Rita Ora reveals her fave pre-gig meal as she wows at Manchester Pride – and fans will be shocked
SHE is one of the biggest jet setters in showbiz and has spent the summer playing to huge festival crowds across Europe.
Yet despite all the trappings that come hand-in-hand with fame and fortune, it turns out Rita Ora is still a girl after our own hearts.
Ahead of taking to the stage at Manchester Pride on Saturday, the Hot Right Now singer admitted she loves nothing more than sitting down for a proper Northern chippy tea and partying in the city with a tequila in hand.
Chatting exclusively to my Bizarre colleague Jack Hardwick before she landed in Manchester, Rita said: “I like a good, big lunch to keep my energy up before a show. It’s very important for me.
“I would love to have a chippy if I have time. And for me, it’s gravy all the way.
“And I love a tequila soda or vodka soda with lime.”
And she was looking forward to joining in the Pride celebrations that have taken over Manchester after her set?
Rita said with a laugh: “I love going out in Manchester, it’s so much fun.
“I can’t wait for the performance.”
Explaining that the LGBTQ+ community helped her fall in love with dance music, Rita added: “I would always go to the underground bars and the underground clubs and that is where I fell in love with dance music and make-up melting off my face.
“I had not got a clue what was going to happen in my career.
“I fell in love with dance music by being accepted in the gay raves in the clubs in the underground scene.
“Growing up I felt the acceptance, through music, of being in the community.”
Keen not to follow in the footsteps of fellow chart topper Sabrina Carpenter, who was hit by a spark on stage in San Francisco this month, Rita said earlier: “That’s why rehearsals happen.
“But you always have to be super careful and make sure everyone is safe.
“I’ve got fire in my shows, and sometimes that gets very close.
“So, you know, you’ve really just got to practise a lot and know when they’re coming.”
When she took to the stage she made sure to keep the party spirit alive despite the damp weather by channelling Kylie Minogue in a pair of metallic hotpants.
She belted out some of her biggest hits and even helpfully warmed up the crowd with some pyrotechnics.
The set, watched by her film director husband Taika Waititi from the side of the stage, was the first time she had performed here since being forced to cancel a show in Hungary last month when she was admitted to hospital.
Insisting it was little more than a blip, Rita said: “I had a little health scare but I’m back to normal now, back to 100 per cent.”
And it won’t be long until Rita, who is working on her fourth album and hitting the studio next month, is back on the road.
The singer hasn’t fully toured here since 2019, when she played a huge show at London’s O2 Arena.
Ask if she is favouring arena sized gigs like last time or more intimate shows, Rita teased: “I don’t know exact details yet, but you’ll definitely get some live shows out of me.
“Just watch this space.”
LOREEN BIG NAMES FOR NEXT ALBUM
SWEDISH Eurovision legend Loreen provided a welcome distraction from the windy weather as she took to the stage in Manchester.
The Forever singer performed on Saturday night – and we’ll soon be hearing a lot more from her.
I’m told Loreen, who shot to fame after winning Eurovision in 2012 with dancefloor banger Euphoria, is now deep into working on her third album.
It will be the follow-up to 2017’s Ride and comes after she won Eurovision for a second time last year with Tattoo.
A source said: “Loreen has been working with some big names and is keen to make this next album one that really cuts through.
“The songs that are ready have her belting out huge choruses and really go after the dance market, mixed with a bit of pop.
“It’s a work in progress but almost certainly it will be released in 2025.”
Next year Loreen will play a series of shows across the UK, kicking things off at O2 Institute in Birmingham on March 17.
That sounds like the perfect warm-up for another crack at the contest in Switzerland in May.
GIVEN her recent brushes with authority, you’d think Katie Price would be on her best behaviour.
But she angered the crowd when she turned up 90 minutes late for a Manchester Pride performance at the nightclub Via on Saturday.
Mind you, I imagine the crowd’s ears would have been better off if she had cancelled her performance altogether.
JESS GET ME SOME FRIED CHICKEN
JESSIE J kicked off the weekend in style with her headline set.
Yet despite wowing the packed-out crowd with her epic vocals, Jessie had one thing on her mind . . . fast food.
Chatting between songs, the Do It Like A Dude singer said: “At the moment I’m craving crunchy fried chicken. If anyone wants to buy me a burger, please feel free to.”
Jessie, who endured a nine-hour journey from her London home, insisted she loves nothing more than performing and couldn’t care less when it comes to the fame game.
She said on stage: “I have to keep reminding myself, fame is weird. Nobody is perfect. They put me on a pedestal.”
We would have got you that burger on Bizarre, Jessie.
RENEE RAPP’s performance at Reading Festival was cancelled three songs in after she was drenched by rain.
The American singer, who played Regina George in January’s Mean Girls reboot, was soaked by water blowing on to her her from a stage roof yesterday.
There was also no sound when she arrived on stage, much to the disappointment of fans.
She wrote on Instagram last night: “Girl, what the f*** was that?”
CAMILA’S SABRINA DISS TUNE
SABRINA CARPENTER pulled no punches when exposing her love triangle with former flame Shawn Mendes and his ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello on her new album.
But following the release of Short N’ Sweet on Friday, fans have realised Camila sang about Sabrina on her album C,XOXO in June.
On Sabrina’s record, she seemingly suggested that Shawn cheated on her when he got back with the Havana singer last year.
But on Camila’s song June Gloom, she sings: “She’s cool, I heard. Won’t act surprised, I saw the pictures . . . If she’s so amazing, why are you on this side of town?
“If you like her so much, what are you here trying to find out? Does she get this wet for you, baby? Talk to you in poems and songs?”
I doubt Shawn is spinning either album right now.
EMINEM’s daughter Hailie Jade Smith said she sobs when she listens to his latest album.
He went to No1 with On The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace) where he raps about his addiction and apologises to her for not being a better dad.
She said on her Just A Little Shady podcast: “I definitely cry every time I hear it at all.”
COLDPLAY WILL TURN UP HEAT
COLDPLAY frontman Chris Martin has seemingly confirmed the news I brought you exclusively last month that the band are planning a residency at Wembley Stadium next year after the release of their album Moon Music.
He also revealed the reason to stay in one place is electricity generating tech.
In an interview in the US, Chris said: “Two areas of our concert have kinetic flooring and if you (the audience) jump up and down it creates power for tomorrow’s show.
“We’re about to announce some shows next year where we’re staying in one city for a while and there we are going to have that flooring across the whole stadium.”
NIC’S FEST LOVER
NICOLA COUGHLAN’s Bridgerton character saw her love life flourish in the latest series of the Netflix show – and now the actress has found romance.
Here she is cosying up to film producer Jake Dunn at East London’s All Points East Festival and there was absolutely no wiping the grin off her face.
Nicola, who plays Penelope Bridgerton, wore a bucket hat to go under the radar at the event with Jake, who most recently worked on the Disney+ series Renegade Nell.
The indie music event seems to have become the go-to place for celebrities to confirm their romances.
Paul Mescal went public with his singer girlfriend Gracie Abrams last week.
AS if Hollywood hunk Chris Hemsworth wasn’t busy enough as superhero Thor, he has revealed another special power – playing the drums.
The Aussie actor surprised fans at Ed Sheeran’s gig in Romania on Saturday when he joined him on stage to play during Thinking Out Loud.
It is part of a new Disney+ series Limitless With Chris Hemsworth, in which he takes on challenges. In this one he examines the health benefits of learning a musical instrument.
Ed seemed sold on keeping Chris for himself.
He said: “He was wonderful. He deserves a permanent spot in the band.”
The week in Bizness
TODAY: Day Two of Notting Hill Carnival, West London.
So Solid Crew and Katy B will perform amid two million expected revellers.
TOMORROW: NIALL Horan kicks off the UK leg of his tour in Manchester following shows in Dublin at the weekend.
He will also take The Show: Live To Leeds, Newcastle, Aberdeen and London over the next week.
THURSDAY: The sequel to 1984’s Beetlejuice, imaginatively titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, will receive its world premiere in London’s Leicester Square with director Tim Burton and stars Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega and Monica Bellucci in attendance. It opens on September 6.
FRIDAY: A$AP Rocky is set to drop fourth album Don’t Be Dumb, his first record in six years.
One collaboration features Morrissey and Busta Rhymes, and I won’t be surprised if his long-term girlfriend Rihanna is on there too.