VIDEOCHAT with Boris Johnson: want to be one of our MN interviewers and quiz the London Mayor yourself?

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, is filming a videochat for Mumsnet on Friday 9th July from 12.30pm.

It'll take the same format as our recent - and v popular - Will Young videochat.

So, three Mumsnetters will go to Boris' office and be filmed putting the best of everybody's questions to the floppy-haired man himself.

But the big question is: would you like to be one of our Boris Interviewing Three?

If so, please say so on this thread ASAP.

You'll need to be able to get yourself to the Mayor's office in London on by 11.30ish on Friday 9th July, be happy to appear on film for MN fame and posterity - and be up for teasing the best out of Boris, in true MN stylee.

Once we've got a few names, we'll chuck em in a hat and pick out three - plus a couple of reserves.

(And we'll be opening a thread for Boris questions shortly.)

This actually is a far better clip

Please pick me, pick me! I have loved Boris since his hilarious 'get these men a cocunut' on 'Have I got news for you' and have shown many the extended highlights of that Boris special!

Boris, I have 2 under 20months old babies and I really don't feel safe living in London and where I live (Hackney). Can you share the safety measures you and your team has to ensure London-mums like myself that London is a family-friendly city?

And yes, I would be a great interviewer as I am very good at putting people at ease :-)

I would love to go! Please add my name.

Beggar, wish I could go bet he'll be really good fun to interview.

Don't have a question but my wind-swept blond nearly 2 yr old looked like a Boris mini-me at teatime. Good job both he and DS1 thought we were laughing about the Boris from the "Calm Down Boris" book.

The wisdom of Boris Johnson? Where do you get your haircut?

I would like to put my name in the hat please - currently working in westminster area, and free at that time

Thanks to everyone who volunteered for this.

Your names will now go into the trusty MNHQ hat - and we'll let you know who's got picked in a wee while....

Hello again.

OK, so the first three names out of the hat were

bearcrumble

LadyBlaBlah

ronshar

Well done, you three! We've emailed you all tonight.

We've also picked out a couple of reserves, just in case of last-minute problems.

And there are

Erin888 and Valpolicella

Thank you again to everyone who volunteered!

I've just replied. Really looking forward to it (but bricking myself too) - now going to research old interviews with him.

Looking forward to meeting the other interviewers.

Woooooooooohhhhhhoooooooooooo

Looking forward to it.

I will start a Boris thread to get some direction from the Mumsnet massive

Can you post a link to the thread?

In the meantime - I think we should read this book: www.amazon.co.uk/Boris-Rise-Johnson-Andrew-Gimson/dp/1416511229

OMG!

Just seen this.

I did good at the HoP tea party for the White Ribbon Alliance. Won't let you down as a reserve, I promise

I have just got my message.
Bloody brilliant

Lucky I am already get my hair done this week. (cover the grey that will glisten in the lights)
Eyebrows done.
What else do I need. Nails? Spots?

Oh yes I had better think of some hard hitting questions. That could be tricky. I just want to give him a squeeze
Am I allowed to giggle in a girly fashion?

I have been researching tonight.................lots of stuff to ask - from masturbation (apparently he has not done it for 20 years) to academic selection. Is the plan to cover a vast array of subjects a la mumsnet-stylee? How long have we got?

My research has consistently turned up this sex god persona ronshar - it was not one I had previously considered... but it seems I will probably be joining you in girly giggling and letting him get away with not answering our hard hitting questions

Are we going to put questions from Mumsnetters as well as our own? Is there going to be a thread for this?

I've started the Andrew Gimson book, it's very easy to read and very funny.

Did you know they called him Boris after a guy who bought them a plane ticket when his mum was heavily pregnant with him and was going to go on the greyhound bus?

I asked my friend who does lots of web video interviews for tips and he said:

"Keep your questions really short, let them do all the hard work. He's got a ton of experience on camera so the less you can show your inexperience, the better (I learned that one the hard way watching myself back during terrible vid interviews). Resist the natural temptation to encourage your subject to keep talking by vocally agreeing with them ("yeah, uh-huh.." etc) as they talk. It works in normal conversation but sounds terrible in interviews. If you wnt to do an intro straight to camera, that's cool, but apart from that, look at him, not at the camera - looks more natural. Relax - you're the interviewer, so you're in charge. If you're having fun it'll come across on camera and look more relaxed etc. That's really all I have. Remember: it can always be edited afterwards."

Good tips

Thread here but not much response

Thanks LBB - I'm off to Somerset now until Thursday night so may not get back online before then. Will try though.

Crumbs I had not really thought about the video bit!
I have been looking around but still not sure exactly what to ask.

What are you ladies going to wear

I am torn between smart casual - trousers and shirt

And casual - skinny jeans/heels

I am on the side of a smart cas

I need my fringe cutting desperado

I think smart cas too.
I have a white summer dress that is a maybe.
I went out shopping today. No luck.