Robbie Williams ‘axed from Take That after Neil Ruddock kidnapped him to go on bender in Marbella’
ROBBIE Williams was axed from Take That 25 years ago – and now ex-footballer Neil 'Razor' Ruddock has shed fresh light on how that came about.
The former defender says he and his Liverpool team-mates “kidnapped” Rob to go on a bender in Marbella when he was meant to be at a recording session.
In his autobiography, The World According To Razor, he writes: “One of us gave him a call and, instead of biting our hands off, he tried to blow us out.
“‘B*****ks to that,’ I said to the lads. ‘Let’s kidnap the f***er’.
"We turned up at his place a few hours before the flight, grabbed his passport, packed him a few clothes and then forced him on to the minibus.”
Razor added: “If it wasn’t for me he might never have got the sack and if he hadn’t been sacked we’d never have had Angels, Let Me Entertain You and everything else the talented sod’s done since.
“In fact, he would have nothing if it weren’t for me getting him the sack. So, I invented Robbie Williams.”
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It's all go for the MOBO show
THE Mobo Awards are back after a two-year hiatus and will air live on BBC1 on December 9.
Maya Jama and entertainer Chunkz are hosting the show, which will also feature performances by Headie One and Ms Banks among others.
Maya and Chunkz will kick off the virtual ceremony on at 7pm before the main show airs on BBC1 at 10.45pm.
Rapper Nines leads the nominations with five nods, including for Best Male and Album Of The Year for Crabs In A Bucket, which went to No1 in September.
But he faces fierce competition from Stormzy, who has been given nods in the same categories following the release of his 2019 album Heavy Is The Head.
Lianne La Havas is one of three leading female nominees who are each up for three awards.
A Sting in Shaggy's Xmas tale
THEY may seem unlikely pals but Shaggy has revealed he was planning to make a second album with Sting before the pandemic scuppered their plans.
The reggae legend told me how his record, Christmas In The Islands, which is out now, was supposed to be a joint effort with the former Police frontman.
He explained: “This started as an idea with Sting and I. We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to do a Christmas carols album in reggae?’
“I started working on some of the tracks in March and then the pandemic happened.
"But I thought, ‘Oh that’ll be over in two months and then I’ll link up with Sting and he’ll bring all the sauce’.
“Then it kept going and he is stuck in England, so the album ended up being a Shaggy Christmas.”
Although Sting couldn’t take part, Shaggy managed to get Joss Stone and Ne-Yo, among other musicians, to collaborate on the 15-track record.
It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have to say the songs are pretty catchy.
Zac's fling has bin and gone
PALS of Zac Efron and his waitress girlfriend say their relationship has crumbled due to Covid, after they were locked down more than 1,000 miles apart in Australia.
To add to the heartbreak, sources tell me the couple, who met in June, had been looking to buy their first home together in the glamorous Aussie town of Byron Bay just before they hit the rocks.
A friend said: “Zac and Vanessa looked like the real deal. They were besotted with each other.
“Zac has been renting a place by the beach in Byron Bay and by September Vanessa was living with him there.
“So once he decided to stay in Australia long term, he suggested they buy their first home.
"They’d started to look at a few places but, sadly, fate wasn’t on their side.”
Zac had travelled to Adelaide in the south of the country to film new movie Gold just before the region went into lockdown last Wednesday.
The source said: “Zac’s work and the enforced distance has really taken its toll.
“Friends hope they can reunite, but it seems their relationship was more like a holiday romance than they cared to admit.”
Guess it’s not always like the movies.
ASH PUTS BOOT INTO HUNGER
ASHLEY Roberts has revealed she spent some of her spare time this year volunteering at a soup kitchen.
The Pussycat Dolls star, snapped on her way to her Heart Radio show in London today, said: “On a day like today when it’s raining and cold, you just don’t realise what a roof over your head provides for you.”
Dua and Harry up for multiple gongs
HER last album Future Nostalgia was a disco sensation and now Dua Lipa could be leading the dance at next year’s Grammys – she’s up for six trophies.
Her single Don’t Start Now gets nods for Song of the Year and Record of the Year, it was announced last night.
Future Nostalgia — her second collection, released in March — is in the running for Album of the Year.
She also gets shouts for Best Pop Solo Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album, as well as Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her track Un Dia with Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Tainy.
She is near the top of the Grammys run-down with Taylor Swift, who rivals Dua in five categories.
Meanwhile Beyonce, who released no new album this year, is up for nine gongs including for Megan Thee Stallion collab Savage, Disney+ film Black Is King and 2019 song Brown Skin Girl.
Dua’s fellow Brit Harry Styles also has the bubbly on ice, with his sights set on Best Music Video (Adore You), Best Pop Vocal Album (Fine Line) and Best Pop Solo Performance (Water-melon Sugar).
Sibling duo Disclosure, from Surrey, are in the mix for Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Other Brits recognised ahead of the Los Angeles bash on January 31 include Coldplay for Album of the Year (Everyday Life), Laura Marling, Michael Kiwanuka, Jacob Collier and Mahalia.
Despite hit album Chromatica, Lady Gaga gets two nods — and The Weeknd misses out entirely. Gutted.
bizbit
TAYLOR SWIFT has recorded an intimate concert documentary to celebrate her eighth studio album Folklore.
The one-off film, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, will be available to stream on Disney+ from 8am today and features her talking about the stories behind the new tracks as well as performing them.
Big role for Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne
LITTLE MIX’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock is going it alone after landing her first acting role. She’s set to appear in the first British Christmas film – called Boxing Day – with an all-black cast.
It is Leigh-Anne’s first major job outside the band, after my exclusive story last week that the girls want to pursue solo projects.
She will star opposite I May Destroy You actor Aml Ameen, who is also directing. How To Get Away With Murder actress Aja Naomi King and Bafta winner Marianne Jean-Baptiste will appear, too.
Filming has started on the flick, which sees an author have his relationship tested when he returns to London to introduce his American fiancée to his crazy family.
Leigh-Anne’s role is yet to be revealed but I’ve no doubt she’ll give it her best shot.
Nicki plays the bootiful wife
NICKI Minaj deserves special commendation here for her services in the line of booty.
The Starships singer gave husband Kenneth something to love and to hold as they filmed this home photoshoot.
She teamed a figure-hugging white dress with a matching feather boa, and some crazy specs appeal, before changing into an equally sassy black outfit.
Her other half knows exactly what he’s doing in that lurid tracksuit, too, because it picks up the pink streaks in Nicki’s hair perfectly.
The couple tied the knot last year and are clearly very tight, judging from this picture.
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They also recently welcomed their first child, into the world as Nicki proudly announced the birth of their son to her millions of Instagram followers last month.
Nicki has kept her little man’s name under wraps but these latest snaps suggest it’s set to be every bit as attention-grabbing as Mum likes to be.
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