Rupert Murdoch-owned British gossip papers News of The World and The Sun have been implicated in a massive scandal involving paying private detectives to tap into the phones of thousands of celebrities and public figures including Gwyneth Paltrow, George Michael, Elle Macpherson, and now-deceased Jade Goody. Those are just some of the names which have been released. News of The World went to great lengths to conceal this illegal activity, paying off three victims and ensuring that all the evidence in the cases were sealed. Journalists are said to have hired a private investigator who, along with illegal wiretapping, regularly conducted searches of police databases and paid off employees of various companies and groups for information. What’s more is that The Daily Mail is involved too even though they’re owed by another company, because they hired that same investigator to get information illegally.

Murdoch owns News Corp, the parent company to Fox News, The New York Post, and The Wall St. Journal. He denies knowing anything about this illegal activity. The editor mentioned, Andrew Coulson, worked for News of The World from 2003 to January, 2007, when he resigned over the royal phone tapping scandal. (In August, 2006, journalist Clive Goodman was caught intercepting some of the royals’ phone calls, for which he spent four months in jail. That obviously wasn’t an isolated incident.) Coulson also worked at The Sun, as editor of The “Bizarre” column, from 1998 to 2003, which is possibly why The Sun is involved too. [Note that while this report claims a "thousand" public figures were targeted, the originating story in The Guardian says that "several thousand public figures were targeted."]

Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World and Sun newspapers face separate investigations by London police and U.K. lawmakers over claims they obtained personal information through illegal means.

The Metropolitan Police will look into the allegations, Commissioner Paul Stephenson said in a statement today. Thirty- one journalists working for the tabloid newspapers acquired private information through “blagging,” or underhand means, the U.K.’s Information Commission said.

The Guardian reported yesterday that Murdoch’s News Corp. paid more than 1 million pounds ($1.6 million) to settle lawsuits claiming journalists used private investigators who illegally hacked into mobile phones of politicians, sports stars and entertainers. The report throws a spotlight on the news- gathering methods of the competitive U.K. newspaper industry.

“If things came to a head and there was enough political interest in this,” the newspapers and individual journalists could face criminal charges for breaching data privacy laws, said Nick Graham, the head of the information and privacy practice at Denton Wilde Sapte LLP in London.

Cameron Twist

In Parliament, Home Office minister David Hanson told lawmakers the government first learned of the Guardian’s allegations last night. He said he couldn’t answer questions on why the victims, which the report said included former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, hadn’t been told by the police.

The report has taken on a political twist, drawing in Andy Coulson, the communications chief of David Cameron, leader of the U.K.’s opposition Conservative Party. Coulson was formerly deputy editor and then editor of the News of the World.

The scoop by the Guardian, a pro-Labour party newspaper, is an attempt to go after the opposition Conservative party, said Lorna Tilbian, a media analyst at Numis Securities in London.

Coulson resigned as editor of News of the World in 2007 after reporter Clive Goodman was jailed along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for intercepting phone messages left for members of Prince Charles’ staff and of Gordon Taylor, chief executive officer of the Professional Footballers Association. Coulson at the time denied any knowledge of Goodman’s actions, which the newspaper portrayed as an isolated incident.

John Whittingdale, chairman of the House of Commons Media Committee, said today he will re-open an inquiry into the case.

“If there were more than 1,000 phone taps, it beggars belief that this was just one journalist and that senior executives didn’t know,” Liberal Democrat lawmaker Chris Huhne said in Parliament today.

Murdoch Unaware

The Information Commission said in an e-mailed statement today that it had documented “widespread media involvement in illegally obtaining personal information.”

“Following a court order in 2008 we made available a copy of some information from our investigation into the buying and selling of personal information, to lawyers acting on behalf of Gordon Taylor,” Mick Gorrill, assistant information commissioner at the Information Commission, said in the statement. “This included material that showed that 31 journalists working for The News of the World and The Sun had acquired people’s personal information through blagging.”

News Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch said yesterday that he wasn’t aware of any payments made to settle legal cases in which the company’s newspaper reporters may have been involved in criminal activity. “If that had happened, I would know about it,” Murdoch said in an interview at the Allen & Co. media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.

News International had no immediate comment, spokeswoman Daisy Dunlop said, but may release a statement later today.

Hacking Mobile Phones

According to the Guardian, Murdoch’s newspapers made out- of-court settlements that secured secrecy about three cases that may have shown evidence of journalists using investigators who hacked into the mobile-phone messages of public figures to access confidential personal data.

The newspaper said the conning of government agencies, phone companies and others into divulging information, before the mobile phone-hacking activity, occurred when Coulson was deputy and Rebekah Wade was the editor.

[From Bloomberg.com]

Celebrities and public figures in the UK are said to be talking to their lawyers and considering taking legal action against News of The World. Many people who were targeted don’t know about it, though, because the police have taken the controversial stance of not yet informing all the victims. Considering that one journalist got four months for tapping a single royal home this could turn into a huge series of trial with severe consequences for some of the journalists. If Coulson was the mastermind, he should pay the most though.

Gwyneth is shown on 5/15/08. George Michael is shown on 6/17/08./ Credit: WENN.com

The outpouring of affection and complimentary tributes to Jade Goody after her death of cervical cancer struck some people as odd. One of those people was Michael Parkinson, who is a retired journalist/talk show host in Britain. For those unfamiliar (I had to look him up too), I’m pretty sure that Parkinson’s old show was something like a combination of David Letterman and Charlie Rose here in America. Lots of interviews with celebrities as well as political and pop culture discussions. Parkinson seems very respected within Britain, but he will probably have to deal with some criticism after his remarks about Jade Goody.

Parkinson acknowledges that yes, Jade Goody’s death was a tragedy, “as sad as the death of any young person, but it’s not the passing of a martyr or a saint, or, God help us, Princess Di.” Parkinson says that Jade “was brought up on a sink estate, as a child came to know both drugs and crime, was barely educated, ignorant and puerile.” The Daily Mail has more:

Sir Michael Parkinson has launched an extraordinary attack on Jade Goody, calling her ‘ignorant and puerile’.

Just days after the reality show star’s funeral, for which thousands of well-wishers lined the streets, Parky, 74, has spoken out to say she represented ‘all that is paltry and wretched about Britain today’.

Writing in the Radio Times, he said Goody, 27, who died of cancer, should not have a ‘martyr’ status and was instead a poor role model who was exploited by the media.

‘Jade Goody has her own place in the history of television and, while it’s significant, it’s nothing to be proud of,’ the veteran TV host said. ‘Her death is as sad as the death of any young person, but it’s not the passing of a martyr or a saint, or, God help us, Princess Di. When we clear the media smokescreen, what we’re left with is a woman who came to represent all that’s paltry and wretched about Britain today. She was brought up on a sink estate, as a child came to know both drugs and crime, was barely educated, ignorant and puerile.’

His words are bound to come under fire from Goody’s legions of fans, who dubbed her the ‘Essex princess’.

Goody died last month after losing her very public battle with cervical cancer. Her funeral at the weekend saw thousands take to the streets to pay their respects. The 27-year-old had first come into the public eye in 2002 on Big Brother and went on to make millions before she was struck down by the disease.

She made the decision to live out her final days in the full glare of the media to raise as much money for her two young sons and possible. Although her very public death was derided by some, it was also credited with prompting a huge rise in the number of women going for cervical smears.

Max Clifford, Goody’s publicist, said today that he was ‘surprised and disappointed’ by Sir Michael’s comments.

‘What Michael forgets to mention is that Jade already has saved, and will save in the future, countless lives of young women through her public battle with cervical cancer,’ he said.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Goody’s husband, Jack Tweed, has expressed his wish to be buried next to her when he dies. Goody’s family bought a double plot so he can one day join her. Tweed, who is currently on bail awaiting sentencing for assault, married Jade in February to fulfill one of his girlfriend’s dying wishes.

From The Daily Mail

Even if I happen to agree with some of Parkinson’s statements about the media, perhaps he could have said it in a different way. Right now it just seems like he’s attacking a dead woman rather than participating in a totally legitimate media criticism. Parkinson should be focused on pointing out the insanity of the coverage of Jade’s death and how various newspapers and news programs covered her life and death, rather than just engaging in a litany of insults to Jade.

In any case, I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about Jade and how she lived and died. There will be books coming out, and perhaps even a movie. The British tabloids are still doing breathless coverage of her widower husband and Jade’s children, which also makes me uncomfortable. Just let the kids grieve and live in private, for God’s sake.

Photo of Michael Parkinson is from 3/18/09. Photos are of floral tributes outside Jade’s funeral and fans gathered to sign her book of condolences after the funeral on 4/4/09. (We try not to publish photos of grieving family members or funerals and have not included pictures of her family.) Photo credit: WENN.com

Jade Goody, who died on Mothers Day in Britain, is to be buried on April 4th. Jade’s funeral is expected to be the biggest event of it’s kind since Princess Diana’s funeral – floral tributes have been left outside her home and big screens have been set up to broadcast the service to the public outside of the church.

With her mother, Jackiey Budden, saying her daughter would be “overwhelmed” by the public response to her death, plans are falling into place for British reality star Jade Goody’s April 4 memorial service.

A 21-car funeral procession will leave Goody’s home in Essex, England, at noon that Saturday en route to the service at St. John the Baptist church in Buckhurst Hill, the BBC reports. Thousands of mourners are anticipated to line the route and then watch the proceedings on large, outdoor TV screens set up for the occasion.

The church service is expected to commence with Goody’s favorite hymn, “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” and the 27-year-old will then be laid to rest in Epping Forest Burial Park in North Weald.

People

Jade’s death is causing as much controversy as her life did, with at least one opinion writer in the UK suggesting that ‘a saint she ain’t’, and the BBC received calls complaining about the level of coverage they gave her death. Harper Collins publishers are planning a third installment of her life story, following her previous two autobiographies. A biopic is also said to be in the works.

Jade set up these ventures in order to give her boys Bobby, 5, and Freddie, 4, the opportunities that she never had in her childhood. I think any mother would be desperate her see her children taken care of in the event of their death. Some feel that Jade, who was a reality TV star and known for her racist comments and dumb questions, is being given too much attention and should have died with dignity in private. However, the Daily Mail says that the ‘Jade Effect’ has led to a 20% increase in cervical smears since her diagnosis in August. If she can gain financial resources for her kids and raise awareness that encourages women to get a pap sear then she’s done an admirable thing in her last days, even if you didn’t always agree with her in the past.

Jade Goody has lost her battle with terminal cervical cancer. Jade passed away in her sleep on Sunday morning with her mother and close friends around her. She was 27 years old. The UK reality show star had lived out her final months quite publicly, with the hopes of raising awareness of cervical cancer screenings and prevention. She leaves behind two sons, Freddie, 4, and Bobby, 5.

The reality TV star passed away at her home in Upshire, Essex, at 3.14am.

Her mother Jackiey Budden, who was at her side when she died, said: ‘My beautiful daughter is at peace.’

Jade’s husband Jack Tweed and close friend Kevin Adams were also at her bedside during her final moments.

‘I think she’s going to be remembered as a young girl who has, and who will, save an awful lot of lives,’ her publicist Max Clifford said, referring to how her public battle with cancer has raised awareness of the disease.

‘She was a very, very brave girl,’ he said.

‘And she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life – full on, with a lot of courage.’

He said it was ‘ironic’ that the 27-year-old – who had two young sons, Bobby, five, and Freddie, four – had died on Mother’s Day.

Mr Clifford added he hoped Jade’s family would be left to grieve in peace.

TV presenter Jeff Brazier, the father of Jade’s two sons, said: ‘I’m grateful the boys were able to say their goodbyes and spend that precious time with their wonderful mother.

‘Bobby and Freddie are my absolute priority and I will be doing everything I can to be their rock and to give them all my love and support to get them through a confusing and upsetting time.’

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the news.

He described Jade as ‘a courageous woman’.

‘The whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children,’ he said.

‘She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer, which will benefit thousands of women across the UK.’

The Big Brother star’s body was taken out of her home shortly before 8am. She was placed in the back of an estate car and driven away.

Jade’s devastated mother then left the house to speak to reporters gathered outside. She was wearing pyjamas with a coat over the top.

She said: ‘Family and friends would like privacy at last.’

Jade’s friend Kevin, who was dressed all in black, was visibly upset and declined to comment to reporters outside the home.

Mourners bearing floral tributes started arriving at the house within minutes of the news breaking. Two police officers also arrived at the property.

The dying star had been in a coma-like state for two days prior to her death, according to Sunday newspapers.

Jade had reportedly been drifting in and out of consciousness since Friday.

She rose to prominence on the third series of Big Brother in 2002 by revealing a startling lack of general knowledge.

When she entered the house shortly before her 21st birthday she was facing legal action for an unpaid council tax bill. Six years later she was reputedly worth £2million.

She lived her life in public view through the pages of newspapers and glossy magazines and via a series of ‘fly on the wall’ programmes.

But Jade hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in 2007 when she was accused of racism and bullying towards Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty when the pair appeared on Celebrity Big Brother.

Shilpa traveled to the UK from India earlier this month to visit Jade, who unfortunately was too ill to accept her visit.

Jade’s stormy relationship with TV presenter and fellow reality star Jeff Brazier provided almost daily material for tabloid newspapers. The relationship ended after two years although the couple remained friends as they cared for their two children.

A second match with model Jack Tweed proved no more stable when he was jailed last year for assaulting a teenager.

The death of such a young woman and mother would be heartbreaking at any time, but Jade’s death carries a special poignancy coming as it did on Mother’s Day.

All thoughts are now turning to her two sons Bobby and Freddie. The boys had always been first in Jade’s mind.

As she clung to life yesterday her new husband Jack left her bedside to buy a moving Mother’s Day card.

It carried the message: ‘A mum is like a tea bag. Only in hot water do you realise how strong she is.’ A teacup on the card bore the message: ‘Love you, Jade’.

[From The Daily Mail]

Whether you liked Jade Goody or not, this situation is terribly sad. A 27-year-old woman with two little boys should not have to die like this. Especially from a disease that is largely preventable and if caught in time, treatable! That’s why it’s so important to get your HPV screening every year. And if you have a preteen or teen daughter, make sure she gets the cervical cancer vaccine.

In yet another example of media outlets rushing to be the first with a story, OK! Magazine has published its “Farewell to Jade Goody” issue- complete with “Final Words!” from the dying reality show star, and “In Loving Memory” sprawled across the cover. They even feature the star’s two little boys looking all sad, and Jade herself looking up to the skies. The problem? Jade’s still alive.

British former reality TV star and current terminal cancer patient Jade Goody is a national obsession. She will die soon. But not soon enough for OK! magazine.

OK’s UK edition this week: the “Jade Goody Official Tribute Issue.” “Final Words”! I guess “1981-2009″ is a fair guess, but uh, patience is a virtue? Jade Goody remains annoyingly alive.

Whether alive or dead, she’s fully owned by OK! The mag bought the rights to her wedding last month for an estimated 700,000 pounds, and then refused to allow her friend and biographer to attend it, because she worked for a different magazine. No word on whether Jade can sell the actual moment of her death separately, but if so, OK! is sure to snap it up for a(nother) final edition. Shame and repugnance do not exist!

But she moves a lotta magazines, alive or otherwise!

[From Gawker/Defamer]

It’s true that Jade basically sold herself to the media – she even got the results of her cervical cancer screening on live television. And it’s also true that Jade doesn’t have much time left. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay for the magazine to publish an “In Memoriam” issue while Goody is still alive! It’s also interesting that prior to Jade’s cancer ordeal, OK! published mostly negative articles about her. I agree that Jade Goody is a grown woman and was certainly free to say no to OK’s offer to pay her for rights to exclusive coverage of her treatment, wedding and death vigil- but from everything I’ve read, she did so in order to provide for the two young sons she is leaving behind. The whole thing just seems incredibly opportunistic on the magazine’s part. Whatever OK! is paying Jade for this kind of humiliation, I hope it’s worth it.

Above: OK! Magazine’s pre-emptive “Farewell” cover, slated for release on March 24. Below: Jade Goody on her wedding day in February, 2009. Photo credit: WENN.

Jade Goody rose to fame in Britain by appearing on reality shows, including the Big Brother series where she made racist comments to Shilpa Shetty. She recently appeared on Indian Big Brother, Bigg Boss, where she was diagnosed as having cervical cancer following a routine exam.

Now, Jade has been told her cancer has spread to her liver, groin and bowel, and is terminal. She’s been given around eight weeks to live.

The reality TV star, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer five months ago, revealed: ‘All I want to do now is spend whatever time I have left with Jack and the kids.’

But Miss Goody, 27, who first rose to fame as a Big Brother contestant seven years ago, also said: ‘I’ve lived in front of the cameras. And maybe I’ll die in front of them.’

She plans to create a memory box for her two young sons fill the box with things to remind Bobbie, five and Freddie, four, of their lives together.

‘I want to ask God why he couldn’t have given me more time with my boys.

‘Just a bit – just enough to hear them laugh a few more times, to see that they’re happy, to write them long letters so I can tell them who I was and how much I loved them and remind them about all the things we did together.

‘Because they might forget me. And I can’t bear the thought of that.’

But Miss Goody, who can now only wait until her cancer spreads to her brain and bones, admitted she cannot bear to tell them she will die.

She told the News of the World: ‘I will never say those words to them. What’s the point? They don’t know what death means and it will frighten them.

‘So in the end I just told them my tadpoles (the cancer) had had babies they were swimming around inside me and they have made Mummy much sicker than she was.’

In the moving interview she also talks about her plans to marry boyfriend Jack Tweed, 21, who proposed to her on the eve of Valentine’s Day at her hospital bedside.

She said: ‘You know, when Jack came out of prison he had no idea how sick I was. And I know this is hard for him because he expected to get me back. He expected the chemo to work and that we’d have a life together as a family.

‘But I swear we WILL be a family before I die—just not for as long as I’d have hoped.

‘I love Jack with all my heart and I want to be his wife more than anything in the world. And I will be.

‘He’s devastated but he’s really trying to hold it together for me. But as soon as he found out I was going to die he just said, “Right then we’re getting married. You’re a special woman, I love you and I would be honoured to call you my wife. And I don’t care if it’s just for a few weeks”.’

Miss Goody also told of the harrowing moment on Friday when doctors told her they could not save my life.

She said: ‘I couldn’t breathe when they told me.

‘I just screamed and cried and said, “Can’t anyone do anything to help me!” Because a few weeks ago when they first told me the chemo hadn’t worked they said it didn’t have to be the end.

‘They said there were lots of other medicines out there and there were other things they could do.

‘And I believed them. And there they were telling me it was the end. I didn’t want to believe it. I’m not blaming them. I know they’ve done everything they can to help me and I’m grateful. But I really thought I might be OK.

‘But, I suppose there was this little part of me that didn’t. Since my bowel operation last week the pain has been getting worse and worse and I still haven’t been to the loo and I knew that was a bad sign. But I was still praying for a miracle.’

Daily Mail

Jade isn’t a fool and is reasonably business savvy. She has two children, Bobby, 5, and Freddie, 4, and she is going to get married next week – and sell the exclusive to the highest bidder. I don’t know if this will be a legal union or fake a wedding for the cash. She is currently documenting her cancer battle on her reality show Jade’s Progress, and all the money she receives from this will be going to support her children after she dies.

She is also said to be getting her legal matters into order to insure they are taken care of, as well as creating a memory box to remind them of her. I guess there’s also a few hours of Big Brother for them to watch when they’re old enough.

Jade’s boyfriend Jack Tweed is currently wearing an electronic bracelet and must sleep at his mother’s house as part of his curfew, related to charges for grievous bodily harm, which means that he can’t travel with her to the United States to pursue more treatment, which he and Jade’s family encouraged. Jade says she knows her time is up, and just wants to be with her boys while she can. The children are from her previous relationship with Jeff Brazier, she did fall pregnant with Jack but miscarried.

Jade was yesterday photographed shopping for her wedding dress in Armani, and will be getting married next weekend. She is only 27 years old, and while cancer is often perceived as an old person’s disease high profile cases like this show us that no one is immune, and remind us to get tested.

Jade Goody is shown out on 1/28/09 and signing copies of her autobiography on 12/7/08. Credit: WENN

Jade Goody is the British Big Brother 2002 contestant who was voted out of the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2007 after she made racist statements about the Indian actress who eventually won, Shilpa Shetty. Goody is known for her stupidity and has made a lot of ignorant comments, including thinking Saddam Hussein was a boxer, and that Sherlock Holmes invented the toilet. She’s still making money and getting work even after her racist bullying controversy. She has two perfumes out and she received $200,000 for appearing on the Indian version of Big Brother, Bigg Boss.

While filming India’s Bigg Boss, Goody received sad news. She’s gone through a series of health scares recently and has been taken to hospital after collapsing several times. Goody, 27, received a phone call on the reality show from her doctor informing her that she’s suffering from cancer. It’s most likely cervical cancer, although the Daily Mail says it’s not entirely clear and could be womb cancer:

The 27-year-old was a contestant on Bigg Boss 2 when she was called to the Diary Room to speak to her UK doctor who told her the results of a recent biopsy.

It is not clear whether she has womb or cervical cancer but the latter is far more common in women of her age.

The mother-of-two broke down in tears and sobbed to housemates she had suffered some ‘bad news’ and that she had to leave the house.

She was immediately withdrawn from the programme and was last night being flown home to begin treatment.

Her spokesman Mark Thomas said: ‘It is pretty obvious that she was looking forward to her time in the house but her health is the first priority and she is flying back for treatment and more tests.’

While cervical cancer has an 83 per cent survival rate, it kills more than 800 women each year and is the second most common form of the disease for women under 35 after breast cancer.

Jade had entered the Bigg Boss house after undergoing tests at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Essex after her third cancer scare and following four mystery collapses earlier this month.

But just three days after entering the house, she was told the devastating news yesterday by a specialist from the UK who was patched through to the Diary Room to speak to her.

A source said: ‘She was called into the Diary Room and spoke to her agent and then her consultant in the UK.

‘She just burst into tears, ran out and said to housemates “I have cancer”.’

Show bosses said the scenes will not be aired when the show is transmitted later tonight.

[From The Daily Mail]

It’s thoughtful of producers not to air the footage and you would expect them to put it on the show to explain what happened. It’s also quite dramatic and could make for high viewership if they included those segments.

No one should have to go through that and I hope she’s ok. Goody has two children from an ex-boyfriend, Bobby Jack, 5, and Freddie, nearly 4. She was pregnant in the spring of last year with a child from a different boyfriend, then 19 year-old Jack Tweed, but she had a miscarriage in June and eventually broke up with Tweed, saying she “felt more like his mother than his girlfriend.” Hopefully she will fully recover from this.

There have been a lot of stories of female celebrities suffering cancer, particularly breast cancer, and it helps emphasize how important it is to see your doctor and have regular checkups and screening tests.

Jade Goody is shown launching her perfume, “Controversial,” at Embassy night club in London on 7/29/08. Credit: Lia Toby / WENN

In the story so Big they named a Brother after it … the international hubbub around this year’s Big Brother UK is moving onto its triumphalist tidying up phase. Taking the “Real World” template to new highs, or do I mean lows, the eventual race and class throwdown had an impact far in excess of the usual ratings bump. Prime Ministers, Columnists and Germaine Greers worldwide got in on the action … with a healthy dose of the sort of crazed over-coverage that the British tabloids have raised, or do I mean lowered, to an artform. A hysterical artform with highly amusing puns …

Quick recap for those of you who might have missed the teacup tempest :

The three celebrities accused of tormenting her on the show—Jade Goody, Jo O’Meara and Danielle Lloyd–have spent the past few days giving tearful interviews and explaining their side of the story.

Shetty was called a “dog” on the programme and a few of the housemates referred to her as “the Indian” saying “She should f*** off home.”

However, Shilpa is now looking at the brighter side of life. According to The Mirror she has been approached to write a book, appearing in UK films and a comedy show on BBC television.

The actress said: “I’d love to do a cookery show called: ‘If Shilpa Can. Anyone Can’” Turning to her love life, Shetty, who still lives with her parents, told the paper: “I’m single and I’m ready to mingle.”

Now Shetty … who sure can rhyme like a Cockney… and whose personal charm has a lot to do with the outpouring of public support is scheduled to go to the House of Commons, meet Tony Blair and the Queen. Ohhh and she won Big Brother as well …

She’s also in talks for books, TV, and movies etc. etc. etc. Satire and real life are dancing awfully close to each other these days – how are we gonna write funny about these things when they are proving that in some career boosting televisual way – that racism is the single girl’s new best friend?

Although for the full and final collapse you can’t really beat this quote from the producer Ronnie Screwala (not a made up name!)–

According to sources in London, the actor’s office has been getting offers for modelling assignments, films, and an endorsement of a Shilpa Shetty line of clothing and jewellery. “Shilpa has almost become an internationally recognised face against racism. Her celebrity status in the UK has certainly gone a lot higher and it will have an impact on her career here as well,” says producer Ronnie Screwala.

Backlash is of course mere minutes away … The Mirror is the first one off that news cycle block. It’s guarunteed to get up folks’ noses.

A TEAM of servants waits on Shilpa at home in Mumbai – including a hairdresser, a makeup artist, a secretary, a personal trainer, chauffeurs and a “spot boy” who tends to her every need.

She said: “My spot boy is my help wherever I am. He runs errands, makes tea for me and serves my guests. And he’d hold an umbrella for me if it got too sunny.

“A servant wakes me up in the morning and delivers my breakfast, and says something like: ‘Madam, it’s time to wake.’