Australian author Peter Carey, who has already won the Man Booker prize twice, has made the shortlist for this year's prize.

Nominated artists Paul Weller, Dizzee Rascal and The XX are among the acts arriving in London for this year's prestigious Mercury Music Prize.

Mark David Chapman, who killed John Lennon, has been denied parole and will remain imprisoned for at least two more years, officials say.

Animated film Toy Story 3 has become the second highest grossing film in the UK.

More than one million people tune in to see the launch of ITV's new breakfast show Daybreak, but the BBC wins the ratings battle.

Film director Clive Donner, who helped launch the careers of actors such as Sir Ian McKellen and Alan Bates, dies at the age of 84.

Sales of rock singles have dropped 18% in the UK this year, according to figures from the Official Charts Company.

Stephen Fry criticises a culture of fear at the BBC which is creating "incredibly bland" programmes

Emmerdale wins three prizes at the TV Choice Awards, with EastEnders taking the prize for best soap in its 25th anniversary year.

The music mogul could ditch next year's X Factor and says he only has a contract with ITV1 for this year's series.

Terry Gilliam says his latest attempt to make a film about Don Quixote has stalled again after his financial backers pulled out.

New TV versions of hit animation movies Shrek and Kung Fu will premiere on US TV later this year.

The club for dedicated fans of Dennis the Menace is to be replaced with a website in a bid to attract more members.

George Clooney's The American is top film at the North American box office over a lacklustre Labour Day weekend.

Charles Saatchi's plan to donate his gallery to the British public hits a stumbling block after talks with Arts Council England break down.

Contemporary artwork owned by model Jerry Hall are expected to fetch more than آ£1.5 million when they are sold in October at Sotheby's in London.

Tony Blair cancels a planned book signing in London on Wednesday to prevent causing the police "a lot of hassle".

Charges against two people accused of trying to extort money from actor John Travolta, following the death of his son in the Bahamas, are dropped.

American Pie actor Chris Klein pleads no contest to drink-driving and will serve four years' probation.

Gone With The Wind actress Cammie King Conlon, who played the daughter of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, dies aged 76.

Firefighters spend the night tackling a fire at a disused nightclub where drummer Ringo Starr made his Beatles debut.

Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle founds a new record label and will release her debut solo album, Insatiable, through Tesco.

The Brit Awards are to move to the O2 Arena in east London from Earl's Court in the west of the city.

Bruce Forsyth quits Strictly Come Dancing's Sunday results show and is replaced by Claudia Winkleman.

The replacement for GMTV, hosted by former BBC presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley, debuts on television.

Songwriter Kara DioGuardi becomes the latest judge on American Idol to quit this year.

The life of a movie star from his 11-year-old daughter's perspective is the subject of Sophia Coppola's Somewhere, which has just premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Star of Tamara Drewe Gemma Arterton has said she did not want to play the character, because "I didn't like her" - but director Stephen Frears convinced her.

Angelina Jolie has visited Nowshera in north-west Pakistan to highlight the plight of more than 20 million people affected by the country's worst ever floods.

Heather Small is joining Lula and Anastacia in this year's Here Come The Girls tour, after a hugely successful run for the show last year.

Emmerdale dominates the TV Choice Awards, Cheryl discusses her divorce and the X Factor tantrum twosome get a gig and the rest of the showbiz news.

Tamil director Mani Ratnam has been honoured with the Jaeger-LeCoultre - Glory to the Filmmaker Award at the Venice Film Festival.

Andrea Bocelli is inviting survivors of the attacks on 11 September 2001 in New York to concerts on the Amalfi coast.

Hugh Quarshie discovers his ancestory gives him the right to sit as a village chief in Ghana

What Mercury Prize winners tell us about British music

A guide to the authors who are up for this year's literary prize

Tamara Drewe explores the dark side of the countryside

Bafta-winning This Is England gets four-part TV sequel

Mercury prize-winner Guy Garvey talks to nominees I Am Kloot

What does Mad Men tell us about this most mythologised decade?