Former BBC showrunner Gareth Davies has revealed behind-the-scenes details about the alleged diva-like behavior of several pop stars during their time on the now-canceled show "Top of the Pops." Davies, who worked on the music program, described encounters with artists including Shania Twain, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna, while also noting those who surprised him with their down-to-earth attitudes.
Davies characterized Shania Twain as one of the "biggest divas" he has encountered. He recounted how Twain's entourage operated with extreme precision to ensure she never had to pause or open doors herself. "They were basically all running to the next door, the next door, the next door through the BBC corridors to make sure that when Shania started walking, she didn’t have to slow down at any point," Davies told Page Six. He described this setup as a "regimented, rehearsed line" where any faltering by an entourage member could lead to trouble, calling the whole arrangement "a little bit overkill."
Jennifer Lopez, according to Davies, earned the title of "sassiest." His account details how Lopez had all her dressing rooms decorated in white plastic film, taking over an entire corridor. "It was like this white plastic film that went everywhere," Davies explained, noting how this extensive effort felt "very unusual" for the BBC at the time. He added that significant time, money, and effort were invested to ensure Lopez felt as "sassy as what she kind of wants to be backstage." Additionally, Lopez reportedly requested a white microphone for her performance.
Maya Gray was noted for keeping a small entourage, in contrast to Madonna, who arrived with a large crew. Davies described Madonna's team as a "big machine" with specific roles. He shared an anecdote where a member of Madonna's entourage failed to bring the outfits, a task they were solely responsible for, though Davies did not witness any overt repercussions.
On the other end of the spectrum, Davies recalled positive experiences with artists such as Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, and the Spice Girls, whom he found to be surprisingly down to earth. Janet Jackson also defied expectations; instead of arriving late with a large entourage, she was found by crew members waiting patiently on the studio floor.
Representatives for Twain, Lopez, and Madonna were contacted for comment, according to the report.