Prides eye up Kylie at Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony

Stewart Brock of Glaswegian indie rockers Prides says he would be too intimidated to date Kylie Minogue after sharing the stage with her at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.

The 25-year-old frontman fears the media storm that would surround dating the Aussie beauty would overshadow any possible romance.

‘I’m not sure if I could date her. I mean, she is a babe, obviously, but I’m not sure I could do it. The pressure would be too much,’ the Messiah singer said.

Brock did add that he regretted not asking Minogue one question when he had the chance after they sang together at Hampden Park.

‘I wanted to ask her where she gets her hotpants. I feel that could be my new look,’ the singer joked.

Referencing 46-year-old Minogue’s famously pert derrière and youthful looks, Brock said he and bandmates Lewis Gardner and Callum Wiseman couldn’t believe the In To The Blue’s singer is now 46-years-old.

‘We were all looking up how old she is – that sounds terrible, doesn’t it? But we were trying to guess. She does look incredible. She must do her squats!’ he said.

However Minogue can rest easy as Brock explained he has his eye on another famous pop singer for a date.

‘I’m saving myself for Katy Perry. I wouldn’t want to scupper my chances. All her tunes are great and she is a total babe. What’s not to love?’ he asked.

Having wowed the crowds at the Glasgow Games ceremony – plus one billion viewers around the world – Brock revealed he took the ‘House Party’ theme of the closing ceremony literally and partied with mates the night before.

‘I was at a mild house party which was maybe not the best idea the night before the Closing Ceremony. But I recovered in time,’ he laughed.

[Elements of this article appeared in Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Monday 4 August 2014]

Kylie Minogue: I love acting and being someone else

These days Kylie Minogue may spend her time curled up on the sofa watching Gogglebox but she hasn’t given up on resurrecting her life as a movie star.

The Voice coach told Metro how she needs to act to escape the mayhem of Kylie world.

‘I love being on set, it was my first job, and I love the opportunity to not be “Kylie”, to be someone else,’ the 45-year-old sighed.

Her bid to escape came as the sizzling video for her single Sexercise debuted online, showing her reinvented as a sex kitten who could give Rihanna a run for her money.

But fans of the former Neighbours star’s acting will have to wait.

‘At the moment it’s parked, but it’s something I’ll always have a little pilot light for,’ she lamented. Finding an escape is something she isn’t good at on her own, revealing Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears was her ‘naughty brother’ while working in LA last year.

‘He’s the kind of guy who’ll get me to do something “normal,” like go to the movies, when I feel like I should stay home. He’ll say, “I’m coming to pick you up at this time, I’ve got the tickets, and we’ll just go”,’ she explained.

She’s relished being on The Voice but Kylie may find herself tested in the live finals.

‘I’m normally more reactive, or I go with the flow, I don’t like decisions – which is quite odd now I’m on The Voice which is decisions all day but I like to kind of feel my way,’ she said.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Wednesday 19 March 2014]

Kylie Minogue loves being 'only female coach on The Voice'

Kylie Minogue is revelling in the fact she is sharing coaching duties on the third series of The Voice with three men and rebuffs claims the show’s line-up is sexist.

In the debut episode of the new series – airing on BBC One on Saturday night – Minogue, 45, tempts a prospective contestant to join her team as she can help lead her in the male-dominated world of music.

‘I hope I am giving a voice to the girls and women who look up to me or anyone like me in the business. Maybe it is proportionate to what it is like in the industry,’ she pondered at the press launch of the show on Monday, before explaining the line-up of herself, Sir Tom Jones, Ricky Wilson and Will.i.am suits her just fine.

‘We work really well as one girl and three guys – just because it stops any stories about bitchiness or cattiness or any kind of competition,’ said Minogue.

Kylie is also glad she has her younger sister Dannii – who endured such claims of rivalry when she was a judge on The X Factor with Sharon Osbourne – on hand to offer advice if working on The Voice becomes too stressful.

‘Dannii has offered me advice but she didn’t actually have to say too much, because I have watched her experience [on The X Factor]. I can look back and fully relate to how invested you become in the show and the acts that you have. She thought I would enjoy the experience of being a mentor – and she was right.’

The Spinning Around singer also has nothing but the highest praise for former coach Jessie J, 25, whom she has replaced on the panel.

‘I think Jessie did a great job – especially for someone so young to be put in that position. I wouldn’t even get in the door if we were to talk about voices with Jessie because she has a phenomenal voice and talent – and spunk! I admire all of that.

‘I am a completely different character. If I really was trying to fill someone’s seat, you actually can’t and you have no option but to be yourself. I am proud to take the reins from her,’ Kylie added.

[Originally published Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 3 January 2014]