The best for Age me
My twenties/thirties were definitely the best for me because, quite simply, I had the best job in the world. I was anchor” of TVam, Britain's first breakfast TV station – or, as the press used to call me “the Queen of Breakfast Television”. It was my job to interview the most famous and interesting people in the world – and in those days, because we had a huge weekly audience of some 14 million people (a viewership which nowadays Ant and Dec would die for), the politicians and celebrities came to me – I didn’t have to go to them, as presenters do nowadays. That means I met, and later had breakfast with, everyone from Margaret Thatcher, through to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kermit the Frog, Paul McCartney and Elton John. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure sat on my sofa to announce their new idea of Live Aid. Kylie Minogue told me she was going to leave Neighbours and try a career in singing. David Owen and Shirley Williams, long before they were Lord and Lady, came to my studio to tell the world they’d invented a new political party, the Social Democrats. Dusty Springfield, Joan Collins and even Bette Davis recorded one hour “specials” with me on my sofa in Camden Town. Then, on huge news days, I was flown all over the world – to Berlin for the collapse of the wall, to Sydney for the Bicentennial celebrations and even to Los Angeles for Mickey Mouse’s 40th! The only downside was having to start my day at 3 in the morning. Thankfully I had youth on my side and the best of make-up artists, which meant I usually went on air looking fresh-faced and raring to go. The worst part of the routine, though, was being too tired to enjoy the social side of life – which meant turning up to first nights, premieres and parties for the first half hour, and then sneaking off to bed by 9pm – but at least I always knew the next morning would be exciting and always different! I wouldn’t trade those years for anything ! This article was first published in Bella Magazine 2009 |
