Ha ha ha I'm haunting you!
I did catch a re run of it myself a few days ago. Here's some notes from when it all happened.
Early Saturday afternoon I was bundled into a car, destination the Sky TV studios in Osterley, West London to film my bit for the show called Angels hosted by Gloria Hunniford. The actual filming was from 4pm - 10:15pm, plus around an hour and a half journey each way.
The Sky studios are as fabulous as I'd heard. When I arrived and got through security I was escorted to the Green Room in Studio 2. I could order a selection of hot drinks or bottled water and any kind of food I wanted someone would be sent out to get it for me! As well as a huge plasma TV screen there were newspapers, comfy sofas and a reclining massage chair - hello, how could I work in these conditions lol!
I was just onto my second cup of tea when Gloria Hunniford popped her head around the door. She was so friendly, we chatted for a good 15 minutes before she headed off to hair and make up, and she was actually reluctant to go! Gloria tragically lost her daughter TV presenter Karen Keating to cancer in 2004 and mentioned that she asks Karen to send her white feathers to let her know she is ok. Something I also ask and receive from my Mum. I brought up the subject about Karen and I think she was pleased that I had acknowledged her.
I decided to try the massage chair (it would have been rude not to!) I found it surprisingly powerful a bit like having someone wearing boxing gloves punch you in the back! Whilst I was fiddling with the remote control trying to find the 'neck zone' a little Kings Charles Spaniel dog came running in closely followed by a man which turned out to be Gloria's dog Gemma with her husband Stephen in hot pursuit! He was very friendly and also stopped for a chat whilst I played with the dog. He did make me laugh when he said he had mislaid the dogs pink lead and had resorted to using the belt from his trousers as a temporary one!
Next I was taken over to studio one to record my story which will be slotted into the main programme. It's where Sky TV news is recorded so on the way I got to see the newscaster waiting for his next slot; it's a really amazing set. After a quick visit to hair and make up, I was perched on a high stool against a blue screen with a microphone below me and told my story which I managed in one take - woo!
Back over to studio two again and I met up with some of the audience members who began arriving. I was escorted onto the set and passed some dressing rooms along the way. The door to the end one opened and out came Bill Roache - Ken Barlow from Coronation Street! I said hello to him and muttered something about 'fancy meeting you here' before taking my place on the end section of row 3. Gloria arrived shortly afterwards and was happily chatting to everyone and telling jokes.
It was absolutely freezing in there but I soon forgot about that as they started recording. There were a couple of stories which people told about their angel experiences, an angel expert and a professor who was the token sceptic discussing the stories. There was also a psychic who did readings from angel cards and Gloria interviewed the special guest who turned out to be none other than Bill Roache!
Gloria is so professional and kept everyone entertained between breaks, there were very little retakes and hanging around. I have to say it is the most enjoyable TV experience I have had to date (and I don't do TV remember!!) Kudos to Gloria, she is one amazing lady.
The story I told was this:
I was eight years old and attended the local junior school St Aloysius in North London. My Mum always took me to and from school each day. The morning started out like any other, the usual last minute dash as I'd forgotten my pencil case / gym kit / homework etc. We hurried along; it was only about fifteen minutes walk. We reached the main road and discovered the usual school crossing man wasn't there. It was unusual for him to be absent, he was always there come rain or shine but not on this particular day. Mr Doyle the school caretaker was standing in for him; he didn't have a uniform but was directing the traffic and telling the children to cross when it was at a standstill. We waited our turn, my Mum glancing at her watch, we weren't really late as she always left plenty of time for my "I can't find my"......" dramas.
Mr Doyle stepped out into the middle of the road again, he stopped the traffic in one direction and assumed the traffic along the other side had seen him and were following suit. He beckoned us across and we stepped off the pavement. I was dawdling behind my Mum chattering excitedly about some project or other when all of a sudden I heard a distant scream (which I later found out was my Mum) and saw a speeding lorry which had literally appeared from nowhere, inches away from me. The lorry driver slammed on his brakes, I was frozen in terror. I heard the screeching and awaited the impact. Bang, it hit me. It didn't hurt - yet. I closed my eyes. Suddenly I felt myself fly up in to the air. Still with my eyes closed I waited for the pain but .......nothing happened. I felt a sort of whoosh and tentatively opened one eye, then two and saw myself floating up into the air and to the astonishment of the other parents and children, land back on the pavement where I started with the lorry now ground to a halt where I had previously been. "How did I get here"? I stammered. Nobody could tell me. Mr Doyle lifted me up and carried me back to my hysterical mother on the other side of the road. The dazed lorry driver was scratching his head in total bewilderment as to how I'd been there one minute and not the next. Parents gasped open mouthed; children cried not quite believing what they had seen. My head had hit the front grill on the lorry yet apart from a small graze on my knee I didn't have a scratch on me. No headache, no bump, no concussion - nothing. The doctor later pronounced me fit and well and I was able to return to school the following day. My Mum was in shock for a full week afterwards.
We never really talked about that day, Mr Doyle died shortly afterwards. I believe I must have a guardian angel looking out for me, I can offer no rational explanation. All I know is that one minute I was about to be seriously injured or killed and the next I was sitting on the pavement wondering what all the fuss was about!
Funnily enough I could have watched it at 4am as I was awake (I couldn't sleep last night.)
Vic.