Never mind the b*****ks, I predict a riot

John Lydon seems determined to ruin any chance of another “summer of love”. The Sex Pistol, who dealt brusquely with unwanted attention from Duffy, the Welsh songstress (People, June 18), has been accused of provoking a rock star ruck during a festival in Barcelona.

Kele Okereke, the singer with Bloc Party, claims that he was left with severe facial bruising and a split lip after an altercation with Lydon’s entourage. Ricky Wilson, the Kaiser Chiefs’ frontman, intervened on Okereke’s behalf. The Bloc Party man reported the incident to police, claiming that he was subjected to a racially motivated attack.

“It’s not an issue of the physical assault, even though it was unprovoked, it is the fact that race was brought into the matter so readily,” he says. Lydon, who claims the allegations are untrue, tells Okereke: “Grow up and learn to be a true man. When you have achieved as much as I have, come back and talk to me.” Okereke says that he approached Lydon as a fan. Duffy could have warned him to steer clear.

Despite spending the year on the bench, Robbie Williams has been forced out of the ITV Soccer Aid charity game at Wembley on September 7. “I’m gutted that this time round my knee isn’t up to it, so unfortunately I’m out of the game,” the singer says. Strikers seeking a big-money transfer are often afflicted with a dodgy knee. His place will go to Alan Shearer - or Gareth Gates.

Technology is still baffling the office of one of Labour’s more traditional representatives. Constituents were greeted with this message: “You’ve reached the office of Stephen Pound, MP for Ealing North. I’m sorry there’s no one here to take your call at the moment - oh no, that’s not right, is it? How do I cancel it? [BEEP]” Good luck getting hold of him over the recess.

A role model with mystique

The Face: Alesha Dixon

When the fleetingly popular girl trio Mis-Teeq disbanded in 2005, few imagined that Alesha Dixon would emerge as a mainstream star and current affairs commentator.

The rise, fall and rise again of Dixon, 29, has continued after she signed a worldwide record deal covering “touring, merchandise and brand partnership” with Warner Music.

One of seven children, Dixon left her degree course for pop success. Mis-Teeq put a British spin on US R&B and catapulted Dixon into a short-lived marriage to MC Harvey, of So Solid Crew.

Her career was revitalised after winning Strictly Come Dancing.

An articulate role model for black British youth, she has been on Andrew Neil’s This Week and presented a film about body image tyranny. She will replace Madonna on Warner’s roster.

Postscript

— The young and modish wing of People likes to go to festivals and report back on which MPs are getting down with the people. This weekend: Geoff Hoon at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, where he was watching Blondie, but “not really dancing very much”. Still, a few more trend points than David Cameron’s appearance at Cornbury where he watched Paul Simon recently.

— Doing nothing to harm the world-domination plans of Ricky Gervais, his award-winning comedy The Office is to be remade for Russian TV. “This time it’s a big one - Russia!” pipes Ricky on his blog. “I can’t wait for production to start on that one.” No confirmation as yet of rumours that the show is to be set in the former offices of the KGB.

— Christie’s auction house has emerged triumphant in the battle to win the rights to sell the staggering art collection of Yves St Laurent, the late fashion designer, reports The First Post. Sotheby’s was the favourite but François Pinault, the billionaire head of Christie’s, is said to have pulled out all the stops in convincing YSL’s companion and heir Pierre Bergé to fall in with them. “Pinault is a very charming and highly persuasive man,” said First Post’s source, which definitely makes him sound a little bit sinister.

— Has Christian Bale been hanging around with Guy Ritchie and his mob? We detected a distinctive mockney twang at the premiere of The Dark Knight Returns yesterday.

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