SCROOBIUS PIP sounds surprisingly upbeat as he contemplates the imminent demise of his collaboration with musical partner, Dan Le Sac.

Two young, unknown actors have landed roles in the new Star Wars film following an open casting attended by thousands of hopefuls.

SOUTH AFRICA:

One of the stars of 'Coronation Street' is to leave the soap next year to spend more time with his family.

Expectations were certainly great when Mike Newell announced this lavish retelling of Dickens to coincide with the bicentenary of the writer’s birth.

Reformed miser Ebenezer Scrooge has been voted the most popular Charles Dickens character, according to a poll held to mark the 200th anniversary of the author’s birth.

Helena Bonham Carter is in negotiations to star as Miss Havisham in a movie version of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations'.

Robert Rock is closing in on 200 European Tour events without a win, but maybe a change of caddie is about to bring a change of luck.

Ireland's Damien McGrane shared the lead at the South African Open at Pearl Valley today, sitting at three under alongside Argentinian Ariel Canete.

Philip Walton, Europe’s Ryder Cup match-winning hero in 1995, and 1999 runner-up Jean Van de Velde are among 12 players to have come through the 36-hole final qualifying for next week’s Open Championship.

Irish author Anne Enright is one of six hopefuls for the 39th Man Booker Prize which will be announced tonight.

Dozens of lives could be saved with the opening of a new support centre in a suicide blackspot, a victim’s father claimed today.

Padraig Harrington has it in his power this weekend to ensure that Europe’s record of always having at least one player in the world’s top 10 is maintained.

Nick Faldo protege Nick Dougherty and Jamie Elson, whose father Pip played on the European tour, have both been named today in the Britain and Ireland team which will defend the Walker Cup in Georgia on August 11-12.