Niall Horan set to pen some tear-jerking tracks after hiring Adele’s producer and writer for new album
Singer has drafted in Greg Kurstin to help put together new material
ONE DIRECTIONERS who are still drying their eyes after the band split had better hold on to their tissues.
NIALL HORAN is set to pen some seriously tear-jerking solo material.
He has drafted in queen of the sob song ADELE’s writer and producer GREG KURSTIN to help put together his much-anticipated new album.
Greg, who has also teamed up with SIR PAUL McCARTNEY, KATY PERRY, SIA, LILY ALLEN and PINK, was the genius behind Adele’s iconic comeback single Hello.
Niall is hoping he can help him do the unthinkable — and top the success of Best Song Ever.
Our sister column Bizarre revealed earlier this year that the Irishman was in negotiations to sign a deal with SIMON COWELL’s label Syco after the foursome disbanded.
The decision to recruit Greg proves the team behind Niall are determined to make his solo debut a force to be reckoned with.
Our source said: “Niall wrote with One Direction but he’s got a real talent, and the bosses are hoping to make the most of that by teaming him up with some brilliant people.
“He wants to move away from boyband stuff and show what he can do, and he’s being doing some great work with Greg, among others.”
The source added: “There was a worry at first that because he came from a manufactured band, he wouldn’t be taken seriously.
“But people are queueing around the block to record with him.
“It’s early days, but this record looks like it could really be something special.”
Since 1D crushed millions of teenage hearts by calling it a day last year, Niall seems to have spent most of his time on golf courses. Yawn.
And after setting up new company Modest Golf, he even claimed in July that he would be focusing on discovering the next RORY MCILROY instead of new music.
So it’s a relief to hear that his solo plans are well and truly on track.
Niall is not the only member of the band to explore a new direction (sorry). HARRY STYLES has a record deal with Columbia and it emerged last month LIAM PAYNE had swapped pop for grime.
Liam has recorded sessions with garage producer KRUNCHIE, who helped craft hardcore rap tracks with Mobo winners STORMZY and KREPT & KONAN.
Now there’s a gang you won’t see working with Adele any time soon.
Kate's model role for her business
KATE MOSS will be a model boss as she launches her agency for catwalk stars of the future.
The savvy star’s departure from agency Storm after 28 years now makes a bit more sense.
Her new venture – the aptly named Kate Moss Agency – is to be launched imminently with a team of staff including long-time collaborator Lucy Baxter already on board.
A source said: “Kate is keen to cash in on her years of experience in the industry.
“She’s really passionate about being a great mentor to aspiring models and knows she has a great eye to find the new generation of faces who could be as big as her.” We’ve already told of Kate’s other business hat, with her setting up a company to manage all the money she makes for interior design.
Whether it be a person or a fringed-velvet footstool that looks delightful with Whispering Peach Dulux wallpaper – Kate’s passionate about anything pretty.
Little chance of split
WHEN the time comes for LITTLE MIX to split they are adamant they won’t spin the old “it’s just a hiatus” story.
Refreshingly candid JESY NELSON told us: “I reckon the day that happens is the day we might want to go our separate ways.
“But for now we’re so strong as a group. We’re best as a four – when we’re on our own we struggle, so it would be silly to stop now.”
The girls’ fourth album is due out before the end of the year and they promise it will spill some secrets.
Jesy, who has been busy writing with her bandmates PERRIE EDWARDS, LEIGH-ANNE PINNOCK and JADE THIRLWALL, said: “It’s about stuff we’ve gone through over the five years that people might not know about.
“I feel like people hear a lot of stories but they don’t actually know the truth. We will set the record straight on silly rumours.”
ZAYN MALIK’s ears must be burning.
Skinny Gi-Jeans
SUPERMODEL GIGI HADID shows she doesn't need her squad of showbiz pals such as KENDALL JENNER and HAILEY BALDWIN around to look a bit of all white.
The star posed up a storm in Berlin as she launched her collection with Tommy Hilfiger at three-day fashion bash Bread & Butter.
And clearly Gigi had not been indulging in either of those treats before squeezing into her spray-on jeans.
She's so thin we doubt she's ever seen a piece of toast.
That said, we do have to give her down-to-earth brownie points for taking time to share a laugh with her granny, who surprised Gigi by arriving with the rest of her family.
The pair were spotted having a giggle on a sofa during the launch.
And Gigi went on to post a photo on Twitter of the whole Hadid clan together as they celebrated.
Does anyone know where Hailey and Kendall are though?
Are they OK?
Sheridan Smith takes stage bow-wow
FUNNY Girl stage star SHERIDAN SMITH hopes her bosses don’t collar her for sneaking her pooches into her dressing room.
Sheridan smuggles in Japanese spitz Trish, shar pei Enid Blyton and pug Barry Manilow when she is performing in her show at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End.
A source told us: “For obvious reasons it’s forbidden to have pets backstage. But Sheridan adores them so she brings them in anyway and just tries to keep them quiet. If one gets yappy while she’s on stage she raises her voice to cover up the noise.
“Luckily, no one has noticed yet.”
And we thought those backstage yips were for dramatic effect.
Baad boy Danny Dyer's big day
THERE is nothing more annoying than lack of Sooty and Sweep (that’s sleep for non-Cockney readers) the night before your horse and carriage (marriage).
Or at least that’s what we imagine DANNY DYER was thinking as he desperately tried to get some shut-eye ahead of his wedding to Jo Mas yesterday.
He went on Twitter hours before his New Forest nuptials to post a pic of sheep in sunglasses and said: “Counting these. I’d rather shear em. Mugs.”
The couple put on fireworks and funfair rides for guests including KELLIE BRIGHT, MADDY HILL, RAY WINSTONE, DANNY-BOY HATCHARD and KASABIAN.
Fireworks? Didn’t realise MARK WRIGHT had been invited.
Superwoman Rebecca's set to fly as she Ferg-ets cheating ex
BEING abandoned by your cheating boyfriend would turn many women – us included – into quivering wrecks.
But REBECCA FERGUSON has found a much better antidote to her heartbreak than diving nose-first into a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
The former X Factor finalist, who is going on tour next month, has picked herself up and penned a fourth album to show her ex – and everyone else – exactly what she’s made of.
We were given an exclusive first listen to the aptly titled Superwoman ahead of its release on October 14.
And we can reveal that there is a new challenger for the title of go-to heartbreak song. Rebecca’s vocals are as big and smoky as ever and on new single Bones, which we watched her perform at Strictly Come Dancing this week, they are tinged with rawness.
But this isn’t an album to sob along to.
From soulful ballads Hold Me and Oceans to the sassy and upbeat Mistress, Rebecca’s tunes are all about taking control and walking away.
Rebecca croons on the album’s title track: “I never said I was Superwoman.”
But while she may not have a red cape, this album is sure to see her deservedly flying high once again.
Genie-us look, Ri Ri
IF pop star RIHANNA ever wants a career change then she’s a dead cert for Aladdin come panto season.
Not many girls can pull off blue pantaloons, but RiRi worked the sweatshirt and slacks look like a pro.
The hitmaker chose the look while out in New York on Friday.
And after DRAKE professed his love for her on stage at the MTV VMAs last Sunday we’re hoping the Diamonds singer soon has a real-life sparkler to add to her ring finger.
Chintz up, Chloe
NORMALLY on seeing a pic of a celeb in a Victorian-inspired flowery dress with a cleavage gap, we would be candid in our views.
But given that CHLOE MORETZ was dumped by her boyfriend BROOKLYN BECKHAM this week, we think she deserves a break.
So we’re going to say the actress looked stunning as she walked the red carpet at the Deauville Awards in France in an elegant floral gown. That’s one for the girls.