XPOSED CELEB GOSSIPS

Emma Bunton announces she's engaged live during Dancing On Ice - and shows off massive rock

2011-01-24T05:19:00.000-08:00

Emma Bunton announced her engagement to long-term partner Jade Jones live on Dancing On Ice last night - to the delight of her co-stars.

The former Spice Girl, 35, made the revelation to her colleagues and fellow judges during a commercial break - and brandished a huge diamond ring to the cameras and viewers at home when the show returned.

Posting on her Twitter during the break, as well as putting up a picture of herself sporting her rock, she wrote: 'Yahooooo I'm Engaged! Love you Jade! I'm a very happy lady!!'

Jade proposed to the star on Friday night as they celebrated her 35th birthday.

Afterwards, Emma Tweeted: 'I had the best birthday ever!'

Emma has been with the former Damage boyband-star-turned-chef, 31, for 11 years.

The former Spice Girl and judge on the show announced in November that she was pregnant with their second child.

They are expecting a sibling next spring for their three-year-old son Beau.

Dancing On Ice host Phillip Schofield made the announcement live on the show, saying: 'Breaking news! Emma has just announced her engagement! Just during the break then.'

Co-host Holly Willoughby - who is also pregnant with her second child chipped in: 'You've got a baby on the way and now a fiancée!'

An absolutely beaming Emma then replied - as she was almost drowned out by the cheers and applause from the audience: 'I know! I'm a very very happy lady. It's amazing! Thanks you so much.'

The star was wearing a beautiful black lace maternity 'Flutter' dress from Tiffany Rose, which retails for £139.

It's one of Emma's favourite labels for mothers-to-be, and she's not alone - the label has also been seen on blooming yummy mummies Myleene Klass, Charlotte Church and Natasha Kaplinsky.

Davinia McCall was one of the first of Emma's friend to congratulate her after the first part of the Dancing On Ice live show, Tweeting to her: 'OMG r u engaged??? Well done !!!!! So happy for u both!'

Emma replied: 'Yes! Ahhhhhhh so happy!'

Bunton and Jones live together in Hertfordshire and only last year, the former Spice Girl had insisted that they were in no rush to wed.

She told the Mail: 'It's not on the agenda; we don't even talk about it. We've been together for ten years and we're so close - we share the childcare rather than have a nanny so we're often together 24/7.

'I can honestly say that we're really happy, so we don't feel the need to formalise it.'

Just a few months after giving birth to Beau, Bunton went on tour with the Spice Girls, even bringing the tot on stage during one of their New York concerts.

Britney Spears looks bloated and unkempt as she makes a restroom stop at McDonalds

2011-01-18T08:38:00.001-08:00

Her appearance seems to go from neat and clean to unkempt and dishevelled on a daily basis.

And while, for once, her hair extensions were not on show, Britney Spears still managed to messy once again as she made a brief stop at a local McDonalds yesterday.

The singer was accompanied by boyfriend Jason Trawick and her sons Sean Preston, five, and Jayden James, four.

Wearing a tight white ruffled shirt and blue jeans, Britney looked bloated and tired as she and her children nipped inside to use the restroom.

The Toxic star has been busy in the dance studio getting ready to shoot the music video for new single Don't Hold It Against Me, which was released last week.

The song shot to the top of the iTunes chart and has received compliments from Miley Cyrus as well as Kanye West who made a joke post about it on Twitter.

He said: 'I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you be #1, but me and Jay-Z single is one of the best songs of all time! LOL.'

The tweet poked fun at his now infamous interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2009 VMAs.

But the comment did not go down well with Britney's camp, who responded by posting a message in response on her own Twitter.

'Thanks for "letting" us be #1. Much appreciated.... -Adam Leber, Manager.'

Kanye later deleted it his original comment, perhaps having second thoughts about the whole thing.

He said: 'I thought LOL signified a joke… I didn’t get the 2011 LOL doesn’t signify a joke anymore memo… LOL or something else I guess.'

Hopefully Britney will clean her act up in time for her album launch in March.

It was only last week that Britney gave photographers a clear view of her extensions as she headed to a dance studio in West Hollywood.

t was claimed recently celebrity hairstylist Kim Vo has now taken charge of Britney's hair, and is trying desperately to fix the damage her constant extensions have caused.

A source told gossip website UsMagazine.com: 'He mentioned how often she changes her mind about it.

'This week she wants it to her bottom, and two weeks later they'll probably cut it again. Vo wasn't responsible for her hair over the last few years but is trying to fix it now!'

Source

Beautiful Images Of Shakira

2011-01-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Collection of Shakira

Various And Beautiful Looks Of Angelina Jolie Wow !

2011-01-11T01:46:00.000-08:00

Angelina Jolie

Beautiful Looking Angelina Jolie

2011-01-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

Sexy Shakira Pictures

2011-01-09T04:39:00.000-08:00

Sarah Harding shows off another new hairstyle... but of course she's still bottle blonde

2010-03-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Since joining Girls Aloud Sarah Harding has constantly revamped her hair style.

But there's one thing she never changes - the blonde colour.

True to form, the 28-year-old unveiled a new mid-length style yesterday which once again owed much to the bleach bottle.*Meanwhile Nadine Coyle is preparing to release her first solo tracks, Nicola Roberts has campaigned for safer tanning regulations and launched her own make-up range, and Kimberley Walsh has taken her first steps as a TV presenter.

While the band initially pledged to reform after 12 months, there have been reports that their return to the music scene is being delayed by their solo ambitions.

But with a deal in place to record three more albums, they look sure to be back together before too long.
Sarah teamed the new hairdo with a grown-up outfit of black blazer and trousers. It was almost more suitable for a business meeting than a night on the town.

Like her Girls Aloud bandmates Sarah is currently enjoying a break from the band.

The five have been pursuing solo projects, with varying levels of success.
While X Factor judge Cheryl Cole has scored a number one single and album, Sarah has been working on her acting career, appearing in St Trinian's 2.

She has also fitted in plenty of holiday time with her DJ boyfriend Tom Crane, along with her fair share of partying.

Meanwhile Nadine Coyle is preparing to release her first solo tracks, Nicola Roberts has campaigned for safer tanning regulations and launched her own make-up range, and Kimberley Walsh has taken her first steps as a TV presenter.

While the band initially pledged to reform after 12 months, there have been reports that their return to the music scene is being delayed by their solo ambitions.

But with a deal in place to record three more albums, they look sure to be back together before too long.

First pictures of Beyoncé's most shameful ever gig... for playboy son of Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi

2010-01-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

She's just been named one-half of the richest couple in showbiz... and perhaps here's why.

Beyoncé appears unable to say no to any gig - even when the host is the leering son of a Middle-Eastern despot - if a reputed $2m is on the table.

And so the stunning chart-topper found herself performing hits in a leotard on a tiny stage in tacky surroundings on New Year's Eve in the Caribbean island of St Barts.

In pictures which emerged on the day she and super-producer husband Jay-Z were named the highest-earning entertainers in the world by Forbes magazine, she can be seen strutting and kneeling before Muatsim Gaddafi.

The sparkly leotard slashed to reveal sections of her tummy and cleavage is so very Beyoncé, but it's hard to envisage Hollywood's highest-earner plying her trade in a tawdry setting resembling a cheap lapdancing club.

Certainly Muatsim Gaddafi, the third son of the Libyan leader Muammar-al Gaddafi, couldn't take his eyes off the Crazy In Love star as she gyrated and sang in front of him, his friends and other partygoers, including her businessman rapper husband Jay-Z.

Gaddafi smokes cigarettes, knocks back drinks and laughs with guests including Jon Bon Jovi, Usher and pretty, young female guests.

Beyoncé, 28, is believed to have been paid $2m fee for her performance at his private party at Nikki Beach on the Caribbean island - although that amount was not even required to help them top the Forbes magazine list.

Jay-Z, 40, and Beyoncé picked up an astonishing $110m (£68m) between June 2008 and June 2009.

Beyoncé's huge earnings stem from her I Am...Sasha Fierce world tour from March to June 2009 which raked in $14m, an extra $4m in sponsorship and $21million from album sales alone.

Jay-Z, dubbed the King of Rap, contributed his millions to the partnership through his record label, clothing line and movie production company as well as his music - he headlined Glastonbury - and also signed a $150million ten-year, three-album deal with live events company Live Nation.
A-listers Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart were way back in second spot with £42m and Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie only third with £33m. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith were fourth with £29m and David and Victoria Beckham fifth with £28.2m.

Victoria and David Beckham also made the top five having earned $46 million between June 2008 and June 2009. The vast majority of that comes from David Beckham, who plays for the Major Soccer League's Los Angeles Galaxy.

While many fans will find the sight of the star performing at such a sleazy gig offensive, they will be doubly so for relatives of Lockerbie bomb victims.

In 2003, Colonel Gaddafi finally admitted Libya was responsible for bringing down the Pan Am Flight 103 en route to New York in 1988, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 people on the ground.
Gaddafi gave a hero's welcome to the only man convicted in connection with the incident, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, when he was released from a Scottish jail last August on compassionate grounds when a Libyan doctor provided evidence that he was dying.

Gaddafi has ruled Libya since 1969 when, as a 27-year-old military officer, he staged a bloodless coup d'etat against King Idris I.

Muatsim is seen as a possible successor to his father as Libya's next leader.

He was once a Lieutenant Colonel in the Libyan Army but fled to Egypt after allegedly masterminding an Egyptian backed coup attempt against his father.
Gaddafi forgave him and he returned to Libya where he now holds the post of national security adviser and heads his own unit within the army.

Another of his sons, nicknamed Hannibal, was involved in an incident at Claridge's Hotel in London on Christmas Day when police were called to his £4,000-a-night suite.

Three of security guards were arrested and his wife, Aline Skaf, was taken to hospital with a broken nose. She later claimed that her injuries were the result of an accidental fall.

However, Hannibal has previous for violence against women. In 2005, he was arrested in a Paris hotel for punching a woman and was given a four-month suspended sentence and a £350 fine for assault and in 2008, he was held in police custody in Switzerland for two days for allegedly beating up his servants.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have also been among U.S. President Barack Obama's biggest celebrity supporters and their willingness to be linked to the Gaddafi clan after the Libyan leaders long hostility to the U.S. will come as a surprise in America.

A spokesman for Beyoncé has so far refused to comment on either the New Year's Eve bash or the couple's relationship with Mr Gaddafi.

The Avatar effect: Movie-goers feel depressed and even suicidal at not being able to visit utopian alien planet

2010-01-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

A utopian planet inhabited by blue aliens is the ideal setting for a bit of cinematic escapism.

But the world of the sci-fi epic Avatar is so perfect the line between fact and fiction has become somewhat blurred.

Movie-goers have admitted being plagued by depression and suicidal thoughts at not being able to visit the planet Pandora.

Set in the future when Earth's resources have been depleted, director James Cameron's film tells the story of a corporation trying to mine a rare mineral.

The humans clash with the natives - a peace-loving race of 7ft tall, blue-skinned creatures called the Na'vi, who exist in perfect harmony with nature.

Fans have flooded the internet with their confused feelings. On the site Avatar Forums, the topic 'Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible' has more than 1,000 posts.

In a similar forum, one user wrote: 'When I woke up this morning after watching Avatar for the first time yesterday, the world seemed grey. It just seems so meaningless.

'I still don't really see any reason to keep doing things at all. I live in a dying world.'

On another site, one fan was even more affected, admitting: 'I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora.'

On the Avatar site Naviblue, a fan calling himself Jorba has even asked others to join him in starting a real Na'vi tribe.

The blockbuster movie - which has already taken more than $1billion at the box office - tells the story of a disabled marine sent on a mission to a planet called Pandora, home to a race of giant blue aliens.

Humans are intent on exploiting the planet for its resources but clash with the native Na'vi, who inhabit their world in perfect harmony with nature.

This fantasy world, with its weird and wonderful plant and animal life, is brought to life using stunning special effects.

The Consumer Electronics Show, which ended in Las Vegas on Sunday, saw the advent of 3D televisions making most of the news.

Many commentators believe that 2010 is the breakthrough year for the technology helped by 3D movies such as Avatar.

DEALING WITH THE AVATAR BLUES

On the official Avatar website, David Scott Jaggers (from Texas) posted

'I can totally relate [to people feeling depressed about having to leave the world of Pandora]. I think most us can here.

'For me, getting to talk to you guys online allows me to feel closer to the movie, or maybe closer to you guys because we can share our feeling and thoughts and friendships.

So many things from the movie, like for example the idea of brotherhood we can bring to this very real world of ours.'

But on the www.halflife2.net forum others begged to differ

XCELLERATE wrote: 'People just want whatever they don't have. If we had three moons people might see a movie with just one moon and go, 'wow I like that a lot more, it so much simpler'.

TARKUS added: 'These people think they're 'cool' by thinking 'differently' from others.

'They choose an intangible objective (such as living in the avatar's world) so that they can live with the comfort of knowing that they will never get it, because it's actually scary to live without things like internet, and packed meat, and toilets.

'They're all losers and posers if you ask me'

The stunning beauty of the film as well as the view of corporations seems to have hit a nerve with audiences.

The incredible visual realism of the film could mean viewers become particularly attached.

Dr. Stephan Quentzel, psychiatrist and Medical Director for the Louis Armstrong Centre for Music and Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York told CNN: 'Virtual life is not real life and it never will be, but this is the pinnacle of what we can build in a virtual presentation so far.

'It has taken the best of our technology to create this virtual world and real life will never be as utopian as it seems onscreen. It makes real life seem more imperfect.'

But not everyone viewing the film has been hit by the 'Avatar Blues', as a small but vocal group have alleged it contains racist themes - the white hero once again saving the primitive natives.

Since the film opened three weeks ago, hundreds of blog posts, newspaper articles, tweets and YouTube videos have said things such as the film is 'a fantasy about race told from the point of view of white people' and that it reinforces 'the white Messiah fable'."

The film's writer and director, James Cameron, says the real theme is about respecting others' differences.

AND THE FAN WHO WANTS TO TAKE HIS ENTHUSIASM A STEP FURTHER ...

Hello all. Would anyone of you be interested in forming an actual Na'vi Tribe?

I would like for it to actually be a physical organisation with live people, and a Tribal Council. For it to start, you have to be physically located in the Gulf Coast region of the United States.

You will need to be in Pensacola, Florida to become a citizen of the tribe. Here is the detail: You must remember that we are trying to set up an actual tribe. This is not an Avatar Fan Club (even though you can start one after our tribe is established)!

The goal of the tribe is to form a new ethnicity that anyone can be a part of, irrespective of politics, corruption and other issues. It is not a role playing group.
After all, the many Native American tribes and even countries such as Kosovo had to start somewhere.

Adding to the racial dynamic is that the main Na'vi characters are played by actors of colour, led by a Dominican, Zoe Saldana, as the princess.

The film also is an obvious metaphor for how European settlers in America wiped out the Indians.

David Brooks, a columnist writing in the New York Times said: 'Avatar is a racial fantasy par excellence ... It rests on the stereotype that white people are rationalist and technocratic while colonial victims are spiritual and athletic.

'It rests on the assumption that non-white need the White Messiah to lead their crusades.

'It rests on the assumption that illiteracy is a path to grace.'

Robinne Lee, an actress in such recent films as 'Seven Pounds' said that 'Avatar' was 'beautiful' and that she understood the economic logic of casting a white lead if most of the audience is white.

But she said the film, which so far has the second-highest worldwide box-office gross ever, still reminded her of Hollywood's Pocahontas story - 'the Indian woman leads the white man into the wilderness, and he learns the way of the people and becomes the saviour'.

'It's really upsetting in many ways,' said Ms Lee, who is black with Jamaican and Chinese ancestry. 'It would be nice if we could save ourselves.'

Although the "Avatar" debate springs from Hollywood's historical difficulties with race, Will Smith recently saved the planet in I Am Legend," and Denzel Washington appears ready to do the same in the forthcoming Book of Eli.

'Can't people just enjoy movies any more?' a person named Michelle posted on the website for Essence, the magazine for black women.

Black film professor and author Donald Bogle said he can understand why people would be troubled by 'Avatar', but stopped short of calling the movie racist.

'It's a film with still a certain kind of distortion,' he said.

'It's a movie that hasn't yet freed itself of old Hollywood traditions, old formulas.'

Michael Jackson WAS murdered: Death certificate amended by coroner after police investigation

2010-01-10T16:21:00.000-08:00

Michael Jackson’s death has been officially ruled as murder, it was revealed today.

The cause of death on the 50-year-old’s death certificate has been amended to 'homicide' after months of speculation.

According to the document the King of Pop died from ‘acute Propofol intoxication’ due to an ‘intravenous injection from another’.

On the original certificate issued on July 7 deputy coroner Cheryl MacWillie refused to give a cause of death.

However after further investigations, the certificate was amended and re-released in August by medical examiner Christopher Thomas. It now states the cause of death on 25th June 2009 as 'homicide'.

A source said that the Jackson family are 'keeping faith with the police', adding: 'We still feel that there is more than one person responsible for Michael's tragic death.

'Joe won't give up on getting justice for his son and a lawuit is his focus.'

The news comes after it emerged that the singer’s doctor Conrad Murray is expected to be charged with manslaughter.

Dr Murray could be prosecuted for 'gross negligence' for his treatment of the pop star during his last hours, police sources said.

Murray, a cardiologist, was with the star at his rented Los Angeles mansion in June and tried to revive him when he was found unconscious.

Murray already has a Houston law firm building his defence. Police affidavits say he admitted loading up Jackson with Propofol and other drugs in the hours before his death.

Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman in Houston for Murray and his lawyer, Edward Chernoff, said Friday the doctor had no comment and reiterated that Murray neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed Michael Jackson.

Jackson died while under Murray's care as the singer prepared for an ambitious concert schedule.

The district attorney's office is waiting for Los Angeles police to turn over the case before presenting it to a grand jury, the law enforcement source said.

A spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, however, denied that any decisions have been made.

'We have been working closely with the Los Angeles police during the pendency of this investigation,' spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.

'There is no case before us at present and no final decision has been made.'

To prove a charge of involuntary manslaughter, authorities must show there was a reckless action that created a risk of death or great bodily injury.

If a doctor is aware of the risk, there might also be an issue of whether the patient knows that risk and decided to take it.

A large number of witnesses have been interviewed by police, including those who were present during Jackson's last days and those who worked with him in preparation for his comeback concert, 'This Is It'.

Authorities have also lined up medical expert witnesses who will testify about the normal standard of care in a situation such as Jackson's and will give opinions on why Murray's actions constituted gross negligence, the source said.

The police investigation was substantially completed by the end of December, the source said.

Katie Price faces tough custody battle with Peter Andre after exposing her children to drunk and rowdy guests at her New Year's Eve party

2010-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

Katie Price really is her own worst enemy sometimes.

If her current and ex-boyfriend brawling at her New Year's Eve party wasn't bad enough, she now faces a even more fraught custody battle over her children.

Her ex-husband Peter Andre, with whom she has daughter Princess Tiaamii, two, and four-year-old son Junior, is reportedly furious that they were present at the drunken and violent bash.
The singer has allegedly threatened to consult his lawyers after pictures emerged of the young siblings looking tired and confused at the party at 31-year-old Katie's Surrey mansion.

The snaps showing the children have not been published by any news outlet in order to protect them.

The photographs were posted by some of her guests on their Facebook pages even though Katie made everyone sign a confidentiality agreement not to, as her TV show had the exclusive.
Andre, 36, was already livid over the reports that Reid, 34, and former pop star Dane Bowers got into a fight, which, it has now been reported, was allegedly fuelled over Bowers objecting to the way the children were treated.

Bowers, 30, apparently launched a verbal attack on Katie and Reid, shouting: 'Why are you letting the kids be up well past midnight?'

And as the fight broke out, Tiaamii and Junior were reportedly sleeping nearby.

Andre is also angry after Katie refused to let him take their two children to Australia to see in 2010 with his family.

He has now reportedly launched a legal battle against her in an attempt to stop the children being exposed to Kate’s partying lifestyle, and may seek new advice on custody arrangements.

A source said: 'The children are Pete’s top priority. He’s not happy about what’s happened and will do everything he can to protect them.
'Peter is absolutely furious. He can’t believe anybody would go off like that with kids in the house. Little children should not be exposed to this and they shouldn’t even have been there.

'They should have been enjoying themselves in Australia with their dad. Peter's heartbroken they aren't with him in Australia. It is hard enough for him missing them without having to hear about the violence.

'What sort of a mum stops her children from going on holiday with their dad and then keeps them at a party? It’s not the sort of place little ones should be.'

But a source close to Kati insisted last night that both children were tucked up in bed by the time the fight took place.

They said: 'It was a family party and there were lots of children there with nannies to look after them.

'Princess and Junior enjoyed themselves and were in bed long before the fight so knew nothing about it.'
Tags: Katie Price, Celeb Gossips

Paris Hilton models her latest present from boyfriend Doug Reinhardt... the tackiest snow suit on the slopes

2010-01-05T12:06:00.001-08:00

She's a notorious shopaholic, but if there's one thing Paris Hilton likes more than hitting the stores, it's getting presents.

The socialite received a suitably chavvy white snow suit as a gift from boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, and it seems she couldn't bear to take it off.

As the couple welcomed in the new year on a skiing break in Aspen, Paris was pictured repeatedly wearing the bling suit complete with furry collar.

She posted pictures of herself in it on her Twitter page, posed for photographers and even found time to hit the slopes.

She wrote: 'Getting ready to go skiing. D bought me the cutest white ski suit. Snow Bunny Time! :)'

But it wasn't her only Christmas present. Lucky Paris told her fans that she had received diamond jewellery from her TV star boyfriend.

At home opening Christmas presents from my man,' she Tweeted on Christmas Eve. 'SO happy! He really spoiled me this year and gave me so many incredible presents!

'It's true diamonds are a girl's best friend.'

Paris even found time to take a break from her holiday with Doug and his family to reply to fans concerns that her white fur hood was real fur.
No, don't worry, it is not real fur. Fake fur can look still look cute and real, but it's just synthetic.'

And it wasn't all hard work in the snow.

Paris found the time to relax, Tweeting: 'Finally got back to the hotel. Sitting by the fire drinking a hot chocolate with marshmallows with my favourite person in the world. Loves it.'
Tags: Paris Hilton, Celeb Gossips

Pamela Anderson slips out of her low-cut dress as she toasts New Year

2010-01-02T14:10:00.001-08:00

Pamela Anderson looked as if she having a fine old time at a New Year's Eve party and really letting her hair down.

Unfortunately she also let the top of her dress down and revealed a little too much of her cleavage as she gave the countdown to midnight.

The 42-year-old actress, who recently starred in panto in Wimbledon, London, was hosting the Gridlock event at Paramount Studios in Hollywood when the wardrobe malfunction occurred.
She had come on stage for the final minutes of 2009 to count down to midnight.

But as she took to the stage with a man dressed as a dalmatian and another as a demon as well as American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert, she was thinking more about toasting 2010 than her dress.

The controversial singer, who affronted his audience when he kissed his keyboard player and performed sexy moves with men at the American Music Awards, had to step in to help her.

Earlier on in the evening she had been pulling up her white dress to ensure it retained some element of modesty.
The 27-year-old attempted to pull up her top, but Pamela seemed to think he was trying to get a feel, and at first held his hand away.

Despite the faux pas, the actress, who is due to appear in Celebrity Big Brother on Sunday, looked pretty in her white dress even though she wore a sparkling sequin glove on one hand.

She also covered herself in gold body glitter, while Adam Lambert went for glitter around his eyes and told the crowd he had gone for a 'firework' look.

Tags: Pamela Anderson

'Worst dressed WAG' Yulia Voronin reclaims the limelight in yet another revealing bikini

2010-01-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

She is determined to do anything to get the attention of the camera lens.

And if that means flaunting her curves in yet another bikini on Miami Beach, then WAG Yulia Voronin will do just that.

Yulia, and her Liverpool player husband Andriy, have been relaxing in Florida over the last week, with Yulia showing off a number of somewhat garish swimsuits.
And yesterday was no exception, as she started the New Year seeking out the paparazzi in a bright green two-piece.

On New Year's Eve, she had some stiff swimwear competition from fellow WAG, Christian Vieri's girlfriend Melissa Satta.

While Yulia opted for a more traditional string bikini, Italian model Melissa gave fellow beachgoers an eyeful with her magenta thong bikini.

While Yulia was in the company of her Liverpool player husband Andriy Voronin, Melissa was soaking up the sun with a large group of Italians, including long-term love Christian.

Despite Miami experiencing 27C temperatures on the last day of the year, many sunworshippers stayed out of the unusually chilly water.

But Yulia, 25, decided to brave the cold sea and ventured in for a quick dip, before deciding it was too freezing and ran into the waiting arms of husband Andriy, 30, who had been practising his ball skills on the beach.

However, 23-year-old Melissa decided to stay out of the water and was spotted strolling up and down the beach talking to a female friend.

Over the past few days in Miami, Yulia has been enjoying the attention of the paparazzi in a skimpy red bikini and bright pink velour shorts and t-shirt.

But she found herself upstaged yesterday by Melissa's bottom-baring two-piece, which showed off her many tattoos.
Meanwhile, her boyfriend Vieri, 36, was showing off a slight paunch as he relaxed on the beach in a pair of black swimming trunks.

Vieri retired from football last October after leaving his contract with Italian club Atalanta.

Yulia and her husband have become renowned for their outrageous fashion sense since they moved to the UK in 2007.

The mother-of-two was dubbed 'worst dressed WAG' in 2008 when she stepped out wearing a leopard-print velour tracksuit with PVC stiletto heels, while her husband wore a shiny shellsuit.

She angrily hit back at her critics, pointing out the tracksuit in question was from Dolce & Gabbana and cost £1,000.

She said: 'The British press criticised me for a bad taste in clothes. It's just laughable.
'The Brits are horrendously conservative. Of all the colours, they like only black and grey.

'And I was wearing bright and tight clothes, walking in high heels - and evidently looked more colourful than them.

'We would never be so rude in Ukraine. Leopard-print is not old-fashioned there, it's a classic look.'

Meanwhile, Melissa is more famous in her native Italy for wearing very little clothes.

The US-born brunette is popular pin-up and played a dancing showgirl on satirical Italian TV show Striscia La Notizia (The News Slithers).

She has previously dated AC Milan striker Marco Borriello and Italian model/actor Daniele Interrante before meeting Vieri in 2006.

Sexiest and Most Controversial Celebrity-Britney Spears

2009-12-07T20:44:00.001-08:00

Most Controversial Celebrity-Britney Spears

Beautiful Looks Of Kim Kardashian In A Barbie Image!!

2009-12-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Kim Kardashian in a Barbie image !!

Wow! Amazing Looks Of Gorgeous Britney Spears

2009-12-06T04:24:00.000-08:00

Amazing Britney Spears

Perfect Body Of Cerina Vincent

2009-12-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

Cerina Vincent Perfect Body

Cute Angelina Jolie In Beautiful Looks Wow

2009-12-01T03:31:00.000-08:00

Angelina Jolie what a cute beauty

Changes In faces Of Celebrities Before And After Plastic Surgery

2009-11-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

Celebrities Before And After Plastic Surgery

Jennifer Hawkins In Indian outfits

2009-11-11T22:22:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Hawkins - Gorgeous Indian Luks... Must Watch

X Factor: Thousands of fans complain about the 'Fix Factor' as Simon Cowell saves Jedward

2009-11-10T04:01:00.000-08:00

He once described them as 'vile creatures' and declared he would leave the country if they won The X Factor.

But as Simon Cowell must know better than most, nothing generates ratings like a good controversy. So it is perhaps unsurprising that his U-turn to vote for the Irish twins known as 'Jedward' has been condemned by viewers as a fix.

ITV chiefs last night said they had received an astonishing 3,000 complaints amid suspicions that Cowell knew the public had voted against Lucie Jones when he forced the 'deadlock'.

The broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has also received 50 complaints and could start an investigation.

The controversy came after Cowell had the deciding vote between the talented teenager Lucie and twins John and Edward Grimes on Sunday's show.

Instead of putting Lucie through, he went for the twins - leaving the four judges' votes tied and meaning their fate was in the hands of a record 16.6million viewers.

Despite the twins' questionable talents, the public opted for them - and Lucie was out.

Some claimed he wanted the twins to stay because - despite his criticisms of their act - they have proved strangely endearing to many viewers.

His decision added fuel to speculation that he secretly loves the twins, seeing their potential as a money-making novelty chart act.

There has also been discussion that he is protecting his own acts, all three of which remain in the competition.
Cowell justified his choice by saying he was thinking about which act he would rather see next week.

'I'd probably rather see the boys,' he admitted. This was despite telling them they 'couldn't sing' on Saturday's show, and describing them as 'horrors'.
Cowell last night denied he was aware beforehand that the public vote was in favour of the 18-year-old twins.

'I know there will be lots of people who will criticise the decision to let it to go to deadlock, but I honestly could not have predicted the way public voting had gone - I never get told the voting figures,' he said.
'The twins are good entertainment and there would be criticism either way. I really just couldn't make up my mind, that's why I left it to the public.'

A source close to Cowell said yesterday: 'At the end of the day, all we are doing is entertaining people. Simon actually thought the boys would go.

'Nobody voted for Lucie - and let's not forget that Simon had actually told her she had given her best performance of the series the night before.'
Ofcom will now decide whether to begin an investigation. A spokesman said: 'There are a number of complaints which we are looking into.'

It's the second time in two weeks Ofcom have been contacted over Cowell's decisions.

Last week he was blasted by viewers for forcing the vote to a deadlock after he picked Welsh teen Lloyd Daniels, 16, over 17-year-old Rachel Adedeji.

Cowell said he felt sorry for Lloyd who was suffering from a sore throat - even though the judges had been unanimous in their praise for Londoner Rachel.

Cowell's move prompted protest from thousands of X Factor viewers on websites, including the Daily Mail's.

Lucie's polished performance of One Moment In Time had won her the backing of her mentor Dannii Minogue and fellow judge Cheryl Cole.

Even Jedward's mentor Louis Walsh had told her: 'There's no way you should have been in the bottom two.'

Yesterday Lucie, 18, was philosophical about her exit from the competition.

'At the end of the day, it's not just a singing contest,' she said.

'It's called The X Factor so it is not just about having the best voice or being the best singer.'

She added: 'I just don't feel that me and Simon ever really clicked. Right from the start I don't think we ever really got on in the same way that he did with some of the other acts.'

And she refused to criticise Jedward. 'There was no way John and Edward had the least amount of votes... everyone loves them and I tried to deal with it before Dermot turned to speak to me... but I kinda knew,' she said.

Meanwhile, the Grime twins' mentor, Louis Walsh, said: 'I don't think that Simon got it wrong at all, this is a great television show and great entertainment.'

Lucie's elimination leaves her mentor Dannii with just one act, after losing Rachel Adedeji last week.

Finalists' betting odds

Olly Murs 2/1; Danyl Johnson 7/2; Joe McElderry 7/2; Stacey Solomon 9/2; Jamie Archer 12/1; John and Edward 12/1; Lloyd Daniels 66/1. Source: Ladbrokes

Are Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna an item? Our lips are Strictly sealed...

2009-11-06T20:41:00.001-08:00

We all love the intrigue of a Strictly Come Dancing romance, but one question remains tantalisingly unresolved: are contestant Ali Bastian and her professional dance partner Brian Fortuna just good friends? Or, as co-presenter Bruce Forsyth himself might put it, has the smooth American swept lovely Ali off her feet?

The couple have won ecstatic praise for their ballroom routines. 'It's magic time!' declared judge Bruno Tonioli, awarding them a rare ten out of ten for a performance that even acid-tongued Craig Revel Horwood decreed was 'absolutely thrilling'.

But they've also had to take some merciless ribbing on the show about their alleged relationship; not least from twinkly Brucie. 'There's been a lot of gossip,' he acknowledged archly. 'But Brian told me that he said to Ali when they had breakfast together this morning (pause for dramatic effect) - in the little bistro next to the training room - that they definitely weren't an item.'

So what's the truth? A morning spent with Brian and actress Ali, best known for her role as PC Sally Armstrong in the cop drama The Bill, is illuminating; not least because they are jokey, affectionate, clearly at ease in each other's company and palpably very fond of each other. But, infuriatingly, they both stop short of admitting they're in love.
'I have asked Ali out and, of course, I fancy her,' confesses Brian. 'She's very sweet, one of the best pupils I've had - and, yes, I imagine the cutest - but we're very focused on the dancing.' So has she said, 'Yes', for goodness sake? 'I'm not going to comment,' he prevaricates.

Ali is just as competent at evasion. 'Brian is lovely and I'm enjoying getting to know him,' she says.

'He's exceptional, inspirational and I look forward to our training sessions every day. We've shared a cuddle. We're really close.' But is there a romance? 'Who knows what will happen in the future?' she deftly sidesteps.

Tonight, the show comes from Blackpool, where Come Dancing, the show's precursor, was filmed in the wonderfully ornate Tower Ballroom.

The nine remaining Strictly couples will each take their turn on the historic, sprung wood dancefloor, too.

The four judges: avuncular Len, waspish Bruno, heartless Craig and ungrammatical Alesha - 'You was great!' is a favourite refrain - will deliver their verdicts. And another couple will be summarily ejected.

But will Ali and Brian, invigorated by the resort's saucy reputation for seaside slap-andtickle, get together? 'After I've finished rehearsals on Friday night, I'll be going straight to bed - on my own,' says Brian.

But Ali has promised to take him to the Winter Gardens and for a ride on the Big Dipper. It all sounds promising. 'We might go for a stroll on the beach, perhaps have a donkey ride and share an ice-cream,' she says. 'Are you familiar with the rollercoaster?' she asks Brian. 'Is that an invitation?' he ripostes. 'Yes, he's accepted!' she cries.

When Brian left the US version of the show, Dancing With The Stars, to join the Strictly team in London, it was also the end of his longterm romance with fellow pro dancer, Aubree Marchione. Meanwhile, Ali and her former boyfriend, rugby player Nick Kennedy, split earlier this year - so the path is clear for romance.

Brian, who says he 'came out of the womb dancing', inherits his gift from multi-talented parents.

His dad, Andy, a former US Navy doctor, was an amateur dance champion, and his mum, Sandy, runs a dance school in New Jersey.

Ali, whose gran bequeathed her the gift of nimble feet - she danced competitively - is also drawn to Brian's talent and commitment.

'He's so passionate about what he does; that's an attractive quality,' she says. Is he a strict teacher? 'Of course,' she says. 'We have a tight schedule so we have to be completely focused.'

The judges praised the passion of one of their first dances, a sexy rumba, and she reveals the trick Brian taught her to give authenticity to her fiery routine.

'I practised performing straight into the camera that follows us during rehearsals. It was difficult, writhing sexily into a lens - as an actress I have to ignore it - but it made me feel more confident.'

Brian believes it is almost inevitable that a bond will form between celebrity and professional dance partner. 'You're in such close contact, it's like being stranded on a desert island together,' he says.

Ali and Brian, together with actor Ricky Whittle and his partner Natalie Lowe, are being tipped as likely winners. Neither Brian nor Ali, though, is going to bet on the outcome. 'A dance could cause problems for

Ali; maybe we won't get the public's support,' he says. 'So we'll just take it week by week.'

So far, the judges have been kind. Even when Ali endured 'ten seconds of pure terror' during a jive, when she slipped and missed Brian's hand, Bruno only expressed ' disappointment' while Craig merely remarked that he hadn't enjoyed the performance.

Al ready, Ali is dreading the day when the sequined dresses are dispatched, the fake tan fades and the competition finally comes to an end. 'Strictly is the best thing I've ever done,' she says.

'I absolutely love it. I'm training with one of the best dancers in the world. He's lovely, he makes me laugh and he's a wonderful teacher. When it's all over I definitely want to keep dancing.' And does she hope to retain the same partner? 'Ah,' she smiles. 'We'll just have to wait and see.'

Angelina Jolie dares to display her figure for first time since birth of twins

2009-11-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Angelina Jolie proves she's still one of Hollywood's sexiest women in her latest film, Salt.

The actress peels off to just her lingerie in the upcoming action movie for the first time since since she gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne, now 16 months.

The revealing scenes show Jolie has managed to re-gain her flat stomach after the pregnancy.

Jolie filmed the Salt just six months after giving birth to twins Knox and Vivienne so it's an impressive feat that she managed to get her figure back in time for the sexy scenes.

In the new trailer for the forthcoming film, which was released online this week, Jolie's character is seen in her underwear in a brief shot.

With her head out of camera shot, the 34-year-old walks towards a bed wearing an open dressing gown which reveals her black bra and knickers.

Despite assumptions she may have hired a body double, the lingerie-clad figure is recognisable as Jolie due to her tattoos on her waistline.

The new film stars Jolie as a CIA agent Evelyn Salt who is forced to go on the run after she is accused of being a Russian sleeper spy.

Angelina spent several months filming in New York and Washington D.C. earlier this Spring, meaning she had to leave partner Brad Pitt in charge of their six children, including the then-six-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

The Oscar winner is always very careful not to be photographed in her bikini on holiday and was last seen flaunting her stomach in promotional pictures for Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life six years ago.

But after giving birth via caesarean sections to biological children Shiloh in 2006 and the twins last year, Angelina could have been forgiven if her stomach wasn't quite a taut as it used to be.

When asked for her tips on losing her post-baby weight last year, Angelina admitted breastfeeding and running after her four eldest children had helped her shift the weight.
The new trailer for Salt shows Angelina's character Evelyn fleeing a CIA building after being told by a defector that she is a Russian spy who is plotting to assassinate the U.S. President.

The new trailer for Salt shows Angelina's character Evelyn fleeing a CIA building after being told by a defector that she is a Russian spy who is plotting to assassinate the U.S. President.

Beautiful And Young Angelina Jolie at Age of 15

2009-11-04T03:44:00.000-08:00

Beautiful And Young Angelina Jolie at Age of 15 So pretty Good And Gorgeous

Britney Spears gets all steamed up in new video 3

2009-10-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

There's an old saying 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'... and that certainly appears to be the formula behind Britney Spears' latest video.

The promo to her new single 3, which was premiered online last night, features Britney writhing around in scantily-clad outfits with male dancers in the best way she knows how.

In the sexy new video, Britney purrs 'three is a charm, two is not the same' as she sings about the joy of threesomes.

The song mentions 'Peter, Paul and Mary' - not a homage to the 60's folk group, but a sexual slangword for a threesome.

One of the scenes shows Britney wearing a slashed-to-the-navel leotard getting all hot and bothered in a steam room.

She also wears the same leotard as she joins a flexible group of female dancers doing acrobatics around a pole - leaving Britney wiggling in the middle.
Like many of her recent hits, Britney's vocals are altered with autotune, giving the song a futuristic, contemporary feel.

Her new song 3 will be released in the UK to buy in shops on November 16, ahead of her The Single Collection, set to hit shelves on November 23.
Two weeks ago, the song went straight in at number three in America's Billboard Hot 11 single charts.

Taking to her Twitter micro-blogging site, Britney said: 'I want to thank my fans for making 3 the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.

'I am truly blessed with the greatest fans in the world and I am so happy y'all love it because I do this all for you.'

The song is written by Max Martin - the producer who helped catapult 16-year-old Spears into the world spotlight with Hit Me Baby One More Time 10 years ago.

Greetings from planet celeb! What the stars' postcards home should be saying

2008-12-31T03:43:00.001-08:00

While the rest of us shiver in subzero temperatures, celebrities are living it up in some of the hottest and most luxurious resorts on the planet. To help offset the deep envy we all feel towards them, DAVID THOMAS imagines the postcards they might send home...

Britney Spears performs in just a bra and hotpants on Japanese TV... but she's still doing the same old routine

2008-12-16T23:25:00.000-08:00

Just two weeks after nearly falling out of a plunging black dress at her 27th birthday, Britney Spears is stepping out in another revealing outfit.

The pop star performed her hit Womanizer in a black and gold bra, white top hat and black satin hotpants on a Japanese TV show.

Her choice of outfit was clearly a bid to spice up her repeatedly recycled Womanizer routine, which she has performed identically in four countries.

After performing her usual Womanizer set on Japanese TV show Hey! Hey! Hey! in the same outfit of jacket, hotpants, fishnets and knee-high boots the previous day, Britney realised she wouldn't be able to perform in the same ensemble in the same country.

On rival TV show Best Music Artist on Tuesday, Britney appeared to be miming the lyrics as she strutted up and down the stage in her bra and hotpants.

Joining Britney on stage were her troupe of dancers, dressed in a circus costumes to reflect the title of her new album Circus, which hit No.1 in the U.S. charts last week.

After her set, Britney chatted to the Japanese hosts of the show, with a translator standing close by talking to her in English.

She wished her Japanese fans 'have a happy Christmas', despite a majority of the country being Buddhists or Shintoists.

In recent weeks, Britney has performed an identical routine to Womanizer in France, Germany, the U.S. and on Britain's X Factor.

She was criticised by viewers of The X Factor for her obvious miming after it was revealed her microphone was merely a prop when host Dermot O'Leary had to share his mic with her.

Take That singer Mark Owen, who also performed on The X Factor, said this week he didn't believe Britney should have been allowed to perform, when all the contestants sing live.
He said: 'I think she was ill-advised to appear on The X Factor. They don't have the show in the US, do they? I thought it seemed like she wasn't sure where she was.'

During her whirlwind trip to Japan, Britney has embracing the local culture and enjoyed an evening eating sushi at a traditional Japanese restaurant with her father Jamie Spears, assistant Brett and manager Larry Rudolph.

In regular updates on her blog, Britney enthused about her love for the Asian nation.

She said: 'I love Japan! I think all the tiny cars are so cute.
'I enjoyed a walk in a botanical garden and got to see a Japanese wedding. Then Brett and I went shopping.

'We just visited the oldest Buddhist temple. It was so beautiful.'

Britney has been jet-setting around the globe over the past few weeks to mark her comeback after a rocky two years.

Earlier this year, Britney's father Jamie was granted conservatorship of her multi-million dollar estate after she was hospitalised twice for psychiatric evaluation.

Despite winning an MTV Award in September and getting no.1 hits with her single Womanizer, her recent television performances have prompted speculation she is not quite ready for her comeback.

Katy Perry apologises for Lily Allen 'fat' jibe as she parades around in a plunging gold catsuit

2008-12-10T07:19:00.000-08:00

Katy Perry has called a truce in her simmering feud with fellow pop star Lily Allen.

The I Kissed A Girl singer yesterday apologised to Lily after referring to herself as a 'skinnier version' of the British pop star.

'Yeah, I made a joke about that earlier this year,' Katy, 24, said at the taping of Fuse's The Good, the Bad & the Britney yesterday, which saw her take to the stage in a daring gold sequined catsuit.

'I was just kind of joking and trying to be funny. I didn't mean anything by it. Comedians are not necessarily to be taken super seriously.'

In an interview on Capital FM on Monday, fiery Lily described her meeting with Katy as 'frosty' and also took a swipe at her musical ability.

The 23-year-old said: 'I happen to know for a fact that she was an American version of me.

'She was signed by my label in America as, 'We need to find something controversial and kooky like Lily Allen.'

'And then they found her. I think the lyrics and stuff are a bit crass.

'When I met her I was bit frosty with her because someone asked her to describe herself. She's like, "Aha, I'm like a fatter version of Amy Winehouse and a skinnier version of Lily Allen!". It's like, you're not English and you don't write your own songs, shut up!'

While Lily is clearly not a fan, many others are - last week Katy received her first Grammy award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for I Kissed A Girl.

Dreamgirls Aloud: Cheryl & Co transform themselves into Beyonce-a-likes for their Christmas TV show

2008-12-04T04:05:00.000-08:00

They have transformed themselves from reality show winners into pop icons.

Now Girls Aloud have been given there own one-off show on ITV1 this month and seem to have got in to the seasonal spirit.

Dressed in skin tight, silver fishtail dresses, the group share more than a passing resemblance to a box of Christmas crackers.

The five-piece aped the glamorous style of the cast of 2007 movie musical Dreamgirls, which starred Beyonce Knowles as a Sixties singer in the style of Diana Ross.

A show insider said: 'It seemed fitting to have the girls record this special in the very same studio where all their careers began six years ago on Popstars: The Rivals.'

Entitled, The Girls Aloud Party the production will broadcast on ITV1 on December 13.

Last year, the group featured on a series on ITV2 but executives now feel that they are suitable for the main channel.

This has in part been aided by aided by Cheryl Cole’s success as a judge on The X Factor.

The group, made up of Cole, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts, Sarah Harding, and Kimberley Walsh, will perform all of the biggest hits and news songs from their album.

The programme also features collaborations with the Kaiser Chiefs and James Morrison.

Cilla Black, Paul O’Grady and Julie Goodyear also appear on the programme.
Harding said: '2008 has been a great year for us all and what better way to round it off than with a festive special.

'The show is a true Girls Aloud Christmas party and loads of fun.'

Since finding fame in late 2002 the band have had 19 consecutive top ten hit singles.

Cole’s popularity as a judge on The X Factor has raised questions over the group’s long term future but a national tour is scheduled for next year.

Britney storms the X Factor... but was she miming?

2008-11-30T11:52:00.000-08:00

After four years absence from British television screens Britney Spears made a storming comeback on the X factor last night.

But those fans able to look past the skimpy PVC hotpants and fishnet stockings were left wondering whether the long-awaited performance was all that it seemed.

Indeed some fans were quickly debating on internet forums whether Britney had been miming the words to her new single Womanizer.

The pop princess' energetic dance routine did not seem to interrupt her vocals - which seemed near perfect.

This was despite apparent problems with her microphone, which she touched several times during the three-minute performance.

A spokeswoman for the X Factor production company insisted Britney had been singing, telling MailOnline: 'There were some live vocals, but that's a question for the record company.

ut for those who have watched Britney go through a much-publicised breakdown, then make an astonishing return to form, perhaps it didn't matter.

Louis Walsh certainly wasn't worrying about Britney's vocals.

He was wide eyed as the 27-year-old bounded across the stage to a position next to the judge's table.

As she bounced up and down Louis broke into a large smile, perhaps appreciating the novelty of his front-row view of Britney's scantily clad derrieré.

After her performance a grinning Britney told presenter Dermot that appearing on the X Factor was 'awesome' and 'amazing'.

'I love being here in London,' she gushed.

Unlike guest stars Take That and Mariah Carey, Britney did not mentor the contestants ahead of last night's show.

And when pushed as to whether she had any advice for them she told Dermot: 'Good luck and just keep doing it!'

Emma Watson loses her fashion magic as she steps out in a dowdy cardigan and leather pants

2008-11-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

She's a Vogue covergirl and Chanel muse, but last night fledgling fashionista Emma Watson made a rare style misstep.

The 18-year-old failed to weave her usual magic as she attended the debut of In a Dark Dark House at The Almeida Theatre wearing a dowdy, thrown-together ensemble.

The Harry Potter star, who signed a deal with Kate Moss's modelling agency Storm last summer, looked washed out as she arrived wearing leather pants, an ill-fitting camisole and a slouchy cardigan.

It was a far cry from her usually pitch-perfect fashion choices, which are often both youthful and sophisticated.

Emma was a fixture at both London and Paris Fashion Week this year, and admits she adores that world.

'I've always been really interested in art and fashion.'

Despite her hugely successful acting career and interest from the fashion industry, Emma has pledged to continue her academic career following her current gap year.

After gaining straight As at A-level, she plans to study English literature in the UK or a liberal arts degree in the U.S.

Back on top: Vamped-up Britney wows the crowds at German awards show as she prepares for X Factor performance

2008-11-27T21:35:00.000-08:00

Britney Spears delivered a show-stopping performance at a German awards ceremony tonight as she prepared for her highly-anticipated performance on X Factor.

The pop star showed off her slimmed-down body in hot pants, fishnet tights and a transparent black top at the 2008 Bambi Awards in Offenburg.

Spears – who releases her sixth album Circus next week – showed that she was back to her best as she strutted around seductively on stage and writhed around a large metallic circular cage.

Earlier today the singer’s mother Lynne Spears said that the 26-year-old had finally turned her life around after her much publicised breakdown and was now ready to return to the pop game.

'We’re going to get this done and it’s all going to be good. You just wait and see.' she told Lorraine Kelly on GMTV

She said even now she found it hard to understand the level of her daughter's fame.

'My friends and I, we talk about it and they go, "What is the deal? I mean, what’s so interesting about Britney?" And people that have known us all our lives are mystified – they go, "What is the deal?"'

Her upcoming appearance on X Factor will mark a reunion for Spears and her former choreographer Brian Friedman as well as her first performance on British TV screens in five years.

He said: 'She is such a sweet, endearing person. It will be nice to reconnect.

'Last year, I asked her to come and do X Factor but she was too hectic. This year it's happening. I'm so glad to see her back on track. Her performance is going to be incredible.'

X Factor judge Simon Cowell is looking forward to Spears' performance, having often commented on the singer over the years.

In January this year, when Spears was hospitalised for psychiatric evaluation, he said: 'She's welcome to call me any time.

'I genuinely think that if I sat down with Britney and, No. 1, remind her of all the good things in her life - which are her kids, her money, her success, everything - I'd try to give her a sense of perspective. And then I'd take her out of where she's living at the moment and ask her to go and live with her family - and live normally - for six months.'

Cowell is glad to see Spears - who has two children, Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden
James, 2, with ex-husband Kevin Federline - making a comeback after previously revealing his fears that her career was over following her disastrous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last year.

He said at the time: 'If I had been looking after Britney I’d have taken one look at her in rehearsals and I wouldn’t have allowed her on stage.

'It would have been worth pulling her off the bill - no matter what the cost - to save any chance she had of resurrecting her career. She wasn’t ready for that show in every possible way.

'The problem she has now is that she could have killed her career. It’s difficult to come back from that performance, for a while at least.'

After a difficult few years, during which she went through a divorce and was hospitalised twice for psychiatric evaluation, Spears is now looking better than she has in years.

Since dealing with her problems with the help of her father Jamie and mother Lynne, Spears has been focusing her energies of getting her career back on track.

She picked up three awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in September for her single Piece Of Me, and continued her success at the MTV Europe Music Awards last week with two trophies - even though she was unable to attend the Liverpool ceremony.

Earlier this month, Spears wowed fans when she joined Madonna on stage during the Material Girl's Los Angeles gig.

Her sixth studio album Circus is set for release on December 2 - her 27th birthday.

You Must Love Me: Madonna serenades boyfriend A-Rod as he adoringly watches her perform in concert

2008-11-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

Madonna's rumoured new boyfriend Alex Rodriguez was seated in the front row of the superstar's concert last night as rumours about the pair's relationship continued to grow.

The Material Girl, who divorced husband Guy Ritchie last week, serenaded the New York Yankee baseball star at the Miami, Florida leg of her Sticky & Sweet World Tour.

The 50-year-old singer looked directly at Rodriguez as she sang the ballad You Must Love Me, the Oscar-winning song written especially for her 1996 film version of Evita.

Rodriguez, known as A-Rod by fans, smiled adoringly at the singer as she strutted her stuff on stage at the Dolphin Stadium.

He was seated beside Madonna's manager Guy Oseary and Rod Stewart.

At one point, a hot Madonna leaned forward and accepted a bottle of water from A-Rod.

A fellow concertgoer told U.S. TV channel E! News: 'It was easy for him to hand it off because he was sitting in the front row.

'He was all excited watching her perform.'

Before a performance of her song I'm So Far Away, she told the audience: ''I'm sure you can relate about a long-distance love affair.'

Madonna's gig last night started two hours late and the singer irked some fans when she declined to apologise or even wish them 'Happy Thanksgiving'.

His attendance at the concert came on Thanksgiving Eve, an important night for U.S. citizens, fuelling speculation about the seriousness of Madonna and Rodriguez's relationship.

The sportsman, 33, will spend Thanksgiving in Miami today with his ex-wife Cynthia and their two young daughters Natasha, four, and Ella, 19 months, while Madonna is expected to return to New York City to spend the day with her daughter Lourdes.

Madonna's two sons Rocco and David are currently in London with their father Ritchie.

Rodriguez was pictured spending Tuesday with Cynthia, who he divorced in September after six years of marriage.

The family dined at Houston's Restaurant and the manager said the ex-couple appeared to get on well, despite their acrimonious divorce.

The restaurant manager said: 'He was kissing his daughters and seemed in a great mood. You would never know there was any issue at all between him and Cynthia.'

Cynthia filed for divorce from A-Rod in July, accusing her husband of 'emotionally abandonment'.

The couple's split was made public just days after Rodriguez was romantically linked in the press to the singer.

At the time, Madonna released a statement saying: 'My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce.
'I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us. I brought my kids to a Yankee game. I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex Rodriguez. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study.'

The first stage of Madonna and Ritchie's divorce was finalised last Friday morning at the London High Court before District Judge Reid, with the decree nisi granted a month after the couple confirmed tabloid reports by announcing their split after eight years of marriage.

The singer's recent divorce from Ritchie has fuelled speculation Madonna and Rodriguez will go public as a couple.

Although details of Madonna and Ritchie's settlement will remain private, the Mail recently revealed that Ritchie would be getting a lump sum of just £2million of Madonna's £300million fortune.

It has also emerged he will keep the £3million Punchbowl pub in London's Mayfair and the couple's £7 million Wiltshire estate and will receive a further payment to buy a large London home.

The Mail has also learned that Ritchie has been given a gift of some £4million of artwork in the divorce.

Madonna has now relocated to New York, where she will live with 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, from an earlier relationship with Carlos Leon.

The couple's sons - Rocco, eight, and David, three - will split their time between New York and their father's homes in England.

Speaking for the first time about the break-up this week, Madonna said she was 'grateful' to be immersed in her tour, which keeps her mind off her high-profile marriage collapse.

Jade Jagger's ripped tights, Pixie's furry coat and plenty of cleavage... The best and worst of British fashion's biggest night

2008-11-26T06:04:00.000-08:00

It is known for being a night of glitz and glamour to showcase the best in British haute couture.

But it seemed that some stars struggled with the concept at last night's prestigious British Fashion Awards show.

Considering it was a night to showcase the best of British style genius, there were a few serious fashion faux pas from the celebrities in attendance.

Jade Jagger's black satin outfit accessorised with Chanel style loops of pearls wasn't the best choice, as its flimsy material looked decidedly cheap.

But later the whole look collapsed when she was seen leaving with a huge hole in her fishnet tights.

The daughter of rocker Mick Jagger put on a brave smile as she left the event in her car, with her minidress failing to cover the offending hole.
Model Pixie Geldof clearly took the severe weather warnings to heart, as she stepped out in a huge oversized furry great coat, which had the unfortunate effect of making her look like a cuddly monster.

Teamed with a cropped chainmail top, a pair of glass stripper-style sandals, and high-waisted leggings, the 18-year old's outfit was certainly an outre choice for the glamorous affair.

Girls Aloud stars Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts stepped out looking glamorous at the affair - if a little underdressed considering the plunging temperatures.

Both wearing minidresses, and baring plenty of flesh, cleavage was the order of the day, and even actress Sadie Frost joined in, as she was seen bulging out of her strapless party frock.

Model Erin O'Connor and singer Sophie Ellis Bextor opted for a touch of Topshop and said the flailing economy part-explained their choices.
O'Connor, 30, wore a Stephen Jones hat and Vivienne Westwood gown teamed with a sparkling silver Topshop jacket.

She said: 'I was wearing a black dress and I wanted something that was going to up the ante.

'I always think about finding an item I like rather than something that's by a top designer.
'And I hate to bring up those awful words "credit crunch" but you can't really get away from it. Everyone is looking for items that don't cost as much money but still look great.'

Pregnant Ellis-Bextor, 29, also opted for the high street look in a black Topshop dress which draped over her baby bump.

'I never think too much about what I want to wear. I just throw on something I like,' she said.
'Not everybody can afford designer outfits. Some of the people I say are most stylish are my friends. I like to look at what they're wearing rather than in magazines.'

But there was still plenty of room for the pricier catwalk designs as a host of celebrities posed for photographers at London's Lawrence Hall.

Claudia Schiffer looked stunning in a floor-length green gown with bright red lips, while Yasmin le Bon shone in a burnt orange backless satin dress.

All eyes were on swimmer Sharon Davies who left little to the imagination in a black Herve Leger gown.

The 46-year-old former athlete left her lycra swimsuits at home and showed off her ample cleavage in the figure-hugging dress.

Jade Jagger wore a black satin dress and pearls from her own Jade Jagger collection, while Sadie Frost chose a Ruth Tarvydas dress.

'I'm here to support British fashion. I've got a lot of friends here,' Sadie said.

'I'm here to support everyone really. I'm looking forward to seeing who's won.

'It's a great occasion. It shows off British fashion to the world and celebrates the industry.

Asked how she keeps in shape, the 43-year-old actress said she practises yoga and pilates - as well as the trapeze.

'I've been doing the trapeze for three years now,' she said.

'I go to circus school. I do both static and flying trapeze. It's great fun and it gives you a lot of upper body strength.

'I've always been into performance arts. I've just started letting go of the trainer and flying through the air solo and being caught.

'It's a great way of overcoming your fears.'

Designer Stephen Jones showed he really is a fashion King by sporting a black crown on the red carpet.

Speaking before being honoured with an outstanding achievement award, he laughed: 'What other chance am I going to have to put one on?'

Other stars in attendance included Christian Slater, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Mariella Frostrup, Twiggy and Elton John's partner David Furnish.

My kids have learned the F-word from K-Fed, says Britney as she poses in wholesome cover for Rolling Stone

2008-11-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

Britney Spears appears finally to have put her much-publicised breakdown behind her after landing the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Despite striking a wholesome pose in jeans and T-shirt on the publication, Britney admits her son's language is not so clean-cut.

The singer admits she was horrified to discover Sean Preston, three, has been using the F-word, while two-year-old brother Jayden James likes calling people 'stupid'.
She tells the prestigious magazine: 'Every time they come to visit me, I think about how much they're such special people.

'(But they) are starting to learn words like 'stupid', and Preston says the f-word now sometimes.

'He must get it from his daddy (Kevin Federline). I say it, but not around my kids.'

She also reveals she has started dating again after her controversial relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib earlier this year.

But the chance for romance has been severely limited because she is chaperoned by her assistant Brett and Adam Leber, an associate of her manager Larry Rudolph.

She said: '(One recent date) right when we got there, we just knew it was just bad. He looked like an older version of Harry Potter, but skinnier... So I had to get dessert first.

'And the other date I had, the guy was really, really tall and a lot older.

'We're trying to ask him questions, like, "Ok, you're into martial arts, so what kind of martial arts are you into?" And he was like, "Oh, all kinds." But you know how silly we are, so we were just cracking up.'

Britney's cover shot harks back to her pre-meltdown image as an innocent all-American girl, the photograph cements what has been a remarkable comeback for the troubled Toxic singer.

With a recent number one U.S. single, Womanizer, and new album Circus out next week, Britney looks to have travelled a long way since she removed her hair with electric clippers in full view of the paparazzi in February 2007.

Britney has appeared on the cover of Rolling Stones five times before, her previous appearance being more than five years ago.

Her first appearance on the cover of the magazine in April 1999 caused controversy because she was 17 at the time.

In the photo, taken by David LaChapelle, a teenage Britney poses in her underwear on the phone while clutching a Teletubbies Tinky Winky doll.

The 26-year-old was spotted leaving LAX airport in California yesterday, accompanied by her protective father Jamie, who held a hand over the star's mouth to prevent her from talking to photographers.

Britney was catching a flight to Germany, before she then goes to France and finally England for a promotional tour of her single, Womanizer.

In London, she will make a live appearance on reality show The X Factor on Saturday.

Britney's appearance comes after Mariah Carey and Will Young appeared on recent Saturdays, mentoring the contestants.

The X Factor episode will mark Britney's first UK television performance for five years.

Single Paris Hilton Hits the Party Scene

2008-11-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

Paris Hilton tried her best to put her break-up from Benji Madden behind her by hitting a Los Angeles club on Wednesday (19Nov08) - but quickly left when the apparent heartbreak got too much for her.

The socialite hit L.A.'s Crown bar with pals in a bid to banish her blues just hours after her split from the Good Charlotte rocker was confirmed by her publicist.

And despite the best efforts by her entourage to buck up her spirits - Hilton couldn't face partying and hurried out of the club after just 30 minutes.

A source tells Usweekly.com, "Her friends were trying to talk to her, and it looked like she was making an effort to talk with all of them even though you could tell she didn't feel like partying.

(She was) way more reserved and distracted, like her mind was elsewhere

"She definitely didn't seem like her usual party girl self tonight. (She was) way more reserved and distracted, like her mind was elsewhere. She was trying very hard to appear carefree, but it was clear she didn't want to be there and was waiting for the right moment to make her exit."

Hilton and Madden announced their nine-month relationship had come to an end on Wednesday, when the hotel heiress' spokesperson simply stated the pair will "remain very good friends".

Madonna and Guy strike deal to share custody of the children... but he doesn't get a penny of her £300m fortune

2008-11-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

Madonna and Guy Ritchie have reached agreement on their divorce - with the British film director refusing to take a penny of the pop star’s cash, it has emerged.

An announcement could come by the end of the month, a source close to the negotiations tells London's Evening Standard.

Another report, in The Times, claimed that notice of a decree nisi would be posted in the Registry of the Family Division in London within 24 hours.

Madonna, who attended a charity gala in New York last night looking much younger than her fifty years , will walk away from the eight-year marriage with her fortune, estimated at £300m, intact.

Although Ritchie, himself believed to be worth £30m, was entitled under English divorce law to as much as half of her wealth, sources suggest he has done a 'Piper' - a reference to Billie Piper, the actress who divorced the broadcaster Chris Evans without asking for anything.

The stumbling block in the split had been over where Ritchie and Madonna’s children will now live.

Madonna, 50, wished to take the children back to New York while Ritchie, 40, wanted to keep his sons in London, where they have grown up.

The source said a compromise had now been reached which will see the two boys - Rocco, eight, and three-year-old adopted David - dividing their time between Britain and the US.

Madonna’s daughter Lourdes, by another relationship, will continue to live with her.

Richie, who is currently looking after their sons, took them both to the London set of his film Sherlock Holmes.

The source said: 'It will be all over by the end of the month. The priority for him has always been the children.

'Ritchie has not wanted her money. He has done exactly what Billie Piper did when she divorced Chris Evans. She walked away without any of his money, much to her credit. Guy Ritchie has done the same.'

A second source said: 'Ritchie could have taken her to the cleaners. He is a very honourable man to have walked away.'

Sources said the announcement of the settlement would not include financial details.

The couple only officially announced they were splitting last month after several weeks of speculation.

The speed with which they have come to a deal will come as a surprise because it follows reports that the split was acrimonious and therefore likely to drag on.

The two lawyers acting for the couple - Helen Ward and Fiona Shackleton - are said to have worked around the clock to reach a settlement. Lady Ward, who acted for Ritchie, brought on board leading children’s barrister Stephen Cobb QC to negotiate where the children will reside.

Mrs Shackleton used Nicholas Mostyn QC, an expert in the financial intricacies in divorce cases. Mrs Shackleton and Mr Mostyn represented Sir Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heather Mills.

One source said: 'It’s indicative of Ritchie’s priorities that he brought in Stephen Cobb. You wouldn’t go for Cobb if you were after a huge settlement.'
Madonna isn't letting her tense divorce negotiations slow her down, and last night stepped out looking positively radiant at a charity gala in New York.

The 50-year-old's skin seemed remarkably youthful as she glammed up with the help of lashings of red lipstick.

It was almost enough to distract from her wacky green dress, which more resembled shrubbery than a red carpet party frock.

Angelina Jolie breaks down paying tribute to late mother who inspired her to play latest role

2008-11-18T07:15:00.000-08:00

Angelina Jolie broke down in tears at a London press conference yesterday as she paid tribute to her late mother.

The Oscar-winning actress grew teary-eyed as she recalled how difficult she found it to play a mother in her latest film The Changeling, which was filmed shortly after her mum Marcheline Bertrand died in January 2007.

Fighting back the tears, Angelina said: 'Her name was Marcheline, but we used to call her Marshmallow, as a joke, because she was just the softest, most gentle woman in the world.
'She was really sweet and was never angry - she couldn't swear to save her life. But when it came to her kids, she was really fierce and so this (film) is very much her, her story.

'She was the woman I related to, who had that elegance and strength for knowing what was right.'

Angelina and her partner Brad Pitt flew in from the U.S. to the capital this week to promote her latest film.

It appeared the strain of their busy schedule and roles as parents to six children were getting to the glamorous couple, who looked visibly tired last night.
Arriving for the press conference last night, the exhausted looking film stars dressed down for the occasion.

They looked preoccupied as they posed for photographers, perhaps thinking about their six young children, including baby twins Vivienne and Knox who stayed behind with a nanny at Claridge's hotel.

During the conference the pressure of her work seemed to be getting to Angelina, who became tearful as she paid tribute to her mother.

Angelina was devastated when Marcheline lost her battle with ovarian cancer last year.

Six weeks later, Angelina adopted Vietnamese son Pax Thien, and went on to give birth to twins Knox and Vivienne in France in July.

In The Changeling directed by Clint Eastwood, Angelina plays a mother in 1920s Los Angeles whose son is kidnapped.

When her child is returned to her, she quickly realises that the boy is not her own.

The character highlights the corruption of the Los Angeles Police Department and challenges the police after refusing to have such injustice forced upon her.

Angelina also hinted that she may slowly move away from acting and continue expanding her family.

She said: 'I have a big family and a lot of responsibility at home, and I have the good fortune financially not to have to work all the time, and I just feel privileged that I get to be home a lot. Maybe eventually I'll stop (acting).'

And when asked if the public could expect her to expand her family again, she replied: 'Sure you can.'
Jolie said the role had especially appealed to her as it was an 'inspirational and true story'.

'When I first read the script I just couldn't put it down, but then I said no, I'm leaving it,' she said.

'I didn't want to get involved with the project because it was too upsetting. But then I couldn't stop talking about her (character).

'I found myself sitting with people and wanting them to know about this extraordinary woman.'

The 33-year-old also praised director Eastwood and said she had always wanted to work with him.

She added: 'He is a really good man. He is one of those very fair, strong leaders.'

'Pub singer' Daniel Evans unanimously voted off The X Factor

2008-11-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

Dannii Minogue finally lost a singer from her category in The X Factor after Daniel Evans was voted off the show by judges.

Another of Dannii's acts, Rachel Hylton, was also in the bottom two following the public vote but the mentor was spared having to chose between the pair after the other three judges all voted for Daniel to leave the competition.

Voting off Daniel seemed the obvious choice for Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, who have continually slated his performances on the live shows.
Cheryl Cole also said she wanted to send the 38-year-old pool cleaner home in favour of Rachel.

In the sing off, Daniel sang 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' which finally won him a compliment from Simon Cowell - but it was still not enough to keep him in the competition.

Simon said: "You chose a good song and I believe you mean what you're singing.

"But this may come as a surprise, the person I am sending home is Daniel."
Taking defeat graciously, Daniel, who first auditioned for the show after being encouraged to do so by his late wife, said: "It has been the best experience I've ever had - ups and downs. Thanks to everyone who voted."

He added his family and Dannii had kept him going through out the competition after he had been criticised every week by Simon and Louis.

Evans said: "I couldn't honestly picture myself winning the show, and obviously now it's the case. Winning was never in my mind. I just dreamt of getting to the final. I was upsetting the odds every week by staying in. The public kept me there. I'm upset to be out. I was hoping to push on a little bit longer for us older people.

"To be honest, I didn't expect to get this far and every week when the public kept me in, it was best feeling in the world. Thanks to the public I got this far."

Evans said: 'It's no secret the judges are not my biggest fans. I've been through worse than that, I can take a few words from those two. It's no problem. They're entitled to say what they want, they're entitled to their opinion.

'Maybe I'm not their cup of tea. But the public showed for six weeks that they liked me. I do think I had something to offer. The public saw that but the judges didn't, that's the way it goes.'

Evans hit back at criticism in the tabloid press that X Factor producers had played on his 'sob story' of the recent death of his wife, leaving him to bring up his one-year-old daughter, Ana Maria, alone.
He said: 'Of all things I heard that was the one that hurt me the most when someone said I was only progressing because of the death of my wife and I would never ever play on that story. But the reason I came into this competition is my wife had passed away and it was her wish. I only mentioned it because I was asked.'

Evans was also accused by the tabloids of hiding his two other children from previous relationships.

He insisted: 'Right at the start, on my first audition it says 'Daniel father-of-three' and my daughter and my son's mother were there. So why people think I'm keeping them a secret I don't know. They were there. I would never make a secret of my children I'm proud of my kids, I love all my kids. My kids know I love them. I've got nothing to prove to them.'

Earlier in the show, Daniel had performed 'It's Not Unusual' alongside a troupe of female dancers and a mini.

Simon said of his Tom Jones cover: 'It was like watching a drunk dad at a wedding.'

While Daniel had so far sailed through each round on the public vote, despite Simon and Louis' opposition, this week he found himself in the bottom two with Rachel.

She had failed to win over the public with her version of Amy Winehouse's You Know I'm No Good.

The 26-year-old had first impressed the judges singing the song in her audition and did enough to convince them she should remain in the competition.
Last night's show also saw the return of Diana Vickers, 17, who didn't perform last week after coming down with laryngitis.

She was overjoyed to be voted through to another week after she admitted her performance suffered from her recent illness.

Meanwhile, JLS got the audience on their feet with their Beatles medley and Alexandra Burke wowed the judges with her rendition of Joe Cocker's You are so beautiful.

After controversially surviving last week's sing-off against Laura White, Ruth Lorenzo proved her worth with a powerful cover of Robbie William's Angels.

And the judges tipped 16-year-old Eoghan Quigg for the final after he impressed singing George Michael's One More Try.

“I can see the star quality in you. You scare me for the final!” Cheryl said.

In the results show, Leona Lewis, who has become a global star since winning The X Factor in 2006, returned to perform a cover of Snow Patrol's Run.

Simon Cowell commended her for an 'incredible' performance after the singer admitted it was 'frightening and exhilarating to be back'.

It’s a fine life, Jodie

2008-11-16T02:56:00.000-08:00

Unusually for a stage actress, Jodie Prenger can catapult herself out of bed bright and early despite all the late nights that the theatre demands.

The first to arrive at the YOU photo shoot at a West London studio, she is fizzing with excitement like an uncorked champagne bottle when she opens the door to me.

No wonder she’s feeling emotional, for Jodie is the girl who became the people’s choice in the BBC1 talent show I’d Do Anything earlier this year when she won the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End revival of the Lionel Bart musical Oliver! When the show opens next month, she’ll star alongside Rowan Atkinson, who’s playing Fagin.

And this former cruise-ship singer, who first learned her craft in amateur dramatics and the ultra-tough
school of working men’s clubs, is no celebrity wannabe in love with the limelight rather than the reality, but a hard grafter who has finally achieved her dream of performing in the West End after years of attending cattle-call auditions.

In other words, her win really means something to her. As she puts it: ‘You don’t go out there searching for fame, you go out there to do something you love doing.’

At the end of May, Jodie, 29, became the third BBC talent-contest winner to land a starring role in a West End show, following Lee Mead’s triumph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (after winning Any Dream Will Do in 2007) and Connie Fisher in The Sound of Music (after winning How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? in 2006).
Jodie fought off her closest rival, 18-year-old Jessie Buckley, by wrapping her husky vocals around such showstoppers as Nancy’s aria ‘As Long As He Needs Me’, prowling the studio stage like one born in the theatre, rather than in Blackpool to parents with no history of show business.

Yet with two of the panel’s heavyweight judges, West End impresarios Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh, both rooting for Jessie in the show’s final, the older girl’s prospects wobbled until the viewers swung it for her and Lord Lloyd Webber magnanimously conceded that Jodie was ‘the people’s Nancy’.

There are no hard feelings, as Cameron has now become Jodie’s biggest mentor and champion. As she says with a generous smile and a philosophical shrug, ‘He had to vote for one of the two of us in the final, after all.’

Since Jodie had had no drama-school training before turning to the stage professionally eight years ago, Cameron sent his latest leading lady on a four-week Shakespeare course at Rada over the summer. He then cast her as one of the ensemble in Les Misérables for three weeks to give her some West End experience before she began rehearsals for Oliver!, which will be staged at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

He has also given her Wednesday and Thursday evenings off to protect her voice from the strain that
affected Connie Fisher, which means Jodie will give six rather than eight performances a week during her six-month contract. And, she claims, she has not once encountered the kind of theatrical snobbishness you might expect towards a reality TV star.

‘The cast of Les Mis have been rooting for me; they’re like an extra family,’ says Jodie, who is currently single and renting a flat near Rada in London’s Bloomsbury. ‘I had my own line to sing in the show and I was climbing the barricade on the set like you wouldn’t believe – that’s at least 400 calories burnt a night. There should be a Les Mis work-out video,’ she laughs.

Jodie’s life has been transformed in more ways than one over the past few years since winning a long battle with her weight, which tipped 22 stone at one point. She felt that there was only one kind of popular singer for someone her size to be, so she went into comedic singing and sent herself up by performing the splits on stage as a warm-up for comedians such as Joe Pasquale and Ken Dodd.

She has had the last laugh now, of course. And her luck finally began to turn two years ago, when she won her first reality show, Living TV’s diet contest The Biggest Loser, by shedding eight stone.

As she explains, ‘I was 18 stone and a size 26 when I did The Biggest Loser. I ate the wrong things and I wasn’t doing any exercise, so I had to lose weight for health reasons as it was affecting my joints. A male contestant said to me, “A woman will never win it,” and it’s true that men usually lose weight quicker because of their metabolism.

'But a remark like that just gave me that fire in the belly to succeed against all odds. So I was the first female winner, and I did it for the girls,’ exults Jodie. ‘I love going to the gym now – I adore my kettlebell [cast-iron weight]. And I could never have done I’d Do Anything if I hadn’t gone through that weight loss. I can’t tell you how many West End auditions I had gone for and never got.’
The weight loss meant that the bottom fell out of her comedic singing career, as it were, and she was no longer the butt of comedians’ jokes as the singing fat lady. Now the biggest loser has become the biggest winner; not only does Jodie glow with new-found health and energy, but her striking dark colouring and strong bone structure show a remarkable resemblance to the very first Nancy – that magnetic musical star Georgia Brown, who played her in the original 1960 West End production of Oliver! Clearly it was a case of destiny that Jodie should inherit the role created by Georgia, who died in 1992.

‘I’m a size 14; I’m just a normal woman,’ says Jodie, who stands at five foot three without the sexy three-inch high heels she’s wearing when I meet her. ‘I admit that I’ll never be a size zero. But I think women are
beautiful creatures, and if they are happy and healthy they can’t go wrong in life,’ she says, adding that she also became an online agony aunt after The Biggest Loser, when overweight people from all over the world e-mailed her for advice.

Always a positive person with an outgoing personality, as a ‘large’ child Jodie tried to make light of her weight by becoming the class clown. ‘All the girls had boyfriends before me at school, but I was verging on being a tomboy with my short hair shaved at the back and permed on top, and Deirdre Barlow glasses,’ she says, mocking the memory of her old ugly-duckling self.

‘I was sometimes teased at school, but I would laugh it off. Two girls once wore one of my skirts after a
PE class. They thought I would be fine with it as I was always the joker, but that was just my way of dealing with it. As a lot of people with weight problems will know, you laugh it off at the time but it’s upsetting when you get home.’

Jodie was also relieved to find that there was no truth behind judge Andrew Lloyd Webber’s controversial remark, towards the end of I’d Do Anything, that his fellow judge Cameron thought she was ‘too big for the role of Nancy’.

‘Andrew got hold of the wrong end of the stick and it got blown out of proportion,’ explains Jodie. ‘Cameron himself told me that he never actually said that. And if you go back to the novel, Dickens describes Nancy as “quite stout and healthy”.’

Liza Minnelli, no stranger to weight and other struggles herself, also became a mentor to Jodie when she gave a singing masterclass on I’d Do Anything. ‘Apparently I was Liza’s favourite. Isn’t it just great to have that endorsement? And I was so nervous about meeting Rowan Atkinson recently, as I think he’s phenomenal, but he’s a true gent. Can life get any better?’ she enthuses.

For like Liza, Jodie can’t help wearing her heart on her sleeve, and there’s a lovable quality about her
that’s appropriate for the role of the ‘tart-with-a-heart’ who mothers all the boys, and Oliver in particular, in Fagin’s den.

The notoriously masochistic lyrics of Nancy’s yearning song ‘As Long As He Needs Me’ express her loyalty to her violent lover, the villainous Bill Sykes, and Jodie feels a fierce loyalty to Nancy despite her terrible taste in men.

‘For me, Nancy is one of the most beautiful characters in musical theatre, who deserves a lot of respect,’ she says. ‘This man is beating her down within an inch of her life and she’s still got that heart of gold, still carries that torch for the man she loves.’
Jodie herself has never been physically abused, but she encountered the dark side of fame in June when she was the victim of a tawdry kiss-and-tell story by her former fiancé, the aptly named Steve Greengrass, 41, whom she had met through an online dating agency.

He whinged in print about feeling ‘used’ by Jodie after their romance fizzled out during the filming of I’d Do Anything, also alleging that she had kissed another man on a night out. Speaking for the first time about
this very public betrayal, Jodie says: ‘It was really tough when he did that, but in fact Steve told three
different stories.

'Everyone has had a relationship that’s not ended up the way you thought it would. I got engaged to him during the run of the show, but it wasn’t me who did the proposing as he said. I have given him back his Tiffany ring – if it was a Tiffany ring,’ she adds sceptically.

‘It was a situation where two people just didn’t know each other. The story he told about a hen night was misrepresented: I didn’t kiss the other guy. I just want to keep my dignity. I’ve talked to friends and family about it and I’ve got to focus on the positive things and look forward.’

Jodie’s family is a great source of strength. She owes her unusual surname – pronounced Prenjer – to her Dutch father Marty, who runs an old people’s home in Blackpool with her mother Madeleine. Her parents always supported her ambitions, once giving her £500 for a taxi from Blackpool to London for an audition because Madeleine was worried about Jodie’s safety on the train.

And Jodie, who trained as a nail technician to have something to fall back on, still likes to lead the residents at the home in Vera Lynn sing-songs and does their nails. She has a 21-year-old brother, Marco, who has just completed a fine arts degree, and she can’t wait to go back on her days off to see them all.

Right now Jodie is enjoying single life again. ‘I have not been chatted up in the longest time now – maybe I scare men off! But I’m not lonely, I’m too busy.

'Cameron is the only man in my life, and I think he’s a safe bet,’ she says of the confirmed bachelor. ‘But if the film star Gerard Butler was free! Only joking, I would be too shy to approach him,’ she adds, laughing at herself again.

She’s in no hurry for another romance, since she believes that everything happens at the right time in life. ‘When I did The Biggest Loser, I was ready to lose weight. And when I did I’d Do Anything, I was ready to play Nancy. So now I’m out there to prove myself against all the odds. ’

David and Victoria Beckham add another A-lister to their circle as they dine with Madonna in Los Angeles

2008-11-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

David and Victoria Beckham continued their relentless pursuit of A-list friends last night as they took the Queen of Pop, Madonna, out for dinner.

The trio bonded over a meal at celebrity haunt Nobu, one of the couple's favourite Los Angeles restaurants.

Posh has long been a fan of the Material Girl - just last month she was photographed wearing a retro Madonna tour T-shirt .
The singer, who split from husband Guy Ritchie last month, is the city on a short break from her gruelling Sticky & Sweet world tour which will resume in Houston on Sunday.

She is the latest celebrity to be charmed by the Beckhams, who have proved to be impressive social networkers in recent years.

They've enjoyed double dates with Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and her basketballer husband Tony Parker and also often keep company with actress Kate Beckinsale and her director husband Len Wiseman.

Posh regularly takes the couple's sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz for play dates with singer Gwen Stefani's young family.

She has also won over Heidi Klum and their friendship led to her guest appearance on the supermodel's popular fashion show, Project Runway, last season.

But not all attempts at fostering high profile comrades have been as successful.

Victoria caused a paparazzi frenzy when she posed up with Jennifer Lopez at a Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York in September.

The two held hands and hugged but skeptics branded it a blatant photo opportunity, with fellow guest Kelly Osbourne observing at the time: 'I’ve never seen two people pretend to like each other more in my life.'

Posh and J.Lo have not been seen together since.

The Beckhams were also famously close to Hollywood power couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes after making the move to America last year, but the friendship appears to have cooled in recent times.

Sources say the friendship went off the boil largely because of the Beckhams’ reluctance to join the Church of Scientology.

Perhaps Kabbalah will be a better fit.

Amy Winehouse shows off a curly-haired new look as she ditches her matted beehive

2008-11-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

Amy Winehouse has become world-famous for her musical talent and her infamous beehive.

But as a fresh-faced Amy opened her door to snappers, she revealed a head of lush, glossy curls, showing for the first time in many years just how the singer looks without her trademark matted beehive.

Amy unveiled the glossy, curly locks, as she came to the door of her north London home.
But later a coy Amy stuck on her headscarf as she stepped out with friend 'good Blake'. Amy was seen leaving her north London home with the American photographer Blake Wood.

She then met up with a few friends to go for a drink in a local pub.

Looking more filled out than before, and showing off a pretty rounded stomach, Amy came to her door to in a string vest, under which she wore a nude coloured bra, and bizarrely offered the waiting snappers slices of cheese on toast.

But aside from her healthier-looking appearance, it was her glossy curls which caught the eye, as she looked even more like her mother Janice with her new mumsy look.

She happily posed for pictures and showed photographers her hospital tags when she opened the door of her north London home to ask a photographer to use their mobile.

She then went back into her home with the phone and returned a short while after with the phone in hand and slices of cheese on toast for the photographers.

Amy then chatted to photographers updating photographers on her recent movements revealing she was getting medical treatment for the rash which could be seen on her stomach.

Later on Amy went to a pub in Kentish Town, where she met a few friends including DJ and TV presenter Nick Grimshaw.

After enjoying a few afternoon shots a smiling Amy headed for home

The singer's appearance in public comes the day after husband Blake Fielder-Civil denied claims he has been dumped by the singer.

Blake, 26, boasted that the pair are still very much in love and that he is expecting a visit from Amy 'at any time now.'

He declared: 'We will be together for the rest of our lives.'

But as he made his comments, Amy's mother Janis has said that she is praying that Blake stays away from her daughter.

Janis, 53, told Closer magazine that Amy was devastated that he didn’t tell her he was getting out of prison before his release into rehab last Wednesday.

She said: 'What sort of husband doesn’t tell his wife that he’s being released? That says it all really, doesn’t it?'

Blake has been staying at a rehab clinic in Woking, Surrey, since he was released from prison last Wednesday.

He was locked up for a year for his part in a vicious assault on a pub landlord.

He allegedly asked Amy to pay the £30,000 fee for his treatment, but she refused.

Amy has not yet visited her freed husband, sparking rumours of a rift between the couple.

She is said to be livid that she did not know her husband was leaving Edmunds Hill jail in East Anglia for a seven-week course to cure his heroin and crack cocaine addiction.

You can't go out like that, Mum! Lorraine Kelly's neckline plunges at awards... but teen daughter Rosie goes demure

2008-11-11T03:29:00.000-08:00

Her TV career is on a definite high. But when it comes to Lorraine Kelly's necklines, just how low can she go?

The presenter left little to the imagination as she showed off rather more of her decolletage than usual in a plunging white gown.

She was appearing at the Bafta Scotland Awards, in Glasgow, where she collected the prize for most popular presenter.
Her 14-year-old daughter Rosie accompanied her to the event.

She looked a lot more demure than her mother, choosing an elegant little black dress.

On her chat show Miss Kelly, 48, charms both guests and fans with her maternal manner and cosy interviewing style.

Off screen she prefers a much less motherly approach. In fact the more daring the better.

Last year she appeared at the National Portrait Gallery in Scotland in a cleavage-baring black dress that was a challenge to keep up.

At one stage she was forced to haul up the neckline to maintain her dignity.

Miss Kelly joined a host of Scottish stars from film and television for the Bafta Awards show on Sunday night.

She beat Gordon Ramsay, Carol Smillie and STV weatherman Sean Batty to win the most popular presenter award.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Lorraine was full of praise for the stars she had been up against in the same category.

She said: 'People actually took the time and trouble to vote for me and if you look at the category, if you look at the people I was up against, they were all so brilliant.

'There are some legends in there, so that makes it even more special.'

The presenter also reflected on the depth of talent she believes is in the industry right now.

She said: 'I think we're very lucky right now.

'I think we're having a real kind of golden time, not just in front of camera - because that's all the people that get the attention, whether it be actors or presenters - but I think about the wealth of writing talent and people behind the camera.

'That's where the celebration should be because without that we don't have anything.'

Full Monty actor Robert Carlyle, Cracker star Robbie Coltrane and broadcaster Kirsty Wark were just some of the screen stars who graced the red carpet.

The ceremony, held in front of more than 800 people at the City Halls, was hosted by radio DJ Edith Bowman.

Guy Ritchie enjoys emotional airport reunion with sons Rocco and David... as gaunt Madonna shows the strain

2008-11-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

After weeks apart, an emotional Guy Ritchie was reunited with his sons Rocco and David at a London airport this morning.

The director's children were back on English soil after being whisked away to the US by Madonna, who is in the throes of her Sticky and Sweet tour.

Eight-year-old Rocco looked delighted to be back in his father's company and threw his arms around him after walking through the gates at Gatwick.
Guy also shared a hug with David, three, whom he adopted from Malawi in 2006, later hoisting him on his hip as they made their way through the terminal.

An onlooker says: 'Rocco shouted, "Dad!" in the loudest voice.'

'Both he and David were smiling. Guy literally threw his coffee aside to free up his hands and run over. You could tell they were all so excited to see each other.'

The scene couldn't have been more different for Madonna, who was pictured leaving a LA Kabbalah meeting over the weekend looking tired and gaunt.

Rocco and David have barely seen their father since Guy and Madonna announced their plans for divorce in mid October.
Guy was reportedly reduced to tears after seeing a photo of Rocco at a New York play centre wearing a navy Yankees T-shirt - the baseball team of Madonna's rumoured new love interest Alex Rodriguez - just days after the split was made public.

He has since kept busy shooting his new film, Sherlock Holmes, in central London by day and drinking at his Mayfair pub, the Punch Bowl, by night.

A custody arrangement for the children remains a sticking point for the estranged couple, who were married for almost eight years.

Last week Guy, 40, hired a top lawyer in his battle with the 50-year-old over where their children should live.Guy was reportedly reduced to tears after seeing a photo of Rocco at a New York play centre wearing a navy Yankees T-shirt - the baseball team of Madonna's rumoured new love interest Alex Rodriguez - just days after the split was made public.

He has since kept busy shooting his new film, Sherlock Holmes, in central London by day and drinking at his Mayfair pub, the Punch Bowl, by night.

A custody arrangement for the children remains a sticking point for the estranged couple, who were married for almost eight years.

Last week Guy, 40, hired a top lawyer in his battle with the 50-year-old over where their children should live.
Stephen Cobb, QC, is regarded as the leading specialist in divorce cases in which the country of residence of the children is in dispute.

Madonna is understood to want leave the family's London base and move back to the U.S.

She also has a daughter, 12-year-old Lourdes, whose father, Carlos Leon, lives in New York.

The singer cannot take the children to live with her permanently in the US unless she either gets permission from Ritchie or an English court grants her leave.

Britney reunites with Madonna on stage... shame they didn't swap clothes

2008-11-07T04:40:00.000-08:00

Fans turning up for the Britney Spears and Madonna reunion would have been expecting to see the 26-year-old in a typically raunchy outfit.

But instead the 50-year-old Material Girl was the one wearing the more revealing clothes as the pair performed a duet on stage.

The pop megastars looked like they should have swapped outfits as they sang together at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles during Madonna's Sticky and Sweet tour.
A demure looking Britney, dressed in a simple white blouse and black trousers was invited on stage by Madonna and joined in with one of her songs.

And Madonna was also joined by Justin Timberlake to join in with another of her hits.

Rumours that the former couple, who split in 2002, would perform together with Madonna proved unfounded though as they did not appear together on stage.

The three stars sharing the same stage appeared quite a draw to the Hollywood crowd.

Among the stars in attendance at the gig were German supermodel Heidi Klum, Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere, Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez and former Ally McBeal star Lucy Liu.

Also watching were Madonna's two eldest children Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, eight.

It's a bit different from the last time Britney and Madonna appeared on stage together.

The pair caused a stir in 2003 when they shared a steamy lesbian kiss live on stage during the opening performance on the MTV Music Awards in New York's Radio City Music Hall.

It's not the first they have collaborated together, with Madonna appearing on Britney's track 'Me Against the Music' on her In The Zone album.

The comeback Queen was pictured last week dressed up as a witch as she took her two sons Jayden James and Sean Preston trick or treating.

She posted the shots on her website, along with the cover art for her new album Circus, which is due out on her birthday on December 2.
And the 'Womanizer' singer is set to appear on the X Factor show in two weeks' time to meet the contestants and perform her new single.

Madonna has thrown herself into her 32-concert Sticky and Sweet tour of the Americas after the announcement of her divorce with Guy Ritchie.

She faces a bitter divorce battle with the film director, with Kabbalah leaders demanding a quick out of court settlement.

Mariah Carey sets New York on fire in tacky Halloween outfit of sparkly underwear

2008-10-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's a Halloween accessory to put even the fanciest broomstick to shame - a full-size fire truck.

Mariah Carey arrived at a New York club on the back of the vehicle dressed in a fire jacket and little else.

The singer showed off her bejewelled red underwear and satin red stockings at a strictly for adults Halloween party which she attended with new husband Nick Cannon.

Mariah, who is 11 years older than her 27-year-old actor husband, smiled for photographers as she arrived.

She and Cannon married at her private estate in the Bahamas in April after a whirlwind six week romance.

The couple, who originally met at the Kids' Choice Awards in 2005, fell for each other when Nick flew to Antigua at the end of March to play Mariah's love interest in the video for her single Bye Bye.

Victoria Beckham to strip for 12 m pounds

2008-10-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham will strip for a high profile ad campaign for Giorgio Armani for a 12 m pound deal - she will feature in her underwear in the ad and her hubby can't wait to see the first shots.

Mirror.co.uk reports that her husband, football star David Beckham, had months back posed for the same range and that time Victoria was quite proud of the ad.

A close friend of the singer said: "Victoria adored David's underwear campaign, not least because it was quite raunchy. She always used to laugh with her girlie pals about David's bulging packet on billboards and how proud she was.

So she just jumped at the chance to be involved in a similar campaign - and it will probably be just as sexy. David can't wait to see the first shots of his wife in her undies."

Another source close to her added: "Victoria is very much aware there is a limited shelf life for any woman as to how long they can model, let alone model underwear.

She is over the moon and extremely flattered to be the face and body of such a high-profile advertising campaign."

Kate Moss shows her age as she heads for a flight without a scrap of makeup

2008-10-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

Kate Moss' age showed on her bare face as she arrived at Heathrow airport this morning.

After years of hard-partying and hundreds of sunshine holidays the 34-year-old showed natural laughter lines around her eyes as she went make-up free.

But although the blonde supermodel's looks have matured since she broke into the national consciousness as a fresh-faced 15-year-old, she still looked as enviably beautiful as ever.

Carrying a blue cashmere blanket for the flight ahead, Moss was accompanied by smiling boyfriend Jamie Hince. The reunited couple laughed together as they spotted the waiting paparazzi.

Rock-chick girlfriend Moss wore a stylish all-black outfit, accessorised with a huge diamond ring on her right hand.
Moss is bound to be in a good mood after her latest collection for Topshop caused a sensation this week. One dress sold out within 15 minutes after fashion fans flocked to the store.

Scientists discover single brain cell dedicated to Jennifer Aniston inside woman's head

2008-10-29T01:17:00.000-07:00

It is a discovery that could explain the enduring appeal of Friends. Scientists have found brain cells devoted to Jennifer Aniston.

Fans of the actress, who played socialite Rachel Green in the Channel 4 sit-com, are likely to have at least one brain cell that springs into action each time they see a picture of her, research suggests.

Other brain cells are similarly encoded to store memories of individual celebrities, from actress Halle Berry to former US presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
Even Star Wars character Luke Skywalker has a cell of his own.

The Leicester University research, contradicts the popular theory that a large network of cells are involved in processing images of people.

Instead, it appears, our brains streamline the process by devoting individual cells to store memories of specific people or places.

Neuroscientist Rodrigo Quian Quiroga (CORR) made the finding after showing people being treated for epilepsy hundreds of pictures of famous people and of landmarks.

Tiny electrodes implanted as part of their treatment picked up the electrical activity or 'firing' of around 100 brain cells in each person.

Tests showed that one woman had a cell that specifically recognised pictures of Jennifer Aniston.

Another woman had a brain cell for pictures of Halle Berry, responding to drawings of her face and an image of just the words in her name.

Even a picture in which the Catwoman actress's face was almost covered by her costume made the cell fire.

Other celebrities exciting individual brain cells included Pamela Anderson, Oprah Winfrey and Tom Cruise. Famous landmarks also had their own cells.

The study also showed that the same person can have a number of cells devoted to different celebrities or landmarks.

Professor Quian Quiroga said: 'The patient with the Jennifer Aniston neuron had 19 other cells firing to different things.

'There was one firing to Pamela Anderson, another one was firing to the Tower of Pisa, another to Sydney Opera House and so on.'

Although the researchers only found one Jennifer Aniston or Halle Berry cell per person, they only sampled a fraction of the available brain cells.

This means each person's brain is likely to have a number cells devoted to their favourite celebrities.

It is likely we also have cells coded to recognise family members.

In further experiments, the researchers have shown it is possible to tell whether a person is looking at a picture of Jennifer Aniston or of Halle Berry simply by monitoring their brain cells.

Professor Quian Quiroga, who will give a lecture on his findings next week, said they could feed into research into the development of prosthetic limbs driven by the brain.

The work could also aid research into Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia and other conditions which involve the area of the brain studied.

Posh shows she can cope with being a soccer mom alone as David plans move to Milan

2008-10-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Victoria Beckham showed she is more than ready to cope with soccer mom duties alone as she cheered her oldest son Brooklyn on as he took part in a football match.

While David plans a winter move to Italian side AC Milan, the 34-year-old adjusted to being a single soccer mother as she sat pitch-side to watch her eldest son.

The mother-of-three dressed down in jeans and a white T-shirt with the words ‘What comes around goes around’ emblazoned across it and swapped her usual high-heels for flip-flops as she mingled with fellow mothers.

Nine-year-old Brooklyn - who spent some of the game on the bench - was already showing signs of father David Beckham's footballing talent as he raced across the field confidently.

And Victoria appears to already to be getting used to doing things on her own before David plans to decamp to Italy, as the family have no plans to move back to Europe.

Beckham has told reporters that he has his wife's full support after it was revealed that he will return to Europe after signing for AC Milan.

But a source told Closer magazine that Victoria does have some concerns about David being so far away in the glamorous Italian city.

The last time David was separated from his family for a long period - in 2004 when he was playing for Real Madrid - there were allegations of an affair with his then PA, Rebecca Loos.

David, 33, insisted that he would not uproot his family again.

‘Just because I'm playing in Europe it doesn't mean that the whole family has to again re-route.

‘I've obviously discussed it with Victoria. I'll be playing there, she'll be there as much as possible and so will the kids, but obviously the kids have got school and Victoria has got her own work to do,’ he added.

‘We've not decided the details yet but the family will be there as much as possible because I think that's important.’

However, Victoria expressed fears that David's devotion to his family will ruin his health trying to maintain a long-distance marriage, with constant flying back an forth.

A source told Closer: 'She's worried about David as he struggles to criss-cross the globe and feels it'll only get worse.

'Victoria knows he'll be lonely without the family and will try to come home all the time and exhaust himself.'

The footballer is moving to Milan on loan from his club, LA Galaxy, after England coach Fabio Capello said he could not be considered for the World Cup qualifiers unless he was playing club football in Europe at the time.

He will spend between two and four months there, starting in January.

The gloves are off as Madonna and Guy Ritchie fight over household staff to testify in bitter court battle

2008-10-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Madonna's divorce from Guy Ritchie has taken a sudden acrimonious downturn with them both demanding their army of household staff to testify against the other.

Domestic and business staff at the couple's properties in England and America are being asked to provide witness statements about their two bosses by their respective legal teams.

The couple are preparing to slug it out in court over residence of two of their children Rocco, seven and adopted David Banda, three.

Madonna feels they should live with her and daughter Lourdes, 12, in New York. Guy wants them to be privately educated and live with him in London and at the couple's Wiltshire estate, Ashcombe House.

Guy's argument is that Madonna should not be considered the children's primary carer simply because she rarely cared for them - that nannies and other looked after them while Madonna pursued her career.

Guy claims that especially in recent months, in the run up to Madonna's world tour, when nannies were not caring for the children, he would be.

He is also hoping staff will confirm his wife became increasingly erratic and volatile and would erupt into furious rages if things did not go her way.

If he was ever late or had to change or break an arrangement, for example, Madonna would lose her temper and hurl a torrent of abuse at him.

Guy is expected to claim that Madonna became increasingly unpleasant over the adoption of a further girl from Malawi, Mercy James, and was furious over the kiss and tell publication of a book by her brother Christopher Ciccone.

Madonna also grew annoyed by his continued friendship with his ex girlfriends, especially Tania Strecker despite her now being married.

She also questioned him over a leading lady in one of the films he directed despite them only having a professional relationship.

Guy also hopes domestic staff will be able to chronical how Madonna was too controlling over the children's macrobiotic diet and banning them from watching TV and reading newspapers.
Christopher Ciccone

Madonna was furious about kiss and tell revelations in her brother Christopher Ciccone's book

Madonna on the other hand is also taking witness statements from staff which she hope will illustrate that Guy was 'emotionally distant', and at times inappropriate in his language and behaviour around the children.

She hopes the statements will help her counter-argument that Guy too was only concerned about the advancement of his own career at the detriment of time spent around their children.

'The entire way they wanted the children brought up was different', said a source.

'Each would constantly pick holes in the way the other one over it.'

Madonna claims Guy would occasionally swear within earshot of the children and on occasion, would roll home quite drunk from being out drinking with friends.

'Madonna is searching high and low for evidence to support the claim that Guy was a bad father in order to support her case that the children should live with her in New York.

'Basically the gloves are off and while it might have looked quite an amicable split a couple of weeks ago, they are now throwing huge resources into trying to destroy one another to get residence of the children,' said the source.

Madonna is understood to believe that Guy is only pushing so hard on the residence of the children to strengthen his financial position. If he wins residence with him,

Madonna will, afterall, have to pay him substantial maintenance. She also feels if he wins residence, he will use it 'as a bargaining tool' to win a greater lump-sum settlement.

Guy is currently in line for between £10m and £15m plus property.

Madonna has already offered Guy £5 million extra to dictate to Guy the access to the children.

Madonna has also informed her lawyers that if the marriage ever faltered, she had had a verbal agreement with Guy that she would take full custody of all their children.

The Mail has also learned that Madonna's legal team have been hard at work gathering evidence about Guy.

One source said last night that Madonna's legal team have a 'killer piece of evidence' that, if presented, would force Guy's hand towards settling out of court over money and custody very swiftly.

Said a source: 'Over the weekend, Madonna's mood on this changed and she suddenly become very confident. She feels she has a piece of evidence that when presented will make Guy settle fast. Whether this is the case, or simply her lawyer posturing remains to be seen'

MailOnline revealed at the weekend that Ritchie claimed his marriage to Madonna disintegrated when she started planning their sex life in her diary around her sessions in the gym.

The 50-year-old singer's life was so regimented, he said, that even their time in the bedroom was meticulously planned for weeks in advance - something which took all of the thrill out of it for him.

The revelation came as Guy sat down with lawyers to talk over the reasons why he felt the eight-year marriage broke down last week.

The split has become increasingly acrimonious with accusations flying from both sides in recent days.

A source close to the couple said: 'With her time being so precious to her, and with there being more important things to her like spending three of four hours in the gym every day, it

become just another thing in the diary. In the last couple of years, it was all schemed into the diary.

'Guy of course felt this a tremendous turn-off to be at the same level of importance as, for example, her gym sessions and Kabbalah meetings.

'As a consequence, their sex life died more than a year ago. It is no exaggeration to say that they had not shared a bed in a year when the divorce was announced. And when the sex died for them, the marriage was doomed.'

EXCLUSIVE: Madonna offers Guy an extra £5million 'if she can dictate access rights to children'

2008-10-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

Madonna has offered Guy Ritchie an additional £5million to dictate his access rights to their three children.

The singer has agreed to increase the lump sum cash payment he will get in their divorce from £15million to £20million if he backs down from a court battle over Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and David Banda, three.

Legal sources said last night that Mr Ritchie would be well-advised to take the offer since Madonna as their mother would be seen as primary carer.
As such, a British judge would most probably rule the children should live with her in New York rather than in England with Guy.'Madonna has said to Guy that if she ups the money, then would he agree to her setting out the access for the children until they turn 18. What she is basically saying is that if Guy wants this to go to court, she will get what she wants anyway.
'Basically she is offering a cash incentive to him to encourage an amicable out-of-court agreement over the children.. Madonna is keen to give Guy good access to the children - but on her terms,' a source said.

'Guy wants the children to be educated in Britain - especially his beloved Rocco - but his lawyers will be advising him that if Madonna moves to New York and wants the children with her, a judge is likely to agree.'

Ritchie spent yesterday mulling over the offer with his lawyers.

The offer also contains a clause which will effectively attempt to gag Ritchie and his family from talking about the marriage break-down.

Access to the children is the only area of the split Guy and Madonna are now at loggerheads over.

Money and property have been discussed and all but agreed.

The Mail has learned that Guy finally decided the marriage was over during one particular bizarre exchange with his wife at their Marylebone house where she claimed to be 'bigger than Jesus'.

Said a friend: ''The argument happened at the Marylebone house. Madonna had been moaning about his lack of support and lack of interest in what she has doing with Kabbalah.
'She told Guy she did not understand why she was ridiculed by the press for what she was doing with the religion. But Guy just reacted quite sarcastically and told her to "get over herself".

'And that's when it got a bit surreal. Madonna said that her destiny had been mapped out and that she had been chosen to live this life.

'She said the reason why she is a living icon is that she had been chosen to be a spiritual guru. To which Guy turned around and said 'Listen love, you're just a singer'.

'And it was then she turned around to him and said: "Listen baby, I'm bigger than Jesus'".

'Guy was dumbfounded. At that point, he realised that he really had lost her to the Kabbalah. From that point on, Guy felt totally alienated from Madonna. She made him feel that he was beneath her. To make matters worse, that had been one of the few times they had been together in recent months and it was spoiled by that argument.'

The source went on: 'Guy truly believes that Madonna is deluded and lives in a fantasy world – particularly also when it comes to her age.

'When Madonna turned 50 for example, she felt her biological age was only 35 so they went ahead as if it was a 35th birthday'.

Meanwhile it emerged last night that Madonna has also fallen out with her family over the divorce.

Said a source: 'She has been blasted by her father – a devout Catholic – for divorcing twice. He is furious that they did not do more to resolve their differences – especially for the sake of the children.

Relationships with the entire family had already been strained over the publication of her brother Christopher Ciccone's tell-all book.

'Resentment has been building up over the years due to Madonna's high-handed imperious behaviour. When the book was released, Madonna called on the help of her family to try to stop it but they were unable and indeed unwilling to prevent it coming out. The feeling was that had Madonna treated him better, it wouldn't have happened.'

Further details also emerged last night of the division of wealth between Guy and Madonna in the divorce. As reported first by the Mail, Guy will get Ashcombe – their Wiltshire estate – plus cash of around £15 million. He will also get an allowance for homes in London and New York.

However, although Guy will be able to keep Ashcombe, all of the art and antiquities – in particular two Picasso paintings – will be stripped from the house.

All of the possessions she gave Guy in the marriage, she had told him he can keep. But all of the presents Guy ever gave her, she is putting in storage.

Friends are concerned that the divorce is going to become increasingly acrimonious over the access to the children, in particular the regularity of access and the length of each access period.

'Guy was nothing but a cheap, fake gold-digger,' says Madonna as divorce war explodes

2008-10-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Madonna has hit out at her estranged husband Guy Ritchie, branding him 'a phoney' and a money-hungry gold digger'.

A week after announcing their intentions to divorce, close sources of the pop star say she is sick and tired of his attacks on her in the press and is keen to see him portrayed differently.

Good friends of the Material Girl told gossip blogger PerezHilton.com that Guy lived off Madonna's multi-million dollar bank account throughout their seven and a half year marriage, despite having his own fortune.
A source close to Madonna said: 'For his entire marriage to M, Guy lived like a king. He never spent a dime of his own money for their lifestyle or the children.'

Insiders told Perez that Guy insisted Madonna fund his holidays and buy a 1,200 acre country estate for him.

A source said: 'Madonna finally got fed up with him never being around and being used and filed for a divorce.

'Guy has threatened to go after half of M's hard-earned money, claiming that the law is on his side.

'He doesn't care that the world thinks of him as Heather Mills. He doesn't care that he has his own money and doesn't need hers. He feels he is entitled to half of her empire.
Madonna has been based in New York over the last few weeks as she performs North American dates on her Sticky & Sweet World Tour, while Guy is continuing to live in the couple's London townhouse while he directs his new film Sherlock Holmes.

Despite putting on a brave face on stage, friends of Madonna said she is devastated by the negative criticism she has received in the media since the break-up.

A source said: 'Guy Ritchie is a fake and a phoney. He is not a macho man. Not an English lad. Not a gentleman. Not spiritual. He's just a money-hungry gold digger that doesn't want to earn his way.'

In the divorce, the couple are expected to battle over their Marylebone home and their country estate in Wiltshire.

Since the split, speculation over the singer's friendship with New York Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez has intensified, with the couple expected to go public with their 'relationship' by the end of the year.

Speculation of a romantic relationship between the pair has been rife after the baseball star has been seen out and about with the pop star on a number of occasions since the summer.

Rodriguez, 33, is apparently weeks away from buying a Manhattan penthouse, worth an estimated £40million, just two blocks away from Madonna's apartment.

'I'm supporting Madonna': Gwyneth takes sides in Ritchie divorce battle

2008-10-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

She is famous for her utmost discretion. But Gwyneth Paltrow publicly took sides in the break up of Madonna's marriage last night.

The actress spoke out on behalf of her friend at the UK premiere of her film Two Lovers which was screened as part of the BFI London Film Festival.

The 36-year-old came down firmly on the side of the 50-year-old singer and said she had been in frequent contact with her since her pending divorce was announced.
The mother of two said: 'She's a very dear friend. I support her in all the ways I can. I'm just here for her and on the other end of the phone. I speak to her a lot.'

The actress also revealed what the name of her new lifestyle newsletter, Goop, stood for. She said: 'Well GP are my initials and Goop is actually a family nickname.'

When asked whether she qualified to offer advice on how to live she said: 'Oh I'm not qualified to give advice to anybody. It's just fun and I'm enjoying it.'

Her husband Chris Martin was absent from the event abiding by their long-standing rule never to appear in public together.
Their decision not to walk the red carpet together was in stark contrast to Madonna and Guy Ritchie, who smiled for the camera at the premiere of Ritchie's film RocknRolla just weeks before the split was announced.

Two Lovers couldn't be more different from Gwyneth's other movie this year, the blockbuster superhero film Iron Man.

The Oscar-winning actress hailed Two Lovers as giving her a 'lifeline' after she took time off film-making to concentrate on motherhood of her two children Moses, two, and Apple, four.
She said: 'It gave to me kind of a lifeline. I feel like I was really able to be very free and raw and true.

'Going from being a mother at home for a long time, which is the greatest joy of my life, to feel like an artist again ... that was a gift.'

In Two Lovers, Gwyneth plays the volatile Michelle, one of two love interests of Joaquin Phoenix's character Leonard in the drama, directed by James Gray.

Despite Leonard's attraction to her, she remains unattainable due to her obsessive love for a married man.

Leonard finds himself torn between Michelle and a family friend Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), who his parents favour.

At the film's world premiere at Cannes in May, Gwyneth admitted she had felt obsessive love just like her character.

She said: 'Yes I have felt obsessive love. When I was younger I fell in love with someone. He wasn't married, but he was into drugs. So he wasn't around when I needed him because of that.

'I became quite obsessed with why he didn't turn up when I wanted him to. I was raised by people who love me and I always felt good about myself, but I still got caught up with thinking that he wasn't there because there was something wrong with me. I just couldn't understand why things weren't working out.'

As she spills out of her garish fuschia dress, why on earth is Liz Hurley going for the Jordan look?

2008-10-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

She has made a fortune showing off her impressive assets in skimpy outfits but claims she will no longer wear a swimming costume in public.

But Liz Hurley surely overcompensated when she tried to reverse the effects of gravity last night.

The 43-year-old showed off a pneumatic figure of cartoon proportions when she attended an event held at the Tower of London.

Her famed cleavage appeared to have been deliberately pushed up to show off an impressive bustline.

The mother of one, who is renowned for her enormous self discipline when it comes to maintaining her size ten physique, has recently struggled to control her expanding curves.

A friend said: 'The fact is, she has to work like hell to look this way. If she has a proper lunch, she will just have a boiled egg for dinner. The pressure on her never stops.'

She said in April this year: 'I can't think of anything worse in the world than another bikini shoot — and I've got two next month.

'It's unbearable, and I bring it all on myself. I've got nobody else to blame.

It's literally torture.

'But if you sign on for the gig, sadly, you have to go and be jolly in a skimpy white bikini. So I now rely on nice photographers, and a bit of retouching.'
Despite her concerns about aging the model, who is married to Indian businessman Arun Nayar, has entered her 13th year as the face of Estee Lauder - a contract which has earned her around £20million.

Haunted Madonna 'prepares for £50m divorce from Guy'

2008-10-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

Madonna looked tired and stressed as she arrived back at her New York apartment last night - as friends claimed she and Guy Ritchie are to divorce.

After months of speculation, the couple are expected to end their nearly eight-year marriage, one of showbusiness's most volatile unions, imminently.

A divorce settlement could leave film director Guy pocketing up to £50million. It is believed the couple did not sign a pre-nuptial agreement.
Madonna, 50, is one of the world's richest women, with an estimated fortune of £300 million. Ritchie, 40 - director of Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and recently RocknRolla - has his own independent wealth but it comes nowhere near his wife's. Reports earlier this year suggested that Madonna had already hired lawyer Fiona Shackleton - who represented Sir Paul McCartney in his courtroom battle with Heather Mills, and helped him reduce her claim on his £825million to £24million.
A claim by Ritchie for a share of Madonna's fortune would be based on their 10-year relationship, his support of her career and the fact that they have two children together, Rocco, eight, and adopted David Banda, two.

Madonna's determination to adopt a second child from Africa is said to be one of the main reasons for the separation.

Her husband fiercely opposes adding to the family in this way as their marriage was placed under severe strain two years ago when they adopted toddler David from Malawi.

The couple are said to have had a string of rows in recent months. But over the past three weeks it has become so strained they are thought to have communicated only through their personal assistants.

Madonna, who is currently on a gruelling world tour, is said to have wanted to postpone any separation until the New Year.

But Ritchie apparently decided that they should go their separate ways immediately. He is expected to move out of their London home and into Ashcombe House, Wiltshire, which is his property.

It is not clear where Madonna's daughter Lourdes, 12, Rocco and David will live.

The couple were due to celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary this Christmas.

Last night a close friend of the couple said: 'They have both been fighting and the marriage has been on the rocks for weeks.

'Guy has been the one who has come to the conclusion that enough is enough. They had planned to make it work in the New Year after the end of Madonna's world tour but it quickly became clear that the relationship was not worth saving.

'Guy has been saying that they both have separate lives at the moment.

'Madonna spends too much time in the gym and she is obsessed with trying to look years younger than her real age.'

The source added: 'Guy feels that Madonna does not focus on him any more.'

Last month Madonna left her husband's 40th birthday party after an hour and went home with their three children.

Ritchie carried on the celebrations at the Punch Bowl, the pub they own in Mayfair, until the early hours.

In July it was reported that the couple had drawn up a five-point plan as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage.

Rumours of problems intensified after it was suggested Madonna was romantically linked to New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez - which she strongly denied.

As part of their rescue plan, the couple decided to reduce their work schedules and agreed not to be apart for more than a week at a time.

Second, they agreed the children would be educated in Britain, where the family is based.

Madonna also pledged to cut her gym work-out time from four to three hours a day while Ritchie agreed to attend professional showbusiness events every two months
The couple married in Skibo Castle in Scotland in December 2000 - four months after the singer gave birth to their son Rocco.

Madonna is also mother to Lourdes, who turned 12 yesterday, from a previous relationship to fitness trainer Carlos Leon.

It was the first marriage for Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels director, but the second for Madonna, who had a famously tempestuous marriage with actor Sean Penn in the Eighties.

Pictured: Naughty Kate Middleton driving while talking on her mobile phone

2008-10-15T03:41:00.000-07:00

It's hardly behaviour befitting of the girlfriend to the heir to the throne.

But Kate Middleton has come under fire after being caught on camera using her mobile phone while driving.

The girlfriend of heir to the throne Prince William was seen behind the wheel of her Audi A3 hatchback with her phone clamped to her ear, along a country lane.
This kind of driving offence usually carries a fine of £60 and three penalty points.

And if someone had been injured, the 26-year-old could even have faced a jail term.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: 'Using a mobile phone while driving is extremely dangerous and has cost numerous lives.

'Drivers are four times more likely to crash if they are on their mobiles.'
A bystander told the Sun that Kate, who has dated Prince William on and off since University, said she was 'going quite quickly.

'And you could clearly see she was on the phone.'

Last year it was made illegal to use a mobile without a hands-free kit while at the wheel of a car.