Mel and Sue are back with their first chat show in more than 16 years on Monday.
The duo have become best known as the cheeky hosts of the smash hit Great British Bake Off in recent years.
But Sue Perkins says the live environment is where she and pal Mel Giedroyc are most at home and that the anything-can-happen daily show is right up their street.
“We did so many live shows when we were starting out. That is the medium in which we feel most comfortable.
“When you set out as a TV presenter, the medium you’re most comfortable in is pre-recorded. You look nice and it’s all perfect.
“But when you work live in front of an audience, aiming for perfection is pointless.
“But what you can achieve are these magic moments when you get heckled or something unpredictable happens.”
The show is on daily on ITV at 4pm and Jennifer Saunders, Gareth Malone, Gemma Arterton, Dermot O’Leary, Jo Brand and
Birds of a Feather stars Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph are among the guests in the first week.
Mel and Sue know from their Light Lunch days that timing can be fraught during a live broadcast.
“Sometimes when we did Light Lunch the producers would whisper in our ears: ‘We’ve only got three seconds left oh no, it’s actually 20 seconds. Think of another question’,” laughs Sue.
“At which point, Mel would always go slightly glazed, put on a rictus grin and ask:‘Got any pets?’
“Sometimes the guests would get quite emotional and say: ‘I’ve got an Austrian herding dog’, and we’d reply: ‘I’m afraid we don’t have time for any more. I prefer rabbits. Goodbye!’”
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