Kemp - best known as Grant Mitchell in the BBC One soap - is standing for the Labour Students Club in elections for the position.

Labour club chairman Blair McDougall said Kemp - currently on holiday in Tanzania - is looking forward to the poll on 9 March.

"When we contacted hi about the position he was very enthusiastic - he is a committed campaigner for social justice and feels passionately about education.

"Despite his hardman image he is an articulate and intelligent individual and those who confuse him with his screen character are in for a shock."

His rivals include actor and comedian John Sessions, Scottish advocate Ian Hamilton, who was part of a group of students who removed the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, and one called "Jamie's Gran".

The winning candidate will replace the current rector, One Foot In The Grave star Richard Wilson.

Spandau songs stand up in court

Gary Kemp arrives at London's High Court

The judge in the Spandau Ballet court case has admitted to becoming a fan of the music of the 80s band.

Mr Justice Park smiled as their songs were played in the High Court and said: "I spent a large part of the weekend listening to this. It's very good."

He said on Monday he had enjoyed The Best of Spandau Ballet so much he left the CD at home.

Drummer John Keeble, singer Tony Hadley and sax player Steve Norman are suing songwriter Gary Kemp. They say he owes them unpaid royalties. The case resumes on Wednesday.

Duchovny's X-appeal

Kelsey Grammer accepts Frasier's TV Guide prize

X-Files star David Duchovny and teen fantasy series Buffy The Vampire Slayer were the big winners at the America's TV Guide Awards on Monday night.

Heart-throb Duchovny was voted favourite actor in a ballot of readers, plus sexiest and best-dressed male in a separate online poll.

Buffy won seven online categories, including best science-fiction fantasy show and sexiest female for star Sarah Michelle Gellar.

The best comedy actor and actress prize went to Tim Allen and Jenna Elfman of Home Improvement and Dharma and Greg, while Fraiser won best comedy series. ER won best drama.

Blur's Tender comeback

Damon Albarn: Coming back with a more Tender sound

Blur are preparing for their comeback with low-key concerts this week.

The group release a new single, Tender, next month, to be followed by an album, 13.

On Saturday, they played to around 250 people at a secret fan club-only gig in Camden, London, and they play a sold-out show at Oxford Brookes University on Wednesday night.

The single marks another change of direction for the band, being produced by William Orbit - who guided Madonna's Ray Of Light album. It also features the London Community Gospel Choir.

Plunkett gets April release

Robert Carlyle: Back with Trainspotting co-star Jonny Lee Miller

With Shakespeare In Love doing great business at the box-office, film fans can look forward to a new British-made period movie with a decidedly modern twist.

Plunkett & Macleane - out on 2 April - stars Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller as 18th century highwaymen who set out to infiltrate wealthy society.

A 90s take on the classic Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, it is billed as an action-packed comedy adventure. Directed by Jake Scott, it co-stars Ken Stott, Liv Tyler and Michael Gambon.

Eagles fly high

The Eagles' 1971-75 Greatest Hits album has passed the 25 million sales mark in the US, tying with Michael Jackson's Thriller as the best-selling US album of all time.

The Bee Gees' 1977 album Saturday Night Fever is also going from strength to strength, according to the latest Recording Industry Association of America figures.