Q&A with Mel Giedroyc
The BBC Children in Need Appeal Show is back with an all-star line-up of presenters.
Published: 7 November 2017
When I was asked to host on the night itself, I said ‘yes’ immediately. It’s such an honour and it is such a great group of people presenting with Tess, Ade, Graham, Rochelle and Marvin. It’s a total joy.
It’s your first time being part of the presenting line-up on BBC Children in Need evening. How are you feeling?
When I was asked to host it on the night itself, I said ‘yes’ immediately. It’s such an honour and it is such a great group of people presenting with Tess, Ade, Graham, Rochelle and Marvin. It’s a total joy.
Tell us about your involvement with BBC Children in Need over the years.
I first got involved with the event three years ago when I did The Choir with Gareth Malone. A year later, Sue and I did a Star Wars sketch, which was one of the most exciting days of our lives because it was so amazing walking in and seeing a long white dress! Then last year, we did a comedy telephonist sketch with Eddie Redmayne. It was really fun. I feel very warmly and joyfully towards BBC Children in Need. It’s a charity that I have watched on the night for as long as I can remember.
Are you looking forward to hosting with Graham again?
Listen up! That will be so much fun. We’ve seen each other sporadically but we haven’t worked with each other since January. The man is a sheer total leg (end) and he is such a joy to be out there with.
Do you get nervous doing live TV?
Strangely, bizarrely no! You get excited and there is always a bit of a buzz. I don’t know if it is good or bad thing but I go into a bit of trance!
BBC Children in Need raised so much money in 2016.
Every year the British public are so generous. It is really moving living in Britain. Fundraising is something we do tremendously well. I don’t know if it happens to the same degree in other countries where people do delve so deeply into their pockets.
What issues affect you?
All of the stories make me weep. I made a film for BBC Children in Need a couple of years ago about a charity helping kids who had brain tumours. I found that incredibly hard. It is always that combination of incredibly moving but also life affirming and heart wrenching stories. The people going through these kinds of things are incredibly brave. They are an example to us all. They want to get on with life, they want to get on with all the stuff children do and so it’s a combination.
And of course, you are a proud mum yourself…
I can’t speak for every mum but once you have children, I find that I don’t really get through the day without grinning about five times! If someone says a nice word (about them) I will be brimming!
What would it mean to you if people do donate?
Any donation does make a difference. Getting involved is what makes BBC Children in Need so moving.
