Madonna and Wallis Simpson have much in common. Twice divorced, scandalous Americans exiled to London, who both seem to abide by Wallis's famous advice, "you can never be too rich or too thin."

Our summer riots may be a source of national shame. Likewise, our summer weather. But at least British films are cause for riotous celebrations and thunderous applause at the Venice Film Festival.

An alcoholic and opium addict, a social recluse and all dead by the age of 40. You get the feeling that the troubled Brontes should have lived in Albert Square. Yet there isn't a literary family anywhere to equal the combined genius of Charlotte, Emily and Anne...

We all know Hollywood is obsessed with the fresh ( just look at the sell by date of actresses.) But even they get 40 odd years. A film's lucky to have a span of 25 before a baby-faced, baseball-capped, Starbucks-carrying studio executive is screaming "remake!"

Did we ever stop really loving Starship's 'We Built This City', Whitesnakes's 'Here I Go Again' or of course, the most popular download ever, 'Don't Stop Believin'?