SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 Dame ‘couldn't sing’ for six months after her daughter's tragic death

amantha Novak was found face down in the River Avon in Bristol, England, in 1985 at the age of just 21, and her music legend mother has Srevealed she found the ordeal so "devastating" that she lost the ability to sing until vocal coach Helena Shenel re-trained her. In an upcoming TV inter- view with David Walliams - which will air on Christmas Eve (24.12.16) to mark her 80th birthday on January 8 - the '' hitmaker said: "It was just devastating. I went home and after a week of being alone I woke up one day and said, 'I have to go back on stage, this is killing me'. I don't know what I would have done with myself. "And then came the show, and I walked on the stage and I opened my mouth to sing 'Goldfinger' - nothing came out. "What had happened was, instead of staying home and grieving and getting it out my system, that I was singing it (grief) through the songs and I probably wasn't breathing in the right places and panicking. "For six months I couldn't sing at all. Then a vocal coach - Helena Shenel, who I thank so much - I just worked with Helena doing these vocal exercises strengthening my vocal cords, and after the year she said, 'Do you know, I've discovered you've got another octave that you never use. I've never heard you sing that high!' "And she did my spirit the world of good and my soul, and I went back on stage." The death of Samantha - who was the second daughter born to Shirley and her then hus- band Sergio Novak, who also share children Sharon and Mark together - was ruled as a suicide by the coroner, saying she died from shock due to unexpect- ed submersion into cold water, with no evidence of foul play. However, the 'Never Never Never' singer has maintained the belief that her death was due to something more sinister. In 2009, Shirley said: "I never believed that [it was sui- cide] ... if she'd jumped off the bridge, all her bones would have been broken. "But there was not a bone broken. She did not have a mark on her. She didn't have any water in her lungs. If someone's drowning, they gasp, don't they? "It's bothered me all this time. Because if she didn't have any bruises or broken bones, where did she fall? And if she didn't fall from the bridge... My imagina- tion goes wild." 'David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey' airs on December 24 on BBC One at 9pm. Gigi Hadid wants to receive Milla Jovovich and her a handwritten love letter instead of gifts this Christmas husband Paul W. S. Anderson he 21-year-old supermodel likes to get senti- mental messages from people instead of expen- Tsive presents over the festive period because she thinks it's "cute" and she is hoping for a nice note share a bed with their daughter from her boyfriend, 'Pillowtalk' singer Zayn Malik. Speaking about her preferred gifts, the blonde beauty is quoted by website Bustle as saying: "Don't get me a he 41-year-old actress and the 51-year-old filmmaker able with that. And I'm not wearing certain dresses because present, write me a love letter and I think that's cute." have two daughters, Ever, nine, and 20-month-old they are not OK with my age. Ageing is more about the way Gigi has revealed she will be practising what she TDashiel, and their oldest child likes to sleep with her par- you think than the way you look, in the end." preaches and will write a heartfelt letter to over 100 ents. Milla insists her daughter's nighttime habit has been a people in the fashion industry this year, which she has positive thing for her and Paul - whom she met through star- hinted is becoming her annual ritual. She added: "I ring in the 'Resident Evil' film franchise - when it comes to sex really like writing notes. I don't always give a gift with because they have to get erotic outside of the bedroom. it, but more than 100 people in the fashion industry Speaking to Vanity Fair Italia magazine, she shared: "Our will get a note from me every Christmas. It's some- duties as parents make us a better couple too. We have been thing that's special to me and that's why I do it for sleeping all together in our bed; us and our older daughter. other people because I hope they feel the same way We are not interested in material things, but when it comes to about that." Although Gigi has admitted she likes love we don't have limits. And if our daughters want to sleep romantic gestures, she didn't seem to be a fan of her with us, they are welcome." When asked how she and her man beau's decision to take their relationship to the next have sex, Milla added: "It is interesting, we have to find alter- step as she has reportedly turned down his wedding native solutions. We go to hotels, or just use other areas of the proposal. The fashion muse - who has been dating the house. You have no idea how good creativity has been for our One Direction band member for just under one year - relationship!" Milla - who will be seen as heroine Alice for the is believed to have rejected Zayn's proposal because last time in 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' - hasn't ruled out she felt it was "too fast", and she also doesn't want to having a third child but accepts if she and Paul are going to rush into tying the knot after seeing her mother have another baby she needs to get pregnant soon. Quizzed Yolanda Hadid go through divorce twice. Speaking on whether she wants another kid, the screen beauty said: previously about her decision, a source said: "She's "My husband and I have been talking about this. I'm 41, if we only 21 and doesn't feel ready to tie the knot, so she are going to have another one we can't wait much longer." turned him down. "She's seen her mom go through Now she is in her 40s, Milla has made some changes to her life two messy divorces, so Gigi wants to make 100 per and admits she now feels too old to go to nightclubs and has cent sure Zayn's the one before she makes a lifetime stopped wearing certain clothes. She said: "I'm happy with the commitment." way a look, but there are certain things I'm not doing anymore now that I'm in my 40s. I'm not going to some kinds of clubs where there are many young people, I wouldn't feel comfort-