The principal dancer with the Royal Ballet is due to give birth in February, and changes to the company's repertory are now being arranged to accommodate her leave.

"My husband Angus and I are thrilled and we are looking forward to another addition to our family," said Bussell.

Earlier this year, Bussell had to pull out of a number of performances following an injury to her foot which required an operation.

�1m donation for theatre

Plans to rebuild London's Young Vic theatre have been given a �1m boost by the chairman of its board.

The theatre's bosses want to overhaul the venue and will announce proposals for a �12m revamp early next year.

But they had an early boost when Patrick McKenna handed over the money.

It is hoped it will help to set the ball rolling in attracting further cash for the building at London's South Bank.

Hogan's Hero actor dies

Actor Larry Hovis, who played Sergeant Carter in the 1960s TV series Hogan's Heroes, has died of cancer aged 67.

Hovis was best known for his role in the long-running 60s comedy about World War II soldiers in a German prison camp.

He got into showbiz at the age of five after forming a musical act with his sister, and also worked as a singer, writer, comedian and TV producer.

In 1990 he joined the university of San Marcos, Texas, where he worked as a drama teacher.

Share a book for 9/11

Book lovers wanted a way to mark the anniversary of 11 September, so chose to leave their favourite reads in public places for others to share.

"The idea is to transform a black day into a day of giving and sharing," said Paris-based poet and publisher Emmanuel Lequeux.

Organisers say 50,000 people around the world pledged to take part in a giant book give-away through its website.

"People can pick any book that moved them or changed their world view, add a dedication, a drawing or even their e-mail, and then leave it on a park bench or in a train," added Mr Lequeux.

Actor: Studios 'closed' to minorities

Director Mario Van Peebles has bemoaned the lack minority studio executives, saying little had changed since his father directed the blaxploitation movie Sweet Sweetback's Baaad Asssss Song in 1971.

That cult film, directed by Melvin Van Peebles, led to an upturn in black cinema, spawning the likes of Shaft and Superfly.

Now the younger Van Peebles is playing his father in the film How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Arse, depicting the trials of making the original film including lack of money and death threats.

"There's no head of any studio that can greenlight a movie (who) is a minority, right now, today in 2003," he said. "You have to go ahead and do things yourself.

Elephant named after Bardot

A baby Thai elephant has been named after French actress and animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot because of her support for elephant welfare.

The baby elephant was named after she gave money to a Thai elephant hospital.

"She transferred money to us in June and August totalling $70,000 (�45,750) for food and medicine for five elephants that sustained injuries from stepping on landmines," a spokesman said.

The hospital said Bardot had written to them saying elephants were among her favourite animals.