No assault charge for Batman Bale Batman star Christian Bale will not face charges over an alleged assault on his mother and sister during a row, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

BBC News

Rocky remake leaves O’Brien cold A remake of cult 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show is being produced without the blessing of its creator Richard O’Brien, he has told the BBC.

BBC News

Sky buys drama from Lost creator Fringe, a new US drama from the creator of Lost and Alias, has been bought by Sky One. Science fiction series Fringe, by JJ Abrams, stars Dawson’s Creek actor Joshua Jackson, John Noble from Lord of The Rings and Lost’s Lance Reddick.

BBC News

Scotty’s ashes missing in crash Some of the ashes of actor James Doohan, who played Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek have gone missing.

BBC News

Potter fairytales to be published A collection of fairytales penned by Harry Potter author JK Rowling is to be published to raise money for a children’s charity. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which Rowling first mentioned in The Deathly Hallows, will go on sale on 4 December.

BBC News

Olympic boost for Mummy blockbuster? As all eyes turn to Beijing for the Olympics, the third instalment of the successful Mummy films offers its own take on China - swapping Egyptian Pyramids for the Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. So is the timing a coincidence? Or are the filmmakers hoping for a box office boost from the Olympic Games?

BBC News

Vicar supports Life of Brian ban A mayor’s plan to end her town’s ban on the 1979 Monty Python film Life of Brian are being opposed by the local vicar, who says it pokes fun at Jesus.

BBC News

Dr. Horrible Not So Horrible, And It’s Now On Hulu (Update: And International) Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is a 40 minute musical that stars Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, a bumbling, video blogging super villain who’s trying to get into the Evil League of Evil. The project is available on iTunes for $4 - this week Hulu also put it on its site for free with commercials.

TechCrunch

Press views: The Wizard of Oz A stage version of classic film The Wizard of Oz has opened at the Royal Festival Hall in London. It is the first major live production of the story in the UK’s capital for 20 years, and stars Sian Brooke in the role of Dorothy, made famous by Judy Garland on the silver screen. The critics have delivered their verdict on how the magic of the cinema favourite has translated to the stage.

BBC News

Venom Spin-Off On The Way Back in February there was talk of Sony looking at writers for a possible Venom movie, and now we have news that a draft script has been written by Jacob Estes. However, the studio is considering going in a different direction from Estes’ script and is seeking writers for a new draft.

Filmonic

Comic Con: True Blood, and Alan Ball’s Unique Take on Vampires Big banner ads all over Comic Con are advertising Tru Blood, the fictional “synthetic blood nourishment beverage” that serves as a blood replacement for vampires in Alan Ball’s new series, True Blood. Eerily convincing, they serve as a clever reminder of the show’s ARG, which also includes a vampire dating site and a blog.

/Film

TV’s Lost audience ‘will be lost’ Viewers of the fifth series of Lost will not know where or when the action is set, the show’s producers have said. Talking at arts and comic book convention Comic-Con, they revealed they would play around with the show’s flash-back and flash-forward formula.

BBC News

Rocky Horror Picture Show, Part Deux WHY?! Wasn’t the first one bad enough? Do we really need to be subjected to this? Apparently so. MTV (figures) is doing the remake, and plans on using the original script.

Flimonic

I Am Legend Prequel Happening, Will Smith Interested In Returning I Am Legend became the second-biggest non-sequel of 2007 with $584 million worldwide, and ever since then there’s been a lot of rumours and speculation whether Warner Bros. would try to do some kind of prequel or sequel to it. Well it turns out they are.

Filmonic

Torchwood set for ‘Big Bang’ day A special radio episode of sci-fi drama Torchwood is to be broadcast as part of BBC Radio 4’s Big Bang day. The station will broadcast from the European nuclear research facility in Geneva on 10 September where scientists are to recreate the Big Bang aftermath.

BBC News

DeGeneres’ publicist confirmed reports that the couple tied the knot at their Beverly Hills home on Saturday.

The presenter, 50, and De Rossi, 35, exchanged handwritten vows in a private ceremony attended by 19 guests, reported People and US magazine.

The couple have been dating since December 2004.

Editors Note: Everyone here at the Gay Sci-Fi Nerds Podcast Show wish the pair of lezzas the very best for their future and happiness and pray Portia don’t go straight like the last girlfriend!

BBC News

Australian plea for ‘ugly’ women

The mayor of a remote Australian mining town has come under fire after saying that female “ugly ducklings” might benefit from its shortage of women. John Molony told a newspaper last week that “with five blokes to every girl, may I suggest that beauty-disadvantaged women should proceed to Mount Isa”.

The council has since been swamped with complaints from both men and women.

But Mr Molony has refused to apologise for the remarks, saying he was “telling it like it is” in the Queensland town.

BBC News

“Bigfoot” fails DNA test

Results from tests on genetic material from alleged remains of one of the mythical half-ape and half-human creatures, made public at a news conference on Friday held after the claimed discovery swept the Internet, failed to prove its existence.

Its spread was fuelled by a photograph of a hairy heap, bearing a close resemblance to a shaggy full-body gorilla costume, stuffed into a container resembling a refrigerator.

Reuters UK

Americans ‘find body of Bigfoot’

Two men in the US state of Georgia say they have found the body of a Bigfoot, the legendary ape-like creature that has been subject of decades of hoaxes. Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer say they stumbled across the 2.3m-high (7ft 7in), 226kg (500 pound) corpse in a wood in the north of the state in June.

A photograph on the men’s website shows what appears to be the body of a large, hairy creature with an ape-like face. Bigfoot experts reacted suspiciously to the men’s claims.

BBC News | Searching for BigFoot

The IT Crowd goes west

Cult geek comedy The IT Crowd, has been sold to a US cable channel and the scripts for the third series have been delivered to producers.

Series creator Graham Linehan admitted on his blog that he’d cut the deadline a bit fine and so could do with some help in making the series look and feel sufficiently geeky. He said he wants suggestions for “posters, comics, fanzines, T-shirts… anything you’ve seen in the last few months that you think is pretty cool or captures the spirit of the show or a particular character”. Lineham said he wanted the characters’ IT dungeon to look like “a cross between a comics shop and the Batcave”.

The Register

Jolie ‘to take Cruise movie role’

Actress Angelina Jolie is to play the lead role in an action thriller which was previously earmarked for Tom Cruise, according to a report. The film will be a screen return for the star, who recently gave birth to twins, says Hollywood paper Variety.

The script of espionage action flick Edwin A Salt will be reworked and the title changed, it adds.

BBC News

Google StreetView Sees Man Passed Out Drunk On Mother’s Lawn

Not content to just capture houses burning and other embarrassing shenanigans in the US, Google StreetView has gone overseas and done the same to a drunk Australian man passed out in his own lawn. Now that man is pissed - not in his pants, but at Google - for the invasion of privacy.

Gizmodo

Cher fan has his stereo destroyed

A man who blasted Cher and U2 from his home has had his stereo equipment and music collection destroyed. Karl Wiosna of Graig, Pontypridd, was warned to turn down his music by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council after complaints were made. He was served with a noise abatement notice, which he later admitted breaching. As a result, his two tape and record decks, radio, tapes and CDs were seized by the council.

All of Wiosna’s equipment has now been destroyed and he was also fined £265 by local magistrates after he admitted the charges against him.

BBC News

Advocates for disabled to protest “Tropic Thunder”

Groups that advocate for the disabled called on Sunday for a national boycott of the Ben Stiller comedy “Tropic Thunder,” citing what they say is its negative portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.

“We are asking people not to go to the movie and hope to bring a consciousness to people about using derogatory words about this population,” said Peter Wheeler, spokesman for Special Olympics, one of 22 disability groups nationwide protesting the satire.

Reuters

And finally… Rick Astley as James Bond

The spoof, about a group of actors who end up fighting in a real war, took $26m (£14m) in its first weekend.

The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as his arch-enemy The Joker, had held the top spot for four weeks.

It earned another $16.8m (£9m) to overtake Star Wars as America’s second highest-grossing film of all time.

James Cameron’s 1997 epic Titanic remains the highest-grossing film in the US with takings of $601m (£322m).

Musical

The animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars opened in third place with $15.5m (£8.3m), while the latest Hollywood remake of a cult Asian horror film, Mirrors, starring Kiefer Sutherland, was in fourth spot with $11.1m (£6m).

Cannabis comedy Pineapple Express, from the makers of Knocked Up, was in fifth place with earnings of $10m (£5.36m).

Action-adventure The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was sixth with $8.6m (£4.6m), ahead of Abba musical Mamma Mia!, with $6.5m (£3.5m).

Rounding out the top 10 were The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, with $5.93m (£3.2m), ahead of comedy Step Brothers with $5m (£2.7m).

Woody Allen’s latest film, romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona, was 10th with $3.7m (£2m).

BBC News

In yet another packed one hour show, Skip and Drew get dark and dirty as they discuss why the gays put the ‘homo’ in homocidal in film, as currently the main bad gays in The X Files: I Want to Believe. A listener points out a few overlooked gay facts from The Andromeda Strain with a character in the extreme opposite of gay killers, the token gay guy “but let’s not talk about it”.

Find out what we think of Robot Chicken: Star Wars as we shamelessly give the UK DVD release yet a another plug, which it rightly deserves. The most notable skits include Darth Vader’s collect call to the Emperor informing him of the destruction of the first Death Star; A Day in the life of Ponda Baba as we find out what exactly he was saying to Luke Skywal

ker in the Cantina before Obi-Wan Kenobi slices his arm off with a lightsaber; and George Dubya Bush as a Jedi.

Finally Skip and Drew talk about their trip to the big smoke that is Gotham, well actually London, where they saw The Dark Knight on the UK’s biggest screen, the IMAX at Waterloo… At 2:30am. After which only having had 2 1/2 hours sleep they manage to stay awake through the Red Bull Air Race at the O2.

Show links:

• The Andromeda Strain (2008)
• Larry Townsend
• The X Files: I Want to Believe
• Mister Wint & Mister Kidd
• ‘Contagious’ fungus threatens videotape collections
• Robot Chicken: Star Wars
• Star Wars Clone Wars: Clones vs Droids
• The Dark Knight
• BFI IMAX
• Red Bull Air Race 2008

Here James spoofs David Beckham’s famous underwear ad.

George Lucas Explains Why Actors Didn’t Return For Clone Wars

MTV asked George Lucas that very question:

“When we decided to do the feature, we went back to the actors and said, ‘Look, we’re doing a feature. Would you like to do the voice? Could you come in a month?’ Some of them were all over the world. It was hard to get all the actors that would be off on set,” Lucas told reporters at a press conference last week. “You need people available every week. [Also] you can’t really afford multi-million dollar actors to do a television series. Those guys make more during their coffee break.”

But the bottom line for why most of the actors aren’t returning to voice the characters they made famous? Because George Lucas doesn’t need them, Lucas himself said to reporters.

“It used to be in animation you just had [unknown] actors do the parts. The idea of hiring a really good actor – Tom Hanks [for instance] – was a really revolutionary idea,” Lucas said. “Partly they did it because they were great actors, partly they did it cause they wanted to use them for publicity. To be very honest with you, I don’t really think I need to hire a big movie star to publicize my movie. I don’t need Angelina Jolie here. That’s what it comes down to in the end. They have two days in the studio and then they have like two weeks doing press. They are mainly paid for the press stuff.”

What I want to know is what’s La Georgina got against Angelina Jolie?

Filmonic

Press views: The Clone Wars

Critics have been delivering their verdicts on Star Wars: The Clone Wars which premiered in LA on Sunday. The latest offering from George Lucas is an animated version of the cult sci-fi series. Set between Episodes II and III - Attack Of The Clones and Revenge Of The Sith - the movie follows Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker as they battle evil Count Dooku and his army.

The reviews aren’t looking too good. To read what the critics think, click here.

Lucas attends Clone Wars premiere

Film-maker George Lucas has attended the US premiere of his latest film Star Wars: The Clone Wars in Los Angeles. It is the first animated Star Wars movie ever made and will be followed by a TV series with the same title, due to be screened in the autumn.

Fans lined Hollywood Boulevard to catch a glimpse of Lucas and some of the actors who have provided the voices of the animation’s characters.

The movie opens in North American cinemas and across the UK on 15 August.

BBC News

‘Film addict’ Lucas on Clone Wars

One of the most successful movie series of all time returns - with the release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This one is different from previous instalments - it is entirely animated…. and it came about by accident.

BBC News

And in more Star Wars related news…

Stormtrooper helmet sales still legal in Britain

A British movie prop maker who crafted the Stormtrooper uniform for the original Star Wars movie can continue selling replicas of the costume throughout the galaxy - the US excepted. George Lucas’s production company Lucasfilm sued Andrew Ainsworth over copyright violations for selling Stormtrooper suits and helmets through his London shop and the internet.

London’s high court ruled today that although Ainsworth violated a US copyright on galactic fashion, the empire’s litigious force does not necessarily extend abroad. Judge Anthony Mann rejected Lucasfilm’s claims under British law, saying English copyright over the outfits had expired.

Ainsworth sculpted the helmets for the first Star Wars movie in 1977.

The Register

Star Wars In 3D: Can You Handle It?

George Lucas seems to have given up on making any more live-action movies that may further tarnish the legacy of Star Wars, and that’s a good thing. But he might be looking to dig into the vault and bring the six movies back to the big screen—again!—in a whole new jazzed-up format. A good thing, or beating a dead horse?

Cinema Blend

Jaws star sues family over loan

Actor Richard Dreyfuss is suing his father and uncle over a 24-year-old loan he claims was never repaid. The Jaws star, 60, says he gave his relatives $870,000 (£453,000) in 1984 when they owned an interest in a Los Angeles office building. In court papers filed on Friday, he claims the loan is still outstanding and that his uncle, Gilbert, has refused to turn over financial records.

Neither Norman nor Gilbert Dreyfuss could be reached for comment.

BBC News

Coltrane used on NZ wanted poster

Actor Robbie Coltrane’s face is being used on a wanted poster by police trying to catch a 16-year-old burglar in New Zealand. As law bans the publication of photos of juvenile criminals, Christchurch police are using the actor instead.

“Robbie Coltrane is not the burglar, but imagine him aged 16 with lank greasy hair and you have the picture,” the poster says.

Leaflets have been distributed to homes in the areas of targeted residents.

BBC News

American man too fat for execution

With a lawsuit filed in federal court on Friday, the Associated Press reports, attorneys for the 5-feet-7-inch, 267-pound Richard Cooey say the executioner’s needle would have trouble finding his veins. And even if it did find his veins, they insist, his heft would lessen the effect of the needle’s initial lethal injection drug - an anaesthetic meant to dull the pain.

“All of the experts agree if the first drug doesn’t work, the execution is going to be excruciating,” Cooey’s lawyer Kelly Culshaw Schneider told The AP.

The Register

Robin Hood star quits BBC remake

Jonas Armstrong, who plays Robin Hood in the BBC’s remake of the classic tale, is to leave the show at the end of the third series. The 27-year-old, who is currently filming in Budapest, said playing Robin Hood was an “incredible experience” but he was looking for “new challenges”.

According to producers, the Irish-born actor will bow out in an explosive and nail-biting finale.

BBC News

Royal premiere for new Bond film

Princes William and Harry will attend the world premiere of the next James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. They will be joined on the red carpet in London by 007 actor Daniel Craig, as well as co-stars including Dame Judi Dench and Gemma Arterton. The Royal brothers have asked for proceeds from the event to benefit two charities - Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.

The premiere will take place on 29 October in Leicester Square.

BBC News

Joss Stone to star in the Tudors

Singer Joss Stone is to play Anne of Cleves in the third season of The Tudors, the BBC has confirmed. It will be the first TV acting role for the 22-year-old, who made her debut in fantasy film Eragon in 2006. The Emmy-winning series, produced by Showtime and aired on BBC Two, chronicles the reign of Henry VIII, played by Jonathan Rhys Myers.

BBC News

Knights Templar to Vatican: Give us back our assets

The Knights Templar are demanding that the Vatican give them back their good name and, possibly, billions in assets into the bargain, 700 years after the order was brutally suppressed by a joint venture between the Pope and the King of France.

If the Holy See doesn’t comply, the warrior knights, renowned for liberating the Holy Land, will deploy that most fearsome of weapons: a laborious court case through the creaking Spanish legal system.

The Register

• James Bond’s Sony Ericsson C902 Cybershot to go Public
• Invisibility cloak ’step closer’
• iPhone 3G Now in Multiple (Unofficial) Colors
• TARDIS MAME cabinet makes even Daleks swoon

The auction allowed collectors to buy more than 1,000 original pieces of Hollywood history, including several superhero costumes - among them Wolverine’s X-Men jacket and Ben Affleck’s Daredevil costume.

BBC News

Next we have the DIY Batman Tumbler (Editor’s note: Tumbler..? Come on guys, it’s the Batmobile!).

Bob Dullam has built this absolutely amazing working replica of Batman’s current-gen Batmobile, the Tumbler. It’s got it all - the afterburner, the huge honking double-barrel wheels, the stealth-toothiness on all of the edges - immaculate. Dullam threw it all together with nothing more than commonly available photos and the movies themselves, all custom welded, in his own garage by himself. Bob estimates his labor of love will cost him anywhere from $50k-$70k. And even after repeated pleading on the Super Hero Hype forums where he’s showing it off, he ain’t sellin’. Bob’s planning on building a version of the Batpod when the Tumbler is completed.

Gizmodo

And finally we have a custom built Iron Man suit but you have to think that this guy should have made himself a slightly more appropriate costume more in keeping with his physique. Gizmodo have dubbed this unfortunate individual “Iron Dork”, and I have to agree. I mean, look at those love handles! Not that I’m a skinny queen or anything, far from it, but even I wouldn’t do that to myself. Shame really as the suit itself isn’t half bad…

Gizmodo

Gizmodo also included a photo of this mental retard, which I guess is his only excuse for this disturbing costume, the retardness I mean.

Name one super hero that goes around with his cock on display. You can’t, can you and if you can, please send in pictures?

Mores the pity actually… Now Brandon Routh in his Superman outfit, with his cock showing through those red briefs would have guaranteed an immediate sequel.

The 37-year-old’s performance has received mixed reviews in newspapers.

The Guardian called Tennant the “best Hamlet in years” while the Daily Express gave the play three stars, describing it as “disappointing”.

Patrick Stewart, best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, was lauded as Hamlet’s uncle Claudius.

Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail said Tennant was upstaged by a “deliciously subtle” performance from Stewart.

He called Tennant’s Hamlet “a sarcastic Hamlet, a selfish Hamlet, a Hamlet very much for our self-indulgent age”.

He was “memorable” but “not the greatest Dane” with a “spirited but unripe” rendition, Mr Letts said.

Paul Callan in the Daily Express said Tennant pitched his Hamlet “somewhere between One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Goon Show”.

He added that Tennant relied too much on “quirkiness, pulling faces and various funny voices” to reflect Hamlet’s descent into madness.

But Mr Callan said his “near-whispered delivery is sensitive and polished”.

‘Engaging’ Hamlet

The Independent’s Paul Taylor gave the play four stars and called Tennant’s display “an extremely captivating performance”.

He said the actor was “adept at most aspects of the role but he excels when the prince becomes a prankish provocateur”.

He added: “I rate Tennant very highly, but I wouldn’t put him in the absolute front rank of contemporary Hamlets.”

Michael Billington from The Guardian also awarded four stars to the play.

“He is a fine Hamlet whose virtues, and occasional vices, are inseparable from the production itself,” Mr Billington said.

He said this was “a Hamlet of quicksilver intelligence, mimetic vigour and wild humour”, adding Tennant was an “active, athletic, immensely engaging Hamlet”.

Benedict Nightingale of The Times said the play’s “fluent, pacey, modern-dress revival” of Hamlet gave Tennant the chance to shine “and, praise be, he seizes it”.

He wrote: “I’ve seen bolder Hamlets and more moving Hamlets, but few who kept me so riveted throughout.

“Tennant is restless, curt and mocking when he needs to be, affectionate when he can be, and, apart from an occasional tendency to gabble, pretty impressive.”

‘Flattering’

Tennant drew more than 10 million viewers to the series finale of Doctor Who last month.

He will star in a Christmas special and another three specials next year.

The actor, who played Romeo at the RSC in 2000, has said of appearing in Shakespeare’s great tragedy: “Hamlet is often regarded as the acme of acting to test yourself against, which isn’t a particularly helpful thought, to be honest.

“Of course, it is very flattering to be asked to do that role because of everything that is attached to it.

“But once you get into rehearsal you have to relinquish thoughts like that and just try and tell the story.

“It’s still just a play and you can’t start approaching it in a different way than you would approach any other role.”

BBC News

First to arrive in the queue at 0200 BST was Andrew Lessiter from Plymouth. The 25-year-old musician and actor came prepared with chair, books sandwiches and juice. He said that as soon as he heard who was directing the film, he was determined to audition. “I’m a real film buff and just to be involved in any way in a Tim Burton film would be a huge honour,” he said.

By the time the casting agents opened the doors of the New Continental Hotel at 1000 BST, the queue of people aged from 16 to 70 plus, snaked around the hotel, past the nearby Pavilion leisure centre and halfway down the city’s Union Street. More auditions are taking place today.

The animated version of Alice in Wonderland was made by Walt Disney in 1951. The new version, a mix of live action and special effects, is due to be released in 2010.

Johnny Depp has not yet been confirmed in the role of the Mad Hatter, but director Tim Burton has previously directed him in seven films, including Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and, most recently, Sweeney Todd.

The only question I beg to have answered is WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING TIM BURTON!? IT’S PLYMOUTH! A SHIT HOLE!

Sometimes eccentric really does equal dumb ass!

BBC News

X Files fails to make UK impact

The second X Files film has failed to make a big impact on the UK box office chart in its opening weekend. I Want To Believe, which sees David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles as agents Mulder and Scully, opened at number four. But although the alien-hunting movie was the highest new entry, it only took £887,209 in ticket sales.

Anderson blamed the film’s limited success in the US due to opening against Batman film The Dark Knight.

BBC News

British premiere for X Files film

The second film based on TV sci-fi drama The X Files has had its UK premiere in London’s Leicester Square. I Want to Believe sees David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their roles as alien-hunting agents Mulder and Scully. Both stars were at the premiere where Duchovny signed autographs while Anderson waved at the screaming fans.

I Want To Believe took $10.2m (£5.1m) in North America on its opening weekend and is released in the UK on Friday. Anderson said: “It’s had a bit of a rough time in the States. It’s opening against one of the highest grossing movies, Batman. “People in the States are so used to lots of CGI, action and sex and we don’t really offer a lot of that in this film.”

Duchovny added: “It’s great to see all the fans here. I must come to premieres in the UK more often.”

BBC News

More X-Files movies a possibility

The new X-Files film, I Want To Believe, is out in the cinemas this weekend and is the first new material from screenwriter Chris Carter, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson since the TV series ended in 2002. David Duchovny talks about the possibility of another X-Files film and getting back into the character of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder.

Are you signed up for more X-Files films?

That was always the intention, that it is a natural serial, as evidenced by the fact that there’s 203 hours of television of it. It really just depends on economics. This movie was made for only $29m. It’s actually almost like an independent film. It’s the first independent blockbuster, independent summer movie.

It’s weird that it’s out in the height of summer, because even though the X-Files feels like a summer franchise, this is not necessarily a summer movie. This is a kind of an underdog, when all’s said and done, even though it’s hard to conceive of the X-Files as an underdog. I think it actually is. It depends on the style of movies that Fox wants to make after this, whether or not they really want us to compete on that level. It would be a different kind of movie.

BBC Newsbeat

Batman film breaks another record

Batman film The Dark Knight has broken another box office record after taking just 18 days to make more than $400 million (£204m) in North America. That was less than half the time which previous record-holder Shrek 2 needed to pass the milestone, having taken 43 days to cross the $400m mark in 2004.

The Dark Knight has already smashed the record for best opening night and best opening weekend in the US and Canada. Last week it became the fastest movie ever to pass the $300m (£153m) barrier.

According to distributor Warner Bros, the sequel to 2005’s Batman Begins had generated $400.03m by the end of Monday.

BBC News

Ledger inquiry ‘is to be dropped’

US investigators are to drop a criminal case into how Heath Ledger obtained two powerful painkillers that contributed to his death, an official has said. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had suspected oxycodone and hydrocodone found in Ledger’s system were obtained with false prescriptions. But an official in New York told the AP news agency prosecutors now thought there was not “a viable target”.

Ledger was found dead at his home in January after an accidental overdose.

BBC News

Freeman recovering after surgery

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is in “good spirits” after surgery for injuries sustained in a serious car accident near his Mississippi home. Mr Freeman’s spokeswomen said the surgery to reconnect nerves and repair damage to his left arm and hand lasted four-and-a-half hours. She said the 71-year-old Dark Knight star was now looking forward to being discharged “as soon as possible”.

The accident happened shortly before midnight on Sunday.

BBC News

Morgan Freeman hurt in car crash

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman is in hospital after being injured in a car accident near his Mississippi home. The 71-year-old Dark Knight star is in a serious condition, according to staff at Memphis’s Regional Medical Center. The accident happened shortly before midnight on Sunday outside Charleston in the Mississippi Delta.

A Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman told the BBC that Mr Freeman’s car left the road and “began to flip several times” before landing in a ditch.

Mr Freeman - who had been driving the car - and a female passenger were airlifted to the Memphis hospital, about 145km (90 miles) north of where the accident occurred in Tallahatchie County.

BBC News

Olsen seeks immunity over Ledger

Actress Mary-Kate Olsen will not speak to investigators about Heath Ledger’s death unless she is granted immunity from prosecution. An official said the 22-year-old wants the assurance before speaking to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Olsen was the first person contacted by the masseuse who discovered Ledger’s body. Her lawyer said she has told the authorities all she knows. Ledger was found dead at his home in January after an accidental overdose. Federal investigators want to question Olsen about how Ledger obtained two powerful painkillers that contributed to his death.

Olsen’s lawyer, Michael C Miller, added that she “does not know the source of the drugs Mr Ledger consumed”.

BBC News

MPs lambast BBFC over Batman

MPs Keith Vaz and Iain Duncan Smith have weighed in on the hoohah over the violent content of The Dark Knight and its controversial 12A classification.

The Telegraph finds the Labour and Tory bods united in their condemnation of the film’s violence and disagreement with its certificate, which allows children under 12 to see it if accompanied by parents. Smith, the former Conservative Party leader who saw the film with his (no doubt rather embarrassed) 15-year-old daughter, said he was “astonished” the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) found the somewhat stab-tastic flick suitable viewing for anyone under 15.

Christopher Nolan’s realistic treatment didn’t sit well with the quiet man, who went on: “Unlike past Batman films, where the villains were somewhat surreal and comical figures, Heath Ledger’s Joker is a brilliantly acted but very credible psychopathic killer, who extols the use of knives to kill and disfigure his victims during a reign of urban terrorism laced with torture.”

The Register

Film censor defends Batman rating

The BBFC has justified giving The Dark Knight a 12A certificate after getting more than 80 complaints about the Batman film’s disturbing content. The film regulator’s spokeswoman Sue Clark said the sequel was a fantasy movie with only implied violence. But she admitted that the British Board of Film Classification had carefully considered giving it a 15 rating. The 12A rating states that a film should not “dwell on violence” and “does not emphasise injury or blood”.

The film contains a scene in which The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger, is beaten repeatedly by Batman in a police cell. The BBFC ruled that the blows were “masked from the camera” and there was “no sign of injury”.

It conceded that there was a “good deal of violence” in the movie, but said it adhered to the rules of the 12A certificate.

BBC News

Depp for Dark Knight follow-up

With Batman behemoth The Dark Knight pleasing audiences and critics alike, it’s time for some rabid speculation about the casting of the next film in the rebooted franchise. The Sun froths this morning that the incandescent Johnny Depp is in line to play the Riddler, the bodystockinged bastard last played by Jim Carrey in Batman Forever.

Depp, a pretty safe pair of hands for almost any role, already has Batman connections. He took over the lead role in Heath ‘Joker’ Ledger’s final unfinished film, Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, along with Colin Farrell and Jude Law. Depp is also sharing screen time with Christian ‘Um, Batman’ Bale in the forthcoming Public Enemies, in which our Johnny plays infamously cocky* gangster John Dillinger.

Everyone’s favourite morality-and-mammaries rag also reckons that Philip ‘Boogie’ Seymour ‘Nights’ Hoffman might be coaxed into playing the Penguin, a role previously occupied by Danny ‘Throw Momma From The Train’ DeVito.

The El Reg film desk hereby tips Angelina ‘Hubba hubba’ Jolie for Catwoman.

The Register

Ledger ‘brilliant’ in last film

Director Terry Gilliam said replacing Heath Ledger’s part with three actors to complete his final film after he died has worked. Filming of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was suspended when the star was found dead in January. Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Colin Farrell will now appear as Ledger’s character, but scenes he had previously filmed will be included in the movie.

“I’ve seen it and it works and it’s great,” said Gilliam. “It’s the last chance to see Heath and he’s brilliant,” he added.

BBC Newsbeat

Dark Knight leads UK box office

Batman film The Dark Knight has swept to the top of the UK box office with takings of £8.6m.

The epic film, starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger, eclipsed Mamma Mia! which took second place with ticket sales of £2.8m. Teen flick Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging made its debut at number four, with US comedy Baby Mamma new at 10.

The Dark Knight has made more than $300m (£151m) in North America after 10 days, breaking a box office record.

BBC News

Now Drew and I have spent a few late nights watching [adult swim] on the Bravo channel in the UK. Actually, it’s mostly me doing the watching while Drew is surfing the Internet or something as he’s not too much of a cartoon fan. One thing that Drew and I have in common is that we’ve never managed to watch an episode of Robot Chicken. The other thing we have in common is the hots for red heads like Seth Green. There’s something about red haired guys that’s absolutely hot which people in the UK normally just don’t get. I’m finding Michael C. Hall in Dexter especially hunky.

In modern-day UK, despite (or because of) being one of the places with the highest populations of redheads, the words “ginger” or “ginga” are derogatorily used to describe red-headed people, with terms such as “gingerphobia” (fear of redheads) or “gingerism” (prejudice against redheads) used by the media. Redheads are also sometimes referred to disparagingly as “carrot tops” and “carrot heads”. “Gingerism” has been compared to racism, although this is widely disputed and bodies such as the UK Commission for Racial Equality do not monitor cases of discrimination and hate crimes against redheads. A UK woman recently won an award from a tribunal after being sexually harassed and receiving abuse because of her red hair; a family in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, was forced to move twice after being targeted for abuse and hate crime on account of their red hair; and in 2003, a 20 year old was stabbed in the back for “being ginger.”

What’s all this got to do with Robot Chicken: Star Wars? Well Seth Green is the Director and one of the writers on this 22-minute extravaganza of sketches all related to Star Wars . The episode was nominated for an Emmy (Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour)) in 2008.

Robot Chicken: Star Wars features 33 skits and a Star Wars themed Robot Chicken opening intro and a end credits. Some are credibly short like the Jawa in the Mos Eisley Cantina who shouts “Martini!” instead of the Jawa’s usual call of “Utini!” to the longer skits such as Luke Skywalker having a “Yo Mamma Fight” against Emperor Palpatine. Darth Vader announces the fight to others and keeps score. It would be wrong to review every single skit here but we can honestly say that every single one of them had us laughing. It does help if you’re a Star Wars fan as most of the jokes involves scenes and situation taken from the franchise.

The most notable skits include Darth Vader’s collect call to the Emperor informing him of the destruction of the first Death Star; A Day in the life of Ponda Baba as we find out what exactly he was saying to Luke Skywalker in the Cantina before Obi-Wan Kenobi slices his arm off with a lightsaber; Orientation day, as a bunch of new Death Star recruits are told how to react when Darth Vader “uses the Force” death grip on them; and George Dubya Bush as a Jedi.

The best skit has to be the one featuring Han Solo frozen in Carbonite while Bobba Fett tries to impress Han with his bounty hunter skills saying “you like that don’t you”. Fett then proceeds to lust over Han Solo, stroking him before reaching up and holding Han’s hand (Editor’s note: I told you that Bobba Fett was gay here, which explains why the Clone Troopers are behaving in this manner).

The most annoying skit (and rightly so) is the Jar Jar Binks and Darth Vader reunion as Binks continues to call Vader by his childhood cosename “Ani”; in order to get rid of him, Vader throws him out an airlock into space. Later, however, as Vader prepares to sleep, he is woken up by Jar Jar, who has returned as a Force ghost. Ahmed Best returns to the role of Binks and provides the voice again.

In fact in a skit featuring George Lucas, La Georgina himself provides his own voice, thus giving Robot Chicken: Star Wars his seal of approval. And here at the Gay Sci-Fi Nerds podcast show, we give our approval too!

Robot Chicken: Star Wars is available on DVD in the UK on 11th August 2008. If you’re on Facebook, you can access wallpapers, video clips, with more to come by becoming become a fan of Robot Chicken: Star Wars by clicking here.

“Police chiefs shouldn’t get involved in everyone else’s business when it comes to their personal life. It’s inappropriate,” Lohan said.

Chief William Bratton made the remark while explaining why he did not support a crackdown on the paparazzi.

Lohan, the star of Mean Girls and Freaky Friday, has been linked with DJ Mark Ronson’s sister Samantha.

The police chief was discussing problems with the paparazzi on LA news channel KNBC.

He said: “If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving, Paris is out of town not bothering anybody, thank God, and evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don’t seem to have much of an issue.”

Chief Bratton had earlier refused to attend a Los Angeles city task force meeting to discuss ways to combat the paparazzi.

Lohan gave her response in a video filmed by paparazzi and posted on celebrity website TMZ.

Her publicist Leslie Sloane has previously denied that the actress is in a relationship with Samantha Ronson, but said they were “close friends”.

BBC News

UKTV has published what it claims to be the world’s oldest joke - a Sumerian rib-tickler dating back to 1,900 BC which goes: “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap.”

Yup, they were a laugh a minute, those cheeky Sumerians, and no messing. In second spot we have the equally-hilarious Egyptians, who poked fun at pharoah King Snofru back in 1,600 BC with this cracker: “How do you entertain a bored pharaoh? You sail a boatload of young women dressed only in fishing nets down the Nile and urge the pharaoh to go catch a fish.”

Things had improved somewhat by the time the Anglo-Saxons got their act together back in the 10th century and presaged the birth of Carry On by asking: “What hangs at a man’s thigh and wants to poke the hole that it’s often poked before? Answer: A key.”

Paul McDonald, the senior lecturer at Wolverhampton University who dredged up these classics, said: “Jokes have varied over the years, with some taking the question and answer format while others are witty proverbs or riddles. “What they all share however, is a willingness to deal with taboos and a degree of rebellion. Modern puns, Essex girl jokes and toilet humour can all be traced back to the very earliest jokes identified in this research.”

I’d have to agree and say most pub jokes haven’t changed that much.

The Register

Writing in the Times, the Archbishop of Uganda criticised Dr Rowan Williams for inviting American Church leaders to the current Lambeth Conference.

The Most Rev Henry Orombi said there was an “unrelenting commitment” of the US Church “to bless sinful behaviour”.

The Anglican Church has been divided since the ordination of the openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in the US in 2003.

‘Deep betrayal’

Archbishop Orombi wrote: “In every case, homosexual practice is considered sinful, something that breaks our relationship with God and harms our wellbeing.

“It is something for which one should repent and seek forgiveness and healing, which God is ever ready to do.”

He said the ordination of Bishop Robinson was a “deep betrayal”.

Archbishop Orombi added: “When the Archbishop of Canterbury invited these American bishops to participate in the Lambeth Conference… in the face of the unrelenting commitment of the American Church to bless sinful behaviour, we were stunned. Further betrayal.”

‘British colonialism’

He also said in his article that it was “peculiar” that the Archbishop of Canterbury was not elected by his peers.

“Even the Pope is elected by his peers, but what Anglicans have is a man appointed by a secular government,” said the archbishop.

“Over the past five years, we have come to see this as a remnant of British colonialism, and it is not serving us well.”

Archbishop Orombi is one of the 250 clergy boycotting the conference over the issue of gay bishops.

Anglican bishops have been discussing Bible teachings on homosexuality at the 10-yearly conference in Canterbury.

However, traditionalists in the Church were frustrated that there was no formal resolution on the issue.

BBC News

The debate took place among a group of about 40 bishops, but there was no formal resolution on an issue which has frustrated Church traditionalists.

The subject has driven the Communion to the brink of a permanent split.

Members of the Lesbian and Gay Christian movement held a protest and unfurled a banner outside a sports hall where the delegates were meeting.

Anglican officials hope the discussion at the conference will help restore some of the trust lost in five years of church conflict over homosexuality.

A spokesman for the bishops would not reveal specific details of what was said but expressed regret that the issue had overshadowed other topics at the conference including world poverty and the environment.

Their views will be represented to a larger committee, which in turn will reflect the collective attitude of the conference.

Divisive issue

Traditionalist Anglicans say several passages in the Bible clearly outlaw active homosexuality.

But liberals say the Bible’s general message is that all people should be included in the Church.

Since the ordination of the openly gay, and non-celibate, Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, in the US five years ago, divisions have become increasingly entrenched.

Traditionalists claim that the conference is missing a rare opportunity to deal with the crisis.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, argues that formal resolutions about sexuality have not produced unity in the past.

However, he wants bishops to adopt a general statement of shared belief and then agree to stick to it, as the only way of avoiding further disintegration.

BBC News religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott in Canterbury says no issue has come as close to splitting worldwide Anglicanism as homosexuality.

The protesters, led by human rights activist Peter Tatchell, accused the Archbishop of Canterbury of facilitating the views of “homophobes” at the conference.

But their demo was said to have gone largely unnoticed by bishops, who left by a different exit after the discussion.

BBC News

The Indiana Jones and Transformers star had “extensive” surgery and there is “a substantial” risk of infection or other complications, Michael Norris said.

LaBeouf was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving but police have said the crash was not his fault.

The Transformers sequel, which LaBeouf has been filming, may be rewritten to work the injury into the storyline.

“He will need regular medical supervision until his doctors clear him to return to work,” Mr Norris told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

The actor had a four-hour operation on the hand and his left arm is immobilised from the elbow down, Mr Norris added.

“His doctors remain hopeful that he will fully recover, but due to extensive surgery and the nature of the injuries, there remains a substantial risk of both infection and other complications.”

Michael Bay, who is directing Transformers sequel Revenge of the Fallen, told the Access Hollywood TV show: “His two fingers are pretty smashed.

“But we’re figuring out a way to shoot around it, kind of write it into the story.”

The crash happened in West Hollywood in the early hours of last Sunday.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore has said LaBeouf was not at fault and that the other driver apparently ran a red light.

The actor recently played Mutt Williams alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

BBC News

And in more Transformers related type news (sort of).

Comedian Bernie Mac has spent the weekend in a Chicago hospital after coming down with pneumonia, his publicist has said.

Danica Smith said in a statement that the 50-year-old was “responding well to treatment and will be released soon”.

Ms Smith added the pneumonia was not related to an inflammatory lung disease the comedian also has. That condition has been in remission since 2005.

Mac starred in his own US sitcom, The Bernie Mac Show, from 2001 to 2006.

His performance in the programme earned him numerous award nominations including two at the Emmys and the Golden Globes.

Mac, a Chicago native, also starred in last year’s box office hits Ocean’s Thirteen and Transformers.

BBC News

Now I had heard about this story a while back when it was originally reported that Father Adelir Antonio de Carli floated out over the ocean suspended by hundreds of helium-filled party balloons. Yes, that’s right, party balloons, not the proper hot air balloons that hundreds of people fly and enjoy.

Father Adelir Antonio de Carli staged the stunt that went tragically wrong to help raise money for a chapel for truckers in his highway parish.

Now Father Adelir Antonio de Carli has been found off the coast of southeastern Brazil, police have confirmed.

“We were almost certain that it was the priest due to various elements, such as the clothes and material used in the balloon trip,” Macae’s chief of police, Daniel Bandeira, said on Monday. “The DNA only confirmed our suspicions.”

No shit! No doubt Father Adelir Antonio de Carli will end up in next year’s Darwin Awards. Oh look, as I type this and check, he’s already there. Guess all those truckers that Father Adelir Antonio de Carli wanted to help will have to go cruising elsewhere..

Even now in my older days I still just don’t get some people. Like this sad “artiste”… Jaime del Val wanders the streets of Madrid naked but for camera equipment attached to his genitals. Judging by the photos, I wouldn’t be so brave or brazen. I mean, who’d want to see that!?

Like every red-blooded male he has a completely out-of-proportion view of his manhood and shows off his genitals because he says building are “organs of power”.

While some may see this as an empty boast, Mr del Val actually claims to have a serious message to promote as a self-identified ‘pangender cyborg’. He says his visual actions are part of a multi-protest against homophobia, surveillance, control and consumer society.

He has also staged his “performance” in front of Almudena Cathedral and at the Royal Palace in Madrid, denouncing tourist icons.

Why is there a light bulb in his butt crack?

Metro.co.uk

However I’m not sure how I would have felt if the opening credits were that which were originally planned. Apparently the intended original credits were going to feature shot of refugees and Nazi troops. I understand that they were trying to show what the Home Guard was there to protect us from, but I think it would have set a darker tone for what was essentially a wonderful light hearted comedy.

A row between BBC bosses prompted a complete change to the opening titles of classic comedy Dad’s Army, archive letters have revealed.

BBC One’s controller at the time, Paul Fox, ordered shots of refugees and Nazi troops to be removed from the sequence as he found them offensive.

They were replaced with the now famous swastika-headed arrow sequence.

The BBC’s archives are marking the much-loved series’ 40th anniversary by releasing documents and pictures.

Michael Mills, the corporation’s head of comedy at the time, expressed his “profound disquiet” and “shock” at changes to the title sequence.

A memo in the archive revealed that Mr Mills thought it “right and essential” that viewers were shown the Nazi threat faced by the Home Guard.

“I cannot help wondering whether we, in the comedy department, are controlled by different standards, i.e. clowns must stay clowns,” he added.

They reveal that Fox initially “felt uneasy” about the series but admitted he had been wrong when it became a hit.

In a letter to Dad’s Army’s producer David Croft in 1970 he said: “You made an enormous success of it and like millions of others I am only sorry it has come to an end. Temporarily, I hope.

“Looking back to that first programme, I am glad to say you were right 100%.

Breakthrough territory?

“Thanks to your persistence - and despite that title change - the show became a great hit.”

Croft’s plan had been to illustrate the dangers faced by the elderly volunteers of World War II’s Home Guard, the central characters in the show.

However, at the time Fox was uneasy about whether the series was “advancing comedy’s output in other areas” and asked: “Is this really breakthrough territory?”

The much-loved show ran from 1968 to 1977 and its popularity has endured to this day.

Clive Dunn, Arthur Lowe and Ian Lavender starred in the series, co-created by Croft and Jimmy Perry.

As well as the internal BBC memos, the online archive also features a behind-the-scenes photo gallery and letters from the actors.

BBC News

A portrait of late actor Heath Legder has won the people’s choice award, which is voted for by members of the public in Australia.

Vincent Fantauzzo’s painting was a finalist in the 2008 Archibald Prize - Australia’s top prize for portraiture - but missed out on the top award.

“I wanted it to be dealing with self, your own consciousness and your thoughts,” said Mr Fantauzzo.

Fantauzzo has donated the work to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

More than 32,000 people voted for the portrait which drew record crowds to the exhibition.

BBC News

The first article “Batman’s nemesis crowns dark tale“, is more of an overview of the film with some background information provided by The Dark Knight’s director Christopher Nolan.

“Filming with Heath was my favourite part of the movie, just to watch him work. I felt like we went into that day not knowing what we were going to get and coming out with something that was satisfying.”

Christopher Nolan

I found Lizo Mzimba’s review of The Dark Knight for the BBC News website “Review: Batman’s limelight tussle” more interesting of the two. What caught my eye was her (I’m guessing it’s a woman) view that Christian Bale’s performance was really impressive, stating that Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker is “a one-note performance - a pretty good note, it must be said - but one note nonetheless”.

Bale’s Bruce Wayne/Batman has layers of subtlety to it, and his portrayal of the superhero is so grounded in reality that you almost take it for granted, especially if you are being distracted by the sinister pyrotechnics of his nemesis.

Lizo Mzimba goes on to postulate if Oscar’s are awarded to The Dark Knight, it will be Heath Ledger who wins, while Christian Bale won’t even get a nomination.

In a previous post about Christian Bale, I wondered if he was angry with all the attention Heath Ledger was getting. I can’t say that there are many good films starring Heath Ledger. I know it’s a personal thing in that I liked 10 Things I Hate About You, A Knight’s Tale and The Brothers Grimm, but The Order and Brokeback Mountain were awful. This isn’t necessarily a criticism of Heath Ledger’s performance, which I find to be really good. It’s just that he hasn’t starred in anything brilliant, possibly until now. I know that Heath’s death was a shock to everyone who knew him and his fans, but is all this talk about Oscar’s because his performance is deserving, or is it because it’s his last film?

The sixth film follows the young wizard as he fights to overcome the new challenges brought about by Lord Voldemort’s return.

The last Harry Potter film The Order of the Phoenix was the top-grossing British movie in the UK and Ireland in 2007, taking £470m at the global box office.

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince has been chosen for this year’s Royal Film Performance.

The sixth Potter instalment will receive its European premiere in front of a yet-to-be announced member of the Royal Family on 17 November.

Actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint reprise their roles, while Jim Broadbent joins the cast.

BBC News

The curious heavenly light show was spotted by Wayne and Jo Taylor as they enjoyed a smoke outside their home in Barnsey Gardens, Ashburton.

Wayne, 40, said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life before.”

A neighbour told him: “I’m glad you saw them too because I don’t want people thinking I’m mad.”

He counted about a dozen, slow-moving circular lights in formation heading towards Dartmoor at 10.20pm.

At the same time star-gazers across the country were being similarly gob smacked by the apparitions with 200 seen at various points between the South West and Yorkshire.

A spokesman for UFO Investigations UK immediately called for a Government inquiry to explain the deluge of reports from Sussex and Bedfordshire and from Devon to Lancashire and beyond.

“The whole of Ashburton is now talking about it,” said Wayne, who captured mobile phone pictures of the happening high above his home.

“I have absolutely no rational explanation for what I saw. The lights moved at one stage at a 90 degree angle.

“They were not these lanterns that people keep reporting. There was no way of telling how far or close they were. It’s very difficult to explain them. They were quite random.”

The spokesman for UFO Investigations UK confirmed that more than 200 people had reported sightings across the UK. Normally the organisation receives 10 to 15 sightings a day.

Just 24 hours later John Farley, a retired bus driver from Kingskerswell, was snapping away at Berry Head in Brixham with a view to increasing his photo portfolio for local competitions.

Glancing through his images on the computer at home, he spotted one which stood out from the crowd because, taking centre stage, was a UFO.

His panorama of the Bay bathed in glorious summer sunshine had a blot on the seascape which had him perplexed.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said, scratching his head.

Close scrutiny by the Herald Express picture desk could not help him with his inquiries.

One expert said: “The picture was taken at a thousandth of a second at f4 which would normally make any moving object pin-sharp.

“The fact that John’s object is blurred is a bit baffling. I’m afraid we can’t identify what’s there except to say it’s moving pretty damn quickly.”

This is South Devon

The 22-year-old was arrested in Los Angeles the early hours of Sunday, having suffered head, knee and hand injuries in the crash.

Detectives have established that the other driver involved in the accident passed through a red light.

Mr LaBeouf’s pick-up truck rolled over as a result of the collision.

Sergeant Scott Wolf of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it was “immediately apparent” to officers on the scene that Mr LaBeouf was intoxicated.

The actor had to have surgery on his left hand but plans to return to work on the Transformers sequel within a month, according to his publicist.

BBC News

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) says only programmes and other Hamlet merchandise can be autographed at the stage door.

Hamlet director, Gregory Doran, recently said fans arrive at the stage door with “bags” of Doctor Who merchandise for Tennant to autograph.

In a statement, the RSC said the level of interest in Tennant and Stewart meant “