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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Robbie Griffiths

I won’t sing Bond but I will play him, says Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding at the Attitude Awards

(Picture: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Singer Ellie Goulding told us she is proud to use her “platform for good” as she won the Ally Award at the Attitude magazine ceremony in Camden last night. Goulding, right, was celebrated for supporting the LGBTQ community at the fun bash.

Goulding explained that reports that she would sing the James Bond theme were actually a hoax by fellow singer Sam Smith. Ellie told us: “Sam was actually spreading that rumour about me to put the scent off” over 2015’s Spectre. Goulding has higher hopes than just doing the music, saying: “I’d prefer to be Bond than do the Bond song”.

The singer is also a climate change campaigner with the UN, and urged PM Liz Truss to go to the COP27 summit in Egypt next month. The PM has reportedly decided not to go. “She should be there, we need world leaders there,” she said. “I think it would give her some good credit, she needs it.”

Goulding told us her baby son is following in her musical footsteps: “he can do scales he’s only like 15 months but he’s very singy, he loves classical music.”

She is currently busy figuring out what to do with her shed-load of awards. “I don’t have a single award on display,” she says. “They’re all in a cupboard I think eventually I’ll put them somewhere, I’m building a music studio so maybe I’ll put them in there.

“I should be very proud you know I won an award for best songwriter and sometimes you have to acknowledge that things have been good and I’ve done well!”

Though she doesn’t have much acting experience for the Bond role, she recalls childhood dreams of the stage. “If anything I wanted to act when I was a kid, but I was way too shy which I don’t feel when I’m singing because there’s something very powerful that happens when I perform.”

Gay footballer calls out Becks

David Beckham; Josh Cavallo (Clive Mason/Getty; Dave Benett)

David Beckham, left, drew ire at the Attitude Awards last night for his deal to become the face of this year’s Qatar World Cup. Gay footballer Josh Cavallo won the Man of the Year award, and began his speech “take that David Beckham!’” to laughter. “Qatar, FIFA: the world is watching”, he said. Being gay is illegal in Qatar. Becks, who says he supports players coming out, has reportedly been paid £10m for the deal.

Andrew no mates

Prince Andrew and Tina Brown (Steve Parsons/Pool Photo via AP; Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

Royal watcher Tina Brown poked fun at Prince Andrew’s life in Windsor at a Women in Journalism event last night, where guests included Rebekah Brooks. “The only person he’s got to socialise with is his horse,” she said. Brown, who wrote The Palace Papers, says the disgraced ex-helicopter instructor “should become a search and rescue pilot”. She’s previously suggested he get a farm.

Your move, Hirst

Damien Hirst burning works (Getty Images)

Damien Hirst hit the headlines by burning £10m-worth of his paintings at a London gallery after selling a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). He told buyers to choose either the physical work or the NFT representing it. That’s nothing, says Victoria Clarke, wife of Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, who has a show of paintings at Andipa Gallery for Frieze Week. Shane has burned works too, “but he did his by accident with a fag”, she tells us. Your move, Hirst.

Last night in town

In St Paul’s, Bulgari’s jewellery gala drew House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock and Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran. Models Munroe Bergdorf and Leomie Anderson were also there. Rita Ora chowed down at a Byredo store dinner. The Attitude Awards afterparty went on late. Dame Kelly Holmes and presenter Anita Rani were there. Singer Ronan Keating and wife Storm ate breakfast with the Lady Garden Foundation at the Sloane Square Gucci store.

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