McCartney house official honoured

The man who saved Sir Paul McCartney's childhood home for the protection of the National Trust has been made a CBE in the New Year Honours List.

National Trust director general Martin Drury, 62, was awarded the honour for his contribution to conservation.

Mr Drury, who has just retired after 27 years with the organisation, helped the trust acquire the former Beatle's 1950s house in Liverpool earlier this year.

A trust spokeswoman said the body was delighted at the recognition of his efforts.

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Channel 4's Sex tribute

Channel 4 will pay tribute to the man who enlivened the sex lives of a generation with a documentary about Joy of Sex creator Dr Alex Comfort.

The channel claims it will feature the first-ever television interview with the "bearded man" - artist Charles Raymond - whose image illustrated positions and techniques in the book.

Dr Comfort died in March after selling 12 million copies of his "gourmet guide to lovemaking", which was first published in 1972.

The programme will be screened by Channel 4 on Thursday.

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Four Seasons member dies

Nick Massi, an original member of the Four Seasons died on Sunday of cancer aged 73, it has emerged.

Massi performed with several bands before joining Frankie Valli in a group called the Four Lovers.

By 1961, the group had evolved into the Four Seasons.

Massi remained with the group as bass vocalist until 1965, when he grew tired of touring, Valli said.

Massi performed on hits such as Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man and Rag Doll, which friends said was his favourite Four Seasons song.

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Taggart star bowing out

Television policeman James MacPherson, who stars in ITV's Taggart, is to leave the series next year.

After 14 years in the series, he said he wants to explore other projects and is "looking forward to working on an exciting final storyline".

The 40 year-old actor, who plays Detective Chief Inspector Jardine, was ill last October with a collapsed lung and had two operations.

A Scottish Media Group spokeswoman said: "Without putting words in his mouth, he was quite poorly and I think that gave him time to think about his future. It is over the last few months that he has come to this decision."

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Charlotte to open Harrods sale

Teenage singing star Charlotte Church will open the Harrods January sale, it has been announced.

The 14-year-old, who recently turned on the Oxford Street lights in central London, will cut the ribbon next Wednesday at the store in Knightsbridge.

Charlotte, the youngest British star to have a US Top Ten album, will be welcomed by owner and chairman Mohamed Al Fayed ready for the official countdown before the 0900 opening.

Previous stars who have launched the Harrods January sale include Raquel Welch, Burt Reynolds, Tony Curtis, Charlton Heston, Richard Gere and Pierce Brosnan.

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Gaby Roslin pregnant

Television presenter Gaby Roslin is said to be expecting a baby with husband Colin Peel in July.

The former Big Breakfast host, 36, had just signed a two-year deal with the BBC.

A BBC spokeswoman said the star did not wish to say any more, but added: "She's delighted."

The publicist was unable to say how the pregnancy would affect Roslin's TV commitments.

Roslin met her husband when he was a guest on her ITV show Motormouth. They married in 1995.

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Gladiator's Las Vegas prize trawl

Ridley Scott's film Gladiator has won five prizes in the Las Vegas film critics' annual awards.

It took best film editing, best score, best constume design, best visual effects and best DVD.

Erin Brockovitch was named best film and won best director for Steven Soderbergh.

Geoffrey Rush was named best actor for Quills while Ellen Burstyn was best actress for Requiem for a Dream.

Kate Hudson's performance in Almost Famous won her best supporting actress, while Benicio Del Toro won best supporting actor for Traffic, the film starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas.