Kristen Stewart Meets Jennifer Lawrence in Toronto

Bella, meet Katniss. Katniss, meet Bella.
Kristen Stewart had something to smile about in Toronto on Saturday: While doing press at the Intercontinental Hotel, she happily met Jennifer Lawrence for the very first time.
"People who saw them said they were geeking out about each other," a source tells Us Weekly of the actresses, both 22 and the heroines of their own globally massive fantasy franchises (Twilight and The Hunger Games). Adds the source: "Kristen and Jennifer told friends they had emailed in the past but had never seen each other face to face. They're big fans of each other."
PHOTOS: Jennifer Lawrence's hottest looks
(Oscar nominee Lawrence is at Canada's massive film festival to promote The Silver Linings Playbook, with Stewart touting her own flick, On the Road.)
Indeed, back in March, Lawrence told Access Hollywood that she had emailed fellow superstar Stewart over a supposed feud.
PHOTOS: Kristen's grunge-to-glam evolution
"I wrote her an email because there was this huge, like, article about a Twilight and Hunger Games feud," Lawrence said. "And we've never met before and never spoken . . . "I just shot her an email, and was like, 'Hey, can't wait to see more as this feud unfolds!"
To her surprise, Stewart replied!
"[Kristen] wrote me back, and she was like, 'It's fine. Welcome to [our] world where everything you say gets turned into [something it's not],'" Lawrence said. "So, she understood."
PHOTOS: Kristen cheats on Rob Pattinson with Rupert Sanders
Stewart, of course, could use a friend right now. Thursday evening was her very first red carpet since her cheating scandal erupted in late July. The Toronto Star noted that, during a Friday interview, Stewart seemed "tense" and "looking considerably thinner and less poised than she did at the Cannes Film Festival in May." Her estranged boyfriend Robert Pattinson has been in Los Angeles; on Thursday he promoted a new Breaking Dawn: Part 2 trailer at the MTV Video Music Awards, and on Friday, he appeared at the star-studded Stand Up to Cancer telecast.

Kristen Stewart: I Broke My Middle Finger

Kristen Stewart was hiding more than just emotional wounds at the Thursday premiere of On the Road in Toronto.
The 22-year-old star recently broke her middle finger on her left hand -- sporting a blue splint when flying out from Los Angeles on Wednesday, but removing it for her glammed-up appearance in Zuhair Murad on the red carpet.
PHOTOS: Kristen and Rob in new stills from Breaking Dawn Part 2
The splint was back on her hand by Friday, when she endured a spate of press interviews for the film -- including one with Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, where she confirmed the broken bone to the writer, but didn't elaborate.
In the interview, the reporter nearly broaches the elephant the room, alluding to the tremendous attention she's received in the light of her July affair with married director Rupert Sanders.
PHOTOS: Kristen's fling with Rupert

"I cringe asking her whether it was a relief, given the scrutiny she’s under, to play Marylou," writer Sarah Prickett says of Stewart's free-spirited character in the film. Marylou, who does whatever she wants and never feels bad about it. Marylou, who is free."
The reaction of Robert Pattinson's estranged girlfriend? A look crosses Kristen Stewart’s face that makes me want to quit my job and jump out the 10th-floor window," Prickett writes.
PHOTOS: Her grumpiest expressions
A flummoxed Stewart then replies at length about playing the free-spirited character, based on LuAnne Henderson, the real-life wife of beat icon Neal Cassady. "Getting to know the people behind the characters made it a lot easier to play her," she said.
Also chatting with Stewart, the Toronto Star notes that it was a "shock" to see a "tense" Stewart "looking considerably thinner and less poised than she did at the Cannes Film Festival in May."

LeAnn Rimes to Leave Treatment for Weekend Performances

This weekend, LeAnn Rimes will be "back at it" in a big way.

Just one week after she entered an in-patient treatment facility -- seeking help for anxiety and stress -- the country crooner, 30, is taking a break to perform at previously scheduled gigs over the weekend.

"I'm on a plane headed to see all my fans in Wisconsin tonight!" Rimes wrote in a blog post titled "Back At It!" Friday morning. "I'm so ready. I've got a zillion fashion mags, my journal, iPod, water and a butterfingers. I'm all set."

PHOTOS: LeAnn Rimes's body evolution

Added the singer, who celebrated her 30th on August 28, "Seems I've developed a sweet tooth after turning 30. If that's all that comes with 30, I think I'm settling in pretty well. So far, the new decade is treating me great!"

Following Rimes' decision to get help, her rep assured Us Weekly she was merely there to "learn and develop coping mechanisms" for stressful situations.

Still, a source close to Rimes and her husband, Eddie Cibrian, admitted the singer's main source of anxiety is a preoccupation with Cibrian's wandering eye -- compounded by the cyberbullying she's endured since she and Eddie started seeing one another in 2009. (He was still married to Brandi Glanville and she to chef Dean Sheremet at the time).

PHOTOS: Stars who have sought treatment

"LeAnn has had major insecurity issues since she first got together with Eddie," the insider explained. "She's been stressed about always being called a home-wrecker and also worried that Eddie is cheating on her. She's been on a downward spiral."

Khloe Kardashian May Host X-Factor

Will Khloe Kardashian soon be yukking it up with Simon Cowell, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato on X-Factor?

Could be! After Brit Steve Jones was fired as host following season one of FOX's talent competition, the 28-year-old reality star's name has been floated as a potential replacement -- and Lamar Odom's wife is among the finalists, two sources confirm to Us Weekly.

PHOTOS: Khloe and Lamar's happy life together

"It's not official but she is definitely a strong contender for the hosting gig," a show source says. "Simon liked her spunky personality!"

(After several high-profile firings following season one, Cowell tapped Demi Lovato and Britney Spears to sit alongside him and L.A. Reid at the judges' table. The pre-taped audition rounds of the show premiere next Monday, Sept. 10, with hosted live shows airing later this season.)

PHOTOS: Khloe's red carpet ups and downs

A source close to Kardashian seconds that she's close to a deal. "It's not 100 percent contractually done, but it's looking good!"

A rep for Fox had no comment.

On an X-Factor conference call Thursday, Cowell confirmed they're close to picking their next emcee. "We've screen tested a lot of people....I think we're going to make a decision in about the next seven days," he said -- and hinted that his finale choice might not be a seasoned hosting veteran. "My gut feeling is we’ll probably go with a boy and a girl who haven't had any hosting experience, because I think that might make it more interesting."

 PHOTOS: Kardashian girls' skimpiest looks

Tell Us: Would Khloe make a good X-Factor host?

Ireland Baldwin Explains Her Dad Alec's Infamous Voicemail Rant

Ireland Baldwin speaks!

The stunning, 16-year-old daughter of Alec Baldwin and ex-wife Kim Basinger -- who became accidentally famous years ago, after her dad's angry voicemail leaked to the press -- clears up the still talked-about recording to Page Six Magazine.

PHOTOS: Stars' embarassing parents

"The only problem with that voicemail was that people made it out to be a way bigger deal than it was," Ireland muses of her dad's "little pig" rant, in which the 30 Rock star, 54, complained that his daughter didn't return his calls. "He's said stuff like that before just because he's frustrated. For me it was like, 'OK, whatever.' I called him back and I was like, 'Sorry Dad, I didn't have my phone.' That was it."

PHOTOS: Biggest Hollywood family feuds

The father-and-daughter duo have even mulled satirizing the moment for posterity. "We almost did something funny on YouTube, of me calling him and yelling at him. We were just talking about it the other week," she revealed.

Following Baldwin and Basinger's messy 2002 divorce, Alec remained a bachelor until very recently. He married yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas this past June -- and there's no tension between Ireland and her new stepmother, 28.

PHOTOS: Hollywood dads

"I've always had a great relationship with my dad," Ireland says. "And Hilaria and I are really close. She's like a big sister to me, but I feel like I haven't spent enough time with her yet," she explains of Hilaria. "We joke around and I call her 'Mom.' But I respect her, it's not like I'm Parent Trap-ping her, setting up booby traps in her room."

She adds that her dad and mom, 58, "worked hard and are inspirational to me. I never want to get anything handed to me."

PHOTOS: Couples with big age differences

Ireland's cousin, Alaia Baldwin (whose dad is Stephen Baldwin) also chimes in to Page Six Magazine about the mystique of the sometimes hot-tempered Baldwin clan. "No matter how much you think you understand a Baldwin, you really don't unless you are one. Ireland and I are pretty sane for Baldwins."


 

Tom Brokaw Hospitalized in Charlotte

Not to worry Tom Brokaw fans: the legendary journalist is doing just fine after being hospitalized in Charlotte, NC Thursday morning.
While on the set of MSNBC's Morning Joe, Brokaw felt "light-headed" NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement (via Reuters).
PHOTOS: Best-dressed TV hosts
"Out of an abundance of caution, he was taken to a hospital," Capus explained. "He is being evaluated, is in good spirits, and is expected to be released shortly."
Brokaw, 72, took to Twitter later that day to explain his health scare.
"All is well Early AM I mistakenly took half a dose of Ambien and made less sense than usual," he wrote. But, "[I] made a better comeback than the Giants!" the former NBC Nightly News anchor boasted.
PHOTOS: Celebrity health scares
Brokaw stepped down from the NBC Nightly News anchor chair in December 2004, after more than twenty years on the job; he now serves as a special correspondent for NBC News, and is covering the Democratic National Convention for the network in Charlotte.

PICS: Stylish Pippa Middleton Attends U.S. Open in New York City

Stealing Kate's style?

Pippa Middleton looked stunning at the 2012 U.S. Open on Tuesday in a blue, orange and green color-blocked dress. The younger sister of Duchess Kate, who is working on a party-planning book, is currently in New York to attend meetings with publishers, a source tells Us Weekly.

PHOTOS: Pippa's famous figure

Middleton, 28, took a break from her work schedule to watch Victoria Azarenka of Belarus play Samantha Stosuer of Australia in their women's singles match on the ninth day of the U.S. Open. During the match, Middleton was photographed sitting next to Spencer Vegosen. The Daily Mail reports Vegosen is a Harvard grad and tennis player.

Read more: 

 PHOTOS: Kate's body through the years

According to the credential around her neck, Middleton was a guest of tennis pro Roger Federer. In July, Pippa and her sister Kate cheered on Federer from the stands at Wimbledon in London.

PHOTOS: Kate and Prince William's first year of marriage

On Labor Day, the famous royal Maid of Honor hit up NYC hotspot Electric Room inside the Dream Downtown and introduced herself to Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford, 27. "They didn't party together but they spoke for 10 minutes," an insider told Us exclusively. "They had never met before but Chace has met Prince Harry a couple times." The previous day, Middleton spent time with wealthy hotelier Andre Balazs, 55, in Shelter Island, New York. She played ping pong and di

Michelle Obama's Stunning DNC Outfit: All the Details!

The Detroit-born Reese's designs have been a favorite of the First Lady's during her four-plus years in the spotlight alongside her husband, President Barack Obama. (In May, Obama wore a sophisticated blue Tracy Reese dress for her Ebony magazine cover).

PHOTOS: Last year's best dressed

Obama rocks hers, as well as other American designers' clothing -- including pieces by Rodarte, Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors -- frequently, and she's never been afraid to mix up budget and high-end labels. (J. Crew, Talbots and ASOS are all favorites.


 

Michael Strahan Joins Kelly Ripa as Permanent LIVE! Cohost

The wait is over!

After 291 days and 59 guest hosts, Kelly Ripa finally found a permanent LIVE! co-host. On September 4, the bubbly blonde, 41, revealed former NFL player Michael Strahan, 40, has taken over for Regis Philbin, 81, who left the program on November 18, 2011.

PHOTOS: Best-dressed TV hosts

"Before I bring him out, I just want to take a minute, sincerely from the bottom of my heart, to thank all of you," Ripa told viewers. "You stood by us . . You're the best audience. I'm not kidding. I love you guys. I really appreciate all of your input during our co-host search."

Before Strahan entered the New York City studio where LIVE! is filmed, Ripa told the audience, "It's time for a new era of our show to begin."

PHOTOS: Regis Philbin's funniest moments

Once Strahan walked on set, he was showered in confetti before Ripa jumped into his arms and gave him a friendly kiss. "I'm speechless. I am so happy to be here," Strahan said. "You know how they say it's a dream come true? I truly can't say this, because I didn't know I could dream this."

PHOTOS: Kelly Ripa and other stars who started on soap operas

"I adore you," Strahan told Ripa. "I am so happy to be here with you and to be a part of this."

News of the former athlete's hiring was leaked in late August by Broadcasting & Cable and TMZ.  Before Strahan was offered the job, guest hosts included Nick Lachey, Josh Groban, Jerry O'Connell, Seth Meyers and Ripa's husband, Mark Consuelos.

Ripa herself was a former LIVE! guest host before she replaced Kathie Lee Gifford, 59, in 2001. LIVE! won its first Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show on June 23, 2012.

Tori Spelling's Brother Randy Expecting Second Child!

Days after Tori Spelling welcomed her fourth child with husband Dean McDermott, the actress' brother, Randy Spelling, has baby news of his own to share!

The life coach, 33, and his wife, Leah Stutz, are expanding their brood, he tells Celebuzz. "Our second one is due in January," says Randy, already father to daughter Sage, 14 months.

PHOTOS: Tori Spelling's life in the public eye

Randy won't know his child's gender until his wife gives birth. "We want to be surprised," he explains. Tori and her husband, 45, made the same decision before their son Finn's August 30 arrival.

Randy has yet to meet his sister's newborn son, but he's already intrigued by the little guy. "I don't know if we have any Irish roots, but I love the name," he tells Celebuzz.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's hottest new star dads

Craft Wars host Tori, 39, is also mom to Liam, 5, Stella, 4, and Hattie, 10 months. She is stepmom to son Jack, 13, from McDermott's previous marriage.

PHOTOS: Most buzzed-about celebrity pregnancies

Before he decided to become a life coach, Randy -- son of wealthy socialite Candy and the late TV producer Aaron -- was an actor, like his sister. He appeared on the 1996 TV series Malibu Shores and guest-starred on episodes of 7th Heaven and Beverly Hills, 90210, both created by his father.

Schiavone denies Robson

British teenager Laura Robson came up shy against former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the first round at Wimbledon.

Robson is ranked 71 places below the world number 26, but the 18-year-old swept through the first set before the Italian had treatment for a back injury.
However, Schiavone regained her composure and survived break point in the second set before running out a 2-6 6-4 6-4 winner.
Robson earned a huge standing ovation when she left Court Two, and despite showing flashes of brilliance, the ambitious teenager will no doubt see this as a missed opportunity to claim a huge scalp against a woman who was once ranked fourth in the world.
Robson showed no sign of nerves early on as she clinched her first game to love, but 24th seed Schiavone then showed her experience by doing exactly the same.
Robson engineered a break point in the fourth game with a powerful forehand return and grabbed the opportunity, forcing Schiavone to net after a thrilling rally.
Nerves then appeared to get to Robson as the seventh went to 0-30 but she responded in style, firing down a 113mph ace to rescue the game and move 5-2 ahead.

Treatment

It was Schiavone who was to suffer from nerves next, as she wasted a 40-15 lead when saving to stay in the set. The Italian was forced to deuce and a powerful return and a double fault gave the home favourite the set after 25 minutes.
The match came to a halt when Schiavone went off court for treatment on her injury. After around 15 minutes, she reappeared and Robson was initially unfazed by the disruption, holding her serve before almost forcing an other break in the second game.
Schiavone needed yet more treatment and afforded Robson three break points in the sixth game. To the frustration of the partisan crowd, she spurned all three chances, her last two shots going wide by millimetres.
Schiavone made Robson pay by breaking in the next game, the teenager sending a cross-court backhand just wide after a tense rally.
The 32-year-old Italian was using every trick in the book to put her opponent out of her stride, grunting, shouting, challenging calls and taking her towel when Robson was ready to serve.
She held easily to take the second set and Robson crumbled in the opening game of the third, weakly netting on Schiavone's second break point.
The dogged determination Robson had displayed in the first set had disappeared and she double-faulted twice in a row to hand Schiavone her second break in the third.
Robson saved two match points and then stunned her opponent by breaking, but Schiavone already had the break she needed and she nervously served out to seal Italy's second sporting triumph over England in three days.

Bulls enter administration

Bradford have just 10 working days to avoid being liquidated after entering administration.

Directors of the Bulls filed a notice of intention to enter administration on June 13 in order to buy them extra time, with HM Revenue & Customs threatening a winding up order over unpaid tax, but the moratorium expired by June 26.
With the Stobart Super League club failing to find new investment, Brendan Guilfoyle and Chris White, from insolvency firm The P&A Partnership, have now been appointed joint administrators.
It is understood Bradford currently owes £98,000 in PAYE tax from May and the same amount for June, plus an outstanding VAT bill of £250,000 from the sale of their Odsal Stadium lease to the Rugby Football League.

No funds

"If there is anyone interested in buying the Bulls then we need to hear from them right now because this is famous club is now on the brink of extinction."
Brendan Guilfoyle Quotes of the week

"The directors made every effort to try to save the club within the 14-day timescale issued by the courts but the moratorium ended yesterday without any potential buyer coming forward," Guilfoyle said.
"We now have just 10 working days to save the club from liquidation because there are no funds to carry on longer.
"If there is anyone interested in buying the Bulls then we need to hear from them right now because this is famous club is now on the brink of extinction."
Guilfoyle said he may have to listen to offers for players to bring in short-term cash.
"It's a crisis situation, and selling players and redundancies cannot be ruled out," he added.
"The situation is really quite grim in the sense that the directors have failed too get the investment they needed to keep the club going.
"I'm unfunded. I don't have very much money. I certainly don't have anywhere near enough to pay the wages for July.
"I suppose I'm lucky in that the June wages are paid but I need someone to come in and fund this club quickly.
"What we are hoping is that the administration will be seen as a positive development by someone who wants to buy the club."
Bradford are the third Super League club to enter administration in the last two years. Wrexham-based Crusaders suffered the same fate in 2010 and were liquidated at the end of the following season.
Wakefield also spent a week in the hands of an administrator before the start of the 2011 campaign and saw three players sold to pay off debts in that time - something that could now happen to the Bulls.
They are also certain to be hit with a four-point penalty for breaching the RFL's rules on insolvency; Mick Potter's side currently sit ninth in the table and are only outside the play-off positions on points difference.

Xbox Surface specs leak, detail a 7-inch tablet and powerful “stationary computing device”

Unlike most of the Microsoft-designed hardware (Zune, Kin, etc.), the Xbox is a strong seller, so this is potentially huge news – Xbox Surface, a 7″ tablet.

Is this the Microsoft-branded tablet that the rumor mill has been chatting about? Well, if it is, it sounds like a pretty odd design – besides the tablet, there’s also a “stationary computing device”, which is quite the powerhouse.

Amazon to finally bring its Appstore to Europe this summer

Android users based in Europe will finally get access to Amazon’s Appstore. The company announced today its expansion plans for the old continent and while they are not massive, it’s a decent start.

The Amazon Appstore will launch in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom this summer. Developers are also encouraged to start certifying their apps for distribution in those countries.

KKR: Champions of IPL 2012

Shahrukh Khan performed cartwheels and went on an embracing rampage. Wasim Akram likened the win to Pakistan’s World Cup triumph. Gautam Gambhir shed his stoicism momentarily and allowed his face to crease into a wide grin – and rightly so!
After all, the most maligned of IPL sides had finally lifted the biggest prize. Following season after season of humiliation, Kolkata Knight Riders rode on Manvinder Bisla’s swashbuckling 48-ball 89 and held their nerve to carve out a five-wicket win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the final of IPL-V on Sunday night. The result stopped Chennai well short in their tracks as they attempted an unlikely hat-trick of IPL titles.
Chasing Chennai’s imposing 190, Kolkata were served well by Bisla, who slammed five sixes to vindicate his replacement of Brendon McCullum in the eleven and partnered Jacques Kallis for 136 runs in just 82 balls to power Kolkata ahead, after the visiting team had lost skipper Gautam Gambhir in the first over of the pursuit. This was the highest successful chase in an IPL final.
Bisla’s dismissal to an Albie Morkel slower ball when 52 were needed to win in a shade over five overs put Super Kings back in the match. And M.S. Dhoni’s team looked to have attained supremacy when Laxmi Shukla and Yusuf Pathan were out soon after.
KKR needed 20 off the last two overs as Ben Hilfenhaus, until then the pick of Chennai’s bowling, returned to bowl. He lured Kallis into a slice off a full-toss, and on the next ball – another full-toss – appeared to have nailed Shakib Al Hasan. But that delivery was called a no-ball – not only was Shakib not out, he had also scampered a couple as Murali Vijay was busy celebrating the void catch.
The Bangladeshi scooped the last ball of Hilfenhaus’ over for four, leaving KKR with just nine to get off Dwayne Bravo’s last over of the innings. Consecutive boundaries from Manoj Tiwary took Shahrukh Khan’s franchise home with two balls to spare.
Earlier, M.S. Dhoni finally won a toss and unsurprisingly elected to bat in what was Chennai’s third consecutive IPL final. Once again the defending champions were aided by an off-color batsman who chose the most opportune time – the summit clash – to come good.
Hussey (54, 43b) and M. Vijay (42, 32b) added 87 for the opening wicket in just 62 balls, and then Suresh Raina roared back into form with a 38-ball 73. The southpaw smashed five massive sixes on his way to partnering Hussey for 73 runs in a shade less than seven overs, as Chennai posted 190, thwarting whatever advantage Kolkata had hoped ‘mystery’ spinner Sunil Narine would gain them.
It was surprising that Gambhir, who had harped on his spin advantage all through the build up, gave Iqbal Abdullah just one over, and did not allow Shakib his full quota either. Narine, the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL-V, went for a scalp-less 37 in his quota of four as Raina waded into him. Suspect against the short ball, he acquitted himself well against that delivery on Sunday night.
Raina pulled Jacques Kallis for maximum over mid-wicket and reserved similar treatment for Brett Lee - L. Balaji’s replacement - biffing him over his head for a morale-crushing blow. Lee finished with 42 runs taken from his four overs. Chennai had begun quietly, taking just six from the first two overs, but as Lee ran in for the third, the carnage started. Hussey lofted the Aussie speedster for four right behind him and then Vijay creamed another one through mid-wicket.
When Lee returned for the sixth over of the innings, the tempo shifted. Vijay and Hussey struck a six apiece, taking the toll from Lee’s over to 19. Vijay was out to a sensational catch by by Shakib in the deep, giving way for Raina to bat. The left-hander ensured a more than competitive total for his side, and Chennai would have considered the match over and done with at the halfway stage. Little did they know that Bisla and Kallis had something entirely different in mind.

Fashion overkill: When stars wear a trend to death

Sure, everyone has a favorite fashion trend, be it leggings or a sexy LBD, but some stars don't just embrace a trend, they wear it to death. A long, slow death, with plenty of photographic evidence. Take a look at the celebs who should be written up for fashion overkill ... Ashanti wears this Cleopatra-inspired hairdo not once, not twice, but three times in one week. Someone teach her a lesson in using moderation!

Six Sexy Summer Signings From Spain

FALCAO
Club: Atlético Madrid
Position: Striker
Perfect for: Chelsea, Manchester City
Value: €60m
Not the cheapest of purchases, mind, but Atlético Madrid and an investment fund will be wanting the €40m back and then some on a striker who has made a bit of a name for himself in the Europa League over the past two seasons and in la Liga last season with 24 goals. Come to think of it, the tax man would also like some of that money, considering Atlético Madrid have a €220m debt.
Fans of the clubs listed above will be tickled pink indeed by the idea of a forward who can score the kind of goals seen in the Europa League final. However, they should also be aware that Falcao is not the most industrious of souls, something that saw criticism last season from Atlético fans during a particularly barren spell. The Colombian is not one for scurrying about and needs two or three players to cover the ground for him - Diego, Arda and Adrían last year - but give Falcao the ball and the striker will surely score. Or at least get close.

KAKA
Club: Real Madrid
Position: Forward
Perfect for: Arsenal
Value: €20m
Watching a once-wonderful footballer trying to get rediscover his lost mojo after a run of both serious and niggling injuries has been a very sad experience. The Brazilian is a tremendously willing, easy-going character but has suffered great psychological stress and angst trying to repay the €65m that Real Madrid forked out in 2009. Although the 30-year-old will never be as good as four or five seasons ago, there were still flashes of the old footballer in the season just gone.
The forward just needs a good run of games and some of the pressure taken away. As well as someone still capable of the spectacular, Kaká would be perfect for a young side needing a bit of glamour and a player in the ranks who has been there, done that and has the medals to prove it. All this may sound like an advert asking for someone to give a home to a perfect family dog left abandoned on the street and in possession of a bit of a leaky bottom, but someone should give Kaká one last chance to shine.

DANI ALVES
Club: Barcelona
Position: Full-back
Perfect for: Manchester City
Value: €20m
The Catalan club are caught between the rock and hard place of not really wanting to get rid of key players but needing a bit of cash to reinforce the centre of defence and bring in a new left-back. This means the potential sale of Dani Alves - who is becoming more expendable by the day - with strong rumours of the club willing to move the Brazilian on for the right figure. Everyone knows what Alves is capable of - covering a flank, bombing forward, playing in a front three if necessary, doing ill-advised dances and getting a bollocking of Carles Puyol - as well as not so good at: crossing. There is the sense in Spain that Barça may want a change and that Alves himself needs a new challenge to take the full-back into his thirties.

BORJA VALERO
Club: Villarreal
Position: Midfielder
Perfect for: Liverpool, Newcastle
Value: €15m
Villarreal's relegation and need to find some money fast, combined with Borja's desire to move from Spanish international fringe player to full-on top footballer will see any serious offer being accepted within seconds for a player who, on his day, is up there with David Silva and Juan Mata.
A late developer after an unsuccessful spell with West Brom in the 2008/2009 season, the 27-year-old playmaker exhausted himself single-handedly trying to save Villareal's skins but couldn't quite manage it. Can run a midfield, pick out the perfect pass and take care of all set-piece needs. Price will sound steep to some, but that's probably less than what Málaga might be offering to reunite Borja with Santi Cazorla.

ROBERTO JIMINEZ
Club: Zaragoza
Position: Goalkeeper
Perfect for: Anyone with a terrible defence.
Value: €10m
Zaragoza survived relegation by the hair on their indebted chinny chinny chins but would have been down by October had it not been for the season-spanning saves of Roberto. The brilliant Spanish goalkeeper (yes, another one) joined from Benfica on a deal that no-one is really too sure about and is ready to be moved on. However, a stupendous year playing in front of an awful back four means that a large quantity of clubs will be lusting after a footballer used to being a one-man match-saving machine.

MICHU
Club: Rayo Vallecano
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Perfect for: Everton, Aston Villa, Sunderland.
Value: €8m
Linked with Manchester United, but that would probably be a bad move for both parties, especially for a player who is all about the frenzied physical side of football rather than speed and finesse. Michu is a net-shaking, divot booting big fella who scored 15 goals for Rayo Vallecano last season to keep the side in la Primera. Perfect for set-pieces or any team where elbowing one's way though a back four is preferable to weaving through it in a delicate, dainty manner. Rayo's constant financial troubles will see any good offer accepted. The fact that Michu himself has said that English football interests him is a healthy sign too.

Ox enjoying meteoric rise

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain watched England's last tournament appearance with his friends in a Southsea pub - but is now relishing being part of the Euro 2012 squad.
The Arsenal winger's meteoric rise up the footballing ladder continued when he made his full debut in Saturday's 1-0 success over Belgium at Wembley. It is only just over 12 months ago that Oxlade-Chamberlain was playing for Southampton in League One.
He said: "In a year everything has changed around. It has changed around very quickly. I've enjoyed every minute of it and I hope I continue in the same way. It was not long ago I was watching the 2010 World Cup with some friends in Southsea."
He continued: "I went home to see my friends the other day in Southsea and we drove past the pub where we watched the England-Germany game and Frank Lampard scored the goal that got disallowed.
"I was sat with my best friend and he said it was unbelievable that a couple of years ago we were in there watching it and in the next major tournament I'm out there with all the boys.
"It sort of puts things into perspective for you and it has been an amazing journey. But it is the start. It is just the start for me and I can't get carried away. I've got a long, long way to go and I've got to keep working hard and try and make my future bright."
Oxlade-Chamberlain had to cancel his planned holiday after receiving the call-up from England head coach Roy Hodgson. He added: "I'd even booked a holiday to Marbella which was due to start on Saturday.
"All my friends have gone out there and I cancelled that one - and was happy to do so! To be involved with your country means so much. It was nice to get the first one (start) out of the way. It's a start in my England career I guess, the first of many I hope.
"It's always nice to win as well. I thought we played some good stuff at times and it was against a good Belgium team. It was a really good experience for myself and I enjoyed every minute of it and hopefully it is the first of many.
"A few of the lads had a word with me, Stevie Gerrard, Scott Parker, the experienced boys. They just said go out and enjoy it and, when someone says that to you, you do realise it is a game of football. I've been playing since I was seven at a professional club and you are tuned to perform in moments like that. If you go out and relax, it just comes to you."

Snuggle Bear

Happy 4 weeks little Madeleine!
It’s so hard to believe that it’s already been a month since you’ve entered our world. Seems just yesterday you were our teeny little newborn, completely content to sleep around the clock, that is, until the minute we left the hospital! You’ve already given me so much — more love than I can contain, more patience than I knew I had and more happiness than I could ever imagine. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life repaying that to you by giving you everything I possibly can. XOX

One Upon A Time In Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival is the epitome of glamour. And La Promenade de La Croisette is where it all happens.

When the GCC got the opportunity to be part of all this and to celebrate the restoration of the iconic Once Upon a Time in America by the late master of movies, Sergio Leone - well, frankly we were beside ourselves with excitement!

SEE ALL THE CANNES 2012 PICTURES

'Once' (as we'll call it for expediency's sake) has been beautifully restored by Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation, in partnership with Gucci. The whole event brings together things I love: Italy, a movie I grew up with (Ennio Morricone's theme is a habitual ipod favourite!) and my friend Elizabeth McGovern who starred in the movie when she was just 23. For this challenge we got to work with Gucci too.

As well as being a brilliant actress and a style icon in her own right, she has been a huge supporter of the GCC from our early days.

Regular followers might remember she rocked Henrietta Ludgate at the when she attended the Royal Television Awards and at the GCC Golden Globes event earlier this year at Soho House in LA.

It's always a lot more fun to have a friend with you and also helped to settle my nerves as Cannes red carpet is pretty intimidating.

Elizabeth and I began the afternoon getting ready in the Hotel Du Cap (also a rather iconic location!) with makeup artist, Karen Alder  and a magical large bag of Liz Earle's new organic makeup range. I am now addicted to Liz Earle's illuminator pens of all shades, which contour your face and take years off you!).

Working to GCC criteria, Frida Giannini and her team at Gucci made two beautiful gowns for me and Elizabeth. For this challenge,  they worked using organic silk, georgette and crepe, dyed using natural wood pigmentation. In an ivory gown made from certified gown,  Elizabeth looked simply stunning. My floor length gown in black with an open back and bow detail was unashamedly romantic but quite different from anything I've worn so far. Yet again, the GCC is making me push my style boundaries as well as introducing me to new techniques and materials.

Both of as got to wear pieces from British goldsmith and ethical jewellery champion, Anna Loucah. Handmade in the UK, the pieces used 18-carat white Fairtrade Fairmined Ecological gold and Australian Jeweltree certified diamonds. I topped the look off with earrings by Calleija from traceable Australian diamonds.

Au revoir from the GCC!