A SHOWBIZ theme pervades today's Diary as we take a look at fame past, present and perhaps yet to come...

FORMULA One team boss Eddie Jordan has found himself a couple of York friends.

City lads The Bogus Brothers have made such an impression on the multi-millionaire, he's hired them to star at his Christmas bash.

Tony Williams, the Brothers' manager, said the band will be playing with Queen's Roger Taylor, Irish sons Brian McFadden and Ronan Keating and that bloke out of Mike and the Mechanics at Jordan's big do.

But never let it be said that the lads have forgotten their North Yorkshire roots. They may well be a band to the stars but you can catch them at the Abbey Leisure Centre, in Selby, on December 17.

You can't beat the high life.

YORK property businessman Paul Blanchard senior lived a musical high life in his youth.

His band The Cheavours were the resident group at local night-spot The Boulevard in the early 1960s with lead guitarist Paul at the helm.

Remember, this was the hey-day of The Beatles and Gerry and The Pacemakers and The Who so, in hindsight, The Cheavours had their work cut out securing chart domination.

That aside, when Lulu performed at York's Assembly Rooms in July 1964 - while number one with Shout - it was Blanchard and co providing the support.

As with Lennon and McCartney, the purple patch couldn't last and The Cheavours' 15 minutes of fame ended in 1965.

But, like a Phoenix, they have risen once more. Their only recording - a cover of Chuck Berry's Bye Bye Johnny - has resurfaced and given the digital treatment to raise cash for St Leonard's Hospice.

Paul, whose son is a York councillor, has donated 500 CDs to the hospice in memory of his friend Billy Evans, who died of cancer there in 2002.

The CD, which reminds us a little bit of those early songs on The Beatles Anthology, is on sale at Borders at £5. All cash goes to the hospice.

IS your mutt the Tom Cruise of the hound world? Could it give Cameron Diaz a run for her money in the style stakes?

York dog owners are being given the chance to see how their precious pooch scrubs up in a city competition this weekend.

A national hunt to find the country's best-looking dog of 2004 has wound its way to Pets At Home's Clifton outlet tomorrow and Sunday.

A photographer from The Dog Portrait Company will be asking each dog to strike a pose that could see it crowned Pick Of The Pooch 2004.

Apparently, the king or queen of the animal kingdom will need more than a winning smile - personality and character will be a big part of the judge's decision.

Updated: 10:57 Friday, December 03, 2004