We’re catching our breath here at Metro after a tumultuous year of showbiz that took us by surprise at every turn. Whether it was Simon Cowell sticking the knife in, prostitutes or some unexpected celebrity offspring, it was one hell of a bumpy ride. Here’s our pick of the five biggest shockers to rock 2011:
1: Nation’s favourite Cheryl Cole suffered one of the most humiliating public betrayals in showbiz history. Her one-time pal Simon Cowell pulled the rug on Chez’s US dream after deciding she looked too ‘bewildered’ for Tinseltown. But the 28-year-old Geordie had the last laugh after being snapped up to star in her first film, What To Expect When You’re Expecting.
2: The curse of US sitcom Two And A Half Men struck again when Charlie Sheen was booted off the show after his private life descended into a haze of prostitutes and gibberish. The 46-year-old was happy to be laughed at when he embarked on a bizarre roadshow. But his loss was Ashton Kutcher’s gain after he snapped up the $1million-an-episode sitcom role. Things were going swimmingly for 33-year-old Kutcher until affair rumours emerged and he was ditched by his wife of six years, Demi Moore.
3: Plenty of famous babes made their arrival in 2011 including the Beckhams’ first girl, Harper Seven.
But the biggest surprise was when Hugh Grant announced he’d become a first-time father at 51.
His little girl was born after a ‘fleeting’ romance with Chinese actress Tinglan Hong.
4: Not even Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Kelly Rowland could stop the rot of The X Factor in 2011 after the departure of Simon Cowell and his popular aides, Cheryl and Dannii. Headlines included shock eviction twists, feuds and a cocaine-addled departure for Frankie Cocozza before order was finally restored when girlband Little Mix become the first group winners.
5: The world was rocked by the untimely passing of Amy Winehouse at the age of 27. The Back To Black singer died after an alcohol binge but still topped the charts with Lioness – a collection of unreleased songs. Her memory will also live on in the Amy Winehouse Foundation, set up by her father, Mitch.