Daniels sought wizard role

Magician Paul Daniels has revealed he applied to take over the role of the wizard Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films.

The diminutive star, who is promoting his Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, said he offered his services following the death of Richard Harris who played the wizard in the first two films.

Daniels, 65, said he had never had a reply but added that he "would love to meet author JK Rowling and discuss magic things with her".

Daniels is in Edinburgh to perform his show An Audience With... featuring magic and variety.

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Carly Simon to reveal 'Vain' inspiration

A US TV executive has pledged $50,000 to discover who was the mystery inspiration for Carly Simon's 1972 hit You're So Vain.

NBC sports president Dick Ebersol won the charity auction for a lunch date with Simon in which she had promised to reveal the closely-guarded secret.

But as part of the deal, Mr Ebersol must vow not to divulge the information to anyone else.

Simon has always refused to reveal who was the arrogant and selfish subject of her song, but prime suspects are thought to include Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Cat Stevens and her former husband James Taylor.

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Date set for posthumous Strummer album

Joe Strummer's final album, recorded with his band the Mescaleros, is being released on 6 October.

Streetcore was recorded in several stages, once the final band line-up was settled on, and guitarist and saxophonist Martin Slattery and guitarist Scott Shields put the finishing touches to it.

The record and sleeve were put together from notes that Strummer had elaborately detailed just before his death in December 2002.

The first single from the album, Coma Girl, will be released on 22 September.

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Rolling Stones cancel Spanish gig

The Rolling Stones have pulled out of Tuesday night's concert in Spain after lead singer Sir Mick Jagger fell ill with laryngitis.

Promoters for the Alicante gig said they had been informed that Sir Mick was recovering in Paris and that the concert would have to be postponed.

An alternative date, possibly in September, is being arranged and tickets would be valid for the rearranged event.

The Rolling Stones have postponed a number of concerts on their mammoth 40 Licks tour with the Sars outbreak in Asia and a grounded plane in India playing havoc with the schedule.

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Ford to open French film festival

Harrison Ford and Clint Eastwood are among the star names who will attend the American Film Festival in the French town of Deauville.

Ford's police comedy Hollywood Homicide will open the event on 5 October, while Mystic River, directed by Eastwood, will mark the end.

Directors who will be honoured at the festival include Sir Ridley Scott who will present Matchstick Men, and James Ivory who will unveil his comedy Le Divorce.

The competition jury will be led by Oscar winner Roman Polanski.

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Irish TV viewers get film choice

Irish broadcaster RTE has launched an interactive scheme which allows viewers to vote for and choose the film they want to watch each week.

Called Cinepicks, the scheme sees viewers vote for one of two old films, the titles of which are advertised.

Viewers call one of two premium rate telephone numbers and the film scoring the most votes is then screened.

Similar schemes have been used in children's programming in the UK this year for viewers to select music videos