RITA ORA won’t be getting invited round to her neighbours’ homes for wine and nibbles this Christmas.
The Heat singer has certainly got people living near her hot under the collar — after revealing plans to build a futuristic gym in her garden.
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Unluckily for Rita, when she bought the £7.5million Grade II-listed North London property in 2021, she actually moved in next to a bunch of NIMBYs who have moaned about her home renovations.
Now, after her architect submitted plans for a gym, which would sit in the sunken courtyard of the property, they’re up in arms again.
I’ve been told that residents of an entire block of flats nearby have jointly complained.
They lodged an objection that stated: “Residents who chose this area for its tranquillity should not be forced to live with artificial lighting, amplified sound or loss of privacy.”
They added: “Although acoustic insulation is mentioned, the inclusion of bifold doors suggests that music and voice projection could occur at any hour.
“The neighbouring property has a strict rule prohibiting large gatherings or parties, adopted precisely to preserve peace and respect among neighbours.
“This proposal undermines that shared understanding and carries the potential to generate conflict, complaints and even legal disputes.”
The moan didn’t end there though, with the group adding: “This proposal has been drafted (deliberately or not) with minimum impact to the owner but with apparent disregard for the multiple adverse effects on surrounding neighbours.”
I’m pretty sure Rita, right, just wants a place to work out . . .
Someone else also lodged a grievance stating they were concerned about whether the gym would displace local squirrels and foxes.
Rita Ora looks incredible as she strips off to thong bikini to enjoy an ice lolly by the pool
Given that squirrels are actually vermin, and foxes spend much of their lives in London looting bins and making a racket with their blood-curdling mating noises, I think Rita would be doing her neighbours a favour if these creatures did give their homes a wide berth.
All this fuss over a gym, which, I add, is going to be soundproofed from top to bottom.
If I were Rita, I’d join Virgin Active and spend the cash on something at the bottom of the garden that would really annoy them.
Such as a massive sculpture, painted glow-in-the-dark yellow!
Elton no to hologram
SIR ELTON JOHN has insisted he’s not getting an ABBA-style hologram show.
Eagle-eyed fans got their hopes up after seeing documents trademarking his name for “holograms and video projections”, as well as “immersive 3D virtual reality experiences”.
But those close to Elton confirmed there was no plan in the works.
Elton said in 2018 that it was not something he’d consider.
But When the Rocket Man announced his final tour, he lent in to virtual reality – with a pop-up at London’s King Cross featuring an augmented-reality virtual Elton playing the piano.
When asked about the stunt, Elton, right, said he was pretty much a technophobe, adding: “I’m a Luddite.
“I’ve never downloaded anything in my life. Not even porn.”
Acts including Kiss and the Rolling Stones are already embracing the new tech.
Sir Mick Jagger said: “You can have a posthumous business now.”
Following his huge final Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Elton has been working hard on new music and dropped his last album, Who Believes in Angels?, with Brandi Carlile in April.
Hopefully he will be back on stage soon . . . and thankfully, it will be the real thing and not an illusion.
Shape of Ed’s missus on vids
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ED SHEERAN’s wife Cherry Seaborn is his biggest fan – and now she’s popped up in the music video for his new track A Little More.
I spotted Cherry, above with Ed, at the start of the video, where you see Harry Potter star Rupert Grint talking to a therapist after being released from prison.
Cherry appears as the shrink employed to chat to Rupert, in main pic above, but it’s a blink-and-you’d-miss-her snapshot.
She is no stranger to having cameos in Ed’s videos, with Cherry previously appearing in three of them.
In 2022 fans loved when she popped up in Ed and Elton John’s Merry Christmas music video wearing a blue dress.
That same year, Cherry also appeared in the promotional video for the North American leg of Ed’s Mathematics tour.
She also featured in the video for Put It All On Me, which showed Cherry and Ed hugging and dancing in their kitchen.
I expect plenty more cameos from Cherry when Ed’s album Play comes out on September 12.
SALTBURN actor Barry Keoghan once adopted a wild parrot that flew into his London apartment.
He said: “I named it Julian. It was a ring-necked parakeet and it started talking.
“It wouldn’t leave my penthouse in Canary Wharf and then one day, after six months, it just flew away.
“Birds are fascinating and intelligent.”
Twigs in a twist
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FKA TWIGS is getting herself tied up in knots.
The Perfectly singer was all arms and legs in this snap, twisting into an extremely uncomfortable-looking pose.
But she was happy to suffer for her art, with the impressive picture used to promote her new clothing collection with online shop On.
Twigs created the dancewear-inspired line with the brand, which previously joined forces with Zendaya on a collection.
She said: “This capsule collection is about feeling confident in your body and free to express yourself – whether you’re dancing, creating or just moving through your day.”
If I moved through my day like Twigs in this photo, I think I’d end up at my chiropractor’s house again.
Mariah’s tax gripe for king
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WE could all be thanking Mariah Carey soon.
The Hero singer intends to ask The King to sort taxes and London’s Congestion Charge when she performs at Sandringham next week.
Mariah told Capital Xtra radio host Manny Norte she had planned not to bother Charles.
But she changed her mind when she heard the presenter’s moan.
Explaining what he’d like her to pass on, Manny said: “That’s what I want – no tax, no congestion or parking fees for the rest of my life. You know what I mean?”
Mariah replied: “And you think he’s just going to give that to you? I’m going to say you told me to ask.”
She added with a laugh: “I’m serious.”
Shop-stir Yungblud hits union jackpot
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YUNGBLUD stopped traffic in London in this natty Union Jack outfit when he opened his new shop.
Beautifully Romanticised Accidentally Traumatized – or BRAT – was launched on Thursday.
Hundreds of fans brought chaos to Denmark Street as he celebrated the opening of his clothing store and music venue with an outdoor gig.
The street, filled with recording studios and music shops, is steeped in music history, with the Rolling Stones recording there, Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin writing songs in offices in the street during the Sixties, and The Sex Pistols recording their demos there.
Yungblud told the crowd: “Keep Denmark Street alive. Keep British f***ing music alive. Keep British music powerful.”
He later added of his new store: “I want a physical space where people can come, find others with similar ideologies to them.
“I’ve always found it hard to connect in this world and my whole brand is about providing spaces where people can do that.
“This is a place where you can buy clothes, get a coffee, have a beer, play pool, do an art class, watch a band, start a band. The possibilities are limitless.
“It’s only small right now, but I have a massive vision to take these all over the world.”
I have no doubt that will soon become a reality.
