David Thewlis' expensive giraffe

David Thewlis has revealed he initially wanted to close his short film 'Hello, Hello, Hello' with a shot of a giraffe, but couldn't afford it.

David Thewlis once spent £2,000 on a camel for a scene in a film - because he couldn't afford a giraffe.

The British actor, director and author originally wanted to close his short film 'Hello, Hello, Hello' with a shot of an ostrich running down a road, but noted it had already been done by another director, making him initially set his sights higher, and wanted to hire a giraffe.

He explained: "I couldn't afford a giraffe. Four thousand pounds it was to get a giraffe. But I could get a camel for £2,000. And it was a beautiful camel. I expected a scraggy-looking thing to turn up, but on the night they said, 'The camel's here, David,' and I turned around and thought 'Ah!' because it was gorgeous."

It was supposed to be something much stranger. It was supposed to be very inspired by Bunuel, but you'd struggle to see that.

David has since made one full length film, 'Cheeky', but admits the end result wasn't quite what he had hoped.

He added: "I'd directed a short film, and I really enjoyed it. And then I wrote 'Cheeky', and I was never meant to direct that.

"But I got persuaded to direct it, and persuaded to be in it, and that was never the plan. I didn't have a very good time and I don't like the finished product. I think it's rubbish. Well, it's not rubbish, but it's not what it was supposed to be.

"It was supposed to be something much stranger. It was supposed to be very inspired by Bunuel, but you'd struggle to see that."

Ellie Goulding splits from boyfriend

Ellie Goulding has split from her boyfriend of 18 months, Radio 1 DJ Greg James.

Ellie Goulding has split from boyfriend Greg James.

The 'Your Song' singer and the Radio 1 DJ have called time on their 18-month relationship after finding it hard to spend together because of their busy work schedules.

A source told The Sun newspaper "Things had not been right for a while but they only called it a day a month ago. It was just a real struggle for them to be in the same place at the same time.

"The split is amicable and they are still friends."

The split is amicable and they are still friends.

Ellie is now concentrating on her next album and will put all her efforts into her career.

On New Year's Eve (31.12.11), she tweeted: "Next year is mostly about my new record, being a good person and my first marathon. Really grateful for my life."

News of the split comes three months after Ellie moved out of Greg's home.

The 'Starry Eyed' singer decided to leave the apartment she was sharing with Greg as they thought it would help keep the relationship exciting.

A source said "They're doing what's best for them, and they're happy to have their own places at the moment. They're definitely still together."

Justin Bieber talks to God

Justin Bieber has admitted he is believes in God but doesn't go to church to affirm his Christian faith, preferring to pray in private.

Justin Bieber talks directly to God.

The 17-year-old pop superstar is a Christian and believes there is a higher power guiding everyone's lives, but he doesn't go to church to affirm his faith and instead focuses on praying to God in private.

He told V magazine: "A lot of people who are religious, I think they get lost. They go to church just to go to church. I'm not trying to disrespect them ... but for me, I focus more on praying and talking to Him. I don't have to go to church."

A lot of people who are religious, I think they get lost. They go to church just to go to church. I'm not trying to disrespect them ... but for me, I focus more on praying and talking to Him. I don't have to go to church.

Although he doesn't go to a place of worship, the 'Baby' singer recently got a tattoo of Jesus Christ's face on his left calf and showed it off during a trip to a Los Angeles beach.

In the interview, Justin - who is dating 19-year-old star Selena Gomez - also complained that as he has got more successful and famous he has become a target for people.

He added: "Now that I'm on top, everyone wants to bring me down ... Everyone's trying to tug at me and take my spot. Like Floyd Mayweather, he's the best boxer in the world. Now he is a champion. Every time he goes to a fight now, people are like, 'He's going to lose this time.' "

Justin was stunned last year when a 20-year-old fan, Mariah Yeater, accused him of being the father of her baby Tristyn, a claim which he vehemently denied and is yet unproven.

Katherine Jenkins cries on stage

Katherine Jenkins broke down on stage over her split with Gethin Jones as she kicked off her tour in Oxford, Middle England, at the weekend.

Katherine Jenkins cried on stage at the weekend.

The singer announced in December she and TV presenter Gethin Jones were separating and the pain of the split proved too much for her to cope with as she kicked off the first night of her UK tour in Oxford, Middle England, on Saturday night (07.01.12).

As she performed her song 'Your Silhouette', which includes the lines "lying in your empty bed" and "clinging to a memory of you", Katherine turned away from the audience and was comforted by her musical director Anthony Inglis.

lying in your empty bed and clinging to a memory of you

Katherine received two standing ovations for her performance and told the crowd at the New Theatre she had not been sure if she should perform at all.

The 31-year-old star was not wearing the £10,000 engagement ring given to her by Gethin for the performance.

The couple both announced their split on twitter on December 30. Katherine told fans: "Sorry for being quiet of late, its just that I have some very sad news. Geth & I have decided to go our separate ways. We are both beyond broken hearted. All your hugs & support will be much appreciated xxx (sic)" 

Jones told his followers: "Hi everybody. I'm deeply sad to tell you that Kath and I have ended our relationship as a couple. We are both heart broken... Gx."

Katy Perry has 'happy heart' again

Katy Perry has taken to her twitter account to thank fans for their support following her split from Russell Brand, and she told them she has a ''happy heart again''.

Katy Perry has thanked fans for their support following her split from Russell Brand.

The 'Firework' hitmaker - who broke up with the actor on December 30, 2011 when he filed for divorce - took to her twitter account after a two-week break to pay tribute to her supporters and reassure them she has a "happy heart" again.

She tweeted yesterday (08.01.12): "I am so grateful for all the love and support I've had from people around the world. You guys have made my heart happy again."

The pop star - whose last twitter entry was on December 27 - also insisted she is the only person who speaks for herself after her evangelical mother and father spoke about the split last week.

I am so grateful for all the love and support I've had from people around the world. You guys have made my heart happy again.

She tweeted: "Concerning the gossip, I want to be clear that NO ONE speaks for me. Not a blog, magazine, "close sources" or my family."

Last week, Katy's parents Christian pastors Keith and Mary Hudson spoke about the pair's break up for the first time from the pulpit of their church.

Mary said: "I'm sure that Katy's trending on the Internet was to get you here to church tonight.

"I mean all over the world, who knows how God is bringing them in? The most important thing is you are here and God wants to put the fire in you in 2012."

Since filing for divorce, Russell has been residing in the UK, while Katy has been staying with her grandmother in Santa Barbara.

Lindsay Lohan gets no regrets tattoo

Lindsay Lohan has had 'Live Without Regrets' tattooed onto her left wrist to mark a ''great point in her life''.

Lindsay Lohan has a new tattoo to mark a "great point in her life".

The troubled actress - who has endured several stints in rehab and various legal woes in recent years - visited a Los Angeles tattoo parlour on Friday (06.01.12) to get 'Live Without Regrets' etched on her left wrist, and friends told website TMZ she wanted the inking to remind her of how good she is feeling at the moment.

The insider claimed Lindsay is particularly excited about March 29, the date she will finally finish her stint of court ordered community service which she was made to undertake after breaching the terms of probation which were set following a 2007 driving under the influence conviction.

clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife, I feel like I'm in the prime of my life

The 'Mean Girls' star has several other quotation tattoos already, recently getting the Billy Joel lyric "clear as a crystal, sharp as a knife, I feel like I'm in the prime of my life", from the song 'I Go to Extremes', inked onto her rib cage.

On her inner right wrist, Lindsay has the word 'Breathe', close to where she had the Marilyn Monroe quote 'I restore myself when I'm alone' inked after splitting from Samantha Ronson in 2009.

She also has 'La Bella Vita' etched on her back.