When nattering with a bona fide American idol like Adam Lambert, a West Country twang like mine can be problematic. “How is my British accent working out for you Adam?” I ask the 27-year-old pop star, in my best attempt at Queen’s English. “Does it remind you of Simon Cowell’s at all?” “No,” he replies nonchalantly. “Yours is MUCH cuter than Simon’s…” I laugh, stutter an indecipherable response and then cough. Not sexy. We’re 30 seconds into our interview, and I’ve already been rendered speechless. But if his reputation is to be believed, Adam’s ability to shock doesn’t come as a surprise. The handsome singer – who finished second in last year’s season of American Idol, far and away the most watched show on American TV – has always known how to provoke a reaction in people, most notably with his powerhouse voice.