Melanie Sykes reveals why she loves working with host Paul O’Grady on Blind Date
Melanie Sykes has landed plenty of plum television gigs during her career as a presenter – from larking around on The Big Breakfast and Let’s Do Lunch With Gino and Mel, with co-host Gino D’Acampo, to hosting glamorous award ceremonies. But she admits that her latest television project has been a real dream come true.
A huge fan of the show Blind Date back in the 80s and 90s, she jumped at the chance to be involved with the new, revamped version on Channel 5 last year.
“It was on every Saturday night in our house – I loved it when I was a kid.
It was compulsive viewing and Cilla was so much fun,” recalls the 47 year old, referring to the much-loved original host, the late Cilla Black.
Blind Date returned for a second series last month, with Paul O’Grady – Cilla’s long-time friend – at the helm once again.
Mel, meanwhile, stepped back into the shoes of “Our Graham”, bringing us those all-important reminders, as the lucky contestant chooses his or her date.
She says she has nothing but respect for those who come on the show looking for love, admitting that she would never have the courage to do it herself.
“Oh God no. Although there were some good-looking boys on this series… and I always appreciate beauty!” observes Mel with a laugh, who is notoriously guarded about her own love life.
She has been married twice before and has two children, Roman, 16, and Valentino, 13, with her first husband, actor Daniel Caltagirone.
Here, Jenny Kyte catches the busy presenter for a quick chat about romance, on-set giggles with TV legend Paul O’Grady and embarrassing herself in the name of good TV…
Is it strange being on the show, but not being seen?
It’s funny, yes.
I’m live in the studio, but I’m in a dressing room that’s been changed into a sound booth – and it’s tiny! It’s not very glamorous at all.
Do you get nervous?
Yes, it feels like you’re broadcasting live and, of course, you get that energy.
I do the intros for Paul, so it’s quite a big thing to introduce the host of the show.
You don’t want to mess it up.
Melanie Sykes looks ravishing in red on photoshoot
Paul can be a bit racier and a bit X-rated
Paul seems the perfect man for the job…
Yes, he just totally engages with people, on and off set.
When there are breaks he keeps the energy up and I just look at him and see that it’s not something that he’s consciously doing, it’s just something that he naturally does.
He’s an entertainer!
Paul can be a bit racier and a bit X-rated.
That’s just Paul being Paul.
I think he has all the things you need for this show and it’s a privilege to watch him.
Are there any changes to the show this series?
Well, this time they’ve left in loads of my mistakes!
There are loads of my bloopers and I don’t know how I feel about it.
I swear a bit and they bleep me out, but it creates banter between Paul and I.
It’s funny.
Have you had any favourite contestants this series?
We’ve had bridesmaids who were never brides and they come on dressed in their wedding gear.
My favourite, though, has been an Irish guy who brought his mammy and she has to choose his date for him.
It’s just the funniest episode – and who she picks and the follow-up is even funnier.
Do your kids watch you on TV?
They don’t watch me on anything.
They’re not interested.
They’ve never been interested.
Their main concern is when I’m home and cooking food for them!
What else are you working on at the moment?
My career has just morphed into different things over the last 20 years, and at the moment it’s very much personality and voice based, like Blind Date and radio stuff, and that’s great.
I’m really enjoying it.