Hitting rock bottom is never easy. You’re out of work, you have no prospects, and things aren’t looking up. But it takes a particular person that has the desire and the will to pick themselves up and turn their life around. Comedian Ian Royce speaks to Jason Bourne about his departure from talkSPORT and how he is now working across the world with some of the biggest names in entertainment.
Ian had spent most of his time working as a stand-up comedian at various venues around London as well as a warm-up act at television recordings. But he was bitten by the radio bug after a meeting with treasured friend Ian Collins, who was, at the time, presenting the Creatures of the Night show on talkSPORT. It wasn’t long afterwards that Ian was asked to fill-in on the show and other presenters on the station. He says: “I loved to fill in for Ian as I felt it is just a continuation of his show. Mike Dickin's mid-morning phone-in slot was fun and despite only two months experience in radio, I was filling in on a major day time slot.”
They say, however, that a week is a long time in politics and a similar phrase could be coined for the broadcast industry. By the end of 2003, Ian had made his final appearance on talkSPORT and despite immense support from management, he understood why he was taken off the airwaves. Ian says: “I think I may have been naïve and a little inexperienced in life itself to work on a leading talk station. I made some mistakes and some right howlers but, in the main, the bosses were very supportive but I suppose they can only hold you up for so long.”
Ian didn’t take his parting of ways with talkSPORT well at all. Claiming to hit rock bottom in his life, he didn’t know what to do or where to turn. But he managed to go full-circle and says he now finds himself busier than he’s ever been: “My career took somewhat of a downturn. After a while though, I picked myself up, brushed myself down and set off at a walking pace. Slowly, things improved and now I find myself as busy as ever.”
Simon Cowell is one of the key reasons as to why Ian is now busier than ever. Working as a warm-up act at the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, he still has to remind himself where he is. Ian says: “I still have to pinch myself to realise I’m part of them. I recently returned from the US where I warmed up the audiences on America’s Got Talent which toured every major city. They’re amazing shows and love being part of it all.”
Cowell’s off-camera persona is exactly the same as he is front of it, according to Ian, and is the ultimate professional unable to suffer fools lightly. He says: “I first met Simon on his first Pop Idol gig and we got on straight away. I think he found me amusing as I would take the piss out of the judges as well as him. He likes straight talking people and, I guess, the relationship was formed from that moment.
“I know what he wants from his audiences and I go to extreme lengths to reach his expectations. On many other shows, the warm-up is treated like the lowest on the list but this isn’t the case with Simon. He treats you with respect, honesty and as part of the team. He makes you want to work for him and to reach heights never reached before in every area of television. Simon has a knack of making you feel like the most important person in the world and I find that truly remarkable because it brings the best out of you.”
Describing his current line of work as the “greatest thing in the world”, Ian has also brushed shoulders with star names He says: “I made the Rugby World Cup winners laugh on their return to England and the same of the European Ryder Cup Team. I’ve stood on stage with Celine Dion and had ten-minutes of pure surrealism and worked on Parkinson and Jonathan Ross’ show, meeting some of the biggest stars in the world.
“I also work with the very best producers at Talkback Thames, who are headed up by Lorraine Heggessey with Richard Holloway
and Andrew Linares, as well as all the bosses from ITV, who seem to be changing all the time. And the best bit is I get paid for it. Am I happy? Without question. I wouldn't change a thing.”
Despite his current success, Ian doesn’t rule out a return to radio and feels he’s in a better place to be able to produce the very best in conversation. He says: “I would love a return to radio, but it would have to be a little more structured than a phone call two hours before going live. I loved my time at talkSPORT and learnt a huge amount from everyone there so, yes, I would return to radio as I feel I’m ready should the opportunity arise.”
Ian’s career has gone full circle since leaving talkSPORT and now appears to be on the crest of wave working with star names and enjoying life to the full. Simon Cowell appears to be one of the key reasons for this and despite the love-hate relationship he has with viewers, Ian firmly remains behind his friend in his quest for success. But will Ian grace the radio airwaves once again? Only time will tell.
Reintroducing: Ian Royce
The Ian Royce Experience
June 2008 |
