Emily Dugan discovers training was no piece of cake for the stars of a new British film

The synth pop songstress tells Elisa Bray that her new album reflects a struggle to reconcile success and syndrome

For nearly five decades he gazed out of his Sydney home overlooking the Pacific Ocean, inspired by one of Australia's most picturesque views. But it was not just a love for the sea that drew him to the dramatic panorama.

For nearly five decades he gazed out of his Sydney home overlooking the Pacific Ocean, inspired by one of Australia's most picturesque views. But it was not just a love for the sea that drew him to the dramatic panorama.

When Margaret Whitlam heard in 1975 that her husband, Gough, had been dismissed as Australian prime minister, her response was characteristically blunt. "Why didn't you just tear it up?" she asked, referring to the document he had been handed by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr.

Cathy Freeman flew across the other side of the world to prepare for the 400m at a home Olympics – to train with Donna Fraser at Eton. Christine Ohuruogu has only gone to Los Angeles, and as part of a British training squad (Freeman's was a solo mission). Still, the East End girl who struck gold in the one lap event in Beijing in 2008, would rather like to sneak under the radar ahead of the London Olympics if at all possible.

Zimbabwean officials yesterday dismissed reports that President Robert Mugabe had been hospitalised during a trip to Singapore as "hogwash".

One of the Olympics' most famous underdogs, Eric "the Eel" Moussambani, has been named coach of Equatorial Guinea's swim team for the London Games.

Let the bright one in. Blanchett sizes up the London stage

Hull have won the race to sign sought-after England international Gareth Ellis on a three-year deal.

Gareth Ellis will decide by the end of this month which Super League club he will join when he returns to England at the end of this season.

Where are you now and what can you see?

Ricky Ponting, Australia's most successful one-day cricketer, yesterday accepted that his limited-overs international career is over. However, he said he hoped to play in the 2013 Ashes.