Number 5: Lindsay Lohan’s DUIs

Lindsay started the year in a rehab programme - at Wonderlands in LA - but as winter turned to spring, it became quite clear she hadn’t changed her partying ways. Still though, it was a bit of a surprise when she was arrested for the DUI over Memorial Day weekend at the end of May - she’d had a few driving run-ins before so it seemed surprising that she’d risk it. She checked straight into rehab again - Promises in Malibu this time - but shortly after finishing treatment in July, she was arrested again after a crazy car chase through Beverly Hills. Seriously, pigeons learn faster than her.

Number 4: Owen Wilson’s attempted suicide

While Lindsay’s DUIs were surprising in a “duh…” way, Owen’s apparent suicide attempt was surprising in a sad and shocking way. There were rumours of drug problems and that he may have been a little too fun-loving for his own good but unlike some other celebrities who seem to be constantly on the edge of a breakdown, he seemed pretty together. It’s upsetting that it had to come to a head like that but hopefully now he’s received - and is still receiving - the help and support he needs to get on top of things again.

Number 3: Anna Nicole Smith’s death

Anna Nicole was one of the constantly on the edge celebrities referred to above - her life had always been a tabloid-friendly rollercoaster but it had gone up a gear or three when her son died and the custody battle over daughter Dannielynn started at the end of 2006. Still, it was shocking to her of her sudden death in February - to outside observers, her life seemed that much of a soap opera that it would be impossible to imagine something happening to her without a full storyline as a build-up. Because of the suddenness, people were quick to point the finger towards murder or suicide but the official verdict was accidental overdose.

Number 2: Paris Hilton ACTUALLY going to jail

After years of celebrities getting away with suspended sentences or probation’n'education after DUIs, it was truly surreal to watch Paris Hilton, the epitome of the pampered socialite princess caricature, actually heading into jail - and staying there for more than 84 minutes - at the start of June. We weren’t surprised when she was released to house arrest after three days in the county jail but then were shocked when she was sent back again because that seemed just cruel (the Sheriff’s department shouldn’t have got her hopes up if they couldn’t defend them). In the end, she only served 23 days of her 45 day sentence - but that’s 22days and 22.5hours more than the prison time enjoyed by many of her DUI-charged contemporaries.

Number 1: Britney Spears shaving her head

I don’t think we really need to explain this one, do we? Just wow. We’d had a few months of her doing strange - often clothing-related things - and she was on the verge of going into rehab but still. Even now, after a year of her weird behaviour, it still seems completely bizarre that she’d do it and I have difficulty comprehending it. She truly upped the ante for what she - and other celebrities - have to do to truly surprise us these days — and I’m not sure that’s a good thing.