Ariel Lin trying for baby since last year

Taiwanese actress Ariel Lin, 33, said she has been trying for a baby since last year. “But when Heaven will give me one, I don’t know,” she said in reply to a question from a fan on when she and her husband, Charles Lin, planned to start having children.

During her recent appearance on the Chinese variety programme Youku All Star, the actress said she often tries to challenge herself with new roles to distance herself from the naive characters she’s played in idol dramas.

And her portrayal of a more mature woman in the 2011 drama series In Time with You introduced audiences to a grown-up Ariel Lin.

The actress described the most romantic thing her husband has done for her: The couple were at home in the US when Ariel heard noises coming from the kitchen, and discovered her husband was cooking sesame oil chicken for her, which she said was a moving moment.

Desmond Tan, Shane Pow bare their bods for upcoming dramas

Dukes Desmond Tan and Shane Pow stripped down to their boxers and berms for their respective roles in The Truth Seekers and House of Fortune, so within the same week we had the fortune of witnessing two hunks shed their shirts — not a shabby week at all.

Shane Pow got his turn first on Monday when he shot the House of Fortune scene in which he distributes flyers on Orchard Road topless to protect Ya Hui’s character from doing so in skimpy swimwear.

But the former Manhunt 2011 contestant looks like he might not have stood a chance had he competed again: Gone were the six-packs of yore, and in their place was … one mass lacking in any definition.

“I’ve always been chubby and out of shape, so I’m not concerned about the gossip,” he said of his fall from grace.

“I didn’t try very hard, because this role didn’t demand a lean physique, so I didn’t go gym intentionally,” he said. “If I had been playing a fitness instructor, I’d put in more effort to train.”

And to make things more awkward, the production crew chose to shoot this scene at noontime, when crowds were at their thickest. Many stopped to watch the team at work, and snapped smartphone pictures of the actors.

“The crew also hired extras all with washboard abs — it isn’t fair!” Shane protested.

The actor explained that he had gained 6 kg while filming in Malaysia in April because he had really let himself go. And he learned of the topless scene after picking up his part in House of Fortune, so within a month he tried his best to shed the extra pounds, and managed to lose 5 kg.

Shane’s House of Fortune co-star Ya Hui feigned shock at his absence of toned abs and jokingly called his abdomen “flabby,” but the actress then said she was comfortable with the way Shane looks now — she didn’t fancy guys with chiseled bods anyway.

“Ya Hui isn’t fond of six-pack abs, so she didn’t use to like me,” Shane said. “For her sake, I’ve become like this.”

He held Ya Hui’s hand and said with mock emotion, “Would you accept the way I am now?”

Ya Hui refused to play along, and walked away. Duke 0 : Damsel 1.

Investigation gone wrong

Desmond Tan got his turn on Wednesday when he filmed a scene from The Truth Seekers in Geylang. In the drama, he plays a bumbling cold-case investigator who trails a pimp in the seedy corner of Singapore. But his identity is exposed, and cronies strip him to his skivvies and set him loose.

For a topless scene that took just six hours to shoot, Desmond put in a disproportionate amount of effort in working out to showcase a taut bod. The actor spent two months training and dieting, watching his caloric intake and maintaining his body fat content at about 10 per cent.

And when he wasn’t filming, he was at the gym, despite his regular exercise regimen consisting mainly of team-based ball games and swimming.

“My character doesn’t know how to fight, but he’s quite strong, and as the tallest, most physically imposing member of the investigation team who constantly needs his supervisor (played by Chen Han Wei) and colleague (played by Rebecca Lim) to rescue him, it gives a strong comedic effect,” Desmond said.

But the Duke wouldn’t insist on maintaining his abs for every role he plays. “It depends on the character I portray,” he said. “If I have to play a large, heavyset guy, I can definitely adapt to suit the role.”

Let’s hope that never happens.

House of Fortune and The Truth Seekers debut January 19 and April 27 respectively, 9pm on Channel 8. 

BEAST Tops Oricon Singles Chart with ′The Last Word′

BEAST′s new Japanese single The Last Word has topped the Oricon chart.

According to the Oricon chart on November 27, BEAST′s new Japanese single The Last Word sold 35,000 copies in the first day, ranking number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart. The single is approaching 50,000 total copies sold. The Last Word is the November single from the group′s 10-month-long series being released by BEAST Music, BEAST′s independent label in Japan. The song is a ballad that features sorrowful lyrics about the feelings a man wants to but can′t convey. The majestic sound, the members′ explosive vocals and lyrical melody gives birth to a song with depth that is perfect for the cold winter season.

BEAST established independent label BEAST Music back in March, releasing a new single every month as part of a 10-month-long project, in effect, differentiating itself in the Japanese music market.

BEAST has been based in Japan for about a month now for its Japan tour. The group is expected to gather more than 30,000 fans on its 2015 Japan tour, which is making stops in eight cities for 12 concerts, and BEAST is already shaking up Japan with its powerful energy. Having topped the Oricon chart with its latest single The Last Word, many are looking forward to seeing what kind of music and performances BEAST will present in future promotions.

Meanwhile, BEAST is set to appear on NHK′s Music Japan on November 30, where the group will perform April single Hands Up.

Zayn Malik 'ready to commit' to Gigi

Zayn Malik is "ready to commit" to Gigi Hadid.

The 22-year-old former One Direction star only called off his engagement to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards a few months ago but is reportedly already getting serious with his new love, Gigi, 20.

A source told HollywoodLife.com: "Zayn has had his eye on Gigi for a while, he's absolutely smitten with her good looks. He was just waiting for the right moment, until she was single, to really make his move. But he's been wanting to get a chance to date her for quite a while."

Gigi recently split from singer Joe Jonas and Zayn, who has been playing the field since his split with Perrie, wants a serious relationship with the lingerie model.

The insider added: "Zayn's been dating lots of girls, but he would definitely commit to Gigi, if she wanted the same thing."

Meanwhile, Zayn recently revealed he "always" love Perrie - and insisted he didn't break her heart via text message.

He said: "I have more respect for Perrie, 22, than to end anything over text message. I love her a lot, and I always will, and I would never end our relationship over four years like that.

"She knows that, I know that, and the public should know as well. I don't want to explain why or what I did, I just want the public to know I didn't do that."

Michelle Chen, Chen Xiao still going strong

While recording a variety programme on November 20, Chinese actor Chen Xiao, 28, revealed that he was renovating his new house while living in a rented residence, putting to rest fears that his relationship with fiancée, Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen, 32, was still going strong.

Chen Xiao was seen on November 7 sobbing and drunk at Beijing Capital International Airport, sparking rumours that he had fallen out with his fiancée.

Chen Xiao was enroute to the northern Chinese city of Qingdao, and was reportedly so distraught he failed to clear security checks twice.

The next day, the actor appeared with red, puffy eyes heading to Shandong for work, leading fans to worry that his engagement was in trouble.

The couple announced their engagement in late October after dating for less than a year. The proposal took place in Paris on a cruise boat on the Seine river.

iKON′s B.I and Kim Jin Hwan to Make Variety Debut on New JTBC Show

iKON members B.I and Kim Jin Hwan will be appearing on JTBC variety show Mari and Me.

YG Entertainment stated on November 27, "B.I and Kim Jin Hwan will be appearing on the first episode of Mari and Me airing on December 16. They will be working with Kang Ho Dong, Eun Ji Won, Lee Jae Hoon, Shim Hyung Tak, Seo In Guk and Kim Min Jae."Mari and Me is a observation variety show in which the stars will be fostering pets, and it is B.I and Kim Jin Hwan′s first appearance on a variety show.

The agency rep stated, "B.I and Kim Jin Hwan have been raising two pets in their dorm since their trainee days and have fostered a special affection for pets. As members who love animals and have raised pets in real life, we′re looking forward to their activities on the show."

Meanwhile, iKON ranked number one on Gaon′s Digital Chart and Download Chart for the week of November 15-21 with digital single Apology, which was released on November 16.

KISS AND TELL: Smooching scenes “came naturally” for Desmond Tan & Oon Shu An

Desmond Tan and Oon Shu An may have been working together for the very first time, but the actors had no trouble easing into their roles as lovers – or with the inevitable kissing scenes – in Mata Mata: A New Generation.

In the third and final instalment of the Channel 5 trilogy, Shu An stars as Patricia Yeo, a tenacious police officer who has a past with gangsters. During her juvenile delinquent days, she fell in love with bad boy Tommy Foo, played by Desmond.

“We met and just clicked right away,” Shu An shared in an interview with Toggle after an exclusive screening of the drama’s first two episodes at Shaw Theatres on Nov 14. “We didn’t have to ask a lot of questions before our kissing scenes; we got through with a few basic ones and then we were like, ‘Let’s just go’.”

Desmond concurred, “The trust level is super high – we didn’t feel awkward on set, even during the intimate scenes; it all came very naturally.”

In fact, the duo admitted that many onscreen smooching sessions had to be cut out because, according to Shu An, “at one point, it was getting a bit too much”. “We added them in to make the relationship feel more real,” Desmond explained.

It probably helps that they both had favourable impressions of each other even before they met. Shu An gushed, “I’ll be honest: when I saw Desmond for the first time, I was like, ‘Wah, sibeh (very) handsome!’ (laughs) So I was a bit intimidated at first, but it was not difficult (to get along) at all.”

The duke took this chance to remind her that they actually crossed paths a long time ago at an event, although they only spoke very briefly on stage. It was then when Desmond, upon noticing Shu An, thought, “Who is this girl? She’s quite hot!” (His confession promptly led the actress to flail about excitedly and exclaim, “You just made my day leh!”)

Their good camaraderie became even more apparent to us when, upon sharing their Christmas plans and finding out that they might be in the United States at the same time, the 29-year-olds spontaneously started making tentative plans to meet up despite being in completely opposite sides of the country: while Desmond hopes to spend the holidays in New York, Shu An will spend five weeks in Los Angeles to meet her manager and for a gathering with her boyfriend, photographer Joel Lim’s family.

Could the visit mean that there are wedding bells ringing for the couple? “No, no, no, no, no!” she reiterated, laughing. “No rush, no rush. We’re very happy with where we are now!”

Cheryl Wee chooses between Daren Tan or Tosh Zhang

Fans of Elizabeth Lee and Lim Seng Hock from the first Mata Mata are in for a treat this season: although the pairing did not quite have a happy ending, things could be better for their respective children Joyce Goh and Lim Kiat (also played by Cheryl Wee and Daren Tan), who both follow their parents’ footsteps into the police force.

This time, however, they won’t share as much screen-time, as most of their correspondence will take place via phone calls and letters (at least in the earlier part of the series). “We didn’t film that much together, so it was tougher to develop a chemistry that’s beyond just seeing each other physically,” Cheryl said.

Since making their drama debuts on Mata Mata season 1 in 2013, both Cheryl, 28, and Daren, 32, have been actively adding to their showbiz résumés. At the moment, the up-and-coming artistes are in the thick of projects: Daren is busy shooting two Channel 8 dramas (House of Fortune and The Revenge Queen), while Cheryl just wrapped up 4Love, an anthology of four short films. The daughter of hair and beauty magnate Jean Yip also recently started work on My Love, Sinema, in which she embarks on a 1950s romance with Tosh Zhang.

So, which paramour does Cheryl prefer: “Mr. Biceps” in Mata Mata 3 or “Mr. B-boy” in My Love, Sinema (as she herself described them)?

“Can I have both?” she grinned.

Mata Mata: A New Generation debuts December 7, 10 pm on Channel 5.

Khloe Kardashian's hospital Thanksgiving

Khloe Kardashian will have a "hospital Thanksgiving" with Lamar Odom.

After hosting her family at her Los Angeles home on Thursday (26.11.15), the reality TV star will spend time visiting estranged husband Lamar where he is recovering following his collapse at a Nevada brothel after an alcohol and drugs binge last month.

Khloe explained in a post on her website: "After our family Thanksgiving dinner is over, I invite friends to join, especially friends who don't have family around. So we have a family Thanksgiving, a friends Thanksgiving, and this year I will also be having a hospital Thanksgiving."

Khloe also paid tribute to her family and insisted that despite her difficult year, she is still extremely thankful.

She said: "I am someone who tries to always keep things in perspective. This year I have a deeper insight and possibly a deeper perspective now.

"I pride myself as someone who does live in the moment and as someone who shows gratitude in every corner. And I have been blessed this year with me getting another layer of what I am thankful for.

"On Thanksgiving, my family and I always go around the dinner table and say what we're thankful for as I'm sure most families in America do. This year, I'm overly thankful my family. My family has been through a ton of trials and tribulations mixed with blessings on blessings on blessings. But when times get tough, my family seems to thrive and band together. We find a way to always persevere. Rise above the ashes!!"

Hannah Quinlivan reveals how she became Mrs Jay Chou

Taiwanese actress–model Hannah Quinlivan, 22, said that the day her husband, Jay Chou, proposed, she had wanted to stay in and sleep, but he then insisted they go out, because he had planned an elaborate marriage proposal.

During a recent appearance on a variety programme hosted by Aya Liu, Hannah told the host that the 36-year-old Mandopop star dragged her out for a meal at a restaurant despite her protestation. And when she told Jay she wanted to go back to bed because the weather was cold, he told her, “Just change into anything and go out like this!”

While at the restaurant, four couples seated around them got engaged one after another, and then it got to Jay’s turn, which took Hannah by surprise.

The actress said she then felt angry that Jay hadn’t insisted she put on nicer clothes. But the proposal felt surreal to Hannah, she said.

The couple married this January and welcomed their daughter, Hathaway, in July.

Dick Lee on Jeanette Aw as Lulu: I’ve never seen anyone work so hard

Homegrown musician, composer and creative director Dick Lee has few misgivings about casting TV actress Jeanette Aw, 36, as the vindictive cabaret queen bee Lulu in the latest production of his musical Beauty World, despite the less-than-stellar reviews of the actress’s vocal abilities.

“To be fair to Jeanette, we knew she was a not a singer when she came on board, but we wanted her for all her other qualities,” the 59-year-old said.

Songs in Beauty World, now playing at the Victoria Theatre, were reworked to put Jeanette’s Lulu more in character. “I think [Jeanette] has done a really good job of it,” Dick added. “It’s not her strength, yes, and I think she knew that — we knew that — but she wanted to really try and work at it.”

“We did approach her (with the role of Lulu), but we thought no way would we get an actor of that calibre, but she managed to carve some time for us,” he said. “And I’ve never seen anyone work so hard.”

Directing for the first time the musical he co-wrote with playwright Michael Chiang about the seedy cabaret scene in 1960s Singapore, Dick said the fifth incarnation of Beauty World was true to his vision — when Dick took up the reins of the musical, he intended to give the production a darker, more realistic touch, having watched it since 1988 directed by different people. “[Beauty World] was written as a fantasy but set in a very real situation and a dangerous time,” he said, adding that some of the songs had been tweaked to reflect the era.

While the multi-talented musician didn’t name his favourite Lulu from over the decades, he did profess a soft spot for the first cast, which included Jacintha Abisheganaden, Margaret Chan, Lim Kay Siu, Claire Wong, Tan Kheng Hua and Christina Ong as the femme fatale cabaret star.

“I have wonderful memories of that production, but that style would not work today,” Dick said. “So I would say every cast we’ve had was actually appropriate for the era.”

He explained how the production had evolved over the years to suit different needs and styles, from adding large-scale dance numbers to fill the stage for the 20th anniversary production at the Esplanade Theatre to focusing on the love story throughline for this year’s incarnation. 

Having returned this year to an intimate venue like the 1988 version of Beauty World, “we’re working more on the drama of the story, so the actors now lend a whole different feel to this production,” Dick said.

Double take

It’s been a good year for the singer–songwriter: He finally took charge of his musical creation and also edged past the likes of S R Nathan, Tanya Chua, Christopher Lee and Fann Wong to be named Singapore’s most popular icon of the year, following a campaign run by Madame Tussauds Singapore in January.

“When I heard the news, I was actually at a dinner for my father’s 93rd birthday,” Dick said of the moment he found out he had been voted Singapore’s favourite celebrity. “When my manager called me, I thought she was talking nonsense.”

Dick was at Madame Tussauds Singapore yesterday to unveil his wax figure, which took a team of 20 artists four months to create, and involved two sessions of measurements and customisation, done in Singapore and London in March and September, respectively.

The life-sized wax figure was dressed in a suit, shoes and accessories Dick personally donated, and though its remarkable likeness felt slightly bizarre to him, “it’s quite impressive and beautifully done, a great honour for me and a wonderful SG50 present,” he said.

Taetiseo′s ′Dear Santa′ to Feature Lyrics Written by Seohyun

Girls′ Generation unit group Taetiseo is expected to take over the K-Pop scene this winter with the release of their upcoming Christmas album Dear Santa.

Taetiseo′s Christmas album, which includes a total of six tracks, including title song Dear Santa, will be released on music sites at midnight on December 4.Dear Santa is a smooth R&B ballad featuring lyrics written by member Seohyun about a wish they want Santa Claus to grant this Christmas.

An English version will be released with the Korean version of the song for fans all around the world to enjoy.

Not only that, top producers and composers from all around the world gathered at the SM Songwriting Camp to create a special song for Taetiseo that highlights each member′s vocal color to captivate global music fans.

Following the release of a group image teaser, Taeyeon′s image teaser was released on Taetiseo′s official website and SMTOWN′s Facebook page on November 26, and more member teasers are expected to follow.

Meanwhile, Taetiseo′s new album Dear Santa will be released on December 4.

Adele: Modesty is crucial to success

Adele thinks modesty is key to her success.

The 27-year-old singer has claimed remaining humble is crucial to her impressive on-stage performances, which have helped establish her as one of the world's most popular musical acts.

She said: "I don't think stage fright is important, but I think it's really important that you don't think you're great. Because once you get to that point, you just f*** everything up.

"You think that everyone's going to think you're great all the time, and that's rubbish.

"Artists and bands that I've grown up loving, they get a certain amount of success and they're like, 'Oh, this is easy.' And I'm like, 'I don't like you anymore. I like your music, but I don't like you.'

"And if you don't like the person, why are you going to let them into your life? It's a whole package, which is what I think an artist should be."

Adele also admitted she's motivated by a desire to not let her fans down.

She told NPR: "With my stage fright, I just don't want to let people down. I get so nervous onstage that I don't have the guts to improvise or anything like that.

"But also, you know when you go to a show of someone that you love, and they play a record that you absolutely love, but they play it so many different ways that you can't even sing along?

"One of my favorite things about going to a gig and, doing a gig, is the singalongs - the crowd gets to sing with you and you get to sing with the artist. Like, that's one of my favorite things personally.

"So I would never want to perform a song completely differently. I mean, imagine if I started doing a bashment version of 'Hello' everyone would be like, 'What?'"

Tickets to G.E.M. Tang’s London concert sell for $0

Hong Kong singer Gloria Tang (also known as G.E.M.) announced the end of her 73-concert world tour on Weibo yesterday afternoon, and thanked her staff and fans for their support over the two-year period.

But fans discovered that tickets to G.E.M.’s November 22 show in London were selling for £0 before the mandatory £2.50 tax, which meant it cost approximately S$5.35 to catch G.E.M. live.

The marketing strategy didn’t manage to pack the venue, and some supporters said G.E.M.’s London concert tickets were being handed out for free at a local Chinese forum because her staff were worried about having a small audience.

One fan said he took a pair of tickets at no charge, and the forum organiser then asked him to distribute 40 more tickets.

Industry insiders said it’s extremely difficult for Chinese musicians to hold concerts in foreign countries, because few locals attend such shows and the audience comprises mainly overseas Chinese.

Famed Chinese pianist Li Yundi reportedly lets his concert tickets go for cheap when he plays abroad, and performing overseas is said to be more of a matter of vanity for Chinese musicians and artistes.

Judee Tan: My dad gave Dettol as a gift one Christmas

Dr Teo Chew Moi (TCM) actress Judee Tan once received a most unique Christmas present: Dettol disinfectant. And it wasn’t just a jug of the antiseptic fluid; the hefty hamper included an aerosol spray.

“I don’t really traditionally celebrate Christmas because I’m very ching chong (conservatively Chinese),” Judee said. “One time my family tried to get into the festive spirit and do a gift exchange, but my father is old and he doesn’t understand what kind of gifts to get so he just bought Dettol!”

And Gold 905 FM DJ and newly minted Dim Sum Dolly Denise Tan shared her nutty Noel narrative. “Christmas is a big thing in my family,” she said. “Many people come over, everyone has champagne and the bubbles get to them.”

“It gets really loud and raucous in my family because I have many aunties and uncles and they all love to sing and dance — they should be on stage, not me! And sometimes we end up doing drunken Christmas carolling or drunken disco dance competitions.”

Topping one another’s wacky holiday stories was the order of the day at the first big-group rehearsal for the upcoming Crazy Christmas — A groundNUTCRACKER, opening on December 10 at the Esplanade Theatre. We caught up with some of the cast to find out more about the latest iteration of the local production, but the conversation sometimes metamorphosed into the interior monologue of an unabashed comedian.

“There are a lot of people in it,” said Selena Tan, the founder of the theatre company Dream Academy. “There’s Judee Tan, who plays Dr Teo Chew Moi, there’s Broadway Beng…”

“Of course I’m the star lah,” volunteered Sebastian Tan, who portrays the Hokkien gua-singing showman. “I’m the nut.”

“He’s the nut and we’re the nutcracker!” Denise offered.

“Yeah that didn’t sound right,” Sebastian thought aloud. “Anyway! What’s coming up?”

“Eh she’s the interviewer lah!” Selena replied with a laugh. “You give this man a mic and he won’t let go of it!”

Seven years running

The seventh production of Crazy Christmas promises a host of new skits: Kumar plays a secret service elf trying to steal some groundnuts and he tells the groundnutcracker story as Santa, while the Dim Sum Dollies appear as crestfallen opposition party members who head out for Christmas-time retail therapy post-election.

“Crazy Christmas has wonderful things going for it,” said the show’s co-director Selena. “It’s almost like friends coming at the end of the year to celebrate after a whole year of craziness, it’s friends on stage and in the audience coming together to have this warm, cuddly, cosy feeling of Christmas.”

And to ensure the spirit of giving is part of the show, the cast are taking part in the Giving Week campaign this year to raise funds for the Henderson Senior Activity Centre and The Emma Yong Fund. The latter aids theatre practitioners suffering critical illnesses and is named after one-third of the original Dim Sum Dollies trio, who passed away in 2012 from stomach cancer.

Birthday bash

Dream Academy celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and from its humble beginnings — “I didn’t expect anything when I started,” Selena said, “I just wanted to do some stand-up comedy” — the company has grown to encompass an ensemble cast of characters including Broadway Beng, Kumar and Dr TCM. And some of the actors shared their favourite moments over the years.

“Just the fact that Dream Academy has grown and expanded like a balloon [is memorable],” Judee said. “Starting from just Selena and then the Dollies, and next she’s gonna introduce Cina and Minah (starring Siti Khalijah and Judee as a comedic duo), ... I feel lucky to be part of this team that celebrates local talent and comedy.”

Sebastian said acting as Broadway Beng changed his career, but the first day of the show was so nerve-wracking for him that the contents of his stomach defied gravity. “[Selena and I] found this out later, but just a few seconds before the show was about to start we both went to the toilet to vomit,” he said.

Selena replied, “This kind of thing don’t need to say.” But Sebastian went on: “But good vomit lah, it’s the emotional vomit.”

Denise considered every first Dream Academy show she performed in a highlight. “My very first Crazy Christmas was, ‘Oh my gosh,’” she said. “[Selena told me] you’re gonna sing a solo, interact with the audience, bring one of them on stage and sing to them, and inside secretly I was freaking out!”

But after 15 years or so of collaborating, the crew’s working relationship has only become more familial. “I think when you first start out working together you try to be very professional,” Denise said. “And now we’re friends this is what happens!”

Selena replied, “Eh I’m very serious, OK. I mean, we’re very professional, but we have a lot of fun. Professionally.”

“And I’m just professionally fun!” Sebastian said.

Denise added, “I’m a fun professional!”

CRAZY CHRISTMAS — A groundNUTCRACKER runs from December 10 to 19 at the Esplanade Theatre at 8 pm (Tuesday through Saturday) and 3 pm (Saturday and Sunday). Tickets are priced from $66 to $116 (excludes booking fee) and are available from SISTIC or its booking hotline (6348 5555).

Taetiseo to Drop Christmas Album ′Dear Santa′ on December 4

Girls′ Generation′s Taetiseo is returning with a Christmas album.

Taetiseo′s Christmas special album Dear Santa will be released online via MelOn, Naver Music, Genie and more at midnight on December 4.Dear Santa not only marks Taetiseo′s return after a year and three months since Holler, it is the group′s first Christmas album.

Taetiseo previously swept music charts with Twinkle and Holler, garnering attention for its unique concepts, and many are curious to see what the girls have in store this time.

Not only that, Girls′ Generation reestablished itself as a top girl group this summer, successfully promoting triple title songs from their fifth full-length album, and Taeyeon′s first solo album I shot to the top of music charts this fall. Taetiseo′s upcoming Christmas album is expected to be a hit as well, making 2015 Girls′ Generation′s year.

SM released Taetiseo′s first Christmas concept image teaser via SMTOWN′s official Facebook page and SMTOWN Global Twitter on November 25, heightening anticipation for Taetiseo′s comeback.

Meanwhile, Taetiseo′s Christmas special album Dear Santa will be released offline on November 4 as well.

Will Smith says marriage has been 'excruciating' at times

Will Smith admits his marriage has been "excruciating" at times.

The 47-year-old actor has been married to fellow Hollywood star Jada Pinkett Smith since 1997, and has revealed their relationship has been "grueling".

He shared: "We've been married 20 years and we've been asking ourselves [what's the secret to marriage] and really at the end of the day it's just not quitting.

"You can't expect it to be easy. It's like our marriage was the most difficult, grueling, excruciating thing that we have ever taken on in our lives. And you know we're just not quitters."

Will also revealed what he considers to be the secret to maintaining a good marriage.

The actor - who shares 17-year-old son Jaden and 15-year-old daughter Willow with his wife - told Entertainment Tonight: "I would say is that we never went into working on our relationship.

"We only ever worked on ourselves individually, and then presented ourselves to one another better than we were previously."

The duo have been the subject of numerous divorce rumours in recent months and in August, Will took to Facebook to rubbish the speculation.

He wrote: "So, in the interest of redundant, repetitious, over & over-again-ness... Jada and I are...NOT GETTING A DIVORCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sic)"

Gigi Lai seen going to dinner with family and friends

Former Hong Kong actress and singer Gigi Lai, 44, was spotted out having dinner with her family on Saturday night.

Gigi and her husband, businessman Patrick Ma Ting-kung, dined with two of their three daughters and friends at 8½ Otto e Mezzo, the three Michelin-starred Italian restaurant at Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong.

The former actress and her family arrived at about 7 p.m., and about an hour later her two daughters, wearing matching outfits, left with their nannies.

Gigi and her husband left at about 10 p.m., and she appeared calm despite noticing photographers waiting for the party. Patrick was polite to the paparazzi, and said with a smile, “That’s enough photos, we were eating dinner with family.”

Gigi announced her retirement from showbiz in 2008, the same year she married Patrick. She gave birth to twin girls in July 2010 and their third daughter in October 2012.

Has Ian Fang replaced Desmond Tan as Rebecca Lim’s BFF?

BFF, BGB, OMG…. In the world of celeb friendships, acronyms are the way to go.

After one-time close pals Rebecca Lim and Desmond Tan were recently declared to have ended their status as BFFs (best friends forever), Ian Fang appears to have stepped up as the former’s BGB, the meaning of which is only known to them.

“It’s a lame, childish nickname, and no one needs to know more about it!” Rebecca said. But after repeated badgering, the 29-year-old actress reluctantly revealed other details. “BGB is made up of English words, and it’s an unflattering nickname Ian gave me because I used to look plain,” she said.

“Ian has given Felicia Chin and Paige Chua personal nicknames too,” she added.

Rebecca’s close friendship with 26-year-old Ian has got everyone guessing: Are they or aren’t they? Though the pair say for now they’re just friends, neither is ruling out taking things further.

“Never say never,” Rebecca said.

“At this juncture, Ian is a really, really good friend of mine. A lot of people are surprised by that, because they think we’re different. Ian is easily misunderstood, but he’s kind-hearted and trustworthy and we can talk about work.”

Ian, whose two latest relationships involved older girls, said, “It all depends on how fated we are.” But would the Duke make a move? “Rebecca’s a great girl, we all know that, and every boy would like her,” he replied indirectly.

Change of heart?

Dethroned BFF and fellow Duke Desmond Tan explained how his friendship with Rebecca had cooled of late. “We were part of a close group of secondary school friends,” he said. “But these years we’re all occupied with our careers, and some have gotten married. Rebecca and I get busier by the year with acting projects, and the group meet up less frequently, so we’ve all grown apart.”

But both actors were surprised by the local magazine cover announcing that their BFFness was over. “The headline was indeed rather misleading, and it gave the impression we were no longer friends at all,” Desmond said.

Rebecca added, “The story was supposed to have been published in March 2016 in time for the debut of The Truth Seekers in April, so I was shocked to see it out so soon.”

The friends of more than 10 years are working together on the new 23-part Channel 8 drama, and play cold-case investigators involved in a love triangle with Yusuke Fukuchi’s character. And of course BFF jokes abound on set, much to their chagrin.

Rebecca and Desmond are set to share some intimate scenes in The Truth Seekers, but despite their being less close these days, it won't be awkward, he said.

“Kissing scenes are all sensitive,” Desmond said. “I always discuss how to approach such scenes with my on-screen partners, and even though I’m friendly with Rebecca we’ll work out the details too.”

But Desmond said he isn't jealous of Ian for having replaced him in Rebecca's life and Instagram snaps.

“I’m treat all my friends the same way,” he said. “So how they are among themselves won’t affect how I feel towards them.”

The Truth Seekers debuts April 27, 2016, 9 p.m. on Channel 8.

Olly Murs reveals break-up heartache

Olly Murs has been trying to "keep busy" to get over his break-up heartache.

The 31-year-old singer split from his girlfriend of three years Francesca Thomas earlier this year, and has revealed he's been making a conscious effort to occupy his time with work and other activities ever since.

Olly explained: "Christmas will be weird as it's the first time I've been single over the festive period for three years.

"Francesca and I had some great times together so to get through the break-up I've had to throw myself into work and keep busy."

In recent months, Olly has been presenting the UK version of 'The X Factor', and he admits it's been a welcome distraction.

He told OK! magazine: "'The X Factor' has taken over my life a bit. I'm really enjoying it, though!"

He revealed, too, that he's relishing the experience of presenting a TV show alongside his friend and rumoured love interest Caroline Flack, despite some of the criticism that has come their way.

He shared: "I'd have been naive to think that I wouldn't be in for some criticism.

"People have very strong opinions about the show; we cant expect them all to be good.

"It's easy for people to sit at home and criticise me but I'm a singer not a presenter - it was always going to take me and Caroline a few weeks to find our feet.

"I think our dynamic is working well, we're both becoming more and more relaxed as the weeks go on."

FT Island′s Lee Hong Gi Says He and Park Shin Hye are Really Just Friends

FT Island′s Lee Hong Gi was once again grilled about his famous friendship with actress Park Shin Hye.

Lee Hong Gi appeared as a guest on the November 23 broadcast of JTBC′s Non-Summit, where the MCs brought up Park Shin Hye. The MCs expressed doubt as to whether Lee Hong Gi and Park Shin Hye can really be just friends, or a ′man/woman-person-friend,′ the term Koreans often use to describe guys and girls who are just friends, leading Lee Hong Gi to say, "Even in articles, we′ve been mentioned as a good example of a man-person-friend and woman-person-friend."

Meanwhile, Yoo Se Yoon was curious as to what they do when they hang out, to which Lee Hong Gi responded, "It′s the same. We drink, go bowling, play."

JJ Lin engages in ‘illegal busking’

Singaporean singer–songwriter JJ Lin, 34, sparked a debate online when on a whim he joined a Taipei busker in singing his award-winning 2005 hit ‘River South’ in the downtown district of Xinyi on Friday evening.

JJ was strolling through Xinyi when he heard the busker sing ‘River South,’ and he jumped in and sang along.

Footage of the impromptu performance made its way online, but the Mandopop singer and the busker were later reported for performing publicly without the relevant permit.

JJ’s management agency has yet to issue any statement.

According to the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Taipei City Government, buskers who have not applied for a permit are considered illegal vendors.

Rainie Yang, Eason Chan’s performance at Golden Horse Awards ceremony bashed

Rainie Yang and Eason Chan were criticised for their lacklustre 10-minute performance during the recent 52nd Golden Horse Awards ceremony, held in Taipei on November 21.

Hong Kong singer Eason Chan was blasted for going severely off-key at the start of his number, ‘Forgotten Times.’ And when Taiwanese singer Rainie Yang joined him for a duet on ‘Because of Love,’ netizens ridiculed her for not being good enough to sing together with Eason.

Their duet was highly anticipated, but Rainie was clearly struggling with the uncomfortable vocal range and the joint performance fell flat. Among the audience, Taiwanese singer–songwriter Ta-yu Lo was seen furrowing his brow during the duet.

After the ceremony ended, Rainie posted a message on Facebook that read: “I’d been looking forward to this opportunity for a decade, and I finally got to sing together with my favourite male singer — it’s a dream come true!”

“It didn’t matter how much pressure I was under since finding out I would perform here, but in these 10 minutes, I’m thankful and I learned a lot! I tried my best, and thanks to everyone for the hard work.”

Eason responded on Facebook too, and besides thanking the Golden Horse Awards organisers for the opportunity to perform a duet, he added, “Thank you, Rainie, you were great.”

SNSD′s Tiffany Reveals Details on Taetiseo′s December Comeback

Girls′ Generation (SNSD)′s Tiffany hinted at Taetiseo′s December comeback.

SNSD held a press conference for the group′s fourth exclusive concert Girls′ Generation 4th Tour Phantasia - in Seoul at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena on November 22, where a reporter asked about Taetiseo′s upcoming promotions, to which Tiffany responded, "We′re in the final stages of production. It will probably come out in time for the holiday season."She continued, "We′re working on putting together fun music that will serve to be a nice gift in December. We′d like for fans to listen to SNSD′s music with variety until December 2015."

SNSD′s fourth exclusive concert Girl’s Generation 4th Tour Phantasia - in Seoul was held over two days from November 21 to 22. Not only is SNSD the first girl group in Korea to hold a headlining concert tour for the fourth time, it is the group′s first concert in two years and five months since the 2013 show.

As the concert holds a special meaning, the girls put a lot of work into the stage production. World renowned choreographer Rino Nakasone, who has worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Chris Brown and Janet Jackson, was in charge of the overall production, and a 50m x 13m stage as well as a 17m x 15m main LED screen were among the grand-scale features of the concert.

Tiffany said, "Although a few months have passed since we promoted together as a group, we always say, ′It was a happy and fun promotion period.′ When I look back on the year 2015, I think there will be a lot of happy memories. But I think all of the members will choose SNSD activities."

Tiffany concluded by saying, "Personally, since the end of last year, I ran with the plan to turn 2015 into SNSD′s year together with the members. SNSD activities were the most memorable, and since the begining of the year, we′ve participated in various individual and group activities, from concerts, solo albums and acting, and there′s a gift waiting in December, so I′d like to go to the end and wrap up the year as SNSD."

Selena Gomez 'playing hard to get'

Selena Gomez is "playing hard to get" with Justin Bieber.

The former couple have ignited rumours they may rekindle their romance after the 'What Do You Mean' hitmaker was spotted serenading the 23-year-old beauty at a bar on Friday (20.11.15) but an insider claims she isn't giving into him that easily.

A source told PEOPLE magazine: "Justin was in a great mood and serenaded her. She was still a bit pouty and playing hard to get.

"They were friendly at the [hotel] bar but they didn't act like a couple."

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old singer previously admitted the pair - who split in October last year - could get back together one day.

He said: "Maybe? We have a lot of history together and I am sure it could possibly happen. I think we are both just on our own journeys and figuring ourselves out and I think maybe once we figure ourselves out we can come back and make an awesome duo or she finds someone awesome and I'll find someone awesome. I just want her to be happy.

"She is someone I love dearly. I'm never going to stop loving her. I'm never going to stop checking in on her. I don't think if you end a relationship, you should end that, unless it was super toxic and you guys were hurting each other physically or mentally. We always respected each other and we still respect each other."

Bosco Wong to give Myolie Wu a ‘special wedding gift’

Hong Kong actor Bosco Wong, 34, said he’s picking out a special wedding gift for actress and former girlfriend Myolie Wu, 36, who will be marrying her businessman fiance, Philip Lee, on December 28.

While promoting his new drama series, With You, in Hangzhou, China, on Wednesday, Bosco said he had received a text message from Myolie asking if he was available to attend her wedding. “I’m coordinating my work schedule with my manager, and if I have time I’ll go,” the actor said.

Bosco and Myolie dated for eight years until 2012.

Asked how he felt after receiving Myolie’s text message, Bosco said, “It’s been so long now.” And the actor declined to say how large a “red packet” he’ll be giving Myolie for her wedding.

BTOB Surprises Yook Sung Jae with Food Truck on Drama Set

The BTOB members gathered to show their support for maknae Yook Sung Jae.

The members visited Yook Sung Jae on the set of his drama The Village in Paju on November 19. They surprised Yook Sung Jae, who is currently starring as policeman Park Woo Jae in the drama, with a food truck.The BTOB members surprised the actors with 150 warm meals and a coffee truck.

BTOB recently wrapped promotions for Way Back Home. However, Yook Sung Jae has been juggling a full load by himself, shuttling back and forth from the stage to the set of his drama, and the members planned a surprise event for him, even spending their own money on the food truck.

The members also went around thanking the staff members, and even met with the drama′s PD to say, "Please take care of our Sung Jae."

Meanwhile, BTOB has been focusing on preparing for an Asia tour following the conclusion of their Way Back Home promotions. Yook Sung Jae is starring in The Village, which airs every Wednesday and Thursday, while Lee Min Hyuk is showing off his acting chops in MBC′s Sweet, Savage Family.

John Legend: Dogs are good prep for babies

John Legend thinks having dogs is good preparation for having a baby.

The 'Ordinary People' singer and wife Chrissy Teigen are expecting their first child together and the 36-year-old singer believes caring for their beloved canines Puddy, Pippa and Penny means they know what to expect when the tot arrives.

He told People magazine: "Dogs are great for a couple. It helps you raise something before you have to raise kids."

Though the baby hasn't arrived yet, John already knows what he wants to teach the youngster as he or she grows older.

He told 'Entertainment Tonight': "Part of it is just by example. Showing that you love your neighbour, and not just your neighbour next door, but your neighbour across town, and across the world.

"Teaching them what it means to love one another. I think if you start your kids with that, love, and kindness, and being inquisitive, and caring about visiting other places, I think all that helps develop empathy. Hopefully if all kids have empathy, then we're in good shape."

The 'All of Me' hitmaker has found his wife has been craving more sweets than usual since she got pregnant, but doesn't think her eating habits have changed too much.

He said: "It's not that different. I think she likes sweets a little more than she used to but other than that... She likes to eat, and we have a little baby to eat for too."

Charlie Sheen to pen autobiography?

Charlie Sheen is set to write his autobiography.

The 50-year-old actor revealed he is HIV positive earlier this week, and since his confession on the 'Today' show, his manager Mark Burg has reportedly been "buried with offers" from publishers who are desperate for the 'Anger Management' star to tell his colourful life story.

The former 'Two and a Half Men' actor revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease four years ago after initially believing he had a brain tumour.

He said: "I thought based on migraines and cluster headaches and sweating the bed for nights in a row that I had a brain tumour. I thought it was over. After a battery of tests they told me this is what's going on. It's a hard three letters to absorb, it's a turning point in one's life."

And Charlie also hopes that going public with his diagnosis will help to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV.

He said: "I have a responsibility now to better myself and to help a lot of other people and hopefully with what we're doing today others will come forward and say, 'thanks Charlie, thanks for kicking the door open'.

"I'm not going to be the poster man for this, but I will not shun away from responsibilities."

Yao Yuanhao denies girlfriend Cyndi Wang’s mother dislikes him

Taiwanese actor Yao Yuanhao denied his girlfriend Cyndi Wang’s mother dislikes him and objects to their getting married.

At a charity art event on Tuesday, the actor commented on rumours that he wasn’t close to Cyndi’s mother, and that the latter had said she “had no time to ask him to stay for a meal” when he delivered Cyndi’s dog to her in Taoyuan, Taiwan. “We often dine together, and just the day before yesterday we ate together too,” he said.

Yuanhao has been dating Cyndi, a Taiwanese actress and singer, for three years, and the couple, both 33, are often asked when they plan to wed. Yuanhao said it was unlikely to happen in the next one or two years, adding that his focus now was on her January 2 concert at the Taipei Arena.

The supportive boyfriend even said he has bought more than 50 tickets to Cyndi’s concert to give out to his friends, and added, “I’m her fan.”

The actor denied he would propose to Cyndi during her concert, saying he hasn’t bought the ring, but he added that he has long considered her his wife. “I’ve always been serious about it,” he said.

Fan Bingbing reportedly to be a guest on Here Comes Kangxi in December

Top Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, 34, has reportedly agreed to be a guest on the long-running Taiwanese talk show Here Comes Kangxi, at an appearance fee of NT$100,000 (approximately S$4,340).

The actress will come on as a countdown guest on December 2, leading up to the exit of the talk show’s hosts, Dee Hsu and Kevin Tsai, from the 12-year-old programme.

Bingbing’s relationship with Chinese actor Li Chen is expected to be the focus of her appearance on the show, should it be confirmed.

Dee recently had her own brother-in-law scheduled as a guest on Here Comes Kangxi. Wang Xiaofei, the Chinese entrepreneur husband of Barbie Hsu, is due to come on this week to talk about his living in two places and having to shuttle across the Taiwan Strait for business and his family.

Scott Disick apologises to Kourtney Kardashian

Scott Disick has apologised to Kourtney Kardashian and her family for his recent wild behaviour.

The 32-year-old star, who is continuing his treatment for alcohol and drug abuse as an outpatient after checking into a rehab facility in Malibu, California last month, was dumped by the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' beauty, 36, in July after nine years together after he was photographed holidaying with an ex-girlfriend in the South of France, but has vowed to win back her trust.

A source said: "[Scott] has apologised to everyone. It's part of his treatment. He's also been going to the rehab centre every day and spending a lot of time with his sober companion. He is really committed to this."

The entrepreneur, who has been struggling since the deaths of his parents within three months of each other in late 2013 and early 2014, hopes Kourtney will eventually forgive him and agree to give their romance another chance for the sake of their three children, Mason, five, Penelope, three, and Reign, 11 months.

The insider told Us Weekly magazine: "He wants to be there for his family."

Scott also recently begged Kourtney's mother and manager Kris Jenner, 60, not to drop him from their E! reality series.

The source explained: "He asked for a second chance. He needs the money."

Former After School Member You So Young Confirms She′s Dating Son Heung Min

Actress and former After School member You So Young (29), confirmed she′s dating Tottenham Hotspur soccer player Son Heung Min (23).

A rep from You So Young′s agency, Star Iyagi Entertainment, stated in a phone conversation with a reporter on November 19, "We spoke to You So Young. It′s true that You So Young is dating Son Heung Min."Earlier today, one media outlet reported that You So Young and Son Heung Min were dating. According to the report, You So Young and Son Heung Min were spotted on a date at Paju National Football Center and were photographed together on Pepero Day, November 11.

The agency rep stated, "We don′t know exactly when they began dating. But she did say that they are a couple. It′s true that they went on a date on Pepero Day."

Meanwhile, 29-year-old You So Young and 23-year-old Son Heung Min share a six-year age difference. The two individuals managed to blossom into a couple depsite their busy schedules and the long distance between England and Korea.

The Royal 3 Are In Love With Kata

A sponsorship deal with Kata was secured for The Royal 3 by Flipside Productions & Marketing. The United States-based company, a leading smartphone manufacturer and designer, has agreed to sponsor its cutting-edge and innovative mobile technologies to The Royal 3, namely, Elson Soh, Hayden Chen, and Daniel Chin, where they fell in love with Kata instantaneously. 

“I’m amazed with its sleek and light-weight design for this smartphone, Kata i4, yet providing an optimum performance with infinite possibilities. It has a 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage where I can conveniently stock up my photographs, files and applications. Moreover, the price is very attractive for a quality smartphone. Simply loving the awesome experience with Kata!”, said Elson Soh.

Hayden Chen is enjoying its practicality of the multi-functional all-in-one home entertainment Kata Box that is pre-loaded with apps that enable users to view free or paid contents which are restricted within the United States. There are also other features installed including games, office/PC, megaVPN and many more. Said Hayden Chen, “I can easily input thousands of games available for download via Google Play to enhance the gaming experience. The Kata Box also allows easy navigation and works with a wireless game controller. What’s more! With the usage of wireless keyboard and mouse, I can now do my work effortlessly.”

The other Royal 3, Daniel Chin excitedly shared his wonderful experience with Kata Tablet T4. “I travel regularly and I can now browse the internet at such a breeze with its dual SIM feature. In addition, the large and extra-sharp 7.85 inch display make my movie watching or videos streaming an enjoyable one.”

Kata is indeed making life easy for its users, and a phenomenal way to experience Kata! 

​#Kata #KataSingapore #Katai4 #KataT4 #KataBox #TheRoyal3 #ElsonSoh #DanielChin #HaydenChen

Mario Ho’s mother ‘won’t interfere in his friendships’

Angela Leong, fourth “wife” of Macau’s casino mogul Stanley Ho, has said in a recent interview that as long as her son Mario, 20, placed his studies first, she wouldn’t interfere in his friendships. Her remark was seen as a hint that she may have eased her objection to his dating pop star Yumi.

One half of Singaporean pop duo By2, Yumi has been seeing Mario since last December, after the pair were spotted out shopping together.

Though Yumi has never explicitly confirmed their relationship, she has left hints on her social media accounts, with one Instagram post from Monday saying, “No matter how much I’m bleeding, I’ll still smile and say I’m OK.”

Angela was also asked whether she would object to her son dating a girl who has undergone plastic surgery, and she replied that she was an old-timer and that the question should be directed at her son instead.

Ming Bridges leaves weight gain behind with comeback album, Beautiful Melody

Singaporean singer–songwriter Ming Bridges, 23, has been taken on a metaphorical roller-coaster ride over the past three years. After releasing her first all-Mandarin album, Ming Day, in Taiwan in December 2012, the svelte 1.68 m-tall star went on to grace the magazine covers of Shape Singapore and FHM Malaysia.

But the stress of high expectations of herself led to a thyroid disorder that caused her weight to balloon 36 kg to her personal record of 80 kg.

Ming then ceased public appearances. “I was afraid of how people would look at me, and I was so upset I would cry at home every day,” she said.

Now back with a new album, Beautiful Melody, and a trimmer 60-kg figure, Ming said, “I’m not down to (my original weight), but being healthy is most important.”

The singer added she enjoys her greens and starts her day with lemon-infused water. “My friends make fun of me for living like an old person, but it’s all for my health,” she said.

First love

The singer–songwriter was in town to promote Beautiful Melody, which contains six songs, four of which are originals. Ming wrote the album’s title track for her first love, she explained. “Everyone needs love, but we often forget to treasure the right people who come by, and I’m one such person,” she said.

Ming added she had started dating someone while studying in England, but her music career took up a great deal of her time and the relationship fizzled out. “I think back on the good times, and I really regret it,” she said.

She wrote ‘Beautiful Melody’ to warn fans against making the same mistake she did, and added she would gladly give up her career for love if Mr Right came along.

And the British–Chinese Singaporean hopes to find a partner who speaks Mandarin, “so that I can practise and improve my Mandarin,” she said.

Lesson time

Whether she was studying in the UK or promoting her music in Taiwan, a weekly Mandarin class was always on her schedule.

Ming said she prefers composing songs in Mandarin because the language is more nuanced. She also let on her liking for Jolin Tsai’s ‘Masked Confession (Jia Mian De Gao Bai)’ and Hebe Tian’s ‘A Little Happiness (Xiao Xing Yun),’ from the soundtrack of the Taiwanese box-office smash Our Times.

Ming even spoke of her admiration for compatriot singer–songwriter JJ Lin. “I hope I can perform with him one day,” she said. “I like good boys, and I feel he isn’t a bad boy.”