Whether he’s performing on stage, presenting on TV or manning the decks on his Radio 2 Sunday show, Michael Ball is such a smiley, happy, effervescent kind of chap you can’t really imagine him feeling melancholy. But during the first lockdown, in addition to feeling low about the situation we were all in, Michael found himself thinking more and more about his great friend Victoria Wood who passed away five years ago.
“Vic and I were great pals,” he says. “She was the most loyal and lovely friend you could ever wish for and, of course, I adored her work.
“While we were all at home, a lot of her stuff was repeated on TV. I’d switch it on and there she’d be – and her loss hit me all over again. I kept wondering what she would have made of the last year and wanted desperately to ring her up – but, of course, I couldn’t. It made me think about her a lot and also the other special people in my life I was missing."
Is That All Folks?
“I spoke about Vic to Amy Wadge, the very talented musician and songwriter I work with, and we sat down and wrote the song, Is That All Folks? It came together very quickly. I wanted it to sound like it could almost be a Vic song – a bit wistful and melancholic with a brass band playing. “I think she would have liked it although she’d probably have said, ‘Don’t be so daft!’ after I’d told her she was the inspiration behind it.”
Is That All Folks takes pride of place on Michael’s new album, released on May 7. It is a body of work of which he is particularly proud.
“Making it was a real learning curve because I recorded it at home,” he explains. “Amy advised me on what equipment I’d need to do it and that was the impetus to get me started. “We worked on it solidly for about four months and it was a brilliant experience. There were some real challenges and that was very exciting, considering I didn’t have any technical skills when it came to recording and producing an album at home!”
Celebrating kitchen discos and Captain Tom
Another track with a very personal feel to it is, Home with You the song being a nod to the ‘kitchen discos’ Michael enjoys at home with his partner of almost 30 years, Ready Steady Go presenting legend, Cathy McGowan.
“Oh yeah, me and Cath love a dance around the kitchen,” he laughs. “It’s that thing when you’re at home on a Saturday night – as we’ve all been for ages – you’re making dinner, you’ve had a few drinks and then you decide to put the music on. We love old-school disco, although I’m also partial to Steps andS Club 7. Reach, by S Club, has been my mood-busting song throughout the last year.”
But it was his friendship with Captain Sir Tom Moore that was the biggest ‘mood buster’ for Michael. “He was one of the most thoroughly decent, humble, funny and, yes, beautiful human beings I’ve ever met,” Michael recalls. “He was exactly what you saw. There was no side to him, he had a really strong moral sense and he was filled with kindness.
“What I learnt from him about the British spirit is off the scale and we all need someone like him to look up to as a role model. I’m so grateful to him; he gave me a real focus at a time when I really needed it. He touched my life – and everybody else’s – so beautifully.”
Would Michael like to live as long as Captain Tom? “Absolutely if I was in the same shape,” comes the reply.
“He had incredible stamina. His intelligence and joy of life were there until the end. That is such a blessing. We have dementia in my family and that robs you of a loved one before they’ve passed on.”
Michael hasn’t seen his own father, who lives in Cumbria, since the beginning of last year, although he did manage to meet up with his mum, who lives near Chichester, last summer. His parents divorced some years ago and both are 87.
“I haven’t been able to give Dad a hug for more than a year,” he says. “I’ll be visiting both him and Mum as soon as I can. I’ve been able to speak to them both several times a week, and during the first lockdown it was every day.
"I Facetime Mum but call Dad on the phone as he doesn’t do video calls.”
Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball
Workwise, in addition to the release of the album, Michael has much to look forward to. He has a travel show starting on Channel 5 soon. Called Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball, he explores locations which are very close to his heart. His mother was born in the Rhondda valley, where his grandfather was a coal miner.
“I’m so excited about returning to the ‘land of song’, the land of my fathers... well, actually my mothers,” he enthuses. “Some of my fondest memories growing up were spent in the mining village of Mountain Ash with my gran. Some of the best audiences I’ve ever performed in front of, and some of my most memorable nights out, have been in Wales.
“I can’t wait to see my family again, make new friends, visit places I’ve never been to before and share with everyone the glory of wonderful Wales.”
With theatres gradually opening up, Michael (58) also can’t wait to take to the stage again. Not that he’ll have to wait for long. All being well, from June 21 he will be reprising his role as Edna Turnblad in a revival of the feel-good musical Hairspray at the London Coliseum.
“I’m so excited about it,” he says. “I have missed performing so much. Then when we finish the run, Alfie Boe and I will be doing an arena tour around the country. I really cannot wait.”
Neither can we!
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Wonderful Wales with Michael Ball, due to air this spring on Channel 5
For details on Hairspray visit londoncoliseum.org
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