a three-course meal. Judges will determine one celeb winner from each night, with the three finalists squaring off for a Thursday finale. The winner, determined by a mix of judges and viewer votes, will be revealed on Friday.

Silverman told Daily Variety that several celebrities were finalizing their deals for the show, but he held off on announcing any names at this point.

In addition to his successes in the music and fashion, Diddy has already successfully produced a number of cable television shows, HBO's "The Bad Boys of Comedy" and MTV's "Making the Band" and "Run's House."

Diddy also owns a restaurant Justin's, which has locations in New York and Atlanta.

In related news, Diddy is also getting back to his musical roots. Diddy is hard at work on his next studio set and is planning a future tour.

Tom Hanks and son Colin are reteaming for Sean McGinly's magician drama The Great Buck Howard.

Empire reports that Kevin Kline is in talks for the title role for the film which will focus on an illusionist who struggles to get by after his glory days are over. Colin Hanks will play a character who becomes the magician's assistant after leaving school, whilst the more renowned Hanks will play his disapproving screen father.

Also written by McGinley, the film is set to begin shooting in New York in July.

"American Idol" now merits its own pre-show. Beginning Tuesday, the TV Guide Channel will present an hourlong, live pre-show before each of this season's remaining "American Idol" telecasts.

"Idol Tonight" will feature appearances by ejected contestants and past "Idol" stars, plus interviews with vocal coaches, casting agents and industry insiders. Exclusive footage, including auditions, outtakes and post-performance confessions, will also be shown on the weekly program, a show publicist said Monday.

Hosted by former "Idol" finalist Kimberly Caldwell and one-time "Popstars" contestant Rosanna Tavarez, "Idol Tonight" will air at 7 p.m. and will capture the red carpet vibe outside "American Idol," said Ryan O'Hara, president of the TV Guide Channel.

"Idol Tonight" will be broadcast from CBS Television City, where Fox's "American Idol" is filmed.

Rhymes spent three years putting the pieces together for The Big Bang, his first new album since 2002. First, he inked a deal with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label and worked on twenty songs with Dre. Then he brought in other top producers like the Neptunes, Timbaland, Scott Storch and Just Blaze to work on tracks, and lined up guests including Stevie Wonder, the late Rick James, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey and Eminem. He says he had 170 songs by the time he released the album's first single, "Touch It," in late 2005. Then tragedy struck. At a February 5th video shoot, Rhymes' bodyguard Israel Ramirez was shot and killed as Rhymes stood nearby. "Everything I'm doing from this day forward is dedicated to Israel," says Rhymes, who has pledged to support Ramirez's family but so far has refused to cooperate with a police investigation. A final lineup for the album has not been set, but Rhymes says a handful of tracks are for certain. The next single, "This How We Do It Over Here," was produced by Dr. Dre and features Elliott. "It's specifically constructed to smash every club in existence," Rhymes says. He's also proud of "Into the Storm," which features Wonder's vocals, and the Dre-produced "Your Time Has Come." "Dre put the track together using the sound of a shovel going into dirt, dirt being poured onto a coffin and a heartbeat as the drum sound," Rhymes says. "It's about karma coming back to haunt you."

George Clooney has faulted Democrats for their timidity in the months before the start of the Iraq war,
saying many party leaders muted their criticism of the Bush administration rather than risk being branded as unpatriotic.

"The fear of (being) criticized can be paralyzing. Just look at the way so many Democrats caved in the run up to the war," Clooney said Monday in The Huffington Post blog site.

"In 2003, a lot of us were saying, `Where is the link between Saddam and bin Laden? What does Iraq have to do with 9/11?'" Clooney wrote. "We have to agree that it's not unpatriotic to hold our leaders accountable and to speak out."

Clooney's latest films, "Syriana," for which he won an Oscar for best supporting actor, and "Good Night, and Good Luck," which he starred in and directed, have been viewed as critiques of the state of U.S. policy domestically and overseas.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" focuses on CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow's battles with Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the communist witch hunt in the 1950s.

Clooney, 44, added, "When you hear Murrow say, `We mustn't confuse dissent with disloyalty' ...
it's like he's commenting on today's headlines

Which Hollywood A-lister spreads rumours that he's gay to cover up his insatiable appetite for ladies of the night? The hunk averages four hookers a week but his face will be the colour of his giant red herring if his army of lovers decide to come clean.

Alicia Silverstone has been tapped as the lead in ABC's comedy pilot "Pink Collar".

Alexondra Lee has landed the lead in another comedy pilot, NBC's "Alpha Mom."

Alan Dale has joined ABC's one-hour pilot "Ugly Betty,"

Jennifer Coolidge has come on board Fox's comedy pilot "If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Now".

Shawn Hatosy has been tapped as the second lead in Fox's comedy pilot "Southern Comfort".

Rosemarie DeWitt has landed the female lead opposite Ron Livingston in Fox's drama pilot "Primary".

Jennifer Aspen has joined CBS' comedy pilot "Welcome to the Jungle Gym".

Paige Turco has come on board ABC's one-hour pilot "Women in Law,"

Ming-Na and Robert Hoffman round out the cast of Fox's drama pilot "Vanished".

Newcomer Brian Thomas Smith will play the lead in Fox's comedy pilot "The 12th Man".

Pamela Reed has joined CBS' drama pilot "Jericho".

Kevin Weisman has been cast in ABC's comedy pilot "Mr. Nice Guy".

Seth Gabel and Adrian Lester have joined Fox's drama pilot "Beyond".

Gabriel Casseus and Alex Fernandez have been added to ABC's drama pilot "Sixty Minute Man."

Young Jeezy was arrested Saturday morning and charged with two counts of carrying a concealed firearm without a permit, after the rapper was involved in an altercation on South Beach in Miami, Florida.

Young Jeezy, born Jay Jenkins, and an entourage of men allegedly associated with BMF, were involved in a fight with a group of men around 5:30 am on Saturday (Mar. 11). When a person filming the altercation refused to turn over the video camera, one of the men in the crowd began firing.

Police said Jeezy and a group of men, fled in two SUV's. When officers stopped both vehicles, they found a semiautomatic weapon under the seat of the rapper's Infiniti Qx56, as well as another gun near the arm rest.

Two other men with Young Jeezy were also arrested in connection with the incident. One man was charged with strong armed robbery, the other was arrested on a previous trespassing warrant.

The rapper's attorney said he will fight the charges and denied ownership of any of the weapons that were recovered from the SUV.

Colombia's ambassador to the United States is criticizing Bruce Willis for comments he made during a press conference to promote his new film, ``16 Blocks.''

The actor said the United States should consider ``going to Colombia and doing whatever it takes to end the cocaine trade.''

In a harshly worded letter made public, Andres Pastrana told the actor that the source of the lucrative cocaine trade was an ``enormous appetite for drugs, in particular in the United States and Europe.''

Pastrana, who as president in 2000 launched an anti-drug effort with billions in aid from the United States, added that no country has sacrificed more than his own to rein in drug trafficking. Every year, he said, thousands of innocent civilians are killed as a result of anti-drug efforts.

Inviting Willis to visit Colombia, Pastrana said ``if you accept, you will see that, beyond Hollywood cliches, 44 million Colombians are waging a real war against drugs.''

President Alvaro Uribe called the actor arrogant and ignorant last week, saying his comments were ``a shock to Colombia's dignity.''

KIMBERLY Stewart should pre-wash her feet before going to get a pedicure. Rod's daughter showed up to the W magazine Oscar Hollywood retreat house in Beverly Hills for a spa treatment, but when she took off her shoes for the pedicurist, our spy said, "her feet stunk so [bleeping] bad that the pedicurist refused to do her toes . . . or anybody else's for the rest of the day."

FELICITY HUFFMAN cried down the phone to husband WILLIAM H MACY after pre-launch publicity shots for DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - because she felt old and haggard next to her sexy co-stars. And Huffman, who stars opposite TERI HATCHER, MARCIA CROSS, EVA LONGORIA and NICOLLETTE SHERIDAN in the hit drama, was relieved to hear her filmstar husband tell her he knew exactly how she felt. She says, "Everyone came and took pictures of beautiful Teri and Nicolette and Eva. "The first hour I was like, 'This is so funny - nobody wants to take a picture of me.' "The second hour my nose was a little out of joint. "By the third hour, I hated it. I called my husband from the limo, crying, 'I am the oldest and ugliest one here.' "And he said, "Baby, I'm always the oldest and ugliest on the set. And it's only going to get worse.' "I just loved him for that. The actress is in fact second eldest of the Wisteria Lane ladies, after Marcia Cross who plays BREE VAN DE KAMP.

Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco has set a June 27 release date for his debut album, "Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor," which will be issued by Atlantic and his production company 1st & 15th. The set is co-executive produced by Def Jam president Jay-Z and features production by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. Pharrell Williams and Kanye West are also expected to contribute.

Lupe, 24, a practicing Muslim, says the album's title represents the constant tug of war between good (food) and evil (liquor). "My mixtapes cover a lot of ground, and the album is based on that, but it's a little more in-depth and lyrical," the rapper tells Billboard.com. "It's less of me trying to showcase my skills as an emcee and more about where I come from and really touching on issues I feel are valid."

The first single, "Kick, Push," is an ode to skating, but Lupe insists that his nerd image is not a gimmick. "It's not deliberate -- that's really me," he says. "If you look at what I do on a daily basis, you'd be like, 'Wow, he's a nerd.' About two or three years ago, my music was more street but it just played itself out. As you grow up, you start settling back to what you do normally so now the music I make is based on what I do on a regular basis."

When he was 19, Lupe's group Da Pak disbanded despite signing with Epic and releasing a first single. In 2002, he caught the interest of Jay-Z, who had hoped to ink the young rapper to his Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam imprint, but the deal later dissolved.

Lupe, along with Mike Jones and Lil Wayne, are now the latest rap artists (Jay-Z, Nelly, 50 Cent) to join Reebok's "I Am What I Am" campaign. The three have also partnered with Reebok to release the O.G. footwear collection.

A self-proclaimed sneaker buff, Lupe has already penetrated the design world, working closely with overseas designers like Edison Chen in Hong Kong and the London-based Maharishi. "Reebok gave me freedom and they gave me a chance to really do something big," says Lupe. "They look at me as a designer with links to streetwear and the sneaker world and they hope I can do some things to help in those areas. It's definitely a boost for more exposure because I have billboards all over Chicago and all over the nation."

Quentin Tarantino was once begged by a fan to dress up as a French maid and indulge in an S and M fantasy.

The 'Pulp Fiction' director received the X-rated offer in a note and admits he was a little turned on by his illicit admirer.

He said: "I remember I was doing 'From Dusk Till Dawn' and I went into George Clooney's trailer and I said, 'You got to listen to this letter man!'

And I read the letter and he said, 'Oh my God!'

"It was this young black girl who was 17 and she had this whole S and M thing in her mind."

"She said, 'I want to dress you up as a French maid and then make you clean my apartment. I'm going to make you get down on the floor. I will be smoking cigarettes and putting them out on the carpet and making you get down on the floor and clean it up. And after you've done the carpet.' She went on and on."

Tarantino insists he wasn't at all concerned by the letter and was delighted a fan wanted to bed him - even if it was extreme.

He added: "When it finished I thought, 'Wow, that's kind of sexy. I don't really want to wear a French maid's outfit. But this 17-year-old has it going on'."

HUGH Jackman and wife Deborra-lee Furness are reeling with the tragic news the birth mother of their adopted son Oscar has killed herself.

Amber Sanders, 28, endured a long battle with drugs and depression after having given away her boy to the Aussie actors, while two other children were taken away by social services.

"She was very distraught over never being able to see her son Oscar," her father Tom Lanhem has told New Idea.

"She was upset over losing her other children and ending up as a homeless person. And then there were the drugs."

Jackman, 37, and Furness, 45, are now reportedly trying to decide whether to tell five-year-old Oscar about his mother or wait until he is older.

The celebrity parents also have an adopted seven-month-old daughter Ava.

Joss Stone's brother has been hospitalised after a heroin overdose.

A newspaper recently showed images of 27-year-old Daniel Skillin injecting drugs, and claims that Skillin collapsed at his Kent home. Skillin himself explained: "This will destroy my family. I feel guilty but that won't change what has happened."

Charlize Theron has split from her long-term love Stuart Townsend after work commitments forced the pair apart.

Theron, who dated the Irish actor for five years, has been spotted attending recent showbiz bashes such as the Baftas and the Oscars without Townsend by her side.

A spokesperson said: "Charlize is free and single again. Her relationship with Stuart is well and truly over. They just grew apart."

"It wasn't always easy because filming often kept them apart for months."

The Monster star recently announced she had no intention of marrying her former beau, insisting, "It's not really what I want, or what he wants."

Jessica Simpson's staunchly Christian mother Tina has praised the singer for filing for divorce from Nick Lachey, insisting ending a marriage takes a lot of bravery.

The With You star devastated fans of her reality TV show Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica when she announced the split last November, but her supportive mother insists she should follow her heart.

Tina Simpson says, "It took a lot of strength to know what she wanted to do and divorce Nick. For any person, it's a difficult thing to do."

While promoting FIND ME GUILTY, his latest release based on the true story of Giacomo “Jackie Dee” DiNorscio, Vin Diesel sat down with a roundtable of journalists. A hot topic was the possibility of another "Chronicles of Riddick."

He had this to say; “My God. It took me five years to get The Chronicles of Riddick made, so hopefully it won't take five years for the next one."

Vin discussed the storyline he originally conceived for Riddick.

“Well, the Chronicles of Riddick were written - at least the outline - and conceived as a trilogy to follow the prequel. Just like 'Lord of The Rings' is a trilogy that picks up more or less after 'The Hobbit', Riddick is supposed to be the first of three films that follow 'Pitch Black.'"

He was then asked about a rumor that he was going to, or was in the process of buying the rights to Riddick from Universal.

“Where'd you hear that?” quipped a jovial Diesel.

Still smiling, he added, “That's a very, very interesting idea. That's something that I should look into.”

Diesel was being rather playful and coy about a rumor that he didn't outright deny.

Orlando Moon
It's Orlando 'Moon!' The British star had on lookers 'cracking up' as he revealed a bit too much bottom cleavage while chatting to his Troy co-star Owain Yeoman. Bloom was completely oblivious to his wardrobe malfunction as he crouched down on the pavement and talked to the welsh actor who is dating The Office star Lucy Davis.

Rapper Eve has got herself a charming new boyfriend, Teodorin Nguema Obiang, a rich 34 year-old with a LA based record label. Teodorin likes to show his ladies a good time, spending $700,000 at Christmas to rent Paul Allen's yacht and on just one day dropping $1.5m on two Bentleys and a Lambourghini.

Brad Pitt is rumoured to have landed his dream gay love story.

The actor is said to have been lined up for a part in The Front Runner, a film about a gay love affair between a male track coach and a team member, based on a novel by Patricia Nell Warren.

An insider said, “Brad knows it would be seen as shocking to take on a gay role because he's seen as such a heart-throb. But he has never shied away from taking on controversial films, and he has often chosen to do smaller, more challenging movies”

Ms Warren currently holds the rights to the film but has only been offered small budgets of less than $2 million, she told Reuters, "People in the industry look at gay-themed films as low budget, but the problem with 'The Front Runner' is it's set at the Olympic games,"

She explained a low budget “would reduce the story to one little college track meet and the love scene."

“As the box office figures (for "Brokeback") grow, we get more calls," she added.

Last month the star revealed that he would love to appear in the ultimate gay love story.

An insider said, "Brad has asked his people to find him a script to play a gay man. He wants it to be a story that appeals to both men and women and he wants it to be the edgiest work he's done."

The source added: "He has never shied away from taking on controversial films, and he has often chosen to do smaller, more challenging movies, rather than go for the big box office smash."

Popular sitcom Will And Grace is ending its nine-year run soon and plans for a spin-off featuring Jack McFarland, played by Emmy winner Sean Hayes, are in jeopardy.

The show is finishing in May and producers were hoping to persuade the actor to keep playing the flamboyantly funny character on his own show.

Hayes started getting cold feet after seeing the dismal ratings for Friends spin-off Joey, starring Matt LeBlanc.

A source says, "This has been in the works since last year.

"Sean was originally excited about the idea, but he saw what happened to Matt's show and he changed his mind."

There is still hope for Will And Grace fans - producers are currently planning a movie for the big screen that would reunite all of the show's characters.

HOUSE CALL: In what was hardly a surprise announcement in light of its recent American Idol-goosed ratings, Fox's House has been picked up for a third season. In its sophomore run, the series has averaged 14.1 million total viewers and as of late has retained more than 70 percent of the Tuesday-night Idol's audience — most impressive, considering that other Idol lead-outs are lucky to keep half of the viewers. It's enough to make the dour doc sing. Almost.

LANCE FEVER: According to the New York Daily News, Lance Armstrong has gotten right back onto the bike following his split from fiancée Sheryl Crow. At assorted Wednesday-evening soirées, he was spied working his charms on the likes of Elisabeth Röhm, Salma Hayek and [Insert "town bicycle" joke here] Lindsay Lohan.

ENCORE, ENCORE: Starting March 16, Fox Reality will air American Idol Extra, which promises to reveal "the backstage drama of what really happens" each week after someone is voted off. Which means A) lots of crying, joyous heavy petting among the older contestants or C) both.

AT THE MOVIES: Per Variety, Kevin Kline is in talks to join Tom Hanks and his son, Colin Hanks, in the magician comedy The Great Buck Howard.... Sandra Bullock will headline and coproduce a feature about Peyton Place author Grace Metalious.... Disney has big plans for 2007: The CGI-animated Meet the Robinsons will bow Feb. 9, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 will wash ashore on Memorial Day 2007 (part 2, Dead Man's Chest, hits theaters this July 7), and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has been assigned a Dec. 14 release.

SHORT CUTS: Wednesday was a ratings whopper for a pair of cablers. The premiere of Black. White. drew 4 million total viewers for FX (nearly triple the net's previous best for an unscripted series), while the Project Runway finale (tailing Black. White. in the 10 pm hour with 3.4 million viewers) became Bravo's highest-rated program ever.... Speaking of Bravo, it has inked a deal worth $15 million-plus to begin airing HBO's Six Feet Under this fall.

Dylan McDermott has joined ABC's drama pilot "A House Divided".

Kim Cattrall has been tapped to star in ABC's comedy pilot "Him and Us".

Wendie Malick has come on board another ABC comedy pilot, "A Day in the Life."

Denise Richards has joined ABC's drama pilot "Secrets of a Small Town."

Julie Warner has come on board ABC's one-hour pilot "Women in Law."

Lizzy Caplan has landed a role in CBS' comedy series "The Class,"

John Heard has come on board ABC's drama pilot "Twenty Questions."

Vanessa Ferlito has been cast in ABC's drama pilot "Drift."

Annie Potts has joined Fox's comedy pilot "Julie Reno, Bounty Hunter".

Todd Stashwick has been added to NBC's comedy pilot "Community Service."

"A House Divided," from Touchstone TV, explores the conflict between a Midwest farming community and the U.S. government.

Osama bin Laden’s niece, an aspiring singer who posed for a sexy photo shoot in a men’s magazine last year, has signed up for a reality television show about her life and her as yet unfulfilled “quest for stardom.”

Wafah Dufour Bin Ladin, whose mother was married to the al Qaeda leader’s half brother, was born in California but lived in Saudi Arabia from the age of three to 10.

“I understand that when people hear my last name, they have preconceived notions, but I was born an American and I love my country,” Dufour said in a statement from ReganMedia announcing the deal to develop a reality TV series.

Dufour has dropped the “Bin Ladin” — a different spelling of the Arabic name from that used by Osama bin Laden — and now goes by the name Wafah Dufour.

Based in New York, Dufour has been promoting herself as a musician and last December appeared in a sultry GQ photo spread, reclining on satin sheets wrapped in feathers and posing in a bubble bath wearing nothing but a necklace.

“Her story will bridge the gap that people feel exists between the cultures she has lived in,” ReganMedia President Judith Regan said.

“She is also a young woman who falls in love, has her heart broken, worries about her looks, doesn’t always listen to her mother, and hasn’t spoken to her father in years,” Regan said.

Dufour’s mother Carmen bin Ladin wrote the 2004 bestseller “Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia,” an account of her rocky marriage to Yeslama, Osama’s half-brother, who amassed a fortune in the family’s construction business and started his own investment firm.

Dufour, who earned a master’s degree in law from Columbia University, was in Geneva with her mother at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. She had said in the past she has never met Osama bin Laden.

She cites U2, Depeche Mode, The Cure and The Cranberries among her musical influences.

Regan has published a string of celebrity authors including Michael Moore and porn star Jenna Jameson, and she was an executive producer on the reality show “Growing Up Gotti” about members of the family best known for its Mafia empire.

The statement did not say when the show would be aired or on what channel.

Footballer Wayne Rooney has signed one of the biggest sports book deals in publishing history.

The England and Manchester United striker, 20, has signed a £5m five-book deal with publisher HarperCollins.

The first volume of Rooney's autobiography - up to and including this year's World Cup - is due to hit bookshelves in July.

The follow-up books - over the next 12 years - will cover the rest of Rooney's playing career.

Rooney said the books will contain some "surprises".

"I'm excited about this deal, it's a big thing for me. Hopefully, there will be lots of things to read about," he said.

"I'll be talking about my life in football and other things as well. There will be a few surprises in there.

"It's something I wanted to do. I've been playing football now for just under four years and I think it will be good for people to see the other side of me and hear things from me for once.

"When they talk to me, people say, 'I didn't expect you to be how you are.'

"Hopefully I can put that across to people. They think I'm a different person to what I am. I'm just a normal young lad who plays football."

Records

David Beckham currently holds the record for the UK's best-selling sporting autobiography.

His life story, My Side, has sold more than 500,000 copies, but Rooney admitted he had not read it.

HarperCollins chief executive Victoria Barnsley said: "As a footballer, Wayne Rooney has broken records.

"I think this book deal probably breaks another. I can't think of any book deal like it."

Singer-songwriter Graham Coxon is poised to release his sixth solo album, Love Travels At Illegal Speeds.

The 36-year-old, who parted company with Britpop band Blur in 2002, says his collection of songs about love finds him at his happiest as a musician, working alone.

"Songwriting is part of being alive. You feel there's a lack of something in your life unless you distil feeling into some music and lyrics.

"At this point in my life I'm happy being my own boss, writing at home and only leaving the house when I want to," says the former Blur guitarist.

'Small miracles'

Coxon adds that his self-determining solo career allows him to concentrate on the relationship with his five-year-old daughter Pepper, which has fed into his latest offering.

"It's quite easy to write songs which may be interpreted by people listening as romantic love, but spring from conversations about her and are etched into something about sentimental love," he says.

Another major life change which has had an effect on Coxon's work is managing to overcome an addiction to alcohol.

"It gives me more time to devote to music. I can sit and work on things without wanting to go out to the pub.

'Embarrassing'

"My mind is clearer and I'm healthier. There is a promise that if you beat an addiction small miracles happen - and they do," he says.

Coxon admits that he is "delighted" when one of his songs scores chart success, but "doesn't care" for musical plaudits on the scale enjoyed by James Blunt.

"Blunty? There's no humour in his music and doesn't seem to be much depth. It's the sort of thing you'd write on a card if you were sending flowers. He's not very angry and perhaps too together.

"That's what a lot of people require for a quick lift. My record is about the ugly drives of human beings, particularly men.

"There are situations on the album that are so pathetic that they have to rely on humour," adds Coxon.

"Perhaps Blunty is healthier than me. I find that straight, sincere talk embarrassing. He might be great chatting up a girl. I'm not. There's a loser element to what I write about.

"I'd love to get married and live in a cottage, but there has to be a bit more to it than that, doesn't there?"

Love Travels At Illegal Speeds in released in the UK on 13 March.

An action drama is in the works by director Edward Zwick. "Blood Diamond," will star Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou.

The film revolves around Danny Archer (DiCaprio), a South African mercenary, and Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), a Mende fisherman. Both men are African, but their histories as different as any can be, until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives. While in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon - who was taken from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields - has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen (Connelly), an American journalist whose idealism is tempered by a deepening connection with Archer, the two men embark on a trek through rebel territory, a journey that could save Solomon's family and give Archer the second chance he thought he would never have.

Charles Leavitt and Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz developed the screenplay. Paula Weinstein, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick, Gillian Gorfil and Graham King are set to produce the feature.

Filming will take place in Port Edward, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique and Cape Town, South Africa in May.

Which teen sensation gets aroused by having his numerous zits squeezed? Unsurprisingly the only women the pint-sized star can find to fulfil his nauseating perversion are ladies of the night. He is paying them extravagant amounts to keep his acne turn-on a secret.

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Which coupled up celebrity very cheekily asked for another taken star's number at a recent party? She might have a lovely partner stashed away at home but that wasn't about to stop her suggesting a bit of extra activity to this sexy lad.

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Which hunky boyband star hired a "high class" escort during his travels to Australia and asked her to do dirty things while his wife was waiting back at the hotel? He even shocked his bandmates by asking her to drop her undies and... lets draw a discreet veil over what he wanted her to do. And we thought he was so sweet and innocent.

Where did you last see a whale?
Lee: I didn't go and see the one in the Thames. I reckon he was looking for my autograph, though. He heard about me. I thought they should have just left him alone to be honest. It was only ever gonna turn out like that, though. If we went into the jungle and er, a load of lions started playing about with us I'm sure that we'd die of a heart attack as well.

last album you bought?
Lee: I normally buy obscure albums. Do you know what I mean? I like buying compilations as well. Like, Best Country Album or Best Of Rock. You know, like the Best Of stuff? Cos you get a better variety of stuff on them. Oh, hang on, that's what I bought, the best of BB King. It went all the way through his career. He's amazing. He's wicked, and an amaaaaazing guitarist. I do it for research more than anything, listening to all that soul stuff. Even the recordings are so rough. Everything's so ****ing pretty these days when you listen to it on the radio. You don't get any of that raw essence anymore.

Apart from Babyshambles.
Lee: Yeah, I respect that. But back in the day, they didn't have a choice, d'ya know what I mean?

What was the last film you saw?
Lee: Wedding Crashers? You seen it?
No.
Lee: Aw, bruv, you gotta see it. It's sooo funny! Like, me and me sister were in hysterics. We was keeled over laughing. It's not stupid humour. It's actually like, real funny, like, the way they both act in it, and the characterisations they use in it. Brilliant. Genius film. I went and saw it in the cinema with this girl, and you know when you're trying to act cool? Well, I was pi**ing myself laughing. I think she was thinking: "Oh. My. God."

What was the last book you read?
Lee: Vaslev Nijinsky. The book about his life. You know, that ballet dancer. I'm well into his book. He was a bit eccentric and a bit spiritual. But very loving. He had a real connection with God, in his own way, which I really respect.

What was the last song that moved you to tears?
Lee: Erm... Y'know what, there's not much out there that's inspiring these days. I mean, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me" doesn't really do it for me. It moves me to tears in that I can't stand to listen to it, but that's it. The thing that last got to me was 'Why Me' by Mike And The Mechanics. When I listen to that it does make me think, "yeah, why are we ****ing up this planet?" It's all so current, even though it was written years ago. It inspires me to write songs like that.

What was the last question you refused to answer?
Lee: Er, it was today actually, It was about my dad. Someone asked me about growing up and my dad, and I said, "You know what, I don't want to talk about this." That was that, really.

Last stupid Lee Ryan story that you read?
Lee: Apparently I stripped at Elton John's wedding. Did you know that?
Would you ever?
Lee: I did it a couple of times when I was younger... You've gotta have a big pair of b**s to do that. Literally.

Jordan has revealed Peter Andre chickened out of joining the mile-high club with her.

The couple, who married last year, are currently holidaying in Florida.

Jordan said: "I thought that Pete and I could join the mile-high club, but he had other ideas.

"When no one was looking I went into the toilets after him, but he was like: 'Get out, get out, we'll get caught.'

"And I thought: 'You chicken.' Maybe on the way back though!"

Robbie Williams wants his best mate to duet with him on his world tour.

Former You've Been Framed presenter, Jonathan Wilkes, will also warm up the crowds during the tour.

A source said: "Robbie and Jonathan are inseparable. They are really close pals and do everything together.

"Jonathan is a trained singer and has earned his stripes working up and down the country in musical theatre. Jonathan is giving up his TV career to focus full-time on making it in the charts again."

In 2000 Innocent Records signed him up and his debut single Just Another Day was released in March 2001, entering the UK charts at No24.

U2 have postponed a series of gigs across the globe - because of a mystery illness to one of the rocker's family members.

The shows, in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hawaii, were scheduled to take place later this month and in early April.

In a statement, tour promoter Arthur Fogel said: "The decision was unavoidable. It's due to the illness of an immediate family member of one of the band.

"Any fan of U2 will realise that this decision has not been taken lightly.

"We will announce further details as soon as we have them."

The statement did not give any details about which band member's family has been affected or how serious the illness is.

However, Australia's Nine television network said the concerts were postponed because one of their daughters was sick.

The Irish rock legends, fronted by Bono, were scheduled to play Honolulu on April 8 - tickets for the Aloha Stadium show went on sale in January and sold out within an hour making it the fastest-selling stadium concert in history.

U2 have been touring the world in support of their Grammy-winning album, 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb', since March 2005.

Jennifer Aniston has told film fans that the weirdest big-screen offer she has had was being
asked to play herself in the story of her
break up with Brad Pitt. She said: "Yeah as
if any woman would like to relive that and
who on earth would they get to play Brad?"

(I got a wicked idea how about Brad?)

---------

New 007 Daniel Craig told last night how he has been stunned by a flood of hate mail from Bond
fans and he admits that he never really wanted
the part in the first place because he was
worried that he would end up sterotyped.

----------

Beyonce Knowles claims her perfect date is a night
at the movies and some cheesecake. The singer who is engaged to rap star Jay-Z said: "A perfect date would be a movie - a comedy so we could have a laugh. Then go and get some cheesecake. Its nice but nothing special."

-----------

England ace Joe Cole is backing Arctic Monkeys to pen a World Cup anthem. Joe said: "I think Arctic Monkeys are a fantastic new band. I'm playing them in my car."

America's Next Top Model winner Nicole Linketter's first trip to France coincided with her first shoot for ELLE and also her first time wearing couture. Hardly one to let a few successes go to her head, Linkletter, 20, took breaks from the ELLE photo session to go be a small-town girl seeing the sights of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre --"all the touristy stuff," as she puts it. Back on the set, she loved trying on the beautiful couture clothing, especially Chanel's pale pink gown and Dior Haute Couture by John Galliano's outrageous pantsuit. The North Fork, North Dakota, native has been on the fast track ever since waiting in line outside the Mall of America for "hours" last April to try out for America's Next Top Model. Having survived living in a house with 12 other aspiriing models and "being videotaped even when sleeping," Linkletter is now ready to concentrate on her career. In the future, the buddind star hopes to have the oportunity to be like one of her industry heroes, Tyra Banks -- who she describes as "not just a model, but a role model." We wish her all the luck.

Co-stars Amanda Bynes, 19, and Channing Tatum, 25, attended the DreamWorks Pictures' premiere of She's the Man at the Mann Village Theater last night. Other attendees include co-star Robert Hoffman, MTV VJ Nick Zano, Garcelle Beauvais and Julie Benz. She's the Man, a contemporary take on "Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, opens in theaters nationwide March 17.

Rock singer Pete Doherty spelled out his love for supermodel Kate Moss on Thursday, scribbling a message on the inside of his car windshield after another appearance in a London court on drug possession charges.

The 26-year-old Babyshambles singer had an on-off relationship with 32-year-old Moss, but the couple are widely reported to have split last year.

"I Love Kate 4 Eva," he wrote after running to his gold-colored Jaguar following the hearing, using a heart shape to express the world "love."

His case was adjourned until later in March.

Wearing his trademark trilby hat on arrival and a blue jacket, he leaned from a window of the Thames Magistrates Court building and began to play the harmonica to the throng of photographers waiting below.

Only last month, the self-confessed drug addict was at a different court facing separate narcotics charges. He was spared a jail term and ordered to attend a rehabilitation center and undergo monthly check-ups.

Moss was captured on camera last year apparently taking large quantities of cocaine, and several fashion houses and retailers severed ties with the mother of one.

She also attended a drug rehabilitation center last year in the United States, and has since been rebuilding her career.

Tara Reid was spotted Wednesday morning outside of Dennis Rodman's Newport Beach house paying off a local resident after slamming into their car.

According to an eyewitness, Reid's "pupils were clearly dialated, for what reason I don't know."

After exiting their respective vehicles, Tara told the owner of the other vehicle that she "didn't want to deal with insurance," and promptly handed the dude $700 dollars to "forget it ever happened."

Bow Wow's Interview.

XM: So tell us about the beef between you and Romeo.

Bow Wow: Man he's wack. You can listen to his songs and tell he can't rap. Then outta nowhere gon try and say I can't rap. This dude on Dancing with the Stars. Somebody is bankrupt.

XM: You been coming at alot of people lately.

Bow Wow: Thats because I'm hot right now. I'm doin my thing. I got the hottest album, and I just can't be stopped right now.

XM: Okay how did the beef with you and Romeo start?

Bow Wow: He been tryna be me from the jump with the chains, the rhymes, the dances, I mean get serious! This dude need to get his own stuff and be orignal.

XM: So where did the song FreshAzimiz come from?

Bow Wow: I was in my home studio when JD emailed this beat to me. I loved it and I just started writin to it. I'm comin at everybody because I feel that I'm the best. Alot of people got mad when I said Jay-Z wasn't hot no more, but look who on Roc-A-Fella. When I said that Will Smith was a gimmick but I don't care, he is.

XM: So how did you feel when you heard Romeo was in the line-up for Scream Tour 4?

Bow Wow: He was never even contacted to be on the tour because he didn't even have an album out at the time so wherever you heard that, its a lie. But I would never tour with that wanksta.

XM: How do you feel about Romeo's new song "Hoodstar"?

Bow Wow: I laughed at that track. Thats gonna be on the soundtrack for the Teletubbies. Man, that song is wack. I don't recall one hot line in that song. Too many -----s is comin at me with kiddy rhymes. They gonna have to come harder than that.

XM: Do you think this beef will affect your relationship with Ciara?

Bow Wow: Not at all. She knows that I'ma blow them away and everything gon be all good.

XM: Thank you for your time.

Romeo's Interview.

XM: So whats the beef between you and Bow Wow.

Romeo: Well at first I didn't wanna come at him, but he kept tryin me. I mean he was one of my idol's when I first came out but now he is just lame.

XM: So in your new song "Hoodstar" you're responding to FreshAzimiz?

Romeo: No, thats where people is gettin it wrong. He been dissin me for the longest. I felt that I'm 16 and ain't nobody gon be runnin they mouth and expect me not to say anything back.

XM: Do you feel that this is going to be the next Jay Z .vs. Nas?

Romeo: Of course not. As much as Bow Wow tries to front, he will never have the lyrical skills of Nas or Hov. I'm not sayin that I'm the best, because I know I'm not. But atleast I write my stuff. I'm gonna bring that big head of his back to earth.

XM: Do you feel threatened by Bow Wow's popularity in the rap game?

Romeo: No. Its the other way around. I was on the line-up for the Scream Tour 4 but Bow Wow refused to perform if I was on the tour. Thats just plain jealousy. He was tryna knock my hustle, so the people told me there was something wrong with the contracts, that I didn't even sign yet, and I was released from the line-up and replaced with B5.

XM: In another diss towards Bow Wow, you were sayin things about Ciara.

Romeo: Nah, that wasn't me. I don't have no problems with her. Bow Wow just is too cocky.
XM: So This whole thing is pointless to you?

Romeo: Nah I don't think its stupid. I just think that its stupid. He's gonna go to the studio and let Jermaine Dupri make a hit for him so this ain't gonna be no real battle.

XM: Okay thank you for your time Romeo.

Romeo: No problem.

The new CG-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie will be released May 30th, 2007. Kevin Munroe wrote the screenplay and will direct.

It is reported also that the CGI movie will be darkier and grittier than the previous three live-action Ninja Turtles films from the 1990s.

Teen queen Amanda Bynes had to settle for soft drinks on a recent trip to Boston. The 19-year-old actress was carded with her "She's the Man" co-stars during dinner at Todd English's Bonfire. Their handler, Dayna D'Itria, objected, saying, "I spoke to the manager, and I thought we had an understanding," a Page Six spy reports. After IDs were checked, everyone but Bynes ordered cocktails - but the server declined to bring them two drinks apiece as they had ordered. A spokeswoman for Bonfire said, "We abide by Massachusetts state law. We're not in the business of serving teens alcohol." A rep for Bynes said, "She never asked for a drink."

Katie Holmes has allegedly asked Victoria Beckham to be her birthing partner.

The screen beauty - who is expecting her first baby with fiancé Tom Cruise this year - reportedly wants the former Spice Girl to be by her side when she goes into labour.

A source revealed: 'Victoria and Katie have struck a real rapport ever since they were introduced by Tom and both of them are thrilled by the friendship.

'Victoria has become something of a mother hen to Katie, so when she was asked if she would be with her during the birth, she said yes straight away.'

Because the pair live in different countries - mum-of-three Victoria lives in Spain, while Katie lives in the US - they are spending time on the phone preparing for the birth.

The source added: 'Twice a week they both set aside an hour to chat about the impending birth and any worries Katie might have.

'Sometimes they even practise breathing exercises over the phone.'

- COLIN FARRELL and SERENA WILLIAMS waiting for a table at Bar Pitti in New York.

- JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT celebrating her 27th birthday in the Hot Pink Suite at the Palms hotel in Las Vegas.

- JENNIFER ANISTON getting lectured by COURTENEY COX at ll Sole in West Hollywood.

- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and his wife PATTI SCIALFA window shopping along Worth Avenue in Palm Beach.

- KATE BOSWORTH making repeated trips to the ladies while partying at LA's Sunset Tower Hotel.

- ELIZA DUSHKU sitting near the bar at the Delano hotel in Miami's trendy South Beach.

- NAOMI WATTS asking a pal if she knew any nice, single guys while partying at LA's mood nightclub without her beau.

- JOANNA KRUPA shopping for CDs and DVDs at Tower Records in New York. The model picked up a copy of Velvet Revolver's "Contraband" and the romantic comedy "The Perfect Man".

- COURTNEY LOVE looking like her troubles are far behind her, with her daughter FRANCES BEAN on Robertson Boulevard.

- NATASHA HENSTRIDGE at the Elevate Hope Foundation bash in LA talking about the romantic things that her singing boyfriend DARIUS DANESH does for her: "He massages my feet. He washes my hair. He learned to give me a brush blowdry. He writes songs for me."

After a British tabloid revealed that supermodel Kate Moss had taken cocaine while visiting Nelson Mandela’s home he has spoken out about her drug problems.

a spokesperson for Mandela said: “He didn’t realise that Kate was drugged up.

“We hope with the help of family and friends, she’ll be able to get rid of this deadly habit.”

If rumours are to be believed, it appears that South Africa became a bit of drug haven for Moss during the 1990s.

A friend of Moss’ has exposed her secrets to a magazine, his most recent involves an A-List Hollywood husband who tried to touch him up in a London night club.

Kerry Katona has hit out at those ‘friends’ of hers who have sold stories abut her to tabloids.

She has branded those who tell stories about her drink and drug habits ‘jealous.

She said: "I'm in the papers with them saying my nose is falling off. It is a bit wide but I've never taken cocaine. Never in a million years.

"I think a lot of people are jealous of my success. I'm open and dead nice to everyone and people take advantage. I am a normal person. Every story done on me has been done by a girl. Women are just bitchy. It's pure jealousy.

Katona is currently embroiled in a nasty spat with her ex-husband ex-Westlife singer Bryan McFadden over his visitation rights to their children.

Jared Leto, best known for his roles on the TV series "My So-Called Life" and such films as Requiem for a Dream, Fight Club, Alexander and Lord Of War hopes to win some converts as his band 30 Seconds To Mars criss-crosses America on its first tour, which begins tonight. Dates are booked right through until May 28 in Salt Lake City, with more expected to be added.

The band is touring in support of its sophomore Virgin album, "A Beautiful Lie," which has sold a resepctable 114,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The single "The Kill (Bury Me)" is currently No. 35 on Billboard's airplay-based Modern Rock chart.

"I'm not out to prove anything to anybody," Leto tells Billboard "If they like it great, if they don't, they can f--- off. It doesn't matter to me. I'm not running for president. I'm just in a band. It's not that big a deal."

So far though, ticket sales for the tour have been brisk. Several dates have already sold out, including stops in Dallas, Houston and New York, where a second show has been added. "It's nice because I think a lot of people would rather stay home and play a video game these days then go to a rock show," he says.

Also on tap for the band is a May 7 appearance at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, N.J., and several acoustic in-store performances.

"A big part of what 30 Seconds To Mars has always been about is the live aspect," says Leto. "We put a lot of thought and time and energy and passion into how we present ourselves. This (tour) is going to give us the opportunity to explore a lot of different things. It's been a long time coming."

Colin Farrell has been linked to American writer-director Todd Haynes' alternative biopic of Bob Dylan, according to Production Weekly.

The film 'I'm Not There' is designed to star seven actors, all of who embody a different aspect of the singer-songwriter's life and work.

Farrell, along with Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Julianne Moore have all been added to the cast list.

Haynes, who has previously directed 'Far From Heaven' and 'Velvet Goldmine' is planning to start filming this summer in Romania.

Jane Fonda reportedly videotaped a three-in-a-bed romp with her ex-husband Ted Turner and an unnamed brunette, according to an explosive new book.

Author Allan MacDonell, former editor of Hustler magazine, alleges the tape shows Fonda wearing "artificial equipment" to "pleasure Turner while he services the brunette," in his book Prisoner Of X.

Columnist for the New York Daily News Lloyd Grove says, "Turner asks the camera operator, 'Are you getting this?'" Three times married Fonda, 68, has previously claimed she was coerced into sexual activities with women by her third husband, film director Roger Vadim.

Hustler publisher and longtime friend of Turner Larry Flynt, says, "I really don't have any comment on the so-called Ted Turner videotape. Ted Turner and I have been friends for 30 years. I knew Ted before CNN."

It seems Sienna Miller wasn't the only singleton at the Vanity Fair after-party. The boho babe, 24, rescued Kate Bosworth, 23, from a grilling about the whereabouts of her maybe on/off again boyfriend Orlando Bloom and welcomed the star into her man-dissing fold. Sienna said: "Kate just wants to enjoy herself tonight and doesn't want to talk about Orlando Bloom."

Rocker and soon-to-be dad Gavin Rossdale has jumped aboard the independent comedy film, How to Rob a Bank. The husband of superstar Gwen Stefani and former Bush frontman will star alongside Nick Stahl of HBO's Carnivale and Erika Christensen, most recently seen in The Upside of Anger. The story revolves around a slacker and a bank employee forced to arbitrate between bank robbers, led by Rossdale, and police.

Britney Spears is so stressed about her pop comeback her hair is allegedly falling out. The sexy singer - who took time off to marry husband Kevin Federline and have their baby son, Sean Preston - is said to be losing clumps of her luscious locks. Britney has even reportedly started wearing huge hats to cover her thinning tresses. A source said: "It looks like Britney is suffering from stress-related alopecia. But the real cause of her thinning hair is her constant fretting about getting slim and developing a new look for her return to pop.'' The singer - who gained 50lbs during pregnancy - has been feeling the strain because she has been worrying about her husband's partying, while caring for their baby, and is also concerned about getting in shape for her comeback.

In the latest issue of Elle, action star Vin Diesel, who is a "friend of Wentworth Miller", reveals to the magazine that he nicknamed his biceps "the kryptonics".

When asked if he'd ever try to use his "kryptonics" to get a telephone number, Diesel gushed, "No! What do you take me for? I'm much more romantic than that. I'm more likely to sing Broadway show tunes to a girl."

THE Vines frontman Craig Nicholls has revealed his excitement at the band's return to music more than a year after he was diagnosed with a career-threatening disorder.

Nicholls suffered a breakdown in May 2004 during a Sydney concert for Triple M listeners after enduring months of rigorous touring and promotion for the band's second album, Winning Days.
His erratic behaviour led to an assault charge when he kicked a photographer's camera during the Annandale Hotel show in Sydney.

Nicholls was later diagnosed with asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, and the charges were dropped in November 2004.

Sufferers of the syndrome require routine in their lives and the touring demands on Nicholls pushed him beyond his limits.

The singer said he now manages the condition "by having someone to talk to" and is ready to undertake limited promotional and performance commitments to support the release of their third album, Vision Valley, on April 1.

He said he threw himself into songwriting after the assault charge was resolved.

"There was a cloud for a while but it had lifted by the time we started writing and recording the demos," he said.

"It felt like we were just doing it for fun, just like when we first started out.

"It's good to have a new album. I knew we hadn't broken up. I knew we were going to do a new album but at the time after the second album, we weren't sure when it was going to be," he said.

Drummer Hamish Rosser and guitarist Ryan Griffiths said yesterday they were equally proud of the new album and were looking forward to unveiling it to their fans.

Snow Patrol will release its next studio album, "Eyes Open," May 1 internationally via Fiction/Polydor and May 9 in North America via Interscope. The driving, up-tempo first single "You're All I Have" will see commercial release April 24 in the United Kingdom.

The 11-track set features a duet between frontman Gary Lightbody and singer/songwriter Martha Wainwright on "Set the Fire to the Third Bar" as well as guest appearances from Posies/Big Star principal Ken Stringfellow on keyboards plus backing vocals from Scottish indie rock notables Eugene Kelly, Charlie Clarke, Jenny Reeve and Iain Archer.

"Desperate Housewives" star Teri Hatcher revealed on Tuesday that she was sexually abused by an uncle as a child but kept it secret until he was arrested years later for molesting a girl who ultimately committed suicide.

In an interview appearing in Vanity Fair magazine, Hatcher said she told prosecutors about her abuse in 2002 because she was haunted by thoughts of the

14-year-old girl who shot herself and feared that her uncle might escape conviction.
"I was just blown over by this girl's pain," the 41-year-old television star told Vanity Fair, recalling she learnt about the case from newspaper clippings.

"I thought, 'Boy, that's really close to being me.' Any day of the week, I could feel that sort of pain. I haven't tried to kill myself, but I've certainly thought about it, and then I feel guilty about thinking about it, because what's so terrible about my life?"

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Chuck Gillingham credits Hatcher for putting her uncle, Richard Hayes Stone, who was then 64, behind bars.

"Without Teri, this case would have been dismissed," he told the magazine, explaining that Hatcher's account provided key corroborating evidence to establish a pattern of behaviour.

Stone, who was married to Hatcher's mother's sister when she was a girl, pleaded guilty to four counts of child molestation in December 2002 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison after Hatcher agreed to testify against him.

"He pleaded guilty, and even though it wasn't to my crime, it was because of my crime, and that made me feel validated," the television star told the magazine.

"That's a victim thing; you ask yourself, 'Am I just crazy? Did I make all this up?' Somehow it might be easier to accept that you're crazy and you made it all up than to admit that it happened, and how awful it was," she said.

Hatcher initially kept her involvement in the case, which never went to trial, a closely guarded secret, declining to include the experience in her upcoming book "Burnt Toast," in part because she worried it might harm her career.

"But I'm 41 years old, and it's time for me to stop hiding," she said.

Hatcher is best known for her TV role as the disaster-prone Susan Mayer on ABC's hit show "Desperate Housewives." She previously co-starred as Lois Lane on the 1990s TV drama "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."

In the interview, Hatcher recalled in chilling detail how she was sexually molested by Stone starting at age 5, when she and her parents lived in Sunnyvale, California, and the conflicted emotions of feeling both special and ashamed.

"The most horrible thing, that has stuck with me all my life, is that he was touching me and doing things to me, and he said, 'Doesn't that feel good?' (And) I said, 'No, it doesn't.' He said, 'Well, someday you'll know what I'm talking about.'"

Hatcher said that going to prosecutors four years ago, she never told anyone of her own ordeal, not even her parents. She said last saw Stone when she was 8 or 9.

Real Madrid footballers David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane and German Formula One driver Michael Schumacher will have small roles in an upcoming movie Asterix at the Olympic Games.

The northeastern Spanish region of Valencia and the producer Pathe signed an agreement to start shooting the French-Spanish-German coproduction, the third part of an Asterix series, near Alicante on June 19.

French actor Gerard Depardieu will continue to play Obelix, the fat friend of the clever Gaul Asterix who defeats the Romans with the help of his magic potion.

Asterix is played by Clovis Cornillac. The film will also feature Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon as Julius Cesar.

The $US93 million ($A125.8 million) movie directed by Frederic Forestier and Thomas Langmann will be the most expensive in European film history, Spanish press reports today said.

Socialite Paris Hilton is expected to be the latest celebrity to lend her voice to cult cartoon series The Simpsons. Hilton will join a galaxy of stars who have appeared on the hit show recently including The White Stripes and British funnyman Ricky Gervais.

Creator Matt Groening confirms, "Her name is on the list. It could be a good show."

Hilton has other projects in the works, including "Bottoms Up" about a Midwestern bartender who ingratiates himself into the Hollywood system, finding love along the way, and "Pledge This" about a beautiful sorority president who takes in a group of unconventional freshman girls seeking acceptance into her house.

Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Bill Murray, John Cusack and Benicio Del Toro have come together for a documentary on the life and death of gonzo journalist and author Hunter S Thompson.

The documentary, called Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride: Hunter S Thompson On Film is currently wrapping up production.

Depp played the author in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, the big screen adaptation of Thompson's book, along with Benicio Del Toro as his lawyer, Dr Gonzo.

Writer/director Tom Thurman plans to have the documentary completed by August (06) and will decided then whether to release it theatrically in order to be able to qualify for an Academy Award nomination.

Thompson committed suicide last February (05) at the age of 67 at his home in Colorado.

Which female star is driving her friends mad with cannabis stash? The pin-up has stopped going out to parties because she would rather stay at home with her boyfriend and get stoned but after forgetting several of her friend's birthdays, her friends have told her to give up or get lost.

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Which starlet emptied her Oscars goodie bag and filled it with a Technicolor yawn? The babe drowned her sorrows after losing out on a gong and ended up being violently ill. She then passed her carrier of sick to the girl who took her award and said: "That's what I think of you."

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Which flop TV presenter pays call girls to keep him company? The chubby has-been was so used to being surrounded by babes, he doesn't know how to handle his isolation. And his antics during his fame turned pals against him.

US designer Erin Fetherston will show a short film, starring her friend Kirsten Dunst, to unveil her newest creations during Paris Fashion Week. "It's a little hectic right now with Spider-Man 3," says Dunst, who made the film with the help of Ellen Von Unwerth and Fetherston's fiancé, Hedi Ferjani. "But I said, 'I'm doing this for my friend and you can't stop me.' I know with Ellen doing it, it will turn out really cool."

Abi Titmuss has reunited with Lee Sharpe - and she now hopes that they can get engaged.

The pair split last year following newspaper reports that Sharpe had cheated with a promotions girl.

"She’s over-the-moon at getting back with Lee," a source close to Abi said. "Abi would love to settle down with the right man. If Lee keeps his pledge to be a good boy we're expecting to hear an engagement announcement very soon."

The friend added, "Lee has convinced Abi he wants things to work properly this time. He went so far as to tell her he wants to be with her for the rest of his life."

Salma Hayek says Colin Farrell is a true gentleman, after he kept his eyes off her body during a nude scene.

Farrell and Hayek had to film a nude scene in the sea for new film Ask The Dust.

Hayek explained: "For all of Colin's reputation, the man never looked at me while we were doing the scene. He kept his glance at my eyes. He never once looked down and I never told him not to."

Sean Lennon and Elizabeth Jagger spent the night together at a hotel recently - sparking rumours they are dating again.

The couple had a year-long romance two years ago which ended because of conflicting work schedules - but sources say the pair are back together.

The gorgeous couple were spotted cosying up in the bar of London's smart Baglioni hotel on Friday (03.03.06) before disappearing upstairs together.

The couple originally became an item in 2004 while Elizabeth, daughter of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, was modelling in New York.

Sean, son of late Beatles legend John Lennon, works as a music publisher and guitarist in the city.

But the pair split when the model returned to London.

She said at the time: "Now he's over there and I'm home, there doesn't seem much point going on."

Ronan Keating beyond his years — he's still only 28 — and suffers no fools.

But he wears his heart on his sleeve, likes a good drink and liberally seasons his distinctive Dublin tones with the "fuck" word.

We meet at a private members'

club in Soho for his first interview in 14 months. It would be absurd to say he hasn't changed much since the day I first met him, but considering what he has experienced, Keating is admirably similar.

Ronan, you've been away from the scene for a while. Before we get to the nitty-gritty of, erm, certain people, why don't you explain why this new album is so important after the performance of the last one?

10 Years of Hits sold 3.5 million, which was fantastic, but Turn It On sold only 500,000 in the UK, which was not good. That was hard for me and was a wakeup call — big time. It made me realise you can't just write any album you want — not that I ever thought I could. I still think it was a great album, but we made a big mistake with the first single, which affected it badly.

The Hits was massive for me because I was back in people's heads and hearts again, and it allowed me to take a year out. If I had taken this amount of time off after Turn It On I would probably have disappeared, but I went away on a high. I realise how important this new album is and the pressure has built in the past few months, but I think we have got it right.

Please God!

It's taken a year to make, which is the longest I've taken on an album. I have a studio at home and went there whenever I felt like writing a song. It was inspirational to work like that and I have written about 75 per cent of the songs on the album. I know people would expect me to say this, but it's the best record I've ever made. The album is very rounded and I still enjoy listening to it, which is a good sign because usually I can't stand it by this stage!

must feel odd doing interviews after being locked away for so long.

Yeah, I am wound up, but only because I am at that period where we're just about to go and I want to make sure we are in the right place. I'm a fuckin' worrier, man, and I get very stressed. The big worry is that the first single is the right one. It is everything because it shows people what the album is about. The only reason I am like this is the mistake we made before.

I have not had to think about being interviewed, so getting back into that head space is weird. I am used to being asked about pushing up the fader or pressing record, or changing a nappy. It's been an amazing time because working at my home studio has meant I can still be a father while making a record.

I can take the kids to school, pick them up, put them to bed and still get into the studio.

OK, Louis Walsh. I realise you don't want to fuel the row, but if you're promoting a new record, every journalist is going to ask — so what's the situation?

I'm not into condemning Louis. I don't need to stoop to slagging him off. That's not what I am about, or how I was raised to treat people. If that's what he wants to do, let him. I could do it, no problem. There are lots of things I could tell you, but why would I want to get into a battle with someone in the press?

And if I say something, he would only come back with something else, so what's the point?

I'm grateful for what he did with Boyzone. Louis helped us out in the beginning, but after that we kind of made our own success. There are two sides to him.

In one sense, he is very controlling and wants to have everything, but then he doesn't want to manage you.

So when you try and do something else he gets upset and says, "But I'm your manager, I should be doing that." I said to him, "Here, please look after these things," then six months later nothing would have been done. I said, "You know, Louis, you're not managing me, this is not working."

At one point, I was on a world tour and we opened in Sydney, and he didn't even know where I was. He was my manager, but he would only get involved when the album was being made. I had to sack him because he wouldn't manage me. It's OK for him, he can manage 10, 20 different bands, but I've got one shot at this, so I have no time to waste if important things aren't being done. Louis would have been a very good manager for me if he'd brought in other people to do jobs for him, but he wouldn't delegate.

It can't have been easy reading the stuff in the press. He slaughtered you, called you "talentless", and much of it was written by journalists you know really well.

Oh yeah, he hurt me alright. Absolutely — and he knows it. I'm OK about it now, but I have no respect for him because he has none for me. He tried to absolutely ruin my career because he was jealous.

I couldn't believe what he put in the papers. Why do that to someone? We were very close, really good friends. We did Boyzone, we put Westlife together, but it was more than just working together, we were friends. We would hang out together, talk about music. I liked his company and I think he liked mine. But the stuff he came out with in the press was just outrageous, man. Why people printed the stuff, I don't understand. Those people know me, they pretended to be my friends, but they wrote those things knowing they weren't true. It actually made Louis look stupid because he'd spent eight years saying the opposite — that I was good — so it was just silly and unprofessional. I don't understand what's in his head.

Now he's trying to make up with me because he wants Boyzone to get back together. He says in the papers, "Oh, Ronan and I shook hands and made up." I think it's hilarious and I'm telling you, man, it's bullshit. I haven't talked to the guy, haven't seen him, haven't heard from him. And I don't have any time for him, we are a million miles from each other.

Louis really hurt me, but it's done now and I have too many good things in my life to bother worrying about all that.

Ok, let's get off that one. On a lighter note, can you give me an example of the dafter press you've had lately and maybe some of the stuff you regret over the years?

I read recently that I've bought an island off the coast of Ireland. Why would I buy one there — it's too fuckin' cold! The Caribbean maybe. To be honest, I've been really lucky with the press and even the paparazzi leave me alone, which I appreciate. I said some stupid things about being a virgin when I was 16, which was more embarrassing than difficult.

People looked at me like I was a fuckin' leper.

And what about your teeth. I read that you got them all capped to have a better chance of cracking America. Is that so?

No way! I got my teeth done because they were focked. I didn't get them done for anyone else but for me and my wife. You know, you make a few bob and you want your teeth fixed. Everyone wants good teeth. I felt self-conscious of these two (shows me two perfectly aligned eye teeth) because they were wonky.

They got shaved down and capped. All for €1,200!

Your mother, Marie, died from breast cancer in 1998 and you started a charity in her memory. What is currently happening with that?

It is going from strength to strength and we now have three mobile units in Ireland that go round making people more aware of cancer. We're about to form a partnership with Cancer Research UK, which is brilliant. People like myself have a duty to give something back because we've been given so much more. I'm very proud of what we have achieved with the charity.

Despite all the clean-cut image, you're known to like a good party. How is the boozing?

I don't drink Jack Daniel's as much these days because my liver hurts. Honestly, man, I was getting twinges the next day. And was making me fuckin' shake. I could drink half a bottle of Jack a night, no bother. I mix it with ginger ale now, but I drink red wine more than anything, which apparently is better for you. I might have two Jack's, then wine, then a few more Jack's at the end of the night. But I tell ya, I've got a shite memory lately!

What do you think of your wholesome media image? You get some stick from certain corners of the press.

Everybody thinks that I am this clean-cut, nicestguy- in-pop character. That's fine, but I didn't get into this to be in the press, I got into it for music.

Certain magazines won't allow me in because they're "cool", but I'm not bothered. I don't read those magazines and the people who listen to my music don't buy them either. There are critics who will always have a go, but it's easy to slag off pop music. As for the papers, I don't have a problem with any of them. I have always shown them respect and they show it back, and the publicity I get is generally great, but I tend not to read all of it. Early on, Bono said to me, "Don't read all your press or you might end up believing the hype."

With the launch of a new album, there are countless interviews ahead. How do you feel about that prospect?

I am up for it. The main thing I am looking forward to is getting back playing with the band and performing, but I know that publicity is all part of it and I don't have a problem with interviews. The only thing I am not a fan of is having my picture taken. I don't like posing and photographers drive me crazy because they always take the same shot 10,000 times.

But I know I'm a lucky fucker to do what I do and have what I have, so I wouldn't change a thing.

I have a really good relationship with the press. They don't hassle me and I don't hassle them.

Band Member Stumbles Into Salon After Radio Appearance A member of the Chicago band Fall Out Boy stumbled into a Merchandise Mart hair salon near the Q101 radio studio where he was appearing on Mancow's Morning Madhouse and threw up Monday morning. The band member entered the Thomas West Salon at about 8:30 or 9 a.m. and made a big mess, a stylist at the salon said. "I am not sure if he was drinking or what, but I think he threw up," she said. According to employees at the salon, the young man was in the band Fall Out Boy and was appearing on Mancow's Morning Madhouse. The owner of the salon and Mancow, a.k.a Erich Mueller, have been playing pranks on each other and joking around for a while now, but this incident might have been taking it a little far, the stylist said. The salon did not call police, but a Merchandise Mart security guard said someone from his office went to check out the situation early Monday morning. No one was arrested, the guard said. A spokesman for Q101 did not immediately return a ph