The two-year marriage of Paul Gascoigne (31) ended in the London divorce courts yesterday. A judge granted his wife, Sheryl (33), an uncontested divorce after she alleged that the soccer player's behaviour was so bad she could no longer be expected to live with him.
Gascoigne married Sheryl in July 1996. But four months later she appeared in public bruised and with a black eye. Gascoigne admitted to losing his temper and hitting her during a domestic dispute.
Divorce papers were first filed a year ago but the couple appeared to be trying for a reconciliation in June when Gascoigne was thrown out of the England squad on the eve of the World Cup soccer tournament in France.
A juror who fell in love with a man on trial for murder has been jailed for obstruction of justice after the man was acquitted. "May God forgive you," shouted Gillian Guess at the Vancouver judge after he jailed her for 18 months.
Nine of Guess's former colleagues in the jury box were called to testify, marking the first time that jurors in North America were legally allowed to reveal proceedings that they are otherwise forbidden to discuss publicly.
Anthony Hopkins stood in the shadow of Snowdon yesterday in a campaign to buy part of the mountain. The star of Silence of the Lambs was in north Wales to support the National Trust campaign to buy more than 4,000 acres of the southern flank of the 3,557 ft peak.
Des O'Connor is to quiz former Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell on his new TV series - and he hopes to coax her out of her singing silence.
The presenter disclosed yesterday that the ex-Spice Girl, who quit the group in May, is to be a guest when his show returns next month.
Rock group Bush yesterday were voted Best British Band at the Kerrang! Awards 1998.
The London-based quartet, whose fortunes have been greater in the US than in Britain, were recognised by readers of the specialist magazine at the annual event which is rock music's equivalent of the Oscars.
Ronnie Barker is coming out of retirement as a writer with his debut play - as a one-off to help his actress daughter.
Barker (69), who now runs an antique shop, said his first play, Mum, written as a showcase for his daughter, Charlotte, will also be his last.
Formerly half of The Two Ronnies and star of Porridge and Open All Hours, Barker is adamant he will never return to the screen or stage himself.