Dame Helen Mirren was on fine form at the gala screening of her new flick The Debt this week. The star is still perplexed as to why we all rave about her immense bikini body at the grand old age of 66. On winning the Body of the Year gong recently she laughed: “The kindness of strangers is amazing. It’s absolutely not true. But it was very, very sweet and very gratefully received I have to say. It made me feel great for about five hours and then I looked at myself and went ‘No Helen, you’re not’. My bum is about twice the size of Pippa Middleton’s backside and that’s not a good look.”

AOL UK’s leading women’s website MyDaily.co.uk celebrated the winners of its Amazing Women Daily campaign this week with a morning of pampering at The Sanctuary Spa followed by afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel.  The event, hosted by Dannii Minogue, was the culmination of a two-month nationwide search to find the UK’s biggest unsung heroes.

MyDaily donated an incredible £20,000 to the breast cancer charity CoppaFeel. And how cute does D look in her “Paris” dress from her Project D line? Too cute.

Remember Craig David? I just about do. Anyway, Craig reckons the late Michael Jackson will be watching down on the likes of Leona Lewis and Beyonce when they perform at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert.
“I’m a believer that when you leave this Earth you continue on and your body is just a vehicle. I think he’d be very proud of what he has achieved in his career and how powerful and important his music has been for other musicians.”
And after Craig has performed at the October 8 event in Cardiff he’s going back into the studio to work on some new tunes and is hoping to rope the JLS lads into his plans.
“Whenever I meet up with them we always say that we will do something together. It’s just a case of when the scheduling is right. We would definitely do something special together.”

It’s with great pleasure that I show you the newly reformed pop megastars Steps!
I was the first journalist to get my mitts on the band recently when the fivesome – who had monstrous hits between 1997-2001 with 5,6,7,8, One For Sorrow, Tragedy and Deeper Shade Of Blue – met up for their first promo shots.
And I’m pleased to report Claire Richards, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans and Lisa Scott-Lee are feeling extremely positive about the future of the band. After years of fall outs they’re all firm friends now and in a new Sky Living show we watch the kiss and make up chats in a four part series! All the Steps guys are excited and frankly honest about what happened.
Lisa told me: “It’s actually not weird at all being in the same room. It’s funny. We spent five years together and we’re like family now. To be completely honest we weren’t friends for a long time. Me, Lee and Faye remained friends because we felt betrayed by the other two when they left and you’ll see that in the show. I didn’t speak to H and Claire for two years or so. It took eight years to get where we are today.” Lee adds: “Now we want to celebrate 10 years since we split up. Doing the show on Sky has been weird and there have been a load of home truths. I actually didn’t speak to H for six years. I wasn’t sure if I was going to knock him out or become best friends again when we met. And we’ve become really close now.”
Claire told me she’s not sure where the future will take them but I’m hearing there’s definitely plans for a nationwide arena tour. “I’m scared about it all but it’s exciting,” she said nervously. “Until the show actually comes out and sees it all we don’t know what’s going to happen. This could be the start of it all again. A few years ago it was an “over my dead body” situation with Steps. But now I’m happy. We’ve all grown up a lot. I’m slightly scared about the dance moves though. H remembers everything but I’m clueless. And there will definitely not be any crop tops.
Cheesy H never even thought he’d go back. “I’d only just moved on from Steps finally and I never thought I’d be going back,” he said. “I would only entertain Steps being back in my life if it went well. For now it’s going well. I’m loving having the guys back in my life.”
Faye seemed the most dubious of all the Steps members when we spoke – she said: “We don’t know where it’s going to go or what we’re going to do. If people want us back in a way then it could be something more. It’s been beautiful and wonderful to all be in the same room but I’m not sure what the future will hold.”
Steps Reunion begins Sky Living HD, Sept 28, 9pm and the bands Ultimate Collection is out in October.

We never expected Nicola Roberts to be such a force to be reckoned with when she announced she was working on her debut solo record. Cinderella’s Eyes delivers on many levels. Forward thinking, fresh and insanely addictive. I caught up with the lady herself this week and she told me all about working on the album. Where the music came from and we also touched on when the Girls Aloud babes will be back in our faces. Enjoy.

You must be thrilled with the finished results of Cinderella’s Eyes?
This is an incredibly personal album. It’s been incredible working out what I wanted to do as a solo artist. I was left to my own devices and roaming around to work out what I wanted to do. One of the things I’m grateful for is the fact I’ve learnt so much by doing this. I wanted to learn about making music. Before with the girls it was a completely different process. We go into the studio, sing the lyrics and leave. Thios time I was in there learning studio lingo. I’ve always loved to write. So it was about trying to perfect a new talent.

Did you know what route you wanted to go down with your solo music?
I knew I wanted to do electro stuff and that would be my sound. But in terms of concepts it was all quite vast and it took a while to find my sound. You go in with different people and different producers and you need to find people you work well with. It was hard to find the right person. It wasn’t until I found Dimitri Tikovoi that I found the person I could work with on the project. We worked so well together and we were a team. He took me under his wing and I enjoyed every second. He taught me as much as he could every single day. We wrote Yo-Yo and it just rolled. Metronomy’s Joseph Mount was so open to my ideas and we got the best stuff out of working together too.

Was it scary being all by yourself without the Girls Aloud ladies alongside you?
It was daunting being on my own. But I didn’t feel like I was under pressure. I was in the studio every day and it was like being on a treadmill for me. Some days I wrote shit songs but some days we got a winner and you were totally uplifted. For about a year I was there every day and submersed in studio life. I wore a hoodie and a pony tail every day and I was in charge of the kitchen. It was an enjoyable experience and not pressurised. There was no time line on it and if I wasn’t confident on it then it wouldn’t have been released. I didn’t tell anyone I was writing and wanted to do it at my own pace.

How different was it to being in the band?
It was totally different. The thing with the band is there are five different girls and a producer, a lyricist and the situation with Xenomania is we are a team and everybody is part of that team.
But you can’t have five cooks in the kitchen so we take their lead. Nadine’s album is her sound, mine is very different to that and Cheryl’s album is hugely different again. It would never work if we all wanted to be a solo star – we work well as a group.
Making the record wasn’t really odd for me. I never went into Girls Aloud thinking one day I’d make a solo record. It’s bizarre thinking it’s done and about to be released.

Were you disappointed the debut single Beat of My Drum didn’t go straight to number one?
We sold a lot of Beat of my Drum. It was on air/on sale. And it’s hard. They’re happy with how it did. We sold really well. I wasn’t really worried about not going straight to the top of the charts.

How important is fashion to your life?
The fashion side of things isn’t a conscious thing for me. It’s a personal thing and I’ve found my feet in the fashion world. When you get to a certain age you get comfortable with your look and that’s wear I am. I’ve learnt to be comfortable with the way I look. I wear clothes that make me feel great.

I think you’re very fashion forward.
I follow fashion, I’m into it and it excites me.

I’m surprised you don’t have your own clothing range yet.
I don’t think I’m in a position where I could have my own fashion range yet. I’m not just a dolly that gets dressed up. I know what I want/ I can be half an hour late but if I don’t like what I’m wearing then I’m not comfortable.

Do you buy a lot of designer clothes?
Not really. I spend a lot of money in Topshop though. I shop there first and foremost. I’m not some excessive shopper. I never go into designer shops and buy a £250 jumper. I never spend that – it’s not worth it. I wear things twice too – I’m not worried about wearing things again. Christ, I’ve got a little leather jacket I wear every day. I’m surprised nobody has pulled me up on that yet.

How important is it being a businesswoman these days for you?
I’m thinking about the future and I like business. I love working on my make-up range Dainty Doll. And there’s lots going on behind the scenes. I like the way business makes you feel. It’s a power trip now and again. It’s healthy to be in control of your assets. One day I’m going to want kids and settle down.

Who are your fashion inspirations?
Rihanna. Even the bloody swimming costumes she wears. She can do anything. Gaga is too much for me though. I’m a girlie girl. Rihanna’s perfect in every way. She’s not afraid with her style and she looks comfortable in everything. I’ve got a major girl crush on her.

What about Victoria Beckham….
Well style is so personal. You can’t judge anybody on it. I admire lots of people but I’d never put anybody down for it.

Have you done a runway show before?
One for Fashion For Relief. With clothes I just can’t be shoved in some outfit and trotted around. I’m a person and actually don’t like being tugged and pulled. A lot goes into what I wear – I wear things to show how I feel.

Any big outfit regrets?
Absolutely loads. The Jump video is particularly bad. Black hair underneath and the top was horrendous. It wasn’t one of our high points.

Best and worst body part?
I hate my hands. They’re always a bit red and chunky. I have the same hands as me dad. My best body part is me hair. I love me hair. I can do a lot with it and it never gets boring.

Which celebrity body do you admire?
Abbey Clancy has a killer body. Rihanna has an amazing body – see I can’t stop thinking about her.

Any other obsessions?
Beyonce. I’m overly obsessed with Beyonce. I feel like she’s taught me how to become a woman through my life. I feel like I’m in the transition period to becoming a woman. I was the youngest in the band and I’m 25 now. When I have a decision to make I say: “What would Beyonce do.” I’m not even joking. Beyonce is a joke – she’s so incredible in every way. Every day when I’m doing my vocal exercises I say to myself ‘Beyonce wasn’t built in a day’. She’s very inspirational.

Are you settled down and ready for marriage and kids now with your man Charlie Fennell?
I’m not ready for marriage yet. I like the fact me and Charlie are boyfriend and girlfriend. My mum and dad married really young. My mum had me at 18. I definitely do want kids one day but not yet. I want to have quite a lot of children though. I want to be old with all the kids coming round for their kids. I want masses of them.

There’s no Girls Aloud kids yet…
I know. Not yet. But one day there will be.

What’s happening with the Girls Aloud reunion plans for 2012?
There will be something for the 10th anniversary. It’s a case of something will happen but it’s too early to say. I’m so excited about it I can’t tell you. Very. We are all in touch. And we are in touch with Nadine – but it is hard. She’s in the US. I’ve got friends in Liverpool that I haven’t seen since May. It’s tough keeping in touch with everyone. Nadine lives in America so we can’t meet up easily.
I’m meeting up with the girls on Sunday and we’re having a take away. We will all be in tracksuits and chilling. If Nadine was here then she’d be there too.
It’s been nice that we’ve all had our own individual journeys. I’ve learnt so much on mine. And I’m ready to get back to the Girls when the time is right.

The magazines are obsessed with your weight too – they’ve called you a lollipop head in the past. Thoughts?
It’s such a sensitive subject and I think that it shouldn’t be written about by them. There are girls and boys out there that really have to deal with those issues. It’s insensitive to comment on other people’s weight. I eat like a horse and I hate the cliché of people saying that.
My average breakfast, lunch and dinner is muesli with fruit – sometimes bacon – grilled fish and chips for lunch and Charlie will usually do chicken skewers and potatoes for tea. I actually do have to eat a lot because I’m hypoglycaemic. I need to eat all the time to keep my sugar up.

Do you watch what you eat at all?
I’m allergic to wheat and dairy so I have a nightmare with eating. But I try and keep myself in check. At first my whole world crumbled because I thought I couldn’t eat anything. M+S ready meals were an immediate no-no. I didn’t have a nutritionist to help me out – I think if you go down that route you can end up driving yourself mental. It gets too much. Eating wheat and dairy gave me really bad skin and it was becoming a real problem – especially as I’m one of those people who can sit in bed and literally eat a whole packet of chocolate biscuits in one sitting.
People think I eat weirdly because of the weight thing. But it’s not. It’s because of my skin – which is frustrating.

Lucky Day is out tomorrow and the album Cinderella’s Eyes is out September 26

When Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas came out as gay to his wife and teen sweetheart Jemma he feared he’d lose her forever.

Five years since he confessed his sexuality to her, and a year and a half since he came out publicly, Gareth, 37, says their relationship remains as strong as it ever was.
And last Wednesday, on the day Gareth and Jemma would have celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, she made sure the day didn’t pass unmarked.
“Jemma texted me on Wednesday and said happy anniversary,” he booms in his Welsh accent. “It was mad receiving that text and realising we would have been married for that long. So much has happened in our lives.

“We still have a good connection and I’m so happy that I’ve been through all this and still have her in my life. I genuinely thought I’d lose so much if I came out but it just hasn’t been the case. I’m so glad I was true to myself and did it.

“We’re both in good positions in our lives now. I’m happy and she’s with a new man. So it’s a happy ending.”

But it’s not just sport’s fans that have supported the British Lions legend – who captained Wales in 2005 to their first Grand Slam victory since 1978 – Hollywood has been offering him support to. Screen legend Mickey Rourke personally approached Gareth – who is appearing in the final of Born to Shine playing the harp tonight – a year ago saying he wanted to star and produce a blockbuster film of his life.

And it very nearly didn’t come to anything because Gareth kept dodging the actor’s calls. “My phone rang and I had been training and I answered it and this guy claiming to be Mickey Rourke was on the phone,” he explains. “And I thought it was somebody taking the piss and hung up. Then went back into the changing rooms and waited for one of the lads to own up. But they didn’t.

“Then he called again two weeks later and I realised it was Mickey Rourke. He invited me to go down and meet him backstage at the Jonathan Ross show. It was like a dream. I was like: ‘Shit this could be real.’

“He was quite direct in his approach and said he wanted the rights to a film of my life. I sat on it thinking for a while, it is my life after all. It was a big thing for me to give up. We sat down first and I wanted him to understand me before I said yes.

“I didn’t want my life turned into some film in Hollywood with space ships and stuff.”

Fast forward 12 months and Mickey is preparing to start filming and the star of The Wrestler says this role will change his entire career in Hollywood. “Mickey has said this is going to be the film of his life,” says Gareth. “He told me he’s going for it and he wants an Oscar for this. He’s deadly serious. I was surprised how big a deal this was for him. It’s become something bigger than I ever could have imagined.

“The script is finished and he’s coming into town in two weeks time to announce it all. He’s got to work on his Welsh accent though. He’s getting there – but he’s got to try a bit harder. He will be moving here to Wales for a long period of time while it’s shooting and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

The rugby ace and Hollywood star have become firm friends, and regularly make up an unlikely party trio with Joe Calzaghe. “Joe is one of my best friends and we will go out with Mickey when he’s in town,” he laughs. “But I only last a little while because things go crazy and those two can party. I like to be on my own turf when Mickey’s around, he scares me a little bit on a night out. I’ve done all that s**t and partied. I prefer staying in these days. I see which way things are swaying and I run as quick as I can.”

Gareth has no regrets at all in his decision to admit his sexuality to the butch rugby fans of the world.

“It’s been the best few years of my life since I came out,” he smiles happily. “Coming out gave me a sense of relief and pride to be able to walk down the street. The kerb was my best friend when I wasn’t out. I would be ashamed and walk with my head down. I didn’t want people to see me or be recognised. Now I’m walking with pride. If people recognise me now they maybe recognise me as a rugby player or an inspiring proud gay man. I’m proud to be recognised for who I am.

“And I don’t want people to be writing and saying ‘gay rugby player’, ‘gay this’ or ‘gay that’. You don’t write ‘straight television presenter or ‘straight footballer’. People need to move on from this kind of thing. It’s not a big deal being gay.”

Gareth now has a flat in London but freely admits he doesn’t go more than a few weeks without visiting his postman father Barry, 61, or mother Yvonne, 62, in Wales. “I love going back to Wales,” he says. “If I stay at my mum’s I’m looked after. It’s comforting still for me to go home.”

The former rugby union star, who made a record 100 appearances for his country, captaining both Wales and the British and Irish Lions, switched to league with the Crusaders in 2010 and recently signed a one-year contract extension with the club. He reveals it will most likely be his last. Life after rugby is going to be hard for him, but he says he has plans to open his own foundation giving help to teens and adults struggling to deal with their sexuality issues. Gareth explains: “I’m re-signing to play for one more year. This is the beginning of the end for me. My last year in rugby. I’m going to start a foundation and do a lot of stuff that I care about and I’m passionate about. I want to help teens and people that can’t deal with their sexuality. I always want to be seen as somebody with value.

“It’s the end of my career in rugby but after the sport ends for me I’m going to be starting a new career. I want to be known as a strong person and a rugby player.”

Gareth’s friendship with shoe designer Christian Louboutin – or Louby as he refers to him – has been much talked about. He insists he’s single and nothing is going on apart from a strong friendship. The pair are preparing to release a limited edition men’s shoe together inspired by the Welsh flag. It will be named after his rugby nickname Alfie (after the eighties comedy show).

“Louby is such a great friend,” he confesses. “Our shoe will be bought by private collectors I would think. There’s 600 of them.

“He’s part of the family really. He’s always down visiting and spoils my family rotten. He stays in my family home – not in a hotel. It’s a tiny little hotel. I know I must be the envy of every girl reading this.“My mum is kitted out in Louby’s shoes and Louby handbags. My brother’s wife has some too. He looks after us all.

“He brought this amazing glass shoe with a heel and you poured champagne through the top and drink the champagne out the front. We were all taking toots on that. I loved seeing my father – a big butch postman drinking put of a Louboutin glass heel.”

During her visit to Universal Orlando Resort, Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson and her son Cy encountered mysterious Egyptian guards at the entrance to the award-winning Revenge of the Mummy ride!

Elle has been in the US shooting and executive producing her upcoming, all-new NBC show, “Fashion Star.”

She makes the guys on stilts look small!

It’s been 10 years since Will Young became the winner of Pop Idol.
Since then he’s sold five million albums, embarked in an acting career and performed sell out shows all over Europe.
But all this success couldn’t compare to the gift of being a father – and the openly gay star says once he’s found the right man he will follow Sir Elton John and David Furnish and start a family.
“I’m ridiculously broody,” Will, 32, reveals. “And it’s annoying because right now I am single, but I want to settle down and have kids.
“My heterosexual friends are getting married and breeding, I do think I will have kids, but I think it will be in my 40s. I’ve got a little bit more growing up to do. And also I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t in a stable relationship. But Elton and David have really kicked off something inside
me.
“I don’t blame my job as the reason for me being single. The two relationships I’ve had have both been when I least expected it and when I have been at my most busiest.
“I’m in my 30s, I’m interested in gardening and listening to Radio 4, in alright shape and I’m embracing life fully. I’m thinking about doing upholstery for God’s sake. I would want a full-on unit if I were to have child. I think the change would be interesting.”
He even says he would follow Elton and David in mixing their sperm before fertilisation with a partner. “It’s mind blowing really,” he laughs. “I could actually have a kid. Would you do you and your partner in, and let one swim away and you don’t know! I think that would be best. I’ve got to find a man first though.”
The star is preparing to release his eagerly awaited fifth studio album, Echoes. An album that’s seen him take a more electro and dance inspired theme. Lead single Jealousy is already shaping up to be a number one single.
Will is thrilled he’s managed to keep his career on track – he’s been too scared of losing what he’s worked so hard for since Pop Idol.
“I didn’t and I don’t want to muck it up. I always say to myself when I get a bit drunk – is this worth screwing up your whole career for?” he explains. “Do I really want to do that and then risk losing my career? The answer is always no to be honest.
“I really mean that, there are temptations and I think I would be absolutely mortified if I was one of those people who ruin their career by getting swayed with drink and drugs.”
The star, who has appeared in acting roles in Marple, Sky Living show Bedlam and trod the boards in a Royal Exchange Theatre production of the Noel Coward play The Vortex, also cites his manager Simon Fuller, who has managed him since the beginning, as keeping him on the straight and narrow.
“I always wanted to still be doing what I do after 10 years,” Will says. “Simon Fuller is key, he’s always given me this space to do it. He’s the guy that says ‘Yeah, go and act’ or try this out. I think it’s always a test, the key thing is about the music. It’s not about the fame, the money or the parties and some forget that these days.”
And unlike former reality show winners like Steve Brookstein and Leon Jackson, Will says he has respect for the show that made him famous to begin with.
Will says: “I do feel a strong affinity with Pop Idol. I love all those reality shows I watch them the whole time.
“You can’t be a victim, you’ve got to make of it what you can. How many people get opportunities like that? I’ve also kept my feet on the ground. I am just the guy who won the talent show. It wasn’t like I was the million pound signing that they found. I was the posh boy that won a talent show
that looks a bit like Frank Spencer! I’m lucky to still be here.”

Last week it was revealed his runner-up and former friend on the show, Gareth Gates, had accepted a job singing on P+O Ferries crossing the channel. Will doesn’t laugh at all when I tell him about it – he says good luck to him and reveals he nearly suffered the same fate thanks to his dad.
“My dad said to me after Pop Idol, he would take the ferry to France for work, and he’d seen people performing on the ferries,” he giggles. “He was like ‘Darling, I’ve spoken to someone, I’ve got you a gig on the ferries!’ And I was like: ‘I’ve just won Pop Idol!’ and he was like ‘I know but it’s good money!’ I bet the money is good.
“When I did the first audition for Pop Idol, I got offered the lead in ‘We Will Rock You’ and I remember saying to my friend ‘Oh, shall I carry on doing the show?’ Obviously I’m pleased I did what I did – but one day I’ll be on a West End stage. There’s talks about a show later this year.”
On paper according to the annual rich lists Will is considered to have a personal fortune of £12.5 million. He scoffs at the thought but says he’s more than comfortable with his money. He’s just bought a town house in Hackney, that he’s busily filling with antiques and art work, and he owns a pad down in Cornwall where he enjoys surfing weekends away with friends whenever he can.
“I love those rich lists. They total up earning, before tax and I have such a laugh with my friends about it. Long may the lie continue,” he admits. “I am really into cars though, so I’ve had an old 1961 Porsche, I’ve had an old Bristol, I’ve just bought a G Wagon.
“I will still splash out on stuff, like the new house, but I will live there for 20 years. I’m moving now from Notting Hill to Hackney, and it’s too trendy. I wanted a really nice garden and I couldn’t get that where I was. I have invested a lot of money and been careful with it.
“But saying that I love bric-a-brac and furniture. I’ve just been to the Kempton Park antiques market, and bought four dining room chairs for £65.
“And I’m investing my money the co-producer of this new film Coriolanus. Ralph Fiennes has directed it and is in it. It is like do I buy a car or do I invest in a brilliant independent film, learning what it is to be a producer. And that’s been a whole new thing for me, being behind the camera. I have come in as the investing producer and I am learning and I really want to do more films. You get a real sense of achievement that what you’ve earned has gone into this and it’s created this whole story. It’s a
really cool thing.”
Famously diplomatic Will – who studied politics at Exeter University – isn’t quite so enamoured with is Prime Minister David Cameron, who he feels has made a big mistake confusing the public with his plans for a Big Society. He even says he’d like to take over as Prime Minister.
“I think that he’s f***ed it with Big Society,” he says. “I think he’s playing an OK game. But we’ve allowed people to be the victim.
“There was this mum the other day in he wake of the riots going ‘Well, what are my kids meant to be doing’, well do it yourself. You either sit back and watch it go to ruin or set up a community group. “You lobby the MP, that’s what everyone else is doing. We have pandered to a victim-state. It’s not about not helping people who aren’t in need, but it is about making people take responsibility. No-one seems to be taking responsibility. I’m going to run for Prime Minister, if I’m allowed to wear Burberry.”

Will Young’s fantastic new album Echoes is out now.