I think we all like to think that most of the time we are at least vaguely sophisticated, and some of us even develop tastes for things that make us feel very grown-up, like olives, french cinema or red wine. But let’s face it, we all also like stuff that is actually rather naff.
I’ll make you a deal. I’ll share some of my guilty pleasures with you, if you share yours with me.
Musicals
If it’s got a show-tune and a knock-out dance routine in it, I. Am. There. I like all kinds of musicals, from the classics of the stage like Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, old movies like Singin’ In The Rain and more modern musicals like Footloose and Avenue Q. I know all the words to a disturbing number of songs from the shows.
I took ages to decide which clip to share to go with this, and in the end had to go with Grease. It’s one of the first musicals I remember watching. Plus, John Travolta in this movie? Yes. Tell me about it, stud.
80s Movies
Me and my old flatmate used to have Footloose ready to go on top of the DVD player at all times, for emergencies when you might need the dance scene in the warehouse to cheer you up (try it, it’s hilarious). We both love a good 80s flick, be it a Brat Pack movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Flashdance. My personal favourite is The Breakfast Club.
90s Pop
Shameful, I know, but I think this is mostly nostalgia. Me and my best friend had a fantastic road trip not so long ago, singing along loudly to the Spice Girls greatest hits. Just watch girls who were growing up in the 90s at a party or at a cheesy club if they play something by the Spice Girls or B*Witched. I know I’m not the only one.

Facebook Stalking
You know you do it too.
Eating entire tubs of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream
Ok, I haven’t actually done this since university, but woah, is it good. Pass the Cookie Dough.
Bad TV shows
I’m not talking Jersey Shore or TOWIE, that’s too bad, even for me, but I will happily marathon watch anything with Gok Wan, and I have a secret love for Project Runway, Queer As Folk USA (I may or may not own several box sets of this) and Man Vs Food, amongst others. I think Queer As Folk USA could have a place on the list all it’s own. I’m not much of a shipper, but Brian and Justin are very definitely my One True Pairing. So many feels!
Sad Songs
I really don’t know why, but I love a good bad tragic ballad or a song that tugs at the heart-strings. This kind of overlaps with my love of musicals, as most of my favourites are songs from musicals, like I Know Him So Well from Chess, There’s A Fine, Fine Line from Avenue Q and A Little Fall Of Rain from Les Miserables. My love does extend outside the world of the West End though, with Abba’s The Winner Takes It All, Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black and Frank Sinatra’s One More For The Road holding places on my favourites lists (eclectic lot there!). My all-time favourite, and possible my favourite song actually, has to be Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah.
Wasting Hours On The Internet
Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter. The internet is a blackhole for time.
Junk Food
Giant bags of jelly tots, burgers the size of my head, excessive amounts of pizza. Gimme.
Drinking On A ‘School Night’
I don’t do this so much these days, but in my previous jobs, I was often still to be found with a drink in hand when I had to be at work the next morning. Shocking behaviour.
Over to you!