The Germans have a word for taking joy at someone else’s misfortune, it’s ‘schadenfreude’ and it’s a mean, low down thing to feel.

So, when we tell you that such folk as feisty rocklette, Amy Winehouse, pop-chanteuse, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, rock rapscallion, Liam Oasis, and comic performer, Russel Brand are liable for tax bills of up to £6,000 for the £15,000 goodie bags they picked up at the recent mega-snorer Brit Awards, we do not expect you to guffaw.

Included in the bags - among the perfume, clothing and other such fripperies – was the good old Nintendo Wii.

A fun-loving representative of the Inland Revenue commented, "Gifts can be taxable if they are given on condition of the recipient's profession or work. So if the Brits gifts were only given to presenters and performers, then they will have to pay tax on them."

Apparently last night’s Academy Awards organisers withdrew such fun, sorry, goody-bags in advance.

It's not all bad news for the Brit attendees though, think of the tax bill had there been a PS3 in the bag!
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