Popstars contestant Nicola Ward has reportedly quit the show despite making the top 10 of girl band hopefuls. In a sudden burst of righteousness she told the Sunday Mirror: "They are trying to make us sign our life away. The contract is outrageous. If we win we have to sign up to an agreement which means they own us. They can use our faces on mugs or duvets, and God knows what. And we'll only get £1,500 a week for touring while they're raking it in. They'll be making profits from ticket sales, T-shirts and TV interviews and paying us a pittance. It's not worth it. I'm going to concentrate now on getting a solo career and find a company that won't try to control my entire life. At the end of the day when you look at what's happened to Hear'Say - the last band produced by this programme - I don't think I'm giving up too much."
Word is Muse are threatening to sue Celine Dion for using their name for her Las Vegas show. They claim they own the American performing rights to the name, which means no other artist can use it – as a band or show name. The Sun reports Dion has offered the band £32,000 to use the name but they have refused. "They've told us they are pressing ahead with the Muse name whether we like it or not, they think if we try and sue them they will crush us with their might" lead singer Matt Bellamy told the paper.
Pop idol Gareth Gates may have been knocked off the number one spot, but he has won the title of best male artist at the Disney Channel Kids Award at a ceremony in Docklands this weekend. Atomic Kitten were named best female artists, Liberty X best dance act and S Club Juniors best newcomers. Pop Idol hosts Ant and Dec won the award for best TV stars.
Gareth Gates is also hot contender for most bizarre fling of the year after Jordan told the News of the World she had been sleeping with the young star for the four months immediately following the Pop Idol final, apparently taking his virginity along the way!