FROM ELTON JOHN and Eminem to Helen Mirren and Vin Diesel, I've heard about my fair share of surprising showbiz pals.
But I wasn't expecting to discover that Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood has hit it off with Steps singer Ian "H" Watkins.
Yes, that's right. Rock 'n' roll royalty is now mates with the line-dancing, cheesy pop-loving Welsh star — and they meet up all the time.
In an exclusive chat, H told Bizarre: "I'm great friends with Sally, Ronnie's wife. I've known her for, like, 20 years.
"And then Sally ended up marrying Ronnie. By coincidence, they have twins and I have twins, and they're born like a month apart.
"So very early on, I would FaceTime them quite a lot and we meet up quite a lot.
"There's lots of comparisons, but Ronnie performs in stadiums and we do mere arenas."
However, H admitted he isn't sure if Ronnie even knows Steps exist, though he revealed the rock legend does like to refer to him using his stage name, H.
He continued: "I don't expect Ronnie to know who Steps are.
"But whenever I see him, he's like, 'H!!', I'm like, 'Ha! . . . Hi Ronnie'. It's kind of bizarre, but he's a lovely, lovely man."
When I told H he needs to get the music veteran down to Steps' next show, he vowed: "We'll teach him some moves."
But that will be a while off, as Steps are currently focusing on their jukebox musical, Here & Now, which will go on a UK tour this summer.
The pop group are then set to make a return in 2027 — their 30th anniversary.
In the meantime, H is part of a new campaign with Tesco Mobile, who offer frozen prices for customers who take out a Clubcard Price contract, to launch a TikTok dance aimed at making bill management more memorable.
Called the '5, 6, 7, freeze', it's a nod to Steps' 1998 hit, 5, 6, 7, 8.
H said with a laugh: "There's loads of hand gestures, movements and moves you can get stuck in with."
Away from pop, H is — like Ronnie — a successful artist.
He said: "I fell into music, but this was always where I thought my life was going.
Very well-respected galleries have me in the mix now. I feel very blessed. It's a bit of a 'pinch me' moment."
BLAKE ON THE FAKE
THEY both had grins on their faces as they feigned laughter for the cameras – but Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick mostly managed to keep their distance from each other at the premiere of their new film.
The actors were in London on Tuesday to launch thriller Another Simple Favor, but the promotional tour comes amid whispers of tension between the two stars.
Thankfully for Blake, there was someone else there who was keen to rise to the occasion and pose for a smiley photo.
Randomly, Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood was in attendance and managed to get a snap with drama-struck leading lady Blake.
That must have been the icing on the cake for him.
OLIVIA'S MIN THE MOOD TO PARTY
WITH her denim dungarees and circular specs, I half expected Olivia Attwood to announce she's been cast in a live-action reboot of Despicable Me.
But despite looking a bit like a Minion, the former Love Islander was actually on a night out in London.
She was snapped at the UK launch of cult New York burger joint Black Tap, where Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova hit the DJ decks.
LINKIN HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK
LINKIN PARK have confirmed my story that they will play the Uefa Champions League Final Kick Off Show on May 31.
I told you in December that the group, fronted by Emily Armstrong, had been booked to play the show, which will take place minutes before the teams line up.
To celebrate the news being announced, Linkin Park have recorded a new remix of their hit Numb, which they will play live for the first time on the pitch at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Speaking about their performance, presented by Pepsi, the band said: "With our new album and ongoing tour, we've been overwhelmed by the fans' energy and excitement.
"We can't wait to share that same energy and excitement at the Uefa Champions League.
"This marks a totally new experience for us as a band, and we're excited to share some of our favourite songs with the thousands in the crowd and millions watching around the world."
'MY SOPPY FAREWELL TO LIAM'
LIAM PAYNE'S grieving girlfriend has revealed his final words to her, half a year after he died in a tragic fall.
Giving an interview yesterday on the six-month anniversary of his passing, Kate Cassidy said Liam had joked she was being overly soppy before she flew home to America without him after their holiday in Argentina.
She told the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty: "It was such a beautiful last moment we had together.
"We were sitting on the couch and I kept going on and on and on about how much I love him and how much he means to me and how much I'm going to miss him and that I can't wait for him to already be back in Florida because we were starting this new chapter in our life.
"We'd just moved to my country and there were all these new beginnings.
"He laughed and interrupted me and just said, 'Kate, you're going to miss your flight. Your car is in the driveway. You're acting like this is the last time you are ever going to see me again'.
"I just laughed back. Like, 'I know I'm being silly'.
"To look back and know that really was the last time I was able to see him again is so chilling."
Kate added: "The fact I'm 25 years old and the first funeral I have to attend is my partner's still doesn't sit right with me.
"When I was trying on my funeral dress, I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, 'I was supposed to be trying on my wedding dress.
"I wasn't supposed to be wearing a black dress.
"I was supposed to be wearing a white dress and Liam was supposed to be here with me'."
FOOTAGE OF ROW IN WHODRUMMIT CASE
THE moment The Who singer Roger Daltrey had a pop at drummer Zak Starkey on stage for not being up to scratch has now been revealed, with my pal filming the clash.
In the footage, shot at London's Royal Albert Hall, Roger can be seen telling Zak to restart a song.
Not long afterwards, the band revealed they had parted ways with Ringo Starr's son, who has been their drummer since 1996.
But I've been told tensions between the pair had been rumbling for some time and this incident was the final straw.
My mole said: "For now they've decided to call it quits and walk away on a high."
The Who start a run of 15 shows in Brighton on Sunday, and in an exclusive chat Zak, inset, told me: "I don't know what's happening this summer yet – it's always up in the air."
It looks like the decision has been made for him now, but I think Roger and guitarist Pete Townshend may have made a mistake.
Zak is one of the best drummers to come out of our country, and replacing him with an equal talent at such short notice won't be easy.
THE KOOKS will play six huge arena shows in October to celebrate their new album Never/Know, which comes out on May 9.
Luke Pritchard and his bandmates will kick off their run at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on October 3, before playing shows in Cardiff, Brighton, Newcastle and Birmingham.
They will finish with their biggest gig to date, at London's O2 Arena on October 11.
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