Steph McGovern in conversation with John Whaite: ‘What my LGBTQ+ friendships mean to me’
Steph McGovern is one of the UK’s leading television presenters, jumping from BBC Breakfast to launching her own daytime TV show, Steph’s Packed Lunch – and, impressively, in a pandemic.Metro.co.uk’s Entertainment Guest Editor John Whaite is a staple on the programme, joining his close mate Steph to interview guests and introduce viewers to simple and delicious recipes.Just this year, Steph’s Packed Lunch was nominated for a TV Bafta Award, National Television Award, RTS Award, a Tric Award, and continues to go from strength-to-strength.Here, John speaks to Steph about the important of LGBTQ+ friendships as Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Pride.There’s something powerful in just having an LGBTQ+ person at the centre of a daytime TV show and actually we often have LGBTQ+ stories and guests on.
How important is it to you to have a broad representation of everyone on your programme?When I had a vision in my head of what I wanted the show to be, it was about a place where everyone is equal, like whether you’re a superstar celeb, or you’re somebody who’s sat in the studio watching the show – your opinion, your background, your voice is just as important as anyone else’s.I think we can all learn from each other.
There’s a place for confrontational TV where people go up against each other and argue and whatever else, and people quite like watching that, but that’s not me.Confrontation is not my style, even though obviously, my journalism has meant I’ve had to do confrontation and interviews.What I wanted was just a place where we are like a blended family, a blended group of mates, who all have different experiences.
