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Former Pop Idol judge hits right notes with memoir

Piers Hopkirk & Hsin-Yi Lo
BBC News, South East
Chloe Rawlings/BBC Nicki Chapman is sitting on a sandy beach in Perth, Western Australia. Chloe Rawlings/BBC
Nicki Chapman is a presenter for the programme Wanted Down Under

Presenter Nicki Chapman has shared how she began her career as a promoter - propelling bands like the Spice Girls and Take That to global stardom.

Chapman launched her television career by appearing as a judge on Pop Idol alongside her then lesser known fellow judge Simon Cowell, who went on to create talent competition shows X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.

Born in Herne Bay, she said she wanted to share her passion for working in the pop music industry in her new book, So Tell Me What You Want.

She told the BBC she "had never imagined a career in front of the cameras".

Getty Images Nicki Chapman is standing with Madeleine Lloyd Webber, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Arlene Phillips. They attended a press night performance of School Of Rock The Musical at The New London Theatre in 2016.Getty Images
Left to right: Nicki Chapman, Madeleine Lloyd Webber, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Arlene Phillips at the press night performance of School Of Rock The Musical at The New London Theatre in 2016

"Without Pop Idol, I wouldn't be sitting here today. I love the music industry and I worked behind the scenes before Pop Idol and I was really comfortable with that," she added.

"But when a door opens you have to decide whether you want to take it or not. If it didn't work out I could have returned to my day job."

Chapman recalled her experience in promoting the Spice Girls.

"I was approached by Simon Fuller (then manager of the group). He asked what did the industry need and I said a girl pop group," she said.

She helped mastermind the creation of the Spice Girls who became one of the biggest acts in the world.

"I met the Spice Girls and they absolutely blew me away. I thought they were the real deal and I really wanted to work with them," she added.

Nicki Chapman is sitting next to TV presenter and garden designer James Wong at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2022.
Nicki Chapman with TV presenter and garden designer James Wong at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2022

Before helping the Spice Girls find fame, Chapman had already promoted boy band Take That, who dominated the music charts in the '90s.

"It took several years for Take That's fan base to build but they were so dedicated and they worked really hard," she said.

She was a joint partner in the PR company Brilliant! from 1995 to 2000, which represented artists including David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, S Club 7 and Kylie Minogue.

In light of her success in promoting the careers of many music idols, she said she wanted to celebrate her story in her memoir.

Chapman now presents programmes including Escape to the Country, the Chelsea Flower Show, Wanted Down Under and BBC Radio 2.

Her career has taken her around the world, but she said she would "always be proud of my roots in Kent".

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