My Spandau Crush

Let it Shine host Mel Giedroyc on controlling her feelings for Martin Kemp and her nightmare audition for a role in Mamma Mia!

- Emma Bullimore

If you’ve ever had the hots for a colleague,

you’ll know how awkward it can be to work so closely with them every day. So spare a thought for Let it Shine host Mel Giedroyc, spending every Saturday night with her teen pin-up, Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp.

‘Don’t even say his name!’ she blushes, when TV Times catches up with her behind the scenes of the BBC1 talent show in Salford, where auditions are taking place. ‘Having been a very big Spandau fan for all of my life, it’s exciting working with him, but if I’m honest I couldn’t look him in the eye when I first met him. I had to stare at his chest area, which was worse.’

Fangirl Mel admits she’s even given him a nickname.

‘I’ve taken to calling him “Kempo”, which I’m not sure he likes very much,’ she laughs. ‘Gary Barlow is also sensational of course and I mustn’t have favourites, but let’s just say it’s a joy having Kempo in the mix, and as a perimenopausal woman it’s a delight to be doing this job.’

Aside from the mini-meltdowns at the sight of well-groomed 1980s pop stars, former Bake Off star Mel, 48, is having a great time working on BBC1’s new talent show, which is looking for five boys to star in new musical The Band. And while she misses her partner in crime, Sue Perkins, she hit it off with co-host Graham Norton straight away.