The Journal interviews David Hasselhoff
AS we take our seats in the grand sitting room of the Woolacombe Bay Hotel, my hands tremble with excitement.
I've been chasing Knightrider, Baywatch and America's Got Talent legend David Hasselhoff and his UK compadre and BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills for the past five hours all over North Devon – and now I finally have them all to myself – no entourage, no family members we've never heard of, no publicists or PR gurus reminding David not to put his foot in it – no one.
The first thing David did was to order coffee, he even bought me one.
I don't even like coffee but right now I wasn't concerned with the contents of my cup, I had an audience with The Hoff.
The pair are here to film a documentary for Living TV about the Hoff's experience with all things British. I ask them how they like the North Devon coast.
David said: "This is my first time here in the Westcountry – until recently I hadn't even been out of London.
"This week Scott's been taking me all over the place. We've been to Leicester, Derby, Scotland and Peterborough as well as all over North Devon.
"It's awesome here though — the people seem to have a really laid back attitude which is so cool.
"They've got a very similar attitude to people in L.A."
Drive-time BBC DJ Scott Mills said: "This isn't my first time in North Devon. The last time I was here was about five years ago – me and some friends came down to stay at Croyde which was amazing.
"We had lunch over there today in the Thatch pub – the food was amazing. I think it's now David's favourite pub.
"We're basically travelling all over the UK to show David as much British stuff as possible which includes the beaches and cream teas – it's all good stuff."
It soon becomes clear that the Thatch wasn't the only thing David liked about North Devon.
He said: "My daughter's hijacked a Hocking's ice cream van in Woolacombe this afternoon – that stuff is delicious, the best ice cream I've ever tasted.
"No one was there when we arrived but when the girls started serving, a crowd soon gathered.
"We also had dinner at the Boardwalk in Woolacombe last night which was great."
At this point an elderly couple, presumably guests of the hotel, enter the room.
The woman says she recognises David, saying to him: "You look just like David Hasselhoff from Baywatch. It's not you is it?"
David politely signs an autograph for her and they retire to the back of the room to listen to the rest of our interview.
David said: "Man, I love funny questions like that.
"This trip has taught me not to expect anything — crazy and fun stuff seems to happen wherever we go.
"Today we've been hanging out with some volunteer lifeguards at Woolacombe – they do a great job. It's like Venice Beach, very friendly."
As David's daughters and entourage enter the room, his attention seems to wane. It struck me that he has the mind of a grasshopper. Throughout the interview he just kept talking and talking about anything that came into his head – I didn't even have to ask him any questions.
I am told that my time is up and that David needs some "R&R" before tonight.
I leave the building content in the knowledge that my five-hour hunt was not wasted. I had finally hassled the Hoff.
Have you seen David Hasselhoff in North Devon? Contact the Journal at editorial@northdevonjournal.co.uk
12 Comments
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by Rebus, Ilfracombe
Saturday, July 04 2009, 12:15AM
“Mate. You need to take criticism. That's what journalism and being a journalist is all about - it's not personal; we hate you all. Although you were lucky for actually speaking to the Hoff (for 5 minutes) nevertheless, the article could have had more content about what the Hoff actually had to say rather than focusing on your driving abilities and trekking mistakes. All the same, congrats for catching up with him. Any more news on the whereabouts of the Hoff?”
by AB, Ilfracombe
Friday, July 03 2009, 8:07PM
“Sour grapes?! I nearly died laughing... "oh, please let me look at the hoff from the hotel bar and pretend I had an interview". Hilarious!
No dear, I read this website because I am a local, who is interested in local news. Although, saying that, now I know the local rag is composed by nothing more than local wannabees who have no journalistic experience nor education i think I may read The Sun instead and just sit listening to the drunks in The Queens.”
by Joel cooper, ilfracombe
Friday, July 03 2009, 6:14PM
“Ah, more sour grapes is it. Firstly I would refer you back to the fact that it is an exclusive, you might wish the gazette had it, I bet they do too, but they don't (in fact all they managed to tell us was that he was in north Devon and had previously appeared in some tv shows - groundbreaking stuff AB, maybe that's more your readership age)!
Secondly, the fact we did get the interview and managed to extract first hand from the pair exactly what they had been up to, where they had been and who they had met shows good journalism.
The fact you actually visited our website and read the story pretty much negates all your arguments. Go back to bed.”
by AB, Ilfracombe
Friday, July 03 2009, 3:32PM
“Erm, hate to have to say this but it does actually take journalists (not suggesting you are actually one) longer than 5hrs to source their interviewee & 5 mins is the average amount of time. They do seem to manage more than 1 or 2 quotes. Dressing this awful interview up as something out of the gushing JLC show and then 'blaming' your subject for a bad interview & accusing him as having the mind of a grasshopper is not really on!! Shame it wasn't the gazette that won this 'exclusive' !”
by Joel Cooper, Ilfracombe
Friday, July 03 2009, 3:08PM
“Tongue in cheek? More like foot in mouth I reckon - don't worry McVicar, you'll get to meet someone famous too one day!”