PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

Tickets for SIR ELTON JOHN’s summer concert in the Scottish Highlands have been snapped up by touts - days before they go on sale to the public.
The ROCKET MAN star is due to play at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in Inverness on 15 July (07) as the opening event of new arts festival InvernessFest.
Bosses at Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club, who own the soccer stadium, have offered their 2,600 season ticket holders first refusal on the tickets, setting up a special hotline number with password for the sale of the concert passes.
However, the details - which were exclusively for the club’s members - were leaked to the public, resulting in touts snapping up the £40 ($78) to £80 ($156) tickets and posting them on auction website eBay for around £300 ($585) each.
One fan says, "We got letters on Thursday morning with the hotline number and password. But the information got round Inverness like wildfire. I just hope there’s enough tickets to go round." MIKE SMITH, the club’s chief executive, says, "We thought it was beneficial to give this opportunity to our fans. But we are disappointed if people have passed that on to other people - but we have no way of stopping them."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

British celebrity chef MARCO PIERRE WHITE has slammed the New York Times after they hired a private detective to prove he lied about his alleged drug and alcohol abuse in a defamation case against the paper.
White filed a lawsuit against the New York Times and sister paper the International Herald Tribune in 1998 for falsely claiming he once had a "well-publicised bout with drugs and alcohol" - allegations he believe they continued to pursue in a bid to expose the chef after the court case was settled.
The Leeds-born chef says, "They hired private detectives in an attempt to dig up some dirt, and GORDON RAMSAY, by now an accomplished chef and restaurateur, got a call from someone saying she was a journalist who worked for the New York Times.
"The reporter asked him about the period he worked for me… ‘Did he have a wild time there?’ That sort of thing. When she referred to ’sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’, he ended the call." And White admits he would have welcomed questions over the paper’s claim in the original interview so he could set the record straight.
He adds, "If she had (asked), I would have explained to her that I rarely touched booze and have never taken illegal drugs."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

MONTY PYTHON star JOHN CLEESE has given his full support to plans to erect a statue of his FAWLTY TOWERS character BASIL FAWLTY at the English seaside resort where the comedy was set.
Cleese, 67, created the 1970s show after staying in a hotel run by "the most wonderfully rude man" in Torquay, Devon, basing the bumbling, bad-tempered hotelier Fawlty on the local hotel owner.
The town of Torbay, near Torquay in south west England, plan to take full advantage of the popularity of Fawlty Towers by honouring the show with a statue worth £20,000 ($39,000).
Local councillor ANDY WESTWOOD says, "The programme is shown somewhere in the world every hour. It’s about time we took advantage." Cleese says, "This sounds splendid. Let’s get someone to sculpt it in a non-controversial style."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Hollywood actress SHARON STONE has praised the talented extras in her latest movie BOBBY - and wishes there was an accolade equivalent of an Academy Award for the budding stars.
The BASIC INSTINCT beauty appears alongside WILLIAM H MACY, HEATHER GRAHAM, CHRISTIAN SLATER and DEMI MOORE in the EMILIO ESTEVEZ-directed movie about the 1968 assassination of US Senator ROBERT F. KENNEDY.
Stone says, "I wish there was an Oscar for extras. I’m not even joking because the performances they gave are so compelling and so rich and so deep."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Oscar winner RENEE ZELLWEGER spoke every word in an English accent for six months while filming new movie MISS POTTER because she was too "lazy" to relearn her vowel sounds each morning.
As well as perfecting her English accent to play British writer and illustrator BEATRIX POTTER in the new film, the 37-year-old actress dyed her hair dark brown on a daily basis, but she wishes she’d had the courage to change her hair colour permanently.
Discussing her refusal to drop her English accent, she says, "It was just lazy because I don’t want to work in the morning to start all over again. I just wanted it to be habit because I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to have to do the exercises to start your face going in the right direction and using the right muscles in your face.
"I coloured my hair every day for this picture. Every day I put temporary brown color that was dripping down my neck as I left my hotel room to go to set and I wished I had colored it, just committed to it, because it would have been a nice shade of brown by the end of the film instead of the sort of papaya-pink that it ended up becoming."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

American lifestyle queen MARTHA STEWART has angered local residents in her new hometown of Katonah, New York, by attempting to trademark the area’s name.
Stewart - who was this week (ends21JAN07) named the third richest woman in entertainment by Forbes magazine - has a trademark pending for the Katonah Collection, which is already on sale. But locals fear that if the application is approved, it could prevent other furniture stores from using the Katonah name in the future.
WILLIAM O’NEILL, co-president of the Katonah Village Improvement Society, echoes the views of residents and agrees that while they have no problem with Stewart using the name, they do not feel it is appropriate for one person to own it.
He says, "We don’t think it’s a good idea for her to assert trademark rights over a name that’s been in use as a place name since 1852." However, Stewart’s spokeswoman, DIANA PEARSON, has hit back at locals’ concerns and says, "Martha Stewart, number one, loves Katonah; number two, seeks to honour the town and the hamlet by using the word Katonah." Stewart, 65, bought a house in Katonah in 2000, after living in Westport, Connecticut, for more than 30 years.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: OJ SIMPSON has been ordered to curb his spending to include only basic necessities, after claims the former footballer is in talks to negotiate another book deal.
He was issued the limited restraining order on Friday (19JAN07) by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge GERALD ROSENBERG, after concerns were raised by the family of murder victim RON GOLDMAN. The ruling also restricts Simpson from spending any money earned from previous book, film and sports deals, and is effective until a 20 February (07) hearing.
Simpson was set to publish his controversial book, IF I DID IT, on 30 November (06), but his contract was terminated cancelled by News Corp head RUPERT MURDOCH ten days prior to publication.
The disgraced star was acquitted of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON and Ron Goldman after a year-long trial, but was ordered by a civil court ruling to pay $33.5 million (£17 million) to their heirs - which he has yet to hand over - after they deemed him responsible for both deaths.
YALE GALANTER, Simpson’s attorney, heightened speculation his client was shopping for a new buyer on Monday (15JAN07) when he accepted publishers HarperCollins’ cancellation of the book deal.
He says, "We are taking the position that the contract with them is null and void. Or more accurately, others are free to try and get the story".

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LATEST: A teenager accused of stalking pop star/actress HILARY DUFF was sentenced to 117 days in jail after pleading no contest to the charges brought against him.
Duff, 20, gained a protection order against MAKSIM MYASKOVSKIY, 18, in October (06) after he allegedly tried to contact the LIZZIE McGUIRE star in the California neighbourhood of her then boyfriend, GOOD CHARLOTTE rocker JOEL MADDEN.
Myaskovskiy was arrested on 3 November last year (06) when he threatened to harm the LIZZIE McGUIRE star at an event she was scheduled to attend. He was taken into custody for making criminal threats and stalking.
In addition to jail time, a Superior Court judge also ordered Myaskovskiy to serve five years probation at the hearing on Friday (19JAN07).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Scottish rockers THE VIEW have been banned from the British Travelodge chain after trashing several hotel rooms before attempting to run out on the £7,000 ($13,650) bill.
The four-piece wreaked havoc in the Liverpool branch of the budget hotel on 21 November (06) when they flooded their rooms following an all-night drinking session, causing the whole hotel to be evacuated.
Earlier that night, they had performed at Liverpool’s Academy as the opening act for PRIMAL SCREAM.
The SAME JEANS hitmakers also tried to avoid paying for the damages, fleeing the hotel shortly after the incident leaving their manager to settle the charges.
Travelodge spokesman, GREG DAWSON, says, "We don’t care who they are, they acted offensively and were anti-social to other residents. They are not welcome back."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Acerbic AMERICAN IDOL judge SIMON COWELL has slammed new UK pop sensation MIKA - after he told the hotly-tipped star "not to bother" with a career in music.
The singer, born MIKA PENNIMAN, has been hailed as the new FREDDIE MERCURY and is expected to top the British singles chart this week (ends21JAN07) with debut single, GRACE KELLY.
The 23-year-old recalls, "I managed to get a demo to him before he became a household name. He hadn’t done any of the POP IDOL stuff.
"When I walked in and played my song, he said, ‘You’ve got a good voice but your songwriting… you may as well not bother.’" Despite the knockback, Mika did not give up on his pop dreams, and instead has used the put-down to spur him on.
He says, "Honesty is a good policy. That’s how you’ve got to survive. Rub your hands together and start again."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

British pop singer WILL YOUNG has actor BOB HOSKINS to thank for his new stage career, because it was the portly UNLEASHED star who told him to try his hand at theatre.
Young, 27, first met Hoskins when they appeared together in the hit British movie MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, and the former POP IDOL winner made his stage debut in NOEL COWARD’s THE VORTEX in Manchester last night (19JAN06) after encouragement from the veteran English actor.
He says, "Bob told me to try it."

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

CHRIS MARTIN has praised Scottish rockers TRAVIS for having such a big influence on young musicians, crediting the Scottish band for the creation of Martin’s own group, COLDPLAY.
Appearing as a guest presenter on the UK’s Radio 1 alongside SHAUN OF THE DEAD actor SIMON PEGG last night (19JAN07), Martin unveiled Travis’ new song, BIG CHAIR, to the delight of fans across the country.
Martin gushed, "We’re gonna finish with an incredible exclusive, we’re very privileged to play it, it’s a new song by the band Travis, the band that invented my band and lots of others." But while lead singer of Travis, FRAN HEALY, was delighted at the song’s debut, the airing was a little earlier than expected.
He says, "I thought it was going to get played (on Saturday) (20JAN07). I checked the Radio 1 website a few days ago and I’m sure it said Chris was on (Saturday) but what a nice surprise.
"Thanks Chris, I must return the favour one day!"

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Rockers THE GOSSIP have been forced to pull the planned UK release of new single JEALOUS GIRLS over unprecedented demand for one of their previous hits.
Jealous Girls was slated for release on 5 February (07), but record company bosses have shelved the track in favour of the band’s previously released signature tune, STANDING IN THE WAY OF CONTROL. The song has enjoyed a surge in popularity since its appearance in an advert for new British TV drama SKINS.
Standing In The Way Of Control, which had its original UK released in October last year (06), was penned by enigmatic frontwoman BETH DITTO as a response to President Bush’s decision to ban gay marriage.
She says, "Nobody in the States was that surprised or shocked by what Bush did, but it made everyone I know feel helpless and cheated.
"I wrote the chorus to try and encourage people not to give up. It’s a scary time for civil rights, but I really believe the only way to survive is to stick together and keep fighting." Ditto was named the Coolest Person in Rock by British music magazine NME in 2006.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Fans of troubled diva WHITNEY HOUSTON are being offered another chance to get their hands on the singer’s personal items - editors at US tabloid the National Enquirer are offering up memorabilia they picked up at the soul star’s auction.
Belts, headbands and a pair of silk DOLCE & GABBANA pants from Whitney’s own wardrobe can be won by readers of the Enquirer - for the cost of a stamp.
The items were snapped up by the publication’s bosses when the owners of a storage facility Houston owed money to decided to auction off her possessions.
Houston fans simply have to fill out a coupon in the new issue of the US Enquirer and send it to the magazine for a chance to win the soul superstar’s belongings.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Surfer KELLY SLATER’s mother has slammed reports CAMERON DIAZ is having a rebound romance with her son.
Diaz flew to Hawaii to be with PAMELA ANDERSON’s ex-boyfriend, just a week after breaking up with JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE.
Slater’s mother JUDY insists there is "nothing romantic" between the pair, telling American publication In Touch, "They have been friends for a long time.
"Every time somebody sees somebody else eating dinner, they think it is a romantic thing. It’s silly." Diaz and Timberlake were involved in a very public argument at a Golden Globes celebration Monday (15JAN07), after spotting her ex talking to JESSICA BIEL.
When asked if she believed Diaz was using Slater to get away from her life in Hollywood, Judy said, "She might be - I don’t know.
"She just called him and asked if she could come over for a few days. It was nothing they had planned." Diaz and Slater, both 34, have known each other since meeting on a 2005 conservation expedition to Honduras for Diaz’s MTV show TRIPPIN’.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

BRITNEY SPEARS has split from new boyfriend ISAAC COHEN, three weeks after the pair began dating.
The TOXIC singer and Cohen, both 25, were first seen together powerboating on 2 January (07) off the coast of Marina del Rey, California and recently returned from a lavish weekend in Las Vegas.
On Thursday night (18JAN07), Spears was spotted at a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf cafe in Santa Monica, California where she was followed by a pack of paparazzi.
As she headed back to her car, Spears told the photographers gathered, "Me and Isaac are not together, by the way." When photographers asked her if the relationship was really over, she replied, "Yes." The star has also been romantically linked to music producer JR ROTEM since filing for divorce from husband KEVIN FEDERLINE last year (06).

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

LINDSAY LOHAN reportedly checked herself into rehab on Wednesday (17JAN07) after SPIDER-MAN star JAMES FRANCO rejected her romantic advances.
The MEAN GIRLS star allegedly became obsessed with the actor after meeting him at the PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION film premiere in June (06) and tried to give him an expensive watch, which he refused.
According to the New York Daily News, Franco rebuffed the actress at PRINCE’s Golden Globes after-party at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Monday night (15JAN07), reducing Lohan to tears.
A source says, "She seemed lost. She was trying to get James’ attention, and he wouldn’t give her anything. She was smoking a lot, not drinking in front of him, and then she went into a bedroom.
"From there, she went back to trying to get James’ attention again, and he was ignoring her. She ran out crying." Lohan was allegedly found passed out in a hotel hallway shortly after the incident.
The 20-year-old subsequently checked herself into the posh Wonderland rehabilitation center in the Hollywood Hills.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

BEYONCE KNOWLES’ father has slammed reports he claimed to be managing his daughter’s DREAMGIRLS co-star JENNIFER HUDSON.
Media reports have suggested a rift between the two female co-stars, which may have started with Beyonce’s father, MATHEW KNOWLES.
According to E! Online, Knowles tried unsuccessfully to sign the former AMERICAN IDOL contestant as a client to his Houston, Texas-based Music World Entertainment management.
A source says, "He tried to sign her halfway through the production of Dreamgirls, because he wanted to be her manager, but Jennifer turned him down.
That’s when things really went south.
"He walks around saying he’s her manager, and everyone is like, ‘No, you’re not.’" A representative for Knowles insists Mathew never claimed to be Hudson’s manager, although he did try to sign the rising superstar to his music label.
In the end, Hudson eventually signed with music legend CLIVE DAVIS.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)