Kylie Minogue leads honours list

Kylie Minogue

Delighted pop diva Kylie Minogue said yesterday she was "deeply touched" to have been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list.

The Aussie singer, whose battle with breast cancer shocked the world and inspired millions of women, was recognised for her services to music, cementing her position as one of the nation's best-loved icons.

Other showbiz stars honoured include chat show veteran Michael Parkinson, TV host Des Lynam and actors Sir Ian McKellen, Leslie Phillips and Julie Walters.

Kylie, 39, was befriended by Gordon Brown at a secret dinner hosted by novelist Kathy Lette in March this year.

And the singer, who is spending the festive season with her family in Melbourne, yesterday paid tribute to the country she regards as her adopted home.

She said: "I am almost as surprised as I am honoured to be awarded an OBE by Her Majesty.

"I feel deeply touched to be acknowledged in this way."

"This last year I have felt so much love and support from everyone as I took greater steps back into the public domain, and it is with absolute gratitude and joy that I say farewell to 2007 and look forward to what the New Year will bring."

After a stint in Aussie soap Neighbours, which made her an international star, a teenage Kylie burst on to the music scene - and has since gone on to sell 60million records worldwide.

Her early career saw her join forces with Stock, Aitken and Waterman but they parted company in the 1990s and she swapped bubblegum pop for a more danceinspired sound, but could never quite repeat her earlier success.

That dip in her career all changed when the Grammy-award-winning star reinvented herself and exploded back into the charts with her fifth UK No 1 Spinning Around - and those famous gold hotpants.

Kylie, whose other big hits include I Should Be So Lucky, Can't Get You Out Of My Head and Better The Devil You Know, was forced to cancel her Showgirl tour after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 but fought back and triumphantly returned to the stage.

Her recovery recently culminated in performances on rival shows Strictly Come Dancing and X Factor.

She also starred in the Doctor Who Christmas special, which attracted almost 14 million viewers.

She is joined on the list by veteran TV star Michael Parkinson, 72, who receives a knighthood. Parky, whose chat show began in 1971, bowed out earlier this month. The telly favourite, on a sixweek holiday in Sydney, said before news of his award broke: "If it were true, it would be marvellous and I would be delighted and honoured."

He is taking a break to see his grandchildren and follow the cricket before going home to write his memoirs.

Respected commentator Des Lynam is honoured with an OBE for his services to the industry.

The veteran broadcaster has hosted TV coverage of some of sport's most high-profile events including football World Cups, the Olympics and Wimbledon.

He said: "This has been a splendid surprise and I feel truly privileged."

Des, 65, who began his career at the BBC but defected to ITV in 1999, has also anchored a series of popular sports shows including Grandstand and Match of the Day and the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown.

There are also honours for Shakespearean actor Sir Ian McKellen, 68, who played Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. He is awarded a Companion of Honour.

A cbe goes to Julie Walters, 56, who has starred in a string of blockbusters including Billy Elliot, Calendar Girls and the Harry Potter franchise.

She is probably best-known for her role as Mrs Overall in the spoof soap opera Acorn Antiques and is one of Britain's most popular actresses.

Leslie Phillips, 83, a veteran of the Carry On films, also collects a CBE. BBC news presenter and reporter George Alagiah, 52, picks up an OBE as does larger-than-life actor Richard Griffiths, 60, who made his name in the TV series Pie in the Sky.

Barbara Broccoli, who co-produced James Bond films, and created the musical stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is given the same gong.

There is also an MBE for Ian Anderson, the frontman of the veteran rock band Jethro Tull, and Trevor Romeo, also known as Jazzie B, of the 1980s musical collective Soul II Soul.

Award-winning children's author Jacqueline Wilson, creator of Tracy Beaker, becomes a Dame.

An OBE goes to Eric Hill, creator of the popular children's book character, Spot. And Nicholas Kenyon, music administrator of the BBC Proms from 1996 to 2007 gets a knighthood.

Pianist Stan Tracey, who has been described as "the godfather of British jazz" gets a CBE.

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TAGS:Kylie Minogue, music, Kylie Minogue
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Nicole Kidman denies pregnancy rumors

Nicole Kidman is reported to be expecting her first baby with husband Keith Urban.

Actress Nicole, 40, and the country and western singer are said to have broken the happy news to their families over Christmas. No arrival date has been announced for the baby.

Oscar winner Nicole already has two adopted children, Isabella, 14, and 12-year-old Conor, with ex-husband Tom Cruise.

Just months ago, Urban, 40, declared his drinking days were over after a spell in rehab.

The New Zealander checked in to a US clinic less than four months after their wedding in June 2006, and had earlier battled cocaine addiction.

Nicole admitted it had put a strain on their relationship, but said his problems were now under control.

She said: "They say the first year of marriage is the hardest. Well it's 18 months now and everything is fine. Please God it will stay like that."

And yesterday she spoke glowingly of her hopes for the future with the Grammy-winning singer.

She said: "I turn down films because I don't want to be apart from him. It's a wife's place to be at her husband's side, after all.

"So I go on tour with him when he is performing and I sit in the dressing room and sew buttons on and make his tea. Afterwards we go back to the hotel room, switch on the television and fall asleep on the sofa.

"He says I am the most important person in his life, and he is certainly the most important person in mine."

She told Weekend magazine: "My dream is that we live a long life and become old people together."

Nicole is currently wowing audiences as the glamorous villain in The Golden Compass and has just finished filming Australia, Baz Luhrmann's new romantic epic.

She is due to film The Reader with Ralph Fiennes next month, but has spoken of "winding down" to focus on family life. Urban has tour dates throughout 2008.

Following her divorce from Cruise in 2001, Nicole admitted she had suffered an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage during the marriage.

A spokesman for Kidman yesterday denied she was pregnant.

He said: "As far as we're concerned it is another rumour."

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TAGS:Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman

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Rep: Jennifer Aniston “Is Not Pregnant”

Leave the baby making business to Brad Pitt, not Jennifer Aniston.

The National Enquirer reported that Aniston, 38, is expecting and speculated that the father could be either Vince Vaughn, Paul Sculfor or Sex and the City hunk Jason Lewis.

But her rep tells Usmagazine.com: “She is not pregnant.”

An eyewitness told Us that the Friends alum sipped a martini at a Christmas Eve dinner with pals Courteney Cox and David Arquette at Mastro’s in Beverly Hills.

She also recently had her hair colored by Michael Canali — another pregnancy no-no — last week.

The star “is in a great mood,” a source told Us, despite the fact that she didn’t have a date and “left alone” after the Christmas Eve dinner. “There’s no drama, and that’s why she’s happy!”

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TAGS:Jennifer Aniston, pregnant, Jennifer Aniston
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Nicole Kidman is pregnant

Today, Daily Mail say Nicole Kidman and her husband of 18 months are expecting their first baby.

The Oscar-winning actress and Keith Urban, the country and western singer she calls the "love of my life", broke the news to their families over the Christmas holiday.

The 40-year-old Australian star had already spoken of "winding down" her film-making activities as much as possible next year.

The baby, whose expected arrival date has not yet been revealed, will be the actress's first natural child.

She adopted Isabella, 14, and twelve-year-old Conor during her first marriage to Tom Cruise.

Miss Kidman was stunned when he filed for divorce in 2001.

Shortly after they split, she revealed that she had suffered an ectopic pregnanacy and a miscarriage during the marriage.

Miss Kidman spent her Christmas holiday in Syndey, after finshing work on Baz Lurhmann's epic romantic adventure film "Australia" on December 21.

She is due to film The Reader with Ralph Fiennes and British director Stephen Daldry in Berlin next month, but has no more cinema work planned after that.

"I just want to spend as much time as possible with my husband," she told the Daily Mail.

Earlier this month the actress also dismissed the idea of returning to the stage next year.

"It wouldn't fit in with the logistics and dynamics of my family", she said - a remark given extra meaning by the news of her pregnancy.

Her most recently-released film is the extravagant fantasy The Golden Compass.

Although the film was attacked by some critics, the actress's performance as the glamorous villain Mrs Coulter won wide praise.

Miss Kidman married Urban in Sydney in June 2006.

Nicole with husband Keith Urban, the pair are reportedly expecting their first baby together

The early months of the marriage were described as difficult as the actress helped her new husband deal with a drink problem.

Urban spent several months in a rehabilitation clinic in the U.S.

Nicole Kidman's most recent film is the extravagant fantasy film The Golden Compass,although the film was attacked by some critics, the actress's performance as the glamorous villain Mrs Coulter won wide praise.

At the film's Australian premiere in Sydney on December 14, Nicole was mocked in some quarters for wearing a silver trouser suit ensemble with a jacket. That suit was most likely carefully chosen to conceal rather than reveal.

Also when the Daily mail visited the set of Australia in Sydney earlier in December the actress was shooting scenes in a long ball gown ,so again, much could be kept out of view.

In between takes on set Nicole took to a bed in one of the studio's dressing room's complaining that she felt 'constantly tired'.

Nicole with her adopted son Connor and daughter Isabella

Source:Daily Mail
TAGS:Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman
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Is Jennifer Aniston pregnant?

Actress Jennifer Aniston sets tongues wagging as she heads for a night out in a loose-fitting top.

Clutching a shawl in front of her, it looks like the Friends star has something to hide.

The 38-year-old, whose outfits usually show off her slim, figure, wore the baggy black number in Beverly Hills for a meal with pal Courteney Cox.

And today US publication The National Enquirer announces Jen is expecting. Her publicist Stephen Huvane last night told the Mirror: "Jennifer is not pregnant."

But the National Enquirer is even suggesting any one of a trio of lovers has put her in the family way.

Jennifer split from Vince Vaughn, 37, her co-star in The Break Up, last year but there have been plenty of rumours about them getting back together after they were spotted on dinner dates.

She has also been seeing actor Jason Lewis, best known for his romps with Samantha as Smith Jerrod in Sex And The City.

He and Jennifer are thought to been lovers for several months, mainly spending time at her Malibu home.

The magazine also links a third unlikely man to the baby rumours - former Essex bricklayer Paul Sculfor, 36.

He dated Jen for two months but they split in July.

Reports say she was with Jason on Christmas Day and they have been introduced to each other's parents because they plan to live together.

Fuente TAGS:Jennifer Aniston, Paul Sculfor, Jennifer Aniston

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