Massive advance sales for Rings

More than 34,000 advance orders for the video and DVD of Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring have been placed with the UK arm of online retailer Amazon.

The figures exceed advance orders the company received for both Gladiator and Moulin Rouge combined.

"Our customers love Lord Of The Rings - our huge pre-order figures prove this," said an Amazon spokesperson.

The hit blockbuster is released on video and DVD on 6 August.

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Shrek man for Narnia film

Shrek director Andrew Adamson is to direct the first live action feature film version of the CS Lewis novel The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Adamson has also worked on True Lies, Batman and Robin and Batman Forever. The film is being made by Walden Media, which purchased the film rights to Lewis's seven-part Chronicles of Narnia series last year.

"Narnia was such a vivid and real world to me as a child, as it is to millions of other fans," said Adamson, who said he wanted to give fans "an epic theatrical experience worthy of their imaginations".

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was published in 1950, and is the second part of the Chronicles of Narnia series, which has sold over 60 million copies worldwide.

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Dimmock makes Hollyoaks appearance

Ground Force gardener Charlie Dimmock is branching out into acting with a guest appearance in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

Dimmock will play herself in an episode to be shown next Tuesday when she turns up at the opening of the village's Jubilee Garden.

But she said she had no ambitions to give up her day job on the garden make-over show, co-hosted by Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh.

"Being in Hollyoaks was great fun and it has certainly been a different experience to my normal job. I don't think I'll be making any career changes just yet though. I'll stick to what I know and love best - gardening," she said.

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TV viewers want 'quality' regional shows

TV viewers regard regional programmes as essential, according to research by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC).

The Pride Of Place report suggests most would like to see regional shows continue on ITV1 and the BBC, but believe the quality of programming matters more than the quantity.

Almost all of those questioned want regional news to remain on TV schedules. Regional identity and the use of local talent were also cited as important.

About 5,500 people took part in the survey, as well as two panels composed of members of the public.

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No regrets at missing Matrix, says Yeoh

Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh has said she has no regrets about turning down a major role in the sequels to The Matrix in favour of her new film.

The Touch sees the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon star playing a trapeze artist who is caught up in the search for a hidden Buddhist artefact.

However, she has denied any comparison between the new film and Crouching Tiger. "The film language, the action is very modern," she said. "There's no flying around."

The Touch received its world première in Malaysia early this week.

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Disney film given Japanese boost

A major publicity drive for the new Disney cartoon Lilo and Stitch has been launched in Hawaii, aimed at Japanese tourists visiting the island.

The marketing drive, which will run for the seven months leading up to the film's Japanese release, will include special screenings for tourists and themed merchandise.

Over 100,000 Japanese tourists are expected to visit Hawaii in the next seven months.

Lilo And Stitch, about a young Hawaiian girl who befriends an alien after he crash-lands on earth, has made nearly $135m (£86m) in the US since its release in June.

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U2 'set for New York show'

U2 are being lined up to headline a massive concert in New York's Times Square days before the anniversary of 11 September, it has been reported.

Thousands of fans are expected at the event to celebrate the start of the American football season.

The concert on 5 September also aims to demonstrate the city's resurgence a year after the terror attacks, city officials told the New York Post.

Other stars being lined up for the concert include Jon Bon Jovi.

If it gets the go-ahead, the event would take place a day before the US Congress is due to meet in New York City for a symbolic one day session.