A hoaxer was responsible for alleged comments by the mayor of Baltimore criticising a British MP over comparing British life TV drama The Wire. After the shadow home secretary Chris Grayling last week claimed parts of Manchester were reminiscent of the drug-addled streets of Baltimore shown in the critically acclaimed HBO series, a ripose purportedly from Sheila Dixon, the mayor of the Maryland city, surfaced on Thursday. The alleged statement from Ms Dixon said that to compare The Wire to the "real Baltimore" was "as pointless as boasting that Baltimore has a per capita homicide rate a fraction of that in the popular UK television show Midsomer Murders".

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:15:24

Madonna has claimed she felt "compelled" to mention the treatment of Romany Gypsies while performing in Romania, despite a hostile response from fans. The Material Girl received boos from attendees of her concert in Bucharest after telling the audience discrimination towards the Romany people made her "very sad". Following the jeers of the Romanian concertgoers, Madonna's publicist Liz Rosenberg said the singer had made the onstage remarks after being alerted to the plight of gypsies in eastern Europe.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:51:27

Britain's most successful female light entertainment TV personality has not ruled out getting married for a second time. When asked by the Daily Mail if she would consider seeing another man, Cilla Black replied: "I'm a never-say-never kind of girl." The 66-year-old former singer was speaking to the newspaper nearly ten years since the death of her husband Bobby, who was 57.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:41:10

Crowds of thousands have descended on sites in Berkshire and Yorkshire for this year's Reading and Leeds festival weekends. Kings of Leon are the headlining act for the first day of Reading, with eagerly anticipated sets from Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead to follow. In a rock-dominated lineup, the likes of Fall Out Boy, Deftones, Enter Shikari and Lostprophets will also perform at both sites, while indie fans can look forward to sets from Friendly Fires, Bloc Party and Mercury nominees Glasvegas.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:52:32

Torturing over the right wedding present to give to friends and family is something that most people will endure at some point. But despite all the thought and hard work that goes into picking out the perfect prezzies, it seems that most newlyweds would prefer cash. That is according to lender Abbey, which said that the needs and requirements of marrying couples are changing because most are not moving into new homes.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:38:45

Musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie is to remake B-movie classic The Blob, it has been announced. As H2, his sequel to his 2007 remake of Halloween, hits US cinemas, Dimension Films have confirmed Zombie will write, direct and produce a remake of 1958 film The Blob. One of Steve McQueen's first major roles, The Blob told of an alien blob-like life-form that grew at terrifying speed to consume everything in its path after landing in a field.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:01:01

Replacing Arlene Phillips on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel is "absolute bloody nonsense", according to One Show host Adrian Chiles. Phillips will join Chiles on the BBC1 magazine show as a Strictly expert commentator, having been dropped as a judge on the dance show after six seasons. The 66-year-old will be replaced by singer and former winner Alesha Dixon, 30, prompting widespread complaints of ageist behaviour towards Phillips.

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:05:15

Former singer Kerry Katona has been bailed on suspicion of attacking a man thought to be her accountant. The ex-Atomic Kitten member was arrested by Cheshire police on Wednesday and held overnight after the incident in Warrington, which is alleged to have occurred at the offices of her accountant David McHugh. The troubled mother-of-four was arrested on suspicion of assault, causing criminal damage and for an unspecified public order offence.

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:15:01

Actor and comedian Adam Sandler has admitted his career in comedy was inspired by a close family upbringing, rather than a difficult childhood. Speaking ahead of the release of his new film Funny People, in which he plays a lonely and terminally ill stand-up comedian, the Punch Drunk Love star explained his move into comedy was always encouraged during his Brooklyn youth. "I'm sure everyone's got their back story but I don't come from a place where I was tortured and needed to let something out," he told inthenews.co.uk.

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:01:01

Music lovers attending the Reading and Leeds festivals this weekend will be banned from bringing flags to the arenas, it has been announced. Organisers of the Glastonbury festival are considering a similar restriction, it has emerged, after festivalgoers were prevented from gaining a full view of their favourite acts. Festival promoter Melvin Benn, who organises Reading and Leeds and works with Michael Eavis on the running of Glastonbury, said the popularity of tall flags had become "a nightmare".

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:01:01