In news that will make any theatre musical fan's heart skip a beat, Arthur Laurents has confirmed that he and Stephen Sondheim have given Barbra Streisand the o.k. to appear in what will be the third film of their classic show GYPSY.

Early days yet but allegedly Warner Brothers are on board.

Has it all been left a bit late?

Ethel Merman was only 51 when she played the iconic role of Rose, the unstoppable stage mother of actress June Havoc and stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. Rosalind Russell was 55 when she played Rose in the unsatisfactory first screen version and Bette Midler was 48 when she played the role in a better made-for-television version.

Streisand will be 69 in April...