Profile: Liz Green

Liz Green

What do you love about your job?

I love getting into work without a clue as to what we shall talk about at noon. Knowing the show will be shaped by what's going on and what you are talking about.

Talking - that's what we do. Every week day at noon, YOU tell me in no uncertain terms what you think of whets affecting our lives here in West Yorkshire and beyond. Its just amazing to hear what you think and feel. We decide on the day what is on your minds from the news; and that's exciting, too. We have a blank page at 7am, by 9, we know where we are going and by 12 - you are on the phones, texts and emails, telling West Yorkshire.

That is exciting and can be poignant, funny, make you angry, make you smile - but it's an ongoing conversation. Its live, immediate and interactive - and I love that.

Who's been your most memorable guest and why?

This falls into two categories. Mainly, it's the callers who stay with me. Sometimes, when we are talking about the stories that affect our lives, someone will call with an amazing story of their own. I remember one woman calling up to talk about living with an alcoholic father and how that had affected her life. A husband who called about how he and his wife had battled breast cancer.

Then, the people making the news. We have talked to the leaders of the major political parties on LIZ GREEN LIVE - face to face, and to see them take your calls, with no script and no idea of what is coming at them is democracy in action. It is not about celebrities for me, but real people in real situations - sometimes being called into account by you, often explaining themselves. I think that's why we are there, doing what we do.

One man sticks in my memory - we took the show to NYC to mark the third anniversary of 9/11 through the eyes of people from West Yorkshire who had been caught up in that days events in Manhattan. The first interview we did was with the Salvation Army Captain who had co coordinated their efforts at Ground Zero. He was from Brooklyn and had took his 15 year old son down to help the day after the tragedy. The compassion and love of that man stays with me still.

On celebs, I once interviewed Midfield's Patrick Stewart at the Cannes Film festival. It was like a scene out of Notting Hill - you know, when Hugh Grant calls on Julia Roberts at the Ritz and gets passed from film star to film star in a press event.

I was ushered into a room in a villa to die for in the hills above Cannes, where Mr Stewart sat with a press guy and a minion holding a stopwatch. I handed him a Morrison's bag with some Yorkshire Tea in it. I don't know who was more flabbergasted, him or the Hollywood press guy. He took it, anyway…..

What's been your worst moment on-air?

Calling Mike Read the broadcaster and music expert Mike Read the comedian in the introduction.

Corpsing very badly over a contributor about abattoirs talking about stunning pigs. He meant before they killed them, I could only see pigs looking stunning, Miss Piggy style. I lost it.

If you could interview anyone, who would it be and why?

Oh, this list could go on and on. I would like to talk to Sonia Sutcliffe, about being married to the Yorkshire Ripper. Oprah Winfrey on being the most powerful woman in broadcasting. Barack Obama on how it feels to be President and if it is what he anticipated. Horror writer Stephen King, as I love his books.

If you were hosting a dinner party, who would you invite (present and historical figures allowed) and what would you cook?

I would have JFK (fancied him), Jesus (you have to, to get the real deal) Richard Dawkins (the chap who wrote the God Conspiracy, so he can have a go at Jesus) and Oscar Wilde (wit). We could talk conspiracies and humour. I would order in - wouldn't have time to cook for that lot. If it's a fantasy dinner, get Delia to cook the lot……a bit of Beef Wellington and a huge trifle. Yorkshire tea, clearly.

Your favourite place in West Yorkshire?

The view over Huddersfield as you come off the M62 and get to Lepton. That always says home to me.

How do you relax?

Relax? Are you joking? I read, love the theatre and movies, seeing friends and several hours of retail therapy can work wonders.

What's your worst habit?

I drink far too much coffee. You need to when your working day starts at 7am.

MORE ABOUT LIZ

You can contact Liz by email: [e-mail]

Liz presents the Lunchtime Show from 12:00-14:00, Monday to Friday.

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