THE man who ended Tom Cruise's 14-year-relationship with Paramount Pictures says he was influenced in the shock decision by his wife, because she and "women everywhere" had started to hate the star.

Viacom boss Sumner Redstone stunned Hollywood earlier this year when he revealed that the studio would sever its ties with the actor's production company, accusing him of "creative suicide" with his outlandish behaviour.

Now the outspoken 83-year-old has told Vanity Fair it was his wife Paula who turned on Cruise first.

"Paula, like women everywhere, had come to hate him," Redstone said. "The truth of the matter is, I did listen to her, but I make business decisions myself."

The split between Paramount and Cruise/Wagner Productions came after months of negative publicity for Cruise, much of it focused on incidents such as his famous couch-jumping appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show.

He also used NBC's Today show to attack Brooke Shields over her use of anti-depressants for postnatal depression after the birth of her first child.

Redstone defended his decision not to renew Paramount's deal with Cruise, saying again that he had embarrassed the studio and cost it millions of dollars.

"When did I decide?" he asked Vanity Fair. "I don't know. When he was on the Today show? When he was jumping on a couch at Oprah? He changed his handler, you know, to his sister - not a good idea.

"His behaviour was entirely unacceptable to Paula, and to the rest of the world. He didn't just turn one (woman) off.

"He turned off all women, and a lot of men ... He was embarrassing the studio.

"And he was costing us a lot of money. We felt he cost us $US100 million ($130 million), $US150 million ($195 million) on Mission: Impossible III.

"It was the best picture of the three, and it did the worst." Cruise's business partner, Paula Wagner, disputed Redstone's version of events at the time, saying negotiations on a new contract had simply fizzled out.

The stars were out in full force at the after party for Justin Timberlake's new William Rast clothing line launch at Social Hollywood.

Justin's friends were there to "represent" for the Grammy winning singer's latest endeavor during LA Fashion Week.

Paris and Nicky Hilton shared a table with some friends. Nicky didn't look too thrilled, possibly because she had just heard a report that Kevin Connolly, her beau of two years, was cheating on her with an 18-year-old.

Kevin Federline strolled into Les Deux with a few male friends, a bodyguard and a group of girls. There was heavy drinking, with many bottles of vodka and whiskey at their table. Of course, there was no Britney.

Later that night Jamie Foxx showed up with a male pal and a flock of girls swarmed to his table.

Brody Jenner got into a heated argument at Les Deux with an unidentified male and they almost came to blows before girlfriend Lauren Conrad stepped between the boys and told everybody to smarten up.

The immature boys listened and the fight was over.

And in New York:

Drew Barrymore showed up at the Hennessy Artistry event at Capitale - where boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti's band, The Strokes, was performing - and gushed to a fellow partygoer, "I am so excited because my boyfriend is up on stage!"

Ivanka Trump has squashed rumors she's with Lance Armstrong with even stranger rumors that she's with Topher Grace. She celebrated her 25th birthday in Las Vegas over the weekend and reportedly spent Saturday night with Topher.

They canoodled on the balcony during dinner at Social House with a group including Grace's former co-star Wilmer Valderrama. Then, at nightclub Pure, they closed the curtains around their private table for a half-hour. The couple "never left each other's sides," said our source.

Van Halen is trying to make their biggest "jump" yet — into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with potential 2007 classmates such as R.E.M., Chic, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

All are among the nine nominees for enshrinement in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. A panel of 500 industry experts will select five to be inducted at the annual ceremony, to be held March 12 in New York City.

To be eligible, artists must have issued a first single or album at least 25 years prior to nomination.

Van Halen and R.E.M. came from opposite sides of the 1980s rock 'n' roll spectrum. Led by cartoonish frontman David Lee Roth and fleet-fingered guitarist Eddie Van Halen, the California quartet was a hard rock favorite with songs like "Jump" and "Hot for Teacher." R.E.M., meanwhile, was the quintessential indie rock band until breaking through to mass success in the early 1990s.

Grandmaster Flash led the most innovative act in early hip-hop, and the song "The Message" was like a letter from urban America.

Chic, a funk group led by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, were one of the few acts to dominate the disco era and emerge with their reputation intact through songs such as the wedding band favorite "Good Times."

Other nominees include Patti Smith, the punk rock poet who recently presided over the closing of New York's legendary CBGB nightclub; British invader the Dave Clark Five; Phil Spector favorites the Ronettes; soul singer Joe Tex; and the Stooges, early home of Iggy Pop.

Bob Barker is heading toward his last showcase, his final "Come on down." The silver-haired daytime-TV icon is retiring in June, he told The Associated Press Tuesday.

"I will be 83 years old on December 12," he said, "and I've decided to retire while I'm still young."

He'll hang up his microphone after 35 years as the host of "The Price Is Right" and 50 years overall in television.

Though he has been considering retirement for "at least 10 years," Barker said he has so much fun doing the show that he hasn't been able to leave.
"I've gone on and on and on to this ancient age because I've enjoyed it," he said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm going to miss it."

Reaching dual milestones, 50 years on television and 35 with "Price," made this an "appropriate" time to retire, Barker said. Besides, hosting the daily CBS program — in which contestants chosen from the crowd "come on down" to compete for "showcases" that include trips, appliances and new cars — is "demanding physically and mentally," he said.

"I'm just reaching the age where the constant effort to be there and do the show physically is a lot for me," he said. "I might be able to do the show another year, but better (to leave) a year too soon than a year too late."

Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corporation, said Barker has left an enduring mark on the network, calling his contribution and loyalty "immeasurable."

"We knew this day would come, but that doesn't make it any easier," Moonves said in a statement. "Bob Barker is a daytime legend, an entertainment icon and one of the most beloved television personalities of our time."

Barker began his national television career in 1956 as the host of "Truth or Consequences." He first appeared on "Price" on Sept. 4, 1972 and has been the face of the show ever since.

A CBS prime-time special celebrating the show's longevity and Barker's five decades on TV was already under way, a network spokesman said.
To kick off his retirement, Barker said he will "sit down for maybe a couple of weeks and find out what it feels like to be bored." Then he plans to spend time working with animal-rights causes, including his own DJ&T Foundation, founded in memory of his late wife, Dorothy Jo, and mother, Matilda.

He said he'd take on a movie role if the right one came along, but filmmakers, take note: "I refuse to do nude scenes. These Hollywood producers want to capitalize on my obvious sexuality, but I don't want to be just another beautiful body."

Freemantle Media, which owns "Price," has been looking for Barker's replacement for "two or three years," Barker said. And he has some advice for whoever takes the job: learn the show's 80 games backwards and forward.

"The games have to be just like riding a bicycle," Barker said. "Then he will be relaxed enough to have fun with the audience, to get the laughs with his contestants and make the show more than just straight games, to make it a lot of fun."

As for his fans, Barker said he "doesn't have the words" to express his gratitude.

"From the bottom of my heart, I thank the television viewers, because they have made it possible for me to earn a living for 50 years doing something that I thoroughly enjoy. They have invited me into their homes daily for a half a century."

But when it comes to saying his final TV goodbye, Barker said he'll do it the same way he does each day on "Price": "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."

Which actress is taking Thai "diet" pills to shed weight? But the actress - who is far from fat - is giving herself severe heart pains in the process and is suffering memory loss. If she paid more attention to learning her lines instead of being vain she'd be better off.

Kevin Federline has cancelled one of the first concerts of his promotional tour for his debut album.

The budding rapper, the husband of Britney Spears, was due to play at the House of Blues, in Cleveland, on November 9 but cancelled on Friday (27.10.06) giving no explanation.

Kevin's album, 'Playing with Fire' goes on sale tomorrow.

The former backing dancer's debut as a rap artist has been heavily criticised.

Britney has even tried to help out her husband by persuading her own fans to support his debut album release.

Paris Hilton enjoyed an 18-hour partying marathon dressed as a bunny girl.

The hotel heiress visited seven different weekend Halloween parties in a raunchy rabbit outfit.
Paris' first stop was Hollywood's Spider Club, where she danced for 20 minutes before moving on to the next hotspot.

A source said: "She had no awareness of people staring at her silly outfit. She just kept moving from one place to the next.

She was with a couple of girlfriends and by the time they got to Teddy's club at the Roosevelt Hotel, they were all seriously steamy on the dancefloor and the guys were watching their every move."

While strutting her stuff in one club, Paris began hopping around like a bunny and laughing hysterically.

At 3am the 25-year-old went to a friend's party in the Hollywood hills, but only stayed for an hour. At 4am she headed to the Standard bar followed by the Beverly Hill Hotel and the Hyatt West.

At 8am - when most people are heading to work - Paris and a male friend went to a drive-through takeaway and ordered 21 burgers.

According to sources, they "couldn't stop laughing as they ate them in the car lot".

By 9am Paris was heading home - but not to bed. After 20 minutes she ventured out again looking refreshed and wide awake.

The source added: "She must have changed, showered and freshened up because she emerged looking as fresh as a daisy, all ready to go to a photo shoot."

Martial art experts Jackie Chan and Jet Li are to face off in a new family-friendly action film.

The film will tell the story of the monkey king and his quest to find immortality. Li will play the monkey king, whereas Chan is set to play the part of a monk named T'sa Ho.

Both stars have previously expressed interest in starring in a production together and fighting each other.

Jackie Chan is currently filming Rush Hour 3 and simultaneously lending his voice to the animated feature, Kung Fu Panda.

Filming is set to start next April.

Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys picked up two awards a piece at this year's Q awards.

The Manchester band were honoured with the Best Act In The World Today award, while Noel Gallagher won the Classic Songwriter prize.

The Arctic Monkeys added the Best Album and People's Choice Award to last month's Mercury Prize.

The other big winners were U2, who claimed the most innovative title, as well as a one-off honour for being the 'band of bands'. The special mention was a result of the band receiving the most votes since the inception of the Q awards.

Muse took the Best Live Act accolade, and The Who were the winners of the Q Legend Award.

Indie rock band Killers have announced the dates for their UK tour, starting in February next year.

The arena tour will see the band playing to audiences larger than they ever have.

The Killers are set to embark on a smaller tour next month, which sold out in a matter of minutes.

Tickets for next year's tour go on sale on Friday, November 3 at midday.

The dates in full:
February 16 - Sheffield, Hallam FM Arena
February 17 - Manchester, MEN Arena
February 18 - Birmingham, NEC
February 20 - Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
February 21 - Aberdeen, P&J Arena
February 22 - Glasgow, SECC
February 24 - London, Wembley
February 25 - London, Wembley
March 3 - Brighton, Centre
March 4 - Nottingham, Arena
March 5 - Cardiff, CIA

Anna Nicole Smith has given her first interview since the tragic death of her twenty year old son last month.

Daniel Wayne was found dead in his mother's hospital room just hours after she had given birth to her baby daughter Dannilyn. He died from a cocktail of drugs in his system.

According to Entertainment Tonight, Smith has virtually become a prisoner in her own home.

A reporter for the US TV show wrote, "...the fear of constant paparazzi attention keeps Anna and her support team locked up, blinds drawn and constantly aware that prying eyes are trying to snap photos."

The ex-model reportedly remains calm throughout the interview but "crumbles like a house of cards, tears pouring out of her eyes" when asked about her son.

The interview will be broadcast on Thursday, October 2.

Robbie Williams has apologised to Liam Gallagher for writing a song that ridiculed the Oasis frontman.

The secret track, which features on Robbie's new album Rudebox, berates Gallagher and calls him an inbred.

Noel Gallagher said at the Q Awards: "I haven't heard the album - I doubt I ever will - apparently that's the best track on it.

"He [Robbie] sent this note to our office claiming he didn't know it was on the album. He can fuck right off. I don't give a fuck what he thinks and I don't give a fuck about him."

Williams' album got to number one in this week's chart.

Martine McCutcheon had her handbag stolen from her whilst sitting in her car, according to reports.

The Love, Actually actress was shopping in London last week when the alleged incident took place. A friend of McCutcheon's told the Daily Mirror: "As soon as she got in [the car], he jumped in the passenger side. He grabbed her leg and for a moment she had no idea what he was going to do."

The robber, believed to be a tall white man, subsequently snatched her handbag and fled from the car. Two men gave chase, but to no avail.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed: "Officers in Kensington and Chelsea are investigating an allegation of robbery on a 30-year-old woman which allegedly took place on the King's Road at 5pm on October 25. No arrests have been made and inquiries are continuing."

Cheryl Tweedy has expressed her regret that her rivalry with Charlotte Church was able to get as far as it did.

The Girls Aloud member believes the pair actually have a lot in common, and thinks things were blown out of proportion by the tabloid media. However, she admits she wouldn't go as far as to say they like each other.

Madonna has taken newly adopted son David Banda with her to New York.

The singer is travelling to the US for a series of interviews, and has decided to take David for his first trip to the country.

Madonna will appear on many of the major TV networks during her visit, including the possibility of a CNN interview.

Barbara Charone, her press agent, confirmed the details: "She will be in New York a few days promoting her book and an NBC special on her world tour this year."

Victoria Beckham was spotted in two different (but stylish) outfits yesterday around town. 32-year-old Victoria had a meeting early in the morning at the BBC Broadcasting House in central London, UK.

Later the same day, Mrs. Becks was spotted leaving her hotel to attend a booksigning for her latest book That Extra Half An Inch‘, at Selfriges in London.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe have separated. The couple's rep released a statement Monday morning that says "We are saddened to announce that Reese & Ryan have decided to formally separate. They remain committed to their family and we ask that you please respect their privacy and the safety of their children at this time."

Sources tell Access Hollywood Witherspoon has contacted celebrity divorce lawyer Robert Kaufman, who has represented Jennifer Aniston, Roseanne and Lisa Marie Presley.

Sources say Witherspoon spoke with Kaufman about divorcing Ryan Phillippe, her husband of seven years. The couple has two children. They met at Witherspoon's 21st birthday party.

The romance between Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn moved on to London this weekend where the duo reunited after nearly a month apart.

The couple, who attended the musical Wicked at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, "arrived by car together to see the Saturday matinee just before 2.30 p.m.," a spokesman for the theatre revealed.

"During the interval they went to the White Room, a public bar within the theatre, and had a drink," the spokesman adds. "They left together by car after the end of the show."

Earlier this month, rumors swirled about a possible rift between the couple because Aniston hadn't visited Vaughn, 36, who has been in London since late last month filming Fred Claus, a comedy about Santa's jealous older brother. However, Aniston, 37, shot down the reports when she told Oprah Winfrey on Oct. 10 that they're still together.

Asked if they'd split, the actress told Winfrey, "No, no," and added sweetly that Vaughn is "a regular guy."

"Vince and Jen are fine despite the distance," a friend of the couple said earlier this month. "Don't believe the hype."

At least one friend of Vaughn's did acknowledge that the couple experienced a "cooling off" period late last summer over where to take the relationship. Still, they are now making it clear that they're hanging in despite busy schedules.

Vaughn's movie is shooting in London through December. Aniston meanwhile has been working on her own projects: Just last week she made her New York stage debut in the 24 Hour Plays benefit, and has been promoting Room 10, the short film she codirected with friend Andrea Buchanan as part of the Glamour Reel Moments series.

Oprah Winfrey has famously given members of her audience new cars, paid off their debts and fulfilled their wildest dreams. Now she's given them what she calls the "gift of giving back."

On a show that aired Monday, Winfrey gave more than 300 audience members $1,000 debit cards sponsored by the Bank of America to donate to a charitable cause.

Winfrey called the show her "favorite giveaway ever."

"I can honestly say that every gift I've ever given has brought at least as much happiness to me as it has to the person I've given it to," the 52-year-old talk-show host said. "That's the feeling I want to pass on to you."

People can give the entire sum to one person — relatives aren't eligible — or they can split it among charitable causes. Audience members also received a DVD recorder to tape their stories for a future show.

"You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person," Winfrey said. "Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000."

Whilst the news outlets have focused on Buffalo-area storm damage up around Niagra Falls in recent weeks, a Hollywood film crew has had its lenses trained on the brink of the Horseshoe Falls - the biggest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagra Falls.

Now, Access Niagra reports that Walt Disney Studios is shooting falls-related scenes for use in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" scheduled for release in May.

The studio is not saying how the footage of the world-famous waterfall will be used, but there is speculation that moviegoers will see Captain Jack Sparrow and his shipmates facing oblivion courtesy of the giant cataract.

Stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley were nowhere in sight - expected to be added later to the footage used.

SCISSOR SISTERS' hotly anticipated Halloween concert in London will raise money to help the environment after the band agreed a deal to broadcast the concert live on the web.

The chart-toppers will play the Carling Brixton Academy tomorrow night (31OCT06), and will join a host of stars including ORLANDO BLOOM and JUDE LAW in supporting Global Cool, a charity aimed at cutting carbon emissions.

Bandmember BABYDADDY says, "This special gig is a big thank you to all our fans. It's set to be an amazing night and by showing the gig on the web it not only means that everyone can enjoy the party, but also raises awareness of their cause by highlighting the importance of saving our planet."

Pop heartthrob Ronan Keating is just one of the famous faces appearing on the next series of Ready Steady Cook!

The handsome Irish star will be sharing the kitchen with the likes of award-winning singer Chris de Burgh and Deborah Meaden and Richard Farleigh, the brand new 'dragons' on the next series of the BBC show Dragons' Den.

As well as whipping up a few dishes, Chris will talk about his latest album The Storyman, which is a collection of 12 themed tracks, each accompanied by a story.

Bad Girls stars Antonia O'Konma and Liz May Brice and acting brothers Nick and John Pickard, who are currently starring in TV soap Hollyoaks, will also put their cooking skills to the test alongside Ainsley Harriott and his gang of celebrity chefs.
The next series of Ready Steady Cook! will air on BBC Two next month.

Russell Crowe has revealed he would love to make 'Gladiator 2'.

The 42-year-old actor, who played Roman warrior Maximus in Oscar-winning film 'Gladiator', says he and director Ridley Scott are always thinking up sequel ideas - despite Crowe's character dying at the end of the first movie.

Crowe told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "The idea of doing a 'Gladiator 2' comes up all the time but we've made it very difficult for ourselves by killing off my character in the first one.

"We have an idea but it never seems to have sufficient credibility. It just comes back at us and says, 'Are you kidding?' Maybe we are kidding. Maybe we just enjoy talking about it."

There have been many rumours about possible plots for 'Gladiator 2' including a prequel plotline, or a sequel with a descendent of Maximus as the lead character or even Crowe's character coming back as a ghost.

With Westlife due to release their new studio album on November 20th we thought it would be an opportune time to catch up with the guys and find out whats been happening recently, how they felt when Brian McFadden left, and a look back on eight years of musical success.

Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian look set to romance us into Christmas this year with the release of The Love Album on 20th November 2006. The album is a collection of old favourites picked out by the boys and Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh. For one of the tracks, the boys team up with Delta Goodrum for a version of All out of Love. The album also includes hits like Total Eclipse of the Heart, You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, Easy and many more. Their first single, The Rose, is set for release on 6th November. Liz Frost catches up with them on their way to approve their latest video.

What have you been up to today
Nicky:
Got out of bed about 11 o’clock and came into Sony to do some Interviews and we’ve got some meetings with our marketing department. We’ve just approved the final edit of the video for our brand new single. It’s in colour currently, but we’ve changed it to be black and white.

How was your recent Face to Face tour
Shane:
Great! It was very long! We did a lot of dates, at the end it was quite tiring because we went to Asia and places like that. We were touring for about 6 months more or less, we did 3 months straight then we had a few weeks off then we were doing every weekend in the summer, we did 3 outdoor shows across the UK. Scotland Wales and England then we went to Asia for a 3 week tour over there. The crowd seemed to like it and people seemed to think it was the best so far. That’s a good sign, but we have to beat that next year now.

Do you prefer touring or recording
Mark:
When you’ve performed the same show so many times it becomes monotonous, but then you go into promotion and recording a new albumn then back to touring. It’s sort of half the time touring half recording.

What was the highlight
Nicky
: This year we changed it up a bit. We usually do a medley. And I think on this show, we decided to do something different. We usually do one of the Jackson five, Queen, we’ve done Wham, all sorts of things. This year for a laugh we decided to try and cover a modern song, so we did a version of Don’t Cha by the Pussycat Dolls, obviously changing it to boyfriend. It really went down a storm. A little sexy routine to it. It was tongue in cheek, not like we’ve done before. Also the new single You Raise me Up went down a storm aswell. I think that song came at just the right time for us. I mean, every band starts to go a bit, then Bryan left and everyone started to write us off. Then we did the Rat Pack albumn and Face to Face with You Raise Me Up, which really took off.

What made you choose the songs for the Love Album
Shane:
The whole idea of the album was to do a tribute Love Album. When you’re going do an original album you have to get new material in. We had 4 or 5 songs that were decent, but they weren’t in any ways near songs like You Raise Me Up. So we said to ourselves we’ve got a standard. If we want to make an original album it has to be at a certain standard. Simon Cowell came up with the idea ‘Why don’t you do a Love Album? You’re famous for singing love songs so it’s going to suit you’ Simon had his favourites, Louis had his favourites. There are some great songs on there. The rose is a famous song, but it’s not that famous a song. It was actually Louis who chose it but Simon thought it was a great song, the perfect song to launch the album.

Nicky:
There’s an interesting song on there too. There’s a song called ‘All Or Nothing’ That song was written for us 7 years ago, but Simon Cowell turned it down. That song was passed to OTown in the states and they had huge success in the States with it. We were quite gutted because we knew it was sounding very much like us. We have a bit of a laugh about it now. So we covered it on this Love Songs album. We do an acoustic version of it, it’s a lovely song.

You’ve been together 8 years, have you had any major squabbles
Kian:
We bicker over stupid things, but we’ve never had a major bust up ever. We’ve got too much respect for the band to do that.

Mark:
A couple of times we were close to headbutts and kicks.
Kian:
We tend to get worked up over travel, when we travel for a long time. We’ve been working very very hard for a few weeks, somebody would say something and it would be taken the wrong way. It would always be in a scenario when we haven’t been home for a while, we’ve been in eachothers faces for like 6 months really really working hard. It happened more in the earlier years than the later years, because we were younger and more feisty. Now we’re more grown up, it’s easier to say things to each other, There’s no winners when this sort of thing happens. What’s the point in rowing when we should be enjoying it?

When Bryan left, did you think it was all over
Shane:
To be honest, no. For about 10 minutes we were like ‘Oh no, what’s going to happen?’ We were only like 20 days away from the first show of a 4 month tour. We started rehearsals the next day and Bryan said ‘I’m hanging up my boots lads’. We thought we were being Punk’d because MTV Punk’d had just started. Then we had a 3 hour chat about it and we were like ‘Right, what are we going to do?’ Everybody wanted to carry on so we were just like ‘Let’s do it then!’ We had a big heart to heart. Louis drove over to chat to us at 3 in the morning for 3 hours.

Nicky:
He was like ‘It doesn’t matter. There are so many more years left’. If ever there was any doubt he convinced us. Especially in the aftermath because all the press were on Bryan’s side, everyone was like It’s Robbie again, when Take That were over. They went into our financial details. Bryan was worth more because of clever investments. But they were building him up in any way they could. It really got to us. It made us even more determined to succeed.

What do you think of Take That reforming
Mark:
There’s not enough Pop music around at the moment, So I think it’s great that old bands like Take That are coming back.

Kian:
Most of the bands that are coming back now were around when we started off, and we’re like ‘ah now you see why we stayed together?

Will you ever break up
Kian:
I don’t think we’d ever break up. We might take a break for a year or something like that but for the 4 of us to sit down in front of room full of people or on TV and say we’re finished for good. I don’t think we’d ever do that. I think we feel like we could go away for a few years and come back after that, but we’ve just had a renegotiation with the record label for another 4 albums and that’s after the next album, so there’s 5 more albums in our record contract. It depends really on how we’re seen as people. I can’t imagine us breaking up and never coming back.

Nicky:
Obviously if we don’t want to do it anymore, we won’t, but the fact that we’ve signed this renegotiation; we can keep coming back and doing another album when we feel like it. I think we are at a level now, we’ve got through and survived it.

Sources reveal that Nicole Richie passed out at Hyde nightclub early Sunday morning in Hollywood.

We're told it occurred just before 2 a.m., when Richie passed out and fell to the floor. An employee approached Richie and her friends and said he was calling 911. Sources say they told the employee not to make the call and that they would take Richie to a hospital. The friends then carried Richie out of the club through the back door.

Before Richie collapsed, we're told she hung out for awhile with Lindsay Lohan inside the club.

Late last week, Richie's reps confirmed that the "Simple Life" star entered a treatment facility to determine why she hasn't gained weight. Richie has looked shockingly thin over the last few months.

Richie's rep says her client was at Hyde for approximately 20 minutes but denies that she collapsed.

GARY Barlow has topped the charts nine times, sold millions of records and toured the world as part of chart topping boy band Take That.

But he says his birthplace Frodsham will always be ‘home’.

‘Everyone assumes I’m from Manchester but I've always tried to let everybody know I'm actually from Cheshire, and Frodsham,’ he told The Chronicle in an exclusive interview last weekend.

‘Nobody in Europe understands it and everybody in Britain always says 'Oh you're the posh one then’.

But for those of us who live in these parts it is important – we don't want to be from Manchester.’

Hundreds of girls queued in Manchester’s Trafford Centre and Liverpool city centre on Saturday for a signed copy of Gary’s autobiography, My Take.

The book charts Gary’s childhood, his first foray into performing when he won talent shows organised by Chronicle sister papers the Chester Observer and Runcorn Weekly News and his teenage years, spent touring social clubs around the North West playing an electric organ, bought from Rushworths in Chester when he was 10.

In 1990, aged 19, he was spotted by manager Nigel Martin Smith, who formed his boy band ‘Take That’ around Gary’s songwriting and singing talent.

By the time they split up in 1996 they were the UK’s biggest pop act, selling over 10 million albums and losing one Robbie Williams along the way.
With enough songs already written to fill a solo album, Gary was tipped to be the next George Michael but, after losing a press-fuelled chart battle with Williams, was dropped by his record company at 29.

My Take tells how he drove back home to Delamere Manor vowing never to set foot on stage again and to concentrate on producing and songwriting for other artists.

Last weekend Gary said Delamere – where he lived for 11 years until moving to London this summer – is one of the few places where he can walk around without being pestered by autograph hunters.
He said: ‘My regular pub has always been The Goshawk in Mouldsworth and I'm just never bothered in there.’ The only other place I'm never bothered is London because it's so busy you can just mingle in.‘I love the fact that you can do all this and still have a relatively normal life here.’

Gary settled into producing and songwriting for other artists including Donny Osmond and Charlotte Church, who visited Delamere to use his purpose-built recording studio – and sample nearby Cheshire pubs.

He said: ‘I've probably expected a bit much of our local pubs over the years. I've had Charlotte Church in there, I took the whole of Blue once, I've had Westlife there and somehow they just always seem to come over and say ‘I'll get you a quiet table in the corner’.’

Last weekend Gary and his wife Dawn, who toured with Take That as a dancer, stayed at the new Frodsham home of his parents Colin and Marjorie.

Gary said his children were thrilled to be home in Frodsham to see their grandparents and cousins – the children of his brother Ian.

He added: ‘I'm really keen always to remind myself where I started everything. We've even driven past the house in Ashton Drive this morning where I grew up until I was 10. ‘I just think it's really important to remember where I come from. Actually I have no reason to forget – Frodsham was a lovely village, I really enjoyed growing up there and it got me to where I am now.’

AN APPEARANCE on X Factor would have been the perfect launch pad if Gary Barlow was starting out today, he believes.

But he has never been tempted to do a reality TV show, despite being approached by producers of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Big Brother, Dancing on Ice and Strictly Come Dancing.

The Take That frontman said: ‘There must be a list of desperate celebrities and my name must have been at the top because I used to get sent all of them. But I've never been tempted.’

Former Frodsham man Gary, 35, says his chosen route to fame – playing in social clubs until he was spotted by Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith – would be much harder now because live music is rare in today’s clubs.

He was regular organist in Connahs Quay and Halton social clubs before he was 15, playing cabaret hits on his electric organ and accompanying visiting artists and open mic nights.When he left Frodsham High School at 16 he toured clubs across the North West for two years until catching the eye of the Manchester manager.

He told The Chronicle: ‘X Factor would have been the perfect show for me at 17.’

‘The thing is the money I used to be paid through the clubs was what I used to buy all my recording equipment so I would never have learned to use all that if I hadn't had something to subsidise it.’
Gary added that singing live every night was good training for a gruelling schedule of promotional appearances in the early days of Take That.

He said: ‘When I was 15 having to win 150 people over who didn't even know you, it was hard work and you learned the craft of doing that.

‘When you stand on stage at Wembley you realise all these people have bought tickets to see you, this is the easy bit.’

Gary said that since Take That reformed last year they no longer have to defend themselves for being a manufactured boy band because of shows like X Factor and Pop Idol.

‘Nigel [Martin-Smith] made up stories about how we had formed because he was paranoid that if you're perceived as a band to be organically grown you're more credible than someone who says ‘I've just put this band together’.

‘But now it’s just so blatant, you have to wonder whether it would have made any difference to us?’ Gary added the band has noticed some familiar faces in the music industry this time around.‘The people who were 14 or 15 when we started are all 25, 26 now with jobs and a lot of our fans are editors and reporters - they are now in charge of the industry.’
With a new single, Patience, and album, Beautiful World, due to be released by Take That in November, Gary is confident the band’s second era will be a success.

He added: ‘I think there are a couple of songs that will do as well as Back for Good. I don’t like comparing songs, because they are all different, but I think it will be as big a hit.’

Lindsay Lohan had a rough morning Sunday and a pretty rough night, too.

At 6:45 am, a spy spotted Lindsay at Olive and Sunset in Hollywood, near a dog park. Lindsay was sitting in her parked black Cadillac Escalade and our spy, who was walking his dog, could see Lohan through the tinted windows, "freaking out" and talking on her phone.

Then, Lohan called our spy over and told him that two men in a silver Toyota 4Runner -- parked behind her -- had been following her for the last two hours, trying to "hit" her vehicle. Our spy reports that "she seemed out of it," that it appeared she'd been out all night, and that she'd clearly been crying, with mascara running down her face. "I've called the cops," said Lindsay of her alleged pursuers. "But the cops can't catch them."

What Lindsay didn't even realize in her reduced state was that the two men in the Toyota were actually paparazzi. Our spy saw them snapping away. And, he says, as their vehicle started to creep up on Lindsay's Escalade, she shifted into drive, hit the gas and took off. The paparazzi followed her.

Just like her big sister Jessica, Ashlee Simpson sisters loves talking about her breasts!

Ashlee Simpson recently said how much she loves her breasts and says they're "beautiful" gifts to men.

Ashlee Simpson also says she's fed up with rumors she's had plastic surgery to enhance her cleavage and says her breasts are perfect as they are.

"My boobs are beautiful! I'm not getting them done. I'm 22, they're up and high," Ashlee Simpson told a magazine.

However, Ashlee Simpson - who is currently starring in the London production of "Chicago" - admits she gives her cleavage a helping... not hand, but pad when she plays Roxie Hart on stage.

"I have pads in my dress that you can knock on - it's like four Wonderbras," Ashlee Simpson said