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Diary: All the King's men...

Colin Firth has been filming on the set of a gay porn movie. Once you've forgiven/sued me for that misleading opening sentence, let me explain: a series of photos acquired by the website QueerClick (best viewed – if at all – at home, using a computer for which you have administrator rights and can swiftly clear your browser history) appear to prove that the shabby office inhabited by Geoffrey Rush's character, Lionel, in The King's Speech, has also been the setting for a number of graphic mano-a-mano celluloid encounters. The owner of the location used in Firth's film, Edward Davenport, has already admitted to hosting sex parties there, while the walls and windows of the room in the aforementioned snaps are identical (though I don't recall that billiard table being there during The King's Speech). Remarkably, given the ripe-for-pornification male friendship at its core, there appears to be no "porn version" of The Kings Speech (à la Shaving Ryan's Privates) in circulation just yet. But might this online leakage – as it were – be yet another elaborate attempt to sabotage the film's substantial Oscar chances? The people behind The Social Network have both motive and expertise...

Duck for cover from these vapid veterans

New versions of old classics can be revelatory, says Elisa Bray – but more often than not, they're uninspiring chart fodder

Brighton Comedy Festival Gala, Brighton Dome

Brighton rocks with laughter

Maybe I'm amazed at being McCartney's chosen guitarist

The former Beatle's right-hand man tells Pierre Perrone what it's like working with a legend, and having him help you with your new album

Mother of mine! It's her day, so why not serenade her?

Victoria Richards counts down the top 10 cheesy tributes to our mums – and, four decades on, catches up with the boy for whom Opportunity Knocked

Owl City, Komedia, Brighton

A sugar shock of schmaltz

Abbey Road's greatest hits

As The Beatles' former studio faces closure, leading figures in music tell Mark Jewsbury what they think is the best album ever recorded there

Party Of The Week: Lady Gaga shows her poker face at Universal Brit bash

All of the major record labels threw Brits parties after the awards ceremony on Tuesday night but the hottest ticket was Universal's do, held in the ballroom of London's Mandarin Oriental hotel. A glum-looking Lady Gaga arrived, still wearing her massive bouffant wig, but she was clearly not in the mood to celebrate her triple win. Earlier in the evening she had turned her dressing room into a shrine for her late friend, the fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who committed suicide last week. She then dedicated her performance to him. Inside the party, she chatted briefly to Courtney Love, who was at the next table and was joined by fellow winners Florence Welch and Lily Allen, who took turns DJing. Girls Aloud's Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh arrived to a media scrum – but their bandmate Cheryl Cole was absent, keeping a low profile after allegations about her husband Ashley Cole.

Nerina Pallot - A degree of pop success

Nerina Pallot suspended her music career to go to university. Now she's writing for Kylie and her own album is a gem. By Chris Mugan

Outrage at 'vile' column about Gately's death

Complaints flood in after Mail writer links singer's death to his homosexuality

Boyzone 'overwhelmed' by support over Stephen Gately's death

Stephen Gately's grief-stricken Boyzone bandmates said they were "truly overwhelmed" as they arrived in Majorca to bring the body of their best friend home.

Pandora: Suralan's seat stays empty at conference

While the Labour Party's promise of "special VIP" attendances at this week's conference might have been something of an exaggeration, organisers still managed to impress by convincing Lesley Garrett and Jo Brand to provide the entertainment for Tuesday's gala dinner in Brighton. There was one big name, though, who was conspicuous by his absence.

Island Life, Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

One night on paradise island

Party of the Week: Radio ga ga as prisoners steal top Sony awards

Radio 2's Chris Evans was so proud of his two gold awards at the Sony Radio Academy Awards on Monday night – which he also hosted – that he carried them on his shoulders most the night, even at the after-party. Guests at the show, held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, included TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher, Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri and ex-Atomic Kitten singer, Liz McClarnon, all of whom had presented awards.

Career Services

Day In a Page

Countdown's rudest ever moments

Yesterday a contestant spelt the word 'minge'.
Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans