Bob Geldof Calls Out Cat Deeley in Awkward Band Aid Anniversary Chat
The legendary Bob Geldof, lead singer of the Boomtown Rats and the mastermind behind Band-Aid, appeared on a show to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas. However, the interview took a few awkward turns as host Cat Deeley stumbled over key details.
The segment began with Deeley referencing the funds raised by Band-Aid and the subsequent Live Aid concerts, mistakenly claiming the total was “£2 million.” Quickly correcting herself, she said, “I was supposed to say £200 million has been raised but in today’s money.” Geldof interjected, clarifying the correct figure: “It’s actually roughly £480 million now.”
The musician then quipped, “Have you never done this before?” to which Deeley laughed and replied that she was a “spring chicken.”
The conversation moved on to an upcoming BBC documentary showcasing footage from the recording of the first Band-Aid single. The track famously featured megastars like Bono, George Michael, Paul McCartney, and Sting. However, Deeley misstepped again, suggesting the documentary would air on Channel 4, reported by Ladbible.
Geldof swiftly corrected her: “No, not Channel 4, BBC Four. Who briefs you? Who does your research, Deeley? It’s BBC Four, for God’s sake.” Deeley, taking it in stride, joked by holding up her notes with a laugh, seemingly wishing for the ground to swallow her up.
Despite the rocky moments, the interview pressed on, with Geldof reflecting on the significance of the Band Aid project and the upcoming documentary. “That Sunday morning, when a bunch of young spotty English pop stars…ambled up a Ladbroke Grove street in London to make a song their friends had written for the starving people of Ethiopia, they could never have understood the enormous consequences of that day,” Geldof shared.
He continued, describing the project’s legacy: “It became, however unwittingly, ‘the shout that rang around the world,’ culminating 20 years later…in ultimately forcing the global political process to bend to its focused will at the Gleneagles G8 summit of 2005 and after the Live8 concerts.”
Geldof ended on a nostalgic note, recalling the camaraderie during the recording session: “These rock stars piling into the control room, babies under arm…it was a Sunday, family day, chipping in, laughing, shouting suggestions, taking the p**s, funny, having fun making history, on top of the world.”
The interview may have had its missteps, but Geldof’s reflections on the monumental Band Aid project left a lasting impression.