Exclusives

CHAT show host Jonathan Ross desperately sought to distance himself from shamed former friends Russell Brand and David Walliams last night.

But The Sun can reveal he let rapist Brand stay at his country home, unaware that just weeks earlier the comedian had allegedly attacked a woman in Los Angeles.

Glum Ross appeared deep in thought in London as the scandal threatened to engulf him.

Snaps emerged of him hugging Brand and smiling with Walliams — and in one image he grinned as he lay across their laps.

A picture also showed him with other celebs at a dinner table as Walliams posed with one of his alleged victims, Lilly Creightmore.

Ross, 65, was completely unaware of the rape allegation against Brand when he let him use his holiday home in Swanage, Dorset, in late 2012.

Neither Ross nor his family were there at the time.

It later emerged that in July of that year Brand was accused of raping a woman against a wall in his Los Angeles home — the same month his divorce from singer Katy Perry was finalised.

In a statement, Ross said: “I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation.

“There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct.

“My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.”

Ross was slammed over a 2004 clip of him presenting an awards show saying: “The Comedy Awards is 15 years old — 15 years old.

“And like most 15-year-olds, it’s drunk, it’s unpredictable and it’s probably going home with David Walliams.”

Ross claimed he had not written the joke himself, and yesterday insisted: “I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit.

“This joke was submitted to me by the Comedy Awards script writing team and I believed that the punchline was a reference to the fact he had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect.

“It is also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today about anyone, but that is beside the point.

“Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him.”

Ross added: “I also like to think that I would have acted upon that knowledge.”

Brand, 51, was jailed for 10½ years on Monday for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

He and Ross appeared on several TV shows together.

And on Radio 2 in 2008 they left a series of vulgar voicemails for Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs about his 20-year-old granddaughter Georgina Baillie, who Brand had dated.

At one point, Ross shouted: “He f***ed your granddaughter!”

The scandal saw Brand resign from the BBC and Ross suspended from his TV show for three months.

Ross and Brand also appeared with Noel Fielding on Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2007 — with Brand cracking jokes about rape, later described by fellow panellist Lily Allen as “really horrendous”.

In the episode, Ross moves singer Lily, then just 21, away from Brand and Fielding.

Ross tells her: “I’m a bit concerned because look where you’ve put us — you’ve put the only sexually attractive young lady near two of the best known cocksmen of the business.

“I’m going to insist as a sort of uncle figure in Lily’s life that she moves over there. And then, Lily might go home with her dress still on.”

The scandal saw Brand resign from the BBC and Ross suspended from his TV show for three months.

Ross and Brand also appeared with Noel Fielding on Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2007 — with Brand cracking jokes about rape, later described by fellow panellist Lily Allen as “really horrendous”.

In the episode, Ross moves singer Lily, then just 21, away from Brand and Fielding.

Ross tells her: “I’m a bit concerned because look where you’ve put us — you’ve put the only sexually attractive young lady near two of the best known cocksmen of the business.

“I’m going to insist as a sort of uncle figure in Lily’s life that she moves over there. And then, Lily might go home with her dress still on.”

It is thought that when Brand stayed at Ross’s bolt-hole, it was allegedly to escape publicity over the break-up with Katy.

The woman who said she was attacked in LA told the Sunday Times she was treated at a rape treatment centre and had five months of therapy before deciding against pressing charges.

Brand sent her text messages apologising for what happened and describing his behaviour as “crazy and selfish”.

Brand was spotted in the seaside town walking along the pier and popping to a pub.

Ross and his wife Jane bought the £2million Grade II listed farmhouse in 2005.

It features stables, a 50m swimming pool, and an orchard that leads down to the tracks of a steam railway.

An elderly neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I can remember seeing Russell Brand.

“He walked out of the private road in a group of people. It was definitely him because he is very recognisable.

“I rarely see Jonathan Ross. I believe the last time was in August. He is having building works done, I believe to his barns, so perhaps we’ll see more of him in the future.”

Another elderly neighbour refused to comment as he “didn’t want to make Ross’s life more difficult”.

Brand could face further ­allegations after cops said “several” people have come forward since the trial. The Guardian reported that at least ten more women are thought to have been attacked.

Jonathan Ross was approached for comment last night.

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY has revealed the secret to her glossy blonde locks – she doesn’t use shampoo.

The glam mum-of-three has one of the most famous barnets on British TV, and the fact that she doesn’t get in a lather over it is something even the most slovenly among us can get on board with.

In fact, Holly reckons skipping the suds helps keep her tresses thick and shiny.

And that’s not the only hack the down-to-earth presenter has in her locker — she’s also got a go-to look up her sleeve for when she’s hungover.

In an exclusive chat, Holly said: “In the summer, I tend not to even shampoo my hair, ’cause I try not to take any of the oils out of it. I just condition it.

“But I’ve had hair fails. When you’re a blonde, you have to be really careful. Chlorine is a b*****d.

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“My natural colour . . . it’s like a dirty blonde, so once I was brunette then tried to go blonde again and it went green.

“Then I had to put red in it, and obviously I was, like, ‘Just go to the hairdresser’s, you silly cow’. Like, ‘No, no, I can fix this [at home]’. I’ve always been a bit like that, where I will experiment and try things.”

Refreshingly honest Holly even admitted she had hair extensions put in for added volume as she launched her firm Wylde Moon’s new body cream and wash range with Beauty Pie this week.

She revealed: “The first time I had my skin pigmentation lasered off, I was really shocked at what you’re left with.

“Because it goes really brown and then it kind of flakes off for about a week later, so you just look like you’ve been in some horrendous kind of sunburnt situation.

“My beauty sin is I remember, back in the day, wearing brown lip liner and concealer on my lips. Nowadays, if I’m hungover or tired, an [eyeliner] flick and a red lip, always.”

There’s hope for us all . . . 

HOLLY reckons her TV pal Leigh Francis will make a great campmate on I’m A Celebrity — because he’s “not an a**e”.

After The Sun revealed he had signed up for the latest series, Holly told me: “The thing about Leigh is that he’s pretty resilient.

“I know he’s always played a character [Keith Lemon], but I know him as Leigh and  . . . what you see is what you get.

“He won’t be one of those people that has to go in there and try and keep up some sort of facade for ages.

“He will just be him through and through and he’s just a really great guy.

“I think people will see that. He’s not an ae, you know, he’s just a really lovely person.”

Kanye’s kidding around

KANYE WEST had a rare smile on his face as he had an even rarer photo snapped with all four of his children.

The rapper, now known as Ye, posed with his eldest North, who was sporting long blue hair, at his Yeezy Season 01 runway show in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

They were joined by his other daughter Chicago, as well as sons Saint and Psalm.

Meanwhile, their mum Kim Kardashian was in New York, where she was photographed out for dinner with actress Jennifer Lawrence.

BONO has opened up about U2’s last-ever collaboration with Dolly Parton.

The frontman and bandmate Adam Clayton spoke to Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio Breakfast Show and admitted they didn’t know just how ill she was when they recorded new single Torn.

Bono said: “I didn’t even know she was into our band. She was being really sassy and everything you’d love about her.

“Because we’d taken this song in a very different direction, she sends this quite emotional note, having finished the vocal. She says, ‘Just so you know, I’ve always loved your music. I’ve always loved you, and I will always love you.’

“I could feel a puddle about to happen. She’s taking the piss, because that’s her song! . . . And we knew she was ill.

“And I just didn’t know that she was so sick. And she sang this, honestly, like she sang herself somewhere else, for sure.”

New single Torn is out next Friday.

Blazing year for Cara

SHE plays a party promoter in new film Club Kid but Cara Delevingne was dolled up for a far more demure night out than a sweaty rave in this chic blazer dress and scarf.

Cara, wore the ensemble to the Los Angeles premiere of the film, which won’t hit screens here until January.

It tells the story of party animal Peter – played by Jordan Firstman who she gave a kiss to on the red carpet – whose life is turned upside down when he is forced to care for a ten-year-old son, who he didn’t know he’d had.

It’s been a busy year for Cara, who released her debut album Not Normal in September following a lengthy summer tour.

And she’s recently been back on set for the upcoming erotic thriller Non Compos Mentis, in which her character finds herself in a love triangle with two men played by Liam Hemsworth and Sam Worthington.

She’s a lucky lady.

KATHERINE’S READY FOR FESTIVE FUN

CHRISTMAS has come early with a flurry of new festive songs out today, led by Katherine Jenkins who has recorded a seasonal rendition of Heaven Is A Place On Earth.

The Welsh mezzo-soprano’s cover of the Belinda Carlisle hit is the soundtrack to this year’s Marks & Spencer Christmas advert, and she appears in the clip as a singer at a fete.

Olivia Rodrigo has dropped her track Take Me Home (4 Christmas) and NECTAR WOODE has released her festive ballad, Only Want You.

Away from the jingle bells, Slayyyter has released her song Hey Boyyy and Poland’s 2026 Eurovision entrant Alicja has returned with the appropriately titled She’s Back.

For something rockier, check out Cage The Elephant’s Make It Easy, from their newly announced album Dying In Reverse, which will be out on February 5.

LEWIS CAPALDI has confirmed his performance at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard will be the last time his fans can see him before he takes a lengthy break.

Speaking ahead of the event, taking place at London’s O2 Arena on the first weekend in December, Lewis said: “I need to go away and make new music so it feels like a nice fitting tip of the cap.

“It feels fitting that it’s at Jingle Bell Ball. I’m very excited.”

OZZFEST TO KEEP OZZY’S LEGACY ALIVE

OZZY OSBOURNE’s Back To The Beginning concert was one of the highlights of last summer, and the late rocker’s legacy will continue to live on with the return of Ozzfest.

The hard rock festival was first held two decades ago – and next year, it will be brought back for a one-day extravaganza at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes on July 10.

The line-up will be announced in the coming months but if Back To The Beginning is anything to go by, it’ll have some belters on board.

It had been hoped the event could take place at Villa Park in Ozzy’s hometown of Birmingham, but construction work prevented it.

The rocker’s widow Sharon said: “Ozzy was the first to launch his own traveling metal festival, and Ozzfest will always remain an important part of Ozzy’s legacy.”

LITTLE MESS, JES

A FEUD appears to have broken out between Jesy Nelson and the father of her twin daughters Zion Foster.

Fans of the couple, who split in January, noticed Zion sharing a reel on his Instagram account from a man who posted a video about “Dad’s who don’t get access to their kids”.

It comes just weeks after former Little Mix singer Jesy appeared to take a swipe at the R&B artist by liking a comment online which said: “How deadbeats be convincing new women they’re a good dad.”

The pair, whose twins Ocean and Story were born with genetic muscle-weakening condition SMA Type 1 in May last year, had previously been on good terms but pals told me it’s turned “very messy”.

A friend added: “It’s a very sad situation. Jesy and Zion have very opposing views on who is at fault and they cannot see eye to eye at all. Those close to them want them to come together and focus on their children.”

Yesterday Zion released a new song, which he said would be the “first and last time” he would say his piece.

On the track he raps that he is “hurt to the core”, before adding: “The real truth ain’t going to hit the surface, cause I aint going to put my babies through that.

“Got the receipts in my phone and notepad, why would I save myself and put my girls through that pain as well.”

I think it’d do Jesy and Zion well to step away from social media and sort out their issues behind closed doors.

IT’S just over a month since James Bourne’s brother Chris gave him the gift of life – with his kidney.

And in his only interview, musician Chris has revealed the Busted rocker felt the positive effects of the surgery immediately after waking up.

“We were in adjoining rooms that were identical and we both had a clock on the wall at the end of our beds which was driving us both insane as we waited to go into ­surgery,” Chris says.

“When James went in, he said he had trouble reading the clock.

“But when he came out of the ­operation and was taken to his room, he could see the clock.

“The whole process of receiving a new kidney isn’t as instant as that.

“But for some things, it’s pretty instantaneous. It’s incredible.”

Updating Busted fans on James’s ­condition, Chris — who is in a six-week recovery period — adds: “James is doing really well.

“The surgeon was so happy. He said to me, ‘You’ve given your brother a Bentley/Rolls-Royce kidney’.

“Hopefully I’ve got a Bentley left and not a banger.”

It was just over a year ago that James’s life was turned upside down and he was told by doctors he needed to go into hospital for urgent tests.

The news landed just as Busted were one day away from starting their tour with McFly, and James asked Chris to step into the fold.

Chris says: “We didn’t know anything was wrong with James.

“He called and said: ‘Hey mate, you’re up.’

“He said he’d been advised not to tour and to have some tests. It was a shock to everyone.

“I drove to Southend, where James was, and he said: ‘Just learn as many Busted songs as you can.

“When I saw him I could tell that he wasn’t OK.

“I obviously knew a lot but it was trying to learn which riffs and which chords he played on what songs.

“They’d been in full production rehearsals for three weeks when this happened.

“It felt like a Freaky Friday nightmare.”

Chris joined James’ Busted bandmates Matt Willis, Charlie Simpson and tour drummer Eddy Thrower in Leeds the following day, just 24 hours before the first night of the tour in Birmingham.

“Everyone was in disbelief,” Chris says.

The first two shows went without a hitch, with Chris doing James proud.

It was on the third show, at London’s Wembley Arena, that Chris received the devastating news of the extent of James’s ill health.

He says: “Our sister Melissa is a make-up artist and we’d met up at Wembley. She got a phone call and she burst into tears. James was in a really bad way.”

Chris and his siblings, Melissa and Nick, all put themselves forward to be kidney donors — with Chris overhauling his lifestyle on the road to ready himself.

“We all got tested and the results came back and I was the leading contender,” Chris says.

“In the family group chat I put the Lord Of The Rings meme, the one where it’s King Theoden and he says ‘Rohan will answer.’”

During this time, Chris was on tour with Busted and he admits he struggled with taking his brother’s place.

“I was sleeping in suites with his name on, the wardrobes had his clothes in them,” Chris explains.

“There was a part of me that didn’t want to be in the limelight. Like I was basking in my brother’s illness.

“It was a really difficult time.

“I felt so overwhelmed I said I couldn’t sing James’s part. I had to work hard to keep it together.

“During one show, Busted fans had arranged to wear masks of James’s face. It came from a place of love but it overwhelmed me. I had to turn around and try to keep it together.”

The brothers then faced an agonising wait until October 3, when they were cleared for surgery.

“I didn’t sleep the whole night,” Chris recalls.

“In the morning, I didn’t really want to wake my brother up because there’s no point in him being awake while I’m going down.

“As I was leaving, he came out and it was funny.

“We didn’t say anything. We looked at each other and just fist-bumped.”

After Chris’s five-hour surgery, James was taken down to receive his kidney.

Chris adds: “When James came out and I found out that it had all gone well, it was the biggest relief. It was a weight I’d been carrying for a year.”

Chris says the family are now looking forward to spending Christmas together, with the kidney transplant giving them all a sense of hope for the future.

“I’m looking forward to doing normal stuff with James, playing music, hanging out,” Chris explains.

“It’s done.

“It’s gone as well as it could and now we can try and move on.”

Robbie is Oz to the races

ROBBIE WILLIAMS had the world at his feet as he performed in the middle of the crowd at the Melbourne Cup.

The Brit was the headline performer at the annual Australian horse race.

And he delighted the audience with a set featuring Feel, Rock DJ, Angels and Let Me Entertain You.

Robbie was dressed in a striking all-red outfit for the performance, which was watched by almost 100,000 fans at Flemington Racecourse.

Robbie is currently on tour Down Under, ahead of a well-earned break for the first half of 2027.

But then he will kick-off a summer of performances, beginning with a headline set at the Isle Of Wight Festival next June.

By the looks of this, the punters there will have a blast.

A perfecth days for Queens

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE are preparing to pop the champagne as their new record, Perfecth, is on course to become their second No1 tomorrow.

And in an exclusive chat, frontman Josh Homme has opened up about the final track on the album, Run Away From The Mob, which features Dave Grohl on drums.

Dave recorded his part way back in 2013, but Josh admitted he didn’t feel ready to finish the song until they started making Perfecth.

“It comes from [sixth album] Like Clockwork,” Josh revealed.

“It didn’t make sense for that record, and I didn’t understand this song. You know, some flowers take a long time to bloom.

“You can’t force open the petals of a flower, and you hope that’s what you have. I also think this is a really good example of everyone in Queens at their best.

“And Dave is so good at doing exactly what needs to be done as a drummer.”

Looking Lively

HER last high-profile public appearance was at the World Cup final in July after her dispute with Justin Baldoni.

But there was no wiping the smile off Blake Lively’s face as she returned to the party scene in this navy sequinned dress.

The Gossip Girl star was snapped in New York on Tuesday as she arrived for a jewellery brand launch.

She certainly added some sparkle . . .

Jade debut sets record

JADE THIRLWALL has made history as the first member of a British girl group to have a solo track with no featured artist chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Her breakthrough single, Angel Of My Dreams, has become a US hit – two years after its release. But that’s not been a surprise for the former Little Mix star, who said she kept being told it was going to have a resurgence.

Jade, whose track was given a boost when Kylie Jenner walked to it at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show last month, said: “I actually do think that enough people thought that enough to speak it into existence. I’d seen a psychic who said the same thing, and an astrologer.”

Jade was in Little Mix for over a decade until they went on hiatus in 2022, but reckons there’s more love for them now than ever – and she hopes they could one day headline Glastonbury.

She told The Pop Pod: “I could see that happening for sure. When the Little Mix medley comes on, people go crazy for it.

“All these places that we didn’t get to go to properly and they’re craving it. There’s a nostalgia people want.”

ANTHONY JOSHUA has given his fans an insight on Snapchat into the music he uses to inspire him before a fight, as he prepares to take on Tyson Fury at ­Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.

And I have to admit, our AJ is a nostalgic man.

From So Solid Crew’s Dilemma 2 to Dizzee Rascal’s Creeper Freestyle, AJ is loving the old-school, with some added R&B classics in there, including Jaheim’s Just In Case.

Looking at the sheer size of Tyson though, I’d be much more inclined to have added Iron Maiden’s Run To The Hills.

NOEL GALLAGHER, Lily Allen and Brian Eno were among the stars in the room as U2 returned to the stage in an exclusive concert for the BBC at London’s Tate Modern on Tuesday.

The gig, which airs on BBC Two later this month, saw them ­perform several of their hits, plus songs from 16th studio album Carnaval De Luz, out November 13.

JOHN LEGEND has confirmed he is performing on the Sunday night of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard on December 6.

The Barclaycard pre-sale starts today, where card holders can get ten per cent off tickets, with the general sale starting Friday.

See you there.

RAYE vowed she would not release another studio album until she found her true love, after spending her last release singing about ­wanting to land a partner.

But fans of the star won’t have to wait for her to ­complete Tinder before they get some new songs.

The Where Is My Husband! singer has joined the voice cast of Benny Safdie’s film Lizard Music – and will write songs for it.

IT’S Monday lunchtime on London’s Old Bond Street and I’ve been invited to Dolce & Gabbana to hang out with the legend that is Sir Rod Stewart.

As the doors swing open, he walks in with two pairs of trousers under his arm and chirps in his trademark ­Cockney twang, “They’re too long in the leg”, before adding: “And a bottle of perfume for the lady, please.”

With me looking like a ropey Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Rod escorts me upstairs and a beautifully gift-wrapped, £280 ­perfume bottle is handed to me en-route.

Turning his attention to a £3,800 silver sequinned jacket, Rod laments: “It’s lovely, but it’s far too heavy for the stage.”

Then, he ushers me to a posh sofa to discuss his last hoorah.

The Final Encore will mark Rod’s retirement from touring after six decades on the road.

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Two extra dates have been added to the almost sold-out UK run thanks to the phenomenal demand for tickets.

Set lists are still being finalised, but fans can expect a spectacular trip down memory lane, with hits from Rod’s incredible back catalogue of 11 No1 albums — which include 25 Top Ten hits.

“At 81, it’s quite remarkable,” he says of the ticket sales for his farewell tour.

“I can’t jump around like I used to when I was 32. But I think the audience knows that, vocally, I’m better now than I’ve ever been.

“A few of the big voices have gone. Paul McCartney’s has gone a bit. I treat my voice like the crown jewels. Pavarotti said, ‘I’m a prisoner of my voice’, and you are. You wake up, you say, ‘Oh, I’ve got an itch. I’m f***ed. I’ve got to cancel’. I’m totally paranoid about runny noses now. “Now, when I go out, I wear white gloves like Michael Jackson. He did it to stop him catching colds and flu.”

Rod puts his remarkable good health down to a strict exercise regime which sees him training like an athlete — and getting lots of sleep.

“When you’re in your 20s and 30s, you don’t even warm up,” Rod laughs.

“You drink whatever you want, do the drugs, get on the stage.

“In the old days, we used to get p***d as farts with [band] FACES. Now, when I go on, I’m absolutely sober, then I’ll have a rum and Coke after the third song or so.

“Plus, I have an hour’s workout before I go on — stretching, cycling, stationary bike, massaging, warming up the voice, just getting yourself in the zone.

“It is like being an athlete.”

Of his regime at home, Rod adds: “Three times a week, I cycle for a mile, lots of uphill stuff, and I do a load of swimming.

“Frank Sinatra told me about that. He said, ‘If you just do underwater swimming as much as you can, holding your breath till you want to burst, because then your lungs will get bigger. And they’ll get used to you holding your breath and singing’.”

Rod’s pipes, I can attest, are back on top form after a scary ­incident this summer in Utah.

At an amphitheatre 4,300ft above sea level, Rod needed oxygen after almost fainting on stage.

Keen to reassure his fans he’s now fine, the Maggie May singer explains: “I had a bout of illness, which was bad luck. I’d just had bronchitis at the same time as I was playing above altitude. I was in a right state.

“The geezer who worked for me didn’t tell me. I said, ‘Are we above sea level?’. He said, ‘Nah, of course we’re not’.

“So, I ran out and did three fast songs. All of a sudden, I was like, I couldn’t breathe. I got through the show, but it was painful.

“If I’m performing above altitude, you go out and do a mid-tempo one and a slow one, then do a fast one. Not three off the bounce, jumping about.”

Rod, with his electric blonde hair and bronzed skin, could pass for a man 20 years younger.

A decade after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, he is still all-clear from the disease.

Grinning, he says of his health tests: “My PSA levels are at 0.02. You’ve got to keep an eye on it.”

But cackling, he adds of the old-style check for prostate problems: “Finger up the bum, no harm done. That’s what most men don’t like. The old finger up the bum. But just get on with it.”

Like any good musician, Rod has his vices and cannot resist a drink . . . even if his wife Penny Lancaster warns him off it.

“I wish I could curb my drinking, but I love wine with an evening meal,”

Rod explains. “I’ve got a great chef and I can’t drink water with a good meal.

“Penny says, ‘You must cut back, darling’. I only have a couple of glasses. But then, sometimes, I’ll get on the apple martinis and I can really knock those back.

“I have these conversations with my kids. I stress to them that I can have a drink, you know, because it’s show business, I drink whenever I want. Not that I drink a lot. But, you know, one of my sons goes out and gets all pd on a Sunday night and he’s got to go to school the next morning.”

Laughing, he adds: “I’ve let the cat out of the bag there, haven’t I? There’s only one going to school.”

The Final Encore will kick off its UK leg in Glasgow on April 29 at the OVO Hydro, after Rod turned down a farewell gig at his beloved Celtic Park in the city.

“It would have been just, like, 90 minutes and I’d say goodbye,” he explains. “I thought, ‘If I can have it for three nights, I can really get into it and indulge myself in it’.”

By next summer, Rod’s touring days will be over — but he says that, inspired by artists such as Adele, he is planning smaller, residency-style shows in future.

“I made the album [Swing Fever in 2024] with Jools Holland, which got to No1 and, when I do my last show, that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve talked to Jools.

“I don’t know if he wants to do it with me, because I think he’s afraid of losing his identity. If he doesn’t, I’ll form my own big band. I’d like to do the London Palladium for a few nights, then maybe the Albert Hall.”

Rod’s fans also have a top-secret documentary to look forward to next year, after the star confessed he’s just done a tell-all interview with his old foe, Sir Elton John.

The pair, who are now good pals, traded comedy barbs over the years, with Rod admitting to me he was miles better at football than Elton when they trained together at Watford FC.

“I nearly signed for Brentford,” Rod says proudly. “I only finished playing when I was 68.

“But Elton, I was miles better than him when we trained together. The documentary we’ve done should be out at the ­beginning of the year. At the end . . . he kissed me on the lips. And we caught it on film.”

Rod added of Elton’s kids Zachary, 15, and Elijah, 13: “His boys are wonderful. I don’t know whether they were putting it on for me, but they came in from school and went, ‘Daddy, Daddy, oh, Mr Stewart, we are so glad to meet you, Mr ­Stewart’. They are so well spoken.”

Looking back at his six-decade career, Rod knows it won’t be easy to retire from touring.

He says: “Carly Simon found it stressful going on stage. I don’t. I am absolutely raring to go out there. I absolutely love it.”

Stepping back will, however, give Rod more time to focus on Penny and his one other true love — his model train set.

Covering 156 square metres and featuring a 275-metre track that runs through a city landscape, it has kept Rod busy for decades.

“I want to open it to the public and give the money to charity,” he explains.

“I think I’ll be able to get permission. I would like to share it with the world.”

Politics is another keen passion of Rod’s, although he admits he’s more likely to keep his views to himself these days for fear of being misunderstood.

One subject we speak passionately about, however, is the plight of the people of Ukraine — who Rod has publicly supported since Russia invaded in 2022.

“I just hope it’s not too late for Ukraine,” he says.

“They’re going into winter now, and this could be the turning point. It’s scary.

“They’re bombing the fuel and water supplies. Putin is a b*****d.”

Another topic of contention is US president Donald Trump, who Rod has no time for.

“I stand by what I told Kind Charles,” he says.

“I said, ‘Trump’s a pig’. I could tell the King wanted to laugh.”

Rod will, undoubtedly, use his Final Encore shows to urge fans to champion all that’s good in the world — despite still coming to terms with his own global impact.

“I haven’t twisted anybody’s arm or threatened to kill them if they don’t give me money,” he tells me.

“I’ve earned it off my own back.

“I want to thank my public for this. They’ve given me the most glorious, unimaginable lifestyle.

“When I was at school, I never dreamed that when I started singing, it would end up like this.

“Me, performing on stage at 81.

“It’s been the best life and I am so grateful.”

THEY rarely saw eye to eye at the school gates in hit BBC ­sitcom Motherland.

And now its stars Anna Maxwell Martin and Lucy Punch go head-to-head in a battle of the Christmas TV ads.

Line Of Duty actress Anna is the star of this year’s Tesco Christmas advert, while Lucy is set to be the face of the coveted M&S festive ­campaign.

Anna, who played beleaguered Julia in Motherland, is faced with a Christmas crisis playing Lizzie in the Tesco commercial, when she accidentally orders her food to be delivered to an old address.

However Tesco delivery driver Polly, played by Roisin Conaty, offers to help her old school friend make sure that Christmas dinner makes it to the table in time for the big day.

Anna said: “We’ve all been there. In the stress to get everything perfect at Christmas, suddenly you realise you’ve somehow only ordered one singular sprout, totally ­forgotten wrapping paper or sent a delivery to the wrong address.

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“I’m really pleased to be part of a production that acknowledges that while we can all strive for our ‘perfect’ Christmas, it is in fact human connection that truly helps to make Christmas magic.”

I previously revealed how Lucy — best known as Amanda in Motherland and its spin-off, Amandaland — is set to be the face of M&S’s first ever joint fashion and food festive promo.

She will replace comic Dawn French, who has featured in the chain’s TV food ads since 2022.

A source said: “Amandaland is one of the most popular shows on telly right now, and bosses thought it would be really fun to cast Lucy in their Christmas ad to promote both their food and fashion ranges.”

Comedian Roisin also has a link to last year’s Waitrose Christmas adverts, which starred Joe Wilkinson’s love-struck character Phil, who falls in love with Keira Knightley.

Roisin and Joe played couple Roxy and Pat in Ricky Gervais’s hit Netflix series Afterlife.

Never mind TV Christmas specials — it’s clear the ads are now the real stars of the show.

DOM’S TOUCH OF CLASS

DOMINIC COOPER has given an insight into the sizzling sex scenes on ITV series Adultery.

The Mamma Mia! actor and Romola Garai play the roles of Tom and Beth, who have an affair in the six-episode series after meeting through their teenage children.

Of the steamy scenes, Dominic praised the intimacy co-ordinators, saying: “They have helped tremendously in what are such difficult bits of the film, and they put them together beautifully.

“They really do understand it because they have studied it and a little touch can mean so much more.

“Before you used to see two actors go, ‘Well, this is what I do at home’. Then they just jump on.”

IT’S ALL FRIGHT ON THE NIGHT

BROOKLYN and Nicola Peltz Beckham gave Tarzan and Jane a run for their money as they dressed up for Halloween.

David and ­Victoria Beckham’s eldest son and his actress wife posed in ­matching leopard print.

Meanwhile, Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood ­transformed into Gotham City baddies The Joker and his sidekick Harley Quinn in London’s ­Covent Garden this week.

Amanda Holden looked super-scary as she dressed up as Netflix axe “killer” Lizzie Borden from hit ­ crime drama Monster.

Elsewhere Rita Ora paid homage to Dolly parton for a Halloween bash in New York and Fearne Cotton posed in a wacky brain costume.

Comic Leigh Francis did his best padded He-Man impression for a London party, while Kelly Osbourne looked unrecognisable in a catsuit as she joined pals at Annabel’s in the capital, where Sir Rod Stewart put his glad rags on to step out as a dapper Prince Charming.

X FACTOR TEEN FOR HARRYWEEN

HARRY STYLES went back to his roots on Friday as he recreated his X Factor audition for Halloween.

The As It Was singer transformed into his 16-year-old self, wearing the same grey cardigan and scarf, to go on stage during his 30-night residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Harry performed Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely – the same song he used to impress Simon Cowell and Co at his audition in 2010.

And he delighted fans at his sold-out gig by using the same introduction he gave judges 16 years ago: “I work in a bakery. I’m 16.”

Harry was eventually put together with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson to form boyband One Direction.

Harry’s actress fiancée Zoe Kravitz was seen in a red devil outfit in a nod to spooky season, dancing in the crowd alongside the singer’s mum Anne Twist, who was dressed as Disney’s Maleficent.

The pair were joined by Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough.

THE Gentlemen star Michelle Morrone has joined a subscription site to offer fans an exclusive glimpse into his off-screen life.

The Italian actor shared topless snaps with his 16million online ­followers to announce he has joined the platform subs.com, in which he is an investor alongside beauty Megan Fox.

He wrote on Instagram: “Everyone thinks they know me. Through films, photographs, brands, music, social media . . .  But the truth is, you’ve only seen one part of me. And I’ve decided to open that door for you.”

He added: “I want to create something different. A private space where we can be closer.”

Michele is currently starring alongside US actress Sydney Sweeney in sequel The Housemaid’s Secret, which is set for release next year.

PHOENIX’S NEXT STEP IS SCARY

SHE may want to shake off the nepo baby tag, but Phoenix Chi Gulzar Brown is following in the footsteps of her mum Mel B.

Speaking at the VIP night of Tulleys Shocktober Fest in ­Crawley, she said: “I’m going to be releasing music soon, I’m not just a DJ.” And she means business.

“This summer I decided to take it seriously, and I got in the studio and spoke to a few people and I like what I’m ­making,” she said. “It’ll be groovy and funky stuff.

“I’ll be doing a bit of producing and singing, there’ll be a few surprises in there.”

A collaboration with her mum might seem an obvious move, but getting Scary Spice to commit is ­proving tricky.

Phoenix said: “I’m going to do my best to get my mum in the studio for a collaboration but she’s a woman of her own. She says no to everyone – including me.”

But one person firmly backing her musical ambitions is her events executive pal Sofie Noah. Sofie said: “It’s f***ing epic.”

She then teased: “She’s got a good voice, with a bit of Autotune.”

ABBEY Clancy is sitting pretty on a modelling empire worth nearly £2million.

Accounts show her image rights firm Abigail Marie Clancy Limited enjoyed a bumper year, taking net assets from £1.43million to £1.89million.

On top of that, the 40-year-old’s cash reserves in the 12 months up to January hit £1.1million.

Abbey, who has four children with ex-England striker hubby Peter Crouch, fronted Agent Provocateur’s 2025 Valentine’s campaign.

She is an ambassador for Tesco’s F&F clothing range, having launched five collections.

And earlier deals include ones with Ultimo, beauty and lifestyle firm Avon, fashion and homewear chain Matalan, fashion brand Lipsy and Argos — with whom she has her own jewellery line.

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abs fab

Bikini-clad Abbey Clancy shows off her stunning figure as she kisses hubby Peter

Her Ultimo lingerie contract, signed in 2013, was reported at the time to be worth £250,000.

Abbey, who won Strictly Come Dancing that same year, also co-hosts hit podcast The Therapy Crouch with 45-year-old Peter.

Its publisher says the show regularly ranks in Apple’s top ten UK podcasts, and the pair have also written a book off the back of it.

Launching The Therapy Crouch in 2023, Abbey joked it was “high time I got in on the podcast action”.

Abbey also scored big by fronting Juicy Couture’s Wag-themed campaign for this summer’s World Cup — though earnings from the campaign will not be counted until next year’s accounts.

It is the fourth year in a row the model has hit a new business high.

But despite her success, Abbey is still just short of out-earning lanky former Liverpool player Peter.

His image rights firm Baseforce had net assets of £2.26million in its latest accounts after campaigns for Victorian Plumbing, Ariel laundry pods and bookmakers Paddy Power.

The couple, who married in 2011, are both directors of property firm Coolabbey and Marvellous Media.

It holds property valued at £1.2million but owes significant sums to the couple’s other companies.

Speaking to Hello! Magazine in March, Abbey said of her down-to-earth image: “I’m only used to being myself.”

HALLOWEEN was Ozzy Osbourne’s favourite day of the year.

And to celebrate, I’ve got some very exciting news to share with his fans.

My insiders have revealed the Black Sabbath rocker secretly recorded a handful of songs with super-producer Andrew Watt prior to his death last summer.

And now those tracks — which were laid down during his music sessions for his 2022 album Patient Number 9 — could soon be getting green-lit to coincide with the blockbuster film biopic about his life.

One of my American music moles told me: “Ozzy had a practical outlook about his medical issues and life.

“He was very excited to be in the studio for the Patient Number 9 sessions because Andrew managed to bring energy and excitement, even though he was struggling with his ailments.

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“They worked on the album and Ozzy knew that, with the biopic in development, he saw an idea for works about his life and romance with Sharon.

“Those tracks have only been heard by Andrew and his musicians.

“The final mixes have not even been finished. They remain works in progress and to be considered for the movie.

“Sharon doesn’t even know what the final mixes will sound like.

“But the likelihood is that they will come to play some part in the biopic, which would be incredible.

“Unheard songs from Ozzy from beyond the grave is something he would have loved.”

I revealed earlier this year how Ozzy’s wife Sharon and his son Jack had a director in mind for the movie, which would tell the incredible life story of the Prince of Darkness.

“The script is being worked on as a final draft with Sony Studios looking for directors,” a source close to the family told me.

“Sharon has been measuring up who could play her and deliver the intensity of her personality while also holding it together while Ozzy goes through his demons on-screen.”

I have no doubt that with Sharon at the helm this film will more than do Ozzy justice.

And the idea of listening to never-before-heard songs from him excites me even more.

JOSH’S MONSTROUS TERROR OF THE TOILET

WE all have a scarring childhood memory, but I’ve never heard a confession quite like Josh Brolin’s.

The Running Man actor has revealed he was too scared to go to the loo after watching Steve McQueen’s horror classic The Blob when he was four.

He said: “I just remember this substance coming out of the toilet and attacking this person.

“And when you’re a kid, it’s a new relationship with a toilet. It suddenly gets all up and then you don’t know where to do your business.”

I bet his parents loved cleaning up that mess.

THRILLER RACE FOR TOP SPOT

MICHAEL JACKSON’s son Prince hopes to give his late dad a Halloween treat – by backing fans’ efforts to get his 1983 hit Thriller to No1 for the first time.

Despite regularly returning to the charts around Halloween, the six-minute track and video failed to hit the top spot.

Prince said: “Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time but the single has never made it to No1. And so the goal with this Thriller challenge is to encourage people to buy the album, stream it and request it on radio, because those are the metrics that then push it up the chart.

“But we have to recognise that (the album) Thriller has a lot of bangers on there. So he’s kind of competing with himself. My father has an incredible fan base, and they’re so very sophisticated and orchestrated, and this has been the challenge that has been going on.”

lKEITH RICHARDS says he feels like his late Rolling Stones bandmate, drummer Charlie Watts, came back from the grave to watch over the group recording their new single, Who You Callin’ Crazy.

He told how he forgot Steve Jordan was on the sticks behind him, saying: “I do think it’s Charlie Watts behind me.”

ARABELLA: ME ‘N’ MY ’BLUD BUD

RISING star Arabella Lucia is proving she’s got some rock star mates after handing Bizarre a backstage pass to her pal Yungblud’s new B.R.A.T clothes shop.

The punk-rock wonderland in Soho, central London, hosted a cool music show by Arabella this week.

At the cosy gig, she thanked Yungblud for supporting her career, adding: “He’s so cool and he’s so awesome.

“He has given me some great advice about music.

“The songs I am performing tonight, and it being here of all places, is very serendipitous.”

Lily’s gone dotty

WITH one of the sharpest tongues in the industry, Lily Allen often divides opinions – but no one can argue she doesn’t have a great sense of humour.

Brandishing a thermometer and with the caption “#bluedotfever”, the Smile singer dressed up as a Ticketmaster seating chart, with spots signifying plenty of empty spaces – a nod to the fact she had to downgrade venues on her US tour due to poor sales.

Despite selling out arenas on home soil for her West End Girl tour, excitement for the gigs Stateside was lacklustre.

Meanwhile, Marvin and Rochelle Humes turned back the clock to 2002 as they transformed into Kelly Rowland and Nelly from the music video for their hit Dilemma.

Marvin and Rochelle were just two of many celebrity guests spotted at Olivia Attwood’s Halloween party in central London.

Also going all out for the celebrations was Kim and Kanye’s daughter North West.

The budding singer clearly spent some serious cash perfecting her Edward Scissorhands costume.

But perhaps my favourite costume of all came from influencer Bella James.

She looked genuinely unrecognisable as she transformed into Jeremy Clarkson thanks to some impressive prosthetics.

Clearly I need to up my fancy dress game.

SHED SEVEN are looking forward to being top of the tree after announcing a huge show in Delamere Forest next June.

The band are confirmed as the final headliner for Forest Live, the week-long run of shows in the Cheshire woodlands.

Having just sold out the biggest headliner show of their career at York’s LNER Stadium, the indie rockers will now headline the show on Friday, June 18, with support from The Lathums and The Lilacs.

Frontman Rick Witter told me: “We can’t wait to headline our first Forest Live show.

“They are always an amazing experience in beautiful surroundings with an electric atmosphere.

“We have played a few over the years, but always as bridesmaids, so it’s great that we can now feel like dizzy brides.”

Celebrity Traitors star has a bash at podcasts

JUST in time for Halloween, Celebrity Traitors’ Sebastian Croft has launched his brand new podcast series.

The first episode of The Sunday Scaries With Bash Croft is out tomorrow, with the Heart-stopper actor welcoming guests each week to discuss the highs and lows of the past seven days.

Bash said: “Many people I know find Sundays daunting or lonely and just want to have a laugh and chat about the week before and the week ahead.

“So I want the podcast to feel like you’re sitting on the sofa with us, having honest, unfiltered chats with friends.

“Hopefully, it’ll make everyone’s Sunday feel a little brighter and the week ahead a little less daunting.”

PLANS for a musical based on the songs of late chart superstar George Michael have been confirmed.

His lifelong best friend David Austin has told The Sun that preparations are in motion for the stage show to help keep George’s legacy alive.

Those involved have set their sights on Broadway — with a West End run almost certain to follow if the project proves ­popular enough.

George shot to fame in 1980s pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley and became one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.

Speaking at the world premiere of concert film George Michael: The Faith Tour at the BFI IMAX in London, David said: “There is talk about Broadway. We’ve got our fingers in a lot of pies.”

The confirmation comes six months after The Sun first told the world of the secret plans.

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In April, we revealed that George’s sister Yioda Panayiotou, 64, had held confidential talks with producers.

A source said at the time: “As things stand, it’s all in the very early development stage, but the plan is to tell the story of George’s life and career with some of his hits mixed in.

“Right now it’s not a Mamma Mia! situation where his songs soundtrack a new story — this is about his life.”

The production is already being workshopped in New York, with seven-time Olivier Award nominee Maria Friedman in talks to direct.

George, died aged 53 on Christmas Day 2016 at home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

ADELE is gearing up to end her musical hiatus, and I can exclusively reveal the details of her much-anticipated comeback.

Last week our newspaper told you the superstar was on the brink of announcing her fifth album, and now my music mole has spilled all on what the record will sound like.

The 38-year-old is tipped to release the follow-up to her fourth album next summer, and I’m told the working title is 39.

The name would follow the pattern of her previous albums, from 19 and 21 through to 25 and 30.

My source explained: “Adele is gearing up for a huge comeback and feels ready to start a new chapter musically.

“She’s been away from performing for a while, but music has never been far from her mind.

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“The album is being tipped for next summer, although the release plans are still being worked through. The working title being discussed is 39.”

Adele stepped back from the stage after her Las Vegas residency ended in November 2024, and has spent the time away focusing on her family.

But I’m told she has been writing the whole time.

My insider said: “She’s spent the past couple of years prioritising her family and enjoying some time away from the pressure of being in the spotlight, but she’s also been thinking about music constantly.

“She’s been writing throughout her break. She famously finds the fame side of her career difficult, so stepping away has been important for her.

“She now feels creatively revived and has come back to the music with a fresh perspective.”

As revealed last week, Adele has been secretly recording at the famous Church Studios in Crouch End, North London, which is owned by producer Paul Epworth.

And my source says he is on board for the new record.

They said: “Paul Epworth is involved, which is significant given their history together. They’ve made some incredible music in the past, including Skyfall, and there’s a real understanding between them creatively.

“He knows how to bring out the best in Adele while allowing her to experiment.”

The pair won an Oscar together for the Bond theme.

While fans can expect the huge vocals and emotional honesty Adele is known for, I’m told she is keen to move slightly away from her trademark ballads.

The source said: “She doesn’t want to abandon the ballads that made her a global superstar, because that’s such a big part of who she is as an artist.

“But she’s also looking at how she can evolve. She wants the record to feel fresh and reflect the person she is today, rather than simply repeating what she’s done before.”

Never one to shy away from honesty, Adele will also tackle the darker side of fame on the album.

My insider said: “There are songs exploring the more difficult side of fame and what it’s like to live so much of your life in the public eye.

“Adele has always been very honest in her music, and this record will continue that, including some of the struggles she’s had with herself and her own image.”

But I’m told that at its heart, it is a love album, and will feature a tribute to fiance Rich Paul.

They said: “She’s keen to include a song dedicated to Rich, because her relationship is an important part of her life and it would be natural for that to find its way into her songwriting.”

Adele’s London roots will also come through in the music, despite her years living in the US.

The source added: “There’s a sense of looking back at her roots and the experiences that shaped her. It’s about recognising how far she’s come while still holding on to the person she was before the fame.”

Fans have also been sent into a spin after Adele briefly changed her YouTube name to her full name, Adele Adkins, last week before switching it back.

My mole says the star knows how closely she is being watched.

They said: “Adele knows that even the smallest change around her online presence will get people talking, but she isn’t going to rush into announcing anything before she’s ready.

“She wants to get everything right, and when she does come back, she wants it to feel like a proper new era rather than a quick announcement followed by a long wait.”

New music is also expected to feature in blockbuster Cry To Heaven, which could help launch her next chapter.

My source said: “It could help introduce audiences to a different side of her creatively and build anticipation for the album itself. It’s about setting the tone for her return and giving people a taste of what’s to come.”

And for those hoping to see her live, a tour is not off the cards.

They said: “A tour is something that could be considered once the album plans become clearer, but nothing is set in stone at this stage.

“She knows how much fans want to see her live again, but if she does decide to tour, it will be because she feels ready for it rather than because she feels pressured to get back on the road.”

Fingers crossed the wait won’t be much longer.

CHERYL TWEEDY has revealed she has a secret TikTok burner account to keep up with pop culture without drawing attention to herself.

The singer said: “I like scrolling TikTok as people are funny and fun and they are a bit more relaxed.

“They don’t care about taking the mick out of themselves.

“I’m a secret scroller. A burner.”

NOT TOO SHABBY

RISING music star Shab has come a long way after leaving her native Iran with just a suitcase to her name.

She has toured with The Wanted and JLS and now she is back with a new single, Catch Me If You Can.

In an exclusive chat, she said: “Catch Me If You Can is exactly where my head is at right now.

“I’m done asking permission to be me. I know what I bring, and I’m not chasing anybody to prove it.”

Shab, whose single Perfume VIP Remix peaked at No11 on the Dance Music Charts, also has ambitions to move into fashion.

Last month, she appeared on the runway at a Dallas catwalk show and has now launched her own clothing brand DropTrou.

This is a woman not to be underestimated.

GEORGE FILM A KLASS ACT

MYLEENE KLASS was among the fans at the posh premiere of the new George Michael concert film.

And she was in for a treat, as the late singer is at his bottom-thrusting best in George Michael: The Faith Tour.

The remastered footage from his 1988 run of shows features more than 200 thrusts by the Fastlove singer – with one cinema- goer admitting they were shocked.

“Watching George’s bottom thrusts in IMAX was certainly something,” they told me after watching the film, which   is out next Friday.

“It has to  be seen to be believed.”

SIGN UP FOR COSY U2 GIG

U2 have joined forces with BBC Radio 2 to perform an exclusive, one-off show in London next month.

The concert, which is being recorded in front of a select audience on November 3, will see Bono and his bandmates ­performing tracks from their upcoming album, Carnaval De Luz, as well as hits from their back catalogue.

To be in the crowd, you have until midnight tonight to register on the BBC website under the Shows And Tours section.

The set will air next month in full on BBC Two, while Jo Whiley will welcome the band on to her show on November 30 for an interview, which will also feature songs from the live performance.

MONDAY GIRLS GO PURE POP

REMEMBER MONDAY have finally announced their debut album, Can We Press Rewind?.

The 12-track record, out on January 29, features their new single, Dream Cheat, which is out now.

Insiders told me the three-piece – Charlotte Steele, Holly-Anne Hull and Lauren Byrne – have dug deep for the record.

A source said: “Charlotte, Holly-Anne and Lauren have delved into their own romantic history for this record, and it’s littered with dating disasters and questionable decisions.

“It’s pure pop fun and shows how far they’ve come.”

The album will come out just days before they kick off their I’m Just A Girl tour, which is their biggest run of shows to date.

Remember Monday will start their run in Bristol on February 8, before shows in Birmingham, Portsmouth and Glasgow.

TO some, Tiffany Pollard is the ultimate reality queen, gracing Celebrity Big Brother and many other shows with her own explosive brand of drama.

But it is less well-known that she is now a recording artist as well, thanks to a cheeky sample on Zara Larsson‘s track Hot & Sexy.

Tiff — who dubs herself the Head Bitch In Charge, or HBIC — speaks the refrain “beautiful, fly, hot and sexy” on the pop princess’s empowering song.

Speaking for the first time about the collab, Tiffany said: “Zara is multi- talented, and for her to come for the HBIC to honour a track blows my mind.

“I was in that studio. It was like I was Beethoven because I wanted to get it right and iconic just for her.

“I was dedicated to the piece and a lot of people dance to it, so we’re happy.”

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The track from Zara’s multi-platinum album Midnight Sun was even played during last week’s Victoria’s Secret catwalk.

But we’re not going to see Tiff on tour with Zara any time soon.

She revealed: “I don’t want to crush dreams or anything like that, but our girl is going to handle it. I’m not gonna be on tour — I got bad knees, honey.”

Tiffany’s back on the reality beat as she begins a stint on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother — a decade on from her career-defining appearance.

Fans will remember her spats with Gemma Collins and the “David’s dead” misunderstanding when housemate Angie Bowie was told her ex-husband had died, but Tiffany thought it was David Gest who had passed away — until others found him asleep in bed.

Today Tiffany heads into a divided house, with the self-proclaimed “hierarchy” of Rochelle Rackham and Philip Regan facing accusations of bullying — but she is ready to take them on.

The outspoken American said: “It’s Halloween week and I’m gonna put the whore in horror.

“I’m gonna listen to people, I’m gonna have an authentic experience but I don’t want to be on my best behaviour.

“It’s called the hierarchy? The king and the queen of the house? Oh, please. It’s time for me to knock down the bricks.

“I only go around this life one good time and I want to make sure I’m living it authentically.

“I don’t want to quiet a voice of something that should have been said.

“I have a lot of people who are betting on me to be real and to just say what it is.”

Tiffany will also make time while staying in the UK for some of her favourite British pastimes — including watching Towie, Hollyoaks and tucking into our good old fish and chips.

Just hours before heading on to Big Brother, she said: “Bring all that vinegar. People are so nice here.”

We’ll see if she feels the same following her stint in the spy-on-the-wall house.

• Big Brother continues tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

FOR eight years, Sara Cox was forever the bridesmaid, never the bride.

At long last, then, on a bright, sunny Monday morning in July, the broadcaster got her big day, becoming the long-overdue host of Radio 2’s Breakfast Show.

The first two tracks played?

Lizzo’s About Damn Time and CeCe Peniston’s Finally.

Which tells you all you need to know about this brilliantly witty DJ: She says it as she sees it, and has fun along the way.

“Was it deliberate?”, she says, smiling. “Of course — I was being cheeky.

“On the day itself though, I actually felt fine, not that nervous. It was a job I’ve wanted for so long that it just felt like . . . finally.

“And when I thought about About Damn Time, it did make me smile.

“I thought, ‘Start as you mean to go on’. I just wanted to be me, which essentially is a little bit cheeky.

“Luckily, the reaction’s been great. We have the best listeners in the world and I have the best job in the world. I’ve got an incredible team, a brilliant bunch of people like me who are massive radio geeks, and I love it.”

While some may have crumpled under the pressure of hosting the ­biggest gig on the airwaves, the unflappable former model has taken it all in her leggy stride.

An instant hit with listeners — she was also a long-time favourite with devotees of her former gig, the Drivetime show — Sara has introduced new games and inter­active formats to keep things fresh.

Lucky listeners can win a pair of branded “Sara Sox” socks (clean) should they triumph in games such as Let’s Hear It For The Noise, a fiendishly difficult memory challenge.

(Behind the scenes, she is incredibly hands-on, WhatsApping her team with ideas around the clock, I’m told.)

Having been relentlessly badgering Sara’s team for an interview, today, then, is my Big Day. Finally.

Invited to spend a morning in the life of the Bolton-born 51-year-old, things kick off, rather unpleasantly, with a 4.50am alarm call.

Entering the BBC’s flagship London building in the dark, I am tired and grumpy. Sara is not.

In the studio, she dances to tracks, chats to her listeners before and after they call (apparently, many DJs don’t bother with such niceties), and cheerfully munches on an avocado wrap she brought in from home.

The super-fit mum of three — who last year smashed a gruelling 135- mile run across five consecutive days, raising £11.7million for Children In Need — also stands up for the entirety of her three-hour show.

I am exhausted just watching her.

I used to sit down doing the radio but not any more,” she says.

“I like to move around. But it’s also for the leg region. the late (TV health expert) Michael Mosley did a podcast on inflammation — if you sit down for too long, your cells start making the inflammation. So, sadly, it’s not for a rock ’n’ roll reason.”

On the subject of rock ’n’ roll, to a legion of geriatric millennials like me, and Gen Xers, Sara came to the fore as a “ladette”.

Former Breakfast show host Zoe Ball, Sara — back then on Radio 1 — Denise van Outen, Meg Mathews, Sadie Frost, et al, were entrenched in pop culture of the Nineties.

With a motto of “work hard, play hard”, Sara and her pals were endlessly papped hanging out at celebrity hotspots such as London’s Met Bar.

Yet those days are long gone — so much so, the charismatic star is now teetotal. Plus, constant cameras — filmed clips of the show are put out on the station’s official Instagram page — mean it would be nigh-on impossible to hide a hangover.

She says with a laugh: “I mean, you saw the Radio 1 pap shots of me leaving the building — I literally look like I’d slept in a skip. It was great.

“But yeah, it’s all visualised now, and I get it, we are evolving. I can get away with putting my make-up on during a record. A bit of mazzie (mascara) and I’m good to go.

“Today, though, I don’t drink. I’ve not drank since February after my last pina colada in half-term.

“I do feel better for it. To be fair, I was drinking so little, maybe one unit a week, that when I did drink, it was making me feel dizzy and weird.

“Plus, my husband Ben hasn’t drunk for four or five years so that makes it easier/wears you down.

“I mean, you feel a complete lush having half a glass of malbec of an evening otherwise.”

She has been married to marketing executive Ben Cyzer, who she met at Glastonbury Festival, since 2013. They are blissfully happy. Presumably, though, Ben was less thrilled with his wife’s career reawakening and the unsociable hours?

Sharing her new routine, she says: “I am in bed by 9pm. When I started the job, I was setting my alarm at five, but then I was really rushing about and I thought, ‘No, Sara, make it a tiny bit earlier’. So, at 4.50am off goes the first one.

“Then Alexa is on stand-by at 4.55, and if things have gone really wrong, 5.05am and 5.06am are also set on my phone.

“And my husband, bless him, checks the doorbell sometimes to make sure I’ve actually gone.

“I am a light sleeper, so a lot of the time I take myself off to the spare room, because I’m getting up so early and need to sleep well.

“And also because he doesn’t want to go to bed at 9.15pm, because he’s an adult male. He’s a normal person.

“Then Friday and Saturday, it feels like quite a treat and it’s quite nice to be back together.”

After feeding the couple’s three cats, Watson, Peggy and Miso, she takes a home-made breakfast to eat in the studio and glugs a coffee in the car on the way in. (“I eat very quickly, like a seabird”).

Her first-day guest was Hollywood’s Tom Hanks — and on the day I visit, Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan joins her.

So who would her dream guests be? “Daniel Craig — we’ve just had M, Dame Judi Dench, so we should have Bond too. Tom Cruise would be wild — we’ve had The Hanks, and I’d love to work towards completing the Hollywood set.”

“Also on the list is Beyonce — “I interviewed her when I was pregnant with my son and he’s 18 now, so we’re well overdue a catch-up.” And Madonna — “I interviewed her at Radio 1 and offered her my spare room ’cos she was house-hunt­ing in the UK . . . The offer’s still on.”

Sara got the Breakfast Show gig at a challenging time for the BBC.

Previous host Scott Mills was fired over a historical allegation of a sexual offence.

It has since emerged the axed DJ has enlisted lawyers and is planning to sue the corporation.

Not surprisingly, questions about him are off the table. And 72 hours after my visit, a story comes out in the Press, with insiders claiming to have felt “uncomfortable” due to her habit of calling mistakes out on air.

Well, having chatted to four of her team, including her producer, and seen Sara mucking about with colleagues, I can testify it appears to be a very happy ship indeed.

A perfectionist she may be, but a tyrant she ain’t.

And listener figures for the show in the last few years have stayed solid at around 6.37million weekly.

Elsewhere, though, it is a challenging time generally for legacy media, as audiences consume their content largely online, on streaming services and platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

So does Sara, who has written four Sunday Times best- selling novels, think radio will still be around in a decade? Yes.

“I think it’ll always be there be­cause people will always want that connection and that friendship that they have with their DJ,” she says.

“There’s a lot of people who listen who won’t speak to anybody else for the rest of the day, so it’s important.

“But at the same time, we’ve just got to keep being innovative. And for younger audiences as well, we film everything. We’ve got a brilliant young socials team who are constantly coming up with great ideas for TikTok and Instagram.

“I really enjoy it, I love being silly and having fun. You can’t take yourself too seriously, can you?

“I do feel lucky. I really do have ‘pinch me’ moments in this job. I love it, and I really hope it shows.”

It does, Sara, it does.

CALLUM Turner’s bid to bag the role of James Bond has had a boost — he’s advertising luggage for a fashion brand with links to the films.

The 36-year-old actor is the face of Louis Vuitton’s new trunk collection.

Bond author Ian Fleming incorporated their suitcases into 1963 book On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

And a set of the brand’s luggage appeared in 1985 Bond film A View to a Kill.

A source said: “Louis Vuitton is exactly the kind of fashion house Callum wants to associate himself with.

“The fact that Ian Fleming also mentioned Vuitton in his books is a clear indication that Callum is aligning himself with all the right campaigns.”

‘She understands’

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STAR SPLIT

Gary Wilmot, 72, reveals divorce from third wife after 23 years

Bond casting director Nina Gold was spotted at Bray Film Studios in Berkshire yesterday as screen tests for the role were understood to be taking place.

Callum’s odds of becoming Bond were 2/1 last night.

The Brit, who is married to singer Dua Lipa, 31, co-starred in the Fantastic Beasts movies.

Scottish actor Jack Lowden, 36, is the bookies’ favourite to take over as Bond with odds of 4/7, according to Ladbrokes.

Sinners actor Jack O’Connell, 36, and The Crown’s Josh O’Connor, 36, sit at 12/1.

Daniel Craig stepped down after the release of his fifth Bond film No Time To Die in 2021.

ROBBIE Williams has been cleared over controversial tax scheme links — paving the way for a gong in the King’s New Year’s Honours.

The pop superstar, 52, is in line for recognition for his charity work with Unicef and Soccer Aid after he founded the all-stars event in 2006.

Sources said the She’s the One singer’s tax affairs had been “green-flagged” after a probe, meaning Whitehall chiefs can put him ­forward to for an honour — and he could even be made a Sir.

He has previously been linked to investments in Ingenious Media, a financing company designated a tax avoidance scheme by HMRC.

Footie stars and other celebs — including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Ant and Dec — were caught up in the battle between Ingenious and investigators.

Becks, also a Unicef ambassador, was knighted in 2025 after HMRC conducted financial checks.

‘She understands’

Michael Douglas hopes Catherine accepts confessions about affairs

STAR SPLIT

Gary Wilmot, 72, reveals divorce from third wife after 23 years

And former Take That member Robbie is now set for a gong.

A source said: “Robbie’s name has been put forward and if he gets anything it’s likely to be a knighthood or possibly an OBE.

“He has raised hundreds of ­millions for charity and this year was the 20th year of Soccer Aid — which was his idea. So his name has been put on the list by the charity and philanthropy committee after it was green-flagged. There are more hoops to get through, and it needs to go forward to the main honours committee and then the PM and ultimately the King.

“Anyone who is high-profile is checked and vetted thoroughly.

“And one of those checks is their tax affairs, so it is a good sign for him that HMRC have given him the thumbs-up.”

It was reported in 2019 that he was barred from receiving an OBE over his links to the tax scheme and placed on an “honours blacklist”.

But he is understood to have now satisfied Treasury bosses over his finances.

Robbie, who with wife Ayda, 47, and their four kids lives part of the year in California, has a home in London and pays tax here.

Stoke-born Robbie — catapulted to fame when he joined Take That in 1990 — founded Soccer Aid with pal Jonathan Wilkes and the annual fundraiser has so far made more than £137million.

This year’s event at a sold-out London Stadium, screened live on ITV, raised more than £16million for Unicef.

Robbie started working with Unicef after seeing the organisation’s efforts in Sri Lanka in 1998 and became a UK ambassador in 2000.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation regarding honours.”

IT’S officially cosy season and who better to have a girls’ night in with than Cheryl Tweedy?

So it’s fitting that she’s bagged a whopper of a campaign deal with takeaway service Deliveroo.

I can reveal the former Girls Aloud singer has netted around £500,000 to front the new ad, which will be unveiled later this month.

A source said: “Deliveroo bigwigs are delighted to have Cheryl on board, she is a dream to work with and has a huge fanbase.”

The star is the latest in a long line of celebs to have fronted the brand’s campaigns, including Luke Littler, Danny Dyer, Peter Crouch and Abbey Clancy.

Cheryl who is also the face of Nivea skincare, recently returned to TV as a mentor on The Voice.

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Alesha Dixon rips into BGT contestant after he mocks pal Cheryl

CHEZ BACK!

Cheryl to make shock TV return TONIGHT on The Voice in surprise cameo appearance

Despite her sleek physique, Cheryl loves a cheeky takeaway.

She previously said: “I have a really lovely local Thai — I love pad Thai. And coconut rice. My mouth’s watering.

“I also like Chinese food — I think that’s a childhood thing. Ooh, and Indian. I love all the bad stuff. Once a week or once every two weeks I get a takeaway.”

Geordie Cheryl put her childhood Chinese takeaway, Kwok Pao in Newcastle, on the map in 2014, when she was a judge on The X Factor.

She brought Simon Cowell along to pick up some of her favourite dishes, including salt and chilli ribs, when they were filming nearby.
I’m hungry now . . . 

KAM ON CAM: I’D LOVE TO BE X FACTOR JUDGE

SINGER-SONGWRITER Kamille has revealed that she would love to be a judge on The X Factor.

She has previously worked on the ITV show as a coach. And following Little Mix’s win in 2011, she wrote songs for them including Black Magic and Shout Out To My Ex.

Kamille told me: “I was a coach on the show, so it would be such a full circle moment.

“I’ve always loved it. I love the way you are literally creating a new life for someone, every week.

“Simon Cowell knows how much I want to be a part of it, so we’ll see. I love Simon and everything he does.

“I’m always there to support him. He is such a good friend of mine.”

Meanwhile, Kamille is venturing beyond music with the launch of BBC podcast The Girls Are Talking.

On it, she stars alongside Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, content creator Tara Thorpe, presenter Issra Wiheba and comedian Sharifa Butterfly.

Kam added: “Girl therapy is the best therapy you can have.
“You’re basically getting an unpaid therapist to help people with their problems.

“Every single issue I might have had, they’ve all been through.”

SAM: MY GIGS TOO PRICEY

SAM FENDER has hit out at the sharp prices for his OWN tour tickets, insisting that he’s going to change them.

The Geordie singer is off around the country next year for his Proper Massive Stadium Tour, with tickets ranging from £64 to £130, leaving fans disgruntled.

Commenting underneath a post detailing the prices, Sam, left, wrote: “I’m not happy with these prices, they’re getting changed. It got inflated well more than I’d had in mind, it should only be inflated in relation to the cost of putting the show on.

“The standing will not be split as well, I had no idea about it.

“I have no idea how this was normalised in gigs. It’s b*****ks and it won’t be happening on this tour.”

Sam was referring to the fact that, in some venues, there are separate prices for regular standing tickets and “front standing” tickets.

Now that’s a man of the people . . . 

IN THE FAMILY RAYE

RAYE may sing “Where Is My Husband?” but at least she found her grandad on a stage in London.

The star performed a show-stopping gig at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night where she was joined by her songwriter grandad, Michael.

The pair performed their track Fields, from her hit album This Music May Contain Hope.

She arrived at the venue fresh from scooping the prestigious Mercury Prize for the record. Congrats, Raye.

DIAS’S NO DATES FOR 2027

MANCHESTER City fans have been left confused over why hunk Ruben Dias has been axed from the club’s official 2027 calendar.

Maya Jama’s ex is one of the squad’s highest profile members, one of the team captains in fact. So it’s a bizarre move by the club.

Ruben has always featured prominently on the calendar in previous years.

This year he was one of the main stars and was pictured for the month of March.

But next year’s edition has no sign of him.

And that’s sure to come as a blow to the footballing heart-throb, who rightly regards himself as one of the leaders.

At least the calendar will now be a safe stocking-filler for Maya.

CHLOE FERRY has sparked engagement rumours after sharing Instagram snaps.

The Geordie Shore star was seen cuddling up to property developer Alex Swinney on a romantic boat trip before heading out to dinner.

But eagle-eyed fans noticed her ring finger was hidden, obscured by her sleeve.

COUNTRY music duo The Shires are parting ways after 13 years together.

But Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle hinted there could be a comeback, saying: “Maybe one day we’ll be making music and touring again.”

A longer statement on the split said Crissie will be “taking a break” for family life.

CELEBRITIES in fancy dress is always one of my favourite things – and here we have two doing it in style.

Doja Cat became Doja Bunny for the night when she threw a toy-themed 31st birthday party in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Paris Hilton channelled Britney Spears’ I’m A Slave 4 U era with her Halloween costume.

The pair have been buddies for decades – and I’d love to see Brit return the favour by dressing up as Paris . . . 

TV PRESENTER Eamonn Holmes’s lover received death threats and felt ­suicidal after enduring two-and-a-half years of hell for “simply falling in love”, she has revealed.

Katie Alexander sobbed to a friend about her misery — ­saying she feels that the stress in her life, including Eamonn’s illness, has led to her suffering a breakdown.

Police are investigating malicious emails and letters delivered to her, including a threat sent to her home saying she would be decapitated.

Katie, 45, who has been in a ­relationship with the breakfast TV presenter, 66, since his split from Ruth Langsford in 2024, spoke to pals about her ongoing ordeal.

She told a friend: “I fell in love with a man who made me feel safe, who encouraged me to be myself, and who loved and accepted me for me.

“I was thrust into the limelight and suddenly blamed for everything that went wrong with Eamonn.

“I became the accused — and a talking point for the nation.

“I was advised to say nothing, even though I wanted to defend myself, to tell my truth. I decided to protect others before putting myself first. I was being judged simply for falling in love.

“I had death threats sent to my work email, and letters to my home address threatening to decapitate me. Not only was I trying to protect myself, I had to protect my children from online abuse, and from being picked on at school.

“It has been two-and-a-half years of pure hell. It became too much to endure. I reached the point where I thought the quickest way out of it all was to kill myself.

“I had a breakdown. It’s my ­children who have kept me alive.”

Katie, a trained counsellor from West Yorkshire, added to her pal: “I hold people’s emotions for a living.

“Knowing what was the truth in my own life — so different to what was being ­portrayed publicly — was torture. The attacks were very personal.

“People can’t fathom I like older men. I have a history of relationships with men older than me.

“People thought, ‘she must be with Eamonn for his money’. That’s such an untrue, one-dimensional reaction.

“I had a happy life before Eamonn, but suddenly being with him made me happy and content. I never asked for a penny, but he wanted to make sure that I was comfortable financially. He made sure I didn’t have to worry about money. It was his choice, his doing.

“I refused his generosity so many times. It even got to the point where I’d stop him paying £15.99 for a film on TV, making him wait until it became free to watch.

“Despite being so far apart geographically, we lived together half of the week. We made it work. He was — and still is — my partner. And when we were together we did everything together.

“I gave him a sense of worth. He became softer after years of antagonism. He spoke of his feelings in more depth. I told him that if he can’t communicate with me we can’t be together. It seemed alien to him to be able to have a conversation and not an argument, or shouting match, even if we disagreed.”

The Sun on Sunday previously told how Katie had to move her belongings out of Eamonn’s flat in Surrey. He has been in hospital since suffering a stroke in April.

Financial help has dried up, including repayments on a Mercedes car bought by Eamonn so Katie could travel to visit him.

A close friend of Katie added: “She’s had a breakdown with all the stress that has come with trying to keep a family together and juggling work, while trying to care for Eamonn in hospital 230 miles away. There is so much that has gone on which will come out one day, and everyone will learn the truth.

“It suits a lot of people that Katie be painted as the ‘Wicked Witch’. But the reality is so different.”

The pair started dating in May 2024 and within a few months Katie moved into Eamonn’s home.

Eamonn wed fellow former ITV This Morning host Ruth in 2010 but the pair have been going through a divorce since they split in 2024.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a probe into “offensive” letters, but said “no suspect has been identified”. Katie was asked for comment.

THEY scored a resounding victory for farmers everywhere when they won Britain’s Got Talent this year.

And now the Hawkstone ­Farmers Choir want to follow their success with a place on the Glastonbury main stage — and are calling for Emily Eavis to sign them up for next year.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, one of the choir’s leaders, Katryna Shell, told how the group have their sights set on the famous festival, saying: “Our dream is to play the main stage at Worthy Farm. We’re farmers, so it’s kind of meant to be, isn’t it?

“But we haven’t had the call yet. So Emily, if you’re reading this, we’re open, we’re here, we’re listening.”

There’s no doubt that the 32-strong choir would be right at home in the Glastonbury mud and puddles.

The singers — all of whom are working farmers in their day jobs — were brought together by Sun ­columnist Jeremy Clarkson last year when he put out a casting call for a group to sing the expletive-heavy lyrics of a song for his ­Hawkstone beer advert.

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JEZ’S HEADBANGER

Inside Clarkson & Hawkstone Farmers’ choir wild night to celebrate BGT win

But he could never have predicted the unlikely bunch of livestock and arable experts would go on to the final of the ITV talent show, where he cheered them on from the front row as they were declared winners.

James Florey, from Witney, Oxon, said: “Jeremy is always there supporting us — the same with Kaleb Cooper and all of the Clarkson’s Farm team.

“It’s really nice knowing they’ve got our backs.

“Last week, we performed at the British Farming Awards and Jeremy made the time to come along, even though he had to leave straight afterwards.

“And when we ­finished, I saw Kaleb standing on a chair going wild.

“The fact that Jeremy came all the way down for the final — and I don’t think Britain’s Got Talent is necessarily his thing — was great.

“But he came and met us outside before we went on stage, to encourage us.

“He said, ‘I can’t believe what you guys have done and how far you’ve moved this, and the difference you are making to people’s lives.’

“But by backing us, he is also helping to get our supportive message out there, so it’s a collaborative effort.”

And it turned out the ex-Top Gear host was no less enthusiastic when it came to helping the choir celebrate their BGT win, as they revealed he sank pints with them and show judge Amanda Holden in a pub until 3am.

Katryna, from Alnwick, Northumberland, said: “How did we celebrate? We went to the pub with ­Jeremy and Amanda.

“That was a really good night — we were all out till 3am.

“And we hadn’t eaten before the final because we were so nervous.

“Then we won and I was feeling a bit jittery — it was all the excitement.

And it got to about ­mid- night and I was starving. ­Someone came in with a kebab, and it was all I could smell.

“So we left the party in search of the kebab shop, which was about five miles away, got a kebab and then came back.”

Since their win in May, the choir have been inundated with messages of support from fans both inside and outside of the farming community.

After the release of their debut ­single Absolution last month, their new album, This Is Home, follows on November 20 — and they have a UK tour beginning in March next year.

There is also the small matter of performing in front of royalty, when they take to the stage at the Royal Variety Performance next month.

But the members confirmed they won’t be undergoing a glow-up ahead of the big night and are happy to tread the boards of the Royal Albert Hall in wellies and jeans.

They also insist there is no chance of them letting fame go to their heads — because hours after rehearsing for a performance they could be back drilling crops or mucking out livestock.

“This is our glow-up,” said Katryna, gesturing to the group’s clean jeans and shirts.

“I auditioned for BGT in boots that smelled of manure. A guy interviewing me for a video was like, ‘What’s that smell?’”

She continued: “Someone asked me, ‘Do you think the fame will go to your head?’ And I said, ‘No, because every time I come away from whatever we’re doing, I’m thrown right back into farm life, mucking out ­livestock and so on.

“I’ve got three young children as well, so I’ll be looking after them.

“It is challenging and we’re all leaning on friends and family to keep everything working and safe, but we love what we do.”

Fellow farmer Ben Brooke, from March, in Cambridgeshire, said: “It has been hectic, juggling the choir and our normal day jobs. I’m an arable farmer, and I’m lucky as I have my dad in the business too, so he can step in while I’m away.

“At the moment, we are drilling the crops that will be harvested next summer.

“And then there’s running the ­people who work for us — we used to have 50 and now we have four.

“I’m trying to get involved as much as I can without going off singing all the time. That’s the main job.

“But is also so important for us to keep doing what we are doing, because it is bigger than us.

“Farming is inherently super- isolating, and it’s also quite an old-school industry, so no one seems to open up.

“For other farmers to see us having conversations and supporting each other goes a long way.

“We’ve had lots of people opening up to us online, sending us messages, and it’s important they know they are not alone. We want to have these conversations because we want to make a difference.”

James, who says he has struggled with mental health problems in the past, adds that for him joining the choir has been “like therapy”.

And he said it is more important to support farmers’ mental health now than ever before.

He went on: “It is a difficult time for farmers, and there is huge pressure because it is not the sort of industry you can just step away from and say, ‘Actually, you know what, this isn’t profitable at the momen’.

“There’s so much legacy and so much family history behind it. And people will often feel the pressure of that weighing down on them as well as all the financial burdens.

“You don’t want to be that generation that fails or lets things slide.

“Coming together as part of this group has been like therapy because everyone here understands what you are going through.

“And sharing some of our own ­stories and challenges has made ­others aware they are not alone.

“For me, this is one of the best things we’ve ever done, and you never know where it might lead. But hopefully it will be to the top of the charts.”

•  The Hawkstone Choir’s debut album This Is Home is out on November 20 and their UK tour begins in March next year.

RAZORLIGHT are keen to show they’ve still got the golden touch as they prepare for their 28-date tour across the UK and Europe.

The new shows will see Johnny Borrell and Andy Burrows celebrating the 20th anniversary of their self-titled second record, which spawned hits including America, In The Morning and Before I Fall To Pieces.

Speaking at the Ovo Arena Wembley, where the band plays on December 4, frontman Johnny recalls: “The first time we played here was supporting the Manic Street Preachers, it was a great show.”

Buzzing to be back, drummer Andy adds: “We feel very lucky, but at the same time we also feel like we did something really cool.”

The tour starts in Europe and reaches the UK with Glasgow on November 26, before cities including Nottingham, Bristol and Leeds.

And time on the road means more time to make new music.

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“I’m hoping we do some writing on the road because we used to do that a lot,” Johnny says.

“Now we’re going out on the tour bus again, I think we’ll have a good chance of doing that.

“We’ve got a couple of really good songs at the moment and the next step is bringing it to the band and we’ll see how it sounds.

“I like where we’re at with Razorlight at the minute, we’ve got the bit between our teeth.”

Andy says: “These shows and playing together will fuel that. It would be easy to play some gigs, earn some money and be like, ‘See you in two years.’

“But we have that drive to say, ‘F**k, we need to do this again and do it better’.”

Johnny adds: “Everyone has to bring their A-game, then we need to meld together because then it creates something incredible.”

Johnny thinks the group — which first formed in 2002 — have some exciting years ahead.

He explains: “I think a band needs that hunger. And I think we have that right now.

“We’re writing new material and we’ve got that drive.

“I always feel most comfortable in that kind of position where I’m fighting and trying to prove something. I like being the underdog and I like taking it on. When we play live, we’re not playing along to a backing track or anything pre- recorded or a click track or something like that, which 90 per cent of bands are doing now.

“It’s depressing. People do it because it’s easier and it’s cheaper to do. Anyone can go off and do 364 days of something else, then turn up and get a haircut and look like they’re in a band, you know?

“But we’re doing it the real way.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re the biggest band in the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re like the newest, youngest band starting out.

“If you’re doing it properly and you’re doing it for the love of the music, it’s a long road and you just have to keep fighting.

“And that’s our vibe right now.”

FLUFF LUCK FOR RAYE

RAYE was the big winner at the Mercury Prize do after taking home the coveted gong.

She received the award for her incredible second record, This Album May Contain Hope.

After the bash at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, the star was snapped leaving in a faux fur coat and fluffy slippers while holding her trophy out for the waiting photographers.

Raye, who turns 29 today, said: “I just poured so much heart into this album, I really did. This accolade is serious and something that I always dreamed to one day receive. I just feel really grateful.

“It’s the best birthday present I could have asked for.”

Olivia Dean left the night empty-handed but made up for her loss by partying until 3am with her pals in Newcastle.

One of my mates spotted the Man I Need singer heading off with her friends to cool DIY music venue The Lubber Fiend.

They told me: “Olivia might have lost to Raye but she was in great spirits. She went dancing with her mates and was having the time of her life. She’s a great girl and a proper good laugh.”

WIGHT MOVE BY ROBBIE AND CO

ROBBIE WILLIAMS, Kings of Leon and Fatboy Slim have been announced as the headliners for the 25th Sky Presents Isle Of Wight Festival.

They will be joined by a slew of stars including Becky Hill, Kaiser Chiefs, Myles Smith, Cruz Beckham& The Breakers, Courteeners, Rudimental and Scouting for Girls.

The event, which takes place across four days from June 17 next year, still has some more acts to be announced.

Tickets go on sale at 8am on Monday,

Festival director Caroline Giddings said: “There’s a real mix of artists for different generations and tastes, and there’s still more to come.

“We put a lot of thought into what happens beyond the main stages, too.”

JoJo in a good lace

SINGER Jojo Siwa wows in lace as she attends the 2026 Dancers Against Cancer Gala in Beverly Hills.

The former child star looked worlds away from her wild pop star persona as she walked the red carpet in a stunning white dress.

The singer was in good company at the glitzy bash, with actress Carmen Electra and singer Janet Jackson also in attendance.

JoJo is currently enjoying some downtime in America after releasing a series of singles following her stint in the Celebrity Big Brother house last year.

GEORGE MICHAEL’s estate is hosting a free screening for NHS staff of his film, The Faith Tour, at London’s Roundhouse .

The show comes 20 years after his gig at the same venue for nurses, to thank them for caring for his mum who died of cancer in 1997.

Tickets will be distributed by NHS England.

STRIP away his rock star status and Noel Gallagher is just like us.

In the new episode of Chicken Shop Date, he tells host Amelia Dimoldenberg: “I’m pretty low-key. My children live with me. We played a gig in São Paulo to 90,000 and I got home and came downstairs to find my two lads arguing over what was left in a box of Coco Pops. I thought to myself: ‘48 hours ago I was on stage – now I am arguing with two bellends about Coco Pops.’”

Christmas has come early for me because two of my favourite artists, Aitch and Tom Grennan, have teamed up for a telly collab.

I can exclusively reveal that the good pals secretly recorded scenes together for next year’s series of The Voice.

New judge Aitch, who has been shooting the 2027 show in Salford in recent weeks, invited Tom down to ITV studios to film the Battle stages of the popular competition.

And Tom’s guest role went down so well with producers, they are now eyeing him up as a full-time coach in the future.

My source said: “They have been friends for years, so it was a no-brainer for Aitch to give Tom a call and invite him to be a guest judge.

“While he has never appeared on reality TV, Tom has worked his way up from the bottom, so knows how contestants are feeling.

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“Sometimes, guests are quite wooden, but Tom really impressed bosses with his time on the show. They are now talking about him possibly becoming a regular coach.”

Earlier this month, fans watched as will.i.am brought Cheryl out of her self-imposed retirement to help him pick his final three.

Meanwhile, in pre-recorded scenes which aired last weekend, fellow coach Kelly Rowland drafted in Delta Goodrem.

In 2023, Aitch revealed on Instagram that he had recorded a “banger” with Tom, although the song is yet to be released.

But, back in February, Aitch gave fans a taste of the track, called Home, after streaming it live on social media.

A source added: “Tom and Aitch actually have a couple of songs together.

“But they are still working out when best to release one.”

Tom was due to return last night with the release of his comeback single, Wrapped In Gold, from his upcoming fifth album, which is due out next year.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed that one of their collaborations ends up on there.

SITTING atop a bat-encrusted throne in front of me and 44,000 other screaming fans at Birmingham’s Villa Park last summer, Ozzy Osbourne took his final bow.

Just 17 days later, the music world was plunged into mourning as wife Sharon announced news of the Black Sabbath legend’s death at the age of 76.

Speaking to me for her only newspaper interview, Sharon reveals Brummie Ozzy — who she was with for 45 years — knew the epic performance might kill him.

“We never told anyone how sick Ozzy was,” Sharon says. “The ­doctors told him if he performed, he might die.

“Ozzy asked how long he had left and they said it was months.

“He said, ‘I’ve had the most amazing life. What is a few more months going to do, with me in pain and being miserable?

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“I’d rather go my way’. And he did — on the greatest high.

“It was the greatest gift that he could choose this way out.”

Life without Ozzy has been far more difficult than Sharon and their children Aimee, Kelly and Jack ever imagined.

And they have poured all their energy into creating a feature-length film of last year’s Back To The Beginning concert, which is out in cinemas next Wednesday.

“I am still learning to live with the grief, and that grief will be with me until the day I die,” Sharon says.

“I had counselling in the beginning. And when we watched the movie last week in LA, Aimee had to leave — it was too emotional for her.

“Jack stepped up and helped me with the business and Kelly is dealing with it in her own way.

“I told them we were lucky to have him, and it’s a blessing their dad was so beloved.”

For Sharon, who had Ozzy’s remains returned to their family home in Buckinghamshire, the Prince of Darkness is still very much with her.

“We kept his phone number on and do you know how many of his friends still text him?” she says, with a sad smile.

“Why should you wipe everything out because they have gone?

“I talk to Ozzy, too. I speak to him about everything that is going on.

“I ask, ‘What would you do? Tell me what to do’. We do whatever we can to take ­comfort. People I don’t even know have been so gracious — they come up to me to offer their condolences.

“The other day I was pushing my trolley around M&S and a lady approached to pay her respects. It really is touching that people thought of him so highly.

“The thing about Ozzy is that you didn’t even have to like his music, because people just loved the character.

“He was larger than life, a real softie and funny as f***. I mean, the f****** fights we had . . .  but it always ended in love. “He’d come out with one line which would be so funny, I’d crack and go, ‘Oh, f*** it’. Life is too short.”

Ozzy’s death saw an outpouring of grief all over the world, and Birmingham came to a standstill on the day of his funeral.

“I am blessed to have my husband’s friends. They are incredible and they have all been there for us,” Sharon says.

“We got so many messages, and we are still receiving letters, cards and flowers from fans all over the world.

“There was even one letter from King Charles.

“We had the honour of spending some time with him on a few occasions and he was just a ­normal bloke.

“The King loves to laugh . . .  he’s really naughty, and Ozzy loved that.”

Ozzy’s farewell concert on July 5, 2025, saw the great and the good of heavy metal travel to Birmingham to perform, including Sabbath bandmates Bill Ward and Geezer Butler as well as Tony Iommi — who ­supported Sharon at the film’s launch in London on Tuesday.

It is two-and-a-half hours of unbridled rock ’n’ roll joy, with acts including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Slayer performing Sabbath’s biggest hits.

Sharon admits Ozzy was ­worried about being able to go the distance at the concert, which ran for more than ten hours.

“I was petrified because I didn’t know whether he could get through it,” Sharon explains.

“He was just praying his lungs would work and that he could sing because, along with everything else wrong with him, Ozzy had emphysema.

“He could be great for two days and then on the third day he’d wake up and couldn’t breathe. But it was mind over matter. He wanted to play with Sabbath one last time. He wanted to see his mates and the fans.”

Emotions aside, Sharon admits there was non-stop fun backstage.

She told how Hollywood actor Jason Mamoa called and asked for tickets to the show, only to be told on the day he had to compere the entire event.

“I said, ‘Just go and talk to the crowd and introduce the bands’,” Sharon recalls.

“He said, ‘I can’t do that’. So I said: ‘F**k off, you’re an actor!’.”

The concert, which raised more than £8million for local charities, has gone down in music history as the greatest gathering of heavy metal artists of all time.

And Sharon hopes Ozzy’s ­legacy will continue to inspire the next generation.

“People don’t understand how poor Ozzy was [as a child],” she says. “He was born in the Forties and a can of condensed soup and a white bread loaf fed him and his five siblings.

“They all slept on one bed. They didn’t have blankets — they wore coats.

“There was no bathroom, just an outside toilet in a shed.

“He worked so hard to change his life and achieve what he did.

“He was a true working-class hero, and his music will live on forever.”

GOT TIME FOR GLASTO, SAM?

SAM FENDER has announced his biggest ever tour, a new album and dropped a big hint that he could headline Glastonbury in 2027.

The Seventeen Going Under singer will hit the road for the first time in 18 months next summer, with stadium shows across the UK and Ireland.

He will play Newcastle’s St. James’ Park on June 3 and 5, followed by Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on June 10.

Then there will be two nights at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 18 and 20, Dublin’s Marlay Park on July 1, Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium on July 8 and Manchester’s Etihad Stadium on July 15 and 17.

The Proper Massive Stadium Tour will see Sam, right, perform to over 600,000 fans, and tickets go on sale at 9.30am next Friday, October 30.

Sam’s fourth album – a follow-up to 2025’s People Watching – could well be out by then, too, as fans who pre-order it will get access to tickets on Wednesday.

It’s hard not to see the clear gap in Sam’s schedule over Glastonbury weekend though – June 23 to 27.

I’ve heard some exciting whispers about next summer’s event and with Sam on board, it’d be a belter.

RYLAN: STRICTLY IS IN MY DNA

RYLAN CLARK says he’s thrilled his pal Emma Willis landed the Strictly job after he missed out on a role in the BBC show’s presenting line-up.

In an exclusive chat to celebrate Rylan teaming up with M&M’s to give away free Vue cinema tickets for Halloween, he said: “I love Emma to bits and I’m so over the moon for her. I think her, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe are doing a fantastic job.

“Being part of the show for four years hosting It Takes Two, it will always be a part of my DNA.

“I still love watching the show and long may they keep dancing.”

Rylan, inset, who has been going on secret missions for M&M’s by giving cinema-goers jumpscares before handing them free tickets, added: “I hid in a photobooth, a sofa and a ticket machine to give people spooks.

“There was one group that had quite an OTT reaction.

“They were very scared, even when it was revealed it was me, but maybe the teeth scared them off.”

TOM GRENNAN launches his bid to return to the charts tomorrow with new single, Wrapped In Gold.

The emotional track will feature on his upcoming fifth album. But before that, Tom will take to the stage at London’s O2 Arena to perform at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball.

I previously told how John Legend, Jamie Miller and Becky Hill and will be part of the December line-up, with Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey also in talks to sing.

MUNYA CHAWAWA appears to be angling to become the first influencer to be cast as James Bond.

The funnyman looked ­dapper as ever as he enjoyed his new role as Oatly’s first-ever Diplomat of Taste.

He was driven through London in a three-car motorcade to ­celebrate the opening of The Oatly Embassy in West ­London.

On Fridays and Saturdays, guests can enjoy free oat-based drinks and a tour of the Museum of Modern Oats.

Munya said: “If there are two things people say about me, it’s that I love oats and I’m great at diplomacy.”

STEPPING on to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 2023 was a big moment for Texas, who had last played at the festival 24 years earlier.

But whatever expectations frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and her band had for the gig were blown out of the water, because it sent them stratospheric once again and gained them thousands of new fans.

Now they are capitalising on their expanded fanbase by heading out on an 11-date arena tour of the UK and Ireland next October, and releasing a 30th anniversary version of their No1 album White On Blonde, featuring hits including Say What You Want, Black Eyed Boy and Halo.

And as good news comes in threes, today Texas have also released a new single, Another Way To Cry.

In an exclusive chat, Sharleen told me of their success: “I think it tastes sweeter than it ever has.

“The honest truth is that when we did that Glastonbury a couple of years ago, you never know how it’s going to go, but that Glastonbury changed everything. Suddenly there was a whole new audience that wanted to see Texas and we announced that tour off the back of that.

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“It just was a moment of, ‘Wow, people really do still want to see us.’ When you look out into that audience, the ages vary all over the shop. It’s quite extraordinary.

“There’s been lots of people going, ‘When are you going on tour?’ so it’s good that there is still that desire to see us, and for us, that just makes the desire to go and play even stronger than it’s ever been.”

If you have not seen Texas yet, I urge you to snap up tickets when they go on general sale at 10am next Friday, October 30.

There, you will be able to hear the Scottish rockers’ new single, which is a rollicking, brassy singalong with Sharleen’s bluesy voice shining strong.

The accompanying video — an ode to the film Paris Texas, which was the inspiration for the band’s name — sees her exploring the Scottish highlands and bumping into fellow Scot, Trainspotting star Robert Carlyle.

On shooting the visuals, she said: “We had every season in the space of an hour, which was extraordinary, but that’s Scotland. We had scorching sun, pouring rain then sleet and hail stones and wind.

“It was fun, alongside our mates the Highland cattle, which was fantastic.”

And she insisted the Highland cows in the video were genuine. She continued: “It’s not AI, they were actually there. There was one point where me and Robert were walking down the road and they were coming right up, and they’re gigantic and they’ve got horns.

“If it just moved its head in the wrong direction and you’re anywhere near that horn you’re getting whacked by it.”

Thankfully they emerged unscathed and Sharleen has since been back in the studio.

Asked if there is an album of new music on the way too, she said: “Yeah, we’re working on a new record.”

As for White On Blonde, which will be out on February 5, Texas are chuffed it is being released on vinyl for the first time after they were recently fleeced trying to buy another of their records on the format.

She explained: “There was only ever vinyl made for the Press. We actually had to buy one of the old albums back because we’d given them away.

“We ended up buying our own record back for £1,200, about a year ago, because we needed it for a video. It was hysterical. I was literally like, ‘What? £1,200!’”

And they have got someone special on board to write the liner notes — Peter Kay.

Speaking about the comedian, who directed and starred in the 2006 video for their song Sleep, she said: “Peter is such a big music and Texas fan, and he’s a big friend of ours. He’s so geeky in his knowledge of music and stuff like that.

“It just felt exactly right because of his connection to the band and the fact he made the video for us and he bought White On Blonde and he’d always talked about it.

“It felt like the absolute right thing to do.”

I DON’T HAVE RIGHT TRAITS

SHARLEEN turned down the chance to go on The Celebrity Traitors in her native Scotland – insisting she’s a “s*** liar.”

She was approached by the series producers, but doesn’t think she’s competitive enough to be a success on Claudia Winkleman’s hit show.

She explained: “I’m very flattered to have been asked and I said, ‘Thank you, but no.’ I couldn’t do it.

“I absolutely love The Traitors. It’s such a great, unbelievable programme and I’m watching it currently and I just couldn’t do it. I’d be all over the shop.

“I’d gladly play the game. But I’m a s*** liar. That is the truth. I wouldn’t remember who I told a lie to or what I did and I’m not that big of a player.

“I’d probably go, ‘Nah, you’re alright.’ The thing is, the only place I’m really competitive is on a stage.

“In games I’m really not competitive at all. So I’d probably be really rubbish.”

She added: “I want to be a fan, but not a fan in it. I want to be a fan watching it. I’m very happy with that situation.”

JADE-D BY PRINCESS FAILURE

JADE has revealed she was “devastated” not to land the role of Princess Jasmine in 2019’s live-action remake of Aladdin, after the role went to Naomi Scott.

The Little Mix star, who auditioned for director Guy Ritchie, said: “I was pretty devastated. I think I got down to the last few. I sent a letter once I knew they’d reached out, saying that Jasmine was my sort of idol growing up.

“She was the only character I could really look up to as someone of Arab heritage, so Princess Jasmine was who I dreamed of being.”

On Channel 4’s The Assembly, she added: “I did three rounds of auditions. I sang A Whole New World in Guy Ritchie’s living room.

“I didn’t get the part and that’s fine. But I was quite sad for some time, definitely. I was gutted, I can’t lie.”

JUDI DENCH says panned 2019 Cats movie was a “waste” of Andrew Llloyd Webber’s “goodwill and talent.”

She starred as Old Deuteronomy in the much-mocked movie and in her new memoir, she writes: “Oh God, I can’t bear it – and he had waited so long for it to be made.

“What a waste of all that goodwill and talent.”

JAY-Z’S UP FOR THE BIG GAME

JAY-Z has chosen himself to be the headline act for next year’s Super Bowl half-time show, according to a report in the US.

Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus were said to be in talks to perform at the show in Los Angeles on February 14.

Instead the rapper, who’s firm Roc Nation has had a deal with the NFL since 2019, will be taking centre stage.

He has yet to comment on the story, although he’s set to perform two shows at the SoFi Stadium in LA this Friday – where the big game will be held –so he may well announce it there.

His wife Beyonce previously headlined in 2013 and then joined Coldplay during their set there three years later.

And I imagine he’d want her as a guest if he takes to the pitch, too.

Jenna’s looking pawsome

JENNA ORTEGA has been to London, Rome and New York in the past week and she’s had a special someone by her side the whole time – her pet pooch.

The Wednesday actress, who wore this beaded dress for the US premiere of her new film Klara And The Sun in the Big Apple on Monday, said her whippet Twigs helps her stay grounded.

Jenna, who posed for pics in New York with co-star Amy Adams and director Taika Waititi, said: “My dog follows me everywhere.

“It’s hard doing the job that I do, travelling to all of these different hotels and foreign countries, so to have something that is consistent and true, and looks after me, and I look after her, it’s nice.”

That dog must have racked up more air miles this week than I have all year.

BLUNT’S A TRAITOR FUME RESIDENTS

RESIDENTS of the London borough of Acton have dubbed James Blunt a traitor.

He filmed his new Circles music video there, but then pretended it was somewhere else.

I revealed snaps of the Celebrity Traitors star riding around on a mini tractor while shooting the video in a park last week.

But locals soon spotted James had renamed Acton’s mainline station “Battersham”, leaving them fuming.

“We thought James was going to put Acton on the map with his video,” a friend, who sent me snaps of James recording his video, told me after seeing the clip.

“It’s not Battersham, this is Acton. And we’re proud of it.”

NO DIRTY A.I TRICKS IN DANCING SEQUEL

THE producer behind the Dirty Dancing sequel insists they won’t bring back Patrick Swayze using AI.

Jennifer Grey will reprise the role of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and film bosses are working out how to celebrate late actor Patrick, who died in 2009.

Producer Nina Jacobson said: “That’s one of the things that you really have to focus on: how to let people mourn him in a movie. And don’t worry – we won’t be bringing him back with AI.”

She said they are “trying to chase the feeling of that original movie”.

Nina added: “Being able to tell a young love story that could take some of those risks but also inspire those feelings felt like an incredible chance for us.”

PHIL JOINS PIRATES CREW

PIRATES Of The Caribbean is being brought to life by Secret Cinema – and they’ve got a household name on board to help out.

I can reveal Phil Daniels, who starred in EastEnders, and whose voice featured in Blur’s 1994 hit Parklife, has joined the cast as Captain Barbossa.

Johnny Depp’s character Jack Sparrow will be played by Olivier Award winner George Maguire.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Immersive Adventure, opens in February and has already had its run extended by six weeks due to demand.

It will also be the first production by Secret Cinema –  which allows punters to watch films on the big screen while the action also unfolds around them – at its purpose-built flagship venue in London’s Greenwich.

Time to ready my sea legs.

LIAM GALLAGHER is winding up Oasis fans by claiming they’ve already finished a new album – but I’m not so sure.

Responding to someone on X who wrote: “Oasis have SEVEN great albums and those songs will LIVE FOREVER”, rocker Liam said: “8 including the new 1.”

I’ll believe it when I hear it.

TAYLOR Swift gave a rare performance in front of a star-studded crowd as she kicked off a campaign to win her first Oscar.

The superstar, 36, sang a four-track set at the glitzy Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday.

It included her single I Knew It, I Knew You, which was recorded for Toy Story 5 — and which Taylor hopes will be nominated for Best Original Song at the awards ceremony next March.

The singer made an impression in her custom Dior gown with platinum earrings featuring 32.40 carats of diamonds and a platinum bracelet.

Her look was created by Northern Irish fashion designer Jonathan Anderson, who was also behind the wedding dress she wore marrying American football player Travis Kelce three months ago.

Insiders believe Taylor was hoping the performance — which also included the live debut of her hit single The Fate of Ophelia — was her going the extra mile to woo Academy Award ­voters after several failed attempts to get an Oscar nomination in the past.

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She has released original tracks for a series of hit films over the years, including The Hunger Games, Fifty Shades Freed, and Cats, but has never qualified for the gong.

Her 15-minute All Too Well: The Short Film also failed to secure a nomination in 2023.

But I Knew It, I Knew You spent two weeks at No1 in the UK when it came out in June, making it Taylor’s most successful film track to date.

An industry insider said: “Taylor knows how Hollywood works and is keen to build goodwill and visibility among the people who vote for the Oscars.

“She’s made no secret of her ambition to win an Academy Award so is pulling out all the stops this year.”

If she does win an Oscar, it would bring her one step closer to one of the highest achievements in US showbiz: the EGOT — winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony.

Only 28 people have done so, and Taylor is halfway there, having bagged 14 Grammys and an Emmy.

She is also working on a musical which would put her in line for a Tony, the highest accolade in theatre.

A number of A-listers were at the fancy bash, considered LA’s answer to New York’s Met Gala.

Taylor chatted with several celebrity pals inside, including Sabrina Carpenter who wore a royal blue, backless dress with shoulder tassels.

Swift’s former foe Kim Kardashian, 45, was also at the event, channelling Elizabeth Taylor with a bouffant hairdo, an archival 1951 Balenciaga dress, and a 55.8-carat diamond necklace.

Meanwhile, actress Teyana Taylor, 35, wore a Schiaparelli torso bodysuit alongside Kylie Minogue, 58, who posed in a a slashed black gown.

Charlize Theron, 51, turned up to receive the Icon Award for her celebrated acting career.

GRANTCHESTER hunk Tom Brittney has split from his fiancée and moved on with tattooed model Clo Gascoigne.

It comes two years after Tom’s engagement to his long-term girlfriend, whose name he never revealed.

The new couple have now gone Instagram-official as Clo shared a loved-up snap of them on the red carpet at Prime Video’s Carrie launch last week.

Tom, who recently starred in thriller movie Fall 2: Deadpoint, featured in Clo’s TikTok (which she has now deleted) where she filmed him watching himself on telly with the caption: “POV your boyfriend is an actor.”
Congrats.

HOLLY AND FELTZ CLICK

HOLLY WILLOUGHBY has been exchanging tips with Vanessa Feltz on kickstarting their YouTube careers.

The presenters, who worked together regularly on This Morning, shared a snap on Instagram on Friday after watching a performance at the English National Opera in central London.

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Speaking earlier in the week at Best magazine’s Heroes Awards, Vanessa said: “I’ve had a really great voicenote from Holly.

“She is incredibly encouraging and she says she’s thoroughly enjoying it and she can see that I am.

“We’re having dinner this week. We really like each other and support each other and I think she’s doing an absolute bang-up job. I think that women supporting women is always attractive and great.”

The former chat show host started her own YouTube series, At Home With Vanessa, earlier this year.

She added: “It’s quite a big deal to do it. Terrestrial TV seems to feel narrower, smaller, and fewer and fewer opportunities.

“On terrestrial TV, they all seem to be reining themselves in, there seem to be lots of cuts being made, and closures, things are shorter and smaller and less often and all this kind of thing.

“So I think the idea of just waiting for an opportunity there might be a very long wait.

“It’s a question of feeling like you want to try to see if you can make an opportunity for yourself.”

MARK HAMILL is reprising his role as Luke Skywalker . . . in an Old Spice ad.

The actor filmed a top-secret campaign for the vintage aftershave favoured by dads, in which he appeared as his legendary Star Wars character.

The shoot took place in the UK last week.

A mole tells me: “Mark was paid big bucks for the ad – after all, he’s a huge Hollywood star.

“Bosses think he’ll appeal to the Old Spice market as Star Wars is so popular with dads.”

Mark also has a cameo in Amazon Prime’s new series Carrie, where he plays a fraudulent fortune teller.

NICOLE SPOTTED IN CATSUIT

NICOLE SCHERZINGER had a wild night stepping out in a skintight leopard-print catsuit.

The singer was joined by her Pussycat Dolls bandmates Ashley Roberts and Kimberley Wyatt at Nammos Greek restaurant in London’s Mayfair on Friday night, to celebrate their successful reunion tour.

The trio dined on signature dishes and enjoyed cocktails.

An onlooker said: “They were in high spirits. They had an amazing tour and got rave reviews, they deserve to let their hair down.”

TYLA’S HOT FLUFF

TYLA showed her softer side as she donned a fluffy lingerie set for a show on Friday night.

Excited to be performing in the capital, the South African singer painted “London” across her thigh for the O2 Brixton Academy leg of her A*Pop World Tour.

The Water hitmaker, full name Tyla Laura Seethal, revealed that she loves the UK but still sees Johannesburg as her home.

The Grammy Award-winning singer said: “We don’t have paparazzi and you see our superstars at the mall, like every weekend. It’s kind of chill.

“It feels like a movie [in the UK] – the fact that people care about every little thing I do and say.”

Tyla continues her tour tonight in Glasgow then Manchester tomorrow.

ZARA’S GOT SOMETHING ‘SPECIAL’

ZARA LARSSON has confirmed a new album is coming next year and has already recorded the first track.

The star said the “special” song came by accident while she was working on this year’s remix album Girls Trips and she knows it’s going to be a hit.

She explained on Popcast: “I think it’s going to be a really fun journey to write the next album.

“I already have new lyrics, actually I have one song we did just because we couldn’t help ourselves when we weremaking Girls Trips and it sort of gave me the same feeling to when I did (previous album) Midnight Sun.

“When I left that session you just know when something is special and that’s one, and also what it was; for the four of us being fully present.”

EMMERDALE OLIVIA IS NED OVER HEELS

THEY had a sizzling love affair on Emmerdale – but I can reveal that Olivia Bromley and Ned Porteous are a couple off-screen as well.

The ITV soap pair have been secretly dating for months.

Gorgeous Olivia and hunky Ned grew close after their characters, Dawn Taylor and Joe Tate, were involved in one of the show’s biggest-ever love triangles.

But the couple initially kept their romance quiet.

An Emmerdale source said: “Olivia and Ned were a couple off-screen while acting out those sex scenes.

“It was easy for them to get away with it because they were working so closely together.

“A few people clocked what was going on and they both admitted that they were seeing where things go. But it’s been a good few months now and they couldn’t be happier.”

Olivia left the soap over the summer, but now she has a great excuse to keep visiting the set.