2 min read
Neil Diamond may have been in the music business for around half a century now, but his popularity isn't waning. Not only did his latest album, Home before dark, hit the top spot in the US, but he's soon to receive the prestigious 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year Award. The accolade will be presented to him in Los Angeles during Grammy week.
They say we girls stick together, especially when it comes to the sensitive matter of break-ups - and here's proof the rich and famous are no different. While anyone interested mulls over Madonna and Guy Ritchie's matrimonial despair, Madge's close pal, Gwyneth Paltrow, has made it clear she will remain a loyal pal. At the UK premiere of Paltrow's new movie, Two Lovers, the actress 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." She also talked of what it was like shooting this movie, "Going from being a mother at home for a long time, which is the greatest joy of my life, to feeling like an artist again... that was a gift." I'm sure every new mum "feels like an artist again" when they return to the office.
After two years of marriage, it took just 75 seconds for Matt Lucas to get a divorce from hubby Kevin McGee, on the grounds that McGee had behaved "unreasonably". The legal issues over the breakdown of their civil partnership don't end there though; the pair who tied the knot in 2006 are now battling it out over who will get custody of their beloved pooch, Milo.
Former S Club 7 star Rachel Stevens has claimed that appearing on Strictly Come Dancing has done "wonders" for her physique. Stevens says that the fact that she has gone down to a size 10 during training has caused difficulties for the programme's costume department. "Being in Strictly is a dream come true and has done wonders for my figure and general fitness," Stevens told Heat magazine."I'm in better shape than ever and it's so much more fun than going to the gym!"
A source at the BBC added: "Rachel has slimmed down a lot. Wardrobe has had a nightmare - they're
doing constant refits because her body shape's changed so much."
Olive Baron Cohen may only be a teeny one-year-old but her celeb friend list is already looking pretty impressive. Her parents, Ali G creator Sacha Baron Cohen and wife-to-be Isla Fisher threw a country and western-themed bash for the toddler, and attendees included Jennifer Aniston, Ben Stiller and Courtney Cox.
I've lost count of how many times Amy Winehouse has been on the verge of going into rehab. There's been talk of the druggie singer getting help for her troubles everywhere from Israel to down the road from where her hubby is banged up, but now she appears to be back in a Central London clinic being treated for a chest infection. Pictured with rotting teeth and a scarf around her head, the sad sight is of a singer looking anything but a star right now.
Oscar-winning siblings the Coen brothers topped the UK box office last week with their new flick, Burn After Reading, whilst Shia LaBeouf's latest offering, Eagle Eye, made it to number two.
The X Factor finalist Laura White is dating TV boss Mathew Firsht, according to The Sun. Laura has been attempting to keep the relationship secret so as not to prejudice her chances in the series, says the newspaper. Firsht has close connections with X Factor supremo Simon Cowell and his company also organises audiences for Cowell's other show, Britain's Got Talent.
Lara Lewington is Five News showbusiness and weather presenter