POP PAIR PENNING MUSICAL
is all smiles after the success of her new TV show.
But she never thought she’d ever be a real life presenter.
Maya, who presents new MTV show True Love Or True Lies, admitted she originally wanted to be “like a Keith Lemon or a character person instead of a real presenter”.
IT’S been six years since disco sensations Scissor Sisters have released anything.
But singer Jake Shears is ready to return with his first solo record – and a musical he’s writing with Elton John.
Elton and Jake have been working on the musical for a year, but Jake told me it’ll be ages before it’s finally finished.
Jake, whose hits include Mary and I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, told me: “Musicals take forever to get made, it’s a long-ass time because they’re so complicated. “I’m really excited about it. Me and Elton hole ourselves up for days at a time, and just laugh. Then we write, then we laugh, then we write. All my experiences with Elton creating are joyful.”
Jake starred in hit musical Kinky Boots on Broadway last year, and says: “I learned that the key to musicals is their structure.
“Getting a musical right is like doing a Rubik Cube.”
Jake’s brilliant self-titled solo album, out on Friday, describes how he coped after splitting with his boyfriend of 11 years, before finding happiness again when he moved to New Orleans. He said: “My lyrics have always been personal, but this record ratchets it up to the next level!”
Finishing it means Jake is ready to celebrate when he turns 40 in October. He admitted: “I’m back in a happy and creative spot, so turning 40 feels great.”
Before making his uplifting record with a live backing band, Jake tried to get back with Babydaddy, Scissor Sisters’ keyboardist who Jake wrote their songs with.
Jake said: “Babydaddy is practically my brother, and I was begging him to work with me!
“I told him: ‘Let’s call ourselves Rain Bros and do this.’ Babydaddy wrote some songs with me, but he doesn’t want to be an artist again for now.”
Despite Babydaddy’s reluctance, Jake is convinced Scissor Sisters will return. He said: “If the right idea falls in our laps, we’d absolutely do it. If a good idea comes, you’ve got to act on it.