WEEK IN SHOWBIZ

HAVING A BALL

Michael Ball is crooning on the road again this summer with pal Alfie Boe. ‘Alfie and I are going to these stately homes and open-air venues. I haven’t seen him since a gig in December,’ reveals Michael ‘He’s been in America seeing family.’ But Michael can’t wait for the reunion: ‘It’s such fun being together. Sharing a stage is much better than being on your own.’

KEMPING IT UP THE ABI HABIT!

Cobbled together with Corrie star Sally Carman who plays tortured Abi. It was the first time I’d been back on the Street for two years and what a welcome I got! Sally could tell I was gobsmacked when I saw her. ‘It’s because I look so terrible on the show,’ she says of her screen alias. She’s loving it and promises more high drama to come with Abi and Toyah. I’m exhausted just thinking about it and I don’t even have to learn the lines!

Rock Till We Drop on BBC2, the show that brings musicians over 64 together to form bands to perform at the Isle of Wight festival, has been a huge hit. I caught up with Spandau star and band mentor Martin Kemp backstage, who still has that rock-star twinkle at 60 years old! ‘I think I’m proof you can start looking after yourself later in life and still be OK,’ says Martin. With my knees I’d have to be winched on stage, but who still doesn’t go weak at the knees when Martin pops into the studio?