Michael Jackson has reportedly pleaded with Eminem to join him for a musical collaboration.

According to The New York Daily News, Jackson is keen on working with the rap supremo but is yet to hear back from Eminem's people as to whether the offer has been accepted.

The news comes only months after Jacko declared an interest in working with Em's close friend 50 Cent, as well as fellow rapper Kanye West

Jacko was heavily mocked in Eminem's video for Just Lose It.

Quite a few of us have experienced spooky goings on...

And the lovely Shayne Ward has his own creepy story for the camp fire.

The X Factor star, 21, claims there was a ghost inside his brother Martin's house, which he heard, but never saw.

The story goes like this: "I believe in ghosts, I've experienced them. The last one was at Martin's house, which he shares with my other brother Mike.

"One morning I banged on the door and opened the letterbox to shout, 'It's me'.

"Martin's voice came back clear as a bell from upstairs, saying, 'OK, hang on, I'll be down in a minute.'

"At that point I turned round and saw someone walking down the street towards me. As he got closer, I recognised it as Martin.

"I was a bit shocked but thought it must have been Mike calling from upstairs, but he was out. We searched the house thoroughly - there was no one there.

"To this day we have no idea who the voice belonged to. It still sends a chill down my spine."

And ours, Shayne, and ours...

Which former soap star is busy trying to revive his career in various gay sauna clubs of dubious repute? This talentless chump has decided to take the casting couch route to success but is still falling flat all too literally because of his terrible social skills. Mind you he's not there for the small talk.

Teri Hatcher has admitted that watching the new Superman film made her long for her days as Lois Lane.

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Nicole Kidman has told pals that although she loved her honeymoon in Tahiti she's happier in Nashville.

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Toy giant Mattel offered to make a doll of Jennifer Aniston at the height of her Friends fame but she said no.

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Colin Farrell responded to calls about appearing in a Boyzone documentary by slamming down the phone. Seems he would rather his old life as a pop flop stay secret.

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Bruce Willis has revealed the key to his enduring looks - he never frets. He said: "I don't worry about anything especially not getting or looking old. I think that in itself can age you. I don't worry about losing my hair any more. Whats the point, its gone. Bye."

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Does Jesses Matcalf have a surpirse for Girls Aloud lover Nadine Coyle? During a trip to LA last week he sneaked off to a swanky jewellery store and was seen looking at rings.

Lucy-Jo Hudson and Alan Halsall are facing problems with their long-distance relationship.

The pair, who met on the set of Coronation Street, are currently living 6,000 miles apart while Hudson films a new series of Wild At Heart in South Africa.

Halsall, best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on the Street, left Lucy-Jo hurt and confused by refusing to fly out to visit her, despite having a two-week holiday from the soap.

A source on the set of Wild at Heart told The People, "When he called her in between scenes with the news of his holiday she was elated but the producers soon became worried when they saw her break down on the phone.

"What followed was a furious bust-up with Lucy telling Alan he obviously didn't care that much about her if he couldn't be bothered to come and see her. Lucy was in tears and at one point she even suggested it was time to finish the relationship."

Following the bust-up, Alan has changed his mind and will visit his girlfriend after all. He insisted, "I am going to see Lucy-Jo later this month. Everything is fantastic between us."

Beyoncé Knowles is on the shortlist to play grizzled protest singer .

The 'Bootlicious' singer is one of several black female stars being considered to play Dylan in a biopic of his life after the director, Todd Haynes, announced he was searching for a woman to do justice to the white Jewish singer's "inner blackness".

Seven actors - including the black woman - will portray Dylan during different eras in his 43-year career, starting in the 1960s when his song, 'The Times They Are Changin' became an anti-war anthem.

Other female stars in line to play Dylan include tennis champion Venus Williams and TV presenter Oprah Winfrey.

Although it is quite common in film biopics for characters to be played by more then one actor, it is extremely rare for them to change sex or race. Haynes, whose previous work has earned him an Oscar nomination, says he wants to hire various actors to take on the role as Dylan was "too complex" to be played by a conventional actor.

He added: "I am setting out to explode the idea that anybody can be depicted in a single self."

However, producers at Paramount, who will make the film, are not entirely convinced the bold move will pay off.

One said: Dylan has always acknowledged his debt to blues gospel, but critics may say there are other ways of celebrating the African-American musical heritage.

Todd is, however, a serious film maker and we are confident that he will treat it all with respect. We hope."

Sources confirm exclusively that former Spice Girl Melanie B. (Scary Spice) and funny man Eddie Murphy are dating.

"They've been lying low and trying to keep it quiet, but they are definitely an item," multiple friends of the couple confirm to us.

"Pirates" sequel sets new record at box office

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" set a new record for the highest opening in box office history on Sunday, smashing the four-year-old record held by "Spider-Man," said distributor Walt Disney Co.

The widely hyped family adventure sequel, marking the return of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, sold an estimated $132 million worth of tickets in its first three days of release across North America, easily surpassing industry expectations of an opening in the $100 million range.

The old three-day mark of $115 million was set by "Spider-Man" in May 2002.

Additionally, the "Pirates" haul of $55.5 million during its first day of release on Friday set a new record for a single day, beating the $50 million earned on a Thursday in May 2005 by "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith."

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Ship from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' to visit Bay City

BAY CITY, Mich. Bay City's Tall Ship Celebration will feature a visit from the Sloop Providence.

The ship has a role as the Black Pearl in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest."

The Providence (Rhode Island)-based ship is one of 13 that will be in Bay City on July 20th for the festival. It was filmed as a pirate ship and merchant ship for the Disney movie, which stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.

The sequel to the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" film arrived in theaters yesterday.

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London After-Party Gossip

ORLANDO BLOOM and his Pirates Of The Caribbean co-stars were distinctly un-jolly rogers at the after-party of their film’s premiere.

Disney had spent £400,000 recreating the film’s pirate ship as the setpiece of the bash at London’s Billingsgate Market.

But their pieces of silver couldn’t buy the enthusiasm of their A-list stars.

Orlando, who plays daring swordsman Will Turner in Dead Man’s Chest, had to be dragged to the party from posh eatery The Ivy — where he had been dining with Lost star Evangeline Lilly, Rafe Spall, Karl Urban and former Blue singer Lee Ryan.

Orlando and co-stars Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley were supposed to arrive at the bash by high-speed boat.

But at the last minute, all three lost their sea legs and refused to take to the perilous waters of the Thames.

Still, other guests got into the spirit and had a hearty old party, including Kelly Brook and Mischa Barton.

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Depp Likes Red Whine

Johnny Depp refused to turn up to the Pirates premiere on Monday unless his No1 red wine was supplied. So four crates of Chateau Calon Segur 1970 - £80 a bottle were ordered for Johnny. The other stars were allowed to drink the same wine but only from years 1995 and 1997. No wonder Keira Knightley described her co-star as fuddy-duddyish. Who wouldn't be after guzzling all that posh wine?

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Depp Honoured In Paris

JOHNNY DEPP was awarded Paris' highest honour when he premiered his PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN sequel in the French capital on Thursday night. The movie hunk was presented with the Grand Medaille de Vermeil by Paris Mayor BERTRAND DELANOE. The honour is awarded to those who demonstrate devotion to the city. Proud Depp, who attended the premiere with his French girlfriend VANESSA PARADIS, said, "This country itself, the city itself has been very kind to me. It introduced me to my beautiful girl Vanessa, gave me two beautiful kids - (it) doesn't get better than that."

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Thigh Aye, Cap'n

We salute Johnny Depp and girlfriend Vanessa Paradis for being the coolest couple in showbiz.

The hunk, 43, stepped out with Vanessa, 33, at the French premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean. And speaking in her native French, Vanessa giggled and admitted she thinks Johnny makes a cracking Captain in the film.

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A Pirates Dinner

Pirates Of The Caribbean star Johnny Depp stepped out for dinner at London's San Lorenzo in a flaky green leather jacket, fedora and shades, and must be the only man who could get away with this look.

Johnny, 43, was out with girlfriend Vanessa Paradis and pals Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Cole Hauser, Joanna Krupa and Scott Caan.

Paradis, 33, shined in a sophisticated navy strapless dress paired with a sapphire and diamond necklace while pregnant Krupa, 25, was fashion perfection yet again. The model looked stunning in a two-tone Roberto Cavalli dress.

Madame Tussauds has unveiled a waxwork of Captain Jack Sparrow. It's one of the best we've seen - unlike the one of his co-star Keira Knightley.

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Lost Stars Told To Get Lost

Lost stars Maggie Grace and Daniel Dae Kim were told to get lost when they tried to drag Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom out of the VIP area at the after-party.

Blonde bombshell Maggie, 23, and Kim, 37, were miffed the hunky stars refused to mingle.

Maggie said: "Everyone wanted to see Johnny and Orlando."

But they were rewarded by being frogmarched out of the swish section.

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Knightley Says Bloom and Depp are her ideal men

Keira Knightley has confessed that her co-stars Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are her ideal men.

Speaking at the after party for the Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest premiere the lucky lass told us about the moment she got to kiss Depp, 43, she said: "It was hilarious. I was there thinking, 'I am kissing Johnny Depp.'

"But in all truth he is a bit like an older brother to me. If I could have a mixture of Johnny and Orlando that would be ideal - a bit of the nice guy and bit of the bad boy - that would be good."

Meanwhile, Keira has persuaded Depp to play the fool for charidee. He's all set to join her in a sprint for Sport Relief - which has its big UK day on July 15 - dressed in full pirate regalia. Keira's been running daily to be ship-shape for the greater good.

The movie babe's signed up for an event next month and with Depp alongside her in his full Jack Sparrow gear.

"I'm not sure when it is," the hunk explained. But I'm worried, I'm not fit at all."

Which well-known football star is sending exlicit texts to a girl who works in his local supermarket? The player in question leaves his wife at home while he goes in to chat up the girl who scans his shopping. Apparently she's so disgusted she might quit her job.

A phone conversation between Sir Paul McCartney and his daughter Stella has been secretly bugged.

In the private call, Stella apparently criticises stepmother Heather Mills, informing her father that she believes Mills "lied about her past". The comment follows reports that Heather once worked as a prostitute, a claim which she has furiously denied.

A recording of the conversation has been passed on to Heather by a third party - resulting in her confronting Paul with the tape last week.

"Nobody on Paul's side has any idea how these tapes have fallen into Heather's hands," a friend told the newspaper. "But Paul is absolutely furious at the leak. He can't believe private phone calls of his have been bugged. It is a massive breach of security for him - and it makes him feel completely ill-at ease."

The former Beatles singer has always denied that there is a rift between his family and his second wife - last year he insisted that they "get on great".

McCartney and Mills announced that they were divorcing in May this year.

Kate Moss and Sadie Frost are at the centre of a furious holiday feud.

The pair have flown out to the Maldives for a break with their respective friends, however both have realised that their ideas on how to have fun are very different. While Moss and her pals wish to party as much as possible, Frost and her group want a healthy, relaxing break.

"Their girly break has turned into chaos and one big argument the moment they stepped off the plane," a source told the Sunday Mirror. "Sadie has been screaming at Kate, telling her to grow up. And Kate has been screaming back at Sadie non-stop. They are returning this week, but Kate's gang have been saying it'll be a miracle if they don't kill each other before then!"

Frost, who has been getting up early for daily runs and yoga sessions, is believed to have taken offence when Moss claimed that their holiday island is "far too dull".

"Sadie was furious," the insider revealed. "She told Kate's gang to stop moaning all the time, act their age and behave like mothers. Kate's camp then told Sadie's camp they're becoming self-righteous and dull. It got very heated. Being trapped on the island together has made it even worse."

GIRLS ALOUD are to split.

The five-piece girl band, who scored two No1 singles and two Top Ten albums, will go their separate ways next year following a string of furious rows.

A source close to the girls said: "They just don't talk at all — it's over for them. There's always been a rift in the band.

"Nadine and Cheryl don't talk, there is no communication. There's also a rift between Sarah and the others."

Nadine and Cheryl's problems are thought to be the last straw for the band, who have just finished their sell-out UK tour.

The source added: "Nadine has been saying that Cheryl thinks she's VICTORIA BECKHAM, especially after hanging around with Posh during the World Cup.

"And the other girls reckon Cheryl feels that she's above them — they don't think her heart is in the band any more."

The revelation comes after Cheryl spent the summer with the England WAGs in Germany, where fiancé ASHLEY COLE, 25, was playing in the World Cup.

While there, it was clear that she became bosom buddies with former captain DAVID BECKHAM's wife Victoria, 32.

CHERYL TWEEDY, 23, NICOLA ROBERTS, 20, KIMBERLEY WALSH, 24, NADINE COYLE, 21, and SARAH HARDING, 24, shot to fame after winning ITV's reality talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.

But now the most successful female band since the SPICE GIRLS will release their last album — a Greatest Hits compilation.

The source said: "They will split next year.

"They've decided to go their separate ways because things have got so bad between them. They keep trying to outdo each other and it's got ridiculous."

Abi Clancy watched boyfriend Peter Crouch score a hat-trick for England then sneaked off for a night of lust with a builder.

As HE was celebrating the goals against Jamaica with his famous robodance, SHE was plotting a sex session with an ex-lover behind his back.

Wannabe model and singer Abi, 20, confessed her cheating AND her huge cocaine habit to Crouch hours before the vital World Cup game with Trinidad and Tobago.

Rumours emerged that there were pictures of her bingeing on mounds of cocaine at a party, crudely exposing her breasts as blobs of the drug hung from her nose.

Crouch, 25, FORGAVE her, then went on to score the goal that took England through the group stages.

She made a grovelling apology to his father Bruce, who immediately ordered her back to England.

Abi, who'd been bankrolled with thousands of pounds by Crouch to enjoy herself with the other WAGs at their luxury hotel in Baden-Baden, flew home in disgrace.

But within hours, the coke-fiend blonde was cheating on him AGAIN with the same ex-boyfriend.

A Crouch pal said last night: "He expected her at least to behave herself after all that. This new betrayal will be a huge blow."

Abi was seen cheering in the stands with Posh, Coleen McLoughlan and the other WAGs five weeks ago as she watched the 6-0 World Cup warm-up win over Jamaica at Old Trafford, Manchester.

But the next day she rushed to the arms of her lover Ben Lunt, 23.

The builder picked her up from her parents' house and took her to his home in Tue Brook, Merseyside, for a night of passion.

Abi emerged around 7.20am the next day and got a taxi home. Friends say Ben had no idea she was also going out with the beanpole Liverpool striker until he read it in a newspaper afterwards.

A close friend revealed: "Ben was gobsmacked.

"He didn't even know Abi had been to the Jamaica game. She had been secretly dating Peter for months, but had done her best to keep it quiet so she could see Ben too.

"She even turned down an invitation to Posh and Becks' pre-World Cup party in case she was photographed with Peter. Ben confronted her after reading the stories but Abi denied it. Then she went to Germany to support Peter at the World Cup. He was devastated."

Abi spent her time partying and shopping with the other WAGs— wives and girlfriends—in Baden-Baden. She was welcomed with open arms by fellow Scousers Coleen and Alex Curran.

But they gave her the cold shoulder after they heard about pictures of her taking cocaine.

Some, snapped two years ago, show the drug around her nose. Others—taken just before she met the Liverpool star—are more graphic.

They show Abi spooning cocaine into her nose with a HOUSE KEY to get high.

In one snap there is cocaine residue on her hand after she's wiped her nose and in another she looks heavily under the influence of the Class A drug.

The pictures were taken at a dance musical festival in Liverpool in August last year. One onlooker recalled: "Abi was really bubbly that night, a real whirlwind.

"Suddenly she had this wrap of cocaine in her hand. There looked like a gram, worth about 60 quid. She was being very open about it, she did not give a t*ss who saw her. She used a key to snort it. I don't know if she realised she was having her picture taken by someone on a mobile phone."

Another source said: "Peter's parents heard about the cocaine and they were furious.

"They were horrified at him being associated with someone who takes drugs and they feared it would distract him from doing his job for England in Germany."

After being sent home, Abi—who is due to star in the next series of Britain's Next Top Model starting on July 24—flew straight to London for crisis talks with her management about how to save her career.

But after a number of photo-shoots she returned to her native Liverpool—and the arms of her former lover Ben.

While Crouch was training and giving interviews to the press in Germany on Thursday, June 22, Abi and Ben met up at a bar where they shocked revellers by kissing and holding hands.

They went for a meal at the Shangri-La Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar before booking a room at Sir Thomas Hotel nearby.

They emerged from the hotel looking dishevelled and in the same clothes at around 11 the next morning. An eyewitness said: "No one could get over the way they were behaving in the bar.

"Everyone knew she's supposed to be going out with Peter Crouch, but she was all over Ben.

"At one point a girl went over and told her she was a slut for messing around behind Peter's back.

"The pair of them started shouting at each other, but Ben went over and rescued Abi.

"They were literally all over each other. She was wearing a little silver dress and he kept rubbing his hand across her back. She looked stunning and the lad couldn't resist her."

Abi has always wanted to be famous and she'll do anything to get there. She doesn't care who she hurts.

Now she's in serious trouble. She is damaged goods and will find it hard to get modelling jobs.

The Velvet Underground’s eponymous LP has been named the best debut album ever.
The New York art band topped a list compiled by British music magazine Uncut to find top 100 debut albums of all-time.

The Velvet Underground, fronted Lou Reed, narrowly beat Television and The Jimi Hendrix Experience to the number one spot.

The Clash, Led Zeppelin and Joy Division were all in the top ten.

Arctic Monkeys were the most recent band to make the list.

The Sheffield rockers’ album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not’ placed at number 30.

Matthew Perry and sitcom creator extraordinaire Darren Star had a little tiff over the weekend over some saved seats at a movie theater.

Page Six reports that Star went with a friend and the friend's niece and nephew to the Century City multiplex to watch "Superman Returns" and found four seats blocked off with tape, as is the custom at a film's premiere-except that this wasn't a premiere.

When Star asked why the seats were reserved, cinema employees said it was for Matthew Perry, who Star subsequently confronted in the theater's lobby about the seat-saving. Perry wouldn't budge, so Star had to move his group.

Perry, through his rep, replied cheekily: "I really enjoyed the movie, although it is slightly implausible that a man can fly."

The All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game will be worth watching just to see what Sarah Silverman has to say about, well, anything.

Of course, you might want to hide those who prefer a safer brand of comedy.

Silverman, one of America's hottest politically incorrect comics, will headline a cast of celebrities coming to Pittsburgh for event at PNC Park on July 9.

Known for her daring and blue standup routines, Silverman will join boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" as the headliners among the famous faces.

Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski will participate, along with fellow former Pirates Dave Parker and Bill Madlock. NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris will also play.

Other celebrities will include: Danny Masterson ("That 70s Show"), Rob Reiner ("All in the Family"), Leeann Tweeden (FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period"), Marcus Giamatti ("Judging Amy"), James Denton ("Desperate Housewives"), Carlos Bernard ("24"), musician Cowboy Troy, Tony Potts ("Access Hollywood"), X-Games athletes Dave Mirra and Carey Hart and Trevor Morgan ("Chasing 3000").

Additional baseball legends will include: Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter and Rollie Fingers, and past stars Andre Dawson, Fred Lynn, Harold Reynolds, Goose Gossage, Tommy John and John Kruk.