10 Questions for Gaby Roslin
Gaby Roslin made her name co-hosting The Big Breakfast with Chris Evans in the ’90s and went on to present Children in Need with the late Terry Wogan for 10 years. Now the host of Channel Five’s The Saturday Show with Matt Allwright, as well as BBC1’s prime-time National Lottery Live, Gaby is celebrating her 30th year on television.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN IN TV FOR THE BETTER?
The explosion of television: more channels, satellite, on the internet, and so on. It’s everywhere.
AND WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR THE WORSE?
There’s not enough live TV. It’s my drug of choice. I love it, especially when things go wrong. You can also get the truth from guests when the show is live.
HAS THERE BEEN A TIME ON AIR WHEN YOU THOUGHT: “THIS IS A DISASTER?”
I did almost 29 hours’ live TV straight into the Millennium with various co-hosts. At one point, every single one of our cameras across the world went blank. I just giggled.
HAVE YOU EVER FELT: “I’VE CRACKED THIS?”
Truthfully? Never. I always feel I’m learning, honing my craft, trying to get better.
WHO IS THE BROADCASTER WHO HAS RESONATED WITH YOU THE MOST?
Valerie Singleton. As a young girl, my dad took me to Television Centre and I met her. That convinced me I wanted to be a TV presenter. But I worried I couldn’t present Blue Peter when I grew up if I was still allergic to cats.
IS THERE A GUEST YOU’D BE HAPPY NEVER TO MEET AGAIN?
There are three. Two are dead and one’s still with us. I’m not naming names but they were just horrible people.
WHAT IS THE ODDEST FAN LETTER YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
From a prisoner who did a sketch of me that was, let’s just say, a bit rude.
HAS 30 YEARS OF TV LIVED UP TO YOUR HOPES?
Oh yes, and much, much more. I never wanted fame, I just wanted to work in TV. I’m a walking encyclopaedia on telly because I love it so much. I know there never was a golden age of TV. People who say there was annoy me.
IF YOU COULD SAVE JUST ONE SHOW YOU’VE DONE WHICH WOULD IT BE?
The Big Breakfast. Chris Evans was wonderful to work with. He’s a TV genius. I won’t hear a word against him.
YOU HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE. HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?
I would go to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe with my family. We’d have a barbecue and lots of Prosecco and I’d tell my kids to follow their dreams. My last words would be: “I love you.”