McCartney helps abused chimp

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has pledged $8,000 (£4,900) to fly an abused circus chimpanzee out of Chile to spend its days in an sanctuary in Zambia.

Toto was smuggled out of Africa 23 years ago by the Koning circus and forced to smoke, drink alcohol and act like a boxer for the show.

He was kept in a tiny cage and shackled in chains until a Chilean court ruled he should be sent to a Zambian wildlife orphanage following a complaint from a circus spectator about the conditions seven years ago.

Sir Paul's donation, through the British charity Animal Defenders, will ensure Toto will live out his days at the shelter which looks after 80 mistreated chimps and other animals.

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Soccer tournament sees So Solid victorious

So Solid Crew beat defending champions Westlife in the men's final of the Celebrity Soccer Six charity event at Upton Park in London on Sunday.

Around 12,000 fans also saw Mis-Teeq win the women's event, beating Six Bombs - a soap star sextet including some of the actors from Hollyoaks.

Catalina Guirado who failed to impress TV viewers on I'm A Celebrity - pulled out, claiming to be too tired.

However, fellow contestant Danniella Westbrook found the energy to take part.

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Bing Crosby fans gather for centenary

Bing Crosby fans gathered in the US to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the singer's birth at the weekend.

At least a dozen fans from the UK were among the hundreds who travelled to Gonzaga University in Washington state, where Crosby studied as a young man.

Bing's grandson Steven Crosby said the late star - who died in 1977 - has always had a large following in the UK.

"He had a very quick sense of humour, a dry sense of humour," he said. "The British are that way, too."

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Polanksi heads US festival jury

Award-winning director Roman Polanski will head the jury of the Deauville American Film Festival which is a showcase for independent films.

The 10-day festival in September, near the French town of Normandy, is also seen as a shop window for new and exciting talent.

Polanksi, who cannot enter the US because of an outstanding statutory rape charge, won a best director Oscar in 2003 for holocaust drama The Pianist.

He has previously chaired the Cannes jury and the Venice Mostra festival panel.

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Critics praise Hairspray

The Broadway musical Hairspray has won 10 Drama Desk Awards, dominating the 48th annual honours handed out by press covering New York theatre.

Based on John Waters' 1988 camp movie, Hairspray won best musical, while previous unknown Marissa Jaret Winokur took the best actress prize.

Harvey Fierstein, who plays her mother in the show, shared the best actor gong with Antonio Banderas for Nine.

Nine, Long Day's Journey into Night and La Boheme each won three awards.

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Harry Hill takes to the airwaves

Comic Harry Hill has been signed up to host his own Sunday morning radio show on Capital FM.

The surreal funnyman, whose TV show has just won a Montreaux TV festival best new comedy prize, will present a programme he has called Funch.

Hill said: "I've taken over the brunch slot and I'm combining it with fun to create a whole new experience - funch."

Hill is the latest in a line of comics to be given their own radio shows following in the footsteps of Ricky Gervais on Xfm, Jonathan Ross on BBC Radio 2 and Phill Jupitus on digital station 6Music.

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Daytime Emmys honour old favourites

Long-running US soap General Hospital celebrated its 40th anniversary by winning three awards at the Daytime Emmys.

Maurice Benard won best actor while Vanessa Marcil was named best supporting actress to add to the award won by the writing team.

As the World Turns, which has been running since 1956, claimed its fourth best drama series Emmy at the event in New York.

Perennial favourite Jeopardy! was a double winner as it was named best game show while Alex Trebek collected the best game show host award.