Plans for Arabic version of Project Runway

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  Courtesy MBC

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  AP

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  Reuters

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  Reuters

An Arabic version of Project Runway is coming to our screens on MBC this year. Speaking exclusively to The National, the broadcaster's official spokesman, Mazen Hayek, said the new show, Project Runway Middle East, will debut towards the end of the year. The judging panel and host will be announced soon. "It should be in the next couple of days," he says. "We are in the final preparation stages of closing off all the deals with the mentors, coaches and jury." This will be the second Arabic version of the show – the first had a two-season run on Future TV in 2006-2007. The original American production was launched in 2004, with season 15 to be broadcast this year. – The National

The Voice Kids winner to sing at Yas Mall

Lynn Hayek, the winner of MBC's this year's The Voice Kids, will perform at Yas Mall's Spring Festival on Friday. The 12-year-old from Lebanon was one of six youngsters who made it to the final round of the show. Lynn has now amassed a big teen following in the Middle East and she will make her first debut in the UAE at Yas Mall. The mall's nine-day festival, which ends on Friday, features live stage performances and shows, entertainment, family workshops and art displays. – The National

SRK backs Hashmi’s book about son

Shah Rukh Khan has helped to promote a book written by fellow Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi about the latter's 6-year-old son Ayaan's battle with cancer. The book, Kiss of Life, deals with the hardships Hashmi and his wife, Parveen Shahani, have faced since learning in 2014 that their son, who was 4 at the time, has the disease. SRK and Hashmi met and posed for photos while holding the book. Sending his love to Ayaan, SRK wrote on Twitter: "May Allah bless you and your family with health and happiness. Good to see u Emraan. My love to Ayaan." "FAN moment! Lots of love. Thank you for all your support SRK," Emraan responded, thanking the star, whose next movie will be Fan. Other Bollywood celebrities, including Salman Khan, have also praised the book on social media. – IANS

Mick Jagger embarrassed by odd outfits

British singer Mick Jagger says he flinches at most of the outfits he wore over the years while performing as The Rolling Stones frontman. However, he says that when a performer is on the stage, it is a different ballgame, he told The Telegraph. The 72-year-old singer has been unearthing dozens of stage costumes and garments from the band's heyday for a new display, EXHIBITIONISM, which will open at The Saatchi Gallery in London next week, reported Female First. He says putting the costumes on display for "exhibitionism" makes them seem even worse because the impression they created on stage was very different than what they will look like in a dark room. He says some of the outfits were in hideous taste, but that made them funnier to him and he went along with it for a laugh. The singer also pointed out that in the 1970s, being outlandish was like a norm. – The National

Hrithik Roshan apologises for ‘affair with Pope’ remark

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has apologised for hurt caused to “religious or other sentiments” by his controversial comment on “affair with the Pope”. “Seems my tweet about His Holiness has led to misunderstanding. My apologies for hurt caused to religious or other sentiments. Was unintentional,” Hrithik posted on Twitter. The actor had landed himself into legal trouble when a Christian group slapped a notice on him for hurting religious sentiments.

The Krrish star is already in a legal tussle with Kangana Ranaut, on the tweet where he said: “There are more chances of me having had an affair with the Pope than any of the (I’m sure wonderful) women the media has been naming.”

IANS