Emma Bunton (Don’t Stop Believing) interview
Five’s new live entertainment show Don’t Stop Believing kicks off in July, hosted by Emma Bunton.
The show has scoured Britain for existing and first time musical groups created by friends, colleagues, school mates or families, to discover the nation’s greatest musical performance groups. The groups will be choreographed, coached and judged by industry experts with five live elimination shows culminating in a thrilling final.
Don’t Stop Believing is your first major TV presenting role. Are you nervous?
“I sat down the other day and gasped: what am I doing, what’s going to happen? Then I thought, hang on a minute this is a real, fun show. Yes, it’s live, and a big, new show, so people will see me crying and laughing and making mistakes. But that’s what the show is about, for the performers too. They’re real and live, not hiding behind anything.”
What attracted you to the show?
“I get this great vibe from Don’t Stop Believing. Everything about it is so uplifting and the groups are so varied. We have smaller groups and large groups and families and friends, colleagues and professionals, non-professionals and some are singing real contemporary tracks or classic songs, but in their own way. It feels like it’s going to be such a feel-good show, a real celebration of talent and great to present and watch.”
What words of encouragement for the anxious groups do you have on how to cope with the stress of live performing?
“I think the brilliant thing is that they are groups, so they have each other, they can support each other and listen to each other. I loved being in a group. You’ve got other people with you, and it’s lovely. You have people you can trust and you know better than anyone what is right for you as a group.”
With four unruly judges to manage, as well as thirty wildly varied groups, how do you see your role as host?
“I will be involved with the groups backstage and I want to be there for support and to give them confidence. And to be honest, if I feel like they’re going on looking nervous, I’ll say, get rid of the nervous face, this is your one chance! It is tough, and I’ve been there, but I promise you the worst thing is if you come off and say, I was too nervous to enjoy it! You want to kick yourself! So I will be honest with them and the judges if I feel that they are being too harsh or not harsh enough.”
How do you think the Spice Girls would fare in this competition?
“We never claimed to be the best singers or the best dancers, but we definitely had an energy, and a belief, and sometimes that is just as important, and that is something I hope these groups bring. You need that special something, it doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect, you have to have that excitement and energy, that’s what the Spice Girls had and that’s what we’ll also be looking out for in Don’t Stop Believing.
“I think the groups will be fine if they listen, learn and practice, practice, practice. That’s one thing with us Spice Girls. We worked hard, and we rehearsed a lot, and we stuck together and that was the main thing. And we listened a lot to each other.”
What's the latest on the plans for a musical based on the music and songs of the Spice Girls?
“We are doing the musical, which I can’t wait for, and Judy Craymer is involved who did the film Mamma Mia, and she is a brilliant woman. We all sat down and spoke to her, and we’re looking for a writer at the moment. So it’s very early stages, but it’s going to be amazing. As the Spice Girls, we’re so proud of our music, so to see it in a musical along with a brilliant story, is very exciting.”
How would you sum up the enduring popularity of the Spice Girls?
“They really are stand out brilliant pop songs that everyone can sing and dance along to and we do feel very proud of those.”
Don’t Stop Believing airs at 7pm on Sundays from 18th July 2010.
