In brief: George Michael's charity cheque

Pop star George Michael has given a cheque for £50,000 to television show This Morning's annual charity appeal.

The singer donated the money after seeing a discussion about the show's Pass The Parcel fundraiser.

"George loves This Morning and watches every day," said a spokeswoman for the programme. "He decided it was something he wanted to do and sent a cheque."

The appeal asks viewers to buy an extra Christmas present which will be given out to needy youngsters.

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Chitty work soars at sale

Rare original manuscripts for the children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have fetched £29,290 at a sale in London auction house Sotheby's.

They were bought on Thursday by an anonymous bidder for far higher than their presale estimate price of between £12,000 and £15,000.

The novel about the flying car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was originally written by James Bond author Ian Fleming in 1961 as he recovered from a heart attack.

Fleming manuscripts are extremely rare. The major Fleming collection held by the Lilly Library at Indiana University does not even include typescript of Chitty, Sotheby's said.

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Star Wars helmets crown memorabilia sale

Four helmets from the original Star Wars movie will vie for top billing with Jack Nicholson's jacket from The Shining and Pierce Brosnan's watch from The World Is Not Enough in a film memorabilia sale.

A white stormtrooper's helmet and an Imperial fighter pilot's helmet are priced at £3,000, while an Imperial forces helmet and a prototype rebel fighter pilot's helmet are expected to fetch £1,000.

A black satin jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe for a 1956 photo shoot and props from the original Alien are also among the 217 lots due to be put under the hammer at Christie's on Tuesday.

"The Star Wars material is very rare," said Christie's spokesman Sarah Hodgson. "These helmets are from the original film and were made by Shepperton Design Studios in London."

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Don Johnson sells car collection

Actor Don Johnson is selling six vehicles from his stable of cars, including a silver Ferrari Testarossa he received from Enzo Ferrari when he was appearing in Miami Vice in the 1980s.

Johnson, who turns 53 on Sunday, is also selling cars from his old Nash Bridges TV show, including a yellow 1970 Plymouth Barracuda convertible.

"Over the years, I've enjoyed owning and driving these automobiles," Johnson said.

"However, a combination of increasing demands on my time and a personal desire to streamline my life make it time to let others enjoy these beauties."

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Gospel Music Hall of Fame to induct Boone

Pat Boone, Amy Grant and the Blind Boys of Alabama will be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame on 10 April.

The 34th annual Dove Awards will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, where Boone was raised.

"There is no other recognition or award in this world that means more to me than this invitation to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame," said 68-year-old Boone.

Making the announcement, GMA President Frank Breeden described Boone, Grant and the Blind Boys of Alabama as "three distinct exceptional artists who have been incredibly influential in gospel music's history".

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Kofi Annan's wife unveils children's book

Nane Annan, the wife of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, has unveiled her second illustrated children's book.

Entitled Top and Top: The Adventures of Two Water Drops! the book is about the shortage of fresh water around the world.

Mrs Annan, a Swedish lawyer and artist, illustrated the book in watercolours she took with her on plane trips as she travelled the world with her husband.

Proceeds from the book will go to Unicef, the UN Children's Fund.

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Van Outen to star in one-woman show

Denise Van Outen's one-woman West End show will begin a three-month run in April.

The presenter turned stage star is starring in a revamped version of Tell Me On A Sunday.

Van Outen will also record an album of music from the show, to be released in the spring.

The production, which will run at London's Gielgud Theatre from 8 April, follows Van Outen's successful West End stint in the musical Chicago.