Usher had a bizarre request when performing at the slick Belvedere Vodka Red Special launch in LA this week. He had to have his “five girlfriends side of stage” or he wouldn’t perform. My mole at the event tells me: “There were five girls standing by the rope at the entrance and they couldn’t get in. Someone then came out and said ‘these are Usher’s five girlfriends you have to let them in or he won’t perform’.” Fortunately said girls were allowed in and Usher performed a blinder of a set.

Elsewhere at the Belvedere bash Beth Ditto (performing below) swanned down the red carpet and told my reporter Louisa Barnett: “I’m wearing Vivienne Westwood because it comes in extra large! At least some designers know how to cater for women like me – not just stick insects!” Too right.
The Brit contingency were there in the shape and form of Darius Danesh and rather tipsy Sean Maguire. My girl revealed: “Sean was drunk off his rocker and slurring.”
Meanwhile inside Paris Hilton and sister Nicky downed vodka and Paris kept taking pictures of herself on her Blackberry.
But it was Jamie Foxx who caused a stir – fighting with another party goer during Usher’s set. My girl told me: “Jamie was there dancing away and got into a huge fight with some guy behind him. Everyone was taking pictures on their phones and then a group of bodyguards hurled them out during Usher’s performance. Other guests included Joe Jonas, Jordin Sparks, Chelsea Handler and Estelle.

I’ve done a lot of things in my time – but a ‘fist pump’ was one I never thought I’d do on camera. Fortunately Pauly D and Vinny from MTV’s cult show Jersey Shore were on hand at Mahiki this week to teach me the move. Pauly and his greasy hair told me: “London is a serious party city – I can’t believe we’ve not been here to get on the town before. I’d love to film some of the show here.” I’m not sure what Snooki and co will think of the fact the boys took five girls home with them after their big night out! Wild.

Watch Jersey Shore Tuesdays 10pm MTV

All-round decent chap Jeff Brazier is currently strutting his stuff in Dancing On Ice but this week he took a moment to slip out of his skintight outfit and sequins to chat to me about new love Claire Springett, The Xtra Factor and er, his ‘auto-fellate’ party trick.

Why is it so important for you to get involved in Cancer Research’s Race For Life campaign?
It’s important to me to get involved because cancer has been rife in my family. I lost my grandad who died shortly after Jade died, who was obviously the mother of my children and who the kids tragically lost and then you’ve got my nan who died seven-eight years ago and my aunt Jackie who I adored and was so close to.  It’s the same for lots and lots of people so if I can raise the word on places like Twitter. You can use it for a load of rubbish sometimes or you can be positive and constructive about great stuff like this.

Are we going to see Bobby and Freddy getting involved with any similar projects?
I promised their mum that I would do something but I don’t want to divulge what it exactly was. It’s something I will be doing with them in the future. To be honest we always take any toys that they are finished with down to the kid’s hospital. They know all about charity and they get taught how satisfying it is to give and put a smile on other people’s faces. It’s really important for me to teach them that.

And you’re currently strutting your stuff on Dancing On Ice. Are you over the shock of falling on the ice last Sunday?
No-one could be as shocked as I was when I fell. The minute that I hit the deck I just thought ‘What do I do? What do I do?’ All I heard was the crowd and the support was amazing. They are not there for you as there are ten people there to shout for you and the rest of the 240 don’t owe you anything. So to hear everyone get behind me was really special. I just chased Isabelle because I thought that she knows exactly where she needs to be. I didn’t save it by any stretch but it wasn’t an absolute nightmare because I would have been out if I hadn’t got back into it so quickly. You need to keep calm and carry on. Until you are in that situation you don’t know how you are going to react and I swear I just went into autopilot and autopilot was a good thing because I just got back into it. I’d rather not have to learn the hard way every week because I’ve still not pulled out a performance that I would say ‘That’s exactly what I’m capable of’. It’s annoying because I don’t feel like I’ve even started yet. I’ve really not even started.

Surely that’s a good thing though?
You can see that I can skate but you don’t want to peak too early. So you want to come from behind and for no-one to think you are a threat and all of a sudden you go ‘Pow! Deal with that – I can skate. What about you?’ Also the experience of getting in the bottom two – as much as it wasn’t nice – meant that now that now I won’t be fazed by it. In fact I wasn’t last time and in fact I was more confident for some reason. How does that work?

Probably because you realise what it means to you…
You have got nothing to lose. I tell you what fear plays such a huge part in wrecking performances. You’re constantly thinking: ‘There’s only 12 million people watching!’

You said that you haven’t started yet so what can we expect in the coming weeks?
This week is required element week and I think it’s going to continue like that for the next three weeks.. So this week everyone has to do a step sequence so that will involve going from one side of the ice to the other without touching your partner. You will also have to do some forward, backwards and other different techniques that we’ve learnt since we’ve started. I think it will be hard for some and not so for others so this is where it will get interesting. This is where Dancing On Ice becomes more about the skating which I’m relived about because I’m alright at skating but I’m also very good at falling over.

It’s slightly unfair for the guys as the girls can pull out all the tricks by wearing very revealing outfits. Are we going to see any tactics from you?
I always go into wardrobe and request a low V. I don’t want a round neck, I don’t want a turtle neck, I want a low V. It’s the whole JLS-inspired look, Marvin especially. That one and his press-ups – he has got the right attitude. I’m just borrowing it a little bit of that. I just where lycra around the house, just for fun, and I don’t end up wearing it on Dancing On Ice.

I bet your girlfriend, Claire Springett, loves the lyrca. How is everything going with her?
Everything is fantastic. I’d like to see my girlfriend a little bit more but these things don’t last forever. We’re just as strong as ever. I led a very public relationship in the past and you can never keep from the press that you have a girlfriend – and I don’t really need to – but it’s not something that I’m ever going to sell stories for. It’s personal and for us.

And you revealed this week your special, erm, party trick….
I’m not regretting it as it’s not exactly something to be embarrassed about although I’ve obviously grown up a lot since the times when I did it as I must have been about sixteen-seventeen years old. It’s a party trick that I wheel out every now and again and I think the last time I did it but in the year 2000.

Will you be pulling it out in the final?
I don’t think it’s something that Torvill or Dean or Jason – actually he might quite like it – would want to see. But no, it’s not something that I want my younger fans to see and I’m sorry if it’s caused anyone any offence.

Did you manage to approach Simon Cowell when you recently attended the NTA’s and ask for The Xtra Factor job?
I didn’t get anywhere near  Simon to be honest. I don’t want to be disrespectful to Konnie Huq because it’s not exactly been revealed whether she’s got the job again or even whether there’s going to be another series. Until it’s announced that it’s not her job anymore it would be disrespectful to say that I want it. Although I can say in terms of dream jobs I’ve always had my eye on The Xtra Factor. It would be my ideal job because I’m really good with people and I’ve experienced the other side as well. With all the nutcases and auditionees you would have the best time ever. It would be my dream job.

Can you sing?
I’m average. Why, what do you want to hear?

Jeff starred in ‘Join the Girls’ – a musical telling the story of  Tesco and Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in just six minutes. The musical will be touring major cinemas across the UK in February, for more info and to sign up to a Race for Life event go to www.raceforlife.org

Words: Natalie Edwards

Parade are the new girlband with balls. Yes, I love me some Wonderland. But Parade are the UK’s version of the Pussycat Dolls. They can dance, are full of personality and have proper voices. Their new single Louder is out March 14 and they’ve just finished supporting Alexandra Burke on tour – I watched them cover Cee Lo Green’s Forget You this week and they were ace. The new single’s even being used by Rimmel for their new ad campaign. All I’ll say is get ready to join the Parade….

Photo: Pete Mariner/Dawbell

Shhh
WHICH star needs to remember how much trouble taking cocaine got her in first time around? I hear she’s back on it and partying once more. Tut tut.

*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!

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