Pop great poised for special appearance to present gong at the Brit Awards after ‘jumping at the chance’

HE’S won 13 solo Brit Awards in his time – and now Robbie Williams will be dishing one out at this month’s ceremony.

I’m told the former Take That star has been invited to make a special appearance at the bash at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena to present one of the coveted gongs.

An insider said: “The Brits asked Robbie and he jumped at the chance.

“He loves the Brits and it’s a special opportunity to go out on stage and impart some wisdom.

“Brits bosses have gone all out to secure big stars to dish out the gongs this year.

“It’s the first time the ceremony is being held in Manchester and they want it to be super special.”

Jack Whitehall is returning to hosting duties at the bash on ­February 28, and I’ll be chatting to him later this week about his plans for the ceremony.

It’s lining up to be a massive night for British music, with Harry Styles, Olivia Dean and Wolf Alice all ­preparing to perform.

Fans of Robbie can also catch him playing live in the city.

He will take to the stage for the charity event Brits Week 26 For War Child, playing an intimate gig at Aviva Studios in Manchester the night before the ceremony.

I’ll see you there if you’re going.

That’s a wrap Hailey

HAILEY BIEBER is proof some people can look good in anything.

She wrapped herself in tiny towels and posed in a hotel window wearing under-eye patches during her whistle-stop tour Down Under.

The model has just launched her Rhode beauty range in Oz – and she is a great billboard for it.

MADONNA’S VALENTINE TEASE

MADONNA’S musical comeback could be just days away after she encouraged fans to join a WhatsApp group for updates.

For over a year, she has been teasing a new album – and on Valentine’s Day the pop icon hinted that good news is on the way.

She shared a photo of a letter on Instagram which read: “If I were your Valentine, what would you write on my card? Tell me . . . I may answer. Love, M”, and then added her phone number, +1 (917) 814 6582.

If you message the number on WhatsApp, you are invited to join Madonna’s WhatsApp community.

While the star completed her hugely successful Celebration Tour in 2024, she hasn’t released a studio album since 2019’s Madame X.

It’s the longest gap she has left between albums since her self-titled debut in 1983, so I really hope this is a sign there’s not much longer to wait.

RUSSELL’S IN GREEN ROOM

RUSSELL TOVEY has hinted he could soon be juggling acting with politics, after growing frustrated with the direction the UK is heading.

He was at the Attitude 101 lunch on Friday, celebrating LGBTQ+ trailblazers, and was asked if he would consider becoming a politician.

Russell said: “I’d like to play a politician – I think I could do that. I love my job – I’m a creative – but if I can lend myself to the cause, that’s always been very important.”

Discussing the Green Party, he added: “We’re in conversations and there are upcoming things I’m planning . . . I’m very vocal in my support.”

He also revealed that his recent Doctor Who spin-off series The War Between The Land And The Sea is unlikely to return, as it “was always intended to be a standalone” series.

However, he may well pop up in the second series of buzzy US ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry.

He recently met the cast at a Golden Globes party, and said: “I’d have to do some lessons. I can roller skate but I can’t ice skate.”

One to rink about, Russell.

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SIR IAN McKELLEN says he’s more conscious of his mortality after being hospitalised following a fall on stage two years ago.

The actor, now 86, said: “I have accepted that I’m not immortal. Yet I still function. It comes not just from what you are feeling, but the simple fact your friends die – all the time.

“It’s a feature of getting older. Death ­becomes ever-present.”

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GUETTA Jr HITS DECK

LIKE father, like son – that’s the case for superstar DJ David Guetta’s son Elvis who has become . . . a DJ.

After completing a degree in entrepreneurship and sports administration, Elvis has followed in his dad’s footsteps by launching a music career.

He has been cutting his teeth with gigs over the past few months and I’m told he plans to start making his own music, too.

He is the latest in a long line of nepo babies to copy their parents by going into the same career.

But given David is worth £150million, I can’t blame Elvis for taking the same path.

Pin-up Charli

LOOKS like Charli XCX is thighly skilled at making an impres-sion in the movie world as well as creating music hits.

The Guess singer leg-bombed the red carpet at the European premiere of her mock-umentary film The Moment in Berlin on Saturday – and is also on course to land her third No1 album with the Wuthering Heights soundtrack.

Charli will be back in London tomorrow for The Moment’s UK premiere, then it hits our screens this weekend.

The new Wuthering Heights film was at the top of the UK box office at the weekend, and Charli’s soundtrack album is also proving hugely popular.

Early chart figures leaked to me yesterday show that after two days, it is in the lead to top the charts on Friday, with more than double the sales of its nearest rival, Olivia Dean’s The Art Of Loving.

BOWL US OVER, BOYS

BACKSTREET BOYS are fighting for the chance to play the Super Bowl halftime show next year – and have promised to bring some Noughties pals with them if they get the gig.

The group’s AJ McLean said: “I just started an online petition on behalf of the group for us to do halftime 2027.

“You’d better vote yes for us to do halftime, especially because it’s gonna be in Los Angeles next year.

“That’s home for me and Kevin [Richardson], so that would be pretty awesome.”

Teasing what could happen, Nick Carter, who’s also in the band with Howie Dorough and Brian Littrell, added: “We’re bringing back Britney Spears, we’re bringing back *NSYNC.”