Like a good daytime soap opera, the so-called "Desperate Housewives" trial has ended with a surprising plot twist. The actress Nicollette Sheridan, who is suing for wrongful dismissal over the death of her character Edie Britt on the popular TV show, learned last night that the jury was unable to reach a verdict. As a result, the judge declared a mistrial.

BBC director general Mark Thompson is to step down from his post after the Olympics this year, it was reported last night.

Global interest in next Friday's marriage has meant a bumper payday for well-connected Windsor-watchers

When he felt a Monday Night Football game was decided, Don Meredith would sing "turn out the lights, the party's over". For Meredith it sometimes seemed the party was never over. He enjoyed two glamorous careers, first as a star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys and then as an announcer-cum-actor, and quit each when he stopped enjoying them.

Friends star Courteney Cox and her husband David Arquette announced a "trial separation" today.

Facebook will sell stock in a IPO when the time is right, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an ABC TV interview, addressing persistent speculation about its stock market debut.

The US has not had good intelligence on Osama bin Laden's whereabouts for years, and al-Qa'ida is finding smarter ways to try to attack America, the CIA director said yesterday.

England rugby star Josh Lewsey is undertaking the ultimate challenge in attempting to summit Mount Everest in aid of Help for Heroes. He'll be writing an exclusive diary during the expedition which you can keep up to date with here at The Independent.

David Beckham does not expect to return to competitive action until November, he told US television yesterday.

England rugby star Josh Lewsey is undertaking the ultimate challenge in attempting to summit Mount Everest in aid of Help for Heroes. He'll be writing an exclusive diary during the expedition which you can keep up to date with here at The Independent.

Nicollette Sheridan, the actress who played a divorced estate agent in ABC's TV series Desperate Housewives, has filed a lawsuit against the show's creator and producer alleging assault and wrongful termination.

The first hour of the final season of ABC's "Lost" has leaked online, and the reaction is not what industry insiders expected.

It's ugly news for all the fans of Ugly Betty. ABC says the series will be cancelled after this season.

Broadcasting organisations were flooded with complaints about an S&M-themed performance by a reality show star at the American Music Awards, which included him kissing a male keyboard player.