Cathy: I fear this is the most over told story in history - but it was originally inspired by the Apollo 13 movie and the scene where they have to make a life-saving widget out of what is essentially rubbish. It evolved through various non-conducive-to-living 'let's recreate historical situations' type permutations, an array of inappropriate presenters, landed in a scrapheap and the rest as they say.... is a cliche.

J: I have to say that I had never heard that before. Who would think that Tom Hanks would inspire such a wonderful TV show? The second most obvious question is how you became co-host.

C: By accident pretty much. For the second series we wanted to make quite a few changes - one being the desire for an additional host - Robert was lonely and needed a little pal to talk to. I kept auditioning people, thought they were good and went in to propose we hire them to Channel Four. Channel Four kept saying no - she's not quite right - too young, too old, not sciencey enough, too sciencey etc. Eventually it was a fortnight before shooting and they said 'Why don't you do it?' and I said 'no no no no oh ok yes'.

J: Had you had any previous on-camera work before this gig?

C: No. Though I did pass a performance exam when I was about 7 with merit, with a poem entitled 'The Mouse in the Wainscot' which I think was a pretty pivotal moment.

J: No doubt it was. We get to see the show on TLC here in North America. Did they approach you or did you approach them about airing it over here?

C: Gratifyingly and atypically, they came to us. We had no idea that there were as many american bodgers as british ones so [we] had hardly even thought of trying to sell the show in America. It turns out that every other american has those tell-tale grubby fingernails though which is why I guess it seems to have taken off.

J: That and it's entertaining beyond much else on TV these days. As a television executive, what do you think of 'reality' TV?

C: Well most of it isn't reality at all. Soon they will be calling news reality programming. But my ultimate reality show - which is top secret but naturally I trust anyone who might read this not to steal it - is to make a show so real that it is not even on television. Like, er... real life? Its crazy but it might just work.

J: It very well might but the ratings would be horrid! What about those 2 loveable guys you've worked with? Were there any differences between working with George & Robert?

C: Yes lots. Oh my goodness is that the phone?