CBeebies Mister Maker joins us for webchat, Tuesday 4 March, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted that Phil 'Mister Maker' Gallagher is joining us at MNHQ on Tuesday at 1pm for a webchat.

Phil has worked in children’s television for the last fifteen years as a production team member, writer, actor and presenter, most famously as Mister Maker in the BBC crafts show. Since its first transmission in 2007, Mister Maker has become a worldwide hit and now plays in over 100 countries around the globe. Phil spent most of last year working on its sixth series, Mister Maker Around The World – where filming took place in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa and Brazil.

This Easter Phil will be starring as Mister Maker in CBeebies Live! The Big Band, the new arena show that is touring around the UK. He’ll be appearing alongside Justin Fletcher, Mr Tumble, Mr Bloom and many other CBeebies favourites. Full details can be found at //www.cbeebieslive.com.

Come and chat to Phil on Tuesday 4 March at 1pm or post a question to him in advance here.

Ahead of the webchat we've got three great 'Mister Maker Make Sheets' for you to download and do ahead: Mister Maker's Flying Saucer, pencil case and Splatmonster.

[VelvetStrider]

My question is about the Doodle Drawers. All the materials you need seem to conveniently be located in the same few drawers. What would happen if you needed something from the very top drawer? How would you get it out? Or are some of the drawers............fake? How many of the Doodle Drawers are functional?

[DownstairsMixUp]

Ds has asked where he can get a funky polka dot waist coat from so he can look just like you?!

[leeloo1]

I came on to say 'please stop cutting a tiny shape out of the middle on a piece of expensive A4 paper' too.

My DS (now 5) has loved your show for a couple of years and its made him be much more creative, so thank you for all your good work. I'll ask him if he has a question when he's home from school...

ok... 5 hrs later... after saying "Is he really in real life?" and being persuaded he is, my DS asked "What do you like making best?"

[IPokedABadgerWithASpoon]

My 3 year old loves you too! as do I for the 5 minutes peace I get while you're on tv
He wants to ask you, which is your favourite shape? (he wants you to know his is square!) And what size are they really as they're little on the shelf/in the drawers and then big dancing next to people? I know he's asked you 2 questions there!

[Fakebook]

Hey Mister Maker!

You're a big star in our house; even my 76 year old dad is a big big fan .

I have a few questions:

1. What is the best and most memorable thing you've ever created on Mister Maker.
   

1. Are all the ideas on the programme your own? Or do you have magic helpers?
   

1. Have you ever NOT made anything in a minute during minute make time. My dd is telling me you didn't make anything in time once, is this true?!
   

Thanks :)

[sittingatmydesk]

We love Mr Maker in our house.

DS1 is 10 years old now, but still has a sneaky watch with his younger brother. We have Mr Maker box of stuff - if Mr Maker didn't exist, I'd never have heard of of air drying clay, or PVA glue.

My question is, do you keep all the stuff you make? You realise that we all have rooms full of pretend plates of food, and plastic spoon bugs?

[smallinthesmoke]

Hello
Please can I ask whether the actor who plays Mr Bloom actually has an RP accent in real life.
DD2 is watching it right now and I always wonder.
Thankyou!

[KnockMeDown]

Hi Mister Maker!

Your show has been my DD's, who is now almost 4, favourite since she was 2! Nowadays, unless it is bedtime and she is tired ( I have a selection recorded for these occasions), she doesn't watch for long, as she is instantly inspired to go and make her own creations

She is constantly raiding the recycling, and saying "I can make with that"!

My question is:- how do we get to see you live, on a minute make or similar? Do you have a list of when/where you will be filming?

[AliceMumsnet]

We're delighted to welcome Phil into MNHQ, he's arrived and ready to answer your questions

[PhilGallagher]

Hi Everyone, I'm at MNHQ, very excited and ready to answer your questions! Lots of love Mister M x

[PhilGallagher]

@sighbynight

You don't seem to have visibly aged in 15 years. What is your secret? Because you could make a fortune from that.

Hi Sighbynight, you are my favourite person in the whole world! It was my birthday yesterday so that is a lovely message to read. Sadly I have no secret.... maybe its the Kentish water!

[Janzen]

My 2 year old loves your show. He gets very excited when you run to the doodle drawers. I've thought about creating doodle drawers on my own, but never find the time. Have you ever thought of developing doodle drawers (on a smaller scale) for sale?

[PhilGallagher]

@Anonymai

I'd like to know whether Mr Maker has always been into arts and crafts or was it something he's got into since doing the show?

Hi Anonymai,

I’ve always loved making things – from a very young age. I used to make things with my Grandad, who was a very creative person – I think I get my love for arts and crafts from him. One of my most treasured possessions is a bug with googly eyes that I made with my Grandad about thirty years ago.

[PhilGallagher]

[Message edited by MNHQ to remove identifying info]

Hi TeamEdward, lovely to hear from you, I remember you! Do say hello to your little boy and tell him Mister Maker still thinks he's a superstar. Travel safe and maybe see you at Heston Services another day soon!

[figgypuddings]

Hello!
What has been your favourite make?

[PhilGallagher]

@pardonmytits

Ooh you are my nearly-3-year-old son's favourite. Seriously, we have a cupboard we call our Mister Maker cupboard full of boxes, bottles, yoghurt pots and the like, and he pretends to be you, searching through the doodle drawers and naming everything he picks up

My question: have you ever legit failed the minute make? ;)

Obviously our show isn’t "live" but that part of the programme is filmed "as live" for real – we have lots of people watching around the making table these days cheering me on too, so it all has to be made in a minute! We sometimes do have to film a Minute Make again for technical reasons – but for each make, I have practised it again and again against the clock, so I’m ready to go!

[PhilGallagher]

@Fakebook

Hey Mister Maker!

You're a big star in our house; even my 76 year old dad is a big big fan .

I have a few questions:

1. What is the best and most memorable thing you've ever created on Mister Maker.
   

1. Are all the ideas on the programme your own? Or do you have magic helpers?
   

1. Have you ever NOT made anything in a minute during minute make time. My dd is telling me you didn't make anything in time once, is this true?!
   

Thanks :)

Hi Fakebook.... and a big hello to your dad!

1. That's a tricky question and too difficult to pick just one. One of the first makes that I made was the Beans on Toast (kitchen sponge, tissue paper balls, gloopy glue and paint). I remember that one fondly.
   

1. We have an amazing art team that work on the show and support Mister Maker. It's a huge team effort including all our friends at CBeebies.
   

1. We've just talked about minute makes in pardonmytits's post so hopefully that answers your question
   

Best wishes and love to you and your DD

[badgerknowsbest]

My daughter absolutely loves your show she has sat and watched it from 6 months and always smiles when she sees your face and the shapes! She is 17 months now would there be any way of getting a signed photo?

[PhilGallagher]

@Sandydunes

Hi Mister Maker! My two kids both have big smiles on their faces when you appear on the tv. Unfortunately I am a failure when it comes to being a "crafty" mum. Have you any suggestions for idiot proof activities so that even a beginner like me can't mess up?
Thanks!

Firstly, you’re not messing anything up – I think there are no right and wrong answers with art. Plus, you want to make artwork with your children and that is a wonderful and beautiful thing, so please don’t put yourself down! One of my favourite makes that is supposed to be messy is the “Meal Monster”. Take some colourful wool or string and dunk it into gloopy glue (sorry, it is a messy one!) Place this on a paper plate and you can push in a plastic fork and paper/card eyes, teeth and a paper/card tongue. Leave everything to dry and it will look like a colourful spaghetti monster!

[PhilGallagher]

@Weliveinabeautifulworld

Ooh la la la la!!!

Wonderful singing – I think you should go on Britain’s Got Talent. I’ll ask The Shapes if they’re up for being your backing dancers!

[PhilGallagher]

@IPokedABadgerWithASpoon

My 3 year old loves you too! as do I for the 5 minutes peace I get while you're on tv
He wants to ask you, which is your favourite shape? (he wants you to know his is square!) And what size are they really as they're little on the shelf/in the drawers and then big dancing next to people? I know he's asked you 2 questions there!

Hi IPokedABadgerWithASpoon. The Shapes are huge in real life, in fact Rectangle is even taller than me! I can't pick a favourite Shape, but I would say that Circle is marginally the best dancer!!

[PhilGallagher]

@aglaranna

We love your shows!

After careful consideration, my 5 year old son asks "please Mister Maker, what is your favourite colour- mine is red. And blue. And green. And have you ever cut yourself with scissors? Because scissors are sharp!"

(sorry that was two questions)

Hi aglaranna,

Favourite colour is a tricky one… I support Gillingham F.C. (blue shirts) so it has to be blue really.

…And your son sounds like a very sensible little chap. I haven’t cut myself with the scissors on Mister Maker yet…but I do often get my fingers stuck in the little handles as I use Kids’ scissors!!!

[NumTumDeDum]

Hi Phil, who are the Shapes? Or are their identities closely guarded like The Stig?

[PhilGallagher]

@sittingatmydesk

We love Mr Maker in our house.

DS1 is 10 years old now, but still has a sneaky watch with his younger brother. We have Mr Maker box of stuff - if Mr Maker didn't exist, I'd never have heard of of air drying clay, or PVA glue.

My question is, do you keep all the stuff you make? You realise that we all have rooms full of pretend plates of food, and plastic spoon bugs?

Hi sittingatmydesk, good to hear that your children enjoy watching our show.... and great to hear that you have been introduced to the wonders of air drying clay and gloopy glue! We do keep a lot of the makes at our studio and we send quite a few to CBeebies HQ. I also keep a lot myself as happy memories of the shows that we've made.