Gloria

Welcome a lot to the Friday edition of Open House. This stage I just got to say two words to you all: Michael Ball.

Michael enters to the cheering of the audience.

Michael

(addressing the audience) Hey, how are you?

Gloria

I said to the audience just before we started, I know not one of yours has come to see me...

Michael

That's so not true!

Gloria

It is true. There is just one man in the audience who said I did! But it happened  to be a fan of yours as well.

Michael

I did. I came to see you.

Gloria

That's absolutely right. So are you happy, but exhausted after the tour?

Michael

I am. Yeah it was a really a terrific, terrific tour and a really hard one. I decided,  there is so much material now that I have to cover, that I just  had to do the whole show myself, the first half and the second half. So normally you are just on stage for an hour, an hour and a half for the most. It's  two and a half hours, dying at the end, but they got me going (pointing to the audience).

Gloria

Of course, four hours later.

Michael

Yeah and I always really cleverly put the Rock'n'Roll at the end, so I am going around like a lunatic. But it was fab, everybody in the audiences, we had a brilliant time. Finished in one of my favourite places, which is Dublin.

Gloria

Took you three weeks to get out of there I bet?

Michael

Oh my god it took me three weeks to remember it. I swear it. I don't know how we did, I was dying on my legs, but we did ... it was a great show, a really great show, fantastic reaction and I have a lot of friends over there. So I actually came out of the pub at 9:30 in the morning. (audience and Gloria laughing) Ya.

Gloria

OH no!

Michael

Yeah!

Gloria

I am not asking, if it was a good night.

Michael

I went there with a lovely single malt out into the middle of Grafton Street, broad daylight.

Gloria

This is the way to finish a tour.

Michael

And I have the world record, I have the Irish record now. Previously it was Tom Jones who went along till 7:30 am. So he's got two hours to go. (laughter in the audience) Yeah

Gloria

It's just as well you have given up the cigarettes

Michael

Yeah!

Gloria

I couldn't believe this.. Now I have to tell you, I must have set the scene here, because in the past I've been side-stage, watching you go on stage and you are stubbing out the cigarette (imitating it) as you are going on stage to sing, which is almost unheard of for a performer.

Michael

I am not proud of it. Actually, do you know in a curious way I think I perversely was.It was kind of that thing I used to go: Well I have never had singing lessons and I am smoking like a chimney and it did not affect my voice. I did not think since giving up in May. It's without doubt the hardest thing I've done. My stamina as far as my voice goes are so much better. There are notes there that I did not have before.

Gloria

They were pretty good before.

Michael

They were, they were, but now I just ... it .. I am just so much more comfortable. The only trouble is, you do eat a little bit more. (smiling)

Gloria

Hmmmmmmm. Tell me about it.

Michael

Which is just ....

Gloria

(interrupting) look at this cheeky face going hmmmmm (laughing, as wall as the audience)

Michael

So....

Gloria

So what was the one thing that made you say I have just simply got to give up the cigarettes.

Michael

It was, it was ... it's something that I have known. I got to the point where I thought I am not gonna be able to smoke for the rest of my life, I'm not gonna smoke for the rest of my life.Why am I doing it now? I read a book by this chap called Alan Carr who holds clinics as well. He written this book "Quit smoking the easy way" and people have always told me about it and I thought (making an unconvinced expression). I tried everything before. Accupuncture and it makes you ...

Gloria

It's in your ears ..

Michael

Yeah you got things stucking in your ears you meant to twiddle in your ear to stop smoking. Yeah. Ou!!! (behaving as, if someone stuck needles in his hear and grabbing for imaginary cigarettes. Everyone starts to laugh) So painful I'm gonna have a fag to get over that. Sooo (laughing on) hypnotherapy, I tried that one as well (closing his eyes, laying back a bit like meditating). You sort of ly there and go for a swim in a lake, you and it's all very lovely. (In a monotonous voice immitating) Going away and you don't need to have a cigarette, it's fading away and everytime you want to have one you go to your Happy Place and you won't want it. And I am lying there, half the time giggling and the other half fast asleep.  (laughing). Slap over your money at the end: Thank you love that's great! Uhm I have a fag now.(everyones laughing) And I have had a good kip. So, but it was ... it got, it really had affected my voice, my breathing. I was wheezing and I had purple hands and feet.

Gloria

OH no!

Michael

Purple.

Gloria

About circulation?

Michael

Yeah, I terrible circulation. I thought of, it's not cold.

Gloria

Just let me check now (having a look at his left hand).

Michael

There's a bit purple.

Gloria

They are perfect, so bright now.

Michael

Yeah. Terror (laughing)

Gloria

But anyway, you survived all of that.

Michael

Yeah.

Gloria

And we really must talk about the new single and the new video. Now I would like to know the process about, not the single, the new album.

Michael

Yeah new album.

Gloria

How many tracks are on there?

Michael

There are 14. What a bargain.

Gloria

(laughing) Yeah bargain. Everybody is stocking up for Christmas you realize. (Michael laughing). But I'd like to know about the process of putting together an album. Is it absolutely your choice?

Michael

Yeah, it's ... with this album in particular ... I called it "This Time ... It's Personal" because there are songs that are very personal to me and I wanted to try some new things as well. I think previously I've done songs that fell into a genre. They either are all songs from movies or all songs  from musicals, they had a theme and this kind of had a theme, but the theme you know is .. what's in my heart.

Gloria

Was there a catalyst? There was...

Michael

The catalyst was the song "Walking in Memphis", because I love listening to the American sound, that something. I'm not gonna call it New  Country, because instantly people go ... uhm, they don't like it. It's the sound of that Shania Twain songs. There are few of those on the album, but "Walking in Memphis" was kind of a ca.... I knew I wanted, I needed a hook actually for the album and I heard the song on the radio and Marc Cohn singing it. That's the power of the music, it transported me. I was imagining myself singing it not listening to it. I was the guy walking down Beale Street and all the sounds and smells and tasts and sights all came to me and I thought: yeah now I .. For some reason it sparked in me to look for other material.

Gloria

There is a song in, which I love, the song called "If tomorrow never comes".

Michael

Oh and that was the first ....

Gloria

Must be a great song to sing.

Michael

It's, yeah. That, that  song, it's the first song that really got me into that kind of sound. And I heard it, I was over in New York, for the first time doing rehearsals for Aspects of love, so it's ten years ago, yeah ten years ago. It was in January , it was freezing cold, I was really terrified. I have never been away from home before. I was ... didn't know anybody. I was in New York in  a blizzard.

Gloria

We would have gone with you.

Michael

I wish you had! And I was really, really lonely and and uhm, this song - I have never heard of Garth Brooks before - and this song "If tomorrow never comes" came on the radio and I listened to it and I burst into tears and phoned home and (the audience goes oooohhhhh and Michael goes on laughing) phoned everybody. You're patronizing me! Don't do that. Uhm, but I did. I phoned home to tell everyone I loved them. That's wh... (audience goes again aaaahhhhh and Michael kills himself laughing)

Gloria

Didn't phone us! Didn't phone us! Did he? No! We were forgotten then!

Michael

But that's the power, that's the power that these, that songs have I think. They transmit, when they're done well I think,  the well written songs, they have an emotional power. It can make you do something: It can make you think about where you are at that period of your life, the time you are and act positively. There is a song on the album called "Greatest man I never knew", which is a Reba McIntire song. It's about a relationship between a father and his son or a father and his child and I was able to draw on my experience with my Dad, when he ... before we became very, very close, when I was in my teens. When he just would just be at work and there was, there was a distance, you know. And that's broken down, that's why I can empathize with, with this song. But there are loads of people who are unable to say that they love you when they should and having recorded that song two of the musicians went straight out and phoned there dads.

Gloria

Oh that's very cute actually.

Michael

It's sweet, it's nice, it's nice  to do these

Gloria

Now talking about powerful songs. I mean you had the ultimate love song, because Steve Wright is coming on later to talk about ...

Michael

Right!

Gloria

...on his programme, but "Love changes everything". I mean that still is one of the most played songs, the words are fantastic.

Michael

Yeah

Gloria

The version that we are going to show is one from the Albert Hall. It was the night of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th birthday.

Michael

Yeah

Gloria

So would you set the scene and just sort of give us the pace of everything prior to this.

Michael

Absolutely, this was, it was Andrew's, Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th birthday and a special gala was put on the Royal Albert Hall and I think I was the only one there I've never heard of. You know it was, it was fantastic being on stage, Glenn Close doing it, Antonio Banderas, Boyzone - the first time Boyzone performed "No matter what". Uhm, I sang with Sarah Brightman, Elaine Paige. It was ..

Gloria

Donny was there!

Michael

Donny Osmond! It was just the most wonderful, wonderful evening where, where ... It always happens with these things, you try to put them on these shows are: Rehearsals chaos, everything's terrible, the sound stinks, the cameras don't work. You get the audience, they then go, well we're taking it live, go and it just took off.

Gloria

Magic.

Michael

It was wonderful.

Gloria

And this was the climax really of the whole evening.

Michael

This was the last thing. "Love changes everything" closed the show and I had a fairly good backing group.

Gloria

Yes.

Michael

If you have a look .... behind me!

Gloria

Let's just have a look.

Michael

I was so chuffed.

Gloria

Yes we pick it up sort of about a third of the way I mean we are half way through the song

A short clip of "Love changes everything" taken from the Andrew Lloyd Webber 50th Birthday Celebration video is shown! Also cheering among the Open House audience.

Gloria

What a moment. Yourlitlle  face at the end just went: YES!!!!

Michael

Oh, yeah, I was so chuffed! I just noticed in the back you could see Stephen Gately from Boyzone, singing trying to get the note as well at the end. It's brilliant. It's really nice.

Gloria

Well I mean, Glenn Close ... I happened to be there that night

Michael

Yeah.

Gloria

... and Glenn Close, when she made her entrance, when she was singing this ..

Michael

Amazing.

Gloria

...song from "Sunset Boulevard". I mean it was breathtaking.

Michael

Yeah.

Gloria

'Cause as Andrew says himself, she is not the greatest singer in the world, but as a dramatic actress

Michael

Oh and it was wonderful, broke your heart.

Gloria

And wasn't that the night Banderas borrowed your shirt?

Michael

Yeah he nicked my shirt.He still hasn't given it back actually. He was ... yeah, he was about to go on with doing the Phantom of the Opera section. I was singing "All I ask of you" and he was doing the "Phantom of the Opera" with Sarah and (already slightly starting with his famous Antnio Banderas accent) he goes, he is in the changing room. He is putting on this white shirt he goes (Now completely imitating Antonio) Is no good, I don't like it, is . ..(in a desperated whining voice) is no sexy, is no, is no right, (sighing desperately) a h. He really were this! well, well. What's, what's w... What am I going to wear? (turning to the side) MELANIE??? Melanie, this is no good. Bring something . (in the meanwhile everyone in the studio is killing themselves laughing). So I said, I've got this really nice shirt I was gonna wear after the show and he goes (imitating a really very thankful glance of Antonio) Is perfect! He put on this black Donna Karan shirt, a really nice bit of shirt. And he: Is now my lucky shirt! Is my singing shirt. You never ever see it again!

Gloria

He doesn't write. He doesn't ring.

Michael

(overlapping) He doesn't phone. SHE does!!! Which is fine! (laughing)

Gloria

That's was fair swap, wasn't it?

Michael

Which it isn't yet. Not a problem!

Gloria

At long last I mean it  is a swap. He has the shirt.

Michael

(lauging)

Gloria

Actually you did not look too bad on that styling.

Michael

Yes. Nice bit of shmutter, wouldn't it? Nice with the shmutter. Yes, yes.

Gloria

Now listen!

Michael

I'll do it!

Gloria

On monday we're doing a big Coronation Street special. It's their 40th anniversary.

Michael

Oh wow, yeah.

Gloria

It just reminded me, that was - again - another one of your pride moments when you went into a soap.

Michale

Yeah, it was, God....

Gloria

For how many minutes?

Michael

For about, about 30 seconds ... in two episodes though with shorts on, that is, that is gonna haunt me forever, isn't it? God! Don't dig the clip out, don't get that. I will sue!

Gloria

But did you desperately want to be in it?

Michael

Yeah, yeah. I had, I had two ambitions on leaving Drama School. One was to be in Coronation Street and one was to join the RSC, because I thought: Coronation Street the most watched programme on television and I loved it, I've always been a fan of it. And the other one was the RSC, because it is the most respected and revered theatre company. And I used to go to Stratford-on-Avon when I was a kid and uhm, it was a dream come true. The same week that I did my episodes for Coronation Street. I was in Manchester at the time doing a show called "Pirates of Penzance". the same week as I was doing that I auditioned for "Les Misérables" and they just told me I got in. So it's like another five, six months out of Drama School, so I was pretty chuffed with myself..

Gloria

What a week. What I find amazing is the fact that you alright, you had  Drama School in Guildford, but that  in a way you never expected to be a singer. That's not what you were going to be.

Michael

No the way that came about is I did the acting course as opposed to the musical theatre course, but at the end of your time there they have a graduation show. So you are given two, three minutes long to perform to agents and casting directors and people in the business, producers and so on. And if you are in the acting course then you just do a speech or you perform with other actors. I thought you  can't do anything in that matter of time: So I'm gonna do some Rock'n'Roll. So and I did. I did one speech, I did my acting bit, and then I did do you know the old song.  I think it was Guy Mitchell. (singing) "I'm so tired of waiting for you" and got all the girls in rara-skirts and big sparkly old drape-coat and I got Godspell from doing that people heard me singing.

Gloria

Fantastic. Well guess what, we're going to ask you to sing now.

Michael

Great.

Gloria

(to the audience) You would like him to sing wouldn't you?

Big Yes from the audience makes Michael laugh

Gloria

Yes. So which track of the album are you going to do?

Michael

So much I liked. This became a real popular song on the tour. It's "You're still the one", the Shania Twain song.

Gloria

Good song.

Michael

It's a beautiful song and I sang it .... It has a place. I was in Malaysia, for the new Year and Emma, who's Cathy's daughter, got married and I sang this at the wedding and it sort of got lots of good memories for us.

Gloria

Ladies and Gentlemen here he is to sing for the first time today, he will be singing again. Michael Ball. Thank you Michael.

Michael is now singing "You're still the one". After a short break they are back and Michael answers questions from the audience. 

Gloria

Well, yes. Welcome back. As you can sense there is just, just  a tidgeon of excitement amongst our audience are Ballettes, because they have waited for a chance to ask their questions to today's special guest. I know you're gonna welcome him back. Here he is, it is Michael Ball. 

 Michael re-appears to the cheering of the audience giving Gloria a kiss on the cheek when she actually wanted to sit down again.

Michael

You wanted another snog, didn't you? That's why I did....

Gloria

I know. I do like a bit of a snog.

Michael

You wanted another snog. That's why you got me walking in again.

Gloria

I did, I thought: Let's give him another entrance. Listen I am gonna take questions from the audience obviously, 'cause they are very loyal, they've been following you for years.

Michael

Great (looking to the audience)

Gloria

So, who we are going to go first? Let me just see. I ought to have a little sheet of paper that tells me who, but I have not. It's Melanie. Hi Melanie.

Melanie

Hi ya Hi ya Hi ya

At this moment the lady of whom Gloria took the seat while announcing Michael comes back to her seat.

Gloria

Who is this person, just leaping to her seat? (laughing in the audience). This was like a late edition, she just ran into that seat.

Michael

You nicked her seat!

Gloria

ah yes I didn't know that. So Melanie what's your question?

Melanie

As a performer Michael, what advice would you give someone like me, who's aiming for a career like yours?

Michael

Don't! (laughing) No, it's seriously, it's so many pitfalls are on their way. I get quite a lot of time letters from students who can't get the money to go to Drama Schools and so on and asking for advice. That's the least of your worries is  getting the train. You just gotta keep at it, keep at it and enjoy it, if you are enjoying what you're doing  and get a kick out of doing it that translates itself across the footlights to the audience and if it's meant to happen it will happen. That's all you need to do.

Gloria

What kind of material do you sing?

Melanie

Uhm, similar stuff to Michael and also the musicals.

Michael

??? Brothers?

Melanie

Yeah

Gloria

What are your audition pieces as a matter of interest.

Melanie

Uhm, "I dreamed a dream" and then it's also "The Rose" and a mixture of others.

Gloria

Excellent. Well we do wish you well.

Michael

Yeah.

Gloria

Thank you indeed very much for your question. That's very good. And we have Janine somewhere next! Where are you? Oh there she is. Waving her finger there in the front row.

Michael

Hello.

Gloria

And what is your question Janine?

Janine

Michael, what did you move towards New Country?

Michael

Uhm, there are a number of tracks on the album are new country.I think that it's the similarity, I said that when I was on tour, the similarity between those kinds of songs and the songs that I really love as well from the musical theatre. The songs that have great melodies, uhm but more importantly they have an intelligent lyric, a lyric that has a story, a lyric that touches me. When I have heard, have heard the songs for the first time they've touched a place in me and uhm, I'm like anyone else I have a similar taste to most people and if it's touched me I feel it will touch someone else. So that's what I'm ...

Gloria

You know what I do ask you on terms of the musicals, because I know you've done many over the years and created roles in musicals like Les Mis. It just seems to be that the musical is sort of a bit dodgy at the minute in the West End.

Michael

Yeah, I agree, I really do agree. I think that, I think the West End is tired. I think, I was very lucky. I was there right at the beginning of that whole renaissance of British Musical Theatre. We led the way in the world  and uhm I think it's kind of gone back the other way now and the things that are successfull are - Mama Mia is probably the most successful - or the Disney shows and I read the other week that Cameron had decided he wasn't gonna do produce a new musical .

Gloria

Yes, I thought that was really sad, when I read that.

Michael

Yeah, because he had tried with things like "Martin Guerre" and "Witches of Eastwick" is moving to the Prince of Wales Theatre, it'll be ... it's a much better theatre for it. I think it'll be a success there, but it hasn't got the excitement and I do worry about it. I do not know where the new talent is and the old ... shows like "Les Mis", "Phantom" are running and will run forever and ever. Uhm, but you know they're creaky. We need to get new things.

Gloria

Sometimes things go in cycles and they anyway, don't they?

Michael

Yes absolutely.

Gloria

Linda, where are you in our audience?

Michael

Hello.

Linda

Hi. You played some great roles in musical theatre. Well is there a role you haven't done so far you really want to do?

Michael

There are loads. I was thinking about this recently and one day I would like to do the Phantom to see what that would be like.

Gloria

So you would like to be the Phantom.

Michael

Yeah I would, I could, I could. ...

Gloria

Could you drag that leg then?

Michael

Can I. I can drag up anywhere you know me. Can I? Yeah I'd like and it would be ... 'cause it's. The roles I  really like are dramatic as well as musical challenging. Uhm, and that's a fantastic role. Uhm, I'd say Jean Valjean, but it's much too hard, it's too long. Les Mis uhm

Gloria

Great songs there.

Michael

Gloria

Andrew, sorry could Andrew Lloyd Webber just, Sir, or Lord even, could he just call it. We could just do the deal as of this moment.

Michael

Ask me.

Gloria

Sue , I think you want to ask the next question.

Sue

That's right. If you could have  been  in anyone of the old Hollywood musicals what part would you have loved to played?

Gloria

Oh, a good question.

Michael

(scratching his head) Oh, there are so many. Probably be by Rodgers and Hammerstein it would be Billy Bigalow, Carousel. It's a great show, uhm, what else is there? Or Curly is a good one. No it's not. I prefer Carousel.

Gloria

Let's be honest, you would like to be in a Hollywood musical.

Michael

Yeah. I would even play Gipsy Rose Lee (everyones laughing, especially Michael is killing himself laughing) And pretty well actually (singing) If Marble was Mary. ...Yeah I could do that! (singing) I had a dream, a dream of you.

Gloria

Right another question. Who was it this time? Sharron I think.

Michael

Hi Sharon.

Sharon

Hello.What was your most emberassing moment?

Michael

I just had it! (laughing) Uhm, well oh god there are so many, there are so many. What aren't filthy? Uhm, I'll tell you about the last performance, the last day that I did "Phantom of the Opera". There's a tradition, when you leave a show, the final matinee, things sort of wound up, things get sent up.

Gloria

I must say you were playing the role of Raoul.

Michael

I was playing the role of Raoul in this point that's right. And little things were happening throughout the show, 'cause other people were leaving as well. The lady who was playing Carlotta, the Opera singer, there is a scene in an Opera, where they put on jewellery on her fingers. So they put one ring on, put another one on and they were joined by cheese  wire. So she's stuck all the way. I get into Box 5, where Raoul is looking into the Opera and there is a gorilla (laughing) in the shadows, but there is a gorilla. So I thought I am going to get my own back at the end. And Raoul comes out of, from swimming across the lake, the underground lake and there is a great big rip on the shirt and I had a tattoo put on there "Raoul for Christine forever". And then for the very final scene - there is an alternate girl playing the role of Christine in the Matinée, Jan Hartley was her name - and for the very final scene, the last thing you see is Raoul and Christine going off in the boat sailing, while the Phantom has a bit of a breakdown there at the front. So I thought gondola, phew, obvious isn't it? I stuck on a chest wig, had medallions and a Cornetto (everyone's laughing) I swear to God and I'm telling everyone: "Don't give it away", 'cause I was going to send her up. So there I am with this chest wig and the Cornetto dripping in my hand and I look over my shoulder and I can see the outline of the frock that Christine is in and the wig and I go: Yeah, got her now: (behaving like he is in the gondola) and as we set off she starts singing. (singing) Say you'll share with me..". But the voice isn't coming from the boat and I look over and Jan just stood in the wings, singing away, not looking 'cause she was gonna to laugh, but singing and I looked down and it was the real, the other girl playing Christine, Claire Moore,  who was then there with false teeth, eyelashes out here, a fake mustache and a thermometer strapped to her forehead and skull earring, draped herself, so that no one could see her from the audience and I turned round with this chest wig and a Cornetto in my hand and the only line I've got is "Say the word and I will follow you". And I went (imitating the sound of what he sang in a very weird way, so you do not know, if he is laughing or crying!) Say a word...follow you. (audience's killing themself laughing). Absolute and killing myself laughing.WE got ... how we got to the end of the show I don't know (now Gloria has to cough). We got off. But I had friends in, there were friends in. You are ??? You have money in turns. There wer friends in seeing the show and they said afterwards: "You could tell it was your final day. The emotion in that last scene." 'Cause we could not sing. (again imitating himself) I will follow. There have been loads there. (Now Michael starts laughing)

Gloria

Oh, I have recovered enough to say Cherie, I can't say anything else. Cherie is there somewhere.

Cherie

If they were ever to remake the film Les Mis, would you ever consider taking the part if asked?

Michael

No (laughing)! Like a shot, absolutely. There was talk about it done once by Alan Parker. He was gonna do and then he went to do Evita instead. It'd be a really difficult one to film. I think it  would lend itself to it, but yeah, like a shot I'd love to do it. Love it, probably give me the part Thenardier.  (laughing) My days of juvenile lead are over I think. DAMM!

Gloria

Right Jan, I think you are somewhere in our audience to with a question.

Jan

Who or what is on the top of your Santa wish list this Christmas.

Gloria

Who or what?

Michael

(stroking his hair back) Well I will not tell who. Ah, yeah, uhm I have a. A really nice single malt thats been delivered to me.

Gloria

I tell you, what I want to ask one about Chrismas in fact. 'Cause you do the cooking at Christmas.

Michael

Always. yeah. In fact we're spending it this time with, at Emma's house with Connor 'cause it's Connor's

Gloria

Cathy's daughter.

Michael

Yeah, cause Connor is my godson.

Gloria

So you are a step-grandfather.

Michael

Kind of, yeah thanks for bringing that up.

Gloria

oooooooooooohhhhh.

Michael

(Michael getting up, behaving as if he wants to leave the show at once) It's so good to see you and all the very best. Ladies and gentlemen.

Gloria

Talking about juvenile leads I can't believe you are being in that role of step-grandfather, but you love it!

Michael

And it's the most wonderful thing. He's 19 months old now and he is a real little boy and just starting to talk, more popcorn.

Gloria

More money.

Michael

Calls me Bally. Yeah (everyone starts laughing). well the family, they all call me Bally. Everyone: "Bally more popcorn" (he imitates Connor). And he's just gorgeous.

Gloria

(to the audience) I tell you I have learned more in this programme about Michael Ball than in the rest of my life I think. Bally, you'll always be Bally to me.

Michael

Yeah (laughing)

Gloria

Bally. He loves it Bally. But anyway you're loving that role, and of course will be exciting of having Christmas with the little one

Michael

(smiling all over his face) I have got to be Father Christmas for the (big aahhhhhh from the audience). He's gonna get a party on and we invited lots of little friends.

Gloria

From tumble todds?

Michael

From tumble todds and monkey music.

Gloria

Oh listen, can you sing the tumble todds songs (getting really excited).

Michael

No (looking like, oh god, what have I started)

Both

(starts to sing and gets soon accompanied by Michael after he stopped laughing) The wheels of the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round. The wheels of the bus go round and round, round and round all day long.

Michael

Very good.

Gloria

We have all been to tumble todds in our time, anywhere.

Michael

So I could do Father Christmas for them, I can't wait. So apparantly there is one boy, who is a friend of Emma's son, whose nearly four and he's sort of sussing. Pulls the beard I am sure.

Gloria

Anyway, we really, really enjoying having you on the programme. .

Michael

Ah it's a great pleasure.

Gloria

And you know because we are talking about Christmas presents.

Michael

Yeah. It's there, what more can anybody want?

Gloria

CD, Video it's all there. Don't have to look anywhere further really. Anyway for the moment let's thank Michael Ball, thank you. And thank you very much indeed for all your questions. It's terrific when you have a completely committed audience and they know exactly the questions they want to ask. And Michael will be obviously performing for us at the end of the show. But after (Michael is handing her a glass of water) I don't need it, I really don't need it.

After a short cooking session (without Michael) the show ends with Michael singing "Amazing Grace"!