Hollywood hunk Matt Damon has reportedly proposed to his bartender girlfriend Luciana Barroso after a one year courtship. The Bourne Supremacy star, 34, began dating the aspiring interior designer in April 2004 and brought her to Europe during filming on Ocean's Twelve last summer. A friend tells American magazine Us Weekly, "It's very hush-hush." When asked to confirm or deny the reports, Damon's spokesperson had no comment. The couple are currently house-hunting in Barroso's hometown of Miami, Florida, and looking at schools for the beauty's six-year-old daughter Alexa.

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has allayed fears the upcoming 350th episode will mark the beginning of the end for the long-running show - by insisting he's still dreaming up new ideas for future series. Writers on the animated comedy are already working on scripts for the 17th series - a TV sitcom record - quashing reports the escapades of Homer and his disaster-prone family are destined for the archives. And Groening has promised to continue making The Simpsons until they run out of ways to excite the show's loyal fans. He says, "That's what you're looking for in television - surprise. I think they're as sharp and surprising as anything we've done since the beginning of the show. I don't see any end in sight. I want to get to 366 (shows) so we have one for every day of the year, including leap years." The 350th Simpsons show will be screened in America on Sunday.

British celebrity couple Victoria Beckham and David Beckham have asked a London High Court judge to freeze money paid to their former nanny Abbie Gibson for her recent tabloid revelations. Gibson claimed the couple's six-year marriage was in trouble in an exclusive interview with Sunday newspaper News Of The World last weekend. The Beckhams initially sought an injunction to ban the revelations from being published, but failed. At the High Court Friday Gibson said she was prepared to give a legal undertaking not to make any more allegations about the Beckhams and was prepared to "hold" the $237,500 payment she received from the News Of The World. The Beckhams' lawyer Hugh Tomlinson QC says, "The whole purpose of this is to try and prevent the claimants' private life being aired in public in an unauthorised way by a treacherous employee." The Beckhams and Gibson were not present in court. The couple are at their Madrid, Spain, home with their three children, Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz, while Gibson is also in the Mediterranean country.

Superstar Jennifer Lopez has dumped plans to write a how-to-be-a-celerity book - because nobody would buy it. Despite conquering the music, movie, fashion and fragrance markets, Lopez admits her talents are stunted when it comes to literature. After years of being a paparazzi target, J.Lo claimed she was the perfect person to write a book "about how to deal with that, so maybe I'll do that next". However, after thinking the idea over, Lopez has decided, "Nobody likes to hear somebody in the public eye who they feel makes a lot of money complain, so we don't, but it is a very strange thing. I'll write a book just for celebrities? No, I'll make no money, it's not worth it."

Troubled superstar Michael Jackson is so confident he'll be cleared of all child molestation charges, he has booked a trip to London this summer. Jackson's close pal, psychic Uri Geller, is standing by his famous friend as he fights 10 felony charges of child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiracy involving allegations of child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion in a Santa Maria, California, court. Speaking on British TV network Channel 4's chat show Richard & Judy on Thursday, the spoon-bending eccentric said the Bad singer has already booked a flight to a British wedding, because he's convinced jurors will acquit him. Geller says, "Michael is confident he will be found innocent. "He's actually planning to come to London this summer. He's booked the flights and the hotel already. "A friend is getting married and he's going to be there."

Legendary director Woody Allen is so impressed with the acting talents of Scarlett Johansson, he has cast her again in his next movie. The curvy 20-year-old stars in Allen's film Match Point, which screens at the illustrious Cannes Film Festival this month, and the neurotic New Yorker wasted no time in ensuring Johansson lights up the screen in his next project. Allen, 69, has hailed Johansson as a "strong actress" after she took on the role in Match Point originally reserved for Kate Winslet. The young blonde was approached when Winslet dropped out to spend more time with her children, Mia and Joe. Allen has not revealed the plot or title of the new movie, but according to British movie website EmpireOnline.co.uk it is set to start shooting in London on June 28.

Bono and Microsoft magnate Bill Gates have developed such a close bond over their charity work, the U2 frontman stayed with the computer billionaire during a recent trip to Seattle, Washington. The unlikely pals enjoyed dinner at Gates' home and chatted about their third world missions, following U2's Seattle concert, which was attended by the keyboard-tapping entrepreneur. Gates says, "I was one of 20,000 screaming fans." The pair's shared belief in the importance of improving the quality of life for millions of impoverished men, women and children across the world has brought them close together. With an endowment of $28 billion, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the world's biggest charitable organization, while Bono has played a major part in urging world leaders to offer debt relief to developing countries. Gates adds, "We're big believers that more needs to be done in developing countries. Let me tell you, Bono has had a huge impact."

Comic book creator Stan Lee is set to receive a multi-million dollar payout from Marvel Comics after winning a court battle for profits from the Spider-Man movies. Lee, who invented the web-weaving superhero, had demanded a 10 per cent share of Marvel's profits from the two blockbusters, in a suit filed in New York's District Court in 2002. The 2002 film, starring Tobey Maguire, and the 2004 sequel made $1.6 billion in the worldwide box office. The court originally ruled in Lee's favor in January, but Marvel appealed, and in an agreement, made public on Thursday, the judge upheld the decision. Lee's lawyer Howard Graff says, "We are very, very happy with the resolution." Despite his court battle, Lee says is "deeply fond of Marvel and the people there".

Late movie legend Marlon Brando's personal effects will be sold at New York auction house Christie's on June 30 in the most high-profile sale since Marilyn Monroe's estate was auctioned in 1999. Organizers expect to raise more than $1 million from the sale of 250 items from Brando's former Los Angeles home, which include the script from his 1972 classic The Godfather, his Oscar nomination certificate for On The Waterfront and the infamous black outfit he wore in the first Superman movie. A Christie's spokesperson says, "Marlon Brando was an extremely private and elusive individual and the sale offers a rare privilege - an intimate insight into the lifestyle and career of a famed screen colossus. Brando meticulously retained memorabilia from his acting career and these treasure troves help unravel the methods of his iconic and legendary characterizations, and offer an unsurpassed window into the world of this enigmatic acting genius."

The dress Judy Garland wore in the classic 1939 movie The Wizard Of Oz has been sold for $252,000 (£132,600) at a Bonhams auction. The blue and white gingham dress went to a buyer bidding by telephone who did not wish to be identified. Jon Baddeley, head of Bonhams' collector's department, says, "This dress represents the quintessential magic of childhood in the most beloved film of the 20th century. It has become a cherished memory for millions of fans worldwide and was worn by one of the most talented and respected stars in Hollywood. Film costume rarely gets better than this." The dress, which was one of six identical garments created for Garland for the movie, had been expected to fetch $63,000. Garland, who was 17 when she portrayed Dorothy in the fantasy musical, died in 1969, less than two weeks after her 47th birthday.