10 WESTCOUNTRY LIFE SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 2011 WESTERN MORNING NEWS WMN-E01-S3 WMN-E01-S3 WESTERN MORNING NEWS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26 2011 WESTCOUNTRY LIFE 11 People/Judi Spiers Food/Review was airbrushed out of daytime TV history...

Janet King hits a raw nerve in the second part of her interview with Judi Spiers

Having initially been hired by Day- time Live to be their all-action girl, it quicklybecame clear to her BBC bosses that Judi Spiers’ interviewing skills (honed during her time at West- ward TV and TSW in the Westcoun- try), coupled with her vibrant personality, made her the perfect choice to take over as main presenter, alongside co-host . Gradually, the other female presenters,including Pamela Arm- strong, vanished from the sofa as Judi movedsteadily to centrestage on the show, whichwent out every day live from the PebbleMill studios in . “Then one day, RogerLaughton (head of BBC daytime) turned on to see us doing a piece about a Thun- derbirds stage act,” recalls Judi. “I was dressed up as Lady Penelope, using apiece of chiffonand abroom and a bad wig. He phoned the editor of the programme and said: ‘That girl is too good to be doing that. Don’t give her these stupid items’. I remember that David Rodgers (who had been Judi’s co-host on the Friday evening What’s Ahead programme on TSW) The cheery and relaxing inside of the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter's Princesshay shopping development, where world food is the order of the day, and food miles are but a distant –very distant –worry had said to me when I got the Pebble Judi Spiers is Mill job: ‘You’llsee them all offthe happier living sofa’. And gradually, I did… and working in “Eventually, it was just Alan Titch- the Westcountry Live, eat, love in this family friendly world marsh and me.Alan and I got on PICTURE: MIKE ALSFORD fantastically, buthe didn’t have the experience I’d had. I’d already been in television interviewing famous era, weren’t you? Isuggest. “Yes, ab- Judi says,she didn’t earnthe “crazy my friends at Pebble Mill were even Judi jumped at the chance.And so people for ten years, with my own solutely,”she says. “Richard and money” thatchat showhosts earn more upset. We kept it such a secret TheJudi SpiersShow, renowned for show.” Judy did other stuff… butit always , butit was good enough to give that, the daybeforeIleft LA, Iwas its upbeat mix of music, chat and live Judi, now56, recalls “fabulous annoys me when history books her a comfortable life. Today, she lives having apalm reading on Venice interviews, was born. Swedish, for example, which to my and baby spinach, in a peppery times” as she covered the Oscars, the slightly write out the Pebble Mill that with her husband, Richard, in a beau- Beachand the reader said to me, Today, she is content. “I’m happier The Food Inspector. This week, our mind is just plain daft right here in wasabi dressing. Clever idea, and ‘It really is child-friendly. You have Cannes Film Festival…even the Alan and Idid. Isaw aprogramme tiful home near Exeter. Set deep in the ‘That’s funny, are you getting mar- here than I was ever at national radio. anonymous reviewer visits Giraffe, in the South West. But our Westcountry very good to eat. the feeling nothing kids do would Lombard RACrally. Thebiggest about the history of the chat show the countryside, it is surrounded by ried, like now?’ I said no, because my I have direct contact with my boss on a Exeter’s Princesshay shopping mall cidermakers can relax. I then had a cappuccino which was names in showbusiness queued up to other day, and they were talking to woodland, pheasants and deer,and director, who was also a good friend of day-to-daybasis; people love me and It was essentially alcoholic apple volcanically hot, bitter and with cause the waitress to bat an eyelid’ appear as guests.“Theshow had a Anne and Nick, and Iwent, ‘What?’ yetis onlyaten-minute drive from mine, was standing right beside me, trust me. Plus I’m of an age now, which juice with one strident note of overly- barely any froth –some barista train- great reputation,” she recalls. My girlfriend was one of the pro- her studio in the city centre. and even she didn’t know… so I Ithink has got alot to do with it. It’s I don’t usually reviewchain restaur- sweet crispness. The kids would have ing is definitely needed here. Mean- “We had people like Burt Bachar- ducers on that show… and the fig- She and Richard met at a rock bluffed… butIwent backafterwards amazing what other people’s confid- ants. But I’m drawn to Exeter’s loved it. while one child had strawberry ice ach and Jack Jones coming over from ures, well, it wasn’t a top-rated show. music gig in Plymouth, and have been and told the palm reader she was ence in you will give you. Your own branchof Giraffe ever since it found As for the provenance of the in- cream (£1.35) which looked reason- America. Roberta Flack singing live “For some bizarre reason, they (the married morethan 20 years. He is a correct, after all!” confidence grows.” itself at the centre of a major news gredients, Ilike to knowwhere the ably free from colourings.The other in the studio.All these people… I BBC bosses) had brought Anne and craftsman whocuts his ownwood to The couple do not have children. “It She has a wide circle of friends and story –an unsuccessful attempt to meatand fish come from. But the scoffed his chocolate fudgebrownie   interviewedone of the Osmonds for Nickin to do ashow before Pebble make quality oak furniture, includ- just was neversomething that we a close family. Her parents, Fay and blow it up in 2008. menu offers absolutely no clue. Could (£2.25) which Itried –it had that my current show, and he remembered Mill. Very often they’d be vying for ing handmade beds. “One of the guys both really, reallywanted,” she ex- Leonard, have sadly both passed Visiting, it exudes peace and tran- have been from Mars.That’s chain catering vantaste of artificial ad- me from those days, and made the the same guests, and time after time, in the band said, you must meet my plains. “I always thought, as a kid, away, as did her eldest brother jew- quillity and all thoughts of the past restaurants for you. ditives. Bleugh. point that thereisno daytime pro- the guests would come to us.Wehad thatIwould have six to eight chil- eller Michael Spiers, whose eponym- disappear. Theplace is cheery in One of my kids had fish and chips OH had a chocolate cheesecake  gramme now wherethey can go on the big studio, the glitzy shows… a dren, but when the time came,the ous stores are still run by members of shades of orange with uplifting (£4.25) whichwas perfectlyaccept- which was, frankly, not worth the and perform. We had a huge studio. good mix of music, guests, gossip, ‘I did what I did and had feeling just wasn’t there.” the family, some 15 years ago, but she poems on the walls and exceptionally able, though the peas were a bit dried zillion calories it surelymust have Shirley Bassey with a band… Larry chat…we were the top-rated show. ” what I had. It was lovely. So, having seen “the writing on the remains close to her sister Rita and friendly, upbeat staff. out and wrinkly. The other had a contained. It was overwhelmingly Adler, all live in the studio… Michael So why was she airbrushed out? wall” at Daytime Live, Judi got in brother Stephen. All the waiters wear T-shirts ex- chickenburger (£4.25) which was a sweet and lacking all cheesecake   Caine… filming with Bette Davis. In- “Because they continued,” she says. But I’d had enough of it’ touchwith her old boss down in the And then there are her loyal listen- horting you to Live, Eat, Love. proper piece of fresh chicken, grilled. edge, just a vast chunk of cheap- credible people foradaytime chat “Pebble Mill stopped. TheBirming- Westcountry. “He said: ‘If you lose ers.It must be wonderful to know Giraffe has survived its 15 minutes I asked if he could have a little tomato tasting chocolate and creamy stuff. show.” ham studios were closed down… they brother. You’ll fall in love with him, your job tomorrow, you’ve got a job you’reheld in suchhuge esteem and of fame and offers child-friendly food and lettuce on the side as a gesture All in all our meal came to £55   She and Alan continually beat their wanted everything coming from he’ll fall in love with you, and you’ll here’,” says Judi. “It was a fantastic affection down here, I say. “Yes, but in the day and a more grown-up cock- towards healthy eating. Our waitress whichwas pricier than I’d hoped, ITV rivals Richard Madeley and Judy London. Richard and Judy are known end up getting married. And that’s safety net, one that means you can younever rest on your laurels,” she tails and dinner service in the even- said it was absolutely impossible –we giventhe cheap and cheerful atmo- Finnigan in the ratings. “It slightly because of their longevity.When what happened,” she smiles at the then work from aposition of says. “There’salways someone else ing. would have to order a side salad for sphere. But we liked Giraffe.Hon- annoys me,when people remember Pebble Mill wasn’t there, they had m e m o r y. strength.” who will come along…” I visited with my children and hus- £3.95, whichwas disappointinglyin- estly, this place is family-orientated  !! #& ## %#  $ the start of daytime television, that nothing to come up against. So,they The romantic couple –then both in While at Pebble Mill, Judi also had a But not for some time yet, I suspect. band on a wet Sunday lunchtime flexible of her. and completely harmless –what’s not  & #  $  # # it’salways Richardand Judy,” she got the guests.” their 30s –decided to “elope”. “We ran live Saturday morning radio show on ForJudi Spiers –who trained as an recently. It really is child-friendly and Other Half tucked into a hot Thai to like? Apart from the chocolate ##  #   % # says. “In those days,we continually Judi, in fact, left Pebble Mill before off to Bermuda to get married,” she Radio 2. When she left Daytime Live actress and once wanted to become a you had the encouraging feeling that duck stir fry (£9.95) which was sur- cheesecake, that is.  #    $ # # #  # trumped them. We were constantly it was taken offair.“Let’s just sayI says. “I couldn’t face a big wedding she was shifted from the Saturday film star –isasmuch acelebrity to nothing the kids did would cause our prisingly good. It was a big, inter- $#(  &   $#   #  bringing in two and ahalf million saw the writing on the wall,” she with families. One of my old school morning slot to the afternoon. Then her listeners as the people she in- waitress to bat an eyelid. esting bowlful with crispyshredded  ($  ( $  $$  $  viewers…likewise with the Anne remarks. “I didn’t like what they were friends livesout there and she sug- thatcame to an end and she started terviews daily on her show. Her radio They also had crayons and a paper duck, noodles, lots of veg in a sticky- Venue: Giraffe, 3 Princesshay, Exeter. 01392 494222 $  % ( $ (Diamond) and Nick (Owen) showas doing with the show. And I’ve never gested it. It worked out, because I was working for the Travel Channel. studio is her stage, and every day is a printed child’s menu that doubled up sweet chilli sauce. I had what was '  # well. They barely scraped amillion been very good at playing politics.” filming in Los Angeles and so I flew to A year of travelling ensued, doing performance. If the airwavescould as a colouring-in game. called a Sushi Rice Salad (£9.95) Food: 6 viewers. And then they handed over Howdoes she feel now, looking NewYork, whereImet up with film reports and working with Frank playbackher audience reaction, the Giraffe serves worldfood and this whichIalso liked alot. It was also a Atmosphere: 7 to us…” back? “I don’t care in the slightest. I Richard, and then we flew to Ber- Bough, when her former boss in the applause would surely be deafening. absolutely isn’t the place to worry big hearty bowlful, basicallydecon- Service: 9        Clearly we’retouching avery raw did what Idid and had what I had. It muda together. Westcountry phoned her up.He about food miles. They seem to think structing sushi rolls.SoIhad gen- Price range: Lunch for two adults and     nerve here. You really were at the was lovely. But I’d had enough of it.” “I didn’t tell anybody. Afterwards, offered her a morning programme, The Judi Spiers Show is broadcast on Radio Devon every that the further your lunchhas trav- erous amounts of smoked salmon two children, £55     forefront of the daytime TV chat show In the headydaysof Daytime Live, everyone was abit upset, but Ithink on BBC Radio Devon. weekday morning, between 9am and 12 noon. elled, the better.All cider was mixed with rice, avocado,cucumber