While Katherine may be quite happy to chat away to the press, lovers of that other huge US hit, 'House, MD', don't get to see so many interviews with star Hugh Laurie, since the actor positively loathes giving interviews.

Not at all keen to grab that Hollywood spotlight and train it on himself, Laurie actually likens being interviewed to "putting your testicles on a chopping board", which, clearly is not a very fun thing to do.

"Obviously you are in a very vulnerable position [being interviewed]," says Hugh. "You are putting your testicles on a chopping board. I get anxious about a lot of things, that's the trouble. I get anxious about everything. I just can't stop thinking about things all the time. And here's the really destructive part — it's always retrospective. I waste time thinking of what I should have said or done. I can't bear going through the same f...ing dance of despair."

At least he has a starring part in one of the very best shows on television to despair about.

Nicole Richie is despairing a little herself, despite her shiny new baby and rockin' fiancé, Joel Madden. That's because Joel's turned down Nic's request to join him on tour with his band Good Charlotte.

"Nicole begged Joel to let her tag along, but he refused to put the baby through that much travelling," claims an insider. "He thinks a rock tour is no place for a newborn and has put his foot down." A rock tour no place for a newborn baby? These celebs clearly have their priorities all messed up. I mean, if Nicole can't go with him then how is she going to stop her BFF, or, um, enemy, Paris Hilton from doing horrifying things with the Madden boys while the heiress is on tour with them?

Says another source: "The thought of Paris on the road influencing Joel makes her skin crawl. Nicole doesn't trust Paris as far as she can throw her. Nicole says if Paris can go, she can go. If anyone, including Joel and Paris, thinks Nicole will just sit back in L.A. alone for a month and accept this situation, they've got another thing coming."

The shameless, evil former/current best friend, dating the wannabe-starlet's fiancé's brother goes on a wild tour with the band to turn the rockers against the heart-warming new mum who's back home with darling baby, having been reformed by her (admittedly super-brief) stint in prison ... I can just see the crappy Sunday-afternoon made-for-TV movie now.

More celeb charmers and star chumps — in next week's Bitch and Famous!