5th July 2007

* TIMBERLAKE MARKS 4TH OF JULY IN LONDON
Pop superstar JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE celebrated America's Independence Day with fans
at his concert in England on Wednesday .
  The SexyBack hitmaker took a champagne glass on to the stage at London's O2
Arena and asked the 18,000-strong crowd to take a moment to mark the 4th of
July.
  He said, "Because it's American Independence Day, I propose a toast. This one
goes out to our troops fighting for our freedom."
  Timberlake told the crowd how much he loved London, before jokingly
criticising the weather: "When I was a little boy, I never thought that I'd
ever play one show in London, let alone five!. You've made a country boy's
dream come true.
  He added, "Man, someone is going to have to make a call about this
weather."


* SNOOP DOGG SEEKS AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
Rapper SNOOP DOGG has launched a campaign to gain Australian citizenship.
 The hip-hop star, real name Calvin Broadus, was due to co-host the MTV
Australia Video Music Awards in Sydney in April , but was refused entry
into the country because of his criminal record and recent run-ins with the
law. 
  But the singer has launched a campaign to overturn the decision with MTV in
Australia by running a series of short films of Snoop posing for photographs in
various Australian hotspots and purchasing a home in Sydney.
  Snoop tells the film, "Journey with me as I become a citizen of the land Down
Under." 


* 50 CENT 'TOO GOOD' TO LABEL SIGNINGS
Rapper 50 CENT has blasted Lloyd Banks and Young Buck - insisting they have
taken advantage of his generosity.
  The hip-hop mogul's music label G-Unit Records also boasts rap duo Mobb Deep
and M.O.P. - but he believes they have become spoilt by his laid back approach
to money. 
  And it took a meeting with his artists to make him realise things had to
change.
  He tells New York Daily News, "Whether I got to give them $500,000 
or $300,000 ... Just 'cause they want $300,000  more to
make what they  doing at the time comfortable. Like, 'Yo, I want to get
this new place over here.' "
  "I told them I wouldn't be assisting them financially anymore. Pretty much I
was telling them I wouldn't be there.  they'd make a lot of money
and spend a lot of money and have me there to fix it."
  "I looked around the room, and I was the only person with G-Unit sneakers on.
But they were being paid. It had become the norm for the check to come, but
they were no longer wearing the clothes." 


* RAIN IN LEGAL TROUBLE
LATEST: South Korean pop superstar RAIN is being sued by a concert promotion
company that claims he defrauded it out of more than $500,000 .
  The singer - dubbed the 'Korean Justin Timberlake' - cancelled two gigs and
postponed three of a five date US tour, blaming technical glitches and
trademark lawsuit in Nevada.
  Hawaiian company Click Entertainment is suing for $500,000 
claiming Rain agreed to perform in Honolulu when he knew he couldn't possibly
make the date.
  Rain is also under fire from promoters in Los Angeles over a show he
cancelled an hour and a half before it was due to begin. They are reportedly
preparing to launch a lawsuit.
  At the time of the axed gig, Rain insisted the stage at LA's Staples Center
wasn't set up, reports TMZ.com. 


* HYNDE OPENS VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
THE PRETENDERS frontwoman CHRISSIE HYNDE has delighted non-carnivorous food
fans in the U.S. by opening a vegetarian restaurant in Ohio.
  The cleverly-named VegeTerranean will open its doors in Ohio on 15 September
, with animal rights activist Hynde performing an acoustic set at the
eaterie's gala opening.
  VegeTerranean will serve up a fusion of Mediterranean and vegetarian cuisine.
 


* WELSH FESTIVAL POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN
A Welsh rock festival has been postponed because of heavy rain that has left
much of the U.K. underwater.
  The Manic Street Preachers, Keane and Placebo were all booked to appear at
The Fflam Festival in Swansea between 13 and 15 July .
  But after weeks of almost continuous rain, organisers have pulled the plug
and now plan to hold the event later in the summer.
  A statement from the promoter reads, "This has been a hard, but
well-considered decision and we believe it is the best one for all concerned.
  "Due to the bad weather, we have been delayed in putting the infrastructure
in place and it is a big concern that the weather conditions will hugely dampen
the experience we want to give all our festival goers.
  "Postponing the festival will mean that we can give everyone the Fflam
festival experience they deserve, bands, organisers and festival goers alike.
  "We expect the new date to be at the end of the summer and are doing all we
can do get everything reorganised as quickly and efficiently as possible so
that we can confirm the date within the week." 


* TALENT WINNER SIGNS GLOBAL RECORD DEAL
LATEST: The winner of TV talent show BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT has signed a deal to
release his first album in 15 countries across the world.
  Paul Potts, a former mobile phone salesman from Wales, triumphed in the
contest, which saw him win £100,000 , a chance to perform in front of
British royal Queen Elizabeth II, and a £1 million  recording
contract with show judge Simon Cowell.
  The singer shot to global fame after video clips of his Britain's Got Talent
performance were posted on YouTube which were watched by 10 million viewers.
  Potts' opera-inspired Album One Chance will hit shops in 15 countries
including Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy following its release in
U.K. and Ireland on 16 July . 


* PRINCESS' 'SON' FAILS IN COURT BID
LATEST: A man who claims to be the illegitimate son of the late British royal
PRINCESS MARGARET has failed in his court bid to gain from her will.
  Robert Brown sought a High Court order in London to gain access to the will
of the Princess and Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
  But Sir Mark Potter, the president of the Family Division, threw the case out
of court, accusing Brown of "seeking to establish an imaginary and baseless
claim."
  However, Brown said he would apply for permission to appeal.
  He says, "The president did accept that my claim was brought in good faith
and that I have a genuine belief that I may be the child of Princess Margaret.
  "My intention had never been to embarrass the Queen or other members of the
Royal Family and I had long sought a response to my questions in private."
  Princess Margaret died in 2002 aged 71. Brown says the princess was forced to
give up her "secret" son and believes he is 12th in line to the throne.



* OLDMAN DENIES CRYING AT CANNES
Actor/director GARY OLDMAN denies he burst into tears after watching his film
NIL BY MOUTH at this year's Cannes Film Festival. 
  It was rumoured the Batman Begins actor broke down in tears after watching
the movie he penned debut at the French festival in 1997 - but Oldman denies he
was emotional.
  He tells Empire magazine, "Someone mentioned that to me recently, the press
conference at Cannes and me being in tears. But, honestly, apart from a
 journalist saying I was in tears and crying on his shoulder, I don't
really remember that."
  Oldman also denies speculation the film, which is based on an abusive father,
is autobiographical.
  He adds, "Honestly, people wanted this film to be more about me than it
really was. It is a little but autobiographical but that's it - and yet people
see it as that was my dad on screen and that was my situation. So no matter
what I say, people think that it's all about me. It's actually mostly fiction."



* McGREGOR TAKES TIME OUT OF BIKING FOR CHARITY WORK
Scots actor EWAN McGREGOR and his actor pal CHARLEY BOORMAN have taken time out
of their epic motorcycle journey to visit a United Nation Children's Fund
charity project in Ethiopia.
  The pair are travelling the length of the planet on motorbikes, starting at
John O'Groats in Scotland and ending at Cape Town, South Africa.
  Last Friday , McGregor and Boorman parked their bikes to meet the
residents of Zalambasa, where many people have lost limbs through dangerous
landmine explosions.
  McGregor says, ''We're here in Zalambasa and we've been looking at landmine
issues today with UNICEF. It's been just extraordinary to meet kids who've lost
legs and had horrible accidents with landmines, and it's been incredible. The
kids are just great.
  "UNICEF are doing amazing things here. They're helping these groups of kids
to be mine aware, and using drama and workshops to teach children in all of the
schools in the area to be aware of mines and what to do if they find one, and
if somebody's hurt, not to rush in - all of the essential things that kids need
to know." 


* HILTON AND LOHAN: FRIENDS AGAIN
The on/off friendship between PARIS HILTON and LINDSAY LOHAN appears to be back
on - the warring pair spent America's Independence Day  together.
  After a public feud throughout 2006, Lohan stunned her fans when she was
photographed partying with Hilton and Britney Spears in November .
  Despite the pair's war of words through the media, Hilton - who was released
from jail last week  visited Lohan at her Malibu, California home on
Wednesday.
  Lohan has spent the past few days at home during a break from her treatment
at Promises rehab centre. 


* STALLONE: 'FOURTH RAMBO WILL BE GORIEST YET'
The long-awaited fourth installment of the RAMBO franchise will be the goriest
yet, filmmakers have promised.
  John Rambo producer John Thompson reveals he had to "raise the stakes" in the
latest movie which stars action hero Sylvester Stallone, in a bid to compete
with other "gory" movies, like Saw III.
  He tells Empire magazine, "We're up against films like Saw III, where people
were being sick in the aisles, so we've raised the stakes too."  
  Stallone adds, "If you thought other movies were extreme, John Rambo's gonna
knock you for six." 


* NAIR LAUNCHES AIDS AWARENESS INITIATIVE
Bollywood director MIRA NAIR has launched an initiative to promote Aids
awareness - by showing short films on the impact of the disease during movie
screenings.
  The Jaago project, which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
aims to harness the "immense power" of Indian cinema to "wake people up about
Aids".
  Nair assigned one AIDS topic to each director involved in the project, "and
then they had the freedom to do what they needed to do" for the 15-minute
movie.
  She says, "I proposed that I would get together the most cutting-edge,
commercial, populist film directors from different regions of India, who would
each use iconic movie stars who are recognized in our country, who would each
make a dramatic tale of 15 minutes in length."
  And Nair hopes to take the project across the world.
  She adds, "They can really translate anywhere, China, Africa, anywhere. If
these four films succeed, then next year we can get another four directors ." 


* LONG COPIES WILLIS CATCHPHRASE
Actor JUSTIN LONG tried to emulate his co-star BRUCE WILLIS on the set of the
new DIE HARD film - but without success.
  The Jeepers Creeper star attempted to mimic Willis' famous 'Yippeekayay'
catchphrase during a fight scene on Live Free & Die Hard - released
internationally as Die Hard 4.0 - but he impersonated Fred Flintstone instead. 
  
  He says, "I tried out my own version of Bruce's 'Yippeekayay' catchphrase. So
when I shot him, I shouted: 'Yabba dabba doo, motherf**ker.'
  "I don't think that will make the final cut." 


* WAGNER GUSHES ABOUT LOCKLEAR
U.S. soap star JACK WAGNER has broken his silence over new girlfriend HEATHER
LOCKLEAR, declaring he loves "everything" about the blonde beauty.
  The two actors started dating in February  - eight years after they
co-starred in hit drama Melrose Place together.
  When asked by America's People magazine what he liked about Locklear, Wagner
replied, "That would probably go under the category of 'everything'."
  Wagner divorced his wife Kristina in 2005, while Locklear recently ended her
marriage to Bon Jovi rocker Richie Sambora in April . 

* GEORGE MELLY DIES
English jazz singer and author GEORGE MELLY died on Thursday morning 
in his London home. He was 80.
  The Liverpool-born performer passed away after suffering from vascular
dementia and lung cancer.
  Just days after performing his latest ever gig at the famous 100 Club in
London on 10 June , Melly was forced to pull his 15 June  concert in
Shrewsbury, Shropshire due to ill health.
  After starting his jazz career in the late 1940s having served in World War
II in the British Navy, Melly took up journalism the 1960s and served as a film
critic for British broadsheet The Observer and tabloid Daily Mail.
  Melly returned to jazz in the 1970s playing with John Chilton's Feetwarmers,
who he remained with until 2003.
  In 1978, he teamed up with The Stranglers to record Old Codger.
  He is survived by his second wife Diana, son Tom, daughter Pandora,
step-daughter Candy and four grandchildren. 


* LAST DRIFTER DIES
BILL PINKNEY, the last original member of THE DRIFTERS, has been found dead in
a Florida hotel room. He was 81.
  The South Carolina-born singer died at his room at the Hilton Daytona Beach
Oceanfront Resort in Daytona Beach on Wednesday , where he was
scheduled to take part in U.S. Independence Day celebrations.
  Daytona Beach Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said Pinkney's death was not
being treated as suspicious.
  Before turning to music, Pinkney played ball for the New York Blue Sox
Baseball Team and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
  Following the war, Pinkney met the rest of the original Drifters in gospel
choirs and in 1953 starting recording albums as a group.
  Pinkney quit the group in 1958 following a salary dispute and formed another
group called The Flyers.
  A year later, Pinkney reunited with some of his former bandmates and began
touring as The Original Drifters.
  During his long career, Pinkney has been honoured with the Rhythm and Blues
Foundation Pioneer Award and has been inducted into the Vocal Hall Of Fame.
  Pinkney will be buried in his home state of South Carolina.



* BRAZIL LIVE EARTH CANCELLED
The Rio de Janeiro leg of LIVE EARTH has been cancelled by a Brazilian judge
because police can't guarantee the safety of the 3 to 4 million fans expected
to attend.
  The concert was due to take place on the city's Copacabana Beach on Saturday
, as part of a series of extravaganzas taking place in seven different
continents.
  Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray and Pharrell WIlliams were due to headline the gig
in Rio.
  Organisers of the only free Live Earth show have launched an appeal to
overturn the decision. 


* DIDDY SLAMS LOVE SPLIT REPORTS
Hip-hop mogul SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS has slammed reports he has split from his
long-term love, KIM PORTER.
  The couple originally dated from 1994 to 1999, before rekindling their
relationship in 2003, and have three children together - Christian, 10, and
twins D'Lila and Jessie, seven months.
  Porter is alleged to have moved out of Combs' New York City apartment, with
plans to make a home in Beverly Hills, California with her kids, where she has
just bought a house.
  Speaking to the New York Post, a source says, "Kim is in Louisiana filming a
movie right now, and when it's done she's moving to L.A. She is focusing on her
career as a model and actress and raising her children. They are the best of
friends, but they just can't be together right now."
  Mystery has always surrounded the pair's relationship, with Combs linked to a
number of women throughout the pair's time together.
  Earlier this week , Combs was linked to British actress Sienna
Miller, and has previously claimed he "still loved" Porter despite dating
Jennifer Lopez for two years from 1999.
  However a spokesperson for Combs has denied the split, saying, "There is no
truth to this." 


* JACKSON TO BUY MARYLAND HOLIDAY HOME
MICHAEL JACKSON is house-hunting for a holiday home on Maryland's Eastern
Shore.
  The Thriller singer already has a rented home in Las Vegas and still owns his
abandoned Neverland Ranch in California, despite false rumours he is selling
the huge estate.
  Jackson's spokeswoman Raymone Bain has confirmed reports the pop star had
been spotted looking at waterfront mansions in Maryland last month .
  Bain said Jackson spent "about 24 hours" on the peninsula, but has yet to
make a purchase.
  Bain told the Washington Post that Jackson wants an East Coast base because
"the majority of his advisers and attorneys are on the East Coast. He's always
admired the properties on the East Coast because they have a lot of land.
Neverland has 3,000 acres - he likes privacy. You can't find as many properties
like that on the West Coast." 


* TIMBERLAKE TO GUEST STAR AT LONDON LIVE EARTH
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is in talks to make a guest appearance with TIMBALAND and
DURAN DURAN at Saturday's  Live Earth gig in London, according to
reports.
  The singer is due to perform in the capital's The O2 on Saturday evening as
part of his FutureSex/LoveSounds tour, but arrangements are allegedly being
made for the star to perform on stage at London's Wembley Stadium in the
afternoon.
  A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "Justin and Timbaland have been
rehearsing.
  "They have something special up their sleeve for fans at Wembley. They are
juggling the schedules to make it happen."
  However, a spokesperson for the star denied he was being lined up to perform
at the global extravaganza. 


* JAZZ MUSICIAN FRIGO DEAD AT 90
Jazz musician JOHNNY FRIGO has died after a long battle with cancer. He was
90.
  The violinist and bassist died at a Chicago, Illinois hospital on Wednesday
.
  Frigo spent his early career playing bass with the U.S. Coast Guard band at
New York/New Jersey's Ellis Island during World War II, and toured with
clarinettist Jimmy Dorsey. He wrote jazz standard Detour Ahead, which was later
recorded by Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, and was in his late 60s, when he
took up the violin.
  His son says, "Nobody played violin like him. Chicago's a poorer place
without him."
  He is survived by his wife Brittney Brown, son Rick and younger sister Aurora
Bray. 


* WINEHOUSE'S NO-SHOW INFURIATES FANS
British singer AMY WINEHOUSE has infuriated her fans after cancelling a concert
at the last minute.
  The Rehab star was set to play at the Aintree Pavillion in Liverpool on
Wednesday , but pulled out of the gig five minutes before the doors
opened, citing "exhaustion".
  Her spokesman says, "She's played non-stop for six months and is tired."
  The gig has now been rescheduled for later this month .



* BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY POSTPONE TOUR
Rap group BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY has postponed their upcoming European tour,
citing "reasons beyond their control".
  The Crossroads four-piece has cancelled the summer dates and rescheduled the
gigs for October .
  The group's touring agent Jamie Adler says, "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are going
to reschedule the whole European tour in October, with many more dates to be
announced." 


* STEWART TURNS TALENT SPOTTER
EURYTHMICS legend DAVE STEWART is following in the footsteps of music mogul
SIMON COWELL by fronting a competition to find a new pop star.
  The British musician is looking for an undiscovered talent to perform one of
the Eurythmics' biggest hits, There Must Be An Angel, with him at a special
London gig later this month  before recording it together in Los
Angeles.
  However, Stewart insists his methods will differ slightly from the
acid-tongued American Idol judge and there'll be no public shaming of losers.
  He says of the internet contest, "I decided to put the song's backing track
on my website, so people could sing along to it and post their videos on my
site. Visitors can vote on the ones they like and whittle it down.
  "Then I can choose someone to sing it with me at the closing of the Tower of
London Festival. After that, I'll record them and they can do what they want
with it. A record label may put it out.
  "It's different to those talent things on TV, where they have to queue, do
auditions, get shouted at and, if they win, end up with this 'career in a
box'.
  "With this, they're in their bedroom, singing, and you can see their world.
And they can just go from that to, 'Well done, you've won' - without any of the
humiliation."
  Stewart and Annie Lennox scored a U.K. number one with There Must Be An Angel
in 1985. 


* COMBS COMEBACK MARRED BY UNKNOWN SINGER
Hip-hop mogul SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS' return to the U.K. charts with 1997 hit
MISSING YOU is in jeopardy - thanks to a little-known singer.
  Combs' song was originally released 10 years ago as a tribute to his murdered
rapper pal Notorious B.I.G., and has enjoyed a resurgence in sales after it was
performed by the star at last Sunday's  Concert For Diana.
  But a mix-up with the single's barcode means the actual number of sales has
not been accurately recorded - as it shares a barcode with a flopped release by
23-year-old Londoner Tyler James.
  Sales of Missing You have not been counted as a result. 


* FASCINATING FACT:
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS frontman CARL BARAT is set to perform at his mother
CHRISSIE's wedding on Sunday  in Hampshire, England. 


* BENOIT'S MOTHER BLAMES FEDERAL AGENTS FOR DEATH
LATEST: The mother of late wrestler CHRIS BENOIT has blamed U.S. federal agents
for her son's death.
  The World Wrestling Entertainment star asphyxiated his wife Nancy and son
Daniel on 22 and 23 June  respectively, before hanging himself on 24 June
at their Atlanta, Georgia home.
  Last month  the Drug Enforcement Administration admitted Benoit was
under investigation for buying large quantities of steroids, but Margaret
Benoit insists agents should have investigated the matter more rigorously.
  Large quantities of anabolic steroids were found at Benoit's home by police
after the killings, and Margaret believes if authorities had acted more
quickly, the deaths could have been prevented.
  She says, "We would certainly hope so. We just don't know. We're dealing with
so many things. It's incredible." 


* AFFLECK AND DAMON TO WRITE AGAIN
Hollywood pals BEN AFFLECK and MATT DAMON are writing their first screenplay
together since 1997 hit GOOD WILL HUNTING.
  The pair were unknowns when they wrote and starred in the critically lauded
movie, which won them an Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1998.
  Since their success they have mostly gone their separate ways starring in
blockbusters Armageddon and the Bourne movies respectively.
  They are currently enjoying a joint holiday with their families in Hawaii -
but are finally keen to team up again.
  Damon's spokesperson tells the New York Daily News, "That's their plan.
Whether or not they are doing it right now, I don't know." 


* FLINTSTONE COMPOSER SHAEFFER DIES
THE FLINTSTONE composer WILL H. SHAEFFER has died from cancer in a nursing home
in Palm Springs, California at the age of 78.
  Shaeffer is famous for his work on the hit animation as well as I Dream of
Jeannie, The Jetsons, The Tonight Show and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
  He also wrote more than 700 commercials and scooped a Pulitzer Prize for his
concert piece The Sound Of America - for the U.S.' bicentennial celebration in
1976.
  Schaeffer divorced his wife of 20 years in 1984 and leaves no children.



* MINGHELLA TO DIRECT NEW OPERA WITH GOLIJOV
ANTHONY MINGHELLA has joined forces with composer OSVALDO GOLIJOV to direct a
new work commissioned by New York's Metropolitan Opera.
  The filmmaker made his debut with the Metropolitan last year  directing a
critically-acclaimed performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly.
  And Argentine-American Golijov insists he is looking forward to getting
creative with Oscar winner Minghella.
  He says, "I only saw rehearsals of Butterfly, and I love his film work.
  "The great fear when you work for an elephant like the Met, being there for
the first time of course, is whether you can create poetry and emotion. He
achieved that, and that gave me great hope that we can do something and not be
crushed by the machinery."
  But Golijov refused to reveal the subject matter of the work, saying, "It's
so fresh. What happens if we change our minds? What we thought about is pretty
huge. I don't know, because I still haven't written a single note - it might be
one of those pieces that kind of writes itself."
  Work on the opera is set to begin in September . It is hoped the work
will debut in the 2011-2 season. 


* HOPPER SET FOR DOCTOR WHO CAMEO
Hollywood star DENNIS HOPPER has reportedly been lined up to star in the next
series of British sci-fi series DOCTOR WHO.
  The Easy Rider star is alleged to be in talks with the BBC show's bosses to
make a cameo appearance as a villain after they discovered he was a fan of the
cult programme.
  A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "Dennis is a big fan of the show
and bosses are really keen to get him on board.
  "Discussions have been going on for some time but his diary is proving a
nightmare to work around. However, everyone is hopeful they can make something
work."
  On Monday , a guest appearance by Australian pop singer Kylie
Minogue was confirmed. 


* BRITISH BAYWATCH DEFRAUDER FACES JAIL
A British man who falsely claimed to own the rights to hit U.S. TV series
BAYWATCH is facing up to 50 years in jail and a $1 million  fine.
  Fifty-three-year-old David William Port admitted to a court in Kansas City,
Kansas, on Tuesday  he defrauded investors in the U.K. and America out
of $360,000 .
  Port told investors his company, PCG Media, had been in talks with the show's
star David Hasselhoff, had won merchandising rights with Coca Cola and
McDonald's, and were poised to take over the Planet Hollywood chain with their
Baywatch-themed restaurants.
  Port was extradited from the U.K. earlier this year  in order to face the
charges in Kansas City. 


* WATSON: 'I'VE MISSED OUT ON MY TEENS'
HARRY POTTER star EMMA WATSON hates being a celebrity - because it has stopped
her enjoying her teenage years.
  The actress, who has played Hermione Grainger in the boy wizard series since
2001, insists she's missed out on aspects of her childhood and is jealous of
her friends' "crazy" experiences of growing up.
  She says, "One of the things about being a teenager is you just do what you
want, dye your hair funny colours, experiment and do crazy things.
  "I'm not able to do that in quite the same way that my friends are."
  And Watson claims she's not yet a hit with the opposite sex - but is waiting
to be whisked off her feet by any potential boyfriends soon.
  She adds, "I'll just have to wait. Maybe someone will find me."



* BLAIR ENCOURAGED TO PURSUE ACTING CAREER
Former British Prime Minister TONY BLAIR has been urged to forget politics for
good - and take up acting instead.
  THE SIMPSONS writer Al Jean was so impressed by the ex-statesman's guest
performance on the hit animated series, he's confident Hollywood beckons now
Blair has left government.
  Jean says, "Tony Blair should go into acting now.
  "He was great when he did his cameo in The Simpsons. He was so good, we were
able to use his first take because he was so good."
  Blair taped his voiceover in April 2003, at the height of the Iraq war. In
the episode, he meets the Simpsons at London's Heathrow Airport and invites
them for tea at his official residence, No. 10 Downing Street.
  Blair stepped down from his post on 27 June , and was replaced by current
Prime Minister Gordon Brown. 


* THE THINGS THEY SAY:
"That's great and all, but I really am single. Tell them to come and get a
taste of the real deal." HARRY POTTER star DANIEL RADCLIFFE on reports his new
waxwork at London's Madame Tussauds has been kissed by hoards of female fans.


* PAVAROTTI DISPELS 'DYING' RUMOURS
LATEST: Opera sensation LUCIANO PAVAROTTI has hit out at reports he's close to
death, declaring, "I'm doing fine."
  The Italian tenor is battling pancreatic cancer and currently
wheelchair-bound, and earlier this week  his daughter Guiliana
allegedly expressed fears her famous father hasn't got long to live.
  However, Guiliana has since claimed she was misquoted when she revealed
Pavarotti "knows he's going to die soon" to an Italian magazine.
  She says, "I was tricked into saying those things. In reality my father is
very strong and responding well. His humour is upbeat, he is doing
physiotherapy and he is not thinking about dying."
  The 71-year-old singer confirms, "I'm doing fine. I am getting better. What
do you want me to say? That I'm dead? Well I'm not.
  "At the moment I am thinking of the nice fish supper I am going to have
tonight."
  Pavarotti is currently recuperating from surgery to remove a tumour on his
estate near Pesaro, on Italy's Adriatic coast. 


* FEARS FOR WILLIAMS AFTER BIZARRE WEBCAST
Fears are growing for the psychological health of British pop star ROBBIE
WILLIAMS after a bizarre webcast.
  The Angels singer, who has previously spent time in rehab for substance abuse
and depression, has posted a film of himself on the internet in which he
appears dishevelled and confused in a darkened room.
  Apparently explaining the inspiration behind his song Bodies, the 33-year-old
sings tunelessly, "God came in the sunshine, he showed me a lifeline. What a
day, Jesus really died for me. Yeah, Jesus really tried for me."
  He continues, "I feel like it's f**king me, love lead off the energy...
Rejection... from my reflection, I want perfection."
  It's not the first time Williams has worried fans with his webcasts - in May
 he posted another blog revealing an obsession with Dean Martin's grave.



* STEWART SLAMS HILTON MEDIA COVERAGE
Musician/producer DAVE STEWART has slammed the current cult of celebrity,
insisting he's sick of stars like PARIS HILTON dominating the news.
  The EURYTHMICS star has two young daughters with photographer wife Anoushka
Fisz and worries they'll grow up influenced by L.A.'s rehab regulars instead of
the example of true role models.
  Blasting the media hype surrounding Hilton's recent stint in jail, he says,
"She should have just gone to prison and that would be the end of it. But we
hear more about her than we ever did about Nelson Mandela, for heaven's sake!
  "He took me to his cell where he was incarcerated for 28 years - an
incredible man whose release was far less talked about than Paris'."



* ROTTEN'S DRUGS RANT
Former hellraiser JOHN LYDON has begged his rock colleagues to stop glamorising
drugs, recalling how they destroyed his SEX PISTOLS bandmate SID VICIOUS in
1979.
  Lydon - better known as Johnny Rotten - is saddened music stars continue to
advocate illegal substances nearly 30 years after Vicious died of an overdose
aged just 21.
  He says, "For him it was a fantastically decadent world that he assumed
carried applause with it. And he was horribly rewarded because people would
think he was special as he was so off his tree.
  "But deep down, poor old Sid knew he was not special. Heroin was a symbol of
deeper pain for him."
  He adds, "I despise . I loathe the idea that there might be some false
sense of chemical security.
  "Heroin eliminates self-hatred, but it also makes you invulnerable to all
that is good." 


* GROHL GRIEVES TWICE FOR COBAIN
Rocker DAVE GROHL mourned his NIRVANA bandmate KURT COBAIN twice after
mistakenly being told he had died in an earlier overdose episode.
  Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle, Washington in April 1994. His
death was ruled a suicide by self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head.
  However, weeks earlier his bandmate Grohl was told the same distressing news
- although this time Cobain was said to have overdosed on drugs in Rome,
Italy.
  Grohl recalls, "Someone told me he'd died. Then someone called back and said,
'No, wait, he's not dead.'" 


* ALLEN'S RED CARPET U-TURN
Pop star LILY ALLEN surprised fans on Tuesday  when she appeared at
the London premiere of the new HARRY POTTER movie - just days after claiming
she deliberately shunned red carpet events.
  The Smile singer vowed on her MySpace page earlier this month , "I
don't go to film premieres. I don't go... to paparazzi hotspots, so please
leave me alone."
  However, the singer joined the film's stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emily Watson
at the glitzy event and after-party on Tuesday despite her internet moan.



* PUSSYCAT DOLL LAMENTS MAN TROUBLE
THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS siren NICOLE SCHERZINGER is frustrated her celebrity status
is frightening away potential suitors.
  The sexy pop star insists fame, coupled with confidence, is a deterrent to
the opposite sex.
  She says, "Guys are usually frightened of me so I don't get hit on a lot.
  "I think as a female, if you carry yourself in a certain way, you don't get
that. If you show that you are no-nonsense and mean business, guys are less
likely to bother with you." 


* THE THINGS THEY SAY:
"I'll go on a bus and people will look at me a bit weird, you know, 'What is he
doing on a bus?' And then they go, 'Well he's on a bus', and I go, 'I'm on a
bus.'" Multi-millionaire singer SIR PAUL McCARTNEY keeps it real on public
transport. 


* FASCINATING FACT:
PAUL WELLER and former BLUR guitarist GRAHAM COXON have enlisted the help of
ex-STONE ROSES bassist MANI and OASIS drummer ZAK STARKEY to perform tracks
from their new special edition single on a British TV chat show. The supergroup
will play on FRIDAY NIGHT WITH JONATHAN ROSS later this week .



* THE THINGS THEY SAY:
"Of course he f**king would. Because we are f**king brilliant." Modest
RAZORLIGHT frontman JOHNNY BORRELL is confident JOHN LENNON would have loved
his music. 


* LOHAN PROMISES QUIETER LIFE
Troubled actress LINDSAY LOHAN has promised fans her new boyfriend and a move
back home will keep her out of rehab.
  The Mean Girls star checked into rehab facility Promises in May  after
being charged with driving under the influence following a Beverly Hills,
California car smash.
  However, she's adamant that when her stint at the clinic comes to an end both
her family and partner, British reality TV star Calum Best, will help her stay
out of trouble.
  She says, "I have a boyfriend now and pretty soon I'll be going home to L.A.,
so everything will become much calmer."
  Lohan celebrated her 21st birthday on Monday  with Best and her
close family and friends. 


* GIVENCHY: 'FASHION IS OVER'
Fashion giant HUBERT DE GIVENCHY has launched an astonishing attack on his
design successors, declaring the industry "is over".
  The retired catwalk genius, who has clothed some of the world's most
glamorous stars including Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall and Jackie Kennedy,
confesses he's disillusioned with current design efforts.
  The 80-year-old says, "Fashion is over.
  "I was lucky enough to have worked when there were truly great couturiers.
Dresses were meant to make women beautiful.
  "Now there are bags and shoes that are more and more ugly. That's all... How
many bags can people buy?
  "If, at Givenchy, the designers had been told to look into the archives,
which are formidable - there are dresses for Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy.
But when the management tells a designer nothing, he wants to try to show his
talent. He thinks he's going to become a great couturier and he ends up doing
junk."
  Since retiring in 1995, Givenchy's heirs have included John Galliano,
Alexander McQueen and Julien Macdonald. Italian Riccardo Tisci took over in
2005. 


* MORE EVIDENCE OF MOSS/DOHERTY SPLIT
LATEST: News that supermodel KATE MOSS pulled out of a Paris fashion show at
the last minute on Monday  has fuelled speculation she's ditched her
on/off boyfriend PETE DOHERTY.
  The catwalk beauty was scheduled to appear at designer John Galliano's
fashion extravaganza for the Dior Haute Couture label held at the Palace of
Versailles, joining supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Helena
Christensen.
  Her cancellation came after a weekend  of reported rows with
troubled rocker Doherty, after he allegedly cheated on her with a mystery
brunette.
  Today's British tabloids carry pictures of the Babyshambles singer loading a
removal van with his possessions from Moss' London home. She has reportedly
thrown him out the luxury residence and employed new security guards to keep
him away. 


* MOORE DEFENDS SICKO DISINTEREST
Controversial filmmaker MICHAEL MOORE has defended his new documentary SICKO
from claims foreign distributors aren't interested.
  The movie, which takes aim at America's healthcare system, has so far failed
to attract bids in the U.K. Industry insiders suggest poor box office takings
and mixed reviews in the U.S. could be to blame.
  However, Moore insists he's not worried by Britain's apparent apathy,
declaring it's still too early to write off his film completely.
  A spokesman says, "Sometimes these things can take a little time. All I can
say is watch this space."
  Sicko has already been snapped up in many other European countries and
non-English-speaking nations, including Japan. 


* JONES NURSES DANCE INJURY
Actress/singer GRACE JONES is nursing a broken arm after an accident with her
dance partner.
  The former Bond girl was showing off her moves at last month's 
Meltdown festival at London's Royal Festival Hall when calamity struck.
  She explains, "Goran  and I were dancing this fantastic tango
to Japanese jazz when he sat on my arm."
  Jones sported a pink plaster cast on her injury watching matches at the
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships on Tuesday . 


* CUMMING CALLS FOR GREATER POLITICAL ACTIVISM
Scottish actor ALAN CUMMING is encouraging people to take more interest in the
world around them.
  The outspoken X-Men star is disgusted by the prevalence of political apathy,
and urges his fans to stand up and be counted in global affairs.
  The gay actor says, "Why aren't we demonstrating and protesting any more?
  "In America I am shocked about how apathetic people are about politics. And I
hate, hate, hate it when famous people say they're not political, because
everyone is political. What they're really saying is that they're stupid."



* BARTON BEGS FOR POOCH PART
Actress MISCHA BARTON is petitioning to appear on a U.K. celebrity pet training
programme.
  The former The O.C. star, who has two canine companions of her own, is hooked
on The Underdog Show, which pairs homeless dogs with showbiz trainers.
  The 21-year-old says, "I'm obsessed with .
  "They give Battersea  dogs to celebrities who
train their dogs to do tricks. I would love to be on it."