MADONNA, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa are among the music icons set to have their lives turned into glossy Netflix documentaries.
The streaming giant has struck a megabucks deal with Group to profile the lives and careers of the artists on their books, both past and present.
Ed Sheeran is among the music icons set to have their lives turned into huge Netflix documentaries Credit: Getty
Queen of Pop Madonna is also set for a glossy documentary Credit: Getty
has already announced a docu charting the life and career of pop princess , and this new deal will pave the way for a raft of new in-depth series.
As part of the multi-year agreement — the first time a streamer and global record label have joined forces — Netflix will gain access to Warner’s catalogue, which also includes music legends such as , and , plus modern day hit-makers and .
The move comes after music documentaries have exploded in popularity.
Disney+ has so far led the charge with its six-part series following ‘s massive Eras tour.
My source revealed: “Disney+ struck gold with their Taylor Swift series and that ignited this rush on in-depth documentaries about high profile stars.
“We’ve already seen Netflix profile David and as well as their friend, celebrity chef , and they’ve realised that fans lap up this kind of content.
“Striking a deal with a huge label like Warner shows they are turning up the volume in the streaming war.
“They’ve now got access to some of the biggest music icons of decades past, as well as the hit-makers dominating the charts right now.
“Unlike hard-hitting exposés, these projects will be heavily artist-approved and include intimate behind-the-scenes moments, tour access, comeback stories and never-before-seen archive footage.
“Disney might have struck gold once, but Netflix has its own goldmine — and it’s going to continue to deliver for years to come.”
LOAD OF OLD PONY AND TRAP FOR BRAD
Barney and Bradley Walsh went head to head in a pony and trap race
BARNEY WALSH can’t resist a smile as it looks like he’s broken dad Bradley.
The duo go head to head in a pony and trap race – in a sport Brisbane locals call ‘the trots’ – as they continue their Australian adventures in Breaking Dad this Friday on .
And after Barney races to victory, poor Brad is left shovelling crap.
“Oh, no!” screamed presenter, as he’s handed a wheelbarrow full of smelly horse manure, gagging as he rolls it away.
The father/son duo then join a medieval, fantasy roleplay group, with Bradley and Barney put in control of their own armies.
They also meet 62-year-old pole dancing sensation Allan Reinikka for a masterclass – and Bradley realises it’s harder than it looks.
BILL SETS HIMSELF APART
Corrie legend Bill Roache as Ken Barlow, alongside Rita Sullivan as Barbara Knox Credit: ITV
veteran Bill Roache may be in his 66th year on the soap, but he says he has little to do with the rest of the cast when the cameras stop rolling.
The 94-year-old has played Ken Barlow since Corrie’s first episode in 1960 and is the longest serving soap actor in the world.
Talking on the Session 7 – Interesting Lives podcast, he said: “I don’t meet up with anybody. I had one or two people like Chris Gascoyne recently that I was closer to. I’m probably closer to people in make-up and wardrobe.
“At Christmas and things like that we have a drink.”
He added: “Barbara Knox and I have been polite, but we’ve never been friendly.
“Barbara is great, she’s a wonderful person who speaks her mind.
“We respect each other, but we don’t meet up socially.”
NATHAN IN FISHY PUZZLE
Nathan Henry says he is hooked on his secret boyfriend Credit: Objective Media Group
favourite says he is hooked on his secret boyfriend – but it didn’t start that way.
He revealed how he thought he was being catfished and planned to expose the guy on the show , which he has also appeared in.
But it turned out his admirer was genuine and they have now been together for two years.
“We met on ,” said Nathan, who won’t disclose his lover’s identity.
“I think he messaged first. At the time I was filming Catfish and I was going to use him as an example on the show.
“His profile was on private. I obviously thought he was a catfish.
“I said on Instagram, ‘Send me a video saying my name’. He sent me a video and didn’t say my name.
“I thought, ‘You are a catfish’. Eventually he sent me a video, saying, ‘This is so weird’.”
PORTILLO AT FULL STEAM
Michael Portillo’s Great Continental Railway Journeys is still going strong 16 years on Credit: Getty
MICHAEL PORTILLO’s Great Continental Railway Journeys shows no sign of running out of steam – after 16 years.
His latest BBC series in , and Asia ends later this month, but I can reveal another has not only been commissioned, but it’s already been filmed.
It will be on screen next year and we’ll see Portillo riding through .
He said: “There is a paradox there as New Zealand has almost given up using trains. People travel around by air.
“But there are a number of heritage railways that have survived and they are spectacular so my New Zealand series will see us passing the most wonderful and gorgeous and superb coastlines.”
‘DEATH’ GETS TIM NOTICED
Timothy Spall is getting noticed thanks to his current role in BBC’s Death Valley Credit: BBC
TIMOTHY SPALL is well known for and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
But it is his current role in BBC’s Death Valley which is getting him noticed.
Timothy, who plays retired actor-turned-detective John Chapel, said: “I was in promoting Goodbye June, the film with , and three times I got stopped, I couldn’t believe it.
“I went into The Frick Collection. I walked in and someone said, ‘Oh my God, I love your show’.
“I thought, ‘This is really reaching out’.
“Then, I was sitting having a meditate in a church. And someone said, ‘By the way, the show’s really nice’.”
Timothy had better get used to it – Death Valley returns to BBC One next Sunday at 8.15pm.
ITV has released the first trailer for the upcoming series of .
It features a heart-shaped stadium with giant neon signs above the crowd, saying: “We’re back!”.
However, the start date for the show, which will see return as host, has yet to be confirmed.
FOR the first time ever, BBC mascot, Pudsey Bear, will speak for a mental health campaign.
In Pudsey Finds His Voice, he will deliver a simple but vital message: every child deserves an adult who will listen to them. Watch tonight on BBC’s at 7pm.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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