When Janey Lee Grace speaks at Penzance LitFest on Wednesday, the audience is guaranteed a whirlwind trip through the past four decades of pop culture, from the big hair of the ‘80s and bucket hats of the ‘90s to a quarter-century of primetime radio.

Janey was backing vocalist for pop titans Wham! when they became the first Western pop act to visit China. “Even writing about it, I was asking myself: did this really happen?” she marvels.

In the 1990s, she enjoyed “five minutes of fame” as the lead singer on Seven Ways To Love by Cola Boy, and later joined Steve Wright’s “posse” on his hugely popular BBC Radio 2 afternoon show, rubbing shoulders with star guests. “I’m the queen of having it all,” she laughs.

Her memoir From Wham! To Woo! is packed with anecdotes, and audience members will be treated to exclusive video footage and invited to throw questions to the floor, with just one condition: no dirt.

“I held off writing this book for a long time,” Janey explains. “After George Michael died, the press were calling me and what they really wanted was dirt. I was never going to do that, because there wasn’t any and even if there had been, I wouldn’t have said.

“But I came round and realised I had some really great stories and people wanted to read stuff that was true. I had some fun times, and have been unbelievably blessed.”

Janey’s CV includes stints with Mari Wilson (of gravity-defying beehive fame), Boy George and Matt Bianco. “There isn’t an era to rival the ‘80s musically. That’s why so many bands are still gigging now, or enjoying revivals. Something went down then to make it so special.”

She joined the Beeb in 1999, and describes Wright as “the hardest working man in radio”, adding: “He had no airs and graces, which is why he was so likeable and relatable. He treated everyone the same, from Tom Cruise to someone’s mum.

“I think he would have been surprised at the outpouring of love following his death, but he was the soundtrack to so many people’s childhoods – my own included.”

Woo! refers to Janey’s love of natural therapies - the subject of her 2006 book, Imperfectly Natural Woman. “It was ahead of its time, long before everyone was talking about the benefits of coconut oil and kale - people have told me it changed their lives,” she says, proudly.

“So Woo is partly woo-woo, but also WOO, which in personality traits means ‘Winning Others Over’. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past 20 years.”

Janey loves Cornwall, and has set aside time to enjoy West Penwith following her talk. “St Ives is my favourite place in the world. I feel so different there, it’s like being in another country. I love the historic buildings, the stunning beaches - and the fact that wherever you are, you can always get a decent cup of coffee.”

Hear Janey Lee Grace at The Acorn from 5.30pm on Wednesday, July 2. Penzance Literary Festival runs from July 1 to 5. www.pzlitfest.co.uk