Barbie dumps Ken

First it was Jude Law and Sadie Frost, then J-Lo and Ben Affleck. Now, the romance is over for Barbie and Ken.

After 43 years as one of the world's best-known celebrity couples, the plastic duo are on the verge of breaking up. A cool Australian surfer doll named Blaine was being blamed for the split yesterday.

Blaine was attracted by Barbie's latest incarnation as a hippy-chick California girl, according to rumours. He apparently fell for her new look of board shorts and bikini top, hoop earrings and a deeper tan.

However, Barbie's spokesman Russell Arons denied a third party had come between her and her lover. He hinted that the separation was due to Ken's reluctance to get married.

'All those bridal Barbie dolls in toy chests around the globe are just examples of Barbie's wishful thinking,' said Mr Arons, vice-president of marketing for toy maker Mattel. 'Like other celebrity couples, their Hollywood romance has come to an end.'

The doll 'born' Barbie Millicent Roberts in 1959 has been everything from a rock star to military medic. She met Ken on the set of a TV advert in 1961.