BBC pop show goes global

BBC pop show goes global

BBC music show Top Of The Pops is to be broadcast around the world on radio

The show will be broadcast on on the BBC World Service, to an audience of 42 million people.

BBC Radio 1 presenter Emma B will host the show which will count down the UK's biggest selling singles.

The TOTP television show, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2004, is already seen in 100 countries

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Russians stay top of UK charts

Teenage Russian pop duo Tatu are at the top of the UK singles chart for the fourth week running.

The Russian girls held on to the top spot with All The Things She Said, despite a challenge from Justin Timberlake - who made the front pages after his raunchy act with Kylie Minogue at the Brit Awards.

Timberlake moved up one place to number two with Cry Me A River.

Tatu's four-week reign at the top of the singles chart is the longest since reality TV band Girls Aloud stayed at number one for four weeks with Sound of the Underground.

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Hasselhoff in motorbike smash

Baywatch star David Hasselhoff and his wife have suffered broken bones after he lost control of their motorbike in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Strong winds were blamed for the crash, which threw the actor against a pole and his wife, actress Pamela Bach, into the road.

The couple were taken to UCLA Medical Centre where Hasselhoff, 50, was treated for a possible lower back fracture, a broken rib and cuts and bruises.

Bach, 39, was treated for a fractured ankle and broken wrist.

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New cable channel aimed at Hispanics

A new cable television channel aimed at US Hispanics will be launched in May.

Chicago-based Expresion channel will vie for viewers in a market led by Spanish-language broadcasters Univision Communications Inc and NBC's Telemundo.

US Hispanics have become a key target for advertisers looking for a way to reach a population of 37 million with an estimated annual spending power of more than $500bn (£310bn).

New York, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles, all of which have large Hispanic populations, are among the cities that will gain access to Expresion's signal first.

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Nelly cancels tour

Rapper Nelly has postponed his forthcoming UK tour because of a "personal matter".

The shows were supposed to take place next month but were put back until the autumn.

"Unfortunately, Nelly has had to postpone the tour due to an unforeseeable personal matter," promoters Clear Channel said.

Nelly, who has several Grammy nominations, has not toured the UK before.

His tour will include dates in London, Sheffield and Belfast.

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Grimm tale set for big screen

Matt Damon and Robin Williams are set to star in a fairytale adventure based on the stories of the Brothers Grimm.

The film, to be directed by former Monty Python Terry Gilliam, will see a group of folklore collectors travel around Germany pretending to protect villagers.

The movie will also star A Night's Tale actor Heath Ledger and Jonathan Pryce.

Lord of the Rings screenwriter Ehren Kruger has written the script and shooting is expected to begin in Prague in the summer.

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Bashir should tackle Gates

Interviewer Martin Bashir should tackle Microsoft boss Bill Gates for his next celebrity exposé, UK TV viewers have decided.

In a poll on Radio Times magazine's website, 37% of readers said Bashir - who recently interviewed Michael Jackson - should set his sights on Mr Gates next.

The multi-billionaire came ahead of Prime Minister Tony Blair, chosen by 27% of readers.

A further 18% said they would like to see the life of pop star Madonna scrutinised by Bashir.

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Branagh back on London stage

Actor Kenneth Branagh has announced that he is to return to the London stage for the first time in more than a decade.

Branagh, who has recently enjoyed renewed fame as Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, will star in David Mamet's Edmond at the National Theatre.

He started his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has been seen on stage elsewhere in the UK in recent years.

His London return will come in July and his new part is described as "as challenging a role as anything in contemporary theatre" by National Theatre director Nicholas Hytner.

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Hudson to host special effects Oscars

Actress Kate Hudson is to host a special Academy Awards ceremony for special effects ahead of the main Oscars ceremony.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards will give out prizes - including three Oscars statuettes - on 1 March.

Oscar winners will include production companies Alias/Wavefront and Panavision for their achievements with special effects.

Hudson, who is Goldie Hawn's daughter and was nominated for an Oscar for Almost Famous in 2001, will also present a special effects slot at the main Oscars ceremony on 23 March.