BBC Interview

 

She's hosted Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game and presented Come Dancing, and at the moment Rosemarie Ford is roving reporter on Rolf's Amazing World Of Animals. But the woman who says Brucie made her laugh so much he gave her wrinkles, has talents which go far beyond TV. She's also trod the boards in the West End, sung in Royal Variety shows, and she's even released her own album - 1991's I Wanna Dance With Somebody.


Is there a Rosemarie Ford fan club?
(Gilbert Koningstein, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Not at the moment. I deal with everything myself - which means I'm sometimes late getting back to people, but I always do get back to them.

How long did it take to become an "overnight success"?
(Peter Milne, Fareham)
Well, I've been dancing from the age of eight and I was on television in children's programmes until I was 14, then I danced on loads of shows - Morecambe and Wise and various Brucie shows. But I was 28 before I got the Generation Game - so it's taken many years!

Do you find your TV work fulfilling, bearing in mind its lighthearted nature, or would you like to move on to something more serious?
(Liz Bryant, Chippenham, Wiltshire)
I enjoy what I do because it's so diverse. I still do theatre and that's more serious. But the programme I do with Rolf Harris is light but it's got a serious aspect too.

Which of your TV programmes have you enjoyed the most?
It's hard to choose because I enjoy them all immensely but on balance it would have to be The Generation Game. Five years of my life and I've laughed all the time! I've got so many more wrinkles in those five years but they're laughter lines - Bruce has made me laugh so much.

You've made one record album. Do you have any plans to do more singing?
I'd like to do more. Making an album whilst doing the Generation Game would be feasible but the public might think it odd if the person who does the animal programme suddenly released a record. Singing is very important to me. I keep my voice in training as I do my body. I sing in my cabaret act - I've performed it on the QE2.

Who is your favourite singer/musician?
Celine Dion, without a doubt. I like classical piano music too - Rachmaninov particularly.

What do you hope to be doing in five years time?
Surviving. I'd be happy as I am now, working on lots of different projects but with the time to do my own things - although at the moment my own thing is painting window frames in my home. They have very small panes of glass and its really fiddly but I love it!

She's hosted Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game and presented Come Dancing, and at the moment Rosemarie Ford is roving reporter on Rolf's Amazing World Of Animals. But the woman who says Brucie made her laugh so much he gave her wrinkles, has talents which go far beyond TV. She's also trod the boards in the West End, sung in Royal Variety shows, and she's even released her own album - 1991's I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

Do you have any unfulfilled career ambitions?
I just want to carry on working - carry on doing what I do. I hope to carry on working with Rolf and I do hope Come Dancing is still going strong. I'll do anything provided I enjoy it. There's a possibility I might do some more theatre. Movies would be great of course but I don't put myself out there for them.

Have you always wanted to be a performer?
Yes - from the moment I took my first dancing lessons I never wanted to do anything else. I went to a local dancing school in Leeds, took my exams when I was 16 or 17 then came down to London as soon as I could to get on stage.

Do you use the Internet? If so, do you have a favourite website.
I'm not that brilliant with a computer, to be honest - but I am starting. Somebody has done a website for me, which I find incredibly flattering.

What interests do you have away from your work?
I enjoy decorating actually, although I'm as likely to get paint on me as where it's meant to go! I like going out on my bike and I love my animals - I have two dogs. I've always been around dogs: my dad used to breed show corgis.

What three things would you take to a desert island?
My dogs - I hope they can just count as one thing. Pictures of family and friends. And an old teddy given to me years ago.

What are you doing on Millennium Eve?
I should start planning that, I expect - it'll be upon us before we know it. I'll almost certainly be with family and friends. I won't be in Trafalgar Square or by Big Ben, that's for sure.