Damon Albarn and Girlfriend Take Their Romance to New Heights After 10 Months of Secret Dating!

DAMON ALBARN has found the woman to drag him off his very own melancholy hill.

The frontman’s 25-year relationship with Suzi Winstanley ended four years ago, but now I’m told he has been secretly dating long-time Gorillaz collaborator Rebecca Freckleton for almost a year.

And now, things have got more serious, as pals say the couple are shacked up in his London pad.

My exclusive photos show that and Rebecca are absolutely smitten, and I’m told they’ve been inseparable for months.

I first heard whispers about their relationship late last year, with friends telling me Rebecca and Damon’s friendship was moving to the next level.

Over the past few months, the pair have been seen together in public on a handful of occasions.

“Damon and Rebecca are in love and their friends couldn’t be happier for them,” one insider told me.

“After his split from Suzi in 2022, Damon took some time to find himself again. It was a few years later he started to grow closer to Rebecca.

“They’ve been seeing each other for almost a year now.

“He’s got a place in London and she’s there all the time with him.

“She’s been seen out walking his dog, too. They make a lovely couple and it’s been great to see Damon so happy again.”

, the mother of his daughter, Missy, had split three years ago.

The pair ended their relationship in 2022, with friends revealing the news early the following year.

Damon, who wrote On Melancholy Hill for album Plastic Beach in 2010, poured his heartbreak into Blur’s comeback album, The Ballad Of Darren, which came out in 2023 and went straight to No1.

And he had the same success with Gorillaz’s latest record, The Mountain, which hit the top spot in the album chart back in March.

Rebecca was on board for that project and sang backing vocals on their track, The Empty Dream.

Damon certainly won’t have any of those with Rebecca by his side.

Ayda now inactive

WHEN one door closes, another opens – and that’s exactly what’s happened to and his wife .

After he last week, hers, Ayda Activewear, was put on ice.

Former panellist Ayda debuted her range of cool athleisure clobber back in 2022 and it was initially a big success – but things became more tricky.

A source said: “The market is fiercely competitive and while Ayda Activewear did take off, business has been tough recently.

“The way the markets are, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for brands like this to operate.

“Naturally she hopes one day she could open it back up, but only time will tell.”

Shoppers visiting Ayda’s website are now greeted with a message blaming “sizeable tariffs and overall economic uncertainty” for a “pause” in trading.

In a personal note, she wrote: “I envisioned clothes that were ready to reflect and tackle the chaos of my life and make me feel f***ing fantastic while doing it. Thanks to you all, I got to do just that.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure and I thank you so much for the enduring support. For now we’re hitting the pause button but don’t worry – we’re still stretching and dreaming . . .  and wearing leggings every damn day.”

Amen to that, Ayda.

says they have never been as proud of an album as new record, Hazel Eyes.

The LP came out yesterday and is reminiscent of their 2014 debut, In The Lonely Hour. It is all about falling in love with fashion designer Christian Cowan.

Sam, who confirmed their engagement last month, said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of myself or an album.

“This album will always mark one of the most magical, confronting, happiest and challenging times of my life as a person and an artist.”

Sam will play two nights at Manchester’s Albert Hall on September 3 and 4 before kicking off an eight-night residency at the London Coliseum on September 8.

has snapped up the rights to a documentary all about US singer and actress .

The project will be headed up by Joe Pearlman, who directed Robbie Williams’ 2023 series on the platform.

Jessica found fame as a pop star in the early noughties alongside and , with hits like I Wanna Love You Forever, With You, and a cover of These Boots Are Made For Walkin’.

She’s since sold 20 million records and had a high profile , and , to American singer-songwriter Nick Lachey.

CELEBRITY star Danny Beard may wear wigs in his drag shows, but he wants everyone to know the importance of hair care.

The performer is the new face of the Method brand – creating a full dance video to show off his not-so-natural locks.

Apparently, 71 per cent of us say freshly washed hair has a positive effect on our mood.

To be fair to Danny, I also perform a full choreographed dance routine in the shower.

Pixie: I’ll do Marilyn proud

arrived in style for the press night of her new West End show, Who Killed Marilyn?, in a white Cadillac.

She wore a slinky pink, white and gold dress for the event at London’s Emerald Theatre and told how she hopes to show the real person behind Marilyn’s Hollywood alter-ego.

Pixie, who posed for pics with husband , said of the play: “Marilyn was the character she created, but this is more from her Norma Jeane side. It’s her telling her own story, right from the beginning, right up until the end.

“ I was always aware of obviously the very glamorous Hollywood icon side and maybe more of her vulnerable side and fragile side, but not this strength and the intelligence – that side of her that hasn’t really been spoken about.”

Shaggy’s 007 heaven

SHAGGY lived up to his name when he got hitched at the GoldenEye resort in Jamaica – where Ian Fleming wrote – by intimating he got frisky on the author’s desk.

The It Wasn’t Me singer, who married wife Rebecca in 2014, admitted: “It’s a magical desk. I did a different kind of magic on the desk – but we’re not going to talk about that.”

On Alan Carr’s travel podcast Life’s A Beach, Shaggy also said one of the best things about being a celeb is never complaining.

“I just have someone complain for me,” he said. “I’m famous. I can do that.”

Some claim new MJ biopic is a cover-up

MICHAEL JACKSON’s sequel will explore the sexual abuse allegations made against the late King of Pop, but won’t tell it from the victims’ side.

The Smooth Criminal singer’s nephew , played him in the first , Michael, which came out this year and made more than $1billion at the box office.

He has said the follow-up will be from MJ’s point of view. But that has already ruffled feathers among people who believe it will skate over the serious allegations.

Jafaar told GQ Middle East: “The second film will give more insight from his point of view, because [the allegations] are always from someone else’s.

“It’s someone else’s story . . .  and it’s mainly driven by an agenda. That’s the issue we have as a family – not having Michael’s voice heard. That is very important.”

There are high hopes for the sequel, after the first movie became the highest-grossing biopic and has sent Jacko’s greatest hits album back up the charts.