Carey punches back

Mariah Carey is to star as a boxing manager in her next film, according to reports.

The troubled singer has landed the role in drama Sweet Science, despite her debut movie Glitter being branded a flop, the Hollywood Reporter reports.

The industry paper says Carey, 31, clinched the role after receiving favourable reviews for her performance in Wisegirls, which had a special screening at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States last month.

In Sweet Science Carey will star as a determined boxing manager who drafts an unknown female boxer to make a name for the pair of them.

Producer Anthony Esposito told the Hollywood Reporter: "Her performance in Wisegirls is outstanding with reviews from Sundance praising her work.

"I feel that given the right role, the depth of Mariah's performance will make everyone take notice of her great acting ability."

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Great Escape survivor dies

One of the few survivors of the real-life Great Escape in World War II died at the age of 86 on Valentine's Day, the Royal Air Forces Association in the UK has announced.

Desmond Plunkett was among 76 men who escaped through a tunnel from the Stalag Luft III PoW camp in Germany on 23 March 1944.

He was among the 73 PoWs who were recaptured, 50 of whom were executed by the Gestapo, the Nazis' secret police.

Actor Donald Pleasence based his character in the 1963 film The Great Escape on several of the escapees, including Mr Plunkett, who was the escape committee's map-maker.

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Sir Paul delays European tour

Sir Paul McCartney has extended his American tour and put back plans to play in Europe.

Sir Paul had planned to play 15 gigs in five European countries throughout May.

But the former Beatle will add extra dates to the 18 gigs already confirmed in the US in April.

In a statement Sir Paul denied he was ditching Europe in favour of the US.

A spokesperson said that he had been a little premature in announcing plans for European shows before they were finalised.

It is now thought he will play in Europe later this year.

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Dublin sticks with Abbey habit

One of Dublin's most famous theatres, the Abbey, is to be redeveloped on its current site, the country's government has announced.

The move was confirmed by arts and culture minister Sile de Valera, ending speculation that the Abbey might be moved from Abbey Street to a new site, possibly in the Dublin docklands area.

She said expert advice from the government's Office of Public Works was that the theatre should remain in its traditional position - which was also her own personal preference.

The decision - agreed earlier by a cabinet session presided over by Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, whose Dublin parliamentary constituency covers the current Abbey address - was welcomed by James Hickey, chairman of the theatre's board of directors.

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Brosnan hit by knee injury

James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has been laid low by a knee injury while filming the latest 007 adventure.

Production company EON Productions said the actor would be out of action for a fortnight.

However, it said the film - which has the working title Bond 20 - would still hit screens in November, as planned.

A spokeswoman said Brosnan had sustained the injury while filming an action sequence involving water.

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BBC defends EastEnders storyline

The BBC has defended a sex-and-drugs EastEnders storyline that led to several complaints from viewers.

Millions watched Monday's episode, in which Janine Butcher, played by 20-year-old Charlie Brooks, was about to take cocaine, and paid the drug dealer with sex.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "EastEnders has always tackled difficult issues like drug-taking in a responsible way, mindful of its responsibilities to its younger audience.

"Although the storyline implied Janine had taken drugs, there were no scenes that actually showed her using them."

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Collins worked as sister wed

Novelist Jackie Collins has revealed that she stayed away from the wedding of her actress sister, Joan, in order to work on a new book.

Joan, 68, married for the fifth time, to 36-year-old Percy Gibson, at a ceremony in London on Sunday.

The bestselling writer told the New York Post newspaper: "I'm on a deadline for my latest book, Deadly Embrace, and I am chained to my desk."

She said she had already celebrated her sister's fifth marriage "with a huge Los Angeles party two weeks ago".