OK Magazine - Gail Porter and Dan Hipgrave In-depth Interview

THE BUBBLY TV PRESENTER AND HER FINANCE FROM HIT BRITISH BAND TOPLOADER ANNOUNCE THEIR ENGAGEMENT

Scottish TV presenter Gall Porter used to say she'd never get married, but that was before she met Dan Hipgrave, rhythm guitarist with the band Toploader. Now she's head over heels in love and preparing to walk down the aisle with him this summer. The couple, who started dating last October, got engaged in February and plan to tie the knot in August in a register office in Edinburgh.

'My close friends are shocked, because I've always said I'd never get married, but I met Dan and he absolutely blew me away; says Gail.

In their first-ever interview together, Gail and Dan speak to OK! about the wedding, their love for each other and their plans for their life together...

So tell us about how you met...

Gail: I First laid eyes on Dan last February when he was on TFI Friday and thought, that's a very handsome boy, but I'd never heard of Toploader before.
Dan: We were on the show because we were releasing Dancing In The Moonlight and one of our backing singers pointed Gail out to me.

Did you get chatting that night?

Dan: Yes, Gall came over and was really friendly. We went over to a pub afterwards and got quite drunk.
Gail: Dan and I chatted a lot and it felt like I'd known him for years. We just talked for ages. but Dan was in a relationship at the time so nothing happened. The next time we met was at Top Of The Pops in August when I was presenting and Toploader were playing live. I felt this kind of funny zing feeling when I saw Dan.

So when did you actually get together?

Gail: The first time we properly got together - as in 'had a snog' - was at the Q Awards in October. We left the after-show party together and sat and talked for ages.
Dan: We wanted to go for a drink in a bar. but because we left together, we were followed by photographers, so we ended up back at Gail's place in Soho.

So when did Dan propose?

Gail: It was strange how it happened because there was no official proposal. At new year, we just kind of agreed that we'd love to stay together forever.
Dan: The day we actually bought the rings was the day it all seemed official. We woke up one Sunday morning and said, right let's go and get ourselves some rings. The shops were really quiet and it was really lovely.
Gail: It was on the day of the BAFTAs and we went into Liberty and I chose a platinum ring with a little diamond on it - I didn't want anything mad. Dan was looking at these rings with diamonds everywhere, but I don't wear jewellery. so I wanted something plain. I saw this one by Cox & Power and knew it was the one. Dan got a plain platinum ring by the same designer.

Gail, how do you get on with the rest of Toploader?

Gail: They are all absolutely lovely. I've got a massive respect for anyone who's got a bunch of friends like them.
Dan: We're like brothers. It's like a family so everyone was really shocked when I said I was getting married, even though we've all got girlfriends.

But are they pleased for you?

Dan: Totally! There was a funny thing in the paper saying that Joe [Washbourn, the lead singer] had said Gail was as dippy as a bunch of frogs, but he'd never even heard that phrase before - it was a load of rubbish.

You're getting married in Edinburgh, but you did consider having the wedding in St Lucia...

Dan: We've just been on holiday to St Lucia and we did think about just going there doing our own thing, but when I told my mum, she started crying and we decided not to.

Are you going to keep the wedding low key?

Gail: We'll just have close friends and family at the wedding, but in the evening we'll have a big party.
Dan: The whole band is coming and Joe has agreed to be my best man. I asked him at the Brits. It's going to be a mad day. We're trying to tell our family that it's not going to be a traditional wedding with everyone in suits.

So you won't be wearing a white dress then Gail?

No. I'm not going to have any bridesmaids or anything like that either. My brother, Keith, is going to give me away because we're so close.
Dan: Gail's dad will be there, too, but having Keith give Gall away adds to the fact that it's not a traditional wedding. We've been text-messaging people to invite them, but my granddad said he's not coming unless he gets a proper invitation with a slip!

Gail, will you change your name to Hipgrave?

I talked about it with Dan and he said he didn't mind if I kept Porter. hut I am going to change it because I'm just so proud to be with him.

Have you planned your honeymoon?

Dan: No, but we can't go to far because I'm doing V2001 the week after we get married, so we'll have to get back that weekend.

Toploader have been called the band that never stops touring. Is it hard when you're apart so much?

Dan: We've been away for about two thirds of the year, but anyone who's in a band has to go away a lot.
Gail: I'm off to Bali for Wish You Were Here... soon and I went to Tasmania recently and it was great, but I missed Dan to bits. Then I got home and found out that he's got to go away for about three months. Dan: We're going to America to try and break through over there. We're going to Toronto first then to New York. I think we've got a really good chance of being huge in America, but to make it. you know you've got to spend at least two months over there.

Have you visited Dan on tour, Gail?

Yes. When I went to Paris I spent a night on the tour bus and I was in my absolute element.
Dan: If you're in a hand, choose someone small to go out with because they fit really nicely in the bunks!

So what are your phone bills like?

Dan: They're outrageous! I've given up looking at my bill. I throw it in the bin and it comes out by direct debit.
Gail: I did Wish You Were Here... in Tobago and we had really bad weather for a lot of the time and my phone bill was about £800. Any time I've got time off I go and visit Dan. I've been to Milan, Paris, Edinburgh, because I can't stand being away from him.

So have you met each other's families?

Dan: Yes. We did Christmas at mine in Eastbourne. Gail spent five days with me at my parents' house.
Gail: Dan's mum and dad are absolutely perfect. They were adorable. I've never felt as at home anywhere else. It was one of the nicest Christmases I'd ever had.
Dan: They loved her!
Gail: Dan came to Edinburgh, too, and came out with my mum and her new boyfriend, Derek. We had the nicest time and they all got on so well with Dan and it was just so lovely and so refreshing.
Dan: I met Gail's dad, Craig, too and had a really good laugh - we drank a lot of whisky!

Gail, a newspaper recently claimed you were going to be giving up television presenting. Is there any truth in that?

None whatsoever. I love my job and I've never ever once said I wanted to give up presenting. The story was completely fabricated. I thought it was really nasty. I have decided to leave The Movie Chart Show though - that's just because I've done it for two years and that's a long time to do one job. I didn't want to become complacent, I'd just had enough and wanted to do something else.

So what have you get coming up?

I'm still doing Top Of The Pops and Wish You Were Here... and Pulling Power is coming back. I'm also going to be presenting another car show on ITV called Top Marques. I'm also presenting the DanceStar awards next month and there's a massive TV thing coming up that I'm very excited about.

Gail, is it true you won't do any more photo shoots for men's magazines now you're with Dan?

No. Dan's fine with me doing bikini shoots.
Dan: I think she's the best-looking girl I have ever seen. If she wants to do it I can understand that and it's up to her.

How do you cope with Toploader's female fans, Gail?

I get phone calls when Dan's touring and I hear girls screaming in the background. but I'm not jealous at all because I know how much he loves me.

Dan, Toploader has had an amazing year. You must be over the moon...

We still can't believe that we've sold well over a million albums! I'm proud that we've also made a song that's made a mark in history - Dancing In The Moonlight is a classic.

And you supported Robbie Williams on his European tour. How was he?

He is a diamond geezer. An absolutely charming lovely bloke, who came and spent time with us when he didn't need to. Robbie sets a precedent backstage and he's a real entertainer on stage. We got on really well. We're doing a UK tour with him in the summer.

Gail, you turned 30 recently. Do you feel any different?

Well, I had a lovely day on my 30th birthday, but the day after I started asking Dan: -Does my bum look big in this? Are my thighs too big?' It has been like that for about three weeks now. I've been paranoid and I think I look horrific. Dan's 25 and I think that having a younger fiance has made me think about age more.
Dan: But every single person I ever meet who doesn't know how old we are thinks Gail is younger than me. My job makes me look older than I am! I don't think age should be an issue - it's the way you act that's important. You should see Gails flat - it's full of toys, trampolines, space hoppers and kids' videos!