My Recent Appearance on Good Morning Britain (& On Camera Tips)

Did you catch me on the box last week on ITV’s Good Morning Britain where I was chatting live with Piers Morgan, Susanna Reid and Simon Clark Director Forest Smoking about the new proposed voluntary smoking ban in play areas?!

If not, let me bring you up to speed…

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health announced last week that it wants local councils to designate any place where children play or learn as a smoking exclusion zone, although a ban would be voluntary, not statutory.

A new YouGov poll commissioned by the CIEH shows that 89% of 4,300 adults surveyed, support a ban on smoking in children’s play areas, while 57% want it to end in public parks.

Obviously, I’m all for the ban.  It’s a no-brainer. We adults are examples to our children/the next generation and whilst it’s impossible to protect them from all aspects of life, within their own sacred areas like play areas, it is common sense that adults refrain from smoking there. I’d like to see it banned everywhere as a Singaporian reader told me happens there.

Oliver, 6, asked me just last week why a man was smoking as he pushed his son on the roundabout.

At a beach on the Yorkshire coast, parents were smoking over their own kids and a group of children playing close by where we stood eating fish and chips. Couldn’t they have taken it in turns to find somewhere further along the beach, away from families to smoke if they needed to?

Common sense is sadly not common, as my Dad would say!

You can watch the show online on this LINK (its 01:28:00).

But back to the day…

On just two hours sleep and with a face full of make up (thanks to the GMB girls) the doors swung open to the studio and it was time to go live.

…Piers got the debate going- with some of my readers/followers complaining he didn’t let me speak enough- but that’s just how Piers rolls. I enjoy a smart, lively debate which this was and hope I got my message across.

I really enjoyed it.

Also, although people on twitter have told me before that Susanna and I look similar which in all honestly I’d not noticed it before this picture of us together. A sister from another mister indeed!

Piers and Susanna was both really open and polite off camera and whilst I loved presenting a short pre-recorded series of back to school tips last year which aired over 3 days, there’s nothing quite as exciting as live TV. The buzz is unreal. I hope to be back.

For now though, you’ll catch me going live on FB!

I wanted to share a few tips to anyone going on telly soon, too as I’m often asked what it’s like and we bloggers are rightly called in to share our opinions. I was  a TV Director pre-blogging too so can share from both perspectives.

1. Even if it’s live TV, have a practice beforehand. You can record yourself on your phone the night before/that morning and re-watch, making notes of what you’d do and say differently in time for when you’re on. FB Lives really help get you into the practice of being on camera live so get into the routine of shooting one a week. They are also super for reach generally on FB and mean you’ll be ready if you get that call to go on the box. Again making vlogs on YT regularly mean that being on camera becomes second nature. The more you practice, the easier and less stressful it becomes.
2. Bright lights on camera, particularly in a studio, requires heavier make up than you’d usually wear. Think wedding make up. So much so, I felt like I had lots of make up on but when I watched it back, I look fairly natural and definitely like myself.
3. When it comes to clothes, neons and some prints might be too loud and distracting on camera. I’m all for being bold in life and on film but if you’re on camera sharing your opinion, make sure your voice is louder than your attire. That’s just my opinion, don’t stifle your personality but consider that the camera magnifies everything by its nature so canary yellow might well look illuminous once the cameras roll.
4. Try and keep calm. When you are doing a pre-record, you usually get some time to learn lines if you’re presenting, and a little rehearsal time too. As a director I would often shoot the rehearsal too as often these would bring the most magical of performances, especially when it came to TV Drama. If you are going live, try and keep calm (I love a few drops of Rescue Remedy to calm my nerves for whatever life throws at me) and don’t be afraid to share your opinion. That’s what you are there for.
5. I always hate watching myself back and whilst the most you do something (I was presenting home VHS shows I directed from the age of 11), you will always be self-critical. I have actor friends who have acted all their life who refuse to watch themselves back. I’m not sure it gets easier, just don’t let it stop you from saying yes when you’re asked to appear.

I hope you’ve found those tips useful!

You can also watch the vlog of the day I shot below which includes having my hair coloured by the brilliant, award-winning Jason Collier before lunch with my great friend, blogger Lela London!

Thanks to Phase Eight for my gifted and very gorgeous denim dress.

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