Fashion victim: James Brown's Supermodel Salon was must watch television

Oct 15 2009 by Emma Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post

FOR celebrity watchers it was definitely must-see TV. For dedicated die-hard Kate Moss obsessives like myself though, it was pure, unadulterated, voyeuristic bliss.

I am talking about Tuesday night’s James Brown Supermodel Salon on E4.

Nothing to do with the late, great Godfather of Soul, this was a fly-on-the-wall documentary following hairdresser James as he launched his first hair salon in London.

If you are still wondering who the hell James Brown is, then allow me to fill you in.

The curly-mopped Londoner is Kate Moss’ childhood friend, the man who gave her that crop, that bedhead and more recently that fringe.

The world’s most famous supermodel is also a partner in James’ business venture.

Starting to grasp why Channel 4 decided to devote an hour of airtime to the little-known crimper yet?

Yes the broadcaster had clearly green lit the programme in the hope they would get the notoriously camera-shy Kate to put in an appearance.

And boy did all their Christmases come at once. Not only did Kate appear in the show, she was the show.

We saw Kate and James, left, looking at old photos, we saw Kate and James buying antique light fixtures, we saw Kate and James picking models for a photoshoot and naturally we saw Kate and James smoking a sneaky cigarette.

Oh, and just for good measure and in case clip after clip of the Croydon clotheshorse was not enough, Mr Brown also managed to get Sienna Miller and Sadie Frost into a few frames and some shots of our own “actress and socialite” – as the programme referred to her – Davinia Taylor flicking through interiors magazines with James at her famous home. Meanwhile Lily Allen was filmed getting her extensions done and discussing potential names for the new salon.

This was about as close to E4 brings you “At home with the Mossy posse” as we are ever going to get.

And, after spending the best part of 20 years keeping her model mouth firmly closed, Kate couldn’t shut it on this show.

She literally couldn’t. In virtually every frame she was throwing her head back, guffawing, showcasing the world’s most famous crooked smile.

And did I mention she didn’t have any make-up on? This may not have been a warts and all documentary but it was definitely spots and all. She didn’t even get her hair done.

Not that 35-year-old Kate seemed to give a damn. But then when did she ever?

Kicking Kate may have become a media past-time since those holiday photos and that GQ awards meltdown but watching, as she laughed and joked with her best friend in the world and generally had a great time, this show made you remember why every girl still wants to be her.

Probably just as well it wasn’t available in HD though....