EDDIE MARSAN is to play Harry Redknapp in a film about one of football’s most incredible stories, I can reveal.
The actor, a Spurs fan, will put his allegenices to one side when he takes on the role of the West Ham favourite when he was their assistant boss in 1994.
The film by Sir Ridley Scott re-tells the moment Harry actually invited a loudmouth Hammers fan to play up front for the Premier League outfit after hurling abuse at players from the stands — and he went on to score.
Eddie plays gaffer Harry in Halftime Hero, alongside Anson Boon as angry fan Steve Davies.
West Ham were struggling against non-league Oxford City in the pre-season friendly when Steve was told to put on a kit and prove he could do better . . . and did.
A source said: “Eddie has been cast as Harry in Halftime Hero and will be filming his scenes in the coming weeks.
“As a huge football fan, Eddie knows this tale well and to take on such a prominent part in a film about such a huge moment in the game is hugely exciting for him.”
Like me, Sherlock Holmes actor Eddie is a Tottenham fanatic, so it will be a dream role to play Harry, who went on to manage Spurs years later.
It’s just a shame he’s going to have to wear a West Ham coaching kit to do it.
I revealed last month that Ridley’s production company was working on the film about Harry’s famous game, which has become part of football folklore.
Steve could be heard heckling striker Lee Chapman and repeatedly branded him a “donkey” for his poor performance.
Harry went into the stands and got him to play, with Steve going on to score and helping West Ham to a 4-0 win.
The historic moment was never caught on camera, so now Anson, Eddie and Ellie Bamber — who plays Steve’s girlfriend — are bringing it to life.
Harry has spoken fondly about the wild episode over the years, admitting he told the stadium announcer that he was bringing on a “great Bulgarian” called “Tittyshev”.
Steve previously said: “It was the greatest moment of my life.
“After that, I was exhausted.
“I was on 30 cigarettes a day back then.
“I had a couple of cigs and a couple of beers in the first half.”
Good on you, Steve.
Me, I’m Jase relaxing
TAKE THAT have just finished their hit Circus Tour, but there’s been no clowning around for former member Jason Orange.
The ex-boybander, who quit the group in 2014 to lead a quieter life, was seen enjoying a peaceful afternoon in a park in Cheshire on Monday.
He now has a successful property portfolio and has declined offers to rejoin the group.
And judging by how zen he looks here, I can’t say I blame him.
LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK is feathering her nest with a few quid from her fans by becoming a mumfluencer as she prepares to give birth to her third child.
The Little Mix star has started a page where fans can subscribe for £5 a month for “behind the scenes content” and a “private community” to find out what’s going on with her pregnancy.
Announcing the move, Leigh-Anne said: “I’m excited to announce I’ve started a Patreon to share more of my pregnancy, bump updates, everyday life and all of the things in between as I prepare to be a mum of three.
“This is going to be a complete safe space to be open and honest, share advice and give you a little more insight into life right now.”
Leigh-Anne, who will perform at Brighton Pride on Saturday, already has twin daughters with her footballer husband Andre Gray.
Kaia and Homer channel parents
KAIA GERBER and Homer Gere looked like proper Hollywood stars at the premiere of new Disney+ thriller series The Shards – maybe because of their A-lister parents.
Kaia’s supermodel mum Cindy Crawford wed Homer’s old man, Richard Gere in 1991, although the golden couple divorced four years later and went on to have kids with new partners.
Now, their actor offspring are appearing opposite each other in the Shards, which launches next week.
Speaking on the red carpet, Kaia said of Homer: “I’d never met him but I was really, really excited to meet Homer and he’s such a wonderful actor, my god.
“This is his second thing he ever did and he has this confidence and charisma – he’s so magnetic to watch.
“He made my job much easier because of how talented he is.”
Looking forward to tuning in.
Niall hits the clubs
IT’S tee time for golf nut Niall Horan ahead of his Dinner Party Live Tour.
The ex-One Direction singer hit the greens at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire before the AIG Women’s Open this weekend.
He will soon be heading out on the road, kicking off his tour at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on September 22.
But the long spells playing shows across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America until next May won’t stop him hitting the greens.
He said earlier this year: “It’s Niall’s golf tour with music, especially in the States.
“Florida is great.
“There’s so much good golf in Florida, and we’ll hit random places in Ohio.
“If we do 30-something shows, I’ll try to get in ten rounds.”
TULISA HAS MAXED OUT ON LOVE
TULISA’s romance with medicinal cannabis kingpin and influencer Maximillian White has gone up in smoke, it seems.
One of my pals has spotted the N Dubz singer back on celebrity dating app Raya.
I told you last autumn that the pair had started dating.
But on Raya, the former X Factor judge has listed her occupation as “singer/investor/author” while her bio simply says, “Lara Croft”.
As for her interests, she’s into, “Music, fitness, deep belly laughs, cheeky bottle of red, all things weird and wonderful.”
Sounds like a fun time to me.
Harry Potter actor Tom Felton and Kingsman star Taron Egerton have both been spotted on the exclusive app, so she has her pick of handsome fellas.
Mel C met her husband Chris Dingwall on Raya, and Lily Allen found her now-ex David Harbour on there too, although the less said about that, the better.
Tulisa was also on there before meeting billionaire Maximillian but insisted she was a “spectator” and said: “I never like or message anyone first . . . just letting you know.
“I’ve only gone on one date from there, and that was because of a recent rebound.”
Live a little, Tulisa.
ELLIE MUSIC OF LOVE FOR HER BEAU
IT has been dubbed her “divorce album” but Ellie Goulding’s new record will feature at least one song about falling head over heels for her new beau, called, err, Beau.
I first revealed their romance last July when I told how she had jetted off to Italy with actor Beau Minniear, when they stayed at the Four Seasons in Florence together.
Now Ellie, who gave birth to their daughter Iris in March, has written a song about how she was swept off her feet by him during the trip to that very hotel.
On the track, titled 4 Seasons, she sings: “Daydreaming, faint feelings, f**k around at the Four Seasons. I think that I might be falling in love with you.
“I need it, wanna keep it. We mess around, put the damn key in. I think that I might be falling in love.”
The song will be on her sixth album, I Know Too Much, which will be released on September 4.
And from what I’ve heard so far, it’s going to be another brilliant record.
PRINCE’s cult movie Purple Rain is being adapted for the stage and will debut on Broadway next March.
The hit film was accompanied by Prince’s album and song of the same name, with the projects being released in 1984.
The news of the stage musical was announced on the 42nd anniversary of its release and will launch next spring.
ARIANA SUES SONG HACKERS
ARIANA GRANDE has understandably seen red and filed a lawsuit against hackers who leaked unreleased tunes.
The Thank U, Next singer has alleged that two unidentified hackers broke into devices from people she had worked with to get songs and footage of her which was sold for “significant sums of money” on the dark web.
Legal papers have been lodged in Los Angeles to try and unmask those responsible.
The documents claim: “In 2023 alone, 45 unreleased songs belonging to Ms Grande were hacked, stolen, and leaked.
“Since her music debut in 2011, hundreds of similar leaks have taken place.”
And it sounds like Ariana, whose new album Petal will be out on Friday, won’t stop pursuing them until they’re in prison.