Kerry; you’re in the middle of a massive international tour at the moment. How’s life on the road?

“I’m so excited to be out with this show, talking to audiences. I was overwhelmed by the response last year as I love being in peoples’ hometowns. Meeting everyone and hearing their connections with me and their local theatres is always a joy. I’m enjoying every second of it.”

Apparently, Keith Richards eats shepherd’s pie before every performance with The Rolling Stones. Do you have any weird and wonderful pre-show rituals?

“Not really. I try not to have routines as I think they can influence your performance. That said, when I’m on tour, I do try and look after myself. I try to get to the gym, get as much sleep as possible, and eat as well as I can so that I’m ready for the show. The nice thing is that, when I’m on the road, I only have one thing to think about. Doing the show!”

That must a nice change for a busy mum of two. How do you manage to balance your schedule with family life?

“Our life is always upside down, but I am very lucky to have an amazing husband and supportive family who help the balance. They say it takes a village to raise a family – and it certainly does! This industry can be difficult, and it can only happen if you are supported by everyone around you. I do and they all inspire me every day.”

You bagged your first role as a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz aged nine, and then trained at Laine Theatre Arts for three years. Was your heart always set on the stage?

“Absolutely. I feel fortunate that I knew so early. I know so many people don’t have a clear view of where they want to be, but I knew where my heart was from the start. I knew what I wanted to chase. And chase, I did.”

It must have been quite a journey – and you’re now hailed as the First Lady of the West End! How does that feel?

“I’m not sure that’s completely accurate: I definitely think Elaine Paige is the first lady – or certainly the first lady that I look up to. She was my inspiration growing up and still is to this day. I love how she continues to grow and develop and stays current.”

You were Meat in the original cast of We Will Rock you and have continued to work with Queen’s Brian May over the years. Can you tell us a little about your relationship with him?

“Lovely Brian has been incredible to me, not only as a mentor, but as a friend. He’s taught me so much and I’m forever grateful for his kindness. Still to this day, we talk quite a bit about all sorts of things from performing and music to life in general. I’m so happy to have him in my life.”

You perform beautifully together. Do you have any Freddie Mercury qualities?

“I don’t know about that, but Brian would say that I shared certain likenesses, such as passion for music, just like Freddie. Sadly, I never got to meet him but I really I wish I had.”

We hear you are also busy writing your autobiography. Can we expect you to spill some showbiz scandals?

“No – but I do tell people how it is, just like I do on the tour. I’m very open and honest and tell people the real stories, as in what really happened. My Podcast is called Keep Calm and Kerry On and that is exactly the advice I’d give to my younger self.”

Finally, when the tour’s complete and you get a chance to relax, what’s next?

“I’m not sure you’d call it relaxing but I have lots of exciting projects on the go. Being part of the new show, Lady M The Musical is amazing as I’ve just come back from doing a version of the show in Shanghai. We are working on an album to release this year – and with a new album comes more touring and more challenges. I also run my own online course, How to Succeed in Musical Theatre as an Artist, which is open to everybody. I’ll teach you everything you need to know about musical theatre. There may be a star in you yet!”

Get tickets for Kerry’s Queen of the West End tour are on sale here. For details on her course visit www.kerryellis.com.

The post Interview: West End star Kerry Ellis appeared first on Checklists.

You started taking dance lessons as a young girl back in Russia. When did you realise it was the career for you, and how did you rise to success?

“My introduction to dance was when I was around three years old, as I had a kindergarten teacher who led and encouraged us to dance. My father was a musician, so our home was always filled with music. I enjoyed performing, so my love of dance was brought out and nurtured in me from a very young age.

“When I was 13 I started to help out at my dance school, assisting my teacher with the toddler dance classes. At 15 I was staying on to do this in a more formal capacity, earning a little money by doing so. It felt amazing to be making some money to spend as I chose, and I think it was probably at that point that I realised this could be a career for me.”

How do you feel knowing you can be successful doing what it is you most love to do?

“Success is different for everyone, and even as individuals our definition of success changes over time. Certainly, my time on Strictly Come Dancing was a highlight, but at the start of my career growing up in Russia I defined success as being the best dancer, the best at my craft and winning competitions. I sacrificed a lot; I had virtually no social life, plus I spent most of my time in dance school or travelling around the country to compete.

“Having taken the life-changing decision to move to the USA almost 20 years ago, furthering my dance career and competing in the Rising Star Championships, it was just two years later that I was invited to join Dancing with the Stars – the US version of Strictly which launched in 2005. At the time I didn’t see this as a good step – I instead wanted to concentrate on competitive dancing. However, the show became a huge success, and in 2007 I joined Strictly and moved to the UK.”

You quit Strictly in 2015 to start a family. What was your most memorable series and why?

“I have so many memorable moments, such as making the final twice and winning the Christmas special, as well as meeting and performing with my other half Ben [Cohen]. That said, probably the most memorable was my very first series when I partnered with John Sergeant. He decided to quit halfway through, so I had all of that to deal with.

Given that I had just moved from the States to the UK – having said I would never make a big move again – meant it was a challenging time in so many ways. Challenging times which are both good and bad become memorable, because they change you as a person. It was a very significant time for me in so many ways.”

Would you ever return to Strictly – either as a dancer or sitting in a judge’s chair?

“Of course! I would love to return to the show in any shape or form. I remain a huge fan of Strictly and will always be very thankful for the experiences that I had over the seven series I was involved in. I am still connected with so many of the people involved, having developed some very strong friendships, and I still guest on the Take Two show. Strictly was a huge part of my growth and development and will always have a special place in my heart.”

You recently finished working on the Strictly Cabaret X tour at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln. What was that like after months stuck at home?

“It was exhausting and exhilarating! I was invited to choreograph the show and then perform in the pilot ahead of it going on tour. I have stopped touring as I have my wellbeing centre and a family now, and it is just too difficult to tour with those commitments.”

What would you say to your fans who were glad to see you dancing again?

“It was an amazing experience, as I was not expecting to be choreographing a show so soon after the pandemic. It felt rather surreal, and it was hard work! There wasn’t an interval of any kind, so apart from a couple of short breaks for singing performances, we went from one dance to another for an hour and 20 minutes. It was very demanding, but also incredibly rewarding and emotional, having not had any live performance for such a long time. Everyone involved with the show felt the same.”

What’s it like being a dancer in your forties compared to in your twenties?

“Dancing is exhausting and just as difficult at any age. I love to perform; it’s like a lightbulb being turned on when I step onto a stage. It’s all about how we think about things and what we tell ourselves. The cast were all very young – much younger than me – but they were exhausted too, so the age aspect is almost irrelevant.

Once you start talking to yourself in that way, such as ‘I’m too old to be doing this’, then guess what? You will be right! I don’t talk to myself that way. When we finished our performance at the end of May the audience were on their feet. The emotion was palpable, and there were certainly some tears.”

Does your daughter have any aspirations to follow you in a dancing career?

“Mila, like all children her age, is very active. She does all our children’s classes at SooYoga, including dance, acrobatics, drama and street dancing. She refuses to do anything with me but is wonderful with our other teachers and loves everything right now. I think many parents find it difficult to teach their own children, regardless of what it is.”

Having danced all your life has certainly kept you fit. Apart from dancing what other ways do you keep active – and how do you switch off to relax?

“We are so involved with our wellbeing centre, SooYoga, teaching at least four or five classes a day – yoga and dance for me and spin amongst others for Ben. When we’re not there we like to go out as a family, enjoying a meal together. We love walking, but that’s not something that we do formally as recreation. Ben loves his evening walks around the local lake with the dog, and that’s certainly a form of daily relaxation for him.”

Tell us all about your business, SooYoga…

“We launched SooYoga a year before the pandemic. It’s a seven-studio wellbeing centre in Northampton and was our dream for a number of years. Having qualified in multiple styles of yoga it was our vision to create a place for families where mums, dads and children could come to enjoy keeping fit and healthy. When Mila was small I found it difficult to find classes which could also accommodate her. At SooYoga we have a creche as well as offering a range of classes for toddlers upwards. While the family focus is important, we also offer classes for all ages, including more senior age groups and abilities including those with physical challenges. It really is a place for everyone.”

What challenges has Covid had on the business?

“What challenges haven’t we had? As a family-owned business we put everything we had into it. Not being able to operate so early in our business venture put us under a lot of pressure. As we’d been operating for under a year, we hadn’t been able to properly stabilise and establish the business ahead of going into the first lockdown. Integrity is our hallmark – we pride ourselves in providing the best, such as the best facilities and the best instruction, which means high levels of qualifications and training for us and our teachers. The associated investment with all of this is, as you can imagine, significant.”

Why should someone who’s never tried yoga give it a whirl?

“Yoga has been around for 5,000 years and unites the body, mind and spirit.  It isn’t just a physical exercise – it’s a way of being. Yoga translates as ‘yoke’ meaning to join as in joining the mind, the body and the spirit. It is so much more than the poses you’ll see on Instagram; there are so many styles from restorative, gentle yoga to more high impact. There really is a style for everyone, so I would definitely encourage people to explore it.”

All that yoga and dancing must mean you can tuck into whatever you like – or do you still have to watch what you eat?

“If only that were true! I certainly have to watch what I eat. Once you’ve had a child and are in your forties your metabolism is very different. I watch my calories and even being vegan still need to be careful. It’s also about lifestyle too, as stress can see you piling on the pounds.”

What do you typically eat in a day?

“My morning ritual is a glass of water mixed with Forever Living Aloe Vera Gel, as it supports my energy and digestion. I then have some coffee and fruit – either an apple or a banana. For lunch I’ll have salad with chickpeas or perhaps a little halloumi or houmous with carrot sticks. In the evening I keep it quite simple; perhaps a baked potato with beans, before I teach an evening class. During the day I might enjoy a Forever Lite Ultra Vanilla shake – or their Chocolate one as a treat. It’s all about moderation.”

You’ve publicly spoken about the effect lockdown had on your mental health. How are you feeling now?

“We all suffered a lot, but for some their jobs were unaffected. For us, however, we were sitting at home and moving our classes online as much as possible, but the financial worries were there and were very real. While I’m immersed in my classes I’m able to forget those worries, but the sleepless nights are not over yet. I know there are a lot of family businesses out there suffering in the same way. We just hope it’s going to work, and are staying as strong as we can.”

What about Ben – did the two of you cope well as a team during lockdown?

“We supported one another as much as we could. We are very honest and not afraid to talk to each other in terms of what our needs are. There’s very good communication between us – we boost one another if we have a bad day by talking about it.”

Any there any wedding plans in motion after all this time together?

“I can’t imagine anything worse than trying to plan a wedding right now with all the changing restrictions! We will get married someday, but we are going to wait and see.”

What do you admire most about Ben and why?

“Ben always gives his best to everything he does, and while much of this comes from his professional sporting background, it is also part of his nature. He never gives up and will try everything possible before he’d admit any kind of defeat. I really admire that about him – and actually I’m the same way! In both professional sport and dancing you have that respect for your teammates, and people who are expecting you to give your best.”

Fast-forward to this time next year. Where would you like to be in terms of your business and your personal life?

“I would like to see our business growing and possibly start to franchise it around the country. Personally, I think it would be great to have a holiday with Ben and the kids on a beach. It’s the simple pleasures that we have a renewed appreciation for.”

To find out more about Sooyoga, visit sooyoga.com and follow Kristina on Instagram.

To be featured in any upcoming features we are arranging please email laura@hurstmediacompany.co.uk or editorial@hurstmediacompany.co.uk

The post Celebrity Secrets chats to – Kristina Rihanoff appeared first on Checklists.

Interview Lynn Carratt

You’re an active environmentalist. How did you become interested in these issues?

‘I am very passionate about the environment and natural history, and I have never done anything with it before. My book, Plastic Sucks!, came about because I was in California and I was introduced to a couple who were a real-life Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. They were out in the desert digging up dinosaurs and came across all these camel carcasses. They cut one of them open and found a giant ball of plastic bags that weighed about as much as a small child. The camels had been walking around the desert, and they saw something bright – their instinct was to eat it. They ingested all of this plastic, then got full up and couldn’t eat anything else. They died of starvation – and that was the beginning of it for me.’

Do you think there is a lot more awareness surrounding environmental issues than when you were younger?

‘When I was younger, we didn’t have Sky or the internet to learn about these issues; it was just Wildlife on the BBC. We did get taught about the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest at school, but there seemed to be no solution to the problem. I want to educate kids about it and show them that there are solutions and things they can actively do to help the environment. Children are our future gatekeepers, and I believe they’ll be able to make a difference. Look at Greta Thunberg – she is so articulate and what an amazing girl.’

On to McFly. You’re back together, releasing a new album and playing the O2. How are you feeling about it all?

‘It’s always great to be performing with the boys! It’s also great to see all our fans who have supported us over the years.

You’ve appeared on I’m a Celebrity… – would you like to get involved with any other reality TV?

‘I’d probably do one with Bear Grylls or an adventure-type show, although maybe not Celebrity SAS – that looks hard! For now I’d like to concentre on writing. I’m definitely going to write some more non-fiction books.’

How do you keep fit and look after yourself?

‘I am good at jumping – I’m a professional jumper on stage [laughs]. I go to the gym three times a week, and I live right next to a park, so I often run around that. I also try to follow a vegan diet as much as possible, but it’s nothing too strict. I have to eat a lot because I’m pretty skinny – I have the metabolism of a sparrow.’

Your ex-girlfriend Ellie [Goulding] recently got married, and your bandmates are settled down with children. Is that something you think of?

‘I’m sure it will happen. What does “settling down” mean though? I’m pretty settled with my girlfriend Maddy. She’s ace and knows a lot about insects – we both love them. I have a pet praying mantis and her name is Lumpy Space Princess!’

Plastic Sucks! by Dougie Poynter, published by Macmillan Children’s Books, is available to buy at amazon.co.uk

Read Dougie’s full interview in the Christmas issue of Celebrity Secrets, out 19th November in OK! magazine bumper packs for one week only!

The post Five minutes with Dougie Poytner appeared first on Checklists.

Interview Lynn Carratt

Is it more difficult performing as a duo than a trio? 

S ‘We’ve performed as a duo since 1988, so it’s natural to us now. Siobhan [Fahey] re-joined us for the reunion tour in 2017, but Keren and I are used to doing it with just the two of us. We had a hilarious time with Siobhan because you’re always aware that three people can look a bit messy and it’s also harder to choreograph.’

Do you enjoy being part of Bananarama more now than at the height of your fame in the 1980s? 

S ‘It’s very different. We had the excitement of youth, getting our first record deal and been on Top of the Pops. For the past 15 years, we have been able to tour, and that was something we only did once in the Eighties, in 1989 – and Siobhan had left the band by then.’

K ‘These days, we get to concentrate on what we love doing, which is the touring and the song writing because, back then, we were doing promo all over the word. This year has been hectic, though. We started in the USA in January, then went to Australia, then we had Glastonbury followed by Tokyo. It’s been an incredible year – we’re thrilled!’

What has been the highlight of your 40 years in music?

K ‘There have been so many. I would say finally being able to do a world tour in 1989 was just a massive moment for me. Everyone has their ups and downs, and it can be a tough ride for women, and I’m so proud that we have kept it going. We’re tenacious.’

S ‘I trained as a journalist briefly, so I feel fortunate now to be able to write music, as writing is what I love.’

Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with? 

K [laughing] ‘The Weeknd. I think to collaborate with someonr wholly unexpected and current would be really cool.’

Tell us about your new live album, In Stereo… 

S ‘It’s out on 1st November. We did some very intimate fan shows over the summer and decided to record some of our favourite tracks from them and release it as a live album.’

Do you find you’ve got new fans now as mums and dads bring along their children to gigs?

K ‘Yes, I think so. I used to play The Beatles and David Bowie in the car with my son. I think music gets passed down through the generations.’

What is your favourite Bananarama song?  

S ‘It has to be Cool Summer. It was our first big hit, and it went to number 10 in America. It was so thrilling to go there. I’d only ever seen New York on the TV before that.’

Keren, you’re back on the singles market. Are you finding it easy to date again?

K ‘I don’t think it’s difficult to date, but I’m not in any great hurry to settle down again. I’m quite enjoying my single status at the moment!’

Listen to BBC Radio Two on 88-91 FM or DAB for more information visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

The post Five minutes with Bananarama appeared first on Checklists.

Interview by Claire Muffett-Reece

Now you’re four weeks away from having the baby have you been to any classes to learn about being a parent?

‘My boyfriend Casey and I went to an antenatal class, which was really good. I learnt a lot of information. It was three hours long but we learnt about changing nappies and tons more information.’

Who are you having at the birth with you?

‘It depends who’s allowed in. I know they can be quite strict! Ideally I’d like my mam, Casey’s mam and Casey. They’ll both be at my end!’

What was your mum like with you growing up?

‘My mam was really chilled and I’d love to be the same kind of parent she is. Growing up it was only me and her. Obviously my baby’s going to have Casey around – I hope our baby doesn’t turn out to be a wild child like I was!’

Casey said in an interview last year that he doesn’t believe in marriage. Has his outlook changed now he knows he’s about to become a father?

‘Casey’s parents aren’t married, so that’s kind of why I think he doesn’t really think it’s necessary. We have spoken about it and he said that he would definitely get married. I would like to have the same surname as my son.’

Have you been eating well during the pregnancy?

‘I’ve been eating anything I want! Cakes, chocolates, steaks – the works! I just love steaks at the minute – and I never used to eat red meat. It must be my body telling me it needs more iron.’

Are you glad you’re done with the Geordie Shore partying days?

‘Definitely. I grew up a lot sooner than most because I’ve partied enough to last a lifetime! I don’t think I’ll ever have any desire to party like that again. These days I’d walk in to a club and wish I was back at home on the sofa.’

So no more heavy drinking?

‘Before I fell pregnant it used to take me at least six glasses of wine to even get even slightly tipsy. It’s nice to not have to go out and have everyone expect you to get drunk. I’m actually a bit nervous for the first time I go out with the girls after I’ve had the baby, because I’ve never gone this long without a drink! Hopefully my body’s reset itself and my tolerance is back to a normal person’s!’

How did you end up on Geordie Shore in the first place?

‘My cousin, Sophie [Kasaei] was on it, so I auditioned and it went from there. I like to stay in touch with a lot of the cast still, but we’re all in a totally different place these days. We always keep in contact over WhatsApp and meet up when we can.’

The post Exclusive Interview: Marnie Simpson appeared first on Checklists.

What would you have done if you weren’t on TOWIE?

‘I wanted to be a footballer but I wasn’t good enough in the end. I doubt I’d still be an electrician though, and I always saw myself doing something else. I hope I’d have owned my own company if I didn’t take the TV path.’

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

‘I’m currently in the process of building my own app which is going to be a virtual concierge service, so I’m going to spending a lot of time concentrating on that. Then apart from that, I’ve not really thought too much. I’ll no doubt go away a few more times. I’m getting older now, so my priorities are changing.’

Who’s your celebrity crush?

‘I’ve never had loads of crushes but I’ve always liked Eva Mendes from the Fast and Furious films. I loved everything she was in at the cinema when I was growing up.’

Do you think friendship is the basis to all good relationships?

‘Yes it can be, if you’re friends you already connect in some way. But instant attraction is important too. It can go both ways I think.’

What’s the thing you’re most proud of achieving in the last year?

‘On a personal level, I actually haven’t had a drink in three weeks which is kind of a big deal! I’ve decided that I’m carrying it on too. It all started when I had one weekend off, and then the following weekend, I decided to do the same. I feel incredible and I’m definitely more focussed in general.’

Are you close to your family?

‘Yes I am. I have a good relationship with both my mum and dad, even though they are separated. I speak to them a lot. I think I’m a bit of a Mummy’s boy if the truth be told.’

The post 5 minutes with… Dan Edgar appeared first on Checklists.

By Claire Muffett-Reece

Lilah, you present a weekend radio show on Heart. Do you ever go out after the show at 1am or are you always heading home straight to bed?

‘I always go home as I’m such a Granny! Plus, most of my friends are married or have kids and are probably in bed by then. You’re more likely to find me in bed, eating hummus and watching re-runs of Friends. It’s very rock ’n’ roll, I know…’

What’s the best thing about presenting your show at that time?

‘It’s a fun show. Everyone is going out and celebrating the weekend and I get to play the big party tunes – stuff that makes you want to dance around your bedroom before you head out. There’s a lot of interaction with the listeners, too, which I love. I get people texting in from their hen do or the night before their wedding. I’ve even had a few people texting in from the hospital while giving birth. That’s a pretty incredible thought!’

And what’s the worst?

‘If I pop to a friend’s party on Friday or Saturday night before work it means I can’t have a drink. Although that’s probably quite good for me, as I drink much less alcohol these days.’

Who’s the best celebrity you’ve ever interviewed?

‘Ed Sheeran. He’s just so down to earth. He’s one of the biggest stars on the planet and yet he makes you feel totally at ease. You forget you’re not just chatting to a normal guy!’

And who was the hardest?

‘Calvin Harris was perfectly polite but not hugely enthusiastic. It was a challenge to get him to open up. He also insisted that he was only filmed from the front and not his side view, which I found quite amusing. I then spent the whole interview staring at his profile, trying to work out what he thought was wrong with it.’

What’s better – modelling or presenting?

‘Definitely presenting. I still get to do the odd shoot which can be fun but you get to be yourself more when presenting. Plus, it’s nice not to have anyone measuring your hips!’

If you hadn’t found this career path, what would you be doing instead?

‘I went to art school and always loved fashion. I also had a place to study at London College of Fashion before I started modelling and I think I might well have ended up working at a magazine.’

If you could have three celebs on your show, who would they be and why?

‘Phoebe Waller-Bridge is brilliant and I have such a girl crush on her. I just think she’s so clever and her writing is fantastic – I was obsessed with Killing Eve and Fleabag! I saw her in the distance at the BAFTAs and just stared at her awkwardly. Obviously I’d do more than stare at her if I got to interview her! Taylor Swift and Beyoncé would also be up there. They’re pop icons, aren’t they? And neither of them really do interviews.’

Would you ever be tempted to do reality TV?

‘Never say never, especially if the right show came along and it involved a skill I want to learn or enjoy. Can they do one involving horses – Celebrity Show Jumping? I’d love that! Ha.’

Let’s move on to fashion. How would you describe your sense of style?

‘I think I scrub up pretty well when I need to! I tend to choose dresses as it’s less to think about – just pop a dress on, find some shoes and a bag and you’re done. Aside from that, most of the time I’m very casual. Just jeans, tees and Converse, or leggings and a hoody. Although this summer the shops have been full of long summer dresses, which I love. They look great, plus you don’t have to shave your legs!’

Have you ever made any fashion choices you look back on and cringe?

‘Many! I had a pair of ‘skirt trousers’ when they were a thing…’

Are you a collector of bags or shoes?

‘Not hugely. I have a pair of black, silver, gold and nude strappy heels and they tend to cover all bases. Bag-wise, I have a couple of Kilian clutches which I love (they even come with perfume in them!) and I have black and nude Aspinal of London bags, which go with everything. The rest of the time, I use my Herschel backpack.’

You’ve got the entire weekend off. What do you do and why?

‘I’d go to Wales with friends and family. My brother has a house up a mountain in the Brecon Beacons and it’s the most beautiful, peaceful place. We’d go for walks up the mountain, swim in the river, make pizzas in the outdoor pizza oven, cook delicious food, read, laugh and drink wine.’

Tune into Lilah on Heart FM Friday and Saturday nights 10pm to 1am

The post Lilah Parsons on why staying in is the new going out appeared first on Checklists.