In brief: Wright sticks with BBC

TV presenter and former footballer Ian Wright has signed a second exclusive two-year contract with the BBC.

Wright, who joined the BBC in January 2001, has been best known for presenting game show Friends Like These.

This Christmas sees him hosting Families Like These - a spin-off of the successful game show.

Already commissioned is Spy TV, a weekly show in which members of the public get the chance to lure their loved ones into scams, scrapes and moral dilemmas, filmed by a hidden camera.

Another new commission is I'd Do Anything, in which members of the public face their worst fears to win prizes for a friend or family member.

Wright will also host a new lottery programme, details of which will be announced next year.

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Redmond gets new role

Former SM:tv presenter James Redmond has a new TV role in the comedy drama Mile High.

The Sky One comedy series is about the adventures of an airline cabin crew.

Redmond made his name as Finn in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

Mile High is his first TV job since leaving SM:tv in April.

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Darius hops on tour bus

Pop Idol finalist Darius Danesh has announced a solo tour for 2003.

He will kick off in Glasgow on 2 May and finish in London on 25 May.

Darius, who had a number one hit this year with Colourblind and has just released his first album, will play Cardiff, Manchester and Birmingham and other cities on the 15-date tour.

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Abba's top dance tune

Abba's Dancing Queen has been voted the top dancefloor tune of all time, according to viewers of cable music channel VH1.

The evergreen Swedish disco tune beat Kylie Minogue's recent hit Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

Abba member Benny Andersson said: "It's rather fantastic that our music is still around and that they didn't kill us for being so corny at the time."

The third most popular tune was Gloria Gaynor's anthem I Will Survive.

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Ponti celebrates his 90th

Film producer Carlo Ponti, who risked excommunication from the Roman Catholic church to marry actress Sophia Loren, is celebrating his 90th birthday on Wednesday.

He was nominated for an Oscar as producer of Doctor Zhivago in 1965, while his other works include Blow-Up, The Cassandra Crossing, The Verdict and The Squeeze.

Speaking from the home he shares with Loren in Geneva, he spoke to Italian daily Blick about his favourite memories.

"Gina Lollobrigida was beautiful, but she was only middling as an actress."

He praised actor Marcello Mastroianni, who appeared in many of his films.

"He was a completely normal person, even in front of the camera. His success never went to his head. That was the secret of his greatness."

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