Lowdown

Publicist to the stars Hope van der Boom, briefs Alex before he interviews actor, sex-symbol and family man Oliver Barry. The interview is awkward and uncomfortable, despite the fact that Alex and Oliver share a birthday.

Temperamental tennis star Mitch "Zirco" Zicopoulos has pulled out from a warm-up tournament citing a sore finger, leaving 20,000 fans out of pocket. Alex's editor is convinced Zirco is faking his injury and sends Alex and Bob to find the truth.

When plagiarising popstar Sofia Corelli is assaulted on the eve of her Melbourne tour, Alex suspects that the renowned torch singer Abi Hart has something to do with it. After all, Sofia has totally ripped-off Abi's sound and look.

It's late Saturday night, and the editor is thrilled to hear via the police scanner that prominent businessman Jack Cooper has been busted drink driving. A reluctant Alex, with Bob and Rita in tow, heads to Cooper's Toorak home for a foot-in-door interview.

Australia's number one golfer Mike Lavish arrives in town to promote his new golf DVD game. Armed with video evidence of Lavish taking an alleged air-swing at the Australian Masters, Alex confronts Lavish at a press conference and is quickly ejected by a "hormonal" Hope Van der Boom.

Alex is heavied into writing a puff piece on underworld crime boss Tony Marino and drags Bob along to take the pics. Blindfolded, they are taken to meet Tony at a seedy hotel.

Project Starsearch finalist Joss Miller has absconded from the show's compound, jeopardising the multi-million dollar TV final. The editor offers $10,000 of his own money to the first journalist able to locate Joss and get the story – the Sunday Sun's future depends on it.