Ross King: George Clooney went to the Bar… well, any excuse to get out of looking after the kids

It’s not even Halloween, yet here we are talking about the Oscars.

No wonder it feels as if the last ceremony was only a few months ago – that’s because it was!

The 2021 Oscars were delayed, meaning it’s a “short” year but it will still be packed with contenders.

Speaking of which, one may well be George Clooney. I saw him at the weekend for a very early screening of a movie called The Tender Bar.

Sadly George isn’t in it, but he directs the excellent drama just brilliantly.

Having settled down with wife Amal, it was a welcome work trip for George. He laughed as he said now he’s got twins he’ll do anything to get out of the house –meetings, directing movies – he’s up for it all!

The Tender Bar is a coming-of-age drama set in Long Island where a boy wants a replacement for his father who left shortly after his birth.

He bonds with his Uncle, played by Ben Affleck. He is superb in the role of Uncle Charlie. I wouldn’t be surprised at this stage to see both Ben and George among the Academy Award contenders come March next year.

I’ll be keeping an eye out for other Oscar contenders but last week I went to see the latest 007 movie, No Time To Die.

It looks like breaking all box office records and is being hailed as the saviour of cinema. I love it, not only does James Bond save the world, he also saves the cinema too!

It truly is a fitting end to Daniel Craig’s time as 007. I still always laugh about the time when I chatted with him, I like to think my insightful questions quite impressed him.

For instance I asked why when he says: “My name is Bond. James Bond” why no one has ever replied: “Bond James Bond is a funny name”.

Another two of my favourite actors will be appearing in the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody which will hit cinemas in December 2022.

Stanley Tucci will play legendary music mogul Clive Davis, and Clarke Peters will play Whitney’s father, John Houston.

London-born Naomi Ackie, who was in Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, will star as Whitney. I still think of watching Whitney perform in the round at the SECC back in the ’80s. She was just so magical on stage.

Talking of hit-makers, congrats to my old (but very young) pal, David Stewart. Following on from the phenomenal success he’s had writing worldwide hits What A Man Gotta Do for the Jonas Bros and BTS’s Dynamite, he’s gone and done it again!

This time he’s written a song alongside his hero, Max Martin. Swedish-born Max has been responsible for 24 No. 1 hits, including Britney’s Baby One More Time, Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way, Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl, Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off and many, many more!

He’s now the songwriter with the third most No. 1 hits behind only Lennon and McCartney! Will Who’s In Your Head, another Jonas Brother’s song, be Max’s 25th hit? Good luck, David!