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Live Reporting

Frances Cronin and Neil Smith

All times stated are UK

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  1. Let's blow this thing and go home

    Frances Cronin

    Entertainment Reporter

    That's it for another Star Wars day, but we'll be back again tomorrow at 08:30 BST to do it all over again. Well, except for the Star Wars stuff - unless they announce something major to do with the next film, of course.

    We're going to stop now and leave the last word to John Boyega.

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  2. Orlando Bloom visits Ukraine for Unicef

    He was dressed up to the nines at the Met Gala this week, but now we have a picture showing another side to Orlando Bloom. 

    He's paid a visit to eastern Ukraine to highlight the need for children to continue their education during humanitarian emergencies.

    Unicef made sure their goodwill ambassador dressed suitably for travel near the front line of the conflict.

    Orlando Bloom

    But the safety gear was off when the Lord of the Rings star hung out with the children. 

    Orlando Bloom
  3. Carla Lane's career in comedy

    Carla Lane

    If you haven't visited the BBC Genome blog yet, it's well worth a look.

    Not only does it allow you to look back at all the BBC’s listings between 1923 and 2009, but it also hosts articles on some of the great talents and shows from the corporation's illustrious history.

    The guest blogger today is comedy expert Aaron Brown, who's been taking a look back at the glittering CV of writer Carla Lane (pictured).

    Read the article.

  4. Good news for Mindy Project fans

    Good news for fans of the Mindy Project - Hulu has announced it has renewed the show for a fifth series. 

    Hulu picked up the show from producers Universal Television for its fourth series after it was cancelled by Fox. 

    The show is shown on E4 in the UK. 

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    View more on twitter
  5. Little Richard denies reports of ill health

    Rolling Stone magazine

    Little Richard

    Little Richard's lawyer has denied reports the rock and roll legend is unwell.

    It follows a now-deleted post on Facebook by Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins, who apparently said: "He is not in the best of health so I ask all the Funkateers to lift him up."

    But according to Little Richard's attorney William Sobel, the singer is fit and healthy:

    Quote Message: He said, 'You know, I want you to talk to [the press] because I'm really annoyed. This thing started on Facebook. Not only is my family not gathering around me because I'm ill, but I'm still singing. I don't perform like I used to, but I have my singing voice, I walk around, I had hip surgery a while ago but I'm healthy.'

    He added:"He's 83. I don't know how many 83-year-olds still get up and rock it out every week."

    Read more

  6. New Top Gear trailer

    BBC America has released a new trailer for the revamped Top Gear - though we're not sure the opening rainy scenes in Blackpool give the best impression of the country to our American cousins. 

    We understand the show starts on 22 May in the UK. 

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  7. Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward dies

    Carl Fredrik Reutersward

    Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward - best known for his sculpture of a revolver with a knotted barrel that stands outside the UN headquarters in New York -  has died at the age of 81. 

    Reutersward made the bronze sculpture, called Non-Violence, after his friend John Lennon was murdered in 1980. 

    There are 17 copies of the sculpture around the world, 10 of which can be found in the artist's native Sweden.

  8. May the 4th message from Hamilton star

    This could be one of our favourite May the 4th messages today.

    It comes from Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose hip-hop musical Hamilton received a record 16 Tony nominations on Tuesday.

    He decided to celebrate by sharing this gif of a miniature BB-8 being mobbed by baby chicks. 

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    Not really: he actually celebrated with a big party, a slightly mangled picture from which he subsequently posted on Twitter.

    Lin-Manuel admitted he got quite teary - bless. 

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  9. Mills and Giedroyc: Eurovision police

    Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills has been giving a hint of what's in store for himself and co-host Mel Giedroyc when next week's Eurovision Semi-Finals are shown on BBC Four.

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  10. US radio organises mass Prince tribute

    Prince performing

    Inspired by the original lyric from Nothing Compares 2 U, a US radio station is calling for the track to be played, exactly seven hours and 13 days after Prince's death.

    Sinead O'Connor changed it in her version to 'seven hours and fifteen days'.

    The song will be broadcast today at 17.07 CT (23.07 BST).

    The tribute is organised by The Current in Minnesota, Prince's home state, and host Jim McGuinn has explained the thinking behind it:

    Quote Message: We thought marking this moment... with one of Prince's most ubiquitous songs would be a wonderful way to honour his legacy. We hope that wherever Prince fans are, and whatever radio station they are listening to, they will take a minute to listen and remember his musical genius and artistry.

    Read more.

    Meanwhile, a significant reissue of some of Prince's albums has been reported by Modern Vinyl.

    It includes Sign O The Times, The Black Album, the Batman soundtrack and Lovesexy.

  11. Star Wars actor heads for Old Vic

    John Boyega

    Here's a propitiously timed announcement from the Old Vic theatre, given today's date - the news that John Boyega, of Star Wars: The Force Awakens fame, is to tread its boards next year in a new version of Woyzeck.

    Adapted from Georg Büchner's 19th Century original by playwright of the moment Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), it tells of a young soldier whose life is ruined when he agrees to take part in some questionable medical experiments.

    John's pretty excited.

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    Matthew Warchus's second season as the London playhouse's artistic director will also see Glenda Jackson return to the stage to play the title role in King Lear (yes, you did read that correctly) and a 20th anniversary production of Art, the Yasmina Reza play that gave Warchus one of his biggest stage successes.

    Find out more on the Old Vic website.

  12. GoT's Alfie Allen to make West End debut

    Alfie Allen

    Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen will be making his West End debut this month in The Spoils. 

    Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote the play, also stars in it alongside The Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar and Katie Brayben, the Olivier-winning star of Carole King musical Beautiful.

    Described by The Hollywood Reporter as an "acerbic comedy about American privilege and millennial neuroses", the play tells of a misanthropic would-be film-maker who sets out to sabotage an old schoolmate's engagement.

    First seen in New York last year, The Spoils runs at London's Trafalgar Studios from 27 May

  13. Tributes to Brookside and Hollyoaks actor

    Kristian Ealey

    Tributes have been paid to former Brookside and Hollyoaks actor Kristian Ealey, who has died at the age of 38.

    Ealey played Matt Musgrove in Brookside from 1998 to 2000, before going on to play the character again in sister show Hollyoaks from 2000 to 2004.

    He was also a popular musician in Liverpool with the band Tramp Attack, and appeared as Ringo Starr in the film In His Life: The John Lennon Story.

    It's not known how he died, but his Brookside co-star Suzanne Collins said the actor was in Italy at the time.

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    Fellow Brooksider Jennifer Ellison has also paid tribute, saying she is "absolutely devastated" by the news.

    Jennifer Ellison Instagram message

    Leon Lopez - another former Brookside cast member - is another to express sadness on Twitter.

    View more on twitter

    Read more on this story.

  14. 'It's not like buying a pair of shoes'

    BBC Radio 2

    Nikki Chapman was on Chris Evans' Radio 2 breakfast show earlier to talk about Escape to the Country, the 17th series of which she is currently filming.

    The BBC Two series sees Chapman and her fellow show hosts help prospective buyers find their dream home in the country.

    According to the Popstars judge turned TV presenter, though, things don't always go entirely to plan.

    Video content

    Video caption: Nicki tells Chris about series 17 and some of her 'Escape To The Country' highlights.
  15. Prince 911 calls revealed

    Prince

    It's been revealed that emergency calls were made from Prince's Paisley Park estate 46 times in the past five years.

    A log released by Minnesota authorities showed the 911 calls related to everything from medical emergencies to false fire alarms.

    It included one call in 2011 in which an unidentified woman said she was concerned about Prince's cocaine use. No police action was taken.

    Prince's representatives have not commented on the claims.

    Read more on this story.

  16. Star Wars Day celebrated in Taipei

    A few images now showing how they've been celebrating May the Fourth in the Taiwanese capital.

    Star Wars Day celebrations in Taipei
    Star Wars Day celebrations in Taipei
    Star Wars Day celebrations in Taipei

    Pretty impressive, agree we think you will. It appears, though, that some people aren't trying quite as hard as others.

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    View more on twitter