'N Sync creator jailed for 25 years
Lou Pearlman, who created and managed 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud.
The pop mogul conned around $300m (£153m) from more than 250 individuals, including family and friends, and from financial institutions and banks.
In a plea agreement, Pearlman admitted encouraging them to put funds into two companies that did not exist.
Judge G. Kendall Sharp, sentencing in Florida, said the prison term would be reduced by a month for each $1m (£0.5m) that Pearlman returned to victims.
Fair cop I suppose.
Zoe Salmon quits Blue Peter
Salmon became the 30th Blue Peter presenter when she joined in 2004
Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon is to leave the BBC One children's show after three-and-a-half years.
The 28-year-old will quit at the end of the current series in June when co-presenter Gethin Jones also says goodbye to the long-running programme.
Law graduate Salmon, a former Miss Northern Ireland, has signed up to present a new gameshow on CBBC.
"I've loved my time on Blue Peter and I've had experiences that I never dreamed I could have," she said.
During her time on the show, Salmon has run the London Marathon, raced in a Formula One car, walked on fire, and trekked to the top of the UK's highest peaks.
'Highlight'
Salmon said she will always "treasure" her Blue Peter Badge.
She said: "[Blue Peter] has taken me to places I never thought I would see, from Japan to Iceland, introduced me to people I never dreamt I would meet, from the Queen to David Beckham, and quite literally gave me the opportunity to do things I never thought I would or could do.
"Life on Blue Peter has been one continuous highlight.
"I grew up watching the iconic show, it's been an incredible privilege and honour to have been part of the fantastic team and I will always treasure my Blue Peter Badge and memories."
Blue Peter editor Tim Levell said Salmon had been a "fantastic presenter".
"Whether she's been strapped to the outside of an aeroplane or had to learn a routine for High School Musical, she has thrown herself into the challenges we have given her with 110% dedication. And children absolutely love her."
Blue Peter will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October 2008.
TV's Monty Don has stroke
CELEBRITY gardener Monty Don has suffered a stroke and will stand down from his presenting duties, the BBC said today.
The 52-year-old frontman of the BBC’s Gardener’s World has been off the programme for the past six weeks after being struck by a minor stroke, it was announced.
In a statement the BBC said the star was making “a good recovery”, while Don himself said he was taking time off over the summer to make a full recovery.
German-born Montagu “Monty” Don followed in the footsteps of Percy Thrower, Geoff Hamilton and Alan Titchmarsh when he took over as the main presenter of the long-running Gardeners’ World in 2003.
It followed stints as the resident horticulturist on This Morning. Other programmes include the Channel 4 series Don Roaming and Real Gardens.
Revealing his health issues today, the BBC said: “Monty Don has decided to stand down as the main presenter of Gardener’s World.
“Monty has presented the series for the past five years but has been off our screens for the past six weeks as a result of a minor stroke.
“Although he is making a good recovery he feels unable to commit to regular filming for a while.”
It added that Don would be “sorely missed by viewers and the production team”.
In a statement, Don said: “I am proud to have led Gardener’s World for the past five years and have enjoyed every minute of sharing my passion with the programmes viewers.
“I intend to take some gardening leave for the rest of the summer to make a full recovery and so that I am ready to tackle new projects.”
Don lives with his wife and three children in a house with a two-acre garden in Herefordshire
I wish him a speedy recovery
McDonald admits departure is "very possible"
Sir Trevor McDonald has confirmed that he is considering leaving News At Ten.
The newscaster told the Daily Mail that it is "very possible" he will depart before the year is out. He made the statement after news of his intentions was leaked to the press yesterday.
"All good things must come to an end," McDonald explained. "I just really haven't got there yet. It might be destabilising if you announce long, long in advance when you are going."
However, he added: "I am 69 in August and you have got to collect your freedom pass sometime."
Reports claim that McDonald's departure will be officially announced in September. It is believed that executives are lining up ITV news presenter Mark Austin as his successor.
I think Sir Trev is great, my friends call him a legend :rotfl: