THE Christmas decorations are already on the shelves at the garden centre near my flat in Basildon.
But if you are still not convinced that Santa is on his way, I have two words for you: Mariah Carey.
The All I Want For Christmas Is You singer is heading back to the UK for a handful of concert dates to coincide with the festive season.
Insiders told me the American megastar, who on Friday announced a series of US dates, will soon be following up with British gigs.
It would be the first time Mariah has shown off her pipes over here since she played three huge dates at London’s Royal Albert Hall back in 2019.
A source said: “Mariah has been so busy with her Las Vegas residency, but her team are putting together some really special dates which will see her performing in the UK, as well as the US.
“It’s been a long time in the planning, but Mariah is finally coming back to British soil.
Festive favourite
“She absolutely loved her three shows at the RAH and it has been five long years since she was last here.
“Fans will be given more details soon, but if they need a bit of early Christmas spirit, Mariah is bringing it by the bucket-load.”
Friends of mine were in the crowd to watch Mariah perform at the RAH and they said she was absolutely incredible.
Her Las Vegas residency — The Celebration Of Mimi Live — has proved to be a massive success. Her current run there ends on August 10.
Mariah will then kick off her US shows in California on November 6, before finishing the run in New York on December 17.
The We Belong Together star’s diary is then clear until New Year’s Eve, and she will return to Sin City for another eight shows in the Dolby Live theatre in early 2025.
Although the gigs feature some of Mariah’s biggest hits — which include 24 Top Ten singles plus No 1s Against All Odds and Without You — there is always a nod to All I Want For Christmas Is You.
The festive favourite last year broke the record to become the most streamed Spotify song in a single day, notching up 23.8million listens.
And the busy singer practises what she preaches, having revealed: “Christmas is very real to me.
“I love it more than anything.”
Crack open the mulled wine and count me in, Mariah.
Get extra bucks in the fizz
EUROVISION winners Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston are looking for two new blokes to join The Fizz – and it could be you.
Well, as long as you are in your forties, between 5ft 7” and 5ft 11” tall, slim and fair-haired.
After Bobby G and Mike Nolan both stepped back from music, the ladies are looking for two new members to join the band for their upcoming tour.
Posting an advert on their official website, Cheryl and Jay said the duo must have “singing and vocal harmony experience” but conceded “basic dance skills” was all that would be required.
On top of that, anyone who fancies auditioning has to have their own car and a driving licence because as well as performing, it seems whoever the lucky blokes are will also be lumbered with ferrying them around.
Oh, and ideally you’ll be based in South East London
Who thought being a musician was glamorous, eh?
Auditions are taking place on September 10.
Good luck, chaps.
Alesha the gal of the gala
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ALESHA DIXON was all smiles as she partied at the GRM Gala in London.
She wore a black dress embroidered with bright flowers at the bash, which celebrates black excellence in the UK music and entertainment industry.
The singer was in good company, as she rubbed shoulders with Wretch 32, Giggs, Ghetts and Ms Banks.
I’m told the party went on into the early hours yesterday, with a free bar of Hennessy and Belvedere cocktails making for some pretty rough hangovers.
DJ Nick’s Ibiza party with mum
NICK GRIMSHAW loves a party. And to mark his 40th birthday, he is going all out with a bash to remember . . . or forget, depending on how boozy things get.
The ex-Radio 1 DJ will celebrate his milestone in just under a fortnight and is heading to Ibiza to hit the hedonistic nightclubs there – along with his mum Eileen, who has just turned 81.
Nick said : “We’re going on a family holiday there this year, for my birthday.
“So me and all the Grimmys. We’ve got everyone from age seven, all the way up to 81. So there’s going to be 12 of us there.
“We’re going to be basing it around big outdoor lunches . . . and we’re going to do one night out, I think in DC10 [nightclub]. It feels like the one which is the most foreign, in the best way. I ain’t getting that in London.”
Can kids fix Oasis?
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EVRERY man and his dog is desperate for an OASIS reunion. And it turns out Liam Gallagher‘s son Gene and Noel’s daughter Anais are also pushing for the feuding brothers to kiss and make up.
In an interview with Sunday Times Style mag, Gene said: “It’s nothing to do with me. Will they?. I‘d love it but it’s beyond my control. I get the feeling my dad wants it too.”
Asked whether he and Anais could stage an intervention, Gene admitted: “They’re both way too smart for that – it would never work.
“We have jokes about it but we don’t go at it. She knows what her dad’s like and I know what my dad’s like. Hey, we’re a big happy family everyone.”
If anyone can force Liam and Noel’s hands, it would be their kids.
The week in bizzness
TOMORROW: James Jordan, Kelvin Fletcher, Brian McFadden, Mark Foster, Danny Walters and John Inversale will be among a selection of well-known amateur golfers taking part in the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall in Warwickshire
WEDNESDAY: Justin Timberlake kicks off the British leg of his Forget Tomorrow world tour following uncertainty about whether it would go ahead after his arrest earlier this year for alleged drink-driving in exclusive US resort The Hamptons.
The singer will start things off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, ahead of a date at Co-op Live in Manchester and two at The O2 in London.
THURSDAY: Multi-sensory festival Boomtown Fair returns to Hampshire’s Matterley Bowl for a 16th year. with performances from Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective as well as SBTRKT, Ghetts, Damian Marley and Seaford Mods.
FRIDAY: Katy Perry is back with the second single from her new album 143, called Lifetimes, which is a brilliant slice of uplifting dance-pop. Also due out is Will Young’s ninth studio album Light It Up.
NEXT year is gearing up to be huge for Fontaines D.C. The Irish group have announced their biggest headline show to date and will be playing a one-off show at London’s Finsbury Park on July 5.
The show will support their new record, Romance, which comes out on August 23. Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Wednesday, before the general sale starts on Friday at 10am.
I’ll see you there.
WILDERNESS Festival was the place to be over the weekend, with stars including Sophie Turner, Daisy Ridley, Jaime Winstone and Chloe Delevigne all seen partying in the VIP area.
The IHG Hotel In The Wild pop up was rocking thanks to beatboxer Kimmy Beatbox, with a free bar, alfresco bedroom and huge outside bathtub.