Superstar Cher arrived in Britain from Los Angeles yesterday to prepare to open the Harrods sale. The singer, whose Believe single was 1998's biggest seller, wrapped up in a thick fluffy hat, a jacket with fake fur collar and thick combat pants as she arrived at London's Gatwick airport. Cher is in Britain for only a few days to celebrate the success of her single and album and open the London store's sale tomorrow.
Ernie Wise's relatives have been rallying round the ailing star by singing songs and telling jokes to lift his spirits as he recovers in a Florida hospital, but the 73-year-old comedian's wife Doreen said he was not too impressed with their efforts as he fought back to health after two heart attacks.
Ernie - one half of TV comedy's golden duo Morecambe and Wise - suffered the two attacks in the space of a week. He spent nearly three weeks in intensive care after falling ill at the couple's winter holiday home in Florida only days after celebrating his birthday on November 27th.
The French Interior Minister, Jean-Pierre Chevenement, returned to work yesterday, four months after falling into an eight-day coma following routine surgery. He marked the occasion by hosting the traditional new year breakfast meeting of his fellow cabinet members.
Paul Burrel, former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, is ready to "consider any job offer made to him", his brother said yesterday. The man described by the princess as "my rock" is hunting for a new career after being sacked from the charity set up in the princess's memory.