HE’S had a string of hits, including runaway 2004 track You’re Beautiful, and sold more than 20million records around the globe.
Now James Blunt is trying out the small screen and tonight his new TV show, Beer Masters, will be available on Amazon Prime.
I revealed in July how he had landed his first telly role and in an exclusive chat he said it was a relief to finally be able to talk about it.
James told me: “I never knew how much I could reveal but I wanted to jump from the rooftops and say, ‘I’ve got a TV show!’”
The series sees James and beer expert Jaega Wise tasked with finding Europe’s best home brewers.
The competitors have to come up with the best beer to impress the presenters plus a raft of celebrity judges including model Daisy Lowe and entrepreneur Jamal Edwards.
James continued: “When I was offered the job I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I understood they needed someone good looking, bright and knew their s**t about beer . . . and that’s why they’ve got Jaega. Then they thought, ‘we need a sidekick’. Jeremy Clarkson wasn’t available, so they got me.”
James, who owns The Fox & Pheasant pub in West London, continued: “Jaega is the expert but I have practical experience of beer drinking on tours throughout the world. Surely, I’m more than qualified.”
The singer, back on the road next year following the release of his latest album, James Blunt The Stars Beneath My Feet (2004-2021), said he will be using his time on the road to continue his worldwide tasting test.
And all the new beers he finds he will get in his London boozer.
James said: “When I first opened the pub I asked my mates, ‘What are your favourite drinks, We’ll stock it’. Now I want to bring in new beers.
“My rider with the band will have all different beers and if we like them I will stock them.
“I am doing research on the ground while I am working as a touring musician. It is genuinely so much fun.”
To say I am jealous, James, is a huge understatement.
LADY GAGA says she could relate to her character Patrizia Reggiani in new film House Of Gucci – the Italian socialite who ordered a hit on her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci in 1995.
At the movie’s London premiere on Tuesday, Gaga said: “The idea she was a gold digger was fiction.
“When I got the role there was not a lot about her out there. I went digging about like a detective. Once I dove into the past I found this woman was hurt.
“She was suppressed by the Italian patriarchy, we all are as women. We don’t all commit murder, but she was deeply hurting and I think she lost her mind.”
She added: “I believe privilege is inherently evil.
“When a lot of men are arguing over money, they missed the real disaster, that she was on the brink.”
BRITNEY SPEARS has ordered a posh wedding dress following actor Sam Asghari’s proposal. She wrote on Instagram: “Donatella Versace is making my dress.”
In even better news for the troubled singer, her 13-year conservatorship is finally set to be ended by a court in Los Angeles tomorrow, giving her free rein over her life.
QUEEN’S Gambit actress Anya Taylor-Joy has sparked rumours she is engaged after flaunting a gem-encrusted band on her ring finger.
The Golden Globe winner was maid of honour at the weekend for the model and oil heiress Ivy Getty in San Francisco, and appeared to be preparing for her own big day.
I’m told all eyes were on her and her rocker and actor partner Malcolm McRae because of the pricey looking ring she was wearing, which featured a huge emerald surrounded by diamonds.
A source said: “Anya is absolutely head over heels with Malcolm, they are inseparable.
“She had a blinder of a ring on her engagement finger, there was no missing it. They didn’t talk about whether it really was an engagement ring, it wouldn’t have been the right time given it was her best friend’s wedding.”
I told in July how Anya, whose new film Last Night In Soho with Matt Smith has just hit cinemas, had practically moved Malcolm into her LA home following a whirlwind romance.
He’s a lucky guy.
ONE look at the eyebrows and moody expressions on this lot and it’s not hard to see who their dad is.
Liam Gallagher’s offspring were the spitting image of the ex Oasis rocker as they hung out at the launch of Superdry’s new flagship store on London’s Oxford Street.
His kids, from left, Gene, Molly and Lennon, co-ordinated their black outfits for their siblings’ night out.
As well as celebrating the opening of the new shop, the event marked the launch of a collaboration between the brand and another celebrity kid – David and Victoria Beckham‘s son Brooklyn.
I hope these three got a goody bag with some more colourful clobber in.
AVRIL LAVIGNE is playing happy families with her rocker boyfriend Mod Sun but he has helped her co-write her new song all about a devastating heartbreak.
The Canadian singer, who I am sure will be hoping Mod doesn’t inspire any more tracks about that subject, released the single, Bite Me, last night. She sings on the tune: “You shoulda known better to f**k with someone like me, forever and ever you’re going to wish I was your wifey.
“Should’ve held on, should’ve treated me right. I gave you one chance, you don’t get it twice.”
Avril has just signed to the label DTA Records, owned by Kourtney Kardashian‘s fiance and BLINK-182 drummer Travis Barker, and with this song has returned to her pop punk roots.
Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of her best-selling debut album Let Go, so a return to form would be very welcome.
ABBA have scored the fastest-selling album in four years with comeback record Voyage, smashing UK chart figures set just last week by Ed Sheeran.
His LP Equals shifted 139,000 copies in seven days, but I can reveal that by the close of play on Tuesday, Voyage had already sold 181,712 copies.
It looks like Abba will pass up on the chance to have another big hit though, after Ava Max attempted to sample their 1981 tune Lay All Your Love On Me on a track called Emotions.
As well as having the same instrumental and riff, Ava uses a large chunk of the lyrics, but puts a modern twist on them. But insiders tell me the single hasn’t had the nod from Abba songwriters Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, meaning an official release is unlikely to happen.
A music source told me: “Ava adores Abba and wanted to pay homage to them with Emotions. It feels like it could be a smash hit for her, especially given Abba’s popularity right now, but so far the sample hasn’t been signed off by Abba so it’s possible she will never be able to release it.”
The Swedish group are notoriously picky about who can sample their songs, with Madonna only getting the chance to sample Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! on her 2005 hit Hung Up after writing them a grovelling letter.
Time to get your pen and paper out, Ava.
JACK WHITEHALL has hinted he won’t be back on stage for years as a stand-up after forging a career as a Hollywood actor.
After host Jay Rayner said on the Out To Lunch podcast that being posh had become Jack’s unique selling point , the comic replied: “It isn’t now, which is why I’m probably not doing any more stand-up.
“I certainly felt like, after the last tour, I need to stop for a bit because I don’t feel like I have anything to say.
“I’m bored by the sound of my own voice and I want to go away, have some more experiences and come back with something more interesting to talk about.”
