Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has given pop star Michael Jackson his own personal midnight tour of his flagship fashion outlet Top Shop in London’s Oxford Street.

According to reports, Jackson got to know Sir Philip at a dinner party, and expressed an interest in his clothing empire. Sir Philip said: “He was very nice, and an absolute gentleman. He was polite and pleasant, and we got on very well.”

Liza Minnelli performed at a Batmitzvah celebration for the daughter of US hair transplant pioneer Dr Joel Kassimir and waived her usual $250,000 fee.

The 60-year-old performed five songs at Charlotte Kassimir’s coming of age party at New York’s Marquee club on Saturday, which was decorated with pink and white crystals by designer Ed Libby at a cost of $1 million.

If it wasn’t for Sophie Tucker, then the likes of Bette Midler, Joan Rivers and Barbra Streisand may have struggled to find their own fame.

Tucker, the pioneer of Girl Power in the early 20th century was a largish lady who oozed sex appeal and was a leading porponent of “If you’ve got it, then flaunt it” and she certainly did.

Singing in Yiddish, singing in English, she was the Last of the Red Hot Mamas.

There’s either not enough Jews on TV in Britain these days, or the ones that are on TV just aren’t funny enough.

At the announcing of the nominations for the annual British Comedy Awards, Little Britain’s Matt Lucas is holding the fort as the only British Jewish nominee in any category. Along with his comedy partner David Walliams, he is shortlisted in the People’s Choice Award category as well as Best Stage Comedy.

Veteran TV presenter and children’s rights campaigner Esther Rantzen has collected her CBE from Buckingham Palace.

Rantzen, 66, who recently fronted the TV show Old Dogs New Tricks with fellow consumer rights campaigner Lynn Faulds Wood, was recognised by the Queen for services to young people.

She received her award from the Prince Of Wales, and described it as “a tremendous honour”.