Two Brit Award nominees among the frontrunners to represent the UK at Eurovision 2023
THE UK’s Eurovision entry will be a woman for the first time in five years – with two rising stars among the front runners.
I’ve learnt that bosses in charge of our act have put together a shortlist including Brit Award nominees Mimi Webb and RinaI Sawayama.
They will be hoping to do one better than Sam Ryder, who achieved huge commercial success after coming second for the UK with the song Space Man at last year’s contest.
A music insider said: “There were discussions with lots of people for the UK entry but it has been whittled down to about four women, with Mimi and Rina among them.
“It is a tough process to make sure it is the perfect act with the ideal song for the contest, so no one has been rushing through the plans.
“But a decision will be made in the next few days and the UK act will be announced in a couple of weeks.
“Sam proved Eurovision can be the making of an incredible career so there are high hopes for our act.”
In the past 15 years, the UK has finished last four times, all with male artists.
Mimi has established herself as a promising star, having already achieved a string of chart hits ahead of the release of her debut album Amelia next Friday.
She will tour throughout Europe next month before a sold out run of shows in the UK in April.
But her diary is currently empty for May, as is Rina’s, leaving them both free for a fortnight of promo and rehearsals leading up to the grand final in Liverpool on May 13.
Rina has put out two albums and collaborated with the likes of Sir Elton John and Lady Gaga.
Her latest release Hold The Girl went to No3 when it was released in September.
The ladies went head to head in the Best New Artist category at the Brits earlier this month but lost out to rock duo Wet Leg.
Let’s hope they have more luck on the Eurovision stage, whoever it may be.
Rob down to a T, Rach
ROBBIE WILLIAMS outed himself as an S Club 7 fan – and now Rachel Stevens has returned the favour.
The She’s The One singer this week posted a video on Instagram of him dancing to the group’s 2001 hit Don’t Stop Movin’ in his dressing room before a show in Berlin.
He previously wore a jumper featuring the band members’ surnames, which has spurred S Club’s Rachel to have this T-shirt made honouring his group Take That.
Robbie approved, commenting: “Much love babe x”
I imagine he will be front and centre when S Club hit the road for their reunion tour in October.
Junior dropped
PETER ANDRE and Katie Price’s son Junior has found out the hard way that the music business can be a fickle friend.
I can reveal the budding singer has split from Columbia Records, with the major label deciding not to renew its licensing deal with the singer after his debut tune Slide peaked at No 72 last year.
He had been label mates with the likes of Adele, Diplo and DJ duo Camelphat.
Bosses at Columbia had hoped to turn Junior into the British Justin Bieber after his follower count on social media rocketed during lockdown.
But he struggled to emulate the success of Sorry singer Justin’s debut Baby.
But all is not lost for Junior after he landed his first festival bookings.
He will play Shutdown – the UK’s largest under-18s festival – in Sunderland later today.
He is also set to take to the stage at Camp Bestival in August.
The music industry can be a brutal place, and even the likes of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry were dropped at the start of their careers.
Junior’s musical inspiration, Bruno Mars, also came a cropper when he was axed from Motown after just a few months.
Hopefully, Junior can turn this setback into a success.
Suki glows in green
SUKI WATERHOUSE is making her co-stars green with envy.
The model, singer and actress showed off her trim frame in a plunging leotard and sheer cape at the premiere of her new Amazon Prime series Daisy Jones and the Six.
Suki plays the role of Karen Sirko alongside leads Riley Keough and Sam Claflin.
Hollywood beauty Reese Witherspoon has produced the show and was also at the launch event in Los Angeles.
Suki recently gushed over finding The One with Twilight actor Robert Pattinson, who she has now been with for almost five years.
She said: “I’m always incredibly excited when I see his name pop up on my phone or even a text, and I think he feels the same about me. We’ve always got so much to say, and I find him hilarious.”
James to stay silent
THE VAMPS’ James McVey has to keep his mouth shut for three weeks – after finding a lesion on his vocal cords.
The bassist says he won’t be able to sing on the band’s European tour, starting next Tuesday, because he is on vocal rest in a desperate bid to avoid surgery.
In a post on Instagram, the former I’m A Celeb star said: “I’ve damaged my vocal cords pretty badly.
“They found a vocal polyp that’s been bleeding on and off.
“Polyps and nodules are two of the most scary things for singers, so I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t upset and frightened.”
Phoebe’s park gig
PHOEBE BRIDGERS will play a huge show in West London’s Gunnersbury Park on August 20, marking the UK live debut of her new indie group Boygenius.
The band – Phoebe and fellow US singers Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus – will also headline a show at The Piece Hall in Halifax on August 22. Meanwhile their debut LP The Record is out on March 31.
Last year Phoebe played four sold-out shows at London’s Brixton Academy.
Damon's knee problem
DAMON ALBARN has done lasting damage to his knee after a wild gig in Chile last year.
The GoORILLAZ rocker’s admission comes just weeks after Liam Gallagher told how he’d had a hip replacement following years of performing.
Damon said: “Unfortunately one of my knees is a bit rickety now.
“I injured myself. The reception was just so intense and I suppose it had been a while since I’d done a big gig like that.
“I just completely forgot that I was 54 and started jumping around like I was in BLUR in 1991.
“I kind of finished my knee off a bit. I will do it again but I’ll regret it.”
Maisie Williams split from boyfriend
GAME Of Thrones actress Maisie Williams has ended her five-year relationship with fashion designer boyfriend Reuben Selby.
But he has wasted no time in moving on and is now dating stunning model Phoebe Torrance.
Maisie, best known for playing Arya Stark in the fantasy series, got together with Reuben in 2018 and after lockdown they relocated to West Sussex to live the quiet life together.
But I’m told she broke up with him last month and he has since grown close to Phoebe.
The new couple attended London Fashion Week parties together last week and were seen all over each other.
A source said: “Maisie and Reuben were inseparable for years – they were partners and best friends.
“They moved out of London to live together but their romance struggled last year and she called time on things.
“It has been really hard for her and that’s made worse by the fact he has moved on so quickly.
“Reuben and Phoebe have clicked and are now a couple. It’s a massive shock for all of their friends and families.”
Confirming their split on Instagram, Maisie wrote: “Reuben and I have decided to end our relationship.
“Since we met five years ago, our connection always extended deeply into our shared, and separate, creative careers . . . and it will continue to do so.”
Good luck with that. Maisie, who has been shooting a new project in Australia in recent weeks, previously said she had discussed marrying Reuben.
Speaking on a podcast in 2021, the host suggested that the couple were “almost married,” and Maisie responded: “Yeah, we’re getting there. One day, maybe.
“Reuben, if you’re listening . . . I’m joking. Yeah, I think so.”
Phoebe is the daughter of Scottish golfer Sam Torrance and Carry On actress Suzanne Danielle, so she knows a thing or two about showbiz.
She has made a name for herself as an actress and model but is now pursuing a career as a director.
This love triangle sounds like something straight out of a film script, so she should have no shortage of inspiration for her next flick.