I thought before it kicks off on ITV2 next Thursday I’d give you a few more sneaky peaks at the new series of ‘Fearne and…’ 

A few shots of Craig and I a little tipsy at a club in Miami. 

The next morning I was forced to jog in 90 degree heat, thanks Craig!!!

But I did get a ride in his Ferrari!! 

Another random night out was the karaoke night in Beth’s favourite bar! I sounded like a dying cat whilst she rocked out like a pro! 

When I asked the cab driver in Portland, (Beth’s home town) what it was famous for he said Voodoo donuts. Purely out of intrigue I had to check this shop out. With a queue going round the whole block I soon discovered the demand for these mad brightly coloured and somewhat intense donuts! One you’ll spot has actual bacon on it!!!!

I also managed to sneak a week away in Italy after the whirlwind time filming in the states.

I mainly drank wine, read books, slept, drank wine, and read more books. Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffries must be checked out!!! What a feel good read!! Seriously, if you need some motivation or a kick start and your feeling down this is the book for you!! Also Craig David gave me a book called 11 Minutes by one of my favourite authors Paolo Coelho. It’s a beautiful book about a tough subject! 

I landed back from Italy with a bang as it was straight back to work from the airport to rehearse for Must Be The Music! The first live show was on Sunday, so no time to miss the wine, excessive amounts of coffee, and fresh salty ocean. 

I had a blast on Sunday! The 5 semi finalists on the first week were brimming with nerves and excitement. I watched from the side of stage as each of the acts individually upped their game to the max and gave performances of a life time! Pepper and Piano and Daithi were victorious!! I’m so chuffed for Pepper and Piano as that song really resonates with me and a lot of people out there. They are lovely mates who have a special connection. I’m also over the moon for Daithi who looked like a proper little rock star out on that huge stage on Sunday on Sky 1 HD! I was utterly gutted for Flow Dem as I am very fond of those cheeky boys and think their first song is brilliant. I think they now know they should have stuck with that tune for the semi finals even though they gave it 100%! I think there are big things to come for those boys anyway! 

Since the live show just two days ago Pepper and Piano are now number 4 in the midweek chart and are making money off their music getting 100% net profits!! GOOO girls!!!

We are all so happy and surprised by the support these new and talented artist have got from the public so soon. What on earth could happen this Sunday on the show? 5 more incredible semi finalists will battle it out to get a place in the Wembley final! EXCITING!!!

I’m back at Radio1 too which is nice as I missed my tea whilst I was away! We have two live lounges next week, Alesha Dixon and McFly who I LOVE as I’ve been interviewing them since they first came out years ago. They are hard working chaps who have become mates along the way. In fact, Harry bought me a very ‘interesting’ Christmas present last year! You’ll have to ask him about that!

I’m also really looking forward to my make up coming out in Boots all over the UK very soon!! It will give me such a buzz to walk in there and see it all and I hope you enjoy trying it all out or buying it for your girlie friends for Christmas!

Enjoy the last minutes of summer while you can. It’s my 29th birthday on Friday; I think I may pretend to be 28 again! ahhh 

Peace and Love

Fearne 

xx

Fearne has designed her first make-up range exclusively for Boots. The 17-product range reflects Fearne’s versatile and unique style and will be in the shops from the end of September.

Whether you prefer glamming it up with false lashes and shimmer or toning it down with a slick of mascara and nude lips, Fearne’s range has colours to suit everyone. Fearne was heavily involved in all aspects of the design process from start to finish, creating gorgeous packaging, textures and a colour palette for the range that is both glamorous and fun.

Fearne said “Creating this range has completed a childhood dream. Make-up has played a big part in my life; from glamming up to gothing up, covering tears and getting ready for a big TV show - I couldn’t live without it. It’s been magical creating my dream line of make-up packaged to include my love of vintage, skulls and tattoos in a delicate way. I hope everyone loves it!”

Keep checking back on Officialfearnecotton.com for all the details.

If you’ve been to LA you’ll know it’s almost a parody of what you think it’ll be. You actually see movie stars going about their daily business, everyone has small dogs, and there’s enough fake boobonculars to sink a yacht! I had some great celeb spots whilst there. One night when me and a group of old mates were out at a bar where Matt from Muse and Kate Hudson were having a drink. My mate Dylan bravely went and asked for a photo which I ended up taking. It’s a classic and she looks spectacular like she’s on the front of a magazine! What a beaut!
The next night in an Italian restaurant I saw Eric from Entourage. If you’re a big fan of the show you’ll know how exciting this is! I FREAKED out!!! He was eating spaghetti if you were wondering. The next day whilst filming at Mischa’s house Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale just casually drove passed in their car. Her with her gorgeous big red lipsticked lips pouting, and his ponytail flapping in the breeze! Magnificent!

The next night I saw Eric from Entourage AGAIN! Double excited! He was chatting to Piers Morgan so I went over to say hi to Piers (basically so I could say hi to Eric) and he introduced me. He shook my hand then asked Piers and I if we would like a drink. I panicked, couldn’t decide so blurted out “NO…Thanks, err no, cheers though”. What a fool! I could have had a cocktail with Eric from bloomin Entourage but I ruined it up with my fumbling!
It may sound like I’ve just made all that up because reading it back it even sounds ridiculous, but I kid you not this is what it’s like in LA!

After LA I flew to Miami and Olivia Newton-John was sat next to me on the plane. I know once again this sounds like a lie, but it actually happened. I was trying to act so normal whilst in my head screaming the lyrics to Grease is the Word!
Miami was HOT! I mean HOTTT! The plane door opens and it feels like your walking in to an oven. My translucent Brit skin could hardly bare it so I only went outside twice! So if you liked the last series of Fearne And… get ready for 4 very different shows coming your way in Sept!

I’m now back home getting ready for more Must be the Music this Sunday! Thanks for all your wonderful comments about the show! The next two episodes are equally as BIG and surprising! ENJOY!
Love and Peace
COTTON
x

It’s 8am my eyes are still sleepy and all I can think of is coffee. Then WAAAWAA UMMPHUMPH BOOOMBOOM! The dressing room next to mine has surely been taken over by a nightclub owner!! Actually it’s just Mr Dizzee Rascal playing some VERY loud tunes whilst getting ready for the day on Must Be The Music! Every morning during the audition shows this was Dizzee’s morning routine. It certainly woke us all up!

It’s been so lovely hanging out with all three judges during the first leg of the show. Dizzee is full of energy and made me laugh every day, Jamie Cullum is one of the sweetest people ever, and Sharleen Spiteri is the sort of woman I like, strong, ballsy and inspirational!

Jamie is definitely a kind soul but I did catch him stealing a cereal/yogurt combo pot from my room one morning! He’s so lovely I had to let him off. Not many would get away with this.

Sharleen has mostly been inspiring me to pick up a guitar again. I used to have lessons and got to a level where I could play a bit of a tune and feel quite satisfied about it. These days I can just about hold one. My specialities lie in the air guitar arena, but I must get back into it so I can be cool (or at least pretend I am) like Sharleen.

The talent on Must Be The Music is incredible. I didn’t know who would walk through the door as the boundaries are so loose. Any instrument, any song, any age, rappers, rock bands, death metal, steel pans, solo drummers, choirs…..it was such a mixed bag and at times eye opening. The first audition show to find the best new music act in the country starts this Sunday 15th August on Sky1HD!!!!! I hope you enjoy!!!! The first show is packed! Some of my favorites are in there and I even quite embarrassingly cried during the first show! You’ll see why this Sunday!!!

Peace and love

Cotton

Don’t forget to watch Must Be The Music on Sky1 and Sky 1 HD this Sunday at 7pm.

As you may have already heard, this September Fearne is going to trek to Machu Picchu in aid of the Breast Cancer Care charity and joining her will be Holly Willoughby, Alexandra Burke and Denise Van Outen as well as some other truly inspirational women.

1 person is diagnosed with breast cancer every 11 minutes and Breast Cancer Care hopes to be able to support each and every sufferer, as well as their friends and families.  Help the girls try and meet their target of raising £1 million for this fantastic cause, by clicking on the link below and donating whatever you can spare. You can donate to the whole team or if you prefer, there are links to sponsor the celebrities individually but all the money goes towards the group goal of £1 million.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/celebtrek

Big thanks, in advance from Fearne and the girls for your generosity!

To find out more about the work of Breast Cancer Care and the support they provide please visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk

This month mostly consisted of Must Be the Music which is shaping up nicely for its August start date on Sky1HD! Last week I had to films some links for the show to a camera that was in a helicopter in the sky! To any passers by I looked like a loon chatting to myself staring at the clouds! All will hopefully make sense when its on the box!

The iTunes festival was a huge part of my life during July. So many amazing bands to grace the wonderful spherical musical home of the Roundhouse, and so many fun guests on the show! A truly wonderful free music event! My highlights were Martin Freeman, who I adore as a guest on the show, Rhys Ifans as I think he was a bit drunk, and Palmoma Faith as she was really sweet to my mum who was down to watch Phoenix on our last night! Band wise, Mumford didn’t disappoint with the added bonus of Laura Marling chucked in for good folk measure! Diagram of the Heart who are definitely heading towards the headline spot next year in my eyes, and of course  Foreigner  and Europe who still know how to rock!!

I love working with Dave Berry (or Dave Ber’e as he now likes to be known) as we have such a laugh! Last week when recording our ITV1 best of shows we got the giggles so bad it took us 20 takes to get 1 link in the bag! Woops!

I’ve managed to get to a few gigs too in my limited free time, my total hightlight, and perhaps even favorite gig of the whole year so far was Lissie who performed to 200 odd sweaty fans at the ICA last week. Her voice sounds even better in real life if possible and she sings every lyric like she truly means it! A wonderful strong female vocalist who wears her heart on her sleeve and sings like an angel whose smoked 20 cigarettes. It’s love!

Fearne and…  filming is going well with our last month of filming coming up it’s shaping up to be a nice series 2 with many twists and turns and interesting revelations.

I’ve had no time to paint recently which is tough and not enough time to read! I’m hoping to get some reading in on the plane when I’m off on my travel for Fearne and … in August! I’ve got loads of good books piling up fast! I’m nearly 29! 30 is so near! Shouldn’t I be more adult by now? Shouldn’t I be able to cook a good lasagne? Know about wine? Not kill every house plant given to me? I guess I’ve still got a year!

I hope you’re all enjoying your summers whatever you’re doing!

Love and peace

Last week Fearne Cotton caught up with the multi-talented Alesha Dixon in the studio to talk about her new single “Drummer boy”. Alesha talks to Fearne about what it was like recording her new album in the US and finding a new sound for her latest solo effort.

To view the video of Fearne and Alesha in the studio just click on the clip below.

Don’t forget to tune into Fearne weekdays from 10am on BBC Radio 1