DAVID BOWIE’s friend and long-time producer Tony Visconti relives the singer’s last days in a new film about his life.
David Bowie: The Final Act includes never-before-seen footage of the music legend and incredible interviews with people who knew him best.
On David’s cancer diagnosis and recording his final album Blackstar in January 2016, Tony says: “I remember going to his office and a girl who worked there opened the door and she had been crying.
“He sits in front of me and he has got a woolly cap on.
“The first thing I notice is that he has got no eyebrows any more
“I started mumbling things like, ‘Don’t worry we will get through this. We will get the best doctors in the world. You’re strong. You are going to get over this’.
“He comes to my side of the table and he starts hugging me.
“Given what he knew about his own health, I think he wanted to make the best album of his life.”
Tony adds: “Before he started the album, he said to everyone, ‘Guys, I’ve something to tell you’. He pulls his cap off and stands there bald in front of them.
“The Blackstar song, I Can’t Give Everything Away, makes me very tearful. He is talking about his disease. It would be like the worst thing in the world to tell people he is ill.
“Elvis would not have done it. The Beatles would not have done it. He is different from other human beings.”
The film is in cinemas from Boxing Day and on Channel 4, January 3, at 9.30pm.
Cheryl’s Aloud to enjoy £1m payday
CHERYL TWEEDY can bank on a big Christmas after making more than £1million from performing last year.
Documents for her performing arts firm CC Couture reveal she has assets of £1,134,896 – up from just £754 the year before.
It’s all thanks to Girls Aloud’s comeback, with the biggest UK arena tour of 2024.
The group raked in £3.5million from the shows, and split between Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle, that’s more than £850,000 each.
The group vowed not to make new music and, for now at least, it looks like there are no more shows planned.
Cheryl also pulled in royalties from her solo career and I am intrigued to see what she does in 2026, as the world is her oyster.
It was revealed she was in talks to appear on The Voice UK as a guest mentor with her mate Will.I.Am.
And with her old X Factor pal Simon Cowell back with Netflix show The Next Act, I’d love to see Cheryl as a judge once again.
STRANGER Things stars Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke make a grinning combination at a show celebration in New York.
The Netflix sci-fi series is back for its last run on Boxing Day.
The pair were joined by other cast members, although Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour were absent, fuelling reports she has complained about him.
THE twists and turns of Love Island could soon hit the big screen.
After the US version of the reality show became a viral success, the CEO of ITV America revealed a film dramatisation is being considered.
BARACK OBAMA says British star Olivia Dean’s track Nice To Each Other is one of his favourite tunes of the year.
The ex-US President’s list also had Never Felt Better by Florence Welch and Sampha.
Gaga up for more mayhem
LADY GAGA is already planning a return, just months after releasing Grammy-nominated No1 album Mayhem.
The singer has been recording new music in between shows on her Mayhem Ball world tour which began in the summer.
Gaga told Zane Lowe on Apple Music: “I’ve been making a lot of music.
“It’s kind of the best making music when you get to see your fans every night because you’re energetically right where you need to be.
“I’m really, really happy.
“This album, it’s just so cool the way that it is connected with my fans.”
As for the prospect of new songs in 2026, she added: “It’s not out of the question.”
Gaga also teased that she could be about to team up with another major star – The Weeknd.
When asked if anything is in the works with the Canadian singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, she said: “I love Abel, and that’s all I’m going to say.
“I’m a huge fan of Abel.”
Tom vow to party
TOM Daley and Dustin Lance-Black are planning to renew their vows next year to celebrate a decade of wedded bliss.
The Olympic diver told Attitude: “We always said, ‘Oh, we should renew our vows when we’ve been married for ten years’.
“We used to say that when it felt like it was millennia into the future.”
The couple hinted that there could be a party in San Francisco in May.
Filmmaker Dustin said: “I’d love to do San Francisco City Hall.
“It’s where the Marriage Equality fight really began.”
Paris has muse for you
PARIS HILTON was on fire at the TikTok Awards in Los Angeles – and not just because of her flame minidress.
The socialite was voted Muse of the Year at the bash and wore this glittery red outfit to accept the prize.
Paris told the crowd: “A muse isn’t just about how you look.
“It’s about how you make people feel and how you spark creative ideas, confidence and also creativity in others.
“A muse doesn’t follow trends – we help create them.”
She added: “I also want to say, you don’t need permission to be iconic.
“You are the main character so show up, sparkle hard and never forget that everyone is a princess.”
Where’s my tiara?
