PARTY IN THE PARK: THE INTERVIEWS: Texas - Uniting Nations - Keisha White Daniel Bedingfield - Rowetta - Bananarama Liberty X - Rooster - Lucy Silvas

 

My radio Fox co-host Penny joined me at BBC Television Centre, when we intervied Simon Grant, 27/07/05. Simon was kind enough to give up a lot of his time, meaning we can edit this interview into smaller bits and broadcast one a week.

The Saturday show was your first presenting job. Can you remember how nervous you were before the first show?

Very nervous. So nervous. But it was so well rehearsed that I couldn't go wrong really. It was more nerve wracking doing the second show.

So how did you get that job?

I sent off that show reel. I just got everything together like everyone does when they want to be a presenter and it landed at the right place in the right time. I went round a farm and a I found out what food animals eat by asking people from the street, and I took...... it sounds really random, but it worked. So I asked what kind of food do animals eat on the farm, and if they said carrots then I took carrots to the farm. Don't laugh!

Did you get through on your first attempt them?

No it took years! I sent it off when I was at university and I heard literally three years later. And in the same week, I heard from Disney, Nickelodeon and CBBC. So it literally took three years. They just sit on shelves.

You chose CBBC over the others then?

No, I got CBBC I didn't get the others.

How many auditions do you have after you sent in your show reel?

I had three months of auditions. Because I was doing The Saturday Show rather than doing On Air... On Air is what you see in the afternoon and the mornings... they had to get it right because you're hosting 4 hours of live saturday mornings, plus TOTP saturday on top of that. So they had to make sure they had the right person.... which I think they did, because i'm still doing it now!

What do you do in the auditions?

You sit with children.... perform sketches with them and just chat. Do like a mock interview, a link to camera, lots of mock interviews.

Did you do any auditions with current CBBC presenters?

I did it with Fearne Cotton. She'd already been chosen so they were looking for a co-host for her. So I sat in with her and a load of other guys sat in with her as well.

You studied acting.... what kind of things did you have to do there? Was it similar?

It involved all sorts. In the first year I did actually have to be a tree, I had to be a fried egg as well...

Can you show us how you do that?

No! ...So I had to be a fried egg for a year, and then in the second year, you learn about naturalism, realism, comedy, clown... and then put it all into practise in the third year and just do productions. So you're doing things like the Cherry Orchard. It was all very boring!

So when did you decide you wanted to do presenting?

It gets the point... when I was at uni I wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a serious Shakespeare actor rather than sing and dance and do other things, but in real life you've got to be able to do everything in order to get paid. So, I literally auditioned for absolutely everything in the end, after about a year of trying to be an actor.

And what about now? Would you like to go back to acting?

Yeah, yeah or combine the two. Why not?

What kind of things would you like to act in?

I'd like to go and do a bit of theatre work again. Maybe be in EastEnders. Maybe be in a sitcom. I don't know.

What kind of character would you want to be in EastEnders?

Ummm... Shane Ritchie! I am lying, I cant think of anything else to say!

Before that you were a holiday rep weren't you? Was that here or abroad?

Yes, well, to set the record straight it was an entertainments rep not a holiday rep! Its a completely different job. A holiday rep sorts out towels and stands at the airports and makes them buy horrid trips up a volcano! I did do it abroad, I was in Lanzarotti for a year and Manorca for a year, and I don't recommend either as a destination having lived there for some length of time! Umm but, you know when you go abroad and there's people doing entertainment like playing sports during the day and in the evenings doing a bit of singing and dancing? I was one of those.

A lot of them are singing and dancing kinda people, can you still do that?

I can now...... after I swallow my pride!

Is that a good way into this kind of work?

Not necessarily no, it's just one way in. I was employed as a compere, so it was that idea that oh if I can do this abroad then maybe I can do it on the telly.

So how would you recommend anyone get into presenting?

Thats a really tough question because I don't know the answer. No one knows how it happens. I think if you want to do it, watch someone you like, learn... monkey see monkey do really. Just copy people. It's a really tough thing to get into.

Which monkeys did you copy then?

I used to watch CBBC when I was younger. I adore Steve Wilson and Dick and Dom. I mean, they've been doing it for like ten years.

Do you remember people like Phillip Schofield and Andy Crane? When they used to be in the broom cupboard?

Yeah! Yeah definately! I met Phillip Schofield out... I was doing Test the Nation and he was hosting it. I went up and said Phillip! You are my hero! and he actually looked at me like I was a stalker and promptly walked off! That was probably one of the most embaressing things i've ever done!

Is the broom cupboard still here?

No there is no broom cupboard anymore because we have two different studios. TC10 where the afternoons and the mornings come from and then there's TC9 which is CBBC channel which is on all day every day. So, it's all expanded There's loads of presenters, loads of shows, loads of space... it's not just one person and a gopher any more.

We nearly brought our Gordon the Gopher toy in!

Really? My boss WAS Gordon the Gopher. He's called Paul Smith. He was a runner, then he worked Gordon the Gopher on Going Live and now he's head of talent! So if you want to send off your show reel, he's your man.

Was he also Wilson the Butler?

No but funnily enough she's another executive producer at CBBC as well, so once you have a job you have to stay in there, and you never know, one day you may actually be head of entertainment!

That's a revelation, Wilson was a she! Do you have any other presenters you admire?

Not really, kids presenters are the same as every other presenter, it's just a different backdrop. If you watch MTV, or T4 or Big Brother it's just the same thing. I mean, I like Dermot O'Leary - he makes me laugh, Davina McCall... all the classics. There aren't an awful lot of presenters. Once you're popular you're on all the time.

Is adult TV something you want to get into?

Yeah absolutely... It's difficult to make the cross over cos there aren't that many gigs available. so if you can stay doing a job for as long as you possibly can, why not? But yeah of course i'd love to do saturday night telly. Everyone one.

On the Saturday Show you surprise everyone by going live to their houses. If we came live to your house at that time, what would you be doing?

I think i'd be in bed. I know it's boring but who wouldn't be. I'd be eating toast in bed watching a bit of telly.

There's lots of kids tv shows that are coming back... like Jackanory. Why do you think that is?

Because they're good I think. Why get rid of something that's so good? Some people didn't like Jackanory, there's a mixed camp. Did you enjoy it?

I think it depends who was reading

Yeah do you remember Rick Mayall doing Jackanory? That was a good one. I tell you what I used to hate though.... Newsround!

Do you still hate it?

Not as much cos I like all the people who present it now, they're all my mates! But I used to get so annoyed because it used to break up the cartoons.

What would you bring back?

I'd like to see Going Live! again. Was it so good because everyone harps back about it? I don't know.

But then in years to come Simon, people will be saying that about The Saturday Show.

Do you think so?

Yeah definately. Its what you grow up with. You play Doctor Loo, would you like to be the new Doctor Who?

I would. I would i've been asked this before and I said no but I lied. I would actually like to be the new Doctor Who. Why not?

Who's your favourite past Doctor Who?

John Pertwee. He's so cool. He used to do Jackanory as well, and he was an absolutely bonkers man with big hair, and he did Worsel Gummage as well. That should be brought back!! But I think that was quite scary!

You do loads of live TV has anything gone wrong?

It used to go wrong a lot.... well it still does but i've adapted an ability to cover it. Literally when I first started doing The Saturday Show we used to do these phone outs. I was doing one with Zoe Birkett and she had to dial the phone and she just couldn't dial the damn phone and I had to fill... but after 4 minutes of just filling I just did that awful thing when I just stood in silence! It was the most awkward thing. It felt like about an hour. That was the worst moment of my life!

When you're linking and it's live, what do you guys do when the shows come on?

It depends how long the show is. If it's a short show you're rehearsing for the next show. But yeah you do watch them. I like Scooby Doo.

You've done a few adventurous things for CBBC, what have you enjoyed doing?

The Sky Ride was awful. I looked ridiculous. It was very high in an old quarry in edinburgh and it was literally... you're on the cealing and you're attached by a rope and you have to zoom around the ceiling with a hundred million foot drop. I absolutely papped myself. The second time I was free and I could do it. I've done loads of stuff. Originally with The Saturday Show I was lucky enough to travel, I went to LA, Brazil, Spain... those were great adventures and I'd love to do a show that gives you a bit of travel actually.

What about Reality TV? Fearne did Fame Academy would you do something like that?

No I wouldn't! I wouldn't mind doing a show that helped you learn something.... Strictly Come Dancing? Cos you're learning something and you don't look too much of an idiot. Or maybe actually you do.

You should be good at that though, because of your dancing experience!

You haven't seen me dance!

What kind of music are you into?

Well everything we listen to at the moment is to do with pop. Ummm I don't like club music. I used to but i've kind of gone off that now. Go down the smooth jazz route! Yeah I do actually, I bought a couple of jazz CDs.

Is that popular jazz?

Well not reallyalthough I was lucky enough to see Jamie Cullen, and I quite liked it. Again, it's not quite so fun if you listen to it on your ipod, but if you're there watching somebody perform it live, its a completely different world.

Do you get to go to a lot of events like that?

Now and again. I used to get offers. I'm turning into a bit of an old man and I don't bother any more. I mean, you used to go Wow! I've got this... can i do this? can i do this? but now I just hang out with mates.

Do you have a lot of uni mates down in london?

Yeah cos my uni was in north london so a lot of my mates live up there, and cos they're all singers and dancers and actors or comedians, everyone's gone on and is kind of doing work. They're all still up there it's cool. Everyone's jobbing which is nice. I think I had a friend in EastEnders.

Are you mates with the CBBC presenters? Do you hang out?

Yeah but not quite as much because we're all kind of busy. We're in work together every day. Like when I go up to Glasgow with Jake and Angelica we're up there rehearsing for four days so we hang out there cos we're all shoved in the same hotel. At the end of the day you go home. I went out with a load of them last night actually, but yes is the answer. But no is the answer.

Four days is a lot of rehearsing!

Yeah well there's also a lot of travel, but a lot of rehearsal does go into it you know, cos you've got to learn your lines and you've gotta block it through i suppose and think of your interviews. I dunno.

Who comes up with your questions?

Me. Because you can make it your own then cant you.

Do you get to put many of your ideas into practise then?

More so now. I was a bit scared before, but now i've been doing it a while. And i guess, if i dont like it I can suggest something else, however if it actually happens that way is a different kettle of fish but i think you've got to be brave.

And what about the gunge? Do you know what goes into it?

I do. You know if you go to a chinese restaurant? And you know the sauce is quite gloopy? Or if you go to like a burger bar and you have a milkshake and it's really thick? Well basically its like a glutoness powder. So it's water and this food dye and powder. So you can eat it. Not that you wanna eat a whole thing of gunge but it does tend to go into every hole possible, like you're picking it out of your bottom at the end of the day if you don't have a good shower when you've been gunged, so yeah.

That's brilliant, we could make some! Do you genuinley hate being gunged?

No i do like it. Everyone wants to get gunged. Adults as well and kids. But it's a little annoying when it happens every week.

Does it smell?

No it doesn't and it doesn't taste of anything either. It's like....i cant think of what it's like..... well i can..... its got the consistency of like, flem! Am I painting a nice picture?

Lovely, I don't think we'll bother making it now.

CBBC are doing a Potty About Books campaign. Do you get much time to do any reading?

Yes I love books. I'm not just saying that either. You sit on the tube a lot coming into work, or on the bus so i'm reading all the time, cos it whiles away doing nothing really.

Have you got a book on the go at the minute?

I have actually, I haven't started it, i've just finished one. I bought it yesterday. Hang on......There you are Atlantis, by David Gibbons. Cos I read all the Divinci Codes and I got quite addicted to them., and i'm never kind of into adventure kinda style books, but now i'm kind of like it. Apparently that's a kind of take on the Divinci Code anyway. I'll let you know.

Yes you must. Are you a fan of Harry Potter?

No I hate Harry Potter!

OK next question. Phillip Pullman? Do you like him?

Well I went to see his work at the theatre. I do like it, but I haven't read the books actually.I saw it in the flesh.

You also do some kids radio haven't you? Any tips for us?

Yeah I do the Big Toe Radio show. It's very different, cos you're not in vision for a start. You're just talking so what you do with your voice is a little different to what you do on the telly, and you can just turn up in a pair of pants and no one knows what you're wearing!

We don't do that!

Hang on.... you're in your bra now and you're in your boxer shorts! So am I! We're all naked together!

Hi kids. Any tips for us for our kids presenting?

No just enjoy it! You should be giving me tips, you do radio all the time!

We do it very professionally as well! On our show, we've got three animals we're picking from, and we're going to sponsor one. So can you help us choose? We've got a monkey, a penguin or a meercat?

Erm... Penguins are boring. Pretty but boring. Everyone would probably say monkey, because monkes are quite cute and cheeky, so i'm going to say meercat. Because they stand on their back legs and just look very cool.

See my dad likes meercats thats how it made it into the first round.

And they eat snakes!

Do they?!

They do! Or am I getting mixed up?

I don't know but i'm impressed with your knowledge. What shall we call it?

Bob! What names would you have for it?

P - I'd have michael. SB - I'd have muffin. Like the mule.

How many bands have you got on your arm?!

I've got 5. I'm supporting a lot of charities!

Do you know what the charities are?

Yes. Make Poverty history, children in south africa, this one is for breast cancer, and this one is the lance arm strong cancer charity. And that's me bullying one. Or me anti-bullying one more specifically. You've not got any! Are you alowed to wear them?

Yes we are. I don't wear them because I don't feel like i've got to wear one to support it. I did wear one for anti bullying.

They become quite a fashion statement. Apparently, people in schools they wear them but for different reasons. Not necesserily for make poverty history... white means you're single, yellow means your... i don't know. They've got their own meanings, so you're sending out mixed messages!

SB - They're coming off! P- You keep your white one on! It'll help you get a date.

Are you looking for a date?

P - Simon's always looking for a date!

Really?

SB - Yeah well, that's another feature for the adults show! Me trying to get a date! P - We did make a request on valentines day, for some cards for him.

Did you get any?

SB - well we didn't know where the postbox was!

Shut up thats poor! I would've hunted that post box down and stood out side! I would've grabbed the postman! Did you send him one?

P - No. Don't be silly. SB - Penny smells anyway! Moving on, you're our first celebrity interview in terms of this new radio show, and you've interviewed lots of celebs yourself havent you? Who's been good for you?

All the american people are good to interview, because they talk. I mean a basic interview you're selling yourself I suppose and a lot of people who like bands and people go on every single show, they get asked all the same questions... they're quite bored. I interviwed Blue, and Westlife - more so Westlife a number of times and they were hideously boring because they just didn't care. So it's quite difficult interviewing somebody who couldn't give a monkeys. Or a meercat!

You must get asked the same questions don't you?

Well you can think of some quite creative answers, but you do get asked the same questions but who cares, you've got to find out about someone. I don't mind at all. I don't mind asking the same questions either.

The Saturday Show moved away from celebrities didn't it, is that why?

Yes it was kind of the same bands all the time and when Dick and Dom started it was all non celeb based and it was all based on the audience and the viewers. That started a whole new trend and so when The Saturday Show came back all of our guests were our 60 people in the audience, so it kind of worked from there. I think it's a good idea and if you want your feast of celebs and stuff you can watch something else.Cos it's on every other channel so I think we're doing something unique.

Now as part of our elaborate research we found out you're from Cornwall. So, to go with the stereotypes, have you ever tried surfing?

Yes I did I'm rubbish. I used to wear the clothes but I couldnt actually do the surfing unfortunately. I did try but I fell off and I broke a rib actually. I was in shallow water and my board basically tipped on its head and my body was on the back so it did like a somersault with me on it and it crushed my chest at the same time so that kinda put me off. However they do look very cool don't they?!

Yeah do you go down very much?

Yeah I try to but its difficult getting time off. I don't get much time off you see. But i'm going down in two weeks time actually cos it's my brother's daughters' birthday. She's one.

.....And do you like cornish pasties?

Yes I do! Yes got to be traditional propper cornish pasties made in cornwall, because have you noticed, if you buy a pasty from a shop....

Shhhh!

What are you shushing for?

We bought you a cornish pastie!

Oh good!

It's just like one that you'd get in cornwall!

Good cos i was gonna say they do have a tendency to smell like body odour!

Well I doint think this will, this is Pork Farms you know!

Good and it's in a packet as well. That's very kind of you thank you very much. I bet that's really tasty!

We went to a couple of places but it's the only one that was officially branded cornish! We found a "Jumbo Pasty"!

Well where's pork farms............ look its nottingham not cornwall!

Oh well close!

It's not close!!! Nottinghams miles away!

I bet its the same receipe though?!

Yeah cat food wrapped in pastry. I'm really honoured thanks I shall treasure it.

You could give it to one of your helpers Maybe a runner.

Yeah i'll give it to Angelica!

That's it, except, and we hope you don't mind doing this....

Oh my gosh what is it?!

P - We've got a lovely plate S - we'd like you to decorate a plate for us...

I'm going to do a pasty actually. Is this black or green?!

Black!

Oh well i'm colour blind. This is cool, I could do this all day. Are you getting everyone you interview to do this? It's such a good idea I wish i'd have thought of this.

You could do it! Next time you interview someone someone famous...

...Yeah i'll do a little a plate. This is very cool!

You can see a photo of Simon and his plate below* *COMING SOON