The TV presenter and West End star on her Vivienne Westwood bikini, attempting to replicate Club Tropicana – and crying at Beaches
My older sister was very much into the new romantic bands, so I would hear Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Madonna through the bedroom wall. Then I discovered Wham!. I thought: “This is fun.” I’d listen to the Top 40 in my bedroom on Sunday evenings and my sister would do the same. It was so exciting when Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go got to No 1. I had it on 7in and performed a dance I’d made up in my mum and dad’s lounge.
Obviously, I had a huge crush on George Michael. He was so handsome. I’ve always loved that dark, tanned, Mediterranean look. I really wanted his leather jacket, but my mum said: “You’re too young,” and got me a denim jacket instead. My grandmother bought me a Wham! scarf that I wore with a pair of cream pixie boots. I thought I looked really cool and grown-up. One of my first teenage holidays was to Ibiza. I insisted on going to Pikes hotel so I could get a picture with a lilo and a cocktail in the swimming pool where they filmed Club Tropicana.