Blue’s Duncan James: ‘I’m living with my mum at age 48 – there’s just one big problem’

There are many positives to living with your mum the age of 48 – fun, advice, companionship.

But according to pop star Duncan James, there is one downside – she nicks all the beer from his fridge while he’s away on tour.

‘I went to the fridge to get my beer, and my mum was: “Oh, I’ve drunk them all. I had my friends over and we had the lot,”‘ Duncan says, laughing. ‘She did message me while I was away to tell me it was delicious. She said she couldn’t resist it.’

For Duncan, it is personal as he’s on a mission to save the nation from the dreaded warm beer.

As Blue return to the spotlight with their reunion tour, he has teamed up with Coors to launch the Coors Cold Coorus – a playful new music video celebrating one of life’s great moments: when your beer is finally cold enough to drink.

New research from Coors reveals only 16% of Brits put beers in the fridge for the right amount of chill time before guests arrive, while more than half (55%) end up accidentally freezing them.

Which is why Coors’ packaging helps drinkers out. Its iconic mountain graphic is printed using thermochromic ink, turning blue when the beer reaches peak cold.

‘There is nothing worse than warm beer. Coors cans turn the mountains blue when the beer is at peak chill, which is perfect for me as Duncan from Blue. But that also extends to the pub, as Coors glasses turn blue too when it’s the right temperature. It’s a brilliant feature,’ Duncan says.

‘Having travelled all over the world, I am very lucky to have sampled lots of beers. But you can’t beat a nice cold beer on a summer’s day for that perfect refreshing drink. Whether that’s for yourself – or your mum’s mates.’ 

Duncan moved in with mum Fiona during Covid because he had just sold his flat in London and she was alone. But after the pandemic passed, the two were having such a nice time together that he decided to buy a shared house for them both. 

‘I didn’t want to leave my mum on her own, so we now have a big, beautiful townhouse in Surrey. I have my own floor, she has her own floor.

‘I am away with work and touring a lot of the time, and – yes – I know she drank my beer, but I did come home to bacon and eggs when I returned recently, so that was lovely,’ he adds.

Duncan has enjoyed the move from London to a more relaxed pace in the home counties. 

He has a large private garden and, when they moved in a year ago, he invited his neighbours around for a barbecue, served them cold beers and introduced them to his mum and bandmate Anthony Costa.

He recently returned from skiing in the Dolomites, Italy, where he thoroughly enjoyed cold beers up the mountain, and he is looking forward to a summer of beer gardens and festivals, including Live at Chelsea at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in June, where he is performing with Blue.

And Duncan has launched a new track in conjunction with Coors designed to help serve beer at the right temperature. Fans place their Coors in the fridge and DM “BLUE” to Coors on Instagram or Facebook.

A few hours later, Duncan slides into their DMs with the Coors Cold Coorus – confirming the moment the famous Coors mountains have turned blue and their beer is ready.

‘It’s an anthem to let people know when their beer is chilled at the right temperature. It’s a fun nod back to the noughties, it’s a lovely catchy tune, and I’m enjoying being part of this important mission to make sure the nation’s beer is cold,’ Duncan says.

But while a beer is usually a celebratory ritual, it can also bring back more poignant memories.

When asked who he could share a beer with – alive or dead – Duncan thought carefully before naming his best friend Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, who passed away nine years ago at the age of 45.

‘I really miss her. She was such a huge part of my life. She was so much fun to be with and always there for a really good laugh.

‘I met her on CD:UK in 2001. She had just come out of the jungle on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and we were performing. I bumped into her backstage and we got on like a house on fire.

‘She shook my hand in a very formal fashion, but I could feel something in my palm. She’d written on a piece of paper in eyeliner: “Hi Duncan, here’s my phone number. Give me a call. Love, Tara.” I will never forget that. From that moment, we became the best of friends.

‘She had this wonderful energy and a naughty, impish sense of humour that I really related to. I just miss her so much and wish I could sit down and have a beer with her,’ he adds.

Duncan James partnered with Coors to launch the Cold Coorus – a surprise new song and music video announcing the exact moment your beer reaches peak chill.

Fans can message “BLUE” to Coors on Instagram or Facebook and receive the video when the mountains have turned blue and it’s ready to drink.

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