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They need to step off," she told the Yo on E! For real. Let's go save her." Madonna, 49, said her daughter, Lourdes, 11, feels the same way. She knows Britney, (but) she doesn't really watch TV or read gossip stuff," the pop star said in the interview. I think she sort of gets the drift of what's going on, and I think she feels very protective of Britney." As for speculation that her marriage is on the rocks, Madonna said: "It is ridiculous.. I don't pay much attention to it."

HOLLYWOOD STARS' DONATIONS HELP DARFUR Money from Europe and a charity co-founded by Hollywood actors George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle will help maintain humanitarian flights in Darfur through April, the United Nations said yesterday. The $6 million donated by Ireland, the European Union and the Clooney-backed Not On Our Watch will allow the U.N.'

World Food Programme to hire helicopters and aircraft to ferry aid workers to Sudan's war-torn region for 30 days. COOPER PLANS OCTOBER LONDON CONCERT Legendary U.S. Alice Cooper returns to London in time for Halloween 2008. Cooper plays Centennial Hall on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m.

It's being billed as Cooper's 40th anniversary in Canada, dating back to 1968 when promoter Don Jones first brought him to the old Wonderland Gardens. Tickets are $61.50 plus charges. They go on sale Friday. THROAT INFECTION CAUSES DION CANCELLATION Canadian singer Celine Dion has postponed a series of Australian concerts as part of her world tour due to a throat infection, her publicists said yesterday. Dion is in Australia as part of her first world tour in 10 years, with concerts set for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

MCKELLEN HOPING TO REPRISE GANDALF ROLE Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf the Wizard in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is hoping to reprise the role in another tale from Middle Earth. A fan asked McKellen on the actor's official website if he would play the role of Gandalf in The Hobbit, which is being produced by Peter Jackson, director of the Rings trilogy.

KAIN QUITTING AS CHAIR OF CANADA COUNCIL Karen Kain is leaving the chair of the Canada Council to devote herself to her full-time job as artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada. The 57-year-old dancer said she felt she could no longer handle both positions. Kain danced with the National Ballet for 28 years.

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