British duo bid to be Lion tamers

Two British directors have been nominated for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival later this month.

Orlando film-maker Sally Potter has been put forward for The Man Who Cried - starring Cate Blanchett and Johnny Depp - while Stephen Frears is also in the frame for Liam.

They are among 20 directors competing for the top prize at the world's oldest film festival - now in its 57th year.

The event gets under way on 30 August.

---

Christian group buys into London radio

A London radio station sold by Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed has been bought by a company part-owned by a Christian sect.

Liberty, which is aimed at women and has around 50,000 listeners, has been sold to Lisbon-based Universal Difuaso - which is part-owned by a Portuguese branch of the worldwide Christian group the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.

The Universal Church was one of a number of organisations listed as dangerous in a French parliamentary report in a crackdown on religious sects.

Followers pledge 10% of their income to the church in the belief that God will return it later with interest.

In 1995 it tried to buy London's Brixton Academy venue but the sale fell through.

Liberty adviser Bob Pierson said the format of the station would not change, and the church saw its work as being "helpful" to its audience, rather than making direct conversions.

The Radio Authority said it had given the go-ahead for the £4m sale.

"All the information we have on them meets the statutory requirements.

"If there are any compliance issues we will look into them," a spokeswoman added

---

Spike to make boxing film

Spike Lee is to produce and direct a story about one of boxing legend Joe Louis's most famous fights.

Scriptwriter Budd Schulberg, who wrote such classics as On the Waterfront, has based his story on Louis's 1938 heavyweight title fight with German Max Schmeling.

"The build-up to the fight was such that it was a symbolic war," said Schulberg. "The feeling was at fever pitch."

Schmeling, who had previously beaten Louis, was regarded as a symbol of fascist Nazi Germany, while his opponent represented democracy.

Louis triumphed with a knock-out in the first round.

---

Opera Diva memorabilia up for sale

More than 2000 items that belonged to opera star Maria Callas - including her personal Bible and photo albums - are being auctioned off in Paris later this year.

Furniture, jewellery, clothing and pictures are all to be sold, as well as letters from her voice coach Elvira de Hidalgo and Italian director Luchino Visconti.

Fans of the glamorous soprano, who died in 1977, will also be able to bid for locks of her hair, a pair of glasses, her kimono or even her luxurious white mink shawl.

---

Laurie to play Garland's husband

British actor Hugh Laurie is to play Judy Garland's husband in a TV mini-series based on a book about her life.

Laurie, 41, who can currently be seen in the hit film Stuart Little, will play Vincente Minelli.

The three-hour series is based on Lorna Luft's bestseller, Me And My Shadows, and will feature a dozen of Garland's best known songs.

Judy Davis, who starred in Barton Fink, will play Garland.

---

"Cheggers" in hospital with broken leg

TV host Keith Chegwin is resting in a local hospital after breaking his leg while out walking with his children.

The presenter, who is currently filming a new series of It's A Knockout for C5, fractured his limb in two places.

But he has vowed to be ready for filming on Friday: "It'll take more than a broken leg to stop me from working," said the 43-year-old TV star.

Chegwin recently caused a stir with his nude appearance on C5's The Naked Jungle - said to be one of the most watched entertainment shows of the year.

---

Vorderman TV ads in rap

Commercials featuring Carol Vorderman have been rapped for falling foul of advertising rules.

The TV presenter appeared in the ads for low cholesterol spread Benecol.

But they were screened in between shows which she hosted, prompting complaints from viewers which the Independent Television Commission upheld.

Regulations prevent adverts and programmes with the same stars from being shown together, to stop them being seen as an endorsement and influencing consumers.