Like most of the rest of the country we have been avid watchers of Popstars, that programme where young hopefuls are being given the chance to make it big.

It has taken over from Sabrina The Teenage Witch as daughter's favourite programme and Saturday nights are now centred around the show.

We have followed the group's escapades as they got auditioned and picked, started rehearsing, dodged the Press, shared laughter, shed tears and everything else.

I'm not sure why the show is so popular. I mean, yes of course it's voyeuristic TV, as is much of what goes out these days.

At the same time I think many of us have also enjoyed watching this show because it's good to see other people achieving that youthful dream we all had as teenagers.

How many of us didn't stand in front of the mirror singing into a hairbrush?

I was advised by the reaction of my family at an early age that I couldn't sing at all and this was later reinforced at school when I was refused entry into the choir by Mrs Matthews with a quiet, "I don't think so dear, do you?".

This didn't stop me believing I would be discovered and made famous someday, although I was never that sure exactly what I'd be doing to be so. It's that wonderful optimism you have when you're young, which sadly goes as real life takes over, which makes you believe that anything is possible.

Daughter watches Popstars with shining eyes and I know she would just love to be one of them. I sigh over my old dreams and think about how their mums must feel, half proud to bits and half worried sick.