Escape to the Country’s Nicki Chapman provides mind tumour replace as she reveals ‘shock’

Escape to the Country star Nicki Chapman was prompted to mirror on her life and take into account penning a ebook after being identified with a mind tumour the dimensions of a golf ball.

“Receiving that news was, without doubt, the most shocking and frightening experience of my life – even worse than being chased by an elephant on safari with the Spice Girls,” she shares within the introduction of So Tell Me What You Want, a memoir of her wild years within the music business.

While immediately’s TV audiences see Chapman, 57, guiding potential patrons round nation houses on the favored BBC One daytime present, or presenting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, some would possibly recall her judging musical expertise reveals Popstars with Nigel Lythgoe and Pop Idol alongside Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and Neil Fox, earlier than The X Factor hit our screens.

Nowadays, Nicki additionally dedicates time to volunteering at her native Mary Portas Living and Giving store in London, serving to assist Save the Children, and throwing her backing behind The Brain Tumour Charity. After having her own non-cancerous brain tumour successfully removed, she stays constructive with common scans each 18 months. “When they took the tumour out, it didn’t all come out, and the bit that was left has disappeared, which is not rare,” she explains. Has this expertise redefined her life’s path?

“The only thing it really made me do is have a greater sense of gratitude. I had a brain tumour. I didn’t have brain cancer, but my surgeon and the NHS had that conversation with me. I made my will. You know, nothing is given and it does give you an appreciation.” Starting as a promotions assistant at MCA, striving to get her artists’ songs performed on the radio, Chapman climbed the ranks to develop into head of promotions at RCA. She emerged as a publicity powerhouse within the Nineties and Noughties, selling acts like Take That, the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and David Bowie, amongst others, and breaking limitations for ladies within the business.

So it is clear to see why she’s a whizz with folks, curating a powerful contacts ebook because of her partaking positivity, model and allure. A colleague praises her as “ruthlessly polite”, which she takes as a praise. Now a well-known face on TV and Radio 2, and married to music biz honcho Dave ‘Shacky’ Shackleton of Iron Maiden fame, she reminisces about her days within the biz; from the Spice Girls’ chaotic auditions, banter with an up-and-coming Gary Barlow – who stays a mate – to nurturing abilities like Billie Piper and Amy Winehouse, stories Wales Online.

“Gary is so talented and very funny. He can literally sit at a piano and do a ditty straight away,” displays Chapman. “Looking after the Spice Girls was like herding cats, trying to keep them all together. They all had something, there wasn’t a weak one in the band.” She’s nonetheless linked, casually crossing paths with Melanie Brown MBE and Melanie C throughout work. And sure, she handled diva antics, particularly from R&B legend Bobby Brown, whom she booked for a coveted gig on Top of the Pops, the go-to music programme again within the day.

Pop legends are recognized for his or her eccentric calls for, with Iggy Pop and The Stooges as soon as requesting absurdities together with a Bob Hope lookalike and 7 dwarfs carrying pointed hats. Prince had his personal distinctive listing particularly asking for one specific coffee machine, fragrant teas like lavender and jasmine, photographs of Vitamin B, and insisted that the whole lot needs to be wrapped in cling movie; all meals was anticipated to be laid out on a trestle desk.

However, regardless of the extraordinary whims of those stars, Chapman has an empathetic take. She explains that these celebrities are always on the promo path, removed from house comforts, incessantly placing on a present and longing for issues to be simply so. “There was some incredible diva behaviour, but weigh this up. These people are on promo, working every day away from home, putting on that face, meeting their fans, performing, never really knowing what country they’re in and just want things to be right,” she acknowledges.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

Chapman additionally understands the frustration that may come up when easy requests usually are not met, saying: “If they’ve asked for food, they want it there, they don’t want to wait half an hour in the pouring rain for the car because it hasn’t turned up. Often, these tantrums aren’t because they are being outlandish. They’re worn down. They’re tired. You get fractious, don’t you?”

Despite the prevalence of medication within the music business, Chapman herself saved clear, preferring sobriety to make sure her skilled efficiency remained top-notch. She remarks on her dedication: “I wouldn’t be staying out getting drunk with Robbie (Williams) because the next day I needed to be on my game. That was my job.”

Reflecting on her journey within the music business, she stated: “You got on with it, you were aware of the chauvinism and the disparities, especially in salaries, which I found first hand I’ve had it a few times in my life but I found something that I adored and something that I was good at.”

“There are different ways of being tough,” she acknowledged. “You don’t have to be the one screaming and shouting. I was reliable, trustworthy, transparent, hopefully good to be around. We live now in a much more equal world although there’s still a long way to go and it’s much more inclusive than it was in my day,” she added. “Women have different strengths and we play to those without compromising who you are.”

However, she did admit to experiencing inappropriate behaviour from males who thought they may take benefit. On one event a producer persistently put his hand on her knee throughout a theatre soiree with purchasers, whereas one other urged all of them acquired a lodge if she allow them to work with considered one of her acts.

She accepted her subsequent music job on the situation that she would by no means be requested to have lunch or dinner alone with both of the 2 males. “I made sure when I was in those situations that I wasn’t compromised. When I was finding my feet, you could say that I was naïve. You could say, how sad that you can’t go out and have dinner with somebody without feeling that your safety is in danger,” she mirrored.

Reflecting on the previous, she famous how psychological well being within the music business was missed. “We talk about the mental health of people in the music industry and fame, but look at the people with mental health (issues) that work in the NHS or who work in a bank. It’s now recognised across the board, and rightly so.”

Chapman just lately celebrated her twenty fifth wedding ceremony anniversary along with her companion Shackleton, whom she met throughout her time at RCA Records. “I married my best friend, my soul mate, someone that understands me, and I hope I also understand him. We never stop working at it. But I am extremely lucky to have him in my life. I always tease him and say he’s punching above his weight, but honestly, I’m punching above my weight.”

Nowadays, you will doubtless discover her partaking in TV and radio gigs alongside her position as an expert coach.

Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Source