Michael Ball’s hope for a change

This is his only hope!!!

Michael Ball says he has hope that Sir Terry Wogan would approve him taking his old job as he put a huge effort for it. They did not get bigger than Sir Terry Wogan’s inimitable size as boots-filling goes.

It turns out that his old pal Michael Ball who also turns out to be a tip for the gig by the late legendary broadcaster. If there is one man who is equipped for the BBC Radio 2 job then it will possibly make the West End star’s first show this weekend very emotional indeed.

Michael says that Sir Terry’s 11am to 1pm Sunday slot is one of the best job on radio as far as he is concerned. But, he is giving advice and it turns to be bittersweet.

He also added that he already known Terry before and can guarantee that Terry was a touchstone throughout his career. He was incredibly kind, supportive and would always give advice. Terry was a listener but far more articulate, well-read, sharp and sometimes a funny than he could ever be. He added that:  ‘But he did suggest to former Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas that he would come in. He said I had the right kind of style, so I would hope Terry would also get approve.’

He is also hoping to get the approval of the TOGs or Terry’s Old Geezers which has eight million fans who tuned in to Weekend Wogan every Sunday for five years. Sir Terry’s has also other shows for five decades before his death from cancer at age 77 last January. The 53 year old Michael said he left a wonderful legacy and he feel a responsibility towards to it.  But he also feel the immense privileged to be entrusted with this job more than anything.

Michael hopes to “sneak in” a few show tunes with musical impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber lined up as his first guest in addition to hosting regular live music sessions and interacting with listeners. The two-time Olivier award winner who made his West End debut as Marius in Les Miserables in 1985 will juggle radio work with his stage and recording careers. He then is passionate about social etiquette during theatre performances which is not surprising and Michael is adamant phones should be banned from auditoriums performances in the wake of actor Laurence Fox calling a heckler and Benedict Cumberbatch lambasting theatregoers for taking photos.

He says: ‘Jesus, I’m totally with them. I’ve shouted at people, had a real go at them before. It’s so disrespectful and really winds me up.’ He added that the whole point of going to a theatre or concert is to experience it and involve yourself in it and we get so cut off these days because of social media that group experiences are becoming rarer.

He also asked if people don’t think they can see the big blue glow lighting them up and it goes beyond technology. He was at the Palladium watching The Sound of Music and as they started up the overture and this bloke across the aisle got out a packed lunch. He literally unwrapped his sandwiches thengot out a flask of soup and was chomping away all the way through.