Morning:
3°c
Precious is a new-style weepie but one that is much more bracing than depressing
BBC accused of having a 'culture of secrecy' after it refused to reveal how much it pays its top presenters and stars
More...
Oh baby, baby: Britney Spears' sister pregnant at 16
Last updated at 11:49am on 20.12.07Britney Spears' 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn, who stars as a schoolgirl in Nickelodeon's popular US TV show Zoey 101, is pregnant.
Sources say the teen did not tell Britney the news before it was made public in an interview with an American magazine.
Scroll down for more...
Family matters: Britney Spears' younger sisiter Jamie Lynn is pregnant at 16
A Britney friend said: "This is going to kill her. In the end, she'll be supportive, but this is a big shock."
A high school student who lives in Louisiana, Jamie Lynn Spears reportedly met the father, Casey Aldridge, the son of a Tennessee papermill worker, at church.
Jamie Lynn told the US edition of OK! magazine: "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected. I was in complete and total shock and so was he.
Scroll down for more...
Parents in waiting: Jamie Lynn with her boyfriend Casey Aldridge
"Only one of my friends knew because I needed to work out what I would do for myself before I let anyone's opinion affect my decision. Then I told my parents and my friends. I was scared, but I had to do what was right for me."
Mother load: the news came as a shock to Jamie Lynn's sister Britney
Lynne was set to pen a parenting book about raising her famous daughters, but it has now been put on hold indefinately.
Meanwhile, Nickelodeon said in a statement: "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."
Her big sister, Britney may not be the best source of parenting advice.
The 26-year-old pop star lost primary custody of her two sons, aged 2 and 1, to ex-husband Kevin Federline after their divorce last year and is engaged in a bitter custody battle that has shone a harsh spotlight on her maternal shortcomings.
Zoey 101, which wrapped production on its fourth and final season in September, revolves around a headstrong student at a co-ed boarding school in California.
Reader views (9)
I think that its good that she is having a baby but you need to think again about all the little kids that watches Jamie Lynn Spears's show. She was setting a good exmaple for the children but look again. She is pregnant and the kids that are her age will think that it is alright to have a child that young. She does not know what she is getting herself into.
- Samantha Rolf, Minnesota
In this day and age, it's a showbiz career move for a 16 year-old...
- Nancy S, Huntington Beach, CA
"so unexpected" er, um, er sex without a condom or contraceptive pill...how magnificently stupid.
- Peter Bench, London
Well, she can kiss that sweet contract with Nickelodeon goodbye. Anyone remember that movie Idiocracy, where all the all the thick white trash people take over the planet because they have more babies? The writer of that must be having a good old laugh right now.
- K, London
Good luck Jamie and well done for keeping the baby, please don't behave like your troubled sister, be a good mum.
- Brian, Wiltshire
So much for church!
- Bruce, London, UK
More poor white trash on the planet...
- Suzanne, Surrey
I'm sure Britney will make sure that her sister is okay, the least she can do is buy her sister a trailer to live in.
- Pete Ikey, London
Have the parents got no control of their children...
- Hs, London
