That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Michael Jibson and Pixie Lott

Episode Date: June 20, 2021

In this episode Gaby chats to not one, but two fantastic guests. Firstly it’s the brilliant actor Michael Jibson who starred as King George in the biggest show ever, ‘Hamilton’! He tells gaby the amazing story of how he got the part and what it was like working with musical genius Lin-Manuel Miranda. Plus, what it was like working on huge films like ‘Les Miserables’ with Hugh Jackman & Anne Hathaway, ‘1917’ alongside George McKay and ‘Star Wars’. He also talks about starring in the impressive TV series ‘Quiz’ with Michael Sheen and ‘Honour’ with Keeley Hawes.  Then stay tuned for singer/songwriter Pixie Lott. She tells some amazing stories about collaborating with music greats Stevie Wonder and John Legend. Gaby asks her all about her work on ‘The Voice Kids’, and what is was like to write and release her first album aged only fourteen. Plus, she chats about moving house with her fiancé during lockdown and their postponed wedding plans. Also hear about the new music she is writing and recording inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac and The Carpenters.   Produced by Cameo Productions, music by Beth Macari.  Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter @gabyroslin #thatgabyroslinpodcast For more information on the sponsors of this episode: Remy Sleep - Get 15% off any weighted blanket and free next day delivery at www.remysleep.com use discount code: GABY15 Grass and Co. - Find your calm 25% OFF, plus free shipping at: www.grassandco.com/GABYUse discount code: GABY at checkout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabby Roslin here, thank you so much for listening. This week, we are really spoiling you. We have two fantastic guests for your ears. Firstly, it's the brilliant star who played King George in the biggest show ever. Hamilton. We of course chat all about Hamilton and the genius that is Lin-Manuel Miranda. And the story of how he got the past in Hamilton is amazing, trust me. Plus, working on huge films like Les Miserables, 1917, Star Wars with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, George McKay, and starring in impressive TV series quiz with Michael Sheen and honour with Keely Hawes. Wow, what a CV. And stay tuned for Pixilot, one of the sweetest people on this planet. We talk about moving house with her partner in lockdown

and their postponed wedding plans with her many bridesmaids. Also, writing and releasing her first album when she was only 14 and her work on the voice kids which I love. She tells some amazing stories about collaborating with Stevie Wonder, yes Stevie Wonder and John Legend, plus writing and recording her new music through lockdown. Please can I ask you a favour? Would you mind please following and subscribing by pressing the follow or subscribe button on the show. Now I have to tell you this really honestly does not cost any money. It's completely. completely free. And then if you wouldn't mind, rate and review on Apple Podcasts, which is the purple app on your iPhone or iPad. You simply scroll down to the bottom of all of the episodes,

and you'll see the stars where you can tap to rate and press write a review. It would mean the world to us. Thank you so much. First up, King George himself, Michael Gibson. Enjoy. My teenage daughters both know every single word to Hamilton. Do you know what? They probably know it better than I do because I mean that's what I'm finding is that there are kids out there who literally like I know the goonies word for word whereas kids these days know Hamilton word for word and it's there are certain parts of Hamilton which I do I did and sometimes do try to wrap along to if it's on in the car and I still can't get it right. That show is it's a worldwide phenomenon and we have to start with that only because I dropped my daughter off at school and she was like you are going to be

speaking to the king. I mean, King George Hamilton, mum, do you not understand how enormous this is? And he won an award. I know, I know. But that's the excitement. So we have to start with that. What do you want to know? All right, take me back to the beginning when you got that call about, right, we'd like you to audition for Hamilton. Did you just go, what? The biggest show on stage ever? Well, kind of. I mean, it rewinds a little bit further back than that for me, because I am officially a musical theatre geek. I trained in musical.

theatre and I love, I'm normally listening to musical theatre or trying to, yeah, exactly, trying to discover the latest musical. I'm currently trying to get the rights for a children's book at the moment, which I'm hoping to turn into a musical, which I'll tell you all about later. But, so Hamilton started with me in the sense that I discovered it as a soundtrack after I'd seen in the Heights in London, the London version of it at the Southwark Playhouse, which I had some lovely friends in, and thought, well, that was really really. good. I should probably listen to this thing called Hamilton. So I did. And initially thought, wow, this is really good. But then over the course of about a week or two weeks, found myself not being

able to switch it off. And every time I listened to it, just became more and more, it became deeper and deeper ingrained into me thinking, this is probably one of the most incredible things I've ever heard. It's up there with Stephen Sondheim and, you know, Leonard Bernstein and, you know, but in terms of the way it's got hold of pop culture and rap and R&B and hip-hop and musical theatre and kind of just brought it to a whole new level. So I just continued listening and listening and listening to it. And then I remember listening to King George

and thinking, oh, this is a really cool song. Wow, what a great number, because it is. It's kind of the only real sort of number in the show where somebody sort of comes on. Maybe Jefferson does in act too, but he's kind of established at that point. I thought, what a great. song for a great part for somebody. And, you know, had a little singer that in the car and thought,

yeah, I could probably sing this if I had a go, but then, but didn't really think anything of it and just thought, well, they're obviously going to get somebody super famous to play this part or, you know, somebody who's, you know, a bit of star casting. And about, God, this must have been a good, over a year before I even auditioned for it. I mentioned it to my agent saying, you know, I'd love to be seen for Hamilton. She pretty much fell off a chair and said, I've seen it. And it's one of the most incredible. Yes, absolutely, we should try and get you seen. And then I went to New York when it had kind of just, it had been on for a good four or five months in New York. And it was before the Tony Awards, but it was the big hot ticket. And I was in New York doing some press for something else.

And I thought, well, I'll go and see it because I know people who could probably get me in and whatnot. Anyway, long story short, I couldn't get a ticket. I tried everything and didn't get a ticket and stood outside this theatre, practically in tears going. That show that I really want to see is on in that theatre and I can't watch it. Anyway, so that was that. I came home with my tail between my legs and didn't see it. And then probably about pretty much a year or so to the day that we were in rehearsals, I thought, do you know what? I'm going to do something that actors don't really do these days. Yeah, they call their agents, but I'm going to write to Cameron McIntosh myself. So that's what I did. I wrote a letter to, like a handwritten letter to Cameron McIntosh, Sir Cameron

McIntosh, who owns the pretty much most of the West End. and sent it to his office at Bedford Square. And, I mean, he kind of knew who I was, because luckily I was in the film of Les Mies. Yes. My wife has worked for him a lot, Caroline. And he just said, yeah, I think that's a lovely idea. I'll put you on the list.

So that was a really exciting moment in itself. It was like, wow, I've got an audition for Hamilton. And then I got an audition the week later and went in and sang all the material. And then I got a call saying, it went really well. They want you to meet the Americans, which is what they say these days when you're up for a West End show. It's like they want you to meet the Americans, which means it's gone to a different level.

So I went in and met the Americans just before Christmas, and then I was put on hold over Christmas, which was really hard, because I was really quiet at the time. There wasn't really much work. And then I got a call out of the blue in the new year to say, the Americans are back in town and they want to see. When I mean the Americans, I mean Thomas Cale, who's the director, and Alex Lackamore, who's the musical supervisor.

Was Lynn Manuel there? Lynn wasn't around, actually, because Lynn was doing everything else that he was doing, everything else that he was doing at the time. So I didn't actually meet Lynn until we got into the rehearsal process. But yeah, so I then auditioned again, final audition at Cameron's office, and then got another call to say, you're on hold. And it was really positive. And I was waiting and waiting and waiting.

And then eventually I got the call and they said, you've got the job. And it was just a really, really exciting moment. I remember I was about to go and put the bins out, and I got a call from my agent to say you got the job. It was one of those kind of feet on the ground moments. So yeah, that was my same. story with Hamilton. How wonderful. And did you tell Caroline your wife, was she the first person? Well, she kind of knew because we were, yeah, well, she was standing next to me when my phone rang.

And, you know, you do that thing where you got, oh, they're calling, meaning your agent's calling. And when you know there's a, there's a call coming in that's either going to be a yes or a no, you kind of, you can't help but sit there and wait for your phone to ring. It's really an irritating part of being an actor. Yeah, I know. I get that. So anyway, so, yes. So when the phone rang, she sort of ran in and looked at me as to say, is your phone, who is it? And I went, I sort of nodded to say yes it's them and then she could hear the conversation when I was like you know the reaction of oh my god oh wow I got it well and of course she yeah she cried a bit and I got a bit teary as well and then we we got quite drunk that night it was a good night oh how wonderful then of

course the was it the was it the was the big opening night that Prince Harry was on stage so you're great that was that yeah that was a great I don't know what great great great great great great it is but it's something like I think it's six so that was that was like nine months into the So we opened in the December, like literally the week before Christmas. And then they did this Royal Gala, which was on the... It was in the August, I think, because I remember, because I'd been on holiday the week before. I'd been away and, like, proper summer holiday, had a week in Mallorca or somewhere like that. And completely switched off from the show and then came back to this kind of chaos of the royals are in.

And I had to sing that song. So I was quite nervous. I don't know what, there's something about when you have a bit of time off doing a show in a long run of a show and then you come back and you've missed that kind of adrenaline in your body and you're almost more nervous in that first couple of days when you get back than you were when you initially opened. It's really weird. But then you had to sing in front of what would have been and I know it's only fantasy land. Your six, so great, great, great, great, great, great grandson who then proceeded to sing a few lines of your song. He did, yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, the whole thing about me singing in front of him was kind of made a little bit easier because it wasn't, only a few people know this, but they actually did come and see it about a couple of months before that, but they came kind of incognito. They were security.

We knew that they were in, and they came in, they sat down just before the lights went down and they left as the lights went up and nobody knew that they were even there because I think they just wanted a night out at the theatre and it was kept out of the press and the royal press team didn't let anybody know that they were doing it. and then of course the gala happened. So I'd kind of got over the idea of performing in front of my great, great, great, great, great, great grandson. Yes, indeed, the idea of doing that royal guard. I mean, it was like another press night. It was, I mean, if you were at the press night, you remember that the, or the opening, it was mental. I mean, people just went mental for that show. So, yeah, it was a really, it was a moment to tell the grandkids, for sure.

So, yeah. Well, please accept this as a compliment. I thought you were fantastic. I thought you were really outstanding in it. And I loved how camp it was, but you took it seriously. And I love camp. Thank you. We both trained at Guilford at GSA.

That's right, yeah, GSA, yeah. Certainly, Camp comes into three years training. You have to be able to embrace camp, and I think you certainly did. Absolutely. And then you won the Olivier Award for it. How thrilled were you? I mean, hugely, hugely, enormously thrilled. Well, I mean, that's the thing.

How does a person prepare for something like that? I mean, it was, it was, it's something that you dream about. And I was, I was lucky enough to be nominated for, for an Olivier when I was 21, 22, just turned 22 when I did a show called Our House many years ago. And I, and I didn't win. So I, so I knew what it was like to kind of have all that excitement and then it not go my way and, and it to be equally as exciting to just be recognized. So I was prepared for everything, really. But then, of course, when they call your name out and you're at the Royal Albert Hall, sat next to your wife, and you know it's on telly and your parents are sat up in the gods watching, and it's for Hamilton, was kind of like, wow, I can't quite believe this has just happened. And especially when they called my name, I don't really remember much about that, but I just remember suddenly standing on stage at the Royal Albert Hall and going, oh, God, it's happened.

And there's however many thousand people sat staring at me, expecting me to say something. And luckily I had written something down and I just read it. I didn't even come off the book. I just read it and got off really. And it was amazing. I mean, just to be, yeah, to be, you're only as good as your last job, really. So to be recognised for that job means that I'm hopefully going to get more work out of it. So that's the main thing for me really.

You well, you should do. My goodness. And what is Lynne Manuel Miranda like? I imagine him, please tell me, okay, this is my fantasy world, I imagine him just full of laughter and fun and kindness and creativity, a real sort of bundle of that. Please tell me he's like that. Absolutely, yeah.

I mean, he's an incredible man. I mean, to have written that show and to have written another show and all the other stuff he's written, I mean, first of all, his mind is just so inspiring just to be next to. Yeah, he's a lovely, lovely guy. And I mean, what I get from him is that one, he's a writer and he creates this stuff. But it's the way he collaborates with his team. So Tommy Cale, who directed Hamilton, who's going to take over the world.

He just directed Fossi Verdon and was which were lots of awards. Yeah, yeah. And he, and I mean, before that, he was, he'd done bits and bobs on screen, but he's predominantly theatre and stuff. But he's going to be the next JJ Abrams or Spielberg or whatever. his path will be. And then Alex Lackamore, who is, who is Lin's musical collaborator. When it comes to Lynn's music, he basically gives it to Alex, and Alex kind of takes it to another level. So Alex is also responsible for the music on, he doesn't write, but he, I think he does write on his own,

but he's a musical supervisor, so he kind of looks after all of the music. So he also supervised the World's Great Showman and Dear Evan Hanson. And I mean, there's no coincidence there that those are some of the biggest productions in the world. So to watch Lynn kind of come into a room, I mean, I think it was a strange process for Lynn because it was on in London, which obviously was a huge dream come true for all of them, especially him,

but he wasn't in it. And there was nothing really for him to do at that stage because he wasn't the director, he wasn't the musical supervisor, yet he trusted his team and all the associates that get it on, to kind of just put it on. So he kind of stayed out of,

everyone's way until, I mean, like I said, I didn't meet him until what we call the Sitz Probe, which is where you... The Sitz Probe, it's a German word for, I think it basically means where the orchestra meet the cast, it's an opera, it's an opera term, and it's where you play the music for the first time with the orchestra, and it's probably the most exciting day in musical theatre, it's where you get to hear the music with the band. So we did this thing called the Sits Probe, which is, we went to some studio in South East London, and they've seen. set the band up in a room and we all stood there with microphones and sang the music for the

first time with all the with with with the orchestrations it was incredible so lynn was there for that and i kind of briefly met him and said hi i might and he went hi your your might yeah yeah you're playing the king nice to meet you good look and that was kind of that and then he kind of was around like he was just one of the team really um you know he would sit in the auditorium during tech and make the odd suggestion to the team but kind of in quite a respectful way kind of didn't get involved in, especially, you know, the, Jemail and Ash, who were, who were playing Hamilton, you know,

Jamail who played Hamilton six, seven times a week, and Ash who did it on the Monday. He didn't sort of overpower them and give them notes. He just kind of, he's just a really good collaborator. He, he understands that this is a process and was just really respectful of that. And yeah, he was a really nice man. And then he kind of disappeared for a bit

because he was super busy, film it. I think he was filming his dark materials at the time down in Cardiff. He was about, so he'd pop in and out, you know, and it was just very nice and, you know, a nice man. And I think must have been very strange for him to not be in it, you know. It's so lovely to hear. Well, I mean, obviously, we watched it on Disney. They have it streaming. I think it's one of the biggest stream things.

But hopefully when it's open back on stage, then we can all go and see it in real life because I'm missing live theater. I know, I know. I think a lot of people that everyone's missing live theater at the moment. I mean, it's such a shame. You know what? When I was reading about you, and I was. Obviously we're going to talk about quiz, which was a massive, massive show. But you've been in some of the biggest films, Star Wars, Le Mayer's 1917, Beauty and the Beast, Burton and Taylor, Riot Club.

And then, of course, you were in honour on ITV as well, which was so carefully done. Wow. Yeah, it was. I mean, the very, very, very difficult and traumatic and heartbreaking story. But ITV, I think, again, just handled it beautifully. It was so well written. All of you guys were just so sensitive, really, really sensitive. I mean, that and Des are the two shows that everybody was talking about in 2020.

Yeah. Brilliant. No, I've been very lucky in terms of, you know, the work that I've done. And, you know, I've been in some big films and it's been a real experience. Yes. Yeah, start... 1917? Yeah, they've been some bigans,

and it's been a real experience, you know, to be on those sets and work with some of the most incredible... And the thing that I find most interesting, because I'm an actor, is that once you're on set with these people, whether it's Anne Hathaway or Hugh Jackman or... They're just normal people, and that's what I find really, really interesting,

is that they're just actors who get equally as nervous as everyone else and are just trying to make sure that they're doing the right thing and getting the words right. And I mean, George Mackay, for example, on 1917, which, I mean, he carries that film. What a performance. And he's such a nice, nice man. I mean, what a lovely, lovely guy.

I mean, when I was there doing my bit on it, because of the way they shot it, which has obviously been in the press about it, it was all one continuous shot. Was it really, though? Well, it wasn't one continuous shot in terms of like they shot it all in an hour and 50 or what. whatever the film is, but they shot it, they very carefully worked out exactly where the camera would be,

so it would be shot in sequences with different cutting points. So, so my particular bit was me and George with hundreds of extras. So I was on set for that day or that, it was a couple of days, like rehearsals and whatnot, but then the day that I actually shot, it was just me and George were the kind of the stars of that little bit. And George was just so normal and lovely and, you know, wasn't taking it too seriously. He was having a laugh. with the crew, they all liked him, he liked them. He was really generous with me and all the other actors that were coming on set. He would get involved and ask me about normal things like, you know, my family and what I

had for tea last night. It was just really nice to sort of, you know, and that's what, most of the time, that's what you come across. You know, Matthew McFadden again on quiz, who was just the nicest guy, Keeley Hawes, again, they're all really nice people and there's a reason why I think a lot of nice people do really well, because they're just. really good at what they do and people want to have them around. So that's what I find when I'm working on some of these big films.

But yeah, no, I've been very lucky. And I mean, to be on things like Star Wars, I mean, again, when I got the call for that, it was really cool. It was really, because I'm an 80s kid and, you know, Star Wars was sort of the thing. I think it's one of those things that will go down generation after generation. Let's go to quiz, if we may, because I thought that was extraordinary television. I thought it was so well done. everyone was talking about it

whether they believed the coughing or whether they thought he cheated or whether he didn't cheat and it sort of it brought all of that back but there you were acting with your cousin-in-law am I right? Michael's your He's my wife's so his dad and my

his dad and my father-in-law are brothers right oh there we go first cousin so there we are he's your first cousin-in-law his Tarrant he's remarkable when he does those he doesn't impersonate he just becomes those people yeah yeah and it was And it was really interesting because obviously I know Michael as my, as Michael, you know,

as my, you know, my mother-in-law's nephew. Yeah, and I say, you know, and he's always busy and I occasionally spend a bit of time with him and he's always very lovely and we talk about normal things. And then, of course, I saw him in the makeup chair because I'd already been filming for for, I think a week or so by the time he arrived. And I walked into makeup and he was sat there with his wig on and I was like, oh my God. And he just looked at it and he went, do I look all right? And I mean, again, he's a normal guy, just wanted to make sure that I was like, yeah, God, you look incredible.

And then he walked on set, and it was actually the scene where, because we were shooting all the stuff in the courtroom. So I'd been sitting around doing all sorts that week, just listening to various actors come in and be cross-examined by Helen McCrory and other people. And then Michael came in, dressed as Chris Tarrant. It was his first day. It was a big set because there were lots of extras being, you know, the crowd in the jury and whatnot. And he walked on set, speaking as Michael, kind of, but dressed as Chris Tarant. Chris Tarant and various people coming up to him fussing around him because it was his first day. And then Stephen Frears just went, because there's no nonsense with somebody like Stephen Frears.

He just gets on with it. And of course he trusts Michael so much because he's worked with him so many times. And it was a case, right, okay, well get on with it. And action. And off we went. And Michael opened his mouth. And it was the first time anybody had heard Michael to Chris Tarant. And it was just incredible.

And we all just sat there and sort of, I remember looking at Matthew McFadden and Sean. who played the Ingrams and just going, and like smiling, he said, wow, oh my God, it's really like him. And then everybody, I mean, not that everybody sort of, it was like a sigh of relief, but everybody was just like, wow, this is going to be really good. But you as well, sorry.

Michael's wonderful and lovely, and I adore him. And when I've met him, he's a charming, lovely man. I think he's a brilliant actor, but this is about you because I have to say, your performance in it was extraordinary. Thank you. And it must be, you know, you were a, a critical part of the whole story.

So this, in case people haven't seen it, they've got to go back to I see if you haven't watched it. But it's about the coughing on who wants to be a millionaire. And of course, your character was a key component of that because he's real. I mean, so you were again, you were playing a real person. Yeah, Tequin Wittuck. Yeah, no, it was really interesting to play him.

And I mean... He's the guy that was part of the quizzing community. Causes all the questions, yeah. Yeah, and he coughs. Yeah, he's the guy... Well, a ledger. He's allegedly coughs. He's apparently to this day he is adamant that he has nothing to do with it. I mean, I've not met Tequin, but I met his son. His son came on set and he was a very lovely guy and, you know, and I think the whole thing was a very traumatic experience for all of them, whether they did it or not. But yeah, it was, it was, it was, it was an interesting role to play because, I mean, in the entirety of the actual show, I didn't actually have that much to do, but I was always there. Like Helen McCrory, for example, had so much to do because she had so many words to say, yet she was only filming for, a week or 10 days, whereas I was filming throughout the whole five, six weeks of filming,

I'd often just be in the background coughing without anything to say. It was, again, it was just a really interesting experience to work with Stephen Frears and to see somebody again at the top of their game just being brilliant at what he does. And of course, James Graham, who wrote it, who's like, he's younger than I am. I mean, you know, I'm 40 this year, and I think James is early 30s, and he's just one of the most brilliant and lovely people that the theatre and drama in general have because he has such a brilliant take on on on on the way human beings go from a to be and how the politics of the world affect that and you know to take something like quiz which originally was a play and i have to

give a shout out to my mate gavin spokes who he's one of my best friends who who played charles ingram in the original play of it that was on in chichester and gav was incredible in it as were the rest of the cast and, you know, and James did such a brilliant job of that play, which was directed by Dan Evans, and then for it to be taken by ITV and turned into a TV show by Stephen Frears, and then for me to be there and be surrounded by these people

was just such an incredible experience. And again, it's that word collaboration, which I mentioned earlier on, about Lynn and Tommy and Alex Lackamore, was there again with the producers of Quiz, and Stephen Frears and James Graham, they were constantly having conversations about how to make it better and make sure that the audience understood what was going on.

And it was just a really fascinating thing to sit back and watch and be a part of really. So, yeah, I feel very fortunate. Well, yeah, but also because you're really good at what you do. You know, you really are and you become those characters to take on the role of somebody else who's a real person. It's a much tougher thing for an actor. Well, it is.

But at the same time, you kind of have this source material that you get to work off, but then you get to put your own interpreter, because that's kind of what acting is, whether you're playing somebody's real or not. You just use the source material that you have, whether it's, you know, when you get these castings come through to you at 5 o'clock on a Friday for a self-tape, saying this guy is a 40-something guy with lots of problems in his life, and that's all you've got to work with. So you've got, whereas if you have a source material of somebody that, you know,

there was video footage of Tequin, so I did look at it and see what his characteristics were like. I mean, obviously, he's a bit older than me, or he was when these videos were taken. But you try and just take something of it. And I mean, that's what Michael Sheen is so brilliant at. And he's had so many opportunities to be able to do that, to play people that we all know so well, and to do his own thing with it. And I think that's what brilliant acting is. And again, it's just making it truthful.

And to go back to, you know, Hamilton briefly, that's kind of what I tried to do with King George. George was to take the kind of, you know, who was this guy? Ultimately, he was the king of England. Nobody ever said no to him. And America had just said, sorry, we want to break up with you. And I mean, so to put that into context of how he would deal with that, it's like, you can't say no to me. And then to put a song on top of it. Do you know what I mean?

It brings, it makes it funny. So that's kind of my process. Do you know, the strangest thing is throughout this whole chat with you, which is, been a joy, so thank you. I've been saying, I've got the song in my head. Because, oh, it really, really is. Don't stop me because then I won't stop. Really, it's much a pleasure to speak to you, and congratulations on all that you're doing.

Do you know what's next? So you said you're writing a film or you want to do a film, your own film? So, yeah, so I'm, well, I've got things that are coming out. There's a couple of things that I've got coming out. So, Honour came out, quiz came out. I'm in Edgar Wright's new movie called Last Night in Soho. I've got a cameo role in that, which I'm really looking forward to seeing that. I'm in a film about Roald Dahl, and it's got Hugh Bonneville in it and Keely Hors,

and it's about their life with their children. And I play a nice role in that. But I had a busy year leading up to lockdown, but then, yes, so the other thing I'm doing is I'm pursuing the rights for a children's book at the moment, which I'm trying to turn into a theatrical. called piece with music with a friend of mine who's a very prolific young film composer who's never written

any music called Benjamin Walfish so that's something we're doing and then because I was involved a few years ago in a musical called Eugenius which was on at the other palace I actually was meant to be the co-director of it but couldn't do that because it all happened

at the same time as Hamilton and so I was involved in sort of creating that with the writers of that and I enjoyed it so much the creation of kind of shaping and dramaturging this musical, that I really want to sort of do more of it. And like I say, I'm a musical theatre geek, so I know a bit about it all.

So I'm hoping that I can, you know, do my own. Goodness me, you couldn't be more busy, and I'm delighted to hear it. I love to hear when an actor is busy doing what they love to do. And it's so cool to talk to you, because obviously, you know, I used to watch you on the Big Breakfast and all the other shows when I was younger.

And then obviously, when I went to GSA, Guildford School of Acting, a lot of people would talk about the, went there, you know, Michael Ball, Celia Remy, Gabby Roslyn. And I remember doing the, I didn't do it, but all my year were involved in that there was a big concert at the Yvonne Arno Theatre for Ian Ricketts. Yes, I was there. And you came on and did something. And I remember a couple of my friends saying that they'd met you and how lovely you were. Oh, shush. I remember coming to watch it. Well, that's very kind of you. Thank you very much indeed. What I'd like to hear is actors not having

to retrain and doing exactly what they love and what they do brilliantly. Long may you thrive, my lovely. and congratulations and do send your wife my love as well. I will. Thanks Gabby. Cheers, lots of love. Bless you. And now, as promised, here is my chat with the very sweet singer, Pixie Lott. Pixie, do you know what? It's very funny.

My husband said to me this morning, oh, who are you speaking to? And I just said, I'm speaking to the girl who epitomises the word sweet. And I mean that with such love. I think you must be one of the sweetest people that I've ever met in this industry. Oh my gosh, that's so nice, Gabby. But coming from you as well, that's too kind. Thank you. You really are.

You always, you are, I mean, you know how thrilled I am that you're doing the voice kids because it just fits perfectly with you. Because the amount of charity stuff you do, the work that I've seen you do with kids through Welchard and other things that you do. the amount of times that I've interviewed you, you are just, you have the kindest, sweetest soul and heart. You really do so. Your parents must be very proud. Oh, that's so lovely, Gabby. I don't know what to say back to Ella. Thank you so much. Just, there we go. Oh, but I feel the same about you. You're so, you're so lovely whenever I see. I think the last time I saw you was a well child,

wasn't it? Yeah, amazing charity. Absolutely amazing. And my goodness, charities need help right now. Can we just talk about Ollie, Oliver, who you know I adore as well. So what's happening? You and Oliver have been together. Is it 10, 11 years? Yeah, it's 10, like nearly 11 years, I think. It's been a long time. We moved in to a new place, finally.

We've lived in the same flat for 10 years. So we've just been surrounded by boxes and bags and, like, so much stuff. and I'm just wondering how it's all going to fit in and where we're going to hang everything up and even like today, doing this from the new place. Our Wi-Fi hasn't kicked in yet. So I'm trying, I've like hotspotted my phone so that I can talk to you today.

And the TV's not linked up yet. So it's all a bit crazy setting into a new place. But we're very excited. And obviously we were meant to get married. Yes. So what's happening with that? Well, we've got big families and so we want to wait till there's, you know, the rules are not in place where we can invite all the people that we want to invite. So we're just sort of waiting and we didn't want to because obviously the rule changed to 15 people and it's not really going to be good for us because I've already got like so many bridesmaids.

It goes over 15 anyway. So we really do. We've got to wait now. So hopefully soon, as soon as we get the green light, we've got like the place we love. We've got loads of things decided. And then we can just go full steam ahead. Oh, well, listen, good luck.

I know so many people have had to delay for you guys and for everybody else who's going to get married and celebrate. It's tough. It's tough, isn't it? It is. It's very different times, as everyone's saying. But we've, you know, we've got some of the, to look forward to and we just have to, you know, enjoy what we have and as always, like,

make the best out of the situation. So, um, we're, we're definitely keeping busy with all, like the house move and stuff like that. And then, yeah, when, when the restrictions go, then we can crack on with the wedding. Oh, well, do send him my love, because, you know, I think he's lovely. I will. You two are so well suited. Those children are going to be beautiful. They're going to ridiculous. We mentioned the voice. So let's let's start with that. It's very interesting because people saw you as a pop style and I know you of course as musical theatre and you've been in in movies and things. But that suddenly changed the way people perceived you. Is that just me watching that from the outside or do you think that has made a big difference? I don't really know. I don't really,

I'm not really, I guess I don't really focus on that side. of things like how how I don't really know how I'm perceived but it's something that I've absolutely loved and it's a world that I grew up in completely from such a young age from from as young as I can remember so I know exactly how it feels to be in their shoes you know going through those audition processes which I still do now to this day and I love working with the talent like it honestly blows my mind they're so amazing. They're so young. They've got their whole careers ahead of them. And I just love working with that talent and also building their confidence. And a lot of them come to the show and they don't actually realize how brilliant they are. And it's such an experience, such an amazing platform for them to learn so much and take it with them as they go into the industry. But it's brilliant. It's so feel good. It's so warm. It's. I just, I really, really, really love it.

Maybe I'm not allowed to say this, but I'm going to say anyway, I've said it to your face, I'm going to say it now, I prefer it to the grown-up one. Well, I say that, but I'm obviously biased. I'm pleased that you think the same. No, I really do. So you were really young, you were in Chitty Bang Bang on stage. You were in Sound of Music, I mean, as a professional, not just at school shows. What was that like?

Were you aware that you were doing something incredible and different than your friends? Or was it just because you were that age, you just took it in your stride? Yeah, I guess for me, like I've honestly been performing and singing my whole life, like I said. So it sort of felt like a natural step. And I went to a performing art school. So all of my friends were all singing and dancing, up and down the corridors. And it was just a world that I grew up in. So I didn't really know any different, but I just knew that I loved performing and music more than anything.

And it's something that has helped me stay just so focused because I always had something to strive towards. Some of my friends wasn't sure, you know, which industry to go into or what career they wanted to go down. And I've always been so sure. So I've always had something to strive towards. So it's music above all the others, even though you've done musical theatre, is your pop career, your music career, the top of that? I love so many different sides of performing, and I'm sort of obsessed with getting as rounded as a performer as possible.

So that's like acting or dancing or anything that is in that world, because I think it helps you as an artist overall. But my number one will always be writing and performing my, own songs. That's what I've loved doing. I started like writing my first album that got released at like 14. It's amazing. 14. I just loved it and I and my passion hasn't like died down. I still absolutely love it. So yeah, I think that will always be my number one. But I love learning I love learning new things as well. So I'll always take on new challenges in that in that field. And obviously when I went to performing art school we did musical theatre growing up so i love that as well and i love all you're on

instagram gabby you're singing videos and you're when you do musical theatre it makes me so happy you're so positive and and it's so nice to wake up and watch your videos and see so much joy but musical theatre is you know it's something i absolutely love i really really do love it and um you were so good in breakfast at tiffany's um i snuck in as saw that and after I'd interviewed you on TV about it and I went to see it. And it was just, it was lovely. You would, it was a perfect place for you. That's, I think I'm sort of trying to push you to go and back and when it opens and it won't, it will be back and it will be bigger and stronger than ever, I hope. The musical theatre, because of Strictly as well, so you can dance,

you can sing, you can act, you have extraordinary stage presence. It would be a shame not to do musical theatre. Oh, thank you. Just for me because I love it. I love it. I love it. Thanks so much, Gabby. And I did. I absolutely loved doing breakfast at Tiffany's and thanks so much for coming to watch it. Because I learned so much. I learned so so much. It's definitely like the hardest thing I've ever done.

Is it like I love doing tours with my band and doing my own music and that's amazing. But this was so much harder. We did like eight shows a week for almost a year. and it was such a dense piece of writing and the second act was so dark because it was based on the book, not the film. And so it got me to a really, like, sad place. So doing that over and over and over and over,

I learnt so much in the acting side of things. But at the end, I was so drained, I think, because it was a lot. It was so much. But again, one of the most rewarding experiences because I learned so, so much. And I think every little experience like that does help you overall as an artist.

I'm not, you really, you were so good. But I think, so I know for a fact that your favourite film, might be wrong, you might have changed it, is Pretty Woman. Pretty Woman is going to be the musical on stage. And obviously it's been postponed. I think you should do that. Thank you, Gabby.

I need to, you need to be my agent. Okay, no problem. That's it, dumb. I've got you the job. No, not at all. Okay, so on to the music stuff. Now, when, obviously yesterday I was going through everything. I was in, um, in a pixie land.

And my goodness me, your collaborations and people you've written with, I mean, collaborated with Stevie Wonder, John Legend. I mean, they're huge. Yeah, I can't actually believe it. just saying that there, it was just crazy. I think that was my second album. And they're like two of my heroes. They're both so incredibly talented. And they were literally being in the right place at the right time scenarios.

How did it happen? How did that come together? How did you and Stevie Wonder? Well, he's like one of my all-time favorites. Like just, you know, as you know, just like a living legend. we were actually, I had to think back to it, we were in the same restaurant at the same time. I was just so lucky. And he was sitting with someone that I knew from years before.

So he came over and was like, oh, can I introduce you to my friend? I was like, sure, but I didn't know it was Stevie Wonder. And I came over to the table. I was like, oh, my gosh. And I was like, my eyes were welling up. It was like mad. And he was just the most lovelyest, just most gracious man ever, just everything that you'd hope and more.

And then from that, that's how we got to do a collaboration. So I wrote a song with the guy who, with a mutual friend. And Stevie featured on it playing the harmonica. And he sounded just like so amazing and it was so cool. And then how did the John Legend come about? And then John Legend, collaboration came about because again we have a friend that we both knew and um we got introduced i think i think she'd sent him some music and then this was a long time ago as well this was album

number two and we were both in new york at the same time so um and i think we had the same publishing company so we just met at the studio and to see if anything came out and he started playing the piano straight away just sounded like insane and a song was written so quick and then it went on the album. Oh that's incredible. See, I mean, I love the fact that even hearing you talking about it and you're a huge star and everybody knows you are and around the world and everything, but I love that you're still in awe and I get the feeling that you get in awe of people. Are you like that when you see somebody that you really respect? Do you go to bits? Of course. Like, oh my gosh, of course. they're like absolute legends.

And I remember, like, definitely meeting Stevie. I was like just taken very back. And also I had that with Mariah Carey. I remember it was a very, very brief encounter. Very, very brief. What happened? My eyes welled up again. Oh my gosh.

And it was like a two second meet. But it just was like, oh my gosh, wow. And is there anybody that you'd still like to do a collaboration with or to meet? and would you go, would you well up over them? I don't know. I guess you don't really know until you're there in the moment and it happens. But I'm sure I will.

Definitely have that again if that happens. But collaborations-wise, there's so many. It could be anybody, anybody on the planet, okay? So I've now got a magic wand and it's to grant you the collaboration of your dreams. Who is it? Oh, there's so many. I've got a little, it's waving now.

It's waving. Dillie, dole, dolly. So, like, for the new music I've been making, a lot of inspiration has come from, like, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Carol King vibes. So any of those would just be unreal. But also,

Coldplay, Chris Martin, that would be amazing too. Well, we can make that happen. Hold on a sec. Hi, Chris! I'm just, you know. He seems, he happens to be here. Yeah, yeah.

Chris, Pixie would, yeah, that's, yeah, Pixie lot. Yes, you'd love to do it. What's so odd is, I'm looking over there as if you can't see. But I'm looking in that direction as if he really is over there. Yeah, if I can make it happen, I would for you, my sweet. So you're, what new stuff, tell me about the new stuff then. That sounds really sort of fokey. So it's more fokey than dance.

Yeah, there's definitely has those influences. I've been really loving writing this new stuff. because it's literally just been me and a few guys, which is the first time I've ever done an album like that. Usually there's loads of different people and loads of different sounds and roads of loads of different places. But this has been a very cohesive sound and body of work and it's just very raw and honest.

And it's the music I've always wanted to make, really, that it's taken me a long time to get to this place. And it's nearly finished. We figured out a way how to do it over, finish it over lockdown. I've got like a little bedroom set up going on that was hard at first because of all the technical difficulties and setting it up and the sound wasn't coming through and all of this. But we figured it out now and it runs smooth. So I think I can finish it off like through these times because usually I have to fly to L.A. Because they're based over there.

But we've figured it out. And when's that going to come out? Do you know? Do you have any idea? Not sure just yet. I think once we've finished it all up, then we can make the plan of when it can come out. But it really is like an album sound. So I don't want to, you know, do drop singles or EPs or go down that route.

I really, I still believe in the album. With having so many number ones, do you, when you release new music, do you have that really awful fear that, oh, I hope it gets to there or I hope it doesn't or if it doesn't. Do you have all of those fears, or do you just go with the flow? I tend to go with the flow only because if I start focusing on all of that,

then I'm just going to go down a rabbit hole and that is not going to be good for anyone. So I've always just gone with the flow. You know, you do what you can and then you let it out and see what happens. And if it sticks, it sticks. If it doesn't stick, it doesn't stick. And you just keep on going.

Keep on keeping on. Yeah, you will. There's so much that you've still got to do. It's amazing. Can we just talk about the World Cup song? Was it 2014? Was it 2014 you did the World Cup song? I can't remember when that was.

I think it was something like that. Oh my God, I have no idea where time goes. This year doesn't count. So that's only... Yeah, let's do it doesn't count. No, it doesn't count. We're not including this year. Yeah, so that and just seeing with all the other people and everything,

I just get the feeling that you love to be around people. and that you love to work with lots of people. Yes, I do love, I love, I'm a people person. I love collaborating. I love, I love working with new people and, yeah, I just think it, you know, playing off each other and collaborating and brainstorming ideas and things like that. I love that. And how about all the, so the modelling and, because now you're a podcaster as well.

So all of these other things, they, they're all sort of secondary then, are they, in a nice way, in a nice second place? Yeah, I guess like, yeah, music will always be my, my first love, but there's, there's so many things that I love as well. I love, I have so many different hobbies and things, but it's fun that we can sort of do them all. And sometimes that's my problem, though, I think, because I do have so many other interests. I've got to keep focused, you know, on. one thing. I think that's what I find hard sometimes. But I love, I love doing the podcast. I love your podcast, Gabby. Pleasure to be on.

Bless you. Yeah and I think it's fun to keep other interests going to mix it up a bit. I know about something that you can do, which is a really strange thing that I found out online. And what's really strange is I'm going to ask if we can do it now, which I don't suppose it will work online, But is this true that you are the greatest, the world's greatest, uh, stairer that you can outstare somebody without laughing? I know it's so weird. It's like the weirdest thing ever, but I can stare. I'm a good stare at so weird.

But you just, and you cannot laugh. No, I, it's, I think I could, I laugh during it, but I don't blink. Usually, you know, the other person will blink first. It's like staring competition. and I can just hold that gaze. And I don't blink. How did you find out that you had this hidden talent? I don't know how I found out.

I can't remember. I was just, I don't know how he came about. I just figured it out somehow. It's a good little party chick. Well, let's try it now. Okay. Now, you have to be honest if you blink. Yeah, no, yeah.

We will. Okay. Right, okay. Three, two. I'll keep talking, though, okay? Okay. And see if you can not blink while you're talking at the same time, okay? Okay, and you're going to do it as well?

Yeah, yeah, no, I'm doing it. I'm doing it. And I'll tell you if I blimp. I've just, hold on, I'm getting the blinks out. Blinks are there. All the blinks have gone. Okay, three, two, one. Okay, I'm not going to blink.

I'm going to tell you a phone. Oh, I blinked. I blinked straight away. Oh, you blinked already. Because that was a easy one. Oh, no. Okay, all right. I'm going to see how long you can not blink for.

So I'm going to ask you questions and see if you can carry on not blinking, all right? Okay. Okay, three, two. I've got to focus. Yeah, three, two, one. I bet I'm going to make you blink now. I know I can make you blink. So Pixie, I ask everybody in these podcasts, what makes them properly laugh?

So whilst not blinking, you have to tell me what makes you properly laugh. Oh my God, Gabby. I've blinked to riddress. Yes, you see! You see! Oh my gosh, should I tell you what it is? I think I've cracked it. Why I'm a good sharer. Oh my God, sorry. That's my glasses falling off.

I've cracked it. It's because, because at the moment, I'm in my glasses, because obviously this is like just audio, so I haven't got my makeup or my hair down and my glasses are on. And usually when I do the staring competition, I've got my contact lenses in. That's what it is. And they keep the eyes.

They keep the eyes going. They keep the stair going. That's the secret. So when I've got my glasses on, I'm rubbish. That's so funny. I've got my glasses on too, so I'll blame my glasses. Yeah, I'll blame my glasses. So what does make you properly laugh?

Because you like a giggle. I've seen you giggle a lot. I love a giggle. What makes me laugh? I love watching funny films. I love going to see stand-up comedy. I actually did have I booked tickets to see Matt Richardson do his stand-up show.

Obviously, that's been postponed. I just think laughing's really important. Yeah, don't you think? Oh my God, yes. 100%. Like, if you're feeling a little bit down or a bit overwhelmed, I always recommend watching a funny film, a comedy film, rather than something intense, you know, on Netflix that's like quite deep.

Go for a comedy and it just make you feel so much better. Okay, which one? Oh, which one? I always think a classic comedy is dumb and dumber. Oh, it's very funny. That is funny. I'm now tempted. I might go and do that this evening.

Right, that's my choice for tonight. I mean, I have to say, I'll give you, you gave me dumb and dumber. I'm going to give you when Harry met Sally. Oh, my gosh, I love that film. Yeah, there we go. Classic. I've given you a film, you've given me one, it's, that's it. The other thing I know about you, which is a really weird thing to know that if this is true online,

that you have mayonnaise on everything. I do, yeah, I do. I love it. It's a classic. It goes on my roast dinner. But now I found a combination where I put my tobasco in my mayo, spices it up a bit. And that is delicious. Why don't you make, you should actually bring that out?

Should I? Yeah. The pixie, the pixie pickle. Or the pixie, the spicy, pixie's spicy mayo. Oh, yeah, I've got it there. Oh, I love it. You're giving me lots of ideas today. There we go.

Well, you're my agent now, aren't you? You can make it happen. While we watch Dumb and Dumber. You are a complete and utter delight. Carry on being the delight that you are. And will you please let us know as soon as you have that new music out because I will be singing, not singing your songs, but I will be singing the fact that you got new music out

because I am, I just think you're adorable. As I said, please send to your family, my love, because they should be very proud. Oh, thank you so much, Gabi. It's so lovely to catch up with you. Hopefully I'll get to see you in real life soon. I hope so. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the podcast. Coming up on next week's episode, we have the wonderful Judge Robert Rinder, MBE. That Gabby Rawlsendt is proudly produced by Cameo Productions. music by Beth Macari. Could you please tap the follow or subscribe button? And thank you so much for your reviews.

I promise that the team and I have read them all and we really are rather overwhelmed and they really mean the world to us. So thank you so much. If you kindly leave a review or a comment, that would be lovely. Thank you.