WHEN I last caught up with Amanda Holden ahead of her 250-mile charity bike ride, she was lathering herself in bum butter to stop her cheeks from aching.
But when I spoke to her yesterday as she took a break from pedalling through the countryside, she had a pain she never envisioned.
“My thumbs are aching, it’s really weird,” she told me.
“I’m currently sitting here naked with nothing but a towel around me because the weather is just horrific.
“Monday was the worst for the hills, but now it’s the weather.
“My wet gear is on a radiator drying in this gorgeous hotel called The Chapel.
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“I had an egg bake for breakfast and two hash browns and I’ve just had some butternut squash soup before I go back out.”
Despite the setbacks, Amanda is remarkably chirpy – although I’d expect nothing less from telly’s sunniest star.
And yesterday was given a massive surprise on air when she was told about a £100,000 donation to Global’s Make Some Noise, the charity she is doing the challenge for.
Amanda said: “We had a £100,000 donation from the makers of the film The Wild Robot.
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“It is just incredible.
“We’ve had so many people supporting us along the way.
“There are lots of cars and lorries beeping – and people running out from their gardens shouting and cheering.
“It’s been really uplifting and gorgeous and obviously it’s all for a great cause.
“If you can afford anything, please donate.”
Signing off with a laugh, Amanda added: “Think of me!”
I certainly am, Amanda – and we’re all cheering you on.
- To get behind Amanda and to donate to Global’s Make Some Noise, visit heart.co.uk.
Kylie woos Paris
IT was lights, camera, action for Kylie Minogue as she headed out in Paris to promote her new album.
The Padam Padam singer, who wore this fab red dress, was met by cheering fans in the French capital as she went on TV to talk about Tension II, which is out next week.
On top of that album release, Kylie, who playfully hitched up her dress to show a mic pack strapped to her thigh has a world tour coming up next year, but it seems she much prefers being busy.
She said: “Touring is the best part of the job. I have a year ahead in my mind. Tension II isn’t quite out and I’ve already had a couple of studio days as it’s like, ‘Oh, what’s next?’.”
She’s on a winning streak so I don’t blame her for keeping the wheel turning, but I’d be knackered if I were her.
A Raya of light for Joey
WATCH out ladies, Joey Essex is back on the market – and he’s been busy swiping on Raya.
My pal spotted him using the celebrity dating app to chat up women after his split from his Love Island girlfriend Jessy Potts.
Joey has Bryson Tiller's Whatever She Wants as his profile music and told admirers he was heading to Los Angeles at the end of this month.
Despite seeming a bit dippy, Joey, above, is incredibly bright and when I last saw him in the office, he confirmed to us he had split with Jessy last month, saying: “Unfortunately, we have decided to call an end to the relationship but I hope we can continue to be friends.”
I am sure there will be plenty of fish in the sea who are keen to nibble on Joey’s tackle . . .
Billie's vow of silence
BILLIE EILISH has vowed never to talk about her love life again.
The singer, who came out last year, told Vogue: “I wish no one knew anything about my sex-uality or anything about my dating life. Ever, ever, ever.
“And I hope that they never will again. And I’m never talking about my sexuality ever again.”
Fans not Gaga for Joker
LADY GAGA and Joaquin Phoenix's new movie, Joker: Folie A Deux, has had an underwhelming start at the box office – taking just £5.7million in its opening weekend in the UK.
Gaga was a huge coup for the sequel, but savage reviews have meant they struggled to get bums on seats.
It’s a contrast to the 2019 original, which opened with £12.6million.
Folie A Deux still topped the box office, but it didn’t have much competition as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which came out weeks ago, was still at No2.
Usually, comic book films are far more popular, so I can’t imagine Warner Bros will be rushing to make a third instalment.
Maybe if Gaga had been in the Joker flick for more than 33 minutes, it might have fared a bit better.
A Bay-llion plays
JAMES BAY has become the latest success story to receive the BRIT Billion Award, which celebrates reaching a billion streams in the UK.
He posed for this snap with his new trophy, but it’s not the only reason he has for smiling this week.
His album Changes All The Time came out on Friday and is on course to become his fourth consecutive Top Five record in Friday’s charts.
It's seven up as Tay leads way
POP’S unstoppable force Taylor Swift leads the pack for the MTV EMA nominations for a second year in a row.
The Anti-Hero singer has got seven nods including Best Artist, Best Video and Best Pop ahead of the ceremony at Manchester’s Co-op Arena next month.
It is bound to be a big night for women, as Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter are behind her with five nominations apiece, all appearing in the Best Song, Best Video and Best Artist categories.
Arya Starr, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Lisa, Chappell Roan and Tyla follow them with four nominations each.
Manchester’s very own Liam Gallagher will battle Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Green Day, Kings Of Leon, Lenny Kravitz and The Killers for the Best Rock gong.
The ceremony will air live on MTV UK and Channel 5 at 9pm on November 10 and you can have your say on who should win at mtvema.com.
XCX's mix-up with Lorde
WE’VE all had to confront a frenemy at some point or other, but luckily for Charli XCX, her conversation with pop rival Lorde ended up going far smoother than she expected.
When Charli released Girl, So Confusing, in June – a song about being baffled by another female artist blowing hot and cold with her – she wanted to ring Lorde to confess the lyrics were about her.
But Lorde was in New Zealand where, thanks to the time difference, she’d already heard the song by the time Charli called.
Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Charli said: “I was ready for her to never speak to me again. That could have been an outcome.
“I was like, ‘I’ve got to tell you about this song’. And she was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve heard it. I can guess which one it is’.
“I was like, ‘F***’, but she was so cool.”
The pair then teamed up for a remix of the track to include Lorde’s response to Charli.
And clearly it had been playing on Lorde’s mind, because she managed to complete her verse in two days.
Charli added: “It was so quick. I mean, she said that on Friday, and she sent me the thing, the verse, by Monday.”
Glum might say
WHILE his brother Liam has been living the high life in a £75,000-a-week Ibiza villa, Noel Gallagher has been keeping it low key at home in London.
And the Oasis rocker looked rather glum as he jumped into a black cab in the capital, which, to be honest, I’d have been too if I’d been snubbed from the guest list.
The brothers are now close to selling out the two shows on the Australian leg of their reunion tour on pre-sale tickets alone, having filled every single seat for the UK and North America dates.
When the cheques start rolling in, I am sure Noel will have plenty to smile about.
Noor no more for Pacino
AL PACINO has split up with his young girlfriend following the birth of their son last year.
The Godfather actor started dating Noor Alfallah, who at 30 is 54 years younger than him, in 2022.
But when asked if he is currently in a relationship, he said: “No, I have friendship.”
Al had previously denied rumours of a split with Noor.
But confirming they are no longer romantically involved, his representative added: “Al and Noor are very good friends . . . and are co-parents to their son Roman.”
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It comes after his revelation this week that he died in 2020 while battling Covid – only to be brought back to life minutes later by paramedics.
He said: “It was kind of shocking to open your eyes and see that. Everybody was around me, and they said: ‘He’s back. He’s here.’”