By Joyce Shaw
In the 60s, the artist Andy Warhol predicted that everyone would be famous for 15 minutes…based on the fact that TV and media publicity would be there for everyone. Of course we now see it in intimate family documentaries and suchlike, on TV where dysfunctional families glory in bad behaviour, manners and foul mouthing just to achieve their “fame”.
For some however, it can be thrust upon us! When I was travelling with African children in Canada and USA, we were often scheduled to appear on live TV for interviews. As a chaperone, I kept behind the camera, as the storyline was all about the children. However, one TV interviewer, on camera, asked the children who was the eldest and without a flicker of an eyelid, they all pointed to me and shouted Auntie Joyce! (I was 62 at the time!)
Many years before this, I had already appeared on local TV in Savannah USA when I was visiting my friends there. Word got out that I was a breast cancer survivor, and I was asked to give an intimate interview about my cancer treatment in the UK and how I coped with the aftermath etc.
My other claim to fame was being heard on the radio in Leeds, during the 70s when I played my Appalachian Dulcimer. It reminded me of the time when, in the fifties, radio used to feature a guest ventriloquist!!! Much as I love to listen to the radio there are advantages in seeing the actual event on TV!!
As for being a member of the public, I once complained to Tyne Tees TV that Bob Johnson the weatherman (who is a lovely man) had insulted my home town of Consett when he mentioned that “out in the sticks in Consett, there will be snow forecast”! I was so annoyed by this that I immediately phoned the TV studios and demand to speak to Bob. He did reply and apologised to me but I told him he needed to do a public apology as he had offended the whole town!
Next evening, after the weather report, he sat down with other newscasters and explained what he meant by “the sticks”. He went on to say that where he came from, it meant the countryside!
I have also complained to Classic FM (which is my favourite radio programme), pointing out to them that they need to consider the broadcasting time of certain pieces of music which are played in the peak traffic time eg when I was travelling to school, I would often hear Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” where the music speeded up to a fast climax and I had to be aware , as I was driving, that I was using the accelerator pedal !!!
However I have no illusions! With my one woman concerts / entertainments around the area, I have once been called Joyce Straw and, on another occasion when I was guest speaker, during a thank you speech the host asked me “what is your name?”!
I always say that I can’t be” a has been” because I’m more of a “nearly was”!!
