Wedgwood museum up for art prize

The Wedgwood Museum celebrates the art of ceramics

A museum dedicated to Wedgwood, the world-renowned, 250-year-old pottery company, is in the running for the 2009 Art Fund Prize.

The Wedgwood Museum in Stoke-on-Trent has been longlisted for the

Actress Wendy Richard dies at 65

Wendy Richard was in EastEnders for 21 years Obituary: Wendy Richard

Former EastEnders actress Wendy Richard has died aged 65, her agent has confirmed.

The star, who played Pauline Fowler in the BBC One soap opera, had been suffering from cancer.

Her agent Kevin Francis said: "She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end."

Last October, Richard revealed she had an aggressive, terminal form of cancer. Soon after that she married her long-term partner John Burns.

Planned funeral

Francis said the star passed away in the Harley Street Clinic in London with her husband by her side.

In an interview with the Sunday Express last year, Richard revealed she had already planned her funeral and written her will.

She discovered the disease had returned after her usual annual check-up, which revealed cancerous cells in her left armpit.

She told the paper: "Now I have a cancerous growth on my right kidney and the cancer has spread to my bones.

"It's more aggressive this time, unfortunately, and has spread to the top of my spine and left ribs."

In 2000 Richard was awarded the MBE for services to television and in 2007 she was given a British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement for her role in EastEnders.

On top of her 21 years on Albert Square, Richard starred in sitcoms Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army and Grace and Favour.

She joined EastEnders when the programme began in 1985 and remained in it until 2006, when her character died.

The reason she gave for her departure was because she objected to producers making her character remarry.

MGMT to sue Sarkozy for music use

MGMT won best new band at Wednesday's NME Awards

US indie duo MGMT have demanded compensation from the French President for using one of their hits as a campaign soundtrack without permission.

MGMT claim Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party used the track Kids at its national congress and in two online videos.

UMP has admitted using it, but said it was a mistake and has offered a symbolic gesture of one euro (

New series for Being Human show

The show has been a big hit with critics

A new series of the critically acclaimed BBC Three show Being Human has been commissioned, the BBC says.

The show, which chronicles the lives of a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost living in modern-day Bristol, will return for another eight-part series.

The show, starring Russell Tovey, has received rave reviews and attracted a high of over one million viewers.

BBC Three boss Danny Cohen said he was "thrilled" the "hugely popular" show would be returning.

"It's also a very important staging-post in the successful development of home-grown young drama on BBC Three," he added.

The Guardian newspaper has likened the show to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the 90s BBC drama This Life.

In The Sun, Lorraine Kelly said it was a "brilliant comedy drama".

The current series comes to a climax on Sunday.

Singer Page leaves Barenaked band

The group recently released an album especially for children

Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page has left the Canadian group under "mutual agreement", according to the band's website.

The singer, who pleaded not guilty in July after being arrested in New York for possessing cocaine, will "pursue solo projects", the posting said.

Page said: "I love them and wish them all the best in the future."

Guitarist and singer Ed Robertson said: "It's the start of a new chapter for all of us. Here's to the future."

As well as Robertson, the remaining band members Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn and Tyler Stewart plan to continue recording and touring.

Page described his former band members as "my brothers".

He said: "We've grown up together over the past 20 years."

The group pulled out of performing at the Disney Music Block Party last year after Page's arrest.

Known for their clean image and cross-generational appeal, the group recently released an album for children called Snacktime.

They are best known for hits such as One Week and Pinch Me.

Blur perform on Oasis prize night

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon performed This Is A Low

Members of Blur gave a surprise performance at the NME Awards in London - on the night old Britpop rivals Oasis were named best British band.

Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of Blur, who are reforming for summer festivals, performed This Is A Low from classic album Parklife.

Oasis, who were not at the ceremony, received a record seven nods. As well as best band they won best band blog.

Muse picked up three of the night's awards, voted for by NME readers.

This is ironic, we're being given best British band by the second-best British comedian Noel Gallagher on receiving an award from Russell Brand

The Devon trio were named best live band for the second year in a row and were awarded best album artwork for live album HAARP. Singer Matt Bellamy was also named sexiest male.

Oasis, who released seventh studio album Dig Out Your Soul last year, were booed when the best band announcement was made before a video was shown of comedian Russell Brand presenting the award to Noel Gallagher.

"This is ironic, we're being given best British band by the second-best British comedian.

"Thanks to all the readers who've voted. This has turned into a right bad idea."

Winning run

Gallagher lost out to new US President Barack Obama in the hero of the year category, with former commander-in-chief George W Bush winning villain of the year for the sixth year running.

Nashville rockers Kings of Leon, who picked up two Brit Awards a week ago, continued their winning run by scooping best album for Only By the Night.

New-wave New Yorkers MGMT, meanwhile, did a double, picking up best new band and best track for Time to Pretend.

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The Cure's Robert Smith on the "dirtier" NME awards

Villain of the year

US pop band the Jonas Brothers also won two awards, though are unlikely to celebrate being crowned worst band and worst album.

Glastonbury won the top festival award, while best venue was won by London's Astoria, which closed in January and faces demolition to make way for a new cross-city rail link.

Indie rock legends The Cure received a standing ovation when they were presented with the godlike genius award after 33 years together and rounded off the show with a 30 minute performance.

Other live performances on the night came from Mercury Prize winners Elbow - who won the outstanding contribution to British music award - as well as Scottish bands Glasvegas, and Franz Ferdinand, who performed a cover version of Call Me, by Blondie.

The awards, hosted by comedian Mark Watson, will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Friday.

First female BBC Sport head named

Mrs Slater is a former Olympic gymnast

The BBC has appointed its first ever female director of sport.

Barbara Slater, who is currently the corporation's head of sport production, will succeed Roger Mosey, who has been named BBC director of London 2012.

Mrs Slater's responsibilities will include directing coverage of major sport events and overseeing the move of her department from London to Salford.

She said: "I am thrilled to have this opportunity to lead BBC Sport at such an exciting and challenging time."

Mrs Slater added that she was looking forward to leading the relocation and "making the 2012 Games the success they deserve to be".

'New decade'

Mrs Slater, who grew up in Birmingham, joined the BBC in 1983.

She had previously enjoyed a successful career as an international gymnast, and competed in the 1976 Olympic Games.

Peter Salmon, the director of BBC North, praised Mrs Slater's "skill as a supreme sports producer".

"We are about to start a new decade of digital sports broadcasting across all our platforms. I am confident Barbara and her teams can lead us there successfully," he added.

'Psychedelic' Klaxons coming soon

By Georgie Rogers 6 Music News reporter

SMD released a collection remixes called Sample and Hold in 2008

The majority of Klaxons' second album is completed, according to Simian Mobile Disco maestro James Ford.

Ford described the new record as, "quite psychedelic", and revealed it is, "kind of most of the way there".

Back in 2007, he took up production duties on the London indie-rave quartet's Mercury Prize-winning debut, Myths Of The Near Future.

The producer has worked with The Last Shadow Puppets, Test Icicles and Mystery Jets in the past.

Speaking to BBC 6 Music about Klaxons' forthcoming release, he said: "There's still some things to do, but it's gonna be really good, I think.

"They've tried to push forward, as they like to do, but also I think there's quite a lot of stuff that people would recognise as Klaxons on there as well."

They played their first show for months on 3 February, a secret gig inside tiny London venue Madame Jojo's, at which they previewed new songs.

Tracks performed included Moonhead, Imaginary Pleasures, In Silver Forest and Valley Of The Calm Trees.

I think there's quite a lot of stuff that people would recognise as Klaxons on there as well. Producer, James Ford

Meanwhile, Simian Mobile Disco are busy working on their next album, the follow-up to 2007's Attack Sustain Decay Release.

Ford said his main focus at the moment is the next offering with his SMD partner Jas Shaw: "The main thing I'm working on at the minute is obviously the Simian thing, because we want to get the record done.

"So, that's been the main focus but I've also done, recently, tracks with Klaxons and Florence And The Machine. What with that and touring, it's been keeping me pretty busy."

Simian Mobile Disco showcased their new material, including a new track called Cruel Intentions which features vocals from Beth Ditto, at their NME Awards Tour show earlier this month.

Wonder to get White House award

Stevie Wonder performed at a concert at the Library of Congress on Monday

Motown legend Stevie Wonder is to be honoured with a special prize during a ceremony at the White House later.

US President Barack Obama will present the multi-Grammy winning soul star with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress.

The award commemorates a composer or performer for their lifetime contributions to popular music.

Wonder is only the second person to have received the accolade. The first was Paul Simon in 2007.

On Monday Wonder played at the Library of Congress. A full orchestra accompanied the performer, who played the piano, keyboard and harmonica.

His 1970 track Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours was a theme song during the presidential campaign, while he also performed at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on the night Mr Obama accepted his party's nomination.

Wonder has sold more than 70 million albums since he was signed by Motown Records at the age of 11.

He was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys in 1996 and inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years later.

In 2005, he released his first album in 10 years, A Time to Love, following it with concerts in the US and Europe in 2007 and 2008.

Arnie to play himself in Sly film

The star has only made three cameo appearances since becoming governor

California governor and former action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger is to play himself in a film being made by Sylvester Stallone.

The 61-year-old will make a rare big-screen appearance in The Expendables, Stallone's publicist confirmed.

The film, in which Stallone also stars, follows a group of mercenaries trying to overthrow a South American dictator.

Actors Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke and Forest Whitaker will also star.

As well as acting, Stallone is also writing and directing the film.

Publicist Sheryl Main said Schwarzenegger will play himself as California's governor and will shoot his scene in Los Angeles.

The actor has made just three cameos for friends since becoming governor in 2003, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson film The Rundown in 2003 and Around the World in 80 Days in 2004.

Schwarzenegger and Stallone co-founded the restaurant chain Planet Hollywood together in 1991, along with Bruce Willis, but the Terminator star severed all his financial ties with the business in 2000.

EastEnders hails black landmark

Chelsea, Denise and Libby featured in Tuesday's episode

EastEnders has aired the first episode featuring an entirely black cast in its 23-year history.

Tuesday's programme focused entirely on characters Patrick Trueman, Denise Wicks, fiance Lucas, and her daughters Chelsea and Libby.

Patrick reminisced about London in the 1950s after his arrival from the Caribbean in the episode.

The action was set chiefly in his house, which is also the home of the other characters.

Racism

The family discussed history around the dinner table as they marked Shrove Tuesday, and it was revealed that Patrick (played by Rudolph Walker) was involved in the 1958 Notting Hill riots.

He then went on to discuss what it was like living as a black man in 1950s Britain and the racism he had to contend with.

When the group decides the UK is a less racist place to live, Chelsea questions this, saying it still exists but in a less obvious guise.

Patrick Trueman, currently separated from his wife Yolande, first appeared on the programme in 2001.

Denise and her daughters have been in the show for three years and involved in a series of high-profile storylines.

It was once thought that Patrick was Denise's long lost father, but this was proved not to be the case.

Oldie honours Sachs and Sergeant

Andrew Sachs (left) with Sir Terry Wogan and John Sergeant

Actor Andrew Sachs and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant John Sergeant were among the winners at the Oldie Awards ceremony in London.

Sachs, who was at the centre of the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand phone calls row, won granddad of the year.

Sergeant, who eventually bowed out of BBC One's ballroom dancing show despite huge support, won hoofer of the year.

The awards are given out every year by The Oldie magazine to well-known older citizens who have made the headlines.

'All in the past'

Other winners included novelist Sir Terry Pratchett, named campaigner of the year for raising awareness of Alzheimer's Disease which he suffers from.

"I was a grumpy old man as well. I'm quite happy to be an oldie," said the 60-year-old writer.

Former Fawlty Towers star Sachs was given his prize for his "dignified response to the BBC furore surrounding phone calls about his granddaughter".

He explained that he wanted to put the incident behind him, and said: "I don't harbour grudges, it's happened, there we are, it's all in the past."

Sergeant said that his unconventional yet popular stint on Strictly Come Dancing had been "a great triumph".

"A mistake that some people made is that they seemed to think I was a bad dancer. Now I don't know how they got that impression, I did everything I could to stop that," he added.

Other winners included Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable for predicting the economic downturn, and writer Diana Athill for her memoirs of old age.

The event, which was founded in 1992, was hosted by Sir Terry Wogan.

Barrymore police issue apology

Mr Barrymore has always denied involvement in Mr Lubbock's death

Police have apologised to the father of the man found dead near entertainer Michael Barrymore's swimming pool at his Essex home in 2001.

Terry Lubbock, Stuart Lubbock's father, said that Essex Police had told him "mistakes were made" by the force.

A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission identified failings in the initial inquiry into the death of Mr Lubbock.

No-one has ever been charged in connection with the case.

FROM BBC RADIO 5 LIVE More from BBC Radio 5 live

Stuart Lubbock, 31, was found dead at Mr Barrymore's ex-property in Roydon, Essex.

Post-mortem tests showed Stuart Lubbock, 31, had suffered severe internal injuries which indicated sexual assault.

His bloodstream contained ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol.

In 2002, a coroner recorded an open verdict into his death.

Mr Barrymore and two other men were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and murder in 2007 but were subsequently released without charge.

Mr Lubbock wants to find out what happened to his son

Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police Andy Bliss said a new investigation in the death began in 2006 and this remains ongoing.

He said he had visited Mr Lubbock to deliver a personal apology on behalf of the force: "Over the last eight years, Essex Police has taken a number of steps to improve investigations into suspicious deaths.

"Since this investigation, Essex Police has introduced specific training for dealing with suspicious deaths and we continually seek to improve this.

"We remain determined to find out what happened to Stuart back in March 2001."

Lily added to T in the Park bill

Lily Allen will be among the headliners at this year's T in the Park

The official line-up for this year's T in the Park festival has been unveiled.

Lily Allen and Franz Ferdinand are among the new additions to this year's event, due to be held at Balado, Kinross-shire, from 10 to 12 July.

They will join previously announced headliners Blur, Kings of Leon and The Killers.

Other freshly confirmed acts for the festival include Keane, The Specials, Bloc Party, James, Paulo Nutini, The Script and Manic Street Preachers.

Some 45,000 tickets have been sold for the event so far, with a further 40,000 tickets due to go on sale this Friday.

The new additions to the bill also include The Ting Tings, Maximo Park, Seasick Steve, James Morrison, Jason Mraz, Mogwai, Mars Volta, Airborne Toxic Event, The Gaslight Anthem, Simian Mobile Disco and newcomers Hockey.

As previously announced, Snow Patrol, Razorlight and Elbow will also appear over the weekend.

Slumdog: Trailblazer or one off?

By Clare Walmsley Entertainment reporter, BBC News

On the face of it, Slumdog Millionaire was an unlikely best picture winner for the often-conservative Academy voters.

It is set in India, it is frequently subtitled from Hindi and it was not made by a Hollywood studio.

Slumdog counters graphic scenes and child abuse with a romantic plot

It was almost a straight to DVD movie after the company releasing it was closed down. And on Oscar night it became the first fully British-funded film to win best picture since 1949.

So what is behind its phenomenal success - and is it breaking new ground in the film world?

Empire magazine's features editor Dan Jolin thinks not.

"A lot of people are down about the recession, the time was right for a film to come along and tell a rags-to-riches story," he says.

"Sure it had dark edges to it but at its heart it's a very feel-good, fairytale film.

"The film it was primarily up against, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, was a film about death whereas Slumdog Millionaire was a film about getting the girl and several million rupees."

New breed

The UK Film Council's Simon Till agrees that the film chimed with the mood of the times, particularly in an optimistic post-Obama America. But he thinks the film's success is the result of a new breed in the British industry.

"There's a generation of producers and writers that understand that films cost millions of pounds and so to be marketed they will need to be commercial and work on a worldwide basis," he explains.

"I think there's a real competitive commercialism that they have and they're less intimidated by Hollywood than they were 15 years ago."

I think there's something Disney-esque in its central conceit Dan Jolin, Empire magazine

Slumdog Millionaire's writer Simon Beaufoy said the film demonstrates "there are more important things than money". But its success - it cost

Talking Shop: David Archuleta

Archuleta's clean-cut image has won him heartthrob status

David Archuleta won a legion of fans as a contestant on the seventh series of American Idol in 2008.

Although he finished as the runner-up to winner David Cook, the 18-year-old's clean-cut image and soulful voice have earned him teen heart-throb status.

His debut single Crush entered the US Billboard top 100 at number two in August 2008, with his self-titled album entering the Billboard 200 at the same position.

He is now planning an assault on the UK charts.

---

What have you been up to since American Idol finished?

We went on the American Idol tour over the summer and during that time I was working on my album which came out in November.

I've been doing a lot of promos for it since, including one at Madison Square Garden - it was so weird as I was between Kanye West and Chris Brown! It was really intimidating but so exciting.

Are you sick of singing your new single Crush yet?

I'm not sick of it, I really like the song. It takes a while for me to get sick of a song - if it's on the radio a lot I get sick of it. But I don't listen to my own songs on the radio anyway because that's just weird.

You were very young when American Idol first started, were you counting down the days until you were old enough to audition?

I thought I was never good enough to do it. I did a show called Star Search when I was 12 but during that I got vocal paralysis, which had an effect on my singing and I thought there's no way after that.

Then I took some vocal therapy and decided to audition. I almost didn't because I thought there was no point in wasting all that money and time when I didn't think I'd get very far.

But I decided at the last minute and had to quit my summer job running the lights and sound at an amphitheatre near my house.

David Archuleta lost out in the American Idol final to David Cook

What do you think of Simon Cowell?

I really like Simon. Everyone's really like, "he's a jerk and scary and mean" but I think he's really nice. He had a lot of good things to say on the show and if they weren't positive, it was to help motivate you to do better.

You're now a teen heart-throb in the US but I read recently that you've yet to have your first kiss - how is this possible?

I've never had a girlfriend - I've just always felt too young to be into that stuff.

I think that people at school start too soon and haven't matured enough to worry about it and understand what they're feeling. I don't want to let myself get confused too quickly and I'm just waiting for the right girl.

It's weird because I didn't have a lot of offers before and now I get a lot.

What's the most random gift a fan has sent you?

Last night, I got this sponge microphone so when you're in the shower you can pretend you're singing - that was really weird - I've not used it yet!

You've got almost 140,000 friends on MySpace - do you accept them all yourself?

Someone else accepts all the friends but I update my blogs and pictures. You have to build a relationship with your fans, so I think it's a really important thing to do.

It's fun to read what people have to say and it gets them more involved. Most of them are saying the same thing like "I love you" but a bunch of them have really cool things to say.

Archuleta received the Teen Choice Award for most fanatic fans in 2008

How do you stay a typical teen?

By remembering my values and things that help me stay strong through all of this. I don't think I've changed that much as a person, it's just people now know who I am.

Of course I'm going to start changing from the experience I have but I still have the same friends and I'm still David to them and my family.

Are you going to watch the new series of American Idol?

I'm going to try - especially now I know what they've gone through because I know how it feels. I've always been a fan of the show and they find some really good, talented people.

What do you think of the new rules like not showing so many of the car-crash auditions?

A lot of people like those but I always felt bad for them. They do so much waiting and it takes a lot of time to commit to something like that so I'm glad they're changing that.

Did you know there is a kickboxer called David Archuleta and have you ever been mistaken for him?

I've heard about him! I've never met him or been mistaken for him. But it'd be kind of funny to meet him because we have the same name and he's a kickboxer which is the opposite thing to me - and because I'd probably die if I was in a kickboxing match.

Crush is out now. David Archuleta was talking to BBC entertainment reporter Genevieve Hassan.

Comic play satirises Fritzl media frenzy

The play parodies stories of abuse - but also satirises the far right

A controversial comic play inspired by the case of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man alleged to have kidnapped and raped his daughter, has opened in Vienna. The BBC's Bethany Bell was amongst the audience on the first night.

Many of us attending the first performance of Pension F were journalists, a fact not lost on the director and performer Hubsi Kramar.

Over the stage hung a placard with the slogan "Opfer machen Quoten" which roughly translates as "victims make ratings".

The Fritzl case was "the story of the year for the tabloid press", he announced.

Watching us

A few minutes into the show, described by its creators as the "ultimate media satire", a member of the production team trained his camera on the audience. The pictures of the spectators were beamed onto the screens at the back of the stage.

The play holds a mirror up to the media Audience member Mario Dianics

Hubsi Kramar gathered the cast around him on a sofa and looked straight at the audience. "We are now the audience" he said. He and the performers, some of whom had themselves suffered abuse, gave us a round of ironic applause.

We watched them watching us.

The show did not have a storyline. Instead it presented a number of improvised sketches and songs dealing with how victims of abuse are exploited by the media and by society.

Hubsi Kramar says the piece is about finding what he called "the Fritzl in each one of us, the structural violence inherent in patriarchal societies, Austria in particular."

Elisabeth and her children spent years in a windowless cellar

He stressed it was not about the family in Amstetten.

In one sketch, a parody of a talk show, a woman who is about to tell a story of abuse, is seized upon by a "victim stylist" who smears her face with red makeup and shortens her skirt to make her more appealing to a television audience.

Pension F also took swipes at the far right parties in Austria, as well as at racist and sexist attitudes and sex scandals in the Austrian Catholic Church.

While some felt the piece was a little long and repetitive, for many it was a thought-provoking evening.

"The play holds a mirror up to the media," Mario Dianics, a member of the audience (but not a journalist) said. "It is a very intelligent, critical piece."

His friend Christian Seitz agreed. "I was shaken up in a positive sense," he said. "We were confronted with subjects that are normally taboo."

But while the show cautioned against exploiting victims, it ended with a call by Mr Kramar to break down what he called the "wall of silence" surrounding many other cases of abuse.

"Kampusch and Fritzl are the exceptions," he said. "Lots of other cases aren't reported on."

Spice Girl Mel C has a baby girl

Mel C was still performing a month before she gave birth

Former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm has had a "beautiful little girl" with her partner Thomas Starr, according to a message on her official website.

Scarlet Starr arrived on Sunday afternoon, weighing 8lb 3oz. Both mother and daughter "are doing fine".

Chisholm, labelled Sporty Spice in her Girl Power days, is the last of the Spice Girls to become a mother.

Mel B has two daughters, Victoria Beckham three sons, Geri Halliwell has one daughter and Emma Bunton a son.

Chisholm has arguably had the most successful solo musical career of any of the Spice Girls.

She has released four albums, and scored two number ones in 2000 with I Turn To You and Never Be The Same Again.

Thanks to a duet with Bryan Adams, When You're Gone, and the two incarnations of the Spice Girls, she is the only female artist to hit number one as part of a quintet, quartet, duo and as a solo artist.

Announcing her pregnancy last August, Chisholm said she would "need to take some time off to be a mum but, before you know it, we'll be back" with a fifth album.

INXS 'shocked' by sacking claims

Fortune is working on a solo album, Death of a Motivational Speaker

Rock band INXS say they are "shocked and despondent" after singer JD Fortune claimed they fired him without warning.

JD Fortune, who was picked to replace the late Michael Hutchence, said he was broke and living out of a car following his dismissal at an airport in Japan.

"Not only are we shocked by the claims, even the place the supposed incident was to have taken place is a mystery," said a statement issued by the group.

However, they did not deny that Fortune was no longer in the Australian band.

Hutchence, the band's original singer, died in November 1997, on the eve of a tour.

His fellow members tried several replacements before picking Fortune, 25, in a 2005 reality TV show.

He recorded only one album, Switch, with the band - whose other five members have an average age of 50.

'Alone'

Last week, Fortune described how he parted company with INXS on Canadian TV show Entertainment Tonight.

"I was in an airport at Hong Kong and literally got a handshake," he said.

INXS scored hits like New Sensation and Suicide Blonde with Hutchence

"I found myself really alone because I had travelled with these guys for 23 months. I don't know where I am going, from sofa to sofa, from night to night. I am trying to get through my life."

The singer admitted his dismissal may have been linked to a cocaine habit he developed while working with the band.

Members of INXS have previously spoken about the dangers of mixing drink and drugs - something they feared could have contributed to Hutchence's untimely death.

The band's reaction to Fortune's comments came via their "creative director and global business strategist", CM Murphy.

He said the group were "horrified" by the interview, and disputed Fortune's portrayal of their behaviour.

"The band have always stated to me that Fortune's services could potentially be contracted again when INXS next tour.

"In fact, he was next on my list to call regarding a very big recording project I am putting together for INXS at present," Murphy added.

"I guess I have no reason to call him now."

Watchdog clears soap abuse plot

Character Whitney Dean was seduced by screen stepfather Tony King

An EastEnders storyline about a character's relationship with his teenage stepdaughter did not breach guidelines, Ofcom has ruled.

The episodes, which prompted 200 complaints from viewers, did not dwell on the physical nature of the abuse, the broadcasting watchdog decided.

Tony and Whitney's story was covered "appropriately and sensitively" and could have a positive impact, it said.

The storyline ran on the BBC One soap from September to December.

Uncomfortable viewing

It emerged that Whitney, 15, had been groomed by her stepfather since the age of 12.

Many viewers had objected to the material because it was broadcast before the watershed.

An early show featured Whitney (Shona McGarty) and Tony, played by Chris Coghill, secretly kissing.

She eventually confided in her stepmother Bianca, who persuaded her to press charges against Tony.

At the time the BBC said that the storyline had been created with the assistance of children's charity the NSPCC and in full accordance with BBC editorial policy.

It admitted that some of the scenes would make uncomfortable viewing, but insisted that any violence was implied rather than graphically portrayed.

As the storyline unfolded, around eight million viewers were tuning into the soap.

Saint Laurent art goes to auction

By Alasdair Sandford BBC News, Paris

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge began collecting art in the 1950s

The biggest ever sale of privately owned art will begin later, when Yves Saint Laurent's collection and that of his former partner go under the hammer.

Over three days in Paris, the work the late fashion designer and Pierre Berge amassed over half a century is expected to fetch up to 300m euros (

Melinda Messenger dances off ice

Messenger had been partnered by professional ice skater Fred Palascak

TV presenter Melinda Messenger has been voted out of ITV's Dancing on Ice programme after a skate-off against former Liberty X singer Jessica Taylor.

It was the fourth time Messenger had finished in the bottom two after the public telephone vote but this time the judges refused to save her.

Judge Nicky Slater said Messenger had "brightened the show" but was "not strong enough against Jessica".

Her departure leaves six celebrities in the competition.

The former glamour model chose to dance to Let's Hear It For The Boy from the film Footloose while Taylor danced to Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart.

Harsh words

Messenger was not hopeful of her chances before the skate-off, saying: "I may as well go and get the flowers now."

During the tie-breaker, Taylor successfully pulled off a lift which she had failed to manage in the first round.

Singer and actor Ray Quinn followed his perfect score of 30 from the judges last week with an almost perfect 29.5. Robin Cousins called his dance to Rock Around the Clock by Bill Hayley & The Comets "brilliant to watch".

There were harsh words for Roxanne Pallett. After her turn on the ice, judge Ruthie Henshall declared: "You just don't do it for me."

TV presenter Zoe Salmon, investigative reporter Donal MacIntyre, actress and Loose Women regular Coleen Nolan are the other remaining contestants.

Oscar magic lifts shock-lite show

By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News, in Hollywood

Slumdog director Danny Boyle and child star Rubiana Ali celebrated

Thank goodness for those little touches of Oscar magic that no-one can predict.

The smiles of the Slumdog children as they bounded on stage, for instance, or Danny Boyle's Tigger impression when he won best director.

Then there was Kate Winslet's father whistling at her from beneath what looked like one of Johnny Cash's hats, or Philippe Pettit's magic trick and Oscar balancing act.

Anne Hathaway may not be going home with an Oscar, but her knock-out appearance in the opening number could easily land her a recording contract.

But now the dust has settled, will we look back at the 2009 Oscars with affection, or at all?

It was a great night to be British. Or Indian. Or, somewhat bizarrely, Japanese.

It was also a good night to be Australian. One particular Australian as it happens - Hugh Jackman, taking to the role of Oscar host like a crocodile to water.

Philippe Petit balanced the Oscar for best documentary on his chin

Looking back at the 81st Academy Awards, however, it's hard to single it out as a vintage year.

It was a good show, to be sure. Even the most generous viewer, though, would balk at calling it - as Boyle did in his acceptance speech - "bloody wonderful".

Boyle's movie, the crowd-pleasing Slumdog Millionaire, won in every category in which it was nominated bar one - a happy ending wholly suited to its fairy-tale progress through this year's awards season.

And given the way they have dominated almost every gong-giver since early January, it seemed somehow fated that Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz and the late Heath Ledger would be recognised at the main event.

Yes, Sean Penn's victory was a turn-up given Mickey Rourke's late surge. But it was not the kind of massive upset people remember.

Indeed, the only true shock of the night - for people who actually care about these things - was that Japanese drama Departures took the best foreign film statuette away from both Palme d'Or winner The Class and critics' darling Waltz with Bashir.

Oscars host Hugh Jackman put on a song and dance with Beyonce

Away from the prizes, the show itself struggled to deliver the kind of big coups de theatre some might have expected from its much talked-about overhaul.

Apart from Jackman's show-stopping number with Beyonce, this felt like a trimmed-down Oscars for a cash-conscious age.

This may also be one of the first years in history when the award presentations were longer than the actual acceptance speeches.

Bringing five previous winners out to sing the praises of this year's nominees was fun at the beginning.

By the end, though, it felt like an ordeal. Especially when Kate decided to give each of them a hug.

The result was an oddly stodgy, overly stage-managed affair that felt as if it had had all its spontaneity removed.