Artist Sam Taylor Wood's debut feature 'Nowhere Boy', which covers an early period in the life of John Lennon, has closed the London Film Festival.

Taylor Wood explained that Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and his son Sean approve of the film. "They both really loved it” she said. “She's given the rights to (the song) Mother which she's never given the rights to before. She wouldn't have if she didn't like the film. That's really the stamp of approval".

Actress Anne-Marie Duff, who plays Lennon's mother Julia, told reporters: "I didn't know anything about this period of his life. It was fascinating to have someone open that door".

Dennis Hopper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his manager has confirmed. The 73 year old actor is, according to Sam Maydew, being treated via a "special programme" at the University of Southern California. Maydew wouldn't be drawn on a prognosis, simply saying: "We're hoping for the best".

The upcoming third series of 'Gavin and Stacey' will be the last, according to the cast and producers of the show. At a London screening, BBC1 controller Jay Hunt introduced two new episodes saying that it was the "final series of Gavin and Stacey", whilst one of the show's stars, Joanna Page (pictured), confirmed: "I don't think we'll ever do another series ... maybe in 20 years time when we've all aged that would be quite funny but it's nice the way it's been left".

I never liked that show anyway. But, rest assured, G&S fans, Page says that "series three is as heart-warming and hysterical as series one on BBC Three".

Christopher Lee is to be knighted today. The actor, renowned for his appearances in the Hammer Horror movies, as well his his more recent role in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will be given the honour at Buckingham Palace by the Prince of Wales. Now aged 87, Lee has appeared in more than 250 film and TV productions during his career, and is still working, but the honour is in recognition of his charity work as well as his services to drama.

ITV's director of drama Laura Mackie has said that she wants to do some more medical dramas, possibly starting with a new project with Peter Bowker, who previously wrote the channel's recent 'Wuthering Heights' adaptation, and who has worked on 'Peak Practice' and 'Casualty' in the past. Mackie wants to focus on a character-led series, however – similar to 'Doc Martin' – as she has no wish  "to tread on the toes of Casualty or Holby because they are brilliant and they do that very well".

Mackie told The Stage: "One of the things we are looking for is a medical series and we have a couple of things in development. We may do more than one. Pete is someone I love working with and I think he’s had a purple patch recently with shows like 'Occupation', 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Desperate Romantics'".

The Bowker programme has no working title as yet, however, and is only one of a number of different projects under consideration.

The salaries of the BBC's top executives are to be frozen as part of measures to cut the corporation's annual £79million wages bill.

The move follows a review led by director general Mark Thompson, held in response to widespread criticism of the amounts that senior managers are being paid. The BBC trust have approved Thompson's proposal that the the salaries of the top twenty or so executives (including his own) should be frozen for a period of three years, whilst the pay of a remaining 630 executives will have a one year freeze. Other measures to reduce the amount the beeb spends include the suspension of bonuses, and cutting eighteen percent of senior management jobs – about 100 posts - by summer 2013. 

BBC Trust chairman Michael Lyons says: "Mark Thompson and his team have responded with a comprehensive set of proposals that strike the right balance between ensuring the BBC can attract the best people to do the job, while ensuring maximum value for the licence fee payer. Of course I realise this will have implications both for current and future BBC employees. However, it is right that, as a major public service organisation, the BBC shows leadership on this issue during difficult economic times".

Norman Painting, who played Philip Archer on the eternal Radio 4 soap that is 'The Archers' has died at the age of 85.

Painting, born in Leamington Spa in 1924, was a graduate of the University Of Birmingham, and of Christ Church College Oxford. He began his career as a writer and interviewer before assuming the role of Philip Archer when the radio show began in 1950. Appearing in The Guinness Book Of Records for being the longest serving actor on a single soap, he also wrote scripts for the show, penning more than 1000 episodes between 1966 and 1982, using the pseudonym Bruno Milna. Painting also wrote a book about the programme, 'Forever Ambridge', which was published in 1975.

Painting played the role of Archer up until his death; he completed his final day in the studio on Tuesday of last week, and his final episode will be broadcast on 22 Nov. Paying tribute, BBC director general Mark Thompson said: "He rightly became renowned for his portrayal of Phil Archer, a role he created in the pilot episode in 1950, but he was also a gifted writer and talented, versatile broadcaster. He was a pillar of The Archers family, but to millions of listeners he became a friend and latterly a wonderful father figure. His death leaves us with a great sense of loss but an even deeper feeling of gratitude for such a huge contribution to the BBC and its audiences over six decades".

The show's editor, Vanessa Whitburn, added: "Norman always wanted to remain working on The Archers until he died - and I am delighted and proud of him that he achieved his wish."

BBC Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer also paid tribute, saying: "Norman Painting was for almost 60 years a central figure in one of Radio 4's hallmark programmes. As Phil Archer, he became a wonderful patriarch yet he had started decades earlier as a young romantic hero. He will be deeply missed by the rest of The Archers team and his millions of fans".

I think some people think that only old people listen to Radio 4. Well, it's possibly true. And the fact that lots more people have listened to the station in the last year may just be because of our ageing population. But I like to think that it's because a younger generation are tuning in. It's not all 'Gardeners' Question Time', you know.

Anyway, this is the news that Radio 4 has upped its listener count by more than 750,000 in the last twelve months, according to radio industry body Rajar. The station now has its biggest audience for ten years, with around 10.22million people tuning in each week, compared to 10million last quarter, and 9.45million last year. It seems that morning news show the Today Programme is responsible for most of it, gaining nearly half a million listeners. Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio and Music, said: "Radio 4 goes from strength to strength. In offering radio of the highest quality, it is both delighting loyal listeners and attracting inquisitive new audiences. BBC Radio remains at the heart of millions of people's lives, with two-thirds of the UK population listening to our networks every week".

Magic turned out to be London's favourite radio station, so you should possibly all be a bit ashamed, Londoners, of your hardcore easy-listening habits. And that's all I've got to say on the matter. If you're interested, however, our music-focussed sister publication CMU reviewed Rajar's music radio figures, story here.

Barbara Windsor is to leave BBC1 soap 'EastEnders'. The actress, now 72 years old, has been playing Peggy Mitchell since 1994, and says this: "I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago".

She added an upside, however, saying: "I'm looking forward to the future and I suppose when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man, as he's not getting any younger".

The show's executive producer Diederick Santer added: "Barbara has contributed so much to EastEnders over the last 15 years, plus countless episodes, and countless amazing storylines. She has made the Mitchells the premiere family of British soap. I so much enjoy working with her - catching up with the gossip, listening to her stories, talking about the show, benefiting from her advice, and most importantly revelling in her powerful, funny, passionate performances. All of us at 'EastEnders' - and our audience - are going to miss her hugely".

Festival darling Camille O’Sullivan is set to play a six week season at the Apollo Theatre in the West End. The cabaret singer has made a number of appearances in London in recent times, performing at venues such as The Roundhouse, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Hippodrome. Her show, which sees her perform interpretations of songs by the likes of Nick Cave, Jacques Brel and Tom Waits, will run from 7 December until 16 January.

Mark Gatiss is creating a TV adaptation of HG Wells' novel 'The First Men in the Moon', and will also star in the BBC4 production alongside Rory Kinnear. The 'League Of Gentlemen' star says he's "completely delighted" to have the chance to work on the project, and adds: "It’s very rare to be able to adapt a genius like HG Wells for the small screen and we hope to do full justice to his extraordinary vision".

BBC4 controller Richard Klein adds: "The First Men in the Moon is a thoroughly modern classic, a witty and satirical piece of writing by one of Britain’s foremost and original science fiction writers. I am delighted that Mark Gatiss has decided to bring this forgotten and yet wholly timely work to our screens".

The National Theatre of Scotland are to stage a new adaptation of 'Peter Pan' by celebrated Scottish playwright David Greig next year. Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of author JM Barrie's birth, the production, which transfers the Darling family to Victorian Edinburgh, will tour Glasgow, London, Inverness, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The show will be produced in the first half of 2010, alongside a number of other new works, in an NTS season which will include three shows aimed at teenagers, as well a collaboration with artist Stephen Skrynka and the Ken Fox Troupe.

The Oval Theatre in Kennington is to host perfomances of a new play by Edward Bond, which is quite a thing, because it will be the first new play by the renowned playwright to be staged in London for more than a decade. 'A Window' is Bond's seventh commission in his job as associate artist to Birmingham based theatre in education company Big Brum. They play – described as  "a remarkable insight into the tangled problems of being human in an inhuman world" - will run for four nights at The Oval from 11 Nov. A post show discussion, which Bond will take part in, will take place on the opening night.

BBC Director General Mark Thompson has said that the corporation will continue to allow the BNP to take part in their programmes, but only on a limited basis, following the controversial appearance of party leader Nick Griffin on 'Question Time'.

Thompson was speaking at  a House of Lords Select Committee Enquiry into the British film and television industries when he commented on the issue. The BBC honcho explained: "This isn’t an absolutely precise algorithmic science but I would say we would be talking about – in the case of a party which continues the level of support [of the BNP] – appearances which would be no more than once a year and could be less. He could appear on any of the programmes the BBC broadcasts which deal with UK politics and where we try very carefully to reflect political opinion across the spectrum".

Thompson also defended the Beeb's move to invite Griffin onto 'Question Time', and denied that the  decision was motivated by the potential to boost ratings. Concluding that he does not feel that he has the right to block an elected party from appearing on the show, he added: "I do not believe I have the authority to [add] another layer of value judgement and say, notwithstanding the legality of these parties, I’m just going to say such and such a party should not appear on political programmes".

French film 'A Prophet' has won the London Film Festival's inaugural Best Picture award. The movie, a thriller about a young man sentenced to six years in prison, was previously screened in Cannes to critical acclaim. A second inaugural award, for Best British Newcomer, was presented to Jack Thorne, the screenwriter of 'The Scouting Book For Boys'.

Other awards presented (ones not in their inaugural year) included the Sutherthand Trophy for a debut feature, which was taken by Israeli Yaron Shani and Palestinian Scandar Copti for thir crime drama 'Ajami', as well as The Grierson Award, presented for documentaries, won by another Israeli film maker Yoav Shamir for 'Defamation'.

As previously announced, two British Film Institute Fellowships were awarded, to actor John Hurt and to Malian director Souleymane Cisse.

Mel C has said that taking a role in the West End production of 'Blood Brothers' has been her biggest challenge yet, despite a career in which she's toured the world, played to thousands, and put up with the rest of the Spice Girls at the same time.

The singer says: "Doing 'Blood Brothers' is my biggest challenge. I've never had a serious acting role before, so I'm daunted. But I'm in good hands - and coming from Liverpool, I feel very comfortable with Willy Russell's script".

Speaking about her time with the Spice Girls, she went on to say: "We had lots of enthusiasm. We weren't the world's greatest singers and dancers, but we always took pride in what we did. Recently I saw the video for 'Say You'll Be There' for the first time in ages, and I thought, 'Wow, we were good!'"

The chief executive of Arts Council England Alan Davey has cautioned future governments against cutting arts funding, not just because it would affect the quality of the UK's cultural life, but also because it would have economic repercussions.

Speaking at the Culture is Right conference in London, Davey told his audience that each £1 of public money invested in the arts generates £2 from elsewhere, and also creates jobs. The Stage quote him as saying: "I want to get away from any idea of the arts as a monolithic public service ripe to be cut and instead assert the truth: that the arts live in a complex, mixed economy, which could provide a model for how public investment could work elsewhere".

He continued: "The model is a model of the future, not of the past. It’s one that works with public money levering in private money, with the arms-length method of making decisions putting it outside the vagaries of short-term political whim. How we do this should be better understood, celebrated and strengthened by any government".

Responding, Tory arts chap Ed Vaizey offered reassurances that his party "have no hidden agenda to wean the arts off public subsidy, and we recognise that public subsidy plays a vital role in pump-priming arts organisations".

Boris Johnson has said that he will restart recruitment for the London Chair for Arts Council England.

The process was recently stalled when culture secretary Ben Bradshaw vetoed the appointment to the role of Veronica Wadley, former editor of the Evening Standard, said to be a close ally of the London mayor. Bradshaw said that Johnson's actions were "a clear breach of the Nolan principles" - which were set down to stop politicians from meddling with public appointments.

Johnson has now written to Bradshaw to accuse the culture secretary of blocking Wadley's appointment for his own, political reasons. The mayor wrote: "This was a bad decision and flies in the face of the mayor's government sanctioned responsibility to nominate the London chair at the arts council. Without a doubt Veronica Wadley was the best person for the job – her support for the arts and pivotal role at the helm of a major newspaper mean she is highly qualified to help steer the arts in London through these difficult times".

It would seem that Bradshaw is not the only person who was dissatisfied with the decision, however; ACE's Liz Forgan, a member of the shortlisting panel who called Wadley "underqualified" has suggested that Johnson consider the candidates she and her colleagues originally put forward, and not restart the process from scratch. "It is good that the Mayor has recognised his duty to nominate a candidate for the position of chair of Arts Council England, London as soon as possible", she says. "The published process states that the competition should be re-run only in exceptional circumstances, and so we feel that the mayor should first consider the three strong candidates previously put forward by the panel".

More4 have collaborated with the likes of the National Theatre, Arts Council England, and the Royal Ballet, on a new arts programme strand set to be broadcast in a primetime Saturday slot.

The seven week season will begin next month with a documentary about the making of the aforementioned National Theatre's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's 'War Horse', which is now playing in the West End. Other programmes set to follow include a profile of the Royal Ballet's first tour to Cuba this year, a documentary on the Bolshoi Ballet, and the award winning 'Autism: The Musical', a piece following five autistic children in the process of creating a theatre piece in Los Angeles.

More4 editor Tabitha Jackson says she hopes the strand will "provide a new appointment to view for arts this winter".

Scarlett Johansson is to make her Broadway debut shortly. The 'Lost In Translation' actress will appear in a production of Arthur Miller's 'A View From The Bridge' alongside award winning theatre veteran Liev Schreiber, star of the 'Scream' trilogy.

The play is to be staged at the Cort Theater. Previews begin on 28 December, and the show opens on 24 January.