Michael Jackson's prosecutors won a huge victory yesterday morning, when a judge ruled they will be allowed to present testimony about past child sex allegations against the star. In a hearing where Jackson or the trial's jurors were not present, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville listened to District Attorney Tom Sneddon and defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr argue their case. Sneddon asked to admit evidence of seven prior cases, claiming the evidence will help show a pattern of child molestation in Jackson's past. Two are civil cases which have never been heard publicly because they were settled out of court. The judge ruled that five of the seven cases can be admitted. The prosecution will call only one direct witness who claims that he was a victim. All other testimony will come from third party witnesses who will claim they saw Jackson molest children or "groom" the youngsters for abuse. The judge said the jury can be told that Jackson reached settlements with the 1990 and 1993 accusers but may not be told the amounts, unless the defence brings them up. In his current case, Jackson, 46, has pleaded innocent to 10 felony charges of child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiracy involving allegations of child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

Macaulay Culkin will be one of the five witnesses called to testify against Michael Jackson in court after prosecution lawyers were given permission to present testimony about past child sex allegations against the star. Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville ruled that five of seven cases can be admitted. It is not known if Culkin will actually have to appear in court. Most of the testimony will come from third party witnesses who will claim they saw Jackson molest children or "groom" the youngsters for abuse. One of these third party witnesses could be the mother of Jackson's 1993 child molestation accuser, who himself will not testify. His uncle says, "My nephew is not gonna testify. He's out of the country, where he cannot be found. He doesn't want to be the Michael Jackson boy."

Orlando Bloom's dream of becoming the next James Bond looks set to become reality - but he'll be playing the young 007. The Pirates Of The Caribbean actor has confirmed he has been in negotiations to star in Young 007. He says, "I love the idea, in principle, as he can be far more adventurous and do more stunts. This is as near as I think I will get to playing the grown up James for the next 20 years." The first Young 007 movie will be based on new novel Silverfin and will be set in the 1930s, years before Bond discovered he likes his Martinis shaken, not stirred. The film will follow the young Bond from school at Eton, England, to his uncle's house in the west Highlands.

Scarlett Johansson is suffering with crippling shin-splints on the set of her latest movie The Island, because her legs can't cope with the grueling physical work demanded of her. The sexy actress had previously limited her screen work to dramatic roles, but her fitness has been put fully to the test in mega-budget sci-fi thriller The Island, which also stars Ewan McGregor. And following several scenes which require her to sprint for survival, Johansson finished work with more than just aching muscles. She tells Britain's Empire magazine, "It's certainly been more demanding than Girl With A Pearl Earring. Early on, I was coming home with shin-splints: 'Okay, I've got to start working out!'"

Actress-turned-novelist Carrie Fisher is set to expose the secrets of the original Star Wars films in a behind-the-scenes expose of the classic sci-fi trilogy. Fisher, 48, kept a diary during the late 1970s and early 1980s, when she played Princess Leia Organa opposite Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill. She explains, "My publisher has told me not to talk about it... oh what the hell. When I was in Star Wars, I kept diaries. Big books full of what went on, what I thought, what I did. I am going to write them all up as a narrative. It will be riveting. Once I get started, that is. I'm months behind already."

Comedienne Rosie O'Donnell has apologized to Kirstie Alley after she accused the Look Who's Talking star of lying about her weight. After watching Alley telling American TV host Matt Lauer that her largest was 201 pounds, O'Donnell said, "I am telling you right now, I'm 218 pounds - Kirstie Alley is not 210. She's a lying sack of s**t. At least tell the truth. She's gotta be like 248." O'Donnell has now apologized to Alley over the phone and told her fans on her official website in free verse style. She wrote, "The phone/ Kirstie with hurt feelings/ I am sorry for that... never been Joan Rivers kicking people when they are down."

Hollywood star Ben Affleck's deleted cameo in girlfriend Jennifer Garner's latest movie Elektra is set to be included in the forthcoming DVD of the Daredevil spin-off. Affleck began dating the Alias beauty shortly after he visited the Vancouver, Canada set of the action movie last summer. Despite filming a small role in Elektra, producers removed Affleck's scene from the final cut after they discovered the two actors were dating, fearing a similar backlash to Affleck's films Gigli and Jersey Girl, in which he starred alongside then fiancee Jennifer Lopez. Movie site RopeofSilicon.Com has posted the deleted scene, entitled "Come Back," in a DVD preview of Elektra.

American Psycho star Christian Bale is celebrating after his wife gave birth to his first daughter on Sunday night. The hunky Welsh actor -- and star of the upcoming Batman Begins -- tried to keep his wife Sibi's pregnancy secret, but was eager to spread the news after his child entered the world at the Santa Monica hospital in California. A family friend says, "They haven't chosen a name for their daughter yet. But mother and baby are doing fine. He was telling everyone at the hospital about his new little girl."

Madonna and her husband Guy Ritchie celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim in an unusual manner on Thursday - by dressing up as a nun and the Pope. The couple were spotted on the streets of London as they made their way to a Kabbalah party to celebrate the holiday, which commemorates the day Queen Esther saved the Jewish people living in ancient Persia from extermination. Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, tells MTV, "Yes, she was dressed as a nun and Guy was dressed as the pope. Some Catholic groups are saying stuff, but Purim is a joyous holiday occasion. Madonna and Guy had a great time drinking and dancing. It's funny, because she said that she was happy that the pictures of her are out there because her father would be so proud. She said that when she was a girl she wanted to be a nun and she guesses that she's still a nun at heart."

Athletic sisters Venus Williams and Serena Williams are set to entertain their fans away from the tennis court with a new reality TV show. The stars have closed a deal to film a six-episode series based on their lives on and off the court. The as-yet-untitled project, set for a July debut, will focus mostly on the sisters' interests outside professional tennis, including family interaction, "fun" and finding their "place in the world", says a network statement.