Taylor Swift has kicked off the release of her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl with a full-scale takeover of London.
The highly-anticipated record dropped to global fanfare on Friday, and the capital has become the centre of celebrations as the singer lines up TV appearances, radio interviews, cinema screenings and fan parties.
The album sees Swift reunite with hitmakers Max Martin and Shellback for the first time since 2017’s Reputation, and includes a single collaboration with US pop star Sabrina Carpenter on the title track.
It is also her first release since confirming her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce in August, with the Instagram caption: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.”
Here’s everything happening in the capital to mark album day:
Swift returns to The Graham Norton Show
Swift has thrown herself into a full UK promo run to mark release day.
She’s set to appear on The Graham Norton Show on Friday night alongside Cillian Murphy, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Domhnall Gleeson and Lewis Capaldi.
In a teaser from the BBC One programme, which was pre-recorded on Thursday, she revealed she hopes to complete the album rollout before turning her attention to wedding planning.
The 14-time Grammy winner, who got engaged to American football player Kelce earlier this year, told Norton: “He really crushed it in surprising me. While we were talking on his podcast, he had a complete garden built out the back of his house to propose in. He went all out – 10 out of 10.”
Asked when the wedding is happening, she said: “You’ll know,” adding: “I want to do the album stuff first, and the wedding is what happens after in terms of planning. I think it will be fun to plan.”
The last time the music artist appeared on the BBC One chat show was to promote her 10th studio album, Midnights.
In that episode, which featured U2 singer Bono, Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne and former England footballer Alex Scott, the singer revealed she had auditioned alongside actor Redmayne for the film adaption of Les Miserables.
Swift takes over UK radio
Elsewhere on the promo trail, Swift made appearances across UK radio stations including Heart, Capital, Hits Radio, Magic FM and BBC Radio 1.
On Heart Breakfast, she fangirled over meeting Spice Girl Emma Bunton, while Capital treated her to Greggs-inspired sourdough.
On Hits Radio, she teased performing with Ed Sheeran on her wedding day, while on Radio 1 she spoke candidly about her fear of songwriting drying up in happiness — and made a seemingly subtle dig at ex Matty Healy before inviting Greg James to her and Kelce’s big day.
Album release screenings
Fans will also get to experience the new music on the big screen.
Friday night will also see the launch of The Official Release Party Of A Showgirl in cinemas, which features the world premiere of the music video for the single The Fate Of Ophelia, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, lyric videos from the album, and “cut by cut explanations” of what inspired the music.
The 89-minute film will be screened in cinemas around the UK and Ireland, with fans flocking to multiplexes to celebrate the new music together.
Many screenings are already sold out, including at the landmark Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, where showings at 8.15pm and 8.45pm are already at capacity.
Club nights, gyms and pubs join the celebrations
Beyond official promo, the capital is brimming with unofficial celebrations.
On Friday, Club night Swiftogeddon hosts a Life of a Showgirl event at the Clapham Grand, while album listening parties are also being held at Big Chill King’s Cross and The Star in Shoreditch.
For those preferring a workout, SoulCycle’s Soho and Notting Hill studios are hosting Swift-themed rides, including a listening party cycle session.
And for superfans, The Black Dog pub in Vauxhall — immortalised on her previous album The Tortured Poets Department — will host a six-course tasting menu inspired by Life of a Showgirl on October 6.
