Rings epic heads Empire shortlist

The final part of Lord of the Rings has nine nominations in this year's Empire Awards, hosted by the film magazine and to be decided by public vote.

Return of the King's nominations include best film and best director for Peter Jackson.

Best actor sees Sean Astin and Viggo Mortensen up against Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Day Lewis.

The Empire Awards will be presented on 4 February at a ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel and shown live on Sky.

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Tears for Fears plan new album

British duo Tears For Fears have announced a release date for their first album since 1989.

Everybody Loves A Happy Ending will be released on 6 April. It will be preceded by a single, Closest Thing To Heaven, in February.

The duo enjoyed huge success in the 1980s with hits such as Everybody Wants To Rule The World.

Gary Jules' cover version of their early hit Mad World was Christmas Number One in the UK last year.

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Celebrity attracts 10m viewers

Just over 10 million people saw the first instalment of ITV1's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on Monday.

An average of 10.1m people saw model Jordan and ex-footballer Neil Ruddock endure insects and snakes crawling over their faces after being poured into see-through helmets.

Their success saw them made 3/1 favourites to win the series with bookmaker Ladbrokes.

Others being filmed 24 hours a day include John Lydon of the Sex Pistols and former athlete Diana Modahl.

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Talk show pioneer Jack Paar dies

US television presenter Jack Paar, credited with shaping the modern late-night talk show, has died aged 85.

Paar hosted the Tonight Show from 1957-62, turning it from a variety show to a talk show and reviving its fortunes.

He died at home in Greenwich, Connecticut, on Tuesday about a year after suffering a stroke, his son-in-law Stephen Wells said.

Current Tonight Show host Jay Leno said Paar "set the bar and he set it very high" and would be "sorely missed".

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Branagh backs young film-makers

Actor Kenneth Branagh will be among the judges on an awards panel to recognise young film-makers.

The First Light Film Awards will honour digital short films made by seven to 18-year-olds.

Harry Potter star Branagh will join Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell and Cold Mountain's Ray Winstone on the panel.

Honours for film-makers under 12, best documentary and best horror will be among those awarded at London's Odeon West End cinema on 25 February.

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Paul Simon meets Dalai Lama

Singer Paul Simon has interviewed the Dalai Lama for a documentary about Nobel peace laureates.

Simon met Tibet's spiritual leader in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, where he has been in exile since 1959.

The documentary, funded by the Nobel committee, will also feature former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev, interviewed by U2 singer Bono.

Hollywood actor Michael Douglas has interviewed physicist Jospeh Rothblatt for the film.

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Walters leaves ABC show

Celebrity interviewer Barbara Walters, one of US TV's biggest stars, is to leave ABC's 20/20 show after 25 years.

The 74-year-old presenter will be moving on from the weekly news show in September, the network announced.

She will continue interviewing for ABC but reduce her workload to about six interviews a year, it said.

Walters, the first female journalist to co-anchor an evening news show on ABC, has interviewed each US president since Nixon along with many world leaders.

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