The Sun – UK

A MOTORS whizz has revealed ten motorcycle mods that can upgrade your bike as he cried “I’m a big fan of this gamechanger”. YouTuber FortNine took to the platform to share the revolutionising top tips. A YouTuber shared his top tips for transforming a motorcycle MOVING MIRRORS Breaking mirrors is a common concern among bike enthusiasts particularly off road bikers. FortNine says: “When you off road a lot they’re just disposable.” But, fortunately he has found a “hideously effective” solution in the form of Doubletake Indestructible Motorcycle Mirrors with RAM Mount Components. The mirror hinges being on a mount means it can take “a good whack” and also “pivot out of the way”. LIGHTWEIGHT BATTERY FortNine’s next trick is to lose weight from the bike’s centre of gravity and says riders should be “salivating at the performance gains”. He suggests buying a lithium battery which is “one fifth the weight” of the battery that comes with most bikes. They are also “half the size and easier to slot into custom bikes.” DIFFERENT SPROCKETS Typically a driver must choose between steel or aluminium sprockets but FortNine reveals Moose Dual Rear Sprockets are the best option. “Less weight for your engine to spin means more horsepower,” he said. He added: “The game changer is to have light aluminium on the inside and strong steel on the outside to wear against your chain.” WATER FILTRATION The Sawyer Mini Water Filtration will enable you to be able to safely drink from the nearest stream, according to the YouTuber. He said the filter is fine enough to stop nearly everything and “should last through 100,000 gallons, meaning you can purify all your daily drinking water while you ride.” DIGITAL DASHBOARDS The next way to upgrade your motorcycle is through a TrailTech Digital Dashboard. FortNine said most new bikes come with the swanky dashboard but “anyone on an older machine is getting sick of staring at the ravages of time. “TrailTech makes neat tiny gages to replace the stock set up on any bike.” SEAT HEATING “If you’re looking a a heated seat you’re looking at a £30,000 motorcycle,” the YouTuber says before he adds: “Not so.” “Saddlemen makes a universal kit that will turn your rusty piece of s*** into a luxury touring spa.” He adds: “The element goes underneath your seat cover and is carbon fibre so the heat distribution is even.” SECURITY SYSTEM FortNine’s final luxury mod is the Scorpio SRX-950 Hands-Free Security System. “You can add this to any bike for a few hundred bucks and it will rival the system on a $30,000 motorcycle.” RISERS FortNine believes you need this feature to have “basic comfort” while riding. He says Rox risers are “the single biggest thing you can do to make your bike fit”. He adds: “Stock bars only lean forward and back, rRx risers fill the stock clamp and hold the bar above, so now I have two pivot points.” WARM HANDS To stop hand from freezing in the winter FortNine recommends the Givi Universal Semirigid Hands Cover. He says: “I’ve had these on snowmobiles in the past and man do they keep your fingers warm. Anything that looks this dorky must work brilliantly.” TIRES The final tip given by the petrolhead is to invest in Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41 Tires. This is an “aesthetic” mod that can replace “boring donut” tires. “This is designed like a scrambler tire which looks wild”, he says but added that it’s actually an average tire and is available in average sizes meaning anyone can “throw a set on and start turning heads.” Most affordable motorbike BMW F650GS –  £3500 Ducati Monster 620ie – £3000 Aprilia Mana 850 – £2500 Suzuki Bandit 650 – £2000 Yamaha Fazer 600 – £2500 hHonda CBR600F – £2000

LENNY Henry has shared the secrets behind his impressive three stone weight loss. The 65-year-old previously stunned fans when he showed off his body transformation. Lenny opened up about the secrets behind his three stone weight loss He revealed all during an interview with Virgin Radio’s Chris EvansVirgin Radio Now comedian Lenny has revealed how he did it. During an interview with Chris Evans on Virgin Radio, he said: “I do yoga, I don’t eat what I used to. My family was… ‘if you leave anything, you’re sleeping outside’. So we used to have to eat everything mum put on your plate. I love to eat but I’m diabetic so I had to.” Lenny also confessed it was while filming a series that he got into working out. He continued: “We’d do training in the morning and more training in the evening. We had six weeks of rehearsals and by the end of that six weeks I’d lost a stone. I thought, ‘I might as well carry on doing this’. “My doctor said, ‘You’ve got to start watching what you eat now’. I was going to the gym two or three times a week and it wasn’t coming off, it was to do with what goes in your gob.” Last month it was revealed Lenny was stepping down from hosting Comic Relief after 39 years. In a statement ahead of the most recent live show, he said: “I have decided this will be the last time I host Comic Relief on the night. “Only because I have been doing it since the 90s – and I think it is time for someone else to take the reins.” Lenny confirmed he will continue as Honorary Life President of Comic Relief – a role he has held since 2017. He told BBC News: “I think it needs new blood, and I’m definitely old blood. So it’s time for change. “This is a good time to part ways and to allow a new generation to take the baton and move the whole thing on a bit.” Lenny’s replacement is yet to be revealed. However, he is usually joined on the night by co-hosts like Davina McCall, David Tennant, Paddy McGuinness and Maya Jama, so one of them may step into the main host role. Speaking about who could replace Lenny, Richard Curtis – who co-founded Comic Relief with Lenny in 1985 – told the BBC: “As life president of Comic Relief, I’m excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter.”

A MAN found a dusty old guitar hidden in his dad’s damp attic – only for it to turn out to be worth £600,000 thanks to its wood markings. The 12-string guitar had been lying unused in the loft at a secret address in the English countryside for more than 50 years. The Mega AgencyThis guitar may look fairly ordinary[/caption] AF ArchiveBut it once belonged to Beatles legend John Lennon[/caption] The Mega AgencyThe guitar is now up for auction in New York[/caption] Its owner had assumed he’d lost the guitar – until his son found it while they were moving house. A check by experts revealed the guitar could fetch more than half a million at auction – because it was once played by John Lennon. The music legend and his fellow Beatle George Harrison both played the guitar in sessions for the band’s albums Help! and Rubber Soul. Lennon also used the instrument to play the rhythm guitar part on much-loved Beatles track Norwegian Wood. Auctioneer Darren Julien said: “Finding this remarkable instrument is like finding a lost Rembrandt or Picasso. “It still looks and plays like a dream after having been preserved in an attic for more than 50 years.” Julien added: “To awaken this sleeping beauty is a sacred honour.” Lennon had given the guitar to 1960s pop star Gordon Waller, who gifted it to its current owner. Every guitar has a unique “woodgrain” like a person’s fingerprint – and the attic instrument’s woodgrain matched Lennon’s old guitar. Julien told the Guardian: “Not only is the woodgrain a perfect match to the guitar that John and George are playing. “So is the pickguard, which can be exactly photo-matched. The guitar has been undisturbed for approximately five decades. “It is in the exact condition that it was when John and George played it.” The guitar will go up for auction on May 29 and 30 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. Auctioneer Julien said he expects the guitar to smash its guide price of $800,000 (£637,988). How to spot valuable hidden gems in YOUR attic IT'S worth having a dig around your attic for forgotten items as you they could be worth millions of pounds. Dusting off your cases of vinyl or your old favourite comic books from childhood could earn you a fortune. We’ve spoken to antiques and collectables experts in the know to see how much your old junk could be worth. For example, an old cassette tape you have lying around could bag you as much as £3,740. Or a 1985 video game could cash in for a whopping £1.6million. Bear in mind that an antique is only worth what the bidder is willing to pay, and some are of course more highly sought after than others. So what items are collectors looking for? Here’s what to look out for in your loft. Comic books – up to £5.3million Video games – £1.6million Vinyl albums – £1,000 Cassette tapes – £3,700 Toys – £20,000 Posters – £3,500 Find out more here.

LUKE LITTLER sent the Aberdeen crowd wild tonight as the teen sensation booked his play-off spot by winning on Premier League Darts Night 14. The Nuke showed his brilliance once again with a 6-4 Rob Cross victory in a thrilling final. And as a result, not only has Littler maintained his spot at the top of the leaderboards, but fans will get to see him at the play-offs in London. Premier League Darts standings BEST DARTS BETTING SITES FOR UK PUNTERS IN 2024 Follow all the action with our live blog below…

A CAR dealer with 43 years of experience has revealed his top tips on how to save thousands on your new motor. Ray Shefska and his son Zach used their popular YouTube show to explain how to secure the best deals for your brand new car. YouTubeExperienced car dealer Ray Shefska urged drivers to follow his advice[/caption] YouTubeHe talked through the process completely with his son Zach[/caption] Speaking on the CarEdge YouTube channel, Ray told drivers how to buy or lease a new car and save money in the process. Ray, who has spent more than four decades in the industry, urged new motorists to be careful with their language when sending an e-mail to a dealership. As reported by many consumers, dealers were often reluctant to answer questions about the motor on sale and tried to dodge these. The motors pro said that you need to be firm and send a follow-up email which will make them budge. Ray said: “You have to push back as regardless of what you request in the first e-mail that you send, the dealer is not going to honour that request by providing you with the information you asked for. “Dealer personnel have been trained to set up appointments and be as vague as they possibly can.” Ray and Zach showed users their completely free e-mail templates which help motorists bag a car for the best price. The father-and-son duo went through an example message where they established exactly what you should tell a dealer. Ray said: “First establish you are in their area and they need to take this seriously as you are looking for a car. “Specifying that you know the lot number and how many days it has been sitting on the lot is beneficial. “It shows you are a bit of a savvier buyer than most people.” Zach says you should include your zipcode (a postcode in the UK) so that dealers can figure out local fees and taxes. He added: “A lot of people don’t want to share any information with the dealer but some things can be beneficial.” Ray then continued and said that you need to “give the dealer options” and a timeframe. This could include telling any dealer that you would entertain a pre-owned or retired service loaner if it would offer the appropriate savings. Ray said: “You’re letting them know that a deal could be done quickly in a month, and this will get them a guaranteed sale. “Getting a car off their books as quick as possible is very attractive.” The motors experts then ran through an example ‘follow up e-mail’ that you could use when dealers did not provide satisfactory information. You can bargain for a price reduction based on how long the car has been sitting in a lot, with costs racking up quickly for the dealer. Ray added: “Letting the dealer know that there is only 500 bucks standing between them and a deal will usually speed up the process and save you money.” As always, social media users were quick to take to the comments section to share their thoughts on the handy video. One YouTuber wrote: “I offered my dealer $35k less than their list on an EV, they laughed but the listing keeps going down. It will get to my price before the year ends!” Another said: “This week I used a lot of what I learned on this channel to get $8k off sticker and 1.9% on the truck I’ve been eyeing for two years.” While a third commented: “CarEdge for me is making the process of purchasing a new car fun like a shopping experience is supposed to be! Thank you guys for sharing such insightful information.” CarEdge doesn’t just sell cars – there are webpages upon webpages with helpful tips on how to negotiate pricing, best cars for the price, how to buy a used car, and so much more. Their YouTube is full of videos that answer every possible question that could come up during the process, and every Monday and Friday both Ray and Zach host a live Q&A session for viewers to ask questions. It comes after a car expert warned drivers how a popular cleaning hack could cost them hundreds. And this motor guru shared a newly popular “scam” on Facebook Marketplace that has drivers worried. CarEdgeThe father and son duo run the channel on YouTube[/caption]

Girls really do just want to have fun, just ask Dua Lipa. Today the pop star dropped her much anticipated third studio album, Radical Optimism, and there’s no other way to put it: this record is a bop. GettyGirls really do just want to have fun, just ask Dua Lipa – she is in talks with Cyndi Lauper about joining her at Glastonbury[/caption] Cyndi Lauper is also playing the Pyramid StageRex The timing of the album couldn’t be more crucial for Dua, who is about to embark on the biggest summer of her career to date – with a headline slot on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury just eight weeks away. As well as performing some of her biggest hits, including Levitating and New Rules, at Worthy Farm, Dua will play brilliant new tracks from her album including catchy songs End Of An Era and Falling Forever – which, when you hear them, I guarantee will be stuck in your head for days. Insiders told me how Dua was going all out for her big moment. And while her new tunes will resonate with her fans, she is in talks with legend Cyndi Lauper to come out as a special guest. A source said: “Dua is raring to go for Glastonbury and she can’t wait for people to hear her new music. “She knows the record will strike a chord with her fans but for the old school muso’s at the Farm, she wants a touch of nostalgia. “Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, who worked on Radical Optimism with Dua is another. “She wants this set to go down in history.” Straight to the No1 Dua’s work ethic, passed down to her from her mother and father, who fled Kosovo as refugees in the 1990s as war broke out, is impressive. She has grafted, like us, and worked her way up from being a waitress in a bar to being one of the UK’s most successful pop exports. Radical Optimism should go straight to the No1 spot on Friday, but with record-breaker Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, still holding strong – Dua may find herself resigned to being a runner up. But if that is the case, it is, by far, only bad luck which will keep her from landing a second No1 album following 2020’s Levitating. The lyricism on Dua’s new 11-track record is some of her best work yet and she has clearly poured her heart into the songs. Happy For You is by far my favourite song and tells the story of seeing your ex find love again – a reality many of us can relate to. Lyrics on the track include: “I must have loved you more than I ever knew, I am happy for you. “Looking back now I hope you see it, even the hard parts were for the best “I see where you’re at now, you picked up the pieces and gave them to somebody else.” While End Of An Era, which is nailed on to become the next single after the already released Houdini, Training Season and Illusion, is the perfect soundtrack for this summer. Like Taylor, Dua doesn’t shy away from her own personal relationships on the record. While she is loved up with British actor Callum Turner, tracks like French Exit and These Walls hint at her break ups with American model Anwar Hadid and Parisian born film director Romain Gavras. Lyrically, it’s Dua’s strongest and emotionally mature album yet – but is tinged with the catchy beats and melodic guitar riffs she has become best known for. Welcome back, Dua. It’s been worth the wait.

LESLEY Joseph has revealed the very surprising reason why Birds Of A Feather’s first episode racked up 300 Ofcom complaints. 90s sitcom legend Lesley, 78, left Jo Brand stunned with the revelation when they spoke on Open The Box, the comedian’s new four-week series on Boom Radio. AlamyBirds Of A Feather’s first episode racked up 300 Ofcom complaints[/caption] She told how her co-star Pauline Quirke, 64, who played Sharon Theodopolopodous on the BBC show, had come under fire for using the mild expletive, “bloody”. In a preview shared exclusively with The Sun, the actress explains, “There were about 300 complaints after the first episode because Pauline said ‘bloody’. “We’re talking about 1989, so it’s a long way back but it hit the ground running. We loved working with each other. The one thing we could always do is time gags and it just really took off.” The pair starred alongside Linda Robson, whose character was Tracey Stubbs, on the hit programme. But we previously revealed Linda and Pauline suffered several backstage barneys on Birds Of A Feather before the Hackney-native was “snubbed” from the 2020 Christmas special. A source close to Linda said the atmosphere on set between Pauline and the cast became more hostile. The insider said: “The nadir came during one astonishing row at Teddington Studios, culminating in Pauline and Lesley squaring off. “They were basically pulled apart by stunned crew members. Things went rapidly downhill from there.” Linda explained that she and Lesley weren’t ready to stop filming despite Pauline’s being missing from the show. Speaking out about her relationship with Pauline previously, Linda shrugged off suggestions they’d stopped speaking. Instead she insisted Pauline was busy focusing on her work with The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, which she set up while Birds of a Feather was off-air. Linda said “People say Pauline and I have fallen out. Obviously I couldn’t see her during lockdown but I’ve seen her since. “She just doesn’t want to act anymore. She’s had enough – it’s long hours.” Birds of a Feather initially ran on BBC One from 1989 to 1998, with a reboot airing on ITV between 2014 and 2020. Tune in to Jo Brand’s interview with Lesley Joseph on Boom Radio on Sunday May 5th, at 9pm. GettyLesley Joseph has revealed the very surprising reason why[/caption] Freemantle Media UKPauline Quirke was absent from the 2020 special[/caption]

ON JUNE 15, 2022, much of the cast for Jerry Seinfeld’s new movie Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story was announced. Seinfeld is set to make his feature directorial debut with Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story. NetflixUnfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story stars Melissa McCarthy as Donna Stankowski, Jerry Seinfeld as Bob Cabana, and Jim Gaffigan as Edsel Kellogg II[/caption] Who is in the cast? The Hollywood Reporter announced the star-studded ensemble cast that will star in Seinfeld’s upcoming movie. Jerry Seinfeld GettyJerry Seinfeld is set to star in, direct, and produce Unfrosted[/caption] Jerry Seinfeld is a legendary comedian and actor. He became a household name in 1989 after the premiere of his eponymous sitcom based on his stand-up comedy acts. The comedian is set to star in, direct, and produce Unfrosted, which he co-wrote with Spike Feresten and Barry Marder. Seinfeld created and wrote the show with comedian Larry David. Melissa McCarthy Actress Melissa McCarthy is set to star in Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart StoryGetty Images - Getty Melissa McCarthy will star in the upcoming film about the history of Pop-Tarts. She is a famous comedian and actress known for many of her roles in hit movies. Most recently McCarthy starred in the Netflix series God’s Favorite Idiot alongside her husband Ben Falcone. Jim Gaffigan Jim Gaffigan attends the Sloan Science On Screen award screening of Linoleum on April 26, 2022Getty Images - Getty Jim Gaffigan is a comedian known for his role in the 2015 series The Jim Gaffigan Show. Many regard him as a “clean comic” as his work is very family-friendly. He also worked on the Disney film Luca, in 2021. Gaffigan also appeared on the hit TV show That ’70s Show. Amy Schumer Amy Schumer is a comedian and actress who is starring in the film Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart StoryGetty Images - Getty Amy Schumer has also been announced as part of the cast of the project. She is a stand-up comedian and actress known for her crass jokes and unapologetic style. Schumer broke out in 2013 with her sketch comedy show Inside Amy Schumer. The comedian has also starred in several movies and shows including Trainwreck, I Feel Pretty, and Life and Beth. Hugh Grant Hugh Grant attends the EE British Academy Film Awards in April 2021Getty Images - Getty Hugh Grant is an award-winning English actor. He is set to join Seinfeld’s project to tell the story of how Pop-Tarts came to be a breakfast staple. Grant is widely recognized for his role in the hit 1990s film Notting Hill alongside Julia Roberts. The actor has also starred in Bridget Jones’s Diary, Love Actually, Music and Lyrics, and more. James Marsden James Marsden is joining the cast of Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart StoryGetty Images James Marsden is another actor who will join the above cast for the story of Pop-Tarts. The actor is known widely as a rom-com actor who has starred in movies like The Notebook, Enchanted, Sonic the Hedgehog, Hairspray, and more. Marsden has also appeared in many TV shows including The Nanny, Westworld, and 30 Rock. Jack McBrayer Image Press Agency/The Mega AgencyJack McBrayer arrives at the Los Angeles premiere Of Netflix’s Unfrosted held at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on April 30, 2024[/caption] Jack McBrayer is an actor who gained prominence for his role as Kenneth Parcell in 30 Rock. He also played a lead role alongside Mariah Carey in her 2008 music video for the song Touch My Body. McBrayer is also the voice behind Fix-It Felix Jr. throughout the Wreck-It Ralph series. Since 2024, he has hosted the HGTV show Zillow Gone Wild. Christian Slater Image Press Agency/The Mega AgencyChristian Slater at the Los Angeles premiere Of Netflix’s Unfrosted on April 30, 2024[/caption] Christian Slater garnered national attention after his role as JD in the 1980s movie Heathers. The native New Yorker went on to star in high-profile movies like True Romance and Broken Arrow. He is now a father of three and is expecting a fourth child with his wife of over 10 years, Brittany Lopez. Bill Burr Image Press Agency/The Mega AgencyBill Burr poses for photos at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s Unfrosted on April 30, 2024, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California[/caption] Bill Burr is a comedian and actor known for his comedy specials, You People Are All the Same, and Bill Burr: Live at Red Rocks. Burr has acted in the TV series Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian. He also hosts Bill’s Monday Morning Podcast. In 2021, he came under fire for comments he made about the American news network CNN. Daniel Levy Amy Sussman/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty ImagesDan Levy attends the after party for the premiere of Netflix’s Good Grief on December 19, 2023, in Los Angeles, California[/caption] Daniel Levy is best known for his role in the sitcom Emmy Award-winning sitcom Schitt’s Creek. Since the show ended in 2020, he wrote, directed, and starred in the Netflix comedy-drama Good Grief. According to IMDb, he is an Emmy Award-winning showrunner, writer, actor, director, and producer. Sarah Cooper Image Press Agency/The Mega AgencyComedian Sarah Cooper on the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of Netflix’s Unfrosted on April 30, 2024, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California[/caption] Sarah Cooper is a comedian, speaker, and author. She went viral after posting a series of TikTok videos mimicking former United States president Donald Trump. In 2020, the comedian starred in her first Netflix special, called Everything’s Fine. The Mega AgencyUnfrosted will tell the story of how Kellogg’s and Post battled to create a breakfast staple[/caption] When does Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story release? Seinfeld will star, in addition to co-writing and directing the film. The movie will be released on Netflix on May 3, 2024. Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story is set in Michigan in 1963 and will tell the story of how Kellogg’s and Post battled to create a breakfast staple.

AN epic TV and film reunion is taking place in London with a whole host of stars that anyone can be a part of. Some of the biggest TV and movie stars will be getting together for a rather special live event. You could meet Rupert Grint at an upcoming fan eventAlamy GettyFormer Bond Girl Denise Richards will also be there[/caption] AlamyAs will teen TV heartthrob David Boreanaz[/caption] Harry Potter legend Rupert Grint, famous for his role as Ron Weasley, will be among the A-list guests at the London Film and Comic Con this July. Fans will be able to flock to the event to meet stars and relish in browsing memorabilia from the iconic shows and movies they were a part of. As well as Rupert, iconic Bond Girl Denise Richards will also be making an appearance at the live event. Denise famously played Bond girl Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough. Her other Noughties hits include roles in 2003 movies Scary Movie 3 and Love Actually. In recent years, she has become recognisable to TV viewers thanks to her reality TV appearances, most notably on The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills. David Boreanaz, much loved for his role in teen classic Buffy The Vampire Slayer will also be among the guests. Taking place at Olympia London on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th & Sunday the 7th of July, any one can be at the event and mingling with the biggest stars of the 2000s. A teaser synopsis for the event reads: a whole host of fun activities including photo shoots, panels, autograph sessions and hundreds of stalls full of TV and Film memorabilia to browse. Tickets for the event begin at £16.00 for entry into the venue. However, these prices significantly rise if you want to take a snap with a VIP star. A standard autograph is expected to set you back £120. Fans can even purchase a “diamond pass” in order to guarantee the chance to meet a certain star at the event. This also comes at a cost with these tickets costing a whopping £245. GettyThe Harry Potter legend will be mingling with his fans[/caption] GettyDenise is jetting into London from the US for the event[/caption] AlamyDavid will send fans into a tailspin at the event[/caption]

“WHEN I see old footage of myself from those days I think, ‘That guy really doesn’t know what he’s doing’.” Over lunch in a country pub in Sussex, singer Tom Chaplin is reminiscing about the early days of Keane. Jesse Quin, Richard Hughes, Tim Rice-Oxley and Tom Chaplin are heading out on their 20th anniversary tourAlex Lake Back in the early days, Tom, Tim and Richard in2004Alamy AlamyTim, Tom and Richard in enjoying the weather in Amsterdam in 2004[/caption] He says: “We were a curious mixture of being ambitious, with idols who were very big and successful bands and, at the same time, we were self-conscious, self-deprecating and very unsure of ourselves. “Thank God there wasn’t social media back then.” Nodding in agreement, keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley says: “I cringe too, and we were never organised about how we presented ourselves. We did what came instinctively, but it was such a ride.” Next week, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut album, Hopes And Fears, they will put out a special reissue, and tonight they kick off their world tour at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. Chaplin, Rice-Oxley, drummer Richard Hughes and bassist Jesse Quin, who officially joined the band in 2007, are looking forward to being out on the road again. “Touring was very different to how it is today,” says Chaplin. “For the first Hopes And Fears tour we rented a van and I had loads of cushions stacked up around me in the back to stop the equipment falling on top of me. I remember we played our first gig in Amsterdam and I thought ‘Wow, we’ve gone international’. “It wasn’t very safe but when you’re that age, you don’t give a s**t. “Tim and Richard were at the front sharing the driving as I was too young to drive the van. I couldn’t snooze either as I had to make sure the driver was awake. “I remember we played our first gig in Amsterdam and I thought ‘Wow, we’ve gone international’.” Their dream back then was to one day play arenas. Rice-Oxley says: “We thought that might only happen after ten years, though. In those days we were excited to be playing the [London pub and venue] Bull And Gate. “I remember in 2004 we played the Kentish Town Forum, which is about 2,000 capacity, and we thought that was massive. “We thought of it as a process that we were starting and this was the first step, but more and more people kept turning up to our gigs.” Early songs written for the album included She Has No Time, This Is The Last Time and Bedshaped, but it was only when original guitarist Dominic Scott left in 2001, that Keane found their piano-driven sound. Rice-Oxley recalls: “We desperately wanted to be Radiohead and Dominic wanted us to be U2.” The Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter, who had turned down an invitation to be Coldplay’s keyboardist in 1997, adds: “We were a guitar band and I was the bass player, but I only learned the bass to be in the band. “Keyboards are where I felt most comfortable. It took us a while to find our way together as we were still very young at that point.” Emotional reach Chaplin adds: “We were a very conventional guitar band. Like a lot of other indie bands that were on the circuit at the time. But then Dominic left and the new sound became a signature of what we were like. “It seemed that not having a guitarist was a brilliantly conceived plan, but it was just by necessity. The piano was doing so much of the work that a guitar would normally do. “When Dominic left, it forced our hands into doing something more unconventional.” It was signing a record deal with Island Records in the summer of 2003 that “unlocked a whole other layer,” says Chaplin. “It went from nobody really being interested to Steve Lamacq playing the Fierce Panda Records single of Everybody’s Changing on the radio and then it was doing the tour of all the labels and then they were schmoozing us.” The head of the label told us they expected us to sell a million records by the end of the year. We thought they were having a laugh. How do Keane feel the tracks on Hopes And Fears have aged? Chaplin says: “The songs on Hopes And Fears have a grand and far-reaching quality to them. They’re classic songs with an emotional reach. “Back then hearing it on the radio piped across the airwaves, it sounded great. “It made us think, maybe we do deserve a place at the table. “I remember when I first heard This Is The Last Time thinking this is a real step-up for Tim’s writing.” Rice-Oxley adds: “I remember writing Everybody’s Changing at my mum and dad’s and doing this Thom Yorke-esque whining over the top, and then our publisher loved it and told me to finish that one so that was our homework.” Island bosses could see Keane’s potential even if the band couldn’t quite believe what they were being told. Chaplin admits: “The head of the label told us they expected us to sell a million records by the end of the year. “We thought they were having a laugh. But they clearly knew what they were talking about.” Singles Somewhere Only We Know and Bend And Break helped Hopes And Fears became the second best-selling album of 2004, behind the Scissor Sisters.  It went nine times platinum and was the ninth highest-selling album of the 21st century in the UK, also earning itself a Brit Award for Best Album. Rice-Oxley says: “It didn’t feel at all real. The label knew after the first day it was going to be massive. “I remember one exec saying, ‘Oh by the way, the album has already gone platinum’. After the first day.” By that point the band had been together almost ten years, having formed while still at school in 1995.  Chaplin says: “It was a very heady feeling. People thought we’d suddenly just arrived fully formed, but it was after years of being s**t. We’d learned how to get better. “We were used to bad news and knockbacks, so to be bombarded with all this good news felt absurd and surreal.” Rice-Oxley cites the 2004 Glastonbury Festival and going to the US as favourite memories from the album’s release. He says: “Glastonbury was such a big deal because you could see people in the crowd, which you can’t in a dark venue. They were definitely there. And going to America we were meeting all these names because we were signed to Interscope.” Bulletproof Chaplin says: “We got schmoozed by [label founder] Jimmy Iovine and hung out with Trent Reznor at his house.” Rice-Oxley refers to this as the “golden period” when Keane could do no wrong. But they found it tough when criticism inevitably came their way. Chaplin says: “The way people laid into us for being posh and calling us bedwetters is funny now, but back then we were thin-skinned. “What does music for bedwetters even mean? “I think we were true to ourselves and people thought we were posher than we were. I remember the first time I’d heard anything bad about us… the reviewer said, ‘I am sick of bands who want to be another Radiohead’. “I was criticised because of the way I looked and it’s something you only get better at dealing with with age. We weren’t bulletproof then and were much more sensitive.” Rice-Oxley adds: “It’s all about wanting validation. You’re on the radio, on TV and even in the cool magazines then suddenly you reach critical mass and people turn on you. “I remember the first time I’d heard anything bad about us, I was sat listening to a radio roundtable with my mum and dad and the reviewer said, ‘I am sick of bands who want to be another Radiohead’. “We were fair game.” Chaplin, who in the past struggled with drug addiction, added: “For me, there was a dangerous cocktail of stuff that happened so fast. “I was so insecure and thought the success of the band would fix the way I felt inside. In some ways, it does. But it’s temporary. “As well as the adulation, there’s also the paranoia. I remember thinking everywhere I went that people were talking or laughing about me, which is unnerving.” As well as dark times, there has been plenty of fun along the way. Chaplin says: “We’ve had loads of high points, Live 8 was pretty mad. Macca at the side of the stage singing along and then touring with U2 and the Grammy’s after party, which was mad. “I was holding court with Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Dr Dre and Green Day. I may have been a bit pissed and talking absolute crap but it was fun.” Special magic Rice-Oxley says: “Whenever we go out together, we are laughing and now it’s the best time to be in Keane. We all feel good about the band.” Songs from Hopes And Fears are still a huge part of Keane’s live shows, but not just the biggest hits. Chaplin says: “I love Bend And Break. It’s our battle cry. It reminds me of not being sure of what was going to happen with the band.” Bedshaped is particularly special to Rice-Oxley, who says: “It takes me back to when we were playing bigger shows. You’d have groups of big lads, like the football fans, and they loved Bedshaped. “They’d have their arms around each other at the end of the gig. Slightly scary-looking dudes all bellowing at the top of their lungs and crying. I love that. There is something about that song that has a light to it.” Chaplin adds: “There’s always been a special magic to Keane through Tim’s writing and my singing. And I’m singing better than ever. Streaming has opened our music to a younger audience. When I look out there’s a new layer of fans. And there are about 100 new songs already. “Friendship is central to this band and the difficult times, the fallouts, the resentments — a lot of the baggage has been offloaded. “I can really see why so many bands implode but my friendship with Tim is such a fundamental relationship in my life.” It’s been five years since Keane released comeback album Cause And Effect, after a four-year hiatus. Is a new album on the horizon? Chaplin answers: “We were slightly circumspect about doing 20 years of Hopes And Fears as we are slightly cautious about nostalgia. AlamyNext week, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut album, Hopes And Fears, they will put out a special reissue[/caption] Alamy‘I remember we played our first gig in Amsterdam and I thought ‘Wow, we’ve gone international,’ says Tom[/caption] “Streaming has opened our music to a younger audience. When I look out there’s a new layer of fans. And there are about 100 new songs already.” Rice-Oxley adds: “As much as we’d love to make another album, we are too busy touring. And I’m always very torn because I feel a lot of imposter syndrome. I never think, ‘I’m just going to pop in the studio and turn out a couple more hits’.” Chaplin smiles: “That’s the thing with Tim, though, he always does.” Keane’s UK tour starts tonight at Leeds First Direct Arena, playing two nights at London’s O2 on May 10 and 11. Keane’s 20 Hopes And Fears album is released on May 10. Alex LakeHopes And Fears album is released on May 10[/caption] KEANE Hopes And Fears (20th anniversary) ★★★★★