Read John Leslie’s statement
John Leslie read out a statement yesterday passionately declaring his innocence over a rape charge – and claimed he did not even know his accuser. Standing outside his solicitor's office in London, John told the assembled press, "I am asked to recall events from one night in November 1995. I defy anyone to remember what they were doing 13 years ago on a particular night." he then when on to add, "I am accused of attacking a person 13 years ago. I do not even know who this person is." The former Blue Peter and This Morning host expressed his anger that he had been "dragged through the mud" again and said the accuser's claim was "totally untrue". John, who was cleared of another rape charge five years ago, went on to blast, "I certainly did not attack this person as I never attacked anyone. When, I ask, is this nightmare going to end?" The 43 year old was released on bail yesterday.

Rhys heads back to Wales to get over Sienna
Rhys Ifans is heading back home to Wales in an attempt to finally get over the woman who broke his heart – Sienna Miller *shudders*. The Welsh actor, who is said to be distraught by the split, has told friends that he will head back to the valleys in a bid to dry out and sort himself out after Sienna dumped him over the phone. Talking to a pal yesterday, he said, "I'm going back to Wales tonight for two weeks to get out of London and get away from it all. I just want to get back to my roots and be around my Welsh friends for a while." Rhys, who has taken the split badly, has been pictured looking the worse for wear on several occasions and had a final blow out on the opening day at the All England Club. A friend added, "Rhys has been partying very hard since the split. He knows it has to stop so he's going back to Wales to calm down for a while."

Brit back in court for kids
Becoming an auntie has made Britney Spears realise how much she misses her own kids. The troubled singer left her little sister Jamie Lynn's side in Mississippi yesterday in order to fly back to LA and see her sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Sources at the Mississippi hospital, where Jamie Lynn and baby Maddie are currently staying, say they saw Britney wandering around the corridors looking upset. She was also snapped at LA airport looking like she'd been crying – poor thing. Britney's ex husband Kevin Federline currently has full custody of the couple's two boys, and last night Brit made the journey to court to ask for further visitation rights.

Sir Alan for King! Well, Mayor at least...
Sir Alan Sugar is clearly a clever man for netting himself a serious wad of money and all that, but standing for Mayor would really be the cherry on the cake, wouldn't it?! Well, Sugarbush – as wannabe Apprentice Claire Young fondly calls him – may be doing just that, telling BBC London, "Someone like me would be the right kind of person to look after a city like London." Ooh we love it, we just wonder who he'd fire first...