Paloma Faith lands BBC documentary following IVF struggle as she prepares for birth of second baby
PALOMA FAITH has stepped back from coaching duties on The Voice Kids as she prepares to have her second child – but will be back on the box in the coming weeks.
I can reveal the eccentric singer, who is nine months pregnant, will be the subject of hour-long documentary Paloma Faith: As I Am, on BBC2 and iPlayer.
Paloma, who already has a four-year-old daughter with artist boyfriend Leyman Lahcine, will open up about juggling work, parenting and romance, estrangement from her dad, and difficulties falling pregnant this time round.
The emotional film was created by director Jane Mingay over the course of a year, and Paloma said: “I was very reluctant to let a camera into the very personal experience of working as a first-time mum but Jane is a mother and friend, so I felt safe.
“The result is very telling, exposed and at times emotional for me to watch. I hope it’s a testament to all working mothers.”
The project was born after Jane begged Cockney Paloma to let her tell her story, hoping it would inspire other women.
Jane said: “We see loads of films about rock stars and sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, but we never see what women have to do. It’s such a private thing having a child and then having to go out and become a different persona.”
Of Paloma’s battle to conceive with baby number two, Jane added: “There is a moment during the film where she doesn’t know whether she’s going to be able to get pregnant.
She’s like, ‘I’ve had two rounds of IVF and it hasn’t worked’.
“Obviously a lot of women go through this and it’s really difficult. She does talk about it a lot and it will help many women to see it. It’s a journey that people don’t talk about.”
For the first time Paloma discusses dad Ramon, who she has not spoken to in more than a decade, and she tells how fame and motherhood affect her romance with French boyfriend Leyman.
The film also follows the success of the singer’s fifth studio album Infinite Things, which she released in November and plans to tour this year.
Jane said of film: “There’s her relationship with her father, which she discusses, and having her child and the impact it has on her relationship. It’s very difficult.”
Do make sure to get some rest before the baby comes, Paloma.
JAKE HAS TOUR BUG
JAKE Bugg is optimistic about touring this year to get his new album out there.
The singer wants to release his fifth collection in the autumn and hopes it means he will be able to play the songs live to fans.
In an exclusive chat, Jake said: “I’ve written quite a few songs for this record so I’m picking out the best ones and putting it together. “I guess it’s just about trying to tie it all in.
“Usually with album releases they’re accompanied by a tour. So it would be nice to try to see when it’s available for that to happen, so we can put the record out and tour it and play the songs in front of an audience.
“I’d like to release it later this year. Autumn would be nice but we’re going to have to wait and see.”
Jake, who performed his latest single, upbeat tune All I Need, on last week’s Graham Norton Show on BBC1, added: “We’re going to put out a couple more singles leading up to the release of the album.
“And that’s one of the good things about having it kind of done is that I have songs to release and put out there for fans to listen to.” Here’s hoping.
READ MORE FROM SIMON BOYLE’S BIZARRE COLUMN
Zara shines
IT’S been a good few months since celebs could take to the red carpet so ZARA LARSSON pulled out all the stops with her outfit for an awards do.
The singer wore this dazzling two-piece to the Swedish Sports Awards in Stockholm, before slipping into the red number on the left.
But it wasn’t a big night out, as hours later she posted a photo on Instagram bragging about winning a board game back home.
Zara, gearing up for the release of her album Poster Girl on March 5, gave fans a taste of what to expect this month when she put out her song with rapper Young Thug, Talk About Love.
The Swede is popular across the Continent, but has ruled out competing at Eurovision.
Asked if she would represent Sweden, she said: “No. Maybe you’ll catch me there in 20 years, when I am really bored.” Ouch.
KORT ON BLOWER
HER famous family are good pals with Canadian rapper Drake – and Kourtney Kardashian couldn’t help but use one of his best tracks, Hotline Bling, in her latest Instagram snap.
Posting this photo of herself on a sun-lounger by the beach while holding a conch to her ear, the American reality TV star captioned the post: “You used to call me on my shell-phone.”
With puns like that, there is always a job here for you, Kourt.
Tom for Wonka
SPIDER-MAN actor Tom Holland and Little Women’s Timothee Chalamet are both in the frame to play Willy Wonka in a prequel to Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
Warner Bros has been working on the idea for years but revealed it is hoping to go into production later this year, with a release date of March 2023.
Called Wonka, the movie is being produced by the man behind the Harry Potter films and will be directed by Paul King, who made the Paddington movies.
The original 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book saw Gene Wilder as Wonka, while a big-budget 2005 remake featured Johnny Depp in the lead role.
Ryan Gosling, Donald Glover and Ezra Miller were linked to the part in 2018, but are no longer in the running.
bizbit
MICHAEL BUBLE has loved the lockdown as he has seen the milestones of toddler daughter Vida.
He said: “It’s been the greatest time. In other years I would have been out on the road. I would have missed my daughter walking for the first time or the first word and I have been there for every second.”
Lewis aims for smalls of fame
LEWIS CAPALDI would love to join the likes of Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes and former Arsenal footballer Freddie Ljunberg by slipping into Calvin Klein briefs in campaigns for the brand.
The Someone You Loved singer would be delighted to pull on a pair of budgie smugglers – although he joked he may need a bit of, ahem, help.
Lewis, who we have mocked up in a pair of the tighty whities, said: “I like a Calvin Klein brief but I don’t need them for the support, there’s nothing going on down there.
“I’ve been a boxer man my whole days and I think this year, I’m going to be 25 in October, I’m going to graduate from being a boxer man to a brief.
“I want my budgie to be smuggled, get the goodies on show. I’m very much looking forward to it.”
And not stopping there with the intimate revelations, Lewis told the On With Mario Lopez podcast how Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and Lil Kim’s 2001 cover of the song Lady Marmalade was a watershed moment for him.
He added: “All the women in that Lady Marmalade video. It was my sexual awakening.” Good ol’ Lewis, he’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Not Dua baby
DUA LIPA was sitting pretty ahead of an appearance on American telly in New York.
The British superstar took a break before a virtual performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and posed for pictures as she basked in the sun on the studio’s rooftop.
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On the show Dua shot down speculation she was pregnant by boyfriend ANWAR HADID after fans thought a picture she’d posted alongside baby bottle emojis was a hint.
She said: “I posted it and then I look at the comments and somebody says, ‘Is she pregnant?’ And I’m just like, ‘Oh my God, these emojis have come to bite me in the a***’.”
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