Last night I did something I've never done before but have been dying to do for years: I went to The X Factor.
I'm a fan, and put my request in weeks ago. The only two tickets the PR had left were for last night, and at the time no guest was confirmed. When it was found to be Britney the tickets were like gold dust, hence a very star-studded turn out last night.
With Mrs F-C currently in Chicago (the city, not the stage show), I took my brother along. (He, unlike me who has got rather jaded about TV studio recordings over the years, loved every second of it. I find hanging around while the warm-up man makes you Mexican wave and dance excruciating, but he didn't mind).
Anyhoo, as it happened there wasn't too much free time, it being live. The show was great. We had super seats on the very edge of stage left, though you won't see us. The press pen is kept out of shot, it seems. Dermot O'Leary is very professional, if not rather strange and of course short, and all judges tiny. Simon Cowell really is a titch. Cheryl Cole a little doll, Dannii Minogue as plastic as she appears and Louis is Louis.
Every ad break out they all dashed, Dannii with little trotting make-up queen in a Team Minogue T-shirt right behind, making sure bits weren't falling off, Simon and Cheryl going God knows where together. And top star spot of the night, or perhaps even of the year, Kate Moss. Who knew she was a fan? Where we were sitting meant they had to come by us, and she was in and out like a fiddler's elbow, either with or without Simon Cowell. What could she have been up to? She's looking her age, frankly.
Other celebs in attendance: Lulu, James Corden, Scott Mills, Britain's Got Talent light opera muppet Paul Potts ('How's your pain Paul,' asked one woman. 'I bet it's worse when you're sitting down. Aaah'). And let's not forget Sinitta, various TV bigwigs like Peter Fincham and Lorraine Heggessey, as well as Kimberley from Girls Aloud.
The dullest bit was sitting through The Xtra Factor, which I never watch, but which is filmed in that bit between the main bit of the show and the results. Holly Willoughby's condescending tone marks her out as one of TV's most talentless presenters. I don't care how pretty she is, she's useless.
One of the best bits was without doubt Britney Spears. She was ace. I've already downloaded Womanizer. I've met before, years ago in Munich through work, but a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then. For those who watched the show, Miley Cyrus was on tape.
As far as the contestants go, I'm sure they come across differently on TV, cos Ruth was definitely robbed. Her I Love Rock n Roll was top notch. Those norks! I thought Diana was weak, we could hardly hear her, and she was my favourite before then. Everyone else was quite good though.
We made a swift exit as it didn't finish unitl 11.15 and we were in Wembley.
Something else I did yesterday I've never done before was visit the Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush, but that's another story.
