0:00:02 > 0:00:04Get ready, because two of the biggest pop stars
0:00:04 > 0:00:06in the universe are about to go into battle.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09The feisty Charli XCX...
0:00:09 > 0:00:12versus pop legends Take That.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15There can only be one winner, so stay right here.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18I'm Amberley Lobo and this is Pop Slam!
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Going head to head, we've got...
0:00:36 > 0:00:39# I don't wanna go to school I just wanna break the rules... #
0:00:39 > 0:00:42..Charli XCX.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44She's rebellious, edgy
0:00:44 > 0:00:47and definitely knows how to write a great song.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51# I don't wanna go to school I just wanna break the rules... #
0:00:53 > 0:00:56She's super talented but how will she fare against
0:00:56 > 0:00:58the pop phenomenon that is...
0:00:58 > 0:01:02# Let in the sun
0:01:02 > 0:01:04# Let in the sun... #
0:01:04 > 0:01:05..Take That!
0:01:05 > 0:01:09They're the chart-conquering boy band who became a man band.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16This is going to be a monumental "Pop Slam!",
0:01:16 > 0:01:18but whose team are YOU on?
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Team Charli or Team Take That?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23If you can't decide between these two then listen up
0:01:23 > 0:01:27because I'm going to be delving into the lives of these megastars
0:01:27 > 0:01:30to see who has what it takes to win the most coveted prize in pop,
0:01:30 > 0:01:32the Ambo!
0:01:32 > 0:01:34There's only one way to win the Ambo,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38and that's by gaining as many of MY Ambo points as possible.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42I'll be dishing them out over three slamming rounds of pop-ocity,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45where I meet the people who knew the stars back in the day...
0:01:45 > 0:01:49then I check out how hard they've been working
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and finally, I scrutinise their style.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54All before the big moment.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57The winner of the Ambo is...
0:01:57 > 0:01:59You may not agree with me and that's fine.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Head on over to the CBBC website and tell me whose team you're on.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07I'm on Team Charli XCX because my name is Charli
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and I love all of her songs.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12She writes her own music, she sings with loads of other stars,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15like Rita Ora and Iggy Azalea.
0:02:15 > 0:02:23I like her voice and her songs and she is a really cool person.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I'm on Team Take That
0:02:25 > 0:02:28because I love them and I'm going to see them in a bit
0:02:28 > 0:02:30and they are just amazing.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34They produce good music and I like their songs.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36It's a tough one to call.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I mean, Charli is so effortlessly cool and talented.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42But then there's Take That who are industry legends.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Who do you think is going to win?
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Ooh, there's only one way to sort this. It's time for Pop Slam!
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Round One - Pop Potential.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58This is all about how our stars made it big.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01First up, Miss XCX.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03# Boom! Clap! The sound of my heart
0:03:03 > 0:03:06# The beat goes on and on and on and on
0:03:06 > 0:03:08# Boom! Clap! You make me feel good
0:03:08 > 0:03:11# Come on to me Come on to me now... #
0:03:11 > 0:03:16These days Charli XCX has megastars queuing up to work with her,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18but before that, she was known as Charlotte Aitchison
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and grew up right here in Bishop's Stortford!
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Bishop's Stortford, seriously?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26You guys have weird town names.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29# Boom! Clap! You make me feel good
0:03:29 > 0:03:31# Come on to me, come on to me now. #
0:03:34 > 0:03:36This is the street that Charlotte grew up on.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Back then she used to absolutely love listening to Britney Spears
0:03:40 > 0:03:43and the Spice Girls, and it's those guys who made her want to be
0:03:43 > 0:03:47a pop star, but she wasn't going to be any old pop princess.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51No, no, she'd go on to become the worldwide songwriting phenomenon
0:03:51 > 0:03:54that is Charli XCX.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58# You, you lied
0:03:58 > 0:04:02# Ha ha ha ha, I was right... #
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Charlotte started playing music as young as eight years old
0:04:05 > 0:04:09and by the time she was 14, she had enough songs to make an album!
0:04:09 > 0:04:11So she persuaded her parents to lend her some money
0:04:11 > 0:04:13to go to a recording studio.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19# Ha ha ha ha! #
0:04:19 > 0:04:20Check this out,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23I've tracked down the man who helped Charli produce that very album,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26and when I say tracked down, I mean I found him on the internet.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Supersleuth.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30# Wanna fall into your super love
0:04:30 > 0:04:32# Yeah, my heart never wants it to stop... #
0:04:32 > 0:04:35That producer is Darren Bazzoni.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39He's worked in the music industry for over 20 years.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Whassup?!
0:04:41 > 0:04:43- Hey!- How are you?
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- Are you well? - So good. Is this seat taken?
0:04:46 > 0:04:47No, you can sit there, my dear.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I'm going to get comfy. Let's talk Charli.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53What did a 14-year-old Charli sound like?
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Originally, she brought an acoustic guitar in but I could sense
0:04:56 > 0:05:00she wasn't all that comfortable with an acoustic guitar,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04so we had a chat and she was into very similar stuff to me -
0:05:04 > 0:05:08electro bass, hip-hop and stuff like that
0:05:08 > 0:05:09and we sort of hit it off
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and we started putting all these ideas together
0:05:12 > 0:05:15and she knew exactly what she wanted.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20The album Charli recorded back then was called 14 and this...
0:05:20 > 0:05:23was one of the tracks from it.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25# They love your skin They want your hair... #
0:05:25 > 0:05:28The wonderful thing about it is that she was right in the middle...
0:05:28 > 0:05:30I believe it was her GCSEs.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32She was taking 'em very early
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and in the middle of it, making her first album,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37so she was, like, exam after exam after exam.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Album, exam, album, exam.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Just worked, absolutely worked herself.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44And it was brilliant.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47# In the nuclear season... #
0:05:47 > 0:05:50That's some serious hard work -
0:05:50 > 0:05:53writing your debut album whilst studying hard for your exams...
0:05:53 > 0:05:56That gets you three Ambo points, Charli.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04With the help of Darren, Charlotte recorded her first ever album,
0:06:04 > 0:06:09but she needed a catchy name, so it was time for a rebrand.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12Online, Charlotte called herself Charli XCX, which meant
0:06:12 > 0:06:17"Kiss Charli Kiss", so she went with that and it's stuck ever since!
0:06:21 > 0:06:22The year was 2008.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Charli had the name and the album, it was time to get it out there.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28So she created her own record label
0:06:28 > 0:06:32and, well, it didn't really do much, but it did get her
0:06:32 > 0:06:36recognised by a local promoter who gave her her first ever gigs!
0:06:38 > 0:06:41This was an amazing experience for a young Charli
0:06:41 > 0:06:42and little did she know it,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45but she was catching the attention of a record label.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54The label loved what she was doing and in 2010 gave her a record deal.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Charli, have four Ambo points for getting signed.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02Charli had made it, but she didn't release anything for over year.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05She needed to find a sound she was truly happy with,
0:07:05 > 0:07:09so she hooked up with a co-writer and in 2012 released
0:07:09 > 0:07:12You're The One, which got put on the Radio One playlist.
0:07:12 > 0:07:13You go, girl!
0:07:13 > 0:07:16# You're the one who can make me stay
0:07:16 > 0:07:19# You're the only one who makes me feel this way
0:07:19 > 0:07:22# You're the one who's been stealing stars
0:07:22 > 0:07:24# Your golden arrow went through my heart... #
0:07:24 > 0:07:27She's everything a pop star should be.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29She's a little bit rebellious, she is mega cute
0:07:29 > 0:07:32and, most importantly, she writes her own music.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35And that is so impressive. And everything she writes I just love.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Charli had announced her arrival on the pop scene
0:07:42 > 0:07:44but this track was just the start
0:07:44 > 0:07:47and soon she would be going stratospheric.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Take a seat Miss XCX,
0:07:49 > 0:07:53it's time to see what those Take That boys have got for us.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57# Tonight We're gonna live for
0:07:57 > 0:08:00# We're gonna live for these days... #
0:08:00 > 0:08:03THESE DAYS they are the ultimate UK man band,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06who've been topping the charts for decades.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10But before that, they were just five northern lads right here
0:08:10 > 0:08:12in Manchester!
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Welcome to Manchester, and in 1990,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22this place was the heart of the UK music scene.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25It was more known for its indie bands than pop,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27but five lads were about to make history
0:08:27 > 0:08:29and become the biggest boy band the country had ever known.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Here's how it happened.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35# Sometimes I see your face
0:08:35 > 0:08:37# Looking at me
0:08:37 > 0:08:41# All your love and grace... #
0:08:41 > 0:08:44To find out how Take That became pop legends
0:08:44 > 0:08:48we need to rewind nearly 30 years and head back to the 1980s.
0:08:53 > 0:08:59The story starts with a young singer by the name of Gary Barlow.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03# And bells call high and low... #
0:09:03 > 0:09:04From a very young age,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Gary was determined to be a pop star, and in 1986
0:09:08 > 0:09:14when he was just 15, he reached the semifinals of a BBC song competition
0:09:14 > 0:09:17with this festive little number...
0:09:17 > 0:09:20# We are told... #
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Gazza, you can have two Ambo points
0:09:23 > 0:09:25for getting on the telly at just 15.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27But how did Gary hook up
0:09:27 > 0:09:29with the other lads in Take That?
0:09:29 > 0:09:33# Relight my fire
0:09:33 > 0:09:36# Your love is my only desire... #
0:09:36 > 0:09:38To find out I've arranged to meet
0:09:38 > 0:09:42the man who put the legendary band together. Excited!
0:09:42 > 0:09:43Nigel!
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- Hello!- How's it going?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- I wasn't ready for that! - 'Maybe a bit too excited.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51'This is Nigel Martin-Smith
0:09:51 > 0:09:55'and back in 1990 he had a dream to create a world famous boy band.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58'Spoiler - it totally came true.'
0:09:58 > 0:10:00We are standing in the very place
0:10:00 > 0:10:04where the boys first auditioned and you put them together.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06How did it all go and what was it like?
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Gary was the first member of the band, really.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Gary came in to see me, and he gave me this tape,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14and after he left I put this cassette tape on,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17and this song came on called A Million Love Songs.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18So I rang him up. So I said,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22"There's a track called A Million Love Songs. You didn't write that."
0:10:22 > 0:10:24And he went, "Yeah, yeah, I wrote that in my bedroom."
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I said, "Can you come back straight away?"
0:10:26 > 0:10:28You know, "You've got to come back now."
0:10:28 > 0:10:31I'm thinking, "This lad is so talented."
0:10:31 > 0:10:33And so he came back and that was the start of it.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37# A million love songs later... #
0:10:40 > 0:10:43'Pop fact - A Million Love Songs would later become
0:10:43 > 0:10:45'a Top Ten hit for Take That.'
0:10:46 > 0:10:51# A million love songs later... #
0:10:53 > 0:10:56'Gazza, have another two Ambo points for getting that massive
0:10:56 > 0:10:58'talent of yours noticed.'
0:10:58 > 0:10:59# Here I am... #
0:10:59 > 0:11:03If Gary was this great, what gave you the idea, then,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05to put him with a whole bunch of other guys?
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Well, Gary was great, but he was like...he was 19 going on 50.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Before he went on stage, he would be in his dressing room
0:11:11 > 0:11:13shuffling around in his little slippers...
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- Having a cup of tea. - ..with his cardigan on, literally.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19He was really sweet but he was like someone's uncle, so I wanted
0:11:19 > 0:11:23to put some young lads round him who'd make him look a bit more hip.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27'Those lads ended up being
0:11:27 > 0:11:29'double glazing salesman Robbie Williams,
0:11:29 > 0:11:31'vehicle painter Howard Donald,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33'decorator Jason Orange,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35'and bank worker Mark Owen.'
0:11:38 > 0:11:40'Take That had arrived,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43'but things didn't start well.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46'Their debut single was released in 1991
0:11:46 > 0:11:47'and was a massive flop.'
0:11:49 > 0:11:52We were all round at my house on the Sunday to listen to the charts,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55and when it didn't go in the charts, I can remember them all going,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57"Oh, we're looking stupid now, shall we just call it a day?"
0:11:57 > 0:12:00And I'm like, "What?!" I couldn't believe it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04# We are not just friends because I love you... #
0:12:04 > 0:12:07'Nigel and the boys were determined to make it,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10'but getting heard in the early '90s wasn't so easy.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14'So Nigel had a plan involving some good old-fashioned hard work.'
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Don't forget - there was no internet then.
0:12:19 > 0:12:2225 years ago it wasn't that easy to get a band off the ground.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24All the doors closed to them,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26no-one took them seriously at the beginning,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29and the radio stations wouldn't play them.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31I mean, I had them doing everything.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33I was taking the band round schools,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35I was taking them into under-18s clubs.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37They had to go everywhere.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41I always knew, if I could just get people to hear the band
0:12:41 > 0:12:43and to see them, it would work.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45# Your promises have never been
0:12:45 > 0:12:47# Anything you've made them seem
0:12:47 > 0:12:50# So what you going to promise me this time? #
0:12:51 > 0:12:55'All the work paid off when their second single, Promises,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58'smashed its way into the charts in November 1991.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02'And when I say smashed, I mean it gently nudged its way to number 38.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03'But...'
0:13:03 > 0:13:05This kicked off a chain of singles
0:13:05 > 0:13:08that would see the boys climb the charts,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10and it was with this song...
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- SHE SINGS OFF-KEY - # It only takes a minute, girl! #
0:13:12 > 0:13:15..that the boys cracked the Top Ten.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17The cheeky Manc lads were here to stay.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19# It only takes a minute, girl
0:13:19 > 0:13:21# It only takes a minute, girl
0:13:21 > 0:13:22# To fall in love
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- # To fall in love - To fall in love... #
0:13:24 > 0:13:26'All my friends loved Take That.'
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Everyone had posters, they had the calendar,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32we were all swapping the tapes, listening to the tunes...
0:13:32 > 0:13:34We were crazy for them.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- # That's one minute for ya - To fall in love... #
0:13:37 > 0:13:41'Take That, take four Ambo points for some serious pop perseverance.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- # Just one minute for ya - To fall in love... #
0:13:45 > 0:13:47'And that brings us to the end of Round One.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49'Let's have a look at the scores.'
0:13:51 > 0:13:55'Both Take That and Miss XCX have shown some great pop potential,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59'but it's the boys who take an early lead in this battle.'
0:13:59 > 0:14:01We've seen how our stars got famous
0:14:01 > 0:14:03but how hard have they been working?
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Who's ready for Round Two?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11'Round Two - Pop Success.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14'This is all about what our stars have been up to to make sure
0:14:14 > 0:14:17'they stay at the top of the charts.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19'First up, Charli XCX.'
0:14:19 > 0:14:23Charli has some massive pop tunes to her name, but did you know
0:14:23 > 0:14:27she's actually co-written every track she's ever released?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30And, not only that, she's also written hits for other people too.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- SHE SINGS - # I love it! #
0:14:32 > 0:14:35# I don't care... #
0:14:35 > 0:14:39'Charli co-wrote the 2013 monster hit I Love It
0:14:39 > 0:14:41'for Swedish duo Icona Pop,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45'and it hit the top spot in the UK charts.'
0:14:45 > 0:14:48# I'm so fancy
0:14:48 > 0:14:50# You already know... #
0:14:50 > 0:14:54'Charli also wrote and performed the chorus on Iggy Azalea's Fancy,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57'which was a mega global smash too.'
0:14:58 > 0:15:00# Can't you taste this gold? #
0:15:00 > 0:15:02'And it doesn't stop there -
0:15:02 > 0:15:07'she's written tunes for Gwen Stefani, James Blunt, Neon Jungle,
0:15:07 > 0:15:10'and her childhood hero, Britney Spears.'
0:15:10 > 0:15:13# I'm in the fast lane
0:15:13 > 0:15:15# From LA to Tokyo... #
0:15:15 > 0:15:18'Miss XCX, have two Ambo points
0:15:18 > 0:15:21'for sharing the love with your fellow artists.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24'And, of course, Charli keeps some of the gold for herself.'
0:15:24 > 0:15:26# Boom! Clap! The sound of my heart
0:15:26 > 0:15:29# The beat goes on and on and on and on and... #
0:15:29 > 0:15:34'Boom Clap was Charli's first UK Top Ten hit in 2014,
0:15:34 > 0:15:36'and it didn't stop there -
0:15:36 > 0:15:39'the track rocketed to the top of the charts in the US of A
0:15:39 > 0:15:42'and went platinum worldwide.'
0:15:42 > 0:15:45# Come on to me, come on to me now. #
0:15:46 > 0:15:51'Charli, have three Ambo points for writing a killer global tune.'
0:15:51 > 0:15:52# No silver or no gold... #
0:15:52 > 0:15:56'Boom Clap was huge everywhere, and Charli even recorded
0:15:56 > 0:16:00'a Japanese version where she actually sings in Japanese.'
0:16:00 > 0:16:03JAPANESE VERSION OF "BOOM CLAP" PLAYS
0:16:08 > 0:16:10'You can have two multi-language
0:16:10 > 0:16:12'Ambo points for that one, Charli.'
0:16:12 > 0:16:15JAPANESE VERSION CONTINUES
0:16:17 > 0:16:19'Beat that, Take That!'
0:16:19 > 0:16:22# Although no-one understood
0:16:22 > 0:16:24# We were holding back the flood
0:16:24 > 0:16:28# Learning how to dance the rain... #
0:16:28 > 0:16:32'When it comes to number one hits, not many can match Take That.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'Between 1993 and 1995,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38'the boys had seven of them.'
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Don't think I can name them?
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Puh-lease! - SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH
0:16:42 > 0:16:44'Pray, Babe, Sure, Relight My Fire,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47'Everything Changes, Back For Good and Never Forget.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:48Boom, gimme some!
0:16:48 > 0:16:50# Whatever I said, whatever I did
0:16:50 > 0:16:52# I didn't mean it
0:16:52 > 0:16:55# I just want you back for good... #
0:16:55 > 0:16:57'Boys, you can have four Ambo points
0:16:57 > 0:17:00'for being one huge hit-making machine.'
0:17:00 > 0:17:03In the early '90s, Take That were doing unbelievably well,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06so nothing could stop them, right? Wrong!
0:17:06 > 0:17:10In '95, disaster struck when Robbie left the band.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!
0:17:15 > 0:17:18'It was devastating to Take That fans,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20'and the bad news didn't stop there
0:17:20 > 0:17:23'because, in 1996, this happened.'
0:17:23 > 0:17:25We've decided that the time is right.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27We've done all we can do as Take That.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30And from today...
0:17:30 > 0:17:32it's no more.
0:17:32 > 0:17:33Take That were over -
0:17:33 > 0:17:35and that was that.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38JOKES!
0:17:38 > 0:17:41In 2006, a decade after the lads had broken up,
0:17:41 > 0:17:42they were back together,
0:17:42 > 0:17:46and the boy band had become a man band!
0:17:46 > 0:17:52# Cos I
0:17:52 > 0:17:57# Need time... #
0:17:57 > 0:18:01'Take That were back, and so were the number one singles, albums,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04'and the record breaking stadium tours.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08'In fact, they were bigger than ever.'
0:18:08 > 0:18:12# And have a little patience, yeah... #
0:18:12 > 0:18:16'Chaps, have five Ambo points for the comeback of all comebacks.'
0:18:17 > 0:18:19# When you dream of a dream
0:18:19 > 0:18:21# And you live in the world... #
0:18:21 > 0:18:25'Take That have enjoyed three decades of constant pop success,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28'but one thing that has seen plenty of change
0:18:28 > 0:18:29'is the group's line-up.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32'They've been a five-piece...
0:18:32 > 0:18:33'..a four-piece...
0:18:33 > 0:18:35'..a five-piece again...
0:18:35 > 0:18:37'..back to a four-piece...
0:18:37 > 0:18:40'..and are now down to just three.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42'Take That might be as popular as ever
0:18:42 > 0:18:45'but can their fans call them whenever they want?
0:18:45 > 0:18:48'Surely no pop star would agree to that?'
0:18:48 > 0:18:50# You say you love me
0:18:50 > 0:18:52# I say what
0:18:52 > 0:18:54# You say you love me
0:18:54 > 0:18:56# OK, let's rock... #
0:18:56 > 0:18:57Charli has some big hits,
0:18:57 > 0:19:01and with big hits come big fans.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02She calls them her "Angels,"
0:19:02 > 0:19:04as in Charlie's Angels.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05Genius.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08And she has what she calls an "Angel Phone," and she gave
0:19:08 > 0:19:10the number out to her fans so they could call and text her.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12How awesome is that?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Thanks for calling my Angel Phone.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Hi, is this Mark?
0:19:16 > 0:19:17'Yeah.'
0:19:17 > 0:19:18Hey, this is Charli XCX.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21I think it's great that Charli's got the Angel Phone.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24I think it's really nice to see that she's not afraid of her fans,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26cos, you know, sometimes pop stars can get to a level
0:19:26 > 0:19:27where they're just like,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30"OK, you've made me, but now I don't need to talk to you."
0:19:30 > 0:19:31But she's not like that.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Thanks, dude. What's your name?
0:19:33 > 0:19:36She may regret giving out that phone number, cos I'm sure that's
0:19:36 > 0:19:39going to be a lot of voicemails that she's got to get back to.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42This phone is just, like, continuously going right now.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49'Charli, have three Ambo points for working hard to keep in touch
0:19:49 > 0:19:50'with your fans.'
0:19:53 > 0:19:57'Loads of people love Charli, and some of them are big-time VIPs.'
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Let me tell you this - Charli has some pretty famous fans.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07She got invited by the First Lady herself, Michelle Obama,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09for a tour of the White House.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Now, I wasn't there at the time... Or was I?
0:20:11 > 0:20:13No, definitely wasn't!
0:20:13 > 0:20:16But I imagine it went a little something like this.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20Urgh! Just put that there. OK, just...
0:20:20 > 0:20:22- AS MICHELLE OBAMA:- Right this way, Charli.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25OK, this right here is the Oval Office,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28where my husband, the President of the United States, works.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31No biggie. OK, let's keep this thing moving, we don't have all day.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- AS CHARLI:- Oh, I'm so hungry. If I could...
0:20:33 > 0:20:34Oh, no way, there's an apple!
0:20:34 > 0:20:37No, Charli, come on, think of your manners.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38This is not you. You're not that person.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40- AS CHARLI:- Who am I kidding? I'm Charli XCX,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43I don't wanna go to school, I wanna break the rules.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46Gimme that apple! No-one will know, just a little bite...
0:20:46 > 0:20:47- AS MICHELLE OBAMA:- Charli?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- AS CHARLI:- Oh, no, she's coming! Um-um-um-um-um!
0:20:50 > 0:20:54Mmm! What were you saying about the Oval Office?
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- AS MICHELLE OBAMA:- Did you...? Come this way, Charli.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Come on, we're running late.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01That's right, apparently while Charli was on tour,
0:21:01 > 0:21:04she got a little bit hungry and might have stolen an apple.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05Tut-tut.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09'Miss XCX,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12'have three Ambo points for having the First Lady of America as a BFF.'
0:21:14 > 0:21:16'And I know you like to break the rules,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20'but I'm afraid I'm taking one back for pinching presidential fruit.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21'Tut-tut!'
0:21:24 > 0:21:27'But when it comes to mega powerful fans,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30'Take That have Charli beat.'
0:21:30 > 0:21:33# Sing it louder, sing it clearer
0:21:33 > 0:21:36# Knowing everyone will hear you
0:21:36 > 0:21:39# Make some noise Find your voice... #
0:21:39 > 0:21:44'In 2012, Gary Barlow was asked to plan a party for none other than
0:21:44 > 0:21:45'Her Majesty the Queen.'
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'Gary organised the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54'putting together a star-studded line-up that included
0:21:54 > 0:21:58'the likes of will.i.am, Jessie J and Ed Sheeran.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03'And not only that, 10,000 tickets were given away for free.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07'Gazza, have three Ambo points for working your socks off
0:22:07 > 0:22:10'and putting on the ultimate royal party.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12'And that brings us to the end of Round Two.'
0:22:15 > 0:22:19'Both Charli and Take That are no strangers to some serious success,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23'but the decades of hits have edged the boys into the lead.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25'If you don't agree, you know what to do.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28'Hit the CBBC website and have your say.'
0:22:28 > 0:22:31We've found out how our pop royalty made it big,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33and how successful they've been.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37It's now time to see how glam they've become in Round Three.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43'Round Three - Pop Style.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47'This is all about our celebrities' lives, clothes, cars, pets,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50'or whatever else they choose to splash their cash on.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52'First up, it's Charli.'
0:22:52 > 0:22:54# Bored on Friday night
0:22:54 > 0:22:57# Spinning round just like I'm hypnotised
0:22:57 > 0:22:58# Oh... #
0:22:58 > 0:23:00'Charli has style -
0:23:00 > 0:23:03'I mean, this girl looks seriously cool without even trying.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05'But how does she do it?
0:23:05 > 0:23:07'No, seriously, I need to know.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09'So, I'm catching up with fashion expert
0:23:09 > 0:23:11'and stylist to the stars, Frank Strachan.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Now, Frank, you're a top stylist. Let's talk Charli XCX.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19I think she looks like she has such a good time,
0:23:19 > 0:23:20it just looks so much fun.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24She dresses up, but not in like a Lady Gaga way where everything
0:23:24 > 0:23:25feels like it's pre-planned.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29It feels a little bit like Charli's just decided to throw that on
0:23:29 > 0:23:31that day because she just feels like it.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34They don't look like crazy expensive fashion pieces.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38They're more like things that she's kind of... Picked something up
0:23:38 > 0:23:41from a thrift shop or from a fancy dress store.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44I love it, I think it creates this really nice sort of energy
0:23:44 > 0:23:46and vibe around the music.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49# Just like we're famous... #
0:23:49 > 0:23:54'Charli, your super-cool fashion sense gets you four Ambo points.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57'But the XCX isn't the only one who's 100% on it
0:23:57 > 0:23:59'when it comes to her style.'
0:23:59 > 0:24:01# Get ready for it
0:24:01 > 0:24:04# Oh-whoa
0:24:04 > 0:24:08- # Oh-whoa - Get ready for it... #
0:24:08 > 0:24:11'The Take That three know how to wear a tailored suit
0:24:11 > 0:24:13'better than anyone.'
0:24:13 > 0:24:16# Whoa-oh
0:24:16 > 0:24:17# Get ready for it
0:24:17 > 0:24:19# Whoa-oh... #
0:24:19 > 0:24:23'Fellas, have three Ambo points for your super-classy style.'
0:24:24 > 0:24:27'Take That may be a smart bunch offstage,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30'but their live shows aren't quite so serious.'
0:24:30 > 0:24:32# Come on, come on, come on, come on
0:24:32 > 0:24:34# Take that and party
0:24:34 > 0:24:36# Come on, come on, come on, come on
0:24:36 > 0:24:37# Take that... #
0:24:38 > 0:24:42'Yep, the TT chaps love to brighten up live performances
0:24:42 > 0:24:44'with a spot of fancy dress,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47'as they showed on their ridiculously popular Circus Tour
0:24:47 > 0:24:49'in 2009.'
0:24:49 > 0:24:51- # Oh-whoa - Come on, come on, come on, come on
0:24:51 > 0:24:53# Take that and party
0:24:53 > 0:24:57# Come on, come on, come on, come on Take that... #
0:24:57 > 0:25:00'Take That, take another two Ambo points for clowning around
0:25:00 > 0:25:02'and not taking yourselves too seriously.'
0:25:06 > 0:25:08# We're staying all night
0:25:08 > 0:25:10# We never slow down
0:25:10 > 0:25:13# I think we better do it like we're doing it
0:25:13 > 0:25:17# Do it like we're doing it now... #
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Charli has so much style that she actually sees colours
0:25:20 > 0:25:22when she hears music.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23I'm not even joking.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25# Do it like we're doing it
0:25:25 > 0:25:28# Waited so long just to be here
0:25:28 > 0:25:30# Now we're bringing this back to life... #
0:25:30 > 0:25:32'There's a condition called synaesthesia.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37'People that have it can hear music and associate it with a colour.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38'Pretty cool, huh?
0:25:38 > 0:25:43'Charli sees music that she loves as either pink, purple or red.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46'But music that she hates appears as green.'
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Hey, Charli, what colour's this?
0:25:48 > 0:25:51- SHE SINGS - # Oh-a-a-a-a-a-ah! #
0:25:51 > 0:25:54# We're staying all night... #
0:25:54 > 0:25:56'That was probably a green, eh, Charli?'
0:25:56 > 0:25:59# I think we'd better do it like we're doing it now... #
0:25:59 > 0:26:01'Miss XCX, take one Ambo point
0:26:01 > 0:26:04'for your colourful way of seeing the world.'
0:26:04 > 0:26:08# So, come on, let's keep doing it like we're doing it
0:26:08 > 0:26:12# Doing it like we're doing it now. #
0:26:12 > 0:26:14'When Take That aren't topping the charts,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16'they love to show some caring style.'
0:26:18 > 0:26:21'In Gary's spare time he likes to surprise Take That mega-fans
0:26:21 > 0:26:24'by rocking up at their weddings and singing them a song!'
0:26:24 > 0:26:28# A million love songs later
0:26:30 > 0:26:34# And here I am trying to tell you... #
0:26:34 > 0:26:38'I'm awarding you two Ambo points for adding some showbiz style
0:26:38 > 0:26:40'to your fans' special day.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43'And that brings us to the end of Round Three.'
0:26:47 > 0:26:51This "Pop Slam!" has been epic but it's time to get serious.
0:26:51 > 0:26:52Pipe down, Mark.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55We're about to find out who has won the Ambo.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59But after we take a look back at what we've learned.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04'Pop Slams don't get closer than this.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09'Charli XCX is a stylish girl with mega superstar songwriting skills.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12'But those Take That boys have been at the top for decades,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14'and when it comes to performing live,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17'they bring the house down every time.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19'This "Pop Slam!" is just too close!'
0:27:19 > 0:27:24Ladies and gentlemen, it's the moment we've all been waiting for.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28The Ambo points have been counted and independently verified...
0:27:28 > 0:27:29by me.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33And the winner of the Ambo is...
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Oh, no way! It's Take That!
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Charli, get out of here!
0:27:43 > 0:27:44Take That, take THIS.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47You guys must be stoked! Let's take a look at you in action.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51# Let in the sun
0:27:51 > 0:27:54# Let in the sun... #
0:27:54 > 0:27:56'How good was THAT?! Oh!
0:27:56 > 0:27:59'There's plenty more where that came from.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01'Make double sure you guys tune in next time to see
0:28:01 > 0:28:05'more of your favourite pop stars battle it out to win the Ambo!'
0:28:07 > 0:28:10# Let in the sun. #