It has been a year of local sex scandals, sudden deaths, bad judgments and musical surprises. A fitting way, it seems, to end the "noughties".

We pick the top nine celebrity shocks of 2009.

Roman Polanski

The shock wasn't that Roman Polanski had had sex with a 13-year-old girl ? we'd known about that for 30-odd years. The shock was that after 30-odd years, Polanski was nabbed by over-zealous Swiss authorities at a film festival where he was preparing to collect a lifetime achievement award. Talk about raining on your parade! He was in a Swiss jail from September, and is now under house arrest at his luxury villa in Switzerland. His lawyers are trying to avoid extradition to the United States, and are seeking to have his charges dropped. Even the victim, now in her 40s, has claimed she just wants him to be left alone. Let it go, already.

Miley Cyrus

You can't really pick one Miley Cyrus moment, can you? The 'Hannah Montana' star who ? whether she wants to be or not ? is a role model for millions of pre-teens across the world, has apparently tried very hard to shed her squeaky-clean image. In February she was photographed making "slanty-eyes" and apparently mocking Asians. She dated a much older underwear model, yet more scandalous (read: sexy) photographs of the 16-year-old emerged, she quit Twitter (gasp!) and at this year's Teen Choice Awards she raised eyebrows by cavorting around the pole on an ice-cream cart. No surprises then that she was voted as the "Worst Celebrity Influence" earlier this year. Meanwhile, Disney has signed her up for a fourth season of 'Hannah Montana'. Apparently sex does sell ? to everyone.

Susan Boyle

One of the biggest surprises in history. Recall the scene ? a frumpy, cocky Scottish spinster stands up on stage and declares that she wants to be the next Elaine Page. The 'Britain's Got Talent' judges (and the entire audience) smirked and laughed openly in the face of her dream. And then Susan Boyle opened her mouth to sing 'I Dreamed a Dream' and the entire audience went absolutely crazy. She became a YouTube hit and has made a number of appearances on television shows across the globe. Although she didn't win the reality talent show, she has since released her album 'I Dreamed a Dream', which smashed pre-order records and shot straight to the top of the charts across the world. A phenomenal talent that flies in the face of the processed 'American Idol' generation. Good on ya, Susan. Live the dream.