Having felt particularly ill on Monday I decided I was not going to work on
Tuesday. So not wanting to waste a day sick in bed, I turned on the Channel
4's - Big Breakfast to cheer me up a bit. Who's face did I see first but non
other than Gerry Anderson. "Phone in question for Gerry now" they said.
Managed to reach the bedside phone and think of the question that I had sent
to the website asking for Gerry Anderson questions the week earlier.
Suprisingly got through to a young lady and they said they would ring back
later. I now realised that if they used my question, I would get to ask it
over the phone to Gerry live on the telly. Gulp.
About 8.15 am a phone call from the producer said they would like to have me
ready on the line about 8.40 to ask my question. Johnny Vaughan (strong bow
adverts) would introduce me to Gerry and I would ask the question.
Emergency. Had to leave my sick bed (stomach trouble not helped by nerves)
to find a blank video tape and started taping a memorabilia feature they had
on the show with Gerry featuring old and new toys + Melody angel puppet. No
UFO mentioned or seen yet.
Got the call at 8.45 - I was on line 1 and my question was on first (note no
time for desperate visit to the toilet).
After a quick hello with Johnny they had a clip of Thunderbirds at which
point one of the assistants came on the line and told me to turn my telly
down. It was a bit confusing as there is a delay between the phone and the
telly. Presenter speaks on phone but lips move a few seconds later on telly
(early supermarionation?)
Then my chance to put my question to Gerry. I meant to start with something
like 'Hello Gerry hope you are well' but it came out as 'Alright Gerry?' to
which he replied 'Yes. Thanks'. Then I asked my question 'In an interview
in 1976" (Gerry grimaces) "you said that"
- I can't remember ever having been pleased with the final results on
anything -
"Is that still true today?"
Gerry replied that it was. Although when pushed by Johnny Vaughen he said th
at he was happier with the results on live actions shows (UFO mentioned by
the presenter) than the puppet shows because they had puppets.
Only 3 other questions were asked after mine.
Hope you enjoyed this short story. The moral is - it's good to be sick.
Derek Eaton (still poorly but spirits high)
[hidden email]
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