Queen of Pop Madonna shows no signs of slowing down, covering up her muscular body or reducing her sex appeal to millions of fans around the globe with the start of the MDNA album campaign.
Within 24 hours of premiering the video for new single Give Me All Your Lovin’ – featuring US star Nicki Minaj and Brit urban star M.I.A – Madonna had achieved 3 million ‘views’ on Youtube.
In the video the star cavorts with American football players, pretends to suckle a baby, pays homage to Marilyn Monroe once again and naturally wears her trademark crucifix throughout.
Extraordinarily, the singer has managed to hit the number one spot in 41 different countries with new album MDNA….despite the album not being available until March 26.
Her manager Guy Oseary tweeted: “MDNA is number 1 album on iTunes in 43 countries and “Give Me All Your Luvin” is number 1 single in 15 countries in just 1 day!! Thank Y-O-U”
The star’s twelfth studio album was available for pre-release purchase only on iTunes yesterday and immediately sky rocketed into the history books even though fans won’t be able to listen to the new material for over a month.
And this is just the beginning of what will be a total global immersion by Madge over the coming weeks.
Tonight the star performs the half-time show in the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The mum-of-four will perform three classic hits and the new single during the 12-minute set broadcast to an estimated 200 million people around the world.
For the eagerly awaited show she’s partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil and her previous tour collaborator Jamie King. Naturally, she’s promised to make it a sight to be seen.
“I’m so nervous!” she said at a press conference this week. “It’s like the Super Bowl is like, God in America. It’s like the whole country is watching this game. It’s everything and it means so much to people. Then I come on at half-time… I’d better put on a damn good show, right?”
Following on from Superbowl the star is ‘days away’ from announcing a world tour to support the album and is said to have been beavering away on ideas for months.
And all this whilst juggling being a single mother to Lourdes, 13, Rocco, 11, David Banda, six and Mercy James, six.
In a world where Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Rihanna and Christina Aguilera have all tried to conquer her fame and notoriety it’s good to know she can still show them all how to do it. It’s yet again another clear message from the star – you can always try and replicate her but never forget there’s only one Madonna.

So the critics have been sharpening their nails when it comes to Madonna and her directorial debut W.E. What a surprise, not.
I met the lady herself this week at a London Film Festival screening of the movie and you can tell she’s excited and nervous about the project that she describes as her “baby”.
So, you want the truth?
The film – a two-tiered drama focusing on the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard – isn’t bad. It’s actually beautifully shot and visually attractive and features the most mesmerising performance from Andrea Riseborough who plays Wallis. If she doesn’t pick up award nominations for the performance I’d be surprised.
It’s very easy to walk into any film project associated with Madonna and immediately write it off. But don’t follow the crowd. This is one film that Madonna can be extremely proud of.

Catch W.E. in cinemas from January 20.

And any other project in the pipeline?
I’ve created a little music powerhouse and we have teamed up to work with artists together so we’re the full package and need only to come to us. It consists of Priscilla Hamilton who has written a lot with Cheryl Cole (including Promise This), Jean Baptiste Kouame who has written a lot with the Black Eyed Peas and Michael Jackson’s young keyboard player.

What artists do you like to work with?
I like to work with artists who know their own mind. Like Madonna. Is Cheryl like that? With artists like that the people around them have a lot of influence over their sound.

*Hurts (above with me) celebrated a roller coaster few months with a sell-out gig at London’s Forum in Kentish Town this week. Supported by the wonderful Clare Maguire the boys killed it on stage. Boy George was in the audience alongside me and I can safely say the lads didn’t let anybody down. Vive Le Hurts. A little birdie tells me the lads with re-release their show stopper Better Than Love for a second time before starting work on their second album. But first of all – new single Sunday is out February 27.

*For a Madonna fan there’s one thing we’ve all continually been troubled by. Her Madgesty’s decision to not release the Blonde Ambition world tour on DVD for fans. It’s arguably her best ever tour and featured that infamous mock masturbation scene that shocked and outraged the Pope. Scenes from the tour were used in her In Bed With Madonna film but now I’m hearing that the star is finally ready to get the DVD completed and ready for the fans. The sheer hunger for this DVD is unreal. My source tells me: “She’s going to release it – but it’s been a case of her having the time to put it together and make it fresh for 2011. It’ll be later in the year – before her next album possibly. There’s no firm date set in stone yet – but the wheels are in motion.” Come on Madge – get a move on!

*Another awards show, another loss for Coronation Street despite what can only be described as one of their best ever years on the box when it comes to characters and storylines. This time the Street lost out to Emmerdale at this week’s Broadcast Awards. Jane Danson who plays Leanne Battersby said she hopes they’ll come back strong next year. Jane said: “The tram crash storyline seems to have missed the nomination period for most of the awards shows. It was only recently. I hope that next year we can come back and wipe the slate clean.” William Roache aka Corrie legend Ken Barlow added: “It’s true – we have had an amazing year but missed a lot of the deadlines for the awards show. Don’t you worry – we’ll be back with a bang next year.” Rather impressively I then watched William, Jane, Samia Smith, a rather sozzled Chris Gascoyne who plays Peter Barlow and two friends squeeze into a photo booth to take souvenir snaps. They deserved an award for that squish – let alone the acting!
Other stars at the Broadcast Magazine Awards included Fearne Cotton, Sharleen Spiteri, Adrian Chiles, Gareth Southgate and Elle Macpherson.

*Tricia Walsh Smith is an extraordinary human being. She has more front than Brighton Pier and self belief by the truckload. You have to commend her for that. The self proclaimed star tells me she’s saved the current series of Louie Spence’s Showbusiness by appearing on it! Tricia, erm, revealed: “Well the thing is I was brought in after a few episodes because they realised without me the show didn’t quite work as well. Louie and Andrew Stone are not fans of mine and Pineapple founder Debbie Moore hates my guts – but they realised they needed me so I’m thrilled to be in the show until the end of the run now.”

*Dame Judi Dench is hoping Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter reign victorious for The King’s Speech at this year’s Academy Awards. Speaking at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards he said: “I’m very, very pleased for Colin that he is up for an Oscar. Colin has a lot of special qualities and has had them for a long time, not least behaving very badly on set. He is a terrible laugher when things get serious. I hope it is his year though. It could be Helena’s year this year too. You just have to keep your fingers crossed. The Oscar ceremony is very, very long. If you sneak out then someone sneaks in your place as a seat filler. It’s never happened to me because I have the constitution of an ox. At an Oscar’s long, long ago Helena and I were dressed up to the nines with a lot of jewels on but at the end of the night we had absolutely nothing to show for it and we sat crying with laughter at the end just saying ‘Look at us’.” Judi is beyond busy at the minute – not only is she returning to Bond to play ‘M’ in the next flick she’s also starting work on Clint Eastwood’s new film J.Edgar where she’ll play Leonardo DiCaprio’s character’s mother.  “Thank goodness Bond has been saved,” she squealed. “Of course I wanted to do it again. Because you get to work with Daniel Craig and you get to go on location if you’re very lucky and get to wear a few sharp suits. Then I’m going off to work to work with Clint Eastwood in a week’s time on J.Edgar. I’ll be Leonardo’s mother. Clint Eastwood attracted me to the apart.” Good luck with that, M’lady. Tune into watch documentaries on the winners of the awards from February 1 on Sky Arts 1…..

*Kate Hudson seems so happy with her life right now. She’s pregnant with her rocker boyfriend Matt Bellamy of Muse and releasing new flick A Little Bit of Heaven to rave reviews. But all she cares about is shopping for her growing figure! She tells me: “I heard Topshop has a Maternity department – which sounds amazing so I’m going to have to go there! I love clothes and I love to shop while I’m here. I’m feeling really well thank you and yes very happy with all that’s going on in my life. I’ll obviously be spending a lot more time in London now but I’m not sure about moving though – not yet! We’ll probably split it 50/50 – I do love it here and surprisingly I do love the weather. It’s so nice to have seasons.”
Kate also tells me she loved work on her new flick – mainly because she didn’t have to wear much slap. “I’m like a guy,” she adds. “I hate having my hair and make up done – I find it so boring sitting and waiting for it all to be done.  When I’m not working I really can’t be bothered so I don’t wear any make up – unless I have a huge zit or something and I’ll cover that up! But I like to wear no make up – and yes I know I pay for that because then I get my picture taken and that it goes everywhere – ‘look at how bad Kate looks’, and I think maybe I should’ve worn make up ….but it’s too much effort and I’d rather be playing with my son, or what ever!” Kate makes a lot of sense.

*Dominic Cooper is sounding rather rock and roll these days. Asked what his biggest vice is – sex, drugs or rock and roll – he said: “All three! They seem to be the best vices a man can have.” Righty ho! Dom went on in an interview, out in Company magazine this Thursday, that his dream film role would be playing either Michael Hutchence or Freddie Mercury in a biopic of their lives. “They’re rock idols of mine,” he said. I bet!

*Michelle Gayle celebrated her 40th birthday on Friday night with a celeb packed bash at London’s fab Italian restaurant Avista. Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding, Kelle Bryan and Louise Redknapp all pitched up for the bash that started with dinner and ended with Lucky Voice.  Sarah and former EastEnder Michelle have become firm friends since being introduced by style guru Nick Ede. And Sarah and Michelle have loads in common – they’re both engaged and planning their weddings!

*Chipmunk is planning to shoot his next video in Jamaica – it’s alright for some eh! He’s a lucky little, erm, rodent isn’t he. His first video for Flying High was shot out in South Africa and current single Champion feat Chris Brown was filmed in Miami. The star is now planning a new exotic location for every video from new album Transition (out in April). Why not!

*It seems Russell Brand’s cheeky ways are rubbing off on Dame Helen Mirren after they filmed upcoming comedy Arthur together. “Russell gave me a pair of his pants and I’m going to have them framed and put up in my office I think,” she laughed. “Russell told me they were used but I don’t believe him.” Skanky!
And despite being acting royalty Dame H isn’t getting a hat ready for the royal wedding. “No, I won’t be invited sadly. Of course I’d go though! That would be fantastic,” she revealed at the Brighton Rock premiere this week.

*It’s a Tragedy Steps never performed for the UK at Eurovision. But fear not Steps fans as they may soon be back on stage thrusting those hips furiously. “We’ve been asked loads of times to do Eurovision but even we have a cheese factor limit,” Faye Tozer revealed. “It wouldn’t be right for us. No-one votes for England and what’s the point of doing it unless you come first? It could be bad for your career. That’s why I’m in two minds about Blue now doing it but at least they’ll get a single out of it. I do think it would be good for us to do a tour again for nostalgia. We did love touring.” Yes!

*I’m very excited to hear that Blue are hoping to enlist Kylie’s creative director William Baker to make their Eurovision performance a stage spectacle.
I caught up with Antony Costa at the aftershow of Leslie Jordan’s My Trip Down The Pink Carpet and he told me the boys are planning lots of surprises.
“We want to make our performance as big as we can and that’s why we’d love to get someone like William involved,” he said. “The song, I Can, is very anthemic and typical Blue. They’ll be no gimmicks though – I really admire the performance of Love City Groove in 1995.”
And Ant’s not worried about the dreaded ‘nul points’. “We just want to go out there to have a good time and proudly represent our country,” he said. “We want to get everyone behind us and cheer them up as there’s been so much doom and gloom with the credit crunch.”

*Brace yourselves ladies….Hanson are back. But the long-haired MMMBop-ing brothers have apologised for inspiring the likes of Justin Bieber and The Jonas Brothers to follow in their footsteps.
“Can we please say a big sorry for that?” asked Issac Hanson at their secret London gig on Tuesday. Bit late now…

*The Only Way Is Essex’s womaniser Mark Wright may have made I’m A Celeb’s Kayla Collins his latest conquest but his fellow cast mates don’t reckon it will last. What a surprise!
Harry ‘Shut up! Derbridge told me: “I can’t see it lasting very long. I doubt Kayla will feature on the show either as the producers want to keep it all about Essex. We start filming in March a week before it will go out on telly so it’s all very fresh.” Miaow!

*Jason Gardiner be warned – Denise Welch is sharpening claws! Good on her I say as it’s about time the catty judge shut his trap and hid those irritating teeth.
“I’m going to stand up to Jason this week if he’s mean again,” said Denise. “What he’s saying is just nasty and not constructive. I can’t believe he told Laura she has stumpy legs. It’s cruel. But I’ll make sure I stand up to him in a comical way. To be honest it doesn’t matter if he gave me no points as it’s always the public votes that see me through.”
Looking super-trim and having lost over a stone thanks to her Dancing On Ice workouts, Denise has had a novel way of shifting some extra pounds this week.
“I’ve had the runs really badly this week so that’s helping with the weight loss. I haven’t had any time to enjoy my new body yet though.”

*Paul O’Grady reckons Fern Britton was the perfect person to take over his old Channel 4 teatime slot over rivals Peter Andre and Vernon Kay.
“I love the bloody bones off her and think she’s going to be a fantastic replacement. I wish her the best of luck.”
But before he returns with a second series of Paul O’Grady Live on ITV1 he’s keeping himself occupied with household chores.
“My house is currently overflowing with washing. I was in panto and then went on holiday and got no washing down during that time so it’s literally started to talk to me.” Eugh!

*Will & Grace’s Leslie Jordan may be a minute 4’11 but his autobiographical show is larger than life. The Emmy winning actor rolled into town to London’s Apollo Theatre with My Trip Down The Pink Carpet and it’s full of laughs, poignant moments and a very important message. Leslie – who played Beverley Leslie in the hit US show – was on fine form at the aftershow too where he flirted with a hot male clock-room attendant and tipped him a tenner. The show runs until February 19 so don’t miss it!

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is set to have a few changes for it’s debut on Broadway later this year. The West End show features numerous mentions of Kylie Minogue in the UK production but makers of the hit musical are replacing Kyles with Queen of Pop Madonna’s name in the US version. My mole tells me: “Kylie’s not a household name in the States so they needed an equally fabulous gay icon for the show. Madonna was the obvious choice.”
Celebrities including Geri Halliwell, Denise Welch, Katie Waissel, Naomie Harris and the cast of the Only Way Is Essex pitched up for a performance this week to launch the new Priscilla Parties service. The parties include discounted Top Price tickets and a party for free after the show! Hurrah! Visit www.priscillatix.com for more information.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (above) will be the big Brit break through star in the film world during 2011. The former Victoria Secret’s model replaces Megan Fox as the female lead in the huge third installment of the Transformers franchise. The fact she’s dating Hollywood hardman Jason Statham only adds to the buzz.
February could be hugely successful for Darcy boy Colin Firth. He’s hotly tipped to receive an Oscar nomination (if not a win) for his incredible performance in the movie The King’s Speech.
Breakthrough stars of the year will include feisty female Jessie J – who’s just picked up the Brit Award for Critic’s Choice following in the footsteps of Florence and the Machine – soulful youngster Claire Maguire and Pharrell Williams protégé Yasmin (think Massive Attack with a female vocal).
The boys in the music world will be X Factor dominated – with both Matt Cardle and One Direction pushing out albums quickly following their success on the show.
It will also be a year of the female solo star comeback too. Adele returns with her eagerly awaited second album 21 and is already making waves stateside with new single Rolling in the Deep, urban breakthrough act Katy B has given Ms. Dynamite a lifeline with her new single Lights On and Florence and the Machine should be back with a second album towards the end of the year.
Gemma Cairney looks set to be the new star of the radio waves too. After co-hosting 1Xtra’s breakfast show with Trevor Nelson she’s got her own show now doing the drive time slot and is covering for Jo Whiley for three weeks on Radio 1 in January. She’s also a firm favourite with T4 when it comes to hosting their festival coverage.
Meanwhile MTV launch their new show Plane Jane featuring Brit TV host Louise Roe. She’s been a runaway success in the States with the show – that takes a real life Plane Jane and turns them into a model-like-beast – and she’s fresh off the E! red carpet hosting the Globes and the Oscars.
Live music will be huge in 2011. Take That allow Robbie Williams back into the mix for their sell-out Progress nationwide tour in the summer, Kylie Minogue unveils her Aphrodite tour in March and Glastonbury Festival will be back for one more year before taking a year break – headliners are rumoured to be Prince, U2 and Coldplay.
And finally it will be a huge year for Madonna. As well as completely her brand new album by the end of the year she’ll be traveling around the world promoting her directorial movie debut – W.E is a biopic about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson that led to the British royal abdicating the throne. The critic’s must be sharpening their knives in anticipation.

*Demi Moore is still such a hot looking woman in real life. I caught up with the Ghost star and her hubby Ashton Kutcher at the Hollywood Domino Gala. She told me she’s loving Awards Season. “It’s such an exciting week,” she admitted. “It’s kinda crazy though. You have to pace yourself with all the parties.”
Ashton told me he’s been working flat out and revealed: “It’s been full on lately. I’ve not stopped working so I’m tired to begin with. I’ve just been in London too – it’s great over there. I love the way the British are. So proper.”
There were two brilliant moments of hanging with the pair. Firstly Demi bought the round of drinks. Ashton loves a vodka tonic and Demi drinks pints – but she tripped on her dress and spilt beer down herself! Secondly, when you do a snap with Demi she always has to check she looks good in the picture before she walks away. Amazing!

*So it turns out Cheryl Cole’s ‘pal’ Derek Hough from dancing With The Stars has been more than just hanging out with Chezza – she’s been giving him advice on the industry. My mole reveals: “Derek’s desperate to carve himself into a male solo pop artist. He can sing and dance so he wants to pursue that” Cheryl’s given him lots of advice.” I bet she has!

*Rachel Zoe (above) is the stylist everybody in Hollywood scrambles to work with at the Oscars. But the skinny lady herself is particular about who she dresses up. She told me at the Hollywood Domino Gala: “I’m working with Demi Moore and Cameron Diaz this year. They are the ladies I truly love to dress.” Other guests at the amazing Hollywood Bingo Gala event included Jamie Foxx, Matt Dillon, Lady Victoria Hervey, Eva Longoria and Nicky Hilton.

*A real highlight was meeting Queen of Pop Madonna as I trotted into LA’s newest exclusive private members club Soho House this week. I obviously told her she “raised me” (sorry mum) and she graciously shook my hand! Amazing.

*Dermot O’Leary sounds as if he’s ready and set to give the US a go as a presenter. I caught up with the X Factor host and he told me: “I’ve been out here looking at work options and having a few meetings. Nothing’s come up yet that would mean moving out here. But I’d love to work Stateside.”
Dermot also told me he’s hoping X Factor judge Dannii Minogue manages to come back to the show after she’s popped out her sprog in July. He said: “She’s one of the reasons the show’s so good so hopefully she’ll be able to be there after she’s had her little one.”

*Ryan Seacrest is preparing to cover the red carpet arrivals for the E! Entertainment Channel later this evening with co-host Giuliana Rancic (both above with me). But he couldn’t help but talk about Simon Cowell and his exit from American Idol after this series to start X Factor in the US. Ryan said: “American Idol will survive without Simon but we will miss him. He’s is the foundation to the show. I will personally miss sparring with him but I have seen the X Factor and I think it’s a phenomenal show.”
And he wouldn’t mind swapping over to the rival show as host – if the money was right. “I could always be tempted over depending on the money,” he laughed. “I would like to do them both, that would be great.”

*Myleene Klass was having a blast hosting the Oscars coverage for CNN in Los Angeles. But it seems Americans have a bizarre take on who Myleene’s a doppelganger of. Over dinner at the Mondrian she told me: “When I got to the airport a pap thought I was Minnie Driver’s sister and then yesterday I signed an autograph and he person looked surprised at my signature because she thought I was Jessica Alba.” One day they’ll know Leenie in the US! Ha!
The presenter also told me her two-year-old daughter has been hanging with rock and roll royalty Bon Jovi too. She revealed: “Ava had her picture with Jon Bon Jovi at our hotel. He fell in love with her – and we spotted him working out in the gym. I might have enjoyed that for a different reason to Ava though!” I hear you!

Above: Hanging with Kelly Brook at the Hollywood Domino Gala event at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

*Kendra Wilkinson doesn’t want her child growing up in the public eye. The former Girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, whose reality show Kendra is on the E! Entertainment Channel, says she doesn’t want her newborn son Hank growing up in front of the cameras. She told me: “I don’t want Hank growing up in the limelight. People already ask if I think he’s going to be a sports star like my husband or an actor or something. I want him to decide what he wants to be. That’s his choice. The reality show will stop – I don’t want him growing up for everyone to see.” Sensible girl.

Shhhh
WHICH star is getting a reputation for sleeping around? I hear this dude doesn’t mind if it’s a boy or a girl – but he needs them regular! Greedy!

*Lee Toland Krieger is the Writer/Director to watch out for in the future. After being nominated for Best Director and Best Screenplay at the Independent Spirit Awards for his brilliant film The Viscious Kind he’s about to start work on new thriller Land of the Free. Elijah Wood, Rachel Bilson and Sienna Miller are all wanted for roles….

*It’s not easy when you’re Oprah Winfrey and you fancy a bite to eat. You can’t just pop to your local restaurant in a low-key way. I saw the chat show host dining at the Beverly Hills Hotel with TV execs this week. While Oprah – wearing a black dress and black alice band – enjoyed a salad four bodyguards sat surrounding her table. She did seem down to earth as she left though and posed for snaps with fans. Nice!

*Jimmy Choo boss Tamara Mellon is making a concerted effort to be a little bit healthier. After years of puffing on fags Tam has decided to quit the ciggies – but she’s finding it tough to deal with her cravings and chewing gum non stop!

*Wherever I went this week for a bite to eat I seemed to bump into a celebrity. Nicky Hilton – who is immaculately dressed in her day-to-day life – sat next to me one day at the Fred Segal café while Geri Halliwell’s former movie producer lover Sacha Gervasi (and the father of Geri’s baby Bluebell) brought along an extremely attractive girl to eat on the other side of me. Then I was alongside Groundhog Day star Bill Murray at Cecconis the day before.

*Abbie Cornish appears to have started the heartbreak diet following her split from actor Ryan Phillipe. I spotted the star at a bash for Vanity Fair  and Dior looking disturbingly thin with her newly bleach blonde hair. Other guests mingling around at the bash included Dawsons Creek star James Van Der Beek and Brit TV host Louise Roe.

*Kelly Osbourne looked slick as hell at the Hudson Jeans and Vanity fair bash this week. Kel’s gone for a somewhat bizarre purple rinse on her former bleach blonde locks. The Osbourne offspring mingled the night away with June Sarpong and Rose McGowan.

*Leona Lewis was gearing up to attend Elton John’s wonderful Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party when I bumped into her last week. She told me she’s got a crush on Twilight star Taylor Lautner – in fact he’s the only person to have ever made her starstruck. She revealed: “I think Taylor from Twilight is the only person to have truly made me starstruck. It was at the Globes and I got a picture with him. I never ever get a picture with anyone. I never ask for one. He’s the only person I’ve ever asked for a picture with. My boyfriend Lou loved that one. He said: ‘Erm, what are you doing?’ Ha ha. I’m allowed to meet him though. I’d love to meet Stevie Wonder and Madonna. I’ve not met either. Madonna is another person who really inspires me.”

Just over a year ago the prospect of interviewing Lee Mead would have been a little worrying. He was nervous, very guarded and unsure of his own self when you chatted about his promising career in showbiz. But what he lacked in personality back then he made up for in talent.
Right now Lee is pretty much unrecognisible from the fresh fledgling reality show winner of BBC’s Any Dream Will Do. He’s dressed fashionably, is clearly revelling in finishing his role as Joseph on the West End and promoting his solo album and he’s head over heels in love.
In fact, he’s newly engaged and he’s so excited about making Denise Van Outen, 34, the new Mrs Mead – and it’s going to happen this year. Lee, 27, beams with delight saying: “I honestly couldn’t be happier right now. Den and me are so happy about it all. The wedding will be this year – probably fairly small and private. She’s everything to me – and my best friend at the same time. I can wear the trousers now and again – and so can she. We are equal – I guess we’re one.”
And whereas in the past Lee would nervously skip around questions about his private life he is now confident of his relationship with Denise, whom he met when she judged his performance week in week out on the BBC1 show Any Dream Will Do. “I’d love to have children and hope we can start a family,” he says blushing slightly in an adorable way. “We’re so happy and it’s a really exciting time. Marriage for me is for life. This isn’t some sort of celebrity couple that is fairly doomed from the start. We’ve moved to a country pile in Kent and we even have sheep. Life with Denise is just fantastic.”
The star does admit that the relationship with Denise was tricky at times saying they “often had conflicting work schedules that led to time apart”. But since they moved in together in Kent all’s going swimmingly. “We’re making sure we spend a lot more time together now and it’s just brilliant,” he says. “People like Tess Daly and Vernon Kay are always working – but they make their schedules work so as they spend as much time together. And that’s my priority. We don’t want to live married life working so hard and never seeing each other.”
The star’s physical appearance is noticeably different too since he hung up his Technicolour Dreamcoat for the foreseeable in December last year. “I’m allowed to let my chest hair grow now, look,” he says, pulling down his All Saints t-shirt to reveal a stubbly chest. “I’ve put on a little bit of weight and my arms are not quite as big as they were. But I’m not tubby. As long as the belly is nice and flat I’m not worried.” He also freely admits he looks after his appearance like the next metrosexual. Lee says: “I do use moisturiser. Maybe a lot of men would disagree but I think as a modern man you have to look after yourself, don’t you?”
Lee’s enviable frame and six pack was shown off in its best way during Lee’s year and a half run on the West End as the lead in Joseph. But a buff celebrity body like his he was always going to attract some bizarre female attention. He says: “I do have a few super fans from being in the show. I remember saying one time that I was a fan of steak and onions and I started to get fans dropping around fillet steak and onions. One lady even turned up with a Lee Mead doll. It was a perfect mini version of myself – it was a bit weird really.”
Now that Gareth Gates has taken over the role on the West End Lee can relax and spend more quality time with Denise – as well as start his new career as a solo recording artist. But he’s not straying too far from his squeaky clean roots of working on the London stage. He jokes: “I think as an artist you have to be realistic about your audience and try to grow as well and learn and I think that’s pretty near the mark to be honest with the new album –it’s somewhere in the middle. I didn’t think that I wanted to make a musical theatre album and equally if I tried to be like and Indie star or like Marilyn Manson or something then it would just look really contrived. I’m just me.”
As well as building a recording studio in his country pad with Denise, the star got his first taste at writing his own songs for Nothing Else Matters. “I co-wrote 25 songs and two made it onto the album,” he smiles. “I was proud of that. Record companies are always a bit dubious about letting you write your own songs. But I was pleased they liked the tracks. I worked with the guys that have worked with people like James Morrison and Gary Barlow.”
And with this second album Lee hopes it kicks off the start of a long career in music – he hopes to tour the album and be around for up to five more albums in the future. “I’m not going to put so much pressure on myself for this to work,” he admits. “I hope I get to make a third album, and a fourth and a fifth. What I do know is for this album I have given a hundred percent. I’ve worked really hard on the writing and being involved. If it sells really well then great and if it doesn’t than you reassess the situation. But I’m not going anywhere.”
And after a hugely successful run in Joseph we may even get to see him back on the West end stage again one day. He reveals: “I have lots coming up. There’s of course this album – but I’d never rule out a return to the West End stage, I’m hoping to do more acting, I should be working again with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber sooner than you’d think and I’ve got a wedding to plan.”

Lee Mead’s brilliant new album Nothing Else Matters is out now.