Despite not being converted to Judaism, born into the faith or indeed recognised by anyone in the Jewish community as being Jewish, troubled comic Michael Richards insists he is Jewish.

But his Jewish association claim has been rebuffed by Jewish groups.

According to his publicist, the former Seinfeld star who verbally abused two black people at a LA comedy club earlier this month as well as previously insulting Jews is not a racist.

Hollywood actress Maggie Gyllenhaal has scooped best actress at the 17th Stockholm Film Festival.

The 29-year-old won the award for her portrayal of a mother returning home from prison in the gritty drama Sherrybaby.

Daughter of screenwriter Naomi Foner and sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal, she gave birth last month to her first child Ramona with fiance Peter Sarsgaard.

Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli is being sued for $300,000 by her former agent, who claims she ditched him after finding fame.

The 21-year-old, who is dating Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio, appeared at Tel Aviv Magistrates Court in Israel yesterday to answer the claims made by Rafi Agiv.

Agiv claims he was sacked by Rafaeli in 2005 after he had helped build her career up, following her marriage to an older man, a union she used to avoid compulsory military service in the Israeli Army.

Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen, who has exceeded all expectations for his recent Borat movie by making over $100m within a month, could be treading the boards if Broadway and West End producers have their way.

A source told Jewtastic that Baron Cohen is top of the list among certain mega producers, who believe an up close and personal one man show by the former Habonim youth club member could be a hit, and want to get out their cheque book to sign him up.

Barely a day since revealing he would be defecting form the BBC and joining ITV, really bad jokes about Michael Grade have started to appear on Jewish humour sites.

The 63-year-old who will command a £825,000 a year plus bonus salary as executive chairman of ITV has become a firm favourite for crap Jewish jokers.

The cigar smoking, red socks wearing and Yiddish speaking TV executive aims to bring ITV back into being a major player.

Political journalist Daniel Finkelstein, the comment editor of The Times has turned his attention to the forthcoming festival of Chanukah and what suitable gifts to give to Jews who have an interest in politics.

The Danster says on his blog: “We’ve been scouring the internet looking for presents for the politically-obsessed Jew in your life so that you don’t have to.” And has come up with a present for every night of the festival of lights.

Legendary Fonz actor Henry Winkler received a rapturous response when he appeared on Channel 4 chat show The Paul O-Grady Show.

Guest host Melanie Sykes interviewed the star who is in London for his panto debut in Peter Pan.

Since arriving in the UK, the 61-year-old revealed his love for the country. “People are so lovely” he said. “They stop me in the street.”  He also said that he does his supermarket shopping at Sainsbury’s and had people recognise him in the aisles.