Fiennes treads the boards

Film star Ralph Fiennes has returned to the London stage to portray a wimpish king.

Fiennes, 37, made his debut performance in Shakespeare's Richard II in front of a star-studded audience including Glenn Close and Donald Sutherland.

The End Of The Affair actor's partner Francesca Annis was also present at the legendary Gainsborough studios in north London.

Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) star Emilia Fox and film actor Linus Roache also star in the production.

---

Grant and Firth 'sign for Diary'

British film stars Hugh Grant and Colin Firth are to star in the big screen version of Helen Fielding's best-selling novel, Bridget Jones' Diary, according to reports.

The two stars are to play the love rivals of actress Renee Zellweger, of Jerry Maguire fame, according to industry newspaper Variety.

But it is Firth, star of Shakespeare In Love, who will take the romantic lead when they start filming this month.

First-time director Sharon Maguire will helm the Working Title production.

---

Adviser jailed after arrest

Celebrity financial adviser Dana Giacchetto has been jailed pending trial on charges of stealing clients' money.

Giacchetto was arrested at Newark airport after federal agents found him in possession of "suspicious items".

These included 80 airline tickets for various international destinations, a bag of cash and an expired passport.

The financial guru, whose clients include Leonardo DiCaprio, could face 10 years in prison if convicted.

---

Schwimmer calls BBC to deny story

Actor David Schwimmer has denied a newspaper report that the show's cast wanted $1m (£625,000) per episode.

He was angered by reports that the stars wanted to raise their current salary from $95,000 (£60,000) per show.

Schwimmer, who is in London to shoot a film called Band Of Brothers, called the the BBC's London Live radio station to refute the claims.

"When I hear figures like that I get a little upset," Schwimmer told presenters Clare McDonnell and Paul Ross.

"It reflects poorly on the cast. People get this idea that we are this group of spoilt actors demanding ridiculous amounts of money. It's all rumour."

---

Another Street star leaves

Coronation Street star Paul Fox, alias Mike Baldwin's son Mark, is to leave the soap in the autumn, after only being on the show for a few months.

While he has been in the soap, Mark Baldwin has been involved in a secret affair with his dad's girlfriend, Linda Sykes, played by Jacqueline Pirie.

An explosive finale has been planned for his character.

A Granada Television spokeswoman said: "There's only so long that you can sleep with your father's fiancee without getting found out - and when you get found out you're not going to stick around."

Fox joins a string of high-profile departures over the coming months. Others leaving include Ian Mercer (Gary Mallett) and Martin Hancock (Spider).