Indiana Jones whip for auction

Screen legend Harrison Ford has donated Indiana Jones' bullwhip to a charity auction fighting Aids in Africa.

The auction has been organised by actor Liam Neeson, who donated his lightsabre from the film Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

. Among the other celebrity pieces up for grabs are a trademark Sir Michael Caine raincoat from the film Hannah and her Sisters and the outfit worn by Welsh star Catherine Zeta Jones in The Mask of Zorro.

Mel Gibson's sword from Braveheart and Julia Roberts' wedding dress from The Runaway Bride have also been donated.

---

Chart show is ratings winner

A countdown of the nation's favourite number one singles proved a ratings triumph for Channel 4, unofficial figures showed.

The four-hour show The 100 Greatest Number One Singles overtook BBC1 and ITV during its last 45 minutes on Saturday night.

An average 4.1 million people watched the show, hosted by Graham Norton, drawing more than twice the normal share of viewers to the channel for the time slot.

Oscar ballots ready to mail

The race for the Oscars is due to begin this week with the mailing out of ballot papers for the films eligible for nomination.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts will send out the papers, along with a list of the 242 eligible films, on Tuesday to the 4,253 voting Academy members in California.

However, films competing in the documentary, foreign language and short film categories have special eligibility requirements and are selected by special voting panels.

The nomination shortlist will be announced on 13 February while the Oscars ceremony will take place on 25 March at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium.

---

Fleetwood Mac reunite to honour Clinton

President Clinton has been treated to a surprise treat by Rock group Fleetwood Mac, who reunited at the White House to honour the end of his eight-year term.

They performed songs including Don't Stop,' his 1992 campaign theme, and Go Your Own Way, according to White House officials.

Saturday's surprise concert was the highligh of a farewell party thrown for Clinton by his political staff that also included skits and videos produced by different White House offices.

The popular 1970s rock group no longer tours together, but reunited in 1997 for a concert tour and CD release. Saturday's reunion did not include Christine McVie, according to the band's publicist, Mitch Schneider.

---

Corrs perform in mother's memory

The Corrs are staging a fundraising concert in Newcastle in their first visit since their mother died in a hospital in the city 14 months ago.

The one-off charity show is expected to raise £100,000 for the Freeman Hospital where Jean Corr died after suffering from a rare breathing condition.

The money raised from the Newcastle Arena gig will be used to help extend the hospital's William Leech Centre, which is dedicated to lung research.