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      Victoria Beckham finally hits High Street as 46-piece Mango collection is revealed – but some fans aren’t happy

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      SINCE a little black dress made her an overnight fashion icon in the Nineties, Victoria Beckham has spent three decades earning her stripes.She launched her eponymous brand in 2008 but for years her pricey garments were out of reach for most — until now.Victoria Beckham launched a fashion brand in 2008Credit: Instagram/victoriabeckhamPosh has now hit the High Street thanks to a collaboration with Spanish giant Mango, pictured with Alexa ChungPosh has finally hit the High Street thanks to a collaboration with Spanish giant Mango, with chic pieces starting at £50, released on Tuesday.Victoria, 50, said: “I really wanted to speak to a wider audience in a way that feels relevant to my brand and retains my aesthetic and DNA.“I wanted to create a conscious, modern wardrobe which is perfect for the summer months.“There is a cheekiness but it is also very put together with a sensuality.”READ MORE ON POSHThe 46-piece collection goes up to £300, spanning silk camisole tops, tailored suit separates and chunky jewellery, and fashionistas have raved over the boxy cut blazer and sexy slip dresses.Victoria celebrated the launch with a glitzy showbiz bash in Spain with guests including Alexa Chung, 40, Emily Ratajkowski, 32, and her son Romeo’s on-off model girlfriend Mia Regan, 21.Mango hired Casa Cruylles, a 1960s luxurious white villa set in the cliffs of Costa Brava’s Port d’Esclanya, and the crew filled the property with hundreds of white candles and mannequins wearing the collection.Other guests included models such as Adwoa Aboah and British Vogue stylist Julia Sarr-Jamois plus bloggers and stylists.Most read in CelebrityDressed in a white suit from her collection, Victoria was seen hobbling on crutches after breaking her foot earlier this year in a fall at the gym.Later she sipped on spicy margaritas as they partied to one of Posh’s favourite DJ acts, Hale Zero, made up of brothers Carl, Greg and Raf Haley.After only hours of the collection’s launch some items had sold out, including a white trouser suit and a whimsical lilac gown.But Vic always knew those designs would fly out the door.She said: “I really love the easy slip dresses and the tailoring in particular. I have always played with both the feminine and masculine and want to offer an effortless women’s wardrobe that is versatile and wearable.“I was inspired by the iconic French film La Piscine, but more specifically by Jane Birkin’s character and her ease. She is all about natural beauty, is highly feminine and has a real sense of freedom.”From her days as a Spice Girl, Victoria favoured simple cuts and a streamlined silhouette, although she dabbled with quirkier designs during her solo pop years and at the start of her marriage to David — remember the bandana head scarfs and double denim?But her fashion compass has always swung back to the classics.I was the UK’s top Posh lookalikeLess is always more for Victoria, but she said: “Something might appear simple but so much thought and execution has gone into how that piece fits or sits on the body, the way it creates a strong silhouette.“It was an exciting challenge to embrace another creative process with Mango without compromising on the creative and desirability.“I am very proud of what we have created together. It feels very modern to bring the two brands together.“I also feel that we have a shared ethos, aesthetic and values around femininity, quality and a real love of product.”There appears to be just one snag — the size range.The 46-piece collection goes up to £300, spanning silk camisole tops, tailored suit separates and chunky jewelleryCredit: Victoria Beckham x MangoMia Regan and other stars joined Posh to celebrate the launch with a showbiz bash in SpainCredit: InstagramCritics have noted the largest items are a size 14, with some only available up to 12, even though Mango reaches a size 26 in other collections.‘Excluding so many potential customers’The blazers span from small to large, with measurements of the latter landing between a 12 and 14 at Marks & Spencer.One style influencer, Stephanie Yeboah, who notes she is a body image advocate and a size 22, shared her disappointment online.She wrote: “I tried on the only three pieces that had stretch because I wanted to see what they looked like on.“Brands need to see and recognise that bigger bodies are deserving of clothing too. I would have bought the black skirt.“The dress and the skirt were my favourites but, alas, Vic and Mango said no fatties allowed.“A shame. A missed opportunity.”Others added their voice online, with one writing: “Why aren’t you offering sizes above UK14? I’m a size 16-18.“I feel left out and like I’m not good enough. So disappointed.“You’re excluding so many potential customers. Real shame.”The brand stepped in to reply to the feedback, responding to one: “We are sorry to hear your dissatisfaction regarding the availability of sizes in our Victoria Beckham x Mango collection. We take this opportunity to inform you that we are working to add a wider range of sizes in our next collections.”Posh’s core collection under her Victoria Beckham brand ranges from XS to XXL (size 18) after she extended the measurements in 2022.I think people will be very surprised by how strong the fashion message is in every single garmentPoshIf Posh was bothered by the criticism, she didn’t let it show.In an interview with Vogue last week Victoria gushed that she hoped her Mango collection was “timeless”.READ MORE SUN STORIESShe said: “When you invest in one of these pieces you won’t just wear it for one season, they’ll be pieces you’ll keep in your wardrobe and wear time and time again.“I think people will be very surprised by how strong the fashion message is in every single garment.”Victoria with models Adwoa Aboah and Emily RatajkowskiThis suit jacket without lapels is £180, and these pleated suit trousers are £115Credit: Victoria Beckham x MangoGet this asymetrical dress for £190Credit: Victoria Beckham x MangoThis crochet dress with open back is £115Credit: Victoria Beckham x MangoPick up this pink Godets dress for £170Credit: Victoria Beckham x MangoI LOVE THIS BUT WHERE IS THE LBD?By Clemmie Fieldsend, Fashion Editor

      I SPENT my younger years as a die-hard Spice Girls fan, dressed up in Posh-inspired LBDs and insisting on having a bob haircut.
      Fast forward 19 years and I can finally get my hands on a piece of Victoria Beckham’s collection.
      Her range with Mango is filled with sophisticated and timeless pieces that suit my style down to a tee.
      From beautifully fluid dresses to elevated tailoring such as a deconstructed trench coat at £300, to classic tuxedo trousers for £150, the range is full of pieces you could pull out of your wardrobe in ten years and they would still be current.
      Other fashion and Victoria fans are impressed too, with items such as a black blazer, £180, and lilac dress, £170, already selling out.
      Even the more daring pieces are a hit, such as the £140 black semi-sheer blouse.
      The blazer screams Posh style and is now the look she is best known for.
      There are accessories too, and I love the oversized black basket bag at £170.
      For those who aren’t fans of muted wardrobe staples there’s also a floral printed frock and blouse for a splash of colour.
      But I can’t believe there is no Little Black Dress.
      Sure, it would have been a bit gimmick, but myself and other life-long Posh fans would have appreciated it. More

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      How Charlotte Church blew £25m as she admits ‘I’m no longer a millionaire’ after ploughing fortune into hippy retreat

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      SHE was the teen singing sensation who banked an impressive £25million performing at prestigious concert halls around the world.But now Charlotte Church, 38, has revealed she is “not a millionaire anymore” and has downsized from her £1.5million mansion to a semi-detached home.Charlotte Church, pictured performing at a festival in AugustCredit: Avalon.redCharlotte reportedly made up to £25million during her early careerCredit: Shiver ProductionThe youngster with mum Maria and stepdad James – her father Stephen died from coronavirus in 2021Credit: Rex FeaturesThe classical singer – who once performed for the Pope – made £1million profit from selling off six-bed property The Spinney, in March.The home, which also included a “big mansion house” close to a forest that was used as a community school, was sold as part of a plan “massively downsize”.Speaking on the decision to sell up, she told Closer Magazine: “We had a school there for a bit and a studio. “When it is used by the community, it makes sense, but when it is not used, it doesn’t… It was very fairy-tale-like and then it gets into this dark, twisted fairy tale.”READ MORE ON The house sale followed Charlotte hitting several snags while transforming another pad, 15th century mansion Rhydoldog House, in Powys, mid-Wales – the 47-acre former home of Laura Ashley – into a hippie wellness retreat.She admitted she had sunk “pretty much” her entire life savings into the eco-project property, which she bought in 2021 for £1.5million and previously said she faced going “broke” due to the renovation costs.Rhydoldog House opened officially last year after years of backlash including stalled planning applications, battles with eco-warriors over how she intended to dispose of waste from the site and other building problems. Now as Charlotte reveals her significant drop in fortune, we look into how she spent her millions. Most read in CelebrityConvertible and jewel-encrusted braIt was singing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s operatic hit Pie Jesu on This Morning aged 11 that propelled Charlotte to go on to sell more than 10 million records.Charlotte was able to access her millions when she turned 18 – after raking in a fortune from her six years performing all over the world and in front of President Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, the late Queen and King Charles.Emotional Charlotte Church opens up about her devastating miscarriageIn a 2004 BBC interview, when Charlotte was 18, she vowed not to get carried away by her massive fortune – which her mum said was around £7million.But the singer also claimed to be eyeing up some lavish purchases including a Mini Cooper convertible.Charlotte also told reporters that she longed to buy a £1million ruby-encrusted bra to mark her 18th birthday.While it’s not known whether she purchased the bejewelled item, her parents kept her grounded with modest birthday gifts including a CD player, some clothes and jewellery.£10K girls’ holidaysCharlotte with gal pals after leaving the Ibiza night club Pashia at 7.30am, in 2004Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdThe soprano lapping up the sun on Platya DeSelinas beach in IbizaCredit: ShutterstockThe singer with ex Kyle Johnson during a romantic holiday in the Maldives, in 2004Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdThat same year, the singer enjoyed romantic trips to Dubai and the Maldives with then-boyfriend Kyle Johnson.She also took a group of girlfriends away on a week’s holiday in Ibiza.Hello! magazine reported she splashed more than £10,000 on the trip to Spain’s party capital where she and friends enjoyed nightlife into the early hours.During the trip, Charlotte didn’t hold back – paying for a private villa for them all to stay in and a full-time personal chauffeur to take them around.She said at the time: “I’m just here on a girly holiday, I’m having a really good time.”I will have to work for the rest of my life, not because I want to but because I have to.Charlotte ChurchA source told The Sun Charlotte was “very generous” during the holiday and would “buy all of the drinks” whenever pals went out.In the years that followed, she was snapped sipping Champagne and on several occasions appeared to fall asleep in bars. Mansions and a yachtCharlotte started dating Welsh rugby legend Gavin Henson in 2005 – they split five years laterCredit: Rex FeaturesThe couple shared this home in the Vale of Glamorgan – now reportedly worth £2.5mA year later in 2005, while dating former Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson, Charlotte bought a home in Cardiff for around £500,000, which she later sold for £900,000.The couple then purchased a lavish manor sat on 20-acres of land in the Vale of Glamorgan – now reportedly worth £2.5million.Charlotte and Gavin, who split up in 2010, had a bar at the bottom of their garden where they indulged in drinking sessions, according to the Daily Mail.The tax man is looking at my accounts wondering where I’m hiding all my money.CharlotteThey were dubbed the ‘Posh and Becks’ of rugby and at one point owned a £800,000 yacht, which was moored in Swansea Marina. In 2013, Charlotte bought her ex a five-bedroom property so that he could live closer to their children Ruby and Dexter, Wales Online reported.Funding the lifestyleCharlotte shaking hands with the Queen at the 2005 Royal Variety Performance, in CardiffCredit: Corbis – GettyAfter performing for presidents and royalty it seemed Charlotte hit a mid-career slump in 2014.The Sunday Times Rich List reported that her wealth had dropped to £11m that year.In the documentary Charlotte Church: In Her Own Voice, she explained her concerns about cash.She said: “I will have to work for the rest of my life, not because I want to but because I have to.“The tax man is looking at my accounts wondering where I’m hiding all my money.”However, during an interview with Stylist, Charlotte claimed it was her spending that meant she constantly needed to graft.She said: “I haven’t got a lot of money. I’ve got enough to be comfortable if I was reasonable for the rest of my life.“But I’m not reasonable, so I will have to find a way to sustain my lifestyle.” TV work, ads and booksThe singer’s Channel 4 programme The Charlotte Church Show ran from 2006 until 2008Credit: EmpicsCharlotte returned to fame on The Masked SingerCredit: Instagram/therealcharlottechurchCharlotte’s last album Back To Scratch came out in 2010. Since then she’s diversified her revenue streams with TV appearances.She starred in The Charlotte Church Show, which aired on Channel 4 from 2006 for two years, and guest-starred in TV shows including Hospital 24/7 and Under Milk Wood.The singer also turned her hand to adverts including ones for Walkers crisps and Virgin Holidays.I haven’t got a lot of money. I’ve got enough to be comfortable if I was reasonable for the rest of my life.CharlotteCharlotte also wrote two autobiographies, her latest Keep Smiling came out in 2007, and a number of opinion pieces for The Guardian.Charlotte married musician Johnny Powell in 2017, and had a daughter, Frida, on August 15, 2020.Earlier this year Charlotte stepped back into the spotlight on The Masked Singer as Mushroom, and came second.Hippy communeCharlotte purchased this stunning £1.5m country house in Powys in 2021Credit: WNSThe singer married Jonathan Powell, her long-term musician partner, in 2017Credit: Rex FeaturesIn 2021, Charlotte bought the grand Rhydoldog House for £1.5million, and ploughed cash into turning the home into a nature-based health and wellbeing retreat.The seven-bedroom mansion – which she renamed The Dreaming – has three storeys, a helicopter landing area and a 200-year-old barn located on its 47 acres.READ MORE SUN STORIESShe described the “inspiring wellness project” as “one of the biggest, riskiest and potentially most rewarding challenges” she’s ever faced.It finally opened last year and offers guests wellbeing activities including foraging, mythic storytelling, star-gazing, cold water immersion, den building and herbalism.Charlotte met King Charles when she was 12 years old at the Prince’s Trust Comedy Gala in 1998Credit: PA:Press AssociationThe seven-bedroom property used to be owned by fashionista Laura AshleyCredit: SWNS More

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      All of Taylor Swift’s favourite London haunts revealed – from pubs to greasy takeaway shop and swanky members only club

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      SHE may be the embodiment of the American dream, but Taylor Swift has made no secret of her love for Britain – and our boozers.Her latest album, which is sure to give the 34-year-old her 12th No1 on Friday, even includes a track named after South London pub The Black Dog, which has been swamped with Taylor’s loyal “Swifties” ever since its release.Taylor Swift has made no secret of her love for Blighty – and a British boozerCredit: GettySwifties pose for a selfie outside The Black Dog pub in LondonCredit: ReutersOn the song, Taylor sings about watching her ex Joe Alwyn go into the pub after he forgot to turn off his shared location on his phone following their split in early 2023.The quiet venue has now seen a spike in bookings from fans desperate to check it out when they visit the capital for Taylor’s record-equalling eight sold-out nights at Wembley Stadium in June and August.In total, 720,000 fans will watch the shows, with tickets being flogged for upwards of £600.Taylor first performed in the UK in 2008, when she played an intimate set at the King’s College student union in London to promote her second album Fearless.Read More on Taylor SwiftSince then she has brought four lots of live gigs to our shores, including her 1989 World Tour in 2015, which saw her play a headline gig in Hyde Park, and her 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour.‘I love it when someone says someone is well fit’Her Eras Stadium Tour touches down in the UK in June, kicking off with three sold-out nights at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.Her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, released last Friday, includes lots of references to her ex-boyfriend Joe, 33.The couple dated for six years from late 2016. Most read in CelebrityIn June 2017, Taylor relocated to North London to be with the then up-and-coming actor.Prior to the move he was living with his parents. Ex Drove Taylor INKsaneTaylor then based herself between Primrose Hill and the States.Other Brits she has dated — and written tracks about — include One Direction superstar Harry Styles, 30, actor Tom Hiddleston, 43, and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris, 40.The Tortured Poets Department also covers her 2023 fling with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, 35, son of Loose Women’s Denise Welch and actor Tim Healy.Speaking previously about her love of British slang, Taylor, who is now dating American football ace Travis Kelce, 34, said: “Some of my favourites are ‘cup of Rosie’ [Cockney rhyming slang for tea], ‘chuffed’, ‘knackered’, ‘gutted’ and ‘taking the p***’. Oh, and ‘well fit’. I love it when someone says someone is ‘well fit’. You guys are really fun.”She added: “I especially love it as they all pronounce my name ‘Tay-la’ here.”With her love of British phrases, blokes and boozers, here we bring you the ultimate guide to Taylor’s London . . . 1. Spaniards Inn, HampsteadWHEN she was living in Crouch End, North London, Taylor would often slip off for a drink and bite to eat at the quirky, wood-panelled Spaniards Inn.The singer is said to have worn a black wig to fly under the radar from unsuspecting locals.Taylor would often slip off for a drink and bite to eat at the quirky, wood-panelled Spaniards InnCredit: Alamy2. Hampstead HeathJUST a few minutes from her home, Taylor regularly enjoyed low-key walks on the Heath, which she sung about on 2019 track London Boy and on this year’s So Long, London.The latter includes the lyrics: “I left all I knew, you left me at the house by the Heath.”Taylor enjoyed walks on the Heath, which she sung about on London Boy and So Long, LondonCredit: Getty3. Garden Gate pub, HampsteadTAYLOR name-checked the boozer, which was close to where she lived with ex Joe Alwyn, in 2019 song Cruel Summer.She sings: “And I snuck in through the garden gate. Every night that summer just to seal my fate.”Taylor name-checked The Garden Gate boozer in 2019 song Cruel SummerCredit: ROGA_4. Kentish Delight kebab shopSHE is said to have been spotted grabbing a greasy late-night treat at Kentish Delight kebab shop in Kentish Town.In fact, Taylor loved the small takeaway so much she filmed a scene for her 2018 single End Game there.Taylor is said to have been spotted grabbing a greasy late-night treat at Kentish Delight kebab shop in Kentish TownCredit: HandoutStaff say it was then boyfriend Joe’s favourite place to grab a chicken shish.5. Camden MarketA FAVOURITE hangout for artists and musicians, the market has its fair share of musical heritage – so it’s no wonder Taylor fell in love with the area.On London Boy, Taylor sings: “You know I love a London boy/I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon.”Camden Market has its fair share of musical heritage – and Taylor fell in love with the areaCredit: Alamy6. Laylow, Notting HillAPTLY named Laylow, this Notting Hill restaurant, known for its South American dishes and live music, was a place Taylor could hide out at.She enjoyed a swanky dinner in January 2023 with Cameron Diaz, Sacha Baron Cohen and Lena Dunham.The Laylow is known for its South American dishes and live musicCredit: Laylow7. ShoreditchTAYLOR made sure to give the edgy streets of East London a name-check in London Boy.Simply singing how she enjoys “Shoreditch in the afternoon”, she left fans guessing if she was a fan of sticky-floored boozers or a regular at exclusive members’ club Shoreditch House.Taylor made sure to give the edgy streets of East London a name-check in London BoyCredit: Getty8. The Groucho Club, SohoSHE has been seen at members-only venue The Groucho Club throughout the years.And in 2013 Taylor snuck into the exclusive haunt for a date with British singer Tom Odell.Taylor has been seen at The Groucho Club throughout the years – pictured with Tom Odell9. The Savoy HotelTAYLOR has been known to stay in the Royal Suite at central London hotel The Savoy.The hotel can count a long list of A-listers as guests, including Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.Taylor has been known to stay in the Royal Suite at central London hotel The SavoyCredit: GettyAt a wallet-busting £17,500 a night for the Royal Suite, most of us can only dream of such luxury, but for billionaire Taylor, it’s a drop in the ocean. In 2015 she posed in the Savoy’s Beaufort Bar for Vanity Fair.10. Black Dog Pub, VauxhallA WHOLE song is dedicated to the pub in Vauxhall on Taylor’s latest album.On the track, called the Black Dog, she sings about watching ex Joe go in there after he forgot to turn off his shared location following their split last year.A whole song is dedicated to the Black Dog pub in Vauxhall on Taylor’s latest albumCredit: AlamyThe lyrics include: “And so I watch as you walk/Into some bar called The Black Dog/And pierce new holes in my heart.”READ MORE SUN STORIES11. BrixtonIT is one of the most multicultural and diverse boroughs in the capital, and Taylor has gushed over nights out in Brixton, which is known for its lively music scene.On London Boy, Taylor sings: “I enjoy nights in Brixton”.Taylor has gushed over nights out in Brixton, which is known for its lively music sceneCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Smitten’ Alison Hammond’s zoo date with Russian toyboy suggests she’s the one ‘in control’, says body language expert

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      SHE’S had a string of heartache and never been married – but it looks like Alison Hammond may have finally met her match in Russian toyboy David Putman.The This Morning presenter, 49, and the 26-year-old masseuse couldn’t keep their hands off each other during a romantic weekend at the zoo.Alison Hammond’s ‘soppy smile’ shows she is ‘smitten’ with her new boyfriend David Putman, says Judi JamesCredit: InstagramThe couple walked around Port Lympne Zoo with Alison “beaming”Credit: Click News and MediaAlison had her arm around David constantly which Judi says means she’s protectiveCredit: Click News and MediaPresenter Alison beamed as she walked with her arm around her 6ft 10in man while they made their way around Port Lympne Zoo in Kent – where they stayed the night at the luxurious Lion Lodge.And body language expert Judi James tells us she’s “smitten” with her new man – and there are “no red flags” when it comes to David.She says: “It looks pretty compatible when it comes to their emotional states and personality traits as well.“Alison looks quite confident and there was a moment when they were having a selfie and she’s got this slightly shy, soppy smile that I don’t think we’ve ever seen Alison use before, ever.READ MORE SHOWBIZ FEATURES“That probably means that she’s a little bit smitten!“She also doesn’t look as though she’s trying desperately hard -indicated by little touches like her wearing flat shoes, I love that.“She’s nicely, casually dressed and hasn’t felt the need to change her look and put heels on just because he’s tall and young.”Judi also says it’s Alison who’s in control of the relationship, almost mothering her man and protecting him.Most read in Celebrity“She seems to be in control,” says Judi. “She’s doing this slightly protective thing, despite the fact that he is so tall, and she’s not looking overly compliant.“I think her gesticulation is what’s interesting because there are several moments, particularly at the zoo, where she’s holding on to him, but not in a clingy, possessive way.  It’s more maternal.”Alison Hammond opens up about ‘unforgettable’ romantic zoo break with boyfriend David PutmanThis motherly, protective nature was shown as Alison held on to David, cuddling up to him, as they travelled around the zoo in a golf buggy together.But Judi also thinks there may be more to it than that.She says: “I used to work on Big Brother when Alison was there and they use golf buggies to get around, which were very easy to fall out of, so I think she’s learned, perhaps the hard way.“At the zoo, in the golf buggy, she’s holding David tight so he won’t tip out, and really looks as though she’s trying to protect him and look after him, while he looks almost childlike driving. “But it might also be protecting him from this world of fame she’s releasing him into. It’s rather sweet of her.”’No red flags’Judi says the fact David kept his glasses on for pictures shows he’s not in it for fameCredit: InstagramLast week, The Sun revealed Alison and David met after she booked £150 massage sessions with him.She regularly booked the body therapist and model in between her busy filming schedule.Alison and David’s friendship then turned romantic at the end of last year.It is understood the couple have become extremely close having known each other for over a year.But fans have started to question whether David is using single mum Alison – who’s raking in an eye-watering five-figure sum each week from her telly commitments – for fame.However, Judi sees “no red flags” when it comes to David’s intentions.David didn’t whip off his glasses and tousle his hair, in a hope to get the next reality showJudi JamesBody language expertShe says: “You can’t say 100 per cent with any celebrity that their partner’s not using them for fame but, for me, the red flags are not appearing and I think she should just go for it.“Sometimes when you get celebrities emerging with their partner for the first time, you get this worry that they may be a fame-feeder, but in those relationships, it’s usually the guy grinning at the camera, trying to project to agents out there everywhere.“I have to say there’s no real sign of that from David.“He’s kept his glasses on for the selfies that Alison posted to announce their relationship. He didn’t whip them off and tousle his hair, in the hope of getting on to the next reality show. “He’s not overplaying the poses. He’s got a pleasant smile with a little head tilt – and she’s doing the same thing. “Plus, even though she’s smitten, she doesn’t look as though she’s silly-smitten. She looks as though she’s really thought this out and she’s probably let the relationship go on for a while before she’s let the public see him.”’Not trying to impress him’He didn’t pose for the camera in the hopes of “getting the next reality show”Credit: Click News and MediaJudi also notes that Alison’s choice to take him to the zoo shows that the couple are just “having fun”.“I love that Alison took him to the zoo, because he’s so tall he could actually use eye contact on the giraffes,” jokes Judi. “But in all seriousness it shows she’s not trying to impress him, and show off her celebrity lifestyle. “She didn’t take him off to some London club and step out being towed along by him.“It’s just a normal couple going on a normal day out and she looks like she’s having nice, relaxed fun at the moment. “And hopefully it will be on a slow simmer until she finds out, ‘Is this the one? Or is it not?’”Alison – who lives with her 19-year-old son Aiden in London – has never been married.Speaking to Gyles Brandreth on his podcast Rosebud, she said:  “I think as soon as I hear the word marriage, I get cold feet. I think I’m just one of those people.“I always think there’s something better but get a bit nervous to know ‘that is it’. “I just feel like I’m tied down and I don’t like it, when really and truly I’m getting to that age now where I think, ‘Alison, let go – it’s OK to settle down’.”Alison’s past love lifeAlison with her son AidenCredit: GettyAiden’s dad Noureddine Boufaied, who Alison was once engaged toCredit: TikTok / @alisonhammondAlison on a date with Ben Kusi on Celebs Go DatingCredit: SplashThe nearest Alison got to walking down the aisle was with her son’s cab driver dad Noureddine Boufaied, who she got engaged to when she was 30.She said: “A lot of people think I’ve been married… I’ve never been married. “If you look online, it’s like, ‘Alison was married to Aiden’s dad’, but I wasn’t. We never actually got married. It was the perfect time but I don’t feel like we were ready.“He had the most beautiful smile and that’s what I fell in love with… Aiden’s got that smile as well.”They split up not long after Aiden was born and she’s been relatively private about her love life since.However, in 2020 she took a leap of faith when she went on Celebs Go Dating, and briefly dated audio technician Ben Fusi.But it can’t have been a very memorable relationship, as she couldn’t even remember his name when she was speaking about him on This Morning!And at the beginning of last year, she exclusively revealed to The Sun she’d been in a relationship with landscape gardener Ben Hawkins for over a year and a half.She said: “A year and a half I’ve been with him, and no one knew! He loves me to bits. He absolutely worships me and massages my feet every single day. What more do you want?!”READ MORE SUN STORIESBut, by March last year, she told Holly Willoughby she was wearing her “single ring”.Hopefully this relationship with David will be the one to keep that soppy smile on her face. More

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      I’ve had my breast implants out after health woes… but I don’t like not having my boobs, reveals Jess Impiazzi

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      BRAVE Jess Impiazzi says she has been through a “year of hell” after twice being rushed to hospital while dealing with her split from Jermaine Pennant and needing to have her breast implants removed.The ex-glamour model, who ended her two-year relationship with the former footballer in December following him having a night in Ibiza with a dominatrix, admits: “I don’t like not having my boobs.”Brave Jess Impiazzi speaks about her ‘year of hell’ – twice being rushed to hospital when dealing with her split from Jermaine PennantCredit: Olivia West – Commissioned by The SunAnd she had to have her breast implants removed, fearing they were connected to her lupus, which causes skin rashes and tirednessCredit: Ian Whittaker – Commissioned by The SunJess, 35, had her breast implants removed in October, fearing they were connected to her autoimmune condition lupus, which causes skin rashes and tiredness — and she is still trying to adapt to her new figure.In an exclusive interview, she revealed: “I got so used to them and it’s taken a lot for me to get used to not having them.“It’s scary, especially for self-confidence. That’s why I had them done in the first place.“There are so many women who have had to have this procedure either for the same reason as me or for breast cancer, and I’m just trying to be confident with it.READ MORE ON JESS IMPIAZZI“There are so many groups online where women build each other up. We’ve got to stick together.“And I know it was the right decision for my health.“I’d had a ruptured implant on my old boobs and had them redone, and I think that it also contributed to me getting sick.“There were so many factors which would end up giving someone autoimmune symptoms so I decided to remove them.Most read in Celebrity‘Someone has put the smile back on my face’“I’ve had implants since I was 18, so for me it’s a big change and I’m still trying to get used to it. I’m just listening to my body.”Jess, who has reinvented herself as an actress by starring in shows such as BBC crime drama Strike, has managed to remain upbeat despite her problems.Jess ditched Jermaine after he spent the night with an adult entertainer on a boozy Ibiza stag doCredit: Dan Charity – Commissioned by The SunJess Impiazzi takes a savage swipe at ex Jermain Pennant after bitter split as she breaks her silence on cruel betrayalThe actress ditched Jermaine, 41, after he spent the night with an adult entertainer on a boozy Ibiza stag do at the same time Jess was undergoing IVF treatment to start a family.The former Liverpool and Stoke star moved out of her Surrey home at the beginning of the year.Jess said: “I just think the best way to move forward with that is to always heal, forgive, let go and carry on with your life as best you can.“It’s about focusing on all the positive things in your life, which is what I did.“With any loss or break-up you have to focus on yourself.“There will always be things in life that will throw you off course—  there are always going to be challenges, but it’s about pulling yourself together and getting back to doing what you love.”With her personal life unravelling, Jess’s health took a turn for the worse.She was appearing in panto in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks, and was rushed to hospital twice with a suspected blood clot in her right lung.She was eventually diagnosed with a viral infection and discharged.Jess said: “During panto I ended up in A&E, which was really scary.“I’d been prescribed steroids to keep my lupus at bay but they impact your immune system, so I had to be really careful.“I caught some kind of chest infection. My resting heart rate went through the roof and I was sent to A&E.“Luckily I was able to carry on with the show and didn’t miss one performance, which I’m really proud of.I’m so proud to have got through it, despite my health problemsJess Impiazzi“It was my first theatre show since I was 17. I was so nervous, but after that first show I got that feeling in my stomach.“It wasn’t fear any more, and it meant so much to be back on stage.“And I’m so proud to have got through it, despite my health problems. The cast and crew were all so supportive and really helped me.“When I look back I still can’t believe I did it, especially with everything that was going on.”But Jess has bounced back and now feels healthy and happy. She is even dating again.She said: “Everyone was saying to me, ‘You’ll meet someone when you least expect it’, but I didn’t want to meet anyone ever again.“That always seems to be the way, though — when you’re not looking, someone comes into your life.“There is someone who has put the smile back on my face.“I’m seeing my friends more and everything is falling into place, which I couldn’t have expected in a million years. I feel like I’ve got a really good balance going on and I couldn’t be happier.”“With her health improving, Jess hopes to secure her next big acting role, after impressing viewers of the JK Rowling drama Strike in 2022.She said: “When I got sick my acting took a bit of a back seat.“It was a shame, because after Strike I was hoping to build on that momentum. But I’m back now auditioning.” Jess larking around in underwear for fans on InstagramAnd she is also excited about the possibility of returning to Prime Video’s Covid mockumentary Keep Calm & Carry On.The comedy came out in 2022 and also starred Harriet Thorpe — AKA EastEnders’ Elaine Peacock.Jess said: “I had such a great time filming Keep Calm & Carry On. We’re just waiting for the second series to be green lit.“I really am excited about the next few months. There’s been a lot of positive changes in my life.“My mindset is so focused on all the good stuff that it’s now outweighing a troublesome few years.“I’ve also got quite a few things in the pipeline.”Putting her recent upheavals behind her, Jess jumped at the chance in February to help Emergency Ukraine, an initiative to deliver medical supplies to the war-torn nation.She said: “I’d never been invited to do anything like this before, and with everything that I’d gone through I knew it was something I had to do.‘People help strangers – that gives me hope’“We drove through the Channel Tunnel to France and then through Germany before reaching Poland and on to the Ukraine border.“We were seeing young men come in from the front line and all the buildings that had been blown up.“You see these things on the television but you’re almost disconnected from it. When you’re there, it really hits home.“I had goosebumps every night and you’d hear the air raid sirens go off.“But what I did notice was how resilient the people of Ukraine are.“The sirens would be going off and yet there were children skipping down the street as if it was nothing.“It’s heartbreaking what’s going on in those moments of real tragedy — that’s when humanity comes together.“People just want to help strangers and that gives me hope. It’s something that I will never forget and I am so glad that I did it.”What I did notice was how resilient the people of Ukraine areJess ImpiazziShe added: “It was a life-changing experience and gave me time to reflect on my own life. It felt like I’d done something good. “When we got to the hospitals and the doctors came out, they were so relieved to see what we had brought.“It was things like catheters, wheelchairs, drips, needles — everything they were running out of.“It made me feel valued that I’d done something to help other people.“The whole experience gave something back to me as well.“But my mum has made me promise never to do anything like it again. “She was so worried and wouldn’t talk to me while I was out there because she’d really not wanted me to go.”Jess’s mother Debbie, 62, went blind when she was 47 from a rare genetic disorder and now the actress is also looking forward to continue helping Guide Dogs UK. I haven’t been able to do much these last few months because of my healthJess ImpiazziShe became an ambassador for the charity after her mum lost her sight and has raised funds for it over the years.Jess said: “I’m hoping to get myself fit enough to run some marathons for the charity.“It’s something that is close to my heart, so to be able to get back to fundraising for them would be incredible.“I have run three half-marathons for them and abseiled down the side of London’s Leadenhall Building.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Sadly, I haven’t been able to do much these last few months because of my health.“So to be able to get back out there doing stuff like that again would be amazing.” More

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      Can people stop claiming Taylor Swift is some kind of musical messiah – she’s no Madonna or Britney

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      IN the world of pop she is the ultimate digestive biscuit, when what we really want is a party ring.I appreciate I’m one of a very small minority of people   who can’t stand the Taylor Swift phenomenon, but I’m standing my ground here.I’m utterly bewildered by our fringed friend whose army of sycophants hail her as the musical messiahCredit: AFPNot because I’m a misogynist who can’t stand to see a powerful woman call the shots in a male-dominated industry, but the opposite.I refer you back to the Eighties, when the changing world of rock and pop became dominated by divas strutting around stages with bouffant hair, giant earrings and towering high heels.And that was just the men. The women were even wilder. Tina Turner, Madonna, Annie Lennox  – they were gender-bending, trendsetting, rebellious trailblazers who took the planet by storm.They broke taboos regarding race, class, religion and, of course, sexism. READ MORE TAYLOR SWIFTNo one had ever seen anyone quite like them before.Which is why I’m utterly bewildered by our fringed friend whose army of sycophants hail her as the musical messiah.I will acknowledge that Tay-Tay writes great lyrics and has knocked out some sensational pop songs.She’s also clearly very shrewd and strong-willed and isn’t pandering to anyone’s perceptions of how she should be.Most read in MusicGood for her. She’s a decent pop star. But she’s not, as so many claim, an iconic one.Taylor not distinctiveIn order to earn this iconic status, and the smoke constantly blown up her backside, she ought to be serving something more than a few brightly coloured leotards, which, let’s face it, is the sort of get-up Madonna would wear to nip for a loaf  at Tesco.Madonna is a true musical icon who has lasted decades – will the same be of Taylor?Credit: RexKim Kardashian gets trolled by Taylor Swift fans after singer ‘shades’ star in Tortured Poets song (commenting on her latest pic with ‘thanK you aIMee’Madge tackled head-on sexuality, male chauvinists and just about every other form of bigotry imaginable.Those of us of a certain age will recall  her Like A Prayer video, which took a swipe at the Catholic Church and featured a black actor playing Jesus Christ, who she snogged . . . oof!Do you really want your kids to grow up coveting a career washing their dirty linen in public?Rod McPheeAnd my scepticism isn’t just because I’m a child of the Eighties, either.Look at all the amazing performers who have emerged since then – Britney Spears, Beyonce, Amy Winehouse.They’re all incredibly distinctive, talented women who, 30 years from now, will still be impersonated and revered. But will we be able to say the same thing about Swifty? I doubt it.And for all parents who think she’s an inspirational role model, do you really want your kids to grow up coveting a career washing their dirty linen in public?Beyoncé is one of the modern musical icons who are more impressive than TaylorCredit: Cécred / PA More

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      Taylor Swift’s biggest barbs aimed at exes after Matt Healy & Joe Alwyn digs mean pop superstar has now slammed 14 exes

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      SHE’S the pop princess who just can’t resist a pop at her exes – and her new album is no exception.Taylor Swift  surprised the world by dropping a Part Two to her Tortured Poets Department album  two hours after its release early yesterday morning, and the combined 31-song double record delivers blows to former British beaus Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy.Taylor Swift has used her new double album to aim swipes at two of her exesCredit: GettyOver the years Taylor has taken a swipe at 14 of her former lovers through her musicCredit: Instagram/@taylorswiftThe duo are in good company, as the 34-year-old serial dater has  over the years delivered swift justice to 14 of her former lovers.Today, we present yet another  Taylor album — this time using  her back catalogue to bring you a greatest hits of  barbs against the men she has been romantically involved with.The second part of yesterday’s album, called The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, also reignites her feud with Kim Kardashian. The pair  fell out  in 2016, after Kim’s then husband Kanye West branded Taylor a “bitch” in his song Famous.READ MORE TAYLOR SWIFTIn track thanK you aIMee — which features the US reality star’s name in capital letters — Taylor appears to brand her a bully.She also sings: “I wrote a thousand songs that you find uncool. I built a legacy which you can’t undo. And in your mind, you never beat my spirit black and blue.“One day your kid comes home singing a song that only us two are gonna know is about you. All that time you were throwing punches, I was buildin’ somethin’. “And I can’t forgive the way you made me feel.”Most read in CelebrityIt is classic Taylor, who  has never been one to pull punches, as we — and 14  exes — find out in our own Taylor’s greatest hits . . . Song: Picture To BurnBoyfriend: First love Jordan Alford who she dated aged 14. They had a nasty break-up after he went out with a former friend of Taylor’s.Taylor Swift’s Surprise Second Album: Closure, Clapbacks, and New LoveLyric: I hate that stupid old pick-up truck you never let me drive.You’re a redneck heartbreak who’s really bad at lying.Song: Teardrops On My GuitarTaylor took a swipe at Drew Hardwick after he acted on her hints a little too lateCredit: Hendersonville PoliceBoyfriend: Taylor’s high school crush Drew Hardwick who repeatedly ignored her. Two years after the song’s success, he showed up on her driveway.She told him: “Wow, you’re late.”Lyric: Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won’t see that I want and I’m needing everything that we should be. I’ll bet she’s beautiful, that girl he talks about, and she’s got everything that I have to live without.Song: Hey StephenTaylor told Stephen Barker Liles no other girl would write a song for himCredit: GettyBoyfriend: Singer  Stephen Barker Liles, who she got close to while touring with him in 2008.Lyric: Hey Stephen, I could give you 50 reasons why I should be the one you choose. All those other girls, well they’re beautiful, but would they write a song for you?Song: Forever And AlwaysTaylor was upset with how pop star Joe Jonas broke up with herCredit: Getty – ContributorBoyfriend: Joe Jonas, pop star who she dated for three months in 2008 until he ended it over the phone.Lyric: Was I out of line? Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide like a scared little boy.Song: MineBoyfriend: The late Glee star Cory Monteith, who she secretly dated for a month in 2009.Lyric: You put your arm around me for the first time. You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter. You are the best thing that’s ever been mine.Song: Back To DecemberTaylor had fond memories with namesake Taylor LautnerCredit: Rex FeaturesBoyfriend: Actor Taylor Lautner, who she met on the set of film Valentine’s Day in 2009. They broke up that December.Lyric: I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile, so good to me, so right. And how you held me in your arms that September night.Song: Dear JohnJohn Mayer did not impress Taylor with the way she said he treated herCredit: 2022 Steve GranitzBoyfriend: Singer John Mayer, who she  dated for two months. She was 19 and  he was 31.Lyric: Dear John, I see it all now that you’re gone. Don’t you think I was too young to be messed with?Song: StarlightTaylor briefly dated Conor Kennedy when she was a teenagerBoyfriend: Politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s son Conor Kennedy, who she dated in the summer of 2012.Lyric: I met Bobby on the boardwalk, summer of ’45. Picked me up late one night at the window. We were 17 and crazy, running wild, wild.Song: We Are Never Ever Getting Back TogetherTaylor hinted at a tempestuous relationship with Jake GyllenhaalCredit: � Insight News and Features, Inc.Boyfriend: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who Taylor dated  in 2010.Lyric: I’m really gonna miss you picking fights, and me, falling for it, screaming that I’m right. And you would hide away and find your peace of mind with some indie record that’s much cooler than mine.Song: StyleTaylor admitted she had a real attraction to Harry StylesCredit: SplashBoyfriend: One Direction hunk Harry Styles, with whom Taylor had a whirlwind romance in 2013.Lyric: Cause you got that James Dean daydream look in your eye, and I got that red lip classic thing that you like. And when we go crashing down, we come back every time, ’cause we never go out of style.Song: I Did Something BadTaylor took a swipe at Loki actor Tom HiddlestonCredit: Rex FeaturesBoyfriend: Actor Tom Hiddleston, who she had a  three-month romance with in the summer of 2016.Lyric: I never trust a playboy but they love me. So I fly him all around the world and I let them think they saved me.Song: I Forgot That You ExistedTaylor says she has no feelings now for DJ Calvin HarrisCredit: BackGridBoyfriend: DJ Calvin Harris, who she dated for 15 months, from 2015.Lyric: I forgot that you existed. It isn’t love, it isn’t hate. It’s just indifference.Song: The Smallest Man Who Ever LivedShe had a brutal dig for long term lover Joe AlwynCredit: GC ImagesBoyfriend: Joe Alwyn, who she broke up with last year after six years.Lyric: You didn’t measure up in any measure of a man. I would have died for your sins but instead I just died inside.Song: I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)She really wanted it to work out with Matty HealyCredit: SplashBoyfriend: The 1975 frontman Matty Healy. They dated for a month last summer.Lyric: The jokes that he told across the bar were revolting and far too loud. They shake their heads saying, “God help her” when I tell them he’s my man. But your good Lord doesn’t need to lift a finger. I can fix him, no really I can.I don’t get what the big deal is anywayBy Rod McPheeIN the world of pop she is the ultimate digestive biscuit, when what we really want is a party ring.I appreciate I’m one of a very small minority of people   who can’t stand the Taylor Swift phenomenon, but I’m standing my ground here.I’m utterly bewildered by our fringed friend whose army of sycophants hail her as the musical messiahCredit: AFPNot because I’m a misogynist who can’t stand to see a powerful woman call the shots in a male-dominated industry, but the opposite.I refer you back to the Eighties, when the changing world of rock and pop became dominated by divas strutting around stages with bouffant hair, giant earrings and towering high heels.And that was just the men. The women were even wilder. Tina Turner, Madonna, Annie Lennox  – they were gender-bending, trendsetting, rebellious trailblazers who took the planet by storm.They broke taboos regarding race, class, religion and, of course, sexism. No one had ever seen anyone quite like them before.Which is why I’m utterly bewildered by our fringed friend whose army of sycophants hail her as the musical messiah.I will acknowledge that Tay-Tay writes great lyrics and has knocked out some sensational pop songs.She’s also clearly very shrewd and strong-willed and isn’t pandering to anyone’s perceptions of how she should be.Good for her. She’s a decent pop star. But she’s not, as so many claim, an iconic one.In order to earn this iconic status, and the smoke constantly blown up her backside, she ought to be serving something more than a few brightly coloured leotards, which, let’s face it, is the sort of get-up Madonna would wear to nip for a loaf  at Tesco.Madge tackled head-on sexuality, male chauvinists and just about every other form of bigotry imaginable.Those of us of a certain age will recall  her Like A Prayer video, which took a swipe at the Catholic Church and featured a black actor playing Jesus Christ, who she snogged . . . oof!And my scepticism isn’t just because I’m a child of the Eighties, either.Look at all the amazing performers who have emerged since then – Britney Spears, Beyonce, Amy Winehouse.They’re all incredibly distinctive, talented women who, 30 years from now, will still be impersonated and revered. READ MORE SUN STORIESBut will we be able to say the same thing about Swifty? I doubt it.And for all parents who think she’s an inspirational role model, do you really want your kids to grow up coveting a career washing their dirty linen in public? More

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      This is rawest thing I’ve done… the message is we only have one life — so we better live it, says St Vincent on album

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      “I WOULDN’T really call this a pop record,” says St Vincent describing her new album All Born Screaming.“I did call it ‘post plague pop’ at the start but I then retracted that idea as I wouldn’t call this ‘pop’ in a straightforward sense,” claims the singer, AKA Annie Clark of her seventh album.This is a more serious-looking Annie Clark from the look of her last album, 2021s Daddy’s Home, where she playfully donned a blonde wig and Seventies-style green suitCredit: Alex Da CorteClark says her new album is divided into two moods and two distinct partsCredit: Alex Da CorteThe album cover for All Born Screaming shows Clark on fireCredit: Alex Da Corte “It’s the rawest thing I’ve ever done. Artists are the psychic mirror to the culture they live in.“I don’t mean to sound too highfalutin, but we’re like little weathervanes. We catch wind of the feeling of where something’s going. It’s a violent world and you have to make sense of that in some form and keep going.“Songs have a premonitory power in my experience.”We meet at the three-time Grammy winner’s central London hotel. Dressed in a red polo neck jumper, black leather jacket and with her dark hair scraped back, this is a more serious-looking Clark from the look of her last album, 2021s Daddy’s Home, where she playfully donned a blonde wig and Seventies-style green suit.READ MORE BIG INTERVIEWSThe prodigious US musician and singer, 41, who has been compared to Prince and David Bowie, says her new album is divided into two moods and two distinct parts.‘Dave is my buddy, so I just called him up’ “Without tying the record up in too much of a bow, it’s a more brutal first half and then there’s hope.“It’s a season of hell to get to the people we love — which is all we have. The message is we only have one life — so we better live it.”The superb All Born Screaming is a collaborative album and features Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and the band’s new drummer Josh Freese, Cate Le Bon, Beck/Nine Inch Nails producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen and War-paint drummer Stella Mozgawa.Most read in Music“Dave is my buddy, so I just called him up,” says Clark of the Foo Fighters singer who plays drums on first single Broken Man. Clark played with Grohl when she fronted the remaining members of Nirvana at their 2014 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.The electricity is actually coming through your fingers. It’s Dave Grohl’s touch in the room and the way he playsShe says: “I sent him Broken Man and called him up. I was like, ‘Hey, are you around anytime? Can you come over to the studio?’“And yeah, he’s Dave Grohl so he rolls up in his truck. Smokes some Parliaments has some coffee tells more stories, we laugh and then he’s like, ‘Great, I’m ready to go’. And then he plays the song, and it sounds like Dave f***ing Grohl. And it’s so exciting.“It was the first song that people heard from the record and I wanted to be shaken around like a rag doll by music and Broken Man does that.“The electricity is actually coming through your fingers. It’s Dave Grohl’s touch in the room and the way he plays.“And the guitar! The noise took me back to my first band when I played guitar in a band called Skull F***ers. That was my first foray into how the guitar is a violent noisemaker. There wasn’t any jazz fingerstyl! I just made a cacophonous hellscape unto the Lord.”Grohl and Meldal-Johnsen also appear on St Vincent’s new single, Flea, playing drums and bass. Clark says: “When I was listening and heard Dave coming through, I immediately stood up, just because there’s so much energy. It’s so exciting.‘A greatest hits of people I love’“That track is a homage to every one of my musical heroes. There’s a nod to Joni Mitchell’s Free Man In Paris, there’s PJ Harvey’s Rid Of Me; there’s a Tori Amos nod in there; there’s Blood Roses, there’s a bit of Sleater-Kinney and Steely Dan’s Aja in there and Dave Grohl is playing on it!“From the music nerd perspective Flea is a greatest hits of people I love.”All Born Screaming is St Vincent’s first self-produced record. She produced Sleater-Kinney’s 2019 album, The Center Won’t Hold, and co-produced her previous two albums Daddy’s Home and 2017s Mass- eduction with Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey producer Jack Antonoff.“I definitely think collaboration is so exciting, and I love doing it but I just needed to make this one on my own,” says Clark.“I’ve co-produced all my records and I’ve been recording myself since I was 14 in my bedroom, first on a four-track Tascam cassette recorder and then on early versions of digital audio.“Spending a lot of time alone in the studio and honing my chops playing with my esoteric drum machines and modulars. That’s how I learned to write and find out what I was thinking.“You feel like you’re a god harnessing electricity. I definitely put the hours in. It’s nerdy s**t for sure.“That’s how I learned to arrange, so producing is a very natural process for me because I started young. But kids can do it now because they have access to the software and tools and, of course, more women should. And when other women say I’ve opened doors for them it’s so cool and makes me want to cry.”You feel like you’re a god harnessing electricity. I definitely put the hours in. It’s nerdy s**t for sureClark credits friend Cate Le Bon as influential on the record. Not only does she appear on the seven-minute title track, she also lifted Clark when she was going through a period of self-doubt.“Yeah, I was petulant with the music,” admits Clark. It just wasn’t right and I got very adolescent and petulant with it. Cate came in and was like, ‘Calm it down. This is exciting. Calm it down’.“With the song, All Born Screaming, I had a programmed beat and a guitar line. And I told Cate I’d tried seven different feels, but I couldn’t quite crack the code.“Cate was like, ‘You go take a nap. Give me a beer, a bass, and two hours’. And in two hours, the good Welsh girl that she is came back and had written that bassline. I was like, ‘Uh huh?’ She helped get me back on track. And she helped me with the album title.“I was tossing out various titles and one was All Born Screaming. Cate was like, ‘All Born Screaming is it!’. We are all born screaming — it’s the most primal sound of life ever. And it can mean protest. It’s a title which can be as profound or as flippant as you want it to be.”The album cover for All Born Screaming shows Clark on fire.‘I’m not really interested in playing a persona’“Oh that’s me on fire all right,” she says. “Fire means so many things. Historically, whether you’re Icarus or you’re a Phoenix, or it’s like cleansing, you have to walk through it to get to something, you know, to the other side. And life is a fire dance which is both destructive and constructive.“I tried to build a world instead of just building the music part. I’ve worked with my friend, artist Alex Da Corte, on the creative direction of this record. He’s major in the art world and I can’t believe he’s slumming it with me in music, to be honest.“For a number of records, I was very into metaconcept and iconography. I’d think that was what it was to be a modern pop star and play with idolatry.“For this album I’m way less interested in playing with that construct. This is just me. At this point, I’m not really interested in playing a persona.“If the work is good, and the songs speak to people, you don’t need much of a narrative.”There’s a tremendous amount of anxiety in music and I’ve had an anxiety disorder since I was eight. It never stopped me from doing anything, it just robbed me of the joy of doing itNext month, Clark plays two dates in the UK, including a night at London’s Royal Albert Hall. She says: “It’s going to be hard-hitting. The show will have an element of ‘Just don’t stop the groove!’, which is something I learned from DJing.“You get a whole new level of respect for the groove when you DJ, because a groove is so exciting, but also so comforting.St. Vincent performs onstage in LA earlier this monthCredit: GettyNext month, Clark plays two dates in the UK, including a night at London’s Royal Albert HallCredit: Getty“If there’s a groove and people feel good and feel safe they can relax, and enjoy themselves. And as an artist, feeling the energy of the crowd is exciting and drives you too.“There’s a tremendous amount of anxiety in music and I’ve had an anxiety disorder since I was eight. It never stopped me from doing anything, it just robbed me of the joy of doing it. And with music you’re metabolising the chaos of the world anyway so with a show you leave all your blood, sweat and tears on stage and get it all out.READ MORE SUN STORIES“So when people get to see this show, I hope they enjoy it.”ST VINCENTAll Born ScreamingSt Vincent’s new album All Born Screaming is out on April 26Credit: Supplied★★★★★ More