The return of the 90s

I was born in 1979 which I guess effectively makes me a child of the 80s.

Although I don't remember much of it apart from Kylie and Jason, sweets which tasted like beer, and a rather nasty towelling t-shirt and shorts set, which back then I loved and wore all the time.

No, I grew up in the 90s, had my first kiss then, bought my first 7" single then, drank my first alcoholic drink, which was swiftly followed by my first hangover... you get the picture. As a result I'm kind of fond of that decade. But having said that I am finding it quite funny and a little unnerving that the 90s seem to be making a comeback in the noughties... It was after all the decade which fashion, and sense forgot. When our boybands wore cod-pieces, our kids tv presenters had mullets, and a puppet called Ed the Duck was a star in his own right.

Let's start with music, and I guess the ultimate 90s comeback - Take That. The boys who retired to their Cheshire mansions in 1996 had clearly been getting bored lazing by their indoor heated swimming pools all day so they got back together (minus Robbie) in 2005 to show the world they could still craft a tune and bust a move. And show us they did. They're bigger now than they ever were.

This of course prompted a raft of simillar 90s-style reunions from Boyzone, Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls to name but a few, which had varying degrees of success. Now it's the turn of New Kids On the Block, all nearly 40 years of age, yet still singing about being boys in the summer. Please NKOTB, you're going to have to do better than that.

This isn't the end of it though, mark my words. I predict chart comebacks for the likes of Colour Me Bad, Pato Banton, Whigfield, and if we're particularly unlucky PJ and Duncan might try to sing again.

TV is getting a 90s twist too - Gladiators, which I remember being a staple of Saturday night TV when I was growing up, returned to our screens a few months back. No sign of Jet, Hunter, Wolf or Cobra (although i'm sure they're all still doing panto somewhere.) but at least referee John "you will go on my first whistle" Anderson survived. Quite frankly, the show would be nothing without him.

Hurtling towards our screens next year are also two, count them TWO, versions of the old Blind Date format. Only one will be helmed by flame-haired, scouse matchmaker Cilla though. Also in production is something that sounds very much like an updated version of tea-time favourite Record Breakers which will be called "Guinness World Records Smashed". And a quite worryingly titled "Noel's HQ" - could it be a new version of the rather old Noel's House Party? Does no one have any original ideas anymore?

The 90s weren't particularly great for fashion either. I'm sure we all thought we looked good back then in our high waisted jeans, knee length denim shorts, bright coloured leggings, doc martens paired with pretty dresses, and flannel and plaid shirts... oh hang on a minute that's what we're wearing now.

So having taken all that into consideration, here are my predictions for the next stage of the 90s takeover...

You will soon buy a bumbag to handily store your mobile and wallet - hands-free ! Back to front jeans (as worn by dubious rappers Kris Kross) and also shell suits will be sported at London Fashion week. "Psych!" will soon be added to the end of every sentence you say, as featured in PJ and Duncan's seminal classic "Let's Get Ready to Rumble". Your mobile phone will resemble a brick with an aerial you could take someone's eye out with. And Peter Andre will have a number 1 single with a re-release of "Mysterious Girl"...

Can't wait - bring on the 90s!