The Big Reunion was one of the surprise pop culture highlights of 2013, shining a light on the often difficult road faced by mid-level pop stars in the years after the spotlight fades. It succeeded in making Kerry Katona appear sympathetic, introduced the world to the uniquely brilliant world view […]
Here are five reasons why Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Electric’ is their best album since ‘Very’
There’s a pattern to 21st century Pet Shop Boys releases that runs like so: Album is wiy praised as a ‘return to form’. Album sells a little bit less well than the one that preceded it. Album is completely forgotten by all and sundry within about two weeks of release. […]
Eurovision 2013: A look at Bonnie’s competition
Can you believe it’s been a whole year? At 8pm on Saturday, viewers of The Voice will have to put their excitement on hold for a week as the BBC gets on with the far important matter of flying the flag at the 58th annual Eurovision Song Contest in […]
Farewell to The Big Reunion: Episode 9
There were tears, tantrums and a build-up to a climactic gig that felt like it lasted longer than the careers of half of the acts involved, but last night The Big Reunion finally came to an end with a glorious 90 minute special featuring highlights from their London show. There […]
The Big Reunion Big Recap: Episode 8
Eight weeks into The Big Reunion and I’m no longer sure I can remember a life before my Thursday nights consisted of watching middle-aged pop singers attempting to bodypop with dodgy ankles and having emotional moments in front of the camera. I’m worried that when – if – the show […]
The Big Reunion Big Recap: Episode 7
As ITV2’s The Big Reunion marches towards its inevitable and yet strangely drawn-out conclusion, the various groups continue to rehearse for the upcoming tour, a new act is airlifted in for no apparent reason, and I enjoy the surreal experience of watching the Abs/z hat on TV while actually wearing […]
The Big Reunion Big Recap: Abs/z from Five sent me a hat and now I love him even more
Last night on The Big Reunion, the six groups got back together and began rehearsals in earnest as the dead for their London comeback show loomed ever closer. There were tears, bum-notes and recriminations aplenty. But I have something much exciting to write about… A couple of weeks ago […]
The Big Reunion Big Recap: Episode 5
It was a bit of a ‘cue Ae soundbed’ episode of The Big Reunion this week, as 911 and B*Witched raked over their painful post-pop stardom years in the wilderness, while Five continued to rebuild their bridges. It wasn’t exactly high on ‘the lolz’. Still, here are seven things we […]
The Big Reunion Big Recap: Episode Four
From Jedward bouncing through the Britney back-catalogue on The X Factor to Lisa Scott-Lee ‘taking a moment’ while waving a melodramatic hand in front of a tear-stained face on Steps Reunited, every reality show needs a breakout star. For ITV2’s The Big Reunion, that star is Abz (née Abs) from […]
The Big Reunion big recap: Episode 3
It’s week three of the Big Reunion, and time for a girl group special as double denim rule breakers B*Witched and the UK’s very own Destiny’s Child (hmm…) The Honeyz both reflect on the highs and lows of being at the affordable end of pop superstardom circa 1998. Here’s what […]
The Big Reunion big recap: Episode 2
Following last week’s (slightly haunting) lo into the psyches of post-success Five and Liberty X, ITV2’s The Big Reunion shifted its attention this week to the careers of ‘pint-sized’ ‘Love Sensation’ hitmakers 911 and Kerry Katona-era Atomic Kitten ahead of the already sold-out comeback ‘gig’ later this month. Here’s what […]
The Big Reunion big recap: Episode 1
Time can fly when you’re a pop fan. It seems like only yesterday that Atomic Kitten, Liberty X and Five were Popjustice front-page regulars. Now they’re heritage acts, gathered together with Honeyz, 911 and B*Witched in The Big Reunion, a six-for-the-price-of-one reality comeback doc on ITV2, culminating in the inevitable ‘make […]
Viva Forever: A Survivor Speaks
As Konnie Huq once said to a visibly distraught post-eviction Cher Lloyd: it was a night of dreams. Like many a child of the 90s, my formative years were dominated by the Spice Girls, who defined my ongoing affair with pop and set the standard for what it is […]
Lisa Scott-Lee is clearly the best member of Steps and here’s why that is
For all the sob stories, manufactured drama and vocal showboating on display, the real appeal of reality television is still those moments when we see somebody’s dreams come true before our eyes. For that reason, it was pretty special watching Lisa Scott-Lee, a woman who endured the humiliation of ‘Totally […]
Here’s a look at Engelbert’s Eurovision competition
Engelbert has finally unveiled his song for Europe, and mercifully it’s Disneyfied Johnny Cash than reheated Tom Jones. It’s all very stately and dignified, and likely to give us a strong result, which is about as much as one could hope for from an Engelbert Humperdinck Eurovision Entry in […]
