This morning I’m going to be on the radio.
Admittedly it has taken me a while to make this second step after my radio debut on BBC Kent in October last year, but it is a step nonetheless, particularly as this is a proper grown up radio station that people I know might actually be listening to.*
I’m very excited, but a teeny bit scared. Just a little bit.
“Just be yourself,” advises Bee.
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
I have a tendency to let words come out of my mouth before I’ve really thought about whether they should or not, which is manageable in small groups, where you can just cough a bit or pretend you said it as a joke or run out of the room, but not so easy on live national radio.
“And I’m going to be in a different studio,” I continue, “so I won’t be able to see the other people’s reactions. I won’t be able to tell if they’re looking horrified or smirking or anything.”
“It’ll be fine,” says Bee, clearly not interested in investing too much time in my concerns. I wait, expecting her to add a final word of comfort, along the lines of ‘at least it’s radio, so you won’t have to worry about your thin hair’, but no, nothing.
She’d be right though. No one will be able to see when I turn bright pink with excitement either, which is always a plus. I’m going to try and think of it a bit like I do this blog. I write the words, but there’s no one actually looking at me, so that’s alright isn’t it? Like when you play hide and seek and cover your eyes so no one can see you.
I should probably stop writing about it and actually get ready. I know it’s radio, but turning up in pyjamas probably isn’t terribly professional, not really The Done Thing.
Wish me luck!
*No offence to Radio Kent, it’s just that I don’t actually live in Kent. Or know anybody in Kent. In fact I’m not sure I’ve even ever been to Kent.
Good luck, you will be great. Like you said, the key is to be yourself. Funnily enough I find TV apppearances easier than radio. I’m a director though so am used to making actors feel at ease for TV so perhaps that medium doesn’t bother me as much. Anyway nerves are good. Hope to catch you!
Well if nerves are good I must have done ok – my heart was beating about twice its normal rate! The radio was hard though as I was on my own in a room miles away, so guess TV would be easier from that respect.
Well done! You were great! It was so funny to hear your voice and realise who you were after thinking I must know you from what you were saying! (I hadn’t read today’s entry so didin’t know in advance!).
Think you did shock Jenni Murray with your crack cocaine comment though!
Well she shocked me with her first couple of questions, so fair’s fair!
You got a link?
I’m on the radio out here twice a month so I’m used to it. The trick is to not talk too fast and have some notes…
Ah yes, notes, good idea…
Here it is. I’m the last item, about 35 minutes in: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017mvx2
Great work, Jo, I heard it too and hadn’t read this, so it was a great surprise. You’d already made me laugh several times and then I realised it was you! Nice one. =D
Loved your contributions! Feel that Nick chap takes it all a bit SERIOUSLY and could do with some more therapy…. You were FUNNY which is far more important….
Just wanted to say I thought you were fab. I heard the piece before I read your article and the nerves certainly didn’t come through.
Well done!!