Richard Green, onĀ BBC News
Richard Green interviewed by BBC News, about the making of the TOU video with Louis Tomlinson. 26th April, 2019. š¹/š¹
Host: Ā Well, tell me how it (the video) happened.
Richard: Ā Well, as I said, it startedā¦.initially there was a lady at what they call a Wellbeing cafe that I used to go to with my wife, who hasā¦who eventually she died through severe dementia. When you go to these places and they put snacks and food and all that sort of thing, and thereās also entertainment. One of the ladies where I used to go at Baildon - one of these organisations called HALE - someone must have approached her, said āWell, can you recommend anyone whoād do a bit of background work for Louis Tomlinson?ā I said āWellā¦.ā so she put my name forward - she said āWell, heās a little bit outgoingāā¦.so sheā¦well, I think she put it in a very pleasant wayā¦.
Host: Ā So, Louis wanted someone to feature in his video, and you were that man?
Richard: Ā Yeah, thatās right, because last year, you see, last birthday, I did a parachute jump, you see, so they must have thought āWell, heās up for anything, this guyā, so anyway, the people came to my house and had a few words with me, like, and said, more or less, āYouāll doā and the following day all the vans turned up - the sound equipment and the cameramen and all that sort of thing. They filmed me in the house, and all the neighbours were saying āWhat the hellās going on down there with this guyā yāknow, and they filmed in the house and they did a quick song - because I used to be a singer - a quick song at the local community centre. The following day he took me over to Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire. They had part of the theme park blanked off so we could use it, and they put me on - me and Louis - in the front of this big rollercoaster and weā¦..
Host: (footage of rollercoaster plays) Ā Weāre seeing the pictures now. What were you feeling at this point? Were you absolutely calm with yourself, or were you frightened to death?
Richard: Ā Little bit of both, I think (everyone laughs)
Host: Ā I just wonder what your lovely wife would have made of all this - doing these kind of things?
Richard: Ā She would have saidā¦she wouldā¦.she (spots a photo of them on the screen and points to it)ā¦oh, sheās there, look me and her, god bless herā¦I had hair as well, there.
Host: Ā You were married 60 years, werenāt you?
Richard: Ā Yesā¦sheād have said āHe quite madāā¦which is possibleā¦but as I say, we did this, Louis and I, and then, on this big rollercoaster, up and down, round about, and after thatā¦.well, this isnāt on the video, this particular part, we went to a gymnasium in Hunslet in Leeds, and we did a boxingā¦a sparring sessionā¦a boxing match - pretending of course - until one of the crew said āWell, make it look realistic. Hit him.ā So I did, and he went Ā (demonstrates Louisā pained reaction, hitting the side of his head)ā¦
Host: Ā The whole experience must have been remarkable for you. I just hope you can really look back on this and think wow, itās made your day.
Richard: Ā Exactly, exactly, itās ahā¦.
Host: Itās been lovely to talk to youā¦
Richard: Ā (trying to carry on telling his story) Yesā¦yesā¦
Host: Ā (trying valiantly to wrap it up) Thank you so much for joining us. Well done.
Richard: Ā ā¦.(not ready to finish his story, bless his heart) ā¦.and as I say, thatā¦.[?]ā¦basic lad, after that we went to Sheffield and did it - what do you call it - the song thingā¦.
I think Richard might still be talking! I wish theyād asked him more about him and Louis. I wish theyād let him go onā¦
2087
romaincrisis
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
theartofmadeline
