Fearne Cotton might not be renowned for her probing, Paxman-esque interview technique but her upbeat approach always puts her guests at ease and actually prompts them to reveal things about themselves they might not let slip to other interviewers. Musicians renowned for taking themselves a bit too seriously end up telling jokes; actors used to trundling out the same old PR spiel find themselves confessing their innermost secrets.
As Fearne returns to the airwaves, with Martin Kemp while Graham Norton takes his summer break, here are seven memorable encounters from her Radio 1 days.
1. Adele
Taped in the week before the release of her world-conquering 21 album, this interview finds on the cusp of international superstardom. Yet she still admits to being star-struck by and Barbara Windsor, and breaking down in tears in front of . This being Adele, there’s also a spot of charming crudity as she casually mentions her bathroom habits.
Adele's Live Lounge Special
Listen to Adele in the Live Lounge!
2. Cameron Diaz
In which Fearne magically prompts another respectable A-list star to start gabbling about their bodily functions. This time it’s Cameron Diaz, who recounts the time she did a parachute jump with Drew Barrymore. Having steeled herself for the worst, Diaz actually sounds faintly disappointed that “I didn’t even pee myself, not even a drop”.
Cameron Diaz on turning 30
Cameron Diaz gives Fearne Cotton tips on turning 30 years old
3. Lana Del Rey
These days, has become so wary of interviews that she’ll usually only conduct them by email. But it’s a different matter here: the Video Games singer freely admits to suffering from terrible stage fright but feels relaxed enough in Fearne’s company to bust out an impromptu a capella version of ’ Time of the Season.
Lana Del Rey - Interview with Fearne Cotton
Lana Del Rey catches up with Fearne Cotton.
4. Amanda Seyfried
On the surface, Amanda Seyfried seems a bit too perfect to be true. But after a only a few minutes in the Radio 1 studios, she’s aiming barbs at her former co-star Lindsay Lohan and confessing to buying a dead horse in France.
LIVE CAM: Amanda Seyfried & Fearne
LIVE CAM: Amanda Seyfried joins Fearne in the studio to talk movies and dressing up dogs.
5. Bradley Cooper
Surely Hollywood hunk Bradley Cooper’s never been dumped over the phone, got chewing gum stuck on his trousers or put Muppets songs on his seduction mix? Fearne discovers otherwise.
Bradley Cooper is Fearne Cotton's guest
Bradley Cooper drops in to talk about his latest movie, bad dates and Hangover 3
6. Jack White
Garage rock kingpin is usually a reluctant and slippery interviewee, but Fearne brings out his best side. White is in mischievous mood, joking about torturing his bandmates and building a freeway through the centre of London. Amid some intriguing discussion of his craft, the former man reveals that he plays the guitar and piano so aggressively because “I’m really a drummer at heart, and I sort of attack those instruments like a drummer”.
Fearne Cotton chats to Jack White
Jack chats rock and roll and very loud gigs with Fearne.
7. Michael Buble
If you were expecting a masterclass in smarm from the smoothest singer in the biz then you won’t believe your ears when “” begins unburdening to Fearne. In an almost uncomfortably confessional encounter, the Canadian crooner reveals that he was 16 before he had his first kiss, that he sometimes looks “like a potato”, that his 2001 film vehicle Totally Blonde is “the worst movie that was ever made” and that he has absolutely no shame when it comes to flogging his wares: “I am a prostitute - I will sell anything.”
Michael Buble - Interview with Fearne Cotton
Michael Buble chats with Fearne and performs some very special Christmas songs in 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1's Live Lounge.
