Kim Kardashian: Post-Christmas Shopper

Taking advantage of the day-after Christmas sales, Kim Kardashian was spotted imbibing in a little retail therapy in Los Angeles on Friday (December 26).

Sporting a sexy pulled-back hairdo, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” starlet browsed the racks at Neiman Marcus, charging up a few items on her American Express card before continuing on with her day.

Meanwhile, Kim was busy earlier this week sticking up for her brother Rob Jr, who was accused of attacking a gay employee by Courtney Love.

“Rob Jr. cold socked and punched my employee right in his face for no reason and broke his nose after my guy was hanging out with his pal Brody Jenner one night outside Hyde lounge,” Love wrote of the alleged incident in a mostly incoherent blog post.

Calling the claims totally false, Kim responded: “A lot of what she wrote doesn’t even make much sense and doesn’t follow a clear train of thought. At one point she says Brody was there too and that someone yelled discriminatory expletives against gay people, but I honestly can’t figure out who she is accusing because her writing is so bad.”

Kim continued: “All I know is that both Brody and Rob didn’t do anything close to what Ms. Love has described.” She added: “We will forward this terrible nonsense to our attorneys.”

Since Miss Kardashian’s response, Courtney has posted another message saying that what she said about Robert Jr. was, indeed, untrue.


- celebrity-gossip.net

Kim Kardashian: Post-Christmas Shopper

Taking advantage of the day-after Christmas sales, Kim Kardashian was spotted imbibing in a little retail therapy in Los Angeles on Friday (December 26).

Sporting a sexy pulled-back hairdo, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” starlet browsed the racks at Neiman Marcus, charging up a few items on her American Express card before continuing on with her day.

Meanwhile, Kim was busy earlier this week sticking up for her brother Rob Jr, who was accused of attacking a gay employee by Courtney Love.

“Rob Jr. cold socked and punched my employee right in his face for no reason and broke his nose after my guy was hanging out with his pal Brody Jenner one night outside Hyde lounge,” Love wrote of the alleged incident in a mostly incoherent blog post.

Calling the claims totally false, Kim responded: “A lot of what she wrote doesn’t even make much sense and doesn’t follow a clear train of thought. At one point she says Brody was there too and that someone yelled discriminatory expletives against gay people, but I honestly can’t figure out who she is accusing because her writing is so bad.”

Kim continued: “All I know is that both Brody and Rob didn’t do anything close to what Ms. Love has described.” She added: “We will forward this terrible nonsense to our attorneys.”

Since Miss Kardashian’s response, Courtney has posted another message saying that what she said about Robert Jr. was, indeed, untrue.


- celebrity-gossip.net

Paris Hilton and Brittany Flickinger: Snow Bunnies

Continuing to provide the Aspen paparazzi with plenty of material, Paris Hilton and her BFF Brittany Flickinger were spotted out and about yesterday (December 26).

The “Simple Life” hottie and her best gal pal looked to be having a marvelous time as they made their way around town, smiling for the shutterbugs all the while.

And Miss Hilton was looking her best as usual, sporting an animal print top layered over a green shirt with tan trousers and a pair of faux fur-lined boots.

According to witnesses, the girls enjoyed all that Aspen had to offer in the way of retail therapy opportunities, shopping the swanky boutiques all over town.


- celebrity-gossip.net

Paris Hilton and Brittany Flickinger: Snow Bunnies

Continuing to provide the Aspen paparazzi with plenty of material, Paris Hilton and her BFF Brittany Flickinger were spotted out and about yesterday (December 26).

The “Simple Life” hottie and her best gal pal looked to be having a marvelous time as they made their way around town, smiling for the shutterbugs all the while.

And Miss Hilton was looking her best as usual, sporting an animal print top layered over a green shirt with tan trousers and a pair of faux fur-lined boots.

According to witnesses, the girls enjoyed all that Aspen had to offer in the way of retail therapy opportunities, shopping the swanky boutiques all over town.


- celebrity-gossip.net

Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson: So Happy Together

Though drama always seems to follow these two wherever they go, yesterday (December 26) looked to be a good day for Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson.

Getting their daily dose of caffeine, the “Mean Girls” actress and her deejay girlfriend were spotted hitting up the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in West Hollywood, California.

At one point, LiLo leaned over and gave Sam a full-on hug as they returned to their chauffeured SUV, both ladies looking lovely in their matching black leather jacket.

Miss Lohan was also spotted indulging her inner-bargain-shopper at a post-Christmas sale at Neiman Marcus department store yesterday afternoon.

As for their Christmas celebration, Lindsay and Samantha were spotted dining at Twin Dragon Chinese restaurant before hitting up a dive bar in Los Feliz.

- celebrity-gossip.net

Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson: So Happy Together

Though drama always seems to follow these two wherever they go, yesterday (December 26) looked to be a good day for Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson.

Getting their daily dose of caffeine, the “Mean Girls” actress and her deejay girlfriend were spotted hitting up the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in West Hollywood, California.

At one point, LiLo leaned over and gave Sam a full-on hug as they returned to their chauffeured SUV, both ladies looking lovely in their matching black leather jacket.

Miss Lohan was also spotted indulging her inner-bargain-shopper at a post-Christmas sale at Neiman Marcus department store yesterday afternoon.

As for their Christmas celebration, Lindsay and Samantha were spotted dining at Twin Dragon Chinese restaurant before hitting up a dive bar in Los Feliz.

- celebrity-gossip.net

Katie Holmes and Suri: Night Out in NYC

Still burning the candle at both ends, Katie Holmes was spotted outside her Soho apartment last night (December 26) along with her daughter Suri Cruise.

The “Mad Money” mommy continued to show signs of exhaustion as she passed the paparazzi, sporting some serious dark shadows under her eyes presumably from her grueling Broadway schedule.

In related news, Katie’s hubby Tom Cruise has been getting mixed reviews for his role in “Valkyrie,” with critics either loving or hating it.

An AP review reads, “He’s distractingly bad- the iconography of his celebrity so strongly overshadowing his performance,” while another critic mused that Cruise is, “too modern, too American and way too Tom Cruise to make sense in the role.”

On the brighter side, The Washington Post praised, “Even Cruise, whom many doubted could carry off the aristocratic elan of the blue-blooded von Stauffenberg, manages his part respectably, with a combination of ramrod posture, starched costumes and minimalist acting.”

- celebrity-gossip.net

Katie Holmes and Suri: Night Out in NYC

Still burning the candle at both ends, Katie Holmes was spotted outside her Soho apartment last night (December 26) along with her daughter Suri Cruise.

The “Mad Money” mommy continued to show signs of exhaustion as she passed the paparazzi, sporting some serious dark shadows under her eyes presumably from her grueling Broadway schedule.

In related news, Katie’s hubby Tom Cruise has been getting mixed reviews for his role in “Valkyrie,” with critics either loving or hating it.

An AP review reads, “He’s distractingly bad- the iconography of his celebrity so strongly overshadowing his performance,” while another critic mused that Cruise is, “too modern, too American and way too Tom Cruise to make sense in the role.”

On the brighter side, The Washington Post praised, “Even Cruise, whom many doubted could carry off the aristocratic elan of the blue-blooded von Stauffenberg, manages his part respectably, with a combination of ramrod posture, starched costumes and minimalist acting.”

- celebrity-gossip.net

Gwen Stefani’s Post-Christmas Cheer

Enjoying some family time in the afterglow of Christmas, Gwen Stefani and her husband Gavin Rossdale were spotted taking their songs Zuma and Kingston to an after-Christmas shindig yesterday (December 26).

The “Hella Good” songstress and her “Little Things” rocker hubby looked a bit worn out by the holiday festivities as they toted their two little ones past the paparazzi.

Speaking of kids, Gavin recently cleared up a rumor regarding his eldest’s moniker, telling press, “The stuff you read on Wikipedia especially is such rubbish. They have some stranger as my mother and the family names are all wrong. I’d like to complain to Mr. Wikipedia. How do you do that? Kingston is named for Kingston, Jamaica, not Kingston Ferry. So it’s really not that traditional. At least I don’t think there are a lot of kids named for Kingston, Jamaica.”

And it seems little Kingston is already showing signs of his musical genes. “He likes anything with a good beat. He’s big into drums. He likes my record. He likes Gwen’s record. He plays some Pharrell and Snoop. Anything that’s good for head-bobbing. He’s a good head-bobber.”

- celebrity-gossip.net

Gwen Stefani’s Post-Christmas Cheer

Enjoying some family time in the afterglow of Christmas, Gwen Stefani and her husband Gavin Rossdale were spotted taking their songs Zuma and Kingston to an after-Christmas shindig yesterday (December 26).

The “Hella Good” songstress and her “Little Things” rocker hubby looked a bit worn out by the holiday festivities as they toted their two little ones past the paparazzi.

Speaking of kids, Gavin recently cleared up a rumor regarding his eldest’s moniker, telling press, “The stuff you read on Wikipedia especially is such rubbish. They have some stranger as my mother and the family names are all wrong. I’d like to complain to Mr. Wikipedia. How do you do that? Kingston is named for Kingston, Jamaica, not Kingston Ferry. So it’s really not that traditional. At least I don’t think there are a lot of kids named for Kingston, Jamaica.”

And it seems little Kingston is already showing signs of his musical genes. “He likes anything with a good beat. He’s big into drums. He likes my record. He likes Gwen’s record. He plays some Pharrell and Snoop. Anything that’s good for head-bobbing. He’s a good head-bobber.”

- celebrity-gossip.net

The Year That Was: August 2008

Everyday this week, we’ve been reminiscing about the most important celeb events from 2008. Today we’ll be discussing such stars as Kerry Katona, Gary Glitter and who can forget the divine Peaches Geldof. So what did Peaches get up to in August 08? Well…

And They Said It Would Never Last

Once again, Peaches Geldof was shocking the nation when she announced that she’d married Max Drummey, in a tacky "low-key" Las Vegas wedding ceremony. Why would she have done such a thing, we pondered? Ah, that’s right – apparently the star married American-born Drummey so she could get a VISA to live in the States. Still, we’re surprised she managed to make her marriage work until the end of the year. How much longer do you reckon they’ll stay together for?

Jade Goody Rushed To Hospital

Controversial reality star Jade Goody was rushed to the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, Essex after she collapsed at her home. At the time Jade’s agent told the press her illness was a complete “mystery”, but a few weeks later the star was informed by doctors that she was suffering from cervical cancer.

Paris For President

Back when Barack Obama wasn’t President elect, and there was some old white haired-guy vying for his job, Paris Hilton decided she’d do something really funny by making a short video outlining her own amazing plot to become the US President. We all laughed hysterically… at her acting skills.

Christina Applegate Battles Cancer

In a desperate bid to battle breast cancer, which she discovered following an MRI scan, Christina Applegate had a drastic double mastectomy. Later that month the actress announced that after successful surgery she was “100% free” of the disease.

It Just Wasn’t Meant To Be

Despite rumours in the press of potential marriage and family plans, Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer announced that they had broken-up. Shortly after their split loud-mouthed John told a group of paparazzi that he was the one who ended their relationship. Apparently that wasn’t true, so soon after John made the spurious claims, pals of Jennifer stepped forward to set the record straight. According to them Jenn ditched John because he was (in no particular order) cheap, attention seeking and a liar.

Still he can’t be all that bad because by October the Friends actress reunited with her rocker boyfriend. Maybe she likes stingy people who lie a lot and have to be the centre of attention all the time.

Reality TV Gone Too Far??

After collapsing in her home a few weeks earlier, suffering from a “mystery illness”, Jade Goody jetted to India where she was due to star in the Indian version of Big Brother or Big Boss as it’s known over there.

It was supposed to be the reality TV star’s opportunity to make amends for the allegedly racist comments she made to Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Bother in 2007 sadly, a day into filming and Jade was called into the diary room where she was given the devastating news that she was suffering from cervical cancer.

Kerry Katona Declared Bankrupt

Poor Kerry, she’s not had an easy year has she? Just four months after she gave birth to her son Max, Kerry was declared bankrupt at the Royal Courts of Justice in London after she failed to pay an outstanding £157,000 of a £417,000 tax bill.

All That Glitters Does Not Shine

Shamed seventies pop star Gary Glitter arrived back in the UK, much to the dismay of the press (and the nation) after serving nearly three years in a Vietnamese prison for sexually abusing two girls. The convicted paedophile flew into Heathrow airport where police escorted him through immigration and customs. Later that day Glitter appeared in court and was served an order, which officially put him on the sex offenders register - for the second time.

Zuma Nesta Rock?

Sorry was that the name of a new fizzy beverage? No. The name of a sweet perhaps? Sadly not, actually it’s the name of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s second child who was born in LA on the 22nd August. Lucky he’s got super famous parents or he wouldn’t stand a chance at school!

Now make sure you stay tuned for September because there’s plenty more where that came from. But while you're waiting why don't you reread of our round-up of July 2008.


- mrpaparazzi.com

The Year That Was: August 2008

Everyday this week, we’ve been reminiscing about the most important celeb events from 2008. Today we’ll be discussing such stars as Kerry Katona, Gary Glitter and who can forget the divine Peaches Geldof. So what did Peaches get up to in August 08? Well…

And They Said It Would Never Last

Once again, Peaches Geldof was shocking the nation when she announced that she’d married Max Drummey, in a tacky "low-key" Las Vegas wedding ceremony. Why would she have done such a thing, we pondered? Ah, that’s right – apparently the star married American-born Drummey so she could get a VISA to live in the States. Still, we’re surprised she managed to make her marriage work until the end of the year. How much longer do you reckon they’ll stay together for?

Jade Goody Rushed To Hospital

Controversial reality star Jade Goody was rushed to the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, Essex after she collapsed at her home. At the time Jade’s agent told the press her illness was a complete “mystery”, but a few weeks later the star was informed by doctors that she was suffering from cervical cancer.

Paris For President

Back when Barack Obama wasn’t President elect, and there was some old white haired-guy vying for his job, Paris Hilton decided she’d do something really funny by making a short video outlining her own amazing plot to become the US President. We all laughed hysterically… at her acting skills.

Christina Applegate Battles Cancer

In a desperate bid to battle breast cancer, which she discovered following an MRI scan, Christina Applegate had a drastic double mastectomy. Later that month the actress announced that after successful surgery she was “100% free” of the disease.

It Just Wasn’t Meant To Be

Despite rumours in the press of potential marriage and family plans, Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer announced that they had broken-up. Shortly after their split loud-mouthed John told a group of paparazzi that he was the one who ended their relationship. Apparently that wasn’t true, so soon after John made the spurious claims, pals of Jennifer stepped forward to set the record straight. According to them Jenn ditched John because he was (in no particular order) cheap, attention seeking and a liar.

Still he can’t be all that bad because by October the Friends actress reunited with her rocker boyfriend. Maybe she likes stingy people who lie a lot and have to be the centre of attention all the time.

Reality TV Gone Too Far??

After collapsing in her home a few weeks earlier, suffering from a “mystery illness”, Jade Goody jetted to India where she was due to star in the Indian version of Big Brother or Big Boss as it’s known over there.

It was supposed to be the reality TV star’s opportunity to make amends for the allegedly racist comments she made to Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Bother in 2007 sadly, a day into filming and Jade was called into the diary room where she was given the devastating news that she was suffering from cervical cancer.

Kerry Katona Declared Bankrupt

Poor Kerry, she’s not had an easy year has she? Just four months after she gave birth to her son Max, Kerry was declared bankrupt at the Royal Courts of Justice in London after she failed to pay an outstanding £157,000 of a £417,000 tax bill.

All That Glitters Does Not Shine

Shamed seventies pop star Gary Glitter arrived back in the UK, much to the dismay of the press (and the nation) after serving nearly three years in a Vietnamese prison for sexually abusing two girls. The convicted paedophile flew into Heathrow airport where police escorted him through immigration and customs. Later that day Glitter appeared in court and was served an order, which officially put him on the sex offenders register - for the second time.

Zuma Nesta Rock?

Sorry was that the name of a new fizzy beverage? No. The name of a sweet perhaps? Sadly not, actually it’s the name of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale’s second child who was born in LA on the 22nd August. Lucky he’s got super famous parents or he wouldn’t stand a chance at school!

Now make sure you stay tuned for September because there’s plenty more where that came from. But while you're waiting why don't you reread of our round-up of July 2008.


- mrpaparazzi.com

Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly reveals she is pregnant with second child

Daly, 37, who already has a four year old daughter called Phoebe, with husband Vernon Kay, told relatives the good news over Christmas.

"We are over the moon about the prospect of a new addition to our family," she said.

"We're very much looking forward to having a brother or sister for Phoebe to play with," she told the Sun.

Vernon Kay, Family Fortunes presenter and Radio 1 DJ, 34, added: "It's such a gift. We're so happy and overjoyed."

Last month Daly dismissed any reports of the pregnancy and said: "No I'm not, it's just a fat belly. Leave me alone."

But on the Strictly Come Dancing special on Christmas Day she showed clear signs of a small baby bump as she hosted the ballroom entertainment show with Bruce Forsyth.

She wore a Grecian-style floor-length grey silk gown which led to discussions about whether she was expecting another child.

Reports already have suggested that Daly may give birth just in time to host the seventh series of the BBC1 dancing hit.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special was won by Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett.

Halfpenny, who won the 2004 Strictly Come Dancing competition, beat this year's Strictly winner Tom Chambers, Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens and previous years contestants Alesha Dixon and Kelly Brook.


- telegraph.co.uk

Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly reveals she is pregnant with second child

Daly, 37, who already has a four year old daughter called Phoebe, with husband Vernon Kay, told relatives the good news over Christmas.

"We are over the moon about the prospect of a new addition to our family," she said.

"We're very much looking forward to having a brother or sister for Phoebe to play with," she told the Sun.

Vernon Kay, Family Fortunes presenter and Radio 1 DJ, 34, added: "It's such a gift. We're so happy and overjoyed."

Last month Daly dismissed any reports of the pregnancy and said: "No I'm not, it's just a fat belly. Leave me alone."

But on the Strictly Come Dancing special on Christmas Day she showed clear signs of a small baby bump as she hosted the ballroom entertainment show with Bruce Forsyth.

She wore a Grecian-style floor-length grey silk gown which led to discussions about whether she was expecting another child.

Reports already have suggested that Daly may give birth just in time to host the seventh series of the BBC1 dancing hit.

The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special was won by Jill Halfpenny and Darren Bennett.

Halfpenny, who won the 2004 Strictly Come Dancing competition, beat this year's Strictly winner Tom Chambers, Lisa Snowdon and Rachel Stevens and previous years contestants Alesha Dixon and Kelly Brook.


- telegraph.co.uk

Around the World in 80 Questions - the News Quiz of the Year

1 What reached $100 for the first time on January 2?

A The cost of a US passport

B The price of a barrel of oil

C The earnings per millisecond of Jonathan Ross

2 Which planet received a Messenger in the New Year?

A Venus

B Uranus

C Mercury

3 Which city roped in two Beatles and a giant spider for its year as European Capital of Culture?

A Liverpool

B Manchester

C Wolverhampton

4 Which actor's promising career ended tragically with an accidental overdose on January 22?

A Keith Ledger

B Seth Ledger

C Heath Ledger

5 Derek Conway MP was suspended from the Commons over expenses – but his flamboyant son Henry grabbed the headlines. What was his nickname?

A Queen Sloane

B Big Ben

C Sponger Sam

6 Who preferred the front line to "sitting around in Windsor"?

A Prince Harry

B Prince William

C Prince Charles

7 Who replaced Fidel Castro as president of Cuba in February?

A Raul Castro

B Ramón Castro

C Roberto Castro

8 Which rock was annexed by the British government in the same month?

A Tristan da Cunha

B Rockall

C Northern Rock

9 Which region declared independence on February 17?

A Transdniestria

B South Ossetia

C Kosovo

10 A B2 Stealth Bomber, the world's most expensive aircraft, crashed on Guam on February 22. How much was it worth?

A $700 million

B $1.2 billion

C $1.6 billion

11 Who discovered in March that money couldn't buy love, but could purchase a merciful divorce?

A Bernie Ecclestone

B Paul McCartney

C Donald Trump

12 And how big was the divorce settlement?

A £12.8 million

B £24.3 million

C £75.3 million

13 "The opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5 will change the way international travellers look at Britain." Prophetic words from:

A BA chief executive Willie Walsh

B Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly

C An anonymous Milanese luggage-handler

14 Which country held its first-ever general election in March?

A Uzbekistan

B Bahrein

C Bhutan

15 "If it hadn't been for bribery and illegal acts, this wouldn't have come out." Name the speaker:
A Damian Green

B Max Mosley

C Rod Blagojevich

16 The first female member of Labour to answer Prime Minister's Questions stood at the Despatch Box on April 2. Who was it?
A Jacqui Smith

B Harriet Harman

C Ruth Kelly

17 Charlton Heston died on April 5. What did he spend his later years fighting?

A Gay marriage

B Abortion

C Gun control

18 Protests over which country hampered the passage of the Olympic flame?

A Tibet

B Taiwan

C Thailand

19 Also in April, surgeons in London performed the first operation to implant a bionic what?

A Eardrum

B Voicebox

C Eye

20 Which country abolished its monarchy in May?

A Nepal

B Thailand

C Tonga

21 Three English teams reached the Champions League semi-finals. Which won the cup?

A Chelsea

B Liverpool

C Manchester United

22 Whose number came up in July when she was offered a 90 per cent "take it or leave it" pay cut?

A Anne Robinson

B Carol Vorderman

C Cilla Black

23 Whom did Jennifer Aniston call "really uncool"?

A Matt LeBlanc

B Brad Pitt

C Angelina Jolie

24 The earthquake that struck China in May had its epicentre in which province?

A Sichuan

B Hunan

C Guandong

25 Which great-great-grandson of a Circassian slave made good in the same month?

A Dmitry Medvedev

B Boris Johnson

C Vladimir Putin

26 The Oscar-winning film There Will Be Blood was based in the cut-throat world of…

A The oil business

B The movie business

C The hedge-fund business

27 Who was elected president of Zimbabwe in a "second round contest" in June?

A Robert Mugabe

B Robert Mugabe

C Robert Mugabe

28 Who earned a prestigious apprenticeship thanks to the "reverse pterodactyl"?
A Lee McQueen

B Chelsea Clinton

C Charles Darwin

29 Which American, on stage at Glastonbury, admitted to being "pretty ----ing awesome"?

A Jay-Z

B Bruce Springsteen

C Axl Rose

30 Who risked his political career for 42 days?

A David Davies

B David Cameron

C David Davis

31 Who said: "Love lasts a long time, but burning desire . . . two to three weeks"?

A Jacqui Smith

B Nancy Dell'Olio

C Carla Bruni

32 Which action hero creaked his way out of retirement for one last caper?

A Sir Tom Jones

B Indiana Jones

C Peter Mandelson

33 Which "alternative therapist" had his collar felt in July?

A Radovan Karadžic´

B Derren Brown

C Raj Persaud

34 Who were ageing playboy Hugh Hefner's three favourite bunnies?

A Holly, Kendra and Bridget

B Suzy, Busty and Betsy

C Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail

35 Nick Clegg can lay claim to "a lot less than 30" what?

A Percentage points in the polls

B Charismatic MPs

C Lovers

36 The French hostage Ingrid Betancourt was rescued on July 2 from guerillas in which country?

A Ecuador

B Bolivia

C Colombia

37 Which country won the most medals in the Beijing Olympics?

A United States

B China

C Russia

38 And which country won the most golds?

A United States

B China

C Russia

39 In which sport did the United Kingdom win most gold medals?

A Rowing

B Cycling

C Swimming

40 The American swimmer Michael Phelps this year surpassed Mark Spitz in gold medals won during a single Olympics. How many did he win?

A 7

B 8

C 9

41 Olympic gold medal winner and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Chris Hoy dressed up as what for the closing ceremony?

A Boris Johnson

B A Beefeater

C A City gent

42 Who couldn't get on his bike in July, because it had been stolen while he was in Tesco?

A Bradley Wiggins

B David Cameron

C Boris Johnson

43 Russia invaded which country in August?

A Moldova

B Azerbaijan

C Georgia

44 Kevin Pietersen, appointed England cricket captain in August, has a tattoo on his arm of:
A The South African flag

B The England crest

C His own face

45 What was activated on September 10?

A The Large Boson Collider

B The Large Hadron Collider

C The Large Meson Collider

46 What happened next?

A The world ended

B The world didn't end

C The collider worked for two weeks then broke down

47 The largest bankruptcy in American history was declared on September 15 by whom?

A Lehman Brothers

B Merrill Lynch

C Morgan Stanley

48 Who saw his popularity plummet after insisting that "the fundamentals of our economy are sound"?

A Gordon Brown

B John McCain

C George Bush

49 Theo Walcott lifted England with a hat-trick against which country?
A Croatia

B Germany

C Scotland

50 Which son of Dunblane caused Andymonium?

A Andy Stewart

B Andy Murray

C Andy Williams

51 Paul Newman, who died in September, had a second career as a maker of:

A Wine

B Salad dressing

C Boiled eggs

52 The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in October. To whom?

A Aung San Suu Kyi

B Kofi Annan

C Martti Ahtisaari

53 Who, after the near-collapse of the world financial system, admitted that he had found a "flaw" in his analysis of how the markets worked?

A Gordon Brown

B Alan Greenspan

C Sir Fred Goodwin

54 Two of these raced into the sporting record books – but which one fell short?

A Lewis Hamilton

B Usain Bolt

C Paula Radcliffe

55 Which profession did not appear on the leaked BNP membership list?

A A race relations co-ordinator

B A male witch

C A vicar

56 October might not have been the best time to open a new £1.6 billion shopping complex in west London. But what was it called?

A Leftfield

B Westfield

C Frankfield

57 Three men who like to dress as women – but which got to No 2 in the same month?
A David Walliams

B Peter Kay

C Eddie Izzard

58 What, according to Barack Obama, do they cling to in small towns?

A Chai lattes and organic produce

B Racism and prejudice

C Guns and religion

59 "I can see Russia from my house!" Who is speaking?

A Sarah Palin

B Comedian Tina Fey as
Sarah Palin

C Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili

60 Whom did Hillary Clinton claim lacked the qualifications to be president?

A Her husband, Bill Clinton

B Her opponent, John McCain

C Her new boss, Barack Obama

61 'Joe the Plumber' agreed that a victory for Barack Obama would result in:

A The death of Israel

B A victory for socialism

C The worst parts of the Bible

62 Which transplanted organ, grown from stem cells, proved a medical marvel in November?

A Brain

B Windpipe

C Liver

63 Whom did George Osborne regret gossiping about?

A Oleg Deripaska

B Peter Mandelson

C The Bullingdon Club

64 What do lorry drivers spend time doing, according to Jeremy Clarkson?

A Murdering prostitutes

B Fiddling with sat-nav

C Blockading ports in France

65 Newspapers claimed that Madonna had imposed a list of rules on her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie. Which of these was not among those reported?

A Their sons should drink water blessed by leaders of the Kabbalah religion

B Their sons should not be allowed to read newspapers or watch TV

C Their sons should be taught all the lyrics of her songs

66 Who put his career on pause to investigate little green men?

A David Duchovny

B Robbie Williams

C Lembit Opik

67 Which superstar diva confessed to the Telegraph that he takes two hours to get ready for a night out?

A Jonathan Ross

B P Diddy

C Gordon Brown

68 Three heroes – but which one actually claimed to have saved the world?

A David Tennant

B Barack Obama

C Gordon Brown

69 James Bond rescued which country from evil environmentalists in Quantum of Solace?

A Great Britain

B Bolivia

C Venezuela

70 Under the plans unveiled in Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report, government debt by 2013 will be approximately:

A £30,000 per household

B £40,000 per household

C £50,000 per household

71 "The modern market economy does not always operate at maximum efficiency, and smart government intervention can raise the game to deliver an optimum result" – the words of which supporter of John Maynard Keynes?

A Barack Obama

B Alistair Darling

C Nancy Dell'Olio

72 Georgina Baillie, granddaughter of Andrew Sachs, is a member of which group?
A The Satanic Sluts

B The Vicious Vixens

C Girls Aloud

73 Which Daily Telegraph columnist demanded a national insurrection against the licence fee in the wake of the Ross-Brand affair?
A Boris Johnson

B Charles Moore

C Simon Heffer

74 Which of these was John Sergeant not accused of being by the Strictly Come Dancing judges?

A A dancing pig

B An arrogant coward

C Devilishly handsome

75 As the economy tanked, Britain became more of a credit risk than:

A Italy

B Russia

C McDonald's

76 Police accused Tory front-bencher Damian Green of which unparliamentary activity?

A Grooming a Civil Service mole

B Driving under the influence

C Scrupulous honesty

77 Which Frenchman took fright after a voodoo doll with his features appeared?

A Gérard Depardieu

B Nicolas Sarkozy

C Arsène Wenger

78 David Tennant played Hamlet. Who played the skull?

A André Tchaikowsky

B André Previn

C André the Giant

79 Which musical movie became Britain's highest-grossing film ever?

A High School
Musical 3

B Mamma Mia!

C Simon!: The Simon Cowell Story

80 What has Barack Obama promised his children when they get to the White House?

A A puppy

B A Nintendo Wii

C A reading of Harry Potter

- telegraph.co.uk

Around the World in 80 Questions - the News Quiz of the Year

1 What reached $100 for the first time on January 2?

A The cost of a US passport

B The price of a barrel of oil

C The earnings per millisecond of Jonathan Ross

2 Which planet received a Messenger in the New Year?

A Venus

B Uranus

C Mercury

3 Which city roped in two Beatles and a giant spider for its year as European Capital of Culture?

A Liverpool

B Manchester

C Wolverhampton

4 Which actor's promising career ended tragically with an accidental overdose on January 22?

A Keith Ledger

B Seth Ledger

C Heath Ledger

5 Derek Conway MP was suspended from the Commons over expenses – but his flamboyant son Henry grabbed the headlines. What was his nickname?

A Queen Sloane

B Big Ben

C Sponger Sam

6 Who preferred the front line to "sitting around in Windsor"?

A Prince Harry

B Prince William

C Prince Charles

7 Who replaced Fidel Castro as president of Cuba in February?

A Raul Castro

B Ramón Castro

C Roberto Castro

8 Which rock was annexed by the British government in the same month?

A Tristan da Cunha

B Rockall

C Northern Rock

9 Which region declared independence on February 17?

A Transdniestria

B South Ossetia

C Kosovo

10 A B2 Stealth Bomber, the world's most expensive aircraft, crashed on Guam on February 22. How much was it worth?

A $700 million

B $1.2 billion

C $1.6 billion

11 Who discovered in March that money couldn't buy love, but could purchase a merciful divorce?

A Bernie Ecclestone

B Paul McCartney

C Donald Trump

12 And how big was the divorce settlement?

A £12.8 million

B £24.3 million

C £75.3 million

13 "The opening of Heathrow's Terminal 5 will change the way international travellers look at Britain." Prophetic words from:

A BA chief executive Willie Walsh

B Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly

C An anonymous Milanese luggage-handler

14 Which country held its first-ever general election in March?

A Uzbekistan

B Bahrein

C Bhutan

15 "If it hadn't been for bribery and illegal acts, this wouldn't have come out." Name the speaker:
A Damian Green

B Max Mosley

C Rod Blagojevich

16 The first female member of Labour to answer Prime Minister's Questions stood at the Despatch Box on April 2. Who was it?
A Jacqui Smith

B Harriet Harman

C Ruth Kelly

17 Charlton Heston died on April 5. What did he spend his later years fighting?

A Gay marriage

B Abortion

C Gun control

18 Protests over which country hampered the passage of the Olympic flame?

A Tibet

B Taiwan

C Thailand

19 Also in April, surgeons in London performed the first operation to implant a bionic what?

A Eardrum

B Voicebox

C Eye

20 Which country abolished its monarchy in May?

A Nepal

B Thailand

C Tonga

21 Three English teams reached the Champions League semi-finals. Which won the cup?

A Chelsea

B Liverpool

C Manchester United

22 Whose number came up in July when she was offered a 90 per cent "take it or leave it" pay cut?

A Anne Robinson

B Carol Vorderman

C Cilla Black

23 Whom did Jennifer Aniston call "really uncool"?

A Matt LeBlanc

B Brad Pitt

C Angelina Jolie

24 The earthquake that struck China in May had its epicentre in which province?

A Sichuan

B Hunan

C Guandong

25 Which great-great-grandson of a Circassian slave made good in the same month?

A Dmitry Medvedev

B Boris Johnson

C Vladimir Putin

26 The Oscar-winning film There Will Be Blood was based in the cut-throat world of…

A The oil business

B The movie business

C The hedge-fund business

27 Who was elected president of Zimbabwe in a "second round contest" in June?

A Robert Mugabe

B Robert Mugabe

C Robert Mugabe

28 Who earned a prestigious apprenticeship thanks to the "reverse pterodactyl"?
A Lee McQueen

B Chelsea Clinton

C Charles Darwin

29 Which American, on stage at Glastonbury, admitted to being "pretty ----ing awesome"?

A Jay-Z

B Bruce Springsteen

C Axl Rose

30 Who risked his political career for 42 days?

A David Davies

B David Cameron

C David Davis

31 Who said: "Love lasts a long time, but burning desire . . . two to three weeks"?

A Jacqui Smith

B Nancy Dell'Olio

C Carla Bruni

32 Which action hero creaked his way out of retirement for one last caper?

A Sir Tom Jones

B Indiana Jones

C Peter Mandelson

33 Which "alternative therapist" had his collar felt in July?

A Radovan Karadžic´

B Derren Brown

C Raj Persaud

34 Who were ageing playboy Hugh Hefner's three favourite bunnies?

A Holly, Kendra and Bridget

B Suzy, Busty and Betsy

C Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail

35 Nick Clegg can lay claim to "a lot less than 30" what?

A Percentage points in the polls

B Charismatic MPs

C Lovers

36 The French hostage Ingrid Betancourt was rescued on July 2 from guerillas in which country?

A Ecuador

B Bolivia

C Colombia

37 Which country won the most medals in the Beijing Olympics?

A United States

B China

C Russia

38 And which country won the most golds?

A United States

B China

C Russia

39 In which sport did the United Kingdom win most gold medals?

A Rowing

B Cycling

C Swimming

40 The American swimmer Michael Phelps this year surpassed Mark Spitz in gold medals won during a single Olympics. How many did he win?

A 7

B 8

C 9

41 Olympic gold medal winner and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Chris Hoy dressed up as what for the closing ceremony?

A Boris Johnson

B A Beefeater

C A City gent

42 Who couldn't get on his bike in July, because it had been stolen while he was in Tesco?

A Bradley Wiggins

B David Cameron

C Boris Johnson

43 Russia invaded which country in August?

A Moldova

B Azerbaijan

C Georgia

44 Kevin Pietersen, appointed England cricket captain in August, has a tattoo on his arm of:
A The South African flag

B The England crest

C His own face

45 What was activated on September 10?

A The Large Boson Collider

B The Large Hadron Collider

C The Large Meson Collider

46 What happened next?

A The world ended

B The world didn't end

C The collider worked for two weeks then broke down

47 The largest bankruptcy in American history was declared on September 15 by whom?

A Lehman Brothers

B Merrill Lynch

C Morgan Stanley

48 Who saw his popularity plummet after insisting that "the fundamentals of our economy are sound"?

A Gordon Brown

B John McCain

C George Bush

49 Theo Walcott lifted England with a hat-trick against which country?
A Croatia

B Germany

C Scotland

50 Which son of Dunblane caused Andymonium?

A Andy Stewart

B Andy Murray

C Andy Williams

51 Paul Newman, who died in September, had a second career as a maker of:

A Wine

B Salad dressing

C Boiled eggs

52 The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in October. To whom?

A Aung San Suu Kyi

B Kofi Annan

C Martti Ahtisaari

53 Who, after the near-collapse of the world financial system, admitted that he had found a "flaw" in his analysis of how the markets worked?

A Gordon Brown

B Alan Greenspan

C Sir Fred Goodwin

54 Two of these raced into the sporting record books – but which one fell short?

A Lewis Hamilton

B Usain Bolt

C Paula Radcliffe

55 Which profession did not appear on the leaked BNP membership list?

A A race relations co-ordinator

B A male witch

C A vicar

56 October might not have been the best time to open a new £1.6 billion shopping complex in west London. But what was it called?

A Leftfield

B Westfield

C Frankfield

57 Three men who like to dress as women – but which got to No 2 in the same month?
A David Walliams

B Peter Kay

C Eddie Izzard

58 What, according to Barack Obama, do they cling to in small towns?

A Chai lattes and organic produce

B Racism and prejudice

C Guns and religion

59 "I can see Russia from my house!" Who is speaking?

A Sarah Palin

B Comedian Tina Fey as
Sarah Palin

C Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili

60 Whom did Hillary Clinton claim lacked the qualifications to be president?

A Her husband, Bill Clinton

B Her opponent, John McCain

C Her new boss, Barack Obama

61 'Joe the Plumber' agreed that a victory for Barack Obama would result in:

A The death of Israel

B A victory for socialism

C The worst parts of the Bible

62 Which transplanted organ, grown from stem cells, proved a medical marvel in November?

A Brain

B Windpipe

C Liver

63 Whom did George Osborne regret gossiping about?

A Oleg Deripaska

B Peter Mandelson

C The Bullingdon Club

64 What do lorry drivers spend time doing, according to Jeremy Clarkson?

A Murdering prostitutes

B Fiddling with sat-nav

C Blockading ports in France

65 Newspapers claimed that Madonna had imposed a list of rules on her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie. Which of these was not among those reported?

A Their sons should drink water blessed by leaders of the Kabbalah religion

B Their sons should not be allowed to read newspapers or watch TV

C Their sons should be taught all the lyrics of her songs

66 Who put his career on pause to investigate little green men?

A David Duchovny

B Robbie Williams

C Lembit Opik

67 Which superstar diva confessed to the Telegraph that he takes two hours to get ready for a night out?

A Jonathan Ross

B P Diddy

C Gordon Brown

68 Three heroes – but which one actually claimed to have saved the world?

A David Tennant

B Barack Obama

C Gordon Brown

69 James Bond rescued which country from evil environmentalists in Quantum of Solace?

A Great Britain

B Bolivia

C Venezuela

70 Under the plans unveiled in Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report, government debt by 2013 will be approximately:

A £30,000 per household

B £40,000 per household

C £50,000 per household

71 "The modern market economy does not always operate at maximum efficiency, and smart government intervention can raise the game to deliver an optimum result" – the words of which supporter of John Maynard Keynes?

A Barack Obama

B Alistair Darling

C Nancy Dell'Olio

72 Georgina Baillie, granddaughter of Andrew Sachs, is a member of which group?
A The Satanic Sluts

B The Vicious Vixens

C Girls Aloud

73 Which Daily Telegraph columnist demanded a national insurrection against the licence fee in the wake of the Ross-Brand affair?
A Boris Johnson

B Charles Moore

C Simon Heffer

74 Which of these was John Sergeant not accused of being by the Strictly Come Dancing judges?

A A dancing pig

B An arrogant coward

C Devilishly handsome

75 As the economy tanked, Britain became more of a credit risk than:

A Italy

B Russia

C McDonald's

76 Police accused Tory front-bencher Damian Green of which unparliamentary activity?

A Grooming a Civil Service mole

B Driving under the influence

C Scrupulous honesty

77 Which Frenchman took fright after a voodoo doll with his features appeared?

A Gérard Depardieu

B Nicolas Sarkozy

C Arsène Wenger

78 David Tennant played Hamlet. Who played the skull?

A André Tchaikowsky

B André Previn

C André the Giant

79 Which musical movie became Britain's highest-grossing film ever?

A High School
Musical 3

B Mamma Mia!

C Simon!: The Simon Cowell Story

80 What has Barack Obama promised his children when they get to the White House?

A A puppy

B A Nintendo Wii

C A reading of Harry Potter

- telegraph.co.uk

Tributes paid to Eartha Kitt

Miss Kitt died in New York, where she was being treated for colon cancer at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Her hits included Santa Baby and Let's Do It, but she was best known for her portrayal of Catwoman in the Batman television series of the 1960s.

Her publicist, Andrew Freedman, said: "She was certainly a legendary performer and while I think there may have been many imitations, she was an original."

She was one of the few artists who have been nominated for Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards.

Among others paying tribute were the Green party in Australia after she helped save the Franklin River in the 1980s.

The Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, said: "Ms Kitt visited Tasmania and spoke out in favour of saving the Franklin River and gave a great boost to the campaigners in their darkest hour.

"It was a brave thing for her to do and her contribution was important to saving Tasmania's great wild river."

Miss Kitt was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. It was treated but recurred after a period of remission.

She refused to give into the disease, brazenly continuing to flaunt her attributes. In a 2007 interview she said: "I show my legs. I love to tease men with my legs.

"I love men and I like to get their attention. Every time I see a man, I want to tease him."

Earlier this year she was touring in Britain and appeared well. According to her official website, she had US dates announced as far ahead as November next year.

"She came back strongly. She had been performing until two months ago," Freedman said.

Miss Kitt was born in South Carolina in 1927 and there has been much conjecture over the years over her parentage. In her autobiography, she wrote that her mother was black and Cherokee while her father was white, and she was left to live with relatives after her mother's new husband objected to taking in a mixed-race girl.

One who always enjoyed playing on her seductiveness, she revelled in her "sex kitten" image. Orson Welles once called Kitt "the most exciting woman alive" and, along with Lena Horne, she was one of the first African-American sex symbols.

Miss Kitt picked up a string of awards during her long career, winning two Emmys and being nominated for a third, as well as a Grammy. She also had two Tony nominations.

Her most famous song, Santa baby, was recorded in 1953 and went gold this year. Mr Freedman said that she received the gold record before she died.

He said despite her awards, she was at her best in her nightclub act, which allowed her to use her feline, seductive manner to its fullest.

"She loved cabaret performances," Freedman said. "If there was ever an opportunity to do a small intimate venue with about 150 people, that was always her preference."

- telegraph.co.uk

Tributes paid to Eartha Kitt

Miss Kitt died in New York, where she was being treated for colon cancer at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Her hits included Santa Baby and Let's Do It, but she was best known for her portrayal of Catwoman in the Batman television series of the 1960s.

Her publicist, Andrew Freedman, said: "She was certainly a legendary performer and while I think there may have been many imitations, she was an original."

She was one of the few artists who have been nominated for Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards.

Among others paying tribute were the Green party in Australia after she helped save the Franklin River in the 1980s.

The Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown, said: "Ms Kitt visited Tasmania and spoke out in favour of saving the Franklin River and gave a great boost to the campaigners in their darkest hour.

"It was a brave thing for her to do and her contribution was important to saving Tasmania's great wild river."

Miss Kitt was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. It was treated but recurred after a period of remission.

She refused to give into the disease, brazenly continuing to flaunt her attributes. In a 2007 interview she said: "I show my legs. I love to tease men with my legs.

"I love men and I like to get their attention. Every time I see a man, I want to tease him."

Earlier this year she was touring in Britain and appeared well. According to her official website, she had US dates announced as far ahead as November next year.

"She came back strongly. She had been performing until two months ago," Freedman said.

Miss Kitt was born in South Carolina in 1927 and there has been much conjecture over the years over her parentage. In her autobiography, she wrote that her mother was black and Cherokee while her father was white, and she was left to live with relatives after her mother's new husband objected to taking in a mixed-race girl.

One who always enjoyed playing on her seductiveness, she revelled in her "sex kitten" image. Orson Welles once called Kitt "the most exciting woman alive" and, along with Lena Horne, she was one of the first African-American sex symbols.

Miss Kitt picked up a string of awards during her long career, winning two Emmys and being nominated for a third, as well as a Grammy. She also had two Tony nominations.

Her most famous song, Santa baby, was recorded in 1953 and went gold this year. Mr Freedman said that she received the gold record before she died.

He said despite her awards, she was at her best in her nightclub act, which allowed her to use her feline, seductive manner to its fullest.

"She loved cabaret performances," Freedman said. "If there was ever an opportunity to do a small intimate venue with about 150 people, that was always her preference."

- telegraph.co.uk

Kanye West wants Estelle as muse

Estelle won't have time to think in 2009. Kanye West wants to use the in-demand 28-year-old Brit babe as his muse when he's in London working on his Pastelle clothes range in spring. An insider said: "He is crazy about Estelle's style."

And she's also set to front the new Belvedere Vodka campaign for an estimated £250,000. Cheers, hic, love!

- mirror.co.uk

Kanye West wants Estelle as muse

Estelle won't have time to think in 2009. Kanye West wants to use the in-demand 28-year-old Brit babe as his muse when he's in London working on his Pastelle clothes range in spring. An insider said: "He is crazy about Estelle's style."

And she's also set to front the new Belvedere Vodka campaign for an estimated £250,000. Cheers, hic, love!

- mirror.co.uk

Jennifer Aniston admits truth of naked shoot

Jennifer Aniston has admitted nude magazine pictures of her were retouched to make her look sensational.

The actress, 39, appears on the front cover of America's GQ wearing nothing but a tie.

But Aniston says almost every bit of her has been improved by computer programme Photoshop.

When asked by US chat show host Barbara Walters what had happened to the girl next door from Friends, she told her: "She's there... Photoshopped."

- mirror.co.uk

Jennifer Aniston admits truth of naked shoot

Jennifer Aniston has admitted nude magazine pictures of her were retouched to make her look sensational.

The actress, 39, appears on the front cover of America's GQ wearing nothing but a tie.

But Aniston says almost every bit of her has been improved by computer programme Photoshop.

When asked by US chat show host Barbara Walters what had happened to the girl next door from Friends, she told her: "She's there... Photoshopped."

- mirror.co.uk

Celebrity Baby Bump Watch: Brooke Mueller

Leaving the drama that swirls around him and ex-wife Denise Richards far away (or at least in L.A.) Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke Mueller, who's very pregnant with twins, relaxed at a resort in Cabo San Lucas
, Mexico, on Wednesday...

FAMILY OF FOUR: Charlie Sheen wed Brooke Mueller in May of this year. They wasted little time getting pregnant with twins! Her pregnancy was first announced in August.

Hopefully, Denise Richards won't diss her baby bump too hard when she sees this photo. You know that psycho will say just about anything to make some news.

In other celebrity baby news, Angie Harmon just welcomed her third daughter, Jennifer Garner is getting ready to pop again, and Bristol Palin is due tomorrow!

- thehollywoodgossip.com

Celebrity Baby Bump Watch: Brooke Mueller

Leaving the drama that swirls around him and ex-wife Denise Richards far away (or at least in L.A.) Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke Mueller, who's very pregnant with twins, relaxed at a resort in Cabo San Lucas
, Mexico, on Wednesday...

FAMILY OF FOUR: Charlie Sheen wed Brooke Mueller in May of this year. They wasted little time getting pregnant with twins! Her pregnancy was first announced in August.

Hopefully, Denise Richards won't diss her baby bump too hard when she sees this photo. You know that psycho will say just about anything to make some news.

In other celebrity baby news, Angie Harmon just welcomed her third daughter, Jennifer Garner is getting ready to pop again, and Bristol Palin is due tomorrow!

- thehollywoodgossip.com

Holly Madison Picture

Holly Madison Picture

Happy Birthday, Criss Angel and Jake Gyllenhaal

An actor who's brought magic to the screen and a guy who's brought it to Vegas showrooms and many women's pants both celebrate their days of birth today.

Happy birthday, Criss Angel and Jake Gyllehaal!

In addition to being a fine-looking fellow, Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the brightest acting
stars in Hollywood today. As for Criss Angel? Well, dude sees Holly Madison naked. That's pretty much all he needs on his resume at this point.

So, here's a little photo tribute to our birthday boys. Also celebrating one today? Kate Bosworth boy toy / alleged model James Rousseau! Sorry, James. No room for pics of you, handsome as you are. Kate has a gift for you, we'd imagine.

- thehollywoodgossip.com

Happy Birthday, Criss Angel and Jake Gyllenhaal

An actor who's brought magic to the screen and a guy who's brought it to Vegas showrooms and many women's pants both celebrate their days of birth today.

Happy birthday, Criss Angel and Jake Gyllehaal!

In addition to being a fine-looking fellow, Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the brightest acting
stars in Hollywood today. As for Criss Angel? Well, dude sees Holly Madison naked. That's pretty much all he needs on his resume at this point.

So, here's a little photo tribute to our birthday boys. Also celebrating one today? Kate Bosworth boy toy / alleged model James Rousseau! Sorry, James. No room for pics of you, handsome as you are. Kate has a gift for you, we'd imagine.

- thehollywoodgossip.com

Fergie and Josh to Marry in January

(Dec. 19) - Singer Fergie and Josh Duhamel are finally set to tie the knot in early January. The couple, who began dating in 2004, will wed during the weekend of January 9th in Southern California, Access Hollywood exclusively reports.

Fergie, 33, and Duhamel, 35, who were recently photographed scanning items at a Crate and Barrel in Beverly Hills, finally opened up about their exciting wedding plans. Celebrities who should be in attendance include Kate Hudson and Nicole Kidman.

"We just genuinely love each other," he told PEOPLE last year. "We stay out of the spotlight as much as we can. So many times people are too in the spotlight, which puts too much pressure on things."

Duhamel, who is best known as Danny McCoy from the NBC series 'Las Vegas' popped the question in late 2007.

The 'Glamourous' singer, whose real name is Stacey Ferguson, is most known for her solo album, 'The Duchess,' which topped the charts in 2006.

- popeater.com

Fergie and Josh to Marry in January

(Dec. 19) - Singer Fergie and Josh Duhamel are finally set to tie the knot in early January. The couple, who began dating in 2004, will wed during the weekend of January 9th in Southern California, Access Hollywood exclusively reports.

Fergie, 33, and Duhamel, 35, who were recently photographed scanning items at a Crate and Barrel in Beverly Hills, finally opened up about their exciting wedding plans. Celebrities who should be in attendance include Kate Hudson and Nicole Kidman.

"We just genuinely love each other," he told PEOPLE last year. "We stay out of the spotlight as much as we can. So many times people are too in the spotlight, which puts too much pressure on things."

Duhamel, who is best known as Danny McCoy from the NBC series 'Las Vegas' popped the question in late 2007.

The 'Glamourous' singer, whose real name is Stacey Ferguson, is most known for her solo album, 'The Duchess,' which topped the charts in 2006.

- popeater.com

About to Pop: Miranda Cosgrove

Who: Miranda Cosgrove
Album: 'iCarly (Music From and Inspired By the Hit TV Show')
Single: 'About You Now'
Hails From: Los Angeles
For Fans Of: Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez

Why She's About to Pop: Miranda Cosgrove got her start before most kids know how to read. A talent agent saw the precocious 3-year-old sing and dance in a Los Angeles restaurant and signed her immediately. She eventually got gigs in print and commercial advertising, which led to roles on television shows. Her big break came when she was chosen to star as Summer Hathaway in the hit Jack Black comedy 'School of Rock.' Cosgrove then played Megan Parker on Nickelodeon's 'Drake and Josh,' which led to her own series, 'iCarly' on which she plays Carly Shay, the main character, who produces a Web show with her friends. Now, at age 15, Cosgrove is showing the world her musical talent on the 'iCarly Playlist,' which not only features hit songs from established pop artists but also includes original material performed by Cosgrove herself. 'iCarly' airs on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon.

Watch more AOL Kids videos on AOL Video

Eight Questions with Miranda Cosgrove:

Who is your biggest inspiration as a singer?

I have too many inspirations to name them all, but to name a few I really like Gwen Stefani, Pink, the Beatles, Coldplay, the Killers, Paramore, Kelly Clarkson and Lily Allen. I'm not really sure that my music sounds like theirs, but they all really inspired me.

What is your favorite song from the 'iCarly Playlist'?

'About You Now' is my favorite song that I got to sing, but I also really like 'Girlfriend,' by Avril Lavigne.

If we looked on your iPod, what would we be surprised to find?

I'm actually a big fan of Blondie and Aerosmith.

If you could only do one -- acting or singing -- which would you choose?

I honestly can't decide between singing and acting because I love both so much. I've been acting longer than I have been singing and I really love getting into characters and getting to be someone you're nothing like, but I also love singing and writing songs because it's much more personal.

What was it like working with a huge movie star like Jack Black at such a young age? Were you intimidated?

It was really amazing getting to work with Jack Black. He was a really great guy and one of the funniest guys I've ever met. I was really lucky to get to act with him and I was only 9 when I was in the movie. It was a cool experience since it was one of my first roles.

On your TVshow you play an Internet star -- are there any blogs or Web sites you are addicted to?

I love the Web site addictinggames.com [http://addictinggames.com] because it's full of free games that are superfun. I love going on there when I'm bored. My all-time favorite Web site is YouTube. I always lose track of time and watch videos for hours. Especially music videos.

Who is the coolest guest star you got to meet on the set of 'iCarly'?

I got to meet David Archuleta recently when he was on 'iCarly.' I really enjoyed getting to work with him because he was so down-to-earth and funny. Also, I'm a big fan of his music.

What's the weirdest thing you keep in your purse/bag?

I keep a GameBoy Lite in my purse. It's not the weirdest thing in the world, but I do feel a little dorky when I pull it out with all my games.

- popeater.com