BIRTHDAYS
Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE, British playwright, 80; Bill Bryden CBE, Greenock-born theatre director and writer, 77; Claire Danes, US actress, 40; Shannen Doherty, US actress, 48; Andy Garcia, actor, 63; Herbie Hancock, US jazz pianist, 79; Brian Mcfadden, pop singer (Westlife), 39; Saoirse Ronan, actress, 25