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The Stuart Semple Show art podcast is back with another intimate hour of conversation. In this episode, Stuart speaks to ex-model and television personality Gail Porter. 

Hot on the heels of her wildly successful tell-all documentary Being Gail Porter, this episode delves into Gail’s life behind the camera. Stuart steers the conversation towards that famous Parliament stunt, meeting Davie Bowie, and the brewing feeling of discontent in the 90s. 

The Stuart Semple show encourages listeners to stretch the bounds of self-expression. Gail talks about the underground rave scene in the 90s and how it helped her break away from the mundanity of everyday life.

This episode covers

• Meeting Davie Bowie 
• 90s culture
• That Houses of Parliament projection
• Top of the Pops 
• Underground raves
• Being Gail Porter
• Love for Star Wars
• Trust in the modelling industry

Links & references 

Gail Porter Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/iamgailporter/

Gail Porter Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Gailporter

Stuart Semple Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/stuartsemple/

Stuart Semple Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MrStuartSemple/

Stuart Semple Website: 

https://stuartsemple.com/

Culture Hustle: 

https://culturehustle.com/

Episode highlights

“I’ve totally had imposter syndrome. I’m not talented at anything. I’m just good at smiling and talking.” – Gail Porter – 04:24

“In 88 and 89 it felt like we had a very oppressive government and we were at an important point. People came together for the first time around music. And yes, there was a drug element. But it seemed like it was more than that, and it was a genuine kind of cultural moment.” – Stuart Semple – 08:36

“In 88 I was 17. The government and everything just felt repressed. No one seemed to know what was going on. Everyone was extremely depressed. Your mum and dad were depressed. I was going through a lot; my mum and dad were splitting up.” – Gail Porter – 09:15

“My mum took me to see Star Wars when it came out. I just remember going to the cinema and thinking ‘don’t make me leave’. I burst into tears at the end of it. My mum went ‘come on, Gail, get out of the cinema. I was like, ‘no, no, please don’t make me leave.’” – Gail Porter – 13:42

“The next thing I knew I got up one morning, brushed my teeth, and I could hear BBC News. My name came up. So I rushed through into the front room and there’s my backside on the Houses of Parliament naked. And then the phone starts ringing. So then I realised, I’m in trouble here. Bad.” – Gail Porter –  25:25

“People who create stuff have some responsibility to put empowering positive things out into the world. I think we all have that choice. ” – Stuart Semple – 28:10

“It wasn’t my intention to work all these years starting in B&Q when I was 16 years old and going to college and to study and work, work, work, work, and then for one minute, somebody goes behind my back and projects my arse.  ” – Gail Porter – 39:08

“It came up on Twitter saying the nominations for Scottish BAFTAs are up. And there was my name again. I was like, shut the front door.” – Gail Porter – 44:35

“I think I have got this inner fighter somewhere that doesn’t want to give up. There were times that I was really bad. I don’t want to make it really miserable. I have lost friends to suicide, and it has crossed my mind at some points in my life. But then I remember its effect.” – Gail Porter – 51:57

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