MADONNA appears to have outed herself as a fan of The Durrells, after taking over a tiny village made famous by the ITV drama to celebrate her 68th birthday.
After I revealed how Madge had spent the start of her celebrations flying to the monasteries of Meteora in Corfu over the weekend, stunned locals now tell me how she and her entourage descended on Kouramades for a very special party this week.
The tiny community, which has just 180 residents, was one of the locations used on the hit show, which starred Keeley Hawes.
Madge, boyfriend Akeem Morris, her family and entourage booked out tiny taverna Atzaro for a meal, complete with a child choir, who locals told me were specially flown over from Italy to perform.
An onlooker told me: “No one could believe Madonna was coming until she actually turned up.
“The security measures were pretty intense and there was a police presence, as well as Madonna’s security to keep her safe.
“She wanted to visit the central church but they cancelled it because there was quite a crowd gathering. They headed to Atzaro for dinner and that was really special. Singers and a children’s choir from Italy performed as they ate traditional meals.
“Just before midnight, the group started dancing to the Zorba The Greek song and a birthday cake came out. They sang the birthday song three times and then danced until 2am. Once they left, the crowds that had gathered outside started clapping and chanting her name.”
Madonna’s visit to the village has now gone down in folklore — and I’m told the Material Girl superstar lapped up the attention.
“As she drove away, Madonna seemed to love everyone cheering so she popped her hand out and waved a bit like a member of the royal family,” a local added.
Her birthday isn’t the only thing she has to celebrate, as last night it was announced Madonna is the most nominated artist for the 2026 MTV VMAs, taking place on September 27.
She leads the pack with 11, including Video, Artist and Song of the Year for Bring Your Love, while Taylor Swift is just behind with nine nods.
Jesy’s Ben in rooftop rift
JESY NELSON had to play peacekeeper during a night out after boyfriend Ben Davies was caught up in a ruckus.
Onlookers told me the former Little Mix star and her new man were asked to leave the posh Madison rooftop bar in London on Saturday night after it all kicked off.
One told me: “Ben was getting in people’s faces when he was out with Jesy at Madison.
“Something had been said and he didn’t seem to be happy about it. He looked like he was about to get in a fight before all the bouncers swooped in.
“It was all pretty uncomfortable to watch. Jesy was amazing and kept her cool. She was trying to de-escalate the situation and appeared to be keen to get out of there.”
It’s not the best start to their romance. I revealed earlier this month how Jesy had started dating landscape gardener Ben, who counts Towie’s Lydia Bright among his exes.
They were spotted on a night out in London, before being snapped this week holding hands and snogging in the street, inset.
To avoid Ben digging any more publicly embarrassing holes, I think a quiet night in should be their next date.
Ronan abs go down a Storm
RONAN KEATING marked his 11th wedding anniversary to remind all his fans just how hot he is.
He revealed his gym-honed body with this snap on Instagram, posing alongside his equally fit missus Storm.
The Boyzone singer wrote: “We have the most incredible life and it’s all down to you. God I love ya.
“Thank you for loving me through the good and the bad versions of myself. You make me a better human and I thank you for it all.”
Green Day give us Glasto
GREEN DAY want to headline Glastonbury – but insist they have never been asked.
The American band, who have more than enough hits to top the bill, will be celebrating 40 years since they formed next year, so the timing couldn’t be better for organiser Emily Eavis to get on the blower.
Asked if they would like to do it, drummer Tre Cool said: “Yeah. If they ask us. It’s the last great festival we haven’t done.”
They have just released a comedy movie called Nimrods, which is loosely inspired by the band, but insisted a biopic won’t happen until they’re older.
He told NME: “A biopic is more of a retirement plan. We’ll do that when we’re actually old and we’re doing our residencies in Las Vegas or something.”
Spotify is planning Home Run
SPOTIFY has announced a new live music series, Hometown, which will celebrate artists and the places that shaped them.
Next month, Jorja Smith, Nemzzz and Beabadoobee, will return to the communities where their musical journeys began for intimate, one-night-only performances.
Jorja, who releases her new album What Are The Odds this Friday, will play her gig on September 6.
She said: “Walsall is where I first started writing and recording music as a teenager. It’s where my love of music began and the people, experiences and sense of community there continue to influence my creativity today.”
Nemzz will perform in Manchester on September 12, while Beabadoobee is scheduled to play a concert in London on September 17.
Noel: My reunion doubts
NOEL GALLAGHER had reservations about reuniting with brother Liam for their sold-out Oasis tour last year.
In the first trailer for Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger, in cinemas from September 9, Noel said: “I just don’t see myself on stage with Liam. I really don’t want to be going back with the tension. Will it fall apart?”
But Liam, who’d pushed for a reunion for years, made it clear he wanted to get back on board with Noel, saying: “The way it finished, unacceptable. It didn’t sit right with me, man.”
Looking back on their rows, which caused Oasis to split in 2009, Liam said: “We all said s**t we didn’t mean. I feel like I am exorcising demons, getting it all out. The rage. I need to calm the f**k down.”
Before the first show at Cardiff’s Principality stadium last July, Noel added:
“One of the biggest moments of our lives, right?
“I’d forgotten what [Liam] means to people. I certainly wasn’t prepared for the intense outpouring. A sense of what it meant to people. You’ve got a chance to change the narrative of the band.”
Isla’s red-hot
YOU can take it as read . . . Isla Fisher is definitely a fiery redhead.
On the promo trail in New York for new movie Spa Weekend, which is out on Friday, she said: “I’m a real redhead and I feel like I’ve earned the right to be red because I was bullied at school and I had all of the usual stuff that redheads go through.
“I always get mad when people just dye their hair red, I’m like, ‘You don’t know what we went through at school to be redhead!’”
THE WANTED are working on new music – but without half of the original line-up.
Max George and Siva Kaneswaran are writing new material as a duo after Nathan Sykes and Jay McGuiness decided not to return following Tom Parker’s death in 2022.
Siva told Culture Fix: “We’ve been writing for the past few months, so we want to carry on.
“The essence of The Wanted was pop/dance and I think we’re going to lean a bit more towards dance.
“I don’t think that’s a crazy thing to do for us.”