Wednesday, 3 February 2010

LIZ McCLARNON: A PUFFTA EXCLUSIVE

We caught up with the multi-talented Liz McClarnon - singer, chef and presenter of new BBC3 series Hotter Than My Daugher - to talk singing, shepard's pie and some cryptic inside goss...

Puffta: Hello Liz! How're you today?

Liz: I'm good thanks. I've just come from This Morning so I've got full make up on. Everybody's looking at me funny. They're probably wondering why I've got false eyelashes on at this time of day!

Puffta: Aw, well at least you're looking good!

Liz: Exactly!

Puffta: Now, you're about to follow in the footsteps of your Atomic Kitten bandmate Jenny Frost by presenting your own show on BBC3. How's it different to Jenny's show, Snog, Marry, Avoid?

Liz: It's very different. I think Jen's is genius, but mine is a make-over show not a make-under one like hers. I'm very into women's issues, so I love it. I think Jenny has a tough job though. I'm really involved in the whole make-over process and she's not - Pod does it all. It's hard for her because people don't want to be given a make-under, but they love having a make-over, so it's quite fun for me.

Puffta: Although you've carved out a rather impressive TV career for yourself, you're still best known as an extremely talented and likeable popstar. Would you still consider singing to be your day job?

Liz: Absolutely. I've got a single out in May, actually. It's mad because I'm going on Radio 1 to promote the TV show, and then after I've left there I'm off to record the single! Singing's definately my passion though. TV's just having a laugh!

Puffta: So when are we finally going to hear that solo album of yours?

Liz: It's taken a while because we changed the sound. It was quite electro and dancey but now it's total pop. I wanted to keep it similar to the Kittens sound.

Puffta: You were signed to All Around The World at one point, weren't you? Who are you with now?

Liz: I'm still with All Around The World actually. Well, I'm on 3 Beat Records, which comes under the same label. They're home to Agnes too, who I think is great.

Puffta: Most of their stuff is dance-orientated though, isn't it?

Liz: Yeah, but they're very open to pop. I released Woman In Love through them, and my stuff is going to be very pop. Maybe something like Be With You - which was a bit dancey, but still very much pop, but also some ballads.

Puffta: Well you're very good at those. Obviously Atomic Kitten were best known for their ballad Whole Again, and Someone Like Me was one of the group's finest moment...and practically a Liz McClarnon solo track!

Liz: Haha yeah I know! When we were recording it they were like, "Liz, you're doing you own little arrangement!".

Puffta: You're supporting Ronan Keating on his forthcoming tour - are you a fan?

Liz: I'm a massive Boyzone fan!

Puffta: So you're looking forward to it?

Liz: Oh my God! Totally! I get on so well with his wife Yvonne. She's the gossip queen, and so much fun! Ronan's really nice as well. I was with him on a private jet from Germany to Dublin once and we had such a laugh! I think they're such a gorgeous couple.

Puffta: Obviously it's been a while since we saw Liz McClarnon - Popstar - what can fans expect from your performances?

Liz: Well, I've got a live band, and I'm training with a vocal coach who's worked with Justin Timberlake - so we're doing lots of American stuff. I just want to really express myself on stage. I only started singing just before I joined Atomic Kitten, so I'm still very new to it all, really. I'm looking forward to exploring it all, and it's going to be great!

Puffta: As well as being a wonderful singer and a TV presenter, you're also something of a Master Chef. Is it true you're working on a cookbook?

Liz: Yeah, it should be out around Christmas. There might be a very, very funny TV show to go with it too. It's going to make it nice and simple for people who can't cook.

Puffta: Do you have a favourite dish?

Liz: I do a posh shepard's pie with nearly a whole bottle of red wine! I like homely, simple food.

Puffta: You've already shown countless strings to your bow. Have you got any other hidden talents we should know about?

Liz : I don't know really! I'll ask my boyfriend! I'm writing a fiction novel which should be out next year.

Puffta: Well that's quite an impressive talent to forget about!

Liz: Well, it'll only be a talent if it does well!

Puffta: Aw, I'm sure it will do!

Liz: Thanks!

Puffta: There seems to be a growing trend of popstars becoming soapstars, what with Kym Marsh going into Corrie and now Suzanne Shaw joining Emmerdale. Would you ever consider going down that route?

Liz: Absolutely, 100%! You never know, something might be happening in the Summer that will give me a great place to act...sorry to be so cryptic! It might involve me being a gay icon...

Puffta: Ah okay..well I'll have to speak to you about that nearer the time!

Liz: Yeah definately, I think you will!

Puffta: Unlike a lot of other famous females, you always come across as very classy and dignified. Are you as sensible as you seem?

Liz: Aw thank you. No, I'm an absolute mess. I'm a paranoid flapper. My friends are always telling me to calm down! Especially when it comes to Twitter...I mean, there are some really nasty people on there. I got a message from someone the other day, and it just read 'I Hate You'. My friends were like "why are you even bothered?" - and I'm not really. I just think "haha"! It's their problem.

Puffta: Exactly! Now, you're starring alongside pop legend Jason Donovan in War Of The Worlds in November. How did that come about?

Liz: They just asked me! Jeff Wayne invited me round to his house and said he loved my voice, and that was it!

Puffta: What's it like working with Jason?

Liz: I love him so much! We've done a lot together and he's so funny!

Puffta: Would you like to do more theatre work in the future?

Liz: I love it. Especially musicals.

Puffta: Maybe you could do Blood Brothers in a few years time?

Liz: I might have been offered it already!

Puffta: Really?

Liz: Yeah, but I want to concentrate on War Of The Worlds at the moment.

Puffta: You've got a really large and loyal gay following. Why do you think that is?

Liz: That's a really good question! I don't know! My mate - who's gay - said it's because I'm as camp as tits, but I wouldn't know. Maybe it's because I'm a bit silly and I'm always up for a laugh. Also, I love pop music and I don't pretend I don't.

It's funny though, I was on This Morning the other day, and before I went on they were like "Is there anything you don't want us to ask?", and I was like "No, why would there be?". I think people might like that about me. Why do you think?

Puffta: I think it's probably because you seem so down to earth.

Liz: Well I couldn't say that...

Puffta: No! Not unless you're Jennifer Lopez!

Liz: Exactly!

Puffta: This year sees the launch of Liverpool's first ever Pride festival. Is that something you'd like to be involved in, being a scouser yourself?

Liz: A million percent yes!

Puffta: It takes place in August, around the time that you're hoping to release your second single. It'd be ideal! I can see you on the front of the Liverpool Echo as we speak!

Liz: Haha yeah! Actually, I'm working with some of the guys who did Cher's Believe...so that would be perfect...

Puffta: Is that Metro?

Liz: It might be...

Puffta: You're one of the city's finest exports, but unlike the likes of Cilla Black and Ringo Starr, you've remained hugely popular amongst the locals. Why do you think that is?

Liz: I don't know. All I've ever known is people coming up to me and saying "Nice one girl!". I'm from a certain area and I've always lived there. I'm not like Ringo Starr.

Puffta: That was quite shocking wasn't it? One minute he's releasing a single for Liverpool's Capital of Culture year, the next he's slagging the city off on Jonathan Ross!

Liz: I know! You'd never hear Paul McCartney say anything like that!

Puffta: You've got your fingers in lots of proverbial pies, but if you had to choose between the singing, presenting and cooking, which would it be?

Liz: I'd have to say singing.

Puffta: What would you best like to be remembered for? Would that be singing as well?

Liz: Yeah, but also for being a nice person who people liked.

Puffta: Well I think you'll definately be remembered for that!

Liz: Aw thanks! I hope so!

Puffta: You famously won an army of new fans with your appearance on ITV's Celebrity Love Island. Are you having any luck in the love department at the moment?

Liz: Yeah, very much so! I'm all loved up! I've got a gorgeous business man boyfriend who's suited and booted - so I'm in Heaven every day!

Puffta: Lucky you! Well good luck with the TV show and the single, and get on the phone to those Liverpool Pride organisers!

Liz: Thanks, and yeah I will! Definately!

Hotter Than My Daughter begins tomorrow at 8.30pm on BBC3. Liz's new single is due out in May. For more information on our favourite singing scouser, go to lizmcclarnon.com

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