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Konnie Huq

Huq-ed on the Tube

The Tube is coming back. Were you a fan of the original?

"I was really young, because it’s been gone for 19 years, but I do remember it. Fan might be a big strong, but I have two older sisters who were into music so I did watch it. It was really ropey, the first series, though we remember it with rose-tinted glasses."

This is an all new Tube, on the radio rather than the TV – what can we expect from it?

"It’s not a dissimilar format. It’s done in a massive gorgeous studio, with a huge stage, an audience and a bar area and chill-out area. There’s lots of really good live performances and a couple of features."

Why do you think Manchester chosen for the new show?

Konnie with co-presenters Alex James + Emily Rose

"Manchester’s a good spot, because musically it’s been on the wane of late, but it has so much musical heritage. You have to remember that the original Tube was done in Newcastle, so it’s not as if it was ever a London based thing. People just assumed that it did, but it’s always been in the North.

"There’s also a link with Top of the Pops in that the Tube is a long-running music show that got axed – only this one is coming back!"

You’re best known for presenting Blue Peter. How does this differ?

"You know, the presenting isn’t that different, because we’re doing it as live. Obviously, the content is different and I’m not making things! We do have bands on Blue Peter but they’re like McFly.

"I’m used to dealing with wild animals, so I should be ok with wild rock stars. But there are real similarities, because kids can dry up and not want to speak sometimes, which is a lot like moody musicians!"

You’re co-presenting Alex James. Is he fun to work with?

"He’s a real laugh. We have a similar sense of humour. He’s a bit quirky and I’m quirky too. We both reckon we’re really good at Scrabble, so it’ll be interesting when the first big match takes place."

You need to include your other co-presenter, Anthony Wilson…

"I love Tony Wilson. He is a legend. I was expecting to be a bit arrogant and unfriendly, I don’t know why, but I really get on with him. You can tease him and joke and jibe and he’s completely cool. We have a feature called iPods or No-Pods, where people say whether they’d have a particular music on their players, and he skewed the results, so I had a bit of a go at him.

"I used to watch him on Remote Control, but he didn’t seem to be very proud of it when I reminded him. I probably picked out the one thing he’s not proud of, which is always a good tack!"

What’s the mix of the new show going to be musically?

Konnie with the Blue Peter team

"The Tube was always known for finding new music and bringing it to the masses, and that’s what we aim to do too, but there’ll also be the old acts that were on the original Tube as well. We do want to have a lot of new music but it’s nice to throw in some of the music heavyweights."

You’ve got Metrodome and Jordan on the first show. What did you think of them?

"They’re really funny and really sweet, and most of all, they’re really good! I was quite surprised because they’re both so confident and they’re doing brilliantly. They’ll go far, I reckon."