Hear'Say sent to Coventry

Pop act Hear'Say were besieged by thousands of fans at a public appearance in Coventry on Thursday.

About 5,000 fans gathered at the Virgin Megastore as the group took part in a signing session to promote their debut album Popstars.

Some dedicated fans began queuing outside the store as early as 0500 BST in a bid to get a brief glance of their heroes.

A spokeswoman for Virgin said: "It has been phenomenal. I have never seen anything like it before. Everyone has been very patient and it has been great for the fans."

At earlier events Hear'Say were mobbed by fans when they made appearances with 3,500 turning out to HMV in Oxford Circus, London, and 9,000 at Woolworths in Milton Keynes.

Meanwhile, they had shifted 163,542 copies of the album by Wednesday - meaning they could sell as many as 300,000 copies by the weekend, which would make it one of the biggest first week sales of all time.

Chart expert Gennaro Castaldo of the HMV chain said: "The Hear'Say phenomenon just seems to be getting bigger and bigger."

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Fighting talk from Lopez

Jennifer Lopez has been learning the fighting system taught to Israeli forces for her role in a new film as an abused wife seeking revenge.

Lopez, who has just split from rapper Puff Daddy, is perfecting Krav Maga.

The actress and singer, 30, told Daily Variety: "It's important. When a woman falls in love, she gives up everything and when she's betrayed..."

The star plays a waitress in the film, directed by Britain's Michael Apted.

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Hunter gets fit for tennis role

Actress Holly Hunter said her latest role, playing tennis star Billie Jean King for an US TV drama, really showed her how it felt to be an athlete.

"We haven't seen too many women athletes portrayed on film," she said. "I thought: 'What a great opportunity to use my whole body. '"

Hunter drilled five days a week with Wimbledon doubles champion Peggy Michel: " I was in the best shape of my life that was intoxicating."

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Little to play Beatles star

Actor Ralf Little - Anthony Royle in The Royle Family - will portray former Beatle George Harrison in a play to be staged at London's Royal Court Theatre.

Written by David Harrower, Presence looks at the Beatles' early days in Hamburg, where tensions within the band put their future success in jeopardy.

"It's my first time on the stage," the 21-year-old actor told the Daily Mirror. "It's all sweetie darling of me. But I'm very excited about it."

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Titchmarsh ready for Force farewell

Gardener Alan Titchmarsh is planning to quit his hit BBC show Ground Force.

Titchmarsh - who also hosts BBC Two's Gardener's World - says he enjoys the show, but feels he has done enough of them and will leave after he has finished the ones which have already been arranged.

After eight shows lined up for 2001 and a further eight to be filmed next year, Titchmarsh said he will call it a day.

"When we got to 50 programmes I thought that was the time to stop, but they were desperate to carry on.

"I agreed to do another 16, then I'll go," said Titchmarsh, who presents the programme with Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh.