Terribly Famous

Welcome to Terribly Famous, a new podcast from Wondery which takes you right inside the lives of our most iconic stars. Over this first series, we’ll uncover the rocky road to super-stardom of Britain’s home-grown diva, Adele.

She’s a cheeky London girl with an infectious laugh and a potty mouth. She’s inspired by trauma and heartbreak to write songs. And she’s inspired by stars like Etta James and Nina Simone to sing them....

Adele is on the rise, turning heartbreak into hits. She’s already a household name in the UK and now she’s on her way in the US too. It’s a sensational journey, what she’d dreamed of as a kid. But fame - especially when it came so fast and is carrying her so far - brings both gifts and problems. Can she stay grounded and give her fans the music they crave? It’s a lot for one girl to manage but she’s not doing too badly. Un...

Adele faces the terrifying threat of losing her voice through high-risk but vital throat surgery. Forced to step out of the limelight to recover, she experiences the more normal life she has been craving. It's a blessing in disguise: Adele falls in love and finds stability. But soon, a new threat looms.

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Journalist and music critic Jude Rogers first interviewed the star right at the beginning of her career. She takes Anna and Emily inside those meetings, from the time the ambitious 19-year-old shared her nervousness about the scrutiny fame would bring, to the shocking moment Adele revealed her “very uncool” role model. Now a global chart-topper, has she changed? And what’s next for the Londoner who conquered...

Victoria Beckham has come a long way since her days as a popstar. Now, she’s a style icon with a multi-million pound fashion and beauty empire. But for a long time there wasn’t a single thing Victoria could get right in the eyes of her critics.

In this four-part series, we’ll tell the story of how one determined and ambitious young woman hit the big time with her four best friends. But she had to dig deep to uncover the rea...

Joe Stone fell in love with the Spice Girls aged nine, went into journalism just so he could meet them and ended up interviewing all five. What he doesn't know about Victoria and her transformation from pop star to fashion designer is, frankly, not worth knowing. Did we mention he has a shrine to her too?

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Zayn is full of doubts after walking away from One Direction. What if leaving 1D was the most stupid decision of his life? What if he'll forever be known as 'the guy who used to be in that band’? It doesn’t help that his dad’s thinking the same. Zayn’s going to do whatever it takes to show his parents - and the world - that he can go it alone.

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From Elvis to the boys of 1D, every megastar needs their fans. In this episode, author and fandom expert Hannah Ewens unpacks the devotion of superfans. From the scientific reason most megafans are teenage girls to the way fandoms vary between countries, it's a lot more than just screaming and hiding in bins.

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Lily’s taking her music career into her own hands. Literally. She’s sitting on the floor, cutting out homemade CD covers and drawing on them in pen. This time, she’s doing things her way and it feels great. But as she prepares to share her new sound with the world, Lily wonders whether the world will listen.

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Lily's done with fame. She's quit the music business and is clean and sober. But the press don't want a new, improved Lily - they want wild Lily. And they're not going to stop hounding her, even in the face of tragedy.

This episode tackles very serious subjects, including stillbirth and drug and alcohol abuse. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction, you can contact https://www.talktofrank.com/

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Lily is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. But recovery isn't easy when it feels like the world is watching her every move. And then, late one night in October, one of the people watching turns out to be a very real threat.

This episode includes details of stalking, sexual assault and mental illness. If you or someone you know is being stalked, you can contact Paladin, the national stalking advocacy ser...

As one of the Daily Mirror's notorious '3am Girls', Clemmie Moodie was at the heart of celebrity gossip in the noughties. She reveals the lengths she went to for a scoop, and how the rules have changed over what the tabloids can, can't and shouldn't say. Plus she tells us exactly why Lily Allen got so much press attention.

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A British original. Part showman, part show-off, he was born to entertain you. In this series, we follow Robbie Williams' transformation from 16-year-old backing singer to fully-fledged solo superstar. But behind his over-the-top on-stage persona, there's Rob: an everyday Northern bloke - who needs a lot of TLC.

This episode features descriptions of alcohol and drug abuse. If you or someone you know is struggl...