So little time so much to say…
Had my first experience of being on a panel TV show yesterday. It was the kind of “right to reply” kind of programme that Channel 4 put on. It was hosted by my name sake Krishna Guru Murphy. It was weird being called into make up… but it was even weirder being called “could Krish come into make up” and then when i turn up being told… “no we mean the other Krish” that doesn’t happen to me very often.
Its quite a fun experience - you get taken into a green room with all the other people who are going to be on the show. Ziggy from last year’s Big Brother was there. He was a very grounded laid back guy - the sort of person you’d be happy to hang out and have a pint with.
My slot was a response to Channel 4’s “documentary” - In God’s Name which was supposed to be an expose of the rising Christian fundamentalist movement in the UK. It was made by David Moddel- who actually went to school with my good friend Justin Thacker - (Evangelical Alliance’s head of theology). We had a little chat before we went on - I was trying to be friendly but I guess with the nerves of a live show looming it was hard for him. Akil head of religious broadcasting was there too - I really like him and we always have a little bit of banter when we meet up.
After having the make up and the “complimentary food and drink” which actually means a can of coke and a handful of chewy sweets we are taken into studio and we wait in a dim room until they Krishna Guru Murphy has done his intro slot live to camera. Krishna is the epitome of professionalism - he reads flawlessly and looks at the right camera at the right time - he is a class act. Then while a video montage runs we swoop on to the brightly lit set and told where to sit. We are not told where to look - which cameras are on or the format of the questions and then we are live on air. The nation is watching! (or atleast those that aren’t out enjoying the summer sunshine or who enjoy watching day time tv on a saturday!).
You have literally 100 seconds to speak and then its all over and we are taken off set to continue the discussion elsewhere.
Isn’t it funny how, in today’s society, we live out the most important parts of who we are and commentate on that which we are most passionate about in 2 minute sound bits? It seems anti-climatic to summarize something so profound into snippits and one-liners…but what can ya do, huh…