Britney Spears left behind a trail of disappointed fans as she headed for New York yesterday after a 24-hour visit to London. The singer kept herself hidden behind oversized sunglasses and a fedora hat as she touched down at JFK after her whistle stop tour to the UK fell short of expectation. ...read
Last tango for Strictly's Christine Bleakley as Rachel Stevens is saved
TV presenter Christine Bleakley became the twelfth celebrity to be kicked off Strictly after facing a dance-off with Rachel Stevens, who was saved.
TV and Showbiz big picture gallery
TV presenter Christine Bleakley became the twelfth celebrity to be kicked off Strictly after facing a dance-off with Rachel Stevens, who was saved.
TODAY'S TOP SHOWBUSINESS STORY
- Last Tango in Strictly for Christine Bleakley as she gets eliminated... while Rachel Stevens is saved
- Britney storms the X Factor... but mimes because she wanted to concentrate on her dance routine
- Cheeky Girl: Geri Halliwell exposes her behind in red carpet wardrobe malfunction
- Ramsay had TWO more lovers claims 'mistress' as she reveals more sordid details of their affair
- As broke Kerry Katona is on the verge of losing her home, husband Mark buys £20,000 Mini
- I'd Do Anything star Jodie Prenger transformed into Nancy as she gets set for West End Oliver debut
- Courtney Love admits: I once considered having a gastric band fitted... but the doctor wouldn't let me
- Nicola in tears AGAIN as she threatens to quit as tensions flare in camp over sleeping arrangements
- Esther Rantzen and Timmy Mallet get the boot from I'm A Celebrity in double eviction night
- Who you kissing now, Sienna? 'Serial' Miller poaches another man for her latest flick
- Hat's alike: Gabriella Windsor takes a leaf out of Zara Philip's style guide at the Hennessey Races
- Victoria Beckham shows off her '60s inspired style as she arrives in London
- Posh Spice shows Liz Furley how to fake it
- Lisa Snowdon comes top of the leader's board... but will the Strictly viewers still vote her off?
- Will this bikini be a sell-out too? Helen Mirren shows off her curves in another swimsuit
- Gordon is using me...so I will use him: How Ramsay's 'mistress' plotted to exploit her tawdry affair
- Dannii is first judge to lose all contestants as Ruth Lorenzo is voted off X Factor
- Beyonce in rehab - but only to research her latest film role
- MORE HEADLINES
- Geri Halliwell goes from Spice Girl to cheeky girl as she does a twirl in a transparent red dress
- After that disastrous X Factor performance, Britney Spears high-tails it to New York
- Gordon's F-word joke about his 'affair with Delia Smith' as he laughs off claims he had two more lovers
- Victoria Beckham shows off her Sixties inspired style - and her legs - as she arrives in London
- Last Tango in Strictly for Christine Bleakley as she gets eliminated... while Rachel Stevens is spared
- Kerry Katona's husband gets a £20,000 Mini Cooper rally car while she struggles to pay the mortgage
- Life's a beach for 63-year-old Helen Mirren as she shows off her figure in another swimsuit
- Esther Rantzen and Timmy Mallet get the boot from I'm A Celebrity in double eviction night
- Oh dear... Katie Holmes steps out looking blue (but loses out to Posh in the stylish mac stakes)
- I introduced Amy to 'heroin, crack and self-harming,' confesses her guilt-ridden husband
- I'd Do Anything star Jodie Prenger transformed into Nancy as she gets set for West End debut in Oliver!
- Angelina Jolie shows off her flat stomach proving she's NOT pregnant
- MOST READ IN DETAIL
HAVE YOUR SAY...
TODAY'S POLL
ALL THE LATEST SHOWBUSINESS
- Woman in red: Flame-haired Sienna Miller gets dramatic makeover for new film The actress cut a bizarre sight at Niagara Falls on a horse painted blue
- Angelina Jolie shows off her flat stomach proving she's NOT pregnant The mother-of-six pulled on a slim-fitting tailored dress in New Orleans
- Worse-for-wear Alesha Dixon celebrates chart success by cavorting with TWO men The Strictly star left Movida looking a little tipsy at 3.30am
- Last tango in Strictly for Christine Bleakley as she gets eliminated... while Rachel is saved The TV presenter took her final bow
- After that disastrous X Factor performance, Britney Spears high-tails it to New York 12.8million viewers tuned in to see the performance
- Victoria Beckham shows off her Sixties inspired style - and her legs - as she arrives in London VB's in London to launch her dress collection
NEWS AND GOSSIP AROUND THE
- Cheeky Girl: Geri Halliwell exposes her behind in red carpet wardrobe malfunction The star looked dazzling - but showed off a little too much flesh
- Gordon's F-word joke about his 'affair with Delia Smith' as he laughs off claims he had two more lovers The chef made light of the latest allegations
- Kerry Katona's husband gets a £20,000 Mini Cooper rally car while she struggles to pay the mortgage She is struggling to pay her £1m mortgage
- I'd Do Anything star Jodie Prenger transformed into Nancy as she gets set for West End debut in Oliver! She saw off thousands to win a plum part in Oliver!
- Esther Rantzen and Timmy Mallet get the boot from I'm A Celebrity in double eviction night There are now just seven celebrities left in jungle Down Under
- Nicola in tears AGAIN as she threatens to quit as tensions flare in camp over sleeping arrangements The stressed WAG is at breaking point
WORLD TO BROWSE AT A GLANCE!
- Hat's alike: Gabriella Windsor takes a leaf out of Zara Philip's style guide at the Hennessey Races The pair look the spitting image of each other
- Victoria Beckham shows off her '60s inspired style as she arrives in London She has returned to the UK for launch of her new dress collection
- Courtney Love admits: I once considered having a gastric band fitted... but the doctor wouldn't let me The 44-year-old lifts the lid in revealing interview
- Dannii first judge to lose all contestants as Ruth Lorenzo is voted off X Factor The Spanish senorita is given the chop
- Lisa Snowdon comes top of the leader's board... but will Strictly viewers still vote her off? The model cha cha chas her way to the top
- Healey pleads: 'I'm in Strictly... get me out of here' as he and partner are trapped in gym The former rugby player and Erin Boag were rescued by staff
THE BIG READS
SOAP BOX
- Stephanie Beacham: 'Look out, Ken Barlow - I've given up toyboys!'
- Soap street Brookside Close goes under the hammer for knockdown price of £550,000
- EastEnders Roxy and Sean's marriage crisis after he finds out 'daughter' might be Jack's
- 'I've never stepped on a pair of scales and I won't do diets,' says Corrie's Jennie McAlpine
- The Hills' Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt elope in Mexico
- Legging it from Chester to the catwalk: Hollyoaks stars show their modelling prowess
REVIEWS
FILM
MUSIC REVIEWS
Il Divo: 'We're so big, we tell Simon Cowell what to do'
With their chiselled cheekbones and rich, resounding voices, Il Divo were put together by Simon Cowell in an attempt to bring operatic singing to the masses. Now after four years of hits the music mogul is letting the 'popera' group call the shots.
THEATRE
- August - Osage County: Sheer misery in the Midwest Amusement is outweighed by misery in this play about an appalling family
- The Family Reunion: An Eliot that's too darn clever for it's own good T.S. Eliot's arch-intellectual, cryptic tendancy is the downfall of his 1939 play
- In a Dark Dark House: Light at the end of the turmoil Neil LaBute's intriguing whodunnit leads to a pretty dark place, but it's not without hope
GAMES
- Tomb Raider - Underworld: Lara Croft's best adventure yet Lara Croft embarks on her largest, most detailed and finest quest to date
- Left 4 Dead: Killing zombies is better with friends When eight players log on, this zombie bloodbath really hits the jackpot
- Resistance 2: Looks great but won't redefine the genre A first-person shooter that's big and bold but too hackneyed to be brilliant
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
Scroll through for the latest new album releases
GUNS N' ROSES
Chinese Democracy (Geffen)
Bandana-clad singer Axl Rose has taken 15 years to finish this record. So, what is 'the most anticipated album ever' actually like? Well, the title track kickstarts affairs not with the expected deafening guitars, but with a wall of shimmering electronics. After that, however, it is largely business as usual. Rose's idiosyncratic scream and larger-than-life persona dominate Shackler's Revenge and Scraped, two punky rockers. And two epic piano ballads in Street Of Dreams and Madagascar echo 1991's November Rain. Clocking in at 71 minutes, Chinese Democracy is overlong, and there are too many overwrought numbers, like Better, in which the sharp precision of Slash is missed. But there are also plenty of genuinely ear-catching moments, like the funky If The World (which ends with a flamenco flourish). Chinese Democracy can be heard in full on the band's MySpace website. ***
Chinese Democracy (Geffen)
Bandana-clad singer Axl Rose has taken 15 years to finish this record. So, what is 'the most anticipated album ever' actually like? Well, the title track kickstarts affairs not with the expected deafening guitars, but with a wall of shimmering electronics. After that, however, it is largely business as usual. Rose's idiosyncratic scream and larger-than-life persona dominate Shackler's Revenge and Scraped, two punky rockers. And two epic piano ballads in Street Of Dreams and Madagascar echo 1991's November Rain. Clocking in at 71 minutes, Chinese Democracy is overlong, and there are too many overwrought numbers, like Better, in which the sharp precision of Slash is missed. But there are also plenty of genuinely ear-catching moments, like the funky If The World (which ends with a flamenco flourish). Chinese Democracy can be heard in full on the band's MySpace website. ***
THE FIREMEN
Electric Arguments (MPL)
In the week when Sir Paul McCartney announced the existence of an unreleased Beatles track (the avantgarde Carnival Of Light), this quirky album offers further proof of his desire to keep pushing the boundaries. Working with producer Martin Glover, AKA Youth, Macca initially sticks to his customary strengths: Two Magpies is a melodic ballad, while Sing The Changes could be Wings in widescreen. The pair later turn to experimentation - with mixed results - but this remains a lively detour. ****
Electric Arguments (MPL)
In the week when Sir Paul McCartney announced the existence of an unreleased Beatles track (the avantgarde Carnival Of Light), this quirky album offers further proof of his desire to keep pushing the boundaries. Working with producer Martin Glover, AKA Youth, Macca initially sticks to his customary strengths: Two Magpies is a melodic ballad, while Sing The Changes could be Wings in widescreen. The pair later turn to experimentation - with mixed results - but this remains a lively detour. ****
LEMAR
The Reason (Epic)
He is one of the few graduates of a TV talent show to carve out a lasting pop career, but Lemar has never fully realised his potential. That might change with this slick affair which makes an honest effort to keep abreast of current trends in dance-pop. Weight Of The World and the upbeat Lil' Miss Heartbreaker recreate the electro-soul feel that has served Ne-Yo and Sam Sparro so well this year. The more traditional Mayday is an aching piano ballad. ***
The Reason (Epic)
He is one of the few graduates of a TV talent show to carve out a lasting pop career, but Lemar has never fully realised his potential. That might change with this slick affair which makes an honest effort to keep abreast of current trends in dance-pop. Weight Of The World and the upbeat Lil' Miss Heartbreaker recreate the electro-soul feel that has served Ne-Yo and Sam Sparro so well this year. The more traditional Mayday is an aching piano ballad. ***
ENYA
And Winter Came (Warner Bros)
Two decades and 70 million record sales on from her debut album, Watermark, Enya is still combining piano, synths and heavenly vocals with epic grandeur. This seventh studio album was originally intended as a set of Christmas songs. That scheme was scrapped, but there is still a chilly feel to the title track plus Trains And Winter Rains. This may be Enya at her most welcoming, but it sticks to a very well-worn formula. ***
And Winter Came (Warner Bros)
Two decades and 70 million record sales on from her debut album, Watermark, Enya is still combining piano, synths and heavenly vocals with epic grandeur. This seventh studio album was originally intended as a set of Christmas songs. That scheme was scrapped, but there is still a chilly feel to the title track plus Trains And Winter Rains. This may be Enya at her most welcoming, but it sticks to a very well-worn formula. ***
HANDEL
Messiah (Coro COR16062)
This is the second Messiah recording by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen and it is a lovely version. The choral singing is superb and all four soloists are fine artists with well focused voices - Christopher Purves is one of the few modern basses to equal the best of yesteryear. The orchestral playing is excellent, as is the sound. On occasion, the pace was a bit fast, but it is the way of today. ****
Messiah (Coro COR16062)
This is the second Messiah recording by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen and it is a lovely version. The choral singing is superb and all four soloists are fine artists with well focused voices - Christopher Purves is one of the few modern basses to equal the best of yesteryear. The orchestral playing is excellent, as is the sound. On occasion, the pace was a bit fast, but it is the way of today. ****
TOM JONES
24 Hours (Parlophone)
Working with young, British dance producers has given Tom Jones a new lease of life. The cinematic stylings of Feels Like Music suit his big, booming voice well, and the 68-year-old harks back to his Sixties heyday with a rip-roaring take on Tommy James's I'm Alive.
24 Hours (Parlophone)
Working with young, British dance producers has given Tom Jones a new lease of life. The cinematic stylings of Feels Like Music suit his big, booming voice well, and the 68-year-old harks back to his Sixties heyday with a rip-roaring take on Tommy James's I'm Alive.
Elsewhere, The Road is a heartfelt ballad for his wife Linda, and The Hitter finds him tackling a difficult Bruce Springsteen song about a fading boxing champ with sensitivity and aplomb. ***
LYLE LOVETT
It's Not Big, It's Large (Lost Highway)
Lovett has never been prolific - this is only his eighth album in 22 years - but he is certainly diverse. This big band effort encompasses swing, country, bluegrass and folk while reiterating the Texan's talent as a storyteller. Opening track Tickle Toe is a jazzy workout worthy of Count Basie, but Lovett is at his best on the strippeddown songs, augmenting his voice with steel guitar and mandolin and evoking childhood car journeys on South Texas Girl. ****
It's Not Big, It's Large (Lost Highway)
Lovett has never been prolific - this is only his eighth album in 22 years - but he is certainly diverse. This big band effort encompasses swing, country, bluegrass and folk while reiterating the Texan's talent as a storyteller. Opening track Tickle Toe is a jazzy workout worthy of Count Basie, but Lovett is at his best on the strippeddown songs, augmenting his voice with steel guitar and mandolin and evoking childhood car journeys on South Texas Girl. ****
Nitin Sawhney
London Undersound (Cooking Vinyl)
Refusing to be typecast as a jazz artist or electronic dance guru, Nitin Sawhney shows his versatility on an album of haunting mood music. Helped by an impressive cast of guest vocalists, he collaborates with reggae singer Natty on Days Of Fire. With Anoushka Shankar on sitar and Paul McCartney contributing the ballad My Soul (a surprisingly warm love song for Heather Mills), this is a contender for next year's Mercury Prize. ****
London Undersound (Cooking Vinyl)
Refusing to be typecast as a jazz artist or electronic dance guru, Nitin Sawhney shows his versatility on an album of haunting mood music. Helped by an impressive cast of guest vocalists, he collaborates with reggae singer Natty on Days Of Fire. With Anoushka Shankar on sitar and Paul McCartney contributing the ballad My Soul (a surprisingly warm love song for Heather Mills), this is a contender for next year's Mercury Prize. ****
Jason Donovan
Let It Be Me (Decca)
Best known these days for his West End stage appearances, Jason Donovan delves into the Fifties and Sixties on his first album in 15 years. With new versions of Blue Velvet and Love Hurts, his selection is exemplary. But he fails to bring anything fresh to the material. The one new song, Dreamboats & Petticoats, features a cameo from Hank Marvin. **
Let It Be Me (Decca)
Best known these days for his West End stage appearances, Jason Donovan delves into the Fifties and Sixties on his first album in 15 years. With new versions of Blue Velvet and Love Hurts, his selection is exemplary. But he fails to bring anything fresh to the material. The one new song, Dreamboats & Petticoats, features a cameo from Hank Marvin. **
RAWSTHORNE
Practical Cats, etc. (Dutton CDLX 7203)
No one should miss Simon Callow narrating six of T.S. Eliot's Practical Cats to Rawsthorne's music. The disc begins with the most popular piece by Rawsthorne (1905-71), the Street Corner Overture, which wears its years well. I must confess that Rawsthorne has often seemed a forbidding figure to me, but this well-recorded CD shows him at his most likeable, as in the Madame Chrysantheme suite. ***
Practical Cats, etc. (Dutton CDLX 7203)
No one should miss Simon Callow narrating six of T.S. Eliot's Practical Cats to Rawsthorne's music. The disc begins with the most popular piece by Rawsthorne (1905-71), the Street Corner Overture, which wears its years well. I must confess that Rawsthorne has often seemed a forbidding figure to me, but this well-recorded CD shows him at his most likeable, as in the Madame Chrysantheme suite. ***