We are SUPERFANS!

Three women share their extreme obsessions

- GILLIAN HARVEY

I'm living out my teenage dreams! 

Sue Smith, 57, a childminder, lives in Cambridgeshire with her husband Graham, 58, and their daughter Lara, 22. I hold up my newly tattooed wrist. 'Look! It's Gary's signature, I grin. But my husband Graham just rolls his eyes.

I've been a Take That fan from the start, but back in 1989, when the group formed, I was a young wife, then a mother, and missed out on seeing the band. In 1996, when they split, I assumed I'd missed my chance, so when they reformed in 2006, I was thrilled.

Finally, in 2011, I saw them live on their Progress tour at London's O2 Arena, dragging my daughter Lara, then 11, with me. Since then, I've been obsessed - sleeping outside venues with fans and sitting for hours in the rain just to catch a glimpse of my idols.

In June 2014, I was on holiday in Turkey when I saw footage of Gary turning up to surprise a fan at her wedding. 'Tweet me your event and I might turn up,' he posted. I tweeted #GetGarytoSues50th - hoping he'd turn up at my birthday party the following year. To my surprise, the post went viral, I ended up in the press and I received a message from Gary himself.

After a few messages, we finally arranged for me to go backstage at the O2 in June 2015. 'Sue, what are you like? You're completely nuts!' Gary told me.

As a childminder who also does a lot of work to support Children in Need, it can be hard to get time off. But if there's a chance of meeting Gary, I find a way. In May 2018, Gary performed in Thetford and I shot off at 6am to stand outside his hotel. Five hours later, he came out. 'Sue, if I'd known it was you I'd have come out sooner!' he said. He signed my wrist and I rushed off to get it inked.