He’s one of the music industry’s richest and most influential figures.

So why on earth Simon Cowell would want, or need, to sneak a bottle of beer into a restaurant is a bit of a mystery…

But one of the 50-year-old X Factor judge’s security team did exactly that during a post-Bafta evening out at Mr Chows with Jackie St Claire and fellow judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden. In pictures taken Sunday night, when Cowell paid a visit to the Knightsbridge eatery, one of his minders was seen walking in with two bottles of the well-known Sapporo brand of Japanese beer. The 4.7% beer would have been the perfect accompaniment to the Oriental dishes served up at the famous restaurant, which also has outlets in Beverly Hills, Miami and New York.

However, the mystery behind the great beer-smuggling operation has an explanation. Simon prefers the yeast-free beer, and keeps a crate of it in his car at all times, so that he can take it with him when he dines out. He took a food intolerance test last year and discovered brewer’s yeast makes him sluggish. Jackie looked great in a flowing silk gown, while Cowell cut a dash in his trademark ensemble of suit and shirt, minus a tie. Simon would have been in a jubilant mood following his double-Bafta win at the awards show. He not only picked up an award for Best Entertainment Programme, but was also handed a special award for Outstanding Contribution.

— Daily Mail

Lindsay Lohan strips to her underwear for beach shoot… but the boots stay on

Posing for a photoshoot on Malibu beach, Lindsay Lohan wore nothing but her white woolen underwear — and a pair of cosy sheepskin boots.

It seemed that while the actress had no concerns about showing off her flesh, her alcohol-monitoring SCRAM anklet wasn’t quite the look the photographer was going for. Lindsay will have to wear the anklet, which monitors the alcohol excreted through the skin, until the judge is satisfied that she is abstaining from drinking.

Luckily the boots hid the black band, while Lindsay posed with a bow and arrow for acclaimed photographer Ellen Von Unweth. Lindsay is not due back in court until July 6 so will be wearing her anklet for at least two months. She also has to undergo weekly drug tests.

— Daily Mail

Mel B takes her brood shopping in Los Angeles while filming new reality TV series

It was a family affair for Mel B as she and husband Stephen Belafonte took their brood shopping in Los Angeles. Mel and her eldest daughter Phoenix Chi, 11, tried on clothes in trendy boutique Kitson Kids, which was filmed as part of a new reality TV series called The Mel B Project.

Phoenix was pictured on the shop floor trying on a pleated navy dress over her clothes. Mother and daughter left the store in matching yellow, although while Mel wore a flowing maxidress, Phoenix rocked a more tomboyish look in yellow shirt, shorts and pink and white trainers. Outside the shop, Mel and Phoenix were joined by Belafonte and Angel Iris Murphy Brown, whose biological father is Eddie Murphy. The former Spice Girl and Murphy are said to be on better terms after Murphy recently admitted Angel was his daughter.

— Daily Mail