Shows by Tom Stoppard and Tony Kushner were among the big winners at the 2007 Critics Circle Awards, which took place at London’s Prince Of Wales Theatre.

Veteran playwright Stoppard won the Best Play award for his latest work, Rock ‘n’ Roll, which is set in Communist Prague. Its star Rufus Sewell was also named Best Actor.

Best-selling American author Sidney Sheldon has died of complications from pneumonia at the age of 89.

His publicist reveals Sheldon, born Sidney Schechtel died on Tuesday at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, near his home in Palm Springs, California.

Sheldon was also an accomplished playwright, writer and producer and an Oscar-winning screenwriter.

British funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen is facing another legal battle over his character Borat Sagdiyev - this time from an Israeli comedian who alleges he stole his signature line.

Dovale Glickman intends to sue the Golden Globe Award winner for copyright infringement, accusing him of stealing the phrase “Wa wa wee wa”, which he says belongs to him.

Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has called on fellow Jews to stand up to Israel and fight to end the occupation of Palestine.

The 65-year-old officially launched the Enough! campaign in London today to campaign for Palestinian justice, and a series of major events are already planned later this year to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Hard-living Jazz songstress Amy Winehouse says she has an alcohol problem, that started when she quit smoking marijuana.

The 23-year-old Frank hitmaker uses alcohol to replace the drug she once smoked daily.

“My drinking replaced weed. I still have a problem. I have had a problem with drink but I haven’t had a drink in a few days,” she says. “The problem isn’t exaggerated. I’m a terrible drunk. I don’t know where that comes from - boredom?”

Former Malcolm In The Middle star Justin Berfield is turning infamous jewel thief Doris Payne’s life story into a new movie.

The young actor-turned-producer felt compelled to tell the 76-year-old African-American’s amazing story after visiting her in prison in Nevada.

And, despite the fact that Berfield is only 20, Payne felt so confident he would present her story in the right light, she gave him access for her journals - explaining how she pulled off some of the biggest gem heists in history.

Jewish rocker Gavin Rossdale and his wife Gwen Stefani have topped a poll of fashionable celebrity parents conducted by UK baby brand Cosatto.

The former Bush frontman and the No Doubt singer lead the way in the fashion stakes - beating Victoria and David Breckham, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and Madonna and Guy Ritchie.

Ben Stiller and Scarlett Johansson have been announced as the recipients of this year’s Hasty Pudding awards, handed out by students at Harvard University.

The pair will be honoured with a fancy dress parade, followed by a performance by Harvard’s student drama group, in which they’ll take part.

Johansson will be feted on 15 February, while funnyman Stiller will be honoured at a ceremony on 23 February.

Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen has been named as one of the most powerful 100 men in Britain.

The survey, carried out by British men’s magazine GQ, ranks Borat creator Cohen as the 19th most powerful Briton, cementing his place in the rankings through the $254 million grossing global success of the Borat movie.

A spokesperson for the magazine says, “Not since John Lennon has an English entertainer had such an effect on the world.”

American Idol hopeful Jory Steinberg has made it through to the next round of the top talent show.

25-year-old Jory, who auditioned in New York, impressed Simon Cowell with her rendition of the Tina Arena song Chains, leading the smitten judge to remark, “That was terrific. Why can’t they all be like that?”

Tori Spelling insists her new reality show with husband Dean McDermott will be better than Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson’s MTV show Newlyweds: Nick + Jessica.

Although they are starring in the reality series Tori + Dean: Inn Love, where they run a real bed and breakfast, she says they won’t be copying Simpson and Lachey’s infamous antics.

Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio has been dumped by his Israeli model girlfriend Bar Rafaeli - according to press reports.

The cover girl is said to have brought an end to their six-month relationship because she was unable to cope with the Titanic star’s hectic work schedule and constant partying.

BBC news presenter Natasha Kaplinsky has revealed that much of her father’s Jewish family in eastern Europe perished during the Second World War.

At a lunch address she gave to the Anne Frank Trust, Kaplinsky discovered the grim truth of what happened to her family while filming her edition of the BBC genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are.

Frum reggae star Matisyahu has settled with his former record label which he ditched.

JDub previously released his material as well as managed him.

Just days before the release of last year’s best-selling album Youth, Matisyahu - born Matthew Miller - told JDub he was leaving them for a new manager Gary Gersh.

At the time, JDub founder Aaron Bisman said Matisyahu told him on the phone. “I don’t know if you guys are old enough or have enough experience.”

Rachel Weisz’s parents are her harshest critics and often tell her they think she is a “s**t actress”.

The Oscar winner and Cambridge University graduate expects total honesty from her Austrian psychoanalyst mother Edith and Hungarian inventor father George - even if it hurts.

She says, “My parents were high achievers and harsh critics. They’ve often said, ‘That was s**t - you were crap.”

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick have been approached to reprise their roles in The Producers on Broadway before the curtain comes down on the production.

According to the New York Post, the two actors, who recreated their roles for the movie adaptation of the Mel Brooks comedy musical, are in negotiations for a swansong performance this summer.

The producer of a new adult DVD showing off the delights of Israeli porn stars has been attacked by a New Jersey Rabbi - for using a kosher stamp on the cover, without permission.

Rabbi Yehuda Rosenbaum, whose company KOF-K Kosher Certification authenticates food including meat, grains and dairy products for the Jewish market, says Oren Cohen has no right using his stamp on Assraelis.

Adam Brody is glad hit show The OC has come to a close, because he had no choice but to test himself in other roles.

The 27-year-old played Seth Cohen on the teen drama between 2003 and 2006 and loved his job so much, he admits he needed a push to seek fresh challenges.

He is now looking to make more movies after earning good reviews for his performances in Thank You For Smoking and Mr + Mrs Smith.

Jazz songstress Amy Winehouse was reportedly left red-faced after being thrown out of a top London bar because her singing annoyed customers.

The Rehab star treated friends, including MOJO Jamie Cullum, to an impromptu performance at the Savoy hotel.

Winehouse and pals were then asked to leave after customers complained of the rowdy atmosphere, according to British tabloid The Sun.

Dead or Alive frontman Pete Burns is suing his plastic surgeon for negligence after a lip augmentation procedure left him looking “physically repulsive”.

The Lover Come Back To Me hitmaker claims Dr Maurizio Viel from the London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery botched his cosmetic surgery in 2000, leaving him with side effects including painful swelling, blisters and heavy discharge.

Legendary Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia is the latest dead rocker to be brought back from the grave for a new biopic.

And 20-year-old former Malcolm In The Middle star Justin Berfield is leading the charge - his production company, J2 Pictures, has the rights to make the Garcia biopic.

Jazz songstress Amy Winehouse loves having lesbian fans who send her their underwear because it saves her having to go out and buy some.

The star, currently number 1 with her album Back To Black, admits to keeping everything she is sent, even though fans who send her underwear often ask her to return them.