Singer James Blunt lands film role alongside Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan and David Mitchell
HE’S ex-Army and has topped the charts, but Captain James Blunt now has another role to add to his CV.
He has bagged his first film role, alongside funnymen David Mitchell, Steve Coogan and Stephen Fry in Greed, a satire about the super-rich from director Michael Winterbottom.
Last month James shot scenes at London’s Chiltern Firehouse restaurant for the project, which also stars Isla Fisher and features a cameo role from Made In Chelsea’s Ollie Locke.
An insider said: “James has released five albums now, so he has been more than happy to take on a new challenge.
He is known for his self- deprecating sense of humour, especially with his witty remarks on Twitter, so he jumped at the chance to star in a comedy.”
The movie was originally set to have Sacha Baron Cohen playing the main character but the Borat actor has since dropped out.
Greed is yet to get a release date but it is expected to hit cinema screens late next year.
Alan Partridge actor Steve and 24 Hour Party People director Michael are long-term collaborators, most recently on The Trip To Spain, which also starred Rob Brydon and was shown as a six-parter on Sky Atlantic in 2017.
James has already bagged two Brits — maybe now he’ll add a Bafta to his haul.
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Cheryl’s cha cha chance to learn
Cheryl Tweedy has already admitted she might not have the same dance expertise as her co-stars on BBC1’s The Greatest Dancer . . . but at least she’s doing something about it.
The Geordie pop star is making a bid to brush up on her pirouettes and jazz hands next year in the hope that she can match fellow dance captains Oti Mabuse and Glee’s Matthew Morrison.
Cheryl said: “My New Year’s resolution is to dance more and to learn different styles because I’ve been really inspired by being part of the show.”
It comes after Cheryl admitted her co-stars are “more than qualified” to be handing out critique while she “couldn’t tell a ballerina what to do” despite having attended a Royal Ballet School summer camp when she was a fair bit younger.
Meanwhile, Strictly pro Oti is stopping at nothing to take her acts all the way in her first show as a judge.
She said: “If I can’t win Strictly I have to at least win this show.
“I would like that me and my act win the first series of The Greatest Dancer.”
That’s fighting talk.
THE SHOW GOES ON FOR IGGY
IGGY AZALEA has defended herself for singing on after a backing dancer suffered a seizure on stage in Rio, Brazil.
She wrote on Instagram: “I thought she had fallen/twisted her ankle. It may sound harsh but you keep singing until the music stops and ask for a medic, which is what I did.”
She went on: “It feels like ANY thing I do becomes an opportunity for people to tell me why I’m s***, why my music sucks, why my clothes are ugly, why I don’t matter or why I’m a horrible person.”
As they say, the show must go on
Dua think she can top 2018?
DUA LIPA looks cool as a cucumber in this mint green number as she prepares to ring in the New Year.
The New Rules singer has had quite the 2018 thanks to her award-winning, self-titled album.
She is the most-streamed female artist in the UK this year according to Spotify and Apple Music figures.
And Dua could potentially have an even bigger 2019.
She has bagged two Grammy nominations, she’s the cover star for Vogue’s January edition and there’s the potential release of a new album, but before that she’ll drop Swan Song for action-adventure film Alita: Battle Angel. Lucky US fans will also get to see her perform on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2019.
Dua wrote to her 23.4million Instagram followers: “My lovesssss, 2018 is almost over. It’s time to ring in the New Year on @rockineve.”
Here’s to another Dua-filled year.
Biz Bit
MOVIE man-in-demand Dwayne Johnson has reportedly been paid £17million to appear in new Disney flick Jungle Cruise, due out in 2020. That handsome figure is a mere £10million more than his co-star Emily Blunt’s £7million . . .
Rita's a gas for Graham
SQUINT at this snap of Rita Ora and you might just see Marilyn Monroe.
Rita glammed up for Graham Norton’s BBC1 show, performing a medley from her album Phoenix and talking about her joint record for the most UK Top Ten hits by a solo female artist.
She said, “I’m really proud of it,” before impressing her fellow guest Keira Knightley by burping the alphabet as her planned New Year’s Eve party piece. Nice.
MMM-TOT FOR HANSON
TAYLOR HANSON definitely has the makings of a decent sized band when it comes to his own brood.
The Hanson singer, who performs with brothers Zac and Isaac, welcomed his sixth child with wife Natalie into the world yesterday, a son by the name of Claude Indiana Emmanuel.
They told People magazine: “Our new little man, Indy, is the best gift our family could imagine. His arrival brings with it a new sense of adventure and excitement for the future.”
He teased his wife’s pregnancy back in August: “What’s better than being a dad of five? Perhaps being a dad of six. Baby Hanson coming in December and we are over the moon.”
Better get the kids working on their harmonies.
Miley's big Ray
HER wedding to Liam Hemsworth was kept under wraps but Miley Cyrus and her family are happy to shout about it now.
Country star Billy Ray posted this snap, posing with his daughter and wife Tish at the December 23 do, and wrote: “Wedding wouldn’t be complete without one shot from Dad’s outdated BlackBerry camera.”
At least they had his blessing.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
BIZ METER
THE on-off Zayn Malik, Gigi Hadid relationship looks to be off again after he unfollowed her on Instagram. Zayn, who has 30.2million followers, now only follows 28 people – including Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw and Scott Mills.
IT’S been reported that Aretha Franklin, who died in August from cancer, owed £6million in US taxes for the period from 2012 until her death. John Legend, Celine Dion and Kelly Clarkson will play at her tribute concert next month.
ANNE-MARIE is having trouble with her health kick, tweeting: “Juice detox update: I want korma. Juice detox update: I’ve been staring at crumpets and sniffing peanut butter. Juice detox update: Gone to Tesco, bought pasta and crisps.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have bought an £11million apartment in Miami to add to the LA home they got from Lisa Marie Presley for £16million, which they have been renovating since 2014. They should appear on Grand Designs.
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