This Morning star opens up on replacing Ronan Keating as host of Magic's breakfast show
Gok Wan, beloved fashion guru, DJ and presenter, 50, has a lot on right now, but he couldn't be happier with all the plates he's spinning. As well as an upcoming Christmas charity single in conjunction with Macmillan, in memory of his best friend, Allison Gordon Parry, who had lived with stage 4 breast cancer for many years, before sadly passing away in May, Gok is gearing up to take over from Ronan Keating as a full-time co-host on Magic's Radio. Breakfast Show, from January.
Talking about his huge new gig - which is his first job in radio - chatty Gok tells OK!: "Yes, it's very exciting - they asked me to cover for the brilliant Ronan Keating, who’d been there for seven years. It's a huge show so of course, I said yes. I’d never done radio but I totally fell in love with it. It’s fun and fast. I raved about it so much I think I subliminally forced them to give me the job!"
The much-loved star, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, says he has been on the show for the last few months, finding his feet but admits there is one aspect that is proving tough - the crippling 4am starts. "I like being awake early and talking a lot, so that doesn’t bother me!". he laughs. "But it’s knackering because I have other projects on the go. So, you finish at 10am, go off, do TV, fashion, whatever, then I’m usually DJ-ing at weekends. It’s been a challenge, but I absolutely love it."
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Boyzone star Ronan, 47, made the shock announcement that he was stepping down from his presenting slot back in June, confessing that it had been “very difficult” to make the decision, before he hung up his headphones for good the following month. He said at the time: “I have loved every single minute, this has not been an easy decision at all. I came on board as you know [Harriet] for a year, maybe two and I’ve loved the job so much that I’ve stayed here for seven.
Gok will carry the mantle on the show - but meanwhile, he tells OK!, he has high hopes for his new charity single, Deeper Love, with the House Gospel Choir, a tribute to his late 'best friend' Ali. "This is where the tears subside and the joy comes in – I’m like a dog with a bone with this track!", he says. "I’m going to raise so much money for Macmillan. They do amazing work and don’t have enough money, so let’s help them. The money we raise from this single is going to help change people’s lives. I know old twat face up there is looking down and laughing, thinking this is absolutely what should happen!"
Gok Wan and House Gospel Choir Deeper Love is out 13 December. Pre-order from gokwan.lnk.to/ DeeperLove, raising funds for Macmillian. See macmillan.org.uk for more.
