From one end of the musical spectrum to another.
Following on from our interview with Slade’s Dave Hill we pitched up at the Wulfrun Hall yesterday to grab a quick chat with former M-People frontwoman Heather Small.
Now I’d be the first to admit I am no expert on her career.
And I was no great fan of M-People - something to do with the fact two of my university flatmates practically played one of their CDs on a loop for an entire term.
So, desperate not to expose my ignorance, I did a quick trawl of the web to gen up on Heather’s career.
Among the facts I discovered were that she is firmly established alongside the likes of Kylie as a gay icon and her song Proud was adopted by Oprah Winfrey for her talk show.
Despite the crash course in all things Heather I still approached the interview with a degree of caution - but I needn’t have worried because she was a real pleasure to talk to.
There was not a hint of Diva-ism about the singer who went through her vocal exercises as we set up the camera.
And she proved to be a bit of a help - pointing out that the weird buzzing noise we were picking up on the mic was emanating from an old fridge in the corner of her dressing room.
Sadly though I did stumble headfirst into one pitfall while I was questioning her about Proud which was also the anthem for the London 2012 Olympic bid.
Even as the words were tumbling from my mouth I realised I was committing a cringeworthy act of X-Factor proportions - one dozens of reporters before me also stand guilty of.
Yes - I ventured that she must be pretty “proud” of the song.
Thankfully she had the good grace not to call an end to the interview and somehow managed to laugh off my dreadful pun.
It was the kind of question I would ordinarily be sharp enough to avoid.
But I must plead mitigation for my unusual lapse.
Because an hour or so before the interview I was on another assignment - filming at a hair salon. Click here to watch the film.
Now for me the hairdressers is up there with the dentists and Stoke on my list of places to avoid at all costs.
Don’t ask me what it is but I’ve hated going to the barbers ever since I was old enough to spit my dummy out.
So I can only conclude I was still in a state of shock when we arrived at the Wulfrun.
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