The N1 Centre’s manager has welcomed celebrities in her first year

�Lady Gaga, rap star Tinie Tempah and X Factor winner Matt Cardle are just a few of the big names to have graced the N1 Centre over the past 12 months.

Gaga put in an impromptu, scantily-clad performance at the Islington Academy in December, Pass Out singer Tempah did some filming, and the X Factor finalists were mobbed by teenage girls after word got around about a surprise appearance in November.

It seems brushing shoulders with the celebs is all in a day’s work for centre manager Lynne Glover.

The 43-year-old has been in charge at the shopping hub in Parkfield Street, in the heart of Islington, for just over a year now – and has enjoyed every minute of it.

She says: “My job is the best! Some people complain about having a monotonous job – but I certainly don’t. Every day is different.

“Having the X Factor finalists popping in was a real highlight. It was all very secret – we didn’t even know they were coming until the day.

“When they got here it was hilarious – there were young girls screaming and jumping up and down.

“They all got on their mobiles and soon the place was flooded.”

Ms Glover rose to the lofty heights of centre manager after a career that started at 16 on the shop floor of Marks and Spencer after she left school.

“I started in retail as a shop assistant, and now run a shopping centre – how fabulous is that,” she says. “I think it goes to show that if you want to do something, you can.”

She has overseen some big changes at the N1, which is into its ninth year and now attracts around 200,000 visitors a week.

The N1’s largest store lay empty for months after the collapse of booksellers Borders, before H&M successfully filled its shoes. Ms Glover says another big opening is on the horizon, but is tight-lipped about what.

She adds: “The centre has a great feel to it – it’s very vibrant, which reflects Islington as a whole. We’ve got something for everyone and that’s what we’re all about. We attract all sorts of people and that’s what I love about it.”