PERRIE EDWARDS will be giving Taylor Swift a run for her money – by lifting the lid on her romance with footballer Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain on her new single.
The Little Mix singer last week confirmed our story that her latest song, You Go Your Way, drops on October 4.
Now I’m told the track is all about how she considered ending it with former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder Alex.
A source said: “You Go Your Way is about how Perrie asked Alex for a break before going on tour with Little Mix.
“At the time they were still not official. Perrie thought due to the distance, they should go their own way and hopefully find each other in the future.
“Alex hated the idea and made it official then and there.”
Perrie previously said she finds living apart hard while Alex, who now plays for Besiktas in Turkey, is away.
She said in April: “I have to be honest – I’m not going to sugarcoat it – it’s blooming hard . . . it’s really hard. I’m struggling a bit with the Turkey situation.
“When he played for Arsenal it was great because he was just down the road. Liverpool, Manchester, not that bad, but Turkey!
“Turkey is a little bit further and the thing is they are so busy. They train every day practically.”
Perrie added: “But do you know what? We make it work, because we make it work for the ones we love.
“So it’s fun, it’s exciting. It still keeps it fresh, I think.”
Absence does make the heart grow fonder . . .
Dotty for Paris
WE’VE said arrivederci to Milan Fashion Week and now it’s on to France as Paris Fashion Week begins.
Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes was in the city as the action kicked off.
She was spotted looking chic in a polka dot camisole top, which she wore with a long grey skirt.
Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner and Eva Longoria also descended on Paris last night as the L’Oreal show took place at the city’s opera house.
I’ll be eating a croissant this morning in their honour.
OLLY MURS has added a third London show to his 21-date UK tour next year.
He will play Wembley Arena on May 18.
Demand for the shows, which kick off next spring, have been huge, with Olly nearly selling out every venue so far.
Tickets for the new date will go on sale at 10am tomorrow.
Olly promises me hits galore on the tour.
CHAPPELL ROAN, below, is fighting for No1 in the album chart.
Her debut, The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, is a couple of thousand units away from overtaking Blossoms, currently in prime position with Gary.
Katy Perry is also rising up the charts, with 143 sitting at No4. It can all change by Friday, so now the race is well and truly on.
MARIAH A BRAZIL NUT
MARIAH CAREY made sure she was on brand when playing Rock In Rio.
The superstar wore a Brazilian flag dress as she took to the stage to belt out some of her biggest hits.
It was reminiscent of the time Spice Girls’ Geri Halliwell wore a Union Jack outfit at the Brits in 1997.
Mariah, who also appeared in a pink mini dress, has been in the city for the past few days and took her twins Monroe and Moroccan along.
She shared pictures of them visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue.
They also took in the sights of Copacabana Beach, which I can safely say from my experience is mostly a load of hot Brazilian blokes in budgie smugglers.
Mariah is gearing up to announce a string of UK dates, with insiders telling me she is joining acts such as Oasis and Beyonce in performing here next summer.
PADDY IN 300-MILE UK PEDAL
PADDY MCGUINNESS is the latest brave soul from Radio 2 to step up and take on a Children In Need challenge.
Last year, brilliant DJ Vernon Kay raised more than £6million by doing a mammoth ultra-marathon quest across the country.
Paddy appeared on Vernon’s show to announce he will be cycling 300 miles across England, Scotland and Wales in November.
He will kick off his challenge on November 11 in Wrexham before heading through eight counties.
Paddy is aiming to complete it in five days and, like Vernon, hopes we can support him and donate some cash.
He said: “No likey, no bikey just isn’t an option.”
We are all behind you, Paddy. Stock up now on Vaseline for the chaffing.
STING, Justin Timberlake and Stereophonics are headlining next year’s Isle of Wight festival.
The event, on June 19-23, also has Teddy Swims, Faithless, The Script, Teax, Alison Moyet and Clean Bandit.
Paul Heaton, Olly Murs, Example and Dean Lewis are there too.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 8am.
JORDAN FED UP OF FAME FUN
JORDAN NORTH has come a long way from a picky tea in front of the telly – and his famous pals know it.
The Capital Breakfast DJ, who was on I’m A Celebrity in 2020, joined his campmates for dinner and ended up paying the bill after they ribbed him about how successful he’d become.
On taking them out to The Ivy, Jordan said: “I went to the toilet and said, ‘Can I just pay the bill?’ Because they were all going, ‘I’ve seen you everywhere. I’ve seen you on the adverts, I’ve seen you on buses.’”
It seems Shane Richie is the cheekiest, revealing: “He then asked me where I’d moved to and looked at my house on Rightmove.
“I was already late for a mate’s engagement drinks. I picked up the bill and then I left them to it.”
DUA FULL OF OPTIMISM FOR TOUR CHALLENGE
AS one of the hardest working pop stars out there, I’m not surprised that Dua Lipa is going all out for her upcoming stadium tour.
Speaking in the US, Dua revealed she has started concentrating on her fitness levels ahead of rehearsals for the Radical Optimism world tour, which kicks off in Singapore on November 5.
Dua said: “It’s a lot of rehearsal, a lot of just practice because I have got to build that stamina up and make sure that I can play.
“I think definitely it’s a challenge, but the music kind of lends itself. There’s more music and the sets are longer.
“There’s going to be a lot more to experience.
“Building the sonic world around it is always so much fun, and how we’re going to tell a story and the different aspects. It’s going to be a different show.
“But no matter what, it’s going to be energetic and fun, and it’s a show you’re going to come to and you’re going to dance.
“That’s all I want.”
I’ll be there for the first night in Europe in May next year and I can’t wait to see what Dua has planned.