EDDIE REDMAYNE was left cringing on The GRAHAM NORTON Show when recounting how he was once only workhouse boy No43 in a production of Oliver!.
But I can reveal the Oscar winner could have the last laugh as he is in promising talks to star as rogue Fagin in a new film of the musical.
Eddie, who proved his singing ability in 2012 flick Les Misérables, will be scrubbing up on his best rendition of You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two for the role.
A film insider revealed: “Eddie has always wanted to play the part of Fagin.
“It’s a role that has been close to him since he was a child so this is a great opportunity and he’s keen.
“He was in the stage production of Oliver! directed by SAM MENDES when he was ten but didn’t get to be part of the gang and he has never given up on that dream.
“Eddie thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of singing live during filming for Les Mis and is excited at the prospect of doing it all over again in this.”
The movie will be produced by SIR CAMERON MACKINTOSH and Working Title Films, who together helped make Les Mis.
The dad of one, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his 2014 portrayal of the genius PROFESSOR STEPHEN HAWKING in The Theory of Everything was last seen in 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
He has taken a step back from filming following the birth of his first daughter, Iris, one.
During an interview with Graham Norton in 2015 Eddie, mocked up as Fagin, performed his original audition song of Consider Yourself, which involved him dancing in front of the studio audience.
He said: “If you were 11 years old and wanted to be an actor I feel like everyone in England at some point played someone in Oliver! and wanted to be in the gang.
“I only got the part as workhouse boy No43 but I did an audition and I still remember the dance.”
Eddie could be joined on set by ADELE, who has also been approached to star as kind-hearted Nancy in the reboot of the Dickens classic.
I’d Do Anything to see them on screen together.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON’S BIZARRE COLUMN
Rihanna goes loony corn
CELEBS will go to any lengths to flog their products – but this is a new one on me.
RIHANNA looked incredible at the launch of her new Fenty fashion line in Madrid on Saturday, but felt the need to straddle a unicorn just to make things that bit more eye-catching.
RiRi, who wore a daring knotted number, later rode on a giant swing in the shape of a lipstick from her beauty range.
The day before the launch in the Spanish capital she took a cheeky swipe on Instagram at fans who do not know why her brand is called Fenty (it’s based on her full name Robyn Rihanna Fenty, by the way).
She posted a snap with side-eye glance and wrote: “When people ask how I came up with #FENTY”.
All I’m asking is what’s she going to do next.
No1 for the road, Niall?
NIALL HORAN’s Slow Hands has hit No1 in the US, again – and he’s given a pretty good indication of how he’s going to celebrate.
The tune topped charts around the world in May, and yesterday reached No1 of the Top 40 Radio Chart.
The success came as the Irish star unveiled the video for his new heartbreak ballad Too Much To Ask, where he mulls over a lost love.
Speaking about the video in an exclusive chat, Niall said: “It’s my first solo video and I’m really proud of it. It was also great to have my band in it.
“All of them are Irish, apart from one from Preston, so it wasn’t hard to ‘act’ drinking Guinness in a pub.”
He’s definitely a 1D solo success story.
iHeart pants
MILEY CYRUS is a pro at pushing boundaries – and that’s all thanks to godmother DOLLY PARTON.
Miley, who flashed her red heart-shaped underwear, before performing at the iHeart Radio Festival in Vegas on Saturday said: “There’s no one that’s been able to make country music sexual more than Dolly.”
The pair duet on Rainbowland, which features on Miley’s album Younger Now, out on Friday.
Her fans won’t have any complaints about that collaboration.
Liam out of touch
LIAM GALLAGHER isn’t worried about looking back in anger. It’s the present he has trouble with.
He has vowed never to launch a new group – as he’s so out of touch with modern music.
He said: “I’m not going to start a band where it’s always compared to OASIS, like BEADY EYE were.
“When you’re in a band, you just wanna be the f***ing STONES and THE BEATLES. So you’re kind of stuck in that one certain way, which obviously becomes retro.”
One new artist who’s won Liam over is HARRY STYLES, but not his 1D bandmate LIAM PAYNE.
Liam told me in June: “At least Harry’s not gone rap like the other one. Did they flip a coin and he said, ‘I’m doing the rap one’.”
Liam should spend more time worrying about his own solo career – anything but a runaway success.
Mel B ‘strong enough to be alone’
SO far, the only insight MEL B had given into her state of mind over her bitter divorce battle with STEPHEN BELAFONTE is in legal papers.
But now she has gone on Instagram to detail a conversation she had with oldest daughter Phoenix Chi.
Mel wrote how she told the 18-year- old: “Being a good person doesn’t guarantee others will be good people too, you only have control over yourself and how you choose to be as a person.
“As for others well you can choose to either accept them or walk away, even if you’re left all alone with no one it doesn’t really mean you’re alone.
“NO, it just means you’re strong enough to handle things all by yourself. BOOM.”
She added: “She replied, ‘Hell yeh mummy, that’s why I love you’.
“Then I cried!
“I love my three daughters, they are my everything, my heart, my soul, my world.”
InstaDan
“I’m a big fan of yours . . . but that jacket don’t impress me much.” SHANIA TWAIN goes backstage at HARRY STYLES’ Los Angeles gig to give the former ONE DIRECTION star some fashion advice.
KRIS JENNER has done little to dismiss rumours that daughter KYLIE JENNER is pregnant.
Kylie is reportedly having boyfriend TRAVIS SCOTT’s baby – and when her mum was asked about it at Milan Fashion Week she just said:
“Something happens every day. You never know what is going to break at any moment.”
Meanwhile Kylie was seen out and about for the first time since the rumours began, going to Las Vegas to see Travis perform at the iHeartRadio Music Festival. She wore a concealing baggy T-shirt.
- JASON DERULO is the latest Los Angeles celeb to be burgled, with more than £200,000 in jewellery and cash stolen on Friday. Other recent victims include DEMI LOVATO, KENDALL JENNER, DRAKE and NICKI MINAJ.
Biz meter: Dan's diary
Tomorrow:LORDE takes her euphoric second album, Melodrama, on tour. The New Zealander kicks off her series of shows at the O2 Apollo Theatre in Manchester before she heads to London’s Alexandra Palace. Fans will be in for an unforgettable night.
Thursday: SHANE RICHIE will perform an exclusive set with his band at London members’ club the Bag O’ Nails. The former EastEnders actor is set to play tracks from his new album – and share stories about his return to music. I can’t wait to hear his new material.
Friday: SAM SMITH concludes Radio 1’s Live Lounge month with a set which will feature his new track, Too Good At Goodbyes. MILEY CYRUS, HARRY STYLES, FOO FIGHTERS and JAY-Z have all performed at the station as part of a month of live music.
Saturday: THE big name on the bill for the Invictus Games’ closing concert in Toronto is BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. KELLY CLARKSON and BRYAN ADAMS are in the line-up. PRINCE HARRY is due to attend – possibly with MEGHAN MARKLE.