Students and kids rejoice – there’s a new voice for the younger generation and she’s ready to fight the government for your rights!
Step forward Tulisa Contostavlos – one third of urban trio N-Dubz.
I met up with the unlikely political activist for an exclusive chat this week and she talks so much sense. I’d vote for her!
First up for discussion was university fees and the controversy surrounding plans to raise fees. She fumed: “I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing right now. I have a voice and I want to use it.
“If I wasn’t doing music then I’d be at university and I’d be struggling to pay for things with a huge student loan hanging over my head. It would be me in the position that thousands of kids are right now.
“These people will be in debt for most of their life if the fee hike comes into place. I can’t believe these politicians are getting away with it.
“I haven’t met David Cameron yet – but I’ll talk to him about University fees when I do. I just find it amazing that you can’t ever trust a politician. These people are all undercover lizards from different planets. It’s a disgrace to our country that they are in charge.”
But the high profile protests over university fees is not the only political issue troubling the singer. Transport is another area she feels the British people are being fobbed off.
“The Government are continually complaining about people using too many cars so they’re telling us to use public transport but because of the privatisation the fees are ridiculously high,” the straight talking popstar says. “How can people afford to be good and take a bus?
“Give us a reason to get on that bus, that’s what I say. We’re buggered with transport whatever we do.”
Knife crime is also an area the singer has been vocal in – the band once performed at an anti-gun and knife crime event.
And the star thinks it’s time action was taken! “Schools should have safety checks – metal detectors or whatever it takes,” she says. “I bet half the kids at some schools are carrying knives around. How can you not be sorting things out when kids are dying out on the streets?
“Look, if they won’t give kids youth clubs or places to go during afternoons and evenings then how can the Government expect to cut down on yobs hanging on the street and crime rates? You need to give young people places to go – and fund it. And if they want knife crime to go down then we need proper safety checks.”
I was shocked to meet such a forward thinking smart girl. Tulisa for Prime Minister!

N-Dubz star as Sackboy characters in LittleBigPlanet2 for their music video ‘Took It All Away’. See the video from today at www.youtube.com/littlebigplanetuk. LittleBigPlanet2 is out now from all good retailers from £39.99.

Joss Stone is currently in the middle of having a year off from music. But she has managed to pose nude for PETA with nothing but a toy bear to cover her modesty.

The singer is campaigning for the animal rights group and raising the profile of the Ministry of Defence’s insistence on killing Canadian Black Bears to make the Queen’s Guards’ caps. Joss tells me: “I have teamed up with PETA for a new ‘Bear Hugs not Bear Caps’ ad campaign to put a stop to the slaughter of Canadian Black Bears. When I heard how the bears are cruelly baited and killed I was upset and shocked. Too many people at the Ministry of Defence are dragging their heels on this issue and I feel like more needs to be done to stop the murder. It takes up to one bear to make each cap and between 2001 and 2007 the MoD wasted £365,180 of tax payers money buy 609 bear pelts. I have created this ad with PETA to raise public awareness about this important issue – by working together we can finally make the Ministry of Defence stop this pointless cruelty. Stop using bearskin and go faux!”

Good for Joss!

Picture: Pal Hansen

Spice Girl Melanie C has a new partner in crime when it comes to starting work on her fifth solo record  – Drag Queen DJ extraordinaire Jodie Harsh. Mel told me the pair are working on some killer dance tracks for her next record. Speaking at the InStyle Best of British party in association with Lancome, Mel revealed: “We’re in the studio working now. Tomorrow, in fact. There’s a lots of writing and studio time booked in and the results are very exciting.
“Jodie’s got a good grasp of what I want to do and we’re hoping to return to the ‘I Turn To You’ days with some big dance hits.”
Jodie added: “I’ve been a fan of Melanie for years so it’s a pleasure to be working with her. We’re both extremely focused on things right now. So although we may be at a party together we’re going home early and will be up at the crack of dawn.” I literally cannot wait for Mel’s new material.

Heidi Klum (above with me) is one of the most down to earth and charming supermodels out there. She tells me she can’t wait to party with me at Elton John’s wonderful Academy Awards viewing party in aid of the Elton John AIDS Foundation in LA soon. She told me at the InStyle bash at Shoreditch House: “I can’t wait to see you there. It’s always such a great event and what better way to raise a hell of a lot of money for a great cause and enjoy the Oscars. I’ll be there with Seal. See you on the dance floor.” Catch you there, Heidi!

Above: Thandie Newton had pins to die for at the event….

Above: Jonathan Ross sported flamboyant scarf and goatee for the InStyle bash at Shoreditch House

Pictures: With thanks to Dave Bennett

Since I broke the story about the Spice Girls bid to play at the 2012 Olympics I thought I’d give you an update on where we stand. So far Melanie C, Melanie B and Emma Bunton are  up for it. Victoria Beckham doesn’t seem that bothered. But Geri Halliwell tells me she’s working on persuading her. “I haven’t discussed the Olympics that much,” she told me as she launched her Next swimwear range this week. “But it would be an amazing privilege to represent our country in 2012. So we will discuss it with Victoria and will see what she thinks.”
Ginger Spice looks mighty fine in the campaign shots for the range – but she wasn’t brave enough to model the bikinis at the launch at The Savoy this week. She laughed: “I didn’t have time to work out at all for the campaign so if I look good then it’s not down to working out. I’m a mum and I stuff chocolate like everyone else. I mean, if I know you’ve got to get into a bikini then I might go for a power walk but I just don’t have the time these days to exercise like I used to.”
I finally asked her is she’d step up to the mark as a permanent X Factor judge if the rumours of Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole departing for the States are true. She said: “You’re going to have to wait and see. I think Simon Cowell would be the first to know the answer to that.” Over to you Simon….

Geri on her new range for Next: “I think in anything you do there’s pressure. But I’m not pitched up against Victoria on this one. I’m trying to keep the focus on my range and the fact it’s about giving women confidence. All I did was pick stuff and design stuff that I liked. I designed it around my boobs, if I’m honest. I tested it on myself. The bando is so I don’t have strap marks. I couldn’t find a bando with the right lift for boobs. If women have boobs they need to be kept up. Value for money is important too. You can buy either the bottoms or the tops  – so if you’re an apple or a pear you can find one that works. I always struggled finding a bikini that would fit me. Women must have the same problems so this range is for the people.”

It’s time for the United Kingdom to All Rise, because I can reveal Blue will be our Eurovision Song Contest entry this year.
The lads – Duncan James, Anthony Costa, Simon Webbe and Lee Ryan – have been busily beavering away on a fantastic new track called I Can to hopefully clinch a win at the ceremony in Dusseldorf on May 14.
And they’re confident about being able to win the competition and avoid getting any “nil points” from any of our European neighbours.
Duncan exclusively told me last night: “We’re celebrating our 10 years together in 2011, so when the BBC approached us it seemed a great way to mark the occasion and also to be part of something which is still a British Institution.”
In coming weeks filming will start on a special one-hour documentary (ala Take That) showing Blue’s preparation and the show will air in April. It will feature the lads recording the single, travelling to Europe to promote the entry, and receiving advice, help and hints from some of the biggest names in the music business. It will air on BBC One in April.
And the Beeb seem to be right behind the boys. BBC Head of Entertainment and Events Katie Taylor says: “We’re enormously pleased to have found an act that not only meets but exceeds all the criteria for a great entry.  Blue are the perfect choice and we’re so proud to have them representing us at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.”
If you ask me we all need to get behind Blue. Whereas in previous years we’ve relied on utter tripe and nobody artists to fly the flag for Eurovision this is the most progressive decision the BBC have made in an age.
Simon says: “I’ve always wanted to represent my country, so this is a truly exciting experience for Blue”. And Antony added: “We hope you all love ‘I Can’ and that it reaches out to a whole new audience in our bid to do Britain proud!“
So thankfully we are not going to have to deal with the BBC’s usually dreadful ‘search for a Eurovision star’! A source tells me: “The BBC are being a huge support. They’re not up for messing about with rubbish acts and tacky songs this time around. They’ve gone for a pop act with punch and they’re hoping it will mean huge success this time around. To have Eurovision and the Olympics in the UK in 2012 would be a real achievement – so they’re pulling out all the stops.
“Blue have sold millions of records and had No.1 hits all around Europe so they’re established. This time around they mean business. It really is a case of, if Blue can’t win the competition then who the hell can?”
So altogether now. Blue to win Eurovision. I. Rest. My. Case.

Supermodel Agyness Deyn is ditching the industry that made her famous to become a respected actress.
The skinhead model has been in intensive acting classes for the past few months in Los Angeles and has finally decided to bite the bullet and come home to pursue her love of the trade – putting all modelling plans on hold for the foreseeable.
I can reveal she will be appearing in a big play in Manchester in the Spring.
My sources tell me androgynous Aggy has bagged the leading role in renowned scriptwriter Matt Greenhalgh’s new play – an un-announced monologue. Matt’s the writer behind Sam Taylor Wood’s hit flick Nowhere Boy and 2007′s hit film Control starring Samantha Morton and Sam Riley.
My mole tells me: “Agyness is thrilled things have been going so well. She desperately wants to be taken seriously as an actress and everyone that she’s been reading for or auditioning for is saying she’s truly talented.
“She’s bagged the part in Matt’s new play and she couldn’t be happier about it. She wants to learn the ropes and start on the stage. Not just trade in on her model credentials. She earned the part in the play and she’s ready to put the hard work in.
“As far as she’s concerned she’s not interested in modeling in the foreseeable. Obviously if a huge job came along that paid good money then she wouldn’t knock it down. But other than that – she’s now an actress first and foremost. She’s not interested in modeling as a career ever again.”
The star has already received praise for her first small role – making her debut in a 13-minute short titled Mean to Me directed by Peter McGough and co-starring The Wings of the Dove star Linus Roache.
She recently explained her love of acting saying: “It’s the opposite of modelling. You have to be so vulnerable and be something of a vessel, whereas in modelling you have to appear very strong.”
The star, who’s currently single and fancy free, has also taken it upon herself to set a more personal challenge. She’s entered the Virgin London Marathon and is training hard for the run on April 17.
As well as raising money for charity in the process she’s enjoying spending time training with her brother Greg and the pair are running together. A source adds: “Aggy’s always been into running and has wanted to do the marathon for years. So she said so long as Greg did it she would join him. But the deal is Greg must stay with her throughout the whole run. And he’s agreed.”
Nice one! Aggy’s one class act if you ask me.

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.

*Cheryl Cole goes to great lengths for her fags. The star whipped her Louboutins off and literally sprinted down a 200 metre corridor to grab a fag halfway through the National TV Awards. Cheryl ran past me squealing at a security guard: “Where are yer taking us like?” And letting out a huge yelp as she hit the cold air.
Earlier in the evening the star told me how she picked her Versace gown for the red carpet. She said: “It’s as simple as this – either I like something or I don’t. I should probably think about fashion more than I do. I love glamorous women and I admire them. But it’s hard being a woman.” I can think of harder lives to have if I’m honest.

*EastEnders star Rita Simons is pretty much my favourite soapstar to bump into of an evening. She’s loud, fun and outspoken. And she didn’t disappoint when I saw her ahead of this week’s NTAs. She laughed: “You need to watch out for me later, Dean. One of the last times I went out I got twatted and snogged a gay script writer from the show and went wild. I had to wake up to the papers writing about it – as well as having to apologise to my husband.”
And Rita has a hilarious approach to her outfit on the evening – where she had her boobs on full display for everyone. “I’ve got great tits so why not,” she laughed. “But it’s so cold they look like goose skin so I’ve probably ruined my appearance on the red carpet already.” I. Love. Rita.

*Fearne Cotton is hard at work preparing to run a half marathon in March with her bezzie Kye Sones of new band Diagram of the Heart. After a 10 mile run last weekend the star was still feeling the effects at this week’s NTAs. She said: “It’s tough – really tough in fact. We pushed ourselves this week but are going to stick to an eight mile run this week – I’ve set myself the challenge of doing the run and it’s a huge challenge for me. We’ll get there in the end – but whether we do a full marathon is another thing entirely.”
I congratulated the star on her bikini body too after pictures surfaced of her on holiday with her fiance Jesse Jenkins recently But she was far from impressed by being papped sans bikini for the first time. “I was literally mortified by those snaps,” she said. “It has never happened to me before and I hated looking at them. So unflattering and so gross.” I thought she looked fab.
Anyway, there’s no sign of a wedding in the near future between her and Jesse she added: “I’ve had no time to plan any of my wedding. Not yet. I don’t know what we’ll be doing for Valentine’s Day – let alone a wedding. We’re not that romantic so we’ll probably go to the cinema or something boring like that.”

*Former Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith is thrilled to be joining Sienna Miller in new Trevor Nunn play Flare Path from March on the West End. She told me at the NTAs: “I’m going to be joining Sienna Miller in the Trevor Nunn Play Flare Path. I was always going to take a break after Legally Blonde finished but I’m a complete workaholic and it was too good an opportunity to miss.
“I’ve never met Sienna but I can’t wait and we go into rehearsals on Monday. Maybe we’ll become friends and can head out shopping although I’ll need to raise my game as I’ll be turning up to rehersals in trackie bottoms. I am single at the minute and have been for ages now. I couldn’t even go out on dates the whole time I was doing Legally Blonde because I would only get Sundays’ off. Maybe Sienna can set me up with someone. But I’m pretty career focused and I always have the fear that I’ll get found out soon as I’ve never actually trained to be an actor. I have a real fear of getting found out.”
Flare Path by Terrance Rattigan is to be revived at the Theatre Royal Haymarket between March 10 and June 4 2011 and the two ladies will appear alongside Rome actor James Purefoy in the new adaptation. It first ran in the West End in 1942! Good luck to all involved.