Ricki lake chats the X factor
The chat-show host is loving her new London life
‘The X Factor is good television on every level’
When we meet famed talk-show host Ricki Lake to chat all things X Factor: Celebrity , she tells us she’s had two hours’ sleep after a visa issue forced her to fly to Paris and back in the space of a day. “I’m punchy,” she says. “You’re probably going to get some great soundbites.” And she’s not wrong…
How did you find watching yourself? It is such good television on every level. It had everything. I cried, I laughed! How are you feeling about performing on the live shows? I’m so excited. Here’s the deal: I’m 51, so for me, I have nothing to lose. This is about the experience. I get to live in London for two months – I’ve never stayed here longer than a week or two. If I do the first show and I get kicked off, I’m just happy to be in London. It must be nerve-wracking? Yeah, and I feel like I’m inconsistent. I have a decent voice – and I did train when I was young – but it’s hard. But they make you sound really good.
When I sang with those backing singers [in her audition], it was orgasmic! What’s your favourite thing about London? Oh my God, everything! The culture, the people – the people who grew up watching me. My show [The Ricki Lake Show] was bigger here than it was in the States. It feels like coming home, even though I’ve never lived here. When I flew back from Paris, they said it was a two-hour drive from Gatwick to get to my flat. I was like, “Screw that, let’s get on a train!” I took the Tube. It’s really exciting, it feels like a rebirth. Tell us about your dog, Mama… She’s legally been my therapy dog since I lost my husband [Christian Evans, who died in 2017]. She came on the plane with me. She doesn’t bark, she doesn’t shit, no one’s allergic to her. She’s a Buddha. Everyone’s in love with her. ■
The X Factor: Celebrity is on ITV, Saturday, at 8:20pm