SPECS APPEAL: Thank goodness that someone has decided that Deirdre Rashid can have a new look. For years her glasses have enjoyed an unreasonable amount of screen space.

In fact, they seem to have got bigger as the years have gone by. Despite looking like a cross between Dennis Taylor and an owl, Deirdre has managed to attract a huge array of men over the years but the fact that a fashionable middle-aged woman had not been to the opticians in years was beginning to look a bit dubious.

Now the makers of Coronation Street have asked viewers, via their web site, what specs they would like to see Deirdre wearing. They votes have been cast so hopefully Deirdre will be looking a little less wide-eyed very soon.

THROWING INSULTS: Confetti is no longer just for weddings - you can use it to quit your job, nag your kids or entice your lover to bed. Confettimail is a new company which sells confetti-grams with a wide array of messages. The confetti, with your personal message, is sent in a bag, letter or card so it spills out all over the recipient. There are some very frank insults for people who have annoyed you, as well loving and sexy confetti if you want to let someone know how much you care. 'Tidy it now' confetti is ideal for a teenager's room while there are also more traditional birthday and anniversary designs. Each confetti order contains 500 identical phrases which are bound to get the message across loud and clear. Log on to www.confettimail.com to see more.

UNPRETTY WOMAN: Some women just don't know when to stop. After a disastrous marriage and hundreds of failed, high-profile relationships, Julia Roberts is moving onto married men. She is alleged to have rung the wife of lover Danny Moder and said: "Your husband is yummy... may I borrow him?" The naive Mrs Moder thought the film star was joking so made some flippant comment to Julia. But the Pretty Woman was deadly serious and allegedly started an affair with the man she had met on the set of one of her movies. The affair may be over now but it's doubtful if Julia has learnt anything from the experience. She may be desperate to find the man of her dreams but stealing other women's husbands and then gloating about it will only bring her upset.

STRAPPED IN: If the new film Moulin Rouge has its way we will all be wearing corsets, high heels and fishnets before too long. Designers are trying to accommodate the sexy French look into their collections with tassels, wigs and top hats on all the catwalks. Sadly, what works on screen in a lavish costume drama just looks daft on the High Street.

Madonna failed to make corsets mainstream, so its doubtful that Nicole Kidman will manage it. A corset may flatten and lift your bits but they are hardly suitable for modern living and the trials of work, shopping and cleaning. With neck-breaking heels on and your stomach flattened by whalebone, the Moulin Rouge look will do nothing for the modern woman except land her in hospital with a bust ankle and faints. It brings a whole new meaning to fashion victim.

MR LOVER MAN: The Australians have a lot to answer for. The race who gave us Neighbours and Rolf Harris has now created a very strange sex symbol. British practical joker Karl Power made his name when he posed with the Manchester United team for a picture and raised his bat to the crowd at Headingley wearing the English team kit. He claimed he would appear at every major sporting event this year but his plan may have been scuppered by an Australian health company who have asked him to promote a new love potion for them called Stud Man Juice! Quite why they have picked an over-weight joker from over here to promote sex in Australia is a mystery but let's just hope Mr Power doesn't come back home thinking he is worthy of even more publicity.

PIERCE SPICE: Showing off her new lip accessory, Victoria Beckham wonders if it's possible to shut her mouth.

BOND BAND: Rumours are starting to circulate about who will perform the next James Bond theme tune. The band or singer will be following in the hallowed footsteps of such luminaries as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and, um, A-ha. The last Bond theme tune was performed by Garbage and wasn't a great success. So who's up for this great honour? Only Swedish popsters Ace of Base. A message on the band's website has claimed to have heard they were on the shortlist to do the theme. Their competition is Tori Amos and Travis so hopefully we will be spared an Ace of Base comeback. The world has had enough of the Abba clones, methinks.