Steph McGovern feels ready for anything her new live show Steph’s Packed Lunch might throw at her, as her lockdown programme was so ‘stressful’.
The journalist filmed The Steph Show from her home during the height of the current health crisis and was joined by guests appearing remotely over Zoom.
She had to contend with unpredictable technology, and keeping things going on the fly as a one woman show.
Channel 4 decided to pause The Steph Show in April after lockdown went on for longer than they anticipated.
It has been relaunched as Steph’s Packed Lunch, broadcast from a studio live from Leeds rather than the presenter’s gaff, which she’s much happier about.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk and other press, she confessed she was ‘nervous’ but prepared for anything.
‘I’ve had dreams about everything going wrong, like what if no guests turn up or what if they start swearing on air. But that’s also why I love it.
‘I am an adrenaline junkie. I love live telly and pushing myself.
‘From doing it at home, that was the most stressful broadcasting I’ve ever done in my life. You’re relying solely on technology, and there were so many times where I didn’t even know if I was on telly or not any more. I felt like it was me chatting in my room and I didn’t know if there was anyone watching.
‘I feel like technically I’ve had the worst that could ever happen, and now I’m around people, I know that as long as I’m around people I’ll always be able to carry on talking.’
She added: ‘When your name’s on the tin there’s no one else to blame if it’s rubbish. If it’s rubbish, it’s my fault.’
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Steph will be joined by broadcaster Vogue Williams who will share what viewers are talking about each day.
Plus there will be various celebrity guests on hand to take a ‘sideways’ look at the latest news.
The former BBC Breakfast newsreader is happy to be able to welcome the rest of the country to Leeds.
‘It’s not gonna be “a northern programme”, we’re still gonna be talking to the nation,’ Steph explained, ‘but it will have a northern feel essentially, which to me is inclusive, warm and cheeky and that’s why I’m glad it’s coming from up here.’
Steph’s Packed Lunch starts September 14 at 12.30pm on Channel 4.
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