Troubled pop superstar Michael Jackson has accused Californian police of "manhandling" him during his arrest on charges of child molestation. The Thriller legend was speaking on American TV show 60 Minutes where he made the allegation of rough treatment when he surrendered to Santa Barbara police earlier this month to be arrested formally. Jackson also accused officers of deliberately harming him when he was handcuffed. He says, "(I was) manhandled very roughly. My shoulder is dislocated, literally. It's hurting me very badly. I'm in pain all the time. They did it to try to belittle me, to try to take away my pride. They put me in a certain position, knowing it's going to hurt and affect my back. Now I can't move - it keeps me from sleeping at night." Jackson then showed a photograph he says was taken after he left the police station, indicating swelling above his wrists. Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department countered Jackson was treated with courtesy and respect throughout the booking process.

Celebrity supercouple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are so likely to get married in 2004 that British bookmakers have stopped accepting bets on the pair's impending nuptials. Jen and Ben were due to tie the knot in September but called off the ceremony blaming excessive press intrusion. British betting company Ladbrokes's second most likely celebrity marriage is Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, while Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster are third favorite to recite their vows.

Newlyweds Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow were nearly turned away from boarding a flight Sunday - because they were dressed so scruffily. The low-key pair checked in at London's Gatwick Airport for a trip to Mexico via Dallas in such shabby clothing that ground staff thought the A-list couple could be tramps. Coldplay frontman Chris wore dirty khaki trousers and boots, whereas Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth dressed down in ripped jeans and old shoes. Staff at the airport kept the couple talking while colleagues checked to see if there was a dress code for the $35,611-a-pair ticketed flight. They were let through after a short delay. A source says, "As a rule, first class passengers who pay out thousands of pounds for their seats are dressed immaculately. This was something of a one-off. It was highly embarrassing when Chris and Gwyneth arrived at the first class check in desk. Initially it was thought they were down and outs and had stopped to ask for directions. It wasn't until they produced their tickets people realized who they are. Then the rules had to be checked to determine if they were allowed in the luxury cabin in such attire. The couple were very friendly and behaved perfectly with the minimum of fuss. Chris and Gwyneth clearly didn't want to be spotted and dressed accordingly but it nearly cost them their flight."

Illusionist David Blaine has been voted the 'Biggest Loser' of 2003 in a British poll. The American - who spent 44 days in a box suspended over the River Thames in London, without any food - was ranked by a quarters of respondents as the top flop of the last year. Singer Victoria Beckham came in fifth place, in the survey conducted by McCain Foods, for her ongoing attempt to crack the pop market with the help of hip-hop impresario Damon Dash.

Oscar-winning movie beauty Halle Berry has reportedly been dumped for another woman by her British television presenter beau. The Catwoman star met Steve Jones, 26, when he interviewed her for television show T4 in London, and she was so smitten she invited him for a dinner date in Los Angeles. But Steve has since been spotted kissing fellow TV host Liz Fuller, who he used to work with on Welsh program Pop Factory. An insider tells British tabloid The Daily Sport, "Liz and Steve couldn't keep their hands off each other at the Christmas bash. They've been massive friends since Pop Factory but they were both with other people at the time, which is why they haven't snogged before."

Blackadder comedian Rowan Atkinson is being treated for depression following the critical failure of his latest film Johnny English. The 48-year-old Mr Bean star was reportedly upset following bad reviews for the spy caper, and decided to check himself into the $6,000 per week Cottonwood De Tucson clinic in Arizona, America. Rowan - who told wife Sunetra he needed to "find himself" - spent five weeks recuperating at the celebrity clinic. Despite the critical mauling, Johnny English was the fifth highest grossing film of the year in his native Britain.

Suave British actor Hugh Grant is reportedly "distraught" at the prospect of being apart from his UN worker girlfriend Kasia Komorowicz for a year. The About A Boy star was upset to learn his Polish-born girlfriend may be spending almost twelve months in Iraq, helping to rebuild the war-torn country's computer and telephone systems. Famous bachelor Hugh is said to have grown closer to his 30-year-old love over the festive season, and is determined to make the long-distance relationship work. A source says, "They've grown close and spent time together over Christmas. Hugh knows she loves her job and hasn't done anything to persuade her to stay, though he has dropped hints he doesn't want her to go." Kasia says, "He knows I love my job, so he's happy I am going to Iraq. He has promised to write." Hugh made their three-and-a-half-year romance public at the November premiere of his latest movie Love Actually.

Quirky singer Macy Gray is planning on launching her own range of clothes. The I Try star is renowned for her outlandish fashion sense - but insists her own creations won't be like the ones she wears herself. Macy says, "It's glamor wear, like a Jackie Onassis type of thing. It's hot, the way old movie stars used to dress. We're going for an old Hollywood look that we have hipped out."