Riz Ahmed: I was obsessive about Star Wars

OHMYGOSSIP — Riz Ahmed became a “bit obsessive” in an effort to land a role in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’.
The 35-year-old actor starred as Bodhi Rook, a former Imperial cargo pilot, in the 2016 movie, and Riz has revealed he made every possible effort to secure his part in the Gareth Edwards-directed film.
He shared: “I went a bit overboard, a bit over the top, I got a bit obsessive about my work.
“They were like, ‘Could you read for this scene?’ And the director made the stupid mistake of giving me his email address so I recorded an audition and I sent it to him … I started thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, I can do it better’ so I sent him another audition. And I sent him another one.”
Despite this, Riz admitted that besides changing his clothes, none of the scenes were discernibly different.
He told ‘The Jonathan Ross Show’: “Over the next three days I sent him 14 different versions of this scene. And the thing is, when I watch them back now, they are not even that different. I just changed my clothes!”
Riz stars alongside Tom Hardy in the new superhero movie ‘Venom’.
The British duo have known each other since 2007 and both share a love of rap music.
He said: “I’ve known him for about 11 years now and we first met when we were both doing a reality TV show about playwrights … It was me, Tom Hardy and Rafe Spall and we had all just started. This was in 2007.
“We were bonding over rap music. Tom is a big rap fan, I played him my first track I’d just recorded, he was really encouraging.
“He kept doing this strange thing … Any breaks in conversation he just started doing push ups. And I thought, ‘This guy is going to go all the way, man.’ He is intense but that’s also because he cares. He is really passionate about his work.”
‘The Jonathan Ross Show’ airs on Saturday (22.09.18) at 9.50pm on ITV.

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Jonah Hill says he’s barely seen Emma Stone since Superbad

OHMYGOSSIP — Jonah Hill and Emma Stone have barely spent any time together since starring in ‘Superbad’ in 2007.
The 34-year-old actor and Emma, 29, played central roles in the hit comedy movie, which was written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, but Jonah has revealed they’ve hardly seen each other over the last decade because they’ve both been so busy.
Jonah – who stars alongside the Oscar-winning actress in the new Netflix series ‘Maniac’ – said: “Honestly one of the crazy things you realise … is we’ve been friends for a decade, we worked together 12 years ago, and then we’ve been friends for that long.
“And when your friends get successful they’re always making films so you never get to actually really hang out that often.”
Jonah and Emma have emerged as two of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars since they appeared in ‘Superbad’.
And Jonah has admitted to being a huge fan of Emma, describing the actress as “special”.
He told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “She’s so good, so brilliant. I get to be friends with artists I really admire, that’s pretty amazing. And watching someone I’ve been friends with for so long become so gifted and so recognised is special.”
Emma – who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in 2016’s ‘La La Land’ – is similarly fond of Jonah, revealing she relished their on-screen reunion.
She said: “I think Jonah’s incredible and I was just so excited to get to work with him again.”

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Gemma Chan feels shocked by success of Crazy Rich Asians

OHMYGOSSIP — Gemma Chan admits the success of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ has exceeded her expectations.
The 35-year-old actress stars as Astrid Leong-Teo in the hit movie, which features an all-Asian cast, and Gemma has confessed to being shocked at how well the film has been received by fans and critics.
She said: “It has been beyond what any of us every imagined. It’s the first mainstream Hollywood film for 25 years to feature Asians in the lead and an all-Asian cast so it’s been a long time.”
Gemma hopes that the movie’s success will herald a cultural change within Hollywood, too.
Asked whether the success could lead to more Asian-led films, Gemma told ‘The Jonathan Ross Show’: “That’s the hope I think. When I first saw the film, I felt emotional but I also felt relief because I thought ‘Thank God this film is good because we’re hopefully not going to have to wait another 25 years before they let Asians make a movie.’
“It means so much to so many people. The box-office success is the cherry on top.”
In the movie, Gemma sports some very expensive jewellery, and the actress has admitted she was “paranoid the whole time” she was wearing them.
She said: “They were really expensive. There was a bodyguard following me around the whole time, making sure I didn’t drop one down the toilet.
“I was paranoid the whole time. They were worth millions.”
‘The Jonathan Ross Show’ airs on Saturday (22.09.18) at 9.50pm on ITV.

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Disney confirms Star Wars movies will ‘slow down’

OHMYGOSSIP — Disney CEO Bob Iger says there will be a “slow down” in ‘Star Wars’ releases in the coming years.
‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ – which was released in May – was a box-office flop, and Iger has now admitted the studio may have over-saturated the market following its purchase of the money-spinning franchise.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Iger shared: “I think the mistake that I made – I take the blame – was a little too much, too fast. You can expect some slowdown.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to make films. J.J. [Abrams] is busy making [Episode] ‘IX’. We have creative entities, including [‘Game of Thrones’ creators David] Benioff and [D.B.] Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven’t been specific about.
“And we are just at the point where we’re going to start making decisions about what comes next after J.J.’s. But I think we’re going to be a little bit more careful about volume and timing. And the buck stops here on that.”
Despite the underwhelming response to ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’, director Ron Howard previously insisted he’s proud of the movie.
He said on Twitter: “I’m proud of #SoloAStarWarsStory and the cast & crew worked hard to give fans a fun new addition. As a director I feel badly when people who I believe (& exit polls show) will very likely enjoy a movie… don’t see it on a big screen w/great sound. (sic)”

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Chris Cornell song unearthed for new career-spanning box set

OHMYGOSSIP — A previously unheard Chris Cornell song has been released.
The late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman’s widow Vicky is carrying on her late husband’s legacy by releasing songs on the new posthumous career-spanning album and box set, ‘Chris Cornell’, and she was able to unearth a gem in ‘When Bad Does Good’.
The track was produced, recorded, and mixed by the ‘Black Hole Sun’ hitmaker – who took his own life last May aged just 52 – and was discovered in his personal recordings archive and, without a reminder from Chris’ close friend, ‘Deadpool 2′ actor Josh Brolin, the song may never have seen the light of day.
Speaking about the forthcoming record and boxset, Vicky said: “Since Chris’ sudden passing I have put all my efforts and energy into sharing his music and legacy with his fans from all over the world.
“I felt we needed to create a special collection to represent all of him – the friend, husband and father, the risk taker and innovator, the poet and artist.
“His soaring vocals found their way into the hearts and souls of so many.
“His voice was his vision and his words were his peace.
“This album is for his fans.”
The track is one of 11 that have never been heard before.
Earlier this year, Chris’ daughter Toni shared a duet of her singing Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ – which also features on the album – with her late father to mark Father’s Day.
The late rocker’s 14-year-old girl shared a touching tribute to her dad by posting their cover of the late ‘Purple Rain’ hitmaker’s song.
Toni – who has siblings Lillian, 18, and brother Christopher, 12 – also shared an emotional message, thanking the her parent for being “the best father”, whilst admitting that she wishes she could relive the day they sang together “100 times over”.
Alongside a clip of their haunting and beautiful cover, Toni wrote on Chris’ Instagram: “Daddy, I love you and miss you so much. You were the best father anyone could ask for. Our relationship was so special, and you were always there for me. You gave me courage when I didn’t have any. You believed in me when I didn’t. I miss your love every day. Recording this song with you was a special and amazing experience I wish I could repeat 100 times over and I know you would too. Happy Father’s Day daddy, nothing compares to you. [sic]”
Vicky hosted a vigil to mark the one-year anniversary to his death on May 18 at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Forever cemetery.
‘Chris Cornell’ is released on November 26 and is available to pre-order now.

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Liam Gallagher gets birthday wishes

OHMYGOSSIP — Liam Gallagher has been hailed the “gift that keeps on giving” by his girlfriend.
The former Oasis rocker turned 46 on Friday (21.09.18) and Debbie Gwyther – who he has been in a relationship with for five years – took to Instagram to pay tribute to her “partner in crime” on his big day.
Debbie – who is also her partner’s manager – shared a throwback black and white photo of herself and Liam and captioned the image: “Happy Birthday to my partner in crime. The gift that keeps on giving… (sic)”
The ‘Wall of Glass’ singer is currently on tour in Asia and wished himself a happy birthday on Twitter in the early hours of the morning.
He wrote: “Happy bday to me what a year see you all soon as you f**king were LG x (sic)”
The ‘For What It’s Worth’ hitmaker has just completed two shows in Osaka, and apologised to fans that his vocals were off because he’s been suffering with illness, but still had a great time on the road in the Far East, especially as he also found the time to catch the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore last weekend.
He wrote: “I wanna thank the Osaka crowd for bringing it both nights I’ve been a little sick last few days so apologies if vocals were a little on the RUFF side anyways I’ve loved this Japan tour loved the GP in Singapore also see you nxt year as you fucking were LG x (sic)”
When Liam returns from tour, he’ll be working on his much-anticipated follow-up to his platinum-selling debut solo record ‘As You Were’, but he plans on going on a break after that to give his fans a chance to breathe.
Liam – who has children Molly, 21, Lennon, 19, Gene, 17 and Gemma, five, from previous relationships – said recently: “We’re halfway through the next album.
“In between touring I’ve been in LA doing the next one and I reckon it’ll be done by Christmas.
“We’re flying through it. It’s with the same guys.
“I think we’ll do these albums and then I’ll have a bit of a break and get out of everyone’s hair – and have a breather – and then do a third one if the second one goes well.”

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Bradley Wash struggles with unseen Doctor Who monsters

OHMYGOSSIP — Bradley Walsh struggled to cope with reacting to unseen monsters on ‘Doctor Who’.
The 58-year-old actor isn’t used to the style of filming – which sees a tennis ball used in place of something to be added later through CGI – and he admitted he found it very difficult when they were presented with something that hadn’t even been designed yet.
He told RadioTimes.com: “There’s nothing to react to. So I remember I walked out of wherever we were, and I had to walk out one building and come out and they said, ‘right, so you’ve gotta look at this thing and you gotta be in awe of this massive great thing.’
“And I’ve come out, and I’ve gone [he mimes awe] ‘Oh, wow!’ Next thing I hear is: ‘Cut!’ They said ‘What are you doing? What are you looking at?’ I went ‘I’m looking at the thing.’
“She went ‘No no no no no, it’s over there!’ I look back at the rushes, and I’m the only one going, ‘awwww’. I’m thinking I look like such an idiot.”
The star – who will play companion Graham O’Brien alongside Jodie Whittaker’s Time Lord in the upcoming series of the science fiction show – he admitted he wasn’t in the right frame of mind when he made the mistake.
He added: “I’m looking in totally the wrong area because I haven’t paid attention, I didn’t have it in my head what it was supposed to be. So they’re all staring that way and I’m looking at something totally different.
“And that’s what happens. You don’t actually know, because they haven’t green screened it yet, the monster hasn’t been developed. They’ll put it in after, basically.”

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Nadiya Hussain would ‘love’ I’m A Celebrity stint

OHMYGOSSIP — Nadiya Hussain would “love” to appear on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’
The ‘Great British Bake Off’ champion – who won the show in 2015 – would be up for the challenge of adding Queen of the Jungle to her previous reality TV triumph.
Speaking to HuffPost for BUILD, Nadiya said she’d be delighted to take part, and added: “I’m scared to fly out of a plane and stuff, but my goodness, give me a jug of blitzed up balls. No problem, I’ll have ’em!”
The 33-year-old baker explained she’d be well prepared for the eating challenges because “there’s nothing” her family doesn’t eat.
She said: “It’s fun! When we first got married my husband said that eating at my parents’ house was like an episode of ‘Fear Factor’ because we eat everything…
“We grew up on eating brains and liver and tongue and all sorts of stuff, so for me… I’ll drink it… Give me the money! Yeah, no problem.”
Nadiya recently revealed how she used to stay away from situations that made her nervous, but now she pushes herself to face her fears and do things that “scare the life” out of her.
Speaking about her struggles with anxiety on ‘Sunday Brunch’, she said: “It’s that feeling of… The only way I can describe it is, before I did ‘Bake Off’, I never really understood what it was like to be on the other side of fear.
“I always kind of stayed away from being scared. So, if something scared me, or frightened me, or I thought it was going to make me feel anxious, I’d avoid it completely.
“So now if somebody says, ‘Do you want to do that?’ I’m like, ‘That scares the life out of me… yes, I’ll do it’.
“And so, it’s that feeling of being on the other side, and I think that when you have anxiety, you’ve got to push yourself and say you know what, I can be on the other side of fear.”

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ITV bosses ‘eyeing some of the BBC’s most popular shows’

OHMYGOSSIP — ITV bosses are reportedly plotting a move to snatch some of the BBC’s most popular shows.
Hit programmes such as ‘MasterChef’, ‘Pointless’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ are all being eyed by the broadcaster, which wants to buy Endemol Shine.
The company – which is valued at around £3 billion – is responsible for some of the most popular shows on British TV, including ‘Big Brother’, which was axed by Channel 5 last week.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: “The BBC and other channels will be watching closely.
“They might lose some of their key shows. And ‘Big Brother’ might find a new place on ITV now.”
ITV made a similar move in 2015, when the broadcaster splashed out £355 million to buy Talpa Media, the production company behind ‘The Voice’.
The buyout eventually led to the show making the switch from the BBC to ITV.
Rumours of ITV’s interest in Endemol Shine have emerged shortly after Sky and Channel 4 both insisted they have no plans to acquire ‘Big Brother’.
When asked whether it would ever air ‘Big Brother’ again, Channel 4 – which dropped the show in 2009 – insisted that it will not be back on the channel.
A message on Channel 4’s Twitter account read: “Hi there, there are no intentions to air #BigBrother on Channel 4 again. (sic)”
And replying to a Twitter user, Sky’s account recently said: “Good Afternoon, there are no plans for Sky One to show Big Brother I’m afraid. (sic)”

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Isla Fisher cast alongside Steve Coogan in Greed

OHMYGOSSIP — Isla Fisher has reportedly been cast alongside Steve Coogan and David Mitchell in ‘Greed’.
The 42-year-old actress will begin filming the Michael Winterbottom-directed movie with the comedic duo in Europe later this year.
In the upcoming film, Coogan will play the part of a self-absorbed retail billionaire, according to Deadline, which reports that Isla will appear as his on-screen wife.
Isla’s character is said to be the only person who can truly understand the businessman and his complex personality.
Winterbottom is helming the movie on behalf of Film 4 and Sony International.
But before ‘Greed’ is released in cinemas, Isla will next be appearing in the comedy film ‘The Beach Bum’, which also stars the likes of Zac Efron, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey.
Meanwhile, Isla – who is married to British comedy star Sacha Baron Cohen – recently admitted she respects her husband even more since they worked together.
The actress – who has kids Olive, 10, Elula, eight, and Montgomery, three, with Sacha – shared the screen with her husband in 2016’s ‘Grimsby’ and she subsequently admitted there’s no one she’d rather make a movie with.
She said: “We had a really fun time [on ‘Grimsby’]. We shared a trailer. And it was just hilarious.
“Obviously I always respected him, but having been around so many big comedy stars and seeing how they improvise and stuff – and then to work with my husband and see him be the best improv comedian I’ve ever worked with, I loved it.”

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How To Train Your Dragon 3 will be last

OHMYGOSSIP — ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ will not get another instalment after the third.
The film’s director Dean DeBlois has confirmed that the forthcoming movie ‘The Hidden World’ will be the last to feature in the franchise as him and his team of writers believe they’ve managed to draw the blockbuster to a close for good.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly magazine, he said: “We thought about it for a long time and came up with what we think is a bittersweet way to say goodbye to these characters, but the right way. You will understand why Hiccup says, as you heard in the trailer, ‘There were dragons when I was a boy.’ And by the end of this film, you’ll have answered the question [of] what could have happened to them.”
Fans have been waiting for ‘How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ to drop since 2016 when bosses announced a 2017 release date before pushing it back to 2018 and then, most recently, delaying it until March next year.
In 2015, DreamWorks Animation chief Jeffrey Katzenberg said the biggest issue with scheduling times was due to the restructuring of DreamWorks – the movie production company – and conceded that the three-films-a-year plan was very ambitious.
The original ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ came to screens in 2010 and was a considerable success.
The movie introduced Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a misfit teenager who studies at a dragon-fighting school – and he tries to prove that he is a true Viking.
‘How To Train Your Dragon 2’, meanwhile, was released in 2014 and saw Hiccup off on another adventure to discover unexplored lands.
The third instalment will see F. Murray Abraham play villain Grimmel as he joins Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, America Ferrara and Kit Harington, who have already lent their voices to characters in the hit franchise.

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Sir Rod Stewart: I was born to be a show-off

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Rod Stewart thinks he was “born to be a show-off”.
The 73-year-old singer has claimed he was always destined for a career on the stage, admitting he loves performing in front of an audience and being in the spotlight.
In A Letter To My Younger Self in The Big Issue magazine, he shared: “The idea of being splashed all over the tabloids for years – that wouldn’t bother the young Rod.
“He’d love the thought of all that attention. He was born to be a show-off. With a nose and haircut like that there was nothing he could have been but a rock star.
“I always say that to Ronnie Wood. What else could we have been? We weren’t going to work in Sainsbury’s, that’s for sure. There’s nothing wrong with working in Sainsbury’s by the way.”
Rod also admitted to surprising himself with his own longevity.
He said the “16-year-old Rod wouldn’t believe I’m still doing this at 73”.
The ‘Maggie May’ hitmaker added: “He would be totally surprised that I’m absolutely still enjoying it as much now as I did back then. And I mean that, it’s not bull***t.”
Despite the success he’s enjoyed during his career, Rod previously admitted to hating songwriting at one point in time.
He confessed: “I used to hate [songwriting]. It was like being at school, ‘Come on, Stewart, you’ve got to finish the lyrics!’ – and you’d get kicked into a room with a bottle of wine.”

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Kylie Minogue to perform at Glastonbury 2019?

OHMYGOSSIP — Kylie Minogue has been booked to perform at next year’s Glastonbury Festival.
The 50-year-old pop princess was scheduled to hit the stage at the music extravaganza, held near Pilton, Somerset, England, 12 years ago but was forced to pull out a month before when she discovered that she had breast cancer.
However, more than a decade on, the ‘Spinning Around’ hitmaker will finally get her chance to perform solo at the five-day festival as she has reportedly been secured for the Legends slot on the Pyramid stage on the Sunday night.
A festival insider told The Sun newspaper: “Kylie had to pull out of Glastonbury in 2005 just a month before she was due to appear so this performance will be a very emotional and poignant moment for her. She jumped at the opportunity to appear next year and it is the perfect way to celebrate her career.”
Kylie has made no secret of the fact that she’d love to perform at Glastonbury and admitted in July that it would be a very “emotional” show for her to do.
She said at the time: “When I was supposed to do it I think I would have been the first solo female to headline in however many years it was, so I was really proud of that at that time. Obviously it didn’t happen.
“So yes, it would be amazing and very emotional to be standing there and doing what I didn’t get to do all those years ago, for sure.”
Kylie does have some experience when it comes to entertaining the Glastonbury crowd as she appeared on stage with the Scissor Sisters back in 2010.
Meanwhile, organiser Emily Eavis recently teased that the artist set to headline on the Sunday night was not British – putting Kylie, who is Australia, in the mix.
She said: “I can’t tell you, but I’ll give you a clue: it’s a female. She is not British, but I can’t give you any more clues because it will get me into trouble.”

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Ashley Roberts dated Shirley Ballas’ son

OHMYGOSSIP — Ashley Roberts used to date Shirley Ballas’ son.
The former Pussycat Dolls singer has only just slipped into her ballroom and latin shoes for this year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, but it looks like she’s already concerned that her personal life may jeopardise her chances of securing the famous Glitterball Trophy as she and head judge Shirley already know one another rather well as she romanced her son Mark back in 2010.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “Mark and Ashley enjoyed a number of cosy dates but decided they would be better off as friends.
“You have to wonder, given their background, whether it will make things awkward for Shirley to judge Ashley.”
Ashley and Mark first met one another in 2008 but it wasn’t until 2010 – when her band mate Nicole Scherzinger competed on the American version ‘Dancing With the Stars’ – that they really decided to give their relationship a go.
A source said at the time: “Ballas hung out in a VIP section and cosied up to Ashley. He was a gracious host and made sure all the guests were having fun.”
However, their romance was short lived and their busy careers – which often saw Ashley working in the UK – meant that things fizzled out between them.
Mark then went on to date singer-songwriter BC Jean and they married in 2016, while Ashley – who has remained friendly with him – is still single at the moment.
The 36-year-old singer hasn’t had the easiest time since she was confirmed for ‘SCD’ as many people claimed she had an advantage due to her dance training.
However, Shirley – who took over from Len Goodman as head judge last year – is adamant that her dance background doesn’t mean she’ll be good at ballroom.
She said last month: “She did some hip-hop. Everyone danced a bit during their careers. It’s a whole different story when it comes to ballroom or latin.”

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Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams name son Theodore

OHMYGOSSIP — Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams have named their baby son Theodore.
The former ‘Made in Chelsea’ star and the 32-year-old Irish DJ welcomed their little boy into the world at the beginning of this month and have now announced that they’ve given him the sweet traditional moniker, which they plan to shorten to Teddy in the future, after they fell in love with it as soon as they heard it.
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Vogue said: “We heard the name Theodore one day and both loved it. We thought we would call him Teddy but since he has been born we have stayed with Theodore rather than shortening it.”
The couple – who got married in a secret ceremony earlier this year – have also given the tiny tot two middle names – Frederick after Vogue’s late father and Michael after Spencer’s brother who died in 1999 while climbing Mount Everest.
Spencer, 29, explained: “His name lives on in our family and always will do.”
And, although he’s less than two weeks old, Vogue can already tell that Theodore is a “mini Spencer” because he has dark brown hair and bright blue eyes.
She said: “He is a mini Spencer. I remember seeing lots of dark hair, and thinking, ‘that’s just like his dad’. He has his dimples too, and deep blue eyes.”
The pair are so in love with their little bundle that they’d love three more kids.
Vogue explained: “The most life-changing thing we have ever done is to have Theodore, he is my biggest ever achievement.”
Spencer added: “Perhaps we’d like three more.
“We can’t wait to crack on and enlarge our family as much as we can. For now though I can’t imagine life being better than this.”
However, Vogue may want to wait a little while as she has admitted the birth of Theodore didn’t go according to plan and she almost had a C-section.
She said: “There were a few little hiccups, but it was perfect.”
Spencer concluded: “Obviously Vogue did all of the hard work and I have nothing but love and respect for how she dealt with it all in the most admirable way.”
The full interview is available in this week’s HELLO! magazine, out now.

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Zoe Ball to land Radio 2 Breakfast Show

OHMYGOSSIP — Zoe Ball is set to take over from Chris Evans on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
The ‘Strictly: It Takes Two’ presenter is said to be in “advanced negotiations” to move from her Saturday afternoon slot to take the “job of a lifetime”, which would make her the first woman to host both the Radio 1 and Radio 2 flagship morning programmes.
However, Zoe – who was left devastated when boyfriend Billy Yates took his own life last year – is said to have held back on signing the contract while she figures out how to make the position work alongside her family life in Brighton, where she lives with children Woody, 17, and eight-year-old Nelly, who she has with former spouse Norman Cook.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “We are in advanced negotiations with Zoe to replace Chris. A contract hasn’t been signed and her new pay hasn’t yet been agreed…
“The offer is on the table if Zoe wants the gig. She’s fully aware it’s the job of a lifetime. For her, being the first woman to host both the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast show is a massive deal.
“But it’s been a tough year for her and she’s got over Billy’s passing by throwing herself into work. She’s only just found the perfect balance, so this offer coming her way has shocked her. She’d love to do it but she’s putting the family first.”
The news is said to have come as a shock to Sara Cox, who had spoken openly of her desire to take the job and move from her 10pm evening slot, but she’s second choice if Zoe, 47, turns down the offer.
The source added: “Zoe was our number one choice and has been offered the job. If Zoe turns it down it will be offered to Sara, guaranteeing there will be a female hosting our flagship radio show for the first time.”
Earlier this month, Chris revealed he is leaving BBC Radio 2’s ‘The Breakfast Show’, which he’s helmed for eight years after taking over from Sir Terry Wogan, at the end of the year, to return to his “spiritual home” of Virgin Radio.
He said in a statement: “In many ways Virgin Radio is my spiritual home. I see nothing but exciting and groundbreaking opportunities ahead. In a medium that is changing so quickly on a daily basis, the potential for growth is unprecedented.
“Our plan is, to give it all we’ve got, see where we can get to and have the most possible fun along the way. It makes me smile every time I think about it.”
The broadcaster hosted Virgin’s breakfast show from 1997 until 2001 when he was sacked by the Scottish Media Group, which bought the station in 2000, for “breach of contract” after he failed to turn up for work for the sixth day in succession.
The station, which Chris once owned, went on to be rebranded as Absolute Radio in 2008 before Virgin was given a new lease of life in 2016 when Sir Richard Branson relaunched Virgin Radio UK as a digital station.
Chris will front Virgin Radio UK’s Breakfast Show from early next year.

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