HE’S the King Of Pop, she’s the Queen Of Pop, so it’s only right Kylie Minogue is the big-name collaborator on Ed Sheeran’s new album.

The pair have joined forces for the song Visiting Hours on his upcoming record, which is expected to be named Subtract.

They linked up in March when Ed made a tearful appearance in Australia at the memorial for his late music-mogul pal Michael Gudinski.

After playing a short set, he joined Kylie on stage for a rendition of her hits All The Lovers and The Locomotion.

An Ed source said: “He wrote Visiting Hours in quarantine in Australia, performed it at the gig and asked Kylie to feature on it as she was there too, with the pair having hit it off.

“The song was a dedication to Michael and Kylie felt it right to put her vocals on the track. It was a fitting tribute to the music legend and she was flattered to be asked by Ed.”

Also on the track is Aussie singer JIMMY BARNES, who played at Michael’s memorial concert too.

DITCHING BOOZE

Speaking on Ash London Live, Ed said: “Jimmy Barnes and Kylie are actually singing on that on the album now. I’ve got them singing backing vocals on it.

“From knowing Michael, they are the most important people in his life musically. He was always saying, ‘Kylie’ or ‘Jimmy Barnes’.

“When I was in Australia, I sang with Kylie and I was hanging with Jimmy Barnes and I said to them, ‘You guys have to be on the song.’

“So I got back to England, I recorded it and sent it off to them and they’re on it.

“I used to send Michael songs because he would always say, ‘You need to send me songs for Jimmy’.

“So I used to send him loads. He always wanted me to sing with Kylie and I ended up getting to sing with her.”

Last week, Ed told how his fantastic new song Bad Habits had a special meaning for him, as he had to drop some of his own by ditching booze and big nights out when he became husband to Cherry Seaborn and father to their daughter Lyra.

But Kylie — who has her own wine range — doesn’t seem to have helped matters. The pop princess sent him a crate of her new plonk, which has been flying off the shelves.

Ed said: “Kylie has just sent me a box of wine. I just got a box of Kylie wine! You know, she’s sold a million bottles of wine.

"She’s f***ing killing it. In the UK, Kylie is queen. She cannot do any wrong.
“Thank you for your wine. The sparkling rosé was lovely. Nice one.”

I wouldn’t mind a crate of that, Kylie.

COLL'S A HULL OF A LOT FITTER

COLIN FARRELL appears to be the only person who has come out of lockdown looking better.

The Hollywood actor, who turned 45 last month, went shirtless for a jog in Los Angeles and appeared better than ever.

He wore a headband to keep his hair out of his eyes, some rather snug blue shorts and trainers as he got a sweat on.

Colin recently took part in Australia’s Brisbane marathon, where he finished 222nd out of 682 runners.

The Irish star is Down Under to film Thirteen Lives, about the 2018 Thai cave rescue.

But Colin will have to make do with jogging in a slightly less glamorous backdrop when he stars with Unbroken’s Jack O’connell In BBC drama The North Water, which is set in Hull.

I know where I’d rather be for my morning run.

CHRISTIAN 'WARNED' OVER BRITNEY SONG

BRITNEY SPEARS’ 2007 hit single Piece Of Me, from fifth album Blackout, secretly revealed the torture she faced long before the #FreeBritney campaign began.

But electro dance man Christian Karlsson of Galantis, who co-wrote and produced it, had been warned not to write about what was going on behind the shiny pop queen facade when they worked together on the album.

Christian – whose Little Mix and David Guetta collab Heartbreak Anthem is enjoying a fifth week in the Top Ten – said: “Blackout is a standout pop album but it was made when I think she was not in a good headspace.

“Everyone that worked on the album was trying to help her come back in whatever way we could, which was with music.

“I was told by her label, ‘Don’t write about what’s going on with her, write other stuff’.

"I was like, ‘I have to write Piece Of Me’. I wanted her to come back and she really liked it. She was working hard on the vocals.”

A year later, she was placed under a legal conservatorship, with dad Jamie in charge of her life and money.

She told a court in America last week how she is depressed and wants it ended.

Bizbit

FANS of the GOO GOO DOLLS won’t have to wait much longer to see them.

In an exclusive chat following the release of their new record Rarities, lead singer John Rzeznik revealed the band hoped to be back playing dates here next year.

John said: “I just love being over in the UK because it’s a different audience.”

BEN IN FANTASY WORLD

HE’S already leant those commanding tones to a short film of Dungeons And Dragons – and now Benedict Cumberbatch has signed up for the real deal.

The Sherlock star has been cast in the movie version of the fantasy role-playing game.

He joins a stellar line-up that includes Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Bridgerton’s British hunk Rege-Jean Page.

A movie insider said of the actor, who voiced the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: “After narrating the animated film, Benedict couldn’t not be in the film version.

“Filming has been in the UK too, so it was convenient for him travel-wise.”

The blockbuster, which is expected to be released in 2023, has been seen shooting on location at Wells Cathedral in Somerset.

Snaps reveal a number of sword fights, rowing boats and dry ice.

There have also been sightings at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, with extras seen in the fantasy-themed costumes.

The last D&D film came in 2000 and starred Jeremy Irons and Zoe Mclellan, but it absolutely bombed.

But I can’t imagine that happening again with this line-up.

KIM'S ALL BRIGHT NOW

KIM KARDASHIAN tried a low-key approach with a black dress but then managed to stick out like a sore thumb with this bright orange jacket.

The reality star looked stunning with her jet black long hair and high-heels as she stopped to top her Rolls-Royce car up with petrol while out in California.

Her jacket costs more than £1,000 and is from her estranged husband Kanye West’s Yeezy designer label.

This comes after her rapper partner was spotted getting cosy with model Irina Shayk.

Kanye recently unfollowed Kim and her whole family on Twitter after it was revealed they would be separating.

Looks like Kim will get to keep jacket in the divorce.

HRVY CRUZ CONTROL

SINGER and Strictly Come Dancing star Hrvy is helping Victoria and David Beckham’s son Cruz get his music career off the ground by getting in the studio with him.

Hrvy, who released his single 1 Day 2 Nights earlier this month, has been friends with the teenager and his brother Romeo for years and now wants them to team up professionally.

During an exclusive chat, he said: “Romeo is so good and I know Cruz as well and he’s doing music. They’re proper lovely boys. I see them quite a lot, actually.”

Hrvy is even hoping to get Victoria back behind a microphone, 20 years after the release of her self-titled – and only – album.

He added: “We’re actually going to set up a studio day. We’re going to get around to doing it, definitely.

“And VB . . .  I’ll see if I can pull some strings."

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