Latest news with #EllieHenman
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Inside Kylie Minogue's epic Tension Tour as she kicks off sold out UK shows
PADAM FINE Kylie reveals whether she ever watches her performances back Ellie Henman , Bizarre Editor Published : 19:32, 27 May 2025 Updated : 19:34, 27 May 2025 KYLIE MINOGUE is once again on top of the world – even if she can't quite believe it. The pop icon this week kicked off the first of four huge nights at London's 20,000 capacity O2 Arena, and admitted to Bizarre the tour almost didn't happen. 2 Kylie dazzles in cobalt-coloured costume Credit: Alamy 2 Kylie backstage with Bizarre's Jack Credit: Supplied Speaking backstage after her opening night, Kylie said: 'It's been a lot of work and we almost didn't get there, but it's great.' She's right. It's been just over two years since she released Padam Padam — a track which has revived her career to levels reminiscent of 2001 megahit Can't Get You Out Of My Head. Not that she was struggling, because all her new studio albums since 2010's Aphrodite have hit No1 or No2 in the UK charts. But Padam and its accompanying Tension album allowed Kylie to finally crack America and was playlisted on Radio 1, despite the station's infamous reputation for snubbing women over 30. Kicking things off in style at the O2, the On A Night Like This singer descended from the heavens, head to toe in blue latex, to her latest single, aptly titled Lights Camera Action. From then on, it was a non-stop journey though hit after hit, with not a single rest. It's hard to forget just how many top tracks Kylie has had — with 35 UK Top Ten singles and seven No1s to her name. And, as she turns 57 today, she has no plans to slow down. Kylie said of performing: 'My love for doing this only grows and grows. 'Thank you for understanding and being there for me on my journey. For me, it began in a mystical time known as the Eighties.' Tension is Kylie's 16th headline tour and her first global trek since 2018's Golden. She played 33 gigs then, but this time that has more than doubled to 69. Kylie Minogue opens up about life, love and staying grounded as she releases Tension II She is in the middle of a run of 14 UK arena shows, but agreed to meet Bizarre's Jack backstage following one of her four O2 concerts. When she emerges smiling from her dressing room, she is proudly sporting her Tension Tour merch. It's a world away from the latex look she wore to launch her two-hour set. 'Did it look OK? It was the first time I wore that one,' she quickly asks. It goes without saying that she looks amazing, although I remark on how it must be a seriously hot outfit to wear in a packed arena. But is Kylie ever tempted to watch her performances back online? She replied: 'I don't watch it on YouTube, but I do see it on socials and that way, sometimes with a phone, the angle is weird or the colours are off, but it gives you another perspective.' When I flag to her that currently, every one of her UK shows has received five-star reviews, she beams in amazement — clearly pinching herself that she is once again in her prime. She said: 'On tour, it's like you're in a time zone where you lose track of time. 'This time tomorrow, half of the O2 shows will be done.' Reflecting on Monday evening's opener, she said: 'Tonight was amazing, it was huge. 'Sometimes, that can play with my ears if it's so loud, but it was amazing.' Speaking on stage, Kylie told exhilarated fans: 'You know I try to prepare myself, but I never can. This is insane. 'Thank you so much to each and every one of you for coming out tonight.' The star's run of shows at The O2 have made her the first female artist to join the venue's 21 Club, which honours acts who have played the arena 21 times or more. Only a handful have ever achieved the feat. The late pop legend Prince became the very first to celebrate the honour when he played a residency there in 2007. Others featured in a backstage hall of fame — which Kylie will be added to once her London shows end next month — include Take That and Drake. It may be seven years since her last arena tour, but it was certainly worth the wait. BIRTHDAY BASH FOR BUBBLY STAR THE Word Is Out – Kylie turns 57 today and plans to celebrate her big day in style. We can reveal the Spinning Around singer will host a VIP bash in West London this evening. It will be a proper, old-fashioned knees-up, with bottles of her own brand of wine on ice. But it won't be no work and all play for the Aussie star, as she has invited some of the biggest names in the booze business to schmooze them with her fancy fizz. This summer, Kylie Minogue Wines celebrates its fifth anniversary, with the star releasing a limited edition floral bottle to mark the occasion. Since she launched her vinos – which include a Prosecco and alcohol-free options – the star has sold more than 20million bottles. And we have to admit that a fair few of those were snapped up by us on Bizarre. Earlier this year, we revealed Kylie had agreed to roll out her plonk across swanky members club chain Soho House. And after tonight's hobnobbing, we've no doubt she will be raising a glass to a few more deals . . .
The Sun
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
1D star splashes £10m on huge new ‘family home' in ‘very fancy' neighbourhood so he can ‘live quiet life'
Ellie Henman, Bizarre Editor Published: Invalid Date, NIALL HORAN is one of the most low-key lads in One Direction, never happier than on a golf course or in a music studio. But the same can't be said of his lifestyle. Pals told me the Slow Hands singer has splashed out almost £10million on a new home in West London, in a very fancy neighbourhood. A source said: 'Niall has bought himself a gorgeous house and now lives close to celebs like Holly Willoughby and Ant & Dec. 'He did have a very cool penthouse in London but he wanted to get somewhere a little more grown up. 'Niall's new place is set across a number of floors and has six bedrooms, so it feels like a proper family home. 'He is really settled with his girlfriend Amelia Woolley. "They have a dog and are just like any other couple in their 30s — bar the fact he's got a fortune in the bank. 'They've been spotted a few times in the neighbourhood now but people leave Niall alone and let him just get on with his day. 'It's lovely that someone as well known as Niall can live the quiet life he's always wanted.' Niall's last studio record, The Show, went to the No1 spot when he released it in 2023. He finished touring the album in 2024 and last month said he planned to spend the summer working on his fourth record. Watch as huge boyband legend shocks fans by ditching car and WALKING streets to his own arena gig TikTok Niall said in an interview with a golfing magazine: 'I'm working on a new album guys. 'I've been accumulating some ideas and I'm going to sit down and start writing my next album.' With a new house where he can put pen to paper, I've no doubt he will feel inspired. CHARLI GREEN WITH ENVY GREEN DAY have sent up Charli XCX after she joked about not getting a headline slot at Coachella festival. The Brat singer wore a sash saying: ' Miss should be a headliner,' after she performed at the event in California. 13 Green Day were the headliners and during their second set this weekend, drummer Tre Cool had his own sash with the words: 'Actual headliner,' scrawled on it. The comedy move was all in jest, with Billie Joe Armstrong closing the show in a Brat hat in honour of Charli. She also loved the stunt and re-shared the picture on X with the caption: 'Obsessed.' NATALIE IN LABEL SPLIT THE music industry is a tough place and a raft of artists have found that out the hard way after splitting from their record labels. I've learned that Torn singer Natalie Imbruglia, former Strictly contestant HRVY and rapper Stefflon Don have all walked away from deals with their label BMG. 13 The company had a run of success with Kylie Minogue 's return to form and have also been working with Rita Ora. But I'm told a string of acts have now deserted them. Natalie released Firebird, her first album in six years, on the label in 2021 but no longer appears on its website. The same year, HRVY, above, signed a global recording deal with the company following his stint on Strictly. But he is now going it alone and is releasing music himself. Stefflon, above, put her long-anticipated album Island 54 out through the label in June but she has now also severed ties with BMG. I can also reveal that Mark Owen is no longer involved with them, after signing what they called a 'brand-new wide-ranging global deal' which 'spans from new recordings to the publishing of his future solo works and songs written with Take That' in 2022. Sources close to him insist it was only a one-record deal for his album Land Of Dreams that year, which peaked at No5. But after Gary Barlow told me earlier this month that Take That are working on new music, there's no time for more solo tunes anyway. TULISA'S DAPPY EASTER TULISA staged a mini N-Dubz reunion after meeting Dappy during a night out. The singer looked cool in an over-sized biker jacket as she hit the town in Manchester with her mates on Easter Sunday. Tulisa partied until the early hours of yesterday with Dappy in a nightclub and shared a video of them dancing together just after 1am. N-Dubz, which also includes rapper Fazer, released their fourth album Timeless in 2023 following an 11-year break. The record got to No6 in the charts but given thousands of fans, myself included, turned out to watch them on their Back To The Future arena tour, it's obvious they've still got a loyal following who are keen to see more from them. SPOOKS AT ENDER MY BED FORMER EastEnders actor John Altman thinks he was haunted by the ghosts of two Edwardian children when he lived in London. John, who played 'Nasty' Nick Cotton in the BBC soap from 1985 to 2015, said: 'I lived in a bedsit in Maida Vale in the 1970s and I woke up in the night. 13 'Standing at the end of the mattress on the floor – that was the fashion back in the Seventies – was a boy and a girl dressed in Edwardian clothing. 'I blinked and then they just disappeared. 'This building in Maida Vale was quite old, probably over 100 years old, it would have covered that Edwardian period. 'I'll never forget that. 'It was a strong image that will always be implanted on my memory.' I think it's more likely that two fellow residents got lost and ended up wandering into John's room by mistake. But given John is appearing in the new horror film The Last Grail Hunter, it all makes for good publicity… FENCING GERI THE SLICE GIRL GERI HORNER tells me she has taken up fencing to get into the mood for her new book. At a talk to promote her latest children's novel, Rosie Frost: Ice On Fire, the former Spice Girls singer said she had a go at the sport because she wanted to know how it really felt to hold a sword. 13 She said: 'I actually did fencing lessons because there are two scenes in it where she is fencing and I thought, 'I've got no idea how to carry this'. "I got this man to teach me because I thought, 'How can I describe that authentically if I don't know how to do it?'.' The plot for Geri's new book also includes mutant animals and even a black hole. I'm surprised she didn't attempt to blag her way on to Jeff Bezos' rocket with Katy Perry so she could try to get closer to one. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER EUROVISION is just over three weeks away and our girls – Remember Monday – are ready for action. The trio, Lauren Byrne, Holly-Anne Hull and Charlotte Steelend, performed their final pre-contest show in Madrid over the weekend. 13 13 Sharing pictures from the gig, they said: 'Madrid, you made us feel so loved, and so special. 'We are so grateful for the support.' They will perform their song, What The Hell Just Happened, at Eurovision in Switzerland on May 17. I hope they're not asking that question once the voting starts. Bizbit ORITSE WILLIAMS felt forced to change the way he sang to fit in with his JLS bandmates, after a record producer told him his voice was 'too black'. He said: 'I'm in this commercial pop group, and I'm struggling with the fact that I'm also very different from the rest of my group members, vocally and musically. 'I had to learn to strip a lot of the colours of my voice. I had to try and bring my voice to be as streamlined as possible. "What I did, essentially, was sing through my nose in order to reach that.' SAM BIG ON SMALL SAM FENDER might be used to selling out stadiums as one of our country's best rock stars. But over in the US, the Seventeen Going Under singer said he was loving playing intimate venues. 13 Sam said: 'It's humbling. 'I love the smaller shows. 'We did a show in Portland the other day and that was one of the best gigs I've played in a long time. 'It felt compact. 'It was really loud, like super-loud. 'It's nice to go back down a bit, you know? 'You kind of lose stuff, I think, when it gets massive.'
