Sophie Ellis-Bextor can't tour without gherkins on her rider
Sophie Ellis-Bextor says she can’t tour without gherkins on her rider and credits Take That’s 2007 tour for sharpening her live performance skills.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has revealed a "passion" for pickles - a snack she insists must always be on her dressing room rider when she tours.
The Murder on the Dancefloor hitmaker, known for her distinctive voice and dancefloor anthems, says gherkins are a must for her backstage.
Although they can be an acquired taste, Sophie says that whenever a jar is opened backstage her crew, band and guests can't resist.
Speaking to Instagram and TikTok creator Luke Hamnett on episode 4 of official BRIT Awards podcast The Red Carpet Treatment - On The Road presented by Mastercard, she said: "I do love gherkins. You know, you always have to have your rider of what you want in your dressing room.
"Gherkins have always been my thing because they're like an easy snack, and I'm someone that's very extroverted in my pickle passion, but I do know that when they're on the side, loads of people are like, 'Can I have some.'"
During her podcast appearance, the 46-year-old singer also reflected on the artists she’s toured with and the satisfaction she gets when she wins over a crowd as a support act.
She said: "Pet Shop Boys was really special because I grew up on their music so that felt like a real moment, and then Kylie [Minogue], because our paths hadn't really crossed in person that much and so it was nice to meet her and hang out. It was really such a good gig you can imagine like, really happy, a happy thing."
But Sophie credited her time supporting Take That on their 2007 Beautiful World tour as a pivotal moment in honing her live skills.
She said: "I actually love doing support tours and I would actually credit the Take That tour as being part of what actually helped me get better at performing live, because it was quite a sobering experience to walk out night after night to arenas mainly full of women waiting for these four guys to come out on stage and having to win them over."
Check out the fourth episode of The Red Carpet Treatment - On The Road with Sophie Ellis-Bextor HERE
Watch in full on YouTube or across @BRITs social channels.
