GLEE LIVE at The O2 Arena

I have to confess I was originally not too enthusiastic about the prospect of accompanying my little sister to the GLEE LIVE show at the O2 Arena. I have always watched the programme and enjoyed it, but trekking to the massive Greenwich venue in the heat of summer, among fifteen thousand squealing teenagers is not my ideal way to spend an evening. However, in retrospect, after seeing the epic performance, I can honestly say I’d happily go again.

I collected my overexcited sister and we travelled through the London rush hour to take our precious seats at the O2. Merchandise sellers were lining the walls tempting visitors with Glee inspired t-shirts, mugs and bags. I was particularly drawn to the quirky white tees with slogans like ‘Can’t Sing’, ‘Like Boys’ - they come directly from the TV series and were also worn by the cast on stage.

Once seated at our top row seats we could sip our lemonade and relax while the support act (a group of awe-inspiring dancers) wowed with their triple backflips and headspins. Another half hour of waiting and then, eventually, it was time for our favourite high school crew to perform... but not before a quick introductory speech from absent Glee teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) and cruel bullying cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), unfortunately ear-splitting screams meant little could be heard of the video clips!

The evening was well rehearsed and arranged, and thank God because the fans were hungry for a pitch perfect performance. We heard Glee versions of many famous classics including songs by legends: Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Queen, Beyonce, Katy Perry, and Judy Garland amongst others. Unlike the TV series, which heavily relies on starlet Rachel (Lea Michele) and jock Finn (Cory Monteith), most cast members got a fair share of the solo vocals, though I would have liked to see more from shy dancing talent Mike Chang (Harry Shum), and pretty blonde Quinn (Dianna Agron).

The best performances on the night came from Mercedes(Amber Riley) with some incredible vocal gymnastics, a stunning duet from Rachel and Kurt (Chris Colfer), and a surprisingly spectacular showcase from Artie (Kevin McHale), who got up from his wheelchair to dance and sing with style.

The sound levels seemed to intensify when rival band, the Dalton Academy Warblers took to the stage. Headed up by the heart-throb, and particular favourite of my sister’s, Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) the a cappella team performed three uplifting numbers with Criss giving some stunning lead vocals.

The journey home could not dampen the spirits of the departing fans; everyone seemed truly inspired by the music and energy of the young performers. I was amused to overhear two dads compare notes on the show, the wives giggling at their respective spouses unexpected enjoyment of Glee, a programme I’m sure they had previously only smirked at condescendingly!

I’m sure many are sceptical about whether these young stars are really as good live as they are on our TV screens, a few were a little weak vocally (Finn, and more surprisingly Kurt) but most excelled and really impressed me. And aside from the fun factor, if this American phenomenal inspires young singers to get up and perform then it’s certainly a good thing. I just hope we get our own Glee Club craze over here in Britain, I think kids are craving it.

One thing is for sure...I’m definitely a bigger GLEEK than ever.

X FACTOR - The Results Show

You can pretend not to be interested, but really X-Factor is irresistible, and inevitably most of our nation get involved in the hype, even if that is just ‘loving to hate it.’ I love to love it, and even auditioned for the programme this year, keen to experience the process for myself. (Read about my audition here.)

With a stroke of genius luck I got invited to the live show last Sunday, in none other than the VVIP section (that’s right Very VERY Important Person!) I went along with my best friend. We met up a few hours before the show to get ready and prep ourselves for the night ahead. With a little guidance from my younger sister and other helpers we decided on sequined dresses – of which I have two, a glitzy Primark number for my pal, and I wore my beautiful vintage Butler and Wilson dress that normally hangs in pride of place on my bedroom wall. Make-up was applied, sparkly gems glued to our cheeks, heels fastened and feathers tucked into our perfected hair. We were finally ready to go.

The journey in the car there was relatively easy, the venue, Fountain Studios in Wembley, isn’t far away from my house. We passed rowdy queues of excited fans as we circled the studios trying to find a parking space. Thankfully we didn’t have to queue, in fact we just quoted our names and waltzed in with the other lucky VVIPs. The ladies toilet was where we found our first exciting encounter of the night – one of Nicole Scherzinger’s dancers, noticing her (even more glittery) make-up we plucked up the courage to chat to her.

We were soon ushered into the, surprisingly small X-Factor studio which, I later found out, was in fact the largest in Europe. We sat in our seats (about 10 rows behind Louis Walsh), and waited for a painfully exciting 15 minutes. With five minutes to go the audience warm-up man came up on stage to prepare us with cheering instructions. It all came and went by very quickly, but I absolutely loved every second – the atmosphere, the music, the bitchiness, the celebrities. We decided that perhaps the most intriguing part was seeing the action in the studio when the cameras weren’t filming: who talked to who, which contestants were friends and which judges demanded the most pampering.

Performing on Sunday night’s show were The Wanted, Nicole Scherzinger and mini popstar Justin Bieber. They all put on a fantastic show, and it was fascinating to see how swiftly the management team transformed the stage. The Wanted boys drove around in dodgems and Nicole came down from a circular construction in the air. The star of the three was little Bieber, who I had previously dismissed as a phoney untalented kid... as it turned out, his new single is pretty catchy and as a dancer he is absolutely exceptional. Adorably he played up to the audience too, throwing his leather gloves to nearby screaming girls.

I don’t need to tell you who was evicted, I’m sure you all know, once Katie Waissel had gone it was down to Louis’ two contestants, Mary and Wagner to wow the judges with a final offering. Both belted out classic songs, but it was (unsurprisingly) Mary that made it through, with all four judges choosing the Tesco check-out lady over wacky Wagner. I liked Wagner and his presence in the show, and was sad to see him go; he left the stage with great dignity.

After the live show, we went into the special canteen-type room to greet (well more like mob) the remaining X-Factor contestants. The One Direction boys were super cute and very friendly, all of them willing and enthusiastic about having their photo taken with the fans. We chatted to One Direction Louis’s little sister for a while about what it was like being the sibling of one of these famous young boys, she seemed unphased and instead told us all about the news from the X-Factor house, and some excellent gossip! We shamelessly fought through the people to meet most of the X-Factor stars, and have the photos taken to prove it! I have to say after meeting them all, my alliances have changed rather dramatically... with One Direction and Matt Cardle firm favourites at the top.

An unforgettable evening!

Apologies for the ultra long post – I assumed you’d all want to know EVERY detail!

Pillars of the Earth

The release of Pillars of the Earth is imminent; a new mini-series that rivals all the other boxed sets out there. I was sent these DVDs to watch, and was surprised to find I could actually relax and enjoy an action series, when after a long day at work I can usually only stomach Glee or Gossip Girl, embarrassingly.

It is tricky to give a story outline without giving too much away. The show is based on a historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in a fictional town in England. It is set in the middle of the 12^th century, and begins with the death of King Henry’s son. The action is set against the backdrop of war, religious strife and vicious power struggles; subjects that seem worrying relevant for an audience today. As well as the epic themes, there is also a great love story in Pillars of the Earth, that shines through the political turmoil.

I loved the decadence and debauchery of this series, with drama so rich that it allows you to become completely lost in the story, exactly what I need on a night off from London’s West End shows.

The sterling cast include: Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Sarah Parish, Tony Curran, Donald Sutherland, Alison Pill, David Oakes, Natalia Worner and Sam Claflin.

PUNK in Soho

PUNK in Soho has hosted some of pop’s greatest artists... including Lady Gaga and VV Brown. It is a groovy anti-establishment bar that welcomes creative souls of all kinds. I decided to embrace this freedom of expression and got dressed up with big fake eyelashes and my twiggy-like COS shift dress. A bit of hairspray in my hair, and some exaggerated eyeliner, and I was rather pleased with the overall look.

I went to see Jetson again (I must be their biggest fan)...on a night that showcased a variety of hip young bands, who all seemed delighted to be performing to Punk’s enthusiastic crowd. I enjoyed all the music, although at times there seemed to be a few sound problems. Jetson played with their usual flair, commanding the stage and filling the venue with a really positive vibe. The laid back ambience of this club is immediately noticeable, there is no dress code (like many Soho venues) and Punk has become a hang-out for scenesters, fashionistas, indie rockers, nu-ravers and all kinds of other people wanting to express themselves. I loved this feel-good atmosphere and felt relaxed amongst the crowd.

The bands were all being filmed for a show called Tftv. The crew will be travelling all round the country recording bands for a documentary for Channel 5 and Sky 3. This added an extra element of excitement to the evening’s performances, hopefully some of the bands from this night will be shown.

I was there with a few lovely friends who came to catch up and enjoy the music. Unlike many London clubs Punk doesn’t sell drinks at extortionate prices, so you can have a beer without breaking the bank.

Coming up at PUNK:

Monday 1^st November: Anthem

Thursday 4^th November: YOUR MUM’S HOUSE

Friday 5^th November: Dirty Pop

Friday 5^th November: Rockaoke

Saturday 6^th November: Dead or Alive

Saturday 6^th November: FU*K REHAB

Located on 14 Soho Street (just off Oxford Street) and open Monday-Saturday this is definitely a venue to check out.

Thoroughly wet Milly... my X-factor experience!

My saintly friend and I were up and out the door by 6.30 am and on our way to the Excel Centre for this season's X-factor auditions. As a singer it is an ordeal I felt I should go through once!

Sunday morning tubes are bad at the best of times, and then of course we had numerous track closures to avoid. Lukewarm tea in hand, we had to dodge the increasingly heavy rainfall, sans umbrella. Not fun. After our trek on the DLR line (basically a little railway train) we arrived at the Excel centre, and were greeted by crowds of thousands, all huddled together under a sea of brollies. Our spirits were lifted by the excitement of it all, although this euphoria faded as we got wetter and wetter. Soon even our makeshift plastic bag hats were blown away and I can honestly say I have never been as cold in my entire life. We waited from 8 am til 11.30 outside, screaming occasionally for a nearby Dermot O'Leary. We befriended a lovely group of music theatre graduates in front of us in the queue - they kindly donated an umbrella to us.

Inside it was almost as cold, although hot food was available here. Thank God. The sheer quantity of applicants became evident as we sat inside. There was certainly a buzz, and soon enough people began gently humming and running through their songs. I have to say I was slightly disappointed at the lack of freaks; at this stage everyone looks surprisingly normal! Around 2.30 we were taken through to the arena, a huge hall where thousands of hopefuls sat, armed with their X-factor stickers, I was number 197,058! The auditions were happening at the front of the hall in 18 small cubicles. Those who were successful came bounding out with a yellow slip of paper - this meant they were through to the next round. Now the freaks appeared. Michael Jackson and Nelson Mandela look-a-likes both came out with yellow slips! The familiar screams and tears filled the massive auditorium, the more athletic victors came out doing back flips and air punches (hugely embarrassing!)

Eventually, at 6 pm (ten hours after arriving) I got my turn. I waited in line and went into my allotted cubicle, still a little damp. I was singing Songbird, best known from Eva Cassidy's rendition. I stood in front of two female producers and was allowed to sing my whole song, which apparently is quite unusual. I wasn't nervous, but felt a mixture of relief and exhaustion. Unfortunately the verdict was a no; I wasn't going through to the next round. My lovely friend was waiting for me at the other side, prepared for my failure and saying all the right things. We gathered our things and began the trek home, smiling at the prospect of a hot bath. Despite the result it really was an unforgettably hilarious experience and a day I will never forget!!

Check out x-factor here:
http://xfactor.itv.com/2009/