The Society of London theatre say that their Box Office Data Report for 2009 reveals that West End ticket prices have doubled in the space of fifteen years. SOLT say that the average ticket "asking price" last year was £43.07, compared to £21.36 back in 1995, but that the amount ultimately paid by audience members has increased more slowly, apparently because of a rise in the number of discounted tickets. They also note that the increases accelerated in the last three years.

Trying to explain the figures, the report suggests that "increases in the costs of mounting and marketing theatrical productions, which have generally risen at a considerably higher rate than the Retail Price Index, will obviously be a significant contributor to rising ticket prices".

The BBC's early morning breakfast show is to be moved to Salford, along with other departments, such as those running parts of Radio 5 and some children's programming, as previously announced. The programme's staff and presenters – including Bill Turnbull, Sian Williams, Susanna Reid and Charlie Stayt - were informed  of the decision on Wednesday.

BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas says this: "Viewers could really start to notice that the BBC is making more of its programmes in the North - just as listeners may when Radio 5 Live moves. Breakfast runs for three hours a day on BBC One - and the Salford Quays waterfront and new buildings could provide a highly visible backdrop for the programme."

Around 2,500 jobs are moving to the BBC's new Salford Quays location in 2011.

BBC2's Raymond Blanc fronted reality show 'The Restaurant' is to come to an end after three series. The programme saw couples compete for the chance to open a restaurant with financial backing from the host. Blanc won't be leaving BBC screens altogether, however, as he is currently discussing the possibility of a new series of 'Kitchen Secrets' as well as other projects.

The news has been announced alongside plans for the channel's autumn and winter schedule, which will include a drama based on the events surrounding the organisation of 1984's Live Aid, which  will star Domhnall Gleeson – son of Brendan Gleeson – as Bob Geldof and Ian Hart as Harvey Goldsmith. It is to be broadcast later this year, timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the event. Elsewhere, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon will star in a new part improvised comedy series called 'The Trip', which is to be directed by Michael Winterbottom, and will feature a guest appearance from Ben Stiller.

Hollywood stars Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz have got married. The Spanish pair did the deed at a friend's house in the Bahamas, which is nice for them. The reason I felt like reporting on this matter was because I only recently got around to seeing 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', and recall being very engaged by their performance as a couple with a somewhat tempestuous relationship. Anyway, that's that. I'm sure they'll be very happy.

Booking has opened for the Society Of London Theatre's annual West End Kids Week. During the event, which in fact runs for a fortnight, every full paying adult can get one free child's ticket, and take another two children at half price, to more than thirty different London shows. Kids Week also offers children the chance to actively involve themselves in theatre, by participating in workshops and attending Q&As.

SOLT's Emma De Souza says: "Whatever your taste, Kids Week guarantees a brilliant experience for the whole family during the summer holidays and we are delighted that this year there is a stunning line-up of more than 30 hit shows. Kids Week encourages you to be adventurous and perhaps go and see something a little bit different to your usual choices. Tickets for popular shows do go fast, so make sure you book early and keep checking the website for all the latest availability".

See www.kidsweek.co.uk for more information.

Martin Freeman and Sophie Thompson are to appear in Bruce Norris's satirical comedy 'Clybourne Park' at the Royal Court later this this summer. Freeman is best known for his turn as Tim in 'The Office' and films like 'Hot Fuzz', of course, but is no stranger to the venue, having appeared in 'Kosher Harry' there back in 2002. Thompson, a Laurence Olivier Award winner, is also well known for her roles in 'Emma', 'Gosford Park' 'Four Weddings' and 'EastEnders'.  They will be joined by a cast including London stage regular Lucian Msamati.

Old Vic director Kevin Spacey has announced events for the venue's new season, and included in the line up is Richard Eyre's first project there since 1974. The esteemed director will helm John Mortimer’s version of 'A Flea In Her Ear', which was last staged at the Old Vic in 1966. There will also be a production of Noel Coward's 'Design For Living', and a staging of Terence Rattigan's final play, 'Cause Celebre'. Lined up to appear in the shows are the likes of Lisa Dillon, Tom Burke and Tom Hollander.

Spacey says: "It’s hard to believe that we are now preparing to open our seventh season at The Old Vic. These are three great plays that all rather brilliantly explore the attitudes of their time and offer wonderful roles to actors".

He adds this praise for his sponsors: "I would like to thank Bank of America Merrill Lynch for their support and partnership. These are tough times for corporate sponsorship and I applaud them for stepping up and showing their commitment to the arts and culture".

The likes of Adrian Lester, Samantha Spiro and Daniel Evans are amongst those who will make appearances at the Donmar Warehouse during the venue's events celebrating Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday.

A run of the composer's 1994 musical 'Passion' will be staged at the Donmar in the autumn, but there will also be concert performances of 'Company' and 'Merrily We Roll Along', to take place at the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue with cast members from bygone Donmar productions returning to reprise their roles: Lester will appear in 'Company', whilst Spiro and Evans are in 'Merrily We Roll Along'.

There will also be two 'In Conversation' events, one in which the venue's artistic director Michael Grandage will talk to his predecessor Sam Mendes about Sondheim's works and their relationship with the Donmar, and one featuring the composer himself.

Sondheim says: "My association with the Donmar Warehouse has been a joy from its inception in 1992 with Assassins through its productions of Company, Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods and Pacific Overtures. Our collaborations over the years have been professionally fulfilling and personally gratifying and now I’m honoured and thrilled that they are presenting Passion to help celebrate my 80th birthday. There is no venue, or team of artists, that I would rather have produce the piece".

Ray Meagher, who is most famous for his role as Alf Stewart on 'Home and Away', is to join the cast of the Palace Theatre's 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert' later this year. The actor will assume the role of Bob the mechanic as of 30 September, appearing alongside Don Gallagher, Ben Richards and Oliver Thornton in the show.

The Young Vic has announced its line up for its fortieth anniversary season, which will include the British premiere of 'The Human Comedy', Icelandic company Vesturport's version of 'Faust', plus revivals of Tennessee Williams' 'The Glass Menagerie' and the stage adaptation of DBC Pierre's 'Vernon God Little', originally staged at the venue back in 2007.

Elsewhere, The Young Vic's partnership with English National Opera continues, with a production of Monteverdi's 'The Return Of Ulysses', and French director Patrice Chereau will make his UK debut, helming Jon Fosse play 'I Am The Wind', adapted by Simon Stephens. The venue will also collaborate with children's theatre company Fevered Sleep, who will present 'On Ageing', which is performed by children but intended for an adult audience, and children's show 'And The Rain Falls Down'.

Artistic director David Lan commented on the new season thus: "Big stories. Big emotions. Big ideas from around the world. Our work has never been stronger. Our tickets have never been cheaper. 40 years old and still full of beans".

A painting by JMW Turner has sold at Sotheby's in London for a huge amount of money. The picture has sold for £29.7million in fact, breaking the artist's record at auction. It's silly money, even for a really beautiful painting like this one. The previous record price for a Turner was £20.5m, paide in 2006 for Giudecca, La Donna della Salute and San Giorgio.

According to the auction house, six bidders battled it out for five minutes over 'Modern Rome - Campo Vaccino', helping to take the price of the piece well above its estimate of £12 - £18million. It was apparently purchased by a London dealer for the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

The BBC have confirmed that Christine Bleakley will not return to host 'The One Show' when it begins screening again next week, which I think was already common knowledge, but there you go. Following Adrian Chiles' decision to leave the show (because of Chris Evans' arrival on the scene), the Beeb asked her to remain, but withdrew the offer after she admitted to feeling 'torn' about her future. Last month, it emerged that she was planning to go to ITV to take up a place beside Chiles on GMTV.

The BBC said in a statement:  "Following the BBC's decision to withdraw its offer of an extended contract to Christine Bleakley, we have agreed she will not be returning to The One Show. The BBC would like to take this opportunity to thank Christine for her contribution to the show and to wish her well."

Jason Manford, as announced in May, is to take over on the show from August, and until then, a number of different presenters will stand in. The BBC are currently screen-testing female presenters to work alongside the comedian.

It's emerged that actress and comedian Jennifer Saunders was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump back in October last year, but has now completed her treatment. The 52 year old star has been informed by doctors that she is now in remission. She has not spoken publicly about having the disease, and her spokesperson says she has no plans to.

She had recently been photographed wearing a wig and bandana because of hair loss caused by chemotherapy treatment, but 'went public' by attending Tracey Emin's recent birthday party bare-headed, and revealing her very short hair.

Artist/director Sam Taylor-Wood has given birth to a baby girl, and she and her fiance, actor Aaron Johnson, have named it Wylda Rose. It's the third child for 43 year old Taylor-Wood, who had two daughters with former husband Jay Jopling before their divorce in 2008. But presumably the first for Johnson, he's only 20, after all.

The Stage reports that 'Glee' star Matthew Morrison may appear in a production at the Donmar Warehouse, and is in talks with artistic director Michael Grandage and associate director Rob Ashford about it. The actor's background is in musical theatre, and apparently misses being on stage "more than anything" whilst working in TV.

He told The Stage: "I met with Michael Grandage and Rob Ashford and they gave me a tour of the Donmar. It’s such an amazing space. That is something I might be able to do because the runs are so short. They were just saying, 'Come to us with a project you would want to do'. And so I have some ideas for stuff I have been thinking about".

He added that he would be interested in appearing in a new piece, be it play or musical.

Whoopi Goldberg, who is one of the producers of the West End production of 'Sister Act' at the Palladium, will join the cast of the show on stage for a brief period this summer. It's the actress's West End debut, but she's done lots on Broadway, and as you all surely know, she starred in the original film, so knows the ropes, so to speak. She will replace Sheila Hancock, who has played the role of the Mother Superior since the show opened back in May 2009.

Goldberg will appear from 10 – 31 August.

The Groucho Club is set to mark its 25th anniversary by launching a new award to be presented to  "the most exciting arts maverick of the year". The winner of the Groucho Maverick Award - which will be open to practitioners of any artform, working anywhere in the world – will receive a £10k prize, a lifetime Groucho membership, and a limited edition sculpture. The judging panel, which includes Janet Street-Porter and John Lloyd, will announce the identity of the inaugural recipient on 24 October.

The award winning show 'Black Watch' by Gregory Burke is to return to the Barbican Theatre at the end of this year. The show, which will feature a new cast, will go up on 27 November and run until 22 January next year. The play originally premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006, and commenced its first London run in 2008.

Also planned for the Barbican's autumn season are the British premiere of 'Nearly Ninety', late US choreographer Merce Cunningham's final work, Stephen Petronio's 'I Drink The Air Before Me', and the previously reported anniversary production of 'Les Miserables', which, which opens on 14 Sep.

Jonathan Ross will present a new chat show on ITV following his imminent departure from the BBC. The final instalment of 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' will, as previously reported, be broadcast on 16 July, and feature David Beckham and Jackie Chan.

Ross, who will begin his new ITV show late next year, says: "I am thrilled and excited that after a short break I will be rolling up my sleeves and creating a brand new show for ITV1. I have worked successfully with most of the key figures at the network in the past and cannot wait to get back on screen with a fast, funny and unpredictable new talk show. I do have a little spare time at the beginning of 2011 though, so if England needs a temporary new manager I will consider the post seriously. Thank you".

Hampstead Theatre's new artistic director Edward Hall has announced plans for his first season at the venue, and amongst the highlights are Mike Leigh's return to the venue to direct a revival of his 1979 play 'Ecstasy', which will run from 9 april to 10 March. South African playwright Athol Fugard will also direct his own play, 'The Train Driver', from 4 November – 4 December.

There are a fair number of premieres to look forward to: Enda Walsh's new play, 'Penelope' will have its first London performance at the venue, and Sheila Stephenson's 'Enlightenment' will get a British premiere, whilst new plays by Melly Still and Nina Raine will also feature in the line up.

Speaking about the season, Hall said: "I was bowled over to be given responsibility for Hampstead Theatre which is unquestionably one of the finest theatres in the UK. Since January I have been privileged to meet many leading theatre makers and show them our beautiful and adaptable space, and I've been overjoyed at how many of them have responded positively and have wanted to come and make work for us. Announcing my first season as Artistic Director of Hampstead Theatre is a very special experience. With writers and directors of the calibre we have secured, I'm sure the quality of the work will speak for itself. There really is something for everyone and I look forward to the journey we are now embarking on".