On the global Taff Trail

By Tom Bourton BBC News Online

Reading the news and the web in search for Welsh stars making headlines across the world.

If you've been living in a cave, you might have missed the fact that the third series of Big Brother has begun.

Anthony Hopkins could play Hannibal yet again

There may not be any Welsh contestants to follow, but last year's celebrity Helen Adams has been chipping in with her comments on the latest batch of wannabes.

In the News of the World, she revealed that she likes "gobby" Jade and thinks that Lee could be a "real softie".

She also admitted that Jonny was annoying her, and that Sandy is the best of the boys.

In a busy week for the bubbly blonde, Now magazine also had her gushing that the first day was her favourite in the house, and giving a simple piece of advice to the new contestants - "Expect the unexpected", she said.

Someone else who has been popping up all over the news is Anthony Hopkins, who has revealed he is getting his teeth stuck into playing a pope in his next movie.

From Hannibal to the Pope - click here.

Hopkins, from Port Talbot, plays Pope Pius IX, in Edgardo Mortara, which begins filming in Italy later this year.

The news comes as movie rumours website Corona unveiled teaser posters for Silence of the Lambs prequel, Red Dragon.

But it was rival site Ain't It Cool news that had a more interesting snippet - with the revelation that a sequel to Hannibal is allegedly in the pipeline.

Christian Bale stars in futuristic Equilibrium

According to an insider, Hopkins is due to star, alongside Julianne Moore as Clarice Starling, with Edward Norton also reappearing as Will Graham.

The industry source also said a second FBI agent would be hunting the cultured cannibal.

Speaking of psycopaths, the website for the new movie from American Psycho star Christian Bale is now live.

Set in the future, Equilibrium reveals a fascist world in which basic human rights have been cut - Bale, from Pembrokeshire, plays hero John Preston.

Summer gigs

In the music world, Pontypridd's Lostprophets, who recently scored chart success with The Fake Sound of Progress, are currently on a US tour - check out their diary updates online.

Wales-based fans need not worry though - the band will be back for the One Big Sunday concert in Swansea, south Wales on 16 June.

Will Young, Gareth Gates and Destiny's Child will also perform at the gig.

Another band preparing for summer concert are the Super Furry Animals, who will join Air and New Order at Finsbury Park in London on 9 June.

Charlotte Church is no scientist

But the start of the summer will be less exciting for teenage songbird Charlotte Church, who is taking seven GCSEs this year.

Her vocal prowess may have handed her worldwide recognition, but Charlotte is no scientist - she told MCelebs magazine she is not taking any science exams because she cannot do the practical tests.

Once the exams are over though, she has her eyes on the big screen, and admits that she has been in Los Angeles for meetings, although she said she would rather be in "a small British film than a big US movie".

On a sadder note, American act Alien Ant Farm have cancelled all their live plans, including a US tour, according to the NME website.

Earlier this week, all of the band were hospitalised after a tragic bus crash in Spain in which their driver from Swansea died.

Elsewhere, it was the end of an era as former Wales rugby coach Graham Henry put his house up for sale.

If you fancy taking it on, the Coach House between Cardiff and Newport will set you back a cool £445,000.