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Colleen's space

Colleen's space has written 21 posts for Periferica

Jade Goody statue for home town?

Jade Goody is to be commemorated with a statue near her childhood home in Bermondsey, south London. Jade Goody (PA Photos)

Bob Skelly, chair of Bermondsey community council, told the Mirror: “The council has plans for the Dickens Estate area where Jade grew up, and I’m sure we could do something.” The announcement comes after councils in both Bermondsey and Essex, near Jade’s residence in Upshire, were bombarded by requests from the public for a permanent memorial to the reality TV star, who died on March 22.

Jade’s family support the idea of a statue: “It’s wonderful news,” spokesperson Max Clifford said last night.

In other Jade news, the Daily Star reports that Michael Jackson will attend the star’s funeral on Saturday – we’ll believe that when we see it. Jacko was moved by Jade’s battle when he was in London last month to promote his O2 Arena gigs, and phoned her to wish her well. He didn’t speak to Jade directly, but apparently promised Jack that he would try to make it to her funeral.

Jade will be laid to rest in St John the Baptist Church in Buckhurst Hill on April 4.

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Madonna splits with Jesus on Twitter

First we had the rumours that Jennifer Aniston broke up with John Mayer because he spent too much time on Twitter and not enough time with her, now Madonna has confirmed her split from toyboy Jesus Luz over Twitter!

Madonna and Jesus Luz (Rex) Madge doesn’t have her own Twitter page but the news broke when she joined longtime manager and good friend Guy Oseary for a 10-minute chat to fans via his Twitter page.

One fan wrote: “Hello Madonna honey am glad you are single again – you made your best music as a single woman,” to which Madonna replied: “Not as glad as I am! M.”

In other Madonna news, reports state she is close to adopting a four-year-old girl from Malawi. An official at the ministry of Gender and Child Development said: “Her name is Mercy James from Mchinji Home of Hope orphanage. She has no father and mother, they both died… We finished the assessment yesterday in readiness for the courts next week.”

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Bruce Willis & Natasha Bedingfield get hitched

Well, life goes on, and it was a special weekend for Bruce Willis and Natasha Bedingfield as they both got married (not to each other). Natasha Bedingfield and Matt Robinson (PA)

Bruce married British lingerie model Emma Heming who, at 30, is 24 years his junior. Ex-wife Demi Moore attended the ceremony with her young spouse Ashton Kutcher, who at 31 is four months older than Bruce’s new wife. 

Natasha Bedingfield, meanwhile, married American businessman Matt Robinson on a Malibu cliff top overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The 27-year-old singer has been living in Los Angeles since hitting the big time with her hits These Words and Unwritten in 2004.

"Our wedding day was everything we’d hope it would be," Natasha said afterwards. "It was simple, beautiful and natural. Free from trappings or formalities… We are now very much looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together. Love is hard to find, so when you do find it, hang on to it!"

The latest engagement rumours: after dating for over seven years, it’s believed that Harrison Ford and Brothers and Sisters actress Calista Flockhart are finally going to get hitched. It’s also been reported that Jake Gyllenhaal has popped the question to his girlfriend of 18 months, Reese Witherspoon, after the actress was spotted wearing what appears to be an engagement ring.

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Jade Goody loses battle with cancer

I can’t believe Jade Goody is gone. The 27-year-old mother of two passed away at 3.14am in the early hours of Sunday March 22, Mother’s Day, after a six-month battle with cancer.

Jade’s publicist Max Clifford said this morning: “I think she’s going to be remembered as a young girl who has, and who will, save an awful lot of lives. She was a very, very brave. And she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life – full on, with a lot of courage.”

Since the gobby Essex girl first burst onto TV screens in Big Brother 3 back in 2002, she lived her whole life, warts and all, in the spotlight. She enjoyed amazing success with her perfume, fitness DVDs, book deals and multiple TV appearances, making Jade Britain’s first reality TV millionaire. Then there were all the times she made headlines for the wrong reasons, such as her ugly fight with Shilpa Shetty in Celebrity Big Brother in 2007.

Through it all, Jade’s priority was always her sons, Bobby and Freddie, and I’m sure when they are older they’ll look back proudly at the way their mother faced her cancer so courageously, increased awareness of the disease and provided for their future.

Our tribute to Jade Goody

Jade Goody (PA)

Natasha Richardson dies

Tributes are pouring in for British actress Natasha Richardson, who died overnight from a serious head injury sustained during a skiing accident. Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson (PA)

Natasha came from a long line of Hollywood greats – both parents, Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson, are Oscar winners; sister Joely is a successful actress, as is aunt Lynn Redgrave. The 45-year-old actress leaves her husband of 14 years, Irish actor Liam Neeson and two sons, Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12.

Natasha died following an seemingly harmless fall on a beginner’s ski slope in Quebec, Canada, on March 16. After developing a headache an hour later, she was taken to a local hospital, before being transferred to a Montreal hospital and then airlifted to New York on Tuesday.

The family released the following statement several hours after Natasha succumbed to her injuries: “Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Natasha Richardson’s life
Celebrity tributes pour in for Natasha

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Amy Winehouse in court

Amy Winehouse appeared in a London court on Tuesday morning, charged with assaulting a fan. amywinehouse_Mar09_pa190

There was a marked difference in Amy’s demeanour since we last saw her in London. Sure, she was on trial for serious assault, but the singer looked like she didn’t have a care in the world, strutting her stuff in front of photographers outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court and hamming it up for onlookers. Although still very thin, Amy looked healthier than she has in years, dressed in a cute floral frock and pale pink stilettos, and with her trademark beehive back where it belongs.

Once inside (over an hour late), the singer identified herself as “Amy Jade Civil” (her married name), before pleading not guilty to punching Sherene Flash at a ball in London’s Berkeley Square last September. She was bailed and must return to court on July 23.

Video: Amy Winehouse outside court

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Kerry reconciles with husband

Kerry Katona appears to have reconciled with husband Mark Croft, just days after announcing she was filing for divorce. Kerry and Mark were photographed kissing and holding hands outside their local Tesco supermarket on Sunday, following a four-day split.

Kerry Katona (Rex) Last week the mother of four told an MTV camera crew she had kicked Mark out of her Warrington home, saying: “He’s been destroying my life. Mark is dead to me. I’m going to do everything possible to keep him out of my life for good. I have to."

According to the News Of The World, the split took place after Kerry called an emergency meeting with her accountant last week and was told that her bank account was almost empty. She later found out that Mark had transferred nearly £455,000 of her money into his business account, the paper reported.

Watch the video of Kerry announcing her divorce last week

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Kerry Katona single again

Kerry Katona has confirmed she has split from her husband and has started divorce proceedings. Kerry Katona and Mark Croft (PA)

In a video shot by MTV, Kerry says down the phone to a friend: "I’ve got a lawyer involved, me and Mark are getting a divorce, we really are." She then turns to the camera and says, sobbing: "You were all ******* right… please don’t say I told you so, it’s the last thing I need." Watch the video on MTV

The mother-of-four first sparked speculation over her marriage when she changed her Facebook status to ‘single’ earlier this week. According to The Sun, she also deleted all references to her husband and added the message: “I really never thought I would have to go through this again.”

Kerry married former cabbie Mark Croft two years ago and the pair have two children together, two-year-old Heidi and 11-month-old Max. Kerry also has two daughters from her marriage to former Westlife singer Bryan McFadden.

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Jade’s eventful weekend

Jade Goody is resting today after she was faced with a female intruder holding a hammer on Sunday afternoon.

Jade Goody (Rex) Publicist Max Clifford said the star was unhurt but "very shaken up" by the incident which took place in Jade’s room at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital. The woman was arrested and taken into custody but released without charge.

Jade and her sons took part in an emotional christening ceremony at the hospital on Saturday. Bobby, five, Freddy, four, and their mum were christened during what Clifford described as a "very short and emotional service". He also revealed that the ceremony, which was covered by OK! magazine, would be Jade’s last public event.

The 27-year-old’s condition is now so grave that she only stays awake for several minutes at a time, he explained. But Jade got a much-needed boost over the weekend when Michael Jackson phoned to wish her well . According to The Sun, Jacko also promised VIP tickets to his UK shows for her, husband Jack and her sons in July.

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Amy charged after allegedly punching fan

Amy Winehouse may have moved out of Camden, the scene of much of her debauched behaviour (to Hadley Wells in Enfield), but she can’t escape her past… the star has been charged with assault after allegedly hitting a fan at a charity concert last September.Amy Winehouse (Rex)

The incident took place at End Of Summer ball, a £700-a-ticket fundraising event in London’s Berkeley Square. The alleged victim, Sherene Flash, states that Amy reacted badly when she asked her to pose for a picture, punching Flash in the eye and running off.

Amy was questioned and charged at West End Central police station and will appear in court on March 17. Her spokesperson confirmed the incident: "Amy voluntarily attended a police station in London yesterday morning. She was questioned by appointment in relation to an accusation made after the Berkeley ball last year. She was charged with common assault and will attend a court hearing in the coming weeks."

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