Nicki's Favourite Things

Pop Idol judge Nicki Chapman, the woman behind stars like The Spice Girls and Hear'say, never thought she'd get stopped in the street by fans. But Pop Stars and Pop Idol have changed her life. STEVEN SMITH discovered her favourite things...

MY FAMILY

I met my husband Shakey (spelling is totally incorrect btw - Donna!) in 1991, when we worked at RCA records. He asked me out in the first weeek. Infact he asked me for two years, but I said "No way!" I just had to laugh. He had long hair and was a rock head. Besides I was in another relationship at the time and just saw him as a good friend. When he went to work in New York, we still kept in touch. But while he was away I broke up with my boyfriend and then had a breast cancer scare. It was one of those moments where you reassess your life. When I left the clinic the first phone message was from Shakey.
I realised then that I had found someone special. He says he knew the day that he met me that we were going to get married, but he proposed to me a few years later in front of the Blue Mosque
in Jerusalem. How could I say no? (Quite easy Nicki, you open your mouth and
say it! And then you come and find me *giggles* - Donna) We married two and a
half years ago at Sion Park. Charlotte Church rang and asked if she could sing at
the ceremony. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
My godchildren are also very important to me. There's my sister Shelley's sons,
Douglas and Christopher, both four; my American friend Monica's son Madson,
three and Harry, eight months, the son of my good friend Kristia. I take my duties
as a godmother very seriously - they stay for the weekend and I spoil them rotten.

GETTING PAMPERED

I love what I do, but at times I'm a bit of a workaholic, so I do need to escape every so often. I don't have time to go to a health farm, so I've found the next best thing - a day at my favourite spa. It's so tranquil and spacious you feel like the only person there. I start off with a massage, followed by a facial and then some reflexology. And I leave walking on air! I think it's so important for a woman to pamper herself - and it's certainly not being vain at all. You protect your home against wear and tear, so why not your body and your face?

BEING A JUDGE ON POP IDOL

I can't believe how much I'm enjoying being on the other side of the camera, the one people actually see. After spending the last 14 years telling people how to create a public image, having the tables turned is a true thrill.
People's reactions to Pop Stars when it came on TV were simply unbelievable. Strangers came up to me in the street to talk about Nigel, or tell me who they thought was talented. Friends and clients phoned to say how much they were enjoying the show. Mel C called to say, "Well done, girl". In Pop Idol, I get to be the nice one. I do feel sorry for Simon sometimes. He's just saying what we're all thinking, though he could put it more diplomatically I suppose. The bottom line is that in the real showbiz world, people will be a lot crueller than him. If you aren't the best, people will not pussyfoot around. It's "NEXT!" You have to be hungry and work, eat and sleep the business. If Simon's comments put them off, they shouldn't think about getting into the business. I can't imagine Madonna being put off 22 years ago by someone saying she's average.

SWEETS

I'm addicted to sweets. Each year I give them up for Lent, but I'm so irritable everyone can't wait for me to get back on them. I love all of them - Jaffa Cakes, chocolate bonbons, Cadbury's Buttons. That's the other great thing about having godchildren - you can buy them sweets.

NICE-LOOKING HANDS

This is my other treat. I discovered acrylic nails in New York and I haven't looked back since. We use our hands a lot to express ourselves, so it's important for them to look nice - I know people always comment on mine.
I don't like my nails to be too long and I have a process called Pink and White - it looks like a French manicure and I never have to change the polish. I've found a great lady in Fulham who does them for me - Sue Marsh from Untouchables. A good manicurist is like gold dust to me. And hands need decorating, too. My wedding ring was hand-designed by a jeweller called R.G. Baker in Canterbury and it's just beautiful. I love jewellery, whether it's expensive or just costume. Accessorize have some great trinkets. I also like Swarovski, which is where I got my favourite necklace and bracelet.

MY CD STACK

I've liked music ever since I can remember. The first record I bought was Killer Queen by Queen, and the first poster I had in my bedroom was a picture of 70s band Sweet. I was three years old. I can't sing at all, that's why I like working with bands. One of the perks is getting lots of CDs from the record company. I've been lucky to work with some of the greats, like the lovely David Bowie, Annie Lennox and Debbie Harry. I do go out and buy records, though. I just bought Gabrielle's Rise which is fantastic. I've got a large collection now.

MOBILE PHONE

I text my husband all the time when he's away touring - and we speak at least six times a day on the phone, so he's always in my heart. Or I use my phone to keep in touch with the office. Either way, it's a lifeline. I like a hands-free set, then you can drive and talk without taking your hands off the wheel. People often want to know if I get a lot of calls from famous people and I do. But usually it's only if they have a problem.