my eye I’d see the guidelines. But you
have to hit your mark all of the time.
So, the filming days were long but they
got quicker and quicker as the process
moved on. And we’d shoot about an
episode in a week.
There were about 15 people on set but
only me on the other side of the camera.
I’d have an ear piece in and they’d play
the music through my ear so when I was
singing I was singing to the soundtrack
in my ear, but on the floor nobody could
hear anything. I could hear Blue barking
in my ear and it was a weird set up.
No day was the same. I’ll never forget
one time, I was doing an episode and it’s
all light in front of me so I can’t see who’s
behind the camera. Our studio is right
next to the BBC, and the door flies open,
and all I hear is, “I can’t believe it. I can’t
believe it.” Who on earth is coming into
the studio while we are filming and as he
walks across it becomes apparent it’s
Jonathan Ross. “I don’t believe it. I don’t
believe it. Kevin.” He starts bowing to me
you know, “Sorry everyone. I’ve got to
meet you. My kids love you. Please can I
have a photo?” We had a chat afterwards
and he’s got a house in Florida and
when he goes there, his kids watch the
US Blue’s Clues. “Who’s the imposter?
Who’s the imposter? Where’s Kevin?
Why isn’t Kevin on here?” so he was
telling me. “For the record you’re better
than Steve.” So I said to him: “That’s all I
need to know, Jonathan. That’s all I need
to know.” Filming was a barrel of laughs
and it was really great fun.
JE: It’s been a few years since Blue’s
Clues but do you still get recognised in
the street by people who watched that
show as kids?
KD: It’s funny you should say that
because yes, Blue’s Clues is still on
today. People will stop me and say,
“Kevin, hi, love the show. I grew up on
Blue’s Clues. I’d just like to introduce
you to my daughter. She’s now watching
you on Blue’s Clues.” It’s passing from
generation to generation.
JE: There are often stories of people
who have been on TV who don’t want to
be approached. Do you mind?
KD: I think the thing for me is that Blue’s
Clues is so personal to me. It was my job
but it was also personal. It’s like they said
to me: “What do you want to be called in
the show?” And I went, “Kevin.” And the
comment that people give me is, “you’re
just the same as the guy on the telly.
You’re no different.” And I go, “thank
you, that’s who I am.” But, that’s why the
show’s so successful I think because it is
me, and I wasn’t doing a role. It helped
because I had kids at the time. So, my
job when I was looking in the camera
was to talk to my child and I think that’s
what came across. Each child watching it
felt that it was about them and it was just
me, Kevin, talking to them and that’s it.
Nobody else is in the room. That’s what
was engaging about it.
JE: Somehow you managed to avoid
being pigeon- holed into kids TV. How
did you do that?
KD: Once I was doing the Blue’s Clues
there were quite a few offers coming in
for other kids’ shows from the BBC and
ITV and I had some good advice from my
agent, “you need to look at the bigger
picture here, you might get lots of different
shows but then it might be difficult to get
out. Ask yourself, what is it that you want
to do?” I thought, “well, can’t I do a bit of
everything?” And he went, “yeah, what
would you like to do… sports presenting,
kids presenting, journalism, news?” And I
went, “I don’t know. I’d really like to do a
bit of everything.” And he went, “fine, let’s
do that then.” So, in my mind I purposely
stayed away from doing anymore
children’s TV. One, because I didn’t want
to be pigeon-holed and I wanted to do
different things and two, I thought Blue’s
Clues was such an iconic programme and
the content was so great, in my opinion,
that I wanted to be remembered for that
show…
JE: You’ve done lots of other presenting
jobs since then, but outside of Blue’s
Clues what would you say has been your
favourite?