Exclusives

ROBBIE Williams will pay tribute to late rocker Ozzy Osbourne at the Brit Awards. 

The singer, 52, will perform a special arrangement of Ozzy’s 1991 track No More Tears alongside some of the Black Sabbath rocker’s former bandmates and musician pals. 

It will celebrate the posthumous Lifetime Achievement award being made to Ozzy, who died in July aged 76, at tomorrow night’s ceremony. 

His wife, Sharon, 73, will be in the audience at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena.

A source said: “Sharon personally asked Robbie to perform the tribute to Ozzy. He is a huge Ozzy fan and has been a friend of the family for decades. 

“For Sharon, Robbie seemed the perfect person to perform this song for him. She has curated the special arrangement for No More Tears. It will be a performance that goes down in the Brits’ history books and will be a very special moment.” 

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A Brits insider added: “Robbie’s performance with some of Ozzy’s closest friends will celebrate his legacy as one of the most influential rock icons of all time. 

“The Brits have a special relationship with Ozzy. He hosted the ceremony with Sharon and his children Jack and Kelly in 2008. 

“This will be an incredibly emotional and fitting way to celebrate the impact he had on not only British music, but globally, too.” 

Others who died in the past year will also be remembered during an In Memoriam segment. They are expected to include Stone Roses bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield. 

Ozzy, who died just five days after after giving his final concert, joins music royalty John Lennon and Freddie Mercury in being posthumously honoured. 

The awards will be hosted by Jack Whitehall and will air on ITV and ITVX from 8.15pm. 

Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Raye, Wolf Alice, Sombr, Alex Warren and Mark Ronson will perform. 

ANT McPartlin says he and co-presenter Declan Donnelly never want to host the Brits again because: “Everybody in the room just wants to get drunk.” 

THE musician and the visual artist . . . two lives shaped by shared experience and creative endeavour. 

Damon Albarn was born on March 23, 1968, and eleven days later, on April 3, his chief collaborator, Jamie Hewlett, came into the world. 

In 1998, after bonding while sharing a flat, they dreamed up virtual band Gorillaz, a vehicle for wild flights of imagination. 

Fronted by cartoon characters 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Russel Hobbs and Noodle, Gorillaz have blurred musical styles, crossed generations and involved numerous nationalities in their songs for more than 25 years. 

“We’re the Alan Whicker of bands,” declares Hewlett, in reference to the globe-trotting broadcaster. 

“More Michael Palin,” interjects Albarn. “He’s nicer and also very funny.” 

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In 2023/24, sad events conspired to take Damon and Jamie in a new direction — to that vibrant, teeming country of 1.4billion people, India.  

The result is the Gorillaz ninth album, The Mountain, with its title inscribed in Devanagari script on the cover. 

Performed in five languages — Hindi, English, Arabic, Spanish and Yoruba — it features a host of stellar guests, most living but some no longer with us. 

The musicians come from different corners of the globe, India, Syria, the US, Argentina, Nigeria, and, of course, the UK. 

Albarn says: “The original impetus came from quite a tragic story. We were in Belgrade finishing off a video when Jamie got a call from Jaipur in India. It was from his wife Emma, saying, ‘My mum’s in a coma’.” 

Hewlett picks up the story: “They had been there for a month at an Ayurvedic retreat (a system focused on balancing mind, body and spirit). 

“They had packed their suitcases, had called a taxi and were just on their way home when my mother-in-law had a stroke.  

“She was rushed to the closest hospital in Jaipur — it’s all about speed when you have a stroke.” 

So on December 4, 2022, Hewlett arranged to fly from Serbia to India and so began “eight weeks of daily hospital visits hoping she might wake up”. 

Sadly, his mother-in-law didn’t make it, leaving Hewlett to reflect: “It was a very traumatic experience but, in between those visits, we were able to explore Jaipur. 

“I just fell in love with the place. The people were so warm and I discovered that the whole subject of death is viewed from a very different perspective.” 

He’s alluding to the fact that Hinduism sees passing away as a natural transition — a temporary pause for the eternal soul rather than a final end. 

Hewlett continues: “When I was in the hospital, people were visiting loved ones who were dying. 

“There were tears but, at the same time, there was a feeling of celebration in the belief that they were coming back in an another form.” 

This got Hewlett thinking about possibilities for Gorillaz, his visual playground. 

“Damon was in touch with me the whole time I was there,” he says. “When I came home, I said to him, ‘We need to go to India together to see if we can do something’. A year later (after Blur’s epic reunion), we were off.” 

Albarn says: “I saw it as the perfect opportunity to give the whole world of Gorillaz a nice, new kickstart. I was just waiting for an excuse to go there.  

“I grew up in Leytonstone where my school was 30/40 per cent Asian. My dad was very into Indian classical music so I was genuinely listening to (sitar player) Ravi Shankar at the same time as The Beatles.” 

Albarn also saw visiting India as a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with Hewlett.  

“We enjoy each other’s company,” he says. “We’ve got an awful lot in common and our taste is very similar.” 

Hewlett nods in agreement and adds: “We thrive on finding ourselves in different cultures — and there’s so much to take from a place like India, even if somewhere as big as that can’t be grappled with immediately.” 

And Albarn again: “The first time you go there, you’re just so bewitched by the place.” 

With their sights set on a Gorillaz album drawing on Indian music, two more devastating events were to bring the pair even closer together — and the project into even sharper relief. 

In July 2024, some time after an initial foray to the subcontinent, Albarn’s dad Keith died. Ten days later, Hewlett lost his father.  

For Albarn, a return to India offered him a degree of solace. He journeyed to the ancient city of Varanasi to scatter his dad’s ashes in the Ganges. Keith had been a respected artist, designer and teacher who loved Indian culture. 

“Grief manifests itself in so many ways,” says Albarn.

“You don’t overcome it but you can learn to accept it and going to Varanasi definitely helped. 

“This place has been inhabited for 5,000 years and it’s where families have burned their loved ones every day, every night, for all that time.  

“The fire rituals are wonderful, so poetic — almost like an inhalation and an exhalation.  

“The idea that people pause at sunset, light fires and sing is so beautiful. Harder to do in northern Europe where cloud can bruise the spirit!” 

Albarn goes on to describe, “something I learned, which is a useful life lesson,” from taking a loved one’s ashes to the Ganges. 

“Don’t stress yourself by thinking too much,” he affirms. “At moments like that, don’t think of anything — empty your mind. 

“Emptiness is a beautiful thing and there’s infinite possibility within it. We mention ‘the void’ a lot on this record.” 

For Albarn, the album’s starting point was his gorgeous melody, which morphed into the title track and opener, The Mountain. He calls it the LP’s “signature tune”.  

The finished piece is blessed with sublime playing by Ajay Prasanna on bansuri, a traditional bamboo flute, with Anoushka Shankar, daughter of the late, great Ravi, on sitar. 

Albarn says: “Once I met Ajay and he’d played his bansuri, I thought, ‘I’m never letting this gentleman out of my sight again’. He’s an amazing person. 

“You give him a melody and he turns it into something godlike.” 

As for the contribution of Anoushka, whose mastery of the sitar echoes the work of her legendary father, he says: “I could hardly imagine the idea that I was going to play with one of the Shankar family.” 

Hewlett says: “If you’ve never been to India, you find yourself mentally transported there just by this song. It’s almost like the beginning of a movie.” 

The Mountain is the first of several tracks to feature the voices of the dear departed, in this case maverick actor and film-maker Dennis Hopper. 

Elsewhere, there are contributions from one-time Gorillaz collaborators who have since died — soul singer Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur of De La Soul, The Fall’s Mark E Smith, rapper Proof and Albarn’s long-time associate, drummer Tony Allen. 

Their inclusion is a poignant way of saying: They may have gone but they live on in some way. 

Albarn says: “I think of a mountain as a manifestation of reincarnation because, if you think about it, a mountain is formed through chaos and tectonic shifts. The change in everything creates something new.” 

The Mountain gave Hewlett all the inspiration he needed to begin conjuring up the exotic, beautifully realised imagery, which is so crucial to this Gorillaz project.  

He says: “I guess the biggest challenge for me was that we were dealing with a subject that is more grown up than in the past. 

“How should the characters behave because usually there’s a lot of sarcasm and jokes? 

“So I was thinking about how to tell the story in a respectful way but also maintain a level of fun.” 

Hewlett admits: “We didn’t rush into this one — a lot of work ended up going in the dustbin for both of us, musically and visually, until we got on the right course. But when Damon gave me this piece of music and called it The Mountain, that was the starting point. Everything opened up for me.” 

Of all the myriad guests on the album, perhaps the most notable is 92-year-old Asha Bhosle, one of the most revered singers in Hindi cinema, who sings on the shimmering, life-affirming The Shadowy Light. 

Albarn says: “She’s one of the most important living Indian singers — and maybe even the best. 

“Everyone in India knows her music, she’s had hundreds of billions of streams.” 

And Hewlett adds: “Damon managed to get her to sing for us in her apartment in Mumbai. He used his charm and she was very comfortable with him.” 

If India is central to The Mountain, no Gorillaz record would be complete without sounds of various cultures.  

The Happy Dictator, with eccentric American duo Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks providing the chorus, began life in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, a dictatorship in central Asia. 

“That’s where I got the idea,” reports Albarn. “I went there with my daughter. “We have a father-daughter holiday every year, and we’ve been to North Korea, China and Turkmenistan.  

“This year we’re going to Georgia. We share a real passion for the remnants of communism and the possibility of future socialism.” 

So what’s Turkmenistan like and why call a song The Happy Dictator? I venture.  

Albarn answers: “It’s a very barren place, almost entirely desert, with this pristine modern city of Ashgabat, which is made almost entirely of white marble. 

“Being in that society, I realised that they are given no bad news. They had no news at all, really.” 

Another fabulous song is Damascus, which rekindles Albarn’s abiding love of Syrian music.  

You may recall when he helped assemble the Orchestra Of Syrian Musicians in London while civil war raged in their home country. 

For Damascus, Gorillaz employed the services of Omar Souleyman, one of the country’s pre-eminent singers, alongside American rapper Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def). 

With Syria still in state of flux after the toppling of the cruel Assad regime, Albarn says: “I wouldn’t go there at the moment but I did go to Mali (a favourite destination) in December, even if I was absolutely told not to. 

“I didn’t find it anywhere near as dangerous as everyone says it is and I would definitely go back.” 

This feeds into the notion that Gorillaz has no borders, that it’s an example of how multiculturalism can break down division and strife. 

“Not only is it the right way forward but it’s the most important way forward,” says Albarn.  

“Isolationism and the idea of demonising people from other cultures is not correct — and it’s profoundly dangerous.” 

So that’s why we hear the freewheeling rap of The Roots’ Black Thought on a track like The Empty Dream Machine, which also harnesses the guitar power of Johnny Marr and more sitar from Anoushka. 

And why Albarn’s expressive tones are matched with Argentinian Trueno rapping in Spanish and telling words recorded by American rapper Proof not long before he was shot dead in 2006. 

Let’s not forget that love and loss loom large on this record.  

On Casablanca, again featuring Marr as well as The Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Albarn sings: “I don’t know anything that feels like this/I don’t know anything that hits like this.” 

Simonon has been a member of The Good The Bad & Queen with Albarn and the late Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen. 

You hear Allen intoning, “We are ready, let’s go,” on The Hardest Thing before Damon, clearly with his father in mind, sings: “You know the hardest thing is to say goodbye to someone you love.” 

Albarn says, “We definitely put a lot of love into this record,” and Hewlett signs off with, “There’s more to come. We’re not finished yet.” 

It’s anyone’s guess where in the world those Gorillaz masterminds will pitch up next. 

GORILLAZ 

The Mountain 

★★★★★

ALL Saints star Melanie Blatt says taking part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special stripped away her confidence.

The 1990s girl group singer, 50, said she did not feel comfortable in the flowing yellow dress she wore, which she said made her “look like custard”.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping UK she said: “I felt extremely vulnerable.

“It’s taken me 50 years to feel as good as I have ever felt about myself and Strictly stripped it away from me. Nothing dodgy went on — I think they’re on their best behaviour — but I just didn’t feel comfortable in a dress.”

Mum Mel and her professional dance partner Kai Widdrington finished fifth out of six couples after performing an American smooth in the telly extravaganza.

It was won by TV host Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola, who got a perfect 40 score for their cha-cha-cha.

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Despite finishing second from bottom, Mel and Kai scored 36 out of 40 and she was hailed “fabulous” by judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke.

Mel had been tipped to take part in the full series this autumn but her comments suggest there is no way back.

Yet following her Christmas Day dance on the BBC One show, watched by 7.75million at home, Mel told host Tess Daly: “I really enjoyed it.

In a telling remark, she added: “It’s been amazing yet challenging, getting out of my comfort zone, having to wear a dress, having to look like custard . . . all of these things.”

A source insisted that Mel had taken her own dress which was “styled and adjusted” by the Strictly costume team to her specifications.

They added: “Strictly would never make anyone wear something they felt uncomfortable in.”

Mel, who had five No1 singles with All Saints, revealed last year that she was serving burgers at a North London boozer.

She is no longer in the pub but wants to start a new career in the food industry.

Mel, who performed in All Saints with Shaznay Lewis and sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton said: “The main thing I want from life is peace and happiness.

“My dream is to do a cookery book or have my own cookery programme, something like ‘Cheeses of the World’. I will make it happen.”

• Mel’s full interview can be read now in April’s Good Housekeeping.

THE daughter of a 63-year-old grandmother who was kidnapped from her home and held for ransom three years before Nancy Guthrie was snatched has branded the investigation a “circus.”

Zoe Lopez, whose mother Maria was taken in 2023 and never returned, has also offered advice to heartbroken Today Show host Savannah Guthrie and her family.

It’s been three weeks since Savannah’s mom was snatched from her home in Arizona, and police are begging the public for help after releasing disturbing doorbell footage of an armed, masked man at the front door minutes before the kidnapping.

The FBI is working with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which had been criticized for its handling of the case, and has received more than 21,000 tips.

Savannah announced the family is offering a $1million reward on Tuesday, as they are desperate to bring Nancy home.

In an emotional exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun, Zoe said her heart aches for the Guthrie family: “You kind of just go numb. You feel like, ‘This isn’t really happening.’

“My heart sank when … I believe it was her first statement, somebody had sent me.

“I was hesitant to post anything or to comment on it, but unfortunately, I do know her pain. 

“I understand the confusion, and I understand the anger, and the sadness, and the heartbreak that she has to deal with every single day, and every single minute. It’s devastating. 

“She might feel like, ‘Well, nobody understands.’ I do.

“It’s been three years, and absolutely nothing is normal about my life. You lose a part of yourself that very day.”

Zoe also slammed the Guthrie investigation and public ransom notes, saying the authorities need to get things under control and “reset” the case.

She said, “This is being handled in a very careless [way]. A circus, a complete circus. And this is something so sensitive.

“I am baffled that so much information is just being brought out in real time. 

“It’s been three weeks of chaos. There’s still time for them to get it under control. I think that they should be private about this.

“The loss of control. I can’t imagine how damaging it is to them [the family] emotionally.”

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has reportedly “locked down” the case, and there is reported tension between his team and the FBI.

They have faced backlash for many decisions made amid the search for Nancy, including sending DNA samples to be tested at a facility in Florida, instead of letting the FBI use their lab in Quantico, Virginia.

Sheriff Nanos also admitted he likely released the Guthrie home as a crime scene too early.

This allowed reporters to access the property, where they discovered and photographed blood droplets on the front steps that investigators had reportedly not yet addressed publicly.

Zoe said, “They’re missing a lot of steps, and getting to a lot of important stuff days later, [it] is extremely concerning.

“It’s scary, because it makes you think, well, ‘Who are these agents, and how much experience do they have to be handling a case of this magnitude?’ It’s a kidnapping. It’s absurd.”

Similar to her mom’s case, she believes those responsible for taking 83-year-old Nancy were not professionals or cartel-related.

She said, “They saw an opportunity. They’re driven by money.”

Pain & paranoia

Zoe’s mom, Maria, a US citizen, was kidnapped on February 9, 2023, in Pueblo Nuevo, in the Mexican state of Colima, where she had returned to retire with her husband.

She was alone at home watering her garden after shopping when she was approached by “four or five individuals” who bundled her into a white van.

An eyewitness told authorities that at one point she was seen on the ground after either being struck or fainting during a struggle.

But the kidnappers eventually got her into the vehicle and fled the scene.

Zoe and her family received multiple ransom calls demanding large amounts of money, with the first call coming within 24 hours, and setting deadlines they had to meet.

She is unable to reveal whether they paid the kidnappers amid the ongoing investigation.

Zoe, who worked in road management for professional boxers when her mom was taken, believes Savannah has a long road ahead and might end up giving up her role as a host on the Today Show.

She said, “It took me months to go get groceries, to be honest. I was so scared. And although the kidnapping happened in Mexico, I was afraid.

“I was always scared that somebody was following me. People did recognize me once it went public.

“I couldn’t be out because people [would say], ‘Oh, you’re the daughter of the lady that got kidnapped.’ So it’s just safer to be home. 

“It took about a year and a half before I decided to take a different role, still in the boxing world, but more on a quieter level, where I’m designing outfits for certain boxers.

“I’m going back into production, working with special teams and stuff, traveling.

“She [Savannah] might not be a reporter after this. She might not want to be in the public eye, or it might give her purpose and make her say, ‘I’m supposed to be here. I have to continue to advocate for my mom.’

‘Survivor’s guilt’

“My heart aches for the family. When we were going through the uncertainty daily, not knowing… and then you come to a point, at least for them, they’re weeks in now, where you just feel alone, like nobody understands how bad this aching pain is. It’s a fear.

“Your body is in shock day in and day out.

“There has to be a way I can say, ‘Hey, make yourself some tea.’ You know? ‘Hug each other. Cry.’

“I think that’s another thing, too: it’s okay to fall apart. It’s okay not to be okay. Forcing yourself to be strong for the public, or forcing yourself to be strong for others, is going to be damaging to you.

“You need to find the energy, find that strength from deep down inside, but you also need to take those small moments, even if it’s 20 or 30 minutes. It’s okay, just hold on to each other.”

Heartbreakingly, Zoe says Savannah may learn that she can’t trust everyone around her, as some people who reach out to see how she is may not have good intentions.

“It’s really hard to even say this, but tune out the noise from the outside because she is a reporter and she is in the public eye,” she advised.

“But try to understand that not everybody is going to reach out to be there for you.

“They will reach out to get information, to see where you’re at, and that could be extremely damaging to you.”

She went on, “Her life is gonna change completely. And it’s probably gonna be the best thing for her to take some time just for her.

“It’s been three years for me, and I’m still learning. I feel like I’m learning how to walk again in the normal world and not feel guilty because I think that we carry that. 

“That’s where I guess they call it like survivor’s guilt, you know? Like, why do I get to go to work? Why do I get to go out and have fun? Why do I get to put it aside for a little bit when I don’t know where she is?”

Mexico rumors

Zoe said she and her family struggled to work with Mexican authorities and the FBI, as both tried to take control, mirroring the situation in Guthrie’s case.

“We reached out to the White House so many times through phone calls. She’s going to have to become relentless in pursuing other government officials as well,” she said.

“She [Nancy] is a U.S. citizen. If they did cross the border, then there should be coordinated searches, with federal agencies in Mexico working together with federal agencies here.

“You don’t know if you can fully trust the authorities there or whether they’re going to work together. Are they going to want to work with the FBI? Unfortunately for us, we learned quickly that they weren’t that open to working with them.

“They feel, ‘Well, it happened in our territory. This is our case. We will handle it.’ It’s kind of like a rivalry.

“At the end of the day, you’re looking for the same victim.

“It doesn’t matter whether it was across the border or here. The fact that you have these kinds of power struggles makes no sense.”

She explained that Mexican authorities are willing to allow families to pay a ransom, whereas the FBI tries to negotiate with kidnappers.

“We were definitely put in the middle because we didn’t know, ‘Do we follow the advice of the FBI and not pay the ransom, or do we pay the ransom and hope for the best? And how do we do that when we’re across borders?’

“It’s just constant torture — one phone call after another with different demands: ‘Do this now,’ or ‘If not…’ They set time frames, and more than anything, you need proof of life.

“You need to know, ‘Okay, you’re telling me you want this amount of money and that you have her. I need to speak to her.’ And that took a long time.”

Zoe and her family received what appeared to be a recording of Maria begging them to meet the kidnappers’ demands.

She said, “You live with the uncertainty of, ‘Where is she? How is she? What have they done to her? Is she alive? Is she dead?’

“As far as my situation, you lose everything, you really do.”

Zoe Lopez on the kidnapping of her beloved mom

“And then you have the speculations of everyone. You have the criticism on top. You have the heartache, the pain, your family, how do you wake up today and just try to be normal? You can’t, there isn’t no normal anymore. 

“As far as my situation, you lose everything, you really do.”

Zoe, 42, has been with her husband for 25 years and has two children, much like Savannah, while Maria, a mother of seven, has 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Discussing how the kidnapping affected her personal relationships, Zoe admitted, “They are all damaged, at least with my children; they’re dealing with the pain of losing their grandmother.

“So whenever your children hurt, you hurt with them. I feel it’s been trauma over trauma and pain over pain. I’m witnessing my kids are devastated over their grandmother. 

“And in return, they’re seeing me falling apart over my mother. And having to find that strength of, ‘What would my mom do? How would my mother handle this situation with me? How do I handle the situation with my children?’

“Although it’s been 3 years, we have not given up. We hold on to hope.

“So for Nancy.. stay strong. Know that you’re loved, and that you’re being looked for, although it seems like a lot is going on, the people who matter, are hanging on to hope as well.

“For the bad guys who do have her, please give her up. She’s an elderly person. She deserves to be home.”

Two men were arrested in connection with another kidnapping in Mexico and have since been linked to Maria’s disappearance through DNA evidence from the crime scene.

However, authorities have not publicly confirmed any direct charge or prosecution in her case.

The FBI and Mexican prosecutors have been working jointly on the investigation, and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office has offered a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to her physical location.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has admitted that Savannah and her family could also be waiting “years” for answers about Nancy’s whereabouts.

“It’s exhausting, these ups and downs. But we will keep moving forward,” he told The New York Times.

“Maybe it’s an hour from now. Maybe it’s weeks or months or years from now. But we won’t quit. We’re going to find Nancy. We’re going to find this guy.”

MUSE frontman Matt Bellamy has found some solace following his split from model Elle Evans, his wife of six years.

I’m told he has been spending time with sex therapist Gaia Polloni — who he dated for nine years in the Noughties.

A source said: “Matt and Gaia are still good mates and they’ve been spending time together following his split from Elle.

“It’s been a hard time for him, naturally, as it would be after the end of any marriage.

“Gaia has always been a great sounding board. Matt is focused on healing and moving forwards into co-parenting with Elle.”

Matt was seen in Notting Hill, West London, last week without his wedding ring and walking next to Italian Gaia.

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They first started dating in 2001 and Matt popped the question six years later.

But in 2009, the relationship broke down and they called off their engagement.

After the break-up, Matt told an Italian magazine he would “do anything” to fix their relationship.

He went on to write Muse’s track Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever) for Gaia a year on from their split.

We revealed at the weekend that Elle and Matt had called time on their marriage.

They actually split in October.

A pal said: “Their relationship is very amicable. They are now focused on co-parenting their children and still get on very well.”

Matt had been splitting his time between London and LA – where Matt’s son from his relationship with Kate Hudson lives.

Now he is expected to spend more time in the UK, after admitting he wanted to come home.

GARY “MANI” MOUNFIELD’s legacy lives on thanks to a huge vault of unreleased music.

The rocker was laid to rest in December following his sudden death the month before.

I’m told there have been talks with his Stone Roses bandmates about releasing a song dedicated to him.

A source said: “Tracks Mani recorded with the band after their reunion in 2011, along with songs he made with Primal Scream, are all in a vault which could soon be opened.

“Mani was one of the most prolific musicians around and as well as playing with The Roses and Primal Scream, he was involved in numerous side projects.

“There are tracks featuring him by The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Free Bass and Mantra Of The Cosmos.

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“The hope is that these tracks will come out in tribute to him, possibly even as a compilation. It’s all early days but there are ongoing discussions about how best to pay tribute to his music legacy.”

After The Stone Roses reformed for concerts in 2011, they went into the studio to record new material and released two singles, All For One and Beautiful Thing.

But a third album never materialised, despite there being more songs.

Zak Starkey, son of Beatle Ringo Starr, revealed Mani agreed to be the bass player for Mantra Of The Cosmos but had to walk away after initial sessions to care for his wife Imelda, who died in 2023.

Drummer Zak said: “Due to his amazing strong woman Imelda being very sick, he couldn’t commit to Mantras.

“There was no substitute for Mani so we never had a bass player, it just wouldn’t have been right.”

Bella in nightclub hold-up

IT’S not often we see celebs falling out of nightclubs these days, given they’re more prone to neck a protein milkshake than a martini.

But Bella Hadid almost took a tumble outside the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles.

Luckily for Bella, all those years walking in heels on catwalks means she’s a pro at keeping her balance – and she grabbed on to a handily parked 4×4 car to keep her upright.

Bella shared snaps from her night out at the trendy haunt and revealed she was with New York designer Noah Ruttenberg and her stylist Mimi Cuttrell before making this spectacular exit.

EX-Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt is relaunching his solo career.

He got the part of Nick Tilsley in 1997, and went on to have a No5 song with his debut single I Breathe Again in 1999.

But after album Good Times limped in at No41, he was dropped from his label.

Adam said online about going back into the studio: “We did a version of Breathe Again, which was nice. We’ve got a really good song idea. We’re going to record a new song.”

SCAM FEAR CUT SHORT J-LO HAIRDRESSER GIG

CELEBRITY hairdresser Chris Appleton thought Jennifer Lopez was a scammer when he first got an email from her.

He told Roxie Nafousi’s Rise With Roxie podcast: “I remember I got an email from J-Lo’s team.

“It was like, ‘Jennifer Lopez is doing her Vegas tour and she would, you know, want to work with you.’ I remember I ignored the first email because I thought, ‘Oh this is probably just spam or something’. And then I got another one and I remember thinking, ‘How does J-Lo know who I am?’.”

Unluckily for Chris, who counts Kim Kardashian among his famous clients, he ended up missing the boat because he failed to respond.

BANDS including A Day to Remember, The Primals and Creeper have joined the list of rock gods playing Download Festival.

The mega event taking place at Donnington Park from June 10 to 14 will also feature acts such as headliners Limp Bizkit, Guns n’ Roses, Linkin Park, plus Cypress Hill, Trivium, Bad Omens and Pendulum.

Tickets for the festival in Leicestershire will go on sale at 10am tomorrow.

JAIL JOB STIRS UP MARCUS

MARCUS MUMFORD says working with jail inmates gave him inspiration for new album Prizefighter.

The Mumford And Sons frontman said: “Alley Cat, I wrote in a prison actually. I go into prison and do poetry workshops and that came out of one of those sessions with the lads.

“I felt slightly conflicted about it to start with.”

While the track hasn’t yet been picked as a single, the record is going down a storm.

Prizefighter is on course to give Mumford And Sons their fourth UK No1 album on Friday, after topping the chart in the midweek update.

Marcus has been volunteering in prisons since the end of lockdown.

The singer added: “If all of us were defined by the worst thing we ever did, we’d all be f***ed.

“I believe in grace, I believe in mercy, I believe in responsibility, choices, consequences, of course.”

Good for him.

CRUZ GETS HIS BREAK IN EUROPE

CRUZ BECKHAM AND THE BREAKERS are making waves with sold-out shows in London, Brighton, Southampton and Leeds.

Now the youngest son of Posh and Becks has announced a European leg including gigs in France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Cruz said: “I’m so excited to get out on the road.

“I’ve always been inspired by bands who do it the right way.”
Their run of shows kick off tomorrow night at Mama Roux’s in Birmingham.

MAYA Jama has signed up for another series of Love Island — putting an end to speculation.

The host, 31, last night wrapped on the All Stars’ spin-off and will officially be back this summer.

A source said: “Love Island wouldn’t be the same without Maya so bosses are thrilled to confirm she’ll be in Majorca this summer.

“She remains one of the most-loved things about the show.”

Maya has been hosting Love Island UK since January 2023, beginning with the show’s ninth series.

She replaced former host Laura Whitmore and has since continued to host All Stars and Love Island games.

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Last month Maya cleared up confusion with fans over where she currently lives.

Penned over a screenshotted DM of a fan saying, “Have I missed a chapter?? You’ve moved from London?” in response to one of her past Instagram stories, Maya explained how she’s bought multiple houses.

“To answer my dms right now lol I also bought a house in the Cotswolds last year so I’ll be there sometimes, maybe I need to do a lil catch up life update vid or something soon.”

Maya followed up the post with a quick video where she’s utterly beaming about the news.

Switching out her usual glam for a maroon hoodie with a yellow graphic, she addressed the camera candidly saying: “Writing it like that just makes you sound like a braggy f**k but I’m very proud of myself.

“Council house Queen to multiple property owner.

“Honey, thank you!!!” 

Maya was born and raised in Brisol and has Somali descent as well as Swedish.

She moved to London at the age of 16 to pursue a career as an actress, even auditioning for Skins.

ACTRESS Alexandra Daddario has split from her hubby after their marriage “fizzled out”.

The White Lotus star, 39, has a 15-month-old son with film producer Andrew Form, 57.

New York court records show she filed for divorce on Friday.

Her rep said: “They have made the decision to end their marriage.

“The decision was made with love and respect.”

Insiders claimed their marriage started “hot and heavy” but cooled due to work schedules, eventually suffering a “consistent loss of love”.

A source said: “Alexandra and Andrew slowly grew apart.

“Raising a child was a reason to carry on but they weren’t even doing that together often and their married life slowly disintegrated.”

Alexandra was nominated for an Emmy for her role in The White Lotus alongside Sydney Sweeney.

She has also appeared in Baywatch and True Detective.

She and Form met by chance in New York before marrying in 2022.

Form’s movies include Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Purge and A Quiet Place.

Alexandra slammed critics of her acting last year, saying: “Sometimes I’m lit poorly, but I’m not a bad actress.

“I got an Emmy nomination.”

“LINDA looks so beautiful, so cool,” says Paul McCartney.

He’s just been watching a film about the decade of his life after The Beatles broke up — and it is filled with images of his much-missed first wife.

“The Linda stuff was very emotional,” he admits at the Man On The Run launch event in London.

“Linda, the kids, me and John [Lennon] — all these memories. It’s like my life flashing in front of me.”

Macca is talking to an intimate gathering that includes his daughter Stella, son James, superfan Noel Gallagher and the actor who will play him in a forthcoming biopic, Paul Mescal. Oh, and me.

He continues: “Seeing me and Linda interacting is special because, you know, she’s not here.

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“So is seeing the kids when they were little, because they’re not little any more. They’ve got kids of their own now.”

The film stirs memories of forming his own band, Wings, with Linda in 1971, prompting this from McCartney: “We tried to follow The Beatles — it’s mad!”

It also brings into sharp focus his relationship with Lennon, which broke down in the wake of The Beatles split but, as we see, they reconciled shortly before John’s death.

Directed by Oscar-winning Morgan Neville, Man On The Run is a masterpiece of ­documentary storytelling.

Rich in source material, partly because Linda was a professional photographer who also shot home movies, it is raw, heartfelt, funny, poignant and, crucially, not remotely sugar-coated.

Before the screening starts, Sir Paul, looking fit and well for his 83 years, strolls on to the stage and quips: “I just want to say thank you to Morgan for keeping in all the embarrassing moments that I asked him to take out.”

But let’s get back to the big ­question: How DO you follow The Beatles?

It was a conundrum that weighed heavily on McCartney as the ­Swinging Sixties drew to a close.

As he puts it himself in the movie, the first thing he did was “escape” and then he had to learn how “to grow up”.

He had married American Linda Eastman in March, 1969, at Marylebone Town Hall, London, and soon afterwards adopted her daughter Heather from a previous marriage.

McCartney was still only 27 when, on April 10, 1970, he told the world that he, John Lennon, George ­Harrison and Ringo Starr were going their separate ways.

The announcement came amid acrimony over the band’s crooked business manager Allen Klein, favoured at the time by John and the others but later described by Paul as “a sort of demon”.

It was all over for the band of four likely lads from Liverpool who changed popular culture for ever.

In private, McCartney had known for months that his songwriting partner Lennon was leaving.

“John broke up The Beatles,” Macca affirms in Man On The Run. “But I got the rap. And that’s a bit of a weight to bear.”

Around the same time as ­Lennon’s bombshell, in late 1969, there were rumours across the US and around the world that “Beatle Paul may be dead”.

There’s a hilarious moment in the film when his younger brother Mike is asked whether it’s true.

“It’s a hoax, it’s a con,” he exclaims, before being asked when was the last time he saw his brother.

Mike replies: “The last time? It was his funeral, I think!”

It turned out that McCartney had the perfect bolthole, in an archetypal middle of nowhere, to hide away and reset his life.

In 1966, he had bought High Park Farm, a 183-acre sheep farm on the Mull of Kintyre (yes, that explains the song) in Argyllshire, only reached via a “long and winding” track.

With its corrugated iron roof and general state of dilapidation, it was, as someone in the film points out, the sort of place a poor farm labourer might baulk at accepting.

But, as the Sixties ebbed to a close, Paul, Linda, their daughters, Heather and baby Mary, plus their Old English Sheepdog ­Martha decamped to the Scottish wilds.

In the movie, McCartney suggests, “We got up there to escape”, and ponders whether he would write “another note of music” before confessing to drowning himself in one wee dram of Scotch after another.

But, with the responsibility of supporting a young family on his shoulders, he realised that “it was a question of HAVING to grow up”.

At the Man On The Run launch, McCartney reflects: “With The Beatles, we were just lads. Everyone, all our management, used to call us ‘the boys’.

“Then I got married and then there was a baby [Mary] on the way.

“I had to grow up. I thought, ‘We can’t just be these ‘boys’ any more’. It was time to think about stuff.

“Even though the film is kind of madcap and you see all our insane decisions, in the background there were some sensible decisions, too.”

He remembers how Linda was his guiding light through those years.

“If there was an idea that was a little bit crazy, I’d say, ‘Should I do that? Could I do that?’ She’d say, ‘It’s allowed’. It was a brilliant philosophy in life.”

Director Neville picks up on this theme: “I looked into the questions Paul was trying to ask of himself, questions that I felt were universal.

“How do you deal with your own legacy and the expectations people have of you? How do you balance your career with your family?

“In Paul’s case, he made them one and the same. And that, I thought, was completely inspirational.”

Though Kintyre provided a necessary respite from the dazzling glare of publicity, Macca has never been far away from making music. It’s in his blood.

In 1970, he released his debut solo album, simply titled McCartney, with its intimate DIY aesthetic and featuring at least two songs with his beloved partner in mind — The Lovely Linda and Maybe I’m Amazed.

In 1971, he formed Wings with ex-Moody Blues musician Denny Laine and, controversially, Linda, who until that point had little or no experience, as core members.

Rehearsals for their debut album Wild Life took place at Macca’s converted barn in Scotland, dubbed Rude Studio.

It felt to him as if he was starting over, at the bottom of the pile.

“It was so impossible to do something like that,” he says today.

“Just go back to square one, show up at a university, don’t book hotels, take the dogs in a van. For some reason, we thought it was a great idea!”

If Wings took time to take flight, everything changed in 1973 when they released third album Band On The Run, loaded with classic tunes such as the title track, Jet and Let Me Roll It.

Recorded in extraordinary ­circumstances at EMI’s studio in Lagos, Nigeria, not far from where Paul and Linda were mugged at knifepoint, it paved the way for ­stadium-sized shows in America.

Without the McCartneys’ sojourn to Scotland, there would have been no Mull Of Kintyre, which, at the time of its release in 1977, became the biggest selling single of all time.

A “love song” to that remote idyll, it featured Great Highland bagpipes played so passionately by the local Campbeltown Pipe Band.

Yet, interwoven with stories of Wings’ upward trajectory, there are musings on McCartney’s strained relationship with Lennon during the Seventies.

We’re reminded of John’s caustic song How Do You Sleep?, directed at Paul with its line, “The only thing you done was yesterday”.

And there’s his old buddy left thinking, “Aside from Yesterday, what about Eleanor Rigby, Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, Let It Be and the rest?”

Macca says: “As it shows in the film, I knew John from a very early age — we were just a couple of rock and roll fans.

“We enjoyed hanging out together and we started writing little songs round at my place.

“My dad had a pipe in his drawer. So we thought we’d smoke it. We couldn’t find any tobacco so we smoked tea! We had all those ­memories in common.

“Then we went through the whole trajectory of The Beatles. But John was always just that guy to me, even when he was being really mean and I was having to take it.

“At the same time, it was like, ‘Yeah, it’s just John, he does that’. He’d always done that — so that made it a little bit easier.

“But I loved him, you know. I loved all the guys in The Beatles.

“I try and think of how else it could have been, but with just me, John, George and Ringo, it was a magic grouping. And we did OK!”

Near the end of Man On The Run, you see McCartney being confronted by camera crews about the shocking death of Lennon, who had been shot the day before outside the Dakota Building apartment he shared with partner Yoko Ono in New York.

Macca was criticised at the time for a rather cool, unemotional response — but one look in his eyes reveals his utter devastation.

As for the aforementioned “embarrassing moments” on display in the film, they are what make it so refreshing and endearing.

Hence you see McCartney singing Mary Had A Little Lamb wearing a red clown’s nose with Wings guitarist Henry McCullough looking as if he wants the earth to swallow him.

There’s a moustachioed Paul in a baggy pink suit performing the cabaret-style Gotta Sing Gotta Dance, complete with dancing girls, for his 1973 variety show.

And what about him getting ­busted by Japanese cops in 1980 for having 219g of cannabis in his luggage, spending nine days in custody before being booted out of the country?

McCartney was supposed to be embarking on a Wings tour of Japan but, as it turned out, they never played together again.

He says: “So many bits are embarrassing. The look on Henry McCullough’s face! He’s not happy.

“I was thinking, ‘Maybe we could cut those bits, the dance routine, cool out my image’.

“But Morgan said, ‘No, let me keep them in. You’ll see all that stuff but because you overcame it all and found yourself, you won in the end’.”

Finally, McCartney takes a long hard look at himself — at the ­person “growing up” in Man On The Run and the man he is today.

He says: “You start to see yourself, not just in the mirror, but to realise what your character is like.

“It’s natural for me to be enthusiastic so I don’t always see pitfalls, With me, it’s, “Nah, nah, just do it’.”

SINCE my exclusive story broke about Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton, everyone wants to know how long they’ve been together.

And now I’ve been given a little more insight into their top-secret romance.

While it was thought that Kim and Formula 1 star Lewis started growing closer over Christmas, I can reveal it was a lot earlier than that.

My moles tell me Kim visited Lewis in Las Vegas in the days before the Grand Prix there on November 22.

From what I know, they went all-out to keep it hush-hush.

One insider said: “Lewis invited Kim to be his guest inside the garage over the week. That included for the preparation and the race itself.

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“She was there when the race happened and was alongside him, talking to him and hanging out with him before he took to the circuit.

“Nicole Scherzinger did that back in the day when they were together.

“People saw it and didn’t think much of it — but now it all makes sense.”

A second source in the F1 world added: “Three days before the race, Kim was spotted coming out of a garage where Lewis’s car was.

“She headed to his trailer. That was one of the few times Kim was seen.

“Something was definitely happening between them then. Why else would she have been there?”

Why, indeed?

I revealed Kim and Lewis enjoyed a night at posh Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds on January 31, before heading to London for a second date and Paris for a third.

Lewis then flew back to Los Angeles with Kim on her £100million private jet, and days later they made their first public appearance together at the Super Bowl on February 8.

Since then, the A-list couple have been apart, with him flying to Bahrain, where he spent time last week doing pre-season testing in his Ferrari F1 car.

Lewis said he had a new-found vigour ahead of the season, adding: “I’m reset and refreshed.”

I’m sure that Kim has helped boost his drive . . . 

ESTEEM DREAM

SELF ESTEEM will be in Manchester this Saturday for the Brit Awards – and she may have a very special man by her side.

I’ve learned the singer-songwriter, who is nominated for Artist of the Year at the ceremony, is dating actor Wilf Scolding.

And I’m told they have been seeing each other since 2023, when they were cast in West End show Cabaret together.

The singer, whose real name is Rebecca Lucy Taylor, hinted they are an item when Wilf appeared in the video for her song The Curse in August.

A source said: “Rebecca and Wilf have been together for a while – they live together and even have a dog.

“But they aren’t showy with their personal lives so haven’t flaunted the relationship in the public eye.

“She’s had bad dating experiences in the past but Wilf is a good guy. He has the seal of approval from her mates.”

Wilf, who starred in Game Of Thrones and BBC One drama The Passing Bells, is a sea-change from the singer’s last boyfriend, who she has never publicly named but said was “a real nasty bastard”.

Self Esteem referenced her “current male lover” in an interview back in November.

When asked how often she has sex, she said: “Oh, often. That is one thing I don’t compromise on.”

Good on them both.

JUSTIN TIME FOR UK GIGS

JUSTIN BIEBER is set to embark on his biggest tour in more than a decade.

I’m told the Baby hitmaker will announce a string of global dates after playing two headline slots at US festival Coachella in April, as well as plans for a new pop album.

A source said: “This year is set to be a huge one for Justin.

“He kicked things off with his Grammy performance earlier this month and bosses hope his Coachella sets will remind the world why he became one of the most successful singers on the planet.”

As part of his upcoming world tour, Justin is expected to announce a show at BST Hyde Park in London.

He previously played BST in 2017 – but hasn’t done a full concert on UK soil since then.

ANTI’S EURO VISION

LOVE Island fans might spot a familiar face at the Eurovision Song Contest in the spring.

While the UK will be represented by YouTuber Look Mum No Computer, Cyprus’s act is Antigoni, who starred in the ITV2 series in 2022.

She wore this striking red dress in the video for her entry song, Jalla – and eagle-eyed viewers might recognise someone else in the promo.

Antigoni, who was born and raised in London but is of Greek-Cypriot descent, managed to get Stavros Flatley star Demetri Demetriou to make a cameo.

Currently, Antigoni is tenth favourite to win, while Look Mum No Computer is 14th.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for them both.

KEEP an eye out for LA-based singer Amelia Moore, who has just completed a UK tour supporting Ashnikko.

She has been getting rave reviews off the back of her latest EP He’s Still Just Not That Into You! and I’m expecting big things in the coming months.

FOO FIGHT FOR GIGS

FOO FIGHTERS have announced a set of surprise shows this week – leading to thousands of fans queuing in the streets for a ticket

Tonight they will play The Academy in Dublin, before a show on Wednesday at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the O2 Ritz in Manchester on Friday.

Tickets were released yesterday but fans had to queue at the venues’ box offices in a bid to stop online touts ripping people off.

The gigs come ahead of the release of their 12th album Your Favourite Toy on April 24.

I’ll be in Manchester to see the band – I can’t wait.

THE SEX PISTOLS BACK ON ROAD

THE SEX PISTOLS ft. Frank Carter have announced a brand new tour celebrating 50 years of punk.

Anarchy In The UK will see them play five shows at the end of the year, kicking off in ­Ireland at Dublin’s 3 Arena on December 7.

They will then play Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange on December 9, before hitting Glasgow’s O2 ­Academy the following evening.

Frank and Co will then head to London to play the Brixton Academy on December 18 and the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith two days later.

MARGOT IS SHEER DELIGHT

MARGOT ROBBIE skipped the Baftas and headed Down Under for Tropfest 2026 in Sydney.

The film festival, which celebrates the best short films and new rising stars of the industry, enlisted Margot as the president of this year’s jury.

Next year, I know Margot will be front and centre at the Baftas in London – with her new film Wuthering Heights expected to pick up a raft of nods, including Best Actress for her star turn.

Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel has caused a storm among cinema lovers, with Margot’s co-star Jacob Elordi expected to be shortlisted for Best Actor.

TODAY Sun Travel is urging our readers to stand behind our campaign to Stop The Holiday Tax.

The Government is proposing to allow local authorities the right to tax overnight stays in holiday parks, campsites, cottages, B&Bs and hotels.

That could see the cost of some of the cheapest stays at our beloved holiday parks almost DOUBLE.

The new proposals, originally announced during the Budget, could mean a £2 tax per person per night on staycations.

That would mean £70 extra for a family of five taking a week-long break.

And that’s after you’ve paid 20 per cent VAT on your trip.

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Most families already pay higher prices because of increased demand for travel during the school holidays.

The proposals will mean that many of those who have the least will be forced to pay more for precious breaks, including the many thousands who enjoy our own Hols From £9.50 trips.

The move has been met with dismay by tourism bosses and travel businesses who fear British holidaymakers may just decide to head abroad instead — or not be able to afford a break at all.

The new taxes would also have an impact on those visiting the UK from abroad.

Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council has found at least £14billion could be lost from the UK economy if daily visitor taxes were introduced.

As an industry, travel and tourism supports 4.5million jobs in the UK, the WTTC said, equivalent to roughly one in eight jobs nationwide.

But their research found that 29 per cent of visitors from the US, France and Germany — the largest inbound tourist markets — would consider alternative destinations or just decide not to visit if a substantial tax is introduced.

The levy would hit tourism in seaside towns that are already struggling to attract visitors away from the lure of cheap foreign breaks.

Just last week, VisitEngland announced a £1million campaign to encourage holidaymakers to visit the UK’s north west coast.

How can taxing those very staycation tourists help boost visits to areas of the UK where they are already having trouble attracting holidaymakers?

To show your support for our campaign and to see just how it could impact you, go to our website at StopTheHolidayTax.uk.

Enter your name and postcode and it will automatically write a message to your MP on your behalf asking them to stop the holiday tax.

The site also has a handy calculator to show you just how much it could end up costing you if the new rules go ahead.

We must stop this hols tax madness

SUN Holiday fans Diane Hunter and Michael O’Brien are already packing their bags for their next bargain break – four nights at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park, Tyne & Wear, in two weeks’ time.

But the couple, who have been on more than 200 of our great getaways in the past 20 years, are furious at the Government’s proposed holiday tax.

Retired fork-lift truck driver Michael, 61, says: “It’s an absolute disgrace.

“Just a couple of weeks ago, coinciding with my birthday, I had a major operation to remove a stomach ulcer. This break is part of my recuperation.

“But the threat of this added tax has only added to my anxiety and just shows the present Labour administration does not care about ordinary folk.

“I’m never going to agree with this idea.”

Michael and retired office worker Diane, 57, already have an astonishing nine Sun Holidays booked this year.

The couple, of Grangemouth, near Falkirk, say the value-for-money breaks put the icing on the cake of their time together. Michael feels Labour is now clearly targeting hard-working families as well as the less well-off.

He says: “The amount involved might not seem a lot, but it could mean the difference between being able to afford a holiday or not.

“Labour is scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

“So, we have no hesitation in backing The Sun campaign.

“People have to stand up and fight to stop this madness.”

‘Lots of us will lose out on trips’

JACK CULLWICK went on his first holiday in eight years this week.

With his wife and two sons, aged eight and two, he was spending half-term at Beverley Holiday Park in Paignton, Devon.

Jack, 33, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks, runs his own transport business and can’t take holidays overseas because he needs to be close to work, even when he’s off.

He says: “The holiday tax is a terrible idea.

“There are so many people who can’t go abroad for a number of reasons, whether it’s to be nearby for family or because of their jobs or being on call.

“If we’re priced out of coming away in the UK, plenty of people won’t have a holiday at all.”

A REALITY telly pal of Jennifer Lopez caught speeding in her £200,000 Bentley has been banned.

Amanda Cronin begged JPs to let her keep her licence as she needed a car to care for her mum — who “won’t accept” taxis.

But magistrates, who heard she already had nine penalty points from speeding offences, were unmoved and gave her three more.

That took her to 12 and an automatic six-month ban under totting-up rules.

Real Housewives of London star Cronin, 57, was caught by a camera doing 24mph in a 20mph zone in Earls Court, West London, last May.

The ex-model, who dated Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley and counts US singer J-Lo as a pal, argued she needed her £200,000 Bentley Continental to drive from her £4million home in Belgravia, central London, to widowed mum Janet’s home near Soberton, Hants.

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She said she regularly ­ferried the 85-year-old to medical appointments.

Cronin told Bromley JPs: “She won’t accept going in taxis.

“My mum will suffer if I’m not able to drive her around.”

Magistrate Jo Caseby said: “You’re a good and attentive daughter but there are solutions which can be put in place.”

Cronin, who divorced millionaire energy mogul Mark Daeche in 2019, also owns a £12million home in London’s Mayfair.

She must pay £334 in a fine and costs.

THERE’S a line in Badlands, one of Mumford & Sons’ new songs, that feels like a mission statement for new record Prizefighter.

Singer Marcus Mumford says: “The lyric says, ‘Don’t look down now/I’m not done here yet’. I was listening to that song today and that’s the sentiment of Prizefighter.

“We try really f***ing hard, we want to be great. And I think we’ll keep trying.”

I’m chatting to Mumford and keyboardist Ben Lovett in Bath, a few hours before they are due on stage at The Forum to celebrate the release of their new album.

“We feel very fortunate to be launching our sixth album, it’s a big deal,” says Lovett.

“It’s a marker of beyond the creativity and how we feel about the music itself. “When we started this band, it was all about longevity for us.

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“And it feels great to be coming up to 20 years as a band and feel like we want to do another 20.

“That’s a big statement of success for us.”

The pair are seated together on a sofa, comfortable and clearly energised by their new record.

It’s hard to believe it’s only 11 months since fifth album Rushmere signalled their return from a seven-year hiatus.

For Prizefighter, they worked with producer Aaron Dessner from US rock band The National.

They had worked with him on 2015’s Wilder Mind, and they crossed paths again while mixing Rushmere in Electric Lady Studios in New York City.

Mumford says: “Aaron showed us the beginning of an idea for Prizefighter, the song he’d written with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.

“And we instantly started writing on it.

“Aaron’s always writing music with his mates for fun. He then played us a snippet of what became new single The Banjo Song that he’d started with Jon Bellion as a sketch.

“This was the be­ginning of the record, a beginning of ideas, like we do with each other all the time. It was just for fun to see where it goes.”

Mumford & Sons have continued as a trio since founding member Winston Marshall departed in 2021 after publicly expressing support for a book by right-wing American journalist Andy Ngo.

Lovett explains: “We got together in January 2023 and started making music without any agenda and I felt very free.

“That was the right thing to do. That was the right start or restart after Marcus’s solo record [2022’s Self-Titled].

“And it was the first time we’d played together in a couple of years. It felt like riding an old bike.”

Their first new music came in the form of Good People — a surprising collaboration with Pharrell Williams in 2024.

“That record was a very different experience but showed us that we have range and versatility,” says Lovett.

“So, by the time we got to the studio with Aaron, we were confidence high. We loved it and wanted to be curious creatively, from a place of positivity.

“And that’s basically how the record got in to motion.”

Mumford says stepping back was crucial to finding their confidence again.

“I am less insecure about being an artist,” Mumford tells me. “I will go off to a coffee shop and read poetry and do it unapologetically.

“I’m also more playful with my lyrics. I love Clover in particular.

“I just didn’t have the confidence to be tongue-in-cheek, surreal or even slightly ridiculous.

“Those types of lyrics would never have got on any previous albums.

Aaron, like Pharrell and Dave Cobb, who produced Rushmere, sat us down and gave us quite a serious talking to about believing in ourselves and looking back at what we’ve done with pride while also looking ahead.

“Recognising our confidence and DNA at the same time is what led to us being able to write this record.

“There’s a lot of insecurity and confidence on the record and also nostalgia and ambition and so that’s why it’s called Prizefighter.”

Lovett adds: “We feel more comfortable in our own skin, with a stronger sense of identity than we’ve had as a band for a while.

“The success of Rushmere [their third No1 album] and touring last year gave us a big confidence boost and reminded us that people still care and we are having a good time.”

Prizefighter sees Mumford at their most collaborative. Gorgeous piano ballad Badlands features Gracie Abrams, while Chris Stapleton, Hozier and Gigi Perez are also guest singers.

Finneas, Dessner, Vernon, Bellion and Brandi Carlile are credited as co-writers on the record.

“We’ve always been a bit more protective in the studio,” says Mumford. “In the early days a band needs to set out their stall and show people who you are.

“We have always had this collaborative spirit where we’ve enjoyed playing with other bands but we’ve not really recognised that on record before.

“It felt the time to do it, so we’ve opened the doors and it’s been really fulfilling. It’s one big community.”

Gracie Abrams, a long-time friend of Mumford’s, was the first to hear the band’s new songs.

“I’ve known her right from the start,” says the singer. “Gracie was the first person to hear any of these demos, like before labels or managers or anyone else.

“And we found out recently that she came to one of our shows when she was 13.

“We’ve been friends for a long time. She’s amazing.

“With Badlands we asked her to pick any song to sing on and she said yes to that song which had been written to be her voice.”

Album opener Here was written with Grammy-winning country powerhouse Chris Stapleton in mind.

Mumford says: “I’m just a fan of his and I couldn’t get the idea out of my head that he should sing the second verse on Here.

“We hadn’t met, so I called him. We had a long conversation. We really connected. Then he heard the song and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll record it next week’. And he did. It was all pretty organic.

“We didn’t have a list. It was like, ‘Let’s send this to Andrew, aka Hozier, see if he wants to f*** with it’. And he said yes.”

Lovett adds: “It’s a simple environment up at Aaron’s Long Pond studio. We record then we sit around eating soup together.

“It’s not the glossy album where you’re stuck on the other side of the glass and the red light goes on and it’s your big moment.

“Making Prizefighter felt a much more human experience.”

Conversation With My Son (Gangsters & Angels) is another highlight on Prizefighter and a song that Dessner was a huge fan of.

“Yeah, Aaron was a huge advocate for that song,” says Lovett. “It felt like there was an opportunity to explore something musically and thematically that was a bit different to the rest of the record.”

Mumford, who has two daughters and a son with actress Carey Mulligan, adds: “It has a hymnal and intentionally repetitive, melodic thing like in a Trad Irish song.

“Ben is being modest but he had this clear vision for that song.

“Then we sat down and Ben made a little demo of his chord sequence, and I fell in love with it.

“I’d been writing some words that morning and it became an essential band moment.

“We sit quietly and play along until we have an idea. Ted Dwane was on the bass, Ben was on the piano, Aaron was playing a guitar, I was writing words.

“Aaron understands being in a band very well and when we play to our strengths. It fell together like that and is a good example of the alchemy of being in a band.”

Lovett, who has a young daughter with his partner, American fashion executive Molly Howard, says: “Having kids act as a mirror to your life makes you want to be a slightly better version of yourself.

“We all take fatherhood quite seriously and it means that when we’re together, it’s cherished in a very different way.

“There was a real fun and silliness to our 20s that was inefficient — like staying out until 5am just because, why not have one more?

“I think there’s something beautiful about treating this with more care. It’s a very precious thing.

“Being in Mumford & Sons is amazing and we’re lucky we get the opportunity to do this.

“And finding out we have people all over the place who appreciate that we continue to still do this, is a charger for Chapter Two.”

Mumford adds, smiling: “I would say we’re in the phase where we take our work more seriously but take ourselves less seriously.

“Making my solo album made me fall back in love with the band. I love these lads and the sense of belonging and home we get from being this band together.

“When we got back together it was like we renewed our vows.

“It’s very silly but a privilege so we’re really trying to be present and our audience has made us more grateful and appreciative. Seeing new and younger fans getting into the songs has been amazing.

“I think we’re about at the point of our career where Radiohead were when they released Hail To The Thief — that was my way into Radiohead. It’s my favourite record of all time. And through that record I discovered the rest of their catalogue.

“They’d always felt like my brother’s band, who is older than me, but then this album came out when I passed my driving test.

“I hope that Prizefighter is that first Mumford album for some people.”

Making an album so soon after another, has been inspiring and Mumford says: “We never want to turn the tap off. The tap still feels like it’s got something in it.

“We could have released Prizefighter a week after Rushmere, but we wanted to give people space and time, but now the idea is to be accelerating that process so that we can show people.

“I hope we can start writing songs and releasing them the next day, like Bruce f***ing Springsteen!

“Our Hyde Park show in July will be a celebration for us — the centrepiece of our year.

“We are inviting guests and friends and crafting the line-up at the moment.

“We’ve announced The War On Drugs, who are one of the best bands in the world and people know from working with Sam Fender.

“There’ll be more we can tell you about soon, which will be fun, we really put time and effort into those line-ups.

“Hyde Park is going to be wicked, with plenty of surprises on the day too.”

Lovett adds: “Prizefighter is important to us.

“As a band, we’ve had some fun getting here, but I think this album sets us up for a really bright future.”

• Prizefighter is out today.

MUMFORD & SONS

Prizefighter

★★★★☆

SWIFTIES assemble! Your favourite superstar Taylor could be in line to make a very special surprise appearance at next week’s Brit Awards.

Right now, there is a bit of a blank space when it comes to the exact details of her possible attendance at the celebrations.

In fact, no one seems to know what will happen on the night.

I can exclusively reveal, though, that Tay, along with an enormous entourage of more than 20 people, secretly landed in the UK this week.

I’m told they’re going to be visiting Manchester next week — the location for this year’s Brits.

Their schedule then sees them leaving the UK a week on Monday — just a couple of days after the ceremony.

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My music industry mole said: “Taylor is hiding out in London at the moment and is scheduled to visit Manchester, which seems like she could be lined up for a surprise appearance at the Brit Awards.

“Taylor was handed the Global Icon Award at the ceremony back in 2021 and has a huge amount of respect for the Brits. She loves it.

“Brits bosses are trying to keep everything under lock and key, but it feels too much like a coincidence that Taylor is secretly in the UK at the exact time of the Brits.

“The fact her team are all heading home the Monday after the ceremony is fishy. Manchester is an amazing city, but Taylor wouldn’t just be coming to look at the cathedral and the Etihad, would she?”

As lovely as those landmarks are, I doubt it.

If Tay is at the city’s Co-op Live arena on February 28, I think it could be the greatest coup for the Brits. She always delivers a show, on and off the stage.

In 2015, when I was working for Heat magazine, I exclusively revealed that Taylor had hooked up with Calvin Harris at an after-party, with the pair dating for a year.

And in 2021, when she received the Global Icon Award while we were mired in Covid restrictions, she had a very safe knees-up with pals including Haim and Olivia Rodrigo.

This time around, I know Manchester is ready for one massive party and having Taylor front and centre would be phenomenal.

And given her ex Harry Styles is also on the bill, I think it could be a very exciting night.

…AND SHE’S No1 AGAIN

TAYLOR has been named the biggest-selling artist globally of 2025 – the fourth year in a row that she’s topped the list.

The singer, who also took the title in 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024, triumphed thanks to the release of her 12th album, The Life Of A Showgirl, in October.

She is just ahead of K-pop group Stray Kids, who have become megastars around the world, despite not having chart success in the UK.

The list has been compiled by the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry, which compiles streaming, downloads and physical formats in every country for its global artist chart.

The biggest gainer was Super Bowl headliner Bad Bunny, who hopped up from No20 in 2024 to No5, while country star Morgan Wallen rose from No13 to No7.

And there was good news for Lady Gaga.

She has re-entered the list at No10 for the first time since 2020, following the release of her album Mayhem.

JADE HAS A LITTLE HELPER IN GROOT

JADE THIRLWALL got comfort from a surprising source after stepping away from her musical roots when Little Mix went on hiatus in 2021.

She admitted walking around with a teddy version of Groot – the tree-like character from Guardians Of The Galaxy – on her shoulder as she pined for her girlband pals.

On new podcast By The Way  . . . With Harriet Rose, out today, Jade said: “Little Mix, that was my life. I’m very career driven and poured everything into Little Mix.

“So when that kind of stopped, that was a massive shock to the system. I had a little bit of a mini menty-b [mental breakdown].

“I had a little teddy of Groot and started wearing it on my shoulder all the time. It was really weird.

“After Little Mix, I went on holiday with my friends and they were like, ‘Why do you keep wearing Groot on your shoulder?’. I think I was replacing the girls with Groot.

“My friends were like, ‘I think it’s time to stop wearing Groot’.”

MILEY CYRUS will take part in a special for Disney+ to mark the 20th anniversary of her breakout show Hannah Montana.

In the one-off, which is to be screened on March 24, she will be interviewed by podcaster Alex Cooper in front of a live studio audience to look back at the series.

Miley said: “This ‘Hannahversary’ is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who’ve stood by me for 20 years.”

YELL OF A LOOK, PRIYANKA

PRIYANKA CHOPRA spread some joy in this bright yellow outfit ahead of the premiere for her new movie The Bluff.

She wore the thigh-high dress at a photocall before changing into a leather look for the Los Angeles launch of the action thriller on Tuesday night.

The actress was supported on the red carpet by her husband Nick Jonas, who she grabbed by the cheeks while leaning in for a kiss, inset.

Nick released his fifth solo album Sunday Best earlier this month, but it failed to crack the charts.

Here’s hoping her movie fares better.

SHAUN BLASTS TRUMP

US President Donald Trump winds up many people – and Shaun Ryder is no exception.

The Happy Mondays frontman has channelled that into music and written his angriest ever song about Donald, who he branded “orange, fat and bloated”.

In an exclusive chat about their new album, Shaun told me: “Trump keeps popping up.

“There’s plenty on that f***ing orange, motherf***ing waste of space.

“Although I’ve not been mentioning his name, some songs are definitely influenced by that w***er. I f***ing hate him.

“He’s just a p**ck. You might as well have me and Bez up there saying s**t. We have probably got more of a clue than he has.

“I just can’t stand the f***ing man. You can see how it’s affecting me lyrically. I wrote one song that goes, ‘You orange, fat, bloated ****! You f***ing lying, f***ing delusional t**t!’ How’s that for a chorus?”

Brilliant, Shaun.

He also takes a pop at Nigel Farage on the record and said: “Reform, f*** me.

“Every time it gets a bit tough and people haven’t got jobs, it’s ‘blame f***ing immigrants, blame this’,’ it never changes. “That’s the f***ing world, the world is on a loop.

“We never seem to learn f*** all about wars or anything.”

RITA’S TIPS TO BRUSH OFF TROLLS

RITA ORA has advice for ignoring online trolls who target her and other celebs.

The Anywhere singer recites mantras to get into a good headspace.

Rita has teamed up with tech company Meta for a video series on Instagram in a bid to help others.

She said: “You can’t be afraid of something you can’t control.

“You can’t control it, stop thinking about it. These are the mantras I say to myself every day in the mirror.”

Rita added: “Comments can cut. Every tiny thing gets magnified and everyone can see through the walls.

“Someone in the public eye may have more people looking at them but the walls are just as fragile. The doubts are really what helps me make great songs though.”

Personally, I just like to laugh at the trolls, who are always sad, decrepit nobodies, who should get off the internet and find a job.

ACTOR Daniel Radcliffe does not want the cast of the new Harry Potter HBO TV show to be compared to those in the original movies.

He was boy wizard Harry on film, but that role is now Dominic McLaughlin’s.

Daniel said: “Just let them get on with it, it’s going to be a new, different thing.

“I’m sure Dominic is going to be better than me.”

ROB HITS WIG TIME

ROBERT PATTINSON is unrecognisable in this blond wig as he sits on the floor holding a ciggie.

The actor posed for Interview magazine, in which he and his The Drama co-star Zendaya interviewed each other.

Even she was puzzled about the snaps, saying: “The theme was, I don’t know.”

Rob revealed he doesn’t feel welcome in Hollywood, admitting: “I’m never really allowed in. I’m always knocking at the door, like, ‘Hey, guys. Where the party at?’

“And everyone just gets younger and younger.”

TRAVIS Kelce showered Taylor Swift with gifts from the heart at the weekend – but that’s just the start of something special, insiders have told The U.S. Sun.

Loving Travis wanted to commemorate their last Valentine’s Day together before their blockbuster wedding this summer with a string of surprises.

A source close to the A-list pair said the Cruel Summer star was treated to three stunning Louis Vuitton items, a beautiful Hermes caftan and two classy, stylish watches costing in excess of $100,000.

The insider says NFL legend Travis wanted to make their last Valentine’s Day as an engaged couple “unique and special” and ended up spending $141,000 in total.

But The U.S. Sun understands in the build up to the big day, which is slated for June, the romantic three-time Super Bowl winner, who has a strong track record of beautiful gift surprises, has something very loving in the works. 

“Starting 100 days before the big day — then again at 50 days, 30 days, and every day during the final month — he will have flower bouquets delivered to her,” claimed the well-placed insider.

“She’ll receive all her favorite flowers: roses in many colors, hydrangeas, and orchids. He wants her to feel overwhelmed in the best possible way — surrounded by one of the things she loves most in life: flowers and their sweet scent.”

The U.S. Sun revealed last year that Taylor wants to turn the proposed wedding venue – her sumptuous $32 million pad in Rhode Island – into a floral wonderland. 

There are plans to reportedly spend a whopping $1.2 million on the landscaping, including hiring specialist gardeners to ensure their dreams are transformed into a stunning reality.

But as our insider revealed, Taylor will have fallen further in love after Travis’ super thoughtful Valentine’s day surprises.

The couple love keeping up with the latest trends – it’s claimed they regularly text each other with pieces they are interested in.

So Travis, knowing Taylor had mentioned the Louis Vuitton pieces recently, snapped up a $3,900 knit jacket, a $2,330 skirt and a signature patch varsity jacket. 

“Travis had them very high on his list of gifts for his fiancée,” said the source.

According to the official description, the Denim-Effect Knit Jacket looks like classic denim but feels far more luxurious. 

It’s tailored and polished, and effortlessly cool – perfect to throw on for a casual day out or dress up for a night in the city. 

Ever the fashionista, Travis paired it with the matching Denim-Effect Knit Skirt, while the Varsity Jacket is described as a “statement piece.”

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS

The Hermès caftan was spotted in a magazine recently and Travis reportedly “immediately thought” of his superstar singer partner. 

The source said Travis felt it was the kind of piece she would love wearing on upcoming trips — especially with trips to warmer destinations in the coming weeks and for their honeymoon.

“They fit her style perfectly,” added the insider. 

It’s a wonderful haul – but Travis wasn’t finished there. 

He also bought her an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch costing a cool $91,600.

The couple noticed the shiny, extremely luxurious piece on someone’s wrist a couple of weeks ago. 

Travis, says the source, loves watches and wants his wife-to-be to build a strong collection too.

On top of that, there was also a classy, $33,600 Rolex 1908 — a more masculine model, which fits her taste. 

“She likes incorporating slightly masculine pieces into her style, whether it’s jackets, vests, or watches, to add edge to her outfits. He enjoys spoiling her with beautiful, high-end items like that.”

SYDNEY Sweeney and her ex-fiance appear to be moving forward with the renovation of the $6 million Hollywood home they purchased before their split, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.

Sydney, 28, and producer Jonathan Davino, 42, reportedly bought a fixer-upper in Bel Air, Los Angeles, at auction in 2023.

According to property filings, it was purchased under a trust, and the couple paid $250,000 over the original asking price.

A mortgage was taken out with City National Bank for $4.34 million, with a maturity date of June 2053, according to documents.

Sydney and Jonathan split in early 2025, and the Euphoria star is now dating former music manager Scooter Braun, 44.

Despite the breakup, it appears they have no plans to abandon the home project.

Jonathan was seen at the property following their breakup with Sydney’s dog, Tank, as he checked on the clean-up progress.

Now, The U.S. Sun can confirm things are moving along with plans to renovate the pool at the historic home, once owned by Hollywood screenwriter Delmer Daves.

Records from late December indicate that an initial building permit application was submitted for a new pool and spa with a solar heating system.

The contractor on file is Ventura Pools Masonry, while the application was filed by Mae Wachtel of Helping Hand for Contractors.

EXTENSIVE CLEAN-UP

According to Ventura Pools’ website, they are a recognized name in the industry and “have built everything from Olympic-sized pools to 90-foot-long water features.”

They added, “We bring more than 20 years of experience to the table and look forward to the challenge of building projects that are difficult.”

Detailed plans obtained from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety show the pool’s layout and also list a second contractor from Pool Engineering, Inc.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Sydney’s rep for comment on Jonathan’s involvement with the project.

The 1930s-era estate sits on 1.25 acres and offers roughly 4,477 square feet of interior space, featuring five bedrooms and four bathrooms.

The original listing highlights the site’s strong potential for a complete rebuild.

In addition to the two-story main house, the property includes a detached guest residence tucked behind it.

When Sydney and Jonathan took ownership, the land was choked with overgrowth, leaving them with an extensive cleanup.

The couple were first connected in 2018 and announced their engagement in 2022.

It is believed they quietly separated around January 2025, with the breakup widely confirmed by March of that year.

NEW ROMANCE

Sweeney later publicly acknowledged she was single and focusing on herself in a May interview.

But by the summer of last year, it was clear she had already found love again, as she was linked to music exec Scooter, who finalized his divorce from wife Yael, the mother of his three children, in 2022.

Sydney and Scooter first stepped out together at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding in June, and they have since been photographed on romantic dates.

Scooter is reportedly worth $500 million, earned from years of managing major artists, including Justin Bieber, and later selling his company.

He owns several lavish homes, including a $65 million mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

Although Sydney’s net worth stands at around $40million, she already has a property portfolio.

She owns a $3 million Tudor-style home just a mile down the road from her Hollywood compound, bought in 2021 after she found fame.

She also snapped up a lavish waterfront retreat in the Florida Keys, purchased in June 2024 for $13.5 million.

Designed for resort-style living, the home includes a private gym, a 520-bottle wine room, and a built-in aquarium.

Outside, the property offers docking for at least six boats, parking for multiple cars, and a saltwater infinity pool overlooking the water, complete with a swim-up bar and in-pool seating.

WUTHERING Heights star Margot Robbie would soak up views of the Yorkshire Dales from a bath while there for filming, a hotel owner has revealed.

Staff said the 35-year-old Aussie became a real “Yorkshire lass”, wearing wellies and a wax jacket — and pulling pints.

Margot, who plays Cathy Earnshaw in the tragedy, spent three weeks at 17th-century Simonstone Hall Hotel in Hawes, North Yorks, last year.

Other cast members also stayed including Jacob Elordi, 28, who plays brooding Heathcliff.

Barbie actress Margot was given the hotel’s best room, the luxury £300-a-night Langtry Suite.

Staff said she was obsessed with having a daily bath in its free-standing tub by a large window so she could enjoy the view.

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Meanwhile, Australian Jacob requested a “dog-friendly” room for his golden retriever Layla.

Margot is effortlessly beautiful and even looked good in wellies and a wax jacket.

Hotel owner Jake Dinsdale on Margot

Hotel owner Jake Dinsdale told The Sun on Sunday: “Margot was absolutely lovely.

“She was very down-to-earth — a real Yorkshire lass at heart.

“Margot is effortlessly beautiful and even looked good in wellies and a wax jacket.”

He added: “I’ve got an old school Land Rover and she asked me to drive her to the set in it a couple of times.”

Jake said Margot had a go at pulling a pint of Simonstone Ale.

He added: “There were a few wild nights, drinking negronis and martinis, or hanging out in the hot tub or by the fire.

“But on weekends it was always very relaxed.

“Margot had a Sunday roast in the restaurant and enjoyed our afternoon tea.”

Filming took place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park 30 miles from Haworth, West Yorks, where Wuthering Heights author Emily Bronte grew up.

Margot returned in the summer for a break with producer husband Tom Ackerley and their baby son.

They visited Hardraw Force, England’s highest single drop waterfall — where Tom, 35, had a dip to recreate a scene in 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Custodian of the falls Mark Thompson said: “I remember Margot saying how much she enjoyed Yorkshire and they bought a photo of the falls from the gift shop.”

Wuthering Heights was released in cinemas on Friday.

THE desperate search for Nancy Guthrie is nearing a gut-wrenching two weeks after investigators said she was taken from her home against her will in the dark of night during the early hours of February 1.

The baffling case of the apparent kidnapping of the mother of popular Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie has captivated the country, making her rural Catalina Foothills community ground zero for news outlets and true crime influencers.

Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie disappeared sometime after 2:28am on February 1 after her pacemaker disconnected from her phone, which was left behind.

In the days since her family reported her missing, Pima County and FBI investigators have conducted repeated searches at both Nancy’s and her daughter Annie’s homes, which are located about 4 miles from each other.

The mounting pressure to locate Nancy has reportedly led to clashes between Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and the FBI.

Nanos has reportedly blocked federal agents from obtaining key evidence, including gloves and other DNA found inside Nancy’s home, according to Fox News.

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Federal investigators have reportedly asked Nanos for the items to be processed at the FBI’s national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

However, Nanos sent the evidence for testing at a private lab in Florida, according to the outlet.

Nanos disputed the claims, telling NBC affiliate KVOA that the reports were “not even close to the truth.”

But it has been Nancy’s unlit, secluded desert neighborhood that has made the investigation challenging for law enforcement.

Secluded area

The U.S. Sun was on the ground in Tucson and experienced first-hand the rugged stretch of desert terrain that surrounds Nancy’s home and those of her neighbors.

Nancy’s property is located on a roughly mile-long road with no street lights or cameras, dense vegetation, and away from hotels and commercial businesses.

The community is roughly 44.6 miles of desert, according to the Arizona Republic.

The affluent area is popular for hikers due to its mountainous terrain and hilly roads.

Unlit roads

At night and without a flashlight, it is impossible to see where you’re walking or what is in front of you.

Locals, who for decades have called the Catalina Foothills home, relayed to The U.S. Sun that the lack of lights in the community is to protect astronomical research at various observatories in Tucson.

A neighbor told The U.S. Sun that homeowners in the area are encouraged not to have landscape lights on their properties.

“If you have lights, landscape lights on your house, don’t point them up. You want them to point at the wall or down on the ground, not the sky,” said the woman, who asked not to be named.

The sound of chirping crickets and coyotes howling in the night is the only sign of life when you’re standing on the dark remote roads.

The same neighbor told The U.S. Sun that at night she often hears barking and whooping from coyotes around the neighborhood.

“Sometimes we have bobcats. But overall, we don’t have a lot of noise,” she added.

Off-road homes

Unlike traditional neighborhoods where homes are situated closely to one another, the layout of the Catalina Foothills is starkly different.

There are no sidewalks, and neighboring most homes is a desert environment with skin-tearing cacti and thick shrubs.

Most of the residential homes are spaced out off main roads, only have a ground level, and are tucked in behind long driveways.

Due to the dense shrubs, the darkness of unlit roads, and where many of the homes sit; even if doorbell camera footage is available from neighbors, they would not capture activity on local streets.

The lack of surveillance cameras on main roads has forced local and federal investigators to go door-to-door to nearby residences for any home security camera footage they may have.

Desperate search

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has laid out a timeline of what they believe were Nancy’s final hours before she was allegedly kidnapped.

On the afternoon of January 31, Nancy took an Uber to her daughter Annie and her son-in-law Tommaso Cionni’s house for dinner.

At 9:48pm that evening, Sheriff Nanos said Cionni dropped off his mother-in-law at her home.

In the early hours of February 1, Nancy’s doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47am.

At 2:12am, software from one of Nancy’s cameras on her property detected a person.

Then, at 2:28am, Nancy’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone.

By 11:56am, Nancy’s family arrived at her home after being alerted by a friend that their mother missed Sunday mass.

After not being able to locate Nancy, the family calls Pima County deputies to report her missing.

Roughly 10 minutes later, deputies arrive at the scene and uncover “concerning” evidence, including a trail of blood on the porch outside the home and Nancy’s missing doorbell camera.

The FBI has since obtained the doorbell camera footage from the night of Nancy’s disappearance, which showed a man wearing a ski mask using a plant from the lawn to obscure the camera’s lens.

Federal investigators described the man as average build, between 5’9′ and 5’10’, wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

The FBI is offering $100,000 for any information leading to the man’s arrest.

Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home on February 1, 2026.

Timeline:

• January 31: Nancy is last seen by her family
  • 5:32pm: Nancy travels to her daughter’s home for dinner, about 11 minutes from her own house.
  • 9:48pm: Family members drop off Nancy Guthrie at her home in Tucson. Her garage door closes two minutes later.
• February 1: Nancy is reported missing and a search begins
  • 1:47am: Nancy’s doorbell camera disconnects
  • 2:12am: Camera software detects a person moving in range of the camera. There is no video, and Nancy does not have a storage description.
  • 2:28am: Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone, which is later found still at her house.
  • Around 11am: A parishioner at Nancy’s church calls the mom’s children and says she failed to show up for service.
  • 11:56am: Family members arrive at Nancy’s house to check on her.
  • 12:03pm: The family calls 911 to report Nancy missing.
  • 8:55pm: The Pima County Sheriff’s Office gives its first press conference and reveals some clues found at Nancy’s home caused “grave concern.” Sheriff Chris Nanos says helicopters, drones, and infrared cameras are all being utilized in the search.
• February 2: Search crews pull back. Nancy’s home is considered a crime scene. Savannah releases a statement thanking supporters for their prayers, which her co-hosts read on Today.
• February 3: A trail of blood is pictured outside Nancy’s home, where there were reportedly signs of forced entry. Nanos admits they have no suspects, no leads, and no videos that could lead to Nancy’s recovery. He and the FBI beg for more tips and accounts.
• February 4, 8pm: Savannah and her siblings release a heartbreaking video directed at their mother’s abductors asking for proof she is alive and saying they’re willing to work with them to get her back.
• February 5: FBI offers $50,000 reward for information on the case.
  • 5pm: First ransom demand deadline for millions in Bitcoin passes. Guthrie family releases demand to speak “directly” to the kidnappers, saying, “We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
• February 9, 5pm: Second ransom demand deadline, reportedly with “much more serious” conditions.

GORDON Ramsay has hailed David and Victoria Beckham as fantastic parents — and said time will help Brooklyn heal their heartbreaking family feud.

The Michelin-starred restauranteur, 59, said he loves the aspiring chef, 26, and has been in contact offering support.

He also spoke for the first time about that dance at Brooklyn’s 2022 wedding to Nicola Peltz – which he attended alongside wife Tana.

Loyal Gordon, a long-time family friend, said: “It’s a very difficult situation.

“Victoria is upset, and I know 24/7, seven days a week, just how much David loves Brooklyn.

“Brooklyn and I have messaged a little bit, our relationship is solid. I love him – his heart is incredible.

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“But it’s hard, isn’t it, when you’re infatuated? Love is blind. It’s easy to get up on that rollercoaster, and get carried away. But it will come back.

I know just how many times they have got Brooklyn out of the s***

Gordon on David and Victoria’s parenting

“I’ve seen first-hand just how good parents they are. David as a dad is just incredible.

“They’ve both put so much energy into their kids, and I know just how many times they’ve got Brooklyn out of the s***.

“I think it’s going to be a matter of time before Brooklyn takes a good look at himself and understands just what his parents mean to him.

“He’s desperate to forge his own way, and I respect that from him. It’s such a good thing to do.

“But remember where you came from. And honestly, one day you’re not going to have your mum and dad, and you need to understand that.

“That penny will drop.

“I just want Brooklyn to take a moment to himself. And remember: you’re half mum, half dad. And you’re an amazing young man.

“But, boy, they’ve done more for you than anyone did in your entire life.

‘Time the best healer’

”Time’s going to be the best healer, and David will absolutely get that relationship back on track.”

While Brooklyn has blocked many of his relatives on Instagram, he and Gordon still follow one another.

The chef, who has almost 20million followers, has backed Brooklyn’s cooking endeavours where others were quick to mock.

Meanwhile, Posh and Becks and Gordon and Tana have been pals for nearly 2½ decades.

Of course, Gordon knows about family feuds in the wake of his recent troubles with new son-in-law Adam Peaty’s clan.

He and Tana also went through hell when her dad, Chris Hutcheson, was jailed for six months in 2017 for hacking company computers.

Gordon says: “Tana and I sat them down, and we buried the hatchet with her parents. It’s family, it’s what you do.”

In his damning statement last month, Brooklyn accused his mum of “dancing inappropriately” on him at his wedding.

His friends allege that she “grinded” on the groom. She has since become victim to hundreds of mocking memes.

However unnamed “friends” of the Beckhams hit back at the allegations. Over to Gordon, then, to set the record straight.

He says: “There was nothing salacious. There was nothing inappropriate. Everyone was having fun, having a dance.”

But, Gordon, DID SHE GRIND?

He says: “No! Nothing of the sort. It was fun. I haven’t seen any of the memes, I heard about them of course, but Victoria’s got a great sense of humour.

“She’s great. She’s right to be upset (about the wedding) but she can bat that other s*** away in a heartbeat.

“Victoria and Tana have spoken a lot, they are probably closer than ever – they’re like two peas in a pod, those two.”

When Gordon isn’t playing ace therapist/mediator, he’s been pretty busy on his own terms.

On Wednesday his new six-part Netflix documentary Being Gordon Ramsay airs, detailing his efforts to launch his latest ambitious project.

Britain’s highest eaterie, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High is on the 60th floor of skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London.

I never ever watch myself on telly because it’s just incredibly nerve-wracking.

Gordon Ramsay

The intimate 12-seater chef’s table experience has already earned him another Michelin star. 

I’ve seen the show, and it’s brilliant, giving a fly-on-the-wall look into Gordon’s frenetic and fabulous home life – he and Tana have six kids – as well as the hell of getting a new business off the ground.

He smiles: “I won’t watch it. I never ever watch myself on telly because it’s just incredibly nerve-wracking.

“When you’ve done it and lived it, the last thing you want to do is sit there with lots of popcorn. There’s a level of embarrassment.”

‘Getting softer with age’

Even without Gordon’s viewership, it is sure to be another Netflix smash. Contrary to his bravado, away from the kitchen, and whisper it, but Gordon is a bit of a pussycat, and definitely “getting softer with age”.

He regularly cries, he admits.

He turns 60 in November but in the doc we see super-fit Gordon running outdoors with his young son, Oscar, in the gym and pumping weights. He is ripped.

Wife Tana also recently smashed a Half Ironman in Greece, breezily qualifying for the World Championships in the process. They are a truly impressive power duo, and very clearly still massively in love.

Having trained under Marco Pierre White at the age of 35 Gordon set up his first restaurant, winning three Michelin stars shortly after. He now has eateries across the globe, and is arguably the planet’s most famous chef.

His work ethic is relentless – possibly a result of his humble upbringing. In one episode, Gordon gets emotional recalling his own childhood struggles, growing up on a council estate near Glasgow, and relying on school vouchers to eat.

Today, he has teamed up with a fantastic charity, Feeding Britain, to provide 800,000 kids in poverty with affordable food. Gordon has quietly donated “very heavily” to it.

He recalls: “I was hungry all the time, there was no food in the house.

“I was sometimes too embarrassed to use my vouchers to get my free shepherd’s pie in case, you know, aged 15 or 16, a girl I fancied saw me. I was a skinny f***ng bean.

I remember eating toothpaste thinking that was delicious because there were multiple nights where we never ate. It is appalling that we’re in this situation now.”

Meanwhile, Gordon has been a rock for 26-year-old daughter Holly’s new husband, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty.

Last weekend Gordon said he’d treated the Peaty family “like royalty”, prompting a furious robust from Adam’s estranged mum, Caroline, who was not invited to his and Holly’s December wedding.

She labelled the Ramsays “bullies”. ”I am certainly not a bully, and it is so appalling to even suggest there was any bullying,” he sighs.

“That’s absolute nonsense. It was sad to see that barrage of negativity that was self-propelled by them.

“But Adam is an incredible young lad and he and Holly are a wonderful, happy, young couple.”

So, would Gordon fancy being a grandad?

He says: “Jesus Christ. They’re still on their f***ing honeymoon!

“But I do laugh sometimes when I’m in the park with [two-year-old son] Jesse.

“I was taking him to a football match last Saturday, and then this lady said, ‘Oh, it must be so nice to have the grandkids at the weekend!’

“And I’m like, ‘Are you f***ing serious woman? Grandkids?! That’s my son!’”

• Being Gordon Ramsay is available on Netflix from Wednesday.

60th WILL BE ADELE OF A PARTY

THE very sweary superstar — I counted 27 f***s in the new documentary’s first episode – hopes superstar singer Adele will bring birthday cheer on his 60th in November.

Obviously, for a man not feted for his thriftiness, there will be a huge party, also celebrating his 30th anniversary with Tana.

“We are hoping Adele will sing,” he grins. “Tana loves Adele and I saw her in Vegas when she was playing the Colosseum, and she was a customer of ours in Chelsea.

“She is an incredibly gracious, talented woman, and a real foodie. She loves that kind of fine dining style.”

Anyone who thought Cruz Beckham was just another nepo-baby musician should think again — that boy is seriously good on a guitar.

He made his live radio debut on Chris Evans’s TFI Unplugged on Virgin Radio UK with his band The Breakers and proved his mettle.

Their new track, For Your Love, is packed with promise — gentle and lilting before it ramps up to an Indie-anthemic chorus.

The video is also out now and features a special appearance from Victoria’s dad, Tony Adams.

Cruz said: “Tony is my grandad, he is an amazing human. He was in a band when he was younger. I love talking to him about music and playing songs.

“Once I found out he was part of a band I got a lot more into it. I found out about The Beatles because of him.”

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It’s clear the Fab Four are a big influence for Cruz, along with a smudge of Oasis and a large splattering of The Stone Roses — his dad David’s favourite band.

Chatting after their performance, Cruz said: “I’ve always wanted to be in a band. Growing up, listening to so much band music, it was always important to me.

“When I was in the studio, there was always something missing. I always wanted stuff around me.

“We met through my girlfriend [Jackie Apostel] who is a songwriter. I went to see one of their gigs and the sparks flew from there.”

The group have already put out tracks including Optics and Lick The Toad, but like Cruz, For Your Love is my favourite by far. Cruz added: “Optics wasn’t my favourite song.

“I wanted to put For Your Love out first. I just think it was a different way into it.”

Cruz and The Breakers have just finished their debut run of shows with Welsh indie group, The Royston Club, and are now preparing to head out on their first solo tour — with almost all of the 14 dates nearly sold out.

“The Royston boys hadn’t heard anything that we were playing,” Cruz explained.

“They didn’t know if we could play a tune to be honest and they just accepted us and it was nuts. It was a whole new thing for me, I’d never really gigged in front of people. But every night it got easier and a lot less stressful.”

Opening up about their influences, Cruz, alongside his bandmates Dan Ewins, Telmo Seixas and Dario Scotti, all cited rock bands — including Machine Head, Rage Against The Machine and Born Of Osiris — as their first shows.

Cruz was more true to form though, joking with Chris: “Other than Spice Girls age two?

“My dad took me to a Stone Roses gig at Old Trafford.”

Chris then revealed David had been listening from home and told Cruz: “Now you’ve mentioned your mum and dad.

“We played Stone Roses at 6:45am and your dad texted me and said: ‘You can’t get enough Stone Roses.’”

True that, David.

I think there’s an exciting future ahead for Cruz and co, so take a look at their performance on Virgin Radio UK’s YouTube channel to see them singing live for yourself.

Millie looks ace

It’s game, set and matching outfit for Millie Bobby Brown as she poses on a tennis court to model her latest fashion range.

The Brit actress was promoting her clobber for fashion brand Florence By Mills, while taking a break after a mammoth tour for the final series of cult Netflix show Stranger Things.

The tennis ball in an ice-cream cone was certainly a stranger thing – but she serves up a good look.

Scott backing UK Eurovision hope

The UK’s Eurovision entry has finally been chosen and Scott Mills has high hopes.

The Radio 2 DJ, who goes to the contest every year, has revealed the BBC are playing him the chosen song next week ahead of a grand announcement later this month.

And he insists we have a good chance, despite mixed results recently, as the standard of our tunes has improved.

Asked in an exclusive chat if he has heard it, Scott said: “No, but I know they’re going to play it to me next week. But I’m really in the dark about it this year.

“I don’t feel embarrassed by any of the artists or songs that we have sent recently.

“I’m not gonna say when, but I’ve worked on Eurovision so long that when they would play me the song I’d be like ‘OK, right then, I’ve got to sell this now….’

“It was quite a while ago now. And that doesn’t really happen any more.

“But I say that now…”

Yesterday Scott was named in Attitude 101, empowered by Bentley, in it’s annual list of 100 LGBTQ+ trailblazers.

Scott, who attended the glitzy lunch with his husband Sam, explained: “I’ve never had a gay honour.

“This magazine is iconic, and also, I have mad imposter syndrome so I’m like, ‘Why am I on this list?!’”

But he is thrilled that homophobia, for him, is in the past.

He said: “When we did Race Across The World, I thought that there might be, like, ‘Oh, God, a gay couple,’ because that’s kind of where I’m from, and that’s what I’m used to.

“And I think it’s all in our heads. That’s what really made me go, ‘Oh, OK, there has been a shift here.’”

And although they aren’t considering it now, having a child isn’t off the table.

He added of becoming a dad: “It’s a huge thing. I would like to, but my schedule is so unpredictable and ridiculous still.

“I thought by this time in my career, things would have kind of calmed down a bit, but it’s got busier than ever.”

Tate’s Can do attitude

Tate McRae’s fans are still right behind her, it seems, despite the singer causing a storm after backing Team USA in the Winter Olympics rather than her native Canada.

Die-hards mobbed her as she enjoyed a night out in Paris with mates.

But Tate, who looked chic in a black leather jacket and miniskirt, happily signed autographs and posed for selfies.

It’s the first time she has been seen out since she made a very Gen Z apology for getting behind the Yanks.

She shared a sweet picture of herself as a child, waving a Canadian flag, and wrote: “Y’all know I’m Canada down.”

I’m sure the cash Tate got for this gig more than made up for the criticism.

Tom’s on hand for proposal

My favourite pop star Tom Grennan helped pull off a heart-melting proposal on Capital Breakfast yesterday.

Show hosts Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby have spent the past fortnight dropping hints about their “secret fiance” (Darren Spencer) during their shows but his girlfriend, Sophie Black, who listened every day on her commute was none the wiser.

Sophie believed she was a competition winner who had bagged a night’s stay at the Jumeirah Hotel in London.

But at breakfast a flash mob of choir singers got up and started performing, Tom popped out to sing his hit, Little Bit Of Love, and Darren got down on one knee.

Sophie, who said yes, said: “Never in a million years did I think he could pull off something like that.”

Katherine Ryan looked as smooth as the cartoon characters at London’s new Pixar attraction.

She showed off the results of her facelift as she cradled daughter Fenna at the launch of the Mundo Pixar Experience in Wembley on Thursday.

Mermaid is little bit naughty

The tale of the Little Mermaid is tipped on its head in a new musical – telling the story from the villain’s perspective.

Camp and hilarious show Unfortunate: The Untold Story Of Ursula The Sea Witch is packed with naughty gags and belting songs, and sees Sam Buttery play the deliciously wicked protagonist.

It launched at London’s Other Palace theatre . . .  although drag queen Tiara Skye caused quite a stir in the audience.

The TikTok star, who it seemed had enjoyed a few drinks, repeatedly heckled the actors and left some of them clearly miffed.

It’s fair to say that Doctor Who’s Yasmin Finney, who was unfortunately sat next to Tiara, looked absolutely mortified by the crazy outbursts.

Taylor Swift scores her sixth No1 single with Opalite, after originally peaking at No2 last year. Olivia Dean, right, stays top of the album charts, ahead of Bad Bunny, whose Super Bowl show has propelled Debí Tirar Más Fotos up to No2 and his single DtMF is at No4.

Single

1. Opalite – Taylor Swift
2. Raindance – Dave & Tems
3. Where Is My Husband! – Raye
4. DtMF – Bad Bunny
5. Rein Me In – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean
6. So Easy (To Fall In Love) – Olivia Dean
7. Lush Life – Zara Larsson
8. Man I Need – Olivia Dean
9. I Just Might – Bruno Mars
10. Stateside – Pink Pantheress with Zara Larsson

Albums

1. The Art Of Loving – Olivia Dean
2. Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny
3. The Fall-Off – J Cole
4. 50 Years: Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
5. The Highlights – The Weeknd
6. Piss In The Wind – Joji
7. Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
8. The Essential – Michael Jackson
9. You’ll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) – Alex Warren
10. +–=÷×– (Tour Collection – Ed Sheeran

It was a clothes brand beloved by football hooligans for decades before becoming distinctly uncool when Arsenal-supporting PM Keir Starmer picked up one of the £150 polo shirts.

But now fashion company Stone Island is undergoing another major rebrand — and has just pulled in Stephen Graham and Skepta to help make it happen.

I’m told Adolescence actor Stephen and the rapper filmed a top-secret new campaign in London last week in a bid to breathe fresh blood into the brand.

My fashion mole said: “Stephen’s stock is now sky high after Adolescence, and Stone Island want credibility.

“Stephen brings this in spades. It’s a serious deal and they think it’s going to be hugely popular.

“He is the man of the moment thanks to Adolescence, plus he’s a very cool, low-key individual, which is what Stone Island loves.

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“Bringing Skepta in on the deal keeps it edgy. He is an incredible musician and brings real integrity to Stone Island.

“His fan base is massive and there is a huge, untapped audience Stone Island thinks they can reach with him in their clothes.

“The shoot was kept under lock and key but it’s very moody and very cool, with them walking the streets in Stone Island clobber, with the famous compass badge on show.

“It’s likely the advert will be released in the coming weeks, with billboards and a massive push on social media.”

In my teenage years, Stone Island was the uniform of my school’s hardest, and definitely most stupid, kids.

Posh boy

It’s recently had a resurgence, with posh boy DJ Cassius Taylor, whose grandad was the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth, coming on board in 2024 to give the Italian company a refresh.

He said at the time he wanted to bring the influence of the British arts scene to the brand, with Ed Sheeran and later American film director Spike Lee all seen wearing Stone Island clobber.

If anyone can make it cool one more, it’s Stephen and Skepta.

Now the company just needs to put a blanket ban on Sir Keir wearing its clothes ever again.

Keep your chin up, Olivia

On her first night out since revealing she is getting divorced, I thought Olivia Attwood might be nursing a broken heart.

But it almost looked like she’d hurt her neck, too, when the reality star turned up to a showbiz London bash in this crop top, which resembled a fuzzy brace.

The ex-Love Islander recently split from footballer Bradley Dack and didn’t seem in the spirit to let her hair down at Glamour and EE’s Bafta Rising Star party in Knightsbridge, leaving after just an hour.

And fresh from news of the Pussycat Dolls reunion, Ashley Roberts was feline flirty in this sheer dress.

Other celebrities at the bash included AJ Odudu and Radio 6 Music’s Beth Ditto, who was one of the last guests standing.

You can cast your vote now on who you want to see win the Rising Star gong at the EE Baftas, which will take place on February 22.

Hopefully there’s more familiar faces letting their hair down then.

Shop ahoy for Cruz

Cruz Beckham shopped until he dropped with his bandmates The Breakers – but he kept it thrifty.

One of my pals saw the youngest son of Posh and Becks at trendy clothing shop Retro Man in Notting Hill, West London, where he spent £250 on clobber for the group.

He was also joined by his girlfriend, songwriter Jackie Apostel.

“Cruz might be absolutely loaded but he kept to a budget when he was shopping for the band,” my mate told me last night.

“They bought a £10 scarf, a top for £20 and a vest which was supposed to be £15 but the shop owner knocked off a fiver. All of them got decked out for £250.

“Cruz’s girlfriend Jackie was there and helped them choose things. They were in a really good mood and Cruz was joking around, saying the band were the next ‘Fab Four’.”

Cruz and The Breakers are on Chris Evans’s Virgin Radio UK Breakfast show this morning to promote their single For Your Love, which is out today.

Other new releases include Blue by Mae Stephens, as well as Charli XCX’s Wuthering Heights soundtrack, featuring a track co-written with Stranger Things’ Joe Keery, also known as singer Djo.

Hailey’s nightie on the town

Hailey Bieber gave husband Justin an early Valentine’s Day treat when she walked the red carpet in this sheer dress.

The beauty mogul wore the daring lacy outfit to the Sydney premiere of Wuthering Heights.

Given how racy I’ve heard the flick is, perhaps it will help spice things up at home.

She attended the event during a whirlwind promotional tour to launch her beauty brand Rhode in Oz.

Videos have shown thousands of fans lining the streets to catch a glimpse of her there, which shows how her star power has rocketed in the past few years.

It really is amazing what a bit of lip gloss can do.

Cyn sucks with Drac autocue

West End audiences are out for blood after accusing Cynthia Erivo of not learning her lines for a new production of Dracula.

The Wicked actress has given her first few performances of the show, but some punters were less than impressed by the fact she is using an autocue for lines.

To be fair, Cynthia is playing all 23 parts in the play, which means she had a hell of a lot to learn.

But some people have said she simply isn’t prepared for the part if she doesn’t know the script.

With tickets costing up to £225, I can see why they might be ticked off.

To make matters worse, the show is filled with complex filmed sections, which meant the autocue was clearly visible on massive screens.

Taking to TikTok, one peeved theatre-goer said: “It was an incredible design. It had all of this amazing tech and a stage management team that were working their butts off – it was incredible to see them at work.

“And amongst all of it you had a central performer who didn’t know her lines. She had autocues at the side of the stage that at times got caught on camera.”

“Absolutely appalling. I think at one point she was keeping an earpiece in. Was she being fed her lines by a voice off stage in the wings?”

Some have defended her, insisting the show is still only in the preview stage.

But with its official opening night on Tuesday, it sounds like Cynthia had better sink her teeth into that script.

Duff tour heads to lucky UK

Hilary Duff is heading out on the biggest tour of her career so far.

She will play arenas around the world after exceptional demand for a handful of intimate shows last month.

The former Disney child star launches The Lucky Me Tour in Florida on June 22, then brings it to the UK and Ireland in September with support from La Roux.

Hilary, whose first album in a decade, Luck . . .  Or Something, will be out a week today, will visit Dublin’s 3Arena on September 6, followed by Cardiff’s Utilita Arena, London’s O2 Arena, Manchester’s AO Arena and finally OVO Hydro in Glasgow.

A pre-sale begins on Tuesday, with tickets going on general sale next Friday.

Chain of Hope’s annual celebrity art auction is back, with Gillian Anderson, Olivia Colman, Mel B and Emma Bunton showing off creative skills alongside Fatboy Slim and Graham Norton.

The artwork is on display and available to buy at London’s Saatchi Gallery. The charity helps children from overseas who have heart disease.

Given Taylor Swift is a fan of Graham and cast him in her Opalite video, I wonder if she will snap up his work for the good cause.

Jason on track for Crimbo

It’s only February, but Jason Manford is already planning his next Christmas – complete with new tunes.

The comic reached the Top Ten with his album A Different Stage in 2017 and now wants to put out a festive album, just like Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue and Michael Buble.

Speaking to Bizarre as part of a campaign to lift the nation’s mood with savoury snacks Cheez-Its, of all things, he said: “Because I do the pantos, I keep thinking about Christmas albums. That would be nice.”

‘Silly’ Greg in 1,000-mile relief ride

Greg James is taking one for the Radio 1 team by braving this year’s Red Nose Day challenge.

Unfortunately for the Breakfast Show host, it’s one of the hardest.

Greg, who has already done two Comic Relief challenges and raised more than £2million during his time at the station, is cycling 1,000 miles on a tandem bike.

He will be setting off from Weymouth in Dorset on March 13, then riding through Wales and England before ending up in Edinburgh on Red Nose Day, seven days later.

As well as his fellow Radio 1 DJs, Greg is going to be joined by special guests along the way.

He completed five triathlons in five days in 2016. Two years later, Greg completed Pedal to the Peaks, in which he cycled and climbed Scafell Pike, Snowdon, and Ben Nevis.

At the time, Greg vowed he’d never take on another challenge.

But there must be something in the water as he’s busy getting his Lycra on and training.

He said: “Here I am again. I thought I’d never be so silly to say yes to Comic Relief again, but why not make it a hat-trick?”

We’re right behind you, Greg.

BREAK ups are often messy – none more so than when Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik called time on their six-year romance in 2021. 

There were allegations of infidelity, heated differences over parenting their then one-year-old daughter Khai, and most explosively an escalating conflict with his girlfriend’s mother Yolanda. Now, after Zayn revealed in an explosive podcast that he ‘never loved’ the mother of his only child, insiders tell me how Camp Gigi’s inner circle are red with rage – and the shocking move her mum Yolanda may now take.

Indeed, their relationship has never been rosy.

One Direction singer Zayn, 33, was charged – and pleaded “no contest” to four counts of harassment against Gigi and Yolanda after their spilt in 2021.

The leaked court documents from the time do not paint a pretty picture of the relationship.

According to one account, Zayn got into an argument with Hadid matriarch Yolanda and called her a “f**ing Dutch s**t” and ordered her to ‘stay away from [my] f**ing daughter.’

Another document stated that the Bradford-born musician told Gigi to ‘strap on some f***ing balls and defend your partner against your f***ing mother in my house’ during a phone call with the mother of his child.

So it was a surprise to many among their close circle of friends that they were able to move on from the breakdown of their relationship and move forward on amicable terms. 

It was later confirmed that they shared 50:50 custody of their daughter, with the supermodel’s representative stating she was “solely focused on the best for Khai” and requested privacy.

Father and daughter have since formed a close bond with one another and Khai is said to have inherited Zayn’s musicality, according to sources. 

An associate of the model tells me: “Gigi would have been well within her rights to fight for full custody of their daughter after everything that happened.”

“She decided against that. Of course she wanted to avoid a very public showdown in the courts but ultimately she wanted to do everything in the best interest of Khai – and that meant having Zayn in her life.”

Over the years Gigi has kept a steely silence when it comes to the father of her child, and I’m told the pair had an unwritten rule not to talk about one another publicly. 

That went out of the window on Wednesday when despite writing several love songs about his ex, Zayn claimed he was never in love with Gigi. 

During an interview promoting his new single Die For Me, he reflected on his relationship with the Victoria’s Secret angel. 

He said: “My understanding of love is always developing. 

“At that moment in time, I might have thought it was love, but as I’ve got older, I’ve realized maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was lust. Maybe it was this. Maybe it was that. I don’t feel like it was love.”

He later tried to clarify that he had “the utmost respect for her” but the damage was done. 

One pal of Hadid told me: “There is nothing respectful about badmouthing the mother of your child. Gigi was completely blindsided. It’s all so unnecessary and pathetic.”

“It feels like a grubby ploy to get some headlines ahead of his new album launch.”

“How can he say he was never in love with her? They were together for six years. To even suggest that their daughter was not the product of a loving relationship is cruel beyond words.” 

“Gigi has always refrained from saying an unkind word about him, so it makes it all the more humiliating.”

There is nothing respectful about badmouthing the mother of your child. Gigi was completely blindsided. It’s all so unnecessary and pathetic.

The strength of feeling from her camp is understandable. Not only was Gigi instrumental in the 50:50 parenting arrangement, against the advice of some of her inner circle I’m told, but she has publicly praised Zayn as a father.

In the years following the breakup, she has included him in her Father’s Day tribute when posting to her 76million Instagram followers. 

As well as celebrating her own dad Mohammed, she has posted about “Khai’s baba” including a tender picture of father and daughter in one Instagram story in 2022. 

Just last year, Gigi – who has now found love with Oscar-winning actor Bradley Cooper, 51 – told a Vogue cover interview that she and Malik had entered this new phase of their partnership with “love, and a feeling of camaraderie,”

She added: “We’re not interested in giving everyone our whole story. What we are interested in is raising our daughter together, with so much respect for each other, and not just as co-­parents, but what we’ve been through together.”

“Zayn and I do our custody schedules months in advance. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t change here and there, but we help each other out and have each other’s backs.” 

But during the same podcast appearance this week, Zayn even talked about their differences over parenting. 

Revealing that he had left £500 to his daughter from the Tooth Fairy he said: “It was her first tooth! Her mom gave me s**t about it, and I was like, at the end of the day, I work my ass off, and I should be able to give my kid what I wanna give.”

Even the interviewer defended Gigi, adding: “Hold on. I may have to agree with her mom on this one.”

‘DIGNIFIED SILENCE’

Zayn completed a Las Vegas ­residency last month and has announced a 31-date world tour kicking off in May, and is not looking for love – certainly not a public one. 

The singer – who was previously engaged to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards until their relationship ended in 2015 – also talked about how fame has affected his love life. 

He concluded: “I’m not looking for a public relationship again… I’ve just learned from it that it don’t work for me.”

My source said: “That sounds like a good idea and he should stop talking about his past relationships in public too.” 

There is now concern about how the Hadid clan – which includes mum Yolanda, the outspoken Real Housewives of Beverly Housewives star, dad Mohammad, the real estate mogul and father, supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella, and their brother Anwar – will react. 

“Gigi will maintain a dignified silence and do anything to make Khai happy,” my source said. “But I wouldn’t bet on Yolanda staying quiet.”

If Zayn and Yolanda’s past encounters are an indication of what is in store, then sit back and grab some popcorn.