Blog posts by year and monthJune 2011
Posts (8)
Mock The Week: Coping with nerves and embarrassing moments
I think it's fair to say that the first time I appeared on Mock The Week, I really did get the classic pre-show nerves. It's a different sort of anxiety to that you get when performing live stand-up. There is obviously a feeling of more pressure. This will be my fourth time on the show and I...
Touring the country with Crimewatch Roadshow
When I was offered a presenter's role on Crimewatch Roadshow I jumped at the chance because I believe it's public service broadcasting at its best. Without the support our viewers give to our appeals for information in solving crimes, the programme just wouldn't work. With Crimewatch Roa...
Glastonbury: I film behind the scenes
For the past eight years I've had the pleasure and, sometimes daunting task of working in the old-school titled BBC 'Film Unit' at the Glastonbury Festival. Our job is to venture outside the protective confines of the BBC's compound to film short items documenting the plethora of weird and wo...
Blue Peter: Overcoming my phobia for a record-breaking swim
In the five years I've been a Blue Peter presenter this is one of the hardest things I've done, but also one of my proudest moments. I wanted to do one final challenge on the show that would push me both physically and mentally, and hopefully inspire people young and old to take up something...
Terry Pratchett: Choosing To Die
Two years ago I directed Terry Pratchett: Living with Alzheimer's for BBC Two, following the author on and off for a year to document his early days with Alzheimer's. By the end of it Terry and I knew each other well and I had won his trust. We seem to know instinctively what the other i...
Case Histories: Bringing Jackson Brodie to the screen
I had just finished filming Ashes To Ashes when Ruby Films sent me the novel Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, with a view to adapting it as the first two-parter in a new series for BBC One. To be honest, I was so knackered I didn't really feel like throwing myself into creating another serie...
Poor Kids: A child's view of growing up in poverty
When I was asked to shoot and direct a film about poverty, I knew the team and I would be taking on a massive challenge. As a society, we have stigmatised poverty to a point where nobody likes to admit they're poor. By making Poor Kids through the eyes of the children, we could uncover a ...
Our War: Dealing with death on the frontline in Afghanistan
In April 2007 I was the officer commanding 3 (Corunna) Platoon in Helmand, Afghanistan. Due to the events surrounding the death of one of my men, Private Chris Gray, on Friday, 13 April, I was approached by BBC Three to contribute to the programme, Our War. My platoon sergeant Si Panter h...
