Island Life Magazine Ltd January/February 2006 | Page 13

JOHN HANNAM

Eartha Kitt
our chat. Actually, it was more in hope than expectation. Around
five minutes into the recording there was a knock on Tony’s door
and in walked Christopher Biggins. I kept the recorder running and,
as expected, Christopher was his usual ebullient self – and great he
was, too. Tempting Jason Donovan, also in Chitty, on to my show
was not so easy but I did get three minutes but I almost had to get
on my knees.
Many of today’s radio interviews are conducted down-the-line from
studios anywhere in Britain. The quality of the special telephone
lines makes this possible and it is a growing trend. There is one
great disadvantage. The interviewer never meets the star he is
talking to. Personally, I never undertake these kinds of interviews.
You would never guess the stars that I have actually turned down
because of this. I only work face-to-face and in one-to-one sessions. I
don’t really want to change this format after 15 years of John
Hannam Meets on Isle of Wight Radio.
On many occasions artists spend a whole day in a London studio
and they talk to presenters all over Britain but never meet them.
Being last in the day can, surprisingly, have advantages. It does mean
you have to work extra hard to try and think of subjects that have
not occurred in all the other interviews. Many of the stars also
reveal how nice it is to see who they are talking to. The intimacy of
an in-person interview works so much better – particularly if it’s a
nice lady you can flirt with. In the line of duty – of course.
I was the last of the day for Francis Rossi, from Status Quo, Katie
Melua, Mike Batt and Bonnie Tyler. In each case, I was delighted
with the outcome of the interviews.
I do admire the stars who can really handle fame and being
recognized everywhere they go. Personally, I would never wish to be
famous. I could not handle it at all.
I went to Bournemouth Pier to interview Amanda Barrie, who was
then fresh from playing Alma in Coronation Street. We hit it off
instantly and had some real fun during the interview. Then she
asked if I would like to walk up into the town with her. Before we
had even reached the end of the pier she had been stopped around
half a dozen times for autographs, a chat from fans and requests to
be photographed with holidaymakers. Amanda had all the patience
in the world and was kind to everyone. All the way into town there
were cries of: “Look its Alma!”

Nadia from
Big Brother

We actually walked past a huge poster of Amanda, advertising the
show, and she told me not to look at it. Apparently, it was her head
but on someone else’s body, which she was not too happy about.
There was one occasion, in London, when I would have loved a
press photographer to have walked by. I’d had lunch in a private
club with beautiful actress Samantha Robson, who played PC Vicki
Hagen in The Bill. It was official business, I hasten to add. As we
parted she gave me a kiss and hug on the pavement – and it went
un-noticed. I was hoping a photographer would walk by and the next
day’s headline could have been: Who is the sugar daddy with Sam
Robson? It would have done wonders for my street cred.
Whilst on the subject of glamour, I must admit I have been a longterm fan of Cathy Tyson, since I saw her in Mona Lisa and then
Band of Gold and all her other successes. I still continually get
teased indoors about this. Imagine my delight, when I finally
managed to get an interview with her, after several failed attempts.
It was not all plain sailing.
On the day I was due to visit, I had an urgent ‘phone call to say that
Cathy had been delayed in traffic and would not be in Southampton

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