interview dale: gavin ross ‘people exclusive might think i’m a tw★t

but at least they’ll #41 #40 know who I am’

The new coach of The Voice tells Rhiannon Evans why this is his opportunity to finally become big in his homeland

With fellow Voice stars Tom, nless you were into your ’90s indie commuting between recording here and Jennifer and Will (and the owner of countless Shine seeing his kids in LA), you can tell he’s compilation albums back in the day), not the type to let these things get to him. you might only have known Gavin Doing The Voice must seem pretty URossdale, London-born lead singer of the band straightforward for a guy who’s had such Bush, in his later-life role as American celebrity a complicated relationship with the limelight. Mr Gwen Stefani. That might sound harsh, but For years, after they met in 1995 and married it’s something Gavin, 51, himself is well aware in 2002, Gavin and Gwen were the darlings of the of and why, he says, he’s so excited to finally step pop-rock world. They had one of those marriages into the UK limelight as a coach on The Voice. folk talk about “surviving fame”, and produced It’s a big year for the show – it’s moved to ITV a line of gorgeous children (Kingston, ten, as part of a big-money deal, has brought back Zuma, eight, and Apollo, two). But then, in 2004, heavyweight Tom Jones, kept crowd-pleaser a paternity test proved he was the father of model Will.i.am, and roped in Oscar-winner and mate Daisy Lowe, who was his godchild. He cut off all of Beyoncé Jennifer Hudson, as well as Gavin. contact with Daisy, and it was only in 2009 that Gavin’s aware that there’s a lot of pressure they worked things out. Then, last year, everyone riding on the show, but when we meet him declared “love had died” when Gwen and Gavin in his Manchester dressing room (just hours divorced, with reports claiming he’d had an affair after he’s been tweeting about his jet lag from with the kids’ nanny. There was also that time in

www.heatworld.com X-X Month 201X 31 December 2016-6 January 2017 www.heatworld.com Gavin and Gwen were together gavin: A life 1995, when Boy George claimed him is that he has the best stories Are there things you miss for 20 years Gavin had a relationship with in the world – they all involve about LA and the UK? interview in hair male ’80s pop star Marilyn. Elvis and Frank [Sinatra] or the Yes, my kids in LA. From the bush frontman has an Gavin denied the rumours Queen. He is probably the biggest the UK, my manager sends exceptional hairstory until 2010, when he said it was superstar I’ve ever met and he’s out boxes of Cadbury Fruit experimentation and “part the most gracious, because he and Nut, and the odd Flake. january of growing up”. Marilyn said doesn’t tell you non-stop stories. Daisy has recently been 1990 they’d been together five years He lets everyone else talk, then he on another huge Saturday Ahhh, Gav negotiated and called him “the love of my life”. comes in and smashes everyone night TV show, Strictly – has his Sampson- Gavin’s clearly enjoying being with a story about when Sammy she given you any tips? like tresses back in the UK after years in Davis drove to his house and left It’s my job to give her support and into a half-up LA, so a series of The Voice his Rolls-Royce in the swimming never ask advice, because parents half-down look for a big should be plain sailing – as pool, or when Paul McCartney asking their kids for advice is all night out with long as he can get past that wrote him a song. It’s mental. kinds of wrong in my book. I went actress Emily infamously tricky group song The coaches usually do to watch her rehearsing every time Lloyd. Nice with his fellow coaches… The Voice I came home and that’s another chest hair, too. a group song on to, er, mixed reactions – thing – Daisy is a huge part of me October Why did you decide to are you doing that? doing The Voice. I had the luxury 1997 become a coach on The Voice? We did it. It was a shocker! At first, the other night of saying, “Let’s At the height I think it’s the challenge of it. I couldn’t believe I was singing have dinner.” It’s nice for her to of Bush’s fame, For me, personally, I’ve been with Tom Jones. Jennifer is, like, know that I’m right there. That’s frontman Gavin reduced to one or two sentences just out of control and Will, even a luxury I’ve never had. She was embraced the grunge look as a human being, so I thought, when he’s doing a rap, manages amazing on Strictly. I told her with this curly “Well, here’s a good chance to put to be funny. I still don’t know that, even though it was really bleached effort. my head further on the chopping if I f**ked it up, they didn’t disappointing she didn’t win, It’s probably block,” and to be sort of, like, more give me easy parts to the song. in my eyes she won because people wrong, but we’d quite like human. It’s really exciting. It’s Please forgive me, I was not in my saw how warm, kind, bubbly, the street and there’s literally car and one kid is, like, eight this bob now. the best decision I’ve ever made. comfort zone singing that song. vivacious and gorgeous she is. 15-20 photographers. I think years old walking off and In a way, her job was done. if any of my team on The Voice they’re taking a photograph. may No offence. I was like, “Babe, got to the point where there was I understand if I’m in the picture,

2007 ‘Daisy is a huge part of it’s a dance competition. that much attention on them, or Gwen, but can you just not take #43 Gavin goes You’ve got the rest of your life it would be a job well done. a picture of my kids? It’s creepy. full Mitchell me doing The Voice’ #42 brother, getting – look at the big picture.” Do you mind all that When you go back to a grade-one Why The Voice and not Have you been employing In a similar way, are you attention? your hotel and relax, skinhead – The X Factor? any tactics to win acts? looking forward to people I’ve always said it’s a really what do you watch? and we don’t The X Factor never offered I’m playing catch up really, as getting to know you better? high-class problem and not to be I’m obsessed with cooking actually hate it. Son Kingston me a gig! I did some Voice I know the least about this show. Of course, that’s another main complained about. There are far shows. I’m actually filming doesn’t look mentoring in America [when Me and Tom turned for the same reason I did it. My position has greater problems in the world a cookery show in America too chuffed, ex-wife Gwen was a coach] and people six times – that was really always been to be stoic and than press attention. I think, in December, called I Am gavin though. I really enjoyed it, because what awkward. It’s kind of weird, being concentrate on my children. here, they can’t take pictures Feeder. It’s basically me making on… I really didn’t understand or take a car salesman about getting But this gives people the chance of the children, but in America, dinner for a creative person. the ladies: august into account from a distance, someone to sing on your team. to find out who I am. They might we go to basketball practice Have you watched The is the emotional implication One of my biggest fears about think I’m a twat, but at least it and I’m getting stuff out the Great British Bake Off? ”Women are part 2007 of the reason for Gavin’s of being around people who’ve doing this show, outside of being gives me a chance. It’s like that I’ve heard it’s fantastic. washing and keeping hair makes spent their entire lives waiting slaughtered, was what if no old saying, “They know you are On Netflix, they have clean, aren’t they?” a dramatic for this moment. You’re involved one wanted to be on my team? an idiot if you open your mouth, these cooks’ talks, comeback being married: dyed this in people’s dreams to such I was really worried about that. but if you don’t say anything, but some of them “Basically, a happy shocking a degree, it’s staggering. I’m Are you travelling between no one’s quite sure.” So, I run are pretty pretentious. wife is a happy life.” white peroxide a bit of a softie, so I just love that. LA and the UK while filming? that risk now. I embrace that. At 4am this morning, blond. He The winners of the UK Voice Yes, to see my kids. I have no You’ve dealt with negative I was watching his band name: can pull it “I always figured off. Just. haven’t ever really made complaints – this is the biggest publicity – how will you a Michelin Star chef that, you know, a splash – do you think opportunity I’ve ever had in pass that experience on YouTube – I’m everyone had a bush. june 2008 it’s important to have England and it has come at on to your contestants? strange like that. And It wasn’t specifically Gavin makes female. Anyway, we people who are interesting a bizarrely late stage of my career. My advice would be don’t ever I’m obsessed with all come from bush.” the transition off-stage this time? It gives me a chance to be back read it. I never read anything, stand-up comedy. from rocker rebel to It’s f**king essential. That’s with all my family. Normally I just get told. I have the paparazzi And finally, if you his critics: “I think it’s pretty perfectly- probably why they don’t when I come [home], there is so follow me around – every day of With were going to trim coiffed normal that there have anyone – ultimately, much pressure. I spend a week my life, there’s a team of four or daughter a bush (geddit?), are a lot of people Hollywood Daisy Lowe A-list dad. you need to be the full package. saying hello, a week having dinner five cars wherever I go in LA. They what shape would out there who don’t This one’s Have you compared with everyone, then I have one do that traditionally with Gwen. you make? like Bush.” a bit Love heartthrob stories day off and then I have another She’s an icon, so whenever we A smile. n His life motto: Actually-era with Tom Jones? week to say goodbye. [Doing come to [the UK] to our house, Colin Firth, eh? “Being real is what I just sit and listen to him and The Voice] means I can just pop you look out the window and there The Voice UK is is important.” laugh. I love him, he feels paternal round and see my dad and have will be, like, five cars waiting. It’s on ITV on Saturday

m m ; splashnews.co retnacelebs.co m ; lfi.co.uk; infphoto.co gci m ages; to me. My favourite thing about tea with him. It’s the best luxury. so embarrassing. You walk down 7 January at 8pm

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