Celebrity Gossip

[JustJodi]

R&B singer R Kelly has arrived at court in Chicago to face child pornography charges, nearly six years after first being arrested.

The performer has denied filming himself engaging in sex acts with a girl, who prosecutors in the US say could have been as young as 13.

The 41-year old faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Mr Kelly's lawyers' request to postpone the trial was denied. Jury selection will continue on Monday.

The defence team argued the singer could not have a fair trial due to recent news coverage.

It is thought Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan rejected the request as the trial has been pending for so long.

The trial is expected to last at least several weeks.

Some onlookers shouted messages of support at the singer, others jeered as he entered court.

Mr Kelly was arrested in February 2002 after the videotape - thought to have been made between 1998 and 2000 - was sent to police by his local paper, the Chicago Sun-Times.

He was charged four months later charged with 21 counts relating to child pornography and released on $750,000 (£383,000) bail. Seven of the charges have since been dropped.

Complicating the trial for the prosecution is the fact the alleged victim, who is now 23, refuses to say if she is the girl on the tape.

News organisations argued in court for access to sealed court records and transcripts, a move which was opposed by both prosecution and defence lawyers.

The judge said he would rule on the request on 16 May.

Cook county court house in Chicago is probably the toughest court in Illinois ,,they will see the guy in jail for a long long time !!!!!!!!

[Abigail]

I didn't even know he had been arrested. Six years is a long time to have this hanging over his head.

[Chloe O'brien]

Kate Thornton has given birth to her first child.

The TV presenter welcomed son Ben with DJ Darren Emerson on Tuesday.

Her spokesman told The Sun: "Mum, dad and baby are all at home resting up."

The couple have been dating since 2004 and became engaged last year.

Congratulations to Kate and Darren on the arrival of baby Ben

[Abigail]

Joe Pasquale has split from his wife Debbie after 20 years of marriage.

The comedian and I'm A Celebrity winner has left the home that he shared with Debbie and their two children in Kent. He is now living with his father, Joseph.

A source told The Sun: "Things have not been going well for a while and they've been rowing. Debbie is devastated that it could be all over."

Friends have said that, while there are no immediate plans for a divorce, the chances of a reconciliation are looking slim.

A spokesman for the pair insisted that the split is amicable and there are no other parties involved.

[Abbie]

I think thats really sad, I mean we always here about marraige splitting but most dont last 10 years in the celeb world, well in america anyway, but 20 years is a long time

[Perdita]

I think it is sad too but I don't think I could have lived with his voice for that long.

[Abigail]

I think it is sad too but I don't think I could have lived with his voice for that long.

Me neither.

[Perdita]

BT ad star Kris Marshall will tell all about being hit by a car for the first time on TV on today’s Paul O’Grady Show.

The goofy actor, 35, was rushed to hospital last month after being involved in the accident on a night out in Bristol.

The chat comes ahead of a week of big shows for Paul, all building up to his 500th episode on Friday.

The Paul O'Grady show is on Channel 4 weekdays at 5pm.

[Perdita]

GOODY Lord! It had to happen, didn’t it? Big Brother bigmouth Jade Goody is being primed for a return to TV.

The hapless star was hounded out of the schedules last year after her racist outburst against Bollywood babe Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother.

Her career then quickly hit the skids because TV stations wouldn’t touch her with the proverbial.

Even on-off boyfriend Jack Tweedy was caught, er, showing his bargepole to other women.

But TV Biz can reveal that after less than two years in the wilderness, the dippy blonde/brunette is being lined up for new shows.

Telly bosses at Living TV — where she made Jade’s Salon and Jade’s PA — are considering new ideas for her.

A senior source told us: “Whatever she’s done, viewers have missed watching her exploits.

“We need a working-class hero and Jade fitted that role perfectly.

“Yes, she caused an outcry with her behaviour, but she’s said she’s sorry and spent quite a while keeping her head down.

“She’s done her time and I think most viewers have forgiven her. We’re now looking at what she could do for the channel.”

Living TV has certainly missed her. Jade’s PA, in which she hand-picked a personal assistant, was one of its highest-rating shows.

They tried to follow it up with Pete’s PA — the same show but with plastic surgery casualty Pete Burns in Jade’s role.

It wasn’t what you’d call a ratings-buster.

Grabbing a new show will no doubt please Jade, who has been yearning to get back on TV, according to pals.

But that said, she hasn’t exactly been missing the cash.

She drives a Bentley.

Well, I cetainly have not missed her and wish she would stay off the TV screen I do not forgive her for her racist abuse and never will.

[Abigail]

Who actually cares about her? She's a dimwit and shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a television camera.