Rapper Eminem has scored a number one singles hit with his track Lose Yourself.

The song is taken from the film 8 Mile, in which Eminem plays a Detroit rapper struggling to make the big time.

The song held off the challenge of novelty record Cheeky Song, sang by the Cheeky Girls.

Feel, Robbie Williams' first single from his new album Escapology could only manage fourth spot.

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The students of the BBC's Fame Academy are to embark on a 12-date UK tour.

French honour for Lee

Actor Christopher Lee is to get a French government honour, officials have said.

The 80-year-old, who made his name portraying Count Dracula, will be made a French officer of Arts and Letters on Tuesday, when he arrives in Paris for the European premiere of The Lord Of The Rings movie The Two Towers.

Lee, who plays evil wizard Saruman the White in the films, will receive a medal from culture minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon.

The film opens in Europe, Canada and the US on 18 December.

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Renaissance work for sale

One of the most famous renaissance paintings still left in private hands is to go on sale in January - and it is expected to raise at least $20m (�13.5m).

Italian Old Master Andrea Mantegna's Descent into Limbo, painted in 1492, is to go on sale at Sotheby's in New York on 23 January.

"Descent into Limbo is one of the most important works from the Renaissance to appear on the market in decades," said Sotheby's art expert Christopher Apostle.

The painting shows Christ liberating the souls of the dead.

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Streisand 'happy at home'

Barbra Streisand says she is planning to concentrate more on her personal life than her Hollywood career.

The singer, who turned 60 in April, says she is in no rush to return to the limelight.

"I'm kind of content in my own life, and I don't need work," she said

"I'm very busy with my life and my family and stuff like that, and I try to have a good time without having to work."

Her latest album, Duets, contains only two new songs. The rest of the collection is filled with tracks featuring fellow stars from Frank Sinatra to Donna Summer.

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Will Smith show planned

A new TV comedy is to be made about Will Smith's home life, it has been reported.

The show will focus on the marriage of the actor and singer and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, according to trade magazine Variety.

But the couple will not appear on screen themselves, Variety said.

The magazine also reported that Smith had signed up to star in a screen adaptation of the 1940s Isaac Asimov short story collection I, Robot.

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