SPEARS REFERENCE TAKEN OUT OF SPAMALOT

A reference to BRITNEY SPEARS has been removed from the musical SPAMALOT following the pop superstar's recent hospitalisation for psychiatric evaluation.

Spamalot creator Eric Idle decided against making fun of Spears in the stage show, which is currently running in London, New York and Las Vegas, in light of the troubled star's mental health problems.

He has replaced Spears' name in the song Diva's Lament to that of stable Spice Girl Victoria Beckham.

He explains, "We don't laugh at sad people. Britney is being tortured to death and we don't want to be on that side."

Idle's decision follows last week's (ends08Feb08) news that Queen guitarist Brian May had ordered all `Britney' references to be removed from hit musical We Will Rock You out of respect for the troubled star.