New Magazine
Sprawled across a vast leather sofa at their west London record company. Lee Ryan21, and bandmate Duncan James 25, are stuffing their famous faces with enough pizza and garlic bread to do serious damage to their six packs. Simon Webbe, 25 sits on the opposite couch, discussing his business ventures with his team of people, while Antony Costa 23, reclines nearby laughing at Lee and Dunk’s dodgy table manners.
Watching their easy camaraderie, its hard to believe that this will possibly be the last time we interview Blue as a group. Yes, after three and a half fun filled years the band has decided to spilt - and boy, will we miss them.
Not just for their music - which has netted the groups two No1 Albums, two Brit Awards and an amazing 10 top ten singles - but for the outrageous antics that have made the lads tabloid favourites.
Currently , its Lothario Lee who is bagging the most headlines, as his old flame Emily Oldfield 26, is claiming she’s having the Blue star is baby, The pair met in the summer at London Club Cirque, and spent the night together. However, it wasn’t until about three months later in September - when Emily shouted “Im carrying Lee’s baby!” outside London’s Aura club - that Lee learnt she might be expecting. The baby-face singer, who was once engaged to ex Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon is now insisting on a DNA test once Emily’s baby is born to confirm he is indeed the father.
But in terms of generating tabloid tales, lee’s bandmate Duncan is coming a close second. In fact, one girl Elizabeth Starup, claimed last month she’d bedded both him and Lee at the same time! Duncan’s close friendship with Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, 32, also continues to fuel gossip that the two are romantically involved, following his spilt form long term love 22 year old model Anya Lahiri, in July this year. The heart throb recently developed a close friendship with former Spics Girl Geri Halliwell.
Meanwhile Simon is currently linked to Jordan’s arch rival and fellow glamour girl Anne - Marie Mogg,22, after splitting with kiss and tell queen Natalie Denning back in June.
And Antony who has an eight month old daughter Emillie, with his ex fiancee Lucy Bolster 23, was recently snapped with ex Eastender star Brooke Kinsella 21, suggesting that the two are more than just good mates.
But back to the band - we’re flummoxed by the spilt, to be honest, Backstage bitching and hissy fits just don’t seem to fit Blue’s style, and sure enough , Duncan is quick to reassure us that they’re still on each other’s Christmas Card Lists “The spilt was a mutual decision” he explains “Ive got three best mates here and that friendship isn’t going anywhere”.
Quite who else is going to keep us amused when these four hang up their party pants is anyone’s guess, but it seems as if we havent seen the last of the boys from Blue - despite the title of their new single Curtain Falls.
As Antony says “ We’re not calling it a day. We’ve just decided that we need to have a bit of time out to pursue other projects” adding Terminator style “ We’ll be back!!”
Duncan starts nodding enthusiastically “We just needed a bit of time out to get our heads together and see what else is out there for us” he agrees.
Not surprisingly for such a talented bunch, there seems to be quiet a lot out there for them. All four have exciting solo projects to keep them out of trouble- and they cant wait top tell us about them, Lets start with the divine Mr James……….
Duncan
Duncan your duet with Keedie went wtoNa2. How did you get involved with Andrew Lloyd Weber?
Somebody at my record asked me to go into the studio and record this song for is new musical. I wasn’t interested at first, but the more ai thought about it, the more it seemed that it wouldn’t hurt to at least demo the song. So in I went, and the next thing Andrew Lloyd Webber liked it so much that he asked me to sing on the single!
Will you be appearing on stage in the musical?
Oh no. Im only performing the single, but I would definitely love to get into the whole theatre extravanganza, I had to have hair extensions for the video for the song so in they went! It was weird at first and not something I had done before. I quite liked them, but UI definitely wouldn’t go any longer.
Lets talk about your love life. Why did you spilt from your girlfriend Anya Lahiri?
It wouldn’t be fair for me to say why Anya and I spilt. We’ve known each other for a long time, but it just wasn’t working out. My workload didn’t really help the situation. It put a massive strain on us as a couple, but who knows what might happen in the future.
So there’s no truth in the rumours about you and TPT?
Are you just good friends with Geri Halliwell too?
Yes, she a very good friend of mine, I’ve got a lot of respect for that girl, Her new material is great, she’s always phoning up asking my opinions on things - and this is a girl who’s come from a massive band like the Spice Girls who were so much bigger than Blue, She’s gone through so much to become the person she is now. I feel she’s a great mentor for me. I feel like Im her protégé and she’s taken me under her wing.
Will you be stepping out of the music industry after Blue?
I love music, but want to do something different, Im quite creative and I need something stimulating that will make me get up in the morning.
Antony
Antony, we hear you’re trying your hand at acting?
Yeah, I’d like too give it a go. Ive been to a few auditions and hopefully something should come out of it. I’d like to keep singing it that is possible, but I’d like to the dark horse of the group.
How is your daughter Emillie?
She’s good, thanks. She’s eight months now and smiling and laughing all the time, She’s so gorgeous and she’s trying to crawl. She gets quite frustrated when she cant quiet do it!
How are things with her mum, Lucy Bolster now?
It’s not something I really want to talk about anymore. The interests of our daughter are the most important thing.
Have you seen anyone else since the spilt a year ago?
Nope - I’ve stayed well clear of birds since then” I’ve been badly burnt and don’t want to go through that again!
Not even with Brooke Kinsella? We saw pictures of you two getting cosy recently.
Im friends with all the Eastenders cast, We go out for a laugh, but when you are pictured with someone people automatically assume you are dating.
What about Corrie’s Lucy Jo Hudson?
I met her at an awards ceremony and we clicked, but we are just really good friends, She’s seen me go through a lot and she’s been there as a mate - I needed that.
Lee
Lee, tell us about this film course you have been on in the States recently.
It was great, in fact I’ve just had a call saying my first script is going to be made into a film in the next 6 months, so after Blue that will be one of my first projects to get stuck into, There will be loads of other opportunities that I want to be involved I with as well, but Im keeping quiet about them for the time being!
Have you turned to films because you are disillusioned with music industry?
No, not at all! I do music more as a hobby. Ive always been into acting, but I love music, Ive got a passion for it. I spent £20,000 making one song out of my own pocket for a laugh! It was a 20 piece orchestra and a big gospel choir, It took me a year and a half to write that song, but Im not going to do anything with it - I just did it for a laugh, And it was a great experience too. I didn’t do it because I had too, I did it cos its what I love to do.
You seem really into your last girlfriend Emma Davies, Why didn’t things work out?
We fell for each other way too fast - it was so intense and full on that we just got carried away, Then I went to America to do my course and it just fizzled out.
So who’s the love of your life now?
My mum. Well she’s my first love, really isn’t she?
Do you think your Lothario tag is justified?
I don’t do that badly, but half the people who say they have slept with me havent. Im good, but bloody hell, I’d have a different girl every night if all these claims were true!
So, whats happening with Emily Oldfield? Is she really pregnant with your child?
Well, off course , I will stand by the baby if it is mine. I’ll be there every step of the way, but I want a DNA test when the baby is born.
Are you in a relationship with Emily now?
No, Ive really tried to make it work, bit Im not going to stay with her, because we’ve tried it and it didn’t work. She was making it up really quite difficult for me, She thinks I am with a different girl every night.
But would you like to have kids one day - Can you see yourself as a dad?
Yeah, def, I may be young, but I cant wait to have kids, I really want to settle down and have loads of them.
Why did you decide to sing at the fundraiser for US Democratic candidate John Kerry?
When I did stand up as people, they heard it and asked me. I have a strong awareness if politics, as hard as some people may find that to believe, Its an important thing we know about.
Simon
Simon, we here you are recording a solo album.
Im recording some solo material and its sounding really good., but its not a recent thing Ive being doing that since I was 17. I’d like to do some stuff with the boys on my album. I havent asked them yet, but Id love it if they were involved. If I do release anything it will be after the Bleu tour next year.
Why decide to start work on it now?
Because I don’t want to waste any time. I’ve proved that I can manage a group, have a PR company, sell property, run a modelling agency and I can also record a solo album and release it if I want too.
Are you dating anyone? You were rumoured to be seeing Anne Marie Mogg.
I am dating and yes it is Anne-Marie - In fact she’s here now and we’re going out after this interview.
Is singing what you want to focus on post Blue?
Singing, running my businesses plus a few other projects in the pipeline - that’s what I want to focus on after Blue. Then hopefully, Ill be able to bring something new to the group when we get back together.