US rapper Eminem has been attacked by his grandmother for using his dead uncle's voice on a track - three months after his mother sued him for defamation.

Betty Kresin is upset that the performer, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, wants to use wants to use a rap tape he made 13 years ago with his uncle, Ronnie Polkingharn. Polkingharn died after an accidental shooting in 1991.

Ms Kresin told the Detroit News: "He's changed for the worse. He talks filthy to me and is angry and disrespectful. I don't know what's gotten into him.

"It gives me the creeps to think about it. I will not let my grandson destroy my dead son with this garbage.

"He's a bitter boy with sad songs who wants to make fame."

In September, his mother, Debbie Mathers-Briggs, started a $10 million action against him accusing him of inaccurately portraying her in public as a bad parent.

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Sir Cliff a no-show in Birmingham

Sir Cliff Richard has cancelled his Bank Holiday Monday concert in Birmingham after falling ill with flu.

The singer, who hit number one before Christmas with The Millennium Prayer, has been advised by his doctor not to perform at the National Indoor Arena, his agent Karon Maskill said.

He has been suffering from flu since Christmas Eve, and wanted to get fit for his New Year's Eve show, when he is also the special guest at Birmingham's millennium party, she added.

"He had this flu bug over Christmas and he wanted to make sure he was fit enough to perform on Millennium Eve.

"It is quite a big deal, so it is important that he is well," she said.

Sir Cliff is due to light a "flame of hope" in Centenary Square before his concert is broadcast to revellers shortly before midnight.

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Stone smashes into US cinema charts

Oliver Stone's American football drama Any Given Sunday topped the US box office charts over the Christmas weekend, according to industry estimates.

The film, which stars Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz and Dennis Quaid, grossed $14.2m between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. It has taken in $21.3m since it opened on Wednesday.

The English Patient director Anthony Minghella's new film, The Talented Mr Ripley, came in second on $13.8m. It stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon, who plays a social climber who gets his way through violent means.

But Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks box office sales across North America, said the film would have been top of the weekend box office if it opened on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day.

Jim Carrey's film about late comedian Andy Kaufman, Man On the Moon, opened in sixth place, while Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver's sci-fi spoof Galaxy Quest opened in eighth position.

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Chumbawamba lash out at Blair

Anarchist band Chumbawamba have lashed out at New Labour with a special single slamming Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Called Tony Blair, the song says the PM is a "liar" and a "hypocrite".

It will not be released in shops, but be given straight to Chumbawamba fans.

A spokesman for the band said: "It's something they wanted to get off their chests and get out to the fans."

The group, famed for their 1997 hit Tubthumping and for dumping water over John Prescott at an awards ceremony, have also sent copies to 10 Downing Street.

They are planning to release a new album in the New Year.

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Bulworth actress Berry is engaged

Bulworth star Halle Berry has got engaged to R 'n' B singer Eric Benet, two years after they met at one of his concerts in Los Angeles.

Berry's publicist, Patti Webster, said the two had been seeing each other for a year, and that no wedding date had yet been set.

The 33-year-old actress, who divorced baseball player David Justice in 1996, was nominated earlier this week for a Golden Globe for her part in the film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, in which she plays the the first black actress to win a Golden Globe.