Chesney Hawkes has admitted that he turned down the chance to collaborate with a huge pop star earlier in his career.

The nineties pop icon, 53, is set to appear on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother, which kicks off on April 7, which coincides with the launch of his chart comeback. 

His stint in the iconic house will come just after he releases his first album in over a decade on Friday – Living Arrows.

Ahead of the return to music, Chesney opened up to the The Sun about a missed opportunity with none other than Ed Sheeran.

He was discussing producer and pal Jake Gosling, who has worked with huge names such as Sam Smith and Harry Styles, and he’s teamed up with for his new album.

The musician recalled a memory from their earlier years as he told the publication: ‘I’d do sessions for him and we’d be trying to get a song for someone like Kylie Minogue.

‘He told me about this kid, Ed Sheeran, who was sleeping on his couch. Jake said, ‘Come and do a session.’ I said: ‘Ed who? I’m working with A1 now,’ like I was Mr big b*****ks.’

Chesney Hawkes has admitted that he turned down the chance to collaborate with a huge pop star earlier in his career

The nineties pop icon, 53, is set to appear on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother , which kicks off on April 7, which coincides with the launch of his chart comeback

When it came to creating  Living Arrows, he joked: Jake said, ‘I can fit you in between Harry and Sam next week.’

Speaking of Chesney’s next on-screen venture, a TV source told The Sun: ‘Chesney Hawkes is one of those rare British celebrities who crosses generational divides.

‘Everyone knows The One and Only even if the youngsters might not recognise his name.

‘He’s also had decades in showbiz so CBB bosses hope he’ll be loose-lipped about celebrity encounters over the years, just like Louis Walsh last year.’

The source added that Chesney’s appearance on the show is ‘perfect timing’, as he releases his April comeback album.

The father-of-three spent five weeks at number one on the UK singles charts in 1991 with his hit single The One and Only.

Although he struggled to replicate that success, he has remained in the limelight, notably with his connections to the England men’s football team.

Chesney performed his hit at half-time during England’s 2022 World Cup match against Wales in Qatar, a performance that helped inspire the Three Lions to a 3-0 win in the second half.

In September last year, Chesney revealed he ‘jumped on the opportunity to get naked’ in his latest music video as he gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process making Get A Hold Of Yourself.

His stint in the iconic house will come just after he releases his first album in over a decade on Friday – Living Arrows

Ahead of the return to music, Chesney opened up about about a missed opportunity with none other than Ed Sheeran

Read More Celebrity Big Brother FULL line-up revealed: Mickey Rourke is final star to sign-up for the show

The iconic nineties pop star released his first new single in 12 years and took inspiration from Barry Keoghan’s famous ɴuᴅᴇ scene in Saltburn where he dances in the buff around the mansion at the end of the movie.

In one snap, Chesney was seen completely naked as he took a soak in a lavish marble bathtub while another showed him lying comfortably on a chair.

Another behind-the-scenes sH๏τ showed Chesney dancing down a grand staircase ɴuᴅᴇ.

Filming for Chesney’s music video took place at Thomas Shelby’s (Cillian Murphy) mansion from Peaky Blinders.

In another hilarious snap, Chesney proudly showed off his pert bottom as he posed in front of the extravagant home.

During the filming process, he also opted to wear just a beige fedora hat as he posed naked on the stairs.

While previously discussing his thought process behind the music video, Chesney cheekily admitted that he wanted to ‘show a different side’ to himself.

He joked: ‘It’s good for us all to let go of ourselves sometimes and feel free – especially for me in my 50s… I wanted to show a different side of myself … even if it was my rear side.

‘I jumped on the opportunity for my new video to get naked and dance like nobody was watching! Who wouldn’t in Thomas Shelby’s house!

A TV source said: ‘Chesney Hawkes is one of those rare British celebrities who crosses generational divides. Everyone knows The One and Only,’

In September last year, Chesney stripped fully ɴuᴅᴇ in a Saltburn-inspired music video for Get A Hold Of Yourself because he wanted to ‘feel free in his 50s’ 

‘My wife says I get my kit off anytime I can ha ha.’

Chesney previously revealed that his kids – Casey, 23, Jesse, 21, and Indi, 18, who he has with his wife Kristina – laughed the ɴuᴅᴇ video off as a ‘midlife crisis’ for their father.

‘There was a lot of laughter going on and slight embarrᴀssment going on. But they’re cool with it,’ he confessed.

‘I’ve got an 18 year old, a 21 year old and a 23 year old. So they’re like, “It’s just Dad doing his thing, having fun, having a midlife crisis”.’

Meanwhile, Chesney thinks that his new single may take some of his fans by surprise as it has a ‘dance feel’.

He explained: ‘This has got kind of a dance feel to it, that I guess people might be a little surprised by. What I wanted was for people to hear it on the radio and be like, “That’s Chesney Hawkes?!”’

Chesney last released music in 2012 when he put out his third studio album, Real Life Love.

He is best-known for his debut 1991 single The One And Only, written by Nik Kershaw. The song was number one in the UK for five weeks and even reached the top 10 of the US charts.