On The Road With The Super Fans

What makes professional women abandon everything for a glimpse of their idols? Emily Gulla goes on tour with them to find out

- Emily Gulla

Natasha glances down at her watch quickly, not wanting to peel her eyes away from the glass doors in front of her. She doesn’t have very long; it’s nearing 8 am and a familiar weariness has settled within her bones. She’s been standing outside Radio 2’s studios in London since last night, tightly wrapped up in scarves and jumpers guarding her against the frosty night.

Finally, at just past the hour, she gets a glimpse of the person she’s been waiting for – sandy-haired and emerging from a black Mercedes. “Gary!” she yells, waving her arms in his direction. “I need to go to work!” The Take That frontman spots her, flashes a smile and comes over. He knows what she wants, recognizing her from the 28 other selfies he’s taken with her over the years, and the countless times he’s seen her perched front row at his gigs.

Selfie acquired, Natasha dashes to make the 40-minute journey to her office, where she’s a senior administrator in the government’s National Health Service (NHS). Sneaking into work before anyone can see her, she sprays some Batiste into her hair and changes her blouse for the 10 am a start. With no sleep, she embarks on an eight-hour shift, before she tracks down Take That again, ahead of their performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

You think you know superfans. They’re teenage girls screaming at concerts, sweaty and crying, desperate for their idol to catch their eye among the masses. But walking past the groups gathered outside gig venues and radio stations, you won’t just spot the teen crowd but people of all ages – many of whom, like Natasha, 31, juggle their obsessions with full-time careers and the demands of friends and family.