V classic Minder is to be revived with former EastEnders star Shane Richie playing Archie Daley, the nephew of 1980s wheeler dealer Arthur Daley
July 31, 2008
TV classic Minder is to be revived with former EastEnders star Shane Richie playing Archie Daley, the nephew of 1980s wheeler dealer Arthur Daley.
The original cult series, starring George Cole and Dennis Waterman, first aired in 1979 and ran for 15 years.
Actor Lex Shrapnel will play the Minder role in the new six-part series, to be broadcast on Channel Five next year.
The 2009 version will move away from the gritty storylines of the 1980s in favour of more family-based drama.
"We want to satisfy fans of the original, but will also add different elements in order to excite new viewers," said Jonathan Young, the executive producer for Talkback Thames, who are making the new series.
Each hour-long episode will be a self-contained story located around iconic London landmarks such as the London Eye and Borough Market.
Channel Fives Ben Gale said the revived show would have "all the humour and charm of the original Minder".
"The assembled on and off-screen talent is exactly whats needed to bring this celebrated series to life for a new audience," he added.
omedy duo Cheech and Chong, who made a series of films and albums in the 1970s and 80s, are set to tour again more than 20 years after they split
July 31, 2008
Comedy duo Cheech and Chong, who made a series of films and albums in the 1970s and 80s, are set to tour again more than 20 years after they split.
The pair, whose routines were based on the hippie era and its associated free love and drug culture, will kick off the Light Up America tour in September.
The US comedians said they decided to reform because neither of them "are getting any younger".
Cheech, 62, and Chong, 70, won a Grammy award for best comedy album in 1973.
Drug-addled hippie
They starred in eight comedy films, invariably playing a pair of bumbling "potheads".
The pair, who split in 1987 due to creative differences, told reporters in Los Angeles that they had "kind of resolved" their "veiled hatred".
They decided that reuniting for a comedy tour would be "the most fun" and "the least hassle".
After their split, the two comedians embarked on solo careers, with Cheech Marin performing voice work for a number of films including The Lion King.
Tommy Chong became best known for playing drug-addled hippie Leo in sitcom That 70s Show.
In 2003 he was jailed for nine months for selling drug paraphernalia over the internet.
During the trial he admitted to having a marijuana problem.
Rap star Wyclef Jean is being sued by a New York jeweller which claims the performer owes the company money
July 31, 2008
Rap star Wyclef Jean is being sued by a New York jeweller which claims the performer owes the company money.
Jacob & Co alleges Mr Jean has not paid for over $300,000 (£150,000) worth of watches and jewellery.
The companys founder, Jacob Arabov, known as the "king of bling", was jailed in June by a Detroit judge for lying to investigators of a drug ring.
Mr Jean, who gained fame as a member of the The Fugees, has not commented on the legal action.
The 35-year-old singer was made a roving ambassador for Haiti, his birth country, in 2007 by President Rene Preval.
Arabov, famous for his diamond-encrusted watched and necklaces, was known as a jeweller to the stars before he was jailed.
His nickname, Jacob the Jeweller, is mentioned in tracks by many artists, including Kanye West, The Game and Beyonce.
His other clients included Madonna and Elton John.
Britney Spears lawyer has said the singer will not seek an extension for a restraining order against her former manager, Osama "Sam" Lutfi
July 31, 2008
Britney Spears lawyer has said the singer will not seek an extension for a restraining order against her former manager, Osama "Sam" Lutfi.
But Samuel Ingham added the 26-year-old star did not want to be "further harassed" by Mr Lutfi.
The order, issued earlier this year, required Mr Lutfi to stay 250 yards (228 metres) away from Ms Spears.
In a statement Mr Lutfi, 33, said he and Ms Spears had "agreed in private" that another order was not necessary.
Ms Spears mother, Lynne, obtained the restraining order in a Los Angeles court in February after claiming Mr Lutfi had been controlling her daughters life by drugging her and taking control of her finances.
Fathers control
Ms Spears father, James, is currently in charge of the singers affairs.
He was granted control of his daughters assets in February after she was admitted to a psychiatric ward.
Lawyers for Ms Spears and her father are expected to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Thursday to give an update about Mr Spears role as his daughters conservator.
A US court creates conservatorship when a person cannot care for themselves.
That power negates the need for a restraining order against Mr Lutfi since Mr Spears role as conservator allows him to decide who sees his daughter, according to Mr Ingham.
"If Mr Lutfi makes any future attempt to contact Britney after the temporary conservatorship has concluded, Britney has made clear she will take all appropriate legal action," wrote Mr Ingham.
he paparazzi are facing a possible crackdown in parts of Los Angeles
July 31, 2008
The paparazzi are facing a possible crackdown in parts of Los Angeles.
Local officials from popular celebrity areas like Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Malibu are meeting later to discuss ways of controlling photographers.
They are concerned that the paparazzi have grown more aggressive and confrontational in recent years.
"This is a response to their lack of responsible behaviour," said Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who has organised the meeting.
Mr Zine proposed a "personal safety zone" around celebrities earlier this year that police officials said would be virtually unenforceable.
He has also suggested legitimising the paparazzi - who are, by definition, freelancers - by giving them credentials and clear rules.
Trespassing
Malibu residents often complain about the behaviour of photographers, citing high-speed car chases and photographers lurking outside schools, according to acting Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich.
Earlier this week, actress Halle Berry accused a photographer of trespassing on her property to get shots of her with her four-month-old daughter.
In June, a group of surfers in Malibu fought with photographers who were trying to take shots of Matthew McConaughey on the waves.
Also this month, police arrested two photographers who were lingering near Britney Spears home.
"As it stands today, the sheriffs department is confident and comfortable that the laws that exist provide enough to ensure the safety and security of residents," said a spokesman for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.
new X-ray technique has revealed a previously unknown portrait of a woman by Vincent van Gogh, which was painted over by the artist
July 31, 2008
A new X-ray technique has revealed a previously unknown portrait of a woman by Vincent van Gogh, which was painted over by the artist.
The peasant womans face was hidden behind the work Patch of Grass, completed by Van Gogh in Paris in 1887.
Scientists Joris Dik and Koen Janssens used high-intensity X-rays from a particle accelerator to scan the painting and reveal the face beneath.
Van Gogh is known to have often reused canvasses to save money.
The identity of the peasant woman in the painting is not known.
The powerful X-ray bombardment caused atoms in the pictures layers of paint to emit "fluorescent" X-rays of their own, which indicated the chemicals they originated from. That enabled a colour map of the hidden picture to be produced.
The portrait fills a square area measuring 17.5cm by 17.5cm (6.8 by 6.8 inches).
Mr Dik, a materials scientist from Delft University, and Mr Janssens, a chemist from the University of Antwerp in Belgium, published their scientific paper online in the journal Analytical Chemistry.
A song by rap star Ludacris criticising Barack Obamas opponents has been called "outrageously offensive" by the US presidential candidates campaign
July 31, 2008
A song by rap star Ludacris criticising Barack Obamas opponents has been called "outrageously offensive" by the US presidential candidates campaign.
Politics As Usual calls President Bush "mentally handicapped", and insults both Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
"Ludacris is a talented individual but he should be ashamed of these lyrics," said Mr Obamas spokesman Bill Burton.
The rap stars publicist initially declined to comment, reported the Associated Press.
Great talent
The musician used a misogynistic term to describe Mrs Clinton and urged Mr Obama against appointing her as his running mate, saying that she "hated on you".
Mr McCain, the Republican candidate for the presidency, does not belong in "any chair unless hes paralysed", according to the rapper.
Mr Burton added: "As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn want his daughters or any children exposed to."
The Ludacris song urges black people to cast their votes in the forthcoming election, and lends his support to Mr Obamas bid.
The lyric "the world is ready for change cause Obama is here" is repeated throughout the track.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine earlier this year, Mr Obama included Ludacris when describing hip-hop stars he considered "great talents and great businessmen".
In 2006, before he announced his intention to run for president, the politician met the rapper privately in Chicago to discuss youth issues.
A collection of fairytales penned by Harry Potter author JK Rowling is to be published to raise money for a childrens charity
July 31, 2008
A collection of fairytales penned by Harry Potter author JK Rowling is to be published to raise money for a childrens charity.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which Rowling first mentioned in The Deathly Hallows, will go on sale on 4 December.
A handwritten copy of the book was sold at auction for £1.95m last year.
Rowling wrote and illustrated seven copies of the book, but offered only one for sale. It was thought the book would never be published.
Collectors edition
British charity the Childrens High Level Group (CHLG), which was founded by Rowling and Baroness Emma Nicholson to help vulnerable children across Europe, will publish three editions of the book.
Bloomsbury and Scholastic will publish a £6.99 edition, featuring additional commentary on each fairytale from Professor Dumbledore, and an introduction by Rowling.
All seven copies of the book are mounted with semi-precious stones
Amazon, who bought the handwritten copy at auction last year, will produce a maximum of 100,000 Collectors Edition copies aimed at replicating the look and feel of the original tales.
"There was understandable disappointment among Harry Potter fans when only one copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard was offered to the public last December," said Rowling.
"I am therefore delighted to announce that, thanks to the generous support of Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Amazon - and with the blessing of the wonderful people who own the other six original books - The Tales of Beedle the Bard will now be widely available to all Harry Potter fans."
In the seventh and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione Grainger is given a copy of the book a collection of fairytales by Albus Dumbledore to help in the quest to defeat Lord Voldemort.
The second film based on TV sci-fi drama The X Files has had its UK premiere in Londons Leicester Square
July 30, 2008
The second film based on TV sci-fi drama The X Files has had its UK premiere in Londons Leicester Square.
I Want to Believe sees David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their roles as alien-hunting agents Mulder and Scully.
Both stars were at the premiere where Duchovny signed autographs while Anderson waved at the screaming fans.
I Want To Believe took $10.2m (£5.1m) in North America on its opening weekend and is released in the UK on Friday.
Anderson said: "Its had a bit of a rough time in the States. Its opening against one of the highest grossing movies, Batman.
"People in the States are so used to lots of CGI, action and sex and we don really offer a lot of that in this film."
Duchovny added: "Its great to see all the fans here. I must come to premieres in the UK more often."
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
emp_load.getEmpEmbeddedParams("emp_7534244");
Gillian Anderson said the film had a rough ride in the states
Chris Aronson, the distribution executive for 20th Century Fox, said the figures for the US and Canada were "within our reasonable expectations".
He told the Associated Press: "I read some X Files fan sites and the postings on there were incredibly positive about the film.
"The hardcore X Files fans, they
e happy. And frankly, thats who the movie was made for."
The title I Want to Believe comes from the wording on a poster which adorned the alien-hunting agents office in the TV show.
The script is written by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz and sees Mulder and Scully develop their much-debated relationship.
The original TV series won three Golden Globes for best TV drama and ran from 1993 to 2002.
The first X Files movie, released 10 years ago, grossed $187m (£94m) worldwide.
ine Big Brother housemates are to face the public vote on Friday
July 30, 2008
Nine Big Brother housemates are to face the public vote on Friday.
Dale Howard and Luke Marsden were nominated for eviction by their fellow contestants on Tuesday.
But Big Brother announced seven more housemates would face the public vote as a punishment for breaking rules on discussing the nomination process.
They are Darnell Swallow, Kathreya Kasisopa, Maysoon Shaladi, Mohamed Mohamed, Rachel Rice, Rex Newmark and Stuart Pilkington.
The seven talked about the nominations in code on several occasions, trying to predict who would face the public vote and who they may have put forward themselves.
Stuarts title as head of house was also removed as a further punishment.
Australian-born Sara Folino is the only housemate to have received no nominations since she joined the Big Brother house.
Music Festivals
Latest Headlines
- Model Katie Price has given a dressage demonstration at the Horse of the Year Show, proving so popular that she has been drafted into Sundays finale
- A woman accused of stalking Hollywood actor John Cusack has accepted a plea bargain that will allow her to avoid US state prison
- scar-winning actor Tim Robbins has been awarded with a star on Hollywoods Walk of Fame
- riters, critics, historians and actors are descending on the Cheltenham Literature Festival, which has been opened by Prime Minister Gordon Brown
- inger Janet Jackson is to resume her North American tour after postponing a string of shows because of illness, according to reports in the US
- woman accused of stalking Hollywood actor John Cusack is to face trial after a last-minute plea bargain was rejected at the court in Los Angeles
- Factor winner Leona Lewis pulled out of opening the Harrods winter sale last year because of her vegetarian beliefs, it has emerged
- orest Whitaker is to star in, and direct, Louis Armstrong biopic What a Wonderful World, according to reports
- ilm and TV actor Simon Pegg has signed a publishing deal worth seven figures to write three non-fiction books
- uthor Sir Salman Rushdie has been honoured by an Irish university with an award in memory of his greatest inspiration - writer James Joyce