Westlife met Mariah Carey backstage

"I was so nervous - I had choreography, but I just didn't dance," she said.

Sam told us she is releasing a new single in December and her film - based on HG Wells' Time Machine - is coming out in March.

"I'll be happy if my record makes the top 10," said Sam, who presented her pals Westlife with the Top Pop award.

"They're brilliant. I hadn't seen them for ages," she said.

We were up against some high class competition and we're very pleased to have won

Kian Egan Westlife

Nicky, Kian, Mark, Shane and Bryan were buzzing with excitement when they came backstage to show off their gongs - which looked like Jim'll Fix It badges.

"We are very, very happy," said Kian, admiring his Top Pop gong.

"We were up against some high class competition and we're very pleased to have won."

Nicky was also delighted to have beaten Britney, Kylie and co to the honour. "We've been overlooked recently," he said.

Nicky also revealed that the future is bright for the band. "We're only been together for three years," he said

"The Backstreet Boys have been together for nine and 'N Sync for seven - we're not going anywhere yet."

'Dream come true'

Tom Jones has done it with The Cardigans, Cerys and Robbie - now he has teamed up with Wyclef Jean - and the partnership stretches beyond their TOTP Awards show duet.

"We are already working together," said Tom. Look out for their track called You Give Me Life.

Wyclef told the BBC that working with Jones - who he called "the godfather" - is like a dream come true.

"I'm gonna wake up tomorrow back in Brooklyn," he joked. Wyclef also ruled out moving to England - because it's too costly.

'Excited'

Saturday Show presenters Dani Behr and Joe Mace shared their views on the departure of SM:tv hosts Ant and Dec.

"I love the guys. I think it's new pastures for them. They did a fantastic job," said Dani.

"Of course we are excited they are not there any more."

Atomic Kitten: Bumped into former member

Dani and Joe presented the Top Newcomer award to Nelly Furtado - who pipped Hear'Say and Blue to the title.

"I think she's fabulous. I think she's really original and I think she deserved it," Dani said.

Furtado spilled the beans on her new song On The Radio Remember The Days.

"It's about believing in yourself and not really letting your peers determine what you do with your life," she said.

"It's one of my fans' favourite songs."

Nelly was the first artist to take to the Top Of The Pops Awards stage. "I've never opened a show before," she said.

"It was a first time for me and I was kind of nervous." But she added it was a great honour - and good fun.

Plans

Megaman from So Solid Crew gave us a taste of what we can expect from the garage collective next year.

"There's lots of new artists coming through and much more R&B cuts, rap cuts - the whole lot," he said.

Atomic Kitten were looking forward to their new tour in February and revealed that they had just bumped into former member Kerry Katona.

"She's just destroyed my top," joked Natasha. Meanwhile, Liz said she was glad to be up north so she could visit her mum.