After Dinner Speakers: Betty Boo, Wally Olins, Martin Bayfield

b. Alison Moira Clarkson, 6 March 1970, Kensington, London, England. Born of Scottish and Malayan parents, Clarkson began her career in a rap trio, the She Rockers, and later appeared as part of a duo called Hit 'N' Run. Guesting on vocals for the Beatmasters' "Hey DJ, I Can't Dance To That Music You're Playing", she was credited as Betty Boop (until lawyers representing the cartoon character of the same name stepped in!). In launching her own bid for stardom with "Doin' The Do", again aided by the Beatmasters, Betty earned her first UK Top 10 single in May 1990. This was bettered a few months later with one of the brightest pop singles of the year, "Where Are You Baby", which was also accompanied by one of the best pop videos of 1990. A mixture of bubbling pop and engaging videos won Betty many pop awards that same year. The artist ran into trouble in 1991 when, on a tour of Australia, she was discovered to be miming to backing tapes, resulting in promoters tearing up contracts for future live dates on the Antipodean tour, and prompting a speedy return to the UK. After signing to WEA Records, her low profile and silence were broken in July 1992 when she released the single "Let Me Take You There" (UK number 12), but subsequent singles "I'm On My Way" (UK number 44) and "Hangover" (UK number 50) experienced diminishing returns. Boo has not recorded since leaving WEA in 1993, although she has established herself as a songwriter for other pop acts including Hear'Say, Louise and the Tweenies.