A DECISION to omit a direct reference to Princess Diana from daily prayers in the Lords and Commons has been defended by the British government. Lords leader Viscount Cranborne said she was now included in the prayers' reference to "all the Royal Family".
Meanwhile, Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd (60), appeared in court yesterday, charged with driving in Oban, on Scotland's west coast, while more than two and a half times over the legal alcohol limit and refusing to give a breath test when stopped by police. She has denied the charges. The trial has been adjourned until later this month.
Chris Evans and Vic Reeves have been shortlisted for the British Comedy Awards, Evans for his controversial Channel 4 show TFI Friday, and Reeves for BBC2's Shooting Stars comedy quiz.
The ceremony, hosted by Jonathan Ross later this month, will be screened live on ITV to an estimated 12 million viewers.
EastEnders is ahead of Coronation Street in ratings figures issued yesterday.
The BBC soap, which has been courting viewers with hard hitting storylines, last week had an average 19.7 million viewers, while the Street averaged 16.8 million.
Frank Sinatra's publicist - and a hospital spokesman have denied that the 80 year old singer had anything more than a "pinched nerve" when he was admitted to hospital on Friday. But US columnist Army Archerd said she spoke to Sinatra's daughter Nancy, and was told he had a minor bout of pneumonia, but that his condition had improved.
The Beatles' Anthology 3 has entered the US charts at number one - their third album to do so inside a year.
The compilation of rare tracks and studio outtakes from the last part of the band's career is their 18th number one album in the US.