that's showbaz

By Catherine Jones on Sep 16, 08 08:20 AM

Heads were twitching last night as there were rumours of a very special guest making an appearance at the Empire Theatre.
But when I arrived it was a massive disappointment - no paps, no screaming fans, and no red carpet waiting for me!
Alas, I wasn't the very special guest at the centre of the rumour mill.
That was Mr Barry Manilow whose songs form the centre of this latest Mamma Mia-style musical from the stable of Bill Kenwright esq.
Apparently Bazza was in the country but had decided, inexplicably, to remain in London.

Still, Bill and the Kenwright family turned up en masse, and I spotted David Moyes a few rows behind me in the stalls. Not convinced Mandy and One Voice are his thing, but I could be wrong, although I'm pretty sure I didn't see him with an I Love Barry badge and a glo stick.
The star of the show is 90s popster Chesney Hawkes.
When I was at university I had a poster of Chezza in my bathroom. Above the loo. Sorry Chesney! He hasn't changed though, so there must be one hell of a painting in his attic.
My college was just down the road to Chesney's house in Sunningdale, and there was a story that went round the campus about how one female student had nicked a toilet roll from his home and sold it for a pound a sheet.
Well, student loans don't go very far.
Before anyone gets any ideas, and no offence to Mr Hawkes, but I'm not sure "borrowing" the Andrex from the Empire is going to make anyone footballer rich these days.
Incidently, talking about Kenwright productions, news of our Evita - she's been off work for three weeks now with nodules on her vocal chords.
Doesn't sound too good.
But I hear on the grapevine the Echo's Magaldi James Waud (who according to Bill is also not in the show at the moment - I didn't ascertain why unfortunately) is still enjoying the run which reaches Dublin this week.