I Am June Sarpong...
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The presenter on living it up in LA and being awarded an MBE…
heat: You are a woman with many talents. One minute you’re doing T4, the next minute you’re on question time! You’ve got your own politics website; there is a lot to the lady that is June Sarpong. What was it like being on Question Time?
June Sarpong: I’m a Gemini and we all like a bit of multi-tasking. I really enjoyed it, I’ve been fascinated by politics from childhood. I’m kind of a bit of a geek really, so it was nice to show my geeky side.
h: You also famously spent two days following Tony Blair for ‘When Tony Met June.’ How did that come about? Were you nervous before? Was he like you expected?
J: Well, I sort of knew them…
h: You can’t just say this and carry on! How did you know him?
J: It sounds so name-droppy and I hate all that sort of stuff. It’s so not that, but I did know them. I just thought it would be really good to do something, because in real life, he has a sense of humour that people never got to see. I thought it would be really good to do a programme where you got to see that side of him. And also to lift the lid on what that job is all about and how it affects us all. So I asked them; at first they were quite apprehensive. Then I stalked, and luckily they said yes.
h: Any secrets of Tony’s you can divulge?
J: There was this event out here the other day and he told the funniest story. Basically, when the movie The Queen came out, he was saying he hasn’t seen the movie, so everyone was asking him why he hadn’t seen it since there’s so much of him in there. He said ‘I went for Tea with the Queen – as you do – and she looked at me and said [putting on her best posh English accent] “oh, there’s movie” so I said “yes.” She said, “Have you seen it?” so I replied “no, not yet” and she said “well, I don’t think I will”’ [Laughs] so at that moment he got the hint!
h: Let’s talk about your family. You’re parents are both from Ghana and lived out there for a couple of years. Do you remember the experience?
J: Yeah I do, I was a toddler. Then there was a coup which happened in 1984 I think. So we had to leave, as many people did. We went from having a very glamorous rich life in Ghana, to living in a Council Estate in East London with nothing. I really respect my parents for starting again, having to rebuild their life, but as a result I grew up in Walthamstow on a council estate and loved it. I loved the idea of coming from somewhere like that, and know you’ve built stuff yourself. I still have loads of friends in Walthamstow, and I feel very much an East Londoner.
h: What songs did your parents play when you were a child?
J: Cool & The Gang – Get Down On It.
h: They’re much cooler than mine – they played Barbara Streisand!
J: I think every parent played Babs! We all love Babs. But the family favourite was definitely Cool & The Gang cos I have a lot of cousins, to the extent that when you date a Ghanaian you have to be careful you’re not related! [Laughs] They would do these parties where, so my cousins and I would have to dance to compete with each other. And the winner would get a pound. And I never won! My cousin Sharon is the best dancer in the world so she’d do all these break dancing moves and I never beat her.
h: Is your dancing worth a pound nowadays or not?
J: Well, 50p at least! [Laughs]
h: What was it like at school? Did you notice a difference growing up as a second generation immigrant?
J: What I loved about my school was that it was the best school in the area. So all of the middle-class guilty parents who didn’t want to send their kids to private school sent their kids to our school and then you had the locals kids like me from the area. It’s a really multi cultural place in London, it’s very very diverse. I had friends from all backgrounds, so I’ve always lived in a way which has different cultures. It’s just what I know and love, so that really helped. So I didn’t encounter any obvious racism growing up, not at all. I’ve encountered it later in life, but definitely not as a young child and I thank god that I didn’t, because I don’t have any lasting wounds. I have friends who grew up where they were the only Asian kid or Black kid were picked on and teased; those wounds are still there even in their adult life. In my area you had cockney kids, Muslim kids, the local Chinese shop; it was so multi cultural and I love that.
h: What was your mum like? Did she give you any good advice growing up? Or did she tell you off all the time for wearing too much make up?
J: I was never allowed to wear make up! African families are hardcore! [Laughs] It was all ‘education, education.’ If you didn’t bring home an A then there was trouble…that’s why I’m still traumatised!
h: Your parents split up when you were quite young, and your dad and brother moved to America. Was it difficult to cope with them being so far away?
J: Not really, I mean I wouldn’t want that for my own children because at the end of the day we grew up in different countries, but all of my summers were spent in America. So I know the states really well, and my dad remarried an American, so we then have the American side of the family. I think as a result we made more of an effort, so I spoke to my dad and brother everyday, and saw them every holiday. So it wasn’t a major trauma.
h: Was there a song from then which whenever you heard it would remind you of being in America in the summer?
J: Kim Wilde – We’re The kids Of America. I wanted to be an American – I thought I was Kim! Kim was jealous when she heard me sing! [Laughs]
h: As kids, did you and your sisters get on? Did you fight?
J: No, we didn’t get on at all! I was a really precocious child; I was one of those awful little sisters who would grass on you and get you into trouble. No I wasn’t nice, but I became nice.
h: SO when you weren’t nice, what did you do? What did you fight about?
J: I’d wear all my sister’s clothes; my sisters a lot older than me, so once she started shopping and buying nice things for herself, I’d sneak in and steal them all. I’d grass on my brother, because he moved when he was 10, and if he stayed out late, I’d grass up him to my mum. I remember going into his room, playing with all his computer games, and he didn’t want me to touch any of his stuff.
h: Which song when you instantly hear it reminds you of your siblings?
J: The Jackson Five – I’ll be There. We’re very close, and I know that no matter what goes wrong, they’ll always be there for me.
h: What were you like as a teenager – was there a particular pop star on your walls?
J: I was weird because I loved the cool stuff and the naff stuff. So I loved Rick Astley, Chesney Hawkes – The One and only! I met Chesney Hawkes when I was in London, and I was so excited! He looks exactly the same; he’s still got that mole. I loved Bobby Brown, I kind of liked them all, but I didn’t lust after pop stars. I was more practical and lusted after real boys in my neighbourhood. There was a boy called Stephen Slingoe, who I was madly in love with who dumped me a million times.
h: Have you ever seen him since?
J: I saw him once when we were about 17 or 18, and I didn’t fancy him anymore!
h: So he hasn’t tried to contact you on facebook then?
J: Nah, I’m not on facebook. There’s a few people pretending to be me, but they’re not real.
h: One of the defining moments of your teenage years is when you were knocked down by a car. You were in hospital for 18 months?
J: I was in hospital for just under a year, and then it was another two years after that to fully recover. It kind of took three years out of my life. I think that’s why I didn’t get involved in the normal teenage stuff really; I would have otherwise. I was definitely the kid who hung out with the cool crowd. I was still friends with the nerds, and I loved them because deep down I am a nerd, but I was definitely part of the gang. I’m sure that if the accident hadn’t happened I’d be doing drugs, sex much earlier; doing everything my friends were doing. It took all of that out, and by the time I got better, I was 18 or 19 I was just too old to start going down that road. Then I started working at Kiss, where there were so much drugs and excess all round, but I knew it wasn’t for me. I didn’t judge anyone, I didn’t say ‘don’t do it’ I didn’t really care what anyone else was doing; it just wasn’t for me. The accident made me much more focused.
h: Was there a song or band you remember listening to around that time?
J: Gloria Gaynor – I will Survive! [Laughs]
h: Any backstage secrets you can divulge from your T4 days?
J: Loads! Dermot [O’Leary] is very serious and conscientious. The rest of us would have a laugh and sort of suck it and see what happens, whereas Derm is really prepared – he knows every word on that script and re-written it 5 times! So whenever anything would go wrong, he would hit his head on the clipboard! Whereas Vernon is the total opposite; he won’t even look at the script until the camera’s rolling! He’s forever playing practical jokes; he’s always mooning or squirting you with a water gun, or getting his bits out – all very wrong! I’ve seen him naked far too many times!
h: Who was your ultimate favourite musical guest on the show?
J: Well my ultimate favourite guest period is Will Smith. I love that guy, he is the ultimate superstar. He’s so nice and charming, remembers everybody’s name, and he’s just a cool dude. Will Smith – Summertime.
h: Is there anyone who’s been your worst musical guest?
J: Avril Lavigne. A complete nightmare. We’ve had her on maybe four times – every time she’s totally miserable, doesn’t talk to anyone, pouts the whole time. That sort of teenage sulky angst. She’s not much fun.
h: You’ve done a lot of charity work and have got an MBE which is amazing! What made you get involved in charity?
J: Without being to worthy and earnest, I do think it’s growing up where I did [which made me get involved]. I grew up in quite a poor area, my parents were education-focused; my brothers and sisters knew we had to do well, we had no choice as it were. But there were so many people I grew up with who were talented, much smarter than I who didn’t do well because no-one ever encouraged them. I hate injustice and unfairness so that’s what’s always made me want to get involved. I think it puts things in perspective; you’re less likely to worry about your heel breaking or having a spot.
h: So you were awarded your MBE in 2007 for your services to charity. Can you describe the minute when you found out?
J: I was on holiday in Malaysia and my agent called me saying ‘OH MY GOD, you’re not going to believe this! You’ve been given an MBE on the Queen’s New Years Honours List. Will you accept?’ Of course I would accept! So I was with a group of people having dinner, and I know this is going to sound wanky, but I was actually having dinner at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Malaysia. [Laughs]
h: How on earth did you decide what to wear when you collected it?
J: I have a very lovely stylist called Robert and I was so nervous I didn’t actually want anything to do with the clothes. So Robert went and chose the most beautiful white Armani custom-made fitted suit with a black blouse and Christian Louboutin made me shoes – it was one of those days where I was really spoilt. Then Philip Tracey gave me a fabulous hat and got to borrow loads of diamonds so it was a fun day. I had security guards with me for the diamonds but they ripped them off me as soon as it was over!
h: So you’re out in LA now, what made you move out there? It’s quite a big deal, even though you’ve got family there.
J: I was talking to Cat [Deeley] the other day about it and we were both in that same in that we didn’t have kids, we didn’t have responsibilities and if you don’t do it now, then you’re probably never going to do it. If I’d left it maybe two years later I would never have done it. The UK will always be home so if it didn’t work out here I’d just come home with my tail between my legs. I’m really enjoying it, I come home a lot, but it made sense to do it now.
h: Is there a song you hear which reminds you of London?
J: Oh yeah, Lily Allen – LDN.
h: Has it been difficult or easy making friends out there?
J: I think it’s much easier to make friends in LA than it is in London. London is very cliquey; people tend to hang out in whatever group they’re in. Londoners in general aren’t very welcoming to strangers. Brits are much more cynical, but the good thing is that it’s genuine, so once you become mates with someone back home, it’s a real friendship. Whereas here it’s all a bit phoney, but people are very, very friendly. It’s been very easy in the sense that I’m not lonely; I get invited great dinner and meet loads of amazing people. When you’re new in town people want to welcome you and take you under their wing.
h: Is there any one who you would really turn to out there?
J: I’m lucky I’ve got my family if I’m feeling homesick or whatever. For me I’m having a slightly different experience to the rest who are here purely for work.
h: Have there been any low points when you’ve been there?
J: When I packed up my house back home, it’s quite heart-wrenching. I cried the whole way on the plane. And Dev Patel was on my plane, sitting behind me – I hope he didn’t’ see me cry. He said he’d shot this film and he was going out to record some extra voice for the film. Then a few months later I’m watching the telly and he’s the biggest thing in Hollywood! But I did just cry the whole way – there were so many emotions going on.
h: Have you got a get out of bed tune for when you need a little bit of a boost?
J: I like [sings] “Let the sunshine” [laughs] that’s on my i-pod!
h: Just finally, you’re a real role model for young, sassy women who are clued up – who or what gives you strength?
J: For me, and I’m not in any way preaching, but I definitely believe in God, not in organised religion and I wouldn’t say I’m a Christian, but I’m much more spiritual. I definitely believe in a higher power and I meditate so do all that sort of Zen stuff. It really focuses me, and if I’m really stressed with work issues or just if you’re feeling a bit down in life. It keeps me focused and puts me back on track. I think especially in Britain we’re all anti all of that, and I think that before people are too quick to dismiss it, it’s not a bad idea to explore it and see then decide ok that’s not for you. I find for me it makes me so much happier, and actually scientifically they say that people who have some sort of faith typically are happier.
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