The mayor of Toronto has written personally to Geri Halliwell, alias "Ginger Spice," asking her to reconsider her decision to leave the world's most popular girl band. The Spice Girls are scheduled to appear in Canada's largest city next Thursday.
In a letter written on official letterhead, Mayor Mel Lastman reminded Halliwell that the group had already cancelled an earlier visit to promote their movie, Spice World.
Fans in Toronto, he said, had been preparing "the biggest and best welcome you would have received in any city on the planet.
"Many of your fans were devastated when you cancelled your appearance," Lastman wrote. "The only bright part of the day was your promise to return during your world tour."
The mayor's initiative doesn't have the unanimous support of city council, however. Some have accused him of making Toronto "the laughing stock of Canada."
Singer Billy Joel cancelled a Manchester concert on Wednesday night after suffering an asthma attack. It was the first time in his career he had cancelled a show without rescheduling, the concert promoters MCP said.
Joel was billed to appear with Elton John as they had performed in Dublin last weekend.
Promoters said it was impossible for Elton John to go on alone: "It has been set up as a face-to-face concert." Because of the two performers' worldwide commitments the concert cannot be rescheduled.
Baggy-eyed film critic Barry Norman is leaving the BBC after 26 years to join Sky Movies. Norman (64) said: "The opportunities offered by Sky proved too attractive to turn down."
With his conversational style and catch-phrase "And why not?" Norman has been Britain's best-loved film critic for decades.