In brief: Brad Pitt defends gay marriage

Brad Pitt, who said recently that he won't consider marrying his partner Angelina Jolie until gay marriage is made legal across the US, has donated $100,000 to the campaign to stop California overturning the state Supreme Court decision legalising same-sex marriage.......... Andrew Lloyd Webber is offering sacked Lehman Brothers staff free tickets to his most popular West End shows. Fired bankers have been advised that if they visit the box offices of The Sound Of Music or Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, they can claim two free seats. "All you have to do is present your P45 as proof at the box office and two free tickets are yours," the composer and impresario said in an email.......... Dictator Kim Jong-il is holding a film festival which will allow North Koreans to watch a selection of foreign films - normally something they would be imprisoned for if they were caught. Kim is a keen film buff – apparently a fan of Daffy Duck, Steven Spielberg, Elizabeth Taylor and the James Bond movies. The 10-day festival includes Bend it Like Beckham and Whale Rider as well as more predictable state propaganda output.......... Amy Winehouse, Madonna and Sir Cliff Richard are among those who are being immortalised as plastic Lego characters to mark the toy-maker's 30th anniversary.......... Prior to being sworn in as Australia's first female governor-general, Quentin Bryce has flown to Balmoral to meet the Queen - who put her guest at ease by holding a barbie.......... ·