Inside Jade Thirlwall’s fantasy-themed birthday as she transforms into magical centaur for night with themed cocktails

JADE THIRLWALL took horsing around to the extreme this weekend by transforming into a blue centaur as she hosted a Fantastic themed birthday bash.

Jade turns 32 on Boxing Day, which I imagine is one of the worst days of the year to have a birthday.

But the Little Mix singer was determined to make a statement at her party in a blue and silver sequined bodysuit before slipping into a dramatic four legged horse costume.

Jade completed her look with a larger than life black wig and striking make-up.

Guests included Radio 1’s Clara Amfo, who dressed as an angel and former X Factor star Marcus Collins who dressed as Elphaba from Wicked.

Jade’s Rizzle Kicks boyfriend Jordan Stephens rocked up in an Arsenal kit, presumably a nod to his love of the beautiful game and Fantasy Football.

The basement style venue was decorated with giant toadstools and a stage where Jade treated her nearest and dearest to an exclusive play of her next single It Girl.

The track is a savage take down of the industry, building on her debut track Angel Of My Dreams.

On the track, Jade sings: “I am in the It Girl. Sign on the line for me. Smile but don’t show your teeth. Say goodbye to autonomy. Now your body belongs to me.”

She adds: “Put me on a pedestal watch me dance. Dance to the beat till I can’t stand.”

With her debut solo album just months away, 2025 is set to be Jade’s year.

Ariana backing Cyn

ARIANA GRANDE and Cynthia Erivo’s Wicked press has been at times, excruciating.

But rather than playing up their close bond to shift tickets at the box office, the duo have had each other’s back since landing the roles.

Ariana said: “When I got my contract I called her and I was like, ‘Hey, let’s go through this thing. Let’s go beat per beat through this together and make sure that we’re aligned in what we need.

“Because if you need something, we need it together. I want us to have each other’s backs.’”

Calum’s ready to soar

THE sky really will be the limit for Calum Scott next year.

The You Are The Reason singer has revealed he is learning to fly a plane.

Opening up about his plans as he dropped his new festive single Kid At Christmas with Christina Perri, Calum said: “Next year I am going to try and limit my booze as I feel like it’s going to be a big year for me.

“I have my third album coming, I have a tour and, randomly, I am starting to learn how to fly my own plane. I’ve had a couple of lessons and I love it.

“One day I will be able to fly myself to my own shows.”

But while he may soon be curbing the booze, Calum isn’t ending 2024 on a dry note.

Asked about his New Year’s Eve plans, he said: “I’ve been all over the world this year and I loved it but there is no place like home.

“I will be in Hull somewhere. Probably six or seven people deep at a ’Spoons trying to get a pint for me and my mates.”

Calum and Christina’s new track is a nostalgic trip down memory lane – with Jar Of Hearts singer Christina admitting her favourite Christmas memory is getting the iconic Nokia 3310 phone as a teenager.

“When I was 13 all I wanted was a leopard-print Nokia 3310 phone . . . it wasn’t in my present pile so I sucked it up but then I was told to go to the fridge to get a drink and it was in there and I was so so happy. I loved it so much I never forgot it.”

Return of the Macca as tour hits home turf

“I’VE a feeling we are going to have fun tonight,” cheered Sir Paul McCartney as he greeted the capacity crowd at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.

“All right Manchester,” he chipped, “it’s good to be back.”

Yet this – the welcome at Sir Paul’s first Got Back tour date on home turf for 2024 – was perhaps the understatement of the year.

The show was filled with fireworks, a flurry of paper snow and a tear-jerking performance of I’ve Got A Feeling with an AI version of his late bandmate, John Lennon.

In one of a series of touching moments he fought back tears as he hailed it “great, because I get to sing with John again.”

Sir Paul brought the magic to a typically rainy northern night – and made it shine in a way only the Jet hitmaker can.

A setlist crammed with Beatles hits – some rarely heard – and from his own band Wings, kicked off with A Hard Day’s Night and wrapped with a psychedelic Golden Slumbers two hours and 45 minutes later.

No support act, no huge delay on a start time, no lengthy breaks between songs – just a joke that whipping off his blazer would be “the one big wardrobe change of the evening.”

The thread between Paul and The Beatles weaved throughout the set and tugged at the heartstrings of the 23,000-plus full house, when he pulled out George Harrison’s mandolin and ukulele.

He used the latter in a rendition of Something where a wave of respectful silence swept over the crowd.

He was also clearly emotional too, after singing Here Today – penned for John after his death to tell him “I love you man.”

Macca’s amazing vocal talent then saw him knock out Let It Be, Live And Let Die and Hey Jude back-to-back.

In between the hits were stories and anecdotes from his 60 years in showbiz, including The Beatles first ever song, tributes to Jimi Hendrix and his wife Nancy.

He got everyone in the festive mood with a rendition of Wonderful Christmastime alongside a talented kids’ choir.

While the venue’s stunning visual and acoustic capabilities came to the fore in the Alton Towers-esque rollercoaster graphics for Helter Skelter.

The 82-year-old showman had given his adoring fans a thrilling, nostalgia-filled ride none of them will ever forget.

Robbie’s hot fur success

FORGET Better Man, Robbie Williams will be a hotter man.

The Rock DJ singer wore this bold faux fur jacket at the premiere of his upcoming biopic in Paris.

Robbie is portrayed as a CGI monkey in the film, out Boxing Day, but we promise it’s more than a headline grabbing gimmick.

When our Jack attended the London premiere last month he loved it.

Robbie’s movie already has a Golden Globe nomination, so expect to see Better Man do well at next year’s BAFTAs too.

Jake’s happy with local elf service

JAKE QUICKENDEN is swapping the small screen for the big stage this Christmas.

Jake, who was a contestant on X Factor ten years ago, has landed the lead role of Buddy the Elf in Elf The Musical.

Jake said: “It’s been long hours, ten hour days in tech rehearsals but everyone has been great and I appreciate everything in life. It’s been a lot.

“Buddy The Elf is a pretty big role.”

Unlike some celebs who land deals to star in pantos at the other end of the country, Jake will definitely be home for Christmas.

Elf The Musical, which runs until January 5, is being staged
at Charter Hall in Colchester – just down the road from his home.

Jake, who is starring alongside Gary Turner, Jade Mayjean and Chris Edgerley, added: “It’s brilliant that I’m home for Christmas. I had last year at home, but I was on tour with The Full Monty, so we had a bit of a break.

“Usually I’m always doing Christmas shows in different cities or different towns.”

Elf is a modern day Christmas classic, so you will bet we will be down there with bells on.