I WAS invited out for a meal with the St Helens rugby team this week.

I have to admit, I was flattered until I actually arrived at the restaurant. Here was me looking forward to a pleasant, relaxed afternoon with the Saints, only to be told I'd actually been entered to the Fatty Arbuckles Challenge.

First course was a loaf of garlic bread followed by an enormous 22oz steak with a full of chips and salad rounded off with a swimming pool of ice cream, fruit and cream. Not a problem for the rugby boys but for Darren Proctor - or should I say Billy Bunter - I don't think I'll be eating for a week.

Anyway - hope you enjoyed the St Helens Show last weekend. Although we didn't have the best of weather, I'm sure you'll agree we had a laugh anyway. Once again, it was a magnificent event and we are all looking forward to next year's show.

In between doing roadshows and eating, I've managed to dig out three top tunes that we think are going to be sure-fire hits.

ROBBIE Williams - Millennium

The man with the Midas touch returns. His first album, Life Thru A Lens has now sold almost two and a half million copies (quadruple platinum). This is his first single from his next album I've Been Expecting You and is destined to be a No 1. Every radio station is already playing it to death even though it isn't out until September 7. It samples the string section from the Bond movie, You Only Live Twice which gives it a 'bitter-sweet symphony' sound. Basically - it's brilliant.

Cam'ron - 357

Cam'ron is a 22 year old American and is set to release his debut double-A side single at the end of August. Both songs are impressive but the main one that caught our attention was 357. Cam'ron has used the theme tune from classic 80's Magnum PI. This is already causing a buzz in the specialist charts and nightclubs and it won't be long until it crosses over into the chart.

Five - Everybody Get Up

Wow! This is my favourite song of the moment. In my opinion, this is Britain's best boy band. This time the sample comes from Joan Jett's I Love Rock n Roll and Five have given it their own trademark of a catchy melody and an attitude in 'rap'. Taken off their top ten album, Five, if this isn't a number one, I'll eat another Fatty Arbuckle's gut-buster! It's out on August 24.

JUST to let you know, I won't be writing my column for the next two weeks as I'm off to sunny Turkey for a well-needed break but I'll see you when I get back.

North West Top Twenty Singles.

1) Spice Girls/Viva Forever (Virgin)

2) Puff Daddy/Come With Me (Epic)

3) Pras/Ghetto Superstar (Universal)

4) Ace of Base/Life Is A Flower (Mega/Polydor)

5) Apollo 440/Lost In Space (Epic/Tut)

6) Another Level/Freak Me (NWS/BMG)

7) Lucid/I Can't Help Myself (Delirious/FFRR)

8) Will Smith/Just The Two Of Us (Columbia)

9) Jamiroquai/Deeper Underground (Sony S2)

10) Aqua/My Oh My (Universal)

11) Bewitched/C'est La Vie (Epic/Glow Worm)

12) Eagle Eye Cherry/Save Tonight (Polydor)

13) Billie/Because We Want To (Virgin)

14) Brandy/The Boy Is Mine (Atlantic)

15) Celine Dion/Immortality (Epic)

16) Baby Bumps/Burning (Delirious)

17) Lovestation/Teardrops (Fresh)

18) Five/Got The Feelin' (RCA)

19) Mousse T/Horny (A&M)

20) The Audience/I Know Enough (Mercury)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.