Jo Shapcott has been named as the surprise winner of Britain's Costa Book of the Year award for her slim volume of poetry in part inspired by a battle against breast cancer.
It is the second year in a row that poetry has picked up the 30,000-pound (47,000-dollar, 35,000-euro) honor and commentators said the result was evidence of a "renaissance" in the genre's fortunes.
Full StoryThe invites haven't been sent yet — but some European royals seem to have been given a quiet tap on the shoulder.
The crown prince of Serbia and ex-King Michael of Romania say they're among the hundreds of privileged guests expected at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in London on April 29.
Full StoryThe "Sex and the City" sequel and the third installment of teen vampire series "Twilight" were top of the flops, as nominees for Hollywood's Oscars spoof -- the Razzies -- were revealed Monday.
Renowned Hollywood actors and actresses Jennifer Aniston, Ashton Kutcher, Robert Pattinson, Miley Cyrus and Barbra Streisand were also nominated for their parts in 2010 major studio productions by the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, which organizes the annual salute to the worst of the worst.
Full StorySir Elton John is "fed up" with being a treated like a "second-class citizen" in the U.S.
That's why the 63-year-old gay singer said he took a stand last week during a performance at a private
Full StoryOprah Winfrey has staged many a family reunion on her talk show. But on Monday's episode, she promises, the drama will be about her.
Winfrey told viewers Thursday that she will have a reunion of her own on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." She wouldn't say with whom — only that it involves something she's learned about recently and is known to only a few people close to her.
Full StoryBritish pop star Boy George has given back to Cyprus an 18th century icon after unwittingly buying the stolen artifact 26 years ago from a London dealer, the Cyprus Orthodox Church said Thursday.
An eagle-eyed priest had spotted the post-Byzantine icon of Christ hanging on the former Culture Club singer's wall during a Dutch television show.
Full StoryBritish super spy James Bond will head to the glitzy Gulf emirate of Dubai, itself no stranger to real-life espionage and assassination, in a new book titled "Carte Blanche," its author said Tuesday.
"This place is... so culturally vibrant, so picturesque, so full of fascinating, multicultural individuals," Jeffery Deaver said during a talk in Dubai. "This is an exotic city that is worthy of James Bond."
Full StoryFor generations, Playboy's image has been "Entertainment for Men." Now, it's TV network wants these men to watch their movies and shows with their wives and women friends.
The premium cable network, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, is starting "TV for 2," slightly steamy programming designed for women and men to experience together. The idea was unwrapped over the weekend with the premiere of "Brooklyn Kinda Love," a reality series made by the producers of HBO's "Taxicab Confessions."
Full StoryHost Ricky Gervais humorously insulted nearly every A-lister in the room at the Golden Globes, while the big winner was "The Social Network" — a movie about a guy who riles up everyone on campus with his new and invasive website.
It all seemed fitting Sunday night.
Full StoryTwo matching portraits of Princess Diana and Prince Charles by pop art icon Andy Warhol have gone on display for the first time since 1982, ahead of being sold, a London gallery said.
The paintings show Charles, the heir to the British throne, in naval attire against a blue background. His first wife Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997, wears a formal dress and is pictured against a pink background.
Full Story