Morning:
20°c
Johnny Depp has become, in his young middle age, like a star of the movies’ golden period
Secret deal hatched by News of the World to hush up details of phone-tapping was sealed in a tiny room at the Royal Courts of Justice
More...
Osbournes' party guests descend on Hamleys
Last updated at 16:37pm on 20.12.06
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne: Asked their celebrity guests to bring presents to be donated to children's charities
Maybe there's another reason why Hamleys is running out of presents - all the best toys have been bought by celebrities invited to the Osbourne's Christmas party.
David Walliams, Sir Elton John and Cilla Black, Paul O'Grady and Avid Merrion were all among guests asked to bring presents to be donated to children's charities at the end of a Christmas party thrown by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne in Knightsbridge.
See pictures of the Osbournes celebrity guests here...
• Gallery: The Osbournes Christmas Party
As with any Christmas, some people were better present pickers than others. Impersonator John Culshaw brought a radio-controlled Doctor Who Dalek and a Cyberman voice changer.
Eighties pop singer Sinitta carried a clutch bag in one hand and a colouring set in the other, while O'Grady chose a slightly scary looking doll.
Pneumatic glamour model Michelle Marsh braved the cold in the flimsiest cocktail dress carrying a bag full of Disney dolls.
But Sharon's fellow X Factor judge Simon Cowell, who arrived with girlfriend Terri Seymour, must have misread the invitation.
Perhaps showing his unfamiliarity with the tastes of young children, he chose a set of glasses from Lalique, makers of fine cut crystal.
The party was held at Searcy's House, a private club 50 metres from Harrods, which was obviously convenient for some guests, such was the number of Harrods bags on show.
One source at the store said: "There was a sudden flurry of activity in the evening. We had a series of famous people like Louis Walsh and John Culshaw coming through buying up presents."
Sharon Osbourne nominated several children's charities, which were given the toys at the end of the evening.
Staff from Searcy's House were laden down as they piled the gifts into vans.
Hamleys has been hit by a toy shortage this Christmas after an internet blunder sold goods for a huge discount.
Users of website HotUKDeals.co.uk found a loophole in a voucher scheme which let online shoppers claim cumulative 60 per cent discounts. The rush brought the toystore's website to a standstill.
