Coventry Telegraph - Pass the Remote

Damon's a daddy again.

2008-08-21T10:26:01Z

BOURNE Identity star, Matt Damon has become a dad for the third time. Wife, Luciana welcomed baby Gia Zavala into the world on Wednesday.
Speaking to People.com Matt's publicist jenniefer Allen said: "Matt and Lucy Damon had a baby girl called Gia Zavala on Wednesday August 20.
"Everyone's doing great. She is a healthy baby girl."
Gia is the newest addition to the Damon clan and joins big sisters two-year-old Isabella and 10-year-old Alexia, Luciana's daughter from a previous relationship.
Matt met Argentine-born Luciana, 32, in 2003 at the Miami bar where she worked while he was filming the movie Stuck on You.
The couple married at New York City Hall in December 2005.
Matt was voted Sexiest Man Alive this year by People magazine and burst onto the celebrity scene in 1997 when he shared the Oscar for best screenplay with co-writer and co-star, Ben Affleck in the movie Good Will Hunting.
Poor old Matt, just think what he's got to look forward to in a few years time. All the PMT to contend with!

Brit's in better shape.

2008-08-21T10:13:43Z

BRITNEY Spears has been revealing her latest health and fitness secrets while showing off her svelte new bod for a photo exclusive in US OK! Magazine.
The singer who has been on a bit of a personal and career rollercoaster these past couple of years says she's focusing on good old fashioned healthy eating and exercise.
"I'm the healthiest I've been in my life. My diet has a lot to do with my getting in shape. I try to do just 1,200 calories a day. It may not sound like it's much but it's actually a lot of food if you eat the right things."
The 26-year-old added she was hitting the gym five times a week too, doing 'lots of cardio and weights'.

Donnie ditched.

2008-08-20T11:14:56Z

NEW Kids on the Block star Donnie Wahlberg might be making a comeback on the music scene but seems his personal life has taken a tumble.
People.com reports his wife of more than eight years, Kim Fey, has filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.
She is seeking sole physical and legal custody of their two sons, Xavier, 15 and Elijah, seven, with visitation rights for Donnie.

Divas signed for charity song.

2008-08-20T10:57:44Z

YOU'LL never get all the egos in one room surely! Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J Blige and Rihanna have all been asked to squeeze their massive vocal talents onto one new charity single.
The quartet are among 15 top female artists who have been asked to contribute to Just Stand Up, being released in support of the Stand Up to Cancer campaign.
Produced by hitmaker Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds and written by Antonio 'LA' Reid the song also features Leona Lewis, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Natasha Bedingfield and Miley Cyrus according to the New York Times.
It's set to be available for download on iTunes from September 2 and proceeds will go to cancer research.

Jenny off the blocks.

2008-08-20T10:37:45Z

YOU can't keep a good girl down. Jennifer Lopez is a successful singer, actress and now a new mum but she's not content with that.
Maybe the Olympics have been influencing her maybe she needs to drop some baby weight (yeah right!) but she's apparently in training to compete in her first triathlon which will take place in Malibu in September.
Jen, 39, told TV show Good Morning America while working out in New York's Central Park: "You have to start slow and give yourself time. I'm always challenging myself and seeing what I can do.
"Swimming is the killer, I'm not going to lie. But I'm a good athlete. My stamina, I can get that up there if I really try."

Ellen's bliss.

2008-08-20T10:14:07Z

COMEDIAN and talkshow host, Ellen Degeneres has been raving about her recent nuptials to partner, Portia de Rossi.
The couple exchanged their personal vows in front of their closest family and friends at their home in LA last Saturday.
Ellen, 50, gushed to People magazine: "What can I say? I'm the luckiest girl in the world. She's officially off the market. No one else gets her. And now she'll cook and clean for me."
Portia, 35, added: "The love we felt from the people surrounding us and the love we have for each other, made this the most beautiful and emotional day. And one that we'll never forget."
Their's is the biggest celebrity union since California legalised same-sex marriage in May. The pair have been together for four years.
Ain't love grand!

EastEnders' Wellard bows out in style

2008-08-19T09:30:55Z

WELLARD RIP.

Tender scenes as Albert Square's best character met his maker last week. Yep, it's true. EastEnders finally got a storyline this year right.

This blog may be later than a Joey Barton apology but the demise of the much-loved pooch was handled brilliantly as the Jackson/Butcher clan said a tearful goodbye.

Wellard deserves a medal - he's had a tough life.

Owned by Robbie "the idiotic road sweeper" Jackson and Gus "nice but I've never had a storyline that didn't involved Sonia" Smith, Wellard hasn't had the best of deals.

But, of course, it's a dog's life. And it's typical Wellard wasn't the star of the show on his own farewell outing/ snuff show.

Enter that signing champion, Ricky Butcher.

Making sure Wellard's final goodbye was a mixture of agony and ecstasy, old RB decided the hound should go out in style.

So he gave an impromptu performance of East 17's Christmas warbler, Stay Another Day, turning tears of sadness into tears of laughter.

For those of you who may have missed Sid Owen's star turn, here's a glimpse of his somewhat brief musical career.

Enjoy.

Big Brother's Jade Goody has cancer

2008-08-19T08:31:25Z

BIG BROTHER star Jade Goody has cancer, it was announced today.

The reality television star will be flying back to the UK for more tests and treatment, her spokesman today confirmed.

The news was broken to the 27-year-old mother-of-two while she was appearing in the Indian version of Big Brother.

She was called into the Diary Room to speak to her UK doctor who told her the results of a recent biopsy.

It is not clear whether she has womb or cervical cancer but the latter is far more common in women of her age.

Her spokesman Mark Thomas said: "It is pretty obvious that she was looking forward to her time in the house but her health is the first priority and she is flying back for treatment and more tests."

TV theme tune of the week

2008-08-18T10:39:03Z

Right, ladies and gents.

New feature for Pass the Remote. Hurrah! No, it's not called that.

We're doing iconic television themes tunes. And we're starting with the cheesiest and - in my always right opinion - the best.

Baywatch. The show with little plot and even less clothing. Brilliant. The Hoff we salute you.

And here's a clue for next week's Top TV theme tune. Answers below please!

A knight whose upward figure adds up to 12.

Cheers for 'wobbly' Amy Winehouse at V Festival

2008-08-18T08:26:31Z

AMY Winehouse turned in a wobbly performance at the V Festival yesterday - but escaped being booed for a second time.

The troubled soul singer was barracked when she arrived late on stage at the event's leg in Weston Park, Staffordshire on Saturday.

Her set last night (Sunday) at the festival's second site, at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex, also started behind schedule but attracted cheers rather than jeers.

Winehouse made a jittery start, but had the crowd singing along by the time she closed with her version of The Zutons'song Valerie.

She appeared to change the words of her hit Rehab to refer to her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil's incarceration for trying to cover up an attack on a pub landlord.

The 24-year-old Grammy winner looked nervous, and her vocals were sometimes only partially audible, but the V crowd applauded loudly at the end of her curtailed set.

Music fans at the festival's Essex site basked in sunshine as they enjoyed a diverse line-up of rock, pop and urban acts yesterday.

Weston Park suffered heavy downpours over the weekend, but Hylands Park almost entirely escaped the rain.

Earlier, Girls Aloud won over the main stage with their combination of perfect pop tunes and energetic dance routines.

All dressed in black with gold accessories, they got the crowd joining in with their hits, including Love Machine and Call the Shots, as well as spirited covers of Walk This Way and Jump (For My Love).

X Factor lacks a certain... well, X Factor

2008-08-15T13:44:18Z

DEAR god, I'm getting old.

The mere thought of four months - yes, really, four - of the X Factor brings me close to weeping. And not through joy.

This is the show that gave us the musical talent that is Ray Quinn. And some dustman called Andy.

And don't forget Chico - who now wows thousands of Butlins holidaygoers every summer with his collection of a hit.

But the show is not about talent. It's a panto. Oh yes, it is.

Which somehow attracts 8million viewers. Why?

The terrible scenes of agony and ecstasy, the contrived melodrama and the pretend heartache is enough to make us want to switch off.

But for some reason, people don't and watch this joke of a talent show week after week.

Maybe it's habit. The first series was rather fabulous after all.

However, that's not the case anymore.

Let's face it. The X Factor is missing something.

That bit of sparkle. That bit of X Factor perhaps?

Rachel's romance.

2008-08-15T13:37:32Z

AFTER all those celebrity break-ups it's nice to see someone loved up. Rachel Hunter, Rod Stewart and Robbie William's ex-missus has announced her engagement to toyboy Jarret Stoll, 12 years her junior.
Rachel who had two children with Rod, Renee, 16 and Liam, 14, has been showing off the huge sparkler given to her by Jarret, a Canadian ice hockey player.
The couple have been together for two years after meeting when Jarret started coaching Liam. They live in LA and plan to marry next year.

Annie's pirate wish.

2008-08-15T13:16:23Z

EURYTHMICS singer, Annie Lennox, has a bit of a pirate fetish perhaps according to her musings on her MySpace page.
Annie, who is nursing a bad back and has had to cancel a number of engagements, wrote: "I got an MRI scan this morning and am now sitting up in bed with my left foot like a dead fish, freezing and numb.
"I'm going to have to get myself a crutch and a parrot so I can fob myself off as a pirate and scare the neighbourhood pre-schoolers."
Despite the pain Annie has been rather enjoying the attention she's getting. She admitted getting carried off a plane from Mexico in a wheelchair made her feel a bit like a movie star.
"I came back to the UK and got wheeled off the plane - a first I must say. I felt a bit like Elizabeth Taylor."

Kelly and Billy say bye-bye.

2008-08-15T10:23:19Z

MUST be something in the air, or water, or whatever cos another high profile celeb couple apparently called it quits this week too.
The on/off Kelly Brook-Billy Zane romance is finally kapput once and for all. The couple who dated for four years had planned to wed this April but Kelly got cold feet and called it off after confiding in pals she thought she was too young.

Just a week later though the 28-year-old model and TV star was back with Hollywood actor Zane, 42.
The reunion proved shortlived however and according to reports Kelly ended things once and for all in an emotional phone call last week.
She's since flown off to St Tropez for a holiday in the sun with her pals while Zane continues filming in Los Angeles.
Her mum, Sandra, said: "Yes she has split from Billy Zane. I think this time it is for good."

Aniston alone again.

2008-08-15T09:41:53Z

Seems Jennifer Aniston must be really lucky at cards, she should move to Vegas, cos she's hopelessly unlucky in love.
Word is her latest romance with John Mayer, who she began dating in April is officially off.
The couple spent much of the summer together and were pictured looking relaxed and happy but according to Hollywood sources the 39-year actress and Friends star and the 30-year-old singer have called it a day.
If the rumours are to be believed the split has come because John can't offer the level of commitment Jen wants.
At 39 she's wanting to settle down and maybe start a family, he wants to concentrate on his music career. Ne'er the twain shall meet as it were.
Jennifer has struggled to find love again after her marriage to Brad Pitt boke up. By contrast Brad has gone on to enjoy family life with Angelina Jolie, and their brood of adopted and natural kids.
Brad met Angelina on the set of the film, Mr and Mrs Smith but the pair have always denied getting together before the Pitt-Aniston split.