Pop sensations The White Stripes have turned down a lucrative advertising deal with fashion chain Gap - reported to have been worth about $1m (�689,107).

In an interview with the NME, the rock and blues duo said that they had been approached to get involved in Gap's latest TV campaign, which includes Daft Punk, Tricky and Duran Duran.

Vocalist Jack White told the NME: "The Gap wanted us to be in a commercial and we said 'no' and everyone said, 'why not'?"

"It's almost as if, if people are willing to give you that much money, you are insulting everyone you know by turning it down - people's opinions about selling out seem to have changed over the years."

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Former Mastermind host launches charity quiz

On Wednesday former Mastermind host Magnus Magnusson launched a new quiz book for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's Christmas fund-raising campaign.

The former question master of the BBC TV knowledge quiz has contributed his own questions to the book - including a teaser on who sculpted London's Peter Pan statue.

The launch took place by the statue of Peter Pan in London's Kensington Gardens.

The quiz book costs �10 and the money raised goes to the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, one of the world's largest cancer research organisations.

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Pie 2 sky high in UK

Teen film sequel American Pie 2 has shot to the top of the UK cinema chart, trouncing its nearest rival at the box office more than six times over.

The comedy, which follows a group of friends who reunite during their first university break, took more than �5.5m between Friday and Sunday.

Moulin Rouge, which took �864,000, was pushed down to number two, with Enigma at number three and AI: Artificial Intelligence at number four.

The Pledge, directed by Sean Penn and starring Jack Nicholson, could only enter the chart at number 11 - but was only screened at 34 sites.

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Digital viewers get BBC regional news

BBC One's regional news shows will be available to digital satellite viewers for the first time, it was announced on Tuesday.

Until now, the regional shows had been replaced with a nationwide bulletin called UK Today.

But from early next year, viewers in 70% of the country will be able to see the news show from their area.

London, the north west, the north, the West Midlands and the south of England will be the first regions to get coverage, with the other areas to follow.