P567 CEEFAX 1 567 Tue 31 Mar 21:11/21 *.: 1/6 .: *: :. * BLAIR AND HAGUE WANT DEIRDRE RELEASED Prime Minister Tony Blair and Tory leadjt William Hague have united to call for the release of fictional soap character Deirdre Rachid from prison. Fans of Coronation Street were outraged to see the character given an 18 month jail sentence in Sunday night's episode Blair said it was clear that she was innocent, and Hague expressed concern. But campaigners for real-life prisoners say the jokey comments are in bad taste Music 560 Switch On 540 TV News 591 Films 541 Front Page 100 Lottery 555 Showbiz Music Lottery WMidsTVP567 CEEFAX 1 567 Tue 31 Mar 22:02/44 *.: 2/6 .: *: :. * KEEP DEIRDRE IN JAIL URGES RADIO DJ Invicta FM radio station in Kent has started a campaign to keep Coronation Streets Deirdre Rachid in jail — bjcausj of Anne Kirkbridj's acting. Breakfast Show DJ Neil Francis told listeners: "Eighteen months is not enough — it should bj 18 years and they should throw away the key." Listeners who phoned in agreed with the DJ, who is opposing campaigns set up around the country to free the soap character who was jailed on Sunday. Music 560 Switch On 540 TV News 591 Films 541 Front Page 100 Lottery 555 Showbiz Music Lottery WMidsTVP567 CJEFAX 1 567 Tue 31 Mar 21:04/17 *.: 3/6 .: *: :. * STARS TO COVER UP FOR FULL MONTY SEQUEL It's been confirmed that a sjqujl to The Full Monty — Britain's biggest ever hit — will go ahead. But it's believed the original cast, who are expected to bj reunited for the follow-up, will keep their clothes on. Scriptwriter Simon Beaufoy's agent Rod Hall said his client was in talks and added: "I know that it will go ahead." The Full Monty cost £2m to make and has grossed £160m worldwide so far. Music 560 Switch On 540 TV News 591 Films 541 Front Page 100 Lottery 555 Showbiz Music Lottery WMidsTVP567 CEEFAX 1 567 Tue 31 Mar 21:04/15 *.: 4/6 .: *: :. * BEE GEES SPEAK ABOUT FORMER DRUG ABUSE The Bee Gees, back in fashion with the revival of musical Saturday Night Fjvjt, have told how they wrote three hits in one drug-euellid day. But they say they have been firmly anti-drugs since the death of brother Andy from cocaine and alcohol abuse. Maurice Gibb says Tragedy, Too Much Heaven and Shadow Dancing were written in 24 hours on one drugs binge. But hj now says: "It was ridiculous." Music 560 Switch On 540 TV News 591 Films 541 Front Page 100 Lottery 555 Showbiz Music Lottery WMidsTVP567 CJEFAX 1 567 Tue 31 Mar 22:03/28 *.: 5/6 .: *: :. * TALKING TUBBIER LAUNCHED ON TOY MARVET Talking versions of the Tjletubbies toys have been launched in the UK. The new toys trot out songs and catchphrases from the hit TV series when their tummies are squeezed. The original toys sparked a buying frenzy when launched last year, and makjts hope for a similar reaction. "Wj'vj had a lot of interest already with people ringing up to find out when they'll bj in store," said one retailer Music 560 Switch On 540 TV News 591 Films 541 Front Page 100 Lottery 555 Showbiz Music Lottery WMidsTVP567 CJEFAX 1 567 Tue 31 Mar 22:11/20 *.: 6/6 .: *: :. * STAR COUPLE END THEIR 12-YEAR MARRIAGE One of the showbiz marriages of the 1980s formally ended today when actors Dennis Wbtetman and Rula Ljnska weti granted a "quickie" divorce. The couple, who mit on the set of the hit ITV sjtiis Minder in 1982, split up last May after a stormy 12-year marriage. They had no children. When 50-year-old Waterman first saw the Polish Countess — now 49 — hj said that it was like being "hit in the stomach by a 10 ton bag of cement". Music 560 Switch On 540 TV News 591 Films 541 Front Page 100 Lottery 555 Showbiz Music Lottery WMidsTV