Blue's Anthony Costa reveals how band have dramatically changed their ways
Boyband life may have once been all backstage antics and wild nights out, but Blue's Anthony Costa says the upcoming tour is looking a lot more grown up these days — and that's exactly how he likes it. With a whopping 25 years (yes, really!) in the business next year, the band are celebrating with a summer packed full of gigs, festivals, and a sold-out jaunt to Italy.
'It will be 25 years next year and that's crazy,' Anthony tells us. 'I mean things are really great. We're writing in the studio again. There's a lot of excitement things happening, but we're so lucky to be to be doing it after all these years on and off.'
He adds: 'The whole of this summer, we've got festivals, gigs booked and we're going to Italy next week and we've put a couple of sold out shows there. We can't complain, you know.'
And while the crowds are just as big and the bangers just as nostalgic, life on the road isn't quite the late-night blur it used to be. 'Things have changed… just a bit! When we were younger after every gig we went OUT! But we just can't do it anymore,' he laughs. 'We haven't done it for ages, but, you know, we're in our 40s and it's just like, I can't think of anything worse than waking up, even with a hangover, headache and no voice.'
Now it's all about staying healthy — and responsible. 'We're in the gym all the time and keeping fit and trying to keep healthier and everything else. But yeah, a lot changed but it's changed for the better. And the thing is we've all got kids now. We've all got families and we just want to work and be grafting and pay our bills and pay our way in life.'
And it's that family life that gives Anthony the most joy these days — especially when his daughters get to see their dad doing his thing on stage.
'It's my favourite. My girls love to come and watch but they love hanging out backstage best,' he beams. 'They came the other week to see us in Chelmsford… they loved it. They loved the backstage the most.'
'They like getting their passes and their access all areas passes… they can go to school the next day and tell their friends. My girls love the fact that, you know, their dad and his mates get up on stage and sing All Rise and One Love. They love the VIP experience."
"You know, I never had that growing up, so to be able to say to my kids look this is where your dad works — as a dad all you want is to give your kids the best in life.'
The singer is a proud father to two daughters, including Savannah, whom he shares with his fiancée Rosanna Jasmin. Over the years, Anthony's spoken candidly about how fatherhood changed his life, describing his girls as his greatest joy and motivation. While he occasionally gives fans glimpses into his family life on social media, he's always been protective of their privacy — opting to share sweet moments without putting them fully in the spotlight.
Whether he would encourage them into showbiz? "Listen, it's up to them. It's up to them what they want to do I' support them," he says. "They want to become a doctor or a scientist or a lawyer or travel agent, or whatever they don't good luck to them, I'll always support them. If they want to go into to showbiz, where, I just said, theatre or music, I'll always support them, but I'll always say, look, you know, if it's not as easy as you think, so, yeah. 100%, yeah."
"I feel really blessed right now to still be doing what I'm doing in mid 40s. Life is very good right now."
Antony Costa is currently starring as Nikos in Mamma Mia! The Party at London's O2 until 4 September 2025. Book tickets at mammamiatheparty.co.uk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Rochelle Humes returns to This Morning in denim dress that costs less than £50
Rochelle Humes is back on the This Morning sofa and she's already impressing with her outfit choices. The former Saturdays singer wore a flattering denim dress that costs £46 After wowing in a butter yellow cardigan for her This Morning debut last week, Olivia Attwood has passed the summer holidays presenting baton to an equally stylish host. Rochelle Humes has stepped into the role this Monday wearing a gorgeous indigo denim dress that costs less than £50. Co-presenting the daytime show alongside Dermot O'Leary, the ex-Saturdays singer wore a dark denim sleeveless dress, which we've hunted down online. The frock is from ASOS' affordable own brand, coming in at a purse-friendly £46. The dress boasts a ruched front with an on trend drop waist, complete with a sleeveless silhouette that's ideal for warm weather styling. Styled by Amber Jackson, Rochelle wore the dress with a heels flip flop and gold jewellery, rocking a long, 90s style bob. Her dress is made from 100% cotton, perfect for summer, and has a zip back fastening which gives it more structure, while making it easier to get on and off. It also looks far more expensive than its £46 price tag would suggest. The ASOS number comes in significantly cheaper than this zip-up Mint Velvet Blue Denim Midi Dress, available for £130 at Next. It comes in a similar colour and silhouette, but has pockets, a slit at the back and zip fastening at the front. For a high street alternative, River Island's Blue Denim Pintuck Stretch Denim Midi Dress is only £3 more expensive than the ASOS dress, costing £49. Instead of ruching, it has pintuck detailing which cinches the waist for a snatched appearance, however, the cotton content is lower than the ASOS dress, Rochelle is known to be a fan of River Island, too. Appearing on the show in May she opted for a crisp white wrap shirt from ASOS (£32), featuring long sleeves, a spread collar and a flattering wrap-front design, as well as River Island's Blue Seam Detail Balloon Leg Jeans. She told her fans: "There's a new rule, we didn't used to wear jeans but we can wear jeans now. This is amazing news to me. So these are River Island, they're like a nice barrel cut." What's more is that the £49 jeans are now on sale, costing £25 an available in most sizes. Rochelle isn't the only ITV favourite who loves the retailer, either. Last week, Frankie Bridge had followers racing to River Island for her Brown Faux Leather Funnel Neck Bomber Jacket, which is £52. Styling the jacket with some blue wide leg jeans and a graphic vest top, she said: 'This jacket is perfect for over summer as it's lightweight and is perfect to throw on if the weather changes.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Home seen on beloved Aussie TV show hits the market for $2.4M - so can you recognise this iconic house?
A historic, and once famous, home in Williamstown, Victoria has hit the market with a price guide of $2.19 million to $2.4 million. Some may recognise the 8 Thompson St property as the house that appeared on the police drama Blue Heelers from 1994 to 2006, reported on Friday. Built in 1907, the home was used in external shots for the TV show, alongside recently sold 10 Thompson St which served as the fictional Mt Thomas police station. Both properties are heritage-listed as they once served as real-life police stations in Williamstown, previously known as the Sergeant and Watchhouse Keeper quarters. House number eight features three bedrooms, a sitting room that could double as a fourth, Baltic pine floors, decorative fireplaces and pressed-metal ceilings. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It was last sold in 2003 for $832,500, making the current owner a potential $1,567,500 in profit on the upcoming sale. Anthony Christakakis, from Jellis Craig, revealed the local council have approved plans to extend the home and redesign the garden. 'The owners who intended to do the extension have moved overseas for work reasons,' he said. 'We have had lots of interest with some young families, especially locals. 'I think, being on a corner block over 700sq m with the potential to subdivide, subject to council approval, creates endless possibilities.' He went on to say number ten next door sold to a family earlier this year. The vintage cottage that served as a major location for the beloved Aussie series Blue Heelers hit the market in February with a price guide of $2.8 million to $3.1 million. The five-bedroom, two-bathroom Federation pad featured in the long-running cop drama as the fictional Mount Thomas police station. Built in 1907, the home was used in external shots for the TV show, alongside recently sold 10 Thompson St which served as the fictional Mt Thomas police station Blue Heelers, which ran for 12 years from 1994 to 2006 on the Seven Network, starred a large cast of fan favourites including Lisa McCune, Julie Nihill and John Wood. Located only 14km from the CBD, the gorgeously preserved home was seen in exterior scenes in Blue Heelers which was set in a small Victorian country town. Agents behind the sale told the Herald Sun the listing of the charming home attracted views from potential buyers with fond memories of the show. Blue Heelers is the fourth-most popular TV show in Australian history, with 25 Logies to its name, while lead actress Lisa McCune won four Gold Logies for the series. Major Australian actors who went on to stellar careers were featured in guest roles over the show's long run, including Hollywood star Hugh Jackman and Peter O'Brien. Other actors included Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, from Crawford's classic Homicide series of the '60s and '70s, as well as SeaChange star John Howard. Australians were in tears when Lisa's character Maggie Doyle was fatally shot in dramatic scenes on the show in 2000. Almost two decades on from the iconic TV moment, the actress revealed in 2018 that she never wanted the police officer to die. House number eight features three bedrooms, a sitting room that could double as a fourth, Baltic pine floors, decorative fireplaces and pressed-metal ceilings In the police drama, Maggie was shot and killed a day before she was due to enter witness protection, after she found a computer disk with information about a gang. She told 'I understand why they had to do it, but I think because I knew she had such a strong, young female following I felt really strongly that I wanted her to stay alive.' Lisa went on to feature in another long-running series Sea Patrol from 2007-2011. The four-time Gold Logie winner made headlines in 2024 when she won Dancing With The Stars Australia. The actress took out the Mirror Ball Trophy with her professional dance partner Ian Waite in a tense finale on the Channel Seven dancing competition. She was also awarded $20,000 for her chosen charities, the RCD Foundation and the Harrison Riedel Foundation.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Antony Costa calls Mama Mia! The Party 'the best job I've had outside Blue'
Antony Costa leads the cast of Mamma Mia! The Party, starring as the owner of Nikos Taverna on the Greek island of Skopelos Antony Costa has branded his starring role in Mama Mia! The Party 'the best job outside of Blue I've ever had.' The boyband star, 44, is appearing as patriarch Nikos the co-owner of Nikos Taverna on the Greek Island of Skopelos in the hit show. Since opening in August 2019, Mamma Mia! The Party London has welcomed over 600,000 guests, delivered over 1500 performances, and has been visited by guests from 110 countries for an evening of dancing, dining and singing to some of ABBA's greatest hits. As the sun sets in Skopelos, guests take their seats at Nikos' family-run taverna where they enjoy a delicious four-course Greek feast, while an action-packed love story unfolds around them. Following the performance, which is filled with timeless ABBA anthems such as Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen and Waterloo, guests are encouraged to get up and sing and dance the night away as the taverna transforms into a glittering ABBA disco. "I absolutely love it because you just don't know what you are going to get from one night to the next," says Antony. Every audience is different. When you're in it, there's you can do other than just let go and enjoy yourself." Antony began entertaining crowds in the show in 2023 and said it was a no brainer to return. "When I got the call to come back I literally jumped at the chance. I was like, "Yep, I'm around Let's do it. Let's go!" The party also has the seal of approval from Abba royalty, including Björn Ulvaeus who helped mastermind the show. Antony says: "Bjorn's team had this idea of creating this immersive show because he said when you go and see Mama Mia! the West End show people are itching to get up and dance. You can't help it with Abba and that's where the idea for Mama Mia! The Party started," explains Antony. "There's something about ABBA songs that no matter how many times you've heard the songs, you still just want to get up and dance. I mean you look at the crowds we have and it's children with their parents, there's teenagers with their parents, adults with their mums and dads, older people just dancing and singing away. "It is a testament to Abba as a pop group, 50 years ago they came out with Waterloo and we're still belting it out," says the boyband star. As well as paying homage to one of the greatest pop groups of all time, Antony's role in the show also allows him to reconnect with his Greek roots. 'I based the character on my late grandfather, his mannerism and characteristics, and, yeah, it was it was a lovely part to sort of get my teeth into. I had to do my homework don't get me wrong, but it was easy preparation to do as it's not a character I didn't know," says Anthony. "It's about getting the little elements right like how he pronounced words and the broken-in English he spoke in. He came over from Cyprus as a young lad supporting his family, my dad and his and sisters." Antony gets so into character during his performance that he even refuses to acknowledge fans who mention his boyband background. "We had a guy in who had come down from up north and he was like, 'oh my God, I'm a massive Blue fan, and I'm seeing you guys in Manchester!', and I was like, 'Sorry, who are Blue? I have no idea what you're talking about.' He was very confused but while the show is on we are on the Greeks island of Skopelos where the Mamma Mia! films are filmed." The 02 venue is transformed so that as soon as audiences walk through the blue doors they immediately feel as though they've stepped foot in balmy Greece - with incredible attention to detail bringing the space alive - as well as the actors working their way through the tables. "It looks like a village I would have seen as a small boy," says Antony. "It still freaks me out to this day that I walk in every night, you know, and think this is my place of work." While Antony is having a ball every night, the immersive elements of the show have not been without their fair share of incidents. "I've tripped over, I've fallen, I've slipped - trust me I've done it all," laughs the star. "When something like that happens you've got to make it look as if it's happening here and now. Even though I've done hundreds of shows over the years, you've still got to make it as if it's that night is the only night. "If I trip over I pretend to have a go at the waiters because that's the sort of thing my character would do. If a drink spills we can make it work. It's all in jest. It's not real but it's a real for that moment. "When we hear a plate smash we all shout out 'Opa' which is you would do that in a Greek restaurant anyway. It keeps things authentic!" Antony has the seal of approval from his Greek family who have been to see the show four times. "They love it especially my dad, who came over from Cyprus in 1961. After my dad saw it he said, 'You based that on my dad didn't you?' It meant a lot that he noticed." Antony joined the boyband Blue, with members Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe and Duncan James, in 2000 and are celebrating their 25th Mia! The Party originally opened in Stockholm in January 2016. The O2 London arena tickets including admission, a four-course set meal and a welcome drink.
