James Corden quits as host of A League of Their Own
AFTER nine years hosting sports panel show A League Of Their Own, James Corden is to give someone else a go. I can reveal he faces a spell on the sidelines during the upcoming series due to a filming clash. It means for the first time in the hit Sky One show’s history, James won’t […]
AFTER nine years hosting sports panel show A League Of Their Own, James Corden is to give someone else a go.
I can reveal he faces a spell on the sidelines during the upcoming series due to a filming clash.
It means for the first time in the hit Sky One show’s history, James won’t be at the helm for a few episodes. He will be replaced by a number of guest hosts.
A source said: “James loves A League Of Their Own and has always ensured he’s been able to appear while his career booms in the States.
“But this summer, work commitments mean he cannot make all of the shows. Hopefully next year he’ll return to normal as he misses everybody involved.” James has been a huge success in the US thanks to his hosting gig on The Late Late Show.
His popular Carpool Karaoke segment has become a viral phenomenon which attracts the world’s biggest music stars.
James has described A League Of Their Own as “the greatest job in the world” and has always maintained his desire to be involved.
He said: “When I got offered the show in America, the first thing I said was, ‘I have this show in the UK that I love doing and as long as I’m working in America, I’d love to keep doing this show’.
“It’s an absolute luxury to do something I love and I’m rewarded for. A League Of Their Own has been incredible to me.”
James has been ever-present since its creation in 2010 alongside the team captains, Ashes hero Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff and former Liverpool and Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp.
The show boasted impressive ratings last year, despite the loss of regular panellist Jack Whitehall, who was replaced by fellow comedian Romesh Ranganathan.
At least James doesn’t have to see Romesh in a wetsuit for another year.
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Don’t step on her blue fade hues
DOUBLE denim is bad enough, but I can barely count how many pieces Rita Ora is wearing.
The singer stood out like a sore thumb in the outfit, designed by Diesel, for a night out with friends in New York.
She arrived in the Big Apple over the weekend after completing the Asian leg of her Phoenix tour. She kicks off the UK leg in Cardiff on May 21.
Rita is spending time in the US promoting her latest track Only Want You, and she performed live on NBC’s Today Show yesterday. But her trip mixed business with pleasure, as she also caught up with her music producer boyfriend Andrew Watt.
I told you last week that they had rekindled their romance following a split last October.
Good timing indeed.
NOW OR NEVER, SHAWN
THREE albums down, Shawn Mendes is going into movies.
During a question and answer session with fans in Turin, Italy, the singer revealed he was in talks for a film and said: “I think there will be one sooner than you guys think.”
Shawn, who is currently on tour around Europe, revealed last year he would “love” to do a biopic of Elvis Presely. And he got plenty of practise last month when he starred in a US TV tribute to the It’s Now Or Never legend alongside Post Malone and Carrie Underwood.
The trio put their own spin on the Elvis belter If I Can Dream.
I hope Shawn looks good in a sequinned jumpsuit.
Making an Kim-pression
WEARING a silk dress to lounge on her stairs appears to be normal for Kim Kardashian.
The leggy reality show icon posted the snap on Instagram.
But staying in was probably a good idea due to her husband Kanye West causing trouble earlier in the day. Los Angeles police arrived after neighbours complained about the rapper’s religious “Sunday Service” in the back garden.
It featured a gospel choir and orchestra plus guests including Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and Courtney Love.
REVIEW:
I SENT Bizarre reporter Joe Kasper to watch Childish Gambino as he prepares to put an end to the alter ego for ever . . .
AS soon as the gig began, it was easy to see why it was packed to the rafters.
Very early into the set the US rapper – real name Donald Glover – ordered fans to “put your phones down” which was a game changer in giving a bouncing atmosphere.
And hits like Worldstar, Feels Like Summer and 3005 had the audience doing exactly that.
But it was This Is America, a song which put him on the map in the UK when it was released last year, that really gripped the crowd.
Performing the whole 75-minute set topless was a smart decision as his body- bending, chest-pumping and sometimes camp dance moves brought on a sweaty torso.
He made sure it was extra special by popping up among seated fans to rap sections of the show, with cameras following him around the arena to give a rare insight backstage.
Sadly it will be his last tour under his Childish Gambino alias. But he definitely went out with a bang.
★★★★☆
Fears after Gary stage collapse
THE Full Monty play went from being a comedy to a horror show when its star Gary Lucy was taken ill on stage.
The EastEnders, Hollyoaks and The Bill favourite passed out just ten minutes into the first act at the Liverpool Empire theatre, sending the performance into chaos.
The incident forced the production to an abrupt halt and co-stars had to step in to help him off stage before Gary’s understudy was drafted in.
A theatre source said of the incident on Friday: “It was quite dramatic and it seemed like Gary was pretty unwell.
“Audience members were understandably quite worried, there were audible gasps in the room.”
A spokeswoman for Gary said last night: “He is pretty poorly with tonsillitis and a chest infection so has had to take a couple of days off work with medication.”
Gary has had a rough few months after splitting from his wife of four years, Natasha, in November.
Their relationship had been in serious trouble for a year and hit breaking point when she confronted him about his wild partying. Natasha, who has two children with Gary, decided to give him a final chance to turn things around last September, but the marriage couldn’t be saved.
Biz Bit
TOM WALKER is to play his biggest UK and Irish headline tour after his album What A Time To Be Alive became the fastest-selling debut in two years. Tickets for the 11 October and November shows go on sale on Friday.
Wright as rain
MARK WRIGHT is loving the best and worst of the British weather since quitting his Los Angeles TV presenting job to return to Essex.
He said: “I love it. I missed the rain when I was there so I’m not regretting it one bit.
“Since moving back I haven’t missed being in America. I thought I was going to because I used to when I would come back to visit.”
Rain or shine, I’m sure he’s just pleased to be reunited with wife Michelle Keegan.
Biz Bit
MTV’s 26th annual European Music Awards will be held in Seville, Spain, on November 3. Last year saw performances from Nicki Minaj, Little Mix, Halsey, Janet Jackson and Jason Derulo.
Instaglam
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BIZ METER
HAVING waited almost 27 years since he last topped the charts as a solo artist with his self-titled debut, MICHAEL BALL is heading to No1 with his new album. Coming Home To You was last night 4,000 sales ahead of the No2 in the mid-week chart, JACK SAVORETTI’s Singing To Strangers.
ZARA LARSSON has announced a series of intimate shows in celebration of new single Don’t Worry Bout Me, which is out on Friday. She will play the Albert Hall in Manchester on May 21 and London’s Electric Brixton on May 22 before heading to mainland Europe.
CAPTAIN Marvel topped the box office for the third week with takings of £3.5million. The superhero film starring BRIE LARSON has made £30million to date. In second place was horror movie Us. Directed by JORDAN PEELE and featuring Oscar-winner LUPITA NYONG’O, it pulled in £2.8million.
STEVIE WONDER will headline Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park on Saturday, July 6, along with special guest LIONEL RICHIE. The news completes an opening weekend filled with superstars, with CELINE DION on Friday and BARBRA STREISAND on Sunday.
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