The Masked Dancer’s Mo Gilligan preparing to crack the US – with help from an American comedy pal
HAVING become a household name in the UK as a judge on ITV’s Masked Singer Mo Gilligan is on the brink of making it in the States too.
I’ve learned the comedian is being eyed for a Hollywood movie career after his Netflix special became a surprise hit there this year.
His solo stand-up comedy show There’s Mo To Life was watched by millions and now he is working on a special for US audiences.
He has even caught the attention of American comic and actor Kevin Hart.
Kevin has been offering his advice along with other famous pals who are fighting Mo’s corner.
A source said: “Mo has been helped by Kevin, among others, to tailor his act to reach American audiences.
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“He has been told Netflix and other studios are interested in him for action comedies.
“Talks have been held about getting him out there and it’s at an exciting stage.
“Lots of people believe he has what it takes to make millions in America.
“That’s not something many British comedians manage so Mo is up for giving it his all and is really excited.
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“He has been working hard on his act.” Mo, inset, landed the top job of hosting the Brit Awards in February.
He took over from Jack Whitehall who has already crossed over into Hollywood, appearing in Jungle Cruise opposite Dwayne Johnson last year.
Mo had a miracle rise to fame. He only start posting skits online in 2017.
They were such a hit he was able to quit his retail job.
He has revealed he struggled to get an acting job after graduating from Middlesex University with a degree in performing arts.
That experience certainly seems to be paying off now.
MADONNA BACK TO THE GRIND
MADONNA turned up the heat in Colombia as she joined Maluma on stage for a surprise performance.
Wearing a pink dress, a black PVC corset and fishnet tights, she sang her 2000 hit Music and Medellin – the 2019 track she recorded with the Latin star.
The Like A Virgin singer, who last performed at the same venue a decade ago, told the crowd: “It’s so good to be back.”
Madge was on good form at Medellin’s Atanasio Girardot stadium, giving Maluma a lap dance and grinding on him in front of thousands of screaming fans.
I am sure they were screams of joy, and not horror.
ED'S NINE STEPS ON 2STEP
ED SHEERAN is making sure everyone hears his new song 2step - by releasing a whopping nine different remixes of it with acts from around the world.
The solo version of the song went straight to No13 on Friday but now he has released a new version featuring Ukrainian band Antytila, raising funds for Music Saves UA.
In a post online though, he teased there will be other versions featuring other international musicians.
He shared a list which stated there will be new remixes featuring artists from Finland, Italy, Sweden, Australia, France, UK, Ireland and Brazil.
Already this year he has collaborated with Taylor Swift, J Balvin and Camila Cabello on other songs.
IT'S SLAM DUNK FOR JESSIE
JESSIE J has declared that her relationship with basketball player Chanan Colman is the first time she has been in love.
I revealed she was dating the hunk earlier this year after they jetted off on a Caribbean holiday – and now she has opened up about their romance.
Asked how many times she has been in love, she said: “Once.
"Because I can actually see my life with that person and I’ve never had that before.”
Jessie, who has also dated Magic Mike star Channing Tatum, told Steven Bartlett on his Diary of a CEO podcast that she thinks love is a “constant moving experience.”
She added: “When you meet new people you always want to dumb down what you’ve experienced because you don’t want to make them feel bad.
“But the truth is all we’re ever doing is going, ‘Is this love? Do you want to be with me?’
“’Are we going to get married? Can we live together? Would you take a bullet for me? Do I really want to meet your parents?’”
OLIVIA IS OFF THE CHAIN
OLIVIA RODRIGO’s ex-boyfriends will be feeling Sour after seeing her look this good.
The US pop star, who found worldwide fame last year thanks to smash-hit single Drivers License, wore this chain-link dress with black underwear to celebrity hot-spot Carbone in New York on Sunday night.
Olivia was in the Big Apple for last night’s Met Gala.
Also on the guestlist for the fashion industry’s biggest event were supermodels Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, who bared their abs in crop tops as they attended dress fittings in the city yesterday.
OWEN'S FAT-TRICK
MICHAEL OWEN was a pin-up during his footballing heyday.
But now the former England ace is so out of shape, his daughter Gemma has stopped him wearing anything from her new swimwear brand.
Michael said: “I’ve tried to wear some of the shorts and she’s said, ‘no dad bods’. I’m banned.”
Gemma started developing OG Beachwear in 2020. But Michael added: “I wanted to put in a big order but she said no.”
CHARLI’S A DEPOP STAR
BEING a pop star is the perfect excuse to have an extravagant wardrobe but good-hearted Charli XCX is flogging hers for charity.
She has partnered with fashion resale site Depop to sell more than 50 items of clothing, including outfits featured in the video to single, Used To Know Me.
Charli modelled a load of the items ahead of the sale, which started on the website yesterday.
All proceeds will go to grassroots organisation GLITS – Gays And Lesbians In A Transgender Society.
The singer said: “Fashion and music are the most creative forms of self-expression.
"It was important that the Used to Know Me video spanned a wide range of core trends.”
IT isn’t just his girlfriend Calvin Harris has lost in his split, but his pets too.
I told last month how he had separated from Aarika Wolf after four years, but she has now taken custody of their beloved golden retriever Boris and cat Gregg.
The model has been posting snaps of the pets on a dedicated Instagram page in California, while Calvin has been in Europe putting the finishing touches to his album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol.2.
From June 3, the Scottish DJ will be in Ibiza every Friday performing at Ushuaïa.
A source said: “Calvin is very fond of the pets but his schedule means looking after them just isn’t feasible.”
SON SHINE FOR PETER
PETER ANDRE took over the charts with his ab-tastic hit Mysterious Girl 27 years ago and now his son Junior is about to follow in his footsteps.
The teenager, who signed a deal with Columbia Records last year, will release his debut single this summer – but he has been banned from swearing in it by his dad.
In an exclusive chat, Pete, who co-parents Junior with his ex-wife Katie Price, said: “He is just over a month away from releasing music.
“My main thing has been to let him have artistic freedom.
“I’ve let him do it his way
“He has his own sound. It’s really current and really fresh.”
The doting dad says he used to cite WILL SMITH as proof you don’t need to turn the air blue to make it in the industry.
Peter, who will play Vince Fontaine in the West End revival of musical Grease from May 17, said: “He won’t swear.
"I gave him the best example – maybe now it’s not as appropriate – but I used to say, ‘Look at Will Smith’.
“He never swore on his records and he sold millions as he appealed to everyone. He was the best example of that.
“Now I know it’s not as good after the Oscars.
“But during his music days the guy was amazing and he didn’t say anything inappropriate.
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“I think the music will speak for itself. I am so proud of him. He is working his butt off. He is so focused.
“After school he is in the studio. He is obsessed with it like I was at 16.”
