WHO: WES BUTTERS. IT will be a very merry Christmas for one unknown DJ who has been plucked from obscurity to present Radio 1's Top 40 chart.

New kid on the block Wes Butters will replace 41-year-old stalwart DJ Mark Goodier, who for many is the definitive voice of the Sunday countdown and who has been delivering the Top 40 in a flawless, if slightly unexciting, delivery for the past eight years.

Twenty-three-year-old Butters, originally from Salford, previously worked for Galaxy Radio in Newcastle. Now the presenter is looking forward to a six-figure salary and will be playing to millions of listeners despite previously having no national radio experience.

He has been chosen to breathe some life into Radio 1, which has been losing a substantial share of listeners over the past few years and whose Sunday chart has been overtaken by Capital FM's Pepsi Chart show hosted by Neil Fox.

While Goodier's slick delivery was a little bit devoid of personality, Butters is likely to inject a bit more into the role, since he at least is a similar age group to those buying the records!

Still, he is stepping into some pretty big shoes in taking on the role, previously undertaken by Simon Bates, Tony Blackburn and Bruno Brookes. Could Wes be the saviour of Radio 1? Well if he can't wrestle a few listeners from Dr Fox there is something wrong somewhere...

WHAT: The Office. Following such classics comedies as Queer As Folk and...erm.. Dear John, The Office is set to get its very own American version. It has such an understated, quiet kind of genius that you might think it wouldn't travel across the pond, but if the rumours are true, Universal are in negotiations to create the show in the US.

We might reckon that Americans haven't got quite the sense of irony needed for such a show, but in recent years programmes such as Friends, Frasier and Sex and The City have shown that the US is leading the way with a new breed of TV comedy.

However, if they can find anyone who can ooze naffness with quite the same flair as Ricky Gervais does as David Brent, I'll eat my stapler.

WHO: Beyonce. After huge success with the feisty Destiny's Child and a super-foxy role in the last Austin Powers flick, the singer is now set to take over Britney's role in the Pepsi commercials.

Since going solo from Destiny's Child, Beyonce has proven herself to be a popular choice, and the change of face for the commercials comes at a time when, in contrast, Britney's star seems to be on the wane.

The singer has undergone some rough treatment by the press of late a fter snubbing fans, and was seen drinking a Coke, Pepsi's greatest rival, whilst on tour.

And though Britney's innocent/sexy image was ideal for the soft drink to target its younger customers, Pepsi are no doubt hoping that as an African American, Knowles, who has proven herself successful both in films and music, will help them reach out to a much broader audience.

Meanwhile, Britney must be wishing she'd been a bit nicer to those fans.

NIZ - POPSTARS Palaver. We all love a pantomime at Christmas and this December it seems there are two dames getting their knickers in a twist.

Louis Walsh has evidently picked up a tip or two from Nasty Nigel and has been happily slagging off Pete Waterman and his band One True Voice, no doubt thinking that it'll make great TV. Meanwhile it has all turned a bit sour between the girls and the boys.

The former have accused the latter of ripping up their promotional posters, and of saying they can't sing, while Pete has apparently declared that the girls' song is mostly sung by session singers.

We knew it was going to be a battle but we thought it would be the records that were fighting it out, rather than the singers themselves, and frankly all this scrapping is bringing a bit of a sour note to the festive season.

There's only one way to settle it, get Pete and Louis in a box and let them battle it out themselves like that other perennial favourite Punch and Judy.