Latest news with #ElainePaige
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Elaine Paige's risqué jokes with Queen Elizabeth - 'we both howled'
Throughout her time in the spotlight, Elaine Paige has performed multiple times for royalty - she's even managed to form a tight bond with the late Queen Elizabeth II. After dazzling the West End and Broadway for six decades, Elaine Paige is celebrating a milestone birthday with an exclusive interview with Zoe Ball. Elaine Paige 's glittering career has brought her face-to-face with royalty and showbiz legends alike, but few moments have matched a surreal encounter with Queen Elizabeth II. During a private concert at Windsor Castle with Barbara Dickson, a wardrobe malfunction struck mid-performance. 'My earring fell out of my ear,' she remembers, 'I picked it up after the song and placed it on the lid of the piano and carried on singing as if nothing happened.' After the concert, the Queen came to greet her. 'She threw her arms around me in this enormous hug,' Elaine says, 'Then she said, 'it's such a nuisance when that happens, isn't it?'' The Queen even shared her own fashion mishap: during a visit to Zimbabwe, an earring had fallen into her cleavage. 'She pulled her dress away from her bust and pointed down,' Elaine says. 'So I'm staring at the Queen's bosom.' It's a memory Elaine treasures. 'It was so relaxed and informal, she was just telling me a funny story about something that had happened to her,' she says. 'We both howled with laughter, and I've never forgotten it. It was like talking to my mother. She had such a twinkle in her eye and the most wonderful sense of humour.' Before Elaine Paige was catapulted to stardom as Eva Peron in Evita, she nearly quit showbusiness altogether. 'I was nearing 30 and everyone around me was either getting married, having children or succeeding in their own careers,' she says. 'Though I worked, I couldn't land a really good role.' Tired of rejection and uncertain about her future, she even considered retraining as a nursery nurse. 'I was just trying to think of other things that I might do if working in theatre didn't come to pass,' she says. Elaine, now 76, partly blames her height for those early struggles. 'They would often cast a six foot tall man,' she quips, 'It was awkward for me. They sometimes put a board down to lift me up so I could be in the same frame.' It was Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman, now 87, who convinced her to hang on, offering her the perfect encouragement at a time when rejection felt relentless. 'I was thinking of throwing in the towel because there's only so much rejection one can take. But he encouraged me to stick with it,' Elaine says. 'He told me not to give up, to keep singing and if necessary, sing on the streets like Edith Piaf. ' Shortly afterwards, Elaine won the role that made her a star. Ironically, her petit 5ft stature worked in her favour for Evita. 'Eva herself was a small person,' Elaine says. 'She was only about five foot, two or something!' Now, the BBC is celebrating her incredible six decades in showbusiness. The celebrations kicked off with a starry BBC Radio 2 concert at the London Palladium, broadcast on May 4. Hosted by Zoe Ball, the show featured big names from the West End and Broadway, including Samantha Barks (Frozen, Les Misérables, Oliver!, Chicago) to Charlie Stemp (Half a Sixpence, Hello, Dolly, Kiss Me, Kate). This Sunday, May 11, BBC4 airs an exclusive interview where Zoe Ball sits down with Elaine for a candid career-spanning conversation. Today, Elaine is realistic about her future on stage. 'Never say never,' she says, 'But I honestly can't imagine performing in musicals again. Musical theatre demands everything you've got - it's a young man's game. You have to be incredibly fit, strong and have endless energy.' She has experienced firsthand the sacrifices required. 'When I played Eva in Evita or Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, I couldn't play these roles with my heart and soul and live an ordinary life,' she says. 'It was so demanding in every aspect. You have to be dedicated to giving up your life. But I loved every minute.' These days, Elaine is content to pass the baton to a new generation. Yet she admits there's still a part of her that misses it. 'I watch others now,' she says, 'I sometimes think I wish I could still do it. But I don't know if I can ever do it again.'
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Elaine Paige nearly quit acting - until major Hollywood icon intervened
Celebrating 60 years in showbiz, Elaine Paige is looking back on her glittering career for the BBC. But she once had doubts she'd make it, leaving one legend to set her straight. Before Elaine Paige was catapulted to stardom as Eva Perón in Evita, she nearly quit show business altogether - but one Hollywood A-lister intervened before it was too late. 'I was nearing 30 and everyone around me was either getting married, having children or succeeding in their own careers,' Elaine Paige says. 'Though I worked, I couldn't land a really good role.' Tired of rejection and uncertain about her future, she even considered retraining as a nursery nurse. 'I was just trying to think of other things that I might do if working in theatre didn't come to pass,' she says. Elaine, 77, partly blames her height for those early struggles. 'They would often cast a 6ft tall man,' she quips. 'It was awkward. They sometimes put a board down to lift me up so I could be in the same frame.' It was Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman who convinced her to hang on, offering her the perfect encouragement at a time when rejection felt relentless. 'I was thinking of throwing in the towel because there's only so much rejection one can take. But he encouraged me to stick with it,' Elaine says. 'He told me not to give up, to keep singing and, if necessary, sing on the streets like Édith Piaf.' Shortly afterwards, Elaine won the role that made her a star and, ironically, her petit 5ft stature worked in her favour. 'Eva Perón herself was a small person,' Elaine says. 'She was only about 5ft 2in or something!' Since her star turn in Andrew Lloyd Webber 's 1978 hit, Elaine has lived many lives on stage, taking on iconic roles in Cats, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Sunset Boulevard. In 2014, she bid farewell to full-time stage work with a sold-out 50th anniversary tour. Although she still performs selectively, the Olivier Award winner has transitioned to the small screen, appearing in the BBC 's A Midsummer Night's Dream , the comedy Home From Home and the drama series Life . Now, the BBC is celebrating her six decades in show business. 'I was amazed when they told me' she says. 'It's both flattering and slightly overwhelming.' And the longevity of her own career is still daunting. 'It's hard to believe, it's gone by in a blink of an eye.' The celebrations kicked off with a starry BBC Radio 2 concert at the London Palladium, broadcast on 4 May. Hosted by Zoe Ball, the show featured big names from the West End and Broadway, including Samantha Barks and Charlie Stemp. And this Sunday, 11 May, BBC Four airs an exclusive interview where Zoe sits down with Elaine for a candid career-spanning conversation. 'I'd never met Zoe before, even though we're colleagues at the BBC,' Elaine says, 'so it was a pleasure to meet her. She's very easygoing, and friendly. We got on terribly well. It felt like a bit of a chat rather than a two-hour interview.' Elaine's glittering career has brought her face to face with royalty and showbiz legends alike, but few moments have matched a surreal encounter with the late Queen Elizabeth II during a private concert at Windsor Castle with Barbara Dickson, when a wardrobe malfunction struck mid-performance. 'My earring fell out of my ear,' she recalls. 'I picked it up and placed it on the lid of the piano and carried on singing.' After the concert, the Queen came to greet her. 'She threw her arms around me in this enormous hug,' Elaine recalls, 'then she said, 'It's such a nuisance when that happens, isn't it?'' Today, the star is realistic about her future on the stage. 'Never say never,' she says, 'but I honestly can't imagine performing in musicals ever again. Musical theatre demands everything you've got. You have to be incredibly fit, strong and have endless energy. 'When I played Eva or Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard , I couldn't play these roles with my heart and soul and live an ordinary life,' she says. 'It was so demanding in every aspect. You have to be dedicated to giving up your life. But I loved every minute.' These days, Elaine is content to pass the baton to a new generation, yet she admits there's still a part of her that misses it. 'I watch others now,' she says. 'I sometimes think, 'I wish I could still do it.' But I don't know if I can ever do it again.' She's thrilled, however, that musical theatre has finally captured the mainstream's imagination. 'Twenty years ago, it was a niche subject,' she says. 'It wasn't as cool as it is now!'
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Elaine Paige: ‘I enjoy a good play – perhaps more than a musical'
How do famous names spend their precious downtime? In our weekly My Saturday column, celebrities reveal their weekend virtues and vices. This week: Elaine Paige 9am I'm not a morning person. I'm slow to get up, I don't go zinging into the day. I laze in bed and say: 'Alexa, please play Radio 4.' I love the stories of the guests on Saturday Live. 10am I go to the kitchen and make a cup of PG Tips, then I shower and put my face on, do my hair. My mother was a milliner and always terribly well dressed, she'd never leave the house without a hat. I saw that every day as a child and it's something I've inherited. I like to feel well presented, I'm not ready if I don't have my mascara on. People don't take care of how they dress like we used to in the old days, but it's respectful to other people to make an effort. 12pm I go over to the King's Road, something I've done since the '60s when I was a bit of a hippie, though now I mostly do my weekend food shop there. If I'm having friends over, I make Thai food. I'm a big lover of a wonderful soup, especially tom yum goong, a hot sweet and sour soup. I love to cook. I'm not performing every day any more so I've been able to indulge myself in all these wonderful things I never had time for before. 3pm A game of doubles with friends at The Queen's Club in Kensington. I wanted to be a tennis player as a child, but I was told I was too short. The taller ladies have a wider reach, but I'm quite quick because I'm nearer the ground. I can keep a rally going and the joy is the challenge of improving, rather than whether I win or not – having said that, I am quite competitive. 5pm I've been in the business for so long, out every night of the week and two shows on a Saturday so, now I'm not performing, I like a lazy time at home. It's hard to believe it's been 60 years since I started and I was very flattered that the BBC put together a tribute concert for me, it's a lovely way to look back [ Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness and Zoe Ball meets Elaine Paige are on BBC Sounds now; Elaine Paige: 60 Years on Stage is on BBC Four and iPlayer on 11 May]. Getting the role of Evita was major [Paige starred in the first production of the musical in 1978]. The whole thing was a whirlwind and hit me like a ton of bricks. I can remember as clearly as if it happened yesterday, the final audition at Andrew Lloyd Webber 's apartment. He asked me to sing Rainbow High three times. I said, 'Is there something I'm doing wrong?' and he said, 'No, no, it's just this one separates the men from the boys' – at the time, it was the most challenging aria he'd written. 7pm I don't like crowds, so I don't always go to the theatre on a Saturday, but I do go nearly every week, I can't live without it. I recently saw Oedipus with Mark Strong and Lesley Manville, which was marvellous, and Giant at The Royal Court with John Lithgow as Roald Dahl and Elliot Levey as the agent. That was wonderful. Rather interestingly, I enjoy a good play, perhaps more than a musical. 10pm I love Yellowstone. When it first came out, I couldn't watch because I didn't understand a word anybody was saying as I'm slightly deaf and they're talking in this cowboy accent, but then – this sounds totally ageing – I discovered the subtitles. When I was young in Barnet, I'd go to the pictures on Saturday with my sister and it was always a Western, so it takes me back. 11pm I read Dickens: Public Life and Private Passion by Peter Ackroyd in bed. It's an absolute tome of a book, so I can only get through a chapter, but it's fascinating, you see that so much of his work came from his own life. I don't turn the light out until after midnight, it's all the years of going to bed so late. I'm a bit of an insomniac. I was awake at 4am this morning.
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
This week's must-watch TV: Emma and Matt Willis in therapy and BAFTAs
Broadcasters and streaming giants are preparing another week of ground-breaking and gripping TV, with some household names due to get their flowers at the BAFTA TV Awards. The TV schedule is full this week, with new shows airing both on the small screen and streaming platforms - but two major TV events are also ahead. Familiar faces are expected on the red carpet at the BAFTA TV Awards, due to take place on Sunday (May 11) from 7pm, with Alan Cumming at the reins. The lavish evening will be followed by the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest days later. Elsewhere, BBC4 is celebrating Elaine Paige in style. For her 60th career anniversary, the First Lady of British musical theatre is probed by Zoe Ball as she reflects on her stellar career. This week also promises more ground-breaking moments. After experiencing the life-changing process of therapy, Emma and Matt Willis bring what they've learned to BBC One, breaking boundaries and stigma in Change Your Mind, Change Your Life. Zoe Balls meets Elaine Paige Sunday, BBC4 Step backstage with musical theatre royalty in this heartwarming BBC special, as presenter Zoe Ball sits down with the one and only Elaine Paige. With a career spanning across 60 glittering years, Elaine reflects on her time conquering both London's West End and Broadway, sharing behind-the-scenes secrets, triumphs and personal anecdotes that shaped her journey. From iconic roles in Evita and Cats to surprising tales from behind the red velvet curtain, it's a rare and intimate portrait of Britain's beloved First Lady of musical theatre, revealing the woman behind the powerhouse. Change Your Mind, Change Your Life Tuesday, BBC1 Emma Willis and her husband, former Busted star Matt Willis, return to our screens in this life-affirming four-part series that digs deep into the transformative power of therapy. During each episode, a new set of participants bravely open up about their personal struggles - from grief and anxiety to burnout and relationship woes - as they work with some of Britain's top-rated therapists to rewrite their mental and emotional story. With moving revelations, practical mental health tips and a reminder that healing is messy but possible, this series promises to change more than our minds - it might just change our lives. Bafta TV Awards Sunday, ITV Get ready for one of the biggest nights of British television as the BAFTAS are rolling out the red carpet to honour the year's most acclaimed shows and performances. With fan-favourite, The Traitors up for their own accolades, and Alan Cumming taking on hosting duties, the stage is set for drama, laughter and unforgettable moments under the spotlight. Expect glitz, glamour and maybe even a few surprises as the biggest names in British TV gather to celebrate another landmark year of storytelling. Elsbeth Monday, Sky Carrie Preston returns as the eccentric legal eagle Elsbeth Tascioni in a second season complete with wit, mystery and sharp suits. Now firmly embedded in the NYPD's orbit, Elsbeth continues unpicking the lies of New York's upper crust in 20 new episodes. But when past mistakes resurface, alliances are put to the test and hidden traumas come to the light. With Wendell Pierce and Carra Patterson by her side, and guest stars galore, this season is equal parts quirky comedy and nail-biting drama. Prepare for surprises - some hilarious, others heartbreaking - but all uniquely Elsbeth. Murderbot Friday, Apple TV+ Alexander Skarsgård fronts Murderbot, a darkly funny sci-fi series based on Martha Wells' hit novels. As a rogue security droid who would rather binge on soap operas than protect humans, Murderbot conceals its autonomy while navigating dangerous missions in hostile environments that he wants no part of. With Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian and Sabrina Wu rounding up the cast, this stylish, genre-bending tale explores sentience, sarcasm and survival in a deeply human way. Come for the action, stay for the existential dread and gawky charm. Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story Thursday, Netflix This haunting three-part documentary delves deep into the twisted legacy of Rose and Fred West, unearthing the devastating impact of their two-decade killing spree, from 1967 to 1987. With exclusive access to never-before-seen police videos, unheard audio recordings and private interviews, this show goes beyond the headlines to explore the emotional toll of the case on the victims' families - some of whom are breaking their silence for the first time. It's a raw and deeply unsettling account of one of Britain's darkest chapters. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Thursday, Disney Utah's most glamorous influences are back - and they're bringing all the drama. In season two of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, tempers flare as the wives debate whether to let Whitney Leavitt back into the fold. But as forgiveness seems possible, a ghost from their notorious swinging scandal returns, threatening to break the group apart. With Taylor Frankie Paul, Jen Affleck and Mayci Neeley all navigating, faith, family and fame, followed by Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann and Layla Taylor, this season dives deeper into the blurred lines between private truth and public persona. Trump's 100 Days with Robert Moore Tuesday, ITV Donald Trump is back in the White House - and the world hasn't stopped reeling. In this urgent, razor-sharp documentary, ITV correspondent Robert Moore dissects the first 100 days of Trump's second term. From forced deportations to diplomatic and constitutional breakdown to economic chaos, Moore investigates, piecing together a presidency built on disruption and division. With on-the-ground reporting and political analysis, this documentary explains why Trump's approval rating has plummeted to a historic low. A gripping look at power, propaganda and the man reshaping global politics - again. The 70s Night In Sunday, C5 Step into a groovy time machine with The 70s Night In - where three families unplug the 21st century and immerse themselves in a night of prime-time television from the 1970s. With just three channels and no streaming in sight, they navigate everything from sitcoms to serious news and variety shows that once captivated British audiences. Along the way, personal stories and emotional reactions give a heartfelt insight into how TV shaped identity, family life and social change. It's nostalgic, and an oddly emotional reminder of how something as simple as the small screen used to bring us all together. Bangers & Cash: Under the Bonnet Thursday, U Fans of vintage wheels and restoration magic, buckle up. Bangers & Cash: Under the Bonnet lifts the lid on the Mathewson family's most challenging car revivals featured in the Bangers series. With never-before-seen footage, Derek and his two sons, David and Paul, reveal the highs and heartbreaks behind epic projects like the Fastback, which took over three years to complete. Narrated by Toby Foster, this series goes under the hood in more ways than one - the team even gambles everything on a pioneering electric build that risks sending them into financial ruin. It's bold, brilliant and full of heart. The Game Thursday, Paramount In this dark and gripping four-part thriller, Jason Watkins portrays retired detective Huw, still haunted by a cold case he refuses to let go. But when a neighbour dies under suspicious circumstances, Huw's instincts roar back to life as enigmatic Patrick (Robson Green) settles into the neighbourhood. But is it paranoia or premonition? With his mental state crumbling and his wife (Sunetra Sarker) caught in the fallout, Huw is pulled into an unsettling spiral of suspicion. Expect old friends, new secrets and a game nobody wants to play - but someone must win. Love Death & Robots Thursday, Netflix Hold on to your circuits, the Emmy-winning anthology is back for a fourth season of chaos, carnage and cutting-edge animation. With commentator Tim Miller (Deadpool, Terminator: Dark Fate) and David Fincher (Mindhunter, The Killer) steering the ship, and storyboard artist Jennifer Yuh Nelson returning as supervising director, the ten episode collection explodes with genre-bending madness. From gladiator dinosaurs to puppets, each standalone instalment delivers a deliciously twisted take on horror, sci-fi, fantasy and humour. Unpredictable, unsettling and visually mind-blowing, it's another proof of animation's limitless potential. Eurovision Tuesday, BBC Europe's biggest song competition is back louder than ever, with the contest landing in Basel, Switzerland for its 69th edition. Following Nemo's win with The Code, 37 countries - including UK hopefuls, country-pop trio Remember Monday - will battle it out in two epic semi-finals on May 13 and May 15. Scott Mills and Rylan Clark are at the helm, joined by Radio 2 favourites Sara Cox and Richie Anderson for extensive coverage. Expect show-stopping outfits, unforgettable performances and just the right amount of chaos. Who will take the trophy home? Inside Our Minds Monday, BBC Chris Packham returns with a powerful new series exploring neurodiversity in all its complexity. Building on the success of his previous work on autism, this two-part documentary shifts the spotlight to people living with ADHD and dyslexia. Chris steps back, handing the storytelling over to the participants themselves. Using imaginative visuals and immersive world-building, four individuals invite viewers into their inner realities - challenging stereotypes and redefining what it means to think differently. Raw, revealing and essential, Inside Our Minds is a must-watch for anyone curious about the way these individuals experience the world.
Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Elaine Paige: ‘I could have stolen official documents from the White House'
E laine Paige, 77, is celebrating 60 years in showbusiness. She made her West End debut in 1968 in Hair, before starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's first productions of Evita and Cats. She also featured in the original cast of Chess and starred in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway. Paige lives in Chelsea, west London, and presents Elaine Paige on Sunday on Radio 2. When I talk about my travels, it all sounds so ridiculous, but what a wonderful life theatre has given me. I've seen the world and met kings, queens and presidents. Flying to Washington to perform at the White House for Ronald Reagan in 1988 was the first time I'd ever travelled long haul. The performance was going to be at 5pm, just when the jet lag really hit me. We were rehearsing and I started to feel peculiar, so Nancy Reagan offered me her office to lay down on the couch. There wasn't a single security guard and there were filing cabinets and papers everywhere, so I could have stolen official documents. I was far too nervous to sleep and, when it was my turn to step on stage to sing Don't Cry for Me Argentina and Memory, I was so nervous that the saliva in my mouth dried up and my top and my bottom lip stuck together. It was the most dreadful thing. I had to put my hand over my mouth and bite my tongue to get the saliva going, so that I could actually sing.
