Showbiz: British singer killed in boating accident

British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl has died, aged 41, in a boating accident off Mexico. It is believed the daughter of folksinger Ewan MacColl was swimming when she was run over by a speedboat.

MacColl scored her biggest hit with the Pogues in 1987 with Christmas favourite Fairytale in New York ("It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank ... "). She collaborated with several bands including the Smiths, Talking Heads and Billy Bragg.

MacColl leaves two children from her marriage to record producer Steve Lillywhite.

Taking the high road


The stars came out earlier than usual in the Scottish Highlands yesterday as the A-list began arriving for Madonna and Guy Ritchie's wedding.

Gwyneth Paltrow, tipped to be matron of honour, and fashion designer Stella McCartney were first to touch down at the airport near Inverness before driving to the exclusive venue of Skibo Castle. McCartney, daughter of Beatle Paul, is believed to have designed Madonna's wedding dress.

When the star's new in-laws flew in from London, Ritchie's father John and wife Shireen were asked about Madonna. "She is a very strong personality, but also very charming and very funny and very down to Earth. I'm honoured to have her as a prospective daughter-in-law," John replied.

Last rights Roebuck


"Pops" Staples, patriarch of the civil rights-inspired group the Staple Singers, has died, aged 84. Staples had suffered a concussion in a fall near his home in Dolton, Illinois.

He and his group gained fame in the 60s by singing music that urged social and religious change, while fusing gospel with the blues.

The Staple Singers gained a huge audience with their first No 1 hit I'll Take You There in 1972 and followed with top 40 hits Respect Yourself, Heavy Makes You Happy and If You're Ready (Come Go With Me).

Video killed the radio star


Forty-five years after Grace Archer met her end in the long-running British radio series The Archers the awful truth is out. She died to upstage the launch of commercial TV in Britain.

The Archers, with its famously catchy theme music, blasted out of many a New Zealand radio and cowshed wireless for many years. It is still running in Britain, where it attracts 4.5 million listeners daily, and celebrates its 50th birthday on New Year's Day.

Tony Shryane, 81, who produced 7000 episodes from 1951-79, admitted this week: "It was definitely done to overshadow [ITV's] opening night - and it worked. With the coming of commercial television we wanted something that would take the impact away. It was my idea to kill her off."