Auditioning for GMTV

Adam Nichols
Sunday, November 30, 2008

Apart from acting, one of the most nervewracking things I have ever done is attempt to interview John Bird, the Big Issue founder and social entrepreneur, at the recent Chain Reaction event. He is a most fascinating man - "I have a lifetime of experience to draw upon," he says. "I was born into the underclass, made homeless at the age of seven, in prison by the time I was a teenager, slept rough on the streets of London, and from there went on to buying and selling products and services, and building businesses".

John argued very strongly that the established voluntary sector will not be able to meet the big challenges of the 21st century, and that social entrepreneurs will be the ones providing workable and relevant solutions.

It was a very scary interview, rather like trying to channel a waterfall. There was so much he wants to say and it's a horrible job trying to restrict him as you know that every member of your audience also wants to hear what he has to say. A colleague saw Fiona Phillips interviewing Alastair Campbell at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday and said, rather charitably, that I did a better job so maybe the vacant seat on the GMTV sofa could be mine. I just need the collagen implants.

Auditioning for GMTV

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