Richard Bacon : Morning everyone!!
C4 Chat Ed : Morning richard, shall we begin?
JoScho : How did you get your job on the big breakfast?
Richard Bacon : Obviously after the Blue Peter incident, as we shall call it :) I got a call from The Big Breakfast who asked me whether I'd be interested. What happened back there was regrettable, but it's the nature of the beast - you do get calls with lots of offers afterwards.
kenny : How does the BB compare to doing a show like Blue Peter?
Richard Bacon : It's completely different... Blue Peter is a very scripted show, and very choreographed. We'd get in at 10 am to rehearse the show for 5.10 p.m. whereas the Big Breakfast is very raw, you just turn up and do it... it's adlib and off the cuff... very enjoyable! It's a different discipline mind. Blue Peter was totally scripted, you read someone else's words whereas here, it's all me.
pip : I'd like to congratulate you on making a great comeback and facing the music, how did you find the courage, and what kept you going??
Richard Bacon : I think - obviously it was a difficult time, and it's hard to explain what it's like when you're in the eye of the storm like that, but I knew I just wanted to be strong and I didn't want to be brought down by the whole thing. Luckily I did have, you know, a number of offers off the back of Blue Peter, so having those offers there was mentally very important - and also, the amount of support that I got made me realise that it ultimately wasn't going to finish me off and that's what kept me going.
BUNTY : you have come back like a trooper well done
babydoll : Is it as difficult getting people to come out of their houses and streak as it was making stuff with sticky backed plastic?
Richard Bacon chuckles. Thank you bunty, and babydoll - it's harder than that :) At least with sticky back plastic you have a script and a plan to work to! Whereas here you never know who you're going to meet behind the door, and only yesterday someone swore live on air!! So... it's something that when I first did it I was a bit nervous, but now I'm just... on edge. You never know what's going to happen, and that's why it's so exciting. It's really interesting, most of the time when you open the door and people see that they're live on TV, they're willing to do almost ANYTHING! So it's easier than it looks and you just have to be quite charming.
channel babe : so whats the crew like at the big breakfast
Richard Bacon : They're great. Out on the road, there's not that many of them. Normally on OBs you have 20 crew, certainly with the Beeb... but on the Big Brekkie it's a bit... one man and his dog.
Richard Bacon grins
Richard Bacon : There's me, a cameraman and a producer. And a couple of guys in the OB van.
babydoll : Whats the dog called then :)
Richard Bacon chuckles. The cameraman is a different fella from the house each week, so you will have seen them all at some point. They're a good bunch, by and large.
Divine Shadow : which famous person that you've met did you fancy the most?
Richard Bacon : Nicole Kidman! Or possibly Andrea Coor.
JoScho : Richard I want to be like you when I'm older as you are a natural at the job, have you any tips?
Richard Bacon : Aww :) Jo - I think...er...gosh how hard to explain. You have to almost teach yourself to be relaxed on camera. The biggest obstacle to being natural is nerves. You're in a very unnatural environment, in front of camera and with an earpiece, so actually you 've just got to learn to not be nervous, and to enjoy it. Anyone can do it, but it's a discipline you have to teach yourself.
Abby : Exactly what time do you have to get up in the morning, and is that the worst thing about working on the BB?
Richard Bacon : Getting up that early isn't that bad, because it's SO early - so it's either half four or five. It's so early you just get up. Then in the afternoon you're quite tired, but in a mellow way, which I think is actually quite pleasant. The worst thing for me is travelling around in the smelly BB minibus, and also we have to stop in different bed and breakfasts around the country - so you know you're not in your own bed, and sometimes the places vary greatly in quality...so you can't sleep, and then you have to get up.
kenny : What are the pets really like on Blue Peter - as they seem - or mad snarling beast when the cameras are off?
Richard Bacon : Um...er...they're alright. They're fairly docile when the cameras are off. But I think one of the more difficult aspects of presenting Blue Peter, they have a bloke in the studio who just looks after the cats etc., and so just as the camera goes to you, he runs over and plonks a cat on your lap, then you tense up for the piece to camera, and the cat senses that and it digs its claws into your lap! Owwww...and they smell a bit *grin* But they're not beasts. They're just...there.
Obi-Wan : WHAT T.V. SHOWS DID YOU WATCH AS A KID?
Richard Bacon : Dallas. Saturday Superstore. I don't think Blue Peter was very good in the 80s, I didn't really watch it then, but I love it now. I still watch it now, quite a lot actually.
Richard Bacon grins
Funkymonkey : If you were a Mr Man, which Mr Man would you be and why?
Richard tries to remember all the mister men.
Richard Bacon : God this is hard! Mr...er...Quite Content. I've just invented him.
Richard grins
BUNTY : how can i get a signed photo of u?
Richard Bacon : Eek, we haven't had any done yet, at the Big Breakfast, but when we 've got some done, just email the Big Breakfast and request them, I'll gladly send you one.
babydoll : What do you plan to do with the rest of your day?
Richard Bacon : Well we're in Yorkshire at the moment - and we're just on the way back (something we always do) to the Hotel. We'll have breakfast then we'll travel in the minibus all the way back to London. Then I'll go straight home and my plan is to meet a friend in the local pub where they have a computer golf game called Golden Tee... very addictive... and I'm trying to lower my handicap on that for most of the afternoon. Great way to spend a Friday afternoon, eh !
Patrick : Are you ticklish and where?
Richard Bacon : Yes I am, very, in most places. Heh.
Divine Shadow : if you had the choice of doing any job, what would it be?
Richard Bacon : I'd like to - gosh that's a good question, isn't it? I'd like to either edit the Sun or a TV programme. My real ambition is to be the boss of a TV show one day.
pip : You were marvoloso this morning without a script, but have you ever considdered playing streaky bacon yourself, it would make my day!!
Richard Bacon : Baggy clothing comfortably conceals a body that I'd rather not expose on network television. But I'm obviously a bit of a hypocrite telling everyone how great they are for streaking when the truth is, I'd never do it myself. But it's nice to let other people have the opportunity.
Funkymonkey : Do you bother to read the tabloids these days?
Richard Bacon : Yeah - why d'you ask? I read the main redtops every day, and normally scan one or two broadsheets... but why, are you into the tabloid debate this week?
babydoll : What are your ambitions for the future, how long will you want to trawl around in the wind and rain on OB?
Richard Bacon : Heh. I enjoy the job, so happy to do it for a while yet. But, in truth, I'd probably like to work back at the BBC one day, but I'm on good terms with them so we'll have to wait and see about that. Ultimately, I want to do that boss thing on that TV show.
Richard Bacon grins
C4 Chat Ed : That's it everyone. Thanks for coming in Richard. Thanks everyone - there'll be another BB chat soon! Cheerio!
Richard Bacon chuckles and blushes. Let's talk again soon! Thanks for being here :)
Richard Bacon waves and exits left.
Divine Shadow : thanks for talking to us Richard
JoScho : This has made my day actually being able to talk to you!
BUNTY : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
channel babe : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
heavenli hunny : bbyyeeeee...hope you reduce your handicapp!!!
Divine Shadow : cya rich
