Having been a TV presenter for 35 years, Gaby Roslin knows a thing or two about the small screen and she thinks it needs to be a bit less timid.
She also reckons she has just the right idea to make things a little more lively and mischievous.
Gaby, 57, who made her name on the likes of The Big Breakfast and the Children in Need telethons, says: "In a dream scenario, I really want to do a daily live TV show, an early evening programme that's a bit naughty.
"I think with coming out of the pandemic, and everything happening in the world at the moment, we need a bit of escapism.
"There needs to be more programmes that make people laugh and feel good. Entertainment TV is a bit safe at the moment, and that’s a huge shame."
Reflecting on her long career, she adds: "All I ever wanted to be was a TV presenter. I just wanted to make people laugh. I've always been the person who wanted to natter to everybody and make them happy.
"I would do live TV all through the day and night. I'm obsessed with my job, and the opportunities are expanding all the time.
“I've been very lucky with my career and don’t take any of it for granted.
"What I have learned, though, is everyone seems to be obsessed with women’s ages, so I tell everyone I'm 33 – even my kids. It's just a bit of fun."
Gaby, the daughter of former BBC announcer Clive Roslin, started her career as a children's TV presenter in the 1980s. Her early years included a stint on ITV show Motormouth.
In 1992, she was the launch host for Channel 4 programme The Big Breakfast alongside Chris Evans, 56.
This September marks the show’s 30th anniversary, so will there be a celebration?
"Nobody has said anything. I have no idea if they’d even want to wheel us out in our Zimmer frames," she says, laughing. "But Chris and I are still very good friends."
"I feel like there's no TV around now which would let you do the things we did," adds Gaby, who faked an orgasm on the show and hosted a cheeky game called Spot the Sausage.
"People need to be more daring – and I don't mean cruel." She still gets people coming up to her to tell her they loved the show.
"It is lovely that people talk about it so much, but it still throws me when people say hello in the street," she said.
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"Recently, I was on the train and even though I had my mask on, this man asked if I was Gaby Roslin then said, 'Everybody says I’m the spitting image of Chris Evans, what do you think?'.
"I said he was and we got a selfie together. It was really funny."
Her Radio 4 film-themed panel show, Gaby’s Talking Pictures, became a live theatre show in 2020, but Covid soon shut everything down. It is finally back on stage now.
She has also just finished recording the second series of That Gaby Roslin Podcast, which includes interviews with celebrities including Judi Dench and Robbie Williams.
In the past, Gaby, who is married to publisher David Osman and has two daughters aged 15 and 20, joked TV comes first and family second.
She is remarkably perky despite saying she often has just five hours of sleep due to constantly thinking up ideas.
Gaby said: "I'm one of those annoying people with boundless energy. I jump out of bed and sing musical theatre songs. It drives my husband mad.
"The other day I was on a train and heard a man listening to Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer on his headphones. I started singing it, and then blushed, giggled and carried on.
"A lot of people in the carriage joined in. I was just trying to give people a bit of fun on their way to work."
Gaby's Talking Pictures runs from this Sunday (May 8) until July 10 at Leicester Square Theatre, in London's West End. Visit leicestersquaretheatre.com for more information.
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