Breaking his silence over the controversy sparked by Malayalam cine actor Thilakan,superstar Mammootty today said mainstream artistes were eager to settle the issue through a dialogue within the framework of the actors' body, Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA).

"We don't have any quarrel or animus against Thilakan. We have not imposed any ban or ever said we will not co-operate with him," Mammootty told a press meet here.

Striking a conciliatory note towards Thilakan, who triggered the feud by fulminating against "superstar domination" in Malayalam filmdom, Mammootty said AMMA's position was that all
issues should be settled through dialogue.

"AMMA is an organisation of artistes. Whatever issues are there, they should be resolved through a dialogue," the national award winning actor said.

Mammootty, who declined to take questions from reporters, said AMMA would no longer indulge in any public debate on the issue through the media.

The long smouldering frictions in Malayalam cinema flared up two months back with Thilakan alleging he had been dropped from a film after being offered a role in it, under pressure from a 'superstar'.

He went on to allege that Malayalam filmdom was now dominated by a 'mafia' controlled by superstars, an apparent reference to Mammootty and Mohanlal.

Mammootty took a dig at literateur Sukumar Azheekode who had joined the issue supporting Thilakan.


"Azheekode is a great writer... I have respect for him. But he should have understood all the facts before taking sides," the actor said.

On Azheekode's comment about Mohanlal and Mammootty doing romantic roles regardless of their age, he said this was a matter of performance and acting by artistes.

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan had done the role of a grandson and Kamal Hasaan, the role of a woman in a movie, he said.

There were veteran Kathakali artistes who continued to essay charming and romantic roles even when they were quite old.

"We will no longer be indulging in a public debate on these issues through media. We want Thilakan also to remain part of AMMA and help resolve all issues", Mammootty added.

Heather Mills is planning a new bid for the hearts and minds of the British public when she bravely dons a pair of skates to appear on show Dancing On Ice.

The ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartney, 41, will compete against 13 other celebrities including EastEnders's star Danniella Westbrook, 36, TV presenter Sinitta, and Gordon Ramsay's wife Tana.

Heather appeared on Dancing With The Stars, the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, in 2007. But bookies make her a rank outsider to win the show.

William Hill make ex-Corrie actor Young and Boyzone star Graham their joint favourite at 4-1 and Westbrook (25-1), Mills, (25-1) and Dr Hilary Jones (33-1) outsiders.

The skating celebrities will be performing live each week to win the approval of the judges, capture the hearts of the nation, and compete for the title of Dancing on Ice Champion 2010.

Olympian skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean return to train a team of celebrities to dance on the ice in ITV1’s hit show.

This year’s series is bigger than ever with 14 celebrity skaters – the highest number so far.

The new series of Dancing on Ice is set to hit TV screens on January 15 next year with a change to the judging panel.

Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, 33, replaces Ruthie Henshall in a move that mirrors Strictly Come Dancing's decision to replace Arlene Phillips with Alesha Dixon.

A new Friday night spin-off show, Dancing on Ice Friday, will see Ben Shephard and Coleen Nolan entertaining fans with an exclusive preview of the Sunday night performances and an insight into the world behind the rink on

Men at work: Comic Bobby Davro, Boyzone's Mikey Graham, and GMTV's Dr Hilary Jones have all accepted the Dancing On Ice challenge

The soap stars: Ex-Coronation Street actor Danny Young, Footballer's Wives star Gary Lucy, and Hollyoak's Kieron Richards

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She was becoming the 'John Sergeant' of the ice skating rink, but Coleen Nolan's impressive survival on Dancing On Ice has come to an end.

The Loose Women star has been voted off last night's semi-final after repeatedly winning the public vote - much to the annoyance of the show's judges.

Instead, Ray Quinn, Jessica Taylor and Donal MacIntyre will compete in next week's final to be crowned this year's champion.

Nolan, who faced MacIntyre in the skate-off, was never likely to survive.

However the judges praised the 43-year-old for her 'courage' - especially following a broken wrist injury last week.

‘It’s not going to be the same without you,’ judge Karen Barber told the indefatigable Nolan.

‘You have been funny, courageous and inspiring,’ added fellow judge Ruthie Henshall.

It was left to acid-tongue judge Jason Gardiner to remind viewers the show's about skill not a popularity contest.

‘The British public got it right tonight,' he said.

Earlier in the night, Quinn delivered a breathtaking performance which earned him an impressive 28 points from the judges.

The 20-year-old adopted the guise of a matador for his latino number with partner Maria Filippov.

'I look at you as I look at a top ice skater,' head judge Robin Cousins told Quinn after the fiery performance which included a number of leaps.

'We think you're never going to get any better and each week you get better,' mentor Jayne Torvill said.

Meanwhile in stark contrast to Quinn's dazzling performance, Noleen was told she has become the 'John Sergeant' of the competition.

Despite still suffering from her injury, the Loose Women star, who will be 44 this week, was determined to perform in the semi-final.

However her efforts were awarded with a paltry 16.5 and scorn from the judges.

'My heart applauds you but my head says it's time for you to leave,' said Cousins.

'We can all see that you are not doing as much as the other skaters,' judge Nicky Slater added.

Coleen Nolan performed to Shania Twain's You're The One in last night's semi-final but failed to be the one for the judges who awarded her only 16.5 points

'The only thing that will keep you in is the John Sergeant vote,' he added.

Donal MacIntyre continues to prove he's the dark horse of the competition by winning his best score of the series so far, with 22.5 points.

The undercover reporter was the first semi-finalist out on the ice to perform the daunting 20-second solo section - a requisite for tonight's celebrity contestants.

Along with partner Florentine Houdiniere, he danced to Paul McCartney and Wings' Live And Let Die in a dramatic performance which included a hyper glide and three jumps.

'We did our best out there,' Donal said.

'When we saw you six months ago, we would never have thought you would have come this far,' said mentor Christopher Dean.

'The intensity was great,' added gold Olympic medallist champion Cousins.

'The fast and slow pace. Your lifting skills and working with your partner has improved,' he added.

However it was left to the acerbic Gardiner to dampen the praise, receiving unanimous boos from the audience.

'This was not your strongest performance of the series. He (MacIntyre) has done better,' Gardiner said.

The closest competition Quinn faces comes from singer Jessica Taylor who came second with her romantic dance to Annie Lennox’s Why with partner Pavel Aubrecht.

The former Liberty X star admitted she had been sick with nerves over performing the solo dance, but needn’t have worried as she too, achieved her best score so far of 26.5 points.

‘It was the most petrifying thing I have ever done in my life,’ Taylor said.

'The girl can sing, can dance and now she can act,' West End and Broadway star Henshall told Taylor, who along with Cousins and Gardiner awarded her 5.5 points.

'One of your best routines,' Dean added.

'Very, very classy. In your basics, as strong, if not stronger than Ray,' said Cousins.

She's already tried her hand at ballroom dancing across the pond, and now Heather Mills is putting her best foot forward by stepping on to the ice for a spot of skating.

Heather, who turns 42 this week, was spotted carrying her false limb as she headed into rehearsals for the show - however, she admitted that the leg has held her back.

She said: 'its ankle doesn't band and I fall 50 per cent of the time.'

Judge Nicky Slater has already expressed his concern as to whether Heather will be able to perform well after seeing her in rehearsals.

He said: 'Choreography should work to hide disability, and one-legged skating IS possible, but here it's how the other leg reacts that affects aesthetics. A challenge.'

Meanwhile Paul McCartney's ex-wife insisted that producers on the ITV contest, which starts tonight, provide leather-free footwear in line with her strict beliefs.

So they were forced to order £200 skates made from a synthetic material called Clarino.

The former model lost her left leg below the knee after a road accident in 1993, but no modifications were needed to the skates to accommodate her prosthetic limb.

A source said: 'Heather is adamant that she will not wear leather, which is barely a step down from fur as far as she is concerned.

'It was part of her conditions for going on the show, which also include an insistence that all her refreshments are vegan.

'Vegan boots are not unheard of in ice-dancing because leather needs so much looking after, but they are not the standard by any means.'

The boots are made by American firm Riedell, which makes most of its skates from animal leather.

Ms Mills is debuting with the other 13 celebrities on tonight's show and has a new haircut which makes her almost unrecognisable.

Instead, the spiky crop and low-cut dresses rather make her look like feisty EastEnder Shirley Carter, played by Linda Henry.

The 41-year-old ex-model - who won £24million in her divorce settlement from the former Beatle - said on her website yesterday that the show was 'the best way I have of generating charity income'.

She added: 'Training over the past few months has been so hard. I've broken ribs, shifted my pelvis and injured my shoulder. Ice-skating is the most difficult thing I've ever done. It is almost impossible when my ankle won't bend.

'But I'm really determined and I don't care if I'm the worst skater there. It isn't just my charities that benefit from my taking part. I am always looking to inspire other amputees.'

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Last year it was her cleavage that grabbed all the headlines.

But Holly Willoughby has more than just herself to think about as she hosts Dancing On Ice this year - namely her unborn child.

With that in mind, Miss Willoughby opted for more sober attire when the ITV reality show kicked off last night.

Holly showed off her baby bump in a demure black and white dress which completely covered up her cleavage on the opening show of Dancing On Ice

As viewers wondered what eye-popping outfit she would be wearing, it became clear she had decided motherhood demanded a safer look last night as former England footballer Graeme Le Saux became the first celebrity to get the boot.

With her baby bump visible for the first time, Miss Willoughby was dressed in an elegant black-and-white Jovani dress with a large bow.

The 27-year-old, who co-hosted with Phillip Schofield, has been cautious about showing off her figure ever since it was revealed on The X Factor that she was pregnant.

Miss Willoughby, who is married to TV producer Dan Baldwin, faced criticism from some viewers last year for the revealing nature of dresses she wore.

One cream outfit provoked complaints that she looked as if she would fall out of it at any moment.

Bookmakers were even running odds on this happening during this year's show.

Le Saux was given his marching orders after being voted in the bottom two by viewers alongside undercover journalist Donal MacIntyre.

They then entered the dance-off, after which the judges unanimously voted for MacIntyre to stay in the show.

Graeme Le Saux and dance partner Kristina Lenko say their goodbyes

The former England footballer was presented with a bouquet from Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean

The show had kicked off with news that the seven male celebrities would be the first to be put through their paces.

There was also a dramatic dance sequence led by ice skating mentor Jane Torvill.

Host Phillip Schofield with the female contestants, Zoe Salmon, Coleen Nolan, Roxanne Pallett, Gemma Bissix, Melinda Messenger and Jessica Taylor

Christopher Dean only made it onto the ice near the end of the opening performance because he is still recovering from a shoulder operation.

He later told hosts Schofield and Willoughby: 'I feel a bit like a kid that's been told that he can't play with his toys at the moment, so I'm desperate to get back.'

He is still taking an active role mentoring the acts, but had to tone down his own performance to avoid causing further injury.

Schofield and Holly Willoughby open the show by chatting to Torvill and Dean

Dean had to tone down his own performance as he is still recovering from a shoulder operation

First to perform was former Big Brother contestant Jeremy Edwards with his dance partner Darya Nucci.

He sported black trousers and a tight-fitting pink top and scored a collective 15 points out of a possible 30 from the five judges.

Next up was Donal MacIntyre and his partner Florentine Houdiniere who bagged 13.5 points.

Former Liberty X star Jessica Taylor skates onto the ice during the show opening

EastEnders star Gemma Bissix looked stunning in a red ensemble

He was followed by former EastEnders star Todd Carty and his partner Susie Lipanova.

Sporting a yellow ensemble, the star received a low score of 7.5 after being criticised for being too wooden.

Judge Jason Gardner said he looked as if he had had 'an accident in your pants' during the performance.

Melinda Messenger wore her hair in tumbling blonde curls

The former topless model takes a bow with dancer partner Fred Palascak

Coleen Nolan made her entrance in a black number

Former rugby star Ellery Hanley skated to Born To Run with Frankie Poultney and following his performance broke the record for the highest score of the evening with 17.5.

But the record was quickly mashed by former X Factor star Ray Quinn who bagged an impressive 23.5 for his moves to the Hanson Song Doo Wop with partner Maria Filippov.

Sporting a pink top with a plunging v-neck, the youngster was told by Christopher Dean that he had 'real talent'.

Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon takes a bow

Zoe with Coleen and Roxanne being interviewed by Phillip

The star said he has been adapting his skills from roller blading during his training.

Former England footballer Graham Le Saux took to the ice in a black tuxedo and green sequined shirt for his performance of I've Got You Under My Skin.

Jeremy Edwards was the first star to take to the ice with partner Darya Nucci

Undercover journalist Donal MacIntyre and partner Florentine Houdiniere

He was awarded a score of 13.5 for his performance

Following his dance with partner Kristina Lenko, Le Saux was given a score of 14.5, which he said he was delighted with.

Finally, TV presenter Michael Underwood made a return to form with dance partner Melanie Lambert.

Former EastEnders star Todd Carty goes through his moves with partner Susie Lipanova

Former rugby league star Ellery Hanley skated to Born To Run with dance partner Frankie Poultney

He was a member of last year's troupe of celebrity dancers on the show, but crashed out of the contest two weeks in after sustaining an ankle injury.

Despite making a stumble on the ice, he managed to clock up 15 points from the judges.

The former X Factor contestant Ray Quinn top-scored with 23.5

It is the turn of the female contestants to perform next week.

The opening night was not without a minor controversy, however.

The usually inoffensive Schofield prompted a complaint from one viewer after he hit outspoken judge Jason Gardiner round the head, causing him to look round in shock.

TV presenter Michael Underwood with dancer partner Melanie Lamber

Michael had to leave last year's competition two weeks in after injuring his ankle

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