DUBBED The Town of Kings and Fishermen, Cascais is the Portuguese Riviera’s glittering seaside jewel.
Once a sleepy fishing hub, it was transformed into a summer retreat for king-in-exile Umberto II of Italy and attracted European aristocracy in the 19th century.
Known as The Town of Kings and Fishermen, Cascais is the Portuguese Riviera’s glittering seaside jewelCredit: GettyBoca do Inferno, or the Devil’s Mouth, is a dramatic cavern carved into the limestone cliffs of CascaisCredit: Getty
Just a 35-minute train ride from Lisbon, it charms sun-seekers with golden beaches, grand mansions, cobbled streets and fresh seafood that won’t break the bank.
CLASSIC SIGHT: The fairytale Castro Guimarães museum boasts bright yellow walls and a stone bridge overlooking a sea inlet.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Built in 1900 by aristocrat Jorge O’Neill, he celebrated his Irish heritage in the Shamrock Room that features a hand-painted ceiling.
The museum itself features a host of 17th to 19th century aristocratic treasures, from art and furniture to porcelain collected by Portuguese nobility.
There’s also a fabulous 16th-century illuminated manuscript showcasing early Lisbon.
NATURAL ATTRACTION: Boca do Inferno, or the Devil’s Mouth, is a dramatic cavern carved into the limestone cliffs of Cascais.
Head here at high tide when Atlantic swells smash through the rock arch with a deafening roar, blasting sea spray into the air.
Legend has it a local sorcerer created the chasm to save his love from a giant, but today it is simply one of the coast’s most awe-inspiring photo spots.
FUN NEIGHBOURHOOD: Rua Amarela, also known as Yellow Street, is the buzzing, culinary hub of the old town.
Draped in fairy lights with lots of al-fresco dining, the pedestrian alley is packed with lively tapas joints and cocktail bars.
Kick back with a cold Super Bock beer or glass of Vinho Verde and dig into a juicy steak or grilled chorizo at local’s favourite, José Ignácio.
THE GRAND HOTEL: Tucked away between the Sintra mountains and the sea, the renovated Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais sits on a championship 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course and delivers relaxed 5* luxury.
Rooms at the newly renovated Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais start from £140per nightCredit: SuppliedFoodies are well-catered for in CascaisCredit: Supplied
The resort has chic rooms, an outdoor pool, an onsite lake for open water swims and the serene Natur Spa for cooler months.
Foodies will love charcoal-grilled Portuguese seafood at restaurant Ao Ponto, while every evening, guests can enjoy the signature Kimpton Social Hour — featuring free-flowing wine, cocktails and nibbles in the courtyard.
THE WOW MOMENT: Mar do Inferno is a family-run seafood restaurant on the cliffs of Boca do Inferno and THE place for the ultimate dinner with a view.
It serves sweet Algarve shrimp, spider crab and sea bass baked in a thick crust of Atlantic salt.
Meals cost around £35 — or more if you want market-priced fish. Request a table on the terrace to watch the sun set.
FESTIVAL TIME: The Ageas Cool Jazz festival rocks the open-air Hipódromo Manuel Possolo every July, turning this royal town into a party hotspot.
Set across ten hectares of lush parkland, the intimate festival blends world-class music with a relaxed summer picnic vibe.
Past heavyweights include Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters, alongside international jazz legends and local artists.
CULTURAL FIX: The Cidadela Art District is a creative hub inside a massive 16th century fortress.
Once built to fend off pirates — and later used as a summer getaway for Portuguese kings — the historic stone courtyard is now packed with open-air art galleries, pop-up studios and striking outdoor sculptures.
You can wander through artists’ workshops, grab a craft coffee and soak up the unique mix of medieval history and modern culture.
TOP TOUR: If there’s a crowd of you, charter a boat with Palma Yachts from Cascais Marina for an unforgettable day at sea.
You’ll glide past grand coastal fortresses toward Cabo da Roca — the westernmost point of mainland Europe — where dramatic 300ft cliffs drop into the Atlantic.
Drop anchor in secluded bays for a plunge in the cool waters, and keep your eyes peeled for wild pods of bottlenose dolphins jumping alongside the hull. Prices are from £385 for up to 14 people.
If there’s just two of you, Sailing Cascais and Cascais Routes offer two-hour small-group sailing trips from the marina with prices from £35 to £50.
BEST BEACH: Praia da Conceição and Praia da Duquesa offer calm, shallow waters that are ideal for lazy family swims right next to the town centre’s cafes.
Framed by wild sand dunes and the Sintra mountains, its rolling Atlantic swells make it a playground for surfers, windsurfers and kiteboardersCredit: Getty
GO: CASCAIS
GETTING THERE: TAP Air Portugal flies directly from Heathrow to Lisbon six times per day, with fares starting from £70. See flytap.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at the newly renovated Kimpton Quinta da Marinha Cascais start from £140per night. See ihg.com.
Adrenaline junkies should head four miles north to the windswept Praia do Guincho.
Framed by wild sand dunes and the Sintra mountains, its rolling Atlantic swells make it a playground for surfers, windsurfers and kiteboarders.
ONE MORE TREAT: Santini is Portugal’s most legendary gelato parlour and it has been serving ices to royals, celebrities and tourists for more than 75 years.
Its stylish new spot by the historic Cidadela Fortress turns up the heat with boozy ice cream sangrias — a refreshing cocktail made with crisp white wine, fruit and sorbet you can drink straight from a glass.
We didn’t see eveything, obviously, but we had a damned good go!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
GO AT THE RIGHT TIME. New England’s Fall officially runs from September to November, with late September and October being the peak.
Don’t go too late or, as locals put it, you run the risk of it being “stick season” when all the leaves have dropped off.
However, whale watching ends late September/early October, so to see both, you need to time it right.
A lot of it’s down to luck.
GO ANTI-CLOCKWISE. If you want to see the best foliage, head north up the coast to Maine, across to Vermont, then drive back through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The leaves start turning in the north first, so you will essentially be following the trees as the colours change.
DRIVE…BUT DON’T DRIVE. New England roads are a pleasure.
Petrol is still cheap, car hire is affordable and roads are wide, well maintained and signposted, and not that busy.
But DON’T drive in Boston – the traffic is horrendous and there is nowhere to park.
Make Boston either the start or the end of your trip so you aren’t stuck there with a car.
GO: NEW ENGLAND
GETTING THERE/ STAYING THERE: America As You Like It (americaasyoulikeit.com/020 8742 8299) has a 14-night fly drive from £2,930pp, including return flights, car hire and accommodation.
This includes two nights at the Sheraton Boston, one night at The Breakwater Inn & Spa, Kennebunkport; two nights at the Portland Regency Hotel & Spa, Portland, Maine; two nights at the Newfound Lake Inn, New Hampshire; one night at Cranmore Mountain Lodge, North Conway, New Hampshire; three nights at Hotel Champlain Burlington, Vermont; two nights at the Chart House Inn, Rhode Island; and one night at the Marriott Quincy.
MASSACHUSETTS
Visit the United First Parish Church – the only place where you will get so close to a presidential tombCredit: Alamy
THE big draw in Massachusetts is Boston (see City Q&A) but there’s plenty more to see.
Beautiful Cape Cod, where the Pilgrims on the Mayflower first landed, is full of pretty little towns, sandy dunes and marshes that are teeming with wildlife.
We hit the resort of Sandwich and, as it was out of season, had the beach to ourselves.
The buzzing town of Quincy is worth a look, too.
It is best known for being the birthplace of two US presidents, John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams.
You can see their crypts in the United First Parish Church – the only place where you will get so close to a presidential tomb.
But nothing is as good as whale watching. The fishing port of Gloucester is THE place on the New England coast to see them, thanks to its proximity to three rich feeding grounds.
One whale would have been fantastic, but we saw EIGHT – a mixture of humpbacks and minkes – surfacing so dramatically they could have been performing for the cameras.
And you can get unbelievably close to them.
The boat crew will fill you in on how these gentle giants live, and even who they are.
They can identify each one by the marking on their fins.
If we hadn’t managed to see a single golden leaf during our trip, it wouldn’t have mattered after this. The absolute highlight.
Kennebunkport at Walker’s Point is worth a lookCredit: Getty
THE state flag of Maine has a moose on it but it probably ought to be Pennywise the clown.
Yup, Maine is Stephen King country – and you can see why.
Its forests, small colonial towns and rugged coastline have a vaguely eerie quality that the writer has exploited to the full.
We stayed in Portland – King’s hometown – a working lobster port that’s also a laid-back city full of refugees from the 9-5 grind of New York and Boston.
There’s an appealing, alternative, hippy vibe and it’s great for bars with live music (try the local Alagash beer) and restaurants selling fresh lobster.
The rolls here were the best we had all holiday.
Kennebunkport couldn’t be more different.
It’s a pretty, upmarket town, whose main claim to fame is that it is the summer retreat of the Bush presidents.
It is a very touristy, chocolate box kind of place, full of art galleries, craft shops and tearooms.
It’s a bit like a US Bourton-on-the-Water.
Eat at the upscale Port Fish & Chop House restaurant. It’s a Bush favourite, apparently – ours too.
By the way, the Bush compound is just around the headland from Kennebunkport at Walker’s Point and is worth a look.
Don’t linger there for too long, though – the Secret Service are liable to suddenly pop up out of nowhere to check you out.
Simon Copeland in Loon Mountain in the White Mountains National ParkCredit: supplied
IT’S when you head inland from Maine to New Hampshire that the Fall hits you.
Nothing quite prepares you for the reds and golds, purples, oranges and coppers of the foliage – and there is so much of it.
Miles and miles of brilliant colours. It is everything we hoped it would be.
New Hampshire is prime “leaf-peeping” country – what the locals call the invasion of tourists who want to catch that EXACT moment the leaves turn.
Think bird-watchers are obsessive? You ain’t seen nothing.
A stop at Loon Mountain (named after loons, a duck-like bird, not the peepers) in the White Mountains National Park gave us the best chance to take it all in.
We took the gondola up to the top and spent a couple of hours trekking along the mountain trails (watch out for bears).
From the summit all you can see are beautiful colours in every direction.
Our B&B, a charming inn called the Cranmore Mountain Lodge in the middle of the park, was perfect for peeping and had another bonus – the chance to sleep in baseball legend Babe Ruth’s bed.
His daughter owned the place – putting the inn in innings, I guess.
And while you are in NH, try the sightseeing cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, famously used as a location for the film On Golden Pond.
In a state full of sights to marvel at, this placid stretch of water with its many islands and mountain backdrop is one of the best.
WE STAYED AT: Newfound Lake Inn (newfoundlakeinn.com) and the Cranmore Mountain Lodge, North Conway (cmlnh.com).
RHODE ISLAND
The Breakers has 70 rooms, all astonishingly decorated and furnished, takes up more than 130,000 sq ft and was based on a 16th century Italian palazzoCredit: Getty
RHODE ISLAND may be America’s smallest state but it acts big.
It’s big on maritime history and big on seafood. It is also big on understatement.
Newport is home to some of the grandest and most opulent mansions ever built.
And do you know what locals call them? “Summer cottages”.
We toured The Breakers, the grandest of all.
It has 70 rooms, all astonishingly decorated and furnished, takes up more than 130,000 sq ft and was based on a 16th century Italian palazzo.
It was built by the Vanderbilt family, who made millions in railroads and steamships in the 19th century.
You can see more of these over-the-top symbols of the Gilded Age on the Cliff Walk.
This 3.5-mile path along the coast has crashing Atlantic Ocean waves on one side (the breakers) and the grand estates on the other.
Train magnate Vanderbilt might have been amused by another top attraction in Newport – the Rail Explorers.
This is a three-mile stretch of disused track that you pedal along on customised “rail bikes”.
On the way you can take in fantastic coastal views and may even spot the ospreys that nest in the area.
Newport itself is a charming port with a really vibrant quayside stuffed with bars and restaurants.
And do the sunset sail round the harbour.
You will head under the gigantic Newport Bridge which connects RI to Connecticut.
It’s such an amazing sight you will want to big it up.
The buzzing city of Burlington, on the shores of Lake ChamplainCredit: GettyOne of Frank Sinatra’s greatest recordings is Moonlight In VermontCredit: Getty
I’M a Frank Sinatra nut and one of his greatest recordings is Moonlight In Vermont.
I’m not 100 per cent sure Frank ever actually went there (not trashy enough for him), but, hey, it doesn’t matter.
I know from the song this state is something special.
Vermont invented leaf-peeping with canny marketing in the 1950s that promoted an overlooked season into something special.
And it is here that the trees are maybe at their best.
The vibrant colours are set off by the white-painted clapboard of the houses and churches in colonial villages and towns.
We headed across rolling farmland that could be in Old England to the buzzing city of Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain, via a stop at Hildene in Manchester, the family home of President Abraham Lincoln.
It’s certainly worth a detour as it tells one of the great American rags-to-riches stories and contains possibly the nation’s most famous political symbol – Abe’s stovepipe hat.
But the highlight was the scenic village of Dorset, and our stay at the homely yet lively Dorset Inn – Vermont’s oldest tavern.
If you’ve seen that great old movie White Christmas, with Bing Crosby, this is the kind of place it’s set in.
In fact, a stay at the Dorset may be the ultimate Vermont experience.
Boston is famously America’s most Irish city, but it may be its most English tooCredit: GettyClassic TV comedy Cheers starring Ted DansonCredit: Getty
BOSTON is famously America’s most Irish city, but it may be its most English too.
With its green spaces, historic buildings and cobbled streets, the centre can feel like London or Cambridge.
Indeed, Boston has a Cambridge – along with a Brighton, a Hyde Park, a Chelsea and a Dorchester.
The city itself, a major US port, was named after Boston in Lincolnshire.
And thanks to its ties to the American Revolution, England still looms large.
Boston and Massachusetts may have been instrumental in the rebellion that ended George III’s rule over the 13 American colonies, but they have kept large parts of our culture.
This year, Boston has been celebrating its role in 250 years of American Independence, even though the actual 1776 Declaration document was signed 300 miles away in Philadelphia.
As Bostonians like to joke, Boston did all the hard work, while Philly just did the paperwork.
Thanks to the anniversary – and the World Cup, of course – Boston (or Baw-stin, as they seem to pronounce it) has rarely had such a high profile.
WHY SHOULD I GO?
Whether you are a history buff, culture vulture, sailing enthusiast, sports nut, foodie or an enthusiastic pubgoer, Boston has something for everyone.
In the autumn you can see it at its best. Summer is too hot, winter too cold. In the Fall, the weather is still warm enough for shorts but the foliage is turning, making this attractive city even more so.
Boston is one of America’s most fascinating cities, and its European feel gives it a familiarity that’s uncommon in the rest of the US.
It’s an intriguing mix of the blue collar and the blue blood, as the city is both proudly working class and defiantly Old Money. It’s also very studenty – Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are just over the Charles River.
One thing to remember, though – Boston ain’t a “Have a nice day” kind of town. Bostonians can be brusque and wrapped up in themselves – so quite a lot like Londoners.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?
Absolutely – and you really don’t want to drive in Boston (see box, above). Unlike New York or Chicago, with their easy-to-navigate grid systems, old Boston developed without the help of town planners.
That means the higgledy-piggledy central streets haven’t changed much since the 18th and 19th centuries. Rubbish for cars, great for walking.
In Beacon Hill, for example, you will find quaint cobbled alleys full of original gas street lamps, wrought-iron balconies and pretty red-brick terraced houses.
The centre is surprisingly small and easy to cover on foot. And the best way to get to know it is on a walking tour.
Try the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail walk, which offers a potted history of the fight for independence. It takes in 16 landmarks, including the Massachusetts State House, Founding Father Paul Revere’s House, the Battle of Bunker Hill Monument and the Boston Massacre site.
ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST?
Loads. Head to Fenway Park to catch a baseball game at the oldest stadium in America, home of the Red Sox.
Art buffs will love the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – a large private collection donated to the city by an eccentric millionaire – housed in an incredible Venetian-style palazzo.
The huge and immaculate Boston Common, America’s oldest public park, will give you some rare moments of calm in the middle of this bustling city.
View Boston offers a 360-degree panorama of the skyline from the 52nd floor of the Prudential Building in Back Bay.
If you have time, take in the city centre’s main neighbourhoods.
North End, on the waterfront, is a buzzing Little Italy full of trattorias, gelatarias and rival bakeries selling “Boston’s best cannoli”. Back Bay has charming squares and impressive Victorian brownstone town houses.
Beacon Hill has pretty, upmarket streets with boutiques and high-end restaurants, and South End is the place for trendy bars and bistros.
WHERE SHOULD I EAT?
Boston is known as Beantown – a clue to its speciality: slow-cooked beans with molasses and pork. Seafood is also a big draw here, ranging from New England clam chowder to lobster rolls and fresh oysters.
We headed to North End for a cosy, traditional family-run Italian trattoria, Bacco (bacconorthend.com) with fantastic food and craft beers.
And we particularly loved Pagu (gopagu.com) in Cambridge, which mixes Japanese and Spanish tapas (who thinks of these combinations?!) to mouth-watering effect.
If you have one big blowout in Boston, THIS is the place to go. Superb.
I FANCY A DRINK!
Another tradition from the old country Bostonians embrace is the pub culture. From English taverns to Irish pubs and trendy bars, drinking is BIG here.
And then there’s Cheers. The bar that inspired the classic TV comedy starring Ted Danson used to be called the Bull and Finch and is now a tribute act to the sitcom. It’s worth a look – even if it’s only a selfie in front of the sign.
Oh, and Bostonians DO drink tea – despite tipping loads into the harbour in the famous 1773 Boston Tea Party to protest against English taxation.
WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
We stayed at the Sheraton Boston Hotel in Back Bay (marriott.com) – a modern, comfortable hotel with great views across the Charles River and into Cambridge.
It’s an excellent base for discovering further and an easy walk into the centre along the attractive, tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue.
THE sun was beating down on the harbour walls where parents and their children were perched, gawping down into the water.
One youngster was giggling with delight at her bucket, which was filled with scuttling crustaceans from her succesful attempts at crabbing.
The colourful cabins line the beach at Wells-next-the-SeaCredit: GettyThe spacious Saltmarsh Lodge embraced its position near the coast with its wooden panellingCredit: Supplied
Holidays in the UK don’t get much better than this.
And with Britain basking in weather as hot as the Med over the past few months, there’s been even less of a need to fork out on flights abroad.
As a large family of five, we’d decided to ditch the pricey hotel in favour of Pinewoods Holiday Park, which occupies a gorgeous perch, set a short way back from the ocean.
It was the first time in a while that a place had exceeded my expectations.
When we arrived at our six-person lodge, I heard a swift declaration of “I could live here!”
The spacious Saltmarsh Lodge — there was ample room for our group, plus the dog — embraced its position near the coast with its wooden panelling and white slatted ceilings, and its three cosy bedrooms were spotlessly clean.
The master bedroom came with a kingsize bed, spacious en-suite and chic dressing area while the other two had twin beds and a separate bathroom.
My favourite part was the open-plan dining, kitchen and living area, where light poured in from the glass doors, large windows and skylight.
We spent most of our evenings in here, settled on the squishy sofas and armchairs playing cards and board games in front of the coal-effect fire.
Afternoons were spent on the wraparound deck, which was delightfully cool thanks to the trees that offered shade from the sun.
The fact it was all enclosed was a big selling point as it meant our furry friend could pad about freely with little chance of escape.
And as we sat on the decking with a tipple, we couldn’t believe how quiet and peaceful the setting was.
Apart from the obvious visual giveaway, you’d never have guessed that there were more than 100 pitches surrounding us.
Around the corner from our lodge was an on-site playground, an allotment (reserved for holiday home owners) and a shop for all the essentials. We’d stocked up on everything we needed for tasty breakfasts, such as pastries, eggs and condiments.
When in Norfolk, you have to buy the locally made Krusty Loaf bread, which is baked fresh every day and raved about in the area.
The lodge’s roomy lounge areaCredit: SuppliedThe Sun’s Alice Penwill in WellsCredit: Supplied
The white loaf, with lashings of butter and scrambled egg, went down a treat.
After an indulgent first breakfast, we took a mid-morning stroll to the beach where the dunes are backed by brightly decorated beach huts and, beyond that, a pine forest.
With the sea reachable in just ten minutes, it meant that the dog could be frolicking in the water in no time.
You could easily spend a whole day here, with a pit stop at the Wells Beach Cafe, which serves up cracking bacon butties and frothy coffee.
It also has a pizza corner and an ice cream bar, as well as soft and hard drinks, including Prosecco.
But if you’re not much of a beach lover, the main town centre on the other side of the holiday lodge is well worth a potter around.
The port town has a history dating back more than 400 years and is still renowned for its fresh seafood.
I was drawn more to its trendy shops than the fish, though — Glitter & Mud does some excellent trinkets, from homeware to clothing.
Make sure to pop into The Golden Fleece for a pint, too, which we enjoyed on its small patio while seagulls squawked overhead.
Before we knew it, three nights had rolled by and we had to wave goodbye to our cosy lodge.
But we couldn’t leave until we had ticked off one British seaside staple: fish and chips.
A lengthy queue forms outside Plattens every evening — and for good reason.
Its batter is wonderfully crispy and its curry sauce packs a punch.
Like I said earlier, holidays in the UK don’t get much better than this.
GO: WELLS-NEXT-THE SEA
GETTING THERE: The closest mainline railway stations are in Sheringham and King’s Lynn, with connecting bus services to Wells-next-the-Sea.
STAYING THERE: Lodge prices start from £747 for a three-night stay, sleeping six people in three bedrooms.
DAMON ALBARN has found the woman to drag him off his very own melancholy hill.
The Blur frontman’s 25-year relationship with Suzi Winstanley ended four years ago, but now I’m told he has been secretly dating long-time Gorillaz collaborator Rebecca Freckleton for almost a year.
Damon Albarn has been secretly dating Gorillaz collaborator Rebecca Freckleton for almost a yearCredit: BackGridDamon and Rebecca are absolutely smitten and have become inseparable in recent monthsCredit: BackGrid
And now, things have got more serious, as pals say the couple are shacked up in his London pad.
My exclusive photos show that Damon and Rebecca are absolutely smitten, and I’m told they’ve been inseparable for months.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
I first heard whispers about their relationship late last year, with friends telling me Rebecca and Damon’s friendship was moving to the next level.
Over the past few months, the pair have been seen together in public on a handful of occasions.
Damon split from his partner Suzi in 2022 and has finally moved on with RebeccaCredit: BackGridRebecca and Damon’s long-time friendship has moved to the next levelCredit: BackGrid
“Damon and Rebecca are in love and their friends couldn’t be happier for them,” one insider told me.
“After his split from Suzi in 2022, Damon took some time to find himself again. It was a few years later he started to grow closer to Rebecca.
“They’ve been seeing each other for almost a year now.
“He’s got a place in London and she’s there all the time with him.
“She’s been seen out walking his dog, too. They make a lovely couple and it’s been great to see Damon so happy again.”
The pair ended their relationship in 2022, with friends revealing the news early the following year.
Damon, who wrote On Melancholy Hill for Gorillaz album Plastic Beach in 2010, poured his heartbreak into Blur’s comeback album, The Ballad Of Darren, which came out in 2023 and went straight to No1.
And he had the same success with Gorillaz’s latest record, The Mountain, which hit the top spot in the album chart back in March.
Rebecca was on board for that project and sang backing vocals on their track, The Empty Dream.
Damon certainly won’t have any of those with Rebecca by his side.
Ayda now inactive
Ayda Field’s clothing line has been paused – just after husband Robbie Williams launched his ownCredit: Getty
WHEN one door closes, another opens – and that’s exactly what’s happened to Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field.
Former Loose Women panellist Ayda debuted her range of cool athleisure clobber back in 2022 and it was initially a big success – but things became more tricky.
A source said: “The market is fiercely competitive and while Ayda Activewear did take off, business has been tough recently.
“The way the markets are, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for brands like this to operate.
“Naturally she hopes one day she could open it back up, but only time will tell.”
Shoppers visiting Ayda’s website are now greeted with a message blaming “sizeable tariffs and overall economic uncertainty” for a “pause” in trading.
In a personal note, she wrote: “I envisioned clothes that were ready to reflect and tackle the chaos of my life and make me feel f***ing fantastic while doing it. Thanks to you all, I got to do just that.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure and I thank you so much for the enduring support. For now we’re hitting the pause button but don’t worry – we’re still stretching and dreaming . . . and wearing leggings every damn day.”
Amen to that, Ayda.
SAM SMITH says they have never been as proud of an album as new record, Hazel Eyes.
The LP came out yesterday and is reminiscent of their 2014 debut, In The Lonely Hour. It is all about falling in love with fashion designer Christian Cowan.
Sam, who confirmed their engagement last month, said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of myself or an album.
“This album will always mark one of the most magical, confronting, happiest and challenging times of my life as a person and an artist.”
Sam will play two nights at Manchester’s Albert Hall on September 3 and 4 before kicking off an eight-night residency at the London Coliseum on September 8.
A documentary about the life and career of Jessica Simpson is coming to NetflixCredit: Getty
NETFLIX has snapped up the rights to a documentary all about US singer and actress Jessica Simpson.
The project will be headed up by Joe Pearlman, who directed Robbie Williams’ 2023 series on the platform.
Jessica found fame as a pop star in the early noughties alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, with hits like I Wanna Love You Forever, With You, and a cover of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’.
She’s since sold 20 million records and had a high profile marriage, and divorce, to American singer-songwriter Nick Lachey.
CELEBRITY Big Brother star Danny Beard may wear wigs in his drag shows, but he wants everyone to know the importance of hair care.
The performer is the new face of the Method haircare brand – creating a full dance video to show off his not-so-natural locks.
Apparently, 71 per cent of us say freshly washed hair has a positive effect on our mood.
To be fair to Danny, I also perform a full choreographed dance routine in the shower.
Pixie: I’ll do Marilyn proud
Pixie Lott arrived in a white Cadillac to promote new show ‘Who Killed Marilyn?’Credit: GettyPixie also brought along husband Oliver Cheshire for supportCredit: Getty
PIXIE LOTT arrived in style for the press night of her new West End show, Who Killed Marilyn?, in a white Cadillac.
She wore a slinky pink, white and gold dress for the event at London’s Emerald Theatre and told how she hopes to show the real person behind Marilyn’s Hollywood alter-ego.
Pixie, who posed for pics with husband Oliver Cheshire, said of the play: “Marilyn was the character she created, but this is more from her Norma Jeane side. It’s her telling her own story, right from the beginning, right up until the end.
“ I was always aware of obviously the very glamorous Hollywood icon side and maybe more of her vulnerable side and fragile side, but not this strength and the intelligence – that side of her that hasn’t really been spoken about.”
Shaggy’s 007 heaven
Singer Shaggy got married at the same resort in Jamaica where Bond movie GoldenEye was writtenCredit: Getty
SHAGGY lived up to his name when he got hitched at the GoldenEye resort in Jamaica – where Ian Fleming wrote James Bond – by intimating he got frisky on the author’s desk.
The It Wasn’t Me singer, who married wife Rebecca in 2014, admitted: “It’s a magical desk. I did a different kind of magic on the desk – but we’re not going to talk about that.”
On Alan Carr’s travel podcast Life’s A Beach, Shaggy also said one of the best things about being a celeb is never complaining.
“I just have someone complain for me,” he said. “I’m famous. I can do that.”
Some claim new MJ biopic is a cover-up
The sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic will only explore allegations against him from his sideCredit: PA
MICHAEL JACKSON’s biopic sequel will explore the sexual abuse allegations made against the late King of Pop, but won’t tell it from the victims’ side.
The Smooth Criminal singer’s nephew Jafaar Jackson, played him in the first film, Michael, which came out this year and made more than $1billion at the box office.
He has said the follow-up will be from MJ’s point of view. But that has already ruffled feathers among people who believe it will skate over the serious allegations.
Jafaar told GQ Middle East: “The second film will give more insight from his point of view, because [the allegations] are always from someone else’s.
“It’s someone else’s story . . . and it’s mainly driven by an agenda. That’s the issue we have as a family – not having Michael’s voice heard. That is very important.”
There are high hopes for the sequel, after the first movie became the highest-grossing biopic and has sent Jacko’s greatest hits album back up the charts.
WHEN Brandon Flowers was a kid, his dad tried to teach him how to fight.
The lad had been picked on at school, so his father Terry talked him through what to do if it happened again.
Brandon Flowers’s third solo album is rooted in country musicCredit: SuppliedThrasher arrives 11 years after his last solo album, The Desired EffectCredit: Supplied
The Killers’ frontman still remembers sitting beside his father Terry in his old 1946 Chevy truck. “I was in fifth grade, so only 11 years old,” he recalls.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
“My dad grew up fighting and I still remember him trying to explain to me how to fight.
“You can explain to me all day, but I’m not a fighter.
“He’d say, ‘You don’t just swing. You think about when you’re going to throw your punch and you have to block yourself’.
“When I’m on stage, I find myself doing it so much. You have this crazy relationship, boys and their dads. I’m still trying to show him that I can do it.”
Flowers is all smiles when we meet at his central London record label. He’s just back from a week in Scotland with his family and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Thrasher arrives 11 years after his last solo album, The Desired Effect. It is inspired by country and western, the music his dad listened to when Flowers was growing up.
“Much has been said about how my love of music came from my brother [Shane].
“Yeah, it did, but at the same time, I was hearing country music from my dad. His favourites were the heavy hitters — Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard — along with some of those who were not as famous. There’s a guy named John Conlee who he listened to, who I really love.
“As a teenager, I felt I had to choose — the kid who listens to New Order doesn’t also listen to Waylon Jennings.
“As I get older, I just seem to gravitate back to my father’s music.”
Flowers says he has become closer to his father, and increasingly like him, as he has grown older — and admits he is still trying to prove himself to his dad.
He says: “I’m trying to show my dad that I can do what he does. He’s a good man. He’s doing pretty good.
“He had open heart surgery at 81, which is a difficult thing. He’s five months past it now and is pretty good.”
Ideas for Thrasher began shortly after Flowers finished The Killers’ last record — 2021’s Pressure Machine.
Flowers looks back on his childhood on ThrasherCredit: Getty ImagesFlowers on stage with The Killers in 2018Credit: Getty
He says: “I really enjoyed making this. It was a very important record to me. I didn’t want to leave it alone, so I just continued. It was such a revelation.
“I had all these memories, all these characters and sadness — all of this stuff that I could now find a place for and turn them into something.
“These songs don’t feel like Killers songs — they’re quite personal, so it felt natural that it should be a solo record. It’s been nearly ten years since the last one — I can’t believe it.”
Thrasher is a beautifully observed, emotionally affecting record.
The first single Plans “picks up where Pressure Machine left off”, says Flowers.
“It does a good job of representing the record. There’s some strong emotional material on this album.”
One of the most moving songs on Thrasher is One Of Us, a tribute to his sister’s late husband.
Flowers, the youngest in his family, jokes that he was always told he was “a surprise” — until he was eight, when a friend’s dad bluntly informed him he was “a mistake”.
The Killers frontman received the Special International Award at The Ivors in 2025Credit: GettyThrasher was recorded in Nashville with seasoned session musicians, including legendary harmonica player Charlie McCoyCredit: Getty
“I have a sister who is 17 years older than me so her husband was around since I was a little boy.
“He was my brother, so when he passed, it was just heartbreaking and completely unexpected. He was just out of heart surgery. You just want to pay tribute to them and my sister loves it.”
The warm, wistful Paradise finds Flowers imagining the life he might have led, had music not taken him away from home.
“I always thought I would be a valet parker. That was my goal,” he says with a chuckle.
“And if music didn’t work out, it was my Plan B.
“I would be really happy to support my family and be a valet. That’s what my cousins and uncles have done — bellman and valet.
“I have a cousin, Bobby, who has spent his whole adult life as a valet parker, and he was sending me some texts one day complaining about work.
“I was sitting at the piano and just jumped on it, and used it as a launching pad for a song about an ageing valet parker.
“It’s basically him, and it’s where I would be right now if I didn’t have this incredible thing happen to me.
“I have this empathy for him and I’m exploring what could have been and what might have been. There’s sadness in it, but there are also winks and nods.
“That’s the thing I love about country music — how those can coexist.”
Thrasher was recorded quickly in Nashville with seasoned session musicians, including legendary harmonica player Charlie McCoy, whose credits include Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton.
Flowers says: “He played on all those Bob Dylan records and on Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman and Simon & Garfunkel’s The Boxer. He played with Leonard Cohen and had great stories about them all. He’s the mascot of Nashville and so incredible.”
Flowers says that the song Red Ground came especially quickly.
“I was trying for a Lee Hazlewood vibe and that song fell into our laps. These guys do this every day for hours. They make decisions that would break a band.”
Thrasher also finds Flowers making peace with his own past.
Although Las Vegas has always been central to The Killers’ identity, he admits he once felt conflicted about his Utah upbringing.
Now he says: “It did feel like I was keeping Utah a secret because I am happy to wave the flag for Las Vegas, but had a bit of a conflict about Utah.
“Now, there’s nothing wrong with embracing both.
“I look back with more tenderness now, and I’m so grateful for my upbringing there.
“I really lived in a golden time where you’re just free. It was before phones and technology and was idyllic — like something out of Stand By Me.”
Having interviewed Flowers many times over the past 20 years, one of the biggest changes is how much more comfortable he now seems revealing parts of himself he once kept guarded, particularly his Mormon faith.
He says: “I was so shy back then. I’m still shy, but I was also unsure about interviews and you don’t know what you’re supposed to reveal.
“It’s so not rock ’n’ roll to talk about Jesus in a positive light. It’s very common in sports but I think people are less open in music.
“There is this authenticity turmoil, where you feel like we’ve always glorified hedonism and debauchery in rock ’n’ roll — and even beyond rock ’n’ roll.
“In every kind of art form, those seem to be the people that we really revere because they are outliers. But I’ve realised it doesn’t make me any less creative because I have faith. I’m just never going to be Sid Vicious.”
Flowers, 45, says coming to terms with his different identities, and simply being himself, has become easier as he’s got older.
“I’m more forgiving of my younger self, but I’m still hard on my current self,” he says.
“We all have that inner voice and it can be the worst critic.
“It’s not been easy, but I now realise I can be that guy on stage, and also a family man,” he explains. “But I was so conflicted for a while.
“Half of you feels like an imposter, and then the other half is trying to show why you belong — it messes with your mind. I was lucky to find something that I was passionate about.
“That’s what I encourage my boys to find.”
Flowers’ sons Ammon, 19, Gunnar, 17, and Henry, 15, have all grown up with their dad on stage — but they are not impressed by his status.
Flowers says: “Ammon loves fitness and being outside — he is just about to go to college in Philadelphia which he’s half excited and half scared about. My wife is sad about him leaving home.
“Then Gunnar loves horror and 90s rock and a lot of grunge, too.
“Mick Jagger was there as well but it was all about Beckham, who signed a football card for him. He’s also a full-blown Oasis fan, so I need to take him to see them when they play again next year.”
Flowers remains hopeful about the future, even though he admits he is deeply troubled by Donald Trump’s America and the actions of ICE.
“This administration is scary,” says Flowers.
“It feels so un-American, and it goes against all of our values and the things that are beautiful about our country.
“You do feel a little bit hopeless and helpless.” But he still believes change can come through younger generations and the ballot box.
“We have to remember to use our voices and to fight back at the polls when the time comes.”
He adds: “Nobody from the other side is rising up at the moment. Somebody needs to rise up. Get the hell up.”
Never one to stand still for long, Flowers has always had an impressive work ethic.
Another solo album is already in the pipeline, with a new Killers record also expected in 2027.
Until then, he is excited about his solo tour, which begins next week and arrives in the UK in October, including a night at the Royal Albert Hall.
He’s already debuted songs from Thrasher at July’s Newport Folk Festival — the famous Rhode Island event where Bob Dylan went electric in 1965.
“I’ve got a band together. This tour is going to be a different experience than you are accustomed to,” he says.
“I’m going to tell more stories and take advantage of these smaller rooms — the Albert Hall is the biggest room I’m playing.
“I want to explain the story behind the songs, which you can’t do in a stadium — so I thought this would be the time to give it a shot.
“I worry people will get sick of Mr. Brightside so I feel lucky that I have different outlets for my music.”
BIG screen star Jacob Elordi booked a hotel’s £60,000-a-night penthouse to impress girlfriend Kendall Jenner.
The Wuthering Heights Heathcliff actor splashed out on the Claridge’s suite so she could “see the stars” sources said.
Jacob Elordi and Kendall Jenner seen at posh Italian restaurant Cipriani in LondonCredit: GoffThe actor secured the penthouse suite at Claridge’s, which is billed as the most expensive in LondonCredit: Claridges
Reality TV star Kendall, 30, joined Jacob, 29, for his whistlestop London visit as he promotes Ridley Scott’s new post apocalyptic thriller, The Dog Stars.
The pair were pictured out with his dad John at posh Italian restaurant Cipriani in London on Wednesday night.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Insiders said Australian Jacob secured the Mayfair suite, billed as the most expensive in London, for Kendall while he worked.
A source said: “Jacob is a proper romantic and he wanted Kendall to have that amazing view over London where you can see the stars.
Jacob splashed out on the suite at the posh London hotel to impress his new girlfriendCredit: AlamyKendall Jenner has been dating the actor since FebruaryCredit: Getty
“It costs £60,000 a night to stay there.
“But upgrading was worth the money.”
The couple arrived yesterday ahead of last night’s premiere in Leicester Square.
AFTER referring to her new record I Know Too Much as a “divorce” album earlier this year, Ellie Goulding’s fans were convinced it was about the her marriage split.
But after having a sneak preview of her upcoming record, some might think she’s crooning about another break up, which became public earlier this week.
Ellie Goulding’s new album I Know Too Much shares her feelings about more than just her divorceCredit: GettyEllie’s upcoming record hints at her frustration about her management splitCredit: Getty
The Burn singer is taking legal action against her old team TaP Management.
And it’s little wonder Ellie is saying she’s so miffed.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
To keep it brief, Ellie signed with Ben Mawson and Ed Millett — whose previous clients have included Dua Lipa and Cruz Beckham — in 2018.
She claims they failed to disclose that TaP’s parent company, HNOE, was partially, then fully, owned by Live Nation.
During her seven years with TaP, Ellie signed agreements with Live Nation for tours and merchandise, plus a documentary film which she argues financially benefited Mawson and Millett.
Ellie pumped in almost £4million as part of those deals, unaware her managers had a vested interest.
When I first listened to I Know Too Much — which I think is Ellie’s most powerful body of work lyrically — I immediately connected the dots to her ex-hubby Caspar Jopling.
The couple, who have a five-year-old son, split in 2024.
But now I know about her row with TaP and looking back over my notes, it seems some of it could have been influenced by Ellie’s experiences in the music industry.
This is Ellie’s first album since Higher Than Heaven hit No1 three years ago.
And she’s already hinted that she opens some old wounds on the record, saying of her new album’s title track: “It’s probably the most honest song I’ve written. It is what it is. I know too much.
“It’s tongue in cheek but it’s also some kind of comment on my life so far and music. I couldn’t think of a more apt title for everything I was singing about.
“I do know too much. Way too much.”
I’m sworn to secrecy on the album, which comes out on September 4, and would be strung up if I gave too much away.
But if you take a quick glance at the lyrics to Black Prada Dress, the single Ellie released earlier this year, you’ll see what I mean.
“I heard what you said, just as I was tasting freedom,” Ellie sings at the top of the track.
“Don’t want the pills, but you kinda make me think I need ’em.
“I’m tryna be a Hollywood baby, cause you made me think that London hates me.”
Intriguing. The gloves are off.
PHOEBE BRIDGERS received the worst 32nd birthday gift on Monday – appendicitis.
he US singer, who is set to top the album charts tomorrow with Lost Weekend, has had to postpone intimate shows in Kingston, Brighton and Bristol.
She told fans: “I got appendicitis for my birthday. But I’ll make it up to you!”
Phoebe got a boost from Taylor Swift who bigged up her record to her 273million Instagram followers.
Tay wrote: “Haven’t been able to stop listening. This album is an absolute triumph in every way.”
ROBBIE WILLIAMS has teamed up with Ukrainian DJ and producer Miss Monique for single Beauty In Us, which they performed for in Ibiza at the weekend.
He said the track, out on September 18, is “inspired by our different but equally defining experiences of electronic music and clubbing in Stoke-on-Trent and Kyiv . . . from the Nineties to the 2010s.”
A walk-on role in Guy Ritchie’s next movie is up for grab at upcoming charity auctionCredit: Getty
YOU could be in Guy Ritchie’s next movie.
A walk-on role in one of the upcoming films Guy is directing is up for grabs as Children With Cancer UK puts on its most showbizzy auction yet.
It is all to raise funds for groundbreaking research into the prevention and treatment of childhood cancer, as well as support for affected families. The auction runs from today at 8am until Friday.
See thereallybigauction.com.
Maura’s totes gorgeous
Love Island favourite Maura Higgins is the new face of fashion brand GuessCredit: Guess/Nicolai Marciano
MAURA HIGGINS looks absolutely fabulous in her latest major fashion campaign – seven years after Love Island changed her life.
She is the new face of Guess as it launches its Allegra bag – which she modelled in this photoshoot as she opened up about her upcoming stint on America’s answer to Strictly, Dancing With The Stars.
Maura, who will start on the show on September 15, told Grazia: “Confidence isn’t something you magically wake up with every day.
“I still get nervous. But I trust the people around me to help me feel my best once I’m on set or in front of a camera.
“Dancing With The Stars is definitely a different kind of pressure because you’re learning something completely new every week and have to perform live to an audience of millions watching, but that’s also what makes it exciting.
“Growth only happens when you push yourself a bit.”
Matt’s date tops the bill
THE MOLOTOVS’ MATT CARTLIDGE looks to have found a Hollywood love interest after growing close to actress Kathryn Newton.
The notoriously private rocker was reluctant to be drawn on their relationship, but his bandmate sister Issey let slip the pair met on The Jonathan Ross Show.
Londoner Matt took the Big Little Lies star to LA’s Beverly Hills Hotel, and one thing he wasn’t quiet about was the cost.
Chatting to him at King’s Cross Summer Sounds, in partnership with Lightroom, home of David Bowie: You’re Not Alone, I asked how much it came to, and he said: “For an omelette at the Beverly Hills Hotel?
“Omelette – ham and cheese, two coffees and pancakes, but she got all the add-ons, you know, like strawberries. It was $80 – way more than I wanted to spend, mind you.”
The band go on tour next month and there are still tickets for their show at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum on September 26. That should help pay for the second date.
Joan makes Billy Ray’s day
Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian posed with her boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus. . . and Dame Joan Collins.Credit: Instagram/elizabethhurley1
NOW here’s a holiday snap I didn’t think I’d see.
Elizabeth Hurley and her director son Damian, posing in the sunshine with her boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus. . . and Dame Joan Collins.
Liz shared snaps on Instagram of their surprising trip, revealing they joined Joan and her husband Percy on an “enchanting holiday” at their home in St Tropez.
Superstar Joan still manged to look super cool in the pool with Liz, who also posed in a chic summer dress.
The most-liked comment on Liz’s post said: “Billy Ray hit the jackpot.” I couldn’t agree more.
Weeknd’s fireworks fall flat
By Jack Hardwick
WITH 129million record sales and a seriously big budget behind him, expectations were high as The Weeknd took to the stage at Wembley Stadium.
From the get-go, it was clear that money was no object, thanks to a giant cross-shaped stage with a 40ft silver “sexy robot” in the middle.
But after a cult-like opening with 30 cloaked dancers, I have to admit things all felt a bit samey.
He’s spent four years touring the world and The Weeknd’s vocals were flawless throughout the two-hour spectacle.
The mammoth 38-track set was punctuated with hits including Can’t Feel My Face, Star Boy and Save Your Tears, before building to a finale including Blinding Lights and his Swedish House Mafia collaboration Moth To A Flame.
But once you get over the giant robot and the stage shooting out pyrotechnics, things all start to blend into one.
Maybe we’ve been spoiled by the high standards of pop shows in recent years but I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed as I left.
And I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, either.
MADONNA appears to have outed herself as a fan of The Durrells, after taking over a tiny village made famous by the ITV drama to celebrate her 68th birthday.
After I revealed how Madge had spent the start of her celebrations flying to the monasteries of Meteora in Corfu over the weekend, stunned locals now tell me how she and her entourage descended on Kouramades for a very special party this week.
Madge has outed herself as a fan of The DurrellsCredit: Instagram/@madonnaThe singer celebrates her 68th birthday in the tiny village of Kouramandes in CorfuCredit: Instagram/@madonna
The tiny community, which has just 180 residents, was one of the locations used on the hit show, which starred Keeley Hawes.
Madge, boyfriend Akeem Morris, her family and entourage booked out tiny taverna Atzaro for a meal, complete with a child choir, who locals told me were specially flown over from Italy to perform.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
An onlooker told me: “No one could believe Madonna was coming until she actually turned up.
“The security measures were pretty intense and there was a police presence, as well as Madonna’s security to keep her safe.
Madonna’s bizarre cake caught the eyeCredit: Instagram/@madonnaMadonna took over the tiny village made famous by ITV drama The DurrellsCredit: ITV
“She wanted to visit the central church but they cancelled it because there was quite a crowd gathering. They headed to Atzaro for dinner and that was really special. Singers and a children’s choir from Italy performed as they ate traditional meals.
“Just before midnight, the group started dancing to the Zorba The Greek song and a birthday cake came out. They sang the birthday song three times and then danced until 2am. Once they left, the crowds that had gathered outside started clapping and chanting her name.”
Madonna’s visit to the village has now gone down in folklore — and I’m told the Material Girl superstar lapped up the attention.
“As she drove away, Madonna seemed to love everyone cheering so she popped her hand out and waved a bit like a member of the royal family,” a local added.
Guests dance at the partyCredit: Instagram/@madonnaMadge is the most nominated artist for the 2026 MTV VMAs, taking place on September 27Credit: Instagram/@madonna
Her birthday isn’t the only thing she has to celebrate, as last night it was announced Madonna is the most nominated artist for the 2026 MTV VMAs, taking place on September 27.
She leads the pack with 11, including Video, Artist and Song of the Year for Bring Your Love, while Taylor Swift is just behind with nine nods.
Jesy’s Ben in rooftop rift
Jesy Nelson’s boyfriend Ben Davies was caught up in a ruckusCredit: SplashOnlookers told me the former Little Mix star and her new man were asked to leave the posh Madison rooftop bar in London on Saturday nightCredit: Supplied
Onlookers told me the former Little Mix star and her new man were asked to leave the posh Madison rooftop bar in London on Saturday night after it all kicked off.
One told me: “Ben was getting in people’s faces when he was out with Jesy at Madison.
“Something had been said and he didn’t seem to be happy about it. He looked like he was about to get in a fight before all the bouncers swooped in.
“It was all pretty uncomfortable to watch. Jesy was amazing and kept her cool. She was trying to de-escalate the situation and appeared to be keen to get out of there.”
It’s not the best start to their romance. I revealed earlier this month how Jesy had started dating landscape gardener Ben, who counts Towie’s Lydia Bright among his exes.
They were spotted on a night out in London, before being snapped this week holding hands and snogging in the street, inset.
To avoid Ben digging any more publicly embarrassing holes, I think a quiet night in should be their next date.
Ronan abs go down a Storm
Ronan Keating marked his 11th wedding anniversary, pictured with missus StormCredit: Instagram/@rokeating
RONAN KEATING marked his 11th wedding anniversary to remind all his fans just how hot he is.
He revealed his gym-honed body with this snap on Instagram, posing alongside his equally fit missus Storm.
The Boyzone singer wrote: “We have the most incredible life and it’s all down to you. God I love ya.
“Thank you for loving me through the good and the bad versions of myself. You make me a better human and I thank you for it all.”
Green Day give us Glasto
GREEN DAY want to headline Glastonbury – but insist they have never been asked.
The American band, who have more than enough hits to top the bill, will be celebrating 40 years since they formed next year, so the timing couldn’t be better for organiser Emily Eavis to get on the blower.
Asked if they would like to do it, drummer Tre Cool said: “Yeah. If they ask us. It’s the last great festival we haven’t done.”
They have just released a comedy movie called Nimrods, which is loosely inspired by the band, but insisted a biopic won’t happen until they’re older.
He told NME: “A biopic is more of a retirement plan. We’ll do that when we’re actually old and we’re doing our residencies in Las Vegas or something.”
Spotify is planning Home Run
SPOTIFY has announced a new live music series, Hometown, which will celebrate artists and the places that shaped them.
Next month, Jorja Smith, Nemzzz and Beabadoobee, will return to the communities where their musical journeys began for intimate, one-night-only performances.
Jorja, who releases her new album What Are The Odds this Friday, will play her gig on September 6.
She said: “Walsall is where I first started writing and recording music as a teenager. It’s where my love of music began and the people, experiences and sense of community there continue to influence my creativity today.”
Nemzz will perform in Manchester on September 12, while Beabadoobee is scheduled to play a concert in London on September 17.
Noel: My reunion doubts
Noel Gallagher had reservations about reuniting Oasis with brother LiamCredit: Simon Emmett
NOEL GALLAGHER had reservations about reuniting with brother Liam for their sold-out Oasis tour last year.
But Liam, who’d pushed for a reunion for years, made it clear he wanted to get back on board with Noel, saying: “The way it finished, unacceptable. It didn’t sit right with me, man.”
Looking back on their rows, which caused Oasis to split in 2009, Liam said: “We all said s**t we didn’t mean. I feel like I am exorcising demons, getting it all out. The rage. I need to calm the f**k down.”
Before the first show at Cardiff’s Principality stadium last July, Noel added:
“One of the biggest moments of our lives, right?
“I’d forgotten what [Liam] means to people. I certainly wasn’t prepared for the intense outpouring. A sense of what it meant to people. You’ve got a chance to change the narrative of the band.”
Isla’s red-hot
Isla Fisher in New York promoting new movie Spa WeekendCredit: Splash
YOU can take it as read . . . Isla Fisher is definitely a fiery redhead.
On the promo trail in New York for new movie Spa Weekend, which is out on Friday, she said: “I’m a real redhead and I feel like I’ve earned the right to be red because I was bullied at school and I had all of the usual stuff that redheads go through.
“I always get mad when people just dye their hair red, I’m like, ‘You don’t know what we went through at school to be redhead!’”
THE WANTED are working on new music – but without half of the original line-up.
Max George and Siva Kaneswaran are writing new material as a duo after Nathan Sykes and Jay McGuiness decided not to return following Tom Parker’s death in 2022.
Siva told Culture Fix: “We’ve been writing for the past few months, so we want to carry on.
“The essence of The Wanted was pop/dance and I think we’re going to lean a bit more towards dance.
“I don’t think that’s a crazy thing to do for us.”
Kendall Jenner stunned as she posed in sportswear for a beauty campaignCredit: Anua/Drew VickersKendall is the first global ambassador for South Korean beauty brand AnuaCredit: Anua/Drew Vickers
Its products are known for having minimal ingredients.
Kendall — dating Frankenstein actor Jacob Elordi, 29 — said: “I first discovered the double cleanser, and it has changed my skin.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
“I’m a big fan of the products.”
Kendall and Jacob were caught cuddling up to one another at a Tokyo restaurant amid their very private romance in June.
On holiday in Japan, the pair posed for a photo while dining at restaurant Udon Shin in Tokyo.
The restaurant shared the image on Instagram this week, writing: “Thank you so much for visiting our store.
Fans were quick to freak out in the comment section, with one person writing: “I’m rooting for them. They looks so perfect. Please marry each other.”
Another added: “They match together so well.”
Kendall, showing off her curves in this snap, is dating Frankenstein actor Jacob ElordiCredit: Instagram/KendallJennerKendall and Jacob were caught cuddling up to one another at a Tokyo restaurantCredit: Instagram
While a third said: “OMG my favorite tall couple.”
And a fourth penned: “They look so good together wtf.”
STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse covers herself in glory as she poses for a magazine.
The 45-year-old is on the cover of the new edition of Women’s Health UK.
Motsi Mabuse stuns on the cover of Women’s Health UKCredit: Ian Harrison / Women’s Health UKMotsi Mabuse reveals she was at risk of type 2 diabetes after a full body check-upCredit: Ian Harrison / Women’s Health UK
She tells how she transformed herself after a full body check-up, saying: “My doctor said, ‘Mrs Mabuse, you can’t continue like this.’
“My parents and grandparents have type 2 diabetes and I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, and my doctor said, ‘The numbers show that you’re at risk.’
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
“He said, ‘If you want to stay healthy in the long term, we need to make some changes.’”
The full interview is available in the September issue of Women’s Health UK.
Motsi stuns in the magazine shootCredit: Ian Harrison / Women’s Health UKThe full interview is available in the September issue of Women’s Health UKCredit: Ian Harrison / Women’s Health UK
“I hate the fact that every podcast or everything I see online about it is based on fearmongering. I’ve never heard anyone say, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not that bad!’
“I even asked Shirley Ballas. ‘Will it be OK?’ and she shook her head, saying, ‘No, it’s going to be a ride!’
“I am preparing for what may come,” Motsi explains. “I want to be ready. I’ve done an overhaul of my diet. I’m doing weights and building muscle. I’m eating nuts, fruit and salad.
“I’m going to the sauna three times a week, as it helps reduce your cortisol levels. I find ice baths are good for my mental health, too.”
IT goes without saying that much of what an island holiday needs arrives by boat or plane.
The beer, the sunbeds . . . the bloke fixing the air con.
The trick here is that Halkidiki barely feels like the mainlandCredit: Alamy
And holidaymakers end up paying the difference.
Holiday comparison site TravelSupermarket has found five island faves where a week away can cost hundreds of pounds per person more than it does on the mainland coast of the same country.
Madeira is all verdant forests, cliffs and volcanic drama, and it charges for the privilegeCredit: GettyWhat the Algarve has that competes is the same coastal theatre with sandy beachesCredit: Poike
MADEIRA is all verdant forests, cliffs and volcanic drama, and it charges for the privilege.
What the Algarve has that competes is the same coastal theatre with sandy beaches.
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail scrambles along golden cliffs between Praia da Marinha, regularly voted one of Europe’s best beaches.
And don’t miss the Benagil sea cave with its famous skylight.
Base yourself in Lagos for the Ponta da Piedade arches, or Albufeira for waterparks, dolphin-spotting boat trips and a full strip of restaurants.
IBIZA for COSTA BLANCA – Save £336pp
Nowhere can match Ibiza’s superclub DC10, but the Costa Blanca gets closer than you would thinkCredit: Getty ImagesAlicante’s old town, El Barrio, runs tapas crawls into club nights that finish at 3am, and the city has two miles of golden sand at San JuanCredit: Getty
NOWHERE can match Ibiza’s superclub DC10, but the Costa Blanca gets closer than you would think.
Alicante’s old town, El Barrio, runs tapas crawls into club nights that finish at 3am, and the city has two miles of golden sand at San Juan.
Benidorm, half an hour up the road, is a 24-hour operation with cabaret, karaoke and Blue Flag beaches.
For the stunning holiday snaps, there’s the whitewashed coastal towns of Altea as well as Calpe, where the 332m Penon de Ifach rock rears out of the sea.
SKIATHOS for HALKIDIKI – Save £180pp
The picturesque isle of SkiathosCredit: Getty
THE trick here is that Halkidiki barely feels like the mainland.
Sithonia’s pine-backed coves, including the turquoise waters of Kavourotrypes and the fjord-like bay at Porto Koufo, are a match for anything on the isle of Skiathos.
Kassandra has big organised beaches and hotels, with the northern resorts the easiest to reach from Thessaloniki airport.
Check out the boat trips that run along the monastery coast of Mount Athos.
MENORCA for COSTA BRAVA – Save £163pp
Menorca is known for its calas, small sheltered coves where a scoop of sand sits between pine-topped cliffsCredit: GettyThe Costa Brava has them too, along the Cami de RondaCredit: Getty
MENORCA is known for its calas, small sheltered coves where a scoop of sand sits between pine-topped cliffs.
The Costa Brava has them too, along the Cami de Ronda, the old smugglers’ path that links cove after cove.
Aiguablava and Sa Tuna below Begur are the postcard ones, and the clifftop walk between Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc takes 20 minutes.
Add the medieval walls at Tossa de Mar, the Dali Theatre-Museum at Figueres and tapas in Girona, and there’s more to do on the mainland on less sunny days.
MAJORCA for COSTA DORADA – Save £153pp
Majorca has been a popular family hotspot for decades, with shallow bays, kids’ clubs and waterparksCredit: GettyThe Costa Dorada does the same job for less, and it has PortAventura WorldCredit: Portaventura Park
MAJORCA has been a popular family hotspot for decades, with shallow bays, kids’ clubs and waterparks.
The Costa Dorada does the same job for less, and it has one thing the island can’t match — PortAventura World.
It boasts everything from the eight-loop Dragon Khan and the 100m-plus drop Hurakan Condor, to Ferrari Land and the Caribe water park.
Plus, Salou has two long sandy beaches and a lively strip, Cambrils next door is the seafood port, or check out Tarragona’s Roman amphitheatre by the sea.
