IT hasn’t been an easy few months for Noel Gallagher after he confirmed his split from his wife Sara MacDonald in January after 22 years together.
But the High Flying Birds frontman has a smile back on his face and is back to his comedic best.
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Unveiling new single Council Skies on Radio 2 yesterday, Noel was gifted his favourite Australian confectionary, a Perky Nana, from Zoe Ball.
However, the Breakfast host admitted she had been confused by the banana-flavoured chew bar’s name, which is pronounced like the fruit.
Laughing, Zoe told Noel: “I thought this was called a perky nanna.”
Deadpan, Noel replied: “A perky nanna? I’m hoping to meet a few of those on tour if I am being honest.”
Noel also revealed for the first time just why he learned to drive.
The former Oasis singer said he’d quit his lessons after being humiliated during the height of the band’s fame.
Noel explained: “I had one driving lesson in the Nineties. I was driving around an estate in Slough and the woman said, ‘Indicate and pull over here’.
“She drove me to her house. Her mum was doing a picture of me in the street and this was before phones, it was with a Snappy Snaps camera. Then a local comprehensive bell went – and they all came out.
“And I am sat in a red Nissan Micra with a great big triangle on the top with an L as all these kids came out.
“This was at the height of Oasis mania. I said, ‘Never am I again getting in a car’. It didn’t stop me buying a few cars. I never fancied it, I’ve got a chauffeur, big Al.”
Noel will release his new album, also called Council Skies, on June 2.
And it turns out he has already sent his nearest and dearest his fourth record with High Flying Birds to get their thoughts.
Naturally, his beloved mum Peggy has given it her seal of approval.
Noel laughed: “People are saying it’s my best record. Well, my mum is. Can we put that on the ad?”
To get himself ready for his UK gigs this summer, the rocker will be heading back to the gym.
He admitted he had been unable to work out while on the road promoting his new record because he only exercises at home.
Spandex shorts
Noel explained: “I would rather spend a small fortune to put a gym in my house than go through the embarrassment of being in a public gym.
“Frankly, if I get photographed coming out of a gym in gym gear, it’s over.
“Nobody needs to see it, nobody will see it.”
He added: “I do go to the gym regularly. The older you get, you have to or you just end up looking like an old rock star.
“It’s amazing how addictive that kind of thing becomes. I never went to the gym until I was 40.
“I find if I put the gear on, I am going. That for me is more difficult than actually doing the hour and a half.
“As long as I can put the little socks on and the trainers and the ill-fitting top and the questionable shorts with the spandex to protect your hamstrings, if I can do that, I’m going to the gym.”
I need to take a leaf out of your book, Noel.
Sam’s a world class gem
GEMMA COLLINS is proving to be the most unlikely social climber after befriending singer Sam Smith.
She posed for this snap beside Sam backstage at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday after the singer’s show.
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They were joined by DJ Fat Tony and his partner Stavros.
Gemma also shared a video on Instagram with the caption: “Sam Smith is a creative genius, a world class talent.”
In the clip, she can be seen telling Sam: “We get it – I get it. Keep being fabulous. You’re major.”
I’m sure Sam appreciated the pep talk.
Ri-Ri mini Mi-Mi
HAVING kids can be an expensive business, particularly for Rihanna, who is decking her son out in designer clobber.
The singer, who is expecting her second child with rapper partner A$AP Rocky, dressed her son – whose name she has not revealed – in this green Fendi jacket for a meal in Paris with her brother Rorrey.
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Her own outfit was worth a few bob too, as she wore a Gucci denim jacket and miniskirt.
Rihanna looked chuffed while out in the French capital, where she exposed her bump again.
Given temperatures were down to five degrees though, I doubt most women would be smiling in that outfit.
Rita ran for Slim at Glasto
RITA ORA had to chase Fatboy Slim down in the middle of the night at Glastonbury to ask him to let her sample his hit Praise You.
She has reinterpreted the 1998 dance song on new single Praising You and admitted it has been a long time coming, after tracking him down at the event last June.
Read Related Also: ‘RHONJ’: The Surprising Thing That Makes Melissa Gorga the ‘Most Mad’
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Rita explained: “Honestly, I had to chase him down 3am at Glastonbury.
“I was there at his set. I was ready, waiting. Also a massive fan. But 3am to talk business is not the right thing to do.
“It’s a rave classic. This is a cultural, incredible moment, especially in the ’90s. Fatboy Slim’s Praise You was a moment.”
She has made a video directed by her husband Taika Waititi but he wasn’t her first choice.
She told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: “I tried to call Spike Jones. He wasn’t available to be in the video. Taika is a good second. I mean, I’ll take Taika.
“It’s so cool to be able to collaborate with the ones that you actually respect. I really love Taika’s brain. You know what I mean? That’s what I really fell in love with.”
Nochella for Frank Ocean
COACHELLA – which is the US answer to Glastonbury – has been thrown into chaos for this weekend after headliner Frank Ocean pulled out.
The three-day music festival in California happens on consecutive weekends, and Frank received disappointing reviews for his first show on Sunday.
Now he has cancelled his set at the weekend after revealing he suffered two fractures and a sprain in his left leg on site before his performance.
Doctors have now told him he should not perform again and Blink-182 are expected to take his place.
Frank said: “It was chaotic. There is some beauty in chaos. It isn’t what I intended to show but I did enjoy being out there and I’ll see you soon.”
Nice to PV-See you, Nicki
NICKI MINAJ and German pop star Kim Petras wore black PVC outfits to promote their belting new collaboration Alone, out today.
A music insider said: “Kim has been a Nicki fan since day one so this is an absolute dream come true for her.
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“She had already written and recorded the track as a solo and was quietly crossing her fingers that Nicki would say yes.”
Other tracks out tomorrow include Rudimental’s Dancing Is Healing and Boat by Ed Sheeran.
Birdy is also back with song Heartbreaker, ahead of a sold-out show at London’s Hammersmith Apollo on Sunday.
Sophie had Euro Bex-it
EUROVISION fan Sophie Ellis-Bextor has revealed how she once almost became our entry – but she said no because it felt like a “gamble” with her career.
The Murder On The Dancefloor singer said she had secret talks about taking part in the late Noughties after a raft of big hits.
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In an exclusive chat, she explained: “It was at least 15 years ago. It was probably around the time of my third or fourth album.
“I think it’s perfect for people at a certain point in their career.
“But for me, the time when we were having conversations about it, I just think it would have been not the right thing.
“It’s a gamble, it’s a competition. I don’t think I was at a place where I wanted to take that kind of risk.
“There was no serendipity with it.” But she added: “If I had the opportunity to write a song for it, that would be really fun.”
Sophie has teamed up with booking.com for a campaign offering fans the chance to watch the final with her in a Liverpool apartment called the Ultimate Home of Eurovision.
Fans can book to stay in the apartment on the travel site from April 28.
Sophie will be paying particularly close attention to UK entry Mae Muller on the night as she is the niece of Sophie’s long-time friend and video producer, Sophie Muller.
She added: “I’ve actually known Mae Muller since she was six.
“Mae’s just a really great pop star and she’s loved it since she was small.”
Ava Max @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
HER first headline tour has been a long time coming but after two albums, Ava Max has plenty of tracks to fill the set list with.
Thumping dance bangers with infectious choruses dominate her show.
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They were interspersed with inspirational recorded monologues which blasted out of the speakers.
But while it had all the ingredients of a perfect pop paradise, Ava didn’t look as into it as the crowd.
Killer highlights include Sleepwalker, a high-octane track about being irresistible, which she told the crowd was her favourite before performing it with gusto.
But during slower moments, such as Dancing’s Done, she took the lyrics a little too literally and lay on the floor.
At points it felt like Ava was phoning in her show, particularly when her four dancers were doing full choreography behind her.
As an artist still finding her feet on stage, she shows a lot of promise.
She just needs to make sure she is actually enjoying it, too.
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