Happy Valley actor tipped to be Bond splits from his fiancee after six years
HE is in high demand as an actor – and now James Norton is one of Britain’s most sought-after bachelors too.
The Happy Valley star, who is one of the favourites to be the next 007, has split from his fiancée Imogen Poots after six years.
It is sad news for the couple who got engaged in February 2022.
But given that James is my ultimate crush, I am hoping this is my chance — although I imagine millions of others will be thinking the same thing.
A source said: “James and Imogen have extremely busy work lives and it has made it difficult for them to see each other.
“They grew apart and split up last year.
“It hasn’t been easy for either of them but they are keeping their heads down and getting on with things.”
They got together after James’s two-year romance with Irish actress and singer Jessie Buckley ended in 2017.
At one point he and Imogen shared a home in East London, but now they have even unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Over the past week, James has been on the red carpet for premieres in London and Los Angeles for the Bob Marley biopic One Love, in which he plays Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
But fans noticed that Imogen was absent, and the pair have not been seen together in public since last March, when she attended the opening night of his West End play A Little Life.
Last year James spoke about juggling his hectic work life with his relationship, and said: “It comes as a cost because you don’t see each other a lot.
Flash tux
“But we are willing to pay that for the benefit of having someone in your life close to you who gets it, who is forgiving, who will give up their Sunday to do an annoying self-tape (audition).”
This week bookmaker Coral made James third favourite to take over as James Bond with odds of 4-1, just behind Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill.
But something tells me he won’t need 007’s flash tux and gadgets to win over another love interest.
You know where I am if you fancy a date, James. I’m sure my boyfriend will forgive me.
CAITY’S GOT NO PROBLEM
CAITY BASER is one of the most promising new stars in British pop and I’m sure her latest single will win her plenty of new fans.
She invited Bizarre to join her on set for the video of her tune I’m A Problem – and she gave us these exclusive snaps from the clip, which drops at 10am today.
The gobby track is about embracing being “too loud” or “annoying”, but it has a deeper meaning for Caity, who revealed she has become the target of trolls because of her outspoken nature.
She said: “If you’re taking time out of your day to hate on me, you clearly actually love me and don’t hate me because you’re giving me your time when you could be drinking water, exercising or doing the food shop.
“There’s this guy that’s commenting on my things every single day with lengthy paragraphs and replying to people about how s**t I am.
“He called me a moon-faced trollop. He’s an old bald man. You have to just block it out. I’m having a great time while he’s at home stting on a 21-year-old.”
Caity is now gearing up to release her debut mixtape, Still Learning, and go on tour next month.
She said: “I want to sell out my tour, I want to do Glastonbury and I want a summer full of festivals.
“I want to be in the Top Ten with my mixtape – and then take over the world.
“I’ve got to slay otherwise someone else will slay better.”
BRITNEY: I SNOGGED J-LO’S HUSBAND BEN
BRITNEY SPEARS just can’t help but annoy people at the moment.
And now she’s risking the wrath of Jennifer Lopez, months after bad- mouthing Justin Timberlake.
Out of the blue, the Toxic singer shared this old snap on Instagram of herself with J-Lo’s husband Ben Affleck and hit songwriter Diane Warren.
Alongside the post – which she has now deleted after realising it might not have been the best idea – she wrote: “He’s such an amazing actor.
“Did I fail to mention I made out with Ben that night . . . I honestly forgot. Damn that’s crazy. Wish I could tell you guys the story that happened before that! Oh dear, I’m just being a gossip girl.”
It’s awkward timing given J-Lo is gearing up to release her new album in a week’s time, which is all about her love for Ben.
Since Britney posted the blurry photo, fans started gossiping themselves and suggested that the photograph could have been taken more than two decades ago . . . around the time she was still dating the NSYNC star.
I’d maybe keep schtum for a while, Brit.
LEGENDS ARE BACK FOR HIT
IF you thought Band Aid was A-list, it has nothing on a new charity single out next Thursday.
Members of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Pink Floyd, Guns N’ Roses, Black Sabbath and more are teaming up for the jaw- dropping track.
Mark Knopfler has spearheaded the creation of the nine-minute instrumental, which is a reworking of Going Home (Theme From Local Hero).
The song will open with the late guitarist Jeff Beck‘s final recording.
Bizarre first revealed the track was happening way back in May 2022.
Stars featured include Pete Towns-Hend, Joan Jett, Brian May, Ronnie Wood, Nile Rodgers, Sting, Ringo Starr, Sam Fender and Roger Daltrey.
It is being released for Teenage Cancer Trust, so it’s all for a worthy cause too.
I’ll be rocking my best air guitar as soon as it’s out, no doubt.
ONE of my favourite new bands, Really Good Time, have dropped their exciting single Retreat To The Cubicle today.
The lads from Dublin recently supported Franz Ferdinand and are playing a string of shows this spring, so they’re well worth checking out.
Nicola is movie material
BROOKLYN BECKHAM’s wife Nicola Peltz looked glamorous while getting down to business.
She wore a white minidress while out in New York promoting her new movie Lola, which – bear with me – she wrote, directed and starred in.
Her new film, which is out in the US today, isn’t the only thing thats making her smile.
She has had a rocky relation-ship with her mum-in-law Victoria but has now insisted she is “amazing”.
Nicola said: “I come from a big family, where we’re all so, so close, and Brooklyn grew up also close with his family . . . I feel so lucky. They’re the most amazing people in the world.”
And whichever publicist advised you to say that Nic, is worth every penny . . .
BLUR LADS ARE THE REEL DEAL
BLUR made a comeback last year, with ninth album The Ballad Of Darren, and now are releasing not one but two films.
The band have been working on a feature-length documentary about their return, and the making of the record which was their first in eight years.
It promises no-holds-barred access to the group – Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Dave Rowntree and Ales James.
But in even more exciting news for fans, they will also release a two-hour concert film of their comeback gigs.
Blur: Live at Wembley Stadium will show the band performing in front of a total of 150,000 fans over two days, featuring all of their biggest hits.
There aren’t yet any details about the release dates, but they are both expected to be at some point this year.
As a huge Blur fan, I cannot wait to relive that concert without having to queue up for an extortionately priced pint.
BRITS are set to tune into this weekend’s Super Bowl like never before despite it airing in the middle of the night.
And it’s all down to Taylor Swift and her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.
New research from streaming service Now has revealed over half of the people planning on watching the match are “Swifties”– Taylor Swift superfans.
The chart-topper has become a regular at Travis’ games over the past few months and the Anti-Hero singer is planning on dashing from her show in Tokyo on Saturday night to Las Vegas in time for kick off on Sunday evening.
She’s proved to be somewhat of a lucky charm. I’m sure the Kansas City Chiefs will be hoping her magic rubs off just one more time.