Dame Judi Dench meets John Hannam

Tuesday, 23 June 2020 20:31

By John Hannam

On July 7th, completely out of the blue, I received an unexpected email from a guy called Neil Chandler, the venue and artistic director of the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, which was re-opening following a £42 million redevelopment.

The date set was September 16th. Dame Judi Dench was to be the guest of the day and would I be up for interviewing her live on-stage in front of 500 people, in the Ashcroft Playhouse. I said yes straight away – and then thought what have I done. My normal interviews are in hotels, private homes or theatre dressing rooms, with just me and my guest.

In mid August I was summoned to Croydon for a 10am site meeting and was told I could bring my partner Roberta. We were invited up the previous day and provided with return rail tickets and an overnight stay in an excellent hotel. Neil, who was born on the Island, met us and took us for a meal. When we saw the far-from-finished complex we just wondered if it would even be ready for the launch day. To view it we all had hard hats, goggles, special boots and coloured jackets. It was also pouring in rain. I heard nothing for a while until just a couple of days before the event. Then my final instructions were sent to me. I was nervous and, thankfully a few close friends convinced me all would be fine.

Come the great day and we headed back to Croydon on an early morning train direct from Portsmouth. En route I had messages from Sean and Caroline to say how proud they were of dad and wishing me good luck. We had a lunch near the huge complex and it seemed right on cue when a Level 42 track was being played as we were having our meal. Island-born Mark King had just written the foreword to my new book. Then we checked in to the hotel and our room number ended in 007. The third good omen, as I was soon going to interview M from the Bond movies.

We arrived early and nothing was too much trouble. We were shown my dressing room and there was everything we could have wanted. Then we were told Dame Judi Dench might just pop in to say hello. I was still waiting for my adrenalin rush to cut in and wipe out my nerves. That happened in an instant. Our British treasure walked in and we were immediately introduced. I told her just how thrilled I was to be interviewing Dame Judi Dench. Her first words to me were: “John, just call me Judi.” Suddenly my confidence blossomed.

So what was Britain’s finest present day actress really like? She joined us and we had 30 minutes of enjoyable chat and fun. Just a lovely lady and you felt privileged to be in her company. It was just as well we are both touchy people – and this continued later on stage. Judi was just a delightful lady. Not a hint of any ego. She was even worried she would produce a whistle on stage, as she had a slight tooth problem. It never occurred.

We talked a lot about her love for the Island. She told me: “I just love the Isle of Wight and when I come over on the ferry they even let me steer the boat for a little while. Osborne House is so beautiful.”

While we chatted I was just in my casual clothes. When she came in again I had my bright purple jacket on, dress suit trousers and purple winkle pickers. Judi suffers from limited vision due to macular degeneration but she suddenly realised I had changed and began to tease me. Then she came close to look at my purple jacket. Then she got down and touched my shoes when she realised they were purple.
On stage we really hit it off and Judi was in fine form. I had done a lot of research and knew several amusing stories from her life. In fun she told me I was naughty to bring some of these up but the audience loved them.

During the hour-long segment we were later joined by Michael Billington, Britain’s longest serving national theatre critic. It became a three way conversation.

I know Judi enjoyed our chat because she told me as we came off stage. She appreciated my research. The audience seemed to love it. I had forgotten London Mayor Sadiq Khan was in the audience. We met up after the show and Judi said to him: “We were on John’s show really.” I felt quietly proud when he congratulated me, after Judi and Michael, who were the big names. Then he called me into a group photograph.

Judi did reveal she has no plans to retire. That made two of us.
I must congratulate our Island boy, Neil Chandler, who did such a wonderful job. He’s enjoying a marvellous career in the theatre industry. He manages to keep so calm.
After the show he told me: “John I made the right choice you were brilliant. It was just like the old days and listening to one of your IW Radio interviews.” I’d been frightened of letting him down.

More from The John Hannam Archive

John Hannam Meets Annette Badland

Back in 1981 when Bergerac first came to BBC TV, it was no surprise when John Nettles received sack loads of fan mail. I, like millions of other men, rather fell for the more rubenesque charms of the Bureau receptionist Charlotte, played by the gorgeous Annette Badland.
When John Hannam Met Jane McDonald

There are days in your life that you will never forget. One of mine was September 26th, 2006, when I met up again with Jane McDonald. Her welcoming hug and comforting words were just what I needed
John Hannam meets Bill Wyman

Fifty one years after I first saw Bill Wyman appearing at a Rolling Stones concert at Ryde Pavilion, I finally managed to meet him.
When John Hannam Did the Corrie Tour

Back in 2001 I took an exciting 21 hour day trip to Weatherfield. I was expecting to undertake a couple of interviews with two of Coronation Street’s lesser known characters. Thankfully, it didn’t go to plan. Once the two interviews were completed and the press office girls had left, I was told to sit tight for a few minutes and see who might come in. Over the next hour, six of the most famous faces in Britain came in and were all eager to chat.
A Day to Remember with Sheridan Smith

Saturday June 30th, 2012, was rather special in my 47 year career as a showbiz writer and broadcaster. I still call it my Sheridan Smith day.
A Day to Remember with Barbara Windsor

Back in 1988, John Hannam interviewed Barbara Windsor – and this was long before Albert Square.
John Hannam meets Shaun Williamson

When Shaun Williamson was filling shelves in a Maidstone supermarket his ambition was to be like Richard Burton. Eventually, via Pontins in Wootton, 1986, he became Barry Evans, who for eight years was one of EastEnders’ most popular characters.
John Hannam meets Joe McFadden

Life has been wonderfully unpredictable for Scottish actor Joe McFadden. Before winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, he’d been a rock star in Sex, Chips & Rock ‘n’ Roll, cast as maverick cop, Joe Mason in Heartbeat and surgeon Raf di Lucca in Holby City.
Gwen Taylor: An interview with Beacon's John Hannam

Gwen Taylor is one of those actors known for a wide variety of names — Amy Pearce from Duty Free, Barbara Liversidge in Barbara, Heartbeat’s Peggy Armstrong, Rita Simcock from A Bit Of A Do or even murderer, Anne Foster, from Coronation Street.
David Calder tells John Hannam why he loves the Isle of Wight

Over the years, top actors like Celia Imrie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Penelope Keith and Geoffrey Hughes have all fallen in love with the Island. The latest to join them is David Calder, whose credits include The World Is Not Enough, The Hatton Garden Job and The Lady In The Van.
Tessa Peake-Jones: An interview with John Hannam

During the final ten days before the lockdown, I’d been lucky enough to have pre-arranged five interviews. It was in Guildford on a very wet and miserable March day. Would she be like Raquel in Only Fools And Horses or Mrs Maguire in Grantchester?
Celia Imrie: An Interview with John Hannam

John caught up with the star of stage and screen, who talks of recent film projects and fond memories of when the Island was her home.
Fred Dinenage: An Interview with John Hannam

Famous radio DJ Annie Nightingale has helped numerous popstars enhance their careers by playing their music.
Call the Midwife's Helen George meets John Hannam

Helen George has millions of fans as Trixie Franklin in hit television series, Call The Midwife. She's just been seen in the show's Christmas Special and is all set to appear later this year in the ninth series.
Marti Pellow: An Interview with John Hannam

Back on Sunday, February 17th 1991, I had the thrill of having the Beverley Sisters live on IW Radio's John Hannam Meets. At the end of their slot, I asked them to choose a record by their favourite current singer. In total harmony, they all said Marti Pellow and predicted a long and successful career for him. At that time he was the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet. How right they were.

Dame Judi Dench meets John Hannam

Share

More from The John Hannam Archive

Get Social