You must have heard of Jodie Harsh. EVERYBODY has heard of Jodie Harsh, even hairy, working-class people that work on building sites. She writes for all the newspapers and magazines, props up the London club scene and isn't afraid of anything! Her club night Circus at Soho Revue Bar has just opened a piano bar upstairs with guest promoters hosting the room each week. As is customary when you realise somebody you sort of know is throwing a SUPER party, we gave the girl a phone call as if it was just a random thing and had a chat about what she's been up to in an effort to get invited. Sounds like Jodie has been a very busy girl. Ch-ch-check out the transcript...

DP: Hello Jodie.

JH: Hello.

DP: Sooo, when did you decide to make the Adam West-to-Batman like transformation to become Jodie Harsh?

JH: Many moons ago, when I first moved to London aged eighteen. I arrived in London to start my degree at LCF and immediately fell in with the wrong crowd - a bunch of fabulous, creative trannies and fashion folk. I discovered London's club underbelly and loved it. Make-up, wigs and heels became an outlet for my creative expression and I used this as a vehicle to form the foundations of a career in nightlife. I've subsequently branched out of just promoting and DJing and now have TV, radio, fashion modelling on my CV. I couldn't think of a better career path - but it takes strong feet to support those heels and strong will power to not spend the whole week going out and drinking free bars dry.

DP: How did you decide on your particular look?

JH: It was an evolution really. I started out with much lower hair, much bigger make-up, and many more sequins. I can proudly say I own my look and it's all my creation. For the record, I had high hair before Winehouse did.

DP: Are you always Jodie Harsh or just 'in public'.

JH: Just in public, but that's a lot and that's enough. I'm not going to sit in front of a mirror for hours getting ready just to go down to Tesco.

DP: Can we have a picture of you looking ‘normal’? Sitting in front of the footy downing off lagers?

JH: No. That picture doesn't exist.

DP: Do you have a nemesis? People with a celebrity alter-ego HAVE to have a nemesis. It's the law.

JH: I'm sure there are a few other drag queens and club folk who are jealous and throw shade my way, but it's easy to channel that into positive energy if you're not a self absorbed, insecure twat. I like to get along with everyone, it's in my nature. I don't think it's the law to have a nemesis, but I'm here to break the rules anyway. Maybe I have a few people who I can't stand the sight of but that's their problem; they’re nowhere near important enough for me to consider them my ‘nemesis’.

DP: What's the most OMG outfit you own?

JH: I have a few cute vintage Westwood looks and lots of Marjan Pejoski numbers - he's the guy who designed Bjork's swan dress. I've ditched all my scary, gaudy outfits now. I'm a classy chick.

DP: Seriously now, you are getting to be quite big a star, you MUST have bumped into the actual Jodie Marsh by now. Is she pissed that you're literally making her into an even bigger joke than she was before?

JH: My name is a bit of a piss take of all those naff, pointless celebrities. she's just the worst. Words fail me. Yeah, we've bumped into each other a few times. She once DJ'd at my club Circus. I hired her to show up and play her favourite records. It was, quite literally, the most hilarious night ever. It's a shame she's this massive public enemy number one because she's probably a sweetheart underneath it all. But she should just stop trying now, it's embarrassing.

DP: Yeah, I actually felt sorry for her when she got destroyed on CBB that time, also when she auditioned for a husband and only one drunk guy turned up. I just happened to be in the area for a completely unrelated reason of course.

JH: Of course.

DP: Has anyone ever got the two of you confused? (No offence to you, just wondering)

No. Oh my days, no.

DP: Every girl about town needs an entourage, who is yours?

JH: I've got a solid group of best pals - Kingsley, Scottee, Joanna, Elgar, Silas, Kenny. And as you know I'm close to Sadie Frost, Jaime Winstone, Mika, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Adele, Winehouse... loads of my pals are in the public eye but that's just by chance. We all work in this music/club/TV world and all stick together!

DP: What about your 'dream team' entourage? I would probably go with Sammy Junior... actually, the whole rat pack and Billy Clinton on the end as I know that guy knows how to party. OH, and the guy with the amazing sideburns that does the American Apparel ads.

JH: Madonna, Pamela Anderson, Bjork, Kerry Katona (just for the laughs).

DP: Cian Agnew once told us how to p.a.r.t.y. What's your advice to rocking the night away?

JH: Don't peak too early. I hate walking into a party towards the start of the night and everyone's already twatted and being annoying. Wear sensible shoes (shoes are VERY important – Ed). Dancing is the best way to keep fit so sweat it out without a care in the world - dance like no one's watching. Oh, and don't make requests to the DJ. That is ANNOYING. This young homosexual once asked me to play Britney at a club and I told him that even the suggestion was a bit insensitive. He asked why and I told him 'it's only been an hour since she died - hasn't anyone told you?'. He walked away in tears and I pissed myself laughing.

DP: Haha, amazing. I’ll have to remember that one.

JH: That's how much I hate requests.

DP: Who at Don't Panic would make the best Drag queen? Tell us so we can make a photoshop of said person and put it on the front page, we're not sure of the qualities to look out for.

JH: Heydon. He's got the legs for it. I've seen them. Lots of lipstick, big false lashes, tall hair.

DP: What's new at Circus? (Plug, plug, plug!)

JH: We've just opened the piano bar upstairs in Soho Revue Bar as part of Circus on Fridays. The room is called Sideshow and each week we have different guest promoters coming in and bringing their crowds down, picking their own DJs and creating a more chilled out space away from the craziness of the main room. So far we've had the Dirty Pretty Things crew, the team behind Styleslut, Flash Louis and the Death Can Dance boys all hosting up there.

DP: What’s the vibe inside the ride?

JH: It's kind of a cocktail bar vibe - very intimate, very sexy, and they make a mean mojito. Downstairs in the main room we're still going strong with guest star DJs every week (Roisin Murphy, William Orbit and Kelly Osbourne have played recently and Jack Penate and Mika are coming soon). There's no other place quite like Circus - lots of dressed up party people crammed into a room with good music, pole dancers and circus shows. It's random and eclectic - you might see Lilly Allen dancing on a table with someone wearing a flower pot on their head.

DP: Best club night in London atm? (Apart from your own)

JH: I'm really excited about the new Fabric opening at the o2. In the meantime I think Scottee's night Shoot is great, Gutterslut is fun. Oh, fuck it, Circus is the best thing in town by far!

DP: Thank yoooou. T’was a pleasure.

JH: That’s okay!

FIN

Circus is on every Friday at the Tentpitch:Soho revue bar, 11 - 12 Walkers court Soho next event is on Friday! (you must be there).