Six months after its hugely successful run at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, the latest production of classic musical Fiddler On The Roof, starring actor Henry Goodman, has arrived in London’s West End. Caroline Westbrook offers her verdict.

The niece of loudmouth electronics tycoon Sir Alan Sugar - currently firing people in the latest series of The Apprentice - is set to star as a feisty relative of the Mitchell family in long-running soap EastEnders.

Rita Simons – whose previous claim to fame was starring in soccer soap Dream Team (which also featured fellow EastEnder Robert Kazinsky), will join the cast as Roxy Mitchell later this summer.

Australian author Thomas Keneally, best known for the 1982 book Schindler’s Ark, is to appear on the BBC’s World Service programme World Book Club, where he will discuss the novel.

The programme will be recorded in front of a studio audience at The British Library on Thursday 24 May at 4.30pm and members of the public can attend as well as ask him a question.

It seems that Joan Rivers has never been so in demand in the UK as she is at the moment.

The feisty senior citizen is spending a long weekend in London, during which time she performed at London’s G-A-Y club, appeared on Michael Parkinson’s ITV1 chat show along with fellow Semites Stephen Fry and George Michael, and glammed up as a guest as well as a prize presenter at the Bafta Television Awards.

Legendary singer Barbra Streisand has added an extra date to her UK tour.

Streisand, who will be joined on tour by a 58 piece orchestra, will now play three nights at London’s O2 Arena, on July 18, 22 and 25.

For fans in Europe, who have the chance to see her perform live for the first time ever, another date has been added, this time in Rome.

Israel have been booted out of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after failing to qualify from the semi-final.
 
Their song, Push The Button performed by Teapacks, was one of 28 competing for 10 remaining places in Saturday’s final in Helsinki.
 
“We have no complaints. We had fun, it was awesome,” said lead singer Kobi Oz. “In any case I’m happy about the experience, and I’m really proud of us.”

Veteran American comedienne Joan Rivers is to perform a special one-night show at London’s popular gay club G-A-Y, on May 19.

The acid-tongued pensioner will be supported by high-energy pop duo Erasure, who have a new album to promote.

According to organisers, it will be “a night not to be missed.”

In recent years, Rivers has made a name for herself by covering Hollywood red carpet events as well as promoting her line of jewellery on QVC.