Entertainment

Jedward congratulate Sweden's Loreen

Jedward have congratulated the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Sweden's entry Loreen, saying "if we couldn't be the winners, we're glad it was her".

The Lucan twins praised Loreen for having "a great song" and went on thank the fans and public for their support.

"We want to thank all our amazing fans all over Europe for voting for us. A big shout out to Leanne, Clare, Shane and Julian for being such a great team, to Linda our mentor and all our crew and family who are always 100 per cent behind us. We had an amazing time in Baku" the 20 year-old twins said last night.

(c) Jedward Twitter, the twins posted this photo with the winner of the Song Contest last night

Writing on Twitter and conceding defeat, the boys also said 'Thank you to everyone you are all our winners! Jedward fans!' before confirming a new album 'Young Love the Brand New Album out JUNE 22nd' and stating 'we are so excited about doing a World Tour get your Tickets soon!'.

The twins received 46 points in the competition and came in 19th place, gaining some points from Belarus, Belgium, Denmark, Azerbaijan, Iceland, Finland and Croatia. Some of our biggest points came from The Netherlands, Latvia and Sweden, while the United Kingdom awarded Jedward 10 points.

Meanwhile, Engelbert Humperdink, the entry for the United Kingdom who finished a disappointing second-to-last, stated last night that he did "the best for my country", adding "I've had highs in my career and Eurovision has been a wonderful experience. I want to thank everybody, especially my fans around the world, for their support".

Loreen won the Song Contest with her song Euphoria, achieving 372 points from the 42 countries who voted last night. Speaking at her winner's press conference she thanked the Swedish people for "giving me the chance to do this weird performance. Because this is different".

"I hope that Euphoria stays in the hearts of the people as long as possible", she replied to a journalist's question and also stated she felt like she is "in a vacuum, like time stopped."

Jedward are due to fly back from Azerbaijan this morning, arriving in Dublin Airport in the early evening.

Cole denies Cowell X Factor claims

Cheryl Cole has denied suggestions that she manipulated Simon Cowell while on The X Factor.

In Tom Bower’s unauthorised biography Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell, he suggested that Cole “played the soulful victim� in order to get her own way with the music mogul.

In the book Cowell is quoted as saying about the popstar: "She would come in dressed in her tracksuit and slippers, drop her eyes and play the soulful victim to get around me. She played me. When she walked over, I felt I was the mouse with a beautiful cat."

However, in a recent interview with The Observer, Cole hit back at the reports saying: "That's actually really flattering, because if I can seduce him in me tracksuit and slippers, I must have something good.

"You know, he said the same thing to my face about me manipulating him. I said, 'Simon, seriously - you've become so cynical that you think people manipulate you, but I'm not one of those people. Maybe what confuses you is that I don't play with you; you can't buy me'. And he said to me, 'When I say you manipulate, I mean it in the sincerest form of a compliment. Meaning: you're highly intelligent, and I don't even think you know you're doing it'."

"Sorry, but if I was going to do it, it wouldn't be in me tracksuit bottoms."

The Call My Name singer also confirmed reports that she had been approached to write her own autobiography adding: "I'm torn. The past ten years have been incredible - the whole of my 20s. That would be amazing to put into words, and go into my 30s with a clean slate. But then I think: I can't be bothered."

She further pitched in: "I don't know if I've got 300 words to say on Simon. He might get a footnote if he's lucky."

Ditto weighs in on Karl Lagerfeld

Beth Ditto, lead singer of Gossip, has weighed on in the recent controversy surrounding Karl Lagerfeld's comments relating to Adele's weight.

"First of all, Karl Lagerfeld is not even sane," she proclaimed while speaking to Vulture. "Second of all, he's not the end-all, be-all of what he does. He's really talented, but that doesn't mean he's right. Third, Karl Lagerfeld used to be this really fat, eccentric dude. He always had that fat kid fan with him too. To me, only a person who was fat could get away with saying something like that."

The singer has also spoken about her first foray into fashion, with her plus size line at high street store Evans in 2007, stating "I wish that there was more control in that line, but there wasn't. It was really fun, but the things that I really wanted couldn't be turned around in time".

"It was made in India, which caused a lot of conflict for me", she added "I really want to do my own line that's ethically made, and I can do whatever the **** I want with it. I also want to start an online vintage store...I want to do a buy-the-outfit function, and I want to show how outfits look on all kinds of different body types, even boys and butches".

Ditto appeared on French television show Le Grand Journal earlier this month to perform with her band

She concluded her interview by saying "I want to make the IKEA of clothes for fat girls and boys".

Elton John recovering from illness

Sir Elton John is said to be recovering well from his recent respiratory infection.

The Your Song singer was hospitalised in Los Angeles on Wednesday, where he allegedly underwent a number of tests for what was described as a "serious infection".

He was advised by doctors to cancel his four remaining concert shows scheduled in Las Vegas over the weekend in order to recover.

John said in a statement: "All I can say to the fans is sorry I can't be with you. I hope to see you soon at this wonderful theater at Caesars Palace."

According to ET Online, Elton's representative has said that the singer is quickly recovering from his infection, saying that he is "at home and doing well" following treatment.

Enders' exit for Ben Mitchell confirmed

EastEnders bosses have confirmed that Ben Mitchell will be bowing out from the soap later this year.

The troubled teen is said to make his departure from Walford at the end of his current storyline, which has seen him attempting to cover up his guilt in the Heather Trott murder case.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper a source said: "It will come as no surprise to the viewers of EastEnders that the character of Ben will be departing Walford when the truth finally emerges."

Meanwhile, a show insider added: "Joshua was always going to leave at the end of his current contract due to his storyline. There was no way Ben could stay on the Square long-term after killing Heather. But how it all comes out is a closely guarded secret."