Richard Arnold: The showbiz expert with all the goss, including a chat with Alesha Dixon
It’s all go for busy writer and mum Alesha Dixon
Your kids’ heroine Aurora is back in a new book Lightning Girl: Superhero Squad – what’s she getting up to?
Aurora is now famous, along with The Bright Sparks from the end of the last book, which is a challenge for her in itself. The focus is on how she copes with negative issues and on how she grows with confidence.
You have featured our own Piers and Susanna!
There’s a scene where Aurora causes absolute chaos in the GMB studio, as she doesn’t necessarily want to be famous. I wanted to feature Piers and Susanna as characters the nation can relate to. They are household favourites, so I had to include them. I love them as a pair.
You wrote a book with a hero your daughter Azura can identify with, do you read them together?
She is only five but I wrote these books so they would be ready for her when she is old enough to understand them. She fully understands what I have done and is already relating to Aurora as a character. She says she has her hair like her some days! She was the motivation for my writing, so I can’t wait for her to enjoy them.
How does writing a novel compare to writing music?
It’s so different. Writing music is a personal diary, portraying your inner feelings in lyrics and melodies. Writing a book is a different challenge but it’s lots of fun writing for children. There’s a huge sense of freedom.
Are you recording any new music ?
I am. It’s bittersweet because the thing I love the most at the moment has been
‘I do love a challenge’
pushed to the back of the queue.
How can you write a book while presenting and being a mother?
It’s a big challenge. I’m juggling lots of different things at the moment. I do love a challenge and varied work is something I strive for.
You’re presenting BBC’S new show The Greatest Dancer…
It’s a very cool format where the audience gets to decide the contestants’ fate rather than the dance captains. I have great chemistry with Ashley Banjo and the rest of the guys. It starts airing in January next year.
You are so busy!
I have my big birthday – 40– coming up, so there’s lots of personal planning. And Britain’s Got Talent will be back before we know it, and the third in my series of books, which is already written.