HARRY Styles is looking at New Orleans for his wedding to Zoe Kravitz, it can be revealed.
Pals close to the loved-up pair say they think the Southern US town could be a special spot to tie the knot and have researched venues.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Harry Styles is looking at New Orleans for his wedding to Zoe Kravitz, pictured pair in New York in MarchCredit: GettyThe loved-up couple have been dating since August last yearCredit: Getty
Zoe’s famous musician dad Lenny Kravitz has long-standing roots in the town after buying his first home in the Louisiana town, which has deep ties to the blues music scene.
Back at home, the One Direction star, 32, and US actress, 37, this weekend enjoyed London’s heatwave and were snapped cuddling on a picnic blanket on Hampstead Heath.
They confirmed their engagement to close family and friends in April.
A source said: “Harry and Zoe might have a string of celebrity friends and a Hollywood lifestyle but their wedding won’t be like that.
“Zoe’s family ties to New Orleans, plus the town’s musical history, is making it a front runner and they’ve told pals that they’re looking at options for holding their big day there.”
Rock icon Lenny bought his first home in New Orleans in 1994 – a Creole cottage on Dauphine Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a block away from the town’s famous Bourbon Street.
Whilst Zoe grew up in Los Angeles with her mother Lisa Bonet, in her teenage years she spent more time with Lenny at his Miami estate and New Orleans cottage.
A source said: ‘Harry and Zoe might have a string of celebrity friends and a Hollywood lifestyle but their wedding won’t be like that’Credit: GettyStunning actress Zoe recently starred as Catwoman in The BatmanCredit: Getty
Ex-One Direction singer Harry and Zoe, who played Catwoman in The Batman, have dated since August last year.
They went public with their relationship in Rome but have since kept matters private and not commented on their status.
Harry is said to have popped the question with a ring worth up to £500,000 and first sparked engagement rumours when he and Zoe flew to the Bahamas just after Christmas to stay in her dad’s home there.
A source said at the time: “If it wasn’t an engagement, then it was something that shows they are very much committed to each other.”
REALITY TV star Maura Higgins has everyone asking “Who’s that curl?” as she shows off her latest hairdo.
The Love Island star switched her usual sleek locks for something with a little more volume.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Maura Higgins shows off her legs in a black dress slashed to the waistCredit: Yonce LopesMaura looks like a sixties pin-up with her latest hairdoCredit: Yonce Lopes
Maura, 35, teamed her new look with a black dress slashed to the waist, black heels and big shades.
She was in the South of France for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
The event is the world’s largest for the advertising and marketing industry.
Maura dons a wig for a ‘fresh look’ as she switches her usual sleek locks for something with a little more volumeCredit: Yonce LopesReality TV star Maura was in the South of France for the Cannes Lions International Festival of CreativityCredit: Getty
She made light of her love for reinventing her image, wrote: “I’ve been about 47 different people this year.”
Since leaving the Love Island villa in 2019, Irish Maura has appeared on some of the biggest shows in the world.
THIS summer’s celebrity trend isn’t a snatched waistline or even a peachy backside.
It’s the ‘11-line abs’ – a pair of razor sharp lines running down the stomach.
Myleene Klass tries to show off razor sharp lines running down her stomachCredit: Instagram/FreemansJodie Comer flaunting her honed stomachCredit: Getty
A host of stars, including Jodie Comer, Zendaya and Maura Higgins, have been proudly proving the magic number is 11 by flaunting their honed stomachs.
It’s an enviable look that screams gruelling hours at the gym and super-low body fat.
Until now, the number 11 was something women dreaded as it referred to the pair of lines that form between the eyebrows through frowning.
Now, however, 11 has become the ultimate badge of fitness — 11-line abs are created by the natural gap between the six-pack muscles (rectus abdominis) and the abdomen’s side muscles (obliques).
Towie’s Amber Turner shows off her figureCredit: Raw Image LtdMaura Higgins attends Sports Illustrated Swimsuit DinnerCredit: Getty
While it may have once been tacky to show off your naked waist, this year people are exhibiting their defined midriffs everywhere — not just at the beach or the gym but on the red carpet, too.
Earlier this month, actress Jodie Comer looked sensational at a star-studded bash as she flashed her sculpted midriff in a black dress.
But if you think achieving this physique is as simple as jumping on fat jabs, you need to think again — it’s down to exercise and good nutrition, according to women’s fitness expert Shakira Akabusi.
“There isn’t a single magic exercise to achieve visible abs,” says mum-of-four Shakira.
Zendaya showed off her washboard in this black two-pieceCredit: SplashRosie Huntington-Whiteley posted this pic of her midriffCredit: rosiehw/Instagram
“But a great set of core exercises are planks, dead bugs, hanging knee raises and bicycles. Compound exercises like squats and deadlifts are also great.”
Although Shakira recommends a well-rounded diet, she says “a modest calorie deficit” is necessary to reduce body fat.
She adds: “Your abdominal muscles sit beneath a fat layer, so visible definition relies on overall body composition as well as building muscle.”
The expert emphasised that aesthetics and health shouldn’t be confused.
Olivia Wilde shows off her abdomenCredit: Shutterstock EditorialJennifer Lopez posted this gym selfie on InstaCredit: Instagram
“Visible ab definition is not a marker of health, and is down to many factors including genetics, hormones, body fat distribution, nutrition and even lighting.
SHE’s a singer, songwriter and actress – but Charli XCX is yet to achieve her original life goal.
The Rock Music singer, whose new song Wink Wink is out now, said: “When I was younger, I thought it would be fun if my job was being a fairy or something.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Charli XCX is yet to achieve her original life goalCredit: GettyCharli said: ‘I think I’ve said this to Lorde before, I was so jealous when I heard Royals for the first time’Credit: Getty
“I had a pink princess dress, a puffed out sparkly kid’s dress that I just absolutely loved.
“It was probably some sort of Toys R Us situation, the peak of fashion, you know. And it came with these little lacy white gloves.
“I remember being really, really into that when I was younger and always wanting to wear it.”
That’s a far cry from the grungy aesthetic of her new album Music, Fashion, Film – which is out next month.
In an interview with Bella Freud on her Fashion Neurosis podcast, Charli also opened up about the envy she has for other artists including Lorde, who she collaborated with on the 2024 song Girl, So Confusing.
Quizzed on whether she gets attacks of “competitive jealousy,” she said: “Of course. I think I’ve said this to Lorde before, I was so jealous when I heard Royals for the first time.
“I was like, ‘I’m so jealous. I wish that I could have written that song.’
“I thought it was so spectacular…it really defined a time, that song.”
SIR ROD’S BACK AT FULL GAS
Sir Rod Stewart headlined the Rock In Rio festival in Portugal – just days after he was seen needing oxygen during a US gigCredit: EPA
For 100 minutes he barely paused for breath, belting out hit after hit while strutting across the stage – which marked his first Rock in Rio appearance in 18 years.
Sir Rod also used his set to make a political point, shouting “F**k Putin,” as he dedicated Rhythm Of My Heart to the people of Ukraine and their president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, much to the appreciation of the crowd.
Rod also had the Portuguese fans eating out of the palm of his hand as he asked: “Are Portugal going to win the World Cup?
“Fingers crossed, guys, fingers crossed.”
Sadly they’ve got a far better chance than his beloved Scotland, who are already heading home.
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN admits married life didn’t get off to the best start – she was stung by a bee as her husband said his vows.
WITH its pretty timber-framed walls and stained-glass windows, even from the outside you can instantly tell The Old Inn is something special.
It’s been welcoming guests since 1614, but that doesn’t mean the hotel in the village of Crawfords-burn, Co Down, is stuck in a time warp.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
The Old Inn was a pick of Narnia author CS LewisCredit: UnknownThe rooms are as comfy as the pub is historicCredit: Unknown
Inside, it has been transformed into an oasis of modern luxury, and it has proved such a hit since it was bought by the Galgorm hotel group in 2021 that it was recently crowned the AA’s Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland.
Now, with its stunning Treetop spa, it promises the ultimate romantic retreat – apt, because Narnia author CS Lewis chose it for his honeymoon in July 1958.
We stayed in one of the spacious junior suites, with a super-king bed and a stand-alone copper bath by the ornate bay window.
Antique furnishings maintain the 17th-century character, while the bathrooms are new and luxurious, with a marble sink and a vast rainfall shower.
The attention to detail really makes it stand out from other 4* hotels, with lavish toiletries, fluffy robes and slippers, a GHD hairdryer, and free soft drinks in the fridge as well as a Nespresso coffee machine and minibar.
We spent most of our stay unwinding in the Treetop spa, which is without doubt the star of the show.
Hotel guests get access from noon on the day of check-in until check-out.
Overlooking the Crawfordsburn Country Park and surrounded by greenery, this outdoor haven features a heated hydrotherapy pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.
Or you can also relax by a wood-fire stove in the cosy conservatory, taking in the forest views below, or indulge in a treatment such as a facial or massage.
But the best part is that you can order cocktails straight to the pool or your lounger.
On a Sunday morning, I was able to sweat out my multiple cocktails in the hotel’s new gym, which also offers various classes, including yoga.
As for food, the hotel’s charming 1614 Bar offers pub grub such as fish and chips and burgers.
For dinner, we headed into The Restaurant to try the a-la-carte menu.
It’s not cheap, but is excellent if you fancy splashing out.
To start, I had the white asparagus with shaved mushrooms, Irish coppa and truffled honey (£15), and for my main I had the monkfish with spring brassicas, mussels and buttermilk (£33) with a great bottle of white wine.
After dinner, we returned to the 1614 Bar for a nightcap or two with live music.
Breakfast is a continental buffet spread and guests can also order a la carte.
The hotel prides itself on its fresh food, so everything from fish to yoghurt at breakfast was local.
We then strolled through the park to Crawfordsburn beach.
A winding path takes you through woods, then the trees clear and you are on to the sweeping, sandy beach looking out over Belfast Lough.
You can see why CS Lewis chose this spot for his honeymoon – with stunning scenery on your doorstep and a warm welcome, it’s couples heaven.
GO: NORTHERN IRELAND
STAYING THERE: Rooms at The Old Inn start from £175 per night.
The wonderful Amalfi coast is like heavenCredit: Getty – ContributorThe elegant town of Ravello with its cobbled streets lined with pottery and linen shops leading off the main squareCredit: Getty
They adorn tea towels, shirts, skirts, dresses, trousers, and bags galore.
Our base on Travelsphere’s eight-day tour of the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Capri was the charming, laid-back seaside village of Minori, at the excellent family-run 4* Hotel Villa Romana.
Just three miles and a glorious 15- minute boat ride from Amalfi itself, Minori is quieter and classier, with stylish and affordable restaurants and bars.
Surprisingly for a village of its size, Minori has an 18th-century neoclassical domed cathedral. Surrounded by lemon groves, of course.
One of my highlights was walking the Path of Lemons, which connects Minori to the larger neighbouring village of Maiori.
The trek takes around 90 minutes, with an initial climb up several hundred steps and a similar descent.
But the view of the village and sea is spectacular and worth every straining leg sinew.
The beauty of our schedule is that there is still plenty of free time for you to pursue your own holiday agenda.
You’ll get the chance to indulge at Minori’s sumptuous Sal De Riso patisserie or watch the famed limoncello being made at the Liquorificio Mansi Carlo.
Alternatively, stop by at one of Minori’s beachside bars and watch the tide roll in.
But the best place to see the Amalfi Coast is from the sea and the area is served by efficient, reasonably-priced ferry operators.
It is only from the clear blue waters that you fully appreciate the stunning coastline and its tumble-down towns with pastel-coloured houses perched precariously atop majestic cliffs.
Our first trip was to the historic town of Amalfi itself, dramatically set below those same cliffs.
On arrival at Amalfi, we had the freedom to see the town for ourselves.
The main square and its streets were packed with sightseers.
But climb a few steps up one of the alleyways and you will find peace and quiet and cheaper restaurants.
Amalfi Town and beachCredit: GettyThe undoubted gem of the tour was our visit to Pompeii, destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD
A lunch of cured meats and seafood, in cool stone surroundings behind a church, cost £21.50 a head with drinks.
By the time we had finished, the crowds had thinned out at Amalfi’s magnificent medieval cathedral, which holds the remains of St Andrew.
But there was no escaping the crowds at Capri, a gorgeous 90-minute boat trip from Minori.
The island has been home to the international jet set for decades and it’s not difficult to see why.
A walk down to the gardens of Capri Town was followed by a look, from outside anyway, at the amazing designer boutique shops.
A glass of fresh orange and lemon juice from a stall was a cheaper alternative to buying a designer Patek Philippe watch — and then it was time to get our minibus to Anacapri.
This village, with views of the Bay of Naples, is much quieter and more affordable than Capri Town.
We got the chairlift up to the highest point of the island, almost 1,800ft above sea level with a view to die for.
There are optional tour trips to the lively lemon-filled town of Sorrento and the gorgeous cliffside village of Positano.
Or you could take the 45-minute ferry from Minori to Salerno, a bustling coastal city where we had a superb fish lunch at Mama Rosa.
The undoubted gem of the tour was our visit to Pompeii, destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD.
The last agonies of victims frozen in time when they suffocated from poison gases are captured in plaster moulds created from their remains.
Sun man Mike Sullivan with a cool lemonadeCredit: SuppliedWalking through stunning lemon orchardsCredit: Getty
It is a powerful experience.
And yet the humanity of this once prosperous and thriving coastal Roman city, discovered in 1748, shines through from the haunting remains.
The municipal buildings, public baths, grand villas, lead pipe water system and amphitheatres paint a picture of an advanced society on which much of our own world today is based.
Our last scheduled trip was to the gorgeous medieval mountainside village of Ravello, with its cobbled streets lined with pottery and linen shops leading off the main square and 11th-century cathedral.
The journey up to the 1,200ft-high village involves navigating hairpin bends with sheer drops below.
It was not a drive I would have relished but in the expert hands of our driver I felt safer than being on the M25.
A delicious lunch followed at the Il Rifugio family-run restaurant in Tramonti, a 15-minute drive from Ravello up into the Lattari “Milk” Mountains — so-named because of the goats which graze there.
After taking in the spectacular view of the sea, and sampling local wines, we were then driven to a small local vineyard to see how it was produced.
All too soon it was time for the journey home from Naples Airport, with its abundance of lemon gifts and souvenirs.
Fortunately, you don’t get a hangover from vitamin C.
GO: AMALFI COAST
GETTING / STAYING THERE: Travelsphere’s eight-day escorted tour of the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Capri starts in Naples and visits Amalfi, Capri, Minori, Sorrento, Pompeii, Positano, Ravello and the Amalfi Hills.
Seven nights is from £1,699pp, including return flights from London, overseas transfers, seven nights’ half-board in a 4* hotel, select meals and a welcome drink as well as Travelsphere holiday director and specialist local guide.
Looking nervously to my right, I see a small avalanche careering down the side of Mont Blanc.
It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that the ropes around our waists are the only things that might offer protection if the glacier beneath our feet suddenly shifts.
But despite the snow on the ground, I’m soon stripping off my layers because the temperatures can reach balmy heights in this gorgeous Italian Alpine region during summer.
To arrive here, I hopped on the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car which whizzed me 3,466 metres up to the glacier from the village of Courmayeur in ten minutes — with a stop at 2,173 metres to switch cabs.
The cable car costs £50 in advance to go to the top — but this does include entrance to a variety of attractions including an Alpine garden, kids’ play area and Europe’s highest library.
As well as a chance to refuel in its restaurants, the middle Skyway station offers another treat — a cave where they mature a vintage wine grown here.
And even if you’re not drinking wine, you’ll be able to drink in the amazing views of Italy’s Aosta Valley.
Skyway Monte Bianco slowly rotates so you don’t miss any of the incredible scenery.
Back in the sun-drenched valleys, there’s not a speck of snow in sight — but we still eat for winter, piling our plates with gourmet raclette and classic Italian pastas.
The region’s restaurant highlights include Cadran Solaire, whose wild-boar ragu is the stuff foodie dreams are made of.
But if your stomach is firmly in summer mode, you can tuck into lighter home-cooked delights at La Terrazza, where the owner has brought southern Italian delicacies to the Alps.
Classics like carbonara are on offer, as well as starters of anchovies with mozzarella.
Live the high life on the Skyway Monte BiancoCredit: GettyEnjoy stunning mountain viewsCredit: Getty
If you’re worried about all those calories, the slopes of Courmayeur will be your saviour.
The mountains become a walkers’ paradise in summer, with unbelievable trails from the two valleys either side.
One morning, I headed to Val Ferret, which can be accessed by bike, a free bus or car.
It’s flanked by the Mont Blanc Massif, Mont Dolent and Tour Noir.
From here you can see the gigantic Brenva Glacier — the second-longest glacier in Italy.
The valley can be enjoyed on foot, or on horseback for around €30 (£25) an hour.
But for those who prefer something more challenging, the ski area Checrouit offers uphill walks where you climb 300 metres in just an hour.
Thank goodness for the heated pool and sauna back at the Gran Baita.
I’m not sure how my limbs would have recovered without them.
GO: COURMAYEUR
GETTING THERE: easyJet flies to Geneva from £36.49 or Turin from £40.99.
STEP into your own David Attenborough show on a dreamy family staycay.
From a gorgeous country estate on the England/Wales border, to seal-spotting and wild swimming while kipping in sleepy Harleston
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Be the queen of the castle exploring PowisCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoThe gorgeous country estate is brimming with nature on the England/Wales borderCredit: Supplied by PR
Marrington Escapes, Shropshire
Expect country-chic vibes at MarringtonCredit: Supplied by PRThe stunning Dingle Valley is home to all sorts of wildlifeCredit: Getty Images
Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley and her gang found a gorgeous country estate brimming with nature on the England/Wales border.
A grazing pony, strutting pheasants and hopping hares are just a few of our neighbours on the glorious, family-owned Marrington Estate.
And we’ve spied them all before we even embark on an hour’s walk down through the stunning Dingle Valley, where the babbling River Camlad is home to crayfish, otters and kingfishers.
We’re kipping in one of the estate’s biggest properties, Marrington Farmhouse, which sleeps 10 under cloud-like duvets – although the dining room is better-suited to eight – and which comes with a kitchen proper cooks will love.
A large hot tub, The Traitors board game complete with cloak, a verdant lawn and an apple orchard brimming with harvest make it an idyllic spot and, come evening, we toast marshmallows on the firepit and stargaze.
Our welcome hamper includes pistachio sablés from What A Pickle! in the county’s foodie capital Ludlow and a bottle of zingy Shropshire Lady white wine using Solaris grapes from Kerryvale Vineyard, 10 minutes’ drive away.
But with little ones in tow, we resist a vineyard tour and tasting, £25 per person (Kerryvalevineyard.co.uk), and instead take a trip across the border to Wales on board a steam train.
The nearby Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway trundles us through the rolling hills and, once we arrive in Llanfair, Poppy, seven, and Raffy, four, are thrilled when the friendly driver spots them looking on wide-eyed in awe and invites them into his cabin to pull the steam whistle.
Return tickets cost £27 per adult, £10 per child (Wllr.org.uk). We’re also close to several castles, from which we pick the striking 13th-century Powis Castle, a 20-minute drive away.
Its baroque terraces are a spectacular display of colour, and feasting on a cream tea, £7.50, among the blooms before a stroll through the woodlands is heavenly.
On our way back, we make a pitstop at The Nags Head Inn in Garthmyl for the Sunday roast of dreams, tucking into a delicate crab salad with watermelon and pineapple salsa, before tackling ginormous three-meat platters with all the trimmings in the lively dining space (Nagsheadgarthmyl.co.uk).
Two courses cost from £24.45, and we haven’t had a roast that good since!
Stays at Marrington Farmhouse, sleeping 10, cost from £30 per person, per night (Marringtonescapes.com).
Mendham Mill, Suffolk
Tree cheers for the setting of Mendham MillTrot along the coastline at Horsey GapCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoThe beaches are sealy amazingCredit: Shutterstock / Kirsty Nadine
Writer Ellie O’Mahoney and her family spotted seals and tried wild swimming while kipping in sleepy Harleston.
Paddling in canoes up the River Waveney, it feels like we are in the middle of a painting.
We’re staying at Mendham Mill Holiday Cottages on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, and canoes here are free to borrow, from which we spot newly hatched goslings, grazing cows and a hovering kestrel.
We’re bedding down in wheelchair-friendly North Meadow Cottage, which sleeps six, and our children, Elliot, 11, and Molly, nine, whoop for joy when they find the games room with table tennis and a pool table.
Later, we take a bracing swim in the river at the bottom of the garden, then warm up under the outdoor shower.
Norfolk is famous for its seal colonies, so we make the hour’s drive to one of the UK’s largest, Horsey Gap, to spot them (Horseygap.co.uk).
Close by is wooden marvel BeWILDerwood, where the kids burn off their energy exploring the treehouses, zip wires, mazes and slides.
Tickets cost from £20.95 for those over 92cm (Bewilderwood.co.uk). Another day, Framlingham Castle, inspo for Ed Sheeran’s Castle On The Hill, proves the perfect spot for playing warring knights.
Later, we get a Michelin-recommended taste of old-school Suffolk at The Peacock Inn in Chelsworth, a 14th-century Grade-II-listed pub in the prettiest of villages.
Battered haddock with koji tartar sauce, £18, is standout, while the mousse, £11, made with 85% chocolate from local chocolatier Pump Street is to die for (Thepeacockchelsworth.com).
Stays at Mendham Mill Holiday Cottages, sleeping six, cost from £35 per person, per night (Premiercottages.co.uk).
OR GO REALLY WILD…
The Reserve, Cheshire
Enjoy a family stay at The ReserveCredit: Supplied by PRThere’s lots to like about the Reserve’s lodgesCredit: Supplied by PRSwing into action at Chester ZooCredit: Supplied by PR
Wake up to giraffes as campmates at Chester Zoo, says Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley.
Stuffing play balls with lucerne hay, my kids are thoroughly enjoying preparing teatime treats for giraffes with zookeeper Sophie, while learning about their surprisingly small poos and why their long tongues are black (to protect them from the sun, FYI).
The excitement continues when later we join an after-hours tour to catch a glimpse of nocturnal animals waking, including aardvarks, and learn about the incredible cancer-fighting superpower of naked mole rats.
By sleeping over, guests are helping the conservation efforts here and The Reserve’s reception, restaurant and bar ooze sophistication.
Welcome cocktails of sapling vodka, lime and honey – and juices for the kids – are quickly slurped, and the 51 lodges are swishly furnished, although our lakeside pad is without much of an actual lake view and comes with the buzz of traffic that leaves us feeling very much still in England when on our veranda.
Pricier lodges overlook the giraffe enclosure and, on our stroll to the plentiful breakfast, we spot the majestic creatures through gaps in the foliage.
As well as exclusive animal tours and fireside stories in the lounge, overnight guests also get to step into the zoo early, and it is undoubtedly one of the UK’s best – home to more than 500 species, including orangutans, elephants, leopards and lions.
All in all, our little ones think this is a roar-some mini-break.
Family stays for four at The Reserve cost from £306 B&B, including two-day zoo access (Chesterzoo.org).
LOOKING cool is no sweat for Kylie Jenner — thanks to her latest cosmetics creation.
The US beauty mogul posed in a see-through slip dress to help promote a powder which claims to be sweat and humidity-proof.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Kylie Jenner posed in a see-through slip dress to help promote a powder which claims to be sweat and humidity-proofCredit: Instagram Kylie CosmeticsThe model has provided the AI assistant’s voice for a pair of smart glassesCredit: Meta
It is the latest launch from her Kylie Cosmetics range, which has helped the 28-year-old rake in a £500million fortune.
Meanwhile Kylie, who is dating Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet, has provided the AI assistant’s voice for a pair of smart glasses.
She also helped design the £359 oval Starfire Kylie Edition shades for tech giant Meta.
Wearers can take photos and videos, make and answer phone calls, listen to music and interact with a virtual assistant voiced by Kylie.
Kylie also helped design the £359 oval Starfire Kylie Edition shades for tech giant MetaCredit: MetaThe new hi-tech specs come in 26 different styles and eight colour options
They include selections of Meta Adventurer (rectangular) and Meta Fury (squared) spectacles, as well as Meta Glasses by Kylie (with a slim oval shape).
They’re all “smart glasses”, which means they have built-in cameras, microphones, and an AI assistant – but not a display.
HOLIDAYS to Dubai are back on track. The UK Foreign Office last week scrapped the advice against all but essential travel to the UAE, as well as nearby destinations such as Qatar and Bahrain.
And with hotels and attractions itching to welcome us once more, there are some great bargains to be had right now. Whether you’ve got bags of cash to spend or are hunting for ways to make your dosh go further, we’ve got you covered.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Find out how to enjoy a trip to Dubai no matter your budget after the Foreign Office relaxed travel adviceCredit: tobiasjoThe pool at the Mina Seyahi Hotel certainly has the wow factorCredit: Supplied
ON A BUDGET?
FROM beach club deals, through to discounted 5* “business lunches”, a classy trip can be yours but without the cost — if you know where to look.
One of the biggest expenses on a visit to the UAE city can be at the ever-popular beach clubs.
Expect to drop hundreds of dirhams once you’ve paid for entry, loungers, food and drink.
Yet one of the newest on the block is also one of the most affordable — the Casablanca.
As part of landmark resort Atlantis, the club is a bargain, so long as you time your visit for a weekday.
Paying around £24 per person for a sun lounger, you can still enjoy the pool and beach without having to spend a fortune.
My hours were happily spent with a few Prosecco foam cocktails and truffle fries while enjoying the party atmosphere, thanks to the upbeat dance music being pumped out.
Dips in the pool were followed by lolling on the beach swing, before sunning myself to dry off on my striped lounger.
Aura is the world’s tallest 360-degree infinity poolCredit: Go and haggle at the traditional markets where you can find food, jewellery and fashionCredit: kolderal
Want to go higher? When it comes to a rooftop pool, Aura can’t be beaten, taking the title of the world’s tallest 360-degree infinity pool.
But if you love the views and aren’t fussed about the pool, try their lounge breakfast package.
For a fraction of the price of using the pool, you get a breakfast and two drinks.
I might have stayed dry, but I got those influencer-style shots posing next to the water without the cost. From the miso eggs benedict to pomegranate juices, I promise it’s worth the early start.
For more of the high life, also drop in at Ce La Vi. The famous bar has some of the best views of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
But you’ll be joining the locals if you visit at lunch rather than dinner — and will stay in your budget, too.
Dinners can see a main course alone costing £30. Yet the three-course lunch set menu will set you back just £28, including a glass of wine.
But while Dubai is certainly a foodie city, the real flavour of the place is to be found in the street markets.
The Sun’s Kara enjoys a delicious cocktail at the CasablancaCredit: Supplied
Head to the Grand Souk, where you’ll find breads stuffed with cheese or Nutella for £1.22, or Iranian falooda — a sorbet-like dessert made of thin rice noodles and syrup — for £1.
You’ll certainly need some energy for going shopping afterwards, with streets of spices and gold jewellery (Dubai is home to the world’s biggest gold ring — 21-carat, and weighing 59kg).
And after all that, your well- deserved rest will not tip your budget over the edge — Brits will be pleased to spot the famous purple signage of Premier Inn, there being seven across Dubai.
Yet these are pimped-up Premier Inns, with gyms and rooftop pools — as well as the familiar Costa outlet in the lobby.
And who knew they’d be even cheaper than the UK, with rooms for as little as £21 a night during the off-season? That means you could spend a week in Dubai for under £150 — half the price of one night at the Atlantis.
Otherwise there’s Rove, the UAE’s own budget hotel chain. Slightly pricier at £44, it has a bit more to it, from ice-cream trucks to beach- bar happy hours.
So don’t believe the rumours that Dubai has to be expensive.
Live the high life — often literally — and still come home with some change to spare.
MORE CASH TO SPLASH?
Dine on floating restaurant the Lady NaraCredit: SuppliedVisitors are never far from the beach in Dubai – while having access to top hotels and restaurantsCredit: Getty
IN my opinion, upgrading your hotel generally comes with a multitude of benefits that extend way beyond just a swankier room.
The Palm — so named because of its fronds of sand jutting out into the sea that resemble the leaves of a palm tree — is one of the most desirable areas to stay in but you can get the same luxury for a fraction of the price elsewhere.
Book one of the 5* resorts that sit at the bottom of its branch, along Mina Seyahi beach.
The 5* Westin is a sprawling resort that features several pools and seemingly more sun loungers than there are rooms.
The Sun’s Sophie relaxes with a drinkCredit: Supplied
With a whopping ten restaurants on site, you don’t even need to leave the resort.
Kids have use of all the fun-packed waterslides at neighbouring hotel Le Meridien, while parents can kick back in the adults-only area where there is a constant supply of mellow music and freshly shaken cocktails.
Adults after a more sophisticated atmosphere, however, will likely prefer the trendy 5* W Hotel, home to bold bedrooms and the sky-high Attiko restaurant (for those aged 21 and over).
The menu of Asian-fusion bites is designed for sharing — try the spicy tuna taco topped with avocado and yuzu and the crispy scallop, served in its shell.
These are dished up alongside cocktails that are as jaw-dropping as the views of twinkling hotels at night.
It’s safe to say fancy food isn’t in short supply in Dubai. In fact, this Middle Eastern city is now catching up with some of the world’s most celebrated foodie destinations — competing with the likes of Tokyo and Paris.
The Michelin Guide for Dubai features 117 restaurants for 2026.
Last year, Avatara, in Dubai Hills, became the first vegetarian Indian restaurant in the world to earn a Michelin star. And having sampled all 17 delicately crafted courses on its flavour-packed tasting menu, I can see why it’s ranked so highly.
The experience is wonderfully theatrical, and the plates could be considered works of art, not just the meals — decorated with edible flowers, rich sauces and billowing dry ice.
It costs around £150pp for the tasting menu, but my word, you’ll leave satisfied and full to the brim. But while Avatara may have the wow factor for serious foodies, those who prefer more of an experiential dinner should book a Lady Nara cruise.
This fancy wooden vessel runs breakfast and dinner sailings at various times of day, but the most spectacular has to be at night when Dubai’s glowing skyscrapers are fully lit.
We sailed between various landmarks while tucking into a feast cooked up in the kitchen below deck. Hors d’oeuvres were followed by huge bowls of fresh leaves and artichokes topped with shaved Parmesan, and hearty meats served in zingy sauces, while gentle music hummed in the background.
If fine dining isn’t your thing but you still want to push the boat out a bit, you can always spend that hard-earned dosh on a flight upgrade instead.
Emirates is the official airline of Dubai and is currently the only one offering direct flights from the UK. It launched a fourth daily flight between Dubai and Gatwick at the start of this year, giving travellers even greater flexibility.
The experience in Emirates business-class cabins is as flashy as Dubai itself, thanks to the doting crew, as well as the on-board cocktail bar — where you can while away the eight or so hours on board sipping on martinis made at 38,000ft.
GO: DUBAI
GETTING THERE: Direct flights from Heathrow to Dubai with Emirates cost from £680 return in economy or £3,600 return in business class. See emirates.com.
STAYING THERE: Rooms at Premier Inn Dubai Al Jaddaf Hotel are from £38.57 (AED 187) including breakfast. See premierinn.com.
Rooms at Rove La Mer cost from £63 (AED 305) per night, including breakfast. See rovehotels.com.
Rooms at The Westin Mina Seyahi are from £163 (AED 839) per night, including breakfast. See marriott.com.
Rooms at the W Hotel Mina Seyahi cost from £148 (AED 718), including breakfast. See marriott.com.
BAG MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Aura Sky pool’s full-day pool access is from £117 but breakfast lounge access is just £25. See auraskypool.com.
Ce La Vi restaurant: a three-course evening dinner costs from £129, but a three-course “business lunch” is from £28. See dxb.celavi.com.
Casablanca beach club: cabana with private pool costs from £1,317 (£263pp), whereas a midweek sun lounger costs £50 (redeemable on food and drink). See atlantis.com.
OTHER SAVING HACKS: Be sure to pick up your free 24-hour SIM cards with 10GB at Dubai immigration.
You can bag dining and experience discounts at more than 600 venues with your Emirates boarding pass, including spas and retailers.
THIS may sound strange, but as we finished our first circuit around Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I was pleased we hadn’t seen all the animals who call this place home.
We hadn’t spotted them all because the amazing beasts — including giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, tigers, polar bears and wallabies — live in huge, free-roaming enclosures.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Visitors at Yorkshire Wildlife Park can see the baby cheetahs that were born on Valentine’s Day this yearCredit: Dominic Lipinski/Yorkshire Wildlife ParkThe attraction is home to amazing beasts including giraffes, rhinos, zebras, lions, tigers, polar bears and wallabiesCredit: supplied
They have areas to play, relax, eat and sleep instead of being squashed in small cages just so humans can instantly peer at them.
The humans on my trip included my son Alex and his friends Jack and Finn, together with their mum Laura. They travelled from London and we went from Manchester, meeting at the park in Auckley, Doncaster.
Even though our visit to the 175- acre adventure park was in February we were lucky with the weather and by the end of our day we were lucky with the animals we saw, too.
It takes about 90 minutes to walk the 3km circular route, and once you’ve done it the first time, you can do it all over again.
As we passed by the 30 life-size dinosaur models and then watched sea lions, the boys used the park’s app to decide which animals they wanted to see.
For Alex, it was the six polar bears. They live in ten acres, with grassy plains, rocky beaches, water pools and shaded caves, but thankfully seemed to love being near visitors.
One gigantic bear dipped in the pool and had a kickabout with a football right in front of us.
Finn chose the red pandas. Visitors can book 30-minute experiences with several of the animals, including the red panda, and feed them.
But Finn was thrilled just to see the “real-life Kung Fu Panda”. Jack’s wish was to see the tigers.
As we headed there, we first saw monkeys swinging through trees and playing, which the boys loved. Then we stopped at Leopard Heights, which has a large elevated viewing platform plus ground-level glass wall to see the big cats play on their huge wooden climbing frames.
The polar bears live in ten acres, with grassy plains, rocky beaches, water pools and shaded cavesCredit: suppliedVisitor Alex loved the Jungle lookout, climbing through wooden tree forts and over obstacle coursesCredit: Supplied
But as big cats go, they weren’t as majestic as the lions who sprawled out on rocks, seemingly oblivious to everyone gazing at their splendour.
Throughout the park, signs explain each animal’s back story. There is a big focus on environmental projects and it was lovely to read how the lions had been rescued from dangerous situations, including from Ukraine.
The Amur tigers were a highlight. One wandered right past us making moaning noises, which apparently indicated contentment. But as one man behind me rightly commented: “You wouldn’t want to hear that on a dark night, would you?”
There are several picnic spots here, too. One is sensibly inside and next time I visit I’ll shove a sandwich or two in a backpack.
But we weren’t that organised so had lunch at the Safari Cafe. Two very decent coffees for the adults, plus sandwiches and quiche with salad, and three portions of nuggets, chips, beans and apple juices for the kids came to £45 which, for a tourist spot, didn’t seem like bad value.
There are also many play areas and the boys loved the Jungle lookout, climbing through wooden tree forts, over obstacle courses and down slides as us adults had a catch-up.
Finally we returned to the Yorkshire Hive — a hub at the centre of the park with a beauty salon, shops, cafes and fitness centre plus hotel the Hex, where we were staying.
After dumping our bags, we went to Evolution Experience Restaurant where there were more roaring dinosaurs, illuminated dragons, smoke effects, crayons and colouring sheets for the boys.
They each had home-made pizza, apple juice and organic fruit lollies for £10 while we had ribs for £12 with a decent sauvignon blanc and prosecco.
The hotel ticked a lot of boxes — bunk beds and giant bean bags for the boys to sit on and watch Netflix plus black-out blinds, Temple Spa bathroom products, fresh coffee sachets and the cutest packets of mini Jammie Dodgers I’ve ever seen.
But without doubt the best bit of that room was two oblong windows in the walls — one at kids’ level and one at adult height — giving a bird’s eye view over the park.
We watched the wolves prowling and then eating their breakfast. It was the highlight of our trip.
After we had our own breakfast — a full English buffet at the Wilds Cafe Bistro — the boys had a final run around at the large soft play centre, while we relaxed and chatted.
That’s what is so perfect about this place — they catered for the needs of the animals, the kids and us. And for me, that was the real winner.
GO: Yorkshire
STAYING THERE: This summer, you can enjoy a stay at the Hex Hotel, including a one-day pass for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, from £45pp, based on two adults and two children sharing a standard family room.
TELLY favourites Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash are set to upgrade their Pickle Cottage home for a sprawling mansion set in 30 acres.
The couple have set their sights on an impressive eight-bedroom Victorian mansion, which is said to be central to DIY influencer Stacey’s next renovation project.
Stacey and Joe are set to upgrade Pickle Cottage for a sprawling eight-bedroom mansionCredit: BBCThe Essex property costs almost double the £1.3million price of their current home Pickle CottageCredit: Instagram
A source said the pair “fell in love” with the Essex property after viewing it as a potential new home for their family of eight.
Stacey, 36, will have her work cut out transforming the already-impressive gaff, which costs almost double the £1.3million price of their current home and is more than 7,500 sq ft — complete with a pool and a lake.
Our source said the couple would be sad to leave Pickle Cottage, but are grateful to have the chance to make “new memories” with their brood.
They said: “They viewed the house and fell in love with it. It’s got extra space for the kids.
“Pickle Cottage only has five bedrooms. They have six children and then they need a room for themselves. It gives Stacey a chance to do more of her amazing DIY work as well.
“She has a great eye for interiors. This house needs a bit of love and work to make it the absolute dream home where they can make new memories.”
The family’s current Tudor-style Pickle Cottage, also in Essex, is the setting for their reality TV show, which launched to 4.2million viewers in April last year, with a second series last September.
Our insider revealed the sprawling mansion could be a dream home to make new memoriesCredit: GettyOur source said the couple would be sad to leave Pickle CottageCredit: Getty
The BBC has commissioned a third series of the show, despite scrutiny after The Sun’s revelation that the couple’s lavish 2022 wedding was never made legal.
Following the news, Stacey took to social media to tell her six million followers the pair had always been clear it was a “religious ceremony and blessing” in their garden.
She added that the couple plan to get “legally married at a later point”.
Stacey and Joe, 44, have three kids together — Rex, seven, Rose, four, and three-year-old Belle — while Stacey also has teenage sons Zachary, 18, and Leighton, 14, and Joe has son Harry, 19.
Pickle Cottage only has five bedrooms and the couple have six childrenCredit: StaceySolomon – Instagram
In March, after being pictured multiple times with and without her wedding ring, Stacey addressed speculation about “issues going on” in her marriage on ITV’s This Morning.
She told presenter Ben Shephard: “There’s a new rumour each week. Have I not been wearing my ring? I probably took it off to go to the toilet or something.”
Stacey and ex-EastEnders star Joe have built lucrative careers on their family image after first meeting on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity show in 2010.
AFTER years of writing about politics, technology and the chaos of the modern world, Matt Bellamy wanted something different for Muse’s tenth album.
“The theme was to get back into mystery a little bit,” he says. “The mysteries of the universe, mysteries of spirituality and returning to the rawness of the unknown.”
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Matt, Chris and Dom are back with their tenth album, The Wow! SignalCredit: SuppliedThe veteran band in a photo shoot for their new albumCredit: Tim Saccenti
Inspired by the 1977 Wow! Signal — an unexplained radio signal from space once seen as possible evidence of alien intelligence — and a turbulent period in his personal life, the record finds Bellamy searching for meaning on both a cosmic and personal level.
“I’ve turned completely apolitical,” he admits. “It’s weird when you go through things in your personal life — the news just becomes an annoying noise.
“When your life’s going great, you get drawn into the news and what’s going on in the world.
“But when you’re actually going through something yourself, the news and politics just become a headache.
“I’m a little bit gloriously out of touch. I’ve normally been so in touch, my finger’s always been on the pulse, and a lot of the albums I’ve made talk about the rise of populism. But this album and my life for the last year-and-a-half has been different.”
“I’ve been through a separation involving two young kids,” he says carefully.
“I can’t really talk about the reasons behind it, but it was not your normal run-of-the-mill situation. I became a full-time single parent for a period of eight months.
“She’s doing a lot better now and she’s getting better, but it was an unusual situation to go through. It made writing the album so much easier.
“It’s hard to talk about what’s behind the album because I don’t throw people under the bus. And I don’t want my kids to grow up reading stuff.”
Bellamy, 48, is in London for band rehearsals and when we meet, he’s just back from the gym in a bid to shape up for the tour.
“I’m not that old,” he laughs. “But I met Mick Jagger at a party and I went straight in on the fitness. I was, like, ‘What is your secret?!’ He said when he was in his 30s, he started working out a few weeks before a tour.
The record finds frontman Bellamy searching for meaning on both a cosmic and personal levelCredit: Getty – ContributorDominic Howard, Matthew Bellamy and Chris Wolstenholme in LondonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“By the time he got to his 40s, he was working out for the same length as the tour.
“If it was a three-month tour, he’d work out for three months before. And by the time he got to his 50s, he was just working out all the time, all year round.”
The 1977 Wow! Signal fascinates Bellamy because it remains unexplained and happened around the time the band members were born.
“The Wow! Signal is probably, to this day, still the most interesting signal that’s ever been seen in space,” he explains.
“It happened in 1977, which is basically within 12 months of all the band being born.
“Chris [Wolstenholme] and I were born in 1978 and Dom [Howard] in 1977, so I just thought it was funny that this little Wow! Signal appeared around the time we came into this world.
“I think this album was really me letting go a little bit and engaging with the unknown.
“What is this thing inside me, or all of us, that wants to not be alone? I don’t mean with a partner or friends. I mean this thing in the universe. At the moment, we appear to be so alone, and we have this drive, which you see through religion and science.
“Behind all of it, we just don’t want to be alone.”
That search drew Bellamy back to one of his formative influences.
“I grew up watching Contact, the Jodie Foster film from the 90s,” he says. “I used to read Carl Sagan’s books and that film really stayed with me.”
It has also led him into the world of AI.
He adds: “I’ve spent time in the tech world, in California’s Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, and I had some involvement in that world.
“I went to a private talk where Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) was talking off the record about his thoughts on AI.
“I saw (Meta CEO Mark) Zuckerberg talking about it, too, and I was interested in what they were saying.
“When you really hear them, they know they’re ushering in an intelligence which is beyond us. They start to see it as, ‘Well, we’re just kind of messengers bringing in this thing that is going to be more intelligent than us’.”
Matt, pictured performing at Reading festival, was brought back to one of his formative influences for the albumCredit: GettyThe new album also explores artificial intelligenceCredit: Getty – Contributor
Bellamy says he enjoys asking AI philosophical questions — and that is where Hexagons began.
“That’s actually my favourite thing to do with AI, and where I got the idea for Hexagons,” he says. “And again, I think that is part of the same human condition.
“Whether it be religion, looking for aliens in space or trying to bring in artificial intelligence, it’s kind of all the same thing.”
Epic, organ-led Be With You was the first song that made the album’s direction clear.
“You can look at it as a love song, or you can look at it as a religious song, almost,” he says.
“I’m not a religious person, but I decided to play the song on a church organ.
“I went to the biggest church organ in Los Angeles, so the song was recorded in this church-like setting.
“I liked the idea that it could be perceived as searching for alien life, or searching for alien intelligence of some kind, or God. That was the first song that felt right, lyrically and musically.
“There are a lot of personal elements in the album that are quite unusual for me.”
Bellamy says the album came from a difficult period, but that made the music flow.
“This was actually the easiest album for me to write and make for 15-plus years,” he says.
“Space Debris is probably the biggest reveal of what I went through, especially lyrically at the end,” he says.
“It’s the rawest moment of explaining what really happened over the last year. I like using space analogies — space debris, things breaking up and falling apart in gravity — to describe the chaos and feeling in your life.
“It also fits the theme of connecting this search into outer space for a higher power with the chaos and feeling in your own life.
“I hope the fans don’t ask me to play that one live.”
If Space Debris is the album’s rawest confession, Bellamy says it also opened the door to bigger questions running through the record.
“What I went through threw me off into the unknown,” he explains.
“When things go wrong in your life, that’s when you’re most likely to seek meaning or search for answers.
“In my case, it was a blend between religious thought, alien intelligence and AI.
“I don’t know what it is, but you’re searching for this higher power to guide you, or to give you answers.
“Music became my catharsis. It became my way to understand my situation.
“Making this album gave me flashbacks to these periods where music was my everything.
“It wasn’t something I had to do to pay the bills. It wasn’t something I had to do for the record label. It was something that I had to do for myself.
“That’s why I think this album is probably, since the 2000s anyway, the most raw, emotionally raw and honest album I’ve done.”
Bellamy says despite the personal nature of the album, Chris and Dom were central to every song.
“I’ve always been in charge of the lyrics, and I’m the leader in terms of the concepts,” he says.
“But musically, this is the most equal album we’ve had for a long time.”
The Wow! Signal includes some of the best tracks Muse have made in years.
Cryogen has already been compared to early Muse, while Shimmering Scars shows off the vulnerability in Bellamy’s voice.
“Cryogen is deliberately Muse from 2001,” he says.
With Shimmering Scars, he explains: “I felt like I needed to do five or six takes, so we could edit the best bits in.
“But producer Dan Lancaster was, like, ‘Nah, let it be raw, let it be weird.’
“To me, it sounded a bit off — not quite what I wanted it to be. But he was, like, ‘No, that’s the whole point. That sounds a little bit raw’.
“This is the first album where we said, ‘Let’s give Dan a go at producing it’. The last two albums were self-produced, so it was nice to hand the reins to someone else.
“He did a great job keeping us towards that more raw, vulnerable state in the performances.”
Bellamy believes AI is pushing younger listeners back towards authenticity.
“My stepson with Kate [Hudson], Ryder, is 22 and he’s just graduated from NYU,” he says. “Then Bing is 14, and I’ve got the two little ones as well.
“Having a boy who’s 22 and a boy who’s 14 means I get a real sense of what’s going on in their generation.
“I think that generation is turning away from pop, hip-hop and dance a little bit. They’re seeking raw, chaotic-sounding music.
“I think the reason why is because that generation is drowned by AI. AI is dominating everything they do, from schoolwork to music and the arts.
“I could be wrong but from what I sense from them, they’re gravitating towards what they know to be real.”
Recent single Nightshift Superstar was the band wanting to go French disco.
“I love Daft Punk, Justice and ABBA,” Bellamy says. “I went to see ABBA’s show and I loved it. They’re some of the best songs ever written. So after that and seeing Justice in Paris, I was, like, ‘How do we do that? Let’s just go there’.
“The song has a late-70s feel but with a more cutting-edge tone associated with modern dance music.
“But the good thing about it is that it really is us playing.”
One surprise on The Wow! Signal is Hush — a collaboration with pop star Ellie Goulding.
“Ellie was in the studio next-door, working with Marshmello on something,” says the singer.
“We have known each other for years and always wanted to try and do something together.
“Muse fans will read online that we’ve done a song with Ellie Goulding and think it’s going to be a pop song.
“But it’s got one of the biggest, heaviest riffs we’ve done in a long time. To me, it sounds a bit like New Born or something from 2001.
“The verses get a little bit poppy, I guess, but the main riff is pretty hard rock, so I thought it was quite fun to get Ellie’s voice over that kind of heaviness.
“I think it’ll be a nice surprise.”
Bellamy says the song came together by chance.
“This was an experiment,” he says. “It’s the only song on the album that really involves multiple writers.
“Ellie popped her head in towards the end of the day, at about 11pm, and went, ‘Hey, what are you guys up to?’ We played the song and she said, ‘Oh, can I sing on it?’ We tweaked the lyrics and turned it into a duet.
“It came completely by chance. It wasn’t planned to be a collaboration.”
Bellamy says the reaction from Muse fans to the new songs has “been the best we’ve had for at least 15 years” and he’s looking forward to getting back on the road following their special Brixton Academy show in April to launch the album.
The show marked Muse’s first appearance at the venue in 25 years, just before the release of Origin of Symmetry.
“I didn’t realise it had been so long,” Bellamy says.
“I remember the last time we played there, it was around the second album and I was so nervous because it was the biggest show Muse had ever done.
“We got to debut Be With You for the first time, and we had a great time.”
Visually, Bellamy says the full Wow! Signal world will come to life properly when Muse return to Europe in November.
“The American tour starts with what I’d call a medium-level production,” he says.
“But when we come to Europe, including London and Manchester in November, that’s when we’re going to ramp it up to a really sophisticated production.
“I think there’ll be a lot of geometry, a lot of hexagons, shapes and lasers, and strange, interesting visuals.
“Hopefully we’ll build the spaceship you see on the album cover in the arena.”
POP superstars Madonna and Kylie Minogue get into the groove as they film a comedy bar sketch for Madge’s special with Graham Norton.
Madonna, 67, invited Kylie, 58, to take part in the top-secret filming last month, having admired her career for over a decade, the Sun can reveal.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Madonna and Kylie Minogue filmed a comedy bar sketch for Madge’s special with Graham NortonCredit: Ricardo GomesThe Sun understands the pair have discussed hitting the studio together in the future
A source said: “Madonna and Kylie have long been fans of each other, so when Kylie got the call to make a cameo in the BBC special, it was a no-brainer. Rather than a performance, Kylie actually appears in the show in a light-hearted skit.
“She plays a barmaid, though, awkwardly, Madonna doesn’t like the drink Kylie gives her. It’s all very light-hearted.”
The Sun understands the pair have discussed hitting the studio together in the future.
The TV special, Madonna & Graham, airs tonight at 10.40pm on BBC One.
It was filmed in Camden at Koko, where Madonna performed for the first time in the UK for just 200 people in 1983 when it was called the Camden Palace.
Graham said: “As a lifelong fan it is always a thrill to interview Madonna. But to meet her on the dance floor where she first performed in London over 40 years ago felt incredibly special.”
Kylie made a surprise guest appearance at Madonna’s The Celebration Tour in LA in 2024.
They performed Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 hit I Will Survive in a nod to Kylie’s 2005 breast cancer battle.
The TV special, Madonna & Graham airs tonight at 10.40pm on BBC OneCredit: PA
HARRY Styles has some tricky steps to negotiate in his £30million mansion project — restoring a rotten staircase.
The former One Direction singer is paying experts to return the 300-year-old feature to its former glory as he turns three properties into one huge home.
Harry Styles has some tricky steps to negotiate in his £30million mansion project — restoring a rotten staircaseCredit: ErotemeThe former 1D singer is dating US actress Zoe KravitzCredit: Getty
The staircase revamp could delay the renovation project, which is slated for completion by October 2027.
A source said: “Harry doesn’t do anything by halves.
“This is a very ambitious project so there are bound to be stumbling blocks.
“The staircase is the latest snag but it’s a lovely period feature and he’s going to get the very best craftsmen to make it as good as new.
“It will take a while because it has to be taken apart piece by piece, restored and then put back in place, so it could well affect the deadline.”
In planning documents, Harry’s team say the condition of the 1734 staircase has deteriorated and it had some “poor-quality repairs” over the years.
He has appointed heritage carpentry experts to assess the best way to restore the feature.
Loved-up Harry and Zoe strolling in New York togetherCredit: GettyHarry is merging Georgian and 18th-century properties in Hampstead, North LondonCredit: Getty
JOEL CORRY is on the brink of his biggest collaboration yet, after striking up a bond with Jennifer Lopez.
He’s worked with, and remixed songs from, some of the biggest names on the planet, including Charli XCX, Raye and Sir Elton John.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Joel Corry is on the brink of his biggest collaboration yet, after striking up a bond with Jennifer LopezCredit: GettyJoel caught J-Lo’s attention after remixing her 2005 single Get Right, before he remixed her David Guetta collaboration Save Me Tonight in MarchCredit: Bryce Hall
But Joel caught J-Lo’s attention in December after remixing her 2005 single Get Right, before he remixed her David Guetta collaboration Save Me Tonight in March.
And after flying Bizarre’s Jack out to Ibiza to join him for a mad 24 hours on the party island, Joel says he’s working on getting a studio date with her.
“I’m still in touch with J-Lo and her team, and we’re trying to work on new music together,” Joel says.
“She loves dance music and doing a remix for Get Right for her last year was an honour.
“It was amazing to meet her and build that friendship.
“I look forward to her doing more of that.”
Of his close friend David, Joel adds: “I talk to him all the time.
“I am playing with him in a few weeks at Ushuaïa.
“He books me back every year to support him at Ushuaïa.
“He’s the best.
“He’s the King of Ibiza.”
Before he nails down his time with J-Lo, Joel has another project up his sleeve — and we did not see it coming.
He has recorded a track with Aleksandr Orlov, the animated aristocratic Russian meerkat who has been fronting ads with his “simples” catchphrase for Compare the Market since 2009.
Together they’re launching a bid for No1 with Simples featuring Scrufizzer [Joel Corry Remix].
Joel says with a laugh: “Listen, you know I’m the king of the summer bangers.
Joel says he’s working on getting a studio date with J-LoCredit: GettyJoel flew Bizarre’s Jack Hardwick out to Ibiza to join him for a mad 24 hours on the party islandCredit: Supplied
“And for Aleksandr the meerkat, it’s always been his dream to have a summer banger.
“So I’m just helping him out.
“Aleksandr for No1.”
Joel has big ambitions for his animated pal too, and is hoping ITV calls him up for a performance in the Love Island villa, three years after he played there with Becky Hill.
“I’ve done Love Island but we need to get the meerkat on Love Island,” Joel says.
“He would clean up in the villa, wouldn’t he?
“I’d love to go back and, this time, we’ll bring Aleksandr.”
During Jack’s whirlwind trip to Ibiza, he joined Joel in the DJ booth for his set at Wayne Lineker’s infamous O Beach, where he premiered Simples live.
He was accompanied by his girlfriend Coco Lodge, who found fame on series eight of Love Island, the same year he performed.
While he kept tight-lipped as to whether a proposal is on the cards, Joel has his heart set on Ibiza for the big day.
He says: “I’ve always said if I was ever gonna get married, Ibiza would be the place to do it.
“It has a special place in my heart.
“The first time I came here was when I was in my early twenties, and I’ve been back every year since.
“I’ve had residencies here for the last few years, and this is definitely my happy place.
“I think it’d be a perfect place to get married.”
While I’m sure Joel’s brother will be his best man, I wouldn’t put it past Aleksandr to wangle himself a role as ring bearer if all goes well with their track.
TWO years after hanging up his football boots to pursue a career in modelling, a major curve ball has seen Romeo Beckham land his first acting role.
The 23-year-old will make his big-screen debut this November in movie Forty Love, which centres on a same-sex romance involving two rising tennis stars.
Romeo Beckham will be making his big-screen debut after hanging up his football bootsCredit: Instagram/@romeobeckhamRomeo in film Forty Love which centres on a same-sex romanceCredit: Studio Canal
Insiders say Romeo — the middle son of David and Victoria Beckham — honed his skills during secret acting lessons last year.
A source revealed: “Romeo has long been in demand for film and TV roles, but he made sure to do the work before putting his name to anything.
“Forty Love’s script and the team behind it resonated with Romeo, plus he has first-hand experience of being a professional sportsperson and knew he could bring that knowledge and experience to the role.
“It’s a French film and is currently only slated for release over there, although there will be plans for a wider rollout.
“Romeo had a handful of lessons with acting specialists early last year before they started filming. He has put his heart and soul into this role.”
Forty Love is described as a “sensual, romantic and deeply moving fable and coming-of-age story.”
Most of the movie will be in French, but Romeo plays an English-speaking character, using his native language in his scenes.
It is a far cry from the football pitch or runways across the globe where he has modelled for Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Burberry.
His fans have applauded his new career, with many comparing Forty Love to HBO Max series Heated Rivalry, in which two professional male ice-hockey players have a secret romance.
But Romeo himself is aware of being branded a nepo baby as he expands his showbiz CV, just like his ex-footballer dad David and former Spice Girl mum Victoria did before him.
And he is not the first famous youngster to move into acting. Maya Hawke — daughter of Hollywood actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman — is now a screen star following her breakout role in Netflix’s Stranger Things.
Romeo turned down a new contract with Brentwood FC’s B-team in 2024Credit: GettyRomeo with girlfriend Kim TurnballCredit: Getty
A source said: “Romeo knows there will be a lot of eyes on him, but his work will speak for itself.
“This film will show people what Romeo can do. He is an impressive actor and this is a great starting point for him.
“He is still working as a model and he has just launched his clothing range Intra, which is a project he has been working hard on in the background.
“Romeo is a grafter.”
Forty Love will be the directorial debut for fashion photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, who has cast French actor Paul Kircher alongside Romeo.
Paul plays the leading role of Sacha Gallo, a tennis superstar who is vying to win a major trophy in Paris under the guid- ance of his coach and father.
Romeo will play his rival — and his love interest. The film’s synopsis says of Sacha: “For the first time, he faces an opponent of an entirely different nature — love.
“A force as exhilarating as it is destabilising — and far more dangerous than anything he has encountered on the court.”
News of Romeo’s acting debut had been kept a closely guarded secretCredit: Instagram/@romeobeckhamRomeo and the family donning his new sportswear line, Intra, to mark the launchCredit: Instagram
Renowned French actress Catherine Deneuve has also been cast in the film, which will be released on November 25. Those close to Romeo say he is being quietly championed behind the scenes by David and Victoria, who are “beyond proud” of his new venture.
A source added: “David and Victoria have always supported all of their children. And seeing Romeo taking on his first big film is a huge moment for them. They couldn’t be more proud of him and what he has achieved.”
News of Romeo’s acting debut had been kept a closely guarded secret.
Work poured in for the youngster, who made his modelling debut for Burberry in 2012, aged ten.
In the months after his decision to step away from football, he walked on runways for Balenciaga, Burberry and Versace, before he was put forward for the role in Forty Love. Production started on the film last summer and wrapped late last year.
“Romeo didn’t want any fanfare around his new role, so he kept it very quiet,” an insider explained. “He wanted to get his head down and get his teeth into the character and focus on that as best he could.
“Romeo is used to playing a character on the catwalk — it’s why modelling is such a stepping stone for acting jobs because you are playing a role.
David Beckham had a cameo in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend Of The SwordCredit: AlamyVictoria, here in 1997 film Spice World, was the first Beckham to hit the big screenCredit: Alamy
“His acting lessons made sure he felt confident and then he got to work.
“By all accounts, he loved the experience and it’s likely there will be more roles to come after Forty Love comes out.” Romeo will be following in his mum’s footsteps with his jump to the big screen.
Fashion designer Victoria was the first in the family to hit the big time in the Spice Girls film, Spice World, in 1997.
To date, it is the highest-grossing film of all time by a musical group, and in the US it broke the record for the highest-ever weekend debut for a Super Bowl weekend, with box office sales of more than £8million. Twenty years later, David followed suit with a small speaking role in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword.
He said of breaking into films: “I am very aware that many sportsmen and other celebrities have turned their hand to acting and failed. I know it is a tough profession, where you need a huge amount of skill and discipline. I wouldn’t want to push myself forward too soon, without learning more about it and doing a lot more practice. But what I have done so far, I have loved.
“I can deal with most things. I am a well-known person, so I have gotten used to criticism. It was nerve-racking delivering the lines, but it actually went really well.
“The thing about sport is that it gets the heart beating faster.
“You focus the mind in order to deliver. Acting has a similar feel.”
Brooklyn, the eldest of the Beckham clan, demanded in January that his family only contact him through lawyersCredit: Getty
Romeo’s sister-in-law, Nicola Peltz, who is married to his estranged brother Brooklyn, works as an actress, too. But she has failed to make her mark on the industry.
Her directorial debut Lola, which she also starred in, came out to much fanfare two years ago. But it was savaged by critics and took just £480 at the box office.
Nicola was blasted for creating a film inspired by “poverty porn”, which a commentator said was “filled to the brim with underbaked, oftentimes harmful tropes”.
Undeterred by the failure, Nicola has spent the past few months filming Prima, which is a debut from famed photographers The Morelli Brothers.
The indie film will see Nicola playing a ballerina who is raised and coached by her grandmother, played by Faye Dunaway. Prima is expected to be released later this year, although no official date has been confirmed. Romeo, alongside the wider Beckham family, has had no meaningful contact with Brooklyn since he cut himself off last year.
Insiders joked Romeo was rivalling Nicola by entering the acting sphere, but conceded: “It’s hardly a competition.
“Romeo is carving out his own lane, just as he has done his entire career.”
Brooklyn, the eldest of the Beckham clan, demanded in January that his family only contact him through lawyers.
He later issued a blistering statement insisting he no longer wanted to be a part of the family.
His decision to cut himself off was hugely painful for the Beckhams, including his younger brother Cruz, 21, and his little sister Harper, 14, who was seen delivering a letter to the home he shares with Nicola in Los Angeles earlier this month.
A source said: “Brooklyn has made his position clear and the family have respected that.
“It’s painful for everyone involved.”
Romeo will be supported by family at the release of Forty Love, with promotional screenings being drawn up beforehand.
A source said: “David and Victoria are both so incredibly proud of Romeo.
“They know how hardworking he is and have supported him throughout this project.
“Romeo knows what he wants in life and will work hard to get it.”
THE mercury is rising as the UK and Europe sizzle through a second June heatwave, with temperatures soaring to over 40C.
The increasingly fierce heat has prompted a new trend and, of course, an obligatory trendy moniker – the COOL-CATION.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Close to the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is the cooler alternative to Lake Como, offering watersports and hiking accompanied by a refreshing Alpine breezeCredit: Refer to source
Increasingly, those of us who suffer in the heat are seeking out holidays where the sun shines but the degrees stay sensible.
Here, Lisa Minot, suggests six of the best holiday destinations abroad that escape the heat but still score highly in summer . . .
The iconic double-deck metal arch Dom Luís I Bridge spanning the Douro River in PortoCredit: Leamus
FOR beach breaks, Portugal’s Costa Verde, in the north of the country, is an ideal choice.
While there’s still plenty of sunshine, the Atlantic breezes mean cooler temperatures than the Algarve.
CLOSE to the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is the cooler alternative to Lake Como, offering watersports and hiking accompanied by a refreshing Alpine breeze.
Newmarket Holidays has a great tour that includes excursions around the lake, combined with Croatia’s Istrian Riviera and the glorious Plitvice National Park.
With expert guides, visit Rovinj on the coast and the remarkable Lim Fjord.
The eight-day trip includes flights, four excursions and 14 meals.
Get the best of all worlds with a visit to the gorgeous little Swedish city MalmoCredit: Getty
GET the best of all worlds with a visit to this gorgeous little Swedish city.
With summer temperatures typically from 20C to 23C, it has a laid-back coastal feel with sandy beaches, waterfront dining and easy links to Danish capital Copenhagen, via the Oresund Bridge.
There’s sea-swimming and saunas, of course, plus pretty streets with traditional architecture.
The UNITY Malmo hotel is a ten-minute walk from the city centre and a great base.
Three nights’ B&B is from £391pp including flights from Gatwick on July 5.
Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere in Italy’s Piedmont regionCredit: Supplied
SPORTY types need not break a sweat this summer with a stay at Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere in Italy’s Piedmont region.
With its refreshing Alpine climate — it was built for the 2006 Winter Olympics — there’s plenty to keep fitness fans busy in summer with 19 different activities including biking, hiking and golf, plus two pools.
And with everything included, you can sit back and relax.
Seven nights’ all-inclusive is from £1,827pp including flights from Heathrow on July 11 and transfers.
There are 15 public beaches within the city’s limits, three of which hold Blue Flag awards — Balsys and Valakampiai I and IICredit: Supplied
THIS capital city offers the chance to combine a cultural break with beach fun.
There are 15 public beaches within the city’s limits, three of which hold Blue Flag awards — Balsys and Valakampiai I and II.
With cooler, Nordic summers, temperatures rarely rise above 23C but there are still plenty of places to enjoy some sunshine with many of the city’s beaches having changing cabins, barbecue zones and sports courts.
Explore the Old Town with a three-night stay at the 3* Panorama Hotel from £239pp including flights from Stansted on July 1.
Finland has some 188,000 lakes, the majority in its stunning Lakeland regionCredit: Supplied
THERE’S no problem cooling off in Finland — the country has some 188,000 lakes, the majority in its stunning Lakeland region.
Explore a few on a self-drive holiday with with Best Served Scandinavia, taking in lakes, rivers, canals and forests.
The trip starts with two nights in Helsinki before heading into Lakeland to make the most of the long summer days with time for swimming, fishing and canoeing.
Eight nights is from £1,950pp including return flights, B&B accommodation, seven days’ car hire, two lunches, excursions and a sightseeing cruise.
DAVID and Victoria Beckham put on brave faces as they celebrated their second Father’s Day without their estranged son Brooklyn.
The pair were spotted heading to a London gastro-pub with their son Cruz, 21, and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
David and Victoria Beckham were seen heading to a London gastro-pub with their son Cruz, 21, and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30Brooklyn, who lives in Los Angeles with his American actress wife Nicola, 31, has been estranged from his family for over a yearCredit: Getty
Romeo also joined his dad for the Father’s Day mealThe Father’s Day party was also joined by David’s mum Sandra, 77Credit: w8media
He had previously instructed his parents not to tag him in online posts – something that they have continually ignored.
The feud has rumbled on for over a year with a source telling The Sun that Brooklyn has been left filled with rage following his mum and dad’s latest stunt.
An insider told The Sun: “He’s fuming about it.
“He’s asked them to leave him alone and they just keep posting him.
Victoria heading to the family mealCruz on his way to the gathering in London
“It just brings the whole thing up all over again.
“He wishes they’d leave it and leave him alone.”
Brooklyn, who lives in Los Angeles with his American actress wife Nicola, 31, has been estranged from his family for over a year and has accused them of trying to “control” him.
HE stands to inherit his late dad Liam Payne’s £21million fortune, but nine-year-old Bear might not see a penny until he is at least 25.
His mum Cheryl Tweedy wants the legacy to be withheld until the lad is old enough to make informed financial decisions.
Cheryl, who was named an administrator of Liam’s asset, wants Bear to not gain full access to Liam Payne’s £21million fortune until he is much olderCredit: GettyBear is to be the sole beneficiary of the tragic singer’s £21million fortune
She has gone all out to protect their son since he was born in 2017, shielding him from the public eye in a bid to give him as normal a childhood as possible.
And she is keen not to expose him to the pressures of having such huge wealth at his young age.
High Court probate documents published over the weekend confirmed Bear is the sole beneficiary of his father’s fortune.
Parts of the estate — which includes the five-bedroom home at Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, that Liam bought for £3.25million in 2021 to be closer to his son following his split from Cheryl — can be used immediately to look after Bear’s needs.
However, Cheryl, who was named an administrator of Liam’s assets last year, would prefer he does not gain full access until he is much older.
“Protecting Bear is Cheryl’s priority in life,” a friend explained. “She is a devoted mother and will do everything she can to take care of him.
“Cheryl knows how difficult it can be to live in the public eye and has shielded Bear from that as much as she can.
“Inheriting this amount of money at a young age is enough to have the potential to send anyone sidewards — and that is what she wants to protect Bear from.
“She is going to stop him receiving Liam’s inheritance until he is at least 25 years old, if not older.
“For Cheryl, she feels that she wants Bear to be of an age where he can make informed decisions about the money.”
It was not until 2016 that they started dating, and Bear was born the following year.
The fortune can be used immediately to look after Bear’s needsCredit: Refer to CaptionCheryl never shows Bear’s face in social media photosCredit: Cheryl/Instagram
Their relationship ended in 2018, with Cheryl and Liam becoming devoted co-parents to their young son.
In a statement following their break-up, Liam wrote online: “We still have so much love for each other as a family.
“Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”
In the years that followed, Liam regularly praised Cheryl’s ability as a mother and revealed she had stayed at home with their son while he pursued his solo music career.
He said of the former Girls Aloud star: “What I’ve learnt about being a dad is how hard it is to be a mum and she hasn’t had any help from anybody and she’s done it all herself.
“She supported me going off and doing my career and stuff. She is amazing.”
Cheryl, too, spoke fondly of Liam and revealed becoming a mother had changed the way she wanted to live her life. She said in 2019: “Everything changed for me from the moment Bear was born.
“My old brain came out of my head, and all my worries, anxieties and feelings of emptiness went, and a new brain replaced it.
Cheryl and Liam started dating in 2016 and Bear was born the following yearCredit: Refer to sourceThe couple split in 2018 but remained dedicated parents to BearCredit: PA:Press Association
“I knew the word ‘fulfilled’, but I’d never known what that felt like.
“Money, fame, success should have made me feel that, but they never did, which is probably why I looked for it in my relationships with men, but that never worked either.
“I was always angry at myself.
“And then, even though I’d had a really tough pregnancy because I had gestational diabetes, I felt more peaceful. The moment I held him in my arms I had that feeling: Fulfilment. It’s stayed with me. And I’ve changed so much. I really have.”
Together, Cheryl and Liam chose to keep their son out of the spotlight and, to date, the schoolboy is rarely seen.
She also continued to keep his face shielded from view, a decision she made with Liam when Bear was still a small child.
A friend explained: “Giving her son a normal and happy childhood is what Cheryl remains focused on.
“She wants him to have a life that other kids have. His parents might have been public figures, but Bear is not. Keeping that normality and stability for her son is paramount for Cheryl.
“It’s why the idea of him inheriting such a vast amount of money is worrying. Not everyone in this world has good intentions and Cheryl knows that.
“She wants him to still have ambition and the drive to succeed without the back-up of the money — and she’s aware that people may want to befriend him because they are aware of his situation.
“Guiding her son and controlling his access to the money will allow her to keep him safe. The older he is, the more wise he will be and, ultimately, when he is a man in his twenties with a job and a life of his own, he will be better able to make informed decisions with her guidance.
One Direction star Liam died suddenly in October 2024 without leaving a willCheryl and Liam chose to keep their son out of the spotlightCredit: Getty
“It is all any mother would want for their child.”
The singer fell to his death from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October 2024.
An autopsy confirmed he died from multiple traumas and internal and external bleeding.
He had been with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy in the days leading up to the tragedy. She left the country to return to the house they shared in the US days before Liam died. Two men were arrested on suspicion of supplying him with cocaine before his death.
Liam’s body was repatriated to the UK for his funeral in Amersham, Bucks, which was attended by his closest friends and family.
Liam’s One Direction bandmate and close friend Niall Horan spent time with him in Argentina prior to his death after Liam flew there to watch him perform.
Liam’s passing at the age of 31 only fuelled Cheryl’s determination to allow their son to live a normal lifeCredit: Alamy
Three weeks ago, he spoke movingly about Liam and said he will cherish their last meeting. Niall revealed: “I’m glad of that, it means my last memory of him was happy. It still feels surreal.
“On day one I was, like, ‘Nah, it didn’t happen’. Our friendship was a bond that was there for ever, even if we hadn’t seen each other for a while.
“And it’s wild that one day, like the flick of a switch, he’s gone.
“All our families are in touch, they shared those experiences, too.”
Recalling the good times he shared with Liam, Niall added: “When I think of Liam’s passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh because of the memories we had.
“I’ll go to places and think of something random that makes me laugh.”
In the days before the service, Cheryl issued a statement about Liam, saying: “As I try to navigate this earth-shattering event, and work through my own grief at this indescribably painful time, I’d like to kindly remind everyone that we have lost a human being.
“Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our son.
“A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again.”
She added: “Before you leave comments or make videos, ask yourself if you would like your own child or family to read them.
“Please give Liam the little dignity he has left in the wake of his death to rest in some peace at last.”
Since then, friends say Cheryl has devoted her time to caring for Bear and is determined to give him stability.
“Cheryl loves being a mum and doing all the normal things that parents do,” a pal explained.
“The school drop-off and pick-up, play dates with friends, cooking the dinners — she does it all while juggling work commitments.
“Cheryl knows there will be interest around Bear because of who his parents are. But that doesn’t mean he has to live that life — or even have any part in it. Protecting him from that and caring for him is all she cares about.
“She is a mother first and foremost. Her son will always be her number one priority.”
Adele arriving at Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s birthday bash in West LondonCredit: GoffAdele impressing fans during Weekends With Adele in 2022Credit: Getty
Now The Sun can reveal she secretly flew into London earlier this month from her LA bolthole and has been writing and recording at Church Studios in North London over the past week.
In even more exciting news for fans, other famous musicians have been spotted there while she has been inside.
It all leads to hopes the 38-year-old may have collaborations on her next record, having never done so on the core work of her four albums.
American singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, better known as frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver, was photographed outside the studios last Wednesday.
It is not known whether he is working with Adele, although in 2016 she tweeted: “Bon Iver’s music is one of the true loves of my life. Every. Single. Time.”
Gen Z heartbreak singer Gracie Abrams also appeared to be shooting a music video outside at the same time.
Church Studios are also where she made parts of her 2015 album 25.
Adele with sports agent partner Rich PaulCredit: GettyAdele with Lola Young at the O2 Academy BrixtonCredit: Instagram/lolayounggg
A source said: “Adele is spending at least a fortnight in London writing and recording music.
“She was in and out of sessions last week and will be back in there this week, but she is keeping a low profile while she is here.
“She feels safe at Church Studios and it’s where Paul is based, so it made sense to travel over for the sessions, rather than work somewhere else in LA.”
The studios were previously owned by Eurhythmics great Dave Stewart, and it was where the British band recorded their 1983 album Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).
Industry insiders believe the move is an attempt to develop a more English-sounding album, after her most recent one, 30, was made in the States.
A second music source said: “Adele has been living in LA for a decade now and although she loves it, her roots in London are very important to her.
“People close to her have been encouraging her to reconnect with where she grew up for her new music, because they believe it will help inspire something different.
“Her last album was well received but it was very Hollywood.
“People loved Adele originally because she was down to earth and relatable, so she’s trying to bring that back by drawing on inspirations in her home town.
“Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Oasis, Mick Jagger, Florence + The Machine, Culture Club, The Streets, Tom Jones, and her close friend Jack Penate have all worked at Church Studios before, so she’s in good company.”
Adele was born in Tottenham, North London, and later moved to Brixton and West Norwood in South London.
On her third album 25, released in 2015 just before she relocated to the US, she had lyrics about the capital and a song called River Lea, about the waterway running through Tottenham.
But 2021’s 30 was written about her divorce from charity entrepreneur Simon Konecki, which happened in LA, and made no mention of the UK.
After releasing the record, she performed two sell-out shows in Hyde Park, followed by her two-year Weekends With Adele residency in Las Vegas and a ten-night residency at a purpose-built stadium in Munich.
Now it is clear the mum-of-one is trying to soak up some British culture while she is here.
Adele was photographed in London nine days ago arriving at the 36th birthday party of actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Gracie Abrams shooting a video at Church StudiosCredit: ErotemeIdol Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon snapped outside the studios last WednesdayCredit: Eroteme
Fans have also claimed Adele was in the audience at a production of Romeo & Juliet in London’s West End on Friday night.
In July 2024, Adele revealed she planned to take a break after her run of Sin City shows.
She said: “I don’t have any plans for new music at all.
“I want a big break after all this and I think I want to do other creative things just for a little while.”
But in February, she flew to Rome for her acting debut in Tom Ford’s upcoming historical drama Cry To Heaven, based on Anne Rice’s 1982 novel of the same name.
She spent several weeks there and will appear opposite Hollywood heavyweights including Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult and Thandiwe Newton.
Two months later, The Sun revealed she was being courted to record a single for the soundtrack.
Adele’s Oscar joy in 2013 with Paul EpworthCredit: GettySince releasing her debut album 19 in 2008, Adele has become one of the 21st century’s best-selling artistsCredit: Handout
But although work has brought her back to the UK, it looks unlikely that a move is on the cards.
The following year Adele talked about how she would find it tough to move back to the UK.
The singer, who now only occasionally returns to London, explained: “I get really bad seasonal depression, so the weather is good for me here.
“It is strange sometimes, because I’m very British. Because it’s a bit harder for me to go out nowadays, what I love the most about LA is everyone goes to each other’s houses. I like that.
“And I actually have made a lot of really great core friends. I didn’t think I’d ever have a real friend group here. I don’t want a bunch of celebrities being my friends — well, only celebrities.
“And my friends are actually from LA, Before I moved here, I’d never met one person who was from LA.
“They’re not famous and they’re great. And having a kid at school, I’ve got great mum friends. I do like it.”
Adele’s 21 was her second hit albumCredit: Handout30 is the fourth studio album by Adele
The same year, she had an emotional exchange with British actor and presenter James Corden on his final Carpool Karaoke segment on The Late Late Show, before he moved back to the UK.
James said: “It’s been a brilliant adventure but I’m just so certain it’s time for us as a family, with people getting older, people that we miss, to go home.”
A teary Adele responded: “I know. I’m just not ready to come back yet, otherwise I would come back with you.”
Adele has won 16 GrammysCredit: GettyAdele with ex hubby Simon KoneckiCredit: Getty Images
She also said she likes being left alone in LA, adding: “For anyone that has never been to LA, you assume it would be the opposite. But there are so many famous people here that they don’t waste their time,” she said.
“I really miss London, but I miss the London from before all of this happened in my life.”
Since releasing her debut album 19 in 2008, Adele has become one of the 21st century’s best-selling artists, and won 16 Grammys.
Her second album 21 racked up sales of 57million, while 30 sold 261,000 copies in its first week to become the fastest-selling album in four years.
Now the pressure is on for Adele to continue her streak of success.
Having named her first four albums after the ages she was when she wrote them — 19, 21, 25 and 30 — it remains to be seen whether her next record will be called 38, her age now.
When 25 came out, Adele said: “I think this will be my last age one.
“I’m sure I’m wrong with this but I feel there’s been a massive change in me in the last couple of years.”
She later decided to name her fourth album after the age she was when she got divorced, and reflected on the future of her titles in an interview at the time.
Adele said: “I am just like everyone else in the world. I can change my mind. And I haven’t got to stay true to something that I’ve said — you know, I think the age thing is a bloody good idea. And so I want to keep going with (the titles). Or I might not.”
Our music insider added: “Adele feels the pressure with her music and won’t rush anything out if it’s not up to scratch with her back catalogue.
“She has been writing for a while now but she is taking her time with it.
“She knows there are always grand expectations and she is determined to only return when the music is the best it can be.”
REALITY TV star Kim Kardashian showcases a dazzling new look — striking platinum hair.
She has covered her flowing black tresses with an edgier bob wig.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Kim Kardashian stunned as she showcased her new platinum hairCredit: BackGridKim showed off her killer curves in MonacoCredit: PA
Kim, 45, was wearing huge sunglasses and a floor-length coat on a night out in Beverly Hills, California, as she debuted the blonde revamp.
It was a marked change from the US star’s last public outing — cheering on Brit boyfriend Sir Lewis Hamilton, 41, at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Kim has been hilariously mocked by F1 ace Kimi Antonelli after stealing his towel at the Monaco Grand Prix.
This sparked fury online, with Kim seemingly unaware that the towel was for the driver as she used it to wipe her sunglasses while walking through the paddock.
But now, 19-year-old Kimi has made light of the misunderstanding in a hilarious TikTok video, which was shared to the official Mercedes page.
In the clip, Kimi is seen asking around for his towel, before washing his hands and having nowhere to dry them.
“Hey, have you seen my towel?” the sportsman asks the camera.
Kim and her sister Khloe Kardashian at the Monaco Grand PrixCredit: SplashKim was cheering on Brit boyfriend Sir Lewis Hamilton at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks agoCredit: PA
Fans in the comment section of the video couldn’t hold back their laughter, with one writing: “hmm I wonder if kim k knows anything?”