Just as the Spanish version of the series is about to start filming, he has returned to open his first shop in his own country, in Madrid. Another retail outlet will open shortly in Barcelona.The opening in September, attended by Madrid's fashionistas and famosos, became a news item, such is the designer's fame by now in Spain. She says it will only be loosely modelled on the original, which focused on the lives of the sexually gregarious PR Samantha, the demure art dealer Charlotte and the sardonic lawyer Miranda.The original series, which was a success in Spain, put Manolo Blahnik's shoes on the fashion map in his own country. A darling of la prensa rosa, Spain's tabloid press, Ms Obregon is as well known for her turbulent love life as for her acting.The only other actress so far named for the programme, which is due to start filming next year, is Beatriz Rico, 28, whose latest film was the Spanish-made El Desenlace [The Outcome].Ms Obregon, also thought to be directing the series, has denied it will be a direct copy of the American version, which was based on a newspaper column by Candace Bushnell. David Beckham trains there with his fellow footballers from Real Madrid.Sexo en La Moraleja will feature a former nude model and television actress, Ana Obregon, 50, as the Spanish version of Carrie Bradshaw, the diary-obsessed writer played by Sarah Jessica Parker. But, instead of providing a showcase for the shoes of the Spanish designer Manolo Blahnik, who became a household name thanks to the American series, Sexo en La Moraleja will take as its stylistic reference point the clothes of the Italian designers Dolce and Gabbana. The Spanish show will be based on four women who live in La Moraleja, one of the most exclusive parts of Madrid, which is said to boast more famosos per square inch than any other part of Spain.

Mr Stoiber's decision to abandon his intention to become economics minister is seen as a direct result of Mr M?fering's resignation.. Sex and the City, the television series chronicling the lives and loves of Carrie Bradshaw and her girlfriends Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda in Manhattan is being remade as a Spanish television series. Mr M?fering, a close ally of the departing Chancellor, Gerhard Schr?, who also worked well with Mr Stoiber, was regarded as the linchpin of the planned coalition. Earlier, he had said he was not sure whether he wanted either of the jobs.Mathias Platzeck and Kurt Beck, the Social Democrat prime ministers of Brandenburg and Rheinland-Pfalz, were tipped as candidates to replace Mr M?fering as leader.The conservative Christian Democrats headed by Angela Merkel, the Chancellor-designate, were obliged to begin talks with the Social Democrats after neither party obtained a big enough majority to govern in the inconclusive general election on 18 September.The talks are at a crucial stage with both camps under pressure to reach a consensus on future policy before a deadline of 12 November. Whether there will be a grand coalition at all is now a completely open question." Gernot Erler, the deputy Social Democrat leader, said: "The whole idea of our two parties co-operating to form a government is under examination."The urgency of the situation was underscored by unconfirmed reports that Germany's conservatives had already all but abandoned the idea of forming a grand coalition with the Social Democrats and were considering 26 March next year as the earliest date for a new general election.In an attempt to rescue the situation, Mr M?fering said yesterday that, despite his resignation as Social Democrat leader, he wanted to stay on as prospective vice-chancellor and labour minister in the planned grand coalition. His announcement came less than a day after Franz M?fering, the Social Democrat party leader, said that he would resign his post after his party's leadership snubbed him by electing a left-wing rival, Andrea Nahles, 35, to the important job of party general secretary on Monday. The developments have sent shock waves through Germany's political establishment, prompting MPs from both prospective coalition partners to warn that the chances of an alliance between the two parties are now seriously endangered.J?n R?ers, the conservative Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, said: "The situation is extremely grave.

Party leaders warned that Germany's prospective government alliance was on the verge of collapse after a senior conservative abandoned the idea of joining a cabinet in coalition with the Social Democrats. Edmund Stoiber, the right-wing prime minister of Bavaria, who had been earmarked for the job of economics minister, has scrapped plans to take up the post in a future coalition, claiming the bipartisan alliance "lacked stability". I hope that in the last 21 years we have become more international."But he fears for the future as rising art market prices make it harder to keep important works in the UK. "I'm worried about the vast quantities of works of art leaving our shores," he said.He admitted to being a little disappointed that he never got the chance to run the Victoria and Albert Museum or the National Gallery in London, but said: "The pay-off is that I have been able to see through a vision."An internationally acclaimed scholar, Sir Timothy said he had several books to write, including one "odd but erudite" investigation into the relationship between fine and applied arts from 1400 to 1850.He intends to continue living in Scotland, where he took up his post in 1984 having previously run Manchester City Galleries, but will also spend time in Italy.David Barrie, director of the National Art Collections Fund, which is supporting two final acquisitions under Sir Timothy's supervision, said: "In the last 21 years, Sir Timothy Clifford has had an amazing record of achievement in building the collections of the galleries."Choice: 21 Years of Collecting for Scotland, sponsored by GNER and the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland, runs from today until 23 January next year Admission is free.. Of course I've had problems that go with running any big institution but there have been a lot of triumphs and a lot of successes," he said."The National Galleries of Scotland had always been an extremely distinguished but quite modest operation. He had suggested there was a family feud after one Getty supported the British bid to match funds to stop it going to the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.Despite some failures, such as not securing any works by Michelangelo for Scotland, his legendary charm and networking skills have secured gifts and donations that have helped make the galleries institutions of international stature."I've had a wonderful time.