Russ & Ross: the latest
After days of controversy, the BBC have now said that they hope a line can be drawn under the whole Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross prank call debacle. Shortly after the Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas announced her resignation yesterday evening, the BBC confirmed that Jonathan Ross would be suspended on zero pay for 12 weeks, resulting in a loss of approximately £1.5million for the star. As well as his radio show, Jonathan's Friday night chat show and his Film 2008 programmes have been cancelled, and he will no longer be hosting the Royal Variety Performance. Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said in a letter to her bosses yesterday, "It is a matter of the greatest possible sadness to me that a programme on my network has been the cause of such controversy. The events of the last two weeks happened on my watch, I believe it is right that I take responsibility for what has happened." Supporters of Jonathan Ross' turned up at the main BBC building in west London with placards yesterday, but many fellow industry workers have been quick to damn what happened. Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans told the press that he thought Ross deserved his punishment for what he called a "huge mistake". "It was a huge mistake and we all wish it hadn't happened," he said, "I'm absolutely aware of what went out and it shouldn't have happened." The DJ also went on to say how sad he was that Lesley had resigned, saying she was the "best boss" he's ever had. The BBC will also be issuing an on-air apology to listeners over the incident. Blimey! We can't quite believe that all this has happened, can you?
 
Jennifer Hudson sets up murder foundation
It's been a matter of days since the horrific murder of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, yet amazingly she has already found the strength to set up a foundation for other families going through the pain of losing a loved one. Her family has announced that the foundation will be called Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims and is named in honour of the singer-actress's mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King. In the statement the family said, "The specific purpose of the Foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime...This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counselling."
Donations to the Hudson-King Foundation can be sent:
c/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP
Attn: William L. Abrams, Esq.
237 West 35th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001, USA
 
George heads to the US
Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson is looking to leave Britain to live in America. George has already had huge success, starring in West End show Into The Hoods, and now wants to hone his dance skills away from the public eye – and he thinks the best place to do it is the US. George said, "I think America has the best dancers in the world, and I could learn a lot over there. I've got plenty of time to be in the spotlight and be famous later in life. I want to be the best at what I do and a move to the US could be great for my long-term career." See ya then, George.
 
Jenny Frost, the new face of Playboy? What?
This has to be one of the most random bits of news we've heard in a long time... Ex-Atomic Kitten Jenny Frost has become the new face of Playboy lingerie in the UK. Not only that, but the 30-year-old former singer even went all the way to the Playboy Mansion in LA to celebrate with Hugh Hefner. Dressed up as a saucy circus ringmaster, complete with top hat and leather whip, Jenny happily posed seductively with a happy-looking Hef. The young mum has been pretty much under the radar for the past few years, and we can't actually remember seeing her much since her stint on I'm A Celeb back in 2005. Still, we think she's done well to become an underwear model just a year after having a baby, and she definitely looks the part. We just can't help but think it's all a bit random...