Simon Cowell makes major career change and signs bumper new pay deal
JUST like Ed Sheeran, Damon Albarn and Tom Cruise, music mogul Simon Cowell famously admits he does not own a smartphone.
But that hasn’t stopped him signing a mega-money advertising deal for a new mobile game.
Insiders tell me the former X Factor boss filmed a commercial for Royal Match, a game that fans can play on their devices.
It is a sure sign Simon’s TV and music days are becoming something of the past.
Last January he announced he was scaling back at his entertainment company Syco because he wanted to focus less on his empire and more on spending time with his family, including son Eric.
A source said: “Simon rarely puts his name to anything for advertising but the offer from this was too good to turn down.
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“He will make a seven-figure sum from this advert for a mobile phone game.
“Simon filmed it last week and it will air in the coming months.
“For someone who doesn’t own a mobile phone, it seems an odd choice to have Simon fronting it.
“But the execs thought he was the perfect choice.”
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I wonder if they had to teach him how it works first.
Simon revealed in 2020 that he had chosen to shun mobiles and admitted he had not used one for three years.
He said of binning his iPhone: “It means you don’t wake up to, like, 50 text messages you can’t reply to.
“And that’s what happened one morning, I woke up and I’ve got 52 unread messages.
“I thought, ‘Even if I reply to every one of those, I’m going to get another replying back, and then I’m going to get more that day’.
“And I realised it was actually stopping me from working or living properly, so I just turned it off and I went a month, three months, then a year, then two years, then three years. And I love it.”
He added: “Even if you limit it, you know, you don’t want your telephone to rule your life.”
Maybe I should take a leaf out of your book, Simon.
Especially if it means I’m on for a mega pay day.
Shakira gets behind the heel
SHAKIRA may be at Silverstone race track but she’s taking the back seat.
The Hips Don’t Lie singer looks as stylish as ever sprawled out in leather trousers and a denim crop-top.
With oversized black shades and massive studded platform heels Shakira poses away in the back of her car.
The singer was at the Britsh Grand Prix to cheer on her close pal Lewis Hamilton who finished third.
Keen to keep the party going, she hit up exclusive London restaurant and bar Chiltern Firehouse on Sunday night before sneaking out in the early hours of Monday morning.
The north London venue is known for being popular with the likes of Bradley Cooper and Noel Gallagher.
Bringing the F1 race to a close was chart-topper Tom Grennan.
The Not Over Yet singer wore a bright orange outfit on stage as he ended the weekend in style.
His performance was one in a series of sets from some of the biggest names in music, as the sporting event looks to include live shows.
Everyone from Calvin Harris to Cat Burns and Black Eyed Peas performed over the weekend of celebrations.
Sam Ryder also played a set at the famous race track.
He said: “The crowd at Silverstone really is second to none.
“Everyone is so excited to be here and you can feel the energy from the moment you arrive.
“For me, this is one of the best weekends of the year.”
Doubts about Mutya memory
IT seems Sugababes’ Mutya Buena was struggling with the strain of a packed summer schedule when the band performed at The Soho House Festival over the weekend.
Onlookers claimed Mutya, who was on stage at the London event with Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy, forgot the words to their 2009 hit About You Now and stumbled through the 45-minute set on Saturday.
They said: “Sugababes have been working so hard recently and Mutya seemed to be struggling.
“She was singing About You Now and then had to admit she’d forgotten the words as she attempted to keep going.
“Her voice appeared to be strained and it was hard to watch at times, but Keisha and Siobhan supported her through it.”
I exclusively revealed the group’s comeback last summer and they played a 17-date UK tour before taking on festivals this summer.
Their next biggest gig is at London’s O2 Arena in September and they are hoping to make it a sell-out.
Plenty of time to start memorising those lyrics, Mutya.
EX-Love Islander Antigoni is following in the footsteps of fellow show veterans Wes Nelson and Samira Mighty by launching a pop career.
She shared this exclusive photograph of herself in a bright dress to celebrate debut single, Nervous, which is out today.
Antigoni, who appeared on the reality show last year, told me of the catchy track: “I consider myself a confident person and I never really get nervous speaking to someone I think is attractive.
“But I was talking to this guy at a bar and actually felt nervous for once.
“I didn’t know what to say.
“That was the moment that inspired the song.”
She added: “I think people are going to relate to this song because everyone has been in a situation where they’ve felt nervous around someone they find attractive.
“It’s something that’s universal and I wanted to capture that feeling.”
Adele hint at Vegas residency into 2024
ADELE fans have been given a boost after she let slip her Las Vegas residency dates could be running into next year.
It is good news for those who have not yet been able to snap up tickets for her latest run in the US entertainment mecca.
While chatting to a group of New Yorkers who were drinking wine during one of her concerts, Adele was overheard saying: “You know what, I might add to merch for my next round of shows.
“One of the yard-drink beakers, that everyone can fill up at the bar.”
The British superstar’s postponed residency ran from November last year until March, then she announced an extended set of shows from June until this November.
Insiders at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace said they hoped Adele would pick where Celine Dion left off, after she had a 16-year-long residency at the hotel.
They said: “Adele is proving to be a brilliant decision for the business.
“The upset of the original postponement is long forgotten, both by the executives and fans.
“Now the casino sees thousands of fans and their families flood in between Thursday and Sunday to see her, which amounts to millions being spent on rooms, services and food and beverage.
“Artists have come and gone for short runs at Caesars since Celine departed.
“But there is hope to get a long-term act and the hope is Adele fits the bill.”
The source added: “When the concert film Adele is recording is released, even more fans will want to see her shows live and we expect another spike in interest in sales.
“Adele is her own woman, so pinning her down for many years could be a lengthy negotiation.”
Lana powers back
I’M glad to report Lana Del Ray’s latest gig was a return to form.
Her Glastonbury set hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after she rocked up late and had the power cut to her stage.
But the 90-minute show at BST Hyde Park in London on Sunday night went off without a hitch – with Lana apologising for her doomed Glasto set.
The singer, who has her hair done as part of her set, said: “This is where I got cut off last time. Sorry about that.”
Lana later added: “I don’t want it to end. It’s worth it. Even if you get the power cut, it’s worth it.”
I’m told a ring of steel was placed around the SummerTime Sadness singer to make sure everything ran smoothly for the sell-out concert.
A source said: “Security backstage was the tightest it’s been for the whole festival for Lana’s performance.
“No one was allowed anywhere near where Lana might be beforehand.
“The backstage crew were given strict instructions.
“It may sound extreme but it worked.
“She was only a couple of minutes late to the stage and her performance was amazing.”
A Magic night with Margot
IT turns out that Margot Robbie is quite a party animal.
The star of the new Barbie film took actors and actresses who play different versions of the Barbie and Ken dolls on a secret night out in London to watch raunchy stage show Magic Mike Live.
The group even included the movie’s director Greta Gerwig.
In The latest issue of Rolling Stone UK, actor Ncuti Gatwa, said: “One of the best nights of my life was when Margot took all the Barbies and Kens out in London to see Magic Mike Live.
“I don’t know how I made it through any filming in the week after, my voice was gone from screaming so much.
“Greta Gerwig’s assistant was pulled up on stage and given a lap dance and Greta was screaming in delight.
“Margot is a very, very good party host.”
Name of the game for Stefflon
STEFFLON DON made sure no one forgot her name by wearing a diamante necklace with her moniker on it.
She wore the glittering bit of bling to the Manny Norté X Bacardi Rum bash in London’s Covent Garden, held to celebrate the end of Wireless Festival 2023.
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The rapper then completed her look with a quirky pair of shades that resembled ski goggles.
Steff danced until the early hours with a host of stars including rappers Krept And Konan, as well as Love Island stars Dami and Indiyah.