Alexis Strum, whose music career was derailed in 2002 after producers on Lorraine Kelly's ITV show cancelled her live performance over a misunderstood lyric, says she has not been asked back on the programme despite now having a hit album.
Misunderstood lyric led to cancellation
The 45-year-old singer-songwriter was dropped by her record label after the incident. The line in her single Addicted – 'I'm a junkie, I've overdosed on Chunky Monkey' – was an innocent homage to Ben & Jerry's ice cream, but Lorraine's team interpreted it as a drug reference.
'No one warned me. No one at the label even picked up on it,' Strum told Express.co.uk. 'We just thought it was pop music, it's about metaphors. And the label also just accepted it when Lorraine's team turned around and said, "This is too controversial. It's obviously a drug lyric. We can't have this on the show". No one really fought for me.'
Career trajectory altered
Strum had been hailed as 'the next big thing' and had a five-album deal. 'It did alter the trajectory of my life because I was hailed as the next big thing,' she said. 'I had a five-album deal. That was a good five to 10 years of my life planned out. And then I had to go back to the drawing board.'
After being dropped, she got a job as a receptionist but continued in show business, appearing on stage and screen. Her songs were recorded by artists including Kylie Minogue, which she called 'very validating'.
Second chance two decades later
Addicted was finally released digitally in September 2023, and on CD and vinyl in May 2024, entering the charts. 'I think putting the music out now and being a woman in her 40s and doing it – that is the ultimate validation,' she said.
Despite the full-circle moment, Strum does not expect to return to Lorraine's show. 'I feel like I should go back on there for closure,' she joked. 'I think if she was going to ask me back on, it would have happened by now.'
