Robbie Williams goes head to head with Beyonce in pop superstars’ North London derby
THE North London derby typically sees a clash between football rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
But this weekend’s version saw Robbie Williams go head to head with Beyonce at the clubs’ home grounds.
The Angels hitmaker kicked off the third night of his Britpop Tour at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium last night.
While just four miles away, Queen B played at Tottenham’s £1.2billion stadium for her Cowboy Carter Tour.
And Port Vale fan Robbie could not resist adding some rivalry at his gig on Friday night.
During a singalong to Bon Jovi‘s Livin’ On A Prayer, he told his fans: “You won’t get that at a f***ing Beyonce gig.”
Robbie, who paid homage to his 1995 Glastonbury Festival look in a red stripe tracksuit, said he was “anxious” in the run-up to his 38-date tour.
He said: “I turned to my wife [Ayda] in rehearsals and said: ‘Babe, I’m anxious about this’.
“She said, ‘Rob, you behave like this is normal, you behave like you have to do this for the rest of your life, you behave like stadiums is where you should be’.
“In that moment, it changed my perception.”
But it seemed all the nerves had disappeared when Robbie was joined by Nineties boyband Five to sing their hit Keep On Movin’, marking their first stage appearance in 25 years.
And boyband fans were equally delighted when Lulu appeared on stage with Robbie to sing Take That‘s hit Relight My Fire.
However, 35 years since he joined Take That as a baby-faced teen, Robbie said fans are now offering him “Werther’s Originals” instead of ripping off his clothes.
He said: “I might be in sniper’s alley — but I believe I have got a lot longer on this runway to go.
“I look forward to getting even older with you and I look forward to seeing you at many shows to come, whatever size venue that is.”
Robbie was joined at the gig by Ayda, with whom he shares children Teddy, Coco, Charlie and Beau.
He joked: “I remember why I do this. It is not for the glory, it is not for the money, it is because I have got four kids at home.”
And Robbie could not resist impersonating his frenemy Liam Gallagher, who is set to kick off the Oasis reunion tour with Noel next month.
In a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York, Robbie joked: “You won’t get this at Oasis.”
I’m sure Oasis won’t hold back . . .
BEYONCE wasn’t the only Knowles on stage in London this week.
Her mum Tina was grilled at the Southbank Centre by fashion queen Stella McCartney for a special “An Evening With” bash.
Reflecting on home life with her two daughters, Tina said: “Beyonce never wanted to go to bars. I was like, ‘Go party, be wild!’.
“With Solange I did not have to do that . . . ”
Stella also had a question from her Beatles legend dad, Sir Paul McCartney – although it wasn’t the most imaginative: “What’s it like being a mother to Beyonce and Solange?”
But Tina’s answer more than made up for it. She replied: “Wonderful, except when people chat s**t about my kids. Then I want to fight.”
We wouldn’t mess with her.
BEYONCE’S backstage area sounds dreamy.
Not only is she sent loads of Jo Malone candles, but I hear that US fast-food chain Wingstop sends her and her team unlimited buffalo wings, dripping in sauce.
Yum. I’d expect nothing less for Queen Bey.
And a quick thanks to Go Privilege for helping source tickets, including padded seats, to the spectacular event last night. Visit goprivilege.co.uk for more information.
JACK AND CHLOE BACK IN BLOOM
LOVE ISLANDER Jack Fincham and former Towie star Chloe Brockett are back together – after splitting for the sixth time.
The reality couple broke up in April following a string of heated rows, with Jack moving out of their shared home.
But I can now reveal they were spotted shopping at Swanley Market in Kent.
A source said: “Chloe and Jack have been on and off for months but have finally put their differences aside to give their relationship another chance.
“They really want to make it work so have been enjoying some low-key dates as they gradually build the trust.
“They have realised they have something special so want to put their time and energy into making it work.”
Earlier this week they sparked rumours of a reunion when they shared snaps on their respective Instagrams from the same East London market.
Jack posed outside the Birdcage pub at Bethnal Green’s Columbia Road Flower Market on Sunday.
Then Chloe posted from the same spot with a huge bouquet of flowers.
Things must be coming up roses at last.
PADDY IS RILEY SMITTEN
NEWLY divorced Paddy McGuinness has admitted he has a secret celebrity crush.
The comedian, who has split from ex Christine, confessed on Celebrity Gogglebox to pal Vernon Kay that he fancies Countdown star Rachel Riley.
He said: “There’s something about Rachel Riley. I don’t know what it is.
“You know when you have, like, a celebrity crush that you’re not supposed to have?”
Her husband Pasha Kovalev might have something to say about that, Paddy . . .
SHAGGY: ‘I TRUST NO ONE’
IT’S been 30 years since Shaggy topped the charts with pop hit Mr Boombastic – and the reggae legend is still going strong.
But speaking as he supports Pitbull on his UK tour, the American-Jamaican star admitted that he is always suspicious of people.
He said: “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust no one. Everyone has an angle or a motive. Everyone has an agenda. Make sure if you’re the brand then you are the agenda.
“You trust people, but there comes a point where you do some inventory and realise people weren’t there to help you – they were in it for themselves.
“A lot of it is ego or jealousy. People look at you and think it comes easy but they don’t realise the amount of work that has gone into it.
“People feel like they should be in your shoes, they feel like they should be you. But the truth is they can’t carry the candle at all.”
Noted, Shaggy.
RITA EARNS HER STRIPES AT PRIDE
RITA ORA got her groove on as she danced at the World Pride festival in Washington DC on Friday night.
The singer, who dropped her new summer anthem Heat this week, flaunted her figure in a leopard-print bra and striped hotpants as she performed on stage at the LGBTQ celebration.
Sharing snaps on Insta, she wrote: “Pride baby! I love you!”
We love you too, Rita.
SCOOTER’S RACH SPLIT
IT looks like Taylor Swift‘s nemesis has been dealt another blow.
I can reveal that music executive Scooter Braun has split from his girlfriend, Canadian actress Rachelle Goulding.
A source revealed: “Scooter and Rachelle have quietly split after they were first linked last year.
“He has recently been spotted on celebrity dating app Raya after their romance fizzled out.”
The couple were first linked in July 2024 after they were said to have enjoyed dates in California – including at the Stagecoach country music festival.
Taylor’s feud with Scooter started in 2019 when her former label, Big Machine, sold the masters of her first six albums to him without telling her.
He later sold them on to Shamrock Holdings.
But last month Taylor announced that she finally controls all her music after finally buying them all back.
The Lover hitmaker confirmed she has bought the rights back to all six albums for a fee thought to be in the hundreds of millions.
MOLLIE KING has opened up about how she and fiancé Stuart Broad juggle work and raising two young children, saying they are like a “tag team”.
The former Saturdays singer, who is back hosting on Radio 1 after maternity leave, shares daughters Annabella, two, and Liliana, five months, with the England cricket legend.
She said: “Stuart has moved from playing cricket into commentating. He still goes away for long stints.
“But we basically juggle it between the two of us. We are a bit of a tag team.
“He works most weekends and I work Monday to Thursday so it is a bit ‘one in, one out’, but we are making it work.”
SHE’S no longer filming Love Island USA’s Aftersun spin-off show, but I hear Maura Higgins has landed another exciting reality gig that will give her plenty of Stateside stature.
The Irish beauty is set to head to Scotland to film the US Traitors, hosted by Scot actor Alan Cumming.
It’s not the first time a Love Islander from the UK has taken part in the American version of Traitors, after Ekin-Su Culculoglu was cast last year.
A source said: “Maura has been inundated with telly offers and she is very tempted by this big-money deal to film Traitors.
“She’s a massive fan of the show and thinks it would be an amazing opportunity to introduce herself to US audiences and opportunities.”