| How did you get to be the question
master of Grand Slam?
This is a complete departure. Never done anything
like this before. This comes under the big umbrella
of 'voice work'. I didn't train for any of this.
And it's one of the most potentially frightening
things I've ever done...
Frightening?
Yeah what's frightening about it is that if we
make a mistake, in our area, it means going back
and that's unfair on everybody. I have to be quite
focussed in that booth watching the screen and
try not to make a mistake.
You must have seen a lot of questions and answers.
Are you now a king quizzer?
Can't remember any of them.
What do think about these incredible contestants?
I'm mesmerised by some of these people. I really
am. You have to admire them. You have to admire
them as you have to admire anyone's interest and
knowledge about ants. There's something about
them. It is amazing. It's very frightening and
nerve-wracking for them. They're very focussed.
I admire that.
Do you get nervous in your booth?
Yes. Yes I do. It's so alien to anything I do.
If there's a small parallel, there's a feeling
that when you do TV or film, if you make a mistake
there's thousands of pounds potentially resting
on it. If you've got a shot to do, you've got
to do it by the end of the day. But that's about
as far as it goes.
What have you been up to recently?
I went out Croatia and did some work on a piece
called La Femme Muskateer and had a scene with
Nastassja Kinski. I had to be seduced by her and
then killed by her. So that was very nice. A bit
of Holby City. I haven't done much of the regular
TV slots. I tend to do more dramas and things
like that. I'm a tart. I'll do anything. This
is just another branch of that tartiness.
What's your favourite TV quiz?
I love University Challenge. I am a bit of an
addict. If I can get about eight questions right
I reckon I've had a fantastic evening. I love
Mastermind too. Grand Slam creates the same kind
of aura - without the comforting face of Magnus
Magnusson.
What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind?
The life and works of George III
What makes a great question master?
Clarity and authority. Really, I want to mollycoddle
the contestants, but I'm not allowed to.
|
