IT’S less “Lock, Stock” and more “Crock Stock” for poor old Guy Ritchie after his new TV show was plundered by thieves – for a SECOND time.
I told last week how two robbers in a Toyota Prius drove up to the London set of Paramount+ series The Associate pretending to be lost, before jumping out and making off with some loot.
Now sources say the duo came back the following day to try their luck for more expensive gear.
And sadly for Guy their low-life ploy paid off, as they apparently went on to swipe kit worth more than £1million.
My insider told me: “These guys are scum and after the first robbery they came back and did it all over again.
“The second time around they made off with camera lenses and some kit that was worth massive money.
“They’ll be making a lot of cash if they can somehow sell it on. The fact the production has been caught out twice makes a total mockery of the security firm and they have been given their marching orders.
“Their contract has now ended and another firm is coming on board to tighten things up and make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“The Associate is being filmed in and around city streets and naturally there are risks, but this is hugely embarrassing.
“Guy is confident it won’t throw filming off but it’s been a hard lesson for everyone involved.”
After working in London for well over a decade, I know that even a flash of my crappy old phone is going to make a mugger’s fingers twinge.
So leaving kit which is that expensive on the street, you might as well have erected a couple of Belisha beacons either side and a big sign saying: “Free to the man with the fastest Toyota.”
PERRIE channelled her inner rock chick in this edgy photoshoot.
The former Little Mix star wore loads of dark eye make-up and stuck her tongue out for the December issue of Xmag, which ought to have been renamed Xmas given she is promoting her festive single Christmas Magic.
She released the track earlier this month along with a video, starring her son Axel.
After launching her solo career this year, Perrie has been working on her debut album, which is expected to come out in 2025.
But it remains to be seen whether she’ll beat ex-bandmates Leigh-Anne and Jade in getting hers out first.
CHESNEY HAWKES has announced his first album in over a decade – and a reunion with 80s pop star Nik Kershaw, who wrote his hit The One And Only.
The beloved British singer is to release Living Arrows – featuring songs inspired by his kids – on February 28.
And last night, he put out new single Live Forever, which was penned by Nik and Jake Gosling, who has worked with Ed Sheeran and One Direction.
Chesney said: “I didn’t realise straight away, when I started putting these songs together, that I was creating a sort of road map for my kids.
“I had them in mind the whole time, because the messages on songs like Live Forever are to do with taking life by the horns, doing what you love and following your instincts.
“You have to let them do their own things, make their own mistakes.
“That’s what I was doing with this record, trying to give them good advice.”
MOVIE hunk Luke Evans admits he beats himself up over body image issues.
Despite his bulging biceps, the Beauty And The Beast actor said: “I’ve had to learn to be kinder to myself but I have terrible anxiety about feeling good enough physic-ally. I was on a beach recently and I didn’t want to take my T-shirt off.”
He added to the How To Fail podcast: “I don’t want to be in that place.
“I know I shouldn’t feel like that, but you know we are sensitive creatures, we’re very delicate.”
THE CORRS put on a spellbinding show at London’s O2 Arena on the final night of their Talk On Corners tour.
Nearly 30 years on from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, Andrea’s vocals were just as sharp as the lead singer delivered some of their biggest hits.
A friend of the group said: “The Corrs still have a huge fan base and this tour showed them that there is still a huge appetite for their music.
“They will come back and tour again. There might even be some new music.”
“IT f***ing feels amazing to be here, not going to lie,” Zayn beamed as he took to the stage at the first of two sold-out shows in the capital.
“Thank you for waiting, I know I took a while but we are here, so tonight I want you guys to have an amazing night, really enjoy yourself, sing along, scream.”
The crowd didn’t need telling twice, losing their minds every time he so much as smiled.
Vocally Zayn was flawless, powering through a 17-song set with the pitch perfect precision of Celine Dion in her prime.
But while he said he was on top of the world, at times it was hard to tell.
In 2017 I was lucky enough to see his former bandmate Harry Styles play the same venue and he jumped around the stage with more energy and presence than 99 per cent of his peers.
In contrast, Zayn opted for a more subdued show, sticking to the centre of the stage and letting the vocals do the talking.
Beyond his debut single Pillowtalk and more recent track Sweat, things blended into one.
CHER has revealed Gene Simmons told her he loved her after just one date.
In Cher: The Memoir, Part One, she opens up on her romance with the KISS rocker, which lasted from 1977 to 1979 after they were introduced at a drinks party.
She said they went on a date and he flirted with both her and her friend, but neither of them were interested.
Then he racked up a massive phone bill calling her from Japan, when he told her of his feelings.
Cher recalled: “That’s when he blurted out that he loved me.
“We hadn’t even kissed. We’d only been out once before he left. What is it with these men?”
SIR ELTON JOHN raised some hackles ahead of his Royal Variety Performance after failing to turn up for rehearsals.
An irate backstage source told me: “I found it super disrespectful.
“Everyone was bloody there doing their bit but Elton wasn’t at any rehearsal – even the final one with all the other stars.”
We previously revealed that Elton was set to introduce a performance from the cast of his hit musical The Devil Wears Prada alongside the show’s star Vanessa Williams.
His team denied this was the case, but shortly after our story, ITV confirmed that Elton and David Furnish would be introducing the “eye-catching” routine.
On the latest claims, an ITV spokesman said last night: “Elton John was not required to attend rehearsals as he was not performing.
“The same applied to others who were there introducing acts and not performing.”
The annual event, hosted by Amanda Holden and Alan Carr, took place at London’s Royal Albert Hall last week and will air on ITV in December.
And despite the backstage grumbles, we can assure you the show went off without a hitch.
It will be well worth a watch.
DUA LIPA has got her ultimate home comfort while on the road – her boyfriend.
The singer was spotted with actor lover Callum Turner at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday during a day off from her world tour in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, fans in Blighty can see her recent show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on ITV1 on December 8.
