X Factor judge, prized Australian export and Jedward hater Dannii Minogue has announced that she is expecting her first child with rugby player Kris Smith. And how did she announce the news? Via Twitter of course, the natural mode of communication for anyone wishing to share their blessed, private and intimate news….

Hmm. Quite.

Sister Kylie took time out from her serial dating of beautiful French actors to send her congratulations – a bouquet? A hand written note? A camp-as-Christmas disco song in homage to her sister’s fertilitiy? Nope..another Tweet,

”Congratulations to my sister Dannii and her partner Kris on the happy news!!!! I am so excited to be an Aunty again!! WOW WOW WOW!! xxx’

Of course, the rumour mill has been churning out speculation over Dannii’s biological clock for sometime – afterall, she did have the guile to be 38, in a long term relationship and a woman, without a child! Add to that her tendency to wear tight fitting T-shirts after eating a bowl of pasta – and the reams of column inches dedicated to her reproductive capabilities are wholly justified.

Ms. Minogue is not the first celebrity this week to use Twitter as the modern day equivalent of leaving a Clear Blue pregnany test in full view of hordes of paparazzi to confirm/rebuke pregnany rumours…Katy Perry and lothario Russell Brand have also been inconspicuously (yeah) exchanging hilarious quips about their alleged foray into parenthood;

A few days earlier, Katy wrote on Brand’s page: ‘Hey @rustyrockets (Brand’s Twitter name) I heard ur prego-ed.’

And just to make it clear that the legions of gossip columnists (not this one, of course..) were feeding their eager audiences misinformation, Ms. Perry made it her mission to be photographed at uber-shutter speed as she paraded around Los Angeles in a (flat) stomach revealing t-shirt. Point made, you’re practising safe sex.