UK TV  BBC1

THE WOGAN SHOW

8th November, 1991

Neil made his second appearance on the Terry Wogan Show in November of this year. Terry was on holiday and the show was hosted that week by Selina Scott.

As far as we know there was no audience present for the recording.

SS - You're fifty aren't you?

ND - Yes, I'm sorry to say.

SS - You're sorry to say? Has it affected you deeply being fifty.

ND - Well I actually did skip this birthday. Maybe the next one will be easier. But I never thought I'd reach this age because as I say George Gershwin was the hero in Brooklyn and he unfortunately died very young. He died at 37 and I always thought while I was writing, if I could only get a little bit past George Gershwin I'd be very happy. So when I passed him I thought this is all gravy so I'm actually very happy.

SS - So it's a celebration - 50 years old? I'm glad to hear it.

ND - Yes.

SS - We all grow a little bit older and the years go by. Because 50 years old tends to mean to me Oh it's another step to middle age isn't it?

ND - Well it's middle age and beyond and beyond.

ND - No not at all - and I never do eat frogs' legs either.

ND - Yes I do have a passion for motor bikes?

SS - Do you go fast on them?

ND  - No I go the same speed as the other traffic. I'm not one of these delivery services in London - I don't know how they survive.  But once a year I go with a group of friends of mine. We go out west. We start in Colorado. This year we did it in August and we went through six states about three thousand miles, where there is no traffic. We go on highways that are unused, through farmlands and through Indian reservations. We stay wherever they will take us or we sleep out under the stars and it is a wonderful experience - it's a great change. The motorcycle is a friend, you depend on it very heavily. I love riding. It is one of my real vices.

SS - Now I've been admiring that shirt of yours and someone offset tells me I should admire it even more. Why I should admire it a lot?

ND - Well this shirt will be auctioned November 22nd for the Children In Need benefit. Gloria Hunniford will I believe do the auctioning.  She asked me for it and I was very happy to give it to her. So somebody will get it. It was made for me and so I'd be very happy to auction it off and hopefully help some Children In Need.