As I hurtle towards my 45th birthday, I’ve had a weird week. I wonder if I might be about to hit my mid-life crisis. Let me explain.It began with a visit to my chemist. While queuing to collect a prescription, another member of the queue turned to me and said
“You live in the same street as me. I see you wheeling up and down the road… oh and of course I saw you on TV” That’s nice, I thought, still being recognised.
“Yeah” I said.
“You used to be more handsome back then” was then next comment.
“Nah” I replied “Just younger”. We went back to queuing and smiling at each other. My smile hiding just how much a throw away comment can hurt.
Now fame is weird. Once people feel like they know you, which is one of the side effects of being let in their home via their TV screen, they feel they can say whatever they like to you. Can you imagine going up to someone in the street and informing them that they are looking uglier than they used to be years ago? No, neither can I. Yet it happens all the time. A few months ago while in Boots (I seem to spend too much time in chemists – although this time it was for hair care products, which I obviously spend a fortune on) a woman said hello and then informed me of how fat I had got. OK I know I’ve spread with age, but she was… huge! So surely she must know ow it feels to be called fat by strangers. Yet fame meant this was fine.
When I was at the peak of my celebrity, way back in the 90’s, I had all manner of problems. People would just come up and insult and even attack me or even worse, attack my loved ones. I even had a stalker, who threatened to kidnap and rape me. Nice. The most annoying thing was that all the time I was presenting the TV shows that meant the public felt they owned me, I was being paid well under the going rate. (Too many TV companies had the attitude that disabled talent deserved less pay. In a business where people can get paid £100,000s per show I was lucky if I got £100s per series. I would have earned more if I stacked shelves in any famous Supermarket) So I couldn’t afford the security that I really needed. Hence way I started going to private members clubs and the like. To be safe.
But why, if fame was so bad, did I continue? Why am I still fighting to get back into the media world? Well fame has it’s up side too. No it’s not all models and parties, although there were a few. The best thing about fame is being taken notice of.
For ages now I have been trying to get Camden council to wake up to it’s responsibilities around access for disabled people in the borough. This week the local paper, the Camden New Journal, ran a story about experiences and my blogs on the issue. Since the article, I have been contacted a councillor who wants to start up a committee to examine what an be done to improve Camden and it’s access. Now if I wasn’t “Mik Scarlet – Broadcaster and Journalist” would the local paper written the story and would the council have taken notice?
And that’s my mid-life crisis. I feel I am at a cross roads in my life. The media always focus on new talent, as the current search for presenters to work on the Paralympics demonstrate, and I could never be considered “new”. I have had to take years off from working to recover from my spine surgery back in 2003, and even though I feel I am ready to go back to work, will I be able to get back into an industry that everyone knows is almost impossible to break into? Especially if you already used to be in it! The other factor is do I want to anyway? As I have already said, fame is no picnic, and the rewards are not always that great.
I know I have gained many skills through my time as a musician and broadcaster that would apply to many other professions. I keep asking myself is it time to grow up and stop seeking a way back into the media. Are the rewards of fame worth all the hassles?
So what would you do, dear reader? Do you think there’s a Mik shaped hole in your TV viewing? Do you think I should fight to fill it, or go out and get a real job? I really need your advice.
Katie Fraser says
My view to this is , do you really want to go back to the way things where for you , in the world of fame , where your loved ones got hurt and people stalked you? You do so well at teaching the world , about how to make their companies accessible so why not carry on being the consultant you are and the motivational speaker like you were when you came down for us?
I had no idea that fame was hurting you behind the headlines and the hurt and pain it must have caused for your lovely , lovely family , do you really want them to suffer that all over again, I can’t imagine that same stalker finding out where your lovely wife is and hurting her or being bad , and you obviously cant let that happen again.
Hey don’t let fame ruin your life again Mik, you just be you and the man we remembered and a great friend to me , thats all any needs in life and I am sorry if I caused you great offence. Wish I could give you a hug right now , excuse me Diane!
missdennisqueen says
Hey Mik it’s great to be in touch and I’m looking forward to reading your blogs – just put a link to yours on mine :-).
You have lots of talent. And presence. Handsome still? YES – you’re more handsome to some of us, don’t forget this ‘babyfaced’ stuff is a matter of opinion! 😉 Plus you have the advantage of being that teeny bit older and more authoritative.
Some people lean towards certain kinds of work – broadcasting/media is your trade and you are great at it – why should you be expected to change careers now? For companies looking for naive young presenters to underpay and not know what their entitlements are – you’ll fail. But this may be a good thing in the long term.
Many of us progressive types will never forget what you have contributed to the public image of disabled people already- possibly more than anyone, ever. Back in my short haired days I’ve had strangers mention you to me when I’ve gone out in all my leathers and boots – because I reminded them of you 😀
In solidarity – and don’t give up – you know where your talents lie – so keep at it and I reckon you’ll get there in the end. There’s too few of us with any clout.. never let yours die bro.
Dennis (aka CLair)
Helen says
You’ve put your finger on it, Mik, there IS a Mik shaped hole on TV!
*BRING ON THE WALL*! Sorry, couldn’t resist…
But seriously, do what’s right for YOU. x