JOHNNIE WALKER
Interview on Radio 2, 10th March 1999

Johnnie:  Michael Ball is here, a fellow who was told years back at drama school that he was too overweight, couldn't get any parts in the theatre until he was at least 40 and then he would have to settle for character parts.

Michael:  Yeah (laughing)

Johnnie:  Well at the age of  26 it all went well with him playing the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ‘Aspects of Love’.  Last year Michael was voted 'The Variety Club Best Recording Artist'.  His recent album 'Michael Ball - The Movies' has sold 400,000 copies at the last count.  Probably about half a million now, Michael?

Michael:  That would be nice, yeah!

Johnnie:  So did you have a nice time coming in?  I saw the fanclub outside…

Michael:  It was great fun!  I was doing a television interview which is done in the back of a stretch limousine, one of those really subtle, white … jobs, you know?

Johnnie:  What are they like inside?  Because, they haven't got extra doors, they've still got just two rear doors?

Michael:  Well, the best word I think is 'American'.  They're very American inside.  Cocktail cabinet, television, big settee for you to sit on.  So I bowl up there with the fans waiting outside, and I realised why I was in showbusiness! (laughs) These are the good days!

Johnnie:  There's loads of mail that's been coming in for you:  Barbara and Zoe wanted a mention, and they said "great that Michael's going to be on the show and could you pass this card on".

Michael:  Thank you Barbara and Zoe!  It says "you're a star" and it says "Congratulations on the Variety Club Award".  That's nice!  It was lovely actually, ten years ago I won ‘Most Promising Artist’.  That's the only other thing I've ever received so it was really nice to get that.

Johnnie:  Yeah, and now you've got a card from Babara and Zoe, I mean what more could anybody want?

Michael:  Yes, what more could anyone need?

Johnnie:  So is that true then?  You were a bit of a big lad there at drama school?

Michael:  Oh yeah!  Yes I was.  I used to invent reasons to get out of doing any sport, I used to pretend I had a heart condition so I didn't have to do cross-country running, I was so lazy.  And then at drama school, they said "Right, there's a bit of talent there, but you won't get any jobs until you're 40 and then it'll be character roles".  And then we started doing a show that was very physical, a musical/revue kind of thing where I was rock'n'roll dancing and stuff. And I started losing it and I thought "Oh I can do this".  And now I love exercising.  I still love food though! (laughs)

Johnnie:  You kind of exchanged notes with Dale Winton, I hear?  For keeping the weight down and stuff.

Michael: (laughs) Not true sadly!  He does really well there, doesn't he!  He looks amazing!

Johnnie:  So was your dad worried about this thing?  I mean, just going back to what they said, you know you'll get any parts and everything else like that.  And I guess you were a bit crushed for a while, and then it becomes actually a good thing, doesn’t it?  You think "I'll show them!"

Michael:  Absolutely, that's exactly what happens.  And with my dad and my family, they were just thrilled that I said I was going to do something.  Because I was drifting around, not knowing what I was going to do and then went to drama school.  And he, as the rest of my family, love the theatre and they thought that I was actually motivated to get into any kind of … work was great for them.  And then to so quickly go from this sort of  'plump fattish unattractive ….' (laughs)

Johnnie: (laughs) …… Generous!

Michael:  Yes!  Ample … 'thing' to playing juve leads in 'Pirates of Penzance' and 'Les Mis' came as a bit of a shock!  One of the nicest days was when my brother, who's older than I am, he's a great looking guy, always a success with the girls and everything and at the opening night of the first show I did, 'Pirates of Penzance' we came down from the dressing room.  And I said … he was with me, and I said "could you just hold my coat for a second?" and he said "why?" "you'll see" … I opened the door and there were all these girls outside screaming and … our relationship changed from that moment on! (laughs) Yes!!  Got my own back.

(They play ‘Love Changes Everything’)

Johnnie:  Michael Ball, our guest here at Radio 2 this evening, and 'Love Changes Everything'. That's done rather well for you there, hasn't it?

Michael: That was the start I guess of the recording career.  Very lucky, very lucky.

Johnnie:  So a big tour coming up, eh, March 29th/30th, a couple of nights at the Royal Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, and then you're doing Sheffield, Bir … well you're going everywhere!

Michael:  Everywhere!  And we're virtually sold out as well, I think we've got the NEC in Newcastle, we're doing the two Arena's there, and the Albert Hall, two nights there, but we've virtually sold the thing out, which is great!

Johnnie:  So how do you like life on the road?  I would imagine it's done quite comfortable - the stretch limo from the hotel to the venue?

Michael:  A big coach, I like travelling in the coach.  And after the gig … the only bad thing is you never actually get to see any of the places you're at really, other than the hotelroom and the venue.  And we always finish the show, get on the coach which is done out nicely with a bed in the back and videos and a little kitchen and everything, drive to the next place and … it is fairly comfortable.  It's not in the back of a pick-up, like it was in the old days (laughs)

Johnnie:  It's a bit like these country stars.  The coaches they have in America - absolutely unbelievable!

Michael:  And they also fly everywhere, don't they because of the distances they have to travel, so they have customised planes.  I could get used to that!

Johnnie:  Yeah and Elton John does that.  He sort of bases himself in Nice for a tour …

Michael: (laughs)  As you do!

Johnnie:  And then he's in Bristol and the next thing you know 'whoosh' he's off and back to Nice darling!  Gets home at about 11 o clock!

Michael:  Fantastic, yeah I could cope with that!  I could do that!

Johnnie:  Now you're married to a wonderful woman, Cathy McGowan.

Michael:  Yes I am!

Johnnie:  And she disappeared from TV for quite a while and then she was doing a kind of showbiz-slot wasn't she, on one of the early evening …

Michael:  That's right, Newsroom South East.  And that's how we met. 'Cause she came to interview me. It was her sister-in-law actually, who heard 'Love Changes' and said 'go and interview him' and because she knows everybody, like you say Elton was on there and all her friends from rock'n' roll.  Never heard of me, so she was 'forced' into this interview, and we've been together ever since.

Johnnie:  And was it immediate?

Michael:  Um ... I think it was … I don't think we acknowledged it was, it was … there was definitely a rapport, an attraction and … I don't think either of us expected it …

Johnnie:  Because you have to be a bit careful, don't you?  I mean, here you are, bit of a star, goodlooking guy, right?  Not quite the 'done' thing to try and sort of 'pull' ,if you pardon the expression, the interviewer!

Michael:  But she is by far one of the most famous people in the country and I couldn't believe she was interested.  We're about to become grandparents as well!  Emma, her daughter, is due in 4 weeks time. Fantastic!

Johnnie:  Wow, congratulations!

Michael: Yeah, it's nice. It's nice having a stable home-life.  It's important.

Johnnie:  But there is a sad side to this, is there not?

Michael:  Yeah, I was just saying, Angela, who is her sister-in-law, who introduced us, she died of ovarian cancer.  And we've dedicated our time to raising for Research into Ovarian Cancer.  Which is doing great.

Johnnie:  From what I understand, that if they had a blood-test alongside the smear-test, then they could get early detection, is that right?

Michael:  What happens is, there are no symptoms at all for ovarian cancer when it's in its early stages, when it's contained in the ovaries.  The only time you know you've got anything wrong, is when it's spread out.  And that's when it's very difficult to treat.  If it's caught early enough, by chance, then you can remove the ovaries and treat the patient and it's got one of the highest recovery rates.  We are helping fund research into developing a blood-test that will work with ultra-sound tests so it's spotted early enough.  When we first found out about this there WAS no research programme - they were just about to close the unit.  And it's the biggest gynaecological killer there is.

Johnnie:  Did you find that hard to comprehend?

Michael:  Unbelievable - totally!  And the fact that Angela had died of this thing that we'd never heard of, we then look into it and find how big it is but no-one was talking about it.  For some reason breast cancer is very well publicised, this wasn't.  So in the last seven years we've now helped to fund a research programme.  There are a 120,000 women who were chosen from a specific group to be checked, to be part of the research programme.  Eight of them, who wouldn't have been discovered otherwise, were found to have the early stages and have been treated succesfully.  So we can say we're saving lives now! And that's what it’s about, it's about the developing of the blood test and the right way of pin-pointing when the disease is in it's early stages so women can be treated.  Because you don't need to die from it.

Johnnie:  I know, obviously it's such a lot of sadness, 'cause I think you've had to impart the news to Cathy, which must've been really tough …

Michael: … which is the hardest thing you can do.  And only six weeks ago, a great friend of mine, Mary Miller, who I was in 'Phantom' with, she played Rose in 'Keeping Up Appearances', she died from ovarian cancer.  Again because it wasn't diagnosed early enough.  And there are people all over, it's happening all over.  And it's just not necessary.  So I did a concert at Drury Lane - we raised about £40,000 to help it.  And what's great as well is that the fans, who are predominantly women, have also got behind this, and they do their own fundraising things.  And we're really making a difference!

Johnnie: … predominantly women!  This kind of 'sex-symbol' thing, is that sort of comfortable …

Michael: You sweet-talking fool! (laughs)

Johnnie: (laughs)  Have you got used to that?  I mean, you probably like it …

Michael:  No, it's HORRIBLE   Johnnie, honestly!  Ofcourse I do!  Yeah, it's good-natured, it's good fun.  No-one goes too far.  People like to have a good time, and I quite like giving a good time, if you pardon the expression (laughs)!! So it's fine by me!

Johnnie:  Now what I was amazed to hear about you, because you certainly look pretty cheerful, and there was a very nice, wonderful welcoming committee outside of Radio 2 tonight, but when you go onstage, you still get terrible stage-fright.  Every night?

Michael:  Oh yeah.  It gets easier.  If you're, say, in a West End show, the opening is apalling.  I feel dreadful.  In fact, it's a shame that that's when critics come in, because you never give a genuine performance.  I wish they'd sort of sneak them in when you didn't know.  It's not until a few weeks down the line that you start getting more comfortable.  When you'd be doing something for six months, the nerves aren't there so much.  You still have the excitement, and the fact that you're going to appear in front of a live audience is bound to have an effect.  But when it comes to going on tour, you don't know whether the show is going to work that you put together, the songs, or when you do an album you don't know if it's gonna work so I get really, really anxious.  And there's nothing you can do about it, except make those nerves work for you.

Johnnie:  Because it gets the adrenalin going, what you need.

Michael:  Yeah, hopefully it heightens a performance, it doesn't sort of make it so that you can't go on.  But I've seen people who were, it's happened to me in fact, where you're physically sick before going on and then you walk on the stage and – bang! The light hits you and it's gone.

Johnnie:  Do you ever get a panick attack?  Thinking "I'm just going to run out of the exit door and just pretend I got lost or something, because I just can't do it".

Michael:  Yeah!  In fact, when I was doing 'Les Miserables' I got ill with glandular fever which makes you very very tired and very run down.  And mix that with the nerves and I used to literally have panic attacks.  You know, the heart would go, the sweats would start, you can't think straight and your only thought is 'run'.  And I had to hold on to a chair not to go!  It was the worst feeling in the world.

Johnnie:  But then at the end ... with the applause … the standing ovation …

Michael:  Yeah, but then you think "I've got to do it all again tomorrow night! (laughs) How do we get there?"

Johnnie:  Well June of this year it's the "7th Hampton Court Palace Festival" … sounds rather grand that.

Michael:  I went to see it last year and I didn't know what to expect.  And it was one of the most brilliant evenings.  Hampton Court's beautiful, the gardens are magnificent.  If you get a great night, when the sun's setting and the weather is nice, people, what we did picnic on the lawn.  And in the great courtyard, where Henry the VIII used to wander through, they set up this sort of arena and with a big orchestra.  And so as the sun's going down the lights on the stage are coming up and the acoustics in there are amazing!  So I thought I'd try it myself this year. Can't wait.

Johnnie:  Probably helicopter in, knowing you, you star you!

Michael: (laughs)  I only live down the road, I'll get the number 9 bus, I think!

Johnnie:  So is this white limo waiting for you?

Michael: No! (laughs)

Johnnie:  I thought so!  See the TV company they just used it to …

Michael: Use and abuse!

Johnnie: … once they got the interview, "thank you very much, bye, send the car back"

Michael: Back on the Tube.

Johnnie:  No, just get the number 7 bus, because it's important to stay in touch with the people, Michael.

Michael:  Youre quite right, you're quite right!  How would YOU know!?!? (laughs) on your motorbike, with your fancy London ways!

Johnnie: (laughs) Lovely to see you, thanks for coming bye.

Michael: And you!  Cheers.

Johnnie: All the best.

(They play 'Hot Stuff')