Ballykissangel star Lorcan Cranitch has been lined up to take over from his late colleague Tony Doyle in the forthcoming BBC One drama, McCready and Daughter.

Doyle, who died 10 days ago, had been due to star alongside ex-EastEnder Patsy Palmer in the drama series.

Cranitch, who plays businessman Sean Dillon in Ballykissangel, said: "I was deeply honoured and very moved to be asked to take the role written for my friend and colleague Tony Doyle."

In the new drama, which starts filming on Friday, Cranitch will play McCready, the "sheriff" of the Irish community in London's Kilburn.

Palmer plays his rebellious daughter, with whom he sets up a private detective business.

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Celebrity comic capers for Brookie

Brookside will be the scene of a battle of the celebrities next month when TV hosts Carol Smillie and Graham Norton are double-booked for a St Patrick's Day bash - with the Nolan Sisters.

The stars will clash on screen in the 17 March episode of the hit Channel Four soap revolving around rival plans for the grand reopening of the fictional Parade shopping centre.

In a twist for Nolans fans, ex-lead singer Bernie, 39, will join Brookie as feisty mother-of-three Diane Murray at the end of March.

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Bush singer's Austrian protest

The lead singer of British rockers Bush recited a Jewish prayer at a concert in Austria to show solidarity with fans opposed to the country's new government.

Gavin Rossdale said he sang the Hammotzi, a prayer for the breaking of the bread, to the 2,000 strong audience in Graz as a gesture of "condolence".

Austria's new government includes the far-right Freedom Party of Joerg Haider, whose views on immigration and Nazi war crimes have caused outrage.

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Wonder's tribute to Motown musician

Motown legend Stevie Wonder gave a moving performance at the funeral of baritone saxophonist Thomas "Beans" Bowles who has died aged 73.

Wonder played the Duke Ellington song Satin Doll during the service at the Central United Methodist Church in Detroit.

He said he considered Bowles, one of the leading musicians on the Motown label "a teacher and also a father".

He died after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer.

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Wonderful Life actor Karns dies at 79

Actor Todd Karns, best known for his role in the 1946 classic, It's A Wonderful Life, has died at his home in Ajijic, Mexico, aged 79.

Karns played Harry Bailey, the younger brother of the film's star Jimmy Stewart, in Frank Capra's heartwarming tale of despair turning into hope.

His last film roles were in the 1950s, after which he worked as an artist.

Karns's wife of 54 years, Katherine, said he had been suffering from cancer.

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Scream 3 tops US movie charts

Horror sequel Scream 3 went straight to number one in the US movie charts over the weekend, according to preliminary box-office figures.

Directed by Wes Craven from a script by Kevin Williamson, who created the series, it reunites Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox.

Estimates say the film grossed more than the rest of the top 10 films put together - the best debut for a horror and a record for a February opening.

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BBC to honour cream of folk artists

Top folk artists are being honoured in their own equivalent of the Brits on Monday night at the first BBC awards ceremony especially for their genre.

Thirteen titles are being handed out at the BBC Folk Awards, which aim to raise the image of a genre which is no longer all Arran jumpers, beads and beards.

Folk legend Joan Baez and past Mercury Music Prize nominees Kate Rusby and Eliza Carthy are among those performing at the ceremony at London's Waldorf Hotel, hosted by Mike Harding.

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New plays mark Soho theatre revival

A short play by Adrian Mole creator Sue Townsend will mark the reopening of an acclaimed theatre in a former synagogue in London's Soho on Monday.

Mr Muscle is the first of five Soho Stories, being broadcast all this week to mark the multi-million pound rebirth of the Soho Theatre, in Dean Street.

For years the theatre company was based near the BBC's Broadcasting House, but it was forced to move in 1992. The new home was renovated with money from the National Lottery.

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New job for 'political wife' Hamilton

Christine Hamilton, wife of disgraced ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton is presenting a TV show aimed at women with money worries.

Mrs Hamilton, 50, who was her husband's constituency secretary until he lost his seat in May 1997, will interview women who have survived finance crises.

"I hope to pick up some tips," she said, adding: "It's no secret that I need to earn a living."

The show begins on Sky Digital channel Simply Money at the end of February.

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Karloff's daughter sues Universal

The daughter of the late horror movie star Boris Karloff is suing Universal Studios for $10m (£6.25m) over the use of her father's name and image.

Sarah Karloff alleges the studio is using her father's image without paying royalties to her, his sole heir.

A spokeswoman from Universal Studios said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

Boris Karloff, who died in 1969, made more than 170 movies, including Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and The Mummy.

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Leigh lines up French backing

British director Mike Leigh, whose award-winning film Topsy-Turvy is about to open in Britain, has secured French financing for his next three films.

Leigh and Simon Channing-Williams, his partner in Thin Man Films, have signed a deal with Paris-based TV giant Studio Canal Plus and an affiliate.

The man behind Secrets & Lies is expected to start work on the first project in September.

Canal Plus, which has made no secret of its plans to create a major European film studio, recently backed David Lynch's The Straight Story and Jim Jarmusch's Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.

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BBC loses Baftas to Sky

Sky has bought the rights to screen the British film industry's BAFTA awards.

The BBC will continue to screen the TV Baftas, which are watched by around eight million people, on an alternating basis with ITV.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We will continue to serve our viewers with Film 2000 and the Bafta TV awards."