ARIANA GRANDE and Cynthia Erivo waited six long months to return to filming the Wicked movies after the actors’ strike.
But just as they were about to get back into their groove they were then hit by yet another delay.
I can reveal Cynthia, who will play wicked witch Elphaba in the movies, fell ill just as they were due to shoot the musical’s show-stopping climax, Defying Gravity, which meant work ground to a halt all over again.
Ariana, who has been cast as good witch Glinda, had flown into the UK to complete the scenes but then had to extend her stay to wait until Cynthia had recovered.
A source said: “The majority of Wicked was shot earlier last year, but it was shut down in July because of the actors’ strike, which was frustrating because they only had days left to go on the production.
From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023
“Awkwardly though, it was arguably the biggest scene in the whole thing that had been left until last – Defying Gravity.
“It is the centre-piece of the musical and, when Cynthia fell ill, the producers and director decided they had to pause filming once again.
“It has to be really powerful and she couldn’t do it justice when she was sick.
“Thankfully she recovered and it was finally shot last week.
“Now there’s a rush to get everything else finished in time for the first film’s release.”
The two-part adaptation is due to launch in cinemas this November, followed by the second part at the same time next year.
The movie version has been decades in the making, so I’m sure they will do it justice.
Barry should Master limelight
SALTBURN has kept the incredible Barry Keoghan in the spotlight, right where he belongs.
But every time I see a picture of the Irish actor on the red carpet he looks like an awkward competition winner.
Barry, who was wearing one of his trusty Take That-inspired sleeveless tops at the London premiere of his new Apple TV series Masters Of The Air on Monday, seemed as though he felt out of place next to his co-stars Callum Turner and Austin Butler.
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime
Barry, you are in the running for a Bafta, not a Blue Peter Badge, it’s time you thoroughly enjoyed the limelight.
You deserve it more than anyone.
TEN years ago James Arthur was given his marching orders by Simon Cowell’s record label Syco.
And the singer has made it crystal clear he still finds the snub painful.
Speaking on stage at his gig in Kingston, South West London, on Monday night, James opened up about getting the boot, two years after his debut single Impossible hit the No1 spot in 2012.
He said: “It’s over ten years since I won The X Factor and that’s why getting that No1 song means more to me than any other, because it feels like a bit of a stick your middle finger to those who dealt with me.
“They didn’t think I would stick around, but here I am.”
He’ll be sticking that middle finger up all over again on Friday when he drops his new album, Bitter Sweet Love.
James has done better than most to last 12 years in the charts.
Cam’s Brit of jean-ius
CAMILA CABELLO looks like she’s raided Britney Spear’s wardrobe for her latest red carpet look.
The ex-Fifth Harmony singer’s denim corset and skirt is a lot like Britney’s infamous get-up from the 2001 American Music Awards – where she and Justin Timberlake looked like victims of an explosion in a Levi’s factory.
Camila was at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to celebrate the release of her movie Rob Peace.
The singer made her big screen debut in 2021 on Prime’s a reworking of Cinderella – but she was a little dubious about her abilities.
At the time, she said: “I just couldn’t say no. It’s honestly a dream for me. And also a little bit terrifying.
“For my first acting classes, I was like, ‘What the f*** am I doing here? This is so scary’.”
But given she’s been handed another major role, she can’t be half bad.
Boy: She drives me Madge
BOY GEORGE has reignited his feud with Madonna, saying the superstar is “full of herself”.
I’m not always one to defend her, but I’d say she has had enough success to warrant a fairly sizable ego.
In his memoir Karma, Boy George bad-mouths Madge, which seems a desperate cry for relevance to me.
He writes: “I know for a fact she’s too full of herself to even mention me.
She once said, ‘Boy George was mean to me in the Eighties and he’s still mean’.
"To be fair, I haven’t really been given the opportunity.
“I have a sense of humour, I don’t think Madonna does, despite some of the clothes she wears (LOL).”
I’m not sure his wacky hats will be the toast of the fashion world any time soon.
BECKY HILL and Snow Patrol will headline Alex James’s The Big Feastival this summer.
The Blur bassist brings us the annual event, now in its 13th year, featuring an all-star line-up including Cat Burns, Ash, Cian Ducrot and Kate Nash.
Tickets for the festival, running from August 23 to 25 at Kingham in the Cotswolds, are on sale now.
Hot choc it's snow fun Reece
REESE WITHERSPOON has tried to claw back public opinion after fans rounded on her for making a hot chocolate with melted snow.
After seeing the comments, the Morning Show star said: “There’s so many people on here saying snow is dirty.
“So we took snow from the backyard and we microwaved it and it was clear.
“So we took snow from the backyard and we microwaved it and it was clear.
“Is this bad? Am I not supposed to eat snow?”
Just please try to avoid the yellow stuff . . .
Daniel’s The One again
HIS cult 2002 hit If You’re Not The One was the soundtrack to many of my awful teenage snogs.
Now Daniel Bedingfied, the king of the cheesy lyric, has announced he is going back on tour for the first time in 19 years.
He told Scott Mills on Radio 2 that he will be playing three big gigs – in Manchester on April 21, Birmingham the following day and London on April 23.
And about his biggest song?
He told Scott: “I hate and love it. I hate it until the bridge and then I love it.”
Luckily, Daniel said he’s got plenty of new tunes up his sleeve to spare us all the thought of going back to the early Noughties.
But if he doesn’t play Gotta Get Thru This, I’ll start a riot.
KANYE WEST hasn’t wasted the months since his delayed return.
He announced yesterday he will be back with THREE albums.
Vultures, the rapper’s joint collection with Ty Dolla $ign, had been slated for the autumn.
Now the first part is due out on February 9, the second on March 8 – putting him in competition with Ariana Grande album Eternal Sunshine – with the third following on April 5.
They will be his first full releases since vile anti-Semitic comments in 2022.
I’d like to think he has learnt his lesson. But we all know he’s still a fool.
BON JOVI are not playing around when it comes to their 40th anniversary – even though they launched their own commemorative edition of Monopoly.
The American rockers are releasing a deluxe edition of their self-titled debut on all streaming services today, with a special trailer to mark four decades of music.
They are also reissuing the record on limited-edition ruby vinyl on March 24 and cassette on April 5.
The deluxe edition consists of the remastered album as well as nine bonus tracks including unreleased studio recordings.
Sounds like the perfect soundtrack when playing their board game.