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.

Hi Mr Maker! So it's World Book Day on fri... I'm rubbish at making costumes but my DS wants to go as Bert from Mark Poppins. How do I make a chimney sweep brush please? Also what the heck can I dress my 3yo DD as? Your simplest ideas please!!

Hi there! You are a big favourite in our house, especially when we get to spot Greenwich market on the old minute makes.

I would like to know if you have any magic tips for getting kids interested in the tidying up after a make? Our activities normally consist of 15 minutes of me setting up, half an hour of making and an hour of me tidying up whilst the kids run riot elsewhere!

@Halfbaked

Mr maker, the things you make are great, my daughter loves you, we have many mr maker inspired creations. However I have one little gripe, Why do you always cut shapes out of the middle of a piece of paper? It wastes so much paper and is a waste of energy, could you please be more environmentally friendly and tesselate.

Hi Halfbaked, Mister Maker would of course re-use the paper scraps for another picture – but that is a very good point and I will certainly pass that on to the producers.

Hello Phil
I would like to know where has been your favourite place to visit on "...Round the World"? I reckon it would be great if you could do some more around Europe and Scandinavia as well as places on the other side of the World.

@NumTumDeDum

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

Hi NumTumDeDum, that's a very funny question! But I'm afraid I don't understand it.... the Shapes are real!!!

dear Mr maker...fancy going on a date?!

hi mister maker lol. my dds adore you but cry when your show finishes and charlie bear starts lol. Any chance of making your last all day so this mummy can get peace lol

@tinypumpkin

Ooooh. It has to be what has been the biggest craft related disaster on set? I am intrigued. It always looks to organised, not what my house looks like when we do craft!

Hi tinypumpkin, not really a disaster, but I happily remember a day in Hong Kong last year – we were filming by the harbour on one of the windiest days of the year…and what were we making that day? A picture using scraps of tissue paper! I spent more time chasing the materials than sticking them down.

Hello Mister Maker
We love your shows in this house. DS(5) wants to know where you get all your ideas from. Also he says what's your favourite piece of art you've made. I would ask do you have a favourite artist? Thanks!

OMG dd (6) loves Mr. Maker and is forever picking egg boxes out of the bin and turning them into artistic creations. As long as I don't have to help it's all good.

Any tips for the entirely unartistic and uncoordinated like me, on how to support their children in their artistic endeavours?

Hello! Can't wait to tell the boys that you answered my question!

I have a very pressing craft problem at the moment. I have attempted a papier mache Dobby head for World Book Day. I used some gloopy glue:)

Unfortunately, the balloons kept popping, and I have had to use a football. I don't think I'm going to be able to cut it off without a fight.

My question is, where did I go wrong? Why did my balloons keep popping?

@midwifeandmum

hi mister maker lol. my dds adore you but cry when your show finishes and charlie bear starts lol. Any chance of making your last all day so this mummy can get peace lol

Hi midwifeandmum, what a good idea! I'm drafting a letter to the Commissioner of CBeebies as we speak! Lovely to hear that you and your DDs enjoy our show. Thanks and lots of love.

Hello Mr Maker!

My 2 year old DD thinks the 'Shapes' song is by far the greatest piece if music ever written...

Anyway, my question - on your around the world tour (good gig by the way!) did you pick up any new making techniques from other countries? Anything you'd not thought of before? And where was your favourite place that you visited?

Thanks Mr M

Hello Mr Maker. My 3 year old DS would like me to tell you that you do not make enough dinosaurs and he would like to ask you, can you please make more dinosaurs? He loved dinosaur week on cbeebies and he's loving Andy's dinosaur adventures... Can you sense a theme where my DS is concerned. On a separate note entirely I really struggle to be crafty and I'm not at all inventive or imaginative when it comes to making things with my son, so thank you for helping a struggling un-crafty mum.

@Caff2

Mr Maker is fabulous - he shows my younger son all the things he COULD make if his mother was less crap at craft ;)

Now that Mr Bloom - I'd like to meet him...

Ha ha, Ben is a lovely chap. We’re actually appearing on This Morning tomorrow morning with Justin. Watch out for us!

@Bearfrills

My four year old thought long and hard, said "would ... He ... He ... Um ... When ... He ... " a lot and finally settled on "would you like some popcorn?"

Not really craft related.

Have you ever made one of the crafts and felt instantly sorry for the many parents and carers who are going to be forced to recreate it and then 'proudly' display it? not mentioning any names, glittery racing car badge

Hi Bearfrills, I think that Racing Car badge was one of the messiest makes we’ve ever made! I’m so sorry…but hope you had fun!

What, what... Mr Maker, Mr Bloom and Justin on This Morning!?!?! I'll set to record immediately.

Just as an aside, when I type 'Phil Gallagher' into Google, it suggests 'phil gallagher mister maker girlfriend'.

@AgaPanthers

OMG dd (6) loves Mr. Maker and is forever picking egg boxes out of the bin and turning them into artistic creations. As long as I don't have to help it's all good.

Any tips for the entirely unartistic and uncoordinated like me, on how to support their children in their artistic endeavours?

Hi AgaPanthers, a big hello to you and your DD. I think the most important thing that a grown up needs to remember when supporting their little ones' artistic efforts is that there are no right and wrong answers with art. Just have lots of fun together and be proud of what you create.

@Timetoask

Mr. Maker, my two boys love your show. You seem like a fun person, is there any other cbeebies personality that you hand out with?

Hi Timetoask, very kind of you! I am good friends with a lot of the CBeebies team – but my best buddy is Justin.

I walk around most of day with "oolalala mister maker" in my head.
dd who is coming on 5 tried to recreate the sofa made of play doh.

everytime we go to make things. everything has to have gooooogly eyes. even if its a car, it has to have gooooogly eyes.

I must say thankyou for making a 5 year old very happy with empty boxes and glue stick. thankyou lol

@giraffesCantBoogie

dear Mr maker...fancy going on a date?!

That's a very kind offer, giraffesCantBoogie, but I already have lunch plans at Mumsnet today! But please accept these beautiful flowers as a thank you!

Aw thanks for answering Mister M!

But now I have the Shapes song well and truly lodged in my brain. Yay...!

@Maryverycontrary

Hi Mr M! Love the show - can you tell me, do you do everything or do you have a team to help you when you're out and about?

I have to – and more to the point want to – make everything that you see being filmed on the show. However, side by side with me is (in my opinion) the most skilled art team working in television. We need our team to back up Mister Maker and the production team – making sure that we have materials and multiples and stages of everything so that we can overcome any technical issues. Their expertise is at the heart of everything that we do on the show.