DICK CLARK TO REMAIN IN HOSPITAL OVER CHRISTMAS

American TV personality DICK CLARK is to spend the Christmas holidays in hospital where he's recovering from a mild stroke.

Clark, who suffered the stroke on 6 December (04) is out of the intensive care unit and "doing some rehab", says publicist PAUL SHEFRIN, who adds the star could still be in hospital on New Year's Eve.

Shefrin says, "The doctors have told him how thrilled they are with his progress. His brain is 100 per cent there.

"It's been overwhelming in terms of support and well wishes. There are hundreds, probably thousands, with the magic of email. He's going to have an awful lot of thank-you cards to write."

Doctors have yet to give Clark, 75, a release date.

REGIS PHILBIN will fill in for the star, hosting DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE 2005 on 31 December (04) from New York's Times Square. Singer ASHLEE SIMPSON will host the West Coast part of the show.