In brief: BBC accused of giving Bono’s U2 free publicity

While U2, the Irish rock band led by Bono (pictured) , must be delighted with the BBC's decision to make a big noise about their latest album, No Line On The Horizon - it has given over hours of broadcasting time to special shows and promoted it relentlessly with hundreds of TV advertisements - others are not. Critics claim that the corporation, which has even devoted a website to the band using the slogan U2=BBC, has handed the Irish stadium rockers millions of pounds worth of free publicty at licence-payers' expense. Leading the outcry is Tory MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the culture, media and sport select committee. He told the Daily Mail: "Why should licence fee-payers shoulder the cost of U2's publicity?"............ Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Oscars on Sunday night, has received a lukewarm response from Frank Boyle, the father of its director, Danny Boyle. "I think it's reasonable," he said following the movie's Academy Award triumph. "[But then] he's not making films for me. He's making films for young film-goers, so I'll say nothing more about it"............Meanwhile, Slumdog star Freida Pinto has landed a role in Woody Allen's next, as yet untitled, movie.............Spice Girl Mel C has given birth to her first child, a baby girl, which she has named Scarlet Starr...........

 ·