By Tom Bourton BBC News Online

Scanning the news and the web to pick out Welsh stars making headlines across the world.

Proving that there are no firm friendships in the tough world of pop, the latest stars to be airing their differences in public are Lisa and H, the two Welsh stars from the energetic five-piece Steps which split up over Christmas.

The gang are certainly not singing in harmony any more and, as H, aka Ian Watkins from the Rhondda, and Claire compete in the chart race with ex-colleague Faye Tozer, the glossy magazines have been stirring up the row.

Happier days: But the split has damaged friendships

H said he is very upset at things that have been said after the split.

"I considered the others to be my closest friends and I don't like being accused of stabbing anyone else in the back," he told Now magazine.

In another article in Heat, the questions were a bit more personal, with H saying he didn't care about rumours that he is gay.

H and Claire's single DJ will be joined in the charts by Kidwelly's Jessica 'Pop Idol-turned-Eurovision' Garlick, who will be hoping to wow judges across the continent with her offering entitled Come Back.

Meanwhile, north Walian Lisa is plotting a solo career and helping the careers of her three brothers who make up new pop act 3SL.

She said she was having to adapt to sudden changes since the split, telling Now that; "Steps splitting up was not a blessing in disguise for me".

Smiling star

Over to Hollywood, and Catherine Zeta Jones is currently filming the movie of the musical Chicago, but all the headlines are going to Renee Zellweger, whose performance is said to steal the show - Richard Gere and Lucy Liu also feature.

But it is not all bad news for Mrs Douglas - she has topped a poll, commissioned by a survey for National Smile Week.

Apparently most men would be more happy to lend their toothbrush to her or Kylie Minogue than anyone else.

In case you were wondering, the ladies opted for Tom Cruise and Hugh Grant.

George Clooney is set to star alongside Catherine Zeta Jones

Besides stealing other people's floss though, internet site www.darkhorizons.com recently linked CZJ with the part of Christine in a forthcoming movie of The Phantom of the Opera.

Other stars also linked to the part are Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet and Martine McCutcheon.

The site also said Charlotte 'rear of the year' Church was considered, but was discounted because of the age gap between her and the leading man - apparently John Travolta, Hugh Jackman and Kevin Spacey are all in the frame to wear the mask.

Sixteen-year-old Charlotte has had a fairly rough time of late - one minute she's being crowned rear of the year, the next politicians are criticising the award for sexually exploiting her.

Church was also singled out, along with classical group Bond, for criticism by opera singer Sir Thomas Allen.

He said that classical artists who got attention for their image as much as for their music threatened the integrity of the profession.

Ryan Giggs: Admired by Max Beesley

Back to CZJ though, one project that is not open to question is her part in Intolerable Cruelty, to be directed by the Coen brothers, which is due to start production in June this year.

Latest news on this is that Billy Bob Thornton and Geoffrey Rush have signed up opposite her and George Clooney.

Elsewhere, Rhys Ifans is out in Australia filming a romantic comedy called Danny Deckchair with Patricia Arquette and Tim Robbins, and Ioan 'Too young for 007' Gruffudd is quoted in Now magazine as saying he was quite happy to lose his virginity aged 22.

As for Ryan Giggs, he can sleep safe in the knowledge that actor Max Beesley has said he is a great admirer of the Welshman's wizardry on the wing.