DR PHIL MCGRAW - MCGRAW SCRAPS SPEARS TV SPECIAL

LATEST: A TV special of DR PHIL MCGRAW's U.S. show focusing on BRITNEY SPEARS' latest troubles has been cancelled, after the pop star's parents pulled out of the programme. The therapist had visited Spears at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last week (03-05Jan08), where she was being held following a stand-off with police at her Beverly Hills mansion when she refused to hand over her boys to ex-husband Kevin Federline after a scheduled visit. And MCGraw planned to discuss the Toxic singer's ongoing personal problems on Tuesday's edition of the show - with her parents Lynne and Jamie as special guests. But Spears' mum and dad cancelled on Sunday (06Jan08) - when the taping was due to take place - and MCGraw has now decided to shelve the idea altogether because of the "intensity" of the situation. In a statement issued to Entertainment Tonight, he says, "As was widely reported this weekend, at the request of concerned family members, I visited Britney Spears in the hospital. The details of that visit will, of course, remain private. "We had planned to tape a 'Dr. Phil Now' show tomorrow, focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney's latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case. Clearly, it is not just Britney's family struggling to find a way to protect adult children who cannot be ordered or compelled to seek help. "Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time. Britney and her family are in our prayers and we ask that they be in yours."