RED TOP REVIEW

By Nick Drainey

High-powered backers
It's The X Factor, Scottish-style. The Daily Record has news of a gran smuggling cocaine on its front page, but surely far more interesting is news carried inside that tomorrow night's X Factor will feature the daughter of SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, Libby, as well as Kathleen Cooney, the daughter of Paul, who is the managing director in central Scotland of Bauer Radio, owners of Radio Clyde and Radio Forth. The pair are in the band High Voltage, and with that kind of backing can surely expect some success.

A passion for gold
The Scottish Sun has the ultimate tabloid page three. Olympic champion Chris Hoy wears his gold medals to bed because it excites his girlfriend. Let's leave it at that.

No lolly for Polly
Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror has the most ridiculous credit crunch story yet. The owners of parrots are giving up their pets because they can't afford to keep them. The paper reports that about 800 parrots, budgies, cockatiels and macaws have been handed into the National Parrot Sanctuary in Lancashire since January.


BUSINESS

By Nathalie Thomas

British Energy takeover hopes revived
There were fresh hopes that a deal between British Energy and EDF, the French energy giant, could be concluded this morning after reports emerged that the two companies are locked in serious talks.
Rumours were circulating the markets this morning that EDF had offered to raise its £12bn all-cash offer for BE which shareholders rejected at the start of last month.
It is understood that the recent sharp fall in the oil price is aiding the deal.
BE shares dropped 0.75p in early trading to 733p.


TELEVISION

By Fiona Leith

The end is nigh
I don't think it's just us who have struggled to raise an eyebrow of interest at this year's Big Brother housemates, is it? But whatever your opinion, tonight sees the winner crowned, and a month-long spell in the tabloids guaranteed as part of the infamy, if nothing else.
Big Brother Finale, Channel 4, 8pm and 10pm

Back in the market
The Beeb's big Friday night drama for those who have blocked Cold Feet from their memory continues tonight, with Patrick trying to revitalise Martin's love life by reminding him of the high-octane activities of the singles market. Starring Keeley Hawes and Marc Warren.
Mutual Friends, BBC1, 9pm

The high street
With the tag line "Roy and Ken are arrested for drug-dealing", this just had to be included in tonight's recommendations. As Ken's post-midlife crisis-crisis continues apace, the mind boggles at what the Harold and Maude of Weatherfield will be getting up to, or indeed getting high on.
Coronation Street, ITV, 7.30pm


FASHION

By Kayt Turner

Yes, no, up, down
There are two very different sides to Anne Hathaway. On the one hand she is the Crown Princess of Genovia – hence the floaty, flouncy, frilly frock. On the other she is smart, sexy and sassy Agent 99 – with the short skirt and legs up to her oxters. At the moment she's the fashion equivalent of The Three Faces Of Eve. We shouldn't really stare at someone who so obviously needs professional help to bring those fashion personalities together.

Bacofoil belle
So it's come to this. Anything Katie Price can do, I can do better, eh? Well that's not really true, is it Jodie Kidd? You are left posing with a toy car and a tinfoil Tinkerbell – it's hardly the modelling career of your dreams. You'd better hope that Strictly Come Dancing ups the quality of the work you are offered. Even the netting, sequins and fake tan will be an improvement on this look.

Say ah
While there are many things that we all now know about Tilda Swinton (really, if you were going to get to pick a toyboy, would you not pick a better one?), one of the less widely circulated facts is that she works part-time as a dental hygienist. All that swanning about with George Clooney doesn't pay the bills y'know.


SPORT

By Graham Bean

Morrison to miss Scotland World Cup qualifier
Scotland's preparations for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier in Macedonia suffered another blow today when it emerged that midfielder James Morrison looks set to miss out.
The West Brom player, 22, suffered a knee injury in his club's goalless draw at Bolton on Saturday and has been unable to train since.
He had been in contention to start tomorrow afternoon's Group 9 clash in Skopje, but coach Steven Pressley does not expect him to be fit.

Federer faces Djokovic in US Open
Novak Djokovic will meet Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the US Open after a show-stopping victory over Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows.
The winner will face either Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal in the final in New York on Sunday.
The world No.3 outgunned Roddick 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 in a high-quality shootout, but then felt the wrath of the crowd when he let his emotions spill over in a courtside interview.
Annoyed by Roddick's suggestions that he might have been exaggerating hip, ankle, stomach and breathing problems during his five-set win in the previous round, Djokovic told the fans: "Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries in the last match so obviously I don't, right? That's not nice anyhow to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I am faking it."
The Serb was loudly booed by the crowd for his remarks.


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