all kinds of bands so if anyone wanted a
Brazilian band for a World Cup party, we
can arrange that.
of them, I’ve met Lionel Ritchie, Diana
Ross and Joanna Lumley, I got her to do
a voiceover for me.
I’m head of the businesses and I have
people working with me.
She said ‘this is the Love Hour with
Ambrose’ on my show. She came into
the studio to do an interview on one of
the other shows and I cheekily went and
asked her to do a voiceover for me and
she said ’because you’re so cheeky and
so lovely I’ll do it for you’ and she did. She
didn’t charge and it helped the show.
Some of the strangest experiences
during my radio career - I’ve had people
call me up saying their standing at
Beachy Head and asking me to play
a song for them, then saying that if I
don’t they’re going to top themselves.
When you’re on late at night you get a
few cranks but you could never assume
a call like that was a crank. You have
talk to them and keep them on the line.
I’ve had one or two who I considered
genuine but you just have to say I’ll see
what I can do but I have never promised
to play a song for people in that situation
but I do say that I will do my best and I
try to persuade them not to do anything
silly. And then if you’re still worried you
ring the police – we have a line straight
to the police and that is a tough part of
the job.
The highlights include meeting all the
famous people I’ve interviewed loads
My ultimate highlight was interviewing
Barry White which I did the very last
time he came to Brighton, so I think it
was a year or two before he died. He
was really, really lovely; he just came in,
sat down and relaxed. He’d been told a
little bit about me and what it was that I
did and one of the final things he said to
me was ‘keep doing what you’re doing
- we all eat different foods, we all drink
different wines but there’s one thing that
is common in the whole wide world’ and I
said ‘what’s that, Barry?”
You know, because we all live in different
ways, speak different languages and all
that but the language of love, it doesn’t
matter whether you’re Chinese, Indian
or British you can tell if somebody really
likes you, looks at you with a smile or a
wink, that language of love will always
be there. And who doesn’t like romance?
I’m often asked how come I’ve aged
so well and the answer is that I look
after myself. Some people just age well
too. I don’t go to the gym, I’m not a
gym person at all because I don’t have
enough time but I make sure I stretch
myself and look after myself and dress
smart and make sure I don’t do anything
silly. I don’t get drunk or anything like
that. I like a glass of wine or whatever
but I don’t overdo things.
Interviewed by Liza Laws
He said ‘the language of love - love will
never die as long as we’re all alive’ and do
you know what? I have never forgotten it.
15