Meeting Take That – My Greatest Day
On Wednesday 29th October 2008 I met Take That for the first time. I wasn’t a huge Take That fan the first time round, although I did have their albums and will admit I was upset when they announced their split in 1996 as they were always a cut above other Boybands.
When they announced their reunion tour in 2005 I was there first night of the tour in Newcastle to witness a moment in pop history. From that moment on I decided I wanted to meet them in person. When I heard on Key 103 Radio that Take That were going to be live on the breakfast show on Wednesday 29th October promoting their new single ‘Greatest Day’ and the forthcoming stadium tour I decided that was my chance to see them.
Key 103 Radio is situated at Castle Quay in Manchester City Centre and together with a friend we braved the artic conditions that morning and arrived at the studio at 7am and it was quite literally freezing. Barriers had been erected to provide TT with a walk way, with the fans on the other side and security had been drafted in. We hadn’t been there too long when to add to the freezing weather snow started to fall. Key 103 staff seized this opportunity for some free advertising and started handing out golf umbrellas to those of us waiting. Never one to turn a freebie down I made sure I got one. I also got that day a mouse mat and window sticker.
At 8am TT arrived with their entourage in two blacked out Mercedes people carriers. They were really friendly to everyone on the way in, stopping to sign autographs and pose for photos. They didn’t shatter my illusion and they are genuinely really nice guys. I’d gone prepared with my headphones for my mobile phone so I could listen to the interview through my mobile radio. After the interview was over they came back out and spent time again with the fans, I got a photo with Howard which made the whole morning worth while.
Not being content with having seen them at Key 103 we decided to go to Century Radio at Salford Quays where TT were next heading for another interview. I wasn’t sure on the way so decided the best thing to do was follow them!!! This idea resulted in some very dodgy driving; I couldn’t pull out behind them at Key 103 so I set off first and pulled over in a side road until they came out. My only way to get behind them was to push in to the traffic and I cut up a Land Rover whose driver was not happy and beeped rather a lot at me – did they not realise who was in front of them?! I successfully managed to keep behind them all the way, although this did involve some slight speeding and jumping amber lights.
Safely arriving at Century Radio, which is in a glass building, where I think most staff in the building where at the windows watching, TT went straight in. On their way out later they stopped again to see the fans and I got a photo with Mark.
We didn’t know what or where they were going next so decided to follow them and find out. Again this resulted in some very bad driving on my part and I even jumped a red light at one point so as not to lose them. We ended up at Lancashire County Cricket Ground after which time I didn’t see them again. They got directed through to an area I couldn’t access as I was directed to the main carpark. I have no idea how long they stayed there but after waiting around about an hour we decided to leave.
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