Sir Elton's tie spree

Pop star Sir Elton John has been on a spending spree, collaring £7,500 worth of ties in a matter of minutes.

The multi-millionaire, whose expensive lifestyle was exposed in a contract case last month, bought 30 artist's ties which are being sold for Unicef.

London gallery owner Kapil Jariwala said: "He chose the ones he wanted to wear, the ones he liked the most.

"I asked if they were all going to be used and he said yes."

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Street criticised by watchdog

The Broadcasting Standards Commission has criticised Coronation Street for screening "unacceptably menacing" scenes before the watershed.

The TV watchdog upheld complaints about a scene in which Jez Quigley tried to smother Steve McDonald in his hospital bed and then collapsed himself.

The scene was adjudged to have been "unnecessarily graphic".

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: "It was never our intention to upset our viewers but we felt that Jez's death was fitting to his character."

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Evans' Comic donation

Broadcaster Chris Evans has announced that he is donating £1m to the Comic Relief charity.

The Virgin Radio boss, who last year presented a Comic Relief edition of TFI Friday, has set up a charitable fund to be administered by the charity.

"I wish Comic Relief a Merry Christmas with this donation," said Evans.

His spokesman added: "Chris has always been a very keen supporter of the charity and their gratitude is immense."

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Hugh Grant 'too dreary'

Notting Hill star Hugh Grant says he split up with his girlfriend Liz Hurley because his life was "too dreary".

He told a German magazine he would love to have been a jet-setting party boy but he was "simply too dull for Liz".

"My life is so boring, it's embarrassing", he said, adding he did not want to always act because: "I hope to do something better with my life".

Grant split with the 35-year-old actress in May after 13 years together.

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Hunt files for divorce

Actress Helen Hunt filed for divorce on Tuesday from actor Hank Azaria, citing irreconcilable differences in their 17-month-old marriage.

The couple have been living apart for several months, but the official date of their separation is uncertain.

Hunt, 37, and Azaria, 36, dated for nearly five years before tying the knot at their Los Angeles home in July 1999.

Hunt won a Best Actress Oscar for the 1997 comedy As Good As It Gets.

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Wu-Tang man faces charges

Wu-Tang Clan rapper ODB is to travel to New York in police custody to face drug charges.

A spokesman for the city's Queens district attorney said the rapper, aka Russell Jones, will be charged with criminal possession of drugs.

Jones' woes go back to 1998 when he was charged with making terrorist threats at a Los Angeles nightclub.

He later fled court-ordered drug treatment in Los Angeles.

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Stardust baby

Seventies glam rocker Alvin Stardust - who shot to fame with hits like My Coo-ca-Choo and So Near To Christmas - has become a father for the fourth time.

The 56-year-old said he was "absolutely thrilled and delighted" after his wife, 30-year-old Julie Paton, gave birth to a daughter on Monday night.

The 6lb 6oz baby, Millie Margaret May, was born at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford. Stardust has three other children from two previous marriages.