FAQ

Q1The scariest thing you've ever done?

I get asked this question a lot and the thing is I've done so many scary things it's hard to pick one. I did a hang-gliding world record which was incredible but it kept getting put off and put off for one thing or another. On the morning that it was about to happen, I watched the cloud clearing and the blue skies appearing and I thought wow, it's actually going to happen and I got that feeling in the pit of my stomach as I thought about what I was going to do. It was a world record for a reason and it was very, very high, so that was scary. There was another really scary one which was actually high board diving. Safety was a key issue on Blue Peter and you were always clipped on or attached to something, but with the high board diving it was just me, in a pair of very tight shorts knowing that if I over rotated it was really going to hurt!

Q2The best place you've been to?

Australia, it's so varied and there's everything there you could ever wish for. I was fortunate to tour all around Australia from the cosmopolitan cites of Melbourne and Sydney through to Kakadu, the northern territories and the Barrier Reef where I learnt to scuba dive. It was amazing.

Q3The best job you've ever had?

I would have to say Blue Peter! Simply because you could get to do almost anything you could ever imagine. You could go in and say I fancy having a go at this or that and the Blue Peter team would try their very best to make it happen. Where else do you get that opportunity?

Q4If you could do anything right now...what would it be?

If I could do anything, I'd like to be in big blockbuster movies. Action movies where I did my own stunts would be great!

Q5How do you like to relax?

I like to draw. If I'm really tired I'll sit down and watch a movie but I have to be really tired to do that. I like to get out and walk the dog and play with my son and daughter too.

Q6What is the best and worst thing you ever did on Blue Peter?

I think I'd have to say that the best thing were the places that I went to and the people that I met. They were all great for different reasons and the variety was what I loved. You went out to discover a story not just to film it. I think the best feeling that I had was when I went back to visit Nala in Africa where we had put in water supplies. There were huge celebrations in the village when we put it in, but we actually went to visit again a few months later and I'll never forget for as long as I live the difference in the whites of people's eyes and their clean clothes and they looked so happy and so healthy. I interviewed a lady initially and asked her what her dreams and hopes were and she wanted to open a cafe. One of the things I did when we went back again was be a waiter in her cafe. The worst thing was having to eat quite a lot of horrible things. I ate rotten shark meat which made me physically sick and I kept trying to eat it. It was awful, it was absolutely hideous.

Q7What is Meg up to now?

Meg's enjoying her retirement. She spends a lot of time up on the farm rounding up the sheep and just generally enjoying herself.

Q8Do you still stay in contact with the Blue Peter team?

Yes, absolutely. We talk quite regularly and get together when we can.

Q9How many times a day do you hear...here's one i made earlier?

Quite a few!

Q10What is the most memorable moment of your career?

One of them would be the very first time I walked into the Blue Peter studio for my audition and I was taken aback by what was there ;the lights, the cameras, the people, it was quite extraordinary. I've had many memorable moments though and it's hard to pick just one.

Q11How did you get in to TV presenting?

I originally wanted to be a physiotherapist but I didn't get the grades I needed, so having done a college production of Grease I was encouraged to do Drama. I went to Drama school in Edinburgh and was there for 18 months before my wife's auntie heard that Blue Peter were looking for a new presenter because Stuart Miles was leaving. I ended up ringing the Editor and spoke to his secretary who advised me to make a show reel. We were lambing at the time and I thought the 'townies' would love this, and they did. I went down to meet them and the rest as they say is history!

Q12Your worst moment on live TV?

Well the classic Blue Peter 'makes' would almost always go wrong. There would be no sticky tape when you needed it, things would be in the wrong order or not there at all, so you'd always be on your toes for a Blue Peter 'make'. One of the things that didn't go to plan was the studio doors getting stuck as Simon and I were trying to open them for the Scots Dragoon Guard to come in whilst playing with a violinist in the studio. The whole of the BP backstage crew came in to help us try and get them open and we did eventually get them open for the last note of the tune. What made it even worse was that we were dressed in Lederhosen!

Q13Did you meet your wife in TV?

No I didn't and funnily enough she is a physiotherapist!

Q14If you weren't a TV presenter, what would you be?

If I hadn't made the decision to go to drama school I would have gone the long way round to physiotherapy I think. However, having gone to drama school, I would have gone down the acting route. I would actually like to do some more acting in the future.

Q15Who was your favourite interviewee?

I've interviewed Madonna and the Queen and I was prepared to be star struck by them but I wasn't prepared to be star struck by Terry Wogan who I interviewed about the Eurovision Song Contest!

FAQ