Celebrity Gossip

X FACTOR sensation LEONA LEWIS is on the brink of being chosen to sing the new James Bond theme tune.

The Hackney-born star, 23, is set to beat troubled AMY WINEHOUSE and a host of other big names to one of the most prestigious deals in pop.

Film chiefs are talking to Leona’s camp and now think she is the ideal choice to sing the title track for the 22nd Bond blockbuster Quantum Of Solace.

A source revealed yesterday: “It looks like Leona has finally won the race.

“She is seen as one of the few candidates who has the right profile both sides of the pond to do it.

“Amy was their original choice but she just can’t get her act together and hasn’t got the right image.

“The Bond guys now look set on Leona. She is reliable and has a great voice for it.

“Hopefully something could be announced soon.”

Amy, 24, has been in the driving seat since last year.

But her relationship with superproducer MARK RONSON broke down as they tried to record the track.

Mark said she was not in the right state of mind and pulled the plug on the sessions.

He revealed in May: “I’m not sure Amy is ready to work on music yet.”

Amy then went into the studio with producer Salaam Remi and it was hoped a track could come from those recordings.

But her spokesman has admitted an Amy 007 theme now looks “unlikely”.

Leona has smashed a host of chart records since winning the X Factor in 2006

Her track Bleeding Love made her the first British female to have a No1 single in America since Kim Wilde 21 years ago.

Quantum Of Solace, starring DANIEL CRAIG as Bond, is due out in October.

Natalie Rooney is angry about not being invited to her cousin Wayne's wedding to Coleen McLoughlin, say reports.

According to More, the 18-year-old was banned from the wedding in Italy because of her rowdy behaviour at McLoughlin's 21st birthday party.

Photographs of Natalie exposing her breasts at the event appeared in the tabloid press the following day.

Natalie has responded to the snub by blasting the couple in a posting on Facebook.

Her status on the the social networking site reads: "Do you Coleen [SMELLY BEAN] take Wayne (DIRTY D**K) Rooney, to be your lying cheating husband!!!"

Chris Martin has walked out of an interview with Radio 4 arts show Front Row.

The singer, who is currently promoting Coldpay's Viva La Vida LP, accused presenter John Wilson of "journalistically twisting" his words.

Martin asked to leave the interview after being asked whether the new record was a reflection of the band's obsession with death.

"I wouldn't agree with you there at all, no," said Martin. "I'd say you're journalistically twisting me into saying something I don't really mean."

The frontman told Wilson that was he wasn't "enjoying" the interview and left drummer Will Champion to answer the remaining questions.

Martin returned to the studio for the final question, which was about the group moving into new musical territory.

"Um.... yes... yes, yes... exactly," he answered.

Britney Spears's cameo in the Pussycat Dolls' new video has been axed.

The popstar's appearance in the promo for 'When I Grow Up', which was shot in LA last week, hasn't made the final cut, according to MTV.

A spokesperson for The Pussycat Dolls was unavailable for comment on the decision.

The video premieres on FNMTV tonight.

According to Us magazine, Spears looked "hot and blonde" during a "very short sequence" in the original edit.

Eva Longoria's stylist has rubbished claims that the actress is pregnant.

Robert Verdi said recent photographs of the Desperate Housewives star wearing a maternity-style dress had given the media the wrong impression.

He told People: "I'm not her gynecologist, but I am her stylist. I see her naked. I see her boobs! That's the first place it would show, and it's not showing!"

He also dismissed claims that a saleswoman was pointing to Longoria's stomach in the snaps, saying: "Eva was holding a handbag that she bought in the crook of her arm. The manager came over and said to her, 'I love that bag'. But in the photos, it looks like the woman is gesturing to her midsection. It's too funny."

Longoria previously sparked pregnancy rumours when she wore a tight pink dress which appeared to reveal a bump.

Angelina Jolie has revealed that Brad Pitt's parents are on hand to help care for the couple's unborn twins.

The actress, who already has four children, said she was initially shocked to hear that she was carrying two more.

She told Entertainment Weekly: "We weren't expecting twins... but we like a challenge. [Brad's] mom and dad are on standby to come out [to France] and help."

Jolie added that she will take steps to ensure that Maddox, Pax, Zahara and Shiloh do not feel left out when the new babies arrive.

She said: "They're old enough to feel included, to change diapers themselves, to feed bottles themselves.

"We're trying to find ways where it can be a fun group thing... Everybody gets special time."

Jolie is said to be planning a natural birth at the estate the couple have rented in Provence.

R Kelly has been acquitted by a Chicago jury on 14 charges of child pornography.

The R&B singer was accused of filming and participating in an explicit sex video with a 13-year-old girl.

Kelly and the alleged victim, who is now 23, denied they were the people shown in the video.

One woman claimed to have had three-way sex with Kelly and the girl, but the defence discredited her comments, claiming she had tried to extort money from the popular singer.

Experts said the tape was not a fake, but revealed that it had been duplicated numerous times.

The singer's defence also claimed that the man in the video couldn't be Kelly because he didn't have a large mole on his back.

Pete Wentz has hinted that wife Ashlee Simpson may be expecting twins.

The Fall Out Boy rocker referred to his unborn child as "them" during a radio interview, sparking rumours that Simpson may be carrying more than one child.

"We've been keeping a book so far, like a journal for them - for them when they're, uh, born," said Wentz.

The musician also revealed that he wanted to know the sex of his child because he was already preparing gifts.

He commented: "I'd like to know the sex of the baby. It would be a bummer if you bought a boy a bunch of pink stuff!"

Wentz and Simpson confirmed the pregnancy last month.

Rex Features
R Kelly has been acquitted by a Chicago jury on 14 charges of child pornography.

The R&B singer was accused of filming and participating in an explicit sex video with a 13-year-old girl.

Kelly and the alleged victim, who is now 23, denied they were the people shown in the video.

One woman claimed to have had three-way sex with Kelly and the girl, but the defence discredited her comments, claiming she had tried to extort money from the popular singer.

Experts said the tape was not a fake, but revealed that it had been duplicated numerous times.

The singer's defence also claimed that the man in the video couldn't be Kelly because he didn't have a large mole on his back.

Beat you to it Perdita, two posts up :)

Sorry mate, did not see that. :D

No problem :D

David Beckham and X Factor winner Leona Lewis are among stars being lined up to feature in the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

The 'handover' performance will mark the point when the next games are officially passed on to London for 2012.

The X factor: David Beckham seen here with Los Angeles Lakers' star Didier Mbenga, will star in the closing ceremony at the Beijing Olympics

A central feature of the eight-minute spectacle in Beijing's 90,000-seater Olympic stadium will be a Routemaster bus on loan from Transport for London.

Leyton-born Beckham will jump off the bus for a kickabout with children representing every country in the world.

At the next stop in the arena, Lewis, from Hackney, who won the 2006 X Factor show, will perform one of her hits.

The production will culminate in Boris Johnson receiving the Olympic flag from his Beijing counterpart.

Leona will join football superstar David Beckham to perform at the controversial Beijing Olympics

The Mayor has admitted practising every day to ensure he does not make a mistake at the ceremony - where he has to wave the six-metre flag back and forth eight times.

He told business leaders that 'with an audience of three billion people watching, it would be rather embarrassing to drop it'. The flag is expected to be exhibited at City Hall.

Organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe today defended the decision to have 'hoodie' dancers perform at the Beijing ceremony.

Hip hop dance troupe Zoo Nation is famous for the West End show In The Hoods, which features a drug-dealing pimp.

Speaking on LBC this morning, Lord Coe said: 'It's not all about hoodies, it's contemporary dance. Let's not get carried away, my kids wear hoodies at the weekend.

'Dance is very much a part of the culture in London, so don't get the idea that this is a sort of Asbo world.

'This is actually quite a serious contribution to the cultural fabric of the city.'

Keira Knightley's mum Sharman Macdonald has slammed the press for claiming that her daughter suffers from anorexia.

Macdonald, the screenwriter for Knightley's new film The Edge Of Love, likened the media's behaviour to playground bullying.

She told OK!: "She has always been thin. She's her daddy's daughter, with his long body. It's a playground situation that we're looking at with the press - it's a form of bullying - but what can we do?"

Last year, Knightley won libel damages from the Daily Mail after the tabloid published an article suggesting that she had an eating disorder.

Rockstar's controversial game Grand Theft Auto IV has been blasted after The Sun revealed that it features a parody of a paedophile website.

The newspaper reported that the illegal site - little lacysurprisepageant.com - was uncovered after a cheat was used that allows the main character in the game to have a five-star wanted rating.

The report claimed: "The fake site displays a message from virtual authorities saying it has been closed down. It warns that anyone caught looking at it will be investigated and features the warning: 'We see it all, we know it all.'"

Jason Deschoolmeester, 23, of South Wales, said: "I was looking on the internet for cheats and the name of this caught my eye as my daughter is called Lacey. This crosses the line. The makers have obviously sat around and discussed putting this in, and it’s not on. What will they do next?

"It’s disgusting. It could lead people to indulge in things like that. It is totally sick. I won’t play it again."

The paedophile website address is reportedly one of dozens of fake sites featured in the game, which result in cheats.

Rockstar has so far refused to comment on the allegations.

Leona Lewis has likened her X Factor mentor Simon Cowell to an uncle.

She told Parade magazine that she treats Cowell and US record company chief Clive Davis like family.

"I wouldn't label them as my godfathers, more like my uncles!" she said.

The 'Bleeding Love' singer admitted that she regrets the loss of privacy brought on by fame and relies on her family and friends to lend her support.

She said: "A performer's privacy is taken away. You can't make your mistakes in private. I have the advantage of a great support structure. I get honest opinions from my family and friends.

"They aren't always telling me what I want to hear, but the truth helps keep my head straight."

Denise Van Outen has insisted that she has no plans to settle down with Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead.

The stage star told Hello! that the couple, who have been dating since last November, have not been together long enough to talk about marriage and children.

She said: "To my mind, seven months is still early doors in a relationship and those aren't things I'd discuss until we made a commitment to move in together.

"I believe in marriage and would like to get wed and have children one day but, to be honest, I'm so busy I haven't even thought about it."

The 34-year-old insisted that she has no problem with the seven-year age gap between her and Mead, saying: "It's the biggest age gap between me and anyone I've dated, but Lee has a maturity that I've rarely met, even in older men.

"Trust me, I've dated some and many have been very childish in comparison with Lee."

Simon Cowell is reportedly spending £15,000 a week on bodyguards for Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson.

The breakdancer is being trailed by three ex-SAS bodyguards after encountering scenes of "pandemonium" on the show's live tour.

A source is quoted in The Sun as saying: "There has been absolute pandemonium surrounding George throughout the tour. There are serious concerns for George's safety.

"When Simon heard what was happening, he didn't hesitate in hiring costly muscle to make sure he remains safe at all times."

Sampson's popularity has proved problematic for tour organisers, with the 14-year-old having to change hotels in Manchester and Sheffield twice last week.

A spokesperson for Cowell's company SyCo said: "We are taking whatever measures necessary with security to ensure George is safe."

Britney Spears attempted to kill herself twice, a new book has claimed.

Journalist Ian Halperin said the singer exhibited suicidal tendencies while he was investigating her from November 2006 until last month.

Halperin, whose previous credits include biographies of Kurt Cobain and Celine Dion, told Life & Style: "I spoke with her many times and went to her house. I will say the suicide attempts are true. I know all the details about both of them."

A source close to Spears backed up the claims, telling the magazine that she became suicidal after the birth of second son Jayden James in September 2006.

The insider said: "It really became an issue once Jayden was born and it became clear Britney's marriage to Kevin was crumbling. That's when she began to say things like 'I wish I was dead' or 'It'd be better if I could go to sleep and never wake up' on a regular basis."

Halperin, who researched the as-yet-unreleased biography while posing as an undercover photographer, said he is not convinced that the popstar is back to her old self after her recent troubles.

He said: "I think she's in danger of a catastrophic relapse. Britney herself warned me that with her, it's always two steps forward, one step back."

Musical star Cyd Charisse has died of a heart attack, aged 87.

The actress-dancer passed away in hospital in LA after falling ill on Monday, her publicist said.

Charisse was best known for dancing with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire in Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and '50s. At the peak of her career, her long legs were insured for $1 million.

She was born Tula Ellice Finklea in 1921 and began her career dancing with the Ballet Russe in her teens. She landed a small part in Hollywood film Something To Shout About in 1943 and was later signed to MGM.

The studio gave her a seven-year contract and changed her name to Cyd Charisse, a combination of childhood nickname Sid and the surname of her first husband Nico Charisse.

She rose to fame dancing with Kelly in the celebrated Broadway Melody ballet finale in 1952 musical Singin’ In The Rain, and later reunited with him in Brigadoon and It's Always Fair Weather. She also partnered Astaire, who famously referred to her as "beautiful dynamite", in both The Band Wagon and Silk Stockings.

Astaire said in 1983: "She wasn't a tap dancer, she's just beautiful, trained, very strong in whatever we did. When we were dancing, we didn't know what time it was."

Charisse had recently celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary with second husband Tony Martin.

Matt Lucas has split from his long-term partner Kevin McGee.

The Little Britain star married McGee at a civil partnership ceremony in December 2006.

A statement from the pair's legal representatives said: "It is with sadness that Matt and Kevin announce that their relationship has come to an end. Their separation is amicable.

"They ask the press to respect their privacy at this time and to exercise restraint in any reporting of this matter."

CHARLOTTE CHURCH is pregnant with her second baby — just eight months after having her first.

The Voice of an Angel singer and rugby star boyfriend GAVIN HENSON were "thrilled".

The news was announced on 22 year-old Charlotte’s official website. The baby is due in November.

A statement said: "The couple are thrilled, as are their immediate families."

Charlotte said she would still do her Channel 4 chat show in July and August.

Charlotte and 26-year-old Gavin’s daughter Ruby was born in September last year and former party animal Charlotte has settled down since starting her family.

She and Gavin live on a farm in South Wales with dozens of pets.

Her mum Maria, 41, said: "People think Charlotte still loves nightclubs, but she is so much happier at home."

WE knew Joan Rivers wouldn't give in to telly authorities when it came to apologising for her sweary rant on Loose Women yesterday.

The aged comedienne was booted off the live show for branding Russell Crowe "a piece of ********** *******" yesterday, causing a flurry of apologies from the presenters.

But the apology TV bosses have been waiting for - hers - is unlikely to smooth things over.

She said in a statement: "Yes I swore, and I’m so f**king sorry.

"It's funny: offstage, I hardly ever use profanity. My favourite four-letter word is 'shop.'"

The sardonic funnywoman, 75, talks about the incident on the Graham Norton Show (tomorrow, BBC2, 9.45pm), explaining: "I was thrown out of Loose Women, two men turfed me off.

"I thought, 'osteoporosis, crack, crack!' I thought this is a reality show and I’m the first voted off. They didn’t give me a goody bag."

Good old Joan ...

I have watched the Loose Women episode a couple of times and think she is so funny. She is rude though but I can't help roaring with laughter most of the time :rotfl: :rotfl:

I saw that clip on Richard and Judy, the presenters faces :lol:

Oh wow Charlotte pregnant again.

Rex Features
Jamie Lynn Spears will give birth to a baby girl later today, say reports.

According to the National Enquirer, Jamie Lynn has scheduled a cesarean section with doctors because the baby is apparently in the breach position.

Britney Spears sparked rumours that the baby was due by flying home to Kentwood, Louisiana earlier this week.

Britney's father Jamie and brother Bryan were also on the flight from Los Angeles.

It is rumoured that Jamie Lynn's baby will be named Cailynn or Cassie.

This may sound thick - but I never knew Matt Lucas was gay.
OhEmGee how could I not have though!

Congrats to Charlotte ;]

http://images.digitalspy.co.uk/07/51...n_spears_1.jpg Rex Features

Jamie Lynn Spears has given birth to a baby girl named Maddie Briann.

It was reported earlier today that the 17-year-old was admitted to hospital in Mississippi at around 4am.

She is believed to have had her labour induced after some minor problems and gave birth at 9.30am.

Britney Spears arrived at the hospital this morning after flying to the family's home in neighbouring state Louisiana with dad Jamie and brother Bryan yesterday.

A source told People: "Just the family was there. Everyone is healthy and happy."

The baby is the first child for Jamie Lynn and fiancé Casey Aldridge.

Joan Rivers has withdrawn her apology for swearing live on air during Tuesday's Loose Women.

The comedienne yesterday said she was "*******king sorry" for describing actor Russell Crowe as a "piece of f**king s**t" when she appeared as a guest on the ITV1 lunchtime show.

However, she has since retracted her previous statement, claiming that the controversy has been blown out of proportion.

She told The Mirror: "Lemme get this straight. Bin Laden's top man has been released. The price of petrol is through the roof. There's inflation, depression. And people are hysterical because I said f**k?

"I was having a great time and everybody was laughing. Then these people - these idiots - came running onto the set and ripped me off my seat and dragged me off. They were saying 'Let's go, let's go, let's go'. I thought I was being arrested."

Rivers, 75, added: "At my age I should be able to say what the hell I want. I think saying, 'Go ******* yourself' is a very pleasant way of saying good morning to someone you don't like.

"So I want to say to everyone that Loose Women was an honest mistake because I truly thought I'd be bleeped. Now. Get. Over. It!"

You have to love her, she is cracking me up :rotfl:

Congrats to Jamie Lynne and let's hope she dones't turn out like Brit. Although she seems to be doing a lot better now. Maybe she feels the need to be a better role model for her sister now.

I wanna watch this loose women epsiode :p

Can't find the full interview but here's when she swears :p
[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=eOpquHD4HJQ"]YouTube - Joan Rivers swears on Loose Women[/ame]

:lol: Lol you have to laugh

OMG That is soooooo hilarious!!! I love it!!!!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

They must have known she was going to swear at some point, why on earth have her on daytime TV.

I was thinking that, she always uses bad language, they should have told her that they don't have bleeping facilities on Loose Women. Still think it is funny but then I don't have youngsters around the house wondering what is going on with those nice ladies on the telly :rotfl:

Amy Winehouse is suffering from the early stages of lung condition emphysema, her father Mitch has revealed.

The singer has been undergoing tests at a private hospital in London since collapsing at home on Monday.

"The doctors said that if she had continued the way she was going she could have ended up an invalid - she wouldn't have been able to breathe," said Mitch.

"She's got emphysema. It's in its early stages, but had it gone on for another month they painted a very vivid picture of her sitting there like an old person with a mask on her face struggling to breathe. With smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes her lungs are all gunked up."

Mitch said Amy has to give up drugs and stay away from her drug-using friends, but may still sing at this week's Glastonbury Festival.

"She abstains and regulates her drug use when she has to do a show," he told the Sunday Mirror. "When she's been inactive work-wise then that's when the problems really start. The doctors have said that medically there isn't any reason why she can't do Glastonbury."

Bill & Ted actor George Carlin has passed away, aged 71.

The comedian, who played Rufus in 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, died of heart failure yesterday.

According to the Associated Press, Carlin checked into the St. Johns Health Centre in Santa Monica yesterday afternoon with a chest pain

The Manhattan-born star achieved notoriety for his comedy routine 'Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV'.

After performing the sketch in Milwaukee in 1972 he was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace.

He produced 23 comedy albums, three books and starred in the film Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. He also voiced episodes of Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends and the character Filmore in Pixar's Cars.

Carlin is survived by his wife Sally Wade, daughter Kelly, son-in-law Bob McCall, sister-in-law Marlene and brother Patrick.

Amy Winehouse will perform at Glastonbury and Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert with medics on standby, say reports.

The singer is currently residing in a private hospital in London and is allegedly suffering from the lung condition emphysema.

However, Winehouse is determined not to let her fans down and wishes to perform both gigs this weekend, according to The Mirror.

Organisers of both events have apparently replaced requests for alcopops and vodka on her rider with jelly beans and Fruit Pastels.

Winehouse's backstage area will be equipped with a private hospital suite, massage bed and paramedics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by StarsOfCCTV

Amy Winehouse is suffering from the early stages of lung condition emphysema, her father Mitch has revealed.

The singer has been undergoing tests at a private hospital in London since collapsing at home on Monday.

"The doctors said that if she had continued the way she was going she could have ended up an invalid - she wouldn't have been able to breathe," said Mitch.

"She's got emphysema. It's in its early stages, but had it gone on for another month they painted a very vivid picture of her sitting there like an old person with a mask on her face struggling to breathe. With smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes her lungs are all gunked up."

Mitch said Amy has to give up drugs and stay away from her drug-using friends, but may still sing at this week's Glastonbury Festival.

"She abstains and regulates her drug use when she has to do a show," he told the Sunday Mirror. "When she's been inactive work-wise then that's when the problems really start. The doctors have said that medically there isn't any reason why she can't do Glastonbury."

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I think this is what they call what goes around comes around.

She has pumped so many drugs into her body and now she expects people to feel sorry for her cos she is ill. Well i say tuff luck lovey. :nono:

I cannot stand this woman. Junkies should not allowed to be advertised. What type of role model is she?!?!?!

She gets what she deserves at the end of the day.