20th August 2000
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The Goss
Wedding bells
Following the heartbreak of her divorce from tennis star Andre Agassi last year, Brooke Shields, 35, has announced that she is to marry again. Her fiance, TV producer Chris Henchy, proposed to the Suddenly Susan star while the couple were taking a romantic break in Mexico. Her engagement ring has already been designed by New York jeweller Stephan Russell, who described it as "an antique cushion-cut diamond ring set in a platinum and diamond mounting."
Stars in the sun
Family holiday in Spain Each summer the Banderas family ups sticks and moves to their home in Marbella to soak up the southern Spanish sun on the Costa del Sol. This year was no exception, as Melanie and Antonio cooled off in the sea with their three-year-old daughter Stella to give-her a few swimming lessons.
Britney in Hawaii
Hot popster Britney Spears shows off her talents at the Waikiki Beach concert recorded in front of 20,000 fans. As well as performing her own hits, she was joined on stage by Joe and Destiny's Child. And the 18-year-old Louisiana girl also was seen swimming with dolphins, going out on the town and attempting some of that hula-hula dancing made famous by Elvis. Naughty Geri's turning heads Geri Halliwell dresses as a bride for her performance at MTV's Ibza 2000, the island's biggest ever open-air concert. Her recent performance in Rome caused controversy when she danced provocatively with a male dancer who was dressed in a papal outfit.
Charlie to 'Spin' the city
Actor Charlie Sheen joins co-star Heather Locklear to promote his forth coming role in the comedy series 'Spin City,' in which he will replace Micheal J. Fox. Charlie revealed that Micheal had told him he felt " he was leaving his baby behind with a very trusted guardian."
Ronan's intimate interview
A new and mature Ronan is back, ready to reveal some of his most personal feelings in a grilling interview. A Ronan revitalised from his break from Boyzone, and one who is relaxed enough to open up....
You seemed to disappear at the end of last year. What happened?
I needed to get out of the media spotlight. In Ireland in particular, I was in the press all the time and to be honest, I think people were getting sick of me. You know, I cut my hair, and it gets into the papers. People are dying, but my hair is big news. That's mad. So I took time out to work on my solo album. I've spent a lot of time in LA and the rest of the time I've split between Dublin and London.
Did you feel you needed to escape from the rest of Boyzone?
Yeah, we all needed a break. We'd been working our hearts out for six years. And if I'm really honest, during the last six months of Boyzone, we were just going through the motions. I got bored near the end - I think we all did. It was really tough. So we all decided that the healthiest thing to do was to go away and do our own thing. And it's worked brilliantly.
It sounds like you're saying this could be the end of Boyzone.
No, not at all. We're still together and we're still friends. We've pencilled in dates for a Boyzone tour in the summer next year and we have no plans to stop.
Does it feel very different being a solo artist?
Definitely. It's very scary. The weight is all on my shoulders' there's no one to share it with. I've got so much to live up to, a No. 1 with my first solo single and four No. 1 albums with Boyzone. That adds to the pressure. And I want this so much. But I love it! (He breaks into a huge grin.) I've never been this happy.
It's quite a shock that your single, Life Is A Rollercoaster, isn't a ballad.
Everyone expects me to release a ballad. But I thought I needed to come back with something different. There are ballads on the album but there's a more upbeat vibe too.
When I was recording the album it was the first time I've sat in a room with a guitar over there, drums in one corner, bass in another, and been able to say, "One, two three...." And everyone starts playing. It's the way Elvis Presley did it!
How do you manage to squeeze being a dad into your hectic pop life?
I've been lucky as I've been able to balance home life and work. I'm often around in the day and so I can spend more time with Jack than most dads. Yvonne and Jack have come over to be with me in London and in LA and I've had time off to spend with them in Dublin.
So what's your Dublin home like? Is it a big pop-star mansion?
(Ro grins.) No! It is big, but it's really homely.
Do you have a swimming pool?
(Grins even more shyly!) Yes, we have a pool.
Do you still have horses?
No, sadly we had to sell them. We just weren't at home enough and it wasn't fair to them.
So when you're at home, do you slob out or do you keep up appearances?
Slob-definitely. Ha-ha! I put on a pair of really baggy jeans or tracksuit bottoms. You know those grey cotton tracksuits? I love'em.
Don't you worry that there might be a photographer waiting to pounce?
No. In the beginning it was different. We wanted our pictures to be taken and we wanted to make sure we always looked our best. When you're younger you're always looking to have the right image and you worry about what people think. As you get older it doesn't matter.
You say that, but you're always so careful about what you say and the way you come across.
OK, I am careful about what I say, but that's because I don't want to force my views down people's throats. But when I'm out, I'm just myself, doing normal things like everyone else. I go out drinking, I go to parties. I fly around on my motorbike...
You sound very passionate about this. Would you say you're an emotional person?
Definitely. I'm a very passionate person. I have to let people know how I feel, although I don't lose my temper.
Do you cry much?
No, I don't need to right now, I'm very happy. But there have been times-like when my mum died.
With all your successes you must have a room full of platinum discs and awards. Is there anything left to achieve?
Oh yes. Ha-ha! I want to be around for a long time to come.
When it's not happening, then I'll go. But I've got a long way to go yet! This album is all about me being young and having fun. For too long I've been seen as the old man of pop and it's time to put an end to that. I'm only 23!
What about all these rumours about you heading off to Hollywood?
At the moment, I'm concentrating on my music. Who knows what will happen in the future, but right now I'm having a fantastic time. I'm back and I don't want to go away!
(Top of The Pops)
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