Face off: Billy Joel has cancelled the remainder of his European dates with Elton John, because of persistent laryngitis and asthmatic bronchitis. The pull-out has put the kibosh on a HBO special which was to be filmed in Vienna.

A close game, Ron: World Cup song, Vindaloo, has been pipped for the Number One slot by the reworked Three Lions '98. Vindaloo features comic actor Keith Allen, artist Damien Hirst and Blur's Alex James, and was widely favoured to beat the repeat performance by comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, and Lightning Seeds' leader, Ian Broudie.