THE ROLLING STONES had the biggest summer of their lengthy career thanks to the North American leg of their Hackney Diamonds tour.
But for the British fans left wanting, I have some rather good news to kick off this dreary Monday.
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I can reveal Sir Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood are coming back to Europe next year.
The rockers are poised to announce a major run of stadium shows throughout spring and summer.
My insider said: “The Stones had phenomenal success on their North American Hackney Diamonds tour and there is no doubt their European shows will pack the same punch.
“Mick, Keith and Ronnie have now signed off on the shows which will take place across stadiums next year.
“The announcement will be coming in the next few weeks.
“It means any British fans who couldn’t get over to the US to see them play will get a chance to watch them closer to home.
“There is no slowing the band down. They cannot wait to get back out on the road and perform for their fans over here.”
Ronnie let slip that the group were working on new dates in a recent interview which was sent to be by a fellow Stones fan.
He said: “With The Stones, a tour of Europe we’re hoping for next year.
“I’ve also been in the studio with The Faces last week and we’re making some continued developments with the music we made back in the day and it still sounds like no time has gone by.”
I don’t doubt that at all, Ronnie.
I loved Hackney Diamonds from the first moment the band played it to me last September at a star-studded playback in London’s Hackney Empire.
The foot-stamping roar of a track Angry was even better when I was lucky enough to fly out to watch the first night of the Hackney Diamonds tour in Houston, Texas, where I caught up with Ronnie before the show.
Welcome home, chaps. It’s been a long time coming.
Robbie Oasis win
ROBBIE WILLIAMS has insisted that he isn’t battling with Oasis by heading out on tour at the same time as them next summer.
He said: “When Oasis get back together, there is no competing, really.
“Unless I’d taken a 20-year break, then it would be a fair fight. Oasis coming back together, I don’t think anyone could compete with that – including Taylor Swift, who’s the biggest artist on this planet.
“So no, it’s not a competition, even though it bloody is,” he admitted.
This week in Bizness…
TOMORROW: STEPS’ musical Here & Now will have its world premiere at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham, featuring all of the poSp group’s biggest hits set to an original story.
FRIDAY: Wicked finally hits cinemas, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in the leading roles, following its London premiere today.
SATURDAY: Zayn Malik kicks off his first ever solo tour with a show at O2 Academy Leeds ahead of dates across the country – almost a decade after leaving One Direction.
SUNDAY: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will be in town for the premiere of Moana 2 in London’s Leicester Square, ahead of its release on November 29.
Pressie problems
IT may be the season of giving, but a staggering 73 per cent of Brits are apparently not happy with their Christmas gifts.
Photo company CEWE reports novelty gifts, household mops and socks are among the worst presents found under UK trees.
But luckily, it found that 75 per cent believe the best presents aren’t about the price tag.
I’ll remember that when it comes to our office Secret Santa.
Paddy: I’m stoked with £9m bike ride
WE couldn’t be prouder of Paddy McGuinness after he nailed his Radio 2’s Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge for Children In Need.
After cycling 300-miles across the country on a Chopper bike, Paddy has now raised over £9.1m for the charity – and the donations are still pouring in.
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Updating his supporters yesterday, Paddy said: “The bum blisters are settling.
“I am not proud of this, but when I got home my kids have these neck pillows for when they are on planes. I thought, ‘I need one of those to sit on.’ It worked a treat.
“My legs are still a little bit tight but my bruises, they’re all just fading away now. All of the aches and pains are just melting away.”
Thanking the people who dug deep, Paddy added: “I still cannot comprehend what has happened.
“That is the power of Radio 2 and you gorgeous listeners and the great British public.
“What we have achieved over the last five days is staggering.”
Spare a quid? You can still donate at bbc.co.uk/paddy.
Christina’s sweet on Sabrina
CHRISTINA AGUILERA proves she keeps things Short N Sweet in Los Angeles.
The Dirrty singer wore this tiny black negligee and a long blonde wig as she joined Sabrina Carpenter on stage in the City of Angels.
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Sabrina and Christina covered her 1999 single What A Girl Wants.
The tour will reach the UK next March kicking off a run of arena shows in Birmingham.
Brad’s S Club telly plan
I’M still word perfect to all of their Noughties hit songs so I’m thrilled to hear S Club are working on new projects.
In an exclusive chat, Bradley McIntosh told me the group are hard at work on their plans for next year.
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He told me: “We’re talking about the direction we want to move, whether it’s new music, or revamping some of the old songs and moving it to 2024.
“We did this advert with Waitrose and then Jax Jones remixed You’re My Number One.
“I thought, ‘This is a banger!’ you could hear this in Ibiza.”
I’d dance to it . . .
Brad also revealed he is pushing his bandmates Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Jo O’Meara and Rachel Stevens to put pen to paper for a new TV show.
“Miami 7 was put on BBC iPlayer and all the other shows are being digitised at the moment,” Brad said.
“I’d love to do another series but it would have to be done right. I personally think it would just be a one-off rather than a series, hit them with a nostalgic thing for the fans.”
Dougie looks Soho in love
McFLY star Dougie Poynter has kept his romance with his Netflix star girlfriend Yasmeen Scott under-wraps for well over a year.
But 14 months after we first revealed they were dating, Dougie and Yasmeen have been pictured together for the first time.
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And it seems they’re still going strong, as they looked totally loved up when they were spotted on a date at Soho House in London.
An onlooker said: “Dougie and Yasmeen had been out doing some Christmas shopping and they headed to Soho House for a pit stop.
“He was a proper gent and carried their John Lewis shopping.
“They make a lovely couple.”
Don’t they just.
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