MTV News Round-up 26/07/2004

*** Big Brother's producers have reportedly asked Busted to play on the finale of the series next week. They approached the band because Stuart is such a big fan " he asked for their hit 'Crashed The Wedding' to be played at last week's mock wedding. And the band could be on a verge of breaking America after signing a deal with Pepsi that sees anyone buying a large soft drink in the States getting a free Busted CD.

*** Britney is apparently threatening to sue the New York Post for claiming she was photographed drinking whisky in the middle of the day, unless they print a retraction and apology. After paparazzi photos appeared in the New York Post as well as UK tabloids, Britney claimed she had drunk a vial of herbal supplement ginseng, not whisky as was reported. Her lawyer called the Post article "totally fabricated, fictional and defamatory."

*** A lawyer representing dozens of media organisations has urged a court to "lift the veil of secrecy" surrounding details of Michael Jackson's child molestation case and unseal hundreds of documents kept secret. In the appeal, attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr asked the court not to allow special rules of secrecy for celebrity defendants, claiming they violated the First Amendment.

*** Courtney Love surrendered to police on Friday, two weeks after a warrant had been issued for her arrest after the singer missed an arraignment for assault charges. Love was released on bail and will now face court on August 20. The assault charge stems from an incident at the home of her ex-boyfriend, where Love is accused of attacking a woman with a bottle.

*** Estranged Libertines singer Pete Doherty joined former bandmate Gary Powell at the opening of a photographic exhibition at Camdens Proud Gallery on Friday. Pete provided handclaps as Gary performed a solo set at the opening of the Libertines: Boys In The Band exhibition, which chronicles three years of the band by NME photographer Roger Sargent.

*** Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne took a day off from Ozzfest late last week to visit wounded soldiers, airmen and Marines from the war in Iraq. They spent several hours at a medical centre in Washington. In addition to listening to stories of war from 30 service members, Ozzy gave autographs to the troops, one of whom said he would get his made into a tattoo.

CL