News of January 2005
31/01/05
Last night was the premiere of 'The Magic
Roundabout. The cast is packed with famous names including Joanna Lumley as
Ermintrude the cow and Bill Nighy plays Dillon the trippy rabbit. Other famous
voices that make an appearance include Sir Ian McKellen, Tom Baker, Lee Evans,
Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone and Robbie Williams as the shaggy dog Dougal.
Although Rob plays a major role in this classic remake, he admits he had a
phobia of cartoons when he was young:
"It's weird - I became really scared of animation when I was a kid."
"'Scooby Doo', 'The Magic Roundabout', 'Bagpuss' and 'Mr Ben' used to scare me
for some reason - I used to hide behind the sofa when anything came on that was
animated."
"I suppose that if I did have a favourite then, it would have been Dougal."
Robbie Williams says he's not starting a film career despite playing shaggy dog
Dougal in 'The Magic Roundabout'. Robbie explained why he took the role. "There's
been a lot of talk of me doing films, which I have no interest in whatsoever." "But
I've started to get into watching animation." "To be asked for your voice to be
used as a character in a film such as this is very exciting for me, because it'll
be there forever."
30/01/05
Robbie Williams is secretly dating a sexy
blonde dancer. She is 23-year-old Deanne Berry - one of Eric Prydz's racy
aerobics instructors in the steamy video for catchy chart-topper Call On Me.
Deanne has enjoyed two dates with the 30-year-old superstar at his mansion in
London's Notting Hill. Robbie has since returned to his home in LA but has
begged her to join him for a break. A pal said: "Robbie is totally smitten with
Deanne. It's early days, but they have really hit it off.
"Deanne has spent a lot of time with him chatting and laughing into the early
hours. "She is really flattered by his interest and she does like him - but she's
not the sort to jump into bed, even if he is a world-renowned singer. She has
told pals she is very attracted to him."
Robbie first made a beeline for Deanne backstage at Top Of The Pops after she
danced in her trademark leotard and leggings last October. Impressed by her
raunchy moves, Robbie asked for her mobile number. Deanne gushed at the time: "He
asked me out, which was amazing. He is gorgeous but I haven't called him yet -
I've been a bit busy."
Unlucky-in-love Robbie has dated a string of beautiful women including Rachel
Hunter, Andrea Corr and All Saint Nicole Appleton, to whom he was engaged. The
singer is now planning another date with Deanne when he returns to the UK to be
the special guest at the Brit Awards 25th anniversary ceremony on February 9.
29/01/05
George Michael's appearance on Little Britain
will come after wheelchair-bound Andy insists on George paying a visit for his
birthday tea, The Sun reports today. Andy's carer, Lou, decides to grant his
wish as a special birthday surprise. However, the surprise is ruined when George
arrives and Andy says, "I don't like George Michael."
George agreed to appear on the show for a special Comic Relief DVD, available
from February 14. Robbie Williams also appears on the special episode, wearing a
dress alongside transvestite Emily, while Sir Elton John is interviewed by "only
gay in the village" Daffyd. Speaking at the South Bank Show, co-creator Matt
Lucas revealed, "We never thought they'd throw themselves into it with so much
enthusiasm."
28/01/05
The mum of two dated by Robbie Williams claims
the fling has ruined her life. Probation officer Lisa Brash has been off sick
from her £30,000 job with stress since the star dumped her last year. She says
she is now on anti-depressants, her son aged 13 is being bullied at school and
jealous fans have scratched her car. Lisa, 31, wept: "I did love him. I fell for
him. I thought I'd end up with Rob." Robbie, 30, chatted up Geordie ex model
Lisa in October after a celebrity soccer game in Newcastle.
She said: "He was fascinated by my job. Then he said, `Will you come to my room?
I really enjoyed talking to you'."
Lisa, pictured with Robbie, claims they talked until 6.30am. She says he then
kept ringing her. She tells TV's Trisha on her Five show today: "He called all
week, about three times a day, saying `I'm just checking in'."
Lisa was driven to Robbie's London pad and the pair romped on his sofa and bed.
She said: "Was he good in bed? Yes, yes!" When the fling became public the
singer texted her saying: "Be strong my supermum darling." But soon he ignored
her calls. Lisa said: "He won't speak to me any more."
23/01/05
Robbie Williams' Angels is the clear favourite
of the bookmakers to win the Best Song Award at the Brits. William Hill are so
confident of the song's success that they are offering odds of 1/2 for the song
to come out on top. Company spokesman Rupert Adams said: "Of the songs on the
shortlist Angels must be the most recognisable tune for today's generation. It
is this group who will be voting for the prize so Robbie should have it in the
bag."
The odds for the nominees are as follows:
Robbie Williams - Angels: 1/2
Will Young - Leave Right Now: 4/1
Queen - We Are The Champions: 5/1
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights: 8/1
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart Again: 16/1
21/01/05
While the Australian Open tennis is heating
up, behind the scenes big names are being wooed to come to the Foster's
Australian Grand Prix in March. Red Bull recently bought out Jaguar and is
planning to arrive on the Grand Prix circuit with a bang in Melbourne. The
rumour going around is that it is approaching some very big names to be its
special guest: superstar Robbie Williams is on its hit list.
Red Bull is holding a party on the Wednesday night – the same as the traditional
Foster's Rev Up Party, which has developed a very strong following over the
years.
Red Bull is planning to go all-out for the week while in Melbourne, so it should
be a very full-on week of parties and big names. The Eye understands that Bo
Derek will be announced as the big international guest once all the tennis hype
is over and done with. We don't think GP organisers will be short of a celebrity
of two.
19/01/05
Robbie Williams failed to crack America
because he lacks the drive, according to eighties superstar Nick Rhodes. Rhodes,
whose band Duran Duran successfully made the transition from Britain to the US,
insists Williams has the talent to make it big stateside - but suggests he may
have not been committed enough during his attempt to impress American audiences.
The Rio hitmaker says, "I like Robbie very much, I don't know why he hasn't
broken America yet. Maybe he hasn't put in enough work over there."
16/01/05
Pop star Robbie Williams was on a British serial letter bomber's list of targets, and only spared because Justin McAuliffe couldn't find his address. Crazed McAuliffe posted a staggering 33 letter bombs to people he felt had jilted him in the past, including former work colleagues, an ex-girlfriend and even members of his family. When police raided the 33-year-old's bedsit they discovered a 'hit list' which included the Radio singer's name, but he couldn't discover the 30-year-old's personal details. Only one man was slightly injured by McAuliffe's crude devices. The accused pleaded guilty to eight counts of grievous bodily harm in court on Friday (14JAN05) in St Albans, England.
14/01/05
Some of Robbie Williams' albums will be deleted at the end of the month. Production on new copies of Life Thru a Lens, I've Been Expecting You, Sing When You're Winning and Escapology will all cease on January 31. Robbie's US debut album The Ego Has Landed will also be removed reports Digitalspy. Swing When You're Winning, Live at Knebworth and the Greatest Hits album will continue to be available.
12/01/05
British singing sensation Robbie Williams took
a massive pay cut during the last financial year. The Radio star paid himself
only $3.6 million (GBP2 million) in the tax year ending last March (04). This is
in stark contrast to the $46.8 million (GBP26 million) and $31.5 million (GBP17.5
million) he pocketed in the previous two financial years since signing his $144
million (GBP80 million) record deal with EMI.
Music industry experts attribute this downturn in revenue to the timing of the
30-year-old's album releases. The first EMI album, Escapology, was released in
November 2002 and his Greatest Hits didn't reach shops until October last year
(04). In the intervening year, to which these figures pertain, Williams was busy
touring and released a Live at knebworth DVD which,combined with back catalogue
sales, still earned his fronting company Good Company $39.8 million (GBP22.1
million).
11/01/05
Bookmakers William Hill have named Robbie
Williams' Angels as the song most likely to receive the Brits 25 accolade,
following the nominations announcement in London last night.
The Brits 25 category will see one of the following songs attributed the title
of best song of the last 25 years: Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart, Kate
Bush's Wuthering Heights, Queen's We Are The Champions, Will Young's Leave Right
Now and Williams's Angels. The bookmakers have placed Williams at 1-2 favourite,
while Will Young is second place with odds of 4-1. Queen currently come in at
5-1, Kate Bush 8-1 and Joy Division 16-1. The final decision will be made by
Radio Two voters.
07/01/05
British pop superstar Robbie Williams was
desperate to take Freddie Mercury's place in the newly-reformed Queen - and was
devastated to be overlooked.
After performing Queen hit We Are The Champions with the surviving members of
the 70s rockers for the soundtrack of 2001 movie A Knight's Tale, Williams was
confident he stood a good chance of getting the role full-time.
But Paul Rodgers from legendary band Free got the nod ahead of the former Take
That star. Williams says, "I'd have killed for a chance to sing with those guys
backing me. How cool would that have been? I sang We Are The Champions for a
movie soundtrack and the band said I did a good job."
Queen star John Deacon says, "I don't want to be nasty, but Robbie is no Freddie
Mercury. Freddie can never be replaced - and certainly not him."
04/01/05
A Massive Live Aid-style concert for victims
of the Asian tsunami is being planned. Among the stars being approached to play
at the 65,000 capacity Millennium Stadium in Cardiff are U2, Coldplay and Robbie
Williams.
News of the concert came as ex-Radio 1 DJ Mike Read unveiled plans for a charity
single, featuring Cliff Richard, Boy George and Ronan Keating. It's hoped
millions of pounds will be raised for aid to countries stricken by the Boxing
Day disaster. The move has been welcomed by the Disasters Emergency Committee,
who are co-ordinating the British relief effort. The two-day Cardiff concert
aims to raise more than £1million.
Stadium general manager Paul Sergeant 'We hope to sell between 60,000 and 65,000
tickets. But time is going to be very tight.' He hopes to announce the line-up
tomorrow and start selling tickets on Friday for the gig over the weekend of
January 22and 23. Mr Sergeant added: 'As soon as the enormity of the disaster
was known, we opened discussions with a number of musical agents to see if it
would be possible to get a money-spinning event up and running. 'If we can get
everything together this month then people will get the chance to make a major
contribution to helping the people whose lives have been so devastated.' Mike
Read approached the Disasters Emergency Committee within hours of the tragedy.
He said: 'I was totally shocked at the enormity and suddenness of the disaster
and I was in tears at seeing orphaned kids wandering aimlessly in search of
their parents.' Sir Cliff will record his part for the track Grief Never Grows
Old in Barbados, while Boy George, who sang on the original Band Aid record,
will do his bit in New York. Others on the record included Bee Gees Barry and
Robin Gibb and ex-Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley. A spokesman for the
Disasters Emergency Committee said: 'This will help us to give relief and
rebuild lives devastated by the tsunami.'
01/01/05
Pop hunk Robbie Williams has vowed to ditch
his clothes to become a naturist - so he can embarrass his future children. The
Rock DJ singer, who recorded a track for his Escapology album while naked,
enjoys public nudity and can't wait to humiliate his offspring with his unusual
fetish. He explains: "I'm probably going to be one of those very embarrassing
fathers who's a naturist when I'm older. I guess when it comes down to it, I
just like taking my pants down. "I took my pants down for a laugh while I
recorded a track on the (Escapology) album. Everybody laughed so I laughed.
"Then I thought, actually, I quite like this and then everyone got a bit uneasy
because I refused to put my clothes on. It was liberating. I felt really free
doing it and it was inspiring."
