Counting down the hours to the Canadian premiere of Billy Elliot, Sir Elton John and David Furnish danced through CTV’s 299 Queen Street campus today, discussing all the latest events in their lives and their anticipation for the Toronto production of the Tony Award ®-winning stage sensation. In addition to discussing Billy Elliot, their #1 new movie Gnomeo & Juliet, and the release of John’s latest album The Union, the pair also discussed the birth of their son Zachary and confirmed – for the first time – an invitation to the Royal Wedding:
o “We do have an invitation… I’ve been trying to be discreet. Yeah [we are going].” – Elton John to Marilyn Denis.
o “[Kate Middleton] is Diana in personality. She is very discreet, she is a very beautiful girl. But they have been together a long time and I think she has handled the pressure so much.” – Elton John to Seamus O’Regan and Bev Thompson
o “[Zachary] is in Toronto. He’s come to see his family….actually, this is the first foreign country he’s visited….He’s got an American passport, and a British passport, and he’ll be getting a Canadian one, so he’s a lucky little boy.” – Elton John to Ben Mulroney
o “Elton’s response to [the movie] emotionally was so profound, he was in floods of tears. And then to think that that one moment turns into this global Broadway show… People are taking to this story around the world – it’s a dream come true.” – David Furnish to Ben Mulroney
o “I’m going to stop work for a while. Elton will continue to tour, but I think it’s important for the three of us as a family [to] go together on the road with Elton.” – David Furnish to Seamus O’Regan and Bev Thompson
o “I have only ever done SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE once, which was shortly after John Lennon died, and I did it with Johnny Cash, but I was only a musical guest on that show. This one I will be hosting and doing the music, and I can’t wait.” – Elton John to Ben Mulroney
o “Billy Elliot would be up there in [my] Top 5 [list of accomplishments].” – Elton John to Ben Mulroney
o “She’s very young and she has great ideas and she’s seen Zachary already. It would be a no brainer really to ask [Lady Gaga]. And it’s just a matter of her time and stuff like that. But I’m sure she would love to.” – Elton John to Seamus O’Regan and Bev Thompson about Lady Gaga being godmother to their son Zachary.
o “[Prince William has] one of the hardest jobs in the world…the scrutiny he will be under… I hope he becomes King at an early age because I think we need young people like him to lead, and think he will be a tremendous King – not that Charles won’t, but I think William will be…tremendous…” – Elton John to Ben Mulroney
o “It is none of my business, but I thought it was a little odd.” Elton John to Seamus O’Regan and Bev Thompson on Prince William giving Kate his mother’s engagement ring.
o “But very personal and he had his reasons for doing it.” – David Furnish to Seamus O’Regan and Bev Thompson
o “On an emotional level, when you see [Billy Elliot] for the first time, it’s a real rollercoaster…. It’s a very heavy-hitting show in places. It makes you cry, and then it makes you laugh at the same time as well. It takes you on a real emotional journey.” – David Furnish to Ben Mulroney
Clips from ETALK’s exclusive interview air tonight, Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings) on CTV and at 6 p.m. ET and 11:30 p.m. ET on E!. Viewers can catch the full interview in CTV’s 30-minute special ETALK PRESENTS: ELTON JOHN AND DAVID FURNISH to see the couple speak candidly with anchor Ben Mulroney in this no-holds-barred conversation.
Viewers can watch Marilyn’s unforgettable one on one with Elton at 5 p.m. on /A\ and on demand at marilyn.ca.
Additional interviews with Sir Elton John and David Furnish air March 2 at 7 a.m. ET on CANADA AM and 8:10 a.m. ET on CHUM FM’s Roger, Darren and Marilyn.
