Sir Cliff was due to spend Tuesday and Wednesday recording a one-hour festive spectacular to be screened during the peak Christmas viewing period.

But his agent, David Bryce, confirmed that the 57-year-old star was under doctor's orders to stay in bed until he has recovered from a chest infection.

"He has lost his voice and simply cannot be heard. We are looking upon the show as a postponement, and will be having further talks with the BBC once Cliff has made a full recovery, " said Bryce.

However, time is likely to be short as Sir Cliff must first regain his health and then needs to get fit for such a performance.

Spices hoping for Christmas hat-trick

The Spice Girls are aiming to be the first group ever to top the charts for three Christmases in a row.

Their latest single, a ballad called Goodbye, premières on several breakfast shows on November 9 before being released on December 14, and is already strongly favoured to take the coveted number one slot.

Scary Spice Mel B brushed aside rumours that the song's title is a hint that the band is about to split.

She said: "Although the song is called Goodbye, the chorus is actually `goodbye my friend, it's not the end'.

"It's a very sentimental song which means a lot to us. It is about everything that has happened this year, with Geri leaving and then being strong."

1998 has been a hectic year for the Spice Girls, with Posh Spice Victoria announcing her engagement to Manchester United and England footballer David Beckham in January, followed by Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell's departure from the group in May.

Mel B married dancer Jimmy Gulzar in September, and both she and Posh are expecting babies in the New Year.

The band also embarked on their first world tour this year, and notched up their eighth British number one single with Viva Forever.

All Wright now

Ian Wright: Hammers star sets sights on TV

Soccer star Ian Wright had a dual celebration on Monday - marking his 35th birthday, and the birth of his new television chat show.

The West Ham striker, known for his robust views on anything from striking firefighters to racism, posed in front of a giant cake in London's Soho to mark the launch of his London Weekend Television-produced programme, Friday Night's All Wright.

Wrigh also unveiled a list of guests, including the England football team's faith healer, Eileen Drewery, and former Arsenal team-mate Tony Adams.

With Wright insisting he does not want the programmes to be dominated by sport, the series will also feature the Spice Girls, model Caprice, pop protesters the Manic Street Preachers and actress Kathy Burke.

Friday Night's All Wright will be broadcast nationwide on ITV. Wright's deal with LWT covers 30 programmes over three years, including a factual series and Christmas specials.

Brits in the running for European Film Awards

Kate Winslet: Titanic star contends for European film gong

British actresses Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet are set to battle it out for a prestigious European Film Award.

Thompson and Winslet have been nominated for Primary Colors and Titanic in the European Achievement in World Cinema category of the awards.

British director Ken Loach and Ireland's Neil Jordan are among the challengers for European Film for My Name is Joe and The Butcher Boy, while Peter Mullan vies for the European Actor award for My Name is Joe.

Britain's Peter Howitt competes for the European Screenwriter award for Sliding Doors, while Adrian Biddle of Ireland is a contender in the European Cinematographer section.

The winners of the awards, which are seen by many as the European equivalent of the Oscars, will be announced at a gala ceremony at the Old Vic in London on December 4.

Clooney 'won't play Batman again'

George Clooney: Won't be donning the cape again

ER heart throb George Clooney will not be starring in any more Batman films, according to the director of the last two, Joel Schumacher.

Schumacher says if he was asked to do another film, he would do it "very differently".

"I'd reinvent the genre and have Bruce Wayne 20 years old, the year he becomes Batman."

Warner Bros, which made the previous four Batman films, has been suffering financial troubles and pulled the plug on Batman: Dark Knight, which was due for release in 1999.

Johnny Depp: 'Pork broke me.'

Johhny Depp: Couldn't do without bacon

Film star Johnny Depp has told how he was converted to vegetarianism by his friend Linda McCartney - but had to give it up to bulk up for a film role.

Depp, who starred in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, gave up meat for nine months, but his resolve had already been weakened by his overriding love of pork.

"I could deal without steak, hamburgers were a little rough, but pork was just terrible. I pined for bacon. I missed pig," Depp told FHM magazine.