Celebrity Fame Academy

HEY, IF YOU GET THE CHANCE GO AND SEE KIM METCALF PLAY LEAD IN CABERET IN LONDON SHE'S AMAZING!

Was gonna drop this bit off the site but as people keep asking about Fame Academy here goes.

I really didn't fancy taking part when I was asked - not because I'm unaware of what a great cause it's for - simply because I can't sing and I'm not very showbizzy and thought the others might be a bit luvvy. Actually coudn't have been more wrong!

It's very weird being in a 'reality' environment. I laughed my nipples off on the first day when I walked down a corridor towards the 'Academy' area and saw a sign on a door saying 'You are now entering reality'.

That first day was a bit strange - all very worried about being first off the show and not knowing each other - but we soon settled down and started becoming friends.

The programme is very cleverly made and the whole day is framed to create pressure and develop a feeling of intensity as you get closer to the show in the evening. That one minute forty seconds of song becomes your total focus which is why after a few days you are taking it so seriously.

People have asked me since if the arguments I had with Richard were for real and I have to say honestly they were. While we all understood that it's an integral part of the show for the judges to have a go in the Mr Nasty way - and lets face it - its always fun to see people who are normally told they are wonderful told they are rubbish - I felt they were going too hard at the girls and later in the series at Reggie. Now anyone who knows me will know I always say what I think and mean what I say - I think it saves alot of time and reduces confusion - but the judges seemed surprised that anyone might have a go back - so game on!

I made alot of friends in Fame Academy and have been enjoying and will continue I hope to have many more in the future with both the students and teachers. Kevin, Carrie and David were great - special thanks to my mate Jeremy who helped me a lot and Leslie was lovely too. Some people I won't be having a beer with and I expect they'll be very pleased to hear it.

Finally a huge thankyou to everyone who voted for me and for anyone else too. I was gobsmacked by the support as we all were and thanks to you we raised almost 1.4 million pounds. I've seen some of the projects that will receive the funding and it will make the world of difference. This generation is the most generous generation there has ever been and you should all be very proud of that. I have a feeling this generation is now capable of changing things for good as we simply won't tolerate there being such inequality.

I'm no tree hugger, I don't want the world to sing in harmony and I'm not naive enough to think everyone can be equal - but it doesn't have to be so incomprehensively unequal.

Oh by the way - you are all safe now - there is a restraining order forbidding me from ever singing in public again!