Duffy: "Me and Mr Jones"

Posted by Jane Murphy

Duffy has laughed off claims that she's the love child of fellow Welsh warbler Tom Jones.

Apparently, US fans are convinced the two must be related because... erm... they're both from Wales and they both have powerful voices. How ridiculous! Still, it's not unusual...

"I'm dealing with this on a daily basis," the singer told a US radio show. "It's kind of bizarre. You've just got to let go and almost laugh at it, because you can't control what people say or assume."

Incidentally, Duffy's real dad John runs a pub in her home town of Nefyn in Gwynedd, north Wales. "He's such a sweet guy," says Duffy. "I don't know if he's read the accusations about potential fatherhood."

Hmmm... I wonder what her mum, Shirley Bassey, has to say about it. (Only kidding, Duffy!)

Pictures: PA

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Off for a swim, Jim?

Posted by Jane Murphy

Malibu was awash with celebrities and paparazzi on Friday - as Americans celebrated Independence Day in the sun.

Honestly - you couldn't pop for a paddle or nip for an ice cream without bumping into the likes of Nicole Richie, Kate Beckinsale, Ozzy Osbourne or Lance Armstrong.

Still, Jim Carrey did his best to deflect attention from everyone else - by borrowing girlfriend Jenny McCarthy's black swimsuit for a stroll along the beach. And very fetching he looked, too - in a Borat kinda way...

Pictures: Big Pictures

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Madonna speaks out

Posted by Jane Murphy

See? Even the Queen of Pop gets caught in the rain from time to time... Madonna and her brood didn't quite manage to dodge a downpour when they turned up for a Kabbalah centre in New York on Saturday.

But Her Madgesty could be forgiven for leaving home without an umbrella. After all, she's currently preoccupied with trying to shake off those pesky rumours about an "inappropriate relationship" with New York Yankees player Alex Rodriguez and impending divorce from Guy Ritchie.

The latest? To back up last week's strongly worded denials from her publicist, Madge has just taken the unusual step of releasing a statement in her own words...

"My husband and I are not planning on getting a divorce," she says. "I know Alex Rodriguez through Guy Oseary, who manages both of us. I brought my kids to a Yankees game. I am not romantically involved in any way with Alex. I have nothing to do with the state of his marriage or what spiritual path he may choose to study.

"I have learned over the years not to take accusations and the many false reports about me very seriously," she continues. "I also appreciate how fiction and fact seem to be perceived as one and the same by people who read both newspapers and the internet."

Right - got that? There is no marriage crisis. Everything's fine. Move on! There's nothing to see here...

Picture: Big Pictures

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Weekly blog round-up

Have your say on the stories that got us all talking this week:

Has Cheryl Cole got the ultimate fantasy body? >>

Will Heather Mills find sex in the city? >>

Has Thierry Henry lost his fashion sense? >>

Join the campaign to bring back Kylie's hotpants >>

Watch Jordan's impassioned High Court speech >>

Pictures: Wenn, PA, Big Pictures

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Kylie's right royal faux pas

Posted by Jane Murphy

Here's a slightly weary-looking Kylie Minogue leaving a Kensington pub at chucking-out time last night, having spent the evening celebrating with friends and family.

The occasion? As you've doubtless already heard, everyone's favourite pop princess was awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace earlier in the day.

A cheery Prince Charles stood in for his mum at the ceremony, and engaged Ms Minogue in an unprecedented 33 seconds of hushed conversation. "He just asked what I'm up to at the moment and said he was happy to see me better," Kylie later revealed.

But in a shocking break with royal protocol, Kylie ended their exchange by clutching Prince Charles's hand in hers. Oooh - the horror! According to my Big Girls' Bumper Book of Royal Etiquette, one is normally obliged to curtsey or simply indulge in a formal handshake on such occasions.

Still, Charlie didn't appear to be too bothered by the brief display of intimacy. In fact, he looked absolutely delighted. However, royal advisers had to step in to stop the overexcited prince from rallying guests to "do the Locomotion" round the Buckingham Palace ballroom afterwards. Possibly...

Pictures: Wenn, PA

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Jordan wins libel battle

Posted by Jane Murphy

Congratulations to Jordan and Peter Andre, who yesterday accepted "substantial damages" over a News of the World article portraying them as bad parents.

The Sunday tabloid has now retracted all comments made in the story, which was published in February.

Following the hearing, Jordan read out a prepared statement on the steps of the High Court. "Pete and I love our kids and would do anything for them," she told the assembled throng. "We came here today to see that justice was done and that our names were cleared."

Watch Jordan reading her full statement here - and look out for the slightly inappropriate "sexy shimmy" she gives at the end...

Picture: PA

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Cheryl's our top bod!

Posted by Jane Murphy

Cheryl Cole may have been the subject of many a recent tabloid tale about her "worryingly skinny" frame - but she's still the owner of the UK's "ultimate fantasy body", according to a new poll.

The Girls Aloud star knocked fellow X Factor judge Dannii Minogue into joint second place in the survey of 2,000 men and women, conducted last month by YouGov.

Dannii was joined in the runner-up slot by lip-licking TV chef Nigella Lawson, while Mel B, Madonna and Lily Allen occupied the next three places on the list. Hmmm... There's quite a mixture of body shapes and sizes there, don't you think?

So does Cheryl deserve this glowing accolade - or should somebody else have topped the list? Tell us what you think.

Picture: Big Pictures

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Happy birthday, Lindsay!

Posted by Jane Murphy

Everyone's favourite newly reformed party girl Lindsay Lohan turned 22 yesterday. Blimey - it seems only yesterday she was celebrating turning 21. Doesn't time fly when you're in and out of rehab?

To mark the occasion, Li-Lo went for lunch at La Scala in Beverly Hills, along with best friend/rumoured lover Samantha Ronson and a few close pals.

Mind you, from our pic, it looks like Li-Lo wasn't too keen on allowing the paparazzi to join in her fun. And frankly, if I was a snapper, I wouldn't fancy my chances in a stand-off with scary-looking Samantha... Would you?

Picture: Wenn

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That's just silly, Thierry

Posted by Jane Murphy

Is French footie favourite Thierry Henry launching a one-man campaign to become the subject of worldwide photo caption competitions?

When this shot of him posing with two whales turned up at our picture agency earlier in the week, I chose to ignore it. And that's in spite of the plethora of lukewarm "Barcelona unveil shock new strike-force"-style captions it so richly deserves...

But then he went out on the streets of New York, wearing this tie-print T-shirt - so I felt the time had come for him to make an appearance on this blog.

Is it just me or is that shirt just a teeny-weeny bit silly?

Pictures: Wenn, Big Pictures

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What not to... waaaaah!

Posted by Jane Murphy

Look, everyone! It's self-proclaimed style gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine at a press conference in Dublin yesterday afternoon.

Just one question... would you take advice on looking good from these two?

Picture: Big Pictures

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