TELEVISION / Tabloid TV

Eldorado has been fighting for tabloid space with John Birt since Saturday, when the soap's end was announced. The headlines hit a particular high, none more so than the Sun's trio on Saturday: 'The El's over', 'The biggest wash-out in the history of TV soap' and 'Licence-payers' El of a bill'. General misery was reported from the set in Spain, with some actors first hearing of the decision to pull the plug from tabloid reporters. The story, however, was given a rosier hue by Jon Morrey, a former cast member, who said that, flop or not, Eldorado had done wonders for his sex life.

Sex has not been so good, apparently, for Chris Evans, presenter of The Big Breakfast, who said that the early starts were interfering with his love life; the other breakfast television news is that GMTV's Fiona Armstrong has resigned to spend more time with her family.

Elsewhere, Mark Lamarr and Terry Christian have been fighting backstage on The Word, Bob Geldof and Paula Yates are considering emigrating to Australia and Amanda de Cadenet has been voted most hated woman in showbusiness ahead of Dannii Minogue, Kim Basinger and Shannen Doherty.

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