*My woman of the 2009 has to be Dannii Minogue. My pal D was initially reluctant to return to the X Factor after hating every minute of last year’s show with the judges bickering. But wow didn’t she turn it around this year!
Team Minogue were victorious in so many ways and Dannii’s every move was on the talking point of the nation. Not only did Dannii look insanely good (thanks to her brilliant hair stylist Christian Vermaack), she’s happier in her own skin. She’s in love, she’s enjoying life and she’s currently enjoying her annual Minogue family Christmas in Australia with boyfriend Kris Smith.
Come back soon Dannii and bring some Aussie weather with you!

*When it comes to breakthrough acts it was definitely the year of Florence and the Machine for me. I caught Flo (above) at Shepherd’s Bush Empire on her tour and partied with her in Ibiza during the summer. She’s a class act and with the second album that she’s recording now 2010 should be just as big a success.

*We lost four showbiz greats this year. Jade Goody passed away in March, Michael Jackson died in June, Dirty Dancing legend Patrick Swayze passed in September and Boyzone’s Stephen Gately died in October. All four deaths were so tragic in their individual ways – and all will be sorely missed.

*Gary Barlow, Alesha Dixon, Denise Van Outen, Fearne Cotton (above), Chris Moyles, Ronan Keating, Cheryl Cole, Ben Shepherd and Kimberly Walsh raised an astonishing £2 million by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief in March. These guys were some of the true champions of 2009 with their epic climb.

*Take That were the true champions of live performing this year with their huge Circus tour of the summer. They put all other boy/man bands in the dark when it comes to putting on a show – not bad for guys pushing 40!
My other favourite live performances were Britney Spears at the O2 with her Circus show. She may have mimed but she gave it her all and hey, at least she wasn’t shaving her head, whacking people with umbrellas or flashing her lady garden to the paps! Other highlights were Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet tour, Tina Turner’s comeback dates blew me away and partying with David Guetta in Ibiza for his live set with Kelly Rowland at Pacha was AMAZING!

*One woman I didn’t expect to ever see back on stage again after her ‘crack is whack’ years is Whitney Houston. But she’s emerged triumphant with her album I Look To You and I loved meeting the lady herself in July at the Mandarin oriental. She still has a hint of crazy in those eyes still but she hides it well!

*Spice Girl Mel B wins my award for becoming my new favourite drinking partner. I’ve spent far too many nights this year propping up the bar at the Mayfair Hotel with Mel and her hubby Stephen. It’s getting to the point where when I receive the call that she’s coming I pretend to be on antibiotics. JOKE! I look forward to plenty more fun and games, Melanie!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

THEATRE SHOWS – Spring Awakening, Sister Act and Hairspray ruled.
PARTIES – Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscar’s bash, the GQ Awards, Take That’s Singstar PS3 launch at the Tabernacle
GOODIE BAGS – Glamour Mag, GQ and Cosmopolitan always win this one!
NBF – Joss Stone literally rocks my world.
STARSTRUCK MOMENT – Gassing with Blondie’s Debbie Harry over a Belvedere vodka at the Cannes Film Festival.
FESTIVAL – Glastonbury – the original and the best….followed by HARD ROCK and WIRELESS!

Kimberly Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls starts in her new roll as panel judge on new Sky1 dance show Got To Dance on January 3. And I caught up with the sexy blonde to find out exactly what’s going on with the Pussycats. And from the sounds of it it could be a case of ‘new balls please’. Kim tells me: “I wouldn’t call this down time. It’s kinda a hiatus. We were built as a brand and no matter what happens the brand will continue but for myself I can’t stand to sit out. I’ve been working on music, designing my own apparel range and my website. There’s just nothing in the works right now. Nada.”
And Kimberly, who judges on the show with Adam Garcia and Diversity star Ashley Banjo on either side of her, sounded far from enamored with the Pussycat Doll’s self-proclaimed leader Nicole Scherzinger. She added: “I can’t say it’s always been easy (with Nicole). But being in the Pussycat Dolls is always about putting on a good show. We were able to bring dance to the forefront of the industry. It’s given me an incredible foundation for my future. And that future is now Got To Dance.”

Amanda Holden’s new show for the New Year, Fantasy Lives, for ITV sounds like it’s worth a watch. In said show Mandy tries her luck as a stuntwoman, becomes a Parisian showgirl and even goes off to become a country singer in Nashville. The star tells me she enjoyed every minute. Amanda says: “The dancing was hellish. Everyone thinks I’m a dancer but I’m not. I’m an actress that can dance. I had four days to learn three different dance routines. Then I got given a whole pile of feather outfits to put on. I was literally spitting feathers during the routine. I think my favourite was the stuntwoman one. I jumped off a roof, crashed a car and all I did was broke a nail. I loved it.” This girl never does anything by halves!

Allow me to be the first to congratulate my favourite comedian Russell Brand and US pop princess Katy Perry on their engagement.
I hear the pair talked marriage and Russell officially popped the question during her quick trip to the UK last week for a pre-Christmas get together – and the pair are beyond thrilled by the fact that they’re heading up the aisle.
My source close to Brand tells me: “Russell knows Katy’s the one for him.
“He’s never been into a girl like he has with her and they’re besotted. He asked her to marry him last week and she quickly said yes.
“They don’t know when the wedding will be but they are planning to make it in 2010 if the schedules can work.”
But I hear it didn’t go quite according to plan – because Katy wasn’t happy with the pricey Cartier ring that Russell presented to her. He’s now on the hunt for a suitable ring to give her on New Year’s Eve.
My impeccable source continues: “Russell is searching for a ring designer to make up a ring in time for New Year after the pair discussed what they wanted to have.
“It’s a race against time because Russell wants to have it ready for New Year’s Eve.
“Katy’s stylist friend and Russell’s people have been quietly making enquiries for the couple so they can find exactly what they want.
“Katy’s thrilled with Russell and how he is making so much effort. Russell also has the approval of Katy’s ­parents and everyone in the pair’s close circle know about the engagement.”
Katy and Russell, who’ve been dating since October, looked quite the romantic couple last week when they took advantage of the snow to sledge down a hill on Hampstead Heath.
And Katy’s delighted the Brit comedian has made such a good impression on her very religious parents. I couldn’t be happier for the pair, who have clearly clicked more than any of us ever thought they would.
And knowing this couple it’s going to be a real occasion to dress up – the question is will Katy be wearing Russell’s special West Ham underwear (like she did at the
European MTV Awards) on the big day?!
What about a West Ham ­garter..?

For more information log onto www.orange.co.uk/monkey

Jamie’s brilliant new album The Pursuit is out NOW!

I finally got to grips with X Factor twins John and Edward at the Jingle Bell Ball. In real life they’re bizarre but exceedingly fun. Some choice comments. Talking about Lady Gaga at the show: “Everytime I hear Gaga I think of a baby toy – maybe she should bring out a baby range. She’d probably go Gaga if we got a better reception than her.”
On being pelted with bottles at a nightclub this week by anti-Jedward fans: “The bottles came flying from the crowd but we didn’t need to be hydrated – we were fine. It added to our stage show. A special effect.”
And when I asked them how they had such thick skins John replied: “We haven’t. But could you imagine if we had really thick skin. We’d just look so weird.” Jedward are genius. End of.

Lady Gaga obviously stole the show at the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball in her trademark teeny tiny outfit but rumours backstage say she was in a somewhat feisty mood. One snitch revealed: “She fired her band on the spot at the end of the week according to her people. So everybody was worried her set would be flawed but she managed to pull it off easily. She’s a professional.”
John and Edward stood aghast as Gaga performed her dress rehearsal. John told me: “She’s crazy and we like that. We haven’t met her yet but we hope she likes our quiff.”
Meanwhile Una from the Saturdays revealed all the acts backstage were sweaty because of Gaga. She revealed: “Part of her rider was that there was no air conditioning backstage so we’re all sweating like pigs.” That would explain the Saturdays Pussycat Dolls style outfits!

Westlife’s Nicky Byrne (above with the boys) tells me he’s thrilled to have beaten Take That to the number two position in the charts today – and he happily admitted defeat to the almighty Susan Boyle. He told me at the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball last night: “It wasn’t a case of us wanting to beat Take That – but we’re pleased to have done it. Susan Boyle’s obviously riding this incredibly huge wave at the minute so we never thought we’d beat her.”
Nicky also added he’d heard Lady Gaga was planning to wear her most revealing outfit yet on stage at the Ball. He laughed: “She doesn’t scare me at all but I hope she doesn’t come out totally naked. She’s an amazing artist and definitely someone I have respect for.”
Fellow bandmate Mark Feehily told me he’s glad Jedward have signed to the boys management firm with Louis Walsh. He said: “Those boys are nearly as crazy as Louis so I think they will be perfect together. They have big plans for them.”

He may come across all gangster and scary in his music videos – but all 50 Cent wants is to bag a duet with Robbie ­Williams. I was thrilled to be invited to spend time with Fiddy this week at his Mayfair hotel suite this week.

In town to promote his new album, Before I Self Destruct, he told me: “I’ve pretty much worked with everybody I want to work with in the music industry apart from Robbie Williams. I really want to do something with him.

“During the Curtis album we talked about working together and we set up some time to go into the studio to make something happen and then he went to rehab right before we got into our session. So it never actually happened. But I still want to do it.

My favourite Aussie comedienne Pam Ann is searching for love. The star – who wrapped up her sell out UK tour at the Palladium this weekend – tells me: “I’ve experimented with women, been there and done that. And a gay guy went down on me recently but I’m single. I think the trouble is people think I’m a drag Queen. I’m honestly not.”
The star told me about her huge affection and gratitude she has towards Dannii and Kylie Minogue for their help in  spreading Pam Ann love around the globe. “Those girls are treasures,” she revealed: “Such amazing women and Dannii in particular is incredible. There are not many women like her in the showbiz industry. And look how well she’s doing on the X factor this year – I mean, Cheryl who?” Indeed.