The 9 0'Clock News – Fri 17 Jul

Posted by heatworld on Friday 17 Jul 2009

Filed under: Alan Carr, Alesha Dixon, Arlene Phillips, Harry Potter, Justin Lee Collins, Michael Jackson, Strictly Come Dancing

Justin and Alan split!
Despite the official statement, we’re really hoping someone at Channel 4 has been necking too much Sambuca and totally got this wrong, because otherwise Justin Lee Collins and Alan Carr are SPLITTING UP. According to reports, their hit show The Sunday Night Project will end after three years, as Alan wants to focus on his solo projects. Alan, 33, has signed an exclusive £3million two-year deal with C4 and will film 20 more episodes of his Chatty Man talk show over the next year, while JLC will shoot another series of his ITV2 chat show. Last night a C4 source confirmed, “Alan and Justin have loved the Sunday Night Project, but the time has come to go their separate ways. Alan was the one to first say he didn’t want to do any more – he’s moving on to bigger things.”

Jacko doctor may face murder charge
Detectives investigating the death of Michael Jackson are said to now be focusing on the star's doctor, Conrad Murray. Dr Murray was the first medical professional on the scene following the star's cardiac arrest, and he has since been criticised for performing CPR on a bed and not calling for help sooner. Police are more concerned about his links to the drug propofol, which is what is believed to have killed Michael. It is a powerful sedative that should only really be used in hospitals, but Jacko was given it through an IV drip to help him sleep. One doctor described it as the equivalent to "using a shotgun to kill a mouse". Now prosecutors will have to decide whether the person who gave Jacko this drug should be charged with manslaughter or even second-degree murder. The LAPD have said that they cannot treat the case as a homicide until the results of the autopsy come through, and those are expected next week.

Strictly row – now MPs are getting involved
What is it with MPs and Strictly Come Dancing? First the very important Government bods were getting their wigs in a twist about John Sergeant and his two left feet, and now there’s a hullabaloo about Arlene Phillips. MP Harriet Harman has accused the Beeb of ageism after 66-year-old Arlene was replaced with singer Alesha Dixon, 30, and has demanded that she’s reinstated. She told the House Of Commons yesterday, “I think it’s absolutely shocking that Arlene Phillips is not going to be a judge on Strictly Come Dancing. And as Equality Minister, I am suspicious that there is age discrimination there. So I’d like to take this opportunity of telling the BBC – it is not too late, we want Arlene Phillips in the next edition of Strictly.” Erm, anyone else think that there are more important issues for the Government to be focusing on?!

Harry Potter pothead facing jail
Harry Potter actor Jamie Waylett was yesterday warned he could face jail after growing a cannabis farm in his bedroom. The 19 year old, who plays the character of Slytherin Vincent Crabbe in the hit films, sat with his head down in court yesterday after admitting the charges. Police had raided Waylett's bedroom at his mum's house in north London after finding cannabis on his person. Once at the house they discovered ten cannabis plants growing inside tents in his garden. Jamie has since admitted he grew them for personal use. This type of crime can carry a sentence of up to 14 years, but yesterday the young actor's lawyer asked the judge not to make an example of him "and wreck his career". However, the judge told Jamie sternly, "The production of cannabis is a very serious matter. I'm not giving you any promises."