Vinnie Jones doesn't turn up for court date

FOOTBALLER turned actor Vinnie Jones did not appear in court today to face assault charges after a bar brawl in the United States.

The actor was treated in hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota earlier this month for head and nose injuries after reportedly being hit in the face with a beer glass when a fight broke out in Wiley's Tavern in the town.

He did not appear at Minnehaha County Court this morning for an arraignment hearing but his legal team requested a dispositional conference where lawyers can discuss a plea bargain or settlement.

He entered no formal plea but court staff said that his legal team indicated he could plead not guilty at the next hearing which has been set for January 21, 2009.

Want to be on the next Big Brother?

FANCY your chances at being on television? The next wave of Big Brother auditions now allows hopeful contestants to submit YouTube auditions via an online "auditions channel".

The open audition process for Big Brother 10 will kick off in Edinburgh in the New Year - and now hopefuls can also upload a one-minute audition video to impress producers.

Those who shine could be called to two closed auditions - where they would not have to queue.

Potential housemates can audition at http://www.youtube.com/bigbrotherauditions.

'Leona and I are completely different!' says X Factor Alex

ALEXANDRA Burke feels there is room for her and Leona Lewis, comparing herself with Beyonce and Lewis with Mariah Carey.

X Factor winner Burke, who sang with Beyonce in the final of the show, said she and Lewis are completely different acts.

Burke told Heat magazine: "At the end of the day, Leona is a fantastic singer and a fantastic person, but people need to realise that we are completely different.

"There is enough room for both of us. Leona is a little Mariah.

"With me, I hope I can show that I'm a little Beyonce."

The singer continued: "Beyonce and I got on really well during the show and I asked if I could support her on her tour and she said yes, so we're trying to make it happen."

Having met Kate Moss while taking part in the show, Burke said the model had some great advice.

She said: "Kate said 'Always put your heels on and don't say 'yes' to every single item of free clothing'."

Cheryl Cole named Beauty of the Year

CHERYL Cole has rounded off a successful year by topping two beauty polls - click for her best pictures.

Cole was named Superdrug's beauty icon of the year as well as Heat magazine's fittest British female celebrity body.

Cole, 25, stepped into Sharon Osbourne's shoes this year to become a judge on X Factor.

Second place in the Superdrug poll of more than 2,500 people went to last year's winner Keira Knightley, while Kate Winslet collected the bronze beauty medal.

Despite the furore over Fern Britton's gastric band operation, she came in eighth place, beating Carla Bruni (click for pictures) and Tess Daly.

Meanwhile, Heat's survey of more than 2,000 people saw Cole, whose small frame has come in for scrutiny, named as having Britain's fittest female celebrity body.

But while most women polled thought Cole had the fittest body, only 12.9% of men agreed, those behind the survey said.

Cole was second overall, with American actress Jessica Alba coming out in first place.

David Beckham was named as having the fittest male celebrity body - while Gavin and Stacey star James Corden was perhaps a surprise name on the list in 11th place.

Elbow voted 2008's top album

ELBOW have rounded off a breakthrough year with their album topping an annual "poll of polls" list.

Their Nationwide Mercury Prize-winning record The Seldom Seen Kid came out top in the eighth such chart, which combines the choices of critics.

The HMV Poll of Polls is collated each December, adding up album of the year nominations from music writers across specialist press, national media and online sites.

HMV staff also vote, as do customers on HMV's social network site getcloser.com.

The top 50 list is headed by the music writers' overall choice of album of the year. Previous winners include Daft Punk, OutKast, Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem.

First look at the blinging Celeb Big Brother house

HERE are some glimpses into the new Celebrity Big Brother house, showing carousel horses in the garden and a glamorous bathroom fit for the stars. Click here to get a full tour of the blinging new pad!

The celebrities entering the house will be officially revealed on Friday - the day the show starts, although unconfirmed rumours of who will take part have already been rife.

Names appearing in reports of those tipped to be poised to enter the house have included presenter Ulrika Jonsson, Liberty X's Michelle Heaton and former Sugababe Mutya Buena.

The pictures released by the Channel 4 show reveal the bathroom area decked out with bling including gold statues.

A regal-looking chaise longue in red and gold also adorns the house.

The bedroom has a red and brown theme, with large red stars running through the carpet.

A couple of exercise bikes also feature in the swanky pad, helping the contestants to keep in shape.

The garden, with its walls painted ice blue, features three white carousel horses as well as an enclosed area behind bars.

This year's non-celebrity version of the show had featured a "jail" in the garden, for housemates needing to be punished.

Duffy and X Factor's Alexandra named top singles of 2008

DUFFY and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke were named as this year's music champions as the full-year charts were announced today.

Burke's version of Hallelujah flew off the shelves to become the biggest-selling single of the year and Duffy's Rockferry was comfortably the biggest-selling album of 2008, according to the Official Charts Company data.

The results also showed Syco Music, the company set up by X Factor judge Simon Cowell, released the two most popular singles of this year and the fourth most popular album - Leona Lewis's Spirit.

New Year quotes: Cameron Diaz resolves to start wearing bra in 2009

"I have always had the same New Year resolutions: to stop smoking, to start wearing a bra and to stop shopping." - Cameron Diaz.

"To find a husband." - Camp TV presenter Gok Wan's New Year resolution.

"Here! Sign this would you? It's for my wife. I cannot stand you myself." - Eurovision legend Terry Wogan describing how he was approached by an autograph hunter in London's West End.

"Footballers are the worst-dressed people in the world." - Peter Crouch, Portsmouth and England striker.

"I decided to put my family last. It is the best thing a woman can do. Put your family last and you'll go on to great achievements. Put your family first and you will never get a word of thanks for it." Dame Edna Everage (alias Barry Humphries).

"As we chatted, a bevy of beautiful woman buzzed around him like vultures around a rotting antelope." Piers Morgan describing what happened to Madonna's ex Guy Ritchie at a Christmas party.

"For all the student arrogance and stupid reasons that only a 20-year-old could come up with, it still remains the thing that I am most proud of in my life, of owning that decision and doing it." - The Prestige and Vicky Cristina Barcelona actress Rebecca Hall on her decision to drop out of Cambridge.

"Every year, like a beauty pageant candidate, I resolve to bring peace to the world, generally improve the lot of mankind and in a spare moment learn to speak Russian. This determination can often last well into the second week of January." - Radio 4 icon Sandi Toksvig.

Beard of the Year winners

PRINCE William proved he was a true "hair" to the throne today as he was honoured for giving beards a positive image.

William, who has adopted thick facial hair in recent weeks, finished as a runner-up in the annual Beard of the Year award.

The overall title was shared between the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and ageing singer Tom Jones.

The Beard Liberation Front, an informal network of beard wearers, has recognised Britain's best beards for the past 14 years.

Top films announced

FILMS including Eagle Eye, X Files and - surprisingly - the critically acclaimed Hunger were today named among the year's biggest turkeys.

The Dark Knight, starring the late Heath Ledger, was the year's best movie experience, followed by Mama Mia! and No Country For Old Men, according to a survey of almost 2,500 film lovers.

Confusing thriller Eagle Eye came bottom of the pile, just below stoner comedy Pineapple Express and romcom Fool's Gold.