What's hot and what's not

Ignoring the fact that so many disastrous relationships may have been avoidable, it's quite comforting to know we can tune into a natural instinct which tells us if men are natural dads or natural cads. According to a university study, women who were asked to rate a man's characteristics by looking at his face were able to identify someone who was cold and untrustworthy in a matter of seconds. Study team leader Dr Mark Shevlin feels this ability to spot a rotter has become pre-programmed into women's brains to help us avoid unsuitable partners and is especially accurate once a month when our primitive-side is looking to procreate. But there was no advice for those of us who wander into night-clubs and bars to find our perfect man. Sadly this cad-filter seems to fail after a few glasses of wine and a puff of dry ice, which could explain why so many girls are still hooking up with totally unsuitable suitors.

DARING DESIGNERS: Thank goodness for modern designer Laura McCree, who has joined the experts on BBC's Changing Rooms. A female Lawrence Llewlyn-Bowen, Laura made her debut on the show last week and promptly reduced a Northumberland couple to tears. The pretentious couple were both heavily into art and obviously thought they knew better than any designer Carole Smillie could throw at them. They live in a 400-year old home and hated Laura's modern bedroom designer which included breeze block seats and a lamp made out of stones. The couple shouted and swore when they saw the end result and reduced poor Laura to tears, but what were they expecting? If they wanted a room done out to their taste they should have paid someone to do it for them - going on Changing Rooms was bound to be a lottery and I for one was glad to see the smug expressions wiped off their faces for five minutes. As for Laura, let's hope she keeps up the wild and wacky good work - there's too much chintz and stripped pine in the world - television make-overs need to be daring, otherwise there's simply no point in showing them.

HANDS OFF ET: ET was a fantastic film that brought tears to the eyes of adults and children across the country. Generations remember the little alien who captured our hearts and he's so popular BT decided to bring him out of retirement for a new advertising campaign. However, despite the film's popularity there is no excuse for the new version of the classic which is said to be heading for our screens in 2002. The new ET will have new scenes, better special effects and clearer sound - in other words it will be ruined by the latest technology. Classic films should be left alone for us to marvel at how primitive the effects were and how quaint story lines could be. How will we ever appreciate developments in the film world if we are not reminded of the sometimes grainy past? ET should be left alone and film makers should concentrate on making their own, new features - not ruining the best from the past.

BLONDE BOMBSHELLS: Rachel Hunter is the latest woman to try (and fail) to capture the magic that was Marilyn Monroe. On Saturday night the ex-Mrs Rod Stewart appeared on Stars in their Eyes singing Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend. The notes may have been in the right order and the blonde wig might have been in place but Rachel had nothing else in common with the original blonde bombshell. From Madonna to Geri Halliwell - any famous woman who has wanted to be sexy has at one time or other tried to take-off Marilyn. But they have all made the same mistake. It takes much more than a wig, a beauty spot and red lipstick to be like Ms Monroe. Her sexiness came from a strange mix of confidence and vulnerability that meant she became an eternal pin-up despite her insecurities and rounded figure. But most importantly, Marilyn didn't copy anyone else. Today's stars need to develop their own unique style if they want to have half the lasting appeal of Marilyn.