Beyonce hires 12-person team to carry out vital backstage task during week-long London residency
BEYONCE is a crafty sew and sew – she has a team of 12 seamstresses to work backstage at her London shows.
I’ve learned they have been taken on for her week-long residency at North London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which kicked off on Monday night.
They have been taken on to work tirelessly on her extensive wardrobe for the tour, including adjusting new outfits and repairing those she has worn.
The Single Ladies singer showed off her huge wardrobe at Monday’s show, including this striking red costume.
But her need for such a large team has caused a headache for other acts preparing for festival season and upcoming shows, as she has cornered the market in the best specialists.
A source said: “Beyoncé has enlisted all of the best seamstresses in London. She has more people working on her wardrobe than some major designers do.
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"It is costing tens of thousands but she feels it’s worth it for the spectacle of her tour, she wants to renew her outfits constantly.
“Other stars aren’t quite so pleased. One manager was tearing his hair out trying to find someone to fix a pair of designer shoes and had to dash down to a cobbler himself in the hope of getting it sorted because everyone else has been booked up by Bey.”
As well as Beyoncé’s costumes there is a huge wardrobe for her dancers — and her daughter Blue Ivy.
The youngster joined her superstar mum on stage on Monday, dancing to My Power and Black Parade.
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Singers Dua Lipa and Mae Muller, Kris Jenner and actress Emilia Clarke were among celebs in the crowd.
And with Kelly Rowland in London for a headline performance at Mighty Hoopla Festival this Saturday, fans are still keeping their fingers crossed for a mini Destiny's Child reunion.
ADAM Lambert believes he will continue as lead singer with Queen at more live shows here.
Asked about the prospect, he said: “Last summer was a blast. Ten sold-out shows at the O2 (in London) was a big milestone for me. I’m so grateful for the journey we’ve been on together.
“I don’t think that’s the end. There’s probably more where that came from.”
Elton's Glasto guests
SIR Elton John has confirmed he will have a series of special guests when he headline’s Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage next month.
He is pulling out all the stops for the final UK show on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which began in 2018.
Elton told Scott Mills on Radio 2 yesterday about his Glasto invite: “It’s the first time I’ve been asked . . . It’s come at the right time.
“I’m a great believer in serendipity and fate and it’s the most wonderful way to sign off in England.
“I’ve got guests and I can’t tell you who they are.”
Asked if he will miss life on the road, Elton insisted: “No way! I really don’t want to tour again.”
Hopeless Rom-antics
THEY are both signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation but it seems Megan Thee Stallion and footballer Romelu Lukaku are teaming up for a partnership of their own.
Insiders have revealed the pair have been dating for a few months after being introduced by mutual friends.
They went public over the weekend at a five-star hotel in Como, Italy, where the Wap rapper was Lukaku’s date at his Inter Milan team-mate Lautaro Martinez's wedding.
A source said: “Megan and Romelu have been an item for a little while.
“She has dropped a few hints on Instagram recently, including posting snaps of herself in Milan when she was visiting him.
“Megan even shared a photo of herself watching him play, but no one noticed at the time.”
Fans who saw Megan and the striker at the wedding posted pictures online of the pair looking rather loved up after the ceremony.
Romelu, a Belgium international who is on loan from Chelsea, split with his girlfriend of five years, Sarah Mens, last year while Megan is also single after breaking up with rapper Pardison Fontaine in February.
It is certainly not a romance I saw coming, but I am here for it.
Megan has previously revealed what it would take to get her on a date.
She said: “I don’t like corny pick-up lines. What works best is when people are honest and direct.
“If someone has enough courage to be themselves and come at me with their true intentions, it’s their confidence that comes through and attracts me to them.”
Sounds to me like Romelu has hit the back of the net.
Rita's feeling fruity
EVERYTHING looked peachy for Rita Ora – although she blew a raspberry.
Yet she has revealed she suffered from self-hatred and that learning to love herself again has been a major driving force on her upcoming third album, You & I.
The Praising You singer said: “There’s a lot of self-love on that record. It’s not about how you look, it’s about how you think. Now I’m thinking differently. There’s a song on there called Girl In The Mirror, which is all about that, it’s really emotional.”
Rita was out and about in Sydney at the weekend, where she has been busy filming the latest series of The Voice Australia, where she acts as a coach.
She will be back to the UK in the coming weeks to perform at festivals across the country.
Madonna's sat on records
MADONNA is about to give us so much material, girl.
I can confirm the pop icon is gearing up to release a string of new songs in the coming weeks before kicking off her sold-out Celebration Tour in July.
As well as her upcoming collaboration with Sam Smith, Vulgar, Madge has also hit the studio with The Weeknd and US rapper Playboi Carti.
The trio have recorded the song Popular, which appears on the soundtrack to the upcoming HBO series The Idol.
The gritty show stars Lily Rose Depp and tells the story of a troubled pop star navigating a world full of drink and drugs.
Madonna has also recorded a number of tracks with Christine and the Queens for his upcoming album Paranoia, Angels, True Love, though I’m told that involves more speaking than singing.
She will embark on her biggest tour in a decade this summer, which will include six nights at London’s O2 Arena from October onwards.
She isn’t slowing down any time soon.
Royal Blood boiled
ROYAL Blood may have three No1 albums but clearly success doesn’t buy you class.
The band’s frontman Mike Kerr claiming the crowd weren’t supportive enough.
Mike ranted: “Well, I guess I should introduce ourselves seeing as no one actually knows who we are. We’re called Royal Blood and this is rock music. Who likes rock music? Nine people, brilliant.”
He added to his drummer Ben Thatcher: “We’re having to clap ourselves because that was so pathetic. Well done, Ben.”
I can’t blame the concert- goers in Dundee.
I wouldn’t clap someone with an attitude like that.
Robbie a kit of all right
ROBBIE Williams was playing nice as he headlined a festival in this footie-style shirt.
The singer wore the red top with “Friendly” across the front for his set at North Music Festival in Portugal.
He wrote on Instagram: “God bless you Porto.”
Robbie won’t be pulling on his boots for Soccer Aid again this year though, having launched the charity match in 2006.
It will take place at Old Trafford, Manchester, on June 11, but Robbie is singing in Denmark the night before.
There’s always a fixture backlog at the end of the season.
Paloma's no fan of mermaid
THE Little Mermaid has scaled its way to the top of the box office but it hasn’t caused quite the same splash with Paloma Faith – who branded it “s**t.”
The Only Love Can Hurt Like This singer has slammed the new live action movie remake for setting a bad example to her children.
It sees mermaid Ariel, played by Halle Bailey, give away her voice to morph into a human in order to charm her love interest, Prince Eric.
In a rant on Instagram, Paloma wrote: “As a mother of girls I don’t want my kids to think it’s OK to give up your entire voice and your powers to love a man.
“Wtf is this s**t. Not what I want to be teaching next gen women at all.”
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In 2018, Keira Knightley revealed she had banned her daughter from watching the original film as well as Cinderella because of the bad examples they set for women.
I’m not sure it’s quite that deep, but each to their own.