A controversial TV commercial showing paralysed actor Christopher Reeve "walking" fooled some people into believing he has been cured.

A spokesman from the National Spinal Cord Injury Association said: "We've received a number of phone calls from persons who are paralysed or their parents or relatives saying, 'What research institute did Mr Reeve got to in order to receive his cure?'"

The computer-faked ad, shown on US TV at the weekend, featured the former Superman actor walking at an imaginary awards ceremony.

The ad was immediately criticised for raising false hopes about a quick cure.

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EastEnders showdown

Viewers of TV soap EastEnders will be able to watch wrongly-jailed Matthew Rose try to wreak his revenge on killer Steve Owen in a sensational scrap in the Square on Thursday.

But the show's bosses are keeping a lid on the outcome of the tussle, which marks the last appearance of Matthew - played by Joe Absolom - before he leave the BBC soap for good.

A spokeswoman said: "Matthew holds Steve hostage in the E20 club but that is as much as we can say. Viewers will just have to wait and see."

Matthew was jailed last year for the murder of Steve's ex-girlfriend Saskia, whilst the guilty man, played by Martin Kemp, walked free.

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Sixth Sense leads Empire shortlist

Bruce Willis's supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense has emerged as the firm favourite for the UK's Empire Film Awards.

It is nominated in every one of the five categories for which it is eligible, including best film.

British films Notting Hill and Shakespeare in Love have four nominations each for the awards, which will be handed out on 17 February.

Organised by Empire magazine, these are the only UK film awards to be voted by cinemagoers.

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Opera house slashes ticket prices

Ticket prices for dozens of seats with restricted views at London's Royal Opera House will be slashed by up to 50% following complaints from customers.

From 16 February the public will be able to book cut-price tickets for 143 of the venue's 2,100 seats and could pay as little as £50 to see a top-notch production.

A spokesman said: "We've decided some of the seats were inappropriately priced for what their views were like."

The opera house already offers a number of cut-price tickets, including standing room in some shows, for as little as £2.

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Les Dennis returning to the West End

TV quiz host Les Dennis is to revive his stage career by appearing in the West End musical Chicago.

The Family Fortunes presenter will join the cast of the show at London's Adelphi Theatre on 14 February playing Amos Hart.

The 45-year-old last performed at the Adelphi in 1992 in Me And My Girl.

He replaces comic Norman Pace, of double act Hale and Pace.

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Quinn is McCartney's pen pal

Hollywood actor Aidan Quinn has been writing to Sir Paul McCartney asking for support for his role in a new TV film, in which he portrays the ex-Beatle.

The Legends Of The Fall star told USA Today: "I wanted him to know I wouldn't presume to be him."

The film tells the story of a fantasy reunion between McCartney and John Lennon six years after their break-up.

Quinn said after studying McCartney on video tape, he has come to "admire him"

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Jerry Lee Lewis in knife accident

Rock 'n' roll singer Jerry Lee Lewis spent a night in hospital after having an allergic reaction to a drug he was given after cutting his finger.

The 64-year-old star cut his finger with a knife at his Mississippi home on Tuesday, said his father-in-law Bob McCarver.

He was taken to hospital, when the nerve-numbing agent lidocaine caused "a bad reaction", said the hospital's communications director, Ruth Ann Hale.

Hale said Lewis was being kept overnight for observation and would probably be released Wednesday.

Lewis is best known for his 1950s hits such as Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On and Great Balls of Fire.

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'All Creatures' Timothy back as doctor

Former All Creatures Great and Small star Christopher Timothy is to return to TV in a new medical role as an inner city GP in Doctors, due on BBC One soon.

Timothy, who has previously blamed All Creatures for typecasting him, says that he's "thrilled to be involved with this new drama".

He's to play the senior partner in this new daytime series, known as The Practice for now.

The cast also includes former EastEnders actress Jacqui Leonard, who played Lorraine Wicks, and Mark Frost, who featured as Bruno in Brookside.