Big Brother's Penny goes on air

Big Brother evictee Penny Ellis is to host her own radio show.

The former teacher was offered a Saturday slot by London's Liberty Radio following an interview she gave to one of its regular presenters.

Her appointment follows the appointment of outspoken ex-Big Brother loser Narinder Kaur getting her own show on Manchester's Century 105 station.

Penny was the first person to be kicked out of the house, followed two weeks later by Narinder.

---

Love Parade goes on

The Radio 1 Love Parade is to go ahead as planned on 21 July, despite fears Newcastle residents could be forced to foot a clean-up bill of up to £500,000.

It is estimated that the 250,000 revellers could bring more than £14m million into the local economy.

But residents raised concerns after it emerged that the full cost of event could be as high as £488,000.

Newcastle council leader Tony Flynn said: "I feel everything has been done to address the issues and concerns".

---

Third child for Patsy Palmer

Ex-EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer has become a mother for the third time after giving birth two weeks early, it has been revealed.

Palmer, who played Bianca Butcher in the BBC One soap, gave birth to a girl at London's Portland Hospital on Saturday.

A spokeswoman for the actress said baby and mother were doing well and that Palmer and her husband Richard Merkell were "delighted" at the birth.

Palmer had earlier been taken to hospital after a scare just five months into the pregnancy.

She is currently appearing in BBC One drama McCready And Daughter, alongside Lorcan Cranitch.

---

Spacek receives achievement award

American actress Sissy Spacek has been presented with the midlife achievement award at the Maine Film Festival.

Spacek believes her best work is yet to come, however. "There is so much I haven't done, and I don't even know what it is," she told reporters after receiving the award.

Spacek, 51, won a best actress Oscar for Coal Miner's Daughter in which she portrayed Loretta Lynn. She has received four other Oscar nominations, including one for Brian de Palma's Carrie.

"Even after her career took off, she continued to accept adventurous roles and worked with cutting-edge directors," said festival programmer Ken Eisen.

---

Lorraine Kelly sings for charity

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly reluctantly took to the stage to perform a song from West End musical The King and I.

Kelly performed as part of GMTV's annual Get Up and Give fundraiser, despite admitting she has "two left feet and no singing voice".

She recorded the performance with Keo Woolford in the place of cast regular Josie Lawrence, who gave Kelly some tips.

Kelly's performance will be broadcast between 16 and 20 July on GMTV.

---

Twelve singers in Hall of Fame

A record 12 performers are being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this Autumn.

The new inductees will be honoured during the Country Music Association Awards in October.

There are usually only two or three new additions to the Hall of Fame each year, but this year is a one-off, as part of the opening of a new Hall of Fame in the summer.

The Everly Brothers, Sam Phillips, Waylon Jennings and Whisperin' Bill Anderson are among the 12.

---

Survivor Australia under attack

The Australian RSPCA is demanding to view unedited TV footage of the killing of a wild pig on American reality show Survivor II: The Australian Outback.

Controversy erupted when an edited version was shown earlier this year. The RSPCA wants to determine whether the killing could be seen as a criminal act.

The gory scene features contestant Michael Skupin catching the pig, stabbing it to death, then smearing his face with the blood of the pig.

"Once we've obtained it we will view it and with our solicitors determine whether or not an actual offense has been committed," RSPCA chief inspector Byron Hall said of the footage.