BEN AFFLECK - AFFLECK PLAYS POKER DURING HOSTING DUTIES

BEN AFFLECK decided to indulge in his favourite pastime when he co-hosted American chat show LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY this morning (22MAR04) - by playing Poker.

The Hollywood heart-throb walked onto the show's New York set holding host REGIS PHILBIN's hand and trying to calm his hordes of screaming female fans in the audience.

Affleck laughed, "It's like (MTV show) TRL in here!"

After exchanging baseball jibes with Philbin, Affleck challenged his co-host to a live game of Poker - which Philbin won.

Affleck, who recently split from his GIGLI co-star JENNIFER LOPEZ, danced with eight-year-old sitcom actor BOBB'E THOMPSON and helped preside over a turkey gobbling session during his appearance.

He also promoted his movie JERSEY GIRL at the end of the show, where he declared the film to be his and director pal KEVIN SMITH's best piece of work to date.