The winner of BBC1 talent show The Voice, Leanne Mitchell, is on course for an embarrassing flop with her self-titled debut album looking likely to miss out on the top 100.

The Hi-de-Hi! actor Paul Shane died today at the age of 72 following a short illness, his agent said.

Singing show The Voice lost out in the Saturday night ratings war when it returned for a second series at the weekend.

Kiwi mime artist Sam Wills tops off his Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Award success earlier this year with a West End run of his winning show: a sweet treat, perfect for the season of goodwill and frivolous entertainment.

There will be more blind auditions and fewer live shows in the new series of The Voice as BBC bosses attempt to improve its viewing figures.

Hastings Pier, the seaside attraction that became an unlikely musical mecca in the 1960s by hosting performers from the Rolling Stones to The Who, is to be restored following an £11m Lottery grant.

All four coaches from The Voice are to be reunited when the series returns to BBC1 next year.

The south London pop-soul singer has supported Rizzle Kicks, Jessie J, Giggs and Emeli Sandé on their UK tours.

The worst kept secret in music is out after Adele confirmed she will sing the theme to the new Bond film Skyfall.

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has suggested that he will bow out of the show after 10 years because he does not want to turn into Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Tom Jones declared: “This confirms that there is justice in the world,” as the act he coached won the BBC's singing competition, The Voice.

Veteran crooner Engelbert Humperdinck, whose last top 10 hit was 42 years ago has been chosen as the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Katie Melua's fifth album suffers from the opposite shortcoming to most female singers: rather than over-emote too flamboyantly, on Secret Symphony she seems emotionally constrained, stifling the songs in politesse.