News Round-up

MARLENA DE LACROIX: "Only the Bests" List 2008
Marlena presents her "bests" of the year.

The 31st annual Kennedy Center Honors
Former ANOTHER WORLD star Morgan Freeman is among the honorees at the ceremony which airs tonight on CBS.

Vanessa Marcil Stars In The Hallmark Channel's The Nanny Express
Vanessa Marcil is one sexy nanny who will help Hallmark Channel fans ring in the New Year. The former star of GENERAL HOSPITAL and LAS VEGAS is starring in the Hallmark Channel's Original Movie "The Nanny Express," which will premiere Saturday, January 3.

Soap characters "immune to their unhealthy living"
Soap characters with unhealthy lifestyles should be shown reaping the consequences, say doctors. Private healthcare firm Bupa has released its top ten unhealthiest characters, arguing they could be used to hammer home health messages. It said heavy smoker Dot Cotton, from EASTENDERS, should appear breathless, with heavy drinkers in soaps having broken veins.

A BBC spokesman said it always tried to depict illnesses accurately.

UNHEALTHY SOAP CHARACTERS
* Dot Cotton, EASTENDERS: Smoker
* Shadrach Dingle, EMMERDALE: Alcohol dependent
* Tyrone Dobbs, CORONATION STREET: Unhealthy diet
* Heather Trott, EASTENDERS: Unhealthy diet
* Louise Summers, Hollyoaks: Alcohol dependent
* Shirley Carter, EASTENDERS: Drinks too much alcohol
* Charlie Slater, EASTENDERS: Unhealthy diet
* Lloyd Mullaney, CORONATION STREET: Unhealthy diet
* Fiz Brown, CORONATION STREET: Unhealthy diet
* Leo Valentine, HOLLYOAKS: Drinks too much alcohol

The survey comes as research at Derby University suggested an average of 17 units of alcohol were down on every episode of EMMERDALE, with a third of its residents potentially classed as "depressed drinkers", according to Department of Health guidelines.

Eva Longoria: "Marriage is a Commitment"
Eva Longoria says marriage is something you need to work at. The DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES actress - who has been married to NBA star Tony Parker for a year and a half - says she recognizes one challenge of wedded bliss.

She tells the February Man Issue of Glamour, "Marriage is a commitment, so you always have to work at it. For us, just juggling schedules is the biggest obstacle we have, and we don’t even really have a problem with that either."

MICHAEL FAIRMAN: Best and Worst of 2008 in Soaps
Fairman revealed his choices on "Stardish Radio" last night.