Major boost for Gwyneth Paltrow and the Shakespeare team

The cast of Shakespeare in Love has beaten that of Saving Private Ryan to a major Hollywood honour, signalling that there may be unexpected drama at the Oscars later this month.

They received the best ensemble acting award in a film from the Screen Actors Guild, a major Hollywood union, many of whose members also vote in the Academy Awards on 21 March.

Roberto Benigni and Gwyneth Paltrow won the top individual acting honours, boosting their chances in the countdown to Hollywood's biggest award night.

When asked backstage if she thought Shakespeare in Love could defeat Saving Private Ryan at the Oscars, US actress Paltrow said, "That's up to the gods. I am a woman, so I will choose Shakespeare over a boy's war movie any day."

But the weekend wasn't a complete loss for Steven Spielberg.

Oscar-nominated Spielberg was named the year's best director by the Directors Guild, at a film awards ceremony in LA.

Number one spot for new Boyzone single

Boyzone knock Britney Spears off the top spot

Boyzone have gone straight in at number one with their charity single When The Going Gets Tough.

The band's cover version of the Billy Ocean chart topper from 1986 is raising funds for the Comic Relief appeal.

They replace American teenager Britney Spears, who held the number one spot for two weeks.

Dance act Vengaboys went straight in at number three, with George Michael and Mary J Blige new at number four.

Redgrave pulls out of awards ceremony

Lynn Redgrave filed for divorce last week

Oscar-nominated actress Lynn Redgrave has pulled out of a Hollywood awards ceremony after her husband threatened a public showdown over their divorce.

Lynn, 56 on Monday, informed Director's Guild organisers at the last minute that she was unable to present an award due to illness.

The British actress is up for a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance as the maid in Gods and Monsters.

Redgrave filed for divorce last week after learning that husband John Clark, 66, had fathered a son with their daughter-in-law, Nicolette.

Singing Detective to be made into film

New life for Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective

The acclaimed BBC television mini-series The Singing Detective is to be made into a feature film.

Producer Steve Haft will use a screenplay adaptation written by the late Dennis Potter which moves the tale and musical score to 1950s Chicago.

"Potter's The Singing Detective is one of the most powerful cinema experiences I've had," said Haft, whose previous productions include The Dead Poet's Society and Emma.

"Its core storyline, about a man doing battle with his own nightmares, is profoundly haunting."

It is not yet known whether actor Michael Gambon, who starred in the BBC series, will be cast in the feature film.