FAMOUS people and bats don’t mix.
Whether it’s causing delays building their mega-mansions, like with Gary Barlow, boxer Tyson Fury and actress Rose Leslie, or being eaten alive by Ozzy Osbourne . . . there is always some kind of issue.
Now the poor old flittermouses are getting the brunt of it again, this time from the production team working on the new Bridget Jones film, Mad About The Boy.
I’m told that when star Renee Zellweger and the team headed to film in Keswick, in the Lake District, there was a right to-do from local bat experts about the impact the production would have on the mammals’ population.
A source said: “Filming ended up being paused by some bat experts who raised concerns about the local bat population and how they could be affected.
“Apparently they were worried about whether the bats could be disturbed, which made for a right old headache.
“An agreement was reached but it has become a running joke on the set. In the middle of fields in the Lake District, no one expected any issues.”
I revealed last month how some locals in trendy North London had been moaning about filming taking over their areas.
A posh part of Hampstead, home to the likes of Harry Styles and Rami Malek, saw residents up in arms after being sent letters about not disturbing filming.
At the time, a local got in touch and told me: “It’s gone down like a lead balloon with some of the normal people who live and work there. It’s like they’re being held hostage by Bridget and it’s driving everyone mad.”
Luckily for Renee and her co-stars, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, locals and tourists in the Lakes were thrilled when she arrived — just not the bats.
Jon is hard to b-lee-ve
S CLUB’s Jon Lee clearly Don’t Stop Movin’ in the gym judging by his physique on stage.
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The Never Had A Dream Come True singer wore this multi-coloured outfit, as did with his bandmates Rachel Stevens, Jo O’Meara, Bradley McIntosh and Tina Barrett, during a performance at Brighton Pride on Sunday.
It’s been 25 years since S Club burst on to the music scene, but Jon’s looking better than ever.
All that reaching for the stars has done him wonders.
NOT THE DAVE I EXPECT AT A FEST
I’VE seen many odd sights at festivals, but Jeremy Clarkson and former PM David Cameron in a dance tent isn’t one of them.
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But that is what revellers got at Wilderness Festival in the Cotswolds on Sunday night.
An onlooker told me: “Among the madness of the moshing revellers, Jeremy and David were standing in the crowd.
“It was mayhem in there so they beat a retreat and went into another area where they sat down and talked. People who spotted them couldn’t believe their eyes.”
TAYLOR SWIFT will be back here next week for the start of five sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium and as well as Paramore every night, Sofia Isella will support her on August 15, Holly Humberstone will open for her on August 16, Suki Waterhouse the following night, Maisie Peters on August 19 and Raye on August 20.
WILL: ‘I WAS A MACHINE’
HE is two decades into a stellar career and preparing for a sell-out tour later this year.
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But Will Young has spoken about the cost of fame, explaining his late brother Rupert tearfully confronted him about how he had become like a “machine” after years in showbiz.
Recalling the conversation with his twin, who died in 2020, Will, said: “I maybe became a bit too steely and I remember my late brother saying to me, ‘You’ve become a bit cold’ because I think I was so shut off to it.
“I remember it was so sad. I could well up about it because he was crying. He was like, ‘I don’t understand what has happened’.
“I think I was so focused in my head. I was like, ‘You’ve got to get through these five years to have a career’.
“So all the crap, all that stuff, I think that made me a little bit machine-like. I wanted to be a famous singer from the age of four [and then] my first gig was at Wembley.”
In a conversation with Rylan Clark for his How To Be In The Spotlight podcast, out today, ahead of the release of his ninth album Light It Up this Friday, Will added: “I don’t know if I like the spotlight off the stage.
“On the stage, I want it all. My ego’s massive. Off stage, I couldn’t want it less.”
LILY COLLINS is used to playing a ditzy American in TV’s Emily In Paris and now she’s doing it again . . . in London’s West End.
She has been cast in new play Barcelona, opposite Spanish actor Alvaro Morte, who appeared in Sydney Sweeney’s film Immaculate.
Much as she does in the Netflix show, Lily, will play a US tourist who ends up going home with a hot local.
However, far from the frivolous nature of Emily In Paris, the stakes are raised when things take a dark turn here, so she’ll get the chance to test her acting chops.
Barcelona will run at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre from October 21 until January 11.
Gary Mans decks
WE’VE seen footballers including Jack Grealish and Djibril Cisse have a spin on the decks.
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Now Gary Neville has joined their club after getting up on stage with Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess for a set at Kendal Calling in Cumbria.
Insiders have told me the former Man United player drew one of the biggest crowds of the four-day event, which also saw Paul Heaton, The Streets and Paolo Nutini perform.
A source said: “Gary was so nervous before he went on stage but it turns out he is a natural.
“He has amazing chemistry with Tim. They’re bound to play together again because it went down a storm.”
Before the gig, Gary admitted: “I’m actually DJing with Tim at Kendal Calling.What the hell am I doing? I’m trying to wangle my way out of it, but I can’t once I’ve said yes to something.”
Gary previously went up on stage at a Charlatans gig in 2015, where he played guitar on their song Just When You’re Thinkin’ Things Over.
I look forward to seeing this pair again together soon.
This year Kendal Calling, next year . . . Glasto?
One for the Chaps
CHAPPELL ROAN is putting up a fight when it comes to the charts, so it was apt that she wore a wrestling mask on stage.
If you haven’t heard of her yet, she is an American singer-songwriter who is quickly becoming a global phenomenon – and her album is heading to the top spot on Friday.
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She has become known for her striking stage outfits and this one at Lollapalooza festival in Chicago at the weekend was no different.
According to figures from Official Charts yesterday, her debut album Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess is set to go to No1 this week, nearly a year after it came out, when it didn’t even crack the Top 100.
And her latest single, Good Luck, Babe! was at No2 last week and is expected to stay there.
She wrote on Instagram: “I was crying as I walked on stage at Lollapalooza because of the overwhelming support. Thank you thank you thank you. I will remember this for ever.”
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I CAN reveal Lil Silva and Shy One will headline the Red Bull Selector at Notting Hill Carnival.
The new event will take place at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, in West London, on Sunday August 25.
Fans will be able to curate their own music selection on the day. I’m getting good pub jukebox vibes.
SAM BARES HIS SOUL
SAM FENDER is showing his vulnerable side on the first taste of his upcoming third album.
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The Seventeen Going Under singer, inset, who hails from North Shields, Tyne and Wear, played an intimate show in Plymouth at the weekend and premiered his track People Watching, where he touched on feelings of loneliness.
He sings: “I people watch on the way back home, envious at the glimmer of hope.
“Give me a break from feeling alone, give me a moment out of the evil.
“I used to feel so invincible, I used to feel there was a world worth dreaming of.
“Back in the glassworks, screaming the song. Just the beauty of you would weld my aching heart.”
Sounds like he needs to get himself signed up to Tinder.
MADGE’S LAD £4k FOR SONG
I TOLD last month how Madonna‘s son David Banda was charging £155 for virtual guitar lessons, and now he’s got an even more lucrative money making scheme on the go.
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As the offspring of one of music’s biggest sellers, who wrote songs including Hung Up, Into The Groove and La Isla Bonita, the teenager is offering the chance for anyone to meet him and write tracks – for a hefty price tag.
For one-off sessions online David is charging £3,900 ($5,000).
Sharing a link on his Instagram account, he wrote: “Write a somg [sic] with me in person, limited time only from 8-28 Sept!”
David followed that up with a message that said: “To write a song, excuse my writing.”
With spelling like that, I’m not holding my breath for scoring a big hit from these sessions . . .