Backstage with Blunty...

SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE!

We headed to the Royal Concert Hall this week to meet 'army posh boy turned crooner', James Blunt. I'd interviewed him before and he was a little...umm, un-cooperative. Nice enough, just not an easy interview so wasn't sure what to expect this time...

We were left to it, which is so much nicer-no PR/managers keeping an eye on things! And he was a thoroughly lovely, bloody nice bloke! He even seemed a little nervous. Turns out I want James Blunts' life. His home is now Ibiza, where, in the winter-during off peak season-is when the 'weirdest parties' occur. He claims he has his own nightclub there, called 'Bluntys Nightclub' with a sign which reads 'where everybodys beautiful'. What...seriously?! He doesn't have his own yacht...yet. His 'office' is in London and he's currently on a world tour. On his rider he just asks for 'booze' for the after parties. Sounds alright...

He is incredibly Posh! So we put him up against our very own resident Posh boy, Dangerous Dave for a 'POSH OFF'. Who knows their prefects from their polo players?

Oh...and he revealed *EXCLUSIVELY* that he would be playing at the Royal Wedding!!! Check out the video below...

Blunty, Dangerous Dave, Sam and I in super glamorous dressing room...

Backstage with JLS...

A few weeks ago, I was given the task of fulfilling every 13 (and in some cases 30) year old girls dream, by going backstage at Nottinghams Arena to interview JLS in their dressing room. Being 28 and not so enamoured by boybands as i used to be I tried to take myself back to the 13 year old in me...when i was OBSESSED with Take That! All I wanted from life was to marry Mark Owen. Every night I used to kiss each of my favourite posters. I once threw the worlds biggest crying/hysterical fit when my mean older brothers locked themselves in my room and said they were gonna graffitti Marks face...I didnt speak to them for a week after that...I was so traumatised. I tried to think of way of marrying him. In hindsight...really quite glad that didn't work out....(i am STILL shocked by his womanising ways...naughty Mark!)
So I wasn't surprised to turn up and find hoards of teens waiting outside the back of the Arena gates, desperately trying to get a glimpse of the boys. I wanted to smuggle them all in with me as I sensed their frustration that I didnt love them as much as them and didn't deserve to get past security...I hadn't even made a banner OR wearing a JLS hoodie?!

The boys were lovely, we sat in their dressing room, amongst purple leather studded outfits (nice!), champage (obviously) and a bowl of fruit. Left to our own devices, no watchful eye from any tour managers, Pr etc, just me, the boys and our producer Jen alone in a room. If this was me and Take That 15 years ago I would've definately been asking them to marry me in tears by now. In fact I think I would probably be the same now if given the chance...but this time it would be Barlow....Anywaaaaay!

We had a great chat, found out that Marvin IS back together with Rochelle from the Saturdays...but they're not moving in toegther yet. JB is dating a dancer, Aston also has a girlfriend, but Oritise is single and on the look out! And rather flirty.... They're biggest celeb crush is Eva Longoria, they run straight to the hotel after a gig as a decoy to fans and they've seen Lily Allens boobs. They claim to not use chat up lines...however they did guess my age at 'around 18-21'?! Don't care if that is a line, i'm having that!! ;)

Valentines-The Rules

Right then-I feel weird about Valentines Day. This all stemmed from the days at High School, when every year there would be a post box the week before the 'big day'. The day you were either showered with love or REJECTED!! Seems a lovely idea of course? Wrong. Every single year I'd send a card to the floppy haired crush i'd never said a single word to....then wait anxiously, excitedly for that moment the teacher came round with that batch of red cards...and you'd sit and wait for your name...until it got to that last card, and it wasn't for you....DENIED!! In front of the whole class. Oh good, no-one loves me and now everyone knows it. I got a card ONE YEAR!! ONE YEAR! Out of 4 pretty excrutiating angst ridden teenage years. Thank you Casey Loughran. I'll never forget that one card. There was always one girl as well who got a card, tacky teddy, chocolates etc...show off!! This is where the bitterness began...

Truth is, I do believe that yes, it's tacky, commercialised etc etc. We all know that. When I was single I genuinely wasn't that bothered because I truly believed that and it wasn't a big deal. I remember going out with my single girlfriends on Valentines night and giggling at the awkward couples who looked bored out of their mind with their forced 'romantic' chat. However...now i'm in a relationship, it's actually quite important. Mainly because, well...you expect a card! And if you don't...what does that mean?! Luckily my boyfriend is rather good at the romance stuff...plus the daily reminders over the last week didn't give him much chance to forget. However...with an ex I jokingly hinted at 'my card for Valentines day'. Which he replied 'its tacky I dont believe in it, i'm not bothereing with a card, I'll be romantic when I want to be'. Again-valid point of course. However...I still assumed an obligatory card would be in the post? He was doing the whole 'throwing me off the scent gag' surely! I actually could not believe how gutted and damn right outraged I felt when I actually DIDN'T get a card. It was year 7 all over again...but far worse. I actually had a boyfriend who didn't send one?! I'd sent him one! Suffice to say that was the beginning of the end...not just that instance, but it set the tone. So gents....we're not being high maintenance. It's just nice. It's just the rules. It's just for that 13 year old who didn't get a card for years. SEND ONE!!

Got this for xmas...now i have to cook something in it.....Cheese casserole anyone?! (or pop to M & S for that Valentines offer....he'll never know....;)

Jamies Italian...Bellisimo!

Was extremely excited when I heard that Jamie Oliver was opening one of his 'Jamies Italian' restaurants in Nottingham, so being the piggy that I am, had to go down to sample the delights!

The building is amazing-its the former Jazz cafe, next to Paul Smith. It's huuuuge, over 3 floors and staff offered us a tour-which you have to take, so many rooms!! Although be careful you don't walk into a management meeting as we did...actually my friend Paul thought it would be funny to push me in...my friends are so mature....hope Jamie wasn't sat in that meeting?! The decor is so cool....

Our waiter took a bit long to take our order...seemed a bit nervous bless him...but he did make up for it by trying to encourage us to down tequilas...at 2pm on a Monday! We ordered a meat platter to share to tuck into....delicious!

We ordered seperate dishes to try...Carbonara, Prawn Linguine, Rabbit Ragu and Pumpkin Raviloi. I have to say, I think the Carbonara was the fave! All clean plates...carbicide!

Despite feeling 6 stone heavier and barely able to move, obviously managed to polish off a dessert!
Is it weird that one of my favourite parts were the toilets? I really do judge places by their toilets... Make sure you use the ones downstairs. They're underground, cellar toilets-you can still smell the damp! And the best toilet brand i've ever seen...its not everyday you take a photo of a lavatory!