So Tell Me What You Want - by Nicki Chapman

Book Synopsis

*One of Waterstones' Best Entertainment Books of the Year 2024*

1987. Armed with a Filofax, a brick of a mobile phone and steely determination, 20-year-old Nicki Chapman is walking through the seedy streets of Soho towards her first job in the music biz.

But how did Nicki go from being a looked-over assistant running promo packages over to BBC Radio 1 to a judge on Pop Idol with 15 million viewers tuning in for the nail-biting moment Will Young triumphed over Gareth Gates?

Everyone knows there were the kingmakers in the heady days of 90s British pop music, but this is a queen's side of the story; a down-to-earth, no-nonsense team player who fought to make it in an industry that was very much a man's world.

Empowering, entertaining and sprinkled with stardust, Nicki's inspirational behind-the-scenes story takes in the rocketing highs and heart-breaking lows of promoting, managing and touring with the Spice Girls, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, Take That, Billie Piper, Phil Collins and S Club 7, all whilst confronting chauvinism and smashing through the career glass ceiling.

From the Back Cover

1987. 20-year-old Nicki Chapman isn't meant to be walking through the seedy but sublime Soho streets towards MCA records; she is supposed to be living it up in the much sunnier climes of Australia. But fate, as it turns out, has much louder plans for her...

Everyone knows there were the kingmakers in the heady days of 90s and 00s British pop music. But this is the story of a queen - a down-to-earth, no-nonsense team player who fought to make it in an industry that was very much a man's world.

How did Nicki go from being a looked-over assistant to a judge on Pop Idol with 15 million viewers tuning in for the nail-biting moment Will Young triumphed over Gareth Gates?

Empowering and entertaining, Nicki's riveting behind-the-scenes story takes in the rocketing highs and heart-breaking lows of promoting, managing and touring with Prince, Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, Take That, Phil Collins, S Club 7, and the Spice Girls, and smashing through the glass ceiling whilst doing so.

About the Author

NICKI CHAPMAN is an accomplished TV Presenter, radio broadcaster and inspirational speaker, as well as a fully qualified personal and professional coach and volunteer, who used to be a plugger and management exec in the music industry before switching to being front of camera, first on Pop Stars and Pop Idol.

She currently presents the nation's favourite TV show Escape To The Country, as well as its spin-off series' Celebrity Escape To The Country and I Escaped To The Country. As of January 2025, Nicki joined the Magic Radio presenting team and hosts the iconic Mellow Magic every Monday to Thursday. She has been a mainstay of the BBC presenting team at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 2006, broadcasting live, has appeared on numerous music, gardening, entertainment and lifestyle shows, and is a much sought after event host and speaker. Nicki has also been a regular presenter on BBC Radio 2, often sitting in for Zoe Ball, Claudia Winkleman and Michael Ball. She lives in London with her husband.