LESS MONEY BLUES

It might be fair comment to say that Britney Spears didn't have the best of years in 2007, and 2008 hasn't looked a great deal better. The people at InTouch magazine have put their accounting heads on (by hiring an accountant who has absolutely no access to the singer's private financial information) and worked out exactly how much Britney's poor mental performance over the last year has cost her.

Since she shaved her head in February 2007 Britney has lost a potential $61m in earnings. You see, if they'd just said it was $60m then it would have looked like a guess, but $61m means they really HAVE worked it out, and probably to the cent.

Naturally, Britney has been spending rather more on legal fees and mental health treatment than in previous years, none of which helps the profit and loss account, but it's the lack of live shows that has really put a hole in her finances. The magazine reckons (and it's not just plucking a figure out of the air) that by failing to tour her 'Blackout' album the singer lost about $50m in revenue.

She still isn't short of a few bob, and the situation has improved since Jamie, her money-grabbing father, has taken control of her financial affairs. Now Britney is spending a fifth of what she did last year, so she won't be bankrupt for another year or so at this rate.

I'd love to see a similar study on Kerry Katona, working out how much more she would have made if she'd kept her mouth shut. At least another 40 quid, I'd reckon.