The range is already on sale in the US and will launch in the UK at the Premier Kids trade show in Birmingham at the end of January.

Publicity material for the range says: "The vivid colours and trend-setting design have made Madonna’s The English Roses the hippest line of girl’s clothing on the market."

Rachel Barnes, news editor of fashion trade magazine Drapers, said it was notoriously difficult to break into the UK children’s clothing market.

Commenting on Madonna’s new range, she said: "To create a lucrative brand, she’ll have to pick one look and stick with it.

"The difficulty is that the kids’ market is all about price in the UK. We don’t spend much on kidswear, particularly with the rise of supermarket fashion. So it may do better in Europe than here."

Madonna’s literary debut The English Roses became the fastest-selling children’s picture book of all time in the UK after it went on sale in 2003. The illustrated story about four school girls sold more than 10,000 copies in the UK within a week of hitting stores.

Details of which UK retailers will sell Madonna’s range of children’s clothes and at what price have not yet been released.

Madge to try directing? - Dec 21 2006
She’s been criticised for her latest adoption, but could Madonna be seeking refuge in the world of movies? Only not as an actress this time, but behind the camera?

Rumours are circulating around the web that Madge is planning to follow in the footsteps of hubby Guy Ritchie by directing a film - entitled Blade To The Heart.

Even more amazingly, the film’s subject matter is boxing - it’s centred around a famous fight, already chronicled in the documentary Ring Of Fire, in which Emile Griffith beat opponent Benny "Kid" Paret to a pulp.

After being ridiculed by Paret, an angry Griffith rained blows on his opposite number, putting him in a coma, from which he died 10 days later.

It is remembered for being the first time real-life injuries that resulted in death were seen on television, since the bout was broadcast from Madison Square Garden in New York.

Madonna has yet to confirm or deny the story, but it might well make a few boxing fans very nervous.

After all, while the superstar is known for her physicality, her last cinematic outing was the mega-dud Swept Away, although she didn’t direct it (her husband did).

Madonna teams up with H&M again - Dec 8 2006
After wearing her beloved H&M tracksuit all summer, Madonna has now signed on the dotted line to produce her own line of women’s clothes for the retailer.

Called ’M by Madonna’, the new line will be a collaborative effort between the material mom and H&M’s head of design, Margareta Van Den Bosch, and is set to arrive in stores by March 2007.

"I’ve made no secret of my love for fashion and trends," Madonna in a statement.

"Working with Margareta and H&M was an exciting and new creative challenge for me. I’m really happy with the results and look forward to wearing ’M by Madonna’ along with the rest of the world."

H&M, which is Europe’s largest fashion retailer, initially provided Madonna and her tour crew with their offstage wardrobe during her recent Confessions Tour.