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NOEL'S DALI-GHT

Noel Fielding and girlfriend Lliana Bird name first baby Dali after Surrealist artist

NOEL Fielding has taken his fascination with artist Salvador Dali to a whole new level.

I can reveal he’s named his new born baby Dali after the painter.

 Noel Fielding has taken his fascination with Surrealist Salvador Dali to a new level by naming his first baby with Lliana Bird - couple pictured - after the artist
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Noel Fielding has taken his fascination with Surrealist Salvador Dali to a new level by naming his first baby with Lliana Bird - couple pictured - after the artistCredit: Getty - Contributor

It’s the second time the Spanish icon has influenced a significant part of his life, after Noel’s pal Serge Pizzorno revealed the funnyman made the unlikely switch to Bake Off on the back of Salvador once starring in a chocolate advert.

A source said: “Noel thought the name was a perfect fit.

“Salvador has played a big part in his life, so it’s no surprise to his friends he’s named a baby after him.

“It’s a cute name and really suits the tot.”

Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig sure have a lot of puns and innuendos for the first week of The Great British Bake Off!

Last March, just after the Mighty Boosh star was announced as Bake Off’s host alongside Sandi Toksvig for the new Channel 4 version, Serge revealed Noel’s admiration for Surrealist Salvador while discussing a conversation the pair had deliberating whether he should accept the job.

The Kasabian star said: “We figured Salvador Dali did a chocolate advert, so that sort of makes it all right.”

Noel and XFM DJ girlfriend Lliana Bird welcomed their first child together into the world earlier this month.

Great British Bake Off's Noel Fielding in Kasabian video for 'You're In Love With A Psycho'

And just like singer Paloma Faith, the pair have decided not to reveal the gender of the baby in public. Noel and Lliana, who have been together since 2010, also kept details of the pregnancy under wraps.

It was only an Instagram post in March, featuring Lliana boxing showcasing a bump, which gave it away.

She wrote: “I’m literally one of the naturally laziest people I know, but even I’ve been loving the boxing once or twice a week and if i can do it you defo can!!! #preggoboxing #badassbumps.”

Noel certainly thinks Dali is a #badass name, too.

Pleasure and Payne for Rita

RITA Ora and Liam Payne are back to performing like they actually know each other.

After keeping a safe distance from each other during his relationship woes with Cheryl Tweedy, the pair reunited for a steamy version of their Fifty Shades track For You at the Echo Awards in Berlin on Thursday.

 Rita Ora and Liam Payne reunited for a steamy performance after he admitted he and Cheryl have no more baby plans
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Rita Ora and Liam Payne reunited for a steamy performance after he admitted he and Cheryl have no more baby plansCredit: Splash News

The duet came a day after Liam admitted he and the former Girls Aloud star are not planning on giving their one-year-old son Bear a little brother or sister.

Meanwhile, Cheryl’s former bandmate Nicola Roberts accidentally leaked the proud mum’s new music in an Instagram video posted from the studio where they are working.

In the background Cheryl can be heard singing: “We only got like this because I let you.”

Liam clearly didn’t listen to that before his performance.

 Cheryl’s former bandmate Nicola Roberts accidentally leaked the proud mum’s new music in an Instagram video
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Cheryl’s former bandmate Nicola Roberts accidentally leaked the proud mum’s new music in an Instagram videoCredit: Instagram

Zayn's ready to act up

HARRY Styles conquered the acting world in Oscar-nominated Dunkirk last year. Now his former One Direction pal Zayn Malik wants to follow in his footsteps.

After shooting a mini-film for his comeback single Let Me, Zayn revealed he has Hollywood ambitions, too.

He told Manchester radio station Key 103: “I’d be interested in doing some acting. It’s always been something that I liked doing, even when I was growing up. I did a few school performances.

“I’m not saying that I’m Oscar-level winning actor right now, but I’m sure I can go to a few classes and learn things and pick it up.”

Zayn’s as-yet untitled new album is due to be released in the coming months – two years after his debut.

He should probably get that out of the way first.

Drake Lipa faith with Reka

HE missed out on an award at the Brits earlier this year, but I can reveal Drake has hooked up with one of Dua Lipa’s backing dancers from the night.

Réka Nagy-Miticzky was celebrating her 23rd birthday in London club Reign on Thursday when she caught the rapper’s eye.

 Drake has hooked up with Dua Lipa backing dancer Reka - pictured celebrating her 23rd birthday in London club Reign
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Drake has hooked up with Dua Lipa backing dancer Reka - pictured celebrating her 23rd birthday in London club Reign

A source said: “Drake invited Reka to his private bash and they spent most the night flirting. It was clear he was loving the attention from her and they left the club together with his entourage in tow.”

Drake has a string of celebrity conquests to his name including Rihanna. Perhaps Réka can finally Reign him in.

 Perhaps Réka can finally reign Drake in - pictured - after a string of high-profile flings
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Perhaps Réka can finally reign Drake in - pictured - after a string of high-profile flingsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Pixie's a Mex maniac

PIXIE Lott has been spending so much time in London’s hottest new restaurant that she may as well get a job behind the bar.

The singer has become a regular at Cantina Laredo in Covent Garden, where Little Mix star Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Canadian model Winnie Harlow have also been snapped getting their fix of Mexican food.

 Pixie Lott has become a patron at Cantina Laredo in Covent Garden
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Pixie Lott has become a patron at Cantina Laredo in Covent GardenCredit: Copyright © 2018 BACKGRID UK

Pixie even had her birthday party at the restaurant in January, splashing out £4,000 in the process on top grub.

Professor Green and Daisy Lowe have also been spotted at the restaurant.

Cantina Laredo, which is doing for Mexican cuisine what posh eatery Nobu did for Japanese food, has also featured on E4 show Made In Chelsea.

Pro, whose ex Millia Mackinstosh once starred in that series, will want to avoid that crowd.

 Model Winnie Harlow is another regular at the up-market Mexican joint
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Model Winnie Harlow is another regular at the up-market Mexican jointCredit: Capital Pictures

Pete on a pawsome mission

AFTER eight series of explosive barneys with his Towie co-stars, it’s no wonder Pete Wicks prefers dogs to people.

Now the reality star is going above and beyond for his four-legged friends.

 Pete - pictured at Southend Farm in Waltham Abbey - is on a heroic mission to save strays in Romania and South Korea at the risk of getting the odd nip
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Pete - pictured at Southend Farm in Waltham Abbey - is on a heroic mission to save strays in Romania and South Korea at the risk of getting the odd nipCredit: Louis Wood - The Sun

He will brave being attacked by packs of vicious strays in Romania on a heroic mission to save dogs at risk.

Pete, who wrote a book called For The Love of Frenchies about his beloved French Bulldogs, will aim to rehabilitate them on the trip in September.

Last December he liberated 137 pooches from a South Korean meat farm – and he is also returning there with Humane Society International to save more from slaughter. He revealed all as I reunited him with some of the dogs he rescued from Korea and their new puppies, as well as other dogs in need of homes, at the kennels of UK charity All Dogs Matter for an emotional video on my Facebook page.

Pete Wicks reunites with the dogs he saved from a meat farm in Korea and their new puppies

Pete, pictured at Southend Farm in Waltham Abbey, Essex, said: “Since Korea I’ve actually given up eating meat. There’s this argument that in Korea, eating dogs is part of the culture – that’s changing massively now.

“I don’t think it’s right to eat meat based on what I’ve seen and what I’ve been through so, for me, it has had a massive life-changing impact.

“I can’t imagine my life without dogs any more. I am kinda the dog whisperer of Essex.

“If I could, I’d have one hundred million dogs.”

That’s about as many shoes as some of his co-stars.

Keep calm and Gary on

GARY Barlow prepared for his solo tour with an intimate gig at a special charity night.

The Take That frontman, whose first date is in Edinburgh on Monday, helped raise more than £220,000 for Buttle UK’s Chances for Children Campaign.

 Gary Barlow's gig helped raise funds for vulnerable kids and young adults
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Gary Barlow's gig helped raise funds for vulnerable kids and young adultsCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun

It provides grants for vulnerable kids and young adults in crisis across the UK. Joining Gary at the bash in London were Louise Redknapp and Strictly pals Anton Du Beke and Judge Rinder.

Anton’s wife Hannah won the £5,000 diamond bangle donated by ROX Jewellers in the raffle game ROX in a box.

I’m sure Anton will borrow it when Strictly returns this year.


bizmeter: charts

I HAD every faith she would reach No1 but I am still over the moon for Kylie Minogue.

She has gone straight in at the top with her 14th album Golden, just weeks before her 50th birthday, after shifting a huge 48,000 copies.

It is the Aussie superstar’s sixth chart-topping album in the UK – but her first No1 in the past eight years.

Speaking about her achievement, Kylie said: “I am so overwhelmed, happy, proud, emotional and very, very thankful and grateful.”

Kylie chatted to me about the album for my Dan Wootton Interview podcast last month, which you can listen back to .

Her beautiful country-infused album is also leading the vinyl albums charts, becoming the fastest-selling of 2018 so far, with 6,400 copies sold.

And it’s, surprisingly, the best-selling cassette, too. It was 13,000 copies ahead of The Greatest Showman soundtrack at No2.

She also scores her 51st Top 40 single with Dancing, at No38.

Kylie will certainly be Spinning Around tonight.

AFTER just a few weeks, Drake is back at No1. Follow-up single Nice For What has gone straight to the top spot. After God’s Plan’s nine-week stay in pole position, it means there have only been three weeks so far this year that the Canadian rapper hasn’t been at No1.

THE Voice UK winner Ruti is at No14 with her debut single Dreams – a cover of The Cranberries’ 1993 tune. It’s the second most successful song from the show after Steve McCrorie reached No6 in 2015 with Lost Stars.

THIRTY Seconds To Mars log their highest ever chart placing with new album America coming in at No4. Courtneeners follow at No5 with St. Jude Re:Wired and US rapper Cardi B goes to No6 with her debut album Invasion Of Privacy.

Official Singles chart

1  (NEW) Nice For What – Drake

2 (1) Freaky Friday – Lil Dicky ft Chris Brown

3 (NEW) One Kiss – Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa

4 (2) These Days – Rudimental/Glynne/Macklemore/Caplen

5 (4) Paradise – George Ezra

6 (6) Friends – Marshmello & Anne-Marie

7 (3) This Is Me –Keala Settle/Greatest Showman Ensemble

8 (5) Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man

9 (9) Lullaby – Sigala & Paloma Faith

10 (8) Psycho – Post Malone ft Ty Dolla $ign

11 (13) Meant To Be –  Bebe Rexha ft Florida Georgia

12 (10) The Middle – Zedd/ Maren Morris/Grey

13 (14) Jumanji – B Young

14 (NEW) Dreams – Ruti

15 (12) Say Something – Justin Timberlake ft Stapleton

16 (11) God’s Plan – Drake

17 (7) Call Out My Name – The Weeknd

18 (23) Love Lies –  Khalid & Normani

19 (16) In My Blood – Shawn Mendes

20 (22) Look Alive – BlocBoy JB ft Drake

Official Albums chart

1 (NEW) Golden – Kylie Minogue

2 (1) The Greatest Showman – Motion Picture Cast Recording

3 (2) Staying At Tamara’s – George Ezra

4 (NEW) America – 30 Seconds To Mars

5 (NEW) St Jude Re:Wired –  Courteneers

6 (NEW) Invasion Of Privacy – Cardi B

7 (5) Divide – Ed Sheeran

8 (NEW) Geography – Tom Misch

9 (3) My Dear Melancholy – The Weeknd

10 (NEW) The Deconstruction – Eels

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