The singer, whose new album 'Bionic' also features collaborations with Ladytron and Sia, admits that her husband gave her the confidence to approach the artists she wanted to work with.

In an interview with Saturday Night Online, she said, "My husband was like 'If you like these guys so much why don't you reach out and work with them?'. He had to give me a little nudge to get me to reach out and see if they wanted to work with me or not, which was a little nerve-wracking, but everything went amazing." She continued, "I reached out to Ladytron and Sia who I was a big fan of. Her work with Zero 7 is (something) I'm a huge fan of. There's Le Tigre, and Peaches and Goldfrapp...the producers of M.I.A and Santagold who I'm also a huge fan of and I ended up collaborating as writing partners with. It was a super fun ride working with all of them."

The band's frontwoman reveals she was fascinated by the look of the late singer, and became the "source of so much intrigue" for her when she was a child. She told the Guardian, "The first record I remember hearing by Michael Jackson was when I was 7 years old - there was a cassette of Dangerous on top of the videos in the living room. I remember not liking the music but liking the cover. I would look at pictures of him for three hours. When you're that age, Michael Jackson blows your mind. He was the source of so much intrigue when I was a kid. He had everything a pop star needs - the lifestyle and the massive mental health issues." Although first exposed to Dangerous, Jackson revealed that she was more influenced by the popstar's1979 album Off The Wall.

She said, "HIStory was the first Michael Jackson record I bought, when I was 8, but Off the Wall can't be beaten. I'm getting into funk at the moment and it's an amazing funk record. Plus, his vocals are softer."

However, the 'For Your Entertainment' singer and season eight runner-up ruled out taking on the judging role, insisting that he wants to focus on his music.

Speaking about reports linking him to Cowell's job, he told MySpace music, "I keep hearing the rumour too - unfortunately it's just a rumour. I would be honoured to be asked. But I think at this point I'm just focusing on my career as a recording artist."

Lambert also revealed in the web chat that his dream musical collaborators would be David Bowie, Christina Aguilera and Rihanna. "(Rihanna) is so down to earth and sweet and kind and friendly," he said. "Her tunes are so catchy and visually she is just giving you beauty."

The 28-year-old singer's debut album is released in the UK on May 3.

Janet Edwards worked with Lewis from 1993 to 2003 after the singer's parents appraoched her to coach their daughter.

Edwards told The Guardian, "I met them and said, 'Well, Leona is obviously bright and enthusiastic, but she's only eight. She has to have fun with music first'. So I recorded some little backing tracks for her on piano and said, 'You go off, have fun with these, and maybe I'll see you in six months'. That's how it all started. Eventually, I saw her each term, at my place, and our work escalated." She continued, "By 13, 14, it was evident she would be a professional. Whatever genre I gave her, she applied herself. She was then what she remains now: a hard worker, not a pushy little girl. I was aware she was going to try for The X Factor. Some parts of the industry already knew who she was. Her parents thought I'd hate the idea, but this was 2006 - the record industry was starting to suffer from the effects of the internet, so I said, 'God, go for it'." Edwards added: "It was an extraordinary experience for her, but what the viewers were actually seeing was a proper musician, someone who knew how to deal with everything. There are a lot of people out there who think they can achieve the same thing with no work at all, but they can't... Leona shows how good you can be with proper practice."

The show, 'Worried About The Boy', stars Mathew Horne as drummer Jon Moss and Douglas Booth as George. George has allegedly lent his old outfits to the cast to help make the show more authentic.

Meanwhile, Booth revealed that the star contacted him on Facebook after learning that he had landed the role. "The title was 'Well!' and then he just said, 'I hear you're going to be playing me, I'm certainly not complaining'," Booth explained. "'Just want to wish you all the best, I can't wait to see it - just don't be camp... I'm not camp!'"

The drama is scheduled to air next month as part of an '80s season.

The Spice Girls star claimed that David will be heading to South Africa in June, despite damaging his Achilles tendon and being unable to play.

"Yes, he's still going to go to the World Cup. All the players - both in England and in Milan - have been so sweet and so supportive, but it's just so great to have him back," she told GMTV.

Speaking about their family life since he suffered the injury in March, she added, "He's doing really great. I left him on homework duty - so he's there right now finishing off the homework as I had to rush out. He's doing really great, it's incredible to have him home, he's happy to be home. He's on really great form, really great form. He's hobbling around the house, poor thing."

The former France international will join a string of former football stars and celebrities for the ITV charity match in June.

Speaking about the three-time World Player Of The Year, Williams joked, "I can't believe he's playing. I'm over the moon. I won't know whether to shake his hand or lick his face."

Zidane will line up for the Rest Of The World team at Old Trafford on June 6. He will team up with members of Westlife and ex-cricketer Brian Lara. James Corden, GMTV's Ben Shephard, boxer Ricky Hattoon and ex-England stars Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and Jamie Redknapp will play for the home side.

The event, which raises money for UNICEF, was started by Williams in 2006.

Before the 'Waking Up In Vegas' singer started working on the follow-up to her 'One Of The Boys' record, she gave her producer, Dr Luke, a mixtape of songs she wanted the CD to sound like - including music by those two acts.

Perry says that the new album is going to be "more groove driven and be about making people dance. "When I went on tour," Perry said, "as much as I love all the in-between songs, I felt I was missing some of the stuff that made people bounce up and down. I really love that feeling when people are all jumping in unison. We worked in Santa Barbara, we worked in Los Angeles. I was telling everybody I had a lot of jewels, but I didn't have the crown and, then, I finally got the crown so all the jewels made sense. And now I have this thing, this crown that I'm ready to present."

The currently untitled record is due in the summer. Dr Luke - who worked with Katy on her hit song 'I Kissed A Girl' - revealed recently that he had written six new songs for the album.

Jackson has been approached by numerous big name US artists including Nelly Furtado and N.E.R.D., after finding success with hit singles 'In For The Kill' and 'Bulletproof' last year.

"I've had three or four offers for collaborations in America. Big, big artists," Elly said about being in demand. "Rihanna was very interested for a time... That was weird. My A&R man said, 'Rihanna's gonna call!' That was the last I heard of it. She didn't call! It was around the time of, er, troubles in her life," Jackson added, "To be honest, do I really want to work with Rihanna? Not really. I'm more interested in what the phone call would be like."

La Roux meanwhile announced yesterday that the first shows on their 'Gold' UK tour next week have been rescheduled, due to disruption caused by the volcano in Iceland.

The comedian, who reprised his 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' role as Aldous Snow in 'Get Him to the Greek', said that another "bad bit" of making the movie was having to film a sex scene.

Brand said, "I got set on fire once. There's a bit in the movie where I do a concert, and there's a wall of sparks raining down from the heavens. And it caught me on fire. I stood in the wrong place; I caught on fire for a little. That was a bad bit. Sex scenes are actually sort of stressful. Not like actual sex - not as I know it. The threesome scene was really awkward and difficult. Because sex, when it's done properly, is about creating a wonderful atmosphere of intimacy, escape and adventure. Sex scenes are about hesitant, angular, choreographed moves. And this is a comedy sex scene as well, so it goes on for ages, and you're standing with no pants, hunched over someone. You're aware of each other's breath mingling but without the baseline of lust pounding rhythmically through the act. It's awful."

However, George, who has already released single 'Amazing Grace' from the LP, said the title "might change". 

In an interview with Gay Times, the former Culture Club singer also spoke about his upcoming collaboration with Mark Ronson, which he described as "quite sexy". He said, "That was a fluke. I knew Mark from DJ circuit in New York, we played together a lot, before he had his success with Amy (Winehouse). It turned out he used to write to me as well, I found out recently, when he was quite young. I was actually amazed at how much he knew about me. It was trainspottery."

Boy George's album is expected to be released later this year.

'Straight To The Heart' due for release in July, will feature 12 tracks including the singer's Freemasons collaboration 'Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)' and her new single 'Bittersweet'. 

In an interview with Gay Times, Ellis-Bextor confirmed that songwriters and producers who have worked on the album include Calvin Harris, Richard X, Hannah Robinson, Cathy Dennis, Greg Kurstin, Ed Harcourt and Joe Mount. She also revealed that one track, 'Dial My Number', was inspired by a "text stalker" she has, while 'Homewrecker' is about "girls who flirt with your boyfriend right under your nose, which is very annoying". 

Ellis-Bextor, 31, has released three previous studio albums since launching her solo career in 2000, notching up seven top ten hits with tracks including 'Groovejet (If This Is Love)', 'Murder On The Dancefloor' and 'Catch You'.

Her last LP, 'Trip The Light Fantastic', was released in May 2007.

The 'Straight To The Heart' tracklisting in full:

'Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)' 

'Bittersweet'
'Off & On'
'Revolution'
'Starlight'
'Magic'
'Synchronised'
'Cut Through The Heart'
'Dial My Number'
'Homewrecker'
'Under Your Touch'

Burke, whose debut album 'Overcome' has sold almost 600,000 copies, has called on family and friends to help shoot the promo, using 100 pocket cameras to film a massive house party.

Burke has revealed, "Some of the footage filmed was interesting, to say the least. I just wanted to do something different. Filming the video was the most fun ever." 

'All Night Long' is released May 17.

The Canadian singer, who is currently working on her next album, was asked to replace Susan Boyle after she cancelled her appearance, allegedly due to exhaustion.

Lang told The Daily Telegraph, "To be honest, I am always so happy to be in Australia and this is a small way to say thanks to everyone who has been so supportive of me down there for the past 20 years. And there are some (shopping) places I need to hit that I've missed since I was last there.''

The band's self-titled sophomore album, which was scheduled for release on June 7, will now be available to buy online from April 23. The record will be released physically on May 24.

Meanwhile, the Toronto duo were also forced to delay last night's show at London's Heaven until May following the UK flight ban in the wake of the volcanic ash from Iceland.