EXCLUSIVE
“I nonetheless keep in mind being taken by my mum and pop right into a TV studio to Zig & Zag and The Tarax Present with Comfortable Hammond. I keep in mind the joy of being in a TV studio, and whilst a child of possibly six or seven, I knew that by some means I needed to be concerned in that world,” says Peter Ford.
“I didn’t understand how I used to be going to make that occur, however I knew that by some means or different, that was the one place that I wished to be turning up for work each day.”
It was a want that got here to be realised, tenfold. Subsequent 12 months Ford clocks up his tenth 12 months on The Morning Present as every day leisure commentator after an invite by Director of Morning TV Sarah Stinson. He’s had for much longer as a part of Dawn, for which he nonetheless information, together with a string of radio commitments across the nation.
2025 may even mark his thirty ninth 12 months on air and round 45 in showbiz.
“The primary time I ever really appeared on TV doing a kind of segments, which I feel would equate to the thirty ninth 12 months is was really on the Noon present. Bert was visitor internet hosting – I assume for Ray Martin, I’m not 100% sure- and he requested me to come back on as a visitor.”
Ford had already been behind the scenes producing each tv -originally for Good Morning Australia with Kerry-Anne Kennerley and Gordon Elliot- and radio, which is satisfied put him in good stead for his present commentary function.
“I’m all the time considering ‘Is that good for the present?”
“Even right this moment, I feel extra like a producer, somewhat than on-air expertise, I’m all the time considering ‘Is that good for the present? Is that crap for the present?’ I assume that’s why most likely too typically I supply my opinions to the producers of the exhibits I’m engaged on,” he suggests.
“With The Morning Present I do the most important crosses within the morning at about 9:25 which is an extended one, however then I do one other one at about 11:20, which clearly subsequent 12 months will grow to be nearer to 12 midday (as a result of present extending). However the major function of that cross is to trip the present, in order that if a visitor has dropped out, or if a section has proved to be a dud, they will level to me and say, ‘Proper, we’d like 50 seconds’, or ‘We’d like six minutes’, and I may give them no matter they need. In order that’s helpful for any producer making an attempt to get a present to air and time it out efficiently.”
Framing leisure tales for a broad viewers is certainly one of Ford’s expertise, in addition to having the ability to advert lib on a given subject, important in Reside tv.
“On the events via the years the place I’ve had to make use of autocue, I’m like one thing out of the Thunderbirds. I simply can’t do it efficiently or convincingly. Individuals know I’m there studying one thing off a monitor. However in the case of simply speaking naturally, being entertaining and delivering a narrative, that I can do fairly nicely. ….however that’s about the one present that God has ever given me!” he laughs.
“I’ve lived via a variety of that stuff, been a part of it, or labored first hand in it”
“I attempt to do not forget that I’m not doing experiences for folks within the trade. I’m doing it for the punters at residence. I’m fortunate that I’ve acquired a terrific recall of historical past and being of considerably mature years now myself, I’ve lived via a variety of that stuff, been a part of it, or labored first hand in it or close to it.
“I’m additionally fairly life like in regards to the trade, and I’m not fawning over celebrities. I’m not making an attempt to make movie star associates. I’m not making an attempt to get first night time invites, not making an attempt to go on junkets to abroad to speak to celebrities. I’m simply calling it as it’s.”
Whereas Ford has arguably among the finest contact books within the biz, breaking tales has shifted in recent times. While he loves his showbiz historical past, he’s additionally needed to transfer with the occasions, if considerably begrudgingly.
“I’m the primary to confess it’s a lot, a lot tougher to interrupt information lately, as a result of every part is on-line immediately. I feel within the final 15 years or so, my function has grow to be far more certainly one of commentary and evaluation, and fortunately, I’ve acquired that sense of historical past and lived expertise to name upon,” he explains.
“I’ve to just accept that occasions have modified, that celebrities have modified”
“To be trustworthy I’ve acquired to all the time battle to remain present. You’ll be able to’t reside previously. The issues that I grew up with and located entertaining and was enchanted by, are a very long time in the past now. I’ve to just accept that occasions have modified, that celebrities have modified. That’s to not say you possibly can’t take a look at the previous and nonetheless find it irresistible and respect it. I received’t lie, I discover it very onerous to get excited speaking about TikTok stars or influencers, however they’re a part of the cycle now, and I’ve to provide these folks due recognition inside the confines of what I do.”
In recent times there have been evolving tales of celebrities falling from grace, office tradition revelations -including at Seven, 9, ABC- and legally delicate circumstances. Leisure reporting in 2024 is not simply which star is relationship whom, or who made probably the most on the Field Workplace on the weekend. Ford concedes to being within the crosshairs of social media at occasions.
“Individuals have come after me, notably on Twitter. I’ve had some fairly tough issues written about me. I haven’t favored it however I haven’t sued anyone. I are likely to work on the idea for those who dish it out, you’ve acquired to take it, when it comes again your approach.”
“Individuals might imagine I’m a bit obsessive about them”
Unexpectedly, he additionally maintains Harry & Meghan should not favorite speaking factors.
“Individuals might imagine I’m a bit obsessive about them. I’m not. I really feel very sorry for him, really. I feel he might reside to remorse the trail that he’s taken, however I’ve been, I assume, vocal about the best way they’ve performed themselves. However they’re celebrities of the day. In the event that they stop to promote, in the event that they stop to be of curiosity to the viewers, I’m going to cease speaking about them fairly rapidly…. I feel even now, the curiosity in them has waned enormously. I feel they’re far much less related or fascinating or newsworthy now, except they do one thing. I imply, for the reason that ebook Spare, what else is there to be mentioned?”
Ford’s day begins at 5am, scouring in a single day information for his first radio cross at 6:30am. Mornings are frenetic with radio crosses, liaising tales and photographs with tv producers, and attending to Seven’s Melbourne HQ for The Morning Present.
Most radio producers belief him to steer the subjects, which might fluctuate from station to station, whereas The Morning Present likes onerous information, present stars and the odd contact of nostalgia. Ford’s rapport with hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies is clear, and he’s an enormous fan of their chemistry.
“It’s virtually grow to be that you may’t say Larry with out Kylie”
“They’re fairly distinctive. TV duos are individuals who simply merely play off one another. You’ll be able to’t say Bert with out Patti you possibly can’t say Ernie with out Denise and it’s virtually grow to be that you may’t say Larry with out Kylie, as a result of they simply personal that timeslot,” he observes.
“They’re so good at it and I say that as someone who labored with Ernie & Denise and with Bert & Patti. Bert was Larry’s largest fan, so that you don’t get an even bigger praise than that.
“I don’t perceive why 9 appear to be virtually complacent about the truth that they arrive in second continuously in breakfast and mornings. It appears odd to me that they’re keen to just accept that and don’t make any modifications, however that’s for them to cope with. The Morning Present is continually primary. It’s a mix of Larry and Kylie and the truth that it’s so nicely produced by Chloe Flynn as EP.”
2025 won’t be with out some changes, with Ford planning extra worldwide journey. With a every day tv dedication at Seven, he’s needed to embrace additional modifications to be able to file remotely.
“Accessing studios will not be as easy and as economical because it as soon as was. So if you wish to be on the highway, you’ve acquired to have that choice now to arrange your individual system and go reside. I haven’t completed it but, however I’ve acquired all of the tools, and I’ve taken one lesson on easy methods to do it. I feel I’m going to wish a couple of extra,” he admits.
“I hope I don’t keep too lengthy on the truthful. There’s nothing sadder than when that occurs, however you’ve acquired to roll and alter with the occasions. Throughout COVID, I swore that I used to be by no means going to do FaceTime or Zoom as a result of everybody appears to be like like they’re gravely in poor health, and the audio is normally horrible. However I’ve simply spent a few thousand on getting a set as much as do it with high quality.
“When the day comes that I debut my very first FaceTime or Zoom cross, I might be taking a look at it very, very judiciously!”
“I’m most likely heading in direction of my final lap”
And when the time involves retreat even additional the joys of the chase of a information story might not fade quietly.
“I’m most likely heading in direction of my final lap however I’m very content material and completely happy. They deal with me nicely. I’ve acquired no complaints in any respect. I’m not in search of the rest. That’s to not say, if different alternatives didn’t come alongside, I wouldn’t take a look at them. However I’m very proud of my lot. In spite of everything these years of doing it, I nonetheless take pleasure in doing it. Sooner or later, I’m clearly going to have to regulate to the actual fact I’m not doing it. I by no means thought I’d be the form of one who may work half time, however in the previous few years, I’ve been residing extra within the nation, and that’s actually helped me to calm down,” says Ford.
“I’m most likely at some extent the place, in a 12 months or possibly two, I may possibly do two or three days per week, however not the every day grind. I can see the ending put up for that within the distance, however I’m not fairly prepared for it but. That might be an enormous adjustment for me when the day comes.”
The Morning Present 9:10am weekdays on Seven.
