Her lovely skills, the way she could scoop back a shot which had seemingly passed her, her reading of the courts geometry, her delightfully controlled lob unquestionably deserved some sort of reward.

Hollywood he of the blue eyes that could bore through metal (smelling salts, please, Mabel), the stern, deliciously unsmiling air of disapproval; a cold patriarch who one yearns to, ahem, defrost is, frankly, as frightening as a headmaster. You grip the sofa, massive bar of chocolate poised at your lips (this programme strips you of guilt, begs you to indulge), rigid with disbelief that Mel has, outrageously, inquired as to his experience of "soggy bottoms".

Alexander McCall Smith

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For all his passion for his place in the great Las Vegas showbiz lineage, right now Gosss excitement centres on his fifth solo album. Does he have to work harder for musical credibility given his background in Bros? "I think that was the case," he says carefully. "I think credibility is something that you naturally acquire. I defy anyone to listen to this record and not know how articulate it is. Brilliantly recorded, great songs, phenomenal performances from A to Zee." He shrugs. "Listen to it and youll hear it." While he has ploughed doggedly on with music, his brother has pursued an acting career. Luke also lives in LA, with his wife of 20 years Shirley Lewis and his stepdaughter. "I think Luke wanted more than just playing the drums. Being a singer you get to connect with people every day. Youre right on the front line." Bros split in 1992, after their singles started dipping in the charts. Luke said to his brother: "Im done. Its not fun any more." This was "heartbreaking" for Goss, because "I lost my job". It wasnt the only loss he endured during Bross giddy five-year run. They felt betrayed by Logan, who is now a music industry executive and manager. Goss split with his then girlfriend, model/actress Melanie Sykes (hes currently single). Most devastatingly of all, their sister Caroline was killed by a drunk driver. Later, his bodyguard died suddenly from a brain tumour.