Jono and the Breakfast Crew

This is a Stephen interview from Heart fm (Thanx HILARY!). Stephen is in blue, Jono is in red and Erica (the other presenter) is in pink

The interview starts with lots of cheering as Stephen is welcomed on as the guest.

Stephen, it's the first of May today. How's the year been going so far?

It's been mad, very busy. The start was a bit of a weird one and, erm, evened out for a bit during March and now April's a bit hectic.

So, you're cruising now cos your single came out yesterday, Stay, whooo, exciting!

Which we're gonna play and it's one of the first plays it's had on the radio and so we're very excited about that

(Stephen laughs)

Um, what about what Ronan's been saying about the goings on with Boyzone?

Is it true that it's over?

I don't know. I still haven't spoken to Ronan actually. He left a message and I said I'd give him a call, but I really have to give him a call.

You enjoyed the time in Boyzone though, didn't you?

It was fantastic, great. I'm enjoying this now but it's more work and every question is directed at me.

Is it weird being out on your own after having the band behind you and now all of a sudden you're out on stage and it's just you?

Well you've either got the band or you've got dancers, but I miss the laughs, the jokes, Keith pinching your bum, or else grabbing your crotch, you know.

Is that what it was like in Boyzone?

Not all the time. Sometimes, yeah definitely.

Now I saw you on Jack Dee's show (see the show here), I think, on TV the other night. Saturday night, my sad night in. But, um, I thought it was very good. I love Jack Dee anyway. It was quite brave of you to sit in the barber's chair and he could just say anything he wanted and if things got a bit manic, you could press the button and stop it, but as long as you kept going it meant they could show the video of Stay.

As long as I could get the plug in, you know, I wasn't pressing that button! (laughs) And I did press it just afterwards to see that it worked and it did.

And you were on another channel on Saturday night at almost the same time, with the very famous clip that's been shown so many times on telly now.

I love that clip.

Was that the one from the Gay Byrne show? The Late Late Show?

Yeah.

Well, explain to them what the clip is about for those who haven't seen it.

Well, it was Boyzone's girst ever TV appearance and it's just them, well, dancing basically. You looked fantastic!

Yeah, well, we'd only been together 24 hours, never been on TV in my life and we were just thrown on.

They actually played a music track and you guys danced to it, didn't they?

Oh, it was hilarious! It was brilliant. I wish I had that body now!

Who was the best dancer do you think?

Me! Me, me, me! I was the only dancer! (laughs)

Well I think that Ronan has proved that many times! I want to ask you about the clip of you singing and dancing with the new video cos you're like Britney Spears in this one.

Stephen Spears.

Stephen Spears.

Britney Gately (laughs)

Well, listen, we can dance along with this one. This is the first time we've ever played this. It's the brand new single that came out yesterday. It's called Stay and it's Stephen Gately.

(Stay plays)

That's Stay by our guest Stephen Gately, which came out yesterday. It's quite good actually and does have that Britney-esque quality.

Yeah.

Is there any Britney connections there? Same producer, songwriter or anything like that?

We're the same person, me and Britney! It's like Michael and LaToya.

Yeah, never seen in the same place at the same time.

Now, you live in Amsterdam still, but I think you also have a place in Ireland?

In Ireland, yeah.

So how's your relationship going?

Very well. It's very nice. Eloy's in great form and probably in bed looking after the dogs and the cat.

Cos you've also got one of those robot dogs haven't you?

Yeah, Aibo, a Sony dog. He's cool, an entertainment robot and he's fantastic.

An entertainment robot?!?!?

Did you say he takes pictures?

He takes pictures and he paints his favourite colour. He's got this pink ball which he runs around with and goes crazy about.

Now we're talking about a sony robot dog that takes pictures. I'd be a bit worried about having a dog like that at my house and I'm sure Geri Halliwell will be a bit worried about having a dog like that.

The dogs don't do anything. They just look at it. It doesn't smell of anything so. . .

What about the taking pictures of parties and things like that? That could be a bit boring.

Yeah. . . But it's still brilliant!

I'm gonna go home now and train Jasper my cat to do it, but I can't see it happening somehow!

Okay, so do you still enjoy spending a bit of time in Ireland and in Amsterdam. Do you break it up between them?

Yeah, we break it up between them. Yesterday was Queen's Day in Amsterdam which, unfortunately I couldn't get home for. It would have been a nice, big, big, big celebration.

What day was it?

Queen's Day.

What? Was it like the Queen's birthday or something?

Exactly, that's what it is!

Mardi Gras in Sydney!

(Laughs) No, not like that!

(Next there is a bit of talk about how beautiful Erica looks today and how cool her Kangol cap is!)

Well, it's over to you Erica. I want you to get down to the deep basic answers!

You only get 60 seconds cos it's against the clock. Stephen are you ready? Your 60 seconds starts now. What's your favourite part of London?

Kings Road.

What shop could you live in if you had to choose one shop?

Selfridges.

Oh, lovely! Do you ever eat in McDonalds?

Yeah.

What do you have?

Big mac, large fries, and a strawberry milkshake.

What's your favourite vice?

Vice? Mmmm. . . I don't know.

Amsterdam!

Amsterdam (laughs)

Which movie character sums up your life?

Aladdin (laughs)

Ah. . . Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears?

Britney Spears.

Yeah, I'd go for Britney every time. Who do you currently have a crush on?

Um. . .

Oh Stephen!

Don't!

Oh Stephen!

Eloy!

Awww, that's lovely!

I dunno. (laughs)

Now don't lie!

I had to prod you a little bit there!

What's your idea of an ideal date?

A romantic dinner and just a video and bottle of wine.

Ah. . . How many times did you take your driving test?

Um, still haven't passed. I haven't done it actually!

Which TV show can you never miss?

Friends.

Yeah, Stephen Gately! How many did he answer then?

He did very well there- about 12.

It's the highest score. Is it official? Yes, it's 11, it's the highest score! Beating Geri Halliwell, who only answered 10, so congratulations! That means Stay will be a hit in the charts and it also takes you to the next level and means that you can play for the boys in the battle of the sexes!

(Next there is a quiz where he plays for the boys against Cherie, who plays for the girls. The quiz means that they are each asked questions about the opposite sex. Not surprisingly, Stephen is crap at it and loses! Also, when they are calling for heads or tails, Jono asks Stephen if he's a 'tails' man, to which Stephen says that Jono is definitely a 'heads' man!)

(And, at the end of the interview, Stephen says how he can't learn any languages cos he's crap at it. But he says he can speak Flemish though! The interview end with Stephen speaking about how he is off to film Absolutely Fabulous that afternoon. He says that he just plays himself and the role came about cos he is good friend with Jennifer Saunders and she rang him up and asked him to do it. Jono and Erica are VERY impressed to say the least!)