Brookside's Philip Olivier must surely be the oldest most experienced cast member, but looks no older than 18. After turning up in shades and saying very little, he soon relaxed and proved himself to be the cheekiest cast
member.
Leads Adam Booth and Mark Wiltshire were both also charming - they chatted and joked through the shoot, talking easily about their year long contract, and how they're not even a quarter through their UK tour yet, but hell - they were enjoying it.
Some of the cast even experienced the dizzy heights of L2 last night, and their B&B accommodation was proving a great source of amusement.
The picture is essentially of 5 very cool looking tanned young men with a goofy female journalist in the middle grinning ear to ear - like the cat that got the cream.
Picture by Jonathan Jacobs
On our way out, a gaggle of under 16s came gushing through the Hall for Cornwall's reception begging for a picture with some of the cast. Phillip - beach towel clenched under one armpit asking 'which way to the beach' - willingly and charmingly obliged, while I took a picture for the girls. Though I must say, they didn't look half as chuffed as me.
I'm not sure Tom actually muttered a single solitary word - but what's Take That without a fifth member? Oh, hang on....
Boy Bands. Rubber faces, enthusiastic grins, and dance moves to make any 14 year olds eyes pop out.
At least that's what they used to be back in my day - the giddy 90s youth of Take That, East 17 and N-Sync (before that terrible Britney led J-T astray).
The first concert I went to in my teenage years, a birthday present from my perm-haired, eyelash-crimped girlfriends, was to see East 17 at Earls Court. I was so excited I nearly wet myself.
Fast forward 10... ok 14 years later, and my Facebook status on Saturday night was much that of what it would have been on that night.
'Jo is so excited she might actually wet herself'. Followed closely by 'Take That - ding dong'.
4 years ago Take That 'came back' (not to be confused with 'came out'). Older, better and far, far wiser, they dressed in suits, danced only if blessed with the ability to do so, and sang only if they could hit the high notes. And of course, I was there at the return - clutching vainly onto a lost youth - along with 60,000 other late 20s, early 30s women.
So it wasn't without surprise that (hair now straightened) I bought tickets to see Take That's acclaimed Circus tour for my best friend's Christmas present. And Saturday night saw all of that lost youth nostalgia erupt in an all singing all dancing circus spectacular in the awesome surround of Wembley Stadium ('venue of legends').
As mechanical elephants, hot air balloons, and fire throwing circus performers assaulted every one of our senses, the fantastic four - practically seen as our brothers after all this time - dazzled us with all the new hits, some of the old - all the while saying 'thank you, thank you, thank you', as if they still can't believe their bleeding luck.
So famous are they, there is even a West End musical tribute to them 'Never Forget'.
So believe me, it's not without 'wet-myself-osity' that today I'm due to meet the cast members for a press photo call, as they arrive at the Hall for Cornwall as part of a tour taking 'Never Forget' around the country.
I know, I know - they're perhaps not quite as exciting as the real thing, but oh my, they're a close second...
