THE England football team are no strangers to crushing defeats.
And unfortunately, even Dear England’s fictional squad aren’t immune to it.
BBC series Dear England, which follows Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions gaffer, has been hit by a costly raid, pictured Joseph Fiennes as the England icon[/caption]
The series retells Southgate’s time as England boss[/caption]
I’m told the new BBC series, which follows Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions gaffer, has been hit by a costly raid — with brazen thieves making off with kit worth more than £100,000.
It came after the stars of the up- coming show pulled on their strips to re-enact England’s humiliating 4-0 loss to Hungary back in 2022.
A source said: “This robbery was another hammering for England — you couldn’t make it up.
“A gang got on to the Dear England set in East London and nicked a trolley which was loaded with expensive cameras and lenses.
‘Swiped in minutes’
“It was a proper smash and grab.
“The kit — which was worth over £100k — was swiped in a matter of minutes.
“Luckily none of the cast or crew were caught up in it but it’s been a massive headache for the production.
“The police were called and are investigating.”
The four-part series, an adaptation of James Graham’s popular stage show, follows Gareth’s tenure as the England boss.
Filming continued following the theft, with insiders confirming the production company had tightened up security protocols.
A source added: “No one wants a repeat of this, and security has been made even tighter. They’re helping the police with their enquiries but it’s likely that the kit has gone forever.”
This isn’t the first time crooks have targeted big-budget TV productions in the capital.
Last November, I revealed how Guy Ritchie’s Paramount+ drama The Associate was twice targeted by crooks.
Thieves made off with more than £1million of gear during both of the smash and grab raids, which I’m told left Guy fuming
Dear England, which will air on the Beeb next year, has Joseph Fiennes in place as former England boss Southgate.
My beloved ex-Spurs striker Harry Kane is played by Will Antenbring while Man United’s resident slabhead Harry Maguire is being tackled by Adam Hugill.
As a massive fan of footie, I can’t wait to watch this series.
I just hope the production can get to the final whistle without more scenes like this.
Molotovs hope for a banger
The Molotovs will release their new single[/caption]
BRILL punk rock duo The Molotovs are hoping to score a Halloween hat trick as they release their new single, Rhythm Of Yourself.
Siblings Mathew and Issey Cartlidge told me they’re hoping the track goes on to become their third No1 when it comes out on October 31.
Opening up about the track, Mathew explained: “Rhythm Of Yourself is about people who try to take advantage of you because they think you’re young, vulnerable and stupid.
“It is also a chant for individualism: dance to the rhythm of yourself, meaning don’t let people change you, don’t let anyone get in the way of your vision – and groove to the beat of your own drum.
“The verses tell the story of an older, cunning man presenting a contract to a young kid, promising him the world whilst trying desperately to change everything about him to satisfy his own needs.
“The chorus is a ‘sod all that’ type attitude which says to be your own man and do the best with what you’ve got.”
The pair, who will release their debut album, Wasted On Youth, on January 31, have also locked in their biggest headline show to date, playing Camden’s Electric Ballroom on October 23.
Raye’s so cash savvy
Raye performed at Superbloom festival in Munich on Saturday[/caption]
RAYE beams with delight in a black lace dress as she uses her latest gig to film her next music video.
The Brit star performed at Superbloom festival in Munich on Saturday and shot a skit for the release of upcoming single Where The Hell Is My Husband? which is out on September 19.
She told the crowd: “I need your help. I’m really nervous. You can be in my music video, we can do this together and it’ll be amazing.”
Raye then hid in a box with “This box may contain Raye” written on it, and made the audience cheer as she popped out.
She added: “I know this is unprofessional but I’m trying to kill two birds with one stone.”
Music videos are expensive, so I don’t blame her.
Cam not torn over tribute
Camila Cabello looked sensational in this white corset top on stage in Sydney[/caption]
CAMILA CABELLO found a dead-cert way to win over the crowds Down Under – by covering an Aussie pop classic.
The Senorita singer looked sensational in this white corset top and silver skirt on stage in Sydney on Saturday, where she thrilled fans by performing a piano rendition of Australian singer Natalie Imbruglia’s breakout hit Torn – 28 years after it came out.
Camila, who is nearing the end of her Yours, C tour, shared a snippet of her performing the song on Instagram and wrote: “Got to sing Torn by Natalie Imbruglia – aka what I heard was the Aussie national anthem for you legends.”
Becca’s show is highly esteemed
★★★★★
IT’S easy to forget the hard yards Self Esteem has put into become one of Britain’s most iconic female stars.
But in a powerful, top-of-the-bill performance, Sheffield-born Rebecca Lucy Taylor told the End Of The Road crowd she had been coming to this festival for 18 years.
That slog pays off in her increasingly polished, theatrical shows.
For 69 minutes, a wet field in Wiltshire could have been a West End stage as she powered through tracks from A Complicated Woman and Prioritise Pleasure.
End Of The Road is a showcase for bands who have always put in the effort.
Caribou and The National’s Matt Berninger headlined on Friday.
Throwing Muses have been around since 1981 but Kristen Hersh, with her son now on bass, is no less edgy than she was as a teenager.
Expect emerging London duo RIP Magic to be here in years to come.
Their angry punk/ electro pop is unlike anything else.
Recent hit Big Man was missing from Self Esteem’s set, but anyone who caught the track’s collaborator, Moonchild Sanelly’s brilliant “ghetto funk” set would have seen her play it.
Another strong woman enjoying success after years of hard work.
WILL HAGERTY
Paloma’s no faith in McFly
Paloma Faith dissed McFly on TikTok[/caption]
Fans were quick to jump to the band’s defence in the comments[/caption]
McFLY have found themselves in a spat with Paloma Faith after she dissed them on TikTok.
She uploaded a video last week that showed her going through all of the albums that had beaten hers to No1 over the years, including 2020’s Infinite Things, which reached No4.
Speaking in the clip, she said: “No2 was Young Dumb Thrills by McFly. Ugh. C’mon, it’s a teen band.
“Actually it’s a teen band that’s still followed by fortysomething fans that have grown up with them.”
Fans were quick to jump to their defence in the comments, with Paloma getting a dressing down from the band’s fans, before drummer Harry Judd weighed in on X, saying: “Paloma throwing us shade on Tik Tok . . . be better, not bitter.”
Bravo.
Meg dreading first day
KIDS go back to school this week and Meghan Trainor is dreading her son Riley’s first day.
She said: “He’s about to start his first year, and I will be obliterated.
“When I brought him to camp for the first time ever, I wanted to just evaporate.
“I hated every moment of it.
“I was like, ‘I hate this,’ so school is going to be tough for me, but he loves it.”
From Cat to mule
Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules will star as Donkey in Shrek The Musical[/caption]
RED Dwarf and Strictly star Danny John-Jules is following in Eddie Murphy’s footsteps.
The actor is set to take on the role of Donkey in Shrek The Musical this winter.
He will take to the stage alongside former CITV star Chris Edgerley as Lord Farquaad at Colchester’s Charter Hall.
Danny said: “I auditioned for the original West End show.
“Donkey is a part any actor would obviously want to play.
“Actually I do have a place here in Colchester. Instead of watching someone else I will be on stage myself.”
Chris added: “I can’t wait to be Lord Farquaad!”
Charli X-cited for film
Charli XCX is so invested in acting that she’s put music on the backburner completely[/caption]
CHARLI XCX is preparing to celebrate the premieres of three of her films.
And the star has now revealed she is so invested in acting that she’s put music on the backburner completely.
Charli said: “I’m addicted to film-making in a way that I just don’t feel addicted to music any more. It gives me a high, because I do feel so out of control. It’s not like that with music where I control every single thing.
“The way that the music is made, I’m writing every aspect of it. I control every single angle that I’m shot from in a music video. Every single frame, I’m in the edit. That isn’t the case with all the films I’m working on.”
Talking on The Deeper Into Movies podcast, Charli added: “Part of being a pop star stereotypically is, and I don’t necessarily feel I fall into this, there is an undercurrent in the industry that pop stars must look good and sexy.
“You don’t get that choice in film – you have to be raw and real. It’s a different way of thinking and I’m enjoying it.”
With two movie dramas and an action comedy on the way, fans waiting for a follow-up to her No1 album Brat had better get some popcorn at the ready instead.
Sabrina’s Brit hits
Sabrina Carpenter secretly recorded her new album at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds[/caption]
The sensation took to Instagram to post snaps taken during recording sessions[/caption]
SABRINA CARPENTER is set to land three songs in the Top Ten this Friday and go to No1 with her new album Man’s Best Friend.
And it is especially appropriate that it’s selling so well here, because she secretly recorded the whole project in Blighty.
I can reveal Sabrina rented a £5,700-a-night house at private members’ venue Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds to write and record the album.
She took to Instagram to post snaps taken during recording sessions, which show she had created a makeshift studio at the estate’s biggest property, a seven-bed farmhouse.
And now it makes sense to me why one of my pals saw Sabrina at the retreat in January, when she randomly posted a photo with Emma Bunton, who was there for Gino D’Acampo’s wife’s 50th birthday.
I did think it was unlikely that she was there to party with the TV chef, who faced allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour on set earlier this year . . .
Although it will have cost Sabrina a fortune to stay at the estate, which is right next to the Beckhams’ family home, it is already paying dividends.
Yesterday Official Charts revealed new single Tears is set to go to No2, while My Man On Willpower is currently at No4, with Sugar Talking at No6.
That’s enough of a reason to cheers an excessively priced £14 (plus service charge) Soho House picante cocktail, Sabrina.