- Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:01 am
#441180
Ok, so the visit to R1 yesterday.....
Decided i'd have an hour or so lay-in and get up in time to be jumping in car to head to London as the show started. Got to North London for about 0900 and parked up in residential area near to tube station. Listened to the last hour while sat in the car. Soon as show finished got the tube into central London and made the walk to R1 studios. I ended up getting there just before 11, way too early, so figured i'd go for a stroll about. Seen the 'place next door' where they make the special TV - y'know, with Dom's mate. Danni..... And after that is the DIY store which Chris talked about on a late start once. Went for a nice walk around the block, and as I came round to the other side of R1, I noticed the 'cafe next door' - I recognised it from the OB when Chris n Fearn had the lunch date. Figured as I had lots of time to kill i'd go grab myself a tea in the cafe. As I walked in the door, who the fecking hell was sat outside with someone having a chat and a post-show cig....? Mr Moyles himself.
Up to that point I had been cool about the visit, but suddenly came over a bit star-struck and had to sit down for a few mins! Everyone I know knows I am such a massive Moyles fan, and there he actually is, on the other side of a pain of glass.... Now, I know Chris isn't the biggst fan of being accosted in the street, but I couldn't let this chance slip. I didn't want to disturb Chris and his chat, so I waited paitently drinking my tea. As soon as I saw Chris stand to leave I knew this was my chance, so out I went. But as I got outside, Chris was still mid-flow in conversation, just stood up now!! And of course, then he clocks me out the corner of his eye and straight away knows what is about to happen. I can see his face visibly drop! Damnit! Oh well, i've started, so i'll finish....
"Errrr, excuse me Chris, massive fan, just wanted to shake you hand in say thanks, i'm here for Al's meeting" Blurted out in my best 'gibbering school-girl' style as I thrust my (unsanitised!) hand towards him. I GOT A SHAKE, CHRIS SPOKE DIRECTLY TO ME!! Man alive, i'd done it. Anyway, I quickly left him in peace and went back to my tea. Grinning like a chashire cat. It'd been about 14 years coming, but i'd done it, i'd met my idol! Mint....
So, two hours pass and its time to go to R1, as I arrive Andy and RB are sat waiting, Nisha (as it turns out i'd been sat next to Nisha in cafe) has just arrived before me. Quick intro's. Paps are outside, we learn it to photo Fearne, she gets it daily on arrival and departure (lucky lass!). Zoot turns up, let me tell you boys n girls, he is one ugly mo-fo! Fearne leaves. People with Beeb passes come and go, some looking far more/less important than others. Then Al and Matt arrive to welcome us in. Another brief period of star-struck, although both are waaay friendly and welcome us in. We get a brief tour of the R1 production offices, where all the background work goes on. Interesting to see it all. We then move onto the Studio tour, which is amazing! Getting to stand in Moyles studio while Al n Matt explain the equipment and give a demo, then the other lads (Andy, Andy and RB) have a play with the cartwall (spelling, anyone?!) thingy... In. Credible. The lovely Freya joins us at this point, she is short, but yes boys, very pretty. She is just like the boys, instantly likable and interested to talk to us. Its while we are in studio that we are joined by John who was slightly late. He was given his own quick guide to the equip!
Next we moved onto an R1 meeting room, where we had a chat about the show and a Q&A session for us to the team. As a group, we were given a little privalidged info on future...... things.... And that is where this part of the story ends, sorry folks, we were asked not to divulge! Although I will tell you during our discussions, Aled and team were surprised by some of the show facts the more 'uber-geeks' there were able to pull out. Embarassingly geeky? Yeah....!
And then, this bit I wasn't expecting, off to the pub for the 'ideas meeting'! Ha! Sat in the pub with the CM show production team! So, we got the drinks in and all sat round a table with crisps and Al with his iPad. We banded about a few ideas, most of which can be read in the separate thread Al created. Again, i'm not going into any real detail here.
But, how great to be sat in the pub, not only with the other cm.net members, all of whom were great by the way, but also with Al, Matt and Freya! It was brilliant. We sat chatting and time was flying. By 4pm (an hour over-run!) Al kinda closed the 'meeting' but said we could stay to chat a little longer. I, being a Dad, had to get outa there. Which was a bit of a shame, but I figured things would close shortly after.
So, what did I think of all of it? R1 building wasn't quite what i'd expected, but the tour was amazing. Everyone was even nicer than I could have imagined. I had the odd moment where i zoned out and found myself thinking 'thats aled, stood there, talking to me'.....! Aled was lovely, and so was Freya, they made us feel welcome and valued and genuinely wanted to talk to us. But, mr Fingers Fincham, pincham-Fincham..... Maybe I was guilty of getting a little too caught up in the on air caricature of Matt which Chris creates, but if i'm honest, Matt impressed me most (sorry Yuds). Yes, he has the geek element, but hello! I'm surrounded by forum members - we are all a bunch of geeks. Matt was waaaay cool, and I enjoyed chatting with him one to one, to the point where I actually think me n Matt would get on like a house on fire and i'd love to do a pint with him again!!
A great day, many, many thanks to Aled, Matt and Freya. Can't wait to see what comes out of the process!
Decided i'd have an hour or so lay-in and get up in time to be jumping in car to head to London as the show started. Got to North London for about 0900 and parked up in residential area near to tube station. Listened to the last hour while sat in the car. Soon as show finished got the tube into central London and made the walk to R1 studios. I ended up getting there just before 11, way too early, so figured i'd go for a stroll about. Seen the 'place next door' where they make the special TV - y'know, with Dom's mate. Danni..... And after that is the DIY store which Chris talked about on a late start once. Went for a nice walk around the block, and as I came round to the other side of R1, I noticed the 'cafe next door' - I recognised it from the OB when Chris n Fearn had the lunch date. Figured as I had lots of time to kill i'd go grab myself a tea in the cafe. As I walked in the door, who the fecking hell was sat outside with someone having a chat and a post-show cig....? Mr Moyles himself.
Up to that point I had been cool about the visit, but suddenly came over a bit star-struck and had to sit down for a few mins! Everyone I know knows I am such a massive Moyles fan, and there he actually is, on the other side of a pain of glass.... Now, I know Chris isn't the biggst fan of being accosted in the street, but I couldn't let this chance slip. I didn't want to disturb Chris and his chat, so I waited paitently drinking my tea. As soon as I saw Chris stand to leave I knew this was my chance, so out I went. But as I got outside, Chris was still mid-flow in conversation, just stood up now!! And of course, then he clocks me out the corner of his eye and straight away knows what is about to happen. I can see his face visibly drop! Damnit! Oh well, i've started, so i'll finish....
"Errrr, excuse me Chris, massive fan, just wanted to shake you hand in say thanks, i'm here for Al's meeting" Blurted out in my best 'gibbering school-girl' style as I thrust my (unsanitised!) hand towards him. I GOT A SHAKE, CHRIS SPOKE DIRECTLY TO ME!! Man alive, i'd done it. Anyway, I quickly left him in peace and went back to my tea. Grinning like a chashire cat. It'd been about 14 years coming, but i'd done it, i'd met my idol! Mint....
So, two hours pass and its time to go to R1, as I arrive Andy and RB are sat waiting, Nisha (as it turns out i'd been sat next to Nisha in cafe) has just arrived before me. Quick intro's. Paps are outside, we learn it to photo Fearne, she gets it daily on arrival and departure (lucky lass!). Zoot turns up, let me tell you boys n girls, he is one ugly mo-fo! Fearne leaves. People with Beeb passes come and go, some looking far more/less important than others. Then Al and Matt arrive to welcome us in. Another brief period of star-struck, although both are waaay friendly and welcome us in. We get a brief tour of the R1 production offices, where all the background work goes on. Interesting to see it all. We then move onto the Studio tour, which is amazing! Getting to stand in Moyles studio while Al n Matt explain the equipment and give a demo, then the other lads (Andy, Andy and RB) have a play with the cartwall (spelling, anyone?!) thingy... In. Credible. The lovely Freya joins us at this point, she is short, but yes boys, very pretty. She is just like the boys, instantly likable and interested to talk to us. Its while we are in studio that we are joined by John who was slightly late. He was given his own quick guide to the equip!
Next we moved onto an R1 meeting room, where we had a chat about the show and a Q&A session for us to the team. As a group, we were given a little privalidged info on future...... things.... And that is where this part of the story ends, sorry folks, we were asked not to divulge! Although I will tell you during our discussions, Aled and team were surprised by some of the show facts the more 'uber-geeks' there were able to pull out. Embarassingly geeky? Yeah....!
And then, this bit I wasn't expecting, off to the pub for the 'ideas meeting'! Ha! Sat in the pub with the CM show production team! So, we got the drinks in and all sat round a table with crisps and Al with his iPad. We banded about a few ideas, most of which can be read in the separate thread Al created. Again, i'm not going into any real detail here.
But, how great to be sat in the pub, not only with the other cm.net members, all of whom were great by the way, but also with Al, Matt and Freya! It was brilliant. We sat chatting and time was flying. By 4pm (an hour over-run!) Al kinda closed the 'meeting' but said we could stay to chat a little longer. I, being a Dad, had to get outa there. Which was a bit of a shame, but I figured things would close shortly after.
So, what did I think of all of it? R1 building wasn't quite what i'd expected, but the tour was amazing. Everyone was even nicer than I could have imagined. I had the odd moment where i zoned out and found myself thinking 'thats aled, stood there, talking to me'.....! Aled was lovely, and so was Freya, they made us feel welcome and valued and genuinely wanted to talk to us. But, mr Fingers Fincham, pincham-Fincham..... Maybe I was guilty of getting a little too caught up in the on air caricature of Matt which Chris creates, but if i'm honest, Matt impressed me most (sorry Yuds). Yes, he has the geek element, but hello! I'm surrounded by forum members - we are all a bunch of geeks. Matt was waaaay cool, and I enjoyed chatting with him one to one, to the point where I actually think me n Matt would get on like a house on fire and i'd love to do a pint with him again!!
A great day, many, many thanks to Aled, Matt and Freya. Can't wait to see what comes out of the process!
I've actually met Chris n shook his hand. This fact is still causing slight issues in my trouser dept....
Yudster wrote:Best post ever.