News in brief: TV stars to sing for charity

A host of showbiz stars will be leaving behind their dignity to sing out for the Children in Need telethon.

The cast of EastEnders are to recreate Michael Jackson's famous Thriller video for the event, being televised live on the BBC on 15 November.

I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here contestant Darren Day will join GMTV presenter Eamonn Holmes and comedienne Nadia Wadia to give a hip-swinging performance to mark the 25th anniversary of Elvis' Presley's Death.

The BBC news and weather teams will once again do their bit for the children's fundraiser, this year singing and dancing to the cult smash Rocky Horror Show.

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Minogue gets saucy

A cup and saucer designed by pop star Kylie Minogue has attracted bids of more than £4,600 for a cancer charity.

Designers Stella McCartney and David Kappo have contributed to the online charity auction being held in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Meg Mathews and Claudia Schiffer have also designed their own cup and saucer, but Minogue's is by far the most popular feature of the eBay auction which closes on Saturday.

Minogue has written on the side of her cup: "It always tastes better when someone else makes it for you".

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Big Brother winner to co-host radio show

Big Brother winner Kate Lawler is stepping into the shoes of Cat Deeley to co-present Capital FM's Sunday afternoon show.

She will team up with Andi Peters, who made his name as children's TV presenter alongside Ed the Duck.

Lawler has been cutting her teeth as a stand-in for presenter Steve Penk since being voted winner of the reality TV show.

Deeley, who presents the BBC's Fame Academy, had been hosting the Sunday show with fellow TV presenter and friend Edith Bowman, but both are taking time off to concentrate on other work.

The show will go out on Capital FM in London and its sister stations in the Midlands, southern England and south Wales.

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Devdas eyes Oscar glory

Bollywood hit Devdas will be India's entry for 2003's foreign film Oscar, officials have announced.

India's most expensive movie ever - with a budget of 500 million rupees (£6.6m) - was chosen by a jury of representatives of various film organisation, Arvind Trivedi, the head of the country's Censor Board said.

Devdas is based in a 1917 Indian novel which has inspired seven films in four languages as well as a silent version.

It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai.

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Redford 'for Candidate sequel'

Robert Redford may reprise his role as California politician Bill McKay in a sequel to 1972's The Candidate.

Redford and screenwriter Larry Gelbart - best known for his work on the TV series M*A*S*H - are developing a script, according to newspaper Variety.

The report says Redford is also likely to produce and direct the sequel.

Redford, 65, won a best director Oscar for 1980's Ordinary People. His acting credits include The Great Gatsby and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

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Coltrane puts Potter first

Actor Robbie Coltrane has told how he missed out on a part in one of the biggest shows in the US to appear in the forthcoming Harry Potter movie.

The Scot revealed he turned down the chance to appear in Emmy Award-winning political drama The West Wing in order to reprise the role of the Hagrid.

"There was a very nice little part in The West Wing I couldn't do," the 52-year-old told the Scottish Sunday Mail.

"I'm not complaining. As jobs go, there's worse than playing Hagrid."

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BBC lands Robbie show

Fans of Robbie Williams are being treated to a special concert as part of an entertainment special for the BBC.

The Robbie Williams Show, to be broadcast on BBC One in mid-November, is being recorded at Pinewood studios.

The show will be a celebration of his new songs, a reprise of some of his hits and a performance of classic swing.

The one-off spectacular will include Williams' new single, Feel, and a rendition of I Get A Kick Out Of You.