In conversation
Mel Giedroyc talks to Charlotte Oliver about filling her empty nest, reuniting on stage with Sue Perkins and getting to be the first woman to commentate on the final of the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK
Mel Giedroyc has many Eurovision memories: of Bucks Fizz, Katrina And The Waves and, of course, the UK’s infamous ‘nil point’ scores. She also remembers Terry Wogan’s barbed and brilliant commentary, until he passed the mantle to Graham Norton in 2009. Little did Mel know that, aged 54, she’d be following in Terry’s footsteps, making history as the first woman to commentate on a Grand Final for the UK.
‘It almost feels like this is the pinnacle of my career – everything will go downhill after this!’ laughs Mel, who has formed a ‘tag-team’ with Graham Norton for this year’s event in Liverpool, stepping in as commentator whenever he’s on stage presenting. ‘I feel like a mother hen, keeping the coop warm while Graham’s out there. I’m very proud that I’m the first woman in the commentary box. I think, “It’s 2023! Yes, this should be happening!”’
At home, she says, there’s been slightly less enthusiasm. ‘I’ve spent the past few months driving everyone mad,’ she laughs. ‘We have a big family WhatsApp group and, as I’ve been finding out what the songs are, I’ve been going, “Guys, Germany, this is one worth watching out for.” Everyone’s like, “Stop the commentary already, we get it!”’
SAVOURING SUCCESS
While Mel might consider this to be the pinnacle, her three-decade career in show business shows no sign of waning. Having first made a name for herself as one half of the comedy duo Mel and Sue, alongside best friend Sue Perkins, she’s gone on to prove herself as a West End sensation in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company; as a novelist with the release of her debut book, The Best Things; and as a sitcom star with Sue in the popular Sky One series Hitmen.
‘I feel incredibly lucky that I’ve had the chance to immerse myself in all these amazing things, and I don’t take it lightly,’ she says. ‘There have been a few times when I’ve thought, “How the hell am I here? Has nobody noticed yet? When are they going to tap me on the shoulder and ask me to leave?”’
Have her 50s afforded her slightly more confidence? ‘Yes, and you’ve used the right word – confidence,’ Mel agrees. ‘But I don’t ever want to feel smug – I still want to keep learning. I love learning from the young ’uns. I host a TV show called Unforgivable with Lou Sanders, who’s about 20 years younger than me, and it’s fantastic to chat with her about what the comedy circuit is like now.’
A GRAND REUNION
Mel met her long-time comedy partner, Sue, in a Cambridge University nigh
