“The novel, as a form, has moved into the slow lane.” Novelist and journalist Will Self, discussing his new novel, Phone, at Dublin’s International Literature festival, had some home truths for booklovers at Smock Alley Theatre.

Our labour market has been tightening for some time and surprise, surprise, employers are starting to display considerable interest in the welfare of the people on their payroll, particularly those with portable skills.

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The family of a murdered hairdresser have pleaded with those who know where her body is to end their torment.

Few of us enjoy perfect physical health all of the time, and the same is true of our mental health

Ruby Wax says the solution to her depression is all in the mind. Rachel Borrill reports.

SATURDAY

A new social network for people with depression has been launched today by Ruby Wax.

‘Reservoir Dogs’ star Michael Madsen has signed up to appear on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’.

Boy George has laughed off reports that he will take part in the new series of 'Celebrity Big Brother'.

ORGANIC food producer Heavenly Tasty Organics (HTO) is to roll out a range of new healthy readymade infant meals next year to follow the overnight success of its baby food range.

An expletive-packed phone call from stars of 'The Thick Of It' and a walk-on part in the next Richard Curtis film are among lots being offered in a Twitter auction for Comic Relief in the UK.

ALLEN CARR — the man who convinced millions of people to give up smoking — died yesterday after losing his battle with lung cancer.

Screen legend Sean Connery will debut in his first animated feature in a film called Billie the Vet.

ALLEN Carr, who once smoked 100 cigarettes a day before giving up the habit and becoming a world expert on how to quit, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Music channel MTV said today it will air the full series of the Popetown cartoon in Germany, citing a positive response from viewers after it broadcast one episode in the face of strong criticism from the church and politicians.

A Munich court today rejected a call by the city’s archdiocese to ban MTV’s airing of the cartoon Popetown, saying the Vatican parody is “too dumb to be insulting".

Sean Connery has been turned into a cartoon character.

A cartoon which was banned from the BBC for its depiction of the Pope as an immature brat is set to cause new controversy after it was today confirmed it will be released on DVD in Britain.

Arts Minister John O’Donoghue paid a visit today to the star-studded film set of Maeve Binchy’s Tara Road.

A HOST of top actors will begin shooting a multi-million-euro Irish production of Maeve Binchy’s Tara Road today.

A host of top actors including Andie McDowell, Stephen Rea and Ruby Wax will begin shooting a multi-million euro Irish production of Maeve Binchy’s Tara Road tomorrow.

The BBC has bowed to pressure from the Roman Catholic Church and scrapped a cartoon which poked fun at the Pope.

An Irish journalist reached an out of court settlement and received a full apology today following slanderous comments made by TV star Ruby Wax.

Outrageous comic Ruby Wax and Casualty actor Will Mellor will go head to head in the final of Celebrity Fame Academy tonight.

Celebrity Fame Academy’s three remaining stars are tonight battling to stay in the show after Smack the Pony comedienne Doon MacKichan was evicted.

TV presenter Fearne Cotton proved her singing was not up to scratch tonight when she became the second star to be kicked out of Celebrity Fame Academy.

Celebrity Fame Academy was beginning today with one of the stars set to make an early exit.

TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson will head the new intake of students at the Celebrity Fame Academy, it was confirmed today.

Model Jerry Hall, who famously bared all on the West End stage, is to play a nun in a BBC series.

Judi Dench wowed thousands of waiting fans when she arrived for the glittering premiere of her latest film, The Importance of Being Earnest.

A galaxy of older stars have arrived at the wedding of actress Joan Collins to witness her tying the knot for the fifth time.

Contestants set to appear in Celebrity Big Brother have asked for it to be censored.