All Saints: Rows with manager led to trouble in December

Girl group All Saints have followed in the footsteps of the Spice Girls and sacked the man who groomed them for stardom, according to tabloid reports.

The Mirror says Natalie and Nicole Appleton, Shaznay Lewis and Melanie Blatt have given John Benson the push and are now hunting for a replacement.

It is reported that rows with Benson were behind Nicole Appleton's short-lived decision to leave the foursome in December, and that she agreed to return only if he left.

The Spice Girls sacked their manager, Simon Fuller, in November 1997.

A Brook Breakfast

Johnny Vaughan and Kelly Brook: Channel 4's new team at breakfast

New Big Breakfast presenter Kelly Brook made her debut on the Channel 4 show on Monday morning - and was treated like royalty by the show's team.

At the start of the programme she shook hands with all the crew in a line, as her co-host Johnny Vaughan said the programme was "standing at the dawn of a new era".

Brook said: "I am very excited. It's pressure, but I am calm. Everybody's been lovely."

Producers hope she can recreate Denise Van Outen's successful partnership with Vaughan, who quipped the show's team should now take the breakfast TV ratings battle one step further.

"How about a fight between us and GMTV?," he suggested to cheers. "If we all got on a coach and went down there - wouldn't that be fantastic? Like the Vikings."

Horrocks set for Garland tribute

Jane Horrocks: Lorna Luft a fan of Little Voice

Actress Jane Horrocks has been invited to appear at a tribute to Judy Garland at the London Palladium later this year.

Garland's daughter, Lorna Luft, is planning the tribute performance and after seeing Horrocks' impersonation of her mother in the film Little Voice, asked her to appear.

Luft met Horrocks in Britain after the actress had completed the film and said: "I thought she was terrific, and so sweet."

The theory of success

Helena Bonham Carter:Theory of Flight to be shown in UK this year

British film The Theory of Flight, with Helena Bonham Carter and Kenneth Branagh, has won the Top European Film prize at the Brussels movie festival.

Directed by Paul Greengrass, it is billed as a warm and witty story of love between a frustrated artist on the wrong side of the law and a young woman with motor neurone disease.

A BBC co-production, it was filmed on location in London and Wales, and is to be shown in the UK later this year.

Wise getting better

Ernie Wise with Eric Morecambe: On the mend, accrdoing to his wife

Veteran comedy legend Ernie Wise is on the long road back to health, his wife Doreen has told reporters.

The 73-year-old half of the Morecambe and Wise duo is still in intensive at the North Ridge Medical Centre in Florida, but is receiving visitors.

Little Ern, as he was known during his long TV partnership with the late Eric Morecambe, suffered a heart attack and underwent heart by-pass surgery at the hospital earlier this month.

Paltrow prepares for Duets

Gwyneth Paltrow: Working in Canada

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has left for Canada to do location work on her latest movie, the karaoke film Duets.

Filming on the project, directed by her father Bruce, had been due to begin two years ago but ran aground after Paltrow split with proposed co-star Brad Pitt.

Pitt's role will now be played by Scott Speedman, who has shot to fame in the US comedy series Felicity.

When Duets is completed, Paltrow plans to return to Los Angeles for the Oscars before taking a holiday.

Dando gets engaged

Jill Dando: Recently signed new BBC deal

BBC presenter Jill Dando has announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Alan Farthing.

The couple broke the news to family and friends at a party in London at the weekend and plan to wed before the end of the year.

"Both families are delighted," Dando's agent Jon Roseman said.

Holiday presenter Dando, 37, was introduced to Farthing, 35, by a mutual friend more than a year ago.

He is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at a London hospital.

Recently Dando signed a new deal with the BBC to present factual programmes, after ruling herself out of consideration to present a new-look Six O'Clock News.