Michael Ball says he was 'inspired by Captain Tom' to make album
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Michael Ball will appear on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel this Saturday as stars attempt to win a fortune with the help of seven celebrity experts. Michael is joined by, comedian Tom Allen, singing sensation Lulu, former rugby union player Joe Marler, EastEnder Maisie Smith, presenter Anita Rani and antiques expert Raj Bisram. The singer has had an album and songs at Number one in the UK, and even performed at Eurovision in 1992. He also enjoyed fame performing alongside Alfie Boe.
Michael has recorded 3 albums with Alfie. Two reached number one; Ball & Boe: Together in 2016 and Ball & Boe: Together Again in 2017.
Their third album Ball & Boe: Back Together in 2019 reached number two on the album charts.
During a 2017 BBC interview, they opened up on what it is like to tour together, but they also took time to take a swipe at fellow musical artist and star of The Chase, Bradley Walsh.
The interviewer said to Michael and Alfie that Bradley had similar success with his album.
Alfie replied: “It wasn’t that similar, was it?”
Michael said: “No, he was more swing music.
Alfie quipped: “And he’s ugly.
Michael added: “Nasty as well.”
Alfie rounded off the sarcastic comments, saying: “The amount of botox he’s had is ridiculous.”
Michael then joked: “Oh, we can libel Bradley. Bring it on, Bradders.”
A year before the BBC interview, Michael and Alfie had toured together for the first time. When asked how that went, they gave a surprising answer.
Alfie said: “Well, we travel on separate buses now… and we stay in different hotels. Sometimes different cities.”
Michael added: “Genuinely? I learned it’s better to share. We were carried along on this wave of excitement every day as the statistics came in, and new tour dates were added.
“I don’t think I would have enjoyed it on my own. I would have felt a lot more pressure.”
Michael has enjoyed performing for many years, but he had some choice words for audiences he sang to in February last year.
He told PA news agency how he had even stopped performances due to the use of phones, branding it “dangerous” and “annoying”.
Michael said: “It is absolutely the biggest bugbear.
“In concerts, I’ve stopped a show and before doing shows I’ve said (to the audience), ‘Can I just give you some advice?’
“Doing that (filming a performance) while it’s happening up there, just cuts you off. The whole point of this is it’s tonight, it’s one-off, it’s live’.
“And the truth of the matter is nobody watches what they film. It’s always rubbish, always looks bad, always sounds bad.”
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On the safety of performers, he added: “The most bloody annoying thing is that it shines up into the face of the person who uses it.
“And it can be dangerous. Theatres, stages are dangerous places. You’re distracted by these things going on.”
His comments came as he was preparing to return as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray The Musical.
Also starring in the West End show was comedian Paul Merton, who also criticised the use of phones.
The star of Have I Got News For You was making his debut on the West End.
He said: “You’re putting a barrier between you and what you’re meant to be experiencing and watching.”
But he quipped that producers might welcome the distraction of a mobile phone during his performance at the London Coliseum, to take the spotlight off him.
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