Location, location, location
Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Over the last few days I have broadcast to all parts of the nation from a variety of locations. Many of the interviews were conducted in a small soundproof studio but I also recorded interviews in other places including the newsroom and outside the building.
When I wasn't at the BBC studios in Cambridge I was either filmed in the street or I was interviewed by phone in my office or, if it was late at night, in my bedroom and even my kitchen.
Last night I did two interviews sitting in my car. The first time I was in a car park, the second time I was outside a church hall where my daughter was having a dance lesson.
The first interview was with a radio station in Ireland. My mobile phone needed recharging so I had to plug it into the electric socket and keep the engine running, which created a bit of background noise. On top of that there was a technical glitch (which sometimes happens) that resulted in my voice coming back at me with a 2-3 second delay. This means that when you are talking you can hear your own voice speaking, quite loudly, in your ear but you just have to press on.
The second interview was for the Iain Dale Show on LBC. This time the rain was making so much noise on the roof of my car that I could hardly hear myself, let alone Iain, speak. So I did the only thing I could - I kept on talking!
Simon Clark
Tim Lord, former chief executive of the Tobacco Manufacturers Association, was fond of telling the story of how he once gave an interview to the Scotsman while he was stark naked on the balcony of his Mediterranean retreat.
I can't compete with that (I don't think I want to) but I've certainly done interviews in various states of undress. I suspect this is quite normal. So when you're listening to Five Live or the Today programme don't assume that all the interviewees are suited and booted and sitting in a studio. They are more likely to be semi-naked, buttering the toast or walking the dog.
PS. I once did an interview for BBC Radio while I was on a packed commuter train into London. I was speaking into my phone when a fellow passenger rose to his feet, strode over to me and barked, live on air, "Can't you keep your voice down?!"
Simon Clark
Now I'm on the subject, I've been thinking about my favourite location for an interview. I think it has to be Cat Bells overlooking Derwentwater in the Lake District. I was on holiday when the call came. The sun was shining so I sat down on the side of the hill and did the interview with the most glorious panorama in front of me. I remember thinking, "I quite like this job!"
The furthest I've had to travel domestically, just for an interview, is Plymouth. It was an eight-hour round trip by rail for a ten-minute appearance on a regional magazine programme. The upside was, I got to see a bit of the country and the programme was recorded in a pub so I got to drink and talk at the same time.
Internationally, the furthest I've been asked to travel for an interview is Dublin (so not very far at all!). In 2004 I was invited to appear on Richard Littlejohn's Sky News programme which was broadcast, as a one-off, from the famous Shelbourne Hotel. I flew over and got, oh, 20 seconds live on air. The good news is, I stayed overnight and made a weekend of it. Thanks, Sky!
Reader Comments (1)
Simon, your interview on Newstalk yesterday went down a treat, clear as a bell, I thought you were in a studio.
Thanks for all your input on the irish side.
Two Forest interviews on irish radio in two days! WOW
We're gettin there.