John Noakes: TV Hero

[Alex directed the famous report where John climbed Nelson's Column. Reg was a steeplejack who acted as safety consultant]

Alex Leger - Director: I said "Have you got any safety harness?" And they brought out this huge web-like thing and it was quite heavy and it had a hundred and eighty feet of rope to go with it. John just took one look at it and said "I'm not wearing that, lad. I'll be safer without." I took Reg to one side and said "Are you *sure* about this?" He said "Don't worry. He'll be so scared he'll be making dents with his hands in the side of ladder as he goes up." Which of course is not something you could ever put in a health and safety report.