Claudia's Week: Sport Relief Come Dancing and more...

Thursday night saw Steven and I at the BBC as guests of our friend Denise Lewis.  Denise was taking part in a special Sport Relief version of Strictly Come Dancing and although it was filmed on Thursday, it won’t be on our TV screens until March so watch out. I know the winner too… shall I tell you?.. oh, better not.

Mark Ramperkash was there dancing with Kara Tointon (Dawn from Eastenders), and lots of other celebs.  But Mark continued to wow the ladies with his open shirt and quick samba moves. Although I’ve met Mark before, I’d not met his wife so that was nice to have a chat with her at the show as we were sitting right at the front of the dance floor near her. Every time Denise came on, Steven and I yelled loudly to show support. I’d promised Denise that she’d be able to hear me and afterwards she said ‘Oh I definitely did!’

At the bar after the filming, I lost Steven to Mark and Darren Gough as they spent most of the night talking about cricket.  Steven knows Mark well as they both used to play in the same team at Middlesex County Cricket Club.  Denise and I found ourselves a quiet table at the back with Denise’s hubby Steve and dancer Ian Waite who sadly got knocked out this week with his dance partner Penny Lancaster-Stewart. Denise was partnered with Ian when they came runners-up in the 2^nd series of Strictly so they know each other very well.  We had such a laugh, in fact we   became the noisiest table in the hospitality area, mostly because of Steve’s hilarious jokes.

Later in the evening I was having a conversation with one of the judges Len Goodman about QVC. He was asking me lots of questions about my role as presenter on QVC.  I said to him that seeing as he was so keen on what I do, what about him coming on air with me one day.  Did he have a product?  He said he’d go away and think about it as it sounded like a good idea.  Well, it didn’t take long - half an hour later he and his girlfriend appeared back at my table.  He said he had a product. It was an initial concept but he thought it would be a good seller!!

I was most interested. In fact, he had our whole table captivated, which by now included David Ginola, Denise’s mum, great aunt and sister-in-law.  We were all ears… Len announces its going to be called Len Goodman’s ‘Aim-Straight’. It’s a cardboard device, conical in shape with antibacterial properties on the underside.  The devise allows the male occupants of the house to aim in a straight direction when using the lavatory, thus saving from family arguments!!!  Well it was hilarious and all through his ‘pitch’ to me, he kept a very straight face and then asked ‘do you think it would sell?’  I told him (with my tongue firmly in my cheek) I’d speak to the powers that be and let him know…..

Tuesday was a day spent on location with some of my colleagues. What a great day that was, if only to spend some time with fellow presenters as we often are like passing ships. Julia, Anthony, Catherine and Simon and myself all took part in a promotion for our ’presenter picks’ shows that are coming up on Tuesday 27^th November.  We filmed in a house belonging to a couple that rent it out for such filming. It was an amazing minimalist city living apartment with everything white and stark, very trendy. 

We had to dress up all fancy as if it were Christmas already and it certainly made us all feel festive. Anthony had just celebrated his fifth anniversary show a few days before and we were all having a giggle reminiscing about other ‘on-air’ incidences that had occurred over the years.  Simon showed us all photos of his lovely children on his laptop, Catherine looked ever so glamorous cardmaking in her red evening dress and Julia and I had a great time catching up about our children and she offered to babysit my little Blake one day.

The crew were lovely and it was a great opportunity to see them all in their roles outside of the studio, a fascinating process and I’m looking forward to seeing the results on air next week. 

In the ending scene where we are all together on the sofas talking, you wouldn’t in a million years guess what we were all actually talking and laughing about?  Well I’m not sure if I should say, as I often say things and then realise perhaps that was a little inappropriate to share ! oh well, here goes… we were, and don’t ask who started it.. talking about what it must feel like for a sportsman to get Ralgex or any other brand of muscle rub cream on his rugby shorts by mistake! It had Anthony and Simon wincing at the thought of it and then Julia asks me, "Why Claudia, have you ever done that to someone?" And then we all cracked up laughing and that’s where the shot finishes.  So now you know…

The rest of the week away from QVC I'm getting ready to open a Breast Cancer fundraising Christmas fair on Saturday. I’ve not just said I’d open it and give a speech about breast cancer facts and statistics but I’d like to work behind a stall as well. I’ve been put on the pink stall where we’re selling everything and anything pink and I’m rather looking forward to doing it. QVC donated some lovely bags for the event which was so kind.  I wonder if I’ll fair just as well presenting behind a stall as I do on QVC, hopefully we’ll raise lots of money and I’ll keep you updated on how it went and get a picture or two…

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