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Debbie Leigh: Cheeky, but nice
HAVE you ever judged someone from afar then felt really rather sheepish when you actually spoke to them?
I'm presently eating humble pie (nowhere near as tasty as pumpkin pie) over my harsh words about the Cheeky Girls in last week's column.
As I inferred – without any scrap of subtlety – I wasn't overly excited at the prospect of meeting the teeny-weeny popstrels in the St Johns Centre in Leeds and I said something mean about their outfits, make up and their singing.
Well, let's face it, it's not the kind of journalism I was aiming for when I embarked on this career.
I was also seriously dubious about their publicist's claims that "people absolutely love them, they are so kind and love speaking to people".
In fact I was quite determined I would be one of the few that didn't love anything about them.
Lovely
And that's true – I don't adore them – but I have to admit, they are really rather lovely.
I mean I wouldn't be seen dead in a tiny black corset, miniscule hot pants and a baby pink ribbon around my waist like they were wearing – for which I'm sure you're all eternally grateful.
And I could have done with a set of ear plugs when they blasted out their squeaky weird Europop while giving two girls a "cheeky" makeover.
But they are bubbly and fun and that has obviously struck a chord with the public – otherwise how on earth could they still be around, seven years after that dreadful audition on Popstars: The Rivals?
No one ever thought Girls Aloud would last this long, never mind the identical rejects with their funny song, written by their mum.
But not only were they happy to give me a brief rendition of Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) – which, incidentally was voted the worst pop song of all time – they made me laugh out loud with their honesty.
While anyone meeting Mary Portas in Leeds the other week was under strict instructions not to ask any questions about her personal life, Gabriela happily dished the dirt on her doomed engagement to dippy-looking Lib-Dem MP Lembit Opik.
To be fair, she didn't tell me anything I didn't already know – that politicians are all the same, unable to switch off from work and talk a lot. But I thoroughly enjoyed her adamant statement that she would "never date another".
Millions of us have had a good old laugh at the Transylvanian twins' expense and yet they have had the last laugh.
They're busy touring the country with a new cosmetics range, signing autographs for adoring fans while actual Popstars: The Rivals winners One True Voice are probably all back living at home with mum and dad, serving burgers and wishing for a second chance.
The Cheeky Girls have grabbed their scrap of fame, clung on to it with their scrawny little arms and are determined to milk it for all it's worth.
And despite being born on Halloween, in Transylvania, they're not scary at all.
What is scary is that I'm now such a convert I can actually tell them apart.
Pushing back the years with Jason
REMEMBER when you were a teenager and you had a serious crush on a celeb?
By the age of 14 my flower fairy wallpaper was pretty much obliterated by posters of Ralph Macchio, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland and Nathan from Brother Beyond.
Every night when I got home from school I would rush upstairs to gaze lovingly at them.
That's all well and good for a teenager but I'm not sure it's normal for someone rapidly approaching 33.
When I first switched on True Blood I was fully expecting to fall for deathly-pale neck biter Bill Compton but instead I am head over heels about beautiful blond Jason Stackhouse, played by Ryan Kwanten.
For anyone who hasn't watched the show, I'm sure after seeing him, you will understand his appeal.
I googled him, just to see what his real name was of course, and stumbled across some incredible pictures of him.
The fan site gave you the option to download the photos to your phone and I actually considered it – before mentally shaking myself and giving myself a good talking to.
The next thing you know I'll be reviving that teenage pastime of adding up the number of times the letters L, O, V, E appear in both our names to find out the percentage of our "true love".
(In case you were wondering, it's 28).
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Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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