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.

@RighteousSausage

Hi Mr Maker, my mum was reading about you in the Canterbury University magazine last week. She was doing her English degree at the same time you were, and I very excitedly said she may have been in lectures with you. She says it's unlikely as she was a part time mature student and you are "a young chap". Did you enjoy your time there, and did you manage to get googly eyes and air drying clay into your dissertation?

Hi RighteousSausage, say hello to your mum from a fellow Canterbury student. I loved my time in the beautiful city and in fact I was lucky enough to return there last Christmas for panto. Last week I was honoured to be asked by the English Department at Canterbury Christ Church University to give a short lecture about creative work and script writing. I was able to talk proudly about my work with CBeebies, both in front and behind the camera x

PS, funnily enough I did mention googly eyes in my lecture!

@MrFranklyShankly

Hi Mister Maker! Just wondering as an irish gal, is there any irish connection with a surname like Gallagher??? Or any relation to Noel & Liam??!

My DDs ADORE you, whenever they're in a creative pickle it's always 'what would Mister Maker do'!!!!

Thanks

Awwww love it! Thank you so much!

My DD can be a fussy eater - could you do some makes which involve food?

@Stockhausen

Is there a Mrs Maker??

Ha ha, what a fantastic question – sadly not at the moment!

@Lollydaydream

How stressful is it doing the minute make,especially the ones where there's an actual audience?

Truthfully, it really makes me nervous…but then it is really exciting too! I practise very hard before the Minute Make filming, so I’m always ready!

My daughters school has banned egg boxes & we cant send them in.
Who knew that an egg box could be dangerous?

@HectorVector

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

Hi HectorVector, it is very exciting for the three of us to be on This Morning - the 'three Misters' together on national live television! I hope you enjoy watching it. Also, I'll be appearing on BBC Breakfast next Monday (10th March) with the lovely Katy Ashworth.

Well if you are ever in Glasgow come and discuss my chilrens craft blog over a coffee! I was meant to go to Cc uni to do post grad in play therapy but it has swapped to Leeds.

hi Phil my daughter is autistic, she loves your show and I have bought some of the Mr maker arts and crafts sets for her to try and get her interested in making things. do you have an input in what they contain and will the range be increasing?

Hi mister maker

My two sons have been fans of your shows for a few years now, in fact we have quite a few creations round the house to prove it. My eldest has his heart set on being an artist when he grows up just like mister maker!

Absolutely love Mr. Maker. Not a question, but a thank you for inspiring me to get arty with my children (one of the few things that I honestly feel I do well in this motherhood adventure). We even have our own Doodle Drawers so that literally everything we could possibly need is at our fingertips in a moment's notice. And it has helped my children grow with their imaginations and creativity so much that I don't really need to help them much with their school arty projects! Result! OK, here is a question... how does one actually get involved with children's entertainment? And do you do the actual art or is it someone else? DH is a wee bit jealous of our fascination with you and refers to you as Mr. Faker to big himself up ;)

One more question Mr M - what other things/hobbies do you like to do, apart from making? :)

@ElbowofEthel

My DD can be a fussy eater - could you do some makes which involve food?

Hi ElbowofEthel, we have made things using food before, but they've not been edible. I think this is a question best answered by Katy A, perhaps have a look for a recent episode of I Can Cook on BBC iPlayer. Thanks for your question and happy cooking!

Hi Phil, do you plan to stay in children's tv for the foreseeable future or are you planning other projects?

p.s. you'll be stalked by mumsnetters now you have said you are single! You do sound lovely btw!

Thanks very much!

@VMC04

Absolutely love Mr. Maker. Not a question, but a thank you for inspiring me to get arty with my children (one of the few things that I honestly feel I do well in this motherhood adventure). We even have our own Doodle Drawers so that literally everything we could possibly need is at our fingertips in a moment's notice. And it has helped my children grow with their imaginations and creativity so much that I don't really need to help them much with their school arty projects! Result! OK, here is a question... how does one actually get involved with children's entertainment? And do you do the actual art or is it someone else? DH is a wee bit jealous of our fascination with you and refers to you as Mr. Faker to big himself up ;)

Hi VMC04, thank you for your lovely message and kind words. The way that I got my break into the television industry was by finding a work experience placement and then a studio runner's job. I was very fortunate to work in a live TV studio where they needed people to learn quickly and multi-task. Any experience like that can be valuable and gives you a really clear insight into the specific job you may want to do within the industry.

Hope this helps - please send my best to DH and tell him he's a top man!

PS, I do all the making on Mister Maker (backed up by an amazing production team) and practise very hard before we start filming - it's just like being back at school revising for my exams!

Hi everyone, its 2pm but there's still a few questions to answer so Phil will be staying an extra quarter of an hour to finish

@RustyParker

Hi Phil, do you plan to stay in children's tv for the foreseeable future or are you planning other projects?

p.s. you'll be stalked by mumsnetters now you have said you are single! You do sound lovely btw!

Hi RustyParker, I love working in children's TV and hope that I am lucky enough to work in it for the rest of my career. There are some new projects that I'm working on in the future, some are with Mister Maker and some are new. Watch this space and thank you very much for your support

Well, aren't you a lovely chap. :)
Feel free to answer my question. :D

Not a question, just wanted to say me and my daughter love mr maker! We made a 'shapes mobile' the other day. My daughter loves the shapes. Especially the triangle haha.

@pardonmytits

One more question Mr M - what other things/hobbies do you like to do, apart from making? :)

Hi pardonmytits, I love watching football and cricket and spending time with my friends. I'm looking forward to catching up with Justin, Andy and Katrina on our Easter tour bus!

Someone up thread asked about your favourite artist. I'd love to know that too.

Also just wanted to say that you sound like a lovely person after reading this.

@Skoggy

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.

Hi Skoggy, thank you for your patience and your great question. It's tricky to pick my favourite filming destination but one of my favourite moments was filming in Cape Town last year. During a break in filming my producer came up to me and told me that one of my heroes, Michaela Strachan, was waiting to say hello!! She lives in South Africa and was kind enough to visit our set.

Tomorrow on This Morning I will get to meet another of my heroes, Phillip Schofield. What a lucky boy I am!

@PeaceEagle

Someone up thread asked about your favourite artist. I'd love to know that too.

Hi PeaceEagle, I've been lucky enough to see Monet paintings up close and I've always found them beautiful and breathtaking. As a child I was fascinated by the skill of Tony Hart and I remember his television programmes fondly.