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Former Sex Pistols’ frontman John Lydon has failed in his bid to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest.

His band Public Image Ltd (PiL), the post-punk band formed by Lydon following the break-up of the Sex Pistols, finished fourth out of six acts in Ireland’s Eurosong competition to select its entry to this year’s contest.

They were beaten by rock band Wild Youth’s song We Are One who will compete at the contest in Liverpool in May.

The result was decided in three parts – a public vote, a national jury and an international jury.

PiL’s entry was an emotional ballad called Hawaii, which he described as a love letter to his wife Nora, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease.

In the song, Lydon, formerly known as Johnny Rotten, reflects on their happiest moments over their 40-year marriage including their time in Hawaii.

Before the contest, he said: “It means the world to me, this is our last few years of coherence together. And I miss her like mad.

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“I miss my missus, if you keep voting for me I’m going to miss her even more.”

Read more: When is the song contest, who’s hosting and when can I get tickets?

He said he was still “terrified of mugging it up, getting it wrong, letting people down – mostly letting Nora down”.

He spoke fondly of watching Eurovision as a child, saying: “This is something that I watched when I was young with my parents. I remember Johnny Logan, I remember Cliff Richard, I remember Sandy Shaw.

John Lydon

“It’s as good as any other way of listening to music, I don’t have any prejudices about things like that.”

He added that he chose Ireland “because I’m as much Irish as anybody else by blood”.

Read more: Eurovision announces viewers across the rest of the world can vote in next year’s contest

PiL was formed in the late 1970s and has scored five UK top 20 albums.

The band is also planning to release a new album in 2023 – their first since 2015.

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The UK is yet to announce details of potential entrants to Eurovision.

Liverpool is the host city for this year’s contest after organisers said it would be unsafe to host the competition in Ukraine after Kalush Orchestra’s 2022 win.

Since the UK’s Sam Ryder finished second last, the BBC stepped in to host the contest instead.

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Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne among celebrities at Olympics-themed Vogue World in Paris

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Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne among celebrities at Olympics-themed Vogue World in Paris

Vogue World took over a square for the last day of Paris Fashion Week on Sunday night, putting on a spectacle themed around the Olympics.

One month ahead of the opening of the Games in Paris, the show marked 100 years since the last Olympics in Paris in 1924.

It also nodded to 23 June 1894, the day the founder of the modern Games French nobleman Pierre de Coubertin launched the International Olympic Committee.

Each decade since 1924 was reflected on the catwalk in the city square of Place Vendome, with the 20s featuring a cycling theme and the 90s focusing on football.

Musician Pharrell Williams and models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid were among the stars.

Here are some highlights and a look at who else got the exclusive invite.

Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid. Pic: Kristy Sparow/Getty/Vogue
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Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid coming in on horseback. Pic: Kristy Sparow/Getty/Vogue

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Pharrell Williams. Pic: Reuters

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Jared Leto poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Jared Leto donned an unorthodox outfit. Pic: Reuters

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Normani poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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American singer Normani posed during a photocall. Pic: Reuters

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Diane Kruger poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Diane Kruger. Pic: Reuters

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Emma Thynn poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Emma Thynn Marchioness of Bath. Pic: Reuters

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Joey King poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Actress Joey King. Pic: Reuters

Pic: Reuters
Diane von Furstenberg poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Pic: Reuters


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Eva Longoria poses as she arrives for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Eva Longoria arrived at the show. Pic: Reuters

Read more:
Everything you need to know about the Olympics
Why people threatened to poo in Paris’ river

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Emma Chamberlain poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Social media personality Emma Chamberlain. Pic: Reuters


Pic: Reuters
Anna Wintour poses during a photocall for the Vogue World fashion show celebrating fashion and sports, one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at Place Vendome in Paris, France, June 23, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
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Anna Wintour. Pic: Reuters

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Taylor Swift brings Travis Kelce on stage for the first time – sending fans into a frenzy

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Taylor Swift brings Travis Kelce on stage for the first time - sending fans into a frenzy

Taylor Swift’s American football player boyfriend made a surprise appearance on stage during her performance at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

Travis Kelce, 34, appeared in a morning suit, bust out a few dance moves and carried the singer, who pretended to faint, to a red sofa during the middle of the show.

His appearance during the short skit, where Swift appears to “drop dead” during the song The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, sent the crowd of almost 90,000 wild.

The US pop star then changed into a two-piece sequin costume – while Kelce pretended to top up her makeup – and performed I Can Do It With A Broken Heart from her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

In another nod to Kelce, Swift ended her show with the song Karma, changing the lyrics to say “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me” – referencing NFL team the Kansas City Chiefs he has played for since 2013.

It is the first time the footballer has appeared on stage, having been in the crowd for the first three shows out of eight Swift will perform at Wembley in total this year.

He has been romantically linked with the pop star since September 2023, with Swift having attended a number of football games, including the Super Bowl won by Kelce’s team back in February.

Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium as part of her Eras Tour on Friday, June 21, 2024 in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
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Pic: AP

Yesterday he joined Swift in meeting the Prince of Wales and his children George and Charlotte who attended the concert on Saturday, the same day as Prince William’s 42nd birthday.

The London concerts drew a host of other celebrity faces including rock legends Sir Paul McCartney and Jon Bon Jovi.

A video, widely circulated on social media, on Sunday showed Beatles star Sir Paul, 82, walking through an area of the stadium separated from fans, while a photo appeared to show rock star Bon Jovi, 62, in shades and a pink hat watching Swift’s performance.

Read more:
Swifties flock to Wembley Stadium
Swift UK shows ‘will boost economy by £300m’
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour breaks Anfield’s attendance record

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Taylor Swift: Prince William ‘shakes it off’

Actor Hugh Grant, broadcasters Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis, Hollywood legend Tom Cruise, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also appeared to Shake It Off over the weekend.

The billion-dollar Eras Tour takes fans through Swift’s back catalogue, including hits from albums 1989, Red and Midnights.

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The revamped set list, which she first unveiled at the Paris shows, also includes songs from her latest album, released in April.

To celebrate her arrival in the capital, murals, a special Tube map, a Taylor trail and a series of events were created.

The tour will now move to Dublin but Swift will return to London to play another five nights at Wembley in August.

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Taylor Swift takes selfie with Prince William and children George and Charlotte

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Taylor Swift takes selfie with Prince William and children George and Charlotte

The Prince of Wales has thanked Taylor Swift for a “great concert” as he shared a photo of the pop superstar taking a selfie with him and his children George and Charlotte.

Watching the US singer perform at Wembley Stadium, the future king was also spotted shaking his arms to Shake It Off as he celebrated his 42nd birthday.

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Prince William ‘shakes it off’ with dance moves at Swift gig

“Thank you Taylor Swift for a great evening,” Prince William wrote on Instagram.

Swift posted her selfie with William, George and Charlotte alongside her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce.

“Happy Bday M8,” Swift wrote on Instagram. “London shows are off to a splendid start.”

Pic: Taylor Swift/Instagram
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Taylor’s version. Pic: Taylor Swift/Instagram

William’s cousin Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall were among the star-studded crowd, which reportedly included Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan and model Cara Delevingne.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was also present as he took time off from the campaign trail to attend the first night of the London leg of Swift’s record-breaking Eras tour.

Keir Starmer with wife Victoria
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Keir Starmer with wife Victoria. Pic: Keir Starmer/X

Prince William previously shared the stage with Swift and Jon Bon Jovi for a performance of Livin’ On A Prayer for a charity event at Kensington Palace in 2013.

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Prince William performs Bon Jovi hit with Taylor Swift

Swift is performing three gigs at the 90,000-capacity London venue this weekend – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – before returning to the venue for a further five in August.

Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium as part of her Eras Tour on Friday, June 21, 2024 in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
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Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium. Pic: AP

 Taylor Swift performs her first London concert at Wembley Stadium, during the Eras Tour. Picture date: Friday June 21, 2024. Ian West/PA Wire
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Pic: PA

London has been overtaken with Taylor-mania in recent days, with the city’s iconic Tube map redrawn to celebrate her arrival.

Her hit Shake It Off was also played at the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

On Thursday it was revealed that Swift’s fans were expected to boost the London economy by £300m as the capital hosts more Eras Tour shows than any other city in the world, with nearly 640,000 people expected to attend across the eight dates.

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