What's hot

SUDS-U-LIKE: Forget taking a sauna or spa to relax those New Year stresses, the best way to calm down is to do the washing up. While hoovering, ironing and cooking may make your blood boil, researchers have identified the daily chore of washing your pots as a great way to calm down after a stressful day. They claim the soothing, warm, scented suds induce a relaxed mood and the satisfaction from completing the job can make you feel better about yourself. To make the experience even more beneficial it is suggested that you put on your favourite CD while you are washing up and use a scented washing-up liquid. Being up to your elbows in suds may not be as glamorous as lounging in a hot tub or having a relaxing muscle rub, but if washing up can be sold as good for you there are bound to be far fewer rows about doing household chores, which could help us all chill out.

FAT CHANCE: The antics of those taking part in ITV's Fat Club are set to become the most addictive viewing of the New Year. There's something slightly voyeuristic about watching these obese people trying to lose half their body weight but that won't stop us tuning in. All those taking part are seriously overweight and have agreed to take part in the programme as a last resort. Over the next few weeks we will see them as they battle with personalised diets, exercise programmes and life classes to make them change their outlook on food. It may well help the contestants to have thousands of people at home hoping they to stick to their diet, but what will happen when the TV cameras go away? The really interesting show would be if the film crew returned to see if the dieters are still as determined to be slim in a year or even ten years time.

SOAPY END: Will anyone really miss Tracey Shaw if she follows through her threat to leave Coronation Street for pastures new. The sexy actress has spent the majority of her working life in Weatherfield but has made a good side-line in posing for magazines and newspapers. She has also set up a charity for victims of eating disorders following her own battle with food and is always willing to show her face at award ceremonies. It has been alleged that Tracey wants a baby and is desperate to show there is more to her acting ability than playing vegetarian Maxine Peacock. If she does leave the soap, she is unlikely to fade into obscurity, even her if her acting ability fails to shoot her to superstardom. Her fantastic figure and pretty face will always make her a favourite with her fans and she's bound to be offered a host of TV roles by producers wanting to cash in on her celebrity status, if not the way she delivers her lines.

What's not

LIVING DOLL: Barbie will soon be leaving the world of dumb toys and becoming a real-life thinking woman. Scientists think that within three years, Barbie will have a brain and will be able to choose her own outfits and adventures without the help of her owner. The idea is to produce Barbie dolls containing micro-chips which will allow them to connect up to the Internet where they can order outfits totally independently. Although the new dolls will appeal to modern children who like anything computerised, they will mark the end of an era of innocent imaginative play. Barbies around the world have been involved in a host of wild adventures thanks to the dreams of their young owners - if Barbie starts making her own decisions, the fun will be taken out of playtime.

IT GIRL: Joely Richardson spent 2001 wearing very little in public and conducting a high-profile relationship and break-up with TV presenter Jamie Theakston. The actress achieved maximum media coverage most of the time showing off her tiny figure. She appeared at film premieres, award ceremonies and any other social events where there was a camera. Now she's told a magazine she wants to be taken seriously as an actress. Unfortunately the article was accompanied by a photo of Joely in a see-through top showing off her now famous assets. Time to cover up, shut up and get some decent acting roles to show what she is really capable of.

BAD FASHION: Eminem's disruptive influence continues to spread across the UK. Record shop HMV have revealed that a T-shirt featuring the rapper's band, D12, was its best seller of 2001. The X-rated shirt features obscene comments about pop idols Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears who often feature in Eminem's derogatory lyrics. The fact that most of these shirts will have been bought by or for children doesn't seem to bother the rapper or the shop that sold them. Even if Eminen's fans are against racism, sexism and homophobia - by wearing his T-shirt they are condoning everything he says. Parents everywhere should use whatever influence they have to stop their children wearing slogans condoning rape, robbery and violence