Van Tango

A new James Bond novel is being written - 40 years after the superspy's last outing. The estate of the late 007 author Ian Fleming has commissioned a "well-known and highly respected" writer for the task. His identity is being kept a secret until publication. It will be published in May 2008 to mark the cententary of Fleming's birth. Corinne Turner of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd said: "We are delighted to have secured this particular author who we have had in mind for some time now. He is the perfect writer for this project and we are greatly looking forward to his take on James Bond, in what we are convinced will be a stunning novel." Fleming wrote 14 books about the secret agent, beginning with Casino Royale in 1953. The last, Octopussy and the Living Daylights, was published in 1966, two years after his death. Famous spy writers John Le Carre and Frederick Forsyth are linked with this project. Charlie Higson, creator of the Young Bond novels, and Anthony Horowitz, writer of teen spy book Stormbreaker, could also be in the frame.



The end of Clueless Batgirl? Alicia Silverstone wants to quit acting so she can settle down and have children with her new husband, rocker Chris Jarecki. She is giving Jarecki seven years to make her pregnant, so she can swap Hollywood for rural family bliss. Alicia said: "I'd like to have children in anything from two to seven years from now. I get to work with amazing people but I also want to live a normal life and try to find a balance. But, more important of all I want to be happy - and that doesn't always go with fame." A big shame if she hangs up those acting shoes.


Kate Hudson has accepted libel damages on Thursday from a magazine that printed a photo making her look too skinny, alongside an article that said her mother Goldie Hawn wanted her to eat more. Hudson had sued the UK Enquirer magazine over the article which appeared last October under the headline "Goldie Tells Kate: Eat Something!" Her lawyer told Britain's High Court the story and pictures implied Hudson had "recklessly and foolishly endangered her health by deliberately starving herself." One photograph "purported to show Ms Hudson as very frail and gaunt in appearance," he said, although the magazine had on other occasions printed photos taken weeks before and after, describing her as looking 'stunning' and 'great'. "The allegations are entirely false and were deeply offensive and embarrassing to Ms Hudson," he added. The magazine agreed to pay an undisclosed sum and print a public apology. Why the attack on Kate? She doesn't have a disappearing figure unlike some other actresses who can double-act as flag poles or goal posts.

Muse - Knights of Cydonia (unbelievable!)



Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar are planning to tie the knot in September. The pair are reportedly considering rural retreat Barnsley House in Gloucestershire for the ceremony, which is expected to be attended by celebrity guests including Elton John and Hurley's ex Hugh Grant. A source told The Mirror, "Liz and Arun love Barnsley House as they have stayed there before and they regularly eat in its restaurant. They have been in several times recently and it's high on their list of possible venues. It's a wonderful, discreet hotel that is well-used to celebrity clientele and perfect for intimate weddings." After being together for 3 and a half years, they have finally joined the celebs wedding bandwagon.

Another crash scene? Lindsay Lohan crashed her Mercedes on Robertson Blvd. in a trendy area of Los Angeles - and right near celebrity hotspot the Ivy. After the crash, Lohan ran into the nearby Hideaway House Antiques shop to hide from the paparazzi. Many photographers were on the scene, as one eyewitness would tell TMZ, they were not responsible for this accident. Watch the clip, including video of the damaged Mercedes being towed away - [lohan-car-crash]

Lohan is the new Marilyn Monroe?? A former friend of the blonde bombshell recently approached Lohan to remark on the resemblance. Lohan said: "Marilyn's best friend came over at the event (at which she wore a Monroe-inspired dress) and said she'd been taken aback because she thought I looked so much like Marilyn. It was incredible." I suspect this is old news but it's kind of funny reading it again. Like someone once said - "She's a pretty enough girl but she's nowhere in Monroe's league - she's more Marilyn Manson than Monroe." The current ladies who are in the class of Monroe would be someone like Charlize or Scarlett.

Dirty Pretty Things - Deadwood (live @ Popworld)



Pete Doherty and Carl Barat were seen out together in London on Tuesday night (July 18). The pair were spotted at the Dublin Castle in Camden. It marks the first time they've been seen in social circles since Pete was acrimoniously kicked out of The Libertines in '04. The organiser said: "There were tonnes of fans around them taking pictures on their mobile phones. Why they decided to meet in such a public place for a private quiet chat is beyond me though." A number of bands were on the bill, but apparently Pete and Carl were too busy engrossed in conversation. A possible Libertines reunion on the cards?

This is cool! We Are Scientists and Art Brut have teamed up for a spilt 7' on their upcoming joint US tour. They will be honouring each other by releasing a cover version of each other's songs. Art Brut will be laying down a version of 'The Great Escape', while W.A.S will be dissecting 'Bang Bang Rock & Roll'. The new version of 'The Great Escape' will lasts something like nine minutes long, with the extra six minutes of the song being a mystery addition. *look at us! this scene is dead!*

Don't worry about the rumours about the White Stripes calling it a day. Jack White has scotched them all - insisting he isn't bored with his old group despite claims he's focusing on new band The Raconteurs. "I find the White Stripes extremely fulfilling. It's extremely challenging," he told The Independent. "It's harder to be in the White Stripes than in this. I don't get to break for a second when the Stripes play live." There will be a second album with The Raconteurs after which Jack will then go back to record with the White Stripes. But the new band has apparently been a good influence on him. "I'm a different person from what I was two years ago, which is about keeping out of negative environments and getting into positive environments," he said. Wonder what that means. He is one dude that could produce album after album without losing the Midas touch.

Avril Lavigne Wedding Pics:


[more pics -> A.L.W]



There will not be any pre-nup agreement for Cheryl Tweedy. She has refused to partake in that with husband Ashley Cole. The all new Cheryl Cole, married her dream man during a lavish ceremony last weekend and insists that they will be together forever. *cue Rick Astley song* When asked during an interview with OK! magazine if they had signed a pre-nup, Cheryl said: "No, I think that's defeating the point. We're getting married because we're committing ourselves to each other to spend the rest of our lives together. No ifs and buts. I think it's disgusting. I could understand if you're 93 and you've got billions of pounds and this 24-year-old wants to marry you in a month. But we're a work in progress, we're going to build our married life together not thinking about if it ever ends." This partnership will enjoy many long hot summers for decades to come.

Cheryl Tweedy & Ashley Cole Wedding - Ok! Mag Article